Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

112 OSSIAN
covered with the blood of foes,* sister of car-borne Cal-
mar ! His spear never returned unstained with blood :
nor his bow from the strife of the mighty. The battle
is consumed in his presence: he is a flame of death,
Alona! Youth t of the mournful speed! where is the son
of Alcletha? Does he return with his fame, in the
midst of his echoing shields? Thou art dark and silent!
Calmar is then no more ! Tell me not, warrior, how he
fell. I must not hear of his wound ! Why dost thou
look towards the desert, mother of low-laid Calmar ? "
Such was the song of Carril, when Cuthullin lay on
his shield. The bards rested on their harps. Sleep fell
softly around. The son of Semo was awake alone.
His soul was fixed on war. The burning oaks began
to decay. Faint red light is spread around. A feeble
voice is heard. The ghost of Calmar came! He stalked
dimly along the beam. Dark is the wound in his side.
His hair is disordered and loose. Joy sits pale on his
face. He seems to invite Cuthullin to his cave.
"Son of the cloudy night!" said the rising chief of
Erin. "Why dost thou bend thy dark eyes on me,
ghost of the noble Calmar ? Wouldst thou frighten me,
O Matha's son! from the battles of Cormac? Thy hand
was not feeble in war : neither was thy voice for peace.
How art thou changed, chief of Lara ! if thou now dost
advise to fly ! But, Calmar, I never fled. I never
feared the ghosts of night. Small is their knowledge,
weak their hands ; their dwelling is in the wind. But
my soul grows in danger, and rejoices in the noise of
steel. Retire thou to thy cave. Thou art not Calmar's
ghost. He delighted in battle. His arm was like the
thunder of heaven ! " He retired in his blast with joy
for he had heard the voice of his praise.
The faint beam of the morning rose. The sound of
* Alcletha speaks.
t She addresses herself to Larnir, Calmar's friend, who had
returned with the news of his death.