r 64 ] 



Difmay feized tis at his appearance. He exceeded every one in 

 beauty, Con of the fharp-edged weapons ; his purple cheek Hke po- 

 hfhed yew ; his eye quick moving under his narrow eye-brows ; his 

 hair Hke wrought gold falling in ringlets down the back of the va- 

 liant chief; the envenomed dagger to wound his adverfary, the caufe 

 of great woe ; and the fword hanging by the fide of his Ihield. 

 He obtained the vidory in every conteft by his valour and great 

 deeds. He took his ftrong armour with fpeed, and fpoke of taxes 

 and great tribute. I tell you truly, oh ! Patrick % though it be 

 difgraceful to confefs it, that greater fear never feized the Fians 

 than when they beheld Con in his wrath rufhing on hke a rapid 

 flood ; fo great was his rage againft us to revenge the death of 

 his father. 



By the counfel of the valiant fon of Fin, of the clear voice, 

 we fent the fweet-tongued Fergus to inquire of the finewy fon 

 of Dargo. Fergus faluted, and Con, in due order, anfwered. 

 Then Fergus, the fweet-tongued bard, the meifenger of Fin, 

 faid " for what caufe have you come to Ireland ^ ?" 



« 



' This addrefs of Offian to St. Patrick is omitted in the Perth edition. 



' Fingal and his heroes are here exprefsly attributed to Ireland ; but the line is 

 altered into the following, in the Perth edition: 

 Clod e fath do thuruis do 'n tir ? 

 1. e. For what caufe have you come to this country ? 



