Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

Lathmon. 309
'• Sen ofFingal," Gaul replied with a sigh, "shall
I return after Ossian is low ? What would my
lather say ? what Fingal the king of men ? The
feeble would turn their eyes and say, ' Behold Gaul,
who left his friend in liis blood I' Ye shall not
behold me, ye feeble, but in the midst of my re-
nown ! Ossian, I have heard from my father the
mighty deeds of heroes; their mighty deeds when
alone ! for the soul increases in danger !"
" Son of Morni," I replied, and strode before
him on the heath, " our fathers shall praise our
valour when they mourn our fall. A beam of
gladness shall rise on their souls, when their eyes
are full of tears. They will say, ' Our sons have
not fallen unknown : they spread death around
them. But why should we think of the narrow
house ? The sword defends the brave : but death
pursues the flight of the feeble; their renown is
never heard."
We inished forward through night ; we came to
the roar of a stream, which bent its blue coiirse
round the foe, through trees that echoed to its
sound. We came to the bank of the stream, and
saw the sleeping host. Their fires were decayed
on the plain ; the lonely steps of their scouts were
distant far. I stretched my spear before me, to
support my steps over the stream. But Gaul took
my hand, and spoke the words of the brave. ' ' Shall
the son of Fingal rush on the sleeping foe ? Shall
he come like a blast by night, when it overturns
the young trees in secret ? Fingal did not receive
his fame, nor dwells renown on the grey hairs of
Morni, for actions like these. Strike, Ossian, strike
the shield, and let their thousands rise ! Let them
meet Gaul in his first battle^ that he may try the
strength of his arm."
My soul rejoiced over the warrior : my bursting
tears came down. " And the foe shall meet thee,
Gaul," I said; "the fame of Moral's son shall