Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

A POEM. 121.
in battle, when his friends were around his spear."
" Youth of the heart of pride, shall Erin's king
fight with thee ? Thy fathers were not among
the renowned, nor of the kings of men. Are
the arms of foes in their halls ? Or the shields
of other times ? Cairbar is renowned in Temora,
nor does he fight with feeble men \"
The tear started from car-borne Nathos. He
turned his eyes to his brothers. Their spears
flew at once. Three heroes lay on earth. Then
the light of their swords gleamed on high. The
ranks of Erin yield : as a ridge of dark clouds
before a blast of wind ! Then Cairbar ordered
his people, and they drew a thousand bows. A
thousand arrows flew. The sons of Usnoth fell
in blood. They fell like three young oaks, which
stood alone on the hill : The traveller saw the
lovely trees, and wondered how they grew so
lonely : the blast of the desert came, by night,
and laid their green heads low ; next day he
returned, but they were withered, and the heath
was bare !
Dar-thula stood in silent grief, and beheld
their fall ! No tear is in her eye ; but her look
is wildly sad. Pale was her cheek. Her trem-
bling lips broke short an half-formed word. Her .