Ossian Collection > Aspects of poetry

276 THE POETRY OF THE [iX.
Shining his coat, and swift
His pace — Si-fadda his name.
On the other side of the car
Is an arch-necked snorting horse :
Thin-maned, free-striding, deep-hoofed.
Swift-footed, wide-nostrelled son of the mountain,
Du-sron-gel the name of the gallant steed.
Full a thousand slender thongs
Fasten the chariot on high ;
The hard bright bit of the bridle
In their jaws is covered white with foam.
Shining stones of power
Wave aloft with the horses' manes-
Horses like mist on the mountain side.
Which onward bear the chief to his fame.
Keener their temper than the deer,
Strong as the eagle their strength,
Their noise is like winter fierce
On Gormal smothered in snow.
In the chariot is seen the chief,
True, brave son of the keen-cutting brand,
Cuchullin of blue-dappled shields.
Son of Semo, renowned in song.
His cheek like the polished yew ;
Clear, far-ranging his eye.
Under arched, dark, and slender brow ;
His yellow hair, down-streaming from his head,
Falls round the glorious face of the man,
As he draws his spear from his back.'
Then addressing Swaran, the scout exclaims —
' Flee thou great ruler of ships,
Flee from the hero who comes right on,
As a storm from the glen of torrents.'