'Baptize us now, we pray thee, for death is nigh. Heavy with sorrow are
our hearts that we must part from thee, thou holy one, and that in
loneliness must thy days on earth be spent. But such is the will of the
High God. Here let our graves be digged, and here bury our four bodies,
Conn standing at my right side, Fiacra at my left, and Aed before my face,
for thus did I shelter my dear brothers for thrice three hundred years
'neath wing and breast.'
Then did the good Kemoc baptize the children of Lir, and thereafter the
Saint looked up, and lo! he saw a vision of four lovely children with
silvery wings, and faces radiant as the sun; and as he gazed they floated
ever upward, until they were lost in a mist of blue. Then was the good
Kemoc glad, for he knew that they had gone to Heaven.
But, when he looked downward, four worn bodies lay at the church door, and
Kemoc wept sore.
And the Saint ordered a wide grave to be digged close by the little
church, and there were the children of Lir buried, Conn standing at
Finola's right hand, and Fiacra at her left, and before her face her twin
brother Aed.
And the grass grew green above them, and a white tombstone bore their
names, and across the grave floated morning and evening the chime of the
sweet Christ-bell.
DERMAT AND GRANIA
It was at Tara that King Cormac would hold a great meeting, and the chiefs
and nobles of the land were gathered together there.
But ere the business of the day was begun, it was told that two warriors
were without and would talk with the King.
Then did Cormac welcome the messengers, and when he heard that they came
from the broad hill slopes of Allen and bore a message from Finn, their
King, he said that the meeting should not be held that day, but that he
would speak with the warriors alone.
And after they had eaten and drunk, Cormac bade them tell their errand.
Then spake Oisin, the son of Finn, and he told how his mother had long
been dead, and how his father would fain marry Grania, the fair daughter
of Cormac.
But Cormac made answer, 'Scarce in all Erin is there a prince that hath
not sought in marriage the hand of my daughter, but she hath refused them
all. For this cause have I their ill-will, for the Princess hath ever made
me tell how none had won her favour. Wherefore shall I bring you to my
daughter's presence, that from her own lips ye may hear the answer that ye
shall carry to your King.'
So Cormac went with Oisin the son of Finn and with Dering his friend to
the sunny room of the Princess. And Cormac sat by Grania on the couch and
told her wherefore the champions were come.
[Illustration: Grania]
And Grania, giving little heed to the matter, made answer, 'If Finn be a
fitting son-in-law for my father, the King, then may he well be a worthy
husband for me.'
When Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his friend heard these words they
were glad, for they knew not how little thought the Princess gave to her
words.
And Cormac made a feast for the champions, and ere they departed he told
them that after two weeks Finn should come thither.
So the warriors bade farewell to the palace of Cormac and went back to
Allen, and there they told Finn that after two weeks he should go to Tara
and wed the fair Grania.
Slow sped the days, but when they were passed, Finn, with many chiefs and
nobles as his guard, marched to Tara. And there Cormac received him right
royally and made ready a great feast. On his right hand sat Finn and on
his left the Queen. And next the Queen sat Grania.
Now it chanced that the chief who sat on the other side of Grania was a
story-teller, and the Princess listened gladly to the tales he told.
But when he ceased from his tales Grania asked, 'Wherefore is it that Finn
hath come hither to feast?'
And the chief, filled with wonder that the Princess should question him
thus, made answer, 'Of a truth hath Finn come hither this day to claim
thee for his wife.'
Then Grania bethought her of the words she had spoken to Oisin the son of
Finn and to Dering his friend, and of how she spake without heed. And now
was Finn come hither to seek her for his wife.
A long, deep silence fell upon the Princess, while her eyes roved among
the goodly company.
At length she turned again to the chief who sat next her. 'Of this goodly
company,' she said, 'I know none save Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his
friend. Tell me, I pray thee, who sitteth yonder by Oisin's side?'
And the chief told his name and sang his praise.
Again Grania asked, 'And who, I pray thee, sitteth by his side?'
And the chief told his name and sang his praise.
Afterwards Grania sought of the chief the names of many of the nobles, and
he told her, and he told too of the deeds they had done.
Then the Princess called her handmaid and said, 'Bring me from my room the
jewelled drinking horn.' And the handmaiden brought it and Grania filled
it to the brim and said, 'Take it to Finn, and say that I would have him
drink from it.'
And Finn drank from the drinking horn, and then passed it to Cormac the
King. And the King drank from it and also the Queen.
