Ossian Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

An epic poem. 5
his beard. His fleps are fhort ; he often ftops ; and tofles his fi-
newy arms. He is Uke a cloud in the delartj that varies its form
to every blaft : the valleys are fad around, and fear, by turns, the
fliower.
The king, at length, refumed his foul, and took his pointed
fpear. He turned his eyes to Moi-lena. The fcouts of blue ocean
came. They came with fteps of fear, and often looked behind.
Cairbar knew that the mighty were near, and called his gloomy
chiefs.
The founding fteps of his warriors came. They drew, at once,
their fwords. There Morlath * ftood with darkened face. Hidal-
la's long hair fighs in wind. Red-haired Cormar bends on his fpear,
and rolls his fide-long-looking eyes. Wild is the look of Mal-
thos from beneath too fhaggy brows. — Foldath ftands like an oozy
rock, that covers its dark fides with foam. His fpear is like Slimo-
ra's fir, that meets the wind of heaven. His fhield is marked with
the flrokes of battle ; and his red eye defpifes danger. Thefe and
a thoufand other chiefs furrounded car-borne Cairbar, when the
fcout of ocean came, Mor-annal -f, from flreamy Moi-lena. — His
eyes hang forward from his face, his lips are trembling, pale,
* M6r-lath, ^rat in the day of latde. a paflage in the fecond book, to have been
Hidalla', mihjly hoking hero. Cor-mar, ex- Cairbar's greatefl: confident, and to have
pert at fea. Klalth OS, Jliiv to/pcai. Fol- had a piiacipal hand in the confpiracy
dath, gen.rsus. agaiiift Cormac king of Ireland. His tribe
Foldath, who is here flrongly marked, was one of the molt confiderable of the
makes a great figure in the fequel of the race of the Fir-bolg.
poem. His fierce, uncomplying character f M6r-annal,y?/-w^-3/w/^i a very pro-
is fuftained throughout. He feems, from per name for a fcout.
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