Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

Ossianic and other Early Legends. 197
the motives, and passions, and conditions that interest
or sway humanity—suspense, surprise, love, hatred, rest,
action, fear, horror, love of countrj', of tribe, of family,
clanship, supernatural awe, &c. ;
and within the frame of
his story he introduced more or less skilfully all these
passions or sentiments, intimately combined with his
facts. Above all, as the modern scene is never to be
left unoccupied, and philosophical speculations or
poetical descriptions to be of brief continuance, so the
story-teller of ancient days admitted but few quiet inter-
vals in his narrative. Heroic or superhuman action,
quick succession of wild events, intercourse with spiritual
beings, &c. were all managed so as to surprise and keep
the interest of the assembly on the alert and tightly
strung, till it was his pleasure to bring his story to a
close.
There is no pressmg need of pity or contempt for the
childish taste possessed by the kings, and chiefs, and
franklins of old in common with their wives and
daughters. There was no such thing as learned leisure
for any of the conditions of humanity mentioned, no sit-
ting in comfortably furnished libraries, reading the last
quarterly, monthly, or weekly. The king was leading
his troops to battle, heading them in the strife, or de-
vising measures with his Ollamhs or Fileas for the better
or worse government of his province. The chief had a
less extent of land and fewer individuals to attend to.