Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

476 THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.
cuth is sad by his side. Cuthona sits at a distance
and weeps. Does the wind of the waves deceive
me? Or do I hear them speak ?
Toscar. The night was stormy. From their hUls
the groaning oaks came down. The sea darkly-tum-
bled beneath the blast. The roaring waves climbed
against our rocks. The lightning came often and
showed the blasted fern. Fercuth ! I saw the ghost
who embroiled the night. Silent he stood, on that
bank. His robe of mist flew on the wind. I could
behold his tears. Au aged man he seemed, and
full of thought I
Fercuth. It was thy father, O Toscar. He fore-
sees some death among his race. Such was his ap-
pearance on Cromla, before the great Maronnan
fell. Erin of hills of grass ! how pleasant are thy
vales ! Silence is near thy blue streams. The sun
is on thy fields. Soft is the sound of the harp in
SelAma. Lovely the cry of the hunter on Cromla.
But we are in dark I-thona, surrounded by the
storm. The billows lift their white heads above our
rocks. We tremble amidst the night.
Toscar. Whither is the soul of battle fled, Fercuth
with locks of age ? I have seen thee undaunted in
danger : thine eyes burning with joy in the fight.
Whither is the soul of battle fled ? Our fathers never
feared. Go ; view the settling sea : the stormy wind
is laid. The billows still tremble on the deep. They
seem to fear the blast. Go; view the settling sea.
Morning is grey on our rocks. The sun will look
soon from his east; in all his pride of light! I lifted
up my sails with joy, before the halls of generous
Conlath. My course was by a desert isle : where
Cuthona pursued the deer. I saw her, like that
beam of the sun that issues from the cloud. Her
hair was on her heaving breast. She, bending for-
ward, drew the bow. Her white arm, seemed, be-
hind her, like the snow of Cromla. Come to my
soul, I said, huntress of the desert isle! But she
wastes her time in tears. She thinks of the gene-
rous Conlath. Where can I find thy peace, Cutho-
na, lovely maid ?
Cuthona. A distant steep bends over the sea.