An Original Collection of the Poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and Other
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AN ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF THE POEIVIS OF OSSIAN, WHO FLOURISHED IN THE SAME AGE. COLLECTED AND EDITED BY HUGH AND JOHN MCALLUiM. MONTROSE: prtntfD at m KeiJielu Btbiti^^tv Office, FOR THE EDITORS, Py James Waif, Baokseller. 1816. DEDICATED (bY PERMISSION), TO THE JDUKE OF YORKy PRESIDENT, AND THE OTHER NOilLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS MEMBERS OF THE HIGHLAND SOCIETV PREFACE. After the Editors devoted much of their time in compiling materials for an additional collec- tion of Ossian's poems, and in comparing different editions collected from oral recitation; having also perused the controversy, written by men of highly respectable abilities, establishing the au- thenticity of the poems of Ossian; also, upon tiie other hand, considered what has been stated a- gainst the authenticity of these poems, by a few whose abilities are well known in other matters, though they have failed in this vain and frivolous attempt. Having contemplated both sides of the question, and weighed the balance with reason and justice; the Editors consulted with some of the first characters in the nation about the matter, who, after serious consideration, have granted their approbation for publishing the following sheets, and faroarcd the Editors, not only vath S-i yi\Kl<ACE. their wise and frieiully instructions, but also with tlieir liberal subscriptions and support to defray the expence of printing. This work is nuich indebted to the royal family, nobility, ladies, and gentry of Britain at large, particularly to the right reverend bishops and clergy of every denomination, and to the res- pectable subscribers of every rank ; the work is under double obligation to the benevolence of the people of England and lowlands of Scotland, al- though unacquainted with the original of these poems, who did not hesitate to give their generous assi.stance to prevent so ancient a monument of genius from being lost; and the Editors most respectfully and unfeignedly thank the public, for the more than ordinary encouragement given them for executing this work; the number of the subscribers does thera honour : they can present to the public a considerable number of the first names in the nation; as more have come to their bands than have appeared before the works of authors of established reputation, which the list of subscribers annexed to the work w ill testify. The novelty of cadence, in what is called prose version, though not destitute of harmony, will not to common readers supply the absence of the fre- quent returns of rhyme. It is, however, doubtful whether the harmony which poems migiit derive from rhyme, even in much better hands than that of the Editors, would atone for the simplicity and PREFACE. vii rnergy 'which they would lose. The determina- tion of this point shall be left to our readers. The language and the structure of these poems, like every other thing about them, bear the most striking characters of antiquity. The language iti bold, animated, and metaphorical; such as it is found to be in all infant states, where the words, as well as the ideas and objects, must be few; and where the language, like the imagina- tion, is strong and undisciplined. No abstract, and few general, terms occur in the poems of Os- sian : of course the conversation is figurative and poetical ; adorned with such tropes of rhetoric as a modern would scarce venture to use in the boldest liights of language. This charactci-, therefore, so conspicuous in the poems of Ossian, could be impressed so deeply on them only by one who saw, and felt, and bore a part in the scenes he is describing. A poet, in his closet, could no more compose like Ossian, than he could act like him in tlie field or in the mountain. The composition also, though it is, like the language, bold, nervous, and concise, is yet plain and artless; without any thing of that modern refinement, or elaborate decoration, which waits on the advancement of literature. No foreign ornament is hunted after. The poet is always content with those which his subject naturally suggests, or which lie within his view; farther than that tract of heavens, earth, air, and sea, %Hi PREFACE. M hich lay, we vuay say, ivitliiii his study, lie rarely niakes any f;xciirsion. The m ild and grand na- ture with v,hich he was familiar, and his own vast G^enius, were the only resources to whicli he cared to be indebted for his ornaments. Tlje love of novelty, which, in some decree, h common to all mankind, is more particularly the characteristic of that mediocrity of