Ossian Collection > Original collection of the poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and other bards, who flourished in the same age

A HEROIC POEM. 119
Miction and heaviness they wonld heal — the pre-
cious jewels of free puissant virtues; a hundred
dishes, a course fit for a king, to feed and nurse
his young family; whoever would keep theiu for
Jife would always preserve his youth. All these
you will obtain; and a hundred sons of royal
race, who would vanquish the fiercest armies; a
hundred hawks, most expert at catching birds;
a hundred ships, that would cleave the surges on
the roughest stream, and heavily loaded with the
richest ware ; a hundred herds of horses ; a valley
full of spotted cows. But, if all this boon shall
not satisfy thee, take thy wife and depart. I would
not make peace with young Ailde, or with all the
Fingalian chiefs, until Fingal himself submits to
my judgment, and the booty is brought down to
the shore. Thou hadst not brought over the sea,
in my judgment, forces to make Fingal submit to
thy will, nor to force the booty to the shore. If
thou wilt not accept the offered boon, farewell.
Since you ask what is beyond what is right and
just, 3'ou shall not obtain the heads of the heroes;
and the army of Innis-Phail to you shall never
surrender. Thou shalt not depart from me, thou
maid of the braided locks, mild virgin, of the
sweetest voice ; freely shalt thou get the choicest
jewels, and remain with me as my wife.
But, said the virgin, I shall not remain, head of
chiefs, since I cannot appease thy fear and wrath;
and since, to my decision, you will not submit