Heroes of the dawn/Oisin Goes to Tir-na-noge
OISIN GOES TO TIR-NA-NOGE
After the sorrowful battle of Gabhra, Fionn and Oisin and Caeilté, with the few Fians left to them, went southward to Kerry. They lingered for a while by the waters of Loch Lein, resting there until their wounds had healed a little; then they journeyed to the west, and at last reached the smooth shining stretches of sand at Berramain.
"Here will we stay for a time," said Fionn. "Old age presses upon me, and my heart is heavy with sorrow for the loss of my noble Oscur and my brave Fians."
They had not been long at Berramain when one evening, as they were gathered together on the strand, they saw, riding out of the sunset over the sea towards them, a beautiful young girl on a white horse. Golden shoes were on the horse's feet, bit and bridle and
THEY SAW, RIDING OUT OF THE SUNSET, A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL
saddle were of gold too, and round its neck a wreath of silver apple blossoms shone. The rider came nearer, and the Fians thought that never before had they seen such a delicate and wonderful beauty as this girl possessed. More beautiful she was than any queen of the world who had ever lived. Her eyes were blue as the hills when a summer twilight lies over them, and the red-gold crown upon her head was not more golden than her hair, partly hidden by an opalescent veil hanging in soft folds over a gleaming silken cloak.
At last she came to the edge of the sea, where the Fians stood watching her, and her voice sounded like sweet music as she spoke to Fionn:
"It is a long road from my country to yours, O Fionn, but I have taken it in search of you."
"Beautiful queen," said Fionn, "I am old and my men are nearly all killed, but few and sorrowful as we are, we will not refuse any service you may ask of us. Tell us now, O fairest of women, your name and your country, and what your desire is."
"My father calls me Niav of the Red-gold Hair, and he is lord of the Island of Youth," she answered.
"Why did you leave it to come to this place of sorrow and death?" asked Fionn. "Surely you would not leave your happy country for this land?"
"For love of your son Oisin I came hither," said Niav. "Many kings and princes have loved me, but to none did I give my love till I heard of the deeds of your brave and gentle son Oisin; and if he does not give me his love now, and come with me to the Land of Youth, I shall never have happiness again."
When Oisin heard Niav speak a great wave of love swept over him. He came near to her, and looking into her face, said:
"Beautiful woman, to whatever country you go I will follow you, whether it is near or far. And had I the choice of all the wisest and loveliest women of the world, it is you, O fair and gentle Niav, I would choose to be my wife."
"If that is true," said Niav, bending down to Oisin from her saddle, "come with me now to Tir-na-noge—the Land of the Ever-Young." "Heed not her words, my son," cried Fionn. "Well I know that if you follow her to the land she speaks of—a land where a hundred years seem no longer than a day—we shall never see you again."
"Come with me, Oisin," Niav repeated. "Whatever you wish for you will find in my country; every delightful thing you can imagine will be yours. In all the world there is no other country like mine. There you will feel neither cold nor the storms of winter; old age and sorrow will never touch you, but unending youth and joyousness shall be your portion. My father will encircle your head with a crown of light, which will safeguard you through the darkest night and the brightest day, and bring you through any storm of battle or danger that may threaten you. Never before has he given that crown to any man, though many have sought it. He will give you a strong shield also, and the spear that could pierce it is not yet forged; a sword, too, shall be yours, which has never failed to bring death to any enemy it has touched.
"You will get hounds as swift and beautiful as Bran, and horses that can outrace the tumultuous wind. Unnumbered warriors are there, waiting for you to lead them; and the soft music of many harps shall bring sleep to your eyes after the delights of the day.
"In my land the trees are green from the beginning of the year to its close, and their branches bear blossom and fruit continually. You will find there no lack of food or wine, or gold or jewels, or anything beautiful that you may desire. All these treasures will be yours, Oisin, with many others that I have not mentioned, and every wish that lies hidden in your heart will be fulfilled if you come with me to Tir-na-noge."
"O Oisin, my son, the years lie heavy upon me; leave me not alone in the darkness of age," Fionn implored before Oisin could speak.
But Niav, still bending from the saddle, laid her hand on Oisin's shoulder, and sang to him:
Tarry not here, Oisin, the sea-marcher waits you,
Waits to carry you o'er the waves and dancing foam,
Far to a land whose gates will open in glory,
'Tis the Land of the Ever-Living will be your home.
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 his comrades farewell, then sprang on to the white horse's back. Niav shook the golden bridle, and the horse entered the sea and began to walk over the white-crested waves. Oisin turned round, and waving his hand to his father and friends, said again: "I shall soon return."
Niav spoke to the milk-white horse, and it raced over the high, swift waves, following the path of light made by the setting sun on the sea. Fionn and the Fians watched it grow smaller and smaller in the distance, then, when they could discern it and its riders no longer, they knelt on the sand and keened over Oisin as though he was already dead.