Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

2i6 CARRIC-THURA,
Night came down on the Tea; Rotha's bay
received the fhip. A rock bends along the
coaft with all its ecchoing wood. On the top
is the circle * of Loda, and the mofly ftone of
power. A narrow plain fpreads beneath, covered
with grafs and aged trees, which the midnight
winds, in their wrath, had torn from the fhaggy
rock. The blue courfe of a ftream is there ;
and the lonely blail: of ocean purfues the thiftle's
beard.
The flame of three oaks arofe: the feaft ic
fpread around : but the foul of the king is fad,
for Carric-thura's battling chief. The wan, cold
moon rofe, in the eaft. Sleep defcended on the
youths ! Their blue helm.ets glitter to the beam ;
the fading fire decays. But fleep did not reft on
the king : he rofe in the midft of his arms, and
flowly afcended the hill to behold the flame of
Sarno's tower.
The flame was dim and diftant ; the moon
hid her red face in the eaft. A blaft came from
the mountain, and bore, on lis wings, the fprrit
oF Loda. He came to his place in his .terrors f ,
and he fhook his duflcy fpear. — His eyes appear
like flames in his dark face ; and his voice is like
"* 1 he circle of Loda is fuppofed to be a place of
-worfhip among the Scandinavians, as the Ipirit of
Loda is thought to be the fame with their god
Odin.
-f He is defcribed, in a fmiile, in the poem con-
cerning the death of Cuchulh'n.
diftant