And Fergus of the True Lips stood up, and it is what he
said: "Fianna of Ireland," he said, "it is a pity the way you are under
hardship and you defending Ireland. And one man is taking her from you
to-day," he said, "and you are like no other thing but a flock of little
birds looking for shelter in a bush from a hawk that is after them. And
it is going into the shelter of Finn and Oisin and Caoilte you are," he
said; "and not one of you is better than another, and none of you sets
his face against the foreigner." "By my oath," said Oisin, "all that is
true, and no one of us tries to do better than another keeping him off."
"There is not one of you is better than another," said Fergus. Then
Oisin gave out a great shout against the King of Lochlann's son. "Stop
here with me, king's son," he said, "until I fight with you for the
Fianna." "I give my word it is short the delay will be," said Forne.
Then he himself and Oisin made an attack on one another, and it seemed
for a while that the battle was going against Oisin. "By my word, Man of
Poetry," said Finn then to Fergus of the True Lips, "it is a pity the
way you sent my son against the foreigner. And rise up and praise him
and hearten him now," he said. So Fergus went down to where the fight
was, and he said: "There is great shame on the Fianna, Oisin, seeing you
so low in this fight; and there is many a foot messenger and many a
horsemen from the daughters of the kings and princes of Ireland looking
at you now," he said.
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