Blair Collection > Galic antiquities

A POEM. 223
was the echo of their fwords, as they mixed on high, like ftreams
of lightning, when they iffue from dark clouds of many folds *.
The hills reply to their . Ihields. Luina trembles, witli all its
woods. The heath fliakes its head ; the roes are afraid in their
dreams ; they think the chafe is already up, and the thought of
their fleep is of danger. — Still louder grows the noife in their ear ;
they think the approach of the hounds and the twang of the bow
are nearer. From their midnight flumber they ftart ; their face is
towards the defart.
Terrible and long was the flrife of battle. — But the fliield of
Gaul is cleft in twain : and the blade of Garno flies in broken
pieces. Its found is like the whirlwind on Ardven, when it tears
the heath from its roots, and ruftles through the leafy oak.
Gaul ftands like a whale, which tlie blue waves have left bare
upon a rock. Garno, like the return of a flormy wave, ruflies
on to grafp the chief. Around each other they clafp their finewy
arms ; like two contending fpirits of heaven, when all the ftorms
are awake. The rocking hills fhrink with fear from the thunder
of the fons of the fky ; and the groves are blafted with their light-
ning. — Thus fi'om fide to fide the warriors bound. Rocks with
their earth and mofs fly from their heels. Blood, mixt with fweat,
defcends in dreams to the ground. It wanders tlu-ough the green
grafs, and dyes the pafling rill.
Ale>
* Another edition of the poem de- ChaidB an leirg air chrith fui'n cafdibh,
fcribcs this combat fomewhat difFerently, '^ <^^'''"' '"■"= ''■''" "maibli gbfa.
T ^ • 1 in 1 • 1 r » Bhuaileadh iad cu neart'ar dobhidh
but With almoit equal energy, in the fol- ,, ,1. . •. ■ ■ •„ >_ ,
^ "■' ' Mar dha bhuinnc n cruaidli cho rag.
lowing lines ; Cho-fhreagair na creagan Yna beanntai*"
Bhnail iad aiin fin air a cheile. Do airm nan Cuiinc calma.
Gu sruaidli cuidreach is do-bheumadi,