There all the soothing blandishments of love,
In vain he breath'd my hatred to remove.
For while among the trophies of the field,
I saw my brother's sword, my father's shield,
My heart indignant burn'd against the chief,
And made me to his protestations deaf.
Then sent by heav'n you came, and struck with dread,
The hateful tyrant from Selama fled;
Fled like an evil spright, that sees the light
Of morn approach, and vanishes from sight.
His thousands were not near, nor durst he stand
In single combat thy superior hand.
Nor dares he now-let Nathos lift his spear,
And Cairbar's quiv'ring heart will yield to fear.
The virgin said; and Etha's chief replied : From early youth my courage has been tried! Scarce could this arm a warrior's jav'lin wield, When danger summon'd to th' embattled field, Ev'n then amidst the tumult of the fight, Charm'd with the clang of steel, my soul grew bright; The vale in verdure cloath'd looks not so gay, When brighten'd by the sun's all cheering ray. But sad reverse, through thee a coward grown, I tremble for thy perils, not my own. As some lone traveller, that far from home, Beholds the tempest's fast approaching gloom, I, that have view'd thee a bright star, whose light Resplendent blazes o'er the hills at night;
Perceive, with grief, surrounding clouds arise,
That must for ever snatch thee from my eyes;
For here the storm detains us on a coast,
Possessed by Cairbar, and a num'rous host,
While all our brave companions of the war,
On Albion's barren hills are distant far.
Thus void of strength, without the pow'r to fly,
No other mean is left us but to die.
It's true thy brothers both are men of might,
And Nathos oft hath fearless met the fight;
But what are three, though dauntless hearts they boast,
To cope in war with Cairbar's countless host?
The gallant Oscar, with a chosen train,
Hath meditated long to cross the main
In aid of Cormac's cause. O that his sails
Approach'd the shores, distended by the gales!
Then would my arm be strong, and trenchant blade,
Wide slaught'ring Erin's crowded ranks pervade;
Make Cairbar tremble e'en amidst his bands,
Nor dare against Dar-thula lift his hands.
Yet why despond? To numbers in the scale
Our courage weigh, and we may still prevail.
Prevail or not, undaunted spoke the fair,
(Assuming resolution from despair)
In yonder arms, that to the meteors glow
Within the ship, I mean to meet the foe:
For better thus attempt the fight and fall,
Than lead a wretched life in Cairbar's hall.
Ye kindred ghosts, that now pass dim through air,
This solemn vow, this steadfast purpose hear,
No force shall make me with the monster dwell,
By whom my father and my brother fell.
To hear the virgin thus determin'd speak,
A gleam of joy broke forth on Nathos' cheek.
Bright maid, he cried, with ev'ry virtue blest,
Thy noble fortitude inspires my breast.
Let Cairbar with his thousands come along,
That Chief I brave, and all his num'rous throng.
Whate'er befalls, old Usnoth will not hear,
That from superior force I turn'd through fear;
Ere yet my sails were spread before the wind,
The words he spoke are rooted in my mind.
Thou go'st, he said, to join the king of shields,
The great Cuthullin fam'd in martial fields.
Like him, applause by valiant deeds acquire,
And scorn when dangers threaten to retire.
Be firm, be fearless, or thou wilt disgrace
In foreign regions, our illustrious race;
And I, already verging to my end,
Shall, whelm'd with sorrows, to the
Here grief suppress'd his voice, without a word, While tears ran trickling down, he gave this sword: Which taking, I set sail-To Tura come, A desert place we found that lofty dome:
The arms that hung around the hall were gone,
And aged Lamhor mournful sat alone.
From whence, said he, the chiefs in steel array'd?
A sight no longer in these walls survey'd.
From high Temora come the martial train,
Or some remoter region o'er the main? 9.
To his inquiries, I this answer gave;
From Etha's woody land we cross the wave,
Slis-Sama's sons, of car-borne Semo's line,
And come Cuthullin in his wars to join."
But by thy tears conclude our purpose vain,
And this redoubted champion must be slain.
If what my fears suggest be real, tell
Thou son of lonely Tura, how he fell.
He fell not like a star, the Seer replies,
That shoots at night along the vaulted skies,
A transient spark which shines, then instant dies.
The hero's course was like the meteor's flame,
That journeys through the vast ethereal frame,
Destruction spreading in its rapid flight,
And, boding war, mankind appals with fright.
Sad, Lego are thy banks, and sad the side
Of Lora's murm'ring waters-there he died!
Then fell the warrior in the full career
Of his renown, while slaughter bath'd his spear!
A life of fame amidst alarms he
And crown'd with conquest, glorious breath'd his last.
Arriv'd at Lego's verdant banks we found
The hero's tomb, of earth a lofty mound.
There still the sorrowing host confus'dly spread,
And bards of many songs bewail'd the dead.
We join'd the mourners, and, indulging grief,
Three days successive wept the fall'n chief.
But when the third returning morn unveiled
Her blushing cheek, I struck on Caithbar's shield,
And Erin's sons, obedient to the sound,
Their jav'lins shook, and joyful crouded round.
Success prov'd friendly to our first essay ;
On Corlath, Cairbar's friend, who nearest lay,
We like a sudden torrent, rush'd by night,
And all his follow'rs kill'd, or put to flight.
When dawn'd the following day, with blood besmear'd,
And strew'd with heaps of dead, the vale appear'd.
Then swift as wreaths of mist, without delay,
For Cormac's echoing halls we haste away,
The helpless king to guard; but found him dead,
In early youth by Cairbar lowly laid.
When Erin's sons beheld an empty space,
The ancient palace of their kingly race ;
As clouds disperse that long have threaten'd rain,
Slow, melancholy, dark, withdrew the train.
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