Ossian Collection > Waifs and strays of Celtic tradition > Volume 4

66 The Fians.
" See you it if you 're able,
And if I am able you won't !"
They then became four companies,
Like five out on a bare expanse ;
One company of these was the smith,
And another company was Derglas.
Lon made off like the swift spring wind,
Over the dark glens of the hill,
And we could only see with difficulty
Portions of skirts about his heels.
Vnr. [The smith would only take one step
Over every glen and desert]
Fionn was behind at that time.
And a few nobles of the Fians,
As we descended to the bottom of the glen,
And ascending to the windy pass.
Then was heard the blowing of bellows,
And with the utmost difficulty a smithy was found
" Delay a little," said the smith ;
" Don't close before me," said Derglas,
" Do not leave me here alone.
Westward, in the door of the smithy."
Vnr. [In a narrow place here alone.]
There were seven smiths joyfully at work,
Seven men ugly and unshapely.
The smith had seven hands.
Seven tongs broad and light.
Seven hammers knocking out sparks,
And Thinman could fully answer them all.
One of the smiths then spoke,
A grim and frowning man.