Full text of "The Three Sorrows of Story-telling: And Ballads of St. Columkille"

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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at jhttp : //books . qooqle . com/ ^^ Three Sorrows OH. LL.D, .MR! THE JAMES D. PHELAIM CELTIC COLLECTION ^» 'I U*&irVl?4 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLINQ BY THE SAME AUTHOR THE STORY OF EARLY GAELIC LITERATURE Paper, Is. ; Cloth, Gilt Top, 2s. [See Extended Advertisement at end of Book] LONDON : T. FISHER UNWIN The Three Sorrows of Story=telling AND . / , , - --. Ballads of St. CoLUMkfLlE BY DOUGLAS HYDE, LL.D., M.R.I.A. (CCt) vJ|uxoi61n CCoiftrm) Author of "leabafi Sseuttngeacca," "Beside the Fire," " Love Songs of Connacht," «* Story of Early Gaelic Literature," &c. Coih-pa-o T^Toeann ceap a'^ puacc, Corii-pcro pacrjc agu^ syvdro; £6iveann an c-etro 'pan frmo|\ OCguf pancmn ann -co gnat. — Sean tlcmn. I.e.) equal-far go heat and cold, equal-far go jealousy goeth into the marrow and there abideth for ever. hate and love, but the — Old Saying. T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE MDCCCXCV I - Printed by Sbalt, Bbtsbs & Walker (A. T. & C. L.), Abbey St., Dublin, PREFACE. k HE first of the following poems, " D&rdre," was written (successfully) for the Vice-Chancellor's prize in Dublin University in about which time, being enamoured of the subject, I also tried to turn the other two " Sorrows of Story-telling " into orthodox English Iambics. They would, however, never have seen the light — at ieast not in this shape — had they not, in Mr. Fisher Unwind absence, been sent to 8153S2 1887, \l PREFACE. press in mistake for a volume of the New Irish Library. Hence their appearance now. I have subjoined to them a few ballads on St* Columkille, founded on the Latin of Adamnan, or translated from the Irish. The difference between the epic wholeness of Pagan romance and the fragmentary nature of early Christian story is very obvious to ^very student of Irish literature, and these few pieces, despite their conventional English treatment, may, I think, be regarded as, in this respect at least, fairly typical. CONTENTS. THE THREE SORROWS OF STORYTELLING. PAGE "ofem-oue i x:tie ctiil'OHeti op Im 40 the pcrce op The ctnl'onefi op i;umeccNN 81 SONGS OF ST. COLUMKILLE. couuiebtiuecccM 130 the Tmuro 132 the tienou 13s the ptioptiecj) ... 137 vm CONTENTS. colum cille^ T>earcTi columcille aocMs ... pccnecaeLl zo ccrcc notes index of names ... PAGE 139 141 I46 149 159 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORYTELLING. T)eiHTme. | N days of old, in times long since gone by, Oh, strike my harp a mournful, mournful strain, In days of old, in times long since gone by, (That golden period shall return no more) Ere Meve had humbled Ulster's chivalry, Ere proud Emania's towers kissed the dust, Ere yet the Red Branch Knights had tasted shame, Ere smoking rafters, blackened walls, and blood, Had stained the stately cradlje of our race, In all Ultonia there was never one 2 ' TM *HRBB sorrows op story-telling. Who' dared provoke or bide the heavy hand Of Conor, son of Nessa : he it was Who, full of wisdom, skilled in ruling men, A man of many wiles, a prudent man, Heidi all the noble North in his control, And none dared cross him, till the fatal day When she, the morning star of loveliness, Unhappy Helen of a western land First flung the apple of discordance down. I* chanced upon a day — a dismal day, Oh, strike my harp a mournful, mournful strain, That Conor came, as often was his wont, To Fdlim's halls and feasted like a king; His friends around him, and his Druid old Who knew what was, what is, what is to be, And thus the Druid made his prophecy : " To thee, O Felim, shall be born to-night A sting to sting to madness this our king, A sword to sever sharp from Ulster's tree The Branch that is her pride, the proud Red Branch, A ram to batter down Emania's pride, A flame to scorch the land from shore to shore." Then Conor answered thus the ancient man: " There hangs o'er thy pronouncement such a mist The eye can pierce it not, to see the shape Thy words conceal behind it, speak again, dSirdre. 3 What saiAest thou? We understand thee not" And then the aged Druid answered them : " I see two shining stars — they are her eyes, I see a web of silk — it is her hair, I see a trunk of ivory — her neck, A double shower of white pearls — her teeth, A bunch of crimson fruit — it is her mouth. : I hear a harp vibrating sweet and low — It is her voice more soft than, fairy notes, Oh, pink-white fawn in all thy loveliness ! " Then Conor spake unto the ancient man : u Old man, thou sees* her, then happy thou ! So well thou paintest her whoe'er she be, I would in sooth that I had seen her too." Thlen spake, the Druid with great eyes a-flame : "A sea! a seal of blood! a crimson sea! It foams, it rises, higher, higher still* It fills the valleys, and a triple stream From Alba's mountains high comes thundering down, A crimson river to the crimson sea." Then all around the hospitable board Rose up in consternation, for his word Was ever known to be a word of truth, And much they reverenced the ancient man. With many voices then they cried aloud To slay the birth, whatever it should be: For horror seized them at the sea of blood 4 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. The hoary Druid spake of,' and they thought Never to let that crimson sea ansa For foolish were they all, and ignorant, - Nor yet remembered how that man may strive His little best to beat against his doom, And forge him barriers, and bolts, and bars, To seize upon his Fate and hold it back, But it was never held of human hands. So counselled! they, and Felim gave consent To slay the birth whatever it should be. But Conor, crafty manager of men, Persuaded from their counsel all the rest, With words and subtly chosen arguments, Wherewith he wont to evermore prevail: " Not so, ye men of mster, not with blood, • Shall we profane this hospitable home, Or bring a shame of shames upon ourselves. Hear now, for this is better counsel far, The maiden from whose eyes or from whose mouth So great a stream of blood it seems must flow, To me myself I take her, and to me And not to Ulster be the gain or loss, Which may arise from things so wonderful. But I shall nurse her in a silent place, A lonely rath within a lonely land, Where none shall ever gain a sight of her, Nor ever wish to see her, drawing near, DJ&IRDRE. Nor ever think to hear her, passing nigh, But in seclusion (so that all be safe) I rear her up unto myself apart, This wondrous thing, if such indeed she be, And upon me shall be the loss alone : We cannot stain our feast with infant blood." Then aH applauded, for they magnified His counsel like the counsel of a god, For all his plans had evermore been wise. Unhappy they ! they little dreamt, indeed, That Death himself was standing close behind And listened trembling for his future prey. With joy he heard the people's loud acclaim, Then spread abroad his coal-black wings again, And sniffing blood went whistling through the air. But unto Felim on that night was born A female child, and D&rdre was the name That all men called it. Soon, his feasting o'er, When to Emania came the king again, He brought with him the infant and its nurse (For FSlimi rendered them right willingly), And in a lonely rath he placed the pair To grow according to the will of Fate. He added too a tutor, and he sent His faithful female mesaenger-Hmen called . Her Lavarcam — to run and often see 6 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. How fared they all, and bring him word again. So wore the time away far D&rdre there, And from an infant soon she grew a child, And from a child she grew into a girl, And from a girl into a maiden fair Of strange and all-surpassing loveliness, With great sad eyes, like pieces of the sky, And silken tresses in a golden web, And creamy skin, and rowan-berry mouth, And neck of ivory, and breast of snow, And fairy form, and foot as fleet as deer, And voice as sweet and musical and low As strains aerial dropping from the clouds. And Lavarcam, his female messenger, Thus evermore reported to the king : " O Conor, king ! there is not, never was In female form such perfect loveliness. " So she reported and the king rejoiced. But none came nigh unto the lonely rath, For all men knew that Conor kept her there, Reserving her to gratify himself. For Conor's hand was heavy, and his arm Was long, and fearing to provoke his wrath All held aloof, and no man questioned him. So wore the time away ; the smiling spring Crept into golden summer, standing soon DjfelRDRE. 7 Aside to let the purple autumn in ; So autumn took its place, with caw of crows And ruddy sunsets, sad and softly calm, And tinged leaves, and shocks of yellow corn, And stillness and intensity of peace. But when it came that autumn too should die — Her lease of life dependent on a day — Then winter lent to her a shroud of snow To cover up therewith her face, and die. Thus shrouded in a mantle pure and white The gentle autumn passed in peace away. But so it chanced, that on the new-fallen snow, Just crisp and brittle with the first bright frost — The hale old year rejoicing— so it chanced That on the snow before the lonely rath The tutor took and for provisions slew A calf, and shed its crimson blood abroad, A sheet of red that mottled all the white. Then D&rdre came and stood upon the wall n And clappecf her hands with jubilance to see The lovely snow so soft, and smooth, and white, And drink the crisp invigorating frost. Thus as she stood and laughed aloud for joy A raven gliding on an even wing, A great black raven, on the snow alit, And drank die warm bright blood that had been spilt. Then Detfdre clapped her hands and cried aloud : 8 THE 1HREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING- " Oh, Lavarcam, how beautiful he were (If there, indeed, was ever such, a youth) Who in himself combined those colours three, That snowy white in his transparent skin, That ruddy crimson on his glossy cheek, And tresses sable as the raven's plumes, Oh, what a man 1 how beautiful he were ! " Then all unwisely answered Lavarcam: " Yes, such a man, my lovely child, there is, And only one ; go search from sea to sea And such another you shall never find As Naesi, son of Usnach ; there indeed You see the ruddy cheek, the raven hair, Thle soft (transparence of the snowy skin, Yes, such a one there is, and only one ! n But D&rdre pondering upon her words Had given all her soul to see the man Her nurse had said to be so beautiful. And so she urged the woman day by day, Nor gave her any peace, but pressed her sore, And evermore beseeching her she prayed To let her once behold, but once, the youth Whom she alleged to be so beautiful. AncL so her longing over-mastered her, As half enraged at her imprisonment, And half indignant at the loneliness, Which now began to waken in herself D&RDRE. (But never until now had fretted her), And partly, too, a curiosity Perhaps more natural to woman's breast Than man's, and yet most natural to all. A craving, too, for new experience With, mayhap, some suspicion of the king, Combined to give her eloquence to urge Her nurse with soft persuasion, often mixed With sad complaint and many streams of tears, And kisses, and endearments, amid which She mingled! hot reproaches, praying thus: " How can you be so cruel, my nurse, So stony-hearted unto me, your child! Hereafter how shall I consort with man Who am a stranger to my very race And all unfitted to take part in life At all,; or do you wish to see me die Refusing me what meanest hinds enjoy, The sound of friendly voices, converse sweet With othier lives and manners than our own? Or are you leagued in a conspiracy With Conor and those other wicked men To keep me ever in this dreary tower And make me weep and weep my life away? n Then, as a petted, snowy-breasted dove That seeks for food at some fair lady's hand, If it receive it not, will softly peck to THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. The hand it waits on with its golden bill, Or nestle dose with many blandishments, And will not leave her until satisfied, So she at length with flattery and tears, And fond appeals* and wistful loveliness., And sighs, prevailed upon her nurse — for much Was Lavarcaim in dread of Conor's wratih — Until at length she promised everything. Nor many days thereafter, as it chanced, The aged woman gained intelligence That Naesi hunting came with horns and hounds To ohase the dun deer in that lonely land. Then day by day she let her pupil range Throughout the upland! glades and woody lawns, And' gave her all her way, if haply she Might see the hunter and be satisfied. Fnom glen to glen she roved, from plain to plain, Rejoicing in her freedom, and she called To life the trembling echoes of the hills, The daughters of the rock that never die. But Naesi, for his fate was on the wing, Drew also nigh unto the lonely raith, If haply he might chance to see without The maiden born beneath the prophecy, Whom men had said to be so wfonderful„ Whom churlish Conor had secreted there. DEtRDRE. 