Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

DUAN FIRST.
13
" Who art thou/' said Fingal, " voice of
night }"
She, trembling, turned away.
" Who art thou, in thy darkness ? "
She shrunk into the cave.
The king loosed the thong from her hands.
He asked about her fathers.
" Torcul-torno," she said, " once dwelt at
Lulan's foamy stream : he dwelt — but, now, in
Loda's hall, he shakes the sounding shell. He
met Starno of Lochlin, in war ; long fought the
dark-eyed kings. JMy father fell, in his blood,
blue-shielded Torcul-torno 1 By a rock,, at Lu-
lan's stream, I had pierced the bounding roe.
INIy wdiite hand gathered my hair, from off the
rushing winds. I heard a noise. Mine eyes were
up. INIy soft breast rose on high. My step was
forward, at Lulan, to meet thee, Torcul-torno !
It Avas Starno, dreadful king ! His red eyes
rolled on me in love. Dark waved his shaggy
brow, above his gathered smile. Where is my
father, I said, he that was mighty in war ?
Thou art left alone among foes, O daughter of
Torcul-torno ! He took my hand. He raised
the sail. In this cave he placed me dark. At
times, he comes, a gathered mist. He lifts, be-