Goll sat twisted round watching the progress of the brawl critically, and
Fionn, sitting opposite, watched Goll.
Just then Faelan, another of Fionn’s sons, stormed the hall with three
hundred of the Fianna, and by this force all Goll’s people were put out of
doors, where the fight continued.
Goll looked then calmly on Fionn.
“Your people are using their weapons,” said he.
“Are they?” Fionn inquired as calmly, and as though addressing the air.
“In the matter of weapons—!” said Goll.
And the hard-fighting pillar of battle turned to where his arms hung on
the wall behind him. He took his solid, well-balanced sword in his fist,
over his left arm his ample, bossy shield, and, with another side-look at
Fionn, he left the hall and charged irresistibly into the fray.
Fionn then arose. He took his accoutrements from the wall also and strode
out. Then he raised the triumphant Fenian shout and went into the combat.
That was no place for a sick person to be. It was not the corner which a
slender-fingered woman would choose to do up her hair; nor was it the spot
an ancient man would select to think quietly in, for the tumult of sword
on sword, of axe on shield, the roar of the contending parties, the crying
of wounded men, and the screaming of frightened women destroyed peace, and
over all was the rallying cry of Goll mac Morna and the great shout of
Fionn.
Then Fergus True-Lips gathered about him all the poets of the Fianna, and
they surrounded the combatants. They began to chant and intone long, heavy
rhymes and incantations, until the rhythmic beating of their voices
covered even the noise of war, so that the men stopped hacking and hewing,
and let their weapons drop from their hands. These were picked up by the
poets and a reconciliation was effected between the two parties.
But Fionn affirmed that he would make no peace with clann-Morna until the
matter had been judged by the king, Cormac mac Art, and by his daughter
Ailve, and by his son Cairbre of Ana Life’ and by Fintan the chief poet.
Goll agreed that the affair should be submitted to that court, and a day
was appointed, a fortnight from that date, to meet at Tara of the Kings
for judgement. Then the hall was cleansed and the banquet recommenced.
Of Fionn’s people eleven hundred of men and women were dead, while of
Goll’s people eleven men and fifty women were dead. But it was through
fright the women died, for not one of them had a wound or a bruise or a
mark.
