LATHMON
:
A
POEM
Lathmon
a
British
prince
,
taking
ad
vantage
of
Fingal's
absence
in
Ireland
,
made
a
descent
on
Morven
,
and
advanced
within
sight
of
Selma
the
royal
palace
.
Fingal
arrived
in
the
mean
time
,
and
Lath
mon
retreated
to
a
hill
,
where
his
army
was
surprized
by
night
,
and
himself
taken
prisoner
by
Ossian
and
Gaul
the
son
of
Morni
.
This
exploit
of
Gaul
and
Ossian
bears
a
near
resemblance
to
the
beautiful
episode
of
Nisus
and
Euryalus
in
Virgil's
ninth
Aeneid
.
The
poem
opens
,
with
the
first
appearance
of
Fingal
on
the
coast
of
Morven
,
and
ends
,
it
may
be
supposed
,
about
noon
the
next
day
.
The
first
para
graph
is
in
a
lyric
measure
,
and
appears
to
have
been
sung
,
of
old
,
to
the
harp
,
as
a
prelude
to
the
narrative
part
of
the
poem
,
which
is
in
heroic
verse
.
.
SELMA
,
thy
halls
are
silent
.
There
is
no
sound
in
the
woods
of
Morven
.
The
wave
tumbles
alone
on
the
coast
.
The
si
lent
beam
of
the
sun
is
on
the
field
.
The
daughters
of
Morven
come
forth
,
like
the
bow
of
the
shower
;
they
look
towards
green
Ullin
for
the
white
sails
of
the
king
.
He
had
promised
to
return
,
but
the
winds
of
the
north
arose
.
WHO
pours
from
the
eastern
hill
,
like
a
stream
of
darkness
?
It
is
the
host
of
Lathmon
.
He
has
heard
of
the
absence
of
Fingal
.
He
trusts
in
the
wind
of
the
north
.
His
soul
brightens
with
joy
.
Why
dost
thou
come
,
Lathmon
?
The
mighty
are
not
in
Selma
.
Why
comest
thou
with
thy
forward
spear
?
Will
the
daughters
of
Morven
fight
?
But
stop
,
O
mighty
stream
,
in
thy
course
!
Does
not
Lathmon
behold
these
sails
?
Why
dost
thou
vanish
,
Lathmon
,
like
the
mist
of
the
lake
?
But
the
squally
storm
is
behind
thee
;
Fingal
pursues
thy
steps
!
THE
king
of
Morven
started
from
sleep
,
as
we
rolled
on
the
dark-blue
wave
.
He
stretched
his
hand
to
his
spear
,
and
his
heroes
rose
around
.
We
knew
that
he
had
seen
his
fathers
,
for
they
often
de
scended
to
his
dreams
,
when
the
sword
of
the
foe
rose
over
the
land
;
and
the
battle
darkened
before
us
.
WHITHER
hast
thou
fled
,
O
wind
,
said
the
king
of
Morven
?
Dost
thou
rustle
in
the
chambers
of
the
south
,
and
pursue
the
shower
in
other
lands
?
Why
dost
thou
not
come
to
my
sails
?
to
the
blue
face
of
my
seas
?
The
foe
is
in
the
land
of
Morven
,
and
the
king
is
absent
.
But
let
each
bind
on
his
mail
,
and
each
assume
his
shield
.
Stretch
every
spear
over
the
wave
;
let
every
sword
be
un
sheathed
.
Lathmon
It
is
said
,
by
tradition
,
that
it
was
the
intelligence
of
Lathmon's
invasion
,
that
occasioned
Fingal's
return
from
Ireland
;
though
Ossion
,
more
poetically
,
ascribes
the
cause
of
Fingal's
knowledge
to
his
dream
.
is
before
us
with
his
host
:
he
that
fled
He
alludes
to
a
battle
wherein
Fingal
had
defeated
Lathmon
.
The
occasion
of
this
first
war
,
between
those
heroes
,
is
told
by
Ossian
in
another
poem
,
which
the
translator
has
seen
.
from
Fingal
on
the
plains
of
Lona
.
