Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

179
" Flee thou, thou sorry knave," "
Said Folda, with wrathful scowl —
" Flee to thine own grey streams.
Son of the small and churlish soul.
95 Has brown-haired Oscar not been seen by me 1
I have looked on the hero in battle —
He is a hero in the midst of danger.
(But) other men can wield a spear on field :
Erin has many a son as great.
100 King of Temora of lofty trees,
Let me encounter the warrior;
I will stem the great flood in its rush :
My spear is bathed in blood.
My shield is like the wall of Tura."
DUAN I.
Folda (one of
Cairbar's war-
riors) re-
proaches the
cowardice of
Moranal ;
and offers to
meet and
defeat Oscar.
105 " Shall Folda singly meet the foe \ "
Said Malhos of the swarthy brow.
" Are they not numerous on the coast
As gathering of rugged mountain-streams?
Are not these the heroes who conquered
110 Swaran of hard-dealing strokes.
When the sons of Erin took to flight 1
And shall Folda meet their foremost warrior ?
Tliou dark heart of veriest pride,
Take the strength of hundreds of the host ;
115 Let Malhos with strong ones come.
Malhos ridi-
cules the idea
of Folda alone
going forth to
meet Fingal's
followers ;
and counsels
him to take
hundreds with
covered with blood ; my shield is like the wall of Tura ! "
" Sliall Foldath alone meet the foe t " replied the dark-browed
Malthos. " Are they not on our coast like the waters of many
streams ì Ai'e not these the chiefs who vanquished Swaran when
the sons of green Erin fled ? Shall Foldath meet their bravest hero 1
Foldath of the heart of pride, take the strength of the people, and