“Actor hujus Ossane M’Finn;” or The Author of this is Ossian, the Son of Finn, is prefixed to the poem of which I am now to give a translation. In the course of the ages, Ossian has had to accept the paternity of many productions; but people took this as a matter of course until the appearance of the celebrated works of James Macpherson 250 years after Sir James Macgregor prefixed Ossian’s name to this poem. The poetry of this piece is not of a very high order, but is interesting as giving the popular conceptions regarding Finn 400 years ago. It was probably composed by an ecclesiastic, the number of which class at the time in the Highlands was considerable. It begins thus:—
For twice three days and one great Finn I did not see;
And ne’er before a week such sorrow brought to me.
The son of Teigi’s daughter, king of deeds and might,
My teacher and my strength, my guidance and my light.
Both poet he and chief, a king my love commands;
Finn, monarch of the Féinn, the lord of many lands.
Leviathan at sea, a lion on the shore,
Keen as the air-borne hawk, and wise in art and lore;
He’s courteous and just, a ruler firm and true,