Ossian Collection > Fictions of our forefathers

TRANSACTIONS OF THE OSSIANIC SOCIETY. 33
fonder of a woman than he ; and knowest thou, O Grainne, on the
night that Fionn is in Teamhair that he it is that has the keys of
Teamhair, and that so we cannot leave the town?' 'There is a
wicket-gate to my Grianan,* said Grainne, ' and we will pass out
through it.' ' It is a prohibited thing for me to pass through any
wicket-gate whatsoever,' said Diarmuid. ' Howbeit, I hear,' said
Grainne, 'that every warrior and battle-champion can pass by the
shafts of his javelins and by the staves of his spears, in or out, over
the rampart of every fort and of every town, and I will pass out by
the wicket-gate, and do thou follow me so.'
Grainne went her way out, and Diarmuid spoke to his people, and
what he said was : * O Oisin, son of Fionn, what shall I do with
these bonds that have been laid on me?' ' Thou art not guilty of the
bonds which have been laid on thee,* said Oisin, ' and I tell thee to
follow Grainne, and keep thyself well against the wiles of Fionn.'
• O Oscar, son of Oisin, what is good for me to do as to those bonds
which have been laid upon me ?' I tell thee to follow Grainne,' said
Oscar, * for he is a sorry wretch that fails to keep his bonds.' ' What
counsel dost thou give me, O Caoilte ?' said Diarmuid. ♦ I say,'
said Caoilte, ' that I have a fitting wife, and yet I had rather than
the wealth of the world, that it had been to me that Grainne gave that
love.' ' What counsel givest thou me, O Diorruing?' ' I tell thee
to follow Grainne, albeit thy death will come of it, and I grieve for
it.' 'Is that the counsel of you all to me?' said Diarmuid. 'It is,'
said Oisin, and said all the others together.
After that, Diarmuid arose and stood, and stretched forth his active
warrior hand over his broad weapons, and took leave and farewell of
Oisin and of the chiefs of the Fenians ; and not bigger is a smooth-
crimsoned whortleberry than was each tear that Diarmuid shed from
his eyes at parting with his people. Diarmuid went to the top of the
fort, and put the shafts of his two javelins under him, and rose with
an airy, very light, exceeding high, bird-like leap, until he attained
the breadth of his two soles of the beautiful grass-green earth on the
plain without, and Grainne met him. Then Diarmuid spoke, and
what he said was : ' I trow, O Grainne, that this is an evil course
upon which thou art come ; for it were better for thee have Fionn
Mac Cumhaill for lover than myself, seeing that I know not what
nook, or corner, or remote part of Erin I can take thee to now.
Return again to the town, and Fionn will never learn what thou hast
done.' • It is certain that I will not go back,' said Grainne, 'and
that I will not part from thee until death part me from thee.' ' Then
go forward, O Grainne,' said Diarmuid."
The fugitives escape into Clanrickard in Galway, and Diar-
muid fortifies a small grove in vrliich they take shelter. Track-
ers from Neamkuin (Navan) find the grove, but their devoted
friends Oisin Oscur and Caoilte send Bran to warn them.
Bran understands his directions with " knowledge and wisdom,"
gets into the refuge, and thrusts his head into Diarmuid's
bosom. His friends fear that their warning is not effective :