Bran went away from them then, and when Oisin saw her coming back, he

said: "I am in dread Bran found no chance to get to Diarmuid, and we

should send him some other warning. And look where is Fearghoin," he

said, "Caoilte's serving-man." Now it was the way with Fearghoin, every

shout he would give would be heard in the three nearest hundreds to him.

So they made him give out three shouts the way Diarmuid would hear him.

And Diarmuid heard him, and he said to Grania: "I hear Caoilte's

serving-man, and it is with Caoilte he is, and it is along with Finn

Caoilte is, and those shouts were sent as a warning to me." "Take that

warning," said Grania. "I will not take it," said Diarmuid, "for Finn

and the Fianna will come up with us before we leave the wood." And fear

and great dread came on Grania when she heard him say that.

As for Finn, he did not leave off following the track till he came to

Doire-da-Bhoth, and he sent the sons of Neamhuin to search through the

wood, and they saw Diarmuid, and the woman along with him. They came

back then where Finn was, and he asked them were Diarmuid and Grania in

the wood? "Diarmuid is in it," they said, "and there is some woman with

him, but we knew Diarmuid, and we do not know Grania." "May no good come

to the friends of Diarmuid for his sake," said Finn, "and he will not

quit that wood till he has given me satisfaction for everything he has

done to me."

"It is jealousy has put you astray, Finn," said Oisin; "you to think

Diarmuid would stop here on the plain of Maen Mhagh, and no close place

in it but Doire-da-Bhoth, and you following after him." "Saying that

will do you no good," said Finn, "for I knew well when I heard the three

shouts Caoilte's serving-man gave out, it was you sent them to Diarmuid

as a warning. And another thing," he said, "it was you sent my own

hound Bran to him. But none of those things you have done will serve

you, for he will not leave Doire-da-Bhoth till he gives me satisfaction

for everything he has done to me, and every disgrace he has put on me."

"It is great foolishness for you, Finn," said Osgar then, "to be

thinking Diarmuid would stop in the middle of this plain and you waiting

here to strike the head off him." "Who but himself cut the wood this

way," said Finn, "and made this close sheltered place with seven woven

narrow doors to it. And O Diarmuid," he said out then, "which of us is

the truth with, myself or Oisin?" "You never failed from your good

judgment, Finn," said Diarmuid, "and indeed I myself and Grania are

here." Then Finn called to his men to go around Diarmuid and Grania, and

to take them.

Now it was shown at this time to Angus Og, at Brugh na Boinne, the great

danger Diarmuid was in, that was his pupil at one time, and his dear

foster-son. He set out then with the clear cold wind, and did not stop

in any place till he came to Doire-da-Bhoth. And he went unknown to Finn

or the Fianna into the place where Diarmuid and Grania were, and he

spoke kind words to Diarmuid, and he said: "What is the thing you have

done, grandson of Duibhne?" "It is," said Diarmuid, "the daughter of the

King of Ireland that has made her escape with me from her father and

from Finn, and it is not by my will she came." "Let each of you come

under a border of my cloak, so," said Angus, "and I will bring you out

of the place where you are without knowledge of Finn or his people."

"Bring Grania with you," said Diarmuid, "but I will never go with you;

but if I am alive I will follow you before long. And if I do not," he

said, "give Grania to her father, and he will do well or ill to her."

With that Angus put Grania under the border of his cloak, and brought

her out unknown to Finn or the Fianna, and there is no news told of them

till they came to Ros-da-Shoileach, the Headland of the Two Sallows.

And as to Diarmuid, after Angus and Grania going from him, he stood up

as straight as a pillar and put on his armour and his arms, and after

that he went to a door of the seven doors he had made, and he asked who

was at it. "There is no enemy to you here," they said, "for there are

here Oisin and Osgar and the best men of the sons of Baiscne along with

us. And come out to us now, and no one will have the daring to do any

harm or hurt on you." "I will not go out to you," said Diarmuid, "till I

see at what door Finn himself is." He went then to another door of the

seven and asked who was at it. "Caoilte, son of Ronan, and the rest of

the sons of Ronan along with him; and come out to us now, and we will

give ourselves for your sake." "I will not go out to you," said

Diarmuid, "for I will not put you under Finn's anger for any well-doing

to myself." He went on to another door then and asked who was at it.

"There is Conan, son of Morna, and the rest of the sons of Morna along

with him; and it is enemies to Finn we are, and you are a great deal

more to us than he is, and you may come out and no one will dare lay a

hand on you." "I will not indeed," said Diarmuid, "for Finn would be

better pleased to see the death of every one of you than to let me

escape." He went then to another door and asked who was at it. "A friend

and a comrade of your own, Fionn, son of Cuadan, head of the Fianna of

Munster, and his men along with him; and we are of the one country and

the one soil, and we will give our bodies and our lives for your sake."

"I will not go out to you," said Diarmuid, "for I would not like Finn to

have a grudge against you for any good you did to me." He went then to

another door and asked who was at it. "It is Fionn, son of Glor, head

of the Fianna of Ulster, and his men along him; and come out now to us

and there is no one will dare hurt or harm you." "I will not go out to

you," said Diarmuid, "for you are a friend to me, and your father along

with you, and I would not like the unfriendliness of Finn to be put on

you for my sake." He went then to another door, and he asked who was at

it. "There is no friend of yours here," they said, "for there is here

Aodh Beag the Little from Eamhuin, and Aodh Fada the Long from Eamhuin,

and Caol Crodha the Fierce, and Goineach the Wounder, and Gothan the

White-fingered, and Aoife his daughter, and Cuadan the Tracker from

Eamhuin; and we are unfriendly people to you, and if you come out to us

we will not spare you at all, but will make an end of you." "It is a bad

troop is in it," said Diarmuid; "you of the lies and of the tracking and

of the one shoe, and it is not fear of your hands is upon me, but

because I am your enemy I will not go out."

He went then to the last of the seven doors and asked who was at it. "No

friend of yours," they said, "but it is Finn, son of Cumhal, and four

hundred paid fighting men along with him; and if you will come out to us

we will make opened marrow of you." "I give you my word, Finn," said

Diarmuid, "that the door you are at yourself is the first door I will

pass out of."

When Finn heard that, he warned his battalions on pain of lasting death

not to let Diarmuid past them unknown. But when Diarmuid heard what he

said, he rose on the staves of his spears and he went with a very high,

light leap on far beyond Finn and his people, without their knowledge.

He looked back at them then, and called out that he had gone past them,

and he put his shield on his back and went straight on towards the west,

and it was not long before he was out of sight of Finn and the Fianna.

Then when he did not see any one coming after him, he turned back to

where he saw Angus and Grania going out of the wood, and he followed on

their track till he came to Ros-da-Shoileach.

He found Angus and Grania there in a sheltered, well-lighted cabin, and

a great blazing fire kindled in it, and the half of a wild boar on

spits. Diarmuid greeted them, and the life of Grania all to went out of

her with joy before him.

Diarmuid told them his news from beginning to end, and they ate their

share that night, and they went to sleep till the coming of the day and

of the full light on the morrow. And Angus rose up early, and he said to

Diarmuid: "I am going from you now, grandson of Duibhne; and I leave

this advice with you," he said, "not to go into a tree with one trunk,

and you flying before Finn, and not to be going into a cave of the earth

that has but one door, and not to be going to an island of the sea that

has but one harbour. And in whatever place you cook your share of food,"

he said, "do not eat it there; and in whatever place you eat it, do not

lie down there; and in whatever place you lie down, do not rise up there

on the morrow." He said farewell to them after that, and went his way.

CHAPTER III. THE GREEN CHAMPIONS

Then Diarmuid and Grania went along the right bank of the Sionnan

westward till they came to Garbh-abha-na-Fiann, the rough river of the

Fianna. And Diarmuid killed a salmon on the brink of the river, and put

it to the fire on a spit. Then he himself and Grania went across the

stream to eat it, as Angus bade them; and then they went westward to

sleep.

They rose up early on the morrow, and they travelled straight westward

till they came to the marsh of Finnliath.

And on the marsh they met with a young man, having a good shape and

appearance, but without fitting dress or arms. Diarmuid greeted the

young man, and asked news of him. "A fighting lad I am, looking for a

master," he said, "and Muadhan is my name." "What would you do for me,

young man?" said Diarmuid. "I would be a servant to you in the day, and

watch for you in the night," he said. "I tell you to keep that young

man," said Grania, "for you cannot be always without people."

Then they made an agreement with him, and bound one another, and they

went on together westward till they reached the Carrthach river. And

then Muadhan bade Diarmuid and Grania to go up on his back till he would

carry them over the stream.

"That would be a big load for you," said Grania. But he put them upon

his back and carried them over. Then they went on till they came to the

Beith, and Muadhan brought them over on his back the same way. And they

went into a cave at the side of Currach Cinn Adhmuid, the Woody Headland

of the Bog, over Tonn Toime, and Muadhan made ready beds of soft rushes

and tops of the birch for them in the far end of the cave. And he went

himself into the scrub that was near, and took a straight long rod of a

quicken-tree, and he put a hair and a hook on the rod, and a holly berry

on the hook, and he went up the stream, and he took a salmon with the

first cast. Then he put on a second berry and killed another fish, and

he put on a third berry and killed the third fish. Then he put the hook

and the hair under his belt, and struck the rod into the earth, and he

brought the three salmon where Diarmuid and Grania were, and put them on

spits. When they were done, Muadhan said: "I give the dividing of the

fish to you, Diarmuid." "I would sooner you to divide it than myself,"

said Diarmuid. "I will give the dividing of the fish to you, so,

Grania," said he. "I am better satisfied you to divide it," said Grania.

"If it was you that divided the fish, Diarmuid," said Muadhan, "you

would have given the best share to Grania; and if it was Grania divided

it, she would have given you the best share; and as it is myself is

dividing it, let you have the biggest fish, Diarmuid, and let Grania

have the second biggest, and I myself will have the one is smallest."

They spent the night there, and Diarmuid and Grania slept in the far

part of the cave, and Muadhan kept watch for them until the rising of

the day and the full light of the morrow.

Diarmuid rose up early, and he bade Grania keep watch for Muadhan, and

that he himself would go and take a walk around the country. He went out

then, and he went up on a hill that was near, and he was looking about

him, east and west, north and south. He was not long there till he saw a

great fleet of ships coming from the west, straight to the bottom of the

hill where he was. And when they were come to land, nine times nine of

the chief men of the ships came on shore, and Diarmuid went down and

greeted them, and asked news of them, and to what country they belonged.

"Three kings we are of the Green Champions of Muir-na-locht," said they;

"and Finn, son of Cumhal, sent looking for us by cause of a thief of the

woods, and an enemy of his own that has gone hiding from him; and it is

to hinder him we are come. And we are twenty hundred good fighting men,

and every one of us is a match for a hundred, and besides that," he

said, "we have three deadly hounds with us; fire will not burn them, and

water will not drown them, and arms will not redden on them, and we will

lay them on his track, and it will be short till we get news of him.

And tell us who you are yourself?" they said, "and have you any word of

the grandson of Duibhne?" "I saw him yesterday," said Diarmuid; "and I

myself," he said, "am but a fighting man, walking the world by the

strength of my hand and by the hardness of my sword. And by my word," he

said, "you will know Diarmuid's hand when you will meet it." "Well, we

found no one up to this," said they. "What are your own names?" said

Diarmuid. "Dubh-chosach, the Black-footed, Fionn-chosach, the

Fair-footed, and Treun-chosach, the Strong-footed," they said.

"Is there wine in your ships?" said Diarmuid. "There is," said they. "If

you have a mind to bring out a tun of wine," said Diarmuid, "I will do a

trick for you." They sent men to get the tun, and when it came Diarmuid

took it between his two hands and drank a drink out of it, and the

others drank what was left of it. Diarmuid took up the tun after that,

and brought it to the top of the hill, and he went up himself on the

tun, and let it go down the steep of the hill till it was at the bottom.

And then he brought the tun up the hill again, and he himself on it

coming and going, and he did that trick three times before the

strangers. But they said he was a man had never seen a good trick when

he called that a trick; and with that a man of them went up on the tun,

but Diarmuid gave a stroke of his foot at it and the young man fell from

it before it began to move, and it rolled over him and crushed him, that

he died. And another man went on it, and another after him again, till

fifty of them were killed trying to do Diarmuid's trick, and as many of

them as were not killed went back to their ships that night.

Diarmuid went back then to where he left Grania; and Muadhan put the

hair and the hook on the rod till he killed three salmon; and they ate

their meal that night, and he kept watch for them the same way he did

before.

Diarmuid went out early the next day again to the hill, and it was not

long till he saw the three strangers coming towards him, and he asked

them would they like to see any more tricks. They said they would sooner

get news of the grandson of Duibhne. "I saw a man that saw him

yesterday," said Diarmuid. And with that he put off his arms and his

clothes, all but the shirt that was next his skin, and he struck the

Crann Buidhe, the spear of Manannan, into the earth with the point

upwards. And then he rose with a leap and lit on the point of the spear

as light as a bird, and came down off it again without a wound on him.

