Ossian Collection > Dean of Lismore's book

THE BOOK OF
Hugh (lany's suu, who never quailed,
The three Fiiiiis, and with tliem Fead,
Glass and Gow and Gariy,
The long-haired Galve, and the impetuous Conau ; '
Gaul and Crooiu, Gaul's son,
Socach, the son of Finn, and Bran ■}
Caoilte, the son of warlike Konan,'"
\Vlio swiftest ran, and leaped o'er valleys,
The readiest to scatter gold,
One of them of sweetest voice ;
Bayne, sou of Brassil of the swords,
The son of Cromchin, son of Small,
And Oscar, son of powerful Garry,"*
The three Balas, and the three Skails,
Three battalions from Glenstroil,
Three bands from ]Monaree ;
Caoilte's seven sons best trained to fight ;
The three named Glass from Glassrananseir ;
The three Beths from Cnokandurd,
Three of mifailing excellence ;
Deacli Fichid's son from Borruinn mor,
Of them who always conquered.
Here have I seen the Feine
Whose liberal hand did music buy;''
' Conan is usually called " Conau
maol," or "Conan tlie bald," and was
known among the Feine for bis tbougbt-
Icss impetuosity. He was, in conse-
quence of tbis peculiar temperament,
ever getting iuto difficulties, and expos-
ing himself to the ridicule and reprehen-
sion of bis companions. There are both
a river and valley in Scotland called after
him, the River Conan and Stratbconau
in Rosshire.
^ " Bran," the name of Finn's cele-
brated bound, is here obviously the name
of a man. There is a "strath" or val-
ley in Rosshire which still retains his
name, Strathbran. The e.\tent to wbicli
Fenian names are found in Scottish topo-
graphy, goes far to show the close con-
nexion of the Feine themselves with that
country.
3 Caoilte was one of the most famous
of the Feine. He was distinguished for
his swiftness, and not without reason,
as is shown in his chase of Loinn mac
Liobhaidh, the Fenian blacksmith, whom
he overtook, although he could cross a
valley at a stride.
* This Oscar must be distinsuislu'il
from the famous Oscar, the Poet's son.
Of the latter he never speaks without
applying to him some term of endear-
ment, as " my son," " my own son,"
elc.
' This line refers to the liljcral rewards