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Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

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CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE 169seemed to be about <strong>the</strong> feet <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> Usna, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y could [201]not tear <strong>the</strong>ir feet from it, <strong>and</strong> Naisi caught up Deirdre <strong>and</strong> pu<strong>the</strong>r on his shoulder, for <strong>the</strong>y seemed to be sinking in <strong>the</strong> slime.Then <strong>the</strong> guards <strong>and</strong> servants <strong>of</strong> Conor seized <strong>and</strong> bound <strong>the</strong>m<strong>and</strong> brought <strong>the</strong>m before <strong>the</strong> king. And <strong>the</strong> king called upon manafter man to come forward <strong>and</strong> slay <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> Usna, but nonewould obey him, till at last Owen son <strong>of</strong> Duracht <strong>and</strong> Prince <strong>of</strong>Ferney came <strong>and</strong> took <strong>the</strong> sword <strong>of</strong> Naisi, <strong>and</strong> with one sweephe shore <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> heads <strong>of</strong> all three, <strong>and</strong> so <strong>the</strong>y died.Then Conor took Deirdre perforce, <strong>and</strong> for a year she abodewith him in <strong>the</strong> palace in Emain Macha, but during all thattime she never smiled. At length Conor said: “What is it thatyou hate most <strong>of</strong> all on earth, Deirdre?” And she said: “Thouthyself <strong>and</strong> Owen son <strong>of</strong> Duracht,” <strong>and</strong> Owen was st<strong>and</strong>ing by.“Then thou shalt go to Owen for a year,” said Conor. But whenDeirdre mounted <strong>the</strong> chariot behind Owen she kept her eyes on<strong>the</strong> ground, for she would not look on those who thus tormentedher; <strong>and</strong> Conor said, taunting her: “Deirdre, <strong>the</strong> glance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ebetween me <strong>and</strong> Owen is <strong>the</strong> glance <strong>of</strong> a ewe between two rams.”Then Deirdre started up, <strong>and</strong>, flinging herself head foremost from<strong>the</strong> chariot, she dashed her head against a rock <strong>and</strong> fell dead.And when <strong>the</strong>y buried her it is said <strong>the</strong>re grew from her grave<strong>and</strong> from Naisi's two yew-trees, whose tops, when <strong>the</strong>y werefull-grown, met each o<strong>the</strong>r over <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great church <strong>of</strong>Armagh, <strong>and</strong> intertwined toge<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>and</strong> none could part <strong>the</strong>m.The Rebellion <strong>of</strong> FergusWhen Fergus mac Roy came home to Emain Macha after <strong>the</strong>feast to which Baruch bade him <strong>and</strong> found <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> Usna slain [202]<strong>and</strong> one <strong>of</strong> his own sons dead <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r a traitor, he brokeout against Conor in a storm <strong>of</strong> wrath <strong>and</strong> cursing, <strong>and</strong> vowedto be avenged on him with fire <strong>and</strong> sword. And he went <strong>of</strong>fstraightway to Connacht to take service <strong>of</strong> arms with Ailell <strong>and</strong>Maev, who were king <strong>and</strong> queen <strong>of</strong> that country.Queen Maev

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