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from Abildgaard's "Ossian"
James MacPherson's
 The Poems of Ossian


COLNA-DONA, &c.
A Selection of Poems


Colna-Dona   |   Oithona   |   Croma
Calthon  |   Caros   |   Cathlin
Sul-Malla   |   Inis-Thona   |   Selma





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1796 Poems of Ossian Title Page  

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[ 95 ]





C O L N A - D O N A:


A


P O E M.





 





[ 96 ]



A R G U M E N T.


Fingal despatches Ossian and Toscar, the son of Conloch, and father of Malvina, to raise a stone on the banks of the stream of Crona, to perpetuate the memory of a victory which he had obtained in that place. When they were employed in that work, Car-ul, a neighboring chief, invited them to a feast. They went, and Toscar fell desperately in love with Colna-dona, the daughter of Car-ul. Colna-dona became no less enamored. An incident at a hunting party brings their loves to a happy issue.




 





[ 97 ]



C O L N A - D O N A:

A

P O E M.


COL-AMON * of troubled streams, dark wanderer of distant vales, I behold thy course, between trees near Car-ul's echoing halls! There dwelt bright Colna-dona, the daughter of the king...

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98                    COLNA - DONA:                  


Beneath the voice of the king...
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                   A POEM.                     99


Oozy daughter of streams, that now art reared...

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100                    COLNA - DONA:                  


There Car-ul brightened between his aged locks...

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                   A POEM.                     101


Toscar darkened in his place...

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[102]

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[103]




O I T H O N A:


A


P O E M.





 





[104]



A R G U M E N T.


Gaul, the son of Morni, attended Lathmon into his own country, after his being defeated in Morven, as related in a preceding poem. He was kindly entertained by Nuith, the father of Lathmon, and fell in love with his daughter Oithona...




 





[105]



O I T H O N A:

A

P O E M.


DARKNESS dwells around Dunlathmon, though the moon shews half her face on the hill. The daughter of night turns her eyes away...

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106                      OITHONA.                      


Such were the words of Gaul, when he came...

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                      A POEM                      107


Often did his eyes turn to the east...

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108                      OITHONA.                      


strows its withered leaves on the blast...

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                      A POEM                      109


Night * came on with her clouds...

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110                      OITHONA.                      


on a stormy cloud...

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                      A POEM                      111


of Morven pursued them: ten fell...

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112                      OITHONA.                      


blood pours from her heaving side...

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[113]




C R O M A:


A


P O E M.





 





[114]



A R G U M E N T.


Malvina, the daughter of Toscar, is overheard by Ossian lamenting the death of Oscar her lover...




 





[115]



C R O M A:

A

P O E M.


IT was the voice of my love! seldom art thou in the dreams...

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116                         CROMA.                         


desert, and laid my green head low...

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                        A POEM.                         117


of spears; Crothar renowned in the battles...

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118                         CROMA.                         


is he that is withib my walls...

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                        A POEM.                         119


steps of his father, and his sigh arose...

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120                         CROMA.                         


bards advance, and sing...

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                        A POEM.                         121


The joy of Croma was great...

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122                         CROMA.                         


foe came in darkness, with his glittering spear...

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                        A POEM.                         123


I raised my voice for Fovar-gorme...

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124                         CROMA.                         


He searched for the wound of his son...

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[125]




CALTHON  and  COLMAL:


A


P O E M.





 





[126]



A R G U M E N T.


This piece, as many more of Ossian's compositions, is addressed to one of the first Christian missionaries. The story of the poem is handed down, by tradition...




 





[127]



CALTHON  and  COLMAL:

A

P O E M.


PLEASANT is the voice of thy song, thou lonely dweller of the rock...

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128           CALTHON and COLMAL:          


he fell by Ossian's spear. Listen, son of the rock!

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                        A POEM.                         129


grief: his darkening soul designed their death...

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130           CALTHON and COLMAL:          


Selma, * chief of fallen Clutha...

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                        A POEM.                         131


in the midst of the hall of shells...

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132           CALTHON and COLMAL:          


were at my side...

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                        A POEM.                         133


smiled in the darkness of his pride...

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134           CALTHON and COLMAL:          


"Sleeps the son of Rathmor in his night...

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                        A POEM.                         135


Teutha? Rise in your steel, ye warriors...

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136           CALTHON and COLMAL:          


now my deeds to his sons, and the fall of the dark Dunthalmo. The faces of youth bend sidelong towards his voice. Surprize and joy burn in their eyes! I found Calthon bound to an oak; my sword cut the thongs from his hands. I gave him the white-bosomed Colmal. They dwelt in the halls of Teutha.

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[137]




THE

W A R  of  C A R O S:


A


P O E M.





 





[138]



A R G U M E N T.


Caros is probably the noted usurper Carausuis...




 





[139]



THE

W A R  of  C A R O S:

A

P O E M.


BRING, daughter of Toscar! bring the harp! the light of the song rises...

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140             The WAR of CAROS:              


Caros. It isÊRyno * of songs, he that went to view the foe...

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                        A POEM.                         141


of waves! Fingal is distant far; he hears the songs of bards...

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142             The WAR of CAROS:              


Fingal, replied the bard, drove Hidallan from his wars...

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                        A POEM.                         143


more. I must sit alone on the banks of Balva...

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144             The WAR of CAROS:              


hill. He will not inquire of his mountains...

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                        A POEM.                         145


of other times; to the shades of silent Ardven...

