with love could fire:  All those seven sons were as Mani[FN#62] known; the first was as Morgor hailed, For his love was great:  it was Mingar’s fate that in filial love he failed:  The face was seen of the mother-queen on the third; and his father’s face Did the fourth son show:  they the fifth who know cannot speak all his strength and grace:  The sixth son spoke, from his lips the words like drops of honey fell:  And last came one who all gifts possessed that the tongue of a man can tell; For his father’s face that Mani had, in him was his mother seen; And in him abode every grace bestowed on the king of the land or the queen.

[FN#62] Pronounced Mah-nee.

Of the daughters of Regamon now we speak:  two names those maidens bore:  For as Dunnan three ever known shall be; Dunlaith[FN#63] was the name for four:  And in Breffny’s land is the Ford Dunlaith, and the fame of the four recalls; The three ye know where the Dunnan’s flow in western Connaught falls.  With Fergus, Ailill and Maev were met:  as at council all conferred; “It were well for our folk,” thus Ailill spoke, “if the lord of that cattle-herd, That strays in the fields of Regamon, would tribute to us pay:  And to gain that end, let us heralds send, to his burg who may make their way, And bear to our court that tribute back; for greatly we soon shall need Such kine when we in the time of war our hosts shall have to feed; And all who share in our counsels know that a burden will soon be mine, When the men must be fed of Ireland, led on the Raid for the Cuailgne[FN#64] Kine!” Thus Ailill spoke; and Queen Maev replied, “The men to perform that task Right well I know; for our sons will go, if we for their aid but ask!  The seven daughters of Regamon do the Mani in love now seek:  If those maidens’ hands they can gain by the deed, they will heed the words we speak.”  To his side King Ailill has called his sons, his mind to the youth he shows.  “Best son,” says Maev, “and grateful he, from filial love who goes!” And Morgor said, “For the love that we owe, we go at our sire’s behest:”  “Yet a greater reward,” thus Mingar spake, “must be ours, if we go on this quest!  For naught have we of hero-craft; and small shall be found our might; And of valiant breed are the men,” said he, “with whom we shall have to fight.

[FN#63] Pronounced Dun-lay.

[FN#64] Pronounced Kell-ny.

As men from the shelter of roof who go, and must rest in the open field, So thy sons shall stand, if they come to a land where a foe might be found concealed!  We have dwelt till now in our father’s halls, too tenderly cared for far:  Nor hath any yet thought, that to us should be taught the arts that belong to war!”