NEW TRANSLATION OF THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7567, 20 February 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.

As one of the events of the year (writes our Waipa correspondent), I am happy to repgrt that Mr, Donald McLeod, of this district, has completed his translation of Ossian's PoemH into English from the original (Gaelic). The work has occupied the moat part of Mr. McLeod's attention during the greater part of last year. The manuscript has been sent by Mr. McLeod, through Captain D. H. McKenzie, Auckland, to Prof. Blackie, of Edinburgh, Scotland, to be issued through some publishing house there. All friends to either Ossian or his talented translator will rejoice to see the work through the Press. Your humble servant does not pretend to be an infallible judge of such works, but as a man that understands English and Gaelic, more or less, well, I would give it as my opinion that Mr. McLeod is the only translator, opto this date, who has shown poetic spirit enough to understand Ossian. As, no doubt, many of your readers will be interested in this work, I have, with the permission of the translator, copied the following short extract, also Macpherson'a translation of the same, for comparison :—

FINGAL-CANTO I. THE GATHERING Of CUCHULLtN'S ARMY TO OPPOSE SWAHAN'S INVASION. [As Translated by Mr. McLeod.] The gathering heroes of high deeds were seen - Approaching from the numerous winding {{lens. Each soul rncalls, with warlike zeal infi*med, Each battle looming In the olden time. Their eyes ablaze roll wildly, fiercely round The stern and sullen foe of Innisfaii. Each hero grasps in hand the liiltod blade, The darting lightning flashing from their steel. As torrent rolling through the rugged gorge. From mountain neights the gathering warriors poured, Each chiof in armour of a famous sire ; Behind him rusher) his darky-scowling tribe, Like gathering of the waters into waves round the vivid lightning of the skies. The clang of arms was heard in every stride, The bay of hounds in higu curvating glee ; Each mouth was humming forth some martial song— The battle every champion's chief desire. High Cromlec thrilled upon the mountain's brow When o'er its heather tramped ihe gathering host. They stood assembled on the slope of hill, Like autumn's hoary fog that settles down Opon the lofty mount and wraps It round, Attaching to the sky its dusky head. [Macpherson's Translation.] Now I behold the chiels, in the pride of their former deeds! « , ~ . ~ Their souls are kindled at the battles of old, at the actions of other times. Their eyes are flames of fire; ,they roll in search of the foes of their land. • . Their mighty hands are on their swords; lightning pours from their sides of steel. They come like streams from the mountains; each ■ rushes roaring from his bill .. Bright are the chiefs in battle, in the armour of their fathers ; • - " ' Gloomy and dark their heroes follow < , Like, the gathering of the rainy clouds behind the red j meteors of heaven. The sounds of crashing arms resound; 'i he gray dogs howl between ; Unequal bursts the song of battle ; Rocking Cromla echoes round. , On Lena's dusky heath they stand, like mists that shades the hills of autumn. . When broken and dark it settles high, and lifts its head to heaven.