Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

418 THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.
As the sun rejoices, from his cloud, over the tre|
his beams have raised, as it shakes its lonely hea*
on the heath; so joyful is the king over Fillan!
" As the rolling of thunder on hills, when Lara'
fields are still and dark, such are the steps of Selro?
pleasant and dreadful to the ear. They return wit
their sound, like eagles to their dark-browed rod
after the prey is torn on the field, the dun sons o
the bounding hind. Your fathers rejoice from thei
clouds, sons of streamy Selma!"
Such was the nightly voice of bards, on Mora o
the hinds. A flame rose, from an hundred oaks
which winds had torn from Cormul's steep. Th
feast is spread in the midst: around sat the gleam
iug chiefs. Fingal is therein his strength. The eagle
wingof hishelmetsounds. The rustling blasts of th
west, unequal rush through night. Long looks tb
king in silence round ; at length his words are heard
" My soul feels a want in our joy. I behold ;
breach among my friends. The head of one tree i
low. The squally Avind pours in on Selma. When
is the chief of Dun-lora? Ought Connal to be forgo
at the feast ? When did he forget the stranger, ii
the midst of his echoing hall ? Ye are silent in mi
presence ! Connal is then no more. Joy meet thee
O warrior 1 like a stream of light. Swift be thj
course to thy fathers, along the roaring winds ! Os
sian,thy soul is fire : kindle the memory of the king
Awake the battles of Connal, when first he shone it
war. The locks of Connal were grey. His days oi
j-outh were mixed with mine. In one day Duth-caror
first strung our bows, against the roes of Dun-lora.'<
" Many," I said, " are our paths to battle in greeni
valleyed Erin. Often did our sails arise, over thel
blue tumbling waves ; when we came, in other days';
to aid the race of Conar. The strife roared onceic
Alnecma, at the foam-covered streams of Duth-ulai
With Cormac descended to battle Duth-caron, fronK
cloudy Selma. Nor descended Duth-caron alone;
his son was by his side, the long-haired youth oiji
Connal lifting the first of his spears. Thou didst ji
command them, O Fingal ! to aid the king of Erin.U