Then again Grania filled the drinking horn to the brim, and yet again,
until all whom she wished to drink had drunk from it. And it was not long
until a deep sleep had fallen upon all who had drunk.
Grania then rose slowly from her seat and crossed the hall to where Dermat
sat, for Dermat, of those nobles that Finn brought with him, pleased her
the best. And to him she spake thus:
[Illustration: Dermat]
'Dermat, it is from the champion who sat next me that I have learnt thy
name, but ere I knew it I loved thee. From the sunny window of my chamber
did I not watch thee on the day of the hurling-match? No part didst thou
take in the contest till, seeing the game go against the men of Allen,
thou didst rush into the crowd, and three times didst thou win the goal.
My heart went out to thee that day, and now do I know that thee only do I
love. Sore is my distress for the heedless words I spake which have
brought Finn hither. Older is he than Cormac my father, and him will I not
wed. Therefore, I pray thee, flee with me hence.'
Sore troubled was Dermat as he listened to these words, and at length he
replied, 'Unworthy am I of thy love, and there is not a stronghold in Erin
that would shelter us from the wrath of Finn were this thing to be.'
When Grania heard the words that Dermat spake, she said, 'I place thee
under a solemn vow that thou follow me from Tara ere Finn shall wake. And
thou knowest there is no true hero but will hold his vow binding even unto
death.'
'Even though we so willed it,' replied Dermat, 'could we not escape from
Tara, for Finn hath in his keeping the keys of the great gate.'
'Yet canst thou escape if thou wilt,' said Grania, 'for a champion such as
thou canst bound over the highest wall in Erin. By the wicket-gate leading
from my chamber shall I go forth, and if thou followest me not, alone
shall I flee from the sight of Finn.' And having spoken thus, Grania went
forth from the hall.
Then was Dermat in sore plight, for he would not depart from the solemn
vow that Grania had laid upon him, and yet he feared lest the Princess
should not escape the wrath of Finn.
And he took counsel of the nobles who had come hither with Finn, and there
was not one but said, 'Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart
from thy solemn vow.'
Then Dermat arose, and when he was armed he bade his companions a tearful
farewell, for he knew they might see his face no more.
Forth he went, and with an exceeding light bound he cleared the rampart
and alighted on the green grass beyond. And there Grania met him.
And Dermat said to the Princess, 'Even now, I pray of thee, return to thy
father's home and Finn shall hear nought of this thing.'
But Grania's will was firm, and she said, 'I will not return now nor will
I return hereafter, for death only shall part me and thee.'
'Then go forward, O Grania,' said Dermat, and the two went forth.
But when they were scarce a mile from Tara Grania told Dermat that she was
weary.
And Dermat said, 'It is a good time to weary, O Grania. Get thee back to
thine own household, for I plight thee the word of a true warrior that I
will not carry thee from thy father's house.'
'Neither is there need,' answered Grania, 'for my father's horses are in a
fenced meadow by themselves, and chariots also will ye find there. Yoke
two horses to a chariot, and I will wait for thee on this spot until thou
overtake me again.'
Then Dermat did as Grania said, and he brought the horses and the chariot,
and they drove forth.
But when they came to the banks of the river Shannon, Dermat said, 'Now
that we have the horses it is easier for Finn to follow in our track.'
'Then,' said Grania, 'leave the horses on this spot and I will journey on
foot henceforth.'
And Dermat, when he saw that the Princess would not be moved, told her how
great was his love for her, and how he would defend her even with his life
from the wrath of Finn.
And Dermat wed Grania, and they vowed solemn vows that they would be
faithful each to each even unto death.
Then tenderly did Dermat lift his wife in his strong arms and bear her
across the ford, and neither the sole of her foot nor the hem of her
mantle touched the stream.
Afterwards Dermat led one of the horses across the ford, but the other he
left on the far side.
Dermat and Grania then walked until they came to a thick wood, and there
Dermat lopped branches from the trees and made a hut, and he made for
Grania a bed of the soft rushes and of the tops of the birch.
And there Grania rested, and there did Dermat bring to her food of the
forest and water from a clear spring.
* * * * *
It was early dawn at Tara when Cormac and Finn awoke from their deep
sleep.
When Finn found that Grania had fled with Dermat, great was his wrath, and
he called to him his nobles, and ordered them with all speed to follow in
the track of Dermat and Grania.
And Finn went with them, nor was the track hard to follow until they came
to the river Shannon, but there it was lost and no man could find it.