Then a young man of the Green Champions said: "It is a man has never

seen feats that would call that a feat"; and he put off his clothing and

made a leap, and if he did he came down heavily on the point of the

spear, and it went through his heart, and he fell to the ground. The

next day Diarmuid came again, and he brought two forked poles out of the

wood and put them standing upright on the hill, and he put the sword of

Angus Og, the Mor-alltach, the Big-fierce one, between the two forks on

its edge. Then he raised himself lightly over it, and walked on the

sword three times from the hilt to the point, and he came down and asked

was there a man of them could do that feat.

"That is a foolish question," said a man of them then, "for there was

never any feat done in Ireland but a man of our own would do it." And

with that he rose up to walk on the sword; but it is what happened, he

came down heavily on it the way he was cut in two halves.

The rest of the champions bade him take away his sword then, before any

more of their people would fall by it; and they asked him had he any

word of the grandson of Duibhne. "I saw a man that saw him to-day," said

Diarmuid, "and I will go ask news of him to-night."

He went back then to where Grania was, and Muadhan killed three salmon

for their supper, and kept a watch for them through the night. And

Diarmuid rose up at the early break of day, and he put his battle

clothes on him, that no weapon could go through, and he took the sword

of Angus, that left no leavings after it, at his left side, and his two

thick-handled spears, the Gae Buidhe and the Gae Dearg, the Yellow and

the Red, that gave wounds there was no healing for. And then he wakened

Grania, and he bade her to keep watch for Muadhan, and he himself would

go out and take a look around.

When Grania saw him looking so brave, and dressed in his clothes of

anger and of battle, great fear took hold of her, and she asked what was

he going to do. "It is for fear of meeting my enemies I am like this,"

said he. That quieted Grania, and then Diarmuid went out to meet the

Green Champions.

They came to land then, and they asked had he news of the grandson of

Duibhne. "I saw him not long ago," said Diarmuid. "If that is so, let us

know where is he," said they, "till we bring his head to Finn, son of

Cumhal." "I would be keeping bad watch for him if I did that," said

Diarmuid, "for his life and his body are under the protection of my

valour, and by reason of that I will do no treachery on him." "Is that

true?" said they. "It is true indeed," said Diarmuid. "Let you yourself

quit this place, so," they said, "or we will bring your head to Finn

since you are an enemy to him." "It is in bonds I would be," said

Diarmuid, "the time I would leave my head with you." And with that he

drew his sword the Mor-alltach out of its sheath, and he made a fierce

blow at the head nearest him that put it in two halves. Then he made an

attack on the whole host of the Green Champions, and began to destroy

them, cutting through the beautiful shining armour of the men of

Muir-na-locht till there was hardly a man but got shortening of life and

the sorrow of death, or that could go back to give news of the fight,

but only the three kings and a few of their people that made their

escape back to their ships. Diarmuid turned back then without wound or

hurt on him, and he went to where Crania and Muadhan were. They bade him

welcome, and Grania asked him did he hear any news of Finn and the

Fianna of Ireland, and he said he did not, and they ate their food and

spent the night there.

He rose up again with the early light of the morrow and went back to the

hill, and when he got there he struck a great blow on his shield that

set the strand shaking with the sound. And Dubh-chosach heard it, and he

said he himself would go fight with Diarmuid, and he went on shore there

and then.

And he and Diarmuid threw the arms out of their hands and rushed on one

another like wrestlers, straining their arms and their sinews, knotting

their hands on one another's backs, fighting like bulls in madness, or

like two daring hawks on the edge of a cliff. But at the last Diarmuid

raised up Dubh-chosach on his shoulder and threw his body to the ground,

and bound him fast and firm on the spot. And Fionn-chosach and

Treun-chosach came one after the other to fight with him then, and he

put the same binding on them; and he said he would strike the heads off

them, only he thought it a worse punishment to leave them in those

bonds. "For there is no one can free you," he said. And he left them

there, worn out and sorrowful.

The next morning after that, Diarmuid told Grania the whole story of the

strangers from beginning to end, and of all he had done to them, and how

on the fifth day he had put their kings in bonds. "And they have three

fierce hounds in a chain ready to hunt me," he said. "Did you take the

heads off those three kings?" said Grania, "I did not," said Diarmuid,

"for there is no man of the heroes of Ireland can loosen those bonds but

four only, Oisin, son of Finn, and Osgar, son of Oisin, and Lugaidh's

Son of the Strong Hand, and Conan, son of Morna; and I know well," he

said, "none of those four will do it. But all the same, it is short till

Finn will get news of them, and it is best for us to be going from this

cave, or Finn and the three hounds might come on us."

After that they left the cave, and they went on till they came to the

bog of Finnliath. Grania began to fall behind them, and Muadhan put her

on his back and carried her till they came to the great Slieve Luachra.

Then Diarmuid sat down on the brink of the stream that was flowing

through the heart of the mountain, and Grania was washing her hands, and

she asked his knife from him to cut her nails with.

As to the strangers, as many of them as were alive yet, they came to the

hill where their three leaders were bound, and they thought to loose

them; but it is the way those bonds were, all they did by meddling with

them was to draw them tighter.

And they were not long there till they saw a woman coming towards them

with the quickness of a swallow or a weasel or a blast of wind over bare

mountain-tops. And she asked them who was it had done that great

slaughter on them. "Who are you that is asking that?" said they. "I am

the Woman of the Black Mountain, the woman-messenger of Finn, son of

Cumhal," she said; "and it is looking for you Finn sent me." "Indeed we

do not know who it was did this slaughter," they said, "but we will tell

you his appearance. A young man he was, having dark curling hair and

ruddy cheeks. And it is worse again to us," they said, "our three

leaders to be bound this way, and we not able to loose them." "What way

did that young man go from you?" said the woman. "It was late last

night he left us," they said, "and we do not know where is he gone." "I

give you my word," she said, "it was Diarmuid himself that was in it;

and take your hounds now and lay them on his track, and I will send Finn

and the Fianna of Ireland to you."

They left a woman-Druid then attending on the three champions that were

bound, and they brought their three hounds out of the ship and laid them

on Diarmuid's track, and followed them till they came to the opening of

the cave, and they went into the far part of it and found the beds where

Diarmuid and Crania had slept. Then they went on westward till they came

to the Carrthach river, and to the bog of Finnliath, and so on to the

great Slieve Luachra.

But Diarmuid did not know they were after him till he got sight of them

with their banners of soft silk and their three wicked hounds in the

front of the troop and three strong champions holding them in chains.

And when he saw them coming like that he was filled with great hatred of

them.

There was one of them had a well-coloured green cloak on him, and he

came out far beyond the others, and Grania gave the knife back to

Diarmuid. "I think you have not much love for that young man of the

green cloak, Grania," said Diarmuid. "I have not indeed," said Grania;

"and it would be better if I had never given love to any man at all to

this day." Diarmuid put the knife in the sheath then, and went on; and

Muadhan put Grania on his back and carried her on into the mountain.

It was not long till a hound of the three hounds was loosed after

Diarmuid, and Muadhan said to him to follow Grania, and he himself would

check the hound. Then Muadhan turned back, and he took a whelp out of

his belt, and put it on the flat of his hand. And when the whelp saw the

hound rushing towards him, and its jaws open, he rose up and made a leap

from Muadhan's hand into the throat of the hound, and came out of its

side, bringing the heart with it, and he leaped back again to Muadhan's

hand, and left the hound dead after him.

Muadhan went on then after Diarmuid and Grania, and he took up Grania

again and carried her a bit of the way into the mountain. Then another

hound was loosened after them, and Diarmuid said to Muadhan: "I often

heard there is nothing can stand against weapons of Druid wounding, and

the throat of no beast can be made safe from them. And will you stand

now," he said, "till I put the Gae Dearg, the Red Spear, through that

hound."

Then Muadhan and Grania stopped to see the cast. And Diarmuid made a

cast at the hound, and the spear went through its body and brought out

its bowels; and he took up the spear again, and they went forward.

It was not long after that the third hound was loosed. And Grania said

then: "This is the one is fiercest of them, and there is great fear on

me, and mind yourself now, Diarmuid."

It was not long till the hound overtook them, and the place he overtook

them was Lic Dhubhain, the flag-stone of Dubhan, on Slieve Luachra. He

rose with a light leap over Diarmuid, as if he had a mind to seize on

Grania, but Diarmuid took him by the two hind legs, and struck a blow of

his carcase against the side of the rock was nearest, till he had let

out his brains through the openings of his head and of his ears. And

then Diarmuid took up his arms and his battle clothes, and put his

narrow-topped finger into the silken string of the Gae Dearg, and he

made a good cast at the young man of the green cloak that was at the

head of the troop that killed him. Then he made another cast at the

second man and killed him, and the third man in the same way. And as it

is not the custom to stand after leaders are fallen, the strangers when

they saw what had happened took to flight.

And Diarmuid followed after them, killing and scattering, so that unless

any man of them got away over the forests, or into the green earth, or

under the waters, there was not a man or messenger of them left to tell

the news, but only the Woman-messenger of the Black Mountain, that kept

moving around about when Diarmuid was putting down the strangers.

And it was not long till Finn saw her coming towards him where he was,

her legs failing, and her tongue muttering, and her eyes drooping, and

he asked news of her. "It is very bad news I have to tell you," she

said; "and it is what I think, that it is a person without a lord I am."

Then she told Finn the whole story from beginning to end, of the

destruction Diarmuid had done, and how the three deadly hounds had

fallen by him. "And it is hardly I myself got away," she said. "What

place did the grandson of Duibhne go to?" said Finn. "I do not know

that," she said.

And when Finn heard of the Kings of the Green Champions that were bound

by Diarmuid, he called his men to him, and they went by every short way

and every straight path till they reached the hill, and it was torment

to the heart of Finn to see the way they were. Then he said: "Oisin," he

said, "loosen those three kings for me." "I will not loosen them," said

Oisin, "for Diarmuid put bonds on me not to loosen any man he would

bind." "Loosen them, Osgar," said Finn then. "I give my word," said

Osgar, "it is more bonds I would wish to put on them sooner than to

loosen them." Neither would Conan help them, or Lugaidh's Son. And any

way, they were not long talking about it till the three kings died under

the hardness of the bonds that were on them.

Then Finn made three wide-sodded graves for them, and a flag-stone was

put over them, and another stone raised over that again, and their names

were written in branching Ogham, and it is tired and heavy-hearted Finn

was after that; and he and his people went back to Almhuin of Leinster.

CHAPTER IV. THE WOOD OF DUBHROS

And as to Diarmuid and Grania and Muadhan, they went on through Ui

Chonaill Gabhra, and left-hand ways to Ros-da-Shoileach, and Diarmuid

killed a wild deer that night, and they had their fill of meat and of

pure water, and they slept till the morning of the morrow. And Muadhan

rose up early, and spoke to Diarmuid, and it is what he said, that he

himself was going away. "It is not right for you to do that," said

Diarmuid, "for everything I promised you I fulfilled it, without any

dispute."

But he could not hinder him, and Muadhan said farewell to them and left

them there and then, and it is sorrowful and downhearted Diarmuid and

Grania were after him.

After that they travelled on straight to the north, to Slieve Echtge,

and from that to the hundred of Ui Fiachrach; and when they got there

Grania was tired out, but she took courage and went on walking beside

Diarmuid till they came to the wood of Dubhros.

Now, there was a wonderful quicken-tree in that wood, and the way it

came to be there is this:

There rose a dispute one time between two women of the Tuatha de Danaan,

Aine and Aoife, daughters of Manannan, son of Lir, for Aoife had given

her love to Lugaidh's Son, and Aine had given her love to a man of her

own race, and each of them said her own man was a better hurler than the

other. And it came from that dispute that there was a great hurling

match settled between the Men of Dea and the Fianna of Ireland, and the

place it was to be played was on a beautiful plain near Loch Lein.

They all came together there, and the highest men and the most daring of

the Tuatha de Danaan were there, the three Garbhs of Slieve Mis, and the

three Mases of Slieve Luachra, and the three yellow-haired Murchadhs,

and the three Eochaidhs of Aine, and the three Fionns of the White

House, and the three Sgals of Brugh na Boinne, and the three Ronans of

Ath na Riogh, and the Suirgheach Suairc, the Pleasant Wooer from Lionan,

and the Man of Sweet Speech from the Boinn, and Ilbrec, the

Many-Coloured, son of Manannan, and Neamhanach, son of Angus Og, and

Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda, and Manannan, son of Lir.

They themselves and the Fianna were playing the match through the length

of three days and three nights, from Leamhain to the valley of the

Fleisg, that is called the Crooked Valley of the Fianna, and neither of

them winning a goal. And when the Tuatha de Danaan that were watching

the game on each side of Leamhain saw it was so hard for their hurlers

to win a goal against the Fianna, they thought it as well to go away

again without playing out the game.

Now the provision the Men of Dea had brought with them from the Land of

Promise was crimson nuts, and apples, and sweet-smelling rowan berries.

And as they were passing through the district of Ui Fiachrach by the

Muaidh, a berry of the rowan berries fell from them, and a tree grew up

from it. And there was virtue in its berries, and no sickness or disease

would ever come on any person that would eat them, and those that would

eat them would feel the liveliness of wine and the satisfaction of mead

in them, and any old person of a hundred years that would eat them would

go back to be young again, and any young girl that would eat them would

grow to be a flower of beauty.

