Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

260 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[303]once rescued him from deadly peril when attacked during a feastat the house of Derc, and begs him to heal him with a draughtof water from his hands, for Finn had the magic gift of restoringany wounded man to health with a draught of well-water drawnin his two hands. “Here is no well,” says Finn. “That is not true,”says Dermot, “for nine paces from you is the best well of purewater in the world.” Finn, at last, on the entreaty of Oscar and theFianna, and after the recital of many deeds done for his sake byDermot in old days, goes to the well, but ere he brings the waterto Dermot's side he lets it fall through his fingers. A second timehe goes, and a second time he lets the water fall, “having thoughtupon Grania,” and Dermot gave a sigh of anguish on seeing it.Oscar then declares that if Finn does not bring the water promptlyeither he or Finn shall never leave the hill alive, and Finn goesonce more to the well, but it is now too late; Dermot is deadbefore the healing draught can reach his lips. Then Finn takes thehound of Dermot, the chiefs of the Fianna lay their cloaks overthe dead man, and they return to Rath Grania. Grania, seeing thehound led by Finn, conjectures what has happened, and swoonsupon the rampart of the Rath. Oisīn, when she has revived, givesher the hound, against Finn's will, and the Fianna troop away,leaving her to her sorrow. When the people of Grania's householdgo out to fetch in the body of Dermot they find there Angus Ōgand his company of the People of Dana, who, after raising threebitter and terrible cries, bear away the body on a gilded bier, andAngus declares that though he cannot restore the dead to life, “Iwill send a soul into him so that he may talk with me each day.”The End of GraniaTo a tale like this modern taste demands a romantic andsentimental ending; and such has actually been given to it in theretelling by Dr. P. W. Joyce in his “Old Celtic Romances,” asit has to the tale of Deirdre by almost every modern writer who