Fingal by James Macpherson (1765)

Fingal, by James Macpherson, is a poem in six books that tells of an invasion of Ireland by Swaran, king of Lochlin, and of the arrival of the Caledonian king Fingal to drive him out. It is narrated in the later parts by the aged, blind Ossian, who remembers his father's wars. Cuthullin, general of the Irish tribes, sits by the wall of Tura when his scout Moran reports the ships of Swaran on the coast. Cuthullin strikes his shield to summon his chiefs. Connal counsels peace until Fingal arrives, but Calmar urges immediate battle, and Cuthullin agrees with Calmar. He finds that three heroes are missing. Fergus explains that Duchomar killed Cathba out of jealousy over Morna, and that Morna then killed Duchomar and was herself killed by his dying stroke. The armies clash, and Swaran's scout describes Cuthullin's terrible chariot with its horses Sifadda and Dusronnal. Night ends the first day without a victor. Cuthullin sends the bard Carril to invite Swaran to a feast, but Swaran refuses. Carril sings of Grudar and Brassolis, and Connal advises sending out watchers. That night the ghost of Crugal warns Connal that the Irish will fall. Cuthullin refuses to flee or sue for peace. Swaran offers dishonorable terms through Morla, and Cuthullin rejects them. In the battle that follows, Grumal flees and the Irish army breaks. Cuthullin and Connal cover the retreat, and Carril leads the survivors to a hill. Moran announces that Fingal's ships are approaching. Cuthullin blames his misfortune on having killed his friend Ferda at the urging of Deugala, and Carril answers with the story of Comal and Galbina. On the third day Cuthullin asks Carril for more songs. Carril tells how the young Fingal was lured to Starno's halls in Lochlin, and how Starno's daughter Agandecca warned him of an ambush and was killed by her father. Wounded Calmar arrives and reports that Swaran plans to attack. He offers to hold a narrow pass alone, and Cuthullin chooses to stay with him. Calmar dies, and Fingal's ships appear. Swaran turns to face them, and Cuthullin, ashamed of his defeat, withdraws to the cave of Tura. Fingal routs the Lochlin army, but night stops the victory short. He advises his grandson Oscar to be strong against the proud and gentle to the weak, and he tells of Fainasollis, the daughter of the king of Craca, whom he protected in his youth. Gaul, son of Morni, asks to lead the next battle, and Fingal agrees. In the fourth book Ossian tells of winning Everallin, who bore Oscar. Her ghost warns him that Oscar is hard pressed by the enemy, and Ossian rescues him. Fingal gives Gaul command and watches from a hill. Oscar fights with great courage. Gaul is driven back by Swaran, and Ullin's war song cannot save him. Fingal comes down, rallies his men, and renews the battle. Cuthullin watches from the hill, and Connal stops him from joining. Cuthullin sends Carril to congratulate Fingal. In the fifth book Fingal and Swaran wrestle, and Swaran is bound and left to Ossian and Gaul. The chief Orla, mortally wounded, refuses Fingal's offer of friendship and dies. Fingal learns that his youngest son Ryno has fallen. He mourns him, and Ullin sings of Lamderg and Gelchossa to honor the heroes buried nearby. Carril comes to Ossian from Cuthullin. In the last book Fingal feasts his army with Swaran present. Ullin sings of Trenmor and his marriage to Inibaca of Lochlin. Moved by this shared descent and by his memory of Agandecca, Fingal frees Swaran to return home, and Swaran vows never to attack Ireland again. Fingal tells the story of Grumal. At dawn Swaran sails away. Fingal hunts, finds Cuthullin gloomy in the cave of Tura, and comforts him. Connan mocks Cuthullin, but Fingal silences him. After a night of song, Fingal sets sail for Scotland.

By James Macpherson · First published 1765 · Genre: Epic poetry, Heroic poetry, Elegy · 6 chapters · 26,673 words

First lines

Argument. Cuthullin (general of the Irish tribes, in the minority of Cormac, king of Ireland) sitting alone beneath a tree, at the gate of Tura, a castle of Ulster (the other chiefs having gone on a hunting party to Cromla, a neighboring hill,) is informed of the landing of Swaran, king of Lochlin, by Moran, the son of Fithil, one of his scouts. He convenes the chiefs; a council is held, and disputes run high about giving battle to the enemy. Connel, the petty king of Togorma, and an intimate friend of Cuthullin, was for retreating, till Fingal, king of those Caledonians who inhabited the northwest coast of Scotland, whose aid had been previously solicited, should arrive; but Calmar, the son of Mama, lord of Lara, a country in Connaught, was for engaging the enemy immediately. Cuthullin, of himself willing to fight, went into the opinion of Calmar. Marching towards the enemy, he missed three of his bravest heroes, Fergus, Duchomar, and Cathba. Fergus arriving, tells Cuthullin of the death of the two other chiefs: which introduces the affecting episode of Morna, the daughter of Cormac. The army of Cuthullin is descried at a distance by Swaran, who sent the son of Arno to observe the motions of the enemy, while he himself ranged his forces in order of battle. The son of Arno returning to Swaran, describes to him Cuthullin's chariot, and the terrible appearance of that hero. The armies engage, but night coming on, leaves the victory undecided. Cuthullin, according to the hospitality of the times, sends to Swaran a formal invitation to a feast, by "his bard Carril, the son of Kinfena. Swaran refuses to come. Carril relates to Cuthullin the story of Grudar and Brassolis. A party, by Connal's advice, is sent to observe the enemy; which closes the action of the first day.

• Open reader

Genres

• Epic poetry — The work is a long narrative poem about the war between Cuthullin's Irish forces and Swaran's Lochlin army, with Fingal's late arrival, following the conventions of the epic.
• Heroic poetry — Its central figures are warriors such as Cuthullin, Fingal, Swaran and Oscar, and its action is driven by combat, honor, champions and the ethos of the heroic age.
• Elegy — Much of the poem is given over to lamentation for the dead, including Crugal, Morna, Calmar, Trenar and Everallin, so mourning is a recurring emotional and structural device.
• Ossianic poetry — Presented as the verse of the bard Ossian, it belongs to the Gaelic-derived Ossianic tradition and draws on Scottish and Irish legendary material.

Tags

epic poetry · Ossian · James Macpherson · Celtic mythology · Ireland · Scotland · Lochlin invasion · Fingal · Cuthullin · Swaran · heroic battle · warrior chiefs

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Fingal is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Macpherson, dated 1765 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Poem
• Author: James Macpherson
• Date: 1765 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Epic poetry, Heroic poetry, Elegy, Ossianic poetry, Sublime poetry
• Length: 26,673 words
• Structure: 6 chapters, 189 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Fingal by James Macpherson
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Contents

• BOOK I
• BOOK II
• BOOK III
• BOOK IV
• BOOK V
• BOOK VI

More by James Macpherson

• Cath-Loda (1765)
• Comala (1765)
• Carric-Thura (1765)
• Carthon (1765)
• Oina-Morul (1765)
• Colna-Dona (1765)
• Oithona (1765)
• Croma (1765)
• All works by James Macpherson