Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

ARGUMENT.
This piece, as many more of Ossian's compositions, is addressed
to one of the first Christian missionaries. The story of the
poem is handed down, by tradition, thus : In the country of
the Britons between the walls, two chiefs lived in the days of
Fin.sal, Dunthalmo, lord of Teutha, supposed to be the
Tweed ; and Rathrnor, who dwelt at Clutha, well known to
be the river Clyde. Rathmor was not more renowned for
his generosity and hospitality, than Dunthalmo was infamous
for his cruelty and ambition. Dunthalmo, through envy, or
on account of some private feuds, which subsisted between
the families, murdered Rathmor at a feast ; but being after-
wards touched with remorse, he educated the two sons of
Rathmor, Calthon and Colmar, in his own house. They
growing up to man's estate, dropped some hint3 that they
intended to revenge the death of their father, upon which
Dunthalmo shut them up in two caves on the banks of Teutha,
intending to take them off privately. Colmal, the daughter of
Dunthalmo, who was secretly in love with Calthon, helped
him to make his escape from prison, and fled with him to
Fingal, disguised in the habit of a young warrior, and
implored his aid against Dunthalmo. Fingal sent Ossian with
three hundred men to Colmar's relief. Dunthalmo having
previously murdered Colmar, came to a battle with Ossian ;
but he was killed by that hero, and his army totally defeated.
Calthon married Colmal, his deliverer; and Ossian
returned to Morven.