登陆注册
16114100000016

第16章 THE BOYHOOD OF FIONN(10)

As well as being monarch of Ireland her High King was chief of the people learned in magic,and it is possible that at some time Conn had adventured into Tir na n-Og,the Land of the Young,and had done some deed or misdeed in Aillen's lordship or in his family.It must have been an ill deed in truth,for it was in a very rage of revenge that Aillen came yearly at the permitted time to ravage Tara.

Nine times he had come on this mission of revenge,but it is not to be supposed that he could actually destroy the holy city:the Ard-Ri'and magicians could prevent that,but he could yet do a damage so considerable that it was worth Conn's while to take special extra precautions against him,including the precaution of chance.

Therefore,when the feast was over and the banquet had commenced,the Hundred Fighter stood from his throne and looked over his assembled people.

The Chain of Silence was shaken by the attendant whose duty and honour was the Silver Chain,and at that delicate chime the halt went silent,and a general wonder ensued as to what matter the High King would submit to his people.

"Friends and heroes,"said Conn,"Aillen,the son of Midna,will come to-night from Slieve Fuaid with occult,terrible fire against our city.Is there among you one who loves Tara and the king,and who will undertake our defence against that being?"He spoke in silence,and when he had finished he listened to the same silence,but it was now deep,ominous,agonized.Each man glanced uneasily on his neighbour and then stared at his wine-cup or his fingers.The hearts of young men went hot for a gallant moment and were chilled in the succeeding one,for they had all heard of Aillen out of Shl Finnachy in the north.The lesser gentlemen looked under their brows at the greater champions,and these peered furtively at the greatest of all.Art og mac Morna of the Hard Strokes fell to biting his fingers,Cona'n the Swearer and Garra mac Morna grumbled irritably to each other and at their neighbours,even Caelte,the son of Rona'n,looked down into his own lap,and Goll Mor sipped at his wine without any twinkle in his eye.A horrid embarrassment came into the great hall,and as the High King stood in that palpitating silence his noble face changed from kindly to grave and from that to a terrible sternness.In another moment,to the undying shame of every person present,he would have been compelled to lift his own challenge and declare himself the champion of Tara for that night,but the shame that was on the faces of his people would remain in the heart of their king.Goll's merry mind would help him to forget,but even his heart would be wrung by a memory that he would not dare to face.It was at that terrible moment that Fionn stood up.

"What,"said he,"will be given to the man who undertakes this defence?""All that can be rightly asked will be royally bestowed,"was the king's answer.

"Who are the sureties?"said Fionn.

"The kings of Ireland,and Red Cith with his magicians.""I will undertake the defence,"said Fionn.And on that,the kings and magicians who were present bound themselves to the fulfilment of the bargain.

Fionn marched from the banqueting hall,and as he went,all who were present of nobles and retainers and servants acclaimed him and wished him luck.But in their hearts they were bidding him good-bye,for all were assured that the lad was marching to a death so unescapeable that he might already be counted as a dead man.

It is likely that Fionn looked for help to the people of the Shi' themselves,for,through his mother,he belonged to the tribes of Dana,although,on the father's side,his blood was well compounded with mortal clay.It may be,too,that he knew how events would turn,for he had eaten the Salmon of Knowledge.Yet it is not recorded that on this occasion he invoked any magical art as he did on other adventures.

Fionn's way of discovering whatever was happening and hidden was always the same and is many times referred to.A shallow,oblong dish of pure,pale gold was brought to him.This dish was filled with clear water.Then Fionn would bend his head and stare into the water,and as he stared he would place his thumb in his mouth under his "Tooth of Knowledge,"his "wisdom tooth."Knowledge,may it be said,is higher than magic and is more to be sought.It is quite possible to see what is happening and yet not know what is forward,for while seeing is believing it does not follow that either seeing or believing is knowing.Many a person can see a thing and believe a thing and know just as little about it as the person who does neither.But Fionn would see and know,or he would under-stand a decent ratio of his visions.That he was versed in magic is true,for he was ever known as the Knowledgeable man,and later he had two magicians in his household named Dirim and mac-Reith to do the rough work of knowledge for their busy master.

It was not from the Shi',however,that assistance came to Fionn.

CHAPTER XIII

He marched through the successive fortifications until he came to the outer,great wall,the boundary of the city,and when he had passed this he was on the wide plain of Tara.

Other than himself no person was abroad,for on the night of the Feast of Samhain none but a madman would quit the shelter of a house even if it were on fire;for whatever disasters might be within a house would be as nothing to the calamities without it.

