Ossian Collection > Fingal

12 F I N G A L, Book I.
is in their courfe, the ftrength of the eagle defcending on her prey.
Their noife is like the blail of winter on the fides of the fnow-
headed Gbrmal.
Within the car is feen the chiefs the ftrong flormy fon of
the fword j the hero's name is CuchuUin, fon of Semo king of
iliells. His red cheek is like my poliflied yew. The look of his
blue-rolling eye is wide beneath the dark arch of his brow. His
hair flies from his head like a flame, as bending forward he wields
the fpear. Fly, king of ocean, fly i he comes, like a ftorm, along
the ftreamy vale.
When did I fly, replied the king, from the battle of many
fpears ? When did I fly, fon of Arno, chief of the little foul ? I
met the florm of Gormal when the foam of my waves was high ; I
met the florm of the clouds and fhall I fly from a hero .'' Were it
Fingal himfelf my foul fliould not darken before him- Rife to
the battle, my thoufands j pour round me like the ecchoing main*
Gather round the bright fteel of your king ; ftrong as the rocks of
my land; that meet the ftorm with joy, and ftretch their dark woods
to the wind.
As autumn's * dark florms pour from two ecchoing hills, to-
wards each other approached the heroes. As two d^rk ftreams
from high rocks meet, and mix and roar on the plain ; loud, rough
and dark in battle meet Lochlin and Innis-fail. Chief mixed his
ftrokes m ith chief, and man with man ; fleel, clanging, founded
on
* The reader may compare this pafTage To armour armour, lance to lance oppos'd,
with afimilar one in Homer. Iliad. 4, v. Hofl againft hoft, with (hadowy fquadrons,
446. drew.
Now fhield with {hield, with helmet hel- The founding darts in iron tempefts flew ;
met clos'd,
With