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Cornell University Library 
 PR 4725.G18B7 
 
 The book of Tephi. 
 
 3 1924 013 458 819 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92401 345881 9 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 J. A. GOODCHILD 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 'SOMNIA MEDICI," "thE TWO THRONES,' 
 "my friends at SANt' AMPELIO," ETC. 
 
 SID CO NEM 
 NEM CO DOM AN 
 DOMAN FO NIM 
 NERT HI CACH 
 
 ' He is cursing in rhyme, and with two assonances in every line of his curse." 
 
 The Crucifixion of the Gleeman, by W. B. Yates 
 
 LONDON 
 
 KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TROBNER & CO. Ltd. 
 
 1897 
 
PREFACE 
 
 In 1886 I published a fragment of this tale which 
 some of my reviewers then invited me to complete. 
 I have been unable to accept this invitation earlier 
 owing to my own ignorance of the story as told by 
 the Irish bards ; and these, so far, give me little help 
 between the departure of the " sea-king's daughter 
 from over the sea " from Taphanes and her arrival in 
 Ireland ; though I fancy that eventually something 
 might be gleaned upon this head from other Celtic 
 sources, particularly those in which the name Inogen 
 or its congeners appears. My own rough and erro- 
 neous reproduction of the main features of a story 
 which has deeply influenced the national, clerical and 
 literary history not merely of Celtdom, but of all non- 
 Sclavonic Europe, is chiefly based upon the excellent 
 modem translations of Messrs Standish O'Grady, 
 Whitby Stokes, and others ; whilst I must recognise 
 the claim made by Gillariach, the crouchbacked, 
 O'Clery, to kindly remembrance for preserving cer- 
 tain important details which would otherwise probably 
 have been lost. 
 
vi PREFACE 
 
 Mark well the imagery in the following imaginary 
 passage from a discourse of a tattered and shorn 
 disciple of Mog Ruach to a scanty but appreciative 
 audience. It is taken from that sermon which he 
 preached under the stars of a frosty Samhaim, being 
 in soreness of body, and in very great bitterness of 
 soul under the cursings of St Maelruan, and of the 
 holy bishop Magnenn. 
 
 " Ye that would still hear the wisdom of Semias, 
 servant of the Holy, which he learned of Rudrofheasa, 
 knoiv how the common a7nongst you say that there be 
 many gems in the pool of Crotta Cliath, and indeed 
 your saying is a true one. Also ye call that pool the 
 Lake of the Dragon's Mouth, and wherefore ? — It was 
 in that pool that Ternog's nurse saw the great salmon 
 which St Fursa cursed for a dragon into its tnud. — 
 Now, I swear unto you that this same dragon shall 
 carry St John upon his day when he rideth to avenge 
 his brother John Baptist upon the female saints of 
 Eriu. On that day's eve is Fian Cinged born under 
 the Brat Baghach. Threescore and ten stars are 
 counted to it. Yet, oh my so?i, beware the black 
 fourhorned moon which hath wings as hands, for thou 
 art tender. Nevertheless, if those brethren be near, 
 thou a?'t safe with thy thousands upon Roth Ramach 
 when thou wieldest the threefold besom. I see the 
 
PREFACE vii 
 
 slender pillar to whose bolts men are blind. He that 
 heareth is deafened. Him that they seek, is dead. 
 Thus must my White Star diminish the red moon 
 and the third of the birds of prey. Lo, herein is the 
 wise teaching of Morfessa of Fal, and of Uiscias which 
 he taught in Tasiac Tuathaib tipon the field of Mell. 
 This is that lore which Cesair daughter of the Great 
 King gathered of Emmais in Egypt when she fled 
 from the flood and rested ere the ships were burned at 
 Belgadati. Hereof she instructed Mac Indoge before 
 she entered the sacred treasurehouse. Well do ye know 
 these things, and because of them shall Magnenn and 
 Maelruan of Tamlacht be hurled into your lake, and 
 Dil, the darling of my heart, swim upon Masbuskala 
 to destroy them. Yea, let curses of mighty Ollams and 
 Anrads, and my own curse which is less worthy, rest for 
 ever upon all that call the blackmaned heifer " sow " or 
 "serpent" ; and may her rugged one with the tusks of 
 Ms fork root up their graveyards, that their dry bones 
 may be foul beneath the sun and lie upon the heap for 
 ever." 
 
 Upon such bottom for dragon or salmon lie objects 
 strongly refractive to starlight, though dark under the 
 candelabra of Pontiff or Kaiser. Experts are no 
 doubt right in referring them to the Fata Morgana, 
 but have not tested them with X Rays at present. 
 
viii PREFACE 
 
 The commons still value rough specimens above coral 
 and stoneware penates of nature and art, but I trust 
 that few modern depreciators of Celtic moonstones 
 will accept the suggestion of Irenseus, and the author 
 of the " Testament of the Patriarchs," and expanded 
 by many subsequent writers, that they are the produce 
 of the Swart Sow and Malemantus of Dan. I may 
 remark here that the general argument of the latter 
 writer is against Levi, patron-patriarch of Peter and 
 Patrick, rather than of John and Pelagius. 
 
 I am far too ignorant to analyse them. My own 
 specimens are here, much dulled by my fingering. 
 If they be pebbles irridescent with scum, they may 
 be cleaned and reported upon by the mineralogist. 
 If St Fursa is of her original opinion, she should get 
 St George to help her to look after them : but if the 
 Great Salmon of OUamhaba was indeed seen by 
 Ternog's nurse, by the aid of Ruacha Aodhfecis, 
 many of its ova are hatched already, and the re- 
 mainder lack but twenty-five years of their fullest 
 term. 
 
 J. A. GOODCHILD. 
 
 June lyd, 1897. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter I 
 
 (1) Tephi prodaimeth her titles ; (2) her lament for Jerusalem ; 
 
 (3) she telleth of her hiding, mid reneweth her lamen- 
 tations. 
 
 (i) Tephi, born in the House of the High Ones, — 
 (Princes of Zion, 
 Zion loved of the Lord, — home of the House 
 of our God,) 
 Daughter of David, shepherd in Judah, — (Tribe 
 of the Lion) 
 Queen over Bethel and Dan, — where they be 
 scattered abroad. 
 
 (2) Is not the Word made sure? — We are spread 
 
 forth in alien places. 
 Fire that was kindled in wrath — burns to the 
 uttermost Hell. 
 Cry in the night oh Judah, — Thy wise men 
 covered their faces. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Howl for thy young lions slains, — princes led 
 captive to Bel. 
 I, even I am left, — to cry from the uttermost 
 region, — 
 (Far off isles of the West,— home of the 
 remnant of Dan,) 
 Sown as a thistle on earth is Jacob, — the names 
 of us legion. 
 Tongue of the Hebrew fails, — shall not be 
 spoken of man. 
 Isaac is ploughed in his furrows, — before the 
 Lord in this season 
 Water the tender plant, — twig of the loftiest 
 shoot. 
 How is the cedar left bare — in its boughs was 
 corruption and treason. 
 Crown of it bended to Baal, — serpents devour- 
 ing its root. 
 Rest for the flock of the Lord — was not found in 
 the shade of the cedar. 
 Broken it lies. It burns. — Yea, as a thorn 
 'neath a pot. 
 Kidlings are seething therein — shot down by the 
 archers of Kedar. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 3 
 
 Foemen are warmed thereby, — fire of its 
 furnace is hot. 
 Children of Edom dance, — yea, leap in the place 
 which is Holy. 
 Bethlehem boweth in chains, — trodden as 
 clay in the mire. 
 How are our walls broken down, — that the pride 
 of our mighty is lowly. 
 Yea we wander 'mid stones, — deserts of thistle 
 and briar. 
 
 (3) I, that am old was young, — but my heart ran 
 down into water. 
 Hearing battle and strife, — terror that riseth 
 by night. 
 Princes and warriors stricken, — fallen like sheep 
 unto slaughter ; 
 Women's wails in the streets, — outside the 
 clamour of fight. 
 How are the nobles fallen ! — Yea, they were 
 strong, they were ruddy. 
 Fat with the firstlings of flocks, — strong with 
 the strength of the vine. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Now are they white with famine, — their garments 
 of purple are bloody ; 
 Meat, is flesh of the child. — Blood of our 
 people is wine. 
 These were as water spilled — on the ground 
 before Nebuchadnezzar 
 Drops that the dogs licked up, — Have they 
 not gathered and fled. 
 Leaving the women and babes, — Chaldaeans 
 should slaughter at pleasure. 
 I that was babe of the Kings — trembled alone 
 by my bed. 
 
 (3) Yet one came thither unchid, to the place of 
 
 the women he passed. 
 Feared of the king and hated, his hour had 
 
 come at the last. 
 In the room of the sire, the prophet, the prisoner 
 
 none might heed 
 Came through the wasted harvest to gather the 
 
 chosen seed. 
 Sternly he bade me to follow. I dared not look 
 
 in his face 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 5 
 
 As he led me by secret ways to a cave 'neath 
 
 the Hohest Place. 
 Here was my one sure hold, and I dreaded it 
 
 not for the dark, 
 But I knew the fear of the Lord, I knew that His 
 
 holy Ark 
 Was near and I trembled for these, and I ate 
 
 the water and bread 
 Of affliction full three days wherein I dwelt as 
 
 the dead. 
 Till I heard the voice of Baruch smite from 
 
 the opened roof 
 " The foe is gone from the gates, and the path 
 
 of our way made smooth." 
 Then forth in the veil of smoke from the ashes 
 
 wherein she weeps 
 We passed through the walls of Zion, her 
 
 palaces fallen in heaps. 
 
 Look, cry aloud for she slumbers, — dreaming a 
 dream that awakes not ; 
 Weep, tear thy garments in shame, — ashes and 
 dust on thy head. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Yea, though the wilderness howl, — yet the voice 
 of Jerusalem speaks not ; 
 Mourn for her exiles, mourn, — none break the 
 rest of her dead ! 
 Where is the House of the Lord ?— Desolation 
 and mourning and sorrow ! 
 Where is the place of the King? — Torrent- 
 gash sun-scorched and brown. 
 River of rocks, burnt bones ! — There the lizard 
 shall see him the morrow, 
 Scorpions find them a place, — conies make 
 nests for their own. 
 
 Chapter II 
 
 (l) Tephi addresseth her sons, and telleth of her going into 
 Egypt i (2) she prophesieth blindness on Joseph and 
 Judah; (3) she dwelleth as Pharaoh's daughter at 
 Tahpanes ; (4) Baruch heareth of the road to Tarshish ; 
 (5) the Prophet prophesies against Egypt. 
 
 (i) My children remember Zion. Moreover I bid 
 you to mark 
 That the word of the Lord is holy, though His 
 purpose therein be dark. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 7 
 
 Ye know how we came unto Mizpah, and trusted 
 
 in peace to dwell 
 With the servant of God that was slain there. It 
 
 needs not of this to tell ; 
 But of this my sons take heed, shall not your 
 
 hearts understand 
 How the Prophet of Zion prayed that our steps 
 
 might be stayed in the Land ? 
 Shall ye not read in His book of the hope of our 
 
 rest undone 
 Of Ismael's fraud, of the tumult and flight, and 
 
 of Shuphan's son 
 And how we went into Egypt ? 
 
 (2) Nay, Joseph shall long be blind, 
 
 An ox that sleepeth at midnight, and Judah 
 
 couched as a hind. 
 The lion hath fled from his lair. The ox hath 
 
 wandered astray 
 Till the dawn of the East be red, and the night of 
 
 the North be grey, 
 In the night shall no man know them, or the 
 
 signs that be left to show 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Where the shepherd keepeth the ox, whilst the 
 
 lion is couched full low. 
 Not by the banks of Jordan, not on the Holy 
 
 Hill 
 Are Ephraim's feet till his furrows be ploughed 
 
 unto Yahveh's will. 
 Bethlehem's field is empty. The shepherd 
 
 follows astray. 
 Hear ye my words, oh my sons, for the Isles shall 
 
 await the day. 
 Tephi, I was but weak, a little thing in men's eyes, 
 A tender twig of the cedar, yet sheltered of 
 
 prophesies. 
 The Prophet of 'God revealed this. Is not his 
 
 speech made plain ? 
 He came to root and destroy. He went forth to 
 
 plant again. 
 In our fields he found no vineyard, on our past- 
 ures a wasted soil, 
 No place for the shade of cedars, no depth of 
 
 the earth for oil. 
 Till the Land be fed by the Goim,* and the tale 
 
 of their slaughters told 
 
 * Nations. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 9 
 
 The days shall be slowly numbered, and the hope 
 of the hills wax old. 
 
 (3) I was led as a slave into Egypt, as a captive to 
 Pharaoh's hand 
 
 For the will of the son of Kareah rested still on 
 our band. 
 
 But the heart of Pharaoh was softened. He 
 gave us a resting place. 
 
 As daughters we stood before him, and the 
 Prophet of God found grace 
 
 To lead us unto Taphanes, henceforth amongst 
 men to be 
 
 Jehudia, House of the daughter of Judah, mind- 
 ful of me 
 
 Unto the ending of days. 
 
 (4) Therein a space was our rest 
 
 Till Baruch the scribe found tidings out of the 
 
 Isles of the West 
 That the ways unto Tarshish were open, the ships 
 
 of Javan afar, 
 
lo THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And vessels of Tyre went forth on the left of the 
 
 raclen's* star 
 From the tongue of the sea to Melcarth's porch 
 
 of the setting sun, 
 Whence Northward and West they sailed till the 
 
 Island of Towers was won, 
 On its righthand Bregan and Eber, on its left 
 
 that water whose bound 
 Is the Promise of God, wherein His purpose 
 
 shall yet be found. 
 
 (5) Then the Prophet prophesied greatly of wrath 
 
 and of woe to come 
 Upon Misraim's king and people, and all that 
 
 made Cush their home. 
 Weak and poor shall it be. Three kings shall 
 
 come from the East 
 Nimrod, Madai and Elam to break down the 
 
 sacred beast. 
 Javan and Chittim thereafter from the islands 
 
 shall issue forth 
 To rule the rivers of Egypt and bear their spoils 
 
 to the North, 
 
 * Merchants. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ii 
 
 Tursi and Roumi shall reign over these with an 
 
 iron yoke 
 Till the gateway of Heaven be opened, and the 
 
 fetters of death be broke ; 
 Yet the land shall be filled with trouble, lamen- 
 tation, weeping and pain. 
 Though the Prince of Peace be born, and be 
 
 lifted on high to reign 
 On the holy Hills; for Sheba and Dedan shall 
 
 overflow. 
 And across the broad Euphrates the moon shall 
 
 arise in woe ; 
 As blood shall it shine from the world's high 
 
 roof to its western gate, 
 A crescent that never fiUeth, and the Star of Peace 
 
 shall it hate 
 Till the night be wellnigh ended j and ships 
 
 come out of the West 
 Whose mouths are as stinging serpents, and fires 
 
 are within their breast ; 
 Yet the angels of God are with them. The Rolls 
 
 of the Law they bear. 
 The spirit of peace is with them, and the promise 
 
 of peace they share. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Then Egypt shall be as water, Yet now shall the 
 
 Nations rise, 
 And the books be opened upon them, yea, even 
 
 in all men's eyes, 
 Of the wrath and the promise of Jacob, his sons 
 
 be purged of their guilt, 
 The ways of the King be open ; and that house 
 
 of our God be built 
 That shall never henceforth be shaken. 
 
 These things be graved and set 
 In the lime by the kilns of Pharaoh. Their 
 
 place shall be hidden yet. 
 Therewith is my story written, and carved on 
 
 stone by the scribes 
 Are secrets of things which shall be, and the 
 
 names of eleven tribes 
 At the end of their days appointed, but Judah 
 
 goes thither and fro 
 As a stricken lion in the pit till the hour of the 
 
 final woe. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 13 
 
 Chapter III 
 
 (l) The sisters of Tephi desiring to remain in Egypt die there ; 
 (2) A vessel of Tarshish cometh into one of the mouths 
 of the Nile ; {3) Tephi goeth from Taphanes, hut is 
 anointed before her going ; (4) her prophecy thereupon* 
 
 (i) My sisters ye mourned not for Zion, though 
 
 short was your day and sad, 
 Ye loved the fleshpots of Egypt, and marvelled 
 
 my soul was glad 
 That the time of our voyage drew nearer. Ye 
 
 longed with her gods to stay, 
 And the Angel of Death drew sword and both 
 
 were slain in a day. 
 
 * When wilting this part of my tale, my ignorance of the 
 details of the story told by Irish writers led me into an 
 injustice to Maacha and Bathba the sisters of Tephi. The 
 former is said by them to have fallen whilst encouraging her 
 sister's troops in the wing commanded by Nuadh at Moytura, 
 but there are many errors and omissions in this work which 
 would require far more skill and patience than I possess to 
 rectify, in my endeavour to repair the neglect into which the 
 tale has fallen. All my readers will however have caught one 
 glimpse at least of these three weeping queens in the barge of 
 King Arthur, as they bear him away to await his time and their 
 own. 
 
14 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Then the servants of idols bound ye in aloes 
 
 and spice and myrrh, 
 And we laid you amongst the heathen, but not 
 
 in their sepulchre. 
 Baruch hath written your names on the wood, 
 
 and o'er either face 
 Skilled workmen moulded the gold where ye wait 
 
 in your resting place. 
 I might not weep. Ye had sinned. Upon 
 
 Egypt's sin was your love ; 
 And the cry of the Man of God drew down His 
 
 wrath from above. 
 
 (2) Now a ship drew near into haven, a ship from 
 
 the far-off seas. 
 Whose pilot was child of the Dannites, whose 
 
 sails had filled to the breeze 
 In the boundless river of God. Returned from 
 
 the storehouse of tin. 
 It had weathered the sea of storms, and the 
 
 waters that rage therein. 
 Her tin she sold to the founders of brazen 
 
 vessels, and lead 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ij 
 
 That was cast in bolts for the slingers ; with many 
 
 tires for the head 
 Of the locks that I knew too well, of the tresses 
 
 that shimmer fire 
 Which flickers before men's eyes and fills their 
 
 hearts with desire ; 
 And amber from wizard lands at whose dread 
 
 the Lochlann mocks 
 When he sails his hidebound boat through the 
 
 sea of the floating rocks, 
 Whence monsters with horns arise to behold the 
 
 sun lie red 
 On the lap of the sea by night, nor reigns he 
 
 at noon o'erhead. 
 Swiftly they loaded the ship with the good things 
 
 out of the land, 
 Rich garments, and potter's vessels, and arms for 
 
 a chieftain's band, 
 And beads of glass for the women, and oil and 
 
 almonds and spice. 
 And gold of the cunning workmen, and food 
 
 with their merchandise ; 
 Till we 'scaped in the night from Pharaoh, but 
 
 hid in the field that day 
 
i6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Whilst the hand of the Lord held back the 
 watchmen that barred our way. 
 
 (3) We were five that rode upon asses, and five by 
 
 the mules they led 
 Whereon were the things brought forth from the 
 
 House of the Lord when we fled, 
 The stone of Jacob our father, the Seat wherein 
 
 Yahveh dwells 
 Upon sacred things whereof the Book of the 
 
 Prophet tells ; 
 And the signs of my father David, on whom was 
 
 the promise stayed 
 Bright as the crown of the dawn, deep as the 
 
 midnight shade, 
 Strong as the purpose of God when he fashioned 
 
 the land from the sea, 
 A hope for the sons of Adam, that the chosen of 
 
 Him should be 
 A King over men for ever ; yea, unto the Lord's 
 
 own day 
 When the land shall be broken in dust, and the 
 
 sea shall vanish away. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 17 
 
 Upon me was that promise fallen. For me was 
 
 the Prophet's toil. 
 He had signed me with David's signet, anointed 
 
 mine head with oil. 
 He had set mine hands to the harp ; he had 
 
 bidden me hold the spear ; 
 The buckler was girt to my bosom, and Baruch 
 
 and he drew near 
 To set my feet upon Bethel, the Stone that is 
 
 seen this day 
 That my seed may rest upon it where'er it is 
 
 borne away, 
 And its promise be sure beneath them, strong 
 
 to uphold their throne. 
 Though the builders cast it aside, it shall never 
 
 be left alone. 
 These things we did at Taphanes ere we fled to 
 
 the haven of ships, 
 And the spirit of God came on me ; His promise 
 
 rose to my lips. 
 I spake, and I bade go forward, and the sons 
 
 of the Lord obeyed. 
 And the Prophet of God bowed down, and 
 
 this was the song that I made. 
 
 B 
 
i8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 (4) As a seed in a desert amongst thorns — 
 
 I am fallen. I am blown by the wind. 
 In thy garden, in thy pleasant field, beloved, — 
 
 Is no water, is no rest that I may find. 
 Bel hath broken down thy cisterns and thy 
 founts, — 
 
 Esau cast his sum upon thee in thy woe. 
 Misraim's night is as a darkness to be felt, — 
 
 Follow ye with me the sun where'er it go. 
 Follow after, follow after, my beloved, — 
 
 Follow after by the pathways of the deep. 
 Leave thecloud of midnight thickupon thisland. — 
 
 Go before the sun that riseth out of sleep. 
 Plant me far upon the far green hills. — 
 
 Ye have poured a living oil into mine heart, 
 The waters of the sea shall gird me round, — 
 
 As the armour of the shield when I depart. 
 My children hearken to an holy harp, — 
 
 As a certain sign of promise this shall be. 
 The spear within my right hand will I keep, — 
 
 As the sceptre of the billows of the sea ; 
 And the lion of my signet is a sign, — * 
 
 * Tephi is alluded to by an early writer as the "blackhaired 
 heifer, the dark heaven-sealed chief, the lion.'' 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 19 
 
 Yea he roareth unto them that dwell afar. 
 And the name of God engraved therein shall 
 cry,— 
 In the darkness as a light and guiding star. 
 
 Chapter IV 
 
 (i) Tephi goeth from Egypt and cometh unto Carthage ; (2) 
 The Prophet maketh the Burden of the city ; (3) A 
 storm cometh out of the desert and the 'ship is driven 
 away until they come to a river in a strange country. 
 
 (i) On a moonless night and a cloudy we shipped 
 
 and we passed away 
 In the veils of the Lord from Egypt. The breath 
 
 of His mouth was our stay 
 Three weeks in our sails to westward. Thus 
 
 favour was in the eyes 
 Of the men of the ship upon us, and I talked 
 
 with our pilot wise, 
 Buchi the son of Helek, whose marvellous words 
 
 were truth 
 He had gathered in many waters, an old man 
 
 now from his youth. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Who in barks of Dan and Javan had raised up 
 
 sails as a boy 
 For the sons of some that Ulick son of Liart 
 
 brought back from Troy. 
 I heard of the painted talking birds in gardens 
 
 with fruits of gold ; 
 And fish islands spouting fountains ; and one 
 
 terrible tale he told 
 Of a giant that dwelt amongst trees, and descend- 
 ing rended in twain 
 Three Miledhs * that sought him with target 
 
 and spear, but in fight were slain. 
 In his hairy hands were they twisted, yea, as a 
 
 stalk that is bent 
 On the myrtle ere it be gathered, so were they 
 
 broken and rent. 
 Thus we came to the Kirjath Hadtho, and 
 
 moored at the long fair wharf 
 Whence Ham and his camels athirst seek the 
 
 treebuilt homes of the dwarf, 
 And beheld the Bozrah above it, yet set not 
 
 our feet therein, 
 
 * Warriors, Milesians (Milites). 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ai 
 
 For Canaan, Phut and Lubim be wholly bound 
 
 unto sin ; 
 And Buchi spake of their princes, and how when 
 
 a Shophet died, 
 His wives were brought to his burning, his slaves 
 
 to be crucified ; 
 Of Ashtaroth and of Tanith, queen harlots of 
 
 cruel name 
 Whom the Foeni brought from the East ere into 
 
 their land they came, 
 And of Baal whom Yahveh hateth. He dwelleth 
 
 amongst you still. 
 Ye sons of Erin, I know ye. I know that your 
 
 hands work ill. 
 Root up the groves from among you. Cast down 
 
 his seats on the tors. 
 His fires are destroyers of gladness, his feasting 
 
 my soul abhors. 
 
 (2) Hear ye, hear ye, that which he spake, the 
 Prophet of God 
 When he stood betwixt Baruch and Buchi and 
 stretched on that land his rod. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 " Baal shall be broken," he said, " Yet he shall 
 
 rise as the sun, 
 Red and gold is his rising. Swiftly his course he 
 
 shall run. 
 Unto the isles of the West, unto the uttermost sea, 
 Unto the land of the Sikels surely his border 
 
 shall be. 
 Nemidh kneeleth his camel, fat is he waxen, and 
 
 full. 
 The wealth of many waters hath swollen the hide 
 
 of the bull. 
 A son is born him in season. Yea, as a tiger's whelp, 
 To the West doth he leap, to the North, to the 
 
 South. There is none that may help. 
 By his teeth are men slain, in his claws they are 
 
 rent, and the chief of his prey 
 Are the cubs of the wolf who mourns not, but 
 
 ever croucheth at bay. 
 In the blood of her cubs he is sick, he is bhnd, 
 
 he is drunken, he falls. 
 Hear it, ye gods of the heathen. Hear it, ye far- 
 stretching walls. 
 The wrath of the she-wolf is sated. Your place 
 
 is spread as a plain. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 23 
 
 Your altars of blood are cast down. Your fires 
 
 unto Baal are vain. 
 The Tusci and Roum burn you. Their host is 
 
 come out of the North, 
 As on Nimrod and Assur and Edom and Tyre, 
 
 the curse hath gone forth, 
 Thy sons shall be few and scattered, thy daughters 
 
 carried to shame. 
 Thy walls be broken for ever, thy temples set to 
 
 the flame." 
 
 (3) The West was blood as he spake. The sky was 
 
 black on the land, 
 The blast of a furnace sped from the trackless 
 
 ocean of sand 
 Bearing the wrath of Baal, and smote on the 
 
 Prophet's mouth, 
 But the hand of the Lord was with us to turn our 
 
 way from the South. 
 Our sails were rent, and the men of the vessel 
 
 cursed us by names 
 Of their gods, but feared the Prophet who called 
 
 out of heaven its flames. 
 
24 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Fire and hailstones and thunders, and hills from 
 
 the tossing sea ; 
 But I stood beside him and feared not, for helpers 
 
 of heaven were we. 
 Seven days did I stand beside him with Buchi 
 
 the pilot of Dan, 
 And the eyes of the Foeni hated, yet hoped in 
 
 the waveworn man 
 And the child and the Prophet only ; for Baruch 
 
 kept watch below 
 By the Stone and prayed upon it to comfort my 
 
 women's woe. 
 Whither we went we knew not, yet Buchi stood 
 
 by the helm. 
 Whilst the waves sped hungry after, but dared not 
 
 to overwhelm 
 The Prophet of God, and the daughter of hope 
 
 who stood by his side, 
 That the name of the Lord might stand, and his 
 
 promise be magnified. 
 But the Fcein bowed down and blessed us when 
 
 now on the seventh day 
 The sea was at Sabbath stillness, and we entered 
 
 a little bay 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 25 
 
 By the mouth of an unknown river that ran from 
 
 East unto West, 
 And lay tawny beside the shore where we anchored 
 
 and lay at rest. 
 
 Chapter V 
 
 (i) Baedan the son of Buchi goeth to search the land and catcheth 
 Julus a man of the Roumi who is greatly dangered thereat ; 
 
 (2) The Prophet prophesieth upon him and he departeth; 
 
 (3) The ship passeth by an island, and a prophecy is set 
 thereon. 
 
 (i) Then the men consulted together, and marvelled 
 
 upon that spot, 
 And Boedan the son of Buchi was chosen of them 
 
 by lot 
 To lead our skiff to the shore, and find of the 
 
 folk thereby 
 What hap had fallen upon us, and whither our 
 
 course should lie. 
 Now Bcedan brought us a man that they caught 
 
 in a bushy field. 
 On his head a brazen helmet, on his left arm a 
 
 broad round shield. 
 
26 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 At his thigh a short stiff falchion. His feet were 
 
 mired in the clay 
 Of the marsh where Bcedan traced him, and 
 
 caught and brought him away. 
 Now the man bent not before us, but gazed with 
 
 a steadfast eye 
 On our engines of war and weapons, and spake 
 
 no word of reply 
 Unto Buchi who spake all tongues, till the gaze 
 
 of the Prophet fell 
 Upon him compelling and silent, and then he 
 
 spake full well 
 In a tongue that the Sicans use. " I come from 
 
 the she-wolf's hold 
 Nigh at hand on the river, to seek a sheep of my 
 
 fold. 
 I am very wroth, ye Foeni. I am wroth with the 
 
 son of Dan. 
 I am wroth with all amongst ye save this damsel 
 
 and aged man. 
 Save for these I had not spoken. Avoid ye the 
 
 she-wolPs lair. 
 Of the hill of the great Dayfather I say unto you, 
 
 beware. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 27 
 
 If your course be west, sail westward ; whither, I 
 
 would not know, 
 For the door of Janus is wide where'er I have 
 
 will to go. 
 If I find ye, be ye heedful. My sword blade is 
 
 short and strong. 
 And my shield as a wall before me. Bind me 
 
 not with a thong, 
 Lest wolves in pack be upon ye. Julus hath 
 
 many mates 
 That snarl in the lair, but howl as one from the 
 
 towers and gates." 
 
 (2) The Servant of God stood silent, and gazed in 
 that strong man's face 
 
 With eyes like starfilled sapphires as he spake of 
 his name and place. 
 
