 | Blanid |  |
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THE HUNTING OF THE WOLF OF BIERNA.
O love! O love! Ofttimes a bitter guest,
Ofttimes a golden joy without a stain,
Lord of hard grief, of anger and unrest,
Gift-giver of bright pleasure after pain;
O thou whose breath warmeth the hardened breast
As wintry frosts by spring's sweet winds and rain,
There's blood upon thine arrows warm and red!
And why art thou with vengeance still unfed?
Ofttimes a golden joy without a stain,
Lord of hard grief, of anger and unrest,
Gift-giver of bright pleasure after pain;
O thou whose breath warmeth the hardened breast
As wintry frosts by spring's sweet winds and rain,
There's blood upon thine arrows warm and red!
And why art thou with vengeance still unfed?
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For where erstwhile thy sunny garden grew
A pleasaunce of delight naught seemed to chill,
Decked with all flowers that ever drank the dew,
Vocal with bird and breeze and singing rill,
Now nothing meets thy mournful victim's view
But desert sand and rock and fierce-browed hill,
Naked and grim, with clouds of gloom o'erspread
Pouring misfortune's rain upon his head!
A pleasaunce of delight naught seemed to chill,
Decked with all flowers that ever drank the dew,
Vocal with bird and breeze and singing rill,
Now nothing meets thy mournful victim's view
But desert sand and rock and fierce-browed hill,
Naked and grim, with clouds of gloom o'erspread
Pouring misfortune's rain upon his head!
With heart forlorn his galley's deck he trode
And sailed the sea to high Dun Dalgan's hall;
Nor long within its chambers he abode,
But with sweet hopes all changed to bitter gall,
And sorrow darkening his lonely road,
He sought the hills, that song of waterfall
And breeze within the wood and wild-birds' strain
Might wake to gladness his sad heart again.
And sailed the sea to high Dun Dalgan's hall;
Nor long within its chambers he abode,
But with sweet hopes all changed to bitter gall,
And sorrow darkening his lonely road,
He sought the hills, that song of waterfall
And breeze within the wood and wild-birds' strain
Might wake to gladness his sad heart again.
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But though the wild-birds sang their sweetest lays,
Though all the forest flowers bloomed in their prime,
And the sweet winds beneath the summer rays
Played 'mid the whispering leaves their lulling chime,
Though many a brooklet down the greenwood maze
Danced in blithe gladness, yet nor change nor time
Could end his care or lighten his sad woe,
Howe'er the birds might sing or breezes blow!
Though all the forest flowers bloomed in their prime,
And the sweet winds beneath the summer rays
Played 'mid the whispering leaves their lulling chime,
Though many a brooklet down the greenwood maze
Danced in blithe gladness, yet nor change nor time
Could end his care or lighten his sad woe,
Howe'er the birds might sing or breezes blow!
One day as he rode downward through a glen
Whose sparkling stream made music as he sped,
He came on hurrying groups of armèd men
Marching along the winding path that led
Around a rock-encircled gloomy fen
Unto a village green, whereon, adread
Of something strange they halted, each one's hand
Grasping with nervous grip the spear or brand.
Whose sparkling stream made music as he sped,
He came on hurrying groups of armèd men
Marching along the winding path that led
Around a rock-encircled gloomy fen
Unto a village green, whereon, adread
Of something strange they halted, each one's hand
Grasping with nervous grip the spear or brand.
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And there the priests were from the neighboring shrine,
The villagers around them, young and old,
Who, when they saw Cuhullin's harness shine
Anear them with its links of brass and gold,
Knew him for their own prince, and as strong wine
Makes the faint-hearted ofttimes overbold,
His presence raised their hearts, and boisterously
They shouted like the roaring of the sea.
The villagers around them, young and old,
Who, when they saw Cuhullin's harness shine
Anear them with its links of brass and gold,
Knew him for their own prince, and as strong wine
Makes the faint-hearted ofttimes overbold,
His presence raised their hearts, and boisterously
They shouted like the roaring of the sea.
Then one came nigh and said, “O prince and lord
Of this our land and home, the Gods at last
Take pity on our state, with one accord
Sending thee to us, and our woe is past
When thou, O hero! helpest. By the ford
Of Bierna, where the black flood hurries fast
Out of the fen, there dwells a monster dire
Whose wrath consumes us like a forest fire!
Of this our land and home, the Gods at last
Take pity on our state, with one accord
Sending thee to us, and our woe is past
When thou, O hero! helpest. By the ford
Of Bierna, where the black flood hurries fast
Out of the fen, there dwells a monster dire
Whose wrath consumes us like a forest fire!
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And how he came we know not, but one day
The birds sat still in garden, grove, and wood,
Till the dark night fell, then each branch and spray
Resounded with a weird, alarming flood
Of music from their throats; and when the gray
Of Morn came, a great storm-cloud red as blood
Rose in the east, and down the glen there bore
Seven ravens with their long beaks dripping gore.
The birds sat still in garden, grove, and wood,
Till the dark night fell, then each branch and spray
Resounded with a weird, alarming flood
Of music from their throats; and when the gray
Of Morn came, a great storm-cloud red as blood
Rose in the east, and down the glen there bore
Seven ravens with their long beaks dripping gore.
And then the storm came rending sky and earth,
And a thick darkness with it, and the flame
Of lightning split in its demoniac mirth
Yon sacred tree, and from the ford there came
Roaring a monstrous wolf, that ne'er had birth
Save from the nether Gods without a name,
And into my fair brother's cottage burst
And slew him, child and wife, with jaws accurst!
And a thick darkness with it, and the flame
Of lightning split in its demoniac mirth
Yon sacred tree, and from the ford there came
Roaring a monstrous wolf, that ne'er had birth
Save from the nether Gods without a name,
And into my fair brother's cottage burst
And slew him, child and wife, with jaws accurst!
