Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

280 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[326]One day they saw what seemed to be a cloud coming up fromthe south-west. As it drew near, however, they saw the wavingof pinions, and perceived that it was an enormous bird. It cameinto the island, and, alighting very wearily on a hill near thelake, it began eating the red berries, like grapes, which grew ona huge tree-branch as big as a full-grown oak, that it had broughtwith it, and the juice and fragments of the berries fell into thelake, reddening all the water. Fearful that it would seize themin its talons and bear them out to sea, they lay hid in the woodsand watched it. After a while, however, Maeldūn went out tothe foot of the hill, but the bird did him no harm, and then therest followed cautiously behind their shields, and one of themgathered the berries off the branch which the bird held in itstalons, but it did them no evil, and regarded them not at all. Andthey saw that it was very old, and its plumage dull and decayed.At the hour of noon two eagles came up from the south-westand alit in front of the great bird, and after resting awhile they setto work picking off the insects that infested its jaws and eyes andears. This they continued till vespers, when all three ate of theberries again. At last, on the following day, when the great birdhad been completely cleansed, it plunged into the lake, and againthe two eagles picked and cleansed it. Till the third day the greatbird remained preening and shaking its pinions, and its feathersbecame glossy and abundant, and then, soaring upwards, it flewthrice round the island, and away to the quarter whence it hadcome, and its flight was now swift and strong; whence it wasmanifest to them that this had been its renewal from old age toyouth, according as the prophet said, Thy youth is renewed likethe eagle's. 200Then Diuran said: “Let us bathe in that lake and renewourselves where the bird hath been renewed.” “Nay,” saidanother, “for the bird hath left his venom in it.” But Diuran200 Ps. ciii. 5.