Page:The courtship of Ferb (Leahy).djvu/69

 At the end of this night, the same woman who had brought the message to Conor went on her way, and came to Maev, where she lay asleep on her couch at Cruachan Ay, and thus she addressed her: "Hadst thou the gift of prophecy, O Maev," said she, "thou wouldest not be sleeping!"

"What then hath happened?" said the queen.

"Conor," said the woman, "hath all but gained the victory over Mani, and Mani shall fall at his hand. Arise, and thou shalt avenge him."

Then she made the first lines of a poem, and Maev, while she slept, replied to her:—

Hath your fate from you been hidden, Maev, that sleeping here you lie? Rest to you would be forbidden, Were you skilled in prophecy!

Sure your tale's of evil omen, Lady pale, divinely fair! Tell me whence they come, my foemen, What their state, what name they bear.