Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

THE BAUDS.
Ivii
"Extol," cries the same bard, " the men of Cattreath, who with
the dawn went with their victorious leader Urien, a renowned elder,
the pillar of kings, of matchless valour, a chief of great power. The
men of Britain came in a body to Gwenystrad, to offer battle ;
neither the fields nor the woods afforded protection to their enemies
when they came in their fury like the roaring wave rushing in its
might to ^over the beach. I have seen brave men in the army, and
. after the battle, in the morning the mangled flesh. I saw the place
where the shout was given, and where three ranks of men fell, and
the crimson gore covered the ground ; in Gwenstrad [Gwenystrad,]
was seen a fiart, assailed by the laborious toil of warriors. In the
pass of the fort have I seen men dyed with red, who have hurted
their arms They jointly fell to the ground, when
they lost the day ; their hands were on the crucifix, and horror was
in the pale face of the dead warriors. 1 have seen men
and the blood entangled on their clothes, quick and furious thrust
in battle. Men bore patiently the warlike toil, and where there
was no flying when they grew outrageous. I am astonished at the
courage of Reged's chief! I have seen Urien' s brow covered with
rage, Avhen he furiously attacked the enemy by Lech Wen Galy-
sten; his anger was satisfied in dealing deadly blows amongst his
foes, and his shield in time of need was heaved up to defend him.
Euronwy, mayest thou grow desirous of conflict ! And till I grow
old, and must necessarily die, may I have no constant joy if I praise
not Urien."
This certainl}- is in a iiigher strain than the other. The
boy is now elevated into some resemblance of a hero ; but
then it is the resemblance of one of Ossian's heroes, we fear,
when after death these are seen grasping swords of air,
riding upon steeds of mist, and exhibiting their forms half
viewless to the eje of their friends.
The following interesting particulars relating to the
Welsh bards, are extracted from records of a. u. 940, —
*' the laws of King Hovvel the Good," and will convey to the