seven men of learning came to Fionn to recite a poem to him, and the fee they demanded afterwards was a hundred and fifty ounces of gold and the same weight of silver, which they wished to take to the king at Tara.
"I have not that amount of gold and silver with me," said Fionn; "and though your poem is good, I am making as good a one myself, and do not want the wealth of the world for it either. I have listened to yours, now I will recite mine to you"; and he began:
The may blooms fair on the high green hedges,
The moor-fowls nest in the reeds and sedges;
On chestnut trees the blackbirds are singing,
And over hills where the wild geese are winging
The furze blows golden and gay.
When the poets heard Fionn speak so contemptuously, as they thought, of their poem they were very indignant and would not listen to him, and said they certainly would not go away without their fee. One of the Norwegian princes, on hearing this, said:
"Well, makers of poems, must you have your fee this evening or will you wait until the morning?"
