Then answered the stranger, 'I shall not depart hence, no, not until the
son of Concobar be slain in the dust'; and thereupon he rushed upon the
King's son, and with one stroke of the blue blade severed his head from
his body. So he departed, and soon the son of Fergus also lay dead.
And now the Ulstermen surrounded the House of the Red Branch and set fire
to its walls. But Ardan came forth, and put out the fire, and slew three
hundred men, and after he had gone in, then came Ailne forth, and slew a
countless multitude beside.
A glimmering ray of dim grey light now broke, and spread over the forms of
dead and dying men.
It was at that hour that Nathos kissed Deirdre and went forth from the
House. And there was not a man but quailed as the hero rushed upon the
Ultonians and slew a thousand men.
When Concobar heard this, he sent for that Wise Man who in the house of
Felim the Harper had foretold the sorrow that would come upon his realm.
And when the old man had come, Concobar said, 'I swear that I mean no harm
unto the sons of Usna, yet will they slay every Ultonian in the land.
Therefore I would that thou wouldst help me by thy magic power.'
And the Wise Man believed the words of Concobar, and he caused a hedge of
spears to encircle the burning House. And as the flames rose higher the
sons of Usna came forth with Deirdre the Star-eyed. And around her they
placed their shields, and they cleft a way through the Hedge of Spears and
came safely to the plain beyond.
Pages:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40