Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

^ T E M O R A: Book I.
in our firength, flow as a gathered cloud ! Then
jhall the mighty tremble ; the fpear fhall fall
from the hand of the valiant. We fee the cloud
of death, they will fay, while fliadows fly over
their face. Fingal will mourn in his age. He
fhall behold his flying fame. The fteps of his
chiefs will ceafe in Morven. The mofs of years
Ihall grow in Selma."
Cai REAR heard their words, in filence, like
the cloud of a fhower : it ftands dark on Cronila,
till the lightning burfts its fide. The valley
gleams with heaven's flame ; the fpirits of the
florm rejoice. So flood the filent king of Te-
mora; at length liis words broke forth. "Spread
the feaft on Moi-lena. Let my hundred bards
attend. Thou, red-halr'd Olla, take the harp
of the king. Go to Ofcar chief of fwords. Bid
Ofcar to our joy. To-day we feafl and hear
the fong : to-morrow break the fpears ! Tell
him that I have raifed the tomb of Cathol * j
that bards gave his friend to the winds. Tell
him that Cairbar has heard of his fame, at the
• Cathol the fon of Maronnan, or Moran, was murdered
by Cairbar, for his attachment to the family of Cormac. He
had attended Ofcar to the ^var of Inis-thona, where they con-
trafted a great friendfhip for one another. Ofcar, immedi-
ately after the death of Cathol, had font a formal challenge to
Cairbar, which he prudently declined, but conceived a fepret
hatred againft Ofcar, and had beforehand contrived to kill Vxvcx
at the fead, to which he here invites him.
flrcani