Ossian Collection > Original collection of the poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and other bards, who flourished in the same age

194 CONULL CULBUIX.
one the son of a king, or a chief from the principal
Leads of our family.
He sallied forth like a man in rage, quicker
than the stormy wind: by him our two hundred
fell, and not so much as one of them returned.
To us, dismal it was to see him leaping, and,
in a fury, performing mighty acts of valour; and
after he slaughtered our seven hundred, more
nimhle lie was than a deer on a plain. Oscar was
elated with pride, my dearly-beloved, son of great
fame; and he went forth in his armour of steel,
and all the Fingalians crying aloud, "Victory at-
tend thee."
Toward the hill of battle* the two heroes
moved, to try their prowess: as a small skiff by a
high wind, so shook the hill by the madness of
their conflict; as a hawk bouncing against a covey f
of birds, was Oscar going against the hero, per-
forming subtile perverse feats: strong spears were
driven like lightning above the heroes. By their
feats the glittering of swords was seen; the heath
and grass round the hill by them were all set on
flames. By Con nil's leaping and furious deeds,
under his feet the earth yielded; down to the
knees, at every leap, in the ground he sunk.
Eight days and five tides, they renewed the
rage of battle each day. By the champion, Oscar
was wounded in the right breast, at the end of the
* Slaughter, i" Flock.