Ossian Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

174 S U L-M A L L A of L U M O N:
Darkness dwells in Cluba of hai-ps : the race of kings is dif-
tant far J in battle is Conmor of fpears ; and Lormar * king of
ftreams. Nor darkening alone are they; a beam, from other
lands, is nigh : the friend of flrangers -j- in Atha, the troubler of
the field. High, from their mifty hills, look forth the blue eyes of
Erin ; for he is \:'s away, young dweller of their fouls. — Nor,
harmlefs, white hands of Erin ! is he in the fkirts of war ; he rolls
ten thoufand before him, in his diftant field.
Not unfeen by Oflian, I faid, ruflied Cathmor from his ftreams,
when he poured his ftrength on I-thorno J, ille of many waves.
In ftrife met two kings in I-thorno, Culgorm and Suran-dronlo :
each from his echoing ifle, ftern hunters of the boar !
call forth, by turns, all the powers of the which Sul-malla fpeaks of that hero, that
foul, prefent to us the different charafters flie had (een him, previous to his joi,,ing
of men : in times of peace and quiet, for her father's army ; tho' tradition pofitively
want of objedls to exert them, the powers aflerts, that it was, after his return, that
of the mind lie concealed, in a great mea- (befell in love with him.
fure, and we fee only artificial paffions and J I-thorno, fays tradition, was an
manners. — It is from this confideration I ifland of Scandinavia. In it, at a hunting
conclude, that a traveller of penetration party, met Culgorm and Suran-dronlo, the
could gather more genuine knowledge kings of two neighbouring ides. They
from a tour of ancient Gaul, than from the differed about the honour of killing a boar ;
minuted obfervation of all the artificial and a war was kindled between them. —
inanners, and elegant refinements of mo- From this epifode we may learn, that the
(Icrn France. manners of the Scandinavians were much
* Lormar was the fon of Conmor, and more favage and cruel, than thofe of
the brother of Sul-malla. After the death Britain. It is remarkable, that the
of Conmor, Lormar fucceedcd him in the names, introduced in this flory, are not
throne. of Galic original, which circumflance
i' Cathmor, the fon of Borbar-duthul. aflbrds room to fupnof-, that it had its
It v/ould appear, from the partiality with foundation in true hiftory.
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