r\
 
 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS. By NOR- 
 RHYS JEPHSOX O'CoxoR. Bo-ton: The Houghton 
 Alifflin Co. 1922. 
 
 Reviewed by HUGH LorriNG 
 
 IN this little book Mr. O'Conor, who is a Gaelic 
 student of considerable erudition, has made a 
 
 strictly literal translation. For this great praise is 
 due him. What little awkwardness comes therefrom 
 is more than made up for by the value jf his faithful 
 adherence to the letter of the folk tales to their bibli- 
 cal, Homeric essentiality and realism. There is but 
 one reason that renders this fidelity perhaps regrettable 
 and that is its effect upon the adaptability of the book 
 to child reading. Many of the "Battles and Enchant- 
 ments" are distinctly bloodthirsty. But not more so 
 than the national fairy stories of almost any land. 
 And we arc h/no means sure that this book is intended 
 solely or primarilv for children. 
 
 <d example of what can be done, even with 
 
 in a strictly literal translation fr-.Mr. the Gaelic 
 
 is to he found in the "Song of tin- Sword of Tethra." 
 
 izas arc recited to O^ma, the chieftain, by 
 
 the sword itself, which speaks to him "with a sound 
 
 like metal humming through the 
 
 The slaying of Balor by his grand -or, Ltigh is a 
 grim epic of true Hellenic rin::. (n reading it, though 
 it has no aS8O( iation of plot with either worth men- 
 tioning, one is irresistibly reminded of the exploits of 
 Medea and the adventures ot I'l; 
 
 '1 here is a continuity through all the "pisodes which 
 gives a unity to the book. The ninth story, that of the
 
 "Dagda and His Harp," has a very pleasing plot, in- 
 troducing one trick in magic at all events that has 
 not been overworked by the fairy-tale tellers of other 
 nations. 
 
 But it is in "The Passing of the Dedatmans" (epi- 
 sode number thirteen) that surely no reader, young or 
 old, will escape a thrill. 
 
 On account of the treacherous murder of Ith, a 
 Milesian adventurer from Britain. Eriu (or Erin) is 
 threatened with invasion. The Dedannans, who have 
 not tried to excuse the evil deed committed in their 
 land, seek to avoid combat in an unworthy cause with 
 an overwhelming enemy. But seeing war inevitable, 
 they agree among themselves that in case of defeat 
 they will endeavor to obtain in the treaty of peace 
 permission for their race to remain forever in its native 
 land. 
 
 The battle, accompanied by a contest of magicians 
 from both sides, takes place. The day of terrific 
 slaughter, in which three of Tara's kings are slain, 
 comes to an end without definite victory for either 
 army. The leaderless Dedannans, however, seeing no 
 hope of success for their arms, propose the following 
 day their treaty of peace, which is acceded to b; the 
 enemy. 
 
 Then in the presence of the whole host of the vic- 
 torious foreigners the Dedannan magicians exhort the 
 mountains to open their sides and the lakes to part 
 asunder. And the Dedannans, singing, pass into the 
 earth and beneath the wattrs of their native isle, there 
 to live forever, a spirit people, friendly to the conquer- 
 ing Milesians who had granted their last request. 
 
 The drama of the wild story grips one through 
 eVery line. And its climax is as fitting a conclusion 
 to the book as the ultimate fate of the Dedannans is 
 to a great people's history. 
 
 In Sir Thomas Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" the 
 carefully compiled list of names and countries would 
 seem to imply some authentic historic intent on the 
 narrator's part despite all the magic and impossible 
 romance. So, too, in "Battles and Enchantments"- 
 which the author tells us in the foreword is confined 
 to the myth history of the Tuatha De Dannan, or 
 Fairies. Risking th e imputation of being crassly prac-
 
 problems of my early reviewing day 
 with a play of my own just back fron 
 the publisher's, after correspondence i 
 volving some six months and only ter 
 ininated by the outbreak of war, I wa 
 very much impressed with the fact tua 
 things must be very good indeed to b 
 pi:bllshed and here was a play too tenu 
 j ous to hold one either as drama or a 
 ,. poetry. I believe the literary edito 
 never ran my weak attempt to comlon 
 it! And again in the present voluin 
 O'Conor prints "A Masque of Flowers, 
 such a thing as would no doubt be pret 
 ty ncted out of doors, but which does no 
 deserve the attention of the reader o 
 books. Like the other play, it is tenu 
 ous, stilted and boring. 
 
 However, while containing much tha 
 is well worth skipping, the present vol 
 ume contains also matter of profound in 
 terest to the reader with Celtic leanings 
 Mr. O'Conor's rewriting of the story o 
 Aillll and Etatn, the big thing of the 
 book, is indeed a big thing. It has both 
 interest and poetry and an Intriguing 
 flavor of the past. Ailill, the poet, finds 
 a bride for his preoccupied brother 
 King Eochaid. The situation is jus 
 enough like the Paolo and Francesca epl 
 socle to make the Celtic treatment stand 
 out as something typical. Fairy folk in 
 tervene In behalf of the king's honor. 
 And the shorter poems in the "tVlii. 
 past" group have their charm, "In the 
 Monastery," for Instance, taken from an 
 Old Irish Poem": 
 "Cold is the wind tonight, and rough the 
 
 sea, 
 Too rough for eren the daring Dane to 
 
 find 
 
 A landing place upon the frozen lea. 
 Cold is the wind. 
 
 'The blast sweeps round the chapel from 
 
 behind, 
 
 Making the altar-light flare fitfully, 
 While I must kneel and pray with trou- 
 bled mind. 
 
 "Patrick and Bridget, I have prayed 
 
 to ye! 
 
 The night is over, and my task resigned 
 I's own dwelling shel- 
 ter me, 
 
 <'o)d is the wind." 
 
 1 One very attractive thing about the 
 book la the naive and surprising way 
 in which the poet Is always convincing 
 you of his Celticism, such a poem as 
 Response of unfor- 
 
 tunately a little too long to quote "in 
 a vision, the night before the outbreak 
 of war. tin) I'oet walked by a fairy 
 1 found then: the King- of the 
 Fairies, or Tn .nan, as they 
 
 'd in Irish story, with a num- 
 
 dlowers. What b< 
 
 written; but the vision was fleeting" 
 brings the past very near
 
 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 RETOLD FROM EARLY GAELIC LITERATURE 
 
 "The Songs of the Celtic Past," 
 by Norreys Jephson O'Conor [John 
 Lane company], is this author's third 
 volume on Gaelic themes. Mr. O'Conor 
 is a young American who has spent 
 many of his summers beside the Black- 
 water in Ireland, and many of his 
 study hours with the Gaelic professors 
 of Harvard college. We have, there- 
 fore, in his volumes, real poetry with 
 the limitations of a divided allegiance, 
 and last, but not least, the Harvard at- 
 mosphere. His poems show us the 
 Ireland of aristocratic culture, not the 
 real Ireland of the scholars and the 
 saints; there are echoes after the pagar 
 
 scribes and the monastic poets of Berry 
 that for all their charm remain merely 
 echoes. Mr. O'Conor has a gentle muse, 
 well bred, and of seemly charm. He 
 has wrapped a bardic cloak around her 
 that hides as much as it suggests her 
 native outlines.
 
 
 Retold From 
 (Uirty GWlic* literature 
 
 J^orreys ^ejphsoa OXfonor 
 
 Albthor of "rhtftiirjf Bride; 1 "Saity 0/fhe Celtic Jst,"6t<l 
 
 'houdhton JUiff
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY NORREYS J EPHSON O'CONOR 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
 Cfc ibttftt Dress 
 
 CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS 
 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
 
 TO 
 
 MOIRA 
 
 2061343
 
 He told them stories, sang them magic songs 
 Of lovers old and chivalrous romances, 
 
 Till every thought of haunting modern wrongs 
 Was trodden out by vague and fairy chances. 
 
 He gave them all the witchery that belongs 
 To laughter's bright dominion and to fancy's. 
 
 GAMALIEL BRADFORD: A Prophet of Joy.
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 HE aim of this book is to retell that 
 part of the myth-history of early 
 Ireland which deals with the Tu- 
 atha De Dannan, or Fairies. The au- 
 thor has tried to preserve the temper 
 of old Irish writing in both thought 
 and form, to retain as much of the original beauty 
 of phrase and imagery as is consistent with coherent 
 narrative. To this end, while avoiding arbitrary 
 changes, he has, nevertheless, used sources freely. 
 Though he has relied upon the work of Celtic scholars, 
 notably the finely cadenced translation by the late 
 Professor Whitley Stokes of "The Second Battle 
 of Moytura" (Revue Celtique, xn, 57 ff.), he has also 
 frequently retained constructions in the original 
 Gaelic. For the account of the Milesian invasion, 
 the author is indebted to Professor Macalister 
 and Professor MacNeill's edition of The Leabhar 
 Gabhala^ the Recension of Michedl O'Clerigh, Part I, 
 and to Mr. R. I. Best's translation from d'Arbois de 
 Jubainville, The Irish Mythological Cycle; for the
 
 x FOREWORD, 
 
 story of Ethne, to O'Donovan's edition of The Annals 
 of the Four Masters, and for material in the early part 
 of the book, to O' Curry's The Manuscript Materials 
 of Irish History. 
 
 The frontispiece, based on early Irish decoration, 
 is by Miss Grace Barron, to whom the author makes 
 grateful acknowledgment.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 I. THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 3 
 
 II. THE BIRTH or BRES 16 
 
 III. THE UNJUST KING 23 
 
 IV. THE FLIGHT OF BRES 3^ 
 V. THE HEALING OF NUADA 49 
 
 VI. THE MARVELOUS Cow 54 
 
 VII. THE STORY OF ETHNE 64 
 
 VIII. THE NEW CHAMPION 83 
 
 IX. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 92 
 
 X. THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 100 
 
 XI. THE DAGDA AND HIS HARP 122 
 
 XII. THE JOURNEY OF ITH 128 
 
 XIII. THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 142 
 
 PRONOUNCING GLOSSARY 165 
 
 The decorations were made by Grace A. Barren
 
 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS
 
 The lovely land of Ireland 
 
 Arises from the sea; 
 Cloud-veiled the heather of her hills, 
 
 Dark-toned her greenery. 
 
 The lovely land of Ireland 
 Is the Country of the Young; 
 
 About the fullness of her age 
 The green of youth is flung. 
 
 Across the hills of Ireland, 
 
 Over each starlit plain, 
 With battered arms of long ago, 
 
 Glide figures of the slain. 
 
 "Down through great branches, stretching 
 
 Above a ruined wall 
 Which sheltered scribes of Clonmacnoise, 
 
 The broken moonbeams fall. 
 
 In stained, thumbed vellum pages 
 
 Are tales of distant years, 
 And songs that nameless poets sang 
 
 Of huntsmen, hounds, and spears. 
 
 lovely land of Ireland, 
 
 Be this your gift to men: 
 Bring back the beauty of the world. 
 
 And give us dreams again!
 
 BATTLES 
 AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 i 
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 
 
 Out of the northern fogs they came, 
 
 The race with golden hair. 
 Were they gods or men, whose beauty shone 
 
 Like stars in frosty air? 
 
 ONG years ago, a great fleet set out 
 from the northern isles of the world. 
 On board the ships were the Tuatha 
 De Dannan, or Dedannans, People of the 
 God Whose Mother Was Dana. They 
 had outgrown their own country and 
 were seeking new lands, leaving behind them their 
 four cities, Falias, Findias, Murias, and Gorias, 
 where they had learned not only the arts of peace and 
 the science of war, but magic, in which " they sur- 
 passed the sages of the arts of heathendom." Out of 
 each city they carried a treasure of exceptional virtue. 
 From Falias they took the Stone of Fal, which was 
 used at the crowning of kings and was wont to roar
 
 4 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 whenever the rightful king sat upon it. This stone is 
 said to have been found later in Scotland, where, as 
 the Stone of Scone, it was borne off to London by Ed- 
 ward I of England, and to this day it forms the seat 
 of the Coronation Chair of the English kings. From 
 the city of Findias the Dedannans took an irresistible 
 sword; from Gorias, a spear so powerful that who- 
 ever held it in his hand could not be overthrown; and, 
 out of Murias, a cauldron, known as " the Dagda's, 
 from which no company ever went unthankful." 
 
 The Dedannans steered south and landed on the 
 northern coast of Ireland, or Eriu. At that time the 
 country was occupied by a people called Fir Bolg, 
 Men of the Bag, so named from their custom of 
 marching to battle headed by bagpipers. The fisher- 
 folk of the coast did not offer resistance to the De- 
 dannans, who had burned their ships in order that 
 they might never be able to retreat; but when the 
 country folk saw the smoke from the burning vessels, 
 they sent word to the Fir Bolg king, at Tara, that a 
 race of strangers had descended from the clouds. 
 
 The king at once sent for one of his most trusted 
 warriors. 
 
 "Go thou, O Sreng," he said. "Learn all thou 
 canst of the strangers and of their purpose in coming 
 to Eriu."
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 5 
 
 Hastily arming himself, the messenger hurried off. 
 When he reached the north, he found that the invad- 
 ers had marched southwest. Following them, he 
 came upon their encampment on Mag Rein, Level 
 Plain. The Dedannan sentinels reported his ap- 
 proach to their king, who sent one of his most distin- 
 guished chieftains to parley with Sreng. 
 
 The two men drew near each other cautiously. 
 Fifteen paces apart, they halted, looking over the 
 rims of their shields, each man ready to resist a hos- 
 tile move, but curious about the other. The Dedan- 
 nan, like all his people, was tall, with fair hair and 
 blue eyes, and Sreng was short and dark. They were 
 both bareheaded. Their dress and arms were simi- 
 lar: each wore sandals, a kilt, and a short cloak; each 
 had two spears, a sword, and a shield; the spears of 
 the Dedannan were light, sharply pointed, and suit- 
 able for casting, while those of the Fir Bolg soldier 
 were heavy, blunt, and more suitable for thrusting. 
 The two men stood admiring each other's strength 
 and suppleness. 
 
 At last the Dedannan spoke, and, much to the as- 
 tonishment of Sreng, in the Gaelic that was the lan- 
 guage of the Fir Bolg. 
 
 "O Man of Eriu, shall it be peace?" he asked. 
 
 "It shall be peace," replied Sreng, lowering his
 
 6 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 shield, an example immediately followed by the De- 
 dannan. 
 
 "Of what people art thou, O Stranger," continued 
 Sreng, " and how knowest thou the speech of the Fir 
 Bolg?" 
 
 "I am of the Dedannan race, from the northern 
 isles of the world," answered the other. Then he told 
 Sreng how the Dedannans had left their four cities, of 
 their treasures, and of the magic which his people had 
 learned. He explained, too, that they and the Fir 
 Bolg had had a common ancestor, Gael, which ac- 
 counted for their now speaking the same language. 
 Each warrior boasted of the prowess of his own race 
 and of his own clan, not forgetting his personal ex- 
 ploits, until the two men, grown friendly, exchanged 
 spears, for neither had seen javelins like those of the 
 other. Then Sreng recalled his errand. 
 
 "Why are ye come hither? To seize our land?" 
 
 "My king," answered the Dedannan, "has told me 
 to say to the inhabitants of Eriu that he will divide 
 the country with them. He has no desire for war." 
 
 Sreng controlled his anger at the calm proposal of 
 the Dedannan. 
 
 "I shall take thy message to King MacErc," he 
 said proudly. " But the Fir Bolg do not give up their 
 land for the asking."
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 7 
 
 "If it be war, we are ready," haughtily replied the 
 Dedannan. 
 
 When Sreng returned to Tara, the High King sum- 
 moned his council. The spears of the strange chief- 
 tain were passed about, and, although the councillors 
 were impressed by these slender weapons, they were 
 not frightened, but resolved to give battle to the in- 
 vaders; therefore a herald bearing a declaration of 
 war was despatched immediately to the Dedannan 
 camp. 
 
 In the meantime, the Dedannans had heard an ac- 
 count of the fierce appearance of Sreng, and had ex- 
 amined the heavy Fir Bolg spears; consequently, 
 when the messenger arrived from Tara, they decided 
 to move to a better position for defense. They chose 
 the Plain of Moytura, which is in the present County 
 Mayo, near the village of Cong, and they pitched 
 camp at the eastern end of the plain. From here they 
 could see easily an army advancing against them, 
 and have time to form in line of battle. 
 
 The King of the Fir Bolg, gathering every avail- 
 able fighting man, marched to the Plain of Moytura, 
 entering it at the western end. He arrived too late in 
 the day to offer battle; so he encamped. 
 
 The next morning the Dedannan king, Nuada, 
 who wished, if possible, to take possession of the is-
 
 8 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 land without fighting, sent Corpre, and other poets of 
 his court, to the King of the Fir Bolg, offering to make 
 peace if the inhabitants of Eriu would give the De- 
 dannans a quarter of the island. MacErc, the Fir 
 Bolg sovereign, refused; his men were eager for con- 
 flict, and he hoped completely to crush his enemies. 
 
 "If, then, thou wilt not accept our terms of peace, 
 O King," said Corpre, "perchance thou wilt agree 
 that, instead of a general battle, there shall be a com- 
 bat each day between an equal number of chosen war- 
 riors from either army until one side or the other can 
 no longer continue the fighting." 
 
 Corpre had been told to make this suggestion, not 
 only because King Nuada counted upon saving the 
 lives of the Dedannans, but because he hoped that 
 MacErc would use the best soldiers of the Fir Bolg 
 on the first day. Nuada would keep his hardiest men 
 in reserve until the veterans of his opponents were 
 weary with fighting; thus, on the second day, his own 
 picked men would have the advantage. 
 
 "I will avoid a general battle," agreed the King of 
 the Fir Bolg. 
 
 After arranging with MacErc the number of sol- 
 diers who were to fight daily, Corpre and his compan- 
 ions returned to King Nuada, who was well pleased 
 with what the envoys had accomplished. The De-
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 9 
 
 dannan sovereign made preparations to begin the bat- 
 tle at once. The Fir Bolg king likewise selected his 
 fighting men, and he chose many of his bravest war- 
 riors for the opening conflict, thus completely falling 
 in with the plan of his adversary. 
 
 "O Warriors of Eriu," said MacErc, "well do I 
 know that the harvest soon will await you, when ye 
 will wish to lay aside your swords and go into the 
 fields; therefore I have faith that this day ye will 
 crush the enemy, so that afterwards our final victory 
 will be easy. May the blessing of the gods go with 
 you, and may ye prove irresistible!" 
 
 This speech was greeted with cheering and with the 
 rattling of spears against shields. At the head of the 
 main body of the Fir Bolg, the picked warriors 
 marched proudly towards the Dedannans. That day 
 the defenders of Eriu would give an account of them- 
 selves which would remain forever famous. To meet 
 them came the chosen troops of the Dedannans, lead- 
 ing their army. The opposing ranks halted, and the 
 men who were to fight came on, shouting taunts: 
 "The Dedannans have the weakness of women!" 
 "The Fir Bolg have the strength of children!" 
 The invaders hurled a shower of javelins, but the 
 advancing Fir Bolg were not checked. They rushed 
 on, undaunted, thrusting with their spears. When
 
 io BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 these were either lost or hacked to pieces, each man 
 drew his sword, and the fighting was hand to hand. 
 Up and down swept the battle, until the Dedannans 
 were routed and the victors withdrew to their own 
 end of the plain. From the Fir Bolg camp that eve- 
 ning came the noise of carousing, but there was silence 
 among the tents of the Dedannans; a few men spoke 
 in low voices, complaining that King Nuada had al- 
 lowed them to be overwhelmed. The Dedannan king, 
 having first summoned his leaders and found that 
 they approved his strategy, called together his army. 
 
 "Soldiers of the Dedannans, I know your discon- 
 tent. Great is my sadness that ye have not trusted 
 me. To be sure, that some few of our men have fallen, 
 but to-day has wearied the bravest of the enemy, and 
 to-morrow they will fall before your swords like with- 
 ered grass. I have led you to this land, and our ships 
 are destroyed; never can we retreat, but never shall 
 we be overthrown. Strike for your future homes!" 
 
 "We have faith, O Nuada!" was the hoarse cry 
 that rose above the Dedannan camp-fires. 
 
 At the eastern extremity of the plain, the Fir Bolg 
 heard, and wondered that there should be exultation 
 among the defeated. 
 
 Upon the morrow, the second day of the sixth 
 week of summer, the fighting was fiercer than before,
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 11 
 
 and the prediction of King Nuada was fulfilled: the 
 Dedannans gained a hard-won victory. This was re- 
 peated the following day. 
 
 By this time the King of the Fir Bolg saw his error 
 in using his best men first. Nearly all his troops had 
 now been engaged; to-morrow he himself would lead 
 the remainder in a final effort. The king made a last 
 appeal to his tired army, but he was heard without 
 enthusiasm. Hardly a man was unwounded; all 
 lacked the spirit of victory. Quite different was the 
 attitude in the Dedannan camp, where King Nuada, 
 likewise, was preparing to lead his men. 
 
 Although the weather on the first three days had 
 been warm, the sun upon the fourth day was hot, and 
 there was no breeze. Just after noon, there was a lull 
 in the desperate struggle; the heat had exhausted the 
 warriors. Each of the rival kings had performed 
 brave deeds, but, despite many attempts, they had 
 not crossed swords. King MacErc rested his shield 
 upon the ground and stood leaning upon the hilt of 
 his sword. Sreng, who was acting as captain of the 
 king's bodyguard, was beside him. 
 
 "O Sreng, would I might quench my thirst! Then 
 should I be able to win the victory." 
 
 "Go into the forest, O King! Not far off is a spring 
 where thou mayst drink. I will lead a new attack
 
 12 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 upon the enemy; then thou mayst slip unseen across 
 the open space between our army and the trees." 
 
 "My thanks, O Sreng, and my blessing upon 
 thee!" 
 
 The captain of the bodyguard once more fell upon 
 the Dedannans, while the king, after choosing five 
 men to accompany him, moved quietly to the flank of 
 the army with the intention of reaching the woods. 
 
 Unfortunately for MacErc, King Nuada had sta- 
 tioned two men to watch lest stragglers of the Fir 
 Bolg should try to gain cover. These sentinels saw 
 MacErc and his followers, and sent word to Nuada 
 that a leader, whom they suspected from his rich 
 trappings to be the King of the Fir Bolg, had escaped 
 into the forest. 
 
 "Take fifty men and bring him to me, dead or 
 alive," commanded the Dedannan sovereign. 
 
 Beside the spring, in a glade far from the clang of 
 swords and the shouting of warriors, MacErc knelt to 
 drink. The only sound was the twitter of a bird which 
 hopped from branch to branch of a great tree. The 
 king's guard dropped their weapons upon the grass 
 and congratulated one another that their departure 
 had been unnoticed by the enemy; but, even as Mac- 
 Erc moistened his lips, there was a sudden crackling 
 of twigs and the whizz of a javelin which pierced
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 13 
 
 the head of the stooping king. His companions, hast- 
 ily seizing their swords, were too bewildered to offer 
 serious resistance. The Dedannans broke through 
 the undergrowth and rained blows about them. The 
 bodyguard was soon slain, and the victors, with 
 MacErc's head as a trophy, marched joyfully back 
 to the Plain of Moytura. 
 
 Meanwhile Sreng, in his impetuous onslaught, had 
 overcome the warriors who were between himself and 
 the leader of the enemy. The king raised his shield 
 to ward off his opponent's attack, but, as he did so, 
 he slipped upon the parched grass, and the sword of 
 Sreng cut off the right hand of Nuada. The Dedan- 
 nans rushed forward and closed about their ruler, 
 who was carried to the rear. Dismay ran through 
 their ranks, but at that moment men bearing the 
 head of MacErc appeared from the forest. The cour- 
 age of the invaders revived, while that of the defend- 
 ers, which had risen swiftly and had centered about 
 Sreng, as suddenly collapsed. Seeing the Fir Bolg de- 
 moralized, their new leader led them back to their 
 camp, and the Dedannans made no effort to inter- 
 fere. 
 
 That evening, Sreng, now in full control of the Fir 
 Bolg fortunes, sent word to King Nuada, proposing 
 that there be a final battle the next day between thred
 
 i 4 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 hundred men of either army. The Fir Bolg com- 
 mander knew that not many of his soldiers were able 
 to fight, and that even these were downcast because 
 of the loss of their king, but he thought that firmness 
 in the present crisis would win better terms. The 
 desperate plight of the enemy was suspected by 
 Nuada, who was desirous, as ever, of husbanding the 
 strength of his own people; therefore he answered 
 Sreng's proposal with a counter-offer. If the Fir 
 Bolg would surrender their royal palace at Tara, to- 
 gether with the government of the whole island, the 
 Dedannans would allow them to retire to an exten- 
 sive tract of land bordering the western ocean and 
 there to dwell forever in peace. Sreng and his captains, 
 though realizing that they were vanquished, took 
 counsel. At last, in dejection, they accepted Nuada's 
 conditions, and the Fir Bolg army soon dispersed to 
 their homes, whence each man prepared to move his 
 family and household possessions. With a wailing of 
 bagpipes, the conquered people slowly journeyed to 
 all that was left them of their country, and their re- 
 tirement was not complete until the end of a year. 
 They dwelt in what was later known as the Province 
 of Connaught, where their descendants, small dark 
 men, may be seen to this day. 
 The conquerors marched to Tara and made ready
 
 THE LANDING OF THE DEDANNANS 15 
 
 with splendid ceremony to crown their first High 
 King of Eriu. Unhappily, because of his encoun- 
 ter with Sreng in the Battle of Moytura, Nuada 
 could not hold this new title, for it was a rigid custom 
 among the Dedannans that no blemished man might 
 reign. The famous leech, Diancecht, had tried to re- 
 store the king's severed hand, which had been rescued 
 from the field, but he had failed. Then he had cun- 
 ningly contrived a hand of silver with movable 
 joints. By the aid of this, Nuada was able to accom- 
 plish the ordinary tasks of daily life, but he could not 
 use a sword. Hence it was impossible for him to per- 
 form the most important duty of a king, that of lead- 
 ing an army in battle. As Nuada of the Silver Hand 
 he was honored by all the Dedannans, even though 
 he might no longer reign over them. The council of 
 nobles, accordingly, was forced to elect a new king, 
 and they chose a youth named Bres. This young 
 man was of such striking appearance that old chroni- 
 clers say he gave his name to every beautiful thing in 
 Eriu, whether plain or fortress or steed or man or 
 woman they were all compared to him; each was 
 called "a Bres." Nevertheless, the Dedannans were 
 soon to find that with physical perfection is not al- 
 ways joined nobility of character, and they were des- 
 tined to regret their choice.
 
