ARGUMENT. Cuthullin, after the arms of Fingal had expelled Swaran from Ireland, continued to manage the affairs of that kingdom as the guardian of Cormac, the young king. In the third year of Cuthullin's adminiftration, Torlath, the son of Cantéla, rebelled in Connaught; and advanced to Temora to dethrone Cormac. Cuthullin marched againft him, came up with him at the lake of Lego, and totally defeated his forces. Toilath fell in battle by Cuthullin's hand; but as he too eagerly preffed on the enemy, he was mortally wounded. The affairs of Cormac, though, for fome time, fupported by Nathos, as mentioned in the preceding poem, fell into confufion at the death of Cuthullin. Cormae himself was flain by the rebel Cairbar ; and the re-establishment of the royal family of Ireland by Fingal, furnishes the subject of the epic poem of Temora. ཟ THE DEATH OF CUTHULLIN: A POEM. "Is the wind on the shield of Fingal? Or is the voice of past times in my hall? Sing on, sweet voice! for thou art pleafant. Thou carrieft away my night with joy. Sing on, O Bragéla, daughter of car-borne Sorglan! "It is the white wave of the rock, and not Cuthullin's fails. Often do the mifts deceive me, for the fhip of my love! when they rife round fome ghoft, and spread their grey skirts on the wind. Why doft thou delay thy coming, fon of the generous Semo? Four times has autumn returned with its winds, and raised the feas of Togorma (116), fince thou haft been in the roar of battles, and Bragéla diftant far! Hills of the isle of mift! when will ye answer to his hounds? But ye are dark in your clouds. Sad Bragéla calls in vain! Night comes rolling down. The face of ocean fails. The heath-cock's head is beneath his wing. The hind fleeps, with the hart of the desert. They shall rife with morning's light, and feed by the mossy ftream. But my tears return with the fun. My fighs come on with the night. When wilt thou come in thine arms, O chief of Erin's wars?" Pleasant is thy voice in Offian's ear, daughter of car-borne Sorglan! But retire to the hall of fhells; to the beam of the burning oak. Attend to the murmur of the fea: it rolls at Dunfcai's |