Ossian Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

An epic poem. 31
the blood of his foes. His fame filled green Erin, like a pleafant
gale. The nations gathered in Ullin, and they hlefled the king; the
king of the race of their fathers, from the land of hinds.
The chiefs* of the fouth were gathered, in the darknefs of
their pride. In the horrid cave of Muma, they mixed their fecret
words. Thither often, they faid, the fpirits of their fathers came;
fliewing their pale forms from the chinky rocks, and reminding
them of the honor of Bolga. — Why fhould Conar reign, the fon
of flreamy Morven ?
Thev came forth, like the flreams of the defart, with the roar
of their hundred tribes. Conar was a rock before them : broken
they rolled on every fide. But often they returned, and the fons of
Ullin fell. The king ftood, among the tombs of his warriors, and
darkly bent his mournful face. His foul was rolled into itfelf ; and
he had marked the place, where he was to fall ; when Trathal
family-connedion, that Fingal was en- th«m, was the firft who crofled the great
gaged in fo many wars in the caufe of the fen, to Caledonia, fiom which circum-
race of Conar. Tho' ievf of the aiftions fiance his name proceeded, which fignifies
of Trenmor are mentioned in Oflian's Great ocean. Genealogies of io ancient a
poems, yet, from the honourable appella- date, however, are little to be depended
ti&ns beftowed on him, we may conclude upon.
that he was, in the days of the poet, the mod * The chiefs of the Fir-bolg who pof-
renowned name of antiquity. The moft feffed themfelves of the fouth of Ireland,
probable opinion concerning him is, that prior, perhaps, to the fettlement of ihe
he was the fiift, who united the tribes of Cat/ of Caledonia, and the Hebrides, in Ul-
the Caledonians, and commanded them, in fler. From the fequel, it appears that the
chief, againfl the incurfions of the Romans. Fir-bolg w^re, by much, the mofl: power-
The genealogifts of the North have traced ful nation; and it is probable that the Cael
his .''amily far back, and given a lift of his muft have fubmitted to them, had they nnt
anceftors to Cuan-mor nan Ian, or Cpn- received fuccours from their mother-cou/r-
mor of the fwords, who, according to try, under the command of Conar.
2 came.