Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

'208 THE BATTLE OF VENTRY HARBOUR.
of war, and the kings and chiefs agreed to place
themselves in his way, and to attack him, that the
troops might be saved from his sword.
But Gaul did not give them much time to draw
breath, for the next day he attacked them with
furious hatred, and destroyed every man who
came athwart him; then those who still lived
fled, and three of their kings, with many men,
fell dead on the strand.
The next day, at sunrise, Fionn asked who
would take the battle ^
Oisin said, " I am the man, and the tribe of
Baoisgne with me ; we receive many delightful
gifts from the nation, and we ought to show that
we are deserving of them."
Glas mac Dreabhain went to the Monarch of
the World with a challenge from the tribe of
Baoisgne ; Dara Donn asked who would answer
them } The powerful king of France said, " I
will, for 1 came with the express intention of
chastising Fionn, son of Cumhal ; he himself
and his forces shall undoubtedly fall by my
hand."
" That would be a pleasant transaction," said
the Monarch of the World, " if you could but per^
form it."
The king of France came ashore with four
powerful troops ; between them and the children