 Then bade his thongs be severed, that each 
 before each might stand 
 
 Eye upon eye ; and we parted ourselves upon 
 either hand 
 
 As the prophet lifted his gaze to call down bless- 
 ing and curse 
 
28 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Unto kindreds and peoples and times, unto 
 
 better hap and to worse, 
 Whilst that chief stood silent, proud, in his eye 
 
 the forward gleam 
 Of a shield on a wall that holdeth the sun with a 
 
 steadfast beam. 
 " Thou art set in the night to watch. The towers 
 
 of thy watch are seven. 
 As a strong man armed thou shootest thine 
 
 arrows at highest heaven. 
 Did not I see thee afar by the Bozrah with long- 
 built walls. 
 Thou bendest three spears beneath it, upon the 
 
 latest it falls. 
 Thy swords are many and strong, thy quiver is 
 
 wide and full. 
 Thy shafts are swiftly sped o'er all the plain of 
 
 the bull. 
 Javan and Chittim are pierced ; Eber and Phut 
 
 are low ; 
 Lud and Aram are stricken before the strength of 
 
 thy bow. 
 Misraim is thine, and the half of Gomer's bands, 
 
 and the Gaal. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 29 
 
 All shall be given thy prey because thou hast 
 cast down Baal, 
 
 On the silver wall of the islands thy farthest hunt- 
 ing shall be 
 
 Ere the packs of the wolf are stayed by the 
 dams of the stormy sea. 
 
 War is thy birthright, war is thy joy, and warfare 
 thy bane. 
 
 Peace shall be very near thee, and under thee 
 Peace be slain 
 
 In the street of the Holy City. Iron and brass 
 and clay 
 
 Thou standest, and shalt be broken, thy watch- 
 towers be for a prey 
 
 To the beasts of the field, and the fish of the sea, 
 and the fowls of the air. 
 
 Thine helm is parted asunder, the crown of thy 
 head left bare 
 
 To the winds of the East and the North. Out of 
 Magog, Gomer, and Tur 
 
 With biting hail thou art driven, thy sword blade 
 hath lost its spur 
 
 In the lap of thy wives, in the fulness of feasts, 
 in the slavehood of power, 
 
30 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 In thy fetters of gold thou art lost; yet there 
 
 cometh a later hour 
 When swordless thou risest again with a woman's 
 
 cunning device 
 Of tongue and snares of the eye the souls of men 
 
 to entice. 
 By the Name thou hatest at heart, thou callest 
 
 the nations afar. 
 The words in thy mouth are honey, but as worm- 
 wood thine actions are. 
 This also long will I bear till the goats be set 
 
 from the sheep. 
 For I set thee a watch of the night, and this My 
 
 watch shalt thou keep." 
 
 (3) These things he spake to Julus and bade him 
 hide in his heart 
 The blessing and cursing mingled, and gave him 
 
 grace to depart 
 Ere we sailed betwixt mighty islands, both kept 
 
 of a savage folk. 
 Now the Southward sells sons unto Egypt, but 
 the Northerners brook no yoke. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 31 
 
 Here the Prophet foretold how in latter days an 
 
 eagle should fly 
 From his eyrie amongst the mountains which 
 
 lifted heads to the sky, 
 Swift at the swarming of Gower, but lacking 
 
 strength to endure. 
 Unstable, his beak be dipped in the prey with a 
 
 hold unsure. 
 
 Chapter VI 
 
 { I ) ^ prophecy upon Eber ; (2) the ship cometh unto the Pen 
 of the Cape, and to Caer Melcarth ; (3) Elier the son of 
 Ziza greeteth its coming; (4) Tephi landeth and blesses 
 Elier and his sons, and is greeted by the Rock of the 
 Gate. 
 
 (i) In short space we draw unto Eber, a land of 
 
 mountain and vale. 
 Purple and gold were its hills, and the Prophet 
 
 took up his tale. 
 " Thou art servant to Baal, oh Heber ; a servant 
 
 of him that shall slay 
 
32 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 The leopard of Baal and his bull. Thy strength 
 
 is taken away 
 Before the wind of the North, before the wind 
 
 of the South 
 Till Gad and Tarshish arise to rend the bits from 
 
 their mouth. 
 Swift upon wheels they roam, yea, wheeling, 
 
 follow the course 
 Of the sun in his fields afar. They are each as a 
 
 swift red horse 
 Wanton therein for a while. In their hearts is 
 
 an evil thought 
 Lusting for things set apart, how low shall their 
 
 lust be brought. 
 They are halt in their northward leap to the 
 
 whitewalled tower of the sea, 
 Its warders shall overtake them, and great shall 
 
 their burden be." 
 
 (2) Then drifting in calms to southward, we drew 
 towards the Pen of the cape 
 Of the rock that keepeth the Seagate and weareth 
 a lion's shape 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 33 
 
 And watcheth both Phut and Eber, and inward 
 
 keepeth the sea, 
 And outward the endless waters that storm it 
 
 eternally. 
 A kingly strength it arises hoary and huge, the 
 
 crown 
 Of the pilot's hope who gazes. Thither the ships 
 
 go down 
 And may not avoid the watchmen. Narrow the 
 
 sea-gates are, 
 And Javan and Tursis stand where Canaan 
 
 holdeth the bar. 
 Their chapmen must chafer hardly with those 
 
 from the outer deep 
 For ivory, apes and gold and tin, with grain and 
 
 wool of the sheep ; 
 For Canaan found her pathways to the hiding 
 
 of men's desire, 
 And the spoils of all outer peoples have builded 
 
 the fanes of Tyre 
 Which shall fall, even now are falling. The 
 
 daughter of Zidon is low. 
 Is her burden not recorded, her nakedness, 
 
 shame, and woe ? 
 c 
 
34 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 (3) Yet here was her mother her bondslave, cleansing 
 
 her gate of the West 
 'Neath the Pen of the foot of Eber, and receiving 
 
 therein her guest ; 
 For a strong Caer Zidon builded, and called it 
 
 by Melcarth's name, 
 And Gad and Simeon were with her when into 
 
 that cape we came 
 Under Elier the son of Ziza, who had knelt at 
 
 Melcarth's shrine, 
 But was circumcised in his fathers, and cursed 
 
 not the name Divine, 
 And knew the teaching of Moses, and ruled by 
 
 the Book of the Law, 
 And yearned unto Jacob and David and that 
 
 which their souls foresaw. 
 Six months he had mourned for Zion, but now 
 
 in the seventh moon 
 He wept by the wall of his Caer from the dawning 
 
 of day till noon. 
 His youth had been bloody and headstrong. 
 
 His age was silent and wise. 
 And the men of Zidon obeyed him, and great he 
 
 was in their eyes. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 35 
 
 Now at noon he prayed unto Zion, and far on 
 
 the eastern sky 
 Rose our sail. Then the son of Ziza cried with 
 
 a joyful cry, 
 For the spirit of God was with him, "Prepare 
 
 we a feast this day. 
 Six months was my fast appointed, but now it is 
 
 lifted away. 
 My ashes are cleansed, pour forth a precious oil 
 
 for mine head. 
 Set jewels upon my fingers to greet one sent by 
 
 the dead. 
 My purple cloak shall be on me, my gems upon 
 
 either ear. 
 My bracelets of gold, my breastplate of gold are 
 
 meet to appear 
 In the eyes of those that bring tidings. Yea, 
 
 yonder behold the wings 
 Of a dove, the branch in whose mouth was 
 
 planted of mighty kings, 
 And watered of blood, and pruned that hence- 
 forward it send forth shoots 
 Till its crown be lifted to heaven and earth be 
 
 filled with its roots." 
 
36 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 (4) Three hours ere set of the sun we came to the 
 
 strong-built wall, 
 Then the Prophet of God cried forth, and Elier 
 
 came at his call, 
 And knelt on the ground and answered of all 
 
 that he had prepared, 
 How his heart had leaped within him, and now 
 
 as a wand lay bared 
 And stript in our sight ; and his sons knelt by 
 
 him on either hand. 
 That the Man of God might bless them as he set 
 
 his feet on their land. 
 But he craved my blessing also, that captain 
 
 hoary and grim, 
 So I set my palm to his forehead, and cried on 
 
 the name of Him 
 Who had chosen me out of Jesse, and lifted me 
 
 from the grave. 
 And out of the house of Pharaoh, and led me 
 
 upon the wave, 
 For a blessing on this man also, his sons, and 
 
 his strong-built town. 
 "Hail," I said, "to the rock that shall never be 
 
 overthrown 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 37 
 
 By the sea, but shall stand its warder, a keeper 
 
 of many ways 
 To guard the treasures of ocean ; and unto this 
 
 town be praise. 
 Though its name be abomination, yet here is a 
 
 shelter found, 
 And space for our feet to tread on that weary 
 
 long for the ground, 
 And welcome of tongues that are near our own, 
 
 and an open heart 
 To hear the cause of our coming, and bless us 
 
 ere we depart. 
 Upon Elier God send blessing ! Yea, as a lofty 
 
 tree 
 Be his fourscore years an hundred to hold the 
 
 Gate of the Sea. 
 His sons are many beside him. I bless them 
 
 now, that they know 
 That when floods arise, the mountains are open 
 
 wherein to go. 
 And hide and issue for prey or vengeance in 
 
 flood or field. 
 They shall plough them both in the Springtime, 
 
 and both shall a harvest yield. 
 
38 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 This is the blessing of Tephi." Then he and his 
 
 sons arose 
 And cried my name, but their hps spake strangely, 
 
 and might not close 
 On its sound, for "Tela, Teia, Tela," these 
 
 Gaddites cried, 
 And " Teia, Tela, Tela,'' the voice of their rock 
 
 replied. 
 
 Chapter VII 
 
 { I ) The Canaanites set Melcarth upon their wall, but in strife 
 he is broken; (2) Hanmel calleth that place Carteia, and the 
 Prophet foretelleth the glory thereof; {3) The ship of Tyre 
 returning is lost with them that mere in it ; (4) Baruch 
 dieth at Carteia and a grandson is born unto Elier, and 
 called by his name. 
 
 (i) Now some that bore Melcarth tarried to carry 
 
 him round about, 
 And high by his wall they set him, and named 
 
 his name with a shout. 
 But the voice of the rock replied not, for their 
 
 crying was shrill and small. 
 Then Simon the son of Elier shook his spear 
 
 at the wall. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 39 
 
 A sign for the keeping of silence; and some 
 
 that stood by the shrine 
 And looked for an omen, knowing the voice of 
 
 their rock was mine, 
 Strove with the priests until Melcarth falling 
 
 was broken in twain, 
 The image which Canaan brought from the 
 
 uttermost eastern main, 
 And sent forth again to be with her sons, the 
 
 toilers in ships, 
 That the name of their God might endure and 
 
 be spoken of many lips. 
 A cubit he was in stature, and shapeless unto 
 
 the crown 
 Of his head, but arms beside him in the likeness 
 
 of man hung down. 
 
 In his right hand a golden trident was set for 
 
 the rule of the sea, 
 i 
 And Elier bade it be plucked away, and be given 
 
 to me. 
 
 (2) Then said he, " No more Caer Melcarth, Caer 
 Tela this place is named. 
 
40 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Our rock hath shouted thy name. Therein shall 
 
 its walls be famed, 
 Whilst the seed of David endures," but the 
 
 Prophet answered him, " Nay, 
 This too shall be broken in pieces, its stones be 
 
 carried away. 
 Not once nor twice shall this be, by the land, 
 
 by the seas, by the strait 
 Shall the spoilers come with engines to storm 
 
 the tower of the gate ; 
 But at eve returneth a damsel that holdeth the 
 
 twin-forked spear ; 
 A flaming wheel is her buckler, on all the isles is 
 
 her fear, 
 And my daughter's sons are with her. Hail 
 
 to the thunder and smoke 
 Of the ships which vanquish the thunder, of 
 
 her oxen brought to the yoke 
 To plough her by sea and by land a field for 
 
 the harvests of peace. 
 From islands of iron she goeth to gather the 
 
 world's increase. 
 Yea, islands of strength are the wheels of her 
 
 chariot, her steeds shall not tire, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHJ 41 
 
 The storm is silent before them, their neighing 
 
 is hailstones and fire. 
 Her peace is with winds and waters and clouds 
 
 to lead her alone 
 Over every ocean wherein the might of her 
 
 trident is known. 
 To the hill-top of hope, to the Holy Hill. Weep, 
 
 weep no more 
 When the daughter of Zion sits in the gate. 
 
 From the shore to the shore 
 Her name is heard in the echoing rock, her 
 
 voice in the cave. 
 Her young lions draw to her side, though the 
 
 fowls of the mountains rave. 
 Where the eagles gather together, is a lion in 
 
 the narrow way. 
 He herdeth the kine before me, and setteth 
 
 himself at bay, 
 If at dawn the eagles hover, and the prey that 
 
 is in their beak 
 Causeth their wings to tarry, their eyries be 
 
 far to seek 
 When the lion springeth upon them. Not yet, 
 
 oh my daughter, not yet 
 
42 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Is thy seat on the lion of the gate, but let not 
 thy soul forget." 
 
 (3) Three months beside the rock we abode, and 
 
 here it befell 
 That the seamen of Tyre returned, and we 
 
 knew how this hap was well. 
 For they murmured at Melcarth's fall, and 
 
 therefore an evil thought 
 Arose in their hearts to slay us ; taking that 
 
 which we brought 
 Out of Egypt, the jewels of Pharaoh, which 
 
 Sebnet his servant gave 
 When Pharaoh named me his daughter. These 
 
 we cared not to save. 
 But the things of the Lord were precious. These 
 
 things a slave, with a kiss. 
 Drew from the lips of a seaman, and Elier 
 
 heard of this 
 And brought our goods from the vessel, and 
 
 bade its sailors begone. 
 Though the Prophet told it to him how that 
 
 ship should sink as a stone. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 43 
 
 (4) Which thing hath surely happened, for at the 
 
 next eventide 
 When Baruch the scribe sat with us, his eyelids 
 
 were opened wide. 
 And he said, "The Lord stands by me. My 
 
 spirit is in His hand. 
 He slayeth Tyre in deep waters. He saveth 
 
 me by the land, 
 He holdeth me in dark places." And then he 
 
 tottered and fell. 
 And went to the house of our fathers with 
 
 David my sire to dwell, 
 Moses and Jacob with them; an old man 
 
 withered and hoar, 
 Whose eyes wept blood over Zion, the tale of 
 
 his years fourscore. 
 We buried him by Caer Teia, and there in the 
 
 lisping tongue 
 Of its folk men prayed above him, whilst songs 
 
 of the grave were sung 
 By me and my women duly. On that same 
 
 night at the morn 
 To the wife of Simon Ben Elier a fair man-child 
 
 was born. 
 
44 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And they named him Baruch from him, This 
 
 child is amongst you still. 
 Simon Breach ye name him. In our speech 
 
 this is good and ill, 
 As of one that is striped and spotted, but fierce 
 
 though his angers be 
 His name shall be known unto after days for 
 
 his faith to me. 
 
 Chapter VIII 
 
 {\) A ship is sought of Necbal, a Canaanite of Dor, who captures 
 a ship of the Greeks; (2) A prophecy upon the body of 
 Aias; (3) Nabal prepares the ship which cometh without 
 hap unto Tarshish. 
 
 (i) Two months we took much counsel to find us a 
 
 further aid 
 For our journey beyond the sea-porch, but at last 
 
 a pact was made 
 With a Raclen who came out of Lud, but in 
 
 Canaan, Dor was his birth. 
 And he traded in many waters to all the ends of 
 
 the earth. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 45 
 
 Aine, a daughter of Dan was the mother of 
 
 Necbal. She knew 
 Where Dan lay coiled as a serpent; watching 
 
 all birds as they flew, 
 Naming those that passed to Eriu when winter 
 
 was over and spent. 
 She also had sorrow for Zion, her locks and her 
 
 garments were rent, 
 But she joyed in the surety of Dan, his salvation 
 
 sealed of the deep, 
 Where in grasses and long green rushes the 
 
 broods of the serpent creep 
 To sting the horse with its rider, the ox and the 
 
 lion and lamb. 
 Until all be gathered together in the promise of 
 
 Abraham. 
 She aided us much with Necbal, who bade his 
 
 miledhs await 
 A ship of the isles of Elissa that sought to steer 
 
 by the Gate, 
 For the Foeni brook no rivals to hamper their 
 
 raclen's mart. 
 The weaker come not anigh, the stronger they 
 
 bid depart, 
 
46 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Or fight for the way in the narrow porch, so the 
 
 miledhs of Dor 
 And of Rhodan took that ship of the Greeks, and 
 
 to Necbal's store 
 Her riches were brought, yet brave and fierce 
 
 were the men of her crew 
 Ere Achseas and Aias her captains the bands of 
 
 the Foeni slew. 
 I beheld the body of Aias, a mighty hero and 
 
 strong, 
 His spear was stayed to his wrist by its plaitings 
 
 of leather thong. 
 His greaves were of brass, and his helm was 
 
 brass, and his full-moon shield 
 Was pictured with tales of his sires that had 
 
 harried the Ilian field, 
 Chiefs of the Raclen, and princes of Dan in his 
 
 islands, and lords 
 Of the men of Argol and Chittim, and captains 
 
 that went by the fords 
 To the parts about Inis Colcha for fleeces and 
 
 golden dust. 
 And fair-haired bondslaves whose fathers will sell 
 
 their daughters to lust. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 47 
 
 Thou wast shapely in death brave Aias, and crisp 
 
 the curls of thine head. 
 Thy feet and thy hands were little, yet thine arm 
 
 was mighty to shed 
 The blood that had drenched thy sword-blade 
 
 when thou heldest thy ship alone, 
 Till caught in the nets of the miledhs at last thou 
 
 wast overthrown. 
 
 ^2) Now the Prophet said " Out of Javan and Tiras 
 
 a ram shall rise. 
 To storm the gates of the sun in the golden house 
 
 of the skies. 
 Even now is born God's, servant to Madai. Him 
 
 shall He bless 
 To the height of a moon whose splendour shall 
 
 weaken yet not be less. 
 By him shall Bel be broken, with Misraim, Lud 
 
 and Tyre, 
 But the ram of Elissa, the two-horned ram, shall 
 
 tread him in mire. 
 He breaketh the walls before him, he butteth the 
 
 furthest East. 
 
48 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 The Holy Hill shall know him. He setteth foot 
 
 on the beast, 
 Upon Egypt, o'er Elam and Assur he goeth 
 
 abroad at will. 
 The Bamah beholds his horsemen. The roof of 
 
 the world sits still. 
 He is feared in Hinda and Ganga, and on to 
 
 their utmost isle 
 As none that hath come before him. Yet, be- 
 hold, in a moment's while 
 He is ended and gone, the place of his ending 
 
 holds not his fame, 
 But the place of his rest shall be famous, and 
 
 ever dwell in his name. 
 The wise shall write him in story, the cunning 
 
 picture his deed. 
 His pride is a garnered treasure whereon shall 
 
 the ages feed. 
 Magog and Gog adore him. Shushan claimeth 
 
 his right, 
 But the ram of Helle is set in the sky as her 
 
 beacon light." 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 49 
 
 (3) Now Necbal plundered the corpses, and lent us 
 
 the strong-built boat, 
 Building great stones within her that upright and 
 
 strong she should float. 
 For rowers we had not as yet, and trusted but to 
 
 the sail 
 To lead, and the stones within to steady us unto 
 
 the gale. 
 If the winds should beat upon us, and wild sea- 
 horses outcurl 
 Their manes on the plain, but Gaddites and 
 
 Fomorcs we had to furl 
 Our sail in such hap from Elier, who, blessing us, 
 
 bade farewell. 
 Sending Simon his son with his babe and wife 
 
 to guide us and tell 
 The shallows, and count the headlands as we 
 
 sought from the western bay 
 Of the Gate, north-west by the sun, where the 
 
 island of turrets lay. 
 Near the mines of bright iron and copper, and 
 
 the wind of the south-west still 
 Blew soft on our sail, so thither no hap of our 
 
 voyage was ill. 
 
50 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter IX 
 
 (l) Itk the Prince of Breogan giveth rowers to the ship ; (2) He 
 maketh a song for their guidance ; (3) Ilh speaketh of his 
 son Lugaid ; (4) Tephi parting from 1th, the galley is 
 brought by a storm unto Pen Sauel. 
 
 (i) Now we came unto Ith to Tarshish, a miledh 
 
 of war was he, 
 A fierce sea king that ever had joyed in the 
 
 stormy sea, 
 The crash of the prows in battle, and coast 
 
 towns given to flame ; 
 But for Elier's sake he loved us when unto his 
 
 courts we came. 
 He gave us slaves of the Nemidh, lusty, freckled 
 
 and strong, 
 To fill the bank of the oarsmen, and bend their 
 
 backs unto song ; 
 And he made them a song to swing to as onward 
 
 we went our way. 
 And I wrote that song before him, and helped 
 
 them to learn its sway. 
 
 (2) To the star, to the star, to the star, do we row 
 At the eve, in the dawn, through the day. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 51 
 
 Seven moons, seven nights do we sit as we go 
 
 By the coast of the hills on our way. 
 To the East, to the right, sixty hours swing the oars 
 
 To the cape of the fire-bearing Pen, 
 From its tower is our travail to come by the 
 shores 
 Whereon Net of the Stones hath his den. 
 We are swift, we are strong, for the seas are alone. 
 
 And the hills of the wave builded high. 
 And the sea god hath made him a place for a 
 throne, 
 And the Thunder his camp in the sky. 
 By the cahirs of Net, by the stones which he built 
 
 Are the streams where our weary may drink. 
 If his men give us hurt unto Ith is their guilt. 
 And their names in his nostrils shall stink. 
 To the West, to the North, to the East by the 
 heads. 
 Out of Caerned count forty and four 
 Till our way goeth north by the coast where it 
 leads 
 Past the woods of the wolf and the boar. 
 Wait the sun lest the sea-witch draw cloud to her 
 hand, 
 
52 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 With the moon on our stern must we row, 
 Whilst the eyes of the watchmen await on a land 
 
 As a blue mist, as blood or as snow. 
 He is blue where he watches the storehouse of tin. 
 
 If his beard we may pluck, he shall smile. 
 To the house of the bond-slaves of Ith we go in 
 
 To Elatha, and rest us awhile. 
 
 (3) Now Ith regarded my singing, and grace in his 
 
 eyes I found. 
 And he said, " I have mourned my son, who has 
 
 fled beyond the bound 
 Of Eber and Gad and Breogan, perchance he 
 
 hath passed away, 
 But^I would that Lugaid were with me, and thou 
 
 wert his bride this day. 
 My sons are not few, but Lugaid's mate should 
 
 be far to seek. 
 He was first in arms and in leechcraft, first in 
 
 the stithy's reek, 
 First in counsel or pastime, and first would he 
 
 be in pride. 
 So he brooked no king above him, and forth he 
 
 went from my side. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 53 
 
 Yet my heart is weary for him, and never hath 
 yearned again 
 
 As it yearneth to thee my daughter ; and glad I 
 were if the twain 
 
 Could meet if indeed he liveth. Thou art little, 
 but thou art wise, 
 
 Thy words unto men are few, but queenly their 
 message lies 
 
 In the hearts of slaves thereafter. Now, there- 
 fore my daughter plead 
 
 With my son where'er he greets thee, and his 
 ears shall give good heed." 
 
 (4) Now the Nemidh and Fomorcs sang, setting 
 
 their backs to the oar 
 Many days till they swung together, and the 
 
 chief of the rowers swore 
 That with such he feared no evil. So we went 
 
 from the fortress of Ith 
 Well stored with garments and trinkets, and 
 
 many a gift therewith, 
 Brooches, armlets and rings in caskets of ivory. 
 With mirrors of bronze and combs of shells of 
 
 beasts of the sea ; 
 
54 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For the hand of Ith was open, if wide, uncomely 
 
 and red. 
 And he loved the message of Elier, whilst Simon 
 
 his son had wed 
 His nigh of kin, who remained with her husband 
 
 behind when we went ; 
 And I gave unto Ith three gems to witness my 
 
 sotil's content. 
 Blue, green and tawny, of Egypt ; and the 
 
 Prophet said, " Let the blue 
 That is alway before thee lead thee to seek the 
 
 gift that is new. 
 Lo, the mine of emeralds is deep. This, there- 
 fore, shall be thy seal 
 Of a mining far in the deep in green forests of 
 
 Ar Brazeel. 
 In the tawny stone, behold it, thy path is set to 
 
 the South, 
 And the tawny sands poured seawards from 
 
 many a river's mouth. 
 Thy wealth is in this, in the yellow sands, in the 
 
 shipmen's trade. 
 In the tawny lands there is none to make thy 
 
 Breogans afraid." 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 55 
 
 So spake he to Ith at our parting, and sad are our 
 
 hearts to go 
 By the side of the deep-hued hills, whilst the 
 
 Fomorcs and Nemidh row 
 To their song, but the sea song cheers us ; and so 
 
 we pass without hap 
 To the Firepen flaming northwards that watcheth 
 
 on Eber's cap. 
 There, casting the Pen behind us, we flee for the 
 
 north in fear, 
 For the sea-snakes coil beneath us until we may 
 
 hardly steer. 
 And our galley is tossed up endwise, and some 
 
 of our oars are broke. 
 And some break hearts of our Nemidh, and white 
 
 are my womenfolk ; 
 But I sing them the psalms of David, and how 
 
 he escaped of Saul 
 When the Lord his God stood by him ; and 
 
 raised his feet on the wall 
 When the might of man availed not. Whilst the 
 
 Prophet readeth his scroll 
 And recketh not of the stormwind, nor heedeth 
 
 the water's roll, 
 
S6 THE BOOK OF TEPHT 
 
 For the Word of the Lord is in him. In a noon 
 
 that is black like night 
 He beholdeth the heavens open. His face is a 
 
 shining light. 
 Then Buchi breaketh the pole of the helm, and 
 
 we may not steer, 
 And he clings to the mast beside us, and heareth 
 
 our holy cheer 
 As we go unholpen of man ; but the mighty hand 
 
 of the Lord 
 Is with us, and far before us the signs of his 
 
 grace outpoured. 
 The seamen's marks have failed in the storm, and 
 
 the watchmen dream 
 We are lost in plains of the ocean where never 
 
 the seabirds scream. 
 And no life save of sea beasts liveth ; but Buchi, 
 
 the wise man, told 
 Of one who had sought Ar Brazeel, and its city 
 
 whose towers are gold. 
 And came on that island westward, and stored 
 
 his ship and returned. 
 And after six months found Tarshish, a bearer of 
 
 thoughts that burned 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 57 
 
 In his bosom whilst he hid them ; for a pestilence 
 
 found his crew 
 And strewed their bones upon ocean, and all save 
 
 himself it slew ; 
 Whilst himself died little after, leaving with Buchi 
 
 his thought. 
 Therefore Buchi enquired upon us if now that 
 
 island be sought. 
 When our oars were mended and manned, but 
 
 the Servant of God forbade. 
 And counted us yet four days wherein our souls 
 
 should be sad. 
 Commending us prayer and fasting. Then, there 
 
 fore by night I prayed, 
 And by day I heartened my women in God, and 
 
 was not afraid. 
 Now, storm was yet on the fifth day but lessened, 
 
 and looking forth 
 In the cloud methought that there gathered a 
 
 darker cloud from the North, 
 And enquired of the son of Helek, who shaped as 
 
 an arch his hand. 
 And gazing, gave thanks unto Heaven that 
 
 brought us in sight of land. 
 
S8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Then we saw it as isles and a wrathful cape, for 
 
 ragged and grey 
 The rocks ran down to the sea, and shewed us 
 
 no entrance way. 
 Whilst our helm was broke, but the Lord of the 
 
 sky commanded the wind 
 To save us out of their teeth in a haven that lay 
 
 behind, 
 Where a Pen arose to the East, and a marvel of 
 
 God in that Pen, 
 For the storehouse of Ith stood there, and the 
 
 place of Elatha's men. 
 More swift than by any road that our pilot had 
 
 steered, 
 To the land of tin were we come, yea, even unto 
 
 his beard. 
 
 Chapter X 
 
 ( I ) Elatha and the servants of Ith give ivelcome at Pen Sauel ; 
 (2) Elatha sendeth men to Eriu for tidings; (3) They 
 are sent back with gifts unto Tephi from the men of 
 EriUy and a "welcome thither. 
 
 (i) Blessed were we in the Lord when the traders of 
 Ith came out. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 59 
 
 And learning our message towards them, raised 
 
 his name with a shout 
 And brought us into their houses beneath the 
 
 Pen of the wood, 
 Slaying an ox and seething its flesh in pots for our 
 
 food, 
 And baking fish with corn and herbs that grew in 
 
 their garth 
 Beneath the strong steep Pen whereon was 
 
 builded a rath, 
 Defender of lead and tin, and black stones out 
 
 of their mines, 
 Both that which burneth as wood, and that 
 
 which glitters and shines 
 Betwixt the breasts of their damsels. To the 
 
 mines were our Nemidh sent 
 To toil three years for their master, nor thus 
 
 were they ill content, 
 For we gave them a promise from Ith, that 
 
 after three years should come 
 A [ship out of Kirjath Hadtho, and bear them 
 
 unto their home 
 Where the eye of day is clear on the rocks 
 
 without cloud to blind, 
 
6o THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And the dates are sweet in the mouth where the 
 bowman seeketh the hind. 
 
 (2) Then Elatha the kinsman of Ith gave counsel to 
 
 rest awhile 
 Till swift boats be sent to Eriu to question the 
 
 men of that isle 
 Where the princes of Dan abode, and chiefly o 
 
 Jochad, the son 
 Of Duach, him that their landsmen had chosen 
 
 as Heremon,* 
 Whose fathers came out of Japho wherein they 
 
 were held too straight 
 By the kings of Gath and of Eckron, and spreading 
 
 their sails to fate 
 Drew their swords unto kingship in Chittim, 
 
 Rhodan, and Lud, 
 And ruled Ar Kadesh, and mingled the stream 
 
 of the chosen blood 
 In many a mountain torrent, on many a peopled 
 
 coast 
 Ere they lighted on green Eriu a little, a noble 
 
 host, 
 
 * Ir. Eocaidh. Gr. Achaios. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPBJ 6r 
 
 Which fought the cause of the landsmen. This 
 
 fame, and their names herein 
 The Prophet foreknew of the Dannites, the 
 
 furthest of Jacob's kin. 
 With these he would leave on the sun's path the 
 
 twig of the lofty tree, 
 The small green bough of the olive, in the midst 
 
 of the deep to be 
 Even yet in Abraham's bosom, the home of his 
 
 sons afar 
 Who replenish their strength in the isles, ere 
 
 they gather to seek the star 
 Of Isaac and Jacob their fathers, when Israel 
 
 filleth the earth 
 With joy in the sound of his coming, and music 
 
 and songs of mirth. 
 
