Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

ARGUMENT.
This poem is valuable en account of the light it throws
on the antiquity of Oflian's compofitions. The Cara-
cul mentioned here is the fame with Caracalla the fon
of Severus, who in the year 2 1 1 commanded an expe-
dition againfl: the Caledonians. The variety of the
meafure (hews that the poem was originally fet to mufic,
and perhaps prefented before the chiefs upon folemn
occafions. Tradition has handed down the ftory more
complete than it is in the poem. " Comala, the
daughter of Sarno king of Iniftore or Orkney iflands,
fell in love with Fingal the fon of Comhal at a feafl,
to which her father had invited him, [Fingal, B. III.]
upon his return from Lochlin, after the death of
Agandecca. Her pafTion was fo violent, that fhe fol-
lowed him difguifed like a youth, who wanted to be
employed in his wars. She was foon difcovered by
Hidallan the fon of Lamor, one of Fingal's heroes,
whofe love fhe had flighted fome time before. Her
romantic paffion and beauty recommended her fo much
to the king, that he had refolved to make her his wife ;
when news was brought him of Caracul's expedition.
He marched to flop the progrefs of the enemy, and
Comala attended him. He left her on a hill, within
fight of Caracul's army, when he himfelf went to
battle, having previoufly promifed, if he furvived, to
return that night." The fequel of the ftory may be.
gathered from the poem itfelf.