Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

Cemora.
■ THE ARGtTMENT.
MORNTMCr coming; on, Fingal, after a speech to his people, devolves the com-
imand on Gaul, the son of Morni ; it being the custom of the limes, tliat the
king should not engage, till the necessity of affairs required his superior va-
lour and conduct. The king and Ossian retire to the rock of Cormui, which
Overlooked the field of battle. The bards sing a war-song. The general
conflict is described. Gaul, the son of Morni, distinguishes himself, kills
Turlathon, chief of Merutli, and other chiefs of less name. t)n the other
hand, Foldath, who commanded the Irish army (for Cathnior, after thr ex-
ample ot Fingal, kept himself from battle) fights gallantly ; kills Connal,
chief of Dun-lora, and advances to engsge Gaul himself. Gaul, in the mean
<ime, being wounded in the hand by a random arrow, is covered by I'illan,
' the son of I'ingal, who performs prodigies of valour. Night comes on. The
horn of ringal recalls his army. The bards meet them, with a congratulatory
song, in wliich the praises of Gaul and Fillan are particularly celebrated-
The chiefs sit down at a feast. Fingal misses Connal. The episode of
■ Connal and Duth-caron is introduced ; which throws further light on the
ancient history of Ireland. Carril is dispatched to raise the tomb of ConnaJ.
The action of this book takes up the second day, from the opening gf the
pcem.
BOOK III.
NIGH tlfc blae streams of Lubar's wlading flood
Beneath the bending hill of branchy roes,
PV/io novv appears ? ( — Majestically tall
He on a mountain-oak, by nightly winds
"tJprooted, leans: — ) IV/io, but great Comlial's son,
Bright'ning amidst the last of his fam'd fields ?
Gray floats his hair upon tlie volant breeze,
And Luno's flaming sword lie Imlf unsheathes.