Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

42 OSSIAN
bounding of my steeds ! That my soul may be strong
in my friends, when battle darkens round the beams of
my steel I "
As rushes a stream of foam from the dark shady
deep of Cromla ; when the thunder is travelling above,
and dark-brown night sits on half the hill. Through
the breaches of the tempest look forth the dim faces of
ghosts. So fierce, so vast, so terrible rushed on the
sons of Erin. The chief, like a whale of ocean, whom
all his billows pursue, poured valour forth as a stream,
rolling his might along the shore. The sons of Lochlin
heard the noise, as the sound of a winter-storm. Swaran
struck his bossy shield : he called the son of Arno.
"What murmur rolls along the hill, like the gathered
flies of the eve ? The sons of Erin descend, or rustling
vnnds roar in the distant wood ! Such is the noise of
Gormal, before the white tops of my waves arise. O
Son of Arno, ascend the hill ; view tìie dark face of the
heath 1 "
He went. He, trembling, svdft returned. His eyes
rolled wildly round. His heart beat high against his
side. His words were faltering, broken, slow. "Arise,
son of ocean, arise, chief of the dark-brown shields 1
I see the dark, the mountain-stream of battle ! The
deep-moving strength of the sons of Erin ! The car,
the car of war comes on, like the flame of death !
the rapid car of Cuthullin, the noble son of Semol It
bends behind like a wave near a rock ; like the sun-
streaked mist of the heath. Its sides are embossed with
stones, and sparkle like the sea round the boat of night.
Of polished yew is its beam ; its seat of the smoothest
bone. The sides are replenished with spears ; the bottom
is the footstool of heroes ! Before the right side of the
car is seen the snorting horse ! the high-maned, broad-
breasted, proud, wide-leaping, strong steed of the hill.
Loud and resounding is his hoof ; the spreading of his
mane above is like a stream of spray on a ridge of