 (3) Five weeks we abode at Pensauel till the men of 
 
 the land returned 
 With tidings whereat the Prophet rejoiced, and 
 
 my spirit burned. 
 At [Pen Edair they heard of peace, how Eriu 
 
 yearned for the choice 
 
62 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Of a guard against evil rulers, and the aire* 
 
 cried with one voice 
 Upon Jochad, the son of Duach, a prince of the 
 
 tribe of Dan, 
 A champion wise and mighty, and sprung of that 
 
 chosen clan 
 Which had captained miledhs in Javan, and 
 
 their hosts throughout Eberled. 
 This prince had been sought for of many, yet 
 
 stayed in his prime unwed, 
 For the ollamhs that watched the stars to the 
 
 twilight whereon he was born 
 Beheld ere the sun's arising a moon with a 
 
 slender horn 
 Ascend from the sea before him, to lead his 
 
 light out of sleep ; 
 And they set on the babe a vow that the 
 
 strength of the man should keep. 
 To hold himself from the stars, till a moon in 
 
 the eastern sky 
 Should shine in the dark and lead him, yea, 
 
 even when noon was high. 
 
 * Aire, yeomen, literally ploughmen. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 63 
 
 For that moon abided near him till over him 
 
 clouds were grey, 
 And at eventide was seen ere the sun was 
 
 hidden away. 
 Now there went by the men of Elatha as a token 
 
 to Pen Edair 
 The slender horns of silver, the clasp I was wont 
 
 to wear 
 On my veil in the house of my fathers. The 
 
 daughters of kings were known 
 By such from old days before me, and my sire 
 
 upon David's throne 
 Had fastened the clasp upon me, when they 
 
 brought me first to his sight. 
 Though " Tephi " * he cried in anger, and in me 
 
 had little delight. 
 This token the Prophet bade me loose from the 
 
 folds of my veil 
 And send as the horns wherewith he should 
 
 harry the priests of Baal ; 
 For he sent a fiery message forth by Elatha's men 
 Who told it the chiefs of Eriu, and they that 
 
 dwelt by the Pen 
 
 * A small one. Mignon. 
 
64 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Of Edair scoffed at its hearing, taking the tale 
 
 for a jest 
 To be told in the near assembly where the war 
 
 chiefs gathered at rest, 
 But when Jochad the Prince had heard it, he 
 
 straightway rose from his seat 
 And cried, " It is twilight still, but the day shall 
 
 be soon complete. 
 Ye have doubted the dawn, ye chiefs of Canaan, 
 
 Eber and Finn, 
 But the moon on the furthest deeps hath reached 
 
 the island of tin 
 To shine full soon o'er Pen Edair. Her shadow 
 
 cometh before. 
 At her rising the fomorcs * shall flee and the men 
 
 of Eriu adore. 
 Bring in these men out of Albion, and bid the 
 
 ollamhs unroll 
 The message they bring with the token from him 
 
 that hath writ us a scroll. 
 Then were called the men of Elatha, and unto 
 
 the warrior's hill 
 
 * Sea rovers. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 65 
 
 They came with the scroll of the Prophet, and 
 
 none spoke kindly or ill 
 Whilst Sri the son of Ezru, an ollamh skilled in 
 
 the speech 
 Of Zion, Nemidh and Breogan, held forth his 
 
 hand unto each 
 And took from the one my token, and bowed to 
 
 the Holy Name 
 On the Prophet's scroll, and sought it of his fellow 
 
 that with him came, 
 And read its words in men's ears. Great was 
 
 the import thereof, 
 For the Lord had spoken therein. Now the last 
 
 of His word was love, 
 But wrath was in the beginning, which the chiefs 
 
 waxed wrathful to hear. 
 And murmurs arose in their midst both of anger 
 
 and scorn and fear. 
 " Ho, ye that dwell in the rushes, — Ho, ye that 
 
 walk by the sea. 
 Afar, in the clear-walled island, — Ye have whored 
 
 and are sundered from Me. 
 Ye are set upon , idols greatly, — Your feet are 
 
 clayed in the mire, 
 
 E 
 
66 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Ye are fat with the flesh forbidden, — Your fore- 
 heads swell with desire. 
 As swine ye rush on each other, — Ye gore as an 
 
 unclean beast. 
 Your prayers are evil before Me, — My soul ab- 
 
 horreth your feast. 
 Ye are long cast out from Zion. — Your feet were 
 
 the first to flee. 
 Ye have spawned in Javan and Nimidh, — Your 
 
 seed is lost in the sea. 
 Jacob is wasted in Eber, — Yea, as a wine that is 
 
 spilt. 
 The poison of asps is in you, — Have I not known 
 
 your guilt? 
 The glory of Zion was yours, — Ye first have 
 
 hastened her fall. 
 Weep for your sins, ye faithless, — Weep not My 
 
 Temple's wall. 
 For now I dwell not in houses, — Only with men 
 
 I dwell. 
 Hearken now to My message, — Hear it and heed 
 
 it well. 
 I call and ye shall not hearken. — I cry, and ye 
 
 will not heed. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 67 
 
 The blessing of Abraham liveth. — I sow you with 
 
 David's seed. 
 A little seed unto ages. — Ye shall tread it under 
 
 your feet. 
 It shall sleep amidst your tumults. — It shall 
 
 slumber in cold and heat. 
 My burden on Eriu is broken against you, the 
 
 thing I crave 
 Is a name forgot, and a secret place, and a far- 
 off grave. 
 My name I have left in Egypt. Unto an hiding 
 
 place 
 I bring the treasures of Yahveh that He shutteth 
 
 from every face 
 Till this season. Not unto Dan are these, but 1 
 
 bring therewith 
 The daughter of David, daughter of Pharaoh, 
 
 daughter of Ith, 
 A fount that Yahveh hath cleansed, anointed of 
 
 Him from birth. 
 Heiress of tribes and peoples scattered o'er all 
 
 the earth. 
 The furthest isles are her portion, the sea is hers 
 
 as her dower. 
 
68 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Her sons shall rule in Eriu, her sons' sons reign 
 
 unto power ; 
 Till her child that shall be, gather the flock of 
 
 David anew. 
 His head is crowned with the sun. His feet are 
 
 wet with the dew 
 As he leadeth them in the morning. This also 
 
 ye may not learn : 
 Ye are blind, but a ring in the snout, is plain that 
 
 ye all discern. 
 Behold her silvern crescent which marketh the 
 
 daughter of kings. 
 A king that wrought evil gave it. Moreover, 
 
 bracelets and rings 
 Be hers of Tarshish from Ith of the Breogan out 
 
 of his hold 
 Wherein ye barter your herds and harvest for 
 
 treasures of gold. 
 He is greater than ye, yet the seed of Judah hath 
 
 known a sire 
 Higher than Ith, for Misraim bows to its Lord's 
 
 desire ; 
 And he gave to his daughter Tephi royal garments 
 
 that shine 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 69 
 
 As sunset, and are as the rainbow with jewels out 
 
 of the mine. 
 Who is he that sitteth amongst you shall raise his 
 
 eyes to their'-hem. 
 The Queen of the Gates and Nile cometh out of 
 
 Jerusalem 
 As a sweet fruit ripened in Winter. Hither with 
 
 her the Stone, — 
 The Stone of the Kingdom cometh. It shall not 
 
 be left alone 
 Henceforth of her sons for ever. I bid ye prepare 
 
 her a home 
 Wherein all shall be meet and ready that the feet 
 
 of the Queen shall come, 
 Yet not ask of me. I am left in Egypt a pillar 
 
 to be 
 Unto days and lands and peoples, when the Lord 
 
 bears witness in me. 
 I stand a sower, a ploughman. My God hath set 
 
 me to plant. 
 I shall not fail in His time. His hand hath 
 
 holpen my want. 
 A builder, I set one stone ; as a husbandman, a 
 
 seed; 
 
70 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 But the Stome is the dwelling of Him from whose 
 
 hand shall the nations feed, 
 And thereon shall rest His Chosen, whose King- 
 dom is East and West, 
 Whereupon the sun shall wander and find no 
 
 place for his rest 
 Of the night, but day endureth. Heed ye this 
 
 work, and mark. 
 At the end of days it is clear. It is dim in the 
 
 veils of the Ark. 
 This also may not be broken, though men shall 
 
 hide it away, 
 It standeth in earth for ever, and ruleth the night 
 
 and day.'' 
 These things read Sri in their hearing, and silence 
 
 dwelt for a space. 
 The hearts of the warriors held them, and each 
 
 man sat in his place 
 A dreamer of far-off places, and pondered on 
 
 hidden things, 
 And thrones and kindrpds and seasons and sons 
 
 that should reign as kings ; 
 But the children of Baal were angered, and 
 
 Tuirbhi was first to speak, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 71 
 
 The chief of the Tyrian craftsmen. " What came 
 
 ye hither to seek, 
 Ye men of Elatha, the scourge of the fomorcs, the 
 
 shipman of Dan, 
 And foster-father to Jochad ? I know the wiles 
 
 that ye plan ! 
 Elatha's mines are empty. His smelters handle the 
 
 spear. 
 His sails are gathered together that Eriu may 
 
 dwell in fear. 
 Ye are come as spies before him. Answer ye to 
 
 his boast, 
 That the men of Eriu be gathered to greet him 
 
 on every coast. 
 Though Ith out of Eber help him, and Elier out 
 
 of the Gate. 
 If Egypt indeed be with him, it is long that his 
 
 host must wait. 
 But come ye many or few our firbolgs have little 
 
 fear 
 Whilst Tuirbhi watcheth his anvils to furnish each 
 
 with a spear. 
 By Caiseal the stones are strong that are piled 
 upon Breogan's wall. 
 
72 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And the crag of Edair is steep whereupon it is ill 
 
 to fall. 
 Our gold is stored in the mosses, our oxen hidden 
 
 away, 
 Are ill to hunt in the mountains, and few shall be 
 
 for a prey. 
 Though he send the chief of his Milidh, surely 
 
 we will not stir ; 
 Though he send his champion to Jochad, ill shall 
 
 it be with Ir. 
 For Ir, his captain of strength, the wild boar 
 
 rooteth a grave. 
 If he come to the land of Eriu, his ships shall 
 
 burn on the wave 
 Though Jochad his brother help him." Thus 
 
 Tuirbhi spake and was still. 
 And Elatha's men stood silent, nor answered they 
 
 good or ill. 
 But the bard of Jochad endured not. Ethan, 
 
 Muiroideach's son, 
 A youth, but a mighty singer that ever the oak- 
 wreath won. 
 In wrath he arose, and sang against Tuirbhi a 
 
 song of might 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 73 
 
 Till his brow set red in his bosom and his heart 
 
 was closed from the light. 
 " Hear ye, hear ye, ye princes. — Hear ye, the son 
 
 of the smith. 
 Stand in the blast of the bellows, — Be ye all 
 
 shaken therewith. 
 Give your nose to the pincers, — So doth he 
 
 lengthen it out. 
 Crafty the rings of Tuirbhi, — Gaily they hang in 
 
 the snout. 
 Bowed in the back is Tuirbhi. — Are ye not all 
 
 the weight ? 
 Doth not he squeal beneath it ? — Doth not a 
 
 beldame prate ? 
 She is blind beneath her forelocks. — Is she not 
 
 sore afraid ? 
 Shall Ir at his coming take her ? — Shall he choose 
 
 tbe smith as a maid ? 
 Let laughter be upon Tuirbhi, — Go clothe his 
 
 brawn with a smock. 
 Clip his bristles to smoothness, — lest the men of 
 
 Elatha mock. 
 Those that have brought good tidings, — See in 
 
 the hand of Sri. 
 
74 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 A slender silvern crescent. — The moon of the 
 
 East is nigh. 
 Her horns are peace and riches. — Set as an elfin 
 
 queen 
 She saileth her boat in heaven. — Her rounded 
 
 fulness hath been 
 Before and it shall be after. — She hideth yet for a 
 
 space 
 From Eriu in her chamber, — He findeth her 
 
 hidden place 
 He rejoiceth in her beauty. — Robe Eriu like a 
 
 king. 
 Set purple and gold upon him. — May a sun arise 
 
 to fling 
 His mantle of gold about her, — his fires in her 
 
 slender form, 
 That her months be duly rounded, — That new 
 
 stars in the sky be born. 
 She hath gems to teach the springtime, — veils to 
 
 shelter the heat. 
 Gold for the Autumn harvest, — Her light in 
 
 Winter is sweet, 
 Fair on the snow she glistens. — We dream of that 
 
 which may be. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 75 
 
 Our hearts are where she riseth, — In isles of the 
 
 Eastern sea, 
 In mighty cities and temples, — in stories of 
 
 ancient days, 
 In visions of kings and heroes, — with priests 
 
 amidst songs of praise. 
 Go forth to meet her, my soul. — My belovbd is 
 
 very fair ; 
 She is white, she hath eyes as stars, — The night 
 
 is set in her hair ; 
 She hath rainbows in all her garments, — She hath 
 
 dewdrops about her throat. 
 Her hands are slender lilies,— Her voice hath the 
 
 cushat's note. 
 Her lips are as winter berries, — Her foot hath a 
 
 mouse's fall. 
 Where she cometh joy awaketh, — -He riseth to 
 
 festival. 
 Three mighty kings are her sires — No king's son 
 
 sits at her side. 
 She cometh a queen to Eriu, — A queen and a 
 
 chosen bride, 
 Eriu shareth her birthright, — The flower of its 
 
 greenest sod 
 
76 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Shall blossom here in our midst, — and grow to 
 
 the Land of God." 
 Then the chiefs of green Eriu rose up from their 
 
 seats to throng 
 To the place of Ethan, and raised him aloft and 
 
 bore him along 
 On a shield and shouted and crowned him, for 
 
 seldom such tongue was heard 
 As Ethan's, strong as a stormwind, clear as a 
 
 morning bird 
 Was his voice, and his touch on the harpstrings 
 
 light, like a fountain's play, 
 A ripple of running music that chimed with the 
 
 voice alway. 
 Oft have I heard, and loved it. Ah me, that a 
 
 bard be slain 
 By the coward deed of a churl, for a witchwife 
 
 light and vain. 
 Each chief gave then a guerdon which matched 
 
 with the giver's state. 
 First Balor grandson of Net flung down twelve 
 
 pounds by weight 
 Red gold in tores and armlets. Heavy his herds- 
 men's toil. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 77 
 
 Then Crimthann Lord of Pen Edair gave him an 
 
 ocean spoil 
 Of goblets and horns of silver, and Nuadh of 
 
 Usna's keep 
 Gave gold and horns of a seabeast brought from 
 
 the northern deep, 
 And the chiefs of the merchants gave him a 
 
 breastplate of well-wrought gold. 
 With an ivory chessplay carved by cunning men 
 
 to the mould 
 Of kings with their chiefs and firbolgs. Such 
 
 bard gift ne'er hath been gained 
 As Ethan's, a hundred warriors plucked their 
 
 cloaks till it rained 
 A shower of their flashing brooches ; but Jochad 
 
 his lord came late. 
 Yet foremost, for Jochad was proud. His gold 
 
 was little of weight. 
 He had not oppressed his yeomen, yet he gave 
 
 unto Ethan's hand 
 A gift which was more than Balor's, and worth 
 
 the half of his land, 
 A brooch of red gold which wizards of Tursis had 
 
 sprinkled o'er 
 
78 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 With a golden sand by magic, and out of their 
 
 hidden lore 
 Had heaped it in flowers and bosses, and mar- 
 vellous stems of fern 
 Where the eye was 'wildered in choice, and scarce 
 
 had strength to discern ; 
 Yet the whole was a sun in glory. Now, once 
 
 that glory was seen 
 With Eileen fairest of women, she that was set as 
 
 a queen 
 O'er Elissa in fair Ar Galish, and fled to a further 
 
 shore 
 To carry the curse of Javan, and leave her tale 
 
 evermore 
 In the mouths of bards and singers. Now 
 
 Jochad's sires out of Troy 
 Won this when the city had fallen, a treasure 
 
 without alloy 
 In the eyes of all fair women, a spell compelling 
 
 the eyes, 
 A gift beyond price more precious than aught 
 
 that the merchant buys. 
 Then Ethan cried, " With a bardgift, lo, I am 
 
 made a prince. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 79 
 
 Such hansels may not be handled, mine eyes at 
 
 their brightness wince. 
 Cover them all lest they blind me. Let them be 
 
 carried away. 
 Let these be earnest of Eriu that the moon no 
 
 more shall delay, 
 But hasten her speedy rising." Then the 
 
 chieftains shouted loud 
 " Let us see the moon of the morning. The 
 
 edge of whose silver cloud 
 Hath touched upon Albinn. Seek it. Ye men 
 
 of Elatha speed 
 With the greetings of green Eriu to welcome the 
 
 chosen seed 
 Of the Daogdoe, kings of Morias, that holy city of 
 
 fate, 
 Morias Fail of our fathers. She mourneth its 
 
 fallen state. 
 Both in Egypt she mourned, and in Breogan, but 
 
 tell her that warm shall be 
 The hearth that is lit in Eriu, the greenest isle of 
 
 the sea." 
 
8o THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter XI 
 
 (l) The men return to Elatha, and give the gifts of Erin unto 
 Tephi, who telleth of her chief jewels ; (2) Bres telleth 
 his father of the prophecy tipon Jo chad ; (3) Elatha 
 Tnourneth for their departure and communeth upon 
 Ephraim with the Prophet ; (4) He prepareth many 
 vessels for them, and sendeth Bres with them to Eriu ; 
 (5) of their journey thithenvards, 
 
 (i) So these men came joyful to Albinn, and poured 
 
 their tale in our ears, 
 How their hearts were low at Pen Edair, and 
 
 heavy at Crimthann's jeers, 
 And sunken at Tuirbhi's boasting ; but how from 
 
 the side of a chief 
 Clearbrowed as the dawn sprung a youth who 
 
 had given their souls relief. 
 Heaping out wealth upon them. Then they 
 
 brought the bardgift they bore 
 From the chiefs and Ethan, and showed it. 
 
 Now behold, the first of their store 
 Was the wondergift of Jochad. Mine eyes grew 
 
 blinded thereon 
 And Elatha took, and laid it on my breast in 
 
 place of the stone 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 8i 
 
 Of Pharaoh, a sky of turquoise that swam betwixt 
 
 golden wings, 
 A precious gift and an holy, and meet for 
 
 daughters of kings, 
 Chosen of God and his Servant, for the Lord had 
 
 shapen its thought 
 In its maker. Where graven idols of beasts have 
 
 made Him of naught. 
 His thought shall behold their ashes, and the 
 
 wings of His spirit fly 
 Before men's souls in their blindness to name 
 
 Him eternally. 
 So I changed the place of my jewels, my moon I 
 
 set on my brow. 
 And the turquoise lay at my throat where it 
 
 wideneth out below ; 
 But the sun of Eileen I planted deeply upon my 
 
 breast. 
 There it shall gleam in my sidhe,* and lighten 
 
 the gloom of my rest. 
 
 (2) Then Elatha spake with the Man of God, and 
 called upon Bres, 
 
 * Tumulus with chamber at centre, pronounced shee. 
 F 
 
82 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 His firstborn, the stay of his age, that now was 
 
 his strength to press 
 The presses of Eriu and Albinn, and thrice had 
 
 been unto Ith, 
 To Tarshish, and once to Caer Teia, and bade 
 
 him unfold the myth 
 Of the bards upon Jochad's cradle, for the twain 
 
 were nurtured as one. 
 When the father of Jochad fell, his babe and his 
 
 only son 
 Shared couch and cover and breast with Bres in 
 
 the fort of the horn 
 Of Albinn. So Bres well-skilled in that legend 
 
 of mystic morn 
 Gave forth its tale in our hearing, and I treasured 
 
 it in my heart, 
 Ere Elatha gathered his vessels and gave us speed 
 
 to depart. 
 
 (3) Now Elatha communed much with the Prophet, 
 and wept and grieved 
 Upon Zion greatly, but read the promise and 
 greatly believed 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 83 
 
 The blessing of Jacob on Joseph and Judah, 
 
 beholding the day 
 When Ephraim's kiss should bind them, and sin 
 
 be taken away : 
 And he learned by his packmen where Ephraim 
 
 tarried now by the path 
 Out of Hara, Haber and Halah, wherein the Lord 
 
 in his wrath 
 Had set him amidst the Madai, and how by Kir 
 
 he had fled 
 Through the children of Heth to the mountains, 
 
 and crossed by the watershed 
 To the summer land Defroban, and built him a 
 
 temple there. 
 For the Lord in the pastures of Kef, and now 
 
 the name which they bare 
 Was Asirgard, City of God, that the God of 
 
 Moses therein 
 Might keep him from Heth and Magog, and 
 
 purge him away from his sin. 
 Now Elatha blessed the Lord beholding how 
 
 David should wait 
 The kiss of Joseph whose ploughing tarrieth long 
 
 in the gate. 
 
84 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 The Engel is slow and heavy and loves by the 
 
 river mead 
 To lie in the sun by day, and rise at morning to 
 
 feed. 
 But hateth the yoke and the plough for the field 
 
 wherein she would lie 
 Where the lion is in the gate. Yet the Engel 
 
 shall draw anigh 
 For the ploughing, and harvest shall whiten slowly 
 
 up from the blade 
 When the boughs of the planted cedar are over 
 
 his head for shade. 
 
 (4) Of these things Elatha communed much with the 
 
 Prophet and bade 
 That the lioness cub of Judah be with such pomp 
 
 arrayed 
 As the power in his hand might furnish to pass 
 
 to that seagirt isle 
 Wherein is the sapling planted to suck the dews 
 
 for awhile. 
 Ere it grow of strength to return to the land of 
 
 the strong free breeze. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 85 
 
 And increase on its northern mountains, and 
 
 spread to its narrow seas. 
 By its shores of grey-blue granite, its shores of 
 
 blood and of snow. 
 By all walls of its fertile garden fenced of the sea 
 
 shall it grow. 
 Therefore he painted his vessels, and set them 
 
 with snowy sails. 
 And bound green wreaths to their foreheads, and 
 
 out of his merchant bales 
 Brought scarlet and blue and white to flutter 
 
 upon the mast 
 And stripe their sterns with a rainbow to oaken 
 
 planking made fast. 
 Then men of the silvery isle of Vect he chose 
 
 for our band. 
 An island of many havens that Heth under that 
 
 land; 
 And mixed folk out of the Domnan that dwell 
 
 where the tors are red. 
 Mighty men of the sea, fire-hearted, wary of 
 
 head; 
 And fisherfolk from the horn, the beard of the 
 
 promised isle. 
 
86 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 A mixed folk also whose maidens hark to the 
 raclen's wile, 
 
 Till the blood of Zidon and Israel toileth amidst 
 the veins 
 
 Of the rocks wherefrom the princes of the Tyrians 
 suck their gains ; 
 
 And fomorcs * of Khumru north till then reachest 
 the furthest Pen 
 
 Of Lochlann, returning again by coasts of moun- 
 tain and fen 
 
 To the narrow seas of Albinn by the shore of the 
 silver wall, 
 
 And pass by the island of Vect again to Elatha's 
 hall. 
 
 A hundred ships had Elatha, and he gathered 
 fifty and three 
 
 With chosen men as their pilots, to make a con- 
 voy for me, 
 
 And the wealth of Egypt and Tarshish and that 
 which Eriu gave. 
 
 That my sailing be spoken of many, my path be 
 sure on the wave, 
 
 * Fomorians, sea-rovers. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 87 
 
 And Eriu have fear and joy at my coming. Two 
 
 thousand and five 
 Were the living souls of our navy. " A gallant 
 
 swarm for the hive 
 Of a queen well stored with honey." Thus Bres 
 
 of the miledh spake ; 
 Arid his father answered again, right glad for his 
 
 firstborn's sake 
 (The son that Delbaeth's daughter bare him in 
 
 Maoth Seein 
 When she loved his youth ere she fled with the 
 
 sea-king to be his queen) 
 " To thee be the hiving of her," and, Bres being 
 
 merry, cried back, 
 " How may I store the honey with all the wasps 
 
 in its track ? 
 Thou knowest our wasps of Eriu." Whereat 
 
 Elatha replied, 
 " The Lord shall harbour the queen-bee. Be 
 
 thou but found on His side 
 And His sweetness shall surely bless thee." Such 
 
 answer more grave than gay 
 Had Bres from his father Elatha before we went 
 
 on our way. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 With the summer breeze behind us. We jour- 
 neyed first to the North 
 Beside the lands of the Khumru which deep in 
 
 the sea jut forth, 
 Till we came to their holy island, and were blessed 
 
 of their ancient bards 
 Who sang to their harps the night of our resting, 
 
 but afterwards 
 With a clear east wind ere dawn we went by a 
 
 path that lay 
 To the West, and brought us swiftly in sight of 
 
 the fairest bay 
 Whereupon I had looked. By Edair our anchors 
 
 and stones we cast, 
 And the firbolgs of Crimthann swam with ropes 
 
 to steady us fast ; 
 And Crimthann came with his captains and stood 
 
 to watch on the strand 
 And shouted, and many bards sang welcomes of 
 
 Eriu's land. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 89 
 
 Chapter XII 
 
 (l) Tephi setteth foot upon Eriu, the defendedisland ; (2) The 
 song of the bards at her landing. 
 
 (i) Then looked I for Ethan and knew him, for his 
 
 voice was sweetest of all ; 
 But his lord I might not know 'midst the chiefs 
 
 out of Crimthann's hall, 
 Twelve warriors strong, but I liked not them- 
 selves in their cloaks of red : 
 So I deemed the master of Ethan a dullard, and 
 
 bowed my head. 
 And wrapped his sun in my mantle, ere smiling 
 
 I raised one hand 
 To my women, whilst out of the ship I was 
 
 carried in haste to land 
 By Ethan the bard, green-mantled ; and another 
 
 that, clad as he. 
 Throwing his harp on the pebbles, ran singing 
 
 still through the sea. 
 And raised up his arms imploring, till my women 
 
 lifted me out 
 To the seat they made with their mantles. Nor 
 
 did I tremble or doubt 
 
90 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For their tread was steady and sure ; and I 
 
 smiled to him to the right, 
 For his brow was clear and steadfast, his eyes 
 
 were joyous and bright ; 
 And so by the bards of Eriu I was borne through 
 
 the shallow sea. 
 And this was beginning of joy and pain in the 
 
 heart of three. 
 I had not smiled upon Ethan though rich with 
 
 his gift I came. 
 And his was the highest voice of the bards that 
 
 had cried my name. 
 Tall and agile he was, but little he stood 
 
 beside 
 The bard with the crisp curled locks whose gaze 
 
 was open and wide 
 Out of frank blue eyes that feared not, and 
 
 chanted lofty and loud 
 In their chorus Tefifia Teia, and struck his harp 
 
 with a proud 
 Long sweep of the strong white fingers. His 
 
 song ran into my blood, 
 And its voice is long remembered, as a lonely 
 
 tower in a flood. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 91 
 
 (2) My heart hath waited for thee, Teia, 
 My heart hath waited for thee long. 
 Though Egypt's sun adore thee, Teia, 
 My heart is as a hearth more strong. 
 It shall hold thee, help thee, keep thee, 
 
 Teia, 
 It shall love thee from this first bright day, 
 In its radiance fold thee, steep thee, Teia, 
 When it flashes in the snowstorms far away. 
 Green Eriu smiles to meet thee 
 
 Teffia, Teia. 
 Her bards are come to greet thee, 
 Teffia, Teia. 
 With the homage of her love 
 That thy crescent smiles above 
 In the mirrors of the bay. 
 
 My soul is yearning to thee, Teia. 
 
 My hands are yearning towards thee now. 
 
 Though Tarshish and Pensavel woo thee, 
 
 Teia. 
 Eriu shall not cloud thy brow. 
 It shall fold thee, feed thee, fill thee, Teia. 
 
92 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 It shall stay thee where the white waves leap, 
 In thy weeping it shall still thee, Tela, 
 In thy midnight it shall watch thy couch of 
 sleep. 
 Its reverence shall be on thee 
 
 Teffia, Tela, 
 As a hallowed light upon thee 
 Teffia, Teia. 
 As the glory of the morn 
 Shines upon thy crescent horn 
 
 O'er the emeralds of the deep. 
 
 They ceased ere they reached the land, and lo, 
 
 he hem of my vest 
 Had fallen out of my hand, and the sun that lay 
 
 on my breast 
 Flashed in their eyes, and they started apart ; but 
 
 the stronger bore 
 My form in his arms one moment, and set me as 
 
 light on the shore 
 As I might lay down some blossom, sweet-scented, 
 
 which tenderwise 
 My lips had touched ere I set it more far to 
 
 gladden mine eyes. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 93 
 
 Chapter XIII 
 
 (l) Of Tephi's rest at Peti Edair ; (2) She telUth of her person 
 and of her state in going thence unto the Place of 
 Assembly of the men of Eriu ; (3) Tephi rebuketh the 
 priests; (4) Their idol is broken by Ethan. 
 
 Now the chiefs of that place and Ath Cliath 
 
 cried my name from their lips, 
 And a seaman's shouting rolled like thunder 
 
 around the ships 
 In the speech of the mingled peoples, but 
 
 " Teia" was most their shout 
 As it was beneath the rock of the Gate. Then 
 
 girded about 
 By a throng of bright-eyed women, green-tuniced 
 
 and wreathed with green 
 I was raised aloft on a seat, and carried like 
 
 Egypt's queen 
 By chieftains in double rank past Edair's piteous 
 
 tomb, 
 (Edair, Eglaeth's daughter, that died in her 
 
 husband's doom.) 
 Up the steeps of the Pen to the Cahir of Crim- 
 
 thann, chief of the fights. 
 
