FRAGMENT XVI. WHERE is Gealchossa [x] my Love, the Daughter of Tuathal-Teachvar! I left her in the Hall of the Plain, when I fought with the hairy Ulfadha. Return foon, she said, O Lamderg! for here I wait in Sorrow. Her white Breast rofe with Sighs; her Cheek was wet with Tears. But fhe cometh not to meet Lamderg; or footh his Soul after Battle. Silent is the Hall of Joy; I hear not the Voice of the Singer. Brann does not shake his Chains at the Gate, glad at the coming of his Mafter. Where is Gealchossa my Love, the Daughter of Tuathal Teachvar? Lamderg! fays Firchios Son of Aydon, Gealchoffa may be on the Hill; fhe and her chofen Maids purfuing the flying Deer. Firchios no Noife I hear. No Sound in the Wood of the Hill. No Deer fly in my Sight; no panting Dog purfueth. I fee not Gealchossa my Love; fair as the full Moon fetting on the Hills of [x] The Signification of the Names in this Fragment are; Gealchoffack, white-legged. Tuathal-Teachtmhar, furly, but fortunate Man. Lambdearg, Bloody-hand. Ulfadha, Long-beard. Firchois, the Conqueror of Men. Cromleach. Go, Firchios! go to Allad [y], the Grey-haired Son of the Rock. He liveth in the Circle of Stones; he may tell of Gealchoffa. Allad! faith Firchios, thou who dwelleft in the Rock; thou who trembleft alone; what faw thine Eyes of Age? I faw, answered Allad the Old, Ullin the Son of Carbre: He came like a Cloud from the Hill ; he hummed a furly Song as he came, like a Storm in leaflefs Wood. He entered the Hall of the Plain. Lamderg, he cried, moft dreadful of Men! Fight or yield to Ullin. Lamderg, replied Gealchoffa, Lamderg is not here; he fights the Hairy Ulfadha; mighty Man, he is not here. But Lamderg never yields; he will fight the Son of Carbre. Lovely art thou, O Daughter of Tuathal Teachvar! faid Ullin I carry thee to the House of Carbre; the Valiant fhall have Gealchoffa. Three Days from the Top of Cromleach will I call Lamderg to fight. The fourth, you belong to Ullin, if Lamderg die, or fly my Sword. Allad! Peace to thy Dreams found the Horn, Firchios!-Ullin may hear, and meet me on the Top of Cromleach. Lamderg rushed on like a Storm. On his Spear he leaped over Rivers. Few were his Strides up the [y] Allad is plainly a Druid consulted on this Occafion. VOL. II. M Hill. Hill. The Rocks fly back from his Heels; loud crashing they bound to the Plain. His Armour, his Buckler rung. He hummed a furly Song like the Noife of the falling Stream. Dark as a Cloud he stood above; his Arms, like Meteors, fhone. From the Summit of the Hill, he rolled a Rock. Ullin heard in the Hall of Carbre. AN |