Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

A POEM. lOI
rolling fea. They came to Cona's mofTy towers, to Fin-
gal king of fpears.
" Aldo of the heart of pride I" faid the riling king of
Morven, " fhall I defend thee from the wrath of Sora's
injured king ? who will now receive my people into their
halls, or give the feail: of ilrangers, fince Aldo of the lit-
tle foul, has carried away the fliir of Sora ? Go to thy hills,
thou feeble hand, and hide thee in thy caves ; mournful
is the battle we mull fight, with Sora's gloomy king.
Spirit of the noble Trenmor I when will Fingal ceaie to
fight ? I was born in the midft of battles *, and my fteps
mufl move in blood to my tomb. But my hand did
not injure the weak, m^y Heel did not touch the feeble
in arms. 1 behold thy tempefts, O Morven, vyhich will
overturn my halls ; when my children are dead in bat-
tle, and none remains to dwell in Selma. Then wiii the
feeble come, but they will not know my to.iib : my re-
nown is in the fong : and my actions fliall be as a dream
to future times."
His people gathered around Erragon, as the llorms
round the ghoil of night ; when he caiis them from the
top of Morven, and prepares to pour them on the land
of the ftranger. He came to the fliore of Cona, and fent
his bard to the king; to demand the combat of thoufands;
or the land of many hills. Fingal fat in his hail with the
companions of his youth around him. The young heroes
were at the chafe, and far diilant in the defart. The
gray-haired chiefs talked of other times, and of the adions
of their youth ; when the aged Narthmorf came, the
king of ftreamy Lora.
" This is no time," begun the chief, " to hear the
fongs of other years : Erragon frowns on the coafl, and
hfts ten thoufand fwords. Gloomy is the king among
his chiefs I he is like the darkened moon, amidil the me-
teors of night."
*' Come," laid Fingal, " from thy hall, thou daughter
of my love; come from thy hall, BoiminaJ, maid of
ftreamy
• Comhal the father of Fingal was flain in battle, again ft the tribe of Morni,
the very day that Fingal was born ; lb that he may, with propriety, be laid to have
been born in the midji of battles.
f Neart-mor, great Jirength. Lora, noify.
I Eof-mhii>a, Jojt and tender hand. She" was the youngeft of Fingal 's cluldren.