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

i8 T E M O R A:
He told the tale of fallen Corniac. A 1 than the foil of Conachar,
the friend of car-borne Cuchullin : lie dwelt with Cormac in windy
Temora, when Seme's fon fought with generous Torlath. — The
tale of Althan v/as mournful, and the tear was in his eye.
* The fetting fun was yellow on Dora -f-. Grey evening began
to defcend. Temora's woods fliook with the blaH: of the uncon-
ftant wind. A cloud, at length, gathered in the weft, and a red
ftar looked fiom behind its edge. — I flood in the wood alone, and
faw a ghoft on the darkening air. His ftride extended from hill to
hill : his fhield was dim on his fide. It was the fon of Semo : I
knew the warrior's face. But he paffed away in his blaftj and all
was dark around. — My foul was fad. I went to the hall of fliells.
A thoufand lights arofe : the hundred bards had ftrung the harp.
Cormac ftood in the midft, like the morning ftar, when it rejoices
on the eaftern hill, and its young beams are bathed in fliowers. —
The fword of Artho X- was in the hand of the king ; and he looked
with joy on its poliftied ftuds : thrice he attempted to draw it, and
thrice he failed; his yellow locks are fpread on his ftioulders : his
cheeks of youth are red. — I mourned over the beam of youth, for
he was foon to fet.
Althan! he faid, v/ith a fmile, haft thou beheld my father ?
Heavy is the fword of the king, furely his arm was ftrong. O that
I were like him in battle, when the rage of his wrath arofe ! then
Cormac, and was picfcnt at his death. — He -]• Dcira, Ihe woodj fide of a mountain ;
had made his efcapc from Cairbar, by the it is here a hill in the neighbourhood of,
means of Cathmor, and coirjing toFingal, Temora.
related, as here, the death of his mafter X Arth, or Artho, the father of Cormac
Cormac. king of Ireland.
• Althan fpeaks.
would