Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

A P O E M. 19ii
* Emblazon'd stan-Js tlie verdant narrow \alc.
* Before I Selama's fair beheld — before
* Thee, like a star, that shines upon the liill
' By night, 1 saw ; my soul in danger beam'd.
* But, niinitant of the lovely light, a cloud, 305
* Its rays to shade, with slow advancement comes.
* Within the hostile land we still remain,
* And us, Dar-thula, have the winds deceiv'd!
* Far distant is the bulwark, of our friends,
* Nor near at hand are Etha's mountains seen. 310
' Daughter of mighty CoUa, where thy peace
* Shall I explore? With martial brav'ry fir'd
* The brothers of Nathos stand, and his own sword
* Has shone in war. — But what are Usnoth's sons
* W^hen 'fore the host of car-borne Cairbar drawn! 315
* O that the winds, brave Oscar, king of men,
* Thy sails had brought! — .To fallen Cormac's wars
* Thou gdv'st thy full assurance soon to come.
* Then would my hand for fight in strength have been
* As ilames the arm of death, and Cairbar would 320
' With consternation tremble m his halls,
' And peace around the fair Dar-thula dwell.
* But why, my soul dost thou with droopings fall ?
* Evn yet the sons of Usnoth may prevail.'
* And, Nathos,' said the virgin's rising soul, 32%
* Prevail they w///: nor gloomy Cairbar's halls
' Shall e'er Dar-thula in her grief behold.
* Give me those arms of brass — those glitt'ring arms,
* Which to that passing meteor brightly gleam—
* In the dark-bosom'd ship I them perceive. 330,
' The strife of steel Dar-thula gladly joins.
' Ghost of the noble CoUa! On that cloud
* Perceive I thee ? Who sits behind thee dim ?
* 'Tis car-borne Truthil' Shall these eyes behold