Ossian Collection > Poetical works of James Macpherson, Esq

34 THE HIGHLANDiiR.
Extended here the brawny footman lay,
And dofing wore the lazy night away :
The watchman there, by fleep's foft hand o*er->
pow'r'd,
Starts at the blaft, and half-unfheaths his fword.
Th' exploring youth, thro' night's involving cloud.
Circling the foe, their difpofition view'd.
At length the hero's dufky journey ends.
Where Haco feafted with his Danifh friends.
Haco, by more than Sueno's blood was great,
The promis'd monarch of the triple (late.
The Scandinavian camp the youth fecur'd
With watchful troops, and not unfaithful fword.
Two oaks, from earth by headlong tempefts torn.
Supply the fire, and in the circle burn :
Around with focial talk the feaft they (hare,
And drown in bowls the Caledonian war.
O'erpowr'd at length by flumber's filken hand.
They prefs the beach, and cow'r upon the ftrand.
A gallant deed the mountain-youth defign'd,
And nurs'd a growing aftion in his rrtind.
Awful the chief advanc'd : his armour bright
Refleds the fire, and fhines along the night.