Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

136 Fictions of the Irish Celts.
" I was also summoned among these chiefs," continued
the master, " and my footmen and my horsemen departed
yesterday to Din AoiHg, and I myself will follow
to-m.orrow. I did not go with my people, for I expected
you ; and if your feats of valour deser\-e the hand of my
daughter, my daughter shall be your wife on our return.
If you fall, a mighty mound shall cover your remains,
your caoine shall be said by eloquent and very famous
fileas, and your name, and your ancestors, and your
deeds engraved on the Oghuim stone."
Fair was the daughter of the Gruagach, but she was
to be won with risk of life ; and a shivering seized on
the limbs of the young man, and his teeth chattered.
The master seemed to know that trouble had come
on his spirit, and he asked his wife to bring in the
golden, gem-incrusted goblet of comfort and forgetful-
ness. It was brought, and this was the quality of that
goblet, that every one drinking from it should forget their
cares and troubles as if they had never been ; and if a
thousand persons drank their fill from it, never was the
wine a hair's breadth lower.
Mac drank, and great courage came into his heart.
" Deep is my gratitude to you, O powerful chief,'' said
he ; " and I would be glad to know your name, and
the name of the Bhan Tiernach (Woman-chief), your
wife, and how your castle is called." " Gruagach Tire,
gan Taithige (Giant* of the Unfrequented Land) is my
name," said he, "and my wife is daughter of the King
of the Lonesome Land, and Dun Tochluaiste (Uncer-
tain Castle) is the name of this castle ; and it is as
kings of .South Leinster. Gilla Brighid O'Faolan, St. Bridgid's
servant (now Kilbride), would otherwise have been a strange name
for a fair)' chief
* Gruagach has for root Griiach, hair,— giants and magicians
being usually furnished with a large provision of that appendage.
A favourite song (even in its English dress) with the dying out
generation, was the Bouchal na Griiaga Dhouiia, " The Boy with
the Brown Haur."