[ "8 ] 



Fin. " Ofcar, my beloved, beloved by my beloved, Ton of 

 " my Ton, mild and valiant, my heart pants over thee like a 

 " black-bird! Never more (hall Ofcar arife!" 



Fin did not banidi this, great forrcnv from his foul from that 

 day to the hour of his death ; nor would he take, were it offered 

 to him, the third part of the whole world in comparifon of his 

 lofs p. 



P The caufe of this battle, In which Ofcar was (lain, afllgned in the copy of the 

 r.nth Gabhi-a prefcrved in the library of Dublin College, was not a private quarrel 

 between Cairbre and Ofcar, as reprefented in this poem and the firil book of Temora, 

 but the refentment of Cairbre aiid the Ivifli princes in general for the improper con- 

 du£l of the Fians. And this latter account of the matter is confirmed by an extraft 

 from the Book of Howth, preferved in the library of Dublin CoUege, which I here 

 fubjoin, as it throws fome light on the nature of the order of thefe Fians, and 

 their duty : 



« In Ireland there were foldiers, called Fyn Erin, appointed to keep the fea coafts, 

 " fearing foreign invafion or foreign princes to enter the realme. The names of 

 « thefe foldiers were Fin M'Cuil, Coloilon, Keilte, Ofcar Mac Ofleyn, Dermot 

 " O Doyn, Collemagh Morne, and diverfe others. Thefe foldiers waxed bold, as 

 «< fliall appear hereafter at length, and fo ftrong, that they did contrary to the orders 

 " and inilitutions taken by the kings of Ireland, their chiefs and governors, and be- 

 " came very ftrong and ftout, and at length would do more things than themfelves 

 « without licence of the kings of the land. Part of their mifdeameanors was, they 

 « charged all the commons of Ireland that they fhould not hunt without their 

 <« fpecial licenfe ; and if they did, they fliould pay after this value, for a hare's kill- 

 •< iuE xx*" for a water-dog killing double as much, and fo after that rate, doubling 

 *' ' • «< ftill 



