Ossian Collection > Report of the Committee of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian

OF PASSAGED, gj|
Close and arduous was that contest,
While shields were cleft, and swords were shivered,
Frequent darted the streaks of red fire
From the keen edge of tempered arms,
As they struck on erect helmets.
Wide and deep were the wounds of spears,
Blood showered upon the ground,
And raised its vapour warm in air.
So did the battle roll its force
As the troubled ocean pours its waves.
As the noise of thunder over the rock of Ullan before at
Such was heard the din of warriors. [whirlwind.
Many a mighty chief was laid low.
Many a blooming youth was made pale.
Many were the white breasts of heroes,
Which poured out their blood on the heath,
* * *
As a thousand waves which roar
In the wrath of the storm, against the face of a rock ;
So rolled the host of Erin to the shore,
To meet the sons of the race of strangers.
As a ledge of rocks on the wintry beach,
When the surf impetuous bursts towards it,
So did the heroes of these wait unshaken, [shore,
To repell the force of those, as they were bending to the
ocean, when roll the waves on high. As the last peal of
thunder iu heaven, such is the din of war ! Though
Cormac's hundred bards were there, to give the fight to
song ; feeble was the voice of a hundred bards to send the
deaths to future times! For many were the deaths of he-.
roes ; wide poured the blood of the brave ! lb. p, 233.
* * *
As roll a thousand waves to the rocks, so Swaran's hos>
came on, As meets a rock a thousand waves, so Erin me,
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