Ossian Collection > Fingal

2C4 C A R R I C - T H U R A :
rior low ? But he was low before the mighty, maid of the flow-roll-
ing eve ! The feeble did not overcome the fon of car-borne Annir.
Terrible art thou, O king of Morven ! in battles of the fpear.
But, in peace, thou art like the fun, when he looks thro' a filent
fiiower : the flowers lift their fair heads before him ; and the gales
fhake their rullling wings. O that thou wert in Sora ! that my feaft
were fpread ! — The future kings of Sora would fee thy arms and
rejoice. They would rejoice at the fame of their fathers, who be-
held the mighty Fingal.
Son of Annir, replied the king, the fame of Sora's race fliall be
heard. — When chiefs are ftrong in battle, then does the fong arife !
But if their fwords are ftretched over the feeble : if the blood of
the weak has ftained their arms ; the bard fhall forget them in the
fong, and their tombs fliall not be known. The ftranger fliall come
and build there, and remove the heaped-up earth. An half-worn
fword fliall rife before him; and bending above it, he will fay,
" Thefe are the arms of chiefs of old, but their names are not in
** the fong." Come thou, O Frothal, to the feaft of Inifl:ore ;
let the maid of thy love be there ; and our faces wiU brighten
with joy.
Fingal took his fpear, moving in the fteps of his might.
The gates of Carric-thura are opened. The feafl; of fliells is fpread.
— The voice of niuiic arofe. Gladaefs brightened in the hall.
The voice of Ullin was heard ; the harp of Selma was fl:rung. —
Utha rejoiced in his prefence, and demanded the fong of grief j the
big tear hung in her eye, when the loft * Crimora fpoke. Crimora
* There is a propriety in introducing this epifode, as th« fituations of Ciimora
and Utha were fo fimilar.
I the