[CV.] The original word, which I have translated "wizard-champion," is

_gruagach_. This word literally means "hairy," "a hairy fellow;" and it

is often used in the sense of "giant." But in these romantic tales it is

commonly used to signify a champion who has always something of the

supernatural about him, yet not to such a degree as to shield him

completely from the valour of a great mortal hero like Dermat O'Dyna.

CHAPTER V.

DERMAT O'DYNA IN TIR-FA-TONN.[CVI.]

At the very moment they reached the ground, the wizard-champion, with a

sudden effort, tore himself away from Dermat's grasp and ran forward

with great speed. Dermat leaped to his feet; and he was so amazed at

what he saw around him that he stood stock still and let the

wizard-champion escape: a lovely country, with many green-sided hills

and fair valleys between, woods of red yew trees, and plains laughing

all over with flowers of every hue.

Right before him, not far off, lay a city of great tall houses with

glittering roofs; and on the side nearest to him was a royal palace,

larger and grander than the rest. On the level green in front of the

palace were a number of knights, all armed, and amusing themselves with

various warlike exercises of sword and shield and spear.

Straight towards this assembly the wizard-champion ran; which, when

Dermat saw, he set off in pursuit, hoping to overtake him. But the

wizard-champion had too long a start, and when he reached the exercise

green, the knights opened to the right and left, leaving a broad way

through which he rushed. He never halted or looked behind till he had

got inside the palace gate; and the moment he had passed in, the knights

closed their ranks, and stood facing Dermat with threatening looks and

gestures.

Nothing daunted, Dermat held on his pace towards them; and now those of

the front rank started forward with spears and swords, intending to

crush him at once, and hew his body to mincemeat. But it was not terror

nor weakness nor a desire of flight that this produced in Dermat, for

his battle-fury was on him; and he rushed through them and under them

and over them, as a hawk rushes among a flight of sparrows, or like a

whale through a shoal of little fishes, or like a raging wolf among a

flock of sheep, or like a vast billow among a fleet of small vessels, or

like a great brown torrent rushing down the steep side of a mountain,

that sweeps everything headlong before it. So did Dermat cleave a wide

laneway through the hosts, till, from a solid band of warriors, he

turned them into a scattered crowd, flying in all directions. And those

that did not fall by his hand, ran hither and thither, some to hide

themselves in the thick forests and remote, wooded glens of the

surrounding country; while others rushed in through the outer gate of

the palace, and shut themselves up in the strongest part of the

fortress, neither did they deem themselves safe till they had shot home

every bolt, and securely fastened every strong iron lock.

At last not a living soul remained on the green, and Dermat sat down,

weary after his battle-toil, and smarting all over with wounds. He was

grieved and downcast also, for he knew not where he was, and he saw no

chance that he should be able either to find any tidings of the friends

he was in search of, or to return to his companions in the ship.

At length, being quite overcome with weariness, he fell into a deep

sleep. After sleeping for some time, he was awakened by a smart blow. He

started up, and saw a young man standing over him, tall, and of a

commanding appearance, with long, golden hair, and a manly, open

countenance. Now this young man had come to Dermat, and finding him

asleep in such a dangerous place, he struck him with the flat of his

sword to awaken him. In an instant Dermat sprang to his feet and seized

his arms; but the youth addressed him in a friendly voice, and said--

"Dermat O'Dyna, put up your arms; I am no enemy, and I have come, not to

harm, but to serve you. This, indeed, is a strange place for you to fall

asleep, before the very door of the castle, and within sight of your

enemies. Come now with me, and I will give you a better place to sleep

in, where you will also get a welcome and kindly entertainment."

This speech pleased Dermat very much; and he thanked the young man and

went with him. After walking for some time, they came to a large

splendid house, and passing through the outer gate they entered the

banqueting hall. There they found a noble company of twelve score and

ten knights, and almost as many beautiful ladies, with their long hair

falling on their shoulders, shining like the golden flower of the

marsh-flag, and gentle and modest in their looks and conversation. They

wore mantles of scarlet satin, and each mantle was fastened in front by

a brooch of burnished gold.

The company sat at tables round the walls of the banquet hall, some

feasting, some playing chess, and some listening to the music of harps.

When the two heroes entered, all the knights and ladies rose and

received them with much respect, and they welcomed Dermat and invited

him to join their entertainment. But the young prince--for he was in

truth a prince--pointing to Dermat's clothes and arms, all soiled and

stained, told them that he had endured much toil that day, and that he

wanted rest and refreshment.

He then brought Dermat away, and ordered the attendants to prepare a

bath in a great caldron. He put soothing balsams and healing herbs into

it with his own hands, and when Dermat had bathed he was immediately

healed of his wounds, and he came forth refreshed and cheerful. The

prince then directed that his clothes should be put aside, and had him

clad in rich garments like the others.

Dermat now joined the company, and ate and drank, for he had taken

neither food nor drink since he had made his meal on the deer early that

morning near the well; after which he talked and was cheerful with the

others. Then rose up the harpers, and the professors of divers arts and

sciences, and one after another they played their sweet music, and

recited their poems and their tales of the heroes of the olden time. And

when they had ended, the knights gave them gifts of gold and silver and

jewels. At last the company broke up, and Dermat was shown to a bed

richly ornamented, and soft with the red feathers of wild fowl, and soon

he fell into a sound sleep after his long day's adventures.

Now Dermat marvelled much at all he saw and heard; and he knew not what

place he was in, or who the people were, that had treated him with such

kindness. So next morning, when the company had again assembled, he

stood up, and addressed the prince with gentle words and modest

demeanour; and this is what he said--

"I am much surprised, O prince, at what I have seen, and at all that has

befallen me in this land. Though I am here a stranger, thou hast shown

me much kindness, and these noble knights and ladies have permitted me

to join their sports, and have treated me with much gentleness and

consideration. I wish to know, then, who thou art, O prince, and what

country this is, of which I have never before heard, and who is the king

thereof. Tell me also, I pray thee, the name of the champion who fought

with me for four days at the well, till at last he escaped from me at

the palace."

The prince replied, "I will tell you all, Dermat, as you have asked,

concealing nothing. This country is Tir-fa-tonn; the champion who fought

with you is called the Knight of the Fountain, and that very champion is

king of this land. I am the brother of the king, and my name is the

Knight of Valour. Good reason indeed have I to be kind to you, Dermat

O'Dyna, for though you do not remember me, I spent a year and a day in

the household of Finn the son of Cumal.

"A part of this kingdom belongs by right to me. But the king and his son

have seized on my patrimony, and have banished me from the palace,

forcing me to live here in exile with a few of my faithful followers.

"It is my intention, however, to make war on the king for my part of the

kingdom; and right glad I am that you have come hither, for I would

rather have you on my side than all the other Fena put together, for

your nobleness of mind and your valour in battle.

"I have here in my household seven score and ten heroes, all champions

of great deeds; and if you consent to aid me, these shall be placed

under your command. By day you shall fight against the king of

Tir-fa-tonn and his son, and by night you shall feast and rest and sleep

with me in this palace. If you enter into friendship with me and fight

on my side, well I know that I shall win back my right without delay."

Dermat agreed to this. So he and the Knight of Valour made a covenant;

and, placing hand in hand, they pledged themselves to observe faithfully

the conditions of the league of friendship.

FOOTNOTES:

[CVI.] Tir-fa-tonn, literally "the country beneath the wave." (See note

13 at the end.)

CHAPTER VI.

FINN, IN QUEST OF DERMAT, FIGHTS MANY BATTLES.

As to Finn Mac Cumal and those that remained behind with him in the

ship, I will now relate what befell them.

It was now many days since Dermat had left them, and they marvelled much

that he did not return with tidings of the Gilla Dacker. At length, when

they began to be alarmed, the two sons of the king of Innia offered to

go in search of him; but Finn said no, for that they should all go

together.

So Feradach and Foltlebar took all the cables and ropes they could find

in the ship, and tied them end to end in hard, sure knots, till they had

a rope long enough to reach from the top of the rock to the bottom. Then

they clambered up the steep face of the cliff, bringing with them the

end of the rope; and one by one they drew up Finn and the rest. And when

they looked round, they were as much surprised and delighted as Dermat

was at the look of the country.

Foltlebar now made a search, and soon found the track of Dermat; and the

whole party set out to walk across the plain, Foltlebar leading the way.

Having travelled some distance, they saw the great fruit tree afar off;

and, turning to the left, they found a place where a fire had been

lighted, and near it the remains of several meals of deer's flesh. By

this they knew that it was here Dermat had slept, for all were well

aware of his custom not to eat of what was left from a meal.

They then went towards the tree, and there they found the traces of

deadly combat--the ground all trampled and ploughed up, and a broken

spear handle lying at the brink of the well. While they stood pondering

on these things, with anxious hearts, they saw a horseman at a distance,

speeding towards them across the plain. In a little while he came up and

reined in.

He was a young man of majestic mien, fair and noble of countenance; and

he rode a beautiful chestnut steed, with a bridle of twisted gold, and a

saddle of surpassing splendour, ornamented all over with gold and

jewels.

He alighted and saluted Finn and the Fena, and told them they were

welcome to his country, for that he was king; and he put his hand on

Finn's neck and kissed his cheek three times. Then he invited them to go

with him, saying that the Plain of the Fountain was a comfortless

resting-place after a long journey.

Finn's heart was glad at this, for he and his companions were weary;

and they set out to walk across the plain with the young king. Having

walked a good distance, they came in sight of a noble palace, with tall

towers and carved front. As they came near, they were met by a company

of knights on the level green in front, who welcomed them with gentle

words. And so they passed into the palace. A bath was prepared, and they

bathed and were refreshed after their toils. Then they sat down to

supper; and while they ate and drank, the harpers played for them, and

the poets told their tales and sang their songs.

They slept that night in the palace; and next day they mingled with the

knights on the green, and took part in their games and pastimes. In the

evening they sat down to a feast. The people of the palace were ranged

at tables according to rank and inheritance, every man in his proper

place.

Then the feast went on; and abundance of the newest food and of the

oldest drink was served out; and they ate of the savoury food, and drank

of the sparkling wines and of the strong ales, till they became merry

and gently intoxicated. And Finn could not call to mind that he ever saw

an entertainment in the house of either king or chief better ordered. In

this manner they were feasted and entertained for three days and three

nights.

At the end of that time a meeting was held by the king on the palace

green. And Finn stood up and said--

"Tell me, I pray thee, thy name and the name of this country, which I

have never seen before, or even heard of."

"This country," replied the king, "is called Sorca, of which I am king;

and although you know us not, we know you well, for the fame of your

deeds has reached even to this land. But now I wish to know why you have

come hither; also the reason why you have brought so few companions, and

where the rest have tarried."

Then Finn told him the whole story from beginning to end; how the Gilla

Dacker and his great horse had carried off sixteen of their chief men;

"And," added Finn, "I and these fifteen companions of mine are now in

quest of them."

The king replied, "This is a dangerous undertaking; and you and your

fifteen men, valiant even as you are, are too few to venture into

unknown lands, where you may meet with many enemies. Now my knights are

brave and generous, and they love battle and adventure. Wherefore I will

place a band of them under your command, who will follow you

whithersoever you go, and who will not be behindhand even with the Fena

in facing hardship and danger."

Finn stood up to thank the king; but before he had time to speak, they

saw a messenger speeding towards them across the plain from the

north-west, breathless, and begrimed all over with mud and dust. When he

had come in presence of the company, he bowed low to the king, and,

standing up, waited impatient for leave to speak.

The king asked him what news he had brought and he replied--

"Bad and direful news I have for thee, O king. A foreign fleet has come

to our shores, which seems to cover all the sea, even as far as the eye

can reach; and until the stars of heaven are counted, and the sands of

the sea, and the leaves of the woods, the hosts that are landing from

their black ships shall not be numbered. Even already they have let

loose their plunderers over the country, who are burning and spoiling

the farmsteads and the great mansions; and many noble heroes and keepers

of houses of hospitality, and many people of the common sort, have been

slain by them. Some say that it is the King of the World and his host,

who, after conquering every country he has yet visited, has come now to

ravage this land with fire and sword and spear, and bring it under his

power; but I know not if this be true. And this, O king, is the news I

bring thee."

