"I swear," Fraoch spake, "by my shield, by my sword, and by mine arms, I would not give that purchase-price even were it for Mève herself." Then he marched out of the house.
Mève and Ailill thereafter fell to conversing within, and said:
"Should he carry off the girl he will bring a host of the Kings of Erin against us. What is good is, let us dash after him and slay him forthwith ere he work us ruin." That were 3 a pity and a loss of honour to us," said Mève.
"It shall not be a loss of honour for us," said Ailill, "the way I shall prepare it."
Ailill and Mève go into the Palace.
47 "Love's labour lost."
48 Dowry from the bridegroom; cf. marriage-settlement.
"Let us set off," said Ailill, "that we may see the chase-hounds a-hunting until midday, until they are tired."
Thereafter th
