Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

198 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[235]‘Dear my brother, thou art weary: I for present aid am flown:Thou for my returning tarry here beside this Standing Stone.’“Shone the sunset red and solemn: Murgen,where heleant,observedDown the corners of the column letter-strokes of Oghamcarved.‘'Tis, belike, a burial pillar,’ said he, ‘and these shallow linesHold some warrior's name of valour, could I rightly spell thesigns.’“Letter then by letter tracing, soft he breathed the sound of each;Sound and sound then interlacing, lo, the signs took form ofspeech;And with joy and wonder mainly thrilling, part a-thrill withfear,Murgen read the legend plainly, ‘FERGUS SON OF ROY ISHERE.’ ”Murgen then, though he knew the penalty, appealed to Fergusto pity a son's distress, and vowed, for the sake of the recovery ofthe “Tain,” to give his life, and abandon his kin and friends andthe maiden he loves, so that his father might no more be shamed.But Fergus gave no sign, and Murgen tried another plea:“Still he stirs not. Love of women thou regard'st not, Fergus,now:Love of children, instincts human, care for these no more hastthou:Wider comprehension, deeper insights to the dead belong:—Since for Love thou wak'st not, Sleeper, yet awake for sake ofSong.