Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

198 FINGAL.
when the stone ot power heard his voice, and battle
turned in the field of the valiant ! "
" Go ; grey-haired Snivan," Starno said, " go to
Ardven's sea-surrounded rocks. Tell to the king of
Selma ; he the fairest among his thousands, tell him
I give him my daughter, the loveliest maid that ever
heaved a breast of snow. Her arms are white as the
foam of my waves. Her soul is generous and mild. Let
him come with his bravest heroes, to the daughter of the
secret hall ! " Snivan came to Selma's hall : Fair-
haired Fingal attended his steps. His kindled soul flew
to the maid, as he bounded on the waves of the north.
"Welcome," sa ; d the dark browed Starno, "welcome,
king of rocky Morven : welcome his heroes of might,
sons of the distant isle! Three days within my halls
shall ye feast ; three days pursue my boars ; that your
fame may reach the maid who dwells in the secret hall."
Starno designed their death. He gave the feast of
shells. Fingal, who doubted the foe, kept on his arms
of steel. The sons of death were afraid : They fled
from the eyes of the king. The voice of sprightly mirth
arose. The trembling harps of joy were strung. Bards
sung the battle of heroes : They sung the heaving breast
of love. Ullin, Fingal's bard, was there : the sweet
voice of resounding Cona. He praised the daughter of
Lochlin ; and Morven's* high-descended chief. The
daughter of Lochlin overheard. She left the hall of her
secret sigh ! She came in all her beauty, like the moon
* Morven, (perhaps otherwise Ardven,) part of Argyle.