J. F. Campbell Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

An epic POE M. 15
The fons of Erin faw it far diftantj they trembled in their fouls.
They knew that the wrath of the l<ing arofe : and they forefaw
their death. We firft arrived ; we fought j and Erin's chiefs with-
ftood our rage. But when the king came, in the found of his-
courfe, what heart of fteel could ftand ! Erin fled over Moi-Iena.
Death purfued their flight.
We faw Ofcar on his fliield. We faw his blood around. Si-
lence darkened every face. Each turned his back and wept. Tlie
king flrove to hide his tears. His grey beard whifl:led in the wind.
He bends his head above his fon. His words are mixed with figliF^
And art thou fallen, Ofcar, in the midfl: of thy courfe.-* the
heart of the aged beats over thee ! He fees thy coming warf.
The wars which oiight to come he beholds, but they are cut ofl'
from thy fame. When fliall joy dwell at Selma .? When fhall
grief depart from Morven ^ INjIy fons fidl by degrees : Fingal fhall
be the laft of his race. The fame which I have received ihall
pafs away : my age will be without friends. I fliall fit a grey
cloud in my hall : nor fliall I hear the return of a fon, in the midft
of his founding arms. Weep, ye heroes of Morven ! never more
fhall Ofcar rife !
And they did weep, O Fingal j dear was the hero to their fouls.
He went out to battle, and the foes vanifhed j he returned, in peace,
amidft their joy. No father mourned his fon flain in youth; no
brother his brother of love. They fell, without tears, for the chief
of the people was low 1 Bran * is howling at his feet: gloomy Lu'ath
* Bran was one of Fi/igal's dogs. — He in the tranH-itoi's hands, has given him the
was fo remarkable for his fleetnefs, that fame properties with Virgil's Camilla. Bran
the poet, in a piece which is not juft now Tgnifies a ir.omta'fi-Jlieam.
is