Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

230 The SONGS
and the foft complaint of Minona ! How are
ye changed, my friends, fince the days of Selma's
feafl: ! when we contended, like the gales of the
fpring, that, flying over the hill, by turns bend
the feebly-whiniing grafs.
Minona * came forth in her beauty; with
down-caft look and tearful eye; her hair flew
flowly on the blaft that rufhed unfrequent from
the hill. The fouls of the heroes were fad
when fhe raifed the tuneful voice ; for often had
they feen the grave of Salgar t, and the dark
dwelling of white-bofomed Colma §. Colma
left alone on the hill, with all her voice of mufic !
Salgar promifed to come : but the night defcended
round. — Hear the voice of Colma, when flie fat
alone on the hill !
Colma.
It is night; — I am alone, fcilorn on the hill
of florms. The wind is heard in the mountain.
The torrent fhrieks down the rock. No hut re-
ceives me from the rain ; forlorn on the hill of
winds.
Rise, moon! from behind thy clouds ; flars^
of the night appear ! Lead me, fome light, to
the place where my love refts from the toil of the
* OiFian introduces Minona, not in the ideal fcene
in his own mind, which he had defcribed -, but at
the annual feaft of Selma, where the bards repeated
their works before Fingal.
-f Sealg-'er, a hui2ter.
^ Cul-math, a iMnmau HMlth Jine hair,
chafe}