Heroes of the dawn
HEROES OF THE DAWN
WHERE THE MOONBEAMS MADE A PATHWAY IN THE GRASS FIONN SAW TWO FAIR YOUNG GIRLS
HEROES OF THE DAWN
ILLUSTRATED BY BEATRICE ELVERY
NEW YORK—THE MACMILLAN CO.
LONDON & DUBLIN—MAUNSEL & CO., LTD.
1914
Printed by R. & R. Clark, Limited, Edinburgh
TO BRIAN AND DIARMUID
When you were small, and could not read for yourselves, and the long winter twilights were wearisome to you—sitting by the fire while the shadows played with each other over the room I told you these stories of ancient days, when magic and mystery and the folk of the other world were part of every one's life and every one's belief.
It is because you cared for them that I have re-written some of those about Fionn and his warriors, thinking that other children might wish—as you did—to know something about the old gods so often mentioned in the legends, and about Fionn and the Fiauna Eireann.
I would like to think, too, that in these old stories you will find something more than mere adventure or enchantment, for I would have you see in them a record of some qualities which the heroes of ancient times held to be of far greater worth than anything else—an absolute truthfulness and courtesy in thought and speech and action; a nobility and chivalry of mind which refused to believe evil of any one, and was ever ready to praise the good in an enemy; and a generosity which would give to the very end. For the heroes knew that in possessing these qualities they owned a greater wealth than any king of the world had power to bestow, and this is the wealth I desire for you beyond all else.
CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
BLACK AND WHITE DRAWINGS
| FACE PAGE | |
| THE ANCIENT GODS—"Wherever he went a number of white birds flew with him" | 4 |
| FIONN—"They found him lying peacefully asleep on his bed of skins and rushes" | 14 |
| THE FAERY HARPER—"The little man had become transformed into a very beautiful and gigantic figure" | 42 |
| THE CHASE OF GLEANN-NA-SMOL—"The whole day he and the woman fought together" | 56 |
| SCATHACH OF THE SHADOWS—"The beast changed instantly into a beautiful girl" | 66 |
| THE MYSTERIOUS HOUND—"One of the three men lay motionless on the ground" | 96 |
| THE PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DECAIR—"A deep clear spring of running water bubbled. Diarmuid walked over to it" | 114 |
| THE FAERY WOMAN—"The enchantress, slipping a golden collar on her neck, held her in leash" | 134 |
| THE ENCHANTED CAVE—"They seized the heroes and bound them fast" | 144 |
| THE HOUSE OF THE PHANTOMS—"There before him stood three figures" | 154 |
| HOSTING OF SLIEVE-NA-MAN—"Round his head shone the red light of battle" | 200 |
| THE DEATH OF OSCUR—"At last he found Oscur, leaning on his left arm" | 208 |
| PASSING OF THE FIANNA—"'I am the candle-holder of the king,' the stranger replied" | 224 |
| THE RETURN OF OISIN—"We rode on, passing many other islands" | 230 |
| THE SHIELD OF MANANNAN—"Manannan put a powerful enchantment on the shield" | 246 |
| THE SLUMBER OF FIONN—"Lying on the sandy ground was a multitude of armed and gigantic men" | 250 |
COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS
| THE LAKE OF SORROW—"Where the moonbeams made a pathway on the grass Fionn saw two fair young girls" | Frontispiece |
| THE ENCHANTMENT OF TARA—"Through the darkness came a shaft of flame. Fionn raised his shield to catch it" | 32 |
| THE COMING OF THE CARLE—"On the hill-top a strange and wonderful man appeared" | 184 |
| OISIN GOES TO TIR-NA-NOGE—"They saw, riding out of the sunset, a beautiful young girl" | 212 |