1 1 For haply, too, her thoughts which numberless Towards himi all took their way, her winged hopes On him 1 concentred, formed a viewless thread Which gently woven round about his will Invisibly compelled it unto hers. For I indeed have heard the ancient men, The half-prophetic and inspired bards, Affirm that such a thing is possible. But Naesi thought to see a prodigy Unlike to other mortals, so he came. '""" Then from a tangled thicket in his path Deirdre, forth-coming like a moving star, Went towards him, passing as a brilliant bird Which none could look upon without desire Invincible, to follow and to take. Nor dreamt he ever that it was the bird Whose cage he saw before him — that lone rath — He rather thought, for that she looked so bright And wore a saffron vest and broach of gold, While golden tresses down her shoulders streamed, That she was of the great De Danann race Of more than mortal power, who can move Invisible at will, or change their form. Stricken with wonder, he accosted her: " Oh, daughter of the bright De Danann race, Say do I see before me Cliona Or Aine, or the gentle fairy queen I a THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. Whose home is deep within the dark green, hill? I am a stranger in this lonely land, And pray thee tell me, ah, refuse me not, Who dwells in yonder rath, and shall I get A welcome there if I should enter it?" Then D&rdre answered, speaking soft and low, Whilst all the light within her dewy eyes Went out towards Naesi, and her silver voice Played like the singing of a crystal brook : " Yes, enter warrior, and; all we have Is thine; it is not much, but it is thine. I think I know thee, thou art Usnach's son Whom men call Naesi; is it even so?" Then Naesi owned himself and questioned her : " And who art thou, since form so beautiful And such surpassing loveliness of face And grace, and mean, and! dignity at once, My dazzled eye has never looked upon." Whereat rejoiced she answered him again: " My name is D&rdre, I am not a queen, Nor am I of the great De Danann race, But I am most unfortunate of all Who live and move and draw the breath of life ; I am a prisoner, I am a slave." Then answered Naesi, stricken deep with love: " Oh Deudre, art thou Deirdre? I had thought That thou wert of the great De Danann blood, DftlRDRE. 13 That thou wert more than human ; is it so That haughty Conor makes a slave of thee?" Then answered Delrdre, and her heart beat high : " Had I to champion me a sword like thine, A brother such as thou, a friend like thee, I should not tremble at King Conors frown. Wilt thou protect me, Naesi ? See, I throw Myself on thy protection ; on thy cheek I strike this golden ball to raise a mark If thou refuse, of everlasting shame And burning black disgrace to never dS)e. I put thee under geasa, I conjure, . I charge, I bind thee, that thou succour me." Then Naesi felt the blow upon his cheek, And feared the spot of shame that there would grow If he should break the geasa with which she Had bound him, though unwilling; yet he thought Upon the anger of the awful king If he should rob him of his long kept prey; And so he stood a while irresolute. But when he looked again on D&rdre, when He saw her loveliness, her warm young cheek O'ermantled with the hot bright blush of shame, Her dewy eyelids tremulous with tears, Timid uncertainty upon her lips, Mixed with a wistful, wild anxiety, Then he forgot himself, forgot the world, 14 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. Forgot the king, whose heavy-handed' wrath No man had ever known to cease, until It had exacted vengeance twenty-fold. For Conor's arm was long, his sword was keen, His memory undying, his revenge Was never yet forgotten nor deferred — All men believed it unavoidable — But Naesi now forgot it, and forgot Himself, and death and life, and answered her : " Oh, D£drdre, see, thou art indeed a queen, And I thy vassal, and my heart is thine, I lay it at thy feet, and do with it According as thou wilt* I give it thee. Thy spot of shame shall never rise on me. If thou wilt follow me to Alba's shore, King Conor's arm, however far it reach, Shall never stretch across the stormy Moyle. If thou would'st snatch thyself from Conor's power Then linger not. If thou wilt shun thy fate Fly with me now, ere word to him go forth That we have been together ; enter not Again thy rath, but turn and come with me." So urged he winged words persuading her, And showing her the danger of return, Telling of Alba's mountains green with pine, Wherein tfiey twain would make their peaceful home. Whereat half-moved by fear of Conor's wrath, DfclRDRE. !j Giving herself to this, her sudden love, Which overswept her (as a rising wave Will wash across a drift of sea-weed left By some high tide upon a barren rock And sweep it out to sea again) she gave Her snow-white hand into his hand, and they Returned together by the path he came, With pulses throbbing and with hearts too full To look at, think on, speak of anything. And so they travelled till the sun went down, Nor halted even then, but by the stars Pursuing still their solitary course They journeyed on amid the gathering shades, O'er many uninhabitable plains, Througji valleys, over mountains, and by tarns Enclosed with gnarled trunks of giant trees All withering and seared — dark lonely meres ' Whose gloomy waters never stirred to life, Where most do congregate the things of night, The sullen thingsi that bear no love to man. But them they hurt not, and at length the dawn In all its variegated vesture clad Began to streak the east with lines of fire, Breaking the clouds into a hundred shapes. And ere the gold rim of the glorious sun, Rose broad and bright before them, lo ! they stand 1 6 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. By Naesi's and his brothers' well built home. And both his brothers come to welcome himy Ardan and Ainte; both, like Naesi, were In might and shape — but ho was fairest far — And much they marvelled, soon, as they had seen The girl companion he had brought with him. But when at length his story had been told, And when they knew that it was De^rdre, she Whom Conor had reserved unto himself, Who now had come with Naesi ; then indeed Fear broke as nearly in upon their heart As ever it had done or wasi to do. " Away," they cried at once, " fly, seek ye out A safe retreat in Alba's woody glens If ye would still remain to see the world, Ere Conor's hand fall heavy on ye both." And De*irdre prayed to go, and Naesi urged. Then forth they issued from their well-built house And called their followers and friends, and soon They launched a long and dangerous black bark From out the calm of some blue-winding creek, With tiers of smooth cooperating oars To fight against the wind ; but now its breath Blew fair for Alba, so they spanned aloft The jubilant and snowy-breasted sail And ran tha dark impetuous waters down. The haughty billows broke before her prow, d£irdre. 17 And formed behind her, and the crested waves Beat round her sides, and melted into foam. The bounding bark exulted, and the wind Straight drove it on its course to Alba's shore. There Naesi landed, but his brothers twain Refused to leave him, though his vassals glad Bore off again to Erin, So they three With D&rdre dwelt among the mountains high. There day by day, when as the golden morn Glowed in the east and summoned them from sleep, They started forth with horns and hounds, and chased The dun-brown deer, and many-antlered stag, The startled game that flies from hilj to hill. Day after day they searched the woody glades, And strode along the lofty mountain sides, Beating the hollow valjeys, and at night Exulting at their work — as hunters do — They brought their spoil to lay at D#rdre's feet. Theirs was a little mountain hut which they Had built her in the spot herself had 1 wished, Close by the murmur of a waterfall Which shot itself along a precipice, And having turbulently made its leap Through flying mists of spray, and snow-white foam, Grew calm again, forgetting all its haste, And gently rippled down the dark green glen. J 8 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. Their meat was venison, their drink the stream, Their sport the headlong chase, and their delight To sit by D&rdre and to hear her speak. For Naesi's brothers loved her, as a man Will love his sister dear ; and never day Seemed long to them in her companionship; Her beauty was so bright, her tones so sweet, Her love so great, her presence such a charm That all who felt it found it magical. And so the days were lengthened into weeks, The weeks to months^ the moving months to years, Yet all the four were satisfied, nor wished For any change; since not a single cloud Nor shadow of unhappiness, nor strife, Had risen up to mar their unity Since first they landed upon Alba's shore. But when the swiftly running year had come And gone five times, and ever found them there In undiminished happiness and peace, Then jealous Fate began to envy them* And thus it made its treacherous approach. It chanced upon a lovely summer eve All sat together, when the chase was o'er, And watched, while D&rdre with her Naesi played Upon a silver board with golden men. There as they sat and played, they heard a call DfclRDRE. 19 Far off and faint go sounding through the air. And each on other looked, but Naesi said: u It was a man of Erin cried that cry/ 9 Then D&rdre looked on Naesi, and 1 she said : €t Play on, it is a man of Alba's call, No man of Erin uttered such a cry." Yet well she knew who uttered it, but she Feared to reveal it, for she knew and felt Within herself the first approach of woe, The deathly rustling of the wing of Fate. But when again and once again the call Came faintly falling on the evening air, Then Naesi also recognised the voice, And much he joyed at hearing it, and cried : u The shout is Fergus* shout, mine ancient friend's, He comes from Erin, 'tis to visit us; Go forth and seek for him, and bid him come." " Not so indeed," said De'irdre, " go not forth, He comes from Conor, and full well I feel That danger fate and death are at his back. Last night 'I saw a dream I told you not, And it congealed my blood with bitter fear, And left me sick at heart, I knew not why : Three birds, three drops of honey in their beaks, From far Eirania flew to us, and left The honey with us, but they took instead Three drops of our own blood, and so returned. 20 THB THREE SORROTtfti OF STORY-THLLING. And now I know the meaning of the dream. The message breathing peace of that false man King Conor, is the honey, for mote sweet Was never honey than King Conor's words, And with his honey words he buys our blood. Oh, be persuaded by me, go not forth. ,> But .Naesi answered slightingly and said : " My queen, it is a dream that thou hast dreamed, We must not let the noble Fergus wait; Let some one now go forth and bring him here." Then Ardan rose and following the sound, Found Fergus landed on the cold grey shore, And greeting him with joyous greeting loud, He guided him unto their mountain home : And all rejoiced to see him, and to hear His noble words once more, for he was loved By all Ultonia for his nobleness. Then Fergus gave them news from Erin, how King Conor had invited them again, And pledged his kingly word and solemn oath That none should even hurt an hair of them. But D&rdre started, hearing Fergus' speech, Groaning aloud in anguish of her soul, And sore besought the rest to stop their ears Nor hearken to his all too specious words. She urged their present happiness, and urged The honour which the clans of Alba paid D6IRDRE. 