94 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Thereafter for and against me in things that the 
 
 Lord requites. 
 He and his chiefs went before us clearing with 
 
 spears our road, 
 Their helmets starry With sunset, red suns in the 
 
 locks which flowed 
 Far down on their crimson garments. Mine 
 
 eyes were dazzled with these, 
 And I turned and looked behind me, and found 
 
 contentment and ease 
 Amidst them that followed after, and foremost 
 
 with golden hair 
 Broad brow and clear bright vision, I saw the 
 
 harper that bear 
 Me out of my ship, and by him strode Ethan 
 
 agile and dark. 
 With a flame of fire on his cheek, and fire in the 
 
 eager spark 
 Of his flashing eyes upon me. Of the bards 
 
 there came fourscore 
 In green ; then a chosen band of Elatha's men 
 
 from the shore 
 Came next in their varied raiment, the purples of 
 
 them that sold 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHT 95 
 
 The Tyrian wares, and scarlet and azure, whilst 
 ruddy gold 
 
 Gleamed in their belts and brooches, flashed from 
 their helms of brass 
 
 Like a marsh-flower mead. Behind them followed 
 a mingled mass 
 
 Of folk that wore scanty garments waving aloft in 
 their hands 
 
 Fair wreaths and branches of oak trees, or flut- 
 tered on sticks gay strands 
 
 Of woollens in tattered ribbons, as bright as a 
 barley field 
 
 When it whiteneth unto harvest and the husband- 
 man guesseth its yield. 
 
 (2) Such was my state at my coming. My daughters, 
 
 if ye set store 
 To hear of a woman's presence, and the garments 
 
 your mother wore 
 At her welcome ; — little of stature, and slender of 
 
 limb was I, 
 Being white, not red of my colour, like a stalk of 
 
 nodding rye. 
 
96 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Upon midnight braids of my hair did my argent 
 
 crescent shine. 
 My throat's thin ivory column poised 'twixt the 
 
 wings divine 
 About Pharaoh's wide blue heaven ; whilst the 
 
 sun of Eileen beneath 
 Took roses of rosy sunset. On the hems of my 
 
 veil a wreath 
 Was broidered with gold, and wings of shining 
 
 insects whose name 
 I knew not, sea-blue below, but lit with an 
 
 emerald flame ; 
 Which veil was long and fragile, as spun out of 
 
 gossamer 
 By fairy looms of the dawn ; and this was the 
 
 gift of Ir 
 Who had brought it out of Caer Hayo, and said, 
 
 in a furthest land 
 Of the East, witch-women wrought it in caves 
 
 with a moistened hand, 
 And withered their eyes in working its whiteness, 
 
 whiter than wool 
 Or fairest linens of Egypt. Where this veil had 
 
 been folded full 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 97 
 
 To my form, I fastened and bound it with a 
 
 serpent about my waist 
 Of fine gold, very precious. Now in that girdle 
 
 was placed 
 A sprig of a herb of Eriu, three-headed on every 
 
 stem. 
 Cendrige, my people call it, and much it is loved 
 
 of them. 
 As the charm of their fair green island. This 
 
 those bore forth in their hand 
 
 That brought me on cloaks through the ripples, 
 
 * 
 
 and set my feet on the land. 
 Now this had been placed by the foremost, the 
 
 bard on my right hand side, 
 But I knew not the charm was with me till I 
 
 found it at eventide 
 When I couched in the booth by the fortress. 
 
 Next morrow at early dawn 
 When my women arrayed me for journey, I saw 
 
 it, and scorning to scorn 
 A bard that had given such welcome, set it again 
 
 to the clasp 
 Of my serpent ere Bres came thither, and lifting 
 
 me light in his grasp 
 G 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Placed me high on a jennet, snowy, wild-eyed and 
 
 still. 
 But therewith tall and stately, and so we paced 
 
 down the hill 
 And out through the fair green grasses, with Bres 
 
 still near at my side, 
 And his cohort of captains by him wherewith he 
 
 was wont to ride, 
 And the bards behind us on ponies that sat with 
 
 their harps to play 
 And move us with mirth and music what while 
 
 we went on our way. 
 Now Ethan was ever foremost, and sweetest of 
 
 all was his song ; 
 But I looked in vain for his fellow, with purpose 
 
 that held no wrong 
 Of repaying his charm with a golden ring, but I 
 
 found him not. 
 Marvelling wherefore he tarried ; yet my cendrige 
 
 was not forgot 
 When we came by an easy journey next morn unto 
 
 Crofinn's croft. 
 Where at the land was assembled, for there the 
 
 grasses were soft, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 99 
 
 And many horses might pasture, with cattle and 
 
 flocks for meat. 
 Here the chiefs of Eriu had portioned themselves 
 
 their seat 
 On the banks round the croft of Crofinn, and there 
 
 each set him a booth, 
 And they met on its central greensward where the 
 
 level was clean and smooth 
 For choice and converse amongst them upon 
 
 Eriu's hap and its weal. 
 In a three weeks' truce wherein the tongue was 
 
 lord of the steel 
 Throughout all coasts of the island. Now this 
 
 truce was for two days yet. 
 When one short hour after dawn, through meadows 
 
 that still lay wet 
 With the dews I came to the croft as a queen 
 
 with my following, 
 For unto that day the island had never bowed to 
 
 one king. 
 Though high chiefs ruled in Usna and Caseal and 
 
 fair Emain, 
 And in many duns and cathirs fortressed in forest 
 or plain 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Or on hilltops. Each tall landmark crowned with 
 
 their strongholds stood, 
 And the lords did that within them that seemed 
 
 in their own eyes good. 
 Now the cry of the land was bitter, for most of 
 
 the chiefs wrought ill 
 On their landsmen as on their foemen, and each 
 
 by his strong-walled hill 
 Held cattle plundered of either, until the forces 
 
 which cling 
 In clanship were severed amongst them, and the 
 
 aires cried for a king 
 To hush their feuds and to pluck the husbandmen 
 
 from the mire. 
 And the bards of the land were with them to 
 
 yield them their heart's desire ; 
 But the priests of the gods against them. Yet 
 
 some of the priests that knew 
 The God of the Hebrews helped them ; but these 
 
 were a chosen few. 
 And the priests of the heathen many, well skilled 
 
 in the ancient lore 
 Of Criden and Baal and Samen, and many an 
 
 idol more 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI loi 
 
 Whom their fathers knew in Canaan, and the 
 
 June morn filled with heat 
 When I heard their trumpets blow as the priests 
 
 came forward to greet 
 Her that was hid in the Temple; yea, in its 
 
 inmost shrine 
 Was held with the graven tablets, and the scrolls 
 
 of the Law Divine. 
 These that came in white garments. These with 
 
 a frenzied tread 
 That whirled upon desiul* circles ! Had not 
 
 my spirit bled 
 Before such in the house of David ? How might I 
 
 greet them here ? 
 I was weak, the might of the Lord prevailed over 
 
 my fear. 
 And I rode in His wrath against them. 
 
 (3) " Ho, ye that have eyes to see, 
 
 Ho, ye that have ears to hear with, keep silence 
 
 at sight of me. 
 And my voice from the Lord," I cried, " for Baal 
 is broken of Bel, 
 
 * Sunwise. 
 
I THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 The twain shall be broken together. They sink 
 
 to the nethermost hell. 
 A flame hath descended on Zion. God sweepeth 
 
 with wings of fire 
 The House of His habitation. He sendeth hail 
 
 upon Tyre. 
 Zidon and Gath are broken, Ephraim led away, 
 Samaria lieth fallen, and is as an heap this day 
 Because men whorbd with idols. Shall idols 
 
 come forth to greet 
 Her that the Lord hath kept, that dwelt by His 
 
 Mercy Seat. 
 Your dances and fires He hateth. Behold, the 
 
 face of the Lord 
 Is a sun that shineth in darkness, His tongue is 
 
 a flaming sword. 
 Let Criden and Baal be broken, devourers, and 
 
 blind of sight 
 And empty of help for all that sink in the womb 
 
 of night. 
 Yet the great or little prevails not when God 
 
 ariseth in wrath. 
 With a pebble-stone from the brook he layeth the 
 
 might of Gath." 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 103 
 
 (2) E'en at my word a pebble sang by mine ear and 
 
 smote 
 Through the open mouth of Criden, and broke 
 
 his head from his throat, 
 And his breast was shattered also. Swift on my 
 
 own swift speech 
 Was Ethan's deed upon Criden, for all that the 
 
 prophets teach 
 Was known of Ethan, our Hebrew speech, and 
 
 our father's deed. 
 He smote as my father David. The Lord had 
 
 answered my need. 
 Now the image he smote was hollow, and held in 
 
 a secret hold 
 The gifts of the blind and foolish, their rings and 
 
 the stars of gold 
 Which the priests said went to his dwelling, but 
 
 now his falling revealed 
 From the hiding place of his belly, and scattered 
 
 o'er all the field, 
 And all were amazed and angered; and men 
 
 called out upon Sri 
 The son of Ezra their wisest, to interpret my 
 
 word, and why 
 
I04 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Their idol was shattered before it, for silent 
 
 amongst the band 
 Stood Ethan, and none beheld when the stone 
 
 flew forth from his hand. 
 Their eyes being set upon me ; and wherefore 
 
 that image fell 
 When my wrath was laid upon it not they that 
 
 bear it might tell. 
 Then Sri the son of Ezru, a lover of better 
 
 things, 
 Set forth my speech in their tongue, and the 
 
 strifes of our former kings. 
 How Saul the mighty had fallen when idols led 
 
 him astray. 
 And how from the house of David God's curse 
 
 was taken away 
 For a space, but was sealed thereafter. Now the 
 
 priests were angry that heard. 
 But the common people listened, and many 
 
 hearked to his word. 
 And some of the chiefs and the most of the 
 
 bards. Amongst them a cry 
 " Daouda, Daouda hath smote him," arose at the 
 
 words of Sri, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI lOS 
 
 Telling how David had smitten whilst yet a 
 
 youth with the flock 
 The giant, mighty in war, with a stone of the 
 
 brook, a rock 
 The cornerstone of his house : and the shouting 
 
 " Daouda " grew 
 When he told how the Lord of Hosts descended 
 
 in flame anew 
 On the Seat that he brought from Kirjath to set 
 
 in Jerusalem, 
 The Ark, the Holy of Holies, which went with 
 
 the tents of Shem 
 When Israel came out of Egypt. Sore were the 
 
 priests of Baal, 
 But the people cried out against them, and 
 
 praised me that heard this tale, 
 So their wrath kept silence before me, and 
 
 turning they went again 
 Till we passed the banks of Crofinn, and entered 
 
 the little plain 
 Wherein the chieftains assembled. An hundred 
 
 princes and eight 
 Of Eriu waited my coming ; each with his proper 
 
 state. 
 
io6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 His druid and bard and champion ; and all stood 
 
 there on their feet 
 Save I, who with Bres at my bridle, rode forth on 
 
 the sward to greet 
 The lords of the high assembly, who hailed me, 
 
 child of their isle, 
 And queen of the house of their fathers, and so 
 
 without thought of guile 
 I unveiled my face before them, and spake to 
 
 them gentlewise 
 My thanks for their greeting and favour, but that 
 
 which shone in the eyes 
 Of many chilled me before them ; so, icy in 
 
 pride, I rode 
 Before Sri, and Bres and Ethan, to enter the fair 
 
 abode 
 Which these had built for my coming, whitewood, 
 
 well carven in scrolls 
 Of serpents, whose hinder part in an endless 
 
 ribbon unrolls. 
 Its door was a woollen curtain of green with a 
 
 scarlet hem, 
 And Sri on its Hntel fastened the name of 
 
 Jerusalem 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 107 
 
 Writ in Hebrew in brazen letters, and set on its 
 
 posts a sign 
 That none but the maids might enter the booth 
 
 which was named as mine. 
 Therein I rested at noonday, and ate in the 
 
 failing light, 
 But had little sleep thereafter, and watched the 
 
 most of the night : 
 For the looks of the priests misliked me, and the 
 
 hungry eyes of the men 
 Of Eriu searched upon me, as eyes of wolves in 
 
 their den. 
 Till my heart was water within me, troubled and 
 
 sore afraid. 
 Then long in the long night watches to the Lord 
 
 of Zion I prayed 
 To deliver my soul from evil, my limbs and breast 
 
 from the grip 
 Of a wolf, and the High One heard me, and 
 
 caused not my foot to slip. 
 
io8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter XIV 
 
 (l) Tephi ielleth of the departure of the Man of God ; (2) She 
 is brought on the morrow into the assembly ; (3) The lot 
 of Baal falleth beside Balor of the Mighty Blows, and 
 upon Bres the son of Elatha. 
 
 (i) Yet my troubles that night endured, and I 
 
 longed for the Prophet's aid, 
 For I loved him e'en as I feared him, as an 
 
 infant standeth afraid 
 Of a father strong and silent, yet knoweth his 
 
 help shall come 
 From thence if the wild beasts fright him, or 
 
 robbers seek to his home. 
 My sons, ye enquire of the Prophet. This sure 
 
 word I bid ye to know, 
 Mark well the way of the chosen, but seek not 
 
 whither they go. 
 Pause on their word and ponder though at times 
 
 ye may not mark 
 Their message. The eyes of the holy behold a 
 
 light in the dark 
 Of Tohu and Hinnom wherein their path hath 
 
 been set to go 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 109 
 
 Through night. On their heads are ashes. 
 
 Their garments are rent in woe. 
 Lamentation is with them and terror, till the 
 
 terror be overpast, 
 For they grope after God in Tohu till they find 
 
 Him and hold Him fast. 
 I dwell not now on the thing which shall in this 
 
 book be told, 
 How hereafter dimly mine eyes should the Friend 
 
 of the Lord behold. 
 He sought not pleasure of greetings, or tables 
 
 of wine and meat. 
 Or to Usten to mirth or music, or to sit in the 
 
 highest seat, 
 Or behold me in marriage garments : but set his 
 
 feet in the way 
 Of the Lord where'er he led him. This only 
 
 therefore I say. 
 That when we had left Pensauel, drawn nigh to 
 
 the land of Gwent, 
 He parted his ships from amongst us, and none 
 
 knew whither he went 
 With the sacred things of the Temple, and none 
 
 may utter their tale. 
 
1 10 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For his sailors were men of Ham the last whom 
 
 the Temple veil 
 Shall leave in the dark ; and these that sailed on 
 
 the western track 
 With the Prophet passed into night, and ne'er 
 
 out of night came back. 
 Of the sacred things I know not. The Lord 
 
 stays not to discern 
 The place of His habitation, whereunto my sons 
 
 shall yearn 
 In the days that dawn hereafter ; but lo, ye 
 
 have seen the Stone, 
 The Stone of the Corner remaineth. It shall not 
 
 be left alone. 
 When Jacob knoweth his birthright therein shall 
 
 his boasting lie, 
 And in many lands and islands my seed shall 
 
 have praise thereby. 
 There was one beside the Prophet mine eyes 
 
 were fain to have seen. 
 The morn that I came to Crofinn, I watched for 
 
 the cloak of green. 
 And the strong straight bard that wore it, as one 
 looks for a trusted friend 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Amongst strangers. Perchance he guessed not. 
 Perchance he might not attend. 
 
 (2) On the morrow came Bres with Sri to lead me 
 
 forth to the ring 
 Wherein were the chiefs assembled to hear men 
 
 cry for a king, 
 But each man envied his fellow, and each with 
 
 an angered mood 
 Had answered the bards and aires that spake for 
 
 the common good. 
 My place was set me amongst them, a seat upon 
 
 Jacob's Stone 
 Drawn thither by two white heifers, and draped 
 
 around as a throne 
 With a golden cloth of Zidon. Now, as I was 
 
 set thereon 
 A cloud drew back in the sky and upon me the 
 
 bright sun shone, 
 So folk marvelled of me and this sunshine, and 
 
 thus it was foolish talk 
 That I held the sun at my bidding, setting paths 
 
 for the clouds to walk 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 At my will, and I own I had joy, for I cast on 
 
 the Lord my prayer 
 In the night, and now in the day he had lightened 
 
 my load of care. 
 Now this same day was an high day, the topmost 
 
 peak of the year 
 Is the night that follows after, when angels and 
 
 souls appear 
 Unto many, yet here the druids had mingled its 
 
 boons with harms, 
 And setting their hearts on women delude them 
 
 with evil charms. 
 
 {3) A feast being set to Baal, his priests drew nigh 
 
 ere the noon 
 With a message brought from his altar that the 
 
 king be appointed soon 
 As this one day was propitious. The bow of 
 
 their god they brought, 
 That by this an arrow sent sunwards should 
 
 name the king of his thought. 
 So we all drew off a little to the banks and stood 
 
 to see 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 113 
 
 How the highpriest bound his eyes, and drew the 
 
 bow from his knee 
 Where he lay supine, and the shaft sped upwards 
 
 to seek the sun, 
 But an East wind struck upon it ere the height of 
 
 its flight was won 
 And bore it beyond the circle where it fell full 
 
 nigh to the ranks 
 Of Balor, lord of the Islands, where he watched 
 
 with his men on the banks. 
 And his firbolgs shouted for Balor, but the priests 
 
 were troubled thereby, 
 For their spells were within the circle ; so another 
 
 quest of the sky 
 Was made, and it touched the circle, where 
 
 nearly it struck down Bres 
 In whom was a hope of Eriu that ever grew less 
 
 and less, 
 For when Nuadh was maimed in battle, men held 
 
 that his strength was stayed 
 From rule of the miledh of Dan, and a pact unto 
 Bres was made* 
 
 * For seven years. 
 H 
 
114 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 That he should be named chief captain, if so he 
 
 would save the land 
 From fomorcs coming by sea, and chiefs of the 
 
 scattered band 
 Of firbolgs in Man and Arran, so this for that 
 
 time was done. 
 But he gathered Eriu's tribute, yet gave its gifts 
 
 unto none. 
 Neither called he feastings or music. His heart 
 
 was empty and bare, 
 Though the strength of his limbs, and his beauty 
 
 of face, and his golden hair 
 Snared foolish matrons and maidens. Yea, deep 
 
 in his heart was guile. 
 And women loved and men hated his presence 
 
 throughout the isle. 
 Now the arrow struck through his cloak, and 
 
 pinned it unto the ring 
 A handbreadth from Nuadh's high seat, and 
 
 many acclaimed him king. 
 That was chief of the miledh of Eriu ; but the 
 
 priests had marvel thereat 
 If the shaft were within the circle. Moreover, 
 
 the place where he sat 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 115 
 
 Was apart, and the shafts of Baal were counted 
 
 not to the man 
 But rather the beth of his ensign. Moreover, 
 
 they loved not Dan, 
 Of whom was his mother, and whom he spake for 
 
 in Nuadh's room ; 
 Whose hand was severed by Sreng the son of 
 
 Sennchan, whose doom 
 Thereafter the scribes have written. Now Dian- 
 
 cecht, wisest in art. 
 Had moulded a hand in clay wherefrom might be 
 
 hurled a dart ; 
 And Creidna, the cunning smith, in silver 
 
 fashioned the same. 
 So now the hand of Nuadh flashed with a starry 
 
 flame 
 As he rode amongst his miledh, and many that 
 
 loved him well 
 Sware that the seat of Nuadh was grazed when 
 
 the arrow fell. 
 
n6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter XV 
 
 ( I ) Sri, the son of Ezra, calleth for the bow of Sampson, which 
 is given to Ethdan* son of Bathiam, who shooteth the 
 first arrow unto the Stone of Jacob ; (2) A second arrow 
 is shot, and fndeth the seat of Eochaid Garbh Mac 
 Duach ; (3) Ihe sun betwixt the horns of Baal is smitten 
 by the third arrow, and Sri, the son of Ezru, maketh a 
 psalm, thereon. 
 
 (i) Now the priests and chiefs of the land debated a 
 
 threefold choice 
 And a doubtful, striving greatly, till Sri with a 
 
 mighty voice 
 Cried, till they heard. " Not yet is the curse of 
 
 this kingdom stayed. 
 The sins we have sinned to Baal shall yet at our 
 
 gates be laid. 
 His arrow hath pointed Bres, it hath fastened his 
 
 garment's hem. 
 In the folds of his cloak shall Canaan set fires in 
 
 the booths of Shem." 
 These things cried Sri the silent ere shaping his 
 
 theme anew 
 
 * Breasal Ethadan Mac Eochaid Bosthlaim — too long for verse. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 117 
 
 He said "the arrows of Baal seek sunset or fall 
 
 askew. 
 Seek we shafts that are truer. Is there not in 
 
 our midst the bow 
 Of strength, the shafts of the mighty? Where 
 
 Dan goeth to and fro 
 The bow of his judge is with him, It dwelleth 
 
 amongst us here. 
 The merchants of Gath and Japho draw back at 
 
 its name of fear. 
 Have we never a champion of Dan who may 
 
 string its strength to his will ? 
 Is the spirit of Sampson weak to speed the shafts 
 
 of it still?" 
 Then Ethdan the son of Boethlam thrust through 
 
 the ranks of Dan, 
 Of all the sons of the island this was the broadest 
 
 man 
 Of shoulder and girth of limb, if somewhat slow 
 
 of his feet. 
 He called for the bow of the mighty, and strain- 
 ing back from my seat 
 He bent it. Mighty the string wherewith that 
 
 bow must be strung. 
 
n8 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 A finger of sinew to armbreadth of yew, but at 
 
 last it sprung 
 To the cleft with a stroke like an axe when it 
 
 striketh an oaken beam, 
 Whilst the flesh upon Ethdan's arms sank like 
 
 waves on a stream. 
 Then swift to the circle's centre he sped him and 
 
 laid him down. 
 Setting his feet to the yew-mast. In a moment 
 
 the shaft had flown 
 Straight into air till we lost it, and then in a little 
 
 space 
 Straight out of heaven it descended like a beam 
 
 of the sun on the place 
 That was mine, the Stone of Israel, yet hurt not 
 
 the Stone at all 
 For the head's soft gold spread forth a sun at the 
 
 arrow's fall 
 On the grey white pillar of Jacob ; and joy upon 
 
 all men came 
 When they saw the altar of Bethel alight with 
 
 that golden flame : 
 And the priests of the gods bowed down, and 
 
 covered each man his face ; 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 119 
 
 And the chiefs of Eriu moved in wonder before 
 
 that place ; 
 And Httle they spake, but set me thereon ; and 
 
 lo, I had grace to speak 
 In their tongue, and my heart was great, though 
 
 my voice was little and weak. 
 "Ye Chiefs of this island, hear me. The might 
 
 of the Lord is known 
 In shadow, but light is rising, and grace to a 
 
 handmaid shown 
 Who watched and prayed in the darkness. He 
 
 leadeth her by His ford 
 To sit in a fair green pasture, with sheepfolds 
 
 and oxen stored. 
 A shepherd was David my father. God gave 
 
 him a charge to keep 
 Which he brake not, to feed His cattle and sever 
 
 the goats from the sheep. 
 Me, that am David's daughter, he maketh a shep- 
 herdess 
 Who amongst the sheep of Eriu shall know none 
 
 greater or less. 
 The sun that descended hither shall be as a light 
 
 divine 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Whereby to search in your pastures, and know 
 
 my sheep from the swine, 
 For the unclean beast is with you." Then Sri 
 
 that stood at my side, 
 Passed up the banks and turning, to all the people 
 
 he cried, 
 " The Queen of the East hath spoken. Is there 
 
 one her word to gainsay ? 
 Let him dwell with the swine, for God hath sent 
 
 us a Queen this day." 
 Then Tuirbhi the smith sprang forward to catch 
 
 at Sri by the arm. 
 But Sri smote straight upon him and wrought 
 
 him a deed of harm. 
 For he fell by the banks on his ancle, and his 
 
 craftsmen bore him away, 
 And his leeches bound him badly, and lame he 
 
 went from that day. 
 
 (2) Then Ethdan the son of Boethlam, cried "there 
 were arrows three 
 With the bow of strength, and the first hath 
 sped ; but I ask of ye 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 121 
 
 That be wise, shall I speed these others ? The 
 
 one hath a silver head, 
 But the other is somewhat crooked and beareth 
 
 a bolt of lead." 
 Then the priests drew nigh giving counsel, and 
 
 the most spake well of the thing, 
 So we left the plain as aforetime, and forth from 
 
 the mighty string 
 The second shaft flew upwards until it was scarce 
 
 discerned. 
 Like a star it glanced on the cloud, and then 
 
 unto earth returned, 
 Smiting an oaken settle which no man had used 
 
 that morn 
 But sideways lay on the ground, and grazed it, 
 
 and cleft a horn 
 Of silver therein, and smote into earth, and a 
 
 question rose 
 Of that seat but no man claimed it, its chieftain 
 
 was not of those 
 That sat in that day's assembly, and pain sank 
 
 into my heart 
 At that long carved cleft of silver, which stabbed 
 
 with a sudden smart. 
 
122 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 (3) Now Ethdan fitted again the crooked shaft to the 
 
 bow 
 Which sped on a snake's path outwards, like a 
 
 hawk when it striketh low 
 But swiftly above the gazers, till the pillar of 
 
 Baal it found 
 And struck the gilded sun 'twixt the idol's horns 
 
 to the ground. 
 Bearing it into mire in the place of the swine 
 
 behind, 
 Wherein they lie to this day. If ye search, ye 
 
 shall surely find. 
 Now when they beheld this token many priests of 
 
 the idol fled. 
 Through revilings amidst the people, and tore 
 
 their wreaths from their head. 
 Gashing the flesh of their bosoms, and hid them- 
 selves ; but a few 
 Remained in the ring with Ethdan. Then Sri 
 
 that was wise and true. 
 Though his knee had bended to Baal, cried out 
 
 on the Lord for aid. 
 Forgiveness, counsel and blessing, and a psalm 
 
 of repentance he made 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 123 
 
 Which the bards took up in chorus, singing it 
 
 hither and fro 
 From the priests to the kneeling harpers, who 
 
 sung to a music low. 
 " We walked in clouds of the night. — Our eyes 
 
 are opened by Thee. 
 We look unto heaven and see. — Yea, we awaken 
 
 to light. 
 Thou knowest our blindness, oh God. — Let thy 
 
 forgiveness prevail. 
 Sorely our sin we bewail. — Let not thy spirit 
 
 record. 
 We are troubled of heart in thy presence, oh God. 
 
 — Yea troubled sore. 
 Thine angels vex us, thy saints abhor. — We are 
 
 struck with Thy rod. 
 Thou sendest us consolation. — Therefore Most 
 
 High we give praise. 
 Thou hast chosen a day of the days. — Thou 
 
 sendest a queen to this nation. 
 Thou, Lord, art a righteous King. — Out of heaven 
 
 thou givest favour. 
 Let our song be of sweet savour. — Lord, in Thy 
 
 praise we sing. 
 
124 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter XVI 
 
 (l) The seat whereon the silver arrow had struck is known for 
 the seat of Eochaid ; (2) Tephi resteth thereon when he 
 covieth, and giveth her love unto him ; (3) the Queen 
 taketh Eochaid as 'her husband ; (4) the spirit of pro- 
 phecy Cometh upon Sri the son of Ezrit. 
 
 (i) Now even whilst they sung a cry rose round about 
 The shrine of Baal, the commons made a mighty 
 
 shout, 
 Hauling at ropes and girdles till the lofty pillar 
 
 crushed 
 The turf, and for a breathspace the sound there- 
 after hushed. 
 But Baal avenged not aught, men seeking each a 
 
 stone 
 Wherewith to bury Baal, whose resting place is 
 
 known 
 Beside my house at Teamur. Then Sri and 
 
 many more 
 Gazed nearly on the furrow which the second 
 
 arrow tore 
 In the oaken seat, and Ethan who departed for a 
 
 space 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 125 
 
 Drew thither, and one asked him was not this his 
 
 chieftain's place, 
 And on that question Ethan raised to mine a 
 
 face of flame 
 Till my brow was veiled before him finding 
 
 searching prayer and shame 
 In the gaze he set upon me ere he answered to 
 
 them "Ay, 
 This is Jochad's seat and hitherto my songs were 
 
 heard thereby." 
 Then Sri questioned further wherefore did the 
 
 Heremon * eschew 
 To be with them on this high day, and the brow 
 
 of Ethan grew 
 Pale and red as he gave answer, " 'Tis the third 
 
 day since some cause 
 Which I know not drew him homewards from 
 
 Pen Edair." At his pause 
 Fell my veil, and full upon him was my gaze, and 
 
 well I knew 
 That if truth he spoke, it shamed him in some 
 
 thought not wholly true. 
 
 * Chief of the landsmen. 
 
126 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Though I spake not, he gave answer in a sudden 
 
 word and swift, 
 " Read his secret. Thou dost know it." Then 
 
 my veil I did uplift 
 Once again, for blood ran tingling over breast 
 
 and cheek and brow, 
 And a spirit quickened in me which I had not 
 
 known ere now. 
 Some strange gladness half an anguish shook my 
 
 bosom till I swayed 
 Like to fall, but Sri upheld me and he set me in 
 
 the shade 
 Of the arched highseat of Jochad whereupon the 
 
 arrow fell. 
 
 (2) There I rested till a voice out of the distance 
 
 seemed to swell 
 Drawing nearer. " Jochad, Jochad," but as in a 
 
 trance I lay, 
 And mine eyes were blind and misty, till a sudden 
 
 golden ray 
 Fell upon them with a sparkle and a light to 
 
 overwhelm 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 127 
 
 Every mist. Grey eyes and fearless gazed be- 
 neath a golden helm! 
 
 So my soul's sun dawned upon me, and I rose 
 up from my seat, 
 
 Whilst the sun bowed down beneath me plucked 
 a cendrige by my feet. 
 
 White I stood as stands a statue when he touched 
 the new plucked leaf 
 
 To the withered at my girdle, kneehng still, but 
 still the chief 
 
 Of my stature, and the crescent which upon my 
 brow had rest 
 
 Was beneath the leaf he gathered when he set it 
 in his crest. 
 
 Stark he knelt in homage pleading to my crescent 
 where I stood 
 
 Icy cold, till some strange Summer thawed away 
 my Winter mood. 
 
 Weak I grew and blind and dizzy in that new- 
 born Summer drouth. 
 
 And my hands stayed on his shoulders, and my 
 hps just passed his mouth. 
 
 And a cry was all about us in the dancing shapes 
 around 
 
128 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Moon and sun are met together, and this place is 
 holy ground. 
 
