Amid the roar of the waters ever sounded the dry clash
of the meeting swords and the clang of the smitten shields and the
ringing of helmets. Sometimes one champion would dive seeking an
advantage, and the other would dive too, in order to elude or meet
the assault. Then the frothing surface of the stream would clear
itself, and the Boyne run dark as before, though the mounted water
showed that the combat still raged in its depths. The swallows,
too, had been scared away, returning, skimmed the surface, and the
bird which is the most beautiful of all darted a bright streak low
across the dark water. Anon the submerged champions, coming to the
surface for breath, renewed their deadly combat amid foaming
waters and clouds of spray. The full particulars of this combat
are not related, only that the wizard-champion grew weaker, while
his vigour and strength continued unabated with the son of
Sualtam, and that in the end he slew the other, and in the sight
of all he cut off his head and flung it from the middle Boyne to
the shore, and that the headless trunk of Fenla, son of Nectan,
floated down-stream to the sea.
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