Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

97
We all knew that death was not far from the
two, but it was not long till we had cause of joy,
when fell without vigour the mighty man.
Although the hero fell unto the earth — in the
agonies of death as we imagined — with activity
he rose bravely, and said, " There was mistake
among the Fenii."
The evening was near to us both ; the Fenii
and the strangers understood that it was right for
the two valiant heroes to desist from the fight, till
return of day.
Fionn spoke to the mighty men, and said it
would be graceful for both of them, with each
reminds Osgiir of his exploits in former wars, to incite him
to deeds of braveiy in his battle with Meargach. The
Celtic bard did not — like the scald of Scandinavian tribes —
compose his war ode previous to the battle. His person was
sacred, and (clad in flowing white robes, harp in hand, and
liair streaming in the breeze) he would follow his favourite
waj.*rior through the thickest of the fight : singing, in strains
of wild beauty, the praise of his chieftain's deeds at the very
time of then- performance. The " war ode to Osgur in front
of the battle of Gabhra " is a very fine specimen of the Cel-
tic war ode : it is attributed to Feargus, brother of Oisin.
and is given in Brookes Reliques.
H