And as to the young woman, when she saw all the slaughter that had been done on account of her, shame reddened her face, and she fell dead there and then.  And to see her die like that, after all she had gone through, preyed more on the Fianna than any other thing.

CHAPTER II.  MEARGACH’S WIFE

And while the Fianna were gathered yet on the hill where Tailc, son of Treon, had been put down, they saw a very great champion coming towards them, having an army behind him.  He took no notice of any one more than another, but he asked in a very rough voice where was Finn, the Head of the Fianna.  And Aodh Beag, that had a quiet heart, asked him who was he, and what was he come for.  “I will tell you nothing at all, child,” said the big man, “for it is short your years are, and I will tell nothing at all to any one but Finn.”  So Aodh Beag brought him to where Finn was, and Finn asked him his name.  “Meargach of the Green Spears is my name,” he said; “and arms were never reddened yet on my body, and no one ever boasted of driving me backwards.  And was it you, Finn,” he said, “put down Tailc, son of Treon?” “It was not by me he fell,” said Finn, “but by Osgar of the strong hand.”  “Was it not a great shame for you, Finn,” said Meargach then, “to let the queen-woman that had such a great name come to her death by the Fianna?” “It was not by myself or by any of the Fianna she got her death,” said Finn; “it was seeing the army lost that brought her to her death.  But if it is satisfaction for her death or the death of Tailc you want,” he said, “You can get it from a man of the Fianna, or you can go quietly from this place.”  Then Meargach said he would fight with any man they would bring against him, to avenge Tailc, son of Treon.

And it was Osgar stood up against him, and they fought a very hard fight through the length of three days, and at one time the Fianna thought it was Osgar was worsted, and they gave a great sorrowful shout.  But in the end Osgar put down Meargach and struck his head off, and at that the seven battalions of the Fianna gave a shout of victory, and the army of Meargach keened him very sorrowfully.  And after that, the two sons of Meargach, Ciardan the Swift and Liagan the Nimble, came up and asked who would come against them, hand to hand, that they might get satisfaction for their father.

And it was Goll stood up against Ciardan, and it was not long till he put him down; and Conan came out against Liagan, and Liagan mocked at him and said:  “It is foolishness your coming is, bald man!” But Conan made a quick blow and struck his head off before the fight was begun at all.

And Faolan said that was a shameful thing to do, not to stand his ground and make a fair fight.  But Conan said:  “If I could make an end of the whole army by one blow, I would do it, and I would not be ashamed, and the whole of the Fianna could not shelter them from me.”