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

( V )
E M O R A:
A N
EPIC POEM.
BOOK SECOND.
* T~^ A T H E R of heroes, Trenmor ! dweller of eddying
X winds ! where the dark-red courfe of thunder marks the
troubled clouds ! Open thou thy ftormy halls, and let the bards
of old be near : let them draw near, with their fongs and their half
viewlels harps. No dweller of mifly valley comes ; no hunter un-
known
* AddrefTes to the fpirits of deceafed
warriors are common, in the compofitions
©f Oflian. He, however, exprefles them
in fuch language as prevents all fufpicion
of his paying divine honours to the dead,
as was ufual among other unenlightened
nations. — From the fcquel of this apoftro-
phe, it appears, that Oflian had retired
from the reft of the army to mourn, in
fecret, over the death of his fon Ofcar.
This indiredt method of narration has
much of the nature of the Drama, and is
more forcible than a regular hiftorical chain
of circumftances. The abrupt manner of
Oflian may often render him obfcure to in-
attentive readers, Thofe who retain his
poems, on memory, feem to be fenfible of
this ; and ufually give the hiftory of the
pieces minutely before they begin to re-
peat the poetry.
Tho' this book has little aclion, it is not
the leaft important part of Temora. The
poet, in feveral epifodes, runs up the caufe
of the war to the very fource. The firft
£ 2 po-