Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

TEMORA. 403
gathered in Ullin, and they blessed the king; t]ie
king of the race of their fathers, from the land of
Selma.
" The chiefs of the south were gathered, in the
darkness of their pride. In the horrid cave of
Muma they mixed their secret words. Thither often,
they said, the spirits of their fathers came; shewing
their pale forms from the chinky rocks , reminding
them of the honour of Bolga. ' Why should Conar
reign,' they said, ' the son of resounding i\Iorven r'
" Tliey came fortl), like the streams of the desert,
■with the roar of their hundred tribes. Conar was a
rock before them : broken they rolled on every side.
But often they returned, and the sons of Selma fell.
The king stood, among the tombs of his warriors.
He darklj' bent his mournful face. Jlis soul was
rolled into itself: and he had marked the place
where he was to fall : when Trathal came, in his
strength, his brother from cloudy Morven. Nor did
become alone. Colgar was at his side; Colgar the
son of the king and of wliite-bosomed Solin-corma.
"As Trenmor, clothed with meteors, descends
from the halls of thunder, pouring the dark storm
before him over the troubled sea: so Colgar de-
scended to battle, and wasted the echoing field.
His fatlier rejoiced over the hero : but an arrow
came ! His tomb was raised, without a tear. The
king was to revenge his son. He lightened forward
in battle, till Bolga yielded at her streams !
"When peace returned to the land: when his
blue waves bore the king to ^Nlorven : then he remem-
bered his son, and poured the silent tear. Thrice did
the bards, at the cave of Furmono, call the soul of
Colgar. Theycalled him to the hills of his land. He
heard tliem in his mist. Trathal placedhis swordin
the cave, that the spirit of his son rrtight rejoice."
" Colgar, sonofTiathal !" saidFillan, " thou wert
renowned in youth ! but the king hath not marked
my sword, bright-streaming on the field. I go forth
with the crowd. I return, without my fame. But
the foe approaches, Ossian ! 1 hear their murmur on
tSe heath. The sound of their steps is like thunder,
in the bosom of the ground, when the rocking hills