Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

A POEM. 179
" Here conif's in Ivisto, villi sorrow in his speed ? —
" High lie llic massy spear of Culmiir lifts. 170
" Alcletha ! 'lis with purple blood besniear'd !"
" But — with ihe siau2;hler of the vanqnish'd I'oes"
' (Kelpy'd Alcletha h.opeful for the best)'
" Sister of car-borne Calmar, it is red !
*' Nc\er unstained with the blood of foes 175
" His spear return 'd, nor from the strife of might
" His dauntless brow (the embleni of his heart).
" The battle in his presence is consiini'd,
" And he, Aiona, is a flan-.c of death !
" Youth of the mourn ful speed! speak out, and sny 18v)
" Where is Alclelha's son ? Amidst liis fame — •
" Amidst his echoing shields does he return ?
f* But dark and silent thou, alas ! remaiu'st !
'* And, therefore, Cainiar is alas I no 7nore,
" Tell me not warrior, Iiozv the hero fell ; 185
** For of his wound I cannot bear the tale."
' Mother of car-borne Calmar, in tliy grief
* Why tow'rds the desert dost thou turn thy eyes ?*
So Carril sung, when on his bossy shield
iCuchullin lay : the bards upoa their harps 190
Were resting, and around sleep softly fell,
j Alone tlie son of Semo was awake,
And on the war his soul was fix'd attent.
The burning oaks with fading flame decay'd.
And a red light is faintly spread around. — 195
AVith trembling sound a feeble voice is heard ! —
■ Then through the dusk the ghost of Calmar came,
'And stalked stately in the gloomy beam.
Dark in his shady side the wound appears.
And his lank hair disorder 'd is, and loose. 200