"Four stones," "# replied the chief, "rise on "the grave of Cathba. These hands have laid in "earth Duchômar, that cloud in war! Câthba, 86 son of Torman! thou wert a sun-beam in Erin. "And thou, O valiant Duchômar! a mist of the marshy Lano; when it moves on the plains of "autumn, bearing the death of thousands along. "Morna! fairest of maids! calm is thy sleep in "the cave of the rock! Thou hast fallen in dark ness, like a star, that shoots across the desert; "when the traveller is alone, and mourns the "transient beam!" "Say," said Semo's blue-eyed son, "say how "fell the chiefs of Erin? Fell they by the sons "of Lochlin, striving in the battle of heroes? Or "what confines the strong in arms to the dark " and narrow house? Cathba," replied the hero, "fell by the sword "of Duchômar at the oak of the noisy streams. "Duchômar came to Tura's cave; he spoke to "the lovely Morna. Morna,† fairest among wo"men, lovely daughter of strong-armed Cormac! "Why in the circle of stones? in the cave of the This passage alludes to the manner of burial among the ancient Scots. They opened a grave six or eight feet deep: the bottom was lined with fine clay; and on this they laid the body of the deceased, and, if a warrior, his sword, and the heads of twelve arrows by his side. Above they laid another stratum of clay, in which they placed the horn of a deer, the symbol of hunting. The whole was covered with a fine mould, and four stones placed on end to mark the extent of the grave. These are the four stones alluded to here. + Muirne, or Morna, a woman beloved by all. "rock alone? The stream murmurs along. The "old tree groans in the wind. The lake is trou"bled before thee; dark are the clouds of the "sky! But thou art snow on the heath; thy hair "is the mist of Cromla; when it curls on the "hill; when it shines to the beam of the west! "Thy breasts are two smooth rocks seen from "Branno of streams. Thy arms, like two white "pillars, in the halls of the great Fingal.' 66 'From whence,' the fair-haired maid replied, ""from whence, Duchômar, most gloomy of men? "Dark are thy brows and terrible! Red are thy rolling eyes! Does Swaran appear on the sea? "What of the foe Duchômar?' 'From the hill "I return, O Morna, from the hill of the dark"brown hinds. Three have I slain with my "bended yew. Three with my long-bounding "dogs of the chase. Lovely daughter of Cor66 mac, I love thee as my soul! I have slain one 66 stately deer for thee. High was his branchy "head; and fleet his feet of wind.'-' Duchô"mar!" calm the maid replied, 'I love thee not, "thou gloomy man! hard is thy heart of rock; "dark is thy terrible brow. But Cathba, young 66 son of Torman,* thou art the love of Morna. "Thou art a sun-beam, in the day of the gloomy "storm. Sawest thou the son of Torman, lovely *Torman, thunder. This is the true origin of the Jupiter Taramis of the ancients. on the hill of his hinds? Here the daughter of "Cormac waits the coming of Câthba!' 66 Long shall Morna wait,' Duchômar said, long shall Morna wait for Câthba! Behold this "sword unsheathed! Here wanders the blood of "Cathba. Long shall Morna wait. He fell by "the stream of Branno! On Cromla I will raise "his tomb, daughter of blue-shielded Cormac ! "Turn on Duchômar thine eyes; his arm is strong as a storm.' 'Is the son of Torman "fallen?' said the wildly bursting voice of the "maid; is he fallen on his echoing hills, the youth "with the breast of snow? The first in the chase "of hinds? The foe of the strangers of ocean? "Thou art dark to me, Duchômar, cruel is "thine arm to Morna! Give me that sword, my foe! I love the wandering blood of Câth"ba!' 66 * "He gave the sword to her tears. She pierced "his manly breast! He fell like the bank of a mountain-stream, and stretching forth his hand, "he spoke: 'Daughter of blue-shielded Cormac! "Thou hast slain me in youth! the sword is "cold in my breast: Morna, I feel it cold. Give "me to Moina† the maid. Duchômar was the "dream of her night! She will raise my tomb; "the hunter shall raise my fame. But draw the "sword from my breast. Morna, the steel is She alludes to his name, the dark man. + Moina, soft in temper and person. |