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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7488-h.zip b/7488-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..021260b --- /dev/null +++ b/7488-h.zip diff --git a/7488-h/7488-h.htm b/7488-h/7488-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66ea15f --- /dev/null +++ b/7488-h/7488-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2980 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Celtic Tales, by Louey Chisholm</title> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Celtic Tales, by Louey Chisholm + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Celtic Tales + Told to the Children + +Author: Louey Chisholm + +Posting Date: April 7, 2014 [EBook #7488] +Release Date: February, 2005 +First Posted: May 10, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1 align=center>CELTIC TALES</h1> +<h2 align=center>TOLD TO THE CHILDREN</h2> + +<h3 align=center>BY</h3> +<h2 align=center>LOUEY CHISHOLM</h2> + +<h3 align=center>WITH PICTURES BY</h3> +<h2 align=center>KATHARINE CAMERON</h2> + +<br> + +<p align=center><i>TO CHRISTOPHER</i></p> + +<br> + +<h3>NOTE</h3> + + +<p>This little book was written after several variants of the Tales had been +read:—‘Old Celtic Romances,’ by Dr. Joyce; ‘Reliquae Celticae,’ by Dr. +Cameron; ‘The Pursuit after Diarmud O’Duibhne and Grainne the daughter of +Cormac Mac Airt,’ by Standish Hayes O’Grady; ‘The Three Sorrows of +Story-telling,’ by Dr. Douglas Hyde; ‘The Laughter of Peterkin,’ by Fiona +Macleod, and other translations and retellings.</p> + +<p align=right>L.C.</p> + +<br> + +<h3>ABOUT THIS BOOK</h3> + +<p>One of my friends tells me that you, little reader, will not like these +old, old tales; another says they are too sad for you, and yet another +asks what the stories are meant to teach.</p> + +<p>Now I, for my part, think you will like these Celtic Tales very much +indeed. It is true they are sad, but you do not always want to be amused. +And I have not told the stories for the sake of anything they may teach, +but because of their sheer beauty, and I expect you to enjoy them as +hundreds and hundreds of Irish and Scottish children have already enjoyed +them—without knowing or wondering why.</p> + +<p align=right>LOUEY CHISHOLM.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>LIST OF STORIES</h2> + + +<p><a href="#chap1">The Star-Eyed Deirdre</a></p> + +<p><a href="#chap2">The Four White Swans</a></p> + +<p><a href="#chap3">Dermat and Grania</a></p> + +<br> + +<h2>LIST OF PICTURES</h2> + + +<h3>THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE</h3> + +<p><a href="#deirdre">‘Art thou indeed Deirdre?’</a></p> + +<p><a href="#sail">Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southward</a></p> + +<p><a href="#hedge">The Hedge of Spears</a></p> + + +<h3>THE FOUR WHITE SWANS</h3> + +<p><a href="#brother">As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers were as the maid</a></p> + +<p><a href="#swim">They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters</a></p> + +<p><a href="#kemoc">It was Saint Kemoc</a></p> + + +<h3>DERMAT AND GRANIA</h3> + +<p><a href="#grania">Grania</a></p> + +<p><a href="#dermat">Dermat</a></p> + +<br> + + +<a name="chap1"></a><h2>THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE</h2> + + +<p>In olden days, when many Kings reigned throughout the Green Island of +Erin, none was greater than the great Concobar. So fair was his realm that +poets sang its beauty, and such the wonder of his palace that the sweetest +songs of Erin were of its loveliness.</p> + +<p>In a castle of this fair realm dwelt Felim, a warrior and harper dear unto +the King. And it was told him that Concobar with his chief lords would +visit the castle.</p> + +<p>Then Felim made a feast, and there was great rejoicing, and all men were +glad.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of the feast an old magician, who was of those that had +come with the King, stood up before the great gathering. Long and white +was the hair that fell upon his bent shoulders, black were the eyes that +gazed into space from beneath his shaggy eyebrows.</p> + +<p>‘Speak,’ said the King to the old man, ‘speak, and tell us that thou +seest, for well we know thou piercest the veil that hideth from us the +secrets of the morrow.’</p> + +<p>Silently and with great awe did all the company look at the wise old man, +for those things that he had already foretold had they not come to pass? +The magician, also silent, looked from the face of one to the face of +another, but when his eyes fell on Concobar, the King, long did they dwell +there, and when he lifted them, on Felim did they rest.</p> + +<p>Then the Wise Man spake:</p> + +<p>‘This night, O Felim the Harper, shall a girl-babe be born to thee within +these castle walls. Loveliest among the lovely shall thy star-eyed +daughter be; no harp-strings shall yield such music as her voice, no fairy +strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound. Yet, O Felim, in days to +come, because of this fair child shall great sorrow come upon our King +Concobar and upon all his realm. In those days shall Erin’s chief glory +perish, for if the House of the Red Branch fall, who shall stand?’</p> + +<p>Then did a cry of fear burst from those gathered to the feast, and leaping +to their feet, each man laid his hand upon his sword, for the word that +the wise man had spoken would it not come to pass?</p> + +<p>‘Let our swords be in readiness,’ they cried, ‘to kill the babe that shall +be born this night, for better far is it that one child perish than that +the blood of a nation be spilt.’</p> + +<p>And Felim spake: ‘Great sorrow is mine that fear of the child who shall be +born this night should be upon you. Therefore, if it please the King, let +my daughter die, and so may peace yet reign in the realm. For dear as +would be a child to my wife and to me, dearer yet is the common weal.’</p> + +<p>But the answer of King Concobar came not for a time. His soul was filled +with desire to see the star-eyed maiden and to hear the wonder of her +voice. Still was the hand of each upon his sword when the King spake.</p> + +<p>‘Put far from thee, O Felim, the will to do this thing. Bend not thy mind +to the death of thine own child. And ye, my people, sheathe your swords. +Let the babe live. I, Concobar, will be her guardian, and if ill befall, +let it be upon me, your King.’</p> + +<p>At these words arose a Prince.</p> + +<p>‘It would be well, O King, but for the word spoken by the Wise Man, for +hath he not said, “Because of this fair child shall great sorrow come upon +the King Concobar”? If we let the babe live, then must thy people see thee +in sore distress, for the word that the Wise Man speaketh, shall it not +come to pass?’</p> + +<p>‘Of that am I not unmindful. Deep within the forest, beyond the Moor of +Loneliness, shall her childish days be spent. Gently tended shall she be, +but the eye of man shall not behold her, and solitary shall she live as +some unmated bird in distant wilderness.’</p> + +<p>Then with one accord did the people cry, ‘Wilt thou indeed be guardian to +this child, knowing the ill that the Wise Man hath foretold?’</p> + +<p>‘Yea, truly will I be guardian to the child, and when she be a woman then +shall she be my wedded wife. And if with the maiden come sorrow, then be +that sorrow upon me, and not upon the land.’</p> + +<p>‘What sayest thou, O Felim the Harper?’ cried the people.</p> + +<p>‘It were better to slay the child than to let that come which hath been +foretold.’</p> + +<p>‘And what sayest thou, O Wise Man?’</p> + +<p>‘That which shall come, shall come.’</p> + +<p>At the same moment there entered the hall a servant of Felim, and loudly +did he proclaim that the girl-babe, who had been foretold, was born. +‘Right beautiful and strong is the child, most fair to look upon.’</p> + +<p>‘And Deirdre shall her name be,’ said the Wise Man, ‘Deirdre the +Star-eyed.’</p> + +<p>And because of the words that the King Concobar had spoken, the life of +the babe was spared, and when the days of feasting were past, Concobar +returned to his palace, and with him he took the infant child and her +mother. Yet after a month he bade the mother return to Felim her husband, +but the babe Deirdre he kept.</p> + +<p>And deep within the forest, beyond the Moor of Loneliness, did the King +command that a cottage be built, and when Deirdre was one year, thither +was she sent with a trusted nurse. But on the trees of the forest and +throughout the land was proclaimed the order of the King Concobar, that +whosoever should hunt, or for other purpose enter the wood, death should +be his portion.</p> + +<p>Once each week did the King visit the fair babe, and daily were stores of +food and milk brought to the lone dwelling. And Deirdre each year grew +more fair, but none beheld her beauty, save her nurse, her tutor, and +Lavarcam.</p> + +<p>This Lavarcam was a woman well trusted of the King, and she alone went to +and fro between the palace and the cottage. It was she who told to Deirdre +the old tales of knights and ladies, of dragons and of fairies that dwelt +in the Enchanted Land.</p> + +<p>When Deirdre was seven years old the King no longer came every week to the +forest, but twice in the year only, and that as the Spring put forth her +first green shoots, and again when Autumn gleaned her harvest of gold.</p> + +<p>And when another seven years had sped, then came not the King thither, +either when the earth was green or golden, nor in the blue summer nor the +hoary winter, but from Lavarcam he heard that it was well with the maid.</p> + +<p>One white winter’s morning Deirdre looked from her window, and saw lying +in the snow a calf. It had been killed by her nurse to provide food for +the little household, and its bright red blood dyed the thick-lying snow. +As Deirdre watched the flow of the scarlet stream, a raven, black as +night, flew down and drank of the warm blood. Then Deirdre smiled.</p> + +<p>‘Where are thy thoughts, fair child?’ asked Lavarcam, entering the room.</p> + +<p>‘Only did I think,’ said Deirdre, ‘that if a youth could be found whose +skin was white as snow, his cheek crimson as that pool of blood, and his +hair black as the raven’s wing, him could I love right gladly.’</p> + +<p>Then Lavarcam spake: ‘Such a man have I seen, and one only.’</p> + +<p>‘His name, Lavarcam, his name?’ cried Deirdre. ‘Whence comes he, and +wherefrom he be found?’</p> + +<p>‘The fairest of three fair brothers is this Nathos, the son of Usna, and +now is he with Concobar the King.’</p> + +<p>And Deirdre would thereafter think of none but Nathos, and Lavarcam was +much troubled because of the words that she had spoken. And when Deirdre +longed grievously by day and night to see this Nathos of whom she had +heard, Lavarcam thought of a plan whereby she might end the maiden’s +dream.</p> + +<p>One day, as she came from the palace of the King, she met on the Moor of +Loneliness a swineherd and two shepherd lads. And well though she knew +that none might enter the forest, she led them to a well in its leafy +depths. Then said this woman trusted of the King, ‘Wait here by this well +until the jay cry and the hill-fox bark. Then move slowly on your way, but +speak to none whom ye may meet, and when ye leave the wood let not your +lips tell those things ye shall have seen and heard.’</p> + +<p>With these words Lavarcam left the three men, and entered the cottage.</p> + +<p>‘Come, Deirdre,’ she cried, ‘the crisp snow glistens in the sunshine. Let +us wander forth.’</p> + +<p>And Deirdre came, and dreamily she trod where Lavarcam led. Of a sudden +the older woman left her side, and bent as though she would gather a +woodland flower. At the same moment was heard the cry of the jay and the +bark of the hill-fox. Then came Lavarcam to the maiden’s side.</p> + +<p>‘Passing strange is it,’ said Deirdre, ‘to hear the jay cry and the +hill-fox bark while yet the snow lies thick.’</p> + +<p>‘Heed not strange sounds, fair Deirdre, but cast thine eyes toward yonder +well.’</p> + +<p>And as Deirdre gazed she saw, as in a dream, the forms of three men come +slowly through the forest.</p> + +<p>‘These, Deirdre, are men,’ said Lavarcam.</p> + +<p>‘Yet seem they not as the men I have seen ride by across the Moor of +Loneliness, for they were fair to look upon, but mine eyes have no +pleasure in beholding these strange forms.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet you look upon Nathos, for these men are none other than the three +sons of Usna.’</p> + +<p>Deirdre started. ‘Idle are your words, false Lavarcam. Yonder walks not a +man with skin white as snow, with cheek crimson as blood, nor with hair +black as the raven’s wing. You lie!’ And the maid made haste, and she +reached the men, and stood before them.</p> + +<p>Amazed at her exceeding beauty, they gazed in silence. ‘Tell me if ye be +the sons of Usna. Speak!’</p> + +<p>But in wonder at the loveliness of the maiden, and in fear of the anger of +Lavarcam, the men were dumb.</p> + +<p>‘Speak!’ she again cried. ‘If indeed ye be Nathos and his brothers, then +truly hath Concobar the King my pity.’</p> + +<p>At these words the swineherd could no longer keep silence.</p> + +<p>‘It is thy exceeding beauty that telleth us that thou art that Deirdre +whom the King hideth in this forest. Why mock us by asking if we are the +fairest of Concobar’s nobles? Clearly canst thou see we are but men of the +hills, I a poor swineherd, and these men shepherds.’</p> + +<p>‘Then wilt thou, swineherd, for truly do I believe thy words, get thee to +the sons of Usna, and say to Nathos the eldest, that in the forest beyond +the Moor of Loneliness, Deirdre awaits his coming. Tell him that +to-morrow, an hour before the setting of the sun, he will find her by this +well.’</p> + +<p>‘If it be known that I so break the law of the King, I die, yet will I go +right gladly.’</p> + +<p>Then Deirdre left the men, and walked slowly after Lavarcam. And Lavarcam +would fain have known what Deirdre had told the swineherd, but the girl +told her nought, and was in a dream all that day and all the morrow.</p> + +<p>It was in the wane of the morrow that Lavarcam went forth to take counsel +of the King. And Deirdre ran with great speed to the well, but no man was +there, and she waited long, but none came.</p> + +<p>While Deirdre waited by the well, Lavarcam came near to the King’s palace. +And lo! there, on the ground before her, lay the dead body of the +swineherd. Thus was it made known to Lavarcam that in some wise Concobar +the King had heard that the swineherd had spoken with Deirdre.</p> + +<p>Therefore Lavarcam went not to the palace, but turned aside to the camp of +the sons of Usna. And Nathos came out to her, and she told him of the +loneliness of the fair Deirdre and of her longing to see him.</p> + +<p>Then said Nathos, ‘But it may not be yet awhile, for Concobar found that +the fair Deirdre had spoken with the swineherd, and for that cause lies he +yonder, a dead man.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet tarry not long, for if thou wouldst hunt in the forest, beyond the +well, then surely wouldst thou see Deirdre the Star-eyed, and none should +know.’</p> + +<p>Seven days passed, and Deirdre roamed in the wood dreaming her dream, when +of a sudden there came an unknown sound. Ah, could it be the hunting-horn +of which Lavarcam had spoken in her tales of chase? The maiden paused. The +horn ceased. Nathos had left the hunt and wandered through the glade. +There, against a background of blue haze, encircled by a network of +blossoming blackthorn, shone forth the fairest vision mortal eye had +beheld.</p> + +<p>Speech tarried as Nathos gazed spell-bound.</p> + +<p>At length the maiden questioned, ‘Nathos, son of Usna, what wouldst thou?’</p> + +<p>‘Strange is it that thou shouldst know my name, most fair. No mortal art +thou. Fain would I enter yonder cottage, did I but dare, and speak with +the daughter of Felim the Harper. Yet it is death should the King know of +my desire.’</p> + +<p>‘I am that Deirdre whom thou seekest, and if I be fair in thine eyes, it +pleaseth me well. It is for thee I have watched long, for is not thy skin +white as snow, thy cheek crimson as blood, and thy hair black as the +raven’s wing? Lonely are my days in this place, where none dwells save my +nurse, my tutor, and Lavarcam.’</p> + +<p>Never did harp-strings yield such music as her voice, never did fairy +strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound.</p> + +<p>‘Art thou indeed Deirdre the Star-eyed, and is it that King Concobar +keepeth thee here like some caged bird?’</p> + +<center> +<a name="deirdre"></a> +<a href="images/deirdre.jpg"><img src="images/deirdret.jpg" alt="deirdre.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>‘Art thou indeed Deirdre?’ +<br> +<a href="images/deirdre.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + +<p>‘I am Deirdre, and it is the King’s will that I wander not forth from +yonder cottage but by the side of Lavarcam. Ill would it please him that I +should thus roam the forest alone.’</p> + +<p>‘I love thee, Deirdre, and I would serve thee ever.’</p> + +<p>‘I love thee, Nathos, and I would that I might be ever by thy side. Let me +flee with thee from this place.’</p> + +<p>Nathos knit his brows in thought. ‘Fair one, if we are seen as we leave +the forest, then is it death to us both; and if we are not seen, still is +it death, for when it is known of the King that Deirdre is fled, then will +the land be searched until she be found, and then shall we die.’</p> + +<p>‘But, Nathos, Concobar is not King in the land of Alba. Let us flee from +Erin, and there in thine own land shall we surely find safety.’</p> + +<p>‘Thou speakest well, brave Deirdre. If a host be sent from Concobar to +Alba, then shall it be met by a host of mine own land. And a fair land it +is. Scented with pine and seaweed are its shores, blue as thine eyes are +its waters, and of its setting sun the glory cannot be told.’</p> + +<p>‘Let us go forth,’ said Deirdre.</p> + +<p>‘Then let it be now and without delay, or it may never be,’ and as Nathos +uttered these words Deirdre saw a strange look in his eyes, and in a +moment he had flung his javelin among the bracken but a few paces apart.</p> + +<p>‘What beast wouldst thou slay?’ cried Deirdre, affrighted.</p> + +<p>‘It was no beast,’ said Nathos, ‘but yonder among the bracken lieth a dead +man, if my javelin missed not its mark.’</p> + +<p>In fear and wonder Deirdre ran to the spot. No man lay there, but she saw +on the bracken the form of a crouching man. She saw, too, the tracks that +marked his escape.</p> + +<p>Nathos followed her, and stooped to take his javelin from the ground. And +there, beside it, lay a wooden-hilted knife.</p> + +<p>‘It is as I thought,’ he said. ‘This knife is used but by the hillmen who +are in bondage to Concobar. The King seeketh my life. Go thou, then, back +to thy lonely cottage, and await that day when he shall make thee his +Queen.’</p> + +<p>‘Ask me not to turn from following thee, O Nathos, for thy way must be +mine, this day and ever.’</p> + +<p>‘Come, then,’ and Nathos took her by the hand.</p> + +<p>Through the shadowy forest they walked swiftly, until of a sudden he bade +her rest among the bracken. Then went he forward and told his waiting +huntsmen to return by a long and winding path to the castle of the sons of +Usna.</p> + +<p>Three days would it thus take them to reach it, and Nathos with Deirdre +would be there on the morrow, if, tarrying not, they walked on through the +dark night. But Concobar’s messengers would follow the hounds, thinking so +to capture Nathos.</p> + +<p>‘By dawn, Deirdre, shall we reach the castle, and there may we rest in +safety one day and one night. Then must we set out for the hills and lochs +of Alba, and with us Ailne and Ardan, for if the King cometh and findeth +me fled, then will he slay my brothers.’</p> + +<p>On and on they sped, through the forest, across the Moor of Loneliness, up +the glens and gorges, and over the hills. Above glimmered the pale stars, +around them was the screech and the moan of wakeful bird and beast.</p> + +<p>It was not till the dawn broke that they rested on the mountain-side. +There they stayed till the pink stole through the grey, and the sky +gleamed mother-o’-pearl. Then they rose and followed the stream that +trickled to the valley below. And now Nathos was glad.</p> + +<p>‘Look, Deirdre, yonder stands the castle of the sons of Usna.’ And with +that he gave a cry known by the brothers each of the other, and Ailne and +Ardan came forth gladly. But when they stood before Deirdre, so great was +their wonder at her exceeding beauty, that they stood spell-bound and +uttered no word.</p> + +<p>Then Nathos spake: ‘The fair maiden whom ye behold is none other than +Deirdre, the daughter of Felim the Harper. From this day I hold her as my +wedded wife, and to you she cometh as a sister.’</p> + +<p>But when the brothers heard, they were filled with fear, for had not the +King Concobar vowed that this same fair maid should be his Queen? And had +not the Wise Man foretold the sorrow that the daughter of Felim should +bring upon the land?</p> + +<p>‘I ask none to share the sorrow that may come,’ said Nathos. ‘To-morrow +Deirdre and I set forth for the bay where our galley is harboured, and if +so be that we gain the shores of Alba, before Concobar overtake us, there, +if he come thither, shall he be met by a host of our own land. Yet, lest +the King should follow me hither, and, finding me not, seek to slay you, +were it not well that ye leave this place?’</p> + +<p>Ardan spake: ‘Not for fear of that which might come upon us, but for the +love we bear you and our fair sister Deirdre will we never leave thee. If +sorrow come upon thee, let it be upon us also. Are we not the children of +one mother, and if death come, let us face it together like men. Are we +not under a bond that we will stand each by each, even unto death?’</p> + +<p>Then said Ailne, ‘As Ardan hath spoken, so let it be, for although the +words of the Wise Man come to pass, and sorrow be upon us, yet will we not +henceforth leave thee.’</p> + +<p>But when Deirdre heard how the sons of Usna would thus face death for her +sake, she sighed aloud. ‘Alas! it is not for me to bring sorrow upon the +land. Let me even now return to the cottage in the forest, and there with +Lavarcam will I live and die, unless it be that Concobar take me thence.’</p> + +<p>But Ardan answered: ‘For fear of what may befall us, the sons of Usna, +shalt thou never leave us, nor shalt thou go forth from us, but of thine +own free will.’</p> + +<p>Early next morning one hundred and fifty men rode with the three sons of +Usna and Deirdre, the wife of Nathos, toward the bay where their black +galley was harboured. It was not till night, when on the high ridge of a +hill, that they looked backward, and there in the far valley below, where +stood the castle of the sons of Usna, they beheld a column of flame.</p> + +<p>And Nathos’ brow grew dark. ‘The fire that ye see in the valley below +devours the castle of the sons of Usna. The hand that lit the fire is none +other than the hand of Concobar the King.’</p> + +<p>Then they rode on and rested not until they reached the black galley in +the golden bay. The scent of the sea and the gleam of its blue waters and +dancing waves made them strong and glad and free.</p> + +<p>As for Deirdre, who had never beheld the sea and its great wonders, she +laughed with joy and sang a song of the ocean which Lavarcam had taught +her long since and when its meaning was dark.</p> + +<p>At sundown the galley came to the shores of Mull, and because the wind +fell they put into a bay, and as they gazed across the waters to the rocky +headlands of Alba, they talked long as to whither they should sail on the +morrow. Should it be to crave protection of the King, or should it be to +where their father’s castle had stood before it had been destroyed?</p> + +<p>But that night there came a galley from the long island to the north. In +it sailed twenty men with their chief. And with the chief came a +richly-clad stranger, but so hooded that none might look upon his face.</p> + +<p>Steadfastly did the stranger gaze upon Deirdre, as the chief urged the +sons of Usna to cross the sea to Alba, and journey inland to the palace of +the King.</p> + +<p>‘But first come, Nathos, to my high-walled castle,’ said the stranger, ‘and +bring with thee thy wife and thy brothers.’</p> + +<p>‘It were not well to come to a man’s castle and know not the man’s name,’ +said Nathos.</p> + +<p>‘My name is Angus,’ answered the stranger.</p> + +<p>‘Then, Angus, let me behold thy face, for it were not well to come to a +man’s castle, having not looked upon the man’s face.’</p> + +<p>So Angus threw back his hood, and Nathos saw that Deirdre’s lips grew +white, as she said, ‘Not to-morrow, Angus; but on the morn that follows, +if thou wilt come again, then shalt thou lead us to thy high-walled +castle. This day have we travelled far and would fain rest.’</p> + +<p>But Angus turned him again to the sons of Usna and pleaded that they +should linger no longer in the isle. ‘To-night may this island be +tempest-swept, to-night may the host of Concobar be upon you, and then +what shall befall this fair one? Bring her rather to my castle, and there +let her rest in safety with my wife and her maidens.’</p> + +<p>But as Nathos glanced at Deirdre, he saw that her purpose was firm, and he +said once again the words she had spoken, ‘Not tomorrow, Angus; but on the +morn that follows, if thou wilt come again, then shall we come with thee +to thy high-walled castle’</p> + +<p>Then Angus, frowning, went with the chief and his men to their galley. And +as they set sail he asked how many men the sons of Usna had with them. But +when it was told him that they numbered one hundred and fifty, he said no +more, for there were but thirty that sailed with the chief, and what could +one man do against five?</p> + +<p>It was not until the strangers had gone that Nathos asked Deirdre +wherefore she delayed to visit so great a lord as Angus.</p> + +<p>‘Thou shalt hear wherefore I went not this day, nor shall go on any day to +come to the castle of him who calleth himself Angus. So he calleth +himself, but in truth he is none other than the King of Alba. In a dream +was it so revealed unto me, when I saw him stand victorious over your dead +body. Nathos, that man would fain steal me from you, and deliver you into +the hands of Concobar.’</p> + +<p>‘Deirdre hath wisdom,’ said Ardan. ‘By the morn after to-morrow we must be +far hence, for ere the sun shall rise may not yonder chief be upon us with +thrice the number of our men?’</p> + +<p>And Nathos, though he was sore grieved for the weariness of Deirdre, bowed +his head. So they set sail, and through the thick mist of a starless night +their galley silently breasted the unseen waves. But when they came north +of the long island, they bent to their oars, and as they rowed yet +northward Deirdre laughed again for joy, as she listened to the music of +the rowers’ strokes.</p> + +<p>When dawn glimmered they came to a sea-loch, its waters o’ershadowed by +the sleeping hills. And there they were told that the King of Alba, who +had called himself Angus, had no castle in the west, and had already left +for Dunedin. They heard, too, that the chief who sailed with him to Mull +was no longer a great lord, and that they had nought to fear.</p> + +<p>Greatly did the sons of Usna rejoice, for now might they sail south to the +land upon which their father’s castle had stood in their boyhood.</p> + +<p>But for eight days they lingered by the shores of the sea-loch, and as its +salt breath touched Deirdre’s cheeks, she grew yet more fair, and as her +eyes drank in the glory of Western Alba, they shone with a radiance that +dazzled the beholder.</p> + +<p>Then when the eighth day was come, they sailed forth and settled close by +the ground on which had stood their boyhood’s home. And it was with great +joy that those who dwelt on hill and shore heard of the return of the sons +of Usna, and many gathered around them, doing homage.</p> + +<p>Then the hundred and fifty men whom Nathos had brought with him, sent he +back to their own Green Isle.</p> + +<p>‘And thou, Ailne, and thou, Ardan, will ye not also return? Here may +Deirdre and I, with a few followers, dwell alone in safety.’</p> + +<p>But his brothers would not leave Nathos, for were they not under a bond +that they would stand each by each, even unto death?</p> + +<p>All through the winter they dwelt in peace and content. By day they would +hunt and fish, and when night fell Deirdre let fall from her lips such +wonder-stirring sounds that their heroic bosoms swelled with dreams of +noble deeds and high endeavour.</p> + +<p>But when Spring burst upon the land with her blossom and her +singing-birds, it was told the sons of Usna that the King of Alba had +sworn to burn to the ground every stone that stood on the land that had +been their father’s, and to slay Nathos, and wed the Star-eyed Deirdre.</p> + +<p>So in their great galley they set forth, taking with them fifty men. +Northward they sailed, through narrow sea-lochs, until they reached the +mountains that had been the childhood’s home of their dead mother.</p> + +<p>On the summit of a high hill stood the castle where she had once dwelt. +Now it was forsaken of all save wandering shepherds and nesting birds, and +here, in all the glory of spring, did the sons of Usna make their home. +Nor was it long before the chiefs of the mountain-lands swore allegiance +to Nathos and did him homage, and he was as a king among the people of his +mother’s land.</p> + +<p>And while yet the wild thyme bloomed, word was brought to the sons of Usna +that the King of Alba was dead, and that the King who now reigned would +fain sign a bond of friendship with Nathos and his brothers.</p> + +<p>And the bond was signed, and for three years the sons of Usna dwelt in +peace and great joy. In the north they rested while yet the mountain-sides +were aglow with the purple and gold of heather and bracken, but ever +before the first frosts came would they sail south to the land that the +brave Usna had ruled, where now they could dwell in safety and in peace.</p> + +<p>Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southwards. No bluer +blue, no greener green, had it been given mortal eye to behold. And +throughout the land of Alba was it told of the fame of the sons of Usna, +and no poet or bard had a song so fair as that which sang of the wondrous +beauty of Deirdre.</p> + +<center> +<a name="sail"></a> +<a href="images/sail.jpg"><img src="images/sailt.jpg" alt="sail.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southward +<br> +<a href="images/sail.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + +<hr> + +<p>In his dazzling palace in the Green Isle of Erin, Concobar dwelt with +gloomy thoughts of vengeance. This Nathos who had stolen Deirdre from the +forest beyond the Moor of Loneliness should no longer be suffered to live +in peace. He should surely die, and Deirdre the Star-eyed should yet be +Concobar’s Queen.</p> + +<p>And the King made a feast so magnificent that such had never been seen in +the Green Isle. And to it were called all the princes and nobles of the +land over which Concobar held sway.</p> + +<p>It was in the midst of the feast, as they sat around the board, that a +hush fell upon the great company, while Concobar spoke to them of his +discontent. ‘It is not meet that these three heroes of the realm, Nathos, +Ardan and Ailne, should be exiled from our isle for the sake of a woman, +be she fair as May. Should dark days befall, sore would be our need, +therefore let the sons of Usna be brought hither from their northern +mountain home.’</p> + +<p>At these words great was the joy of all, for there was not one but knew +that it was for fear of the pitiless anger of Concobar that Nathos had +fled from the Green Isle.</p> + +<p>‘Go forth,’ said Concobar, when he saw the gladness of the people, ‘go +hence to Alba and come not again until ye bring with you the three sons of +Usna.’</p> + +<p>Then spake one among them, ‘Right gladly we go, but who can bring to thee +Nathos, if it be not his will?’</p> + +<p>‘He who loves me most,’ answered the King, ‘he it is that will fail not to +bring with him the exiled heroes.’</p> + +<p>And after the feast the King drew aside a warrior prince, and spake thus: +‘Were I to send thee to Alba to the sons of Usna, and if at my command +thou didst see them slain before thee, what then wouldst thou do?’</p> + +<p>‘Then, O King, would I slay those who did the monstrous deed, even were it +at thy command.’</p> + +<p>Again the King called to him a warrior prince. To him he spake as to the +first. And this prince made answer, ‘If by thy command I saw the sons of +Usna lie dead before me, then woe be upon thee, for with mine own hand +should I take thy life.’</p> + +<p>Then spake the King likewise to Fergus, and Fergus answered, ‘Let what may +befall the sons of Usna, never shall my hand be lifted against the King.’</p> + +<p>‘To thee, good Fergus, do I intrust this thing. Go thou to Alba and bring +hither with thee Nathos, and Ailne, and Ardan. And when thou art come +again to Erin, keep thou thy bond to feast at the house of Borrach, but +the three sons of Usna send thou straightway hither.’</p> + +<p>So it was that on the morrow Fergus set sail in a black barge for Alba, +taking with him but his two sons and a steersman.</p> + +<p>The bloom of early summer made bright the earth, and Nathos and his +brothers had not yet left their father’s home for the castle in the north. +But the days were hot, and they had pitched three tents on the seashore, +one for Nathos and Deirdre, one for Ailne and Ardan, and one in which to +eat and to drink. It was on a bright noon that Nathos and Deirdre sat +before the tents, playing chess.</p> + +<p>The chess-board was of ivory, the chessmen were of wrought gold, and they +had belonged to Concobar, for on the day before the sons of Usna fled from +Alba, the King had been hunting by their castle, and there had he left the +board and men.</p> + +<p>As Nathos and Deirdre played, of a sudden was a cry heard from adown the +shore.</p> + +<p>‘Yonder is the voice of a man of Erin,’ said Nathos, as they paused in +their game.</p> + +<p>Again a loud cry, and the sons of Usna were called by name.</p> + +<p>‘Yea, most truly is that the cry of a man of Erin.’</p> + +<p>But Deirdre said, ‘Nay, thou dreamest, Nathos. Let us play on.’</p> + +<p>Then nearer and clearer came a third cry, and there was none but knew that +it was indeed the voice of a man of Erin.</p> + +<p>‘Go, Ardan,’ said Nathos, ‘go to the harbour, and there welcome Fergus +from the Green Isle, for he indeed it is and none other.’</p> + +<p>But when Ardan went, Nathos saw that Deirdre’s lips grew pale and a great +fear looked out from her eyes.</p> + +<p>‘What terror is it that hath hold of thee?’ he asked.</p> + +<p>‘Hath it not been revealed to me in a dream, O Nathos, that this Fergus +who should come with honey-sweet words hath in his mind the shedding of +our blood?’</p> + +<p>Even as she spake Ardan led Fergus to where the two sat on either side of +the chess-board.</p> + +<p>Eagerly did the exiled sons of Usna beg for tidings of their friends in +the Green Isle.</p> + +<p>‘I come to you,’ said Fergus, ‘with greetings from Concobar the King. Fain +would he see once more in Erin the fairest and bravest heroes of his +realm. Peace he would pledge with you, and great shall be your welcome, if +ye will come back with me.’</p> + +<p>But before the brothers could answer, Deirdre spake. ‘Here in Alba is +Nathos now lord over lands wider than the realm of Concobar. Wherefore +then should he seek forgiveness of the King?’</p> + +<p>‘Yet,’ replied Fergus, ‘Erin is the land of his adoption. Since his +boyhood’s days Nathos has been a hero in the Green Isle, and it were well +that he should yet rejoice in the land, and, if need be, defend it still.’</p> + +<p>‘We have two lands,’ said Ardan, ‘and both are dear unto us. Yet, if +Nathos will go with thee to Erin, so also will Ailne and I, myself.’</p> + +<p>‘I will go,’ said Nathos, but he looked not at his star-eyed wife as he +spake the words.</p> + +<p>That night all rejoiced save Deirdre. Heavy was her heart as she thought +she would never again, in shadow or in sunlight, rest in the land of Alba +of the lochs.</p> + +<p>On the morrow they set sail, and swiftly the galley bore them to the +shores of the Green Isle. And when Deirdre stood once more on the soil of +her own land, then was her heart glad, and for a brief space she +remembered not her fears or her dreams.</p> + +<p>In three days they came to the castle of Borrach, and there had Fergus to +keep his bond to feast with Borrach. ‘For,’ he said, turning to those with +him, ‘my feast-bond I must keep, yet send I with you my two sons.’</p> + +<p>‘Of a surety, Fergus, must thou keep thy feast-bond,’ answered Nathos, +‘but as for thy sons, I need not their protection, yet in the company each +of the other will we fare southward together.’</p> + +<p>But as they went, Deirdre urged that they should tarry, and when they had +gone further, Nathos found that his wife had vanished from his side. Going +back he found her in deep sleep by the wayside.</p> + +<p>Gently waking her, Nathos read terror in her starry eyes.</p> + +<p>‘What aileth thee, my Queen?’</p> + +<p>‘Again have I dreamed, O Nathos, and in my dream I saw our little company, +but as I looked, on the younger son of Fergus alone, was the head left +upon his body. Turn aside, and let us go not to Concobar, or that thing +which I saw in my dream, it shall come to pass.’</p> + +<p>But Nathos feared not, for had not Fergus come to them with the bond of +peace from the King?</p> + +<p>And on the morrow they came to the great palace.</p> + +<p>When it was told Concobar that the three sons of Usna and Deirdre the +Star-eyed, and the two sons of Fergus were without, he ordered that they +should be taken into the House of the Red Branch. And he ordered, too, +that there should be given unto them of pleasant foods, and that all that +dwelt in the castle should do them honour.</p> + +<p>But when evening was come, and all the company was merry, Deirdre was +wearied with journeying, and she lay upon a couch draped with deerskins, +and played with Nathos upon the gold and ivory chess-board.</p> + +<p>And as Deirdre rested, the door opened, and there entered a messenger from +the King. And this messenger was none other than Lavarcam, who had been +sent to discover if Deirdre were still as fair as in days of old. And when +Lavarcam beheld Deirdre, her eyes filled with tears. ‘You do not well, O +Nathos, thus to play upon the chess-board which Concobar holds dearer than +aught else save Deirdre, thy wife. Both have ye taken from him, and here, +within these walls, are ye now in his power.’</p> + +<p>Of a sudden Deirdre spake, her gaze fixed as if on some strange thing. ‘I +see as in a dream. As in a dream I see three torches. The three torches +are this night put out. The names on the torches are Nathos, Ailne, Ardan. +Alas! it is but for the beauty of a woman that these brave ones perish.’</p> + +<p>The sons of Usna were silent awhile, and the sons of Fergus spake not. +Then said Nathos, ‘It were better, Deirdre, to be a torch quenched for thy +sake than to live for aught save thee. That which shall come, shall come.’</p> + +<p>‘Now must I get me hence,’ said Lavarcam, ‘for Concobar awaiteth my +coming. But, sons of Usna, see ye well to it, that the doors and windows +be this night barred.’</p> + +<p>Then Lavarcam hastened to the King and told him how that the sons of Usna +had come to Erin to live peaceably, but how that the beauty of Deirdre had +faded until she was no longer fairest among women.</p> + +<p>Then was Concobar wroth, and he sent yet another messenger.</p> + +<p>To this man he said, ‘Who was it that slew thy father and thy brother?’</p> + +<p>‘Nathos, son of Usna, O King!’</p> + +<p>‘Then go thou to the House of the Red Branch, and bring me word hither if +Deirdre be still the fairest among women.’</p> + +<p>And the man went. But when he found that bar and bolt were drawn across +door and window, he knew well that the sons of Usna were warned of the +wrath of the King. But espying one open window, he put his eye near to the +lower corner that he might glance within. And Deirdre saw the man’s eye, +and told Nathos, and he, with the ivory bishop that was in his hand, took +aim as if with a javelin, and the chessman pierced the spy’s eye, and it +became blind.</p> + +<p>And the man returned to King Concobar and said, ‘Of a surety Deirdre, the +wife of Nathos, is yet of all fair women the most fair.’</p> + +<p>Then could not Concobar contain his wrath, but burst forth, ‘Arise, ye +Ultonians; the fort that surroundeth the House of the Red Branch set ye in +flames.’</p> + +<p>And the Ultonians set it in flames.</p> + +<p>Then came out the younger of the sons of Fergus from the burning fort, and +he rushed upon the Ultonians and killed three hundred men. And when King +Concobar beheld the onslaught, he cried aloud, ‘Who hath done this thing?’</p> + +<p>And when it was told him that it was the son of Fergus, he said, ‘To such +a hero will I give the choice of lands, and he will be to me as a son, if +he will but forsake the sons of Usna.’</p> + +<p>And the son of Fergus made answer, ‘I swear to abide by thee and to return +not to the House of the Red Branch.’</p> + +<p>And when he returned not, Deirdre, said, ‘Even as Fergus hath deceived us, +even so hath his son.’</p> + +<p>Then went forth the elder son of Fergus, and he fell upon the Ultonians, +and there perished by his hand three hundred men. And when Concobar saw +who it was that had done this thing, he called his own son, who had been +born the same night as this son of Fergus. ‘Take these, my magic arms,’ he +cried, ‘and fall upon the foe.’</p> + +<p>Then did the son of Concobar strike with his enchanted weapons, and all +the waves of Erin thundered at the stroke. And a great warrior, hearing +the thunder, came riding across the plain, and in his hand he held a magic +sword with blade of blue. Coming upon the fighting men, he rushed at the +son of Fergus from behind, and thrust the blue blade through his heart. ‘I +would that mine enemy had fought me fair,’ said the dying man.</p> + +<p>‘Who art thou?’ asked the stranger.</p> + +<p>And the son of Fergus told his name, and of that which had come to pass in +the House of the Red Branch.</p> + +<p>Then answered the stranger, ‘I shall not depart hence, no, not until the +son of Concobar be slain in the dust’; and thereupon he rushed upon the +King’s son, and with one stroke of the blue blade severed his head from +his body. So he departed, and soon the son of Fergus also lay dead.</p> + +<p>And now the Ulstermen surrounded the House of the Red Branch and set fire +to its walls. But Ardan came forth, and put out the fire, and slew three +hundred men, and after he had gone in, then came Ailne forth, and slew a +countless multitude beside.</p> + +<p>A glimmering ray of dim grey light now broke, and spread over the forms of +dead and dying men.</p> + +<p>It was at that hour that Nathos kissed Deirdre and went forth from the +House. And there was not a man but quailed as the hero rushed upon the +Ultonians and slew a thousand men.</p> + +<p>When Concobar heard this, he sent for that Wise Man who in the house of +Felim the Harper had foretold the sorrow that would come upon his realm.</p> + +<p>And when the old man had come, Concobar said, ‘I swear that I mean no harm +unto the sons of Usna, yet will they slay every Ultonian in the land. +Therefore I would that thou wouldst help me by thy magic power.’</p> + +<p>And the Wise Man believed the words of Concobar, and he caused a hedge of +spears to encircle the burning House. And as the flames rose higher the +sons of Usna came forth with Deirdre the Star-eyed. And around her they +placed their shields, and they cleft a way through the Hedge of Spears and +came safely to the plain beyond.</p> + +<center> +<a name="hedge"></a> +<a href="images/hedge.jpg"><img src="images/hedget.jpg" alt="hedge.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>The Hedge of Spears +<br> +<a href="images/hedge.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + +<p>But when the Wise Man saw that his magic availed nought, he laid upon the +land yet another enchantment, for the plain upon which Deirdre stood with +the sons of Usna, he caused to be covered with tempestuous water.</p> + +<p>And the magic sea rose higher and yet more high, so that Nathos raised +Deirdre on his shoulder, and there she rested, her white arms around the +hero’s neck.</p> + +<p>But now the waters grew calm, and it was seen that drowning was not their +doom.</p> + +<p>Then, as the waters withdrew from the plain, soldiers came to bind Nathos, +Ailne, and Ardan, and to take them before the King. And Concobar commanded +that they should be slain before his eyes.</p> + +<p>‘If such be our doom, then slay me first,’ said Ardan, ‘for I am the +youngest of Usna’s sons.’</p> + +<p>‘Nay,’ said Ailne, ‘but let the first blow fall upon me.’