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in Scotland and reshaped through centuries till Macphearson wrote
his Ossian epics from 1760 onwards. Gundert's translation of the
ballad “Der Krieg von Inisthona" runs up to 170 lines and is
commented on instructively. Going through the poem one is
reminded of the ballads of Malabar and of Keralolpathi, especially
of Gundert's comment with partial translation of it. 12
It is interesting to see what Gundert writes about the poem
in the accompanying letter to his father: "You should not think
Hermann has forgotten the 13th of August, so I shall send these
pages. You will open them and read the heading: A Poem of Ossian.
Hm you will think, this young man is aiming high, has the courage
to work at Ossian! Well, I thought, one year ago I was able to read
Moses' poetry, so I will, if need be, be able to understand Ossian
who is almost just as simple, and for what is more, I did not have
to find my way through the labyrinths of commentaries. I only
hexametrized a prosaic translation of Ossian and provided it with
footnotes for which I had to make myself familiar with all of Ossian's
poems. I think I may praise myself for having fully conceived his
spirit, so that I can read and understand his writings. You will, I
think, have read it already, therefore you may rather judge the
prosaic translation used; I consider it natural and simple qualities
which, of course, were sometimes lost in the metre, but nevertheless
I hope you will gladly accept it as a proof that I did not spare any
sacrifice of time in order to give you a little pleasure.
The reason for chosing this poem will convince you only
when you have read it. Well, when you read the heading "Krieg"
(War), do not think, that I am enjoying war and therefore I have been
mislead to commit an error by sending you, who is an enemy of war,
such a war poem; no, it is 'the loving father's joy as to his successful
son' which made me choose this poem. Throughout the poem, and
especially in verses 158 and following, the joy is shining brilliantly.
In these days virtue and strength were man's distinction. Times
have changed. Well, it may have been wonderful when the old
father went to meet his son returning home after a victorious battle,
and when the father received him with all honours, and the young
hero showed the captured helmets and shields, his trophies, to the
father, who enjoyed himself together with his son and reminded him
of the exploits of his youth. But it might be the more exciting, if the
