Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis
Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis
Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis
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67<br />
Like bees upon the wing on a fine day;<br />
No cast was made that was not sure to hit.<br />
From morn to nigh mid-day the missiles flew,<br />
Till on the bosses of the brazen shields<br />
Their points were blunted, but though true the aim,<br />
And excellent the shooting, the defence<br />
Was so complete that not a wound was given,<br />
And neither champion drew the other's blood.<br />
"'Tis time to drop these feats," Ferdiah said,<br />
"For not by such as these shall we decide<br />
Our battle here this day." "Let us desist,"<br />
Cuchullin answered, "if the time hath come."<br />
They ceased, and threw their missile shafts aside<br />
Into the hands of their two charioteers.<br />
"What weapons, O Cuchullin, shall we now<br />
Resort to?" said Ferdiah. "Unto thee,"<br />
Cuchullin answered, "doth belong the choice<br />
Of arms until the night, because thou wert<br />
The first that reached the Ford." "Well, let us, then,"<br />
Ferdiah said, "resume our straight, smooth, hard,<br />
Well-polished spears with their hard flaxen strings."<br />
"Let us resume them, then," Cuchullin said.<br />
They braced upon their arms two stouter shields,<br />
And then resorted to their straight, smooth, hard,<br />
Well-polished spears, with their hard flaxen strings.[50]<br />
'Twas now mid-day, and thus 'till eventide<br />
They shot against each other with the spears.<br />
But though the guard was good on either side,<br />
The shooting was so perfect that the blood<br />
Ran from the wounds of each, by each made red.<br />
"Let us now, O Cuchullin," interposed<br />
Ferdiah, "for the present time desist."<br />
"Let us indeed desist," Cuchullin said<br />
"If, O Ferdiah, the fit time hath come."<br />
They ceased, and laid their gory weapons down,<br />
Their faithful charioteers' attendant care.<br />
Each to the other gently then approached,<br />
Each round the other's neck his hands entwined,<br />
And gave him three fond kisses on the cheek.<br />
Their horses fed in the same field that night,<br />
Their charioteers were warmed at the same fire,