Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

DIALOGUE. . 99
training, and most powerful vigour ; in courage,
in fierceness, in resoluteness, and in sport of mis-
chievous gladness.
I have not seen the equals of those two heroes,
in suffering grievous hard sti'okes, cutting the
flesh of their gentle skins ; abiding without ban-
quet, without slumber.
In forcefulness, in bravery, and in vigour,
without falling away in their desire for conflict :
the two were without cessation from the action,
by day or by night, for the space of ten days.
" O stern Meargach of the Green Blade," said
Osgur bravely aloud, " wondrous is the shame to
us both, to be thus standing when the battle is
in our hands only."
x\nswered Meargach, " O Osgur, thou art the
hardest of hand of all those who have ever striven
with me ; thy end and that of the Fenii is to fall
by my hand."
" It is not my fate nor that of the Fenii stern
Meargach, to fall as thou sayest by thy hand,"
replied Osgur the bold and resolute.
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