Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

•234 A GP.ECIAN PRINCESS
big woman, but many were the vvouiids near to
his own heart. Gaul said, " Woman, mind your-
self, for I am about to try a stroke which never
failed to bring off a man's head." I can take care
of myself," said she, " do you mind your own
body." With vexation she rose up on her toes
and struck Gaul under the right arm ; slie cut the
ilesh from his beautiful white side.
Now Diarmuid had a beauty-spot on the wrist
of his right arm ; any woman who saw it would
swim the sea after him, he was the handsomest
man of the Fenii. Conan said, " Diarmuid, why
don't you show your beauty-spot to the woman
who is by your side } perhaps she will then loose
our bonds." Diarmuid said to the senseless man,
" You were in great haste to get to dinner, and
you are not to be pitied for your pain." Conan
answered, " Don't blame me, Diarmuid, in the
midst of trouble ; Gaul partook not of the dinner,
yet he is now suffering as well as myself."
Then Diarmuid, who was in strict bonds, said
mildly to the lovely woman, " You are more me-
lodious than the cuckoo, the fairest woman in the
world; with thee I would fly sooner than with
any other; you are my lady love." Softly she
said, " Brave young man of sweet talk, would that