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

OF THE ORIGINAL. Xl5
He seized the mountain ash by the top.
And tore a branch from thp trunk,
But as he was taking liis steps toward land.
The rouzed morisler observed him.
Overtook him as he was swimming,
And grasped his hand in its gaping gorge.
Fraoch seized the monster by the jaw;
Would Fraoch had now his dagger i
The monster mangled his bosom fair.
And gnawing tore his arm away.
The white-handed maid went in haste,
Bearing a dagger which proved of no avail.
The conflict was but a conflict of short continuance.
His hand still held by its head :
Woful was the end of the strife
Between Fraoch, son of Fiach, and the monster.
They fell sole to sole.
At those brown stones on the shore :
Which as the gentle maid beheld,
She fell on the beach a cloud of mist. *
When she awoke from her torpor.
She took his softened hand in hers,
<* Though you be to night a mangled prey for fowls^
Great is the deed you have performed. "
• Aq cspresiion frequent in the Gaelic for swooning or fainting-