Part 56 (1/2)

Then this brugaid said (one day) to his wife as she reclined near him on the couch:--”It is a sad thing for us,” said he, ”that we have no children who would take our place and fill it worthily when we are gone.”

”What desire is in your mind in regard to that?” says the wife.

”It is my desire,” says the brugaid, ”to make a bond with the demon to try if he would give us a son or a daughter who would take our place after us (since G.o.d has not done so).”

”Let us do that,” said the woman.

They accordingly fasted (and prayed) to the demon; (and the demon hearkened unto them. And in due time) the pains and struggles, of childbirth came upon the lady; and she bore three sons at that great birth, namely, a son at the beginning of the night, and a son at the middle of the night, and a son at the end of the night.

And they were baptised according to the baptism of the pagans (by which they were dedicated not to G.o.d but to the demon); and their names were Lochan, Enna, and Silvester. And after that, they were reared and carefully trained up till they were swift and active on sea and land; so that they were an overmatch for all the young people of their own age in every game and in every accomplishment. And they were in the mouths and on the tongues of all who saw or heard of them in their day.

One day when they were resting at the railings of the house of their father and mother, wearied after their hurling and their martial games, the housefolk said that they saw no fault or defect in these handsome much-renowned youths, except only their being baptised in the service of the devil. (And the youths hearing this said):--”If it be so,” said they, ”that the devil is our lord and master, it is very wrong of us not to bring ruin and wrath and woe on his enemies, that is to say, (we ought) to slaughter the clergy, and burn and spoil their churches.”

Then did these three youths arise, (and collecting a band), and taking unto them their arms, they came to Tuam-da-Gualann,[CLXI.] and spoiled and burned the town. And (after that) they plundered and made dreadful havoc on the churches and clergy throughout the province of Connaught, until their wicked and bloodthirsty ravages were noised over the four quarters of Erin. Thus did they run their evil course without ceasing for a whole year, during which time they destroyed more than half the churches of Connaught.

At the end of the year Lochan said to his brothers: ”We have made one great mistake through forgetfulness,” says he, ”and our lord the devil will not be thankful to us on account of it.” ”What is that?” said the other two youths. ”Our grandfather,” says he, ”that is our mother's father--not to have killed him and burned his church.”

So they set out straightway, journeying without sparing or respite (to Clogher), and this was how they found the erenach, namely, on the green of the church with a great company of his folk around him, (waiting for the O'Corras), in order to attend on them and to deal out to them the choice of every food and the best of every ale. And the intention that the elder had towards them, that indeed was not the intention they had towards him, but to murder him and to burn and spoil his church.

Then the O'Corras came to the spot where the elder was standing, and they made up their minds not to kill him or burn the houses till night, when the cows and the (other) cattle of the homestead would be housed, all in their own proper places.

The elder welcomed them and led them to the homestead; and he now became aware of their intention. Nevertheless he put them in a goodly pleasant _Greenan_,[CLXII.] and they were served with food and ale till they became exhilarated and cheerful: after which couches were made ready for them on lofty bedsteads.

And now deep slumber and heavy sleep fell on them, and a wonderful vision was revealed in a dream to Lochan, the eldest of the sons of O'Corra, in which he was carried to see heaven and h.e.l.l. And after this he awoke. The other two awoke at the same time, and they said:--”Let us now arise, for it is time to plunder and destroy the homestead.”

”Seems to me,” said Lochan, ”that this is not the right thing for us to do: for evil is the lord we have served until now, and good is the Lord we have plundered and outraged.

”And last night I had,” said he, ”a fearful dream, in which I saw a vision of heaven and h.e.l.l. And first I was taken to see h.e.l.l, where were countless souls of men and vast crowds of demons suffering divers tortures, and plagues unexampled. And I saw the four rivers of h.e.l.l, that is to say, a river of toads, a river of serpents, a river of fire, and a river of snow. I saw also a monstrous serpent with many heads and legs, at sight whereof, even though it were only a single glance, all the men in the world would drop dead with loathing and horror.

”After this methought I was taken to see heaven; where I beheld the Lord Himself seated on His kingly throne, and angels in the shapes of white birds singing for Him. And among them was one great snow-white bird of dazzling brightness that excelled all the others in size and beauty and voice, chanting strains of surpa.s.sing sweetness. Women in travail and men sore wounded and sick people racked with pain would fall asleep if they heard the delightful harmony of his voice. And it was made known to me that this great bird who chanted such heavenly music to his mild Lord was Michael the Archangel.

”And now my brothers,” said Lochan, ”it is my counsel to you that you follow G.o.d henceforward.”

”But,” said the others, ”will the Lord accept repentance from us for the dreadful evils we have already done?”

They go to the father of their mother, namely, the erenach, and they ask this thing of him. ”He will accept your repentance without doubt,” says the erenach.

”Well then,” said Lochan, ”let Ma.s.s be celebrated for us, and put us under instruction, and let us offer our confession to G.o.d. After that we will make staffs of the handles of our spears; and we will go to Finnen of Clonard,[CLXIII.] the tutor of the saints and of the just men of all Erin. He is a very holy man, and he will advise us in regard to what we ought to do.”

To this counsel they agreed; and on the morrow they set out for the place where Finnen was; whom they found on the green of Clonard with a number of his clerics.

”Who are these coming towards us?” said the clerics. And one said, ”They are the O'Corras the robbers.” Hearing this they fled, like lightning, in a body from their master, for they felt quite sure that the O'Corras were coming to slay them; so that Finnen was left quite alone before the three brothers.

”It is from us the clerics are fleeing:” says Lochan.

”Of a certainty it is,” said his brothers. ”Let us,” said Lochan, ”cast from us our staffs, the only little remnant of our arms left with us; and let us throw ourselves on our knees before the cleric.”

And this they did. ”What is your desire?” says the cleric (Finnen). ”Our desire,” said they, ”is faith and piety, and to serve G.o.d, and to abandon the lord whom we have hitherto served, namely, the devil.”

”That is a good resolution,” says the cleric; ”and let us go now to the homestead yonder, the place where live our brotherhood.”