 II 
 
 THE BIRTH OF BRES 
 
 Stronger than wind on a treeless hill 
 
 That overlooks the sea, 
 Than tug of tide or the force of waves, 
 
 Shall Love, the Master, be. 
 
 NE morning, some twenty years before the 
 Dedannans left the northern isles, Eri 
 of the Golden Hair, daughter of one 
 of their chief nobles, sat alone in a 
 house which overlooked the ocean. Her 
 father and her two brothers had gone early 
 to hunt in the forest, and she was gazing 
 idly seaward. As she looked, there was a sudden 
 glint in the distance, and she saw advancing along 
 the sun-path, borne slowly shoreward by the stream 
 of the wave, a vessel of silver. When the coracle 
 came nearer, Eri was able to distinguish a single oc- 
 cupant, evidently steering the boat towards a sandy 
 beach not far away. 
 
 Since the Dedannans were from early youth taught 
 to show hospitality to strangers, the girl went to wel- 
 come the newcomer, whom she now found to be a 
 young man of fair appearance, richly dressed. He
 
 THE BIRTH OF BRES 17 
 
 wore a saffron kilt, a white linen shirt, and a red man- 
 tle trimmed with gold and fastened by a golden 
 brooch in which was set a precious stone. He stood 
 up, as the bow of his coracle pushed into the sand, 
 and lifted from the bottom of the boat two smooth- 
 shafted spears that had points of white bronze. At 
 his side hung a gold-hilted sword studded with gold 
 and inlaid with silver. 
 
 "Hail, O Maiden! In whose land am I?" cour- 
 teously asked the stranger. 
 
 "In that of the Dedannans, and, if thou comest in 
 peace, I bid thee welcome in the name of my father," 
 answered Eri, impressed by the beauty and the bear* 
 ing of the dark-browed warrior. 
 
 "I am come in peace, and seeking refuge," he said, 
 stepping ashore. 
 
 "Thou shalt have both," replied Eri. "Come with 
 me to my father's dwelling, where thou mayst find re- 
 freshment and rest." 
 
 After dragging the coracle out of reach of the high- 
 est rides, the young man, in company with the 
 maiden, left the beach. They walked to the house in 
 silence, each looking narrowly at the other, and with 
 increasing interest. 
 
 When En's kinsmen came back from hunting, they 
 also greeted the stranger in friendly fashion, asking
 
 1 8 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 him his lineage and whence he came. He explained 
 that he had left his country after a violent quarrel 
 with his father, a king; therefore he did not wish to 
 give the name of his native land, lest, if inquiries 
 were made abroad concerning him, he should be dis- 
 covered and forced to return. Although his evasive 
 answers did not entirely satisfy the Dedannan noble- 
 men, they courteously made no further attempt to 
 question him, and granted him protection. His com- 
 panionable qualities, especially his skill in the chase, 
 caused his hosts to overlook the fact that the days of 
 his sojourn were lengthening into weeks, the weeks 
 into months; though frequently they wondered who 
 their guest might be, they respected his reticence, and 
 none suggested his departure. 
 
 During this period, while spring deepened to sum- 
 mer, Eri and the youth were often together m the forest 
 and by the sea. Gradually, the Dedannans' distrust 
 lessened, and when, after twelve weeks were almost 
 gone, the stranger asked if he might marry Eri, her 
 father consented with scarcely a show of hesitation. 
 
 About two months after the marriage, the young 
 man, who had seemed overjoyed at winning the hand 
 of the maiden, grew restless and moody. For long 
 hours he sat rapt in thought, his eyes fixed on the 
 horizon. Upon hearing his wife's voice, he would
 
 THE BIRTH OF BRES 19 
 
 brighten and assure her that nothing of moment 
 troubled him; then, in a little while, he would be 
 sunk again in reverie. One day, when she found him 
 thus, he said: 
 
 "O Eri, the time has come for me to return to my 
 own country. These many months I have accepted 
 the hospitality of the Dedannans, but I am a prince 
 in mine own land, and it would be ill done to remain 
 forever among strangers. By now my quarrel with 
 my father will be forgotten, and he will rejoice to see 
 me, for perhaps he has imagined me drowned, or slain 
 by enemies." 
 
 Without speaking, Eri burst into tears. He tried to 
 comfort her. 
 
 "I shall not forget thee, but I will come with my 
 companions to take thee as a royal bride to my 
 father's court." 
 
 Eri ceased weeping. 
 
 "Wilt thou not tell me whence thou art come, that 
 I may think of thee in thine own land while thou art 
 gone?" she asked. "Never will I reveal thy secret to 
 any of my kinsfolk." 
 
 He reflected before answering. 
 
 " I am Elotha, son of Delbaeth, a king of the Fomo- 
 rians, whose country, also an island, is south of this, 
 close to the island of Eriu."
 
 20 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "O Prince of the Fomorians, I shall await thee." 
 
 He took from his finger a gold ring of skilled work- 
 manship and put it upon his wife's hand. 
 
 "Take this ring and keep it until I come again. 
 Should it pass from thee, it must be the possession 
 only of one whose finger it will fit." 
 
 Thereupon Eri went with Elotha while he told her 
 father and brothers of his intended departure and 
 made ready for his going. Three days later she ac- 
 companied him to the beach, where she watched him 
 launch the silver coracle. He held her in his arms, 
 and whispered reassuring words before he stepped 
 aboard. She watched the boat disappear, glittering 
 in the sun-path as it had come. 
 
 Eri knew that the Fomorian land was far off, and 
 that it would be a long time before she could have 
 news of Elotha; but she was gladdened in her loneli- 
 ness by the birth of a son, Bres. However, when 
 months, and finally a year passed, and there was no 
 message from her husband, Eri gave up the hope of 
 hearing from him; he must, she thought, have per- 
 ished during a storm on his voyage home. She stayed 
 apart from friends and kindred, devoting her love 
 and care to the upbringing of her child. Faithfully 
 she kept the secret of Elotha's nationality. When- 
 ever she could, she sought information about his peo-
 
 THE BIRTH OF BRES 21 
 
 pie. This was difficult to obtain, for the Dedannans 
 had little trade with the Fomorians and never found 
 them well-disposed. At last, however, Eri learned, 
 from merchants who had been shipwrecked on the 
 Fomorian coast, that Elotha had regained his native 
 land. Try as she would, she could ascertain nothing 
 more. To her former grief was added a dignity that 
 verged upon haughtiness, and pride caused her still 
 to keep her secret, save from her father and brothers. 
 Nevertheless, the story that she had made an un- 
 fortunate marriage gradually became known to her 
 countrymen, and her sorrow created a sympathetic 
 interest in her son. 
 
 The education of the boy was conducted by learned 
 men: the wisest poets taught him traditional tales; 
 the keenest warriors trained him to arms. As Bres 
 grew older, the promise of beauty which he had given 
 as a lad was fulfilled, and this increased his popularity 
 among his elders. Only those of his own age who 
 knew him most intimately hinted that his disposition 
 was not in accord with his appearance; that he was 
 niggardly, jealous, and revengeful. 
 
 At the time of the Dedannan expedition to Eriu, 
 Bres was twenty years old. He was given opportu- 
 nity to distinguish himself in the Battle of Moytura, 
 and, since he had personal courage, he bore himself
 
 22 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 well. After the enforced abdication of Nuada, there- 
 fore, Bres easily became the center of popular atten- 
 tion, which he took pains to keep turned towards 
 himself by whatever means were at his command. 
 However, his election was not unopposed by the more 
 cautious nobles.
 
 Ill 
 
 THE UNJUST KING 
 
 Who is he of the mighty thews 
 
 Trenching the royal rath? 
 Who is he in the speeding boat 
 Crossing the broad sea-path? 
 
 T the time of the coronation of Bres, 
 after a great feast was held at Tara, 
 the Dedannans returned to their homes, 
 satisfied that the best had been done for 
 the kingdom. For some time scant news 
 of the High King spread abroad; though 
 Bres gave his attention not to mastering 
 the duties of the kingship, but to abusing its privi- 
 leges, spending as little as possible in the entertain- 
 ment of others, and securing for himself as much 
 revenue as he could, he was subtle enough to avoid 
 creating comment. But an incident soon occurred to 
 show the king's real nature. 
 
 Bres did not hesitate to gratify his own pleasure: 
 when his mother gave him a gift of land, he immedi- 
 ately decided to have a new fortified dwelling. This, 
 being a king's dun, was to consist of a mound of earth 
 on which would be a great timber house with many
 
 24 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 sleeping-rooms. For protection, there would be two 
 deep ditches, the earth from these being piled in front 
 of them to form great ramparts. The rath was to be 
 one of the strongest and most imposing in Eriu. 
 The work of digging the trenches and making the 
 earthworks was assigned to a stalwart champion, the 
 Dagda. When Bres sent for him and said, " I have ap- 
 pointed thee to trench a new fortress," the warrior 
 was taken aback. Half dazed, he muttered mechani- 
 cally, "I shall do as thou desirest, O King!" Not till 
 a moment afterwards did he realize that he had given 
 his consent when he should have protested vigor- 
 ously. A hero of such renown might have been asked 
 to fight for the king, but should not have been re- 
 quired to do manual labor of this kind. However, he 
 had pledged his word, and every day for weeks there- 
 after found him hard at work. 
 
 Bres should have requited the Dagda at least by 
 having him well housed and fed; on the contrary, he 
 had the champion lodged in a small house wherein 
 dwelt a cross old man, Cridenbel, who in his youth 
 had hoped to become a distinguished poet, entitled to 
 honor almost equal to that accorded kings; but fail- 
 ure had embittered him, and at this time it seemed 
 his chief endeavor to make as uncomfortable as possi- 
 ble those with whom he came in contact. His treat-
 
 THE UNJUST KING 25 
 
 merit of the Dagda was consistent with his character. 
 From the first time that the great warrior sat down to 
 supper, the poet, in the next place at table, watched 
 him greedily. The Dagda, who had been working 
 hard, was, naturally, given more food than the gray- 
 beard, who had passed most of his time hobbling 
 about near the house or sitting on a bench close to the 
 door; even so, the champion's portion was none too 
 generous, yet Cridenbel, leaning towards the warrior, 
 said in a whining voice: 
 
 "O Dagda, of thy honor let the three best bits of 
 thy ration be given to me!" 
 
 The Dagda was speechless with astonishment, as 
 his anger rose, but, remembering that it was the cus- 
 tom of warriors to avoid quarreling with old men, he 
 acceded to Cridenbel's request. 
 
 The success of his impudence so encouraged the 
 crabbed poet, that every night he demanded and re- 
 ceived a third of the warrior's food. The inevitable 
 happened: the Dagda grew weak and thin and un- 
 able to progress rapidly with trenching Dun Bres. 
 Often he had to stop and rest. As he stood thus, one 
 day, he heard a familiar voice: 
 
 "What makes thee look so ill, O Dagda?" 
 
 Glancing up, he saw his son, Angus Og, a youth full 
 of good cheer, and, what was then of more impor- 
 tance, good advice.
 
 26 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 The Dagda's face brightened, but he answered, 
 "Indeed, I have cause for gloom and illness." 
 
 "Tell me the reason for thy misfortune," said An- 
 gus, sitting down beside his father. 
 
 The Dagda then related his experience with Cri- 
 denbel; the twinkling eyes of Angus clouded and the 
 corners of his mouth tightened. 
 
 "Verily, thou hast need of help, O Dagda," he an- 
 swered slowly, knitting his brows. 
 
 Suddenly his face cleared, and he sprang to his feet. 
 Plunging his hand into the sporan, or pouch, that hung 
 at the front of his kilt, he drew out three pieces of gold. 
 
 "I have solved thy problem," he said. "Take 
 these, and when Cridenbel asks for the three best bits 
 of thy portion, place the gold pieces before him, for, 
 truly, since the king has not yet offered thee payment 
 for thy labor, they are the best bits thou hast received 
 to-day. Perchance Cridenbel will eat them, and, if 
 he does, they will slay him. If thou art seized and 
 brought before Bres, thou wilt be accused of killing 
 Cridenbel by means of a deadly herb. Then thou 
 mayst say, 'What thou utterest, O King of the war- 
 riors, is not a prince's truth!' Well must thou, 
 Father, remember the rhyme which describes a good 
 king, a man who knows both mercy and justice and 
 who understands the weaknesses of men:
 
 THE UNJUST KING 27 
 
 A good king sits in judgment; 
 Before his throne are brought 
 Freemen, slaves, and beggars, 
 Chieftains who have fought. 
 Mildly he surveys them, 
 Speaks a prince's truth: 
 'Justice knoweth right and wrong; 
 Here stands neither weak nor strong; 
 Weak may be in weakness here; 
 Strong a righteous strength may bear.* 
 
 Say these lines to the king, and tell him how thou 
 wert watched by Cridenbel, and how he used to say, 
 'Give me, O Dagda, the three best bits of thy por- 
 tion; bad is my housekeeping to-night!' Say to Bres, 
 'I should have perished of hunger had I not put my 
 best, these three bits of gold, on my ration and given 
 it to Cridenbel; hence the gold is inside Cridenbel and 
 he died of it.' Try, O Dagda, what I suggest, for, if 
 all goes as hitherto, thou wilt surely die." 
 
 Warmly thanking his son, the Dagda hurried to 
 his lodging. Everything occurred as had been fore- 
 told. Cridenbel, who was half blind, eagerly seized 
 the food upon which were the bars of gold and swal- 
 lowed them. Writhing in agony, he fell to the floor 
 and died without being able to say what had hap- 
 pened to him. 
 
 The Dagda was arrested and taken under guard to 
 Tara, where he was brought into the presence of
 
 28 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 Bres, who was sitting in judgment in the great hall. 
 Accused of murdering Cridenbel, the champion de- 
 fended himself as Angus had counseled him. Bres or- 
 dered the body of the dead man opened; the three 
 pieces of gold were discovered, and the prisoner was 
 released. 
 
 The trial caused widespread interest among the 
 Dedannans. The Dagda was most popular, and the 
 story of his treatment by the king was told through- 
 out the country, causing general resentment. The 
 High King's subjects had hoped that he would be 
 generous and active in advancing his good name; now 
 they realized that he was anything but the hospitable, 
 kindly monarch they would have respected. Nor did 
 it increase his popularity when it was found that he 
 had been granting a pension to Cridenbel, who was 
 generally disliked. Murmurs against Bres arose on all 
 sides, gathering volume when there became known a 
 second story of his injustice, that of his treatment of 
 Ogma, another famous champion. 
 
 Like the Dagda, Ogma had been summoned by 
 Bres and asked to do hard manual work, to bring fuel 
 for the palace at Tara. This champion, too, had been 
 so surprised that he did not protest. He, in his turn, 
 was ill-lodged and ill-fed. Although he was a man of 
 such unusual strength that he carried firewood daily
 
 THE UNJUST KING 29 
 
 from the distant Clew Bay islands, off the western 
 coast of Eriu, his health began to fail. Once he was so 
 weak when he reached the mainland with his load 
 that he had to stop on the beach for rest, and the tide 
 carried off two thirds of his burden. Arrived at Tara, 
 he was sharply reprimanded by Bres. This was more 
 than Ogma could bear; therefore, telling Bres that he 
 was an ungrateful sovereign, the champion retired to 
 the protection of his own family and clan, and the 
 High King dared not pursue him. 
 
 Indignation against the king grew widespread. A 
 greater cause for disquiet was the fact that the Fo- 
 morians, from headquarters on Tory Island, close to 
 the northern shore of Eriu, had begun to make raids 
 upon the Dedannans, plundering and wasting the 
 land if they were opposed. These Fomorians were 
 men of huge stature, violent and unscrupulous, no 
 better than pirates. With them the Dedannans, on 
 first coming to Ireland, had vainly sought an alliance, 
 and it was partly because the parentage of Bres was 
 suspected of being half Fomorian, that, as a matter 
 of policy, he had been chosen king. But reliance 
 upon the good offices of Bres with his supposed kins- 
 men proved ill-founded. His subjects on the northern 
 coast appealed without avail for his assistance. He 
 answered that he had neither the men nor the wealth
 
 30 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 to help them. The Fomorians, becoming bolder, were 
 at last virtually lords of the raided district. To Bres 
 they sent an embassy, calling upon the whole island of 
 Eriu to pay tribute. 
 
 "Now," said the Dedannans, who still trusted 
 him, "our High King will treat this insult as it de- 
 serves. The ambassadors will be sent back to Tory 
 Island with a contemptuous defiance, and Eriu will be 
 called to arms." 
 
 Little did his people know the temper of the king. 
 Perhaps because of his Fomorian blood, perhaps be- 
 cause he was miserly and knew that a war would be 
 costly, he not only received the messengers with 
 courtesy, but agreed that Eriu should pay the large 
 sum they demanded. 
 
 "Ever have I wished that my people should live in 
 peace; better is it to pay with cattle, with gold, and 
 with the fruits of the earth, than with the bodies of 
 men," declared Bres. 
 
 The Fomorians, though wondering at such com- 
 pliance, joyously took their departure. However, 
 through the outlying country they had to hasten in 
 fear of their lives, so angry were the Dedannans when 
 they heard rumors of the tribute news which 
 spread rapidly from man to man. At almost the same 
 time, another event ended the patience of the nobles.
 
 THE UNJUST KING 31 
 
 One of the distinguished Dedannan poets, chief 
 among those sent as heralds to the Fir Bolg before 
 the Battle of Moytura, was Corpre, friend and inti- 
 mate of Nuada of the Silver Hand. The former king 
 kept a lively interest in the affairs of the kingdom, 
 and he was one of the first to hear the stories about 
 Bres. When Nuada learned of the Fomorian demand, 
 he sent for his friend. 
 
 "O Corpre," he said, "greatly am I troubled for 
 the future of Eriu. Bres seems to care little for the 
 honor of this country and to think only of his own 
 welfare. I would know whether what I hear of the 
 High King is true, for, if he is unfit to rule, he must be 
 forced to give up the throne. Because I have been 
 king, I cannot, without bringing upon myself just re- 
 proof, travel about Eriu to learn the truth concerning 
 Bres. The reports of him may well be idle talk such 
 as ever surrounds a monarch. But thou mayst jour- 
 ney through the country and, especially, visit Tara, 
 without provoking comment. None other is better 
 able to find the temper of the people and to report 
 Bres truly. Bring back word to me, and, if the king 
 has done ill, I shall see to the summoning of the 
 council of nobles, that he may be tried. Wilt thou un- 
 dertake this journey for the sake of the land we both 
 love?"
 
 32 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "O Nuada, gladly will I do this because of our 
 friendship, and for the good of Eriu." 
 
 Not many days later, Corpre set forth. He went 
 first to the distressed north, next westward, and so 
 south, then up the eastern coast and through the cen- 
 ter of the island. Everywhere he found discontent. 
 One evening, after a feast given in honor of the poet 
 for Corpre was treated with the highest respect by 
 every chieftain whom he visited a veteran of the 
 Battle of Moytura voiced the general feeling: 
 
 "O poet of Eriu, well mayst thou lament thy 
 country! Her honor is forgotten; he who should guide 
 and protect neglects her. The insolence of pirates 
 terrifies a king, and there is not smoke from a roof in 
 Eriu that is not under tribute. My sword frets to be 
 drawn against the Fomorians and this traitor who 
 sits upon our throne." 
 
 With these words lingering in his mind, Corpre 
 came the following afternoon to Tara. The guards 
 saw him approaching and sent a message to Bres, who 
 was sitting in the great hall. Ever since the time of 
 the Fomorian embassy, the king had been uneasy, 
 but he was trying to deceive himself with excuses. 
 The messenger found him gazing sullenly into va- 
 cancy and had to attract his attention. 
 
 "What wouldst thou?" curtly asked Bres.
 
 THE UNJUST KING 33 
 
 "O King, a man of distinction comes hither. The 
 guards think he is Corpre, the poet. What honor shall 
 we pay him?" 
 
 "I will teach him that an unexpected visit is pre- 
 sumption!" cried Bres, flaring into anger. He leaned 
 forward, grasping the arm of his chair before he con- 
 tinued: "Take him to the house wherein were lodged 
 the servants of the Fomorian envoys, and carry him 
 there the supper of an unruly menial." 
 
 The messenger looked his astonishment, but he an- 
 swered only, "What thou commandest shall be done, 
 O King!" and departed on his errand. 
 
 Was Bres mad? It was the custom to show the fore- 
 most poets almost as much reverence as that shown to 
 kings; poets even had the right of sitting at the royal 
 table. Bres had given the Fomorian ambassadors the 
 best the palace had to offer; why was he treating a 
 Dedannan with indignity? The man shook his head 
 as he went to escort Corpre to the little hut for it 
 was scarcely more into which had been crowded 
 the Fomorian attendants. 
 
 Corpre's face fell when he saw where he was lodged, 
 and the servant could not refrain from a word of apol- 
 ogy. When Corpre found that his room had but a sin- 
 gle window and neither fire nor furniture, that he 
 must sleep on straw laid upon the bare earth, he was
 
 34 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 amazed. Were there so many guests of high rank that 
 he should be put into quarters like these? He would 
 protest to the king at once, and would probably pass 
 only one night in the hut. But Corpre's wonder was 
 changed to wrath when supper was brought out to 
 him a jug of water and three little unbuttered 
 cakes on a large dish. 
 
 Angrily the poet paced up and down. It was too 
 late and too dark to leave that evening; early in the 
 morning he would be up and away. He would not, as 
 he had planned, pass several days with the High 
 King; he would speed back to Nuada and tell him of 
 the treatment of guests at Tara. Sleeping little, he 
 spent the night in devising a plan to bring justice 
 upon Bres. He would make a poem, a satire, asking 
 that ill should befall the king, and the greatest of the 
 gods would surely answer. 
 
 By sunrise, Corpre was ready to start homeward. 
 As he crossed the lis, or enclosure, of Tara, he recited: 
 
 "Without food quickly on a dish, 
 Without a cow's milk whereon a calf grows, 
 Without a man's abode under the gloom of night, 
 Without means to pay a company of story-tellers 
 Suffering the death of a traitor 
 
 Let that be the condition of Bres." 
 
 Then, laughing bitterly, he hastened away. Guards 
 and servants who heard him were startled. They
 
 THE UNJUST KING 35 
 
 rushed to tell Bres of Corpre's curse. The king's 
 heart sank, but he tried to reassure those who came 
 to warn him. 
 
 Within a few weeks' time there appeared on the 
 face of Bres a red blotch, followed soon after by one 
 of white, and then by one of green he was a blem- 
 ished king, and forthwith his doom would be upon 
 him. Although several leeches tried, none could cure 
 him. 
 
 From that day, satires were a weapon of poets in 
 Eriu; but only a just satire was to be feared; an un- 
 just recoiled upon the maker.
 
 IV 
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 
 
 A shadow moves past the headland, a gleam of wind-tossed spray 
 From speeding oars; the long boat takes the traitor on his way. 
 
 |UADA lost no time in telling of the treat- 
 ment of Corpre. The council was quickly 
 assembled at Tara, and Bres was called 
 before it. Silence filled the huge high- 
 ceilinged hall as the door opened and the 
 king was ushered in to face the nobles 
 seated upon either hand. One of the eldest of the 
 company rose to make formal complaint against the 
 sovereign. 
 
 "O King of Eriu, we, the nobles of thy kingdom, 
 accuse thee of being miserly, inhospitable, mean- 
 spirited, and of caring naught for the honor of thy 
 country unfit to be our king. Those who have 
 visited thee have found their knives ungreased, and 
 their breaths have not smelt of ale. Our poets, our 
 bards, our harpers, our pipers, our hornblowers, our 
 jugglers, our jesters, have not been present at feasts 
 for our entertainment, neither have our athletes and 
 our champions tried their skill at thy court. The 
 muscles of our strong men have grown weak, and our
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 37 
 
 warriors have forgotten their cunning with weapons. 
 Nor service nor eric, the blood tax, has been contin- 
 ued to the tribes, and the treasures of a tribe have not 
 been delivered by the act of the whole tribe. Hast 
 thou aught to say in thy defense, O Bres?" 
 
 The king tried to explain that his endeavor had 
 been to reduce the expenses of government, particu- 
 larly until the Dedannans should become thoroughly 
 adjusted to conditions in their new country; but his 
 explanations were unsatisfactory. He tried to justify 
 his treatment of the Dagda, of Ogma, and of Corpre, 
 but he was heard in scornful silence. At last, when he 
 attempted to defend his refusal to help the Dedan- 
 nans in the north against the Fomorian raiders, one of 
 the northern nobles stood up, and, pointing to him, 
 cried : 
 
 "O King, I accuse thee of allowing thy country- 
 men to perish when it was thy duty to protect them, 
 and of being heedless when thy countrywomen were 
 carried off into a strange land." 
 
 A murmur of approval greeted this speech, and 
 there 'were cries of, "Well spoken!" Another noble 
 proposed that the king be asked to leave the hall 
 while a vote was taken as to whether or no he should 
 be deposed. This was agreed to, and Bres was de- 
 prived of the kingship. Summoned once more into
 
 38 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 the hall, he was told of the judgment of the council 
 and was asked if he had anything to say. 
 
