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NOTES

BY THE TRANSLATOR OF CESAROTTI'S

DISSERTATION.

Note A, referred to p. 293.

THE ABBE CESAROTTI, author of the Historical and Critical Dissertation, relative to the controversy on the authenticity of Ossian's poems, is well known in the republic of letters; not only for his elegant translation into Italian of the poems of Ossian, as published by Macpherson, and his translation of Homer into Italian, but also for his erudition as author of Reflections on the Philosophy of Language and Taste, and other acedemical and miscellaneous works. He was many years one of the professors at the University of Padua ; and, in the year 1796, the writer of these notes, on his way to Venice, became personally acquainted with him. It was then he first learned, that Cesarotti had given to the public, in 1763, an Italian version of Ossian's Fingal, and some other poems of the Caledonian bard, soon after Macpherson's translations had been first published. In 1772, Cesarotti published at Padua his second edition, in four volumes octavo; which included Temora, and the other poems in Macpherson's quarto edition of 1763. In the year 1780, another Italian edition of Cesarotti's Ossian was published at Nice, in three small volumes closely printed; to which he prefixed translations of Macpherson's Preface, a Preliminary Dissertation on the Æra and Authenticity of Ossian's Poems, and a Dissertation concerning the Caledonians.

And in 1801, a complete edition of Cesarotti's works was published at Pisa in ten volumes, four of which contain Ossian's poems, and the

former dissertations, together with Dr. Blair's Critical Dissertation, with notes by the translator. In this edition Cesarotti has given a Historical and Critical Dissertation of his own on the controversy respecting the authenticity of Ossian, now for the first time, it is believed, translated into English. In addition to the notes occasionally interspersed at the bottom of the pages of Cesarotti's text, he has annexed many interesting supplementary observations at the end of each book, or division of the poems. *These, with the variety of notes on Dr. Blair's critical Dissertation, may be deemed of sufficient importance and interest, to be noticed hereafter, should a new English translation of Ossian be carried into execution, in the mode now in contemplation under the auspices of the Highland Society.

Here it may not be improper to mention a well known fact; namely, that Bonaparte, while passing through the gradations of his military career, was in the constant habit of reading Cesarotti's translation of Ossian. The works of the Celtic, as well as of the Grecian bard, were his inseparable pocket-companions both in garrison, and in the field; and on his being raised to the Consular dignity, and afterwards annexing Italy to France, he did not pass over in silence the talents of the learned Cesarotti, but availed himself of the earliest opportunity to confer on him ecclesiastical dignities, and other signal marks of favour.

There is little doubt, that, on several occasions, Bonaparte has been actuated by the elevated sentiments of Ossian; more especially by those which inspire a love of fame and contempt of death. But how far the modern conqueror may have imitated the examples of Fingal or his warriors, as forcibly delineated by Dr. Blair in the following passage, must be left to the discriminating judgment of the future historian. "In all the sentiments of Fingal there is a grandeur and loftiness to swell the mind with the highest ideas of human perfection. Whereever he appears, we behold the hero. The objects, which he pursues, are always truly great; to bend the proud, to protect the injured, to defend his friends, to overcome his enemies by generosity more than

A translation of Cesarotti's notes and observations on the first book of Fingal is given at the end of the Dissertation prefixed to the first volume.

+ The Nice edition, printed in three small volumes, 12mo.

by force. A portion of the same spirit actuates all the other heroes. Valour reigns; but it is a generous valour, void of cruelty, actuated by honour, not by hatred. We behold no debasing passions among Fingal's warriors; no spirit of avarice or insult; but a perpetual contention for fame; a desire of being distinguished and remembered for gallant actions; a love of justice; and a zealous attachment to their friends and their country. Such is the strain of sentiment in the works of Ossian."

There are not wanting examples to prove, that Bonaparte, in his addresses to his army, both before and after any great battle, as well as in his proclamations and instructions to general officers, is a close imitator of the concise and energetic style of Ossian. In confirmation of this observation, we have, among many others, a striking instance in his instructions to General Kleber on quitting Egypt and returning to France.

These instructions are dated Alexandria, Aug. 2d, 1799, and were published at full length, in the year 1800, with many original intercepted letters, from the officers of the French army in Egypt to their friends in Europe; and their authenticity is unquestionable. In one passage Bonaparte says, "Accustomed to look for the recompense of the toils and difficulties of life in the opinion of posterity, I abandon Egypt with the deepest regret! The honour and interests of my country, duty, and the extraordinary events, which have recently taken place there, have alone. determined me to hazard a passage to Europe, through the midst of the enemy's squadrons. In heart and in spirit, I shall be in the midst of you. The army I intrust to your care is entirely composed of my own children."