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And since each night he rushes from his lair,
Slaying both child and man; and shield and spear
Seem naught against him, and the young and fair
Sweet morsels are to him, and thus we fear,
O prince! his vengeance fell, though trembling care
Will leave our doubting hearts now thou art here
To rid us of the pest; but hark the moan
Of the bereaved ones for their joys o'erthrown!”
FIRST PRIEST.Slaying both child and man; and shield and spear
Seem naught against him, and the young and fair
Sweet morsels are to him, and thus we fear,
O prince! his vengeance fell, though trembling care
Will leave our doubting hearts now thou art here
To rid us of the pest; but hark the moan
Of the bereaved ones for their joys o'erthrown!”
The Pest of the Fiends hath won us,
The Bringer of woe is nigh,
No friendly Gods smile on us,
Or list to our wail and cry!
Our word is the foam that flashes
Down the torrent, to fade and pass,
Our prayers are but dust and ashes,
Our wish is the withered grass!
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He was born by the fen's black mirror,
The offspring of Doom and Hate,
He was cradled in the cave of Terror,
And nursed at the dugs of Fate!
We chatter with fear, like sparrows
When the adder stirs by the wall,
For our threats are as pointless arrows
'Gainst the thews of his strength to fall;
And we pray with the hate hate nurses
Till our vision with rage is dim,
And our mouths foam over with curses
To wither him, heart and limb;
But some fiend of the fiends hath fenced him,
Hath strengthened him, fang and claw,
And our curses are naught against him,
And our prayers are but chaff and straw!
CHIEF OF THE VILLAGE.
My son in the throngs of the valiant was valiant where cowered the brave,
He grew like the shaft of the pine-tree that towers by Beraran's dark wave;
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And the prince of the land was his comrade, as his long spear came up to the charge!
No more will he follow his lord to the conquest of isles and of coasts,
No more where the firm earth is shaken by the shout and the charging of hosts
'Gainst his shield will the javelins clatter, or the light arrows whirr through his plume,
For his bones strew the black ford of Bierna, and his flesh feeds the fierce Thing of doom!
FIRST MOTHER.
As a bud in a land of roses
My little one grew,
As the violet Morn uncloses,
His eyes of blue;
As the harps 'neath the golden rafter
Of the King with the flutes combine,
Was the voice of his silvery laughter
To this desolate heart of mine!
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Of bloom and light!
Alas for the mother's bosom
That once was bright!
The brook in the woodland dances,
The sunbeams shimmer and burn,
But the rapture of my love's glances
Will ne'er to my heart return!
SECOND MOTHER.
As a twig of the catkined willow
My loved one bloomed at my side,
She was pure as the moon's white pillow
Of cloud o'er the ocean tide;
She was winsome and bright and bonny
As the lily by Bana's lake,
She was sweet as the sweet wild honey
The bees in the gold moss make;
Her mouth was a rose unfolden
With the glory of morning smit,
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By the tawn of the Autumn lit:
Her voice was the throstle's singing
At even from Lora's bowers,
Her breath was the wood-breeze bringing
The joy of unnumbered flowers;
But alas! and alas! that never
Again will her hand clasp mine!
Alas for the fateful Riever!
And woe for the Wrath divine!
Then thronged they round the hero and they cried,
“Deliverer, by the good Gods sent! O thou
That comest in the glory and the pride
Of thy young manhood, with thy sunlike brow
Beaming on us the look that never lied
Of hope and comfort, in thy valiance now
Strike for us! Strike! and rid us of the Pest
Hurled on us by the nether Gods unblest!”
“Deliverer, by the good Gods sent! O thou
That comest in the glory and the pride
Of thy young manhood, with thy sunlike brow
Beaming on us the look that never lied
Of hope and comfort, in thy valiance now
Strike for us! Strike! and rid us of the Pest
Hurled on us by the nether Gods unblest!”
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Then called the hero to him a young man
Who sat a strong gray horse and held a spear
In his firm grasp. “The winds this morn that ran
Over the fen where dwells this thing of fear
Not swifter sped than thou must scour the span
'Tween this and high Dun Dalgan, and bring here
Lia Macha from her brazen stall, and him,
Barana of the light and powerful limb!
Who sat a strong gray horse and held a spear
In his firm grasp. “The winds this morn that ran
Over the fen where dwells this thing of fear
Not swifter sped than thou must scour the span
'Tween this and high Dun Dalgan, and bring here
Lia Macha from her brazen stall, and him,
Barana of the light and powerful limb!
“Bring hither the three giants ta'en by me
The day we plundered Mana for my spoil,
With their three brazen flails, and Aranie,
My Poet, and the three hounds, Dil and Goil
And Brena, and the Skimmer of the meads,
Loy the strong charioteer, and in the toil
Of the loud roaring chase, or in his den,
We'll meet and slay this monster of the fen!”
The day we plundered Mana for my spoil,
With their three brazen flails, and Aranie,
My Poet, and the three hounds, Dil and Goil
And Brena, and the Skimmer of the meads,
Loy the strong charioteer, and in the toil
Of the loud roaring chase, or in his den,
We'll meet and slay this monster of the fen!”
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Away the young man sped, and loud again
Cuhullin cried, “Go to your homes and sleep
The sleep of safety; and I too am fain
To slumber! Let this old man watch, and weep
Beside me for his son till on the plain
Eve's shadows fall; then I will rise and keep
Watch for you through the night with spear and sword
'Gainst the dread Fiend by Bierna's gloomy ford!”
Cuhullin cried, “Go to your homes and sleep
The sleep of safety; and I too am fain
To slumber! Let this old man watch, and weep
Beside me for his son till on the plain
Eve's shadows fall; then I will rise and keep
Watch for you through the night with spear and sword
'Gainst the dread Fiend by Bierna's gloomy ford!”
With that he sprang from off his horse, and lay
Under the riven tree, and closed his eyes
In slumber, while the old man sat all day
Wringing his hands and moaning with low cries
For his dead son, till when the twilight gray
Crept round the hills and from the golden skies
The sun went down, he cried, “O hero, wake!