 "Nobles of Eriu," answered Bres, "well do I know 
 that I have enemies, and they have prevailed. I am 
 content to leave the sovereignty; yet, that the duties of 
 my office may be more easily learned by another, and 
 the affairs of the kingdom left in good order, I would 
 remain at Tara a year longer. Should ye will it so, 
 let men from your council be appointed to oversee my 
 conduct of the state; at the end of a year let them ex- 
 amine anew into the affairs of the kingship." 
 
 "Thou hast spoken with reason," said the head of 
 the council, "and we will discuss thine offer." 
 
 Once more Bres withdrew, and the nobles, after con- 
 siderable argument, finally permitted him to remain 
 at Tara for the period of a year. They came to this 
 decision largely because there was hope that a young 
 leech, Miach, would succeed in giving back to Nuada 
 the use of his hand, and there was no other man they 
 would so gladly have to rule over them. The council, 
 however, appointed five of their number to be re- 
 sponsible for the king's discharge of his duties. 
 
 Bres was secretly pleased when he was told that the 
 nobles had adopted his suggestion. At the back of 
 his mind lay no really unselfish wish to benefit his 
 successor, but within a year he expected to amass
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 39 
 
 enough wealth to make himself rich. Then he would 
 escape to the Fomorian stronghold, where he would 
 ask aid of the pirates in restoring himself to the 
 throne. 
 
 Therefore, when the assembly was dissolved, he 
 went to tell his mother of his plans. She lived at Tara 
 in a house not far from the great hall. He found her 
 nervously awaiting the outcome of his trial. 
 
 Nothing in the world was dearer to Eri than the 
 welfare of her son; this surpassed even her love of 
 country. She was blind to the faults of Bres, and un- 
 able to see that he inherited the characteristics of his 
 father rather than those of the Dedannans. The ten- 
 derness shown her for years by her countrymen did 
 not modify her indignation when Bres was called to 
 give an account of his kingship, and, during his ab- 
 sence in the great hall, she paced the floor, biting her 
 lower lip, her eyes blazing, her hands clenched. 
 Keenly she regretted not having told her son he was 
 not all of the blood of the unappreciative Dedannans. 
 
 When the young man entered the room, she flung 
 herself upon him. 
 
 "Tell me, O Son, what has befallen thee? Thou art 
 still High King of this people ? " 
 
 "But for a time, O Mother," Bres answered gloom- 
 ily. Then he told her all that had happened, and of
 
 40 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 his determination to flee the country in order to get 
 help from abroad. 
 
 " During all the years that we have been together, 
 thou hast said little of my father, save that he was of 
 royal blood. I do not know that he was even of the 
 Dedannan race." 
 
 "Truly, my son, thy father was the son of a king. 
 His name was Elotha, and he was no Dedannan, but 
 a Fomorian. Take this ring which he gave me, charg- 
 ing me to part with it neither by sale nor by gift but 
 to the one whose finger could wear it." 
 
 So saying, she drew off the ring that Elotha had 
 left with her at parting, and placed it upon Bres's lit- 
 tle finger, where it fitted perfectly. 
 
 "That is a sign, O Bres. Thou art indeed he for 
 whom the ring was destined. Come, let us plan to go 
 hence into the country of the Fomorians!" 
 
 In her son's distress, Eri forgot her sorrow of years, 
 and her proud determination never to approach her 
 husband. Far into the night she and Bres talked; 
 dawn found their plans completed. 
 
 A few months later, Bres, making the excuse that 
 he wished to inspect the coast, journeyed northward, 
 accompanied by his mother and a few trusted attend- 
 ants. Those who met him on the road noticed that he 
 had more luggage than would ordinarily be taken
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 41 
 
 upon a short tour, but only one man was suspicious 
 enough to report what he had seen to the nobles re- 
 sponsible for the king's good behavior. Alarmed, 
 they sent soldiers to discover the real reason for the 
 presence of Bres in the north, and, if necessary, to 
 take him prisoner. They arrived in time to see a ship 
 bearing the king and his mother far out on the bay 
 and bound for Tory Island. The soldiers could only 
 stand helpless on the shore, gazing at the vanishing 
 boat. 
 
 The Fomorians were at first inclined to be hostile 
 to Eri and Bres. When, however, it was explained 
 that the Dedannan king was seeking protection and 
 aid against his countrymen, his reception was cordial. 
 The mother and son were escorted to a meadow not 
 far from their landing-place, where the petty king of 
 the district was present at a fair. Men and women 
 from miles about had come to watch, and to take 
 part in, games and athletic contests. 
 
 The day was unusually bright; the brilliant colors 
 of kilt and cloak, the flash of spear-heads and swords 
 of white bronze, contrasted with the vivid green of 
 the grass and the blue of the sea. The Fomorian king 
 sat upon a mound of earth and acted as judge in the 
 sports. To him were brought Eri and Bres. When
 
 42 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 their errand was explained, he received them cour- 
 teously. 
 
 "O King of the Dedannans," he said, "we are 
 about to hold a race. Hast thou, perchance, brought 
 with thee hounds from Eriu? If so, enter them in 
 friendly contest with the dogs of the Fomorians. 
 Later, thou canst tell at length the story of thy com- 
 ing hither." 
 
 "We have hounds," answered Bres. 
 
 He made a sign to an attendant, who led out two 
 couples in leash. The dogs were loosed, and all four 
 finished ahead of their rivals. 
 
 "Swift are thy hounds, indeed," said the king to 
 Bres. "Hast thou, perchance, horses for a race?" 
 
 "We have horses," said Bres. 
 
 Two spirited steeds, one black, the other brown, 
 were brought forward and mounted by skilled riders 
 from Bres's following. The horses pranced restlessly 
 before the start; then they sped forward as if they had 
 been stones from a sling. The good fortune of Bres 
 was scarcely less in this race than in the former; the 
 black horse finished first, the brown third, the Fomo- 
 rian king's own charger taking second place. 
 
 "Marvelous are the steeds of the Dedannans!" ex- 
 claimed the king. "There is not another horse in this 
 land which can outrun mine. But now we are to turn
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 43 
 
 from the swiftness of beasts to the skill of men. Ever 
 have the warriors of our country been eager in feats 
 of sword and javelin. If thou wouldst win thy king- 
 dom again, well mayst thou rely upon the prowess of 
 the Fomorians ! One of the greatest of our champions, 
 Bel, stands ready to meet in sword-play the man who 
 will contend with him. Hast thou such an one with 
 thee?" 
 
 "I myself am that man," said Bres, drawing his 
 sword and raising it above his head, where the sun- 
 light gleamed upon the blade. 
 
 Among those near enough to hear Bres's brave 
 declaration ran a murmur of approval, increasing to a 
 roar like the crash of many waves when the Fomorian 
 king announced that the Dedannan sovereign him- 
 self would meet Bel. With the shouting was mingled 
 the clatter of swords and spears against shields. 
 Then the people crowded close to watch the final 
 contest. 
 
 The two men took their places and saluted. They 
 had bee provided with special blunt weapons, that 
 there might be less danger of serious injury to war- 
 riors whose full strength would soon be needed in 
 war. At first, the opponents eyed each other cau- 
 tiously; then Bel made a savage cut at Bres, who 
 skillfully parried the blow with his shield. There-
 
 44 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 upon, the Fomorian champion seemed resolved to 
 end the struggle quickly, for he made a continued im- 
 petuous attack. Bres, however, succeeded in repel- 
 ling this onslaught either with his sword or with his 
 shield, and but twice did his adversary's weapon 
 graze him. Now and again he took the offensive mo- 
 mentarily; he seemed waiting for the other to tire 
 himself. Most of the bystanders shouted with de- 
 light when Bel appeared to be gaining the advantage, 
 though all the Dedannan followers, and even a few of 
 the Fomorians, gave encouragement to Bres. At last, 
 Bel making a mighty thrust which his opponent 
 dodged nimbly, slightly overreached himself, and 
 swayed unsteadily as he tried to keep his footing upon 
 the grass, grown slippery from much trampling. This, 
 apparently, was the opportunity for which Bres had 
 waited, and he plunged forward to the attack. Bel 
 had managed to regain his balance, but he seemed 
 dazed, and it was not long before a sweeping blow 
 from Bres laid his adversary prostrate and momen- 
 tarily unconscious. 
 
 The multitude did not withhold approval of the 
 stranger. Bres turned and knelt before the king to 
 receive the prize, a sword with hilt of gold. 
 
 The Fomorian ruler began, "No less wondrous thy 
 skill " but his voice faltered, and he grew pale.
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 45 
 
 Those who stood near the throne rushed to his aid. 
 He recovered himself, and, speaking as if bewildered, 
 said: 
 
 "That ring which thou wearest '* 
 
 He paused again, and looked at Bres with filling 
 eyes. 
 
 Eri had been close at hand, watching the Fomorian 
 ruler intently. Now she ran forward, crying, "Elo- 
 tha, my husband! They did not tell us thy name. 
 Thou art Elotha, and I am Eri!" 
 
 The Fomorian king stepped from the mound and 
 clasped Eri in his arms. To the young man, he said, 
 "Thou art my son." 
 
 Bres embraced his father. There were explanations 
 between them. Soon the good news spread through 
 the gathering, whereupon there was much rejoicing. 
 
 "Come with me, O Eri, and thou, O Bres," said 
 Elotha, at last. "Let us go to my tent, where we may 
 have food and drink, and where ye may both tell your 
 tale." 
 
 Gladly mother and son followed him; long was 
 their talk. 
 
 Upon seeing Elotha, Eri's love was renewed. Her 
 husband told her that, after his return from the 
 northern isles to his own country, his father, who 
 wished him to marry a princess of the Fomorians, had
 
 46 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 assured him that Eri was dead, showing him a lock of 
 hair said to have been sent by her kinsmen. Elotha 
 had then married. Shortly afterwards, his wife died, 
 leaving him childless, and he had been unwilling to 
 wed again. He had hoped ever that the news about 
 Eri might be proved false, and that he and she might 
 one day be reunited. Then Eri told Elotha the story 
 of the birth of Bres and of his education and of 
 his election to the kingship. 
 
 The Fomorian king thereupon turned to his son; 
 "O Bres, what need has brought thee out of the land 
 where thou ruledst?" 
 
 Bres told his father in detail of how he had tried to 
 govern Eriu, and of his attempts at economy by re- 
 ducing the entertainment of guests at Tara. This 
 policy, he could see, Elotha did not approve, for he 
 knit his brows. Bres concluded with the account of 
 his summoning before the assembly, and of his ar- 
 rangement with the nobles. 
 
 "Men say that nothing has brought me to the loss 
 of my throne save my own injustice and arrogance," 
 he declared. "I stripped the Dedannans of their 
 jewels and treasure, and of their own food. Neither 
 tribute nor eric was taken from them and given to 
 foreigners before this time." 
 
 "That is bad," said Elotha. "Better were their
 
 THE FLIGHT OF BRES 47 
 
 prosperity than their kingship; better were their 
 prayers than their curses. Why hast thou come 
 hither?" 
 
 "To whom should a son turn in distress, if not to 
 his father? I have come to seek a champion from 
 thee," answered Bres. " I would take Eriu by force." 
 
 "It should not be gained by injustice, if not by 
 justice," continued Elotha reprovingly. 
 
 "What counsel hast thou for me, then?" asked 
 Bres, hesitatingly. 
 
 Thereupon Elotha changed his attitude. His face 
 cleared, and he laughed a low, malicious laugh. 
 
 "Although I do not like all thou hast done, should I 
 not rejoice that chance has given me not only a son, 
 but the occasion of going with the forces of the Fo- 
 morians against a race I hate? Thou hast spoken 
 truth," he continued, placing a hand upon the shoul- 
 der of Bres, "in saying that a son should turn to his 
 father. I will not desert thee. I will send thee to 
 Balor, grandson of Net, to the king of the isles, 
 sovereign over all the Fomorians, and to Indech, son 
 of De Domnan, asking their aid and their authority 
 for an expedition into Eriu." 
 
 Delighted, Bres thanked his father, and together 
 they made plans to raise and equip a mighty host. 
 Not many days later, the banished king left Elotha
 
 48 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 and journeyed under escort to the palace of Balor; 
 thence to that of Indech. Willingly these monarchs 
 agreed to cooperate with Elotha, and soon the forges 
 were busy from one end of Tory Island to the other, 
 where men were hammering out swords and spear- 
 heads. In the forest, some were felling trees; others 
 were making frames for shields, handles for spears, 
 and ribs for ships. The boast of the Fomorians was 
 that there should be a bridge of boats from their land 
 to the shores of Eriu.
 
 THE HEALING OF NUADA 
 
 Fire, kindle! Smoke, arise! 
 On his couch the sick man lies. 
 Sweet the odor of burning herbs; 
 His heavy rest no pain disturbs. 
 With fingers deft and potent spell, 
 The skillful leech shall make him well. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY upon hearing of the flight of 
 Bres, the Dedannans were on the alert; they 
 expected him to attempt revenge. The nobles 
 commissioned to oversee the kingship has- 
 tened to Tara, where they found Bres had car- 
 ried off every thing of value that was portable. 
 Bitterly they regretted having trusted him. 
 While they were still at the palace straightening 
 out the tangled threads of government, there was 
 brought them word of unwonted activity among the 
 Fomorians. No time was lost in sending to Tory 
 Island men in disguise, who soon returned with news 
 of the projected expedition on behalf of Bres. There- 
 fore, the entire council of nobles was quickly brought 
 together to choose a king whose wisdom and valor 
 should enable his people to make the best possible de-
 
 50 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 fense of their country. As the assembly was ready to 
 begin discussion, a messenger dismounted from a 
 horse lathered with foam, and asked to be taken im- 
 mediately before the head of the council. 
 
 "Good are my tidings, rulers of Eriu," the man 
 cried. "Nuada is no longer blemished; Miach, son of 
 Diancecht, has restored the hand cut off at the Battle 
 of Moytura." 
 
 There was a burst of cheering: men embraced one 
 another in glee; the noise so startled the birds under 
 the eaves of the great hall that they flew away. 
 
 The messenger told the story of Miach's successful 
 cure. 
 
 When, after the Battle of Moytura, Diancecht had 
 failed to restore the severed hand of Nuada and had 
 provided him with a silver hand instead, Miach had 
 been a lad, interested in his father's work, but unable 
 to help. However, all who knew Miach were amazed at 
 the qukkness of his mind and the ease with which he 
 soon learned the use of herbs and the magic incanta- 
 tions that formed the necessary knowledge of a leech. 
 
 One day, when Nuada had worn the silver hand for 
 some years, Miach came to him and said, "O Nuada, 
 I believe I can restore thine own hand. My father is 
 old and he dares not venture as I will. I promise at 
 least to harm thee no further."
 
 THE HEALING OF NUADA 51 
 
 "Truly, O Miach," answered Nuada, "I will trust 
 myself to thy care, for I like thy boldness. Of little 
 use is this silver hand. With it I can wield neither 
 sword nor spear, and I am become a fit associate for 
 old men, not for hardy warriors." 
 
 Miach had a stone hut, of beehive shape, which he 
 used for his experiments, and thither Nuada accom- 
 panied him. The leech caused the former king to lie 
 down upon a couch. He then kindled a fire of herbs 
 which filled the room with a thick smoke and a pleas- 
 ant odor, lulling the maimed man into unconscious- 
 ness. Miach took the severed hand (which had been 
 recovered from the field of Moytura and carefully 
 treated so that it might neither wither nor decay) and 
 laid it against his patient's arm. In a high voice he 
 chanted: 
 
 "Joint to joint, and sinew to sinew." 
 
 Then he left Nuada, who continued in a profound 
 slumber. 
 
 After seventy-two hours the young leech returned 
 to the hut, where he found, as he expected, that the 
 hand had again grown to the stump. Miach straight- 
 way folded the arms of the unconscious man so that 
 the once injured hand lay upon the heart. As the 
 leech pronounced a terrible incantation, blood began 
 to flow from the arm into the hand, but the bones
 
 52 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 were still stiff. Therefore, taking from his sporan a 
 white powder made from the ashes of bulrushes, Mi- 
 ach rubbed the hand. At the end of the next seventy- 
 two hours Nuada opened his eyes, and, quite as 
 though he had never been mutilated, he extended his 
 arm and grasped a sword that lay beside the couch. 
 When he realized that he had regained all his former 
 vigor, he embraced the leech. Later he gave the 
 youth many costly gifts, but such was his courtesy 
 that he said no word of reproof to Diancecht. 
 
 This miraculous cure was accomplished only two 
 days before the gathering of the nobles to consider 
 the state of the kingdom after the flight of Bres. With 
 unanimous acclaim Nuada was reelected High King 
 of Eriu and was instantly summoned to Tara for his 
 crowning. The Stone of Fal roared loudly as he stood 
 upon it after he had received the diadem from the 
 chief druid; throughout the country there was joy 
 that the popular former king was again to direct the 
 fortunes of the Dedannans. Since he was of different 
 temper from Bres, who had refused to take counsel with 
 the leaders of his people, Nuada promptly asked that 
 at the end of six months the nobles should reassemble 
 at Tara to lay before him plans for withstanding the 
 Fomorians, and tell him what help each part of the 
 island would be able to give in the approaching conflict.
 
 THE HEALING OF NUADA 53 
 
 When the councillors met once more, the king held 
 a great feast; nevertheless, in spite of abundant food 
 and drink, not a man was cheerful. The shadow of the 
 impending invasion hung over the hall. But a cham- 
 pion who was to surpass all former champions was 
 even then on the way to offer his services to Nuada.
 
 VI 
 
 THE MARVELOUS COW 
 
 Cow of the cows of Eriu, 
 
 Give me milk for my pails. 
 
 Five hundred men must count on thee, 
 
 For as thy gift their strength shall be, 
 
 O cow that never fails! 
 
 HE host who took part in the Bat- 
 tle of Moytura were not the first 
 Dedannans to settle in Eriu. Sev- 
 eral years before this, three brothers, 
 noblemen, having had a difference 
 with their king, decided to leave their 
 country in the northern isles. They sailed south- 
 ward, were hospitably greeted by the Fir Bolg, and 
 given land on the northern coast. Here they practiced 
 the art of smiths, and attained high honor among 
 their adopted countrymen. MacKineely, one of the 
 brothers, became lord of the district where they lived. 
 Even at that time the Fomorians were raiding the 
 Irish coast. The Fir Bolg king was energetic in repel- 
 ling pirate expeditions, and none gave him greater aid, 
 not only by skill in making and repairing weapons, 
 but by prowess in using them, than did the three
 
 THE MARVELOUS COW 55 
 
 Dedannan brothers, MacKineely, Gavida, and Mac- 
 Samthann. 
 
 About this time MacKineely had come into posses- 
 sion of a cow, the Glas, or Blue One, which gave more 
 milk than any other in Eriu. She had, therefore, to be 
 watched constantly, lest she be stolen. The Fomo- 
 rians soon heard of her wonderful milk-giving, and, 
 hoping that they might seize her, they made the vicin- 
 ity of MacKineely 's dwelling the objective of many 
 of their raids. However, the Glas was successfully 
 guarded, and the Fomorians always had to withdraw 
 after heavy losses. 
 
 Balor, the Fomorian High King, grew more and 
 more angry, for he had set his heart upon adding the 
 miraculous animal to the royal herd, and he deter- 
 mined to accomplish by guile what he had been un- 
 able to achieve by force. One of his druids changed 
 him into a red-headed little boy, and he was secretly 
 landed at the edge of a sheltered bay in northern 
 Eriu, near a road which led from MacKineely's dun, 
 or fortified dwelling, to Gavida's forge. Along this 
 road, Balor had learned, MacKineely was soon to 
 pass, for his own forge was out of repair and he was 
 going to his brother's to make new swords. Since 
 he feared to leave her at home, he was to take with 
 him the invaluable cow.
 
 56 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 When MacKineely reached the smithy of Gavida, 
 he met his younger brother, MacSamthann, bound 
 on a like errand. MacSamthann had with him a 
 quantity of findrinny, a white bronze highly prized 
 for sword-blades and spear-heads. 
 
 "If thou wilt take this halter, O Brother," said 
 MacKineely, "and watch my cow, I shall take thy 
 bronze and see to the shaping of the swords!" 
 
 Knowing that MacKineely was the cleverest smith 
 in the family, MacSamthann promptly agreed. The 
 cow was led to a patch of grass where she might 
 graze, while her new keeper sat comfortably in the 
 shade of an oak tree. He was too far from the smithy 
 to know what went on, and there was no window fac- 
 ing him. He could hear only the clink of metal. 
 
 Round a corner of the building appeared a red- 
 headed lad, who shyly approached and stood for 
 some minutes gazing at MacSamthann. The smith 
 returned the gaze in friendly fashion. 
 
 "That is a cow of the cows thou hast," said the boy. 
 
 MacSamthann cared more for praise of what be- 
 longed to him or to his family than for any other 
 praise. 
 
 "Thou beholdest the finest of the cows of Eriu," 
 he answered warmly. " No other gives so much or so 
 rich milk as this cow of my brother's."
 
 THE MARVELOUS COW 57 
 
 "Her fame is widespread. I have heard my father 
 speak of her. Thou shouldst be watchful that she 
 does not fall into the hands of the Fomorians." 
 
 " Often have they tried to obtain her. Their last 
 three raids have been near the dun of my elder 
 brother, MacKineely; but we have driven them off 
 and kept our treasure safe. Even now my brother is 
 hammering new swords, that we may be the better 
 prepared to defend ourselves when the pirates come 
 again." 
 
 "Are those thy brothers at the forge yonder?'* 
 asked the boy. 
 
 "They are," replied MacSamthann; "MacKineely, 
 the elder, and Gavida, the younger." 
 
 "Unusual is the findrinny which MacKineely has 
 for his own swords." 
 
 "What sayest thou?" said MacSamthann, leaning 
 forward with interest. 
 
 "Just now I heard the younger man say to his com- 
 panion, 'Why dost thou not take the white bronze for 
 thine own swords, O MacKineely, and leave the iron 
 for MacSamthann?' And MacKineely answered, 'I 
 will do so!' Art thou MacSamthann?" asked the 
 boy. 
 
 The smith was a quick-tempered man, not given to 
 reasoning. Never before had he possessed findrinny
 
 58 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 of so fine a quality as that he had given MacKineely. 
 Without distrusting a boy whom he had seen for the 
 first time only a few minutes earlier, who, moreover, 
 gave him information which agreed not at all with the 
 character of his brothers, he shouted, "I am!" 
 
 His face flushed scarlet with rage and he sprang to 
 his feet. 
 
 "That findrinny is mine! They would trick me! O 
 wicked men, well do they know that I cannot leave 
 the most valued possession of our family, and so they 
 plot against me!" 
 
 "For a warrior there were better work at the forge 
 than playing herdsman here, a task that could be 
 performed by any boy," answered the other, cun- 
 ningly taking advantage of the Dedannan's jealous 
 fury. 
 
 "Thou speakest truth, O Boy! Couldst thou not 
 hold the halter of this cow for a little? I would go and 
 foil these plotters. Soon shall I return and pay thee 
 well for thy service." 
 
 " I ask no payment," said the lad humbly. 
 
 MacSamthann threw the rope to the stranger and 
 went running towards the smithy. Had he paused to 
 look behind him, he would have seen the red-haired 
 gilly urging the cow into a gallop and disappearing 
 with her over the hill. MacSamthann, however, was
 
 THE MARVELOUS COW 59 
 
 so eager to reach his brothers that he did not hear 
 the thud of hoofs. 
 
 When he reached the door of the smithy, his anger 
 had risen to such a height that he stood spluttering on 
 the threshold. Gavida and MacKineely looked up 
 from their work. 
 
 "So ye would take advantage of me, elder Broth- 
 ers, and steal my findrinny?" cried MacSamthann, 
 when he could find his voice. " But I have come to 
 show you that I can fight for what is mine." 
 
 He put his hand to his sword and half drew it from 
 his belt. 
 
 Gavida rushed upon him and pinioned his arms, 
 while MacKineely cried: 
 
 "Hold, O MacSamthann! These are hard words. 
 Naught have we done amiss. See, here is one of thy 
 weapons completed, and one of my own. That of 
 findrinny fits thy hand; that of iron, mine. Try them, 
 and learn if I do not tell thee truth ! " 
 
 Gavida, feeling his brother's muscles relax, loosed 
 his hold. MacSamthann was ashamed; his anger left 
 him quickly. 
 
 "Thy pardon, O Brothers," he said. "I have been 
 too hasty in believing a boy's idle tales." 
 
 Suddenly he started; his face paled and he looked 
 confused.
 
 60 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 At that instant Gavida asked: 
 
 "Where, O MacSamthann, is the cow we entrusted 
 tothee?" 
 
 "A good watchman art thou," sneered MacKin- 
 eely. 
 
 MacSamthann hastily explained his meeting with 
 the red-haired lad. 
 
 "This is some trick of the Fomorians!" cried Mac- 
 Kineely, rushing to the door, followed by the others. 
 
 They looked out; not a trace of boy or cow was to 
 be seen. In anger and grief, MacKineely turned to 
 his younger brother and gave him a stout box on the 
 ear, to which MacSamthann meekly submitted. 
 
 "This is no time for further rage; anger has already 
 lost us too much," interposed Gavida. "Let us 
 hasten and overtake the thief, if we can." 
 
 Seizing swords and spears, the three men hurried 
 along the road, following well-known hoof-prints in 
 the moist earth. 
 
