part 12

This is the time that the crowd of enemies attacked each other, knocking each other over, fiercely, stoutly and strongly.          160

Great was the horror to be in the midst of the field; great was the fear to be that time in the plain.

There was braying and jumping of horses, and sparks of fire from blades, and fierce crying and shouting in every quarter of the plain.

There were sparks (lightening) from breast plates, clashing from shields, breaking of helmets between all men in the plain.

The leaders were urging them on as they were controlling the hosts; warriors were shouting as they were all fighting hard.

There were many heads and shoulders there that time without life in them; there were many horsemen with one eye at the renewal of the battle.                                                       165

Many a leg was broken and many a face was cut; many a fine man was without limbs who was in the fierce fight that day.

Many a face was wounded of the people who feast on potatoes; many a head was cut of the people who consume grain.

Many skulls were broken and also thighs and loins; many waists and necks were cut in the turmoil of the fight.

The people of the potatoes lost many furlongs of their land; indeed they would have lost the victory, except they renewed their valour.

Fiercely they got together as if they were Samsons so that they routed from the grass of the mountain the valiant people of the grain.                                                          170

Forceful, lively, the striking victorious valiant was every great man; noisy and swift was the lashing which the shields of the people of the grain got.

The warriors of the Old Court came well-packed to the spot; they routed the people of Clondalkin like many whirlwinds down the slope.

The people of Ballyboy came from behind the mountain; they came and they banished them three miles to Howth.

Everyone from Ceidin to Brittas came in a powerful gathering, they made a slaughtering in the province; the warriors were deceitful.