The Celtic Dragon Myth

The

Celtic f

BY

Collector

..-"

,^

of

F.

CAMPBELL

"

West

The

WITH

of

Geste

Lecturer

and

WITH

GEORGE

in

Dragon

HENDERSON B.LiTT.

Ph.D.

(Vienna) ;

Celtic

Languages

RACHEL

the

INTRODUCTION

and

(Oxon.) ; MA

(Edin.)

Literature^ University of Glasgow

COLOUR

IN

ILLUSTRATIONS

BY

"

Tales

Highland

THE

Fraoch

TRANSLATED

BY

Myth

Dragon

AINSLIE

GRANT

DUFF

522379

JOHN

EDINBURGH: 31

GEORGE

IV. 191

1

GRANT BRIDGE

BOYD,

BY

EDINBURGH.

AND

OUVER

FEINTED

It

is

day

is

It

is

It

the

beyond

sleep

art

me^

you

sleep

Thou

be.

and

for

is

;

lights

and

dark

alternate

must

work

sea

across

nighty

and

Work

the

night

'Ever

here^

and now

and

Day

It

Meant.

Animam

Ad

fated

sea

beloved

;

reap^

be to

free

!

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

tii

OF

LIST

"If

the

king's

this

same

the

him

four

years

part

with

him.

Is

"The

storm

for

"

He

cut

fear,

off

but

She

sat

mouth

mine

is

here "

it

if

see

?

his she

and

keep

may be

easier

like

for

held

to

age.

big

a

up

Face

page

38

.....

the

the

lad

quaked

daughter

king's

68

"

slept

dragon's

the

on

third

head,

and

"

.

.

.

the

won

69

fight"

"

to

and

rose

"you

mermaid,

See,

baby

bouncing

by

ravaged

Frontispiece

more

as

be

....

the

fine

as

yours

at

to-morrow

shall

dragon

said

here

not

realm

the

hour

well,''

"Well,

is

daughter

said

me,"

ILLUSTRATIONS

.......

on

a

of

green the

mound

evening,

in

gloaming

the

playing

on

IX

her

the

in

harp

"

79 .

"

INTRODUCTION

the

Between

J.

F.

of

series

which

legends

made

After

that

Dragon

no

sea-dragon,

versions

he

and

early

with in

the

of

pastimes

of

legends

his the

deal

with.

Russia,

and

and

concluded

the

sense.

Of

own

his

of

mind

He

West.

of

It

is

the

found

He

generally work

of

he

Several

it

is

says

in

Japan,

was

part

full

while

the

pared com-

Dragons

this

as

of one

of the of

most

difficult

of

England,

Myth

expressly xi

the

the

it in

that

it

East,

and

State

work,

and

also

as

regarded

myths,

from

languages.

the

all

being

all water

versions

sketches

All

monsters."

fresh

the

in

the

weapons,

are

water

followed,

While make

to

other

of

sea-gifts.

they

he

mermaid,

egg,

while three

in

Highlands

Japan.

widest

slaying

versions

that

as

from

a

Isles,

stories,

fish, metals,

;

from

and

the

water,

respects

1862,

as

important

most

the

to

Ceylon.

Orient,

he

of

by

storyologist.

a

well

so

Mr

attracted

as

of

birds,

these

incidents

and

his

him

to

fitted

beasts,

indeed

China,

to

treats

in

taken

journeys

the

"It

relate

them

the

title

late

Highlands

versions

single

tree,

agree

had

the

mysteriously produced

men

As

dozen

the

1884

repeatedly in

current

a

Myth.

myths,

Islay was

special appeal

reading

found

and

of

Campbell

and

1870

years

"

Rig

Veda,"

Eur-Aryan

that

it is

in

free

Celtic

The translation. tell it in my

language

story from

the

take

words

own

the

and

GaeHc

generallywhere

the

scribe's

which occur passages and preservation bits of recitation But

is prosy.

worth

seem

I

"

Myth

Dragon

when "

translated carefully.This quaint phrases I have full of the is work honestly done while my head was subject. I think that it might interest a large ." The of readers. number manuscript is among Advocates' in the the Campbell of IslayCollection I am of which Library,Edinburgh, to the Curators "

.

for

beholden

their

.

courtesy, of which

I

make

now

public acknowledgment, in enabling me to complete at Glasgow University Library the transcription I had which begun many years ago. him distinct For the subject had two aspects : the first, has

a

story is amusing for children

scientific

number

of

Ralston

give

found

that

amused.

interest

scholars. his

the

He

lectures

children

But

amongst

for

a

had

secondly,it large and growing

heard

in

Russian

upon in the

audience

the

audience

;

London

Mr

stories,and were

much

were

also

Thomas

Carlyle,Professor Owen, Sir R. Murchison, Reeve, Lady Ashburton, Miss Dempster of Skibo, and a number of learned people who wanted to know the philosophyof the subject." For Mr Campbell a thought there was great deal of philosophyin it, and he states : I want readers, wise and foolish,to "

"

be

equallywell

story, the wise He

had

treated.

may

read

read

The both

read may story and notes."

stories parallel xii

foolish

in

the

Swedish, German,

Introduction

and

which

versions

Russian

the

nearer

of the story in

seemed

to

of Swahili

book

him

He

originalshape. a

heard

had

Italian, English,and

French,

mythical

more

found

even

of

outlines

tales told

part

a

Zanzibar.

at

in 1876, "this "Theoretically,"he remarks the defeat of serpent looks like serpent worship,and worship by some mythical personage. Many of the

which

incidents be

can

traced,

version, e,g,^

a

and

serpent

transformed. In

well, and

in the

concerned

are

is

a

serpent,

a

in

Swedish who

other

eat

a

the

Swedish,

in

the

Russian

apple

an

meadow

is

is

tree a

third

concerned

are

serpent-slayingheroes

in

one

an

apple.

in the adventures

in

are

brothers

Three

of maidens

born

are

explained

cushion

serpent,

Russian.

Gaelic, but

are

well

another

in

in

not

are

Three

in Gaelic

of

drink

instance

in

a

brothers one

case,

enough for three are in the several Swedish versions combined, Gaelic ; if they were make Russian and something like a togetherwould fragment of mythology, but the Gaelic versions give the largestquantity of materials." and

incidents

The

incidents, which

number

about

440,

or

deducting what are but variants, about 200, were the followingGaelic versions or put together from stories (of which some specimens are given in this book) collected between January 1856 and January 1

86

1.

I.

Sea-Maiden^

They

are

:

"

No.

IV., Popular Tales

of

the

West

Hector Highlands, p. 72. Urquhart John Mackenzie, Inveraray, xiii

and

Celtic

The The

2.

Hector

Roads.

Three

Fisher

The

and

Son

s

MS.

and

5.

The

6.

The

9.

Lad,

Son

Sea

Notes

from

Goil

Hector

Then

of

S. Uist.

Notes

an

C.

Irish

blind

1

John

MS.

Notes

The

English

MSS. the

on

Loch

Interleaved

Gaelic

copy.

71.

versions

noted

in

1

870

:

"

in

Journal,Aug.

reciter of

LeigheasCoh'

1870, pp.

5

Maxwellton

Street,

Mackenzie,

fisherman,

"John 0

Cein, published by me

Society of Inverness, xiv

from

17,

MacNeill/

Paisley. Aug. 22, 1870.

of the Gaelic

of

and

fiddler

steamer.

further

Lachlan

13.

and

the

by J. F.

Head

came

later

12.

MS.

Maclean

Popular Tales, vol i.,p.

and

Alexander

recitation. copy, second Maiden, Pp. 328, 346

Collection 11.

and

King of Ireland and The J. Dewar Daughter of the King of France, ; MS. J. MacNair, Clachaig, Cowal. The Sea Maiden, MS. notes by J. F. C, and leaved InterJohn MacPhie, vol. i..Popular Tales. Second

The

The

10.

Maclean

Ceanntangaval, Barra.

Smith, Polchar, 8.

MS.

sources.

Hector

Fisher,

Gray

Macaskill, Berneray ; MS.

Same

Smith's Son.

The

B.

Maclean.

Hector

MacNeill, 7.

Giant,

Five-headed

The

B.

Daughter of the King of John Dewar ; J. MacNair,

Clachaig,Cowal. 4.

and

The

Castle,

the Golden

Maclean

MS.

Macaskill, Berneray. 3.

Myth

Dragon

i-io,

in the Transactions

Introduction

book.

in my 14.

printedfrom his telling Kenmore, Inveraray.'^ An lasgair (Little John the

repeat the story

can

Iain

Mac

Beag

Fisher's

Son)

;

Mac

Fionn

will

It

be

C/s

F.

Journal

for

MacDonald,

Cottage, Mull. Donne

agus

Maclean,

"

hadh

mac

fisherman,

of Mull.

the

that

seen

J.

Malcolm

From

Ross

Bunessan,

From

Bhradain

A

Bhradain,

a

of

p. 42

Sept. I, 1870. fisherman, Benmore 15.

as

wide

a legends ranged over thoroughly popular,and

Highland area ; were there are references to the of the people. In Ireland and one Dragon story also in Hyde's Sgeulaidhe^ may Isles (pp. 40, 46, 24, 55). Synge'sThe Aran compare Parallel

of

tales

and

Dragon,

told

that

as

the

very

and

the

well

thereafter.

"

There

into

place The

was

St

Highlands. which

where

he the

story is once

water-monsters

Palestine,

in

the

in

current

story of

the

world-wide,

with

contests

a

cast

saint

are

is

very

At

Beyrut

the

similar

slain

washed

the

and

George

to

is shown monster,

his

hands

:

"

great

citythat depended

for its

the walls. A water-supplyupon a fountain without moved by Satan himself, great dragon, possessedand took possessionof the fountain and refused to allow water to be taken to the unless, whenever people came spring,a youth or maiden was given to him to devour. The people tried again and again to destroy the but though the flower of the city cheerfully monster, forth against that went so it,its breath was pestilential XV

Celtic

The

they used

dead

down

drop

to

Myth

Dragon before

they came

within

bowshot. inhabitants

terrorised

The

"

thus

were

obliged

to

offspring,or die of thirst ; till at last all the youths of the placehad perished except the the distress of their king's daughter. So great was of water that the heart-broken subjects for want the her, and amid parents could no longer withhold of the the towards out tears populace she went But just spring where the dragon lay awaiting her. the noisome monster was as going to leap on her, Mar Jiryisappeared,in golden panoply upon a fine white steed, and spear in hand. Riding full tilt at it fair between the eyes and the dragon, he struck The of gratitude for this laid it dead. king, out Mar unlooked-for succour, Jiryishis daughter gave and half of his kingdom." ^ sacrifice their

legend

by

that the

Chien

great kiau

a

of

folk-lore

the

In

or

Tang

graduate

is said

himself

into the

flood

Formerly

Chinese

the

to

have

Chinaye : they were According to the Mission

the

by 1

St

there

River

two

been

in

in

George,

(v.Adamnan

Folk- Lore

Mr

narrow

a

passage

:

^

of the Holy Land,

reached Constantinople, Sanctis Locis), xvi

p.

lona

the be

to

Presbyterian appeased

appearance 56.

near

upset boats.

of

Butler

"

learned in De

^"^-

1129

have

Ningpo, they had yearlyofferingof a girlof fair

J. E. Hanauer's

infested

once

furious, and

very

in

popular

a

heroicallythrown and encounter destroy the dragons were supposed by

to

to

Rev.

is

was

sea-serpent, and

district

monster.