When the messenger had ended, the king spoke nought, though his

countenance, indeed, showed trouble; but he looked earnestly at Finn.

Finn understood this to mean that the king sought his help; and, with

clear voice, he spoke--

"Thou hast been generous to me and my people in our day of need, O king

of Sorca; and now thou shalt not find the Fena lacking in grateful

memory of thy kindness. We will, for a time, give up the pursuit of the

Gilla Dacker, and we will place ourselves under thy command, and help

thee against these marauders. Neither do I fear the outcome of this

war; for many a time have we met these foreigners on the shores of Erin

and elsewhere, and they have always yielded to us in the battle-field."

The king of Sorca was glad of heart when he heard these words; and he

sent his swift scouts all over the country to gather his fighting men.

And when all had come together, he arranged them in fighting order, and

marched towards the shore where the foreigners were spoiling the land.

And they met the plundering parties, and drove them with great slaughter

back to their ships, retaking all the spoils.

Then they formed an encampment on the shore, with ramparts and deep

ditches and long rows of pointed stakes all round. And each day a party

of the foreigners landed, led by one of their captains, who were met by

an equal number of the men of Sorca, led by one of the Fena; and each

time they were driven back to their ships, after losing their best men.

When, now, this had continued for many days, the King of the World

called a meeting of the chiefs of his army, and asked their counsel as

to what should be done. And they spoke as one man, that their best

chiefs had fallen, and that they were in worse case now for overcoming

the men of Sorca than they were at first; that their sages and prophets

had declared against them; and that they had met with ill luck from the

day of their arrival. And the advice they gave the king was to depart

from the shores of Sorca, for there seemed no chance of conquering the

country as long as the Fena were there to help the king.

So the king ordered the sails to be set, and he left the harbour in the

night with his whole fleet, without bringing the king of Sorca under

subjection, and without imposing tribute on the people.

CHAPTER VII.

FINN AND DERMAT MEET.

When the people of Sorca and the Fena arose next morning, not a ship was

in sight; and they began to rejoice greatly, finding themselves freed

from this invasion. And while the king and Finn, with the chiefs and

people, stood eagerly conversing on all these matters, they saw a troop

at a distance coming towards them, with banners and standards and arms

glittering in the morning sun. Now they wondered much who these might

be; and Finn desired that some one might go and bring back tidings.

So Fergus Finnvel went with a few followers, and when he was yet a good

way off, he knew Dermat O'Dyna at the head of the troop, and ran forward

with joy to meet him. And they embraced, even as brothers embrace who

meet after being long parted. Then they came towards the assembly; and

when the Fena saw Dermat they shouted with joy and welcome And Dermat,

on his part, could scarce restrain the excess of his joyfulness; for,

indeed, he did not expect to meet his friends so soon; and he embraced

them one by one, with glad heart, beginning with Finn.

Then Finn inquired from Dermat all particulars, what places he had

visited since the day he had climbed up the rock, and whether he had

heard any news of their lost companions; and he asked him also who were

they--those valiant-looking fighting men--he had brought with him.

Dermat told him of all his adventures from first to last--of his long

combat at the well with the Knight of the Fountain, of his descent to

Tir-fa-tonn, and how the Knight of Valour had entertained him hospitably

in his palace. He related also how he headed the men of the Knight of

Valour, and made war on the king of Tir-fa-tonn (who was also called the

Knight of the Fountain, the wizard-champion who fought with Dermat at

the well), whom he slew, and defeated his army.

"And now," continued he, bringing forth the Knight of Valour from among

the strange host, "this is he who was formerly called the Knight of

Valour, but who is now the king of Tir-fa-tonn. Moreover, this king has

told me, having himself found it out by his druidical art, that it was

Avarta the Dedannan (the son of Illahan of the Many-coloured Raiment)

who took the form of the Gilla Dacker, and who brought the sixteen Fena

away to the Land of Promise,[8] where he now holds them in bondage."

Finn and the young king then put hand in hand and made covenants of

lasting friendship with each other. And the Fena were much rejoiced that

they had at last got some tidings of their lost companions.

CHAPTER VIII.

CONAN AND HIS COMPANIONS FOUND AND RESCUED.

Now after they had rested some days in the palace of the king of Sorca,

Fergus Finnvel told Finn that it was time to begin once more their quest

after Conan and the others. They held council, therefore; and the

resolution they came to was to return to the rock at the spot where they

had turned aside from the track of the Gilla Dacker, and to begin their

search anew from that. And when both the king of Sorca and the king of

Tir-fa-tonn would have sent men with them, Finn thanked them, but said

that the small party of Fena he had with him were quite enough for that

adventure.

So they took leave of the two kings, and went back to the rock, and

Foltlebar at once found the track. He traced it from the very edge of

the rock across the plain to the sea at the other side; and they brought

round their ship and began their voyage. But this time Foltlebar found

it very hard to keep on the track; for the Gilla Dacker, knowing that

there were not in the world men more skilled in following up a quest

than the Fena, took great pains to hide all traces of the flight of

himself and his horse; so that Foltlebar was often thrown out; but he

always recovered the track after a little time.

And so they sailed from island to island, and from bay to bay, over many

seas and by many shores, ever following the track, till at length they

arrived at the Land of Promise. And when they had made the land, and

knew for a certainty that this was indeed the Land of Promise, they

rejoiced greatly; for in this land Dermat O'Dyna had been nurtured by

Mannanan Mac Lir of the Yellow Hair.

Then they held council as to what was best to be done; and Finn's advice

was that they should burn and spoil the country, in revenge of the

outrage that had been done to his people. Dermat, however, would not

hear of this. And he said--

"Not so, O king. The people of this land are of all men the most skilled

in druidic art; and it is not well that they should be at feud with us.

Let us rather send to Avarta a trusty herald, to demand that he should

set our companions at liberty. If he does so, then we shall be at peace;

if he refuse, then shall we proclaim war against him and his people, and

waste this land with fire and sword, till he be forced, even by his own

people, to give us back our friends."

This advice was approved by all. And then Finn said--

"But how shall heralds reach the dwelling of this enchanter; for the

ways are not open and straight, as in other lands, but crooked and made

for concealment, and the valleys and plains are dim and shadowy, and

hard to be traversed?"

But Foltlebar, nothing daunted by the dangers and the obscurity of the

way, offered to go with a single trusty companion; and they took up the

track and followed it without being once thrown out, till they reached

the mansion of Avarta. There they found their friends amusing themselves

on the green outside the palace walls; for, though kept captive in the

island, yet were they in no wise restrained, but were treated by Avarta

with much kindness. When they saw the heralds coming towards them, their

joy knew no bounds; they crowded round to embrace them, and asked them

many questions regarding their home and their friends.

At last Avarta himself came forth, and asked who these strangers were;

and Foltlebar replied--

"We are of the people of Finn Mac Cumal, who has sent us as heralds to

thee. He and his heroes have landed on this island, guided hither by me;

and he bade us tell thee that he has come to wage war and to waste this

land with fire and sword, as a punishment for that thou hast brought

away his people by foul spells, and even now keepest them in bondage."

When Avarta heard this, he made no reply, but called a council of his

chief men, to consider whether they should send back to Finn an answer

of war or of peace. And they, having much fear of the Fena, were minded

to restore Finn's people, and to give him his own award in satisfaction

for the injury done to him; and to invite Finn himself and those who had

come with him to a feast of joy and friendship in the house of Avarta.

Avarta himself went with Foltlebar to give this message. And after he

and Finn had exchanged friendly greetings, he told them what the council

had resolved; and Finn and Dermat and the others were glad at heart. And

Finn and Avarta put hand in hand, and made a league of friendship.

So they went with Avarta to his house, where they found their lost

friends; and, being full of gladness, they saluted and embraced each

other. Then a feast was prepared; and they were feasted for three days,

and they ate and drank and made merry.

On the fourth day, a meeting was called on the green to hear the award.

Now it was resolved to make amends on the one hand to Finn, as king of

the Fena, and on the other, to those who had been brought away by the

Gilla Dacker. And when all were gathered together, Finn was first asked

to name his award; and this is what he said--

"I shall not name an award, O Avarta; neither shall I accept an eric

from thee. But the wages I promised thee when we made our covenant at

Knockainy, that I will give thee. For I am thankful for the welcome thou

hast given us here; and I wish that there should be peace and friendship

between us for ever."

But Conan, on his part, was not so easily satisfied; and he said to

Finn--

"Little hast thou endured, O Finn, in all this matter; and thou mayst

well waive thy award. But hadst thou, like us, suffered from the sharp

bones and the rough carcase of the Gilla Dacker's monstrous horse, in a

long journey from Erin to the Land of Promise, across wide seas, through

tangled woods, and over rough-headed rocks, thou wouldst then, methinks,

name an award."

At this, Avarta, and the others who had seen Conan and his companions

carried off on the back of the big horse, could scarce keep from

laughing; and Avarta said to Conan--

"Name thy award, and I will fulfil it every jot: for I have heard of

thee, Conan, and I dread to bring the gibes and taunts of thy foul

tongue on myself and my people."

"Well then," said Conan, "my award is this: that you choose fifteen of

the best and noblest men in the Land of Promise, among whom are to be

your own best beloved friends; and that you cause them to mount on the

back of the big horse, and that you yourself take hold of his tail. In

this manner you shall fare to Erin, back again by the selfsame track the

horse took when he brought us hither--through the same surging seas,

through the same thick thorny woods, and over the same islands and rough

rocks and dark glens. And this, O Avarta, is my award," said Conan.

Now Finn and his people were rejoiced exceedingly when they heard

Conan's award--that he asked from Avarta nothing more than like for

like. For they feared much that he might claim treasure of gold and

silver, and thus bring reproach on the Fena.

Avarta promised that everything required by Conan should be done,

binding himself in solemn pledges. Then the heroes took their leave; and

having launched their ship on the broad, green sea, they sailed back by

the same course to Erin. And they marched to their camping-place at

Knockainy, where they rested in their tents.

Avarta then chose his men. And he placed them on the horse's back, and

he himself caught hold of the tail; and it is not told how they fared

till they made harbour and landing-place at Cloghan Kincat. They delayed

not, but straightway journeyed over the selfsame track as before, till

they reached Knockainy.

Finn and his people saw them afar off coming towards the hill with great

speed; the Gilla Dacker, quite as large and as ugly as ever, running

before the horse; for he had let go the tail at Cloghan Kincat. And the

Fena could not help laughing heartily when they saw the plight of the

fifteen chiefs on the great horse's back; and they said with one voice

that Conan had made a good award that time.

When the horse reached the spot from which he had at first set out, the

men began to dismount. Then the Gilla Dacker, suddenly stepping forward,

held up his arm and pointed earnestly over the heads of the Fena

towards the field where the horses were standing; so that the heroes

were startled, and turned round every man to look. But nothing was to be

seen except the horses grazing quietly inside the fence.

Finn and the others now turned round again, with intent to speak to the

Gilla Dacker and bring him and his people into the tents; but much did

they marvel to find them all gone. The Gilla Dacker and his great horse

and the fifteen nobles of the Land of Promise had disappeared in an

instant; and neither Finn himself nor any of his chiefs ever saw them

afterwards.

So far we have related the story of the pursuit of the Gilla Dacker and

his horse.

THE PURSUIT OF DERMAT AND GRANIA.

CHAPTER I.

FINN, THE SON OF CUMAL, SEEKS THE PRINCESS GRANIA TO WIFE.

On a certain day, Finn, the son of Cumal, rose at early morn in Allen of

the broad hill-slopes, and, going forth, sat him down on the green lawn

before the palace, without companion or attendant. And two of his people

followed him, namely, Oisin his son, and Dering the son of Dobar

O'Baskin.

