Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

158 The DEATH ef CUCHULLIN;
wide. — Carril ftrikes the harp, beneath a tree ;
his gray locks gHtter in the beam ; the ruftUng
blaft of night is near, and lifts his aged hair. —
His fong is of the blue Togorma, and of its chief,
Cuchullin's friend.
Why art thou abfent, Connal, in the day of the
gloomy ftorm ? The chiefs of the fouth have con-
vened againft the car-borne Cormac : the winds de-
tain thy fails, and thy blue waters roll around thee.
But Cormac is not alone : the fen of Semo fights
his battles. Semo's fon his battles fights ! the ter-
ror o^ the rtranger ! he that is like the vapour of
death, * flowly borne by fultry v/inds. The fun
reddens in its prefence, the people fall around.
Su CH was the long of Carril, when a fon of the
foe appeared ; he threw dovv-n his pointlefs fpear,
and fpoke the words of Torlath : Torlath the chief
of heroes, from Lego's fabie furge : he that led his
thoufands to battle, againil: car-borne Cormac.
Cormac who was diftant far, in Temora's f ec-
choing halls : he learned to bend the bow of his
fathers ; and to lift the fpear. Nor long didft thou
lift the fpear, mildly-lliining beam of youth ! death
ftands dim behind thee, like the darkened half of
the moon behind its growing light.
* OTtj ^^ Ix. ii^piujy ipion^iy) ^ainTUi a,n^
K.avfAXTOc eI an'^oio ^Vff-uscx; cfnjx=»'oto. HoM. II- 5.
As vapours blown by Aufter's fultry breath,
Pregnant v/ith plagues, and ihedding feeds of death,
Beneach the lage of burning Slrius rife.
Choke the parch'd earth, and blacken all the (klcE. Popi.
f The royal palace of the Iriih kings ; lY^amhrHtli
according to feme of the bards.
CuCHULLIN