Ossian Collection > Fingal

A POEM. 137
Conn AL * refumed the battle, but he broke his heavy fpear : he
lay bound on the field : and Carthon purfued his people.
Clessammor ! fliid the king -f- of Moi-ven, where is the Ipear
of thy ftrength ? Wilt thou behold Connal bound ; thy friend, at
the ftream of Lora ? Rife, in the light of thy fteel, thou friend of
Comhal. Let the youth of Balclufha feel the ftrength of Mor-
ven's race.
He rofe in the ftrength of his fteel, fhaking his grizly locks.
He fitted the fhield to his fide j and rufhed, in the pride of valour.
Carthon ftood, on that heathy rock, and faw the heroes ap-
proach. He loved the terrible joy of his face : and his ftrfength, in
the locks of age. Shall I lift that fpear, he fald, that never
ftrikes, but once, a foe? Or fliall I, with the words of peace, pre-
ferve the warrior's life ? Stately are his fteps of age ! — lovely the
remnant of his years. Perhaps it i» the love of Moina; the father
of car- borne Carthon. Often have I heard, that he dwelt at the
ecchoing ftream of Lora.
Such were his words, wiien Clefsammor came, and lifted high
his fpear. The youth received it on his fliield, and fpoke the words
of peace. -Warrior of the aged locks ! Is there no youth to lift
the fpear ? Haft thou no fon, to raife the fliield before his father,
and to meet the arm of youth ? Is the fpoufe of thy love no more ?
or weeps fhe over the tombs of thy fons ? Art thou of the kings of
men ? AVhat will be the fame of my fword if thou fhalt fall ?
■* This Connal is very much celebrated, in the North, who pretend they are de-
In ancient poetry, for his wifdom and va- fcended from him.
lour : there is a fmall tribe ftill fubfifling, f Fingal did not then know that Car-
thon was the fon of Cleftammpr.
T It