 But the disguised Balor could not be overtaken. 
 He had already reached the bay where waited the 
 boat which had brought him. Changing his shape, he 
 became once more the Fomorian king, and directed 
 his men carefully to embark the cow. This they did 
 with as much speed as possible, but it was at best an 
 undertaking requiring time, and they had not pushed
 
 THE MARVELOUS COW 61 
 
 far from land when MacKineely, Gavida, and Mac- 
 Samthann reached the rocks. The Fomorians bent to 
 their oars, their sail filled, and their boat gathered 
 headway, as the three men on shore let fly their jave- 
 lins. However, the pirates had passed out of range of 
 even the longest cast. They cried out jeeringly; their 
 leader stood up and made a derisive gesture at his des- 
 perate pursuers; but the cow, as if realizing that she 
 was being taken from the island of her birth, lowed 
 plaintively. 
 
 "It is Balor himself!" exclaimed the three brothers, 
 upon seeing the giant figure of the Fomorian king. 
 MacKineely was so distraught that he drew his sword 
 and flung it after the retreating ship; the blade cut 
 through the gleaming waters, and an ever-widening 
 circle rippled from the place where it sank. 
 
 For many days following the loss of the Glas, Mac- 
 Kineely, ordinarily one of the merriest of men, was 
 overcome by gloom. He thought out and abandoned 
 many schemes for regaining the cow: a military ex- 
 pedition would be out of the question because of the 
 high rocks, or tors, which had given Tory Island its 
 name; he knew of no magic that would avail. His 
 brothers did their utmost to cheer him, but without 
 success until MacSamthann suggested that Mac- 
 Kineely consult a woman learned in sorcery.
 
 62 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "Through thee I have lost the Glas; mayhap 
 through thee I shall regain her," answered MacKin- 
 eely, brightening. "I like thine advice." 
 
 With that the eldest brother went straightway to 
 the house of the wise woman, whom he found pound- 
 ing herbs in a metal bowl. Although of a wild, forbid- 
 ding appearance, she was kind at heart, and she 
 listened sympathetically to MacKineely's account of 
 the various stratagems which he had considered. 
 She already knew of his loss, for the story had spread 
 rapidly. 
 
 "Difficult is it for me to advise thee," she said. 
 "Well thou knowest that Balor is unlike ordinary 
 men. He has a giant's frame; one of his eyes, though 
 usually kept closed as if he were blind, has such a 
 deadly glance that it will slay any one within twenty- 
 five feet. When Balor was a young boy, he was pass- 
 ing a house wherein druids had been stirring magic 
 potions and had set them by a window to cool. As 
 he paused at the window, the fumes of the deadly poi- 
 sons entered his eye, so that ever since it has been 
 more to be feared than sword or sling or javelin. Ba- 
 lor's eyelid closed at the same time and he is unable to 
 raise it alone; therefore, when he goes to battle, he has 
 beside him a youth whose duty it is to roll back the 
 eyelid at the king's request. Ill were it for thee to
 
 THE MARVELOUS COW 63 
 
 come into his presence and have him know thee; un- 
 doubtedly he keeps the cow on the green in front of 
 his palace, where thou wouldst run danger from the 
 terrible eye. Against that I have no power, but what 
 is possible to do for thee, that will I. Take this ring. 
 Place it upon the third finger f thy right hand. Turn 
 it twice, and thou shalt have the appearance of a 
 young girl; turn it twice more, and thou shalt regain 
 thine own shape. Guard the ring well, for, shouldst 
 thou lose it, thou must continue in the shape thou art 
 then wearing. Mayhap, if thy followers will row thee 
 close to Tory Island, thou canst land unseen, and, 
 in the guise of a young woman, win news of the 
 whereabouts of the cow, learning how to deliver her 
 from the Fomorians. Thou shalt never get her till 
 thou hast slain Balor." 
 
 Thanking the druidess, MacKineely hastened home 
 and made preparations for immediate departure.
 
 VII 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 
 
 There 's a clamor of swords and voices, 
 
 A sharp command at the gate. 
 Is it the word of Balor the King? 
 
 Is it the call of Fate? 
 
 T many days later, MacKineely was 
 clambering over the rocks leading to one 
 of the less frequented roads through the 
 Fomorian country. He looked like a 
 woman from a foreign land; if he should 
 be asked questions, he was prepared to 
 say that he came from Wales. He carried a harp, 
 for he was a skilled musician and was said to sing 
 as sweetly as any bard in Eriu. He thought that his 
 music might aid him in reaching those who could 
 give him the information he desired. 
 
 MacKineely had not traveled far when he saw in 
 the distance a great tower commanding a wide view 
 of the sea. As he drew near, he noticed that this 
 tower was surrounded by a wall in which was a gate 
 guarded by an armed man who stood in the shadow 
 of the battlements, trying to avoid the hot sun. 
 
 "Here is one who can tell me something," thought 
 MacKineely.
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 65 
 
 * Victory and blessing be upon thee, O Warrior," 
 he said aloud. "Before whose fort or dwelling am I, 
 and whither does this road lead?" 
 
 The soldier shifted his spear from one hand to the 
 other and looked intently at MacKineely before an- 
 swering. If the man had been suspicious, his doubts 
 were set at rest, for he replied pleasantly, in a low 
 drawl: 
 
 "Well is it that thou comest from another coun- 
 try, O Maiden, for it might chance to fare ill with 
 thee wert thou of the Fomorians and at this gate, 
 even though thou art of womankind." 
 
 "And if I were a man, what reason is there that I 
 should not be here? Are not roads in the Fomorian 
 country for men and women alike?" 
 
 The sentry, seeing MacKineely's annoyance that 
 his question had not been directly answered, contin- 
 ued: 
 
 "Thou dost not understand, and I shall tell thee. 
 The road along which thou journeyest goes no fur- 
 ther; the king's command is that none may travel it 
 save those having business at the tower. Within 
 dwells the only child of Balor, High King of the Fo- 
 morians. She has been kept here since babyhood be- 
 cause, before her birth, it was prophesied that Balor 
 should be slain by his grandspn. The king thereupon
 
 66 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 swore a mighty oath that his daughter should never 
 marry. Her companions are twelve women from the 
 noblest families of our people. Never has Ethne 
 seen a young man but at a distance; the work in out- 
 houses and gardens is done by women; my fellow 
 guards and I are the only men near at hand, and she 
 cannot see us, for she never passes this gate. An aged 
 druid is permitted to visit the tower to instruct Ethne 
 and her women in religion. But graybeards are fit 
 companions of women," he added scornfully. 
 
 "Ethne is now seventeen years old, and she is said 
 to be the loveliest princess ever born on Tory Island. 
 No luxury is denied her, and women skilled in all arts 
 are brought hither for her pleasure. I see thou hast a 
 harp. Perchance thou art one of them?" 
 
 MacKineely, not yet accustomed to his new ap- 
 pearance, and naturally truthful, was on the point of 
 answering emphatically "No," when it occurred to 
 him that, if he said he had heard of Ethne and had 
 come to the tower hoping for a chance to entertain 
 her, he might not only be brought into her presence, 
 but, through her, reach the court of Balor and find 
 the lost cow. 
 
 "If this be Ethne's dwelling, I have chosen the 
 right road. I am a maiden from Wales, skilled in 
 playing the harp and in singing. While in the coun-
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 67 
 
 try of the Fomorians with my brother, I was told of 
 the lovely Ethne, and I set out to learn if I might not 
 remain with her a few days and sing to her." 
 
 Although the man-at-arms was not quick-witted, 
 he had an eye for comeliness, and MacKineely had 
 been changed into a girl far from ugly. 
 
 "I doubt not that they will welcome thee, O 
 Maiden," said the sentry admiringly. 
 
 "Tell me further of Ethne," urged MacKineely, 
 before the Fomorian could continue. "If I am to see 
 her, I would know more about her, lest I speak un- 
 wisely." 
 
 " I am told that of late she has been watching the 
 fishermen in their boats. Some of them have rowed 
 very near the shore, and Ethne, noticing that they 
 are different from the women with her, and from the 
 druid, has asked many questions difficult to answer. 
 They say her sleep has been troubled, and from the 
 descriptions she gives of those who have appeared to 
 her in visions, she seems to be dreaming of fisher-folk. 
 Her women are endeavoring to distract her from such 
 dreams and queries, but, so far, with little success." 
 
 "I may succeed where they have failed." 
 
 "Thy opportunity may be soon. Yonder comes an 
 aged sailor who every week brings fish for the princess 
 and is met at the gate by one of her companions."
 
 68 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 MacKineely saw a cart approaching slowly. As he 
 looked down the road, the gate behind him opened, 
 and a tall, dark woman stepped out. Noticing a 
 stranger, she hesitated, with an inquiring glance at the 
 guard, who reassured her and explained the mission of 
 the maiden from Wales. Accepting the explanation, 
 the woman led MacKineely within the enclosure. 
 
 "For a month past," she said, "my mistress has 
 seemed changed. She has lost her former gayety and 
 wanders alone on the high rocks by the sea where 
 there is no wall. Constantly she asks us what persons 
 are those who row by in coracles, and describes to 
 us strong, broad-chested beings of whom she has 
 dreamed. As we are forbidden to mention men, we 
 explain as best we may and the task is difficult." 
 
 By this time MacKineely and his guide had 
 reached the entrance to Ethne's bower, set in the 
 midst of gardens even more beautiful than those 
 through which the visitor had already come. Within 
 the arbor sat the princess, dressed in a white tunic; 
 from her shoulders fell a yellow cloak; round her neck 
 was a chain of precious stones. The splendor of her 
 dark beauty burst upon MacKineely, so that he was 
 for some seconds speechless. 
 
 "Whether or no Ethne suffers from the sickness of 
 love," thought he, "I shall suffer from it henceforth."
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 69 
 
 The princess received the supposed Welsh girl 
 graciously, though without much show of interest. 
 
 "Wilt thou not play for me, O Maiden? The music 
 of thy country is far-famed." 
 
 MacKineely raised his harp, and with deft fingers 
 sounded melodious chords; Ethne and her compan- 
 ions settled themselves to listen. He resolved that, if 
 ever a singer put his heart into words and music, he 
 would do so then. 
 
 He sang: 
 
 Color of the foxglove, 
 
 Color of the rose, 
 The minstrel sings the beauty 
 
 Every poet knows. 
 
 Eyes of maiden wonder 
 
 Gleam with love's delight; 
 He that knows their shining 
 
 Knows a starlit night. 
 
 More gently than a seed falls, 
 
 Or berry from a tree, 
 Love shall fall within the heart, 
 
 Blossom wondrously. 
 
 When MacKineely had finished, there was silence, 
 disturbed only by the sound of surf on the rocks 
 below the tower. Of the twelve ladies with the prin- 
 cess, only one, the youngest, her closest friend, Bla-
 
 70 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 naid, was pleased with the song; the others were 
 troubled by the mention of love, yet this was scarcely 
 a sufficient reason for objecting to Ethne's having the 
 stranger for a guest. 
 
 Ethne spoke: 
 
 "Well hast thou sung, O Maiden, and thy song 
 shall have its full recompense. Wilt thou not stay 
 with me here? For I would ask thee about many 
 things." 
 
 Disguising his joy behind a modest demeanor, 
 MacKineely consented to remain. As the women 
 murmured among themselves, the lady-in-waiting 
 who had brought him into the garden led him to the 
 room in the tower where the princess directed that he 
 be lodged, and, although he spoke agreeably to the 
 attendant, she now answered him curtly. 
 
 Throughout the day, Ethne kept the Welsh girl by 
 her side. She dismissed her other companions, save 
 Blanaid, and at last sent her off, too. In the evening, 
 the supposed maiden sang again, beginning with the 
 words: 
 
 O waves that are rushing in rapture 
 Where waits, unresisting, the sand, 
 Waves, destined never to capture 
 The uttermost line of the land, 
 Soon, the tide will be turning, 
 And you will be drawn from the sand*
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 71 
 
 With this song, also, the princess was charmed. 
 Her women were still more disturbed, but again they 
 felt unable to object. 
 
 As for MacKineely, he was deeply in love with the 
 princess, and thinking hard how he might reveal him- 
 self and persuade her to fly with him. During the four 
 or five succeeding days he was more and more alone 
 with her. The attendants muttered among them- 
 selves, till at last they ventured to complain to the 
 princess, who silenced them with angry words: 
 
 "Never have I had a friend who would talk to me 
 as does this maiden. She has seen much of the world, 
 and she is willing to answer my questions and to tell 
 me what lies beyond these walls. This ye have never 
 done. She shall remain with me as long as she will, and 
 take rich gifts when she goes." 
 
 Great was the consternation of Ethne's guardians. 
 What was the Welsh woman telling? She must be 
 dismissed at once; yet they knew Ethne was not 
 ready to release her, and that it would be difficult, if 
 not impossible, to deal with the stranger, who had be- 
 come so devoted that she would not willingly depart 
 from the princess. What should be done? They 
 would consult Balor; he was their sovereign as well as 
 the father of their charge, and he would know what 
 ship from Wales had arrived at Tory Island, the
 
 72 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 names of her passengers, and how soon the vessel 
 would return home. Reproaching themselves that 
 they had not sent earlier to the High King, they des- 
 patched a messenger immediately. 
 
 Fortunately for MacKineely, Blanaid told Ethne 
 of what had been arranged by the waiting- women, and 
 the princess told her new favorite. The Dedannan 
 realized that he was now in peril; the messenger 
 would return from the court bringing word that no 
 such woman as the Welsh girl had ever been seen by 
 the king or had landed on the island. He must tell 
 the princess the truth. As he and Ethne were walking 
 on the rocks in the evening, watching the wavering 
 pathway of the moon across the dark ocean, he con- 
 fessed both his identity and his love, and begged the 
 princess to trust herself to him. Rapidly he poured 
 forth his story, and, as he drew to a close, he twisted 
 the ring upon his right hand and stood revealed. 
 
 Her alarm upon seeing the tall, blue-eyed stranger, 
 with his golden hair, crimson cloak, and jeweled 
 sword, gradually disappeared, and under the spell of 
 his eager words dismay gave place to tenderness. 
 
 "O Chieftain from Eriu," she said at last, "already 
 must thou know what I shall say to thee. Thou hast 
 told me all I have learned of the world and of love. I 
 ask naught better than to go with thee through the "
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 73 
 
 world. Thy danger is become mine, and together we 
 must flee from this place. If all men be like thee, they 
 will help and protect us!" 
 
 The stateliness of a princess slipped from Ethne. 
 
 Soon MacKineely said, "But now, O Ethne, we 
 must plan to escape." 
 
 "Let us trust to Blanaid; her father is noted for his 
 good counsel, and she is supposed to be like him. We 
 will tell her that I am no longer Ethne of Tory Island, 
 but Ethne of Eriu." 
 
 MacKineely reassumed his woman's disguise and 
 returned with the princess to the tower. Ethne took 
 Blanaid into her confidence. For a time the waiting- 
 woman hesitated as to whether she should help her 
 mistress to escape, but she finally yielded to Ethne's 
 entreaties. The princess was determined; MacKin- 
 eely had pointed out that once she had taken her 
 husband's nationality she would be entitled to the 
 protection of the men of Eriu. 
 
 After several minutes of consideration, Blanaid 
 said: 
 
 "O Ethne, I have smoothed away the unsmooth- 
 ness that lies before thee. My companions have said 
 that thy new friend has turned thy thoughts to 
 strange fancies. Well may we use this against them. 
 To-morrow pretend thou imaginest that the strange
 
 74 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 maiden is a man with whom thou hast fallen in love 
 as will be easy for thee, indeed ! Thy women will 
 think thee mad, and in this I shall encourage them. 
 Demand that thou be married immediately, and I 
 shall suggest that, to quiet thee, the druid, who 
 comes hither often, be summoned to perform a mar- 
 riage which to thine attendants will seem mockery, 
 but to MacKineely and to thee will be binding." 
 
 "Thy wits, O Blanaid, are keener than the sharpest 
 of swords!" exclaimed Ethne in delight, kissing her 
 friend. 
 
 All went as Blanaid hoped. The attendants were 
 much disturbed by Ethne's unusual behavior, and 
 they easily agreed to send for the druid. Ethne and 
 MacKineely were married; whereupon the princess 
 again behaved normally, and Blanaid was heartily 
 congratulated by the other women for having 
 thought of a plan to restore Ethne's reason, and 
 embraced by the princess for having successfully 
 ^deceived her companions. 
 
 The more serious question of escape from the 
 tower now confronted the lovers. MacKineely 
 pointed out that, although the enclosure was carefully 
 guarded on the landward side, it had virtually no pro- 
 tection from the sea: once or twice during the day a 
 sentry appeared on distant rocks; at night the shore
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 75 
 
 was deserted. Evidently there was little fear that 
 any one would attempt a landing, especially as this 
 would be possible only during the quiet seas of sum- 
 mer. By water, therefore, lay the best chance of 
 flight. The boat which had landed MacKineely was 
 due to return, and Blanaid suggested she should meet 
 it, go on board, and guide it to the easiest landing- 
 place in front of the tower, where Ethne and Mac- 
 Kineely would be waiting. 
 
 Unfortunately, the plotters had forgotten the mes- 
 senger who had been sent to Balor. The king was 
 alarmed, and, since he could get no information of the 
 arrival of a Welsh ship, his suspicions were aroused. 
 He would surprise Ethne by a visit. 
 
 Ethne, MacKineely, and Blanaid made careful 
 plans. The young waiting-woman left her mistress 
 early upon the morning of the day when the boat of 
 the Dedannan was due offshore; in the evening, the 
 princess, complaining of a headache, went to her room 
 shortly after supper. The other women followed her 
 example, and, save for a single light shining in the 
 window of Ethne's room, the tower was soon in dark- 
 ness. The princess was quickly joined by Mac- 
 Kineely, who helped her in preparations for flight. 
 
 Down the stairs crept the lovers, through the silent 
 tower, and out to the edge of the moonlit sea. Mac-
 
 76 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 Kineely, still in his woman's guise, found difficulty in 
 clambering over the rocks. When he reached the 
 water, he turned the magic ring and changed his ap- 
 pearance to that of a Dedannan warrior. In putting 
 out his hand to help Ethne, he felt the ring slip from 
 his finger, and it fell noiselessly into a cranny in the 
 rocks. 
 
 "My ring! It is lost!" he cried, wildly groping in 
 the seaweed. 
 
 "Do not fret thyself, Beloved. Soon thy compan- 
 ions will be here, and we shall be hastening towards 
 Eriu." 
 
 They gazed seaward, but there was no sign of a 
 boat on the shimmering ocean. Almost immediately, 
 from the road outside the enclosure, came a sound of 
 men's voices, followed by a challenge from the sentry. 
 
 "Who goes there?" 
 
 "Balor, High King of the Fomorians, to see his 
 daughter!" 
 
 Hearing the soldiers, MacKineely would have 
 transformed himself once more into a woman, but he 
 had no time to search further for the magic ring; al- 
 ready Balor was inside the walls, with a man carry- 
 ing a torch before him. There were cries from the 
 women in the tower, and the Dedannan knew that 
 Ethne's absence must have been discovered. Seeing
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 77 
 
 no place for concealment, nor chance of escape over 
 the rocks, he thrust Ethne behind him, drew his 
 sword, adjusted his shield upon his left arm, and 
 waited. 
 
 Balor was now calling loudly for his men-at-arms, 
 and soon MacKineely saw the Fomorian giant ap- 
 proaching and, after him, men running across the 
 grass. What MacKineely could not see was a boat 
 suddenly shooting into the moonlight and coming up 
 to the rocks. As he raised his shield to catch a spear 
 hurled by Balor at close range, the boatmen leapt 
 ashore, and, a moment later, the war cry of Eriu rang 
 into the night air. Blanaid hurried from the boat to 
 the side of her mistress. 
 
 The fight was short and decisive. The Fomorians 
 hopelessly outnumbered their opponents, and soon all 
 but two of the strangers were either killed or so badly 
 wounded that they were unable to hold their weap- 
 ons. MacKineely, in hand-to-hand conflict with 
 Balor, slipped on a piece of seaweed, and, before the 
 Dedannan could recover himself, the Fomorian 
 seized him by the hair and severed his head from his 
 body. His men managed to reach their boat, push off, 
 and carry home to Gavida and MacSamthann the 
 tidings of MacKineely's adventures and death. 
 
 Ethne and Blanaid were taken back to the tower.
 
 78 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 No one noticed that the waiting-woman had appeared 
 not with the others, but from the boat; therefore 
 Ethne's request that her favorite be allowed to re- 
 main with her was granted, although the eleven other 
 women were dismissed by the angry king, who dou- 
 bled the guard in front of the enclosure and established 
 sentries at close intervals along the rocks. The prin- 
 cess was commanded to remain for a year with only 
 the one companion, who was ordered upon pain of 
 death not to leave her mistress. In her sorrow for 
 MacKineely, Ethne was comforted by Blanaid. The 
 two lived quietly in the tower, giving themselves to 
 weaving and embroidery, and speaking often of the 
 brief time that Ethne's husband had been with them. 
 In due course, the princess gave birth to three baby 
 boys, but she died when they were only three days old. 
 Balor's fury upon hearing of the triplets was 
 greater than his grief for his daughter. Sending for 
 Blanaid, he would have put her to death had not her 
 father, a powerful chieftain, begged that she be 
 spared. However, she was sent away from the High 
 King's court. Ethne's children were given to an old 
 woman, who was paid by the king to kill them. Not 
 daring to put them to death in the daytime, she made 
 up her mind to drown them at night in the whirl- 
 pool of an inlet near her cottage.
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 79 
 
 When MacKineely lost the magic ring, he lost also 
 the link binding him to the druidess in Eriu and her 
 power. Although no longer able to protect him, she 
 was well aware of all that happened to him. Her in- 
 terest in the fortunes of his family continued after his 
 death; through her magic she knew of the birth of his 
 sons, and she was sure that Balor would try to kill 
 them. She had not power to keep them from harm; 
 nevertheless, it was she who inspired the old woman 
 to think of drowning them in the whirlpool near 
 the house where Blanaid had been living since her 
 banishment. 
 
 The crone took a boat and rowed out from shore. 
 Pulling in the oars, lest she go too near the swirling 
 waters, she let the boat drift, and held the three 
 children, pinned in a napkin, over the side. Unknown 
 to her, one of the infants slipped from the bundle and 
 fell into the tide, which bore him swiftly and surely 
 to a sandy beach, where he was deposited uncon- 
 scious but unhurt. A moment later, the woman, now 
 near the whirlpool, released the bundle, which was 
 promptly caught in the dark eddy and lost forever. 
 
 Balor was overjoyed when he learned of the appar- 
 ent success of his wicked, unnatural plan, and he gave 
 an additional sum of money to the old woman. Both 
 were ignorant of what had really happened; not so
 
 8o BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 the druidess in Eriu, who was delighted that the 
 waves had done what she hoped in rescuing at least 
 one of the boys. Immediately she sent a dream 
 wherein a shining figure appeared to Blanaid and 
 said: 
 
 " Go to the shore of the inlet, and there on the sand 
 below the dune find Ethne's son, who will one day be 
 great among the men of Eriu, more famous than any 
 other in whose veins runs the blood of the Fomorians." 
 
 Blanaid awoke and rushed to the beach, where lay 
 the child, left by the receding tide on the warm sand. 
 From a mark upon his chest, Blanaid recognized 
 him, and carried him home with her. After much ef- 
 fort, she restored him to strength, and kept him in 
 her charge for several months, swearing to secrecy the 
 few servants who lived with her. Then, fearful that 
 Balor might hear of the child and compass not only 
 her death but his, she determined to send him secretly 
 to his uncles in Eriu, of whom MacKineely had told 
 Ethne in Blanaid's hearing. This she was finally able 
 to do, through the good offices of a trader who had 
 been urged by the druidess to visit Blanaid. Gavida 
 and MacSamthann were overjoyed to receive the 
 boy, and they reared him with all the care due one 
 destined to be a valiant defender of his country. 
 
 At the time of the Dedannan invasion, the two
 
 THE STORY OF ETHNE 81 
 
 smiths were in a difficult position. Naturally sym- 
 pathetic with the Fir Bolg because of long associa- 
 tion, they still retained deep pride of race. Before the 
 Battle of Moytura, King MacErc had wisely sent 
 them on a mission into the southern part of the island, 
 that they might not be expected to fight against men 
 of their own blood. After the victory of the Dedan- 
 nans, both brothers were invaluable in arranging 
 amicable relations between their own people and the 
 Fir Bolg. 
 
 When King Nuada summoned his council to ad- 
 vise him in protecting Erin against the threat of 
 Fomorian invasion, Gavida and MacSamthann were 
 too old to travel as far as Tara to attend the nobles' 
 assembly; therefore, after consulting together, they 
 called their nephew, now grown to manhood, before 
 them. 
 
 "O Lugh," said Gavida, "we have taught thee all 
 we know, and we have also put thee under the guid- 
 ance of the best teachers. Thou art not only skilled 
 as a smith and as a warrior, but thou knowest the 
 history of thy father's people, the songs of the great- 
 est poets all, indeed, that is of use to a man of 
 imagination and of action. Now the country of thy 
 father is in danger from men of the very Fomorian 
 land in which he was slain, and it is said that the aged
 
 82 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 but still vigorous Balor will come with the host soon 
 to fall upon Eriu. King Nuada will ask aid of every 
 man. Since we are too advanced in years to bear 
 arms or to journey to the council, we would send 
 thee, Lugh, our best gift to our country. Take this 
 sword of thy father's, this spear that was MacSam- 
 thann's, and this shield that was mine, and journey 
 to the king. Victory, and the blessing of the gods be 
 upon thee!" 
 
 Lugh, his heart beating with eagerness to serve 
 in the Dedannan army, yet sad to leave his kindly 
 uncles, kissed them tenderly, and thanked them for 
 their weapons. Arming himself with these, he set out 
 for the High King's palace.
 
