Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, &c > Volume 1

556 THE DEATH OF CUTHULLIN:
slowly borne by sultry winds ^ The sun reddens
in his presence : The people tall around."
Such was the song of Carril, when a son of
the foe appeared. He threw down his pointless
spear. He spoke the words of Torlatli ! Tor-
lath, chief of heroes, from Lego's sable surge !
He that led his thousands to battle against car-
borne Cormac. Cormac, who was distant far, in
Teniora's echoing halls : he learned to bend the
bow of his fathers ; and to lift the spear. Nor
long didst thou lift the spear, mildly-shining
beam of youth ! death stands dim behind thee,
like the darkened half of the moon, behind its
growing light "* ! Cuthullin rose before the bard,
5 Like the vapour of dcalli, slowli/ borne by sultry winds.]
Pope's Iliad, v. 1058. Quoted by Macpherson.
As vapours bluun by Auster's sultry breath.
Pregnant with plagues, and slicdding seeds of death.
But the vapour of death, to which Mars is compared in retiring
from battle, exists only in Pope's translation, not in the origi-
nal.
"*• Death stands dim behind thee, like the darkened half of the
moon behind its growing light.] This comparison, which Blair
pronounces a very tanciful and uncommon allusion, is anotlter
variation of Milton's eclipse. Par. Lost, i. 596.
Or from behind the moon.
In dim eclipse, dibastrous twilight sheds
On halj the nations-
Darkened so, yet shone.