And thou wouldst never be o’er-laden In menial office of the servant. Yes; and Ho Morag, &c. She, Morag, my own handsome maiden, With the hair circlets fair and fervent. Yes; and Ho Morag, &c. Further on the bard is “enthused” over the deeds of Montrose and _Alastair Mac Colla_, the brave Sir Alexander Macdonald of Antrim, whose heroism has not yet received its due reward: On Mainland, Canna, Eigg, they wander, Brave troops, whom Allan led delighted. Yes; and Ho Morag, &c. When great Montrose and Alexander Proud Lowland hosts had fought and frighted. Yes; and Ho Morag, &c. The close of this stirring lyric gives us the warrior-bard, after the ancient manner: Thick and close, and walked and plaited Blood-coloured, reddened be the heather. Yes; and Ho Morag, &c. Haste with thy walking maidens mated With our brave girls to march together. Yes; and Ho Morag, &c. [Illustration: (decorative end-of-chapter icon)] CHAPTER IX. MACPHERSON’S OSSIAN. “That is what I always maintained. He has found names, and stories, and phrases, nay passages in old songs, and with them has blended his own compositions, and so made what he gives to the world as the translation of an ancient poem.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON. Few questions have more deeply disturbed the equanimity of the literary world than the age and authorship of the “Poems of Ossian.” The national antagonism and prejudices of three kingdoms were roused over the name of the poor old bard, when his reputed works first appeared nearly one hundred and thirty years ago. A controversy of exceeding keenness ensued; it has not ended yet; and we may well question whether it will ever be satisfactorily settled. It is proposed here to give the history of the poems and annex the opinions of all those entitled to be heard on the question of authorship. THE OSSIANIC QUESTION. 1. _Sketch of the “Poems of Ossian._”—In the year 1759 James Macpherson was tutor in the family of Graham of Balgowan, at Moffat. There he met John Home, the author of “Douglas.” Home was told by Professor Adam Fergusson, a Gaelic-speaking Highlander, that some remains of ancient Gaelic poetry existed; and getting translations of specimens from Macpherson, a native of Badenoch, he showed them to Drs Blair, Fergusson, and Robertson, by whom they were highly appreciated. Importuned by them, he translated all he had, and published in 1760 “Fragments of Ancient Poetry Collected in the Highlands of Scotland.”