[ 9^ ] 



The PRAYER of OSSIAN = 



I. OssiAN. XV E LATE the tale, O Patrick ; I befeech you, by 

 the books that you read, tell me truly is Heaven in the pof- 

 feflion of the noble Fians of Ireland " ? 



2. Patrick. I afTure you, O Offian of great deeds, that Hea- 

 ven is not in the poffeffion of your father, nor of Ofcar, nor 

 of Gaul. 



3. OssiAN". This is a pitiful tale, O Patrick, that thou telleft 

 me of my anceftors ; why fhould I be religious if Heaven be not 

 in poffeffion of the Fians of Ireland '? 



' The copy of the Urmgh OJJiaii which fell into my hands differs from that publifhed 

 by Mr. Hill in the order of the ftanzas (as I have fignified by the prefixed numbers, 

 which denote the order in Mr. Hill's copy) and foine other circumftances, on which I 

 fhall make occafional obfervations in the notes. A very correct: copyjof this poem 

 is preferved in the library of the univerfity of Dublin, entitled " Agallamh Oifm 

 " agus Phadrmg ;" that is, " The Converfation of Offian and St. Patrick." 



^ The Highland .Sgeulaichcs have been very bufy in corrupting this poem, partly 

 of luctfftt^, from their want of a written ftandard. Hence alfo the order and con- 



neiSlion 



