So Fergus went to the King of the World, and it is the way he was, on his bed listening to the music of harps and pipes.  “King of the World,” said Fergus, “it is long you are in that sleep; and that is no shame for you,” he said, “for it will be your last sleep.  And the whole of the Fianna are gone out to their place of battle,” he said, “and let you go out and answer them.”  “In my opinion,” said the King of the World, “there is not a man of them is able to fight against me; and how many are there left of the Fianna of Ireland?” “One battalion only that is in good order,” said Fergus.  “And how many of the armies of the World are there left?” he said.  “Thirty battalions came with me to Ireland; and there are twenty of them fallen by the Fianna, and what is left of them is ten red battalions in good order.  And there are eight good fighters of them,” he said, “that would put down the men of the whole world if they were against me; that is, myself, and Conmail my son, and Ogarmach, the daughter of the King of Greece, that is the best hand in battle of the whole world after myself, and Finnachta of the Teeth, the chief of my household, and the King of Lochlann, Caisel Clumach of the Feathers, and his three sons, Tocha, and Forne of the Broad Shoulders, and Mongach of the Sea.”

“I swear by the oath of my people,” said the King of Lochlann then, “if any man of the armies goes out against the Fianna before myself and my three sons, we will not go at all, for we would not get the satisfaction we are used to, unless our swords get their fill of blood.”  “I will go out against them alone,” said Forne, the youngest son of the King of Lochlann.  With that he put on his battle suit, and he went among the Fianna of Ireland, and a red-edged sword in each of his hands.  And he destroyed those of their young men that were sent against him, and he made the strand narrow with their bodies.

And Finn saw that, and it was torment to his heart, and danger of death and loss of wits to him, and he was encouraging the men of Ireland against Forne.  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.