Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

ac6 T E M O R A,
he v/ell knew the more probable tradition concern-
ing that hero, was unwilling to reject a poem, which,
if not rcaliy of OlTian's compofiiion, has much of his
manner, and concife turn of exprellion. A more cor-
redt copy of that fragment, which has fince come to
the tranllator's hands, has enabled him to correal the
miftake, into which a fimilarity of names had led
thofe who handed down the poem by tradition. —
The heroes of th:- piece are Of car the Ton of Ca-
Futh, and Dermid the fen of Diaran. Oflian, or
perhaps his imitator, opens the poem with a lamen-
tation for Ofcar, and afterwards, by an eafy tran-
fition, relates the itory of Ofcar the Ion of Oaruth,
who feems to have borne the fame charader, as well
as name, with Ofcar the fon of Ofiian. Though
the tranflator thinks he has good reafon to reject the
fragment as the compofition of Ollian ; yet as it is,
after all, ftill fomewhat doubtful whether it is or
not, he has here fubjoincd it.
WHY openeft thou afrefh the fpring of my
grief, O fon of Alpin, inquiring how Ofcar
fell ? My eyes are blind with tears ; but memory
beam.s on my heart. How can I relate the mournful
death of the head of the people! Chief of the
warriors, Ofcar, my fon, fhall I fee thee no more !
He fell as the moon in a ftorm ; as the fun from
the midll of his courfe, when clouds rife from the
wafte of the waves, Vv'-hen the blacknefs of the
ftorm inwraps the rocks of Ardannider. I, like an
ancient oak on Morven, i moulder alone in my
place. The blafh hath lopped my branches away ;
and I tremble at the wings of the north. Chief of
the warriors, Ofcar, my fon ! fhall I fee thee no
more !
But, fon of Alpin, the hero fell not harmlefs as
the grafs of the field ; the blood of the mighty was
on his fwcrd, and he travelled with death through
the ranks of their pride. But Ofcar, thou fon of
Caruth, thou haft fulkn low ! No enemy fell by thy
hand.