Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

166 FISCAL : Book IT.
The sound spreads wide ; the heroes rise, like th<
breaking of a blue-rolling wave. They stood on th<
heath, like oaks with all their branches round them**
when they echo to the stream of frost, and their wi
thered leaves rustle to the wind.
High Cromla's head of clouds is grey ; the morninj
trembles on the half-enlightened ocean. The blue
grey mist swims slowly by, and hides the sons of Inis
fail.
" Rise ye," said the king of the dark-brown shield!
" ye that came from Lochlin's waves. The sons of ErL
have fled from our arms — pursue them over the plain
of Lena. And Morla, go to Cormac's hall and bi
them yield to Swaran ; before the people shall fall int
the tomb, and the hills of Ullin be silent." They ros
like a flock of sea-fowl when the waves expel them fror
the shore. Their sound was like a thousand streanc
that meet in Cona's vale, when after a stormy nigh'
they turn their dark eddies beneath the pale light c
the morning.
As the dark shades of autumn fly over the hills (
grass ; so gloomy, dark, successive, came the chiefs
Lochlm's echoing woods. Tall as the stag of Morve!
moved on the king of groves. His shining shield is o
his side like a flame on the heath at night, when th
world is silent and dark, and the traveller sees son:
ghost sporting in the beam.
A blast from the troubled ocean removed the settle
mist. The sons of Inisfail appear like a ridge of rod
on the shore.
" Go, Morla, go," said Lochlin's king, *' and ofF(
peace to these. Otfer the terms we give to kings wbe
nations bow before us ; when the valiar.t are dead i
war, and the virgins weeping on the field."
Great Morla came, the son of Swart, and state)
strode the king of shields. He; spoke to Erin's blu(
eyed son, among the lesser heroes.
b As when heav'n's fire
HRth scath'd the forest oaks or mountain pines
VVitli iinr'eil tojis, their stately growtl), llioogli lare.
Sterna on £.'.c Wasted h?;.th. Mn.TON'.