China

ArculPs

in the

seventh

and stories of

century

Introduction

perfectbody. stop

to

the

this.

water

himself

and

surface.

the

to

rose

the literati determined

of

one

armed

He

blood

;

last

At

into

jumped had

He

killed

of the

dragons. The other retired to the narrow hero at Peach erected to the place. A temple was Blossom ferry." In Japan of the dragon legends recounts one how a eight heads and eight very large serpent with A tails came one annually and swallowed person. had eight children last married have at couple who girlleft. They are in great grief. The only one one

^

hero,

So-sa-no-o

river

Hi-no-ka-mi

and

girl. young The I will save her."

girlto

his form

me

and

of the

that

assumed

"

of

sources

found

and

Idzumo

at

the

to

claspinga

woman

that

mikoto^went

no

old

an

If you mikoto

girl:

the man

will

give changed divided

he

eight divisions,and in each placedone The the saki, sakitub. serpent approached, drank whereupon the mikoto got intoxicated,and fell asleep, and the drew his sword cut serpent into pieces! of the Japanese serpent Which proves the unwisdom in drinking saki, and of So-samind the observant the

!

no-o

1

As

into

room

a

Gould's

MythicalMonsters,

this writer naturalist,

but infers it

to

volansyMoloch

highlandsof Mr

Maclean,

be

considers

the

dragon

long terrestriallizard,with

horridus. Central

Fond

Asia.

minister

Glenelg,in 1872, 2

a

306 (London

p.

of the

of

of

so-called

W. no

much

H.

Allen

in

the in

rest

1809,

he and

"

Co., 1886).

of fancy, offspring

mere

with

common

bathingand baskingin

For

Eigg,

:

the

Habitat,

sun.

by

accounts gives interesting

by Mr

Macrae,

in Norwegian Sea-Serpent

minister

the West

Cf. Campbell'sCircular Notes, I., 326. xvii

Draco

h

of

lands. High-

Celtic

The

Myth

Dragon

of imperial dragon is the emblem the on : a five-clawed dragon is embroidered power legs pointing forwards Emperor's robes, with two it has Sometimes backwards. and a two pearl in the

In China

and

The

chief

dragon

sky,

whence

power

is

it

thought

is

send

can

symbolisedin

in the

Its

it.

Emperor. in

references

to

shield

of

the

describes

Homer

monsters.

the

withhold

or

fire.

and

its abode

have

to

rain

abounds

Literature

clouds

with

is surrounded

hand

one

dragonHercules

having the scaly horror of a dragon coiled, with shot askant gleaming fire. Ovid eyes oblique,that the dragon slain by Cadmus the river locates near Arthur carries a dragon on Cephisus, in Boeotia. as

his helm,

referred

tradition

a

Shakespeare,too:

to

Ludd's

have

seized the

Among

sea.

to

mean

if

we

chief, a

a

surveyed

tedious

to

enumerate

dragon-slayers "

of the

modern

Over branches contests

the

the

of with

the

and

Dragon

In

Eve.

the

Kent;

infested

was

May-Day

on

said to

not

between

dominion

shrieked

Queen.

"

"Peace, Come

Faerie

the

in

dragon

by

dictator

Wales,

St Samson

thrown

and

in times

the

all of them

Mediterranean

"

dragon

of the

lives

!

a

indeed,

Welsh,

his wrath

a

it into

pendragon of danger.

saints, it would who

number active

shark

long

ere

that is the

came

And be

figure as the days

!

covered by the Celtic linguisticarea the Indo-European peoples,legends of from been have monsters current early XVIU

Introduction As

times. as

to

far

how

to

people

one

from

text

origin,it

they

may

Cymric "That

their

of the

sea

afraid

to

the

like

read

of

"

himself Life he

Fechin,

ears

;

waters

lost.

hellish

hate

and

hellish

of

"

goes,"^ have

evil

parallel

turbulence

the

beastlymonster forms,

The

itself

commotion

sailors

feared

monster, Na 3

the

on

two

the

sea,

hundred the

to

that

beast ^

Century,March xix

encounter storm

higher "

from

Satan

The his

having a

the

St as

if

Arthurian p. 422.

hundred many the set

was

Abban

ship

as

and

ship

fell

1895,

we

beneath.'*^

clouds

Rhys,

often

are

eyes, and

greatly.

h-Uidhri, 85^. Nineteenth

and

fury, beating

the

great

tells how

Abban

Irish Saint

and

powers

in

a

risinghigher assistingfrom

waves

in such

Of

cerning con-

that watery

in

seen

influence.

it extended

Leabhar

it

Pious men againstthe rocks." approach the shore, fearing to

against the ^

[earth],

terra

Saints

hear

we

is

of divers

heads

world).

tells of

by

the

of

^

eighth-centurychronicle

an

doubtless

a

from

the world

around

rage

of the

saw

strife hard

whose

influences and

Lives

In

references.

transmitted

the

of Taliessin

book

its essence,

Early St

"

that surrounds

Leviathan

river of dread

Venom

The

been

have

In leuiddn timchella inn domon

(The The

certain

to

Possibly external influence Da in the Bruden Derga^ a Gadhelic the eighth century, which speaksof

about "

be

is difficult

another.

to

traced

be

may

their

almost

prayed dead,

and

Legend, 157.

Celtic

The there the

was

be

could

monster

(etin

But

calm.

a

hoc

repulseof

^

the

certain

a

somewhere

burying Columba*s

is

the

sea

nor

In

land

on

Adamnan's

The

Ness.

river

incident

The

prayer.

been

from

while

Mocumin,

Adamnan

of

one

self him-

cast

relates

was

were

swimming.

opposite bank,

which

monster,

occurred

inhabitants

bitten

the

And

water.

the

But

on

a

companions, Lugne

into

"

coble

a

there

had

who

one

fetch

To

the

by

neither

seen

chapter concerning the {aquatilis bestia) by aquatic monster

man's

blessed

relate,the body of

to

strange

fuii),^ quod dyabolus

apparet

of Colum-Cille

Life

Myth

Dragon

:

"

lying in

the

whetted

for

river

.

and

bed,

rather

appetitewas

than

sated

surface

of

prey the

whose

with the

suddenly comes

up

what

water

and

more

already had, perceiving disturbed by the swimmer, it

the

towards

moves

man

he

as

rushes on mid-stream, and with a great roar with him all who mouth, while there, were open barbarians well as brethren, were as greatly terrorin

swam

struck.

The

blessed

salutarysign of the cross holy hand upraised,and commanded

thou

no

once.'

the

further,

seeing it, after making

man

in

touch

the

man

;

hearing this word of fled monster was terrified,and away quickly than if it had been dragged though it had approached Lugne as ^

Vitae

2

Bk.

Then,

Sanctorum

II., c.

xl.-xlv. Historia,

27

on

Hibemiae, ed. Plummer, W. (trans.

Huyshe).

For

Tomus a

of

name

God,^

saying :

monster, the

his

with

air

empty

invoking

ferocious nor

the

'

back

go

the

Go at

saint,the

again off by he

Primus,

the

more

ropes,

swam

so

p. 15.

dragon contest,

see

Nennius^

Introduction

closelythat

the

than

more

The

between

the

of

Reeves,

that

"

current

the

among still

Molua

prevails in

and

have

St

saved

modern

Irish

belief,let

dreadful

The

"

dragon

fishingquarters Blackwater Bran

he

as

inhabits

him,

heard

him

on,

is another driven

and

dwells

in

character

of

W.

Ireland."

As

Le

:

The

half fish,half

heard.

lake Near

the

of Bran

awe

he

and

hopes roaring on

from

chased it.

It

he

of

noise

by bit

night.

Brin

him

the

.

and

has

never

often

has On

being it

miles

Glencar,

there

bathing

was

which

wurrum

back

was

.

while

dreadful on

XXI

boy

there

Some .

or

which

said

bull.'

a

the

like,he

was

young

which

but

the

Brin

boat

he

me

may,

stormy

a

a

tells

never

Lough

between lake

;

lakes,

head

the

minds

"

our

such

two

are

at

who

man

Seventy

mountain

a

many but often

lake

the

to

Fanu's

"

in

little

to

"

wurrum

there

St

recorded

are

R.

was

period,

remote

very

monsters.

Kerry

the questioned what the 'like roaring of

further

Mr

possible Bishop

River, called Lough Erin, from is now called,the dreadful wurrum

it.

speaks with seen

in

beautiful

the

such

beast, the

indeed,

seen,

a

evidence

still survives

"

seldom

one

from

of Irish Life be

Tears

at

fact,

haunted

were

terrible

parts many of Dromore

Colman

people

lakes

and

Irish

the

in

belief," says

rivers and

demoniacal

a

no

natural

some

belief

"The

certain

of

by serpents

human

was

pole."

reflects

such.

there

monster

punt

one

incident

with

occurrence

and

length of

whole

together

and

man

and

hunted

Celtic

The all the

him

where

home,

way

Myth

Dragon he

arrived

and

naked

bleeding."

that

no

one

fled

to

an

horrible

ventured island

that

to

destroy swimmers.

to

swim

Draco

bestiis. Nor

is

a

but

a

and

terrible

than

deterrimus

serpens

lubricus

a

last

persuaded the

beast

refers

he

to

horrible,

most

all the

beasts

terribilis

:

a

that

"

antiquus

et

omnibus

sapientior

belief yet extinct

Dempster legend of St

note

that

witch

from

There

great

wont

was

returning

was

magnus

similar

in Sutherland

"

and

at

was

Colum-Cille

subtle

more

Miss

manuscript a

he

lake

a

.

late

with

the

of

account

on

." .

The

infested

St

slimy dragon,

fuit

qui

of

Altus

slimy serpent *'

Ree,

as

stag that

him.

the

great

Lough

man

it is recounted

wounded

a

pursue

A

but

across,

devoured In

to

in

monster

of Balla

Mochua

of St

Life

the

In

:

a

this

Highlands.

records

the

and

not

was

variant

in

to

be

her

Dragon, dragon,

a

expected

"

lived

dragon,

"

Skibo

Gilbert

that

some

say Lochlin

of

in the

very

in Sutherland time a a upon fierce and It was this strong.

once

that

burnt the fir woods in all dragon Ross, the the Sutherland, and Reay country, of which remains, charred, blackened, and half-decayed,may be must

his

found have

in

every

moss.

