Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

272
Fictions of the Irish Celts.
instance seen entering its little cove within the time, un-
freighted by the hero or the magic prizes.
In the family lived the sage woman Amarach (lucky,
fortunate), whom no one living remembered ever to have
seen look a day younger, and of whom their fathers and
mothers had made the same report, handing down the
assertions of their ancestors for two generations to the
same effect.
More than one suitor had essayed the adventure,
hoping for the hand of fair Fiongalla. All had perished
in the rough western waves, when at last the court was
visited by the young Fcargal (nobleman), son of Ciocal.
In his father's hospitable hall in Thomond he had heard
of the matchless beauty and good qualities of Fiongalla,
from the lips of more than one wandering bard ; and
despite all opposition from his parents and the Duine
Uasals of his tribe, he travelled to the Court of Glas, saw
the damsel, found his resolution confirmed, and demanded
of the lady and her father permission to try the
adventure.
The love felt by Feargal was fully returned by Fiongalla,
yet she used her influence to dissuade him from
the attempt. " How could he hope for success, when so
many bold and skilful young knights had failed and
perished for the past two centuries ? " But the young
hero on his journey had a vision of the tutelar Sighe of
his family, the benevolent and powerful Fitmcaev (fair
love), who had promised him her assistance at his
utmost need. Confident in her protection, and inspired
by strong love, he told her that the only words from her
mouth that could turn him from his purpose were, " I
love you not." These words she could not force herself
to utter, and forth fared the knight to find the magic
coracle, while
land.
the shadow of night still lay on sea and
Amarach had joined her entreaties to those of father
and daughter. But Amarach was the evil being that
had, two centuries before, imposed this cruel fortune on