us here. The parallel is altogether unfair between prose, and the imposing harmony of flowing numbers. It is only by viewing Homer in the simplicity of a prose translation, that we can form any comparison between the two bards.

The shock of two encountering armies, the noise and the tumult of battle, afford one of the most grand and awful subjects of description; on which all epic poets have exerted their strength. Let us first hear Homer. The following description is a favourite one, for we find it twice repeated in the same words.* "When now the conflicting hosts joined in the field "of battle, then were mutually opposed shields, and "swords, and the strength of armed men. The bossy "bucklers were dashed against each other. The "universal tumult rose. There were mingled the

66

triumphant shouts and the dying groans of the vic"tors and the vanquished. The earth streamed with "blood. As when winter torrents, rushing from the "mountains, pour into a narrow valley, their violent "waters. They issue from a thousand springs, and "mix in the hollowed channel. The distant shepherd "hears on the mountain, their roar from afar. Such "was the terror and the shout of the engaging "armies." In another passage, the poet, much in the manner of Ossian, heaps simile on simile, to express the vastness of the idea, with which his imagin*Iliad, iv. 446. and Iliad, viii. 60.

66

ation seems to labour. "With a mighty shout the hosts engage. Not so loud roars the wave of ocean, when "driven against the shore by the whole force of the bois"terous north; not so loud in the woods of the moun"tain, the noise of the flame, when rising in its fury "to consume the forest; not so loud the wind among "the lofty oaks, when the wrath of the storm rages;

66

as was the clamour of the Greeks and Trojans, when, "roaring terrible, they rushed against each other."*

To these descriptions and similes, we may oppose the following from Ossian, and leave the reader to judge between them. He will find images of the same kind employed; commonly less extended; but thrown forth with a glowing rapidity which characterises our poet. "As autumn's dark storms pour "from two echoing hills, towards each other, approached the heroes. As two dark streams from high rocks meet and mix, and roar on the plain;

66

loud, rough, and dark in battle, meet Lochlin "and Inisfail. Chief mixed his strokes with chief, "and man with man. Steel clanging, sounded on "steel. Helmets are cleft on high; blood bursts and "smoaks around.-As the troubled noise of the

66

66

ocean, when roll the waves on high; as the last peal of the thunder of heaven, such is the noise of "battle."-" As roll a thousand waves to the rock, so Swaran's host came on; as meets a rock a thou*Iliad, xiv. 393.

66

"sand waves, so Inisfail met Swaran. Death raises "all his voices around, and mixes with the sound of "shields.-The field echoes from wing to wing, as "a hundred hammers that rise by turns on the red 66 son of the furnace."-" As a hundred winds on "Morven; as the streams of a hundred hills; as "clouds fly successive over heaven; or as the dark ocean assaults the shore of the desert; so roaring, "so vast, so terrible, the armies mixed on Lena's "echoing heath." In several of these images, there is a remarkable similarity to Homer's; but what follows is superior to any comparison that Homer uses on this subject. "The groan of the people spread "over the hills; it was like the thunder of night, "when the cloud bursts on Cona; and a thousand ghosts shriek at once on the hollow wind." Never was an image of more awful sublimity employed to heighten the terror of battle.

66

"As

Both poets compare the appearance of an army approaching, to the gathering of dark clouds. "when a shepherd," says Homer, "beholds from "the rock a cloud borne along the sea by the western "wind; black as pitch it appears from afar sailing

over the ocean, and carrying the dreadful storm. "He shrinks at the sight, and drives his flock into the cave: Such, under the Ajaces, moved on, the "dark, the thickened phalanx to the war."*"They *Iliad, iv. 275.

came," says Ossian, " over the desert like stormy "clouds, when the winds roll them over the heath; "their edges are tinged with lightning; and the "echoing groves foresee the storm." The edges of the cloud tinged with lightning, is a sublime idea; but the shepherd and his flock, render Homer's simile more picturesque. This is frequently the difference between the two poets. Ossian gives no more than the main image, strong and full: Homer adds cir cumstances and appendages, which amuse the fancy by enlivening the scenery.

Homer compares the regular appearance of an army, to "clouds that are settled on the mountain top, in "the day of calmness, when the strength of the "north wind sleeps."* Ossian, with full as much propriety, compares the appearance of a disordered army, to "the mountain cloud, when the blast hath "entered its womb; and scatters the curling gloom on every side." Ossian's clouds assume a great many forms; and, as we might expect from his climate, are a fertile source of imagery to him. "The "warriors followed their chiefs, like the gathering "of the rainy clouds, behind the red meteors of "heaven." An army retreating without coming to action, is likened to "clouds, that having long "threatened rain, retire slowly behind the hills.” The picture of Oithona, after she had determined to *Iliad, v. 522.

die, is lively and delicate. "Her soul was resolved, "and the tear was dried from her wildly-looking eye. "A troubled joy rose on her mind, like the red path " of the lightning on a stormy cloud." The image also of the gloomy Cairbar, meditating, in silence, the assassination of Oscar, until the moment came when his designs were ripe for execution, is extremely noble, and complete in all its parts. "Cairbar heard their words in silence, like the cloud of a shower; it stands dark on Cromla, till the lightning "bursts its side. The valley gleams with red light; "the spirits of the storm rejoice. So stood the silent

is

king of Temora; at length his words are heard."

Homer's comparison of Achilles to the Dog Star, very sublime. "Priam beheld him rushing along "the plain, shining in his armour, like the star of "autumn; bright are its beams, distinguished amidst "the multitude of stars in the dark hour of night. "It rises in its splendour; but its splendour is fatal; "betokening to miserable men, the destroying heat."* The first appearance of Fingal, is, in like manner, compared by Ossian, to a star or meteor. "Fingal, "tall in his ship, stretched his bright lance before "him. Terrible was the gleam of his steel; it was

like the green meteor of death, setting in the heath """ of Malmor, when the traveller is alone, and the "broad moon is darkened in heaven." The hero's * Iliad, xxii. 26.