Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

ARGUMEJ^T.
This book opens with a speech of Fingal, who sees
Cathmor descending to the assistance of his fljiing
army. The king dispatches -Ossian to the relief
of Fillan. He himself retires behind the rock of
Cormul, to avoid the sight of the engagement be-
tween his son and Cathmor. Ossian advances.
The descent of Cathmor described. He rallies the
army, renews the battle, and, before Ossian could
arrive, engages Fillan himself. Upon the approach
of Ossian, the combat between the two heroes
ceases. Ossian and Cathmor prepare to fight, but
night coming on, prevents them. Ossian returns
to the place where Cathmor and Fillan fought. He
finds Fillan mortally wounded, and leaning against
a rock. Their discourse. Fillan dies : his body is
laid, by Ossian, in a neighbouring cave. The Ca-
ledonian army return to Fingal. He questions
them about his son, and, understanding that he i
•was killed, retires, in silence, to the rock of Cor-
mul. Upon the retreat of the army of Fingal, the >
Fir-bolg advance. Cathmor finds Bran, one of
the dogs of Fingal, lying on the shield of Fillan,
before the entrance of the cave, where the body
of that hero lay. His reflections thereupon. He
returns, in a melancholy mood, to his army. Mal-
thos endeavours to comfort him, by the example '
of his father Borbar-duthul. Cathmor retires t
rest. The song of Sul-malla concludes the book,
which ends about the middle of the third night, ■
from the opening of the poem.