Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

ARGUMENT.
It may not be improper here to give the story which is the foun-
dation of this poem, as it is handed down by tradition. Usnoth,
lord of Etha, which is probably that part of Argyleshire which is
near Loch Eta, an arm of the sea in liOrn, had three sons, — Nathos,
Althos, and Ardan, by Slissama, the daughter of Semo, and sister to
the celebrated Cuchullin. The three brothers, when very young,
were sent over to Ireland by their father, to learn the use of arms,
under their uncle, Cuchullin, who at that time made a great figure
in that kingdom. They were just lauded in Ulster when the news
of Cuchullin' s death anived. Nathos, though very young, took
the command of Cuchullin' s armj', made head against Cairbar the
usurper, and defeated liim in several battles. Cairbar at last having
found means to murder Cormac the lawful king, the army of Nathos
deserted and shifted sides, and he himself was obliged to return into
Ulster in order to pass over into Scotland.
Dar-thula, the daughter of CoUa, with whom Cairbar was in love
resided at that time in Selama, a castle in Ulster ; she saw, fell in
love, and fled with Nathos ; but a storm arising at sea, they were
unfortunately driven back on that part of the coast of Ulster where
Cairbar was encamped with his army, waiting for Fingal, who
meditated an expedition into Ireland, to re-establish the Scottish
race of kings on the throne of that kingdom. The three brothers,
after having defended themselves for some time with great bravery,
were overpowered and slain, and the unfortunate Dar-thula killed
herself upon the body of her beloved Nathos.
Ossian opens the poem on the night preceding the death of
the sons of Usnoth, and brings in, by way of episode, what passed
before. He relates the death of Dar-thula differently from the com-
mon tradition ; his account is the most probable, as suicide seems
to have been unknown in those early times ; for no traces of it are
found in tliQ old poetry.