Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

DIALOGUE. 125
" O Conairam, never didst thou leave a bone
or a tooth of hero unbroken ; good art thou in bat-
tle or strife, and I determine to call thee."
" O Cosgaire," said Graine bravely, " by a sin-
gle blow thou causest the head to sink in dust a
mile from the body ; I accept thee as his equal in
strife."
" O Eireara, the inilictor of severe wounds upon
the bodies of powerful heroes, I suppose it is right
for thee to go ; remember the three who have
fallen."
These two lovely women chose out the men, un-
til the number, thirty on each side, was completed.
The mighty men attacked one another, each
two warlike champions in equal strife : at the end
of the battle there did not live of all that number
but two men of the Fenii.
When the Fenii perceived the vehement pros-
tration of the others, they raised three shouts of
delight, which might be heard on the plain and in
the heights of air.
" Aile Geal Snuadh," said Graine, " stubborn