But
he
returns
,
like
a
collected
stream
,
and
his
roar
is
between
our
hills
.
SUCH
were
the
words
of
Fingal
.
We
rushed
into
Carmona's
bay
.
Ossian
ascended
the
hill
;
and
thrice
struck
his
bossy
shield
.
The
rock
of
Morven
replied
;
and
the
bounding
roes
came
forth
.
The
foes
were
troubled
in
my
presence
:
and
collected
their
darken
ed
host
;
for
I
stood
,
like
a
cloud
on
the
hill
,
rejoicing
in
the
arma
of
my
youth
.
MORNI
Morni
was
chief
of
a
numerous
tribe
,
in
the
days
of
Fingal
and
his
father
Com
hal
.
The
last
mentioned
hero
was
killed
in
battle
against
Morni's
tribe
;
but
the
valour
and
conduct
of
Fingal
reduced
them
,
at
last
,
to
obedience
.
We
find
the
two
heroes
perfectly
reconciled
in
this
poem
.
sat
beneath
a
tree
,
at
the
roaring
waters
of
Strumon
Stru'-moné
,
stream
of
the
hill
.
Here
the
proper
name
of
rivulet
in
the
neigh
bourhood
of
Selma
.
:
his
locks
of
age
are
gray
:
he
leans
forward
on
his
staff
;
young
Gaul
is
near
the
hero
,
hearing
the
battles
of
his
youth
.
Often
did
he
rise
,
in
the
fire
of
his
soul
,
at
the
mighty
deeds
of
Morni
.
THE
aged
heard
the
sound
of
Ossian's
shield
:
he
knew
the
sign
of
battle
.
He
started
at
once
from
his
place
.
His
gray
hair
part
ed
on
his
back
.
He
remembers
the
actions
of
other
years
.
My
son
,
he
said
to
fair
haired
Gaul
,
I
hear
the
sound
of
battle
.
The
king
of
Morven
is
returned
,
the
sign
of
war
is
heard
.
Go
to
the
halls
of
Strumon
,
and
bring
his
arms
to
Morni
.
Bring
the
arms
which
my
father
wore
in
his
age
,
for
my
arm
begins
to
fail
.
Take
thou
thy
armour
,
O
Gaul
;
and
rush
to
the
first
of
thy
battles
.
Let
thine
arm
reach
to
the
renown
of
thy
fathers
.
Be
thy
course
in
the
field
,
like
the
eagle's
wing
.
Why
shouldst
thou
fear
death
,
my
son
!
the
valiant
fall
with
fame
;
their
shields
turn
the
dark
stream
of
danger
away
,
and
renown
dwells
on
their
gray
hairs
.
Dost
thou
not
see
,
O
Gaul
,
how
the
steps
of
my
age
are
honoured
?
Morni
moves
forth
,
and
the
young
meet
him
,
with
reverence
,
and
turn
their
eyes
,
with
silent
joy
,
on
his
course
.
But
I
never
fled
from
danger
,
my
son
!
my
sword
lightened
through
the
darkness
of
battle
.
The
stranger
melted
before
me
;
the
mighty
were
blasted
in
my
presence
.
GAUL
brought
the
arms
to
Morni
:
the
aged
warrior
covered
him
self
with
steel
.
He
took
the
spear
in
his
hand
,
which
was
often
stained
with
the
blood
of
the
valiant
.
He
came
towards
Fingal
,
his
son
attended
his
steps
.
The
son
of
Comhal
rejoiced
over
the
warrior
,
when
he
came
in
the
locks
of
his
age
.
KING
of
the
roaring
Strumon
!
said
the
rising
joy
of
Fingal
;
do
I
behold
thee
in
arms
,
after
thy
strength
has
failed
?
Often
has
Morni
shone
in
battles
,
like
the
beam
of
the
rising
sun
;
when
he
disperses
the
storms
of
the
hill
,
and
brings
peace
to
the
glittering
fields
.
But
why
didst
thou
not
rest
in
thine
age
?
