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The Little Brawl at Allen - Page 2
The
banquet began.
Fionn
sat in the Chief Captain's seat in the middle of the
fort; and facing him, in the place of honor, he placed
the mirthful Goll Mac Morna; and from these, ranging on
either side, the nobles of the Fianna took each the
place that fitted his degree and patrimony.
After
good eating, good conversation; and after good
conversation, sleep--that is the order of a banquet: so
when each person had been served with food to the limit
of desire the butlers carried in shining, and jeweled
drinking-horns, each having its tide of smooth, heady
liquor. Then the young heroes grew merry and audacious,
the ladies became gentle and kind, and the poets became
wonders of knowledge and prophecy. Every eye beamed in
that assembly, and on Fionn every eye was turned
continually in the hope of a glance from the great, mild
hero.
Goll
spoke to him across the table enthusiastically.
"There
is nothing wanting to this banquet, O Chief," said he.
And
Fionn smiled back into that eye which seemed a well of
tenderness and friendship.
"Nothing
is wanting," he replied, "but a well-shaped poem." A
crier stood up then, holding in one hand a length of
coarse iron links and in the other a chain of delicate,
antique silver. He shook the iron chain so that the
servants and followers of the household should be
silent, and he shook the silver one so that the nobles
and poets should hearken also.
Fergus,
called True-Lips, the poet of the Fianna-Finn, then sang
of Fionn and his ancestors and their deeds. When he had
finished Fionn and Oisi'n and Oscar and Mac Lugac of the
Terrible Hand gave him rare and costly presents, so that
every person wondered at their munificence, and even the
poet, accustomed to the liberality of kings and princes,
was astonished at his gifts.
Fergus
then turned to the side of Goll mac Morna, and he sang
of the Forts, the Destructions, the Raids, and the
Wooings of clann-Morna; and as the poems succeeded each
other, Goll grew more and more jovial and contented.
When the songs were finished Goll turned in his seat.
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