Ossian Collection > Fingal

A P O E M. 149
It is but an aged oak, Alcletha ! replied the lovely weeping
Alona * ; it is but an oak, Alcletha, bent over Lara's ftream. But
who comes along the plain ? forrow is in his fpeed. He lifts high
the ipear of Calmar. Alcletha, it is covered 'with, blood !
But it is covered with the blood of foes -f-, fifter of car-borne Cal-
mar ! his fpear never returned unftained with blood J, nor his bow
from the flrife of the mighty. The battle is confumed in his pre-
fence : he is a flame of death, Alona ! Youth || of the mournful
fpeed ! where is the fon of Alcletha ? Does he return with his
fame ? in the midft of his echoing fhields ? Thou art dark and
filent ! — Calmar is then no more. Tell me not, warrior, how he
fell, for I cannot hear of his wound.
Why dofl thou look towards the defart, mother of car-borne
Calmar ?
Such was the fong of Carril, when Cuchullin lay on his fhield :
the bards refted on their harps, and fleep fell foftly around. The
fon of Semo was awake alone j his foul was fixed on the war.— —
The burning oaks began to decay; faint red light is fpread around.
—A feeble voice is heard : the ghoft of Calmar came. He ftalked
in the beam. Dark is the wound in his fide. His hair is difordered
and loofe. Joy fits darkly on his face ; and he feems to invite
Cuchullin to his cave.
* Alulne, exquifitely leautiful. of Saul returned not empty. 2 Sam,
t Acletha fpeaks. i. 22.
X From the blood of the llain, from || She acJdrefles herfelf to Larnir, Cal-
ihe fat of the mighty, the bow of Jona- mar's friend, who had returned with th3
ihan returned not back, and the fword news of his deaths
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