ing Druman-ard, when fpirits heave the earth in their wrath; fo fell blue-shielded Rothmar.

Near are the steps of Culmin; the youth came, bursting into tears. Wrathful he cut the wind, ere yet he mixed his ftrokes with Fillan. He had first bent the bow with Rothmar at the rock of his own blue ftreams. There they had marked the place of the roe, as the fun-beam flew over the fern.-Why, fon of Cul-allin, doft thou rush on that beam (1) of light? it is a fire that confumes.

remaining ftill in Orkney, and the islands of Shetland, which retain, to this day the name of Loda or Loden. They feem to have differed materially, in their conftruction from thofe Druidical monuments which remain in Britain, and the western ifles. The places of worship among the Scandinavians were originally rude and unadorned. In after ages, when they opened a communication with other nations, they adopted their manners, and built temples. That at Upfal, in Sweden, was amazingly rich and magnificent. Haguin, of Norway, built one, near Drontheim, little inferior to the former ; and it went always under the name of Loden. Mallet, introduction à l'Hiftoire de Danemarck.

calls Fillan

(1) The poet, metaphorically a beam of light. Culmin mentioned here > was the fon of Clonmar chief of Strutha by the beautiful Cul-allin. She was fo remarkable for the

beauty of her perfon that she is introduced, frequently, in the fimilies and allufions of antient

-Youth of Strutha retire. Your fathers were not equal, in the glittering ftrife of the field.

The mother of Culmin remains in the hall; she looks forth on blue-rolling Strutha. A whirlwind rifes, on the stream, darkeddying round the ghost of her fon. His dogs (1) are howling in their place his shield is bloody in the hall. « Art thou fallen, my fair-haired fon, in Erin's difmal

war >> ?

As a roe, pierced in fecret, lies panting;

poetry. Mar Chul-aluin Strutha nan fian; is a line of Offian in another poem; i, e. Lovely as Culallin of Strutha of the ftorms.

(1) Dogs were thought to be fenfible of the death of their mafter, let it happen at ever fo great a distance. It was also the opinion of the times, that the arms which warriors left at home became bloody, when they themselves fell in battle. It was from thofe figns that Cul-allin is fupposed to understand that her fon is killed; in which she is confirmed by the appearance of his ghost. Her fudden and short exclamation, on the occafion is more affecting than if she had extended her complaints to a greater length. The attitude of the fallen youth, and Fillan's reflexions over him are natural and judicious, and come forcibly back on the mind, when we confider, that the fuppofed fituation of the father of Culmin, was fo fimilar to that of Fingal, after the death of Fillan himself.

H▾

by her wonted ftreams, the hunter looks over her feet of wind, and remembers her ftately bounding before: fo lay the fon of Cul-allin, beneath the eye of Fillan. His hair is rolled in a little ftream: his blood wandered on his shield. Still his hand held the fword that failed him in the danger. «Thou art fallen ere yet thy fame was heard. Thy father fent thee to war: and he expects to hear thy deeds. He is grey, perhaps, at his ftreams, turning his dim eyes towards Moilena. But thou shalt not return, with the spoil of the fallen foe ».

on man,

day of his faid Fillan

Fillan poured the flight of Erin before him, over the echoing heath. But, man fell Morven before the dark-red rage of Foldath; for, far on the field, he poured the roar of half his tribes. Dermid (1) ftood before him in wrath : the fons of Cona gather round But his shield, is cleft by Foldath, and his people poured over the heath.

Then faid the foe, in his pride, They have fled, and my fame begins. Go, Malthos, and bid the king (2) to guard the

(1) This Dermid is, probably the fame with Dermid duine who makes fo great a figure in the fictions of the Irish bards.

(2) Cathmor.

dark-rolling of ocean; that Fingal may not efcape from my fword. He must lie on earth. Befide fome fen shall his tomb be feen. It shall rife without a fong. His ghost shall hover in mift over the reedy pool.

eyes.

Malthos heard, with darkening doubt; he rolled his filent He knew the pride of Foldath, and looked up to the king on his hill; then, darkly turning, he plunged his fword in war.

In Clono's (1) narrow vale, were bent

fon

(1) This valley had its name from Clono, of Lethmal of Lora, one of the ancestors of Dermid, the fon of Duthno. His hiftory is thus related in an old poem. In the days of Conar, the fon of Trenmor, the first king of Ireland, Clono paffed over into that kingdom from Caledonia, to aid Conar against the Fir-bolg. Being remarkable for the beauty of his perfon, he foon drew the attention of Sulmin, the young wife of an Irish chief. She disclosed her paffion which was not properly returned by the Caledonian. The lady fickened, thro' disappointment, and her love for Clono came to the ears of her husband. Fired with jealoufy, he vowed revenge. Clono, to avoid his rage, departed from Temora, in order to pafs over into Scotland; and being benighted in the valley mentioned here, he laid him down to fleep. There, to ufe the words of the poet) Lethmal defcended in the dreams of Clono; and told him that danger was near. For the reader's amufement I shall tranflate the vifion, which does not want poetical merit.

two trees above the ftreams; dark in his grief ftood Duthno's filent fon. The blood pour

Ghoft of LETHMAL.

« Arife from thy bed of mofs; fon of low-laid Lethmal, arife. The found of the coming of foes descends along the wind.

CLONO.

Whose voice is that, like many streams, in the feafon of my reft?

Ghost of LETHMAL.

Arife, thou dweller of the fouls of the lovely; fon of Lethmal, arife.

CLON O.

How dreary is the night! The moon is darkened in the sky; red are the paths of ghosts, along its fullen face! Green-skirted meteors fet around. Dull is the roaring of streams, from the valley of dim forms. I hear thee, spirit of my father, on the eddying courfe of the wind. I hear thee but thou bendeft not, forward, thy tall form, from the skirts of night..

As Clono prepared to depart, the husband of Sulmin came up, with his numerous attendants. Clono defended himself, but, after a gallant resistance,