Oisin spoke to him and asked, "Why, O king, hast thou come forth so

early?"

"Cause enough have I indeed," replied Finn; "for I am without a wife

since Manissa, the daughter of Garad of the Black Knee, died; and who

can enjoy sweet sleep when his life is lonely like mine, with no wife to

comfort and cheer him? This, my friends, is the cause of my early

rising."

And Oisin said, "Why should you be without a wife if you desire one? For

there is not, within the sea-circle of green Erin, a maiden that we will

not bring you, either by consent or by force, if you only turn the

light of your eyes on her."

Then Dering spoke and said, "I know where there is a maiden, who in all

respects is worthy to be thy wife."

And when Finn asked who she was, Dering replied--

"The maiden is Grania, daughter of king Cormac,[22] the son of Art, the

son of Conn the Hundred-fighter; the most beautiful, the best

instructed, and the most discreet in speech and manner of all the

maidens of Erin."

"There has been strife between me and Cormac for a long time," said

Finn, "and it may happen that he will not give me his daughter in

marriage. But go ye to Tara in my name, you and Oisin, and ask the

maiden for me: if the king should refuse, so let it be; but I can better

bear a refusal to you than to myself."

"We will go," said Oisin; "but it is better that no man know of our

journey till we return."

So the two heroes took leave of Finn and went their way; and nothing is

told of what befell them till they reached Tara. It chanced that the

king was at this time holding a meeting; and the chiefs and great nobles

of Tara were assembled round him. And when the two warriors arrived,

they were welcomed, and the meeting was put off for that day; for the

king felt sure that it was on some business of weight they had come.

After they had eaten and drunk, the king, sending away all others from

his presence, bade the two chiefs tell their errand. So Oisin told him

they had come to seek his daughter Grania in marriage for Finn the son

of Cumal.

Then the king said, "In all Erin there is scarce a young prince or noble

who has not sought my daughter in marriage; and she has refused them

all. And it is on me that the ill feeling and reproach caused by her

refusals have fallen; for she has ever made me the bearer of her

answers. Wherefore now you shall come to my daughter's presence, and I

will not mention the matter to her till she give you an answer from her

own lips: so shall I be blameless if she refuse."

So they went to the apartments of the women, at the sunny side of the

palace. And when they had entered the princess's chamber, the king sat

with her on the couch and said--

"Here, my daughter, are two of the people of Finn the son of Cumal, who

have come to ask thee as a wife for him."

And Grania, giving, indeed, not much thought to the matter, answered, "I

know not whether he is worthy to be thy son-in-law; but if he be, why

should he not be a fitting husband for me?"

The two messengers were satisfied with this answer, and retired. And

Cormac made a feast for them; and they ate and drank and made merry with

the chiefs and nobles of the palace; after which the king bade them tell

Finn to come at the end of a fortnight to claim his bride.

So the two heroes returned to Allen, and told how they had fared in

their quest. And as all things come at last to an end, so this fortnight

wore slowly away; and at the end of the time, Finn, having collected

round him the chief men of the seven standing battalions of the Fena to

be his guard, marched to Tara. The king received him with great honour,

and welcomed the Fena, and they were feasted with the nobles of Erin in

the great banquet hall of Micorta.[CVII.] And the king sat on his throne

to enjoy the feast with his guests, having Finn on his right hand, and

on his left the queen, Etta, the daughter of Atan of Corca; and Grania

sat next the queen, her mother, on the left. And all the others sat

according to their rank and patrimony.

CHAPTER II.

DERMAT O'DYNA SECRETLY ESPOUSES THE PRINCESS GRANIA.

Now while the feast went on, it chanced that Dara of the Poems, one of

Finn's druids, sat near Grania. And he recited for her many lays about

the deeds of her forefathers; after which a pleasant conversation arose

between them. And when they had talked for some time, she asked him--

"What means all this feasting? And why has Finn come with his people on

this visit to my father the king?"

Dara was surprised at this question, and answered, "If thou dost not

know, it is hard for me to know."

And Grania answered, "I wish, indeed, to learn from you what has brought

Finn to Tara."

"It is strange to hear thee ask this question," said the druid. "Knowest

thou not that he has come to claim thee for his wife?"

Grania was silent for a long time after hearing this. And again she

spoke--

"If, indeed, Finn had sought me for his son Oisin, or for the youthful

Oscar, there would be nothing to wonder at; but I marvel much that he

seeks me for himself, seeing that he is older than my father."

Then Grania meditated in silence; and after a time she said to the

druid--

"This is a goodly company, but I know not one among them, except only

Oisin, the son of Finn. Tell me now who is that warrior on the right of

Oisin."

"That knightly warrior," answered the druid, "is Gaul Mac Morna the

Terrible in Battle."

"Who is the youthful champion to the right of Gaul?" asked Grania.

"That is Oscar, the son of Oisin," said the druid.

"Who is the graceful and active-looking chief sitting next Oscar?" asked

the princess.

"That is Kylta Mac Ronan the Swift-footed," said the druid.

"Next to Kylta Mac Ronan sits a champion with fair, freckled skin,

raven-black curls, a gentle, handsome, manly countenance, and soft

voice: pray who is he?"

"That is Dermat O'Dyna of the Bright Face, the favourite of maidens, and

beloved of all the Fena for his high-mindedness, his bravery, and his

generous disposition."

"Who is he sitting at Dermat's shoulder?" asked Grania.

"That is Dering, the son of Dobar O'Baskin," replied the druid; "a

valiant champion, and also a druid and a man of science."

Then Grania called her handmaid, and said to her, "Bring me the large

jewelled, gold-chased drinking-horn that lies in my chamber."

The handmaid brought the drinking-horn; and Grania, having filled it to

the brim, said--

"Take it now to Finn from me, and tell him that I desire him to drink

from it."

The handmaiden did so, and Finn took a full draught. He passed the

drinking-horn to the king, and the king drank; and after him the queen.

Then again Grania bade the handmaid bring it to Carbri of the Liffey,

the king's son; and she ceased not till all she wished to drink had

drunk from the gold-chased horn. And after a little time, those who had

drunk fell into a deep sleep, like the sleep of death.

Then the princess rose from her seat, and, walking softly across the

hall, sat down near Dermat O'Dyna; and with downcast eyes and low voice,

she said--

"Wilt thou, Dermat, return my love if I give it to thee?"

Dermat heard her at first with amazement and alarm. Then for a moment,

even before he was aware, his heart leaped with joy; but when he

bethought him of his duty to his chief, he hardened his mind, and

answered with cold looks and words--

"The maiden who is betrothed to Finn, I will not love; and even if I

were so minded, I dare not."

And with eyes still cast down, Grania said, "I know well it is thy duty,

and not thy heart, that prompts thee to speak so. Thou seest how it is

with me; and I am forced to speak more boldly than a maiden should. Finn

has come to ask me for his wife; but he is an old man, even older than

my father, and I love him not. But I love thee, Dermat, and I beseech

thee to save me from this hateful marriage. And, lest thou think that my

love for thee is only a passing fancy, hear now what befell.

"Of a day when a hurling match was played on the green of Tara, between

Mac Luga and the Fena on the one side, and Carbri of the Liffey and the

men of Tara on the other, I sat high up at the window of my sunny

chamber to see the game. Thou didst remain sitting with some others that

day, not meaning to take part in the play. But at last, when the game

began to go against thy friends, I saw thee start up; and, snatching the

hurlet from the man nearest to thee, thou didst rush into the thick of

the crowd; and before sitting down thou didst win the goal three times

on the men of Tara. At that hour my eyes and my heart were turned to

thee; and well I knew thee to-day in this banquet hall, though I knew

not thy name till the druid told me. At that same hour, too, I gave thee

my love--what I never gave, and never will give, to any other."

Then was Dermat sore troubled. He strove with himself, but strove in

vain; for he could not help loving the princess with his whole heart.

Yet none the less did he hide his thoughts; for his duty to his chief

prevailed. And with looks and words cold and stern, he replied--

"I marvel greatly that thou hast not given thy love to Finn, who

deserves it much better than any other man alive. And still more do I

marvel that thou hast lighted on me beyond all the princes and nobles of

Tara; for truly there is not one among them less worthy of thy love than

I. But that thou shouldst be my wife, by no means can this be; for even

were I to consent, there is not in Erin a fastness or a wilderness,

however strong or remote, that could shelter us from Finn's vengeance."

Then Grania said, "I read thy thoughts; and I know thou art striving

against what thy heart prompts. And now, O Dermat, I place thee under

gesa,[12] and under the bonds of heavy druidical spells--bonds that true

heroes never break through, that thou take me for thy wife before Finn

and the others awaken from their sleep; and save me from this hateful

marriage."

And Dermat, still unyielding, replied, "Evil are those gesa thou hast

put on me; and evil, I fear, will come of them. But dost thou not know,

princess, that whenever Finn sleeps at Tara, it is one of his privileges

to have in his own keeping the keys of the great gates; so that even if

we so willed it, we should not be able to leave the fortress?"

"There is a wicket gate leading out from my apartments," said Grania,

"and through that we shall pass forth."

"That I cannot do," answered Dermat; "for it is one of my gesa[12] never

to enter a king's mansion, or leave it, by a wicket gate."

And Grania answered, "I have heard it said that every true champion, who

has been instructed in all the feats that a warrior should learn, can

bound over the highest rampart of a fort by means of the handles of his

spears; and well I know that thou art the most accomplished champion

among the Fena. I will now pass out through the wicket gate; and even if

thou dost not follow, I will fly alone from Tara."

And so she went forth from the banquet hall.

Then Dermat, much doubting how to act, spoke to his friends and asked

counsel of them. And first he addressed Oisin, the son of Finn, and

asked him how he should deal with the heavy gesa-bonds that had been

laid on him by the princess; and what he should do in the case.

"You are blameless in regard to these bonds," answered Oisin; "and I

counsel you to follow Grania; but guard yourself well against the wiles

of Finn."

"O dear friend Oscar," spoke Dermat again, "what think you is best for

me to do, seeing that these heavy gesa-bonds have been put on me?"

"I say you should follow Grania," answered Oscar; "for he, indeed, is

but a pitiful champion who fears to keep his bonds."

"What counsel do you give me, Kylta?" said Dermat to Kylta Mac Ronan.

"I say," answered Kylta, "that I would gladly give the world's wealth

that the princess had given me her love; and I counsel you to follow

her."

Last of all, Dermat spoke to Dering, the son of Dobar O'Baskin, and

said, "Give me your judgment in this hard matter, friend Dering."

And Dering answered, "If you espouse Grania, I foresee that your death

will come of it, which grieves me even to think of; but even so, I

counsel you to follow the princess rather than break through your gesa."

And Dermat, doubting even still, asked for the last time, "Is this, my

friends, the counsel you all give?"

And they all answered, "Yes," as with the voice of one man.

Then Dermat arose and put on his armour and his helmet; and he took his

shield, and his two heavy spears, and his sword. And with tears he bade

farewell to his dear companions; for well he knew that it would be long

before they should meet again; and he foresaw trouble and danger.

Then he went forth to where the steep side of the inner mound

overlooked the outer rampart; and, placing his two spears point

downwards, and leaning on them after the manner of skilful champions,

with two light, airy bounds he cleared rampart and ditch, and measured

the length of his two feet on the level green outside. And there the

princess met him; and he said to her, with voice and manner still

distant and stern--

"Evil will certainly come of this espousal, O princess, both to thee and

to me. Far better would it be for thee to choose Finn and to pass me by;

for now we shall wander without home or rest, fleeing from his wrath.

Return, then, princess, return even now through the wicket gate, for the

sleepers have not yet awakened; and Finn shall never learn what has

happened."

But Grania, gentle and sad indeed, but quite unmoved, replied, "I will

never return; and until death takes me I will not part from thee."

Then at last Dermat yielded and strove no longer; and putting off his

sternness of manner and voice, he spoke gently to the princess and

said--

"I will hide my thoughts from thee no more, Grania. I will be thy

husband, all unworthy of thee as I am; and I will guard thee and defend

thee to the death from Finn and his hirelings."

