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O'Grady, Standish, 1846-1928

"The Coming of Cuculain"

It
is not a little or mean one, but great, proud, and conspicuous,
and vauntingly it rears its head like a man who has never known
defeat, but on the contrary has caused many widows to lament. Its
white sides flashed against the dark waters of the Boyne, and its
bright roofs glitter above the green woods. There is a stream that
runs into the Boyne beside it, and there are bulwarks around it,
and great strong barriers."
Laeg answered, "That is the dun of the sons of Nectan."
"Let us now leave Slieve Modurn," said Cuculain, "and guide
thither my horses, for I shall lay waste that dun, and burn it
with fire, after having slain the men who dwell there."
Then Laeg clasped his comrade's knees, and said, "Take the road,
dear master, against the royalest dun in all Meath, but pass by
that dun. The men are not alive to-day who at any time approached
it with warlike intent. Those who dwell there are sorcerers and
enchanters, lords of all the arts of poison and of war."
Cuculain answered, "I swear by my gods that Dun-Mic-Nectan is the
only dun in all Meath which shall hear my warlike challenge this
day.


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