</p> + +<p>Then Nathos spake: ‘It were not meet that we three, the sons of one +mother, should be divided in death. Together have we sowed the seeds in +the springtime, side by side have we plucked the fruits of summer; autumn +is still afar, yet must we be cut down as ripe corn. But let us fall each +by each, that there may not be left the one to mourn the other. With this +sword that was given me by a hero of the land may our heads at one stroke +be severed from our bodies.’</p> + +<p>With that they laid their heads upon the block. A flash of the steel, and +Alba was bereft of the fairest and noblest of her sons. And the air was +rent with cries of lamentation.</p> + +<p>Then did a great champion ride across the plain, and to him did Deirdre +tell of the fate of the sons of Usna. And under his care the star-eyed +maiden came where the heroes lay dead.</p> + +<p>And Deirdre kneeled, and she bent low over the head of Nathos, and kissed +his dead lips.</p> + +<p>Then, at the bidding of the champion, three graves were digged, and in +them, standing upright, were buried Nathos and Ailne and Ardan, and upon +the shoulders of each was his head placed.</p> + +<p>And as Deirdre gazed into the grave of Nathos, she moaned a lay which told +of the brave deeds of the sons of Usna. It told, too, of her love for +Nathos, and as she ended the mournful strain, her heartstrings broke, and +she fell at the feet of her husband, and there did she die, and by his +side was she buried.</p> + +<p>In that same hour died the Wise Man; and as he died, he cried aloud, ‘That +which shall come, shall come.’</p> + +<p>And so it was, for on the morrow Concobar’s host was scattered as autumn +leaves, and the House of the Red Branch perished, and ere long Concobar +died in a madness of despair, and throughout the Green Isle was mourning +and desolation.</p> + +<p>But through the ages has the tale of the wondrous beauty of Deirdre been +sung, and yet shall it be told again, for when shall the world tire of the +sorrowfullest of ‘The Three Sorrows of Story-telling,’—the Fate of the +Sons of Usna and of Deirdre the Star-eyed?</p> + +<br> + +<a name="chap2"></a><h2>THE FOUR WHITE SWANS</h2> + + +<p>In the days of long ago there lived in the Green Isle of Erin a race of +brave men and fair women—the race of the Dedannans. North, south, east, +and west did this noble people dwell, doing homage to many chiefs.</p> + +<p>But one blue morning after a great battle the Dedannans met on a wide +plain to choose a King. ‘Let us,’ they said, ‘have one King over all. Let +us no longer have many rulers.’</p> + +<p>Forth from among the Princes rose five well fitted to wield a sceptre and +to wear a crown, yet most royal stood Bove Derg and Lir. And forth did the +five chiefs wander, that the Dedannan folk might freely say to whom they +would most gladly do homage as King.</p> + +<p>Not far did they roam, for soon there arose a great cry, ‘Bove Derg is +King. Bove Derg is King.’ And all were glad, save Lir.</p> + +<p>But Lir was angry, and he left the plain where the Dedannan people were, +taking leave of none, and doing Bove Derg no reverence. For jealousy +filled the heart of Lir.</p> + +<p>Then were the Dedannans wroth, and a hundred swords were unsheathed and +flashed in the sunlight on the plain. ‘We go to slay Lir who doeth not +homage to our King and regardeth not the choice of the people.’</p> + +<p>But wise and generous was Bove Derg, and he bade the warriors do no hurt +to the offended Prince.</p> + +<p>For long years did Lir live in discontent, yielding obedience to none. But +at length a great sorrow fell upon him, for his wife, who was dear unto +him, died, and she had been ill but three days. Loudly did he lament her +death, and heavy was his heart with sorrow.</p> + +<p>When tidings of Lir’s grief reached Bove Derg, he was surrounded by his +mightiest chiefs. ‘Go forth,’ he said, ‘in fifty chariots go forth. Tell +Lir I am his friend as ever, and ask that he come with you hither. Three +fair foster-children are mine, and one may he yet have to wife, will he +but bow to the will of the people, who have chosen me their King.’</p> + +<p>When these words were told to Lir, his heart was glad. Speedily he called +around him his train, and in fifty chariots set forth. Nor did they +slacken speed until they reached the palace of Bove Derg by the Great +Lake. And there at the still close of day, as the setting rays of the sun +fell athwart the silver waters, did Lir do homage to Bove Derg. And Bove +Derg kissed Lir and vowed to be his friend for ever.</p> + +<p>And when it was known throughout the Dedannan host that peace reigned +between these mighty chiefs, brave men and fair women and little children +rejoiced, and nowhere were there happier hearts than in the Green Isle of +Erin.</p> + +<p>Time passed, and Lir still dwelt with Bove Derg in his palace by the Great +Lake. One morning the King said, ‘Full well thou knowest my three fair +foster-daughters, nor have I forgotten my promise that one thou shouldst +have to wife. Choose her whom thou wilt.’</p> + +<p>Then Lir answered, ‘All are indeed fair, and choice is hard. But give unto +me the eldest, if it be that she be willing to wed.’</p> + +<p>And Eve, the eldest of the fair maidens, was glad, and that day was she +married to Lir, and after two weeks she left the palace by the Great Lake +and drove with her husband to her new home.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>Happily dwelt Lir’s household and merrily sped the months. Then were born +unto Lir twin babes. The girl they called Finola, and her brother did they +name Aed.</p> + +<p>Yet another year passed and again twins were born, but before the infant +boys knew their mother, she died. So sorely did Lir grieve for his +beautiful wife that he would have died of sorrow, but for the great love +he bore his motherless children.</p> + +<p>When news of Eve’s death reached the palace of Bove Derg by the Great Lake +all mourned aloud for love of Eve and sore pity for Lir and his four +babes. And Bove Derg said to his mighty chiefs, ‘Great indeed is our +grief, but in this dark hour shall Lir know our friendship. Ride forth, +make known to him that Eva, my second fair foster-child, shall in time +become his wedded wife and shall cherish his lone babes.’</p> + +<p>So messengers rode forth to carry these tidings to Lir, and in time Lir +came again to the palace of Bove Derg by the Great Lake, and he married +the beautiful Eva and took her back with him to his little daughter, +Finola, and to her three brothers, Aed and Fiacra and Conn.</p> + +<p>Four lovely and gentle children they were, and with tenderness did Eva +care for the little ones who were their father’s joy and the pride of the +Dedannans.</p> + +<p>As for Lir, so great was the love he bore them, that at early dawn he +would rise, and, pulling aside the deerskin that separated his +sleeping-room with theirs, would fondle and frolic with the children until +morning broke.</p> + +<p>And Bove Derg loved them well-nigh as did Lir himself. Ofttimes would he +come to see them, and ofttimes were they brought to his palace by the +Great Lake.</p> + +<p>And through all the Green Isle, where dwelt the Dedannan people, there +also was spread the fame of the beauty of the children of Lir.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>Time crept on, and Finola was a maid of twelve summers. Then did a wicked +jealousy find root in Eva’s heart, and so did it grow that it strangled +the love which she had borne her sister’s children. In bitterness she +cried, ‘Lir careth not for me; to Finola and her brothers hath he given +all his love.’</p> + +<p>And for weeks and months Eva lay in bed planning how she might do hurt to +the children of Lir.</p> + +<p>At length, one midsummer morn, she ordered forth her chariot, that with +the four children she might come to the palace of Bove Derg.</p> + +<p>When Finola heard it, her fair face grew pale, for in a dream had it been +revealed unto her that Eva, her step-mother, should that day do a dark +deed among those of her own household. Therefore was Finola sore afraid, +but only her large eyes and pale cheeks spake her woe, as she and her +brothers drove along with Eva and her train.</p> + +<p>On they drove, the boys laughing merrily, heedless alike of the black +shadow resting on their step-mother’s brow, and of the pale, trembling +lips of their sister. As they reached a gloomy pass, Eva whispered to her +attendants, ‘Kill, I pray you, these children of Lir, for their father +careth not for me, because of his great love for them. Kill them, and +great wealth shall be yours.’</p> + +<p>But the attendants answered in horror, ‘We will not kill them. Fearful, O +Eva, were the deed, and great is the evil that will befall thee, for +having it in thine heart to do this thing.’</p> + +<p>Then Eva, filled with rage, drew forth her sword to slay them with her own +hand, but too weak for the monstrous deed, she sank back in the chariot.</p> + +<p>Onward they drove, out of the gloomy pass into the bright sunlight of the +white road. Daisies with wide-open eyes looked up into the blue sky +overhead. Golden glistened the buttercups among the shamrock. From the +ditches peeped forget-me-not. Honeysuckle scented the hedgerows. Around, +above, and afar, carolled the linnet, the lark, and the thrush. All was +colour and sunshine, scent and song, as the children of Lir drove onward +to their doom.</p> + +<p>Not until they reached a still lake were the horses unyoked for rest. +There Eva bade the children undress and go bathe in the waters. And when +the children of Lir reached the water’s edge, Eva was there behind them, +holding in her hand a fairy wand. And with the wand she touched the +shoulder of each. And, lo! as she touched Finola, the maiden was changed +into a snow-white swan, and behold! as she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, +the three brothers were as the maid. Four snow-white swans floated on the +blue lake, and to them the wicked Eva chanted a song of doom.</p> + +<center> +<a name="brother"></a> +<a href="images/brother.jpg"><img src="images/brothert.jpg" alt="brother.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers +were as the maid +<br> +<a href="images/brother.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + +<p>As she finished, the swans turned towards her, and Finola spake:</p> + +<p>‘Evil is the deed thy magic wand hath wrought, O Eva, on us the children +of Lir, but greater evil shall befall thee, because of the hardness and +jealousy of thine heart.’ And Finola’s white swan-breast heaved as she +sang of their pitiless doom.</p> + +<p>The song ended, again spake the swan-maiden. ‘Tell us, O Eva, when death +shall set us free.’</p> + +<p>And Eva made answer, ‘Three hundred years shall your home be on the smooth +waters of this lone lake. Three hundred years shall ye pass on the stormy +waters of the sea betwixt Erin and Alba, and three hundred years shall ye +be tempest-tossed on the wild Western Sea. Until Decca be the Queen of +Largnen, and the good Saint come to Erin, and ye hear the chime of the +Christ-bell, neither your plaints nor prayers, neither the love of your +father Lir, nor the might of your King, Bove Derg, shall have power to +deliver you from your doom. But lone white swans though ye be, ye shall +keep for ever your own sweet Gaelic speech, and ye shall sing, with +plaintive voices, songs so haunting that your music will bring peace to +the souls of those who hear. And still beneath your snowy plumage shall +beat the hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra and Conn, and still for ever shall +ye be the children of Lir.’</p> + +<p>Then did Eva order the horses to be yoked to the chariot, and away +westward did she drive.</p> + +<p>And swimming on the lone lake were four white swans.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>When Eva reached the palace of Bove Derg alone, greatly was he troubled +lest evil had befallen the children of Lir.</p> + +<p>But the attendants, because of their great fear of Eva, dared not to tell +the King of the magic spell she had wrought by the way. Therefore Bove +Derg asked, ‘Wherefore, O Eva, come not Finola and her brothers to the +palace this day?’</p> + +<p>And Eva answered, ‘Because, O King, Lir no longer trusteth thee, therefore +would he not let the children come hither.’</p> + +<p>But Bove Derg believed not his foster-daughter, and that night he secretly +sent messengers across the hills to the dwelling of Lir.</p> + +<p>When the messengers came there, and told their errand, great was the grief +of the father. And in the morning with a heavy heart he summoned a company +of the Dedannans, and together they set out for the palace of Bove Derg. +And it was not until sunset as they reached the lone shore of Lake Darvra, +that they slackened speed.</p> + +<p>Lir alighted from his chariot and stood spellbound. What was that +plaintive sound? The Gaelic words, his dear daughter’s voice more +enchanting even than of old, and yet, before and around, only the lone +blue lake. The haunting music rang clearer, and as the last words died +away, four snow-white swans glided from behind the sedges, and with a wild +flap of wings flew toward the eastern shore. There, stricken with wonder, +stood Lir.</p> + +<p>‘Know, O Lir,’ said Finola, ‘that we are thy children, changed by the +wicked magic of our step-mother into four white swans.’ When Lir and the +Dedannan people heard these words, they wept aloud.</p> + +<p>Still spake the swan-maiden. ‘Three hundred years must we float on this +lone lake, three hundred years shall we be storm-tossed on the waters +between Erin and Alba, and three hundred years on the wild Western Sea. +Not until Decca be the Queen of Largnen, not until the good Saint come to +Erin and the chime of the Christ-bell be heard in the land, not until then +shall we be saved from our doom.’</p> + +<p>Then great cries of sorrow went up from the Dedannans, and again Lir +sobbed aloud. But at the last silence fell upon his grief, and Finola told +how she and her brothers would keep for ever their own sweet Gaelic +speech, how they would sing songs so haunting that their music would bring +peace to the souls of all who heard. She told, too, how, beneath their +snowy plumage, the human hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn should +still beat—the hearts of the children of Lir. ‘Stay with us to-night by +the lone lake,’ she ended, ‘and our music will steal to you across its +moonlit waters and lull you into peaceful slumber. Stay, stay with us.’</p> + +<p>And Lir and his people stayed on the shore that night and until the +morning glimmered. Then, with the dim dawn, silence stole over the lake.</p> + +<p>Speedily did Lir rise, and in haste did he bid farewell to his children, +that he might seek Eva and see her tremble before him.</p> + +<p>Swiftly did he drive and straight, until he came to the palace of Bove +Derg, and there by the waters of the Great Lake did Bove Derg meet him. +‘Oh, Lir, wherefore have thy children come not hither?’ And Eva stood by +the King.</p> + +<p>Stern and sad rang the answer of Lir. ‘Alas! Eva, your foster-child, hath +by her wicked magic changed them into four snow-white swans. On the blue +waters of Lake Darvra dwell Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, and thence come +I that I may avenge their doom.’</p> + +<p>A silence as the silence of death fell upon the three, and all was still +save that Eva trembled greatly. But ere long Bove Derg spake. Fierce and +angry did he look, as, high above his foster-daughter, he held his magic +wand. Awful was his voice as he pronounced her doom. ‘Wretched woman, +henceforth shalt thou no longer darken this fair earth, but as a demon of +the air shalt thou dwell in misery till the end of time.’ And of a sudden +from out her shoulders grew black, shadowy wings, and, with a piercing +scream, she swirled upward, until the awe-stricken Dedannans saw nought +save a black speck vanish among the lowering clouds. And as a demon of the +air do Eva’s black wings swirl her through space to this day.</p> + +<p>But great and good was Bove Derg. He laid aside his magic wand and so +spake: ‘Let us, my people, leave the Great Lake, and let us pitch our +tents on the shores of Lake Darvra. Exceeding dear unto us are the +children of Lir, and I, Bove Derg, and Lir, their father, have vowed +henceforth to make our home for ever by the lone waters where they dwell.’</p> + +<p>And when it was told throughout the Green Island of Erin of the fate of +the children of Lir and of the vow that Bove Derg had vowed, from north, +south, east, and west did the Dedannans flock to the lake, until a mighty +host dwelt by its shores.</p> + +<p>And by day Finola and her brothers knew not loneliness, for in the sweet +Gaelic speech they told of their joys and fears; and by night the mighty +Dedannans knew no sorrowful memories, for by haunting songs were they +lulled to sleep, and the music brought peace to their souls.</p> + +<p>Slowly did the years go by, and upon the shoulders of Bove Derg and Lir +fell the long white hair. Fearful grew the four swans, for the time was +not far off, when they must wing their flight north to the wild sea of +Moyle.</p> + +<p>And when at length the sad day dawned, Finola told her brothers how their +three hundred happy years on Lake Darvra were at an end, and how they must +now leave the peace of its lone waters for evermore.</p> + +<p>Then, slowly and sadly, did the four swans glide to the margin of the +lake. Never had the snowy whiteness of their plumage so dazzled the +beholders, never had music so sweet and sorrowful floated to Lake Darvra’s +sunlit shores. As the swans reached the water’s edge, silent were the +three brothers, and alone Finola chanted a farewell song.</p> + +<p>With bowed white heads did the Dedannan host listen to Finola’s chant, and +when the music ceased and only sobs broke the stillness, the four swans +spread their wings, and, soaring high, paused but for one short moment to +gaze on the kneeling forms of Lir and Bove Derg. Then, stretching their +graceful necks toward the north, they winged their flight to the waters of +the stormy sea that separates the blue Alba from the Green Island of Erin.</p> + +<p>And when it was known throughout the Green Isle that the four white swans +had flown, so great was the sorrow of the people that they made a law that +no swan should be killed in Erin from that day forth.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>With hearts that burned with longing for their father and their friends, +did Finola and her brothers reach the sea of Moyle. Cold and chill were +its wintry waters, black and fearful were the steep rocks overhanging +Alba’s far-stretching coasts. From hunger, too, the swans suffered. Dark +indeed was all, and darker yet as the children of Lir remembered the still +waters of Lake Darvra and the fond Dedannan host on its peaceful shores. +Here the sighing of the wind among the reeds no longer soothed their +sorrow, but the roar of the breaking surf struck fresh terror in their +souls.</p> + +<p>In misery and terror did their days pass, until one night the black, +lowering clouds overhead told that a great tempest was nigh. Then did +Finola call to her Aed, Fiacra, and Conn. ‘Beloved brothers, a great fear +is at my heart, for, in the fury of the coming gale, we may be driven the +one from the other. Therefore, let us say where we may hope to meet when +the storm is spent.’</p> + +<p>And Aed answered, ‘Wise art thou, dear, gentle sister. If we be driven +apart, may it be to meet again on the rocky isle that has ofttimes been +our haven, for well known is it to us all, and from far can it be seen.’</p> + +<p>Darker grew the night, louder raged the wind, as the four swans dived and +rose again on the giant billows. Yet fiercer blew the gale, until at +midnight loud bursts of thunder mingled with the roaring wind, but, in the +glare of the blue lightning’s flashes, the children of Lir beheld each the +snowy form of the other. The mad fury of the hurricane yet increased, and +the force of it lifted one swan from its wild home on the billows, and +swept it through the blackness of the night. Another blue lightning flash, +and each swan saw its loneliness, and uttered a great cry of desolation. +Tossed hither and thither, by wind and wave, the white birds were +well-nigh dead when dawn broke. And with the dawn fell calm.</p> + +<p>Swift as her tired wings would bear her, Finola sailed to the rocky isle, +where she hoped to find her brothers. But alas! no sign was there of one +of them. Then to the highest summit of the rocks she flew. North, south, +east, and west did she look, yet nought saw she save a watery wilderness. +Now did her heart fail her, and she sang the saddest song she had yet +sung.</p> + +<p>As the last notes died Finola raised her eyes, and lo! Conn came slowly +swimming towards her with drenched plumage and head that drooped. And as +she looked, behold! Fiacra appeared, but it was as though his strength +failed. Then did Finola swim toward her fainting brother and lend him her +aid, and soon the twins were safe on the sunlit rock, nestling for warmth +beneath their sister’s wings.</p> + +<p>Yet Finola’s heart still beat with alarm as she sheltered her younger +brothers, for Aed came not, and she feared lest he were lost for ever. +But, at noon, sailing he came over the breast of the blue waters, with +head erect and plumage sunlit. And under the feathers of her breast did +Finola draw him, for Conn and Fiacra still cradled beneath her wings. +‘Rest here, while ye may, dear brothers,’ she said.</p> + +<p>And she sang to them a lullaby so surpassing sweet that the sea-birds +hushed their cries and flocked to listen to the sad, slow music. And when +Aed and Fiacra and Conn were lulled to sleep, Finola’s notes grew more and +more faint and her head drooped, and soon she too slept peacefully in the +warm sunlight.</p> + +<p>But few were the sunny days on the sea of Moyle, and many were the +tempests that ruffled its waters. Still keener grew the winter frosts, and +the misery of the four white swans was greater than ever before. Even +their most sorrowful Gaelic songs told not half their woe. From the fury +of the storm they still sought shelter on that rocky isle where Finola had +despaired of seeing her dear ones more.</p> + +<p>Slowly passed the years of doom, until one mid-winter a frost more keen +than any known before froze the sea into a floor of solid black ice. By +night the swans crouched together on the rocky isle for warmth, but each +morning they were frozen to the ground and could free themselves only with +sore pain, for they left clinging to the ice-bound rock the soft down of +their breasts, the quills from their white wings, and the skin of their +poor feet.</p> + +<p>And when the sun melted the ice-bound surface of the waters, and the swans +swam once more in the sea of Moyle, the salt water entered their wounds, +and they well-nigh died of pain. But in time the down on their breasts and +the feathers on their wings grew, and they were healed of their wounds.</p> + +<p>The years dragged on, and by day Finola and her brothers would fly toward +the shores of the Green Island of Erin, or to the rocky blue headlands of +Alba, or they would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters. But +ever as night fell it was their doom to return to the sea of Moyle.</p> + +<center> +<a name="swim"></a> +<a href="images/swim.jpg"><img src="images/swimt.jpg" alt="swim.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of +waters +<br> +<a href="images/swim.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + + +<p>One day, as they looked toward the Green Isle, they saw coming to the +coast a troop of horsemen mounted on snow-white steeds, and their armour +glittered in the sun.</p> + +<p>A cry of great joy went up from the children of Lir, for they had seen no +human form since they spread their wings above Lake Darvra, and flew to +the stormy sea of Moyle.</p> + +<p>‘Speak,’ said Finola to her brothers, ‘speak, and say if these be not our +own Dedannan folk.’ And Aed and Fiacra and Conn strained their eyes, and +Aed answered, ‘It seemeth, dear sister, to me, that it is indeed our own +people.’</p> + +<p>As the horsemen drew nearer and saw the four swans, each man shouted in +the Gaelic tongue, ‘Behold the children of Lir!’</p> + +<p>And when Finola and her brothers heard once more the sweet Gaelic speech, +and saw the faces of their own people, their happiness was greater than +can be told. For long they were silent, but at length Finola spake.</p> + +<p>Of their life on the sea of Moyle she told, of the dreary rains and +blustering winds, of the giant waves and the roaring thunder, of the black +frost, and of their own poor battered and wounded bodies. Of their +loneliness of soul, of that she could not speak. ‘But tell us,’ she went +on, ‘tell us of our father, Lir. Lives he still, and Bove Derg, and our +dear Dedannan friends?’</p> + +<p>Scarce could the Dedannans speak for the sorrow they had for Finola and +her brothers, but they told how Lir and Bove Derg were alive and well, and +were even now celebrating the Feast of Age at the house of Lir. ‘But for +their longing for you, your father and friends would be happy indeed.’</p> + +<p>Glad then and of great comfort were the hearts of Finola and her brothers. +But they could not hear more, for they must hasten to fly from the +pleasant shores of Erin to the sea-stream of Moyle, which was their doom. +And as they flew, Finola sang, and faint floated her voice over the +kneeling host.</p> + +<p>As the sad song grew fainter and more faint, the Dedannans wept aloud. +Then, as the snow-white birds faded from sight, the sorrowful company +turned the heads of their white steeds from the shore, and rode southward +to the home of Lir.</p> + +<p>And when it was told there of the sufferings of Finola and her brothers, +great was the sorrow of the Dedannans. Yet was Lir glad that his children +were alive, and he thought of the day when the magic spell would be +broken, and those so dear to him would be freed from their bitter woe.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>Once more were ended three hundred years of doom, and glad were the four +white swans to leave the cruel sea of Moyle. Yet might they fly only to +the wild Western Sea, and tempest-tossed as before, here they in no way +escaped the pitiless fury of wind and wave. Worse than aught they had +before endured was a frost that drove the brothers to despair. Well-nigh +frozen to a rock, they one night cried aloud to Finola that they longed +for death. And she, too, would fain have died.</p> + +<p>But that same night did a dream come to the swan-maiden, and, when she +awoke, she cried to her brothers to take heart. ‘Believe, dear brothers, +in the great God who hath created the earth with its fruits and the sea +with its terrible wonders. Trust in Him, and He will yet save you.’ And +her brothers answered, ‘We will trust.’</p> + +<p>And Finola also put her trust in God, and they all fell into a deep +slumber.</p> + +<p>When the children of Lir awoke, behold! the sun shone, and thereafter, +until the three hundred years on the Western Sea were ended, neither wind +nor wave nor rain nor frost did hurt to the four swans.</p> + +<p>On a grassy isle they lived and sang their wondrous songs by day, and by +night they nestled together on their soft couch, and awoke in the morning +to sunshine and to peace. And there on the grassy island was their home, +until the three hundred years were at an end. Then Finola called to her +brothers, and tremblingly she told, and tremblingly they heard, that they +might now fly eastward to seek their own old home.</p> + +<p>Lightly did they rise on outstretched wings, and swiftly did they fly +until they reached land. There they alighted and gazed each at the other, +but too great for speech was their joy. Then again did they spread their +wings and fly above the green grass on and on, until they reached the +hills and trees that surrounded their old home. But, alas! only the ruins +of Lir’s dwelling were left. Around was a wilderness overgrown with rank +grass, nettles, and weeds.</p> + +<p>Too downhearted to stir, the swans slept that night within the ruined +walls of their old home, but, when day broke, each could no longer bear +the loneliness, and again they flew westward. And it was not until they +came to Inis Glora that they alighted. On a small lake in the heart of the +island they made their home, and, by their enchanting music, they drew to +its shores all the birds of the west, until the lake came to be called +‘The Lake of the Bird-flocks.’</p> + +<p>Slowly passed the years, but a great longing filled the hearts of the +children of Lir. When would the good Saint come to Erin? When would the +chime of the Christ-bell peal over land and sea?</p> + +<p>One rosy dawn the swans awoke among the rushes of the Lake of the +Bird-flocks, and strange and faint was the sound that floated to them from +afar. Trembling, they nestled close the one to the other, until the +brothers stretched their wings and fluttered hither and thither in great +fear. Yet trembling they flew back to their sister, who had remained +silent among the sedges. Crouching by her side they asked, ‘What, dear +sister, can be the strange, faint sound that steals across our island?’</p> + +<p>With quiet, deep joy Finola answered, ‘Dear brothers, it is the chime of +the Christ-bell that ye hear, the Christ-bell of which we have dreamed +through thrice three hundred years. Soon the spell will be broken, soon +our sufferings will end.’ Then did Finola glide from the shelter of the +sedges across the rose-lit lake, and there by the shore of the Western Sea +she chanted a song of hope.</p> + +<p>Calm crept into the hearts of the brothers as Finola sang, and, as she +ended, once more the chime stole across the isle. No longer did it strike +terror into the hearts of the children of Lir, rather as a note of peace +did it sink into their souls.</p> + +<p>Then, when the last chime died, Finola said, ‘Let us sing to the great +King of Heaven and Earth.’</p> + +<p>Far stole the sweet strains of the white swans, far across Inis Glora, +until they reached the good Saint Kemoc, for whose early prayers the +Christ-bell had chimed.</p> + +<p>And he, filled with wonder at the surpassing sweetness of the music, stood +mute, but when it was revealed unto him that the voices he heard were the +voices of Finola and Aed and Fiacra and Conn, who thanked the High God for +the chime of the Christ-bell, he knelt and also gave thanks, for it was to +seek the children of Lir that the Saint had come to Inis Glora.</p> + +<p>In the glory of noon, Kemoc reached the shore of the little lake, and saw +four white swans gliding on its waters. And no need had the Saint to ask +whether these indeed were the children of Lir. Rather did he give thanks +to the High God who had brought him hither.</p> + +<center> +<a name="kemoc"></a> +<a href="images/kemoc.jpg"><img src="images/kemoct.jpg" alt="kemoc.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>It was Saint Kemoc +<br> +<a href="images/kemoc.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + + +<p>Then gravely the good Kemoc said to the swans, ‘Come ye now to land, and +put your trust in me, for it is in this place that ye shall be freed from +your enchantment.’</p> + +<p>These words the four white swans heard with great joy, and coming to the +shore they placed themselves under the care of the Saint. And he led them +to his cell, and there they dwelt with him. And Kemoc sent to Erin for a +skilful workman, and ordered that two slender chains of shining silver be +made. Betwixt Finola and Aed did he clasp one silver chain, and with the +other did he bind Fiacra and Conn.</p> + +<p>Then did the children of Lir dwell with the holy Kemoc, and he taught them +the wonderful story of Christ that he and Saint Patrick had brought to the +Green Isle. And the story so gladdened their hearts that the misery of +their past sufferings was well-nigh forgotten, and they lived in great +happiness with the Saint. Dear to him were they, dear as though they had +been his own children.</p> + +<p>Thrice three hundred years had gone since Eva had chanted the fate of the +children of Lir. ‘Until Decca be the Queen of Largnen, until the good +Saint come to Erin, and ye hear the chime of the Christ-bell, shall ye not +be delivered from your doom.’</p> + +<p>The good Saint had indeed come, and the sweet chimes of the Christ-bell +had been heard, and the fair Decca was now the Queen of King Largnen.</p> + +<p>Soon were tidings brought to Decca of the swan-maiden and her three +swan-brothers. Strange tales did she hear of their haunting songs. It was +told her, too, of their cruel miseries. Then begged she her husband, the +King, that he would go to Kemoc and bring to her these human birds.</p> + +<p>But Largnen did not wish to ask Kemoc to part with the swans, and +therefore he did not go.</p> + +<p>Then was Decca angry, and swore she would live no longer with Largnen, +until he brought the singing swans to the palace. And that same night she +set out for her father’s kingdom in the south.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Largnen loved Decca, and great was his grief when he heard +that she had fled. And he commanded messengers to go after her, saying he +would send for the white swans if she would but come back. Therefore Decca +returned to the palace, and Largnen sent to Kemoc to beg of him the four +white swans. But the messenger returned without the birds.</p> + +<p>Then was Largnen wroth, and set out himself for the cell of Kemoc. But he +found the Saint in the little church, and before the altar were the four +white swans. ‘Is it truly told me that you refused these birds to Queen +Decca?’ asked the King.</p> + +<p>‘It is truly told,’ replied Kemoc.</p> + +<p>Then Largnen was more wroth than before, and seizing the silver chain of +Finola and Aed in the one hand, and the chain of Fiacra and Conn in the +other, he dragged the birds from the altar and down the aisle, and it +seemed as though he would leave the church. And in great fear did the +Saint follow.</p> + +<p>But lo! as they reached the door, the snow-white feathers of the four +swans fell to the ground, and the children of Lir were delivered from +their doom. For was not Decca the bride of Largnen, and the good Saint had +he not come, and the chime of the Christ-bell was it not heard in the +land?</p> + +<p>But aged and feeble were the children of Lir. Wrinkled were their once +fair faces, and bent their little white bodies.</p> + +<p>At the sight Largnen, affrighted, fled from the church, and the good Kemoc +cried aloud, ‘Woe to thee, O King!’</p> + +<p>Then did the children of Lir turn toward the Saint, and thus Finola spake: +‘Baptize us now, we pray thee, for death is nigh. Heavy with sorrow are +our hearts that we must part from thee, thou holy one, and that in +loneliness must thy days on earth be spent. But such is the will of the +High God. Here let our graves be digged, and here bury our four bodies, +Conn standing at my right side, Fiacra at my left, and Aed before my face, +for thus did I shelter my dear brothers for thrice three hundred years +’neath wing and breast.’</p> + +<p>Then did the good Kemoc baptize the children of Lir, and thereafter the +Saint looked up, and lo! he saw a vision of four lovely children with +silvery wings, and faces radiant as the sun; and as he gazed they floated +ever upward, until they were lost in a mist of blue. Then was the good +Kemoc glad, for he knew that they had gone to Heaven.</p> + +<p>But, when he looked downward, four worn bodies lay at the church door, and +Kemoc wept sore.</p> + +<p>And the Saint ordered a wide grave to be digged close by the little +church, and there were the children of Lir buried, Conn standing at +Finola’s right hand, and Fiacra at her left, and before her face her twin +brother Aed.</p> + +<p>And the grass grew green above them, and a white tombstone bore their +names, and across the grave floated morning and evening the chime of the +sweet Christ-bell.</p> + +<br> + +<a name="chap3"></a><h2>DERMAT AND GRANIA</h2> + + +<p>It was at Tara that King Cormac would hold a great meeting, and the chiefs +and nobles of the land were gathered together there.</p> + +<p>But ere the business of the day was begun, it was told that two warriors +were without and would talk with the King.</p> + +<p>Then did Cormac welcome the messengers, and when he heard that they came +from the broad hill slopes of Allen and bore a message from Finn, their +King, he said that the meeting should not be held that day, but that he +would speak with the warriors alone.</p> + +<p>And after they had eaten and drunk, Cormac bade them tell their errand.</p> + +<p>Then spake Oisin, the son of Finn, and he told how his mother had long +been dead, and how his father would fain marry Grania, the fair daughter +of Cormac.</p> + +<p>But Cormac made answer, ‘Scarce in all Erin is there a prince that hath +not sought in marriage the hand of my daughter, but she hath refused them +all. For this cause have I their ill-will, for the Princess hath ever made +me tell how none had won her favour. Wherefore shall I bring you to my +daughter’s presence, that from her own lips ye may hear the answer that ye +shall carry to your King.’</p> + +<p>So Cormac went with Oisin the son of Finn and with Dering his friend to +the sunny room of the Princess. And Cormac sat by Grania on the couch and +told her wherefore the champions were come.</p> + +<center> +<a name="grania"></a> +<a href="images/grania.jpg"><img src="images/graniat.jpg" alt="grania.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>Grania +<br> +<a href="images/grania.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + +<p>And Grania, giving little heed to the matter, made answer, ‘If Finn be a +fitting son-in-law for my father, the King, then may he well be a worthy +husband for me.’</p> + +<p>When Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his friend heard these words they +were glad, for they knew not how little thought the Princess gave to her +words.</p> + +<p>And Cormac made a feast for the champions, and ere they departed he told +them that after two weeks Finn should come thither.</p> + +<p>So the warriors bade farewell to the palace of Cormac and went back to +Allen, and there they told Finn that after two weeks he should go to Tara +and wed the fair Grania.</p> + +<p>Slow sped the days, but when they were passed, Finn, with many chiefs and +nobles as his guard, marched to Tara. And there Cormac received him right +royally and made ready a great feast. On his right hand sat Finn and on +his left the Queen. And next the Queen sat Grania.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced that the chief who sat on the other side of Grania was a +story-teller, and the Princess listened gladly to the tales he told.</p> + +<p>But when he ceased from his tales Grania asked, ‘Wherefore is it that Finn +hath come hither to feast?’</p> + +<p>And the chief, filled with wonder that the Princess should question him +thus, made answer, ‘Of a truth hath Finn come hither this day to claim +thee for his wife.’</p> + +<p>Then Grania bethought her of the words she had spoken to Oisin the son of +Finn and to Dering his friend, and of how she spake without heed. And now +was Finn come hither to seek her for his wife.</p> + +<p>A long, deep silence fell upon the Princess, while her eyes roved among +the goodly company.</p> + +<p>At length she turned again to the chief who sat next her. ‘Of this goodly +company,’ she said, ‘I know none save Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his +friend. Tell me, I pray thee, who sitteth yonder by Oisin’s side?’</p> + +<p>And the chief told his name and sang his praise.</p> + +<p>Again Grania asked, ‘And who, I pray thee, sitteth by his side?’</p> + +<p>And the chief told his name and sang his praise.</p> + +<p>Afterwards Grania sought of the chief the names of many of the nobles, and +he told her, and he told too of the deeds they had done.</p> + +<p>Then the Princess called her handmaid and said, ‘Bring me from my room the +jewelled drinking horn.’ And the handmaiden brought it and Grania filled +it to the brim and said, ‘Take it to Finn, and say that I would have him +drink from it.’</p> + +<p>And Finn drank from the drinking horn, and then passed it to Cormac the +King. And the King drank from it and also the Queen.</p> + +<p>Then again Grania filled the drinking horn to the brim, and yet again, +until all whom she wished to drink had drunk from it. And it was not long +until a deep sleep had fallen upon all who had drunk.</p> + +<p>Grania then rose slowly from her seat and crossed the hall to where Dermat +sat, for Dermat, of those nobles that Finn brought with him, pleased her +the best. And to him she spake thus:</p> + +<p>‘Dermat, it is from the champion who sat next me that I have learnt thy +name, but ere I knew it I loved thee. From the sunny window of my chamber +did I not watch thee on the day of the hurling-match? No part didst thou +take in the contest till, seeing the game go against the men of Allen, +thou didst rush into the crowd, and three times didst thou win the goal. +My heart went out to thee that day, and now do I know that thee only do I +love. Sore is my distress for the heedless words I spake which have +brought Finn hither. Older is he than Cormac my father, and him will I not +wed. Therefore, I pray thee, flee with me hence.’</p> + +<center> +<a name="dermat"></a> +<a href="images/dermat.jpg"><img src="images/dermatt.jpg" alt="dermat.jpg" border="0"></a> +<p>Dermat +<br> +<a href="images/dermat.jpg">View larger image</a></p> +</center> + +<p>Sore troubled was Dermat as he listened to these words, and at length he +replied, ‘Unworthy am I of thy love, and there is not a stronghold in Erin +that would shelter us from the wrath of Finn were this thing to be.’</p> + +<p>When Grania heard the words that Dermat spake, she said, ‘I place thee +under a solemn vow that thou follow me from Tara ere Finn shall wake. And +thou knowest there is no true hero but will hold his vow binding even unto +death.’</p> + +<p>‘Even though we so willed it,’ replied Dermat, ‘could we not escape from +Tara, for Finn hath in his keeping the keys of the great gate.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet canst thou escape if thou wilt,’ said Grania, ‘for a champion such as +thou canst bound over the highest wall in Erin. By the wicket-gate leading +from my chamber shall I go forth, and if thou followest me not, alone +shall I flee from the sight of Finn.’ And having spoken thus, Grania went +forth from the hall.</p> + +<p>Then was Dermat in sore plight, for he would not depart from the solemn +vow that Grania had laid upon him, and yet he feared lest the Princess +should not escape the wrath of Finn.</p> + +<p>And he took counsel of the nobles who had come hither with Finn, and there +was not one but said, ‘Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart +from thy solemn vow.’</p> + +<p>Then Dermat arose, and when he was armed he bade his companions a tearful +farewell, for he knew they might see his face no more.</p> + +<p>Forth he went, and with an exceeding light bound he cleared the rampart +and alighted on the green grass beyond. And there Grania met him.</p> + +<p>And Dermat said to the Princess, ‘Even now, I pray of thee, return to thy +father’s home and Finn shall hear nought of this thing.’</p> + +<p>But Grania’s will was firm, and she said, ‘I will not return now nor will +I return hereafter, for death only shall part me and thee.’</p> + +<p>‘Then go forward, O Grania,’ said Dermat, and the two went forth.</p> + +<p>But when they were scarce a mile from Tara Grania told Dermat that she was +weary.</p> + +<p>And Dermat said, ‘It is a good time to weary, O Grania. Get thee back to +thine own household, for I plight thee the word of a true warrior that I +will not carry thee from thy father’s house.’</p> + +<p>‘Neither is there need,’ answered Grania, ‘for my father’s horses are in a +fenced meadow by themselves, and chariots also will ye find there. Yoke +two horses to a chariot, and I will wait for thee on this spot until thou +overtake me again.’</p> + +<p>Then Dermat did as Grania said, and he brought the horses and the chariot, +and they drove forth.</p> + +<p>But when they came to the banks of the river Shannon, Dermat said, ‘Now +that we have the horses it is easier for Finn to follow in our track.’</p> + +<p>‘Then,’ said Grania, ‘leave the horses on this spot and I will journey on +foot henceforth.’</p> + +<p>And Dermat, when he saw that the Princess would not be moved, told her how +great was his love for her, and how he would defend her even with his life +from the wrath of Finn.</p> + +<p>And Dermat wed Grania, and they vowed solemn vows that they would be +faithful each to each even unto death.</p> + +<p>Then tenderly did Dermat lift his wife in his strong arms and bear her +across the ford, and neither the sole of her foot nor the hem of her +mantle touched the stream.</p> + +<p>Afterwards Dermat led one of the horses across the ford, but the other he +left on the far side.</p> + +<p>Dermat and Grania then walked until they came to a thick wood, and there +Dermat lopped branches from the trees and made a hut, and he made for +Grania a bed of the soft rushes and of the tops of the birch.