And it happened one time after the tree was grown, there were messengers

of the Tuatha de Danaan going through the wood of Dubhros. And they

heard a great noise of birds and of bees, and they went where the noise

was, and they saw the beautiful Druid tree. They went back then and told

what they had seen, and all the chief men of the Tuatha de Danaan when

they heard it knew the tree must have grown from a berry of the Land of

the Ever-Living Living Ones. And they enquired among all their people,

till they knew it was a young man of them, that was a musician, had

dropped the berry.

And it is what they agreed, to send him in search of a man of Lochlann

that would guard the tree by day and sleep in it by night. And the women

of the Sidhe were very downhearted to see him going from them, for there

was no harper could play half so sweetly on his harp as he could play on

an ivy leaf.

He went on then till he came to Lochlann, and he sat down on a bank and

sleep came on him. And he slept till the rising of the sun on the

morrow; and when he awoke he saw a very big man coming towards him, that

asked him who was he. "I am a messenger from the Men of Dea," he said;

"and I am come looking for some very strong man that would be willing to

guard a Druid tree that is in the wood of Dubhros. And here are some of

the berries he will be eating from morning to night," he said.

And when the big man had tasted the berries, he said: "I will go and

guard all the trees of the wood to get those berries."

And his name was the Searbhan Lochlannach, the Surly One of Lochlann.

Very black and ugly he was, having crooked teeth, and one eye only in

the middle of his forehead. And he had a thick collar of iron around his

body, and it was in the prophecy that he would never die till there

would be three strokes of the iron club he had, struck upon himself. And

he slept in the tree by night and stopped near it in the daytime, and he

made a wilderness of the whole district about him, and none of the

Fianna dared go hunt there because of the dread of him that was on them.

But when Diarmuid came to the wood of Dubhros, he went into it to where

the Surly One was, and he made bonds of agreement with him, and got

leave from him to go hunting in the wood, so long as he would not touch

the berries of the tree. And he made a cabin then for himself and for

Grania in the wood.

As for Finn and his people, they were not long at Almhuin till they saw

fifty armed men coming towards them, and two that were taller and

handsomer than the rest in the front of them. Finn asked did any of his

people know them. "We do not know them," they said, "but maybe you

yourself know them, Finn." "I do not," he said; "but it seems to be they

are enemies to myself." The troop of armed men came up to them then and

they greeted him, and Finn asked news of them, and from what country

they came. "I am Aonghus, son of Art Og of the children of Morna," one

of them said, "and this is Aodh, son of Andela; and we are enemies of

your own, and our fathers were at the killing of your father, and they

themselves died for that deed. And it is to ask peace we are come now to

you," they said. "Where were you the time my father was killed?" "In our

mothers' wombs," said they; "and our mothers were two women of the

Tuatha de Danaan, and it is time for us now to get our father's place

among the Fianna." "I will give you that," said Finn, "but I must put a

fine on you first in satisfaction for my father's death." "We have

neither gold or silver or goods or cattle to give you, Finn," said they.

"Do not put a fine on them, Finn," said Oisin, "beyond the death of

their fathers for your father." "It is what I think," said Finn, "if any

one killed myself, Oisin, it would be easy to pay the fine you would

ask. And there will no one come among the Fianna," he said, "without

giving what I ask in satisfaction for my father's death." "What is it

you are asking of us?" said Aonghus, son of Art Og. "I am asking but the

head of a champion, or the full of a fist of the berries of the

quicken-tree at Dubhros." "I will give you a good advice, children of

Morna," said Oisin, "to go back to the place you were reared, and not to

ask peace of Finn through the length of your lives. For it is not an

easy thing Finn is asking of you; and do you know whose head he is

asking you to bring him?" "We do not," said they. "The head of Diarmuid,

grandson of Duibhne, is the head he is asking of you. And if you were

twenty hundred men in their full strength, Diarmuid would not let you

take that head." "And what are the berries Finn is asking of us?" they

said then. "There is nothing is harder for you to get than those

berries," said Oisin.

He told them then the whole story of the tree, and of the Searbhan, the

Surly One of Lochlann, that was put to mind it by the Tuatha de Danaan.

But Aodh, son of Andela, spoke then, and it is what he said, that he

would sooner get his death looking for those berries than to go home

again to his mother's country. And he said to Oisin to care his people

till he would come back again, and if anything should happen himself and

his brother in their journey, to send them back again to the Land of

Promise. And the two said farewell then to Oisin and to the chief men of

the Fianna, and they went forward till they reached Dubhros. And they

went along the wood till they found a track, and they followed it to

the door of the hunting-cabin where Diarmuid and Grania were.

Diarmuid heard them coming, and he put his hand on his weapons and asked

who was at the door. "We are of the children of Morna," they said,

"Aodh, son of Andela, and Aonghus, son of Art Og." "What brings you to

this wood?" said Diarmuid. "Finn, son of Cumhal, that put us looking for

your head, if you are Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne," said they. "I am

indeed," said Diarmuid. "If that is so," they said, "Finn will take

nothing from us but your head, or a fistful of the berries of the

quicken-tree of Dubhros as satisfaction for the death of his father."

"It is not easy for you to get either of those things," said Diarmuid,

"and it is a pity for any one to be under the power of that man. And

besides that," he said, "I know it was he himself made an end of your

fathers, and that was enough satisfaction for him to get; and if you do

bring him what he asks, it is likely he will not make peace with you in

the end." "Is it not enough for you," said Aodh, "to have brought his

wife away from Finn without speaking ill of him?" "It is not for the

sake of speaking ill of him I said that," said Diarmuid, "but to save

yourselves from the danger he has sent you into."

"What are those berries Finn is asking?" said Grania, "that they cannot

be got for him?"

Diarmuid told her then the whole story of the berry the Tuatha de Danaan

had lost, and of the tree that had sprung up from it, and of the man of

Lochlann that was keeping the tree. "And at the time Finn sent me hiding

here and became my enemy," he said, "I got leave from the Surly One to

hunt, but he bade me never to meddle with the berries. And now, sons of

Morna," he said, "there is your choice, to fight with me for my head, or

to go asking the berries of the Surly One." "I swear by the blood of my

people," said each of them, "I will fight with yourself first."

With that the two young men made ready for the fight. And it is what

they chose, to fight with the strength of their hands alone. And

Diarmuid put them down and bound the two of them there and then. "That

is a good fight you made," said Grania. "But, by my word," she said,

"although the children of Morna do not go looking for those berries, I

will not lie in a bed for ever till I get a share of them; and I will

not live if I do not get them," she said. "Do not make me break my peace

with the Surly One," said Diarmuid, "for he will not let me take them."

"Loose these tyings from us," said the two young men, "and we will go

with you, and we will give ourselves for your sake." "You must not come

with me," said Diarmuid; "for if you got the full of your eyes of that

terrible one, you would be more likely to die than to live." "Well, do

us this kindness," they said then; "loosen these bonds on us, and give

us time to go by ourselves and see the fight before you strike off our

heads." So Diarmuid did that for them.

Then Diarmuid went to the Surly One, and he chanced to be asleep before

him, and he gave him a stroke of his foot the way he lifted his head and

looked up at him, and he said: "Have you a mind to break our peace,

Grandson of Duibhne?" "That is not what I want," said Diarmuid; "but it

is Grania, daughter of the High King," he said, "has a desire to taste

those berries, and it is to ask a handful of them I am come." "I give my

word," said he, "if she is to die for it, she will never taste a berry

of those berries." "I would not do treachery on you," said Diarmuid;

"and so I tell you, willing or unwilling, I will take those berries from

you."

When the Surly One heard that, he rose up on his feet and lifted his

club and struck three great blows on Diarmuid, that gave him some

little hurt in spite of his shield. But when Diarmuid saw him not

minding himself, he threw down his weapons, and made a great leap and

took hold of the club with his two hands. And when he had a hold of the

club he struck three great blows on him that put his brains out through

his head. And the two young men of the sons of Morna were looking at the

whole fight; and when they saw the Surly One was killed they came out.

And Diarmuid sat down, for he was spent with the dint of the fight, and

he bid the young men to bury the body under the thickets of the wood,

the way Grania would not see it. "And after that," he said, "let you go

back to her and bring her here." So they dragged away the body and

buried it, and they went then for Grania and brought her to Diarmuid.

"There are the berries you were asking, Grania," he said, "and you may

take what you like of them now." "I give my word," said Grania, "I will

not taste a berry of those berries but the one your own hand will pluck,

Diarmuid." Diarmuid rose up then and plucked the berries for Grania, and

for the children of Morna, and they ate their fill of them. And he said

then to the young men: "Take all you can of these berries, and bring

them with you to Finn, and tell him it was yourselves made an end of the

Surly One of Lochlann." "We give you our word," said they, "we begrudge

giving any of them to Finn."

But Diarmuid plucked a load of the berries for them, and they gave him

great thanks for all he had done; and they went back to where Finn was

with the Fianna. And Diarmuid and Grania went up into the top of the

tree where the bed of the Surly One was. And the berries below were but

bitter berries beside the ones above in the tree. And when the two young

men came to Finn, he asked news of them. "We have killed the Surly One

of Lochlann," they said; "and we have brought you berries from the

quicken-tree of Dubhros, in satisfaction for your father, that we may

get peace from you." They gave the berries then into Finn's hand, and he

knew them, and he said to the young men: "I give you my word," he said,

"it was Diarmuid himself plucked those berries, for I know the smell of

his hand on them; and I know well it was he killed the Surly One, and I

will go now and see is he himself alive at the quicken-tree."

After that he called for the seven battalions of the Fianna, and he set

out and went forward to Dubhros. And they followed the track of Diarmuid

to the foot of the quicken-tree, and they found the berries without

protection, so they ate their fill of them. And the great heat of the

day came on them, and Finn said they would stop where they were till the

heat would be past; "for I know well," he said, "Diarmuid is up in the

quicken-tree." "It is a great sign of jealousy in you, Finn," said

Oisin, "to think that Diarmuid would stop there up in the quicken-tree

and he knowing you are wanting to kill him."

Finn asked for a chess-board after that, and he said to Oisin: "I will

play a game with you now on this." They sat down then, Oisin and Osgar

and Lugaidh's Son and Diorraing on the one side of the board, and Finn

on the other side.

And they were playing that game with great skill and knowledge, and Finn

pressed Oisin so hard that he had no move to make but the one, and Finn

said: "There is one move would win the game for you, Oisin, and I defy

all that are with you to show you that move." Then Diarmuid said up in

the tree where he was, and no one heard him but Grania: "It is a pity

you be in straits, and without myself to show you that move." "It is

worse off you are yourself," said Grania, "to be in the bed of the

Surly One of Lochlann in the top of the quicken-tree, and the seven

battalions of the Fianna round about it to take your life."

But Diarmuid took a berry of the tree, and aimed at the one of the

chessmen that ought to be moved, and Oisin moved it and turned the game

against Finn by that move. It was not long before the game was going

against Oisin the second time, and when Diarmuid saw that he threw

another berry at the chessman it was right to move, and Oisin moved it

and turned the game against Finn in the same way. And the third time

Finn was getting the game from Oisin, and Diarmuid threw the third berry

on the man that would give the game to Oisin, and the Fianna gave a

great shout when the game was won. Finn spoke then, and it is what he

said: "It is no wonder you to win the game, Oisin, and you having the

help of Osgar, and the watchfulness of Diorraing, and the skill of

Lugaidh's Son, and the teaching of the grandson of Duibhne with you."

"That is a great sign of jealousy in you, Finn," said Osgar, "to think

Diarmuid would stop in this tree, and you so near him." "Which of us has

the truth, Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne," Finn said out then, "myself

or Osgar?" "You never lost your good judgment, Finn," said Diarmuid

then; "and I myself and Grania are here, in the bed of the Surly One of

Lochlann." Then Diarmuid rose up and gave three kisses to Grania in the

sight of Finn and the Fianna. And a scorching jealousy and a weakness

came on Finn when he saw that, and he said: "It was worse to me,

Diarmuid, the seven battalions of the Fianna to see what you did at

Teamhair, taking away Grania the night you were yourself my guard. But

for all that," he said, "you will give your head for the sake of those

three kisses."

With that Finn called to the four hundred paid fighting men that were

with him that they might make an end of Diarmuid; and he put their

hands into one another's hands around that quicken-tree, and bade them,

if they would not lose their lives, not to let Diarmuid pass out through

them. And he said that to whatever man would take Diarmuid, he would

give his arms and his armour, and a place among the Fianna of Ireland.

Then one of the Fianna, Garbh of Slieve Cua, said it was Diarmuid had

killed his own father, and he would avenge him now, and he went up the

quicken-tree to make an end of him.

Now, about that time it was made known to Angus Og, in Brugh na Boinne,

the danger Diarmuid was in, and he came to his help, unknown to the

Fianna. And when Garbh of Slieve Cua was coming up the tree, Diarmuid

gave him a kick of his foot, and he fell down among the hired men, and

they struck off his head, for Angus Og had put the appearance of

Diarmuid on him. But after he was killed, his own shape came on him

again, and the Fianna knew that it was Garbh was killed.

