A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Thus at last did they arrive at Emain Macha, and with courteous welcome Conor sent them word that the house of the heroes of the Red Branch was to be theirs that night. And although the place the king had chosen for their lodgment confirmed all the intuitions and forebodings of Deirdrê, the evening was spent by in good cheer, and Deirdrê had the joy of a welcome there from her old friend Lavarcam. For to Lavarcam Conor had said: "I would have thee go to the House of the Red Branch and bring me back tidings if the beauty of Deirdrê has waned, or if she is still the most beautiful of all women." And when Lavarcam saw her whom she had loved as a little child, playing chess with her husband at the board of ivory and gold, she knew that love had made the beauty of Deirdrê blossom, and that she was now more beautiful than the words of any man or woman could tell. Nor was it possible for her to be a tool for Conor when she looked in the starry eyes of Deirdrê, and so she poured forth warning of the treachery of Conor, and the Sons of Usna knew that there was truth in the dreams of her who was the queen of their hearts. And even as Lavarcam ceased there came to the eyes of Deirdrê a vision such as that of Cathbad the Druid on the night of her birth. "I see three torches quenched this night," she said. "And these three torches are the Three Torches of Valour among the Gael, and their names are the names of the Sons of Usna. And more bitter still is this sorrow, because that the Red Branch shall ultimately perish through it, and Uladh itself be overthrown, and blood fall this way and that as the whirled rains of winter." Fiona Macleod. Then Lavarcam went her way, and returned to the palace at Emain Macha and told Conor that the cruel winds and snows of Alba had robbed Deirdrê of all her loveliness, so that she was no more a thing to be desired. But Naoise had said to Deirdrê when she foretold his doom: "Better to die for thee and for thy deathless beauty than to have lived without knowledge of thee and thy love," and it may have been that some memory of the face of Deirdrê, when she heard these words, dwelt in the eyes of Lavarcam and put quick suspicion into the evil
heart of the king. For when Lavarcam had gone forth, well pleased that she had saved her darling, Conor sent a spy--a man whose father and three brothers had fallen in battle under the sword of Naoise--that he might see Deirdrê and confirm or contradict the report of Lavarcam. And when this man reached the house of the Red Branch, he found that the Sons of Usna had been put on their guard, for all the doors and windows were barred. Thus he climbed to a narrow upper window and peered in. There, lying on the couches, the chess-board of ivory and gold between them, were Naoise and Deirdrê. So beautiful were they, that they were as the deathless gods, and as they played that last game of their lives, they spoke together in low voices of love that sounded like the melody of a harp in the hands of a master player. Deirdrê was the first to see the peering face with the eyes that gloated on her loveliness. No word said she, but silently made the gaze of Naoise follow her own, even as he held a golden chessman in his hand, pondering a move. Swift as a stone from a sling the chessman was hurled, and the man fell back to the ground with his eyeball smashed, and found his way to Emain Macha as best he could, shaking with agony and snarling with lust for revenge. Vividly he painted for the king the picture of the most beautiful woman on earth as she played at the chess-board that he held so dear, and the rage of Conor that had smouldered ever since that day when he learned that Naoise had stolen Deirdrê from him, flamed up into madness. With a bellow like that of a wounded bull, he called upon the Ultonians to come with him to the House of the Red Branch, to burn it down, and to slay all those within it with the sword, save only Deirdrê, who was to be saved for a more cruel fate. In the House of the Red Branch, Deirdrê and the three brothers and the two sons of Fergus heard the shouts of the Ultonians and knew that the storm was about to break. But, calm as rocks against which the angry waves beat themselves in vain, sat those whose portion at dawn was to be cruel death. And Naoise and Ainle played chess, with hands that did not tremble. At the first onslaught, Buinne the Red, son of Fergus, sallied forth, quenched the flames, and drove back the Ultonians with great slaughter. But Conor called to him to parley and offered him a bribe of land, and Buinne, treacherous son of a treacherous father, went
