🧚 Opening, part 7 · page 2

Three times with muttered spell he waved that wand, Filling the air with visions of dismay: That hour through Conor’s host, and far beyond, Usnach’s brave clan had carved its desperate way; Yet, galled and broken, hung upon their rear That Bonacht swarm.52 It raged, but came not near.53

On Usnach’s clan the Druid’s spells took hold, Feigning what was not: and the wide green plain Seemed to their eyes a great flood slowly rolled From phantom hills.54 Through it they pushed with pain: And on their eyes a phantom mist was driven: And o’er them leaned, low-hung, a phantom heaven.55

But, forward as they toiled, that flood ere long Deepened, so seemed it, to a billowy sea; And they, with arms in swimmer’s act forth flung, Clave that imagined deep.56 Alone the Three And Deirdré, spite of spells, illusion-proof, Saw still green field, and heaven’s unclouded roof.57

Ah God!58 How oft in agony that hour Caught they this man and that, and cried, ‘Arise!59 But now triumphant, will ye crouch and cower In death the coward’s jest, the traitor’s prize?’ ’60 Twas vain!61 Those dreamers still swam on till brand And shield down dropt from every helpless hand.62

The Bonachts stood in marvel; then dashed on, Their terror past; and Conor sent decree, ‘Except the woman, see ye spare not one!63 Smite first the sons of Usnach, smite the Three!’64 And lo! like sheep that old and far-famed clan Lay on the war-field, slaughtered to a man.65

Alone, girt round by hostile rank on rank, Usnach’s great sons, unvanquished, still fought on; And ever when their arms exhausted sank, And for a moment strength was all but gone, Deirdré, amidst them, like a prophet poured Her war-songs forth, and still their strength restored.66

’Twas vain!67 At noon the direful battle ceased: That glorious Three who late the world o’er-strode Lay facing to the South, and West, and East; A frozen spectre Deirdré o’er them stood: The Bonachts gat their hire:--kneeling drew near Uladh’s sad sons, with many a moan and tear.68

Remembering days gone by, the victors there Wept for the dead: and when the king sent word To leave those Three unburied, stark and bare For beasts to rend, his mandate they abhorred, And dug the grave where those brave Brothers died; And, reverent, therein laid them, side by side.69

Upon the right of that dim burial pit Was Conal Carnach standing; on its left Cuchullain; each with brows in sorrow knit, Each with a heart by one sharp memory cleft: For true to Usnach’s sons in word and deed These twain had lived; yet failed them at their need.70

But Deirdré at the grave-head stood alone, The surging crowd held back by holy dread; Her face was white as monumental stone; Her hands, her garb, from throat to foot were red With blood--their blood.71 Standing on life’s dark verge She scorned to die till she had sung their dirge.72

‘Dead are the eagles three of Culan’s peaks; The lions three of Uladh’s forest glades; The wonders three of Alba’s lakes and creeks; The loved ones three of Etive’s fair young maids: The crownless sons of Erin’s Throne are sped: The glories of the Red Branch Order dead.73

‘Is there who dreams that, now my Naisi’s breath Is stilled, his wife will tarry from his side?74 Thou man that mak’st far down yon cave of death, Be sure thou dig it deep, and dig it wide!75 There lie the Brothers Three! ’76 Tis just, ’tis meet Their Sister take her place before their feet.77

‘Ofttimes for me they piled their shields and spears In Alba’s woods, roofing my winter bed: Thou man that build’st, this day, far down their biers, Be sure the spear and shield are nigh the head!78 They had great joy in these of old: below Lack them they shall not, though they meet no foe.79

‘Ofttimes I heard in Etive’s hunting grounds Their deep-toned voices rolling like the sea-- My Naisi led me from our native bounds: Ainli and Ardan followed.80 Woe is me!81 That hour when I was born I should have died: The ill-omened Infant was the ill-omened Bride!’82

Thus Deirdré sang, and silent stood a space; Then spake once more: ‘I come, my Love, my Lord!’83 And forward fell into that loved embrace, In happy death to him she loved restored: When Conal and Cuchullain raised her head: There lay she smiling, dead among the dead.84

The men of Erin reared the funeral stone, And piled the cairn, in Ogham characters Cyphering the sorrows of the Four thereon: And, age by age, that legend grey avers, Sad voices issuing from that grave foretold The fates of lovers young and kingdoms old.85

But Cathbad laid a curse upon the king, Likewise his race: and Eman, and the land, Because they hated not that evil thing, And hindered not, with dreadful rites he banned; And lastly, ‘Woe to me not less,’ he cried, Three times; and gat him to his place; and died.86

With speed came up at earliest gleam of morn Fergus to Eman.87 Dreadful his array; For many a chief, though Conor’s liegeman sworn, In wrath had joined the old king on his way: And Fergus cursed the Ruthless Red, and said, ‘A woman’s hand one day shall strike him dead!’88

The battle ceased not till that day was done: With his own hand, at noontide, Fergus slew Maini, King Conor’s last surviving son: Old Eman’s walls and towers to earth he threw; And burned the city.89 Half the men therein Perished, and many an infant, for its sin.90

THE CHILDREN OF LIR91

_AN ANCIENT IRISH ROMANCE_92

‘Deus dedit carmina in nocte’--JOB, cap. xxxv. v. 1093

TO THE MEMORY OF94

DENIS FLORENCE MAC-CARTHY,95

TO WHOM ENGLISH AND IRISH READERS OWE,96

BESIDE MANY A GAELIC LEGEND,97

THE BEST WORKS OF CALDERON,98

THIS POEM99

IS DEDICATED.100

_THE CHILDREN OF LIR.101

CANTO THE FIRST.102

Ere yet great Miledh’s sons to Erin came, Lords of the Gael, Milesian styled more late, An earlier tribe, Tuatha was their name, Likewise Dedannan, ruled the Isle of Fate, A tribe that knew nor clan, nor priest, nor bard, Wild as the waves, and as the sea-cliffs hard.103

Some say that race of old from Greece exiled Long time had sojourned in the frozen North Roaming Norwegian wood and Danish wild: To Erin thence more late they issued forth, And thither brought two gifts both loved and feared, The ‘Lia Fail,’ and Ogham lore revered.104 [16]105

Fiercer they were, not manlier, than the Gael, Large-handed, swift of foot, dark-haired, dark-eyed, With sudden gleams athwart their faces pale, Transits of fancies swift, or angry pride: Strange lore they boasted, imped by insight keen; Blackened at times by gusts of causeless spleen.106

These, when the white fleet of the Gael drew nigh Green Erin’s shore, their heritage decreed, O’er-meshed, through rites unholy, earth and sky With sudden gloom.107 The invaders took no heed, But dashed through dark their galleys on the strand; Then clapped their hands, and laughing leaped to land.108

Around them flocked Tuatha’s race in guile, Unarmed, with mocking voice and furtive mien, And scoffed: ‘Not thus your fathers fought erewhile!109 Say, call ye warriors knaves that creep unseen, While true men sleep, up inlet dim, and fiord, Filching the land they proved not with their sword?’110