Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/384

 

With the charm-belt of Fillan.
And he vowed and he swore
Firmly and sternly
That he would not let her out of his grasp
Till he showed her in the presence of men.

"Let me off," she said; "and you'll get from me
As indemnity and ransom
A fold full of speckled cows,
White-bellied, black, white-faced,
The choice of hillocks and of fairs,
For yourself and your kind after you."

"I have that without you," said he,
"And it will not suffice to free you."
"Let me off, and I will leave your land
Where I was dwelling in the hillocks,
And I will raise for you to-night
On the Foich over there
A big, strong, stone house:
A house that fire will not injure,
Nor water, nor arrow, nor iron,
And that will keep you dry and warm,
Without fear or dread, and a charm on you
From poison, and robbers, and fairies."

"Fulfil your words," said he,
"And you will get your freedom from me."

She gave a cry with sorrow
That was heard over seven hills.
One would think it was the Horn of might.
That Fionn had, that gave a blast.
And there was neither knoll nor hillock
That did not waken and answer:
They collected on the other side of the Lón (meadow),
Awaiting her orders.

She put them to work in haste,
Soberly and orderly,
And they brought flags and stones