After perusing these quotations, it will not be thought that Offian deviates from the manners reprefented by him, in defcribing the hofpitality of his chieftains:

"We heard the voice of joy on the coaft, and we "thought that the mighty Cathmor came; Cath"mor, the friend of ftrangers, the brother of red"hair'd Cairbar. But their fouls were not the "fame; for the light of heaven was in the bosom "of Cathmor. His towers rofe on the banks of "Atha: feven paths led to his hall: feven chiefs "stood on thefe paths, and called the ftranger to "the feaft. But Cathmor dwelt in the wood, to "avoid the voice of praise (a)." "Rathmor was a "chief of Clutha. The feeble dwelt in his hall. "The gates of Rathmor were never closed: his "feaft was always fpread. The fons of the ftrant ger came, and bleffed the generous chief of Clutha. "Bards raifed the fong, and touched the harp: joy "brightened on the face of the mournful. Dun"thalmo came in his pride, and rushed into com"bat with Rathmor. The chief of Clutha overThe rage of Dunthalmo rofe: he came "by night with his warriors; and the mighty Rathmor fell: he fell in his hall, where his feaft had "been often spread for ftrangers (b)."

came.

It seems not to exceed the magnanimity. of his chieftains, intent upon glory only,

(a) Temora. (b) Calthon and Colmal.

to

to feaft even an enemy before a battle. Cuchullin, after the first day's engagement with Swaran, King of Lochlin or Scandinavia, fays to Carril, one of his bards,

"Is this feaft fpread for me alone, and the King " of Lochlin on Ullin's fhore; far from the deer "of his hills, and founding halls of his feafts? Rife, "Carril of other times, and carry my words to Swaran; tell him from the roaring of waters,

Here let him listen

"that Cuchullin gives his feaft. "to the found of my groves amid the clouds of "night: for cold and bleak the bluftering winds

rufh over the foam of his feas. Here let him "praife the trembling harp, and hear the fongs of "heroes (a)."

The Scandinavian King, lefs polished, refused the invitation. Cairbar speaks:

"Spread the feaft on Lena, and let my hundred "bards attend. And thou, red-hair'd Olla, take "the harp of the King. Go to Ofcar, King of "fwords, and bid him to our feaft. To-day we "feast and hear the fong; to-morrow break the ❝spears (b).” "Olla came with his fongs. Ofcar

"went to Cairbar's feaft. Three hundred heroes "attend the chief, and the clang of their arms is "terrible. The gray dogs bound on the heath, " and their howling is frequent. Fingal faw the

(a) Fingal, book 1.

(b) Temora.

"departure

"departure of the hero: the foul of the King was "fad. He dreads the gloomy Cairbar: but who of "the race of Trenmor fears the foe (a) ?”

Cruelty is every where condemned as an infamous vice. Speaking of the bards,

He

"Cairbar feared to ftretch his fword to the bards, "tho' his foul was dark; but he clofed us in the “midst of darknefs. Three days we pined alone: "on the fourth the noble Cathmor came. "heard our voice from the cave, and turned the 66 eye of his wrath on Cairbar. Chief of Atha, he "faid, how long wilt thou pain my foul? Thy "heart is like the rock of the defert, and thy "thoughts are dark. But thou art the brother of "Cathmor, and he will fight thy battles. Cath"mor's foul is not like thine, thou feeble hand of "war. The light of my bofom is ftained with thy

deeds. The bards will not fing of my renown : "they may fay, Cathmor was brave, but he fought "for gloomy Cairbar: they will pafs over my tomb "in filence, and my fame fhall not be heard. Cair

bar, loose the bards; they are the fons of other "times their voice fhall be heard in other ages << when the Kings of Temora have failed (b)." Ullin "raifed his white fails: the wind of the fouth came

forth. He bounded on the waves toward Sel"ma's walls. The feaft is fpread on Lena: an "hundred heroes reared the tomb of Cairbar; but "no fong is raifed over the chief, for his foul "had been dark and bloody. We remembered the

(a) Temora.

(b) Temora.

<< fall

"fall of Cormac; and what could we fay in Cair"bar's praise (a) ?”

Genuine manners never were reprefented more to the life by a Tacitus nor a Shakespeare. Such painting is above the reach of pure invention: it must be the work of knowledge and feeling.

may

One difcover the manners of a nation from the figure their women make. Among favages, women are treated like flaves; and they acquire not the dignity that belongs to the fex, till manners be confiderably refined (b). According to the manners above defcribed, women ought to have made a confiderable figure among the ancient Caledonians. Let us examine Offian upon that fubject, in order to judge whether he carries on the fame tone of manners through every particular. That women were highly regarded, appears from the following paffages.

"Daughter of the hand of fnow! I was not fo "mournful and blind, I was not fo dark and for"lorn, when Everallin loved me, Everallin with "the dark-brown hair, the white-bofomed love of

(a) Temora.

(b) See the Sketch immediately following.

" Cormac.

"Cormac. A thoufand heroes fought the maid, "the denied her love to a thousand: the sons of "the fword were defpifed; for graceful in her eyes "was Offian. I went in fuit of the maid to Lego's "fable furge; twelve of my people were there, fons "of the ftreamy Morven. We came to Branno "friend of strangers, Branno of the founding mail. « From whence, he faid, are the arms of steel? "Not eafy to win is the maid that has denied the "blue-eyed fons of Erin. But bleft be thou, O fon "of Fingal, happy is the maid that waits thee. "Though twelve daughters of beauty were mine, "thine were the choice, thou fon of fame! Then "he opened the hall of the maid, the dark-haired "Everallin. Joy kindled in our breasts of steel, and

bleft the maid of Branno (a)." "Now Connal, "on Cromla's windy fide, spoke to the chief of the "noble car. Why that gloom, fon of Semo? Our "friends are the mighty in battle. And renowned "art thou, O warrior! many were the deaths of "thy fteel. Often has Bragela met thee with blue"rolling eyes of joy; often has fhe met her hero "returning in the midft of the valiant, when his "fword was red with flaughter, and his foes filent "in the field of the tomb. Pleafant to her ears "were thy bards, when thine actions rofe in the "fong (b)." "But, King of Morven, if I fhall "fall, as one time the warrior must fall, raise my "tomb in the midft, and let it be the greatest on "Lena. And fend over the dark-blue wave the "fword of Orla, to the fpoufe of his love; that "the may fhow it to her fon, with tears, to kindle

(a) Fingal, book 4.

(b) Fingal, book 5.