Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

jFmgal:
AN ANCIENT EPIC POEM.
ARGT'MENT.
THE action of the poem being suspended by night, Ossian takes that opportu-
nity of relating his own actions at the lake of Lego; and his courtsliip of
l.verallin, who was the mother of Oscar, and had died some time before the
expedition of I'ingal to Ireland. Her ghost appeais lo him and tells him that
Oscar, \vlio had been sent, the beginning of the night, to observe the enemy,
was engaged with an advanced party and almost overpowered. Ossian re-
lieves his son ; and an alarm is given to Fingal of the approach of Swaran.
T/ie king lises, calls his army together ; and, as he had promised the pre-
ceding night, devolves the command on Gaul, the son of Morni ; while he
himself, after charging his sons to behave gallantly and defend his people,
retires lo a hill, from whence he could have a view of the batile. The battle
joins. The poet relates Oscai's great actions. But, when Oscar (in con-
junction with his father) conquered in one wing, Gaul, who was attacked by
Swaran in peison, was on the point of retreating in the other, fingal sends
LUlin, his bard, to encourage him with a war song ; but, notwithstanding,
Swaran prevails, and (iaul and his army ate obliged to give way. J'ingal,
descending from the hill, rallies them again : Swaran desists from tiie pur-
suit, possesses himself of a rising ground, restores tl;e ranks and waits the
approach of I'ingal. Tlie king, having encouraged his men, gives the neces-
sary orders, and renews the battle. C;uchul!in, who v/ith his friend Connal,
and Cavril his bard, had retired to the cave of Tura, hearing the noise, came
to the brow of the liill, which overlooked the field of battle, where he saw
Fingal engaged withtiie enemy. He, being hindred by Connal from joining
I'ingal, wlio was himself upon the point of obtaining a complete victor)-,
4ends Carril to congiatulate the king of his success.
BOOK IV.
WHO, from tlie mountain with the dulcet song
Like show'ry Lena's radiant bow, descends?
It is the maid with softest voice of love,
And arms of snow, of Toscar's noble race, —
Oft' hast thou heard my song, and oft' the tpar
Of sympathetic beauty freely fell.