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much prevailed, that the Highlanders continue totally unacquainted with the pretended Hibernian extract of the Scots nation. Ignorant chronicle writers, ftrangers to the antient language of their country, preferved only from falling to the ground, fo improbable a story.

It was, during the period I have mentioned," that the Irish became acquainted with, and carried into their country, the compofitions of Offian. The fcene of many of the pieces being in Ireland, fuggefted firft to them a hint, of making both heroes and poet natives. of that Island. In order to do this effectually, they found it neceffary, to reject the genuine poems, as every line was pregnant with proofs of their Scottish original, and to dress up a fable, on the fame fubject, in their own language. So ill qualified, however, were their bards to effectuate this change, that amidst all their defires to make the Fiona Irishmen, they every now and then call them Siol Albin. It was, probably, after a fucceffion of fome generations, that the bards had effrontery enough to eftablish an Irish genea logy for Fion, and deduce him from the Milefian race of kings. In fome of the oldest Irish poems, on the fubject, the grea:-grandfather of Fion is made a Scandinavian; and his heroes are often called SIOL LOCHLIN NA BEUM; i. e. the race of Lochlin of wounds.

The only poem that runs up the family of Fion to Nuades Niveus, king of Ireland, is evidently not above a hundred and fifty years old; for if I mistake not, it mentions the Earl of Tyrone, fo famous in Elizabeth's time.

This fubject, perhaps, is purfued further than it deferves; but a difcuffion of the pretenfions of Ireland to Offian,v ,was become in fome measure neceflary. If the Irish poems, concern ing the Fiona, should appear ridiculous, it is but juftice to observe, that they are scarcely more fo than the poems of other nations, at that period. On other fubjects, the bards of Ireland have difplayed a genius worthy of any age or nation. It was, alone, in matters of antiquity, that they were monstrous in their fables. Their love-fonnets, and their elegies on the death of perfons worthy or renowned, abound with fuch beautiful fimplicity of fentiment, and wild harmony of numbers, that they become more than an attonement for their errors, in every other fpecies of poetry. But the beauty of these pieces, depend fo much on a certain curiofa felicitas of expreffion in the original, that they must appear much to difadvantage in another language.

TE MORA:

AN

EPIC POEM.

BOOK FIRST.

Cairbar, the Son of Borbar-duthul, lord of Athi in Connaught, the most potent chief of the race of the Firbolg, having murdered, at Temora the royal palace, Cormac the fon of Artho, the young king of Ireland, ufurped the throne. Cormac was lineally defcended from Conar the Son of Trenmor, the great-grand-father of Fingal, king of thofe Caledonians who inhabited the western coast of Scotland. Fingal refented the behaviour of Cairbar, and refolved to pass over into Ireland, with an army, to re-establish the royal family on the Irish throne. Early intelligence of his defigns coming to Cairbar, he affembled Some of his tribes in Ulfter, and, at the fame time, ordered his brother Cathmor to follow him Speedily with an army, from Temora. Such was the fituation of affairs when the Caledonian fleet appeared on the coaft of Ulfter.

The poem opens in the morning. Cairbar is reprefented as retired from the rest of the army, when one of his feouts brought him news of the landing of Fingal. He affembles a council of his chiefs. Foldath the chief of Moma haughtily defpifes the enemy; and is reprimanded warmly by Malthos. Cairbar, after hearing their debate, orders a feaft to be prepared, to which, by his

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