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

1^4 T E M O R A:
ftill feafon of night. — It was the voice of Condan, mixed with
Carril's trembling harp. They came,, with blue-eyed. Ferad-artho,
to Mora of the ftreams.
Sudden burfts the fong from our bards, on Lena : the hort;
itruck their fhields midft the found. Gladnefs rofe brightening on
the king, like the beam of a cloudy day, when it rifes, on the
green hill, before the roar of winds. — He ftruck the bolly fhield of
kings ; at once they ceafe around. The people lean forward, from
their fpears, towards the voice of their land *..
Sons of Morven, fpread the feafl j fend the night away on
fong. Ye have fhone around me, and the dark ftorm is paft.
My people are the windy rocks, from which I fpread my eagle*
wings, when I rufli forth to renown, and feize it on its field. — Of-
fian, thou haft the fpear of Fingal : it is not the ftafF of a boy
with which he ftrews the thiftle round, young wanderer of the
field. — No : it is the lance of the mighty, with which they ftretch-
* Before I finifh my notes, it may not tion relates, that Fingal was but eighteen
be altogether improper to obviate an ob- years old at the birth of his fon Offian j
jeflion, which may be made to the credibi- and that Offian was much about the fame
jity of the flory of Temora, as related age, when Ofcar, his fon, was born, Of-
by Offian. I-t may be afked, whether car, perhaps, might be about twenty, when
it is probable^ that Fingal could per- he was killed, in the battle of Gabhra
form fuch adions as are afcribed to him in [book iftj fo the age of Fingal, when the
this book, at an age when his grandfon, decifive battle was fought between him and
0(c:ar had acquired fo much reputation in Cathmor, was juft fifty-fix years. In thofe
arms. To this it may be anfwered, that times of adivity and health, the natural
Fingal was but very young [book 4.th] ftrength and vigour of a man was little
when he took to wife Roscrana, whafoon abated, at fuch an age; fo that there is
after became the mother of Ofliiii. Offian nothing improbable in the anions of Fin^
was alfo extremely young when he married gal, as related in this book.
Ever-allin, the mother of Ofcar. Tradi-