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

A HEROIC POEM. 123
and slowly advanced the lovely Fingalians, to
-wound and destroy Lochlin. Numerous were
the multitude which landed from the waves, and
mighty were the men of strength. Upon the king
of Lochlin's looking at a distance, he spied a ban-
ner coming forth, and a magnanimous hero at its
head, and it shining with Albin's gold. Bard of
the melodious song, he asked, what banner is that?
Is that the banner of a valiant son of victory? I
see a hero, tall and stout, at its head, and the ban-
ner rising high above the host. It is, answered
the bard, the grey ensign of swords, the banner
of Dermid, the son of Duvno. When all the Fin-
galians are wont to come forth, the grey ensign
of swords was always foremost. But, bard of me-
lodious song, what is this other banner; is it that
of a valiant son of victory? I discern a valiant
hero at its head, and itself waving above the mul-
titude. It is the one footed red banner, that of
Raino, of the numerous host; a banner under
which heads are cleft in twain and ancles are
bathed in torrents of blood. What banner is this,
bard of melodious song? Is this the banner of a
victorious son of war? I see a valiant hero at its
head, and the banner itself waving over the mighty
host. Its name is the spotted Brechuil brochuiU
replied the bard, the banner of the great Gaul, the
son of Morni, that never turned its back to the
enemy, till the heavy green earth had shook. It
is clothed with yellow silk, itis the first to advance.