Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

Book II.] T EM OR A. 101
Red look'd the stars. I gieam'd alon;; the night.
From Mom's rock in posture bent I saw
Before me Fillan silent and attent.
The shouting of the foe he heard. His soul
With rapture 'rose. lie heard my sounding tread, 45
And turn'd his lifted spear, and thus began :
* Thou son of night, approachest tliou in peace ?
* Or meetcst thou my wrath ? For, rest assur'd,
* Whoever to the brave Fingal are foes,
* These are my foes. Declare — or, feel mij steel,
* The shield protective of high Morven's race,
* Rest well-assured, 'tis not in vain I stand.*
50
* Never in vain,' then I to him reply'd,
* May'st thou, O son of blue-ey'd Clatho, stand,
* Fingal begins now to be left alone, 55
* And darkness veils the ev'ning of his days.
* Yet still two sons, who ought to shine in war,
* Has he remaining, and in duty bound
* On his departing steps twin lights to beam J
' Son of Fingal,' reply'd the valiant youth, 60
* 'Tis not long since that I the warlike spear
' Began to raise. In war my glittering sword
* Few marks has made, yet is my flaming soul
* To martial deeds aspirant. — 'Round the shield
' Of gen'rous Catlimor in rank order crowd 65
* The chiefs of Bolga. — On that sh::dowy heath
* They rank together. — Shall my fearless steps
* Their host approach ? — On eclioing Cona's heath,
* When in the contest of the race we strove,
* To Oscar only was I knov/n to yield.' 70
Vol. II.