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GAELIC FOLK TALES
ADAPTED FROM THE THREE SAGA CYCLES OF GAELIC MYTHOLOGY, AND DESIGNED AS SUPPLEMENTARY SCHOOL READING
REVISED EDITION With Foot Notes
MARY GRANT O’SHERIDAN
CHICAGO, U.S.A.
THE HENNEBERRY COMPANY 1910
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COPYRIGHT 1909
BY
MARY GRANT O’SHERIDAN
©CLA252S94
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER
"John Raymond O' Sheridan
whose beautiful Gaelic hand- writing inspired me even when a little child with a longing and love for the liter- ature of my Gaelic ancestors.
MARY GRANT O’SHERIDAN
.
Foreword
This little book is but a glimpse of a fairy structure whose beauty has no peer, and whose antiquity antedates all others of its kind, except the Hellenic. I have chosen it out of that which Julius Pokarney calls “a fresh foun- tain of lore and legend, almost inexhaustible, belonging to the Gaels, to the Irish Gaels.” To Mr. Michael O’Gal- lagher and Mr. David Ryan Twomey of the Gaelic Soci- ety of Chicago, I am indebted for kindest assistance in writing the notes. My book is but a wee “chraoibhin,” yet I hope to see the time of its blossom and fruitage. How can I better express myself than in the beautiful lines of Ethna Carbery:
“O little green bud, break and blow into flower,
Break and blow through the welcome of sunshine and shower; ’Twas a long night and dreary you hid there forlorn,
But now the cold hills wear the radiance of morn!
O wind-drifted branch, lift your head to the sun,
For the sap of new life in your veins hath begun!”
— Mary Grant O’Sheridan.
Chraoibhin [Cree veen] : A branch.
t
INDEX.
The Quest of the Eric Fine 7
The Fate of the Children of Lir 60
The Ard Righ of Eire 83
'Deirdre, or the Fate of the Sons of Usnach. . .118
^Oisin's Tale of Tir-na-n-og 154
v The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker 174
The Fairy Palace of the Quicken Trees 21 1
.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF STORIES CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK
By
MICHAEL O’GALLAGHER,
Member of the Gaelic Society of Chicago.
The Quest of the Eric Fine, The Children of Lir and Deirdre, under the names of The Fate of the Children of Tuireann, The Fate of the Children of Lir and The Fate of the Sons of Usnach have been famous from the earliest time of which any written record remains, as the “Three Sorrows of Story-telling.”
The exact period when these stories were first put into writ- ing is not easy to determine. Douglas Hyde, speaking of these and other early tales, says: “There is not a trace of their authorship remaining, if authorship be the right word for what I suspect to be the gradual growth of race, tribal and family history and of Celtic mythology told and retold and polished up and added to; some of them, especially such as are the descend- ants of a pagan mythology, must have been handed down for perhaps countless generations; others recounted historical, tribal or family transactions magnified during the course of time, others again of more recent date, are perhaps fairly accurate accounts of actual events, but all prior to the year 650.” Until the time when they were written down stories were transmitted from generation to generation orally. It was the business of the bards or Ollamhs (Olafs) of Ireland to learn and recite its poems and sagas. The course of study for a Gaelic Ollamh of Eire was twelve years. In this time he was compelled to learn 350 romances and these he was supposed to be able to “synchronize and harmonize,” else says the Book of Leinster, “he is no poet.” Vallencey tells us that an Ollamh had a dis- tinctive dress of five colors and wore a white mantle and a blue cap ornamented with a gold crescent. Eugene O’Curry, one of the greatest Irish scholars of the last century, states in his magnificent work: “Manuscript Materials of Irish History,” that the “Three Sorrows of Story-telling” were committed to writing before the year 1000 A. D. Very few manuscripts of an earlier date now remain. This is not to .be wondered at
when it is remembered that during the Danish invasions, lasting from the end of the eighth until the early part of the eleventh century, the monasteries, schools and libraries were the chief points of attack and all manuscripts — there were no printed books at this time — were again and again destroyed.
Later, under English rule, the possession of an Irish manu- script by an Irishman was conclusive proof of treason and re- bellion. The “dangerous” books were hidden, buried in holes in the earth; built into crevices in walls, even cast into the lakes and rivers. So it comes to pass that but comparatively few of the great mass of manuscripts known to have existed in ancient times have come down to our day; and the story of the re- covery and preservation of those that remain would be found almost as interesting as any of the stories they themselves pre- serve.
The Ard Righ of Eire: The story is found in Leabhar na h-Uidhre, under the name “Togbhail Bruighne Da Derga,” the taking or conquest of the palace of Da Derga. Leabhar na h-Uidhre means the “Book of the Dun Cow.” It is so called because the original book was written on vellum made from the hide of a celebrated cow of a dun color, which belonged to Saint Kiaran, of Clonmacnoise. The original book is lost. The volume now in existence is said to be a transcript of the original and was made in Clonmacnoise in the early part of the twelfth century. The story itself is considered to have a substantial basis of history; the principal incidents, the attack on and the destruction of the palace and the death of the king, Conaire, are regarded as real happenings. Exact fac-simile copies of Leabhar na h-Uidhre, the Book of Leinster, the Book of Ballymote and other famous Irish records may be seen in the Art Room of the Chicago Public Library.
The other three stories, Oisin in Tir-na-n-Og, The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker and The Fairy Palace of the Quicken Trees were great favorites among storytellers, but are not found in any ancient manuscripts. The oldest forms in which they are found appear to have been written about the thirteenth or fourteenth century.
Leabhar na h-Uidhre [Lyow’-ar na heer'-ya]
Togbhail Bruighne Da Derga LThog'-awl Breena Dhaw Dyar'-ga]
The Quest of the Eric Fine
CHAPTER I.
IDDEN away in the hills of the beautiful island of Eire, there dwell to-day a fairy people called the Sidhe. In olden times, before the enchantment fell upon them, these people were large of stature and comely of fea- ture; skilled in the arts of war and peace; lovers of beauty, of freedom and of song.
The name by which they were called was Tuatha De Danann. They came with their king, Nuada, to Eire and fought the Firbolgs, the peo- ple who at that time inhabited the island, and being victorious they took possession. But in their last great encounter, the battle of Magh Tuireadh, a Firbolg warrior cut off the hand of Nuada the De Danann king.
The loss of his kingship went with that of his hand; for no one with a personal blemish could
Eric : restitution. Eire [Ar'-ya] : Name of Ireland in the Gaelic lang- uage. Sidhe [She]: Fairies. Tuatha De Danann [Thoo' aha Da Dan ' ann] : The tribes of the God Danu ; the gods of the pagan Irish. Nuada [Noo' ah]. Firbolgs [Feer' bolgs], Magh Tuireadh [Maw Tu' rah] : Battle fought, according to the annals of the Four Masters, between the Tuatha De Danann and the Fomorians in the year of the world 3330 on a field in the County Sligo.
7
8
GAELIC FOLK TALES
be a sovereign of the Tuatha De Danann. The people chose in his stead Breas, whose mother was a De Danann and whose father was Balor, king of the Lochlanns, called by the Tuatha De Danann “Fomorians” or sea robbers.
Now the Fomorians had a foothold in Eire, and had for a long time exacted tribute from the peo- ple and otherwise oppressed and harassed them. Breas, on becoming king, proved a true Fomorian outdoing all others in unjust and niggardly deeds ; until so great was the burden imposed upon the people by him that, after a year of secret meet- ings and discussions on the part of eminent De Dananns, he was deposed. Then Nuada, for whom a silver hand had been made, was again given the kingship. And thenceforth he was known as Nuada of the Silver Hand.
At this, time each year in the island of Eire, the De Dananns were compelled to pay taxes to the Fomorians. There were taxes on kneading troughs, querns, and baking flags; and also an ounce of gold for each one of their number. If any one neglected or refused to pay, his nose was cut off by the Fomorian tyrants.
When Nuada had again become ruler of Eire, and the time of tax paying drew near, he called
Breas [Brass]. Balor [Bah 'lor]. Loch'lanns: Scandinavians.
Querns [kwams] : stone hand mills for grinding com. The pictures in Century Dictionary are taken from querns in the Dublin Museum.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
9
a great fair-meeting on the hill of Usna, the place where the people came to pay. Also, Nuada sent for his friend and councillor, Lugha the Ildana, to attend the fair-meeting.
And after a great multitude of people had as- sembled from near and far, they saw a band of warriors mounted on white steeds coming toward them from the east. At their head rode a young champion, tall and comely, with a countenance bright and glorious as the setting sun. This was the king’s friend, the Ildana; and the troop he led was the Fairy Host from the Land of Promise.
He rode the steed of Manannan Mac Lir, Enbar of the flowing mane. No warrior was ever killed on the back of this steed, for she was as swift as the clear, cold wind of spring; and, she traveled with equal ease on land or sea. -Lugha wore Manannan’s coat of mail; no one could be wounded through it, or above it, or be- low it. He had on Manannan’s breast-plate, which no weapon could pierce. In the front of his helmet were two glittering precious stones; and one shone from the back. Also, at his left side hung ManannaiTs sword, “The Answerer” ;
Usna [Oos ' na] : This hill is in Westmeath, about ten milesjfrom Ath- lone, the center of Eire. Lugha the Ildana [Loo' ah the El dan 'ah]: The All-Knowing-One; the Gaelic Apollo. Manannan Mac Lir [Man'-na-nan Mac Leer]: Son of the Sea; the Gaelic Neptune.
10
GAELIC FOLK TALES
and whenever he took off his helmet his face glowed like the sun on a dry day in summer.
Hardly were the greetings of the king and the Ildana over when another company was seen ap- proaching the hill of Usna. Nine times nine surly, Fomorian tax-gatherers were coming to demand their yearly tribute from the men of Eire.
When they reached the place where the king sat, the entire assembly — the king included — rose up before the tax-gatherers. Then the Ildana spoke to the king and said: “Why hast thou, O King, arisen before this hateful looking com- pany ?”
“We dare not do otherwise” answered the king, “for if even an infant a month old should remain seated before them, they would deem it good cause for killing us all.”
Lugha, the Ildana, brooded over this in silence for a while, and then he said: “Of a truth, I feel a great desire to kill all these men!”
“Thy deed would only bring evil upon us,” said King Nuada, “for then the Fomorians would send an army to destroy us all.”
Nevertheless the Ildana, vowing that the peo- ple should no longer be oppressed, started up and rushing upon the Fomorians dealt red slaughter
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
11
among them. Neither did he hold his hand until he had slain them all except nine. These he spared because they had implored the protection of the king.
After Lugha had put his sword back into its scabbard, he said to the nine living tax-collectors : “I would slay you also ; did I not wish you to go and tell your king and all the nations what you have seen this day in Eire.
The nine men then returned to their own coun- try. When they had told their story, King Balor of the mighty Blows asked them the name of the warrior who had wrought such woe to his Fomorians.
“Behold, O Kin g,” said they, “on the hill of Usna, in Eire, by the hand of a single man hath our number been thus diminished; but the name of the champion we cannot tell thee.”
But Kethlenda, the Queen, said: “This must be the Ildana. It has been foretold that he would oppose our sway in Eire.”
King Balor then called a council of the Fomor- ians. Among those who came to his palace of Berva were Luath, the story teller; Sotal of the large heels, Tinna of Triscadel; Loskina of the bare knees; Lobas the Druid; and also the nine
Kethlenda [Kell'yan] ; Inniskillen is named for this Queen. Berva [Bar'vah]. This place is constantly spoken of in Irish Folk Tales as the chief stronghold of the Lochlanns. It is believed by some to be the same as the modern Bergen in Norway. Luath [Loo 'ah].
12
GAELIC FOLK TALES
prophetic poets and philosophers of the Fomor- ians.
They could not decide what to do until Breas, the son of Balor, bitter with the thought of his banishment from the throne of Eire, arose and said : “l will go to Eire with seven great battal- lions of the Fomorian army; and I will give battle to Ildana ; and I will bring his head to the palace of Berva.”
All the chiefs agreed to have him go.
Ships were made ready for the ocean voyage. Their seams were calked with pitch, and filled with sweet smelling frankincense. Abundant food and war stores were also provided.
When the fighting men had been gathered to- gether, they arrayed themselves in battle dress and set out for Eire.
As they were about to embark, Balor said: 'When your work of conquest is over, put your cables around this island of Eire and tie it to the sterns of your ships, and take it to the northern side of Lochlann and there leave it. Then will it give us no more trouble.”
Breas and his batallions hoisted their many col- ored sails, loosed their moorings and were wafted out upon the wide sea. They did not slacken
Sotal [Sut'tle]. Tris' ca del. Loskina [Lus' kin na]. Druid, in Gaelic Draoi [Dhree]; Tree worshipers; a class set apart and con- secrated to religion and the preservation of genealogies. All civil rights were based on the patriarchal system.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
13
speed until they reached the harbor of Eas Dara. Here they landed and immediately began to spoil and waste the province of Olnecmacht, where Bove Derg was king.
Eas [Ahs] : Waterfall. Harbor of Eas Dara is found on Ptolomy’s map. See New Ireland Review, Vol. 26. Olnecmacht: Very ancient name of Connacht.
14
GAELIC FOLK TALES
CHAPTER II.
The news of what they had done came to the Ildana at Teamhair; so the following morning early, when the point of night met day, he de- parted on his steed, Enbar of the flowing mane, and rode westward toward the palace of Bove Derg.
He had not traveled far when he saw, at a distance, three warriors fully armed riding toward him. These men were Kian, Ku and Kethen, the sons of Canta. Kian was Lugha’s father, and when they met they saluted each other, and Kian asked his son why he was thus speeding toward the west.
“I am going to give battle to the Fomorians, for they have wasted the kingdom of Bove Derg.”
When the warriors heard this they said : “We will go to battle with you, and each of us will ward off a hundred Fomorians.”
“But first,” said the Ildana, “I wish you to sum- mon the Fairy Host to fight with me.”
This the sons of Canta with one accord con- sented to do, and forthwith they separated. Ku and Kethen fared south; while Kian rode north- ward until he came to Magh Murthemna.
Teamhair [Tow'er]: present Tara. Kian [Key' an]. Ku [Kuh].
Kethen [Ka' yenn]. Canta [Kant' yah], Magh Murthemna:
[Maw Mur hey' na].
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
15
As he journeyed over the plain he met the three sons of Tuireann: Brian, Ur and Urcar, who were at deadly feud with the three sons of Canta.
“If my brothers were with me now, we should have a brave fight, but as I am only one against three it is better to avoid the combat,” thought Kian. Looking around he saw a herd of swine near by, so he struck himself with a golden, druid- ical wand, and turned himself into a pig.
No sooner had he done this than Brian said to his brothers : “Tell me, my brothers, what has become of the warrior that we saw just now ap- proaching us on the plain ?”
“We have seen him” they answered, “but we know not whither he has gone.”
“Well, I can tell you what has happened to the warrior, “said Brian. “He has changed himself by a druidical spell into a pig; and is now among yonder herd ; and, whoever he may be, one thing is sure : he is no friend of ours.”
“This is an unlucky matter,” said the brothers, “for even if we should kill the entire herd of pigs, the enchanted one might escape.”
“There is but one thing to do,” said Brian, and then he struck his brothers with his golden, druid- ical wand, and turned them into two fleet, slender
Tuireann [Ther'an], Brian [Bree' an].
16
GAELIC FOLK TALES
sharp-nosed hounds. The moment he had done this, the hounds put their noses to the earth and set off toward the pigs.
When the druidical pig saw them coming, it made toward a thick spinney that grew near by. But Brian was there before him and drove a spear through its chest. The pig screamed and said: “You have done an ill deed to cast your spear at me, for you know very well who I am.”
“Your voice, methinks, is the voice of a man,” said Brian, “but I know not who you are.”
“I am Kian, the son of Canta,” said the pig, “and I pray you give me quarter.”
Brian’s brothers had regained their own shapes by this time and they said: “Quarter you shall have indeed, and we are very sorry for what has happened you.”
But Brian stepping between them said: “I swear by the gods of the air, that if your life re- turned to you seven times, yet would I take it from you seven times.”
“Then,” said Kian, “since you will not grant me quarter, allow me first to return to my own shape.”
“That I will grant you,” said Brian, “for I often find it easier to kill a man than to kill a pig.”
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 17
Kian, accordingly, took his own shape. Then he said to the sons of Tuireann: “You are indeed about to slay me; but, even so, I have outwitted you. If you had slain me in the shape of a pig you would have had to pay only the eric-fine for a pig, whereas, now that I am in my own shape you shall pay the full eric-fine for a man. And never has there been so great a fine as that which you shall pay.”
Nevertheless, Brian and his brothers slew Kian and they buried him a man’s height in the earth. But the earth, being angry at their wicked deed, refused to keep the body. Not until they had buried it the seventh time did it remain in the ground. When the last turf was laid, and they turned to go away, a voice spoke from the earth saying :
“The blood you have spilled,
The hero you have killed,
Shall follow your steps ’till the doom be fulfilled.”
Lugha, the Ildana, meanwhile, had traveled westward until he reached Ath-Luan; and then the Curlieu hills ; and finally came to the mountain of Kesh-Corran and the great plain of the assembly, where the foreigners were en-
Ath Luan [Aw Loo' an]: Present town of Athlone. in County Sligo.
Curlieu hills :
18
GAELIC FOLK TALES
camped with the spoils of Olnecmacht around them.
As Lugha drew near the Fomorian encamp- ment, Breas, the son of Balor, arose and said he: “A wonderful thing has come to pass this day, for the sun, it seems to me, has risen in the west !”
“It would be better were it so,” said the Druids, “but the light you see is the brightness of the face, and the flashing of the weapons of Lugha, the Ildana, our deadly enemy; he who slew our tax-gatherers.”
By this time the Ildana had come up to them, and he peacefully saluted them.
“How comes it that you salute us,” said they, “since you are, as we well know, our enemy?”
“Enemy though you think me, I am now come in peace and good will to ask you to send back to the people of Bove Derg all the milch cows which you have taken from them.”
“May ill luck follow thee until thou get one of them,” said the Fomorian leaders in loud, angry voices.
But, nevertheless, the Ildana straightway put a druidical spell upon the plundered cattle and sent every milch cow home to the door of her owner's house.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
19
Before the Fomorians could recover from their surprise, the Fairy Host arrived. They placed themselves under the Ildana’ s command; and they made ready for the fight.
The Ildana put on Manannan’s coat of mail and his breast-plate. He took also his helmet which is called Cannbar; and his broad, dark- blue shield he slung from one shoulder. His sword hung from his thigh; and, in his hand he grasped his two spears, tempered in the blood of adders.
When the chiefs and men were all arrayed in battle rank, hedges of glittering spears rose high above their heads. Their shields, placed edge to edge, formed a firm fence around them. They advanced against the Fomorians, and the Fomor- ians, in no degree dismayed, answered their on- set.
