_O._—If thou darest liken thy psalms To the Finian arms blood-red, Cleric! I swear I would sever By blade from its trunk thy head. _C._—Great Bard! I compare them not; The lay of thy lips is sweet; Let us raise an altar to Finn, And render him praise complete. _O._—Kind Cleric! if thou wert south-west At the Fall of the soft-flowing stream Where it hastens to join the sea, The Féinn thou wouldest greatly esteem. _C._—Blessed be the soul of that hero! Who fought in his violent might— Mac-Cuhail, the chief of the host, Renowned in the field of fight. _O._—One day we were hunting for red-deer, And failing to meet with game, Ten thousand barks were seen, And towards the shore they came. We all stood there on the plain; Fins gathered on every side; Round the son of the daughter of Teig, Flocked full seven tribes in their pride. Their galleys they rushed ashore,— That host of the blades blood-red; They were many the tents of cloth That they reared above their head. They hastened along from the woods, And put on their armour bright,— The weapons on shoulders great As they moved from the shore for fight. To his heroes Mac-Cuhail spoke,— “These foes you have known before? You know how this cruel race Wakes warfare along our shore?” It was then that Conan replied,— “Who are these that came o’er the sea? Knowest thou who is chief, Finn of battles? The flower of Norse Kings is he!” _F._—“Who will go from the ranks of the Féinn To get word from the hostile host? My favour he’ll have if he brings Tidings sincere from the coast.” Then Conan made answer again— “Whom should’st thou send, O King, But Fergus, thy prudent son; Wise word, I ween, he’ll bring.” “Let my curse take thee, bald-headed Conan,” Said Fergus of gentlest face; “I will go, but ’tis not at thy voice, To get word from this Lochlin race.” Young Fergus, all armed, went off Those heroes to meet on the way; He mildly inquired, “What people Came over the sea that day?” Magnus, all bloody and fierce, Son of the red-shielded Bede, Was Chief King of Lochlin—well fitted Proud armies of men to lead.