The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

7 he Death of Diarmad. 491
THE DEATH OF DIARMAD:
BY
A ROSS-SHIRE VARIANT.
BY DK ARTHUR SUTHERLAND.
River Glass the grass is green,
The ancient woods with age are hoar,
The hills are clothed in birchen sheen,
Once dark with pines of yore.
The moss is soft by Conas Falls,
The alders crowo along the stream,
The aspens from the rocky walls
Lean over in a dream.
Seven daj's round Wyvis wild and vast
The Fians chased the flying deer
O'er purpled moor and hill they passed
With shout and shining spear.
And man}' a noble stag was ta'en
With head full branched as a tree.
And many a savage beast was slain
I'rom Cuinneag to the sea.
Gaunt wolves in far Glac Shellach bred
Pierced to the heart the heather dyed ;
Wild boars huge-tusked and maned, that fed
Upon Ben Tarsuinn's side,
In vain fled from the oak-clad dell
With sudden crash and snort of fear ;
And elk and lordly urus fell
As spoils beneath their spear.
A ghastly form from gray Loch Glass
Was reft of life by Fion's hand,
And evil things of ford and pass
The aye-victorious band
In combat slew Osgar's keen sword,
And Ossian's spear renowned laid low
Drear night-hags, Lamias abhorred,
Of humankind the foe.
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