Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

ON THE POEMS OF OSSIAN". 95
since he began to lift the spear. " Few are the marks
•* of my sword in battle ; but my soul is fire." He is
^\'iih some diificulty restrained by Ossian from going
to aitack the enemy ; and complains to him that his
[father had never allowed him any opportunity of signa-
lizing his valour. " The king hath not rCinarkea my
f* sword; I go forth with the crowd ; I return without
['* my tame." Soon after, when Fingal, according to
custom, was to appoint one of his chiefs to command
'the army, and each was standing forth, and putting in
his ( laim to this honour, FiUan is presented in the fol-
lowing most picturesque and natural attitude : " On
" his spear stood the son of Clatho, in the wandering
'•' of his locks. Thrice he raised his eyes on Fir. gal ;
" his voice thrice failed him as he spoke. Fillan could
" not boast of battles ; at once he strode away. Bent
" over a distant stream he stood ; the tear hung in his
" eve. He struck, at times, the thistle's head with
" his inverted spear." No less natural and beauiifal is
the description or Fingal's paternal emotion on this oc-
casijn. " Nor is he unseen of Fingal. Side-long he
" belield his son. He beheld him uith bursting joy.
" lie hid the big tear v.ith his locks, and turned a-
" nidst his crowded soul." The command, for that
dav, being given to Gaul, Filian rushes amidst the
thickest of the foe, saves Gaul's life, who is wound-
ed Ijy a random arrow, and distinguishes hi'.r.sclf so
in b.ittle, that " the days of old return on Fu-gal's.
" ramd, as he beholds the renown of his son. As the
I*' sun rejoices from the cloud, over the tree his beams
i" have raised, whilst it shakes its lonely head on the
:" heath, so joyful is the king over Fillan." Sedate,
ihowever, and wise, he mixes the praise which he be-
'stows on him with some reprehension of his rashness,
" My son, I saw thy deeds, and my soul was glad.
" Thou art brave, son of Clatho, but headlong in the
" strife. So did not Fingal advance, though he never
" feared a foe. Let thy people be a ridge behind thee;
** they are thy strength in the field. Fhen shalt thou
** be long renowned, and behold the tombs of thy fa-
'*♦ thers."