taught the bow: my father delighted in
my skill.

She went. He stood behind the
shield. Her arrow flew and pierced his
breast[A].

[Footnote A: Nothing was held by the ancient Highlanders more essential
to their glory, than to die by the hand of some person worthy or renowned.
This was the occasion of Oscur's contriving to be slain by his mistress,
now that he was weary of life. In those early times suicide was utterly
unknown among that people, and no traces of it are found in the old
poetry. Whence the translator suspects the account that follows of the
daughter of Dargo killing herself, to be the interpolation of some later
Bard.]

Blessed be that hand of snow; and
blessed thy bow of yew! I fall resolved
on death: and who but the daughter of
Dargo was worthy to slay me? Lay me
in the earth, my fair-one; lay me by
the side of Dermid.

Oscur! I have the blood, the soul
of the mighty Dargo. Well pleased I
can meet death. My sorrow I can end
thus.--She pierced her white bosom
with steel. She fell; she trembled; and
died.