CHAPTERIX
Art,ashisfatherhaddonebeforehim,setoutfortheMany-ColouredLand,butitwasfromInverColpaheembarkedandnotfromBenEdair。
Atacertaintimehepassedfromtheroughgreenridgesoftheseatoenchantedwaters,andheroamedfromislandtoislandaskingallpeoplehowhemightcometoDelvcaem,thedaughterofMorgan。Buthegotnonewsfromanyone,untilhereachedanislandthatwasfragrantwithwildapples,gaywithflowers,andjoyouswiththesongofbirdsandthedeepmellowdrummingofthebees。Inthisislandhewasmetbyalady,Crede’,theTrulyBeautiful,andwhentheyhadexchangedkisses,hetoldherwhohewasandonwhaterrandhewasbent。
\"Wehavebeenexpectingyou,\"saidCrede’,\"butalas,poorsoul,itisahard,andalong,badwaythatyoumustgo;forthereisseaandland,dangeranddifficultybetweenyouandthedaughterofMorgan。\"
\"YetImustgothere,\"heanswered。
\"Thereisawilddarkoceantobecrossed。Thereisadensewoodwhereeverythornoneverytreeissharpasaspear-pointandiscurvedandclutching。Thereisadeepgulftobegonethrough,\"
shesaid,\"aplaceofsilenceandterror,fullofdumb,venomousmonsters。Thereisanimmenseoakforest——dark,dense,thorny,aplacetobestrayedin,aplacetobeutterlybewilderedandlostin。Thereisavastdarkwilderness,andthereinisadarkhouse,lonelyandfullofechoes,andinittherearesevengloomyhags,whoarewarnedalreadyofyourcomingandarewaitingtoplungeyouinabathofmoltenlead。\"
\"Itisnotachoicejourney,\"saidArt,\"butIhavenochoiceandmustgo。\"
\"Shouldyoupassthosehags,\"shecontinued,\"andnoonehasyetpassedthem,youmustmeetAililloftheBlackTeeth,thesonofMonganTenderBlossom,andwhocouldpassthatgiganticandterriblefighter?\"
\"ItisnoteasytofindthedaughterofMorgan,\"saidArtinamelancholyvoice。
\"Itisnoteasy,\"Crede’repliedeagerly,\"andifyouwilltakemyadvice——\"
\"Adviseme,\"hebrokein,\"forintruththereisnomanstandinginsuchneedofcounselasIdo。\"
\"Iwouldadviseyou,\"saidCrede’inalowvoice,\"toseeknomoreforthesweetdaughterofMorgan,buttostayinthisplacewhereallthatislovelyisatyourservice。\"
\"But,but——\"criedArtinastonishment。
\"AmInotassweetasthedaughterofMorgan?\"shedemanded,andshestoodbeforehimqueenlyandpleadingly,andhereyestookhiswithimperioustenderness。
\"Bymyhand,\"heanswered,\"youaresweeterandlovelierthananybeingunderthesun,but——\"
\"Andwithme,\"shesaid,\"youwillforgetIreland。\"
\"Iamunderbonds,\"criedArt,\"Ihavepassedmyword,andI
wouldnotforgetIrelandorcutmyselffromitforallthekingdomsoftheMany-ColouredLand。\"
Crede’urgednomoreatthattime,butastheywerepartingshewhispered,\"Therearetwogirls,sistersofmyown,inMorgan’spalace。Theywillcometoyouwithacupineitherhand;onecupwillbefilledwithwineandonewithpoison。Drinkfromtheright-handcup,Omydear。\"
Artsteppedintohiscoracle,andthen,wringingherhands,shemadeyetanattempttodissuadehimfromthatdrearjourney。
\"Donotleaveme,\"sheurged。\"Donotaffrontthesedangers。
AroundthepalaceofMorganthereisapalisadeofcopperspikes,andonthetopofeachspiketheheadofamangrinsandshrivels。Thereisonespikeonlywhichbearsnohead,anditisforyourheadthatspikeiswaiting。Donotgothere,mylove。\"
\"Imustgoindeed,\"said。Artearnestly。
\"Thereisyetadanger,\"shecalled。\"BewareofDelvcaem’smother,DogHead,daughteroftheKingoftheDogHeads。Bewareofher。\"
\"Indeed,\"saidArttohimself,\"thereissomuchtobewareofthatIwillbewareofnothing。Iwillgoaboutmybusiness,\"hesaidtothewaves,\"andIwillletthosebeingsandmonstersandthepeopleoftheDogHeadsgoabouttheirbusiness。\"
CHAPTERX
Hewentforwardinhislightbark,andatsomemomentfoundthathehadpartedfromthoseseasandwasadriftonvasterandmoreturbulentbillows。Fromthosedark-greensurgestheregapedathimmonstrousandcavernousjaws;andround,wicked,red-rimmed,bulgingeyesstaredfixedlyattheboat。Aridgeofinkywaterrushedfoamingmountainouslyonhisboard,andbehindthatridgecameavastwartyheadthatgurgledandgroaned。Butatthesevilecreatureshethrustwithhislengthyspearorstabbedatcloserreachwithadagger。
Hewasnotsparedoneoftheterrorswhichhadbeenforetold。
