MacPhursan, Janies

THE

POEMS OF OSSIAN,

IN

THE ORIGINAL GAELIC,

WITH A

LITERAL TRANSLATION INTO LATIN,

1

BY THE LATE ROBERT MACFARLAN, A. M.

TOGETHER WITH

A DISSERTATION ON THE AUTHENTICITY

OF THE POEMS,

BY SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, BART.

AND

A TRANSLATION FROM THE ITALIAN OF THE ABBE CESAROTTI'S DISSER:
TATION ON THE CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE AUTHENTICITY

OF OSSIAN, WITH NOTES AND A SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY,

BY JOHN M'ARTHUR, LL. D.

PUBLISHED UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE HIGHLAND

SOCIETY OF LONDON.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEBIT.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY W. BULMER AND CO. CLEVELAND-ROW;
SOLD BY G. AND W. NICOL, BOOKSELLERS TO HIS MAJESTY,
PALL-MALL; CREECH, BELL AND BRADFUTE, CONSTABLE

AND CO. EDINBURGH; AND ARCHER, DUBLIN.

In the poems now published, some words and pas-
sages, which are to be found in Mr. Macpherson's
translation, are wanting. These might have been
supplied from other transcripts, or oral tradition;
but the Committee appointed to superintend the
printing of this Work, were scrupulous about mak-
ing any addition to the manuscripts left by Mr.
Macpherson.

A celebrated Italian poet, Cesarotti, having not only translated Ossian's Poems in a very superior manner, but having also written a Dissertation on their authenticity and beauties, which is not generally accessible to English readers, it was thought proper to annex to this Work a translation of the same, which is inserted in the Third Volume, together with Notes and a Supplemental Essay.

The Committee beg leave also, to allude to the translation of the first book of Fingal, by the Rev. Mr. Ross, included in the Preliminary Dissertation, which furnishes the most satisfactory evidence, that

* A translatiou of Cesarotti's notes, on the first book of Fingal, is annexed to the Preliminary Dissertation, as a proof of that author's critical taste, and of the excellence of his judgment in poetical discussions.