And they plighted their faith, and vowed solemn vows to be faithful to

each other as man and wife for ever.

FOOTNOTES:

[CVII.] See foot-note, page 55.

CHAPTER III.

FLIGHT AND PURSUIT.

Then Grania showed Dermat the fenced meadow where her father's horses

grazed, and bade him yoke two horses to a chariot. And when he had done

so, he and Grania sat in the chariot and travelled with all speed

westward, till they reached Ath-Luan.[CVIII.]

And when they had come to the ford, Dermat said, "Finn will doubtless

pursue us, and it will be all the easier for him to follow our track,

that we have the horses."

And Grania answered, "As we are now so far from Tara, we may leave the

chariot and horses here, and I will fare on foot henceforward."

So they alighted from the chariot; and Dermat, leading one of the horses

across, left them both some distance above the ford, one at each side of

the river. And he took up Grania in his strong arms, and brought her

tenderly across the ford, so that not even the sole of her foot, or the

skirt of her mantle was wetted. Then they walked against the stream for

a mile, and turned south-west, till they reached the Wood of the two

Tents.[CIX.]

In the midst of the wood, where it was thickest, Dermat lopped off

branches and wove a hut, where they rested. And he brought Grania the

wild animals of the wood to eat, and gave her the water of a clear

spring to drink.

As to Finn, the son of Cumal, I will now tell what befell him. When the

king and his guests arose from their sleep at early dawn next morning,

they found Dermat and Grania gone; and a burning jealousy seized on

Finn, and his rage was so great that for a time all his strength left

him. Then he sent for his tracking-men, namely, the Clann Navin; and he

commanded them forthwith to follow the track of Dermat and Grania. This

they did with much ease as far as Ath-Luan, while Finn and the others

followed after; but when they had come to the ford, they lost the track.

Whereupon Finn, being now indeed easily kindled to wrath, told them that

unless they took up the track again speedily, he would hang every man of

the Clann Navin on the edge of the ford.

So the trackers, being sore afraid, searched upwards against the stream,

and found the two horses where they had been left, one on each side of

the river. And going on a mile further, they came to the spot where

Dermat and Grania had turned from the river; and there they lighted on

the south-west track, Finn and the Fena still following. And when the

Clann Navin had pointed out to Finn the direction of the track, he

said--

"Well do I know now where we shall find Dermat and Grania; for of a

certainty they have hidden themselves in the Wood of the two Tents."

Now it chanced that Oisin, and Oscar, and Kylta, and Dering were present

when Finn spoke these words; and they were troubled, for they loved

Dermat. And going aside, they held council among themselves, and Oisin

spoke--

"There is much likelihood, friends, that Finn speaks truth; for he is

far-seeing, and judges not hastily. It is needful, therefore, that we

send Dermat warning, lest he be taken unawares. My counsel is that you,

Oscar, find out Finn's hound, Bran, and tell him to go to the Wood of

the two Tents with a warning to Dermat; for Bran does not love his own

master Finn better than he loves Dermat."

So Oscar called Bran secretly, and told him what he should do. Bran

listened with sagacious eye and ears erect, and understood Oscar's words

quite well. Then, running back to the rear of the host, so that Finn

might not see him, he followed the track without once losing it, till he

arrived at the Wood of the two Tents. There he found Dermat and Grania

asleep in their hut, and he put his head into Dermat's bosom.

Dermat started up from his sleep, and seeing Bran, he awakened Grania,

and said--

"Here is Bran, Finn's hound; he has come to warn me that Finn himself is

near."

And Grania trembled and said, "Let us take the warning, then, and fly!"

But Dermat answered, "I will not leave this hut; for however long we

fly, we cannot escape from Finn; and it is not worse to fall into his

hands now than at any other time. Howbeit, they shall not come into this

fastness unless I permit them."

Then great fear fell on Grania; but, seeing Dermat gloomy and downcast,

she urged the point no further.

Again Oisin spoke to his three companions and said, "I fear me that Bran

may not have been able to baffle Finn, or that some other mischance may

have hindered him from finding Dermat; so we must needs send him another

warning. Bring hither, therefore, Fergor, Kylta's errand-man."

And Kylta brought forward Fergor.

Now this Fergor had a voice so loud that his shout was heard over the

three nearest cantreds.

So they caused him to give three shouts that Dermat might hear. And

Dermat heard Fergor's shouts, and, awakening Grania from her sleep, said

to her--

"I hear the shout of Fergor, Kylta's errand-man. And he is with Kylta,

and Kylta is with Finn; and I know that my friends have sent me this

warning, as a sign that Finn himself is coming."

And again Grania trembled and said, "Let us take this warning and fly!"

But Dermat answered, "I will not fly; and we shall not leave this wood

till Finn and the Fena overtake us. Howbeit, none shall come into this

fastness unless I permit them."

And Grania was in great fear; but this time Dermat looked gloomy and

stern, and she pressed the matter no further.

FOOTNOTES:

[CVIII.] Ath-Luan, now Athlone, on the Shannon. In ancient times the

river had to be crossed by a ford, where the bridge is now built.

[CIX.] The Wood of the two Tents was situated in the territory of

Clanrickard, in the county Galway.

CHAPTER IV.

THE FASTNESS OF THE SEVEN NARROW DOORS.

Now as to Finn. He and the others went forward till they reached the

Wood of the two Tents. And he sent forward the Clann Navin to make

search; who went, and having made their way to the thickest part of the

wood, they came to a fence which they could not cross.

For Dermat had cleared a space round his hut, and surrounded it with a

fence that no man could pierce, with seven narrow doors of strong poles

woven with saplings, to face seven different parts of the wood.

Then the Clann Navin climbed up to a high tree branch, and looked over

the fence; and they saw Dermat with a lady. And when they had returned,

Finn asked them if Dermat and Grania were in the wood. And they

answered--

"Dermat, indeed, is there, and we saw a lady with him; but whether she

be Grania or not we cannot tell, for we know not the princess."

"May ill luck attend Dermat, and all his friends for his sake!" said

Finn. "I know he is in this wood; and he shall never leave it till he

give me quittance for the injury he has done me."

And Oisin said, "Certain it is, that you, Finn, are blinded by jealousy;

else you would never think that Dermat would await you on this plain,

with no stronger fastness to shelter him from your wrath than the Wood

of the two Tents."

To which Finn, being angry, replied, "Your words will profit you

nothing, Oisin; neither will your friendship for Dermat avail him aught.

Well I knew, indeed, when I heard Fergor's three shouts, that it was ye

who caused him to shout, as a warning signal to Dermat; and I know also

that ye sent my dog Bran to him with another warning. But these warnings

will not avail you; for he shall never leave this wood till he pay me

such eric[10] as I seek for the injury he has done me."

Then Oscar spoke and said, "Surely, Finn, it is mere folly to believe

that Dermat would wait here for you, knowing, as he does, that you seek

his head."

As Oscar spoke these words, they arrived at the fence; and Finn

answered, "Who then, think you, has cleared the wood in this manner, and

fenced the space with this strong, sheltering enclosure, and fitted it

with these narrow doors? But indeed," added he, "I will find out the

truth of the matter in another way." So, raising his voice a little, he

called out, "Tell us now, Dermat, which of us is telling truth, Oscar or

I."

And Dermat, who would not hide when called on, answered from within,

"You never erred in your judgment, O king: Grania and I are here; but

none shall come in unless I permit them."

Then Finn placed his men around the enclosure, a company at each narrow

door; and he said to each company, "If Dermat tries to escape by this

door, seize him and keep him securely for me."

Now when Grania saw these preparations, and overheard Finn's words, she

was overcome with fear, and wept and trembled very much. And Dermat had

pity on his wife, and comforted her; and he kissed her three times,

bidding her be of good cheer, for that all would be well with them yet.

And when Finn saw this--for he stood with some others viewing the hut

from a mound at a little way off--a flame of burning jealousy went

through his heart; and he said--

"Now of a certainty Dermat shall not escape from me; and I shall have

his head for all these injuries!"

Now Angus of Bruga,[1] the wisest and most skilled in magic arts of all

the Dedannan race, was Dermat's foster father. For he had reared him

from childhood, and had taught him all the arts and accomplishments of a

champion; and he loved him even as a father loves his only son.

And it was revealed to Angus that Dermat was in deadly strait So he

arose and travelled on the wings of the cool, east wind, neither did he

halt till he reached the Wood of the two Tents; and he passed into the

hut without being perceived by Finn and his men. And when Dermat saw the

old man his heart leaped with joy.

Angus greeted Dermat and Grania, and said, "What is this thing thou hast

done, my son?"

And Dermat answered, "The princess Grania, daughter of the king of Tara,

asked me to take her for my wife, putting heavy gesa-bonds on me; and I

did so, and we fled from her father's house. And Finn, the son of Cumal,

has pursued us with intent to kill me, for he sought the princess to

wife for himself."

And Angus said, "Come now, children, under my mantle, one under each

border, and I will bring you both away from this place without the

knowledge of Finn."

But Dermat answered, "Take Grania; but for me, I will not go with you.

However, I will leave this place; and if I am alive I will follow you.

But if they slay me, send the princess to her father, and tell him to

treat her neither better nor worse on account of taking me for her

husband."

Then Dermat kissed Grania, and bade her be of good cheer, for that he

feared not his foes. And Angus placed her under his mantle, and, telling

Dermat whither to follow, went forth from the enclosure without the

knowledge of Finn and the Fena. They turned south then, and nothing is

told of what befell them till they came to the Wood of the two Sallows,

which is now called Limerick.

Now as to Dermat. After Angus and Grania had left him, he girded on his

armour, and took his sharp weapons in his hands; and he stood up tall

and straight like a pillar, meditating in silence for a space. Then he

went to one of the seven narrow doors, and asked who was outside.

"No enemy of thine is here, but Oisin and Oscar, with the men of the

Clann Baskin. Come out to us, and no one will dare to harm thee."

"I must needs find the door where Finn himself keeps guard," answered

Dermat; "so I will not go out to you."

He went to the second narrow door, and asked who was there.

"Kylta Mac Ronan with the Clann Ronan around him. Come out at this door,

and we will fight to the death for thy sake."

"I will not go out to you," answered Dermat; "for I do not wish to bring

Finn's anger on you for treating me with kindness."

He went to another narrow door, and asked who was there.

"Conan of the Grey Rushes and the Clann Morna. We are no friends to

Finn; but thee we all love. Come out to us, then, and no one will dare

to harm thee."

"Of a certainty I will not go out at this door," answered Dermat; "for

well I know that Finn would rather see you all dead than that I should

escape!"

He went to another narrow door, and asked who was there.

"A friend and a dear comrade of thine is here; Cuan, the chief of the

Munster Fena, and his Munster men with him. Thou and we come from the

same territory; and if need be we will give our lives in fight for thy

sake."

"I will not go out to you," said Dermat; "for it would bring Finn's sure

displeasure on you to act kindly towards me."

He went to another narrow door, and asked who was there.

"Finn, the son of Glore of the Loud Voice, chief of the Fena of Ulster,

and the Ulster men around him. Thou and we come not from the same

territory; but we all love thee, Dermat; and now come forth to us, and

who will dare to wound or harm thee?"

"I will not go out to you," replied Dermat; "you are a faithful friend

of mine, and your father in like manner; and I do not wish you to earn

the enmity of Finn on my account."

He went to another narrow door, and asked who was there.

"No friend of thine! Here stand the Clann Navin watching for thee;

namely, Aed the Lesser, and Aed the Tall, and Gonna the Wounder, and

Gothan the Loud-voiced, and Cuan the Tracker, with all their men. We

bear thee no love; and if thou come out at this door, we shall make thee

a mark for our swords and spears!"

And Dermat answered, "Lying and mean-faced dogs! It is not fear of you

that keeps me from going forth at this door; but I do not wish to defile

my spear with the blood of your shoeless, tracking vagabonds!"

