Ossian Collection > Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael

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dency, according to the general sense entertained
of his valour and wisdom.
In the heroic ages of Greece the people lived
under the influence of petty kings or chiefs.
In each society in which some degree of politi-
cal connexion was acknowledged under a para-
mount chieftain, there were several leaders whose
influence over their particular tribes was suffi-
cient to direct their actions. These chieftains
were often at war with one another, and some-
times with the leader who was understood to
bear paramount sway among these various lead-
ers. Such states were, for want of union, weak
and insignificant; they could become important
and powerful only by the cement of a political
interest. It was reserved for the genius of Am-
phictyon to unite in one plan of politics the seve-
ral independent kingdoms of Greece, that they
might be delivered from those intestine divisions
which rendered them a prey to one another, or
to any enemy who might think himself suffi-
ciently powerful to invade them. The Amphic-
tyonic council, by the union which it inspired
among the Greeks, enabled them to defend their
liberties against all the force of the Persian em-
pire. It has been observed, that the alliances
of civilized governments are not attended with
the success which might be expected from a
just combination of their various powers. When
multitudes of men are called forth into action,
one soul ought'to animate the whole body : all the