The Courtship of Ferb
them, and as the upshot thereof, Fiannamail, 'overcome by the numbers against him, was vanquished,' nor did he reap advantage from the equal number on his own side, for he fell lifeless and dead; yet thirty of his foes fell by his single arm alone. And then the maiden, namely Ferb, turned her and looked at the young warriors of Connaught.
"Truly," said she, "do I reckon that it is not owing to lack of valour or of skill that you died; nay, but you, overcome by the numbers against you, were vanquished; yet," said she, "an equal number of your foes have been slain by you, even though you also have fallen." And she sang the following song:—
IX
For Connaught's young warriors
Hard cushions are spread;
Their eyes have been smitten,
Their light step has fled!
What army excelled you
In beauty, or strife?
Ah! masterless flutter
The threads of your life!
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