Thus,inthedarkthickoakforestheslewthesevenhagsandburiedtheminthemoltenleadwhichtheyhadheatedforhim。Heclimbedanicymountain,thecoldbreathofwhichseemedtoslipintohisbodyandchipoffinsideofhisbones,andthere,untilhemasteredthesortofclimbingonice,foreachstepthathetookupwardsheslippedbacktensteps。Almosthisheartgavewaybeforehelearnedtoclimbthatvenomoushill。Inaforkedglenintowhichheslippedatnight-fallhewassurroundedbygianttoads,whospatpoison,andwereicyasthelandtheylivedin,andwerecoldandfoulandsavage。AtSliavSaevheencounteredthelong-manedlionswholieinwaitforthebeastsoftheworld,growlingwoefullyastheysquatabovetheirpreyandcrunchthoseterrifiedbones。HecameonAililloftheBlackTeethsittingonthebridgethatspannedatorrent,andthegrimgiantwasgrindinghisteethonapillarstone。Artdrewnighunobservedandbroughthimlow。
Itwasnotfornothingthatthesedifficultiesanddangerswereinhispath。ThesethingsandcreaturesweretheinventionofDogHead,thewifeofMorgan,forithadbecomeknowntoherthatshewoulddieonthedayherdaughterwaswooed。ThereforenoneofthedangersencounteredbyArtwerereal,butweremagicalchimerasconjuredagainsthimbythegreatwitch。
Affrontingall,conqueringall,hecameintimetoMorgan’sdun,aplacesolovelythatafterthemiseriesthroughwhichhehadstruggledhealmostwepttoseebeautyagain。
Delvcaemknewthathewascoming。Shewaswaitingforhim,yearningforhim。TohermindArtwasnotonlylove,hewasfreedom,forthepoorgirlwasacaptiveinherfather’shome。A
greatpillaranhundredfeethighhadbeenbuiltontheroofofMorgan’spalace,andonthetopofthispillaratinyroomhadbeenconstructed,andinthisroomDelvcaemwasaprisoner。
ShewaslovelierinshapethananyotherprincessoftheMany-ColouredLand。Shewaswiserthanalltheotherwomenofthatland,andshewasskilfulinmusic,embroidery,andchastity,andinallelsethatpertainedtotheknowledgeofaqueen。
AlthoughDelvcaem’smotherwishednothingbutilltoArt,sheyettreatedhimwiththecourtesyproperinaqueenontheonehandandfittingtowardsthesonoftheKingofIrelandontheother。
Therefore,whenArtenteredthepalacehewasmetandkissed,andhewasbathedandclothedandfed。Twoyounggirlscametohimthen,havingacupineachoftheirhands,andpresentedhimwiththekinglydrink,but,rememberingthewarningwhichCredlhadgivenhim,hedrankonlyfromtheright-handcupandescapedthepoison。NexthewasvisitedbyDelvcaem’smother,DogHead,daughteroftheKingoftheDogHeads,andMorgan’squeen。Shewasdressedinfullarmour,andshechallengedArttofightwithher。
Itwasawoefulcombat,fortherewasnocraftorsagacityunknowntoher,andArtwouldinfalliblyhaveperishedbyherhandbutthatherdayswerenumbered,herstarwasout,andhertimehadcome。Itwasherheadthatrolledonthegroundwhenthecombatwasover,anditwasherheadthatgrinnedandshrivelledonthevacantspikewhichshehadreservedforArt’s。
ThenArtliberatedDelvcaemfromherprisonatthetopofthepillarandtheywereaffiancedtogether。Buttheceremonyhadscarcelybeencompletedwhenthetreadofasinglemancausedthepalacetoquakeandseemedtojartheworld。
ItwasMorganreturningtothepalace。
Thegloomykingchallengedhimtocombatalso,andinhishonourArtputonthebattleharnesswhichhehadbroughtfromIreland。
Heworeabreastplateandhelmetofgold,amantleofbluesatinswungfromhisshoulders,hislefthandwasthrustintothegripsofapurpleshield,deeplybossedwithsilver,andintheotherhandheheldthewide-grooved,bluehiltedswordwhichhadrungsooftenintofightsandcombats,andjoyousfeatsandexercises。
Uptothistimethetrialsthroughwhichhehadpassedhadseemedsogreatthattheycouldnoteasilybeaddedto。ButifallthosetrialshadbeengatheredintoonevastcalamitytheywouldnotequalonehalfoftherageandcatastropheofhiswarwithMorgan。
ForwhathecouldnoteffectbyarmsMorganwouldendeavourbyguile,sothatwhileArtdroveathimorparriedacraftyblow,theshapeofMorganchangedbeforehiseyes,andthemonstrouskingwashavingathiminanotherform,andfromanewdirection。
ItwaswellforthesonoftheArd-Ri’thathehadbeenbelovedbythepoetsandmagiciansofhisland,andthattheyhadtaughthimallthatwasknownofshape-changingandwordsofpower。
Hehadneedofallthese。
Attimes,fortheweaponmustchangewiththeenemy,theyfoughtwiththeirforeheadsastwogiantstags,andthecrashoftheirmonstrousonslaughtrolledandlingeredontheairlongaftertheirskullshadparted。Thenastwolions,long-clawed,deep-mouthed,snarling,withrigidmane,withred-eyedglare,withflashing,sharp-whitefangs,theyprowledlithelyabouteachotherseekingforanopening。Andthenastwogreen-ridged,white-topped,broad-swung,overwhelming,vehementbillowsofthedeep,theymetandcrashedandsunkintoandrolledawayfromeachother;andthenoiseofthesetwowaveswasastheroarofalloceanwhenthehowlofthetempestisdrownedintheleague-longfuryofthesurge。
