Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

TEMORA 233
His shield was dim on his side. It was the son of
Semo. I knew the warrior's face. But he passed
away in his blast ; and all was dark around. My soul
was sad. I went to the hall of shells. A thousand
lights arose. The hundred bards had strung the harp.
Cormac stood in the midst, like the morning-star when
it rejoices on the eastern hill, and its young beams are
bathed in showers. Bright and silent is its progress
aloft, but the cloud, that shall hide it, is near. The
sword of Artho * was in the hand of the king. He
looked with joy on its polished studs : thrice he
attempted to draw it, and thrice he failed ; his yellow
locks are spread on his shoulders ; his cheeks of youth
are red. I mourned over the beam of youth, for he was
soon to set ! "
"Althan!" he said with a smile, "didst thou behold
my father ? Heavy is the sword of the king ; surely his
arm was strong. O that I were like him in battle,
when the rage of his wrath arose ! then would
I have met with Cuthullin, the car-borne son of Cantela I
But years may come on, O Althan ! and my arm be
strong. Hast thou heard of Semo's son, the ruler of
high Temora ? He might have returned with his fame.
He promised to return to-night. My bards wait him with
songs. My feast is spread in the halls of kings."
I heard Cormac in silence. My tears began to flow.
I hid them with my aged locks. The king perceived
my grief. "Son of Conachar!" he said, "is the son of
Semo t low ? Why bursts the sigh in secret ? Why
descends the tear ? Comes the car-borne Torlath ?
Comes the sound of red-haired Cairbar ? They come !
* Arth, or Artho, the father of Cormac, king of Ireland.
M. — Of the usurping race. C.
t Cuthullin is called the king of Tura from a castle of
that name on the coast of Ulster (Carrickfergus), where he
dwelt, before he undertook the management of the affairs of
Ireland, in the minority of Cormac. J\I. — And afterwards. C.