Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

80 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[99]“Then Nemed son of Agnoman took possession of Ireland.He [Agnoman] was my father's brother. I saw him from thecliffs, and kept avoiding him. I was long-haired, clawed,decrepit, grey, naked, wretched, miserable. Then one eveningI fell asleep, and when I woke again on the morrow I waschanged into a stag. I was young again and glad of heart.Then I sang of the coming of Nemed and of his race, and ofmy own transformation.... ‘I have put on a new form, a skinrough and grey. Victory and joy are easy to me; a little whileago I was weak and defenceless.’ ”Tuan is then king of all the deer of Ireland, and so remainedall the days of Nemed and his race.He tells how the Nemedians sailed for Ireland in a fleet ofthirty-two barks, in each bark thirty persons. They went astrayon the seas for a year and a half, and most of them perished ofhunger and thirst or of shipwreck. Nine only escaped—Nemedhimself, with four men and four women. These landed in Ireland,and increased their numbers in the course of time till they were8060 men and women. Then all of them mysteriously died.Again old age and decrepitude fell upon Tuan, but anothertransformation awaited him. “Once I was standing at the mouthof my cave—I still remember it —and I knew that my bodychanged into another form. I was a wild boar. And I sang thissong about it:“ ‘To-day I am a boar.... Time was when I sat in theassembly that gave the judgments of Partholan. It was sung,and all praised the melody. How pleasant was the strain ofmy brilliant judgment! How pleasant to the comely youngwomen! My chariot went along in majesty and beauty. Myvoice was grave and sweet. My step was swift and firm inbattle. My face was full of charm. To-day, lo! I am changedinto a black boar.’[100]“That is what I said. Yea, of a surety I was a wild boar. Then Ibecame young again, and I was glad. I was king of the boar-herds