Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

COLNA-DONA.
ARGUMENT.
Finpjal despatches Ossian, and Toscar, the son of Conloch and father
of -Malviiia, to raise a stone on the banks of the stream of Crona, to
jierpetuate the memory of a victory which he had obtained in that
place. When they were employed in that work, Cai-ul, a neighbour-
ing chief, invited them to a feast. They went, and Toscar fell des-
perately in love witli Colna-dona, the daughter of Car-ul. Colna-
doiia became no less enamoured of Toscar. An incident at a hunting
party brings their loves to a happy issue.
CoL-AMON* of troubled streams, dark wanderer
of distant vales, I behold thy course between trees
near Car-ul's echoing halls ! There dwelt bright
Colna-dona, the daughter of the king. Her eyes
were rolling stars : her arms were white as the
foam of streams. Her breast rose slowly to sight,
like ocean's heaving wave. Her soul was a stream
of light. Who among the maids, was like the
love of heroes ?
Beneath the voice of the king we moved to
Cronaf of the streams, Toscar of gi-assy Lutha,
and Ossian, young in fields. Three bards attended
with songs. Three bossy shields were borne before
us : for we were to rear the stone in memory of
the past. By Crona's mossy course Fingal had
scattered his foes ; he had rolled away the strangers
like a troubled sea. We came to the place of
renown : from the mountains descended night. I
tore an oak from its hill, and raised a flame on
high. I bade my fathers to look down from the
clouds of their hall ; for, at the fame of their race,
they brighten in the wind.
* Colna-dona signifies ' the love of heroes.' Col-amon, ' nnrro-.v
river.' Car-ul, 'dark-eyed.'
t Crona, 'murmuring,' was the name of a small stream which dis-
charged itsel/in the river Carron.