Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

202 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race“'Till the death he craves be given; and, upon his burial stoneChampion-praises duly graven, make his name and gloryknown;For, in speech-containing token, age to ages never gaveSalutation better spoken, than, “Behold a hero's grave.”’“What, another and another, and he still or combat calls?Ah, the lot on thee, his brother sworn in arms, Ferdia, falls;And the hall with wild applauses sobb'd like woman ere theywist,When the champions in the pauses of the deadly combat kiss'd.[238]“Now, for love of land and cattle, while Cuchullin in the fordsStays the march of Connaught's battle, ride and rouse theNorthern Lords;Swift as angry eagles wing them toward the plunder'd eyrie'scall,Thronging from Dun Dealga bring them, bring them from theRed Branch hall!“Heard ye not the tramp of armies? Hark! amid the suddengloom,'Twas the stroke of Conall's war-mace sounded through thestartled room;And, while still the hall grew darker, king and courtier chill'dwith dread,Heard the rattling of the war-car of Cuchullin overhead.“Half in wonder, half in terror, loth to stay and loth to fly,Seem'd to each beglamour'd hearer shades of kings wentthronging by:But the troubled joy of wonder merged at last in mastering fear,As they heard through pealing thunder, ‘FERGUS SON OF ROY ISHERE!’