Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

THE DEATH OF CUCHUELIX. 191
A winged arrow came and stopp'd thy breath.
Sudden, as from a blast, the sting of death ;
Nor did the feeble hand which sent the dart,
Know that it reach'd the brave CuchuUin's heart.
Chief of the Isle of Misc ! thou once wast brave,
Now peaceful be thj sleep within thy cave !
The mighty have forsook Temora's wall.
They have dispersed from young Cormac's hall.
Guardless and naked now he finds his throne ;
The blooming king sits mournful and alone ;
No more he hears thy far-resounding shield,
No more he meets thee joyful from the field ;
His foes in number gather from afar ; —
Soft be thy rest, thou chief of Erin's war !
The fair Bragela finds thee not at home.
Nor hopes to see thy sails in ocean's foam-
Now, sad and cheerless, thee she does deplore ;
No more her steps are on the sounding shore ;
No more thy rower's songs from far she'll hear,
Nor will thy shouting heroes glad her ear :
No more she'll listen to thy hunter's horn.
Rousing dull echo with the rising morn.
AVithin thy hall she sits in clouded charms,
Feasting her eyes upon thy shining arms ;
The voice of mirth no longer there is found,
Ceas'dis the shell, and music's soothing sound!
Why dost thou fill the hall with piercing cries ?
Thy love, Bragela, never more can rise !
O Cromla's chief, blest be thy soul in death I
Thy praises will I sing with latest breath."