And watch by blood-stained Bierna for our sake!”
Under the riven tree, and closed his eyes
In slumber, while the old man sat all day
Wringing his hands and moaning with low cries
For his dead son, till when the twilight gray
Crept round the hills and from the golden skies
The sun went down, he cried, “O hero, wake!
And watch by blood-stained Bierna for our sake!”
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And all that night he watched before the cave
Of Bierna, by the black ford, and anon
Taunted the Fiend within, and three times drave
His horse half 'cross the ford, and three times spun
His spear into the air and caught its stave
Shouting as it came down, and when the sun
In pink and saffron robed the rising morn
He heard from th' eastern hill-gap Loy's blithe horn.
Of Bierna, by the black ford, and anon
Taunted the Fiend within, and three times drave
His horse half 'cross the ford, and three times spun
His spear into the air and caught its stave
Shouting as it came down, and when the sun
In pink and saffron robed the rising morn
He heard from th' eastern hill-gap Loy's blithe horn.
Then back unto the village green he sped
And waited, but not long, till from the wood
Came Loy and Aranie, and with them led
Lia Macha and Barana, and the brood
Of Shrang, the three great hounds, black, tawn, and red,
Brena and Dil and Goil, and those that stood
Like three strong towers, the giants that he won
In Mana when the gory sack was done.
And waited, but not long, till from the wood
Came Loy and Aranie, and with them led
Lia Macha and Barana, and the brood
Of Shrang, the three great hounds, black, tawn, and red,
Brena and Dil and Goil, and those that stood
Like three strong towers, the giants that he won
In Mana when the gory sack was done.
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There stood they with their brazen flails and smiled
With joy to meet their master, while around
The three great dogs of chase in circles wild
Scampered with gladness o'er the smooth green ground,
And loud Barana whinnied when the mild
Kind accents of his master with sweet sound
Fell on his ears, and eager for the fight
Lia Macha neighed and shook her trappings bright.
With joy to meet their master, while around
The three great dogs of chase in circles wild
Scampered with gladness o'er the smooth green ground,
And loud Barana whinnied when the mild
Kind accents of his master with sweet sound
Fell on his ears, and eager for the fight
Lia Macha neighed and shook her trappings bright.
Then cried he to the villagers once more,
“Go to your homes, and, shut therein, abide
Praying unto the Gods, while to the shore
Of the black fen I and my people ride
To rid you of the Pest; and where before
You groaned in dull despair, the welcome tide
Of joy may flood your hearts!”—and off he rode
With his stout following for the Fiend's abode.
“Go to your homes, and, shut therein, abide
Praying unto the Gods, while to the shore
Of the black fen I and my people ride
To rid you of the Pest; and where before
You groaned in dull despair, the welcome tide
Of joy may flood your hearts!”—and off he rode
With his stout following for the Fiend's abode.
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There leapt he from Lia Macha where the fen
Spewed out its sullen flood, and with a look
Of import dread he eyed the monster's den,
And, raising high his spear, its shaft he shook
Defiant; then advanced the giant men
With their bright brazen flails across the brook,
Shouting in tones whereat the rugged hills
Trembled with all their forests, lakes, and rills!
Spewed out its sullen flood, and with a look
Of import dread he eyed the monster's den,
And, raising high his spear, its shaft he shook
Defiant; then advanced the giant men
With their bright brazen flails across the brook,
Shouting in tones whereat the rugged hills
Trembled with all their forests, lakes, and rills!
Before the den there rose a savage brake
Of copse and woven wood of thorn, wherethrough
No man could rush, and there, a path to make,
Around the giants' heads the bright flails flew;
And as strong husbandmen with scythes that take
The meadow grass and all its glories strew
Around them, with their flashing flails of wrath
Up to the den they mowed their master's path.
Of copse and woven wood of thorn, wherethrough
No man could rush, and there, a path to make,
Around the giants' heads the bright flails flew;
And as strong husbandmen with scythes that take
The meadow grass and all its glories strew
Around them, with their flashing flails of wrath
Up to the den they mowed their master's path.
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Then laughing they returned across the stream,
And pointed to the cave, wherefrom the eyes
Of the dread Monster blazed, as like a dream
Of terror he lay crouched, his demon size
Half filling the dark cavern. As a beam
Of sunlight darting or the bolt that flies
O'er the flat meadow from the storm-cloud sent
Cuhullin 'cross the ford now rushing went,
And pointed to the cave, wherefrom the eyes
Of the dread Monster blazed, as like a dream
Of terror he lay crouched, his demon size
Half filling the dark cavern. As a beam
Of sunlight darting or the bolt that flies
O'er the flat meadow from the storm-cloud sent
Cuhullin 'cross the ford now rushing went,
And leapt upon the bank with armed feet,
Nimble, and up the path of beaten sedge
Left by the giants' flails, strong, fierce, and fleet
He rushed, keen looking o'er his targe's edge
On the huge wolf that now sprang forth to meet
His coming like the falling of a ledge
In Barna, mixing as he thundered out
His howling with the hero's mighty shout.
Nimble, and up the path of beaten sedge
Left by the giants' flails, strong, fierce, and fleet
He rushed, keen looking o'er his targe's edge
On the huge wolf that now sprang forth to meet
His coming like the falling of a ledge
In Barna, mixing as he thundered out
His howling with the hero's mighty shout.
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'Gainst the great shield he struck, and, as a wave
That plunges from the firm sea-rock, aside
Glanced from the graven disk, and, bounding, clave
With his strong breast the black ford's muddy tide;
Then up the other bank through blow of glaive
And lash of flail and dart of javelin tried
In many a fray, he rushed, and headlong sped
Down the broad track that to the village led.