</p> + +<p>And there Grania rested, and there did Dermat bring to her food of the +forest and water from a clear spring.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>It was early dawn at Tara when Cormac and Finn awoke from their deep +sleep.</p> + +<p>When Finn found that Grania had fled with Dermat, great was his wrath, and +he called to him his nobles, and ordered them with all speed to follow in +the track of Dermat and Grania.</p> + +<p>And Finn went with them, nor was the track hard to follow until they came +to the river Shannon, but there it was lost and no man could find it.</p> + +<p>Then was the wrath of Finn so great that he said he would hang his nobles, +and not one would he spare, if they did not again find the track, and that +with all speed.</p> + +<p>So, being sore afraid, they crossed the river, and when they had searched +they saw the horses one on either side, and they found, too, the spot +where Dermat and Grania had turned from the river.</p> + +<p>And when they told Finn, he was content, for he knew of a surety that +Dermat and Grania hid in the deep wood.</p> + +<p>Now among the nobles were those who loved Dermat, and would fain save him +from the hate of Finn. And one said, ‘It behooveth us to send warning to +Dermat. Let us send to him Bran, the hound of Finn, for Bran loveth Dermat +as though he were his own master.’</p> + +<p>And they called the hound and told him secretly what he should do.</p> + +<p>Bran listened with ears erect, and then, losing no time, he followed the +track, nor did he miss it once until it brought him unto the hut. And +going in he found Dermat and Grania asleep, and he thrust his head into +Dermat’s bosom.</p> + +<p>And Dermat woke with a start, and when he saw Bran there was no need for +the hound to tell whence he came.</p> + +<p>Then Dermat awoke his wife and told her that Finn was near.</p> + +<p>Great fear looked from out the eyes of Grania when she heard, and she +begged that they might flee.</p> + +<p>But Dermat answered, ‘Were we to flee, yet would Finn overtake us, and it +were as ill to fall into his hands then as at this time, but neither he +nor his men shall enter this hut without my leave.’</p> + +<p>Still Grania feared greatly, but she spake no further, for in Dermat’s +eyes she read his gloom.</p> + +<p>While Bran still tarried by the hut, the nobles who loved Dermat thought +of yet another warning to send their friend. They had with them a +serving-man whose voice was so loud that it could be heard for many miles, +and they made this man give three shouts that Dermat might hear.</p> + +<p>And when Dermat heard the shouts he said to Grania, ‘Well I know whose is +the voice that shouteth, and full well I know that it cometh as a warning +that Finn is nigh.’</p> + +<p>Then great fear took hold of Grania, and she trembled, and again she said, +‘Let us flee, for how shall we withstand the wrath of Finn?’</p> + +<p>But Dermat said, ‘We will not flee, but neither Finn nor his men shall +enter the hut without my leave.’</p> + +<p>Then was Grania filled with foreboding, yet spake she no further, for sad +and stern was her husband’s voice, and in his eyes she read his gloom.</p> + +<p>Now Finn, having reached the wood, sent forward his men, but when they +came to the thickest part of the forest they beheld a fence which no man +could break through or climb. For Dermat had cleared a space round his hut +and around the space had he built the strong fence.</p> + +<p>Then the nobles climbed a high tree and from it did they look within the +fence, and there they saw Dermat and with him a lady.</p> + +<p>But for their love of Dermat did the nobles hide from Finn that they had +seen his foe. And one said to him, ‘Far would it be from the mind of +Dermat to await thee here, knowing as he does that his life is in peril.’</p> + +<p>Then did Finn’s wrath wax strong, and he replied, ‘That Dermat hath thee +for friend will avail him nought. Was it not to warn him that your +serving-man gave three shouts, and was it not to warn him that ye sent +unto him my dog Bran? Full well I know that Dermat is hid behind yonder +strong fence.’</p> + +<p>And Finn cried aloud, ‘Which of us, Dermat, is it that speaketh truth? Art +thou behind the fence?’</p> + +<p>‘Thou, as ever, art right, O King,’ cried Dermat. ‘I am here, and with me +is Grania, but none other shall come hither save with my leave.’</p> + +<p>Now in the circle fence were seven doors, and at each door did Finn place +strong men, so that Dermat should by no means escape.</p> + +<p>And Grania, when she heard Finn’s voice, was filled with fear, and she +trembled greatly. Then Dermat kissed her three times and bade her be of +good cheer for all would yet be well.</p> + +<p>Now it was by Angus of Bruga that Dermat had been brought up. Most skilled +in magic was this Angus, and to him was the plight of Dermat +revealed—Dermat, whom he loved as though he were his own son.</p> + +<p>So Angus arose and travelled on the wings of the wind until he came to the +hut where Dermat and Grania dwelt, and, unseen of Finn or his chiefs, he +entered the dwelling.</p> + +<p>And Dermat, when he saw his foster-father, greeted him gladly and told him +of the solemn vow which the Princess Grania had laid upon him, and how she +was his wedded wife. ‘And now are we in sore strait, for Finn, whose will +it was to marry Grania, hath pursued us and would fain take my life.’</p> + +<p>‘No harm shall befall you,’ said Angus, ‘if ye will but shelter under my +mantle, the one on the right side and the other on the left, for then will +I bring you both forth from this place, and Finn shall know it not.’</p> + +<p>But Dermat would not flee from Finn, yet it was his will that Grania +should go with Angus. ‘And I will follow if it be that I leave this place +alive, yet should I be slain, I pray thee, Angus, send the Princess to her +father and beg him that he deal gently with her.’</p> + +<p>Then Dermat kissed Grania, and Angus, having told the way that they would +go, placed the Princess beneath his mantle and was carried forth on the +wings of the wind unseen of Finn.</p> + +<p>When Angus and Grania had gone, Dermat girded on his armour, and, deep in +thought, he walked to one of the seven doors and asked who was without.</p> + +<p>And the answer came, ‘True friends are we, and no harm shall befall thee, +shouldst thou venture forth.’</p> + +<p>But Dermat answered, ‘I seek the door guarded by Finn, and by none other +shall I leave this place.’</p> + +<p>And he came to another door and asked who was without, and again was it +told him, ‘Thy bounden friends.’</p> + +<p>Then to the third, to the fourth, and to the fifth door did Dermat go, and +at each was he told how the men without were willing to fight to the death +for their love of him.</p> + +<p>But when Dermat came to the sixth door and asked by whom it was guarded, +the answer came, ‘No friends of thine, for shouldst thou dare to venture +forth, we will make thee a mark for our swords and spears.’</p> + +<p>‘Cowards, no fear of you keepeth me from coming forth, but I crave not the +blood of such as ye.’</p> + +<p>And he went to the seventh door and asked who was without. And the voice +of Finn answered, ‘He that hateth thee, and will sever thy head from thy +body shouldst thou dare to come forth.’</p> + +<p>‘At length have I found the door I seek, for by the door that Finn +guardeth, by it only shall I pass out.’</p> + +<p>But Dermat, seeing of a sudden an unguarded spot, sprang with a light +bound over the fence, and ran so swiftly that soon he was beyond the reach +of sword or spear. And no man dared to follow Dermat. Nor did the hero +rest until he came to the warm, well-lighted hut where Grania sat with +Angus before a blazing fire.</p> + +<p>When Grania saw Dermat her heart leaped for joy. Then did he tell her his +tidings from beginning to end, and after they had eaten they slept in +peace until the morning brake.</p> + +<p>And while it was yet early Angus bid them farewell, and he left with them +this warning, knowing that Finn would pursue them still: ‘Go into no tree +that has but one trunk; nor into any cave having but one opening; land on +no island that has but one way leading to it; where you cook your food, +there eat it not; where you eat, sleep not there; and where you sleep +to-night, rise not there to-morrow.’ [Footnote: Angus meant that Dermat +should change his place of sleeping during the night.]</p> + +<p>And when Angus had left them, Dermat and Grania sorrowed after him, and it +was not long until they journeyed forth.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>All that befell Dermat and Grania cannot be told in this book, but of +Sharvan the giant and of the fairy quicken-tree you shall hear now.</p> + +<p>After many wanderings Dermat came with Grania to the wood where Sharvan +guarded the quicken-tree. Honey-sweet were the berries of the tree, and +gladness flowed through the veins of him who ate thereof. Though he were +one hundred years old, yet would he be but thirty so soon as he had eaten +three of the fairy berries.</p> + +<p>By day Sharvan the giant sat at the foot of the tree, and by night he sat +in a hut in its branches, and no man dared to come near. Fearful to behold +and wicked was this Sharvan. One eye, one red eye gleamed from the middle +of his black forehead. On his body was a girdle of iron, and from the +girdle was a heavy club hung by a heavy chain. And by magic was Sharvan +saved from death, for water would not drown him nor fire burn; neither was +there weapon, save one, that could wound the giant. The one weapon was +Sharvan’s own club, for were he by it dealt three blows, his doom was +come.</p> + +<p>Now Dermat knew of the giant that guarded the fairy quicken-tree, +therefore he left Grania in shelter and went alone to the foot of the +tree. And there sat Sharvan, for it was day.</p> + +<p>And Dermat told the giant how he would fain build a hut in the forest and +hunt amid the woods.</p> + +<p>Then the giant, casting his red eye upon the champion, told him in surly +tone that it mattered not to him who lived or hunted in the forest, so +long as he did not eat the berries of the quicken-tree.</p> + +<p>So Dermat built a hut near to a clear well, and there he and Grania lived +in peace for many days, eating the food of the forest and drinking water +from the spring.</p> + +<p>Now it was at this time that two chiefs came to Finn on the green slopes +of Allen. And when he asked them who they were and whence they came, they +told how they were enemies that would fain make peace.</p> + +<p>But Finn answered, ‘One of two things must ye bring hither would ye win +peace from me. Either must ye bring me the head of a warrior or a handful +of berries from the quicken-tree.’</p> + +<p>Then said Oisin the son of Finn, ‘I counsel you, get ye hence, for the +head that the King seeketh from you is the head of Dermat, and were ye to +attempt to take it, then would Dermat take yours, were ye twenty times the +number that ye be. And as for the quicken-berries, know ye that they grow +on a fairy tree, guarded by the one-eyed giant Sharvan.’</p> + +<p>But the two chiefs were firm and would not be moved, for it were better to +die in their quest than to return to the hilly slopes of Allen at enmity +with Finn. So they left the palace, and journeyed without rest until they +came to Dermat’s hut by the clear well.</p> + +<p>Now Dermat, when he heard footsteps without, seized his weapons, and going +to the door, asked of the strangers who they were and whence they came.</p> + +<p>And the chiefs told their names and for what cause they were come thither.</p> + +<p>Then Dermat said, ‘I am not willing to give you my head, nor will you find +it an easy matter to take it. Neither may ye hope to fare better in your +quest of the quicken-berries, for the surly giant Sharvan guards the tree. +Fire will not burn him nor water drown, nor is there a weapon that hath +power to wound him, save only his own club. Say, therefore, which ye will +do battle for first, my head or the quicken-berries?’</p> + +<p>And they answered, ‘We will first do battle with thee.’</p> + +<p>So they made ready, and it was agreed that they should use nought save +their hands in the combat. And if Dermat were overcome then should his +head be taken by the chiefs to Finn; if they were overpowered then should +their heads be forfeit to Dermat.</p> + +<p>But the fight was short, for the chiefs were as children in the hands of +the hero, and he bound them sore in bitter bonds.</p> + +<p>Now when Grania heard of the quicken-berries she longed with a great +longing to taste them. At first she said nought for she knew how they were +guarded by the surly giant Sharvan; but when she could hide her desire no +longer, she said to Dermat, ‘So great is my longing for the berries of the +quicken-tree that if I may not eat of them I shall surely die.’</p> + +<p>And Dermat, who would see no ill befall his dear wife, said he would bring +her the berries.</p> + +<p>When the two chiefs heard this, they prayed Dermat to loose their bonds +that they also might fight the giant.</p> + +<p>But Dermat answered, ‘At the mere sight of Sharvan ye would flee, and even +were it not so I wish the aid of none.’</p> + +<p>Then the chiefs begged that they might see the fight, and Dermat gave them +leave.</p> + +<p>When the champion came to the foot of the quicken-tree he found Sharvan +there, asleep. And he struck the giant a mighty blow to awake him.</p> + +<p>Then Sharvan raised his head, and, glaring at Dermat with his one red eye, +said, ‘There hath been peace betwixt us heretofore, wherefore should we +now depart from it?’</p> + +<p>And Dermat said, ‘It is not to strive that I come hither, but to beg of +thee berries from the quicken-tree, for Grania, my wife, longeth for them +with a great longing.’</p> + +<p>But the giant answered, ‘Though the Princess were at the point of death, +yet would I not give her berries from the quicken-tree.’</p> + +<p>When Dermat heard this he said, ‘It had pleased me well to remain at peace +with thee, but now must I take the berries from the tree whether it be thy +will or no.’</p> + +<p>At these words Sharvan waxed exceeding wroth, and with his club did he +deal Dermat three sore blows. But the champion, recovering, sprang upon +the giant, and seizing his great club, he ceased not to belabour him until +he fell to earth a dead man.</p> + +<p>Then Dermat sat down to rest. And he told the captive chiefs to drag the +body of the giant into the wood and bury it, that Grania might not be +affrighted. And when they had come back he sent for the Princess.</p> + +<p>And Grania, when she came to the quicken-tree, would not gather the fruit, +for she said, ‘I will eat no berries save those plucked by the hand of my +husband.’</p> + +<p>So Dermat plucked the berries, and Grania ate and was satisfied.</p> + +<p>Then the champion gave berries of the quicken-tree to the captive chiefs, +saying, ‘Take these to Finn and so win your peace.’ And this he said as +though they were free men.</p> + +<p>They thanked the hero for his words, and also for the berries, which they +could not have got of themselves. Then having bid Dermat and Grania +farewell they journeyed forth towards the hilly slopes of Allen.</p> + +<p>When they were gone, Dermat and Grania went to the top of the +quicken-tree, into the hut of Sharvan, and the berries below were but +bitter compared to the berries that were above upon the tree.</p> + +<p>Now when Finn’s two enemies were come to Allen he asked them how they had +fared, and whether they had brought with them the head of Dermat or a +handful of berries from the quicken-tree.</p> + +<p>And they answered, ‘Sharvan the giant is slain, and behold here we have +brought thee berries from the quicken-tree so that henceforth we may live +at peace.’</p> + +<p>Then Finn took the berries in his hand, and when he had smelled them three +times he said, ‘Of a truth these be the berries of the quicken-tree, but +not of your own strength have ye gotten them. Full well I know that by +Dermat hath Sharvan the giant been slain, and from his hand have ye gotten +the berries. Therefore have ye no peace from me, and now shall I summon an +army that I may march to the wood of the quicken-tree, for there surely +doth Dermat dwell.’</p> + +<p>Now when Finn came with his army to the quicken-tree it was noon, and the +sun shone with great heat.</p> + +<p>Therefore Finn said to his men, ‘Under this tree shall we rest until the +sun be set, for well I know that Dermat is among the branches. Bring +hither a chess-board that I may play.’</p> + +<p>And Finn sat down to play against Oisin his son, but there were with Oisin +three nobles to help him, while Finn played without aid.</p> + +<p>With care and with skill did they play, until at length Finn said to his +son, ‘I see one move, Oisin, that would win thee the game, yet is there +none of thine helpers that can show thee how thou mayest win.’</p> + +<p>Then Dermat, who had watched the game from among the branches overhead, +spoke aloud to himself the move that should be played.</p> + +<p>And Grania sat by her husband ill at ease. ‘It matters not, Dermat,’ she +said, ‘whether Oisin win or lose the game, but if thou speakest so that +they hear, it may cost thee thy life.’</p> + +<p>Yet did Dermat pay no heed to the counsel of Grania, but plucked a berry, +and with it took aim so true that he hit the chessman that Oisin should +move.</p> + +<p>And Oisin moved the man and won the game.</p> + +<p>Yet again did Finn play against Oisin and his friends, and once more had +Oisin to make but one move to win the game.</p> + +<p>Then did Dermat throw down a berry as before and it struck the right man.</p> + +<p>And Oisin moved the piece and won the game.</p> + +<p>A third time did Oisin, son of Finn, play against his father, and it fell +as before, for once more he won with Dermat’s aid. And this time the +nobles raised a mighty cheer.</p> + +<p>But Finn said, ‘No marvel is it, Oisin, that thou hast won the game, for +of a surety thou hast had the aid of Dermat who dwelleth amid the branches +of the quicken-tree.’ And looking up he said, ‘Have I not, Dermat, spoken +truth?’</p> + +<p>‘I have never known thy judgment err, O King,’ replied Dermat. ‘In truth I +dwell here with Grania in the hut that was built by Sharvan the giant.’</p> + +<p>And they looked up, and through an opening in the branches they beheld +Dermat kiss Grania three times, for the Princess was in great fear.</p> + +<p>Then was Finn exceeding wroth, and he bade his men surround the tree, each +holding the hand of each so that Dermat might by no means escape. And he +offered great reward to any man that would go up into the tree and bring +to him the hero’s head or force him to come down.</p> + +<p>One of Finn’s men then spake: ‘It was Dermat’s father that slew my father, +therefore will I go up into the tree.’ And he went up.</p> + +<p>Now it was revealed to Angus of Bruga that Dermat was in sore plight, and +on the wings of the wind he came to his aid, unseen of Finn or his chiefs. +So when the avenger climbed into the tree, Angus was there. And when +Dermat with a stroke of his foot flung his enemy to the ground, Angus +caused him to take the shape of Dermat, and for this reason Finn’s men +fell upon him and slew him.</p> + +<p>But no sooner was he slain than he again took his own shape, and Finn knew +that Dermat was still alive in the quicken-tree. Then nine times did a man +of Finn’s army climb the tree, and nine times was he thrown to earth and +killed by his own friends. For each time did Angus cause the warrior to +take Dermat’s shape.</p> + +<p>When Finn saw nine of his men lie dead before him his heart failed him, +and his soul was filled with bitterness.</p> + +<p>At this time Angus said that he would take Grania away with him. And +Dermat was content and said, ‘If it be that I live until evening I will +follow thee, but if Finn killeth me, I pray thee send the Princess to her +father at Tara.’</p> + +<p>So Angus flung his magic mantle around Grania, and on the wings of the +wind they were carried to Bruga, unknown to Finn or his men.</p> + +<p>Then Dermat spake from the tree: ‘Thou surely shalt not escape my +vengeance, O Finn, nor shalt thou easily compass my death. Oft have I +cleared the way for thee when thou didst go forth to battle, and oft have +I sheltered thy retreat when thou didst quit the field. Yet art thou +unmindful of mine help, and I swear that I will be avenged.’</p> + +<p>When the hero ceased from speaking, one of Finn’s nobles said, ‘Dermat +speaketh truth, now therefore grant him thy forgiveness.’</p> + +<p>But Finn answered, ‘I will not to the end of my life grant him +forgiveness, nor shall he know rest or peace until he yieldeth to me his +head.’</p> + +<p>Again the noble spake: ‘Now pledge I thee the word of a true warrior that, +unless the skies fall upon me or the earth open and swallow me up, no harm +shall come nigh Dermat, for under my care I take his body and his life.’ +And looking up, the noble cried, ‘O Dermat, I pledge thee my body and my +life that no ill shall befall thee this day, therefore come down out of +the tree.’</p> + +<p>Then Dermat rose and stood upon a high bough. With an airy, bird-like +bound he sprang forward and alighted outside the circle formed by the men +who had joined hands, and was soon far beyond the reach of Finn.</p> + +<p>And the noble who saved him followed, and they came together to Bruga, and +there Angus and Grania met them, and the joy of the Princess cannot be +told.</p> + +<p>Yet was it not long ere Dermat was again in sore strait, for Finn followed +him to Bruga, and with Finn came his old nurse. And she was a witch.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced on the day that they came thither that Dermat hunted alone +in the wood. And the witch flew on the leaf of a yellow water-lily till +she came straight over the place where Dermat was. Then through a hole in +the leaf she aimed deadly darts at the hero, and though he was clad in +strong armour they did him great hurt.</p> + +<p>So sore were his wounds that Dermat thought the witch would cause his +death on the spot, unless he could pierce her through the hole in the +leaf.</p> + +<p>Therefore he took his red javelin and cast it with all care. And so sure +was his aim that it reached the witch through the leaf, and she fell to +the ground dead. Then Dermat cut off her head and took it to Angus.</p> + +<p>Early on the morrow Angus rose and went where Finn was, and he asked him +if he would make peace with Dermat.</p> + +<p>And Finn, because he had now lost his witch-nurse as well as many men, was +glad to make peace in whatever way Dermat might choose.</p> + +<p>Then Angus went to Cormac, and he too was glad to make peace with the +hero.</p> + +<p>But when Angus came to Dermat he said he would not make peace unless he +received from Finn and from Cormac all the wide lands that he asked.</p> + +<p>And Cormac and Finn gave him the lands, and forgave him all he had done.</p> + +<p>Then was there at last peace between them, and Dermat and Grania built a +house in Sligo, far from Cormac and Finn, and they called the name of +their house Rath-Grania. And there were born unto them one daughter and +four sons.</p> + +<p>And it was said that there was not living in Erin a man richer than Dermat +in gold and silver, in sheep and cattle herds.</p> + +<hr> + +<p>Now it fell on a day after many years that Grania sat as one in a dream. +And Dermat asked his wife in what troublous thought she was lost, for he +saw well that she was ill at ease.</p> + +<p>And Grania answered, ‘It seemeth not well to me that, having so great +wealth, we live removed from the world, and welcome to our home neither my +father nor Finn, though with both are we now at peace.’</p> + +<p>Dermat gave heed to the words of his wife and then spake thus: ‘Of a truth +there is peace betwixt us, but thou knowest well that neither thy father +the King nor yet Finn bears me aught but ill-will, and for this cause have +we dwelt apart.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet will time have softened their hearts,’ replied Grania, ‘and wouldst +thou but make them a feast, so mightest thou win their favour and their +love.’</p> + +<p>And Dermat, because of the love he bore Grania, granted her wish, and for +a year they were making ready for the great feast.</p> + +<p>Then were messengers sent to bid thither Cormac and Finn. And they came, +and with them their nobles, their horses and their dogs, and for a full +year they hunted and feasted at Rath-Grania.</p> + +<p>When a year had passed, it chanced one night that the distant yelping of a +hound woke Dermat from his sleep, and Grania too awoke and in great fear +said, ‘Of a truth doth that sound forebode ill. Heed it not, but lie down +on thy bed and rest.’</p> + +<p>Dermat lay down, but ere long he again heard the hound’s voice. Then he +started up, and made as though he would go to find for himself wherefore +the hound disturbed the silence of the night. But again Grania begged him +to lie down and to give no heed to the matter.</p> + +<p>So Dermat lay down and fell into a light sleep, and when the hound +awakened him the third time it was broad day. And Grania, seeing that his +mind was set, did not beg him longer to stay, yet, fearing danger, she +begged him to take with him his red javelin and his sword named ‘The +Greater Fury.’</p> + +<p>But Dermat, deeming the matter light, took with him his yellow javelin and +his sword ‘The Lesser Fury,’ and leading his faithful hound by the chain, +went forth. And he did not rest till he came to the summit of a hill where +he found Finn, and of him he asked the meaning of the chase.</p> + +<p>And Finn answered that the men and hounds were tracking a wild boar which +had ofttimes been chased, but had always escaped. Even now was it coming +towards them, so it were well that they should betake themselves to some +safer spot.</p> + +<p>Dermat knew no fear of the wild boar, and he would not leave the summit of +the hill where he stood. Yet did he pray Finn to leave with him his hound +Bran, that it might help his own dog were he in need.</p> + +<p>But Finn would not leave Bran to be torn by the wild boar that could now +be seen coming towards them.</p> + +<p>So Dermat stood alone on the summit of the hill, and he knew well it was +that he might meet his death that Finn’s men did hunt the boar this day. +Yet would he not leave the hill, for if it were his fate to meet death, +nought could save him from his doom.</p> + +<p>Then as the boar came rushing up the face of the hill, Dermat let loose +his good hound, but it, seeing the fearful monster, fled before him.</p> + +<p>And now Dermat knew that he would have need of his red javelin, and he +sorrowed that he had given no heed to the counsel of Grania. Yet seizing +his yellow javelin he cast it with careful aim and it struck the boar in +its forehead. But it fell harmless to the ground, doing the monster no +hurt.</p> + +<p>Then Dermat drew his sword from its sheath, and with a mighty blow did he +strike at the boar’s neck. But the sword broke in his hand, and the boar +felt not so much as a prick.</p> + +<p>Now was Dermat without any weapon save the hilt of his sword, and the boar +made a deadly onslaught, thrusting his tusk into the hero’s side. But with +the strength that was left him Dermat flung the hilt of the sword at the +brute’s head, and it pierced his skull and entered his brain, whereupon +the boar fell dead.</p> + +<p>But so deep was the wound in Dermat’s side that when Finn came to him he +found the hero near unto death.</p> + +<p>And Finn said, ‘Now am I well content, for thine end hath come.’</p> + +<p>‘Sure the words that thou speakest come not from thine heart,’ answered +Dermat, ‘for it is in thy power to heal me, and that thou knowest full +well.’</p> + +<p>‘How might I heal thee?’ asked Finn.</p> + +<p>‘Thou knowest that power was given thee to heal him who might be at the +point of death. Let him but drink water from the palms of thy closed +hands, and he is healed of his hurt.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet wherefore should I heal thee who hast worked me nought but ill?’</p> + +<p>‘Thou wouldst not speak thus wert thou mindful of the day when I saved +thee from the flames. Thou wast bidden to a banquet, and ere the feast +began the palace was set a-fire by those who wished thee ill. And I and my +men rushed forth and quenched the flames and slew thy foes. Had I begged +water from thy hands that night thou hadst not said me nay.’</p> + +<p>‘Thou forgettest that but for thee the fair Grania were my wedded wife.’</p> + +<p>‘Of a surety am I not blameworthy in this matter, O Finn, for Grania laid +upon me a solemn vow that I should follow her from Tara ere thou shouldst +wake from thy sleep. And I took counsel of many nobles, and there was not +one but said, “Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart from +the solemn vow that Grania hath laid upon thee.” And now, I pray of thee, +let me drink from thine hands, else surely death will overtake me in this +place. From many another deadly strait have I delivered thee, yet hast +thou forgotten them all. But the hour will come when surely thou wilt need +my help shouldst thou let me die this day. Yet grieve I not to think that +thou wilt be in deadly strait, but rather grieve I for those true heroes +whom I shall no longer aid.’</p> + +<p>Then one of the nobles, hearing these words, prayed Finn that he would let +Dermat drink from his hands.</p> + +<p>Finn replied, ‘I know not of any well on this hill whence I can bring +water.’</p> + +<p>But Dermat said, ‘Right well thou knowest that hidden by yonder bush is a +well of crystal water. No more than nine paces must thou go to reach it. +Let me, I pray thee, drink from thine hands.’</p> + +<p>Then Finn went to the well, and in his two hands tightly together did he +bring the water towards Dermat. But as he came nearer he spilled it +through his fingers, saying that he could not in such manner carry water +so far.</p> + +<p>But Dermat believed him not, and said, ‘Of thine own will hast thou +spilled the water. I pray thee go once more to the well and bring me to +drink, or I die.’</p> + +<p>Again the King went to the well, and with failing sight did Dermat follow +the dripping hands that came nearer and yet more near. But of a sudden +Finn thought of Grania, and a second time was the water spilled. And when +Dermat saw it, he uttered a piteous cry.</p> + +<p>Then were the champions no longer able to see Dermat in such grievous +plight, and one said to Finn, ‘I swear to thee that if thou bringest not +water to Dermat, thou shalt not leave this hill alive, save I be a dead +man.’</p> + +<p>Finn, hearing these words and seeing their frowns, went a third time to +fetch water from the well. And this time he made haste to bring it to +Dermat, but ere he had got half-way, the hero’s head fell backward and he +died.</p> + +<p>Then were raised three long cries of sorrow for Dermat, who had been dear +unto them all.</p> + +<p>After some time had passed Finn said, ‘Let us leave this hill lest Angus +come, for he may not believe that it was not at our hands that Dermat met +his death.’</p> + +<p>So Finn and his nobles left the hill, Finn leading Dermat’s hound. But +four of the nobles turned back and laid their mantles over the champion. +Then they once more followed the King.</p> + +<p>Grania sat that day on the highest tower of Rath-Grania, watching for +Dermat. The fear she had felt in the night would not be stilled, and when +at length Finn came in sight, leading by the chain Dermat’s hound, she +knew that she would not henceforth see Dermat alive. And when the truth +had taken hold upon her, she fell in a swoon from the tower, and her +handmaiden stood over her in great fear.</p> + +<p>But at length her eyes opened, and when it was told her that Dermat was +dead she uttered a long, piercing cry, so that all flocked to hear what +had befallen the Princess. And when it was told that Dermat had been +killed by the wild boar, the air was rent with cries of lamentation.</p> + +<p>At length, when silence had fallen upon her grief, Grania arose, and +ordered that five hundred men should go to the hill and bring to her the +body of Dermat. Then turning to Finn she begged of him to leave with her +Dermat’s hound. And Finn would not. But a noble, hearing that Grania +wished the hound took him from the hand of Finn and gave him to the +Princess.</p> + +<p>Now as the men left Rath-Grania to bring home the body of Dermat, it was +revealed to Angus of Bruga that the hero lay dead on the hill. And he at +once set out on the wings of the wind and reached the sorrowful place ere +Grania’s messengers had come there. And they, when they came, found Angus +mourning over the body of Dermat, and he asked them wherefore they were +come.</p> + +<p>When it was told Angus that Grania had sent them to bring the body of +Dermat to Rath-Grania, he stayed for some time wrapt in thought. At length +he spake these words: ‘Let it be told the Princess that I will take with +me the body of Dermat to my home, that he may be preserved by my power as +though he still lived. For though I cannot bring him back to life, yet +each day shall he speak with me for some space.’</p> + +<p>And Angus turned to his men that he had brought with him there and ordered +that Dermat’s body should be placed on a golden bier, with the red and +yellow javelins, one on either side, points upward. Thus was the dead hero +carried to the home of Angus.</p> + +<p>When Grania’s messengers came back to her bringing not with them the body +of Dermat, she was at first sore grieved. But when she heard how the hero +lay on a golden bier in the keeping of his foster-father, and would each +day speak with Angus for some space, then was she content, for she knew +that Angus loved Dermat as a father loveth his only son.</p> + +<p>And Grania sent messengers to her sons to bid them come to her. And when +they were come, she welcomed them gently and kissed them. Then with an +exceeding loud and clear voice she said, ‘O dear children, your father +hath been slain by the will of Finn, though peace had been sworn between +them. Therefore get ye hence and avenge his death. And that ye may have +success in the battle, I will myself portion out among you your +inheritance of arms, of arrows, and of sharp weapons. Spare none that +would do good to Finn, yet see ye to it that ye deal not treacherously +with any man. Hasten ye and depart.’</p> + +<p>Then the sons of Dermat bade their mother a tender farewell, and went +forth to avenge their father’s death.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Celtic Tales, by Louey Chisholm + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 7488-h.htm or 7488-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/8/7488/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Celtic Tales + Told to the Children + +Author: Louey Chisholm + +Posting Date: April 7, 2014 [EBook #7488] +Release Date: February, 2005 +First Posted: May 10, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +CELTIC TALES +TOLD TO THE CHILDREN + +BY +LOUEY CHISHOLM + +WITH PICTURES BY +KATHARINE CAMERON + + + +TO CHRISTOPHER + + + +NOTE + + +This little book was written after several variants of the Tales had been +read:--'Old Celtic Romances,' by Dr. Joyce; 'Reliquae Celticae,' by Dr. +Cameron; 'The Pursuit after Diarmud O'Duibhne and Grainne the daughter of +Cormac Mac Airt,' by Standish Hayes O'Grady; 'The Three Sorrows of +Story-telling,' by Dr. Douglas Hyde; 'The Laughter of Peterkin,' by Fiona +Macleod, and other translations and retellings. + +L.C. + + + +ABOUT THIS BOOK + + +One of my friends tells me that you, little reader, will not like these +old, old tales; another says they are too sad for you, and yet another +asks what the stories are meant to teach. + +Now I, for my part, think you will like these Celtic Tales very much +indeed. It is true they are sad, but you do not always want to be amused. +And I have not told the stories for the sake of anything they may teach, +but because of their sheer beauty, and I expect you to enjoy them as +hundreds and hundreds of Irish and Scottish children have already enjoyed +them--without knowing or wondering why. + +LOUEY CHISHOLM. + + + +LIST OF STORIES + + +The Star-Eyed Deirdre + +The Four White Swans + +Dermat and Grania + + + +LIST OF PICTURES + + +THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE + +'Art thou indeed Deirdre?' + +Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southward + +The Hedge of Spears + + +THE FOUR WHITE SWANS + +As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers were as the maid + +They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters + +It was Saint Kemoc + + +DERMAT AND GRANIA + +Dermat + +Grania + + + +THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE + + +In olden days, when many Kings reigned throughout the Green Island of +Erin, none was greater than the great Concobar. So fair was his realm that +poets sang its beauty, and such the wonder of his palace that the sweetest +songs of Erin were of its loveliness. + +In a castle of this fair realm dwelt Felim, a warrior and harper dear unto +the King. And it was told him that Concobar with his chief lords would +visit the castle. + +Then Felim made a feast, and there was great rejoicing, and all men were +glad. + +But in the midst of the feast an old magician, who was of those that had +come with the King, stood up before the great gathering. Long and white +was the hair that fell upon his bent shoulders, black were the eyes that +gazed into space from beneath his shaggy eyebrows. + +'Speak,' said the King to the old man, 'speak, and tell us that thou +seest, for well we know thou piercest the veil that hideth from us the +secrets of the morrow.' + +Silently and with great awe did all the company look at the wise old man, +for those things that he had already foretold had they not come to pass? +The magician, also silent, looked from the face of one to the face of +another, but when his eyes fell on Concobar, the King, long did they dwell +there, and when he lifted them, on Felim did they rest. + +Then the Wise Man spake: + +'This night, O Felim the Harper, shall a girl-babe be born to thee within +these castle walls. Loveliest among the lovely shall thy star-eyed +daughter be; no harp-strings shall yield such music as her voice, no fairy +strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound. Yet, O Felim, in days to +come, because of this fair child shall great sorrow come upon our King +Concobar and upon all his realm. In those days shall Erin's chief glory +perish, for if the House of the Red Branch fall, who shall stand?' + +Then did a cry of fear burst from those gathered to the feast, and leaping +to their feet, each man laid his hand upon his sword, for the word that +the wise man had spoken would it not come to pass? + +'Let our swords be in readiness,' they cried, 'to kill the babe that shall +be born this night, for better far is it that one child perish than that +the blood of a nation be spilt.' + +And Felim spake: 'Great sorrow is mine that fear of the child who shall be +born this night should be upon you. Therefore, if it please the King, let +my daughter die, and so may peace yet reign in the realm. For dear as +would be a child to my wife and to me, dearer yet is the common weal.' + +But the answer of King Concobar came not for a time. His soul was filled +with desire to see the star-eyed maiden and to hear the wonder of her +voice. Still was the hand of each upon his sword when the King spake. + +'Put far from thee, O Felim, the will to do this thing. Bend not thy mind +to the death of thine own child. And ye, my people, sheathe your swords. +Let the babe live. I, Concobar, will be her guardian, and if ill befall, +let it be upon me, your King.' + +At these words arose a Prince. + +'It would be well, O King, but for the word spoken by the Wise Man, for +hath he not said, "Because of this fair child shall great sorrow come upon +the King Concobar"? If we let the babe live, then must thy people see thee +in sore distress, for the word that the Wise Man speaketh, shall it not +come to pass?' + +'Of that am I not unmindful. Deep within the forest, beyond the Moor of +Loneliness, shall her childish days be spent. Gently tended shall she be, +but the eye of man shall not behold her, and solitary shall she live as +some unmated bird in distant wilderness.' + +Then with one accord did the people cry, 'Wilt thou indeed be guardian to +this child, knowing the ill that the Wise Man hath foretold?' + +'Yea, truly will I be guardian to the child, and when she be a woman then +shall she be my wedded wife. And if with the maiden come sorrow, then be +that sorrow upon me, and not upon the land.' + +'What sayest thou, O Felim the Harper?' cried the people. + +'It were better to slay the child than to let that come which hath been +foretold.' + +'And what sayest thou, O Wise Man?' + +'That which shall come, shall come.' + +At the same moment there entered the hall a servant of Felim, and loudly +did he proclaim that the girl-babe, who had been foretold, was born. +'Right beautiful and strong is the child, most fair to look upon.' + +'And Deirdre shall her name be,' said the Wise Man, 'Deirdre the +Star-eyed.' + +And because of the words that the King Concobar had spoken, the life of +the babe was spared, and when the days of feasting were past, Concobar +returned to his palace, and with him he took the infant child and her +mother. Yet after a month he bade the mother return to Felim her husband, +but the babe Deirdre he kept. + +And deep within the forest, beyond the Moor of Loneliness, did the King +command that a cottage be built, and when Deirdre was one year, thither +was she sent with a trusted nurse. But on the trees of the forest and +throughout the land was proclaimed the order of the King Concobar, that +whosoever should hunt, or for other purpose enter the wood, death should +be his portion. + +Once each week did the King visit the fair babe, and daily were stores of +food and milk brought to the lone dwelling. And Deirdre each year grew +more fair, but none beheld her beauty, save her nurse, her tutor, and +Lavarcam. + +This Lavarcam was a woman well trusted of the King, and she alone went to +and fro between the palace and the cottage. It was she who told to Deirdre +the old tales of knights and ladies, of dragons and of fairies that dwelt +in the Enchanted Land. + +When Deirdre was seven years old the King no longer came every week to the +forest, but twice in the year only, and that as the Spring put forth her +first green shoots, and again when Autumn gleaned her harvest of gold. + +And when another seven years had sped, then came not the King thither, +either when the earth was green or golden, nor in the blue summer nor the +hoary winter, but from Lavarcam he heard that it was well with the maid. + +One white winter's morning Deirdre looked from her window, and saw lying +in the snow a calf. It had been killed by her nurse to provide food for +the little household, and its bright red blood dyed the thick-lying snow. +As Deirdre watched the flow of the scarlet stream, a raven, black as +night, flew down and drank of the warm blood. Then Deirdre smiled. + +'Where are thy thoughts, fair child?' asked Lavarcam, entering the room. + +'Only did I think,' said Deirdre, 'that if a youth could be found whose +skin was white as snow, his cheek crimson as that pool of blood, and his +hair black as the raven's wing, him could I love right gladly.' + +Then Lavarcam spake: 'Such a man have I seen, and one only.' + +'His name, Lavarcam, his name?' cried Deirdre. 'Whence comes he, and +wherefrom he be found?' + +'The fairest of three fair brothers is this Nathos, the son of Usna, and +now is he with Concobar the King.' + +And Deirdre would thereafter think of none but Nathos, and Lavarcam was +much troubled because of the words that she had spoken. And when Deirdre +longed grievously by day and night to see this Nathos of whom she had +heard, Lavarcam thought of a plan whereby she might end the maiden's +dream. + +One day, as she came from the palace of the King, she met on the Moor of +Loneliness a swineherd and two shepherd lads. And well though she knew +that none might enter the forest, she led them to a well in its leafy +depths. Then said this woman trusted of the King, 'Wait here by this well +until the jay cry and the hill-fox bark. Then move slowly on your way, but +speak to none whom ye may meet, and when ye leave the wood let not your +lips tell those things ye shall have seen and heard.' + +With these words Lavarcam left the three men, and entered the cottage. + +'Come, Deirdre,' she cried, 'the crisp snow glistens in the sunshine. Let +us wander forth.' + +And Deirdre came, and dreamily she trod where Lavarcam led. Of a sudden +the older woman left her side, and bent as though she would gather a +woodland flower. At the same moment was heard the cry of the jay and the +bark of the hill-fox. Then came Lavarcam to the maiden's side. + +'Passing strange is it,' said Deirdre, 'to hear the jay cry and the +hill-fox bark while yet the snow lies thick.' + +'Heed not strange sounds, fair Deirdre, but cast thine eyes toward yonder +well.' + +And as Deirdre gazed she saw, as in a dream, the forms of three men come +slowly through the forest. + +'These, Deirdre, are men,' said Lavarcam. + +'Yet seem they not as the men I have seen ride by across the Moor of +Loneliness, for they were fair to look upon, but mine eyes have no +pleasure in beholding these strange forms.' + +'Yet you look upon Nathos, for these men are none other than the three +sons of Usna.' + +Deirdre started. 