Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

218 THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.
along the heath. Grey morning rose in the east
A green narrow vale appeared before
■wanting \vsis its winding stream. The dark host o
Kothmar are on its banks, with all their glitterin;
arms. We fought along the vale. They fled. E,otfc
mar sunk beneath my sword ! Day had not dt
scended in the west, when I brought his arms t
Crothar. The aged hero felt them with his hands
and joy brightened over all his thoughts.
The people gather to the hall i The shells of tb
feast are heard. Ten harps are strung; five bard
advance, and sing, by turns, the praise of Ossian
they poured forth their burning souls, and the strin
answered to their voice. Tlie joy of Croma w?
great : for peace returned to the land. The uigl
came on with silence ; the morning returned wil
joy. No foe came in darkness with his glitterii
spear. The joy of Croma was great; forthegloon;
Rothmar had fallen !
I raise my voice for Fovar-gormo, when th(
laid the chief in earth. The aged Crothar was thei
but his sigh was not heard. He searched for tl
wound of his son, and found it in his breast,
rose in the face of the aged. He came and spoke
Ossian. " King of spears !" he said, "mysonh
not fallen without his fame. The youngwarriord
not fly ; but met death as he went forward in 1
strength. Happy are they who die in youth, wh
their renown is heard ! The feeble will not behc
them in the hall; orsmile at their trembling han(
Their memory shall be honoured in song ; 1
young tear of the virgin will fall. But the aged ^
ther away by degrees ; the fame of their you
while yet they live is all forgot. They fall in seer
The sigh of their son is not heard. Joy is arou
their tomb : the stone of their fame is placed wi
out a tear. Happy are they who die in their you
when their renown is around them!"
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