Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

Book II. F I N G A L. 109
260 But though his Soul the paiTing Tempeft fwells,
No Sounds are in the iilent Hall of Shells.
A Stranger from a foreign Land his Wife,
Become a Widow in the Bloom of Life,
And
of a very great Arm)', having, according to all human Appearance,
Reafon to expeft an abfolute Conqueft of that Kingdom. Full of this
Imagination, he ordered the Prior of Scarjhorougb, a celebrated Rhimer,
according to the Tafte of thofe Times, to follow his Troops all the Way
to Banmckburn. He intended to employ this eminent Poet in immortalizing
his Vidlory ; but Fortune declared for the Enemy, and the Prior was found
among the immenfe Number of Prifoners which the Scots had made. The
Ranfom demanded for his Liberty was, a Poem on the Battle in Praife of
the Conqueror. He gave a Specimen of his Skill, but it was invita
Minerva, as appears by the following Lines.
Hie capit, hie rapit, hie terit, hie ferity ecce dolor es ;
Vox tonat ; as fonat -, hie ruit ; hie luit ; arEio modo res.
Hie feeat ; hie necat ; hie docet ; hie noeet ; ijle fugatur :
Hie late t, hie pat et; hie pr emit, hie gemit ; hie fuperatur.
V. 261. No Sounds are in the Jilent Hall of Shells.'] The ancient Scots,
like the prefent Highlanders, drank in Shells ; hence it is that we fo often
meet, in 0£ian\ Poems, with the Chief of Shells, and the Halls of Shells.
V. 262. A Stranger from a foreign Land his Wife.] Crugal had married
Degrena (or Des-ghrena, i. e. a Sun-beam) but a little Time before the
Battle, confequently (he may with Propriety be called a Stranger in the
Hall of her Sorrow.
V. 274.