“Sweet Bard,” thus spoke the Norland King, “What banner comes in sight? The valiant chief that leads the host, Who is that man of might?” “That,” said the bard, “is young MacDoon His is that banner bright; When forth the Féinn to battle go, He’s foremost in the fight.” “Sweet bard, another comes; I see A blood-red banner toss’d Above a mighty hero’s head Who waves it o’er a host?” “That banner,” quoth the bard, “belongs To good and valiant Rayne; Beneath it feet are bathed in blood And heads are cleft in twain.” “Sweet bard, what banner now I see A leader fierce and strong Behind it moves with heroes brave Who furious round him throng?” “That is the banner of Great Gaul: That silken shred of gold, Is first to march and last to turn, And flight ne’er stained its fold.” “Sweet bard, another now I see, High o’er a host it glows, Tell whether it has ever shone O’er fields of slaughtered foes?” “That gory flag is Cailt’s,” quoth he, “It proudly peers in sight; It won its fame on many a field In fierce and bloody fight.” “Sweet bard, another still I see; A host it flutters o’er; Like bird above the roaring surge That laves the storm-swept shore.” “The Broom of Peril,” quoth the bard, “Young Oscar’s banner, see: Amidst the conflict of dread chiefs The proudest name has he.” The banner of great Finn we raised; The Sunbeam gleaming far, With golden spangles of renown From many a field of war. The flag was fastened to its staff With nine strong chains of gold. With nine times nine chiefs for each chain; Before it foes oft rolled. “Redeem your pledge to me,” said Finn; “And show your deeds of might To Lochlin as you did before In many a gory fight.” Like torrents from the mountain heights That roll resistless on; So down upon the foe we rushed, And brilliant victory won. The above set of verses occur in several ballads with considerable variations. It was a sort of national war-song among the Finian leaders in their frequent conflicts with the Norwegians. In the translation several verses are taken from different sources. Heroic daring and deeds are ascribed by the bard to each of the warrior-chieftains. Brown Diarmad MacDoon is foremost in the fight; the valiant Rayne leaves cloven heads behind him; great Gaul is ever the first to fight, and never turns his back on the foe; Cailte has won his fame on many a field; Oscar bears the proudest name of all the chiefs; and, finally, Finn himself comes before us, his banner, Deo-greine (Sunbeam), gleaming with its spangles of fame over that heroic band, whom he now invites to sweep down on the Lochlins.