Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

178 FINGAL.
Grudar. The secret look of her eye was his. ' When
shalt thou come in thine arms, thou mighty in the war? '
"'Take, Brassolis,' Cairbar came and said, 'take,
Brassolis, this shield of blood. Fix it on high within my
hall, the armour of my foe ! ' Her soft heart beat against
her side. Distracted, pale, she flew. She found her
youth in all his blood ; she died on Cromla's heath.
Here rests their dust, Cuthullin ! these lonely yews
sprung from their tombs, and shade them from the storm.
Fair was Brassolis on the plain ! Stately was Grudar on
the hill ! The bard shall preserve their names, and send
them down to future times ! " *
"Pleasant is thy voice, O Carril," said the blue-eyed
chief of Erin. " Pleasant are the words of other times !
They are like the calm shower of spring ; when the sun
looks on the field, and the light cloud flies over the hills.
O strike the harp in praise of my love, the lonely sun-
beam of Dunscaith ! Strike the harp in the praise of
Bragela ; she that I left in the Isle of Mist, the spouse of
Semo's son ! Dost thou raise thy fair face from the rock
to find the sails of Cuthullin ? The sea is rolling distant
far ; its white foam deceives thee for my sails. Retire,
for it is night, my love ; the dark winds sing in thy hair.
* This episode is introduced with propriety. Calmar and
Connal, two of the Irish heroes, had disputed warmly before
the battle about engaging the enemy. Carril endeavours to
reconcile them with the story of Cairbar and Grudar; who,
though enemies before, fought side by side in the war. The
poet obtained his aim, for we find Calmar and Connal perfectly
reconciled in the third book.