Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

io6 OITHONA:
Such were the words of Gaul, when he
came to Dunlathmon's towers. The gates
were open and dark. The winds were blufter-
ing in the hall. The trees flrowed tne
threfhold with leaves ; the murmur of night
was abroad. Sad and filent, at a rock, the fon
of Momi fat : his foul trembled for the maid ;
but he knew not whither to turn his courfe !
The fon * of Leth ftood at a diftance, and
heard the winds of his bufliy hair. But he
did not raife his voice, for he faw the forrow
of Gaul !
Sleep defcended on the chiefs. The vifions
of night arofe. Oithona ftood, in a dream #
before the eyes of Morni's fon. Her hair was
loofe and difordered : her lovely eye rolled
deep in tears. Blood flamed her fnowy arm.
The robe half hid the wound of her breaft.
She ftood over the chief, and her voice was
feebly heard. " Sleeps the fon of Morni, he
that w r as lovely in the eyes of Oithona ? Sleeps
Gaul at the diftant rock, and the daughter of
Nuath low ? The fea rolls round the dark ifle
of Tromathon. I fit in my tears in the cave !
Nor do I fit alone, O Gaul ! the dark chief of
Cuthal is there. He is there in the rage of
his love. What can Oithona do ?"
A rougher blaft ruined through the oak.
The dream of night dep^rt^d, Gaul took his
afpen fpear. He ftood in the rage of his foul.
* Morlo, the fon of Leth, is one of Fingal's mod fa-
mous heroes. He and three other men attended Gaul on
his expedition to Tromathon.
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