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Updated: May 14, 2025
And when Angus had left them, Dermat and Grania sorrowed after him, and it was not long until they journeyed forth. All that befell Dermat and Grania cannot be told in this book, but of Sharvan the giant and of the fairy quicken-tree you shall hear now. After many wanderings Dermat came with Grania to the wood where Sharvan guarded the quicken-tree.
Dermat and Grania then walked until they came to a thick wood, and there Dermat lopped branches from the trees and made a hut, and he made for Grania a bed of the soft rushes and of the tops of the birch. And there Grania rested, and there did Dermat bring to her food of the forest and water from a clear spring. It was early dawn at Tara when Cormac and Finn awoke from their deep sleep.
By the wicket-gate leading from my chamber shall I go forth, and if thou followest me not, alone shall I flee from the sight of Finn. And having spoken thus, Grania went forth from the hall. Then was Dermat in sore plight, for he would not depart from the solemn vow that Grania had laid upon him, and yet he feared lest the Princess should not escape the wrath of Finn.
It was a long while before the Fenians knew who that could be walking by the side of Fionn, but when they did they laughed and mocked till Grania bowed her head for shame. 'This time, O Fionn, you will guard her well, said Ossian. For seven years the sons of Diarmid exercised themselves in all the skill of a warrior, and then they came back to Grania's house.
'Then take that warning, said she. 'I will not, answered Diarmid, 'but will stay in this wood till Fionn comes. And Grania trembled when she heard him. By-and-by the trackers came back to Fionn with news that they had seen Diarmid and Grania, and though Ossian and Diarmid's friends tried to persuade Fionn that the men had been mistaken, Fionn was not to be deceived.
'Then leave them, cried Grania, 'one on each side of the stream, and we will travel on foot. So they went on till they reached Galway, and there Diarmid cut down a grove, and made a palisade with seven doors of wattles, and gathered together the tops of the birch trees and soft rushes for a bed for Grania.
Then the giant, casting his red eye upon the champion, told him in surly tone that it mattered not to him who lived or hunted in the forest, so long as he did not eat the berries of the quicken-tree. So Dermat built a hut near to a clear well, and there he and Grania lived in peace for many days, eating the food of the forest and drinking water from the spring.
So his account of their friendship was cursory and perfunctory, and he asked Evelyn suddenly if Ulick had shown her his opera. "Grania?" "No, not 'Grania. He has not finished 'Grania, but 'Connla and the Fairy Maiden. Written," he added, "entirely on the old lines. Come into the music-room and you shall see." He took up the lamp; Evelyn called Agnes to get another.
Get thee back to thine own household, for I plight thee the word of a true warrior that I will not carry thee from thy father's house. 'Neither is there need, answered Grania, 'for my father's horses are in a fenced meadow by themselves, and chariots also will ye find there. Yoke two horses to a chariot, and I will wait for thee on this spot until thou overtake me again.
Dermat gave heed to the words of his wife and then spake thus: 'Of a truth there is peace betwixt us, but thou knowest well that neither thy father the King nor yet Finn bears me aught but ill-will, and for this cause have we dwelt apart. 'Yet will time have softened their hearts, replied Grania, 'and wouldst thou but make them a feast, so mightest thou win their favour and their love.
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