Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

40G THE POEMS OF OSSIAN,
young sigh of the virgins rose. In Alnecma* waSi'
the warrior honoured : the first of the race of j
Bolga.
" He pursued the chase in UUin : on the rooss-'
covered top of Drumardo. From the wood looked:
the daugliter of Cathn^in, the blue-rolling eye of
Con-liima. Her sigh rose in secret. She bent her :
head, amidst her wandering locks. The moon looked
in, at night, and saw the white-tossing of her arms;
for she thought of the mighty Crothar, in the season
of dreams.
" Three days feasted Crothar with Cathmin.
the fourth they awaked the hinds. Con-ldma moved
to tlie chase, with all her lovely steps. She met
Crothar in the narrow path. The bow fell at c
from her hand. She turned her face away, andhalf-
liid it with her locks. The love of Crothar rose.
He broughtthe white-bosomed maid to Atha. Bards
raised the song in her presence. J05' dwelt round
the daughter of Cathmin.
" The pride of Turloch rose, a youth who loved
tlie white-handed Con-ldma. He came, with battle,
to Aluecma ; to Atha of the roes. Cormul went
forth to the strife, the brother of car-borne Crothar.
He went forth, but he fell. The sigh of his people
rose. Silent and tall, across the stream, came the
darkening strength of Crothar: he rolled the foe
from Alnecma. He returned, midst the joy of Con-
lima.
" Battle on battle comes. Blood is poured on
blood. The tombs of the valiant rise. Erin's clouds
are hung round with ghosts. The chiefs of the
south gathered round the echoing shield of Crothar.
He came, with death, to the paths of the foe. Thei
virgins wept, by the streams of Ullin. They looked^
to the mist of the hill : no hunter descended fromi
its folds. Silence darkened in the land. Blastsil
sighed lonely on grassy tombs.
* Alnecma, or Alnecmacht, was the ancient namei
of Connaught. Ullin is still the Irish name of thej|
province of Ulster.