Then Garbh of Slieve Crot said it was Diarmuid had killed his father,

and he went up to avenge him, and the same thing happened. And in the

end all the nine Garbhs, of Slieve Guaire, and Slieve Muice, and Slieve

Mor, and Slieve Lugha, and Ath Fraoch, and Slieve Mis and Drom-mor, went

trying to take Diarmuid's life and lost their own lives, every one of

them having the shape and appearance of Diarmuid when he died. And Finn

was very sorry and discouraged when he saw that these nine men had come

to their death.

Then Angus said he would bring away Grania with him. "Do so," said

Diarmuid; "and if I am living at evening I will follow you." Then Angus

said farewell to Diarmuid, and he put his Druid cloak about Grania and

about himself, and they went away in the safety of the cloak, unknown to

Finn and the Fianna, till they came to Brugh na Boinne.

Then Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne, spoke, and it is what he said: "I

will come down to you, Finn, and to the Fianna. And I will do death and

destruction on you and on your people, for I am certain your mind is

made up to give me no rest, but to bring me to my death in some place.

And I have nowhere to go from this danger," he said, "for I have no

friend or comrade under whose protection I could go in any far part of

the great world, for it is often I fought against the men of the great

world for love of you. For there never came battle or fight, danger or

trouble on you, but I would go into it for your sake and the sake of the

Fianna; and not only that, but I would fight before you and after you.

And I give my word, Finn," he said, "you will pay hard for me, and you

will not get me as a free gift." "It is the truth Diarmuid is speaking,"

said Osgar, "and give him forgiveness now, and peace." "I will not do

that," said Finn, "to the end of life and time; and he will not get

peace or rest for ever till I get satisfaction from him for every

reproach he has put on me." "It is a great shame and a great sign of

jealousy you to say that," said Osgar. "And I give the word of a true

champion," he said, "that unless the skies come down upon me, or the

earth opens under my feet, I will not let you or any one of the Fianna

of Ireland give him cut or wound; and I take his body and his life under

the protection of my valour, and I will keep him safe against all the

men of Ireland." "Those are big words you have, Osgar," said Goll then,

"to say you would bring a man away in spite of all the men of Ireland."

"It is not you will raise them up against me, Goll," said Osgar, "for

none of them would mind what you would say." "If that is what you are

saying, you champion of great fights," said Goll, "let us see now what

you can do." "You will have to go through with the fight you have taken

on yourself," said Corrioll, son of Goll, in a loud voice. And Osgar

answered him fiercely: "If I do I will shorten your bones, and your

father's bones along with them. And come down now, Diarmuid," he said,

"since Finn has no mind to leave you in peace, and I promise on my body

and my life there will no harm be done to you to-day."

Then Diarmuid stood up on a high bough of the boughs of the tree, and he

rose with a light leap by the shaft of his spear, and lit on the grass

far beyond Finn and the Fianna. And he himself and Osgar went towards

one another, in spite of the Fianna that went between them, and Diarmuid

struck down those that were in his way; and as to Osgar, the throwing of

his spears as he scattered the Fianna was like the sound of the wind

going through a valley, or water falling over flag-stones. And Conan,

that was always bitter, said: "Let the sons of Baiscne go on killing one

another." But Finn, when he saw Diarmuid was gone from him, bade them

put their weapons up, and turn back again to Almhuin.

And he sent those of his men that could be healed to places of healing,

and the nine Garbhs, and the others of his men that were killed, he put

into wide-sodded graves. And it is tired and downhearted and sorrowful

he was after that, and he made an oath he would take no great rest till

he would have avenged on Diarmuid all that he had done.

CHAPTER V. THE QUARREL

And as to Osgar and Diarmuid, they went on, and no cut or wound on them,

to where Angus and Grania were at Brugh na Boinne; and there was a good

welcome before them, and Diarmuid told them the whole story from

beginning to end, and it is much that Grania did not die then and there,

hearing all he had gone through.

And then she and Diarmuid set out again, and they went and stopped for

a while in a cave that was near the sea.

And one night while they were there a great storm came on, so that they

went into the far part of the cave. But bad as the night was, a man of

the Fomor, Ciach, the Fierce One, his name was, came over the western

ocean in a currach, with two oars, and he drew it into the cave for

shelter. And Diarmuid bade him welcome, and they sat down to play chess

together. And he got the best of the game, and what he asked as his

winnings was Grania to be his wife, and he put his arms about her as if

to bring her away. And Grania said: "I am this long time going with the

third best man of the Fianna, and he never came as near as that to me."

And Diarmuid took his sword to kill Ciach, and there was anger on Grania

when she saw that, and she had a knife in her hand and she struck it

into Diarmuid's thigh. And Diarmuid made an end of the Fomor, and he

said no word to Grania, but ran out and away through the storm.

And Grania went following after him, and calling to him, but there was

great anger on him and he would not answer her. And at last at the break

of day she overtook him, and after a while they heard the cry of a

heron, and she asked him what was it made the heron cry out.

"Tell me that," she said, "Grandson of Duibhne, to whom I gave my love."

And Diarmuid said: "O Grania, daughter of the High King, woman who never

took a step aright, it is because she was frozen to the rocks she gave

that cry." And Grania was asking forgiveness of him, and he was

reproaching her, and it is what he said: "O Grania of the beautiful

hair, though you are more beautiful than the green tree under blossom,

your love passes away as quickly as the cold cloud at break of day. And

you are asking a hard thing of me now," he said, "and it is a pity what

you said to me, Grania, for it was you brought me away from the house of

my lord, that I am banished from it to this day; and now I am troubled

through the night, fretting after its delight in every place.

"I am like a wild deer, or a beast that is astray, going ever and always

through the long valleys; there is great longing on me to see one of my

kindred from the host.

"I left my own people that were brighter than lime or snow; their heart

was full of generosity to me, like the sun that is high above us; but

now they follow me angrily, to every harbour and every strand.

"I lost my people by you, and my lord, and my large bright ships on

every sea; I lost my treasure and my gold; it is hunger you gave me

through your love.

"I lost my country and my kindred; my men that were used to serve me; I

lost quietness and affection; I lost the men of Ireland and the Fianna

entirely.

"I lost delight and music; I lost my own right doing and my honour; I

lost the Fianna of Ireland, my great kinsmen, for the sake of the love

you gave me.

"O Grania, white as snow, it would have been a better choice for you to

have given hatred to me, or gentleness to the Head of the Fianna."

And Grania said: "O Diarmuid of the face like snow, or like the down of

the mountains, the sound of your voice was dearer to me than all the

riches of the leader of the Fianna.

"Your blue eye is dearer to me than his strength, and his gold and his

great hall; the love-spot on your forehead is better to me than honey in

streams; the time I first looked on it, it was more to me than the whole

host of the King of Ireland.

"My heart fell down there and then before your high beauty; when you

came beside me, it was like the whole of life in one day.

"O Diarmuid of the beautiful hands, take me now the same as before; it

was with me the fault was entirely; give me your promise not to leave

me."

But Diarmuid said: "How can I take you again, you are a woman too fond

of words; one day you give up the Head of the Fianna, and the next day

myself, and no lie in it.

"It is you parted me from Finn, the way I fell under sorrow and grief;

and then you left me yourself, the time I was full of affection."

And Grania said: "Do not leave me now this way, and my love for you ever

growing like the fresh branches of the tree with the kind long heat of

the day."

But Diarmuid would not give in to her, and he said: "You are a woman

full of words, and it is you have put me under sorrow. I took you with

myself, and you struck at me for the sake of the man of the Fomor."

They came then to a place where there was a cave, and water running by

it, and they stopped to rest; and Grania said: "Have you a mind to eat

bread and meat now, Diarmuid?"

"I would eat it indeed if I had it," said Diarmuid.

"Give me a knife, so," she said, "till I cut it." "Look for the knife in

the sheath where you put it yourself," said Diarmuid.

She saw then that the knife was in his thigh where she had struck it,

for he would not draw it out himself. So she drew it out then; and that

was the greatest shame that ever came upon her.

They stopped then in the cave. And the next day when they went on again,

Diarmuid did not leave unbroken bread like he had left every other day

as a sign to Finn that he had kept his faith with him, but it was broken

bread he left after him.

CHAPTER VI. THE WANDERERS

And they went on wandering after that, all through Ireland, hiding from

Finn in every place, sleeping under the cromlechs, or with no shelter at

all, and there was no place they would dare to stop long in. And

wherever they went Finn would follow them, for he knew by his divination

where they went. But one time he made out they were on a mountain, for

he saw them with heather under them; and it was beside the sea they

were, asleep on heather that Diarmuid had brought down from the hills

for their bed; and so he went searching the hills and did not find them.

And Grania would be watching over Diarmuid while he slept, and she would

make a sleepy song for him, and it is what she would be saying:

"Sleep a little, a little little, for there is nothing at all to fear,

Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne; sleep here soundly, soundly, Diarmuid, to

whom I have given my love.

"It is I will keep watch for you, grandchild of shapely Duibhne; sleep a

little, a blessing on you, beside the well of the strong field; my lamb

from above the lake, from the banks of the strong streams.

"Let your sleep be like the sleep in the South, of Dedidach of the high

poets, the time he took away old Morann's daughter, for all Conall could

do against him.

"Let your sleep be like the sleep in the North, of fair comely

Fionnchadh of Ess Ruadh, the time he took Slaine with bravery as we

think, in spite of Failbhe of the Hard Head.

"Let your sleep be like the sleep in the West, of Aine, daughter of

Gailian, the time she went on a journey in the night with Dubhthach from

Doirinis, by the light of torches.

"Let your sleep be like the sleep in the East, of Deaghadh the proud,

the brave fighter, the time he took Coincheann, daughter of Binn, in

spite of fierce Decheall of Duibhreann.

"O heart of the valour of the lands to the west of Greece, my heart

will go near to breaking if I do not see you every day. The parting of

us two will be the parting of two children of the one house; it will be

the parting of life from the body, Diarmuid, hero of the bright lake of

Carman."

And then to rouse him she would make another song, and it is what she

would say: "Caoinche will be loosed on your track; it is not slow the

running of Caoilte will be; do not let death reach to you, do not give

yourself to sleep for ever.

"The stag to the east is not asleep, he does not cease from bellowing;

though he is in the woods of the blackbirds, sleep is not in his mind;

the hornless doe is not asleep, crying after her speckled fawn; she is

going over the bushes, she does not sleep in her home.

"The cuckoo is not asleep, the thrush is not asleep, the tops of the

trees are a noisy place; the duck is not asleep, she is made ready for

good swimming; the bog lark is not asleep to-night on the high stormy

bogs; the sound of her clear voice is sweet; she is not sleeping between

the streams."

One time they were in a cave of Beinn Edair, and there was an old woman

befriending them and helping them to keep a watch. And one day she

chanced to go up to the top of Beinn Edair, and she saw an armed man

coming towards her, and she did now know him to be Finn; and when he was

come near she asked what was he looking for. "It is looking for a woman

I am come," he said, "and for a woman's love. And will you do all I will

ask you?" he said.

"I will do that," she said; for she thought it was her own love he was

asking.

"Tell me then," he said, "where is Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne?"

So she told him where he was hiding, and he bade her to keep him in the

cave till such time as he would come back with his men.

The old woman went back then, and it is what she did, she dipped her

cloak in the sea-water before she went into the cave; and Diarmuid asked

her why was her cloak so wet. "It is," she said, "that I never saw or

never heard of the like of this day for cold and for storms. There is

frost on every hillside," she said, "and there is not a smooth plain in

all Elga where there is not a long rushing river between every two

ridges. And there is not a deer or a crow in the whole of Ireland can

find a shelter in any place." And she was shaking the wet off her cloak,

and she was making a complaint against the cold, and it is what she

said:

"Cold, cold, cold to-night is the wide plain of Lurg; the snow is higher

than the mountains, the deer cannot get at their share of food.

"Cold for ever; the storm is spread over all; every furrow on the

hillside is a river, every ford is a full pool, every full loch is a

great sea; every pool is a full loch; horses cannot go through the ford

of Ross any more than a man on his two feet.

"The fishes of Inisfail are going astray; there is no strand or no pen

against the waves; there are no dwellings in the country, there is no

bell heard, no crane is calling.

"The hounds of the wood of Cuan find no rest or no sleep in their

dwelling-place; the little wren cannot find shelter in her nest on the

slope of Lon.

"A sharp wind and cold ice have come on the little company of birds; the

blackbird cannot get a ridge to her liking or shelter for her side in

the woods of Cuan.

"It is steady our great pot hangs from its hook; it is broken the cabin

is on the slope of Lon; the snow has made the woods smooth, it is hard

to climb to the ridge of Bennait Bo.

"The ancient bird of Glen Ride gets grief from the bitter wind; it is

great is her misery and her pain, the ice will be in her mouth.

"Mind well not to rise up from coverings and from down, mind this well;

there would be no good sense in it. Ice is heaped up in every ford; it

is for that I am saying and ever saying 'Cold.'"

The old woman went out after that, and when she was gone, Grania took

hold of the cloak she had left there and she put her tongue to it, and

found the taste of salt water on it. "My grief, Diarmuid," she said

then, "the old woman has betrayed us. And rise up now," she said, "and

put your fighting suit upon you."

