Ossian Collection > Fingal

Book IV. AnEPICPOEM. 53
The hero ftarted from reft, and ftill beheld her in his foul.
The found of Ofcar's fteps approached. The king faw the gray
rtiield on his fide. For the faint beam of the morning came over
the waters of Ullin.
What do the foes in their fear, faid the rifmg king of Morven ?
Or fly they through ocean's foam, or wait they the battle of fleel ?
But why fhould Fingal afk ? I hear their voice on the early wind. —
Fly over Lena's heath, O Ofcar, and awake our friends to battle.
The king flood by the flone of Lubar; and thrice reared his ter-
rible voice. The deer ftarted from the fountains of Cromla ; and
all the rocks fhook on their hills. Like the noife of a hundred
mountain-ftreams, that burft, and roar, and foam : like the clouds
that gather to a tempeft on the blue face of the iky ; fo met the fons
of the defart, round the terrible voice of Fingal. For pleafant was
the voice of the king of Morven to the warriors of his land : for often
had he led them to battle, and returned with the fpoils of the foe.
Come to battle, faid the king, ye children of the florm. Come
to the death of thoufands. Comhal's fon will fee the fight. My
fword fhall wave on that hill, and be the fhield of my people. But
never may you need it, warriors ; while the fon of Morni fights, the
chief of mighty men. He fhall lead my battle; that his fame
may rife in the fong.
, O YE ghofts of heroes dead ! ye riders of the ftorm of Cromla !
receive my falling people with joy, and bring them to your hills. —
And may the blaft of Lena carry them over my feas, that they may
come to my filent dreams, and delight my foul in reft.
FlLLAN