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

I
r-.ETTERS TO MR. MACKENZIE. 8?
LITERAL VERSION.
The seven chiefs bred at the lake of Lan,
Said Gaul, without hollow guile.
Though numerous with them their hosts,
I will match, and be victorious on the extended heath.
Said Oscar, great in might,
Let me to the king of Inistore,
At the head of the twelve chiefs of his council, (l)
Leave to me the subdviing of them.
Then spoke Connal next.
Let me be match for the king of Innlscon,
And for the sixteen heads fostered along with him :(2)
Or I myself 'will fall in their stead.
The chief of Mugan, (3) though great his boasting,
Sa^d brown-haired Dermid, without rage,
I will subdue for Fingal's heroes.
Or I will fall myself in his place.
It was the service chosen by myself.
Though I am without strength this night.
The king of Terman of battles fierce
His head to sever from his body.
Be ye blest, be ye victorious.
Said Fingal of the ruddy cheeks,
Manus, son of Gara, (4) of the hosts, (5)
Shall be subdued by me, though great lus rage.
Mr M.'s version of this passa;;^e, or of what this passage
Ivas in his edition, is as follows, Fingal, b. 5V. p. 53 —
" Mine, said Gaul, be the seven chiefs that came from
Lano's lake. Let Inistore's dark king, said Oscar, come
to the sword of Ossian's son. To mine, the king of Liis-
con, said Connal, heart of steel ! Or Madan's chief, or I,
said the brown-haired Dermid, shall sleep on clay-cold
earth. My choice, thou,';h now so weak and dark, was
G2