The Union to Scott

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ...to this passion. It has been seen that among his contemporaries and fellow-countrymen there were some who showed signs of the coming romantic movement; but he was the first in the English language who powerfully and decisively expressed it. And this must be set down as his signal merit. Far from being a mere translator, he was peculiarly original Not that Macpherson created 1Macpherson borrows, or, if the word is preferred, steals freely. It is the general spirit that is referred to as original. the spirit of romance. Three years after Fingal, Percy's Religues appeared; and Chatterton's work and life were both finished within eight years of the publication of the Highland epic. These three rank as contemporaneous and independent pioneers. To them principally we owe the romantic revival. It does not follow that Macpherson was a man of great genius. On the contrary, the range of his ideas was so narrow that to read any one of his poems is to become master of almost all that he had to say. The same expressions, the same images, and almost identical situations recur again and again. Repetition was affected no doubt partly to give an aspect of antiquity; but in Macpherson it goes deeper and discloses poverty of mind. Still, to deny him the praise of having well expressed his few thoughts is unjust. There is much fustian in his style, and it speedily palls upon the ear; but the peculiar poetic prose which he formed for himself has, in little hits, a powerful charm. His descriptions of scenery and of aspects of nature are often very beautiful. We ask again and again why they are there, but he who can forget their incongruity with a poem of the third century must feel their truth. Macpherson knew the country in which he laid his...