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Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

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CHAPTER VI: TALES OF THE OSSIANIC CYCLE 235pastured a peasant's kine. Then a strange horror fell upon him<strong>and</strong> he thought some enchantment from <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> Faëry heldhis eyes <strong>and</strong> mocked him with false visions. He threw his armsabroad <strong>and</strong> shouted <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> Finn <strong>and</strong> Oscar, but nonereplied, <strong>and</strong> he thought that perchance <strong>the</strong> hounds might hearhim, so he cried upon Bran <strong>and</strong> Skolawn <strong>and</strong> strained his ears if<strong>the</strong>y might catch <strong>the</strong> faintest rustle or whisper <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world from<strong>the</strong> sight <strong>of</strong> which his eyes were holden, but he heard only <strong>the</strong>sighing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wind in <strong>the</strong> whins. Then he rode in terror fromthat place, setting his face towards <strong>the</strong> eastern sea, for he meantto traverse Irel<strong>and</strong> from side to side <strong>and</strong> end to end in search <strong>of</strong>some escape from his enchantment. [274]The Broken SpellBut when he came near to <strong>the</strong> eastern sea, <strong>and</strong> was now in <strong>the</strong>place which is called <strong>the</strong> Valley <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Thrushes, 181 he saw in afield upon <strong>the</strong> hillside a crowd <strong>of</strong> men striving to roll aside a greatboulder from <strong>the</strong>ir tilled l<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> an overseer directing <strong>the</strong>m.Towards <strong>the</strong>m he rode, meaning to ask <strong>the</strong>m concerning Finn <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> Fianna. As he came near <strong>the</strong>y all stopped <strong>the</strong>ir work to gazeupon him, for to <strong>the</strong>m he appeared like a messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> FairyFolk or an angel from heaven. Taller <strong>and</strong> mightier he was than<strong>the</strong> men-folk <strong>the</strong>y knew, with sword-blue eyes <strong>and</strong> brown, ruddycheeks; in his mouth, as it were, a shower <strong>of</strong> pearls, <strong>and</strong> brighthair clustered beneath <strong>the</strong> rim <strong>of</strong> his helmet. And as Oisīn lookedupon <strong>the</strong>ir puny forms, marred by toil <strong>and</strong> care, <strong>and</strong> at <strong>the</strong> stonewhich <strong>the</strong>y feebly strove to heave from its bed, he was filled withpity, <strong>and</strong> thought to himself, “Not such were even <strong>the</strong> churls <strong>of</strong>Erin when I left <strong>the</strong>m for <strong>the</strong> L<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> Youth” <strong>and</strong> he stoopedfrom his saddle to help <strong>the</strong>m. He set his h<strong>and</strong> to <strong>the</strong> boulder,<strong>and</strong> with a mighty heave he lifted it from where it lay <strong>and</strong> set itrolling down <strong>the</strong> hill. And <strong>the</strong> men raised a shout <strong>of</strong> wonder <strong>and</strong>applause; but <strong>the</strong>ir shouting changed in a moment into cries <strong>of</strong>181 Glanismole, near Dublin.

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