Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

NOTES TO FINGAL. 147
The name of Cuchullin is by many connected ■with the Cullin Moun-
tains in Skye; but the country people call that "wonderful range a'
clmiTeann, "the cool-e-an," — and I think this fact is opposed to the
above opinion. The obvious meaning of the name is "the holly-wood,"
or " the hoWy-arje " ; and from the remarkably sharp serrated outline of
these mountains, they may readily suggest the figure of the holly-leaf.
The first fifty-five lines of this Duan are given as No. XIV. of
Macphersou's " Fragments," and the tale of Du-chomar aud Morna (1.
210-286) as Xo. XV.
- " Thou delight of strangers."
" A chinn-uidhe nan dàimh."
I do not see that any translator has succeeded in giving fully the
meaning of this often-recurring and highly laudatory expression, and I
freely confess my own inability in the matter. The words imply that
the ceann-uidhe 7ian dàimli was sought out by strangers, and that he
presided gracefully and hospitably at his table after receiving them.
Next to the praise of " breaking the shields " was this of exercising
free and graceful hospitality.
^ " Thy heroes cannot stand before me,
But shall fall low beneath my hand."
Strictly speaking, these lines should be " couJd not stand," &c., and
" would fall," &c. But, as repeatedly observed, moods and tenses are
so freely dealt ^vith by Ossian that it is imjjossible in many instances
to follow him in English.
* " Let CuchuUin yield him to the prince
Who is stronger than the mountain-storm."
These lines seem to have been addressed to Cuchullin by the specta-
tors of the combat.
* " As multitude of waters in the clouds."
A difficult line; but the mention of "lightning" in the next line shows
that stuadh here means " cloud," not " wave," its more frequent meaning.
" '• Thine arrow pierce the roe of Lena."
" Siùbhladh d' fJiiui tro' earba Lena."
The word for arrow is sometimes written iuthaidh, and sometimes, as