Page:The courtship of Ferb (Leahy).djvu/88



Ah, my soul would then be cheerful, Peace would then my heart enjoy, If but Donnell's arms so fearful All of Ulster would destroy.

No long time had Donnell to wait, for he saw a great host coming towards him, in which were four hundred armed men, and their leader was Feradach of the long hand, who was the son of Conor. Each of these foes set themselves against the other. Then Donnell, finding himself overcome by the numbers against him, fell into a rage; fifty warriors fell at his single hand; and all the men of his following were slain, while he himself twice succeeded in wounding Feradach. But with murder his foes strove against him, and Feradach struck off his head, and he raised the shout of victory; moreover, the heads of all his companions were struck off, and loudly the cries of triumph were raised by the victors.

And that maiden went back to the castle, and she entered in; and as her eyes fell upon Mani she was overwhelmed with her grief. "Hideous," said she, "is that which hath befallen us, oh youth; and it is on your account that in sorrow I will die, although my father and his son also have died in your quarrel, and methinks that