Then was the wrath of Finn so great that he said he would hang his nobles,
and not one would he spare, if they did not again find the track, and that
with all speed.
So, being sore afraid, they crossed the river, and when they had searched
they saw the horses one on either side, and they found, too, the spot
where Dermat and Grania had turned from the river.
And when they told Finn, he was content, for he knew of a surety that
Dermat and Grania hid in the deep wood.
Now among the nobles were those who loved Dermat, and would fain save him
from the hate of Finn. And one said, 'It behooveth us to send warning to
Dermat. Let us send to him Bran, the hound of Finn, for Bran loveth Dermat
as though he were his own master.'
And they called the hound and told him secretly what he should do.
Bran listened with ears erect, and then, losing no time, he followed the
track, nor did he miss it once until it brought him unto the hut. And
going in he found Dermat and Grania asleep, and he thrust his head into
Dermat's bosom.
And Dermat woke with a start, and when he saw Bran there was no need for
the hound to tell whence he came.
Then Dermat awoke his wife and told her that Finn was near.
Great fear looked from out the eyes of Grania when she heard, and she
begged that they might flee.
But Dermat answered, 'Were we to flee, yet would Finn overtake us, and it
were as ill to fall into his hands then as at this time, but neither he
nor his men shall enter this hut without my leave.'
Still Grania feared greatly, but she spake no further, for in Dermat's
eyes she read his gloom.
While Bran still tarried by the hut, the nobles who loved Dermat thought
of yet another warning to send their friend. They had with them a
serving-man whose voice was so loud that it could be heard for many miles,
and they made this man give three shouts that Dermat might hear.
And when Dermat heard the shouts he said to Grania, 'Well I know whose is
the voice that shouteth, and full well I know that it cometh as a warning
that Finn is nigh.'
Then great fear took hold of Grania, and she trembled, and again she said,
'Let us flee, for how shall we withstand the wrath of Finn?'
But Dermat said, 'We will not flee, but neither Finn nor his men shall
enter the hut without my leave.'
Then was Grania filled with foreboding, yet spake she no further, for sad
and stern was her husband's voice, and in his eyes she read his gloom.
Now Finn, having reached the wood, sent forward his men, but when they
came to the thickest part of the forest they beheld a fence which no man
could break through or climb. For Dermat had cleared a space round his hut
and around the space had he built the strong fence.
Then the nobles climbed a high tree and from it did they look within the
fence, and there they saw Dermat and with him a lady.
But for their love of Dermat did the nobles hide from Finn that they had
seen his foe. And one said to him, 'Far would it be from the mind of
Dermat to await thee here, knowing as he does that his life is in peril.'
Then did Finn's wrath wax strong, and he replied, 'That Dermat hath thee
for friend will avail him nought. Was it not to warn him that your
serving-man gave three shouts, and was it not to warn him that ye sent
unto him my dog Bran? Full well I know that Dermat is hid behind yonder
strong fence.'
And Finn cried aloud, 'Which of us, Dermat, is it that speaketh truth? Art
thou behind the fence?'
'Thou, as ever, art right, O King,' cried Dermat. 'I am here, and with me
is Grania, but none other shall come hither save with my leave.'
Now in the circle fence were seven doors, and at each door did Finn place
strong men, so that Dermat should by no means escape.
And Grania, when she heard Finn's voice, was filled with fear, and she
trembled greatly. Then Dermat kissed her three times and bade her be of
good cheer for all would yet be well.
Now it was by Angus of Bruga that Dermat had been brought up. Most skilled
in magic was this Angus, and to him was the plight of Dermat
revealed--Dermat, whom he loved as though he were his own son.
So Angus arose and travelled on the wings of the wind until he came to the
hut where Dermat and Grania dwelt, and, unseen of Finn or his chiefs, he
entered the dwelling.
And Dermat, when he saw his foster-father, greeted him gladly and told him
of the solemn vow which the Princess Grania had laid upon him, and how she
was his wedded wife. 'And now are we in sore strait, for Finn, whose will
it was to marry Grania, hath pursued us and would fain take my life.'
'No harm shall befall you,' said Angus, 'if ye will but shelter under my
mantle, the one on the right side and the other on the left, for then will
I bring you both forth from this place, and Finn shall know it not.'
But Dermat would not flee from Finn, yet it was his will that Grania
should go with Angus. 'And I will follow if it be that I leave this place
alive, yet should I be slain, I pray thee, Angus, send the Princess to her
father and beg him that he deal gently with her.'
