Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

254 L A T H M O N,
rufh to the firft of thy battles. Let thine arm
reach to the renown of thy fathers. Be thy courfe
in the field, like the eagle's wing. Whyfhouldfl:
thou fear death, my fon ! the valiant fall with
fame ; their fhields turn the dark ftream of dan-
ger away, and renown dwells on their gray hairs.
Dofl: thou not fee, O Gaul, how the fteps of my
age are honoured ? Morni moves forth, and the
young meet him, with reverence, and turn their
eyes, with filent joy, on his courfe. But I never
fled from danger, my fon ! my fword lightened
through the darknefs of battle. The Granger
melted before me •, the mighty were blafted in my
prefence.
Gaul brought the arms to Morni: the aged
v/arrior covered himfelf with fleel. He took the
fpear in his hand, v/hich was often ftained with
the blood of the valiant. He cam^ towards Fin-
gal, his fon attended his fleps. The fon of Com-
hal rejoiced over the warrior, when he came in
the locks of his age.
King of the roaring Strumon ! faid the rifing.
Toy of Fingal ; do 1 beho'.d thee in arm?, after thy
flrength has failed ? Often has Morni flione in
b^tles, like the beam of the rifing fun ; when he
difperfes the florms of the hill, and brings peace ■
to the glittering fields. Butwhydidfl thou not
refl in thine age ? Thy renown is in the fong. The
people behold thee, and blefs the departure cf^
naighty Morni. Why didft thou not reft in thine
3ge? For the foe will vajiifh before Fingal.