Fingal Quotes

“Grant having little other inheritance than an honourable name in the traditions of his country, but anxious in these degenerate days, when matters of political economy are laid in the balance against the renown of thousands slain, to uphold the relative consequences of his family, was easily persuaded, as he approached the years of discretion, to prefer the sordid industry of commercial enterprise, to the bloody bravery of military aggression. Being still however desirous even in the craft of trade, to retain something of the freedom of his mountain ancestors, he determined, in the language of heroic fable, to espouse his fortune. With this intent, he embarked for America, and for more than five and thirty years, in the wilds of upper Canada, he pursued a course of life, which though strictly mercantile in its object, was, in its incidents and varieties, such as the mighty Fingal might from his throne of clouds have contemplated with satisfaction.”
― John Galt, Glenfell

“One can go scarcely a mile in the mountains without finding one of the scenes of Ossian, one of the caves of Fingal, the traces of their passing, or the site of their tombs.”
― Charles Nodier, Promenade from Dieppe to the Mountains of Scotland

“How hast thou fallen like an oak, with all thy branches round thee! Where is Fingal the King? where is Oscur my son? where are all my race? Alas! in the earth they lie. I feel their tombs with my hands. I hear the river below murmering hoarsely over the stones. What dost thou, O river, to me?”
― James MacPherson, Fragments of Ancient Poetry