Offian, "over the defert like ftormy clouds, when "the winds roll them over the heath; their edges "are tinged with lightening; and the echoing cc groves foresee the storm *." The edges of the cloud tinged with lightning, is a fublime idea; but the fhepherd and his flock, render Homer's fimile more picturesque. This is frequently the difference between the two poets. Offian gives no more than the main image, ftrong and full. Homer adds circumftances and appendages, which amuse the fancy by enlivening the scenery.

Homer compares the regular appearance of an army, to "clouds that are fettled on the moun"tain top, in the day of calmnefs, when the "ftrength of the north wind fleeps +." Offian, with full as much propriety, compares the appearance of a difordered army, to "the moun"tain cloud, when the blaft hath entered its "womb; and scatters the curling gloom on every "fide." Offian's clouds affume a great many forms; and, as we might expect from his climate, are a fertile fource of imagery to him. "The "warriors followed their chiefs, like the gather"ing 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 flowly behind "the hills." The picture of Oithona, after fhe had determined to die, is lively and delicate. "Her foul was refolved, and the tear was dried

*Vol. i. p. 55. P. 311.

+ Iliad, v. 522. Vol. i. p. 7.

↑ Vol. i. Vol. i. p. 233.

" from

"from her wildly-looking eye. A troubled joy rose "on her mind, like the red path of the lightning

on a ftormy cloud*." The image alfo of the gloomy Cairbar, meditating, in filence, the affaffination 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 filence, like the cloud of a shower; "it ftands dark on Cromla, till the lightning burfts "its fide. The valley gleams with red light; "the fpirits of the storm rejoice. So stood the "filent king of Temora; at length his words are "heard +."

Homer's comparison of Achilles to the DogStar, is very fublime. "Priam beheld him rufh"ing along the plain, fhining in his armour, like "the ftar of autumn; bright are its beams, dif"tinguished amidst the multitude of ftars in the "dark hour of night. It rifes in its fplendor, "but its splendor is fatal; betokening to miferable "men, the destroying heat ." The first appearance of Fingal, is, in like manner, compared by Offian, to a star or meteor. Fingal, tall in

his fhip, ftretched his bright lance before him. "Terrible was the gleam of his fteel; it was like "the green meteor of death, fetting in the heath "of Malmor, when the traveller is alone, and the "broad moon is darkened in heaven §." The hero's appearance in Homer, is more magnificent, in Offian, more terrible.

A tree cut down, or overthrown by a storm, is a fimilitude frequent among poets for defcribing the fall of a warrior in battle. Homer employs it often. But the most beautiful, by far, of his comparisons, founded on this object, indeed one of the most beautiful in the whole Iliad, is that on the death of Euphorbus. "As the young "and verdant olive, which a man hath reared "with care in a lonely field, where the springs of "water bubble around it; it is fair and flourishing; "it is fanned by the breath of all the winds, and "loaded with white bloffoms; when the fudden "blast of a whirlwind defcending, roots it out "from its bed, and ftretches it on the dust *." To this, elegant as it is, we may oppose the following fimile of Offian's, relating to the death of the three fons of Ufnoth. "They fell, like "three young oaks which stood alone on the hill. "The traveller faw the lovely trees, and wondered "how they grew fo lonely. The blast of the "defert came by night, and laid their green heads "low. Next day he returned; but they were "withered, and the heath was bare +." Malvina's allufion to the fame object, in her lamentation over Ofcar, is fo exquifitely tender, that I cannot forbear giving it a place alfo. "I was a lovely tree in thy "prefence, Ofcar! with all my branches round

me. But thy death came, like a blast from the “defert, and laid my green head low. The fpring "returned with its fhowers; but no leaf of mine

* Iliad, xvii. 53.

+ Vol. i. p. 238.

"arofe.**

"arofe*" Several of Offian's fimiles taken from trees, are remarkably beautiful, and diverfified with well chofen circumftances; fuch as that upon the death of Ryno and Orla: "They have fallen "like the oak of the defart; when it lies across a

ftream, and withers in the wind of the moun"tains:" Or that which Offian applies to himfelf, "I, like an ancient oak in Morven, moul"der alone in my place; the blast hath lopped my branches away; and I tremble at the wings of the north."

As Homer exalts his heroes by comparing them to gods, Offian makes the fame use of comparisons taken from fpirits and ghofts. Swaran" roared "in battle, like the fhrill spirit of a storm that fits "dim on the clouds of Gormal, and enjoys the "death of the mariner §." His people gathered around Erragon, "like ftorms around the ghoft "of night, when he calls them from the top of "Morven, and prepares to pour them on the land "of the ftranger ." "They fell before my "fon, like groves in the defert, when an angry ghoft rushes through night, and takes their green heads in his hand." In fuch images, Offian appears in his ftrength; for very feldom have fupernatural beings been painted with fo much fublimity, and fuch force of imagination, as by Even Homer, great as he is, must yield to him in fimiles formed upon these. Take,

this poet.

for inftance, the following, which is the most remarkable of this kind in the Iliad. "Meriones "followed Idomeneus to battle, like Mars the

26

destroyer of men, when he rushes to war. "Terror, his beloved fon, ftrong and fierce, at"tends him; who fills with difmay, the most "valiant hero. They come from Thrace, armed against the Ephyrians and Phlegyans; nor do

they regard the prayers of either; but difpofe of fuccefs at their will." The idea here, is undoubtedly noble: but obferve what a figure Offian fets before the aftonifhed imagination, and with what fublimely terrible circumftances he has heightened it. "He rufhed in the found of his "arms, like the dreadful fpirit of Loda, when *he comes in the roar of a thousand ftorms, and "fcatters battles from his eyes. He fits on a cloud "over Lochlin's feas. His mighty hand is on

his word. The winds lift his flaming locks.. "So terrible was Cuchullin in the day of his • fame t."

Homer's comparisons relate chiefly to martial fubjects, to the appearances and motions of armies, the engagement and death of heroes, and the various incidents of war. In Offian, we find a greater variety of other fubjects illuftrated by fimiles; particularly, the fongs of bards, the beauty of women, the different circumftances of old age, forrow, and private diftrefs; which give occafion to much beautiful imagery. What, for instance, can be more delicate and moving, than the fol+ Vol. i. p. 213.

*Had kiii. 298.