Page:The courtship of Ferb (Leahy).djvu/58

Rh "Truly," said Imrinn, "it signifieth a night-long contest and death for this night." Then he made the following poem of lyric verse:—

Yon dark cloud that stifles With poisonous breath— Green and red are its edges, Compelling the death: For keen weapons cut gashes In sides, and hands tear, And aloft the sword flashes And necks are swept bare! In Gerg's lofty dwelling The ninth hour is knelling, Of death it is telling That rages till noon; A youth in his daring Black death is preparing. The ground shall be bearing A grave-harvest soon!

Conor then advanced and drew towards the castle. Now there was at that time a brazen vat set up in the house, which in later times was known by the name of