Ossian Collection > Poems of Oisin, bard of Erin

•276 THE BATTLE OF VENTRY HARBOUR.
When Fionn drew his sword the Monarch of the
World knew the fatal weapon and the nearness of
his own death ; this made a visible change in his
countenance, for he saw that his death was in-
evitable ; but he determined to sell his life as
dearly as possible, so he and Fionn fought like two
mad lions ; if any one were to w^alk all round the
world he could not find two champions better
matched than were Dara Donn and Fionn son of
Cumhal, the noble commander of the Irish forces.
Fionn attacked the grand Monarch with such
anger that fiery flames from his magic sword flew
all over the strand, like bright flashes of lightning
before the thunderbolt, which made the king afi'aid.
In the midst of the action the grand Monarch
found an opportunity to give Fionn a terrible blow,
which cut his shield in two pieces and took the
flesh from the outside of his thigh ; this inflamed
Fionn's spirit, with a destructive blow he severed
the head from the king's body.
When the Monarch of the World fell, the
steward took the royal diadem and ran with it to
Fionn mac Luisgin Lomaghluinig who was the
grand Monarch's brother, and saluted him, calling
liim " Monarch of the World." Then Fionn mac
Luigin went into the battle, hoping to take ven-
geance upon Fionn son of Cumhal, and the Fenii
who were left, for the death of his brother ; he cut
in pieces all who came in his way, killing sixty-