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The DEATH 5/^ O S C A R = 



OssiAN. 1 W ILL" not refufe the fong, though it be forrowful 

 to-night to Offian. 



Oscar and the valiant Cairbre both fell in the battle of 

 Gabhra^ The poifoned fpear is in the hand of Cairbre, which 

 he fhakes in the hour of his wrath. The raven fays with 

 anguifli that the hour of Ofcar's death is come. " I," cries he 

 - to himfelf, " am the black ill-boding raven. Thofe five men at 

 " the table are joyful, without the fear of battle. Early in the 

 " morning will the raven prey upon thy cheek in the field of 

 " battle. 



Oscar. " Let not the Fians hear you to-night, left we fhould 

 all be difpirited." 



""The death of Ofcar, in the firft book of Temora, is grounded on this poem ; 

 and many paflages of it are indeed literally tranflated : But great liberties, as 

 iifual, have been taken with the original. See the edition of Perth, page 313. 



■^ We are to fuppofe that Offian had been folicited to give an account of the 

 death of his fon, and that the poem opens with his reludlant confent. This appears 

 evident from the copy of the Cath Gabhra, preferved in the library of Dublin college, 

 which begins in this manner : 



Mor 



