’Twas my mother who bid me to save it,
For the ring she in secret would hide;
’Tis as pledge of our love that I gave it,
As its pledge it with thee should abide.

Till that ring we can freely be showing
I will tell them I put it astray!”
And, the love of each other thus knowing,
Fraech and Finnabar went on their way.

“I have fear,” said the king, “that with Fraech yon maid to his home as his wife would fly; Yet her hand he may win, if he rides on the Raid with his kine when the time draws nigh.”  Then Fraech to the Hall of Debate returned, and he cried:  “Through Some secret chink Hath a whisper passed?” and the king replied, “Thou would’st fit in that space, I think!”

“Will ye give me your daughter?” said Fraech:  said the king, “In sight of our hosts she goes; If, as gift to suffice for her marriage price, thy hand what I ask bestows.”  “I will give thee what price thou dost name,” said Fraech, “and now let its sum be told!"’ “Then a sixty steeds do I claim,” said the king, “dark-grey, and with bits of gold; And twelve milch-cows, from their udders shall come the milk in a copious stream, And by each of the cows a white calf shall run; bright red on its ears shall gleam; And thou, with thy harpers and men, shalt ride by my side on the Cualgne[FN#10] Raid, And when all thy kine driven here shall stand, shall the price of her hand be paid!”

[FN#10] Pronounced Kell-ny.

Now I swear by the edge of my sword,” said Fraech, “I swear by my arms and shield, I would give no such pledge, even Maev to take, were it her thou wert fain to yield!” And he went from the House of Debate, but Maev with Ailill bent low in plot:  All around us our foes,” said the king, “shall close, if Finnabar stays here not; Many kings of Erin, who seek that maid, shall hear of her borne away, And in wrath they will rush on our land; ’twere best that Fraech we devise to slay; Ere that ruin he bring, let us make our spring, and the ill yet unwrought arrest.”  “It were pity such deed should be done,” said Maev, “and to slay in our house our guest!  ’Twill bring shame on us ever.”  “No shame to our house,” said King Ailill, “that death shall breed!” (And he spake the words twice)—­“but now hear my advice, how I plan we should do this deed.”

All the plot had been planned; to their house at last
King Ailill and Maev through the doorway passed;
And the voice of the king uprose: 
“’Tis now that the hounds should their prey pursue,
Come away to the hunt who the hounds would view;
For noon shall that hunting close.” 
So forth went they all, on the chase intent,
And they followed till strength of the hounds was spent,
And the hunters were warm; and to bathe they went
Where the river of Croghan flows.