CUCHULLIN, from the cave of Cromla, heard the noife of the troubled war. He called to Connal chief of fwords, and Carril of other times. The gray-haired heroes heard his voice, and took their afpen fpears. They came, and faw the tide of battle, like the crowded waves of the ocean; when the dark wind blows from the deep, and rolls the billows through the fandy vale. CUCHULLIN kindled at the fight, and darknefs gathered on his brow. His hand is on the fword of his fathers: his red-rolling eyes on the foe. He thrice attempted to rush to battle, and thrice did Connal ftop him. Chief of the ifle of mift, he faid, Fingal fubdues the foe. Seek not a part of the fame of the king; himself is like a ftorm. THEN, Carril, go, replied the chief, and · greet the king of Morven. When Lochlin falls away like a ftream after rain, and the noise of the battle is over, then be thy voice sweet in his ear to praise the king of fwords. Give him the fword of Caithbat; for Cuchullin is worthy no more to lift the arms of his fathers. BUT, O ye ghofts of the lonely Cromla! ye fouls of chiefs that are no more! be ye the companions of Cuchullin, and talk to him in the cave of his forrow. For never more thall I be renowned renowned among the mighty in the land. I am like a beam that has fhone; like a mift that fled away, when the blaft of the morning came, and brightened the fhaggy fide of the hill. Connal, talk of arms no more: departed is my fame.---My fighs fhall be on Cromla's wind, till my footsteps ceafe to be feen.And thou, white-bofom'd Bragela, mourn over the fall of my fame; for, vanquished, I will never return to thee, thou fun-beam of Dunfcaich, ARGUMENT to Book V. Cuchullin and Connal ftill remain on the hill. Fingal and Swaran meet; the combat is defcribed. Swaran is overcome, bound and delivered over as a prifoner to the care of Offian and Gaul the Son of Morni; Fingal, his younger fons, and Ofcar, Still pursue the enemy. The episode of Orla a chief of Lochlin, who was mortally wounded in the battle, is introduced. Fingal, touched with the death of Orla, orders the purfuit to be difcontinued; and calling his fons together, he is informed that Ryno, the youngest of them, was killed. He laments his death, hears the story of Lamdarg and Gelchoffa, and returns towards the place where he had left Swaran. Carril, who had been fent by Cuchullin to congratulate Fingal on his victory, comes in the mean time to Offian. The converfation of the two poets clofes the action of the fourth day. |