Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 1

OITHONA:
A FOEM.
ARGUMENT.
Gaul, the son of Morni, attended Lathmon into his own
country, after his being defeated in Morven, as related
in the preceding poem. He was kindly entertained by
Nuath, the father of Lathmon, and feli in love with his
daughter Oithona. The lady was no less enamoured of
Gaal, and a day was fixed for their marriage. In the
mean time Fingal, prepaiing for an expedition into the
country of the Britons, sent for Gaul. He obeyed, and
went; but not without promi-ing to Githom to return,
if he survived the war, by a certain day. Lathmon too
was obliged to attend his father Niiiith in his wars, and
Oithor.a was left alone at Dunlathmon, the seat cf the fa-
ir.ily. Dur.romath, lord of Uthal, si^ppoied to be one of
the Orkneys, taking advantage of the absence of her
friends, came, and carried off, by force, Oithona, who had
formerly rejected his love, into Tromathon, a desert
island, where he concealed her in a cave.
Gaul returned on the day appointed ; heard of the
rape, and sailed to Tronathon, to revenge himself on
Dunrommath. When he landed, he found Oithona dis-
consolate, and resolved not to survive the losi of her ho-
nour. She told him the story of her misfortunes, and she
scarce ended, when Dunrommath with his followers ap-
peared at the further end of the island. Gaul prepared to at-
tack him, recommending to Oithona to retire, till thebatt'e
was over. She seemingly obeyed ; but she secretly armed
herself, ru. hed into the thi..kest of the battle, and was n:or-
taily wounded. Gaul pursuing the flying enemy, found
h.er just expiring on the field : hemourned over her, raised
her tomb, and returned to Morven. Thus is the story
handed dov.'n by tradition ; nor is it given with any ma-
terial difference in the poem, which opens with Gaul's
return to Dunlathmon, after the rape of Oithona.
Uarkness dwells around Dunlathmon. though
ihe moon shews half her face on the hill. The
du'jghter of night turns her eyes away ; she be-
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