THE OSSIANIC CYCLE
The old order changes—Who were the Feinn?—Ossian, his name and
relation to the bardic literature—The Ossianic tales and poems
very numerous—Earliest references—First remarkable
development—Original home of the Ossianic romance—The leading
heroes—A famous tract—Legends, regarding Fionn, and curious
details of his warrior-band—The literature divided into four
classes—Most ancient poems of Ossian, and the
Feinn—Quotations—“The Dialogue of the Ancients”—Ossian and
Patrick—Story of Crede—Miscellaneous poems—Prose tales—“Pursuit
of Diarmad and Grainne”—“Lay of Diarmad”—Norse Ballads—Dream
figures, a remarkable Gaelic tradition 174