"There were his young barbarians all at play."

BYRON.


In the morning Fergus Mac Roy said to the young king, "What shall
we do this day, O Concobar? Shall we lead forth our sweet-voiced
hounds into the woods and rouse the wild boar from his lair, and
chase the swift deer, or shall we drive afar in our chariots and
visit one of our subject kings and take his tribute as
hospitality, which, according to thee, wise youth, is the best,
for it is agreeable to ourselves and not displeasing to the man
that is tributary."

"Nay," said Concobar, "let us wait and watch this day. Hast thou
forgotten the words of Cathvah?"

"Truly, in a manner I had," said Fergus, "for I never much
regarded, the race of seers, or deemed the birds more than
pleasant songsters, and the stars as a fair spectacle, or druidic
instruments aught but toys."

"Let us play at chess on the lawn of the dun," said the king,
"while our boys exercise themselves at hurling on the green."

"It is agreeable to me," said Fergus, "though well thou knowest,
dear foster-son, that I am not thy match at the game."

What the champion said was true, for in royal wisdom the king far
excelled his foster-father, and that was the reason why Fergus had