Ossian Collection > Fingal

PREFACE.
g. II. Tut. ghofl: of Crngal, one of the Irifh heroes who was killed in
battle, appearing to Connal, foretels the defeat of Cuchullin in the
next battle; and earneftly advifes him to make peace with Swaran.
Connal communicates the villon ; but Cuchullin is inflexible from a
principle of honour that he would not be the firft to fiie for peace,
and refolved to continue the war. Morning comes ; Swaran pro-
pofes difhonourable terms to Cuchullin, which are rejected. The
hattls begins, and is obllinately fought for fome time, until, upon
the flight of Grumal, the whole Irifli army gave way. Cuchullin
and Connal cover their retreat : Carril leads theni to a neighbouring
hill, whither they are foon followed by Cuchullin himfelf, who
defcries the fleet of Fingal making towards the coaft ; but, night
coming on, he loft fight of it again. Cuchullin, dejecfled after his de-
feat, attributes his ill fuccefs to the death of Ferda his friend, vrhom
he had killed fome time before. Carril, to fliew that ill fuccefs did
not always attend thofe who innocently killed their friends, intro-
duces the epifode of Comal and Galvina.
E III. Cuchullin, pleafed with Carril's flory, infifts with him for more
of his fongs. The bard relates the acTtions of Fingal in Lochlin, and
death of Agandecca the beautiful fifter of Swaran. He had fcarce
finiHied when Calmar the fon of Matha, who had advifed the firft
battle, came wounded from the field, and told them of Svvaran's defign
to f'jrprife the remains of the Irifh army. He himfelf propofes to
witbftand fingly the whole force of the enemy, in a narrow pafs, till
the Irifh fhould make good their retreat. Cuchullin, touched with the
gallant propofal of Calmar, refolves to accompany him, and orders
Carril to carry off the few that remained of the Irifh. Morning
comes, Calmar dies of his wounds ; and, the fliips of the Caledo-
.tiians appearing, Swaran gives over the purfuit of the Irifli, and re-
turns