Ossian Collection > Fingal

P Tv E F A C E.
turns to oppofe Fingal's landing. CuchulHn afhamed, after his de-
feat, to appear before Fingal, retires to the cave of Tura. Fingal
engages the enemy, puts them to flight; but the coming oji of
night makes the vidlory not decifivc. The king, who had obferved
the gallant behaviour of his grandfon Ofcar, gives him advices con-
cerning his condu6t in peace and war. He recommends to him to
place the example of his fathers before his eyes, as the beft model
for his condutft ; which introduces the cpifode concerning Fainasol-
lis, the daughter of the king of Craca, whom Fingal had taken un-
der his protedion, in his youth. Fillan and Ofcar are difpatched
to obferve the motions of the enemy by night ; Gaul the fon of
Morni defires the command of the army, in the next battle ;
which Fingal promifes to give him. The fong of the bards clofes
the third day.
The -adlion of the poem being fufpendcd by night, Offian takes that g jy.
opportunity to relate his own aiflions at the lake of Lego, and Iiis
courtfhip of Evirallin, who was the mother of Ofcar, and had died
fome time before the expedition of Fingal into Ireland. Her ghoft
appears to him, and tells him that Ofcar, who had been fent, the
beginning of the night, to obferve the enemy, was engaged with
An advanced party, and almoft overpowered. Offian relieves his
fon ; and an alarm is given to Fingal of the approach of Swaran.
The king rifes, calls his army together, and, as he had promifed
the preceding night, devolves the comm.and on Gaul the fon of
Morni, while he himfelf, after charging his fons to behave gallantly
and defend his people, retires to a hill, from whence he could have
a view of the battle. The battle joins ; the poet relates Ofcar's
great adtiorfs. But when Ofcar, in conjundion mth his father, con-
quered in one wing, Ganl, who was attacked by Swafaii in perfon,
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