Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal > Volume 2

A POF.M. C3
*' Yes ! the foe is near," said tiie rustling strength of
Althos ^\ 1 heard their clanging arms on the coast,
and saw the d:ir!: wreaths of Erin's standard. Distinct
is the voice of Cairbar v, and loud as Cronila's falling
stream. He had seen the dark ship on the sea, before
the dusky night came down. His people watch on Le-
na's plain, and lift ten thousand swords.'' " And let
them lift ten diousand swords," said Nathcs with a
smile. " The sons oi car-borne Usnoth will never
tremble in danger. Why dost thou roll with all thy
foam, thou rolling sea of Uilin ? Why do ye rustle, on
your dark wings, ye whistling tempests of the sky ? Do
ve think, ye storms, that ye keep Nathos on the coast ?
i^o : his soul detains him, children of the night ! Al-
thos ! bring mv father's arms : thou seest them beaming
to the stars. Bring the spear of Semo «', it stands in
the dark-bosomed ship."
He brought the arms. Nathos clothed his limbs in
all their shining steel. The stride of the chief is lovely:
the joy of his eyes terrible. He looks towards the com-
ing of Cairbar. The wind is rustling in his hair. Dar-
thula is silent at his side : her look is fixed on die chief.
She strives to hide the rising sigh, and two tears swell
in her eyes.
" Althos !" said the chief of Etha, " I see a cave in
that rock. Place Dar-thula there : and let thy arm be
strong. Ardan 1 we meet the foe, and call to batde
u Althos had just returned from viewing the ceast of Lena, whi-
ther he had been scat by N'athcs, tlie beginning of the night.
V Gail bar had gathered an army to the coast uf Ulster, in order
to oppose Fingal, who prepared for an expedition into Ireland, to
re-cstabli-.h the house of Cormac on tlie throne, wliich Cairbar had
usurped. Fetween the wings of Cairhar's army, was the bay of '1 u-
ra, into wliich the ships of the son* of Usnuth wtre dri\en : so that
there was no possibihty of their escapii'ig.
w Semo was grandfather to Nathos by the mother's side. The
spear mentioned here was given to Usnoth on his marriage, it being
the custom then for the father of the lady to give his arms to his son-
in-law. The ctremuny u»ed upon these o:ci5k);is i^ mentioned ia
other potmi.