Clouds of whizzing javelins flew through the air; spears were shivered; and, from the gold- hilted swords a forest of bright flames arose, as they clashed above the helmets.
When finally Breas was compelled to sue for quarter from the Ildana, all the Fomorians dropped their arms and came to him to ask him to spare their lives.
20
GAELIC FOLK TALES
The Ildana said to them: “I do not wish to slay you ; return, you and your leader to your own country; and there relate the deeds of prowess you have seen in Eire.” So they departed.
Lugha missed his father, Kian, in the fight. “My father is not alive,” said he, “for if he lived he would surely have come to help me in the bat- tle. And now I swear that neither food nor drink will I take until I find his slayer and the manner of his death.”
Accordingly he set out with a small band, and hastened to the plain of Murthemna, where Kian had been forced to take the shape of a pig.
And it chanced that they came to the very spot where Kian had been slain. Then the stones of the earth spoke beneath their feet saying: “Here lies thy father, O Ildana! Grievous was Kian's strait when he was forced to take the shape of a pig, on seeing the three sons of Tuireann. And on this very spot they slew him in his own shape.
“The blood they have spilled ;
The hero they have killed,
Shall darken their lives ’till the doom be fulfilled.”
Then the Ildana caused a stone to be raised
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
21
above his father’s grave, and his name engraved in Ogham. After this his lamentation lays were sung and his funeral games performed.
Then the Ildana and his followers went to Teamhair. They entered the banqueting hall where the king and his nobles were assembled. The Ildana, looking around the hall, saw the three sons of Tuireann seated among the others. He hastened to exchange greetings with Nuada, the king. Then he asked the royal permission that the chain of silence might be shaken. When the silver music of the bells had died away, and all were listening, Lugha, the Ildana, stood up and said : “O gracious nobles of the De Danann race, I perceive that you have given me your attention ; and now, I have a question to put to each man here present: What vengeance should be taken for the murder of a father?”
All were filled with amazement to hear the Ildana ask this question. Then the King’s voice broke the deep silence: “Explain thy meaning. Why hast thou put this question to us? Surely, as we all know, thy father has not been killed.”
“My father has indeed been killed,” said the Ildana, and I now see here in this hall those who slew him. And furthermore, I know the manner
Ogham [O' am]: The most ancient manner of writing or making records known to Gaels of Eire. There are many stones inscribed in Ogham still extant.
22
GAELIC FOLK TALES
in which they put him to death; even as they themselves know it.”
The sons of Tuireann hearing all this said nothing. But the king declared that if anyone had willfully slain Kian he should atone for the deed with his life.
Each noble said the same ; as did also the sons of Tuireann.
“The persons who slew my father are here present, and are joining with the rest in this judg- ment” said the Ildana. “Let all bear witness that my claim is just and honorable when I de- mand, not their lives, but that they shall pay to me a certain eric-fine.”
Then Brian arose and said: “It is of me thou speakest, O Ildana, for it has been said that the three sons of Tuireann have been at enmity with the three sons of Canta. We shall not say whether we have slain thy father or not ; but, we are willing to pay an eric-fine even as if we had killed him.”
“I shall accept the eric-fine from you” said the Ildana, “and I now name before this assembly the fine I ask: The first part is three apples; the second part, the skin of a pig; the third part a spear; the fourth two steeds and a chariot; the
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 23
fifth seven pigs; the sixth a hound whelp; the seventh a cooking spit, and the eighth three shouts on a hill. This is my eric-fine O sons of Tuireann, and it will be for you to set about paying it without delay.”
“We do not deem thy eric-fine too great, Ildana, but we fear some hidden snare in what you ask,” said Brian.
“The fine I have named, and that only, will sat- isfy me for the death of my father” replied the Ildana. “Moreover, I demand that we enter into a covenant, namely : I not to increase my claim ; thou to pay the full fine required of thee.” So they bound themselves on either side ; and the king and nobles of Eire were witnesses and sure- ties of the bond.
Then the Ildana, arising, said : “Listen, O sons of Tuireann, the three apples I ask are the three apples of the garden of ITisberna in the western end of the world — and no other will I have. Their color is the color of burnished gold, and they have the taste of honey. A champion possessing one of them may perform with it any feat he pleases, by merely casting it from his hand. Nor will he lose the apple for it will return again to him of it- self. The pig’s skin I seek belongs to the king of
Hisberna: Hesperides.
24
GAELIC FOLK TALES
Greece. This magical skin will turn water into wine. It will also heal all the sick and wounded people who touch it. The spear which ye must bring me is the venomed spear of Pezar, king of the East. In the time of peace, its blazing, fiery head is always kept in a caldron of water to pre- vent it from burning down the king’s palace. In time of war its bearer is invincible. The two steeds and the chariot belong to Dobar, king of Segar. With these steeds and chariot, one travels as well on the sea as on the land. The seven pigs I demand belong to the king of the Golden Pillars. Though these pigs should be killed and eaten to- day, they will be alive and well tomorrow. The hound whelp belongs to the king of Iroda. His name is Failinis; and all beasts of the forest fall powerless before him. The cooking spit belongs to the warlike women of Fincara. They are thrice fifty in number, and each of them is a match for three good warriors in single combat. These women of Fincara have never been known to give a cooking spit to anyone without being first overcome in battle. The hill on which you must give three shouts is the hill of Midkenna in the north of Lochlann. Midkenna and his sons al- ways guard this hill, and are under geasa to
Failinis [Fawl'een ish]. Iroda [Er'oo ah]: Norway. Midkenna: The ungentle; Gaelic: Meochavin [Mee' o keen], Geasa [gas'sah]: mystical bonds or obligations, corresponding to the obligations under which the knights of the middle ages placed themselves.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
25
allow no one to shout on it. And should you procure all things that I have mentioned you shall not, I think, succeed in shouting on the hill; for, Midkenna and his sons were my fa- ther's friends and loved him very much; and they will be sure to avenge on you my father's death."
The sons of Tuireann were so much astonished on hearing this eric-fine, that they spoke not one word ; but arose and left the meeting and repaired to the house of their father.
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GAELIC FOLK TALES
CHAPTER III
Tuireann heard their story to the end; then he said: “Your tidings are very bad, my sons. It was an evil thing to kill Kian, and I fear you are doomed to meet your death in seeking what the Ildana demands. In the Boyne river, near the palace of Angus, lies Manannan’s canoe, “The Wave Sweeper.” Secure this canoe and by its aid you may be able to reach Hisberna and obtain the magic apples. So they set out for Bruga of the Boyne; and with them was their sister Eithne.
They found the canoe lying in the river. Brian, stepping into it said: “It seems to me there is room for but one more person beside my- self in the canoe.” He began to complain bitterly of its size; but ceased when Eithne told him that the canoe would assume larger dimensions when they came to try it. Eithne was aware that it had the power of becoming large or small according to the number of people who were to sail in it.
After all preparations were over, the three brothers bade their sister farewell and entered the canoe. They found it large enough to hold
Bruga [Broo' ah]: A palace; Braga of the Boyne: The residence of the chiefs of the Tuatha De Danann. Eithne [A' nah]. Canoe: Gaelic [Kur' rah]. Manannan’s canoe: A cloud which becomes larger or smaller, according to the number of raindrops in it.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
27
themselves and their arms, and everything else they wished to take with them.
As they quickly sped across the deep sea chasms and green-sided waves on their way to Hisberna, they held council as to what course they would pursue in their quest for the golden apples.
Brian spoke; and said he: “Let us take the shape of strong, swift hawks; then, as we ap- proach the garden, let us have a care for the light, sharp lances of the guards. These lances the guards will certainly hurl at us. We must avoid them actively and cunningly; and when they have no more left to throw, let us swoop down and fetch away an apple each.”
To this they all agreed. Changing themselves into three beautiful hawks they flew swiftly over the tops of the trees.
The sharp-eyed guards perceived them, and with great shouting and clamor hurled venomed darts at them. But the hawks escaped, every one.
When there were no more darts to throw, fluttering their wings above the baffled guards, the hawks flew into the trees. After resting a moment, they rose in the air again unhurt and happy. The younger brothers carried off an
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apple apiece; but Brian brought two with him; one in his talons, and one in his beak.
The king of Hisberna and his people were very angry, on discovering that the hawks had car- ried off their apples. A council, was called to consider how best the deed might be avenged.
Now the king’s three daughters were skilled in magic; and cunning in council. So it was finally determined that they should transform themselves into three swift, winged griffins and pursue the hawks over the sea.
Immediately then, they hastened away. From their eyes and beaks they let fly bright flashes of flame to blind and scorch the hawks.
“Evil is our state,” now said the two younger brothers as they beheld their most beautiful wing feathers crisping and crumbling in smoky dust through the heated air — “evil indeed is our state and we will surely perish if we do not get relief.”
“It is my good fortune still to have power to change our forms,” said Brian. Then, by his druidical magic, he instantly turned himself and his brothers into swans, and they all dropped down on to the sea.
The griffins, no longer beholding the hawks
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29
before them, gave up the chase, and the sons of Tuireann, without further delay, went to their canoe fetching their apples with them.
Then they set sail again and glided swiftly and smoothly over the waters until they came to Greece. And when they had landed, Brian said to his brothers: “In what shape, think you, should we go to the king’s court?”
“We think it best to go in our own shapes,” answered the others, “that is to say as three bold champions.”
“Not so,” said Brian, “to me it seems best that we should go in guise of learned poets from Eire, for poets are held in much honor by the nobles of Greece.” “How shall we do that?” asked the brothers, “for as to poems, we neither have any with us, nor do we know how to compose them.”
But Brian would not have it any other way, so they consented, though unwillingly. They tied up their hair after the manner of poets and going directly to the palace knocked at the door. The door-keeper asked who was there. “We are skillful poets from Eire,” said Brian, and have come to Greece with a poem for the king.”
The door-keeper departed to give the message.
“Let them be brought in,” said the king, “for
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it is to seek a good and bountiful master, whom they may serve faithfully that they have come so far from Eire.”
So they were shown into the banquet hall, where the king sat surrounded by his nobles. Bowing low they saluted him; and he in turn saluted them. They joined the feast at once and made merry as did the others. And they thought they had never seen a banquet hall more grand or a household so numerous and mirthful.
At the proper time the king's poets arose, and according to custom recited their poems for the company. When they had finished, Brian re- quested attention for his poem, and, forthwith, in clear, musical accents spoke the following lines :
“To praise thee, O Tuis, we’ve come to this land.
Like an oak among shrubs, over kings thou dost stand. The honor be ours thy great deeds to rehearse And claim but a pig skin in pay for our verse.
Two neighbors shall war with an O to an O; —
A bard unrequited — how dreadful a foe !
Thy bounty shall add to my wealth and thy fame,
And the imnocta fessa is all that we claim.”
“Your poem would doubtless be thought very good, if one were able to judge of it,” said the
Tuis (Toosh).
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
31
king. “But it is unlike all other poems I have ever heard, and I do not in the least understand its meaning.”
“Listen, while I unfold it then,” said Brian.
“To praise thee, O Tuis, we’ve come to this land;
Like an oak among shrubs, over kings thou dost stand.”
“This means that as the oak excels all other trees of the forest, so dost thou excel all other kings of the world for greatness, nobility and generosity.”
“ Tmnocta fessa’ — Imnocta means skin ; fessa means pig; that is to say, O King, thou hast the skin of a pig which I desire to obtain from thee as a guerdon for my poetry.”
“Two neighbors shall war with an O to an O;
A bard unrequited — how dreadful a foe.”
“O means an ear; that is to say, O King, thou and I shall be ear to ear fighting with each other for the skin, if thou give it not of thy own free will. And this, O King, is the meaning of my poem.”
“Thy poem would have been a very good one,
32 GAELIC FOLK TALES
and I should have given it due meed of praise, if my pig skin had not been mentioned in it. It is a foolish request of thine, O Ferdana, for even if all the poets and men of science in Eire, and in the whole world beside, were to demand that skin from me I would refuse it. Nevertheless,” con- tinued the king, “thou shalt not pass unrewarded, for I will give thee thrice the full of the skin of red gold: one portion for thyself, and one for each of thy brothers.”
“Thy ransom is a good one, O King,” said Brian, “but I am a near-hearted and suspicious man, and I pray thee let me see with my own eyes thy servants measure the gold ; lest they deal unfairly with me.”
t The king granted his request, and the three sons of Tuireann went with the servants to the treasure room.
But no sooner had they begun to measure the gold, than Brian, suddenly sprang toward them. He dashed them fiercely to the ground; and snatching the pig skin bound it hastily over his shoulders.
Then the three sons of Tuireann drew their keen swords and rushed into the banquet hall. The king's nobles seeing how matters stood, sur-
Ferdan'a: Man of Poetry; Fer: man; Latin Vir; dan: poet.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
33
rounded and attacked them. But the sons of Tuireann, nothing daunted by the number of their foes, hewed down the foremost and scat- tered the rest.
Scarcely one of the party escaped death or deadly wounds. At last Brian and the King met face to face and fought as great champions fight; fought until the king of Greece fell by the over- powering valor of the sons of Tuireann.
After the victory the three brothers rested in the palace, and healed their wounds by means of the apples and the pig-skin. i At the end of three days and three nights they started on their next adventure.
They went on board the canoe, and soon left behind them the lovely shores of Greece. Across the wide seas they swiftly sped, and finally landed near the palace of Pezar, king of the East.
Having fared so well in their last undertak- ing, they resolved to put on the guise of poets this time also.
They tied their hair in the poet’s knot; and, passing through the outer gate, knocked at the door of the palace.
The door-keeper asked who they were; and from what country they had come.
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“We are poets from Eire,” answered Brian, “and we have brought a poem for the king.”
The door-keeper admitted them, and they were conducted to the presence of the king. The king welcomed them and seated them among the nobles of his household. They joined in the revelry of the banquet hall, and when the proper time came, the king’s poets arose and chanted their songs.
After all the poems had been rehearsed, and the sounds of applause had ceased, Brian arose. The king and nobles seeing him were silent and listened while he recited his poem:
“In royal state may Pezar ever reign ;
Like some vast yew tree monarch of the plain.
May Pezar’s mystic javelin, long and bright,
Bring slaughter to his foes in every fight.
When Pezar fights and shakes his dreadful spear, Whole armies fly ; and heroes quake with fear.
What shielded foe, what champion can withstand The blazing spear in mighty Pezar’s hand !”
“Your poem is a good one,” said the king, “but why do you make mention of my spear, without having first obtained permission of me? Were
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
35
you not aware that it is not permitted to even the greatest in my kingdom to speak of my spear, unless I have first given him the privilege ?”
“This I knew not, O Pezar, and thy telling it hath but increased the ardor of the wish which hath inspired my song. For I desire thy blazing spear, O Pezar, as a reward for my poem.”
“Your wish is a very foolish one,” said the king. “No man ever escaped punishment if he asked me for my spear. The highest reward I could now grant you, and the greatest favor these nobles could now obtain for you, is that I should spare your life.”
Thereupon, Brian and his brothers started up in great wrath and drew their swords. In like manner, the king and his nobles drew their swords, and they fought a deadly fight. But Brian in the midst of the combat, drawing forth one of his apples, cast it at the king, and he fell pierced through the brain.
Then the frightened nobles fled, until no one remained in the banquet hall but the sons of Tuireann. They searched the palace for the room where the spear was kept. At last they found it with its head down deep in a great caldron of water which hissed and bubbled
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around it. Brian, seizing it boldly in his hand, drew it forth. Then the three brothers left the palace and went to their canoe. There they re- joiced together, because they had now succeeded in securing three, parts of the eric-fine.
After resting some days, they set out to seek for the steeds and the chariot of the King of Segar, for this was the next part of the Ildana’s eric fine.
Obedient to their command, the canoe glided rapidly and smoothly over the green waves. At last they landed on the wished-for shore; and then Brian said: “In what shape, think you, should we go to this court ?”
“Let us go,” said the others, “in our own shapes, as three hostile champions, who have come to get the chariot and steeds either by force or by good will.”
“That is not what seems best to me,” said Brian. “My council is that we go as soldiers from Eire, willing to serve for pay. Then, should the king take us into his service, it is likely we shall find out where the chariot and the steeds are kept.”
So, forthwith, as soldiers from Eire they went to the palace.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
37
There the king was holding a fair-meeting on the broad, level green of the palace park. When the three warriors came near, the people made way for them. They bowed low to the king; and he asked them who they were and from what part of the world they had come.
“We are valiant soldiers from Eire,” they an- swered, “seeking service and pay among the great kings of the world.”
“Do you wish to enter my service?” asked the king.
“It is with that desire we have come to Segar,” said they.
So they made a covenant with each other: The king to place them in a post of honor and trust. They to serve him faithfully and to name their own reward.
They were placed in the ranks of King Dobar’s body-guard. For a month and a fortnight they remained in the palace, looking around, and care- fully noting everything. However, they saw nothing of the chariot and the steeds.
At the end of the fortnight, Brian said to his brothers : “It fares ill with us here, my brothers, for we know no more about the chariot and steeds than we did the day we first came thither.
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Let us put on our travelling array and take our arms of valor in our hands. In this fashion, let us go before the king, and tell him that unless he shows us the chariot and steeds we shall leave his service.”
This they did without delay.
When they were come before the king, he asked them why they had come into his presence thus armed and in travelling guise.
“Of that we have come to tell thee, O king,” answered Brian. “Heretofore the kings whom we have served have trusted us with their secret councils. We have been made the guardians of their rarest jewels, and of gifted arms of victory. But thou, O king, hast not even shown us thy chariot and steeds, which we have heard exceed in magnificence all the chariots and steeds in the world.”
“A small thing it is that has caused you to prepare for departure,” said the king, “and there is, moreover, no need that you should leave my service. You shall see the steeds this very day; and you should have seen them before had I known of your desire, for I have never had in my service more trustworthy soldiers.”
The king then sent for the steeds and had them
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
39
yoked to the chariot. Those steeds that were as fleet as the clear, cold wind of March, and that traveled with equal speed on land and on sea!
Brian, viewing them narrowly, said: “Hear me, O King of Segar! We have served thee faithfully up to this time, and now we wish to name our own pay, according to the covenant thou hast made with us. The guerdon we de- mand is yonder chariot and steeds. Give us these and we shall ask for nothing more.”
But the king in great wrath, said: “Foolish and luckless men, ye shall certainly die because ye have asked for my steeds.”
The king and his warriors then drew their swords and rushed toward the sons of Tuireann, thinking to seize them. The attack was ex- pected and a sore fight began. Suddenly, Brian sprang with a bound into the chariot and, dash- ing the charioteer to the ground, seized the reins in his left hand. Then, raising the venomed spear of Pezar in his right, he smote the king with its fiery point, so that he fell to the ground and expired. And when the red slaughter of the fight was over, there was no one left to dispute with the three brothers the possession of the char- iot.
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Ur and Urcar asked where they should go next.
