Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

195
He struck Oscar in the side. On liis shield
Fell the hero forward on the plain :
His knee supported the chief ;
His own long spear was in his hand.
290 See Cairbar in the dust !
The sharpness of the steel went through his head,
Sundering the red locks behind :
The hero feU like a riven rock,
Which swift falls down from the bowing hill,
295 When green Erin shakes herself
From Ben to Ben — from sea to sea !
Brown-haired Oscar shall rise no more :
He leans upon his bossy shield.
The spear of dark deaths was in his hand.
300 Far off stood Erin on the hill,
Their cry like the hoarse strength of streams ;
Lena of ghosts re-echoed to the sound.
Fingal heard the noise afar ;
He grasped the gashing spear of Selma,
305 And stretched his stride on the face of the hill.
Straightway rose the prince's voice in woe :
" I hear the loud din of conflict;
Oscar is alone in battle.
But never moie shall Oscar rise ! He leans on his bossy sliield.
His spear is in his terrible hand. Erin's sons stand distant and
dark. Their' shouts arise like crowded streams. Moi-lena echoes
wide. Fingal heard the sound. He took the spear of Selma. His
steps are before us on the heath. He spoke the words of woe. " I
hear the noise of war. Young Oscar is alone. Eise, sons of Mor-
DUAN I.
he secretly
flung Ms spear
at Oscar, who
fell ou his
knee ; but,
gathering up
his strength,
threw his
spear at Cair-
bar, and drove
it through his
head.
The people
raise a loud
cry,
which is heard
by Fingal.