That plunges from the firm sea-rock, aside
Glanced from the graven disk, and, bounding, clave
With his strong breast the black ford's muddy tide;
Then up the other bank through blow of glaive
And lash of flail and dart of javelin tried
In many a fray, he rushed, and headlong sped
Down the broad track that to the village led.
And after him with dreadful clash and clang
Cuhullin rode, swift Loy and Aranie
At his left arm, and loud their harness rang
As their fleet-footed steeds swept down the lea
On the wolf's furious track, that growled and sprang
Before them, past the lightning-riven tree,
Under thick dust-clouds through the village street,
And outward o'er the meadows cool and sweet!
Cuhullin rode, swift Loy and Aranie
At his left arm, and loud their harness rang
As their fleet-footed steeds swept down the lea
On the wolf's furious track, that growled and sprang
Before them, past the lightning-riven tree,
Under thick dust-clouds through the village street,
And outward o'er the meadows cool and sweet!
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The peasant cowered behind his garden wall
As they went by; the children from their play
Fled in blind terror, screaming one and all
As the wild hurricane of chase passed on by spray
Of falling brook, by mead, by cot and hall,
By rock and hill, by wood and shore, till Day
His golden hand with Night's black palm did join
On level meads beside the fishful Boyne!
As they went by; the children from their play
Fled in blind terror, screaming one and all
As the wild hurricane of chase passed on by spray
Of falling brook, by mead, by cot and hall,
By rock and hill, by wood and shore, till Day
His golden hand with Night's black palm did join
On level meads beside the fishful Boyne!
There in the midmost of a meadow rose
A sacred fane to Gods whom no one knew
So old it was, and there like virgin snows
A flock of sheep lay nigh it with the dew
Falling on their white fleeces, while with nose
Half buried in the grass and violets blue,
And twisted horns and ears of silver gray,
The Patriarch of the flock outside them lay.
A sacred fane to Gods whom no one knew
So old it was, and there like virgin snows
A flock of sheep lay nigh it with the dew
Falling on their white fleeces, while with nose
Half buried in the grass and violets blue,
And twisted horns and ears of silver gray,
The Patriarch of the flock outside them lay.
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On him the wolf sprang swift and by the flank
Caught him in his fell jaws, and with a bound
Carried him o'er the encircling wall, and drank
His blood within the fane, where man nor hound
Would follow him, while over brake and bank
Scattered the panting flock with fear astound;
And there the hunters slept or watched all night,
Till the fresh morn made earth and ocean bright.
Caught him in his fell jaws, and with a bound
Carried him o'er the encircling wall, and drank
His blood within the fane, where man nor hound
Would follow him, while over brake and bank
Scattered the panting flock with fear astound;
And there the hunters slept or watched all night,
Till the fresh morn made earth and ocean bright.
Then with a howl the wolf sprang from the fane
And swept the flat lands with immortal speed,
While, close behind, the hunt rushed on again
Like the fierce whirlwind that mows the mead
And cornfield with its wings of wrath and bane,—
Away, away, hound, man, and foaming steed,
Through Boyne, by Tara's height, by grove and dell,
Till the hot noon passed by and evening fell!
And swept the flat lands with immortal speed,
While, close behind, the hunt rushed on again
Like the fierce whirlwind that mows the mead
And cornfield with its wings of wrath and bane,—
Away, away, hound, man, and foaming steed,
Through Boyne, by Tara's height, by grove and dell,
Till the hot noon passed by and evening fell!
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On the far border of the Bregian plain
A gorge there was by ancient earthquakes split
Through a hill's heart, and now with crimson stain
Its rocks and savage trees were all alit
By the descending sun, as the wild train
Rushed through its darkening mouth, while, terror-smit,
Before them rushed twelve kine with thundering din
Up to the cliffs that shut the steep gorge in.
A gorge there was by ancient earthquakes split
Through a hill's heart, and now with crimson stain
Its rocks and savage trees were all alit
By the descending sun, as the wild train
Rushed through its darkening mouth, while, terror-smit,
Before them rushed twelve kine with thundering din
Up to the cliffs that shut the steep gorge in.
There, as Cuhullin neared the dizzy height,
And the fierce herd of kine turned round, his prey
Sprang on a brindled bull, and, where no light
Gleamed thro' a cave anigh that open lay,
Ramped in his victim's blood, and, as the bright
Sweet dawn awoke, rushed out and made his way
'Neath javelin cast and stroke of sword and flail
From the deep gorge and o'er the open dale.
And the fierce herd of kine turned round, his prey
Sprang on a brindled bull, and, where no light
Gleamed thro' a cave anigh that open lay,
Ramped in his victim's blood, and, as the bright
Sweet dawn awoke, rushed out and made his way
'Neath javelin cast and stroke of sword and flail
From the deep gorge and o'er the open dale.
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Away, away through ford and rocky pass
Two long days more they sped, till as the noon
Of the fourth day died, through a fragrant mass
Of foliage green they burst; and there the boon
Of Ainè lay before them,—flowers and grass
That drank from light of sun and star and moon
Their ever-during loveliness, for there
Beside a lake outspread a garden fair.
Two long days more they sped, till as the noon
Of the fourth day died, through a fragrant mass
Of foliage green they burst; and there the boon
Of Ainè lay before them,—flowers and grass
That drank from light of sun and star and moon
Their ever-during loveliness, for there
Beside a lake outspread a garden fair.
And by the lake upon a knoll there stood
A lovely house, whose front with traceries
Was beautified, of many-tinted wood,
Carven in rose, and the white flower that sees
The stars from out the pond, with brilliant-hued
Fresh blossoms of the moorlands and the leas
And gardens, and the meadow's grassy floors,
All intertwined round windows, walls, and doors.
A lovely house, whose front with traceries
Was beautified, of many-tinted wood,
Carven in rose, and the white flower that sees
The stars from out the pond, with brilliant-hued
Fresh blossoms of the moorlands and the leas
And gardens, and the meadow's grassy floors,
All intertwined round windows, walls, and doors.