 VIII 
 THE NEW CHAMPION 
 
 Out from the wood at Tara, with sparkle of weapons 
 Help unheralded, to save the valiant from danger, 
 A youth advances, supple, confident, kingly; 
 Wondering doorkeepers murmur, and question the stranger. 
 
 ^UADA had not neglected to provide for 
 the protection of Tara during the feast 
 and the council of nobles; he had assigned 
 two renowned warriors to act as door- 
 keepers of the great hall. They were to 
 watch that no stranger appeared without 
 his presence becoming known. 
 
 As these men stood gazing languidly towards the 
 wood at the foot of Tara Hill, they saw a man come 
 from among the trees and turn in the direction of the 
 palace. The sun's rays sparkled upon his garments, 
 which the sentinels judged to be rich enough for a 
 great warrior, or even for a king. When he came 
 nearer, they found their surmise had been correct; 
 gold and silver threads were inwoven with the linen 
 of his kilt and with the cloak which covered his 
 shoulders. His sword-hilt was inlaid with gold; his 
 spear had a band of gold below the barb; his shield of
 
 84 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 wicker-work had a boss of shining findrinny; fair hair 
 fell about his shoulders; fearless was the glance of his 
 youthful eyes. 
 
 "Who goes there?" challenged one of the door- 
 keepers. 
 
 The stranger halted, planting the butt of his spear 
 firmly upon the ground. 
 
 "Lugh, son of a chieftain of the Dedannans," an- 
 swered the young man in a pleasant voice. "I would 
 aid the High King against the Fomorians." 
 
 "What art dost thou practice?" asked the door- 
 keeper further. 
 
 "Question me," Lugh replied. "I am a wright." 
 
 "We need thee not," responded the older sentinel. 
 "We have a wright already, even Luchtad, son of 
 Luachaid." 
 
 "Question me, O Doorkeeper! I am a smith." 
 
 "We have a smith already, even Colum Cuallinech 
 of the three new processes." 
 
 "Question me. I am a champion." 
 
 "We need thee not. We have champions: the 
 Dagda, Ogma, and others." 
 
 "I am a harper." 
 
 "We need thee not. We have a harper already, 
 even Abhean, son of Bicelmos, whom the men of the 
 three gods chose."
 
 THE NEW CHAMPION 85 
 
 "Question me, O Doorkeeper! I am a poet and I 
 am an historian." 
 
 "We need thee not. Already we have a poet and 
 historian, even En, son of Ethaman." 
 
 "I am a sorcerer also." 
 
 "We need thee not. Many are our wizards and our 
 folk of might." 
 
 "Question me. I am a leech." 
 
 " We need thee not. We have Miach and Diancecht." 
 
 "I am a cupbearer." 
 
 "We have cupbearers already, Delt and Drucht 
 and Daithe, Tor and Talam and Trog, Glei and Glan 
 and Gleisi." 
 
 "Question me. I am a good brazier." 
 
 "We need thee not. We have a brazier already, 
 even Credne Cerd." 
 
 By this time Lugh was growing discouraged. He 
 had purposely refrained from mentioning his uncles, 
 Gavida and MacSamthann, for he wished to be en- 
 rolled in the High King's service because of his own 
 merits. However, he made a final attempt to please 
 the doorkeeper. 
 
 "Go thou, O Warrior," he said, "to the king and 
 ask if at his court there is one man who combines 
 skill in all these arts. If so, I will turn from Tara and 
 trouble thee no longer."
 
 86 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 The doorkeeper, though really admiring Lugh's 
 abilities, resolved not to make the young man aware 
 of this impression immediately. Disappointment 
 would test the lad's strength of character. The sen- 
 tinel, therefore, when he heard the stranger's request, 
 merely inclined his head slightly and said, " I will do 
 that." 
 
 Once well within the house, he hastened to the 
 throne, where Nuada was waiting in gloomy silence, 
 for the king and his councillors had not been able to 
 agree upon a plan of campaign against the Fomorians. 
 
 "Hail to thee, O Nuada!" cried the doorkeeper. 
 "Help has come to us. In the lis without waits a 
 youth who himself possesses knowledge of all the arts 
 needed to defend Eriu: he is smith, brazier, leech, 
 champion. Well may he be named Samildanach, 
 Possessor of Many Arts at the Same Time. He has 
 come to offer his service in repelling the Fomorians." 
 
 Instantly the king was alert. "I shall question and 
 prove him. His skill may be less than thou sayest. 
 Bring my board for fidchille." 
 
 Nuada and the other Dedannans left the hall and 
 went to the end of the lis, or courtyard, where Lugh, 
 in company with the remaining doorkeeper, was 
 waiting. The young man saluted the king with be- 
 coming reverence and modesty.
 
 THE NEW CHAMPION 87 
 
 "O Youth, play fidchille with me," said Nuada 
 abruptly. 
 
 "I will indeed," responded Lugh. 
 
 King and stranger took their places at the board, 
 and the Dedannans pressed closely about to watch the 
 trial, for it was Nuada's custom to test in this game, 
 which was like chess, the intelligence of any one who 
 wished to act as his councillor. The king settled him- 
 self, assuming an attitude of indifference; Lugh sat 
 upright with parted lips and flushed cheeks. The 
 game progressed to a hard-fought contest; Nuada 
 knotted his brows; this was no inexperienced strip- 
 ling, but an opponent with the judgment of maturity. 
 So absorbed in the play was the entire company that 
 the occasional buzzing of a fly, or the breathing of 
 spectators and players, alone disturbed the silence. 
 
 Lugh finally pursued Nuada's king over almost the 
 entire board; at last the youth moved his castle, and, 
 looking up with a slight smile, said, " Checkmate, O 
 Sovereign of Eriu!" 
 
 For a moment Nuada gazed at the pieces, a trace of 
 disappointment passing over his face. Then, with a 
 laugh, he raised his head. 
 
 "Fairly hast thou won. Thy skill surpasseth that 
 of all other Dedannans, for none has ever defeated me 
 at fidchille until to-day. Indeed, thou art fit to be my
 
 88 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 councillor and my champion. Never has a man like 
 thee entered my dun. Come straightway across the 
 lis and into the great hall." 
 
 Amid the plaudits of the company, Lugh then re- 
 vealed the name of his father, and the fact that his 
 uncles had sent him to Tara. Upon hearing this, 
 Nuada embraced the lad tenderly. 
 
 "No less could I have expected from such trust- 
 worthy warriors. By none couldst thou have been 
 better taught. Welcome to this assembly; thou shalt 
 be a rock in time of danger!" 
 
 With these words the king led the way back to the 
 hall and to the long table at the foot of the throne. 
 When all save Lugh were seated, there was still a 
 vacant place at the right of the king, to which Nuada 
 pointed. 
 
 "This seat was set aside for the wisest of my 
 learned men, who is absent because of the infirmities 
 of age," said the High King. "Well mayst thou sit 
 here, for if thy skill with weapons is the equal of thy 
 power of mind, thou art destined to be the greatest of 
 the Dedannans." 
 
 Modestly, Lugh stood before the empty place and 
 said: 
 
 "My thanks to thee, O King, and to thy warriors, 
 for this greeting and for this honor. Rightly hast
 
 THE NEW CHAMPION 89 
 
 thou said that I have not yet proved my strength of 
 body. Let one of thy champions now test me." 
 
 "I will be that one," said Ogma, rising. 
 
 In the middle of the hall was a huge flat-topped 
 boulder, often used as a table, which had required 
 seven men for its placing. Over this bent Ogma. The 
 muscles of his arms and legs tightened as he seized 
 the rock and, with a mighty effort, hurled it, tearing 
 a jagged hole, through the side of the house. A mur- 
 mur of astonishment went round the assembly. Lugh 
 said nothing, but ran swiftly from the room, and soon 
 he could be seen outside the great hole. 
 
 "Stand aside, O Men of the Dedannans, that I 
 may restore the stone to its place!" he cried. 
 
 The warriors scattered to the corners of the room, 
 as, through the gaping rent in the wall, the boulder, 
 thrown with accurate aim, fell hurtling into its origi- 
 nal position. The entire company was silent, spell- 
 bound. Then a mighty cheer acclaimed the man who 
 had performed this marvelous feat. 
 
 After Lugh had taken the seat assigned him, one of 
 the oldest men rose and said: 
 
 "O Nuada, let our new champion play the harp for 
 us, that we may know if his skill in music be as great 
 as his bodily vigor." 
 
 From the harp given him, Lugh brought forth a
 
 9 o BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 haunting, slumbrous melody. Drowsiness overtook 
 the host, and it is said that they fell asleep until the 
 same hour on the following day, when they awoke 
 without realizing the passage of time. Lugh played a 
 dirge, and there was not a warrior whose face was not 
 wet with tears nor whose voice was not choked with 
 sobs. Swiftly, thereupon, the harper sounded a merry 
 tune, and straightway the warriors were laughing and 
 shouting with glee, so that they seemed a company of 
 children. 
 
 Then Lugh laid aside the harp, and the king or- 
 dered a great feast, which lasted many hours. After 
 that Nuada stood and addressed the assembly: 
 
 "O Dedannans, we who have seen the powers of 
 Lugh Samildanach have faith that he will deliver us 
 from slavery to the Fomorians. We would now have 
 his counsel, and, that we may all show our trust in 
 him, I would for a time yield him my throne. What 
 say ye, OMen?" 
 
 "Thou speakest wisely, Nuada!" they cried. 
 
 Then Lugh sat upon the throne and was treated as 
 a king, and all gave heed to his words, and he proved 
 skillful in planning strategy for the confusion of the 
 enemy. 
 
 At the end of thirteen days the council was dis- 
 missed, in order that each man might go to his own
 
 THE NEW CHAMPION 91 
 
 district to hearten his countrymen with news of the 
 arrival of Lugh. But before the councillors separated, 
 the learned men of all the arts, whether farmers, 
 smiths, charioteers, leeches, judges, were directed to 
 assemble in two weeks' time at Girley. Thither went 
 the young warrior, taking with him the Dagda, 
 Ogma, Gobniu the Smith, and Diancecht the Leech, 
 that he might consult with them privately.
 
 IX 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 
 
 " Wizards, braziers, swordsmen, 
 Lend me of your might, 
 For the fate of Eriu 
 Hangs upon a fight." 
 
 Thus spake King Nuada, 
 Royal, earnest, brave. 
 Hearts of all who heard him 
 Leapt, Eriu to save. 
 
 HEN the wise men and the heroes of 
 the Dedannans had gathered at Girley, 
 Nuada again sat upon the throne, and 
 at his right hand was Lugh. Then the 
 king arose and spoke: 
 "Councillors and heroes, we who have captured 
 the island of Eriu must soon show whether we 
 have the strength to hold it. Well is it for us to 
 remember certain things in order that we may have 
 confidence in the justice of our cause. We have tried 
 to make an alliance with the Fomorians, but they 
 would not live in peace with us; instead, they laid 
 waste the northern coast and demanded tribute, which 
 a weak king was willing to pay them. Bres no longer
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 93 
 
 spoke the will of our people when he agreed to this de- 
 mand. Now, blemished as a result of Corpre's satire, 
 and unfit to rule, he has fled to our enemies, and they 
 have made mighty preparations to take this island 
 and to restore him. The former king has shown that 
 he has a Fomorian rather than a Dedannan heart." 
 
 There was a rattle of arms, and a hoarse murmur in 
 approval of Nuada's words, before he continued: 
 
 "O Dedannans, we are, nevertheless, of good cour- 
 age. The presence in our army of Lugh of the Many 
 Arts will surely give us victory; yet we must not rely 
 upon one man, but upon the knowledge and the skill 
 of each. Let Mathgen the Sorcerer, therefore, say 
 what he will do to aid his countrymen." 
 
 Then an aged man, wearing a black cloak orna- 
 mented with gold thread, fixed a piercing eye upon 
 Nuada, and said: 
 
 "O King, if the forthcoming battle goes against the 
 Dedannans, I will cause the summits of the moun- 
 tains of Eriu to fall upon the Fomorians. And these 
 are the names of the twelve chief mountains which 
 will fight for us: the Slieve League, the Denna Ulad, 
 and the Mourne Mountains, and Slieve Bloom, and 
 Slieve Snechtai, Slieve Mish and Slieve Blai and 
 Memthenn and Slieve Maccu Belgodon, and the 
 Curlew Hills, and Cruachan Aigle."
 
 94 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "The gratitude of the Dedannans be upon thee, O 
 Mathgen," responded the king. "Let Drucht the 
 Cupbearer say what power he and his fellows will 
 wield." 
 
 "Not hard to say," declared Drucht. "We will 
 bring a mighty thirst upon the Fomorians, and they 
 shall not find drink to quench it. Before them we will 
 place the twelve chief lakes of Eriu, and in them the 
 Fomorians shall find no water, in Lough Derg, Lough 
 Luimnigh, Lough Corrib, Lough Ri, Lough Mask, 
 Strangford Lough, Lough Laeg, Lough Neagh, 
 Lough Foyle, Lough Gara, Lough Reagh, Marloch. 
 Likewise, if the enemy betake themselves to the 
 twelve chief rivers of Eriu, the Bush, Boyne, Baa, 
 Nem, Lee, Shannon, Moy, Sligo, Erne, Finn, Liffey, 
 Suir, these rivers will be hidden, so that there shall 
 not be a drop of water in any of them. On the other 
 hand, drink shall be plentiful for the Dedannans, 
 although they remain in battle to the end of seven 
 years." 
 
 "The thanks of thy countrymen be upon thee," 
 said Nuada. "We have not yet heard from all the 
 wizards of the Dedannans. Let Figol, Bechulle, and 
 ODianann rise up before me." 
 
 Then three men of middle age advanced before the 
 king. In their hands they held yew wands. The
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 95 
 
 cloaks of two of these brothers were red; that of the 
 other was blue. Each cloak was beautifully embroid- 
 ered with circles of gold thread. Figol, the eldest of 
 the three wizards, spoke for all. 
 
 "O Nuada!" he said, saluting the king. "If the 
 coming battle fares ill for the Dedannans, we will en- 
 chant trees, stones, and grass that they may seem a 
 host in arms marching against the Fomorians. We 
 will cause three showers of fire to pour into the faces 
 of the enemy, and we will take out of them two thirds 
 of their valor and their bravery and their strength, so 
 that they shall be overthrown by our might, and their 
 heroes slain. But with every breath that the Dedan- 
 nans draw, our countrymen shall have increase of 
 strength and of bravery, and they shall not be weary 
 even if they continue fighting for seven years." 
 
 As the wizards sat down amid the tumultuous ap- 
 proval of the entire company, the Dagda leaped to 
 his feet and cried enthusiastically, "The power which 
 ye boast, I will wield it all myself!" 
 
 A great shout of laughter greeted this assertion. 
 The Dedannans, nevertheless, were delighted with 
 the hero's resolve to do his best, for he was the equal 
 of more than seven ordinary warriors. 
 
 "Thou art the Dagda, Good Hand," they cried. 
 
 " I will take the side of the men of Eriu in mutual
 
 96 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 smiting and destruction and wizardry," he contin- 
 ued. "As many as hailstones under feet of herds of 
 horses shall be the bones of the enemy under my club 
 when we meet on the battle-field of Moytura." 
 
 When the laughter and cheering had died away, 
 Lugh, at a sign from the king, ordered a musical 
 branch hung with small silver bells to be shaken for 
 silence. 
 
 "Nobly, O Men of Art," said Lugh, "have ye of- 
 fered your skill to your country; but all have not 
 yet spoken. There are some with whom I have held 
 council already, and they have given me great cause 
 for joy. I would have all tell their purposes. Thou, 
 O Credne the Brazier, what wilt thou do?" 
 
 " Not hard for me to say," answered Credne. " Riv- 
 ets for spears, hilts for swords, bosses and rims for 
 shields I will supply them all." 
 
 "And thou, O Luchtaine, what wilt thou do?" 
 
 "Whatever shields and javelin shafts shall be 
 needed during battle, I will supply," promptly re- 
 plied Luchtaine. 
 
 "Next I call upon Gobniu, smith and carpenter." 
 
 "O King and Warriors, though the men of Eriu be 
 in battle to the end of seven years, whatever spear 
 parts from its shaft, or sword breaks, I shall mend it 
 forthwith. No spear-point which my hand shall forge
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 97 
 
 shall make a missing cast; no skin which it pierces 
 shall taste life thereafter. That much cannot be done 
 by Dulb, smith of the Fomorians." 
 
 When the cheering which this statement brought 
 forth had subsided, Lugh turned to Diancecht. 
 
 "O Diancecht, what power canst thou wield?" 
 
 "Not hard to say," answered the leech. "Not a 
 man shall be wounded but I will make him whole for 
 battle on the morrow, unless his head be cut off or his 
 brains spilled or his spinal marrow severed." 
 
 "And thou, O Corpre, poet of the Dedannans, what 
 wilt thou do?" 
 
 "I will stand upon one foot, stretch out one arm, 
 close one eye, and recite a glam dicinn, a rhyme call- 
 ing a curse upon the Fomorians." 
 
 "O Ogma, what wilt thou do in the battle?" 
 
 "That is not hard to say," was the answer. "I will 
 concern myself with repelling the High King of 
 the Fomorians and his bodyguard of twenty-seven 
 picked men." 
 
 Soon after this, Nuada dismissed the assembly, 
 bidding all the men in Eriu capable of bearing arms 
 meet him in a year's time on Samain. This day, now 
 called All Saints', was a great pagan festival. Every 
 warrior was directed to practice meanwhile with his 
 weapons and to see that his equipment should be in
 
 98 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 proper order for the trials of war. Nuada planned to 
 allow the Fomorians to land without opposition, and 
 on Samain to lead his army against them, for he hoped 
 in this way to destroy the enemy all in one battle. 
 
 There was then in Eriu a poetess who marched 
 with her countrymen to war, by her chants inspiring 
 them to valorous deeds. This Amazon was called the 
 Morrigu. She was unlike other Dedannan women, 
 who were fair, for she had black hair, a swarthy skin, 
 flashing black eyes, and a nose so hooked it suggested 
 a beak. She had the power of prophecy. To consult 
 this fierce woman went the Dagda immediately after 
 attending the council of the king. She told him that 
 the Fomorians would land in Connaught, and that 
 the best place to meet them would be on the Plain of 
 Moytura, where, some years before, the Dedannan 
 host had won their great victory over the Fir Bolg. 
 This augury the Dagda carried to Nuada, who felt 
 that it would be of good omen to encounter a second 
 enemy where he had vanquished the first. 
 
 The gathering on the Feast of Samain was a bril- 
 liant sight. The flash of highly polished weapons 
 set off the various colors of kilts and cloaks. Every 
 man of the host wore new garments and carried new 
 arms. At the head of the troops was placed a band of
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 99 
 
 Fir Bolg pipers, for the Dedannans had adopted the 
 custom of having bagpipes played at all assemblies 
 and upon entering battle. Since none were better 
 players than these earlier inhabitants of Eriu, the 
 privilege of piping was usually assigned to them. 
 The wild music throbbed on the sharp autumn air as 
 the warriors marched past Nuada, who stood with 
 Lugh at his side; the soldiers brandished their spears 
 and cheered vociferously when they came abreast of 
 their sovereign and their champion. The numbers were 
 carefully counted by a nobleman, appointed for the 
 purpose, who reported to the king that the army con- 
 sisted of eighteen thousand men, divided into thirds 
 of six thousand each. At the head of two of these 
 thirds were Ogma and the Dagda; the king himself 
 was to lead the remaining division. It was pointed 
 out to Lugh that his advice would be of even more 
 value than his presence in the conflict; that if he were 
 seriously injured he could not be replaced by any 
 other councillor. He therefore consented to keep out 
 of the righting, but so half-heartedly did he yield to 
 persuasion, that the king assigned a special tent on 
 the hillside for the young man's occupancy and safe 
 observation of the battle, and he appointed nine men 
 to act as a guard and to keep the champion from 
 rushing heedlessly into the fray.
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 
 
 The battle flows like summer tide 
 
 Across the trampled plain; 
 Sword-blades sing like winter wind: 
 
 Javelins flash like rain. 
 
 T the time of the hosting of the Dedan- 
 nans, the Fomorians were landing on 
 the western shores of Eriu. They were 
 elated that no one came to meet them, 
 for they imagined their enemies too much 
 frightened to offer resistance. 
 
 "We shall march unopposed to the hill 
 and the palace of Tara, with the Dedannans in hid- 
 ing!" cried Balor boastfully. 
 
 Bres smiled half-heartedly; he was distrustful of 
 the desolate countryside. 
 
 "Rejoice not too soon, O King," he answered, 
 "for the Dedannans are brave men, skilled in the 
 stratagems of war. Think not that we shall remain 
 in this land without reddening our swords." 
 
 The disembarking of the Fomorians had been 
 watched by scouts of the men of Eriu, and a messen- 
 ger rode at once to the king, arriving at Girley on the 
 night of Samain. Immediately, the Dedannan lead-
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 101 
 
 ers were called together, and it was agreed to send the 
 Dagda to parley with the enemy. The army would 
 follow him to await the invaders at the Plain of Moy- 
 tura, which was on the easiest route to Tara. 
 
 The champion hastened towards the Fomorians; he 
 was quickly brought into the presence of Balor, Elo- 
 tha, and Bres. The feelings with which the late king 
 and the Dagda looked upon each other were with 
 difficulty controlled: Bres, however, tried to appear 
 unconcerned; he felt that he had the upper hand, for 
 he was marching with the greatest host that had ever 
 invaded Eriu, and the allied kings were pledged to set 
 him again upon the throne, despite laws and possible 
 armed resistance. The Dagda decided to be wary, 
 for his object was to delay the impending battle as 
 long as he could. 
 
 "O Kings of the Fomorians," he said, "well do we 
 know of the vast army which has come to enforce 
 tribute. Our High King has already summoned his 
 councillors to meet him, and he has directed his war- 
 riors not to oppose your landing." 
 
 "Ye will be wise to pay promptly what is owing for 
 the past as well as what we demand for the present," 
 Balor replied, encouraged by the champion's confes- 
 sion that the Dedannan soldiers had been withdrawn 
 from the coast at the order of Nuada.
 
 io2 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "They are, in truth, afraid," thought the Fomorian 
 king; adding aloud, "Never, O Champion, have so 
 many trained men joined in one expedition as are 
 now come from Tory Island. The fleet that brought 
 us was a bridge of boats from our land to Eriu." 
 
 "Well is it that a messenger has been sent to tell us 
 the tribute is being made ready, and it were ill-done 
 should we treat a herald inhospitably," interposed 
 Elotha, who did not like Balor's vaunting, and who 
 remembered also the story of the indignity which 
 Bres had put upon the Dagda. 
 
 "Thou shalt feast with us to-night," added the 
 former king, with the evident intention of making 
 tardy amends for his previous behavior. 
 
 In spite of the Dedr/anan hero's strength, and his 
 ability with weapons, he had one weakness the 
 vice of gluttony; his eyes sparkled when he heard the 
 Fomorian invitation, and he cried, "I will sup with 
 you, indeed!" 
 
 Elotha and Bres were not inspired entirely by the 
 desire to be gracious to the Dagda; they knew of the 
 champion's liking for good food and drink, and they 
 had at the back of their minds the hope that he might 
 unfit himself to fight. Special preparations, accord- 
 ingly, were made to feed the Dedannan envoy, who 
 was of giant size nearly as large as Balor himself.
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 103 
 
 The Fomorian king's own cauldron was brought and 
 set upon the fire, and in this great pot was prepared a 
 porridge of fourscore gallons of new milk, into which 
 were thrown goats, sheep, and swine. While the 
 broth was cooking, the Dagda took a huge ladle and 
 began to eat. 
 
 "Never shalt thou reproach us with lack of hospi- 
 tality," said Balor; adding, in a half-joking tone, "If 
 thou dost not consume all of this, thou shalt be put to 
 death. Eat thy fill, therefore!' 
 
 "Good food this, if its broth attain what its taste 
 attains!" exclaimed the Dagda, helping himself 
 greedily. 
 
 The Fomorians ate little of the mixture themselves, 
 so amused were they in watching the Dagda, who, 
 when he had dipped up all that he could with the la- 
 dle, tilted the cauldron as if it were a mug and drained 
 it. He then bade good-night to those who had enter- 
 tained him and started for the tent where he was to 
 sleep. 
 
 Although he had eaten and drunk so much that his 
 brain was clouded and he walked unsteadily, he de- 
 clined offers of assistance. In the darkness, he wan- 
 dered from the camp, dragging after him his huge 
 club, which cut in the earth a furrow so deep that it 
 was later said to be fit for the boundary ditch of a
 
 io 4 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 province. At last, he came to the seashore, to a place 
 called the Strand of Eba, where, overcome by drowsi- 
 ness, he lay down in the sand and, pulling his brown 
 cloak over him, he slept. He did not waken until the 
 afternoon of the next day, when he was much aston- 
 ished and mortified to find how he had strayed to the 
 edge of the sea. He tried to discover the Fomorian 
 camp, but in the early morning the invaders had 
 pushed forward on their march to Tara, and the 
 Dagda saw only trampled grass and ashes of the fires 
 kindled the preceding night by the now vanished 
 army. With difficulty, he made iiis way to the Plain 
 of Moytura and safely regained the Dedannan forces. 
 Of course he had little to report, and he was well up- 
 braided by Nuada. 
 
 In the meantime, the Fomorians, misled by the 
 news that the men of Eriu were in council concerning 
 the tribute, continued in the delusion that they would 
 meet with no resistance. Their army, therefore, 
 marched in leisurely fashion to the Plain of Moytura, 
 intending to pitch camp. Great was their surprise to 
 find awaiting them the Dedannans drawn up in line 
 of battle. 
 
 "True were my prophecies, O Indech," said Bres to 
 the son of De Domnan. "The enemy will risk a trial 
 of arms."
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 105 
 
 "We will grant them this, and their bones shall be 
 broken unless they pay their tribute." 
 
