Ossian Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

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E M O R A:
A N
EPIC POEM.
BOOK SEVENTH.
* Tn^ ROM the wood-fkirted waters of Lego, afcend, at times,
X grey-bofomed mifts ; when the gates of the weft are clofed,
on the fun's eagle-eye. Wide, over Lara's ftream, is poured the va-
pour dark and deep : the moon, Hke a dim fhield, is fwimming thro'
its folds. With this, clothe the fpirits of old their fudden ge{-
tures
* No poet departs lefs from his fubje£l
tlian Oflian. No far-fetched ornaments are
introduced; the epifodes rife from, and are
indeed eirential to, the flory of the poem.
Even his lyric fongs, where he moft in-
dulges the extravagance of fancy, natural-
ly fpring from his fubje(S. Their propriety
and connexion with the reft of the poem,
fliew that the Celtic bard was guided by
judgment, amidft the wildeft flights of ima-
gination. It is a common fuppofition
among mankind, that a genius for poetry
and found fenfe feldom centre in the fame
perfon. The obfervation is far from being
juft ; for true genius and judgment muft
be infeparable. The wild flights of fan-
cy, without the guidance of judgment,
are, a; Horace obferves, like the dreams
of