Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

284 THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.
cave is thy lonely house ? What green-headed h
tlie place of thy repose ? Shall -we not hear thee ■
the storm? in the noise of the mountain-streai
when the feeble sons of the wind come forth, ai
scarcely seen, pass over the desert r"
The soft-voiced Connal rose, in the midst of 1
sounding arms. He struck his shield above Cuth
lin. The son of battle waked. " Why," said t
ruler of the car, " comes Connal through my nigl
My spear might turn against the sound, and Cuth
lin mourn the death of his friend. Speak, Conn
son of Colgar, speak ; thy counsel is the sun of h
van!" "Son of Semo!" replied the chief, "1
ghosts of Crugal came from his cave. The sti;
dim-twinkled through his form. His voice was 1 ■
the sound of a distant stream. He is a messen;
of death ! He speaks of the dark and narrow hou:
Sue for peace, O chief of Erin ! or fly over the he:
of Lena."
" He spoke to Connal," replied the hero, " thot ■
stars dim-twinkled through his form ! Son of Colg
it was the wind that murmured across thy ear. ;
if it was the form of Crugal, why didst thou i
force him to my sight ? Hast thou inquired wheri
his cave ? the house of that son of wind ? My sw<
might find that voice, and force his knowledge fr
Crugal. But small is his knowledge, Connal;
was here to-day. He could not have gone beyc
our hills! who could tell him there of our fall
" Ghosts fly on clouds, and ride on winds," s;
Connal's voice of wisdom. " They rest together '
their caves, and talk of mortal men." !
" Then let them talk of mortal men ; of every ir i
but Erin's chief. Let me be forgot in their cave
will not fly from Swaran ! If fall I must, my to; '
shall rise amidst the fame of future times. The hu '
er shall shed a tear on my stone ; sorrow shall dw
around the high-bosomed Bragela. I fear not dea
to fly I fear ! Fingal has seen me victorious ! Th^
dim phantom of the hill, shew thyself to me ! co !
on thy beam of heaven, shew me my death in th: :
hand; yet I will not fly, thou feeble 5on of ;!
wind ! Go, son of Colgar, strike the shield.