certain paffion from every other, is always wanting. Prefent a portrait to a man of tafte, and he will be at no lofs to say, whether it be copied from the life, or be the product of fancy. If Offian paint from fancy, the cloven foot will appear: but if his portraits be complete, fo as to exprefs every peculiarity of character, why should we doubt of their being copied from life? In that view, the reader, I am hopeful, will not think his time thrown a way in examining fome of Offian's ftriking pictures. I fee not any other refource.

Love of fame is painted by Offian as the ruling paffion of his countrymen, the Caledonians. Warriors are every where defcribed as efteeming it their chief happiness to be recorded in the fongs of the bards: that feature is never wanting in any of Offian's heroes. Take the following inftances: King of the roaring Strumon, faid the rifing joy of Fingal, do I behold thee in arms af"ter thy ftrength has failed? Often hath Morni fhone "in battles, like the beam of the rifing fun, when he

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difperfes the ftorms of the hill, and brings peace to "the glittering fields. But why didst thou not reft in "thine age? Thy renown is in the fong: the people "behold thee, and blefs the departure of mighty Mor"ni (n). Son of Fingal, he faid, why burns the foul "of Gaul? My heart beats high: my fteps are difor"dered; and my hand trembles on my fword. When I "look toward the foe, my foul lightens before me, and

I fee their fleeping hoft. Tremble thus the fouls of "the valiant in battles of the fpear? How would the "foul of Morni rife, if we fhould rush on the foe! Our renown would grow in the fong, and our steps be ftately in the eye of the brave (0) *.

(n) Lathmon

(0) Lathmon.

Love of fame is a laudable paffion, which every man values himself upon. Fame in war is acquired by courage' and candour, which are esteemed by all: it is not acquired by fighting for fpoil, becaufe avarice is defpifed by all. The fpoils of an enemy were dif played at a Roman triumph, not for their own fake, but as a mark of victory. When nations at war degenerate from love of fame to love of gain, ftratagem, deceit, breach of faith, and every fort of immorality, are never failing confequences.

"

That a warrior has acquired his fame, is a confolation in every diftrefs: "Carril, faid the King in fecret, the "ftrength of Cuchullin fails. My days are with the years that are paft; and no morning of mine fhall a"rife. They fhall feek me at Temora, but I fhall not be found. Cormac will weep in his hall, and fay, "Where is Tura's chief? But my name is renowned, 06 my fame in the fong of the bards. The youth will 46 fay in fecret, O let me die as Cuchullin died: re"nown clothed him like a robe; and the light of his "fame is great.' Draw the arrow from my fide; and lay Cuchullin below that oak. Place the field of "Caithbat near, that they may behold me amid the arms "of my fathers (p)." Fingal speaks: "Ullin, my

"aged bard, take the fhip of the King. Carry Ofcar "to Selma, and let the daughters of Morven weep. "We fhall fight in Erin for the race of fallen Cormac. The days of my years begin to fail: I feel the weaknefs of my arm. My fathers bend from their clouds "to receive their grey-hair'd fon. But, Tremor be"fore I go hence, one beam of my fame shall rife: in fame fhall my days end, as my years begun: my life fhall be one stream of light to other times (q)." Offian Speaks: "Did thy beauty laft, O Ryno! ftood the ftrength of car barne Ofcar +! Fingal himself paffed away, and the halls of his fathers have forgot his fteps. And fhalt thou remain, aged bard, when the mighty have failed? But my fame fhall remain; and grow like the mighty oak of Morven, which lifts its "broad head to the ftorm, and rejoiceth in the course "of the wind (r).”

The chief caufe of affliction, when a young man is cut

(p) The death of Cuchullin.

(q) Temora.

Several of Offian's heroes are defcribed as fighting in cars. The Britons in general fought in that manner.

Britanni dimicant

non equitatu modo, aut pedite, verum et bigis et curribus. (Pomponius Mela, 1. 3.)---[In English thus: "The Britons fight, not << only with cavalry, or foot, but also with cars and chariots."]

(r) Berrathon.

off in battle, is, his not having received his fame: " And "fell the fwifteft in the race, faid the King, the first to "bend the bow? Thou scarce haft been known to me; "why did young Ryno fall! But fleep thou foftly on "Lena, Fingal fhall foon behold thee. Soon fhall, my "voice be heard no more, and my footsteps ceafe to be "feen. The bards will tell of Fingal's name: the ftones " will talk of me. But Ryno! thou art low indeed, "thou haft not received thy fame. Ullin, ftrike the "harp for Ryno; tell what the chief would have been. "Farewel, thou firft in every field. No more shall I "direct thy dart, Thou that haft been fo fair; I be"hold thee not.. —Farewel (1)”? "Calthron rushed "into the stream: I bounded forward on my fpear: "Teutha's race fell before us: night came rolling

down. Dunthalmo refted on a rock, amidst an aged: "wood: the rage of his bofom burned against the car"borne Calthron. But Calthron ftood in his grief; he "mourned the fallen Colmar; Colmar flain in youth, "before his fame arofe (u)."