 Although, upon seeing the Dedannans, the invad- 
 ers were taken aback, they quickly formed for action 
 and were exhorted by their leaders. Every chief and 
 champion had been supplied with thick armor of 
 leather, and a helmet of the same, reenforced with 
 findrinny; each soldier had a new spear, sword, and 
 shield. 
 
 The Dedannans decided to let their opponents at- 
 tack; therefore, after Nuada and Lugh had briefly ex- 
 horted the army, every man steeled himself to meet 
 the shock of onset. 
 
 When Nuada saw the Fomorians rushing upon him, 
 shouting their battle-cry, he said to his charioteer, 
 "Surely the meeting with the enemy will be a striking 
 of the head against a cliff, a hand in a nest of serpents, 
 a face close to the fire." 
 
 At that moment the Fomorians advanced within 
 range of a spear, and the air was soon thick with fly- 
 ing javelins. Then the warriors drew their swords, and 
 there was a sound of metal scraping against metal, of 
 wood splintering, when shields or spears were hacked 
 to pieces. Mingled with this din were the heavy 
 breathing of struggling men and the groans of the 
 wounded. Many Dedannans who not long before
 
 io6 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 had been as spirited as thoroughbred horses were 
 soon quiet in the stall of death. But the Fomorians 
 paid dearly for this havoc: there fell two of their num- 
 ber for nearly every Dedannan slain. As in almost 
 every battle, a few men ran away; they were, how- 
 ever, killed instantly by braver comrades. It is said, 
 therefore, that in this conflict pride and shame were 
 side by side. Fury rose between the opposing forces. 
 The whistling of swords and the noise of blows be- 
 came incessant. The grass grew so slippery with blood 
 that men falling could not rise again, but sat oppo- 
 site one another with their feet touching. If they lost 
 their swords, they clutched at one another's throats 
 with bare hands, and often beat their heads together 
 until one man overcame the other. 
 
 In and out of the Dedannan ranks sped the Mor- 
 rigu, shouting words of encouragement and stanzas of 
 a war song: 
 
 Kings arise to the battle, 
 
 Carrying death in their hands, 
 The terrible host of Dedannans, 
 
 Guarding their beautiful lands. 
 
 Dreadful the wrath of the warriors, 
 
 Deadly the bite of their swords; 
 Their shields are like rocks of the headland 
 
 Against the Fomorian hordes.
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 107 
 
 Sweet are the waters of Eriu. 
 
 Pleasant her hillsides and plains, 
 The scent of her trees and her blossoms, 
 
 Her winds and her mists and her rains. 
 
 Would ye hold them in peace, O Dedannans? 
 
 Smite, then, till the foemen fall back, 
 And the ships of the foemen are fleeing, 
 
 Tossed home with the sea-driven wrack. 
 
 Once the fierce woman came to where Lugh was 
 straining his eyes to watch the surging throng, or 
 pacing up and down, irritated that he could take no 
 part in the press. 
 
 "How fares the battle?" he cried. 
 
 "Well for the Dedannans, though it is shivering, 
 crowded, and bloody. The river is clogged with 
 corpses." 
 
 Behind the warriors of the Dedannan army worked 
 Gobniu the Smith, Luchtaine the Wright, Credne the 
 Brazier, Diancecht and Miach the Leeches. The aid 
 which they gave their countrymen in the forefront of 
 the fighting almost justified the boasting before the 
 battle began. The forges of Gobniu and his assistants 
 were kept glowing; there was heard the constant 
 clink of metal hammering metal as twisted sword- 
 blades and spear-heads were straightened or new ones 
 were made. Gobniu was able to forge a sword with
 
 io8 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 three blows, such was his skill, and Luchtaine made 
 spear-shafts with three turns of the wood, setting them 
 straightway in the rings of the spears. With no less 
 speed Credne made the rivets to hold the spear-heads 
 to the shafts. As for Diancecht and Miach, who 
 were assisted by Armed, Miach's sister, in caring for 
 the wounded, they had stationed themselves by a 
 spring which they called Slane, or Healing, whither 
 they carried every one who was seriously hurt. The 
 patient was promptly lowered into the spring, or 
 splashed with water, while Diancecht and Miach 
 chanted powerful spells. Thus the wounded were 
 enabled to recover so that they could fight on the 
 following morning. 
 
 Nightfall brought an end to the first day of battle 
 without a decisive victory, although the Dedannans 
 had a slight advantage. The Fomorians were cha- 
 grined; they had hoped to win in short order, and 
 they now suspected that the stout resistance of the 
 enemy was due to an organization of skilled work- 
 men in the rear. This, if it existed, the invaders de- 
 termined to destroy, and they chose for the task Rua- 
 dan, a champion of Dedannan ancestry and therefore 
 distinguished by light hair and blue eyes, so that he 
 might easily disguise himself as a Dedannan and work 
 his way behind the enemy lines. He was ordered to
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 109 
 
 seek out and slay the master workmen and not to re- 
 appear until all were killed. 
 
 When the battle was resumed on the morrow, the 
 Fomorian spy managed to skirt the flank of the op- 
 posing forces and to make his way in the direction 
 from which he saw the gleam of fire and heard the 
 steady blows of hammers. He soon found Gobniu and 
 his helpers. Throwing away his spear, Ruadan ap- 
 proached. 
 
 "Hail, O Smith of the Smiths! I have come to thee 
 for aid, since my casting-spear was lost yesterday and 
 my thrusting-spear this morning. Make for me a new 
 spear, that I may help as I should in bringing success 
 to our people." 
 
 Gobniu was suspicious. He did not recognize the 
 voice or the appearance of the man who spoke to 
 him; moreover, the stranger had not addressed him 
 by name. Gobniu decided to be cautious, though to 
 seem friendly. 
 
 " Make, O Crom, a spear for this warrior," said he, 
 turning to a woman who was one of his assistants. 
 
 "I will make it," she replied, blowing up her fire 
 and working swiftly. 
 
 "Marvelous the speed of those who help thee," 
 continued Ruadan. " I doubt if the Fomorians have 
 such work-people."
 
 no BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "We have need of quickness if we would defeat the 
 enemy," Gobniu answered; adding, "Knowest thou 
 the whereabouts of Lugh, our champion?" 
 
 By this question the Dedannan set a trap. The 
 smith was well aware that Lugh was not taking part 
 in the fighting. Before the stranger could reply, the 
 woman handed him the finished spear. 
 
 "My thanks, O Crom," said Ruadan; then he an- 
 swered Gobniu's question: "Lugh is in the van of the 
 Dedannans and the Fomorians fall before him like 
 leaves before a high wind." 
 
 "Here is a spy of the enemy! " shouted the smith. 
 "To arms!" 
 
 Ruadan knew at once that his position was critical 
 for Gobniu, dropping his hammer, reached for his 
 sword, and the other workmen ran for their weapons. 
 The Fomorian drew back his arm and hurled at the 
 smith, as though it were a slender javelin, the heavy 
 thrusting-spear just given him. It pierced the Dedan- 
 nan in the shoulder, quivering there until, with a 
 mighty tug, Gobniu wrenched it out and flung it 
 back at Ruadan. The thick barb shattered the skull 
 of the Fomorian as though it were the bark of a tree, 
 and he fell lifeless. Later, the body was carried to the 
 enemy's camp, where Ruadan's mother came to raise 
 her voice in weeping and wailing, that is, in keening,
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA in 
 
 her son. And this was said to be the first time that 
 keening was ever heard in Ireland. 
 
 Gobniu was hurried to the spring and delivered 
 into the hands of Diancecht, who healed him without 
 difficulty. 
 
 In the meantime, the conflict was not going so suc- 
 cessfully for the Dedannans as on the previous day; 
 the invaders were fighting with furious desperation, 
 and the defenders of Eriu suffered one particularly 
 serious disaster. Nuada's chariot was overturned and 
 lost a wheel, so that the king was compelled to con- 
 tinue the battle on foot. Moreover, the handle of his 
 irresistible sword worked loose, and the weapon had 
 to be sent back to Gobniu for repairs. The king, bor- 
 rowing an ordinary sword, pressed forward, but, at 
 this untoward moment, Balor managed to cut his way 
 through the Dedannan forces until he crossed swords 
 with Nuada. The Fomorians and the Dedannans in 
 the vicinity stopped fighting to watch the duel be- 
 tween the sovereigns, which was, however, of short 
 duration, for the untrustworthy blade of Nuada sud- 
 denly snapped near the hilt, and, before his country- 
 men could come to his rescue, their ruler was slain. 
 
 Lugh had seen from his point of vantage the mis- 
 fortune to the king's chariot, and had determined to 
 go to the assistance of Nuada; by a ruse he had eluded
 
 ii2 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 the nine men of his bodyguard: calling his charioteer, 
 he cried, " Come with me, O Domnall. The sun is hot 
 and I would rest." The other men paid little atten- 
 tion to this, for they were so absorbed in watching the 
 battle that they crowded to the edge of the hill with 
 their backs to the tent which Lugh and Domnall 
 entered. 
 
 "Long, O Domnall, hast thou served me, and I 
 shall place my whole trust in thee," said Lugh. "No 
 longer will I stay idle here. I have made what plans 
 I can for the battle; the issue rests now with Fate and 
 the gods. I must take sword and spear and go myself 
 to join the Tuatha De Dannan; yet I cannot have 
 thee yoke my chariot, for the guard would hinder 
 thee. Lend me thy cloak; while the warriors eagerly 
 watch the fight, I shall escape down the side of the 
 hill. If a guard catch a glimpse of me he will think I 
 am thou, gone upon a message. Remain here till a 
 shout tells thee I am with our army. Do ye all then 
 hasten to me, for in truth I believe ye will be glad of 
 the fray!" 
 
 "Joyfully will I aid thee, for well do I know of what 
 help thy prowess will be," replied the charioteer. 
 
 Swiftly Lugh changed his cloak and raised the tent- 
 flap. The nine men were still intently watching the 
 struggle between Balor and Nuada, so that the youth
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 113 
 
 ran down the hill unseen. As the eager champion 
 drew near the Dedannan host, there burst from a 
 thousand throats a wild cry of rage and grief for the 
 death of the king. 
 
 A moment of panic followed the slaying of Nuada; 
 the Fomorians, seeing signs of confusion among their 
 enemies, were preparing for a fresh onslaught when 
 suddenly there came a shout: "O Men of Eriu, help 
 is at hand! Lugh of the Many Arts, champion of 
 champions, is come, and the fury of battle is upon 
 him!" 
 
 All eyes turned to where Lugh was racing towards 
 his countrymen. So easily he ran that he would not 
 have brushed dew from grass; his speed was such 
 that no bird could have outdistanced him; his long 
 hair and his cloak floated behind him; in his right 
 hand he brandished a casting-spear; above the si- 
 lence of the two armies who paused to look at him, 
 rose the sound of his war-cry, "Eriu co brath! Eriu 
 forever!" 
 
 The warriors of the Dedannans took up and re- 
 peated the shout, and their courage returned. Every 
 man now resolved to die protecting his country rather 
 than to live in the bondage of paying tribute. 
 
 As Lugh came within spear-cast of the Fomorians, 
 his weapon whizzed towards them, killing five of their
 
 ii 4 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 best soldiers. In a flash, the youth recalled the story 
 of his father's death, and the remembrance kindled 
 the desire of revenge. Standing on one foot, whirling 
 his sword above his head, Lugh shouted alternately 
 cheering words to his friends, defiance to his foes. He 
 closed one eye to watch narrowly the bright blade as 
 it hummed through the air; he ran round the De- 
 dannans, who greeted him with delight; he plunged 
 forward, cutting and slashing, irresistible. Ever he 
 worked his way towards the High King of the Fomo- 
 rians. Balor's huge bulk rose above the foaming tur- 
 moil. He was, at this instant, intending to follow his 
 victory over Nuada with a death-dealing glance that 
 would destroy all his enemies, and he was roaring at 
 his gilly to raise the lid of the baleful eye. Lugh 
 hoped to get behind the Fomorian and attack him be- 
 fore the squire could obey, but Balor had seen the 
 Dedannan felling enemies like dried grass, and he 
 cried again to the terrified gilly, "Lift up mine eye- 
 lid, O Boy!" 
 
 Not yet near enough to reach Balor with his sword, 
 Lugh seized a sling from the hand of a dead man, 
 fitted the stone, which had rolled only a few inches 
 away, and hurled it. The missile caught the dreaded 
 eye just as it was opening, and carried it through the 
 king's head with the ease of a knife piercing a leaf.
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 115 
 
 Like a tree shivered by a thunderbolt, Balor toppled 
 and fell. A groan ran along the Fomorian ranks, a 
 cheer along the Dedannans'. The flags of the de- 
 fenders of Eriu waved exultantly. 
 
 Disheartened, the invading army now began to 
 give way, and the retreat soon changed to a rout. A 
 few small bands had enough discipline to keep to- 
 gether, to escape in orderly fashion towards their 
 ships, but most of the Fomorians threw away sword 
 and shield in their haste to flee from their enemies, 
 who were sweeping through the stragglers and cut- 
 ting them down by the hundred. However, the pur- 
 suit was halted by the desire of the victors to collect 
 the vast amount of booty that littered the field. 
 
 Such had been the power of Lugh's cast that, be- 
 fore its force was spent, the stone which slew Balor 
 felled twenty-seven men behind him. Two of them 
 were thrown violently against Indech, who, in the 
 confusion of the fighting, did not realize by whom he 
 had been assailed. 
 
 "Let my poet, Loch Half-Green, be summoned," 
 he cried in fury. 
 
 The poet, dressed in the customary green cloak 
 which gave him his name, hastened to the king and 
 saluted him. 
 
 "Make known to me who flung the cast that
 
 ii6 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 struck these men," commanded Indech, pointing to 
 the lifeless warriors. "Slay him if thou canst!" 
 
 "Never shall he escape my sword!" answered 
 Loch, hurrying away. 
 
 He soon found Lugh, and the two men fought des- 
 perately, but Loch was no match for the Dedannan. 
 When the Fomorian saw there was no hope of winning 
 the combat, he yielded, and asked for quarter. 
 
 "I will spare thee," said Lugh, "if thou canst tell 
 me the number of the slain among thy people." 
 
 "As to the number of common soldiers and of the 
 artisans who came in company with the great army 
 for every champion and every over-king and every 
 high chieftain of the Fomorians came with his host to 
 the battle only a few of the servants of the over- 
 kings can be reckoned; these I number as eight hun- 
 dred and forty. As to the men who did not reach the 
 heart of the battle, they cannot be counted until are 
 numbered stars of heaven and sands of sea and flakes 
 of snow and blades of grass under feet of herds and 
 waves of the sea in a storm, which are the white- 
 maned horses of the lord of the sea, the son of Lir. 
 But I know the number of over-kings and high nobles 
 of the Fomorians who have fallen, even eighty-five 
 thousand four hundred and sixteen. Among them, O 
 Chief of Chiefs, thou hast slain Balor. There was a
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 117 
 
 prophecy of our druids that the High King should 
 perish by the hand of his own grandson, but the gods 
 have given him no heir save a daughter who died long 
 ago, and he is slain by the blow of a stranger." 
 
 " Balor has paid with his life for that of his daugh- 
 ter's husband, my father!" replied Lugh. 
 
 "Then is the prophecy fulfilled! O Chieftain, never 
 shall Eriu again be plundered by the Fomorians from 
 now until the Day of Doom!" added Loch. 
 
 "Go in peace," was the Dedannan's answer. 
 
 Saluting his former adversary the poet quickly dis- 
 appeared in the direction of the Fomorian retreat. 
 
 Though most of the royal leaders of the invading 
 army had been slaughtered, one of them, Bres, the 
 blemished king, was still alive. He was almost sur- 
 rounded, and trying desperately to keep the Dedan- 
 nans in check. With a shout of joy Lugh came up to 
 him. 
 
 "Now, O traitor to thy kingship, thine end has 
 come!" 
 
 "My saving would be better than my killing," 
 said Bres, determined, if he could not preserve his 
 life by his skill with weapons, to save it by his wits. 
 
 "What would result from that?" asked Lugh. 
 
 "The kine of Eriu should be ever in milk." 
 
 "I will set this forth to one of our wise men," said
 
 n8 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 Lugh, lowering his sword and calling for a druid, who 
 soon joined him. 
 
 "Shall Bres be spared if he gives constant milk to 
 the kine of Eriu?" Lugh inquired. 
 
 " Bres shall not be spared," was the answer, " for he 
 has no power over the age of the kine nor over their 
 offspring." 
 
 "This does not save thee," said Lugh to Bres. "Is 
 there aught else thou canst propose?" 
 
 "There is, in truth. Thy people shall, for my sav- 
 ing, reap a harvest in every quarter of the year." 
 
 Lugh turned again to the druid and asked, "Shall 
 Bres be spared because of a harvest of corn every 
 quarter for the men of Eriu?" 
 
 Again the druid shook his head, and replied: 
 
 "We now have spring for ploughing and sowing, 
 and the beginning of summer for the end of the 
 strength of corn; and the beginning of autumn for the 
 end of the ripeness of corn and for reaping; winter for 
 its gathering. But ask Bres when the men of Eriu 
 shall plough, when they shall sow, and when they 
 shall reap. After making known these things, he shall 
 be spared." 
 
 Lugh repeated what the druid had said, and Bres 
 answered, "Tuesday their ploughing, Tuesday their 
 casting seed into the field, Tuesday their reaping."
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 119 
 
 After that Lugh bade the former king go free. 
 
 "We would not have thee in the island of Eriu. Re- 
 turn to the people thou hast chosen in preference to 
 us." 
 
 Shamed, the traitor slunk off; Lugh and his com- 
 panions watched till Bres was swallowed in the gath- 
 ering darkness. 
 
 By this time it was nearly nightfall, and the De- 
 dannans were too exhausted from their days of fight- 
 ing to follow the few companies of Fomorians who 
 had escaped destruction; therefore the victors 
 camped where they were, and their fires were soon 
 flaming brightly. 
 
 After the death of Nuada, Lugh had been generally 
 accepted as the leader of his countrymen, and the 
 captains of the host reported to him. Each officer 
 gave the number of shields, spears, swords, that had 
 fallen into the hands of his men, and the names of the 
 dead and wounded in his command. Among those re- 
 porting was Ogma, who had picked up a Fomorian 
 sword with a jeweled hilt which he now offered Lugh. 
 
 "Keep the sword for thine own. Well hast thou 
 earned a reward this day," said the champion gra- 
 ciously. 
 
 Thanking his leader, Ogma decided to clean the 
 weapon before he went to sleep that night. Dropping
 
 no BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 wearily by the fire, he set about this work. Suddenly, 
 he was amazed to hear the sword speaking with a 
 sound like metal humming through the air: 
 
 I am the sword of Tethra, king of Fomorians. 
 
 Well was I hammered and shaped of finest findrinny; 
 
 Fire leaped and roared at my forging; I shivered and thrilled 
 
 For joy that my blade would soon be singing and cutting. 
 
 Then was I borne to a boat by the leader of warriors, 
 Brought to the Plain of Moytura, unsheathed in the battle. 
 Gayly I tore the bones and the flesh of the foemen, 
 Scattering life-blood from many a white-throated hero. 
 
 Victory kept not a tryst with the dark-browed Fomorians 
 The sun may not always be held in dungeons of darkness 
 Light and life leapt to the sunshine; the swords of Dedannans 
 Granted release to an unwitting dweller in shadow. 
 
 Gird me, O Chief of the noble and fair-haired Dedannans! 
 
 Well shall I serve thee, defending the island of Eriu, 
 
 Her plains and her mountains, her glens and her lakes and her 
 
 rivers, 
 Till her waters be dry and the crown of her greenness be withered. 
 
 "My thanks, O Sword of Tethra," said the chief- 
 tain, when the low chant was ended; "I shall indeed 
 keep thee forever. Thy name shall be The Defender." 
 
 At the same time, in another part of the camp, the 
 Dagda entered Lugh's tent and was pleasantly 
 greeted.
 
 THE SECOND BATTLE OF MOYTURA 121 
 
 "I have been wondering how soon thou wouldst 
 bring me thy word of the battle. In truth, with club 
 and with sword thou wert a destroyer of the enemy." 
 
 "I have slain thirty champions with my own blade, 
 and but a hundred of the men of my third have per- 
 ished, yet I am greatly troubled," answered the 
 Dagda. "My cherished harp, Four-Angled-Music, 
 has been carried away by the Fomorians. When I re- 
 turned from their camp, I had little time before the 
 battle, and I laid the harp on the ground at what 
 was then the rear of our army; but, in the changes 
 of fighting, the Fomorians took the ground, and the 
 Four-Angled-One is gone. Some of the enemy were 
 able to retreat with not only their own weapons, but 
 with a few of ours; undoubtedly they have my harp." 
 
 "To-morrow thou shalt seek it, and I shall go with 
 thee," answered Lugh.
 
 XI 
 THE DAGDA AND HIS HARP 
 
 Silent harp of Eriu, 
 
 When wilt them sing again? 
 How should a stranger know thy songs, 
 
 The loved Dedannan strain? 
 
 HE sun was already several hours 
 high when the Dedannan army, 
 again drawn up in fighting forma- 
 tion, heard the Morrigu proclaim the 
 victory of the previous day. She was 
 dressed in a scarlet cloak; her long 
 black hair, bound by a golden circlet, hung below her 
 waist; she sang in a shrill, high voice: 
 
 Victory now, O Warriors of Eriu ! 
 
 Chant we the glory and grace of the slain; 
 Honor the dead and honor the living, 
 
 Those who by battle have brought peace again! 
 
 Hang up the shield; place the spear in the corner; 
 
 Follow the plough in the furrow of earth; 
 Let the slim coracle glide down the tideway 
 
 Carrying our fishermen far on the firtn. 
 
 May the mouths of our rivers with salmon be teeming; 
 
 Ducks in their hundreds drift through the air; 
 Kine in their multitudes graze on our pasture-lands; 
 
 Many a stag of points flee from his lair.
 
 THE DAGDA AND HIS HARP 123 
 
 Peace on the earth and peace in the heavens; 
 
 Peace over Eriu smiling and green; 
 Peace on her shores and peace in her borders; 
 
 Peace to the servants of Eriu, Queen! 
 
 A deafening cheer rose from the army when the 
 poetess had finished, for the Dedannans loved their 
 country, and each man was proud that he had had a 
 share in defending it. Then the Dagda led before the 
 company a cow which had been given him by Bres in 
 payment for digging the ditch about the former 
 king's rath. This black beast from the royal herd had 
 been the only reward the Dagda would take, at which 
 the niggardly Bres had been delighted. The cham- 
 pion had made his choice upon the advice of his son, 
 Angus, whose wisdom was now proven, for, when the 
 cow lowed, all the cattle of Eriu answered. Some of 
 them were in the act of being carried off by the Fo- 
 morians, but, upon hearing the voice of the Dagda's 
 animal, the kine broke from their captors, galloped 
 towards the western coast, and were soon quietly 
 grazing upon the Plain of Moytura, where they were 
 quickly recaptured by their former owners. 
 
 After the Dagda had tethered his cow, he sought 
 Lugh. "I am ready," he said, "to go in quest of my 
 harp." 
 
 "And I with thee," replied the Dedannan leader,
 
 i2 4 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "but first let us ask Ogma to be our guide, foi he 
 knows the direction in which Bres fled." 
 
 The Dagda's brother willingly agreed to accom- 
 pany his fellows, and they were soon on the track of 
 the Fomorians. About midday the pursuers ap- 
 proached an open space near the edge of a wood, from 
 which, as they advanced, they heard the sound of 
 voices. Cautiously the three men moved forward, 
 and soon they saw between fifty and a hundred of 
 their enemies engaged in preparing a meal. They 
 were seated in groups about enormous fires. Leaning 
 against a tree behind Bres was the stolen harp. As 
 the three companions crouched among the ferns, the 
 Dagda whispered: 
 
 "Fortunate am I to have learned magic in the 
 northern isles, for now I shall regain my harp." 
 
 "Three against a hundred good odds!" said 
 Ogma in an undertone, fingering his new sword. 
 
 "We shall be their equals," encouraged Lugh. 
 
 "We may not have to use our weapons, if the 
 magic which I have bound into my harp avails. The 
 wood of the frame is from a druid wand, and is 
 accustomed to come to my hand when summoned." 
 
 Then, in a loud, clear voice, the champion sang: 
 
 Melodious Four-Angled-Music, 
 Harp of the wondrous airs,
 
 THE DAGDA AND HIS HARP 125 
 
 He who is come for thy saving, 
 Death in the woodland dares. 
 
 Songs of summer and winter 
 Sweetly thy strings have sung, 
 Sleep-music, wailing, and laughter, 
 Songs of the old, the young. 
 
 Rise and come at my calling! 
 Let me unbind thine airs! 
 He who is come for thy saving, 
 Death in the woodland dares! 
 
 At the close of the first stanza, the harp stirred, and 
 a faint harmony swept across the strings. By the 
 time the Dagda reached the last line of the final 
 stanza, Four-Angled-Music rose into the air, as if 
 lifted by an unseen hand, and came steadily towards 
 the Dedannans. Bres and the Fomorians with him 
 were attracted by the sound behind them; they 
 turned and stood for a moment spellbound. Then 
 the former king tried to seize the harp, moving 
 towards him at about the height of his head, but 
 his hands slipped from the polished frame. 
 
 Gathering speed, the Four-Angled-One struck him 
 in the forehead with such force that he was instantly 
 killed. Nine men shared his fate; but the harp moved 
 serenely and swiftly forward until it sprang into the 
 outstretched hands of the Dagda, where it settled
 
 126 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 itself so that he might play. The three Dedannans 
 had risen to their feet, and Lugh and Ogma stood 
 with drawn swords beside their fellow. 
 
