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

Ia6 !N'OTES ON TEMORA.
the feqael, it appears that the Fir-bolg were, by much the
moft powerful nation ; and it is probable that the Gael muft
have fubmitted to them, had they not received fuccours
from their mother-country, under the command of Conar.
^ Colg-er, fiercely-looking ivarrior. Sulin-corma, blue-
eyes. Colgar was the eldeft of the fons of Trathal : Corn-
eal, who was the father of Fingal, was very young when
the prefent expedition to Ireland happened. It is remark-
able, that, of all his anceftors, the poet makes tiie leaft
mention of Corahal ; which, probably, proceeded from the
unfortunate life and untimely death of that hero. From
feme pafiagcB, concerning him, we learn, indeed, that he
was brave, but he wanted condudt.
i The poet begins here to mark ftrongly the charader of
jFillan, who is to make fo great a figure in the fequel of the
poem. He has the impatience, the ambition, and fire
which are peculiar to a young hero. Kindled with the
fame of Colgar, he forgets his untimely fall. From Fillan's
exprefiions in this pafTage, it would feem, that he was ne-
glefted by Fingal, on account of his youth.
k Cathmor is diftinguifhed, by this honourable title, on
account of his generofity to ftrangers, which was fo great
as to be remarkable, even in thofe days of hofpitality.
• Fonar^ the man of fang. Before the introdudion of
Chriftianity, a name vfas pot impofed upon any perfon, till
he had diftinguifhed himfelf by fome remarkable adion,
from which his name fhould be derived.
? Brumo was a place of worlhip (Fing. B. VI.) in Craca,
which is fuppofed to be one of the ifles of Shetland. It
was thought, that the fpirits of the deceafed haunted it, by
eight, which adds more ten-or to the defcription introduced