Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

A P O E M. 117
of fpears ; Crothar renowned in the battles of
his youth ; but age dwelt then around the chief*
Roth mar had railed the fword againft the
hero ; and the wrath of Fingal burned. He
fent Offian to meet Rothmar in war, for the
chief of Croma was the friend of his youth.
I fent th€ bard before me with fongs. I came
into the hall of Crothar. There fat the chief
amidft the arms of his fathers, but his eyes
had failed. His grey locks waved around a
ftaff, on which the warrior leaned. He hum-
med the fong of other times, when the found
of our arms reached his ears. Crothar rofe,
ftretched his aged hand, and bleffed the fon of
Fingal.
" Offian f faid the hero, " the ftrength
of Crothar's arm has failed. O could I lift
the fword, as on the day that Fingal fought at
Strutha ! He was the firft of men 1 but Cro-
thar had alfo his fame. The king of Morven
praifed me ; he placed on my arm the boffy
fhield of Calthar, whom the king had flain in
his wars. Doft thou not behold it on the wall ?
for Crothar' s eyes have failed. Is thy ftrength
like thy fathers, Offian ? let the aged feel
thine arm !"
I gave my arm to the king ; he felt it with
his aged hands. The ligh rofe in his bread,
and his tears came down. " Thou art ftrong,
my fon, he faid, but not like the king of Mor-
ven ! But who is like the hero among the
mighty in war ? Let the feaft of my hall be
fpread 3 and let my bards exalt the fong. Great
1 3 is