“We shall go” said Brian, “to Asal, the king of the Golden Pillars to ask for his seven pigs: for this is the next part of the eric-fine.”
Therewith they started. As they drew near to the land of the Golden Pillars they saw that the shore was lined with men all armed, for the fame of the deeds of the great champions of Eire was being noised abroad through many lands: How they had been forced to leave Eire by the hard sentence of the Ildana, and how they were seeking and bearing away the most precious things of all the world's kingdoms to pay the Ildana's eric-fine.
On account of these reports, the king of the Golden Pillars had armed his people; and had sent them to guard the harbors.
The king himself came down to the beach to meet them. As soon as they were come within speaking distance, he bade them stay their course. Then he asked in angry tones if they were the three champions from Eire ; they who had over- come and slain so many kings.
Brian answered: “Be not displeased with us, O king, for in all this matter we are not to blame.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
41
We must pay the eric-fine promised to the Ildana. If the kings to whom he sent us had given us peaceably the precious things we demanded, we would have departed always in the same good will as that in which we came. But, meeting ill will and opposition, we have been compelled to fight for the attainment of our end. Unwillingly, indeed, have we fought, yet none so far have been able to withstand us.”
'Tell me now” said the king, "What has brought you to our country?”
"We have come for thy seven pigs” said Brian, "for they are a part of our fine. Thou perchance wilt have pity on our hardships, and give us these pigs in token of kindness and friendship and not compel us to fetch them away by force.”
On hearing this, the king and his people went into council. After debating the matter, they thought best to give the pigs peaceably, for they feared they might not be able to resist the power of the sons of Tuireann.
So the king invited the three champions to his palace. They ate and drank and slept on downy beds. When they arose the next morn- ing, they were brought into the king’s presence, and the pigs were given them. Then Brian, bow-
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in g low before the king spoke these words:
“Thanks for the guerdon thou hast given,
Great king of Sicily ;
Thy welcome unto Tuireann’s sons Shall long remembered be.
And when our deeds in happier days Shall bring us praise and fame In Eire green shall poet lays Commemorate thy name.”
“Whither go ye next, ye sons of Tuireann?” asked Asal.
“We go.” answered Brian, “into Iroda, for Failinis, the king's hound whelp.”
“My daughter is the king's wife,” said Asal, “and I will go with you to Iroda, and may be able to persuade him for her sake to give you the hound whelp freely and without battle.”
“It gives me joy, O King, to accept your prof- fered aid, for often in the struggles which I have had heretofore in the quest for the eric-fine, I have wished for the help of a strong and friendly hand.”
King Asal wished the journey to be made in his own ship; so he commanded his soldiers to get it ready. Then all went on board, taking with them much wealth.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
43
And it is not told how they fared until they reached the kingdom of Iroda.
When they arrived, the shores were lined with fierce, armed men, who were there by order of the king to guard the harbor. These men shouted to the crew of Asal’s ships a warning to come no further. They well knew it could be no other than the sons of Tuireann, bent on acquiring that part of their eric-fine which was the property of the king of Iroda.
“Stay here for a while and await my return,” said King Asal, to the sons of Tuireann. “It is best that I should go on shore alone and meet my son-in-law.”
Accordingly he landed and went to the king, who, after he had welcomed him, asked what had brought the sons of Tuireann to his country.
“They have come for your hound whelp,” answered King Asal, “and I beg you to give it freely and without battle.”
“It was an evil council you followed when you came with these men to my shores,” said the king, “for no champions in all the world have ever received from the gods strength and favor sufficient to enable them to obtain possession of
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my hound whelp either by force or by my own free wilL,,
“It will be unwise of you to refuse them,” re- plied King Asal. “They have gifted arms, that no warrior, however powerful, can withstand. Numbers nor power can daunt them; and, having your welfare at heart, I have come thither to ad- vise you to give them your hound whelp in peace.”
But King Asal’s words were only thrown away on the king of Iroda and he angrily refused Asal’s request, and spoke with scornful words of the sons of Tuireann.
Asal, very much troubled because of the re- sult of his talk with the king of Iroda, returned to the ship where the sons of Tuireann were anxiously awaiting him.
When they heard how matters stood, without delay they put on their battle dress; and, taking their arms in their hands, challenged the king of Iroda and his people.
Then began a fierce and bloody battle. Though nothing could stand before the sons of Tuireann, yet the warriors of Iroda were many and very brave.
During the course of the fight, the two younger
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
45
brothers became separated from Brian, and he was completely surrounded by hostile champions. But, when he wielded the blazing spear of Pezar with its deadly point, his foes fled before him. Well they knew it would be useless to resist the venom of that dreadful spear.
At length, Brian spied the king of Iroda. Bravely he was fighting; hedged round-a-bout by shining spears.
Brian rushed through the thick of the battle straight toward him, striking down spears and swords and men as he went. The king saw him coming, and commanded his men to fall back. Then he and Brian fought like valiant warriors hand to hand. Powerful, alert and fierce were both, and it was long before any advantage was gained on either side.
Brian seemed the more wrathful of the two; yet he held back his hand, for he sought to tire out his foe, not to slay him. The end of it all was that Brian succeeded in seizing the king in his strong arms. He lifted him ofif the ground and bore him to where Asal stood. Then setting him down he said: “Behold thy son-in-law. It would have been easier three times over to have
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killed him than to have brought him to thee alive/’
When the people saw their king a prisoner, they ceased fighting and peace was made. Also, the hound whelp was given over to the sons of Tuireann. They then took their leave and sailed away from the shores of Iroda in peace and friendship with the King; and with Asal, his father-in-law.
Meanwhile the Ildana was preparing for an- other battle with the Fomorians; a battle which should be known as the second battle of Magh Tuireadh.
The great Leech, Diancecht; the skillful smith, Goibnu; the Dagda and Ogma, — these were the ones who met secretly with the Ildana to prepare the plan of battle. They left nothing undone which might help them to a victory over their strong and vengeful foe.
By this time, Ku and Kethen, the sons of Canta had returned. With them came the Fairy Host, which they had marshalled together from every- where in Eire.
But one thing more remained to be done: It had been revealed to Lugha, the Ildana, that the sons of Tuireann had now obtained all those
Diancecht [Dee ' yan Ka ' yacht]. Goibnu [Goin ' [coin] yu]. Dagda
[Daw' dah]. Ogma[0'ma]: gods of the Tuatha De Danann, the chief of whom was the Dagda.
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47
parts of the eric-fine which he deemed necessary to insure success in the approaching conflict.
So he sent after them a druidical spell, which caused them, soon after they left Iroda, to for- get the cooking spit and the three shouts on Midkena’s hill, and filled them with great long- ing to return to their native home.
Accordingly, they set sail without delay for the shores of Eire, taking with them the parts of the fine which they had already secured.
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CHAPTER IV.
Now it happened that the Ildana was with the king at a fair meeting on the plain before Team- hair. And it was made known to him secretly that the sons of Tuireann had landed at Bruga of the Boyne.
He left the assembly, telling none, and went directly to the fortress of Rath-ree ; and, closing the gates and doors after himself, he put on the smooth, Greek armor of Manannan MacLir and the enchanted mantle of Flidas.
Soon after this the sons of Tuireann were seen approaching. The multitude which was gathered together at the fair-meeting flocked out to greet them, and gazed with wonder at the many mar- velous things they had brought.
When they had come to the royal tent, the king joyfully welcomed them, and asked them if they had brought the eric-fine.
“We have obtained it after much hardship and danger, O King,” said they, “and now we wish to know where Lugha is that we may deliver it to him.”
The king told them that the Ildana was at the
Rath-ree [Raw ra']. Flidas [Flee'yhas]: one of the gods.
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49
assembly; but, though they searched everywhere for him, he could not be found.
"I can surmise where he is,” said Brian, “It has been made known to him that we have come to Eire, bringing with us charmed, gifted weapons that none can withstand, and he has gone to one of the strongholds of Teamhair to avoid us, fearing that we might use them against himself.”
Messengers were then sent to the Ildana to tell him that the sons of Tuireann had arrived, and to ask him to come to the meeting, in order that they might give him the fine.
But the Ildana said to the messengers : “I will not go to the meeting yet awhile ; but go ye back and tell the sons of Tuireann to give the fine to the king for me.”
When the messenger returned with this answer, the sons of Tuireann gave into the keep- ing of the king all the wonderful things they had collected in their journeys. After this the entire company went into the palace, and in a little while Lugha, the Ildana, having heard how mat- ters stood, came also and the king gave him the fine.
Lugha looked narrowly at everything that had
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been given up to him and said: “Here, indeed, is an eric-fine sufficient to pay for any one that ever yet was slain; or, that shall be slain until the end of time! Yet, there is one kind of fine that must be paid to the last farthing, namely: an eric-fine — for it is not lawful to hold back even the smallest part. And, moreover, O King, thou and the Dedannans whom I see here present are guarantees for the full payment of my eric- fine.” Again Lugha looked narrowly at the wonderful things which had been brought to him from many lands, and said he: “I see here the three apples; and the skin of the pig; and the fiery headed spear; and the chariot and steeds; and the seven pigs and the hound whelp. But where, ye sons of Tuireann, is the cooking spit of the women of Fincara? And I have not heard that ye have given the three shouts on Midkenna’s hill.”
On hearing this, the sons of Tuireann fell into a faintness, like unto the faintness before death, and when they had recovered they answered not one word; but left the assembly and went to their father’s house.
To their father and to their sister Eithne they told all that had befallen them. And how now
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they must set out upon another quest because through the spells of Lugha they had forgotten two parts of the eric-fine.
On hearing this Tuireann was overwhelmed with grief and wept in great fear and sorrow.
The next morning, when the point of night met day, Brian, Ur and Urcar accompanied by their father and Eithne stood by the shore from which they were once more to sail.
When their farewells were spoken, they em- barked, determined never to return, unless bring- ing with them the two forgotten parts of the fine.
It was no longer their privilege to use Manan- nan’s canoe. In their own slower sailing, less commodious — yet trustworthy ship they set sail and sped forth over the green, billowy sea, in search of the island of Fincara.
For four full moons they wandered hither and thither; sailing with the billows; and against them. On many shores they landed and inquired of all they met; yet, they were unable to get the least tidings of the island where the war-like women dwelt.
At last they met a very old man, who told them that he had heard of the island of Fincara in the days of his youth. He said it lay not on
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the surface; but down deep in the waters, for it was sunk beneath the waves, by a druidical spell, in times long past.
Then Brian put on his water dress, with his helmet of transparent crystal on his head. Tell- ing his brothers to await his return, he leaped over the side of the ship; and sank at once out of sight.
He walked about for a fortnight down in the green, salt sea, before he found the island of Fincara.
He noticed that among many houses on the island, one was larger and grander than the rest. Straightway, he bent his steps toward this; and finding it open entered.
In a large apartment, hung with gorgeous tapestries, he saw a great number of beautiful ladies busily employed at all sorts of embroidery and needle work: and in their midst was a long, bright cooking spit, lying on a table.
Without speaking a word, he walked straight to the table; and, seizing the spit in one hand, walked toward the door. The women neither spoke nor moved. But each one had her eyes fixed upon him from the moment he entered; ad-
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miring his manly form, his beauty and his fear- lessness.
But when they saw him about to walk off with the spit, they all burst out laughing! One, who seemed the chief among them said: “Thou hast attempted a bold deed, O son of Tuireann. Dost thou not know that there are thrice fifty war-like women here ? Dost thou not know that the weak- est among us would be able of herself alone to prevent thee taking this cooking spit — even if thy brothers were here to help thee?”
“Thou art a brave and noble champion; else, thou wouldst not have attempted to take the spit by force and without the help of anyone, for the danger is not unknown to thee. So, for thy bold- ness and valor, and for the comeliness of thy person, we will let thee take this one for we have many others beside.”
It was with great joy that Brian listened to these words. Thanking the women of Fincara, he took the spit and hastened to find his ship.
Ur and Urcar had remained in the same spot waiting for Brian. As day after day went by and he came not, they began to fear that he would never return. They were about to leave the place, having given up all hope, when down
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deep in the water they saw the glitter of Brian’s crystal helmet. A moment afterward, he arose to the surface with the cooking spit in his hand.
His brothers helped him on board and they all rejoiced together over his success.
Then they sailed away toward the north of Lochlann, and never abated speed until they had moored their vessel near the hill of Midkena.
From its smooth, green height, Midkena saw them approaching.
He knew them at a glance, and coming toward them, armed for battle, spoke to them in loud and threatening tones: “You it was who slew Kian, my friend and pupil, and now come hither and fight, for you shall not leave these shores until you answer for his death.”
Brian, in no wise daunted by the fierce look and angry speech of Midkena, sprang ashore and the two heroes attacked each other with great fury.
The three sons of Midkena heard the clash of arms, and rushed forth to aid their father. But just as they arrived at the shore Midkena fell dead, cloven through the helmet by the heavy sword of Brian.
Now began a fight, three on each side.
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And if men were afar off, even in the land of Hisberna, at the western end of the world, they would willingly come the whole way to see this battle. So fierce and haughty were the minds of those mighty champions; so skillful and active were they in the use of their weapons ; so numer- ous and heavy were their blows ; and so long did they continue to fight without either party giving way, that the most valiant of warriors must have looked on with admiration.
The three sons of Tuireann were at last dread- fully wounded; wounded almost to death. But, neither fear nor weakness did this cause them. The more they were wounded, the more their valor and their fury arose, and with one mighty onset they drove their spears through the bodies of their foes.
And the sons of Midkena fell before them into the long sleep of death.
When the fight was ended, and the battle fury gave place to calm within the breasts of the victors, they began to feel the direful effects of their wounds. They threw themselves full length on the blood-stained sward ; and it was as if they were dead, for a heavy curtain of darkness fell
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over their eyes. And thus they remained with- out moving or speaking.
Then Brian called to his brothers for he sought to know if they still lived.
They answered him feebly, and he said : “My dear brothers, let us now arise and give the three shouts on the hill, while yet there is time; for I feel the signs of death.”
Then Brian exerting himself to the utmost, and disregarding the blood which flowed copiously from his wounds, stood up and giving a hand to each of his brothers enabled them to rise.
The three sons of Tuireann then gave, though feebly, the three shouts that Lugha required of them.
Without further delay they sailed for Eire.
While they were yet far off, Brian gazing over the sea toward the west, suddenly cried out : “Lo, I see yonder Ben Edar, rising above the waters. And I see also Dun Tuireann toward the north.”
Then Urcar spoke from where he reclined with Ur upon the deck: “If we could but get one glance of Ben Edar, methinks we should regain our health and strength. As thou lovest us, and as thou lovest thine own renown, my brother, come and raise our heads and rest them on thy
Ben Edar; Hill of Howth. Dun [Doon]: a fort.
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
57
breast, so that we may see Eire once more. After that we shall welcome either life or death.
“Let us, once more, behold our father’s home ;
On winding Liffey, down by Athaclee.
Old Frevin’s hill; or Teamhair’s regal dome; — Then welcome life or death, which’er may be.”
So Brian raised their heads and rested them on his breast, and they gazed on the rocky cliffs and green slopes of Ben Edar, while the ship was wafted slowly toward the shore.
Soon they landed near the northern side of Ben Edar, and from there made their way, little by little, to Dun Tuireann. When they had reached the green in front of the house, Brian cried out: “Father, dear father, come forth to thy children.”
Tuireann came and saw his sons, all wounded and pale and feeble, and his heart was filled with sorrow. Brian after greting him said : “Go, be- loved father, go quickly to Teamhair; and as quickly return. Fetch this cooking spit to Lugha, and tell him that we have given the three shouts on Midkena’s hill. Say that we have now paid the entire eric-fine and bring from him the apples
Athaclee [Aw 'haw clee] : Ford of the Hurdles; present city of Dublin. Frevin [Fra' win]: Hill in Westmeath on the west shore of Loch Owel. Here, in the ninth century resided Turgesius, the Danish tyrant who met death by drowning in the above mentioned Loch.
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from the garden of Hisberna to heal our wounds; else we die.”
“Alas, my children,” said Tuireann, “I know the stern Ildana’s mind. Far rather would he see you in your tomb, than that he should possess all the treasures this great world can show.”
“Oh, father,” then said Brian, “linger not here to mourn ; go straight to Lugha’s home. Tell him we pay full eric for his parent’s death. Is not the great Ildana just? Speed like the wind, nor tarry long, lest we die before thou return.”
Tuireann set out and traveled like the wind, until he reached Teamhair. There he found Lugha. He gave him the cooking spit and said: “Behold, O Ildana, my three sons have now paid to thee full eric fine, for they have given the three shouts on Midkena’s hill. But they are wounded unto death; and now give me, I pray thee, the three apples from the garden of His- berna to cure them; else will they die.”
“In vain dost thou seek to restore thy sons, O Tuireann; they committed a wicked and pitiful deed when they slew my father, and nothing could avert their punishment.”
“For the blood they have spilled,
For the hero they have killed,
The penalty is paid and the doom is fulfilled.”
QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE
59
“Return, O Tuireann, to thy home; take with thee the apples if thou wilt; yet powerless their magic, and powerless all human effort in behalf of those who, ere your request was made, lay cold as did their victim on Murthemna's plain/' Heavy was Tuireann's heart as he set out from Teamhair, knowing full well he never again should hear the voices of his sons.
Eithne, her golden hair unbound about her shoulders, her dark eyes dim with weeping, met him at the gateway of Dun Tuireann. With her he hastened to where Brian lay with Ur and Urcar on either side of him; for, together they departed this life. Lamenting over their lifeless forms, father and sister stood hand in hand, while Tuireann spoke this lay:
O pulseless is my heart this woful hour ;
My strength is gone, my joy forever fled ;
Three noble champions, Eire’s pride and power,
My three fair youths, my children, cold and dead !
Lo, hear ye Tuireann, your unhappy sire,
Mourning with feeble voice above your grave!
Not wealth nor life nor honors I desire;
A place beside my sons is all I crave.
After this lamentation, Tuireann and Eithne fell on the bodies of the three young heroes and they were all buried in one grave,
The Fate of the Ghildren of Lir
CHAPTER I.
AND AILBE lived in a beautiful palace called Sidhe Finneachaidh. They had four children whose names were Finula, Aodh, Fiachra and Conn. Their mother Ailbe was the daughter of Oilell Arann; and foster child of Bove Derg, the king. While the children were still very young their mother died. Their father Lir loved Ailbe and her death caused him great anguish ; indeed, he too would have died of grief, were it not that his mind was turned from his sorrow by his love for his four little motherless children.
When the time of mourning for Ailbe was over, Bove Derg, the King said: “We mourn -with you, O Lir, for our foster child and, lest the bond of alliance and friendship existing between us on her account should be broken, I will give you for a wife Ailbe’s sister, Aoife.”
Lir [Leer] Ailbe [Awl' vah]. Sidbe Finneachaidh [She Fin a' ha]_ Aodh [A]. Oilell Arann [Awl'yeel Ah 'ran]. Aoife [E ' fa].
