Ossian Collection > Fingal

( I'l )
CON LATH and CUTHONA
A P O E M
DID not Olfian hear a voice ? or Is it the found of days that are
no more ? Often does the memory of former times come, hke
the evening fun, on my foul. The noife of the chace is renewed ;
and, In thought, I Hft the fpear. But Offian did hear a voice :
Who art thou, fon of the night ? The fons of Httle men are afletp,
and the midnight wind is In my hall. Perhaps It is the flileld cf
Fingal that echoes to the blaft, it hangs in Ollian's hall, and he feels
* Conlath was the youngeft of Morni's failed after him, and found him on the
fons, and brother to the celebrated Gaul, point of failing for the coaft of Ireland,
who is fo often mentioned inOffian^ poems. They fought ; and they, and their followers
He was in love with Cuthona the daughter fell by mutual wounds. Cuthona did not long
of Rumar, when Tofcar the fon of Kin- ,furvive: for (he died of grief the third day
fena, accompanied by Fercuth his friend, after. Fingal, hearing of their unfortunate
arrived, from Ireland, at Mora where death, fent Stormal the fon of Moran to
Gonlath dwelt. He was hofpitably re- bury them, but forgot to fend a bard to
ceived, and according to the cuflom of the fing the funeral fong over their tombs. The
times, feafted, three days, with Conlath. ghoft of Conlath came, long after, to Of-
On the fourth he fet fail, and coafting the fian-, to intreat him to tranfmit, to pofte-
ijland of -waves, probably, one of the He- rity, his and Cuthona's fame. For if was
brides, he faw Cuthona hunting, fell in love the op; aion of the times, that the fouls of the
with her, and carried her away, by force, deceafcd were not happy, till their elegies
in his (hip. He was forced, by flrcfs of were ccmpofcd by a bard. Thus is tHe
weather, into I- thona a Jefart ifle. In the flory of the poem handed down by.tra-
aican-time Conlath, hearing of the rape, ditioii.
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