Ossian Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 3

HOW THE EEN WAS SET UP. 337
asking for his own sword. When they came within
sight of the armies of Lochlann, he said —
" Blood on man and man bloodless,
Wind over hosts, 'tis pity without the son
of Lnin.
" To w'hat may that belong ?" said Ulamh lamh
fliada.
" It is to a little bit of a knife of a sword that I
had," said Fionn. " You took it with you amongst
the rest, and I am the w^orse for wanting it, and you
are no better for having it."
" What is the best exploit thou wouldst do if thou
hadst it ? "
" I would quell the third part of the hosts that I
see before me."
Oolav Longhand laid his hand on the arms. The
most likely sword and the best that he found there he
gave it to him. He seized it, and he shook it, and he
cast it out of the wooden handle, and said he —
It is one of the black-edged glaives,
It was not Mac an Luin my blade ;
It was no hurt to draw from sheath,
It would not take off the head of a lamb.
Then he said the second time the same words.
He said the third time —
" Blood on man, and bloodless man,
Wind o'er the people, 'tis pity without the son
of Luin."
" What wouldst thou do with it if thou shouldst
get it r'
" I w^ould do this, that I would quell utterly all I
see,"
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