Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal > Volume 2

T E M O R A :
THE ARGUMENT.
*rhis book opens with a speech of Fingal, who sees Cathmor descend-
ing to the assistance of his flying army. The king dispatches Os-
sian to the relief of Fillaii. He himself retires beliind tljC rock of
Cormul, to avoid the sight of the engagement between his son ar.d
Cathmor, OSoian advances. The descent of Caihnnor described.
He rallies the army, renews the battle, and, before Osrian could
arrive, engages Fillan himself- Upon the approach »f Ossian,
the combat between tlic two heroe;; ceases. Ossian and Cathmor
prepare to. nght, but night coming on, prevents them. Ossiau
returns to tlie place wl^'^re Cathmor and Fillan fouglit. He f.ndi
Fillan mort.i!Iy wounded, and leaning against a rock. Thcif
discourse. Fiilan dies : his body is laid, by Osi:.ian, in a neighbour-
ing cave. The Caledonian army return to Fingal. He questions
them about his son, and understanding that he was killed, retires j
in silence, to the rock of Corn.ul Upon tlie retreat of the army
cf Fingal, the army of the Firholg advance. Cathmor finds Bran,
one of the dogs of Fingal, lying on the shield uf Fillan, before the
entrance of the cave, where the body of that hero lay. Hi^ rejec-
tions thereupon. He returns, in a melancholy mo«d, to his ar-
my. Malthos endeavours to comfort him, by the example of hii
father, Borbar-duthul. Cathmor retires to rest Tlie song of
Sul-rr:al!a ccnclndcs the bock, which ends about the middle of the
third night from the opening of the poem.
BOOK VI.
**' 1^ ATHMOR rises on his echoing hill ! Shall Fingal
Vj take the sword of Luno ? But what shall be-
come of thy fame, son of white-bosomed Clatho ? Turn
not thine eyes from Fingal, daughter of Inistore. I
sliall not quench thy early beam ; it shines along my
sou). But rise, O v/ood-skirted Mora, rise between the
war and me ! Why should Fingal behold the strife,
le'it Ijis dark-haired warrior should fall ! Amidst the
song, O Carril, pour tl^e sound of the trembling harp ;
here are the voices of rocks, and brigiit tumbling of
water?. Father of Oscar, lift the spear ; defend the
young in arras. Conceal thy steps from Fillan's eyes.
He must not know that I doubt his steel. No cloud
of mine shall rise, my son, upon thy soul of fire 1"'