“We will not bow ourselves before you,” said Nuada, “for ye are ugly and vile, and lords neither of us nor of Ireland.”

With hoarse cries the Fomorians fell on the De Danaanans, but Nuada and his folk held together and withstood them as well as they were able. Scarcely had the weapons clashed when a light appeared in the horizon and a sound of mighty battle-trumpets shook the air. The light was so white that no one could look at it, and great rose-red streamers shot from it into the sky.

“It is a second sunrise,” said the Fomorians.

“It is the Deliverer!” said the De Danaanans.

Out of the light came the glorious company of warriors from Tir-nan-oge. Lugh was leading them. He had the helmet of Mananaan on his head, the breastplate of Mananaan over his heart, and the great white horse of Mananaan beneath him.

The Sword of Light was bare in his hand. He fell on the Fomorians as a sea-eagle falls on her prey, as lightning flashes out of a clear sky. Before him and his companions they were destroyed as stubble is destroyed by fire. He held his hand when only nine of them remained alive.

“Bow yourselves,” he said, “before the King, Nuada, and before the De Danaanans, for they are your Lords and the Lords of Ireland, and go hence to Balor of the Evil Eye and tell him and his misshapen brood that the De Danaanans have taken their own again, and they will wage war against the Fomorians till there is not one left to darken the earth with his shadow.”

The nine Fomorians bowed themselves before the King, Nuada, and before the De Danaanans, and before Lugh Lauvauda, the Ildana, and they arose and carried his message to Balor of the Evil Eye, King of the Fomorians.

Transcriber’s Notes