Magnificent forests they dragon set fire to them with

been, but the fiery breath, and rolled

over

the

whole

land.

Introduction fled from

Men

his

when the

whole

this

evil

and

'

near

shadow

he

St

said

heart.

to

the

alive

from

meet

he

first was

now

the

'

and

wood

called

Dornoch

as

the

with to

town

you, you,

five

him

carry

When

'

the

'

beast

Pity of Pity of

said, Pity of you,' shot

'

that

them,

he

and

came

his

drew

beast

through the buried by the towns-people. Men reckoned who distance by so or so far arrow

of the

stone

Skibo

beast.'

'

pass

'

"

little lad

a

made

the

see

dragon. Gilbert, and taking and

He

could

'

sharp arrows,

The

people called nigh to he

He

to

came

the

St

against it

it

Gilbert, his church

roared

out

went

bow.

are

the

fainted

women

sky-line.

And

Giuthais,' came Lochfinn, and when

and

over

the

desert.

whom spirit,

Dornoch,' Dornoch,'

face, and

crossed

land

spire of

long

his

Dubh as

and

before

beast

Dornoch.

The

Carmore

'

on

the is

moor

waves

planted, and

the

over

between

moor

of

ashes

a

the

destroyingdragon." This between

tomb

of

called

St

the

out

the

on

^

Mrs

There

of

the

hill above is stillan

old

work

when

fall

and

third

rebuilt

Duchess,

1614;

Countess

it

of

was

The

discovered.

was

would ;

seeing a

the

that

Sutherland

Sunday

the

built

was

going forward the founder, Gilbert, Bishop of Caitness,

Gilbert,

cathedral

notes,

and

1570,

1835 by

While

Sutherland.

Dempster

burnt

1235-45,

repaired in

was

in

Miss

church.

at

saying went the this happened, following mid-day the

remembered well Dempster congregation (Gaelic) camped the town, expecting to see the with pronunciation

t

hard, and

not

th.

Celtic

The fall of

roof

the

addition

In

legends of

to

there

without

(Badhbh) as

:

of

kind

a

often

very

to

the

In

of

of

poem

the that

monster,

and

is about

exploit by guerdon.

his

similar

It

retain a

burg

Baobh

represented and

rags

surface

of

the

drowning

a

Iseult^by Gottfried the

about

wrote

found

the

part

him

by

fight,v.

who

and

claims

of

ascribed

in

it thus

the Le

Hartland's

tale

Roman

in the

Dutch

:

a

of to a

of

princess as tale.

A

in

he

of Morien.

poem

of

versions it formed

Tristan

ally originof

Gottfried

not.

or

Strass-

"

story tells en

the

credit

Lancelot

to

^

the

the

widespread Aryan

a

is

of

robbed

of the

introduces

Loseth,

be

to

printed prose dragon fight,^whether

Now,

"

is

adventure

least three

^

hardly a

na

with

portent of

sources

traitor

a

cerfau pied b lane At

is

over

poet who

on

is

of Brittany,there is an account by Thomas fight with the dragon, strangely analogous hero in Highland tradition. The overcomes

poem

his

working

1210,

all

a

{each-uisge)

Linne

a

(venomous bheisd)^

a

There

Tristan and

German

Strassburg,a

year

is

appearance follow.

also

water-horse

wind-tossed

His

soon

;

water-horse

covered

ribbons, typifying the waves.

(dragon

the

the

creature

itants oldest inhab-

beithir-nimh

Highland lochs. some legend of

with

associated district

tales of

endless

are

the

following Sundays. the

uile-bheist

serpent)and

of

many

for several

church

to

go

did

nor

;

Myth

Dragon

us

prose de

Legend of Perseus

that

Tristan, vol. iii. ^

there For

was

variants

at of the

that dragon

Introduction in Ireland

time the

and

people

last had

sworn

fierceness

of

his

life.

had

come

to

this had

he

The

"

armed

made

next

steed,

of

fain

rode

forth

with

them

would

he

than

he "

knew

was

he

tale, and

it

the

thought

of

strongest spear, into

the

seen

there

men

was

no

the

queen's seneschal, who

the

lover

of

the

Princess

Whenever

not.

earth

on

knights

him

dragon,

but

ride

ever

was

that

men

forth, for

never

save

would

Tristan

when

saw

the

men

the

Tristan

Dublin.

the

return

swifter

in

flighthe

went.

Now,

chieftains.

us,

afar off four

be near at hand, so dragon must and ere the monster on steadily, long he saw towards and flame him, breathing out smoke knight laid his spear in jaws. The open ^

wards down-

geste tells

where

the

till the

turned

adventures, the seneschal

had

and

rose

forth

he

saw

moor

him

nothing

they face

been

on

for

say

the

rough path

a

many

the

liked

she bent

might

by

his

rode

and

Then

them

have

Iseult, but

had

knight

light,he

the

dragon had its lair. galloping swiftlyover would

in

heavens, when valley,where, as the

a

One

and

ears,

rode

in

high

road.

^

journey. morning, ere it was and took secretly,

He

into

full of

was

;

the

and

valiant

a

wife

to

maiden

at

the

slew

Iseult

the

king

his

his

wilderness. was

land

Tristan's

mounted

sun

beauty dragon, many

the

whoever

Princess

of

The

himself

and

the

devoured

that

so

;

that

the

the

lost

land

oath

have

of

because

the

solemn

a

should

monster

and

wasted

which

dragon

monstrous

a

and Iseult

his uncle he

takes

Mark, to

be

Zimmer the

thinks,

are

daughter

of

he

rode

coming from

its

rest, and

ninth-centuryPictish the Viking King of

Celtic

The set

strongly,that the pierced through he

and

that

free

himself the

horse

before with

the

earth

It

he

Then

monster

Tristan

thought

it would

aids smoke

shelter so

till the

till the

it crouched

scarce

fell

beast

its

flame, teeth ;

behind

the

and

the

fierce that

and

and

claws

he

But well-nigh to a coal. endure not over-long,for the spear in that so dragon began to pain him and in ground, rolling over over Tristan near came swiftlyand smote

heart

of the

monster

so

that

held the the

the

he

he

truth

dragon had sharper than ado

bushes, for

and

the shield

strife,the

much

had

knight

of

wall

thinking

in

the

tore

wound

a

hard

a

burnt

the

the

his sword,

For

trees

and

under

down

his death.

be

of

fled

again

rang

jaws

pain

forth

drew

which

rocks

easily,but 'twas had ever fought,

and

shearingknife

fightwas

at

evil

monster,

fire from

cast

Tristan

hardest

was

could

the

But

after the

around,

it, and

slaythe

find

steed.

followed

sound.

the

rock.

a

such

him, roaring for pain

overcame

as

jaws, and the dragon's heart, force against the

and

corpse

Tristan

"

to

the

so

it,till the wound partlydevoured the sorely that it left the spear pained it so half-eaten,and fled into a rocky ravine.

upon from

up

from

smote

open

fell dead, and

horse

his

the

into

with

came

and swiftly,

so

in at

spear went the throat

himself

dragon

rode

steed, and

his

to

spurs

Myth

Dragon

to

the

in his hand conflict

did

vitals of the

lay

agony. his with blade

the

on

Then sword in

went

right to the hilt ; and the dragon gave forth a roar so and earth if heaven as grim and terrible that it was fell together,and far and wide heard the cry was himself Tristan was through the land. well-nigh but terrified,

as

he

saw

the xxvi

beast

was

dead

he

went

Introduction with

and

near,

and

the

out

cut

much

he

forced

then

he

labour

tongue

;

the

jaws

open,

the

closed

jaws

He turned again,and put the tongue in his bosom. him again to the wilderness, thinking to rest through the day, and come again to his people secretlyin the of the night ; but he was shadows so overcome by the stress of the fight and the fierybreath of the well-nigh spent, and seeing a dragon that he was little lake

from

flowed

and

the

him,

the

the

to

came

venom

he

and

Iseult

"

and

seneschal's "

and

afterwards

who

the

the

whereupon

water,

his

Tristan,

breast.

when

And

the

end

I slew

the

of

the

"

this marvel, from

it

lords

time

said,

'

dragon,

this

man

death.' is

thing tongue

And

monster.'

jaws, yet to

One

the

out

cut

the

out

second

a

first and

slew

the

found

together to know Tristan spake

tongue

all the

came

who

of

all,mark smote

And

"

afterwards

fell from

matter,

this

cut

he

as

the

mother

out

came

Lords

'

stream

it, and

towards

went

waters

her

him

folk

clear

a

weight of his armour of the dragon's tongue overpowered fell senseless by the stream.

dragon's tongue all the

which

into he

rock,

cool

and

drew

hand

at

near

clear, he the

was

never

said

man

a

man

nay."

i

Wales, snakes.

and

belief

From

It

its

to were

had

von

Lore

have

of

dragons, serpents,

been

an

old

formerlywomen.^ Every snakes. two They never

Tristan and Iseult,by Strassburg's

and

Welsh

"

Cf. also Bedier^s

Trevelyan,Folk-

legends

seems

all lizards

Gottfried

I.,89, 98, 123. 2

has

farmhouse

Welsh 1

that

too,

French

retelling, Englished by Mr

Folk-Stories of Wales, p, xxvii

J. L.

165.

Weston, Belloc.

Celtic

The until

appeared Parallel

with

the

the

of

names

Such

Celtic

with

(black goddess) of and

river

aith bhric

Nebestis

in

in

;

for

and

was

the

addite

divis

us

Boyne, which yields Boyne, from

itself

nymph

the

the

from

being

to

form

in

the

preceding name,

tells

G2cA"fons gods). To of

name

a

deuona

Ausonius

springs

of

name

like

divine

a

what

is the

number the

where

old

the

to

dedicated

under

lake

name

of

dh

name

sacred

(they were in the

be included

a

Obair-dheaoin^ with

river

a

river

contain

to

seem

some

Gaelic

with

case

of

personal female name, breac (spotted); in Nevis,

estuary, deuona

exemplifyingin

died."

AfFric, both

strongly trilled r, showing that (goddess,etc.)has been assimilated word

snakes

a

Aberdeen,

;

master

nymphs of the stream. L5chy, the Nigra Dea

or

as in (root), MacBain rightlydetected

Dr

the

number

that

Adamnan

also

name,

of

the

is the

area

goddesses

met

are

death

then

;

this, perhaps,

within

names

house

the

of

mistress

or

the

before

just

Myth

Dragon

the

river

Bojind (white cow)

Fraoch's

mother's

sister

Boand form (Shee) or Faery. The (genitiveBoinde), also that in the phrase in (K)ostio Boindeo of the Boyne) goes back on (atthe mouth Sidh

such

some

recalls

an

form Irish

Jinne (the But

in Uist

name

way I met

Boouinda

as

or

for

the

path

of

with

the

(white cow).