'Idle are your words, false Lavarcam. Yonder walks not a +man with skin white as snow, with cheek crimson as blood, nor with hair +black as the raven's wing. You lie!' And the maid made haste, and she +reached the men, and stood before them. + +Amazed at her exceeding beauty, they gazed in silence. 'Tell me if ye be +the sons of Usna. Speak!' + +But in wonder at the loveliness of the maiden, and in fear of the anger of +Lavarcam, the men were dumb. + +'Speak!' she again cried. 'If indeed ye be Nathos and his brothers, then +truly hath Concobar the King my pity.' + +At these words the swineherd could no longer keep silence. + +'It is thy exceeding beauty that telleth us that thou art that Deirdre +whom the King hideth in this forest. Why mock us by asking if we are the +fairest of Concobar's nobles? Clearly canst thou see we are but men of the +hills, I a poor swineherd, and these men shepherds.' + +'Then wilt thou, swineherd, for truly do I believe thy words, get thee to +the sons of Usna, and say to Nathos the eldest, that in the forest beyond +the Moor of Loneliness, Deirdre awaits his coming. Tell him that +to-morrow, an hour before the setting of the sun, he will find her by this +well.' + +'If it be known that I so break the law of the King, I die, yet will I go +right gladly.' + +Then Deirdre left the men, and walked slowly after Lavarcam. And Lavarcam +would fain have known what Deirdre had told the swineherd, but the girl +told her nought, and was in a dream all that day and all the morrow. + +It was in the wane of the morrow that Lavarcam went forth to take counsel +of the King. And Deirdre ran with great speed to the well, but no man was +there, and she waited long, but none came. + +While Deirdre waited by the well, Lavarcam came near to the King's palace. +And lo! there, on the ground before her, lay the dead body of the +swineherd. Thus was it made known to Lavarcam that in some wise Concobar +the King had heard that the swineherd had spoken with Deirdre. + +Therefore Lavarcam went not to the palace, but turned aside to the camp of +the sons of Usna. And Nathos came out to her, and she told him of the +loneliness of the fair Deirdre and of her longing to see him. + +Then said Nathos, 'But it may not be yet awhile, for Concobar found that +the fair Deirdre had spoken with the swineherd, and for that cause lies he +yonder, a dead man.' + +'Yet tarry not long, for if thou wouldst hunt in the forest, beyond the +well, then surely wouldst thou see Deirdre the Star-eyed, and none should +know.' + +Seven days passed, and Deirdre roamed in the wood dreaming her dream, when +of a sudden there came an unknown sound. Ah, could it be the hunting-horn +of which Lavarcam had spoken in her tales of chase? The maiden paused. The +horn ceased. Nathos had left the hunt and wandered through the glade. +There, against a background of blue haze, encircled by a network of +blossoming blackthorn, shone forth the fairest vision mortal eye had +beheld. + +Speech tarried as Nathos gazed spell-bound. + +At length the maiden questioned, 'Nathos, son of Usna, what wouldst thou?' + +'Strange is it that thou shouldst know my name, most fair. No mortal art +thou. Fain would I enter yonder cottage, did I but dare, and speak with +the daughter of Felim the Harper. Yet it is death should the King know of +my desire.' + +'I am that Deirdre whom thou seekest, and if I be fair in thine eyes, it +pleaseth me well. It is for thee I have watched long, for is not thy skin +white as snow, thy cheek crimson as blood, and thy hair black as the +raven's wing? Lonely are my days in this place, where none dwells save my +nurse, my tutor, and Lavarcam.' + +Never did harp-strings yield such music as her voice, never did fairy +strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound. + +'Art thou indeed Deirdre the Star-eyed, and is it that King Concobar +keepeth thee here like some caged bird?' + +[Illustration: 'Art thou indeed Deirdre?'] + +'I am Deirdre, and it is the King's will that I wander not forth from +yonder cottage but by the side of Lavarcam. Ill would it please him that I +should thus roam the forest alone.' + +'I love thee, Deirdre, and I would serve thee ever.' + +'I love thee, Nathos, and I would that I might be ever by thy side. Let me +flee with thee from this place.' + +Nathos knit his brows in thought. 'Fair one, if we are seen as we leave +the forest, then is it death to us both; and if we are not seen, still is +it death, for when it is known of the King that Deirdre is fled, then will +the land be searched until she be found, and then shall we die.' + +'But, Nathos, Concobar is not King in the land of Alba. Let us flee from +Erin, and there in thine own land shall we surely find safety.' + +'Thou speakest well, brave Deirdre. If a host be sent from Concobar to +Alba, then shall it be met by a host of mine own land. And a fair land it +is. Scented with pine and seaweed are its shores, blue as thine eyes are +its waters, and of its setting sun the glory cannot be told.' + +'Let us go forth,' said Deirdre. + +'Then let it be now and without delay, or it may never be,' and as Nathos +uttered these words Deirdre saw a strange look in his eyes, and in a +moment he had flung his javelin among the bracken but a few paces apart. + +'What beast wouldst thou slay?' cried Deirdre, affrighted. + +'It was no beast,' said Nathos, 'but yonder among the bracken lieth a dead +man, if my javelin missed not its mark.' + +In fear and wonder Deirdre ran to the spot. No man lay there, but she saw +on the bracken the form of a crouching man. She saw, too, the tracks that +marked his escape. + +Nathos followed her, and stooped to take his javelin from the ground. And +there, beside it, lay a wooden-hilted knife. + +'It is as I thought,' he said. 'This knife is used but by the hillmen who +are in bondage to Concobar. The King seeketh my life. Go thou, then, back +to thy lonely cottage, and await that day when he shall make thee his +Queen.' + +'Ask me not to turn from following thee, O Nathos, for thy way must be +mine, this day and ever.' + +'Come, then,' and Nathos took her by the hand. + +Through the shadowy forest they walked swiftly, until of a sudden he bade +her rest among the bracken. Then went he forward and told his waiting +huntsmen to return by a long and winding path to the castle of the sons of +Usna. + +Three days would it thus take them to reach it, and Nathos with Deirdre +would be there on the morrow, if, tarrying not, they walked on through the +dark night. But Concobar's messengers would follow the hounds, thinking so +to capture Nathos. + +'By dawn, Deirdre, shall we reach the castle, and there may we rest in +safety one day and one night. Then must we set out for the hills and lochs +of Alba, and with us Ailne and Ardan, for if the King cometh and findeth +me fled, then will he slay my brothers.' + +On and on they sped, through the forest, across the Moor of Loneliness, up +the glens and gorges, and over the hills. Above glimmered the pale stars, +around them was the screech and the moan of wakeful bird and beast. + +It was not till the dawn broke that they rested on the mountain-side. +There they stayed till the pink stole through the grey, and the sky +gleamed mother-o'-pearl. Then they rose and followed the stream that +trickled to the valley below. And now Nathos was glad. + +'Look, Deirdre, yonder stands the castle of the sons of Usna.' And with +that he gave a cry known by the brothers each of the other, and Ailne and +Ardan came forth gladly. But when they stood before Deirdre, so great was +their wonder at her exceeding beauty, that they stood spell-bound and +uttered no word. + +Then Nathos spake: 'The fair maiden whom ye behold is none other than +Deirdre, the daughter of Felim the Harper. From this day I hold her as my +wedded wife, and to you she cometh as a sister.' + +But when the brothers heard, they were filled with fear, for had not the +King Concobar vowed that this same fair maid should be his Queen? And had +not the Wise Man foretold the sorrow that the daughter of Felim should +bring upon the land? + +'I ask none to share the sorrow that may come,' said Nathos. 'To-morrow +Deirdre and I set forth for the bay where our galley is harboured, and if +so be that we gain the shores of Alba, before Concobar overtake us, there, +if he come thither, shall he be met by a host of our own land. Yet, lest +the King should follow me hither, and, finding me not, seek to slay you, +were it not well that ye leave this place?' + +Ardan spake: 'Not for fear of that which might come upon us, but for the +love we bear you and our fair sister Deirdre will we never leave thee. If +sorrow come upon thee, let it be upon us also. Are we not the children of +one mother, and if death come, let us face it together like men. Are we +not under a bond that we will stand each by each, even unto death?' + +Then said Ailne, 'As Ardan hath spoken, so let it be, for although the +words of the Wise Man come to pass, and sorrow be upon us, yet will we not +henceforth leave thee.' + +But when Deirdre heard how the sons of Usna would thus face death for her +sake, she sighed aloud. 'Alas! it is not for me to bring sorrow upon the +land. Let me even now return to the cottage in the forest, and there with +Lavarcam will I live and die, unless it be that Concobar take me thence.' + +But Ardan answered: 'For fear of what may befall us, the sons of Usna, +shalt thou never leave us, nor shalt thou go forth from us, but of thine +own free will.' + +Early next morning one hundred and fifty men rode with the three sons of +Usna and Deirdre, the wife of Nathos, toward the bay where their black +galley was harboured. It was not till night, when on the high ridge of a +hill, that they looked backward, and there in the far valley below, where +stood the castle of the sons of Usna, they beheld a column of flame. + +And Nathos' brow grew dark. 'The fire that ye see in the valley below +devours the castle of the sons of Usna. The hand that lit the fire is none +other than the hand of Concobar the King.' + +Then they rode on and rested not until they reached the black galley in +the golden bay. The scent of the sea and the gleam of its blue waters and +dancing waves made them strong and glad and free. + +As for Deirdre, who had never beheld the sea and its great wonders, she +laughed with joy and sang a song of the ocean which Lavarcam had taught +her long since and when its meaning was dark. + +At sundown the galley came to the shores of Mull, and because the wind +fell they put into a bay, and as they gazed across the waters to the rocky +headlands of Alba, they talked long as to whither they should sail on the +morrow. Should it be to crave protection of the King, or should it be to +where their father's castle had stood before it had been destroyed? + +But that night there came a galley from the long island to the north. In +it sailed twenty men with their chief. And with the chief came a +richly-clad stranger, but so hooded that none might look upon his face. + +Steadfastly did the stranger gaze upon Deirdre, as the chief urged the +sons of Usna to cross the sea to Alba, and journey inland to the palace of +the King. + +'But first come, Nathos, to my high-walled castle,' said the stranger, 'and +bring with thee thy wife and thy brothers.' + +'It were not well to come to a man's castle and know not the man's name,' +said Nathos. + +'My name is Angus,' answered the stranger. + +'Then, Angus, let me behold thy face, for it were not well to come to a +man's castle, having not looked upon the man's face.' + +So Angus threw back his hood, and Nathos saw that Deirdre's lips grew +white, as she said, 'Not to-morrow, Angus; but on the morn that follows, +if thou wilt come again, then shalt thou lead us to thy high-walled +castle. This day have we travelled far and would fain rest.' + +But Angus turned him again to the sons of Usna and pleaded that they +should linger no longer in the isle. 'To-night may this island be +tempest-swept, to-night may the host of Concobar be upon you, and then +what shall befall this fair one? Bring her rather to my castle, and there +let her rest in safety with my wife and her maidens.' + +But as Nathos glanced at Deirdre, he saw that her purpose was firm, and he +said once again the words she had spoken, 'Not tomorrow, Angus; but on the +morn that follows, if thou wilt come again, then shall we come with thee +to thy high-walled castle' + +Then Angus, frowning, went with the chief and his men to their galley. And +as they set sail he asked how many men the sons of Usna had with them. But +when it was told him that they numbered one hundred and fifty, he said no +more, for there were but thirty that sailed with the chief, and what could +one man do against five? + +It was not until the strangers had gone that Nathos asked Deirdre +wherefore she delayed to visit so great a lord as Angus. + +'Thou shalt hear wherefore I went not this day, nor shall go on any day to +come to the castle of him who calleth himself Angus. So he calleth +himself, but in truth he is none other than the King of Alba. In a dream +was it so revealed unto me, when I saw him stand victorious over your dead +body. Nathos, that man would fain steal me from you, and deliver you into +the hands of Concobar.' + +'Deirdre hath wisdom,' said Ardan. 'By the morn after to-morrow we must be +far hence, for ere the sun shall rise may not yonder chief be upon us with +thrice the number of our men?' + +And Nathos, though he was sore grieved for the weariness of Deirdre, bowed +his head. So they set sail, and through the thick mist of a starless night +their galley silently breasted the unseen waves. But when they came north +of the long island, they bent to their oars, and as they rowed yet +northward Deirdre laughed again for joy, as she listened to the music of +the rowers' strokes. + +When dawn glimmered they came to a sea-loch, its waters o'ershadowed by +the sleeping hills. And there they were told that the King of Alba, who +had called himself Angus, had no castle in the west, and had already left +for Dunedin. They heard, too, that the chief who sailed with him to Mull +was no longer a great lord, and that they had nought to fear. + +Greatly did the sons of Usna rejoice, for now might they sail south to the +land upon which their father's castle had stood in their boyhood. + +But for eight days they lingered by the shores of the sea-loch, and as its +salt breath touched Deirdre's cheeks, she grew yet more fair, and as her +eyes drank in the glory of Western Alba, they shone with a radiance that +dazzled the beholder. + +Then when the eighth day was come, they sailed forth and settled close by +the ground on which had stood their boyhood's home. And it was with great +joy that those who dwelt on hill and shore heard of the return of the sons +of Usna, and many gathered around them, doing homage. + +Then the hundred and fifty men whom Nathos had brought with him, sent he +back to their own Green Isle. + +'And thou, Ailne, and thou, Ardan, will ye not also return? Here may +Deirdre and I, with a few followers, dwell alone in safety.' + +But his brothers would not leave Nathos, for were they not under a bond +that they would stand each by each, even unto death? + +All through the winter they dwelt in peace and content. By day they would +hunt and fish, and when night fell Deirdre let fall from her lips such +wonder-stirring sounds that their heroic bosoms swelled with dreams of +noble deeds and high endeavour. + +But when Spring burst upon the land with her blossom and her +singing-birds, it was told the sons of Usna that the King of Alba had +sworn to burn to the ground every stone that stood on the land that had +been their father's, and to slay Nathos, and wed the Star-eyed Deirdre. + +So in their great galley they set forth, taking with them fifty men. +Northward they sailed, through narrow sea-lochs, until they reached the +mountains that had been the childhood's home of their dead mother. + +On the summit of a high hill stood the castle where she had once dwelt. +Now it was forsaken of all save wandering shepherds and nesting birds, and +here, in all the glory of spring, did the sons of Usna make their home. +Nor was it long before the chiefs of the mountain-lands swore allegiance +to Nathos and did him homage, and he was as a king among the people of his +mother's land. + +And while yet the wild thyme bloomed, word was brought to the sons of Usna +that the King of Alba was dead, and that the King who now reigned would +fain sign a bond of friendship with Nathos and his brothers. + +And the bond was signed, and for three years the sons of Usna dwelt in +peace and great joy. In the north they rested while yet the mountain-sides +were aglow with the purple and gold of heather and bracken, but ever +before the first frosts came would they sail south to the land that the +brave Usna had ruled, where now they could dwell in safety and in peace. + +Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southwards. No bluer +blue, no greener green, had it been given mortal eye to behold. And +throughout the land of Alba was it told of the fame of the sons of Usna, +and no poet or bard had a song so fair as that which sang of the wondrous +beauty of Deirdre. + +[Illustration: Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail +southward] + + * * * * * + +In his dazzling palace in the Green Isle of Erin, Concobar dwelt with +gloomy thoughts of vengeance. This Nathos who had stolen Deirdre from the +forest beyond the Moor of Loneliness should no longer be suffered to live +in peace. He should surely die, and Deirdre the Star-eyed should yet be +Concobar's Queen. + +And the King made a feast so magnificent that such had never been seen in +the Green Isle. And to it were called all the princes and nobles of the +land over which Concobar held sway. + +It was in the midst of the feast, as they sat around the board, that a +hush fell upon the great company, while Concobar spoke to them of his +discontent. 'It is not meet that these three heroes of the realm, Nathos, +Ardan and Ailne, should be exiled from our isle for the sake of a woman, +be she fair as May. Should dark days befall, sore would be our need, +therefore let the sons of Usna be brought hither from their northern +mountain home.' + +At these words great was the joy of all, for there was not one but knew +that it was for fear of the pitiless anger of Concobar that Nathos had +fled from the Green Isle. + +'Go forth,' said Concobar, when he saw the gladness of the people, 'go +hence to Alba and come not again until ye bring with you the three sons of +Usna.' + +Then spake one among them, 'Right gladly we go, but who can bring to thee +Nathos, if it be not his will?' + +'He who loves me most,' answered the King, 'he it is that will fail not to +bring with him the exiled heroes.' + +And after the feast the King drew aside a warrior prince, and spake thus: +'Were I to send thee to Alba to the sons of Usna, and if at my command +thou didst see them slain before thee, what then wouldst thou do?' + +'Then, O King, would I slay those who did the monstrous deed, even were it +at thy command.' + +Again the King called to him a warrior prince. To him he spake as to the +first. And this prince made answer, 'If by thy command I saw the sons of +Usna lie dead before me, then woe be upon thee, for with mine own hand +should I take thy life.' + +Then spake the King likewise to Fergus, and Fergus answered, 'Let what may +befall the sons of Usna, never shall my hand be lifted against the King.' + +'To thee, good Fergus, do I intrust this thing. Go thou to Alba and bring +hither with thee Nathos, and Ailne, and Ardan. And when thou art come +again to Erin, keep thou thy bond to feast at the house of Borrach, but +the three sons of Usna send thou straightway hither.' + +So it was that on the morrow Fergus set sail in a black barge for Alba, +taking with him but his two sons and a steersman. + +The bloom of early summer made bright the earth, and Nathos and his +brothers had not yet left their father's home for the castle in the north. +But the days were hot, and they had pitched three tents on the seashore, +one for Nathos and Deirdre, one for Ailne and Ardan, and one in which to +eat and to drink. It was on a bright noon that Nathos and Deirdre sat +before the tents, playing chess. + +The chess-board was of ivory, the chessmen were of wrought gold, and they +had belonged to Concobar, for on the day before the sons of Usna fled from +Alba, the King had been hunting by their castle, and there had he left the +board and men. + +As Nathos and Deirdre played, of a sudden was a cry heard from adown the +shore. + +'Yonder is the voice of a man of Erin,' said Nathos, as they paused in +their game. + +Again a loud cry, and the sons of Usna were called by name. + +'Yea, most truly is that the cry of a man of Erin.' + +But Deirdre said, 'Nay, thou dreamest, Nathos. Let us play on.' + +Then nearer and clearer came a third cry, and there was none but knew that +it was indeed the voice of a man of Erin. + +'Go, Ardan,' said Nathos, 'go to the harbour, and there welcome Fergus +from the Green Isle, for he indeed it is and none other.' + +But when Ardan went, Nathos saw that Deirdre's lips grew pale and a great +fear looked out from her eyes. + +'What terror is it that hath hold of thee?' he asked. + +'Hath it not been revealed to me in a dream, O Nathos, that this Fergus +who should come with honey-sweet words hath in his mind the shedding of +our blood?' + +Even as she spake Ardan led Fergus to where the two sat on either side of +the chess-board. + +Eagerly did the exiled sons of Usna beg for tidings of their friends in +the Green Isle. + +'I come to you,' said Fergus, 'with greetings from Concobar the King. Fain +would he see once more in Erin the fairest and bravest heroes of his +realm. Peace he would pledge with you, and great shall be your welcome, if +ye will come back with me.' + +But before the brothers could answer, Deirdre spake. 'Here in Alba is +Nathos now lord over lands wider than the realm of Concobar. Wherefore +then should he seek forgiveness of the King?' + +'Yet,' replied Fergus, 'Erin is the land of his adoption. Since his +boyhood's days Nathos has been a hero in the Green Isle, and it were well +that he should yet rejoice in the land, and, if need be, defend it still.' + +'We have two lands,' said Ardan, 'and both are dear unto us. Yet, if +Nathos will go with thee to Erin, so also will Ailne and I, myself.' + +'I will go,' said Nathos, but he looked not at his star-eyed wife as he +spake the words. + +That night all rejoiced save Deirdre. Heavy was her heart as she thought +she would never again, in shadow or in sunlight, rest in the land of Alba +of the lochs. + +On the morrow they set sail, and swiftly the galley bore them to the +shores of the Green Isle. And when Deirdre stood once more on the soil of +her own land, then was her heart glad, and for a brief space she +remembered not her fears or her dreams. + +In three days they came to the castle of Borrach, and there had Fergus to +keep his bond to feast with Borrach. 'For,' he said, turning to those with +him, 'my feast-bond I must keep, yet send I with you my two sons.' + +'Of a surety, Fergus, must thou keep thy feast-bond,' answered Nathos, +'but as for thy sons, I need not their protection, yet in the company each +of the other will we fare southward together.' + +But as they went, Deirdre urged that they should tarry, and when they had +gone further, Nathos found that his wife had vanished from his side. Going +back he found her in deep sleep by the wayside. + +Gently waking her, Nathos read terror in her starry eyes. + +'What aileth thee, my Queen?' + +'Again have I dreamed, O Nathos, and in my dream I saw our little company, +but as I looked, on the younger son of Fergus alone, was the head left +upon his body. Turn aside, and let us go not to Concobar, or that thing +which I saw in my dream, it shall come to pass.' + +But Nathos feared not, for had not Fergus come to them with the bond of +peace from the King? + +And on the morrow they came to the great palace. + +When it was told Concobar that the three sons of Usna and Deirdre the +Star-eyed, and the two sons of Fergus were without, he ordered that they +should be taken into the House of the Red Branch. And he ordered, too, +that there should be given unto them of pleasant foods, and that all that +dwelt in the castle should do them honour. + +But when evening was come, and all the company was merry, Deirdre was +wearied with journeying, and she lay upon a couch draped with deerskins, +and played with Nathos upon the gold and ivory chess-board. + +And as Deirdre rested, the door opened, and there entered a messenger from +the King. And this messenger was none other than Lavarcam, who had been +sent to discover if Deirdre were still as fair as in days of old. And when +Lavarcam beheld Deirdre, her eyes filled with tears. 'You do not well, O +Nathos, thus to play upon the chess-board which Concobar holds dearer than +aught else save Deirdre, thy wife. Both have ye taken from him, and here, +within these walls, are ye now in his power.' + +Of a sudden Deirdre spake, her gaze fixed as if on some strange thing. 'I +see as in a dream. As in a dream I see three torches. The three torches +are this night put out. The names on the torches are Nathos, Ailne, Ardan. +Alas! it is but for the beauty of a woman that these brave ones perish.' + +The sons of Usna were silent awhile, and the sons of Fergus spake not. +Then said Nathos, 'It were better, Deirdre, to be a torch quenched for thy +sake than to live for aught save thee. That which shall come, shall come.' + +'Now must I get me hence,' said Lavarcam, 'for Concobar awaiteth my +coming. But, sons of Usna, see ye well to it, that the doors and windows +be this night barred.' + +Then Lavarcam hastened to the King and told him how that the sons of Usna +had come to Erin to live peaceably, but how that the beauty of Deirdre had +faded until she was no longer fairest among women. + +Then was Concobar wroth, and he sent yet another messenger. + +To this man he said, 'Who was it that slew thy father and thy brother?' + +'Nathos, son of Usna, O King!' + +'Then go thou to the House of the Red Branch, and bring me word hither if +Deirdre be still the fairest among women.' + +And the man went. But when he found that bar and bolt were drawn across +door and window, he knew well that the sons of Usna were warned of the +wrath of the King. But espying one open window, he put his eye near to the +lower corner that he might glance within. And Deirdre saw the man's eye, +and told Nathos, and he, with the ivory bishop that was in his hand, took +aim as if with a javelin, and the chessman pierced the spy's eye, and it +became blind. + +And the man returned to King Concobar and said, 'Of a surety Deirdre, the +wife of Nathos, is yet of all fair women the most fair.' + +Then could not Concobar contain his wrath, but burst forth, 'Arise, ye +Ultonians; the fort that surroundeth the House of the Red Branch set ye in +flames.' + +And the Ultonians set it in flames. + +Then came out the younger of the sons of Fergus from the burning fort, and +he rushed upon the Ultonians and killed three hundred men. And when King +Concobar beheld the onslaught, he cried aloud, 'Who hath done this thing?' + +And when it was told him that it was the son of Fergus, he said, 'To such +a hero will I give the choice of lands, and he will be to me as a son, if +he will but forsake the sons of Usna.' + +And the son of Fergus made answer, 'I swear to abide by thee and to return +not to the House of the Red Branch.' + +And when he returned not, Deirdre, said, 'Even as Fergus hath deceived us, +even so hath his son.' + +Then went forth the elder son of Fergus, and he fell upon the Ultonians, +and there perished by his hand three hundred men. And when Concobar saw +who it was that had done this thing, he called his own son, who had been +born the same night as this son of Fergus. 'Take these, my magic arms,' he +cried, 'and fall upon the foe.' + +Then did the son of Concobar strike with his enchanted weapons, and all +the waves of Erin thundered at the stroke. And a great warrior, hearing +the thunder, came riding across the plain, and in his hand he held a magic +sword with blade of blue. Coming upon the fighting men, he rushed at the +son of Fergus from behind, and thrust the blue blade through his heart. 'I +would that mine enemy had fought me fair,' said the dying man. + +'Who art thou?' asked the stranger. + +And the son of Fergus told his name, and of that which had come to pass in +the House of the Red Branch. + +Then answered the stranger, 'I shall not depart hence, no, not until the +son of Concobar be slain in the dust'; and thereupon he rushed upon the +King's son, and with one stroke of the blue blade severed his head from +his body. So he departed, and soon the son of Fergus also lay dead. + +And now the Ulstermen surrounded the House of the Red Branch and set fire +to its walls. But Ardan came forth, and put out the fire, and slew three +hundred men, and after he had gone in, then came Ailne forth, and slew a +countless multitude beside. + +A glimmering ray of dim grey light now broke, and spread over the forms of +dead and dying men. + +It was at that hour that Nathos kissed Deirdre and went forth from the +House. And there was not a man but quailed as the hero rushed upon the +Ultonians and slew a thousand men. + +When Concobar heard this, he sent for that Wise Man who in the house of +Felim the Harper had foretold the sorrow that would come upon his realm. + +And when the old man had come, Concobar said, 'I swear that I mean no harm +unto the sons of Usna, yet will they slay every Ultonian in the land. +Therefore I would that thou wouldst help me by thy magic power.' + +And the Wise Man believed the words of Concobar, and he caused a hedge of +spears to encircle the burning House. And as the flames rose higher the +sons of Usna came forth with Deirdre the Star-eyed. And around her they +placed their shields, and they cleft a way through the Hedge of Spears and +came safely to the plain beyond. + +[Illustration: The Hedge of Spears] + +But when the Wise Man saw that his magic availed nought, he laid upon the +land yet another enchantment, for the plain upon which Deirdre stood with +the sons of Usna, he caused to be covered with tempestuous water. + +And the magic sea rose higher and yet more high, so that Nathos raised +Deirdre on his shoulder, and there she rested, her white arms around the +hero's neck. + +But now the waters grew calm, and it was seen that drowning was not their +doom. + +Then, as the waters withdrew from the plain, soldiers came to bind Nathos, +Ailne, and Ardan, and to take them before the King. And Concobar commanded +that they should be slain before his eyes. + +'If such be our doom, then slay me first,' said Ardan, 'for I am the +youngest of Usna's sons.' + +'Nay,' said Ailne, 'but let the first blow fall upon me.' + +Then Nathos spake: 'It were not meet that we three, the sons of one +mother, should be divided in death. Together have we sowed the seeds in +the springtime, side by side have we plucked the fruits of summer; autumn +is still afar, yet must we be cut down as ripe corn. But let us fall each +by each, that there may not be left the one to mourn the other. With this +sword that was given me by a hero of the land may our heads at one stroke +be severed from our bodies.' + +With that they laid their heads upon the block. A flash of the steel, and +Alba was bereft of the fairest and noblest of her sons. And the air was +rent with cries of lamentation. + +Then did a great champion ride across the plain, and to him did Deirdre +tell of the fate of the sons of Usna. And under his care the star-eyed +maiden came where the heroes lay dead. + +And Deirdre kneeled, and she bent low over the head of Nathos, and kissed +his dead lips. + +Then, at the bidding of the champion, three graves were digged, and in +them, standing upright, were buried Nathos and Ailne and Ardan, and upon +the shoulders of each was his head placed. + +And as Deirdre gazed into the grave of Nathos, she moaned a lay which told +of the brave deeds of the sons of Usna. It told, too, of her love for +Nathos, and as she ended the mournful strain, her heartstrings broke, and +she fell at the feet of her husband, and there did she die, and by his +side was she buried. + +In that same hour died the Wise Man; and as he died, he cried aloud, 'That +which shall come, shall come.' + +And so it was, for on the morrow Concobar's host was scattered as autumn +leaves, and the House of the Red Branch perished, and ere long Concobar +died in a madness of despair, and throughout the Green Isle was mourning +and desolation. + +But through the ages has the tale of the wondrous beauty of Deirdre been +sung, and yet shall it be told again, for when shall the world tire of the +sorrowfullest of 'The Three Sorrows of Story-telling,'--the Fate of the +Sons of Usna and of Deirdre the Star-eyed? + + + +THE FOUR WHITE SWANS + + +In the days of long ago there lived in the Green Isle of Erin a race of +brave men and fair women--the race of the Dedannans. North, south, east, +and west did this noble people dwell, doing homage to many chiefs. + +But one blue morning after a great battle the Dedannans met on a wide +plain to choose a King. 'Let us,' they said, 'have one King over all. Let +us no longer have many rulers.' + +Forth from among the Princes rose five well fitted to wield a sceptre and +to wear a crown, yet most royal stood Bove Derg and Lir. And forth did the +five chiefs wander, that the Dedannan folk might freely say to whom they +would most gladly do homage as King. + +Not far did they roam, for soon there arose a great cry, 'Bove Derg is +King. Bove Derg is King.' And all were glad, save Lir. + +But Lir was angry, and he left the plain where the Dedannan people were, +taking leave of none, and doing Bove Derg no reverence. For jealousy +filled the heart of Lir. + +Then were the Dedannans wroth, and a hundred swords were unsheathed and +flashed in the sunlight on the plain. 'We go to slay Lir who doeth not +homage to our King and regardeth not the choice of the people.' + +But wise and generous was Bove Derg, and he bade the warriors do no hurt +to the offended Prince. + +For long years did Lir live in discontent, yielding obedience to none. But +at length a great sorrow fell upon him, for his wife, who was dear unto +him, died, and she had been ill but three days. Loudly did he lament her +death, and heavy was his heart with sorrow. + +When tidings of Lir's grief reached Bove Derg, he was surrounded by his +mightiest chiefs. 'Go forth,' he said, 'in fifty chariots go forth. Tell +Lir I am his friend as ever, and ask that he come with you hither. Three +fair foster-children are mine, and one may he yet have to wife, will he +but bow to the will of the people, who have chosen me their King.' + +When these words were told to Lir, his heart was glad. Speedily he called +around him his train, and in fifty chariots set forth. Nor did they +slacken speed until they reached the palace of Bove Derg by the Great +Lake. And there at the still close of day, as the setting rays of the sun +fell athwart the silver waters, did Lir do homage to Bove Derg. And Bove +Derg kissed Lir and vowed to be his friend for ever. + +And when it was known throughout the Dedannan host that peace reigned +between these mighty chiefs, brave men and fair women and little children +rejoiced, and nowhere were there happier hearts than in the Green Isle of +Erin. + +Time passed, and Lir still dwelt with Bove Derg in his palace by the Great +Lake. One morning the King said, 'Full well thou knowest my three fair +foster-daughters, nor have I forgotten my promise that one thou shouldst +have to wife. Choose her whom thou wilt.' + +Then Lir answered, 'All are indeed fair, and choice is hard. But give unto +me the eldest, if it be that she be willing to wed.' + +And Eve, the eldest of the fair maidens, was glad, and that day was she +married to Lir, and after two weeks she left the palace by the Great Lake +and drove with her husband to her new home. + + * * * * * + +Happily dwelt Lir's household and merrily sped the months. Then were born +unto Lir twin babes. The girl they called Finola, and her brother did they +name Aed. + +Yet another year passed and again twins were born, but before the infant +boys knew their mother, she died. So sorely did Lir grieve for his +beautiful wife that he would have died of sorrow, but for the great love +he bore his motherless children. + +When news of Eve's death reached the palace of Bove Derg by the Great Lake +all mourned aloud for love of Eve and sore pity for Lir and his four +babes. And Bove Derg said to his mighty chiefs, 'Great indeed is our +grief, but in this dark hour shall Lir know our friendship. Ride forth, +make known to him that Eva, my second fair foster-child, shall in time +become his wedded wife and shall cherish his lone babes.' + +So messengers rode forth to carry these tidings to Lir, and in time Lir +came again to the palace of Bove Derg by the Great Lake, and he married +the beautiful Eva and took her back with him to his little daughter, +Finola, and to her three brothers, Aed and Fiacra and Conn. + +Four lovely and gentle children they were, and with tenderness did Eva +care for the little ones who were their father's joy and the pride of the +Dedannans. + +As for Lir, so great was the love he bore them, that at early dawn he +would rise, and, pulling aside the deerskin that separated his +sleeping-room with theirs, would fondle and frolic with the children until +morning broke. + +And Bove Derg loved them well-nigh as did Lir himself. Ofttimes would he +come to see them, and ofttimes were they brought to his palace by the +Great Lake. + +And through all the Green Isle, where dwelt the Dedannan people, there +also was spread the fame of the beauty of the children of Lir. + + * * * * * + +Time crept on, and Finola was a maid of twelve summers. Then did a wicked +jealousy find root in Eva's heart, and so did it grow that it strangled +the love which she had borne her sister's children. In bitterness she +cried, 'Lir careth not for me; to Finola and her brothers hath he given +all his love.' + +And for weeks and months Eva lay in bed planning how she might do hurt to +the children of Lir. + +At length, one midsummer morn, she ordered forth her chariot, that with +the four children she might come to the palace of Bove Derg. + +When Finola heard it, her fair face grew pale, for in a dream had it been +revealed unto her that Eva, her step-mother, should that day do a dark +deed among those of her own household. Therefore was Finola sore afraid, +but only her large eyes and pale cheeks spake her woe, as she and her +brothers drove along with Eva and her train. + +On they drove, the boys laughing merrily, heedless alike of the black +shadow resting on their step-mother's brow, and of the pale, trembling +lips of their sister. As they reached a gloomy pass, Eva whispered to her +attendants, 'Kill, I pray you, these children of Lir, for their father +careth not for me, because of his great love for them. Kill them, and +great wealth shall be yours.' + +But the attendants answered in horror, 'We will not kill them. Fearful, O +Eva, were the deed, and great is the evil that will befall thee, for +having it in thine heart to do this thing.' + +Then Eva, filled with rage, drew forth her sword to slay them with her own +hand, but too weak for the monstrous deed, she sank back in the chariot. + +Onward they drove, out of the gloomy pass into the bright sunlight of the +white road. Daisies with wide-open eyes looked up into the blue sky +overhead. Golden glistened the buttercups among the shamrock. From the +ditches peeped forget-me-not. Honeysuckle scented the hedgerows. Around, +above, and afar, carolled the linnet, the lark, and the thrush. All was +colour and sunshine, scent and song, as the children of Lir drove onward +to their doom. + +Not until they reached a still lake were the horses unyoked for rest. +There Eva bade the children undress and go bathe in the waters. And when +the children of Lir reached the water's edge, Eva was there behind them, +holding in her hand a fairy wand. And with the wand she touched the +shoulder of each. And, lo! as she touched Finola, the maiden was changed +into a snow-white swan, and behold! as she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, +the three brothers were as the maid. Four snow-white swans floated on the +blue lake, and to them the wicked Eva chanted a song of doom. + +[Illustration: As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers +were as the maid] + +As she finished, the swans turned towards her, and Finola spake: + +'Evil is the deed thy magic wand hath wrought, O Eva, on us the children +of Lir, but greater evil shall befall thee, because of the hardness and +jealousy of thine heart.' And Finola's white swan-breast heaved as she +sang of their pitiless doom. + +The song ended, again spake the swan-maiden. 'Tell us, O Eva, when death +shall set us free.' + +And Eva made answer, 'Three hundred years shall your home be on the smooth +waters of this lone lake. Three hundred years shall ye pass on the stormy +waters of the sea betwixt Erin and Alba, and three hundred years shall ye +be tempest-tossed on the wild Western Sea. Until Decca be the Queen of +Largnen, and the good Saint come to Erin, and ye hear the chime of the +Christ-bell, neither your plaints nor prayers, neither the love of your +father Lir, nor the might of your King, Bove Derg, shall have power to +deliver you from your doom. But lone white swans though ye be, ye shall +keep for ever your own sweet Gaelic speech, and ye shall sing, with +plaintive voices, songs so haunting that your music will bring peace to +the souls of those who hear. And still beneath your snowy plumage shall +beat the hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra and Conn, and still for ever shall +ye be the children of Lir.' + +Then did Eva order the horses to be yoked to the chariot, and away +westward did she drive. + +And swimming on the lone lake were four white swans. + + * * * * * + +When Eva reached the palace of Bove Derg alone, greatly was he troubled +lest evil had befallen the children of Lir. + +But the attendants, because of their great fear of Eva, dared not to tell +the King of the magic spell she had wrought by the way. Therefore Bove +Derg asked, 'Wherefore, O Eva, come not Finola and her brothers to the +palace this day?' + +And Eva answered, 'Because, O King, Lir no longer trusteth thee, therefore +would he not let the children come hither.' + +But Bove Derg believed not his foster-daughter, and that night he secretly +sent messengers across the hills to the dwelling of Lir. + +When the messengers came there, and told their errand, great was the grief +of the father. And in the morning with a heavy heart he summoned a company +of the Dedannans, and together they set out for the palace of Bove Derg. +And it was not until sunset as they reached the lone shore of Lake Darvra, +that they slackened speed. + +Lir alighted from his chariot and stood spellbound. What was that +plaintive sound? The Gaelic words, his dear daughter's voice more +enchanting even than of old, and yet, before and around, only the lone +blue lake. The haunting music rang clearer, and as the last words died +away, four snow-white swans glided from behind the sedges, and with a wild +flap of wings flew toward the eastern shore. There, stricken with wonder, +stood Lir. + +'Know, O Lir,' said Finola, 'that we are thy children, changed by the +wicked magic of our step-mother into four white swans.' When Lir and the +Dedannan people heard these words, they wept aloud. + +Still spake the swan-maiden. 'Three hundred years must we float on this +lone lake, three hundred years shall we be storm-tossed on the waters +between Erin and Alba, and three hundred years on the wild Western Sea. +Not until Decca be the Queen of Largnen, not until the good Saint come to +Erin and the chime of the Christ-bell be heard in the land, not until then +shall we be saved from our doom.' + +Then great cries of sorrow went up from the Dedannans, and again Lir +sobbed aloud. But at the last silence fell upon his grief, and Finola told +how she and her brothers would keep for ever their own sweet Gaelic +speech, how they would sing songs so haunting that their music would bring +peace to the souls of all who heard. She told, too, how, beneath their +snowy plumage, the human hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn should +still beat--the hearts of the children of Lir. 