Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER VI: TALES OF THE OSSIANIC CYCLE 239her life if she would release the prisoners.Into the cave they went, and one by one the captives wereunbound, beginning with the poet Fergus Truelips and the “men ofscience,” and they all sat down on the hill to recover themselves,while Fergus sang a chant of praise in honour of the rescuer,Goll; and Irnan disappeared.Ere long a monster was seen approaching them, a “gnarledhag” with blazing, bloodshot eyes, a yawning mouth full ofragged fangs, nails like a wild beast's, and armed like a warrior.She laid Finn under geise to provide her with single combat fromamong his men until she should have her fill of it. It was noother than the third sister, Irnan, whom Goll had spared. Finn invain begged Oisīn, Oscar, Keelta, and the other prime warriorsof the Fianna to meet her; they all pleaded inability after theill-treatment and contumely they had received. At last, as Finnhimself was about to do battle with her, Goll said: “O Finn,combat with a crone beseems thee not,” and he drew sword for asecond battle with this horrible enemy. At last, after a desperatecombat, he ran her through her shield and through her heart, sothat the blade stuck out at the far side, and she fell dead. TheFianna then sacked the dūn of Conaran, and took possession ofall the treasure in it, while Finn bestowed on Goll mac Mornahis own daughter, Keva of the White Skin, and, leaving the dūna heap of glowing embers, they returned to the Hill of Allen.The Chase of SlievegallionThis fine story, which is given in poetical form, as if narratedby Oisīn, in the Ossianic Society's “Transactions,” tells howCullan the Smith (here represented as a Danaan divinity), who [279]dwelt on or near the mountains of Slievegallion, in Co. Armagh,had two daughters, Ainé and Milucra, each of whom loved Finnmac Cumhal. They were jealous of each other; and on Ainé oncehappening to say that she would never have a man with grey hair,Milucra saw a means of securing Finn's love entirely for herself.So she assembled her friends among the Danaans round the little