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THE CHILDREN OF LIR
61
So Lir, glad with the thought that Aoife would give a mother's loving care to his little ones, went to the palace of Bove Derg and espoused her and brought her back with him to Sidhe Fin- neachaidh.
At first Aoife was a very kind stepmother to Finula, Aodh, Fiachra and Conn and seemed to love them almost as much as did their father Lir. Every one loved them; even Bove Derg, the King, went many times a year to Sidhe Finneach- aidh to visit them, and he often brought them to his palace and was always sorry when the time came for their return home, it gave him such pleasure to have them with him.
It was the custom of the Dedannans to cele- brate the feast of age at the houses of the differ- ent chiefs in turn ; and whenever the festival hap- pened to be held at Sidhe Finneachaidh the step- children of Aoife were the delight and joy of all the Dedannans, so gentle and beautiful were they. This should have pleased Aoife ; but instead, when she saw the children of Lir receive such attention from their father and from all the people who came to his house, she fancied that she was neglected on their account and bitter jealousy entered her heart and turned her love into hatred.
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For a whole year Aoife plotted against the chil- dren, and planned to rid herself of them. Then, one day, she ordered her horses yoked to her chariot, and she set out for the palace of Bove Derg, taking the children with her. Finula did not wish to go, for she had dreamed that Aoife was about to bring some harm upon herself and her brothers. But she was unable to avoid the fate that awaited her.
As they were passing through a dark and lonely wood on their way to the palace, Aoife said to her attendants: “It is my desire that these children be destroyed, and it is for this I have brought them with me. I cannot endure to have them live any longer, for their father has neg- lected and forsaken me on account of his great love for them.” But the attendants listened with horror to Aoife and said: “The children of Lir shall never be harmed by us; fearful is the deed thou hast contemplated, Aoife, and evil will surely befall thee for having even thought of destroying these beautiful children entrusted to thy care.”
And so they continued on their way ; the wicked Aoife still plotting mischief in her heart. At last they came to the shores of Lake Darvra ; and then Aoife commanded the attendants to unyoke the
THE CHILDREN OF LIR
63
horses and let them rest. She alighted with the children from the chariot and led them to the edge of the lake and bade them go and bathe. One by one as they entered the pure, limpid water, she struck them with a druidical, fairy wand and turned them into four beautiful snow-white swans. Waving the mystical wand she said :
“The words of doom are spoken;
Your home is now the wave;
The charm cannot be broken.
From fate no power can save.”
When she had ceased speaking the four chil- dren of Lir turned their faces toward her and Finula said: “Thou hast ruined us without a cause; false has thy friendship been, and evil is the deed which thou hast done; but we will be avenged and the doom that awaits thee is worse than ours.”
“At last thy wicked work is done !
Aoife, false and cruel one,
With fairy wand and fearful words To change us into snow-white birds !
Upon the waters evermore
To sail and sail from shore to shore !”
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Aoife answered them: “Three hundred years on Darvra’s lake ; three hundred more on the sea of Moyle ; and on the sea of Glora in the west three hundred years ; until the union of the prince of the north with the princess of the south; until the Taillkenn come and the voice of the Christian bell is heard in Eire; and there is no power can free you until thrice three hundred years be past!”
But no sooner had she finished speaking than she was sorry for what she had done. The fairy wand dropped from her hands as she stretched them out toward the snow-white swans and said : “O children of Lir, since I may not now afford you any other relief, I shall allow you to keep your own sweet, Gaelic speech; and you shall be able to sing plaintive, fairy music ; melodies more beautiful than any the world has ever listened to, and all who hear them shall be lulled to sleep. Moreover you shall retain your human reason, and your lives shall be preserved until the time comes for you to resume again your human form.” And then she chanted:
“Until thrice three hundred years are gone,
You shall keep the form of snow white swan ;
Your palace shall be the pearly cave
Moyle; Gaelic: Sruth na Maoile [Sruh na Mweel'ah]: Sea between
Eire and Alban. Sea of Glora is off west coast of Mayo.
Taillkenn [Tal'ken]: A prophesied Deliverer — Saint Patrick.
THE CHILDREN OF LIR
65
Your couch the crest of the crystal wave.
And though Lir shall call his loved ones long His only answer shall be the song Of white swans under the night star pale Singing together a mournful tale.”
Then she ordered her steeds yoked to her char- iot and departed westward, leaving the four white swans swimming upon the lake.
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CHAPTER II.
When Aoife arrived at the palace, the chiefs bade her welcome; and Bove Derg, the King, asked her why she had not brought the children of Lir with her. “Because,” she replied, “Lir no longer loves thee, and he does not wish to intrust his children to thee, lest thou shouldst harm them.”
The king was greatly astonished and troubled to hear this, and he said: “This cannot be; Lir knows that I love those children as dearly as I love my own.”
He could not help thinking that Aoife had been guilty of some treachery; so he sent messengers in haste to Sidhe Finneachaidh to ask about the children and request that they might be sent to him.
When Lir heard the message from Bove Derg his heart was very sad, for he felt sure that Aoife had destroyed his four lovely children. Early next morning his chariot was yoked for him and he set out with his attendants for the king’s pal- ace ; and they traveled with great speed until they arrived at the shore of lake Darvra. The children
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67
of Lir saw the cavalcade approaching, and Finula chanted these words:
‘T see the shields and gilded mail
Of warriors coming down the vale.
I see their chariots advance.
While swords and helmets brightly glance.
Too well I know what brings them here:
This Dannan host and royal Lir.”
When Lir reached the shore he heard the birds speaking and wondering greatly he asked them how it came to pass that they had human voices.
“O father Lir,” said Finula, “we are thy four children, and the jealousy of Aoife has caused her to turn us into birds.” When Lir and his people heard this they uttered three long cries of grief and lamentation, and after some time passed in silence Lir said: “Alas, dear children, great is my sorrow to find you thus; yet I hope it is pos- sible to restore to you your human forms, and this I shall seek to do without delay.”
But the swans answered him: “There is no power, O Lir, can break the spell of the druidical charm by which Aoife has changed thy children into snow-white swans. For three times three centuries we must sail the waves of Dar-
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vra, Moyle and Glora. We may not take our human shapes again until the union of the prince of the north with the princess of the south; and until the Tailkenn has come and the sound of the Christian bell is heard in Eire.” Hearing this the people again raised three great cries of sorrow.
Then Finula spoke again: “But the wicked Aoife has allowed us to retain our Gaelic speech ; and we have also the power to chant plaintive, fairy music; so sweet that those who listen to us could not wish for any greater happiness. Re- main on Darvra shore tonight and we will chant for you.”
So Lir and his people remained on the shore of the lake, and the swans sang their fairy music for them ; and it was so sweet and sad that the people as they listened fell into a calm, gentle sleep.
At the first glimmer of dawn, Lir arose and bade his children farewell:
“The time has come for us to part No more, alas, my children dear,
Your rosy smiles shall glad the heart Or light the gloomy home of Lir.”
Then Lir went to seek Aoife and when he had come to the king’s palace, Bove Derg reproached
THE CHILDREN OF LIR
69
him in the presence of Aoife for not bringing the children.
“Alas!” said Lir, “It was not I but your own foster child, Aoife, who prevented them from coming. She has placed them under cruel spells ; and changed them by her sorcery into four white swans on the lake of Darvra.”
The king listened with astonishment to this sad news, and when he looked at Aoife he knew by her countenance that Lir had told him the truth. In fierce and angry tones he spoke to her and said : “Thy cruel deed shall be worse for thee than for the children, for there shall be an end to their suf- ferings but not to yours.” And still more fiercely he spoke and asked her what form of all upon the earth, or above the earth, or beneath the earth she most abhorred; and she answered: “A demon of the air.”
“That is the form you now shall take,” said Bove Derg and as he spoke he struck her with a druidical, magic wand and turned her into a de- mon of the air. She opened her wings and flew with a scream upward and away through the clouds. And she is still a demon of the air, and shall be until the end of time.
After this Bove Derg and the Dedannans went
Demon of the air: Gaelic: Deamhan Aedhir [Dune Ar]. Milesian: Same as Phoenician; the people of Mile, the last of the ancient colon- ists of Eire; they came from Spain ; but, first from the East Mil& ; Latin Miletus, a soldier.
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to the shore of lake Darvra where they encamped, and the Milesian people came also and encamped in like manner. For three hundred years the people in their encampments, and the swans on the lake conversed together sweetly during the day, and at night the swans chanted their fairy music; the most delightful that was ever heard by men. And all who listened to this music forgot their grief and pain and fell into a gentle sleep, from which they awoke bright and happy.
At the end of the three hundred years, Finula said to her brothers : “Do you not know, my dear brothers, we have come to the end of our time here, and have but this one more night to spend on lake Darvra ?”
When the three sons of Lir heard this they were very sorrowful, for now they must bid their father and their friends farewell and go to live on the dismal, tempestuous sea of Moyle far away from all human society. Early the next morning they came to the margin of the lake to say fare- well and Finula chanted this lay:
“Our father dear and friends farewell,
The last sad hour is near;
On stormy Moyle we go to dwell In loneliness and fear.”
THE CHILDREN OF LIR
71
The four swans then spread their wings and rose from the surface of the water in sight of all their friends until they had reached a great height in the air. Then resting and looking downward for a moment they flew to the north, and alighted on the sea of Moyle between Eire and Alban. With sad hearts the people watched their snowy wings disappear in the far, blue heaven; and im- mediately thereafter they made a law, and pro- claimed it throughout the land, that from that time forth no one should kill a swan in Eire.
Miserable indeed was the plight of the children of Lir on the sea of Moyle. The sight of the dark, wild waves and steep, rocky coast filled them with fear and despair ; and not only were they sad and lonely, but they were also cold and hungry.
And so they lived until one night a great tempest fell upon the sea. Finula when she saw the sky darkening over with great rolling clouds, said to her brothers : “Beloved brothers, we have made no preparations for this night, and it is cer- tain that the coming storm will separate us; let us now appoint a place of meeting or it may hap- pen that we may never see each other again.”
“Dear sister,” they answered, “you speak truly and wisely. Let us arrange to meet at Carrick-
Alban : Scotland, Car7 rick na rone ' ; Rock of the fur seals.
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narone as that is a rock we all know very well.” So they appointed Carricknarone for a meeting place.
At midnight a wild, rough wind swept over the dark sea; the lightnings flashed, and the roar of the great billows was almost as loud as the thunders of the sky. The unhappy swans were scattered over the waters so that not one of them knew in what direction the others had been driven. Toward morning the storm abated and Finula swam to Carricknarone, but she did not find her brothers there ; neither could she see any trace of them when, from the summit of the rock, she looked all around over the wide face of the sea. She feared she might never again see her brothers, and began to lament them singing :
“The anguish and woe of this life
No longer Fm able to bear.
My wings are benumbed with the pitiless frost;
My three little brothers are scattered and lost And I am left here to despair.
Return, O my brothers, return !
Sail over the dark waves to me.
Once more let me shelter you close to my breast. And soothe all your sorrows and lull you to rest;
Return, O my brothers, to me.”
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73
But hardly had she ceased singing, when she saw Conn coming toward the rock with his head drooping, and his feathers all drenched with the salt spray. With joyful heart she welcomed him, and together they anxiously scanned the waters in hope of seeing their brothers. Soon Fiachra came so faint, after his long struggle against the stormy waves, that he was hardly able to answer the affectionate greetings of his brother and sis- ter. Finula spread her wings over him and Conn and said: “If Aodh were here now how happy we would all be !” And how happy they were a short time afterward to see him coming with head erect and feathers dry and radiant.
Many another tempest the children of Lir lived through upon the briny waters of the sea of Moyle. Sometimes they visited the shores of Eire and the headlands of Alban; but they could re- main away for only a- short period of time, as the fetters of the fairy charm bound them to return again to the sea stream of Moyle. One day they came to the mouth of the Bann, on the north coast of Eire, and looking inland they saw a troop of horsemen coming from the southwest. They were mounted on white steeds and clad in bright col-
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ored garments; and as they moved toward the shore their arms glittered in the sunlight.
The swans swam toward the shore in order to find out who the strangers were. It happened also that the cavalcade espied the swans and di- rected their course toward them, until they were within speaking distance. These mounted men were a third part of the Fairy Host and were commanded by the two sons of Bove Derg : Aed, the keen witted; and Fergus, the chess player. They had been searching for the children of Lir along the northern shores of Eire, and they were very joyful when they found them. Tender words of greeting were exchanged by them and the snow white swans, and the chiefs gave to the un- happy children of Lir tidings of their father and their friends. But soon they bade each other farewell, for the swans could not remain longer away from Moyle. As the fairy cavalcade moved away their heard the sweet, sad voice of Finula chanting :
“Ah, happy is Lir’s bright home today,
With mead and music and poet’s lay;
But gloomy and cold his children roam Forever tossed on the briny foam.
On Moyle’s dark current our food and wine
THE CHILDREN OF LIR
75
Are sandy sea weed and bitter brine.
Lonely we swim on the billowy main
Through frost and snow; through storm and rain;
But rich was our raiment, long, long ago;
Mantles of purple and furs of snow ;
And gaily we feasted in days of old
And drank sweet nectar from cups of gold.”
As soon as the Fairy Host had returned to Sidhe Finneachaidh they related all that had hap- pened, and described the condition of the children of Lir. Then the Dedannan chiefs said: “We would gladly help them were it in our power, but it is not. Still we may find comfort in the thought that the enchantment will at length be broken, and the white swans once more resume their human forms.”
When the three hundred years on the sea of Moyle were ended, the swans flew westward to the sea of Glora. And it happened that a young man named Ebric, who lived near the sea, ob- served the birds and heard their singing. He took great delight in listening to them, and al- most every day he walked down to the sea to look at them and converse with them. And they grew to love each other very much; and it was
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he who in the old days wrote down the story of the snow-white swans.
The children of Lir sailed, as they were destined to do, for three hundred years on the sea of Glora; and, when at last the time was past, Fin- ula said : “Come brothers, our time upon the seas is over ; let us now go to visit our father and our people.” How glad the brothers were to hear this ! They all spread their snowy wings and ris- ing lightly from the face of the water flew east- ward to Sidhe Finneachaidh. But when they alighted, they found the place deserted and sol- itary. Its halls were ruined and overgrown with rank grass and forests of nettles. All was dark, and lonely, and nowhere was there anything to show that human beings dwelt there.
The four swans drew close together and ut- tered three loud, mournful cries of sorrow; and Finula sang:
“The house of my father is joyless and lone;
Its halls and its gardens with weeds overgrown.
No warrior noble nor beautiful maid,
In bright silken garments and jewels arrayed.
No shield nor keen sword on the dark lofty walls ;
No music to brighten its desolate halls.”
All that night the swans sang together mel-
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77
odies so sad and beautiful that the very trees around the deserted palace wept as the strains vi- brated through their branches.
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CHAPTER III.
Early next morning the children of Lir left Sidhe Finneachaidh and flew westward to a small lake near Innis Glora. They alighted on its waters and began to sing so sweetly that all the birds of the forest near by gathered on the shores to listen; and the little lake came to be known as the lake of the bird-flocks.
During the day the birds used to fly to distant points on the coast in order to find food: now to Achill; now to Inniskea of the lonely crane and sometimes southward to Donn’s sea rocks. But every night they returned to Innis Glora. In this manner they lived until the Taillkenn brought the Christian faith to Eire, and Saint Kemoc came to Innis Glora.
When first the swans heard Saint Kemoc ring- ing his bell at early matin time, they trembled at the strange sound, and did not know whether to be joyful or afraid, until Finula said: “My brothers, this faint, sweet sound we hear is the voice of the Christian bell ; and now the end of our suffering is near for with the ringing of this bell comes freedom from Aoife’s spell.,,
THE CHILDREN OF LIR
79
“Listen, O swans, to the sound of the bell,
The sweet bell we’ve dreamed of for many a year,
Its tones floating by on the night breezes tell That the end of our long day of sorrow is near.
Oh trust in the glorious Lord of the sky;
He will free us from Aoife’s magical spell.
Be thankful and glad that our freedom is nigh,
And listen with joy to the sound of the bell.”
When Kemoc, the cleric, had finished his matins the swans chanted a low, sweet strain of fairy music in praise of the great high King of heaven and earth. Kemoc heard it and listened with great wonder, and while he listened it was revealed to him that it was the children of Lir whom he had heard singing. So, as soon as it was- dawn, he went to the shore of the lake and there he saw the four white swans swimming on the water. “Are you not the children of Lir?” he said to them.
“We are indeed Lir’s children,” said they. “Long ago we were changed into swans by our jealous stepmother.,,
“I give God thanks that I have found you,” said Kemoc. “It is on your account that I have come to this little island in preference to all other islands in Eire. Come now to land and trust in
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me, for it is in this place that you are destined to be freed from your enchantment.”
It filled their hearts with joy to hear Kemoc speaking thus, and they swam to shore and placed themselves in his care. He brought them to his own home and, sending for a skilful workman, he directed him to make two bright slender chains of silver and he put one between Finula and Aodh; and one between Fiachra and Conn. And so they lived with him, listening to his instruc- tions, and joining in his devotions. And the holy cleric loved them with all his heart and the mem- ory of all the misery they had suffered caused them neither distress nor sorrow.
At this time Largnen, the son of Colman, was king of Connacht; and, his queen was Decca, daughter of the king of Munster, the same king and queen of whom Aoife had spoken so long be- fore in her prophecy. Queen Decca heard of the wonderful, speaking swans, and their sad story filled her heart with love and sympathy; and she desired very much to have them with her at the royal palace. She besought the king to get them for her, but Largnen said he did not wish to ask them from Kemoc. Decca, however, was de- termined to have the swans ; so she left the palace
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81
that very hour and fled southward toward her father's home.
Largnen, when he found that she was gone, sent messengers after her to say that if she would return he would ask Kemoc for the swans. The messengers overtook her at Killaloe, and she re- turned with them to the palace, happy with the thought of having the snow white swans for her own.
But Kemoc refused Largnen's request for the birds ; and this made him very angry. He set out at once for the cleric's house, and being very wroth he seized the swans and hurried away with them, intending to bring them by force to the queen. He had gone but a little way when the swans' beautiful, white feathers seemed to melt in the air and then entirely vanished ; and, although nobody could tell after beholding it how it came to pass, the swans regained their human shapes. But not as children did they appear; on the contrary, they were feeble, white haired and wrinkled.
The king, on beholding them thus, started with affright and instantly left the place without speaking a word. Kemoc, looking after him, re- proached him bitterly; but Finula said: “Do not
Largnen [Lam 'yen].
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grieve for us, O Kemoc, but baptize us without delay; for the time is near for our departure from this life. Make our grave on this spot and bury us together. Place us as we have often nestled together when we were swans: Conn standing near me at my right side; Fiachra at my left and Aodh looking into my face. So then the holy cleric, Saint Kemoc, baptized them, and they closed their eyes in the long sleep from which they would never awaken in this world. And Kemoc, looking up, saw a vision of four lovely children, with luminous, silvery, wings and faces radiant with joy. The children smiled at him and then slowly disappeared from his eager gaze.
