Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

A POEM. 131
Oscir the i!;l(>omy .season of the n!<>;ht
Among liis lathers pass'd. — On Carun's bimks 21*3
Him morning met grey-dawning on the hills
Around a tomb, which ii) the times of old
Was rais'd, appear'd a circumambient vale
Of aspect vernal. Little hills their heads
Lift at a distance ; and their branchv trees 250
Of antique growth, stretch waving in the gale.
The warlike force of Caros [for by niglit
They o'er the stream li;i.d cross'd] were seated there
To the pale light of the new rising morn,
Like trunks of aged pines, their hosts appear'd. 255
Close by this tomb the fearless Oscar stood,
And dreadful thrice then rais'd his thund'ring voice.
The rocking hills loud echo'd all around ;
And bounding ran the starting roes awav.
With shriekings also on their sailing clouds, 260
The trembling ghosts of the deceased fled.
Such was the consternation, at the sound
Of my son's voice; wiicn he his friends convcn'd.
A thousand spears, at once, rose glitt'ring round —
The host of Caros rose : — — But why that tear ? 2G5
Say, Toscar's daughter, why ? My noble soa
Is brave, though still alone. As in the sky
Darts forth the beam, my Oscar brightly shines.
Around he turns — and down the people fall !
His hand is like a spirit's deathly arm, 270
When from a cloud with stretching force lie bends.
And viewless keeps the rest of his thin form ;
Yet in the vale the falling people die !
Fearless my son th' approaching foe beheld ;
And, in the silent darkness of his strength, 275
Manful he stood, and thus aloud exclaim'd :
* Am I alone, amidst a thousand foes !