So Diarmuid did that, and he went out, and Grania along with him. And no

sooner were they outside than they saw Finn and the Fianna of Ireland

coming towards them. Then Diarmuid looked around him and he saw a little

boat at hand in the shelter of the harbour, and he himself and Grania

went into it. And there was a man before them in the boat having

beautiful clothes on him, and a wide embroidered golden-yellow cloak

over his shoulders behind. And they knew it was Angus was in it, that

had come again to help them to escape from Finn, and they went back with

him for a while to Brugh na Boinne, and Osgar came to them there.

CHAPTER VII. FIGHTING AND PEACE

And after a while Finn bade his people to make his ship ready, and to

put a store of food and of drink in it. They did that, and he himself

and a thousand of his men went into the ship; and they were nine days

between sailing and rowing till they came to harbour in the north of

Alban.

They bound the ship to the posts of the harbour then, and Finn with five

of his people went to the dun of the King of Alban, and Finn struck a

blow with the hand-wood on the door, and the door-keeper asked who was

in it, and they told him it was Finn, son of Cumhal. "Let him in," said

the king.

Then Finn and his people went in, and the king made them welcome, and he

bade Finn to sit down in his own place, and they were given strong

pleasant drinks, and the king sent for the rest of Finn's people and

bade them welcome to the dun.

Then Finn told what it was brought him there, and that it was to ask

help and advice against the grandson of Duibhne he was come.

"And you have a right to give me your help," he said, "for it was he

that killed your father and your two brothers, and many of your best men

along with them."

"That is true," said the king; "and I will give you my own two sons and

a thousand men with each of them." Finn was glad when he heard that, and

he and his men took leave of the king and of his household, and left

wishes for life and health with them, and the king did the same by them.

And it was near Brugh na Boinne Finn and his people came to land, and

Finn sent messengers to the house of Angus to give out a challenge of

battle against Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne.

"What should I do about this, Osgar?" said Diarmuid.

"We will both go out and make a stand against them, and we will not let

a serving-man of them escape, but we will make an end of them all," said

Osgar.

So they rose up on the morning of the morrow and they put their suits of

battle on their comely bodies; and it would be a pity for those, be they

many or few, that would meet those two men, and their anger on them. And

they bound the rims of their shields together the way they would not be

parted from one another in the right. And the sons of the King of Alban

said that they themselves and their people would go first to meet them.

So they came to shore, and made a rush to meet Diarmuid and Osgar. But

the two fought so well that they beat them back and scattered them, and

made a great slaughter, and put great terror on them, so that at the

last there was not a man left to stand against them.

And after that, Finn went out again on the sea, and his people with him,

and there is no word of them till they came to the Land of Promise where

Finn's nurse was. And when she saw Finn coming she was very joyful

before him. And Finn told her the whole story from beginning to end, and

the cause of his quarrel with Diarmuid; and he said it was to ask an

advice from her he was come, and that it was not possible to put him

down by any strength of an army, unless enchantment would put him down.

"I will go with you," said the old woman, "and I will do enchantment on

him." Finn was very glad when he heard that, and he stopped there that

night, and they set out for Ireland on the morrow.

And when they came to Brugh na Boinne, the nurse put a Druid mist around

Finn and the Fianna, the way no one could know they were there. Now the

day before that, Osgar had parted from Diarmuid, and Diarmuid was out

hunting by himself. That was shown to the hag, and she took a drowned

leaf having a hole in it, like the quern of a mill, and she rose with

that by her enchantments on a blast of Druid wind over Diarmuid, and

began to aim at him through the hole with deadly spears, till she had

done him great harm, for all his arms and his clothing, and he could not

make away he was so hard pressed. And every danger he was ever in was

little beside that danger. And it is what he thought, that unless he

could strike the old woman through the hole that was in the leaf, she

would give him his death there and then. And he lay down on his back,

and the Gae Dearg, the Red Spear, in his hand, and he made a great cast

of the spear, that it went through the hole, and the hag fell dead on

the spot. And he struck off her head and brought it back with him to

Angus Og.

And the next morning early, Angus rose up, and he went where Finn was,

and he asked would he make peace with Diarmuid, and Finn said he would.

And then he went to the King of Ireland to ask peace for Diarmuid, and

he said he would agree to it.

And then he went back to where Diarmuid and Grania were, and asked him

would he make peace with the High King and with Finn. "I am willing,"

said Diarmuid, "if they will give the conditions I will ask." "What

conditions are those?" said Angus.

"The district my father had," said Diarmuid, "that is, the district of

Ui Duibhne, without right of hunting to Finn, and without rent or

tribute to the King of Ireland, and with that the district of Dumhais in

Leinster, for they are the best in Ireland, and the district of Ceis

Corainn from the King of Ireland as a marriage portion with his

daughter; and those are the conditions on which I will make peace with

them." "Would you be peaceable if you got those conditions?" said Angus.

"It would go easier with me to make peace if I got them," said Diarmuid.

Then Angus went with that news to where the King of Ireland was with

Finn. And they gave him all those conditions, and they forgave him all

he had done through the whole of the time he had been in his hiding,

that was sixteen years.

And the place Diarmuid and Grania settled in was Rath Grania, in the

district of Ceis Corainn, far away from Finn and from Teamhair. And

Grania bore him children there, four sons and one daughter. And they

lived there in peace, and the people used to be saying there was not a

man living at the same time was richer as to gold and to silver, as to

cattle and to sheep, than Diarmuid.

CHAPTER VIII. THE BOAR OF BEINN GULBAIN

But at last one day Grania spoke to Diarmuid, and it is what she said,

that it was a shame on them, with all the people and the household they

had, and all their riches, the two best men in Ireland never to have

come to the house, the High King, her father, and Finn, son of Cumhal.

"Why do you say that, Grania," said Diarmuid, "and they being enemies to

me?"

"It is what I would wish," said Grania, "to give them a feast, the way

you would get their affection." "I give leave for that," said Diarmuid.

So Grania was making ready a great feast through the length of a year,

and messengers were sent for the High King of Ireland, and for Finn and

the seven battalions of the Fianna; and they came, and they were using

the feast from day to day through the length of a year.

And on the last night of the year, Diarmuid was in his sleep at Rath

Grania; and in the night he heard the voice of hounds through his sleep,

and he started up, and Grania caught him and put her two arms about him,

and asked what had startled him. "The voice of a hound I heard," said

he; "and it is a wonder to me to hear that in the night." "Safe keeping

on you," said Grania, "for it is the Tuatha de Danaan are doing that on

you, on account of Angus of Brugh na Boinn, and lie down on the bed

again." But for all that no sleep came to him, and he heard the voice of

the hound again, and he started up a second time to follow after it. But

Grania caught hold of him the second time and bade him to lie down, and

she said it was no fitting thing to go after the voice of a hound in the

night. So he lay down again, and he fell asleep, but the voice of the

hound awakened him the third time. And the day was come with its full

light that time, and he said: "I will go after the voice of the hound

now, since the day is here." "If that is so," said Grania, "bring the

Mor-alltach, the Great Fierce One, the sword of Manannan, with you, and

the Gae Dearg." "I will not," he said; "but I will take the

Beag-alltach, the Little Fierce One, and the Gae Buidhe in the one hand,

and the hound Mac an Chuill, the Son of the Hazel, in the other hand."

Then Diarmuid went out of Rath Grania, and made no delay till he came to

the top of Beinn Gulbain, and he found Finn before him there, without

any one at all in his company. Diarmuid gave him no greeting, but asked

him was it he was making that hunt. Finn said it was not a hunt he was

making, but that he and some of the Fianna had gone out after midnight;

"and one of our hounds that was loose beside us, came on the track of a

wild boar," he said, "and they were not able to bring him back yet. And

there is no use following that boar he is after," he said, "for it is

many a time the Fianna hunted him, and he went away from them every time

till now, and he has killed thirty of them this morning. And he is

coming up the mountain towards us," he said, "and let us leave this hill

to him now."

"I will not leave the hill through fear of him," said Diarmuid. "It

would be best for you, Diarmuid," said Finn, "for it is the earless

Green Boar of Beinn Gulbain is in it, and it is by him you will come to

your death, and Angus knew that well when he put bonds on you not to go

hunting pigs." "I never knew of those bonds," said Diarmuid; "but

however it is, I will not quit this through fear of him. And let you

leave Bran with me now," he said, "along with Mac an Chuill." "I will

not," said Finn, "for it is often he met this boar before and could do

nothing against him." He went away then and left Diarmuid alone on the

top of the hill. "I give my word," said Diarmuid, "you made this hunt

for my death, Finn; and if it is here I am to find my death," he said,

"I have no use in going aside from it now."

The boar came up the face of the mountain then, and the Fianna after

him. Diarmuid loosed Mac an Chuill from his leash then, but that did not

serve him, for he did not wait for the boar, but ran from him. "It is a

pity not to follow the advice of a good woman," said Diarmuid, "for

Grania bade me this morning to bring the Mor-alltach and the Gae Dearg

with me." Then he put his finger into the silken string of the Gae

Buidhe, and took a straight aim at the boar and hit him full in the

face; but if he did, the spear did not so much as give him a scratch.

Diarmuid was discouraged by that, but he drew the Beag-alltach, and made

a full stroke at the back of the boar, but neither did that make a wound

on him, but it made two halves of the sword. Then the boar made a brave

charge at Diarmuid, that cut the sod from under his feet and brought him

down; but Diarmuid caught hold of the boar on rising, and held on to

him, having one of his legs on each side of him, and his face to his

hinder parts. And the boar made away headlong down the hill, but he

could not rid himself of Diarmuid; and he went on after that to Ess

Ruadh, and when he came to the red stream he gave three high leaps over

it, backwards and forwards, but he could not put him from his back, and

he went back by the same path till he went up the height of the

mountain again. And at last on the top of the mountain he freed himself,

and Diarmuid fell on the ground. And then the boar made a rush at him,

and ripped him open, that his bowels came out about his feet. But if he

did, Diarmuid made a cast at him with the hilt of his sword that was in

his hand yet, and dashed out his brains, so that he fell dead there and

then. And Rath na h-Amhrann, the Rath of the Sword Hilt, is the name of

that place to this day.

It was not long till Finn and the Fianna of Ireland came to the place,

and the pains of death were coming on Diarmuid at that time. "It is well

pleased I am to see you that way, Diarmuid," said Finn; "and it is a

pity all the women of Ireland not to be looking at you now, for your

great beauty is turned to ugliness, and your comely shape to

uncomeliness." "For all that, you have power to heal me, Finn," said

Diarmuid, "if you had a mind to do it." "What way could I heal you?"

said Finn. "Easy enough," said Diarmuid, "for the time you were given

the great gift of knowledge at the Boinn, you got this gift with it,

that any one you would give a drink to out of the palms of your hands

would be young and well again from any sickness after it." "You are not

deserving of that drink from me," said Finn. "That is not true," said

Diarmuid; "it is well I deserve it from you; for the time you went to

the house of Dearc, son of Donnarthadh, and your chief men with you for

a feast, your enemies came round the house, and gave out three great

shouts against you, and threw fire and firebrands into it. And you rose

up and would have gone out, but I bade you to stop there at drinking and

pleasure, for that I myself would go out and put them down. And I went

out, and put out the flames, and made three red rushes round the house,

and I killed fifty in every rush, and I came in again without a wound.

And it is glad and merry and in good courage you were that night,

Finn," he said, "and if it was that night I had asked a drink of you,

you would have given it; and it would be right for you to give it to me

now." "That is not so," said Finn; "it is badly you have earned a drink

or any good thing from me; for the night you went to Teamhair with me,

you took Grania away from me in the presence of all the men of Ireland,

and you being my own guard over her that night."

"Do not blame me for that, Finn," said Diarmuid, "for what did I ever do

against you, east or west, but that one thing; and you know well Grania

put bonds on me, and I would not fail in my bonds for the gold of the

whole world. And you will know it is well I have earned a drink from

you, if you bring to mind the night the feast was made in the House of

the Quicken Tree, and how you and all your men were bound there till I

heard of it, and came fighting and joyful, and loosed you with my own

blood, and with the blood of the Three Kings of the Island of the

Floods; and if I had asked a drink of you that night, Finn, you would

not have refused it. And I was with you in the smiting of Lon, son of

Liobhan, and you are the man that should not forsake me beyond any other

man. And many is the strait has overtaken yourself and the Fianna of

Ireland since I came among you, and I was ready every time to put my

body and my life in danger for your sake, and you ought not to do this

unkindness on me now. And besides that," he said, "there has many a good

champion fallen through the things you yourself have done, and there is

not an end of them yet; and there will soon come great misfortunes on

the Fianna, and it is few of their seed will be left after them. And it

is not for yourself I am fretting, Finn," he said, "but for Oisin and

Osgar, and the rest of my dear comrades, and as for you, Oisin, you will

be left lamenting after the Fianna. And it is greatly you will feel the

want of me yet, Finn," he said; "and if the women of the Fianna knew I

was lying in my wounds on this ridge, it is sorrowful their faces would

be at this time."

And Osgar said then: "Although I am nearer in blood to you, Finn, than

to Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne, I will not let you refuse him this

drink; and by my word," he said, "if any prince in the world would do

the same unkindness to Diarmuid that you have done, it is only the one

of us that has the strongest hand would escape alive. And give him a

drink now without delay," he said.

"I do not know of any well at all on this mountain," said Finn. "That is

not so," said Diarmuid, "for there is not nine footsteps from you the

well that has the best fresh water that can be found in the world."

