For fame, not hatred, your forefathers fought; My words had weight; the lovers' cause prevail'd; I join'd their hands, the King their union seal'd. Malvina thus, before these silver hairs Were whiten'd by the length of passing years, I could a Princess, bright in beauty's charms, Forego, and yield her to a rival's arms. A gen'rous deed with pleasure fills the mind, And, well recorded, benefits mankind. DAR-THULA. THE ARGUMENT. COLLA, an Irish Chief, being killed in battle, Dar-thula, his daughter, becomes the prisoner of Cairbar, who falls violently in love with her. But while he preferred his suit, the sons of Usnoth, Nathos, Althos, and Arden, who were enemies to Cairbar, pass that way. At their approach he flies to avoid them. Dar-thula becomes enamoured of Nathos, and takes shipping with the three brothers for Scotland, their native country. But a storm rising, they are driven back on that part of the coast where Cairbar was encamped with his army. The three brothers, after a brave defence, overpowered, are slain; and the unfortunate Dar-thula, wounded in the conflict, expires on the body of her beloved Nathos. The poem opens with an apostrophe to the moon. In the course of the narration, are introduced, by way of episodes, various circumstances explanatory of the story; which makes it one, if not the most diversified and interesting of Ossian's lesser compositions. DAR-THULA. How fair art thou, bright daughter of the spheres! Thy glory fills the vast ethereal space, Red twinkling round. The dark brown clouds of night Have fail'd in heav'n, and light no more the spheres. Thou oft retir'st, to mourn their hapless fall. |