University of Virginia Library

The dusky Dalaradian heights at hand appearing now,
King Congal, as apart he stood, and from his galley's prow
Beheld the swift ships far dispersed across the ocean dark,
As harnessed steers, when, for a prize, within some rich man's park,
They cut in clay, with coulter clean, the onward-reddening line,
With slant keels ceaseless turning up the white-foam'd barren brine,
And black, pernicious, woe-charged sides, and tall masts forward bow'd,
Intent to launch their fatal freight on Erin, groaned aloud:
And “Much-loved native hills,” he said, “I grieve that thus I come
“Not charged with cups or cattle-spoil, nor carrying captives home,
“Nor bearing boast of friends relieved or enemies confused,
“As other ship-returning Kings have heretofore been used;
“But laden deep with death and woe, of all my race the first
“To bring the hireling stranger in, I come in hour accurst.”

Exclaimed an aged mariner who by the main-mast stood—
“O'er all the Dalaradian hills there hangs a cloud of blood.
“Gore-drops fall from its edges.”

“Peace, fool,” the King returned,
“'Twas but the early morning mist that in the sunrise burned.”
And cried to thrust the barques ashore where in a winding bay,
Far camped along the margent foam, the hosts of Ulster lay
Expectant. Forth the anchors went; and shoreward swinging round,
The lofty poops of all the fleet together took the ground,
Harsh grinding on the pebbly beach: then, like as though a witch,
Brewing her charm in cauldron black, should chance at owlet's scritch
Hooting athwart the gloom, to turn her head aside, the while
Winds bellow, and the fell contents on all sides overboil:
So, down the steep, dark galley's sides leaped they: so, spuming o'er,
They crowded from the teeming holds, and spread along the shore
In blackening streams. The Ulster hosts with acclamation loud
Gave welcome; and the ranks were filled.

But while they stood, a cloud
Stood overhead; and, as the thought a dreaming man conceives,
Which he, the while, some wondrous thing of import vast believes,
Grows folly, when his waking mind scans it; so, in the frown
Of that immense, sky-filling cloud the great hills dwindled down;
And all the sable-sided hulks that loomed so large before
Small now as poor men's fisher-craft showed on the darkened shore.
Awed in the gathering gloom, the hosts stood silent; till there came
A clap of thunder, and therewith a sheet of levin-flame
Dropt in white curtain straight from heaven between them and the ships:
And when the pale day-light returned, after that keen eclipse,
In smoke and smouldering flame the ships stood burning: o'er their sides
The sailors leaped: while moaning deep, sudden, the refluent tides
Gave all their dry keels to the wind: the wind whose waftings fair
Had borne them thither through the deep, thence bore them off through air,
In fire and smoke: through all the host, like flakes of driving snow,
The embers fell; and all their cheeks scorched in the fervid glow.

Then thus exclaimed the Frankish King: “Our first step on this land
“Is with no cheering omen, friends; for if Jehovah's hand
“It be that casts this thunderbolt, but small success, I fear
“Attends our enterprise; but come, give all your labours here
“To quench the galley first that lies to windward of the fleet;
“For ill betides Invader left without way of retreat.”

Then many a man with rueful eye looked o'er the naked main,
And wished himself, with neither spoil nor glory, at home again.

But “Fear not, friends,” cried Congal Claen. “Ye have not sought us here
“For stay so short, ye need repine if portion of the year
“Be spent in fitting forth a fleet; for in our Ulster ports
“Both ships we have and artizans accomplished in all sorts
“Of naval workmanship; strong smiths, and carpenters whose stroke
“To every form man's need demands can shape the knotted oak.
“Wherefore keep cheerful hearts. No loss but time and care replace.
“A stumble at the start is oft the winning of the race.”

So counselled Congal; and the hosts with better courage strove
To quench the flames; but still the flames intenser-rising drove
Wide through the fleet, from barque to barque: then, in the midst, a cry
Was heard from Kellach:

“Lift me up, companions; raise me high,
“That all may see me, and my words of all be understood.
“Sons, hold your hands. Desist,” he cried. “Let burn! The omen's good.
“Fire is the sire of Life and Force. The mighty men of yore
“Still burned the barques that landed them on whatsoever shore
“They chose for conquest. Warriors then were men indeed, and scorned
“Alike the thought and means of flight. From battle none returned
“Then but the victors. Heroes then, untaught the art to yield,
“Ere standing fight would slay the steeds that bore them to the field;
“Ere joining battle by a bridge, would leave the bridge behind
“Broken, lest lightest thought of flight should enter any mind.
“Thus when, in Gaulish galleys borne, invading Asclepid
“Had passed the guardian British ships, in misty mantle hid,
“And landed Cæsar's hosts, for march direct on startled Thames,
“His fortunes to the Gods he gave, his galleys to the flames.
“'Twas in Constantius' days, when, 'gainst the Imperial rule rebelled,
“Allectus, in Carausius' room, the throne of Britain held.
“Thus Nuad of the Silver-Hand from Dovar setting sail,
“Charged with the King-discerning might of vocal Lia Fail,
“When first for Erin's coasts he steered, and made the sacred strand,
“Waited for no chance lightning-flash, but with his proper hand
“Fired all his long-ships, till the smoke that from that burning rose
“Went up before him, herald-like, denouncing to his foes
“Death and despair: they deeming him a necromancer clad
“In magic mists, stood not, but fled: wherefore be rather glad
“That what your own irresolute hands this day have failed to do
“Heaven's interposing hand hath done; and bravely done it, too:
“Since even so this rolling cloud with all its embers red,
“That like a mighty spangled flag now waves above my head,
“Announces to that coward King of Tara that, once more,
“The heroes of the North have burned their barques on Erin's shore.”