The original runs thus: "Accoutumé à voir la recompence des peines et des travaux de la vie dans l'opinion de la postérité, j'abandonne l'Egypte avec le plus grand regret. L'intérêt de la patrie, sa gloire, l'obéissance, les évènemens extraordinaires qui viennent de s'y passer, me decident seuls à passer au milieu des escadres ennemies, pour me rendre en Europe. Je serai d'esprit et de cœur, avec vous. L'armée, que je vous confie, est toute com

posée de mes enfans."

We find in Plutarch and Strabo, that Alexander the Great of Mace

*Plut. in Vita Alexandri. Strabo, lib. 13.

don, and the Ptolomies of Egypt, as well as the philosophers and statesmen of their time, held Homer in such high estimation, that they did not hesitate to assist in strictly revising and reviewing his poems, restoring some verses to their former readings, and rejecting others which were deemed spurious. The edition of Homer, prepared by Alexander, is recorded to have been kept in a casket, (such was the inestimable value the hero put upon it,) which was found among the spoils of Darius; and thence it was named the edition of the casket.

Bonaparte has, in addition to what we have already noticed, recently given a substantial proof of his veneration for the Celtic bard, as well as for whatever relates to Celtic literature, by establishing under his immediate auspices a Celtic Academy at Paris. Why should not Great Britain follow an example so laudable, by establishing at some one of our Universities a professor of the Celtic language? Why should a language so useful to the antiquary be neglected in the Island, where it is still spoken? Why ought not the Celtic bard to be as much admired in his own as in foreign countries? Homer had justice done to his genius by his countrymen, independent of auxiliary aid; whereas Ossian's sublime effusions have been left to rulers, philosophers, and poets of other nations to appreciate. His merits have in his native land been even decried by men, who were influenced by sceptical notions, or were ignorant of the language in which his sentiments are conveyed. By the Abbé Cesarotti and other learned foreigners, who are convinced of the intrinsic value and genuineness of Ossian's works, his fame is amply vindicated and by the patriotic zeal and exertions of Dr. Blair and a few private individuals of this country, the authenticity of his poems is clearly established.

It may not be uninteresting to mention, that there is in the National Library at Paris (formerly the King's) a curious Celtic manuscript, purporting to be the speech of Clovis, the founder of the French monarchy, to his army on taking the field. It is said to be bound up with MSS. in the Persian, Arabic, and other languages. Efforts are making to obtain a copy of this MS. from Paris, with a fac simile of a few lines of the original to prove the age of the writing. The composition is said to be in the energetic style of the celebrated speech of Galgacus the

Clovis reigned King of the French in Gaul from 481 to 508.

Scottish chief, pronounced at the head of an army of Caledonians, when about to engage the Romans on the Grampian hills.*

The first sentence of the speech of Galgacus is thus given in Gaelic. "Co tric 'sa bheir mi fa 'near abhair a chogai so, agus an teinn anns am bheil sinn, tha mor mhisneach agam gu 'm bi 'n la 'n diu, agus ur aonachd inntinn, nan toiseach saorsai Bhreatain gu leir."

In Latin by Tacitus:

"Quotiens causas belli et necessitatem nostram intueor, magnus mihi animus est, hodiernum diem consensumque vestrum, initium libertatis totius Britanniæ fore."

The following is a translation of the passage:

"Whenever I reflect on the causes of this war, and the necessity to which we are reduced, great is my confidence that this day and your unanimity will prove the beginning of universal liberty to Britain."

In French by Monsieur de la Bleterie:

"Plus je considere la cause pour laquelle nous combattons, et l'étât où nous sommes reduits, plus je compte sur votre zéle unanime; et ce jour est à mes yeux l'époque d'une revolution, qui doit affranchir toute la Bretagne du joug de ses tyrans."

Note B. referred to p. 298.

The substance of Dr. Blair's Dissertation was originally delivered in 1763, soon after the first publication of Fingal, in the course of his lectures in the University of Edinburgh; and, at the desire of several of the hearers, it was afterwards enlarged and given to the public. In the year 1765, Dr. Blair published a second edition, to which was added an appendix, containing a variety of undoubted testimonies establishing the authenticity of Ossian's poems.

In the Appendix to the Report of the Highland Society of Scotland, lately published, respecting Ossian, there are inserted in chronological order, no fewer than eleven letters addressed to Dr. Blair, between the 4th Feb. 1760, and 2d Oct. 1764; all bearing the most explicit testimony, drawn from internal evidence, of the great antiquity of the poems, and

* Tacitus in his life of Agricola has given Galgacus's speech at full length.

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