Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

FINGAL.
"We may boldly defy all antiquity to shew us any hero
equal to Fingal," says Dr. Blair. In the character of this
celebrated chief occur almost all the qualities that can en-
noble human nature, that can either make us admire the
hero or love the man. He is not only victorious in war ;
but he makes his people happy by his wisdom in the days
of peace. He is truly the father of his people, and distin-
guished on every occasion by humanity find generosity.
He is merciful to his foes, full of affection to his children, and
full of concern about all his friends. He is the universal
protector of the distressed : " None ever went sad from Fin-
gal. Oscar, bind the strong in arms ; but spare the feeble
hand. Be thou a stream of many tides against the foes of
thy people ; but like the gale that moves the grass to those
that ask thine aid. So Trenma lived, such Trathal was ;
and such has Fingal been. ^ly arm was the support of the
injured ; the weak rested behind the lightning of my steel."
These were the maxims of true heroism to which he trained
his grandson. His fame is represented as everywhere spread ;
the greatest of heroes acknowledge his superiority ; his
enemies tremble at his name ; and the highest enconium
that can be bestowed on one whom the poet would most
exalt, is to say that his soul was like the soul of Fingal.