Ossian Collection > Morison's edition of the Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

NOTES ON FINGAL.
Hoft againft hoft, with fhadowy fquadrons drew,
The founding darts in iron tempefts fiew ;
With ftreaming blood the flipp'ry fields are dy'd.
And flaughter'd heroes fvvell the dreadful tide. Pope.
Arms on armour cradling, bray'd
Horrible difcord, and the madding -wheels
Of brazen chariots rag'd, i!^c. Milio?7,
S SithaUin fignHies a bandfome man; Fiona, a fair maid ;
and Ardan, pride.
ii The ine of Sky ; not improperly called the Ijle ofMift,
as its high hills, which catch the clouds from the weftern
ocean, occalion almoft continual rains.
i One of Cuchullin's horfes. Dubhftron-gheal.
*"• Sith-fadda, /. e. a longjlride.
I The maid of Iniflore was the daughter of Gorlo king
©f Iniftore or Orkney iflands. Trenar was brother to the
king of Inifcon, fuppofed to be one of the iflands of Shet-
land. The Orkneys and Shetland were at that time fubjeft
to the king of Lochlin. We find that the dogs of Trenar
are fenfible at home of the death of their mafter, the very
inftant he is killed. It was tlie opinion of the times, that the
fouls of heroes went Immediately after death to the hills of
their country, and the fcenes they frequented the mod
happy time of their life. It was thought too that dogs and
horfes faw the ghofts of the deceafed.
"* — — — As when two black clouds
With heaven's artillery fraught, come rattling on
Over the Cafpian. Milton.
" The ancient manner of preparing feafts after hunting,
is handed down by tradition. A pit lined with fmooth
Hones was made ; and near it flood a heap of fmooth fiat
ftoncs