Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

THE WAR OF INIS-THONA:
A POEM.
OUR youth is like the dream of the hunter on the
hill of heath. He sleeps in the mild beams of
the sun ; he awakes amidst a storm ; the red lightning
flies around : trees shake their heads to the wind ! He
looks back with joy, on the day of the sun ; and the
pleasant dreams of his rest ! When shall Ossian's youth
return? When his ear delight in the sound of arms?
When shall I, like Oscar, travel in the light of my steel?
Come, with your streams, ye hills of Cona ! listen to the
voice of Ossian. The song rises, like the sun, in my
soul. I feel the joys of other times !
I behold thy towers, O Selma ! the oaks of thy
shaded wall : thy streams sound in my ear ; thy heroes
gather around. Fingal sits in the midst. He leans on
the shield of Trenmor : his spear stands against the
wall ; he listens to the song of his bards. The deeds of
his arm are heard ; the actions of the king in his youth 1
Oscar had returned from the chase, and heard the hero's
praise. He took the shield of Branno* from the wall ;
his eyes were filled with tears. Red was the cheek of
* Grandfather to Oscar.