Page 1 and 2:
A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang The P
Page 3 and 4:
and lost its beauty, there yet rema
Page 5 and 6:
in any language. The writer will fe
Page 7 and 8:
PYGMALION 11 PHAETON 16 ENDYMION 26
Page 9 and 10:
Thus did Psyche lose her fear, and
Page 11 and 12:
that was to be his heritage. Promet
Page 13 and 14:
(Afterthought). For Epimethus it wa
Page 15 and 16:
endure the torment of having a foul
Page 17 and 18:
most perfect semblance of men and o
Page 19 and 20:
had made sacred to Galatea. On the
Page 21 and 22:
But at last she said to him, "Naugh
Page 23 and 24:
From the courtyard of the Palace th
Page 25 and 26:
wrought. That blazing chariot of th
Page 27 and 28:
suburban garden. That unlettered sp
Page 29 and 30:
[Illustration: SHE CHECKED HER HOUN
Page 31 and 32:
deep, hidden meaning in each part o
Page 33 and 34:
permission he sought, but solemnly
Page 35 and 36:
night, but as that of evening when
Page 37 and 38:
When the quest of the Argonauts was
Page 39 and 40:
But as the first fierce storm that
Page 41 and 42:
Once upon a time, so goes the tale,
Page 43 and 44:
which the fame of the fair Psyche h
Page 45 and 46:
arren rocks, the utter forsakenness
Page 47 and 48:
deny anything to Psyche, and on the
Page 49 and 50:
As a martyr walks to death, so did
Page 51 and 52:
sprang from the high cliff on which
Page 53 and 54:
And again the reeds murmured, "Bewa
Page 55 and 56:
"Oh, foolish one," it said, "why do
Page 57 and 58:
its ugly tomb in the dark soil, and
Page 59 and 60:
and found, amazed, a fearless, whit
Page 61 and 62:
"Aimed on the left side his well-ha
Page 63 and 64:
ATALANTA Atalanta, daughter of the
Page 65 and 66:
thou dost race with me, the goal is
Page 67 and 68:
To Pallas Athené, goddess of craft
Page 69 and 70:
them with pictures such as no skill
Page 71 and 72:
shall fall--for oft by weathers tha
Page 73 and 74:
dallying with Idas in the shadowy w
Page 75 and 76:
of her dreams, his voice was as the
Page 77 and 78:
were life to one whose beauty had w
Page 79 and 80:
overshadowed by the past, and even
Page 81 and 82:
"And now from their fountains In En
Page 83 and 84:
daily had to face, sailed the seas
Page 85 and 86:
came empty-handed, and as he stood
Page 87 and 88:
But Athené said Nay, at his mother
Page 89 and 90:
"but no mortal can obtain it, for o
Page 91 and 92:
living as that of a flower in sprin
Page 93 and 94:
wife. No marriage feast so splendid
Page 95 and 96:
"Surely this stranger comes from Ol
Page 97 and 98:
sons, and each son is more than the
Page 99 and 100:
But the gods laughed. Like a harsh
Page 101 and 102:
Zephyrus, god of the South Wind, ha
Page 103 and 104:
This is the story of Midas, one of
Page 105 and 106:
But when Midas, with the healthy ap
Page 107 and 108:
First of all Pan took his fragile r
Page 109 and 110:
hiding-place. The trees and shrubs
Page 111 and 112:
For the air was full of the clamoro
Page 113 and 114:
around the cave lurked the long dar
Page 115 and 116:
like a ship driven on by the long o
Page 117 and 118:
In the fragrance of the blossom of
Page 119 and 120:
Wind and the North Wind wrestle tog
Page 121 and 122:
For, from the carcase of one of the
Page 123 and 124:
so fair. She had only tasted the jo
Page 125 and 126:
she held most dear. "Give me back m
Page 127 and 128:
LATONA AND THE RUSTICS Through the
Page 129 and 130:
defiled." As she spoke, a change, s
Page 131 and 132:
smiling at the remembrance of her m
Page 133 and 134:
Grief had slain the body of Echo. O
Page 135 and 136:
Fourteen years only have passed sin
Page 137 and 138:
