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

A POEM. 243
night. We rejoiced three days above tJie dead, and
called die hawks of heaven. They came, from all their
winds, to feast on Annir's foes. Swaran ! Fingal is a-
lone, on his hill of night. Let thy spear pi>rce die
king in bccret ; like Annir, my soul shall rejoice.
" Sen of Annir of Gormal, Sv/aran shall not slay in
shades. I move forth in light : tlie hav/ks rush from
all their winds. They are wont to trace my course :
it is not harmless through war.'*
Burning rose the rage of the king. He thrice raised
his gleaming spear. But starting, he spared his son ;
and rushed into the night. By Turthor's stream a cave
is dark, the dwelling of Conban-cargLis. There he laid
the helmet of lungs, and called the maid of Lulan, but
she was distant far, in Loda's resounding hall.
Swelling with rage, he strode to where Fingal lay a-
lone. The king was laid on his siiield, on his own se-
cret hill. Stern hunter of shaggy boars, no fecbb miiid
Is laid before ihce : no bay, on his ferny bed, by Tur-
thor's murmuring stream. Here is spread the couch oF
the mighty, from which they rise to deeds of deatii.
Hunter of shaggy boars, awaken not the terrible.
Starno came murmuring on. Fingal arose in arms.
*' Who art thou, son of night ?" Silent he threw the
spear. Tiiey mixed their gloomy strife. The shield of
Starno fell, cleft in twain. He is bound to an cak. The
early beam arose. Then Fingal beheld the king of Gor-
mal. He rolled a while his silent eyes. He thought of o-
ther days, when whi:e-bosomed Agandecca moY^d hks '
the music cf songs. He loosed the thong from Lis
hands. Son of Annir, he said, retire. R.etire to Gor-
mal of shells : a b£a.m that v/as set returns. I remem-
ber thy white-bosomed daughter ; dreadful king, away J
Go to thy troubled dv/elhng, cloudy foe cf the lov:^-
lyl Let the stranger shun thee, tiiOV. glocniy iu tk^
hall !
A TALE of the times o^ old [