Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

THE WAR OF CAROS. 231
for he had sent his people with Hidallan to war.
The stream ran at his feet, his grey head rested on
his staff. Sightless are his aged eyes. He hums the
. song of other times. The noise of Hidallan's feet
, came to his ear : he knew the tread of his son.
' " Is the son of Lamor returned ; or is it the
sound of his ghost? Hast thou fallen on the banks
; of Carun, son of the ai^ed Lamor? Or, if 1 hear the
! sound of Hidallan's feet, where are the mighty in
j the war? where are my people, Hidallan I that
I were wont to return with their echoing shields?
Have they fallen on the banks of Carun?"
" ^'o," replied the sighing youth, " the people of
Lamor live. They are renowned in war, my father !
but Hidallan is renowned no more. I must sit alone
on the banks of Balva, when the roar of the battle
grows.'
" But thy fatliers never sat alone," replied the
rising pride of Lamor. " They never sat alone on
the banks of Balva, when the roar of battle rose.
j Dost thou not behold tliat tomb ? My eyes discern
it not; there rests the noble Garmallon, who never
fled from war ! Come, thou renowned in battle, he
says, come to thy father's tomb. How am I re-
4nowned, Garmallo? mj- son has fled from war!"
1 " King of the streamy Balva !" said Hidallan with
why dost thou torment my soul? Lamor,
^Ineverfled. Fingal wassad for Comala; he denied
[his wars to Hidallan. Go to the grey streams of thy
I land, he said; moulder like a leafless oak, which the
.jj winds have bent over Balva, never more to grow !"
J " And must I hear," Lamor replied, " the lonely
4tread of Hidallan's feet ? When thousands are re-
■inowned in battle, shall he bend over my grey
^|3treams ? Spirit of the noble Garmillon ! carry La-
jraor to his place ; his eyes are dark, his soul i5 sad,
.his son has lost his fame!"
' j " Mhere," said the youth, " shall I search for
^jfame, to gladden the soul of Lamor ? From whence
shall 1 return with renown, that the sound of my
arms may be pleasant in his ear ? If I go to the
'• [chase of hinds, my name will not be heard. Lamor
will not feel my dogs with his hands, glad at my ar-