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

188 TEMORA: Bock. III.
troubled seas, when some dark ghost, in wrath, heaven
the billows over an isle, the scat of mist, on.the deep,
for many dark-brown years : so terrible is the sound
of the host, wide-moving over the field. Gaul is tall
before them : the streams glitter within his strides. The
bards raised the.songbyhis side ; he siruckhisshieldbe-^
tween. On the skirts of the blast thetunefulvoicesarose.
" On Crono," said tne bards, " there bursts a stream 1
by night. It swells in its own dark course, till morn- I
ing's early beam. Then comes it white from the hill, '
with the rocks and their hundred gro^ es. Far be my
Steps from Crona : Death is tumbling there. Be ye a
stream from Mora, sons of cloudy Morven."
" Who rises, from his car, on Clutha ? The bills are
troubled before the king! Tlie dark woods echo round,
and lighten at his steel. See him, amidst the foe, like
Colgach'so sportful ghost ; when he scatters the clouds,
and rides the eddyirg wings: It is Mornii' of the
bounding steeds ! Be like thy father, Gaul i"
" Selma is opened wide. Bards take the trembling
Larps. Ten youths carry the oak of the feast. A dis-
e There are >ome traditions, but, I believe, of late invention, that
this Colgach was the same with the Galgacus of racitus He
l!ie ancestor cf G.ail. the s(<n of Morni, and appears, from some
really ancient traditions, to have been king, or Vergobret, of th<
letioiiians-j and hence pr(;cetdeil tl'.e pretens-ions of the family of.
*lGrni to the throne, whicli created a good deal yf disturbance, both
to Ccmhal and his son Finpal. 'I he tirst was killed in battle by
that tribe ; and it was after Fingal was grown up, that they wei
tiuced to obedience. Colgr.cn signifies 'fiercely looking;' whicii •
is a very proper name for a warrior, and is probably ihe origin of
Calgacuf ; thnugh I believe it is a matter of mere conjecture, that
riie Colgach here mcritiored was the same wirli that hero. I cati-
Tiut help observing, with how much propriety the song of the bards
i« conducted. Gam, whose experience miglit have rendered his con-
ci'i-t cautious in war, has tiie example of his father, just rushing to
baUle. set h-efore h^seyes. Fi'Tian, on the other hand, whose youth
fight make Jiim impetuous and unguarded ill action, is put in mind,
of ?! e sedate and se»eue behaviour of Fingal upon like occasions.
p The expcdiiii.il cf Morni to Ciuilu, alluded :o. is lianiied dowa