 (3) My bridegroom, my chosen, my strong one, in 
 
 whom my soul had delight, 
 My feet were by thine, my hand was in thine, as 
 
 they led us to phght 
 Our faith by the Stone. My heart was thy heart, 
 
 My will was thy will, 
 When Sri and the priests spake with us, and 
 
 bade our souls to fulfil 
 The vow of the lips by vow of the soul and swear 
 
 with the Soul 
 In sight of the people and priests and scribes 
 
 that stood to record 
 Our oath of faith with people and priests and 
 
 chiefs as a pair 
 That God made first in the land, to have it in 
 
 heedful care 
 And seek not ourselves but Eriu. The words of 
 
 that sacred oath 
 Were mine, but I know the Spirit of God had 
 
 fallen on both 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 129 
 
 For his day of days, being joyous thereat in a 
 
 waking dream 
 Wherein all faces and garments danced in one 
 
 sunny stream 
 Of eddying light, one only resting stalwart and 
 
 tall, 
 For though many great chiefs were round us he 
 
 stood the first of them all. 
 After that oath I stood calmer, and watched with 
 
 a careful eye, 
 When the oldest priest of Eriu set in the hands of Sri 
 A vessel of alabaster that once in the Promised 
 
 Land* 
 Was shapen and graved with the names of God by 
 
 its maker's hand. 
 Its oil had been pressed from the harvest of the 
 
 garden o'er Kedron's brook 
 Whereon mine eyes in childhood from my window 
 
 were wont to look, 
 Being perfumed with nard and cassia, most 
 
 precious. Then Sri drew near 
 To anoint me, but I stood up on my Stone, and 
 
 said without fear : 
 
 * Tir Taimgre. 
 I 
 
130 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 On this stone I am set for ever. In Egypt 
 
 anointed queen 
 Of the Hebrews. My throne in Jesse hath come 
 
 to these hills so green 
 For a little space, ere it wander, but wheresoever 
 
 it roam 
 Jesse shall seek and find it until he come to his 
 
 home 
 In the City of David wherein his sons shall rule 
 
 upon earth, 
 When the house of the Lord be builded with 
 
 praise and blessing and mirth. 
 
 (3.) Then Sri, being moved, forbade that my hus- 
 band's seat be with mine, 
 
 And prophesied of us saying: "This shall be 
 kept for thy line 
 
 And for thee ; but he that is by thee standeth on 
 Eriu's sward. 
 
 It is his by birth, and hereafter, this island shall 
 name him lord 
 
 Of its people to be their leader, and shape their 
 counsel in war : 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 131 
 
 But thou art of Isaac's children the guide and the 
 
 crescent star, 
 Wherein thy children shall shine, till the full 
 
 round circle shall beam 
 Of that orb wherewith the moon at her first 
 
 appearing doth teem. 
 He that is chosen amongst us, He shall be great 
 
 in thee, 
 And thy sons that shall be after. Is not his lot 
 
 to be 
 A father of thrones and kingdoms ? This is the 
 
 name he shall bear. 
 In the tongue of this people his title is Eochaidh 
 
 OUothair, 
 Eocaid, Sire of the Great Ones ; these sons of the 
 
 land which is great 
 Magh Mor, or of Og, the holy, that they learn of 
 
 their own estate. 
 And yearn to the promise, and David bless them if 
 
 this they know 
 That holiness unto the Lord is their greatness 
 
 wherein to grow.'' 
 Thus then spake Sri, whose silence to God was 
 
 on all men's tongue. 
 
132 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For the mouths of them that knew him, since in 
 
 Ezru's house he was young. 
 Ezru that fled out of Ghor, * when Asshur came 
 
 with his bands, 
 And ere he came unto Emain taught wisdom in 
 
 many lands : 
 But the mouth of his son was shut till his spirit, 
 
 nurtured of prayer. 
 Spake with the Spirit of God which worketh in 
 
 stones and air. 
 And whispers by reedy waters, and moves in the 
 
 mountain's shade, 
 And knoweth the inward parts, and wherefore 
 
 man's soul is afraid. 
 Now men marvelled much upon Sri, having 
 
 feared him and called him wise 
 And wary, but said that he feared neither spirit 
 
 nor prophesies. 
 Having taught as the scribes from rods, and the 
 
 teachers from ancient rules. 
 Being learned in many tongues, and chief of the 
 
 poet's schools, 
 
 * Fr. Gorius. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 133 
 
 Fearless but scant of speech, and though wisdom 
 
 dwelt with his word, 
 To this day his voice was silent when men spake 
 
 the praise of the Lord. 
 I beheld the people's wonder, and looked upon 
 
 Sri and knew 
 The mantle I oft had seen, and his word as a 
 
 prophet true. 
 And was glad in the Lord as my helper, whose 
 
 word should be held of me 
 As his who had led me from Egypt and helped 
 
 my paths in the sea. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 (l) Maistiv* the sister of Eocaid greeteth Tephi, andtelleih of 
 her brother; {2) Eocaid speaketh of Ethan and Bres ; (3) 
 Ethan, the son of Becelmus maketh a song, whereat the 
 heart of Tephi is softened towards him, beholding much 
 good in the man. 
 
 (i) Now soon my heart contracted, for a damsel 
 stately and fair. 
 Broad-browed, full-eyed, and gracious beneath 
 the crown of her hair, 
 
 * The exact relationship of Maistiv to Eocaid is somewhat 
 doubtful ; she may have been his aunt. 
 
134 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Large-limbed and nobly shapen, tall to a chieftain's 
 
 height, 
 Drew from the throngs before us, and now with 
 
 a queenly right 
 Took my bridegroom's head in her palms and 
 
 kissed him upon the lips. 
 Whilst cold went through me which passed from 
 
 heart unto finger tips ; 
 But my husband smiled, and said, " My queen, 
 
 yet thy servant's bride, 
 Behold the chief of thine handmaids, my sister 
 
 Maistiv, whose pride 
 Is Dan, Achaia and Eriu, who in her give fealty 
 
 to thee 
 Of the silver stem of Jesse, the golden flower of 
 
 his tree." 
 Thus shamed I my doubt with blushes, and we 
 
 kissed, and were ever knit 
 Though golden and dark, as sisters, unlike, yet 
 
 never a whit 
 Sundered in our unlikeness ; and Maistiv knelt 
 
 at my side 
 And told me that which gladdened my summer 
 
 of heart at that tide. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 135 
 
 But three days since as she wandered with one of 
 
 her maidens near 
 In the bowers of the woods by Mulach, thinking 
 
 to have no fear 
 Through the sacred days of assembly, lo, Bennan 
 
 the son of Kain 
 A foster servant of Balor's with seven men of his 
 
 train 
 Drew round her and led her with them ; but her 
 
 maid that was nigh had seen 
 From the hazel brake their doing, and slipped 
 
 from the leafy screen 
 To ride in haste to Pen Adair. Then, straightly 
 
 upon her word 
 Had Jochad taken his breastplate and girt him- 
 self with his sword 
 And leapt to his horse's saddle with three that he 
 
 had thereby. 
 Who galloped the trail she told of all day till the 
 
 midnight sky 
 Was sprinkled with stars, and came to the spot 
 
 where Bennan stayed 
 His course with the setting sun, and three of his 
 
 train were laid 
 
136 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Before them upon their onset, and one as he fled 
 
 away 
 Was stung by an arrow, but Jochad sought 
 
 not further to slay. 
 Setting her safe on his horse, which weary, carried 
 
 them back 
 Unto Mulach, her house, but scanty of patience 
 
 was he till their track 
 Was westwards in haste to Crofinn, whereat 
 
 much wonder had been, 
 But now she wondered a sister had drawn him 
 
 away from his queen. 
 
 (2) "Ay, sister," said Jochad, "a wonder, and much 
 
 had I longed to remain 
 If I had not brother or friend, but much I dwelt 
 
 on these twain, 
 Ethan and Bres my brother. In these I might 
 
 cast out fear 
 Lest the queen lacked fitting service, or my watch 
 
 of her light be near.'' 
 Then he turned upon Bres and Ethan and held 
 
 out a hand to each, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 137 
 
 And the first grasped forth at the hand, but 
 
 Ethan slipped 'neath its reach 
 And knelt till it touched his head ere he kissed 
 
 it with downcast face. 
 Then smiled my husband in chiding, and raised 
 
 him up in his place 
 And kindly questioned his gaze, and said, " Is it 
 
 well that thou 
 The chiefest bard of Eriu to a yeoman of Eriu 
 
 bow? 
 Thou castest down and thou raisest up. Our 
 
 glory in death 
 Is left to the bards that fill our ghosts with un- 
 dying breath 
 To rehearse our deeds to our children. Oh poet, 
 
 make us a lay 
 As glad as this hour is joyous, upraised as our 
 
 hearts this day." 
 Then Ethan said, " My lord and my king, my 
 
 spirit was dead and mute. 
 I was cast in the mire till thy coming. I have 
 
 broken the strings of my lute. 
 I have sinned and done great evil, and how may 
 
 thy servant sing ? " 
 
138 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And my bridegroom frowned, but I took from 
 
 my finger my golden ring 
 Fired with a heart of ruby, and said, " If a poet 
 
 know 
 His evil, he eateth knowledge, and knoweth of 
 
 good also. 
 I give thee a bane of serpents. Take this as a 
 
 charm to part 
 Thy soul from venom, such magic is stored in 
 
 my ruby heart." 
 He set my gift to his lips, and never a harp he took 
 But music out of their parting poured like a 
 
 running brook 
 As he sang the bridesong of Crofinn, glad as that 
 
 hour was glad 
 Are its words, and its fame is with him, but at 
 
 whiles his eyes drooped sad 
 On earth ; then, lifting again, they brightened 
 
 clear at my sight, 
 And turned on my bridegroom also, and were 
 
 honest and filled with light. 
 
 (3) What shall I sing thee. 
 
 My mistress, my queen ? 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 139 
 
 What may I bring thee ? 
 Heart's blood I would wring thee 
 
 Were this not too mean. 
 Thou hast bid me to sing 
 
 My master, my lord. 
 From thy servant, oh, king, 
 Take this, the queen's ring, 
 
 It is all of my hoard. 
 This ring had its heart 
 
 Of the Lord, the Most High. 
 By its magic of art 
 It shall throne thee apart 
 
 In the midst of the sky. 
 Thy place under heaven 
 
 Is near by her seat, 
 From dawn unto even 
 Thy foeman forgiven 
 
 Shall kneel at thy feet. 
 The Lord, the Bestower, 
 
 Gives gladness to thee. 
 Betwixt higher and lower. 
 
 He builds thee. His tower. 
 
 For this isle of the sea, 
 Whose lowly shall love thee. 
 
140 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Whose lofty bow down, 
 Whose priesthood approve thee, 
 Yet this gem set above thee 
 
 Shall be thy renown. 
 To thine honour give heed 
 
 And thy manhood with man. 
 Being noble in deed 
 Being chosen in seed 
 
 Being princely with Dan. 
 Yet the light of thine eye 
 
 Thy knowledge, thy truth. 
 Are faint in the sky 
 When thy moon rideth high 
 
 O'er the bosom of youth. 
 The magic she maketh 
 
 Is silvern and pure. 
 From the heart that she breaketh 
 A spirit awaketh 
 
 With strength to endure. 
 Receive this, my king, 
 
 With sweet spirits well stored. 
 The queen's heart, her ring, 
 Save the lays that I sing 
 
 It is all of my hoard. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 141 
 
 (4) We heard, and Jochad rejoicing, gave him his 
 finger ring 
 Golden, with fair bright pearls such as men of 
 
 the Sgiath bring 
 To our north coast; yea, and I gave him no 
 
 jewel or golden gem 
 But the olive twig my fingers had plucked 
 
 by Jerusalem 
 To keep my heart in remembrance. So fled 
 
 the cloudlet away 
 That in all the light of Summer had shadowed 
 
 my joy that day. 
 Then the priests went desiul * round us thrice, 
 
 and chanted a charm 
 To stay our steps by each other, and fence us 
 
 from outer harm, 
 But I know that we needed naught in our circle 
 
 of hearts complete. 
 So went we in to the feast, where I sat in the 
 
 highest seat 
 Betwixt my husband and Maistai; and Ethan 
 
 sang to the guests, 
 And Sri gave blessing upon us before we went 
 to our rests. 
 
 * Sunwise. 
 
142 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter XVIII 
 
 (l) Balorthe descendant of Neith goetk homewards angry ; (2) 
 Tephi sitteth in judgment ; (3) Cairbre the son of Etain 
 maketh a song against Bres the son of Elaiha, 
 
 (i) At the dawn we heard how Balor of the western 
 
 islands had fled 
 By the slope of the chariots homeward. I had 
 
 heard his horse's tread 
 And his wheels of iron ere dawn, and marvelled 
 
 of what might move 
 With that sound and quaked in the dark, but 
 
 the bridegroom spake words of love 
 Which builded my heart in strength, and spake 
 
 of those things that I 
 Might work in this land of the ocean, if the God 
 
 of my sires was nigh 
 Unto me as to Moses in Egypt. And thus in 
 
 this far off strand 
 My heart might be cheered within me with sight 
 
 of the Promised Land.* 
 He had heard the songs of Zion, and the common 
 
 folk in prayer, 
 
 * Tir TairDgre. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 14.3 
 
 Named its name as a charm, and knelt with their 
 
 faces there, 
 Not sunwise as the priests did ; and his spirit was 
 
 sorely grieved 
 When I told him of Zion's fall, and greatly his 
 
 heart believed 
 In the Lord, and he prayed that idols might 
 
 forth from our land be cast, 
 And joy return to Moriah, and its sorrow be 
 
 overpast. 
 
 (2) When we went from our booth at the morn, I 
 
 was led to a little hill * 
 By the banks, whereon was my seat ; that before 
 
 the people, my will 
 Might be seen and known of many, and Eriu 
 
 learn my word. 
 Which Sri, son of Eschmun the scribe was set 
 
 by me to record. 
 With Aci, son of Alghuba, as herald to shout my 
 
 choice. 
 Or proclaim my goings before me ; for his was a 
 
 mighty voice. 
 
 * The royal hill of the judgments at Tata. 
 
144 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 In warfare or peace, save Ethan, was no man 
 
 broader than he, 
 And these twain I set together for truth and 
 
 service to me, 
 With En, and with Sri, and with Ogma, my 
 
 husband's champion and friend. 
 My almost brother, for these were faithful unto 
 
 the end, 
 And helpful in my beginning ; also Nuadh, the 
 
 brave old man. 
 Who all the days of his youth was chief of the 
 
 host of Dan, 
 And led the miledh of Erin, ere his hand was 
 
 smitten in fight ; 
 Being first to kneel at my feet; and that old 
 
 man's eyes were bright 
 And his strength not yet abated. He spake as a 
 
 man of war, 
 That his knees were stiffened with age before 
 
 men, but queens led far 
 And their followers never wearied ; so, smiling, I 
 
 give him thanks 
 For himself and his band of Dannites, and a 
 
 cheer went up from their ranks. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 145 
 
 Many a chief came after, and Crimthann came 
 
 with the rest, 
 And Bres, and my husband also. It irked me 
 
 much that his quest 
 Was to sit in my sight before me, yet ill example 
 
 had been. 
 If one alone unquestioned might break the state 
 
 of the Queen 
 Being set in judgment on all men. Full soon 
 
 my judgments began, 
 For a chieftain of Crimthann's came with claims 
 
 on a husbandman 
 Whose few sheep wandered astray, and ate three 
 
 days of his land 
 Ere the aire found them. Then Crimthann 
 
 standing forth from his band 
 Claimed the sheep for the grass j but I said " the 
 
 flock and the field 
 Have titles, but know ye not that each hath its 
 
 proper yield, 
 Take ye three fleeces then, but leave the aire his 
 
 sheep." * 
 
 * This judgment belongs of right to Cormac Mac Art. 
 K 
 
146 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Then e'en Crimthann laughed aloud, and sware 
 
 that my laws were deep, 
 And fleeces should go for the grass. So Aci 
 
 shouted aloud 
 This judgment, and praise and laughter arose in 
 
 the mingled crowd. 
 
 {3) Then a weighty matter beset me whereat I was 
 ill at ease. 
 
 Baring my thought unto God, yea, even as on 
 my keees. 
 
 A bard of the land stood forward, and bidding 
 the chiefs regard 
 
 His song, he chanted " the rights and due re- 
 wards of a bard," 
 
 And rehearsed " the rights and duties and proper 
 state of a chief," 
 
 And then "the customs of Eriu in all that re- 
 gards a thief 
 
 And the shames that await a niggard." Lastly he 
 spake the grief 
 
 Of Eriu in yielding tributes to save her shores 
 from her foes 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 147 
 
 Without, and within her taxings, and her burden 
 
 of heavy woes 
 From the chiefs fierce guards and firbolgs. " Our 
 
 miledh" he sang "we keep 
 As sheep-dogs to guard our pasture, neither 
 
 sheep to feed with the sheep, 
 Nor mongrels with cheftain's mongrels who snap 
 
 at the lambs in fold. 
 But these watch-dogs bark in the sun, or snap 
 
 upon flies, grown old. 
 But Bres, their leadei" is watchful, he setteth his 
 
 ships by the beach. 
 His jaws are ever open, he sucketh the tax like a 
 
 leech. 
 He storeth gold in his chamber, even in every 
 
 house 
 Of Bres is a treasure chamber, but therein never 
 
 a mouse, 
 For the tables of Bres are empty. I passed by 
 
 a house of Bres 
 Who sat in a broidered garment, and toyed in 
 
 his wantonness 
 Amongst the locks of his damsels. His arms 
 
 were laden with rings 
 
148 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Of Eriu's gold. Then sang I his wealth, and 
 
 the mighty things 
 That he wrought in fight with the Firbolgs ; after 
 
 Edlai and Turild were slain ; 
 And Nuadh wounded of Sreng might hardly the 
 
 fight maintain, 
 How he slew Mac Ere, and drove the Firbolgs, 
 
 and compassed about 
 Strong Sreng, till he gave him pledges. This 
 
 land hath never in doubt 
 The strength or beauty of Bres. By land and by 
 
 sea we know 
 Men fear him and women love him. Why then 
 
 is his glory low ? 
 
 Save unto foolish maidens the welcome of Bres 
 
 is cold. 
 
 Save for his own attiring the garments of Bres 
 are old. 
 
 Save on his shipmen's armour he spendeth little 
 
 of gold. 
 
 At his door is a couch of purple. His guest is 
 set on the sward, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 149 
 
 At his door the blind and the lame unto prayer 
 
 find scant reward. 
 On his door are bars of iron wherewith he 
 
 guardeth his hoard. 
 
 In his house is neither music nor laughter nor 
 
 sound of feast. 
 In his house a fierce hound snarleth but never 
 
 another beast. 
 In his house is neither aire, nor chieftain, nor 
 
 scribe, nor priest. 
 
 On his hearth is one small fire, it roasteth a little 
 
 food. 
 By his hearth a stout wench turns it, and the 
 
 smell of the meat is good. 
 By his hearth one trencher is warm though he 
 
 burneth but little wood. 
 
 In his cave are rusty cauldrons that his mother 
 
 once filled with ale. 
 In his cave are rotting meadvats, for his bees and 
 
 his honey fail. 
 In his cave is a broken pitcher, and the whey in 
 
 that pitcher stale. 
 
15° THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 In his closet are wines of Chittim which even as 
 
 rubies shine. 
 In his closet wine of Tarshish like molten gold of 
 
 the mine. 
 In his closet are precious vessels, and one was 
 
 brimming with wine. 
 
 For the bard a fragment of bone ! For the bard 
 
 the pitcher of whey ! 
 For the bard a seat on a stone ! For the bard a 
 
 hovel of clay ! 
 From the bard sour whey, picked bone, cold 
 
 stone, for a prince this day ! ! * 
 
 * The above, though not a translation, reflects pretty accur- 
 ately the spirit of the song of Cairbre Mac Etain against Eocho 
 Bres Mac Elatha upon this important occasion. It is reputed 
 to be the first satire uttered in Erin ; and if so, is good for a 
 beginner. The portion not in triplets is inserted as a con- 
 venient introduction to the previous record of the niggardly 
 Alcibiades of the Tuatha de Danan, to whom he belonged on 
 the mother's side. Elatha his father was not a Dannite, but a 
 sea-king, probably in the first instance from the Spanish Bregia, 
 and afterwards settled in Britain. For my present purpose, as 
 I have represented him as looking to the gathering of the 
 scattered tribes, I must consider him as a Simeonite or Gaddite 
 by descent. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI ijl 
 
 Chapter XIX 
 
 Of the deposition of Bres the son of Elatha as leader of the host, 
 and the appointment of Nuadh of the Silver Hand in his 
 stead. 
 
 Now cast I mine eyes towards Jochad who 
 
 hearkened to Cairbre's song 
 In sorrow, for greatly he loved his fellow that did 
 
 this wrong, 
 And therefore answered me not, nor spake when 
 
 voices arose 
 Crying for him and Nuadh. Then watching these 
 
 matters close 
 My God gave help. Though I yearned that 
 
 Jochad might lead, I knew 
 His will was not to the spear, and only with need 
 
 he drew 
 The sword from its sheath in battle. Moreover, 
 
 meseemed that I 
 Was little advised of these things, lacking strength 
 
 to descry 
 Wherein I might choose ; and therefore I watched 
 
 long time their debate, 
 
152 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Till it rose in stormwinds of fury and howled in 
 
 tempests of hate. 
 Then shook I the chain of silence,* bidding Aci 
 
 proclaim my peace ; 
 And he with a voice of thunder compelled their 
 
 strivings to cease, 
 And aiding the son of Eschmun set forth stones 
 
 on the ground. 
 Whereon the names of the captains of all the 
 
 hundreds were found ; 
 Yet Jochad's was set not with them, and this was 
 
 done by my will ; 
 For Jochad answered my glance with a brow un- 
 troubled and still. 
 Then the throng passed by before me, and each 
 
 man carried a stone. 
 Laying it as I ordered, but choice was with him 
 
 alone 
 Of the wand whereby he should cast it. The 
 
 heap about Nuadh grew 
 Till it capped the name which was written, but 
 
 the castings for Bres were few, 
 
 * Hung by the side of the monarchs, and probably orna- 
 mented with small bells. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 153 
 
 And Ogma Ethdan and Aci had each a mound to 
 
 his name, 
 And stones were given by some unto champions 
 
 of lesser fame ; 
 But Crimthann plucked forth his staff, nor would 
 
 he cast his stone. 
 Saying he loved not to lead another band than 
 
 his own ; 
 And Balor's men were away; therefore his lot 
 
 was bare, 
 And the Breogan down in the South in that 
 
 council had scorned to share, 
 Saying they held their coasts, and payed neither 
 
 tax nor tythe, 
 Having armour and spears for all men, and hoping 
 
 therewith to thrive ; 
 So their princes came not to Crofinn. Little 
 
 need was to count 
 The stones, but the son of Eschmun reckoned a 
 
 sure amount. 
 Four hundred and six unto Nuadh, to Bres but 
 
 fifty and three. 
 Then darkness fell upon Bres, and fiercely he 
 
 cried on me 
 
154 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 "Thou shall dearly rue thy castings," and in 
 
 answer I was not slack. 
 " The queen casts lots for no man." But the 
 
 cloud hung heavy and black 
 As he turned to his booth and left us, and Jochad 
 
 my husband went 
 And reasoned therein, but left him in silence and 
 
 ill content. 
 And that night he rode to Pen Edair ; and this 
 
 was beginning of all 
 The strife that arose thereafter, and of many a 
 
 brave man's fall. 
 Yet my soul rejoiced over Nuadh, to witness the 
 
 patient man 
 Who braved wounds and neglect in silence ride 
 
 forth at head of his clan, 
 Waving his keen bright spear aloft in one shining 
 
 hand, 
 And bearing high in the other the mace of his old 
 
 command 
 Amidst the shouts of the miledh ; and he rode 
 
 by my seat to cry 
 " O, queen, we are thine for ever. We die in thy 
 
 name, Tephi." 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 155 
 
 Then my heart rose up as a queen's, and I spake, 
 
 " Nay, not with the rod, 
 Or the spear will I rule this island, but reign in 
 
 the strength of God." 
 Oh, mad are my people's shoutings. Their hearts 
 
 are carried away. 
 In love of my folk thenceforward I travail both 
 
 night and day. 
 
 Chapter XX 
 
 (l) Tephi goeth to the North to behold her land, and Ethan part- 
 ing from her train is taken captive by Tethra and certain 
 firbolgs that are with him ; (2)Jochad goeth to seek him, 
 and leadeth him back to their company* 
 
 (i) When the days of assembly ended, we went unto 
 
 fair Emain 
 Where Nuadh entertained us, and so by river and 
 
 plain 
 Through the North. A hundred chosen men as 
 
 our guards he sent, 
 
 * This episode took place later, after the battle of Magh 
 Tuireadh, and Lugaid the son of Ith was Eocaid's companion 
 in the rescue of Ethan, otherwise spoken of as Abchan, or 
 Uaithne, from Tethra and his rough followers. But I have 
 killed Ethan in the battle. 
 
156 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And fifty warriors of Dan, who with helms to 
 
 their horsemanes bent 
 And sharp stiff spears before, were strongest 
 
 arrows of fight, 
 For the steeds that were under these sped each 
 
 like a shaft in flight. 
 Then turned we again towards Mulach where 
 
 Maistiu would have us stay ; 
 But e'en as we went from the North a little space 
 
 on our way 
 A thing befell which was evil, and showed the 
 
 wrongs of my land, 
 For Tethra the fomorc champion lurked with a 
 
 savage band 
 Of firbolgs in hills by the sea, and nought were 
 
 we told of this 
 For the coastmen helped the fomorcs, though 
 
 knowing the farms should miss 
 Many sheep and oxen and swine. Now Ethan, 
 
 going apart 
 To assuage his soul with silence in some sudden 
 
 blackness of heart, 
 Which ofttimes came upon him and drove him 
 
 forth to the field, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 157 
 
 By these firbolgs was carried captive. Sore was 
 
 he loath to yield, 
 But swordless and lone on the mountain ; and all 
 
 of us angered sore 
 At that word. Then bade I our miledh to search 
 
 the hills and restore 
 Our bard to our train ; but Jochad ever wary and 
 
 brave 
 Said " nay, yon hills and their quagmires should 
 
 be many a miledh's grave 
 Hunting these goats amongst them. These 
 
 shaggy firbolgs will hide. 
 Each with his pouch of stones at his waist on the 
 
 mountain side, 
 Where the horsemen may not seek him, and the 
 
 footman climbeth aloft 
 Till he comes to some mossgreen hollow where 
 
 the footing is foul and soft. 
 Then cometh a stone from a crag, and its hurler 
 
 creepeth away, 
 Whilst the miledh if he be scatheless is stayed by 
 
 water and clay. 
 Myself shall seek after Ethan." Then cried I 
 
 against him ; but, still 
 
IS8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Yet strongly, of right he spake. At the last, I 
 gave him my will 
 
 That he went, though my heart was heavy. In a 
 mantle of green went he. 
 
 Barefoot with his harp before him, and his gar- 
 ments scarce to his knee 
 
 As a harper goeth unarmoured, and therefore 
 unhurt of men, 
 
 Alone in the heart of the mountains to seek these 
 wolves in their den. 
 
 (2) Now Jochad had skill of their customs, and knew 
 
 their wont was to feast 
 On the stolen mountain cattle, and sleep like the 
 
 savage beast 
 'Neath the sky, but had meat in plenty, and song 
 
 was sweet in their ear ; 
 And if these had taken Ethan, it was that they 
 
 longed to hear 
 The magic of Ethan's singing, but Ethan was 
 
 wroth and stayed 
 Both his tongue and harp, and sware no music of 
 
 his should be played 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 159 
 
 Before swine ; thus the men were angry, and 
 
 surely had sold him forth 
 To go as a slave with Tethra to serve some chief 
 
 of the North. 
 Now their track was followed by Jochad till he 
 
 came to a pasture wild 
 Where Tethra was with the firbolgs, both man 
 
 and woman and child, 
 And they set their meats before him, and soon 
 
 he arose to play. 
 Playing the gentraith swiftly till their heels were 
 
 frolic and gay, 
 And they drank and danced to the gentraith till 
 
 after the sun was set. 
 Then he changed the string of his playing, and 
 
 the wildmen's eyes were wet 
 At the plaintive sorrow of goltraiths, most mourn- 
 ful his harp and slow 
 Whilst he chanted the dirge of Clidna and many a 
 
 tale of woe 
 Till the eyes of them all grew heavy, and further 
 
 they might not weep, 
 So low he murmured the swantraith and soothed 
 
 their souls into sleep ; 
 
i6o THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Then gently playing he stirred, and murmuring 
 
 still, untied 
 The bonds of Ethan and left them, and played 
 
 down the valley side 
 Till swift on the moor they departed, and came 
 
 to us ere the morn, 
 Ethan silent and shamed, but like a thrush from 
 
 the thorn 
 Was the homeward whistle of Jochad. Now all 
 
 the hours of the night 
 I had sorrowed upon and blamed them, but an 
 
 hour ere dawning of light 
 I heard the whistle of Jochad, and stood in the 
 
 door of my tent 
 And railed at my early waking, till Ethan followed 
 
 my bent 
 And we three had mirth together. Then said 
 
 Ethan, " Queen, mistress mine. 
 Ye be like and unlike together, but in likeness ye 
 
 are divine. 
 And holy in all unlikeness : Being pure, ye are 
 
 merry of heart. 
 Ye are both too proud and humble of one that 
 
 lacks soul to depart ; 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI i6l 
 
 Who is proud where ye are humble, and humbled 
 
 where ye are proud, 
 And pardoned, lacks grace to crawl as a worm for 
 
 a grace allowed." 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 ( I ) Tephi Cometh to Mulach, * and seeth there the evil wrought 
 by Grisbane, the duughter of Richis upon Maistiu, and 
 the slaying of her thereafter; (2) She telleth the state of 
 Maistiu in the blindness which hath fallen upon her by 
 Grisbane, the Canaanitish woman. 
 
