Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

THE
DEATH OF CUTHULLIN,
ARGUMENT,
Cuthullln, after the annsof Fingal had expelled Swaran from Ireland,
continued to manage the affairs of that kingdom as the guardian of
Cormac, the young king. In the third year of Cuthullin's administra-
tion, Torlath, the son of Cantela, rebelled in Connaught ; and ad-
vanced to Temora to dethrone Cormac. CuthuUin marched against
him, came up with him at the lake of Lego, and totally defeated his
forces. Torlath fell in battle by Cuthullin's hand; but as he too
eagerly pressed on the enemy, he was mortally wounded. The
affairs of Cormac, though, for some time, supported by Nathos, as
mentioned in the preceding poem, fell into confusion at the death of
Cuthullin. Cormac himself was slain by the rebel Cairbar ; and the
re-establishment of the royal family of Ireland, by Fingal. fornishes
the subject of the epic poem of Temora.
Is the wind on the shield of Fingal ? Or is the
voice of past times in my hall ? Sing on, sweet
voice ! for thou art pleasant. Thou carriest away
my night with joy. Sing on, O Bragela, daughter
of car-bome Sorglan !
"It is the white wave of the rock, and not
Cuthullin's sails. Often do the mists deceive me
for the ship of my love ! when they rise round some
ghost, and spread their grey skirts on the wind.
Why dost thou delay thy coming, son of the ge-
nerous Semo ? Four times has autumn returned
with its winds, and raised the seas of Togorma,*
since thou hast been in the roar of battles, and
Bragela distant far ! Hills of the isle of mist 1
when will ye answer to his hounds ? But ye are
dark in your clouds. Sad Bragela calls in vain !
Night comes rolling down. The face of ocean
fails. The heath-cock's head is beneath his wing.
The hind sleeps with the hart of the desert. They
shall rise with morning's light, and feed by the
mossy stream. But my tears return with the sun.
My sighs come on with the night. When wilt thou
come in thine arms, O chief of Erin's wars?"
* Togonaa, L e. 'the island of blue waves,' one of the Hebrides.