A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

CHAPTER II.
Poetry uf the Celts— Antiquity and Authenlicily of tlie I'l
No question of literary controversy has been discussed -.vith greatei
acrimony and pertinacity, than tbjit regarding the authenticity of the
poems of Ossian, and never did Saxon and Gael exhibit more bitter enmity
in mortal strife than has been shown by the knights of the pen in
their different rencontres in the field of antiquarian research. We Lave
no wish to revive a controversy, in regard to wliicii in is scarcely possible
to add any tiling new ; but holding as we do the authenticity of these
poems, we shall adduce briefly the arguments in their favour ;is well as
those which have been urged against them ; leaving to the reader, whose
mind has not yet been made up upon the subject, to di-aw his own con-
clusions. But it seems really to be a matter of little importance whether
the poems from which jMacpherson translated, or any part of them were
actually composed by Ossian or not, or at what period the poet flourished,
whether in the third, or fourth, or fifth centuries. It is, we apprehend,
quite snfBcient to show that these poems are of high antiquity, and that
they belong to a very remote era.
One of the most remarkable traits in the character of the Celtic
tribes, tvas their strong attachment to poetry, by means of which they
not only animated themselves to battle, but braved death with joy in
the hope of meeting again their brave ancestors wlio had fallen in battle.
Either unacquainted with letters, or despising them as unworthy
of a warlike race, the ancient Celts set apart the Bards, whose business
it was to compose and recite in verse the military actions of their
heroes or chiefs, and by the same means they sought to preserve the
memory of their laws, religion and historical annals, which woidd other-
wise have been buried in oblivion. " When the Celts," says Posodonius,
" go to war, they take with them associates whom they call Parasites
who sing their praises, either in public assemblies, or to those who wish
to hear them privately. These poets are called Bards." It is well known
that the Druids to whom the education of the Celtic youth was com-
mitted, spent many years in committing to memory the compositions
of the Bards. This peculiarity was not confined to any one of tlie
Celtic nations, but prevailed universally among them. The Bards, a
tiording to Buchanan, were held in great honour both ainung the Gaids