"that is departed, and left no ftreak of light be"hind. He is fallen, son of Fingal, in the battles " of his father. Rothmar, the chief of graffy "Tromlo, heard that my eyes had failed; he "heard that my arms were fixed in the hall, and "the pride of his foul arofe. He came toward Croma; my people fell before him. I took my "arms in the hall; but what could fightlefs Cro"thar do? My steps were unequal; my grief was << great. I wished for the days that were past, "days wherein I fought and won in the field of "blood. My fon returned from the chace, the "fair-hair'd Fovar-gormo. He had not lifted his "fword in battle, for his arm was young. But "the foul of the youth was great; the fire of va"lour burnt in his eyes. He faw the difordered fteps of his father, and his figh arofe. King of Croma, he faid, is it because thou haft no fon; is it for the weaknefs of Fovar-gormo's arm that "thy fighs arife? I begin, my father, to feel the "strength of my arm; I have drawn the fword of 46 my youth; and I have bent the bow. Let me meet this Rothmar with the youths of Croma : "let me meet him, O my father; for I feel my "burning foul. And thou fhalt meet him, I faid, "fon of the fightlefs Crothar! But let others ad

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vance before thee, that I may hear the tread of "thy feet at thy return; for my eyes behold thee "not, fair-hair'd Fovar-gormo! -- He went, he

met the foe; he fell. The foe advances toward "Croma. He who flew my fon is near, with all "his pointed fpears (a).”

The following fentiments about the fhortness of human life are pathetic.

(a) Cromą.

* Defolate

"Defolate is the dwelling of Moina, filence in "the house of her fathers. Raife the fong of "mourning over the ftrangers. One day we must "fall; and they have only fallen before us.

"Why doft thou build the hall, fon of the winged "days! Thou lookeft from thy towers to day: "foon will the blaft of the defert come. It howls "in thy empty court, and whistles over thy half"worn shield (a)." "How long shall we weep on "Lena, or pour our tears in Ullin! The mighty "will not return; nor Ofcar rife in his strength : "the valiant must fall one day, and be no more "known. Where are our fathers, O warriors, "the chiefs of the times of old! They are fet, like "stars that have fhone: we only hear the found of "their praise. But they were renowned in their "day, and the terror of other times. Thus fhall "we pafs, O warriors, in the day of our fall. Then "let us be renowned while we may; and leave our "fame behind us, like the last beams of the fun, "when he hides his red head in the weft (b)."

In Homer's time, heroes were greedy of plunder; and, like robbers, were much disposed to infult a vanquished foe. According to Offian, the ancient Caledonians had no idea of plunder: and as they fought for fame only, their humanity overflow'd to the vanquished. American favages, it is true, are not addicted to plunder, and are ready to beftow on the (b) Temora.

(a) Carthon.

first comer what trifles they force from the enemy. But they have no notion of a pitched battle, nor of fingle combat: on the contrary, they value themselves upon flaughtering their enemies by furprife, without rifking their own sweet perfons. Agreeable to the magnanimous character given by Offian of his countrymen, we find humanity blended with courage in all their actions.

Fingal pitied the white-armed maid: he stayed "the uplifted fword. The tear was in the eye of "the King, as bending forward he spoke : King of "ftreamy Sora, fear not the sword of Fingal: it "" was never stained with the blood of the van

quifhed; it never pierced a fallen foe. Let thy "people rejoice along the blue waters of Tora: "let the maids of thy love be glad. Why should'st "thou fall in thy youth, King of ftreamy Sora (a)!"

Fingal speaks:

"Son of my ftrength, he faid, take the spear of "Fingal: go to Teutha's mighty ftream, and fave "the car-borne Colmar. Let thy fame return be"fore thee like a pleafant gale; that my foul may "rejoice over my fon, who renews the renown of

our fathers. Offian! be thou a ftorm in battle, "but mild where the foes are low. It was thus my fame arofe, O my fon; and be thou like Sel"ma's chief. When the haughty come to my hall,

(a) Carric-thura.

"my

my eyes behold them not; but my arm is ftretch"ed forth to the unhappy, my fword defends the "weak (a)." "O Ofcar! bend the ftrong in arm, "but fpare the feeble hand. Be thou a ftream of "many tides against the foes of thy people, but like "the gale that moves the grafs to those who ask "thy aid. Never fearch for the battle, nor fhun "it when it comes. So Trenmor lived; fuch "Trathal was; and fuch has Fingal been. My

arm was the support of the injured; and the "weak refted behind the lightning of my steel (6).”

Humanity to the vanquished is display'd in the following paffages. After defeating in battle Swaran King of Lochlin, Fingal says,

« Raise, Ullin, raise the song of peace, and soothe "my foul after battle, that my ear may forget the ́“noife of arms. And let a hundred harps be near "to gladden the King of Lochlin: he must depart “ from us with joy: none ever went fad from Fin“gal. Oscar, the lightning of my sword is against "the strong; but peaceful it hangs by my fide when "warriors yield in battle (c)"" Uthal fell beneath

my fword, and the fons of Berrathon fled. It “was then I saw him in his beauty, and the tear "hung in my eye. Thou art fallen, young tree, I “said, with all thy budding beauties round thee. « The winds come from the defert, and there is no "found in thy leaves. Lovely art thou in death, “son of car-borne Lathmor (d).”

(a) Calthon and Colmal. (c) Fingal, book 6.

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(b) Fingal, book 3.
(4) Berrathon.

After

After perufing 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 ; Cathmor, 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 bofom of Cathmor. His towers rofe on "the banks of Atha: feven paths led to his hall : "feven chiefs ftood on these paths, and called the "ftranger to the feaft. But Cathmor dwelt in the "wood, to avoid the voice of praise (a)." "Rath

mor was a chief of Clutha. The feeble dwelt in "his hall. The gates of Rathmor were never clo"sed: his feast was always spread. The fons of "the ftranger came, and bleffed the generous chief "of Clutha. Bards raised the fong, and touched. "the harp joy brightened on the face of the "mournful. Dunthalmo came in his pride, and

:

rufhed into combat with Rathmor. The chief "of Clutha overcame. The rage of Dunthalmo "rofe: he came by night with his warriors; and "the mighty Rathmor fell: he fell in his hall, "where his feast had been often fpread for ftrangers (b)."

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

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(a) Temora.

(b) Calthon and Colmal.

VOL. I.

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