Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

Book VI. F I N G A L. 371
The Weak I fpare, the Mighty only feel,
When Infolent, Corredlion from my Steel ;
But when they yield, again into the Sheath
65 I plunge the Sword, and ftop the Hand of Death.
Tall
don. This Intrufion was fo far from giving Offence, that they were both
received with the greateft Franknefs and Civility. There was no Diftinftion
made between the Acquaintance and Stranger, as far as the Laws of Hof-
pitality were concerned. The old Highlanders even thought it inconfiftent
with the Rules of Honour and Hofpitality, to afk the Stranger abruptly
from what Qiiarter of the World he came, or what his Bufinefs was. This
Queftion could not be decently put till the Year's End, if the Family in
which he fojourned was opulent, and the Gueft chofe to flay fo long.
V. 6^. I plunge the Sword.] The famous Sword of Fingal, was made
by Luno, a Smith of Loch/in, and after him poetically called fometimes the
Son of Luno. It is faid of this Sword, that it killed a Man at every Blow ;
and that the King never ufed it but in Times of the greateft Danger. This
Fable, probably, took its Rife from the uncommon Strength of Fingal.
In the fame Manner, fomething fupernatural was thought to be in the
Sword of the famous Scanderbeg. Of this Mahomet was fo convinced, that
he defired Scanderbeg would make him a Prefent of it. Which being grant-
ed, he returned it foon after, with a Complaint that the King had impofed
upon him, in fending a Weapon which no Way anfwered the prodigious
Things reported of it. Scanderbeg anfwered, that he had fent the Sword
which he always made Ufe of in Battle -, but had not fent the Arm, that
was wont to wield it upon thofe Occafions.
B b b 2 V. 67.