The Poems of Ossian, Volume 2Cadell and Davies, 1807 - English poetry |
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Page 381 - No nation in the world carried hospitality to a greater length than the ancient Scots. It was even infamous, for many ages, in a man of condition, to have the door of his house shut at all, lest, as the bards express it, the stranger should come and behold his contracted soul.
Page 374 - The ancient manner of preparing feasts after hunting is handed down by tradition. A pit lined with smooth stones was made; and near it stood a heap of smooth flat stones of the flint kind. The stones, as well as the pit, were properly heated with heath. Then they laid some venison in the bottom, and a stratum of the stones above it; and thus they did alternately till the pit was full. The whole was covered over with heath to confine the steam. Whether this is probable I cannot say; but some pits...
Page 375 - The poet teaches us the opinions that prevailed in his time concerning the state of separate souls. From Connal's expression, " That the stars dim-twinkled through the form of Crugal...
Page 387 - Brumo was a place of worship (Fing. b. 6.) in Craca, which is supposed to be one of the isles of Shetland. It was thought, that the spirits of the deceased haunted it, by night, which adds more terror to the description introduced here. The horrid circle of Brumo, where often, they said, the ghosts of the dead howled round the stone of J car.
Page 384 - Cormoc, at Temora, the army of Nathos shifted sides, and the brothers were obliged to return into Ulster, in order to pass over into Scotland. The sequel of their mournful story is related, at large, in the poem of Dar-thula.
Page 373 - Trenar are sensible at home of the death of their master, the very instant he is killed. It was the opinion of the times, that the souls of heroes went immediately after death to the hills of their country, and the scenes they frequented the most happy times of their life. It was thought, too, that dogs and horses saw the ghosts of the deceased.
Page 376 - Iliad; a hero of more strength than conduct in battle. He was very fond of military fame, and here he demands the next battle to himself. — The poet, by an artifice, removes Fingal, that his return may be the more magnificent (The Poems of Ossian and related works, S.
Page 377 - Allad is a druid : he is called the son of the rock, from his dwelling in a cave ; and the circle of stones here mentioned is the pale of the druidical temple. He is here consulted as one who had a supernatural knowledge of things ; from the druids, . no doubt, came the ridiculous notion of the second sight, which prevailed in the highlands and isles.
Page 36 - Nior chaidil do làmh re d' thaobh, Thriath Innis nan caoin shian ; Do lann air astar nam faobh Mar dhealan a' lasadh gu dian, 'Nuair thuiteas an sluagh sa' ghleann, Is aghaidh nam beann 'nan caoir. Shrann an Dubh-srôngheal thar seoid, Nigh Sithfad
Page 6 - ... a thachradh ri m' lann, Ach Fionnghal, righ Shealma nan sian ? Là, ghabh sinn an glacaibh a chéile Air Meallmor, 's bu threun ar spàirn, Thuit coille fo...