'Stay with us to-night by +the lone lake,' she ended, 'and our music will steal to you across its +moonlit waters and lull you into peaceful slumber. Stay, stay with us.' + +And Lir and his people stayed on the shore that night and until the +morning glimmered. Then, with the dim dawn, silence stole over the lake. + +Speedily did Lir rise, and in haste did he bid farewell to his children, +that he might seek Eva and see her tremble before him. + +Swiftly did he drive and straight, until he came to the palace of Bove +Derg, and there by the waters of the Great Lake did Bove Derg meet him. +'Oh, Lir, wherefore have thy children come not hither?' And Eva stood by +the King. + +Stern and sad rang the answer of Lir. 'Alas! Eva, your foster-child, hath +by her wicked magic changed them into four snow-white swans. On the blue +waters of Lake Darvra dwell Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, and thence come +I that I may avenge their doom.' + +A silence as the silence of death fell upon the three, and all was still +save that Eva trembled greatly. But ere long Bove Derg spake. Fierce and +angry did he look, as, high above his foster-daughter, he held his magic +wand. Awful was his voice as he pronounced her doom. 'Wretched woman, +henceforth shalt thou no longer darken this fair earth, but as a demon of +the air shalt thou dwell in misery till the end of time.' And of a sudden +from out her shoulders grew black, shadowy wings, and, with a piercing +scream, she swirled upward, until the awe-stricken Dedannans saw nought +save a black speck vanish among the lowering clouds. And as a demon of the +air do Eva's black wings swirl her through space to this day. + +But great and good was Bove Derg. He laid aside his magic wand and so +spake: 'Let us, my people, leave the Great Lake, and let us pitch our +tents on the shores of Lake Darvra. Exceeding dear unto us are the +children of Lir, and I, Bove Derg, and Lir, their father, have vowed +henceforth to make our home for ever by the lone waters where they dwell.' + +And when it was told throughout the Green Island of Erin of the fate of +the children of Lir and of the vow that Bove Derg had vowed, from north, +south, east, and west did the Dedannans flock to the lake, until a mighty +host dwelt by its shores. + +And by day Finola and her brothers knew not loneliness, for in the sweet +Gaelic speech they told of their joys and fears; and by night the mighty +Dedannans knew no sorrowful memories, for by haunting songs were they +lulled to sleep, and the music brought peace to their souls. + +Slowly did the years go by, and upon the shoulders of Bove Derg and Lir +fell the long white hair. Fearful grew the four swans, for the time was +not far off, when they must wing their flight north to the wild sea of +Moyle. + +And when at length the sad day dawned, Finola told her brothers how their +three hundred happy years on Lake Darvra were at an end, and how they must +now leave the peace of its lone waters for evermore. + +Then, slowly and sadly, did the four swans glide to the margin of the +lake. Never had the snowy whiteness of their plumage so dazzled the +beholders, never had music so sweet and sorrowful floated to Lake Darvra's +sunlit shores. As the swans reached the water's edge, silent were the +three brothers, and alone Finola chanted a farewell song. + +With bowed white heads did the Dedannan host listen to Finola's chant, and +when the music ceased and only sobs broke the stillness, the four swans +spread their wings, and, soaring high, paused but for one short moment to +gaze on the kneeling forms of Lir and Bove Derg. Then, stretching their +graceful necks toward the north, they winged their flight to the waters of +the stormy sea that separates the blue Alba from the Green Island of Erin. + +And when it was known throughout the Green Isle that the four white swans +had flown, so great was the sorrow of the people that they made a law that +no swan should be killed in Erin from that day forth. + + * * * * * + +With hearts that burned with longing for their father and their friends, +did Finola and her brothers reach the sea of Moyle. Cold and chill were +its wintry waters, black and fearful were the steep rocks overhanging +Alba's far-stretching coasts. From hunger, too, the swans suffered. Dark +indeed was all, and darker yet as the children of Lir remembered the still +waters of Lake Darvra and the fond Dedannan host on its peaceful shores. +Here the sighing of the wind among the reeds no longer soothed their +sorrow, but the roar of the breaking surf struck fresh terror in their +souls. + +In misery and terror did their days pass, until one night the black, +lowering clouds overhead told that a great tempest was nigh. Then did +Finola call to her Aed, Fiacra, and Conn. 'Beloved brothers, a great fear +is at my heart, for, in the fury of the coming gale, we may be driven the +one from the other. Therefore, let us say where we may hope to meet when +the storm is spent.' + +And Aed answered, 'Wise art thou, dear, gentle sister. If we be driven +apart, may it be to meet again on the rocky isle that has ofttimes been +our haven, for well known is it to us all, and from far can it be seen.' + +Darker grew the night, louder raged the wind, as the four swans dived and +rose again on the giant billows. Yet fiercer blew the gale, until at +midnight loud bursts of thunder mingled with the roaring wind, but, in the +glare of the blue lightning's flashes, the children of Lir beheld each the +snowy form of the other. The mad fury of the hurricane yet increased, and +the force of it lifted one swan from its wild home on the billows, and +swept it through the blackness of the night. Another blue lightning flash, +and each swan saw its loneliness, and uttered a great cry of desolation. +Tossed hither and thither, by wind and wave, the white birds were +well-nigh dead when dawn broke. And with the dawn fell calm. + +Swift as her tired wings would bear her, Finola sailed to the rocky isle, +where she hoped to find her brothers. But alas! no sign was there of one +of them. Then to the highest summit of the rocks she flew. North, south, +east, and west did she look, yet nought saw she save a watery wilderness. +Now did her heart fail her, and she sang the saddest song she had yet +sung. + +As the last notes died Finola raised her eyes, and lo! Conn came slowly +swimming towards her with drenched plumage and head that drooped. And as +she looked, behold! Fiacra appeared, but it was as though his strength +failed. Then did Finola swim toward her fainting brother and lend him her +aid, and soon the twins were safe on the sunlit rock, nestling for warmth +beneath their sister's wings. + +Yet Finola's heart still beat with alarm as she sheltered her younger +brothers, for Aed came not, and she feared lest he were lost for ever. +But, at noon, sailing he came over the breast of the blue waters, with +head erect and plumage sunlit. And under the feathers of her breast did +Finola draw him, for Conn and Fiacra still cradled beneath her wings. +'Rest here, while ye may, dear brothers,' she said. + +And she sang to them a lullaby so surpassing sweet that the sea-birds +hushed their cries and flocked to listen to the sad, slow music. And when +Aed and Fiacra and Conn were lulled to sleep, Finola's notes grew more and +more faint and her head drooped, and soon she too slept peacefully in the +warm sunlight. + +But few were the sunny days on the sea of Moyle, and many were the +tempests that ruffled its waters. Still keener grew the winter frosts, and +the misery of the four white swans was greater than ever before. Even +their most sorrowful Gaelic songs told not half their woe. From the fury +of the storm they still sought shelter on that rocky isle where Finola had +despaired of seeing her dear ones more. + +Slowly passed the years of doom, until one mid-winter a frost more keen +than any known before froze the sea into a floor of solid black ice. By +night the swans crouched together on the rocky isle for warmth, but each +morning they were frozen to the ground and could free themselves only with +sore pain, for they left clinging to the ice-bound rock the soft down of +their breasts, the quills from their white wings, and the skin of their +poor feet. + +And when the sun melted the ice-bound surface of the waters, and the swans +swam once more in the sea of Moyle, the salt water entered their wounds, +and they well-nigh died of pain. But in time the down on their breasts and +the feathers on their wings grew, and they were healed of their wounds. + +The years dragged on, and by day Finola and her brothers would fly toward +the shores of the Green Island of Erin, or to the rocky blue headlands of +Alba, or they would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters. But +ever as night fell it was their doom to return to the sea of Moyle. + +[Illustration: They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of +waters] + +One day, as they looked toward the Green Isle, they saw coming to the +coast a troop of horsemen mounted on snow-white steeds, and their armour +glittered in the sun. + +A cry of great joy went up from the children of Lir, for they had seen no +human form since they spread their wings above Lake Darvra, and flew to +the stormy sea of Moyle. + +'Speak,' said Finola to her brothers, 'speak, and say if these be not our +own Dedannan folk.' And Aed and Fiacra and Conn strained their eyes, and +Aed answered, 'It seemeth, dear sister, to me, that it is indeed our own +people.' + +As the horsemen drew nearer and saw the four swans, each man shouted in +the Gaelic tongue, 'Behold the children of Lir!' + +And when Finola and her brothers heard once more the sweet Gaelic speech, +and saw the faces of their own people, their happiness was greater than +can be told. For long they were silent, but at length Finola spake. + +Of their life on the sea of Moyle she told, of the dreary rains and +blustering winds, of the giant waves and the roaring thunder, of the black +frost, and of their own poor battered and wounded bodies. Of their +loneliness of soul, of that she could not speak. 'But tell us,' she went +on, 'tell us of our father, Lir. Lives he still, and Bove Derg, and our +dear Dedannan friends?' + +Scarce could the Dedannans speak for the sorrow they had for Finola and +her brothers, but they told how Lir and Bove Derg were alive and well, and +were even now celebrating the Feast of Age at the house of Lir. 'But for +their longing for you, your father and friends would be happy indeed.' + +Glad then and of great comfort were the hearts of Finola and her brothers. +But they could not hear more, for they must hasten to fly from the +pleasant shores of Erin to the sea-stream of Moyle, which was their doom. +And as they flew, Finola sang, and faint floated her voice over the +kneeling host. + +As the sad song grew fainter and more faint, the Dedannans wept aloud. +Then, as the snow-white birds faded from sight, the sorrowful company +turned the heads of their white steeds from the shore, and rode southward +to the home of Lir. + +And when it was told there of the sufferings of Finola and her brothers, +great was the sorrow of the Dedannans. Yet was Lir glad that his children +were alive, and he thought of the day when the magic spell would be +broken, and those so dear to him would be freed from their bitter woe. + + * * * * * + +Once more were ended three hundred years of doom, and glad were the four +white swans to leave the cruel sea of Moyle. Yet might they fly only to +the wild Western Sea, and tempest-tossed as before, here they in no way +escaped the pitiless fury of wind and wave. Worse than aught they had +before endured was a frost that drove the brothers to despair. Well-nigh +frozen to a rock, they one night cried aloud to Finola that they longed +for death. And she, too, would fain have died. + +But that same night did a dream come to the swan-maiden, and, when she +awoke, she cried to her brothers to take heart. 'Believe, dear brothers, +in the great God who hath created the earth with its fruits and the sea +with its terrible wonders. Trust in Him, and He will yet save you.' And +her brothers answered, 'We will trust.' + +And Finola also put her trust in God, and they all fell into a deep +slumber. + +When the children of Lir awoke, behold! the sun shone, and thereafter, +until the three hundred years on the Western Sea were ended, neither wind +nor wave nor rain nor frost did hurt to the four swans. + +On a grassy isle they lived and sang their wondrous songs by day, and by +night they nestled together on their soft couch, and awoke in the morning +to sunshine and to peace. And there on the grassy island was their home, +until the three hundred years were at an end. Then Finola called to her +brothers, and tremblingly she told, and tremblingly they heard, that they +might now fly eastward to seek their own old home. + +Lightly did they rise on outstretched wings, and swiftly did they fly +until they reached land. There they alighted and gazed each at the other, +but too great for speech was their joy. Then again did they spread their +wings and fly above the green grass on and on, until they reached the +hills and trees that surrounded their old home. But, alas! only the ruins +of Lir's dwelling were left. Around was a wilderness overgrown with rank +grass, nettles, and weeds. + +Too downhearted to stir, the swans slept that night within the ruined +walls of their old home, but, when day broke, each could no longer bear +the loneliness, and again they flew westward. And it was not until they +came to Inis Glora that they alighted. On a small lake in the heart of the +island they made their home, and, by their enchanting music, they drew to +its shores all the birds of the west, until the lake came to be called +'The Lake of the Bird-flocks.' + +Slowly passed the years, but a great longing filled the hearts of the +children of Lir. When would the good Saint come to Erin? When would the +chime of the Christ-bell peal over land and sea? + +One rosy dawn the swans awoke among the rushes of the Lake of the +Bird-flocks, and strange and faint was the sound that floated to them from +afar. Trembling, they nestled close the one to the other, until the +brothers stretched their wings and fluttered hither and thither in great +fear. Yet trembling they flew back to their sister, who had remained +silent among the sedges. Crouching by her side they asked, 'What, dear +sister, can be the strange, faint sound that steals across our island?' + +With quiet, deep joy Finola answered, 'Dear brothers, it is the chime of +the Christ-bell that ye hear, the Christ-bell of which we have dreamed +through thrice three hundred years. Soon the spell will be broken, soon +our sufferings will end.' Then did Finola glide from the shelter of the +sedges across the rose-lit lake, and there by the shore of the Western Sea +she chanted a song of hope. + +Calm crept into the hearts of the brothers as Finola sang, and, as she +ended, once more the chime stole across the isle. No longer did it strike +terror into the hearts of the children of Lir, rather as a note of peace +did it sink into their souls. + +Then, when the last chime died, Finola said, 'Let us sing to the great +King of Heaven and Earth.' + +Far stole the sweet strains of the white swans, far across Inis Glora, +until they reached the good Saint Kemoc, for whose early prayers the +Christ-bell had chimed. + +And he, filled with wonder at the surpassing sweetness of the music, stood +mute, but when it was revealed unto him that the voices he heard were the +voices of Finola and Aed and Fiacra and Conn, who thanked the High God for +the chime of the Christ-bell, he knelt and also gave thanks, for it was to +seek the children of Lir that the Saint had come to Inis Glora. + +In the glory of noon, Kemoc reached the shore of the little lake, and saw +four white swans gliding on its waters. And no need had the Saint to ask +whether these indeed were the children of Lir. Rather did he give thanks +to the High God who had brought him hither. + +[Illustration: It was Saint Kemoc] + +Then gravely the good Kemoc said to the swans, 'Come ye now to land, and +put your trust in me, for it is in this place that ye shall be freed from +your enchantment.' + +These words the four white swans heard with great joy, and coming to the +shore they placed themselves under the care of the Saint. And he led them +to his cell, and there they dwelt with him. And Kemoc sent to Erin for a +skilful workman, and ordered that two slender chains of shining silver be +made. Betwixt Finola and Aed did he clasp one silver chain, and with the +other did he bind Fiacra and Conn. + +Then did the children of Lir dwell with the holy Kemoc, and he taught them +the wonderful story of Christ that he and Saint Patrick had brought to the +Green Isle. And the story so gladdened their hearts that the misery of +their past sufferings was well-nigh forgotten, and they lived in great +happiness with the Saint. Dear to him were they, dear as though they had +been his own children. + +Thrice three hundred years had gone since Eva had chanted the fate of the +children of Lir. 'Until Decca be the Queen of Largnen, until the good +Saint come to Erin, and ye hear the chime of the Christ-bell, shall ye not +be delivered from your doom.' + +The good Saint had indeed come, and the sweet chimes of the Christ-bell +had been heard, and the fair Decca was now the Queen of King Largnen. + +Soon were tidings brought to Decca of the swan-maiden and her three +swan-brothers. Strange tales did she hear of their haunting songs. It was +told her, too, of their cruel miseries. Then begged she her husband, the +King, that he would go to Kemoc and bring to her these human birds. + +But Largnen did not wish to ask Kemoc to part with the swans, and +therefore he did not go. + +Then was Decca angry, and swore she would live no longer with Largnen, +until he brought the singing swans to the palace. And that same night she +set out for her father's kingdom in the south. + +Nevertheless Largnen loved Decca, and great was his grief when he heard +that she had fled. And he commanded messengers to go after her, saying he +would send for the white swans if she would but come back. Therefore Decca +returned to the palace, and Largnen sent to Kemoc to beg of him the four +white swans. But the messenger returned without the birds. + +Then was Largnen wroth, and set out himself for the cell of Kemoc. But he +found the Saint in the little church, and before the altar were the four +white swans. 'Is it truly told me that you refused these birds to Queen +Decca?' asked the King. + +'It is truly told,' replied Kemoc. + +Then Largnen was more wroth than before, and seizing the silver chain of +Finola and Aed in the one hand, and the chain of Fiacra and Conn in the +other, he dragged the birds from the altar and down the aisle, and it +seemed as though he would leave the church. And in great fear did the +Saint follow. + +But lo! as they reached the door, the snow-white feathers of the four +swans fell to the ground, and the children of Lir were delivered from +their doom. For was not Decca the bride of Largnen, and the good Saint had +he not come, and the chime of the Christ-bell was it not heard in the +land? + +But aged and feeble were the children of Lir. Wrinkled were their once +fair faces, and bent their little white bodies. + +At the sight Largnen, affrighted, fled from the church, and the good Kemoc +cried aloud, 'Woe to thee, O King!' + +Then did the children of Lir turn toward the Saint, and thus Finola spake: +'Baptize us now, we pray thee, for death is nigh. Heavy with sorrow are +our hearts that we must part from thee, thou holy one, and that in +loneliness must thy days on earth be spent. But such is the will of the +High God. Here let our graves be digged, and here bury our four bodies, +Conn standing at my right side, Fiacra at my left, and Aed before my face, +for thus did I shelter my dear brothers for thrice three hundred years +'neath wing and breast.' + +Then did the good Kemoc baptize the children of Lir, and thereafter the +Saint looked up, and lo! he saw a vision of four lovely children with +silvery wings, and faces radiant as the sun; and as he gazed they floated +ever upward, until they were lost in a mist of blue. Then was the good +Kemoc glad, for he knew that they had gone to Heaven. + +But, when he looked downward, four worn bodies lay at the church door, and +Kemoc wept sore. + +And the Saint ordered a wide grave to be digged close by the little +church, and there were the children of Lir buried, Conn standing at +Finola's right hand, and Fiacra at her left, and before her face her twin +brother Aed. + +And the grass grew green above them, and a white tombstone bore their +names, and across the grave floated morning and evening the chime of the +sweet Christ-bell. + + + +DERMAT AND GRANIA + + +It was at Tara that King Cormac would hold a great meeting, and the chiefs +and nobles of the land were gathered together there. + +But ere the business of the day was begun, it was told that two warriors +were without and would talk with the King. + +Then did Cormac welcome the messengers, and when he heard that they came +from the broad hill slopes of Allen and bore a message from Finn, their +King, he said that the meeting should not be held that day, but that he +would speak with the warriors alone. + +And after they had eaten and drunk, Cormac bade them tell their errand. + +Then spake Oisin, the son of Finn, and he told how his mother had long +been dead, and how his father would fain marry Grania, the fair daughter +of Cormac. + +But Cormac made answer, 'Scarce in all Erin is there a prince that hath +not sought in marriage the hand of my daughter, but she hath refused them +all. For this cause have I their ill-will, for the Princess hath ever made +me tell how none had won her favour. Wherefore shall I bring you to my +daughter's presence, that from her own lips ye may hear the answer that ye +shall carry to your King.' + +So Cormac went with Oisin the son of Finn and with Dering his friend to +the sunny room of the Princess. And Cormac sat by Grania on the couch and +told her wherefore the champions were come. + +[Illustration: Grania] + +And Grania, giving little heed to the matter, made answer, 'If Finn be a +fitting son-in-law for my father, the King, then may he well be a worthy +husband for me.' + +When Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his friend heard these words they +were glad, for they knew not how little thought the Princess gave to her +words. + +And Cormac made a feast for the champions, and ere they departed he told +them that after two weeks Finn should come thither. + +So the warriors bade farewell to the palace of Cormac and went back to +Allen, and there they told Finn that after two weeks he should go to Tara +and wed the fair Grania. + +Slow sped the days, but when they were passed, Finn, with many chiefs and +nobles as his guard, marched to Tara. And there Cormac received him right +royally and made ready a great feast. On his right hand sat Finn and on +his left the Queen. And next the Queen sat Grania. + +Now it chanced that the chief who sat on the other side of Grania was a +story-teller, and the Princess listened gladly to the tales he told. + +But when he ceased from his tales Grania asked, 'Wherefore is it that Finn +hath come hither to feast?' + +And the chief, filled with wonder that the Princess should question him +thus, made answer, 'Of a truth hath Finn come hither this day to claim +thee for his wife.' + +Then Grania bethought her of the words she had spoken to Oisin the son of +Finn and to Dering his friend, and of how she spake without heed. And now +was Finn come hither to seek her for his wife. + +A long, deep silence fell upon the Princess, while her eyes roved among +the goodly company. + +At length she turned again to the chief who sat next her. 'Of this goodly +company,' she said, 'I know none save Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his +friend. Tell me, I pray thee, who sitteth yonder by Oisin's side?' + +And the chief told his name and sang his praise. + +Again Grania asked, 'And who, I pray thee, sitteth by his side?' + +And the chief told his name and sang his praise. + +Afterwards Grania sought of the chief the names of many of the nobles, and +he told her, and he told too of the deeds they had done. + +Then the Princess called her handmaid and said, 'Bring me from my room the +jewelled drinking horn.' And the handmaiden brought it and Grania filled +it to the brim and said, 'Take it to Finn, and say that I would have him +drink from it.' + +And Finn drank from the drinking horn, and then passed it to Cormac the +King. And the King drank from it and also the Queen. + +Then again Grania filled the drinking horn to the brim, and yet again, +until all whom she wished to drink had drunk from it. And it was not long +until a deep sleep had fallen upon all who had drunk. + +Grania then rose slowly from her seat and crossed the hall to where Dermat +sat, for Dermat, of those nobles that Finn brought with him, pleased her +the best. And to him she spake thus: + +[Illustration: Dermat] + +'Dermat, it is from the champion who sat next me that I have learnt thy +name, but ere I knew it I loved thee. From the sunny window of my chamber +did I not watch thee on the day of the hurling-match? No part didst thou +take in the contest till, seeing the game go against the men of Allen, +thou didst rush into the crowd, and three times didst thou win the goal. +My heart went out to thee that day, and now do I know that thee only do I +love. Sore is my distress for the heedless words I spake which have +brought Finn hither. Older is he than Cormac my father, and him will I not +wed. Therefore, I pray thee, flee with me hence.' + +Sore troubled was Dermat as he listened to these words, and at length he +replied, 'Unworthy am I of thy love, and there is not a stronghold in Erin +that would shelter us from the wrath of Finn were this thing to be.' + +When Grania heard the words that Dermat spake, she said, 'I place thee +under a solemn vow that thou follow me from Tara ere Finn shall wake. And +thou knowest there is no true hero but will hold his vow binding even unto +death.' + +'Even though we so willed it,' replied Dermat, 'could we not escape from +Tara, for Finn hath in his keeping the keys of the great gate.' + +'Yet canst thou escape if thou wilt,' said Grania, 'for a champion such as +thou canst bound over the highest wall in Erin. By the wicket-gate leading +from my chamber shall I go forth, and if thou followest me not, alone +shall I flee from the sight of Finn.' And having spoken thus, Grania went +forth from the hall. + +Then was Dermat in sore plight, for he would not depart from the solemn +vow that Grania had laid upon him, and yet he feared lest the Princess +should not escape the wrath of Finn. + +And he took counsel of the nobles who had come hither with Finn, and there +was not one but said, 'Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart +from thy solemn vow.' + +Then Dermat arose, and when he was armed he bade his companions a tearful +farewell, for he knew they might see his face no more. + +Forth he went, and with an exceeding light bound he cleared the rampart +and alighted on the green grass beyond. And there Grania met him. + +And Dermat said to the Princess, 'Even now, I pray of thee, return to thy +father's home and Finn shall hear nought of this thing.' + +But Grania's will was firm, and she said, 'I will not return now nor will +I return hereafter, for death only shall part me and thee.' + +'Then go forward, O Grania,' said Dermat, and the two went forth. + +But when they were scarce a mile from Tara Grania told Dermat that she was +weary. + +And Dermat said, 'It is a good time to weary, O Grania. Get thee back to +thine own household, for I plight thee the word of a true warrior that I +will not carry thee from thy father's house.' + +'Neither is there need,' answered Grania, 'for my father's horses are in a +fenced meadow by themselves, and chariots also will ye find there. Yoke +two horses to a chariot, and I will wait for thee on this spot until thou +overtake me again.' + +Then Dermat did as Grania said, and he brought the horses and the chariot, +and they drove forth. + +But when they came to the banks of the river Shannon, Dermat said, 'Now +that we have the horses it is easier for Finn to follow in our track.' + +'Then,' said Grania, 'leave the horses on this spot and I will journey on +foot henceforth.' + +And Dermat, when he saw that the Princess would not be moved, told her how +great was his love for her, and how he would defend her even with his life +from the wrath of Finn. + +And Dermat wed Grania, and they vowed solemn vows that they would be +faithful each to each even unto death. + +Then tenderly did Dermat lift his wife in his strong arms and bear her +across the ford, and neither the sole of her foot nor the hem of her +mantle touched the stream. + +Afterwards Dermat led one of the horses across the ford, but the other he +left on the far side. + +Dermat and Grania then walked until they came to a thick wood, and there +Dermat lopped branches from the trees and made a hut, and he made for +Grania a bed of the soft rushes and of the tops of the birch. + +And there Grania rested, and there did Dermat bring to her food of the +forest and water from a clear spring. + + * * * * * + +It was early dawn at Tara when Cormac and Finn awoke from their deep +sleep. + +When Finn found that Grania had fled with Dermat, great was his wrath, and +he called to him his nobles, and ordered them with all speed to follow in +the track of Dermat and Grania. + +And Finn went with them, nor was the track hard to follow until they came +to the river Shannon, but there it was lost and no man could find it. + +Then was the wrath of Finn so great that he said he would hang his nobles, +and not one would he spare, if they did not again find the track, and that +with all speed. + +So, being sore afraid, they crossed the river, and when they had searched +they saw the horses one on either side, and they found, too, the spot +where Dermat and Grania had turned from the river. + +And when they told Finn, he was content, for he knew of a surety that +Dermat and Grania hid in the deep wood. + +Now among the nobles were those who loved Dermat, and would fain save him +from the hate of Finn. And one said, 'It behooveth us to send warning to +Dermat. Let us send to him Bran, the hound of Finn, for Bran loveth Dermat +as though he were his own master.' + +And they called the hound and told him secretly what he should do. + +Bran listened with ears erect, and then, losing no time, he followed the +track, nor did he miss it once until it brought him unto the hut. And +going in he found Dermat and Grania asleep, and he thrust his head into +Dermat's bosom. + +And Dermat woke with a start, and when he saw Bran there was no need for +the hound to tell whence he came. + +Then Dermat awoke his wife and told her that Finn was near. + +Great fear looked from out the eyes of Grania when she heard, and she +begged that they might flee. + +But Dermat answered, 'Were we to flee, yet would Finn overtake us, and it +were as ill to fall into his hands then as at this time, but neither he +nor his men shall enter this hut without my leave.' + +Still Grania feared greatly, but she spake no further, for in Dermat's +eyes she read his gloom. + +While Bran still tarried by the hut, the nobles who loved Dermat thought +of yet another warning to send their friend. They had with them a +serving-man whose voice was so loud that it could be heard for many miles, +and they made this man give three shouts that Dermat might hear. + +And when Dermat heard the shouts he said to Grania, 'Well I know whose is +the voice that shouteth, and full well I know that it cometh as a warning +that Finn is nigh.' + +Then great fear took hold of Grania, and she trembled, and again she said, +'Let us flee, for how shall we withstand the wrath of Finn?' + +But Dermat said, 'We will not flee, but neither Finn nor his men shall +enter the hut without my leave.' + +Then was Grania filled with foreboding, yet spake she no further, for sad +and stern was her husband's voice, and in his eyes she read his gloom. + +Now Finn, having reached the wood, sent forward his men, but when they +came to the thickest part of the forest they beheld a fence which no man +could break through or climb. For Dermat had cleared a space round his hut +and around the space had he built the strong fence. + +Then the nobles climbed a high tree and from it did they look within the +fence, and there they saw Dermat and with him a lady. + +But for their love of Dermat did the nobles hide from Finn that they had +seen his foe. And one said to him, 'Far would it be from the mind of +Dermat to await thee here, knowing as he does that his life is in peril.' + +Then did Finn's wrath wax strong, and he replied, 'That Dermat hath thee +for friend will avail him nought. Was it not to warn him that your +serving-man gave three shouts, and was it not to warn him that ye sent +unto him my dog Bran? Full well I know that Dermat is hid behind yonder +strong fence.' + +And Finn cried aloud, 'Which of us, Dermat, is it that speaketh truth? Art +thou behind the fence?' + +'Thou, as ever, art right, O King,' cried Dermat. 'I am here, and with me +is Grania, but none other shall come hither save with my leave.' + +Now in the circle fence were seven doors, and at each door did Finn place +strong men, so that Dermat should by no means escape. + +And Grania, when she heard Finn's voice, was filled with fear, and she +trembled greatly. Then Dermat kissed her three times and bade her be of +good cheer for all would yet be well. + +Now it was by Angus of Bruga that Dermat had been brought up. Most skilled +in magic was this Angus, and to him was the plight of Dermat +revealed--Dermat, whom he loved as though he were his own son. + +So Angus arose and travelled on the wings of the wind until he came to the +hut where Dermat and Grania dwelt, and, unseen of Finn or his chiefs, he +entered the dwelling. + +And Dermat, when he saw his foster-father, greeted him gladly and told him +of the solemn vow which the Princess Grania had laid upon him, and how she +was his wedded wife. 'And now are we in sore strait, for Finn, whose will +it was to marry Grania, hath pursued us and would fain take my life.' + +'No harm shall befall you,' said Angus, 'if ye will but shelter under my +mantle, the one on the right side and the other on the left, for then will +I bring you both forth from this place, and Finn shall know it not.' + +But Dermat would not flee from Finn, yet it was his will that Grania +should go with Angus. 'And I will follow if it be that I leave this place +alive, yet should I be slain, I pray thee, Angus, send the Princess to her +father and beg him that he deal gently with her.' + +Then Dermat kissed Grania, and Angus, having told the way that they would +go, placed the Princess beneath his mantle and was carried forth on the +wings of the wind unseen of Finn. + +When Angus and Grania had gone, Dermat girded on his armour, and, deep in +thought, he walked to one of the seven doors and asked who was without. + +And the answer came, 'True friends are we, and no harm shall befall thee, +shouldst thou venture forth.' + +But Dermat answered, 'I seek the door guarded by Finn, and by none other +shall I leave this place.' + +And he came to another door and asked who was without, and again was it +told him, 'Thy bounden friends.' + +Then to the third, to the fourth, and to the fifth door did Dermat go, and +at each was he told how the men without were willing to fight to the death +for their love of him. + +But when Dermat came to the sixth door and asked by whom it was guarded, +the answer came, 'No friends of thine, for shouldst thou dare to venture +forth, we will make thee a mark for our swords and spears.' + +'Cowards, no fear of you keepeth me from coming forth, but I crave not the +blood of such as ye.' + +And he went to the seventh door and asked who was without. And the voice +of Finn answered, 'He that hateth thee, and will sever thy head from thy +body shouldst thou dare to come forth.' + +'At length have I found the door I seek, for by the door that Finn +guardeth, by it only shall I pass out.' + +But Dermat, seeing of a sudden an unguarded spot, sprang with a light +bound over the fence, and ran so swiftly that soon he was beyond the reach +of sword or spear. And no man dared to follow Dermat. Nor did the hero +rest until he came to the warm, well-lighted hut where Grania sat with +Angus before a blazing fire. + +When Grania saw Dermat her heart leaped for joy. Then did he tell her his +tidings from beginning to end, and after they had eaten they slept in +peace until the morning brake. + +And while it was yet early Angus bid them farewell, and he left with them +this warning, knowing that Finn would pursue them still: 'Go into no tree +that has but one trunk; nor into any cave having but one opening; land on +no island that has but one way leading to it; where you cook your food, +there eat it not; where you eat, sleep not there; and where you sleep +to-night, rise not there to-morrow.' [Footnote: Angus meant that Dermat +should change his place of sleeping during the night.] + +And when Angus had left them, Dermat and Grania sorrowed after him, and it +was not long until they journeyed forth. + + * * * * * + +All that befell Dermat and Grania cannot be told in this book, but of +Sharvan the giant and of the fairy quicken-tree you shall hear now. + +After many wanderings Dermat came with Grania to the wood where Sharvan +guarded the quicken-tree. Honey-sweet were the berries of the tree, and +gladness flowed through the veins of him who ate thereof. Though he were +one hundred years old, yet would he be but thirty so soon as he had eaten +three of the fairy berries. + +By day Sharvan the giant sat at the foot of the tree, and by night he sat +in a hut in its branches, and no man dared to come near. Fearful to behold +and wicked was this Sharvan. One eye, one red eye gleamed from the middle +of his black forehead. On his body was a girdle of iron, and from the +girdle was a heavy club hung by a heavy chain. And by magic was Sharvan +saved from death, for water would not drown him nor fire burn; neither was +there weapon, save one, that could wound the giant. The one weapon was +Sharvan's own club, for were he by it dealt three blows, his doom was +come. + +Now Dermat knew of the giant that guarded the fairy quicken-tree, +therefore he left Grania in shelter and went alone to the foot of the +tree. And there sat Sharvan, for it was day. + +And Dermat told the giant how he would fain build a hut in the forest and +hunt amid the woods. + +Then the giant, casting his red eye upon the champion, told him in surly +tone that it mattered not to him who lived or hunted in the forest, so +long as he did not eat the berries of the quicken-tree. + +So Dermat built a hut near to a clear well, and there he and Grania lived +in peace for many days, eating the food of the forest and drinking water +from the spring. + +Now it was at this time that two chiefs came to Finn on the green slopes +of Allen. And when he asked them who they were and whence they came, they +told how they were enemies that would fain make peace. + +But Finn answered, 'One of two things must ye bring hither would ye win +peace from me. Either must ye bring me the head of a warrior or a handful +of berries from the quicken-tree.' + +Then said Oisin the son of Finn, 'I counsel you, get ye hence, for the +head that the King seeketh from you is the head of Dermat, and were ye to +attempt to take it, then would Dermat take yours, were ye twenty times the +number that ye be. And as for the quicken-berries, know ye that they grow +on a fairy tree, guarded by the one-eyed giant Sharvan.' + +But the two chiefs were firm and would not be moved, for it were better to +die in their quest than to return to the hilly slopes of Allen at enmity +with Finn. So they left the palace, and journeyed without rest until they +came to Dermat's hut by the clear well. + +Now Dermat, when he heard footsteps without, seized his weapons, and going +to the door, asked of the strangers who they were and whence they came. + +And the chiefs told their names and for what cause they were come thither. + +Then Dermat said, 'I am not willing to give you my head, nor will you find +it an easy matter to take it. Neither may ye hope to fare better in your +quest of the quicken-berries, for the surly giant Sharvan guards the tree. +Fire will not burn him nor water drown, nor is there a weapon that hath +power to wound him, save only his own club. Say, therefore, which ye will +do battle for first, my head or the quicken-berries?' + +And they answered, 'We will first do battle with thee.' + +So they made ready, and it was agreed that they should use nought save +their hands in the combat. And if Dermat were overcome then should his +head be taken by the chiefs to Finn; if they were overpowered then should +their heads be forfeit to Dermat. + +But the fight was short, for the chiefs were as children in the hands of +the hero, and he bound them sore in bitter bonds. + +Now when Grania heard of the quicken-berries she longed with a great +longing to taste them. At first she said nought for she knew how they were +guarded by the surly giant Sharvan; but when she could hide her desire no +longer, she said to Dermat, 'So great is my longing for the berries of the +quicken-tree that if I may not eat of them I shall surely die.' + +And Dermat, who would see no ill befall his dear wife, said he would bring +her the berries. + +When the two chiefs heard this, they prayed Dermat to loose their bonds +that they also might fight the giant. + +But Dermat answered, 'At the mere sight of Sharvan ye would flee, and even +were it not so I wish the aid of none.' + +Then the chiefs begged that they might see the fight, and Dermat gave them +leave. + +When the champion came to the foot of the quicken-tree he found Sharvan +there, asleep. And he struck the giant a mighty blow to awake him. + +Then Sharvan raised his head, and, glaring at Dermat with his one red eye, +said, 'There hath been peace betwixt us heretofore, wherefore should we +now depart from it?' + +And Dermat said, 'It is not to strive that I come hither, but to beg of +thee berries from the quicken-tree, for Grania, my wife, longeth for them +with a great longing.' + +But the giant answered, 'Though the Princess were at the point of death, +yet would I not give her berries from the quicken-tree.' + +When Dermat heard this he said, 'It had pleased me well to remain at peace +with thee, but now must I take the berries from the tree whether it be thy +will or no.' + +At these words Sharvan waxed exceeding wroth, and with his club did he +deal Dermat three sore blows. But the champion, recovering, sprang upon +the giant, and seizing his great club, he ceased not to belabour him until +he fell to earth a dead man. + +Then Dermat sat down to rest. And he told the captive chiefs to drag the +body of the giant into the wood and bury it, that Grania might not be +affrighted. And when they had come back he sent for the Princess. + +And Grania, when she came to the quicken-tree, would not gather the fruit, +for she said, 'I will eat no berries save those plucked by the hand of my +husband.' + +So Dermat plucked the berries, and Grania ate and was satisfied. + +Then the champion gave berries of the quicken-tree to the captive chiefs, +saying, 'Take these to Finn and so win your peace.' And this he said as +though they were free men. + +They thanked the hero for his words, and also for the berries, which they +could not have got of themselves. Then having bid Dermat and Grania +farewell they journeyed forth towards the hilly slopes of Allen. + +When they were gone, Dermat and Grania went to the top of the +quicken-tree, into the hut of Sharvan, and the berries below were but +bitter compared to the berries that were above upon the tree. + +Now when Finn's two enemies were come to Allen he asked them how they had +fared, and whether they had brought with them the head of Dermat or a +handful of berries from the quicken-tree. + +And they answered, 'Sharvan the giant is slain, and behold here we have +brought thee berries from the quicken-tree so that henceforth we may live +at peace.' + +Then Finn took the berries in his hand, and when he had smelled them three +times he said, 'Of a truth these be the berries of the quicken-tree, but +not of your own strength have ye gotten them. Full well I know that by +Dermat hath Sharvan the giant been slain, and from his hand have ye gotten +the berries. Therefore have ye no peace from me, and now shall I summon an +army that I may march to the wood of the quicken-tree, for there surely +doth Dermat dwell.' + +Now when Finn came with his army to the quicken-tree it was noon, and the +sun shone with great heat. + +Therefore Finn said to his men, 'Under this tree shall we rest until the +sun be set, for well I know that Dermat is among the branches. Bring +hither a chess-board that I may play.' + +And Finn sat down to play against Oisin his son, but there were with Oisin +three nobles to help him, while Finn played without aid. + +With care and with skill did they play, until at length Finn said to his +son, 'I see one move, Oisin, that would win thee the game, yet is there +none of thine helpers that can show thee how thou mayest win.' + +Then Dermat, who had watched the game from among the branches overhead, +spoke aloud to himself the move that should be played. + +And Grania sat by her husband ill at ease. 