Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

FINGAL 43
rocks. Bright are the sides of the steed ! His name is
Sulin-Sifadda ! "
" Before the left side of the car is seen the snorting
horse ! The thin-maned, high -headed, strong -hoofed,
fleet, bounding son of the hill : his name is Dufronnal,
among the stormy sons of the sword ! A thousand
thongs bind the car on high. Hard polished bits shine
in a wreath of foam. Thin thongs, bright studded with
gems, bend on the stately necks of the steeds. The
steeds that like wreaths of mist fly over the streamy
vales ! The wildness of deer is in their course, the
strength of eagles descending on their prey. Their noise
is like the blast of winter, on the sides of the snow-
headed Gormal.
' ' Within the car is seen the chief ; the strong-armed
son of the sword. The hero's name is Cuthullin, son of
Semo, king of shells. His red cheek is like my polished
yew. The look of his blue-rolling eye is wide beneath
the dark arch of his brow. His hair flies from his head
like a flame, as bending forward he wields the spear.
Fly, king of ocean, fly 1 He comes, like a storm, along
the streamy vale I "
"When did I fly?" replied the king. "When fled
Swaran from the battle of spears ? When did I shrink
from danger, chief of the little soul ? I met the storm
of Gormal, when the foam of my waves beat high. I
met the storm of the clouds ; shall Swaran fly from a
hero ? Were Fingal himself before me, my soul should
not darken with fear. Arise to battle, my thousands 1
pour round me like the echoing main. Gather round the
the bright steel of your king ; strong as the rocks of
my land; that meet the storm with joy, and stretch their
dark pines to the wind ! "
Like autumn's dark storms, pouring from two echoing
hills, towards each other approached the heroes. Like
two deep streams from high rocks meeting, mixing,
roaring on the plain ; loud, rough and dark in battle