And he went to another narrow door, and asked who was there.

"Finn, the son of Cumal, the son of Art, the son of Trenmore O'Baskin,

and with him the Leinster Fena. No love awaits thee here; and if thou

come forth we will cleave thee, flesh and bones!"

"The door I have sought I have found at last!" cried Dermat; "for the

door where thou, Finn, standest, that, of a certainty, is the very door

by which I shall pass out!"

Then Finn charged his men, under pain of death, not to let Dermat pass.

But Dermat, watching an unguarded place, rose by means of his two spears

with a light, airy bound over the fence, and alighted on the clear space

outside; and running swiftly forward, was in a moment beyond the reach

of sword and spear. And so dismayed were they by his threatening look,

that not a man attempted to follow him.

Then, turning southward, he never halted till he came to the Wood of the

two Sallows, where he found Angus and Grania in a warm hut, with a boar

fixed on hazel spits roasting before a great flaming fire. Dermat

greeted them; and the spark of life all but leaped from Grania's heart

with joy when she saw him.[CX.] So he told them all that had befallen

him; and they ate their meal and slept in peace that night, till the

morning of next day filled the world with light.

Then Angus arose with the dawn, and said to Dermat, "I will now depart,

my son; but Finn will still pursue you, and I leave you this counsel to

guide you when I am gone. Go not into a tree having only one trunk;

never enter a cave that has only one opening; never land on an island of

the sea that has only one channel of approach; where you cook your food,

there eat it not; where you eat, sleep not there; and where you sleep

to-night, sleep not there to-morrow night!"

So Angus bade them farewell; and they were sad after him.

FOOTNOTES:

[CX.] Original: "It was little but that the salmon of her life fled

through her mouth with joy before Dermat."

CHAPTER V.

THE THREE SEA-CHAMPIONS AND THEIR THREE VENOMOUS HOUNDS ON THE TRACK OF

DERMAT AND GRANIA.

After Angus was gone, Dermat and Grania journeyed westward, keeping the

Shannon on their right, till they reached the Rough Stream of the

Champions, which is now called the Laune.[CXI.] They rested there; and

Dermat killed a salmon with his spear, and fixed it on a hazel spit to

broil on the near bank; and he crossed the river with Grania, to eat it

on the further bank, as Angus had told him. And after they had eaten,

they sought a sleeping-place further west.

They rose early next morning, and journeyed still west, till they

reached the Grey Moor of Finnlia.[CXII.] There they met a man of great

size, noble in gait and feature, but with arms and armour not befitting

his appearance. Dermat greeted him, and asked who he was; and he

replied--

"My name is Modan, and I am seeking a lord whom I may serve for pay."

"If I take you into my service," asked Dermat, "what can you do for us?"

"I will serve you by day and watch for you by night," answered Modan.

Whereupon they entered into bonds of agreement with one another, Modan

to serve by day and watch by night, and Dermat to pay him wages.

Then the three went westward till they reached the river of

Carra,[CXIII.] and Modan lifted Dermat and Grania with the greatest

ease, and bore them dry across the stream. From that further west to

Beha,[CXIV.] and Modan bore them over this stream in like manner. Here

they found a cave, on the side of the hill over that part of the sea

called Tonn Toma,[CXV.] namely, the hill of Curra-Kenn-Ammid; and Modan

prepared a couch of soft rushes and birch tops in the innermost part of

the cave, for Dermat and Grania. After this he went to the nearest wood

and cut him a long, straight quicken tree rod; and, having put a hair

and a hook on the rod, and a holly berry on the hook, he stood on the

brink of the stream, and with three casts he hooked three salmon. Then

he put the rod by for next day; and, putting the hook and the hair under

his girdle, he returned to Dermat and Grania. And he broiled the fish,

and they ate their meal, Modan giving the largest salmon to Dermat, the

second in size to Grania, and keeping the smallest for himself. After

which Dermat and Grania went to sleep in the cave, and Modan kept watch

and ward at the mouth, till morning arose with its abundant light.

Dermat rose early and set out for the nearest high hill, to look round

the country, telling Grania to keep watch at the mouth of the cave while

Modan slept. Having come to the top of the hill, he viewed the country

all round to the four points of the sky; and after a little while, he

saw a fleet of black ships approaching from the west. When they had come

near enough to the shore, a company of nine nines landed at the very

foot of the hill where Dermat stood. He went to them, and, after

greeting them, asked who they were, and from what country they had come.

"We are three sea-champions from the Iccian Sea,[CXVI.] who are at the

head of this troop," replied they, "and our names are Ducoss, Fincoss,

and Trencoss;[CXVII.] and we have come hither at the suit of Finn the

son of Cumal. For a certain chief named Dermat O'Dyna has rebelled

against him, and is now an outlaw, flying through the country from one

fastness to another. And Finn has asked us to come with our fleet to

watch the coast, while he himself watches inland, so that this marauder

may no longer escape punishment. We hear, moreover, that this Dermat is

valiant and dangerous to attack, and we have brought hither three

venomous hounds to loose them on his track, and scent him to his

hiding-place: fire cannot burn them, water cannot drown them, and

weapons cannot wound them. And now tell us who thou art, and whether

thou hast heard any tidings of this Dermat O'Dyna."

"I saw him, indeed, yesterday," answered Dermat. "I know him well too,

and I counsel you to follow your quest warily; for if you meet with

Dermat O'Dyna you will have no common man to deal with."

Then he asked if they had got any wine in their ships. They replied

that they had; so he asked that a tun might be brought, as he wished to

drink; and he told them he would show them a champion-feat after he had

drunk. Two men were accordingly sent on board for a tun of wine. When

they had brought it, Dermat raised it in his arms and drank; and the

others drank in like manner till the tun was empty.

Then he said, "I will now show you a champion-feat that Dermat O'Dyna

taught me; and I challenge any man among you to do it after me. And from

this you may learn what manner of man you will have to deal with, should

you have the ill luck to meet with Dermat himself."

So saying, he brought the tun to the crest of the hill, and set it down

at the edge of a steep cliff. Then, leaping up on it, he turned it

cunningly aside from the cliff, and let it roll down the smooth slope of

the hill till it reached the very bottom, while he himself remained

standing on it the whole time. And three times did he do this while the

strangers looked on.

But they laughed, mocking him, and said, "Do you call that a

champion-feat indeed? Truly, you have never in your life seen a good

champion-feat!"

Thereupon one among them started up and brought the tun to the top of

the hill, intending to do the same feat; and, placing it on the edge of

the cliff, he leaped up on it. And while he stood on it, Dermat pushed

it with his foot to set it going. But the moment it moved, the man lost

his balance, and while the tun went rolling down the face of the hill,

he himself fell over the cliff, and was dashed to pieces on the sharp

edges and points of the rocks.

Another man tried the same thing, and he in like manner fell down and

was killed among the rocks. And the end of the matter was, that before

they would acknowledge themselves beaten, fifty of their men attempted

the feat, and every man of the fifty fell over the cliff and was killed.

So the others went on board their ships, gloomy and heart-sore.

Dermat returned to the cave, and Grania's heart was glad when she saw

him. Modan went then, and putting the hair and the hook on the rod as

before, he hooked three salmon; and he went back to the cave and broiled

them on hazel spits. And they ate their meal; and Modan kept watch and

ward, while Dermat and Grania slept in the cave, till the pleasant

morning filled the world with light.

Dermat rose up with the dawn, and telling Grania to keep watch while

Modan slept, he went to the same hill, and found the three sea-champions

with their men on the shore before him. He greeted them, and asked

whether they wished for any more champion-feats. But they answered that

they would much rather he would give them some tidings of Dermat O'Dyna.

Whereupon he said--

"I have seen a man who saw him this very morning. And now I will show

you a champion-feat he taught me, in order that you may know what is

before you, should you meet with Dermat O'Dyna himself."

When he had said this, he threw off helmet and tunic and armour, till

only his shirt remained over his brawny shoulders; and, taking the

Ga-boi,[CXVIII.] the spear of Mannanan Mac Lir, he fixed it firmly in

the earth, standing point upwards. Then, walking back some little way,

he ran towards the spear, and, rising from the earth with a bird-like

bound, he alighted softly on the very point; and, again leaping off it,

he came to the ground on his feet without wound or hurt of any kind.

Then arose one of the strange warriors and said, "If you call that a

champion-feat, it is plain that you have never seen a good champion-feat

in your life!"

And so saying, he ran swiftly towards the spear and made a great bound;

but he fell heavily on the sharp point, so that it pierced him through

the heart, and he was taken down dead. Another man attempted the feat,

and was killed in like manner; and before they ceased, fifty of their

men were slain by Dermat's spear. Then they bade him draw his spear from

the earth, saying that no more should try that feat; and they went on

board their ships.

So Dermat returned to the cave; and Modan hooked three salmon; and

Dermat and Grania ate their meal and slept till morning, Modan keeping

watch.

Next morning, Dermat went to the hill, bringing two strong forked poles

cut from the wood. He found the three sea-champions with their men on

the shore; and he greeted them, and said--

"I have come to-day to show you a champion-feat I learned from Dermat

O'Dyna, that you may know what to expect if you should meet with Dermat

himself."

He then fixed the poles standing firmly in the earth; and he placed the

Morallta, that is, the long sword of Angus of the Bruga, in the forks,

edge upwards, the hilt on one, and the point on the other, binding it

firmly with withes. Then, rising up with a bound, he alighted gently on

the edge; and he walked cunningly three times from hilt to point, and

from point to hilt, and then leaped lightly to the earth without wound

or hurt. And he challenged the strangers to do that feat.

Then one arose and said, "There never yet was done a champion-feat by a

man of Erin, that one among us will not do likewise."

And he leaped up, intending to alight on his feet; but he came down

heavily on the sharp edge, so that the sword cut him clean in two.

Another tried the same, and was killed also; and, they ceased not till

as many were killed that day by Dermat's sword as were killed on each of

the two days before.

When they were about to return to their ships, they asked him had he got

any tidings of Dermat O'Dyna; and he answered--

"I have seen him this day: I will now go to seek him, and methinks I

shall bring him to you in the morning."

Then he returned to the cave; and he and Grania ate their meal, and

slept that night, while Modan kept watch.

Next morning, Dermat arose with the dawn, and this time he arrayed

himself for battle. He put on his heavy armour--no man who wore it could

be wounded through it, or above it, or beneath it. He hung the Morallta

at his left hip, the sword of Angus of the Bruga, which never left

anything for a second blow; and he took his two thick-handled spears,

the Ga-derg and the Ga-boi, whose wounds no one ever recovered.

Then he awakened Grania, telling her to keep watch till he returned,

that Modan might sleep. And when she saw him so arrayed, she trembled

with fear, for she well knew that this was his manner of preparing for

battle. And she asked him what he meant to do to-day, and whether Finn's

pursuers had found them. But he, to quiet her fears, put off the matter

lightly, and said, "It is better to be prepared, lest the enemy come in

my way;" and this soothed her.

So he went to the hill, and met the strangers on the shore as before.

And they asked him had he any tidings to give them of Dermat O'Dyna.

He answered, "He is not very far off, for I have seen him just now."

"Then," said they, "lead us to his hiding-place, that we may bring his

head to Finn the son of Cumal."

"That would, indeed, be an ill way of repaying friendship," answered he.

"Dermat O'Dyna is my friend; and he is now under the protection of my

valour: so of this be sure, I will do him no treachery."

And they replied wrathfully, "If thou art a friend to Dermat O'Dyna,

thou art a foe to Finn; and now we will take thy head and bring it to

him along with the head of Dermat."

"You might indeed do that with much ease," answered Dermat, "if I were

bound hand and foot; but being as I am, free, I shall defend myself

after my usual custom."

Then he drew the Morallta from its sheath, and, springing forward to

meet them as they closed on him, he clove the body of the foremost in

two with one blow. Then he rushed through them and under them and over

them, like a wolf among sheep, or a hawk among sparrows, cleaving and

slaughtering them, till only a few were left, who hardly escaped to

their ships.

