Ossian Collection > Fingal

A P O E M. 239
It lliall never be told in my halls that my warriors fell in my pre-
I'ence ; that they fell in the prefence of Lathmon when his fword
refted by his fide : the blue eyes of Cutha * would roll in tears, and
her fteps be lonely in the vales of Dunlathmon.
Neither fliall it be told, I replied, that the fon of Fingal fled.
Were his fteps covered with darknefs, yet would not Oflian fly ; his
foul would meet him and fay, " Does the bard of Selma fear the foe r"
No : he does not fear the foe. His joy is in the midft of battle.
Lathmon came on with his fpear, and pierced the fliield of
Ofllan. I felt the cold fteel at my fide; and drew the fword of
Morni ; I cut the fpear in twain ; the bright point fell glittering on
the ground. The fon of Nuath burnt in his wrath, and lifted high
his founding fhield. His dark eyes rolled above it, as bending for-
ward, it flione like a gate of brafs. But Oflian's fpear pierced the
brightnefs of its bofi'es, and funk in a tree that rofe behind. The
fhield hung on the quivering lance ! but Lathmon ftill advanced.
Gaul forefaw the fall of the chief, and ftretched his buckler before
my fword -, when it defcended, in a ftream of light over the king of
Dunlathmon,
Lathmon beheld the fon of Morni, and the tear ftarted from his
eye. He threw the fword of his fathers on the ground, and fpoke
the words of the valiant. Why fliould Lathmon fight againft the
firft of mortal men ? Your fouls are beams from heaven ; your fwords
the flames of death. Who can equal the renown of the heroes,
whofe adlions are fo great in youth ! O that ye were in the halls of
Nuath, in the green dwelling of Lathmon ! then would my father
fay, that his fon did not yield to the feeble. — But who comes, a
* Cutha appears to have been Lathmon's wife or miflrefs.
: '\ VI O J i ■ mighty