Kemoc was very happy for he knew the swans had gone to dwell in a kingdom where no treach- ery could touch them, and where all would be love and happiness.
He buried the bodies of the children of Lir ac- cording to their wish; and raised a grave mound over them, and above it a stone on which their names were engraved in Ogham.
And this is the sorrowful story of the children of Lir as told by Ebric of the lake of Glora.
Ogham [O' am]: The most ancient manner of writing or making records known to the Irish. There are many stones inscribed in Ogham still extant.
The Ard Righ of Eire
CHAPTER I.
NE day, as Eochaid Feidlech, Ard Righ of Eire, was going over the fair green of Bri Leith he saw near a well a woman wearing a beautiful, purple cloak with silver fringes and a golden brooch. Her dress was of green silk with a long hood embroidered in red gold, and on her breast and shoulders were cunningly wrought clasps of gold and silver. Her hair was in two plaits, and in each plait were four strands, and at the end of each strand was a bead. Also she wore a comb of gold and silver. The color of her hair was like that of the yellow ailestars in summer, or like red gold after it is rubbed.
She had brought with her a silver basin, in which to wash her hair. The basin had four golden birds on it and little, bright-purple stones set in its rim. After preparing to wash her hair she let it down with her soft hands, white as the
Ard Righ of Eire [Ard Ree of Ar'ya]: The High King of Ireland. The Ard Righ of Eire : The original manuscript is one of the old- est specimens of written Gaelic now extant. Eochaid Feidlech [Och'ee Fa/lach]. Bri Leith [Bree Leh]: Property of Leith. Ailestar [A lest ar], the iris or fleur de lis.
83
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snow of a single night. Her eyes were blue as any blue flower, and her lips as red as the berries of the quicken tree. The brightness of the moon was in her face; the arch of pride in her eye- brows ; a dimple of delight in each of her cheeks ; the light of love in her eyes and her walk was that of a queen. Of all the women in the world she was the loveliest and best, and King Eochaid and his people thought that she came from the hills of the Sidhe, and they said of her : “All are dear and all are beautiful until they are put be- side Etain.,,
So Eochaid sent messengers to bring her to him, and when she had come he said “Who are you and where do you come from?”
“That is easy to tell,,, she said. “I am Etain, daughter of Etar, king of the Riders of the Sidhe. “Ever since I was born, twenty years ago, I have lived in this place. Kings and great men from among the Sidhe have asked for my love, but I have not wasted a thought on them, for even when I was a child I loved you, because of the tales I heard of your goodness and valor. When I saw you just now, I knew you by all I had heard of you and was glad to have found you at last.”
“It is a good friend you have been looking for,”
Etain [Et'yan]. Etar [A 'tar].
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said Eochaid, “and he bids you welcome.” From now on no other woman shall hold my love.” And so they were wedded and lived together until King Eochaid died.
They had one daughter and she was named Etain after her mother. She married Cormac, king of Ulster, and like her mother she had one daughter. But Cormac was vexed because he wished for a son instead of a daughter; and he bade two of his serving men take the child out of his sight, and put her in a pit to die. So they brought her to the pit, but when they were putting her in she smiled at them so sweetly that they had not the heart to harm her. They then brought her to a calf-shed belonging to the herders of the cattle of Etercel, great grandson of Iar, king of Teamhair. The herders cared for her with love and kindness and no king’s daughter was more beautiful or virtuous than she, the maiden Etain, to whom Cormac had denied a father’s love and protection. And the herders made for her a little house of wicker work. The little house had no door; only a large, high window.
King Etercel’s people thought that the herders stored provisions in the wicker house. But one day a man from among them got up and looked
Etercel [Et' er kel].
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in through the window and instead of a store of provisions, he saw the best behaved and most beautiful young girl of the whole world.
When King Etercel heard this he sent the noblest of all his warriors to break into the wicker house and bring Etain away, without asking per- mission of the cowherds. For King Etercel thought she must be the woman who it had been foretold would be his wife.
But early in the morning, before the king's messengers reached the house, a bird flew in through the window, and it left its bird-skin on the floor and stood before Etain changed to a man, and he said to her :
"The king is sending messengers to bring you to him for he wishes to make you his wife. And you will have a son whose name will be Conaire, son of Mess Buachall, that is, ‘son of the cow- herd's foster-child.' And there will be geasa on him, that is bonds, never to kill a bird for I will be his father." With that he disappeared in his bird-skin and flew out of the window, and the king's messengers came and breaking down the wicker house brought Etain away to the king.
When her son Conaire was born, Etain asked that he might be brought up between three house-
Conaire [Con ' er ry], Buachall [Bo ' kell].
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holds; the household of the herders, the house- hold of the Maines and her own household.
So Conaire was reared as his mother wished and there were five other boys reared along with him: Ferger, Fergel, Ferogian, Ferobain and Lomna Druth, the jester of the house of Dond Dessa, who was champion of the army from Mu Muclesi. And they all were given the same food, and their clothing and armor and the color of their horses were the same.
Maines [Mawn'yahs], Lomna Druth [Lum'na Droo]. Life: River at the mouth of which Dublin is located. Ath Cliath [Aw Clee'ah]: Same as Athaclee, page 57.
GAELIC FOLK TALES
CHAPTER II.
And, while Conaire was yet quite young, king Etercel died; and after his death a bull feast was made ready at Teamhair, for the custom was to find out by means of a bull feast who was the best man to succeed to the kingship.
This is the way in which a bull feast was made. A white bull was killed and his flesh was boiled in a great caldron, and one man would eat of the meat and drink of the broth until he was fully sat- isfied. Then he would sleep; and a charm of truth would be said over him by four Druids, and whoever he would see in his sleep would be king. And when he awoke he would describe to the peo- ple the appearance of the man he had seen in his sleep, and if he told anything but the truth his lips would perish. This time the dreamer saw in his sleep a young man who did not have sufficient clothing to keep him from being scorched by the sun and chilled by the wind. The young man had a stone in his sling and was hurrying along the road to Teamhair as if looking for something to wear.
Conaire at this time was playing games near
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the Life river with his foster brothers, and the cowherds who had reared him came and bade him go to Teamhair to the bull feast.
So Conaire left the others to play their games without him and started in his chariot for the bull feast. And as he fared on his way he came to Ath Cliath, where he saw some white speckled birds; the largest and finest he had ever seen. He fol- lowed them until his horses were tired but could not come up with them, for they always kept just beyond his reach. So he got down from his char- iot and taking his sling followed them to the shore of the sea. When the birds reached the sea they swam away on the waves and Conaire went after them and tried to seize them. Then they left their bird-skins on the water, and rose up in the likeness of men before Conaire, and turned to face him with spears and swords.
But one of the birds stepped to Conaire's side in token of protection, and said to him: “I am Nemglan, king of your father's birds. You are under geasa never to cast a stone at birds and there is great reason why all birds should be dear to you."
“I have never heard of the geasa before," said Conaire dropping the stone from his
Nemglan [Nev'glan].
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sling. Then Nemglan said: “We have a mes- sage for you and it is this: Go to Team- hair tonight to the bull feast. By doing so you will be made king; for the kingship is to be given to a man who will go along one of the roads to Teamhair, toward the end of the night, and whose clothing is not sufficient to keep his body from being scorched by day and chilled by night.”
“I will go,” said Conaire, “for I have a right to be king when my father and grandfather have been king before me.”
“You will be king, indeed,” said Nemglan, “and your bird-reign will be renowned, but there are geasa, that is bonds, on you not to do these things which I shall name:
“Do not go right-hand-wise around Teamhair nor left-hand-wise around Bregia. Do not hunt the evil beasts of Cerna. Do not go out beyond Teamhair every ninth night. Do not settle the quarrel of two of your own people. Let no rob- bery be done in your reign. Do not sleep in a house from which you can see the firelight shin- ing after sunset. Do not let one man nor one woman come into the house where you are after sjunset. Do not let three Reds go before you to the house of Red.”
Bregia [Bra w] : Plain on which Teamhair stands. Cerna [Kar'na].
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As soon as Nemglan had finished speaking, he and his companions resumed their bird-shapes and flew rapidly away.
Then Conaire, remembering what had been told him, left his raiment lying on the strand and picking up another stone for his sling set out for Teamhair. And on each of the four roads to Teamhair three kings were waiting; and they had with them clothing for the king whose coming had been foretold at the bull feast. And the three kings on the road Conaire was traveling when they saw him coming went forth to meet him, and they put royal clothes on him and brought him in a chariot to Teamhair.
But the people of Teamhair when they saw him said: “Our bull feast and our charm of truth were of little worth when they have brought us only a young, beardless lad.”
But Conaire said: “My youth does not unfit me to be your king, for my father and my grand- father have both held the same place. “That is true,” said they; and then they gave him the king- ship. And Conaire said to them: “I will be a just king to you and I will learn of wise men, that I also may be wise.”
And during Cpnaire’s reign there was peace
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and plenty throughout Eire. Seven ships at a time came into Inver Colpa, and there were corn and nuts up to the knees in every harvest, and trees bending from the weight of fruit and the Buais and the Boinne were full of fish every sum- mer. And among the people there was such good will that they thought each others voices as sweet as the strings of harps. Even the wolves them- selves were held by hostages not to kill more than one calf in every pen.
During all Conaire’s reign there was no thunder nor storm, and from Baal Tinne until Samhain there was not as much wind as would stir the rushes in the water. And the cattle were without herders because of the greatness of peace. And his reign crowned Eire with three crowns : the crown of flowers ; the crown of acorns and the crown of wheat ears.
Inver [Estuary]. Inver Colpa: Estuary of the Boyne river at Drogheda [Draw' dah]. Tinnee [Tin'neh]. Baal Tinne : Baal Fire; Month of May. Samhain [So\y'nah] : Month of November.
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CHAPTER III.
But after awhile the sons of Dond Dessa grew discontented, because they were hindered from the robbery and killing which used to be in the old time. And to vex the king, and to see what he would do, they stole three things : a pig, a bullock and a cow from the same countryman every year for three years. And every year the countryman went to the king to make complaint and every year the king said: “It is to the sons of Dessa you should go, for they took the beasts.” But when the countryman went to the sons of Dond Dessa he received no satisfaction, but insults and threats were added to his injuries. And he was afraid to go back and tell the king for fear of vex- ing him.
So the sons of Dond Dessa continued their depredations and three times fifty other young men, sons of the great men of Eire joined them.
And one time when they were doing their wicked work in Connacht they followed a swine- herd, who ran from them and called for help, and the people came in haste when they heard the cry; and they caught the robbers and brought
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them back to Teamhair. King Conaire was then called upon to give judgment and this is what he said : “Let every father of a robber put his own son to death, but let my foster-brothers be spared.”
“Give us leave,” said the people, “and we will put them to death for you.”
“I will not consent to that,” said Conaire, “Their lives shall be spared ; yet if they must con- tinue in their robbery let them go across the sea to Alban.”
Thereupon the sons of Dond Dessa were driven out of the country, and some of the Maines went with them, and the sons of Ailell and Maeve and three great fighting men of Leinster, who were called the Three Red Hounds of Cualu ; and they also brought with them a troop of wild, restless men.
And when they were out in their ships on the rough sea, they met the ship of Ingcel, the One- Eyed grandson of Cormac of Britain. They were going to make an attack on him but Ingcel said “Instead of fighting let us come to an agree- ment for you have been driven out of Eire and I have been driven out of Britain. Let us unite,” said Ingcel, “come you with us and we will spoil
Ailell [Awl'yeel]. Maeve [Mave]: Same as Queen Mab of Shake- speare. Ingcel [Ing'kel],
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the people of my country/’ So to this they agreed; but they cast lots as to where they should go first and it happened that, according to lots, they should first go to Britain with Ingcel. So they wrought great ravages in Britain, and then set out for Alban, repeating their destruction and robbery. At last they turned back again to Eire.
Now at this time the peace of Eire had been broken by the two Cairbres, who were at war with one another in Tuamumain of Munster, and no one was able to put an end to their quarrel until Conaire himself went to Tuamumain for that purpose. But in doing this he broke two of the geasa put on him by the Man of the Waves. On his way back to Teamhair, when he was passing Usnach in Meath, he and his people thought they saw fighting from east to west, and from north to south, and armies of savages and the country of the Ua Neills like a cloud of fire around them.
“What means this?” said Conaire. “It is easy to answer that,” said the people. “The king’s law has been transgressed and the country is on fire.” -
“What way is the best way for us to go ?” said Conaire-
“To the northwest” said his people.
Tuamumain [Too 'ah moon]. North Munster, modernized: Tho- mond.
GAELIC FOLK TALES
So they went right-hand-wise around Team- hair and left-hand-wise around Bregia; and by doing this Conaire again broke his bonds. Also they hunted wild beasts, which they encountered on their way, and Conaire did not know until afterwards that they were the evil beasts of Cerna.
It was the Sidhe who had put that Druid mist of smoke about Conaire, because he had begun to break his bonds. Great fear came over him and, hardly knowing what to do, he and his peo- ple traveled south by the sea coast on the road of Cualu. As evening came on Conaire said: “Where shall we go to spend the night ?”
Then MacCecht, one of Conaire’s fighting men, who kept three of the Fomor as hostages at the king’s court so that their people would not spoil corn or honey in Eire during his reign, answered the king: “This much I can truly say, O king: It is oftener the men of Eire have quar- reled to entertain you, than you have strayed about looking for a lodging.”
“I have a friend not far from this,” said Con- aire, “if we but knew the way to his house, we could go there.”
“What is his name?” asked MacCecht.
The houses of the ancient Gaels were made of wood. Mac Cecht [Mac Kay'acht].
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“Da Derga of Leinster ; it is he who keeps the great inn,” said Conaire. “He came once to ask a gift of me, and I did not refuse, but gave him horses, cattle and swine; cloaks of fine cloth, swords, spears and red-gilded brooches; good brown ale and white hounds in silver chains. And I would do the same by him again should he come to me. Surely he would not be- grudge me anything should I go to his house to- night.”
“As I remember,” said MacCecht, “the house of Da Derga has seven doorways and seven sleeping rooms between every two doorways ; and, we are now going directly toward it.”
“Let us continue on this road until we come to the house you speak of,” said Conaire.
“If you wish to do that,” said MacCecht, “I will go on before you and light a fire in the house.”
So Conaire and all his people went on toward Ath Cliath and presently a man with hair cut short and with but one hand, one foot, and one eye and an altogether dreadful appearance over- took them. In his hand he held a forked pole of black iron ; on his back he carried a black-bristled,
Da Derga : Its location was a few miles South of Dublin. The road thither has the same name it had in the first century. Boher Na Breena.
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singed pig which squealed vociferously; and after him hurried a large-mouthed, ugly woman.
“Welcome to you, my master Conaire,” he said.
“Who gives this welcome ?” said Conaire.
“Fer Coille, the Man of the Wood,” said he, giving Conaire an uncanny glance of his one great eye. “I offer you the shelter of my house tonight; and my black pig is a surety that you shall not go fasting, but feast and sleep as be- comes the best king in the world.”
“I will not go to your house tonight,” said Conaire, “but any other night it pleases you I will accept your hospitality, only leave me now and go your own way.”
“That we will not do,” replied Fer Coille, “but we will spend the night with you in whatever place you may be, O fair little master, Conaire.”
So he went on toward the inn; his wife be- hind him, and his black pig squealing on his back.
Soon afterward Conaire saw three horsemen going toward the inn. They had red cloaks ; red shields and red spears in their hands and they were mounted on red horses.
“What men are these riding before me?” said
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Conaire, “I am under geasa not to let them go before me: three Reds to the house of Red, that is the house of Derga. Who will overtake them and bid them come back and follow me?”
“1 will overtake them,” said Lefriflaith, Con- aire’s son, and speaking to his horse he gal- loped away.
But however fast he rode he could not overtake the three red horses and their red-clad riders, so he called to them to turn back and not con- tinue riding before the king. To his first and second call they did not reply, but the third time one of the three men looked back and said : “Dire news awaits us, my son, wetting of swords; de- stroying of life; shields with broken bosses after the fall of night! We ride the horses of the Sidhe, and although we are alive we are dead.” With that the three red riders vanished, and Lefriflaith went back to his father.
“You did not keep back the men,” said Con- aire.
“I have failed indeed,” said Lefriflaith, “but I could do no more than I have done.” And then he told the king and his people what the red horseman had said. This gave them all great un- easiness, and Conaire said: “All my bonds are
Lefriflaith [Lef'ri flah]. Flaith: Prince.
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broken tonight, and those three Reds before me are sent by the Sidhe.”
Now while Conaire and his people were on the road of Cualu, going toward the inn, Ingcel and the outlaws of Eire were come in their ships to the coast of Bregia opposite Etair. And the sons of Dond Dessa said: “Furl the sails now, and send a light-footed messenger on shore to find out what prospect there is of keeping our bargain with Ingcel; we must give him spoil for spoil.”
“Let some man go” said Ingecel “who has the gifts of keen hearing, far-sight and judgment.”
“I have the gift of keen hearing,” said Maine Milscothach. “And I have the gift of far-sight and judgment” said Maine Andoc.
“Then it is well for you both to go,” said the others.
So they landed and fared on until they came to Beinn Etair, and there they stopped to see and hear.
“Be quiet; listen,” said Maine Milscothach.
“What do you hear?” said Maine Andoc.
“I hear the coming of a king,” was the reply “Look now and tell me what you see.”
“I see,” said Maine Milscothach, “a great
Milscothach [Mils ko'hah]: Honey-blossoms Andoc [An 'ok]: Youthful Beinn Etair [Ben Edar]. proper names and names of places are often spelled differently in 'different texts.
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company of men traveling over hills and rivers. They have clothes of every color, grey spears over their chariots, and swords with ivory hilts and silver shields. And I swear by the gods of the air the horses they have with them are the horses of some great chief.”
“It is my opinion,” said Maine Andoc, “that the king you see is Conaire, son of Eterscel, traveling with a great company of men of Eire.”
With that they went back and told their com- rades what they had heard and seen. So the sons of Dond Dessa and Ingcel had their boats brought to shore and landed on the strand of Fur- buithe.
Just at this moment Mac Cecht was strik- ing a spark to kindle a fire in the inn before the High King.
And Conaire and his people when they ar- rived at the inn entered and seated themselves; and so did the three red men, and the Man of the Wood, the swineherd of the Sidhe, with his squealing pig.
And when they were seated Da Derga came to greet them. With him were three times fifty long haired fighting men. Each one of them wore a
Furbuithe [Fur bwee'hah].
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short cloak and carried a great blackthorn stick with bands of iron.
“ Welcome, my master Conaire,” said Da Derga, “and if you were to bring all the men of Eire with you there would be a welcome for them all.”