Thy
renown
is
in
the
song
.
The
people
behold
thee
,
and
bless
the
departure
of
mighty
Morni
.
Why
didst
thou
not
rest
in
thine
age
?
For
the
foe
will
vanish
before
Fingal
.
SON
of
Comhal
,
replied
the
chief
,
the
strength
of
Morni's
arm
has
failed
.
I
attempt
to
draw
the
sword
of
my
youth
,
but
it
re
mains
in
its
place
.
I
throw
the
spear
,
but
it
falls
short
of
the
mark
;
and
I
feel
the
weight
of
my
shield
.
We
decay
,
like
the
grass
of
the
mountain
,
and
our
strength
returns
no
more
.
I
have
a
son
,
O
Fingal
,
his
soul
has
delighted
in
the
actions
of
Morni's
youth
;
but
his
sword
has
not
been
lifted
against
the
foe
,
neither
has
his
fame
begun
.
I
come
with
him
to
battle
;
to
direct
his
arm
.
His
re
nown
will
be
a
sun
to
my
soul
,
in
the
dark
hour
of
my
departure
.
O
that
the
name
of
Morni
were
forgot
among
the
people
!
that
the
heroes
would
only
say
,
"
Behold
the
father
of
Gaul
!
"
KING
of
Strumon
,
Fingal
replied
,
Gaul
shall
lift
the
sword
in
battle
.
But
he
shall
lift
it
before
Fingal
;
my
arm
shall
defend
his
youth
.
But
rest
thou
in
the
halls
of
Selma
;
and
hear
of
our
renown
.
Bid
the
harp
be
strung
;
and
the
voice
of
the
bard
arise
,
that
those
who
fall
may
rejoice
in
their
fame
;
and
the
soul
of
Morni
brighten
with
gladness
.
—
Ossian
!
thou
hast
sought
in
battles
:
the
blood
of
strangers
is
on
thy
spear
:
let
thy
course
be
with
Gaul
in
the
strife
;
but
depart
not
from
the
side
of
Fingal
;
lest
the
foe
find
you
alone
,
and
your
fame
fail
at
once
.
I
SAW
Ossian
speaks
.
The
contrast
between
the
old
and
young
heroes
is
strongly
mark
ed.
The
circumstance
of
the
latter's
draw
ing
their
swords
is
well
imagined
,
and
agrees
with
the
impatience
of
young
sol
diers
,
just
entered
upon
action
.
Gaul
in
his
arms
,
and
my
soul
was
mixed
with
his
:
for
the
fire
of
the
battle
was
in
his
eyes
!
he
looked
to
the
soe
with
joy
.
We
spoke
the
words
of
friendship
in
secret
;
and
the
lightning
of
our
swords
poured
together
;
for
we
drew
them
behind
the
wood
,
and
tried
the
strength
of
our
arms
on
the
empty
air
.
NIGHT
came
down
on
Morven
.
Fingal
sat
at
the
beam
of
the
oak
.
Morni
sat
by
his
side
with
all
his
gray
waving
locks
.
Their
discourse
is
of
other
times
,
and
the
actions
of
their
fathers
.
Three
bards
,
at
times
,
touched
the
harp
;
and
Ullin
was
near
with
his
song
.
He
sung
of
the
mighty
Comhal
;
but
darkness
gathered
Ullin
had
chosen
ill
the
subject
of
his
song
.
The
darkness
which
gathered
on
Mor
ni's
brow
,
did
not
proceed
from
any
dislike
he
had
to
Comhal's
name
,
though
they
were
foes
,
but
from
his
fear
that
the
song
would
awaken
Fingal
to
remembrance
of
the
feuds
which
had
subsisted
of
old
be
tween
the
families
.
Fingal's
speech
on
this
occasion
abounds
with
generosity
and
good
sense
.
on
Morni's
brow
.
He
rolled
his
red
eye
on
Ullin
;
and
the
song
of
the
bard
ceased
.
Fingal
observed
the
aged
hero
,
and
he
mildly
spoke
.
