Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

CARRIC-THURA. 173
it is the king of Morven, Fingal the first of men.
His deeds are well known in Lochlin ! the blood of
his foes is in Starno's lialls. Shall I ask the peace
of kings ? His sword is the bolt of heaven !"
Son of the feeble hand, said Frothal, shall my
days begin in a cloud ? Shall I yield before I have
conquered, chief of streamy Tora ? The people
would say in Sora, Frothal flew forth like a meteor ;
but a darkness has met him, and his fame is no
more. No, Thubar, I will never yield ; my fame
shall surround me like light. No : I will never
yield, chief of streamy Tora!
He went forth with the stream of his people, but
they met a rock: Fingal stood unmoved, broken
they rolled back from his side. Nor did they safely
fly ; the spear of the king pursued their steps. The
tield is covered with heroes. A rising hill pre-
served the foe.
Frothal saw their flight. The rage of his bosom
rose. He bent his eyes to the ground, and called
the noble Thubar. Thubar! my people are fled.
My fame has ceased to arise. I will fight the king ;
I feel my burning soul! Send a bard to demand
the combat. Speak not against Frothal's words !
But, Thubar ! I love a maid ; she dwells by Thano's
stream, the white-bosomed daughter of Herman,
Utlia with soft-rolling eyes. She feared the low-
laid Comala ; her secret sighs rose when I spread
the sail. Tell to Utha of harps that my soul de-
lighted in her.
Such were his words, resolved to fight. The soft
sigh of Utha was near ! She had followed her hero
in the armour of a man. She rolled her eye on the
youth, in secret, from beneath her steel. She saw
the bard as he went; the spear fell thrice from her
hand ! Her loose hair flew on the wind. Her white
breast rose with sighs. She raised her eyes to the
king. She would speak, but thrice she failed.
Fingal heard the words of the bard ; he came in
tlie strength of his steel. They mixed their death-
ful spears : they raised the gleam of their arms. But
the sword of Fingal descended and cut Frothal's
'shield in twain. His fair side is exposed; half bent