Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 1

292 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" Well, then, I am, if I did but know at whom I
should let it out."
" Back, my good man ; it was no easier for me to
break thy harps than to make them whole again," said
the Champion.
" I will give anything to have them made whole
again," said O'DomlinuilL
" For two times five marks I wdll make thy harps
as good as they were before," said the Champion.
" Thou shalt get that," said O'Domlmuill.
O'Domhnuill gave him the marks, and he seized
on the fill of his two palms of the ashes, and he made
a harp for Iluairidh O'Cridheagan ; and one for Tor-
maid O'GioUagan ; and one for Thaog O'Chuthag ; and
a great choral harp for liimself
" Let's hear thy music," said O'Domhnuill.
" Thou shalt hear that, my good man," said the
Champion.
The Champion began to play, and och ! but he was
the boy behind the harp.
" He could play tunes, and uirt and okgain
Trampling things, tightened strings.
Warriors, heroes, and ghosts on their feet.
Ghosts and souls, and sickness and fever,
That would set in sound lasting sleep
The whole great world
With the sweetness of the calming tunes
That the champion could play."
" Thou art melodious, oh Champion ! " said
O'Domhnuill
Wlien the harpers heard the Champion playing,
they betook themselves to another chamber, and
though he had followed on, still they had not come to
the fore.