[ 46 ] 



having entertained fome doubts of the authenticity of the tran- 

 flation, wrote to Mr. Mc. Arthur, minifter of Mull, whofe 

 name has been mentioned in the courfc of this controverfy, re- 

 quefting that he would fend him fome of the originals from 

 which the tranflation had been made. Mr. Mc. Arthur, in his 

 anfwer, told the profeflbr " that there were many of the fpu- 

 " rious Irifh fongs wandering through the country ; but to fatisfy 

 " his fcruples he fent him the four following fragments, as ex- 

 " trads from the genuine poems of Offian :" 



FRAGMENT I. 



Gum be fin an tuirlean teann 

 Mar dhean a bheireadh da chiad ord 

 Cath fuileach an da ri 

 Gum bu guineach bri an colg, 

 Air brifteadh don fgiathaibh deirg 

 Air eirigh dam feirg 's dam fraoch 

 Hilg iad aiim fios gu lar 

 'S thug iad fpairn an do laoch 

 Cath fuileach fin an da ri 

 . Sann linne bu chian an clofs 

 Bha clachan is talamh trom 

 Am ofgladh fuidh bhonn an cos. 



See Fingal, B. 5, defcnpt/on of the fght between 

 Fimal and Swaran. 



FRAGMENT 