parts, which distinguishes more than the one half of the human species. Tliis inconstant disposition is never more conspicuous, than in what regards the ar- ticle of amusement. We change our sentiments concerning it every moment, and the distance be- tween our admiration and extreme contempt, is so very small, that the one is almost a sure presage of the other. The poets, whose business it is to please, must very often forfeit their own judg- ment to this variable temper of the bulk of their readers, and accommodate their writings to this unsettled taste. A fame so fluctuating deserves not to be much valued. Ossian is perhaps the only poet who never re- laxes, or lets himself down into the light and amusing strain; which I readily admit to be no small disadvantage to him with the bulk of readers. He moves perpetually in the region of the grand and the pathetic. Assuming it ihen, as we well may, that the poems now under conside- ration are genuine, venerable monuments of very remote antiquity, we proceed to make some re- PREFACE. IK marks upon their general spirit and strain. The two great characteristics of Ossian's poetry, are tenderness and sublimity: it breathes nothing of the gay and cheerful kind ; an air of solemnity and seriousness is diffused over the whole. Ojie key-note is struck at the beginning, and support- ed to the end: nor is any ornament introduced, but wiiat is generally concordant with the usual tone of melody. The events recorded are all i-erious and grave; the scenery throughout wild and romantic. The extended heath by the sea- shore; the mountain shade«l with mist; the tor- rent rushing through a solitary valley; fhe scat- tered oaks ; and the tom.bs of warriors c^^ergrown with moss— all produce a solenni attention in the mind, and prepare it for great and extraordijiary events. We find not in Ossian an. imagination tiiat sports and dresses its gay trifles to please the fancy; his poetry, more perhaps than that of any other writer, deserves to be styled the poetry of the heart. It is a heart penetrated with noble sentiments, and with sublime and tender pas- sions; a heart that glows and kindles the fancy; a heart that is full, and pours itself forth. Ossian did not w rite like modern poets— to please read- ers and critics. He sung from the love of poetry and song; his delight was to think of the heroes amongst whom he had flourished ; to recall the affecting incidents of his life ; to dwell upon his past wars, and love, and friendship, tijl, *S heeX-f ; X PREFACE. presses it himself, " there comes a voice to Ossian, and awakes his soul. It is the voice of years that arc gone; they roll before me witii all their deeds:" and under this Irnc poetic inspiration, giving vent to his genius, no wonder we should so often hear and acknowledge, in l)is strains, the pov.erfnl and ever pleasing voice of mdore. It is necessary here to observe, that tlie beauties of Ossiaus writings cannot be ft U by those who have given theui only a singh; or a hasty perusal. His manner is so ditlerent from that of the poets to whom we are accustomed ; his style is so con- cise and so much crowded with imagery; tJie iniad is kept at such a stretch in accompanying the author, that an ordinary reader is at first apt to be dazzled and fatigued rather than pleased. His poems require to be taken up at intervals, and to be frequently reviewed, and then it is impossible but his beaiities must open to every reader who is capable of sensibility. Those who have the highest degree of it, will relish them the m.ost. In every age, Ihc^re has been a neglect of living fiVitiiors: it often happens, tluit the man who writes, difters greatly from the same man in com- mon life; his foibles, however, are obliterated by death, and his better parts, his writings, remain his character is formed from them, and he, that was no extraordinary man in his ow t) time, be- comes the wonder of succeeding ages. From this PREFACE. xi fsoiirce, proceeds ouv venerati on for the dead. Their virtues remain, but the vices, which were once blended with their virtues, have died vi'ith themselves. Snblimily, a;5 belon^ino- to sentiment, coincides, iu a i>reat meaf^ure, wiili magnanimity, heroism, and generosity of sentiment. Whatever discovers human nature in its greatest elevation; wliatevei" bespeaks a high effort of soul, or shows a mind superior to pleasures, to dangers, and to death, forms what may be called the moral or sentimen- tal sublime, for whicli Ossian is eminently distin- guished. Wherever he appears, we behold the hero. The objects which he pursues are truly great: to bend the proud, to protect tlie injured, to de- fend his friends, to overcome his enemies by gene- rosity more than by force.