Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

ARGUMENT TO BOOK II.
The ghost of Crugal, one of the Irish heroes who was killed in
hattle, appearing to Connal, foretells the defeat of Cuthullin
in the next battle ; and earnestly advises him to make peace
with Swaran. Connal communicates the vision; but Cuth-
ullin is inflexible ; from a principle of honour he would not
be the first to sue for peace, and he resolved to continue the
war. Morning comes; Swaran proposes dishonourable terms
to Cuthullin, which are rejected. The battle begins, and is
obstinately fought for some time, until, upon the flight of
Grumal, the whole Irish army give way. Cuthullin and
Connal cover their retreat ; Carril leads them to a neigbbour-
ing hill, whither they are soon followed by Cuthullin himself,
who descries the fleet of Fingal making towards the coast ;
but, night coming on, he lost sight of it again. Cuthullin,
dejected after his defeat, attributes his ill success to the death
of Ferda his friend, whom he had killed some time before.
Carril, to shew that ill success did not always attend those
who innocently killed their friends, introduces the episode of
Comal and Galvina.