'It matters not, Dermat,' she +said, 'whether Oisin win or lose the game, but if thou speakest so that +they hear, it may cost thee thy life.' + +Yet did Dermat pay no heed to the counsel of Grania, but plucked a berry, +and with it took aim so true that he hit the chessman that Oisin should +move. + +And Oisin moved the man and won the game. + +Yet again did Finn play against Oisin and his friends, and once more had +Oisin to make but one move to win the game. + +Then did Dermat throw down a berry as before and it struck the right man. + +And Oisin moved the piece and won the game. + +A third time did Oisin, son of Finn, play against his father, and it fell +as before, for once more he won with Dermat's aid. And this time the +nobles raised a mighty cheer. + +But Finn said, 'No marvel is it, Oisin, that thou hast won the game, for +of a surety thou hast had the aid of Dermat who dwelleth amid the branches +of the quicken-tree.' And looking up he said, 'Have I not, Dermat, spoken +truth?' + +'I have never known thy judgment err, O King,' replied Dermat. 'In truth I +dwell here with Grania in the hut that was built by Sharvan the giant.' + +And they looked up, and through an opening in the branches they beheld +Dermat kiss Grania three times, for the Princess was in great fear. + +Then was Finn exceeding wroth, and he bade his men surround the tree, each +holding the hand of each so that Dermat might by no means escape. And he +offered great reward to any man that would go up into the tree and bring +to him the hero's head or force him to come down. + +One of Finn's men then spake: 'It was Dermat's father that slew my father, +therefore will I go up into the tree.' And he went up. + +Now it was revealed to Angus of Bruga that Dermat was in sore plight, and +on the wings of the wind he came to his aid, unseen of Finn or his chiefs. +So when the avenger climbed into the tree, Angus was there. And when +Dermat with a stroke of his foot flung his enemy to the ground, Angus +caused him to take the shape of Dermat, and for this reason Finn's men +fell upon him and slew him. + +But no sooner was he slain than he again took his own shape, and Finn knew +that Dermat was still alive in the quicken-tree. Then nine times did a man +of Finn's army climb the tree, and nine times was he thrown to earth and +killed by his own friends. For each time did Angus cause the warrior to +take Dermat's shape. + +When Finn saw nine of his men lie dead before him his heart failed him, +and his soul was filled with bitterness. + +At this time Angus said that he would take Grania away with him. And +Dermat was content and said, 'If it be that I live until evening I will +follow thee, but if Finn killeth me, I pray thee send the Princess to her +father at Tara.' + +So Angus flung his magic mantle around Grania, and on the wings of the +wind they were carried to Bruga, unknown to Finn or his men. + +Then Dermat spake from the tree: 'Thou surely shalt not escape my +vengeance, O Finn, nor shalt thou easily compass my death. Oft have I +cleared the way for thee when thou didst go forth to battle, and oft have +I sheltered thy retreat when thou didst quit the field. Yet art thou +unmindful of mine help, and I swear that I will be avenged.' + +When the hero ceased from speaking, one of Finn's nobles said, 'Dermat +speaketh truth, now therefore grant him thy forgiveness.' + +But Finn answered, 'I will not to the end of my life grant him +forgiveness, nor shall he know rest or peace until he yieldeth to me his +head.' + +Again the noble spake: 'Now pledge I thee the word of a true warrior that, +unless the skies fall upon me or the earth open and swallow me up, no harm +shall come nigh Dermat, for under my care I take his body and his life.' +And looking up, the noble cried, 'O Dermat, I pledge thee my body and my +life that no ill shall befall thee this day, therefore come down out of +the tree.' + +Then Dermat rose and stood upon a high bough. With an airy, bird-like +bound he sprang forward and alighted outside the circle formed by the men +who had joined hands, and was soon far beyond the reach of Finn. + +And the noble who saved him followed, and they came together to Bruga, and +there Angus and Grania met them, and the joy of the Princess cannot be +told. + +Yet was it not long ere Dermat was again in sore strait, for Finn followed +him to Bruga, and with Finn came his old nurse. And she was a witch. + +Now it chanced on the day that they came thither that Dermat hunted alone +in the wood. And the witch flew on the leaf of a yellow water-lily till +she came straight over the place where Dermat was. Then through a hole in +the leaf she aimed deadly darts at the hero, and though he was clad in +strong armour they did him great hurt. + +So sore were his wounds that Dermat thought the witch would cause his +death on the spot, unless he could pierce her through the hole in the +leaf. + +Therefore he took his red javelin and cast it with all care. And so sure +was his aim that it reached the witch through the leaf, and she fell to +the ground dead. Then Dermat cut off her head and took it to Angus. + +Early on the morrow Angus rose and went where Finn was, and he asked him +if he would make peace with Dermat. + +And Finn, because he had now lost his witch-nurse as well as many men, was +glad to make peace in whatever way Dermat might choose. + +Then Angus went to Cormac, and he too was glad to make peace with the +hero. + +But when Angus came to Dermat he said he would not make peace unless he +received from Finn and from Cormac all the wide lands that he asked. + +And Cormac and Finn gave him the lands, and forgave him all he had done. + +Then was there at last peace between them, and Dermat and Grania built a +house in Sligo, far from Cormac and Finn, and they called the name of +their house Rath-Grania. And there were born unto them one daughter and +four sons. + +And it was said that there was not living in Erin a man richer than Dermat +in gold and silver, in sheep and cattle herds. + + * * * * * + +Now it fell on a day after many years that Grania sat as one in a dream. +And Dermat asked his wife in what troublous thought she was lost, for he +saw well that she was ill at ease. + +And Grania answered, 'It seemeth not well to me that, having so great +wealth, we live removed from the world, and welcome to our home neither my +father nor Finn, though with both are we now at peace.' + +Dermat gave heed to the words of his wife and then spake thus: 'Of a truth +there is peace betwixt us, but thou knowest well that neither thy father +the King nor yet Finn bears me aught but ill-will, and for this cause have +we dwelt apart.' + +'Yet will time have softened their hearts,' replied Grania, 'and wouldst +thou but make them a feast, so mightest thou win their favour and their +love.' + +And Dermat, because of the love he bore Grania, granted her wish, and for +a year they were making ready for the great feast. + +Then were messengers sent to bid thither Cormac and Finn. And they came, +and with them their nobles, their horses and their dogs, and for a full +year they hunted and feasted at Rath-Grania. + +When a year had passed, it chanced one night that the distant yelping of a +hound woke Dermat from his sleep, and Grania too awoke and in great fear +said, 'Of a truth doth that sound forebode ill. Heed it not, but lie down +on thy bed and rest.' + +Dermat lay down, but ere long he again heard the hound's voice. Then he +started up, and made as though he would go to find for himself wherefore +the hound disturbed the silence of the night. But again Grania begged him +to lie down and to give no heed to the matter. + +So Dermat lay down and fell into a light sleep, and when the hound +awakened him the third time it was broad day. And Grania, seeing that his +mind was set, did not beg him longer to stay, yet, fearing danger, she +begged him to take with him his red javelin and his sword named 'The +Greater Fury.' + +But Dermat, deeming the matter light, took with him his yellow javelin and +his sword 'The Lesser Fury,' and leading his faithful hound by the chain, +went forth. And he did not rest till he came to the summit of a hill where +he found Finn, and of him he asked the meaning of the chase. + +And Finn answered that the men and hounds were tracking a wild boar which +had ofttimes been chased, but had always escaped. Even now was it coming +towards them, so it were well that they should betake themselves to some +safer spot. + +Dermat knew no fear of the wild boar, and he would not leave the summit of +the hill where he stood. Yet did he pray Finn to leave with him his hound +Bran, that it might help his own dog were he in need. + +But Finn would not leave Bran to be torn by the wild boar that could now +be seen coming towards them. + +So Dermat stood alone on the summit of the hill, and he knew well it was +that he might meet his death that Finn's men did hunt the boar this day. +Yet would he not leave the hill, for if it were his fate to meet death, +nought could save him from his doom. + +Then as the boar came rushing up the face of the hill, Dermat let loose +his good hound, but it, seeing the fearful monster, fled before him. + +And now Dermat knew that he would have need of his red javelin, and he +sorrowed that he had given no heed to the counsel of Grania. Yet seizing +his yellow javelin he cast it with careful aim and it struck the boar in +its forehead. But it fell harmless to the ground, doing the monster no +hurt. + +Then Dermat drew his sword from its sheath, and with a mighty blow did he +strike at the boar's neck. But the sword broke in his hand, and the boar +felt not so much as a prick. + +Now was Dermat without any weapon save the hilt of his sword, and the boar +made a deadly onslaught, thrusting his tusk into the hero's side. But with +the strength that was left him Dermat flung the hilt of the sword at the +brute's head, and it pierced his skull and entered his brain, whereupon +the boar fell dead. + +But so deep was the wound in Dermat's side that when Finn came to him he +found the hero near unto death. + +And Finn said, 'Now am I well content, for thine end hath come.' + +'Sure the words that thou speakest come not from thine heart,' answered +Dermat, 'for it is in thy power to heal me, and that thou knowest full +well.' + +'How might I heal thee?' asked Finn. + +'Thou knowest that power was given thee to heal him who might be at the +point of death. Let him but drink water from the palms of thy closed +hands, and he is healed of his hurt.' + +'Yet wherefore should I heal thee who hast worked me nought but ill?' + +'Thou wouldst not speak thus wert thou mindful of the day when I saved +thee from the flames. Thou wast bidden to a banquet, and ere the feast +began the palace was set a-fire by those who wished thee ill. And I and my +men rushed forth and quenched the flames and slew thy foes. Had I begged +water from thy hands that night thou hadst not said me nay.' + +'Thou forgettest that but for thee the fair Grania were my wedded wife.' + +'Of a surety am I not blameworthy in this matter, O Finn, for Grania laid +upon me a solemn vow that I should follow her from Tara ere thou shouldst +wake from thy sleep. And I took counsel of many nobles, and there was not +one but said, "Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart from +the solemn vow that Grania hath laid upon thee." And now, I pray of thee, +let me drink from thine hands, else surely death will overtake me in this +place. From many another deadly strait have I delivered thee, yet hast +thou forgotten them all. But the hour will come when surely thou wilt need +my help shouldst thou let me die this day. Yet grieve I not to think that +thou wilt be in deadly strait, but rather grieve I for those true heroes +whom I shall no longer aid.' + +Then one of the nobles, hearing these words, prayed Finn that he would let +Dermat drink from his hands. + +Finn replied, 'I know not of any well on this hill whence I can bring +water.' + +But Dermat said, 'Right well thou knowest that hidden by yonder bush is a +well of crystal water. No more than nine paces must thou go to reach it. +Let me, I pray thee, drink from thine hands.' + +Then Finn went to the well, and in his two hands tightly together did he +bring the water towards Dermat. But as he came nearer he spilled it +through his fingers, saying that he could not in such manner carry water +so far. + +But Dermat believed him not, and said, 'Of thine own will hast thou +spilled the water. I pray thee go once more to the well and bring me to +drink, or I die.' + +Again the King went to the well, and with failing sight did Dermat follow +the dripping hands that came nearer and yet more near. But of a sudden +Finn thought of Grania, and a second time was the water spilled. And when +Dermat saw it, he uttered a piteous cry. + +Then were the champions no longer able to see Dermat in such grievous +plight, and one said to Finn, 'I swear to thee that if thou bringest not +water to Dermat, thou shalt not leave this hill alive, save I be a dead +man.' + +Finn, hearing these words and seeing their frowns, went a third time to +fetch water from the well. And this time he made haste to bring it to +Dermat, but ere he had got half-way, the hero's head fell backward and he +died. + +Then were raised three long cries of sorrow for Dermat, who had been dear +unto them all. + +After some time had passed Finn said, 'Let us leave this hill lest Angus +come, for he may not believe that it was not at our hands that Dermat met +his death.' + +So Finn and his nobles left the hill, Finn leading Dermat's hound. But +four of the nobles turned back and laid their mantles over the champion. +Then they once more followed the King. + +Grania sat that day on the highest tower of Rath-Grania, watching for +Dermat. The fear she had felt in the night would not be stilled, and when +at length Finn came in sight, leading by the chain Dermat's hound, she +knew that she would not henceforth see Dermat alive. And when the truth +had taken hold upon her, she fell in a swoon from the tower, and her +handmaiden stood over her in great fear. + +But at length her eyes opened, and when it was told her that Dermat was +dead she uttered a long, piercing cry, so that all flocked to hear what +had befallen the Princess. And when it was told that Dermat had been +killed by the wild boar, the air was rent with cries of lamentation. + +At length, when silence had fallen upon her grief, Grania arose, and +ordered that five hundred men should go to the hill and bring to her the +body of Dermat. Then turning to Finn she begged of him to leave with her +Dermat's hound. And Finn would not. But a noble, hearing that Grania +wished the hound took him from the hand of Finn and gave him to the +Princess. + +Now as the men left Rath-Grania to bring home the body of Dermat, it was +revealed to Angus of Bruga that the hero lay dead on the hill. And he at +once set out on the wings of the wind and reached the sorrowful place ere +Grania's messengers had come there. And they, when they came, found Angus +mourning over the body of Dermat, and he asked them wherefore they were +come. + +When it was told Angus that Grania had sent them to bring the body of +Dermat to Rath-Grania, he stayed for some time wrapt in thought. At length +he spake these words: 'Let it be told the Princess that I will take with +me the body of Dermat to my home, that he may be preserved by my power as +though he still lived. For though I cannot bring him back to life, yet +each day shall he speak with me for some space.' + +And Angus turned to his men that he had brought with him there and ordered +that Dermat's body should be placed on a golden bier, with the red and +yellow javelins, one on either side, points upward. Thus was the dead hero +carried to the home of Angus. + +When Grania's messengers came back to her bringing not with them the body +of Dermat, she was at first sore grieved. But when she heard how the hero +lay on a golden bier in the keeping of his foster-father, and would each +day speak with Angus for some space, then was she content, for she knew +that Angus loved Dermat as a father loveth his only son. + +And Grania sent messengers to her sons to bid them come to her. And when +they were come, she welcomed them gently and kissed them. Then with an +exceeding loud and clear voice she said, 'O dear children, your father +hath been slain by the will of Finn, though peace had been sworn between +them. Therefore get ye hence and avenge his death. And that ye may have +success in the battle, I will myself portion out among you your +inheritance of arms, of arrows, and of sharp weapons. Spare none that +would do good to Finn, yet see ye to it that ye deal not treacherously +with any man. Hasten ye and depart.' + +Then the sons of Dermat bade their mother a tender farewell, and went +forth to avenge their father's death. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Celtic Tales, by Louey Chisholm + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 7488.txt or 7488.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/8/7488/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Celtic Tales + Told to the Children + +Author: Louey Chisholm + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7488] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 10, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +CELTIC TALES +TOLD TO THE CHILDREN + +BY +LOUEY CHISHOLM + +WITH PICTURES BY +KATHARINE CAMERON + + + +TO CHRISTOPHER + + + +NOTE + + +This little book was written after several variants of the Tales had been +read:--'Old Celtic Romances,' by Dr. Joyce; 'Reliquae Celticae,' by Dr. +Cameron; 'The Pursuit after Diarmud O'Duibhne and Grainne the daughter of +Cormac Mac Airt,' by Standish Hayes O'Grady; 'The Three Sorrows of +Story-telling,' by Dr. Douglas Hyde; 'The Laughter of Peterkin,' by Fiona +Macleod, and other translations and retellings. + +L.C. + + + +ABOUT THIS BOOK + + +One of my friends tells me that you, little reader, will not like these +old, old tales; another says they are too sad for you, and yet another +asks what the stories are meant to teach. + +Now I, for my part, think you will like these Celtic Tales very much +indeed. It is true they are sad, but you do not always want to be amused. +And I have not told the stories for the sake of anything they may teach, +but because of their sheer beauty, and I expect you to enjoy them as +hundreds and hundreds of Irish and Scottish children have already enjoyed +them--without knowing or wondering why. + +LOUEY CHISHOLM. + + + +LIST OF STORIES + + +The Star-Eyed Deirdre + +The Four White Swans + +Dermat and Grania + + + +LIST OF PICTURES + + +THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE + +'Art thou indeed Deirdre?' + +Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southward + +The Hedge of Spears + + +THE FOUR WHITE SWANS + +As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers were as the maid + +They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters + +It was Saint Kemoc + + +DERMAT AND GRANIA + +Dermat + +Grania + + + +THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE + + +In olden days, when many Kings reigned throughout the Green Island of +Erin, none was greater than the great Concobar. So fair was his realm that +poets sang its beauty, and such the wonder of his palace that the sweetest +songs of Erin were of its loveliness. + +In a castle of this fair realm dwelt Felim, a warrior and harper dear unto +the King. And it was told him that Concobar with his chief lords would +visit the castle. + +Then Felim made a feast, and there was great rejoicing, and all men were +glad. + +But in the midst of the feast an old magician, who was of those that had +come with the King, stood up before the great gathering. Long and white +was the hair that fell upon his bent shoulders, black were the eyes that +gazed into space from beneath his shaggy eyebrows. + +'Speak,' said the King to the old man, 'speak, and tell us that thou +seest, for well we know thou piercest the veil that hideth from us the +secrets of the morrow.' + +Silently and with great awe did all the company look at the wise old man, +for those things that he had already foretold had they not come to pass? +The magician, also silent, looked from the face of one to the face of +another, but when his eyes fell on Concobar, the King, long did they dwell +there, and when he lifted them, on Felim did they rest. + +Then the Wise Man spake: + +'This night, O Felim the Harper, shall a girl-babe be born to thee within +these castle walls. Loveliest among the lovely shall thy star-eyed +daughter be; no harp-strings shall yield such music as her voice, no fairy +strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound. Yet, O Felim, in days to +come, because of this fair child shall great sorrow come upon our King +Concobar and upon all his realm. In those days shall Erin's chief glory +perish, for if the House of the Red Branch fall, who shall stand?' + +Then did a cry of fear burst from those gathered to the feast, and leaping +to their feet, each man laid his hand upon his sword, for the word that +the wise man had spoken would it not come to pass? + +'Let our swords be in readiness,' they cried, 'to kill the babe that shall +be born this night, for better far is it that one child perish than that +the blood of a nation be spilt.' + +And Felim spake: 'Great sorrow is mine that fear of the child who shall be +born this night should be upon you. Therefore, if it please the King, let +my daughter die, and so may peace yet reign in the realm. For dear as +would be a child to my wife and to me, dearer yet is the common weal.' + +But the answer of King Concobar came not for a time. His soul was filled +with desire to see the star-eyed maiden and to hear the wonder of her +voice. Still was the hand of each upon his sword when the King spake. + +'Put far from thee, O Felim, the will to do this thing. Bend not thy mind +to the death of thine own child. And ye, my people, sheathe your swords. +Let the babe live. I, Concobar, will be her guardian, and if ill befall, +let it be upon me, your King.' + +At these words arose a Prince. + +'It would be well, O King, but for the word spoken by the Wise Man, for +hath he not said, "Because of this fair child shall great sorrow come upon +the King Concobar"? If we let the babe live, then must thy people see thee +in sore distress, for the word that the Wise Man speaketh, shall it not +come to pass?' + +'Of that am I not unmindful. Deep within the forest, beyond the Moor of +Loneliness, shall her childish days be spent. Gently tended shall she be, +but the eye of man shall not behold her, and solitary shall she live as +some unmated bird in distant wilderness.' + +Then with one accord did the people cry, 'Wilt thou indeed be guardian to +this child, knowing the ill that the Wise Man hath foretold?' + +'Yea, truly will I be guardian to the child, and when she be a woman then +shall she be my wedded wife. And if with the maiden come sorrow, then be +that sorrow upon me, and not upon the land.' + +'What sayest thou, O Felim the Harper?' cried the people. + +'It were better to slay the child than to let that come which hath been +foretold.' + +'And what sayest thou, O Wise Man?' + +'That which shall come, shall come.' + +At the same moment there entered the hall a servant of Felim, and loudly +did he proclaim that the girl-babe, who had been foretold, was born. +'Right beautiful and strong is the child, most fair to look upon.' + +'And Deirdre shall her name be,' said the Wise Man, 'Deirdre the +Star-eyed.' + +And because of the words that the King Concobar had spoken, the life of +the babe was spared, and when the days of feasting were past, Concobar +returned to his palace, and with him he took the infant child and her +mother. Yet after a month he bade the mother return to Felim her husband, +but the babe Deirdre he kept. + +And deep within the forest, beyond the Moor of Loneliness, did the King +command that a cottage be built, and when Deirdre was one year, thither +was she sent with a trusted nurse. But on the trees of the forest and +throughout the land was proclaimed the order of the King Concobar, that +whosoever should hunt, or for other purpose enter the wood, death should +be his portion. + +Once each week did the King visit the fair babe, and daily were stores of +food and milk brought to the lone dwelling. And Deirdre each year grew +more fair, but none beheld her beauty, save her nurse, her tutor, and +Lavarcam. + +This Lavarcam was a woman well trusted of the King, and she alone went to +and fro between the palace and the cottage. It was she who told to Deirdre +the old tales of knights and ladies, of dragons and of fairies that dwelt +in the Enchanted Land. + +When Deirdre was seven years old the King no longer came every week to the +forest, but twice in the year only, and that as the Spring put forth her +first green shoots, and again when Autumn gleaned her harvest of gold. + +And when another seven years had sped, then came not the King thither, +either when the earth was green or golden, nor in the blue summer nor the +hoary winter, but from Lavarcam he heard that it was well with the maid. + +One white winter's morning Deirdre looked from her window, and saw lying +in the snow a calf. It had been killed by her nurse to provide food for +the little household, and its bright red blood dyed the thick-lying snow. +As Deirdre watched the flow of the scarlet stream, a raven, black as +night, flew down and drank of the warm blood. Then Deirdre smiled. + +'Where are thy thoughts, fair child?' asked Lavarcam, entering the room. + +'Only did I think,' said Deirdre, 'that if a youth could be found whose +skin was white as snow, his cheek crimson as that pool of blood, and his +hair black as the raven's wing, him could I love right gladly.' + +Then Lavarcam spake: 'Such a man have I seen, and one only.' + +'His name, Lavarcam, his name?' cried Deirdre. 'Whence comes he, and +wherefrom he be found?' + +'The fairest of three fair brothers is this Nathos, the son of Usna, and +now is he with Concobar the King.' + +And Deirdre would thereafter think of none but Nathos, and Lavarcam was +much troubled because of the words that she had spoken. And when Deirdre +longed grievously by day and night to see this Nathos of whom she had +heard, Lavarcam thought of a plan whereby she might end the maiden's +dream. + +One day, as she came from the palace of the King, she met on the Moor of +Loneliness a swineherd and two shepherd lads. And well though she knew +that none might enter the forest, she led them to a well in its leafy +depths. Then said this woman trusted of the King, 'Wait here by this well +until the jay cry and the hill-fox bark. Then move slowly on your way, but +speak to none whom ye may meet, and when ye leave the wood let not your +lips tell those things ye shall have seen and heard.' + +With these words Lavarcam left the three men, and entered the cottage. + +'Come, Deirdre,' she cried, 'the crisp snow glistens in the sunshine. Let +us wander forth.' + +And Deirdre came, and dreamily she trod where Lavarcam led. Of a sudden +the older woman left her side, and bent as though she would gather a +woodland flower. At the same moment was heard the cry of the jay and the +bark of the hill-fox. Then came Lavarcam to the maiden's side. + +'Passing strange is it,' said Deirdre, 'to hear the jay cry and the +hill-fox bark while yet the snow lies thick.' + +'Heed not strange sounds, fair Deirdre, but cast thine eyes toward yonder +well.' + +And as Deirdre gazed she saw, as in a dream, the forms of three men come +slowly through the forest. + +'These, Deirdre, are men,' said Lavarcam. + +'Yet seem they not as the men I have seen ride by across the Moor of +Loneliness, for they were fair to look upon, but mine eyes have no +pleasure in beholding these strange forms.' + +'Yet you look upon Nathos, for these men are none other than the three +sons of Usna.' + +Deirdre started. 'Idle are your words, false Lavarcam. Yonder walks not a +man with skin white as snow, with cheek crimson as blood, nor with hair +black as the raven's wing. You lie!' And the maid made haste, and she +reached the men, and stood before them. + +Amazed at her exceeding beauty, they gazed in silence. 'Tell me if ye be +the sons of Usna. Speak!' + +But in wonder at the loveliness of the maiden, and in fear of the anger of +Lavarcam, the men were dumb. + +'Speak!' she again cried. 'If indeed ye be Nathos and his brothers, then +truly hath Concobar the King my pity.' + +At these words the swineherd could no longer keep silence. + +'It is thy exceeding beauty that telleth us that thou art that Deirdre +whom the King hideth in this forest. Why mock us by asking if we are the +fairest of Concobar's nobles? Clearly canst thou see we are but men of the +hills, I a poor swineherd, and these men shepherds.' + +'Then wilt thou, swineherd, for truly do I believe thy words, get thee to +the sons of Usna, and say to Nathos the eldest, that in the forest beyond +the Moor of Loneliness, Deirdre awaits his coming. Tell him that +to-morrow, an hour before the setting of the sun, he will find her by this +well.' + +'If it be known that I so break the law of the King, I die, yet will I go +right gladly.' + +Then Deirdre left the men, and walked slowly after Lavarcam. And Lavarcam +would fain have known what Deirdre had told the swineherd, but the girl +told her nought, and was in a dream all that day and all the morrow. + +It was in the wane of the morrow that Lavarcam went forth to take counsel +of the King. And Deirdre ran with great speed to the well, but no man was +there, and she waited long, but none came. + +While Deirdre waited by the well, Lavarcam came near to the King's palace. +And lo! there, on the ground before her, lay the dead body of the +swineherd. Thus was it made known to Lavarcam that in some wise Concobar +the King had heard that the swineherd had spoken with Deirdre. + +Therefore Lavarcam went not to the palace, but turned aside to the camp of +the sons of Usna. And Nathos came out to her, and she told him of the +loneliness of the fair Deirdre and of her longing to see him. + +Then said Nathos, 'But it may not be yet awhile, for Concobar found that +the fair Deirdre had spoken with the swineherd, and for that cause lies he +yonder, a dead man.' + +'Yet tarry not long, for if thou wouldst hunt in the forest, beyond the +well, then surely wouldst thou see Deirdre the Star-eyed, and none should +know.' + +Seven days passed, and Deirdre roamed in the wood dreaming her dream, when +of a sudden there came an unknown sound. Ah, could it be the hunting-horn +of which Lavarcam had spoken in her tales of chase? The maiden paused. The +horn ceased. Nathos had left the hunt and wandered through the glade. +There, against a background of blue haze, encircled by a network of +blossoming blackthorn, shone forth the fairest vision mortal eye had +beheld. + +Speech tarried as Nathos gazed spell-bound. + +At length the maiden questioned, 'Nathos, son of Usna, what wouldst thou?' + +'Strange is it that thou shouldst know my name, most fair. No mortal art +thou. Fain would I enter yonder cottage, did I but dare, and speak with +the daughter of Felim the Harper. Yet it is death should the King know of +my desire.' + +'I am that Deirdre whom thou seekest, and if I be fair in thine eyes, it +pleaseth me well. It is for thee I have watched long, for is not thy skin +white as snow, thy cheek crimson as blood, and thy hair black as the +raven's wing? Lonely are my days in this place, where none dwells save my +nurse, my tutor, and Lavarcam.' + +Never did harp-strings yield such music as her voice, never did fairy +strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound. + +'Art thou indeed Deirdre the Star-eyed, and is it that King Concobar +keepeth thee here like some caged bird?' + +[Illustration: 'Art thou indeed Deirdre?'] + +'I am Deirdre, and it is the King's will that I wander not forth from +yonder cottage but by the side of Lavarcam. Ill would it please him that I +should thus roam the forest alone.' + +'I love thee, Deirdre, and I would serve thee ever.' + +'I love thee, Nathos, and I would that I might be ever by thy side. Let me +flee with thee from this place.' + +Nathos knit his brows in thought. 'Fair one, if we are seen as we leave +the forest, then is it death to us both; and if we are not seen, still is +it death, for when it is known of the King that Deirdre is fled, then will +the land be searched until she be found, and then shall we die.' + +'But, Nathos, Concobar is not King in the land of Alba. Let us flee from +Erin, and there in thine own land shall we surely find safety.' + +'Thou speakest well, brave Deirdre. If a host be sent from Concobar to +Alba, then shall it be met by a host of mine own land. And a fair land it +is. Scented with pine and seaweed are its shores, blue as thine eyes are +its waters, and of its setting sun the glory cannot be told.' + +'Let us go forth,' said Deirdre. + +'Then let it be now and without delay, or it may never be,' and as Nathos +uttered these words Deirdre saw a strange look in his eyes, and in a +moment he had flung his javelin among the bracken but a few paces apart. + +'What beast wouldst thou slay?' cried Deirdre, affrighted. + +'It was no beast,' said Nathos, 'but yonder among the bracken lieth a dead +man, if my javelin missed not its mark.' + +In fear and wonder Deirdre ran to the spot. No man lay there, but she saw +on the bracken the form of a crouching man. She saw, too, the tracks that +marked his escape. + +Nathos followed her, and stooped to take his javelin from the ground. And +there, beside it, lay a wooden-hilted knife. + +'It is as I thought,' he said. 'This knife is used but by the hillmen who +are in bondage to Concobar. The King seeketh my life. Go thou, then, back +to thy lonely cottage, and await that day when he shall make thee his +Queen.' + +'Ask me not to turn from following thee, O Nathos, for thy way must be +mine, this day and ever.' + +'Come, then,' and Nathos took her by the hand. + +Through the shadowy forest they walked swiftly, until of a sudden he bade +her rest among the bracken. Then went he forward and told his waiting +huntsmen to return by a long and winding path to the castle of the sons of +Usna. + +Three days would it thus take them to reach it, and Nathos with Deirdre +would be there on the morrow, if, tarrying not, they walked on through the +dark night. But Concobar's messengers would follow the hounds, thinking so +to capture Nathos. + +'By dawn, Deirdre, shall we reach the castle, and there may we rest in +safety one day and one night. Then must we set out for the hills and lochs +of Alba, and with us Ailne and Ardan, for if the King cometh and findeth +me fled, then will he slay my brothers.' + +On and on they sped, through the forest, across the Moor of Loneliness, up +the glens and gorges, and over the hills. Above glimmered the pale stars, +around them was the screech and the moan of wakeful bird and beast. + +It was not till the dawn broke that they rested on the mountain-side. +There they stayed till the pink stole through the grey, and the sky +gleamed mother-o'-pearl. Then they rose and followed the stream that +trickled to the valley below. And now Nathos was glad. + +'Look, Deirdre, yonder stands the castle of the sons of Usna.' And with +that he gave a cry known by the brothers each of the other, and Ailne and +Ardan came forth gladly. But when they stood before Deirdre, so great was +their wonder at her exceeding beauty, that they stood spell-bound and +uttered no word. + +Then Nathos spake: 'The fair maiden whom ye behold is none other than +Deirdre, the daughter of Felim the Harper. From this day I hold her as my +wedded wife, and to you she cometh as a sister.' + +But when the brothers heard, they were filled with fear, for had not the +King Concobar vowed that this same fair maid should be his Queen? And had +not the Wise Man foretold the sorrow that the daughter of Felim should +bring upon the land? + +'I ask none to share the sorrow that may come,' said Nathos. 'To-morrow +Deirdre and I set forth for the bay where our galley is harboured, and if +so be that we gain the shores of Alba, before Concobar overtake us, there, +if he come thither, shall he be met by a host of our own land. Yet, lest +the King should follow me hither, and, finding me not, seek to slay you, +were it not well that ye leave this place?' + +Ardan spake: 'Not for fear of that which might come upon us, but for the +love we bear you and our fair sister Deirdre will we never leave thee. If +sorrow come upon thee, let it be upon us also. Are we not the children of +one mother, and if death come, let us face it together like men. Are we +not under a bond that we will stand each by each, even unto death?' + +Then said Ailne, 'As Ardan hath spoken, so let it be, for although the +words of the Wise Man come to pass, and sorrow be upon us, yet will we not +henceforth leave thee.' + +But when Deirdre heard how the sons of Usna would thus face death for her +sake, she sighed aloud. 'Alas! it is not for me to bring sorrow upon the +land. Let me even now return to the cottage in the forest, and there with +Lavarcam will I live and die, unless it be that Concobar take me thence.' + +But Ardan answered: 'For fear of what may befall us, the sons of Usna, +shalt thou never leave us, nor shalt thou go forth from us, but of thine +own free will.' + +Early next morning one hundred and fifty men rode with the three sons of +Usna and Deirdre, the wife of Nathos, toward the bay where their black +galley was harboured. It was not till night, when on the high ridge of a +hill, that they looked backward, and there in the far valley below, where +stood the castle of the sons of Usna, they beheld a column of flame. + +And Nathos' brow grew dark. 'The fire that ye see in the valley below +devours the castle of the sons of Usna. The hand that lit the fire is none +other than the hand of Concobar the King.' + +Then they rode on and rested not until they reached the black galley in +the golden bay. The scent of the sea and the gleam of its blue waters and +dancing waves made them strong and glad and free. + +As for Deirdre, who had never beheld the sea and its great wonders, she +laughed with joy and sang a song of the ocean which Lavarcam had taught +her long since and when its meaning was dark. + +At sundown the galley came to the shores of Mull, and because the wind +fell they put into a bay, and as they gazed across the waters to the rocky +headlands of Alba, they talked long as to whither they should sail on the +morrow. Should it be to crave protection of the King, or should it be to +where their father's castle had stood before it had been destroyed? + +But that night there came a galley from the long island to the north. In +it sailed twenty men with their chief. And with the chief came a +richly-clad stranger, but so hooded that none might look upon his face. + +Steadfastly did the stranger gaze upon Deirdre, as the chief urged the +sons of Usna to cross the sea to Alba, and journey inland to the palace of +the King. + +'But first come, Nathos, to my high-walled castle,' said the stranger, 'and +bring with thee thy wife and thy brothers.' + +'It were not well to come to a man's castle and know not the man's name,' +said Nathos. + +'My name is Angus,' answered the stranger. + +'Then, Angus, let me behold thy face, for it were not well to come to a +man's castle, having not looked upon the man's face.' + +So Angus threw back his hood, and Nathos saw that Deirdre's lips grew +white, as she said, 'Not to-morrow, Angus; but on the morn that follows, +if thou wilt come again, then shalt thou lead us to thy high-walled +castle. This day have we travelled far and would fain rest.' + +But Angus turned him again to the sons of Usna and pleaded that they +should linger no longer in the isle. 'To-night may this island be +tempest-swept, to-night may the host of Concobar be upon you, and then +what shall befall this fair one? Bring her rather to my castle, and there +let her rest in safety with my wife and her maidens.' + +But as Nathos glanced at Deirdre, he saw that her purpose was firm, and he +said once again the words she had spoken, 'Not tomorrow, Angus; but on the +morn that follows, if thou wilt come again, then shall we come with thee +to thy high-walled castle' + +Then Angus, frowning, went with the chief and his men to their galley. And +as they set sail he asked how many men the sons of Usna had with them. But +when it was told him that they numbered one hundred and fifty, he said no +more, for there were but thirty that sailed with the chief, and what could +one man do against five? + +It was not until the strangers had gone that Nathos asked Deirdre +wherefore she delayed to visit so great a lord as Angus. + +'Thou shalt hear wherefore I went not this day, nor shall go on any day to +come to the castle of him who calleth himself Angus. So he calleth +himself, but in truth he is none other than the King of Alba. In a dream +was it so revealed unto me, when I saw him stand victorious over your dead +body. Nathos, that man would fain steal me from you, and deliver you into +the hands of Concobar.' + +'Deirdre hath wisdom,' said Ardan. 'By the morn after to-morrow we must be +far hence, for ere the sun shall rise may not yonder chief be upon us with +thrice the number of our men?' + +And Nathos, though he was sore grieved for the weariness of Deirdre, bowed +his head. So they set sail, and through the thick mist of a starless night +their galley silently breasted the unseen waves. But when they came north +of the long island, they bent to their oars, and as they rowed yet +northward Deirdre laughed again for joy, as she listened to the music of +the rowers' strokes. + +When dawn glimmered they came to a sea-loch, its waters o'ershadowed by +the sleeping hills. And there they were told that the King of Alba, who +had called himself Angus, had no castle in the west, and had already left +for Dunedin. They heard, too, that the chief who sailed with him to Mull +was no longer a great lord, and that they had nought to fear. + +Greatly did the sons of Usna rejoice, for now might they sail south to the +land upon which their father's castle had stood in their boyhood. + +But for eight days they lingered by the shores of the sea-loch, and as its +salt breath touched Deirdre's cheeks, she grew yet more fair, and as her +eyes drank in the glory of Western Alba, they shone with a radiance that +dazzled the beholder. + +Then when the eighth day was come, they sailed forth and settled close by +the ground on which had stood their boyhood's home. And it was with great +joy that those who dwelt on hill and shore heard of the return of the sons +of Usna, and many gathered around them, doing homage. + +Then the hundred and fifty men whom Nathos had brought with him, sent he +back to their own Green Isle. + +'And thou, Ailne, and thou, Ardan, will ye not also return? Here may +Deirdre and I, with a few followers, dwell alone in safety.' + +But his brothers would not leave Nathos, for were they not under a bond +that they would stand each by each, even unto death? + +All through the winter they dwelt in peace and content. By day they would +hunt and fish, and when night fell Deirdre let fall from her lips such +wonder-stirring sounds that their heroic bosoms swelled with dreams of +noble deeds and high endeavour. + +But when Spring burst upon the land with her blossom and her +singing-birds, it was told the sons of Usna that the King of Alba had +sworn to burn to the ground every stone that stood on the land that had +been their father's, and to slay Nathos, and wed the Star-eyed Deirdre. + +So in their great galley they set forth, taking with them fifty men. +Northward they sailed, through narrow sea-lochs, until they reached the +mountains that had been the childhood's home of their dead mother. + +On the summit of a high hill stood the castle where she had once dwelt. +Now it was forsaken of all save wandering shepherds and nesting birds, and +here, in all the glory of spring, did the sons of Usna make their home. +Nor was it long before the chiefs of the mountain-lands swore allegiance +to Nathos and did him homage, and he was as a king among the people of his +mother's land. + +And while yet the wild thyme bloomed, word was brought to the sons of Usna +that the King of Alba was dead, and that the King who now reigned would +fain sign a bond of friendship with Nathos and his brothers. + +And the bond was signed, and for three years the sons of Usna dwelt in +peace and great joy. In the north they rested while yet the mountain-sides +were aglow with the purple and gold of heather and bracken, but ever +before the first frosts came would they sail south to the land that the +brave Usna had ruled, where now they could dwell in safety and in peace. + +Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southwards. No bluer +blue, no greener green, had it been given mortal eye to behold. And +throughout the land of Alba was it told of the fame of the sons of Usna, +and no poet or bard had a song so fair as that which sang of the wondrous +beauty of Deirdre. + +[Illustration: Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail +southward] + + * * * * * + +In his dazzling palace in the Green Isle of Erin, Concobar dwelt with +gloomy thoughts of vengeance. This Nathos who had stolen Deirdre from the +forest beyond the Moor of Loneliness should no longer be suffered to live +in peace. He should surely die, and Deirdre the Star-eyed should yet be +Concobar's Queen. + +And the King made a feast so magnificent that such had never been seen in +the Green Isle. And to it were called all the princes and nobles of the +land over which Concobar held sway. + +It was in the midst of the feast, as they sat around the board, that a +hush fell upon the great company, while Concobar spoke to them of his +discontent. 