When twilight shades had fallen, a lone woman came to the inn. She was wrapped in a grey woolen cloak over which fell the tangled masses of her long hair. Her mouth was drawn to one side of her head and she leaned against the door- post and threw an evil eye on the king and the young men about him.
“Well, woman,” said Conaire, “if you have the Druid sight, what is it you see for us?”
“This is what I see for you,” said she, “nothing of your skin; or, of your flesh, will escape from the place you are now in, except what the birds will bring away in their claws. And now let me go into the house,” she continued, attempting to enter.
“I am under geasa,” said Conaire, “not to let one lone woman enter the house after the setting of the sun.” And turning to the servants he said: “Bring this woman a good share of food
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from my own table; but see that she spends the night under some other roof than this.”
“If the king is no longer hospitable, and it has become his custom not to let one lone woman come into his house to be fed and lodged, I will go elsewhere and seek hospitality from some bet- ter man.”
“Let her in regardless of my bonds,” said Conaire when he heard that.
So they let her in, but none of them felt easy in their minds after what she had said.
While all this was happening, the outlaws were on their way to the inn. And when they came to Leccaibcend Slebe they saw the great light which was shining from the inn through the wheels of the chariots that were outside the doors.
“What is that great light yonder in the dis- tance?” said Ingcel to Ferogain.
“I think it must be the fire of Conaire, the High King,” said Ferogain, “and I fear if he is there tonight that harm will come to him, or his life be shortened; and he a branch in its blossom!”
“And I count it good luck if he is there” said Ingcel. “Spoil for spoil! Should Conaire fall into our hands it would be no worse for you, than
Leccaibcend Slebe [Lack' av kin Schlav].
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it was for us when we lost our people and our our king!”
'That is true! That is true!” said all the others.
Then every man of them brought a stone from the strand to make a cairn, as was their custom before making an attack on any place, for by this they could determine how many men had been lost. For every man that would come from the fight would take his stone from the cairn and the stones of all that had been killed would be left there.
After the cairn was made they held a council, and it was agreed that Ingcel should go as a spy to the inn. So he went and spent some time looking in through the seven doors of the house. But at last one of the men inside caught sight of him, and Ingcel, seeing that he was found out, made his way back to where his comrades were sitting, with their leaders in the middle, waiting to hear his tidings from the inn.
"Did you see the house, Ingcel?” said Fero- gain ?”
"I have looked through the seven doors of it,” said Ingcel "and whether there is a king in it or
Cairn [Kam] : A hill.
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not it is a royal house, and I will take it for my share when the spoils are divided.”
“You may do that,” said Conaire’s foster brothers, “but we will not go against it before we know who is in it.”
“The first I saw” said Ingcel, “was a large man of good race with bright eyes and hair like flax; his face was wide above and narrow below and he had no beard. His mien was modest and frank. He had a five barbed spear and a shield with five gold circles on it. There were nine men round-about him, all fine looking and so much alike that you would think that they had the same father and mother. Who were those men, Fero- gain?”
“It is easy to answer that,” said Ferogain. “They were Cormac Conloingeas and his nine comrades. These men have never put anyone to death because of poverty, nor spared him because of riches. It is a good leader they have, for Cor- mac is the best fighter behind a shield in all Eire. I swear by the gods of the air, it is no small slaughter they will make before the inn tonight.”
“If I had my way,” said Lomna Druth, the jester, “an attack on the inn should never be made
Conloingeas [Koon ling'ahs]. Conall Cearnach [Con'nal Kar'nach].
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if it were only for the sake of that one man, the comely and gracious Cormac Conloingeas.”
“Your wishes will have no weight in this mat- ter. It is not of Cormac, but of yourself you are thinking, I know you well, you are but a poor fighter and the mists of weakness are darkening round you. No one, either old man or story teller, will be able to say that I drew back from this fight before I had gone through it.”
“That is all well enough for you to say, Ing- cel,” said Lomna. “You will live to take part in many another fight ; and you will bring away the head of a strange king with you from this one; but, as for me, my head will be the first to be tossed to and fro tonight.”
“What did you see after that?” said Ferogain to Ingcel interrupting the conversation.
“I saw a room in which were three tender youths, wearing cloaks of silk with golden fasten- ings. Their golden hair was as curly as a ram's head. A golden shield and the candle of a king's house was over each one of them, and they were favorites of the entire household. Can you tell me who they were Ferogain?”
But Ferogain was weeping so that the tears ran down the front of his cloak, and it was a long
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time before he could control himself sufficiently to speak. “O little ones !" he said then, “1 have good reason for weeping. Those three fair youths are the king's sons Oball, Obline and Corpre Findmor."
“Ah, grief is ours if that story be true," said the other sons of Dond Dessa, “for none are more worthy of love than the king's sons. They are mannerly, brave and kind. All who have been with them regret parting from them. Shame on him who would destroy them!"
“I saw after that," continued Ingcel, “a man with a golden bush of hair the size of a reaping basket. A long, heavy, three-edged sword was in his hand, and he carried a red shield speckled with rivets of white bronze between plates of gold."
“That man is known to all men of Eire," said Ferogain, “He is Conall Cearnach, son of Amergin ; of all the men in the world he is dear- est to Conaire. The shield he carries is the Lam-tapaid. When the attack on the inn is made Conall Cearnach with his Lam-tapaid will be at every one of its seven doorways. What did you see after that, Ingcel?"
“I saw" he said, “a big brown man with short
Amergin [Ow'er gin]. Lam-tapid [ Lav-tap' pee] : The Quick-Hand.
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brown hair, who wore a red speckled cloak and his shield was black with clasps of gold. With him were two chief men, in their first greyness, and black swords hung at their sides. One of them had in his hand a great spear with fifty rivets through it. He shook the sword over his head and struck the haft against the palm of his hand three times and then plunged it into a great pot that stood before them, and when he was put- ting it in, there were flames on the shaft. Who were those men, Ferogain?”
“That brown man is Muinremar, son of Geir- gind, one of the champions of the Red Branch. One of his companions is Sencha, the beautiful son of Ailell. The man with the spear is Du- ach, the Beetle of Ulster, and the spear in his hand is Celthair’s Luin. It was in the battle of Magh Tuireadh, and was brought from the East by the three children of Tuireann. When the hour of battle is near, it flames up of itself, and it must be kept in a caldron of water or it will pierce whoever grasps it.”
“And after that”, said Ingcel, “ I saw a room in which were nine fair haired men with speckled cloaks. Above them were nine bagpipes, and the ornaments they wore emitted a brilliant light.”
Muinremur [Win row' [cow] er]. Geirgind [Gar 'gin]. Sencha
[Shan'cha]. Celthair’s Luin [Kelt'yher’s Lin].
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“Those are the nine pipers from the hill of the Sidhe at Bregia,” said Ferogain, “They came to Conaire because of his great fame. They are the best pipers in the whole world. They are good fighters; but to fight with them is to fight with a shadow ; for they kill, but cannot be killed, because they are from Sidhe.”
“And next I saw three very large men, terrible to look at. Their clothing was made of rough hair, and each one of them held a club of iron in his hand. They stood alone sad and silent ; every one in the house avoiding them. Who were those men Ferogain?”
Ferogain was silent for a while and then he answered : “I do not know who these men can be unless they are the three giants Cuchulain spared the time he took them from the men of Falga. He would not let them be killed because of their strange appearance. Conaire bought them from Cuchulain after that and they are with him yet.”
“I saw nine men in the north part of the house,” said Ingcel, “having manes of very yellow hair, and short linen dresses and purple cloaks without brooches, broad spears, and red curved shields.”
“I know those men:” said Ferogain, “they are three royal princes of Britain; Oswald, Osbrit
Cuchulain [Kooh' ul lan]: The most renowned of the Red Branch Knights, A Pagan order which flourished in the first century of the Christian era. Cuchulain was called the mightiest hero of the Scots. Scots: A name by which the ancient inhabitants of Ire- land were known in history and song.
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of the Long Hand, and Lindas, and their foster brothers, all of whom are with the king.”
“And three Red Men I saw after that” ; Ingcel continued, “red shields above them, red spears in their hands and their three red horses were bridled in front of the inn.”
“These are three false and deceitful champions from the Sidhe,” said Ferogain. “They were sen- tenced by the king of the Sidhe to be thrice de- stroyed by the king of Teamhair, and Conaire is the last king through whom they will be destroyed. It is to work out their own destruc- tion they are come. What more did you see? Tell us more, O Ingcel of Britain, for with thy one eye thou hast seen more than most other men could see with two.”
“I saw a white haired man, partly bald and in his ears were rings of gold. In his hands were nine swords, nine shields, and nine golden apples. He kept throwing each one of them upward and not one would fall on the ground, but all would rise and fall past each other like bees on a sunny day. But when I looked at him he let everything drop to the ground, and the people about him cried out in amazement; and the king, who was
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sitting near by, said to him: 'We have been to- gether since I was a little boy, and your tricks never failed until tonight/ "
"'My grief/ he said, 'Fair master Conaire, good cause there is for failure; an unfriendly eye looked at me, and there is some bad thing in front of the inn !' "
"When the king heard this he said : 'This re- minds me of a dream I had a while ago: In my sleep I heard the howling of my dog Ossar ; the groans of wounded men ; and felt the bitterness of a wind of terror on which was wafted the caoin- ing which overcomes laughter/ "
"The man with the earrings was Taulchinne, Conaire's juggler/' said Ferogain. "And tell me now, what was the appearance of the king?"
"Stately and handsome is Conaire, the king," said Ingcel "and though young, wisdom and power speak in his glances. His hair was purest gold; the cloak about him the mist of a May morning, changing from color to color, fading and brightening with beauty untold. The brooch he wore was a wheel of gold reaching from his chin to his waist, and within his reach lay his golden hilted sword."
"That was Conaire, the High King indeed,"
Taulchinne [Tawl kin'na].
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said Ferogain. “Of all the kings of the world he is the greatest and best and comeliest. In wisdom bravery and eloquence he excels all men. A sim- ple man peaceable and affectionate ; but, when his anger is aroused, and he would right a wrong, not all the champions of Eire and Alban will win their battle while he is against them. And I swear by the gods of the air, unless overcome by thirst or sleep, that man alone would hold the inn until help could gather to him from the wave of Cliodna in the south, to the wave of Easruadh in the west/’ “It is time for us to arise,” said Ingcel then, “and proceed to the inn.”
So with that the outlaws rose and went on to the inn, and the clamor of their voices was heard round-about it.
Conaire was the first to hear them. “Listen,” he said, “what is that noise without?”
“The shouts and challenges of fighting men.” said Conall Cearnach.
“There are fighting men to meet them here!” exclaimed the king.
“They will be wanted tonight!” added Conall, raising his voice above contentious cries and clash of weapons.
Cliodna [Clee'nah]. Easruadh [Ahs rod 'ah] : The three “tonnsM or waves of Eire were the wave of Truagh beyond the mouth of the river Bann, the wave of Ruraigh in Dundrum Bay and the wave of Cliodna in Glandore harbor in the South of Cork.
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CHAPTER IV.
Then Lomna Druth, the jester, ahead of all the others, broke into the house, and the door- keepers struck off his head, and it was tossed three times in and out of the inn, just as he had foretold.
And one man attacked another until all were in the fray, and Conaire, the king, went out with his people and many of the outlaws fell by his hand. Three times the inn was set on fire and three times the flames were extinguished, and after that Conaire made his way back to where his weapons lay, for he had been without them through the first of the fight; then, fully armed, he went out again and drove the outlaws back with great slaughter.
“I told you” said Ferogain, “that all the men of Eire could not take the house from Conaire, the king!”
But the druids, who were along with the out- laws, said: “His hour of triumph will soon end, and the day of victory be ours !”
And by means of their druidical enchantments Conaire became very thirsty, and went into the inn for drink.
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“A drink for me, MacCecht!” he cried.
“It is not such a command as that, MacCecht is used to taking from Conaire, the king,” an- swered MacCecht. “My duty is to keep you from the men who seek to slay you ; but ask a drink of your steward or your cup-bearers.”
Then Conaire called to his cup-bearers for water. “There is none” they answered, “for every drop in the house was thrown on the fire to put it out.”
“Get me a drink,” said Conaire, speaking again to MacCecht. “I may as well die by an outlaw’s hand as for the want of water.”
Then MacCecht asked the champions of Eire who stood near the king which they would rather do: go out and find him a drink or stay in the house and defend him. Conall Cearnach replied : “Leave the defense of the king to us, and go yourself for the water, for it was of you the king asked it.”
So MacCecht went to look for a drink and he took Conaire’s great golden cup with him and he armed himself with the iron cauldron spit. And as he sped through the outlaws he de- fended himself with the spit; and many an out- law died from a blow of it. And finally holding
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his shield before him, he made a round with his sword above his head and cutting down all before him made his way past chiefs and champions.
And all that happened after that would make too long a story. The people of the inn came out to meet the attack of the outlaws; and, though some died in the fight, many escaped. At last there was no one left in the inn with Conaire but Conall, Sencha and Duach.
Now Conaire from rage and fighting had brought a fever of thirst upon himself ; which so overcame him that after hours of suffering he died.
When the other three men saw that the high king was dead they went out, and, cutting their way through their enemies, wounded and dis- heartened escaped with their lives.
And Conall Cearnach, when he had sufficiently recovered his strength, went on to his father’s house. But half his shield was left in his hand, and his two spears were bent and broken.
He found Amergin, his father, out before his dun in Tailltin. “Those are fierce wolves that have hunted you, my son,” said Amergin.
“I am not wounded by wolves but by fierce fighting men,” said Conall.
Tailltin [Tel' tin]: Now called Telltown. Fairs were held herefrom earliest times until the twelfth century. Tailltin is the Olympia of the Gael.
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“What news have you brought from Da Derga's inn?” said Amergin. “Is Conaire, your king, still living?”
“The king no longer lives.” answered Conall.
“I swear by the gods the great tribes of Ulster swear by, he is but a coward, who came out alive, leaving his king dead among his enemies.”
“My own wounds are not white, my hero father.” said Conall, showing his right arm cov- ered with frightful gashes.
“That arm has indeed been in the fight,” said Conall.
“There are many now lying in front of the inn to whom it dealt dark death last night,” said Conall.
Now, as to MacCecht: after he made his way through the outlaws, he hurried to the well of Ceasair, which was near by in Crith Cualann ; but, there was not so much as the full of the cup of water in it. On through the night he went from lake to lake, and from river to river, but he could not find the full of the cup of water in any of them. At last he came to Uaran Garad on Magh Ai, and it could not hide itself from him and so he filled his cup and retracing his steps, reached the inn before morning. And when he arrived
Ceasair [Kay'sar]. Crith [Creh]. Uaran Garad [Oo'ran Gaw' rah] Magh Ai is in Roscommon.
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there he saw two men in the act of striking off Conaire’s head.
With a sure blow MacCecht struck one of them, and severed his head from his body. Mean- while the other man made haste to get away with King Conaire’s head; but, MacCecht picking up a stone threw it and wounded him unto death.
Then he stooped and poured the water from the golden cup into Conaire’s mouth. And, after the water was poured in, MacCecht heard the voice of Conaire say: “A good man and a great champion, brave of heart and hand is MacCecht. It is he who found a drink of water for a thirsty king. Gallantly he fought; no fear had he of furious foes ! Would that I were alive once more to honor MacCecht of the great name/’
After that MacCecht brought the body of the high king to Teamhair and buried him there as befitted a king. Then he went away to his own province of Connacht, and the place he chose to live in was called Magh Bron-gear, because of his bitter grief.
And for many years after that no Ard Righ was chosen to reign over Eire.
Bron-gear: Sharp sorrow.
Deirdre or the Fate of the Sons of Usnach
CHAPTER I.
EDLIMID, the son of Doll, was harper to king Conchubar. One f day when Cathbad, the druid, was at Fedlimid’s house he foretold that a daughter would be born to him. This was unexpected news to Fedlimid. “I do not believe such a thing can come to pass, Cathbad,” said he.
“Nevertheless,” said Cathbad, “I see by Druid signs that on account of a daughter of yours, who is not yet born, much blood will be shed in Eire, and great heroes and candles of the Gael will lose their lives because of her.”
“If that is your foretelling, you would better keep it to yourself ; and, moreover, I do not believe a word of it.” said Fedlimid, for the druid’s prophecy angered him.
“But you will live to know my foretelling is
Deirdre [Dar'drah]. Usna [dos'nah]. Felimid [Fa'li meh].
Doll [Dholl]. Conchubar [Con' a choor]. Cathbad [Caw' faj.
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true, Fedlimid,” replied Cathbad, “for I have seen it all clearly in my mind.” And with that he went away.
Though Fedlimid pretended not to believe what the druid had said, still he pondered over it night and day and feared in his heart it might come true. And he determined that if the child should be born, as foretold, he would hide her away where no eye could see her, and no ear could hear of her, and thus prevent the woe and war- fare which Cathbad had said should be in Eire for her sake.
And it happened in due course of time that the prophecy came true, and soon after the child was born Cathbad went to Fedlimid’s house and Fed- limid was ashamed when he saw him and remem- bered how he would not believe his words.
But the druid looked at the child and said : “Let Deirdre be her name; disaster will come through her.”
Then he took her in his arms and said “O Deirdre, fair daughter of Fedlimid, there will be trouble in Ulster for your sake! O flame of beauty, you shall kindle deeds of wrath in Emain ; heroes will fight for you, and the sons of kings meet banishment and death! Woe and warfare
Emain [Aw' win] : Emain Macha, the residence of the kings of Ulster. The remains are about two miles west of Armagh. They consist of a great circular rath, with a deep trench outside of it, and a high mound. The space within the rath is about thirteen acres. Emain Macha was founded about three centuries before the beginning of the Christian era by Macha of the Golden Hair, queen of Ulster.
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are in your fate, O fairest child! You will have a little grave apart to yourself ; you will be a tale of wonder forever, Deirdre.”
Then Cathbad went away, and Fedlimid still seeking to avert the fate foretold for Deirdre gathered together his men, and brought them away with him to a great, lonely mountain, and there he bade them make a little house by the side of a round, green hillock and plant a garden of apple trees behind it and build a wall about it. And over the house he bade them put a roof of green sods so that passers-by could not distin- guish the house from the hillock, nor think that any one lived there.
And Fedlimid chose Levarcham, daughter of Aedh, to care for Deirdre, and sent her and his child to live in the sod-covered house on the great, wild mountain. And he made everything com- fortable for them, and gave them a store of pro- visions, and he told Levarcham that she should never want for anything as long as she lived.
And so Deirdre and her foster mother lived on the lonely mountain and no stranger discovered their whereabouts for fourteen years. And Deirdre grew as straight and trim as a rush in a bog; and she was as graceful as the swan on the
Levarcham [Low' [cow] er kam]
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wave; and fleet as the deer on the hill. And no maiden in Eire was more beautiful or gentle.
