of the Son

sed cruel and extortionate taxes upon the people, for every kneading trough, and every quern for grinding corn, and every flagstone for baking bread had to pay its tax. And an ounce of gold was paid as a poll-tax for every

it might cost in time or toil, in tears or in blood. Now this Lugh was not brought up in Erinn but in a far-off isle of the western sea, where the sea-god Mananan and the other Immortals nurtured and taught him, and made him fit alike for warfare or for sovranty, when his day should come to work their will on earth. Hither in due time came the report of the grievous and dishonouring oppression wrought by the Fomorians upon the people of Dana, and that r

an who seemed to command them all, and whose countenance was as radiant as the sun upon a dry summer's day, so that the Danaans could scarcely gaze upon it. He rode upon a white horse and was armed with a sword, and on his head was a helmet set with precious stones. The Danaan folk welcomed him as he came among them, and asked him of his name

that grim and ill-lookin

aw but a child of a month old sitting down when they came n

them," said Lugh; and he repe

d the King, "for our death and

upon the Fomorians, and in a moment the hillside rang with blows and with the shouting of warriors. In no

u as ambassadors to your King. Tell him that he may seek homage and tr

r, and made Lugh their captain and war-lord, for the sight of his face heartened them,

anned their war-ships, and the Northern Sea was white with the foam of their oarblades as they swept down upon the shores of Erinn. And Balor commanded them, saying, "When ye have utterly destroyed and subdued the people of Dana, then make fast your ships

Ulster men, and was now come to the plain of Murthemny near by Dundealga,[15] he saw three warriors armed and riding across the plain. Now these three were the sons of Tur

s they are three to one I would do better to fly." Now there was a herd of wild swine near by; and Kian ch

Brian said, "Brothers, did ye see the warrior

him," sa

ome of him?"

not tell," sai

, for he struck himself with a magic wand, and changed himself into the form of one of yonder swine, a

to some man of the Danaans; and even if we set to and begin to kil

wand, and changed them into two slender, fleet hounds, and they darted in among the herd. Then all the herd scattered and fled, but the hounds separated the druidic pig and chased it t

t hath the sound

pig, "and I am Kian, son of Cant

and Iucharba, "and sorry a

he Wind and the Sun that if thou had

favour then,

grant it,"

into my own form that I may

an. Then Kian became a man again and stood bef

now ye shall pay the eric of a man. Never was greater eric in the land of Erinn than that which ye shall

on the Plain of Murthemny and rained them upon him till he was all one wound, and he died. S

ne, Lugh asked of his comrades if they had seen his father in the fight and how it fared with him. They said they had not seen him. Then Lugh made search among the dead, and

o be dug, and the body of his father was raised up, and Lugh saw that it was but a litter of wounds. And he cried out: "O wicked and horrible deed!" and he kissed his father and said, "I am sick from this sight, my eyes are blind from it, my ears are deaf from it, my heart stands still from it. Ye gods th

High King, and he charged his people to say nothing of

e sons of Turenn sitting among the assembly; and they were among the best and strongest and the handsomest of those who were present at that time; nor had any borne themselves bette

I ask what vengeance would each of you exact

stonished, and the K

ather of Lugh Lamfada w

those who did the deed are listening

the murderer of my father, but I would tear

of the Danaans, and the Son

om them, and if they will pay it, it shall be well; but if not, I shall not break the peace of the King's Assemb

High King, "glad should I be to ha

t Lugh is speaking," said Iuchar and Iucharba, "let us confess and h

ing for an open confession, and then p

o thou confess because thou art the el

gh, since thou knowest there is enmity of old time between our houses; and if thou w

aid Lugh, "and if it seem too gre

hen," said the

is," sa

ee a

kin of

spe

eds and

en s

lp of

oking

houts on

of these things," said the Sons of Turenn, "but we

High King and lords of the Danaans that I shall ask no more; an

to bonds with Lugh and with the Sons of Turenn that the

ill do. Thus it is with them: they are the colour of bright gold, and as large as the head of a month-old child; the taste of them is like honey; if he who eats them has any running sore or evil disease it is healed by them; they

it be laid upon a wounded man it will make him whole and well, if only it overt

not," s

t of war in it that it must be kept in a pot of soporific herbs or it would fly out

t know,"

nor can they be killed by any weapon unless they be torn in pieces and their bones cannot be found. And the seven pigs are th

