Oina-Morul by James Macpherson

Name: Oina-Morul
Author: James Macpherson

Oina-Morul, by James Macpherson, is Ossian's tale, addressed to Malvina, daughter of Toscar, of the voyage he made in his youth to the island of Fuarfed at Fingal's command. Mal-orchol, king of Fuarfed, was hard pressed by Ton-thormod, chief of Sar-dronlo, who had loved Mal-orchol's daughter, white-bosomed Oina-morul, and been refused because their fathers had been foes. Ton-thormod then came to Fuarfed with war. Ossian bound his sails in Col-coiled and sent his sword to Mal-orchol, who knew the signal of Albion and welcomed him with grief. Ossian promised that Fingal, remembering the hospitality once given him, would not forget a friend in danger. At the feast Oina-morul played the harp, and Ossian was struck by her beauty. The next morning the armies met at Tormul's stream. Ossian fought Ton-thormod, broke his steel, and delivered him bound to Mal-orchol. At the feast Ton-thormod turned his face away from Oina-morul. Mal-orchol offered Ossian the maid as a gift to carry home to Selma. That night Ossian heard her singing softly of a grieving warrior and asking why their fathers had been foes. She was thinking of Ton-thormod. Moved by her sorrow, Ossian answered that Ton-thormod would not mourn on his rock. In the morning he freed the king and gave him the maid. Before Mal-orchol, Ossian urged that the old enmity be forgotten, since the ghosts of their fathers now shared the same shell in Loda.

By James Macpherson · First published 1765 · Genre: Epic poetry, Heroic poetry, Elegiac poetry · 1,313 words

First lines

Argument. After an address tt Malvina, the daughter of Toscar, Ossian proceeds to relate his own expedition to Fuarfed, an island of Scandinavia. Mal-orchol, king of Fuarfed, being hard pressed in war by Ton-thormod, chief of Sar-dronlo (who had demanded in vain the daughter of Mal-orchol in marriage,) Fingal sent Ossian to his aid. Ossian, on the day after his arrival, came to battle with Ton-thormod, and took him prisoner. Mal-orchol offers his daughter, Oina-morul, to Ossian; but he, discovering her passion for Ton-thormod, generously surrenders her to her lover, and brings about a reconciliation between the two kings.

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Genres

Epic poetry — Narrates a military expedition, a battle, and the capture of a warrior-king in a grand, formal verse structure centered on heroic deeds and the fortunes of warring clans.
Heroic poetry — Celebrates the valor, honor and martial prowess of Ossian, Fingal, Ton-thormod and Mal-orchol, with the warrior code and generous conduct of the hero at its core.
Elegiac poetry — Dwells on the passing of time, lost years, falling kings and the dead ghosts of ancestors, with a mournful tone that laments what is gone.
Tragic romance — Centers on the unrequited and forbidden love of Oina-morul and Ton-thormod, whose passion is shaped by enmity between their fathers and ends in renunciation.

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Oina-Morul 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, Heroic poetry, Elegiac poetry, Tragic romance, Pre-Romantic poetry
Length: 1,313 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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