Butwhenthewife’stimehascomethehusbandisdoomed。Heisrequiredelsewherebyhisbeloved,andMorganwenttorejoinhisqueenintheworldthatcomesaftertheMany-ColouredLand,andhisvictorshorethatknowledgeableheadawayfromitsgiantshoulders。
HedidnottarryintheMany-ColouredLand,forhehadnothingfurthertoseekthere。Hegatheredthethingswhichpleasedhimbestfromamongthetreasuresofitsgrislyking,andwithDelvcaembyhissidetheysteppedintothecoracle。
Then,settingtheirmindsonIreland,theywentthereasitwereinaflash。
Thewavesofalltheworldseemedtowhirlpasttheminonehuge,greencataract。Thesoundofalltheseoceansboomedintheirearsforoneeternalinstant。Nothingwasforthatmomentbutavastroarandpourofwaters。Thencetheyswungintoasilenceequallyvast,andsosuddenthatitwasasthunderousinthecomparisonaswastheelementalragetheyquitted。Foratimetheysatpanting,staringateachother,holdingeachother,lestnotonlytheirlivesbuttheirverysoulsshouldbeswirledawayinthegustypassageofworldwithinworld;andthen,lookingabroad,theysawthesmallbrightwavescreamingbytherocksofBenEdair,andtheyblessedthepowerthathadguidedandprotectedthem,andtheyblessedthecomelylandofIr。
OnreachingTara,Delvcaem,whowasmorepowerfulinartandmagicthanBecuma,orderedthelattertogoaway,andshedidso。
Shelefttheking’sside。Shecamefromthemidstofthecounsellorsandmagicians。Shedidnotbidfarewelltoanyone。
Shedidnotsaygood-byetothekingasshesetoutforBenEdair。
Whereshecouldgotonomanknew,forshehadbeenban-ishedfromtheMany-ColouredLandandcouldnotreturnthere。ShewasforbiddenentrytotheShi’byAngusOg,andshecouldnotremaininIreland。ShewenttoSasanaandshebecameaqueeninthatcountry,anditwasshewhofosteredtherageagainsttheHolyLandwhichhasnotceasedtothisday。
MONGAN’SFRENZY
CHAPTERI
TheabbotoftheMonasteryofMovillesentwordtothestory-tellersofIrelandthatwhentheywereinhisneighbourhoodtheyshouldcallatthemonastery,forhewishedtocollectandwritedownthestorieswhichwereindangerofbeingforgotten。
\"Thesethingsalsomusthetold,\"saidhe。
InparticularhewishedtogathertaleswhichtoldofthedeedsthathadbeendonebeforetheGospelcametoIreland。
\"For,\"saidhe,\"thereareverygoodtalesamongthoseones,anditwouldbeapityifthepeoplewhocomeafterusshouldbeignorantofwhathappenedlongago,andofthedeedsoftheirfathers。\"
So,wheneverastory-tellerchancedinthatneighbourhoodhewasdirectedtothemonastery,andtherehereceivedawelcomeandhisfillofallthatisgoodforman。
Theabbot’smanuscriptboxesbegantofillup,andheusedtoregardthatgrowingstorewithprideandjoy。Intheevenings,whenthedaysgrewshortandthelightwentearly,hewouldcallforsomeoneofthesemanuscriptsandhaveitreadtohimbycandle-light,inorderthathemightsatisfyhimselfthatitwasasgoodashehadjudgedittobeontheprevioushearing。
Onedayastory-tellercametothemonastery,and,likealltheothers,hewasheartilywelcomedandgivenagreatdealmorethanhisneed。
HesaidthathisnamewasCairide’,andthathehadastorytotellwhichcouldnotbebetteredamongthestoriesofIreland。
Theabbot’seyesglistenedwhenheheardthat。Herubbedhishandstogetherandsmiledonhisguest。
\"Whatisthenameofyourstory?\"heasked。
\"Itiscalled’Mongan’sFrenzy。’\"
\"Ineverheardofitbefore,\"criedtheabbotjoyfully。
\"Iamtheonlymanthatknowsit,\"Cairide’replied。
\"Buthowdoesthatcomeabout?\"theabbotinquired。
\"Becauseitbelongstomyfamily,\"thestory-telleranswered。
\"TherewasaCairide’ofmynationwithMonganwhenhewentintoFaery。ThisCairide’listenedtothestorywhenitwasfirsttold。Thenhetoldittohisson,andhissontoldittohisson,andthatson’sgreat-great-grandson’ssontoldittohisson’sson,andhetoldittomyfather,andmyfathertoldittome。\"
\"Andyoushalltellittome,\"criedtheabbottriumphantly。
\"Iwillindeed,\"saidCairide’。Vellumwasthenbroughtandquills。Thecopyistssatattheirtables。Alewasplacedbesidethestory-teller,andhetoldthistaletotheabbot。
CHAPTERII
SaidCairide’:
Mongan’swifeatthattimewasBro’tiarna,theFlameLady。Shewaspassionateandfierce,andbecausethebloodwouldfloodsuddenlytohercheek,sothatshewhohadseemedalilybecame,whileyoulookeduponher,arose,shewascalledFlameLady。ShelovedMonganwithecstasyandabandon,andforthatalsohecalledherFlameLady。
