Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

D U A N IV
329
" Beneath an oak," thus spake the king,
" I sat me down by the rock of streams,
When Connal came from ocean
With the spear of black-haired Carhon.
5 Far away the hero stood,
Turning his eyes toward the hill.
He remembered his father and his steps
On the liill which was brown and green."
Darkness seized me where I sat,
10 My thoughts in sorrow upwards trailing
Over my soul like mist on the hill.
The kings of Erin moved before me ;
I half unsheathed my blade,
When the warriors drew near,
15 In silence raising, each, his eyes.
They were like sable clouds of the sky
Waiting the utterance of my mouth in words ; '
My voice was like a strong, warm wind.
Which drives from the sky its mist and gloom.
ringal de-
scribes him-
self' as in his
youth he sat
under a tree
when Connal
came to ask
him to go to
the assistance
of Cornjac,
king of Erin,
against Cole-
nlla, who had
defeated him.
soul. The kings of Erin rose before me. I half unsheathed the
sword. Slowly approached the chiefs. They lifted up their silent
eyes. Like a ridge of clouds they wait for the bursting forth of my
voice ; my voice was to them a wind from heaven to roll the mist