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

Book VIII. AN EPIC POEM. 197
Now is the coming forth of the king. First appear-
ed the sword of Luno; the spear halt-issuing from a
cloud, the shield still dim in mist. But when the stride
\ofthc king came abroad, with all his grey, dew y locks
in the wind; then rose the shouts of his host over every
mo\ ing tribe. They gathered, gleamiog, round, witli
rJi their echoing shields. So rise the green seas round a
pirit that ccHnes down from the squally wind. The
r..\clkr hears the sound afar, and lifts his head over
the rock. He looks on the troubled bay, and thinks he
dinily sees the form. The waves sport, unwieldy,
round, with all their backs of foam.
Far-di-t.int stood the son of Morni, Dutlino's race,
and Cona's bard. We stood far-distant ; eacli beneath
his tree. We shunned the eyes of the king; %v€ had not
conquered in the field. A little stream rolled at my
feet : 1 touched its light wave, with my spear. I touch-
.i it v/ith my spear ; nor there was the soul of Ossian.
It darkly rose, from thought to thought, and sent a-
broad the sigh.
" Son of Morni!" said the king, " Dermid, hunter
of roes I why are ye dark, like two rocks, each with its
trickling w^a^ers ! No wrath gathers on the soul of Fin-
gal against the chiefs of men. Ye are ray strength in
b.itde ; the kindling of my joy in peace. My early
Yoice was a pleasant gale to your ears, w hen Fillan-pre-
parcd the bow. The son of Fingal is not here, nor yet
the chase of the bounding roes. But why should the
b; eakers of shields stand, darkened, far av/ay ?"
. Tall they strode to v/ards the king ; they saw liim turn-
ed to Mora's wind. His tears came dov»n, for his blue-
€yed son, whosleptinthecavecf streams. Buthebright- "
ened before them, andspoke to the broad-shielded Idngs-
" Crommal, with woody rocks and misty top, the
field of winds pours forth, to the sight, blue Lubar's
streamy roar. Behind it rolls clear- winding Lavadi,
in the still vale of deer. A cave is dark in a rock ; a-
bove itstrong-wingedeaglesdwell; broad-headed oaks,
before it, sound in Cluna's wind. Withii], in his locks
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