Matheson Collection > Deirdire; and, The lay of the children of Uisne

DEIRDIRE 29
came on him. When he lay down be-
side the green bower in which Deirdire
abode, sleep-wandering came upon the
man, and he thought that he was
in the warmth of the mound of the
fairies, and the fairies making music
within. The hunter called in his
dreams, if there was any one in the
mound that they would let him in for
the sake of the Good Being.
Deirdire heard the voice, and she said
to her nurse-mother, ' Nurse-mother,
what is that ? ' ' Only a thing of little
worth, the birds of the air astray,
and seeking one another; but let them
hie them away past to the forest of
branches.^ Another sleep - wandering
came upon the hunter, and he called
again, if there was any one in the knoll
for the sake of the Being of the Ele-
ments to let him in. * What is that ? '
said Deirdire. ' Only a thing without
sense,' said her nurse : ' the birds of the