Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

■Book IT. A N E p I G p b E ivr. 35
found? and CuchuUin mourn the death of his friend.
Speak, Connal, fon of Colgar, fpeak, thy counfel is hke
the fon of heaven."
" Son of Semo," replied the chief, " the ghoft of Cru-
gal came from the cave of his hill. The (lars dim-twink-
led through his form ; and his voice was like the found,
of a dillant ftream. He is a meflenger of death. He
fpeaks of the dark and narrow houfe. Sue for peace, O
chief of Dunfcaich ; or fly over the heath of Lena."
" He fpoke to Connal," replied the hero, " though
ftars dim-twinkled through his form. Son of Colgar, it
was the wind that murmured in the caves of Lena. Or
if it was the form* of Crugal, why didfl thou not force
him to my fight. Hail thou inquired where is his cave ?
The houfe of the fon of the wind ? My fword might find
that voice, and force his knowledge from him. And
fmall is his knowledge, Connal, for he was here to-day.
He could not have gone beyond our hills, and who could
tell him there of our death .^"
" Ghofts fly on clouds and ride on winds," faid Con-
nal's voice of wifdom. " They refl: together in their
caves, and talk of mortal men."
" Then let them talk of mortal men ; of every man
but Erin's chief. Let mc be forgot in their cave ; for I
will not fly from Swaran. If I mull fall, my tomb fhall
rife amidfl: the fame of future times. The hunter fliall
fhed a tear on my ftone ; and forrow dwell round the
high-bofomed Bragela. I fear not death, but I fear to
fly, for Fingal law me often vid:orious. Thou dim phan-
tom of the hill, Ihew thyfelf to me I come on thy beam
of heaven, and fliew me my death in thine hand; yet
will I not fly, thou feeble fon of the wind. Go, fon of
Colgar, fl:rike the fhield of Caithbat, it hangs between the
fpears. Let my heroes rife to the found in the midfl: of
the battles of Erin. Though Fingal delays his coming
with the race of the fl:ormy hills ; we ihall fight, O Col-
gar's fon, and die in the battle of heroes."
E The
* The poet teaches us the opinions that prevailed in his time concerning the
fiate of feparate Ibuls. From Connal's expreflion, " That the ftars dim-twinkled
tlirough the form of Crugal," and CuchuUin's reply, we may gather that they both
thought the Ibul was material: fomething like the niuKo/ of the ancient Greek?.