King of Iorroway, that can catch and slay any beast in

ts that the fairy women of the Isla

chaen and his sons have it as a sacred ordinance that they permit not any man to raise a shout upon their hill. Wi

ich ye have to pay for the s

when they learned the meaning of the eric of Lugh, an

lp you to it. Go now to Lugh, and ask him for the loan of the fairy steed of Mananan, which was given him to ride over the sea into Erinn. He will refuse you, for he will say that the steed is but lent to him an

fell out as Turenn had told the

ye brought him whatever might serve him when the Fomorians come to the battle again, and well pleased would

Brian said, "Weep not, dear sister, but let us go forth gaily to great deeds. Better a hundred deaths in the quest of honour than to live and die as cowards and sluggards." But Ethne said, "ye are banished from

of Mananan, to the Gar

the spirit of the Boat heard him and it leaped eagerly forward, lifting and dipping over the rollers and throwing up an arch of spray each side of its bo

et about the capture of

d if we are the stronger, we shall win them, and if not, we sh

nd that we deserved to win even though we lost. Now my counsel is that we approach the garden in the shape of three hawks, strong of wing, and that we hover about un

the hawks evaded all of these until the missiles were spent, and then seized each an apple in his talons. But Brian seized two, for he took one in his beak as well. Then they flew as swiftly as they might to the shore where they had left their boat.

her, "we are being burnt by these darts

and the burning darts were quenched. Then the griffins gave over the chase, and the Sons of Tur

cter and garb of poets and men of learning, for such are wont to come from Ireland and to travel foreign lands, and in that character shall the Greeks receive

Erinn, and went up to the palace of Tuish the King. The doork

" they said, "and we have c

doorkeeper brought him that tale; "they have dou

the minstrels of the King of Greece chanted the lays of that country before them. After that ca

rt-to take what we want by the strong hand i

," said Brian; "let us see h

p and recite

s thy fam

like a

ong I as

gskin for

ghbour with

they are e

heir store

icher than

f the sto

the sword's

nothing

igskin for

d the King, "but one word of it

ret it for you

s thy fam

like a gi

ees of the forest, so do you surpass all the kings of

in for a

f Tuish which I would fain rec

ghbour with

they are e

's ears over the skin, unless you are willing to give it to

n of poetry, to make that request of me, for not to all the poets, scholars, and lords of the world would I give that skin of

ew also thou wouldst redeem the skin amply and generously. And now let the gold b

y wrapped it round his body. Then the three brothers drew sword and made for the door, and a great fight arose in the King's palace. But they hewed and thrust manfully on every side of them, and though sorely wounded t

n, "go to seek the spea

all we go before the King o

e the King of Gr

d they; "nevertheless, O Brian, this business of professing

they were wandering bards from Ireland who had a poem to recite before the King; and as they passed through the courtyard they marked the sp

Peisear car

, when his f

ome with

ound they t

s monarch

ee disputes

shaft in v

y forth to ki

g, "but, O bard from Erinn, I do not

rian, "that I would like your

r, and he said, "Never was a greater reward paid for any poem t

. Immediately the brothers all drew sword and made for the courtyard. Here they seized the magic spear, and with it and with their swor

hoped that all the eric might yet be paid. So they sailed away with high hearts to the Island of Sicily

y soldiers-for such were wont in those days to take service with foreign kings-until they should learn where the horses and the chariot w

id homage to him, and he a

om the kings of the world." "Are ye willing to take service with me

at the King's court for a month and a fortnight, and did not in all

we know no more at this day of the steeds or of th

we do, then?

and all our marching array, and tell the King that we

a gathering and parade of all my host, and the chariot

inds of March. As the chariot came round the second time, Brian and his brothers seized the horses' heads, and Brian took the charioteer by the foot and flung him out over the rail, and they all leaped into

Golden Pillars, to get the seven swine which might be eaten ev

world of their treasures in payment of a mighty eric; and when they arrived at the Land of the Golden Pillars the

he had heard of. He asked them if it were true that they had done such things, and why. Then Brian told him the story of the mighty eric w

Brian, "to take them with

n to get them?"