He ended, and from gown and beard shook forth the falling fire,
While all the hosts with loud acclaim approved the sentence dire;
And leaving there their blackening barques consuming by the wave,
Marched inland, and their camp at eve pitched by King Teuthal's grave,
Twixt Ullar's and Ollarva's founts.

Around the Mound of Sighs
They filled the woody-sided vale; but no sweet sleep their eyes
Refreshed that night: for all the night, around their echoing camp,
Was heard continuous from the hills, a sound as of the tramp
Of giant footsteps; but so thick the white mist lay around
None saw the Walker save the King. He, starting at the sound,
Called to his foot his fierce red hound; athwart his shoulders cast
A shaggy mantle, grasped his spear, and through the moonlight passed
Alone up dark Ben-Boli's heights, toward which, above the woods,
With sound as when at close of eve the noise of falling floods
Is borne to shepherd's ear remote on stilly upland lawn,
The steps along the mountain side with hollow fall came on.
Fast beat the hero's heart; and close down-crouching by his knee
Trembled the hound, while through the haze, huge as through mists at sea,
The week-long-sleepless mariner descries some mountain-cape,
Wreck-infamous, rise on his lee, appeared a monstrous Shape
Striding impatient, like a man much grieved, who walks alone
Considering of a cruel wrong: down from his shoulders thrown
A mantle, skirted stiff with soil splashed from the miry ground,
At every stride against his calves struck with as loud rebound
As makes the mainsail of a ship brought up along the blast,
When with the coil of all its ropes it beats the sounding mast.
So striding vast, the giant pass'd; the King held fast his breath;
Motionless, save his throbbing heart; and still and chill as death
Stood listening while, a second time, the giant took the round
Of all the camp: but when at length, for the third time, the sound
Came up, and through the parting haze a third time huge and dim
Rose out the Shape, the valiant hound sprang forth and challenged him.
And forth, disdaining that a dog should put him so to shame,
Sprang Congal, and essayed to speak.

“Dread Shadow, stand. Proclaim
“What would'st thou, that thou thus all night around my camp should'st keep
“Thy troublous vigil; banishing the wholesome gift of sleep
“From all our eyes, who, though inured to dreadful sounds and sights
“By land and sea, have never yet in all our perilous nights
“Lain in the ward of such a guard.”

The Shape made answer none;
But with stern wafture of its hand, went angrier striding on,
Shaking the earth with heavier steps. Then Congal on his track
Sprang fearless.

“Answer me, thou Churl,” he cried. “I bid thee back!”

But while he spoke, the giant's cloak around his shoulders grew
Like to a black bulged thunder-cloud; and sudden out there flew
From all its angry swelling folds, with uproar unconfined,
Direct against the King's pursuit, a mighty blast of wind:
Loud flapped the mantle tempest-lined, while fluttering down the gale,
As leaves in Autumn, man and hound were swept into the vale,
And, heard o'er all the huge uproar, through startled Dalaray
The giant went, with stamp and clash, departing south away.

The King sought Ardan in his tent; and to the wakeful Bard,
Panting and pale, disclosed at large what he had seen and heard;
Considering which a little time, the Master sighed and spoke.

“King, thou describest by his bulk and by his clapping cloak
“A mighty demon of the old time, who with much dread and fear
“Once filled the race of Partholan; Manannan Mor Mac Lir,
“Son of the Sea. In former times there lived not on the face
“Of Erin a sprite of bigger bulk or potenter to raise
“The powers of air by land or sea in lightning, tempest, hail,
“Or magical thick mist, than he; albeit in woody Fail
“Dwelt many demons at that time: but being so huge of limb,
“Manannan had the overward of the coast allotted him,
“To stride it round, from cape to cape, daily; and if a fleet
“Hove into sight, to shake them down a sea-fog from his feet;
“Or with a wafture of his cloak flap forth a tempest straight
“Would drive them off a hundred leagues; and so he kept his state
“In churlish sort about our bays and forelands, till at last
“Great Spanish Miledh's mighty sons, for all he was so vast
“And fell a churl, in spite of him, by dint of blows, made good
“Their landing, and brought in their Druids: from which time forth, the brood
“Of Goblin people shun the light; some in the hollow sides
“Of hills lie hid; some hide beneath the brackish ocean-tides;
“Some underneath the sweet-well springs. Manannan, Poets say,
“Fled to the isle which bears his name, that eastward lies halfway
“Sailing to Britain; whence at times he wades the narrow seas,
“Revisiting his old domain, when evil destinies
“Impend o'er Erin: but his force and magic might are gone:
“And at such times 'tis said that he who, 'twixt twilight and dawn,
“Meets him and speaks him, safely learns a year's events to be.”

“But he who speaks him,” Congal said, “and gains no answer—he?”

