But Cormac, fierce Cormac, waylaid us,
Intent on the furious fray.
Eight heroes had followed their Chieftain,
And their men behind them stood;
The hillside flamed with their armour,
Their spears were raised like a wood.
Eight came with Ossian the lofty,
All equal to shield him in war.
Then the heroes met face to face, and the strife was fierce and long. Ossian and Cormac at last met in personal combat with the following result:
Five times he dashed on my buckler;