21 To all the sons of Usnach, honour more Than was allowed them on their native soil. But Fergus turned their wishes back again From D&rdre's wish, by picturing the green High hills of Erin, calling to their mind The many friends they left behind them there, And all the Red Branch heroes, one by one. Then, tooy he plighted them his faithful word That under his protection and his sons 1 , Ulan the Fair, and Buine Ruthless Red; Though all the men of Erin should oppose, Yet should the sons of Usnach take no hurt. And D&rdrete words availed her not at all, Nor her entreaties, nor her bitter tears : ' For longing irresistible to see Their native land brake over all of them At very sight of Fergus, and at sound Of those dear accents of their long-left home, Which made them deaf to everything beside. And so in giving and' receiving news In joyous speech (with none but D&rdre sad), And converse gay, they bore away the night. But when the morning brightened in the east They sought the shore and Fergus* hollow bark, And from her haven launched her on the wave, And spanned aloft the loud exultant sail, And sent her on her course before the wind* 22 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. And ran the dark impetuous waters down. But D&rdre looked behind her, and the tears Would ever start into her starry eyes, Nor could she there restrain themi, for hier heart Was sad and full to breaking ; and she sang While pearl-bright drops made Salter still the waves : " Oh, eastern land I leave, I loved you well, Home of my heart, I loved and love you well, I ne'er had left you had not Naesi left I loved the Isle of Drayno and Dunfin, I loved the wood of Cone, the vale of Laidh, I had not left tihem had not Naesi left. Oh, soft Glanmassan, where we rocked to sleep Above thy glassy harbour, how I loved To see the great sun burning on thy wave. Above the lofty cliffs of Glendaroe, Sweet was the cuckoo's note on bending bough, I ne'er had left it had not Naesi left. Oh, Drayno of the deep resounding shore, Whose waters roll, upon the soft white sand, My love has left thee, I must leave thee too." So D&rdre stood and sang and dropped her tears. But they for eagerness to see the land Scarce listened to her softly-sung lament. When— ^aU too soon— the bark had made her port, She ceased to sing, and they on Erin's shore D&IRDRE. 23 Landed and shook in pride their freeborn limbs, And towards Emania's palace bent their way, Confident in themselves, and confident In Fergus' power, and in Conors word. But when their journey had been shortened well And they already strained their longing eyes To greet the lime-white palace seen afar, Ere night should swallow the declining sun ; Then from the stately mansion in their path Barach came down and greeted them, a man Most treacherously hearted, whom the king Great Conor, had persuaded to his will : For there were few indeed but Conor knew To touch in them some secret spring, to set Some wish at work to mould them to his way. He coming down and greeting them, invites Fergus in special, to a certain feast Which (plotting with King Conor) he had made ; For Fergus never could refuse a feast, Since he was under geasa, and bound down By mystical injunctions, to partake Of every feast he was invited to. Therefore had Conor chosen him, and not Cuchulain or some other Red Branch knight, Because he knew he was detachable. And Conor had persuaded him, and all, That not to hurt Clan Utaach did he send, 24 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. But rather to behold them once again Assume their ancient place around his throne, Since Ulster now had mourned them all too long. But Fergus reddened when he heard the word, And shook with livid anger, like as when A tawny lion findfe itself entrapped Within a covered pit, and! foams for wrath, Lashing his tail, and passing to and fro, Until his face be flecked with spots of foam : So Fergus chafed, yet could he not refuse. Then D&rdre took his hand in hers, and said : " Ask, and thine own great heart shall answer thee, Which course for thee is worthiest, which more fair, More righteous in the sight of gods and men, To leave thy feast uneaten, or to leave Clan Usnach undefendted, for a prey To Conor's treachery. Ah ! woe is me ! " Then Fergus groaned in misery of soul And struggled sore within himself, but yet His mystic obligations bound him down. And so he said, he left them not alone, Nor undefended, while his sons were there. And he commended them to both his sons, Buine the Ruthless Red, and Ulan Finn, To guard them carefully, lest any man Should even turn an hair upon their heads. So he remained behind in rage and shame DfclRDRE. 25 And vexed his noble heart, and cursed the day. But Usnach's sons in anger left him there, And journeyed towards Emania, and there fell A shuddering on Deudre, and she said : " Oh, Naesi, go not forward, for I see A cloud upon the sky, a cloud of blood ; It streaks the heavens with a tinge of red, It casta an ice-cold shadow over me, It is a chilling cloud and drips with blood : Oh, Naesi, go not forward, for I fear To brave yon stormy streak of crimson sky." Yet neither could she win on Naesi's self Nor on his brothers, once, to stay their step Which now had nearly brought them to their goal, So much they trusted in their own great might. Then Fergus' sons upbraided her, and said That they were all-sufficient for her guard, That she was under their protecting arm: No man could hurt her even though he would. And: yet once more did D&rdre make essay, For in herself remained her unknown dread, A cold foreboding, tightening on her heart. " Hear me, v she said, " if Conor ask ye in To that great mansion where he feasts himself, And all men round his board will know you well, And greet you gladly, then I shall not fear : If he does this he weaves no treachery. 26 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. But if he send us to the Red 1 Branch House By way of doing honour to his guests, Then he will surely compass all our deaths, And cut us off for ever, woe is me ! Indeed, ye know not Conor, nor no man Has ever known him, but my aged nurse Was both his confidant and messenger, And well she understood him, much she feared And much she hated him; I know him too. Ah, turn we now, it may not be too lajte." But when at evening, weary with the road, Footrsore, they came to C onor's palace, where He feasted with his chief nobility, The king refused to entertain them there, And sent them forward to the Red Branch House, Making excuse that poor were the repast Which should await them did they eat with him- Then once again did De'irdre bid them fly, But shame and pride forbade them, so they went Forth from the palace to the Red Branch House, And all the pleasant viands, meat and drink, That ever yet made glad the heart of man, Were laid before them on the shining board. But these they hardly tasted, for they felt The wily meshes of King Conor's net That now was closing in upon them all. deirdre. 27 Then Conor, for his bipod was now on fire, Sent Lavarcam, his messenger, to see If D&rdre were as yet so beautiful As when she fled! from her imprisonment. But Lavarcami loved De^rdre, and she loved The sons of Usnach, so she came again And thus reported, that her pupil now Was changed and greatly faded, and divorced From all her former beauty. But the king, Suspicious ever, looking in her face And not believing, sent another man Who, spying through an open window, saw How Delrdre played with Naesi at a board Of sun-brigjht silver, full of golden men: And stricken with her loveliness he came And told to Conor all that he had seen. Then Conor fired with rage and jealousy, At once oornmanded all his plumed troops To give assault upon the Red Branch House, And slay the sons of Usnach ; and they came With hosts innumerable as the stars, To wreak the vengeance of the mighty king. But Buine sallied forth upon their shout, And drove them back in terror, and he made A clearing round about the mansion, red With gore of slaughtered men, and bodies piled, For Conor's mercenary soldiers fled. 28 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. Then Conor came himself and cried to. him Standing afar, and called him by bis name, And made him many offers; offered gold, And lands and honours, ail that most he knew Would tempt his soul, if he would but desert The sons of Usnach in their urgent 'hour : For Conor read the mind of every man And knew the place unguarded of his heart To find an entrance in his subtlety. And so he wrought upon, him with his words TilJ. he consented, bought with many lands, And hope of Conor's friendship. But the youth Illan the Fair, his brother, issued forth And chased the troops from round about the Ddn, And slaughtered many of them, and he made A bloody circuit round the mansion wide, Till shrieks of dying men appalled die night, And clash of armour smote upon the sky, And Conor trembled in his far off tent. For Illan loathed his brother's treachery, And now, perchance, he had averted death From those his charge, until — his feasting o'er— Great Fergus came again: but hapless fate First overtook himself, and gave them up All undefended unto Conor's sword. For Conor, when his troops were put to flight. Sent his own son to fight with him, and hung D&IRDRS. His own protecting shield about his neck. It was a magic shield and roared aloud When danger threatened him who carried it And when it sounded high, the three great waves Of Erin roared responsive to its call, And smote in violence the angry shore, And rolled in dreadful thunder to the land; Hence ' Ocean ' was the name he called it by. And now when Elan dealt his deathful blows Against King Conors son, it sounded loud, And Erihte three great billows answered it, And sent their hollow sea-shout to the heavens. But Conall Camach, Fergus' faithful friend, The stately pillar of the proud Red Branch, After Cuchufetin and himself the most Renowned of all Ultonia's sons of war, Heard how it s&unded, and he took the field, Straightway bdjeving it was Conor's self Who was in danger; and he came behind And pierced the warrior with his cruel blade Full in the back, unwitting who he was, Or what he fought for; since he nothing knew About the sons of Usnach, nor about The treachery of Conor, nor his breach Of guarantee, security, and oath. But when he knew that it was not the king Who was in danger, when he found that he 29 30 THB THBJKB 80RROW8 OF STORY-TELLING. Had slain the son of him who was his friend; Then madness overcame hire, and he smote The son of Conor also to the ground : There then he left them lifeless, side by side, And thence departed, chafing in his soul But now the net of Fate was drawing close Around the sons of Usnach, when their last And best supporter's life blood ebbed away. For Conor sent once more his captains cm With torches and with cools of glowing fire, To set ablaze the haughty Red Branch House, And give the sons of Usnach to the sword. But Ardan then and Ainl£, issuing forth Rose in their might and turned them all to flight. And each made once the circuit of the house, And left his track behind him where he passed, A bloody track filled full of slaughtered men, And cloven shields, and broken aims and death. Then they returned to Naesi and his queen, Faint, wading through the bljood themselves had shed. And now the feeble morning in the east Began to break and spread a glimmering ray Of dim grey light on dead and dying men, And yet the sons of Usnach held the house. Then Conor called his Druids, men of skill To work enchantments, and he promised them D&IRDRE. 