Mahoun then sent for him.

An interview took place, which is described in the form of a poetic dialogue, between the two brothers.
Brian reproached Mahoun with cowardice; Mahoun reproached Brian with imprudence.

Brian hints broadly that Mahoun had interested motives in making this truce, and declares that neither Kennedy, their father, nor Lorcan, their grandfather, would have been so quiescent towards the foreigners for the sake of wealth, nor would they have given them even as much time as would have sufficed to play a game of chess[210] on the green of Magh Adhair.

Mahoun kept his temper, and contented himself with reproaching Brian for his recklessness, in sacrificing the lives of so many of his faithful followers to no purpose.

Brian replied that he would never abandon his inheritance, without a contest, to "such foreigners as Black Grim Gentiles." The result was a conference of the tribe, who voted for war, and marched into the country of the Eoghanists (the present co.