Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

y& PREFACE.
faid for the Judgment of this Poet, and lefs for his Delicacy of
Sentiment. The Hiftory of one of his Epifodes may, at once,
ftand as a Specimen of his Want of both. Ireland, in the Days
of Fion, happened to he threatened with an Invafion by three
great Potentates, the Kings of Lochlin, Sweden, and France.
It is needlefs to infift upon the Impropriety of a French Invafion
of Ireland ; it is fufficient for me to be fxithful to the Language
of my Author. Fion, upon receiving Intelligence of the in-
tended Invafion, fent Ca-olt, OJjian, and Ofcar, to w^atch the
Bay, in which it was apprehended the Enemy was to land,
Ofcar was the worft Choice of a Scout that could be made, for,
brave as he was, he had the bad Property of falling very often
afleep on his Poft, nor was it pofTible to awake him, without
cutting off one of his Fingers, or dafhing a large Stone againft
his Head. When the Enemy appeared, Ofcar, very unfortu-
nately, was afleep. OJJian and Ca-olt confulted about the Me-
thod of wakening him, and they, at lafl, fixed on the Stone, as
the lefs dangerous Expedient.
Gun thong- Caoilte a chlach, nach gan,
Agus a n'aighai' chiean Gun bhuailj
Tri mil an tulloch gun chri', &c.
" Ca-olt took up a heavy Stone, and firuck it againft the Hero's
"■ Head. The Hill ihook for three Miles, as the Stone re-
•' bounded and rolled away." Ofcar rofe in Wrath, and his
Father gravely defired him to fpend his Rage on his Enemies,
which he did to fo good Purpofe, that he fingly routed a whole
Wing of their Army. The confederate Kings advanced, not-
withftandingy.