Then Dermat kissed Grania, and Angus, having told the way that they would
go, placed the Princess beneath his mantle and was carried forth on the
wings of the wind unseen of Finn.
When Angus and Grania had gone, Dermat girded on his armour, and, deep in
thought, he walked to one of the seven doors and asked who was without.
And the answer came, 'True friends are we, and no harm shall befall thee,
shouldst thou venture forth.'
But Dermat answered, 'I seek the door guarded by Finn, and by none other
shall I leave this place.'
And he came to another door and asked who was without, and again was it
told him, 'Thy bounden friends.'
Then to the third, to the fourth, and to the fifth door did Dermat go, and
at each was he told how the men without were willing to fight to the death
for their love of him.
But when Dermat came to the sixth door and asked by whom it was guarded,
the answer came, 'No friends of thine, for shouldst thou dare to venture
forth, we will make thee a mark for our swords and spears.'
'Cowards, no fear of you keepeth me from coming forth, but I crave not the
blood of such as ye.'
And he went to the seventh door and asked who was without. And the voice
of Finn answered, 'He that hateth thee, and will sever thy head from thy
body shouldst thou dare to come forth.'
'At length have I found the door I seek, for by the door that Finn
guardeth, by it only shall I pass out.'
But Dermat, seeing of a sudden an unguarded spot, sprang with a light
bound over the fence, and ran so swiftly that soon he was beyond the reach
of sword or spear. And no man dared to follow Dermat. Nor did the hero
rest until he came to the warm, well-lighted hut where Grania sat with
Angus before a blazing fire.
When Grania saw Dermat her heart leaped for joy. Then did he tell her his
tidings from beginning to end, and after they had eaten they slept in
peace until the morning brake.
And while it was yet early Angus bid them farewell, and he left with them
this warning, knowing that Finn would pursue them still: 'Go into no tree
that has but one trunk; nor into any cave having but one opening; land on
no island that has but one way leading to it; where you cook your food,
there eat it not; where you eat, sleep not there; and where you sleep
to-night, rise not there to-morrow.' [Footnote: Angus meant that Dermat
should change his place of sleeping during the night.]
And when Angus had left them, Dermat and Grania sorrowed after him, and it
was not long until they journeyed forth.
* * * * *
All that befell Dermat and Grania cannot be told in this book, but of
Sharvan the giant and of the fairy quicken-tree you shall hear now.
After many wanderings Dermat came with Grania to the wood where Sharvan
guarded the quicken-tree. Honey-sweet were the berries of the tree, and
gladness flowed through the veins of him who ate thereof. Though he were
one hundred years old, yet would he be but thirty so soon as he had eaten
three of the fairy berries.
By day Sharvan the giant sat at the foot of the tree, and by night he sat
in a hut in its branches, and no man dared to come near. Fearful to behold
and wicked was this Sharvan. One eye, one red eye gleamed from the middle
of his black forehead. On his body was a girdle of iron, and from the
girdle was a heavy club hung by a heavy chain. And by magic was Sharvan
saved from death, for water would not drown him nor fire burn; neither was
there weapon, save one, that could wound the giant. The one weapon was
Sharvan's own club, for were he by it dealt three blows, his doom was
come.
Now Dermat knew of the giant that guarded the fairy quicken-tree,
therefore he left Grania in shelter and went alone to the foot of the
tree. And there sat Sharvan, for it was day.
And Dermat told the giant how he would fain build a hut in the forest and
hunt amid the woods.
Then the giant, casting his red eye upon the champion, told him in surly
tone that it mattered not to him who lived or hunted in the forest, so
long as he did not eat the berries of the quicken-tree.
So Dermat built a hut near to a clear well, and there he and Grania lived
in peace for many days, eating the food of the forest and drinking water
from the spring.
Now it was at this time that two chiefs came to Finn on the green slopes
of Allen. And when he asked them who they were and whence they came, they
told how they were enemies that would fain make peace.
But Finn answered, 'One of two things must ye bring hither would ye win
peace from me. Either must ye bring me the head of a warrior or a handful
of berries from the quicken-tree.'
Then said Oisin the son of Finn, 'I counsel you, get ye hence, for the
head that the King seeketh from you is the head of Dermat, and were ye to
attempt to take it, then would Dermat take yours, were ye twenty times the
number that ye be. And as for the quicken-berries, know ye that they grow
on a fairy tree, guarded by the one-eyed giant Sharvan.'