31 With many oaths, and great assurances, And reasons, and asseverations loud, That he would never hurt one single hair Upon the sons of Usnach, if but once They were delivered safe into his hands. And also he persuaded them, for there Was never since King Conor's day a man At onoe so false and plausible, a man Who made the men who knew him trust him, who Deceived the men who trusted him, and yet Made the deceived to trust him once again. And this it was that brought the Druids' curse (Because he made them act, deceiving them) On green Emania and the proud Red Branch Until they crumbled into dust away. Who may withstand through time a Druid's curse! But now they, trusting him, began in haste To weave their arts and cast enchantments up, And work with magic, and send forth a great And weakening spell around the Red 1 Branch House. For when the sons of Usnach saw the dawn And sallied forth with D&rdre *in their midst, They met the spell; slow working through the air. And yet they clove their way through Conor's troops, Like three great hawks amid a flock of birds, Who shooting on them in their might, will break In twenty smaller flights the numerous flock. 31 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. Then when th^jr thought to have indeed escaped And scattered all their foes, and made a safe And fortunate retreat, the cursed spell Began to act upon them; for they thought That all the air was water, and that they Were swimming forward through a liquid sea Which washed around them as they went: they let Their arms drop down, both sword, and shield and spear, And spread their hands abroad and thought to swim, And battled with the air till they were faint. Then Conor's soldiers came without a blow And took and bound the three, and brought them bound Before King Conor, and his heart rejoiced To see his wiles successful at the end, And those he hated placed within his power- Like as an old grey wolf rejoices when He marks a fleecy sheep from day to day, But cannot' get her, she is guarded well ; If it should haply chance that of a night She is not folded up within her pen He springs upon her in a lonely place, Exulting, and her flesh is very sweet: So Conor now exulted, and the sight Was very sweet unto him, and he gave Command to strike without dtelay the heads DftRDU. 33 From off the sons of Usnach where they stood ; But D^irdre he reserved unto himself. Yet in his army was there not a man Would do his bidding on the royal three, But one alone, he was a rugged man From far-off Norway, and his father dear, And brothers both by Naesi had been slain. A thrill of joy came over him to see The slayer of his father in his power, And forth he stood to do the king's command. Then Ardan pleaded: "Let him slay me first, I am the youngest, and would gladly go Before my brothers to the realm of death To join the dusky army of the dead, Nor see their blood poured forth before mine own." And Ainld also said: "Slay me the first, I may not see my brother's life-blood stream. ,, Then Naesi spoke, and all mem looked on him, With pity some, and some inspired with awe, He seemed so high and noble in that hour. His raven tresses now were streaming wild About his shoulders, matted all with blood, And streaks of blood beflecked his forehead white, And trickled down his cheek, not ruddy now, And yet not blanched, but pale and resolute. He looked as one looks face to face with Death, The lightning lurked within his dark eyes still ; D 34 THB THRHB SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING- And sympathy at once and horror stirred : In every breast : and had he made appeal To those who knew him, and who loved him well, And urged his claim on life, not all the dread That Conor had inspired in his chiefs, Nor all the high authority that girds The kingly office^ had availed the king To set the grisly chalice of revenge Full with their life blood to his hungry lips; For not a man but had forbidden it, Though at the peril of his own dear soul. But Naesi stooped! not to demand his life, And in the greatness of his pride he said: "We three have run together through the day, And faced the brunt of tempests and of waves, And braved the fury of the angry sky ; Now let the wing of all-prevailing Death At once close over us, the shade of Night Fall on us all together; hand in hand We go to join the army of the dead. Take this my sword — Manannan, son of Lir, Gave it to me — it does not mar its work. Sever the three heads at a single blow." Then the Norwegian took it at his word, And each man held his breath and turned aside. They stretched their necks together and the stroke Descended on them like a flash of light, DEIRDRE. 35 And Usnach's golden children were no more. Then a great cry of lamentation broke And rent the air and mingled with the heavens, And not an eye was dry, and not a tongue But had a curse for Conor's cruelty. There where their blood was spilt they raised the sod And hollowed out for them a resting place, Fair in the middle of the dewy lawn, Where all the year upon the grassy slope The sun pours down a flood of warmth and love. And D&rdre came above them where they lay Placed side by side as they had stood in life, Reclining on their shields, their bloody arms Laid by their side, as, though they should awake And rise to deeds of valour once again. She had beheld them in their single death, Listened to Naesi as he spoke his last, Saw how their warm young blood had spurted forth, And how men laid them in their silent grave; Yet not a cry had 1 burst upon her lips, Nor tear had started in her fixed eye, Nor moan had broken through her heaving breast. Now like a ghost she moved, a ghost who comes After long years and centuries of night To visit earth once more — so did she come. 36 THB THRBB SORROWS OF 8TORT-TBLLING. She too was flecked with blood, with Naea's blood, Her robe was reddened with it> and her eyes Were fixed audi motionless, and men who saw Shuddered to look upon her beauty then. Close by the open grave she stood and gazed, Gazed on the forms she loved so well in life, As though she would have looked for evermore. But when she saw the sword Manannan gave, The sword she had so often girt for him, Placed in the hand that ne'er should wield it more, The death-cold hand so often pressed in hers, Her tears began, first silently, to flow, Then in a torrent* and she lived again. And all men wept to see her, and the drops Stood in the eyes of weather-beaten chiefs Who listened as die mourned above the grave. " Ochone," she cried, "my ligjit of life is gone, And I am dark and desolate, the sun That lights the world can dart no light to me; My sun is set, and gone for evermore. My Naesi, all my brothers, all I loved, All that I lived for, they are gone from me. The three who turned the battle's stormy tide Who never blanched at any form of fate, The Falcons of the cliffs of Asaroe, The Eagles of the mountain arc no more. Oh, I was oft in solitudes, and oft D&RDRE. InMooely places where the foot of man Came never near me, but I never was Nor knew myself alone until to-day. Oh, Naesi, how I loved thee, never man Was loved by woman as thou wast by me; There never broke from thee one hasty word, No look impatient flashed into thine eye, No thought unkind was ever on thy lip, Nor anger in thy voice, but kindliness For all mankind, and gentleness for me, And perfect love and true nobility. I never grieved because of thee, no pain, No hurl* no sickness, no unhappiness, Ever took hold upon me, when with thee. No moon was long, no day was dark or slow, No hour was dull, but like a happy dream Time passed beside me when I was with thee. The props of battle all are fallen, and he v The mightiest, the greatest, is oast down. Yon blue-green javelin he cast so oft, Shall never vibrate in his hand again. He seized upon my early dawn of love, And now my love is stronger than my life. Let them not think that I shall live, when they Are not upon the hills to comfort me. These three great golden-studded shields that lie Beside them in their sleep of death were mine^ 37 38 THB THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. A royal couch whereon I often slept, And where I think to sleep another sleep, A deeper and a longer than before. Your blood-stained tyrant, murderer of men, Your Conor has no power upon me now. I am the lonely apple on the tree, The cluster all is fallen, and I am left, The fibres snap that hold me; thus I shake And tremble fast upon the withered stem, And quit my hold upon it— see, I fall Down from this cold and dismal bough of Life/' Even as she spoke she fell, her heart-strings snapt, And Death had over-mastered her. She fell Into the grave where Naesi lay and slept There at his side the child of F£lim fell, The fair-haired! daughter of an hundred smiles. Men piled their grave and reared their stone on high, And wrote their names in Ogam, So they lay All four united in the dream of death. These were the deaths for which the child un- born Had cause to curse King Conor, this the blood That swelledl into a sea and overflowed The pleasant plains of Ulster. 'Twas for this Emania fell with all her palaces, It was for this the fair Red Branch was hewn D&IRDRE. 39 From off the tree of Ulster, fruit and leaves. But Fergus' war with Conor, and the blood He shed in Ulster to avenge their fate And the wrong done him, and the aid he got From Meve, the queen — I shall not tell it here, For that belongeth to the Wars of Mfeve. — Thus far the fate of Usnach's sons — thus far. the cTnlTmeN op lia HE cold and cruel fate that overtook The children of the great De Danaim, Lir, Is of the Sorrow-stories of our isle. It is the saddest and the softest tale That ever harper harped, or wordful bard With union assonance and fall of tone, Marking the marvel of his honey verse With lines of long alliterative words* And sweet compacted syllables, and feet Increasing upon feet, e'er framed in song. The sorrow-tale indeed is old and young, Old, for so many hundred years have gone Since last beneath the midnight shimmering star Was heard the music of the birds of snow. Young, for amid the brightreyed tuneful Gael The sonows of the snowy-breasted four Are told again to-day, and shall be told Long as the children of Millesius last THB CHILDREN OF LIB. t To people Banba's hills and pleasant vales. Atas, those days of blood and broken arms, When first the thunderclap of shouting war Burst on the proud secure De Danann race, When Tailltin's plains of emerald felt the first Red stain imprinted on their velvet sward ! From the stark blow of the Milesian glaive The great De Danann chiefs at first drew back, But soon took courage, and in conclave met, Summoned a council to elect a king. Lest broken up in petty sovereignties, Each following his own immediate lord And working for himself (as heretofore When all was rest, security and peace) The old De Danann race should crumble down, Or, bit by bit, should melt away before These newly come Milesian men of war. So they elected there the Dagda's son Bpve Derg, he was a brother to the fair And subtle chieftain, Angus of the Boyne. But Lir, who hoped that he himself should be Their choioe in that convention, was passed by, And not elected: chafing in his soul He would not reverence the new-made king, But forth he strode in deep disdain, and sought "His seat Shee Finnaha: and there remained, 42 THE THREE SORROWS OP STORt-TELLING. Not paying homage to the chosen prince, And yet not warred against, for he was strong : And the De Danann men were ever wise And would not risk their unity by wax. Thus, not submitting nor rebelling, Lir Remained at peace a space, until his wife Died stricken with sore illness. Sorrow then Seized on his heart and all men pitied him ; And over Erin there was much lament, For she was known to many, and who knew Loved her, and grieved for her ; thus many mourned. Then said the king: "Lo! Lir is waxen weak That was so strong. He is, and well may be, Broken at heart, for he has lost the prop That most sustained him, and I know he fain Would have my friendship, as I also his. Now must he seek again another wife, And I shall offer him the loveliest Of all my foster-dlaugjiters, Ara's girls, A£v, Eefi, Elva — all are passing fair. The grave De Dananns praised the prudent speech So wisely uttered, and took thought, and sent An embassy to Lir, to offer him The friendship of the king, and choice of wives Amongst the foster daughters of his hall. Then Lir at last is comforted, and lays His grief aside, and leaves his home and comes THE CHILDREN OF LtR. 43 With fifty chariots in his company, To the great lake by Kil-da-lua; there Bove Derg now reigned within his lime-white hall. But when he came the king was very glad* And met him, and they pledged a friendship true, And all rejoiced, for Lir was loved by all. Yea by the king himself was he esteemed, For the De Dananns knew that he was true, Having a single heart in all his ways, That ever spoke his feelings in his face. So the king sent the wine-cup round the board For all to drink to Lir, and Lir rejoiced. There by the queen, their foster-mother, sat Three maidens, sisters, out of Ara's Isle, Three maidens very lovely to behold. To Lir was given choice of all the three. " All are most beautiful/' said he, " but all To me alike unknown, the eldest then Should be the noblest, she shall be my queen." 