“Och! in the place of battles and heavy fights, where I used to have my place and to take my pleasure, the crozier of Patrick being carried, and his clerks at their quarrelling.

“Och! slothful, cheerless Conan, it is great abuse I used to be giving you; why do you not come to see me now? you would get leave for making fun and reviling through the whole of the niggardly clerks.

“Och! where are the strong men gone that they do not come together to help me!  O Osgar of the sharp sword of victory, come and free your father from his bonds!

“Where is the strong son of Lugaidh?  Och!  Diarmuid of all the women!  Och!  Caoilte, son of Ronan, think of our love, and travel to me!”

Patrick.  “Stop your talk, you withered, witless old man; it is my King that made the Heavens, it is He that gives blossom to the trees, it is He made the moon and the sun, the fields and the grass.”

Oisin.  “It was not in shaping fields and grass that my king took his delight, but in overthrowing fighting men, and defending countries, and bringing his name into every part.

“In courting, in playing, in hunting, in baring his banner at the first of a fight; in playing at chess, at swimming, in looking around him at the drinking-hall.

“O Patrick, where was your God when the two came over the sea that brought away the queen of Lochlann of the Ships?  Where was He when Dearg came, the son of the King of Lochlann of the golden shields?  Why did not the King of Heaven protect them from the blows of the big man?

“Or when Tailc, son of Treon, came, the man that did great slaughter on the Fianna; it was not by God that champion fell, but by Osgar, in the sight of all.

“Many a battle and many a victory was gained by the Fianna of Ireland; I never heard any great deed was done by the King of Saints, or that He ever reddened His hand.

“It would be a great shame for God not to take the locks of pain off Finn; if God Himself were in bonds, my king would fight for His sake.

“Finn left no one in pain or in danger without freeing him by silver or gold, or by fighting till he got the victory.

“For the strength of your love, Patrick, do not forsake the great men; bring in the Fianna unknown to the King of Heaven.

“It is a good claim I have on your God, to be among his clerks the way I am; without food, without clothing, without music, without giving rewards to poets.

“Without the cry of the hounds or the horns, without guarding coasts, without courting generous women; for all that I have suffered by the want of food, I forgive the King of Heaven in my will.”

Oisin said:  “My story is sorrowful.  The sound of your voice is not pleasant to me.  I will cry my fill, but not for God, but because Finn and the Fianna are not living.”

CHAPTER IV.  OISIN’S LAMENTS