Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

90 T EM OR A. ■ [Boo:.
• How lonsi; shall we upon Moi-!e!i.i weep,
' Or pour on UUin's verdant land our tears ?
* The mighty never will to us return,
« Nor Oscar in his wonted strength arise. 3(
* One day the valiant, in his turn, must fall,
« And on his hills his name no more be known.
* Where, warriors, are our fam'd forefathers gone ?
* Where are the chiefs, the pride of other years ?
* Like stars, that once did shine, they each have set : — ■ 3'
* We only hear the mem'ry of their praise.
* Yet, in their day, they each with lustre shone,
'* The dread of other times. So, in the day
* Of our departure, warriors, shall we pass. — ■
* Then, whilst it may, let fame be our pursuit, 3
* And our renown shall bright behind us shine
* With lustre, like the sun's last, raidiant beam,
* When redly in the west his head he hides.
* Ullin (my aged bard !) the bounding ship
* Of royal standard take ; and Oscar hence 3
* To Selma of the sounding harps convey.
* In sadness there let the Morvenian fair
* 'Midst solemn dirges weep. In Erin's plains,
* Avengeful of great Cormac's fallen race,
* Fierce shall We fight. Declinant 1 perceive 3
* The setting days of my advanced years,
* And feel the growing weakness of my arm,
* iVIy fithers, to receive their hoary ton,
* Bend kindly from their clouds. But yet, O chiefs,
* Before I bid departing life adieu, 3
* A beam of fame once more on me shall rise:
* So fame shall crown the ev'ning of my days,
* As on the morning of my years she 'rose.
* Hence shall my life once stream of brightness roll,
* The constant theme of future bards in song.' 3