J. F. Campbell Collection > Transactions of the Ossianic Society > Volume 5

whilst the other was valiant and warlike, namely Hugh the
son of Diiach the Dark, king- of Oirgiall. It was, indeed,
far easier for him to be the more warlike of the two, for he
had a shield, and the name of the shield was Duv-Gilla (the
" Thou, therefore, Calbhach, go, call a mxister,
And wind the bugle by fort and dun !
When stain shall tarnish otur House's lustre,
Then sets in blackness the noon-day sun !"
But Calbhach answered, " light need to do so !
Behold the noblest of heroes here !
What foe confronts us, I reck not whoso,
Shall fly before us like hunted deer !"
Spake Rury then — " Calbhach, as thou wiliest !
But see, old man, there be brief delaj' —
For this chill parle is of all things chillest,
And my fleet courser must now away !
" Yet, though thou march with thy legions townwards.
Well armed for ambush or treacherous fray.
Still shew they point their bare weapons downwards,
As those of warriors averse to slay !'"
Now, when the clansmen were armed and mounted.
The aged Calbhach gave way to fears ;
For. foot and horsemen, they barely counted
A hundred cross-bows and forty spears.
And thus exclaimed he, " My soul is shaken !
We die the death, not of men, but slaves ;
We sleep the sleep from which none awaken.
And Scorn shall point at our tombless gi-aves !"'
Then out spake Fergal — " A charge so weightj'
As this, O Rury, thou shouldst not throw
On a drivelling dotard of eight-and-eighty.
Whose arm is nerveless for spear or bow !"
But Rury answered, " Away ! To-morrow
Jlyself will stand in Traghvally* town ;
But, come what may come, this day I borrow
To hunt through Glafna the brown deer down !"