<> Conary Linen Hall Library 1880 Linen Hall Library Saturday, March 12, 2016 TIFF Ferg026 Manuscript Duftach, Ferflath, Govnan English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/ferg026 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Ferg026_2.jpg LHL Archive Roll outward ; and the clash and clamour heard Of falling foes before ; and, over it, The yelling pibroch ; but, anon, the din Grew distant and more distant ; and they heard Instead, at every door new onset loud, And cry of " Fire ! " " Bring fire ! " " Behoves us make A champion-circuit of the house at large," Said Conary. " Thou, Duftach, who, I see, Can'st hardly keep the weapon in thy hand From flying on these caitiffs of itself. Lead thou, and take two cohorts of the guard, And let another piper play you on." " I fear them, these red pipers," said the boy. " Peace, little Ferflath, thou art but a child," Said Duftach. " Come, companions ( — patience, spear ! — ) Blow up the pibroch ; warriors, follow me ! " And forth they went, and with them rushed amain Senchad and Govnan and the thick-hair'd three Of Pictland with a shout ; and all who heard Deemed that the spear of Keltar shouted too The loudest and the fiercest of them all. So issued Duftach's band : the hosts within Heard the commotion and the hurtling rout Half round the house, and heard the mingling scream Of pipes and death-cries far into the night ; But distant and more distant grew the din. And Duftach came not back : but thronging back Came the assailants, and at every door Joined simultaneous battle once again. Text