[FN#54] The metre is that of the Irish.

Cuchulain

Hot with indignation,
Take I battle-station,
Face yon warrior nation,
Round their warlike king: 
They shall see me meet thee,
Count the strifes that greet thee,
Watch, as down I beat thee,
Drowning, suffering.

Ferdia

Here is one to shame thee;
How ’twas I o’ercame thee,
They who champion name thee
Long the tale shall tell. 
Ulster, near thee lying,
Soon shall see thee dying;
All shall say, with sighing,
Theirs the chief who fell.

Cuchulain

Thine shall be the choosing;
Say, what warfare using
Hosts shall see thee losing
At the Ford this fight? 
Swords dost choose, hard-clashing
Cars, in conflict crashing? 
Spears, thy life-blood splashing? 
’Tis thy death in sight.

Ferdia

Ere the twilight gleameth,
Red thy life-blood streameth: 
Small thy stature seemeth,
Like a cliff thy foe. 
Ulster’s hosts who prated,
And thy pride inflated;
Through them feel thy hated
Spectre sadly go.

Cuchulain

Down a chasm appalling
Thou to death art falling;
One thy foe:  yet galling
Weapons press thee sore. 
Proud thou wert but lately,
Strife shall change thee greatly,
Thee as champion stately
Earth shall know no more.

Ferdia

Cease this endless vaunting,
Speech for ever flaunting,
Thou a chief! a taunting,
Giggling child thou art. 
None would pay, or fee thee,
I as coward see thee;
Strength hast none to free thee,
Caged bird! quaking heart!

Cuchulain

Ah! in bygone story
We, as peers in glory,
Sports and combats gory
Shared when Scaha taught: 
Thou, of all who nearest
To my soul appearest! 
Clansman! kinsman dearest! 
Woe thy fate hath brought!

Ferdia

Naught this strife avails thee,
Glory fades, and fails thee;
Cock-crow loudly hails thee,
High on stake thy head! 
Cualgne’s[FN#55] Hound, Cuchulain! 
Faults thy soul bear rule in: 
Thee to bitter schooling
Frantic grief hath led.

[FN#55] Pronounced Kell-ny.

“O my friend Ferdia!” said Cuchulain, “it was not right for thee to have come to the combat and the fight with me, at the instigation and the meddling of Ailill and Maev:  none of those who came before thee have gained for themselves victory or success, and they all fell at my hand; neither shalt thou win victory or success from this battle, by me shalt thou fall.”  And it was in this manner that he was speaking, and he recited these words, and Ferdia hearkened to him: