Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

FINGAL. 335
son that was like a beam of fire by night on a hill,
when the forests sink down in its course, and
the traveller trembles at the sound. But the
winds drive it beyond the steep. It sinks from
sight, and darkness prevails.
* Whose fame is in that dark-green tomb ? be-
plin the king of generous shells : four stones with
their heads of moss stand there. They mark the
narrow house of death. Near it let Ryno rest.
A neighbour to the brave let him lie. Some chief
of fame is here, to fly with my son on clouds. O
UUin ! raise the songs of old. Awake their me-
mory in their tomb. If in the field they never
fled, my son shall rest by their side. He shall
rest, far distant from INIorven, on Lena's resound-
ing plains.'
* Here, said the bard of song, * here rest the
first of heroes. Silent is Lamderg in this place ;
dumb is Uliin, king of swords. And who, soft
smiling from her cloud, shows me her face of
love? Why, daughter, why so pale art thou,
first of the maids of Cromla ? Dost thou sleep
with the foes in battle, white-bosomed daughter
of Tuathal ? Thou hast been the love of thou-
sands, but Lamderg was thy love. He came to
Tiu-a's mossy towers, and striking bis dark buck-
ler, spoke : " Where is Gelchossa, my love, the
daughter of the noble Tuathal ? I left her in the
hall of Tura, when I fought with the great Ulfa-
da. Return soon, O Lamderg ! she said, for here
I sit in grief. Her white breast rose with sighs.
Her cheek was wet with tears. But I see her
not coming to meet me to sooth my soul af-
ter war. Silent is the hall of my joy. I hear
not the voice of the bard. Bran does not shake
his chains at the gate, glad at the coming of
Lamderg. Where is Gelchossn, my love, the
mild daughter of generous Tuathal r''
* " Lamderg," says Ferchios, son of Aidon,