Buttheremayhavebeensomethingofcalculationeveninherwildestmoment,forifshewasdelightedinheraffectionshewastormentedinitalso,asareallthosewholovethegreatonesoflifeandstrivetoequalthemselveswhereequalityisnotpossible。
Forherhusbandwasatoncemorethanhimselfandlessthanhimself。HewaslessthanhimselfbecausehewasnowMongan。Hewasmorethanhimselfbecausehewasonewhohadlongdisappearedfromtheworldofmen。Hislamenthadbeensungandhisfuneralgamesplayedmany,manyyearsbefore,andBro’tiarnasensedinhimsecrets,experiences,knowledgesinwhichshecouldhavenopart,andforwhichshewasgreedilyenvious。
Soshewascontinuallyaskinghimlittle,simplequestionsa’
proposofeverykindofthing。
Sheweighedallthathesaidonwhateversubject,andwhenhetalkedinhissleepshelistenedtohisdream。
Theknowledgethatshegleanedfromthoselisteningstormentedherfarmorethanitsatisfiedher,forthenamesofotherwomenwerecontinuallyonhislips,sometimesintermsofdearaffection,sometimesinaccentsofangerordespair,andinhissleephespokefamiliarlyofpeoplewhomthestory-tellerstoldof,butwhohadbeendeadforcenturies。Thereforeshewasperplexed,andbecamefilledwithaveryrageofcuriosity。
Amongthenameswhichherhusbandmentionedtherewasonewhich,becauseofthefrequencywithwhichitappeared,andbecauseofthetoneofanguishandloveandlonginginwhichitwasuttered,shethoughtofoftenerthantheothers:thisnamewasDuvLaca。
Althoughshequestionedandcross-questionedCairide’,herstory-teller,shecoulddiscovernothingaboutaladywhohadbeenknownastheBlackDuck。ButonenightwhenMonganseemedtospeakwithDuvLacahementionedherfatherasFiachnaDuvmacDemain,andthestory-tellersaidthatkinghadbeendeadforavastnumberofyears。
Sheaskedherhusbandthen,boldly,totellherthestoryofDuvLaca,andundertheinfluenceoftheirmutuallovehepromisedtotellittohersometime,buteachtimesheremindedhimofhispromisehebecameconfused,andsaidthathewouldtellitsomeothertime。
AstimewentonthepoorFlameLadygrewmoreandmorejealousofDuvLaca,andmoreandmorecertainthat,ifonlyshecouldknowwhathadhappened,shewouldgetsomeeasetohertormentedheartandsomeassuagementofherperfectlynaturalcuriosity。
ThereforeshelostnoopportunityofremindingMonganofhispromise,andoneachoccasionherenewedthepromiseandputitbacktoanothertime。
CHAPTERIII
IntheyearwhenCiaranthesonoftheCarpenterdied,thesameyearwhenTuathalMaelgarivwaskilledandtheyearwhenDiarmaitthesonofCerrbelbecamekingofallIreland,theyear538ofourerainshort,ithappenedthattherewasagreatgatheringofthemenofIrelandattheHillofUisneachinRoyalMeath。
InadditiontotheCouncilwhichwasbeingheld,thereweregamesandtournamentsandbrilliantdeploymentsoftroops,anduniversalfeastingsandenjoyments。Thegatheringlastedforaweek,andonthelastdayoftheweekMonganwasmovingthroughthecrowdwithsevenguards,hisstory-tellerCairide’,andhiswife。
Ithadbeenabeautifulday,withbrilliantsunshineandgreatsport,butsuddenlycloudsbegantogatherintheskytothewest,andotherscamerushingblacklyfromtheeast。Whenthesecloudsmettheworldwentdarkforaspace,andtherefellfromtheskyashowerofhailstones,solargethateachmanwonderedattheirsize,andsoswiftandheavythatthewomenandyoungpeopleofthehostscreamedfromthepainoftheblowstheyreceived。
Mongan’smenmadearoofoftheirshields,andthehailstonesbatteredontheshieldssoterriblythatevenunderthemtheywereafraid。Theybegantomoveawayfromthehostlookingforshelter,andwhentheyhadgoneapartalittlewaytheyturnedtheedgeofasmallhillandaknolloftrees,andinthetwinklingofaneyetheywereinfairweather。
Oneminutetheyheardtheclashingandbashingofthehailstones,thehowlingofthevenomouswind,thescreamsofwomenandtheuproarofthecrowdontheHillofUisneach,andthenextminutetheyheardnothingmoreofthosesoundsandsawnothingmoreofthesesights,fortheyhadbeenpermittedtogoatonestepoutoftheworldofmenandintotheworldofFaery。
CHAPTERIV
ThereisadifferencebetweenthisworldandtheworldofFaery,butitisnotimmediatelyperceptible。Everythingthatishereisthere,butthethingsthataretherearebetterthanthosethatarehere。Allthingsthatarebrightaretherebrighter。Thereismoregoldinthesunandmoresilverinthemoonofthatland。
Thereismorescentintheflowers,moresavourinthefruit。