“Within the year, the Seers agree,” said Ardan, “he must die;
“For death and silence, we may see, bear constant company.”

“Be it so, Bard,” replied the King. “To die is soon or late
“For every being born alive the equal doom ef Fate.
“Nor grieve I much; nor would I grieve if Heaven had so been pleased
“That either I had not been born, or had already ceased,
“Being born, to breathe; but while I breathe so let my life be spent
“As in renown of noble deeds to find a monument.”

By this the moonlight paled in dawn; and onward to Rathmore
Of green Moy-Linny marched the hosts, and round King Congal's door
Pitched camp again; where copious feasts, by Kellach's care prepared,
Refreshed them, and the gift of sleep their weary eyelids shared.

And now, at dawn, to cross the fords, hard-by the royal town,
The fresh, well-ordered, vigorous bands in gallant ranks drew down:
When, lo, a Spectre horrible, of more than human size,
Full in the middle of the ford took all their wondering eyes.
A ghastly woman it appeared, with grey dishevelled hair
Blood-draggled, and with sharp-boned arms, and fingers crook'd and spare
Dabbling and washing in the ford, where mid-leg deep she stood
Beside a heap of heads and limbs that swam in oozing blood,
Whereon and on a glittering heap of raiment rich and brave
With swift, pernicious hands she scooped and pour'd the crimson'd wave.
And though the stream approaching her ran tranquil, clear and bright,
Sand-gleaming between verdant banks, a fair and peaceful sight,
Downward the blood-polluted flood rode turbid, strong and proud,
With heady-eddying dangerous whirls and surges dashing loud.

All stood aghast. But Kellach cried, “Advance me to the bank;
“I'll speak the Hag.”

But back, instead, his trembling bearers shrank.
Then Congal from the foremost rank a spear-cast forward strode,
And said,

“Who art thou, hideous one; and from what curst abode
“Comest thou thus in open day the hearts of men to freeze;
“And whose lopp'd heads and severed limbs and bloody vests are these?”

“I am the Washer of the Ford,” she answered; “and my race
“Is of the Tuath de Danaan line of Magi; and my place
“For toil is in the running streams of Erin; and my cave
“For sleep is in the middle of the shell-heaped Cairn of Maev,
“High up on haunted Knocknarea; and this fine carnage-heap
“Before me, and these silken vests and mantles which I steep
“Thus in the running water, are the severed heads and hands
“And spear-torn scarfs and tunics of these gay-dressed, gallant bands
“Whom thou, oh Congal, leadest to death. And this,” the Fury said,
Uplifting by the clotted locks what seemed a dead man's head,
“Is thine own head, oh Congal.”

Therewith she rose in air,
And vanished from the warriors' view, leaving the river bare
Of all but running water. But Congal drew his sword
And with a loud defying shout, plunged madly in the ford,
Probing the empty pools; then stood, and from the middle flood
Exclaimed:

“Here stand I, and here swear that till the tide of blood
“Thus laves my knees, I will not turn for threat of Devil or Ghost,
“Fairy or lying Spirit accurst, while one of all this host
“Follows my leading.”

Conan Rodd sprang kindling forth and cried,
“I fail thee not, for one, my King:” and stood by Congal's side,
Grasping his hand. Halt Kellach wept, and cried,

“Ah, recreant ones,
“Great Rury's cheek is red for shame, to see Ultonian sons
“Like goblin-daunted children small, scared at a nurse's lay,
“Thus hanging back on Honor's track, while Britons lead the way.
“Fear not the Hag; I know her well, accurst one! She appears
“To battle-entering warriors once in every seven years;
“And seven and seven years, exact, it is since last before
“I saw her foul ill-favoured face, the day that Domnal Mor
“And Scallan Broad-Shield gave the breach on royal Sweeny Menn
“At red Troy-Brena: 'twas at dawn; and in the cressy fen
“By the loch-side, where afterwards, crossing the treacherous quag,
“So many of us sank engulfed, we saw the hideous Hag
“Stoop'd at her washing. Not a man of all the gazing host
“But shook to see the carnage-pile before the grisly ghost;
“Each deeming that his own lopp'd head, conspicuous 'mid the pile,
“Lay glaring; and this very head, gathering defilement vile,
“Saw I among them; yet I came from that fight scatheless forth;
“And therefore hold her prophecies are but of little worth.
“But, would to God, these limbs had then been stiff as now they are,
“Ere I for thankless Domnal's sake had part in such a war;
“Or now were strong and supple-swift as then indeed they were,
“So should ye never see me here, and British Conan there.”

So Kellach spoke; and all their hearts grew great with manly shame;
And as a flood flows through a flood, up through the fords they came,
Raising Ollarva: all their shields and shining belts were wet
With clear, cold, fishy-streaming floods against the strong bar set
Of limbs heroic and deep chests. But when the fords were pass'd
And the long columns drew their strength forth on the champaign vast,
Fear fell again on Congal's host, and much oppressed with awe,
They pondered what they late had heard, and what, but now, they saw.

Southward in gloomy-gliding ranks, hushed all in dumb dismay,
The hosts across the upland bare, and through the morning grey,
As drifting cloud at close of day that tracks the heaven serene,
Held on their dark unechoing march athwart the Fassagh green,
Till on a car afar were seen, by two swift coursers drawn,
Herself, Lafinda, and her Nurse, advancing through the dawn.
Swift they approached: the ruddy blaze of sunrise round them spread
Seemed with a diadem of rays to crown each radiant head.

