No man despised among the Feinn;
The first himself, all else like him.
Finn was our chief, easy’s his praise;
Noblest of kings, Finn ne’er refused
To any man, howe’er unknown;
Ne’er from his house sent those who came.
Good man was Finn, good man was he;
No gifts e’er given like his so free.
’Twas yesterday week.
This is a specimen of a peculiar kind of ancient Celtic poetry. It was usually sung to music, and has a remarkable resemblance to some of the hymns of the early Latin Church. There is another composition of the same kind in praise of Gaul, called usually “Rosg Ghuill,” or the War-Song of Gaul.