Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

ossian's complaint. 307
iutioduced the ghost of Ossiau lamenting- that his enemies had be-
come so numerous and bitter, and also bestowing a blessing on
those who had become his defenders.
The three jirincipal enemies of Ossian were Dr. Samuel Johnson,
Malcolm Laiug, Esq., and John Pinker ton. Dr. Johnson's dislike
to the Scotch, and the hostile spirit with which he set forward in
his enquiries, are well known ; he was ignorant of the language or
manners of the people, and hi.s researches were confined to the inns
where he lodged, or to the families he visited, most of whom were
habituated to English manners and customs. Were any foreigner,
distrustful of the works of our great bards being genuine, to proceed
aloug the great roads of England, and endeavour to procure attes-
tations to the authenticity of Parmlise Lost, or Shakespear's works,
at every inn where he alighted, we are afraid that he, as well as
Dr. Johnson, would retain his doubts at the end of his journey.
" Several of the opponents of Ossian," says Mr. Heron, '* were
men who had decided upon prejudice, and without enquiry. In
such a case, the judgment of Gray, a poet and an antiquarian of
singular eminence, a man of candid integrity, is of more value, if
authorities are to be received for arguments, than the opinions of
all those together who have att.'mpted to transfer the laurel from
the brow of Ossian to that of his translator."
>\ c have no moral doubt that the poems going under the name
of Ossian's belong to a very high era of antiquity, and have been,
as they profess, sung in the hall of Fingal, though at the sametime
we admit the great probability of their not being the work of one
hand. The obstinate infidelity of Johnson, the insolent attacks of
Laing, not to mention inferior coadjutors, aye, and the foppish
vanity of Macpherson clinging Avith childish tenacity to a spurious
fame, have done their best to stifle the applause due to the worthy
rival of Homer, still it is not difficult to forsee that a glorious future
awaits the bard of Selma.