FOOTNOTES:

[CXI.] The river Laune, flowing from the Lakes of Killarney into Dingle

Bay.

[CXII.] The Grey Moor of Finnlia (_Bogach-Fhinnléithe_ in the original)

was somewhere between the river Laune and the river Caragh, but the name

is now forgotten.

[CXIII.] The river of Carra, the Caragh river, flowing into Dingle Bay

from the beautiful lake Caragh, twenty miles west of Killarney.

[CXIV.] Beha, the river Behy, about a mile and a half west from the

Caragh, flowing through Glanbehy into Rossbehy creek.

[CXV.] Tonn Toma, the wave of Toma (a woman). The word Tonn (a wave or

billow) was often applied to the sea-waves that break over certain

sandbanks and rocks with an exceptionally loud roaring. Tonn Toma is the

name of a sandbank at the head of Dingle Bay, just outside the extreme

point of Rossbehy peninsula; and in the winter storms, the sea thunders

on this sandbank, and indeed on the whole length of the beach of the

peninsula, so as often to be heard twenty miles inland. This roaring is

popularly believed to predict rain.

There is a chain of three hills, Stookaniller, Knockatinna, and

Knockboy, lying between Behy bridge on the east and Drung mountain on

the west, and isolated from the hills to the south-east by the valley of

Glanbehy. These hills rise directly over Tonn Toma; and the old Gaelic

name, Currach-Cinn-Adhmuid (the moor of the head [or hill] of timber)

must have been anciently applied to one or all of them.

(See, for an account of the great historical _tonns_ of Ireland, the

author's "Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," series ii. page

251.)

[CXVI.] Iccian Sea (Irish, _Muir nIcht_), the Irish name for the sea

between England and France.

[CXVII.] Ducoss, Fincoss, and Trencoss, _i.e._ Blackfoot, Whitefoot, and

Strongfoot.

[CXVIII.] Dermat had two spears, the great one called the Ga-derg or

Crann-derg (red javelin), and the small one called Ga-boi or Crann-boi

(yellow javelin): he had also two swords: the Morallta (great fury), and

the Begallta (little fury). These spears and swords he got from Mannanan

Mac Lir and from Angus of the Bruga. He carried the great spear and

sword in affairs of life and death; and the smaller in adventures of

less danger.

CHAPTER VI.

WHAT BEFELL THE THREE SEA-CHAMPIONS AND THEIR THREE VENOMOUS HOUNDS.

After this Dermat returned to the cave without wound or hurt; and he and

Grania ate and slept, and Modan watched till morning. Then he repaired

to the hill, fully armed as before, and standing right over the ships,

he struck his hollow-sounding shield[CXIX.] with his spear for a

challenge, till the whole shore and the surrounding hills re-echoed. And

Ducoss straightway armed himself and came ashore to fight Dermat single

hand.

Now Dermat by no means wished to slay his foe immediately, being,

indeed, intent on worse punishment. So he closed with Ducoss; and the

two champions, throwing aside their weapons, seized each other round the

waists with their sinewy arms. Then they twisted and tugged and wrestled

in deadly silence; and their swollen sinews strained and crackled; and

the earth trembled beneath their feet; like two great writhing serpents,

or like two raging lions, or like two savage bulls that strive and

struggle to heave each other with horns interlocked. Thus did the heroes

contend; till at last Dermat, heaving Ducoss on his shoulder, dashed him

helpless and groaning to the ground; and instantly seizing him, he bound

him in hard iron bonds.

Fincoss came next against Dermat, and after him Trencoss; but he

overcame them both, and bound them with like bonds; and then, leaving

the three writhing with pain, he said to them--

"I would strike off your heads, but that I wish to prolong your

torment; for none can release you from these bonds till you die!"

Dermat then returned to the cave; and he and Grania ate their meal and

slept that night, Modan watching. In the morning, Dermat told Grania all

that had happened from beginning to end; how fifty of the foreigners had

been killed each day for the first three days; how he had slain a much

greater number on the fourth day; and how he had overcome and bound the

three sea-champions in hard iron bonds.

"I have left them bound on the hill," continued he, "instead of killing

them; because I would rather their torment to be long than short. For

there are only four men in Erin that can loosen the bonds I tie; that is

to say, Oisin, and Oscar, and Mac Luga, and Conan Mail; and I think no

one of these will free them. Finn will doubtless hear of their state,

and the news will sting him to the heart. But he will know that we are

here; so we must now leave this cave, to escape him, and also to escape

the three venomous dogs."

So they came forth from the cave, and travelled eastward till they came

to the Grey Moor of Finnlia; and whenever Grania was tired, or when they

had to walk over rugged places, Modan lifted her tenderly and carried

her, without ever being in the least tired himself. And so they

journeyed, till they reached the broad, heathery slopes of Slieve

Lougher;[CXX.] and they sat down to rest on the green bank of a stream

that wound through the heart of the mountain.

Now as to the sea-strangers. Those of them that were left alive landed

from their ships, and coming to the hill, found their three chiefs bound

tightly, hand and foot and neck. And they tried to loose them, but only

made their bonds the tighter. While they were so engaged, they saw

Finn's errand-woman coming towards them, with the speed of a swallow, or

of a weasel, or of the swift, cold wind blowing over a mountain-side.

When she had come near, she greeted them, and, seeing the bodies of the

slain, she asked who it was that had made that fearful slaughter.

"Tell us first," said they, "who art thou that makest this inquiry?"

"I am Derdri of the Black Mountain, the errand-woman of Finn the son of

Cumal," she replied; "and he has sent me hither to look for you."

And they said, "We know not who made this slaughter; but we can tell

thee his appearance, for that we know well. He was a tall warrior, with

a fair, handsome, open countenance, and jet-black, curly hair. He has

been three days fighting against us; and what grieves us even more than

the slaughter of our men is that our three chiefs lie here bound by him

so firmly that we are not able to loose them from their bonds."

"Alas, friends!" said Derdri; "you have sped but badly at the very

beginning of your quest; for this man was Dermat O'Dyna himself. And now

loose your three venomous dogs on his track without delay; and I will

return and send Finn to meet you."

Then they brought forth the three hounds, and loosed them on the track

of Dermat; and leaving one of their druids to attend to the three

fettered chiefs, they followed the hounds till they came to the cave,

where they found the soft, rushy bed of Dermat and Grania. From that

they fared east, and crossing the Carra, and the Grey Moor of Finnlia,

and the Laune, they reached at length the broad, heathy Slieve Lougher.

As Dermat sat by the mountain stream with Grania and Modan, looking

westward, he saw the silken banners of the foreigners at a distance as

they approached the hill. In front of all marched three warriors with

mantles of green, who held the three fierce hounds by three chains. And

Dermat, when he saw the hounds, was filled with loathing and hatred of

them. Then Modan lifted Grania, and walked a mile with Dermat up the

stream into the heart of the mountain.

When the green-clad warriors saw them, they loosed one of the three

hounds; and when Grania heard his hoarse yelps down the valley, she was

in great dread. But Modan bade her not fear, for that he would deal with

this hound; and then, turning round, he drew forth from beneath his

girdle a small hound-whelp, and placed it on the palm of his hand. There

it stood till the great hound came up raging, with jaws wide open; when

the little whelp leaped from Modan's hand down the dog's throat, and

broke his heart, so that he fell dead. And after that the whelp leaped

back again on Modan's hand; and Modan put him under his girdle.

Then they walked another mile up the stream through the mountain, Modan

bringing Grania. But the second hound was loosed, and soon overtook

them; and Dermat said--

"I will try the Ga-derg on this hound. For no spell can guard against

the magic spear of Angus of the Bruga; and I have heard it said also

that there is no charm that can shield the throat of an animal from

being wounded."

Then, while Modan and Grania stood to look, Dermat, putting his finger

into the silken loop of the spear, threw a cast, and drove the

spear-head down the hound's throat, so that the entrails of the brute

were scattered about; and Dermat, leaping forward, drew the spear, and

followed Modan and Grania.

After they had walked yet another mile, the third hound was loosed; and

Grania, seeing him coming on, said, trembling--

"This is the fiercest of the three, and I greatly fear him; guard

yourself, Dermat, guard yourself well against this hound!"

Even while she spoke, the hound overtook them at the place called

Duban's Pillar-stone; and as they stood looking back at him, Dermat

stepped in front of Grania to shield her. The hound rose with a great

spring over Dermat's head to seize Grania; but Dermat grasped him by

the two hind legs as he passed, and, swinging him round, he struck his

carcase against a rock and dashed out his brains.

Then, putting his tapering finger into the silken string of the Ga-derg,

he threw the spear at the foremost of the green-clad knights, and slew

him. He made another cast of the Ga-boi and brought down the second

warrior; and, drawing the Morallta, he sprang on the third, and swept

off his head.

When the foreigners saw their leaders slain, they fled hither and

thither in utter rout. And Dermat fell upon them with sword and spear,

scattering and slaughtering them, so that there seemed no escape for

them, unless, indeed, they could fly over the tops of the trees, or hide

themselves under the earth, or dive beneath the water. And when Derdri

of the Black Mountain saw this havoc, she ran, panic-stricken and crazed

with fright, off the field towards the hill where the three kings lay

bound.

Now as to Finn. Tidings were brought to him of what happened to the

three sea-kings, and how they were lying bound in hard bonds on the hill

over Tonn-Toma. So he set out straightway from Allen, and travelled by

the shortest ways till he reached the hill. And when he saw the three

champions, he was grieved to the heart; for he knew of old that the iron

fetters bound by Dermat slew by slow torment, and that none could loose

them except Oisin, or Oscar, or Mac Luga, or Conan Mail.

And Finn asked Oisin to loose the bonds and relieve the kings.

"I cannot do so," answered Oisin, "for Dermat bound me under gesa[12]

never to loose any warrior that he should bind."

He next asked Oscar; but the young warrior answered, "None shall be

released by me who seeks to harm Dermat O'Dyna. Fain would I indeed put

heavier bonds on them."

And when he asked Mac Luga and Conan, they refused in like manner.

Now while they were speaking in this wise, they saw the errand-woman,

Derdri of the Black Mountain, running towards them, breathless and with

failing steps, and her eyes starting from the sockets with terror. And

Finn asked her what tidings she had brought.

"Tidings indeed, O king, tidings of grievous mishap and woe!" Whereupon

she told him all that she had seen--how Dermat O'Dyna had killed the

three fierce hounds, and had made a slaughter of the foreigners. "And

hardly, indeed," she cried, "hardly have I myself got off scathless with

the news!"

The three kings, hearing this, and being worn out with the straitness

and torment of their bonds, died at the same moment. And Finn caused

them to be buried in three wide graves; and flagstones were placed over

them with their names graved in Ogam;[CXXI.] and their funeral rites

were performed. Then, with heart full of grief and gall, Finn marched

northwards with his men to Allen of the green hill-slopes.

FOOTNOTES:

[CXIX.] A usual form of challenge among the ancient Irish warriors. It

is very curious that this custom is remembered to the present day in the

_patois_ of the peasantry, even where the Irish language is no longer

spoken. In the south, and in parts of the west, they call a

distinguished fighting man a _buailim sciach_, an expression which means

literally, "I strike the shield."

[CXX.] Slieve Lougher, a mountain near Castle Island. (See note, page

237.)

[CXXI.] See note, page 36.

CHAPTER VII.

SHARVAN, THE SURLY GIANT, AND THE FAIRY QUICKEN TREE OF DOOROS.

Now touching Dermat and Grania. They travelled eastward from Slieve

Lougher, through Hy Conall Gavra, keeping the Shannon on their left,

till they reached the Wood of the two Sallow Trees, which is now called

Limerick. Here they rested; and Dermat killed a wild deer, and they ate

of its flesh, and drank pure spring water, and slept that night. Next

morning Modan bade them farewell, and left them. And Dermat and Grania

were sad after him, for he was very gentle, and had served them

faithfully.

