Celtic Wonder-Tales by Ella Young

Author:Ella Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2014-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

INISFAIL

T was on the First of May that the Milesians came into Ireland. They came with their wives and their children and all their treasures. There were many of them. They came in ships, and it is said by some that they came from a land beyond the utmost blueness of the sky and that their ships left the track among the stars that can still be seen on winter nights.

When they were come to Ireland they drew up their ships. They put the fastening of a year and a day on them and set foot on the Sacred Land. Amergin was the first to set foot on the Land, and he made this rann in honour of it. He chanted the rann because he was the chief poet and druid among the Milesians.

THE RANN.

I am The Wind That Blows Over The Sea,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Wave Of The Sea, Ah-ro-he!

I am The Sound The Sea Makes,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Ox Of The Seven Combats,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Vulture Upon The Rock,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Ray Of The Sun,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Fairest Of Plants,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Wild Boar,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Salmon In The Water,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Lake In The Plain,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Word Of Knowledge,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The Spear-Point Of Battle,

Ah-ro-he!

I am The God Who Kindles Fire In The Head,

Ah-ro-he!

Who makes wise the company on the mountain?

Who makes known the ages of the moon?

Who knows the secret resting-place of the sun?

Ah-ro-he!

The Milesians gave a victory-shout at the end of the rann, and Amergin said:

“We will go forward now, and when we reach the place where it seems good to rest we will light a fire and put Three Names of Power on the Land so that it may belong to us for ever.”

They went forward then and they saw no one till Brigit took the shape of a woman that has known hardship, and came to try them. She wrapped herself in the cloak of Sorrow and sat by the roadside. She made a great keening.

“O woman,” said Amergin, “why is there such heavy sorrow on you, and why do you make such a shrill keening?”

“I am keening lost possessions, and lost queen-ship, and a name cried down the wind of change and forgotten.”

“Whose name is cried down the wind?”

“The name of Banba that was queen of this land.”

“Her name shall not be whirled into forgetfulness. I will put it on this land: it shall be called Banba.”

“My blessing on you, Stag with Golden Horns, and may the name-giving bring you luck!”

So Amergin gave away the First Name.

They went on from that place, and Brigit took the shape of a fierce beautiful queen that has lost a battle, and came again to try them.

“O Queen,” said Amergin, “may all the roads of the world be pleasant to you!”

“O King,” said Brigit, “all the roads of the world are hard when those who were wont to go in chariots walk barefoot on them.”

“O Queen,” said Amergin, “I would fain better your fortune.”

“Grant me then a queen’s asking,”

“ Name your asking.

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