Cathlin of Clutha by James Macpherson
Cathlin of Clutha is a poem in which Ossian, addressing Malvina, recalls how a young stranger came to Fingal's Selma seeking vengeance. Cathlin arrived by ship in the bay of Carmona, with a broken shield marked by blood. He told how Duth-carmor had seen white-bosomed Lanul, killed her father Cathmol of Clutha, and fled by night. Cathlin begged Fingal's aid to avenge his father. Every hero in Selma claimed the right to lead the war. To settle it, each went in silence to his hill of ghosts to sleep and receive a dream. Ossian saw Trenmor with his blue hosts, but the forms were only empty wind. Oscar of Lego had also seen his fathers, and he woke eager for the fight. Ossian chose to go with him. They sailed from Carmona, steering by the star Ton-thena, and after four days came to Lumon and the green vale of Rath-col, long silent of heroes, where Duth-carmor had settled with his people. Ossian sent a bard to call the foe to battle, and Duth-carmor welcomed the challenge, though his deeds were dark. At night Ossian saw the color of Cathlin's cheek change like shadows over a field. He gave Oscar the command and the secret hill for the night, following the custom of Morven's kings. To lift his thoughts, he told of Trenmor and Trathal. Trenmor faced the host of Carmal at Caracha, where a son of Loda called ghosts to turn the battle. Trenmor yielded the honor to his son Trathal, and the foes failed. At dawn the armies met. Duth-carmor fell in blood, and Oscar overcame him. Cathlin had stood apart by a secret stream. Oscar brought him Duth-carmor's mail and helmet and asked why he was sad. Cathlin asked that his own mail be placed in Selma's hall in memory of the hapless. When the mail fell from white breasts, Cathlin was revealed as the daughter of Cathmol. Duth-carmor had come to Clutha by night, killed her father in battle, and kept her three days. On the fourth she fled in arms. Her tomb stands at rushy Lumon, where Sul-malla later sang for her.
By James Macpherson · First published 1765 · Genre: Epic poetry, Ossianic poetry, Heroic poetry · 2,169 words
First lines
Argument. in address to Malvina, the daughter of Toscar. The poet relates the arrival of Cathlin in Selma, to solicit aid against Duth-carmor of Cluba, who had killed Cathmol for the sake of his daughter Lanul. Fingal declining; to make a choice among his heroes, who were all claiming the command of the expedition, they retired "each to his hill of ghosts," to be determined by dreams. The spirit of Trenmor appears to Ossian and Oscar. They sail from the bay of Carmona, and on the fourth day, appear on the valley of . Rath-col, in Inis-huna, where Duth-carmor had fixed his residence. Ossian despatches a bard to Duth-carmor to demand battle. Night comes on. The distress of Cathlin of Clutha. Ossian devolves the command on Oscar, who, according to the custom of the kings of Morven, before battle, retired to a neighboring hill. Upon the coming on of day, the battle joins. Oscar carries the mail and helmet of Duth-carmor to Cathlin, who had retired from the field. Cathlin is discovered to be the daughter of Cathmol in disguise, who had been carried off by force by, and had made her escape from, Duth-carmor.
Genres
- Epic poetry — A long narrative of heroic action, with a war party sailing to Inis-huna, a battle at Rath-col, and a court of heroes around Fingal, all core features of the epic form.
- Ossianic poetry — Written in the bardic voice of the Ossian cycle, recounting the deeds of Fingal and the heroes of Morven, the defining style and setting of this corpus.
- Heroic poetry — Celebrates martial honour, fame and the duty of revenge, as Cathlin seeks aid to avenge her father Cathmol and the heroes contend for the command of the expedition.
- Elegy — A mournful lament for the dead, centred on the slain Cathmol, Cathlin's grief, her tomb at Lumon and the lament sung for her at the close.
Tags
Ossian · Fingal · Malvina · Oscar of Lego · Cathlin · Duth-carmor · Cathmol · Selma · Clutha · Rath-col · battle · revenge quest
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Cathlin of Clutha is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Macpherson, dated 1765 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Macpherson
- Date: 1765 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epic poetry, Ossianic poetry, Heroic poetry, Elegy, Lyric poetry
- Length: 2,169 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Cathlin of Clutha by James Macpherson
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