Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

FINGAL 67
renown. Mourn me with the dead, O Bragela!
departed is my fame." Such were the words of
Cuthullin, when he sunk in the woods of Cromla 1
Fingal, tall in his ship, stretched his bright lance
before him. Terrible was the gleam of the steel : it
was like the green meteor of death, setting in the heath
of Maimer, when the traveller is alone, and the broad
moon is darkened in heaven.
"The battle is past," said the king. "I behold the
blood of my friends. Sad is the heath of Lena ! mourn-
ful the oaks of Cromla 1 * The hunters have fallen in
their strength : the son of Semo is no more. Ryno
and Fillan, my sons, sound the horn of Fingal. Ascend
that hill on the shore ; call the children of the foe.
Call them from the grave of Lamdarg, the chief of
other times. Be your voice like that of your father,
when he enters the battles of his strength. I wait for
the dark mighty man ; I wait on Lena's shore for
Swaran. Let him come with all his race ; strong in
battle are the friends of the dead I "
Fair Ryno as lightning gleamed along. Dark Fillan
rushed like the shade of autumn. On Lena's heath their
voice is heard. The sons of ocean heard the horn of
Fingal. As the roaring eddy of ocean returning from
the kingdom of snows ; so strong, so dark, so sudden
came down the sons of Lochlin. The king in their
front appears, in the dismal pride of his arms ! Wrath
bums on his dark-brown face : his eyes roll in the fire
of his valour. Fingal beheld the son of Starno : he
remembered Agandecca. For Swaran with the tears of
youth had mourned his white-bosomed sister. He sent
Ullin of songs to bid him to the feast of shells ; for
* This is beautifully descriptive of the scene. — Fingal, from
the bow of his vessel, was at once enabled to judge of the state
of affairs — a very convincing proof of the proximity of Cromla
and Lena to the shore of Tura's — Carrickfergus — bay. C.