Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

258 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[301]She is not an heroic woman—hers are not the simple, ardentimpulses and unwavering devotion of a Deirdre. The latter is farmore primitive. Grania is a curiously modern and what wouldbe called “neurotic” type—wilful, restless, passionate, but full offeminine fascination.Dermot and Finn Make PeaceAfter sixteen years of outlawry peace is at last made forDermot by the mediation or Angus with King Cormac and withFinn. Dermot receives his proper patrimony, the Cantred ofO'Dyna, and other lands far away in the West, and Cormacgives another of his daughters to Finn. “Peaceably they abodea long time with each other, and it was said that no man thenliving was richer in gold and silver, in flocks and herds, thanDermot O'Dyna, nor one that made more preys.” 189 Grania bearsto Dermot four sons and a daughter.But Grania is not satisfied until “the two best men that arein Erin, namely, Cormac son of Art and Finn son of Cumhal,”have been entertained in her house. “And how do we know,”she adds, “but our daughter might then get a fitting husband?”Dermot agrees with some misgiving; the king and Finn acceptthe invitation, and they and their retinues are feasted for a yearat Rath Grania.The Vengeance of FinnThen one night, towards the end of the year of feasting, Dermotis awakened from sleep by the baying of a hound. He starts up,“so that Grania caught him and threw her two arms about himand asked him what he had seen.” “It is the voice of a hound,”says Dermot, “and I marvel to hear it in the night.” “Save andprotect thee,” says Grania; “it is the Danaan Folk that are at work189How significant is this naïve indication that the making of forays onhis neighbours was regarded in Celtic Ireland as the natural and laudableoccupation of a country gentleman! Compare Spenser's account of the idealsfostered by the Irish bards of his time, “View of the Present State of Ireland,”p. 641 (Globe edition).