 (i) So came we to Maistiu to MuUagh. She made 
 
 us a merry cheer. 
 Her brow was open and happy. Her eyes were 
 
 steadfast and clear, 
 Yet often they fell upon Ethan, and as she sat by 
 
 her warp t 
 With her needle painting blossoms she loved the 
 
 voice of the harp 
 On the flowery banks beside her. This thing in 
 
 mine eyes seemed good, 
 
 * Mulach, now MuUaghmast, i.e., the wood of Maistiu. 
 
 t Maistiu was the best embroideress of Eriu, and the first who 
 embroidered a cross upon a garment for Angus, Tephi's second 
 son. 
 
 L 
 
i62 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For many spirits had Ethan, and his was a noble 
 
 blood 
 Of the princes of Dan, yet lower ; whilst Maistiu 
 
 lofty and pure 
 Was a queen to rule all spirits of man from a 
 
 height secure : 
 But there came a guest unto Maistiu, a Canaanite 
 
 from the South, 
 Grisbane, daughter of Richis. A poppy bloomed 
 
 in her mouth, 
 Her eyes danced sapphire sparkles. A baal-fire 
 
 gleamed in her hair 
 Of ruby and gold and amber, for the woman was 
 
 very fair. 
 Skilled in the twisting of tiars or stringing gems 
 
 for the neck, 
 And her own was white as hawthorn. On her 
 
 snowy arms no speck 
 Was discerned on their round whiteness ; but evil 
 
 of heart was she, 
 And skilled in unholy cunning, knowing the fruit 
 
 of the tree 
 Which is harmful, and herbs that are deadly, and 
 
 fashioning charms thereof 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 163 
 
 To slay the spirit of man or kindle his soul to 
 
 love. 
 Long time was this witch betrothed unto Bennan 
 
 the son of Kain,* 
 But chose for her sport to tarry, and still unwed to 
 
 remain, 
 Casting her nets on champions. Upon Ethan 
 
 now was her cast, 
 With spells to draw him beside her. Therefore 
 
 it pleased her at last 
 To send him a tryst in the beechwood; yet, 1 
 
 know not if he were weak 
 And minded to Grisbane's kisses, but she doubted 
 
 not he would seek 
 Her tryst, and herself went thither. Now chanced 
 
 it by luckless hap 
 I was weary within that even, and cast my shreds 
 
 from my lap 
 Whereon had been Maistiu's lessons, and called 
 
 her forth to the wood 
 
 * I have taken a license here. Bennan does not enter this tale 
 at all, whilst the man beloved of Maistiu and Grisbane with such 
 tragic results was Daire, son of Eocho Taebfhada, for whom I 
 have no use elsewhere. 
 
1 64 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Where she walked in her height beside me until 
 
 in a path we stood 
 Of soft grass amidst the hazels. There I was 
 
 minded to stay 
 Whilst Maistiu plucking the filberts slowly went 
 
 on her way 
 Down the green glade before me most lovely and 
 
 tall and fair, 
 With all the flame of the sunset alight in her 
 
 golden hair, 
 When I hear a voice beside her, " My love thou 
 
 art come full late," 
 Then a sudden cry and a speech upraised in 
 
 anger and hate, 
 "He sends Bennan's leman to mock me, but 
 
 ne'er shalt thou mock again. 
 Who mocketh at Richis' daughter hath blindness, 
 
 foulness and pain." 
 Then one screamed, and I ran in terror, and low 
 
 on the mossy ground 
 Lay Maistiu, lay my sister, but blemish of blood 
 
 was not found 
 Upon her, though deathly anguish furrowed the 
 
 broad white brow 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 165 
 
 And a darkened juice oozed slowly 'twixt the 
 
 close-shut lids below 
 Wherewith the skin was purpled. So sank I down 
 
 at the spot 
 Deeming her slain, but she moved and said to 
 
 me, " Touch me not 
 Lest the poison work upon thee. Bring water," 
 
 she whispered lowj 
 And my mind flew swift in circles, debating 
 
 hither and fro 
 To stay or leave her defenceless, but quickly I 
 
 kissed her lips. 
 And praying quitted her side, to slip as a fawn 
 
 that slips 
 Through the brake till I found the open, and 
 
 chanced upon Ethan near, 
 Who [free and glad at a mark was tossing his 
 
 hunting spear. 
 Swiftly I told our hap and returned. As a hound 
 
 that flees 
 At the stag, sped Ethan for water, and found us, 
 
 and on his knees 
 He bathed the poison from Maistiu in silence. 
 
 A woman's skill 
 
i66 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Was in the fingers of Ethan, yet I feared that the 
 
 hurt should kill, 
 For Maistiu spake not and stirred not, nor might 
 
 we move her to quaff 
 From the vessel of clear spring water. Then 
 
 was a mocking laugh 
 Beside us. " Never again shall thy leman behold 
 
 the day. 
 Or smile in thy smiles for ever. Too skilled was 
 
 my mother's way 
 Of mixing her charms to fail me.'' Then Ethan 
 
 rose to his feet 
 Raising the pitcher aloft, and hurled it down till 
 
 it beat 
 Full on the face of Grisbane, surely a weight like 
 
 lead, 
 At his knee she kneeled and stumbled. At his 
 
 feet she fell down dead. 
 
 (2) Yes, blind, ever blind thereafter, unto the end of 
 her days, 
 Yet cheerful therewithal winning great affection 
 
 and praise. 
 Where she might not broider her flowers she prac- 
 tised a cunning craft 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 167 
 
 Of her own with a fish-hook straightened, and 
 
 raised up her face and laughed 
 When I praised her taste in the colours. My 
 
 children loved her and clung 
 Round her knees for kisses and stories. Many 
 
 tears both of old and young 
 Water the flowers o'er Maistiu. — Of Ethan an 
 
 eric fine 
 Was claimed by Richis of Breogan, a merchant 
 
 who drew forth wine 
 And armour and vessels from Tarshish ; but 
 
 message I sent him back 
 That Grisbane had sought her slaying, and well 
 
 for her none was slack 
 To answer such woman's prayer which saved her- 
 self from the stake ; 
 For scarce had I pardoned Grisbane even for 
 
 Maistiu's sake. 
 Who prayed me towards softer answer. Our 
 
 Ethan was soft with her 
 And gentle to all her teachings, but he brooked 
 
 not any spur, 
 Scarcely my touch thereafter, oft hiding himself 
 
 afar, 
 
i68 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 At times returning with songs which stirred up 
 
 men's hearts to war, 
 AX. times returning with dirges he sang with a 
 
 face like death, 
 At whiles with riddles the priesthood debated 
 
 with angry breath. 
 Much did my heart lean towards him. Were I 
 
 not set as queen 
 With Jochad my love, by Maistiu my chosen 
 
 portion had been 
 When I saw him lying before her with the dews 
 
 of grief in his eye. 
 And the Lord that knoweth the heart, hereafter 
 
 shall tell me why. 
 
 Chapter XXII 
 
 ( I ) Bres seeking aid of Elatha and finding it not^ sendetk unto 
 Balor lord of the isles, and to the provinces of the north 
 and the firbolgs. Crimthami undertakes to guard the 
 western shore. Confusion is in the latid and counsel 
 undecided. 
 
 (i) Now came ill tidings to Mulach, for Bres in 
 Elatha's hall 
 Sought aid, but his father heard him and hel ped 
 not his son at all. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 169 
 
 Beholding his firstborn angered, yet causeless in 
 
 ill content. 
 For Bres came unto his presence, and thus their 
 
 discourses went. 
 Said Elatha, " Welcome, oh Bres, but wherefore 
 
 now art thou come 
 When charge of the miledhs of Eriu forbiddeth 
 
 thee long to roam." * 
 " I have left them, I plundered their gold, and 
 
 now in the mire they rout 
 In fury and hunger for roots, and are fain to cast 
 
 me out." 
 "My son, the good of a man is naught by the 
 
 good of a land." 
 " I have sucked the fruit of the soil, but fain 
 
 again would I stand 
 On the necks of the men I hated, and set their 
 
 houses to flame." 
 " My son, thou speakest before me the words of 
 
 an open shame. 
 Be sure of this, that a kingdom never again shall 
 
 plight 
 
 * This conversation still exists. 
 
I70 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 To an unjust seeker the faith betrayed of one 
 
 that had right." 
 So Bres flung out from his father and hurried 
 
 into the north 
 And gathered the barks of the fomorcs that 
 
 through all the islands go forth, 
 And summoned the Sgiath and Galls, and sent 
 
 forth men to the west 
 Unto Balor, Indech and Bennan, with gold to 
 
 help in the quest 
 Of their coastmen hillmen and fomorcs. These 
 
 promised him certain aid. 
 And Corrgen only of Ailech refused the askings 
 
 he made. 
 Crimthann answered him not, as always his 
 
 custom had been 
 Unto men, but sent me a script wherein he 
 
 named me as queen. 
 And wrote, " Thou hast builded a throne if its 
 
 base be the noble's will. 
 But mind thee that over his serfs the Chief is the 
 
 chieftain still. 
 Bid me to fight with a chief, I will answer then 
 
 at thy call. 
 
TBE BOOK OF TEPHI \Ti. 
 
 But I wrestle not with my swineherds, nor throw 
 
 with cooks for a fall." 
 So I sent him a message back, " To the queen is 
 
 thy word made plain. 
 And she biddeth thee keep thy house against 
 
 king-thieves of the main, 
 Which is no ill service to Eriu, nor unbefitting a 
 
 chief." 
 Then came a captain of his from his keep with 
 
 an answer brief, 
 " I obey," and Jochad approved me ; but chiefly 
 
 he set his care 
 On Bregia. Before this day the Breogan had 
 
 little share 
 In the deeds of the regions northwards. Strong 
 
 were their men and tall, 
 Their weapons mighty and many, their cashels 
 
 fenced with a wall, 
 Whilst their traders rich within them drew to- 
 gether as one. 
 Now Jochad feared that in Grsibane the hope of 
 
 their peace was gone. 
 If their spears were against us Nuadh should be 
 
 but a feeble strength ; 
 
172 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Therefore we called him from Emain and heard 
 
 these matters at length ; 
 And he spake of his miledh unpaid, save his own 
 
 band the most were lax 
 To practice, and many escaped ; whilst Bres had 
 
 handled the tax 
 Witholding their food and armour, and now few 
 
 taxes were paid 
 For the miledh, but many to Baal, the people 
 
 waxing afraid 
 At cursings of priests, and rumours of war ; yet 
 
 the tax of gold 
 Was paid to the fomorcs, but failed their thievish 
 
 vessels to hold. 
 These had harried the coast of the north, and 
 
 pillaged the island of Mod. 
 Where they burned the house of Ogma, and beat 
 
 his men with a rod. 
 Whilst they set them to bind his timbers fair into 
 
 many a raft, 
 And bore them away to Lochlann each at the 
 
 heels of his craft. 
 Nuadh, though fieryhearted, told us no braggart's 
 
 lies. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 173 
 
 He longed as a steed for battle, but yet was wary 
 
 and wise. 
 Braggarts came thither to us, and most of the 
 
 common folk 
 And farmers believed that I by spells might 
 
 lighten their yoke. 
 I know that the Lord is mighty with little or 
 
 great to find 
 An aid, but as queen mine office was all my 
 
 people to bind 
 In one, not kindle their strifes; so leaned 1 on 
 
 Nuadh's word 
 And on Sri and my husband Jochad, and sware 
 
 I would lift no sword 
 If other resource there might be. Much weighty 
 
 discourse we had. 
 The land being vexed with tumult, the hearts of 
 
 the rulers bad. 
 Now mostly we feared that Breogan might set 
 
 themselves to our harm. 
 Then said I before them all, " I have neither 
 
 spells nor a charm 
 To blast like the witches of Breogan ; yet ye have 
 
 heard the fall 
 
174 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Of Ai. If God be with us, the shields of the 
 
 coastmen's wall 
 Shall fail at my word. Then Jochad and Sri 
 
 beheld me and saw 
 How my heart had hidden purpose, and my will 
 
 unto these was law. 
 
 Chapter XXIII 
 
 (l) Dala scorneik in the gate of Mulach, and is discomfited by 
 Ethan ; (2) Tephi goeth to his reliefs ajid meeteth Lugaid 
 the son of Ith of the Breogan^ who was come out against 
 her ; (3) she leadeth Lugaid u7ito her hushand^ having the 
 most part of the Breogan with her. 
 
 (1) Next morn departed Nuadh to summon the 
 
 chiefs of the host 
 To Emain, and nigh to our gate came a heathen 
 
 bard with a boast 
 How Balor was drawn unto Bres, and those 
 
 would make me a feast 
 Unto every unclean bird and to every noisome 
 
 beast ■ 
 And my miledh were little to peck at though few 
 
 should be left alive 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 175 
 
 " The horses of Balor a thousand, his chariots one 
 
 hundred and five, 
 The men of his hills five thousand, four from his 
 
 septs in the plain. 
 Of the miledh of Bregin three thousand draw 
 
 nigh from the southern main, 
 And Crimthann shall be behind thee with the 
 
 war-wolves of Pen Edair 
 That are never slack to their hunting. Yea, 
 
 surely they shall not spare." 
 Now, save that fighting in battle a bard is sacred 
 
 of men, 
 Surely an arrow had sped from our fences and 
 
 slain him then, 
 But Ethan was angered, and ran from the watch- 
 gate, and cried his name, 
 " Ho Dala, called son of Cliath,* that knows 
 
 not his mother's shame. 
 Called also son of the swineherd, called also son 
 
 of the groom. 
 It seems in Carnamatirech t thou findest but 
 
 little room. 
 
 * A harper of the 3rd rank. 
 
 t The fort of the wolves. *Still in fair preservation. 
 
176 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Outcast by Bennan the swine, Nay, that is a 
 wrong indeed. 
 
 Though he rout thee away from his trough, I 
 fling thee food for the need 
 
 Of thy mouth, three mouths in gaping ; of thy 
 teeth ill ordered but great, 
 
 That thy paunch which sags before thee may rise 
 up in high estate. 
 
 May it fill thy hunger, oh Dala, and stay the 
 edge of that note 
 
 Of famine above the hoarseness of crows which 
 dwells in thy throat 
 
 When thou singest the praise of Bennan." 
 Therewith an apple he sped 
 
 Large but of early Summer, and smote the mouth 
 in the head 
 
 Of Dala, the son of Cliath, and brake the half of 
 his teeth 
 
 Parting his jaws asunder, whilst blood ran stream- 
 ing beneath. 
 
 He might not answer to Ethan, but staggering, 
 turned him back 
 
 And shamed by scorn of our grooms with totter- 
 ing limbs and slack 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 177 
 
 Passed down the path to the meadows. I heard 
 
 the sound of their cheer, 
 And leaving my maidens alone, to the guard at 
 
 our gate drew near. 
 And beholding him driven away, enquired of 
 
 wherefore he went, 
 And saw him fall on his face as he drew to a 
 
 broad-stretched tent 
 Some stranger had pitched there at morn, but 
 
 none came forth to his aid ; 
 So I took a vessel of water, and ran, and was not 
 
 afraid. 
 Then Ethan and Sri ran after, but I waved them 
 
 back from the field. 
 And came on its sward to Dala, and down by his 
 
 corse I kneeled, 
 And brake the fruit from his jaws, and cleansed 
 
 them of blood, and poured 
 A wine of the South therein that was given by 
 
 Ith the lord 
 Of Tarshish, sunlight and honey. Then after a 
 
 space he woke, 
 But his eyes were troubled and weary and never 
 
 a word he spoke. 
 
 M 
 
178 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 (2) Still bathed I his front with water when I guessed 
 
 behind me the tread 
 Of one that came from that tent, so pausing I 
 
 raised my head 
 And saw one mighty of stature, the plates of 
 
 whose greaves were gilt, 
 The sheath of whose sword shone rubies, and 
 
 hung from a golden hilt. 
 The breadth of whose breast was spacious, and 
 
 scaled with an armour of gold, 
 Dark bearded, yet white and ruddy, with features 
 
 of princely mould ; 
 And he spake, " Do elves of Eriu go forth in her 
 
 fields by day 
 To work their charms, and draw the soul from 
 
 the lips and slay ? 
 So would I be slain if thou wiliest, but what is 
 
 that potent charm 
 Wherewith thou hast restored him ? Wouldst 
 
 thou work him a further harm ? " 
 Then smiling I said, "No charm, but wine I 
 
 poured in his mouth 
 To help him out of his swoon. In vines of the 
 
 warmer South 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 179 
 
 Was it grown of the best of the land, for in 
 
 Gadesh the men of Ith 
 The lord of Breogan and Eber have vines and 
 
 are rich therewith." 
 Then that mighty chief was stirred, and took my 
 
 phial to his hand 
 And said, " Yea, this is of Gadesh, what knowest 
 
 thou of that land, 
 If woman not spirit thou art ? for never such 
 
 sight, I ween, 
 Before the tent of Lugaid as thee and thy garb 
 
 was seen." 
 Then joyous I said, "Oh Lugaid, art thou the 
 
 son of the soul 
 Of him that named me his daughter, who, brook- 
 ing no chief's control. 
 Went out with thine own five vessels to seek thee 
 
 a home, and build 
 Thee a house wherein to rule. Thy father heard 
 
 thou wast killed 
 On the seas, and mourned, and told me thy tale. 
 
 Why then art thou here ? 
 I was but his child by choice ; but thou his true 
 
 son shouldst cheer 
 
i8o THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 The eyes and ears of his age." " If thou art my 
 
 sister," he said, 
 " I seem to hear and see the voice of one that is 
 
 dead. 
 My mother, but set that by. I am here to speak 
 
 with the folk 
 Whom Jochad brings from the middens and 
 
 hovels and stables and yoke, 
 To find there some champion. I sailed upon 
 
 many seas till I found 
 A people of Breogan. There, I drew my ships 
 
 to the ground 
 To reign as a prince amongst them, and though I 
 
 love not the chiefs 
 Of the inland clans, they are fellows. I share not 
 
 a bard's beliefs 
 That men be equal, and seek to see if my equal 
 
 they find 
 In Ogma, or Ethdan, slaves of the fomorcs time 
 
 out of mind, 
 Or in Jochad, strong though men speak him, or 
 
 perchance in one of his serfs 
 That dips in his chiefs own basin a paw well 
 
 dyed in the turfs. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI i8i 
 
 Thus sped I before my Breogan, and now wilt 
 
 thou pass with me 
 If thy sick man be helped, with my challenge ; 
 
 and soon forsooth thou shalt see 
 And praise thy brother as victor." Then seeing 
 
 that Dala rose 
 And departed, I went with Lugaid, and spake at 
 
 his arm drawn close, 
 Towards the ditch we digged on the hilltop, and 
 
 when Ethan and Sri would lay 
 Themselves in our path, I raised my hand till 
 
 they went away. 
 Then Lugaid raised up his voice and shouted, 
 
 " Oh, heremon. 
 Called from thy farmer folk, wouldst thou speak 
 
 with a chief alone ? 
 Some call thee a sheep-dog only, some speak thee 
 
 a clumsy bear. * 
 I fain would know thee a lion, if not, flee forth 
 
 as a hare 
 From Lugaid, whose spear is mighty ; from 
 
 Lugaid, whose miledh shall stand 
 
 * Garbh, the rugged. 
 
i82 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 As a wall of brass before thee, and break the 
 
 strength of thy band 
 Ere it fall to the wolves of Balor, the swine of the 
 
 central plain 
 And the mountain bulls that bellow with Bennan 
 
 the son of Kain." 
 
 (3) Then saw I a golden helmet gleam by our fence 
 
 of stake. 
 A light leap over the trench made Jochad, but 
 
 naught he spake, 
 Coming down the slopes to meet us, whilst I saw 
 
 the hurdles start 
 And tips of a score of arrows wait eager for 
 
 Lugaid's heart. 
 Naught but a cloudless wonder dwelt on my 
 
 husband's face, 
 As with words of happy greeting he came to our 
 
 resting place. 
 " Thou hast greeted the queen, by thine armour I 
 
 know thou hast titles and fame. 
 By sea and land, but neither thy father's house 
 
 or thy name. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 183 
 
 Thou shalt be a champion of Breogan, those 
 
 ancient seamen and brave, 
 Sons of the sons of them that rule on the ocean 
 
 wave 
 Far southward into the sunlands." Then spake 
 
 I, " Lo, I am here 
 To bring thee my brother, Lugaid, the son of my 
 
 father dear, 
 The old man I loved in Tarshish when I dwelt 
 
 in his house awhile, 
 Who gave me the men that brought me unto 
 
 thee and thy fair green isle. 
 Now my brother bringeth me Breogan." Then 
 
 deep in his beard low laughed 
 Strong Lugaid and said, " More deadly hath been 
 
 the magic I quaffed 
 Than his whose teeth had been broken. But 
 
 now I see thee aright 
 For a lion, I have my longing, and hail thee a 
 
 lord of fight 
 Who shall shame no man as his captain, and 
 
 Balor is none of mine. 
 Though he may perchance excel me in strength 
 
 to wrestle with wine. 
 
l84 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And Bres may win at the chess-play. I bow to 
 
 thy queen great righ * 
 And thy helm with her ruby above it. Thy man 
 
 henceforward am I." 
 Then Jochad embraced him and said, " My queen, 
 
 my mistress, my bride, 
 This day thou art champion of war, the chiefest 
 
 strength of our side." 
 And Lugaid laughed, " It is little thy queen hath 
 
 conquered in me ; 
 But the daughter of Ith may call the sons of the 
 
 sons of the sea. 
 And win back a loyal answer. Fair queen, so 
 
 haughty and small. 
 Say wilt thou travel with me to set on thy crown 
 
 the wall 
 Of the Breogan towns of the South to keep thee 
 
 here on thy hill." 
 Then Jochad was grave, but I smiled, and he 
 
 spake not against my will 
 When I followed Lugaid afoot till he set me on 
 
 Enbarr his steed 
 
 * Righ, king. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 185 
 
 And went by my side five furlongs. Now 
 
 whither our road should lead 
 I had guessed. O'er a rough rock's shoulder we 
 
 climbed and below us stood 
 The miledh of Bregia camping betwixt that cliff 
 
 and a wood. 
 At Lugaid's shouting they turned and knew him 
 
 and drew anigh 
 Whilst he spake of me to his men, for that crag 
 
 was set too high 
 For my speech to pass to their ears, but high on 
 
 the topmost stone 
 I stood few paces above him, and a thought I 
 
 had made my own 
 Was this. The trident of gold I had from the 
 
 Pen of the Gate 
 Should be known of these with the twiceforked 
 
 spears. By a happy fate 
 I had seen my maidens bearing it forth in my 
 
 house that day. 
 And chosen this for a rod, and a weapon to be 
 
 my stay 
 When I went down the field to Dala. Now I 
 
 raised it on high 
 
i86 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 That its threefold fangs of gold might lighten 
 
 against the sky; 
 And the miledh hailed their standard, for many a 
 
 grandson of Tyre 
 Knew in what temple shone in the god's hand 
 
 such dart of fire, 
 And great was the shouting then, though some 
 
 of the folk were wroth, 
 Till there came division amongst them, and part 
 
 of their band drew forth 
 With Richis to go unto Balor, but more than the 
 
 half turned back 
 And passed by the crag, and followed where 
 
 Lugaid pointed their track. 
 Two hours had I gone from Mulach, when again 
 
 I might discern 
 Once more the eyes through the wattles that 
 
 waited on my return. 
 For none might pass through the trench save 
 
 Jochad gave them command. 
 I that departed with one, returned with an 
 
 armoured band. 
 Twelve hundred and three and fifty, whilst some 
 
 stole thither by night 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 187 
 
 Until Breogan stood fourteen hundred, a wall to 
 
 hearten our fight ; 
 With Lugaid the stone of their corner, the prow 
 
 of the thorny hedge 
 That should brush the horsemen asunder, as a 
 
 swan that stirreth the sedge. 
 
 Chapter XXIV 
 
 ( I ) Lugaid journeying with them vieeteth his father by the way, 
 who is secretly slain by three Canaanites thereafter ; (2) 
 Lugaid inaketh jest of the porters at the gate of Emain ; 
 (3) The tribute is cut off. 
 
 (i) At the dawn I said, "let us carry to Nuadh the 
 Breogan aid, 
 
 That his soul be uplifted with us, and his miledh 
 be not dismayed 
 
 By tidings both North and South. So I and my 
 husband led 
 
 With Lugaid, and Ogma tarried a space behind 
 at the head 
 
 Of our folk and the men of Bregia. Then, pass- 
 ing on without fear 
 
 We saw on our path a greybeard most noble of 
 horse and gear 
 
; THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Who came in the way before us ; and now, be- 
 hold, it was Ith, 
 And he fell on the neck of Lugaid, and great was 
 
 our joy therewith. 
 Beholding his son he wept ; and gave to the Lord 
 
 great praise 
 That his eyes found light to behold him, before 
 
 the darkness of days. 
 Tidings had come out of Bregia that his son was 
 
 living as yet, 
 Thereupon he made no tarrying, but quickly his 
 
 course was set 
 To see if that word were true ; and now, than his 
 
 hope more swift. 
 His son had kneeled for his pardon. Then both 
 
 did their gaze uplift 
 To my face, and he kissed me also, and blessed 
 
 me of heaven that his son 
 Was found, and had counsel by me, and bade 
 
 him his course to run 
 'Neath the eyes of his daughter Tephi, enquiring 
 
 much of our war. 
 Then said he, "Ye call me, Ith Cian, the 'light 
 
 that liveth afar,' 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 189 
 
 In this land where my ships come often, but soon 
 
 shall ye see me near. 
 I am not too weak in mine age to handle the 
 
 sword and spear. 
 I speed and return with succours. One hour 
 
 with ye I remain : 
 Then back unto Edair's harbour to summons the 
 
 ships of Spain. 
 In a month hence abide my coming. My going 
 
 shall not be long. 
 My ships shall be very many, their engines and 
 
 armour strong." 
 He heeded not for our chiding. " Nay, I have 
 
 seen my son 
 My very son, Lugaid, in right. My journey is 
 
 wellnigh run. 
 Let me strike one stroke against Balor. He also 
 
 is mighty, yet old. 
 His seawolves have oft sped southwards to harry 
 
 sheep of my fold." 
 Thus spake he, and would not tarry ; yet scarce 
 
 had he left our sight, 
 Riding full swiftly to Edair, when now at entrance 
 
 of night 
 
igo THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Three champions of Tyre drew nigh, and though 
 the even was dim 
 
 They guessed of Ith by his riding, and their rid- 
 ing was known unto him, 
 
 For he drove them forth out of Eber, being proud 
 that no man might stand 
 
 Of the chiefs of Eber before them, and haughty 
 in all the landj 
 
 Yet vahant and strong and wealthy. Now these 
 were sworn unto hate 
 
 Of the lord of Tarshish, therefore he turned him- 
 self by the gate 
 
 Of a farmstead amongst the cattle, but the eldest 
 man of the three 
 
 Beheld him and followed after, and beat him 
 down on his knee 
 
 Whilst his brothers slew him with stones, and 
 after they builded a heap 
 
 Of the stones above Ith Cian, and trusted their 
 deed would sleep : 
 
 But ye know, and therefore I write not, the tale 
 that the bards shall tell 
 
 To the sons of men for ever, how these princes 
 of Canaan fell 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 191 
 
 'Neath the burdens of Lugaid upon them. 
 
 Though greatly they strove therewith, 
 They were laid at the last 'neath the stones where- 
 
 under they buried Ith. 
 We knew not this on that night, yet deemed that 
 
 Ith was no more 
 When his succours came not from Tarshish, 
 
 knowing the love he bore 
 To his daughter and son, and his wrath against 
 
 Balor, Indech and Bres. 
 
 (2) Yet this night we guessed not his doom, and went 
 
 without heaviness ; 
 And the next day drew unto Emain, riding 
 
 thither full fast 
 Before our people, and Lugaid swore that a jest 
 
 to last 
 Should be in our coming thither. So went he 
 
 afoot to the hall. 
 His brightness veiled by a cloak. Now there 
 
 stood two guardians tall 
 And haughty by Nuadh's threshold, and these 
 
 men bade him to stay 
 
192 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Until his errand was told them. Then said he 
 
 humbly, "I pray, 
 Doth Nuadh require a wheelwright?" and the 
 
 porters answered him " Nay, 
 We have Luchta, the son of Lomhaid." Then 
 
 asked he again, " I pray 
 Your favour, wants he a smith," and the porters 
 
 again said "Nay, 
 Our smith is the thrice-skilled Colum.'' Then 
 
 bolder he spoke, " I pray 
 Lack ye here for a champion ? " and loudly the 
 
 men cried " Nay, 
 Great Ogma cometh and Ethdan." Then sweetly 
 
 he sung, " I pray. 
 Want ye my songs as a harper ? " and proudly 
 
 they answered "Nay, 
 For Ethan comes oft to our tables." So, solemn, 
 
 he asked, " I pray. 
 Have ye preachers and pious amongst you,'' 
 
 and scornful they spake him, " Ay, 
 The wisdom of Sri, the preaching of Mathgen." 
 
 So laughed he, " I pray. 
 Are cupbearer's near to your lord ? " They 
 
 answered in mocking, " Ay, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 193 
 
 Dathi leads twelve clad in crimson?" Then, 
 
 formal, he questioned, " Pray, 
 Be there scribes or recorders with them ? " Where- 
 upon they answered him, " Ay, 
 Many scribes under En son of Eschmun." So, 
 
 last he said, " I beseech 
 Your mercy in asking, hath Nuadh provided a 
 
 skilful leech?" 
 One laughed and the other yawned. " The chief 
 
 of that craft have we, 
 With son and daughter beside him, wellnigh as 
 
 skilful as he." 
 Then Lugaid cast cloak, and shouted, "Go, 
 
 Kamal the son of Knees 
 And Hamal son of Formality, ask thy master, of 
 
 these 
 Which man may do every service?" Right 
 
 swiftly these lackeys sped 
 At his chiding, and Nuadh heard them, and came 
 
 to the gate and led 
 The " man of all crafts " * to his table, where 
 
 laughter and mirth we found 
 
 * " Ildanach," a title of Lugaid's, who may have picked up 
 his oriental terms of abuse (Gamul Mac Figol and Chamal Mac 
 
 N 
 
194 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 To greet us upon our coming, whilst gaily that 
 jest went round. 
 
