J. F. Campbell Collection > Report of the Committee of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian

J 32 REPORT ON THE
Having put in mossy towers in the preceding line,
he gives their tops in this, though the expreffion in
the original is fimply gu bard, on high. ' Warning
flame* is a metaphyfical idea, putting in a reflex at-
tribute of the fire, which was intended to warn his
friends of the diflrefs of their chief; but, in the
original, the epithet dull, blind , is a well known
Gaelic epithet for fmothered flame, which exadly
expfefles what every one has feen in kindling draw
or other materials for fire fignals.
* Bhuail an righ a cWiabh air ball ;
Gun dàil bha 'gha«bh (hleagh o 'chuJ
Chunnaic e gun chleth a ghaoth ;
Bha leadan air a chul a ftri ;
Cha robh sàmhchair an righ faoin. "*
'■ The king ftruck his breafl; at the fight (inftantly),
Without delay his rough fpear was from his back :
He faw the wind without ftrength.
His hair (locks) was on his back ftruggling.
The filence of the king was not vain.' (without meaning.)
* The king of Morven ftruck his breaft ; he affumed at once-
the fpear. His darkened brow bends forward to the coaft ; he
looks back to the lagging winds. His hair is difordered on hi» (
back. The filence of the king is terrible.'
It(
* Faoht, a word of which it is fcarcely pofllble to gi\'e an ade
quale tranflation.