Then Finn went to the well, and he took the full of his two hands of the

water. But when he was no more than half-way back, the thought of Grania

came on him, and he let the water slip through his hands, and he said he

was not able to bring it. "I give my word," said Diarmuid, "it was of

your own will you let it from you." Then Finn went back the second time

to get the water, but coming back he let it through his hands again at

the thought of Grania. And Diarmuid gave a pitiful sigh of anguish when

he saw that. "I swear by my sword and by my spear," said Osgar, "that if

you do not bring the water without any more delay, Finn, there will not

leave this hill but yourself or myself." Finn went back the third time

to the well after what Osgar said, and he brought the water to Diarmuid,

but as he reached him the life went out of his body. Then the whole

company of the Fianna that were there gave three great heavy shouts,

keening for Diarmuid.

And Osgar looked very fiercely at Finn, and it is what he said, that it

was a greater pity Diarmuid to be dead than if he himself had died. And

the Fianna of Ireland had lost their yoke of battle by him, he said.

"Let us leave this hill," said Finn then, "before Angus and the Tuatha

de Danaan come upon us, for although we have no share in the death of

Diarmuid, he would not believe the truth from us." "I give my word,"

said Osgar, "if I had thought it was against Diarmuid you made the hunt

of Beinn Gulbain, you would never have made it"

Then Finn and the Fianna went away from the hill, and Finn leading

Diarmuid's hound Mac an Chuill. But Oisin and Osgar and Caoilte and

Lugaidh's Son turned back again and put their four cloaks over Diarmuid,

and then they went after the rest of the Fianna.

And when they came to the Rath, Grania was out on the wall looking for

news of Diarmuid; and she saw Finn and the Fianna of Ireland coming

towards her. Then she said: "If Diarmuid was living, it is not led by

Finn that Mac an Chuill would be coming home." And she was at that time

heavy with child, and her strength went from her and she fell down from

the wall. And when Oisin saw the way she was he bade Finn and the others

to go on from her, but she lifted up her head and she asked Finn to

leave Mac an Chuill with her. And he said he would not, and that he did

not think it too much for him to inherit from Diarmuid, grandson of

Duibhne.

When Oisin heard that, he snatched the hound out of Finn's hand and gave

it to Grania, and then he followed after his people.

Then when Grania was certain of Diarmuid's death she gave out a long

very pitiful cry that was heard through the whole place, and her women

and her people came to her, and asked what ailed her to give a cry like

that. And she told them how Diarmuid had come to his death by the Boar

of Beinn Gulbain in the hunt Finn had made. "And there is grief in my

very heart," she said, "I not to be able to fight myself with Finn, and

I would not have let him go safe out of this place."

When her people heard of the death of Diarmuid they gave three great

heavy cries in the same way, that were heard in the clouds and the waste

places of the sky. And then Grania bade the five hundred that she had

for household to go to Beinn Gulbain for the body of Diarmuid.

And when they were bringing it back, she went out to meet them, and they

put down the body of Diarmuid, and it is what she said:

"I am your wife, beautiful Diarmuid, the man I would do no hurt to; it

is sorrowful I am after you to-night.

"I am looking at the hawk and the hound my secret love used to be

hunting with; she that loved the three, let her be put in the grave with

Diarmuid.

"Let us be glad to-night, let us make all welcome to-night, let us be

open-handed to-night, since we are sitting by the body of a king.

"And O Diarmuid," she said, "it is a hard bed Finn has given you, to be

lying on the stones and to be wet with the rain. Ochone!" she said,

"your blue eyes to be without sight, you that were friendly and generous

and pursuing. O love! O Diarmuid! it is a pity it is he sent you to your

death.

"You were a champion of the men of Ireland, their prop in the middle of

the fight; you were the head of every battle; your ways were glad and

pleasant.

"It is sorrowful I am, without mirth, without light, but only sadness

and grief and long dying; your harp used to be sweet to me, it wakened

my heart to gladness. Now my courage is fallen down, I not to hear you

but to be always remembering your ways. Och! my grief is going through

me.

"A thousand curses on the day when Grania gave you her love, that put

Finn of the princes from his wits; it is a sorrowful story your death is

to-day.

"Many heroes were great and strong about me in the beautiful plain;

their hands were good at wrestling and at battle; Ochone! that I did not

follow them.

"You were the man was best of the Fianna, beautiful Diarmuid, that

women loved. It is dark your dwelling-place is under the sod, it is

mournful and cold your bed is; it is pleasant your laugh was to-day; you

were my happiness, Diarmuid."

And she went back then into the Rath, and bade her people to bring the

body to her there.

Now just at this time, it was showed to Angus at Brugh na Boinne that

Diarmuid was dead on Beinn Gulbain, for he had kept no watch over him

the night before.

And he went on the cold wind towards Beinn Gulbain, and his people with

him, and on the way they met with Grania's people that were bringing the

body to the Rath.

And when they saw him they held out the wrong sides of their shields as

a sign of peace, and Angus knew them; and he and his people gave three

great terrible cries over the body of Diarmuid.

And Angus spoke then, and it is what he said: "I was never one night

since the time I brought you to Brugh na Boinne, being nine months old,

without keeping watch and protection over you till last night, Diarmuid,

grandson of Duibhne; and now your blood has been shed and you have been

cut off sharply, and the Boar of Beinn Gulbain has put you down,

Diarmuid of the bright face and the bright sword. And it is a pity Finn

to have done this treachery," he said, "and you at peace with him.

"And lift up his body now," he said, "and bring it to the Brugh in the

lasting rocks. And if I cannot bring him back to life," he said, "I will

put life into him the way he can be talking with me every day."

Then they put his body on a golden bier, and his spears over it pointed

upwards, and they went on till they came to Brugh na Boinne.

And Grania's people went to her and told her how Angus would not let

them bring the body into the Rath, but brought it away himself to Brugh

na Boinne. And Grania said she had no power over him.

And she sent out then for her four sons that were being reared in the

district of Corca Ui Duibhne. And when they came she gave them a loving

welcome, and they came into the Rath and sat down there according to

their age. And Grania spoke to them with a very loud, clear voice, and

it is what she said: "My dear children, your father has been killed by

Finn, son of Cumhal, against his own bond and agreement of peace, and

let you avenge it well upon him. And here is your share of the

inheritance of your father," she said, "his arms and his armour, and his

feats of valour and power; and I will share these arms among you

myself," she said, "and that they may bring you victory in every battle.

Here is the sword for Donnchadh," she said, "the best son Diarmuid had;

and the Gae Dearg for Eochaidh; and here is the armour for Ollann, for

it will keep the body it is put on in safety; and the shield for Connla.

And make no delay now," she said, "but go and learn every sort of skill

in fighting, till such time as you will come to your full strength to

avenge your father."

So they took leave of her then, and of their household.

And some of their people said: "What must we do now, since our lords

will be going into danger against Finn and the Fianna of Ireland?" And

Donnchadh, son of Diarmuid, bade them stop in their own places; "for if

we make peace with Finn," he said, "there need be no fear on you, and if

not, you can make your choice between ourselves and him." And with that

they set out on their journey.

But after a while Finn went secretly and unknown to the Fianna to the

place where Grania was, and he got to see her in spite of all her high

talk, and he spoke gently to her. And she would not listen to him, but

bade him to get out of her sight, and whatever hard thing her tongue

could say, she said it. But all the same, he went on giving her gentle

talk and loving words, till in the end he brought her to his own will.

And there is no news told of them, until such time as they came to where

the seven battalions of the Fianna were waiting for Finn. And when they

saw him coming, and Grania with him, like any new wife with her husband,

they gave a great shout of laughter and of mockery, and Grania bowed

down her head with shame, "By my word, Finn," said Oisin, "you will keep

a good watch on Grania from this out."

And some said the change had come on her because the mind of a woman

changes like the water of a running stream; but some said it was Finn

that had put enchantment on her.

And as to the sons of Diarmuid, they came back at the end of seven

years, after learning all that was to be learned of valour in the far

countries of the world. And when they came back to Rath Grania they were

told their mother was gone away with Finn, son of Cumhal, without

leaving any word for themselves or for the King of Ireland. And they

said if that was so, there was nothing for them to do. But after that

they said they would make an attack on Finn, and they went forward to

Almhuin, and they would take no offers, but made a great slaughter of

every troop that came out against them.

But at last Grania made an agreement of peace between themselves and

Finn, and they got their father's place among the Fianna; and that was

little good to them, for they lost their lives with the rest in the

battle of Gabhra. And as to Finn and Grania, they stopped with one

another to the end.

BOOK EIGHT: CNOC-AN-AIR.

CHAPTER I. TAILC, SON OF TREON

One time the Fianna were all gathered together doing feats and casting

stones. And after a while the Druid of Teamhair that was with them said:

"I am in dread, Finn of the Fianna, that there is some trouble near at

hand; and look now at those dark clouds of blood," he said, "that are

threatening us side by side overhead. And there is fear on me," he said,

"that there is some destruction coming on the Fianna."

Finn looked up then, and he saw the great cloud of blood, and he called

Osgar to look at it. "That need not knock a start from you," said Osgar,

"with all the strength there is in your arms, and in the men that are

with you." Then all the Fianna looked up at the cloud, and some of them

were glad and cheerful and some were downhearted.

Then the Druid bade Finn to call all his battalions together and to

divide them into two halves, that they could be watching for the coming

of the enemy.

So Finn sounded the Dord Fiann, and they answered with a shout, every

one hurrying to be the first. And Finn bade Osgar and Goll and Faolan to

keep watch through the night, and he bade Conan the Bald to stop in the

darkness of the cave of Liath Ard. "For it is you can shout loudest," he

said, "to warn us if you see the enemy coming." "That I may be pierced

through the middle of my body," said Conan, "if I will go watching for

troubles or for armies alone, without some more of the Fianna being with

me." "It is not fitting for you to refuse Finn," said Lugaidh's Son;

"and it is you can shout the loudest," he said, "if the enemies come

near the height." "Do not be speaking to me any more," said Conan, "for

I will not go there alone, through the length of my days, for Finn and

the whole of the Fianna." "Go then, Conan," said Osgar, "and Aodh Beag

will go with you, and you can bring dogs with you, Bran and Sceolan and

Fuaim and Fearagan; and let you go now without begrudging it," he said.

So Conan went then to Liath Ard, and Aodh Beag and Finn's hounds along

with him. And as to Finn, he lay down to sleep, and it was not long till

he saw through his sleep Aodh Beag his son, and he without his head. And

after that he saw Goll fighting with a very strong man. And he awoke

from his sleep, and called the Druid of the Fianna to him, and asked him

the meaning of what he saw. "I am in dread there is some destruction

coming on the Fianna," said the Druid; "but Aodh Beag will not be

wounded in the fight, or Goll," he said.

And it was not long till Finn heard a great shout, and he sounded the

Dord Fiann, and then he saw Conan running, and the hounds after him. And

Finn sounded the Dord Fiann again before Conan came up, and when he

came, Osgar asked him where was Aodh Beag. "He was at the door of the

cave when I left it," said Conan, "but I did not look behind me since

then," he said; "and it was not Aodh Beag was troubling me." "What was

troubling you then?" said Osgar. "Nothing troubles me but myself," said

Conan; "although I am well pleased at any good that comes to you," he

said.

Osgar went then running hard, till he came to the cave, and there he

found Aodh Beag with no fear or trouble on him at all, stopping there

till he would hear the noise of the shields. And Osgar brought him back

to where the Fianna were, and they saw a great army coming as if in

search of them.

And a beautiful woman, having a crimson cloak, came to them over the

plain, and she spoke to Finn, and her voice was as sweet as music. And

Finn asked her who was she, and who did she come looking for. "I am the

daughter of Garraidh, son of Dolar Dian, the Fierce," she said; "and my

curse upon the King of Greece that bound me to the man that is

following after me, and that I am going from, Tailc, son of Treon."

"Tell me why are you shunning him, and I will protect you in spite of

him," said Finn. "It is not without reason I hate him," said she, "for

he has no good appearance, and his skin is of the colour of coal, and he

has the head and the tail of a cat. And I have walked the world three

times," she said, "and I did not leave a king or a great man without

asking help from him, and I never got it yet." "I will give you

protection," said Finn, "or the seven battalions of the Fianna will fall

for your sake."

With that they saw the big strange man, Tailc, son of Treon, coming

towards them, and he said no word at all of greeting to Finn, but he

called for a battle on account of his wife.

So a thousand of the Fianna went out to meet him and his men; and if

they did they all fell, and not one of them came back again. And then

another thousand of the best men of the Fianna, having blue and green

shields, went out under Caoilte, son of Ronan, and they were worsted by

Tailc and his people. And then Osgar asked leave of Finn to go out and

fight the big man. "I will give you leave," said Finn, "although I am

sure you will fall by him." So Osgar went out, and he himself and Tailc,

son of Treon, were fighting through the length of five days and five

nights without food or drink or sleep. And at the end of that time,

Osgar made an end of Tailc, and struck his head off. And when the Fianna

saw that, they gave a shout of lamentation for those they had lost of

the Fianna, and two shouts of joy for the death of Tailc.

