第20章 THE BIRTH OF BRAN(2)

Then for some time Iollan did not come to Faery,and Uct Dealv marvelled at that,while her sister made an hundred surmises,each one worse than the last.

"He is not dead or he would be here,"she said."He has forgotten you,my darling."News was brought to Tlr na n-Og of the marriage of Iollan and Tuiren,and when Uct Dealv heard that news her heart ceased to beat for a moment,and she closed her eyes.

"Now!"said her sister of the Shi'."That is how long the love of a mortal lasts,"she added,in the voice of sad triumph which is proper to sisters.

But on Uct Dealv there came a rage of jealousy and despair such as no person in the Shi'had ever heard of,and from that moment she became capable of every ill deed;for there are two things not easily controlled,and they are hunger and jealousy.She determined that the woman who had supplanted her in Iollan's affections should rue the day she did it.She pondered and brooded revenge in her heart,sitting in thoughtful solitude and bitter collectedness until at last she had a plan.

She understood the arts of magic and shape-changing,so she changed her shape into that of Fionn's female runner,the best-known woman in Ireland;then she set out from Faery and appeared in the world.She travelled in the direction of Iollan's stronghold.

Iollan knew the appearance of Fionn's messenger,but he was surprised to see her.

She saluted him.

"Health and long life,my master.".

"Health and good days,"he replied."What brings you here,dear heart?""I come from Fionn."

"And your message?"said he.

"The royal captain intends to visit you."

"He will be welcome,"said Iollan."We shall give him an Ulster feast.""The world knows what that is,"said the messenger courteously.

"And now,"she continued,"I have messages for your queen."Tuiren then walked from the house with the messenger,but when they had gone a short distance Uct Dealv drew a hazel rod from beneath her cloak and struck it on the queen's shoulder,and on the instant Tuiren's figure trembled and quivered,and it began to whirl inwards and downwards,and she changed into the appearance of a hound.

It was sad to see the beautiful,slender dog standing shivering and astonished,and sad to see the lovely eyes that looked out pitifully in terror and amazement.But Uct Dealv did not feel sad.She clasped a chain about the hound's neck,and they set off westward towards the house of Fergus Fionnliath,who was reputed to be the unfriendliest man in the world to a dog.It was because of his reputation that Uct Dealv was bringing the hound to him.

She did not want a good home for this dog:she wanted the worst home that could be found in the world,and she thought that Fergus would revenge for her the rage and jealousy which she felt towards Tuiren.

CHAPTER III

As they paced along Uct Dealv railed bitterly against the hound,and shook and jerked her chain.Many a sharp cry the hound gave in that journey,many a mild lament.

"Ah,supplanter!Ah,taker of another girl's sweetheart!"said Uct Dealv fiercely."How would your lover take it if he could see you now?How would he look if he saw your pointy ears,your long thin snout,your shivering,skinny legs,and your long grey tail.

He would not love you now,bad girl!"

"Have you heard of Fergus Fionnliath,"she said again,"the man who does not like dogs?"Tuiren had indeed heard of him.

"It is to Fergus I shall bring you,"cried Uct Dealv."He will throw stones at you.You have never had a stone thrown at you.

Ah,bad girl!You do not know how a stone sounds as it nips the ear with a whirling buzz,nor how jagged and heavy it feels as it thumps against a skinny leg.Robber!Mortal!Bad girl!You have never been whipped,but you will be whipped now.You shall hear the song of a lash as it curls forward and bites inward and drags backward.You shall dig up old bones stealthily at night,and chew them against famine.You shall whine and squeal at the moon,and shiver in the cold,and you will never take another girl's sweetheart again."And it was in those terms and in that tone that she spoke to Tuiren as they journeyed forward,so that the hound trembled and shrank,and whined pitifully and in despair.

They came to Fergus Fionnliath's stronghold,and Uct Dealv demanded admittance.

"Leave that dog outside,"said the servant.

"I will not do so,"said the pretended messenger.

"You can come in without the dog,or you can stay out with the dog,"said the surly guardian.

"By my hand,"cried Uct Dealv,"I will come in with this dog,or your master shall answer for it to Fionn."At the name of Fionn the servant almost fell out of his standing.

He flew to acquaint his master,and Fergus himself came to the great door of the stronghold.

"By my faith,"he cried in amazement,"it is a dog.""A dog it is,"growled the glum servant.

"Go you away,"said Fergus to Uct Dealv,"and when you have killed the dog come back to me and I will give you a present.""Life and health,my good master,from Fionn,the son of Uail,the son of Baiscne,"said she to Fergus.

"Life and health back to Fionn,"he replied."Come into the house and give your message,but leave the dog outside,for I don't like dogs.""The dog comes in,"the messenger replied.

"How is that?"cried Fergus angrily.

"Fionn sends you this hound to take care of until he comes for her,"said the messenger.

"I wonder at that,"Fergus growled,"for Fionn knows well that there is not a man in the world has less of a liking for dogs than I have.""However that may be,master,I have given Fionn's message,and here at my heel is the dog.Do you take her or refuse her?""If I could refuse anything to Fionn it would be a dog,"said Fergus,"but I could not refuse anything to Fionn,so give me the hound."Uct Dealv put the chain in his hand.

"Ah,bad dog!"said she.

And then she went away well satisfied with her revenge,and returned to her own people in the Shi.

CHAPTER IV

On the following day Fergus called his servant.

"Has that dog stopped shivering yet?"he asked.

"It has not,sir,"said the servant.