“Congal,” the royal maiden said, “be not incensed, I pray,
“That thus in presence of the hosts I cross thy warlike way;
“For need admitting no delay impels me; and the ire
“Of one I dare not disobey constrains the message dire.
“Last night, at midnight, by my bed an awful form there stood,
“Whom by her vermeil-lettered book, and by her purple hood,
“And hoary, glory-beaming locks, that shone like sun-lit snow,
“For Blessed Brigid of Kildare I could not choose but know;
“And said, ‘Awake: arise: go forth: thy nurse, Lavarcam, waits
“‘With car and ready-harnessed steeds without the fortress gates:
“‘Mount by her side, and northward forth ride fearless till the dawn
“‘Show thee an army on its march across the upland lawn;
“‘Then to the King who leads that host say thus, Oh mighty King,
“‘From Duftach's daughter of Kildare I thee this message bring:
“‘Turn back or perish: thou and all thy Hosting: for the path
“‘From hence to Moyra on both sides is hedged about with wrath,
“‘And paved for foot of every man who in thy conduct treads
“‘With slippery, horror-staring floor of slaughtered heroes' heads.’
“So spoke she; I by strong constraint drawn to the gates, obeyed;
“And here, through shadows of the night, as in a dream conveyed,
“Now find myself, but in no dream; and, horror-filled, I see
“These mighty-marching, death-devoted heroes led by thee,
“Oh Congal.”

Congal, answering, said: “Dear maid, thou art deceived:
“These visions of the feverish night are not to be believed.
“But come; such poor refreshment now as warriors' tents afford,
“Take; and when seasonable rest thy strength shall have restored,
“A noble escort shall attend thy home-returning car,
“Such as befits thy father's child: and when this short-lived war
“Is ended—for this host shall soon abate the tyrant's pride—
“With Erin for thine escort, thou, a crowned and royal bride,
“I, crowned and happy, by thy side, kings by our bridle-rein,
“Shall up to fair Rath-Keltar ride, never to part again.”

“Congal,” the Princess pale replied; “No bridal pomp for me
“Is destined, if thou hearkenest not to Brigid's embassy;
“Save haply such a bridal pomp as, entering Brigid's cell,
“A handmaiden of Christ may hope.”

Said he, “The powers of hell
“Have sought to turn me, and have failed; and though in thee I find
“My only heaven, yet neither thou shalt bend my steadfast mind.”

“Ah me,” she cried. “What fate is mine! The daughter of a King,
“Wooed by a King, and well content to wear the marriage ring;
“Who never knew the childish want not granted, nor desire
“Of maiden bosom, but good saints and angels would conspire
“To bring the innocent wish to pass: who with the streams and flowers,
“So happy was I, turned to joy the very passing hours,
“From flowery earth and fragrant air, and all sweet sounds and sights
“Filling my heart, from morn to eve, with fresh and pure delights,—
“Just when, in bloom of life, I said, ‘this world is wondrous fair,’
“Now in one hour see nothing left, to live for, but despair.”

“Damsel,” said Kellach from his chair, “these dreams that haunt the bed
“Of timorous virgins vanish all when once the maids are wed.
“And royally thou shalt be wed, and gallantly be brought
“Home to a dream-defying bed when once this breach is fought.”

“Ah, aged Scorner,” cried the Nurse, who by the Princess stood,
“Thou never wanted'st ribald taunt for aught was pure or good.
“Beware, lest on both soul and limb God's angry judgments fall,
“For to thy crooked counsellings we owe these mischiefs all.”

Said Kellach: “If a withered Hag, with prophecies of death,
“Had power to turn sword-girded men back upon Honor's path,
“Thou hadst no need to waste thy breath on us who, even now
“Are here despite the menaces of uglier witch than thou.”

“Wretch,” cried the dame, “abide thy fate;” and car and coursers wheeled,
Her aspect changing awfully; and, as she swept the field,
Brigid, they thought, stood plain revealed: and steeds and car became
Bright in her presence as in glow of forge-excited flame.

But with a greyhound's bound, the King leaped to the reins, and cried,

“Daughter of Duftach, stay thy steeds: turn back: restore my bride!”
But Brigid lashed the spurning steeds: they by the sharp whip stung,
Off, with a foam-dispersing snort, the baffled hero flung:
But back again fierce Congal sprung, with lion's leap and roar
Terrific, shouting as he ran,

“Thou robber Saint, restore
“My bride!”

And at the wide-maned steeds, where side by side they flew
With earth-and-heaven-defying hand, his mortal javelin threw.
But Brigid motioned with her hand, and from the chariot seat,
Glancing oblique, the spear returned innocuous to his feet.
The eyes of all the astonished host Garr-Congail's flight pursued;
And, when they looked again, the car was lost within the wood.

