ARGUMENT to Book V.

The poet, after a fhort address to the harp of Cona, defcribes the arrangement of both armies on either fide of the river Lubar. Fingal gives the command to Fillan; but, at the fame time, orders Gaul, the fon of Morni, who had been wounded in the hand in the preceding battle, to affift him with his counsel. The army of the Fir-bolg is commanded by Foldath. The general onfet is defcribed. The great actions of Fillan. He kills Rothmar and Culmin. But when Fillan conquers in one wing, Foldath prèffes hard on the other. He wounds Dermid, the fon of Duthno, and puts the whole wing to flight. Dermid deliberates with himself, and, at laft, refolves to put a stop to the progrefs of Foldath, by engaging him in fingle combat. When the two chiefs were approaching towards one another, Fillan became fuddenly to the relief of Dermid; engaged Foldath, and killed him. The behaviour of Malthos towards the fallen Foldath. Fillan puts the whole army of the Fir-bolg to flight. The book lofes with an addrefs to Clatho, the mother of that $19/hero.lv bit of ad ogn

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HOU dweller between the fhields, that Thang, on high, hang, on high, in Offian's hall! Defcend from thy place, O harp, and let me hear thy voice! Son of Alpin, ftrike the firing. Thou must awake the foul of the bard. The murmur of Lora's* ftream has rolled the tale away. I ftand in the becloud of years. Few are its openings toward the paft; and when the vifion comes, it is but dim and dark. I hear thee, harp of Selma! my foul returns, like a breeze, which the fun brings back to the vale, where dwelt the lazy mist!

* Lora is often mentioned; it was a fmall and rapid ftream in the neighbourhood of Selma. There is no veftige of this name now remaining; though it appears from a very old fong, which the tranflator has feen, that one of the fmall rivers on the north-west coast was called Lora fome centuries ago,

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Lubar is bright before me in the windings of its vale. On either fide, on their hills, rife the tall forms of the kings. Their people are poured around them, bending forward to their words: as if their fathers fpoke, defcending from the winds. But they themselves are like two rocks in the midft; each with its dark head of pines, when they are seen in the defert, above low-failing mift. High on their face are ftreams, which spread their foam on blafts of wind!

Beneath the voice of Cathmor pours Erin, like the found of flame. Wide they come

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From feveral paffages in the poem we may form a diftinct idea of the fcene of the action of Temora. At a fmall diftance from one another rofe the hills of Mora and Lora; the firft poffeffed by Fingal, the fecond by the army of Cathmor. Through the intermediate plain ran the fmall river Lubar, on the banks of which all the battles were fought, excepting that between Gairbar and Ofcar, related in the first book. This laft mentioned engagement happened to the north of the hill of Mora, of which Fingal took poffeffion, hill of after the army of Cairbar fell back to that of Cathmor. At fome diftance, but within fight of Mora, towards! the west, Lubar issued from the mountain of Crommal, and, after a short courfe through the plain of Moi-lena, difcharged itfelf into the fea near the field of battle. Behind the mountain of Crommal ran the small stream of Lavath, on the banks of which Ferad-artho, the fon of Cairbre, the only perfon remaining of the race of Cona, lived concealed in a cave, during the ufurpation of Cairbar, the fon of Borbar-duthul.az

down to Lubar. Before them is the ftride of Foldath. But Cathmor retires to his hill, beneath his bending oak. The tumbling of a stream is near the king. He lifts, at times, his gleaming fpear. It is a flame to his people, in the midst of war. Near him ftands the daughter of Con-mor, leaning on a rock. She did not rejoice at the ftrife. Her foul delighted not in blood.

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valley fpreads green behind the hill, with its three blue ftreams. The fun is there in filence. The dun mountain-roes come down. On these are turned the eyes of Sul-malla in her thoughtful mood.

Fingal beholds Cathmor, on high, the fon of Borbar-duthul! he beholds the deeprolling of Erin, on the darkened plain. He ftrikes that warning bofs, which bids the people to obey; when he fends his chiefs before them, to the field of renown. Wide rife their fpears to the fun. Their echoing fhields reply around. Fear, like a vapour, winds not among the hoft: for HE, THE KING, is near, the ftrength of ftreamy Selma. Gladness brightens the hero. Web hear his words with joy.

*It was to this valley Sul-malla retired, during the laft and decifive battle between Fingal and Cathmor.^! It is defcribed in the feventh book, where it is called the vale of Lona, and the refidence of a Druid.

"Like the coming forth of winds, is the found of Selma's fons! They are mountain waters, determined in their course. Hence is Fingal renowned. Hence is his name in other lands. He was not a lonely beam in danger; for your steps were always near! But never was Fingal a dreadful form, in your prefence, darkened into wrath. My voice was no thunder to your ears. Mine eyes fent forth no death. When the haughty appeared, I beheld them not. They were forgot at my feafts. Like mift they melted away. A young beam is before you! Few are his paths to war! They are few, but he is valiant. Defend my dark-haired fon. Bring Fillan back with joy. Hereafter he may ftand alone. His form is like his fathers. His foul is a flame of their fire. Son of car-borne Morni, move behind the youth. Let thy voice reach his ear, from the fkirts of war. Not unobferved rolls battle, before thee, breaker "of the fhields!"

The king ftrode, at once, away to Cormul's lofty rock. Intermitting, darts the light, from his fhield, as flow the king of heroes moves. Sidelong rolls his eye o'er the heath, as forming advance the lines. Graceful fly his half-grey locks round his kingly features, now lightened with dreadful joy. Wholly mighty is the chief!