Hew Morrison Collection > Minor poems, and translations, in verse

EXTRACTS FROM GAUL. 153
literally, and line for line with the Gaelic. Some discrepancies from Dr
Smith's translation will be discovered in words and lines ; but it is humbly
submitted that they will be allowed a preference on strict comparison with
the original.
The preceding remarks apply also to the succeeding fragment from the
" Lament for Ossian," which, as it is inserted less for the sake of its poetry
than for the information it conveys regarding the manners of the Fingal-
ians, has less claim to an effort at versification.
It has been deemed expedient to insert here a synopsis of the entire poem,
to give the reader an idea of the continuity of the narrative :—
Fiugal summoned his heroes for an expedition to the Isle of Ifrona. A
flood in the river Strumon prevented Gaul from joining them in time ; but
he embarked in his ship, alone, on the succeeding day. On his voyage,
however, he passed his friends, who were returning with victory, unper-
ceived, and landed singly on the hostile shore. According to the chival-
rous idea of those times, he would not fly, but struck his shield as a token
of defiance to the islanders, against whom he singly maintained a desperate
conflict, till, fearful of a near approach, they rolled a stone from above,
which, striking his thigh, disabled him from moving ; and there he was left
by his enemies, dastardly alike and cruel, to pine and die. His wife Evir-
choma, anxious for his fate, embarked in a skifif, with her infant son Ogall
at her breast, in quest of her lord, whom she found in the pitiable situation
described, and was able to carry to her boat, where they were discovered
next morning by Ossian, who had sailed in quest of them, speechless and
dying. He was only able to save the child.