On that same day they departed from the Wood of the two Sallows; and

nothing is related of what befell them till they arrived at the Forest

of Dooros, in the district of Hy Ficra[CXXII.] of the Moy, which was at

that time guarded by Sharvan the Surly, of Lochlann.

Now this is the history of Sharvan the Surly, of Lochlann. On a certain

occasion, a game of hurley was played by the Dedannans against the Fena,

on the plain beside the Lake of Lein of the Crooked Teeth.[CXXIII.] They

played for three days and three nights, neither side being able to win a

single goal from the other during the whole time. And when the

Dedannans found that they could not overcome the Fena, they suddenly

withdrew from the contest, and departed from the lake, journeying in a

body northwards.

The Dedannans had for food during the game, and for their journey

afterwards, crimson nuts and arbutus apples and scarlet quicken berries,

which they had brought from the Land of Promise.[CXXIV.] These fruits

were gifted with many secret virtues; and the Dedannans were careful

that neither apple nor nut nor berry should touch the soil of Erin. But

as they passed through the Wood of Dooros, in Hy Ficra of the Moy, one

of the scarlet quicken berries dropped on the earth; and the Dedannans

passed on, not heeding.

From this berry a great quicken tree[CXXV.] sprang up, which had the

virtues of the quicken trees that grow in Fairyland. For its berries had

the taste of honey, and those who ate of them felt a cheerful flow of

spirits, as if they had drunk of wine or old mead; and if a man were

even a hundred years old, he returned to the age of thirty, as soon as

he had eaten three of them.

Now when the Dedannans heard of this tree, and knew of its many virtues,

they would not that any one should eat of the berries but themselves;

and they sent a Fomor[CXXVI.] of their own people to guard it, namely,

Sharvan the Surly, of Lochlann; so that no man dared even to approach

it. For this Sharvan was a giant of the race of the wicked Cain, burly

and strong; with heavy bones, large, thick nose, crooked teeth, and one

broad, red, fiery eye in the middle of his black forehead. And he had a

great club tied by a chain to an iron girdle which was round his body.

He was, moreover, so skilled in magic that fire could not burn him,

water could not drown him, and weapons could not wound him; and there

was no way to kill him but by giving him three blows of his own club. By

day he sat at the foot of the tree, watching; and at night he slept in a

hut he had made for himself, high up among the branches.

Into this land Dermat came, knowing well that he should be safe there

from the pursuit of Finn. For Sharvan did not let any of the Fena hunt

in Hy Ficra. And neither they nor any others dared to come near the

great Wood of Dooros, for dread of the giant; so that the land around

the quicken tree for many miles was a wilderness.

Dermat, leaving Grania behind in safe shelter, went boldly to the giant,

where he sat at the foot of the tree, and told him he wished to live

amidst the woods of Hy Ficra, and chase its wild animals for food.

Whereupon the giant, bending his red eye on him, told him, in words few

and surly, that he might live and hunt where he pleased, as long as he

did not take and eat the berries of the quicken tree.

So Dermat built him a hunting-booth near a spring, in the thick of the

Forest of Dooros; and, clearing a space all round, fenced it with strong

stakes interwoven with tough withes, leaving one narrow door well

barred and secured. And they lived in peace for a time, eating the flesh

of the wild animals of Dooros, which Dermat brought down each day in the

chase, and drinking the water of the well.

Now let us speak of Finn, the son of Cumal. One day, soon after his

return to Allen, as he and his household troops were on the exercise

green before the palace, a company of fifty horsemen were seen

approaching from the east, led by two taller and nobler looking than the

others. Having come near, they bowed low and greeted the king; and when

he asked them who they were, and from whence they had come, they

answered--

"We are enemies of thine, who now desire to make peace; and our names

are Angus, the son of Art Mac Morna, and Aed, the son of Andala Mac

Morna. Our fathers were present at the battle of Knocka,[27] aiding

those who fought against thy father, Cumal, when he was slain; for which

thou didst afterwards slay them both, and didst outlaw us, their sons,

though indeed we were blameless in the matter, seeing that we were not

born till after the death of Cumal. However, we have come now to ask

this boon of thee: that thou make peace with us, and give us the places

our fathers held in the ranks of the Fena."

"I will grant your request," answered Finn, "provided you pay me eric

for the death of my father."

"We would indeed pay thee eric willingly if we could," answered they;

"but we have neither gold, nor silver, nor cattle, nor wealth of any

kind to give."

And then Oisin spoke and said, "Ask them not for eric, O king; surely

the death of their fathers should be eric enough."

But Finn replied, "Of a truth, I think, Oisin, that if any one should

slay me, it would not be hard to satisfy you in the matter of an eric.

But, indeed, none of those who fought at Knocka against my father, and

none of their sons, shall ever get peace from me, or join the Fena,

without such eric as I demand."

Then Angus, one of the two, asked, "What eric dost thou require, O

king?"

"I ask only one or the other of two things," answered Finn; "namely, the

head of a warrior, or the full of my hand of the berries of a quicken

tree."

"I will give you counsel, ye sons of Morna, that will stand you in good

stead, if you follow it," said Oisin, addressing the two strange chiefs;

"and my counsel is, that you return to the place from whence you came,

and seek this peace no longer. Know that the head the king seeks from

you is the head of Dermat O'Dyna, the most dangerous of all the Fena to

meddle with, who is well able to defend himself, even if you were twenty

times as many as you are; and who will certainly take your heads if you

attempt to take his. Know also that the berries Finn seeks from you are

the berries of the quicken tree of Dooros. And it is hard to say if this

be not a more perilous quest than the other; for the quicken tree

belongs to the Dedannans, who have sent Sharvan, the surly giant of

Lochlann, to guard it day and night."

But the two chiefs, unmoved by what they had heard from Oisin, said that

they would rather perish in seeking out the eric than return to their

mother's country. So, leaving their people in the care of Oisin, they

set out on their quest. They travelled through the Wood of the two

Sallows, and from that to Dooros of the Moy, where they found the track

of Dermat and Grania, and followed it till they came to the

hunting-booth. Dermat heard their voices and footsteps outside, and,

snatching up his weapons, went to the door and asked who was there.

"We are Aed, the son of Andala Mac Morna, and Angus, the son of Art Mac

Morna," they replied. "We have come hither from Allen of Leinster, to

get either the head of Dermat O'Dyna, or a handful of the berries of the

quicken tree of Dooros; for Finn, the son of Cumal, has demanded of us

that we bring him either the one or the other, as an eric for the

killing of his father."

Dermat laughed when he heard this, and said, "Truly this is not pleasant

news for me to hear, for I am Dermat O'Dyna. But however, friends, I am

not willing to give you my head, and you will find it no easy matter to

take it. And as for the berries, these are quite as hard to get; for you

will have to fight the surly giant Sharvan, who cannot be burned with

fire, or drowned with water, or wounded with weapons. But woe to the man

who falls under the power of Finn, the son of Cumal. And you have come,

methinks, on a bootless quest; for even if you should be able to bring

him either of the two things he asks for, he will not grant you the

place or the rank ye seek after all. And now," asked Dermat, "which of

the two do ye wish to strive for first, my head or the quicken berries?"

And they answered, "We will do battle with thee first."

So Dermat opened the door, and they made ready for the combat. Now this

is the manner in which they agreed to fight: to throw aside their

weapons, and to use the strength of their hands alone. And if the sons

of Morna were able to overcome Dermat, they should take his head to

Finn; but if, on the other hand, they were overpowered and bound by

Dermat, their heads should be in like manner forfeit to him. But the

fight was, indeed, a short one; for these two chiefs were even as

children in Dermat's hands, and he bound them in close and bitter bonds.

Now when Grania heard of the berries of the quicken tree, she was seized

with a longing desire to taste them. At first she strove against it and

was silent, knowing the danger; but now she was not able to hide it any

longer, and she told Dermat that she should certainly die if she did not

get some of the berries to eat. This troubled Dermat, for he did not

wish to quarrel with the giant Sharvan; but, seeing that harm might come

to Grania if she did not get the berries, he told her he would go and

get some for her, either by good will or by force.

When the sons of Morna heard this, they said, "Loose these bonds, and we

will go with thee and help thee to fight the giant."

But Dermat answered, "Not much help, indeed, could ye give me, as I

think, for the mere sight of this giant would be enough to unman you.

But even were it otherwise, I would not seek your help, for if I fight

at all I shall fight unaided."

And they said, "Even so, let us go. Our lives are now forfeit to thee,

but grant us this request before we die, to let us see thee fight this

giant."

And he consented to this.

So Dermat went straightway to the quicken tree, followed by the two sons

of Morna; and he found the giant lying asleep at the foot of the tree.

He dealt him a heavy blow to awaken him, and the giant, raising his

head, glared at him with his great red eye, and said--

"There has been peace between us hitherto; do you now wish for strife?"

"I seek not strife," answered Dermat; "but the Princess Grania, my wife,

the daughter of king Cormac Mac Art, longs to taste of these quicken

berries; and if she does not get them she will die. This is why I have

come; and now I pray you give me a few of the berries for the princess."

But the giant answered, "I swear that if the princess and her child were

now dying, and that one of my berries would save them, I would not give

it!"

Then Dermat said, "I do not wish to deal unfairly with you; and I have

accordingly awakened you from your sleep, and made my request openly,

wishing for peace. But now understand that before I leave this spot, I

will have some of these quicken berries, whether you will or no."

When the giant heard this, he rose up, and, seizing his club, dealt

Dermat three great blows, which the hero had much ado to ward off; nor

did he escape without some hurt, even though his shield was tough and

his arm strong. But now, watching narrowly, and seeing that the giant

expected to be attacked with sword and spear, he suddenly threw down his

weapons and sprang upon him, taking him unguarded. He threw his arms

round his body, and, heaving him with his shoulder, hurled him with

mighty shock to the earth; and then, seizing the heavy club, he dealt

him three blows, dashing out his brains with the last.

Dermat sat down to rest, weary and breathless. And the sons of Morna,

having witnessed the fight from beginning to end, came forth rejoiced

when they saw the giant slain. Dermat told them to drag the body into

the wood and bury it out of sight, lest Grania might see it and be

affrighted; and when they had done so, he sent them for the princess.

When she had come, Dermat said to her--

"Behold the quicken berries, Grania: take now and eat."

But she answered, "I will eat no berries except those that are plucked

by the hands of my husband."

So Dermat stood up and plucked the berries; and Grania ate till she was

satisfied. And he also plucked some for the sons of Morna, and said--

"Take these berries now, friends, as much as you please, and pay your

eric to Finn; and you may, if you are so minded, tell him that it was

you who slew Sharvan the Surly, of Lochlann."

They answered, "We will bring to Finn as much as he demanded, one

handful and no more; and we grudge even so much."

Then they thanked Dermat very much; for he had given them the berries,

what they should never have been able to get for themselves; and though

their lives were forfeit to him, he had not so much as mentioned the

matter, but had allowed them to return freely. And after bidding Dermat

and Grania farewell, they went their ways.

After that Dermat left his hunting-booth, and he and Grania lived

thenceforth in Sharvan's hut among the branches. And they found the

berries on the top of the tree the most delicious of all; those on the

lower branches being as it were bitter in comparison.

When the sons of Morna reached Allen, Finn asked them how they had

fared, and whether they had brought him the eric: and they answered--

"Sharvan, the surly giant of Lochlann, is slain; and here we have

brought thee the berries of the quicken tree of Dooros as eric for the

death of thy father, Cumal, that we may have peace from thee, and be

placed in our due rank among the Fena."

Finn took the berries and knew them; and he smelled them three times,

and said--

"These, indeed, are the berries of the quicken tree of Dooros; but they

have passed through the hands of Dermat O'Dyna, for I smell his touch.

And sure I am that it was Dermat, and not you, who slew Sharvan, the

surly giant. It shall profit you nothing, indeed, to have brought me

these berries; neither will you get from me the peace you seek, nor your

place among the Fena, till you pay me fair eric for my father's death.