Lamentation for lofs of fame. Cuchullin fpeaks :: "But, O ye ghofts of the lonely Cromla! ye fouls of "chiefs that are no more! be ye the companions of Cuchullin, and talk to him in the cave of his forrow. "For never more shall I be renowned among the mighty "in the land. I am like a beam that has fhone; like "a mift that has fled away when the blast of the morn"ing came, and brightened the fhaggy fide of the hill. "Connal, talk of arms no more: departed is my fame..

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My fighs fhall be on Cromla's wind, till my footsteps. "ceafe to be seen. And thou, white-bofom'd Bragela,. "mourn over the fall of my fame; for, vanquished, "never will I return to thee, thou fun-beam of Dunf "caich (x)."

go

hand in

Love of fame begets heroic actions, which hand with elevated fentiments: of the former there are

examples in every page; of the latter take the following

(x) Fingal.

examples: "And let him come," replied the King. " I love a foe like Cathmor: his foul is great; his arm ftrong; and his battles full of fame. But the little "foul is like a vapour that hovers round the marshy lake, "which never rifes on the green hill, left the winds meet "it there (y)." Offian fpeaks: But let us fly, fon of "Morni, Lathmon defcends the hill. Then let our steps "be flow, replied the fair hair'd Gaul, left the foe fay "with a fmile, Behold the warriors of night: they are

like ghofts, terrible in darknefs; but they melt away "before the beam of the East (z).” "Son of the fee"ble hand, faid Lathmon, fhall my hoft defcend! They "are but two, and fhall a thousand lift their fteel! "Nuah would mourn in his hall for the departure of "Lathmon's fame: his eyes would turn from Lathmon, "when the tread of his feet approached. Go thou to "the heroes, fon of Dutha, for I behold the ftately fteps of Offian. His fame is worthy of my fteel: let "him fight with Lathmon (a).” Fingal doth not delight in battle, though his arm is ftrong. My re"nown grows on the fall of the haughty: the lightning "of my feel pours on the proud in arms. The battle 44 comes; and the tombs of the valiant rife; the tombs "of my people rife, O my fathers! and I at last must "remain alone. But I will remain renowned, and the

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departure of my foul fhall be one stream of light (b).” "I raised my voice for Fovar-gormo, when they laid"their chief in earth. The aged Crothar was there. "but his figh was not heard. He fearched for the wound "of his fon, and found it in his breaft: joy rofe in the "face of the aged: he came and spoke to Offian: King "of fpears, my fon hath not fallen without his fame: "the young warrior did not fly, but met death as he "went forward in his ftrength. Happy are they who "die in youth, when their renown is heard: their memory shall be honoured in the fong; the young tear

(y) Lathmon.
(z) Lathmon.
(a) Lathmon.
(b) Lathmon.

"of the virgin falls (c)" "Cuchullin kindled at the "fight, and darknefs gathered on his brow. His hand "was on the fword of his fathers: his red rolling eye on the foe. He thrice attempted to rush to battle, " and thrice did Connal ftop him. Chief of the Ifle of "Mift, he faid, Fingal fubdues the foe: feek not a part "of the fame of the King (d)."

The pictures that Offian draws of his countrymen are no less remarkable for tender fentiments, than for elevation. Parental affection is finely touched in the following paffage: "Son of Comhal, replied the chief, the "ftrength of Morni's arm hath failed. I attempt to "draw the fword of my youth, but it remains in his place: I throw the fpear, but it falls fhort of the "mark; and I feel the weight of my fhield. We decay "like the grafs of the mountain, and our ftrength re"turns no more. I have a fon, O Fingal! his foul has delighted in the actions of Morni's youth; but his "fword has not been lifted against the foe, neither has "his fame begun. I come with him to battle, to direct his arm His renown will be a fun to my foul, in the "dark hour of my departure, O that the name of Morni "were forgot among the people, that the heroes would

only fay, Behold the father of Gaul (e)." And no lefs finely touched is grief for the lofs of children: "We faw Ofcar leaning on his fhield: we faw his blood "around. Silence darkened on the face of every hero: "each turned his back and wept. The King ftrove to hide his tears. He bends his head over his fon; and "his words are mixed with fighs. And art thou fallen, Ofcar, in the midst of thy courfe! The heart of the aged beats over thee. I fee thy coming battles: I behold the battles that ought to come, but they are "cut off from thy fame. When fhall joy dwell at Selma? when fhall the fong of grief ceafe on Morven? "My fons fall by degrees, Fingal will be the laft of his race. The fame I have received fhall pass away:

(c) Lathmon.
(d) Fingal.

(e) Lathmon,