Ossian Collection > Poetical works of James Macpherson, Esq

THE HIGHLANDER. 25
Hov'ring he flood above the fleepiiig band.
And flione, an awful column, o'er the ftrand.
Thus, often to the midnight traveller,
The {talking figures of the dead appear :
Silent the fpc£lre towers before the fight,
And fhines, an awful image, thro' the night.
At length the giant phantom hovers o'er
Some grave unhallow'd, ftainM with murder'd
gore.
Thus Alpin ftood : He exiles to the dead
Six warrior-youths ; the trembling remnant fled :
Young Haco ftarts, unftieaths his fhining fword.
And views his friends in Iron-chains fecur'd.
He ruihes headlong on the daring foe ;
The godlike Alpin renders blow for blow.
Their clatt'ring fwords on either armour fell ;
Fire flafhes round, as fteel contends with ftcel.
Young Alpines fword on Haco's helmet broke,
And to the ground the ftagg'ring warrior took.
Leaning on his broad (hield the hero bends ;
Alpin aloft in air his fword fufpends :
His arm up-rais'd, he downward bends his brow,
But fcorn'd to take advantage of the foe.
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