Fragments Of Ancient Poetry, Fragment XIII

[Footnote: This is the opening of the epic poem mentioned in the preface. The two following fragments are parts of some episodes of the same work.]     Cuchlaid sat by the wall; by the     tree of the rustling leaf.     [Footnote: The aspen or poplar tree]     His spear leaned against the mossy rock.     His shield lay by him on the grass.     Whilst he thought on the mighty Carbre     whom he slew in battle, the scout of     the ocean came, Moran the son of Fithil.     Rise, Cuchulaid, rise! I see the ships     of Garve. Many are the foe, Cuchulaid;     many the sons of Lochlyn.     Moran! thou ever tremblest; thy     fears increase the foe. They are the     ships of the Desert of hills arrived to assist     Cuchulaid.     I saw their chief, says Moran, tall as     a rock of ice. His spear is like that fir;     his shield like the rising moon. He sat     upon a rock on the shore, as a grey     cloud upon the hill. Many, mighty     man! I said, many are our heroes;     Garve, well art thou named,     many are the sons of our king.     [Footnote: Garve sigifies a man of great size.]     He answered like a wave on the     rock; who is like me here? The valiant     live not with me; they go to the     earth from my hand. The king of the     Desert of hills alone can fight with     Garve. Once we wrestled on the hill.     Our heels overturned the wood. Rocks     fell from their place, and rivulets changed     their course. Three days we strove     together; heroes stood at a distance,     and feared. On the fourth, the King     saith that I fell; but Garve saith, he     stood. Let Cuchulaid yield to him that     is strong as a storm.     No. I will never yield to man.     Cuchulaid will conquer or die. Go,     Moran, take my spear; strike the shield     of Caithbait which hangs before the     gate. It never rings in peace. My heroes     shall hear on the hill,--