Ossian Collection > Fingal

122 C A R T H O N:
Returns the chief, faid Clers^mmor, in the
mldft of his fame ? Such was the renown of Com-
hal in the battles of his youth. Often did we
pafs over Carun to the land of the ftrangers :
our fvvords returned, not unftained with blood.:
nor did the kings of the world rejoice.- — Why do
I remember the battles of my youth ? My hair
is mixed with gray. My hand forgets to bend
the bow : and I lift a lighter fpear. O that my
joy would return, as when I firfl: beheld the maid,
the white bofomed daughter of Grangers, Moina *
with the dark-blue eyes !
Tell, faid the mighty Fingal, the tale of thy
youthful days. Sorrow, like a cloud on the fun,
ihades the foul of Clefsammor. Mournful are
thy thoughts, alone, on the banks of the roaring
Lora.
7iie wanton courfer thus with reins unbound.
Breaks from his ftall, and beats the trembling ground ;
His head, now freed, he tolles to the fkies ;
His mane difhevell'do'er his fhoulders flies ;
He fnuffs the females in the diftant plain,
And fprings, exulting.
^ualis itbi abrupt is fugit praefepia 'vinclis
Tandem liber equus, compoque potitus apertOf /
• — llle in paflus armentaque tendit equarum :
are-Slifque /remit cernjicibus alte.
Luxurians, luduntque Iub(£ per colla^ per armos. ViRG-
Freed from his keepers, thus with broken reins,
The wanton courfer prances o'er the plains :
Or in the pride of youth o'erleaps the mounds,
And fnufts the females in forbidden grounds
Over his Ihoulders flows his waving mane :
He neighs, he ix.orts, he bears his head on high.
Dry DEN.
* Moina, [oft in temper and perfon. We find the
Britiih names in this poem derived from the Galic, which
is a proof that the ancient language of the whole ifland
was one and the fame.