Ossian Collection > Fragments of ancient poetry, collected in the Highlands of Scotland

[ 35 ]
O maid, I have loft my fame. Fixed on
a tree by the brook of the. hill, is the
fliield of Gormur the brave, whom in
battle I flew. I have wafted the day
in vain, nor could my arrow pierce it..
Let me try, fon of Ofcian, the fldll :
of Dargo's daughter. My hands were
taught the bow : my father delighted hi i
my ikill.
She went. He ftood behind the
fhield. Her arrow flew and pierced liis^
breaft ^.
* Nothing was held by the ancient Highlanders more
eflential to their glory, than to die by the hand oflome
perfon worthy or renowned. This was the occafion
of Ofcur's contriving to be flain by his miftrefs, now
that he was weary of life. In thofe early timeg-
fuicide was utterly unknown amorg that people, and"
ro traces of it are found in the old poetry. Whence
the tranflator fufpefls the account that follows of the •
daughter of Dargo killing hgrfelf, to be the intcrpola--
tion of ibme later Bar J.
E z Blessed;^