But the two chiefs were firm and would not be moved, for it were better to
die in their quest than to return to the hilly slopes of Allen at enmity
with Finn. So they left the palace, and journeyed without rest until they
came to Dermat's hut by the clear well.
Now Dermat, when he heard footsteps without, seized his weapons, and going
to the door, asked of the strangers who they were and whence they came.
And the chiefs told their names and for what cause they were come thither.
Then Dermat said, 'I am not willing to give you my head, nor will you find
it an easy matter to take it. Neither may ye hope to fare better in your
quest of the quicken-berries, for the surly giant Sharvan guards the tree.
Fire will not burn him nor water drown, nor is there a weapon that hath
power to wound him, save only his own club. Say, therefore, which ye will
do battle for first, my head or the quicken-berries?'
And they answered, 'We will first do battle with thee.'
So they made ready, and it was agreed that they should use nought save
their hands in the combat. And if Dermat were overcome then should his
head be taken by the chiefs to Finn; if they were overpowered then should
their heads be forfeit to Dermat.
But the fight was short, for the chiefs were as children in the hands of
the hero, and he bound them sore in bitter bonds.
Now when Grania heard of the quicken-berries she longed with a great
longing to taste them. At first she said nought for she knew how they were
guarded by the surly giant Sharvan; but when she could hide her desire no
longer, she said to Dermat, 'So great is my longing for the berries of the
quicken-tree that if I may not eat of them I shall surely die.'
And Dermat, who would see no ill befall his dear wife, said he would bring
her the berries.
When the two chiefs heard this, they prayed Dermat to loose their bonds
that they also might fight the giant.
But Dermat answered, 'At the mere sight of Sharvan ye would flee, and even
were it not so I wish the aid of none.'
Then the chiefs begged that they might see the fight, and Dermat gave them
leave.
When the champion came to the foot of the quicken-tree he found Sharvan
there, asleep. And he struck the giant a mighty blow to awake him.
Then Sharvan raised his head, and, glaring at Dermat with his one red eye,
said, 'There hath been peace betwixt us heretofore, wherefore should we
now depart from it?'
And Dermat said, 'It is not to strive that I come hither, but to beg of
thee berries from the quicken-tree, for Grania, my wife, longeth for them
with a great longing.'
But the giant answered, 'Though the Princess were at the point of death,
yet would I not give her berries from the quicken-tree.'
When Dermat heard this he said, 'It had pleased me well to remain at peace
with thee, but now must I take the berries from the tree whether it be thy
will or no.'
At these words Sharvan waxed exceeding wroth, and with his club did he
deal Dermat three sore blows. But the champion, recovering, sprang upon
the giant, and seizing his great club, he ceased not to belabour him until
he fell to earth a dead man.
Then Dermat sat down to rest. And he told the captive chiefs to drag the
body of the giant into the wood and bury it, that Grania might not be
affrighted. And when they had come back he sent for the Princess.
And Grania, when she came to the quicken-tree, would not gather the fruit,
for she said, 'I will eat no berries save those plucked by the hand of my
husband.'
So Dermat plucked the berries, and Grania ate and was satisfied.
Then the champion gave berries of the quicken-tree to the captive chiefs,
saying, 'Take these to Finn and so win your peace.' And this he said as
though they were free men.
They thanked the hero for his words, and also for the berries, which they
could not have got of themselves. Then having bid Dermat and Grania
farewell they journeyed forth towards the hilly slopes of Allen.
When they were gone, Dermat and Grania went to the top of the
quicken-tree, into the hut of Sharvan, and the berries below were but
bitter compared to the berries that were above upon the tree.
Now when Finn's two enemies were come to Allen he asked them how they had
fared, and whether they had brought with them the head of Dermat or a
handful of berries from the quicken-tree.
And they answered, 'Sharvan the giant is slain, and behold here we have
brought thee berries from the quicken-tree so that henceforth we may live
at peace.'
Then Finn took the berries in his hand, and when he had smelled them three
times he said, 'Of a truth these be the berries of the quicken-tree, but
not of your own strength have ye gotten them. Full well I know that by
Dermat hath Sharvan the giant been slain, and from his hand have ye gotten
the berries. Therefore have ye no peace from me, and now shall I summon an
army that I may march to the wood of the quicken-tree, for there surely
doth Dermat dwell.'
Now when Finn came with his army to the quicken-tree it was noon, and the
sun shone with great heat.