Ossian Collection > Fingal

A P O E M. 97
the red lightning flies around ; and the trees fhake
their heads to the wind. He looks back with joy,
on the day of the fun ; and the pleafant dreams of
his reft !
When fhall OiHan's youth return, or his ear
dehght in the found of arms? When fhall I, like
Ofcar, travel * in the light of my flecl ? — Come,
with your flreams, ye hills of Cona, and liflen to
the voice of Oflian ! The fong rifes, like the fun,
in my foul ; and my heart feels the joys of other
times.
I BX^HOLD thy towers, O Selma ! and the oaks
of thy fhaded wall: — thy ftreams found in my ear ;
thy heroes gather round. Fingal fits in the midft;
and leans on tlie fliield of Trenmor : — his fpear
ftands againft the wall ; he lillens to the fong of his
bards. — The deeds of his arm are heard ; and the
actions of the king in his youth.
Oscar had returned from the chafe, and heard
the hero's praife. — He took the fhield of Branno f
from the wall; his eyes were filled with tears. Red
was the cheek of youth. His voice was trembling
low. My fpear fhook its bright head in his hand :
he fpoke to Morven's king.
Fingal! thou king of heroes! Oilian, next
to him in war ! ye have fought the battle in vour
youth ; your names are renowned in the fong.
Ofcar is like the mi fl of Cona; I appear and va-
nifh. — The bard will not know my name. — The
hunter will not fearch in the heath for my tom.b
F Let
* Travelling in the greatnefs of his (Irength.
Isaiah Ixiii. i.
t This is Branno, the father ofEverallin, and grand-
father to Ofcar; he was of Iridi extraflion and lord of
the country round the lake of Lego. — His great anions
are handed down by tradition, and his holpitaiity has
paffed into a proverb.