Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

376 THE VOEMS OF OSSIAV.
them meet Gaul in his first battle, that he may
try the strength of his arm.'
My soul rejoiced over the warrior ; my burst-
ing tears came down. ' And the foe shall meet
thee, Gaul,' I said : ' The fame of Morni's son
shall arise. But rush not too far, my hero : let
the gleam of thy steel be near to Ossian. Let
our hands join in slaughter. Gaul ! dost thou
not behold that rock ? Its gray side dimly
gleams to the stars. Should the foe prevail, let
our back be towards the rock. Then shall they
fear to approach our spears ; for death is in our
bands !'
I struck thrice my echoing shield. The start-
ling foe arose. We rushed on in the sound of
our arms. Their crowded steps fly over the
heath. They thought that the mighty Fingal
was come. The strength of their arms wither-
ed away. The sound of their flight was like
that of flame, when it rushes through the blast-
ed groves. It was then the spear of Gaul flew
in its strength ; it was then his sword arose.
Cremor fell ; and mighty Leth ! Dunthormo
struggled in his blood. The steel rushed through
Crotho's side, as bent he rose on his spear ; the
black stream poured from the wound, and hiss-
ed on the half-extinguished oak. Cathmin saw
the steps of the hero behind him : he ascended
a blasted tree ; but the spear pierced him from
behind. Shrieking, panting, he fell. Moss and
withered branches pursue his fall, and strew the
blue arms of Gaul.
Such were thy deeds, son of Morni, in the
first of thy battles. Nor slept the sword by thy
side, thou last of Fingal's race ! Ossian rushed
forward in his strength ; the people fell before
him ; as the grass by the staflF of the boy, when
he whistles along the field and the gray beard of
the thistle falls. But careless the youth moves