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

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And even the alteration, " Tall as a glittering-
" rock," is taken from a simile that follows a few
" lines afterwards, in the same poem :
" So Zembla's rocks, the beauteous work of frost.
Rise white in air, and glitter o'er the coast."
Now let US take the words of Ossian : —
" Chunnaic mi 'n ceannard, thiiirt Moran ;
Coimeas do 'n charraig an triath."
Latin Version.
" Vidi ego eorura ducem, dixit Moran ;
Est siinilis rupi princeps."
" I saw their leader, said Moran ;
Like a rock was the chief."
The words of Pope's Temple of Fame are totally
inapplicable. The epithet glittering, which gave
occasion to the criticism, is the translator's am-
plification, unautliorized by the original.
Translation. — " His spear is a blasted pine; his
'^' shield, the rising moon."
Criticism. — " His spear, to equal which the tallest pine.
Hewn on Norwegian liills, to be the mast
Of some great ammiral."
" His ponderous shield
Hung on his shoulders, like Ihe moo7i, whose orh -
Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views
At evening," —
Ff