Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

FIJVGAL. J307
the gloomy clouds ; and far distant in the dark si-
lence of Lena, the feeble voices of death were faintly
heard.
ARGUMENT.
The ghost of Crujjiil, one of the Irish heroes who was killed m
battle, appearing to Connal, foretells the defeat of Cuthullin in
the next battle, and earnestly advises him to make peace with
Swaran. Connal communicates the vision ; but CuthuUin is in-
flexible ; from a principle of honor he \yould not be the first to
sue for peace, and he resolved to continue the war. Mornine
"nr":
)ses dishonorable terms to Cuthullin, which
are rejected. The battle begins, and Ls obstinately fought for
some time, until, upon the tliglit of Griimal, the whole Irish army
gave way. Cuthullin and Connal cover their retreat. Carril
leads them to a neighboring hill, whither they are soon tbllowed
by Cuthullin himself, who descries the fleet of Fingal making
towards their coast ; but night C9ming on, he lost sight of it
again. Cuthullin, dejected alter his defeat, attributes his ill suc-
cess to the death of Ferda, his triend, whom he had killed some
time before. Carril, to show that ill success did not always at-
tend those who innocently killed their friends, introduces the
episode of Connal and Galvina.
Connal lay by the sound of the mountain-stream,
beneath the aged tree. A stone, with its moss, sup-
ported his head. Shrill, through the heath of Lena,
he heard the voice of night. At distance from the
heroes he lay ; the son of the sword feared no foe !
The hero beheld, in his rest, a d'ark-red stream of fire
rushing down from the hill. Crugal sat upon the beam,
a chief who fell in fight. He fell by the hand of Swa-
ran, striving in the battle of heroes. His face is like
the beam of the setting moon. His robes are of the
clouds of the hill. His eyes are two decaying flames.