Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

THE POEMS OF OSSIAN. 361
he speaks with great tenderness of the daughters of the cotivent^ and
throws out some hints against the English nation, it is probable he
lived in too modern a period to be intimately acquainted witli the
genealogy of Cuchullin.
Another Irish Ossian, for there were many, as appears from their
difference in language and sentiment, speaks very dogmatically of
Fion Mac Cojuml, as an Irishman. Little can be said for the judg-
ment of this poet, and less for his delicacy of sentiment. The history
of one of his episodes may, at once, stand as a specimen of his want
of both. Ireland, in the days of Fion^ happened to be threatened'
with an invasion, by three great potentates, the kings of Lochlin,
Sweden, and France. It is needless to insist upon the impropriety
of a French invasion of Ireland ; it is sufficient for me to be faith-
ful to the language of my author. Fion^ upon receiving intelligence
of the intended invasion, sent Ca-olt, Ossian, and Oscar, to watch
the bay, in which, it was apprehended, the enemy was to land.
Oscar was the worst choice of a. scout that could be made, for,
brave as he was, he had the bad property of falling very often
asleep on his post, nor was it possible to awake him, without cut-
ting off one of his fingers, or dashing a large stone against his
head. When the enemy appeared, Oscar, very unfortunately,
was asleep. Ossian and Ca-olt consulted about the method of
wakening him, and they, at last, fixed on the stone, as the less
dangerous expedient.
Gun thog Caoilte a chlach, nach gan,
Agus a n' aighai' chiean gun bhuail ;
Tri mil an tuUoch gun chri', ^c.
" Ca-olt took up a heavy stone, and struck it against the hero's
head. The hill shook for three miles, as the stone rebounded and
rolled away." Oscar rose in wrath, and his father gravely de-
sired him to spend his rage on his enemies, which he did to so
good purpose, that he singly routed a whole wing of their army.
The confederate kings advanced, nctwithftanding, till they
came to a narrow pass, possessed by the celebrated Ton-iosal.
This name is very significant of the singular property of the hero
who bore it. Ton-iosal, though brave, was so heivy and un-
wieldly, that, when he sat down, it took the whole force of an
hundred men to set him upright on his feet 3gain. Luckily for
;he