James Macpherson: An Episode in Literature |
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Page 12
... epic poetry of the Greeks with that of the Scots . Ossian was de- clared to be a hundred times more barbarous than Homer , his inspiration more simple , more naïve , closer to Nature itself . His poetry was really the poetry of the ...
... epic poetry of the Greeks with that of the Scots . Ossian was de- clared to be a hundred times more barbarous than Homer , his inspiration more simple , more naïve , closer to Nature itself . His poetry was really the poetry of the ...
Page 16
... epics was paid , we may note , by one of the most Teutonic of nations . It was about a century ago , when so much else was stirring , that Macpherson's vogue was at its height in Europe . Ossianic names became the fashion , and little ...
... epics was paid , we may note , by one of the most Teutonic of nations . It was about a century ago , when so much else was stirring , that Macpherson's vogue was at its height in Europe . Ossianic names became the fashion , and little ...
Page 17
... epics was not successful in sustained narrative . His tales have little structure , and are full of repetitions . In Temora , where his faults culminated , the reader stops midway in bewilderment , scarcely grasping even the outline of ...
... epics was not successful in sustained narrative . His tales have little structure , and are full of repetitions . In Temora , where his faults culminated , the reader stops midway in bewilderment , scarcely grasping even the outline of ...
Page 20
... epics of Caledonia were destined , however , to meet with indulgent critics once more , and to enjoy an Indian Summer of repute . Their reha- bilitation began where it might least have been looked for , at Oxford . It was preached there ...
... epics of Caledonia were destined , however , to meet with indulgent critics once more , and to enjoy an Indian Summer of repute . Their reha- bilitation began where it might least have been looked for , at Oxford . It was preached there ...
Page 34
... epics which no one had seen or heard of before . Genuine Gaelic poetry had been used no doubt as his material ; but he had transformed it out of all recognition , and swamped it with alien elements . A later writer has happily described ...
... epics which no one had seen or heard of before . Genuine Gaelic poetry had been used no doubt as his material ; but he had transformed it out of all recognition , and swamped it with alien elements . A later writer has happily described ...
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Common terms and phrases
ALFRED NUTT ancient antiquity appeared authenticity Bailey Saunders ballads bard battle beauty Blair Caledonian Campbell Caoilte Celtic Celts century character charm chief Clanranald clouds collection copies critics Cuchullin Dermid Edition eighteenth English epic Erin Fairy Fians Fingal Finn Finn's fragments Gaelic Ossian Gaelic poems Gaelic text Gaelic version genuine gilt Glen hand hero Highland Society's Report hills Homer Hume Ireland Irish island Isles J. F. Campbell James Macpherson John Francis Campbell Johnson Journal des Sçavans King of Lochlin land language legend letter literature Mabinogion Macpherson's friends Magnus Malcolm Laing manuscript modern Morven mountains Muileartach native original Oscar passages Patrick pherson poems of Ossian poet poetic poetry published recited Roman Scotland Scottish Scottish Highlands shield songs spear spirit story Swaran sword Temora thee thou tion tradition translation verses voice William Ernest Henley wind writing wrote
Popular passages
Page 10 - O thou that rollest above, round as the shield of my fathers ! Whence are thy beams, O sun ! thy everlasting light ! Thou comest forth in thy awful beauty ; the stars hide themselves in the sky ; the moon, cold and pale, sinks in the western wave ; but thou thyself movest aloive.
Page 101 - On a rock, whose haughty brow Frowns o'er old Conway's foaming flood, Robed in the sable garb of woe, With haggard eyes the poet stood ; (Loose his beard and hoary hair, Stream'd like a meteor to the troubled air,) And with a master's hand and prophet's fire Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre...
Page 174 - Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided ; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
Page 81 - COLMA IT is night; I am alone, forlorn on the hill of storms. The wind is heard in the mountain. The torrent pours down the rock. No hut receives me from the rain; forlorn on the hill of winds!
Page 212 - Of the embrace of angels with a sex More beautiful than they, which did draw down The erring spirits who can ne'er return...
Page 177 - Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced* Of Heaven, and from eternal splendours flung For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood, Their glory withered: as when Heaven's fire Hath scathed the forest oaks, or mountain pines, With singed top their stately growth though bare Stands on the blasted heath.
Page 173 - Far, far aloof th' affrighted ravens sail ; The famish'd eagle screams, and passes by. Dear lost companions of my tuneful art, Dear as the light that visits these sad eyes, Dear as the ruddy drops that warm my heart, Ye died amidst your dying country's cries — No more I weep. They do not sleep. On yonder cliffs, a...
Page 113 - Stretch their large spreading limbs below. But when the pride of their strength arose, they shook the hill with their heels. Rocks tumble from their places on high ; the green-headed bushes are overturned. At length the strength of Swaran fell : the king of the groves is bound.
Page 177 - Less than archangel ruined, and the excess Of glory obscured: as when the sun new risen Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.
Page 175 - As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow, or shower ; If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, ' The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.