_Legends of the County Clare._--_How Ussheen_ (_Ossian_) _visited the Land
of_ "_Thiernah Ogieh_" (_the Country of perpetual Youth_).--Once upon a
time, when Ussheen was in the full vigour of his youth, it happened that,
fatigued with the chace, and separated from his companions, he stretched
himself under a tree to rest, and soon fell asleep. "Awaking with a start,"
he saw a lady, richly clothed and of more than mortal beauty, gazing on
him; nor was it long until she made him understand that a warmer feeling
than mere curiosity had attracted her; nor was Ussheen long in responding
to it. The lady then explained that she was not of mortal birth, and that
he who wooed an immortal bride must be prepared to encounter dangers such
as would appal the ordinary race of men. Ussheen, without hesitation,
declared his readiness to encounter any foe, mortal or immortal, that might
be opposed to him in her service. The lady then declared herself to be the
queen of "Thiernah Ogieh," and invited him to accompany her thither and
share her throne. They then set out on their journey, one in all respects
similar to that undertaken by Thomas the Rhymer and the queen of Faerie,
and having overcome all obstacles, arrived at "the land of perpetual
youth," where all the delights of the terrestrial paradise were thrown open
to Ussheen, to be enjoyed with only one restriction. A broad flat stone was
pointed out to him in one part of the palace garden, on which he was
forbidden to stand, under penalty of the heaviest misfortune. One day,
however, finding himself near the fatal stone, the temptation to stand on
it became irresistible, and he yielded to it, and immediately found himself
in full view of his native land, the existence of which he had forgotten
from the moment he had entered the kingdom of Thiernah Ogieh. But alas! how
was it changed from that country he had left only a few days since, for
"the strong had become weak," and "the brave become cowards," while
oppression and violence held undisputed sway through land. Overcome with
grief, he hastened to the the queen to beg that he might be restored to his
country without delay, that he might endeavour to apply some remedy to its
misfortunes. The queen's prophetic skill made her aware of Ussheen's
transgression of her commands before he spoke, and she exerted all her
persuasive powers to prevail upon him to give up his desire to return to
Erin, but in vain. She then asked him how long he supposed he had been
absent from his native land, and on his answering "thrice seven days," she
amazed him by declaring that three times thrice seven years had elapsed
since his arrival at the kingdom of Thiernah Ogieh; and though Time had no
power to enter that land, it would immediately assert its dominion over him
if he left it. At length she persuaded him to promise that he would return
to his country for only one day, and then come back to dwell with her for
ever; and she gave him a jet-black horse of surpassing beauty, from whose
back she charged him on no account to alight, or at all events not to allow
the bridle to fall from his hand. She farther endued him with wisdom and
knowledge far surpassing that of men. Having mounted his fairy steed, he
soon found himself approaching his former home; and as he journeyed he met
a man {361} driving before him a horse, across whose back was thrown a sack
of corn: the sack having fallen a little to one side, the man asked Ussheen
to assist him in balancing it properly; Ussheen instantly stooped from his
horse, and catching the sack in his right hand, gave it such a heave that
it fell over on the other side. Annoyed at his mistake, he forgot the
injunctions of his bride, and sprung from his horse to lift the sack from
the ground, letting the bridle fall from his hand at the same time:
instantly the horse struck fire from the ground with his hoofs, and
uttering a neigh louder than thunder, vanished; at the same instant his
curling locks fell from Ussheen's head, darkness closed over his beaming
eyes, the more than mortal strength forsook his limbs, and, a feeble
helpless old man, he stretched forth his hands seeking some one to lead
him: but the mental gifts bestowed on him by his immortal bride did not
leave him, and, though unable to serve his countrymen with his sword, he
bestowed upon them the advice and instruction which flowed from wisdom
greater than that of mortals.