Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

374 THE POEMS OF OSSIAN.
along the heaving sea : so gathers Erin around the
gleaming form of Cathmor. He, tall in the midst
careless lifts, at times, his spear: as swells or fall'
the sound of Fonar's distant harp. Near him leaned,
against a rock, Sul-malla of blue eyes, the white
bosomed daughter of Conmor, king of Inis-huna. To
his aid came hlue-shielded Cathmor, and rolled his
foes away. Sul-malla beheld him stately in the hall
of feasts. Nor careless rolled the eyes of Cathmor on
the long-haired maid !
The third day arose, when Fithil came, from Erin
of the streams. He told of the lifting up of the shield
in Selma: he told of the danger of Cairbar. Cath-
mor raised the sail at Cluba : but the winds were in
other lands. Three days he remained on the coast,
and turned his eyes on Conmor's halls. He remem-
bered the daughter of strangers, and his sigh arose.
Now when the winds awaked the ware : from the
hill came a youth in arms ; to lift the sword with
Cathmor, in his echoing fields. It was the white-arm-
ed Sul-malla. Secret she dwelt beneath her helmet.
Her steps were in the path of the king : on him her
blue eyes rolled with joy, when he lay by his rolling
streams! But Cathmor thought, that, on Luraon,she
still pursued the roes. He thought, that fair on a
rock, she stretched her white hand to the wind ; to
feel its course from Erin, the green dwelling of her
love. He had promised to return, with his white-
bosomed sails. The maid is near thee, O Cathmor !
leaning on her rock.
Tlie tall forms of the chiefs stand around ; all but
dark-browed Foldath. He leaned against a distant
tree, rolled into his haughty soul. His bushy hair
•whistles in wind. At times, bursts the hum of a song.
He struck the tree, at length, in wrath ; and rushed
before the king! Calm and stately, to the beam of the
oak, arose the form of young Hidalla. His hair falls
round his blusliing cheek, in wreaths of waving light.
Soft was his voice in Clonra, in the valley of his
fathers. Soft was his voice when he touched the harpj
in the hall near his roaring streams !
* King of Erin/ said Hidalla, ' now is the time to