'It is not meet that these three heroes of the realm, Nathos, +Ardan and Ailne, should be exiled from our isle for the sake of a woman, +be she fair as May. Should dark days befall, sore would be our need, +therefore let the sons of Usna be brought hither from their northern +mountain home.' + +At these words great was the joy of all, for there was not one but knew +that it was for fear of the pitiless anger of Concobar that Nathos had +fled from the Green Isle. + +'Go forth,' said Concobar, when he saw the gladness of the people, 'go +hence to Alba and come not again until ye bring with you the three sons of +Usna.' + +Then spake one among them, 'Right gladly we go, but who can bring to thee +Nathos, if it be not his will?' + +'He who loves me most,' answered the King, 'he it is that will fail not to +bring with him the exiled heroes.' + +And after the feast the King drew aside a warrior prince, and spake thus: +'Were I to send thee to Alba to the sons of Usna, and if at my command +thou didst see them slain before thee, what then wouldst thou do?' + +'Then, O King, would I slay those who did the monstrous deed, even were it +at thy command.' + +Again the King called to him a warrior prince. To him he spake as to the +first. And this prince made answer, 'If by thy command I saw the sons of +Usna lie dead before me, then woe be upon thee, for with mine own hand +should I take thy life.' + +Then spake the King likewise to Fergus, and Fergus answered, 'Let what may +befall the sons of Usna, never shall my hand be lifted against the King.' + +'To thee, good Fergus, do I intrust this thing. Go thou to Alba and bring +hither with thee Nathos, and Ailne, and Ardan. And when thou art come +again to Erin, keep thou thy bond to feast at the house of Borrach, but +the three sons of Usna send thou straightway hither.' + +So it was that on the morrow Fergus set sail in a black barge for Alba, +taking with him but his two sons and a steersman. + +The bloom of early summer made bright the earth, and Nathos and his +brothers had not yet left their father's home for the castle in the north. +But the days were hot, and they had pitched three tents on the seashore, +one for Nathos and Deirdre, one for Ailne and Ardan, and one in which to +eat and to drink. It was on a bright noon that Nathos and Deirdre sat +before the tents, playing chess. + +The chess-board was of ivory, the chessmen were of wrought gold, and they +had belonged to Concobar, for on the day before the sons of Usna fled from +Alba, the King had been hunting by their castle, and there had he left the +board and men. + +As Nathos and Deirdre played, of a sudden was a cry heard from adown the +shore. + +'Yonder is the voice of a man of Erin,' said Nathos, as they paused in +their game. + +Again a loud cry, and the sons of Usna were called by name. + +'Yea, most truly is that the cry of a man of Erin.' + +But Deirdre said, 'Nay, thou dreamest, Nathos. Let us play on.' + +Then nearer and clearer came a third cry, and there was none but knew that +it was indeed the voice of a man of Erin. + +'Go, Ardan,' said Nathos, 'go to the harbour, and there welcome Fergus +from the Green Isle, for he indeed it is and none other.' + +But when Ardan went, Nathos saw that Deirdre's lips grew pale and a great +fear looked out from her eyes. + +'What terror is it that hath hold of thee?' he asked. + +'Hath it not been revealed to me in a dream, O Nathos, that this Fergus +who should come with honey-sweet words hath in his mind the shedding of +our blood?' + +Even as she spake Ardan led Fergus to where the two sat on either side of +the chess-board. + +Eagerly did the exiled sons of Usna beg for tidings of their friends in +the Green Isle. + +'I come to you,' said Fergus, 'with greetings from Concobar the King. Fain +would he see once more in Erin the fairest and bravest heroes of his +realm. Peace he would pledge with you, and great shall be your welcome, if +ye will come back with me.' + +But before the brothers could answer, Deirdre spake. 'Here in Alba is +Nathos now lord over lands wider than the realm of Concobar. Wherefore +then should he seek forgiveness of the King?' + +'Yet,' replied Fergus, 'Erin is the land of his adoption. Since his +boyhood's days Nathos has been a hero in the Green Isle, and it were well +that he should yet rejoice in the land, and, if need be, defend it still.' + +'We have two lands,' said Ardan, 'and both are dear unto us. Yet, if +Nathos will go with thee to Erin, so also will Ailne and I, myself.' + +'I will go,' said Nathos, but he looked not at his star-eyed wife as he +spake the words. + +That night all rejoiced save Deirdre. Heavy was her heart as she thought +she would never again, in shadow or in sunlight, rest in the land of Alba +of the lochs. + +On the morrow they set sail, and swiftly the galley bore them to the +shores of the Green Isle. And when Deirdre stood once more on the soil of +her own land, then was her heart glad, and for a brief space she +remembered not her fears or her dreams. + +In three days they came to the castle of Borrach, and there had Fergus to +keep his bond to feast with Borrach. 'For,' he said, turning to those with +him, 'my feast-bond I must keep, yet send I with you my two sons.' + +'Of a surety, Fergus, must thou keep thy feast-bond,' answered Nathos, +'but as for thy sons, I need not their protection, yet in the company each +of the other will we fare southward together.' + +But as they went, Deirdre urged that they should tarry, and when they had +gone further, Nathos found that his wife had vanished from his side. Going +back he found her in deep sleep by the wayside. + +Gently waking her, Nathos read terror in her starry eyes. + +'What aileth thee, my Queen?' + +'Again have I dreamed, O Nathos, and in my dream I saw our little company, +but as I looked, on the younger son of Fergus alone, was the head left +upon his body. Turn aside, and let us go not to Concobar, or that thing +which I saw in my dream, it shall come to pass.' + +But Nathos feared not, for had not Fergus come to them with the bond of +peace from the King? + +And on the morrow they came to the great palace. + +When it was told Concobar that the three sons of Usna and Deirdre the +Star-eyed, and the two sons of Fergus were without, he ordered that they +should be taken into the House of the Red Branch. And he ordered, too, +that there should be given unto them of pleasant foods, and that all that +dwelt in the castle should do them honour. + +But when evening was come, and all the company was merry, Deirdre was +wearied with journeying, and she lay upon a couch draped with deerskins, +and played with Nathos upon the gold and ivory chess-board. + +And as Deirdre rested, the door opened, and there entered a messenger from +the King. And this messenger was none other than Lavarcam, who had been +sent to discover if Deirdre were still as fair as in days of old. And when +Lavarcam beheld Deirdre, her eyes filled with tears. 'You do not well, O +Nathos, thus to play upon the chess-board which Concobar holds dearer than +aught else save Deirdre, thy wife. Both have ye taken from him, and here, +within these walls, are ye now in his power.' + +Of a sudden Deirdre spake, her gaze fixed as if on some strange thing. 'I +see as in a dream. As in a dream I see three torches. The three torches +are this night put out. The names on the torches are Nathos, Ailne, Ardan. +Alas! it is but for the beauty of a woman that these brave ones perish.' + +The sons of Usna were silent awhile, and the sons of Fergus spake not. +Then said Nathos, 'It were better, Deirdre, to be a torch quenched for thy +sake than to live for aught save thee. That which shall come, shall come.' + +'Now must I get me hence,' said Lavarcam, 'for Concobar awaiteth my +coming. But, sons of Usna, see ye well to it, that the doors and windows +be this night barred.' + +Then Lavarcam hastened to the King and told him how that the sons of Usna +had come to Erin to live peaceably, but how that the beauty of Deirdre had +faded until she was no longer fairest among women. + +Then was Concobar wroth, and he sent yet another messenger. + +To this man he said, 'Who was it that slew thy father and thy brother?' + +'Nathos, son of Usna, O King!' + +'Then go thou to the House of the Red Branch, and bring me word hither if +Deirdre be still the fairest among women.' + +And the man went. But when he found that bar and bolt were drawn across +door and window, he knew well that the sons of Usna were warned of the +wrath of the King. But espying one open window, he put his eye near to the +lower corner that he might glance within. And Deirdre saw the man's eye, +and told Nathos, and he, with the ivory bishop that was in his hand, took +aim as if with a javelin, and the chessman pierced the spy's eye, and it +became blind. + +And the man returned to King Concobar and said, 'Of a surety Deirdre, the +wife of Nathos, is yet of all fair women the most fair.' + +Then could not Concobar contain his wrath, but burst forth, 'Arise, ye +Ultonians; the fort that surroundeth the House of the Red Branch set ye in +flames.' + +And the Ultonians set it in flames. + +Then came out the younger of the sons of Fergus from the burning fort, and +he rushed upon the Ultonians and killed three hundred men. And when King +Concobar beheld the onslaught, he cried aloud, 'Who hath done this thing?' + +And when it was told him that it was the son of Fergus, he said, 'To such +a hero will I give the choice of lands, and he will be to me as a son, if +he will but forsake the sons of Usna.' + +And the son of Fergus made answer, 'I swear to abide by thee and to return +not to the House of the Red Branch.' + +And when he returned not, Deirdre, said, 'Even as Fergus hath deceived us, +even so hath his son.' + +Then went forth the elder son of Fergus, and he fell upon the Ultonians, +and there perished by his hand three hundred men. And when Concobar saw +who it was that had done this thing, he called his own son, who had been +born the same night as this son of Fergus. 'Take these, my magic arms,' he +cried, 'and fall upon the foe.' + +Then did the son of Concobar strike with his enchanted weapons, and all +the waves of Erin thundered at the stroke. And a great warrior, hearing +the thunder, came riding across the plain, and in his hand he held a magic +sword with blade of blue. Coming upon the fighting men, he rushed at the +son of Fergus from behind, and thrust the blue blade through his heart. 'I +would that mine enemy had fought me fair,' said the dying man. + +'Who art thou?' asked the stranger. + +And the son of Fergus told his name, and of that which had come to pass in +the House of the Red Branch. + +Then answered the stranger, 'I shall not depart hence, no, not until the +son of Concobar be slain in the dust'; and thereupon he rushed upon the +King's son, and with one stroke of the blue blade severed his head from +his body. So he departed, and soon the son of Fergus also lay dead. + +And now the Ulstermen surrounded the House of the Red Branch and set fire +to its walls. But Ardan came forth, and put out the fire, and slew three +hundred men, and after he had gone in, then came Ailne forth, and slew a +countless multitude beside. + +A glimmering ray of dim grey light now broke, and spread over the forms of +dead and dying men. + +It was at that hour that Nathos kissed Deirdre and went forth from the +House. And there was not a man but quailed as the hero rushed upon the +Ultonians and slew a thousand men. + +When Concobar heard this, he sent for that Wise Man who in the house of +Felim the Harper had foretold the sorrow that would come upon his realm. + +And when the old man had come, Concobar said, 'I swear that I mean no harm +unto the sons of Usna, yet will they slay every Ultonian in the land. +Therefore I would that thou wouldst help me by thy magic power.' + +And the Wise Man believed the words of Concobar, and he caused a hedge of +spears to encircle the burning House. And as the flames rose higher the +sons of Usna came forth with Deirdre the Star-eyed. And around her they +placed their shields, and they cleft a way through the Hedge of Spears and +came safely to the plain beyond. + +[Illustration: The Hedge of Spears] + +But when the Wise Man saw that his magic availed nought, he laid upon the +land yet another enchantment, for the plain upon which Deirdre stood with +the sons of Usna, he caused to be covered with tempestuous water. + +And the magic sea rose higher and yet more high, so that Nathos raised +Deirdre on his shoulder, and there she rested, her white arms around the +hero's neck. + +But now the waters grew calm, and it was seen that drowning was not their +doom. + +Then, as the waters withdrew from the plain, soldiers came to bind Nathos, +Ailne, and Ardan, and to take them before the King. And Concobar commanded +that they should be slain before his eyes. + +'If such be our doom, then slay me first,' said Ardan, 'for I am the +youngest of Usna's sons.' + +'Nay,' said Ailne, 'but let the first blow fall upon me.' + +Then Nathos spake: 'It were not meet that we three, the sons of one +mother, should be divided in death. Together have we sowed the seeds in +the springtime, side by side have we plucked the fruits of summer; autumn +is still afar, yet must we be cut down as ripe corn. But let us fall each +by each, that there may not be left the one to mourn the other. With this +sword that was given me by a hero of the land may our heads at one stroke +be severed from our bodies.' + +With that they laid their heads upon the block. A flash of the steel, and +Alba was bereft of the fairest and noblest of her sons. And the air was +rent with cries of lamentation. + +Then did a great champion ride across the plain, and to him did Deirdre +tell of the fate of the sons of Usna. And under his care the star-eyed +maiden came where the heroes lay dead. + +And Deirdre kneeled, and she bent low over the head of Nathos, and kissed +his dead lips. + +Then, at the bidding of the champion, three graves were digged, and in +them, standing upright, were buried Nathos and Ailne and Ardan, and upon +the shoulders of each was his head placed. + +And as Deirdre gazed into the grave of Nathos, she moaned a lay which told +of the brave deeds of the sons of Usna. It told, too, of her love for +Nathos, and as she ended the mournful strain, her heartstrings broke, and +she fell at the feet of her husband, and there did she die, and by his +side was she buried. + +In that same hour died the Wise Man; and as he died, he cried aloud, 'That +which shall come, shall come.' + +And so it was, for on the morrow Concobar's host was scattered as autumn +leaves, and the House of the Red Branch perished, and ere long Concobar +died in a madness of despair, and throughout the Green Isle was mourning +and desolation. + +But through the ages has the tale of the wondrous beauty of Deirdre been +sung, and yet shall it be told again, for when shall the world tire of the +sorrowfullest of 'The Three Sorrows of Story-telling,'--the Fate of the +Sons of Usna and of Deirdre the Star-eyed? + + + +THE FOUR WHITE SWANS + + +In the days of long ago there lived in the Green Isle of Erin a race of +brave men and fair women--the race of the Dedannans. North, south, east, +and west did this noble people dwell, doing homage to many chiefs. + +But one blue morning after a great battle the Dedannans met on a wide +plain to choose a King. 'Let us,' they said, 'have one King over all. Let +us no longer have many rulers.' + +Forth from among the Princes rose five well fitted to wield a sceptre and +to wear a crown, yet most royal stood Bove Derg and Lir. And forth did the +five chiefs wander, that the Dedannan folk might freely say to whom they +would most gladly do homage as King. + +Not far did they roam, for soon there arose a great cry, 'Bove Derg is +King. Bove Derg is King.' And all were glad, save Lir. + +But Lir was angry, and he left the plain where the Dedannan people were, +taking leave of none, and doing Bove Derg no reverence. For jealousy +filled the heart of Lir. + +Then were the Dedannans wroth, and a hundred swords were unsheathed and +flashed in the sunlight on the plain. 'We go to slay Lir who doeth not +homage to our King and regardeth not the choice of the people.' + +But wise and generous was Bove Derg, and he bade the warriors do no hurt +to the offended Prince. + +For long years did Lir live in discontent, yielding obedience to none. But +at length a great sorrow fell upon him, for his wife, who was dear unto +him, died, and she had been ill but three days. Loudly did he lament her +death, and heavy was his heart with sorrow. + +When tidings of Lir's grief reached Bove Derg, he was surrounded by his +mightiest chiefs. 'Go forth,' he said, 'in fifty chariots go forth. Tell +Lir I am his friend as ever, and ask that he come with you hither. Three +fair foster-children are mine, and one may he yet have to wife, will he +but bow to the will of the people, who have chosen me their King.' + +When these words were told to Lir, his heart was glad. Speedily he called +around him his train, and in fifty chariots set forth. Nor did they +slacken speed until they reached the palace of Bove Derg by the Great +Lake. And there at the still close of day, as the setting rays of the sun +fell athwart the silver waters, did Lir do homage to Bove Derg. And Bove +Derg kissed Lir and vowed to be his friend for ever. + +And when it was known throughout the Dedannan host that peace reigned +between these mighty chiefs, brave men and fair women and little children +rejoiced, and nowhere were there happier hearts than in the Green Isle of +Erin. + +Time passed, and Lir still dwelt with Bove Derg in his palace by the Great +Lake. One morning the King said, 'Full well thou knowest my three fair +foster-daughters, nor have I forgotten my promise that one thou shouldst +have to wife. Choose her whom thou wilt.' + +Then Lir answered, 'All are indeed fair, and choice is hard. But give unto +me the eldest, if it be that she be willing to wed.' + +And Eve, the eldest of the fair maidens, was glad, and that day was she +married to Lir, and after two weeks she left the palace by the Great Lake +and drove with her husband to her new home. + + * * * * * + +Happily dwelt Lir's household and merrily sped the months. Then were born +unto Lir twin babes. The girl they called Finola, and her brother did they +name Aed. + +Yet another year passed and again twins were born, but before the infant +boys knew their mother, she died. So sorely did Lir grieve for his +beautiful wife that he would have died of sorrow, but for the great love +he bore his motherless children. + +When news of Eve's death reached the palace of Bove Derg by the Great Lake +all mourned aloud for love of Eve and sore pity for Lir and his four +babes. And Bove Derg said to his mighty chiefs, 'Great indeed is our +grief, but in this dark hour shall Lir know our friendship. Ride forth, +make known to him that Eva, my second fair foster-child, shall in time +become his wedded wife and shall cherish his lone babes.' + +So messengers rode forth to carry these tidings to Lir, and in time Lir +came again to the palace of Bove Derg by the Great Lake, and he married +the beautiful Eva and took her back with him to his little daughter, +Finola, and to her three brothers, Aed and Fiacra and Conn. + +Four lovely and gentle children they were, and with tenderness did Eva +care for the little ones who were their father's joy and the pride of the +Dedannans. + +As for Lir, so great was the love he bore them, that at early dawn he +would rise, and, pulling aside the deerskin that separated his +sleeping-room with theirs, would fondle and frolic with the children until +morning broke. + +And Bove Derg loved them well-nigh as did Lir himself. Ofttimes would he +come to see them, and ofttimes were they brought to his palace by the +Great Lake. + +And through all the Green Isle, where dwelt the Dedannan people, there +also was spread the fame of the beauty of the children of Lir. + + * * * * * + +Time crept on, and Finola was a maid of twelve summers. Then did a wicked +jealousy find root in Eva's heart, and so did it grow that it strangled +the love which she had borne her sister's children. In bitterness she +cried, 'Lir careth not for me; to Finola and her brothers hath he given +all his love.' + +And for weeks and months Eva lay in bed planning how she might do hurt to +the children of Lir. + +At length, one midsummer morn, she ordered forth her chariot, that with +the four children she might come to the palace of Bove Derg. + +When Finola heard it, her fair face grew pale, for in a dream had it been +revealed unto her that Eva, her step-mother, should that day do a dark +deed among those of her own household. Therefore was Finola sore afraid, +but only her large eyes and pale cheeks spake her woe, as she and her +brothers drove along with Eva and her train. + +On they drove, the boys laughing merrily, heedless alike of the black +shadow resting on their step-mother's brow, and of the pale, trembling +lips of their sister. As they reached a gloomy pass, Eva whispered to her +attendants, 'Kill, I pray you, these children of Lir, for their father +careth not for me, because of his great love for them. Kill them, and +great wealth shall be yours.' + +But the attendants answered in horror, 'We will not kill them. Fearful, O +Eva, were the deed, and great is the evil that will befall thee, for +having it in thine heart to do this thing.' + +Then Eva, filled with rage, drew forth her sword to slay them with her own +hand, but too weak for the monstrous deed, she sank back in the chariot. + +Onward they drove, out of the gloomy pass into the bright sunlight of the +white road. Daisies with wide-open eyes looked up into the blue sky +overhead. Golden glistened the buttercups among the shamrock. From the +ditches peeped forget-me-not. Honeysuckle scented the hedgerows. Around, +above, and afar, carolled the linnet, the lark, and the thrush. All was +colour and sunshine, scent and song, as the children of Lir drove onward +to their doom. + +Not until they reached a still lake were the horses unyoked for rest. +There Eva bade the children undress and go bathe in the waters. And when +the children of Lir reached the water's edge, Eva was there behind them, +holding in her hand a fairy wand. And with the wand she touched the +shoulder of each. And, lo! as she touched Finola, the maiden was changed +into a snow-white swan, and behold! as she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, +the three brothers were as the maid. Four snow-white swans floated on the +blue lake, and to them the wicked Eva chanted a song of doom. + +[Illustration: As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers +were as the maid] + +As she finished, the swans turned towards her, and Finola spake: + +'Evil is the deed thy magic wand hath wrought, O Eva, on us the children +of Lir, but greater evil shall befall thee, because of the hardness and +jealousy of thine heart.' And Finola's white swan-breast heaved as she +sang of their pitiless doom. + +The song ended, again spake the swan-maiden. 'Tell us, O Eva, when death +shall set us free.' + +And Eva made answer, 'Three hundred years shall your home be on the smooth +waters of this lone lake. Three hundred years shall ye pass on the stormy +waters of the sea betwixt Erin and Alba, and three hundred years shall ye +be tempest-tossed on the wild Western Sea. Until Decca be the Queen of +Largnen, and the good Saint come to Erin, and ye hear the chime of the +Christ-bell, neither your plaints nor prayers, neither the love of your +father Lir, nor the might of your King, Bove Derg, shall have power to +deliver you from your doom. But lone white swans though ye be, ye shall +keep for ever your own sweet Gaelic speech, and ye shall sing, with +plaintive voices, songs so haunting that your music will bring peace to +the souls of those who hear. And still beneath your snowy plumage shall +beat the hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra and Conn, and still for ever shall +ye be the children of Lir.' + +Then did Eva order the horses to be yoked to the chariot, and away +westward did she drive. + +And swimming on the lone lake were four white swans. + + * * * * * + +When Eva reached the palace of Bove Derg alone, greatly was he troubled +lest evil had befallen the children of Lir. + +But the attendants, because of their great fear of Eva, dared not to tell +the King of the magic spell she had wrought by the way. Therefore Bove +Derg asked, 'Wherefore, O Eva, come not Finola and her brothers to the +palace this day?' + +And Eva answered, 'Because, O King, Lir no longer trusteth thee, therefore +would he not let the children come hither.' + +But Bove Derg believed not his foster-daughter, and that night he secretly +sent messengers across the hills to the dwelling of Lir. + +When the messengers came there, and told their errand, great was the grief +of the father. And in the morning with a heavy heart he summoned a company +of the Dedannans, and together they set out for the palace of Bove Derg. +And it was not until sunset as they reached the lone shore of Lake Darvra, +that they slackened speed. + +Lir alighted from his chariot and stood spellbound. What was that +plaintive sound? The Gaelic words, his dear daughter's voice more +enchanting even than of old, and yet, before and around, only the lone +blue lake. The haunting music rang clearer, and as the last words died +away, four snow-white swans glided from behind the sedges, and with a wild +flap of wings flew toward the eastern shore. There, stricken with wonder, +stood Lir. + +'Know, O Lir,' said Finola, 'that we are thy children, changed by the +wicked magic of our step-mother into four white swans.' When Lir and the +Dedannan people heard these words, they wept aloud. + +Still spake the swan-maiden. 'Three hundred years must we float on this +lone lake, three hundred years shall we be storm-tossed on the waters +between Erin and Alba, and three hundred years on the wild Western Sea. +Not until Decca be the Queen of Largnen, not until the good Saint come to +Erin and the chime of the Christ-bell be heard in the land, not until then +shall we be saved from our doom.' + +Then great cries of sorrow went up from the Dedannans, and again Lir +sobbed aloud. But at the last silence fell upon his grief, and Finola told +how she and her brothers would keep for ever their own sweet Gaelic +speech, how they would sing songs so haunting that their music would bring +peace to the souls of all who heard. She told, too, how, beneath their +snowy plumage, the human hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn should +still beat--the hearts of the children of Lir. 'Stay with us to-night by +the lone lake,' she ended, 'and our music will steal to you across its +moonlit waters and lull you into peaceful slumber. Stay, stay with us.' + +And Lir and his people stayed on the shore that night and until the +morning glimmered. Then, with the dim dawn, silence stole over the lake. + +Speedily did Lir rise, and in haste did he bid farewell to his children, +that he might seek Eva and see her tremble before him. + +Swiftly did he drive and straight, until he came to the palace of Bove +Derg, and there by the waters of the Great Lake did Bove Derg meet him. +'Oh, Lir, wherefore have thy children come not hither?' And Eva stood by +the King. + +Stern and sad rang the answer of Lir. 'Alas! Eva, your foster-child, hath +by her wicked magic changed them into four snow-white swans. On the blue +waters of Lake Darvra dwell Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, and thence come +I that I may avenge their doom.' + +A silence as the silence of death fell upon the three, and all was still +save that Eva trembled greatly. But ere long Bove Derg spake. Fierce and +angry did he look, as, high above his foster-daughter, he held his magic +wand. Awful was his voice as he pronounced her doom. 'Wretched woman, +henceforth shalt thou no longer darken this fair earth, but as a demon of +the air shalt thou dwell in misery till the end of time.' And of a sudden +from out her shoulders grew black, shadowy wings, and, with a piercing +scream, she swirled upward, until the awe-stricken Dedannans saw nought +save a black speck vanish among the lowering clouds. And as a demon of the +air do Eva's black wings swirl her through space to this day. + +But great and good was Bove Derg. He laid aside his magic wand and so +spake: 'Let us, my people, leave the Great Lake, and let us pitch our +tents on the shores of Lake Darvra. Exceeding dear unto us are the +children of Lir, and I, Bove Derg, and Lir, their father, have vowed +henceforth to make our home for ever by the lone waters where they dwell.' + +And when it was told throughout the Green Island of Erin of the fate of +the children of Lir and of the vow that Bove Derg had vowed, from north, +south, east, and west did the Dedannans flock to the lake, until a mighty +host dwelt by its shores. + +And by day Finola and her brothers knew not loneliness, for in the sweet +Gaelic speech they told of their joys and fears; and by night the mighty +Dedannans knew no sorrowful memories, for by haunting songs were they +lulled to sleep, and the music brought peace to their souls. + +Slowly did the years go by, and upon the shoulders of Bove Derg and Lir +fell the long white hair. Fearful grew the four swans, for the time was +not far off, when they must wing their flight north to the wild sea of +Moyle. + +And when at length the sad day dawned, Finola told her brothers how their +three hundred happy years on Lake Darvra were at an end, and how they must +now leave the peace of its lone waters for evermore. + +Then, slowly and sadly, did the four swans glide to the margin of the +lake. Never had the snowy whiteness of their plumage so dazzled the +beholders, never had music so sweet and sorrowful floated to Lake Darvra's +sunlit shores. As the swans reached the water's edge, silent were the +three brothers, and alone Finola chanted a farewell song. + +With bowed white heads did the Dedannan host listen to Finola's chant, and +when the music ceased and only sobs broke the stillness, the four swans +spread their wings, and, soaring high, paused but for one short moment to +gaze on the kneeling forms of Lir and Bove Derg. Then, stretching their +graceful necks toward the north, they winged their flight to the waters of +the stormy sea that separates the blue Alba from the Green Island of Erin. + +And when it was known throughout the Green Isle that the four white swans +had flown, so great was the sorrow of the people that they made a law that +no swan should be killed in Erin from that day forth. + + * * * * * + +With hearts that burned with longing for their father and their friends, +did Finola and her brothers reach the sea of Moyle. Cold and chill were +its wintry waters, black and fearful were the steep rocks overhanging +Alba's far-stretching coasts. From hunger, too, the swans suffered. Dark +indeed was all, and darker yet as the children of Lir remembered the still +waters of Lake Darvra and the fond Dedannan host on its peaceful shores. +Here the sighing of the wind among the reeds no longer soothed their +sorrow, but the roar of the breaking surf struck fresh terror in their +souls. + +In misery and terror did their days pass, until one night the black, +lowering clouds overhead told that a great tempest was nigh. Then did +Finola call to her Aed, Fiacra, and Conn. 'Beloved brothers, a great fear +is at my heart, for, in the fury of the coming gale, we may be driven the +one from the other. Therefore, let us say where we may hope to meet when +the storm is spent.' + +And Aed answered, 'Wise art thou, dear, gentle sister. If we be driven +apart, may it be to meet again on the rocky isle that has ofttimes been +our haven, for well known is it to us all, and from far can it be seen.' + +Darker grew the night, louder raged the wind, as the four swans dived and +rose again on the giant billows. Yet fiercer blew the gale, until at +midnight loud bursts of thunder mingled with the roaring wind, but, in the +glare of the blue lightning's flashes, the children of Lir beheld each the +snowy form of the other. The mad fury of the hurricane yet increased, and +the force of it lifted one swan from its wild home on the billows, and +swept it through the blackness of the night. Another blue lightning flash, +and each swan saw its loneliness, and uttered a great cry of desolation. +Tossed hither and thither, by wind and wave, the white birds were +well-nigh dead when dawn broke. And with the dawn fell calm. + +Swift as her tired wings would bear her, Finola sailed to the rocky isle, +where she hoped to find her brothers. But alas! no sign was there of one +of them. Then to the highest summit of the rocks she flew. North, south, +east, and west did she look, yet nought saw she save a watery wilderness. +Now did her heart fail her, and she sang the saddest song she had yet +sung. + +As the last notes died Finola raised her eyes, and lo! Conn came slowly +swimming towards her with drenched plumage and head that drooped. And as +she looked, behold! Fiacra appeared, but it was as though his strength +failed. Then did Finola swim toward her fainting brother and lend him her +aid, and soon the twins were safe on the sunlit rock, nestling for warmth +beneath their sister's wings. + +Yet Finola's heart still beat with alarm as she sheltered her younger +brothers, for Aed came not, and she feared lest he were lost for ever. +But, at noon, sailing he came over the breast of the blue waters, with +head erect and plumage sunlit. And under the feathers of her breast did +Finola draw him, for Conn and Fiacra still cradled beneath her wings. +'Rest here, while ye may, dear brothers,' she said. + +And she sang to them a lullaby so surpassing sweet that the sea-birds +hushed their cries and flocked to listen to the sad, slow music. And when +Aed and Fiacra and Conn were lulled to sleep, Finola's notes grew more and +more faint and her head drooped, and soon she too slept peacefully in the +warm sunlight. + +But few were the sunny days on the sea of Moyle, and many were the +tempests that ruffled its waters. Still keener grew the winter frosts, and +the misery of the four white swans was greater than ever before. Even +their most sorrowful Gaelic songs told not half their woe. From the fury +of the storm they still sought shelter on that rocky isle where Finola had +despaired of seeing her dear ones more. + +Slowly passed the years of doom, until one mid-winter a frost more keen +than any known before froze the sea into a floor of solid black ice. By +night the swans crouched together on the rocky isle for warmth, but each +morning they were frozen to the ground and could free themselves only with +sore pain, for they left clinging to the ice-bound rock the soft down of +their breasts, the quills from their white wings, and the skin of their +poor feet. + +And when the sun melted the ice-bound surface of the waters, and the swans +swam once more in the sea of Moyle, the salt water entered their wounds, +and they well-nigh died of pain. But in time the down on their breasts and +the feathers on their wings grew, and they were healed of their wounds. + +The years dragged on, and by day Finola and her brothers would fly toward +the shores of the Green Island of Erin, or to the rocky blue headlands of +Alba, or they would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters. But +ever as night fell it was their doom to return to the sea of Moyle. + +[Illustration: They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of +waters] + +One day, as they looked toward the Green Isle, they saw coming to the +coast a troop of horsemen mounted on snow-white steeds, and their armour +glittered in the sun. + +A cry of great joy went up from the children of Lir, for they had seen no +human form since they spread their wings above Lake Darvra, and flew to +the stormy sea of Moyle. + +'Speak,' said Finola to her brothers, 'speak, and say if these be not our +own Dedannan folk.' And Aed and Fiacra and Conn strained their eyes, and +Aed answered, 'It seemeth, dear sister, to me, that it is indeed our own +people.' + +As the horsemen drew nearer and saw the four swans, each man shouted in +the Gaelic tongue, 'Behold the children of Lir!' + +And when Finola and her brothers heard once more the sweet Gaelic speech, +and saw the faces of their own people, their happiness was greater than +can be told. For long they were silent, but at length Finola spake. + +Of their life on the sea of Moyle she told, of the dreary rains and +blustering winds, of the giant waves and the roaring thunder, of the black +frost, and of their own poor battered and wounded bodies. Of their +loneliness of soul, of that she could not speak. 'But tell us,' she went +on, 'tell us of our father, Lir. Lives he still, and Bove Derg, and our +dear Dedannan friends?' + +Scarce could the Dedannans speak for the sorrow they had for Finola and +her brothers, but they told how Lir and Bove Derg were alive and well, and +were even now celebrating the Feast of Age at the house of Lir. 'But for +their longing for you, your father and friends would be happy indeed.' + +Glad then and of great comfort were the hearts of Finola and her brothers. +But they could not hear more, for they must hasten to fly from the +pleasant shores of Erin to the sea-stream of Moyle, which was their doom. +And as they flew, Finola sang, and faint floated her voice over the +kneeling host. + +As the sad song grew fainter and more faint, the Dedannans wept aloud. +Then, as the snow-white birds faded from sight, the sorrowful company +turned the heads of their white steeds from the shore, and rode southward +to the home of Lir. + +And when it was told there of the sufferings of Finola and her brothers, +great was the sorrow of the Dedannans. Yet was Lir glad that his children +were alive, and he thought of the day when the magic spell would be +broken, and those so dear to him would be freed from their bitter woe. + + * * * * * + +Once more were ended three hundred years of doom, and glad were the four +white swans to leave the cruel sea of Moyle. Yet might they fly only to +the wild Western Sea, and tempest-tossed as before, here they in no way +escaped the pitiless fury of wind and wave. Worse than aught they had +before endured was a frost that drove the brothers to despair. Well-nigh +frozen to a rock, they one night cried aloud to Finola that they longed +for death. And she, too, would fain have died. + +But that same night did a dream come to the swan-maiden, and, when she +awoke, she cried to her brothers to take heart. 'Believe, dear brothers, +in the great God who hath created the earth with its fruits and the sea +with its terrible wonders. Trust in Him, and He will yet save you.' And +her brothers answered, 'We will trust.' + +And Finola also put her trust in God, and they all fell into a deep +slumber. + +When the children of Lir awoke, behold! the sun shone, and thereafter, +until the three hundred years on the Western Sea were ended, neither wind +nor wave nor rain nor frost did hurt to the four swans. + +On a grassy isle they lived and sang their wondrous songs by day, and by +night they nestled together on their soft couch, and awoke in the morning +to sunshine and to peace. And there on the grassy island was their home, +until the three hundred years were at an end. Then Finola called to her +brothers, and tremblingly she told, and tremblingly they heard, that they +might now fly eastward to seek their own old home. + +Lightly did they rise on outstretched wings, and swiftly did they fly +until they reached land. There they alighted and gazed each at the other, +but too great for speech was their joy. Then again did they spread their +wings and fly above the green grass on and on, until they reached the +hills and trees that surrounded their old home. But, alas! only the ruins +of Lir's dwelling were left. Around was a wilderness overgrown with rank +grass, nettles, and weeds. + +Too downhearted to stir, the swans slept that night within the ruined +walls of their old home, but, when day broke, each could no longer bear +the loneliness, and again they flew westward. And it was not until they +came to Inis Glora that they alighted. On a small lake in the heart of the +island they made their home, and, by their enchanting music, they drew to +its shores all the birds of the west, until the lake came to be called +'The Lake of the Bird-flocks.' + +Slowly passed the years, but a great longing filled the hearts of the +children of Lir. When would the good Saint come to Erin? When would the +chime of the Christ-bell peal over land and sea? + +One rosy dawn the swans awoke among the rushes of the Lake of the +Bird-flocks, and strange and faint was the sound that floated to them from +afar. Trembling, they nestled close the one to the other, until the +brothers stretched their wings and fluttered hither and thither in great +fear. Yet trembling they flew back to their sister, who had remained +silent among the sedges. Crouching by her side they asked, 'What, dear +sister, can be the strange, faint sound that steals across our island?' + +With quiet, deep joy Finola answered, 'Dear brothers, it is the chime of +the Christ-bell that ye hear, the Christ-bell of which we have dreamed +through thrice three hundred years. Soon the spell will be broken, soon +our sufferings will end.' Then did Finola glide from the shelter of the +sedges across the rose-lit lake, and there by the shore of the Western Sea +she chanted a song of hope. + +Calm crept into the hearts of the brothers as Finola sang, and, as she +ended, once more the chime stole across the isle. No longer did it strike +terror into the hearts of the children of Lir, rather as a note of peace +did it sink into their souls. + +Then, when the last chime died, Finola said, 'Let us sing to the great +King of Heaven and Earth.' + +Far stole the sweet strains of the white swans, far across Inis Glora, +until they reached the good Saint Kemoc, for whose early prayers the +Christ-bell had chimed. + +And he, filled with wonder at the surpassing sweetness of the music, stood +mute, but when it was revealed unto him that the voices he heard were the +voices of Finola and Aed and Fiacra and Conn, who thanked the High God for +the chime of the Christ-bell, he knelt and also gave thanks, for it was to +seek the children of Lir that the Saint had come to Inis Glora. + +In the glory of noon, Kemoc reached the shore of the little lake, and saw +four white swans gliding on its waters. And no need had the Saint to ask +whether these indeed were the children of Lir. Rather did he give thanks +to the High God who had brought him hither. + +[Illustration: It was Saint Kemoc] + +Then gravely the good Kemoc said to the swans, 'Come ye now to land, and +put your trust in me, for it is in this place that ye shall be freed from +your enchantment.' + +These words the four white swans heard with great joy, and coming to the +shore they placed themselves under the care of the Saint. And he led them +to his cell, and there they dwelt with him. And Kemoc sent to Erin for a +skilful workman, and ordered that two slender chains of shining silver be +made. Betwixt Finola and Aed did he clasp one silver chain, and with the +other did he bind Fiacra and Conn. + +Then did the children of Lir dwell with the holy Kemoc, and he taught them +the wonderful story of Christ that he and Saint Patrick had brought to the +Green Isle. And the story so gladdened their hearts that the misery of +their past sufferings was well-nigh forgotten, and they lived in great +happiness with the Saint. Dear to him were they, dear as though they had +been his own children. + +Thrice three hundred years had gone since Eva had chanted the fate of the +children of Lir. 