 Recovering from the shock of surprise, the Fomo- 
 rians, running for their weapons, shouted, "The De- 
 dannans! The Dedannans! We are attacked!" and 
 rushed to overwhelm the three champions; but, at 
 that moment, the Dagda drew his fingers across the 
 strings and played a wild song of weeping. The 
 charging men paused, dropped their swords, and 
 went into a frenzy of grief. The Dagda laughed; 
 straightway he changed the tune to one with a trip- 
 ping, strongly marked rhythm, and the foemen were 
 instantly as mirthful as before they had been sad; 
 they flung themselves about and danced in glee. 
 Again the Dedannan changed the air; now the harp 
 uttered a wistful, slumbrous melody, so that the 
 Fomorians sank drowsily to the ground and were at 
 once asleep. 
 
 The Dagda slung his harp over his shoulder and 
 turned to his companions. "Now we may go undis- 
 turbed," he said. "Did I not tell you there would be 
 no need for swords? That thief and traitor will never 
 awaken," he added grimly; "the curse of Corpre has 
 availed." 
 
 Lugh and Ogma nodded gravely.
 
 THE DAGDA AND HIS HARP 127 
 
 The champions now made haste to the Plain of 
 Moytura, where the army joyfully received them. 
 After passing another night on the battle-field, Lugh 
 led the Dedannans back to Tara, where the troops 
 were disbanded. However, most of the men did not 
 return to their homes immediately, but attended the 
 assembly of nobles which unanimously elected Lugh 
 High King and decided to have his coronation at 
 once. For a week, therefore, many of the men of 
 Eriu feasted at Tara, and they rejoiced exceedingly 
 because they felt that their victory over the Fomo- 
 rians would bring lasting peace. The great Stone of 
 Destiny, the Lia Fail, roared when Lugh stood upon 
 it; thus it recognized him as a rightful king. 
 
 The champion reigned many years, till his hair 
 grew gray, his eyes dim. He was succeeded on the 
 throne in turn by the Dagda, by Delbaeth, by Fiacach, 
 by Findgill; and they were succeeded by three grand- 
 sons of the Dagda, MacCuill, MacCecht, and Mac- 
 Grene, who ruled simultaneously and divided Ireland 
 into three parts, over each of which reigned one of 
 the brothers. In their time a new race came to Eriu, 
 and the clashing of swords was again heard in the 
 island.
 
 XII 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 
 
 Over green waves the strangers seek thee, 
 With straining oars and sails unfurled, 
 
 Eriu, goal of their hearts' adventure, 
 Eriu, Queen of the Western World. 
 
 kEITHER nations nor individuals can live 
 entirely to themselves. At the time when 
 the events just narrated were taking place 
 in Eriu, an Eastern race, named the 
 Milesians, after Mil, one of their chief- 
 tains, had begun a series of migrations 
 which brought them eventually to the island of Brit- 
 ain. Here they led busy, industrious lives, tilling the 
 soil and fishing the neighboring seas. For some un- 
 explained reason, they did not sail westward; perhaps 
 they associated the place of the sunset with the land 
 of the dead, in the way soldiers now speak of their 
 fallen comrades as having "gone west." Whatever 
 the cause, the Milesians did not discover the island of 
 Eriu; nor did the Dedannans, intent upon their own 
 affairs, learn of their new neighbors. 
 
 One of the Milesians, however, a chieftain named 
 Ith, was more enterprising than others of his coun-
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 129 
 
 trymen. On an evening of early spring, following a 
 day of such extraordinarily clear atmosphere that no 
 man remembered the like, Ith climbed to the top of a 
 lofty tower which his father had built on the south- 
 west coast of Britain, an observation post whence he 
 could look over the sea to judge whether it would be 
 smooth enough for fishermen on the morrow. As the 
 warrior gazed intently towards the west, shading his 
 eyes with his hand, he thought he saw in the distance 
 the dim outline of another coast. 
 
 Turning to his brother, Breg, he said, "O Brother, 
 is that land which I see yonder?" 
 
 Breg nodded slowly. " That may be land, or it may 
 be the clouds of heaven. None from these shores has 
 ever visited there." 
 
 "Then I shall be the first to do so," rejoined Ith. 
 
 Admiration gleamed in Breg's eyes. "Thou wert 
 ever one for adventure. Remember that the west is 
 where the sun disappears, and if, in thy youthful 
 eagerness, thou goest thither, thou art risking death." 
 
 "Yet I am not young, after all," retorted Ith. 
 "My son is already able to wield a sword, and my 
 hair is tinged with gray." 
 
 "Thou wert always a wanderer," answered Breg, 
 shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 "To-morrow I shall make ready for the journey,"
 
 ijo BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 cried Ith joyfully. "Perchance I shall arrange a 
 treaty with the dwellers in yonder country, that we 
 may trade with them." 
 
 Ith found comparatively little difficulty in obtain- 
 ing companions for his journey, since there are always 
 men ready to undertake a brave exploit. He se- 
 lected ninety of the most valiant and the most skilled 
 of the Milesians; a small party, he thought, would not 
 seem warlike and would be able to travel more rapidly 
 than a great company. All chosen for the expedition 
 went to work with a will, and in a short time they had 
 embarked and set sail. Their kindred crowded the 
 beach to watch the departure and to cheer the voyag- 
 ers upon their way. Many, however, thought them 
 foolhardy. 
 
 Without mishap, the adventurers came to land on 
 the eastern shore of Eriu, where they were met by a 
 shepherd, who was at first terrified, but who became 
 friendly when he discovered that he and the strangers 
 spoke the same tongue. When Ith noticed that there 
 appeared to be few people in the vicinity, the herd 
 explained that nearly all the inhabitants of Eriu had 
 gone to a gathering at a place in the north, near the 
 present city of Londonderry. This assembly had been 
 summoned by the three High Kings, MacCuill, Mac- 
 Cecht, and MacGrene, because of a legal dispute in
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 131 
 
 regard to property. One of the disputants had ap- 
 pealed to MacCuill; the other to MacCecht. Mac- 
 Grene was to sit as judge and to hear the case argued 
 by the most learned brehons, or lawyers, of the entire 
 kingdom. 
 
 "However," the shepherd said in conclusion, 
 " there is little likelihood of a settlement, for the argu- 
 ments of each side are already well known, and feel- 
 ing runs high. The case has been unsettled for over a 
 year, and it is doubtful if it will be determined by 
 peaceable means. Every man who went to the gath- 
 ering took his weapons with him." 
 
 The Milesian chieftain drew his companions aside; 
 after a short conversation, he turned again to the 
 yokel. "Mayhap I could decide this case, for I am 
 learned in law. Will it be possible for me to go to the 
 assembly?" 
 
 "Truly, then thou hast arrived at a fortunate 
 time," said the countryman. "Gladly the Dedan- 
 nans and their sovereigns will welcome thee, and I 
 myself will be thy guide." 
 
 It was arranged that Ith should take only nine of 
 his men with him upon the journey northward, leav- 
 ing the others to guard the boat and to explore the 
 country near the coast. On the way, the friendly 
 guide told Ith much about Eriu and the history of
 
 132 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 the Dedannans. He explained particularly that the 
 present was not the equal of the generations of the 
 past; especially were the kings, MacCuill, MacCecht, 
 and MacGrene, men of less strength and ability than 
 their grandfather, the Dagda, and the heroes of his 
 day. Although the peasant spoke with caution, Ith 
 realized that there was widespread dissatisfaction in 
 Eriu; it seemed to him that the shepherd looked a 
 trifle enviously at the stalwart Milesians. For his 
 own part, the leader marveled at the fertility of the 
 country he traveled through: the great central plain, 
 with cattle grazing, and with cultivated fields; the 
 forests abounding in game; the lakes and streams 
 teeming with fish. 
 
 Eventually the Milesians reached the assembly of 
 the men of Eriu, where the Dedannans looked upon 
 them with curiosity, but without hostility. Word of 
 the new arrivals was quickly brought to the sover- 
 eigns, and the strangers were called before the thrones 
 upon which sat the three High Kings. Gladness 
 filled the hearts of the rulers, for the dispute before 
 the court had again reached a deadlock. 
 
 Ith explained his coming, his hope that there might 
 be close relations between Eriu and his own country. 
 To King MacGrene he added that he had heard of the 
 quarrel between MacCuill and MacCecht, and that 
 he had knowledge of law.
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 133 
 
 "Welcome art thou, and welcome are those with 
 thee," graciously responded MacGrene. "Happy 
 fortune has brought thee hither. Gladly do we wel- 
 come thee as judge." t 
 
 MacGrene then set forth carefully the entire cause 
 of disagreement between the two parties, and the ar- 
 guments which had been used by the Dedannan bre- 
 hons. While the king spoke, Ith's mind worked 
 quickly; he foresaw that if he decided in favor of 
 either contestant, the other might be made his lasting 
 enemy. As a result, Ith would not succeed in his pur- 
 pose of establishing friendly relations between De- 
 dannans and Milesians. He determined, therefore, to 
 give a judgment which might reconcile the brothers, 
 but which should be expressed in such general terms 
 that he could not be accused of interfering in a house- 
 hold quarrel. This he did, concluding: 
 
 "Do just righteousness. It is fitting for you to 
 maintain a good brotherhood. It is right for you to 
 have a good disposition. Good is your land; plenteous 
 her harvest, her honey, her fish, her wheat, and her 
 other grain; moderate are her heat and cold; all that 
 is sufficient for you is in her. Act according to the 
 laws of justice." 
 
 These words were received by the entire assembly 
 with the silence of disappointment. MacGrene was
 
 134 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 particularly confused; he had hoped to reunite Mac- 
 Cuill and MacCecht, and he knew that he could not 
 ask a new judgment from the stranger, for that would 
 be the height of discourtesy. Ith also realized his 
 mistake, yet he was fearful of causing still more harm 
 if he spoke further. Fortunately, MacGrene saved 
 the situation by saying: 
 
 " Brothers, and Men of the Dedannans, we owe our 
 thanks to Ith of the Milesians for his judgment. May 
 his words, working in our hearts, bring straight from 
 crooked! Ponder well this case; and I summon you 
 all to meet me here three months from to-day, that 
 we may again know the opinions of the brehons. 
 Now, O Chieftain, I bid thee and thy companions 
 feast with us in two hours' time in our royal tent, 
 that we may discuss the matters which concern 
 Milesians and Dedannans." 
 
 Saluting the kings, Ith accepted the royal invita- 
 tion, and he and his followers withdrew to a tent set 
 apart for their use. Here he gave himself to moody 
 thoughts, but, after a time, his spirits revived, for he 
 remembered that he had not yet spoken of establish- 
 ing trade between Britain and Eriu, and he hoped 
 that, by the time of the feast, the misfortune of the 
 morning would be forgotten. He felt MacGrene to 
 be well disposed, but he distrusted the dark looks of 
 MacCuill and MacCecht.
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 135 
 
 Without pleasure, the Dedannans prepared for a 
 night of carousing. As the supporters of the opposing 
 kings passed one another, there was a rattling of 
 swords and spears against shields. MacCuill and 
 MacCecht, glowering at each other, went to separate 
 tents, where they paced angrily up and down, enmity 
 smouldering in their hearts. MacGrene, on the other 
 hand, was of a happier disposition; he was not long 
 troubled by Ith's unfortunate lack of decision; he 
 wished sincerely to bring his countrymen more into 
 touch with the rest of the world, and he welcomed the 
 opportunity of possible trade with the Milesians. 
 However, the plans of the well-disposed were des- 
 tined to be overthrown by one man who cherished 
 hatred; the power of the Dedannans was to be broken 
 by the scheming of a Fomorian. 
 
 For some time after the Second Battle of Moytura, 
 no Fomorian had visited Eriu, but, eventually, the 
 family of Balor having died out, his people landed 
 once more upon the Irish coast, where, since they had 
 lost their old arrogance, they were hospitably treated. 
 Among those who crossed the narrow stretch of water 
 dividing Tory Island from Eriu was a certain Brath, 
 a youth skilled in wizardry, exceedingly ugly, and of 
 an evil disposition. His grandfather had been slain 
 in the Battle of Moytura, and his father, swearing to
 
 136 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 avenge the Fomorian defeat, had, on his death-bed, 
 made his son promise to devote his life to destroying 
 the Dedannans. With this object always in mind, 
 Brath perfected himself in sorcery. In time, he ven- 
 tured to visit Eriu. Since, in spite of his ugliness, he 
 was a man both of intelligence and of courtesy, he 
 made such a reputation among the Dedannans that 
 he was eventually summoned to the court of Mac- 
 Cuill, who made him chief magician and a close com- 
 panion. But Brath never forgot his purpose in life, 
 and he was continually hoping for the time when he 
 might contribute to the downfall of his grandfather's 
 enemies; accordingly, when the dispute arose between 
 MacCuill and MacCecht, the sorcerer did all he could 
 to prevent an agreement; he felt that through this 
 quarrel might come his long-awaited chance for re- 
 venge. 
 
 While Ith avoided pronouncing a definite judg- 
 ment at the assembly, Brath paid strict attention to 
 the stranger's words; he thought he found in them 
 the opportunity he was seeking, and his heart leapt. 
 He hurried to MacCuill's tent soon after the king's 
 angry withdrawal from the gathering. Lifting the 
 tent-flap, the sorcerer addressed the sovereign: 
 
 "O MacCuill, may I enter? I bring thee good 
 counsel."
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 137 
 
 Without answering, the enraged king motioned 
 Brath to come in. 
 
 "Well do I know thy pain of heart that the stranger 
 did not decide in thy favor," said the magician. 
 "May his ill judgment fall back upon him! Yet ill 
 judgment is the least evil that he brought." 
 
 "What meanest thou?" 
 
 "Didst thou not hear what he said of the fertility 
 of this land, of its climate? It is an easy step from 
 coveting to seeking possession. Might he not return 
 to Britain, gather his people, and invade Eriu? May 
 not his meaningless words cloak a design of conquest? 
 MacGrene must not concur; the Dedannans have 
 now been at peace many years; through the folly of 
 one man shall they again have to defend their homes? 
 If MacGrene welcomes the Milesians to his third of 
 Eriu, little good will it do for thee and for MacCecht 
 to deny them your harbors." 
 
 "Mayhap thou speakest sooth," muttered Mac- 
 Cuill. 
 
 Brath pushed his advantage; he pictured the short- 
 sightedness of MacGrene as working the overthrow of 
 Eriu, and he appealed to MacCuill to save his people. 
 
 "I know it will irk thee to go against thy brother, 
 but the Dedannans look to thee for leadership; save 
 thy race from the foreigner, even as thy grandfather
 
 138 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 helped save them in the past, and thy name ever will 
 be remembered with gratitude. This is no time for 
 words; weapons alone can ensure safety. Slay this 
 stranger, and his countrymen will not dare approach 
 Eriu; even should they attempt it, the Dedannans 
 will repulse them easily." 
 
 "But the laws of hospitality? The stranger said he 
 was an ambassador with greetings from the kings of 
 Britain; his person is sacred," answered MacCuill, 
 wavering. 
 
 "Wilt hesitate to do a trifling wrong that much 
 good may come? Then shalt thou perish in the ruin 
 of thy people." 
 
 MacCuill's vanity was appealed to. Above all 
 things, he wished to be distinguished among his 
 countrymen; now the affable MacGrene received the 
 love and homage of the Dedannans, and MacCuill 
 and MacCecht were accorded courtesy only. Mac- 
 Cuill keenly resented this. He could not resist the 
 opportunity to do what might not only satisfy his 
 private grudge, but might also win him the thanks 
 and admiration of his people. 
 
 "We shall rid ourselves of this troublesome Mi- 
 lesian," said the king, turning sharply and facing 
 Brath, who flushed with pleasure at the success of 
 his scheme. "Hast thou no plan?"
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 139 
 
 "Wise thy decision, O King! I have a plan, indeed. 
 To-morrow, when Ith sets out to rejoin his ship, we 
 shall follow him. He will pause during the heat of the 
 day for rest and food. Thy skill with the javelin and 
 my ointment for the barb will serve us well. To- 
 night speak fairly to the chieftain, and he will think 
 thou hast forgotten his failure to pronounce judg- 
 ment. Trouble thyself little over what MacGrene 
 promises, for it is no living messenger that will return 
 to Britain." 
 
 The king clasped the sorcerer by the hand; blithely 
 both went to the tent of MacGrene, who was de- 
 lighted by the joviality and kindliness of MacCuill at 
 the feast; only MacCecht was inclined to sullenness, 
 for he could not understand how his brothers could 
 forgive the stranger's earlier behavior; nevertheless, 
 as the night progressed, even the third ruler was 
 drawn out of his gloom. MacGrene eagerly agreed to 
 the visitor's proposal to begin trade between Britain 
 and Eriu, and he was heartily seconded by MacCuill. 
 MacCecht was unenthusiastic and inclined to make 
 objections, but his opposition was overborne by his 
 brothers. 
 
 In the morning, Ith and his nine men started early 
 from the place of assembly; they wished to lose no 
 time in taking the tidings of their successful mission
 
 i 4 o BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 to their countrymen at home. The majority of the 
 Dedannans had not forgiven Ith's evasion in giving 
 judgment, so that few were present to see him start. 
 No one, therefore, noticed MacCuill and Brath as 
 they cautiously left camp and rode in the direction 
 which the strangers had taken. 
 
 At noon, the shepherd who had been their guide 
 brought the Milesians to a shady spot near a stream, 
 where he suggested that they pause for food. All 
 gladly agreed; the morning had been warm; they 
 had traveled rapidly; they were hungry, thirsty, in 
 need of rest. Soon they had lit fires and were busy 
 cooking, when there came the sudden whizz of a 
 javelin. The spear pierced Ith as he bent over a cook- 
 ing-pit, and he fell grievously wounded. Mocking 
 laughter came from among the trees not far from the 
 edge of the stream. The remaining Milesians, with a 
 cry of "Treachery!" rushed for their swords and 
 drew together for defense. Two of the men bound 
 Ith's wounds; two others ventured towards the wood 
 in search of the assassins. 
 
 Suddenly a frightened horse galloped towards 
 them, the rider crouching low upon the animal's neck. 
 A Milesian hurled a spear, but the cast fell short; the 
 horse swerved and dashed back into the forest. A 
 second horse plunged from the thicket, his rider try-
 
 THE JOURNEY OF ITH 141 
 
 ing desperately to remount. As the companions of 
 Ith sprang forward with shouts of "Vengeance!" the 
 struggling rider lost his balance and fell under his 
 horse's hoofs, where his skull was crushed. The ani- 
 mal was quickly captured and quieted, and the dead 
 man was recognized by the shepherd as the magician, 
 Brath. 
 
 The Milesians turned to the stricken Ith and care- 
 fully examined the spear that had been drawn from 
 his wound. To their dismay, they saw that it had 
 been poisoned. Their guide identified it as belonging 
 to MacCuill; clearly the king had been the sorcerer's 
 companion. 
 
 Sorrowfully, and vowing revenge, the Milesians 
 placed their unconscious chief upon a hastily con- 
 structed litter and continued their journey to the 
 coast. When the men guarding the ship heard the 
 end of the adventure in the north, they raised a great 
 keening. Although the shepherd assured them that 
 the murderous attack would be disavowed with hor- 
 ror by the Dedannans, the followers of Ith were de- 
 termined to bring retribution upon a treacherous 
 people. They set forth in haste to reach their own 
 country, but, as they neared the shores of Britain, 
 their leader died.
 
 XIII 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 
 
 Forever shall the Gaelic heart be stirred 
 By legends from beyond the times marked off 
 By men, for Gaelic eyes are touched with dream, 
 And Fairy music, blown along the years, 
 Sounds changeless melodies in Gaelic ears. 
 
 ITH shouts of joy, the Milesians in 
 Britain crowded to welcome the return- 
 ing travelers, but silence came over the 
 multitude when they found that the 
 ship bore the body of Ith. In solemn 
 procession they accompanied the litter which carried 
 the lifeless chieftain to the palace of their two kings, 
 Eber Donn (the Dark) and Eremon, sons of Mil and 
 nephews of the slain warrior. 
 
 The people waited outside as the corpse was 
 taken into the great hall; when the story of the 
 murder became known, a murmur rose among the 
 assemblage. 
 
 "Lead us, O Kings, against those who slay and poi- 
 son friendly visitors! War against Eriu!" 
 
 A lone voice here and there took up the cry, which 
 grew louder and louder, until at last Eremon stood
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 143 
 
 in the doorway with uplifted hand to order silence. 
 
 "Milesians," he said, when the tumult was quieted, 
 "we share the wrath which fills your hearts, and we 
 summon the nobles of our council, that we may de- 
 cide how best to require atonement for the wrong 
 which has been done. Disperse to your homes, and 
 ye will soon know what is our determination!" 
 
 "Thou hast spoken well, O Eremon, and thou hast 
 acted quickly," was the people's answer; then the 
 gathering dwindled away. 
 
 In the council there was some difference of opinion 
 as to the wiser course to pursue: Eremon, the 
 younger king, urged that before undertaking the in- 
 vasion of Eriu it would be best to send another em- 
 bassy to the Dedannans, inquire into the responsibil- 
 ity for the death of Ith, and ascertain whether the 
 whole people supported the murder; but Eber Donn 
 argued that the Dedannans could not be trusted, and 
 he demanded immediate invasion. In this he was 
 supported by the son of the slaughtered chieftain 
 (who now assumed his father's name) and by a ma- 
 jority of the nobles, so that Eremon finally gave way 
 and agreed to immediate preparations for a military 
 expedition. 
 
 The decision was received with general satisfac- 
 tion, and the entire island was soon buzzing with
 
 144 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 industry; new ships were hastily built and old ones 
 repaired; old weapons were strengthened and new 
 forged, so that, in a comparatively short time, sixty- 
 five vessels were ready to take a mighty host of 
 fighting-men, with their wives and families, to Eriu. 
 Only old men and women, young children, and others 
 unable to bear arms, were left behind when the fleet 
 set sail. A great shout, "We go to avenge our bad 
 welcome!" filled the air as the kings' ship led the way 
 to sea. 
 
 In the meantime, the Dedannan kingdoms had 
 fared none too well. The shepherd's story, verified by 
 the finding of Brath's body, caused general indigna- 
 tion which brought about the speedy trial of Mac- 
 Cuill, but he was released when the judges were con- 
 vinced that he had believed he was serving his coun- 
 try by slaying Ith; they realized that he had been 
 played upon by the wily Brath. However, the trial of 
 MacCuill did not improve the situation between 
 Dedannans and Milesians; the men of Eriu knew 
 that the men from Britain probably would endeavor 
 to exact immediate vengeance for the wrong which 
 had been committed, and there was talk of sending a 
 mission to the neighboring island to offer an explana- 
 tion and an apology; but it was finally decided that 
 the Milesians would laugh at such a proceeding and
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 145 
 
 consider the Dedannans cowards. Without much en- 
 thusiasm, therefore, the dwellers in Eriu made ready 
 again to defend their country. They determined to 
 rely largely upon the skill of their druids, that magic 
 which their ancestors had brought from the north- 
 ern isles. The wizards were to oppose with incanta- 
 tions the landing of the enemy, while the three kings 
 were to muster their armies at Tara. However, the 
 oldest of the magicians warned the sovereigns against 
 trusting overmuch to sorcery. "For," he said, "it is 
 known that the Milesians have with them one of the 
 most learned druids in the world, Amergin." Never- 
 theless, in spite of the warning, the kings said they 
 would keep to their original plan. 
 
 The ships wherein the Milesians had set out were 
 driven both by sails and by oars, and there was great 
 rivalry as to which should first reach Eriu. Ir, a 
 younger brother of the kings, and Ith, the son of the 
 dead chieftain, each had a ship of his own, and they 
 were racing. In his eagerness to win, Ir joined his 
 oarsmen on the rowers' benches, and gave his men 
 such help that they passed not only Ith's boat, but 
 that of Eber Donn and Eremon. The eldest brother, 
 a man of violent temper, was annoyed, and he cried: 
 
 "Ir before Ith to proceed 
 In truth is no good deed."
 
 146 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 As luck would have it, at that moment the oar of Ir 
 snapped in two, and he fell back upon the thwart with 
 such violence that he broke his back, from which in- 
 jury he died the following night. The Milesians, dis- 
 pleased by the angry words of Eber Donn, and by the 
 misfortune which had succeeded them, said to one 
 another: 
 
 "Since he has shown petty jealousy of his brother's 
 reaching Eriu before him, it would be just if Eber 
 Donn should not enjoy the island." 
 
 Soon the men from Britain drew near the Irish 
 coast, but, by their spells, the Dedannan druids made 
 the land invisible, and the ships turned northward, 
 sailing past the eastern shore. 
 
 After a time, Eremon, vaguely conscious that some- 
 thing was wrong, said to Amergin, who was in the 
 same ship: 
 
 "O Druid, all is not well. If we may trust those 
 who have been there, by now we should have reached 
 Eriu; yet we find no trace of land. I fear sorcery is 
 being used against us." 
 
 "Thou speakest truth, O Eremon," answered the 
 wizard. "Soon I shall learn what are the devices of 
 the Dedannan druids." 
 
 With these words, Amergin went to the prow of the 
 vessel, raised his wand of yew, and spoke magic
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 147 
 
 phrases, thereafter observing the clouds and counting 
 the number of sea-gulls about the ship. Suddenly, 
 brown cliffs and the green of grass appeared close by, 
 and a shout of "Land!" went up from the entire com- 
 pany. 
 
 "Ye see, O Eber Bonn and Eremon, that we have 
 been sailing past Eriu. But I have overcome the De- 
 dannan spells, and we may go ashore when we have 
 found a fitting harbor." 
 
