Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Chase of Síd na mBan Finn and the Death of Finn (Author: [unknown])

paragraph 22

Thereupon Fer-tái, son of Uaithne Irgalach, came into the house where Finn was and sat down by Finn's side and bade him

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welcome and pressed drink and merriment upon him and said: ‘'Tis for this this battle has been proclaimed against thee to-morrow, O royal fian-chief, because thou art without a host or multitude.’ ‘I am by no means in that condition,’ said Finn. ‘For the son of the King of the Men of Fánnall is by my side, even Laeghaire of the swift blows, and he will keep off three hundred warriors from me in this battle. And Cédach Ciothach, son of the King of Norway, is with me, who came to avenge his brothers upon me and the fian; and when he had seen the hounds and the men of fian he fell greatly in love with them and abandoned his intent of plunder and spoliation and stayed with me. And he will keep off three hundred battle-armed warriors from me in the battle, O Fer-tái,’ said Finn. ‘And there are many other full-bold warriors of fierce deeds by my side who are eager for fight and agile in conflict and of unwearied powers and furious in the onset’; and then he spoke the lay:
    1. Mac Duibh, son of Sálmór of the cloaks,
      Laeghaire of the swift blows,
      they will slay three hundred champions, the prophecy shall not be falsified.
    2. There is here the son of Norway's King,
      Cédach Ciothach of the combats;
      by him three hundred of the host shall fall,
      of warriors fierce and sword-red.
    3. Woe to him who will oppose the fian
      when all shall rise for combat!
      For they do not refuse hard battle,
      reckless they rise all at once.
    4. When the Luaighne come to battle
      to-morrow in the morning,
      by dint of shields and blades and hands
      many a mother will be without a son.