1 AeV is the eldest," said the king, u and she Shall be thy wife," so she was given him. Then with immeasurable merriment, And jubilance and feasting were they both Espoused. They twain continued there a while Living 'mid much rejoicing, till at length, Their feasting o'er, they turned and hand in hand Sought once again Lir's seat Shee Finnaha, 44 THB THBBB SORROWS OF 8TOBT-TBLLING. Regretted of die king and loved of all. There the first year she bore him chilcfcen twain, Finnuala a daughter, Ae a son, Both at a birth ; and in the second year Two sons named Ffachra and Conn, and died. Then surely Lir had died along with her From anguish at his loss, but that his love For the four children helped to make him bear The burden of his life. But when the king And aljL his household heard that Alv was dead, They raised three loud commiserating cries Of woe for Lir and for themselves. Yet soon The king took thought and said: "we shall not lose Despite this deajth our friendship with great Lir. Not yet is our alliance closed, for now Our second foster-daughter shall we give If it so be that she replace to Lir The wife that he has lost." And all approved. So word was sent to Lir to come again And take another wife, and leave his grief. But Lir rejoiced on hearing it, and came. Then the king gives> to comfort him, the fair Daughter of Oilioll out of Ara's Isle, Eefi, his second foster-daughter dear. They were united both, and feasted there A space together, and at length, returned. THE CHILDRHN OF LIB. 45 Then Lir and Eefi lived for many years In peace and happiness, without a care, Without anxiety, without regret All the four children lived' along with them, And grew from day to day in loveliness, In graoe of gesture, in nobility. And Eefi loved them well, for of her own She had no children, and the gracious king Cherished them all, as though they were his own. He many times a year came down to see His four young saplings, growing tall and fair. Also the chiefs of the De Danann race Whene'er they came to Lir to celebrate The Feast of Age (that ancient banquet long Established by Manannan son of Lir, Which in each other's mansions turn by turn It was their rule each year to celebrate) Would wonder at the children, and admire Their growing beauty and their gracefulness. They marked with joy Fmnuala, for she Was of surpassing excellence of form, With rounded shoulders, white and fair and smooth, Such as no artist ever smoothed the like, Polishing slowly with excess of work A disk of ivory to make it shine. And all her brothers were as beautiful, With bright blue eyes and silky golden hair 46 THE THRBB SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. That fell upon their shoulders and hung down Far on their back. Upon their young fresh cheeks The ruddy glow of health smiled out beneatih The laughing eyes. Joy spoke upon their lips, And all their limbs were comely, fair and straight, And all their words were full of graciousness, Of gaiety, of goodness ; and their voice Was very sweet to hear, and oft men said It was as good to listen to their tones As to a fairy music. So the chiefs Praised them and looked with pleasure on the four, And never finished wondering, to see How every year but added some new grace Or some new fairness, and took nought away. But Lir their father loved them with a love Exceeding that of fathers, for his soul Was fixed upon his children, close bound up With all his laughing four. And every night He watched them as they lay in dumber deep ; And every morning at the dawn of day Would leave his couch to seat him self beside The couches of his children, there to talk And fondle them, and glory in himself At having four such children; for he thought That never yet since Banba was an isle Had father four such children. And not he Thought this alone, all thought it and all said. THE CHILDREN OF LIR. 47 So for a time the years went floating by As light as feathers wafted on the wind, Leaving behind no furrow track of care, And sending down no burden as they went To bow the back of Lir or of his folk. For had he lived his life in Tfr-na-n-6g, The smiling land where even age is young, The days could not have passed more happily. But so they were not destined to remain, For Eefi — both their aunt and stepmother — Most beautiful herself, and until now Courted and flattered by the chiefs, began To feel that as the children grew, men's eyes Rested upon them more and more, while she Who had been as the moon which every eye Seeks when it first begins to mount, was now But as a star among the other stars, And losing what they gained. Then though at first She had her sister's children loved as though The four had been her own — for she had none — Yet when she saw all others love them too, She felt her own love first begin to thaw (In spite of her, for yet she wished it not) And then wax cold and colder. Not at first But very slowly, did it turn to hate. At last the poison plant of jealousy Began to strike a root within her heart 48 THB THRO SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. And torture it, and grow and ever grow, And like a rankling cancer feed on it, Until her healthy thoughts were turned to gall, Till all things looked most horrid to her eye, And every idle spaoe within her mind Was filled with hate, her blood flowed slow for hate, And hate was like a fire within her brain. For a whole year her torture grew so fierce, Her jealousy so bitter, and so keen The pangs that preyed upon her own proud heart, That from her couch she never raised herself. But plotting mischief and consumed with pain, Filled full of spite and bitter enmity, She lay and meditated evil things. She brooded on her old enchanted lore Which she had learned in Ara's sea-beat isle, And counted words, and thought of sentences, And recollected speUs, and muttered low, And fostered into life a hundred charms That, half-forgotten, lurked within her mind, These she had buried Aere when as a girl She practised them, upoo the great lone rocks Black with the gloom of ages, rocks that rise Into the sky to be a lofty home For screaming eagles, and to front the roar And angry onset of a million waves IHB CHILDREN (MP LIB. 49 Out from that great wild sea without a shore. There on the cliffs, around whose hollow base The billows burst in thunder, and the foam Shot up in gusty showers to the air, She oft had worked with magic and with charms, And now she called them to her mind again. A whole long year she lay upon her couch And eat away her life in bitterness Seeking a remedy, but finding not. At length the bridle of her self-restraint Gave way before that slow and deadly strain. She rose, death gleaming in her evil eye, And spake to Lir, " I will go see again The king my foster father, and will take His children to him." But she meant them woe. Finnuala alone was loath to leave Her father Lir, because she dreaded ill, Fearing her stepmother, for she had dreamt A dreadful dream of terror, and was pale And sick at heart and fearful. But the rest Began to urge her much to go with them, . And when she saw that she could not prevail With her entreaties, and that they would go Despite her warning, then she would not leave Her brothers dear alone, but went with them. Full of a dim foreboding — yet she went. Now when Shee Finnaha was left behind 50 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. Far out of sight* and half their journey o'er, Eefi drew out a keen sharp-pointed sword Which she had hidden with her, and she thought To slay the children there. But when she saw Their calm confiding faces, and their eyes Dilated wide with wonderment to see The demon that was raging in her own, She could not do it ; and her woman's heart Failed lier, for all her muscles were relaxed With horror at the thing that she would do. And though she wished she could not give the How, But from her hand the gleaming weapon fell Out of the chariot, yet she halted not, Nor gave command to pick it up again, ^ So they pursued their road of fear until They readied Lake Darvra's shore, and there the steeds Smoking and weary were at last unyoked To eat and rest. But Eefi took the four Down to the margin of the pleasant lake And bade them swim and wash away the dust After the tedious journey. Then the four Entered the clear cool water of the lake, And bathed rejoicing in its bright blue wave After the beat and dust, and splashed themselves, Laughing to see the ripples form in rings And creep away from them at every move. THB CHILDREN OF LIE. 5 1 Watching the .dimpling waters come and go, They half forgot the terrors of the day. But Eefi from the bank struck with a wand Each of the four, and sudden at the stroke Their fair white limbs, roundled, elastic, smooth, Shrank and contracted; and the baleful blow Made from their snow-white, ivory-smooth skin Down to start out and feathers, for their arms Marbled with veins of blue, fell into wings, Of long white feathers, folded by their sides, And all their delicate and tender feet Were changed to coarse brown webs, their necks grew long, And in a moment where four human forms Had' sported in the water, lo, four swans, Snow-white, fuH-plumed and slender necked,that swam Backwards and forwards, graceful, with bright eyes! Then Eefi looking on them, felt her hate Assuage a little ia her breast " Go now," She said, "ye swans, go and consort with birds, And dive and swim with clangorous sea fowl, And fish from shore to shore, your friends may weep But cannot rescue you, your fate is fixed." Then were the swans all dazed and motionless, And turned their great black eyes upon themselves, And stirred not, out of wonderment and fear. At length Finnuala began to speak 5* THB THBQ 80BB0WS OF «TORT-THLLINO. And all her words came clear a* heretofore: * Oh, Eefi, great and evil n thy deed. Thy friendship was a treachery. But our friends Shall, surely find thee in thy guiltiness. Eefi, thy doom shall be far worse than ours.