Blair Collection > Galic antiquities

30O CUTHON THE Son of DARGO:
and his ftream of tears defcend. He lights, as he walks along, on
Curach's grave. On his bread, above it, the w^hite-footed dog is
jftretched. Under his neck lies the arm. — I fee him as I pafs : the
tear is in my eye : I think of the white-breafted dog and Ofcar *. —
A moment I lean on the head of my fpear : the crowding of grief
hath fwelled my foiil. But I mud not forget the battle. I ftep a-
fide to bring the mourner with me ; but he will not come. Three
times his howl is heard ; his foul in the cry is gone. Ah ! thou art
cold as the clay of earth ; no breath is in Coffagalla. Why this
dimnefs of my fight ? My foul of battle fails. But the Ihield again
awakes it. His heroes are gathered around the king.
Like the many rays of the fun glittering through the watery
cloud, when the hunter fears the florm; fo, thick rife before Com-
hal's fon the gleaming fpears of Morven and Innisfail. Curach is
lowi A thoufand heroes look in filence on Fingal. Who Ihall
have the battle ? — Fergus ftands behind : no field of fuch fame had
yet been his. In his hand he holds his fpear : without thought he
tears away the rough beard of its fliaft ; the mark of its ftrife in
war. His breafl beats with hope. Battles fwell in his foul : the
blood glows in all his veins. His eyes are two ftars in watery mift,
when
* Alluding to the death of Ofcar, and Cha chaoheadh fmlhar a hmlhcir,
, - r r-n ..t .. r r '' S chit chaointaih mathair a mat!
theenefof Branon that occalion; a Icene , ., , , ^ .,
o — Ach lad uileanns a phlofgail,
fo affeQing, that few paffages of Offian ^ geur-chaoine' n>o chaomh Ofcair.
are oftener repeated than that which de- ...•••
fcribes it in thefe beautifully-tender lines, " Donnalaich nan con rem thaobh,
...» 1 1 J r • * * A?us biiirich nan fean Laoch,
which I may be pardoned for giving in "^s " "ly
' • 1 1 Gul a phannail fo cofnitheach,
the original, as the tranflatipn is already g^^ j^ ^^ ^ ^^^^i^h mo chrokihe.
fo well known. Cha d' fhidir duineroimhe riabh
Chiuirinich iad uime na fluaigh, Gur croidhe feola bh' ann am chliabh ;
S gach aon neach ri buirich thrjiagh 5 Ach croidhe do chuibhnecuir,
Cha chaoineadh Athair a mhac fcin, Aira chu'dacha le ftailinn," &c.
Schaghuilcsdha hlirathaire: TimorA, Bv I.