Shall a son of O'Donnel be cheerless and cold,
While Mackenna's wide heart has a faggot to spare;
While O'Donnel is poor shall Mackenna have gold,
Or be cloth'd, while a limb of O'Donnel is bare?
While sickness and hunger the sinews assail,
Shall Mackenna, unmov'd, quaff his madder of mead;
On the haunch of a deer shall Mackenna regale,
While a chief of Tyrconnell is fainting for bread?

No, enter my dwelling, my feast thou shalt share,
On my pillow of rushes thy head shall recline:
And bold is the heart and the hand that will dare
To harm but one hair of a ringlet of thine.
Then come to my home, 'tis the house of a friend,
In the green woods of Traugh thou art safe from thy foes;
Six sons of Mackenna thy steps shall attend,
And their six sheathless skeans shall protect thy repose.