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And all the knoll was bloom, the garden sweet
All bloom and light, as if no Winter there
Had ever shown with deadly frowns unmeet
His frosty beard, and soft the perfumed air
Blew from the lake, as with destructive feet
The wolf now rushed o'er lawn and flower-bed fair
On to the house, 'neath shaft and javelin whirr,—
The house and peaceful home of Bras Mac Lir!
All bloom and light, as if no Winter there
Had ever shown with deadly frowns unmeet
His frosty beard, and soft the perfumed air
Blew from the lake, as with destructive feet
The wolf now rushed o'er lawn and flower-bed fair
On to the house, 'neath shaft and javelin whirr,—
The house and peaceful home of Bras Mac Lir!
Now Bras Mac Lir a priest of Ainè was,
Well versed in every rite and mystery
Of the bright Goddess, and the gentle laws
That govern love and the flower progeny
Of earth and sun, and how kind Nature draws
Her sustenance from both, and blithe was he,
With his fair sons and daughters and his spouse,
Within that happy, smiling, sunlit house.
Well versed in every rite and mystery
Of the bright Goddess, and the gentle laws
That govern love and the flower progeny
Of earth and sun, and how kind Nature draws
Her sustenance from both, and blithe was he,
With his fair sons and daughters and his spouse,
Within that happy, smiling, sunlit house.
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In the bright sunny chamber sat they now,
Sire, wife, and children, while through bank and bed
Of flowers the wolf drave as the sharpened plough
Through the soft sward, till, his eyes flaming red,
He burst into the chamber, every brow
Paling at his fell aspect, as with head
Savage and huge and grim he crouching lay
Glaring on them, ready to spring and slay.
Sire, wife, and children, while through bank and bed
Of flowers the wolf drave as the sharpened plough
Through the soft sward, till, his eyes flaming red,
He burst into the chamber, every brow
Paling at his fell aspect, as with head
Savage and huge and grim he crouching lay
Glaring on them, ready to spring and slay.
Then came the tread of armèd feet, and fast
Through the door strode Cuhullin, and plunged deep
Into the wolf's broad breast his sword, that passed
Through heart and lung, ere the fell beast could leap
With his sharp fangs upon him;—grim and vast
Against the wall he lay, a gory hèap,
No more to ramp and raven in the blood
Of the sad folk by Bierna's gloomy flood!
Through the door strode Cuhullin, and plunged deep
Into the wolf's broad breast his sword, that passed
Through heart and lung, ere the fell beast could leap
With his sharp fangs upon him;—grim and vast
Against the wall he lay, a gory hèap,
No more to ramp and raven in the blood
Of the sad folk by Bierna's gloomy flood!
187
Now Bras Mac Lir before his household cried:
“O bright-clad hero, God-sent here to save
My dear ones! 'mid thy targe's circle wide
I see the eagle soaring o'er his wave,
I see the Red Branch, royal Eman's pride!
Then thou art he who took the option brave
Of the short life and glorious,—thou art he,
Famed through the islands and o'er many a sea!”
“O bright-clad hero, God-sent here to save
My dear ones! 'mid thy targe's circle wide
I see the eagle soaring o'er his wave,
I see the Red Branch, royal Eman's pride!
Then thou art he who took the option brave
Of the short life and glorious,—thou art he,
Famed through the islands and o'er many a sea!”
Then strode the giants through the hall, and bore
The dread Thing from the chamber, and afar
Amid the woods buried him in his gore
In a dark spot where neither light of star
Nor moon could reach him, nor the sunbeams pour
Their gold upon his grave,—an oaken spar
Driven through his heart into the bloody clay,
To bind him in his darksome home alway.
The dread Thing from the chamber, and afar
Amid the woods buried him in his gore
In a dark spot where neither light of star
Nor moon could reach him, nor the sunbeams pour
Their gold upon his grave,—an oaken spar
Driven through his heart into the bloody clay,
To bind him in his darksome home alway.
188
Meanwhile the priest cried, “Why thou cam'st I know
Chasing this demon Pest: for one bright morn
Beside our crystal lake five days ago
I saw a train bright as if they were born
In fairy-land, where sweetest blossoms blow
Upon the mead, to sound of flute and horn,
And harp and pipe and tympan, resting there
Around a silk pavilion smooth and fair.
Chasing this demon Pest: for one bright morn
Beside our crystal lake five days ago
I saw a train bright as if they were born
In fairy-land, where sweetest blossoms blow
Upon the mead, to sound of flute and horn,
And harp and pipe and tympan, resting there
Around a silk pavilion smooth and fair.
“And at its door upon a brazen seat
A lady sat, fair as the flower that blows
In summer when the garden is complete
Of blossoms, and the beautiful white rose
Laughs in their midst, her ladies at her feet
On the cool grass, and like the pine that grows
Tallest in Tunnamara's mountain wood
A kingly man of battle by them stood.
A lady sat, fair as the flower that blows
In summer when the garden is complete
Of blossoms, and the beautiful white rose
Laughs in their midst, her ladies at her feet
On the cool grass, and like the pine that grows
Tallest in Tunnamara's mountain wood
A kingly man of battle by them stood.
189
“And Fame had come before, and well I knew
Great Curoi, and fair Blanid, and their train,
And the fond promises 'tween her and you,
And thy misfortunes, and her bosom's pain,
And I am Ainè's priest, and through the blue
Of heaven I'll send my prayers that not in vain
Thou comest on the eve of her bright feast
To save my house and slay this monstrous beast.”
Great Curoi, and fair Blanid, and their train,
And the fond promises 'tween her and you,
And thy misfortunes, and her bosom's pain,
And I am Ainè's priest, and through the blue
Of heaven I'll send my prayers that not in vain
Thou comest on the eve of her bright feast
To save my house and slay this monstrous beast.”
