Ossian Collection > Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal > Volumes 3 and 4

An epic poem. X27
deep defcended on Moi - lena. The
voice of Fonar rofe alone , beneath his diflant
tree. It rofe in the praife of Cnthmor fon of
Larthon * ) of Lumon. But Cathmor did not
hear
*3 Lear - thou , fea - wave ^ the mme of the chief of
that colony of the iFh'-bolg, which nrft migrated
into Ireland. Larthoii's firft fettleinent in tiiat
country is related in the feventh book. He ,was
the anceftor of Cathmor i and is here called Lar"
thon of Lumon , from ;i high hill of that name in
Inis-huna, the ancient feat of the Fir-bolg.
The poet prefervfes the charader of Cathnior
throughout. He had mentioned, in the flrll book^
the averfion of that chief to praife , and we find
him here lying at the fide of a ftream , that the
noife of it might drown the voice of Fonar, who,
according to the cuftom of the times , fung his
eulogium in his evening - fong. Tho' other chiefs,
as well as Cathmor, might be averfe to hear their
own praife * we find it the univerfal policy of the
times , to allow the bards, to be as extravagant as
they pieafed, in their encomiums on the leaders
of armies , in the prefence of their people. The
^ vulgar) who had no great ability to judge for
themfelves , received the characters of their prin-
ces , entirely upon the faith of the bards. The
good effeds , which an high opiniozi of ici ruler
has