Thereismorecomelinessinthemenandmoretendernessinthewomen。EverythinginFaeryisbetterbythisonewonderfuldegree,anditisbythisbetternessyouwillknowthatyouarethereifyoushouldeverhappentogetthere。
Monganandhiscompanionssteppedfromtheworldofstormintosunshineandascentedworld。Theinstanttheysteppedtheystood,bewildered,lookingateachothersilently,questioningly,andthenwithoneaccordtheyturnedtolookbackwhencetheyhadcome。
Therewasnostormbehindthem。Thesunlightdrowsedthereasitdidinfront,apeacefulfloodingoflivinggold。Theysawtheshapesofthecountrytowhichtheireyeswereaccustomed,andrecognisedthewell-knownlandmarks,butitseemedthatthedistanthillswereatriflehigher,andthegrasswhichclothedthemandstretchedbetweenwasgreener,wasmorevelvety:thatthetreeswerebetterclothedandhadmoreofpeaceastheyhungoverthequietground。
ButMonganknewwhathadhappened,andhesmiledwithgleeashewatchedhisastonishedcompanions,andhesniffedthatbalmyairasonewhosenostrilsrememberedit。
\"Youhadbettercomewithme,\"hesaid。
\"Wherearewe?\"hiswifeasked。\"Why,wearehere,\"criedMongan;
\"whereelseshouldwebe?\"
Hesetoffthen,andtheothersfollowed,staringaboutthemcautiously,andeachmankeepingahandonthehiltofhissword。
\"AreweinFaery?\"theFlameLadyasked。
\"Weare,\"saidMongan。
Whentheyhadgonealittledistancetheycametoagroveofancienttrees。Mightilytailandwellgrownthesetreeswere,andthetrunkofeachcouldnothavebeenspannedbytenbroadmen。
Astheywentamongthesequietgiantsintothedappledobscurityandsilence,theirthoughtsbecamegrave,andallthemotionsoftheirmindselevatedasthoughtheymustequalingreatnessanddignitythoseancientandglorioustrees。Whentheypassedthroughthegrovetheysawalovelyhousebeforethem,builtofmellowwoodandwitharoofofbronze——itwaslikethedwellingofaking,andoverthewindowsoftheSunnyRoomtherewasabalcony。Therewereladiesonthisbalcony,andwhentheysawthetravellersapproachingtheysentmessengerstowelcomethem。
Monganandhiscompanionswerethenbroughtintothehouse,andallwasdoneforthemthatcouldbedoneforhonouredguests。
Everythingwithinthehousewasasexcellentasallwithout,anditwasinhabitedbysevenmenandsevenwomen,anditwasevidentthatMonganandthesepeoplewerewellacquainted。
Intheeveningafeastwasprepared,andwhentheyhadeatenwelltherewasabanquet。Thereweresevenvatsofwine,andasMonganlovedwinehewasveryhappy,andhedrankmoreonthatoccasionthananyonehadevernoticedhimtodrinkbefore。
ItwaswhilehewasinthisconditionofgleeandexpansionthattheFlameLadyputherarmsabouthisneckandbeggedhewouldtellherthestoryofDuvLaca,and,beingboisterousthenandfullofgoodspirits,heagreedtoherrequest,andhepreparedtotellthetale。
ThesevenmenandsevenwomenoftileFairyPalacethentooktheirplacesabouthiminahalf-circle;hisownsevenguardssatbehindthem;hiswife,theFlameLady,satbyhisside;andatthebackofallCairid~hisstory-tellersat,listeningwithallhisears,andrememberingeverywordthatwasuttered。
CHAPTERV
SaidMongan:
Inthedaysoflongagoandthetimesthathavedisappearedforever,therewasoneFiachnaFinnthesonofBaltan,thesonofMurchertach,thesonofMuredach,thesonofEogan,thesonofNeill。Hewentfromhisowncountrywhenhewasyoung,forhewishedtoseethelandofLochlann,andheknewthathewouldbewelcomedbythekingofthatcountry,forFiachna’sfatherandEolgarg’sfatherhaddonedeedsincommonandwereobligedtoeachother。
Hewaswelcomed,andhestayedattheCourtofLochlanningreateaseandinthemidstofpleasures。
ItthenhappenedthatEolgargMorfellsickandthedoctorscouldnotcurehim。Theysentforotherdoctors,buttheycouldnotcurehim,norcouldanyonesaywhathewassufferingfrom,beyondthathewaswastingvisiblybeforetheireyes,andwouldcertainlybecomeashadowanddisappearinairunlesshewashealedandfattenedandmadevisible。
Theysentformoredistantdoctors,andthenforothersmoredistantstill,andatlasttheyfoundamanwhoclaimedthathecouldmakeacureifthekingweresuppliedwiththemedicinewhichhewouldorder。
\"Whatmedicineisthat?\"saidtheyall。
\"Thisisthemedicine,\"saidthedoctor。\"Findaper-fectlywhitecowwithredears,andboilitdowninthelump,andifthekingdrinksthatrenderinghewillrecover。\"