Now when the house with perfume and with prayer
Was purified, and when the Night divine
With all her diamond lamps through th' eastern air
Upclomb, and bathèd earth in the sacred wine
Of slumber and forgetfulness of care,
Cuhullin slept, and through the fairy mine
Of dream he wandered and in glimpses dim
He saw his loved one ever weep for him!
Was purified, and when the Night divine
With all her diamond lamps through th' eastern air
Upclomb, and bathèd earth in the sacred wine
Of slumber and forgetfulness of care,
Cuhullin slept, and through the fairy mine
Of dream he wandered and in glimpses dim
He saw his loved one ever weep for him!
190
At morn he woke and called to Aranie:
“Poet and friend through fair or adverse tide,
Arise and take my following home with thee,
Giants and hounds and all, and there abide
Till my return, for only Loy shall be
My comrade searching for my promised bride;
For I have dreamt and seen her lovely eyes
All drowned in tears for me, and heard her sighs!”
“Poet and friend through fair or adverse tide,
Arise and take my following home with thee,
Giants and hounds and all, and there abide
Till my return, for only Loy shall be
My comrade searching for my promised bride;
For I have dreamt and seen her lovely eyes
All drowned in tears for me, and heard her sighs!”
Then Loy and strong Cuhúllin sought their steeds,
And left the priest 'mid his green leaves embowered,
And to the south all day o'er streams and meads
And dales and mosses and great moors they scoured,
And at the silent hour when the sun leads
His glorious cohorts 'neath the waves, devoured
With love and grief, by Loy he laid him down
And slept till Morning donned her yellow crown.
And left the priest 'mid his green leaves embowered,
And to the south all day o'er streams and meads
And dales and mosses and great moors they scoured,
And at the silent hour when the sun leads
His glorious cohorts 'neath the waves, devoured
With love and grief, by Loy he laid him down
And slept till Morning donned her yellow crown.
191
And all that day beneath the burning sky
Still south they rode swift as the eagle's wings,
Till at the eve where rose the mountains high
Like a tall circle of old Druid kings
Watching the closing of their fire God's eye
Over the crimson waves, by Blama's springs
Cuhullin and swift Loy in mournful mood
Lay down to sleep within a windless wood.
Still south they rode swift as the eagle's wings,
Till at the eve where rose the mountains high
Like a tall circle of old Druid kings
Watching the closing of their fire God's eye
Over the crimson waves, by Blama's springs
Cuhullin and swift Loy in mournful mood
Lay down to sleep within a windless wood.
There dreamt he a strange dream, that made him see
A sight whereat his heart did throbbing run,—
A lovely stream that sang melodiously,
A meadow o'er which Ainè bright had spun
Her many-tinted robe of brilliancy,
And on its verge a gay pavilion
Whose lofty poles and roof 'neath sunset's gold
Shone with rare glory over mead and wold!
A sight whereat his heart did throbbing run,—
A lovely stream that sang melodiously,
A meadow o'er which Ainè bright had spun
Her many-tinted robe of brilliancy,
And on its verge a gay pavilion
Whose lofty poles and roof 'neath sunset's gold
Shone with rare glory over mead and wold!
192
And by its door he saw his loved one sit
With her bower-maids, the squires, and foster-dame,
And the great Knight, while in a rapturous fit
The minstrel took his harp and named her name
In a blithe song that caused the wood-birds flit
Out from their homes, and for a space made tame
The shy brown rabbit with his ears in air,
And the red fox that watched him from his lair!
With her bower-maids, the squires, and foster-dame,
And the great Knight, while in a rapturous fit
The minstrel took his harp and named her name
In a blithe song that caused the wood-birds flit
Out from their homes, and for a space made tame
The shy brown rabbit with his ears in air,
And the red fox that watched him from his lair!
But nathless all the sweetness of the lay,
He saw in her blue eyes but thoughts of him,
He saw her memories were far away
In Mana, by the blue lake's bosky rim,
And thought he heard her sigh,—low murmuring say,
“Ah me! ah me! ah me! mine eyes are dim
With weeping, O beloved! why com'st thou not?
Am I, thine own, so very soon forgot?
He saw in her blue eyes but thoughts of him,
He saw her memories were far away
In Mana, by the blue lake's bosky rim,
And thought he heard her sigh,—low murmuring say,
“Ah me! ah me! ah me! mine eyes are dim
With weeping, O beloved! why com'st thou not?
Am I, thine own, so very soon forgot?
193
“Alas! alas! In joy the sun may rise,
Beyond the mountain's ridge in glory set;
But naught of day or night can glad mine eyes,
Can charm my soul or cure my heart's regret.
Ah me! ah me! why are Love's golden ties
Made to be broken? why, when once we met,
Are we two chosen, O beloved, to be
Parted forever, plunged in misery?”
Beyond the mountain's ridge in glory set;
But naught of day or night can glad mine eyes,
Can charm my soul or cure my heart's regret.
Ah me! ah me! why are Love's golden ties
Made to be broken? why, when once we met,
Are we two chosen, O beloved, to be
Parted forever, plunged in misery?”
Then daylight died, dark shadows gathered down,
And slowly faded all the vision bright,
And he awoke. Naught saw he save the brown
High hill-tops towering through the ghostly night.
Then loud he called on Loy. “By my renown,
O valiant friend,” he said, “I've seen a sight
In dream that soon may bring a fateful hour
To me and yonder Knight of Caher's tower!
And slowly faded all the vision bright,
And he awoke. Naught saw he save the brown
High hill-tops towering through the ghostly night.
Then loud he called on Loy. “By my renown,
O valiant friend,” he said, “I've seen a sight
In dream that soon may bring a fateful hour
To me and yonder Knight of Caher's tower!
194
“But rest we while we may: the night is still,
And I will think of her I love the best.”
“May no dark dreams of blighting grief and ill,
O master mine,” said Loy, “disturb thy rest!”
So slept they side by side, till th' eastern hill
Waxed red with morn, and then through his high crest
The fresh wind played as swiftly on they sped
Down the lone pathway that still southward led.
