The babes were asleep in their cradles,

And the day’s drudge was done,

And the women brought their suppers out

To eat them in the sun.

“To-night I will set my needles, Aine,

And Eoghan will have stockings to wear:

I spun the wool of the horny ewe

He bought at the hiring fair. . . .

“But what is that sound I hear, Nabla?—

It is like the cheering of men.