Milky Way the

"

xxviii

the

path or

of which

bothar

"

of

Sliochd

name

Way), meaning seemingly or brightness,"the root in Uisne (Uisnech).

cow

This

bo

whiteness). Uis

way

(Milky

of whiteness

recurs

again

Introduction the survey of the form in which

But

the

in

of the

Book

the

from

first part of the Tain

Bo

exist

:

Lecan XL.

old of

Frdich^

Book

The

be

not

modern

more

tradition

of Lismore,

and

which

Leinster

;

The

Yellow

Edinburgh Advocates' Library Egerton 1782 (BritishMuseum).

story has

edited

been

also

the

the as important tale known the following manuscripts

with

of

Book

Gaelic

;

;

complete

the story of Fraoch

given

Dean

and

of

would

the

therefore

I have

it.

leaves

theme

MS.

This

old

all the

important variants, and skill,by Professor with his wonted Kuno care fur Celtische Philologiefor Meyer in the Zeitschrift In translation I tried to select making my 1902. the from best of the variant readings. The among last

sections

seven

here

translated

adventures of

our

about

the

Celtic

idiom A

O'Beirne

ninth

The survives

a

:

was

one

was

made

the

with

appeared in Proceedings for 1870,

the

w^hich

necessitated

name

in the

Fraoch

many

(Fraech)

not

Geste on

it

when

period

have

of the

one

the

Crowe,

have

the

by

translation

Academy studies

of Alba

tale is

Gadhelic

in

century,

I

of the narrative

This

narratives

Frdich

Bo

apart from

:

elsewhere.

secular

Erin.

Tain

they are bring the hero

and

Fraoch,

of the

of

further oldest

belongs to the

Scoto-

language late

Mr

of

J.

Royal Irish but subsequent changes. is

Clonfree

very

ancient.

It

(Cluain Fraeich), On it Strokestown, Roscommon. stone an Ogham Vroicci maqi muccoi in Netta occurs Trenaluggo at Donaghmore, Kildare ; also in Vraicci maqi Medvi on placename

xxix

Celtic

The an

from

Ogham

for

last it stands

Another

I

the

the

Tain

at

the

hands

of Medb.^ than

of Fraoch

Geste

where Cuailn^e^

Bo

In this

of Fraoch

death

the

term

in

death

of Cuchulainn.

he

that

in

is

met

his

It is noticeable

fairyoriginis pointed to, and that This with water. associated episode is

stage in his story than

that

meets

his

his

that is

of

what

in

with

Rathcroghan, Roscommon. (thestone) of Fraoch, son

account

given

Myth

Dragon

Tain

death

at

later

a

Frdich^ which

So

had He by this time gives the serpent encounter. forces recounted the in as accompanied Meve's and his of Cuailnge {Tain Bo Cuailnge)^ Cattle-Raid of the folk of Faery is to be healing at the hands presupposed: here again they intervene, and we hear Tain is the Fraoch's Bo of fairy-mound. Here the of death of Fraoch, or Cuailnge version

Fraech

'^

:

"

They

is summoned Medb

you "

He

till he

out

reached

bathing "

shall

set

in the

Wait

'

to

the

morning Help us, O

next '

from

'Remove

before

Go

us.

till

them.

to

(Meve).

on

come

there

are

the

us

fightwith him.' earlyin the morning Fuait.

then

He

saw

to

his

Fraech

Fraech,

'

said

strait that

before

Cuchulainn

Ath

;

us,

with

if perchance

nine

the

is

men,

warrior

river.

here,' man

said

Fraech

yonder ;

not

retinue, till I good is the water,' '

said he. 1

MacAlister's

Ireland,5

Irish

Oghams,

pt. 3, p. 213;

ser. XXX .

Journ,

Roy.

Soc.

Antiq,

Introduction

to

off his

took

He

"

clothes, and

the

into

goes

water

him. "

'

Do

not

me/

to

come

Cuchulainn.

said

You

'

die from

will "

'

it,and I should be sorry to kill you.' shall come indeed,' said Fraech, that we may

I

'

; and

in the water

meet "

'

'

"

it

Settle The

as

let

you of each

hand

play with

your like,'said of

Cuchulainn. round

us

be fair.'

me

the other,' said

Fraech.

"They and

water,

lifted him "

and

wrestling for a long Fraech was submerged. again.

'

up

This

life ?

accept your I will

'

"

Cuchulainn

his

body of

name

that

Fraech. tunics^ him

on

from

the

will

yield

you

the

the

of

troop

of Fraech

his

;

All

ever.

Fraech

again,until retinue that

Fraich,

Ath

a

into

it

land

to

camp. ford for

of that

name

under

the

them

Cuchulainn

it,'said Fraech.

comes

They saw the body

'

the

on

'

put him He

to

Cuchulainn,

suffer

not

killed.

was

said

time,'

"

time

to

set

host

Idaid

mound.

lamented in

women

mac

was

;

Sid

carry the

green

they drew

Fraich

was

afterwards."

mound

plan in compassing the death of Fraoch of recalls his Fergus, son episode with Rog. in ment banishKeating^ tells how, when Fergus was with in Connaught, it happened that he was Ailill's

1

Grimm his

W.

Faraday's translation of The

Library,p. mother

river 2

Behind

35.

Fraech

being

a

was

descended

fairywoman.

Boyne). Ed.

Cattle- Raid

Dinneen,ii., 209. xxxi

of

Cuailnge,in Nutt's

from

the

Her

sister

people of was

the

Boinn

Sid,

(the

Celtic

The and

Ailill

fortress

and

;

shore

of

AiHll

asked

by

desire

a

had

that

was

Fergus

;

wound

of

Fergus came caused by that body

and

pierced a

cast

it

and

thereupon Fergus the

shore

went

lios

out

in the

court),

gray

of the

him

pierced ashore

on

direction

of

a

the

of

account

it in the

the

spear Ailill

;

his chariot,

near

died

grew

through the

fell and

she

cast

extracted

was

seized

to

cast, and

that

and

lake,

of his

a

the

to

(or outer

swim

kinsman

a

hound

and

on

and

go

and

his

from

the

had

they

was swimming, Meve swimming with him ; and when the with lake Fergus, Ailill

jealous,and he ordered at Fergus, which spear breast

they

near

to

where

Ai,

when

Myth

While

so.

into

gone

Magh

day,

one

lake

a

did

Fergus

in

Meve

Dragon

and

buried

was

lake.

same

.

Ailill that (written Oilill in Rhys points out Keating) seems (an elf or ellyll cognate with Welsh Ailill belongs to a race demon), and that Meve's Tuatha is always ranged against the which De he with the goddesses of associates Danann. Meve found time consorting dawn and dusk, who at one are with dark with bright beings and at another ones, and associate themselves with they commonly water.

Curious

Clothru

are

too

that the

associated

(Eithne) in Westmeath, Isle (InisClothraun) in Eochaidh Meve's

father.

daughters "

Meve's

with

one

other

the Loch

sisters

monarch

had

three

namely,

Breas

and

river

Inny

with

Clothru's

Ree.

Feidhlioch, He

the

Eithne

and

Tara,

at

and

sons

Nar

and

was

three

Lothar,

Introduction three

the

sons

the

Cruachan,

of

this

Eithne

;

Uathach,

three

daughters,as

the

Meve

poet says in

quatrain:

"

Three

"

daughtershad Fame

on

And

O'Curry calculated

returned

Feidhlioch,

who

independent queen of Through jealousy and the

her

between

she

than

seemed be

to

more

governed

Conchobar, monarch

and

Eochaidh

shortlyafter set her up as the province of Connaught. hatred, fierce war raged

former

her

and

Cruachan,

that

father, the

Tara,

to

of

abandoned

soon

her

to

:

men

many

She

Feidhlioch,

i

of Meve

govern

man.

one

loftyseat

Clothra."

remarks

to

a

Eochaidh

Uathach, fair Meve

Eithne

by

and

Clothra,

husband,

Conchobar,

killed by a Connaught finallywas champion, of This Mac Cet Conchobar, Magach. King Ultonia, is spoken of as being a terrestrial god among

who

the

Ultonians.

he

is known

connected as

with

does

"

Meve to

stories

live ; and Dinneen's

to

had

Inis while

been

account

slain

Clothrann, she

first as

a

points to

is

her

water-nymph. ments move-

Curiously,the

that of Fraoch, is associated

Keating's

Olill

and

imply.

may

^

When

goddess name

reflex of historic

less than

no

water.

went

^

at

prejudicewhat

not

of Meve, with

Ness^

of

Ness, hence

was

This

that in Loch conceived

these death

name

Nessa.

Mac

as

having been

This

mother's

His

resided

on

xxxiii

as

follows

:

"

by Conall Cearnach, Lough Ribh (Ree), there, she 2

Keating,ii., 215.

is

g^^

was

under

Dineen, ii., 213. c

Celtic

The an

to

Myth

Dragon

obligation(ba geis di^ i,e,under bathe every morning in the well

entrance

of

the

Conchobar the

from

measured

the

lake, and

of the

side

which

gesso)

or

the

at

was

when

Forbuidhe, son husband) heard this, he (her former line well one a day alone, and with

to

visited

And

island.

taboo

a

brink

of

took

the

the

well

the

to

him

with

measure

other to

practisedthus : he inserted two poles in the ground, and tied an end of the line to each pole, of the poles,and and placed an apple on stood one himself the other at pole,and kept constantly firing from his sling at the apple that was the top of on he practised the pole till he struck it. This exercise Ulster, and

he

until

had

aim

no

of

meeting both

the

at

the of

sides

Forbuidhe

he

the

Meve

saw

in his

in the

been as

have

Of

said

the

"

Sidhe,

Boann, But

see

from 2

Trans,

Book that

on

wife

her,

a

of

at

and

Ulster

there,

was

the

in

fixed

he

and

the

on

;

wont,

Boand, elsewhere

the

a

her

struck

spot, having

Connaught,

spoken

Dindshenchus

Bodleian

of

gives

:^ "

of Nechtan,

son

of Leinster, 124^, 125^,

given by O'Curry,

by Stokes,p.

he

that

throne

the

was

the

with

her

died

there

^

mother

followingaccount

1

she

above.''