CHIEF
of
Strumon
,
why
that
darkness
?
Let
the
days
of
other
years
be
forgot
.
Our
fathers
contended
in
battle
;
but
we
meet
to
gether
,
at
the
feast
.
Our
swords
are
turned
on
the
foes
,
and
they
melt
before
us
on
the
field
.
Let
the
days
of
our
fathers
be
forgot
,
king
of
mossy
Strumon
.
KING
of
Morven
,
replied
the
chief
,
I
remember
thy
father
with
joy
.
He
was
terrible
in
battle
;
the
rage
This
expression
is
ambiguous
in
the
original
.
It
either
signifies
that
Comhal
killed
many
in
battle
,
or
that
he
was
im
placable
in
his
resentment
.
The
transla
tor
has
endeavoured
to
preserve
the
same
ambiguity
in
the
version
;
as
it
was
pro
bably
designed
by
the
poet
.
of
the
chief
was
deadly
.
My
eyes
were
full
of
tears
,
when
the
king
of
heroes
sell
.
The
va
liant
fall
,
O
Fingal
,
and
the
feeble
remain
on
the
hills
.
How
many
heroes
have
passed
away
,
in
the
days
of
Morni
!
And
I
did
not
shun
the
battle
;
neither
did
I
fly
from
the
strife
of
the
valiant
.
Now
let
the
friends
of
Fingal
rest
;
for
the
night
is
around
;
that
they
may
rise
,
with
strength
,
to
battle
against
car-borne
Lathmon
.
I
hear
the
sound
of
his
host
,
like
thunder
heard
on
a
distant
heath
.
Ossian
!
and
fair-haired
Gaul
!
ye
are
swift
in
the
race
.
Observe
the
foes
of
Fingal
from
that
woody
hill
.
But
approach
them
not
,
your
fathers
are
not
near
to
shield
you
.
Let
not
your
fame
fall
at
once
.
The
valour
of
youth
may
fail
.
WE
heard
the
words
of
the
chief
with
joy
,
and
moved
in
the
clang
of
our
arms
.
Our
steps
are
on
the
woody
hill
.
Heaven
burns
with
all
its
stars
.
The
meteors
of
death
fly
over
the
field
.
The
distant
noise
of
the
foe
reached
our
ears
.
It
was
then
Gaul
spoke
,
in
his
valour
;
his
hand
half-unsheathed
the
sword
.
SON
of
Fingal
,
he
said
,
why
burns
the
soul
of
Gaul
?
My
heart
beats
high
.
My
steps
are
disordered
;
and
my
hand
trembles
on
my
sword
.
When
I
look
towards
the
foe
,
my
soul
lightens
before
me
,
and
I
see
their
sleeping
host
.
Tremble
thus
the
souls
of
the
valiant
in
battles
of
the
spear
?
—
How
would
the
soul
of
Morni
rise
if
we
should
rush
on
the
foe
!
Our
renown
would
grow
in
the
song
;
and
our
steps
be
stately
in
the
eyes
of
the
brave
.
SON
of
Morni
,
I
replied
,
my
soul
delights
in
battle
.
I
delight
to
shine
in
battle
alone
,
and
to
give
my
name
to
the
bards
.
But
what
if
the
foe
should
prevail
;
shall
I
behold
the
eyes
of
the
king
?
They
are
terrible
in
his
displeasure
,
and
like
the
flames
of
death
.
—
But
I
will
not
behold
them
in
his
wrath
.
Ossian
shall
prevail
or
fall
.
But
shall
the
fame
of
the
vanquished
rise
?
—
They
pass
away
like
a
shadow
.
But
the
fame
of
Ossian
shall
rise
.
His
deeds
shall
be
like
his
fathers
.
Let
us
rush
in
our
arms
;
son
of
Morni
,
let
us
rush
to
battle
.
Gaul
!
if
thou
shalt
return
,
go
to
Selma's
lofty
wall
.
Tell
to
Evirallin
Ossian
had
married
her
a
little
time
before
.
