" "Do
not say that," said Finn, "and do not put reproach on my people although
I myself am your prisoner; for as to Caoilte," he said, "that is not the
way with him, for it is a high mind he has, and he only does high
deeds, and he would not stand serving with a candle for all the gold of
the whole world."
After that Caoilte was serving the King of Ireland with drink, and when
he was standing beside him he gave out a high sorrowful lament. "There
is the smell of Caoilte's skin on that lament," said the king. And when
Caoilte saw he knew him he spoke out and he said: "Tell me what way I
can get freedom for my master." "There is no way to get freedom for him
but by doing one thing," said the king, "and that is a thing you can
never do. If you can bring me together a couple of all the wild
creatures of Ireland," he said, "I will give up your master to you
then."
When Caoilte heard him say that he made no delay, but he set out from
Teamhair, and went through the whole of Ireland to do that work for the
sake of Finn. It is with the flocks of birds he began, though they were
scattered in every part, and from them he went on to the beasts. And he
gathered together two of every sort, two ravens from Fiodh da Bheann;
two wild ducks from Loch na Seillein; two foxes from Slieve Cuilinn; two
wild oxen from Burren; two swans from blue Dobhran; two owls from the
wood of Faradhruim; two polecats from the branchy wood on the side of
Druim da Raoin, the Ridge of the Victories; two gulls from the strand of
Loch Leith; four woodpeckers from white Brosna; two plovers from
Carraigh Dhain; two thrushes from Leith Lomard; two wrens from Dun
Aoibh; two herons from Corrain Cleibh; two eagles from Carraig of the
stones; two hawks from Fiodh Chonnach; two sows from Loch Meilghe; two
water-hens from Loch Erne; two moor-hens from Monadh Maith; two
sparrow-hawks from Dubhloch; two stonechats from Magh Cuillean; two
tomtits from Magh Tuallainn; two swallows from Sean Abhla; two
cormorants from Ath Cliath; two wolves from Broit Cliathach; two
blackbirds from the Strand of the Two Women; two roebucks from Luachair
Ire; two pigeons from Ceas Chuir; two nightingales from Leiter Ruadh;
two starlings from green-sided Teamhair; two rabbits from Sith Dubh
Donn; two wild pigs from Cluaidh Chuir; two cuckoos from Drom Daibh; two
lapwings from Leanain na Furraich; two woodcocks from Craobh Ruadh; two
hawks from the Bright Mountain; two grey mice from Luimneach; two otters
from the Boinn; two larks from the Great Bog; two bats from the Cave of
the Nuts; two badgers from the province of Ulster; two landrail from the
banks of the Sionnan; two wagtails from Port Lairrge; two curlews from
the harbour of Gallimh; two hares from Muirthemne; two deer from Sith
Buidhe; two peacocks from Magh Mell; two cormorants from Ath Cliath; two
eels from Duth Dur; two goldfinches from Slieve na-n Eun; two birds of
slaughter from Magh Bhuilg; two bright swallows from Granard; two
redbreasts from the Great Wood; two rock-cod from Cala Chairge; two
sea-pigs from the great sea; two wrens from Mios an Chuil; two salmon
from Eas Mhic Muirne; two clean deer from Gleann na Smoil; two cows from
Magh Mor; two cats from the Cave of Cruachan; two sheep from bright
Sidhe Diobhlain; two pigs of the pigs of the son of Lir; a ram and a
crimson sheep from Innis.
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