Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

LATHMON 125
"Son of Fingal," Gaul replied with a sigh, "shall
I return after Ossian is low? what would my father
say, what Fingal, the king of men? The feeble would
turn their eyes and say, " Behold Gaul, who left his
friend in his blood ! " Ye shall not behold me, ye
feeble, but in the midst of my renown ! Ossian, I have
heard from my father the mighty deeds of heroes ; their
mighty deeds when alone ; for the soul increases in
danger."
"Son of Morni," I replied, and strode before him on
the heath, "our fathers shall praise our valour, when
they mourn our fall. A beam of gladness shall rise on
their souls, when their eyes are full of tears. They
will say, "Our sons have not fallen unknown: they
spread death around them." But why should we think
of the narrow house? The sword defends the brave.
But death pursues the flight of the feeble ; their renown
is never heard."
We rushed forward through night: we came to the
roar of a stream, which bent its blue course round the
foe, through trees that echoed to its sound. We came
to the bank of the stream, and saw the sleeping host.
Their fires were decayed on the plain ; the lonely steps
of their scouts were distant far. I stretched my spear
before me to support my steps over the stream. But
Gaul took my hand, and spoke the words of the brave.
"Shall the son of Fingal rush on the sleeping foe?
Shall he come like a blast by night, when it overturns
the young trees in secret? Fingal did not thus receive
his fame, nor dwells renown on the grey hairs of
Morni, for actions like these. Strike, Ossian, strike
the shield, and let their thousands rise I Let them meet
Gaul in his first battle, that he may try the strength of
his arm."
My soul rejoiced over the warrior : my bursting
tears came down. "And the foe shall meet thee,
Gaul!" I said: "the fame of Morni's son shall arise.