The
story
of
his
courtship
of
this
lady
is
introduced
,
as
an
episode
,
in
the
fourth
book
of
Fingal
.
that
I
fell
with
fame
;
carry
this
sword
to
Branno's
daughter
.
Let
her
give
it
to
Oscar
,
when
the
years
of
his
youth
shall
arise
.
SON
of
Fingal
,
Gaul
replied
with
a
sigh
;
will
I
return
after
Os
sian
is
low
!
—
What
would
my
father
say
,
and
Fingal
king
of
men
?
The
feeble
would
turn
their
eyes
and
say
,
"
Behold
the
mighty
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
like
the
grass
of
the
field
,
for
they
spread
death
around
them
.
"
—
But
why
should
we
think
of
the
narrow
house
?
The
sword
defends
the
va
liant
.
But
death
pursues
the
flight
of
the
feeble
;
and
their
re
nown
is
not
heard
.
WE
rushed
forward
through
night
;
and
came
to
the
roar
of
a
stream
which
bent
its
blue
course
round
the
foe
,
through
trees
that
ecchoed
to
its
noise
;
we
came
to
the
bank
of
the
stream
,
and
saw
the
sleeping
host
.
Their
fires
were
decayed
on
the
plain
;
and
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
valiant
.
SHALL
This
proposal
of
Gaul
is
much
more
noble
,
and
more
agreeable
to
true
heroism
,
than
the
behaviour
of
Ulysses
and
Dio
med
in
the
Iliad
,
or
that
of
Nisus
and
Eu
ryalus
in
the
Aeneid
.
What
his
valour
and
generosity
suggested
became
the
foun
dation
of
his
success
.
For
the
enemy
be
ing
dismayed
with
the
sound
of
Ossian's
shield
,
which
was
the
common
signal
of
battle
,
thought
that
Fingal's
whole
army
came
to
attack
them
;
so
that
they
fly
in
reality
from
an
army
,
not
from
two
he
roes
;
which
reconciles
the
story
to
pro
bability
.
the
son
of
Fingal
rush
on
a
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
gray
hairs
of
Morni
,
for
actions
like
these
.
Strike
,
Ossian
,
strike
the
shield
of
battle
,
and
let
their
thousands
rise
.
Let
them
meet
Gaul
in
his
first
battle
,
that
he
may
try
the
strength
of
his
arm
.
MY
soul
rejoiced
over
the
warrior
,
and
my
bursting
tears
de
scended
.
And
the
foe
shall
meet
Gaul
,
I
said
:
the
fame
of
Morni's
son
shall
arise
.
But
rush
not
too
far
,
my
hero
:
let
the
gleam
of
thy
steel
be
near
to
Ossian
.
Let
our
hands
join
in
slaughter
.
—
Gaul
!
dost
thou
not
behold
that
rock
?
Its
gray
side
dimly
gleams
to
the
stars
.
If
the
foe
shall
prevail
,
let
our
back
be
towards
the
rock
.
Then
shall
they
fear
to
approach
our
spears
;
for
death
is
in
our
hands
.
I
STRUCK
thrice
my
ecchoing
shield
.
The
starting
foe
arose
.
We
rushed
on
in
the
sound
of
our
arms
.
Their
crouded
steps
fly
over
the
heath
;
for
they
thought
that
the
mighty
Fingal
came
;
and
the
strength
of
their
arms
withered
away
.
The
sound
of
their
flight
was
like
that
of
flame
,
when
it
rushes
thro'
the
blasted
groves
.
IT
was
then
the
spear
of
Gaul
flew
in
its
strength
;
it
was
then
his
sword
arose
.
Cremor
fell
;
and
mighty
Leth
.
Dunthormo
struggled
in
his
blood
.
The
steel
rushed
through
Crotho's
side
,
as
bent
,
he
rose
on
his
spear
;
the
black
stream
poured
from
the
wound
,
and
hissed
on
the
half-extinguished
oak
.
Cathmin
saw
the
steps
of
the
hero
behind
him
,
and
ascended
a
blasted
tree
;
but
the
spear
pierced
him
from
behind
.
