University of Virginia Library

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The attribution of this poem is questionable.

DESCRIPTION OF A BATTLE.

FROM OSSIAN.

As wrapt in gloom, the autumnal storms of heaven
Pour from two echoing hills, together driven;
As two dark streams their rushing waters pour,
Foam o'er their rocks, and thunder on the shore;
Loud, rough, and gloomy in the strife of death,
Mix the dark hosts on Lena's blasted heath.
Man charges man, with chieftains chieftains close,
Steel rings on steel, and blows succeed to blows;
Helmets and bossy shields are cleft on high,
And hissing javelins rush along the sky;
On polished yews the whizzing string resounds,
And the blood gushes from unnumber'd wounds.
The din of battle sounds along the sky,
As the last peal of heaven's artillery;
Loud as the roar when sudden storms arise,
Sweep the wild waves, and toss them to the skies.
As some tall rock a thousand waves assail,
So Lochlin's thousands pour on Inisfail;
As some tall rock withstands a thousand waves,
So Inisfail the force of Lochlin braves.
Death with his hundred voices sounds alarms,
And calls, and mingles with the clash of arms.
As from their fountains burst a hundred rills,
As the loud whirlwinds of a hundred hills,
As clouds on clouds the noon of day o'ercast,
Or ocean waves assault the desert waste,
So loud, so fierce the opposing hosts engage,
Such the war's tumult, such the battles rage,
The groan of death the vale of Lena fills,
Swells on the gale, and spreads o'er all the hills.—
'Twas like nocturnal thunder, pealing loud,
When full on Cona bursts the stormy cloud,
And, robed in mist, upon its skirts reclin'd,
A thousand spirits shriek upon the hollow wind.