Beforehehadwellsaiditmessengersweregoingfromthepalaceinalldirectionslookingforsuchacow。Theyfoundlotsofcowswhichwerenearlylikewhattheywanted,butitwasonlybychancetheycameonthecowwhichwoulddothework,andthatbeastbelongedtothemostnotoriousandmaliciousandcantankerousfemaleinLochlann,theBlackHag。NowtheBlackHagwasnotonlythosethingsthathavebeensaid;shewasalsowhiskeredandwartyandone-eyedandobstreperous,andshewasnotoriousandill-favouredinmanyotherwaysalso。
Theyofferedheracowintheplaceofherowncow,butsherefusedtogiveit。Thentheyofferedacowforeachlegofhercow,butshewouldnotacceptthatofferunlessFiachnawentbailforthepayment。Heagreedtodoso,andtheydrovethebeastaway。
OnthereturnjourneyhewasmetbymessengerswhobroughtnewsfromIreland。TheysaidthattheKingofUlsterwasdead,andthathe,FiachnaFinn,hadbeenelectedkinginthedeadking’splace。HeatoncetookshipforIreland,andfoundthatallhehadbeentoldwastrue,andhetookupthegovernmentofUlster。
CHAPTERVI
Ayearpassed,andonedayashewassittingatjudgementtherecameagreatnoisefromwithout,andthisnoisewassopersistentthatthepeopleandsuitorswerescandalised,andFiachnaatlastorderedthatthenoisypersonshouldbebroughtbeforehimtobejudged。
Itwasdone,andtohissurprisethepersonturnedouttobetheBlackHag。
Sheblamedhiminthecourtbeforehispeople,andcomplainedthathehadtakenawayhercow,andthatshehadnotbeenpaidthefourcowshehadgonebailfor,andshedemandedjudgementfromhimandjustice。
\"Ifyouwillconsiderittobejustice,Iwillgiveyoutwentycowsmyself,\"saidFiachna。
\"IwouldnottakeallthecowsinUlster,\"shescreamed。
\"Pronouncejudgementyourself,\"saidtheking,\"andifIcandowhatyoudemandIwilldoit。\"Forhedidnotliketobeinthewrong,andhedidnotwishthatanypersonshouldhaveanunsatisfiedclaimuponhim。
TheBlackHagthenpronouncedjudgement,andthekinghadtofulfilit。
\"Ihavecome,\"saidshe,\"fromtheeasttothewest;youmustcomefromthewesttotheeastandmakewarforme,andrevengemeontheKingofLochlann。\"
Fiachnahadtodoasshedemanded,and,althoughitwaswithaheavyheart,hesetoutinthreedays’timeforLochlann,andhebroughtwithhimtenbattalions。
HesentmessengersbeforehimtoBigEolgargwarninghimofhiscoming,ofhisintention,andofthenumberoftroopshewasbringing;andwhenhelandedEolgargmethimwithanequalforce,andtheyfoughttogether。
InthefirstbattlethreehundredofthemenofLochlannwerekilled,butinthenextbattleEolgargMordidnotfightfair,forheletsomevenomoussheepoutofatent,andtheseattackedthemenofUlsterandkilledninehundredofthem。
Sovastwastheslaughtermadebythesesheepandsogreattheterrortheycaused,thatnoonecouldstandbeforethem,butbygreatgoodlucktherewasawoodathand,andthemenofUlster,warriorsandprincesandcharioteers,wereforcedtoclimbupthetrees,andtheyroostedamongthebrancheslikegreatbirds,whilethevenomoussheeprangedbelowbleatingterriblyandtearinguptheground。
FiachnaFi,mwasalsosittinginatree,veryhighup,andhewasdisconsolate。
\"Wearedisgraced{\"saidhe。
\"Itisverylucky,\"saidthemaninthebranchbelow,\"thatasheepcannotclimbatree。\"
\"Wearedisgracedforever{\"saidtheKingofUlster。
\"Ifthosesheeplearnhowtoclimb,weareundonesurely,\"saidthemanbelow。
\"Iwillgodownandfightthesheep,\"saidFiachna。Buttheotherswouldnotletthekinggo。
\"Itisnotright,\"theysaid,\"thatyoushouldfightsheep。\"
\"Someonemustfightthem,\"saidFiachnaFinn,\"butnomoreofmymenshalldieuntilIfightmyself;forifIamfatedtodie,I
willdieandIcannotescapeit,andifitisthesheep’sfatetodie,thendietheywill;forthereisnomancanavoiddestiny,andthereisnosheepcandodgeiteither。\"
\"Praisebetogod!\"saidthewarriorthatwashigherup。
\"Amen!’saidthemanwhowashigherthanhe,andtherestofthewarriorswishedgoodlucktotheking。
Hestartedthentoclimbdownthetreewithaheavyheart,butwhilehehungfromthelastbranchandwasabouttoletgo,henoticedatallwarriorwalkingtowardshim。Thekingpulledhimselfuponthebranchagainandsatdangle-leggedonittoseewhatthewarriorwoulddo。
Thestrangerwasaverytallman,dressedinagreencloakwithasilverbroochattheshoulder。Hehadagoldenbandabouthishairandgoldensandalsonhisfeet,andhewaslaughingheartilyattheplightofthemenofIreland。
CHAPTERVII
\"Itisnotniceofyoutolaughatus,\"saidFiachnaFinn。
\"Whocouldhelplaughingatakinghunkeringonabranchandhisarmyroostingaroundhimlikehens?\"saidthestranger。
\"Nevertheless,\"thekingreplied,\"itwouldbecourteousofyounottolaughatmisfortune。\"
\"Welaughwhenwecan,\"commentedthestranger,\"andarethankfulforthechance。\"