And I will think of her I love the best.”
“May no dark dreams of blighting grief and ill,
O master mine,” said Loy, “disturb thy rest!”
So slept they side by side, till th' eastern hill
Waxed red with morn, and then through his high crest
The fresh wind played as swiftly on they sped
Down the lone pathway that still southward led.
Fair smiled the morning upon Blama's hills,
The silver mists curled up from moor and plain,
Blithe poured from myriads of joyous bills
The wild-birds' songs and mingled with the strain
Of murmuring winds and woods and falling rills,
As with light heart the lord of Beramain
On his fresh couch of fern-leaves oped his eyes,
Leapt on his steed and looked upon his prize.
The silver mists curled up from moor and plain,
Blithe poured from myriads of joyous bills
The wild-birds' songs and mingled with the strain
Of murmuring winds and woods and falling rills,
As with light heart the lord of Beramain
On his fresh couch of fern-leaves oped his eyes,
Leapt on his steed and looked upon his prize.
195
And as he looked he heard a trumpet clear
Sound from the northern wood, and then there rode
Into the glade a Knight. As he drew near
Gay in the sun his gilded armor glowed;
Lordly his mien, high raised his glittering spear,
Caparisoned in blue his charger strode
O'er the green grass, and arched his neck and neighed,
And with his jangling bridle champed and played!
Sound from the northern wood, and then there rode
Into the glade a Knight. As he drew near
Gay in the sun his gilded armor glowed;
Lordly his mien, high raised his glittering spear,
Caparisoned in blue his charger strode
O'er the green grass, and arched his neck and neighed,
And with his jangling bridle champed and played!
“Dost know this shield's Red Branch and Soaring Bird,
High prince of Beramain?” the stranger said;
And at the voice with flush of anger stirred
Stern Curoi his bold question answerèd,
“Where'er Fame's trumpet sounds, or Rumor's heard,
That shield is known! But by what black weird led
Comes strong Dun Dalgan's prince across my path?”
“I come,” Cuhullin cried in rising wrath,—
High prince of Beramain?” the stranger said;
And at the voice with flush of anger stirred
Stern Curoi his bold question answerèd,
“Where'er Fame's trumpet sounds, or Rumor's heard,
That shield is known! But by what black weird led
Comes strong Dun Dalgan's prince across my path?”
“I come,” Cuhullin cried in rising wrath,—
196
“I come to win back thy misgotten prize,
Mine own beloved, the bloom-bright Maid of Man!”
“Thou com'st to dye this grass with ruddy dyes
Of thy best blood,” cried Curoi, “and to ban
All knighthood with thy word forsworn! Her eyes
Shall see the fight, so let him take who can!
Lo! there she stands with her fear-whitened face;
Look thy last on her now, and take thy place!”
Mine own beloved, the bloom-bright Maid of Man!”
“Thou com'st to dye this grass with ruddy dyes
Of thy best blood,” cried Curoi, “and to ban
All knighthood with thy word forsworn! Her eyes
Shall see the fight, so let him take who can!
Lo! there she stands with her fear-whitened face;
Look thy last on her now, and take thy place!”
Then rose the rivalry and hate of years
Hot raging in their hearts, as round they went
To sunder for the red race of the spears,
And as the wind-blown flame burns up the bent
On a brown mountain's back that autumn sears,
So all kind thoughts of good got banishment
From their hard hearts of pride where revelled free
Infuriate wrath and burning jealousy.
Hot raging in their hearts, as round they went
To sunder for the red race of the spears,
And as the wind-blown flame burns up the bent
On a brown mountain's back that autumn sears,
So all kind thoughts of good got banishment
From their hard hearts of pride where revelled free
Infuriate wrath and burning jealousy.
197
Meanwhile, as one who on a wreck doth stand
That the wide wallowing waves toss to and fro,
And sees the saving boat put from the land,
Now high, now in the sea-trough sunken low,
Trembling 'tween fear and hope, each lily hand
Pressed o'er her heart as if to hide her woe,
And pale as one who had forsaken life,
Young Blanid stood to watch the coming strife!
That the wide wallowing waves toss to and fro,
And sees the saving boat put from the land,
Now high, now in the sea-trough sunken low,
Trembling 'tween fear and hope, each lily hand
Pressed o'er her heart as if to hide her woe,
And pale as one who had forsaken life,
Young Blanid stood to watch the coming strife!
Short time she stood and looked with fear-dazed eye,
Till each strong knight his lance the level gave,
And like the thunder cried his battle cry,
And spurred his steed, and 'cross the greensward drave,
And as two rounded rocks that standing high
Each side a deep sheer dell, when rain-storms lave
The soft sands from beneath them, downward break
And meet, and with loud shock the firm earth shake,
Till each strong knight his lance the level gave,
And like the thunder cried his battle cry,
And spurred his steed, and 'cross the greensward drave,
And as two rounded rocks that standing high
Each side a deep sheer dell, when rain-storms lave
The soft sands from beneath them, downward break
And meet, and with loud shock the firm earth shake,
198
So on the trembling sward in mid career
The heroes met, so each went thundering down,
Fierce horse and man; but yet each valiant spear
Had done its work; stern Curoi's helmet crown,
Torn off, upon the grass lay glittering near,
And through Cuhullin's shield with mighty stowne
Curoi's sharp point to the white shoulder went
And all his glittering mail with blood besprent.
The heroes met, so each went thundering down,
Fierce horse and man; but yet each valiant spear
Had done its work; stern Curoi's helmet crown,
Torn off, upon the grass lay glittering near,
And through Cuhullin's shield with mighty stowne
Curoi's sharp point to the white shoulder went
And all his glittering mail with blood besprent.
Then sprang they to their feet and warily
Looked in each other's eyes with look of hate,
And crossed their jarring swords, and with bent knee
Fought a long time their burning ire to sate,
Till like a storm-uprooted stately tree
Cuhullin fell, and Curoi stood elate,
Eying him as the hunter eyes the boar
That fighting falls but yet may rise once more.
