Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

A P O E M. 535
feas. Why doft thou bring thy thoufands
againft the chief of Etha ? Thou didft fly *
from him in battle, when his friends were
around his fpear." " Youth of the heart of
pride, fhall Erin's king fight with thee? Thy
fathers were not among the renowned, nor of
the kings of men. Are the arms of foes in
their halls ? or the fhields of other times ?
Cairbar is renowned in Temora, nor does he
fight with feeble men !"
The tear flarted from car-borne Nathos.
He turned his eyes to his brothers. Their
fpears flew at once. Three heroes lay on earth.
Then the light of their fwords gleamed on high.
The ranks of Erin yield ; as a ridge of dark
clouds before a blafi of wind ! Then Cairbar
ordered his people, and they drew a thoufand
bows. A thoufand arrows flew. The fons of
Ufnoth fell in blocd. They fell like three
young oaks, which flood alone on the hill :
the traveller faw the lovely trees, and won-
dered how they grew fo lonely : the blaft of
the defert came by night, and laid their green
heads low ; next day he returned, but they
were withered, and the heath was bare !
Dar-thula flood in fiient grief, and beheld
their fa}I ! No tear is in her eye. But her
look is wildly fad. Pale w r as her cheek. Her
trembling lips broke fhort an half-formed word.
Her dark hair flew on wind. The gloomy
Cairbar came. " Where is thy lover now ?
* Hfc alludes to the flight of Cairbar from Selarna.
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