'Until Decca be the Queen of Largnen, until the good +Saint come to Erin, and ye hear the chime of the Christ-bell, shall ye not +be delivered from your doom.' + +The good Saint had indeed come, and the sweet chimes of the Christ-bell +had been heard, and the fair Decca was now the Queen of King Largnen. + +Soon were tidings brought to Decca of the swan-maiden and her three +swan-brothers. Strange tales did she hear of their haunting songs. It was +told her, too, of their cruel miseries. Then begged she her husband, the +King, that he would go to Kemoc and bring to her these human birds. + +But Largnen did not wish to ask Kemoc to part with the swans, and +therefore he did not go. + +Then was Decca angry, and swore she would live no longer with Largnen, +until he brought the singing swans to the palace. And that same night she +set out for her father's kingdom in the south. + +Nevertheless Largnen loved Decca, and great was his grief when he heard +that she had fled. And he commanded messengers to go after her, saying he +would send for the white swans if she would but come back. Therefore Decca +returned to the palace, and Largnen sent to Kemoc to beg of him the four +white swans. But the messenger returned without the birds. + +Then was Largnen wroth, and set out himself for the cell of Kemoc. But he +found the Saint in the little church, and before the altar were the four +white swans. 'Is it truly told me that you refused these birds to Queen +Decca?' asked the King. + +'It is truly told,' replied Kemoc. + +Then Largnen was more wroth than before, and seizing the silver chain of +Finola and Aed in the one hand, and the chain of Fiacra and Conn in the +other, he dragged the birds from the altar and down the aisle, and it +seemed as though he would leave the church. And in great fear did the +Saint follow. + +But lo! as they reached the door, the snow-white feathers of the four +swans fell to the ground, and the children of Lir were delivered from +their doom. For was not Decca the bride of Largnen, and the good Saint had +he not come, and the chime of the Christ-bell was it not heard in the +land? + +But aged and feeble were the children of Lir. Wrinkled were their once +fair faces, and bent their little white bodies. + +At the sight Largnen, affrighted, fled from the church, and the good Kemoc +cried aloud, 'Woe to thee, O King!' + +Then did the children of Lir turn toward the Saint, and thus Finola spake: +'Baptize us now, we pray thee, for death is nigh. Heavy with sorrow are +our hearts that we must part from thee, thou holy one, and that in +loneliness must thy days on earth be spent. But such is the will of the +High God. Here let our graves be digged, and here bury our four bodies, +Conn standing at my right side, Fiacra at my left, and Aed before my face, +for thus did I shelter my dear brothers for thrice three hundred years +'neath wing and breast.' + +Then did the good Kemoc baptize the children of Lir, and thereafter the +Saint looked up, and lo! he saw a vision of four lovely children with +silvery wings, and faces radiant as the sun; and as he gazed they floated +ever upward, until they were lost in a mist of blue. Then was the good +Kemoc glad, for he knew that they had gone to Heaven. + +But, when he looked downward, four worn bodies lay at the church door, and +Kemoc wept sore. + +And the Saint ordered a wide grave to be digged close by the little +church, and there were the children of Lir buried, Conn standing at +Finola's right hand, and Fiacra at her left, and before her face her twin +brother Aed. + +And the grass grew green above them, and a white tombstone bore their +names, and across the grave floated morning and evening the chime of the +sweet Christ-bell. + + + +DERMAT AND GRANIA + + +It was at Tara that King Cormac would hold a great meeting, and the chiefs +and nobles of the land were gathered together there. + +But ere the business of the day was begun, it was told that two warriors +were without and would talk with the King. + +Then did Cormac welcome the messengers, and when he heard that they came +from the broad hill slopes of Allen and bore a message from Finn, their +King, he said that the meeting should not be held that day, but that he +would speak with the warriors alone. + +And after they had eaten and drunk, Cormac bade them tell their errand. + +Then spake Oisin, the son of Finn, and he told how his mother had long +been dead, and how his father would fain marry Grania, the fair daughter +of Cormac. + +But Cormac made answer, 'Scarce in all Erin is there a prince that hath +not sought in marriage the hand of my daughter, but she hath refused them +all. For this cause have I their ill-will, for the Princess hath ever made +me tell how none had won her favour. Wherefore shall I bring you to my +daughter's presence, that from her own lips ye may hear the answer that ye +shall carry to your King.' + +So Cormac went with Oisin the son of Finn and with Dering his friend to +the sunny room of the Princess. And Cormac sat by Grania on the couch and +told her wherefore the champions were come. + +[Illustration: Grania] + +And Grania, giving little heed to the matter, made answer, 'If Finn be a +fitting son-in-law for my father, the King, then may he well be a worthy +husband for me.' + +When Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his friend heard these words they +were glad, for they knew not how little thought the Princess gave to her +words. + +And Cormac made a feast for the champions, and ere they departed he told +them that after two weeks Finn should come thither. + +So the warriors bade farewell to the palace of Cormac and went back to +Allen, and there they told Finn that after two weeks he should go to Tara +and wed the fair Grania. + +Slow sped the days, but when they were passed, Finn, with many chiefs and +nobles as his guard, marched to Tara. And there Cormac received him right +royally and made ready a great feast. On his right hand sat Finn and on +his left the Queen. And next the Queen sat Grania. + +Now it chanced that the chief who sat on the other side of Grania was a +story-teller, and the Princess listened gladly to the tales he told. + +But when he ceased from his tales Grania asked, 'Wherefore is it that Finn +hath come hither to feast?' + +And the chief, filled with wonder that the Princess should question him +thus, made answer, 'Of a truth hath Finn come hither this day to claim +thee for his wife.' + +Then Grania bethought her of the words she had spoken to Oisin the son of +Finn and to Dering his friend, and of how she spake without heed. And now +was Finn come hither to seek her for his wife. + +A long, deep silence fell upon the Princess, while her eyes roved among +the goodly company. + +At length she turned again to the chief who sat next her. 'Of this goodly +company,' she said, 'I know none save Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his +friend. Tell me, I pray thee, who sitteth yonder by Oisin's side?' + +And the chief told his name and sang his praise. + +Again Grania asked, 'And who, I pray thee, sitteth by his side?' + +And the chief told his name and sang his praise. + +Afterwards Grania sought of the chief the names of many of the nobles, and +he told her, and he told too of the deeds they had done. + +Then the Princess called her handmaid and said, 'Bring me from my room the +jewelled drinking horn.' And the handmaiden brought it and Grania filled +it to the brim and said, 'Take it to Finn, and say that I would have him +drink from it.' + +And Finn drank from the drinking horn, and then passed it to Cormac the +King. And the King drank from it and also the Queen. + +Then again Grania filled the drinking horn to the brim, and yet again, +until all whom she wished to drink had drunk from it. And it was not long +until a deep sleep had fallen upon all who had drunk. + +Grania then rose slowly from her seat and crossed the hall to where Dermat +sat, for Dermat, of those nobles that Finn brought with him, pleased her +the best. And to him she spake thus: + +[Illustration: Dermat] + +'Dermat, it is from the champion who sat next me that I have learnt thy +name, but ere I knew it I loved thee. From the sunny window of my chamber +did I not watch thee on the day of the hurling-match? No part didst thou +take in the contest till, seeing the game go against the men of Allen, +thou didst rush into the crowd, and three times didst thou win the goal. +My heart went out to thee that day, and now do I know that thee only do I +love. Sore is my distress for the heedless words I spake which have +brought Finn hither. Older is he than Cormac my father, and him will I not +wed. Therefore, I pray thee, flee with me hence.' + +Sore troubled was Dermat as he listened to these words, and at length he +replied, 'Unworthy am I of thy love, and there is not a stronghold in Erin +that would shelter us from the wrath of Finn were this thing to be.' + +When Grania heard the words that Dermat spake, she said, 'I place thee +under a solemn vow that thou follow me from Tara ere Finn shall wake. And +thou knowest there is no true hero but will hold his vow binding even unto +death.' + +'Even though we so willed it,' replied Dermat, 'could we not escape from +Tara, for Finn hath in his keeping the keys of the great gate.' + +'Yet canst thou escape if thou wilt,' said Grania, 'for a champion such as +thou canst bound over the highest wall in Erin. By the wicket-gate leading +from my chamber shall I go forth, and if thou followest me not, alone +shall I flee from the sight of Finn.' And having spoken thus, Grania went +forth from the hall. + +Then was Dermat in sore plight, for he would not depart from the solemn +vow that Grania had laid upon him, and yet he feared lest the Princess +should not escape the wrath of Finn. + +And he took counsel of the nobles who had come hither with Finn, and there +was not one but said, 'Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart +from thy solemn vow.' + +Then Dermat arose, and when he was armed he bade his companions a tearful +farewell, for he knew they might see his face no more. + +Forth he went, and with an exceeding light bound he cleared the rampart +and alighted on the green grass beyond. And there Grania met him. + +And Dermat said to the Princess, 'Even now, I pray of thee, return to thy +father's home and Finn shall hear nought of this thing.' + +But Grania's will was firm, and she said, 'I will not return now nor will +I return hereafter, for death only shall part me and thee.' + +'Then go forward, O Grania,' said Dermat, and the two went forth. + +But when they were scarce a mile from Tara Grania told Dermat that she was +weary. + +And Dermat said, 'It is a good time to weary, O Grania. Get thee back to +thine own household, for I plight thee the word of a true warrior that I +will not carry thee from thy father's house.' + +'Neither is there need,' answered Grania, 'for my father's horses are in a +fenced meadow by themselves, and chariots also will ye find there. Yoke +two horses to a chariot, and I will wait for thee on this spot until thou +overtake me again.' + +Then Dermat did as Grania said, and he brought the horses and the chariot, +and they drove forth. + +But when they came to the banks of the river Shannon, Dermat said, 'Now +that we have the horses it is easier for Finn to follow in our track.' + +'Then,' said Grania, 'leave the horses on this spot and I will journey on +foot henceforth.' + +And Dermat, when he saw that the Princess would not be moved, told her how +great was his love for her, and how he would defend her even with his life +from the wrath of Finn. + +And Dermat wed Grania, and they vowed solemn vows that they would be +faithful each to each even unto death. + +Then tenderly did Dermat lift his wife in his strong arms and bear her +across the ford, and neither the sole of her foot nor the hem of her +mantle touched the stream. + +Afterwards Dermat led one of the horses across the ford, but the other he +left on the far side. + +Dermat and Grania then walked until they came to a thick wood, and there +Dermat lopped branches from the trees and made a hut, and he made for +Grania a bed of the soft rushes and of the tops of the birch. + +And there Grania rested, and there did Dermat bring to her food of the +forest and water from a clear spring. + + * * * * * + +It was early dawn at Tara when Cormac and Finn awoke from their deep +sleep. + +When Finn found that Grania had fled with Dermat, great was his wrath, and +he called to him his nobles, and ordered them with all speed to follow in +the track of Dermat and Grania. + +And Finn went with them, nor was the track hard to follow until they came +to the river Shannon, but there it was lost and no man could find it. + +Then was the wrath of Finn so great that he said he would hang his nobles, +and not one would he spare, if they did not again find the track, and that +with all speed. + +So, being sore afraid, they crossed the river, and when they had searched +they saw the horses one on either side, and they found, too, the spot +where Dermat and Grania had turned from the river. + +And when they told Finn, he was content, for he knew of a surety that +Dermat and Grania hid in the deep wood. + +Now among the nobles were those who loved Dermat, and would fain save him +from the hate of Finn. And one said, 'It behooveth us to send warning to +Dermat. Let us send to him Bran, the hound of Finn, for Bran loveth Dermat +as though he were his own master.' + +And they called the hound and told him secretly what he should do. + +Bran listened with ears erect, and then, losing no time, he followed the +track, nor did he miss it once until it brought him unto the hut. And +going in he found Dermat and Grania asleep, and he thrust his head into +Dermat's bosom. + +And Dermat woke with a start, and when he saw Bran there was no need for +the hound to tell whence he came. + +Then Dermat awoke his wife and told her that Finn was near. + +Great fear looked from out the eyes of Grania when she heard, and she +begged that they might flee. + +But Dermat answered, 'Were we to flee, yet would Finn overtake us, and it +were as ill to fall into his hands then as at this time, but neither he +nor his men shall enter this hut without my leave.' + +Still Grania feared greatly, but she spake no further, for in Dermat's +eyes she read his gloom. + +While Bran still tarried by the hut, the nobles who loved Dermat thought +of yet another warning to send their friend. They had with them a +serving-man whose voice was so loud that it could be heard for many miles, +and they made this man give three shouts that Dermat might hear. + +And when Dermat heard the shouts he said to Grania, 'Well I know whose is +the voice that shouteth, and full well I know that it cometh as a warning +that Finn is nigh.' + +Then great fear took hold of Grania, and she trembled, and again she said, +'Let us flee, for how shall we withstand the wrath of Finn?' + +But Dermat said, 'We will not flee, but neither Finn nor his men shall +enter the hut without my leave.' + +Then was Grania filled with foreboding, yet spake she no further, for sad +and stern was her husband's voice, and in his eyes she read his gloom. + +Now Finn, having reached the wood, sent forward his men, but when they +came to the thickest part of the forest they beheld a fence which no man +could break through or climb. For Dermat had cleared a space round his hut +and around the space had he built the strong fence. + +Then the nobles climbed a high tree and from it did they look within the +fence, and there they saw Dermat and with him a lady. + +But for their love of Dermat did the nobles hide from Finn that they had +seen his foe. And one said to him, 'Far would it be from the mind of +Dermat to await thee here, knowing as he does that his life is in peril.' + +Then did Finn's wrath wax strong, and he replied, 'That Dermat hath thee +for friend will avail him nought. Was it not to warn him that your +serving-man gave three shouts, and was it not to warn him that ye sent +unto him my dog Bran? Full well I know that Dermat is hid behind yonder +strong fence.' + +And Finn cried aloud, 'Which of us, Dermat, is it that speaketh truth? Art +thou behind the fence?' + +'Thou, as ever, art right, O King,' cried Dermat. 'I am here, and with me +is Grania, but none other shall come hither save with my leave.' + +Now in the circle fence were seven doors, and at each door did Finn place +strong men, so that Dermat should by no means escape. + +And Grania, when she heard Finn's voice, was filled with fear, and she +trembled greatly. Then Dermat kissed her three times and bade her be of +good cheer for all would yet be well. + +Now it was by Angus of Bruga that Dermat had been brought up. Most skilled +in magic was this Angus, and to him was the plight of Dermat +revealed--Dermat, whom he loved as though he were his own son. + +So Angus arose and travelled on the wings of the wind until he came to the +hut where Dermat and Grania dwelt, and, unseen of Finn or his chiefs, he +entered the dwelling. + +And Dermat, when he saw his foster-father, greeted him gladly and told him +of the solemn vow which the Princess Grania had laid upon him, and how she +was his wedded wife. 'And now are we in sore strait, for Finn, whose will +it was to marry Grania, hath pursued us and would fain take my life.' + +'No harm shall befall you,' said Angus, 'if ye will but shelter under my +mantle, the one on the right side and the other on the left, for then will +I bring you both forth from this place, and Finn shall know it not.' + +But Dermat would not flee from Finn, yet it was his will that Grania +should go with Angus. 'And I will follow if it be that I leave this place +alive, yet should I be slain, I pray thee, Angus, send the Princess to her +father and beg him that he deal gently with her.' + +Then Dermat kissed Grania, and Angus, having told the way that they would +go, placed the Princess beneath his mantle and was carried forth on the +wings of the wind unseen of Finn. + +When Angus and Grania had gone, Dermat girded on his armour, and, deep in +thought, he walked to one of the seven doors and asked who was without. + +And the answer came, 'True friends are we, and no harm shall befall thee, +shouldst thou venture forth.' + +But Dermat answered, 'I seek the door guarded by Finn, and by none other +shall I leave this place.' + +And he came to another door and asked who was without, and again was it +told him, 'Thy bounden friends.' + +Then to the third, to the fourth, and to the fifth door did Dermat go, and +at each was he told how the men without were willing to fight to the death +for their love of him. + +But when Dermat came to the sixth door and asked by whom it was guarded, +the answer came, 'No friends of thine, for shouldst thou dare to venture +forth, we will make thee a mark for our swords and spears.' + +'Cowards, no fear of you keepeth me from coming forth, but I crave not the +blood of such as ye.' + +And he went to the seventh door and asked who was without. And the voice +of Finn answered, 'He that hateth thee, and will sever thy head from thy +body shouldst thou dare to come forth.' + +'At length have I found the door I seek, for by the door that Finn +guardeth, by it only shall I pass out.' + +But Dermat, seeing of a sudden an unguarded spot, sprang with a light +bound over the fence, and ran so swiftly that soon he was beyond the reach +of sword or spear. And no man dared to follow Dermat. Nor did the hero +rest until he came to the warm, well-lighted hut where Grania sat with +Angus before a blazing fire. + +When Grania saw Dermat her heart leaped for joy. Then did he tell her his +tidings from beginning to end, and after they had eaten they slept in +peace until the morning brake. + +And while it was yet early Angus bid them farewell, and he left with them +this warning, knowing that Finn would pursue them still: 'Go into no tree +that has but one trunk; nor into any cave having but one opening; land on +no island that has but one way leading to it; where you cook your food, +there eat it not; where you eat, sleep not there; and where you sleep +to-night, rise not there to-morrow.' [Footnote: Angus meant that Dermat +should change his place of sleeping during the night.] + +And when Angus had left them, Dermat and Grania sorrowed after him, and it +was not long until they journeyed forth. + + * * * * * + +All that befell Dermat and Grania cannot be told in this book, but of +Sharvan the giant and of the fairy quicken-tree you shall hear now. + +After many wanderings Dermat came with Grania to the wood where Sharvan +guarded the quicken-tree. Honey-sweet were the berries of the tree, and +gladness flowed through the veins of him who ate thereof. Though he were +one hundred years old, yet would he be but thirty so soon as he had eaten +three of the fairy berries. + +By day Sharvan the giant sat at the foot of the tree, and by night he sat +in a hut in its branches, and no man dared to come near. Fearful to behold +and wicked was this Sharvan. One eye, one red eye gleamed from the middle +of his black forehead. On his body was a girdle of iron, and from the +girdle was a heavy club hung by a heavy chain. And by magic was Sharvan +saved from death, for water would not drown him nor fire burn; neither was +there weapon, save one, that could wound the giant. The one weapon was +Sharvan's own club, for were he by it dealt three blows, his doom was +come. + +Now Dermat knew of the giant that guarded the fairy quicken-tree, +therefore he left Grania in shelter and went alone to the foot of the +tree. And there sat Sharvan, for it was day. + +And Dermat told the giant how he would fain build a hut in the forest and +hunt amid the woods. + +Then the giant, casting his red eye upon the champion, told him in surly +tone that it mattered not to him who lived or hunted in the forest, so +long as he did not eat the berries of the quicken-tree. + +So Dermat built a hut near to a clear well, and there he and Grania lived +in peace for many days, eating the food of the forest and drinking water +from the spring. + +Now it was at this time that two chiefs came to Finn on the green slopes +of Allen. And when he asked them who they were and whence they came, they +told how they were enemies that would fain make peace. + +But Finn answered, 'One of two things must ye bring hither would ye win +peace from me. Either must ye bring me the head of a warrior or a handful +of berries from the quicken-tree.' + +Then said Oisin the son of Finn, 'I counsel you, get ye hence, for the +head that the King seeketh from you is the head of Dermat, and were ye to +attempt to take it, then would Dermat take yours, were ye twenty times the +number that ye be. And as for the quicken-berries, know ye that they grow +on a fairy tree, guarded by the one-eyed giant Sharvan.' + +But the two chiefs were firm and would not be moved, for it were better to +die in their quest than to return to the hilly slopes of Allen at enmity +with Finn. So they left the palace, and journeyed without rest until they +came to Dermat's hut by the clear well. + +Now Dermat, when he heard footsteps without, seized his weapons, and going +to the door, asked of the strangers who they were and whence they came. + +And the chiefs told their names and for what cause they were come thither. + +Then Dermat said, 'I am not willing to give you my head, nor will you find +it an easy matter to take it. Neither may ye hope to fare better in your +quest of the quicken-berries, for the surly giant Sharvan guards the tree. +Fire will not burn him nor water drown, nor is there a weapon that hath +power to wound him, save only his own club. Say, therefore, which ye will +do battle for first, my head or the quicken-berries?' + +And they answered, 'We will first do battle with thee.' + +So they made ready, and it was agreed that they should use nought save +their hands in the combat. And if Dermat were overcome then should his +head be taken by the chiefs to Finn; if they were overpowered then should +their heads be forfeit to Dermat. + +But the fight was short, for the chiefs were as children in the hands of +the hero, and he bound them sore in bitter bonds. + +Now when Grania heard of the quicken-berries she longed with a great +longing to taste them. At first she said nought for she knew how they were +guarded by the surly giant Sharvan; but when she could hide her desire no +longer, she said to Dermat, 'So great is my longing for the berries of the +quicken-tree that if I may not eat of them I shall surely die.' + +And Dermat, who would see no ill befall his dear wife, said he would bring +her the berries. + +When the two chiefs heard this, they prayed Dermat to loose their bonds +that they also might fight the giant. + +But Dermat answered, 'At the mere sight of Sharvan ye would flee, and even +were it not so I wish the aid of none.' + +Then the chiefs begged that they might see the fight, and Dermat gave them +leave. + +When the champion came to the foot of the quicken-tree he found Sharvan +there, asleep. And he struck the giant a mighty blow to awake him. + +Then Sharvan raised his head, and, glaring at Dermat with his one red eye, +said, 'There hath been peace betwixt us heretofore, wherefore should we +now depart from it?' + +And Dermat said, 'It is not to strive that I come hither, but to beg of +thee berries from the quicken-tree, for Grania, my wife, longeth for them +with a great longing.' + +But the giant answered, 'Though the Princess were at the point of death, +yet would I not give her berries from the quicken-tree.' + +When Dermat heard this he said, 'It had pleased me well to remain at peace +with thee, but now must I take the berries from the tree whether it be thy +will or no.' + +At these words Sharvan waxed exceeding wroth, and with his club did he +deal Dermat three sore blows. But the champion, recovering, sprang upon +the giant, and seizing his great club, he ceased not to belabour him until +he fell to earth a dead man. + +Then Dermat sat down to rest. And he told the captive chiefs to drag the +body of the giant into the wood and bury it, that Grania might not be +affrighted. And when they had come back he sent for the Princess. + +And Grania, when she came to the quicken-tree, would not gather the fruit, +for she said, 'I will eat no berries save those plucked by the hand of my +husband.' + +So Dermat plucked the berries, and Grania ate and was satisfied. + +Then the champion gave berries of the quicken-tree to the captive chiefs, +saying, 'Take these to Finn and so win your peace.' And this he said as +though they were free men. + +They thanked the hero for his words, and also for the berries, which they +could not have got of themselves. Then having bid Dermat and Grania +farewell they journeyed forth towards the hilly slopes of Allen. + +When they were gone, Dermat and Grania went to the top of the +quicken-tree, into the hut of Sharvan, and the berries below were but +bitter compared to the berries that were above upon the tree. + +Now when Finn's two enemies were come to Allen he asked them how they had +fared, and whether they had brought with them the head of Dermat or a +handful of berries from the quicken-tree. + +And they answered, 'Sharvan the giant is slain, and behold here we have +brought thee berries from the quicken-tree so that henceforth we may live +at peace.' + +Then Finn took the berries in his hand, and when he had smelled them three +times he said, 'Of a truth these be the berries of the quicken-tree, but +not of your own strength have ye gotten them. Full well I know that by +Dermat hath Sharvan the giant been slain, and from his hand have ye gotten +the berries. Therefore have ye no peace from me, and now shall I summon an +army that I may march to the wood of the quicken-tree, for there surely +doth Dermat dwell.' + +Now when Finn came with his army to the quicken-tree it was noon, and the +sun shone with great heat. + +Therefore Finn said to his men, 'Under this tree shall we rest until the +sun be set, for well I know that Dermat is among the branches. Bring +hither a chess-board that I may play.' + +And Finn sat down to play against Oisin his son, but there were with Oisin +three nobles to help him, while Finn played without aid. + +With care and with skill did they play, until at length Finn said to his +son, 'I see one move, Oisin, that would win thee the game, yet is there +none of thine helpers that can show thee how thou mayest win.' + +Then Dermat, who had watched the game from among the branches overhead, +spoke aloud to himself the move that should be played. + +And Grania sat by her husband ill at ease. 'It matters not, Dermat,' she +said, 'whether Oisin win or lose the game, but if thou speakest so that +they hear, it may cost thee thy life.' + +Yet did Dermat pay no heed to the counsel of Grania, but plucked a berry, +and with it took aim so true that he hit the chessman that Oisin should +move. + +And Oisin moved the man and won the game. + +Yet again did Finn play against Oisin and his friends, and once more had +Oisin to make but one move to win the game. + +Then did Dermat throw down a berry as before and it struck the right man. + +And Oisin moved the piece and won the game. + +A third time did Oisin, son of Finn, play against his father, and it fell +as before, for once more he won with Dermat's aid. And this time the +nobles raised a mighty cheer. + +But Finn said, 'No marvel is it, Oisin, that thou hast won the game, for +of a surety thou hast had the aid of Dermat who dwelleth amid the branches +of the quicken-tree.' And looking up he said, 'Have I not, Dermat, spoken +truth?' + +'I have never known thy judgment err, O King,' replied Dermat. 'In truth I +dwell here with Grania in the hut that was built by Sharvan the giant.' + +And they looked up, and through an opening in the branches they beheld +Dermat kiss Grania three times, for the Princess was in great fear. + +Then was Finn exceeding wroth, and he bade his men surround the tree, each +holding the hand of each so that Dermat might by no means escape. And he +offered great reward to any man that would go up into the tree and bring +to him the hero's head or force him to come down. + +One of Finn's men then spake: 'It was Dermat's father that slew my father, +therefore will I go up into the tree.' And he went up. + +Now it was revealed to Angus of Bruga that Dermat was in sore plight, and +on the wings of the wind he came to his aid, unseen of Finn or his chiefs. +So when the avenger climbed into the tree, Angus was there. And when +Dermat with a stroke of his foot flung his enemy to the ground, Angus +caused him to take the shape of Dermat, and for this reason Finn's men +fell upon him and slew him. + +But no sooner was he slain than he again took his own shape, and Finn knew +that Dermat was still alive in the quicken-tree. Then nine times did a man +of Finn's army climb the tree, and nine times was he thrown to earth and +killed by his own friends. For each time did Angus cause the warrior to +take Dermat's shape. + +When Finn saw nine of his men lie dead before him his heart failed him, +and his soul was filled with bitterness. + +At this time Angus said that he would take Grania away with him. And +Dermat was content and said, 'If it be that I live until evening I will +follow thee, but if Finn killeth me, I pray thee send the Princess to her +father at Tara.' + +So Angus flung his magic mantle around Grania, and on the wings of the +wind they were carried to Bruga, unknown to Finn or his men. + +Then Dermat spake from the tree: 'Thou surely shalt not escape my +vengeance, O Finn, nor shalt thou easily compass my death. Oft have I +cleared the way for thee when thou didst go forth to battle, and oft have +I sheltered thy retreat when thou didst quit the field. Yet art thou +unmindful of mine help, and I swear that I will be avenged.' + +When the hero ceased from speaking, one of Finn's nobles said, 'Dermat +speaketh truth, now therefore grant him thy forgiveness.' + +But Finn answered, 'I will not to the end of my life grant him +forgiveness, nor shall he know rest or peace until he yieldeth to me his +head.' + +Again the noble spake: 'Now pledge I thee the word of a true warrior that, +unless the skies fall upon me or the earth open and swallow me up, no harm +shall come nigh Dermat, for under my care I take his body and his life.' +And looking up, the noble cried, 'O Dermat, I pledge thee my body and my +life that no ill shall befall thee this day, therefore come down out of +the tree.' + +Then Dermat rose and stood upon a high bough. With an airy, bird-like +bound he sprang forward and alighted outside the circle formed by the men +who had joined hands, and was soon far beyond the reach of Finn. + +And the noble who saved him followed, and they came together to Bruga, and +there Angus and Grania met them, and the joy of the Princess cannot be +told. + +Yet was it not long ere Dermat was again in sore strait, for Finn followed +him to Bruga, and with Finn came his old nurse. And she was a witch. + +Now it chanced on the day that they came thither that Dermat hunted alone +in the wood. And the witch flew on the leaf of a yellow water-lily till +she came straight over the place where Dermat was. Then through a hole in +the leaf she aimed deadly darts at the hero, and though he was clad in +strong armour they did him great hurt. + +So sore were his wounds that Dermat thought the witch would cause his +death on the spot, unless he could pierce her through the hole in the +leaf. + +Therefore he took his red javelin and cast it with all care. And so sure +was his aim that it reached the witch through the leaf, and she fell to +the ground dead. Then Dermat cut off her head and took it to Angus. + +Early on the morrow Angus rose and went where Finn was, and he asked him +if he would make peace with Dermat. + +And Finn, because he had now lost his witch-nurse as well as many men, was +glad to make peace in whatever way Dermat might choose. + +Then Angus went to Cormac, and he too was glad to make peace with the +hero. + +But when Angus came to Dermat he said he would not make peace unless he +received from Finn and from Cormac all the wide lands that he asked. + +And Cormac and Finn gave him the lands, and forgave him all he had done. + +Then was there at last peace between them, and Dermat and Grania built a +house in Sligo, far from Cormac and Finn, and they called the name of +their house Rath-Grania. And there were born unto them one daughter and +four sons. + +And it was said that there was not living in Erin a man richer than Dermat +in gold and silver, in sheep and cattle herds. + + * * * * * + +Now it fell on a day after many years that Grania sat as one in a dream. +And Dermat asked his wife in what troublous thought she was lost, for he +saw well that she was ill at ease. + +And Grania answered, 'It seemeth not well to me that, having so great +wealth, we live removed from the world, and welcome to our home neither my +father nor Finn, though with both are we now at peace.' + +Dermat gave heed to the words of his wife and then spake thus: 'Of a truth +there is peace betwixt us, but thou knowest well that neither thy father +the King nor yet Finn bears me aught but ill-will, and for this cause have +we dwelt apart.' + +'Yet will time have softened their hearts,' replied Grania, 'and wouldst +thou but make them a feast, so mightest thou win their favour and their +love.' + +And Dermat, because of the love he bore Grania, granted her wish, and for +a year they were making ready for the great feast. + +Then were messengers sent to bid thither Cormac and Finn. And they came, +and with them their nobles, their horses and their dogs, and for a full +year they hunted and feasted at Rath-Grania. + +When a year had passed, it chanced one night that the distant yelping of a +hound woke Dermat from his sleep, and Grania too awoke and in great fear +said, 'Of a truth doth that sound forebode ill. Heed it not, but lie down +on thy bed and rest.' + +Dermat lay down, but ere long he again heard the hound's voice. Then he +started up, and made as though he would go to find for himself wherefore +the hound disturbed the silence of the night. But again Grania begged him +to lie down and to give no heed to the matter. + +So Dermat lay down and fell into a light sleep, and when the hound +awakened him the third time it was broad day. And Grania, seeing that his +mind was set, did not beg him longer to stay, yet, fearing danger, she +begged him to take with him his red javelin and his sword named 'The +Greater Fury.' + +But Dermat, deeming the matter light, took with him his yellow javelin and +his sword 'The Lesser Fury,' and leading his faithful hound by the chain, +went forth. And he did not rest till he came to the summit of a hill where +he found Finn, and of him he asked the meaning of the chase. + +And Finn answered that the men and hounds were tracking a wild boar which +had ofttimes been chased, but had always escaped. Even now was it coming +towards them, so it were well that they should betake themselves to some +safer spot. + +Dermat knew no fear of the wild boar, and he would not leave the summit of +the hill where he stood. Yet did he pray Finn to leave with him his hound +Bran, that it might help his own dog were he in need. + +But Finn would not leave Bran to be torn by the wild boar that could now +be seen coming towards them. + +So Dermat stood alone on the summit of the hill, and he knew well it was +that he might meet his death that Finn's men did hunt the boar this day. +Yet would he not leave the hill, for if it were his fate to meet death, +nought could save him from his doom. + +Then as the boar came rushing up the face of the hill, Dermat let loose +his good hound, but it, seeing the fearful monster, fled before him. + +And now Dermat knew that he would have need of his red javelin, and he +sorrowed that he had given no heed to the counsel of Grania. Yet seizing +his yellow javelin he cast it with careful aim and it struck the boar in +its forehead. But it fell harmless to the ground, doing the monster no +hurt. + +Then Dermat drew his sword from its sheath, and with a mighty blow did he +strike at the boar's neck. But the sword broke in his hand, and the boar +felt not so much as a prick. + +Now was Dermat without any weapon save the hilt of his sword, and the boar +made a deadly onslaught, thrusting his tusk into the hero's side. But with +the strength that was left him Dermat flung the hilt of the sword at the +brute's head, and it pierced his skull and entered his brain, whereupon +the boar fell dead. + +But so deep was the wound in Dermat's side that when Finn came to him he +found the hero near unto death. + +And Finn said, 'Now am I well content, for thine end hath come.' + +'Sure the words that thou speakest come not from thine heart,' answered +Dermat, 'for it is in thy power to heal me, and that thou knowest full +well.' + +'How might I heal thee?' asked Finn. + +'Thou knowest that power was given thee to heal him who might be at the +point of death. Let him but drink water from the palms of thy closed +hands, and he is healed of his hurt.' + +'Yet wherefore should I heal thee who hast worked me nought but ill?' + +'Thou wouldst not speak thus wert thou mindful of the day when I saved +thee from the flames. Thou wast bidden to a banquet, and ere the feast +began the palace was set a-fire by those who wished thee ill. And I and my +men rushed forth and quenched the flames and slew thy foes. Had I begged +water from thy hands that night thou hadst not said me nay.' + +'Thou forgettest that but for thee the fair Grania were my wedded wife.' + +'Of a surety am I not blameworthy in this matter, O Finn, for Grania laid +upon me a solemn vow that I should follow her from Tara ere thou shouldst +wake from thy sleep. And I took counsel of many nobles, and there was not +one but said, "Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart from +the solemn vow that Grania hath laid upon thee." And now, I pray of thee, +let me drink from thine hands, else surely death will overtake me in this +place. From many another deadly strait have I delivered thee, yet hast +thou forgotten them all. But the hour will come when surely thou wilt need +my help shouldst thou let me die this day. Yet grieve I not to think that +thou wilt be in deadly strait, but rather grieve I for those true heroes +whom I shall no longer aid.' + +Then one of the nobles, hearing these words, prayed Finn that he would let +Dermat drink from his hands. + +Finn replied, 'I know not of any well on this hill whence I can bring +water.' + +But Dermat said, 'Right well thou knowest that hidden by yonder bush is a +well of crystal water. No more than nine paces must thou go to reach it. +Let me, I pray thee, drink from thine hands.' + +Then Finn went to the well, and in his two hands tightly together did he +bring the water towards Dermat. But as he came nearer he spilled it +through his fingers, saying that he could not in such manner carry water +so far. + +But Dermat believed him not, and said, 'Of thine own will hast thou +spilled the water. I pray thee go once more to the well and bring me to +drink, or I die.' + +Again the King went to the well, and with failing sight did Dermat follow +the dripping hands that came nearer and yet more near. But of a sudden +Finn thought of Grania, and a second time was the water spilled. And when +Dermat saw it, he uttered a piteous cry. + +Then were the champions no longer able to see Dermat in such grievous +plight, and one said to Finn, 'I swear to thee that if thou bringest not +water to Dermat, thou shalt not leave this hill alive, save I be a dead +man.' + +Finn, hearing these words and seeing their frowns, went a third time to +fetch water from the well. And this time he made haste to bring it to +Dermat, but ere he had got half-way, the hero's head fell backward and he +died. + +Then were raised three long cries of sorrow for Dermat, who had been dear +unto them all. + +After some time had passed Finn said, 'Let us leave this hill lest Angus +come, for he may not believe that it was not at our hands that Dermat met +his death.' + +So Finn and his nobles left the hill, Finn leading Dermat's hound. But +four of the nobles turned back and laid their mantles over the champion. +Then they once more followed the King. + +Grania sat that day on the highest tower of Rath-Grania, watching for +Dermat. The fear she had felt in the night would not be stilled, and when +at length Finn came in sight, leading by the chain Dermat's hound, she +knew that she would not henceforth see Dermat alive. And when the truth +had taken hold upon her, she fell in a swoon from the tower, and her +handmaiden stood over her in great fear. + +But at length her eyes opened, and when it was told her that Dermat was +dead she uttered a long, piercing cry, so that all flocked to hear what +had befallen the Princess. And when it was told that Dermat had been +killed by the wild boar, the air was rent with cries of lamentation. + +At length, when silence had fallen upon her grief, Grania arose, and +ordered that five hundred men should go to the hill and bring to her the +body of Dermat. Then turning to Finn she begged of him to leave with her +Dermat's hound. And Finn would not. But a noble, hearing that Grania +wished the hound took him from the hand of Finn and gave him to the +Princess. + +Now as the men left Rath-Grania to bring home the body of Dermat, it was +revealed to Angus of Bruga that the hero lay dead on the hill. And he at +once set out on the wings of the wind and reached the sorrowful place ere +Grania's messengers had come there. And they, when they came, found Angus +mourning over the body of Dermat, and he asked them wherefore they were +come. + +When it was told Angus that Grania had sent them to bring the body of +Dermat to Rath-Grania, he stayed for some time wrapt in thought. At length +he spake these words: 'Let it be told the Princess that I will take with +me the body of Dermat to my home, that he may be preserved by my power as +though he still lived. For though I cannot bring him back to life, yet +each day shall he speak with me for some space.' + +And Angus turned to his men that he had brought with him there and ordered +that Dermat's body should be placed on a golden bier, with the red and +yellow javelins, one on either side, points upward. Thus was the dead hero +carried to the home of Angus. + +When Grania's messengers came back to her bringing not with them the body +of Dermat, she was at first sore grieved. But when she heard how the hero +lay on a golden bier in the keeping of his foster-father, and would each +day speak with Angus for some space, then was she content, for she knew +that Angus loved Dermat as a father loveth his only son. + +And Grania sent messengers to her sons to bid them come to her. And when +they were come, she welcomed them gently and kissed them. Then with an +exceeding loud and clear voice she said, 'O dear children, your father +hath been slain by the will of Finn, though peace had been sworn between +them. Therefore get ye hence and avenge his death. And that ye may have +success in the battle, I will myself portion out among you your +inheritance of arms, of arrows, and of sharp weapons. Spare none that +would do good to Finn, yet see ye to it that ye deal not treacherously +with any man. Hasten ye and depart.' + +Then the sons of Dermat bade their mother a tender farewell, and went +forth to avenge their father's death. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Celtic Tales, by Louey Chisholm + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC TALES *** + +This file should be named celtt10.txt or celtt10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, celtt11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, celtt10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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