\"Youmaycomeupintothetree,\"saidFiachna,\"forIperceivethatyouareamannerlyperson,andIseethatsomeofthevenomoussheeparecharginginthisdirection。Iwouldratherprotectyou,\"hecontinued,\"thanseeyoukilled;for,\"saidhelamentably,\"Iamgettingdownnowtofightthesheep。\"
\"Theywillnothurtme,\"saidthestranger。\"Whoareyou?\"thekingasked。
\"IamMananna’n,thesonofLir。\"
Fiachnaknewthenthatthestrangercouldnotbehurt。
\"WhatwillyougivemeifIdeliveryoufromthesheep?\"askedManann,Sn。
\"Iwillgiveyouanythingyouask,ifIhavethatthing。\"
\"Iasktherightsofyourcrownandofyourhouseholdforoneday。\"
Fiachna’sbreathwastakenawaybythatrequest,andhetookalittletimetocomposehimself,thenhesaidmildly:
\"IwillnothaveonemanofIrelandkilledifIcansavehim。AllthatIhavetheygiveme,allthatIhaveIgivetothem,andifImustgivethisalso,thenIwillgivethis,althoughitwouldbeeasierformetogivemylife。\"\"Thatisagreed,\"saidMannana’n。
Hehadsomethingwrappedinafoldofhiscloak,andheunwrappedandproducedthisthing。
Itwasadog。
Nowifthesheepwerevenomous,thisdogwasmorevenomousstill,foritwasfearfultolookat。Inbodyitwasnotlarge,butitsheadwasofagreatsize,andthemouththatwasshapedinthatheadwasabletoopenlikethelidofapot。Itwasnotteethwhichwereinthathead,buthooksandfangsandprongs。Dreadfulwasthatmouthtolookat,terribletolookinto,woefultothinkabout;andfromit,orfromthebroad,loosenosethatwaggledaboveit,therecameasoundwhichnowordofmancoulddescribe,foritwasnotasnarl,norwasitahowl,althoughitwasbothofthese。Itwasneitheragrowlnoragrunt,althoughitwasbothofthese;itwasnotayowlnoragroan,althoughitwasbothofthese:foritwasonesoundmadeupofthesesounds,andtherewasinit,too,awhineandayelp,andalong-drawnsnoringnoise,andadeeppurringnoise,andanoisethatwaslikethesquealofarustyhinge,andtherewereothernoisesinitalso。
\"Thegodsbepraised!\"saidthemanwhowasinthebranchabovetheking。
\"Whatforthistime?\"saidtheking。
\"Becausethatdogcannotclimbatree,\"saidtheman。
Andthemanonabranchyetabovehimgroanedout\"Amen!\"
\"Thereisnothingtofrightensheeplikeadog,\"saidMananna’n,\"andthereisnothingtofrightenthesesheeplikethisdog。\"
Heputthedogonthegroundthen。
\"Littledogeen,littletreasure,\"saidhe,\"goandkillthesheep。\"
Andwhenhesaidthatthedogputanadditionandanaddendumontothenoisehehadbeenmakingbefore,sothatthemenofIrelandstucktheirfingersintotheirearsandturnedthewhitesoftheireyesupwards,andnearlyfellofftheirbrancheswiththefearandthefrightwhichthatsoundputintothem。
Itdidnottakethedoglongtodowhathehadbeenordered。Hewentforward,atfirst,withaslowwaddle,andasthevenomoussheepcametomeethiminbounces,hethenwenttomeettheminwriggles;sothatinawhilehewentsofastthatyoucouldseenothingofhimbutaheadandawriggle。Hedealtwiththesheepinthisway,ajumpandachopforeach,andhenevermissedhisjumpandhenevermissedhischop。Whenhegothisgripheswungroundonitasifitwasahinge。Theswingbeganwiththechop,anditendedwiththebitlooseandthesheepgivingitslastkick。Attheendoftenminutesallthesheepwerelyingontheground,andthesamebitwasoutofeverysheep,andeverysheepwasdead。
\"Youcancomedownnow,\"saidMananna’n。
\"Thatdogcan’tclimbatree,\"saidthemaninthebranchabovethekingwarningly。
\"Praisebetothegods!\"saidthemanwhowasabovehim。
\"Amen!\"saidthewarriorwhowashigherupthanthat。Andthemaninthenexttreesaid:
\"Don’tmoveahandorafootuntilthedogchokeshimselftodeathonthedeadmeat。\"
Thedog,however,didnoteatabitofthemeat。Hetrottedtohismaster,andMananna’ntookhimupandwrappedhiminhiscloak。
\"Nowyoucancomedown,\"saidhe。
\"Iwishthatdogwasdead!\"saidtheking。
Butheswunghimselfoutofthetreeallthesame,forhedidnotwishtoseemfrightenedbeforeMananna’n。\"YoucangonowandbeatthemenofLochlann,\"saidMananna’n。\"YouwillbeKingofLochlannbeforenightfall。\"
\"Iwouldn’tmindthat,\"saidtheking。\"It’snothreat,\"saidMananna’n。
ThesonofLirturnedthenandwentawayinthedirectionofIrelandtotakeuphisone-dayrights,andFiachnacontinuedhisbattlewiththeLochlannachs。
Hebeatthembeforenightfall,andbythatvictoryhebecameKingofLochlannandKingoftheSaxonsandtheBritons。
HegavetheBlackHagsevencastleswiththeirterritories,andhegaveheronehundredofeverysortofcattlethathehadcaptured。Shewassatisfied。
ThenhewentbacktoIreland,andafterhehadbeenthereforsometimehiswifegavebirthtoason。
