Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

A POEM. 123
Icing ; to demand the combat of tho^fands ; or the
land of many hills.
FiNGAL fat in his hall with the companions of
his youth around him. The young heroes were
at the chafe, and far diftant in the defart. The
gray-haired chiefs talked of other times, and of
the a6tions of their youth ; when the aged Narth-
mor t came, the king of flreamy Lora.
This is no time, begun the chief, to hear the
fongs of other years : Erragon frowns on the coail,
and lifts ten thoufand fwords. Gloomy is the
king among his chiefs ! he is like the darkened
moon, amidfl the meteors of night.
Come, faid Fingal, from thy hall, thou daugh-
ter of my love ; come from thy hall, Bofmina *,
maid of tlreamy Morven ! Narthmor, take the
fleeds II of the ftrangers, and attend the daughter
of Fingal : let her bid the king of Sora to our
feaft, to Selma's fliaded wall. — Ofrer him, O
Bofmina, the peace of heroes, and the wealth of
generous Aldo : our youths are far diftant, and
age is on our trembling hands.
She came to the hoft of Erragon, like a beam
of light to a cloud. — In her right hand fhone an
arrow of gold : and in her left a f^arkling fhell,
the fign of Morven's peace.
f Neart-mcr, great jlrength. Lora, noify.
* Bof-mhina, foft and tender hand. She wa? the
youngeft of Fingal's children.
II Thefe were probably horfes taken in the incurfions
of the Caledonians Into the Roman province, which feems
to be intimated in the phrafe o(i\iQ Jleeds offirangers.
G 2 Erra-