Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

leS DAK-TIIULA :
walls. Colla will meet his pride, and revenge
his son. But where shall I find thy safety, Dar-
thula with the dark-brown hair ! thou art love-
ly as the sun-beam of heaven, and thy friends
are low ! " " Is the son of battle fallen," I said,
with a bursting sigh ? " Ceased the generous soul
of Truthil to lighten through the field ? My
safety, Colla, is in that bow. I have learned to
pierce the deer. Is not Cairbar like the hart of
the desert, father of fallen Truthil }"
The face of age brightened with joy. The
crowded tears of his eyes poured down. The
lips of Colla trembled. His grey beard whistled
in the blast. " Thou art the sister of Truthil,"
he said ; " thou burnest in the fire of his soul.
Take, Dar-thula, take that spear, that brazen
shield, that burnished helm ; they are the spoils
of a warrior, a son of early youth ! When the
light rises on Selama, we go to meet the car-
borne Cairbar. But keep thou near the arm of
Colla, beneath the shadow of my shield. I'hy
father, Dar-thula, could once defend thee ; but
age is trembling on his hand. The strength of
his arm has failed. His soul is darkened with
grief."
" We passed tlic night in sorrow. Tlic light