Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

Sul-Malla of Lumon, 227
"Not unmarked," said the maid, "by Sul-malla,
is the shield of Morven's kiitg. It hangs high ia
my father's hall, in memory of the past, wheu
Fingal came to Cluba, in the days of other years.
Loud roared the boar of Culdarnu, in the midst of
his rocks and woods. luis-huna sent her youths;
but they failed, and virgins wept over tombs. Care-
less went Fingal to Culdarnu. On liis spear rolled
the strength of the woods. He was bright, they
said, in his locks, the first of mortal men. Nor at
the feast were heard his words. His deeds passed
from his soul of fire, like the rolling of vapours
from the face of the wandering sun. Not careless
looked the blue eyes of Cluba on his stately steps.
In white bosoms rose the king of Selma, in the
midst of their thoughts by night. But the winds
bore the stranger to the echoing vales of his roes.
Nor lost to other lands was he, like a meteor that
sinks in a cloud. He came forth, at times, in his
brightness, to the distant dwelling of foes. His fame
came, like the sound of winds, to Cluba's woody vale.
" Darkness dwells in Cluba of harps: the race
of kings is distant far : in battle is my father Con-
mor ; and Lormar, my brother, king of streams.
Nor darkening alone are they ; a beam from other
lands is nigh ; the friend of strangers* in Atha, the
troubler of the field. High from their misty hills
look forth the blue eyes of Erin, for he is far away,
young dweller of their souls ! Nor harmless, white
hands of Erin ! is Cathmor in the skirts of war ;
he rolls ten thousand before him in his distant field."
'• Not unseen by Ossian," I said, " rushed Cath-
mor from his streams, when he poured his strength
on I-thomo, isle of many waves ! In strife met two
kings in I-thorno, Culgorm and Suran-dronlo; each
from his echoing isle, stern hunters of the boar \
" They met a boar at a foamy stream; each
pierced him with his spear. They strove for the fame
*Cathmor, the son of Borbar-Duthul.