And all the knowledge that Levarcham had she imparted to Deirdre. There was not a blade of grass, nor a bird singing in the wood, nor a star shining from heaven but Deirdre knew the name of it. There was one thing however which Levarcham denied to Deirdre and that was the friendship of any other person than herself.
But one cloudy, winter night a hunter lost his way on the mountain, and as he wandered on he was overcome with weariness and sleep, and lay down on the side of the green hillock near Deirdre’s house. And while he was lying there he dreamed that he was near a house of the Sidhe, and could feel the warmth which radiated from it; and hear the suantraigh of the sidhe within. And he called out in his dream : “Let whoever is inside bring me in also, in the name of the sun and the moon.”
Deirdre heard the voice and asked Levarcham its meaning. “It is only the birds of the air who have gone astray, and are trying to find one another” said Levarcham, “but let them go back to the branches of the wood.” Soon the hunter cried out again in his dream, and again
Suantraigh [Shoon ' three] : Sleep, music.
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Deirdre wished to know whence the sound came. And again Levarcham answered: “The birds of the air are looking for one another, let them go past to the branches of the wood."
Then the third time the hunter called: “Let whoever is inside bring me in also, in the name of the elements, for I am perishing with cold and hunger/'
“Oh tell me what is that, Levarcham?" said Deirdre.
“Nothing for you to see, my child," answered Levarcham, “nothing but the birds of the air; they are lost to one another. Let them go past to the branches of the wood; there is no place nor shelter for them here tonight."
“O, Levarcham," said Deirdre, “the bird asked to come in in the name of the sun and the moon ; and you have told me we must never refuse what is asked like that. If you will not let in the bird that is perishing with cold and hunger, I must do it myself."
So Deirdre drew the bolt from the leaf of the door, and let in the hunter. And she offered him a seat, and food, and drink.
“Come now and eat," then said Deirdre “for you must be very hungry."
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“Hungry and cold, indeed, was I when I came into this house” said the hunter, “but, by my word, the first glance from your bright eyes made me forget it all/'
“How little you are able to curb your tongue,” said Levarcham to him. “You are given the shel- ter of a house and the warmth of a hearth on this dark, winter night and the only thing asked in return is that you keep quiet.”
“I am thankful for your kindness,” said the hunter, “and surely I shall strive to talk as little as possible; but, I swear by the oath my people swear by, that if some of the people of the world whom I know saw the loveliness that is hidden away here they would soon take it from you.”
“Who are they?” said Deirdre.
“I will tell you,” said the hunter ; “they are Naoise, son of Usnach, and Ainnle and Ardan, his two brothers.”
“Describe these men to me,” said Levarcham, “so that if wre should ever meet, I would know them.”
“I can describe them no better than this:” said the hunter, “their hair is black as the raven’s wing; their skin is white as the swan’s. Their cheeks are like the blood of the speckled, red calf
Ainnle [Ahn'leh]. Ardan [Awr'dhan ' ]. Naoise [Nee'sha].
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and the salmon of the stream or the deer of the grey mountain cannot out-leap them. And the head and shoulders of Naoise are above those of all the other men of Eire.”
'That may all be” said Levarcham, instead of thanking him for his description, "but do you go away from here as fast as possible, and take another road from that you came; and, by my word, I have small thanks for you or for her who let you in.”
"You need not send him away for saying what he did to me,” interposed Deirdre, "for I already knew about those three men; I saw them in a dream last night, and they were hunting upon a hill.”
But the hunter did not seek to tarry longer in Levarcham’s house; and as he walked away he kept thinking how lonely Conchubar, the Ard Righ of Ulster, must be; for he had no wife to greet him night and morning. And he thought that if Conchubar could see the beautiful maiden of the mountain he would bring her home and make her his queen. "And,” he said to himself, "I will get the good will of the king by telling him where there is a maiden worthy in every way to be his wife.”
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So he went directly to the palace at Emain Macha, and sent word to king Conchubar that he had news for him, and begged him to hear it.
The king sent for him and asked him the reason of his journey to Emain Macha.
“I have come to tell you, O King,” said the hunter, “that I have seen the most beautiful maiden that ever was born in Eire.”
“Who is this maiden?” said the king, “and where did you see her ? It is strange indeed that no one has told me of her before. Are you sure it was not in a dream you have seen her ?”
“I am not telling you a dream, O king, but no other man has seen this beautiful creature, nor can anyone see her unless I tell him of her dwell- ing place.”
“If' you will bring me where she is, you shall have a good reward,” said the king.
“I will bring you there,” said the hunter.
“Remain with my household tonight,” said the king, “and early tomorrow morning I and my people will go with you.”
“I will stay,” said the hunter. And he stayed that night in the household of king Conchubar.
Then Conchubar sent word to Fergus and other great men of Ulster what he was about to
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do. And though it was early when the songs of the birds began in the woods, it was earlier still when Conchubar, the Ard Righ of Ulster, arose with his little company of friends in the fresh May morning. And the dewdrops were glisten- ing on bush and flower as they journeyed along toward the green hill where Deirdre was living.
And many a young man who had set out in the morning with a glad, light step walked wearily and slowly before the end of the day ; so long and craggy was the way.
They were all happy when the hunter said, pointing to a little valley on the side of the mount- ain: “The maiden you seek lives in yonder vale, and may no wind of misfortune blow your foot- steps aside before you reach it; but, as for me, I will go no nearer it than this.”
Conchubar and his friends then hastened to the green hillock, and they knocked at the door of Deirdre’s house. Levarcham called out that neither answer nor opening would be given to anyone whatsoever, and that she did not wish to be disturbed.
“Open/’ said Conchubar, “in the name of the Ard Righ of Ulster.”
When Levarcham heard Conchubar’s voice,
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she knew it would be impossible to conceal Deirdre any longer; so she hastened to let in the king and as many of his people as could follow him.
The king, when he beheld Deirdre, thought that never in the course of the day, or in the dreams of the night, had he seen so beautiful a creature; and there and then he gave her his heart full of love. And he put Deirdre up on the shoulders of his men and she and Levarcham were brought away to Emain Macha.
And Deirdre promised that, after a year and a day had gone by, she would become the wife of Conchubar and queen of Ulster. Conchubar gave her for companions pleasant, modest maid- ens of her own age and a teacher from whom she learned the things most useful for young girls to know. And she became wise and skillful, and more beautiful, and Conchubar loved her more than anything in the world.
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CHAPTER II.
One day, when Deirdre and her companions were walking on a hill near Emain Macha in the pleasant sunshine, they saw three men coming toward them. And as they came nearer Deirdre remembered what the hunter had said, and thought of the three men she had seen in her dream, and she said to herself: “These men I now see are the three sons of Usnach, and the tallest one is Naoise, he who is head and shoulders above all the men of Eire.”
The three brothers passed by without turning to look at the young maidens on the hill side. They were singing as they walked and the sing- ing of the sons of Usnach was enchantment and sweetest music to all listeners. And when Deirdre heard it, so great a love for Naoise came into her heart, that she could not help calling him, and her voice rang clear: “Naoise, Naoise, son of Usnach, take me with you.”
Now Ainnle and Ardan, when they heard her call, knew it was the beautiful young maiden from the court of Conchubar; and they feared that if Naoise, their brother, should see her he would want her for his wife; for she was not yet mar-
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ried to the king. So they said to each other : “Let us hasten our steps for the road is long and the dusk of evening coming on.” They wished to get out of sight and hearing of Deirdre before Naoise should see her. But he had heard her and he said: “What cry was that? It seems to me it is not well for me to answer, and yet it is not easy for me to refuse.”
“It was but the cry of Conchubar’s wild ducks” said his brothers. “Let us quicken our steps for we have a long road to travel and the dusk of evening is coming on. ”
They did so, and were speedily widening the distance between Deirdre and themselves when again she called: “Naoise, Naoise, son of Usnach, take me with you.”
“What cry is this that strikes my heart? I do not know whether to answer it, or to dis- regard it,” said Naoise.
“It is the honking of Conchubar's wild geese,” answered his brothers, “let us not tarry to listen, but make the best of our time for the darkness of night is coming on.”
So they hurried along, and the distance be- tween themselves and Deirdre grew wider and wider, and again her call came fainter and
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sweeter: “Naoise, Naoise, son of Usnach, take me with you.”
“Someone is calling me,” exclaimed Naoise “so sweet a voice my ears have never heard, but it strikes my heart like steel.”
“You have heard but the scream of Conchu- bar’s lake swans,” said his brothers.
“It is a human cry I have heard,” replied Naoise, “and I swear by my hand of valour I will go no further until I find the one who has given it.”
So Naoise turned back and met Deirdre and he thought he had never seen a woman so beauti- ful ; and there and then he gave her a greater love than he had ever given any vision, or living creature.
And he lifted her high on his shoulder, and said to his brothers : “Now indeed we may hasten our steps, and end our journey while yet some light is left in the sky.”
“Leave the maiden here,” said Ainnle and Ardan, “it will bring disaster upon us thus to take her away.”
“Nevertheless, she shall go with us,” said Naoise, “and we will leave Conchubar’s kingdom before he has a chance to take her from us.”
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So the sons of Usnach called their people together and that night they set out with three times fifty men; three times fifty women, and three times fifty wolf dogs, and in their midst was Deirdre.
And they traveled from one part of Eire to another; from Essruadh in the south, to Beinn Etair in the east, and they were often in danger of being destroyed by Conchubar’s devices.
One time the Druids raised a thick and thorny spinney before them, but Naoise and his brothers cut their way through it. Another time, while they were crossing a ford, through the spells of the Sidhe the waters rose around them and they barely escaped drowning, one and all.
And finally they sailed away to the island of Alban, and settled in a lonely place. And when hunting failed them they fell upon the cattle in the fields about them. And the men of Alban, in order to avenge themselves for the destruction of their cattle, gathered together to make an end of the sons of Usnach and their people.
But they called upon the king of Alban for aid, and he lent them a friendly hand in all their en- counters and difficulties.
All this time the king of Alban knew nothing
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of Deirdre nor had the sons of Usnach let any stranger see her. But it happened that early one morning the king's steward made his way into the house where Naoise and Deirdre lived; and waiting but for one glimpse of her wonderful beauty, he hastened back to the king and said: “O King, I have done what has never been done before: I have found a woman who would make a fitting wife for you. She dwells on the shore of Loch Ness, and is well worthy of you, O king of Alban. But before she can be queen, Naoise must die; for it is his wife of whom I am speak- ing."
“I will not harm Naoise," said the king, “but go you secretly to the beautiful woman and bid her come to see me."
The steward brought the king’s message to Deirdre, but she sent him away, and told all he had said to her, to Naoise. So the king sent the sons of Usnach into every hard fight, hoping they would meet their death, but they won every battle and came safe again home. And they moved to Loch Eitche near the sea and for a while lived there in peace and comfort. And for food they caught the salmon of a spring-fed stream, from the door of their dwelling; and,
Etcha : In present glen Etive in Scotland.
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from their windows, they killed the deer of the grey hills.
And when Naoise went to the court of Alban’s king, none of the great men there were more splendidly attired. He wore a bright purple cloak of finest fit, trimmed with fringe of gold. IHis coat had fifty hooks of silver, and a brooch on which were a hundred polished gems. His weapons were a gold-hilted sword ; two blue- green spears with bright points and a dagger, the color of yellow gold, which had a hilt of silver.
And the two children of Naoise and Deirdre were named Gaiar and Aebgreine; and were given into the keeping of Mannanan MacLir, the sea god, and were reared by him with greatest care in Emain of the Appletrees. And Man- nanan had Bobaras, the poet, come to impart learning to Gaiar; and when Aebgreine of the Sunny Face was grown to womanhood she be- came the wife of Rinn, son of Eochaidh Iuil of Tir-na-n-og.
Gaiar [Gay'ar]. Aebgreine [Av gra'nah]. Eochaidh Iuil [Och' ee Yule]. Tir'-na-n-og ' : Land of the young.
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CHAPTER III.
And Conchubar still reigned in Ulster. And he gave a splendid feast for the greatest of his nobles; and at the feast were Cathbad the druid; Geanan, son of Cathbad; Ferceirtne; Sencha, son of Ailell; Conall Cearnach; Fergus and Cuchulain of Muirthemne, Knight of the Red Branch of Ulster, and many other poets and heroes. And songs were sung, poems recited, and branches of kinship were traced by an- nalists and never was there a merrier feast until Conchubar, the king, raised his voice and said: “I desire you to tell me: have you ever seen a better house than this house of Emain, or a better hearth than rr^ hearth in any place you have ever been?”
“We have never seen better house nor hearth than that of Conchubar, the king,” they answered with one accord.
“But can you not think of something that is wanting?”
“We know of nothing from the loss of which we suffer” said they. “I do not think as you do.” said Conchubar. “I know of something that is wanting and that is the presence of the three best
Geanan [Gan 'nan]. Ferceirtne [Far kart' nah].
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candles of the Gael; the three noble sons of Usnach: Naoise, Ainnle and Ardan. No woman in the world should be able to keep them from us, they are sons of a king and they would defend the high kingship against the best men of Eire.”
“We would have said that long ago, if we had dared.” said they. “These three alone could de- fend the province of Ulster, for they are lions of endurance and bravery.”
“If that is so,” said Conchubar, “let us send a messenger to Alban to ask them to come back again.”
“Whom will you send with the message?” asked they all together.
“There is only one way to decide that,” said the king. “Naoise is under geasa not to return with any man but one of these three: Conall Cearnach, Fergus or Cuchulain; and now I will find out which of these three loves me best.”
Then the king called Conall aside, and asked him: “What would you do with me if I should send you for the sons of Usnach, and they were destroyed by me — a thing I do not mean to do ?”
“As I am not going to bring them,” said Conall, “I will say that any Ulster man who
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harmed the sons of Usnach would get shorten- ing of life and sorrow of death from me.”
“I see well enough,” said Conchubar, “that you are no friend of mine.”
Then he called Cuchulain to him and asked him the same that he had asked Conall. “I give you my word — as I am not going,” said Cuchulain, “that if the sons of Usnach were killed in Ulster, it is not to one person only, but to every Ulster- man I thought unfriendly to them, I would give shortening of life and the sorrow of death.”
“I see, indeed,” said Conchubar, “that you are no friend of mine.” And he sent Cuchulain away.
Fergus was the next to be called, and he was asked the same question as were the other two.
“Whatever may happen,” answered Fergus, “your blood will never flow by my hand; but, if any other man should seek to harm the sons of Usnach, I hope it may be in my power to give him shortening of life and sorrow of death.”
“I see it is you, Fergus, who must go for them,” said Conchubar, “and do not delay but set out by sunrise tomorrow. And when you return, I put you under geasa to let the fort of Borach, son of Cainte, be your first stopping place and as soon
Borach [Bawr ' Sch]. Cainte [Kant ' yah].
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as you arrive there, be it day or night, send on the sons of Usnach to Emain.”
The king and Fergus went back to the com- pany together and Fergus told them that it was he who had been chosen by Conchubar to fetch the sons of Usnach back to Emain Macha.
Then Conchubar went to Borach and told him to prepare a feast for Fergus on his return from Alban with the sons of Usnach. “And,” said Conchubar, “he is under geasa not to refuse to partake of your feast.”
Fergus set out at sunrise the next morning, and he brought with him no guard nor helpers, but only his sons: Fair-Haired Iollan, Buinne Ruadh; and Cuillan, the shield-bearer, bringing with him his shield.
They journeyed on until they reached the dwelling place of the sons of Usnach in Alban. They had three houses: The house where the food was prepared; the house where they ate; and the house where they slept.
When Fergus came to the harbor of Loch Eitche he gave a great shout. Naoise and Deirdre were playing chess, and Naoise heard the shout and said to Deirdre : “That is the shout of a man from Eire.”
Iollan [E'lan]. Buinne Ruadh [Bun 'yah Roo'ah].
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“I think it is the cry of a man of Alban/' said Deirdre.
A second shout from Fergus sounded from the harbor. “That is, indeed, the shout of a Gael from Eire,” said Naoise again.
“It is not,” said Deirdre, “let us go on play- ing.”
But a third shout was heard, and by that time the sons of Usnach knew that it was the shout of Fergus, and Naoise asked Ardan to go out and meet him.
Then Deirdre told Naoise that she knew when she had heard the first shout who gave it.
“Why did you not say so then, my queen?” said Naoise.
“Because of a vision: Last night I saw three birds who came to us from Emain Macha with three drops of honey in their mouths. They left the honey with us and took away with them three drops of our blood.”
“What is your interpretation of the vision, my queen?”
“My interpretation is this: Fergus is coming from Conchubar with a message of peace for us, for honey is not sweeter than a message of peace sent from a false heart.”
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“Do not attach such importance to your vision, Deirdre,” said Naoise, “it signifies nothing but troubled sleep and gloomy thoughts. It is a long time since Fergus came into the harbor, go to meet him, Ardan, and bring him here at once.”
So Ardan went to meet Fergus, and his two sons : “My love to you, dear comrades,” said he.
“My fondest love to you Ardan,” said they.
“And what news have you brought from Eire?” asked Ardan.
“The best news I have for you” said Fergus, “is this: Conchubar, Ard Righ of Ulster, has sworn by the earth beneath him, by the heaven above him, and by the sun that travels to the west, that he will not rest by day nor sleep by night until the sons of Usnach come back to the coun- try of their birth ; and he has sent us to ask you there.”
But when they had come to Naoise’s house and delivered their message to him, Deirdre said : “It is better for the sons of Usnach to remain here, for they have greater sway in Alban than Conchubar has in Eire.”
“Even so,” said Fergus, “one’s own country is better than all things else; no pleasure is so great as that of living in your own home; and no sor-
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row can equal the sorrow of having to dwell in an alien land.”
“That is true,” said Naoise, “Eire is dearer to me than Alban, though here I have greater riches and power than I had there.”
So Naoise consented to return with Fergus, but it was greatly against Deirdre’s will that he did so. “Remain in Alban O Naoise, my hus- band! I know by my dream the sons of Usnach will meet only treachery from Conchubar.”
“Lay down your dream, Deirdre, on the height of the hills, lay your dream on the sailors of the sea and the rough, grey rocks ; for in peace we will go and in peace we will be received by Conchubar of the Red Branch.”
But Deirdre spoke again: “I see Conchubar merciless in his dun; I see Naoise without strength in battle ; I see Ainnle and Ardan with- out shield or breastplate; I see the falseness of Fergus; and Deirdre weeping, weeping bitterly!”
“Do not be swayed by the dream of a woman,” said Fergus to Naoise, “Do not slight the friend- ship of the Ard Righ, but come at once to Ulster.”
So Naoise consented to go, and Fergus promised him protection, if necessary against all the men of Eire.
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And when they were in their ships upon the sea, Deirdre looked back to Alban and said:
“My love to you, O land to the east!
It is with grief I leave your pleasant bays, your flowery plains and heathery hills.
