Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

CART HON.
Cathul* rose, in his strength, the son of the mighty Lormar :
three hundred youths attend the chief, the racef of his native
streams. Feeble was his arm against Carthon, he fell ; and his
heroes fled. Connal;}; resumed the battle, but he broke his heavy
spear : he lay bound on the field : and Carthon pursued his peo-
ple. ** Clessammor !" said the king§ of Morven, " w^here is the
spear of thy strength ? Wilt thou behold Connal bound ; thy
friend, at the stream of Lora ? Rise, in the light of thy steel,
thou friend of Comhal. Let the youth of Balclutha feel the
strength of Morven's race." He rose in the strength of his steel,
shaking his grizly locks. He fitted the shield to his side •, and
tushed, in the pride of valour.
Carthon stood, on that heathy rock, and saw the heroes approach.
He loved the terrible joy of his face : and his strength, in the
locks of age. " Shall I lift tliat spear," he said, " that never
strikes, but once, a foe ? Or shall I, with the words of peace,
preserve the warrior's life ? Stately are his steps of age ! lovely
the remnant of his years. Perhaps it is the love of Moina ; the
father of car-borne Carthon. Often have I heard, that he dwelt
at the echoing stream of Lora."
Such were his words, when Clessammor came, and lifted high
his spear. The youth received it on his shield, and spoke the
words of peace. " Warrior of the aged locks ! Is there no youth
to lift the spear ? Hast thou no son, to raise the shield before his
father, and to meet the arm of youth ? Is the spouse of thy love
no more ? or weeps she over the tombs of thy sons ? Art thou
of the kings of men ? What will be the fame of my sword if
thou shalt fall ?"
It will be great, thou son of pride ! begun tlic tall Clessam-
mor, I have been renowned in battle ; but I never told my name ||
to
• Cath-'hull, the eye of baitle.
■\ It appears, from this passage, that clanship was estaLlished, in the days of
Fjngal, though not on the same footing with the present tribes in the north of
Scotland.
t This Connal is very much celebrated, in ancient poetry, for his wisdom and
valour: there is a small tribe still subsisting, in the North, who pretend they are
descended from him.
§ Fingal did rot then know that Carthon was the son of Clessammor.
!) To X.CA or.t's name to sn enemy was rccfeonetl, in thcfC duys of heroism, a ma-