 (3) Now as we sat at our meat, there came nine 
 
 men with demand 
 That the tributes set by the fomorcs be given into 
 
 their hand ; 
 And spake with threats in their mouths that the 
 
 taxings be swiftly made, 
 Bidding us hear that thereafter a double tax 
 
 should be paid. 
 If Balor and Tethra should tarry, or Indech 
 
 should stay his oars 
 That he sent unto Losken-lomu, to bring with 
 
 speed to our shores 
 His barekneed kernes from the North. Then 
 
 stood I before these men 
 And said, "The Shepherd of Israel keepeth 
 
 wolves from the pen, 
 
 Rhiagild) in his wanderings, or learned them of the folk whom 
 he is reported to have sent as far as the Persian court for steel 
 weapons, probably unobtainable further west at that period. 
 The physician's name was Diancecht, the lady doctor's 
 Armedda. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 195 
 
 His flock shall be tythed of no man." Then 
 Lugaid arose in wrath 
 
 And falling swift on the seafolk, with the spear- 
 staff he drove them forth, 
 
 To return unto Indech and Balor. But all hearts 
 gathered to me, 
 
 For my labour was fallen upon me, and my 
 travail for victory. 
 
 Chapter XXV 
 
 (l) Tephi holdeth her council at Grelldch Dollaid, and cheereth 
 the men of Eriu ; (2) Eocaid gathers his force of the 7nen 
 of the land and of the horsemen of Dan, whilst Lugaid 
 goeth to the South and Ogma to the North. They make 
 their trysting in the West, by the water which is now 
 called Unius, and Tephi sendeth messages to Elatha, 
 
 (i) Old Nuadh's heart rose up as a man of war to 
 
 cheer 
 Our hearts, a steed that snuffeth and knoweth 
 
 the battle near, 
 And we planned our secret council that was held 
 
 on a Sabbath day, 
 For our righteousness is with the Lord in our 
 
 toiling as when we pray. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 In a hidden hold we made it, of the chosen of 
 
 all our land, 
 And greatly the people marvelled of the deed 
 
 which thereat was planned, 
 Wherefore men call it my amrun,* for all men 
 
 marvelled to see 
 How God spake forth in Eriu by the Spirit He 
 
 set on me. 
 Now after a while, I bade that each man speak of 
 
 the gift 
 He would give unto God and Eriu the burdens 
 
 thereof to uplift, 
 Then Mathgen the wise said, " I and the priests 
 
 through the hills seek aid," 
 And Figol son of Manoah, " Oft on my knees I 
 
 have prayed 
 Amongst the men of the woodlands, and surely 
 
 these know me well, 
 And will seek at my bidding to Tephi to fight 
 
 with the powers of hell." 
 Bright Dathi said, " I am known by many a river 
 
 and lake 
 
 * A marvel. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 197 
 
 To the aire's and shepherds, and these will surely 
 
 come for my sake.'' 
 And Lugaid, " Of Breogan, my strength, I issue 
 
 forth with my spear, 
 The Destroyer, with Perez the Mede its light- 
 nings were seen with fear. 
 None such hath been known in Eriu. 'Tis a 
 
 flame of thrice-tempered steel." 
 Now many spake of their will for the good of the 
 
 land to deal. 
 Gabhran the smith saying, " Never shall freedman 
 
 of Eriu want 
 For spearheads or bolts or javelins till the coals 
 
 of my forge be scant." 
 And Luchtna, "For Gabhran's spearheads such 
 
 shafts will I surely make. 
 As shall fill each outstretched hand, and no one 
 
 of my shafts shall break." 
 And Creidne, " Of every spear which Gabhran 
 
 and Luchtua's skill 
 Shall fashion, the heads shall cleave, for my 
 
 rivetting is not ill." 
 Last, Jochad said, "Ye have promised each and 
 
 all as a King 
 
igS THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Yet myself is the Queen's first servant, and there- 
 fore myself I bring." 
 
 Then Lugaid smiled and he said, " The serfdom 
 of all is seen 
 
 In their mouths, but what wage for labour shall 
 be to thy slaves, Oh, Queen ? " 
 
 Then answered I at that asking, " Little my need 
 of a slave, 
 
 But free service to this my kingdom." And 
 thereon I made them a stave. 
 
 Not upon slaves are my gifts poured out. 
 Strong olive, anointed and digged about. 
 Mine oils are sovran o'er weakness and 
 doubt.* 
 
 (2) We determined that Lugaid should pass with his 
 Breogan homeward and west 
 
 * Arrosisor dosifius 
 Dosseladh arosel 
 Arrosdibu nosriast 
 For the difficulty of translating the Great Queen's utterances 
 see Whitley Stoke's " Revue Celtique." I am no scholar. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 199 
 
 And Jochad be with me at Tailtea,* whereto I 
 
 should gather the quest 
 Of all the lands of my province, and also through- 
 out the soil 
 Of Eriu send men to gather hills fields and 
 
 pastures from toil, 
 Loyal folk but skilless in warfare. Yet Jochad 
 
 had heed of all. 
 And taught them and gave them arms ; and their 
 
 women and babes would fall 
 At my feet, and pray me to lift the curse of the 
 
 robber bands 
 That issued out of the cashels, and harried the 
 
 farmers lands 
 Till they lacked the oxen to plough with, and 
 
 often they failed to eat 
 The very seed they had planted, for oft these 
 
 carried the wheat. 
 In my tears I promised their asking, and gave 
 
 them of that I had, 
 
 * The seat of Tephi in her immediate domain of Teffia 
 (Tephi's land), where she probably died, being carried thence 
 Teamuir for burial. Teffia included Longford and West- 
 meath. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Grown little now by my spendings, but the souls 
 
 of my poor were glad, 
 Till some called me not " Teia '' but " Dea," and 
 
 save that they dwelt with the clods 
 I had needs reproved them more sharply, for I 
 
 love not that names of gods 
 Be given to men ; and after, such rebuke was 
 
 often my need 
 In chiding this foolish people, but my preaching 
 
 hath little heed. 
 Ogma went from us northeast, and passing a 
 
 space inland 
 He drew us a noble succour of men of war to his 
 
 band, 
 And passed unto Ailech to Corrgenn, and thus 
 
 in a six weeks' space 
 We had gathered Eriu amongst us, and drew 
 
 towards the trysting-place. 
 Where Balor and Bres should find us, and where 
 
 should be held that fight 
 Which should darken the clouds of Eriu or fill its 
 
 dwellings with light. 
 One thing unknown of my husband I did, for I 
 
 feared to fall 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 201 
 
 Therein. We heard how a bridge betwixt the 
 
 isles of the Gall * 
 And Eriu was wellnigh built by boats going 
 
 hither and fro 
 With Sgiaths and Firbolgs in thousands, for 
 
 Indech had not been slow 
 Of help unto Bres, nor Tethra, nor Omna nor 
 
 Bagma the chiefs 
 Of the fomorcs, to bring with ships these bands 
 
 of savage reliefs 
 Unto Balor. Then sent I word to Elatha the 
 
 father of Bres 
 That the host of his son grew mighty. His 
 
 honour grew less and less, 
 Bringing wild Firbolgs to plunder a kingdom 
 
 which once his arm 
 Was strong to defend against them. So I told 
 
 my husband my charm 
 Had been woven to weaken Indech, and surely 
 
 my soul spake true. 
 For Elatha sent many vessels to harass that 
 
 pirate crew, 
 
 * Foreigner. 
 
202 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And the isles of the Sgiath's and Firbolgs, till 
 
 lastly these feared to come, 
 Whilst many that came already went back to 
 
 defend their home. 
 
 Chapter XXVI 
 
 ( I ) Tephi and her husband come to the ford of Unna * ivhere 
 Eocaid dreameth a dreajn which she may not interpret, 
 though she is cheered thereby ; (2) the chiefs of the host 
 assemble thither, and a camp is pitched, whilst the battle 
 is set for the eve of Samhain t ; (3) the fighting of the first 
 day, Ruadan, being treacherous, is slain by Gabhra?i the 
 smith* 
 
 We were first, one week ere Samhain in the tryst- 
 
 ing by Unna's stream. 
 In the early dawn thereafter, my husband told 
 
 me his dream 
 How I stood o'er the pool of Unna one foot on 
 
 his own green land. 
 But the other firm on a lion that slept on a fair 
 
 bright strand. 
 Nine braids of my locks spread forth, and lo, the 
 
 first of a three 
 
 * " Destruction,' named after the battle, 
 t October 30th. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 203 
 
 Was wavy and many tangled in all the isles of 
 
 the sea. 
 Now the second was thick and braided on a 
 
 broad land wealthy and fair 
 In the West, but that tress was severed, and cities 
 
 grew from each hair 
 That lay on that noble pasture. Then the third 
 
 tress spread to the north 
 In a great land buried in snows, which melted till 
 
 streams gushed forth 
 Amidst oceans of golden cornland. Then he 
 
 spake of the second three. 
 How a thin hair, strongly braided, upheld the 
 
 weight of the sea. 
 And a second stirred by a westwind flew to a 
 
 golden hill. 
 Whilst its fellow gave shelter from heat o'er realms 
 
 stretching beyond it still. 
 Of the third three, all went south, and one was 
 
 spread over Lud 
 And Phut, but the other twain flew out o'er an 
 
 endless flood 
 Unto the endings of earth, and there they fastened 
 
 their hold 
 
204 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Upon mighty desert places in the heart of whose 
 
 stones was gold. 
 Now on every tress of the nine were golden cym- 
 bals which spoke 
 In the ears of the lion's cubs which lay at my 
 
 foot : but he woke 
 Ere ever his dream was ended. Yet he watched 
 
 four eagles draw 
 Towards the lion to blind his eyeballs, and the 
 
 lion opened his maw 
 And roared in face of the eagles. Then started 
 
 he full awake. 
 That dream might I ne'er interpret, yet my soul 
 
 is glad for its sake. 
 
 (2) Yet the roaring was of young lions, for Lugaid 
 
 and Ogma were there 
 With their force before the daybreak, and surely 
 
 they did not spare 
 To roar as lions in their coming. Thus was our 
 
 host complete. 
 And Nuadh went forth before us, and ordered a 
 
 battle seat 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 205 
 
 On the green slope stretched before us. Noble 
 
 was now that host, 
 And valiant, but little of number before the chiefs 
 
 of the coast. 
 With their swarming Firbolgs and shipmen. 
 
 Now each side ordered its fence, 
 And we parleyed, and set the battle of the forces 
 
 for five days thence. 
 Upon Samhain's day which they chose, for this 
 
 was a feast unto Baal, 
 But my Stone of defence was sure. His pillars 
 
 of little avail. 
 
 (3) Now the plain by the stream of Unna was level 
 and broad and green 
 
 Till the rising fences of Balor on a further hill 
 might be seen 
 
 Whence shoutings came to our ears, and cham- 
 pions out of his side 
 
 Came forth in the field and mocked us, and I 
 would not any replied. 
 
 Yet often they went ; and some were victors, and 
 some men fell. 
 
206 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 I might scarce forbid such strivings; but this 
 
 thing I knew right well, 
 That such are not for a leader in whom a nation 
 
 is lost, 
 So laid my gesa* on Lugaid and Ethdan at 
 
 every cost 
 To bide in their booths with Jochad. Nuadh 
 
 secure might ride. 
 For the chief of a host is sacred till his battle be 
 
 ordered wide. 
 That first day were many combats of lesser men, 
 
 and a car 
 Of Ochtriall son of Indech we took with his 
 
 craisechs t of war. 
 When he went to stop the springs to our front, 
 
 for the streamlet ran 
 Too near to their slings for our sutlers. Also 
 
 division began 
 Of these, and the spears which Gabhran and 
 
 Creidne and Luchtna made, 
 
 * Gesa, command with curse for disobedience, 
 t Craisech, a broad heavy spear with a blunt point, used by 
 Firbolgs and seamen. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 207 
 
 Each with its well-poised shaft, and rivets, and 
 
 bright keen blade, 
 Till the foe had heed of that forest, and at even, 
 
 one that we knew 
 Came from them and went amongst us, for the 
 
 stream of his life he drew 
 From a captain of Dan, though his mother was 
 
 even a Canaanite, 
 In whom a chief of the fomorcs long time had his 
 
 heart's delight. 
 Ruadan was his name, and much he enquired of 
 
 our gears, 
 And saw where Gabhran the smith was casting 
 
 the ruddy spears, 
 And Creidne plying his hammers, and Luchtna 
 
 shaping the wood. 
 The three great craftsmen of Eriu, and the work 
 
 of their hands right good 
 And speedy ; whilst Tuirbhi, crippled, wrought at 
 
 his forges ill, 
 Though had he been strong in his prime, our 
 
 Gabhran, his pupil, still 
 Was his master in skill and swiftness. Then the 
 
 spy to Tuirbhi went back. 
 
2o8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And told him we cast ten spears unto one, and 
 his arm was slack ; 
 
 So Ochtriall, grieved for his craisechs, moved him 
 to seek our camp, 
 
 And find if sods might be gathered the fires of 
 our forge to damp ; 
 
 And he took a spear of a woman who ground it 
 upon a wheel, 
 
 And hurled it swiftly on Gabhran, thinking there- 
 by to steal 
 
 Supply of our weapons from us ; but the spear 
 that went by his back 
 
 Tore but the flesh of the smith, so Gabhran sped 
 on his track. 
 
 Drawing the head from his side, and hurled an 
 avenging stroke. 
 
 May all traitor's perish like Ruadan, whose breast- 
 bone and back were broke. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 209 
 
 Chapter XXVII 
 
 (l) Ogma fighting with Tethra wins Ormai his sword; (2) 
 Bres Cometh to chide, and seeking Lugaid, is fought with 
 by Ethan the poet, who is shamefully smitten by Bennan, 
 the son of Kain, whom Aci, son of Alghuba, beareth dead 
 unto Tephi, 
 
 (i) Tethra, the sea-king, came next day in the midst 
 
 to deride 
 Both Jochad and Ethdan, but Ogma went for 
 
 them on our side, 
 Falling swiftly upon him, and beat him back to 
 
 their fence again. 
 Had Tethra not fled from Ogma, surely he then 
 
 were slain, 
 Having lost his sword behind him. That sword 
 
 was heavy and keen, 
 Its hilts well guarded, and Ogma bore it back to 
 
 the queen, 
 Saying, " Ormai, its name is well known." Now 
 
 graved on the blade were lines 
 Straight, or sloped in their groupings ; therefore 
 
 I asked their designs, 
 o 
 
210 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Then Ogma said, " These be names of champions 
 
 that Tethra slew 
 With Ormai in former days, and each is a record true 
 Of the sixteen feats that be graven." Sri also 
 
 approved him of this, 
 Reading forth the champion's titles. Then out- 
 spoke Ogma, " I wis. 
 It is well that a name remains of a miledh and of 
 
 his deed. 
 If I fall, no man shall know my resting save such 
 
 a screed 
 Be set on the stone that marks me." Surely so 
 
 it was done 
 With grief on the headstone of Ogma that day 
 
 when our fight was won. 
 
 (2) On the first three days flowed balsams, on the 
 
 fourth a river of grief. 
 Out of their gate at morning shone bright the 
 
 arms of a chief 
 Which blazed in the Autumn sunrise. A figure 
 
 of princely mould, 
 Whose spears were iron of Tarshish, his buckler 
 
 of beaten gold. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 211 
 
 And his helmet and breastplate likewise. Then 
 
 all men knew him for Bres, 
 Who came before us and spake, and his words 
 
 were of bitterness. 
 "How long did I herd the swine, that now 
 
 amongst wolves am found, 
 Whilst the swineherd Nuadh lay sick, when Ogma 
 
 crouched like a hound 
 For my scraps, and Jochad was mine ere ever he 
 
 gave his heart 
 Unto piglings routing for roots, and a woman 
 
 bade me depart. 
 With none of these will I fight, for these were 
 
 my servants all ; 
 But lo, I behold with swineherds a champion 
 
 slender and tall, 
 And meseems, well skilled in his saddle, who ne'er 
 
 hath been dog of mine. 
 I will fight with him if he listeth, and the light of 
 
 his courage shine 
 As bright as doth Canbarr his helmet.'' Then 
 
 Lugaid grew mad for fight, 
 Till I angered and claimed my gesa, his champions 
 
 holding him tight, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Yubor, Seibar, and Eru, whilst they bade him re- 
 member Spain 
 And the oath he made to his sire, and how he 
 
 had right to reign 
 If his father indeed had perished. Still, sore was 
 
 his mood to go 
 Till in the midst of our chiding, we heard a 
 
 murmur run low 
 Of wonderment round our trenches, and setting 
 
 mine eyes to the fence 
 I beheld how Ethan the poet like an arrow of 
 
 war sped thence. 
 With shaft and sword, but unarmoured, whilst 
 
 Bres in the open field 
 Laid low his spear for encounter, and eyed him 
 
 above his shield. 
 Now the shaft which Ethan carried was heavy 
 
 and sharp and thick. 
 Through the golden shield he hurled it, and 
 
 leaping thereafter quick 
 On the spearshaft bore the shield to the ground 
 
 with his proper weight. 
 And saving that Bres fell with it, surely then had 
 
 his fate 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 213 
 
 Been death by the hand of Ethan, and Jochad 
 
 cried, " 'Tis a feat 
 Most worthy a great war champion," and Lugaid 
 
 answered in heat 
 " Such feat had never been mine. Nay, I knew 
 
 not this of my sires.'' 
 Whilst Ethan smote with the sword on the helm 
 
 with its jewelled fires 
 Which gleamed on the sward beneath him and 
 
 shore away half its crest, 
 Then raising his hand again he smote it against 
 
 the breast 
 Wounding above the mantle, but his blade on the 
 
 buckle broke ; 
 Whilst Bres, being mighty, arose, and struck him 
 
 down with the stroke 
 Of his spearshaft laid to the neck, whilst we 
 
 shuddered as Ethan fell ; 
 But Bres set his shield above him, and we trusted 
 
 all should be well, 
 When Bennan, that came by stealth from their 
 
 fences to watch that strife. 
 Thrust under the shield his spear. Then Ethan, 
 
 leaving his life. 
 
2 14 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Set eyes on Bennan and knew him and said, 
 
 " With me there is bliss, 
 But the giver thereof I bless not, for love was not 
 
 in thy kiss." 
 Thus died he, and Bres was moody in shame, but 
 
 naught he spake 
 Striding in wrath from Bennan. Then, for God 
 
 and my kingdom's sake, 
 I bade Aci son of Alghuba go swift to the son of Kain, 
 And command him into my judgment, and swiftly 
 
 return again. 
 He ran, and he came on Bennan, and caught him 
 
 round by the waist 
 Lifting him high though he fought in the arms 
 
 which his girth enlaced 
 Until Aci strode in our trenches. No blood in 
 
 that strife was shed. 
 But ere Buman was thrown before me, the soul 
 
 from his black lips fled. 
 And he went to the Lord of Judgments. Aci 
 
 returned with his corse. 
 Having message from God and his queen, he 
 
 wrought it with mighty force. 
 Oh great was our mourning for Ethan, but holy 
 
 our joy likewise. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 215 
 
 We laid on his brow in the sidhe a champion's 
 
 helm as his prize, 
 Whose badge was my spray of Olive. There 
 
 they dwell with his dust 
 Beside the waters of Unna, but his glory shall 
 
 never rust. 
 
 Chapter XXVIII 
 
 ( I ) Nuadh leads his forces in three bands against Balor of the 
 Mighty Blows, and Lugaid doth many deeds of valour in 
 the centre of the fight ; (2) The miledh upon the right 
 are harassed, and Nuadh trusting to slay Balor with his 
 darts ; is slain by him. Indech presses sore upon the 
 miledh until Ogma and Indech fall by each other's spears, 
 Lugaid comes from the centre and slays Balor, retriev- 
 ing the battle of the miledh ; (3) Tephi watches the fight- 
 ing of Jochad and the men of the land who are victorious 
 against the Firbolgs ajid Canaanites ; (4) The Queen 
 gives pardon to Bres and Tethra at their fences, and the 
 slain of Balor are counted by Van Cendach his scribe ; 
 (5) Tephi maketh a song of instruction for the priests to 
 sing to the people. 
 
 (i) On that day we arose ere dawn, and the heaven 
 was black with cloud 
 As we mustered our men on the hillslope, but of 
 surety my heart was proud 
 
2i6 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Whilst they sung the warsong I made them. 
 
 " The Kings arise unto fight." * 
 Marching so strongly and proudly mine eyes 
 
 grew wet with the sight ; 
 For the most part had been but yeomen and 
 
 herdsmen out of the field, 
 Not men of war from their youth, nor feared I 
 
 that such would yield 
 To the knives and stones of the Sgiaths, but 
 
 dreaded the long-stretched wall 
 Of the coastfolk guarded in armour, and the force 
 
 of the men not small. 
 For their Firbolgs, I feared them little. The 
 
 horsemen of Dan should sweep 
 From our flank and ride amongst them, and slay 
 
 and drive them like sheep, 
 And the plain was too rough and soft for chariots. 
 
 I recked not of these. 
 But their strength with Balor and Indech and 
 
 Bres and the men of the seas 
 In three lines like a thorny fence. The first, 
 
 low couched to his shield 
 
 * Afraigid rig don cath. This warsong of Tephi's still exists, 
 but I have been unable to meet with a translation. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 217 
 
 Till a rampart of bronze and hides stretched end- 
 less across the field 
 With strong thorns of death before it, whilst they 
 
 that behind it stood 
 Bare javelins very many which sprouted thick as 
 
 a wood. 
 Upon these were cords of leather to the end that 
 
 being cast 
 They are not lost in the hurling but unto the 
 
 wrist bound fast, 
 To be drawn again to the seafolk. Lastly, with 
 
 slings and darts 
 Stood their slaves to aid their forefront. So now 
 
 with the thought that starts 
 Unbid to the lips, I ordered my Breogan to 
 
 shorten the line. 
 But the fourth of our foes already, till the ranks 
 
 of their men were nine, 
 And break them upon the centre. This Nuadh 
 
 and Lugaid approved. 
 As Nuadh rode out to the right, and down on 
 
 their left-hand moved 
 With the horse of Dan and his miledh. The left 
 
 was my husband's place 
 
2i8 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 With the multitude of our people, to carry them 
 
 face to face 
 Through the swarming Sgiaths and Firbolgs, 
 
 before Breogan upon their right. 
 Right royal he rode with his people, and cheered 
 
 their hearts for the fight. 
 At the centre Lugaid rode round his column his 
 
 spear in his hand 
 Singing " Arotroi cath comartan." * Then hurl- 
 ing his ninefold band 
 On their triple line it parted. So scattered their 
 
 swarm and brake 
 In surges upon his phalanx, but our shield-wall 
 
 it might not shake ; 
 And there was Ochtriall the leader of the fomorcs 
 
 of Uan slain, 
 And the might of Omna and Bagna their 
 
 champions wasted in vain. 
 There Luad struck down Loch Lentglass a mighty 
 
 warrior in strife 
 Where he lay on the ground unsworded, and 
 
 Lugaid gave him his life. 
 
 * A song which Lugaid made against paying tribute to the 
 Fomorians. It still exists. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 219 
 
 (2) But our right-hand had nowise prospered. Brave 
 
 were the men and true 
 Of the miledh that followed Nuadh, but their 
 
 ranks were wasted and few ; 
 Their horsemen stayed by the clayfields. Thus, 
 
 or ever they drew anear 
 To the line of Balor, in places where no man 
 
 might thrust with the spear, 
 Rushed Firbolgs swiftly upon them, and hurled 
 
 forth darts and were fled ; 
 So that many were wounded amongst them, and 
 
 three captains of hundreds dead. 
 Ere they came to the wall of Balor. Then 
 
 Nuadh, though old, was rash, 
 Beholding his ancient foeman, and went out 
 
 swiftly to dash 
 Upon him ere any might stay him ; so, shouting 
 
 his name, rode in 
 On the line and brake it asunder, and thought 
 
 by that deed to win 
 The fight against Balor and slay him, hurling 
 
 with mighty force 
 The one of his spears, which wandering, pierced 
 
 but the head of a horse 
 
220 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Before the chariot of Balor. Then his second 
 
 javelin he threw. 
 On the brazen shield of Balor, raised slantwise, 
 
 it glanced askew, 
 Smiting Cannan, brother of Bennan. Then, 
 
 grasping strongly his last, 
 Rode Nuadh to strike down Balor; but even 
 
 now as he past 
 One smote the heels of his horse, and rearing 
 
 upwards it fell. 
 Whilst Balor forth from his chariot leapt in the 
 
 hate of hell 
 With an iron craisech, and slew him. Then 
 
 fiercely forward his men 
 He drave on the miledh of Eriu, who weary 
 
 came from the fen 
 And, sad with the falling of Nuadh, slow and 
 
 sullen drew back,* 
 Until Indech curving his men from the left-hand 
 
 horn in attack 
 Beside them, many were slain; and Indech, 
 
 passing behind, 
 
 * It was at this point of the fight that Tephi's sister Maacha 
 was slain, as mentioned before. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 221 
 
 Drew forth in the field with hope our camp 
 
 unguarded to find. 
 Therein was his greed reproved, for Ogma, with 
 
 chosen guards 
 Of the Danites, was set to keep me. Moreover, 
 
 the scribes and bards 
 Had each one a champion's spear. E'en the 
 
 priests that came with us to pray. 
 And the cooks sang " afraigid rig don cath " on 
 
 that mighty day ; 
 With^neatherds, swineherds, and boys who each 
 
 had darts in his hand. 
 So great had been Gabhran's zeal that these 
 
 looked like a warrior band 
 Behind the stakes we had planted. Thus, 
 
 Indech halted anear 
 To behold, and Ogma, the loved one of Jochad, 
 
 couching his spear, 
 Rode forth with a troop against him, and Indech 
 
 stooping his head, 
 Rode also, till piercing each other, those 
 
 champions fell down dead ; 
 And a great cry rose from our fences; but on the 
 
 horsemen of Dan 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Rode o'er their fallen leader, and each one slew 
 
 him a man 
 Of the fomorcs, and over our fence came 
 
 trooping the carles with spears, 
 Till the hearts of the men of Indech being 
 
 smitten with idle fears 
 They fled to their ships from the battle ; yet our 
 
 need was sore on the right. 
 Where the men of Dan, with the miledh, stood 
 
 back unto back to fight 
 As a rock that wastes by the sea-wave, till 
 
 bringing the central wedge 
 Of our fight, bright Lugaid appeared beside them 
 
 to set the edge 
 Of the Breogan sword on the fomorcs, and 
 
 sweeping as chaff their slaves, 
 Parted that sea which girt them as a vessel 
 
 parteth the waves. 
 Then, taking a keen-edged stone, a champion 
 
 stone, for his sling. 
 He sent it amidst their chariots, and smote down 
 
 Balor their king. 
 For it struck and went out behind him. Then 
 
 riding on in his wrath 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 223 
 
 He spake with his spear unto many, bidding the 
 
 soul fly forth, 
 To do service still unto Balor. 
 
 (3) Meanwhile mine only delight 
 
 And terror had been that day to gaze on our 
 
 left-hand fight. 
 Where I saw the throngs go steady, with one 
 
 crest moving o'er all, 
 The tallest and brightest there. Ah me, if that 
 
 crest shall fall! 
 Now, in midst of the plain, sore is that host 
 
 beset. 
 The Firbolg flood is around it. That helm is 
 
 not stooping yet. 
 See, for a moment it bends. Behold there 
 
 cometh a troop 
 Barekneed. These be Loshken's kin. He 
 
 rideth head of the group. 
 His plaid flies wide from his brooches. He 
 
 beareth a mighty brand. 
 His fosters with targes are by him to aid him on 
 
 either hand. 
 
224 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Is it Aci that stniteth his fosters ? I see but the 
 
 shining crest 
 Stoop twice and Loshken is fallen. Deep is the 
 
 wound in the breast 
 Of Loshken-lomu Mac Lomglain, who carried 
 
 his barekneed kernes 
 Out of Sgiath north unto Scetna, where the 
 
 northernmost ocean churns 
 Upon rocks that are white with seafowl. Now 
 
 are the white knees spray 
 Before Jochad and Aci riding, and swiftly it dies 
 
 away 
 As they hammer the bronze of Breogan. Behold, 
 
 it bends with the strain. 
 Yea, shout with joy, it is broken. Nay, it is 
 
 mended again. 
 Eriu is slow going backward, yet steady from 
 
 rank to rank. 
 There cometh a host of horsemen, and driveth 
 
 upon the flank. 
 Yea. Bres with his horsemen rideth. Surely now 
 
 shall they flee. 
 Let my prayer be pure with the Lord who hath 
 
 holpen me on the sea. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 225 
 
 Yea, though the hail pass over. Yea, though 
 
 the billows roll, 
 The Lord is the Stone of my corner, the strong 
 
 defence of my soul. 
 Great are their shoutings and strivings, great is 
 
 the clashing of swords. 
 The heathen are mighty and many ; their leaders 
 
 are chosen lords ; 
 But that helm goes hither and thither, as a fly- 
 ing star o'er the strife. 
 It brightens the heart of our battle. It flashes 
 
 where men yield life 
 For God and for Eriu and me. The grasses are 
 
 stained with gore. 
 But that heaving ceases. Oh sternly doth Eriu 
 
 flow once more 
 Against the bulwarks of Breogan. Lesser is now 
 
 their band. 
 Yet more swift and fierce than aforetime. Who 
 
 at this hour may withstand 
 These trusting in God and their captain, these 
 
 lifting a crushing wrong 
 Which bowed the necks of their fathers. Needs 
 
 must that their will be strong 
 p 
 
226 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 To buy with their blood this battle. Here Richis, 
 
 the proud man, fights, 
 By Tuiren the son of Malek. The lofty, my 
 
 champion smites ; 
 And Tuiren is slain by Aci ; but the horsemen 
 
 again draw near. 
 By the left they pass behind us, and now they 
 
 ride on the rear. 
 Scarce do they smite our hindmost, ere Ethdan 
 
 Cometh at speed 
 With horsemen of Dan behind him. He helpeth 
 
 our sorest need. 
 They be many, and Dan but few, yet Dan hath 
 
 made him a track 
 Betwixt the foe and our footmen. No one of my 
 
 own turns back 
 To look on Sodom behind him. Each presses 
 
 on to the mark 
 Where the gleaming golden helmet is set as a 
 
 guiding spark. 
 