Mute stood the hosts, in awe subdued; and fear blanched many a cheek,
Ruddy till then; then thus began the Frankish King to speak:

“God wars against this war, oh Kings; and pledged albeit I be
“To succour valiant Congal Claen against the enmity
“Of Domnal, King of Erin, no promise have I given
“To succour valiant Congal Claen 'gainst God the King of Heaven,
“Who, by His Saints, this day declares for Domnal. Therefore now
“Thus I advise: here found we straight a splendid cell, and vow
“The same to Brigid of Kildare, bestowing gems and gold
“Such as we have, and dowrying it with tributes manifold
“From our respective territories; then in our Patron's name
“Proffer we royal Domnal peace; and of his bounty claim
“Ships and safe conduct to our homes. Meantime, enclose a space
“For our encampment; and, meseems, no more convenient place
“Could skill devise than where we stand; and so our work would speed
“Safely, surrounded by the camp; for, trust me, ye have need
“To dedicate your shrines with speed, if, from God's vengeful hand
“Escaped, ye hope to see again your wives and native land.”

Cried Druid Drostan, “Stone nor lime yon eagles' maws shall sate.
“These wolves that track our morning march no Cleric-rites await.
“For God has given presaging power to beasts and birds of air;
“And dreams of bloody banquetings, in bestial dens, declare
“Approaching havoc, even as dreams foretell approaching rain
“In troubled towns of crows by night. Now, for the destined slain,
“All Erin's eyries flap the wing; and every forest den
“Of Erin whets the tooth for flesh of horses and of men.”

“Peace, fool,” Albanian Congal said. “Since first Columba's bell
“Was heard in Alba, all thy clan's prophetic function fell
“Under constraint and under spell. Ambiguous, fatuous, vague
“Have been the empty words where with, from that day forth, ye plague
“The judgments of the credulous men of Alba: to such words
“Let not the men who love their wives, and look with loyal swords
“Here to win spoil to please their wives and deck their halls at home,
“Give heed or credence. But, because invading strangers come
“To prey the land, its patriot Ghosts and tutelary Sprites
“Rise out to thwart us. Now, we know no exorcising rites
“To lay or to propitiate them; except this sacrifice
“The Clerics make pretence to make: and therefore, my advice
“Goes with the counsel of the King; to raise an altar here
“To Brigid whom amongst them all wise men may chiefly fear
“As owning most main power in act; but, Brigid's wrath appeased,
“My mind no longer is the King's; for then she may be pleased,
“Haply, to aid us; or, at least, to leave in even scale
“The balanced chances of the war, till greater might prevail.”
Prince Sweeny Menn spoke next. He said:

“Sirs, since no man can say
“How strife untried may terminate, methinks the wiser way
“Were to prepare against the worst; which, seeing our galleys' loss,
“I thus advise. Draw to the coast. There camp; and dig a fosse,
“With rampart suitable, across some jutting foreland's height;
“So shall we sit secure till friends get warning of our plight;
“And send their ships to aid our flight; if such be God's decree
“That after all our splendid hopes of spoil and victory,
“Flight needs must be our last resource. But here in open field,
“Far from supplies, I counsel not to camp, nor yet to build.”

Said Aed Green-Mantle, “Kings, our plight is even as the case
“Of venturous fowler who pursues his game into a place,
“High up a slippery sea-rock's face, where jutting rocks impend,
“Which, though too steep for going down, a man may yet ascend,
“Being bold and cautious; but behoves such climber that he cast
“No backward, hesitating glance on any peril past
“Until he gain the level land, where he can stand, and say,
“‘So have I reached to Safety's height by Danger's only way.’
“And so it is; between the sea and Domnal's gathering host,
“We climb a precipice where he who looks behind is lost:
“But he who, scorning to turn back or make a doubtful stop,
“Looks and strives upward, lays his hand on Safety at the top.
“Wherefore, since doubt is, doubtless, death; and ways of flight are none,
“For Life's and Honor's sake alike, I counsel, up, and on!”

Next Conan Rodd stepped forth to speak; and as his head he raised
Men's hearts rose with him, and the sun with fresh effulgence blazed.