* And then she ceased, but from her great Mack eyes The tears fell down. Yet soon she spake again. " Oh, let us hear how long shall we be swans, That we may know beforehand when our doom Shall have an ending. Eefi tell us this." Then Eefi said, " I would Finnuala Thou hadafc for thine own sake not questioned me. Three hundred years on smooth Lake Dama's shore It is your doom to spend. Thrae hundred yearB Upon the sea of Moyle, aod yet again Three hundred years upon the western sea By wind-swept wave-beat Erris Downann's coasts. Until the Princess of the South shall wed A Prince from out the North, until shall come The TaiMnn into Erin, teaching things We never heard before. Until shall sound The first clear tone of Christian bell ; till then Your doom is fixed, and neither your own power Nor mine* nor all the powers of your friends Can augjht avail you ; not though all the men Of Erin or the world should cast about To free you or to save you. Over you There hangs an endless weary load of years." Then hall relentfuj spake she yet again. "Nought can I help you now, Jrow doom is fixed, And yet tin* boon I grant yaoh-to retain Your own sweet Gaelic speech, that ye may be Able to sing a. sweet and plaintive- strain Of fairy music* able to excel The musk of the world, and lull to sleep The souls of all who hear. Ye shaU retain- Your human reason, and ye shall not grieve At this your change into the form of swans*" Then Eefi gave command to yoke her steeds* And so departed on her wicked way, Leaving the swans upon the lake. The four Swam to and fro, and uttered bitter cries. But when she reached the palace of the king, Her foster father, then he questioned her Why she was come and had not brought with he* Lir's children. But she answered him that Lir Loved him not now as heretofore, and would No longer trust his children to his care. Then he, amazed and fearful, sent with speed Messengers northward to Shee Finnaha, Asking to have the children sent to him. But Lir was filled with fear and much dismay, And dark foreboding, and he hastened forth 54 THB THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. With his attendants, and he drove as swift As are the winds of March, until he reached Lake Dasrvra's pleasant shore. The four white swans Were swimming up and down upon the lake And oaring with fiieir feet, to overcome The cold resistance of the lapping waves, Which wearied all, their young and tender limbs, Unused to such a strain: and as they swam They saw Lir's chariot, and Finnuala Spake to the others: "Lo, I see a gleam Of spears and shields. I hear the thundering Of many horses, and the helniets glance Bright in the sun. I know that this must be Our father with his people, and he comes To seek his children who shall never more Fall on his neck again, ah, woe is me! Let us approach and speak and welcome him." Then Lir much marvelled when he heard the sounds Of human speech arise from four white swans, And drawing near he asked them whence it was They spake with human voices, being birds. Then cried Finnuala: "Come hither Lir, We are thy children, Lir, we are thy four. Eefi has changed us into swans." Then Lir Stood for a time as one who has been stunned, And all his people raised three long loud cries THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 55 Of grief and lamentation, till the woods Quivered to hear the long-drawn cry of pain. Then at the last Lir asked if any means Could bring them to their rightful shapes again. Answered Finnuala: "There is no hope, No help, no consolation for us four, Until a Prince from out the North shall wed A Princess from the South, until, there come The Tailcinn into Erin teaching things We never heard before, until there sound The first clear tone of Christian bell (whate'er The Christian bell may be), so long-we must Be in the form of swans — so Eefi said.'' And then again the people raised three cries Of grief and misery, until the fowl Rose frighted from the reeds, until the fish Darted belpw the surface far away, And the trees trembled through their inmost leaves. And then again said Lir : " Yet come to land Ye have your reason and your own sweet speech, come to me once more, and speak with me, And gladden me again, and leave me not." " Alas, we cannot go with thee again, We cannot leave the lake where now we are, We cannot live amongst you any more. Yet have we reason, and our Gaelic speech, And power to chant a: plaintive fairy strain 5.6 THE THREE SORROWS, 09 STORT-TBLLINO. So sweet that those who hear us. would not wish For greater happiness. Remain- tonight Beside the lake and we shall sing for you." Then Lir and all his people left their steeds And drew anigh the shore, and held their brea*fc While from the bosom of the placid lake There rose beneath the still clear sky, afire With all the lights of sunset, such a strain As never had been heard on earth before. The liquid notes gushed in a golden stream Into the sky and flooded Darvra's shores With heavenly harmony, and all the air Grew heavy with the lingering liquid sound* The coot within the reeds forgot to cry, The lark left singing of her evening song, Poised in the air she listened, and the thrush Ceased' from his carol on the greenwood bough. Some said an eagle wheeling in the clouds Paused in his spiral circles and! alit Amid the listening men. The bright-backed fish Lay on the water overhead to drink That strange new sound. And over Lir there stole A sadness without pain, a soft regret That brought no pang with it, and as the notes Fell one by one on his entranced ear, His painless sorrow seemed to lose its shape, Till vague regret became an ecstasy, nor CHiLDiasxr of lib. 57 And over all his senses stole a strange Voluptuous longing, and it lulled his heart And soothed his throbbing pulse, and calmed at once All the unrestful blood within his veins. And* a» he toy and listened, note by note Stole to his heart and melted it, until Fargetfuteess came over him. His eyes Closed and he slept as sleep the happy dead. And all his people at the magic notes Were cast into a slumber full of bliss. This was the swans' first singing, and the four Rejoiced to hear themselves and know their power. But when the morrow with its full delight Rose on all: people, and the sun stood high, Then Lir at last awoke, and called to mind His children, and remembered they were birds. And yet, so magical had been their song That so lemembering, he felt no pain, And waking woke not to unhappiness. There by the shore were paddling the white swans Waiting to greet him e'er he left die lake. And there he parted with diem for a time^ And spake to each a separate farewell. Then moving swiftly southward, he arrived Before the palace of the king, Bove Derg. There the king met him, Eefi at his side, 58 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. And chid him that the children were not there- * Oh, King," cried Lir, " it is your foster child, The sister of their mother, Eefi here. Who has played treachery upon them all, And changed them by her devilish art to swans. They four are swimming on Lake Darvra now." Then the king looked on Eefi, and she blenched And shrank before his eye, and so the king Read in her face that Lir had spoken true, And with fierce looks and gleaming eyes he cried: " The wicked tiling which thou hast done, shall fall Far heavier on thee thyself, than on Our four dear children, for their suffering Shall have an end^ thy pain shall know of none. Of all the creatures that are on the earth, Or all the. things above the earth, or all The shapes beneath the earth, which is the most Abhorred of thy soul, which dreadest thou?" And pallid Eefi screamed, " I fear to be A Demon of the Air, that most of all." Then cried the angry king : " Air Demon be," And with his rod of magic striking her (Because the great De Danann kings are all Powerful men of magic, very skilled) He changed her to a Demon of the Air, And with a shriek she spread her wings and shot Up from the earth away into the clouds THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 59 To wander through, infinity of space. And she is still a Demon of the Air, Wheeling and screaming round the universe, And shaU be so till time shall cease to be. Thereafter came the king himself and Lir And many people in their company Unto Lake Darvra, where the four white swans Were swimming on the water. And they made A great encampment there, and every night The swans would sing for them, and every day The king and Lir, and many noble chiefs Of the De Danann race, would come to them, » And hold sweet converse with them all day long. And the Milesian people also came From every part of Erin, and they made Another great encampment by the lake. And they and the De Dananns mingled there And quite forgot their rivalry, for hate And jealousy, and evil thoughts, and all Anger, and sense of loneliness, and dread Of future days, and all dtespondency, And fear of death, and gloominess of mind, And all repining at old age, and all Heaviness of the heart, with every cause That makes the soul of man dejected, these Vanished before the singing of the swans. ($0 THB THKBHT BOtOSUJWff GV STOKY-TELLING. So both the races walked in amity. And the historians tell ns notes so sweet, Able Uy charm away the care of men And soothe them into slumber, were not hear d Since Erin was an isle, nor shall be heard While the four seas shall How around her shores. So the De Dananns and Milesians stayed In their encampments, and the swans remained Upon the lake, and nigfct by nigjit they sang. But every day they spent in converse sweet With those around them, till three hundred years Were numbered. Then there came at last a (fey When to her side Finnuala recalled Her brothers, and they marvelled when they saw That she was weeping; but she spake and said: " My brothers dear, a happy time was ours Upon these pleasant watery with our friends And kindred near us, but three hundred years, The first three hundred years are over now, And there remains no other day but one For us upon Lake Darvra. We must go." Then an exceeding sorrow fell upon The sons of Lir, because their time had been A time of gladness to them on the lake, Among their friends and kindred, spreading joy Thcougjhallmen with their singing. Much they feared To go to solitudes remote from men, THB CHILDREN OF UR. 6l To places far away, unknown to them, The gloomy and tempestuous sea of Moyle. Then for the last last time they drew ani^i The margin of the pleasant lake, and spoke Unto their father Lir, and to their friends, And told them they must go far far away Into the northern sea, the bleak cold Moyle, To live for ages tossing on its breast Then spreading wide their strong white wings, the swans Rose off the water in the sight of all, Beating the air beneath them, till at length The men of Erin saw them but as specks High overhead. And there they paused a space Poising themselves upon their snowy wings. And looking downward on their friends below. Then for the north they started flying straight; And all men watched them till they passed from sight And vanished utterly; and then there fell A great distress and sadness over all, So that the men of Erin made a law From that day forth that none should kill a swan. But when Lii^s children reached the gloomy space Where now their portion was allotted them, And saw the rocky steep far-stretching coasts, And looked upon the wild dark sea, and heard 62 THE THRBJB SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. The booming of the great salt waves, and felt The cold sea billows heaving under them, They feared exceedingly, and knew their plight Would be most wretched from that evil day. For they were torn with sorrow to have left Their father and their friends. And so ttey fared Enduring cold and hunger, buffeted By the great waves, in loneliness and grief. No human form approached to gladden them, No human voice made music in their ears. The sun rose up and set, and rose again, But brought nor oomfort nor companionship On the void waters of the salt cold Moyle. And then there came a day when through thesk? The bleak clouds drove in columns, and the sun Was swallowed up behind them, and the wind Began to scream along the rising sea. Then cried Finnuala, " Alas for us, For we shall soon be sundered by the waves And — it may be — shall never meet again. Oh, if we can outlive this coming night, Dear brothers, let us choose a place to meet Once more together, that we be not lost/' Then the three answered : u Wisely do you speak, Dear sister, let us choose the Rock Na Rone To be our meeting place if we survive." - THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 63 Then the light failed, arid all grew very black; And midnight came, and with it came the storm. A cold wild wind swept down upon the sea, The lightening shot along in sheets of fire^ The thunder crashed in one unceasing peal, And from the open skies the driven rain Fell slant upon the swans. The waves were now No longer waves but mountains. When they rose And the swans mounted on their angry crests, They thought the stars must be within their reach. And when they fell, down fell with them the swans, Deafened and bruised and stunned. The cold salt brine A hundred times swept over them; their feet Grew numbed and faint, their wings were strained and torn, Their plumage drenched, their bodies bruised and sore. And still the great relentless waves came down, Forcing the birds to meet