Fraoch's

from

the

that

so

miss

Clothrann

while

it at

would

Connaught

east

with

hurled

slingand

ninety-eightyears

we

as

and

;

this

and

the

morning, bathing, as was well

forehead,

from

he

Inis

at

one

fore-mentioned stone

Ulster

Shannon

there

And

of

that

after

Soon

apple. people

came

gathering.

dexterous

so

grown

34

of

who

where

the

of

son

story differs

siderably con-

evidentlyquoted Keating.

reprintfrom xxxiv

of Labraid,

Folk-Lore, iii.,1892.

Boann

Introduction Nama,

of

green came

not

were

the

had,

from names

cupbearerswent from

or

the

her

magic

of

the

water

of

the

'

"

One

Of

Nechtan, called

now

now

the

Leinster,

originof wells.

gazed

by

the

fence the

was

the

See

rivers and

upon.

lies It is

also

lochs

deep

Rhys,

is often at

enough

three

eat

Hibbert

which

to

Sid

fairyprecinct

is versified

mortals

well,

could

Nechtain,

pp.

in

123,

in

fruit of the

tree

Book

the

secret not

be

is nourished

spring. XXXV

of The

556.

allegorywill which

not

hill in the

a

intrudingupon

and

a

;

one

Lectures,

ascribed

of the

Sea

of Labraid."

story

of

Hence

Bregia

of the

into

The

Inber

the

day

son

the foot of

at

with

sea

her.

the White

as

owner

the bottom to

of

that

on

name

mythic Trinity Well,

191^.

far

wife of Nechtan,

rises Boyne, which Carbury,co. Kildare.

Truth

as

the

drowned

of the mark

river

barony of

perceive

"

Boinne.'

every

the

she

well

And

her.

behind

day Boyne

Boann

the

that she reached

well

Inber

Broke

And

and

(river-mouthof Boyne) and

of

secret

no

thrice, to

Out

queen

suddenly her right thigh and her right eye burst, and then fairymound, fleeingthe disgrace

her,

the

'

the

would

being

that it had

withershins

fleeingthe well, so

Boann

Unless

human

no

these Nechtan

Luam.

said

power.

over

out

Boinne

Now

disgraceher shape.

it could

and

'

well,

well, and

right hand

she fled

and

it

to

disgrace. pride and haughtiness, the

the well

break

and

alone

went

disgrace. cupbearers whom

Lesc

the

the

unless

well's

waves

the

to

to

round

went

of

with

alone

power

without

well-of-the-

it without

"Then, went

Whoever

it

and

Flesc

the

cupbearers to

fortress.

the

even

come

the

with

went

c

2

Celtic

The with

gaze

first burst

insulted

it, may which

Neptune,

in

pursuit

of

certainlyseems

river

lady who thought, with the

Rhys

cognate,

the

which

Irish

with

cognate

Necht}

Nuada

rivers

How illustrated in

forth be

from

and

impunity,

Boyne

Myth

Dragon

the

an

enigma

of

the

by

tale

personified may

be

to

came

which

a

poet

Fairy-Palace of

Finn

to

puts

be

Quicken

the

Trees:'"

"

I

With A

the

to

saw

couch

through

Slowly she Exceeds

this

To is the

river

of

bright-facedqueen

a

crystaland

robe

of green

;

and small, offspring sprightly

numerous

Plain

south

her

With

her

Finn

yet her

the

of

couch

palace of Bruga. sandy bed of the river

speed

"

flows

The

and

her

queen the

by

of

couch

Her ;

queen,

crystaland robe of green."

:

which

the

all ;

of that wondrous

name

answers

Boyne,

them

see

of the swiftest steed !

the pace

tell me

can

you

and

moves,

Now

skin

robe

you

south

of

side

crystalis of

saw

green

the the

it flows. Her plain of Bregia,through which children, which can see through her skin, are you the speckled salmon, the livelypretty trout, and all

grassy

the

river. traverse more

fish that

other The

river

the

than

whole

the

clear

slowly indeed

world

swiftest ^

2

flows

the

in

swim

steed

in can

seven

;

water

but

years,

do.'*

Rhys, Hibbert Lectures, 123. Joyce'sOld Celtic Romances, 2nd ed., p. 187.

of

the

its waters

which

is

Introduction booklet

A

poem, Cormick

entitled

printed

was

and

W. In

Ritchie.

F.

perusal,after these

now

1888

of Fraoch^

and

1887, ^J J- Macpublished there by of the same appeared

the

I

have

in

Laich.

Loch

The .

lived

.

the

in

Mull,

local

thank

to

the

Mrs is

narrated

events

district

tradition

a

Preface

The

specialinterest,as tellingthat

For

finished, of

was

lona.

Manse,

Ward.

C.

rendering

editions

Gaelic

a

in

a

own

rare

occurred

"

lona

at

Muir,

my

MacMillan, of

Death

copy illustrations by W.

lona, with

at

The

surrounding

is that

Fraoch

.

village of Bunessan. the on Opposite him, in an oblique direction side of the loch, lived other Mev, through whose slain ; the was place is still treachery Fraoch larach The island known where as tigh Meidhe, the

(the

grew isle of

is

after

called It

Main).

is

Eilean

her,

right opposite

Bunessan. "

The

guarded

local tradition the

doubt

nimhe the

but

;

that

the

which

monster

Fraoch

which

by

great serpents

think

We

and

great serpent

this,because

Scotland.

we

were

take

that

the

beast

Fraoch

was

in his

Cy. Maine,

son

jof facsimile of Booh

found

hand,

on

dead

was

the

of Ailill,in the Tain

of the

Dun

Cow, xxxvii

with

strand Bo

the

of

to

known

not

creature

leave

(wild boar),which undoubtedly was Some who Highlands. possess the

say

^

a

that the

asserts

tree,

rowan

slain,was

was

in

the

near

tree

rowan

Mhain^ to

Suidhe,

at

the

the

in tore

common

tradition

heart '

Bay

of of

folio 663, 67^2,69j Cuailnge^

Celtic

The the heart'

this, but

witness

take

writers third

the

do

we

by

read

not

to

Ben

is there

bay the

in

Loch

Cruachan,

to

that

poem

The

out." really torn translatingCruachan

was

exception

verse

The

Chridhe),

heart

monster's

the

A'

(Camus

Myth

Dragon

in and

Awe,

soir the hill in the east." simply render cruachan They hope this rendering effectually dissipates with that /"., of associatingthe scene myth recollection the of Loch Awe. They have no in Roscommon. Cruachan Fraoch celebrated they "

"

"

"

"

"

with

associate

Fraoch

"

:

energy for

appropriate name

an

the

It

is

ri

Fraoch

I

strength

Fraoch

as

bun

a

add

proverbial.

bithinn-sa

could

I

Fraoch,

as

an

writers

still

is

nam

say spionainncraobh

strong

as

The

man."

to

yet

common

of

be

to

seen

impetuous, generous,

eager,

affectionate,strong, young that

is

laidir

cho

/.^.,"were

"

pull a

from

tree

its

roots." A

is added

tune

it

"

as

was

in

sung

of Mr Neil years ago," on the authority of Fionn-phort the first verse being "

each of

a

of

the

others, as

lament,

melodious

and

and

different

to

is

the at

localised

Perthshire

Amulree, where

also

legend

the hands

In

has

and

;

been

of Mr

Loch

at

P. xxxvm

at

is

Dr

to

Freuchie,

Loch

Hamerton

most

noted

Scotland

moralised G.

the strain

air there

Appendix

Collection,

Gesto

repeated after

it is sung

The

the

in

given

MacCormick

has

"It

which

to

tune

melancholy."

that

Macdonald's

legend

the

chorus.

a

fifty

Mull

K.

is N. the

near

Awe, in

Argyll, ment poetic treatin his Isles

Introduction

of

Loch

Awe

Celtic

Myth

Fraoch

and

(1855). that

to

the

Both

to

the

compares he

:

depicts both

after the

dying

There

are

Fraoch' For

how

Bitten Die

8

or

the

tastingof

the

deepestshade found."

pairwere

moral

a

:

fables full of truth tale is

sadlytrue

youth, tooth, serpent's

the

only live

rendering of

!

in their

many

by

in

were

Thus

other.

draws

"

free

Hercules

their faces

each

Hamerton

A

Hamerton

:

**

Mr

of

lady as

poisonous fruit

Close

Mr

to

!"

rue

the

Lay eighteenth-century of Fraoch, which belong to the really does not Ossianic Stone, Cycle, was given by Jerome letter a (1727- 1 756) in the Scots Magazine^ with dated

Nov.

Dunkeld,

15,

the

change in heading Daughter of Mey,

In

Hamerton

unwarrantable and

the

and

Medb could of

Lady

"

eating of

the

could

live

not

taste

of it,or

getting it, without

near

which

the

water

will

his mother's

;

issue

"

Tree

even

his

sister,cautions XXXIX

Fraoch

through

Fraoch

death. Fraoch's

be

Boand mother

Fraoch

;

the

perils not

must

will

The

brings death. fruit

the

there

of it.

die

of Life

an

Sir Albin

poem

both

go

dying.

the

made

poisonous :

without

otherwise in

is

Awe

fruit of the

the

not

fruit

of Loch

He

1755.

a

go

conflict

(Boyne), against

Celtic

The the

according

water,

Myth

Dragon to

a

the

in

poem

Book

of

Fermoy "

Let

him

For

therein

"

According

to

the

T'din Bo with

is

Rossa,

who

Frdich

his

survived

Treblann,

take

to

from

part with In either

Medb

to

Coirpre

mac

Bo

Sidhe,

and

he

foray of

the

fell

his death

case

betrothal

Tdin

on

he

the

the

In

Medb

by

of Fermoy,

Book

the

Cuailnge,when

Bo

of Cuchulainn. with

the

Faery.

to

In

promised

a

foster-child

a

belonged healing came

Tdin

the

is

dies

him.

laments

only According to

Findabair. wife

his

his blood."

Highland Lays, Fraoch

there

Fraich

Water,

shall shed

he

Findabair

serpent, and

the

Black

swim

not

the

at

hands

is connected

previouslywife of Conchobar, who, according to a glossin the Book of the Dun Cow, was formerly a god upon earth {dia talmandd). In water.

another a

account

find

we

been

a

that

in

herself

have

been

old

Druidic

their

thought on ultimate length of postulating a for which

berries

Life,

mortals

by 1

seen

food

the

Rev, as

a

she of

6, Celtique,

173.

goddess-name in

Netos-Nessos

:

Loch

the

Ness,

compare

Theog. 341. xl

the

hurdles mother the

Xifivr]Neo-o-coi/Tts in Thessaly.

