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AND

CUTHONA:

A POEM (1).

DID not Offian hear a voice? or is it the found of days that are no more? Often does the

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(1) Conlath was the youngest of Morni's fons, and brother to the celebrated Gaul, who is fo often mentioned in Offian's poems. He was in love with Cuthona the daughter of Rumar, when Tofcar the fon of Kinfena, accompanied by Fercuth his friend, arrived, from Ireland, at Mora where Conlath dwelt. He was hofpitably received, and according to the custom of the times, feafted, three days, with Conlath. On the fourth he fet fail, and coafting the island of waves, probably one of the Hebrides, he faw Cuthona hunting, fell in love with her, and carried her away, by force, în his ship. He was forced by ftrefs of weather into I-thona a defart ifle. In the mean time Conlath , hearing of the rape, failed after him, and found him on the point of failing for the coaft of Ireland. They fought; and they, and their followers fell by mutual wounds. Cuthona did not long furvive for she died of grief the third day after. Fingal, hearing of their unfortunate death fent Stormal the fon of Moran to bury them, but forgot to fend a bard to fing the fu

memory of former times come, like the evening fun, on my foul. The noise of the chace is renewed; and, in thought, I lift the fpear. But Offian did hear a voice: Who art thou, fon of the night? The fons of little men are afleep, and the midnight wind is in my hall. Perhaps it is the shield of Fingal that echoes to the blaft, it hangs in Offian's hall, and he feels it fometimes with his hands. Yes! I hear thee, my friend: long has thy voice been abfent from mine ear! What brings thee, on thy cloud, to Offian, son of the generous Morni? Are the friends of the aged near thee? Where is Ofcar, son of Fame? He was often near thee, O Conlath, when the din of battle rose.

GHOST OF CONLATH.

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Sleeps the fweet voice of Cona, in the midst of his rustling hall? Sleeps Offian in his hall, and his friends without their fame? The fea rolls round the dark I-thona (1), and our

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neral fong over their tombs. The ghost of Conlath came, long after, to Offian to intreat him to tranfmit to pofterity, his and Cythona's fame. For it was the opinion of the times, that the fouls of the deccafed were not happy till their elegies were compofed by a bard.Thus is the ftory of the poem handed down by tradition.

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(1) I-thonn, island of waves, one of the unin habited western isles.

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