Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

niEFACE.
is presumed, elevate the works of Ossian to rank with the
" Viroil" of Drjden, and the '' Homer" of Pope ;^ a point of
such importance, however, shall be referred to the decision
of a candid and impartial pu)jlic.
It will be readily seen that the translators have executed
their task with consideralile ability, and have endeavoured to
render the translations v/orthy of the original. " Fingal," the
principal poem, is by the Eev. Mr IIoll, of Cambridge ;f those
of " Carthon," the " Death of Cuchullin," and " Darthula,"
by Mr. \Vodrow ; '' Cairbar and Oscar," by Captain Burke,
of the Royal Scots Greys ; whilst the remaining poems have
been rendered into English verse by individuals Avhose
names have not been made public.
Mr. IIoll, in his preface to the poem of "Fingal," — and
his remarks may apply equally to ail who undertake the like
task, says, " To those who are well acquainted with the origi-
nal, the following version may appear to have too modern
an air ; to others who are not, it may seem too antiquated.
The author endeavoured to keep between the two ex-
tremes ; but hopes he has not departed from the simplicity
of the original, which makes one of its peculiar beauties. He
would observe, that a poet, cut off from the heathen deities,
and all allusions to them — from the sciences, and all the
* "It is only by viewing Homer in the simplicity of a prose
translation that we can form any comparison between the two bards,
aud a parallel is altogether unfair between prose and the imposing
harmony of flowing numbers." — Dr. Blair.
t "The translation of ' Fingal' is highly creditable to the taste and
talents of Mr. HoU. The wild and glowing imagery of the Caledo-
nian bard is often brought out with considerable strength and ani-
mation, whilst the versification is uniformly correct, and in general
spirited and harmonious." — Broke.