And as to the young woman, when she saw all the slaughter that had been

done on account of her, shame reddened her face, and she fell dead there

and then. And to see her die like that, after all she had gone through,

preyed more on the Fianna than any other thing.

CHAPTER II. MEARGACH'S WIFE

And while the Fianna were gathered yet on the hill where Tailc, son of

Treon, had been put down, they saw a very great champion coming towards

them, having an army behind him. He took no notice of any one more than

another, but he asked in a very rough voice where was Finn, the Head of

the Fianna. And Aodh Beag, that had a quiet heart, asked him who was he,

and what was he come for. "I will tell you nothing at all, child," said

the big man, "for it is short your years are, and I will tell nothing at

all to any one but Finn." So Aodh Beag brought him to where Finn was,

and Finn asked him his name. "Meargach of the Green Spears is my name,"

he said; "and arms were never reddened yet on my body, and no one ever

boasted of driving me backwards. And was it you, Finn," he said, "put

down Tailc, son of Treon?" "It was not by me he fell," said Finn, "but

by Osgar of the strong hand." "Was it not a great shame for you, Finn,"

said Meargach then, "to let the queen-woman that had such a great name

come to her death by the Fianna?" "It was not by myself or by any of the

Fianna she got her death," said Finn; "it was seeing the army lost that

brought her to her death. But if it is satisfaction for her death or the

death of Tailc you want," he said, "You can get it from a man of the

Fianna, or you can go quietly from this place." Then Meargach said he

would fight with any man they would bring against him, to avenge Tailc,

son of Treon.

And it was Osgar stood up against him, and they fought a very hard fight

through the length of three days, and at one time the Fianna thought it

was Osgar was worsted, and they gave a great sorrowful shout. But in the

end Osgar put down Meargach and struck his head off, and at that the

seven battalions of the Fianna gave a shout of victory, and the army of

Meargach keened him very sorrowfully. And after that, the two sons of

Meargach, Ciardan the Swift and Liagan the Nimble, came up and asked

who would come against them, hand to hand, that they might get

satisfaction for their father.

And it was Goll stood up against Ciardan, and it was not long till he

put him down; and Conan came out against Liagan, and Liagan mocked at

him and said: "It is foolishness your coming is, bald man!" But Conan

made a quick blow and struck his head off before the fight was begun at

all.

And Faolan said that was a shameful thing to do, not to stand his ground

and make a fair fight. But Conan said: "If I could make an end of the

whole army by one blow, I would do it, and I would not be ashamed, and

the whole of the Fianna could not shelter them from me."

Then the two armies came towards each other, and they were making ready

for the attack. And they saw a beautiful golden-haired woman coming

towards them, and she crying and ever crying, and the battle was given

up on both sides, waiting for her to come; and the army of Meargach knew

it was their queen, Ailne of the Bright Face, and they raised a great

cry of grief; and the Fianna were looking at her, and said no word.

And she asked where was her husband, and where were her two sons. "High

Queen," said Finn then, "for all they were so complete and quick and

strong, the three you are asking for fell in fight."

And when the queen-woman heard that, she cried out aloud, and she went

to the place where her husband and her two sons were lying, and she

stood over their bodies, and her golden hair hanging, and she keened

them there. And her own people raised a sharp lamentation listening to

her, and the Fianna themselves were under grief.

And it is what she said: "O Meargach," she said, "of the sharp green

spears, it is many a fight and many a heavy battle your hard hand fought

in the gathering of the armies or alone.

"I never knew any wound to be on your body after them; and it is full

sure I am, it was not strength but treachery got the upper hand of you

now.

"It is long your journey was from far off, from your own kind country to

Inisfail, to come to Finn and the Fianna, that put my three to death

through treachery.

"My grief! to have lost my husband, my head, by the treachery of the

Fianna; my two sons, my two men that were rough in the fight.

"My grief! my food and my drink; my grief! my teaching everywhere; my

grief! my journey from far off, and I to have lost my high heroes.

"My grief! my house thrown down; my grief! my shelter and my shield; my

grief! Meargach and Ciardan; my grief! Liagan of the wide chest.

"My grief! my protection and my shelter; my grief! my strength and my

power; my grief! there is darkness come from this thing; my grief

to-night you to be in your weakness.

"My grief! my gladness and my pleasure; my grief! my desire in every

place; my grief! my courage is gone and my strength; my grief from this

night out for ever.

"My grief! my guide and my going; my grief! my desire to the day of my

death; my grief! my store and my sway; my grief! my heroes that were

open-handed.

"My grief! my bed and my sleep; my grief! my journey and my coming; my

grief! my teacher and my share; my sorrowful grief! my three men.

"My grief! my beauty and my ornaments; my grief! my jewels and my

riches; my grief! my treasures and my goods; my grief! my three Candles

of Valour.

"My grief! my friends and my kindred; my grief! my people and my

friends. My grief! my father and my mother; my grief and my trouble! you

to be dead.

"My grief my portion and my welcome; my grief! my health at every time;

my grief! my increase and my light; my sore trouble, you to be without

strength.

"My grief! your spear and your sword; my grief! your gentleness and your

love; my grief! your country and your home; my grief! you to be parted

from my reach.

"My grief! my coasts and my harbours; my grief! my wealth and my

prosperity; my grief! my greatness and my kingdom; my grief and my

crying are until death.

"My grief! my luck altogether; my grief for you in time of battle; my

grief! my gathering of armies; my grief! my three proud lions.

"My grief! my games and my drinking; my grief! my music and my delight;

my grief! my sunny house and my women; my crying grief, you to be under

defeat.

"My grief! my lands and my hunting; my grief! my three sure fighters;

Och! my grief! they are my sorrow, to fall far off by the Fianna.

"I knew by the great host of the Sidhe that were fighting over the dun,

giving battle to one another in the valleys of the air, that destruction

would put down my three.

"I knew by the noise of the voices of the Sidhe coming into my ears,

that a story of new sorrow was not far from me; it is your death it was

foretelling.

"I knew at the beginning of the day when my three good men went from me,

when I saw tears of blood on their cheeks, that they would not come back

to me as winners.

"I knew by the voice of the battle-crow over your dun every evening,

since you went from me comely and terrible, that misfortune and grief

were at hand.

"It is well I remember, my three strong ones, how often I used to be

telling you that if you would go to Ireland, I would not see the joy of

victory on your faces.

"I knew by the voice of the raven every morning since you went from me,

that your fall was sure and certain; that you would never come back to

your own country.

"I knew, my three great ones, by your forgetting the thongs of your

hounds, that you would not gain the day or escape from the treachery of

the Fianna.

"I knew, Candles of Valour, by the stream near the dun turning to blood

when you set out, that there would be treachery in Finn.

"I knew by the eagle coming every evening over the dun, that it would

not be long till I would hear a story of bad news of my three.

"I knew by the withering of the tree before the dun, that you would

never come back as conquerors from the treachery of Finn, son of

Cumhal."

When Grania, now, heard what the woman was saying, there was anger on

her, and she said: "Do not be speaking against Finn or the Fianna,

Queen, for it was not by any treachery or any deceit your three men were

brought to their end."

But Ailne made her no answer and gave no heed to her, but she went on

with her complaint, and she crying and ever crying.

"I knew, looking after you the day you went out from the dun, by the

flight of the raven before you, there was no good sign of your coming

back again.

"I knew by Ciardan's hounds that were howling mournfully every evening,

that it would not be long till I would have bad news of you.

"I knew by my sleep that went from me, by my tears through every lasting

night, that there was no luck before you.

"I knew by the sorrowful vision that showed myself in danger, my head

and my hands cut off, that it was yourselves were without sway.

"I knew by the voice of Uaithnin, the hound that is dearest to Liagan,

howling early every morning, that death was certain for my three.

"I knew when I saw in a vision a lake of blood in the place of the dun,

that my three were put down by the deceit that was always with Finn."

"Do not be faulting Finn," said Grania then, "however vexed your heart

may be. And leave off now," she said, "speaking against the Fianna and

against himself; for if your men had stopped in their own country," she

said, "without coming to avenge the son of Treon, there would no harm

have happened them." "I would not put any reproach on the Fianna,

Grania," said Ailne, "if my three men had been put down in fair battle,

but they are not living to bear witness to me," she said; "and it is

likely they were put under Druid spells at the first, or they would

never have given in." "If they were living, Queen," said Grania, "they

would not be running down the Fianna, but they would tell you it was by

bravery and the strong hand they fell." "I do not believe you or the

Fianna when you say that," said Ailne; "for no one that came to meet

them ever got the sway over them by the right of the sword." "If you do

not believe what I am saying, beautiful Ailne," said Grania, "I tell

you more of your great army will fall by the Fianna, and that not by

treachery." "That is not so," said Ailne, "but I have good hopes that my

own army will do destruction on the Fianna, for the sake of the men that

are dead." "Well, Ailne," said Grania, "I know it is a far journey you

have come. And come now and eat and drink," she said, "with myself and

with the Fianna."

But Ailne would not do that, but she said it would not be fitting for

her to take food from people that did such deeds, and what she wanted

was satisfaction for the death of her husband and her two sons.

And first it was settled for two men of each side to go out against one

another; and then Ailne said that there should be thirty men on each

side, and then she said she would not be satisfied to go back to her own

country till she brought the head of Finn with her, or till the last of

his men had fallen. And there was a great battle fought in the end, and

it is seldom the Fianna fought so hard a battle as that.

And it would be too long to tell, and it would tire the hearers, how

many good men were killed on each side. But in the end Ailne of the

Bright Face was worsted, and she went back with what were left of her

men to their own country, and no one knew where they went.

And the hill in the west those battles were fought on got the name of

Cnoc-an-Air, the Hill of Slaughter.

CHAPTER III. AILNE'S REVENGE

One day Finn and his people were hunting on Slieve Fuad, and a stag

stood against them for a while and fought with his great rough horns,

and then he turned and ran, and the Fianna followed after him till they

came to the green hill of Liadhas, and from that to rocky Cairgin. And

there they lost him again for a while, till Sceolan started him again,

and he went back towards Slieve Fuad, and the Fianna after him.

But Finn and Daire of the Songs, that were together, went astray and

lost the rest of their people, and they did not know was it east or west

they were going.

Finn sounded the Dord Fiann then, and Daire played some sorrowful music

to let their people know where they were. But when the Fianna heard the

music, it seemed to be a long way off; and sometimes they thought it was

in the north it was, and sometimes in the east, and then it changed to

the west, the way they did not know in the wide world where was it

coming from.

And as to Finn and Daire, a Druid mist came about them, and they did not

know what way they were going.

And after a while they met with a young woman, comely and pleasant, and

they asked who was she, and what brought her there. "Glanluadh is my

name," she said, "and my husband is Lobharan; and we were travelling

over the plain together a while ago, and we heard the cry of hounds, and

he left me and went after the hunt, and I do not know where is he, or

what way did he go." "Come on then with us," said Finn, "and we will

take care of you, for we ourselves do not know what way the hunt is

gone, east or west." So they went on, and before long they came to a

hill, and they heard sleepy music of the Sidhe beside them. And after

that there came shouts and noises, and then the music began again, and

heavy sleep came on Finn and Daire. And when they awoke from their sleep

they saw a very large lighted house before them, and a stormy blue sea

around it. Then they saw a very big grey man coming through the waves,

and he took hold of Finn and of Daire, and all their strength went from

them, and he brought them across the waves and into the house, and he

shut the door of the house with iron hooks. "My welcome to you, Finn of

the great name," he said then in a very harsh voice; "it is long we are

waiting here for you."

They sat down then on the hard side of a bed, and the woman of the house

came to them, and they knew her to be Ailne, wife of Meargach. "It is

long I am looking for you, Finn," she said, "to get satisfaction for the

treachery you did on Meargach and on my two comely young sons, and on

Tailc, son of Treon, and all his people. And do you remember that,

Finn?" she said. "I remember well," said Finn, "that they fell by the

swords of the Fianna, not by treachery but in fighting." "It was by

treachery they fell," said the Grey Man then; "and it is our witness to

it, pleasant Ailne to be the way she is, and many a strong army under

grief on account of her." "What is Ailne to you, man of the rough

voice?" said Finn. "I am her own brother," said the man.

With that he put bonds on the three, Finn and Daire and Glanluadh, and

he put them down into some deep shut place.

They were very sorrowful then, and they stopped there to the end of five

days and five nights, without food, without drink, without music.

And Ailne went to see them then, and Finn said to her: "O Ailne," he

said, "bring to mind the time you come to Cnoc-an-Air, and the way the

Fianna treated you with generosity; and it is not fitting for you," he

said, "to keep us now under shame and weakness and in danger of death."

"I know well I got kind treatment from Grania," said Ailne in a

sorrowful voice; "but for all that, Finn," she said, "if all the Fianna

were in that prison along with you under hard bonds, it would please me

well, and I would not pity their case. And what is it set you following

after Finn," she said then to Glanluadh, "for that is not a fitting

thing for you to do, and his own kind wife living yet."

Then Glanluadh told her the whole story, and how she was walking the

plain with Lobharan her husband, and he followed the hunt, and the mist

came about her that she did not know east from west, and how she met

then with Finn that she never saw before that time. "If that is so,"

said Ailne, "it is not right for you to be under punishment without

cause."

