Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal > Volume 2

4-* CARRIC-THURA :
feorne Frothal, a blast rose on the sea, and carried Fro-
tlaal to Inistorc. Three days he ieasted in Saxno's halls,
^nd saw the slow-rolling eyes of Coniala. He loved
her, in the rage of youtli, and rushed to seize the
white-armed maid. Cathulia met the chief. The
gloomy battle rose. Frothal is bound in the hall : three
days he pined alone. On the fourth, Sarno sent him
to his ship, and he returned to his land. But wrath
darkened his soul against the noble Cathulia. When
Annir's stone " of fame arose, Frothal came in his
strength. Hie battle burned round Carric-thura, and
Sarno's mossy walls.
Morning rose on Inistore. Frothal struck his dark-
brown shield. I lis chiefs stiirted at the sound ; they
stood, but their eyes were turned to the sea. They saw -
Fingal coming in his strength j and first the noble
1'iiubar spoke.
" Who comes like the stag of the mountain, wifh
all his herd behind him? Frothal, it is a foe ; I sec his
forward spear. Perhaps it is the king of Morven, Fin-
gal, the first of men. His actions arc well known on
Gormal ; the bioyd of his foes is in Sarno^s halls. Shall
I ask the peace 'J of kings ? He is like the thunder of
heaven."
" Son of the feeble hand," said Frothal, " shall my
days begin in darkness ? Shall I yield before I have
conquered hi battle, chief of streamy Tora ? The peo-
ple would say in Sora, Frothal ikv/ forth hke a meteor ;
but the dark cloud met it, and it is no more. No :
Thubar, I will never yield ; my fame shall surround
me like light. No : I will never yield, king of strea-
my Tora."
He went forth with the stream of his people, but
they met a rock : Fingal stood unmoved, broken thsy
rolled back from his side. Nor did ilicy roll in safety ;
n That is, after the death of Aniiir. To erect the stone of one's
io.nx.. was, in other vvord^, to ^ay Uut ihc ; criOil was dciii^
c {ior.ouribk teni-.s of pci'^c.