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

OF PASSAGES. 201
Many a hundred hast thou subdued in battle,
Thy fame is always spreading !
Do thou lift thy <^^pear and show thy deeds,
Since all they desiie is battle !"
" Blue-eyed hero of the chearful look. I"
He replied with wonted calmness,
" The well-tempered sword of Conal is keen.
Never did. an enemy find me captive.
But have you considered that high-masted fleet ?
Or who he is that sways its host ? [strong,,
Like the reeds of the lake of Lego were the nuinbers of the
As, approaching our strand from the east.
They furled the sails aloft,
Over each bark that crossed the ocean.
* « *
We never forsook the fighting hosts
In the day of slaughter, in the midst of battle.
We have stood the foremost in the front of conflict.
Where frequent was the play of keen-edged swords.
Did we ever shun the death of wounds ?
From the stroke of hundreds did we shrink in dismay ?
To day a numberless host descends upon our hills,
And Fingal is not present.
It is not safe to go forth to meet them,
While thou hast but the youth of Inisfail.
battle was won in my presence ; the valiant overcame ! But,
son of Semo, hear my voice, regard the ancient throne of
Cormac. Give wealth an. I half the land for peace, till
Fingal shall arrive on our coast. Or, if war be thy
choice, I lift ihe ..worA and spear. My joy shall be in the
tlonary of that language. " Bark, batiment de mer qui sert au transport dcs
marchandises." Dictionaire de la langue Brctonne parDoni Louis Le Pellet iti'
Religieux Benedictiii de la Congregation dc S. Maur. I'ol. A Paris 1752.