Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

96 DIALOGUE.
thy fall would be loss to the Fenii ; remember each
battle and heavy conflict that thou hast endured
in behalf of Fionn's hosts."
Conan urged the valiant Osgur ; with bold
courage he inspired the brave man : Patrick, I
never yet have seen so mighty a battle between
two heroes.
That was the most violent conflict, without un-
truth ; a conflict without pause, without partiality ;
a conflict without bias, of the direst uproar.
" Osgur, remember that by thy hand fell the
bad men of Dun na Gliath; let not Meargach
thrust thee backward, for thy loss would not be
like booty taken from us," said Fionn of the
Fenii.
" Dost thou not remember that powerful were
the nations of Flanders and of the golden towers ?
jet not thy countenance be gone as a prey from
us, but let us for ever hear thy voice.
" Dost thou not remember that, after the slaugh-
ter of our men, by thee alone fell Tailc son of
Trean, and each other champion of the weighty
host, who came in force again st the Fen ii?"*
^ Fionn, who was a poet, but not a professional bard,