Ossian Collection > Fingal

A P O E M. 13 i
the heroes approach. He loved the terrible joy
of his face: and his ftrength, in the locks of age.
— Shall I lift that fpear, he faid, that never flrikes,
but once, a foe ? Or Ihall I, with the words of
peace, preferve the warrior's life ? Stately are his
ileps ot age! — lovely the remnant of his years.
Perhaps it is the love of Moina ; the father of
car-borne Carthon. Often have I heard, that he
dwelt at the echoing ftream of Lora.
Such were his words, when Clefsammor came,
and lifted high his fpear. The youth received it
on his fhield, and fpoke the words of peace.
Warrior of the aged locks ! Is there no youth to lift
the fpear ? Haft tliou no fon to raife the fliield
before his father, and to meet the arm of youth ?
Is the fpoufe of thy love no more ; or weeps (he
over the tombs of thy fons ? Art thou of the kings
of men? What will be the fame of my fword if
thou fhalt fall ?
It will be great, thou fon of pride f began the
tall Clefsammor. I have been renowned rn battle ;
but I never told my name * to a foe. Yield
to me, fon of the wave, and then thou fhalt know,
that the mark of my fword is in many a field.
I NEVER yielded, king of fpears ! replied the
noble pride of Carthon : I have alfo fought in
battles ; and I behold my future fame. Defpife
me not, thou chief of men ; my arm, my fpear
is ftrong. Retire among thy friends, and let young
heroes fight.
Why
* To tell one's name to an enemy was reckoned, in
thofe days of heroifm, a manlfeil evafion of fighting him ;
for, if it was once known, that friendlliip iiibfilleJ, of
old, between, the anceftors of the combatants, the bat-
tle immediately ceafed ; and the ancient amity of their
forefathers v/as renewed. /^ man ivho tells his name lo his
eneniyy was of old an ignominious term for a cov/ard.