Said Conan: “As I judge, great Kings and Princes, 'twere but vain
“To promise, if the word, gone forth, were now recalled again
“On show of first impediment: and vainer still it were
“For warriors to devote themselves forth from their seventh year
“To feats of arms, if when at length indulgent Fates provide
“Heroic opportunity, they left the boon untried.
“For me, when first within my breast I felt the generous flame,
“And said, ‘I'll be a warrior,’ my youthful dream of fame
“Was all of more than mortal foes, such as great Chiefs of yore
“Were wont to meet in desert vast or shadowy forest hoar;
“Tree-wielding Giants, mighty Churls who, through the echoing glades
“Of dreary forests, to their dens, would drag lamenting maids;
“Fell Sorcerers by enchanted gates; or in his earthy hold
“The fire-exhaling wakeful worm coiled round the guarded gold:
“Or haply still more glorious foes, such as, with eager joy,
“I've heard our Poets sing were those that fought the breach of Troy,
“When Gods from Heaven came down in arms, and godlike men beneath
“Withstood them, mortal foot to foot immortal, to the death.
“Fired by which noble fantasy, ere yet my youthful cheek
“Bore manly down, I left my home, in foreign lands to seek
“Glorious adventure: many lands I visited; and saw
“Many renowned cities of men, each by its proper law
“Governed, and by its proper hosts guarded; and mighty wars
“In all lands waging; yet I found neither in field of Mars,
“Nor on the long-shipped deep, nor yet in fell or forest drear,
“The shape or substance could withstand a brave man's searching spear;
“But, by the keen steel tried, would all confess an equal birth
“Drawn, death-obnoxious as my own, from dust of vulgar earth.
“And, for their mighty miracles and prodigies sublime,
“Of antique Gods, and holy Saints, these from the olden time
“Had, as they said, ceased utterly; and now were only known
“In lays and legends of their Clerks, as idle as our own.
“Wherefore with glory-thirsting heart, that still insatiate burned,
“I from their barren battle-fields and empty camps returned,
“Resolved amid my native woods, and in the sacred gloom
“Of Stones of power, to seek again some conqueror of the tomb;
“Great Arthur, with the apple-bloom of green Avallon's bowers
“Still redolent; or Uther's self from Caër Sidi's towers;
“But sought in vain: my scornful steel on vulgar foes employed,
“Nor dread of Deity conceived, nor love of man enjoyed;
“Till, glorious in a castle gate, like lion in the road,
“Couchant, I first saw Congal Claen; and at first sight bestowed
“Faith and affection on the King: for never had I seen
“In all the earth a potentate of countenance or mien
“Royal as his: and as a youth amid the virgin throng
“Will move with unembarrassed heart, in gay indifference, long;
“Till, in a moment, some one maid's unconscious glance constrains
“His soul to homage, and he thence bound in her thrall remains;
“So I, who all my prime of years 'mongst noblest men had passed,
“And seen no man I'd deign to call or friend or lord; at last,
“Taken in a moment, saw and owned my captain, friend, and King;
“In whose just quarrel being engaged, I here to Erin bring
“My British aids; and here at last, in open day, behold
“Immortal beings visibly commingling, as of old,
“In mortal struggles. Here at length I find my youthful dream
“Made real. Here the mighty deeds of antique heroes seem
“No longer all inimitable. Here Hercul's self might own
“Fit labour for another Toil, nor ask the task alone.
“Wherefore with awful joy elate, I stand; and bid thee hail,
“Last hero-stage of all the world, illustrious Innisfail!
“Land of the lingering Gods! green land, still sparkling fresh and fair
“With morning dew of heroism dried up and gone elsewhere!
“Wherefore, no penitential cell for me! But rather raise,
“Here, where old Honor stands revived, the Stone of other days,
“Grey, vast, majestic; such as when degenerate men behold,
“They'll say, ‘Some noble thing was done here in the days of old.’
“Such as when Poets view, they'll say, when ages hence are flown,
“‘Great hearts and mighty hands were theirs who raised the Standing Stone.’”

He said; and on a great grey rock, half-buried in the field,
Stood in the flaming of his arms, and waved his golden shield.
Loud cheered the Welshmen; and the King of Lochlan to his side
Leaped with a rivalling flash and clash; and caught his hand, and cried,

“I swear by Woden and the might of hammer-hurling Thor,
“I love thee, Conan; and with thee am henceforth through this war
“True comrade, good or ill betide. I, too, have seen the homes
“Of mightiest Cæsars; and beneath Byzantium's proudest domes
“Have borne the Waring's guardian axe, in shelter of whose blade
“The laws that bind the Imperial world, both Priest and King, are made.
“But gilded arch, nor marble porch, nor in cense-scented air,
“Nor silken couch had ever charm, for me, that could compare
“With home in Lochlan: with the burg beside the Northern sea,
“Where runs the roebuck on the hill, where floats the pinnace free:
“Where still the ancient Gods receive, in forest and in cave,
“With rites of sacrifice unfeigned, the worship of the brave;
“And for their smoking altar-meeds sincere, return us still
“The conscious courage dominant, the power and kingly will
“To rule the fore-shores of the world, with all their citied sides,
“Where'er the wandering moons uplift the ship-uplifting tides.
“Ill would beseem the sea-borne kings of Letha's midmost coasts
“Here, in this outer spot of earth, to blench at sight of ghosts,
“Earthmen, or beldames of the cells; though clad in shapes of air
“And owning shows of strength divine, that martial men elsewhere
“Meet not, nor ever deemed they'd meet, since Woden to their dens,
“In Lappish deserts and the depths of Finmark's icy fens,
“Cast out the Trolls. My sentence then is, march, and meet your foes
“Of mortal mould with mortal arms. Let be the feud of those
“As fate hereafter may dispose. We reck not: neither crave
“Their aid prophetic to foresee well-filled, the foeman's grave.
“This is my sentence.
“Fairy nor Fire-drake
“Keep back the Kemper.
“At home, in the burg,
“Leaves he the maiden
“Boon for the bridal;
“Abroad, on the holme,
“Leaves he the harvest
“Ripe for the reaper;
“The bowl, on the board
“In the hall of the banquets,
“Leaves he untasted,
“When lances uplift
“The foe in field.
“Noting the Norsemen
“Out on the water-throng,
“Hark! how the Eagle
“Vaunts to the Vulture.
“‘Spread the wing, Scald-neck,’
“Says she and screams she;
“‘Seest thou the Sea-Kings,
“‘Borne o'er the gannet-bath,
“‘Going to garner
“‘Every bird's eyrie?’
“Fell from her fishy perch
“Answers the Bald-beak,
“‘Scream no more, little one;
“‘Feeders are coming.’
“Hearkening their colloquy,
“Grins the grey beast,
“The wolf on wold.
“This is my sentence:
“These are the Norseman's
“Pandect and Canon.
“Thyrfing is thirsty;
“Quern-biter hungers;
“Shield-walker wearieth
“Shut in the scabbard.
“This is my sentence:
“Bring us to battle.”

