Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

274 THE rOEMS OF OSSIAN.
youth -with the breast of snow ? the first in the
chase of hinds ! the foe of the strangers of ocean:
Thou art dark* to me, Duchomar ; cruel is thint
arm to Morna! Give me that sword, my foe!']
love the wandering blood of Cathba!'
" He gave the sword to her tears. She pierced hi;
manly breast ! He fell, like the bank of a mountain
stream, and stretching fortli his hand, he spoke
' Daughter of blue-shielded Cormac! Thou has
slain me in youth I the sword is cold in my breast
Morna, I feel it cold. Give me to Moina the maid
Duch&mar was the dream of her night ! She wil
raise my tomb; the hunter shall raise my fame
But draw the sword from my breast. Morna, thi
steel is cold !' She came, in all her tears, she came
she drew the sword from his breast. He piercei
her white side ! He spread her fair locks on th
ground ! Her bursting blood sounds from her side
her white arm is staiaed with red. Rolling in deat
she lay. The cave re-echoed to her sighs."
" Peace," said CuthuUin, " to the souls of the he
roes ! their deeds were great in fight. Let them rid
around me on clouds. Let them shew their feature
of war. My soul shall then be firm in danger ; min
arm like the thunder of lieaven ! But be thou on
moon-beam, O Morna! near the window of my rest
when my thoughts are of peace ; when the din c
arms is past. Gather the strength of the tribes
Move to the wars of Erin ! Attend the car of m;i
battles! Rejoice in the noise of my course! Placi
three spears by my side: follow the bounding of mj
steeds ! that my soul may be strong iu my friend.'t
when battle darkens around the beams of my steel!!
As rushes a stream of foam from the dark shad!
deep of Cromla, when the thunder is travellinj
above, and dark-brown night sits on half the Ml i
Through the breaches of the tempest look forth th
dim faces of ghosts. So fierce, so vast, so terribl
rushed on the sons of Erin. The chief, like a wha!
of ocean, whom all his billows pursue, poured valoi
* She alludes to his name, * the dark mar