Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

28 r I N G A L. [Book I.
* Calmly they flow, as vernrtl show'rs descend ;
* Whilst on the meads the genial sunbeams fall,
* And o'er the hills the silver azure flies. 595
* O strike the harp in praise of my belov'd,
* The lonely sunbeam of Dunscaich— of her,
* Whom in the misty isle I left behind.
' Now strike the harp, in sweetest strains, to praise
* Bragela dear, the spouse of Semo's son. 600
* Dost thou, in hopes to spy Cuchullin's sails,
* Raise thy bright face above the rocky height ?
* Deceptive of thy hopes the foaming sea
* Far distant rolls, in semblance like my sails.
* Retire, my love ; for evening-shades descend, 60i
* And ruffling winds sigh in thy flowing hair.
* In my resounding halls retired feast,
* And thiok of seasons past ; nor me expect,
* 'Till terminated is the storm of war.
' To wars and arms, O Connal, turn my eyes ; 610
* And Sorgian's daughter from my thoughts remove ;
' For lovely is her tressy, raven hair,
' And while her bosom, as the mountain-snow !
Then Connal, slow to speak, sedate reply 'd:
* Against the stormy race of ocean guard. 613
* Send now abroad thy watchful troop of night,
* And reconnoitre Swaran's strength with care.
* But hark, Cuchullin ! I'm dispos'd for peace,
* 'Till succour from the lonely desert come ;
« 'Till d .ead Fingal, the first of men, arrive, 620
* And on our fields beam circling as the sun.*
The hero struck the shield of his alarms—
And, straight, the warriors of the night mov'd on.
The rest, within the heath, where browse the deer,
Retir'd ; and slept amidst the dusky wind, 625