Fierce response gave three parts of the field;
And loud the Eastman's iron axe on many a target pealed.

“What then,” cried Ardan; “and ye thought, landing on Erin's shore,
“Ye trod the common soil of earth, where Fortune asks no more
“Of Valour's votaries, when for fame they've ransack'd field and flood
“To the world's end, than simple feats of vulgar hardihood?
“What! and ye never, then, had heard the old renowned tale
“Of Ever and his Spanish ships caught in the wizard gale,
“When all mist-mantled Innisfail showed of no bigger size
“Than black hog's back, above the wrack, before their glamoured eyes;
“When, boiling from their fluent depths, the sands with solid wave
“Caught from his main-mast, Arannan, and made mid-air his grave,
“Mingling land, sand, sea, sky in one? But Ever and his hosts
“Through magic mists, and boiling sands, and sentineling ghosts,
“Cut their brave path to Tara top: which Ever and his sept
“Of Clanna-Milidh ever since their sovereignty have kept
“Supreme o'er Erin, hill and plain, air, water, land and sea;
“They and their sub-kings under them in five-fold potency.
“What then, and came ye hither,
“Expecting common foemen,
“To combat the descendants
“Of seer-taught Clanna-Nemed,
“Who erst from broad Bœotia
“Repelled the invading Syrians;
“Though still the Syrian magic
“Revivified the corpses
“Of those that fell at evening
“To fight their morning-battle
“With stark limbs demon-animated?
“Ghastly they stood; the living
“And dead, shoulder to shoulder:
“From pale cheeks flew the arrow;
“The sword in clammy fingers
“Of slaughtered men, dealt slaughter;
“And dusky spears went leaping
“Forth from insensate shoulders
“'Neath which no hearts were throbbing.
“Horrible strife, and hopeless:
“For what could human valour,
“Could human wit or counsel,
“Avail in such a contest?
“Everything! Wit and valour
“Know not the thing they cannot.
“For, with sharp daggers hewing
“Green stakes of holy hazel,
“Fast as they slew, they pinned them
“To earth; the baffled demons,
“Around the warded corpses,
“Shrieking, like shrilly breezes
“That twirl the leaves in Autumn,
“Shook them, but found no entrance.
“No; ye who come as conquerors to Erin's sacred shores,
“Come as to mysteries sublime within a temple's doors
“Shut to mere soldiers. Comrades you of Achil, Prince of Greece;
“Free shipmates of the fearless crew that won the Golden Fleece;
“Soldiers of Mithra, who have learned through earth, air, fire and sea,
“To press unblenching to the goal of life and light, be ye;
“Else steer not here your craven barques, but seek some vulgar strand
“Where easy-purchased victory invites the Coward's hand.”

As when the tree-tops of a wood first feel a blast of wind,
One rustling oak begins to stir, then stirs the oak behind;
Thence on in gradual-deepening grooves, and on in widening rings,
The tree-commingling tumult moves till all the forest swings;
So battle-impulse through them went; so, at the Bard's appeal,
With thirst of combat, far and wide, they leaped and clashed the steel.

Then Congal, staying where he strode infuriate to and fro,
With fair white hand dashed from his cheek the briny overflow,
And cried,