CHAPTERVIII
\"YouhavenottoldmeonewordaboutDuvLaca,\"saidtheFlameLadyreproachfully。
\"Iamcomingtothat,\"repliedMongan。
Hemotionedtowardsoneofthegreatvats,andwinewasbroughttohim,ofwhichhedranksojoyouslyandsodeeplythatallpeoplewonderedathisthirst,hiscapacity,andhisjovialspirits。
\"Now,Iwillbeginagain。\"
SaidMongan:TherewasanattendantinFiachnaFinn’spalacewhowascalledAnDa’v,andthesamenightthatFiachna’swifeboreason,thewifeofAnDa’vgavebirthtoasonalso。ThislatterchildwascalledmacanDa’v,butthesonofFiachna’swifewasnamedMongan。
\"Ah!\"murmuredtheFlameLady。
Thequeenwasangry。Shesaiditwasunjustandpresumptuousthattheservantshouldgetachildatthesametimethatshegotoneherself,buttherewasnohelpforit,becausethechildwasthereandcouldnotbeobliterated。
Nowthisalsomustbetold。
TherewasaneighbouringprincecalledFiachnaDuv,andhewastheruleroftheDalFiatach。ForalongtimehehadbeenatenmityandspitefulwarfarewithFiachnaFinn;andtothisFiachnaDuvtherewasborninthesamenightadaughter,andthisgirlwasnamedDuvLacaoftheWhiteHand。
\"Ah!\"criedtheFlameLady。
\"Yousee!\"saidMongan,andhedrankanewandjoyouslyofthefairywine。
InordertoendthetroublebetweenFiachnaFinnandFiachnaDuvthebabieswereaffiancedtoeachotherinthecradleonthedayaftertheywereborn,andthemenofIrelandrejoicedatthatdeedandatthatnews。Butsoontherecamedismayandsorrowintheland,forwhenthelittleMonganwasthreedaysoldhisrealfather,Mananna’nthesonofLir,appearedinthemiddleofthepalace。HewrappedMonganinhisgreencloakandtookhimawaytorearandtrainintheLandofPromise,whichisbeyondtheseathatisattheothersideofthegrave。
WhenFiachnaDuvheardthatMongan,whowasaffiancedtohisdaughterDuvLaca,haddisappeared,heconsideredthathiscompactofpeacewasatanend,andonedayhecamebysurpriseandattackedthepalace。HekilledFiachnaFinninthatbattle,andbecrownedhimselfKingofUlster。
ThemenofUlsterdislikedhim,andtheypetitionedMananna’ntobringMonganback,butMananna’nwouldnotdothisuntiltheboywassixteenyearsofageandwellrearedinthewisdomoftheLandofPromise。ThenhedidbringMonganback,andbyhismeanspeacewasmadebetweenMonganandFiachnaDuv,andMonganwasmarriedtohiscradle-bride,theyoungDuvLaca。
CHAPTERIX
OnedayMonganandDuvLacawereplayingchessintheirpalace。
Monganhadjustmadeamoveofskill,andhelookedupfromtheboardtoseeifDuvLacaseemedasdiscontentedasshehadarighttobe。HesawthenoverDuvLaca’sshoulderalittleblack-faced,tufty-headedclericleaningagainstthedoor-postinsidetheroom。
\"Whatareyoudoingthere?\"saidMongan。
\"Whatareyoudoingthereyourself?\"saidthelittleblack-facedcleric。
\"Indeed,Ihavearighttobeinmyownhouse,\"saidMongan。
\"IndeedIdonotagreewithyou,\"saidthecleric。
\"WhereoughtIbe,then?\"saidMongan。
\"YououghttobeatDunFiathacavengingthemurderofyourfather,\"repliedthecleric,\"andyououghttobeashamedofyourselffornothavingdoneitlongago。Youcanplaychesswithyourwifewhenyouhavewontherighttoleisure。\"
\"ButhowcanIkillmywife’sfather?\"Monganexclaimed。\"Bystartingaboutitatonce,\"saidthecleric。\"Hereisawayoftalking!\"saidMongan。
\"Iknow,\"theclericcontinued,\"thatDuvLacawillnotagreewithawordIsayonthissubject,andthatshewilltrytopreventyoufromdoingwhatyouhavearighttodo,forthatisawife’sbusiness,butaman’sbusinessistodowhatIhavejusttoldyou;socomewithmenowanddonotwaittothinkaboutit,anddonotwaittoplayanymorechess。FiachnaDuvhasonlyasmallforcewithhimatthismoment,andwecanburnhispalaceasheburnedyourfather’spalace,andkillhimselfashekilledyourfather,andcrownyouKingofUlsterrightfullythewayhecrownedhimselfwrongfullyasaking。\"
\"Ibegintothinkthatyouownaluckytongue,myblack-facedfriend,\"saidMongan,\"andIwillgowithyou。\"
Hecollectedhisforcesthen,andheburnedFiachnaDuv’sfortress,andhekilledFiachnaDuv,andhewascrownedKingofUlster。
Thenforthefirsttimehefeltsecureandatlibertytoplaychess。Buthedidnotknowuntilafterwardsthattheblack-faced,tufty-headedpersonwashisfatherMananna’n,althoughthatwasthefact。
Therearesomewhosay,however,thatFiachnatheBlackwaskilledintheyear624bythelordoftheScot’sDalRiada,CondadCerr,atthebattleofArdCarainn;butthepeoplewhosaythisdonotknowwhattheyaretalkingabout,andtheydonotcaregreatlywhatitistheysay。