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

A N E P I C P O E M. 197
harp. She touched the harp, and heard, be-
tween , the breezes in her hair. In dark-
nefs near, lay the king of Atha , beneath an
aged tree. The beam of the oak was turned
from him; he faw the maid, but was not feen.
His foul poured forth, in fecret, when he be-
held her tearful eye. But battle is before
thee , fon of Borbar - duthul.
Amidfl: the harp , at intervals , fhe liftened
whether the warriors flept. Her foul was up;
fhe longed , in fecret , to pour her own fad
fong. The field is lilent. On their wings,
the blafts of night retire. The 'bards had ceafed ;
and meteors came , red - winding with their
ghofls. The iky grew dark: the forms
of the dead were blended with the clouds.
But
countrymen had conferred on the order.
It was this infolent behaviour that induced the
chiefs to retrench their nuniber, and to take
away thofe privileges which they were no long-
er worthy to enjoy. Their indolence, and dh.~
pofitlou to lampoon , exilingxiifhed all the poeti-
cal fervour, which diftinguifhed their predeces-
fors, and makes us the lefs regret the exfiinclioM
of the order.
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