Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

^20 CARRIC-THURA,
Who comes like the flag of the mountain,
with all his herd behind him ? Frothal, it is a
foe ; I fee his forward fpear. Perhaps it is the
king of Morven, Fingal the firfl of men. His
actions are well known on Gormal ; the blood
of his foes is in Starno's halls. Shall I afk
the peace * of kings ? He is like the thunder of
heaven.
Son of the feeble hand, faid Frothal, fhall mv
days begin in darknefs ? Shall I yield before I
have conquered in battle, chief of flreamv
Tora? The people would fay in Sora, Frothal
flew forth like a meteor ; but the dark cloud met
it, and it is no more. No: Thubar, I will
never yield ; my fame fhall furround me like
light. No : I will never yield, king of flreamy
Tora.
He went forth u ith the flream of his people,
but they met a rock : Fingal flood unmoved,
broken they rolled back from his fide. Nor did
they roll in fafety ; the fpear of the king purfued
their flight. The field is covered with heroes.
A rifmg hill preferved the flying hofl.
Frothal faw their flight. The rage of his
"bofom rofe. He bent his eyes to the ground, and
called the noble Thubar. Thubar ! my peo-
ple fled. My fame has ceafed to rife. I will
fight the king ; 1 feel my burning foul. Send a
tard to demand the combat. Speak not againft
♦ Honourable terms of^ peace,
FrothaP?