Ossian Collection > Fingal

4 FINGAL.
-To me,,> Cuthullin replies, "pleasant is the
noise of arms ! pleasant as the thunder of heaven,
before the shower of Spring ! But gather all the
shining tribes, that I may view the sons of war 1
Let them pass along the heath , bright as the sun-
shine before a storm ; when the west wind collects
the clouds, and Morven echoes over all her oaks'.
But where are my friends in battle? the supporters
of my arm in danger? Where art thou, white -
bosomed Cathba? Where is that cloud in war,
Duchoniar? Hast thou left me, Fergus! in the
day of the storm ? Fergus , first in our joy at the
feast! son of Rossa! arm of death! comest thou
like a roe from Malmor? like a hart from thy
echoing hills? Hail, thou son of Rossa! what
shades the soul of war? ,,
"Four stones,,, replied the chief, "rise on the
grave of Cathba. These hands have laid in earth
Duchomar, that cloud in war! Cathba, son of Tor-
man! thou wert a sun -beam in Erin. And thou,
O valiant Duchomar! a mist of the marshy Lano;
when it moves on the plains of autumn , bearing
the death of thousands along. Morna ! fairest of
maids! calm is thy sleep in the cave of the rock!
Thou hast fallen in darkness, like a star, that
shoots across the desert; when the traveller is
aione , and mourns the transient beam ! „
"Say,,, said Semo's blue - eyed son, "say how
fell the "chiefs of Erin. Fell they by the sons of
Lochlin, striving in the battle of heroes? Or what
confines the strong in arms to the dark and nar-
row house?,.
" Cathba, ,. replied the hero , " fell by the sword
of Duchomar at the oak of the noisy streams. Du-
chomar came to Tura's cave; he spoke to the lovely
Morna.,, "Morna, fairest among women, lovely
daughter of strong-armed Cormac ! Why in the
circle of stones? in the cave of the rock alone?
The stream murmurs along. The old trees groan
in the wind. The lake is troubled before thee: dark
are the clouds of the sky ! But thou art snow on
the heath: thy hair is the mist of Cromla: when
it curls on the hill, when it shines to the beam
of the west ! Thy breasts are two smooth rocks