Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

160 DIALOGUE.
" O Fionn, dost thou not remember the deceit
used towards Meargach of the spears, whom thou
slewest ; and towards his two sons who were gen-
tle, and towards Tailc son of Trean and those who
were with him ?"
Said the valiant Fionn, " I do remember that
they fell by the hands of the Fenii ; but it was
not through deceit or fraud, but by powerful firm-
ness in equal fight."
" O Fionn of the pranks, it was subtlety that
you made use of in the battle of the Hill of
Slaughter ; in which conflict there fell — by the
abundance of your deceit — Meargach of the spears
and those who were with him."
" They themselves O noble knight, were they
alive, would bear witness that it was strength of
hand which gave to them knowledge of death, and
not fraud of the Fenii."
" Treachery and fraud, power and strength of
hand are alike to me : O Fionn son of Cumhal,
thou shalt pay for their prostration on the Hill of
Slaughter.
" Sufficient for us, as a witness, the lovely Aile