Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

TEMORA. -121
blast ; and all \\'as dark around ! My soul was
sad. I went to the hall of shells- A thousand
lights arose. The hundred bards had strung the
harp. Cornnac stood in the midst, like the morn-
ing star, when it rejoices on the eastern hill,
and its young beams are bathed in showers.
Bright and silent is its progress aloft, but the
cloud, that shall hide it, is near ! The sword (A
Artho was in the hand of the king. He look-
ed with joy on its polished studs ; thrice he at-
tempted to draw it, and thrice he failed ; his
yeHow locks are spread on his shoHldei*s ! his
cheeks of youth are red. I mourned over t lie
beam of youth, for he was soon to set !
'• Althan !" he said with a smile, <' didst thou
behold my father ? Heavy is the sword of the
king ; surely his arm was strong. O that I wefe
like him in battle, when the lage of his wrath
arose ! then would I have met, with Cuthullin,
the car-borne soti of Cantela ! But years may
come on, O Althan ! and my arm be strong.
Hast thou heard of Sem.o's son, the ruler of high
Temora? He might have returned with his fame.
He promised to return to-night. My bards wait
hira with songs. My feast is spread in the hall
of kings."
♦ I heard Cormac in silence. My tears began
to flow. I hid them with my aged locks. The
king perceived my grief. " Son of Conachar !"
he said, " is the son of Semo low ? Why bursts
the sigh in secret ? Why descends the tear ?
Comes the car-bonie Torlath? Conies the sounds
of red haired Cairhar ? They come ! for 1 behold
thy gritf. Massy Tura's chief is low ! Shall I
not rush la^ battle ? But I cannot lift the
spear ! () had mine arm the strength of Cuth-
li'Jin, soon would Cairtar fly ; fhe fame of my
fiithf rs vvculil be lenevyed j and the deeds of
vtJter tiojts i"
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