them, and the rain And spray and salt sea foam commingled swept Cutting across the surface; and the swans Were scattered from each other far away, Each battling for its life and each far more Dead than alive, without a hope at last, That any had survived except itself. But with the morning light, the storm began 64 THB THRHB SORROWS Of BTQBJ-THLLING. To sink a little, and the violence Of the great crested waves grew less and less, The cold rain ceased, and when the sun shone out, The sea grew calmer. Then Finouala Oared to the Rock Na Rone with waary feet, And fluttered to the summit, sore distressed, Looking around her, but die could not see Her brothers. Then her heart grew very faint Because she thought that they were lost, and thought She now must live for evermore alone, Upon that weary waste of wintry sea. Then she lamented with a loud lament And sent her voice in grief across the waves. But when the sun was high she looked again And saw Conn swimming slowly towards the rock, With his head drooping, and his plumage drenched Then she took heart again at sight of him And welcomed him and set him at her side. And next came Fiachra, but faint with cold, Worn out with suffering, and stiff and sore, Battered and beaten by the great salt waves, And all his feathers draggled; and his wings Painfully trailed behind him as he swam With half the life crushed out of him. His voice Failed him for weakness, when they spoke to him He could not answer them for weariness. Then brave Finnuala took each of them THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 65 Placing them by her, under either wing, And cherished them, and comforted the pair, Still waiting with unutterable fear To see if Ae would come to them; and soon She saw him also swimming towards the rock, With head erect, and plumage firm and dry, And she rejoiced exceedingly. But Ae Nestled beside her, underneath her breast, While both the others crept beneath her wings. Then said Finnuala: "Ah, brothers dear, Although we think this storm so terrible, Yet many others lurk within the sky, From this time forth, for shelter have we none." So they continued amid rain and wind, •* Hardship and hunger, till there came a night In cold hard January, when a frost Crept over earth and sea, and sent its tooth Into the waters of the lonely bay Where they were sleeping on the Rock Na Rone. The crisp air bit and stung them, and the bay Became a floor of ice, and e'er they felt Their wings were frozen fast unto the rock, And their web feet clung close and would not move. A horrid fear came over them to find That they were frost-bound to the iron rock, And all day long they struggled to be free, And battled with the stones, until the skin 66 THB THREB SORROWS. OF STORY-TELLING. Was torn from off their feet* nor did they wrench Their bodies loose till all the frozen quills And half the plumage of their tender breasts Were left behind them in the nipping ice. And all their feet and wings and breasts were left Bleeding and open. Then Finnuala Cried to her brothers, " piteous is our plight, For we are under geasa not to leave The sea of Moyle, but if we here remain, The cold sharp brine shall enter at our wounds, And we shall die with very pain of it." Yet were tihey forced to swim away, far out Into the sea-green current of the Moyle, All torn and bleeding as they were, the brine Was sharp and bitter, and it entered in And cut and stung and scalded them, and yet They bore it, for they were without relief. Hence they remained beside the coast, as near As they could come to it, for many months, Unitill their wounds were healed 1 , until the web Grew on their feet again, and plumage new Covered their poor scald breasts and wings once wore. Andl after this for many lon& long years, They swam from place to place, and sought the coasts Of Erin sometimes; sometimes they would seek THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 6j The headlands high of Alba—not for long — For always they returned again to breast The cold sea-current of the stormy Moyle. And then again there came a day, as they • Were swimming near the outlet of the Bann, Off the north coast of Erin, that they saw A stately troop of horsemen come direct From the south-west. They rode upon white steeds, With coloured garments, and the sun shone bright, Glinting upon their weapons as they came. Then said the swans, "we will ashore and see Whence is the cavalcade, and whether they Be of our own De Danann race, or be The proud new-come Milesians, ,, so they swam In to the shore. But when the strangers came And saw the swans, they knew therm and rejoiced, For they were come to seek them- Both the sons Of the De Danann king Bove Derg, were there, Fergus> the chess-player, and Ae, the wit, With many others of the Fairy Host. These long had sought Lot's children round the shores Of Northern Erin, and had found them 1 not And now they joyed exceedingly to see That they were-living, and they greeted them With love and tenderness, and told them much About their father and their other friends. 68 THE THRHB SORROWS OF STORT-TELLINO. How they were well, and how the chiefs were now Gathering to their home Shee Finnaha To eat once more with Lir the Feast of Age; Happy in all save in the thought of them, And all their hardship on the cruel sea. Then said Finnuala: "No tongue can tell, No lips can utter, and no thought of man Can sound the sufferings we have endured, Since last we sang to you oeside the shore Of pleasant Darvra," and she chanted this: "Pleasant is the place of Lir to-day, Many migjity goblets mixed of mead Circle round about his banquet board : Ah ! we saw them circling long ago, In the years we yearn for; when we ate Clothed in cramosie and cloth of gold; Midst the quaffing quaighs of meljow mead — Thence to softly sleep on silken beds. — Now the sea-weed salt and bitter brine, And the sea-shore sand is all our share, And for beds the bald unbending rocks. Weary are the hours we wear away Breasting breakers, battling with the brins, Brooding on the bald unbending rocks. " So sang Finnuala, and all were sad At that sad singing. But at last they took A fond and long farewell, because it was THB CHILDREN OF LIB. 69 Forbidden to the swans to linger there, From off the sea of Moyle. This was the last They saw of their De Danann friends, and much The memory of it soothed and gladdened them. But these returned unto Shee Finnaha And told to Lir and the De Danann chiefs The sorrows of the swans: and Lir grew sick And sore at heart to think of them, but yet He could not succour them. And so the birds Remained upon that stormy strip of sea Three hundred years, until their time was come To leave it, and Finnuala was glad, And told the others, and they all rejoiced. Then they rose up and beat the air, and flew South-westward* and t&ey left that dreary coast Far, far behind them : and they never paused But came to Erris Downann and the sea Around the Isle of Glora, where the wave Out of the boundless ocean in the West, Falls thundering upon the groaning share. Nor were they aught the better for the change. There they remained and suffered! much from storm, And much from cold: They were in sorer straight Than they had been before, because they found Small shelter from the beating of the sea. 70 THB THBBB SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. And there it was that Aivric met with them; He was the owner of a tract of land Skirting the sea. It chanced that of a day He visited this land of his, and heard A strange and plaintive music in the air, And a low sob that ran along the sea. And much he marvelled at it, but at length He saw the swans, and heard themi speaking words Amongst themselves, and singing soft and low. But then he marvelled more to hear sweet sounds Of human speech from birds, and oft would come To listen to their singing, and at last He cast aside his fear and! spake to them From off the shore. And then the swans were glad And gently swam to land, and answered him, And so they fell in converse, for his words Were mild and gentle, and he pleased the birds Exceedingly. He loved therm, and they loved Him also, and he brought his friends with him To come and hear them. Know that it was he Who first arranged! this story, hearing it From the four swans themselves. He set it down As I have told it to you, word by word. But now their miseries commenced again And winter brougjht them woe. There came a nigjrt When all the surface of the cold salt sea THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 7 1 From Erris Downann unto AchilPs Isle Was frozen in a solid rock of ice. And then there rose a biting north-west wind That drove aJjong the surface cutting sleet, Intolerably cold. And soon it seemed To the three brothers that they could no more Bear up against their hardships, and they cried Aloud with bitter pitiable cries. Nor could Finnuala do anything To give them peace or comfort ; for the more She tried to comfort them so much the more They groaned aloud. Then her own heart began To break within her, for she was out-worn And overcome with cold. She also mourned Lamenting with the others; for the sleet Like grains of iron seemed to pierce and bite Her very heart, quite blinding her: and so She moaned with quick sharp moans, until at last God heard her cry. He pitied her and sent A ligjit into her soul, because He saw v The utter anguish of her misery, That it could be no greater than it was. Then all her soul was filled, as with a light And she cried out aloud : " Dear brothers, now ~ Something has touched me. Oh, believe with me In the great God, the God of truth, who made The earth with all its fruits, -ho made the sea J 2 TflH THREB SORROWS OP SlttRY-TELLING. Teeming with wonders. Put your trust in Him* For He shall give you help, and comfort you." Then they all answered : " We believe in Him." Then said Finnuaia, " I too believe In God who is most perfect, and knows all." Thus at the destined hour they all believed, . And the good Lord of heaven sent them help, And brougjht them comfort, so that neither cold Nor storm nor hunger hunt them any more While they continued on that bamen coast, Thus they remained! upon the western sea Till their appointed years had been fulfilled And now Finnuaia proclaimed once more: " Dear brothers, joy with me ! our weary time At last is finished. Up ! and let us seek Our father and our people once again. Oh, they will marvel when they see us come, My plumage swells for utter happiness." Then were they all exceeding glad at heart, And lightly rose from off the sunny face Of the blue sea. Toward the east they flew Filled high with hope and joy, and' buoyed aloft With pleasant memories of other days, With fond anticipations, and the bliss Of sweet expectancy. The morning sun Shone glinting on their pinions as they flew. THB CHILDREN OP LIU. 73 But when they reached Shee Finnaha, ah then There was no Lir to welcome them, no chiefs Of the De Dananns; not a trace of life Among the ruins of their childhood's home. All, all, was desolate. Around the walls The ivy hung ; the roof was overthrown* And the green grass was growing in the hall. Forests of rank grey nettles sprouted round The long deserted ruins, and the moss Clung closely to the fallen scattered stones. There was nor fire, noir hearth, nor herd, nor stall, Nor trace of habitation: all was bore And all was still and all was desolate. Then the. four swans gathered together close And cried three cries, more bitter than the wail Wrung from them once upon the western sea, For they were wild with grief, and! stunned and dazed. And sick at heart Firaiuala made moan, " Sore the wonder to behold our home Roofless ruins, weeds upon the wall, Neither steed in stall, nor hound on hearth ; Ladies' laughter doth not echo there; There is heard no harp, no song, no sound, There is seen no sport, no spear, no shield ; Sore the wonder to behold! our home." There by the ruinous deserted place Of their forefathers, where they once had dreamt 74 THB THREE SORROWS Of STORY-TELLING* The happy dream of youth's young days, they lay That dreary night and sent their cries to heaven, Or chanted sad low melting fairy strains. Thence flying