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

A POEM. 71
and the song of the bard ceased. Fingal observed the
aged hero, and he mildly spoke.
" Chief of Strumon, why that darkness ? Let the
days of other years be foigoi. Our fathers contended
in batde, but we meet together at the feast. Our
swords are turned on the foes, and they melt before us
on the field. Let the days of our tadicrs be forgot,
king of mossy Strumon."
" King of Morven," replied the chief, "I remember
thy father with joy. He was terrible in battle ; the
rage of the chief vv'as deadly. My eyes were full of
tears, when the king of heroes fell. The valiant fall,
O Fingal, and the feeble remains on the -hills. How
many heroes have passed away, in the days of Morni !
And I did not shun the buttle ; neither did I fly from
the striie of the vaHant. Now let the friends of JFingal
rest ; for the night is around ; that they may rise, with
strength to battle against car-borne Lathmon. I hear
the sound of his host, like thunder heard on a distant
hemth. Ossian ! and iair-haired Gaul ! ye are swiit in
the race. Observe the foes of Fingal from that woody
hill. But approach them not ; your lathers are not near
to shield you. Let not your fame fall at once. Tha
valour of youth may fail."
We heard the words of tlie chief wid\ joy, and mov-
ed in the clang of our arras. Our steps are in the
\voody hill. Heaven burns with all its stars. The me-
teors ot death fly over the field. Tlie distant noise of
the foe reached our ears. It was then Gaul spoke,
in his valour ; his hand half-unsheathed the sword.
" Son of Fingal, he said, " why burns the soul of
Gaul ? my heart beats high. My steps are disordered ;
and mv hand trembles on my sword. When I look
towards the foe, my soul lightens before mc, and I s^
lie had to Comh.il's name, though they were fees, but from his fear
thar the song would awaken Fingal to reuicmbrance of the feucis
wliich had subsisted of old between their fainilics. Fingal's speech
du this gctaiion ui>0URds witli i^cii£roii?y and good seirse.