CARTHON:

A POEM.

A

TALE of the times of old! The deeds of days of other years!

The murmur of thy streams, O Lora, brings back the memory of the past. The sound of thy woods, Garmallar, is lovely in mine ear. Dost thou not behold, Malvina, a rock with its head of heath? Three aged pines bend from its face; green is the narrow plain at its feet; there the flower of the mountain grows, and shakes its white head in the breeze'. The thistle is there

1 There the flower of the mountain grows, and shakes its white head in the breeze.] Supra, Fingal, vi. 9. From Shakspeare, Cymbeline, iv. 2.

alone, shedding its aged beard'. Two stones, half sunk in the ground, shew their heads of moss 3. The deer of the mountain avoids the place; for he beholds a dim ghost standing there. The mighty lie, O Malvina, in the narrow plain of the rock.

As gentle

As zephyrs blowing below the violet,

Not wagging his sweet head.

2 The thistle is there alone, shedding its aged beard.] MASON'S Elfrida.

Like the light down upon the thistle's beard,

Which every breeze may part.

2

3 Two stones, half sunk in the ground, shew their heads of moss.] Supra, Battle of Lora, ; from MACPHERSON's Nightpiece.

A tomb its dreary honour shews,

Three stones erect their heads of moss;

A bust half sunk in earth appears;
The rude remains of former years.

✦ It was the opinion of the times, that deer saw the ghosts of the dead. To this day, when beasts suddenly start without any apparent cause, the vulgar think that they see the spirits of the deceased. MACPHERSON.

The note is from Martin: "That horses (&c.) see the second sight, is plain from their violent and sudden starting when the rider, or secr in company with him, sees a vision of any kind by night or day." Western Isles, 306. But the opinion of the times, that deer saw the ghosts of the dead, was adopted, like the custom of Israel (Lora, 19), from Scripture. "And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way; and the ass turned aside out of the way---and the angel of the Lord went

A tale of the times of old! the deeds of days of other years!

Who comes from the land of strangers, with his thousands around him? the sun-beam pours. its bright stream before him; his hair meets the wind of his hills. His face is settled from war. He is calm, as the evening beam that looks from the cloud of the west, on Cona's silent vale. Who is it but Comhal's son", the king of mighty

further, and stood in a narrow place," &c. Numbers, xxii. 23. Or, "The deer of the mountain avoids the place'; for he beholds a dim ghost standing there."

5 Who comes from the land of strangers, with his thousands around him.] Supra, Comala, 14. "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness, like pillars of smoke." Song of Solomon, iii. 6. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with died garments from Bosrah; this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength." Isaiah, lxiii. 1. Or, "With his thousands around him; the sun-beam pours its bright stream before him."

6 Calm as the evening beam, that looks from the cloud of the west.] Par. Lost, ii. 492.

If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet,

Extond his evening beam.

Id. iv. 150.

On which the sun more glad impressed his beams,

Than in fair evening clouds.

7 Fingal returns here, from an expedition against the Romans, which was celebrated by Ossian in a poem called The Strife of Crona. MACPHERSON.

deeds! He beholds his hills with joy, he bids a thousand voices rise. "Ye have fled over your

fields, ye sons of the distant land! The king of the world sits in his hall, and hears of his people's flight. He lifts his red eye of pride; he takes his father's sword. Ye have fled over your fields, sons of the distant land !”

Such were the words of the bards, when they came to Selma's halls. A thousand lights from the strangers' land arose, in the midst of the people. The feast is spread around; the night passed away in joy. "Where is the noble Clessammor?" said the fair-haired Fingal. "Where is the brother of Morna, in the hour of my joy? Sullen and dark he passes his days in the vale of echoing Lora: but, behold, he comes from the hill, like a steed in his strength, who finds his companions in the breeze; and tosses his bright mane in the wind". Blessed be the soul of Clessammor: Why so long from Selma?”

8 Probably wax-lights; which are often mentioned as carried, among other booty, from the Roman province. MACPHERSON. Supra, Fingal, vi. 2.

9 Like a steed in his strength.] "Hast thou given the horse strength?" Job, xxxi. 19. "He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength." Id. 21. Quoted by Macpherson.

10 Who finds his companions in the breeze, and tosses his

"Returns the chief," said Clessammor, "in the midst of his fame? Such was the renown of Comhal in the battles of his youth. Often did we pass over Carun to the land of the strangers: our swords returned, not unstained with blood": nor did the kings of the world rejoice. Why do I remember the times of our war? My hair is mixed with grey. My hand forgets to bend the bow: I lift a lighter spear. O that my joy would return, as when I first beheld the maid; the white-bosomed daughter of strangers, Moina", with the dark-blue eyes!"

"Tell," said the mighty Fingal, "the tale of thy

bright mane in the wind.] POPE's Iliad, vi. 656. Quoted by Macpherson.

His head now freed, he tosses to the skies,

And mane dishevell'd o'er his shoulders flies;
He snuffs the females on the distant plain,
And springs exulting to the fields again.

"Our swords returned not, unstained with blood.] "From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.” 2 Samuel, i. 22.

12 Moina, soft in temper and person. We find the British names in this poem derived from the Gaelic, which is a proof that the ancient language of the whole island was one and the same. MACPHERSON.

Moinic, daughter of the druid Dill. Toland, 55. Supra, Fingal, i. 36.