The

mankind.

eating

Conchobar's

got the

have

from

were

Rowan

With

to

seem

the might hazard teaching, Medb

of

mother

gods,

brings death.

of

name

thus

things may

craved

the

the

of sea-mother, if indeed

sort

a

as

would

One

water-god.

suggestion may

Conchobar

first husband

Medb's

river.^

have

was

Tree

of were

which used

Ness, apparently

Attic-Boeotian And

of

compare

dialect

Hesiod,

Introduction Druidic

in

medicine

^

divination

the

:

rowan

was

magic

a

thought to haunt the roots and of a rowan, typifiedthe guardian spiritof the The the Celts ; on the tree. thought is old among altar of Notre second Dame there is a figureof the Hercules the Celtic late killinga serpent,^which de Jubainvilletried to explain byMonsieur D'Arbois episodesfrom Gadhelic myth. The dragon may be thought of as the confiner that holds captive the of Life. Tree On he this view fruit-bearing may the

be

monster

a

;

winter-monster

Indian

Vritra, frees

which

the

the

root

be

quest may the

the

solar

a

monster

On

sea.

of

clutches

the

as

For

2

S.

Fraoch

sea-dragon. Furens, the

journey the

as

view

winter

;

he

and

for which

references,see

the

Plummer's

consult

should

reader treat

Vita

of Bel and

Sanctorum

du

Reinach, CatalogueSommaire

the

is swallowed

swallowed

is

sun

name

by

musee

Welsh,

see

Rhys,

notes

to

xli

Twrc

the

portray Semitic the

the

great

Dragon

H'themta^ I., cliv. de

Saint

354. For

thus

may

the

Dictionaries, which

1

*

sun

summer

dragon myth should by a fish,as on being devoured

this

hero

ground,

n.

or

captive the

being the z.% fraoch (wrath),early\x\'^fraech(fury, His with is cognate Cymric gwrug^

rage), which

Bible

that holds

spring

the

Hercules

Celtic

in

the

the

from

winter-dragon, or

by

is

"

in the

sees

be conceived rage of the sun-god may manifested against the cloud-dragon, or the

as

same

confiner

"

them

Hildebrandt

The

dragon.

be

which

Indra

rivers, while

of

was

Trivyth,

Germain, p. 33,

Celtic

The

hero

the

In Fraoch

allied themes.

and

Myth

Dragon

is

slain,which

by the sea ; if not parallelto his being swallowed hands of the Sidhe. he is healed at the cast up again, May we not infer that the myth is an endeavour is

a an

forth

shadow

to

aspects of the

some

of

picture,not yet moralised, ? eternal tragedy of nature far

So

of

that

trait

emphasise

a

Herakles

kills

Kepvaiov vSpav Attic

serpent

idea

Celts,as

the

with

comparable

dpiraig 6

Celtic

nralg.

On

an

reality,a river-god. in its earliest

Myth

herself

Medb

Aiog

conflict of Herakles

in

Nessos,

had

process,

Hydra, I should like to Euripides (Ion,v. 192) where golden sickles : hydra with

depictedthe

Centaur

cosmic

the

xpvo'eai^

is

is

world,

been

have

to

a

stage of

sort

water-monster.

or

The

evaipei

find

should

in

the

there

vase

against the Perhaps if we we

and

Herakles

the

conflict

Fraoch's

as

external

with

of the

paradise or

a

Greeks,

elysium two

assumes

the

among

aspects

"

either

that of the hollow-hill

that is,the fairy-mound, (sidhe) contrast over-sea elysium. This ^

that

or

of

the

have relation some may of the Celts ; the former

their and are

continental maritime

the

other

the

The

latter

berries

world

are

Professor

as

the

to to

its

insular

rowan

tree

with

the

attached

to

connected idea

origin,to

their

of the

home

apples,which, from of Fermoy and from the Voyage of Bran^ Kuno Meyer has pointed out is connected

Ablach, Book

gods, and parallelto

and

civilisation

pointing,as

home,

abode.

the

berries of the

Emain the

to

Emain

rich

xlii

in

Introduction Isle of

the

with

attached "

the

hail,nor

whole

exploit,in Herakles,

idea

far

of

parallelto the idea Avalion (Avalon), where Underlying any snow."

the

Island

fortuna vacatur.

quae

so

of

rain, nor

is the

insula promorum

Blessed, and

Vale

the

to

falls not

the

it may

as

be

the

As

to

Blessed, Fraoch's that

parallelto

Wilamowitz-MoellendorfF, the

of

in

his

of

mentary Com-

of

Euripides,has pointed that the garden of the gods, with the tree which out carries the apples of life,is reallyquite independent on

of

the

of

that

of

a

Herakles

Herakles

saga, while

story is that

sea-monster,

ground,

too,

we

the have

highly archaic variant Herakles. leaps into the jaws On Celtic jaws of death. the

a

contest

of

hero

a

with

quite apart from Fraoch, and the tree rowan guarded by the dragon. The continuation Tdin Bo of the the Frdich across brings the hero the Here the sea to to Langobardi. Alps and Fraoch is represented as : being of the Ultonians the after high exploits he and his friends to came of the Cruithen-tuath, the Pictish people, territory a

and B6 we

water-monster

joined Ailill and Medb Cuailnge. It is impossible to be

later

have

on

not

he

here

a

hint

that

Fraoch

the

on

whether

sure was

T^din

a

hero

of

the Gael called Cruithne people whom a word (Cruithen-tuath), cognate in root with Cymric pryd in Ynys Prydain, and pointing to the preGadhelic population of these isles as a people who practised tatooing. Apart from the accessory of the Tree of Life, the the

Picts, the

xliii

Celtic

The

Myth

Dragon

of Andromeda parallelthat is closest of all is the rescue On Berlin Museum a hydriain the by Perseus. there in conflict with is a representationof Perseus

the

fish,where

monster

Kepheus,

another

and

fish.

monster

subjectof

is there

the

Among

Andromeda, The

(Jope ?).

serpent, which

the

and

is present

woman

of Fraoch

story of the Geste tree

there

the

minus

is

whole rowan

replaced by

Greeks

formed

it

the

the

the Euripides,but we know the theme from Perseus, on pseudo-ApoUodorus. to having come ^Ethiopia,the kingdom of Kepheus, found the be about to king's daughter Andromeda exposed to a sea-monster. Kassiepeia,the wife of Kepheus, had boasted of her beauty, and thus fell into strife with the Nereids, or water-nymphs. This of the and of the Nereids her brought on anger a

who

sent

father's realm.

The

Poseidon, the

disaster

the

to

devoured

of the

Kepheus

had

state

she

that

he

to, and

killed

monster, another

version

brieflyis

as

monster

a

of Ammon

oracle

to

be

if the

averted

Andromeda

by

bound

to

the a

her

that

out

gave

Pressed

daughter

to

be

^Ethiopians,

rock

in

;

this

by Perseus, who, smitten with on Kepheus to slay the monster would have the king's daughter, on

deliverance, to

agreed

and

found

love, promised her

flood

monster.

his

was

condition

a

kingdom would his daughter

abandoned

king

of

lost drama

be

thereafter

it,and of the

follows.

This

his wife. Perseus

rescued

xliv

to

went

and

was

the

meet

Andromeda.

Herakles-Hesione Poseidon

condition

This saga,

Apollo

is

which

came

in

Introduction form

human

Laomedon,King of Troy,and promised, for a certain reward, to gird his city with walls. The fulfil his promise when the work not king would was ended Poseidon a pest, and a ; whereupon Apollo sent which used to carry off the people working sea-monster the fields. Laomedon on sought the advice of an counselled for his guilt, oracle, which him, in penance deliver his daughter Hesione In to to the monster. of this divine judgment, Hesione was consequence chained

to

offered

the

Zeus

on

rock.

a

As

free the

to

him

to

horses

Herakles

But

the

Herakles

of

the

stubborn

king

also,which

drew

whereby Troy is destroyed. It is at Joppa, has

that

the

that

it lies

where out.

And :

strand

are

Attic

on

been vase

a

in

been

Phoenicia,

localised

Joppa

the

that

hill, in front

of

story of

the

the

than which

fetters of Andromeda

of the

vengeance first of all

Pliny*tells

of old. is older

is are

on Jerome, in his Commentary Here (atJoppa) is the place where pointed out to this day the rocks to was

freed is

a

bound,

and

from

maid. deceive

to

him

have

to

the

St

"

Andromeda have

Phoenician

traces

writes

been

said

endeavoured upon

from

being agreed

freed

and

monster

give

received

he

he

way

would

formerly Which Ganymede.

slew

Andromeda

the

came

if Laomedon

maiden

which

account

to,

Herakles

which

she

us

flood, a

rock

pointed Jonah, on

the

which

is said

to

And on an by the help of Perseus. representationof Jason being vomited 1

Natur,

H'tst.y v., xlv

13.

The from the

of the

out

While

her

belly of

a

have

we

of music

love

Myth

sea-monster

dragon

or

reference

no

Fraoch

to

as

at

to

him

cast

forth

having

fisher's first

by the dragon, the by the mermaid, who

swallowed

swallowed

was

Dragon

of Athene.'*

command

been

Celtic

from

is induced

more/

once

son

It is

the

impostor incident, so common in the dragon stories, alongside of the rescuer, the impostor incident But must lacking in Fraoch. that

also noticeable

have it

been

alluded

of

Rescue

of

variant

Celts, for

the

among

the

in

to

Dervorgoil, a the

of old

known

find

Derforgaill,or

folk-tale

a

we

is

introduced

into

Wooing of Emer," a text of the Cuchulainn Cycle. On coming to the dwelling of Ruad, King of the Isles,at Hallowe'en, Cuchulainn hears wailing in the fort. has been The king's daughter Derforgaill assigned in tribute to the Fomori, and she is exposed on

"

the seashore, awaiting their

kills three but

coming. Cuchulainn (or sea-giants)in singlecombat,

Fomori

his last opponent

girlgives a stripfrom and

her

rescuer

known.

"

The

having

maiden

believe maiden

from

story.

killed

them."

the

raiment

to

came

.

.

a

to

bind

test

the

but

dun in the

the

having

recognised Cuchulainn, it is the piece from off her raiment

1

Pp. 78-80

2

E^

of

his

wound, himself told

and

dun

maiden

been

The

wrist.

making

Many

.

Fomori,

On

the

without

off

goes

father the whole of

her

at

him

wounds

boasted did

Saga, pp. xlvi

81-82

to

be

on

his

by (trans,

not

applied,the inferred, wound.^

CampbeH's retelling.

Hull, The Cuchulainn

her

K.

Meyer-)

Introduction

Brittany the impostor figuresas a charcoal-burner, killed the seven-headed who to have professes serpent have been the which to to king's daughter was In

and sacrificed,

had

cut

the

true

In

he

the

out

off the heads.

carries

tongues, and

seven

folk-tales the

Highland

of herd,^ and

hires himself

the

impostor as parallelin

cow-herd,

as

and

took

he

time

On

is victor.

Ruadh

takes

the

brown

a

fell

"and

flattened the

beast

shore."