Shrieking
,
panting
,
he
fell
;
moss
and
withered
branches
pursue
his
fall
,
and
strew
the
blue
arms
of
Gaul
.
SUCH
were
thy
deeds
,
son
of
Morni
,
in
the
first
of
thy
battles
.
Nor
slept
the
sword
by
thy
side
,
thou
last
of
Fingal's
race
!
Ossian
rushed
forward
in
his
strength
,
and
the
people
fell
before
him
;
as
the
grass
by
the
staff
of
the
boy
,
when
he
whistles
along
the
field
,
and
the
gray
beard
of
the
thistle
falls
.
But
careless
the
youth
moves
on
;
his
steps
are
towards
the
desart
.
GRAY
morning
rose
around
us
,
the
winding
streams
are
bright
along
the
heath
.
The
foe
gathered
on
a
hill
;
and
the
rage
of
Lath
mon
rose
.
He
bent
the
red
eye
of
his
wrath
:
he
is
silent
in
his
rising
grief
.
He
often
struck
his
bossy
shield
;
and
his
steps
are
un
equal
on
the
heath
.
I
saw
the
distant
darkness
of
the
hero
,
and
I
spoke
to
Morni's
son
.
CAR-BORNE
Car-borne
is
a
title
of
honour
bestowed
,
by
Ossian
,
indiscriminately
on
every
hero
;
as
every
chief
,
in
his
time
,
kept
a
chariot
or
litter
by
way
of
state
.
chief
of
Strumon
,
dost
thou
behold
the
foe
?
They
gather
on
the
hill
in
their
wrath
.
Let
our
steps
be
towards
the
king
Fingal
.
.
He
shall
rise
in
his
strength
,
and
the
host
of
Lathmon
vanish
.
Our
fame
is
around
us
,
warrior
,
the
eyes
of
the
aged
Fingal
and
Morni
.
will
rejoice
.
But
let
us
fly
,
son
of
Morni
,
Lathmon
descends
the
hill
.
THEN
let
our
steps
The
behaviour
of
Gaul
,
throughout
this
poem
,
is
that
of
a
hero
in
the
most
exalted
sense
.
The
modesty
of
Ossian
,
con
cerning
his
own
actions
,
is
not
less
re
markable
than
his
impartiality
with
regard
to
Gaul
,
for
it
is
well
known
that
Gaul
afterwards
rebelled
against
Fingal
,
which
might
be
supposed
to
have
bred
prejudices
against
him
in
the
breast
of
Ossian
.
But
as
Gaul
,
from
an
enemy
,
became
Fingal's
firmest
friend
and
greatest
hero
,
the
poet
passes
over
one
slip
in
his
conduct
,
on
ac
count
of
his
many
virtues
.
be
slow
,
replied
the
fair
—
haired
Gaul
;
lest
the
foe
say
,
with
a
smile
,
"
Behold
the
warriors
of
night
,
they
are
,
like
ghosts
,
terrible
in
darkness
,
but
they
melt
away
before
the
beam
of
the
east
.
"
Ossian
,
take
the
shield
of
Gormar
who
fell
be
neath
thy
spear
,
that
the
aged
heroes
may
rejoice
,
when
they
shall
behold
the
actions
of
their
sons
.
SUCH
were
our
words
on
the
plain
,
when
Sulmath
Suil-mhath
,
a
man
of
good
eye-sight
.
came
to
car-borne
Lathmon
:
Sulmath
chief
of
Dutha
at
the
dark-rolling
stream
of
Duvranna
Dubh-bhranna
,
dark
mountain-stream
.
What
river
went
by
this
name
,
in
the
days
of
Ossian
,
is
not
easily
ascertained
,
at
this
distance
of
time
.
A
river
in
Scotland
,
which
falls
into
the
sea
at
Banff
,
still
re
tains
the
name
of
Duvran
.
If
that
is
meant
,
by
Ossian
,
in
this
passage
,
Lathmon
must
have
been
a
prince
of
the
Pictish
nation
,
or
those
Caledonians
who
inhabited
of
old
the
eastern
coast
of
Scotland
.
