Ossian Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards

162 ANCIENT GAELIC BARDS.
It were unjust to ask us such a tiling.
Cairbar! thou hadst not dared have spoken thus,
Hadst thou not known that Fingal iS' not by."
" Though Fingal and thy father both were here.
As good as the best day they wore a sword,
I'd ask of them whate'er I ask of thee;
And what I ask of them or thee, I'll have."
"If Fingal and my father both were here,
As good as the best day they wore a sword,
By thine own might thou couldst not then retain
The breadth of thy two soles on land of Erin."
" I make a vow," quoth Cairbar, " deer to drive
From side to side of Albin's sea-girt hills,
And spoil to carry from its plains to Erin."
" I make a vow, a vow 'gainst that," quoth Oscar;
" When thou hast come to Albin for thy sport,
I with this spear will drive thee back to Erin."
Then Cairbar roar'd — "I make a vow ere that,
A lasting vow, that I will plant my spear
Beneath thy breast, in thy fair body, Oscar I"
"A vow! a vow!" cried Oscar, in his wrath;
" I make a vow that I will plant my spear.
Ere that shall happen, in thy forehead, Cairbar."
Cold fear and rage, by turns, the warriors shook,
When these fierce words they heard between the chiefs.
When Cairbar's lowering brow they saw, and mark'd
How rose the wrath of Oscar. 'T was then a bard.
With softest touch upon the harp, wail'd forth
The sounds that prelude a great hero's death.