The noise of the banquet was not now audible to Fionn--it is possible,however,that there was a shamefaced silence in the great hall--and the lights of the city were hidden by the successive great ramparts.The sky was over him;the earth under him;and than these there was nothing,or there was but the darkness and the wind.

同类推荐
  • 观佛三昧海经

    观佛三昧海经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 四圣真君灵签

    四圣真君灵签

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 本事诗

    本事诗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 书录

    书录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金刚经持验记

    金刚经持验记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 小五虎演义

    小五虎演义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 最终异变

    最终异变

    夜幕降临,纷乱嘈杂的都市当中,隐藏着不为人知的黑暗物种。神秘的念珠,引领着他的本源觉醒,引领着他一步步变异,但变异的终点,是站在物种的巅峰,还是沦为食物……书友群三鲜堂264780101,欢迎大家的加入
  • 扬州屠城亲历

    扬州屠城亲历

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 帝战山河

    帝战山河

    开天辟地时盘古遗留的一滴精血,百万年后修行路上的一位少年。手持开天斧,本可纵横天地,悲催的是开天斧于远古受创,只能做一把最硬的斧子用。跨出天地再见明月,却发现盘古竟是人人辱骂的叛徒,而奴役大家的人却是万人敬仰的救世主。盘古说“天地本不全,人心亦有缺”耳边回响
  • 夜语星空

    夜语星空

    阳光漫漫洒洒,早晨清爽的校园依旧宁静,翠绿柔嫩的柳枝在空中散发,舞着动人的身姿,曾经的欢声笑语却已经不再有。但那些熟悉的人影仿佛依旧在那操场上面对明媚的太阳露出灿烂的笑容,一起玩耍,打闹。那道深入心中的人影,仿佛也再次浮现在眼前。曾经的故事多么美好..........
  • 无限传功系统

    无限传功系统

    你是万中无一的天才?你有戒指内的老爷爷?你是高高在上的宗派弟子?好吧,我只有无限传功系统。
  • 兔牙小绅士(绿绿的吉祥三宝系列)

    兔牙小绅士(绿绿的吉祥三宝系列)

    本书是本年度最值得期待的儿童校园小说!杨筱艳最新力作!绿绿的新学生——四(3)班的比比是一个从美国回来的小男生,有点儿腼腆,有点儿害羞,有点迷惘,跟谁都笑眯眯地打招呼。比比每天都拉着一个巨大的箱子来上学,这是为什么呢?比比纯真善良,心地非常纯净,总是默默关爱别人。因为从小生长环境的不同,比比做出了一些让人跌破眼镜的事:有一回,他坚决不肯交作业;还有一回,他居然到校长那里去投诉了!比比的迷惑、胆怯、烦恼,都在和绿绿的相处中一点一点被化解,而比比身上那些珍贵的闪光点,也因为得到绿绿的呵护而越来越美好。
  • 今生无冤无悔

    今生无冤无悔

    “徒儿,这是谁?”某师傅一脸幽怨的说,“师傅,我告诉你,他可是我未来的夫君!”某女欢快的指着某男对某师傅说,“徒儿,你难到不爱为师了吗?”某师傅说,“哎?师傅我好像从来都没有说过我喜欢你呀!”某女说,某师傅:“.......”,某男:“........”,“徒儿,你还能在说的直白点吗。”某师傅咬牙切齿的说,“师傅,我从来都没有喜欢过你。”某女更直白的说了出来,某男:“........”,某师傅:“.........”我竟无言以对!
  • 五行涧

    五行涧

    仰星辰之浩渺,观沧海之一粟!纵观古今,泱泱大世,浩浩百族,莫过于一个“利”字!古老的山涧,平凡的故事,注定抒写主人公不平凡的人生!
  • 上古纪灵

    上古纪灵

    公元前2000年,所有种族曾在光辉的源大陆共同生活,随着神与英雄们掀起战乱,源大陆被毁灭,种族们分别迁徙到了诺伊亚大陆和哈里拉大陆。那些承载着源大陆记忆的碎片散布在世界各地,记录着源大陆曾经的辉煌。若是追寻着这些记忆回到故乡,或许将会揭开战争的秘密与众神的真相。迁徙到新大陆安居的人们渐渐遗忘了源大陆的辉煌,在领土扩张与信仰冲突的矛盾下,两片大陆展开了旷日持久的战争。在得知源大陆拥有神秘力量后,两片大陆的人们纷纷踏上了回归源大陆的旅程。