Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

F[INGAL 91
spear. A smile brightens his dark-brown cheek, as he
places his sword by his side. The dagger glittered in
his hand. He whistled as he went.
"Gelchossa saw the silent chief, as a wreath of mist
ascending the hill. She struck her white and heaving
breast; and silent, tearful, feared for Lamderg. "Cairbar,
hoary chief of shells," said the maid of the tender hand,
" I must bend the bow on Cromla. I see the dark-
brown hinds ! " She hasted up the hill. In vain ! the
gloomy heroes fought. Why should I tell to Selma's
king, how wrathful heroes fight? Fierce Ullin fell.
Young Lamderg came, all pale, to the daughter of
generous Tuathal 1 "What blood, my love?" she
trembling said: "what blood runs down my warrior's
side?" "It is Ullin's blood," the chief replied, "thou
fairer than the snow I Gelchossa, let me rest here a
little while." The mighty Lamderg died! "And
sleepest thou so soon on earth, O chief of shady
Selma?" Three days she mourned beside her love.
The hunters found her cold. They raised this tomb
above the three. Thy son, O king of Morven, may rest
here with heroes I "
"And here my son shall rest," said Fingal. "The
voice of their fame is in mine ears. Fillan and Fergus I
bring hither Orla; the pale youth of the stream of Lota!
Not unequalled shall Ryno lie in earth, when Orla is by
his side. Weep, ye daughters of Morven ! ye maids of
the streamy Lota, weep ! Like a tree they grew on the
hills. They have fallen like the oak of the desert ;
when it lies across a stream, and withers in the wind.
Oscar ! chief of every youth ! thou seest how they have
fallen. Be thou like them, on earth renowned. Like
them the song of bards. Terrible were their forms in
battle ; but calm was Ryno in the days of peace. He
was like the bow of the shower seen far distant on the
stream ; when the sun is setting on Mora ; when silence
dwells on the hill of deer. Rest, youngest of my sons !