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OINA-MORUL:

A POEM.

As flies the inconstant sun, over Larmon's grassy hill; so pass the tales of old, along my soul, by night! When bards are removed to their place; when harps are hung in Selma's hall; then comes a voice to Ossian, and awakes his soul! It is the voice of years that are gone! they roll before me, with all their deeds! I seize the

As flies the inconstant sun over Larmon's grassy hills.] THOMSON'S Autumn; so repeatedly imitated.

2

The clouds fly different, and the sudden sun,

By fits effulgent, gilds th' illumin'd field.

It is the voice of years that are gone.] Night Thoughts, i
It is the knell of my departed hours;

Where are they? with the years beyond the flood.

tales, as they pass, and pour them forth in song. Nor a troubled stream is the song of the king, it is like the rising of music from Lutha of the strings. Lutha of many strings, not silent are thy streamy rocks, when the white hands of Malvina move upon the harp! Light of the shadowy thoughts, that fly across my soul, daughter of Toscar of helmets, wilt thou not hear the song! We call back, maid of Lutha, the years that have rolled away.

It was in the days of the king, while yet my locks were young, that I marked Con-cathlin 3, on high, from ocean's nightly wave. My course was towards the isle of Fuärfed, woody dweller of seas! Fingal had sent me to the aid of Malorchol, king of Fuärfed wild: for war was around him, and our fathers had met, at the feast.

In Col-coiled, I bound my sails; I sent my sword to Mal-orchol of shells. He knew the signal of Albion, and his joy arose. He came

from his own high hall, and seized my hand in

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grief. Why comes the race of heroes to a

falling king? Ton-thormod of many spears is

3 Con-cathlin, mild beam of the wave. MACPHERSON.

the chief of wavy Sar-dronlo. He saw and loved my daughter, white-bosomed Oina-morul. He sought; I denied the maid; for our fathers had been foes. He came, with battle, to Fuärfed; my people are rolled away. Why comes the race of heroes to a falling king?"

"I come not," I said, "to look, like a boy, on the strife. Fingal remembers Mal-orchol, and his hall for strangers. From his waves, the warrior descended, on thy woody isle. Thou wert no cloud before him. Thy feast was spread with songs. For this my sword shall rise; and thy foes perhaps may fail. Our friends are not forgot in their danger, though distant is our land."

"Descendant of the daring Trenmor, thy words are like the voice of Cruth-loda, when he speaks, from his parting cloud, strong dweller of the sky! Many have rejoiced at my feast; but they all have forgot Mal-orchol. I have looked towards all the winds; but no white sails were seen. But steel resounds in my hall; and not

4 A certain old bard poetically compares a great man to a fire kindled in a desert place. "Those that pay court to him, says he, are rolling large around him, like the smoke about the fire. This smoke give the fire a great appearance at a distance,

the joyful shells. Come to my dwelling, race of heroes; dark-skirted night is near. Hear the voice of songs, from the maid of Fuärfed wild."

We went. On the harp arose the white hands of Oina-morul. She waked her own sad tale, from every trembling string. I stood in silence; for bright in her locks was the daughter of many isles! Her eyes were two stars, looking forward through a rushing shower. The mariner marks them on high, and blesses the lovely beams 5. With morning we rushed to battle, to Tormul's resounding stream: the foe moved to the sound of Ton-thormod's bossy shield. From wing to wing the strife was mixed. I met Tonthormod in fight. Wide flew his broken steel. I seized the king in war. I gave his hand, bound fast with thongs, to Mal-orchol, the giver of shells. Joy rose at the feast of Fuärfed; for

but it is but an empty vapour itself, and varying its form at every breeze. When the trunk, which fed the fire, is consumed, the smoke departs on all its winds. So the flatterers forsake their chief when his power declines." MACPHERSON.

5 Her eyes were two stars-The mariner marks them on high, and blesses the lovely beams.] Perhaps, an expansion of MILTON'S L'Allegro, 1. 79.

Where perhaps some beauty lies,

The Cynosure of neighbouring eyes.

the foe had failed. Ton-thormod turned his face away, from Oina-morul of isles!

"Son of Fingal," begun Mal-orchol, “not forgot shalt thou pass from me. A light shall dwell in thy ship, Oina-morul of slow-rolling eyes. She shall kindle gladness, along thy mighty soul. Nor unheeded shall the maid move in Selma, through the dwelling of kings!"

In the hall I lay in night. Mine eyes were half-closed in sleep. Soft music came to mine ear it was like the rising breeze, that whirls, at first, the thistle's beard; then flies, dark-shadowy, over the grass. 6. It was the maid of Fuärfed wild she raised the nightly song; she knew that my soul was a stream, that flowed at pleasant sounds. "Who looks," she said, "from his rock, on ocean's closing mist? His long locks, like the raven's wing, are wandering on

6 Like the rising breeze, that whirls, at first, the thistle's beard; then flies, dark-shadowy, over the grass.] THOMSON'S Summer.

A fresher gale-----

Sweeping with shadowy gust the fields of corn-
Wide o'er the thistly lawn as swells the breeze,

A whitening shower of vegetable down

Amusive floats.

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