Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

114 OSSIAN
echoed wide. The sons of UUin* came. The battle
spread over Lego, t The chief of Erin overcame. He
returned over the field with his fame. But pale he re-
turned ! The joy of his face was dark. He rolled his
eyes in silence. The sword hung, unsheathed, in his
hand. His spear bent at every step.
"Carril," said the chief in secret, "the strength of
Cuthullin fails. My days are with the years that are
past. No morning of mine shall arise. They shall seek
me at Temora, but I shall not be found. Cormac will
weep in his hall, and say, "Where is Erin's chief?"
But my name is renowned I my fame in the song of
bards. The youth will say in secret, " O let me die as
Cuthullin died 1 Renown clothed him like a robe. The
light of his fame is great." Draw the arrow from my
side. Lay Cuthullin beneath that oak. Place the shield
of Càthba near, that they may behold me amidst the
the arms of my fathers ! "
"And is the son of Semo fallen?" said Carril with a
sigh. " Mournful are Tura's walls. Sorrow dwells at
Dunscaith. Thy spouse is left alone in her youth. The
son t of thy love is alone ! He shall come to Bragela,
and ask her why she weeps ? He shall lift his eyes to
the wall, and see his father's sword. " Whose sword is
that ? " he will say. The soul of his mother is sad.
Who is that, like the hart of the desert, in the murmur
of his course ? His eyes looked wildly round in search of
his friend. Connal, son of Colgar, where hast thou been,
when the mighty fell ? Did the seas of Togorma roll
around thee ? Was the wind of the south in thy sails ?
* Ulster.
t The Legon is not knee deep at the place where I imagine
the battle was fought on its banks. C.
X Conloch, who was afterwards very famous for his great
exploits in Ireland. He was so remarkable for his dexterity in
handling the javelin, that when a good marksman is described,
it has passed into a proverb, in the north of Scotland, He is
tmerring as the arm of Conloch.