Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

p6 F I N G A L. Book V.
Then let us not employ the Time in Words,
But bravely meet in Fight with clafhing Swords.
Grant only this ; if I fliould prefs the Field,
(For all are mortal, and one Day muft yield ! )
145 That o'er my Grave a lofty Monument
May here be rais'd ; and let my Sword be fent,
With Locl/ms Sons, to footh a Confort's Woe ;
She to her Son the Father's Arms will fhow,
That
V. 146. Let viy Sword he fent, fcff.] Orla here defines his Sword may
be fent to his Wife, though it was the conftant Praftice of the Scandinavians
to have their Arms buried with them. For as Tradefmen are generally
peaceable, they were not often intitled by a violent Death to the Manfion
of Odin. This Circumflance induced the Friends of the Heroes to depofite
in the Graves of the Slain, defenfive and ofFenfive Arms ; and above all,
the Sword *, to ferve them in the daily Battles of the Valhalla. The fa-
vourite Horfe of the Dead was alfo burnt on the fame Pile with his Mafter,
and this Animal carried him to the Regions of Heroes. On him the War-
rior iflued to the Battles which were the Paftime of the Blefled ; on him he
rode into the Valhalla when the Hour of Dinner came. The poorer Soldier,
who was not provided with a Horfe, was obliged to walk on Foot from
the Grave to the Valhalla. To facilitate his Journey along the Bifrdjia or
* GlaJius 'vi'vis charijpma /uppellex ante omnia worikos detehat ccmitsri. Keyjler Antiq.
Rainbovir,