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

An epic poem. ii
of heaven was in tlie bofoin of Cathmor. His towers rofe on the
banks of Atha : icven paths led to his halls. Seven chiefs ftood on
the paths, and called the ftranger to the feafl ! But Cathmor dwelt
in the wood to avoid the voice of praife.
Olla came with his fongs. Ofcar went to Cairbar's feafl.
Three hundred warriors flrode along Moi-lena of the ftreams. The
grey dogs bounded on the heath, their howling reached afar. Fin-
gal faw the departing hero : the foul of the king was fad. He
dreaded Cairbar's gloomy thoughts, amidft the feaft of fliells.
My fon raifcd high the fpear of Cormac : an hundred bards met
him with fongs. Cairbar concealed with fmiles the death that was
dark in his foul. The feaft is fpread, the fhells refound : joy bright-
ens the face of the hoft. But it was like the parting beam of the
fun, when he is to hide his red head, in a florm.
Cairbar rofe in his arms; darknefs gathered on his brow. The
hundred harps ceafed at once. The clang * of fliields was heard.
Far diftant on the heath Olla raifed his fong of woe. My fon
knew the fign of death ; and rifing feized his fpear.
Oscar ! faid the dark-red Cairbar, I behold the fpear f of Inis-
* When a chief was determined to kill up to Lord Douglas in the caftle of Edin-
a perfon already in his power, it was ufua] burgh, as a certain fignal of his approaching
to fignify, that his death was intended, by death.
the found of a fhield flruck with the blunt t Cormac, the fon of Arth, had given
end of a fpear j at the fame time that a 'he fpear, which is here the foundation of
bard at a diftance raifed the death-fong. A the quarrel, to Ofcar when he came to con-
ceremony of another kind was long ufed gratulate him, upon Swaran's beino- ex-
in Scotland upon fuch occafions. Every pelled from Ireland,
body has heard that a bull's head was ferved
C 2 fiil.