Looked in each other's eyes with look of hate,
And crossed their jarring swords, and with bent knee
Fought a long time their burning ire to sate,
Till like a storm-uprooted stately tree
Cuhullin fell, and Curoi stood elate,
Eying him as the hunter eyes the boar
That fighting falls but yet may rise once more.
199
“I'll slay thee not!” he said, “but this strong man
Must free thee from the Gods!”—then caught and raised
His mighty spear, and then a two-foot span
Of the bright brazen blood-red point outblazed
Beyond a follower's back, that shivering, wan,
With fear looked at the fight,—whose eyes death glazed
Even as he fell;—the varlet stout was he
Who in fair Blanid's train came o'er the sea.
Must free thee from the Gods!”—then caught and raised
His mighty spear, and then a two-foot span
Of the bright brazen blood-red point outblazed
Beyond a follower's back, that shivering, wan,
With fear looked at the fight,—whose eyes death glazed
Even as he fell;—the varlet stout was he
Who in fair Blanid's train came o'er the sea.
“I'll slay thee not, but I will bind thee sore,
And rive thee of thy yellow flowing hair,
That in the press of knights thou'lt ride no more
For many a weary moon of grief and care!”
Then loud he called a squire, who with a store
Of hempen coils came from the tent, and there
With many a knot they bound the luckless knight,
And reft him of his yellow locks of light.
And rive thee of thy yellow flowing hair,
That in the press of knights thou'lt ride no more
For many a weary moon of grief and care!”
Then loud he called a squire, who with a store
Of hempen coils came from the tent, and there
With many a knot they bound the luckless knight,
And reft him of his yellow locks of light.
200
Trembling against the strong pavilion pole
The Bright One leant and watched the bitter fray,
Strong hope and terror struggling in her soul
As the quick swords clashed in their murderous play;
And when she saw her loved one, falling, roll
On the red grass, a cry of wild dismay
Burst from her, like the last despairing scream
Of one who sinks amid the ocean stream.
The Bright One leant and watched the bitter fray,
Strong hope and terror struggling in her soul
As the quick swords clashed in their murderous play;
And when she saw her loved one, falling, roll
On the red grass, a cry of wild dismay
Burst from her, like the last despairing scream
Of one who sinks amid the ocean stream.
Then o'er the hoof-torn sward she tottering stept,
And by his side fell down with dreary moan,
And pressed her face to his, and sobbed and wept
In a low, wailing voice,—“Mine own! mine own!
O love! O love!” she cried, “why hast thou kept
This bloody tryst? Why cam'st thou here alone?
Alas! the answer in thine eyes I see;
Love brought thee hither,—love! for me, for me!
And by his side fell down with dreary moan,
And pressed her face to his, and sobbed and wept
In a low, wailing voice,—“Mine own! mine own!
O love! O love!” she cried, “why hast thou kept
This bloody tryst? Why cam'st thou here alone?
Alas! the answer in thine eyes I see;
Love brought thee hither,—love! for me, for me!
201
“Why have we loved? Why was thy true heart fed
With hopes of bliss? O dear one! but for me
'Mid green Ulidian hills thou now wouldst tread,
Chasing the dun deer through the wild-woods free!
Now a poor captive liest thou here instead,
Bound helpless in these bonds of shame, and he,
Thy victor in the contest, mocks thee sore,
But in thy shame I love thee more and more!
With hopes of bliss? O dear one! but for me
'Mid green Ulidian hills thou now wouldst tread,
Chasing the dun deer through the wild-woods free!
Now a poor captive liest thou here instead,
Bound helpless in these bonds of shame, and he,
Thy victor in the contest, mocks thee sore,
But in thy shame I love thee more and more!
“Farewell! farewell! He strikes his sounding shield,
But Love is cunning, and Revenge is strong;
Though my weak hand no gleaming sword can wield,
Red blood shall flow for this thy shame erelong:—
Farewell! farewell! The frosts in glade and field
Will nip the flowers, ere thou thy peers among
Shalt ride as fits a knight by hill or shore,
But in thy shame I love thee more and more!”
But Love is cunning, and Revenge is strong;
Though my weak hand no gleaming sword can wield,
Red blood shall flow for this thy shame erelong:—
Farewell! farewell! The frosts in glade and field
Will nip the flowers, ere thou thy peers among
Shalt ride as fits a knight by hill or shore,
But in thy shame I love thee more and more!”
202
“O loved one,” low he said, “what tongue can tell
My heart's despair, mine anguish, and my pain
To meet thee thus? Alas! farewell, farewell!
Fate smites us hard, yet we may meet again!”
One moment more, and in her jewelled selle
She sat perforce, and 'mid the guardian train
Of glimmering spears, oft gazing sadly back,
She vanished down the forest's southern track.
My heart's despair, mine anguish, and my pain
To meet thee thus? Alas! farewell, farewell!
Fate smites us hard, yet we may meet again!”
One moment more, and in her jewelled selle
She sat perforce, and 'mid the guardian train
Of glimmering spears, oft gazing sadly back,
She vanished down the forest's southern track.
Then Loy stepped out from the wild tangled wood,
And with his dagger reft the bonds away,
And deftly from the shoulder wiped the blood,
With healing herbs the long torn wound to stay;
And free once more Dun Dalgan's hero stood
Shamefaced, and like two ghosts that shun the day,
Skulking through woods and paths untrod of men,
They sought Ben Borka's friendly peaks again.
And with his dagger reft the bonds away,
And deftly from the shoulder wiped the blood,
With healing herbs the long torn wound to stay;
And free once more Dun Dalgan's hero stood
Shamefaced, and like two ghosts that shun the day,
Skulking through woods and paths untrod of men,
They sought Ben Borka's friendly peaks again.
| Blanid | |