Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

252 THE FCSMS OP 0^5SIAN.
my people lived before me. I rejoiced in tlic presence
of strangers, when my son shone in the hall. But,
Ossian, he is a beam that is departed. He lefl no
streak of light behind. He is fallen, son of Fingal ! in
the wars of his father. Rothmar the chief of grassy
Tromlo heard that these eyes had failed ; he heard that
my arms were fixed in the hall, and the pride of hirj
soul arose ! He came towards Croma ; my people fell
before him. I took my arms in my wrath, but what
could sightless Crothar do ? My steps were unequal ;
my grief was great. I wished for the days that were
past. Days ! wherein I Ibught ; and won in the field
of blood. My son returned from the chase : the fair-
haired Fovar-gormo. He had not lifted his sword in
battle, for his arm was young. But the soul of the
youth was great ; the fire of valor burned in his eyes.
He saw the disordered steps of his father, and his sigh
arose — " King of Croma," he said, "is it because thou
hast no son ; is it for the weakness of Fovar-gormo'a
arm that thy sighs arise ? I begin, my father, to feel
my strength ; I have drawn the sword of my youth ;
and I have bent the bow. Let me meet this Rothmar,
with the sons of Croma : let me meet him, O my father ?
I feel my burning soul !" — "And thou shall meet him,"
I f?aid, " son of the sightless Crothar ! But let others
advance before thee that I may hear the tread of thy
feet at thy return ; for my eyes behold thee not, fair-
haired Fovar-gormo !" He went ; he met the foe ; ho
fell. Rothmar advances to Croma. He who slew my
son is near, with all his pointed spears."
This is no time to fill the shell, I replied, and took
my spear ! My people saw the fire of my eyes ; they
all arose around. Through night we strode along the
heath. Gray morning rose in the east. A green nar-
row vale appeared before us ; nor wanting are its wind-
ing streams. The dark ho:3t of Rothmar are on its