.
Why
dost
thou
not
rush
,
son
of
Nuäth
,
with
a
thousand
of
thy
heroes
?
Why
dost
thou
not
descend
with
thy
host
,
before
the
warriors
fly
?
Their
blue
arms
are
beaming
to
the
rising
light
,
and
their
steps
are
before
us
on
the
heath
.
SON
of
the
feeble
hand
,
said
Lathmon
,
shall
my
host
descend
!
They
Ossian
seldom
fails
to
give
his
heroes
,
though
enemies
,
that
generosity
of
temper
which
,
it
appears
from
his
poems
,
was
a
conspicuous
part
of
his
own
character
.
Those
who
too
much
despise
their
enemies
do
not
reflect
,
that
the
more
they
take
from
the
valour
of
their
foes
,
the
less
me
rit
they
have
themselves
in
conquering
them
.
The
custom
of
depreciating
ene
mies
is
not
altogether
one
of
the
refine
ments
of
modern
heroism
.
This
railing
disposition
is
one
of
the
capital
faults
in
Homer's
characters
,
which
,
by
the
bye
,
cannot
be
imputed
to
the
poet
,
who
kept
to
the
manners
of
the
times
of
which
he
wrote
.
Milton
has
followed
Homer
in
this
respect
;
but
railing
is
less
shocking
in
in
fernal
spirits
,
who
are
the
objects
of
horror
,
than
in
heroes
,
who
are
set
up
as
patterns
of
imitation
.
are
but
two
,
son
of
Dutha
,
and
shall
a
thousand
lift
their
steel
!
Nuäth
would
mourn
,
in
his
hall
,
for
the
departure
of
his
fame
.
His
eyes
would
turn
from
Lathmon
,
when
the
tread
of
his
feet
approached
.
Go
thou
to
the
heroes
,
chief
of
Dutha
,
for
I
behold
the
stately
steps
of
Ossian
.
His
fame
is
worthy
of
my
steel
;
let
him
fight
with
Lathmon
.
THE
noble
Sulmath
came
.
I
rejoiced
in
the
words
of
the
king
.
I
raised
the
shield
on
my
arm
;
and
Gaul
placed
in
my
hand
the
sword
of
Morni
.
We
returned
to
the
murmuring
stream
;
Lath
mon
came
in
his
strength
.
His
dark
host
rolled
,
like
the
clouds
,
be
hind
him
:
but
the
son
of
Nuäth
was
bright
in
his
steel
.
SON
of
Fingal
,
said
the
hero
,
thy
fame
has
grown
on
our
fall
.
How
many
lie
there
of
my
people
by
thy
hand
,
thou
king
of
men
!
Lift
now
thy
spear
against
Lathmon
;
and
lay
the
son
of
Nuäth
low
.
Lay
him
low
among
his
people
,
or
thou
thyself
must
fall
.
It
shall
never
be
told
in
my
halls
that
my
warriors
fell
in
my
pre
sence
;
that
they
fell
in
the
presence
of
Lathmon
when
his
sword
rested
by
his
side
:
the
blue
eyes
of
Cutha
Cutha
appears
to
have
been
Lathmon's
wife
or
mistress
.
would
roll
in
tears
,
and
her
steps
be
lonely
in
the
vales
of
Dunlathmon
.
NEITHER
shall
it
be
told
,
I
replied
,
that
the
son
of
Fingal
fled
.
Were
his
steps
covered
with
darkness
,
yet
would
not
Ossian
fly
;
his
soul
would
meet
him
and
say
,
"
Does
the
bard
of
Selma
fear
the
foe
?
"
No
:
he
does
not
fear
the
foe
.
His
joy
is
in
the
midst
of
battle
.
LATHMON
came
on
with
his
spear
,
and
pierced
the
shield
of
Ossian
.
I
felt
the
cold
steel
at
my
side
;
and
drew
the
swored
of
Morni
;
I
cut
the
spear
in
twain
;
the
bright
point
fell
glittering
on
the
ground
.