Dear to me is the land to the east, I would not have come away from it, but that I came with Naoise.
Glen Masan, my grief! We were rocked to pleasant sleep over the wooded harbor of Masan!
Glen Eitche, my grief! The home of the sun is Glen Eitche !
Glen-da-Rua, my grief! Sweet is the voice of the cuckoo on the bending branch of the hill above Glen-da-Rua !
Dear to me is Droighin, dear are its waters over the clean sands!
I would never have come away from it but that I came with Naoise !”
Droighin [Dri' yeen].
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CHAPTER IV.
It was not long until they reached Dun Borach, and Borach greeted them in the friendliest way, and told Fergus he had a feast prepared for him. And when Fergus said he could not delay for a feast but must hasten to Emain Macha, Borach said: “There are geasa on you Fergus not to leave Dun Borach until you have partaken of the feast. And it is Conchubar’s wish that you send the sons of Usnach ahead of you to Emain Macha/’
Fergus was very angry when he heard this: “You have done an evil thing, you and Conchu- bar, thus putting me under geasa,” said he; and, turning to Naoise, asked whether he should go or remain.
Deirdre was the one to answer : “It should be easy for you to choose whether to refuse the feast or forsake the sons of Usnach.”
“I will not forsake them,” said Fergus “for I will send my sons Iollan and Buinne with them.”
“By my word,” said Naoise, “you speak as if we sought protection, but up to this time we have always protected ourselves and we shall do the same now.”
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Then Naoise and his brothers, and Deirdre, and the sons of Fergus went away, leaving Fergus with a sad heart at Dun Borach.
Naoise and his companions journeyed on and when they were near Emain Macha, Deirdre said: “I will give you a sign by which you will know whether Conchubar is dealing fairly with you or not.” *
“Tell me your sign, my queen,” said Naoise.
“If Conchubar invites you into his own house where the nobles of Ulster are, then he will deal fairly with you ; but, if he sends you to the house of the Red Branch, then beware of treachery,” answered Deirdre.
They soon arrived at Emain Macha, and Naoise took the hand- wood and struck the door. The doorkeeper asked who was there, and when they told him he brought word to Conchubar.
Conchubar then called his stewards and serving men to him and asked them if the house of the Red Branch was well supplied with food and drink, and they replied that if the seven armies of Ulster should come there hungry and thirsty they would find plenty to satisfy them.
“If that is so,” said Conchubar, “bring the sons of Usnach to the House of the Red Branch.”
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Then Deirdre said: “Let us return to Alban; even yet it is not too late.”
But the sons of Usnach and the sons of Fergus said it would be a cowardly thing to return. So they went on to the House of the Red Branch, and with them went Conchubar’s stewards and serving men. And all except Deirdre and the sons of Usnach ate and drank and were glad and merry.
Meanwhile Conchubar was seeking for some- one to bring him word whether Deirdre was as beautiful as she had been when he first saw her. “And if she is,” he said, “I will bring her to Emain Macha with edge of blade and point of spear; in spite of the sons of Usnach, however brave they may be.”
“I will go to the House of the Red Branch,” said Levarcham, “and I will bring you word of Deirdre's appearance.”
Levarcham loved Deirdre better than anyone else, and since the time when she had gone with Naoise to Alban, Levarcham had often visited her; bringing messages from Eire to Deirdre and from Deirdre to Eire. And she went now to the House of the Red Branch, and near it she saw a troop of strange, armed men;
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and she knew they must have been brought thither to aid Conchubar in battle.
And when Levarcham found Naoise and Deir- dre they were playing chess and resting after their long journey from Alban. She greeted them fondly, and said: “You should not spend your time playing chess, there are greater things to be done. Conchubar has sent me to bring him word whether Deirdre is as beautiful as she used to be ; and great is my grief to think of the treacher- ous deeds which will be done in Emain tonight, to quench the three brightest candles of the Gael.”
And Levarcham wept at parting with Naoise and his people and she went back to Conchubar and he asked her what tidings she had brought of Deirdre.
“I have good news and bad news for you” said Levarcham.
“Tell me both,” said Conchubar.
“The best news is this: The sons of Usnach, the bravest and mightiest men of all the world, have come to you and beside them your kingdom will need no other defense. And the worst news is this : She who was the loveliest of women when she left Emain, has lost the beauty which she used to have.”
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At first Conchubar believed Levarcham, but after thinking the matter over he concluded to send another messenger ; and he sent Gelban, the son of the king of Lochlann, to bring him word concerning Deirdre. “For,” said he, “if she has the same appearance she used to have, there is not on the ridge of the earth nor the waves of the sea a more beautiful woman.”
So Gelban went to the House of the Red Branch, and through an open window he saw Naoise and Deirdre, and near them was the chess board on which they had been playing. And as Gelban stood there Deirdre caught a glimpse of him and told Naoise someone was watching them through the window. And Naoise the moment he heard this threw a chessman, which he hap- pened to have in his hand, and put out one of Gel- ban’s eyes.
Then Gelban went back, as best he could to Conchubar. “You were merry and pleasant go- ing away; but you are sad and cheerless coming back” said Conchubar to him.
Then Gelban told his story, and Conchubar said: “The man who made that throw will be king of the world, unless his life is shortened. But tell me is Deirdre still beautiful?”
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“No woman could be more beautiful than Deir- dre,” said Gelban, “and, although Naoise put out one of my eyes, I would have stayed to look at her with the other, had you not bidden me hasten back again.”
Gelban’s story filled Conchubar with envy, and he commanded the men of his army to take Deir- dre from the sons of Usnach.
So they went to the House of the Red Branch and they gave three great shouts around it, and they put red flames of fire to it. And fierce was the fight between the sons of Usnach and their people, and Conchubar, and the men of Ulster. Buinne, the son of Fergus, fought with great valor until three fifths of the fighting men out- side fell by his hand. Then Conchubar sought out the man by whose hand so many of his heroes had fallen, and said to him : “I will make you a good gift if you will leave off fighting.”
“What gift is that?” said Buinne. “ A hun- dred cantreds of land,” said Conchubar.
“What beside?” said Buinne.
“My own friendship and counsel,” said Con- chubar.
“I will accept your gift,” said Buinne.
It was a beautiful, fertile mountain which the
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king gave him but it turned barren that same night, and nothing green ever grew on it again, and it was called the Mountain of the Share of Buinne.
And Conchubar’s son, Fiacra the fair, and Iollan met in the fight around the House of the Red Branch. And Fiacra carried Conchubar’s shield, the Ochain, and his two spears, and his sword, the Gorm Glas, and Iollan threw Fiacra down under his shield; and the shield roared, as it always did when the person who carried it was in danger. And the three waves of Eire, the Wave of Truagh, the Wave of Cliodna and the Wave of Rudraigh roared in answer to it.
And Conchubar and the sons of Usnach met in the fight and Ainnle said to Conchubar: “Al- though we took white-handed Deirdre from you, we have done you many kindnesses at other times ; and now you should remember them. The day your ship full of silver and gold was going to wreck upon the sea, we gave you our own ship while we went swimming to the hafibor.”
“No thanks do I give you for that,” said Con- chubar, “nor for fifty times that.”
Then Ardan said: “We did another deed of kindness, and now is the time for you to remem-
The Fews mountain in Armagh, as far as is known it has always been barren. Ochain [O ' kawn] : The Roarer. Gorm Glas [Gurm
Glas] : The Blue Green.
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ber it. The day your speckled horse failed you on the green of Dundealgan we gave you our grey horse to bring you swiftly over the road/’
“No thanks do I give you for that, nor for fifty times that,” said Conchubar.
And then Naoise said: “Now is the time for Conchubar, the king, to remember how the sons of Usnach came to his aid in the seven battles of Beinn Etair.”
“For fifty times that service you should get no thanks now,” said Conchubar.
And then more terrible became the fight, and the sons of Usnach linked their shields together around Deirdre, and they made three leaps over the walls of Emain, killing three hundred men.
Conchubar was filled with fear when he saw this, so he went to Cathbad, the druid, and said to him: “Go, Cathbad, to the sons of Usnach, and work enchantment on them, or they will destroy the men of Ulster forever ; and I give you the word of a true hero that I do not seek to harm them, but only to make terms with them.”
Cathbad believed the king, and he forthwith used all his arts and power to hinder the sons of Usnach. Through his enchantment the sem- blance of a dark sea rose around them, and they
Dundealgan : Gaelic name of Dundalk.
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dropped their swords and attempted to swim with Deirdre through the boisterous billows. So it was that the sons of Usnach fell into the hands of Conchubar’s men. And it is too sorrowful to tell how Maine of the Rough-Hand, son of the king of Norway, when asked to do so by Con- chubar, slew the sons of Usnach with the sword which Mannanan MacLir had given to Naoise.
As for Deirdre, they left her to herself. And she wept and tore her fair hair and throwing herself on the ground near the grave which they were digging for the sons of Usnach she lamented bitterly:
“Long is the day without the sons of Usnach; three hawks of Slieve Cuilenn; three lions of the fort of Conrach ; three heroes not good at homage; their fall is a cause of sorrow!
“Long is the day without the sons of Usnach : three pillars in the breach of battle ; three pupils that were with Scathach three dragons of Dun Monad; grief for the three brightest candles of the Gael!
“My sight is gone from looking at the grave of Naoise; dig not the new grave narrow; I am Deirdre, the unhappy; I would lie in the grave with mighty Naoise.”
Slieve [Schlev]: Mountain. Scathach [Skaw'haw]: Protection.
Monad [Mo'nah].
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After this caoin, Deirdre kissed the body of Naoise three times; and then she arose and fled through the night until she came to where waves were breaking on the strand of a little loch. And a fisherman and his wife saw her, and they brought her into their cabin and offered her food and drink. But she would not eat, nor drink, nor sleep; but, with her head upon her knees, she kept weeping for the sons of Usnach.
And when Conchubar found that Deirdre was gone he sent Levarcham to look for her and bring her back to the palace, that he might make her his wife.
Levarcham found her in the fisherman’s cabin and bade her return to Emain Macha, where she would have riches and protection and whatever she might desire. And Levarcham gave her this message from Conchubar: “Come up to my house, O beautiful branch, with the dark eye- lashes; come, and have no fear on your fair face of hatred, jealousy or reproach.”
But Deirdre said, “I will not go up to his house, I do not desire gold nor silver, nor horses nor lands ; but only leave to lie in the grave with the sons of Usnach.”
And again Deirdre lamented:
Caoin [Keen] : A lament.
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“Delightful to Conchubar, the king, are pipes and trumpets; but the singing of the sons of Usnach was more delightful to me.
“The deep sound of waves was in their sing- ing; dear were their pleasant words; dear their grey eyes searching the forest; and their steps were pleasant on the high, dark hill.
“Do not break the strings of my heart, Con- chubar; though Naoise is dead my love’ is strong to live.”
So Levarcham went back to tell Conchubar what Deirdre had said, and Deirdre went out on the strand of the little loch. The night was dark and her eyes were dim with weeping, and she walked into the water where it made a deep pool by the shore ; and the turbid waves brought her happiness as well as death, for she did not wish to live after Naoise.
Conchubar, when he heard Deirdre’ s message from Levarcham, went down to the fisherman’s cabin bringing five hundred men with him. And they found Deirdre’s white, lifeless body on the strand. Then remorse and sorrow came to Conchubar because of the sad fate which through him had befallen the sons of Usnach and Deirdre. And they buried Deirdre near
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the sons of Usnach and they raised flagstones over their graves and on them wrote their names in Ogham.
And Fergus, son of Rogh, on the day after the death of the sons of Usnach came to Emain Macha and, when he found out what deeds of treachery and terror had been done he, with Cormac Conloingeas, Conchubar's own son, and Duach, the Beetle of Ulster, made an attack on Conchubar’s house. And many of his men were killed and Emain Macha was destroyed by fire.
After that Fergus and his men went into Con- nacht and took service with Ailell and Maeve at Cruachan. And that is how they came to fight with the men of Connacht in the war for the brown Bull of Cuailgne.
Rogh [Roy]. Ailell [Awl'yeel] Cruachan [Crucawn']. Cul- aigne [Cool' yah].
Oisin s Tale of Tir-na-n-og
CHAPTER I.
SHORT time after the battle of Gavra, in which many of our heroes fell, and among them Carbri of the Liffey, king of Eire, we were hunt- ing on a dewy morning near the shore of Loch Lein. The trees and hedges near and far were fragrant with blos- soms, and birds sang in the branches. We soon raised the deer from the thickets, and as they bounded over the plain our hounds followed in full cry.
But the hunt was not more than well begun before we saw a rider coming swiftly toward us from the west, and we soon thereafter per- ceived that it was a maiden on a white steed. She reined in, as she approached, and we all ceased from the chase on seeing her; for never before had Finn or the Feine beheld so lovely a maiden. A slender, golden diadem encircled
Oisin [Aw' sheen]. Loch Lein: Correct Irish name of the present “Lakes of Killarney.” Finn: Chief of the Feine [Fay'nah] or national militia of Eire. The modern Fenian is derived from Feine.
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155
her head, and she wore a brown robe of silk spangled with stars of red gold, which was fastened in front with a golden brooch; and fell from her shoulder until it swept the ground. Her yellow hair floated like a sunlit cloud about her. Her eyes were dear as drops of dew upon the grass, and blue as the blossoms of the wild ailestar. She sat more gracefully than the swan upon Loch Lein, holding her bridle with her small white hand and curbing her steed with a golden bit. Her white steed was covered with a smooth, flowing mantle; and shod with four shoes of pure, yellow gold. And in all Eire a better, or more beautiful, steed could not be found.
As the maiden rode slowly into Finn’s pres- ence, he addressed her courteously in these words: “Who art thou, O lovely princess? Tell us thy name and the name of thy court and re- late to us the cause of thy coming.”
She answered in a sweet and gentle voice: “Noble king of the Feine, I have had a long journey this day, for my country lies far off in the western sea. I am the daughter of the king of Tir-na-n-og and my name is Nia of the golden hair.” “And what is it that has caused
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thee to come so far across the sea? Has thy husband forsaken thee, or has some other evil befallen thee?”
“My husband has not forsaken me, for I have never been married or betrothed to any man. I love thy 'noble son, Oisin, and that is why I have come to Eire. It is not without reason I have given him my love, and undertaken this long journey; for I have often heard of his bravery and gentleness, and his noble bearing. Many princes and high chiefs have sought me in marriage, but I never consented to wed, for my heart was indifferent to all men until it was moved with love for thy gentle son, Oisin.”
“When I heard these words ; and when I looked on the lovely maiden, with her dew-bright eyes and glossy golden hair, I was all over in love with her. I went to her and taking her slender hand in mine, I told her she was a mild star of brightness and beauty; and that I pre- ferred her to all other princesses of all lands whatsoever, and would gladly make her my wife.”
“Then,” said she, “I place you under geasa, which true heroes never break through, to come with me on my white steed to Tir-na-n-og, the land of never ending youth. It is the most de-
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lightful and the most renowned country under the sun. Gold and silver and jewels; and honey and wine are there in abundance, and the trees bear fruit and blossoms and green leaves at the same time all the year round. You will be given a hundred swords, and a hundred robes of silk and satin; a hundred swift steeds and a hundred slender hounds, of keenest scent. You will have, for your own, cows without number; and flocks of sheep with fleeces of gold; a coat of mail that cannot be pierced ; and a sword that never misses a stroke and from which no one ever escaped alive. There are feastings and harmless pastimes each day. Harpers shall delight you with their sweet music. A hundred warriors fully armed shall always await your call; and you may wear the diadem of the King of Tir-na-n-og. This diadem has never before been given to anyone under the sun, and it will guard you day and night in tumult, and battle, and danger of every kind. Lapse of time shall bring you neither decay nor death, and you shall be forever young and gifted with unfading beauty and strength. All these delights you shall enjoy, and many others that I do not mention; and I, myself,
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will be your wife if you come with me to Tir- na-n-og.”
I replied that she was my choice above all the maidens in the world, and that I would willingly go with her to the land of youth.
When my father and his champions heard me say this, and knew that I was going from them, they raised three shouts of lamentation and grief, and Finn came up to me and took my hand saying sadly: “Woe is me, my son, that you are going away from me, for I fear that you will never return !”
His noble countenance was dimmed with sor- row; and, though I fully believed that I should see him again, I could not repress my tears as I kissed him farewell.
I then took leave of my dear companions and mounted the white steed, while the lady kept her seat before me. She gave the signal and the steed galloped swiftly and smoothly toward the west, until he reached the strand, and when his gold-'shod hoofs touched the waves he shook himself and neighed three times. He made no delay but plunged forward at once, moving over the face of the sea with the speed. of a cloud shadow on a March day. The wind overtook
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the waves, and we overtook the wind so that we straightway lost sight of land ; and saw noth- ing but billows tumbling before us and billows tumbling behind us.
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CHAPTER II.
But after a while other shores came into view, and we saw many wonderful things on our jour- ney: islands and cities we saw; lime white man- sions and bright grianans, and lofty palaces. A hornless fawn once crossed our course, bounding nimbly from the crest of one wave to the crest of another, and close after her in full chase was a white hound with red ears. We saw also a lovely young maiden mounted on a brown steed, with a golden apple in her hand. She passed swiftly by, and a young warrior on a white steed plunged after her. This warrior wore a long, flowing mantle of yellow silk; and held in his hand a gold-hilted sword. I understood none of these things and, wondering greatly, I asked the princess what they signified.
She answered: “Heed not what you see here, Oisin, for all this is as nothing compared with what you shall see in Tir-na-n-og.”
At last we saw at a great distance a palace, more splendid than all the others, rising over the waves on the very verge of the sea. As we drew near its front gleamed and glittered like the morning sun. I asked the lady what royal
Grianans [Gree ' ah nans] : Sun-bowers ; summer pavilions.
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house this was, and who was the prince that ruled over it.
“ This country is the land of Virtues/ ” she replied. “ ‘Its king is the great Fomor of the Blows, and its queen the daughter of the land of Life. This Fomor brought the lady away by force from her own country, and keeps her a prisoner in his palace. But she has put him under geasa, that he cannot break through, never to ask her to marry him, until she can find a champion to fight him in single combat. But as yet no hero has come hither courageous enough to meet the giant and rescue the lady from bondage/ ”
A blessing on you, golden haired Nia, I re- plied, I have never heard music sweeter than your voice; and, although I feel pity for the princess, your story is pleasant for me to hear; and, moreover, I will go to the palace and try to overcome the Fomor in single combat and thus free the lady.
So we came to land, and as we drew nigh to the palace, the lovely young queen met us and bade us welcome.
She led us in and seated us on chairs of gold. Choice food was placed before us, and drinking
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horns, and methers of mead, and golden goblets of sweet wine were offered us. When we had eaten and drunk, the mild, young princess told us her story; while tears welled out of her soft, dark eyes. She ended by saying ; “ 'Alas, I can never return to my