The Scottish Celtic review

";——128 The Muileartach.She.'The six best heroes among the Fians,Put you them out on the sward;And when the snow reaches then- waist,They cannot kindle a fire.[Var.—The nine nines who are within,Between thatch and wattled-wallThe snow would reach their waist-bands,And they could not kindle a fire.]The old woman of hardest conflict,Gave a kick towards the doorAnd before she turned back the sole of her foot.She broke the nine chains of iron from their intcrlaciugs.[And she threw the heroes on the breadth of their backson the floor.]Fin avoided her way; and she went to the chest of jewels, andtook with her the " Cup of Victory."to go after the old woman.The men aroseThinman' rose, and the rest rose,And rose the plier of the oars,*They could not overtake her. Oscar, the strongest of the Fians,went after her. He caught her by the foot at the brow of thehill of Howth. Her grey hair was hanging behind her, and Oscarcaught it. He sprang, and put three plies of the grey wreathedhair of the old woman about his fist. Before he in any waychecked her (lit., put a wrinkle in her), they sank to their waistsin snow. " Ho, ho," .she said, " young man, you have hurt me! Ifit be food or drink you want, you will get it when I reach theboat." [Al., reach the Ocean Smith and you will get it."] " It isnot that I want, but to take your grey hair to my grandfather."" Ho, ho, are you one of that sort ? " She drew over her wreathedgrey hair below her left arm, and she laid her hand gently uponhim; and he him.self heard the noise of every bone. "If youhave strength to go home, tell Fin that I have got the ' Cup ofVictory.'He returned, and she went to Lochlin.Manus resolved to fightFin. He gathered his men, and went to Dun Kincorry to fightFin.