The

in Hartland's

also

melted

and

out,

Quoted Cf,

the

The

hero

also

and

Son

which

Hero s

Aryan

Claon.

delete in favour

has

Hector

by

a

monster's

the

strand,

dirty jelly identifyher

a

to

Tales

son, aro

;

from

Argyll:

aoirean ; Ir. Ir. arathar

racial

oireamh, genitive

(plough) ;

Eremon,

name

the

Lod

Welsh

Airem(on),

Skr.

Arjaman. compared, spellingclaghannI would

Maclean's

ask

the reader

to

of claon.

Curtin,Myths

Tales and

been

to

hero

him

the

helplesson able

and

6. Legend of Perseus, iii.,

the Ploughman (properly (ploughman); root as in L. arddnvr'y E. ear (the soil). Cf. the s

her

in

trial the

it into

girl was

Folk

Maclnnes,

them

the monster,

third

away

otreamhan

*

is

king'sdaughter

apple, given

mouth,

^

the

hid

conflicts with

threw

with

a

and

giant'shousekeeper,and

Farmer

Ireland

here

rescues

his head

three

has

He

Sean

from

hairs

three

bosom.

2

;

squint-eyed,*

a

a great ur-feist^ serpent of the sea, a monster must get a king's daughter to devour every While he sleptin the maiden's lap,she years.

seven

1

^

in the

appears

an

which

on

of

tokens

are

rescuer

Its carroty-headedcook. Thirteenth Son of the King of Erin

each

these

victor.^

character

from

the herd

But

and

Romances, 196

Folk- Lore ;

quoted

of Ireland, 157 in

Hardand,

xlvii

;

Larminie,

ibid, iii.., 4-6.

West

Irish

Celtic

The

by

rescuer

of

one

the

finally put

Myth

Dragon

his

blue-glassboots.

claimants

death,

to

The

and

hero the

wedded

maid.

story has

This

identified

been

in

Brittany and

E. Sidney Hartland Basques. Mr says : indications The point to a Celtic or Iberian population the originatorsof the Herdsman as a type highly specialisedtype, differingconsiderablyfrom the

among "

^

.

of

form

any

of

West

classical

be

recollected

the

evidence

Herdsman

that there

.

peculiar to

direct

no

the stories of the

when

it will

story, and

have

We

Europe.

the date but

the

.

is

type

arose

to

reason

to

as

;

think

and belongs to the Celto-Iberian race, is of prehistoric therefore Nor will the reader age. that the Rescue fail to note of Derforgaill (Dervorgoil, the Fomori be to an Dervorgilla) from appears the

type

offshoot

of

of

the

one

the

and

race,

that

perhaps

the

of

Perseus

the

for

make

our

alone

account

of

the

in

Europe

considerations classical

fairlybe

may

nay,

"

tale

;

called

the old story is

It conduces

esteem.

Hartland,Legend of Perseus^iii.,lo. Ibid.,177-178.

an

oldest

these

All

group.

2

spoken

the

variant post-classical

"

^

absorbed

Celto-Iberian

same

of

one

independence cumulative weight

this

placein

are

oldest

is

among

^

decisive." On

it

the

its

their

and

of

branches

it is found

that

type

same

of

as

the

I

have

to

alreadypointedout

Cruithne

(Picts),who

Ivernian strain. xlviii

worthy of a thought, if not to

that Fraoch's may

be

own

supposed to

people have

Introduction its full origin may be, I thoughtfulness.Whatever sense-perceptionconjoined with suggest that human

of. contest

racial memories

of

the

and

Nature,

of

memory

environment

raw

ills entailed

human

of the prime,^ along by monsters human phantasy and imagination acting upon their due reports of sense, ought to be allowed race

our

upon with the

claims

to

for

account

have

folk-tales

But

in favour

not

am

the

with

Some

moments

ought

we

to

of

of

remains

be

may close

that

our

due

to

to

the

eyes

berries

from

with

the

other

the

of

have

tree

rowan

the

golden apples of

scholars

connected

saga

Nor

races.

background

Herakles,

by

worthy a

tale.

compound-complex origin. I multiplyinghypotheses. needlessly

aught in common Hesperides, fetched recollect

the

a

If the

heavens.

of

moments

some

it

is

the to

proper

read

herein

with

the

the moon.

Siecke^

ancients, explains that, according to some Herakles himself plucked the apples after he had slain the snake that guarded the tree ; that he fetched the golden apple or the three applesfrom the extreme West, the

as

was

the

Amazons.

with

case

He

the

holds

bull and

that

these

of indubitable

the

girdleof

the

are

perceptions. Who where the sun declines,the golden horns the golden girdle,the apple of gold ?

has

"

of

sion expresnot

the bull,

"

of them

All 1

**

But

with

Cf. H. none

of

N. the

for

while

Hutchinson,

had

Extinct

of giant reptiles

man," observes Mr 2

a

vanished,

Monsters

the

(Chapman

and

secondaryperiodwere

Hartland.

Drachenkampfe,Leipzig (Heinrich), 1907, xlix

says but

p. 91.

seen,

Siecke.

Herakles Hall,

19

lo).

contemporary

Celtic

The

back

them

brings

truly

;

Myth

Dragon

forever

not

divinitywill bring them of the the dragon, power

other

some

and

into

Order

dragon

And

of

recital

old

an

Here

adventures.

painters.

It

is

them

mould have

to

will

nor

fulfil

me

express Grant

Ainslie

which

kindness

illustrations

much

kills

slain.

once

mind

for

ourselves.

to

ourselves

and

Let

us

ancients

similar

tales

entirely

by and

new

poets

The

through

the

May

living now.

past

the

regarding disof

wealth

our

;

tradition.

complex Rachel

hero

the

are

ancestral

our

Let

materials

themselves

we

World

Fraoch.

be

to

are

express

expressed

the

golden apples

kindle

who

for

place,

the

tale

we

their

the

still

dragons

are

to

or

Yet

add, with

I would

so,

There

fetches

and

anew,

more.

altered.

be

cannot

Athene

;

for

this

pleasure, which

will

thanks

Miss

to

DufF, Delgaty Castle, for the

prompted

human,

more

heartfelt

my

her It

book. and

has

helps given

communicate

beautiful

make

to

to me

make

it

so

indefinable

itself

to

other

paint Medb, let them Tain : remember 3. an early description in the with beautiful, pale,long-facedwoman, long flowing cloak fastened golden-yellow hair, having a crimson her brooch of gold over with breast, a straighta artists.

And

ridged

spear

The

George Golden

if anyone

should

flaming in her hand. theme is largely identical

and

the

Legend

of

Dragon,

Jacques

which de

with meets

Voragine,

that us

and

of in

St the

appears

Introduction

in

Ages

office

the

:

of

books

Church

the

in

"

"

O

Te

decet

laus

militia

Coram

Salvata

puella

quem

Existens

gloria

et

Predolatum Per

inclyte

Martyr

Georgi

in

Dracone est

regia

tristitia

pessimo !

"

\

the

Middle

THE

GESTE

is told

\Wherem his

the

heroes

killing of and

tree

the

his

FRAOCH

OF

origin^his wooing ofFind-abaivy the

guarded

that

monster

rowan-

betrothal.^

^

Fraoch,

1.

of

son

beautiful

most

short-lived. the

Stdh

a

white

;

The

number

feature

hear-say report

full

1

(Book XL.);

of

Idaid

mc

of m*=

Pronounce

as

of

(Book

Fei*^

readily yield pronounced

him

fame

his

Leinster)

genitive Idaid,

2

him,

brought

was

the

;

(Book

the

form other

of

daughter

regarding

of of

Cow,

of

Dean

variants

love,

place.

from

Meve, of

which

and

Erin

Alba

story.

(Egerton,

the

form

to

as

and

him

his

at

Dun

Fiduig

fifty

was

equals,

Ailill

gave

and

the

seven

himself

to

household

his

was

from

For

taking

his

he

alike.

bearing

Find-abair,

2.

were

and

without

Alba

him

gave

they.

were

dignity

that

only

a

hight

of

and

Erin

save

was

sister

mother

ears

of

and

age

his

red

household

in

princes,

he,

cows

with

whose

of

heroes was

kept

wife.

and

man

Connaught,

Sidh^^

the

Twelve

he

years

the

Of

{Bojind).

of

Idad^

from

Bebinn

Boyne the

of

son

oldest in

facsimile,

1782);

Lismore). manuscript,

p.

63^,

Idhaig Hence seems

line

Idad, it would

preferable : Fraoch

may

Fraech. Shee, 1

MS.

(Edinburgh, nominative

regular development.

Idaith

27);

A

be

The

of

Geste

Fraoch of

He

accordingly bethought him bespeak the girl,and then he talked with

his folk.

sent

to

mother's

thy

of the

she

give

may

of the

treasure

rare

be

too

thee Sidh,

Boyne (Bofind)he thereupon went Bregia or Moy Breg. She gave him

plain of

of

fiftymantles

dark

for

blue, each

hue

like

to

a

four

back, with

beetle's

that

matter

word

Let

"

:

the

to

the sister

3. To the

sister

of raiment

somewhat

to

his folk said

And

of

going

black-greybrooch-ringson a each, and each with pin of red gold : with fifty figureschased in pale white tunics having animal gold. gold. Also fiftysilver shields edged with befitted

hand

man's

each

For

each palace,^

a

points from

below

the front

preciousstones, rays of the

of

knobs

bronze, with while

a

lance

of

were

bells of threads animal

candle

carbuncle

of the spears that night shone

irons so

a

were as

a

of

as

white-

the

spear-

inwrought, with

chased 'twere

by

the

with

steed

dark

grey horse's neck

hilts of with

gold, and bits

of

for

gold.

plate of silver with leather caparisonsin purple with gold ; fifty of gold and of silver,with buckles silver,and devices for ornament. Fiftywhips in white each

was

a

the handle on golden hook Seven grey-houndsin chains of silver,with of of gold a-piece, each having greaves

bronze, with

There

such

sun.

rider

Around

to

having fiftyrivets burnished gold :

swords Further, fifty each

like

was

a

no

colour ^

For

which

the

ue, brightness,

2

hounds

of each.

apple

an

bronze.

had

not.

The

of

in

garments

them

Accompanying were

Geste

with

trumpeters,

seven

Fraoch of

diverse

colours

and

golden

trumpets

silver,and

golden pale yellow tresses, and they had In front of them plaidsthat glistenedlike the Shee. three jestershaving silver diadems and went gilt about. with

Each crested

sides.

had

shields

ribs of white

and

staves

them

Opposite

kingly presence.

devices,

metal

along

the

of

three

were

harpists,each guise they set out

in that

And

with

engraved

for

Cruachan. 4. On

coming into the perceivesthem from I behold

"

numbers to

came nor

vat

host

troop

a

;

a

Meve

will.

