Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis
Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis
Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis
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66<br />
CUCHULLIN.<br />
We were heart-comrades then,--<br />
Comrades in crowds of men,<br />
In the same bed have lain,<br />
When slumber sought us;<br />
In countries far and near,<br />
Hurling the battle spear,<br />
Chasing the forest deer,<br />
As Scatha taught us.<br />
"O Cuchullin of the beautiful feats,"<br />
Replied Ferdiah, "though we have pursued<br />
Together thus the arts of war and peace,<br />
And though the bonds of friendship that we swore<br />
Thou hast recalled to mind, from me shall come<br />
Thy first of wounds. O Hound, remember not<br />
Our old companionship, which shall not now<br />
Avail thee, shall avail thee not, O Hound!"<br />
"Too long here have we waited in this way,"<br />
Again resumed Ferdiah. "To what arms,<br />
Say then, Cuchullin, shall we now resort?"<br />
"The choice of arms is thine until the night,"<br />
Cuchullin made reply; "for so it chanced<br />
That thou shouldst be the first to reach the Ford."<br />
"Dost thou at all remember," then rejoined<br />
Ferdiah, "those swift missive spears with which<br />
We practised oft with Scatha in our youth,<br />
With Uatha and with Aife, and our friends?"<br />
"Them I, indeed, remember well," replied<br />
Cuchullin. "If thou dost remember well,<br />
Let us to them resort," Ferdiah said.<br />
Their missive weapons then on either side<br />
They both resorted to. Upon their arms<br />
They braced two emblematic missive shields,<br />
And their eight well-turned-handled lances took,<br />
Their eight quill-javelins also, and their eight<br />
White ivory-hilted swords, and their eight spears,<br />
Sharp, ivory-hafted, with hard points of steel.<br />
Betwixt the twain the darts went to and fro,