 (4) It is even^ lo, they are yielding. Yea, they have 
 called me a witch ; 
 But I know the distant slaughter. I hear their 
 cries in the ditch 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 227 
 
 That lieth before their fences. My soul may no 
 
 longer stay. 
 I mount the white steed of Jochad. Full swiftly 
 
 I ride away 
 With tears and blessings behind me. Now Jochad 
 
 and Lugaid form 
 Their force to a single band in the field for the 
 
 final storm, 
 As I find the son of Alghuba, and bid him pro- 
 claim that now 
 The Queen brings word from the Lord that all 
 
 who have need shall bow 
 Before her and take her ransoms. This message 
 
 therefore he cried ; 
 But over the speartopped fence no voice of a 
 
 man replied. 
 Then, knowing many should fail ere ever its fruits 
 
 were won, 
 And grieved in my heart thereof, I carry my horse 
 
 alone 
 Nigh up to the trench and speak, and awe is on 
 
 those within 
 From the Lord, for they deem that I alone in His 
 
 strength shall win 
 
228 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 The gates of their fence, so they hear, and these 
 
 were the words that I said. 
 " Is there any wounded within ? Is there any 
 
 man sore bested ? 
 I have leeches to tend his hurts. I have succours 
 
 to help his heart. 
 Moreover, if any wouldgo, I give him grace to depart 
 Unharmed if he go in peace to his land ; or, if of 
 
 mine own, 
 I bid him kneel unto David, and seek his grace 
 
 of my throne.'' 
 Then heard I voices within, and after a space 
 
 spake Bres. 
 " Oh Queen, which lot were my portion ? I 
 
 would not add less to less. 
 But more unto more. As yet, my spearmen are 
 
 more than thine. 
 We have strength in our fence. On our spears 
 
 the sun with the morn shall shine. 
 Yet, if thou holdest thy word, I promise that 
 
 never more 
 Shall the taxings made for the miledh go forth 
 
 from thine island shore." 
 " Is this the gift of a champion that would not 
 
 grow less and less ? " 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 229 
 
 I said, "Such gifts, not his own, shall not be 
 
 worthy of Bres. 
 Go seek Elatha, thy father. Go spend the rest of 
 
 thy days 
 In ridding the seas of robbers. Thus win thee 
 
 a champion's praise, 
 That thy name be increased with blessing, and 
 
 sink no more 'neath a curse. 
 There be good and evil before thee. Why set 
 
 thy hand to the worse ? " 
 Then Tethra chided with Bres, and said " We be 
 
 overthrown. 
 Why should we longer bide? The half of my 
 
 men are flown. 
 And Tuirbhi our smith is wounded. Let us take 
 
 the message she gives. 
 Now Balor and Indech are slain, what man should 
 
 vouch for our lives ? 
 Whilst small hope is ours of a booty." Yet think 
 
 I be moved not Bres, 
 For he answered to me alone. " Behold, I am 
 
 less and less, 
 Yet fain would be more and more. Therefore, 
 
 oh Queen, I will go 
 
230 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 In the name of thy Stone hereafter ; seeking thy 
 
 grace with woe 
 For all I have sought with evil." Then said I 
 
 " Peace unto thee, 
 That the blessings of wise Elatha shall rest be- 
 twixt thee and me.'' 
 Then back ride I to my folk whilst swiftly the sky 
 
 grew gray, 
 Bidding all return to the fence, where I sank at 
 
 close of that day, 
 Being faint, but thankful of heart; and none 
 
 enquired of my deed, 
 Yet men of the fornorcs told it, and mighty then 
 
 was the meed 
 Of my praise, though some of the miledh fain had 
 
 plundered the foe, 
 And murmured that after his binding, I loosed 
 
 him and let him go. 
 Yet our spoils were great in the field, for Uan 
 
 Cendach, their scribe. 
 Came forth at the morn, and he named us the 
 
 names out of every tribe. 
 Of kings and chiefs that had fallen. Of kings 
 
 were forty and two. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 231 
 
 And of chief men very many, whilst these on our 
 
 side were few, 
 Save that Nuadh and Ogma lay dead. Five 
 
 thousand sixty and three 
 Was his counting of all their slain. Whilst the 
 
 tale which was brought to me 
 By En the son of Eschmun was sixteen hundred 
 
 and five. 
 Nigh the half of whom were miledh. These seek 
 
 not for God to strive. 
 But for gold and crowns and pillage. Having 
 
 nor child nor wife, 
 Such lust as steeds after battle, and take a life 
 
 for a life. 
 Therefore I bade the priests uplift in men's ears 
 
 a song 
 Of the things which under the Lord should unto 
 
 the queen belong. 
 
 (5) Peace with the Lord* 
 
 The Lord with man 
 
 * Literally, Peace to heaven. 
 
 Heaven to earth. 
 Earth under heaven. 
 A strength for all peoples. 
 
 See lines on title page and at end. 
 
232 THE BOOK OF TEPHl 
 
 Man 'neath his Lord 
 
 Hath strength to plan. 
 I would not behold in a wide realm, dear to me 
 
 Shame of sisters, 
 
 Brothers unbridled, 
 
 Seedless summer. 
 Or plains unpastured. 
 Captives kingless. 
 Wise men witless. 
 Preachers prayerless, 
 Or any uncleanness. 
 Rulers unrighteous, 
 Unjust judges. 
 Rich men robbers, 
 Or strong men spoiling. 
 Undutiful daughters, 
 Strengthless soldiers. 
 Betrayers of truth, 
 And workers of wickedness, 
 Such will I shame. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 233 
 
 Chapter XXIX 
 
 ( I ) Eocaid after the fight at Magh Tuiread {Moytura, the plain 
 of towers, from the numerous burial heaps there) is 
 •wounded well-nigh unto death by Cethlenn the wife of 
 Balor ; (2) He is healed, yet not to his former might, by 
 Diancecht ; (3) Tephi, journeying eastward, telleth the 
 shameful death of Crimthann. 
 
 (i) In the midst of mourning, my pride had fall, 
 
 being led astray. 
 The Lord had lifted me up. The Lord should 
 
 cast me away. 
 Till my pride was humbled before him. My 
 
 husband, my lover, my friend. 
 How great that morn was thy strength ; how near 
 
 that eve was thine end. 
 I sat in my judgment place, and my soul was 
 
 lifted to see 
 The widow of Balor draw nigh to ask a grace at 
 
 my knee, 
 Cethlenn,* of evil mouth. Men builded her 
 
 husband's heap, 
 
 * Literally "of the crooked teeth.'' 
 
234 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And she prayed her burial with him. Then said 
 
 I, "Ye hold too cheap 
 My word from the Lord against Baal. Behold, 
 
 his burnings shall cease. 
 I will break the horns of his altars, that so my 
 
 people have peace." 
 Then leapt she upon my side, upraising a little 
 
 knife, 
 And thrusting it down upon me, thought to have 
 
 had my life ; 
 But Jochad, springing upon her, lifted her hand, 
 
 and tore 
 The blade from her grasp, but in struggle, it fell 
 
 and it scratched him sore 
 By the foot. Then I bade men take her and 
 
 carry her over sea ; 
 And thereafter had will to slay her, yet Jochad 
 
 let this not be. 
 He said how his hurt was little, thus had I com- 
 fort awhile ; 
 But turning my face on my lord for counsel, I 
 
 saw the smile 
 Die out of his face, and he staggered, for poison 
 
 was in that wound. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 235 
 
 And his eyes were darkened before me, and he 
 stretched himself on the ground. 
 
 (2) Six months my watchings endured, and my 
 
 sorrow and toil were great, 
 Ere Diancecth, the mighty healer, cured him, yet 
 
 not to the state 
 Wherein he had strength before. Of his limb he 
 
 was ever lame. 
 Yet his hurt was healed of the Lord to bring him 
 
 a righteous fame, 
 For he read in the wisdom of God, and drew the 
 
 learned in schools. 
 And taught the scribes till they marvelled. 
 
 Moreover he set the rules 
 Of the three-year meetings at Crofinn, where that 
 
 chamber ample and round 
 Is builded, wherein I will stretch me until my 
 
 bones shall be found, 
 Whensoe'er my White Champion seek me. 
 
 There will I dwell alone. 
 Whilst this land that I builded up by its idols 
 
 is overthrown. 
 
236 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And the workings of evil amongst ye. The 
 
 heathen shall swarm with the waves, 
 To seek the tombs of my children, and wash 
 
 them out of their graves. 
 Ernmais and Figol and Elier have counselled of 
 
 this with me. 
 My tomb shall rest with my people. Their 
 
 wailing place shall it be 
 For ail that repent them of sin. Of Ernmais 
 
 the Lord was the eyes. 
 Yet Jochad had many visions, and therefore men 
 
 called him wise 
 "011am Fothla" the sage of our island, a title 
 
 whereby he is known 
 Unto many tribes and peoples the furthest from 
 
 Eriu's throne. 
 
 (3) In the Springtide, glad at his healing, we journeyed 
 out of the West, 
 With Jochad borne on a litter, and he made his 
 
 chiefest request 
 That the miledh be given to Lugaid, who went 
 not back unto Spain, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 237 
 
 But set his hand upon mine, and sware with me 
 
 to remain, 
 My brother, my champion, my servant. Right 
 
 well hath he kept his word. 
 Cleansing the woods of robbers, and striking 
 
 down with the sword 
 All pirates that harried our shores ; with the 
 
 vessels of Bres as his aid. 
 Our hamlets and homesteads had rest, and our 
 
 women walked unafraid. 
 But now, he would go against Crimthann, and 
 
 therein I answered him " nay. 
 His faith was broken with David. The Lord is a 
 
 lion in his way." 
 This was beheld of many, for Crimthann had 
 
 kept the shore. 
 And guarded our eastward rear to keep by the 
 
 oath he swore ; 
 Yet brake it in working evil, riding for spoil at 
 
 his will. 
 His mighty men even now were set beside Usna's 
 
 hill; 
 And there, as he hunted the woods, my complaint 
 
 was heard of the Lord ; 
 
238 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For Crimthann, the mighty champion, fell not 
 
 down by the sword 
 But stoned unto death by swineherds. He had 
 
 cast forth his hunting spear, 
 And rode alone in the birchgroves to follow a 
 
 wounded deer, 
 Which fell near the plundered swinepens. Then 
 
 when in his wrath he came 
 Where the famished swineherds stripped it, they 
 
 rose, and he died in shame. 
 Then set I his men with the miledh, and Lugaid 
 
 had toil with these, 
 But, as master of all endeavours, he drew these 
 
 wolves round his knees. 
 Till they fawned as they fawned not on Crim- 
 thann, licking the palms of his hand 
 For the feastings at Lugaid's table, and his praise 
 
 which was great in the land. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 239 
 
 Chapter XXX 
 
 (l) At Tailtea" a firstborn son is given unto Tephi, and she 
 beholdeth the blossom of her seed which she had planted ; 
 (2) she makeih a confession of sin and its punishment, 
 and admonishes her children thereby, revealing many 
 things unto them. 
 
 (i) At my fortress three months I rested, and a 
 
 strong man-child I bear 
 To my husband, my firstborn, Aed; now my 
 
 infant was very fair. 
 Till I loved him more than my land, and my 
 
 heart was severed irom God. 
 The Lord that gave him hath taken. I am sore 
 
 chastised with His rod. 
 Yet the morn that I carried my firstborn forth 
 
 'neath the summer sky, 
 How sweet were all scents and sounds, and how 
 
 lovely my land did lie, 
 For the field was rosy before me that once was 
 
 mantled with green ; 
 And Maistiu, clapping her hands, said, "Praise 
 
 be to thee great queen, 
 * The strength or stronghold of Teia. 
 
240 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 For thou spreadest fair carpets in Eriu, thy 
 
 carpets out of the East 
 Whereon her children walk softly, her cattle make 
 
 gladdest feast." 
 In wonder I said, "What mean ye?" She 
 
 answered, " That seed of thine 
 Thou plantedst last year with care, behold it 
 
 before thee shine 
 ^^'here it spreadeth on all the field. Thereon do 
 
 thy oxen feed. 
 It shall grow beside all rivers, for we call it our 
 
 Rigan's seed.* 
 Now other seeds that I brought from the ships 
 
 had been saved alive. 
 In my garden of Tailtea I set them, and some 
 
 had the strength to thrive, 
 \\'hilst many withered and died. Yet that linen- 
 seed, with a flower 
 Like the heavens, was much increased, till men 
 
 said that the richest dower 
 Which Tephi brought to the land was seed that 
 
 I plucked by the way 
 
 * Clover. See design on cover. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 241 
 
 When I went through the grasses from Egypt. 
 
 The Lord was my Stone and my stay 
 When little I guessed His purpose. Few things 
 
 are yet to be told. 
 My body is worn and wasted, though by days 
 
 and by years not old, 
 With long service in aid of this people, in strivings 
 
 and sorrows oft. 
 Though my love stood by me to ease me, behold 
 
 my couch was not soft. 
 Our judgments and laws and teachings, are they 
 
 not writ in the book 
 Of En the scribe and his son, wherein he that 
 
 hath skill may look. 
 My psalms are laid with the priests. My songs 
 
 do the harpers sing. 
 May my heartsongs bring cheer to many, my 
 
 psalms find grace with the King, 
 When I have rest after toiMng. Yet one deed 
 
 the Lord hath known, 
 And two most dear, but in part. This sin of my 
 
 soul will I own 
 Ere I rest in the hope of Jacob. 
 
242 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 (2) Ye know how I loved my son, 
 
 My firstborn, believing that he should be mine 
 
 anointed one, 
 Returning in glory to Zion, nay, spake my hope 
 
 unto all. 
 As he dwelt right fair on my bosom. Ah, why 
 
 must my soul recall 
 His tomb. I will seek him to aid him. — When 
 
 Ainge my daughter came, 
 I gave her a foster-mother, which thing was often 
 
 my shame. 
 Though she loved me, soon she left me, for a 
 
 husband that deals not well 
 With my Prince, and hath spoiled the trapdams 
 
 he set in the stream to swell 
 Its course ere it passeth seawards ; and cares not 
 
 fresh farms to win 
 From the wolf and the bear, and the bringing of 
 
 sheep and of oxen in. 
 Were he not grandson of Nuadh mine anger had 
 
 been more sore. — 
 Why do I shrink and wander ? God bids me 
 
 eat to the core 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 243 
 
 The apple of Sodom I planted. — My third babe 
 
 lay at my side, 
 Strong and sturdy and fair, yet little in him was 
 
 my pride. 
 I remembered not how I mourned after love in 
 
 the house of my sire. 
 My firstborn alone I cherished, till a message 
 
 went forth as fire 
 From the Lord. My first born strove in evil rage 
 
 with the Queen, 
 Who chastised not his froward angers ; whilst 
 
 Angus I had not seen. 
 But left him in Maistiu's sunhouse,* who ever 
 
 sung by his bed. 
 Then went I thither and found my blind sister 
 
 with bended head. 
 Threading a sign on the breast of the babe, and 
 
 I asked her thereof, 
 For that mark I knew not. She said, " Many 
 
 righteous his sign shall love. 
 For deep in the still night watches I heard, as it 
 
 were a voice 
 
 * Grianan. The separate house of a woman of rank. 
 
244 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Of one old, compelling mine heart, which said, 
 
 ' Oh virgin, thy choice 
 With God is seen of His eyes. He giveth into 
 
 thy hand 
 His token of blessing and sorrow, that thy soul 
 
 may understand 
 In the dark, and believe His glory. Moreover, it 
 
 shall be set 
 As a sign on the child thou lovest. Though his 
 
 sorrow cometh not yet, 
 Nor his blessing till times appointed. Take this 
 
 in thine hands to hold. 
 Setting lips thereon that it bless thee. Let thy 
 
 fingers veil it with gold. 
 For a sign unto nations and times that the Branch 
 
 shall ever abide. 
 Which out of a double thorn is parted on either 
 
 side, 
 As the props of the Vine I planted.' " Then 
 
 knew I of whom she spake. 
 And thought of my firstborn, and chideth sore in 
 
 my wrath for his sake, 
 Then, seizing the four-thorned charm which 
 
 Maistiu had bound with gold. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 245 
 
 I broke from my babe its strings, and deep in my 
 
 garment's fold 
 Bore it swift to his brother ; but the lad in an 
 
 evil mood 
 Flung it on earth before him, setting his feet on 
 
 the wood. 
 Which pierced his heel, and he angered, and set 
 
 his teeth to my wrist, 
 For the serpents arose up in him. * Then lo, 
 
 ere ever I wist 
 That any man came, one spake, and said, " Wilt 
 
 thou strive with God ? 
 Thou art even a foolish daughter. Thou settest 
 
 thy back to the rod. 
 Thou hast robbed one child of his blessing. Thou 
 
 hast brought his fellow a curse. 
 Thou knowest the serpents with him. Thou 
 
 makest their venom worse. 
 That which thou sparedst to slay, shall sting even 
 
 him and thee 
 In that day when he doeth great evil. Then 
 
 truly thy mourning shall be, 
 
 " Aedh is reported to have had three serpents in him, which 
 would have destroyed the kingdom of his mother but for his death. 
 
246 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 That long time hast not wept for Zion. Thou 
 
 art proud in thine own estate. 
 Thine eyes shall be pools of salt, thine affliction 
 
 be very great. 
 This fourfold thorn shall tear thee. To thy sister 
 
 make plain thy sin. 
 David shall come not to Zion till pardon by this 
 
 he win, 
 And he findeth one pure of heart, and perfect 
 
 before the Lord, 
 And patient beneath these thorns his city is not 
 
 restored." 
 Now I lay down under his feet, but saw him 
 
 turning to go. 
 Whether spirit or man I know not, but he bore 
 
 the mark on his brow 
 Of that sign, and it shone above me as I lay on 
 
 my face and wept 
 Long time, whilst Aedh had fled. Then back to 
 
 Maistiu I crept 
 With sorrow bound to my heart, and wept on her 
 
 breast and prayed ; 
 And at mom I bade that a wall by the door of 
 
 my house be made. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 247 
 
 Whereon ye have seen me weep over Zion through 
 every fast. 
 
 Nigh twenty years have I wept, but my weepings 
 are overpast ; 
 
 For I go unto Him that made me. Yet, weep 
 ye my children still. 
 
 Weep not your mother, but weep over Zion by 
 my burial hill. 
 
 Tea Mur, my wall, ye shall call it ; but David's 
 Lord must ye know 
 
 If your feet would carry you backwards to con- 
 quer his final woe. 
 
 I give you words of remembrance, see that the 
 same ye bind 
 
 On your foreheads to save from idols, and trea- 
 sure them in your mind, 
 
 " Captivity, Bonds, Destruction." * Keep these, 
 being mindful of me. 
 
 And this fair isle shall be safe from every robber 
 by sea. 
 
 Yet these ye will not remember. I see the ships 
 in the bay, 
 
 * These three words seem to have been so often in Tephi's 
 mouth, that later bards call Aedh, Angus and Cermad her sons 
 by them. 
 
248 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 When brother slayeth his brother. Again, I be- 
 hold the day 
 When the Son of Sorrow brings sorrow. Then 
 
 Cometh the bull to gore. 
 Then my Rock is set upon him. Behold, I may 
 
 speak no more. 
 My secret sin is upon me, yet sought I its burden 
 
 might be 
 Lifted away from my son, and the whole be laid 
 
 upon me. 
 Ah me, is it three years only ? It is longer than 
 
 all my life 
 Since Corrgenn came from his hold to bide near 
 
 us, bringing his wife, 
 A brother's daughter to Grisbane, and like as the 
 
 twain were twins. 
 Then our hearth had little honour, and two were 
 
 slain in their sins. 
 An eric was proffered before us, as for the son of 
 
 a queen. 
 But Jochad judged that this island were an eric 
 
 all too mean 
 For me, and for David's heir,if slain in an idle strife. 
 Yet the Lord of David slew him. Let Corrgenn 
 
 deal with his wife, 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 249 
 
 And that other corpse alone. Betwixt him and 
 
 the Lord these lay ; 
 And my soul bowed down unto Jochad and rose 
 
 not to say him " Nay." 
 Therefore Corrgenn bear both unto Ailech, and 
 
 no man went by his side, 
 And of shame and his toil he turned his face to 
 
 the wall and died, 
 Leaving his lands and people, and the care of 
 
 that place to me, 
 So went I forth with my servants Gabhran and 
 
 Imcheal to, see 
 The grave, and raised up a tomb as they build in 
 
 the land of the Greek, 
 A rounded chamber of stone that climbeth up to 
 
 a peak 
 In circles of flags as it narrows, the most fair in 
 
 this land, and alone 
 Upon Ailech my sins are heavy, and heaped to a 
 
 pillar of stone. 
 There mine eyes were pools of salt, and also 
 
 Jochad and ye 
 And the men and babes of my people were one 
 
 in their grief with me. 
 
250 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 Chapter XXXI 
 
 A lamentation of Tephi wherein she giveth ijistruction. 
 
 To be sung to the harp upon the two thousand four hundred and 
 eighty fourth day. 
 
 O, MY CHILD, O, Aedh my firstborn, and O, Aedh my 
 
 firstborn child, 
 That lay small and warm on my heart and looked in 
 
 mine eyes and smiled 
 As a flame * thou hast seared my breast, and wert by 
 
 a flame beguiled. 
 
 O, fair was my strong son Aedh, and O Aedh, my 
 
 strength, was fair. 
 The skies were seen in his eyes. The sun was set 
 
 in his hair. 
 The Mighty hath slain my son. I mourn, yet He 
 
 might not spare. 
 
 O, mine eyes are rivers of tears, and O, rivers of tears 
 
 are mine eyes. 
 I sat in the seat of folly. I walked not amongst the 
 
 wise. 
 I sowed a seed of destruction. Its fruits are foulness 
 
 and lies 
 
 * Aedh, a flame. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 251 
 
 O, let evil be upon Canaan, and O, upon Canaan be 
 
 every ill. 
 Why hale ye their women hither, that are harlots on 
 
 every hill, 
 That are brazen in dances to Baal, that are wanton in 
 
 all their will ? 
 
 O, hear me, my chosen, my husband, and O, my 
 
 husband, my chosen, hear. 
 I have erred and have done great evil. My burden 
 
 is heavy to bear. 
 This mocking was mine not thine. Yet my shame 
 
 hath been thine to share. 
 
 O, heed me Angus, my son, and O, Angus, my son, 
 
 take heed. 
 Thy brother is black in the pit. He stinks as a 
 
 rotten reed. 
 Thou bearest the Branch of blessing. Thy Stone is 
 
 chosen for seed. 
 
 Yet I know thee, O, Angus, my son, and O, Angus, 
 
 my son, I know 
 Thy pomp and thy pride of heart. Thy flame 
 
 burneth on and fro. 
 It flasheth fire in the sky. Its light is sunken and low. 
 
252 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 I divine thee, O Angus, my son, and, O Angus, my 
 
 son, I divine 
 Thy spirit unscarred by the thorns. Thou shalt seek 
 
 but the gold of that sign. 
 Thy heart is not with the High One. With sinners 
 
 thou sittest at wine. 
 
 I behold thy grave,* O, my son, and thy grave, O, 
 
 my son, I behold. 
 Thy grave-mound is glorious and great. Thou 
 
 graspest there on thy gold. 
 Yet the heathen shall find thy hoard ere the hill of 
 
 thy height wax old. 
 
 O, thy treasure is heaped upon earth, and O, with 
 
 earth is thy treasure-heap. 
 Thou art e'en as the kings of Egypt. Thou sinkest 
 
 down in thy sleep. 
 But thieves shall find thee therein, and the snail and 
 
 the slow-worm creep. 
 
 Thy toiling is waste, O Angus, and, O Angus, waste 
 is thy toil. 
 ' Oingus, of the Brugh, is now best remembered by this 
 enormous tumulus, which was plundered by the Danes. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 253 
 
 Thy masons build thee a mansion. The spoiler 
 
 shall make it a spoil, 
 For thy zeal is not unto Zion, nor thine heart 
 
 anointed with oil. 
 
 O, may the bright reign come by thee, and O may 
 
 my white king come. 
 His sheep he leadeth in spirit. He rebuketh them 
 
 lest they roam. 
 He blesseth their lambs in his bosom. They hear 
 
 him at eve and go home. 
 
 O, hear ye the promise of Israel, and O, Israel, this 
 
 promise hear. 
 Let your watchmen know of the night. Let them 
 
 count when the stars grow clear. 
 Let them strongly shout in the gate if a presage of 
 
 dawn appear. 
 
 O, rest ye your faith upon David, and O on David 
 
 let fealty rest. 
 In righteous judgments he rideth. His wise men 
 
 gaze from the west. 
 His house on the hill-tops is holy. His symbols 
 
 shine on his breast. 
 
2S4 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 O, he rides as a king in glory, and O, in glory my 
 
 king doth ride. 
 The nations are scattered beneath hira. In their 
 
 eyries the eagles hide. 
 As a lion he leaps in his strength. What man shall 
 
 his might abide. 
 
 O, springs gush out by the Hill, and O, from the Hill 
 
 there gush forth springs. 
 O'er the path of his chosen people, the vessels bear 
 
 wealth unto kings. 
 The ships of the sea pass over. The waters are 
 
 white with their wings. 
 
 O, broad is the stream of Jordan, and O, Jordan thy 
 
 streams are broad. 
 The seas have set thee in might. No steed shall 
 
 swim by thy ford, 
 Where the House of the High One is builded, the 
 
 Holy House of the Lord. 
 
 O, now I depart in peace, and O, peace is my part a,s 
 
 I go. 
 I have hved the days of my life. I have joyed and 
 
 wandered in woe. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 255 
 
 I am feeble and fain would rest from my travelling 
 to and fro. 
 
 But, O, that day I am fain to behold, and O, I fain 
 
 would behold that day. 
 Raise up the stones from my sidhe. Cleanse ye my 
 
 bones from the clay. 
 Let me see the son of my strength, for my spirit 
 
 shall be his stay. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 Garbh Cliach, the recorder, the son of En, writes of that which 
 may not be written save upon the hearts of the men of 
 Eriu. 
 
 Now the rest of the acts of Teffia, and how her 
 
 sunhouse was made 
 At Tailtea, the beams of its rafters with wings 
 
 of bright birds o'erlaid, 
 And its hurdles snow under summer, so that 
 
 men's eyes were blind 
 Beholding, and how its porches with plates of 
 
 silver were lined ; 
 
256 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 And her purple couches within ; and her crowns 
 
 and bracelets of gold, 
 That often she gave to the bards; and the things 
 
 which her shipmen sold 
 In her mart ; and the peace and joy of her land ; 
 
 and her two fair sons, 
 CEngus the frank and Cermad; and the many 
 
 cashels and duns 
 She set for defence of the sea-coast; and the 
 
 mighty forests she cleared ; 
 And her wide ensample to all men ; and the 
 
 grace that in her appeared 
 Before kings and sages and lowly (for of all men 
 
 her speech was known 
 As a dew that falleth from heaven, and holy 
 
 before God's throne. 
 Yet was troubled in many sorrows alike of bonds- 
 man and free ; ) 
 And how in Crofinn a house was built that her 
 
 rest might be 
 Beside the assemblies of Eriu to soften their 
 
 judgments still. 
 And stay their sharpness of strife 'neath the shade 
 of the Great Queen's hill ; 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHI 257 
 
 And how she had many champions and bards 
 
 and sages and priests ; 
 And how men wise in the Lord came from afar 
 
 to her feasts ; 
 And how many kings sent greetings; and how 
 
 she was mourned for and wept 
 Through the whole green isle of Eriu, and women 
 
 came where she slept, 
 Yea, e'en from the utmost islands to shed on her 
 
 sidhe their tears, 
 And planted their flowers about it; — It needs 
 
 not that aught appears 
 In the books of the scribe, for all is written large 
 
 on the heart 
 Of Eriu, although she oft told presage her name 
 
 should depart 
 From our lips for a season, if these by her psalms 
 
 be not purified ; 
 And that if men failed of her trust, her blessing 
 
 should be denied ; 
 Yet, know we well that her blessing shall ne'er 
 
 be taken away. 
 Nor her face be ever hidden, although it be veiled 
 for a day. 
 
258 THE BOOK OF TEPHI 
 
 So also the Heremon liveth, though under his 
 
 stones he lie 
 On the hills * o'er the lake, his glory and honour 
 
 shall never die 
 Of bard and champion and teacher and lifter of 
 
 burdens sore, 
 Which against the might of his word the hands 
 
 of his sons restore ; 
 Till the Firbolgs toil, as in Egypt our fathers 
 
 were wont to toil, 
 On the tombs that they build by Boyne, filling 
 
 their pouches with soil 
 To heap on the secret chambers wherein these 
 
 would build their home 
 At the last ; and thither surely their bones with 
 
 the curse shall come 
 Of our loved one t and not her blessing. Also 
 
 men have much grief 
 Against Ethdan grandson of Nuadh, whom the 
 
 unwise chose as their chief 
 Of the miledh after Lugaid, for he taxeth the 
 
 land of its yields 
 
 * The Loughcrew Hills. 
 
 t Tephi is alluded to merely as "the Beloved" in early 
 documents. 
 
THE BOOK OF TEPHl 259 
 
 Beyond the strength of the aire, and letteth the 
 
 woods on their fields ; 
 And save that Ainge, his wife, is loved of the 
 
 people still, 
 As the child of our OUam Fothla, some surely 
 
 had wrought him ill. 
 Though the bards sing many complaints, the 
 
 princes repent no whit. 
 Therefore Garbh, the son of En the son of 
 
 Eschmun, hath writ 
 These words in this book against them. For our 
 
 evils will never cease. 
 Till the word of Tephi prevail, and her last and 
 
 her foremost was " Peace." 
 Peace unto God in heaven. Let God shine 
 
 thence upon earth, 
 And the Branch shall anoint you with oils of 
 blessing and praise and mirth. 
 Sith CO Nem 
 Nen CO Doman 
 Doman fo Nim 
 Nert hi each. 
 
 Finis. 
 
PRINTED BV 
 
 TURNBULL AND SPEARS, 
 
 EDINBURGH