fiery ball, which entered Balor's eye of death, and killed him. When the Fomorians saw their king fall they fled from the plain of Moytura, leaving the dead Balor on the battlefield; leaving, also, the Tuatha de Danann the victors and masters of Ireland. It was then the Mor Riga sang her wonderful song of concord, beginning, "Peace up to heaven," of which I have told you before.
After the flight of the Fomorians, Lugh walked round the battle-field, noting those of his people who were slain. Soon he came to the giant Balor, and not knowing what magical power he might still possess, though dead, he cut off Balor's head, and ordered some of his men to place it high in the fork of a hazel-tree, so that the rains and winds of heaven might cleanse it of its evil power. This was done, but the venomous dropping from Balor's eye of death gradually killed the tree.
Many years later Manannan was walking through a grove of hazel-trees, which he liked beyond all other groves, and seeing a dead tree in its midst he called some men to him, and said:
