220 



Second example, " The episode relating to Faineasolis." — Fingal, 

 B. III. 



Third, " The Ossian's courtship of Evirallin." — Fingal, B. IV. 



Fourth, " Fingal's combat with the King of Lochlin." — Fingal, 

 B. V. 



Fifth, " The Battle of Lora," 



Sixth, " Darthula." 



Seventh, "The combat between Oscar and UUin in the frag- 

 ments." 



Eighth, " The lamentation of the spouse of Dargo." 



"These," the Doctor tells us, "are all the pieces of Ossian's 

 poems, as published by Mr. Macpherson, known to the rehearsers." 



Let us now see where Macpherson got " these fragments." For 

 this purpose we must have recourse to Irish manuscripts, where the 

 originals are preserved, and, let us add, in greater perfection than in 

 the " oral tradition" of Highland poets and senachies. 



The description of CuchuUin's chariot and horses, is stolen from 

 one of the old Irish popular tales called Oidheadh Conchulainn, na 

 Breisleach Mhuighe Mhuirtheimhne." i.e. " The Death ofCuchul- 

 lain, or the Breach or Battle of the Field of Muirheivne." The theft 

 is disguised as much as possible to prevent detection, and many of 

 the original ornaments of the chariot are torn off; the horses are 

 also disguised, their names are changed, and their colour concealed. 

 The horses of the Irish Sgealaidhe, or story-teller, are thus described: 

 " Each dhiobh, luthmhar, luaith leimneach, fodmhur, forranach, go 

 luth cheithre ecru, go rnboinn sponcaobhlach teineadh trichinn reag- 

 lasach a ghlomairchim. An darah each dhiobh. i. each caolchosach, 

 ceanneadtrom, drondhualach, dulbras, seang, seadha, rinnchaol, casm- 

 hongach, ceannfhada, go ndath cochla, naoldha, niontlais." " One of 

 these horses was grey, swift, quick-bounding, intelligent, destructive, 