westward with the dawn of day They lit upon a little lake beside The wild sea-coast, and there began to sing So sweetly that the birds around the shores Gathered together to the waiter's edge : And all the sea-fowl came, and all the flocks That heard the music (as they passed o'erheod Winging their way unto the marshy ground Their wonted feeding plfl.ce) descendied straight And crowded on the shore to hear them sing* From this the little lake was called of men The " island of the bird flocks." But the swans During the day would take their flight to seek For food along the coasts, or wing their way To Iniskea, where stands upon one leg The lonely crane that never had a mate, But lives companionless, that never left The island' from the day the earth was made, And shall not leave till earth shall cease to be. Betimes they flew to Achill, and betimes Unto the cliffs of Doon, and all along The western headlands seeking for their food: But every naglht they would return to rest THB CHILDREN OF LIB. 75 Unto the little lake in Glora's isle. Thus then they lived till holy Patric came Bringing pure faith to Erin — lived until St. Keevog came to Inisglora's shore. Now the first night this holy man of God Came thither seeking for the sons of Lir, At early matin time, when all was still* And the four swans upon the little lake Were sleeping all together, with their heads At rest beneath their wings, they heard his bell Sound faintly in the distance, ringing low. Then they all trembled greatly at the sound, And started from their slumber, fluttering Across the lake, and fearing, for the tone, Was strange and dreadful to them, and it filled Their breasts with terror. But Finnuala Was not afraid, she soothed their minds and said : "Know you, my brothers, what this sound may be?" " We hear," they said, " a faint and fearful voice That thrills us through and through. We do not know What is the cause of it, or whence it be." Then said Finnuala, " the end is near It is the music of the Christian! bell, And now our sufferings shall surely cease. And God who knows shall break the ancient spell." Soon were the brothers calm again, andjall Remained and listened till the bell had ceased J 6 THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. To toll across the waters faint and low. Then said Finnuala, " now let us sing Our music also," and they chanted all A strain of faiiy music soft and sweet. And Keevog heard it, even where he stoodi, And wondered at it, for he knew not whence It came, or who was singing it. But soon It was revealed to him that they who sang Were Lir's four children, and his soul was glad, Because it was to seek them' he had come. So when the morning broke he reached the lake And saw the four birds swimiring there, and asked, " Are ye Lir's children whom I come to seek?" " We are Lir's children, we were changed to swans By our own mother's sister long ago." " I thank the God of heaven," said Keevog then, " That I have found you. Ye shall come with me, And God shall break your chain of spells at last." Thereat rejoiced, they came unto the shore And gave themselves into his care. The saint Sent for a skilled artificer and caused Two thin bright chains of silver to be made, One chain to couple Conn and Fiachra, And one between Finnuala and Ae. So there the four swans lived 1 , and hour by hour - They listened to the saint and talked with him, And learned of him, and the holy man THE CHBiDREN OF LIB. 77 Loved them with all his heart, and taught them much, And they were his delight. Also the four Were very happy; and the memory Of all the misery they had! endured And their long life of labour and distress Began to be effaced ; and so they lived. It chanced that Largnean, son of Colman, ruled In those days over Connacht, and his queen Was Dacca, she was 1 diaughter of the king Of southern Munster, Finnin ; it was she Whom Eefi named the Princess of the South. And Decca heard about the magic swans Who sang sweet music, and her learned men Told her their history, for it had lived In many memories; and much she longed To see them and to have them for herself. Sorely she pressed the king, beseeching him To ask the swans of Keevog, but the king Was mightily ashamed because of her, And quite refused to ask the blessed saint. But Deccai trying by all means to get The swans into hier hands for playthings, left Her palace, threatening never to return Unto her husband's home, since thus the king Had slighted her, and had refused her suit. Then the king Largnean, when he found her gone, 78 THH THREE SORROWS OP STORY-TELLING. Sent messengers in haste to bid her turn And he would get the swans for her. So die Returned again from Kil-da-lua — there The messengers had overtaken her. So the king, pressed to keep his promise, sends A messenger to Keevog, to request That he would bring the birds unto the queen. But Keevog would not bring them. Then the king Leaving his palace went into the west And comes himself to Keevog, and 1 he asks Whether the words were true his messengers Had brought to him, that Keevog had refused To send the birds to him. But Keevog said That it was true indeed. And at the wordl The king all swollen with a sudden rage Strides to the altar where the white swans stood, Seizes the silver chains, and turns to draw The four birds after him — the saint in fear Lest he should hurt them, following — until They reach the open door. But as the king Strides forward! with the swans, there creeps a stain Over their glossy plumage, their white necks Begin to shrink, their down to fade away, Thie feathers of their wings to disappear, And in an instant where the graceful birds Had been, behold three tottering old men And one small aged woman with white hair, THE CHILDREN OF LIB. 79 Bony and thin, and wrinkled ; all the four Feeble, and palsied with extreme old age. But the gray woman fixed her blood-shot eye, First on the king, who started pale with fear And turned and fled, and then upon the saint, And spake with an uncertain feeble voice, Mumbling and broken, not the silver tones That fell from her in music till that hour. "Thou wilt, O Keevog, grieve for us, and yet Our grief is greater to be leaving thee. holy man death catches hold of us. Ah, hasten now, and in the name of Him Whom thou hast told us died for us, do thou Pour on us quick the water that shall give Another life to us in that new world Where we are going to. And promise us To make one grave where we are standing now, And bury us together. And as I Sheltered my brothers, when we swam as swans On many a stormy night of cold and rain, So place therm now beside me in the grave; Conn standing at my right, and! Fiachra ' At my left side and Ae before my hreast. ,, Then the saint hastened and baptized the four, And, as the water touched them, one by one They dropped down dead beneath the holy cross Wherewith he signed. And even as they died 80 TUB THRBB SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING* The saint looked up and in the air he saw Four shining children with light silver wings> And laughing faeces smiling down on him. And as he looked they rose into the air, And sailing into heaven disappeared. Then was he filled with gladness for he knew Their souls were saved. But looking down he saw The shrunken bodies lying at his feet, And when he saw he wept. There by the church He dug one deep wide grave and buried them ; Finnuala with Conn at her right hand And Fiachra at her left side, and Ae Standing before her. And he raised a mound And set a great stone over it, and wrote Their names in Ogam, and lamented them. Know that before our holy Patric came This land was full of sorcery, and ruled By Magic of the learned men of old And ancient Druids. That has ceased to be Since holy Patric brought a purer faith. — But of enchantments such as Eefi played On the De Danann children, we could tell Stories to keep you listening many days. Thus far the story of the sons of Lir. Thus far. t;Tie paxe op zhe c\\\Vonen op t N evil thing it is to let the life From out the body of a blame- less man, Light as a piece of thistle-down that drifts Far up the air, so from the open wound The staitled soul out-leaps and takes its flight Into the clouds to never more return. Whoso is guilty of the bloody deed Whereby die living, loving, active man Becomes a clod of earth, must pay the price Of that which he has taken — many head Of horned cattle, many fleecy sheep, And many graceful steeds to draw the yoke 8a THE THREE SORROWS OF STORY-TELLING. Or whirl the chariot. So has been the law From earliest times in Erin til} to-day, And learned brehons must decide how great The eric is to be. But hearken now And I shall tell of such an erio paid As ne'er was paid before, and of the fate That overtook the sons of Tuireann, three The noblest men of Erin, they who slew A chief by treachery, and paid siudi price As never had been paid for. blood before. In the olid times, the days of long ago, E're yet our fathers the Milesian race Were firmly rooted in this sacred soil Of grass-green Erin, the De Danann men Bore sway and peopled! all its myriad vales. But in the days of Nuadh of the hand Of silver, the Fomorian race who swarmed Out of the north of Lochlann waxed strong And very cruel, and they set a tax Over the crushed De Dananns. Very sore The tribute was, most heavy to be born, A tax on kneading troughs, a tax on querns, A tax on baking flags, a tax besides Of one gold ounce for each De Danann head. And whoso failed to bring his tribute due Unto the hill of Tara, year by year, THE CHILDREN OP TUIRBANN. 83 The strong Fomorians sent their men of war, And harried and oppressed him till he paid. Now Nuadh of the Silver Hand, the king, In these days held at Usna on the hill A great fair meeting, and the people came And filled the plain in thousands, and the chiefs Were all assembled there, and not a man Of the De Danann race of any mark, But showed himself amongst his fellow-men In that great throng that thronged about the king, And as the people were assembling, lo! Out of the east there comes a gleam of arms And sound of trampling steeds, and men looked up To see who nears. And soon they were aware Of many warriors on snow-white steeds, A handsome band, and, leading them, a youth, Comely and very tall, his open face Shining as brightly as the orb of day. This was the son of Kian (Kian who Fell by the sons of Tuireann afterward) : Lugh the Long-handed was the name wheieby Men called him, but they named him at the last The great Ildana, for his wondrous skill In many sciences. His shining troops Who rode with him, were of the fairy host From out the Land" of Tairngird. The sons 84 THB THEBB SORROWS OF STORY-THLLING, Of great Manannan, son of Lir, were there Amongst the rest He rode upon the steed Of great Manaiman, never rider yet Was slain from off her back. She was as swift As are the winds of March that sweep adown The sunless plains; o'er water, air, and land, She sped and had no rival. And 1 he wore Manannan's coat of armour, never blade Through it, above it, or below it, yet Reddened the skin of him who wore. And on His goldfen bead a goldten helmet gleamed With two great brilliant stones in front of it And one behind; and when he raised it up His face was shining as the tireless sun On some dry day in summer. And the sword That hung at his left side was very keen. It was Manannao's sword the Answerer — It answered so none answered back again. It by the terror of itself would make Those who beheld its gleaming faint x away For very fear; men's eyes that saw it grew As they were blind, their strength would fade and! melt To woman's weakness. So the troops came on- Then they were welcomed by the chiefs, and sat Amidst the others and were glad and fain, But in a little time thereafter came Another troop of men, most large of limb, 4HB CHILDEBN 0? TUtRBANN. &$ And ugly to behold, and very fierce, Gloomy and rough, and! apter far to strike Than render civil answer. These were they Who had been sent with powers to gather in Their taxes, by the rude Fomorian bands. There were nine nines of them, and us they came The king rose up to greet them, and the great Assembly crowded with a thousand ch