, and to stand by your side hereafter in any strait or quarrel you may enter into. But if you will not grant us the swine, and we may not

this they all agreed, and the Sons of Turenn were invited to come ashore, where they were courteously and hospitably entertained in the King's palace. On the morrow the pigs were given to them, and great was their gladness, for never before had they won

ye voyage now?"

Iorroway for the hound

f Iorroway is husband to my daughter, and I may prev

ngdom of Iorroway. But here, too, they found all the coasts and harbours guarded, and entrance was forbidden them. Then Asal declared who he was, and him they allowed to l

ion. There are no three heroes in the world to whom the Immortals have gran

and these they won in the teeth of kings as strong as thou." And much more he said to him to persuade him to yield up

g of Iorroway. Fierce and fell was the combat that ensued, and many times the brothers were driven apart, and all but overborne by the throng of their foes. But at last Brian perceived where

nd I swear by my sword that I had more easily killed

said Asal; "but now

eased, and friendship and alliance were made between them. And with joyful hearts the Sons of Turenn bade farew

e the cooking-spit of the sea-nymphs, and to give the three shouts upon the hill. Lugh then by druidic art caused a spell of oblivion and forgetfulness to descend upon the Sons of Turenn, and put into their hearts withal a yearning and passion to return to their native land of Erinn. They forgot, therefore, that a portion

they kissed the green sod of Erinn. Then they took up their treasures and journeyed to Ben Edar,[17] where the High King of Ireland, and Lugh with him, wer

nt feud and bloodshed should be wiped out, and that the Children of Dana should be at peace within their borders. Then they sought for Lugh to deliver over th

a that the Sons of Turenn were at

over to the High

tidings that the High King had t

him, and Brian said, "Is the d

o give a quittance for an eric that is not complete. Where is the cooking-spit from

t forth on the Quest. Thus they passed the night in gloom and evil forebodings, and on the morrow they went down once more to the place where the Boat of Mananan was moored. And Ethne their sister accompanied them, wailing and lamenting, but no words of cheer had they now to say to her, for now they began to comprehend that a mightier and a craftier mind had caugh

the red-haire

e searched hither and thither for a fortnight, till at last he found that island, which was an island indeed with the sea over it and around it and beneath it. There dwelt the red-haired ocean-nymphs in glittering palaces among the sea-flowers, and they wrought fair embroidery with gold and jewels, and sang, as they wrought, a fairy music like the chiming

others were here, the weakest of us could vanquish all the three. Neverthel

thren perceived him as he shouldered the waves on the bosom of the deep, and they sailed to where

of Mochaen. When they had arrived at the hill Mochaen came out to meet them with his three sons, Corc and C

m They told him that it had been laid upo

n me," said Mochaen, "

d their fighting was like that of two hungry lions or two wild bulls, un

fell made red the grassy place wherein they fought. Not one of them but received wounds that pierced him through and through, and that heroes of less

said, "Do ye live, dear brothers, or how is it with

death coming swiftly upon us, and we have

s two brothers while the blood of all three streamed down to their feet, and they raised their voices as best

enn, and Tara of the Kings." Then Iuchar and Iucharba entreated Brian to lift their heads upon his breast. "Let us but see the land of Erinn again," said they, "the hills around Tailtin, and the dewy plain of Bregia, and the quiet waters of the Boyne and our father's Dún thereby, and healing will come

er giving our three shouts upon the Hill of Mochaen. Then beseech him that he yield thee the loan of the pigskin of the King of Greece, for if

he spit of the sea-nymphs, and bes

e singing of the Immortal Ones, who tell to one another the story of this land. Thy sons must die; yet have I shown to them more mercy than they showed to Kian. I have forgiven them; nor s

the sons of Turenn kissed each other, and the breath of life departed from them, and they died. And Turenn died also, for his heart was broken