J. F. Campbell Collection > Report of the Committee of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian

108 ALEIN AND THE
With joy he finds the dragon fast asleep,
Then pulls the fruit, and comes in safety back ;
Then with a chearful countenance, and gay.
He gives the present to the hands of Mey.
" Well have you done, to bring me of this fruit :
But greater signs of prowess must you give :
Go pull the tree entirely by the root,
And bring it hither, or I cease to live. "
Though hard the task, like lightning fast he flew.
And nimbly glided o'er the yielding tide ;
"Then to the tree with manly steps he drew.
And pull'd, and tugg'd it hard, from side to side ;
Its bursting roots his strength could not withstand;
He tears it up, and bears it in his hand.
But long, alas ! ere he could reach the shore.
Or fix his footsteps on the solid sand.
The monster follow'd with a hideous roar.
And like a fury grasp'd him by the hand.
Then, gracious God ! what dreadful struggling rose
He grasps the dragon by th'invenom'd jaAvs,
In vain ; for round the bloody current flows,
V/hile his fierce teeth his tender body gnaws.
He groans through anguish of the grievous wound.
And cries for help ; but, ah ! no help was found I
At length, the maid, now wond'ring at his stay.
And rack'd with dread of some impending ill.
Swift to the lake, to meet him, bends her way ;
And there beheld what might a virgin kill !
She saw her lover struggling on the flood.
The dreadful monster gnawing at his side ;
She saw young Albin fainting, while his blood
With purple tincture dy'd the liquid tide I