The
son
of
Nuäth
burnt
in
his
wrath
,
and
lifted
high
his
sounding
shield
.
His
dark
eyes
rolled
above
it
,
as
bending
for
ward
,
it
shone
like
a
gate
of
brass
.
But
Ossian's
spear
pierced
the
brightness
of
its
bosses
,
and
sunk
in
a
tree
that
rose
behind
.
The
shield
hung
on
the
quivering
lance
!
but
Lathmon
still
advanced
.
Gaul
foresaw
the
fall
of
the
chief
,
and
stretched
his
buckler
before
my
sword
;
when
it
descended
,
in
a
stream
of
light
over
the
king
of
Dunlathmon
.
LATHMON
beheld
the
son
of
Morni
,
and
the
tear
started
from
his
eye
.
He
threw
the
sword
of
his
fathers
on
the
ground
,
and
spoke
the
words
of
the
valiant
.
Why
should
Lathmon
fight
against
the
first
of
mortal
men
?
Your
souls
are
beams
from
heaven
;
your
swords
the
flames
of
death
.
Who
can
equal
the
renown
of
the
heroes
,
whose
actions
are
so
great
in
youth
!
O
that
ye
were
in
the
halls
of
Nuäth
,
in
the
green
dwelling
of
Lathmon
!
then
would
my
father
say
,
that
his
son
did
not
yield
to
the
feeble
.
—
But
who
comes
,
a
mighty
stream
,
along
the
ecchoing
heath
?
the
little
hills
are
trou
bled
before
him
,
and
a
thousand
ghosts
are
on
the
beams
of
his
steel
;
the
ghosts
It
was
thought
,
in
Ossian's
time
,
that
each
person
had
his
attending
spirit
.
The
traditions
concerning
this
opinion
are
dark
and
unsatisfactory
.
of
those
who
are
to
fall
by
the
arm
of
the
king
of
re
sounding
Morven
.
—
Happy
art
thou
,
O
Fingal
,
thy
sons
shall
fight
thy
battles
;
they
go
forth
before
thee
;
and
they
return
with
the
steps
of
their
renown
.
FINGAL
came
,
in
his
mildness
,
rejoicing
in
secret
over
the
actions
of
his
son
.
Morni's
face
brightened
with
gladness
,
and
his
aged
eyes
look
faintly
through
the
tears
of
joy
.
We
came
to
the
halls
of
Selma
,
and
sat
round
the
feast
of
shells
.
The
maids
of
the
song
came
into
our
presence
,
and
the
mildly
blushing
Evirallin
.
Her
dark
hair
spreads
on
her
neck
of
snow
,
her
eye
rolled
in
secret
on
Ossian
;
she
touched
the
harp
of
music
,
and
we
blessed
the
daughter
of
Branno
.
FINGAL
rose
in
his
place
,
and
spoke
to
Dunlathmon's
battling
king
.
The
sword
of
Trenmor
trembled
by
his
side
,
as
he
lifted
up
his
mighty
arm
.
Son
of
Nuäth
,
he
said
,
why
dost
thou
search
for
fame
in
Morven
?
We
are
not
of
the
race
of
the
feeble
;
nor
do
our
swords
gleam
over
the
weak
.
When
did
we
come
to
Dunlathmon
,
with
the
sound
of
war
?
Fingal
does
not
delight
in
battle
,
though
his
arm
is
strong
.
My
renown
grows
on
the
fall
of
the
haughty
.
The
lightning
of
my
steel
pours
on
the
proud
in
arms
.
The
battle
comes
;
and
the
tombs
of
the
valiant
rise
;
the
tombs
of
my
people
rise
,
O
my
fathers
!
and
I
at
last
must
remain
alone
.
But
I
will
remain
re
nowned
,
and
the
departure
of
my
soul
shall
be
one
stream
of
light
.
Lathmon
!
retire
to
thy
place
.
Turn
thy
battles
to
other
lands
.
The
race
of
Morven
are
renowned
,
and
their
foes
are
the
sons
of
the
unhappy
.