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146             The WAR of CAROS:              


daughter of Toscar! my son began first to be sad...

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                        A POEM.                         147


eye! Shall I fly to Ardven...

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148             The WAR of CAROS:              


and the heart of his father is sad...

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[149]




CATHLIN  OF  CLUTHA:


A


P O E M.





 





[150]



A R G U M E N T.


An address to Malvins, the daughter of Toscar. The poet relates the arrival of Cathlin...




 





[151]



CATHLIN  OF  CLUTHA:

A

P O E M.


COME, * though beam that art lonely, from watching in the night! The squally winds are around thee...

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152             CATHLIN OF CLUTHA:            


covered paths of the dead...

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                        A POEM.                         153


a broken shield; it was marked with wandering blood...

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154             CATHLIN OF CLUTHA:            


;ift the shield? for all had claimed the war...

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                        A POEM.                         155


streak of light on a cloud, when the broad sun comes forth, red traveller...

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156             CATHLIN OF CLUTHA:            


face of heroes has failed...

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                        A POEM.                         157


rose on Rath-col's wind...

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158             CATHLIN OF CLUTHA:            


a son of Loda was there...

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                        A POEM.                         159


In clouds rose the eastern light...

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160             CATHLIN OF CLUTHA:            


by night, to Clutha. Cathmol met him...

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[161]




S U L - M A L L A

OF

L U M O N:


A


P O E M.





 





[162]



A R G U M E N T.


This poem, which properly speaking, is a continuation of the last, opens with an address to Sul-malla, the daughter of the king...




 





[163]



S U L - M A L L A

OF

L U M O N:


A


P O E M.


WHO * moves so stately on Lumon, at the roar of the foamy waters? Her hair falls upon her heaving breast...

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164             SUL-MALLA OF LUMON:            


dost thou wander in deserts, like a light through a cloudy field...

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                        A POEM.                         165


said," at his streams is he, the father...

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166             SUL-MALLA OF LUMON:            


his stately steps. In white bosoms rose the king...

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                        A POEM.                         167


father Conmor; and Lormar * my brother...

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168             SUL-MALLA OF LUMON:            


"They met a boar, at a foamy stream...

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                        A POEM.                         169


is the rolling of strife...

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170             SUL-MALLA OF LUMON:            


was the daughter * of Suran-dronlo, wild in brightened looks...





 



                        A POEM.                         171


heaving breast is seen, white as foamy waves...

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172             SUL-MALLA OF LUMON:            


was near, before the winds our sails were spread; when Lumon shewed its streams to the morn.

Come from the watching of night, Malvina, lonely beam!





 


[173]




THE

WAR  of  INIS-THONA:


A


P O E M.





 





[174]



A R G U M E N T.


Reflections on the poet's youth. An apostrophe to Selma. Oscar obtains leave to go to Inis-thona, an island of Scandinavia. The mournful story of Argon and Ruro, the two sons of the king of Inis-thona. Oscar revenges their death, and returns in triumph to Selma. A soliloquy by the poet himself.




 





[175]



THE

WAR  of  INIS-THONA

A

P O E M.


OUR youth is like the dream of the hunter on the hill of heath. He sleeps in the mild beams of the sun...

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176             The WAR of INIS-THONA:            


arm are heard; the actions of the king in his youth...

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                        A POEM.                         177


children of strangers say, feeble are the sons of Morven...

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178             The WAR of INIS-THONA:            


Lano. Come to share the feast of Annir, son of echoing Morven...

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                        A POEM.                         179


still love the sport of their youth; and mount the wind...

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180             The WAR of INIS-THONA:            


came. At length their much-loved dog was seen...

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                        A POEM.                         181


shades! We brought him with songs to Selma's halls...

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[183]




THE

S O N G S

OF

S E L M A.





 





[184]



A R G U M E N T.


Address to the evening star. Apostrophe to Fingal and his times. Minona sings before the king the song of the unfortunate Colma; and the bards exhibit other specimens of their poetical talents; according to an annual custom established by the monarchs of the ancient Caledonians.




 





[185]



THE

SONGS  of  SELMA.


STAR of descending night! fair is thy light...

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186                 The SONGS of SELMA.                


with the tuneful voice! the soft complaint of Minona...

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            The SONGS of SELMA.            187


alone! his bow bear him, unstrung: his dogs panting...

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188                 The SONGS of SELMA.                


thousands! he was terrible in fight...

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            The SONGS of SELMA.            189


first of mortal men...

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190                 The SONGS of SELMA.                


the mourner shall sit on thy tomb...

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            The SONGS of SELMA.            191


but thee. He heard of thy fame in war...

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192                 The SONGS of SELMA.                


Sad! I am! nor small is my cause of woe!...

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            The SONGS of SELMA.            193


in the sea, bears a tree on its side...

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194                 The SONGS of SELMA.                


round thy feet is poured thy brother's blood...

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            The SONGS of SELMA.            195


age is now on my tongue; my soul has failed! I hear, at times, the ghosts of bards, and learn their pleasant song. But memory fails on my mind. I hear the call of years! They say, as they pass along, why does Ossian sing? Soon shall he lie in the narrow house, and no bard shall raise his fame! Roll on, ye dark-brown years; ye bring no joy on your course! Let the tomb open to Ossian, for his strength has failed. The sons of song are to rest. My voice remains, like a blast, that roars, lonely on the sea-surrounding rock, after the winds are laid. The dark moss whistles there; the distant mariner sees the waving trees!


 



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