Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

12 CATH-LODUINN. [Duan II.
When their crests are seen amid foam,
Over thick-lying smoke and haze. 20
The traveller going shall quake,
Not knowing which way is the right."
" Like traveller, we shall not quake ;
Mighty heroes, unsheath your steel.
Shall my sword be raised on the mount, 25
Or be left to yourselves the triumph ? "
" The doings of the past," said Dubh,
" To-day reappear to my eye ;
For Treunmor of the broadest shield
Is seen among chiefs that have been. 30
The soul of the king was not weak,
In his thoughts there never was fear.
From their hundred great streams in heath,
Hosts met in the deep glen of Cona ;
The chief was on the hill beside them. 35
To the conflict who will go down ?
They drew forth to a half their swords ;
In each head was a red wroth eye ;
Every man, apart in the wood,
Was stifling a song in his breast. 40
To each other why should they yield ?
Co-equal in might were their sires.
With great spear on the hill was Treunmor ;
Handsome, in his locks, was the youth ;
He observed in motion the foe, 45
And his spirit was dark with grief.
He besought every dauntless hero
In his turn to conduct the strife.
They advanced, but returned with loss