Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

Fingal. 2C7
" early were thy deeds in anns. Loclilin was con-
sumed in tliy wrath, when thv youth strove in the
oeauty of maids. They smiled at the fair-blooming
face of the hero ; but death was in his hands. He
was strong as the waters of Lora. His followers
were the roar of a thousand streams. They took
the king of Lochlin in war ; they restored him to
his ships. His big heart swelled with pride ; the
death of the youth was dark in his soul. For none
ever, but Fingal, had overcome the strength of the
mighty Staruo. He sat in the hall of his shells in
Lochlin's woody land. He called the gi-ev-haired
Snivan, that often sung round the circle* of Loda:
hhen the stone of power heard his voice, and battle
turned in the field of the valiant !
"'Go; grey-haired Snivan,' Starno said, 'go
Jo Ardven's sea-surrounded rocks. Tell to the king
of Selma; he the fairest among his thousands; tell
him I give to him my daughter, the loveliest maid
that ever heaved a breast of snow. Her arms are
white as the foam of my waves. Her soul is gene-
rous and mild. Let him come with his bravest
heroes, to the daughter of the secret hall!' Snivan
came to Selma's hall: fair-haired Fingal attended
his steps. His kindled soul flew to the maid, as he
bounded on the waves of the north. ' Welcome,'
said the dark-browed Starno, ' welcome, king of
rocky Morven ! welcome his heroes of might, sons
of the distant i jle ! Three days within my halls shall
we feast ; three days pnrsue my boars ; that your fame
may reach the maid who dwells in the secret hall.'
" Starno designed their death. He gave the feast
of shells. Fingal, who doubted the foe, kept on
his arms of steel. The sons of death were afraid :
they fled from the eyes of the king. The voice of
sprightly mirth arose. The trembling harps of joy
were strung. Bards sung the battles of heroes: tkey
* Thi» passage most certainly alludes to the religion of Lochlin, and
' the stoue of power' here mentioned is the image of one of the dettlM
Of Scandinavia.