She called then to her brother the Grey Man, and bade him take the

spells off Glanluadh. And when she was set free it is sorry she was to

leave Daire in bonds, and Finn. And when she had bidden them farewell

she went out with Ailne, and there was food brought to her, but a cloud

of weakness came on her of a sudden, that it was a pity to see the way

she was.

And when Ailne saw that, she brought out an enchanted cup of the Sidhe

and gave her a drink from it. And no sooner did Glanluadh drink from the

cup than her strength and her own appearance came back to her again; but

for all that, she was fretting after Finn and Daire in their bonds. "It

seems to me, Glanluadh, you are fretting after those two men," said

Ailne. "I am sorry indeed," said Glanluadh, "the like of those men to be

shut up without food or drink." "If it is pleasing to you to give them

food you may give it," said Ailne, "for I will not make an end of them

till I see can I get the rest of the Fianna into bonds along with them."

The two women brought food and drink then to Finn, and to Daire; and

Glanluadh gave her blessing to Finn, and she cried when she saw the way

he was; but as to Ailne, she had no pity at all for the King of the

Fianna.

Now as to the Grey Man, he heard them talking of the Fianna, and they

were saying that Daire had a great name for the sweetness of his music.

"I have a mind to hear that sweet music," said he. So he went to the

place where they were, and he bade Daire to let him hear what sort of

music he could make. "My music pleased the Fianna well," said Daire;

"but I think it likely it would not please you." "Play it for me now,

till I know if the report I heard of you is true," said the Grey Man.

"Indeed, I have no mind for music," said Daire, "being weak and

downhearted the way I am, through your spells that put down my courage."

"I will take my spells off you for so long as you play for me," said the

Grey Man. "I could never make music seeing Finn in bonds the way he is,"

said Daire; "for it is worse to me, he to be under trouble than myself."

"I will take the power of my spells off Finn till you play for me," said

the Grey Man.

He weakened the spells then, and gave them food and drink, and it

pleased him greatly the way Daire played the music, and he called to

Glanluadh and to Ailne to come and to listen to the sweetness of it. And

they were well pleased with it, and it is glad Glanluadh was, seeing

them not so discouraged as they were.

Now as to the Fianna, they were searching for Finn and for Daire in

every place they had ever stopped in. And when they came to this place

they could hear Daire's sweet music; and at first they were glad when

they heard it, and then when they knew the way he himself and Finn were,

they made an attack on Ailne's dun to release them.

But the Grey Man heard their shouts, and he put the full power of his

spells again on Finn and on Daire. And the Fianna heard the music as if

stammering, and then they heard a great noise like the loud roaring of

waves, and when they heard that, there was not one of them but fell into

a sleep and clouds of death, under those sorrowful spells.

And then the Grey Man and Ailne came out quietly from where they were,

and they brought the whole of the men of the Fianna that were there into

the dun. And they put hard bonds on them, and put them where Finn and

Daire were. And there was great grief on Finn and Daire when they saw

them, and they were all left there together for a while.

Then Glanluadh said to the Grey Man: "If Daire's music is pleasing to

you, let him play it to us now." "If you have a mind for music," said

the Grey Man, "Daire must play it for us, and for Finn and his army as

well."

They went then to where they were, and bade Daire to play. "I could

never play sweet music," said Daire, "the time the Fianna are in any

trouble; for when they are in trouble, I myself am in trouble, and I

could not sound any sweet string," he said, "while there is trouble on

any man of them." The Grey Man weakened the spells then on them all, and

Daire played first the strings of sweetness, and of the noise of

shouting, and then he sang his own grief and the grief of all the

Fianna. And at that the Grey Man said it would not be long before he

would put the whole of the Fianna to death; and then Daire played a tune

of heavy shouts of lamentation. And then at Finn's bidding he played the

music of sweet strings for the Fianna.

They were kept, now, a long time in that prison, and they got very hard

treatment; and sometimes Ailne's brother would come in and strike the

heads off some of them, for none of them could rise up from the seats

they were sitting on through his enchantments. But one time he was going

to strike the bald head off Conan, and Conan made a great leap from the

seat; but if he did, he left strips of his skin hanging to it, that his

back was left bare. And then he came round the Grey Man with his pitiful

words: "Stop your hand now," he said, "for that is enough for this time;

and do not send me to my death yet awhile, and heal me of my wounds

first," he said, "before you make an end of me." And the reason he said

that was because he knew Ailne to have an enchanted cup in the dun, that

had cured Glanluadh.

And the Grey Man took pity on his case, and he brought him out and bade

Ailne to bring the cup to him and to cure his wounds. "I will not bring

it," said Ailne, "for it would be best give no time at all to him or to

the Fianna, but to make an end of them." "It is not to be saved from

death I am asking, bright-faced Ailne," said Conan, "but only not to go

to my death stripped bare the way I am." When Ailne heard that, she

brought a sheepskin and she put it on Conan's back, and it fitted and

grew to him, and covered his wounds. "I will not put you to death,

Conan," said the Grey Man then, "but you can stop with myself to the end

of your life." "You will never be without grief and danger and the fear

of treachery if you keep him with you," said Ailne; "for there is

treachery in his heart the same as there is in the rest of them." "There

is no fear of that," said her brother, "or I will make no delay until I

put the whole of the Fianna to death." And with that he brought Conan to

where the enchanted cup was, and he put it in his hand. And just at that

moment they heard Daire playing very sweet sorrowful music, and the Grey

Man went to listen to it, very quick and proud. And Conan followed him

there, and after a while the Grey Man asked him what did he do with the

enchanted cup. "I left it where I found it, full of power," said Conan.

The Grey Man hurried back then to the place where the treasures of the

dun were. But no sooner was he gone than Conan took out the cup that he

had hidden, and he gave a drink from it to Finn and to Osgar and to the

rest of the Fianna. And they that were withered and shaking, without

strength, without courage, got back their own appearance and their

strength again on the moment.

And when the Grey Man came back from looking for the cup, and saw what

had happened, he took his sword and made a stroke at Conan. But Conan

called to Osgar to defend him, and Osgar attacked the Grey Man, and it

was not long till he made him acquainted with death.

And when Ailne saw that, with the grief and the dread that came on her,

she fell dead then and there.

Then all the Fianna made a feast with what they found of food and of

drink, and they were very joyful and merry. But when they rose up in the

morning, there was no trace or tidings of the dun, but it was on the

bare grass they were lying.

But as to Conan, the sheepskin never left him; and the wool used to grow

on it every year, the same as it would on any other skin.

BOOK NINE: THE WEARING AWAY OF THE FIANNA.

CHAPTER I. THE QUARREL WITH THE SONS OF MORNA

One time when the Fianna were gone here and there hunting, Black

Garraidh and Caoilte were sitting beside Finn, and they were talking of

the battle where Finn's father was killed. And Finn said then to

Garraidh: "Tell me now, since you were there yourself, what way was it

you brought my father Cumhal to his death?" "I will tell you that since

you ask me," said Garraidh; "it was my own hand and the hands of the

rest of the sons of Morna that made an end of him." "That is cold

friendship from my followers the sons of Morna," said Finn. "If it is

cold friendship," said Garraidh, "put away the liking you are letting on

to have for us, and show us the hatred you have for us all the while."

"If I were to lift my hand against you now, sons of Morna," said Finn,

"I would be well able for you all without the help of any man." "It was

by his arts Cumhal got the upper hand of us," said Garraidh; "and when

he got power over us," he said, "he banished us to every far country; a

share of us he sent to Alban, and a share of us to dark Lochlann, and a

share of us to bright Greece, parting us from one another; and for

sixteen years we were away from Ireland, and it was no small thing to us

to be without seeing one another through that time. And the first day we

came back to Ireland," he said, "we killed sixteen hundred men, and no

lie in it, and not a man of them but would be keened by a hundred. And

we took their duns after that," he said, "and we went on till we were

all around one house in Munster of the red walls. But so great was the

bravery of the man in that house, that was your father, that it was

easier to find him than to kill him. And we killed all that were of his

race out on the hill, and then we made a quick rush at the house where

Cumhal was, and every man of us made a wound on his body with his spear.

And I myself was in it, and it was I gave him the first wound. And

avenge it on me now, Finn, if you have a mind to," he said.

* * * * *

It was not long after that, Finn gave a feast at Almhuin for all his

chief men, and there came to it two sons of the King of Alban, and sons

of the kings of the great world. And when they were all sitting at the

feast, the serving-men rose up and took drinking-horns worked by skilled

men, and having shining stones in them, and they poured out strong drink

for the champions; and it is then mirth rose up in their young men, and

courage in their fighting men, and kindness and gentleness in their

women, and knowledge and foreknowledge in their poets.

And then a crier rose up and shook a rough iron chain to silence the

clowns and the common lads and idlers, and then he shook a chain of old

silver to silence the high lords and chief men of the Fianna, and the

learned men, and they all listened and were silent.

And Fergus of the True Lips rose up and sang before Finn the songs and

the good poems of his forefathers; and Finn and Oisin and Lugaidh's Son

rewarded him with every good thing. And then he went on to Goll, son of

Morna, and told the fights and the destructions and the cattle-drivings

and the courtings of his fathers; and it is well-pleased and high-minded

the sons of Morna were, listening to that.

And Goll said then: "Where is my woman-messenger?" "I am here, King of

the Fianna," said she. "Have you brought me my hand-tribute from the men

of Lochlann?" "I have brought it surely," said she. And with that she

rose up and laid on the floor of the hall before Goll a load of pure

gold, the size of a good pig, and that would be a heavy load for a

strong man. And Goll loosened the covering that was about it, and he

gave Fergus a good reward from it as he was used to do; for there never

was a wise, sharp-worded poet, or a sweet harp-player, or any learned

man of Ireland or of Alban, but Goll would give him gold or silver or

some good thing.

And when Finn saw that, he said: "How long is it, Goll, you have this

rent on the men of Lochlann, and my own rent being on them always with

it, and one of my own men, Ciaran son of Latharne, and ten hundred men

of his household, guarding it and guarding my right of hunting?" And

Goll saw there was anger on Finn, and he said: "It is a long time, Finn,

I have that rent on the men of Lochlann, from the time your father put

war and quarrels on me, and the King of Ireland joined with him, and I

was made to quit Ireland by them. And I went into Britain," he said,

"and I took the country and killed the king himself and did destruction

on his people, but Cumhal put me out of it; and from that I went to

Fionnlochlann, and the king fell by me, and his household, and Cumhal

put me out of it; and I went from that to the country of the Saxons, and

the king and his household fell by me, and Cumhal put me out of it. But

I came back then to Ireland, and I fought a battle against your father,

and he fell by me there. And it was at that time I put this rent upon

the men of Lochlann. And, Finn," he said, "it is not a rent of the

strong hand you have put on them, but it is a tribute for having the

protection of the Fianna of Ireland, and I do not lessen that. And you

need not begrudge that tribute to me," he said, "for if I had more than

that again, it is to you and to the men of Ireland I would give it."

There was great anger on Finn then, and he said: "You tell me, Goll," he

said, "by your own story, that you came from the city of Beirbhe to

fight against my father, and that you killed him in the battle; and it

is a bold thing you to tell that to me." "By your own hand," said Goll,

"if you were to give me the same treatment your father gave me, I would

pay you the same way as I paid him." "It would be hard for you to do

that," said Finn, "for there are a hundred men in my household against

every man there is in your household." "That was the same with your

father," said Goll, "and I avenged my disgrace on him; and I would do

the same on yourself if you earned it," he said.

Then Cairell of the White Skin, son of Finn, said: "It is many a man of

Finn's household you have put down, Goll!" And Bald Conan when he heard

that said: "I swear by my arms, Goll was never without having a hundred

men in his household, every one of them able to get the better of

yourself." "And is it to them you belong, crooked-speaking, bare-headed

Conan?" said Cairell. "It is to them I belong, you black, feeble,

nail-scratching, rough-skinned Cairell; and I will make you know it was

Finn was in the wrong," said Conan.

With that Cairell rose up and gave a furious blow of his fist to Conan,

and Conan took it with no great patience, but gave him back a blow in

his teeth, and from that they went on to worse blows again. And the two

sons of Goll rose up to help Conan, and Osgar went to the help of

Cairell, and it was not long till many of the chief men of the Fianna

were fighting on the one side or the other, on the side of Finn or on

the side of the sons of Morna.

But then Fergus of the True Lips rose up, and the rest of the poets of

the Fianna along with him, and they sang their songs and their poems to

check and to quiet them. And they left off their fighting at the sound

of the poets' songs, and they let their weapons fall on the floor, and

the poets took them up, and made peace between the fighters; and they

put bonds on Finn and on Goll to keep the peace for a while, till they

could ask for a judgment from the High King of Ireland. And that was the

end for that time of the little quarrel at Almhuin.

But it broke out again, one time there was a falling out between Finn

and Goll as to the dividing of a pig of the pigs of Manannan. And at

Daire Tardha, the Oak Wood of Bulls, in the province of Connacht, there

was a great fight between Finn's men and the sons of Morna. And the sons

of Morna were worsted, and fifteen of their men were killed; and they

made their mind up that from that time they would set themselves against

any friends of Finn or of his people. And it was Conan the Bald gave

them that advice, for he was always bitter, and a maker of quarrels and

of mischief in every place.