Ossian Collection > Fingal

Book II. An E P I C P O E M. 23
fteps in the heath. I am light as the blaft of Cromla, and I move
like the ihadow of mifl. Connal, fon of Colgar, I fee the dark
cloud of death : it hovers over the plains of Lena. The fons of
green Erin fliall fall. Remove from the field of ghofts. ^Like
the darkened moon * he retired, in the midft of the whiftling blaft.
Stay, faid the mighty Connal, ftay my dark-red friend. Lay by
that beam of heaven, fon of the windy Cromla. \Vhat cave of
the hill is thy lonely houfe ? What green-headed hill is the place of
thy reft ? Shall we not hear thee in the ftorm ? In the noife of the
mountain-ftream ? When the feeble fons of the wind come forth,
and ride on the blaft of the defart.
The foft-voiced Connal rofe in the midft of his founding arms.
He ftruck his fhield above Cuchullin. The fon of battle waked.
Why, faid the ruler of the car, comes Connal through my
night .J My fpear might turn againft the found; and Cuchullin
mourn the death of his friend. Speak, Connal, fon of Colgar, fpeak,
thy counfel is like the fun of heaven.
Son ofSemo, replied the chief, the gh oft of Crugal came from
the cave of his hill. The ftars dim-twinkled through his form;
and his voice was like the found of a diftant ftream. He is a
meflenger of death. He fpeaks of the dark and narrow houfe.
Sue for peace, O chief of Dunfcaich ; or fly over the heath of
Lena.
He fpoke to Connal, replied the hero, though ftars dim-twinkled
through his form. Son of Colgar, it was the wind that murmured
* '^■JX'^ ^'' "^Ta p^Govor, nirs xxTTio; Like a thin fmoke he fees the fpirit fly,
Jlj^jT9 7{Tg»}^i,ric And hears a feeble, lamentable cry.
HoM. II. 23. V. 100. Pcpi.
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