“Oh, this it is, oh God, to have, in time of need,
“Men in the gate! and therefore I, though little used indeed
“To call on any name of God, yet, by whatever name
“Men call Thee, Thou who givest to men wives, children, riches, fame,
“And rarer than the worth of wives, and which the wealth transcends
“Of fame, as fame the worth of gold; who givest a man his friends,
“I thank and praise Thee. Oh, brave friends, what though this goblin crew
“From all their earth-wombs foul, where'er they lurk from general view,
“Be by our coming thus stirred up; even as I've seen elsewhere
“The coming of a young rich man into a public fair
“Set all the banded cheats astir? 'Tis, that a common fear
“Besets them—being in a bond, leagued and consorting here,—
“That their united reign is o'er, once we achieve the crown
“Of Erin, and set up the law that casts all phantoms down.
“For, by the all-conspicuous Sun, and by the invisible Wind,
“Two the most awful of all names whereby a man may bind
“His soul with adjuration tremendous: by which two
“Laery Mac Neal did bind himself, remitting the Boru
“Of Leinster; not with standing which, and in contempt of these,
“He sought next year to levy it; wherefore his guarantees,
“The much-dishonored Wind and Sun, slew him: but Laery still
“Looks for his tribute from the brow of Tara's royal hill,
“Where, spear in hand and helm on head, they tomb'd him stern and tall,
“Brass-armed complete for standing fight, in Cahir-Laery's wall,
“With his great angry countenance turned toward the hated race
“Of Brasil Brec. Suns rise and sink: but Laery from his place
“Turns never: though its frown have dropped off from the fleshless brow,
“The gaunt hand still sustains the spear; and still the avenging vow
“Upholds him, to the impious man a warning portent grim:—
“But may the Sun and may the Wind, even as they dealt with him,
“So deal with me, gaining this crown, and failing to restore
“The Poets to their privileges, whate'er they held before
“Drumkeat's pernicious Parliament; cessings, pre-eminence, lands,
“All that that Synod's decree usurped, to fill the Clerics' hands,
“By them to our confusion turned: So may the Wind and Sun
“Deal with me, gaining Erin's crown, if, ere a year have run
“Its seasonable course complete, I leave within the pale
“Of the four brine-exhaling seas that compass Innisfail
“One of these proud curse-fulminers! What though with specious shows
“Of love aud charity they come; yet see the fate of those
“Who first were here their chiefest friends: Murkertach, son of Erc,
“For all his base compliances, pursued with curses dark
“By his own paid familiar priest, till, plunged in butt of wine,
“He drowned, to give the ban effect, at Sletty on the Boyne.
“Lewy Mac Laery, son to him who first gave Patrick room,
“While yet an unborn harmless babe, cursed in his mother's womb;
“Then by priest-imprecated fire struck on the hateful hill
“Of Achadarcha; thus with mulcts and maledictions still
“Repaying us our slavish fears; if but the smallest jot
“Of blind obedience be denied,—commendable or not,
“Righteous or not, the thing commanded:—but this King
“His ready acquiescent ‘yea’ concedes to anything
“So they support his tyrannous power. Now, therefore, here at length
“His time has come, to put in ure this so-much boasted strength
“Of these his Cursers: for methinks but few around me here
“Will hold his hand from hearty blows, at Moyra, out of fear
“For such as they; after our march this morning undismayed
“Through all their phantasms. For, unless he bring the power in aid
“Of God himself, which he can not; God being just, and he
“Most unjust; we have now to fear no greater enemy
“Than these weak ghosts, which, having in vain spent all their spiteful force,
“Leave us at large to prosecute our unembarrassed course,
“Free as the eagle; which, indeed, when he has stooped to prey
“His quarry in a hollow vale, at first must must make his way
“With gyres contracted twixt the hills; till to a level run
“With his horizon; but he then soars straightway at the Sun:
“Or as a seaman, being embayed, heaves oft his swerving boom
“Starboard and larboard; then at last, having attained sea-room,
“Lies his straight course, with keel direct cutting the ocean vast,
“While sun and rain, and wind and tide, and day and night flit past:
“So, flitting past our constant march, let these weak shades troop on:
“We, to our own hearts' level arisen; we, Doubt's last headlands gone,
“Launched on our main-sea enterprise, go forth with steadfast mind,
“Nor turn a wavering look aside, nor cast a glance behind,
“While God betwixt us and our foes, impartial, leaves the event:
“For no man can contend with God, He being omnipotent;
“But far removed from human strife, leaves to the daring man
“By force of valour to achieve such conquest as he can,
“Whether o'er other mortal men less valiant; or o'er those
“Inferior demons of the air. 'Tis through such overthrows,
“Given in just quarrel, comes renown a man no other way
“Can compass; for such conqueror the Bard's heroic lay
“Gives perpetuity of fame: the Statue-smith for him
“To forms of glory consecrates each marble-moulded limb:
“For him, when on his nation's behalf he rises up to speak,
“The council of the wise sit hushed: for him young Beauty's cheek
“Glows with the rose: all lips disclose their smiles for him whose arm
“Protects all life's delights for all: to him in war's alarm,
“As to the husband of the State, the trembling mothers run,
“Holding their little ones: to him each generous-nurtured son
“Hurries instinctive; as at sea when tempests overwhelm
“Faint hearts with horror in the hold, then chiefly round the helm
“Gather brave seamen. But the man whose sullen breast, exempt
“From generous impulse, prompts him forth upon no brave attempt,
“Lives sordidly and dies despised. He dares no stormy sea,
“Outflying Honor upon the wings of wintry tempests; he
“Smiles at no spiteful impotent trick malicious Fortune plays;
“Follows no friend with loyal steps through ghost-prohibited ways;
“Burns with no emulous thirst of fame, when glowing tongues declare
“Brave aspirations; as ye now, oh friends, stand burning there.—
“For lo, I see on all your cheeks the blush of manly shame;
“Lo, now I see in all your eyes the generous sparkling flame,
“Presage of conquest. Lo, the path to Moyra, where the foe
“Waits us, lies open. Forward, sons of Rury; forward, ho!
“Grandsons of Woden; clans of Hû; before us lies renown,
“Safety and strength and native laws; revenge, and Erin's crown.”

He said: and while with shouts on shouts the echoing heavens were rent,
The mighty hosts with courage renewed, all with a one consent
Moved onward. As a great black barque, compact of many a tree,
That, on her launch from some high beach, shoots down at once to sea;
Or like as when, in time of thaw, a snow-drift deep and wide,
By strong winds in a hollow place lodged on a mountain side,
Fetches away with loosening crash; or like as when, a cloud
Lumbering the sky, strong winds arise, and all the aerial crowd
Fall on at once; it bulges, bursts, rolls out, and overspreads
The face of heaven with ominous gloom above amazed men's heads;
So ominously, so all at once, with clash and muttering jar,
Swift, dark, on Moyra's fated field rolled down the cloud of war.