Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

456 THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.
battle cease. Until I return, in my arms, from the
skirts of the evening mist, that rises on Lona, round
the dwelling of my love."
A light fell on the soul of the maid : it rose kindled
before the king. She turned her face to Cathmor,
from amidst her waving locks. "Sooner shall the
eagle of heaven be torn from the stream of his roar-
ing wind, when he sees the dun prey before him, the
young sons of the bounding roe, than thou, O Cath-
mor, be turned from the strife of renown. Soon may
I see thee, warrior, from the skirts of the evening
mist, when it is rolled around me, on Lona of the
streams. While yet thou art distant far, strike,
Cathmor, strike the shield, that joy may return to
my darkened soul, as I lean on the mossy rock. But
if thou shouldst fall, I am in the land of strangers ;
O send thy voice, from thy cloud, to the maid oi
Inis-huna!"
" Young branch of green-headed Lumon, why dosi
thou shake in the storm ? Often has Cathmor re-
turned, from darklj'-roUingwars. The dartsof death
are but hail to me ; they have often rattled along mji
shield. I have risen brightened from battle, like a
meteor from a stormy cloud. Return not, fair beam i
from thy vale, when the roar of battle grows. Thei
might the foe escape, as from my fathers of old.
"They told to Son-mor, of Clunar, who was slair
by Cormac in fight. Three days darkened Son-mor
over his brother's fall. His spouse beheld the silen
king and foresaw his steps to war. She preparec
the bow, in secret, to attend her blue-shielded hero
To her dwelt darkness, at Atha, when he was no
tliere. From their hundred streams, by night, poure<
down the sons of Alnecma. They had heard th
sliield of the king, and their rage arose. In clang
ing arms, they moved along towards Ullin of th
groves. Son-mor struck his shield, at times, th
leader of the war.
" Far behind followed Sul-allin, over the stream
hills. She was a light on the mountain, when the
crossed the vale below. Her steps were stately o
the vale, when they rose on the mossy hill. Sh