Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

(^ C R O M A :
* Wlicii strangers came, the light of joy arose
* Within my soul, whilst in my joyrul hall
* My son still shone : — but now he is a beam
* Extinct, and left no streak of light behind.
* Encount'ring in the battles of his sire,
* Son of Fingul, my only son is fiU'n !
* Xhe news (thut from my eyes the light was gone)
* To Rothmar chief of grassy Tromla came : —
* That in the hall my arms were flx'd, he heard,
* And in his soul presumptuous pride arose.
* He came tow'rds Croma, and my people fell
* Before him. — Then, my armour in the hall
* I took : but what could sightless Crothar do ?
* My steps were broken, and my grief was great !
* And much I wished for the days long past!
* The iiat/s ! wherein I fought, and in the field
* Through streams of crimson made my flaming way,
* Back from the pleasures of the busy cliase
* My son, the fair-hair'd Fovar-gormo came.
* Nor had he (for his arm as yet was young)
* In battle us'd his sword. Yet greatness beam'd
* Within his youthful soul, and in his eyes
* The fire of valour burnt. — The broken steps
* Of his ag'd sire he saw, and deeply sigh'd,
*' Is it," * he said,' " O Croma's hoary king,
" Because thou hast no son, thy cause to fight ?
" Is it for Fovar-gormo's youthful aruj
*' That thy deep sighs arise? My arm robust,
" My aged father, 1 begin to feel.
" The sword already of my youthful strength
** I've drawn, and also I have bent the bow.
" Attended by the youths of Croma's plains
" Let me this Rothmar meet — Iiim let me meet,
" O father ! for I feci my burning soul,"