Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

CARRIC-THURA. 185
Fiugal heard the words of the bard ; he came in the
strength of his steel. They mixed their deathful
spears: they raised the gleam of their arms. But the
sword of Fingal descended and cut Frothal's shield in
twain. His fair side is exposed; half bent, he foresees
his death. Darkness gathered on Utha's soul. The
tear rolled down her cheek. She rushed to cover the
chief with her shield : but a fallen oak met her steps.
She fell on her arm of snow; her shield, her helmet,
flew wide. Her white bosom heaved to the sigh;
her dark-brown hair is spread on earth.
Fingal pitied the white-armed maid! he stayed the
uplifted sword. The tear was in the eye of the king,
as, bending forward, he spoke. ' King of streamy
Sora! fear not the sword of Fingal. It was never
stained with the blood of the vanquished; it never
pierced a fallen foe. Let thy people rejoice by their
native streams. Let the maid of thy love be glad.
Why shouldest thou fall in thy youth, king of streamy
Sora: Frothal heard the words of Fingal, and saw
the rising maid: they* stood in silence, in their
beauty, like two young trees of the plain, when the
shoAver of spring is on their leaves, and the loud winds
are laid.
Daughter of Herman, said Frothal, didst thou come
from Tora's streams? didst thou come in thy beauty
to behold thy warrior low? But he was low before
the mighty, maid of the slow-rolling eye! The feeble
did not overcome the son of car-borne Annir! Terri-
ble art thou, O king of Morven! in battles of the
spear. But, in peace, thou art like the sun, when he
looks through a silent shower: the flowers lift their
fair heads before him; the gales shake their rusthng
wings. O that thou wert in Sora! that my feast
were spread! The future kings of Sora would see thy
arms and rejoice. They would rejoice at the fame of
their fathers, who beheld the mighty Fingal!
Son of Annir, replied the king, the fame of Sora's
race shall be heard! When chiefs are strong in war,
then does the song arise! But if their swords are
stretched over the feeble ; if the blood of the weak
* Frothal and Utha.