For you have gotten the berries not by your own strength; and you have,

besides, made peace with my enemy. And now I shall go to the Wood of

Dooros, to learn if Dermat abides near the quicken tree."

After this he gathered together the choice men of the seven battalions

of the Fena, and marched with them to Dooros of Hy Ficra. They followed

Dermat's track to the foot of the quicken tree, and found the berries

without any one to guard them; and they ate of them as much as they

pleased.

Now it was noon when they had come to the tree; and the sun shone hot,

and Finn said--

"We shall rest under this tree till evening come, and the heat pass

away; for well I know that Dermat O'Dyna is on the tree among the

branches."

And Oisin said, "Truly your mind must be blinded by jealousy, if you

think that Dermat O'Dyna has waited for you on that tree, since he knows

well that you seek his head."

Finn answered nothing to this speech, but called for a chess-board and

men.[26] And he and Oisin sat down to a game; while Oscar and Mac Luga

and Dering, the son of Dobar O'Baskin, sat near Oisin to advise him; for

Finn played against them all. They played on for a time warily and

skilfully, till at last Oisin had only one move to make; and Finn said--

"One move more would win you the game, Oisin, but I challenge all your

helpers to show you that move." And Oisin was puzzled.

Dermat had been viewing the game from the beginning, where he sat among

the branches; and he said, speaking to himself--

"Pity that you should be in a strait, Oisin, and I not near to advise

your move."

Grania, sitting near, overheard him, and said, "It is a small matter

whether Oisin win or lose a game; far worse is it for you to be in this

hut, while the men of the seven battalions of the Fena are round about

you, waiting to kill you."

Then Dermat, not giving heed to Grania's words, plucked a berry, and,

flinging it down with true aim, struck Oisin's chess-man--the man that

should be moved. And Oisin moved the man, and won the game against Finn.

The game was begun again, and it went on till it came to the same pass

as before, Oisin having to make only one move to win, but that move hard

to make out. And again Dermat threw a berry and struck the right man;

and Oisin made the move, and won the game.

A third time the game went on, and Dermat struck the chess-man as

before; and Oisin won the game the third time. Whereupon the Fena raised

a mighty shout.

"I marvel not that you should win the game, Oisin," said Finn, "seeing

that you have the best help of Oscar, and the zeal of Dering, and the

skill of Mac Luga; and that, along with all, you have been prompted by

Dermat O'Dyna."

"It shows a mind clouded by great jealousy," said Oscar, "that you

should think that Dermat O'Dyna is in that tree waiting for you to kill

him."

"Which of us tells truth, Dermat," said Finn, looking up, "Oscar or I?"

"You, Finn, have never yet erred in your judgment," answered Dermat from

the tree; "for indeed I am here with the princess Grania, in the hut of

Sharvan, the surly giant of Lochlann."

And, looking up, Finn and the others saw them plainly through an opening

in the branches.

But now Grania, seeing the danger, began to tremble with great fear, and

to weep; and Dermat, taking pity on her, comforted her and kissed her

three times.

And Finn, seeing this, said, "Much more than this did it grieve me the

night you espoused Grania, and brought her away from Tara before all the

men of Erin; but even for these kisses you shall certainly pay quittance

with your head!"

Whereupon Finn, being now bent on killing Dermat, arose, and ordered his

hirelings to surround the tree, catching hand in hand, so as to leave no

gap; and he warned them, on pain of death, not to let Dermat pass out.

Having done this, he offered a suit of armour and arms, and a high place

of honour among the Fena, to any man who would go up into the tree, and

either bring him the head of Dermat O'Dyna, or force him to come down.

Garva of Slieve Cua[CXXVII.] started up and said, "Lo, I am the man! For

it was Dermat's father, Donn, that slew my father; and I will now avenge

the deed."

And he went up the tree.

Now it was revealed to Angus of the Bruga that Dermat was in deadly

strait; and he came to the tree to his aid, without the knowledge of the

Fena; and Dermat and Grania were filled with joy when they saw the old

man.

And when Garva, climbing from branch to branch, had come near the hut,

Dermat dealt him a blow with his foot, which dashed him to the ground

among the Fena. And Finn's hirelings cut off his head on the spot, for

Angus had caused him to take the shape of Dermat; but after he was slain

he took his own shape, so that all knew that it was Garva of Slieve Cua

that had been killed.

Then Garva of Slieve Crot[CXXVIII.] said, "It was Dermat's father,

Donn, that slew my father; and I will now avenge the deed on Dermat."

So saying, he went up the tree. But Angus gave him a blow which hurled

him to the ground under the shape of Dermat, so that the hirelings fell

on him and slew him. And then Finn told them that it was not Dermat they

had killed, but Garva of Slieve Cua.

Garva of Slieve Gora[CXXIX.] next started up, and said that his father

had been slain by Dermat's father; and he began to climb up the tree to

take Dermat's head in revenge. But Dermat flung him down like the

others, while Angus gave him for the time the shape of Dermat, so that

the hirelings slew him.

And so matters went on till the nine Garvas had fallen; namely, Garva of

Slieve Cua, Garva of Slieve Crot, Garva of Slieve Gora, Garva of Slieve

Mucka,[CXXX.] Garva of Slieve-more, Garva of Slieve Luga, Garva of

Ath-free, Garva of Slieve Mish, and Garva of Drom-more. And full of

grief and bitterness was the heart of Finn, witnessing this.

Then Angus said he would take Grania away from that place of danger. And

Dermat was glad, and said--

"Take her with thee; and if I live till evening I will follow you. But

if Finn slays me, send her to Tara to her father, and tell him to use

her well."

Then Dermat kissed his dear wife; and Angus, having thrown his mantle

round her, passed out from the tree without the knowledge of the Fena,

and went straightway to Bruga of the Boyne.

After Angus and Grania had gone, Dermat, addressing Finn from the tree,

said--

"I will now go down from this tree; and I will slaughter many of thy

hirelings before they slay me. For I see that thou art resolved to

compass my death; and why should I fear to die now more than at a future

time? There is, indeed, no escape for me, even should I pass from this

place unharmed; since I can find no shelter in Erin from thy wrath.

Neither have I a friend in the far-off countries of this great world to

give me protection, seeing that I have from time to time dealt defeat

and slaughter among them, every one, for thy sake. For never have the

Fena been caught in any strait or danger, that I did not venture my life

for them and for thee. When we went to battle, moreover, I was always in

front of you; and I was always behind you when leaving the field. And

now I care no longer to seek to prolong my life; but of a certainty thou

shalt purchase my death dearly, for I shall avenge myself by dealing

destruction among thy hirelings."

"Dermat speaks truly," said Oscar; "and now let him have mercy and

forgiveness; for he has suffered enough already."

"I swear that I will never grant him peace or forgiveness to the end of

my life," answered Finn, "till he has given me the eric I seek from him

for the injury he has done me; that is to say, his head."

"Shame it is to hear thee say so, and a sure mark of jealousy," answered

Oscar. "And now I take the body and life of Dermat under the protection

of my knighthood and valour; and I pledge the word of a true champion,

that sooner shall the firmament fall on me, or the earth open up and

swallow me, than that I shall let any man harm Dermat O'Dyna!"

Then, looking upwards, he said, "Come down now, Dermat, and thou shalt

certainly go in safety from this place; for as long as I am alive, no

man will dare to offer thee hurt!"

Then Dermat, choosing that side of the tree where the men stood nearest

to the trunk, walked along a thick branch unseen, and, leaning on the

shafts of his spears, he sprang forward and downward with a light, airy

bound, and alighted outside the circle of those who stood round with

joined hands; and in a moment he was beyond the reach of sword and

spear. And Oscar joined him, looking back threateningly, so that no man

of Finn's hirelings durst follow.

So the two heroes fared on together, crossing the Shannon; and nothing

is told of what befell them till they reached Bruga of the Boyne, where

they met Angus and Grania. And Grania was almost beside herself with joy

when she saw Dermat without wound or hurt of any kind. And the two

champions were welcomed by Angus; and Dermat related to him and Grania

the whole story, how he had escaped from Finn and his hirelings, Oscar

helping. And as Grania listened, her spirit almost left her, at the

deadly peril Dermat had passed through.

FOOTNOTES:

[CXXII.] Hy Ficra, now the barony of Tireragh, in Sligo.

[CXXIII.] The Lake of Lein of the Crooked Teeth, _i.e._ Loch Lein, or

the Lakes of Killarney.

[CXXIV.] The Land of Promise, or Fairyland. (See note 8 at the end.)

[CXXV.] Quicken tree. (See note, page 177.)

[CXXVI.] Fomor, a giant. (See note, page 227.)

[CXXVII.] Slieve Cua, the ancient name of the highest of the

Knockmeal-down mountains, in Waterford.

[CXXVIII.] Slieve Crot, the ancient name of the Galty mountains.

[CXXIX.] Slieve Gora, a mountainous district in the barony of Clankee,

County Cavan.

[CXXX.] Slieve Mucka, now Slievenamuck (the mountain of the pig), a long

mountain ridge in Tipperary, separated from the Galties by the Glen of

Aherlow. Slieve Luga, a mountainous district, formerly belonging to the

O'Garas, in the barony of Costello, county Mayo. Slieve Mish, a mountain

range west of Tralee.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ATTACK OF THE WITCH-HAG.

Now as regards Finn. After the departure of Dermat and Oscar, his heart

was filled with anger and bitterness, and he vowed he would never rest

till he had revenged himself on Dermat. And, leaving the Wood of Dooros,

he marched eastward till he reached Allen. Making no delay, he ordered

his trusted servants to make ready his best ship, and to put therein

food and drink for a voyage. Then going on board, he put out to sea; and

nothing is told of him till he reached the Land of Promise,[8] where his

old nurse lived.

When he appeared before her, she gave him a joyful welcome. And after he

had eaten and drunk, she asked him the cause of his journey, knowing

that some weighty matter had brought him thither. So he told her the

whole story of what Dermat O'Dyna had done against him; and said that he

had come to seek counsel from her how he should act. "For," he said, "no

strength or cunning of men can compass his death; magic alone can

overmatch him."

Then the old woman told him that she would go with him next day and work

magic against Dermat. Whereupon Finn was much rejoiced, and they rested

that night.

Next day, they set out, Finn and his people and his nurse; and it is not

told how they fared till they reached Bruga of the Boyne. And the men of

Erin knew not that they had come thither, for the witch-hag threw a

druidical mist round them, so that no man might see them.

It chanced that Dermat hunted that day in the forest, alone; for Oscar

had gone from Bruga the day before. When this was known to the

witch-hag, she caused herself to fly into the air by magic, on a

water-lily, having by her spells turned the pale flat leaf into a broad

millstone with a hole in the middle. And, rising over the tops of the

trees, she floated on the clear, cold wind, till she had come straight

over the hero. Then, standing on the flat millstone, she began to aim

deadly poisoned darts at him through the hole. And no distress Dermat

ever suffered could compare with this; for the darts stung him even

through his shield and armour, the witch having breathed venomous spells

on them.

Seeing at last that there was no escape from death unless he could slay

the witch-hag, he seized the Ga-derg, and, leaning backwards, flung it

with sure aim at the millstone, so that it went right through the hole,

and pierced the hag; and she fell dead at Dermat's feet. Then he

beheaded her, and brought the head to Angus of the Bruga; and he

related to him and to Grania how he had escaped that great danger.

CHAPTER IX.

PEACE AND REST AT LAST.

Angus arose next morning, and, going to Finn, asked him whether he would

make peace with Dermat. Finn, seeing that he was worsted in every

attempt against the hero, and that moreover he had lost his nurse and

many of his men, told Angus that he was weary of the quarrel, and that

he was fain to make peace on whatever terms Dermat should choose.

He next went to Tara to the king, Cormac, the grandson of Conn. Him he

asked in like manner whether he was willing to grant Dermat peace and

forgiveness; and Cormac answered that he was quite willing.

Then he came to Dermat and said, "Peace is better for thee: art thou

willing now to be at peace with Finn and Cormac?"