Blair Collection > Galic antiquities

A POEM. 175
in tlieir eddies, lift at times, like fmoke, his hair. Thefe flames,
in two caves below it, are his eyes. — Often had Fingal feen the
fign of battle ; but who could believe it in the land of Conar, his
friend ?
The king afcends the rock. The blade of Ltino waves a meteor
of light in his hand, and Carril walks behind him. The fpirit be-
holds the warrior approach : on the wings of his blaft he flies.
Fingal purfues him with his voice : the hills of Duthona hear the
found. They fhake with all their gray rocks and groves. From
their dreams of danger, the people flart along the heath, and
kindle the alarm of the flame.
Arise, my warriors, faid the retiirning king, with a figh ;
arife, let each gird on his mail, and fpread his broad fliield before
him. We muft fight ; bi;t not with the wonted joy of our fl:rength
when the roar of the battle rofe. Our friends meet xis through
night ; and Fingal will not tell his name *. Our foes might hear
it, and fay, " The warriors of Morven were once afraid." No ;
let each gird on his mail, and fpread the fliield : but let the fpear
err of its mark, and the arrow fly to the wind. With morning
light we fliall be feen of onv friends, and ovir joy fliall be great in
Duthona.
We
* In tbofe days of heroifm it was rec- on his cor.fl, through night, and he and
koned cowardice to tell one's name to an his people taken for Pelafgians, with
enemy, left it fhould be confidered as whom they were then at war. Rather than
claiming kindred with him and declining difpenfe with this punftilio of honour,
the combat. Thefame extravagant notions Jafon fought till day-light fliewed his
cf honour feem to have prevailed among friends their miftake, after a great many
fome other nations of antiquity. In the of them, with their king, had been killed.
Argonautic expedition, Jafon, afterhaving Vid. Ancient Univ. HilL of Fa!', and ffe^
been hofpitably entertained by Cyzicus roic Times, § 6.
king of the Deliones, was driven back