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

THE DEATH OF OSCAR:
A POEM.
INTRODUCTION.
One cf the fr.ijrmer.ts of Ancient Poetry lately puhlislied, gives a dif-
ferenc accou::t of tlie death of Oscar the son of Os^ian. 'I he
translator, th.oiigh he well knew the more probable traditions con-
cerning that hero, was unwilling to reject a poem, whicii.ifnct
really of Ossian's composition, has much of his manner, and con-
eise turn of expression. A more correct copy of that fragment,
which has siiice come into the translator'.' hands, has enabled I'.im
to correct the mistake, into which a similarity of names had led
those who handed down the poem by tradition. The heroes of
the piece are Oscar the son of Carutli, and Dermid thcsonof nia-
ran. Ossiaii, or perhaps his imitator, opens the poem with a ia-
irentation for Oscar, and afterwards, by an easy transition, re-
cites th^ story of Oscar the son of Caruth, wlio seems to liave borne
the same character, as well as name, with 0^car the son of Ossian.
ThoHgh the translator thinks he has good reason to reject tVie
fjagment as tlie composition of Ossian, yet as it is, after all, stili
soinewliat doubtful whether it is or not, he has subjoined it.
'ITT'hy openest thou afresh the spring of my grief,
* V O son of AIpin,"inquiring how Oscar fell i My
eyes are blind with tears ; but memory beams on my
heart. How can I relate the mcumml death of the
head of the people ! Chief of the warriors, Oscar, my
son, shall I see thee no more !
He fell as the moon in a storm ; as the sun from the
midst of his course, when clouds rise from the waste of
the waves, when the blackness of the storm inwraps the
rocks of Ardannider. I, like an ancient oak on Morven,
I moulder alone in my place. The blast hath lopped
my branches away : and I tremble at the wings of the
north. Chief of the warriors, Oscar, my son ! shall
I see thee no more !
But, son of Alpln, the hero fell not harmless as the
grass of the field ; the blood of the mighty was on his
sword, and he travelled with death through the ranks
•f their pride. But Oscar, thou son of Curuth, thou