Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

Book TIL A N E p i c p o E i\r. 275
round me, on Lona of the flreams. While yet thou art
dillant far, ftrike, Cathmor, ftrike the lliield, that joy
may return to my darkned foul, as I lean on the molTy
rock. But if thou (hould fall — I am inthelandof flrangers;
O fend thy voice, from thy cloud, to the maid of Inis-
huna."
" Young branch of green-headed Lumon, why dofl
thou fhake in the llorm ? Often has Cathmor returned,
from darkly-rolling wars. The darts of death are but hail
to me ; they have often bounded from my fhield. I have
rifen brightened from battle, hke a meteor from a ftormy
cloud. Return not, fair beam, from tliy vale, when the
roar of battle grows. Then might the foe efcape, as from
my fathers of old.
" They told to Son-mor*, of Clunarf , flain by Cormac
the giver of fhells. Three days darkned Son-mor, over
his brother's fall. His fpoufe beheld the iilent king, and
forefaw his fteps to war. She prepared the bow, in fecret,
to attend her blue-fhielded hero. To her dwelt darknefs
at Atha, when the warrior moved to his fields. From
their hundred dreams, by night, poured down the fons
of Alnecma. They had heard the Ihield of the king,
and their rage arofe. In clanging arms, they moved a-
long, towards UUin the land of groves. Son-mor ftruck
his Ihield, at times, the leader of the war.
"Far behind followed Sul-allinJ, over the ftreamy hills.
She was a light on the mountain, when theycroiTed the vale
below. Her fteps were ftately on the vale, when they rofe
on the molTy hill. She feared to approach the king, who
left her in Atha of hinds. But when the roar of battle rofe;
when hoft was rolled on hoft ; when Son-mor burnt like
the fire of heaven in clouds, with her fpreading hair came
Sul-allin; for fhe trembled for her king. He ftopt the
rufliing ftrife to fave the love of heroes. The foe fled by
night ; Clunar llept without his blood ; the blood which
ought to be poured upon the warrior's tomb.
Mm ij Nor
• Son-mor, tal/ handfome man. He was the father of Borbar-duthul, chief o£
Atha, and grandfather to Cathmor himi'elf.
t Cluan-er, man of the fe id. This chief was killed in battle by Cormac Mac-
Conar, king of Ireland, the father of Rofcrana, the firft wife of Fingal, The ilo>-
ry is alluded to in other poems.
4 Suil-alluin, beautiful ey£, the wife of Son-mor.