Ossian Collection > Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal > Volumes 3 and 4

A N E P I C P O E M, 51
but tlie car -borne Ofcaf^from the folds of war.
Sudden is thy change, my fon, from what thou
wert on dark Moilenal The blaft folds thee in
its fkirt, and ruftles along the fky.
Dofl: thou not beliold thy father, at the
ftream of night? The chiefs of Morven fleep
far- dillant. They have loft no fon. But ye
have loft a hero , chiefs of ftreamy Morven !
Who could equal his ftrength, when battle roll-
ed againft his hde, like the darknefs of crowd-
ed waters? Why this cloud on OfTian's
foul ? It ought to burn in danger. Erin is near
with her hoft. The king of Morven is alone.
Alone thou fhalt not be, my father,
while I can lift the fpear.
I rofe , in my rattling nrm.s. I liftened to
the wind of night. The ihield of Filian ' ) is
not
*) We underftaud, from the preceding book, that
Cathmor was near with an army. When Cair-
bar was killed, the tribes who attended him, feJl
back to Cathmor; who, as it afterwards appears.
had taken a refolution to furprize Fingal by
night. Filian was dispatched to the hill of Mo-
ra , which was in the front of the Caledonians ,
D 2 te