Part 48 (2/2)
Next day, they set out, Finn and his people and his nurse; and it is not told how they fared till they reached Bruga of the Boyne. And the men of Erin knew not that they had come thither, for the witch-hag threw a druidical mist round them, so that no man might see them.
It chanced that Dermat hunted that day in the forest, alone; for Oscar had gone from Bruga the day before. When this was known to the witch-hag, she caused herself to fly into the air by magic, on a water-lily, having by her spells turned the pale flat leaf into a broad millstone with a hole in the middle. And, rising over the tops of the trees, she floated on the clear, cold wind, till she had come straight over the hero. Then, standing on the flat millstone, she began to aim deadly poisoned darts at him through the hole. And no distress Dermat ever suffered could compare with this; for the darts stung him even through his s.h.i.+eld and armour, the witch having breathed venomous spells on them.
Seeing at last that there was no escape from death unless he could slay the witch-hag, he seized the Ga-derg, and, leaning backwards, flung it with sure aim at the millstone, so that it went right through the hole, and pierced the hag; and she fell dead at Dermat's feet. Then he beheaded her, and brought the head to Angus of the Bruga; and he related to him and to Grania how he had escaped that great danger.
CHAPTER IX.
PEACE AND REST AT LAST.
Angus arose next morning, and, going to Finn, asked him whether he would make peace with Dermat. Finn, seeing that he was worsted in every attempt against the hero, and that moreover he had lost his nurse and many of his men, told Angus that he was weary of the quarrel, and that he was fain to make peace on whatever terms Dermat should choose.
He next went to Tara to the king, Cormac, the grandson of Conn. Him he asked in like manner whether he was willing to grant Dermat peace and forgiveness; and Cormac answered that he was quite willing.
Then he came to Dermat and said, ”Peace is better for thee: art thou willing now to be at peace with Finn and Cormac?”
And Dermat answered, ”Gladly will I make peace, if they grant me such conditions as befit a champion and the husband of the princess Grania.”
And when Angus asked what these conditions were, he answered--
”The cantred which my father had, that is to say, the cantred of O'Dyna,[Cx.x.xI.] without rent or tribute to the king of Erin; also the cantred of Ben-Damis,[Cx.x.xII.] namely, Ducarn of Leinster. These two to be granted to me by Finn; and he shall not hunt over them, nor any of his Fena, without my leave. And the king of Erin shall grant me the cantred of Kesh-Corran,[Cx.x.xIII.] as a dowry with his daughter. On these conditions will I make peace.”
Angus went to Finn, and afterwards to the king, with these conditions.
And they granted them, and forgave Dermat all he had done against them during the time he was outlawed. So they made peace. And Cormac gave his other daughter to Finn to wife.
Dermat and Grania went to live in the cantred of Kesh-Corran, far away from Finn and Cormac; and they built a house for themselves, namely, Rath-Grania, in which they abode many years in peace. And Grania bore Dermat four sons and one daughter. And his possessions increased year by year, insomuch that people said that no man of his time was richer than Dermat, in gold and silver and jewels, in sheep, and in cattle-herds.
FOOTNOTES:
[Cx.x.xI.] The cantred of O'Dyna, now the barony of Corkaguiny, in Kerry.
(See note, page 237.)
[Cx.x.xII.] The cantred of Ben-Damis, or Ducarn of Leinster, probably the district round Douce mountain, in the county Wicklow.
[Cx.x.xIII.] The district round the mountain of Kesh-Corran, in Sligo.
CHAPTER X.
THE DEATH OF DERMAT.
Now when many years had pa.s.sed, Grania said one day to Dermat--
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