Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

240 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[280]grey lake that lies on the top of Slievegallion, and they chargedits waters with enchantments.This introduction, it may be observed, bears strong signsof being a later addition to the original tale, made in a lessunderstanding age or by a less thoughtful class into whose handsthe legend had descended. The real meaning of the transformationwhich it narrates is probably much deeper.The story goes on to say that not long after this the houndsof Finn, Bran and Skolawn, started a fawn near the Hill ofAllen, and ran it northwards till the chase ended on the topof Slievegallion, a mountain which, like Slievenamon 183 in thesouth, was in ancient Ireland a veritable focus of Danaan magicand legendary lore. Finn followed the hounds alone till the fawndisappeared on the mountain-side. In searching for it Finn at lastcame on the little lake which lies on the top of the mountain,and saw by its brink a lady of wonderful beauty, who sat therelamenting and weeping. Finn asked her the cause of her grief.She explained that a gold ring which she dearly prized had fallenfrom her finger into the lake, and she charged Finn by the bondsof geise that he should plunge in and find it for her.Finn did so, and after diving into every recess of the lake hediscovered the ring, and before leaving the water gave it to thelady. She immediately plunged into the lake and disappeared.Finn then surmised that some enchantment was being wroughton him, and ere long he knew what it was, for on stepping forthon dry land he fell down from sheer weakness, and arose again,a tottering and feeble old man, snowy-haired and withered, sothat even his faithful hounds did not know him, but ran round thelake searching for their lost master.Meantime Finn was missed from his palace on the Hill ofAllen, and a party soon set out on the track on which he hadbeen seen to chase the deer. They came to the lake-side on183Pronounced “Sleeve-na-mon´”: accent on last syllable.Mountain of the [Fairy] Women.It means the