Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

Cath-Loda, I i9
forward a ghost, half-formed of the shadowy smoke.
He poured his voice, at times, amidst the roaring
stream. Near, bending beneath a blasted tree,
two heroes received his words : Swaran of lakes,
and Starno, foe of strangers. On their dun shields
they darkly leaned : their spears are forward
through night. Shrill sounds the blast of darkness
in Starno's floating beard.
They heard the tread of Fingal. The wamors
rose in arms. " Swaran, lay that wanderer low,"
said Starno, in his pride. " Take the shield of thy
father. It is a rock in war." Swaran threw his
gleaming spear. It stood fixed in Loda's tree.
Then came the foes forward with swords. They
mixed their rattling steel. Through the thongs of
Swaran's shield rushed the blade* of Luno. The
shield fell rolling on earth. Cleft the helmet fcU
down, Fingal stopt the lifted steel. Wrathful
stood Swaran, unarmed. He rolled his silent eyes ;
he threw his sword on earth. Then slowly stalking
over the stream, he whistled as he went.
Nor unseen of his father is Swaran. Starno
turns away in wrath. His shaggy brows wave
dark above his gathered rage. He strikes Loda's
tree with his spear. He raises the hum of songs.
They come to the host of Lochhn, each in his own
dark path ; like two foam-covered streams from
two rainy vales !
To Turthor's plain Fingal returned. Fair rose
the beam of the east. It shone on the spoils of
Lochlin in the hand of the king. From her cave
came forth, in her beauty, the daughter of Torcul-
torno. She gathered her hair fi-om wind. She
wildly raised her song. The song of Lulan of
shells, where once her father dwelt. She saw
Si-iiriio's bloody shield. Gladness rose a light oa
her face. She saw the cleft helmet of Swaran.
She shinink, darkened, from Fingal " Art thou
♦ The sword of FingaJ, eo called from its maker, Luuo of Iiochlin.