It is

ever

with

the

since

equal of the gestures)of the hero. shot

from

him, and

silver chains

seven

5. Then Diln

of

the

goes

man the watch-

And the

towards

head

feats and

spake :

fort in their

frolic

:

never

sovereignty, in

were

me

over

he

splendid

or

they assumed

if my

as

the

seen

Dun,

beautiful

that

wind

the

coming

more

Ailill and

of Cruachan

Plain

a

I have

(the games

winenever

and

play-rodshe casts with a the seven grey-houndswith their at them ere are they fall to earth.

folks

His

to

came

insomuch

view

them

from

the

that

one they smother another, and sixteen are killed while looking on. On alightingat the door of the dun they unyoked their horses loose the grey-hounds, which and set

chase

to

Rath

hares, and

seven

kill

Cruachan,

on

dashed

the into

Cruachan seven

wild

seven

hinds,

foxes,

seven

boars, and these the youths

lawn

of

the

fort.

the

Brei

and

caught seven

Thereafter

the

dogs

others, which

The

said

they depositedat

the

chief

Fraoch

rath^ where

6. whence

had

they

the

to

his folk

word

door

of the

sat.

them, and

to

enquired

They

come.

after

themselves

entrance

and

Ailill sent

King

of Fraoch

Geste

their

accordingly name which names, they

true

gave.

Here," said they,

"

"An

him

steward

the

This

young

the

hiss''

into

quarters

7. The

plan

of the

^

them. thus

was

wall

to

^

king and queen. hero," quoth Ailill,"let

house

fire

of Idad."

son

the

to

allotted

were

from

it had

Fraoch,

declares

illustrious

come

And

is

"

all

ments apart-

seven

:

around, decorated

frontingof bronze, and partition carvings of red yew variegatedby fine planing withal. Three layersof bronze in the arched skirtingof each layersof brass from where the apartment, with seven shields rested to the roof-tree. Of pine the house was made, and it had a covering of shingle on the it had with brass shuttings Sixteen windows outside. in each, and a brass yoke across the roof-light. Four with

with

gold,each

beams

a

of brass in the

all adorned

with

bronze

the

Two

silver

house.

with

gold

;

and

was

a

silver wand

of

the

house,

times to

and

the 1

that

Mac

to

as

so

the

circuit

other.

the

by

"

and

in

the

and

Mevc, of

centre

very

frontingsit had, and overlaid fronting facing Ailill there reach

would

the the

command

house

Having

Idhuidh

of Ailill

apartment

Egerton, 1782.

up

from

their 2

"

inmates

all around

hung

mid

Outer

"

hips at

one

arms

court.

all

door

within,

The

they

make

the

of Fraoch

Geste of

circle

house

the

and

made

were

welcome. 8.

Welcome

are

"

It is for that

we

"

Not

"

a

ye ! have

"

quoth

Ailill and

Meve.

come," quoth Fraoch.

journey for boastingshall

this be,"

quoth

Meve. Thereafter

Ailill

Fraoch

then

of

board

white

gold edgings. A them light. The "

ye food

Get

Meve

takes

of their company. beautiful The most

man

a

and

four

with

candlestick chess-men

of

it

was

:

a

it had

ear-handles, and

precious stone of gold and

were

in readiness

with

playing chess

to

of chess-boards

metal

board. chess-

the

arrange

for the

gave silver.

braves," quoth

Ailill. "That want

to "

go

to

is have

a

It liketh

what

with

game me

I wish,"

quoth

"I

Meve.

Fraoch."

well," quoth Ailill, get up "

and

him."

then

Meve

Fraoch's

9.

the animals "

not

Let

and goes to Fraoch folk in the meantime

of the thine

at

chess were

they play. a-roasting

chase.

harpersplay for

us

!

"

quoth

Ailill to

Fraoch. "

them

play in sooth ! quoth Fraoch. with Harp-bags they had of otter-skins mounted with ruby, adorned gold and silver,and roe-skins, white around the middle, with as snow black-grey "

"

in

Let

"

eyes the

in the

centre.

harps, which

Gold

and

chased

were

5

silver

with

and

bronze

figuresof

The birds

serpents and the

With would

and

of

grief.

I o.

Gentle

the

of

and

of

chants

of

and

in

and

silver

the

gold. figures

strings the harpers having played,

The

all about.

of Ailill

twelve

Fraoch

hounds

and

movement

move

of

Geste

folk

Meve's

this Triad

melodious

child-birth.^

of

died

Three

sorrow

theirs

;

noble

were

brothers

they : Sorrow-strain, Joy-strain,Sleep-strain, the Shee their mother and Boyne from : it is {Sidhe) Uaithne the of which this music Dagda's harp named. What time played that the three are and children sorrow were being born its strain was of birth-pangs beginning ; the soreness travail from of of glee and of joy it played because next a strain the birth ; the pleasureof bringing the two to sons the strain played by the last son was one soothing and were

that the

him

Boyne "

I

third

then

Meve

of the

awoke

are

and

on

kine

Ailill.

music

of

out

receive," she said,

of full ardour, since strain

of birth, so

of the heaviness

soft because

"

it is from

that

has been

named.

sleep.

thy three

sons,

O

Uaithne

Sorrow-strain, Joy-strain,Sleepand Men

shall

shall

who

women

fall

on

fall

hearing

by the

strains

being played." Thereupon the playing ceased. "

said Fergus. off ! Splendidlyhas it come II." to Apportion us the food," said Fraoch folk. Bring it in." Lothar, having stepped within, divides them "

his

"

1

Uaithne. 6

the

The On

food.

of

he

used

to

Fraoch divide

shred

nor

each

jointwith

skin

;

he

since

under the hacked meat dividing he never charge. Meve Three days and three nights, then, were Fraoch of the abundance playing chess,by reason Thereafter with folk. Fraoch's precious stones

took

and

his hand

sword, leaving neither

his

his

of

Geste

to

addressed

Fraoch "

have

Well

Meve. I

played against thee

thy stake from the chess-board no decay of honour." "

Since

ever

I have

there

that

I take be

not

thee

to

said Meve, diln^''

in this

been

:

day that I feel the longest." three Yea, certainlyindeed," quoth Fraoch, days and three nights have we been playing chess." "

it is this

"

"

At

12.

the warriors tells this "

!

Meve

being

starts

without

felt shame

She

up. food.

And

she

goes

at

and

Ailill.

extraordinarydeed

An

warriors

food

to

this

outside

have

who

have arrived

we

to

done

"

the

without

be

"

chess-playing," quoth Ailill. It hinders not food being distributed throughout the house Three his suite. to days and three nights our are having perceived the they there without night through the glare of the precious stones "

Dearer

to

thee

is

"

within." "Tell lamentations

them

then,"

they make Thereupon food is

said until served 7

Ailill, "to food

be served

them

and

cease

the

them." it

pleased

The them

well

of

Geste

Fraoch

and

they stayed nights a-feasting.

three

;

thereafter

And

audience

to

ask him

Fraoch

three

called

was

with

converse

there

Ailill

and

to

days

the

and

of

hall

Meve.

They

his errand.

"

It

"

Your

in sooth

pleasesme

is indeed

company

said Ailill.

household,"

you," said he. not displeasingto the arrival is preferable to

visit

to

Your

"

^ departure."

your

shall

We

"

stay with

another

you

week,

then,"

said Fraoch. the

They stay until every day they go of Connaught men It was,

13. to "

of

end the

to

used

a

fortnightat

chase

to

however,

and

hunt.

trouble

a

them.

with

Fraoch

daughter, for it was that had specially benefit brought him. Night at end he got up one day to bathe have

not

the

with

converse

;

the

And

view

to

come

the dun

that

"

It

river. maid

went

to

takes

He

is for thee "

could

at

was

her

hand.

I,"

am

Would'st

Stay

"

come,"

nothing for

do

that

time

same

she

her

with

bathe.

I have

Pleased

the

the

in

said

he

speak with

to

me,

it

said.

the

girl, "

but

if I

come

I

thee." "

elope ? he queried. I will not a elope,"she said, I am king and is not so humble that estate queen'sdaughter. Thine "

thou

not

"

thou my

"

would'st

choice ^

too

not to

Lit., " Your

get go

to

addition

me

from

my

people, and

thee, for

it is thou

is better

your

than

whom

diminution."

it is I

The have

loved.

with

thee,"

token

by

I will

;

And

the

us.

thou

"I

then

this

take "

of

ring

it shall

girl, and My mother

say that I mislaid

each

They

do

said

between

of Fraoch

Geste

it

gave

gold be

ever

to

me

a

put

it."

part.

fearing indeed," quoth Ailill,"the eloping of yon daughter with Fraoch. 'Twere in vain^ even she be given should not 14.

am

"

him us

he

; at

would

the

come

to

Tain^" said

Meve.

Fraoch secret "

the

audience

speakingof

are

ye

to

goes

Though

it

were

with

us

a

?

"

he

his

cattle

chamber.

"

aid

to

Is it

a

quoth. thou

secret,

would'st

fit in,"

said Ailill. "Will

"She

give me

give me

ye

"

said

Fraoch.

given thee," said Ailill,"if I shall name." which purchase-price^

will

her

daughter ?

your

be

thou

"Though shalt have it,"said Fraoch. Sixty black-grey steeds to me,'' said Ailill, milch"with twelve their bridle-bits of gold, and each having a white redeach in milk, and cows, with do all thy thou eared calf ; and to come me for the bringing of the force and with thy musicians kine from Cuailnge my daughter to be given thee to the Hosting." provided thou dost come I swear," Fraoch spake, by my shield,by my I would not sword, and by mine give that arms, herself." it for Meve were even purchase-price "

"

"

"

Love's

1

"

2

Dowry

labour lost." from

the

bridegroom ; cj.marriage-settlement. 9

The marched

he

Then

within, and said of the let

he

Should

"

Kings

work

fell

thereafter

conversing

to

of

girlhe

ofF the

carry Erin

bring a host is good is,

will What

against us. and slay him

forthwith

he

ere

ruin."

us

were*

That

"

house.

:

after him

dash

us

Fraoch

of the

out

Ailill

and

Meve

15.

of

Geste

pity and

a

loss of honour

a

to

us," said

Meve. It

"

shall

be

not

"

16. Let

"

Meve

Ailill and us

ofF," said

set

the

Ailill,

"

a-hunting

the chase-hounds

us,"

said

may

see

it/'

into

go

for

honour

I shall prepare

Ailill, the way *

loss of

a

until

Palace.

that

we

until

midday,

they

tired."

are

they

Thereafter

off

set

the

to

river

bathe

to

themselves.

in

! I

Fraoch

"

water

;

told," said Ailill, "

am

get into this linn'^ that

we

thou

art

expert

behold

may

thy

swimming." "

What