Fragments Of Ancient Poetry, Fragment XIV

DUCHOMMAR, MORNA.     DUCHOMMAR.     [Footnote: The signification of the names in this fragment are; Dubhchomar, a black well-shaped man. Muirne or Morna, a woman beloved by all. Cormac-cairbre, an unequalled and rough warriour. Cromleach, a crooked hill. Mugruch, a surly gloomy man. Tarman, thunder. Moinie, soft in temper and person.]     Morna, thou fairest of women,     daughter of Cormac-Carbre!     why in the circle of stones, in the cave     of the rock, alone? The stream murmureth     hoarsely. The blast groaneth     in the aged tree. The lake is troubled     before thee. Dark are the clouds of     the sky. But thou art like snow on     the heath. Thy hair like a thin cloud     of gold on the top of Cromleach. Thy     breasts like two smooth rocks on the hill     which is seen from the stream of Brannuin.     Thy arms, as two white pillars     in the hall of Fingal.     MORNA.     Whence the son of Mugruch, Duchommar     the most gloomy of men? Dark     are thy brows of terror. Red thy rolling     eyes. Does Garve appear on the     sea? What of the foe, Duchommar?     DUCHOMMAR.     From the hill I return, O Morna,     from the hill of the flying deer. Three     have I slain with my bow; three with     my panting dogs. Daughter of Cormac-Carbre,     I love thee as my soul. I     have slain a deer for thee. High was     his branchy head; and fleet his feet of     wind.     MORNA.     Gloomy son of Mugruch, Duchommar!     I love thee not: hard is thy heart     of rock; dark thy terrible brow. But     Cadmor the son of Tarman, thou art     the love of Morna! thou art like a sunbeam     on the hill, in the day of the     gloomy storm. Sawest thou the son of     Tarman, lovely on the hill of the chace?     Here the daughter of Cormac-Carbre     waiteth the coming of Cadmor.     DUCHOMMAR.     And long shall Morna wait. His     blood is on my sword. I met him by     the mossy stone, by the oak of the noisy     stream. He fought; but I slew him;     his blood is on my sword. High on     the hill I will raise his tomb, daughter     of Cormac-Carbre. But love thou the     son of Mugruch; his arm is strong as a     storm.     MORNA.     And is the son of Tarman fallen;     the youth with the breast of snow! the     first in the chase of the hill; the foe     of the sons of the ocean!--Duchommar,     thou art gloomy indeed; cruel is     thy arm to me.--But give me that     sword, son of Mugruch; I love the     blood of Cadmor.     [He gives her the sword, with which she instantly stabs him.]     DUCHOMMAR.     Daughter of Cormac-Carbre, thou     hast pierced Duchommar! the sword is     cold in my breast; thou hast killed the     son of Mugruch. Give me to Moinic     the maid; for much she loved Duchommar.     My tomb she will raise on the     hill; the hunter shall see it, and praise     me.--But draw the sword from my     side, Morna; I feel it cold.--     [Upon her coming near him, he stabs her. As she fell, she plucked a stone from the side of the cave, and placed it betwixt them, that his blood might not be mingled with hers.]