Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/263

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OISIN GOES TO TIR-NA-NOGE
217

Linger not here, Oisin, the twilight is flowering
Over the hilly seas enfolding Manannan's world;
Heed not the earth-born words, O list to me calling,
Come to a life that will last till the stars are hurled
From their whirling thrones in the distant heaven spaces,
Growing dim with mist and the dust of old dead suns;
Ride with me now, Oisin; oh, must I longer call you,
To the Land of the Living Heart and the Ever-Living Ones?


"O Niav, most beautiful of women," said Oisin, taking her hand in his, "I will follow you through the whole world, and to the end of time, for love of yourself alone. It is of you I am thinking, it is you I love, and not the treasures you can give me."

Fionn, when he heard his son's words, uttered a sorrowful cry, for he knew that Oisin would go from him; in his old age he would be bereft of the last of his children. The Fians gave three loud cries of lamentation too, fearing they would never see Oisin again; but he smiled on them and said to his father:

"It is not like you to grieve over such a small matter. I shall soon return; in a few weeks I will come back to you here."

He kissed his father and Caelité, and bade