at length they looked like the pini
Page 139 and 140:
higher, higher still, and when he s
Page 141 and 142:
and give stare for stare to golden-
Page 143 and 144:
voice sang snatches of song of his
Page 145 and 146:
shall not hide him, nor shall his d
Page 147 and 148:
whose white arms against the greenw
Page 149 and 150:
fashioned for himself an instrument
Page 151 and 152:
spear-wound through it. With terrib
Page 153 and 154:
as she spoke, her tears and his blo
Page 155 and 156:
the river), 'The only way, since go
Page 157 and 158:
at length she stood on the edge of
Page 159 and 160:
and so, by the hands of his river,
Page 161 and 162:
Milton. Pan was dead, and the gods
Page 163 and 164:
unutterable woe upon any of the son
Page 165 and 166:
Near St. Goar, there rises out of t
Page 167 and 168:
[7] Archilochus of Paros. [8] Fiona
Page 169 and 170:
to come was possessed by Beowulf. I
Page 171 and 172:
And Odin, seeing himself outwitted
Page 173 and 174:
oath from anything in all nature, a
Page 175 and 176:
Thus Loki, taking upon himself the
Page 177 and 178:
Matthew Arnold. Gladly Hermoder mad
Page 179 and 180:
were fit to receive him, and peace
Page 181 and 182:
took place those things that are to
Page 183 and 184:
lack marshes, unknowing that in the
Page 185 and 186:
swiftly know whence ye have hither
Page 187 and 188:
Grendel's scaly hide. Up and down t
Page 189 and 190: win, while he may, warlike fame in
Page 191 and 192: homeland and had told his kinsman t
Page 193 and 194: forth scorchingly, and its great mo
Page 195 and 196: FOOTNOTES: [9] Shakespeare (Julius
Page 197 and 198: would be allowed to retain his king
Page 199 and 200: "No one sent me," he said. "My moth
Page 201 and 202: "I had taken thee for another man,
Page 203 and 204: Leaving them behind with twenty tho
Page 205 and 206: comrades whose eyes never more woul
Page 207 and 208: humbly confessing his sins and begg
Page 209 and 210: King of Heaven! * * * * * May thy f
Page 211 and 212: Charlemagne then returned to Aix, a
Page 213 and 214: their love. To them in course of ti
Page 215 and 216: what her servants had scorned to do
Page 217 and 218: he stood, and greeted him in the gl
Page 219 and 220: the shattered victims of the destro
Page 221 and 222: Then said her brothers: "In Him we
Page 223 and 224: And Kemoc answered: "It is truth."
Page 225 and 226: In many ancient manuscripts we get
Page 227 and 228: "You will have a little grave apart
Page 229 and 230: questions about Naoise, she met a s
Page 231 and 232: delivered his message, and when he
Page 233 and 234: e alive. We will go with her to ano
Page 235 and 236: ut on Loch Awe and Loch Fyne, Loch
Page 237 and 238: But Deirdrê said, very quickly: "N
Page 239: the pure sand. O that I might not d
Page 243 and 244: And Ainle also craved that death mi
Page 245 and 246: [18] Inistrynich. [19] Dun Sween. [
Page 247 and 248: 133, 139, 140, 141, 142, 145, 164,
Page 249 and 250: Belvidere, Apollo, 11 Ben Cruachan,
Page 251 and 252: Cerberus, 34 Ceyx, 144, 145, 146, 1
Page 253 and 254: Dædalus, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185,
Page 255 and 256: Dun Sween, 324 Durendala, 276, 284,
Page 257 and 258: Fergus, 321, 322, 323, 325, 326, 32
Page 259 and 260: Greece, 26, 71, 72, 74, 154, 192, 1
Page 261 and 262: Ibycus, 192, 194, 195, 196 Icarus,
Page 263 and 264: Lebynthos, 186 Leinster, Book of, 3
Page 265 and 266: Meleager, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 7
Page 267 and 268: North Cape, 260 North Sea, 244 Norw
Page 269 and 270: Persephone, 80, 161, 164, 165, 167
Page 271 and 272: 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286,
Page 273 and 274: Sleipnir, 236 Socrates, 153 Somnus,
Page 275 and 276: Tyrian, 86 Uffizi Palace, 124 Ulste
Page 277 and 278: The author also used alternative sp
Page 279 and 280: ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.
Page 281 and 282: This eBook is for the use of anyone
Page 283 and 284: eceipt of the work. - You comply wi
Page 285 and 286: harmless from all liability, costs
Page 287: Please check the Project Gutenberg
show all

A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?