Ossian Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

A P O E M. 213
of the fky ! Manv have rejoiced at my (cai\ ; but they all have for-
got Mal-orchol. I have looked towards all the winds -, but no
white f\ils were feen. — But fteel * rcfounds in my hall ; and not
the joyful fliells. — Come to my dwelling, race of heroes -, dark-
fkirted night is near. Hear the voice of fongs, from the maid of
Fuiirfed wild.
We went. On the harp arofe the white hands of Oina-niorul.
She waked her own fad tale, from every trembling ftring. I flood
in filence ; for bright in her locks was the daughter of many illes.
Her eyes were like two ftars, looking forward thro' a ruihing fliower.
The mariner marks them on high, and bleffes the lovely beams. —
With morning we ruflied to battle, to Tormul's refounding flream :
the foe moved to the found of Ton-thormod's bofTy fliield. From
wing to wing the flrife was mixed. I met the chief of Sar-dronlo.
Wide flew his broken fteel. I feized the king in fi^ht. I q;ave his
hand, bound faft with thongs, to Mal-orchol, the giver of fliells.
Joy rofe at the feafl of Fuarfed, for the foe had failed. Ton-
thormod turned his face away, from Oina-morul of ifles.
* There is a fevere fatire couched in this a great appearance at a diftance, but it is
expreffion, againfl: the guefts of Mal-orchol. but an empty vapour itfelf, and varying its
Had his feaft been ftill fpread, had joy con- form at every breeze. When the trunk,
tinued in his hall, his former parafites which fed the fire, is confumed, the fmokc
would not have failed to refort to him. But departs on all the winds. So the flatterers
as the time of feftivity was paft, their at- forfake their chief, when his power de-
tendance alfo ceafed. The fentiments of a dines." I have chofen togive a paraphrafe,
certain old bard are agreeable to this obfer- rather than a tranllation, of this pa/Tag?,
vation. He, poetically, compares a great as the original is verbofe and frothy, not-
man to a fire kindled in a defart place, wilhftanding of the fentimental merit of the
" Thofe that pay court to him, fays he, author. — He was one of the lefs antient
are rolling large around him, like the fmoke bards, and their compofiiions are not iier-
:<bout the fire. This fmoke gives the fire vous enough to bear a literal tranflation.