 Sailing south again, the Milesians finally entered 
 the mouth of what is now the Kenmare River and 
 disembarked, though not without having first looked 
 carefully to see whether a landing would be interfered 
 with. There were to be seen, however, no Dedannans 
 save a few women and old men, and Amergin ex- 
 claimed, "They trusted to magic, and it has failed 
 them. May their swords help them no better!" 
 
 Although the men of Eriu had not resisted the 
 Milesians" arrival, scouts and druids kept the three 
 kings at Tara fully informed of all that was taking 
 place in the south. The three queens, Banba, Fodla, 
 and Eriu, straightway determined to meet the invad- 
 ers, in the hope either to turn them back or to delay 
 their advance. Together they hastened southward 
 and then separated. Banba, accompanied by ten dru- 
 ids, encountered the invading army near Sliab, or 
 Mount Mish, in the present County Kerry.
 
 148 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 When the advance guard of the invaders beheld the 
 queen, they immediately sent back word to Eber and 
 Eremon of the beauty and the royal appearance of the 
 woman waiting in their path. The troops were halted, 
 while the kings, attended by Amergin, hurried for- 
 ward to parley with the Dedannan lady. 
 
 "What is thy name, O Queen?" asked the druid. 
 
 " Banba, wife to MacCecht, one of the three sov- 
 ereigns of this island." 
 
 "What wouldst thou of the Milesians? Thou seest 
 their kings here." 
 
 "O Kings, come no further into our country. Well 
 must ye know that the slaying of Ith was an act of 
 madness which the Dedannans have often wished un- 
 done. The slayer has been tried before a court of his 
 people and his wickedness has been condemned. Visit 
 it not upon us." 
 
 Eber Donn was unmoved by this plea. He an- 
 swered curtly: 
 
 "O Queen, our course has been decided in council; 
 until the fortune of war compels, or until there be a 
 new council, our plans may not be changed." 
 
 " Since ye will not turn back, accept the chance of 
 fate. I ask that, if ye be conquerors, ye bestow my 
 name upon the island." 
 
 "We will do this, O Queen," said Amergin, speak-
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 149 
 
 ing as the druid-historian of his people. " Banba shall 
 be one of its names forever." 
 
 Queen Banba then withdrew, not without deep sor- 
 row that she had failed to put an end to the invasion 
 and the army continued its march into the country. 
 
 After journeying for some distance, the Milesians 
 found Queen Fodla waiting in front of their host. To 
 her came the kings and Amergin. 
 
 "What is thy name, O Queen?" asked the Milesian 
 druid. 
 
 "Fodla, wife to MacCuill, king of Eriu," answered 
 the queen. 
 
 "Why delayest thou the progress of the Sons of 
 Mil?" gruffly interposed Eber Donn. 
 
 "O King, do not push on and cause war again in 
 this land. Bitterly has MacCuill regretted his folly." 
 
 "But has it been punished? Stand aside, lest our 
 soldiers treat thee harshly." 
 
 "Since thou wilt not grant that request, consent, at 
 least, that the land shall bear my name." 
 
 "We consent to this," replied Amergin promptly. 
 "Fodla shall be one of its names forever." 
 
 The queen inclined her head in acknowledgment of 
 Amergin's favor and then hurried away. Eremon and 
 the druid protested to Eber because of his incivility. 
 
 "They seek to snare us by soft words, to prevent
 
 150 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 our conquest of the island. The Dedannans have 
 grown weak," was the only answer that the elder sov- 
 ereign would make. 
 
 When the Milesians entered the province of Meath, 
 they were met by a woman whose beauty was such 
 that the entire army halted without the word of com- 
 mand, and the men in the rear crowded to look at her. 
 The two kings and Amergin hastened to parley. 
 
 "What is thy name, O Queen?" asked the druid 
 courteously. 
 
 "Eriu, wife to MacGrene," she answered in a voice 
 beautiful as the sound of water welling upward 
 through a clear spring. 
 
 "What wouldst thou, that thou hast halted our 
 host?" asked Amergin further. 
 
 "O Kings and Druid, come forward in friendship, 
 not in war! This is a peaceful land, and its inhabit- 
 ants censure ill deeds." 
 
 "Not through a woman will we have peace, but 
 through our gods and our own power shall we gain 
 victory!" cried Eber Donn. 
 
 Quickly the queen turned to him. "It matters 
 naught to thee, for neither thou nor thy children shall 
 have benefit from this island ! " she said. 
 
 Eber Donn, reddening, was silent, and Eremon, af- 
 ter a few whispered words with Amergin, replied, "O
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 151 
 
 Queen, we will advance peacefully and have speech 
 with the kings of the Dedannans to decide what shall 
 be our future course." 
 
 The elder king started to interrupt, but the queen 
 continued: 
 
 "The kings of the Dedannans await you at the fair 
 hillofTara." 
 
 "We shall push on thither," replied Eremon. 
 
 "O Sons of Mil, grant me one more request that 
 my name may be continued upon this island?" 
 
 "Eriu shall be its chief name forever," responded 
 Amergin. 
 
 The queen then hastened to Tara to report her suc- 
 cessful mission, and there was great satisfaction among 
 her people that the Milesians had agreed to consult 
 with the Dedannan kings. The men of Eriu were 
 drawn up on the brow of the hill; the invaders ad- 
 vanced to within a short distance of the waiting army 
 and halted. The armies raised their spears in salute 
 to each other, and Eber Donn and Eremon came to 
 meet MacCuill, MacCecht, and MacGrene. 
 
 "O Kings of the Dedannans," said Eber Donn, "ye 
 know the purpose of our journeying to Eriu; we seek 
 atonement for the death of our noble chieftain and 
 uncle, Ith. We demand satisfaction for the ill deed. 
 Yield the kingship of this island, and we shall arrange
 
 152 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 for you to continue to dwell herein; or give battle at 
 your peril. If neither offer pleases you, make us a 
 proposal which we may accept." 
 
 "We welcome thy words, O King, and we shall de- 
 liberate upon them," said MacGrene. 
 
 The Dedannan sovereigns then retired to the rear 
 of their army, and, after long consultation, they reap- 
 peared. 
 
 "O Sons of Mil, depart from Eriu until the end of 
 nine days, for we cannot make our decision while the 
 threat of your host is present," they declared. 
 
 "If my advice be carried out, it is battle there will 
 be," replied Eber Bonn as he turned to speak with 
 Eremon. After a few hurried words with his brother, 
 he added, "We will not grant your request, O Kings." 
 
 "Then we ask the judgment of your own druid 
 upon this refusal, for he has not yet spoken, and we 
 know that, if he give false judgment, he will at once 
 perish from the spells of our wizards." 
 
 "Give judgment, O Amergin!" cried Eber Donn. 
 
 Solemnly the Milesian magician answered, "Let 
 the land be left to the Dedannans until we come to 
 take it by force." 
 
 "Whither shall we go?" inquired Eber. 
 
 "Nine waves' distance from the shore." 
 
 "If it were my counsel that were followed, there
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 153 
 
 would be a battle now," grumbled the elder king; but 
 he dared not oppose the decision of his chief druid, es- 
 pecially since Amergin had brought his countrymen 
 safely to land in the face of the Dedannan magic. 
 
 Rapidly the invaders marched south, boarded their 
 ships again, and sailed the distance of nine waves 
 from the coast. There was some complaint because of 
 this maneuver, but the Milesians had confidence in 
 their kings and in their great magician; they felt sure 
 that in the end all would turn to their advantage. 
 
 In the meantime, the Dedannans were overjoyed 
 by the departure of the enemy, and the druids cried, 
 "Trust to our powers that these strangers may never 
 again reach Eriu!" 
 
 Using their utmost art, the enchanters caused a 
 great wind to blow round the coast of the island, until 
 the waves of the sea rose and buffeted the ships of the 
 Milesians from side to side. So great was the disturb- 
 ance of the waters that the gravel and the grass were 
 stirred from the sea-bottom, and dead fish floated to 
 the surface. Many of the Milesians were terrified, 
 and the ships lost sight of one another. However, in 
 the prow of the royal vessel, Amergin stood un- 
 moved by the tempest. He lifted his wand and ut- 
 tered his most potent charms. Eber Donn approached 
 him.
 
 154 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "This is a druid wind," said the king. 
 
 " It is, indeed, unless it be higher than the mast," 
 answered the wizard calmly. "Find out whether this 
 be so." 
 
 Thereupon the king directed a youth to climb to 
 the masthead. The young man promptly reported 
 that all was calm in the air above the ship, that he 
 could see the sunlight upon the hills of Eriu 
 
 "Shame to our druids," said Eber Donn, "if they 
 cannot suppress the wind!" 
 
 "No shame shall it be," cried the magician, and he 
 chanted: 
 
 I invoke the land of Eriu! 
 
 Much-coursed be her fishful sea; 
 Fertile be her fruit-strewn mountains* 
 
 May her woodlands fruit-strewn be. 
 
 Let Tara be a kings' assembly 
 
 For the tribes of mighty Mil. 
 Eriu be their bark forever; 
 
 Their safe harbor Tara Hill. 
 
 Now I sing the land of Eriu; 
 
 Eber Finn on her hills shall stand; 
 Eremon shall share the kingship 
 
 Eriu I invoke the land/ 
 
 Amergin had scarcely finished the first stanza of 
 this invocation when the rushing waves began to sub-
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 155 
 
 side; by the time he reached the close, the storm had 
 vanished, the sun was shining, and the mist-clad hills 
 lay near by. 
 
 "Let me land, and I will put to death with spear 
 and sword every warrior in that island!" cried Eber 
 Donn, drawing his sword. 
 
 Even as he spoke, the wind, *vhich had died to a 
 barely perceptible breeze, suddenly increased, and a 
 huge wave broke over the ship, plunging the king 
 into the sea, where he perished. 
 
 The Milesians had respected, though they could 
 not love, Eber; so they were much shocked by his sud- 
 den death. For some time his companions even neg- 
 lected the guidance of the ship; then they realized 
 that a new leader should be chosen immediately to as- 
 sist Eremon, for he could not be expected to carry 
 upon his shoulders the entire burden of the expedi- 
 tion. Eber Finn (the Fair), Eremon's next brother, 
 was speedily chosen and acclaimed by shouting from 
 boat to boat. 
 
 The kings now divided their fleet, Eber Finn to 
 land on the south and Eremon midway on the east- 
 ern coast, both to march towards each other in the 
 hope that they might unite their forces before being 
 required to give battle. The sovereigns felt that the 
 power of the Dedannan sorceries had now been com-
 
 156 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 pletely overcome, and that neither army would have 
 difficulty in reaching the shore. 
 
 The landing was carried out as planned: Eber Finn 
 brought his men safely ashore at their former landing- 
 place, Kenmare; Eremon, with thirty ships, easily 
 disembarked with his soldiers at what is to-day the 
 estuary of the Boyne. 
 
 When Amergin, who accompanied Eremon, set his 
 right foot upon the soil of Eriu, he celebrated his 
 druidic power in a chant: 
 
 am the wind blowing over the set; 
 
 am the racing wave, powerful, free; 
 
 am the murmur of tide on the shore; 
 
 am the ox which hath slain seven more; 
 
 am the vulture that resteth upon 
 The rocks, and I am a tear of the sun; 
 I am the fairest of tall growing plants; 
 In bravery I am the wild boar who rants 
 With anger; and I am a salmon for grace, 
 Or lake-water, gentle, with unwrinkled face. 
 I am the science of men and of gods; 
 I am the spear-point which fights against odds; 
 I am the fire of thought in the brain. 
 
 Who shall enlighten assemblies of men .' 
 Who is there telleth the age of the moon? 
 Who is there shows where the sun goes to rest? 
 
 Then, remembering the slaughter of fish caused by 
 the magic storm, the druid made this prayer for good 
 fishing:
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 157 
 
 May there be 
 A fish-filled sea, 
 A burst of fish 
 From waves' swish, 
 A sea-gale, 
 White hail, 
 A salmon throng, 
 Port song 
 A burst of fish. 
 
 Eremon and Amergin found their progress to meet 
 Eber Finn unhindered, and the kings were able to 
 join forces as scouts brought word that the Dedan- 
 nans were assembled at Sliab Mish. Hither the Mi- 
 lesians hastened with all speed, determined to settle 
 the question of the future control of the island. 
 
 In the meantime, the Dedannans had been greatly 
 disheartened to find their druids again unable to pre- 
 vent the landing of the Milesians; but the magicians 
 had endeavored to explain their failure. 
 
 "We warned you, O Dedannans, that Amergin 
 was, perchance, favored by Fate, which is above all 
 other Powers; therefore we could not prevail against 
 him, though we might easily have vanquished lesser 
 magicians. Trust no longer to spells and magic, but 
 to your own strength and to your weapons. Give 
 battle to the enemy, and drive them hence by force." 
 
 With such words the dwellers in Eriu had been en-
 
 158 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 couraged, and the three kings had marched their 
 men to Sliab Mish as the place best adapted for a 
 successful battle. MacCuill, MacCecht, and Mac- 
 Grene then determined that, whatever the issue of 
 the forthcoming conflict, their race would never leave 
 the island, but that they would ask a treaty permit- 
 ting them to remain even though vanquished. Heart- 
 ening their men with this decision, the kings urged 
 the Dedannans to fortify their position as rapidly as 
 possible against the arrival of the enemy. With their 
 backs to Sliab Mish, the entire army went to work, 
 and soon they were ready for the expected attack of 
 the Milesians, which was not long in coming; indeed, 
 Eremon and Eber Finn could scarcely restrain their 
 troops, once they had caught sight of their opponents. 
 
 Then occurred one of the most desperate battles 
 ever fought; so violent was it, and such numbers were 
 killed, that no detailed account has remained. The 
 three kings of the Dedannans fell, and with them 
 their three queens; MacCecht was slain by Eremon, 
 MacCuill by Eber Finn, MacGrene by Amergin; 
 when the sun had set, the conquest was complete, and 
 it was arranged that both armies should have a truce 
 for the night. 
 
 Early the next morning, the Dedannans sent word 
 to the victors, asking permission to remain in the
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 159 
 
 country, though renouncing the lordship of the island 
 to their conquerors. The messenger explained the 
 promise of the Dedannan druids that, through magic, 
 the entire race would retire into the hills or under the 
 lakes, where they would dwell, immortal, and whence 
 they would from time to time revisit their beloved 
 Eriu. Unless they chose to reveal themselves, they 
 were to remain invisible to mortals. 
 
 Eremon and Eber Finn readily accepted this pro- 
 posal of their late enemies, whose courage they ad- 
 mired; the Milesian kings felt that the Dedannans 
 would be sufficiently humbled by loss of sovereignty. 
 Moreover, Amergin also declared that he would no 
 longer oppose the Dedannan sorcerers. 
 
 "O Messenger of the Dedannans," he said, "tell 
 thy people the task given me by Fate is completed 
 now that the Milesians are conquerors of Eriu. I 
 shall soon have no more the power granted me for a 
 brief space; from the time they enter the hills the 
 druids of the Dedannans shall be stronger than I." 
 
 Swiftly the herald returned to his countrymen, and 
 there was great rejoicing. 
 
 "In truth," they cried, "we will be friendly to the 
 Sons of Mil forever!" 
 
 It was arranged that the conquered people should 
 make their magic change upon the following day, in
 
 i6o .BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 the presence of the entire host of the conquerors. 
 Headed by their white-robed druids, the Dedannans 
 marched into full view of the waiting company. The 
 eldest druid chanted the history of his race, their de- 
 votion to art and to science, their achievements in 
 war, the names of their kings and their great men, 
 and, finally, the favor which they promised ever to 
 accord to the Milesians. Then he raised his harp, 
 and the sunlight reflected from the gold so dazzled 
 the Milesians that no man was sure thereafter of 
 what he saw. It seemed that the accompanying 
 druids raised their harps of silver, and together all 
 played music of such sweetness that the senses of the 
 onlookers were dazed. During the tumult of melody, 
 the Dedannans appeared to be dressed in green and to 
 move rapidly. The side of Sliab Mish opened, and 
 from within the mountain came a marvelous fra- 
 grance. Into the opening went a great company of 
 the Dedannans, singing and laughing like happy 
 children. In a miraculous way, the whole island 
 became visible to the Milesians, who saw bands of 
 Dedannans disappearing into other great mountains, 
 and under many lakes, the waters of which closed 
 over them. Until that time none of the Milesians 
 had realized the full beauty of the land, but now 
 every man said to his neighbor, " This is my country ! "
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 161 
 
 When the vision passed, the new lords of Eriu 
 found themselves once more facing Sliab Mish, 
 bright in the sunshine of a summer morning. The 
 host opposite them had vanished, and the green 
 mountain looked as before. The conquerors gazed at 
 one another; they felt as if they had been standing a 
 long time in one place; a few even declared that they 
 had been in one spot for three days and three nights; 
 but no man was hungry or thirsty. Then Eremon ad- 
 vanced before them, raising his hand as a sign that he 
 was about to speak. 
 
 "Conquerors of Eriu," he said, "wondrous has 
 been our vision. Because of this we shall ever be set 
 apart from other peoples, and our children and our 
 children's children shall dream beautiful dreams. 
 Never will the memory of what we have beheld en- 
 tirely fade, nor will the sound of the magic music 
 quite die away. When the Dedannan druid gave the 
 history of his race, we learned that we have an ances- 
 tor in common with that great people, namely, Gael, 
 whom we have long reverenced as one of the wisest 
 and bravest of our early chieftains. Let us, therefore, 
 in recognition of the favor which the Dedannans have 
 promised us, and as a sign of our kinship with these 
 new immortals, call ourselves henceforward the Gael. 
 What say ye, my countrymen?"
 
 162 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 "We will be the Gael!" cried the assemblage. 
 
 Soon afterwards, they marched to Tara, where 
 Eremon was crowned their High King, while the 
 Stone of Destiny roared beneath the first Irish sov- 
 ereign of the Milesians. The stone was the only one 
 of the four treasures, which the Dedannans had 
 brought to Eriu from the northern isles of the world, 
 that they left to their successors; the irresistible 
 sword, the powerful spear, and the Dagda's cauldron 
 they took with them into the hills. 
 
 The new High King immediately divided the island 
 with his brother, Eber Finn, giving him the southern 
 half, from the estuary of the river Boyne, and for 
 many years the kings ruled jointly. Their people 
 scattered through the land, and cultivated it, and 
 traded with one another and with other nations. 
 The Gael multiplied and prospered, and to this day 
 many of the great families of Ireland trace their an- 
 cestry back to Eremon, Eber Finn, and Ir. 
 
 In appearance, the Milesians resembled those 
 earlier descendants of the same far-away ancestor, 
 Gael, the Fir Bolg, that race with dark hair, dark 
 skin, and dark eyes whom the Dedannans had found 
 in the island and had conquered. The people now 
 named Gael, or Gaels, frequently saw, during the years 
 that followed, strangers seeming to come from the
 
 THE PASSING OF THE DEDANNANS 163 
 
 hills or the lakes, tall and stately beings, with light 
 hair and blue eyes. These visitors were recognized as 
 belonging to the Tuatha De Dannan, but, as century 
 succeeded century, they came to be called, for their 
 golden locks and fair skins, Fairies (Dwellers in Fairy 
 Mounds, or Shee). Always they were dressed in green, 
 color of new birth and immortality. 
 
 After a time, some of the Fairies left Eriu, migrat- 
 ing to enchanted islands which their druids had 
 created far out in the western ocean. Here the De- 
 dannans lived in a climate neither too hot nor too cold, 
 where was spring everlasting, and to this earthly par- 
 adise they brought, now and again, men and women 
 of the Gael. When these fortunate mortals returned 
 to Eriu, they told marvelous tales of the Land of 
 Youth, the Land of Promise, Silver Cloud Land, 
 which were some of the names of this isled Fairyland. 
 
 However, as the years went on and the world grew 
 more and more interested in mechanical inventions 
 and less and less in Nature, the Fairies came infre- 
 quently to Eriu; nowadays, it is almost impossible to 
 see a Fairy. When he does come, he usually appears 
 without the majestic splendor of the Dedannans of 
 the past; he has become merely a wee figure one 
 of the "Little People." Nevertheless, let none doubt 
 the existence of the Dedannans nor their Fairy
 
 164 BATTLES AND ENCHANTMENTS 
 
 powers, for there is record of their visits and their 
 favors to the Gael preserved to this day in the an- 
 cient books of Ireland. 
 
 And now, according to Gaelic custom, let the Place, Time, Author, 
 and Cause of Writing of this book be chronicled. The Place is Bos- 
 ton, Massachusetts; the Time is the year of our Lord one thousand 
 nine hundred and twenty-one; the Author is Norreys Jephson 
 O' Conor, Master of Arts, and the Cause of Writing is to persuade 
 Americans to consider the spiritual, rather than the political, history 
 of Ireland as interpreted in the legends of the Old Irish People. 
 
 THE END
 
 PRONOUNCING GLOSSARY
 
 PRONOUNCING GLOSSARY 
 
 As this book is based chiefly upon early Irish sources, the 
 pronunciation adopted by scholars of early Irish is used in 
 nearly all instances. 
 
 Abhean: Ah'-van ' 
 Amergin: Ah-vair'-gin, with g 
 
 as in good 
 Angus Og: An'-gus Og, with o 
 
 as in oh. 
 
 Armed: Ar'-medh 
 Balor: Baa'-lor 
 Bechulle: Beh'-koo-leh 
 Bicelmos: Bick'-el-moss 
 Blai: Ely 
 
 Blanaid: Blaa'-nidh 
 Brath: a as in wrath 
 Bres: Bres 
 Colum Cuallinech: Col'-luv 
 
 Qual'-lin-nech, with ch as in 
 
 the Scotch loch 
 Corpre: Cor'-preh 
 Corrib: Cor'-riv 
 Credne Cerd: Cred'-neh Caird 
 Cridenbel: Cri'-dhen-bel 
 Crom: Crom, with o as in on 
 CruachanAigle: Croo'-ah-kan 
 
 Eye'-gleh 
 Daithe: Dye'-theh, with th as 
 
 in thin 
 
 Dana: Dah'-nah 
 De Domnan: Day Dov'-nan, 
 
 with o as in on 
 
 Delbaeth: Del'-bith, with i as 
 
 in with 
 Denna Ulad: Den'-nah Oo'- 
 
 ladh 
 
 Derg: Dairg 
 Diancecht : Dee'-an-kecht, with 
 
 ch as in loch 
 Domnall: Dov'-nall, with o as 
 
 in on 
 Drucht: Droocht, with ch as 
 
 in loch and u like oo in wool 
 Dulb: Doolv, with u like oo in 
 
 wool 
 
 Dun: Doon 
 Eba: Eh'-vah 
 Eber: Eh'-ver 
 Elotha: Eh-loth'-ah 
 Eremon: Eh'-re-von 
 Eri: Eh'-ree 
 Eriu: Eh'-ree-oo, with u like 
 
 oo in too 
 
 Ethaman: Eth'-ah-van 
 Ethne: Eth'-neh 
 Falias: Fal'-ee-ass, with the 
 
 first a as in mat 
 Fiachach: Fee'-ach-ach 
 fidchille: fid-kil'-le, with e as 
 
 in then
 
 i68 
 
 PRONOUNCING GLOSSARY 
 
 Figol: Fi'-gol, with i as in is 
 Findgill: Fin'-gill 
 Findias: Fin'-dee-ass 
 Findrinny: Fin'-drinny, with.y 
 
 as in quickly 
 Fir Bolg: Fear Bolg, with o 
 
 as in odd 
 
 Fodla: with o as in odd 
 Fomorians : Foh-moh'-ree-ans 
 Garah: Gah'-rah 
 Gavida: Ga'-vidh-ah 
 Glas: Glass 
 Glei: Glay 
 Gleisi: Glay'-shee 
 Gobniu: Gob'-nee-oo 
 Gorias: Go'-ree-ass 
 Indech: In'-dech 
 IT: Ear 
 
 Ith: th as in thin; i as in //. 
 Laeg: Laa'-egg 
 Lia Fail: Lee 7 -ah File 
 Lir: Leer 
 lis: liss 
 Lough: loch 
 Luachaid: Loo'-ach-idh, with 
 
 i as in pith 
 Luchtad: Luch'-tadh, with a 
 
 as in wrath 
 
 Luchtaine: Looch'-tay-neh 
 Lugh: Loo 
 
 Luimnigh: Looim'-nee 
 Maccu Belgodon: Mac'-coo 
 
 Bel'-go-don 
 
 MacCecht: eh as in loch 
 MacCuill: Mac Queetf 
 MacErc: Mac Ertf 
 
 MacGrene: Mac Grain'-eh 
 
 M acS amtha n n : M acSa v'- 
 
 thann, with th as in thin 
 Mag Rein: Mag Rane 
 Mathgen: Math' as in mathe- 
 
 matics; g as in good 
 Memthenn: Mev'-thenn, with 
 
 M as in thin 
 Miach: Mee'-ach 
 Mil: / as in /// 
 Milesians: My-lee'-sians 
 Monigu: Mor'-ree-goo 
 Moytura: Moy-too'-rah 
 Murias: Moo -ree-ass 
 Neagh: Nay 
 Nem: Nev 
 Net: Ned 
 Nuada: Noo'-ah-tha, with a 
 
 as in act 
 
 ODiannan: Oh-Dee'-an-an 
 Ogma: o as in fog 
 Reagh: Ray 
 Ri: Ree 
 Ruadan: Roo'-adh-an 
 
 Samildanach : Sa'-vil-da'-nach 
 
 Sliab: Slee'-av 
 
 Slieve: Slee'-vee 
 
 Snechtai: Shneck'-tee 
 
 Sreng: Shreng 
 
 Suir: Soo'-ir 
 
 Talana: Tal'-av, with the first 
 
 syllable as in talent 
 Tara: Tah'-rah 
 Tethra: Teth'-rah 
 Trog: o as in oh
 
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