118 BRIEN BOIRUMHE their successors, waited impatiently to renew the same scenes of devastation and cruelty, and by way of antiei- pation (says he) they have fixed on the very day on which Christ was crucified to destroy the country of his greatest votaries. But that God, whose cause you are to fight, will be present with you, and deliver his enemies into your hands." So saying, he proceeded towards the centre to lead his troops to action, but the chiefs of the arny with one voice requested he would retire from the field of battle on account of his extreme age, and leave to the gallant Morrogh the chief command. At eight in the morning the signal for slaughter was given. The Dalgais with the whole right wing marched to attack, sword in hand, the Danes commanded by Brodar and Airgiodal: but an uncommon act of cowardice or treachery had like to have destroyed the whole army, for, at this very eritical moment, Malachie with his Meathians retired suddenly from the field of battle, leaving the rest of this body ex- posed to a far greater number of enemies. But Morrogb, with great presence of mind, called out to his brave Dal- gais, " that this was the time to distinguish themselves, as they alone would have the unrivalled glory of cutting off that formidable body of the enemy" And now, while close engaged with battle-axe, sword, and dagger on the right, the left, under the command of the King of Con- naught, hasten to engage the Danes of Leinster and their insular levies, whilst the troops of South Munster attack the apostate Maol-Mordha and his degenerate Lagenians. Never was greater animosity, perseverance, and intrepidity displayed in any battle than this, as every thing depended on open force and courage. The situation of the ground admitted of no ambuscade, and none were used. They fought man to man, and breast to breast, and the victors in one rank fell victims in the next The officers and generals performed prodigies of valour. Morrogh, his son Turlogh, his brethren and kinsmen, flew from place to place, and every where left the sanguinary traces of their
