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comicteaparty · 4 years

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March 16th-March 22nd, 2020 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from March 16th, 2020 to March 22nd, 2020. The chat focused on The Phoenix by Bri de Danann.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

Comic Tea Party

BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on The Phoenix by Bri de Danann~! (https://www.bridedanann.com/thephoenix)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace until March 22nd, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Discussions are freeform, but we do offer discussion prompts in the pins for those who’d like to have them. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic!

Whether you finish the comic or can only read a few pages, everyone is welcome to join and chat with us!

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 1

1. What did you like about the beginning of the comic?

2. What has been your favorite moment in the comic (so far)?

3. Who is your favorite character?

4. Which characters do like seeing interact the most?

5. What is something you like about the art? If you have a favorite illustration, please share it!

6. What is a theme you like that the comic explores?

7. What do you like about the comic’s story or overall related content?

8. Overall, what do you think the comic’s strengths are?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

I'm really loving Cassidy so far - her confidence is infectious! One thing I'm interested in learning more about - the worldbuilding exposition we're given during the intermission. Like, it paints the Alliance in a REALLY positive light... which makes sense, because contextually this is an Alliance-produced ad/propaganda piece. So, I'm curious to find out what the actual story of Marketplace is.

Erin Ptah (BICP | Leif & Thorn)

Just started reading from the beginning..."You need a blue cat in every scifi creation" is making me feel very called-out right now, heh.

Erin Ptah (BICP | Leif & Thorn)

Aaaand the cat-guy runs up stairs on all four feet, that's a good touch

I wish a lot of these pages were bigger, or at least had the action spread out a bit more! Like, on this page https://www.bridedanann.com/pg-13-chapter-1 the "And...associate" is a very funny beat, but there's not enough space to put the speech bubbles one-after-the-other, so they read out-of-order and you lose the rhythm of the joke

That overhead shot of the city streets, too -- it's great, cool evocative setting, neat glowy future architecture, solid anatomy and a good feeling of motion with the figure -- so I wish the whole thing had more room to breathe.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

I will second that criticism about the bubble order

Also on the topic of criticism, I don't know if the author already knows this or not, but the formatting is a bit messed up on mobile and you have to scroll a lot to reach the page(edited)

BriDanann

Thanks for the layout critique! It's something I've noticed and have tried to fix in my writing and bubble placement in subsequent chapters! I am still learning but I'm glad you like the setting and action! Also, for the mobile viewing on the site I am aware that it is messed up. Squarespace is honestly trash at setting up for mobile viewing, I've tried to finagle it but it won't stack neatly... this is why I put it on tapas and Webtoon, they are set up for mobile and it makes it much easier. Sorry for that inconvenience! I am looking into getting a better site for the home of my comic

RebelVampire

Something I like about the beginning of the comic was it just kind of defied my expectations. Like from the cover I was expecting something a bit more light-hearted, maybe even philosophical. And then nope, it's a space adventure. Yet at the same time I still get some of those beautiful more whimsical shots in the art, and it's an interesting combination. As for favorite scene, definitely https://www.bridedanann.com/pg-15-chapter-1 A very light comedic moment that takes the normal graceful leap of faith and turns it into what it would actually be like in real life for most people. Gotta love that subversion. Favorite character right now is Arerio. As the newcomer to the crew, I just connect with Arerio the most right now, plus I'm invested in Arerio's sort of bodyguard defense roll for the crew. Means Arerio is gonna get them spicy action scenes. So far, I've enjoyed seeing Cassidy and Arerio interact the most. I like that Cassidy is both frank with Arerio while also pushing Arerio to do crazy things like jump off random buildings. I kind of feel too that, again, as the newcomer, their lack of established relationship makes what will develop for it have higher stakes, vs. the people Cassidy has clearly known for a long time.

What I liked about the art most is the spacescapes. Beautiful color choices and blending, such as https://www.bridedanann.com/pg-1-chp-2 And like, if you're gonna have a space adventure, having great spacescapes like this is fantastic! Insofar, I like that the comic seems to be exploring authority and trust and what people do when they no longer trust the people in charge. While I don't have a favorite moment yet, I do feel this is a very important topic these days to talk about, as more and more young people are growing up unsure if they can trust authority figures. As for the story content, I've really enjoyed the world-building. Like that Intermission part was really right up my alley, and I enjoyed how expansive the world is yet balanced to not bring up the world at every turn in the main story. It makes for a good setting for space adventures. For the comic's strengths, I'm gonna say a combo of the world-building, the creativity in the world-building, and the effort put into the spacescapes. All together, these just make the space part of the space adventures seem more interesting, which surprisingly not every story nails in that regard.

Erin Ptah (BICP | Leif & Thorn)

How much control does Squarespace give you over your CSS? If you can edit that, it would be really easy to do things like make the little spaceship-graphics disappear completely in mobile view, so readers don't have to scroll past them. (A host with a Wordpress installation would give you total control over the CSS. Switching would take some effort, the benefits might or might not be worth it for you, but it's probably worth looking into it and seeing what you think.)

Back to the comic itself -- just got through chapter 1, and, aha, this is an Oppressing AIs Who Want To Be Free kind of Space Empire? Plus, this narration about a planet being "discovered" and happily "added" to the Alliance -- even though it already had native residents, and the Alliance apparently decided to rename it without their input -- is...chirpily ominous.

Chapter 2 cover: oooh, is that a plant-person I see?

Comic Tea Party

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 2

9. Given the comic describes itself partially as a “found family” story, how do you think events in the comic will bond the characters into a family? What obstacles will the characters go through that challenges their relationships, and what is the overall message about family?

10. Why is The Phoenix’s AI being hunted by the Alliance? Further, why are Cassidy and crew seemingly risking themselves to protect the AI from the Alliance? Which side is right in this situation?

11. Why and/or how do you think Cassidy wound up on the Alliance’s bad side? What about Arerio – why doesn’t Arerio trust the Alliance either? Overall, do you think we as the audience should trust the Alliance?

12. What aspect of the world-building so far do you think will become relevant to the events of the story – especially in regards to Cassidy’s crew’s activities? How will the addition of Arerio change how the group operates from what has been revealed so far about their activities?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

Erin Ptah (BICP | Leif & Thorn)

Well, the Alliance is definitely evil, and Cassidy said AI Rights. Remains to be seen whether it's a general "the AI wants to have free will and not be controlled by authoritarian programming" issue, or something specific like "the AI refused to carry out a specific mission." I thought it was the ship's AI, given that it's not described as an android/robot/etc -- but now we've seen it enter the scene in a humanoid body, so I wonder if the issue is "it experienced mechanical dysphoria while ship-shaped, and the oppressive space empire wouldn't allow it to switch to a new body."

RebelVampire

From initial impressions, I get the feeling all the main cast are outcasts in some ways, at least as far as the Alliance goes. And I think that along is will what bond the characters, since regardless of events, it can always come back to "at least were outcasts together." As for obstacles though, I kind of feel like there's bound to be personality conflicts and while they might all agree the Alliance sucks, at the end I feel each choice Cassidy makes is gonna divide the crew in some way. As for overall message, though, I think it's that family can be anyone and you're not just stuck with the family or even birthplace you were given. Go to where the people who care about you is. As for why the AI is being hunted, not entire sure, but I'm sure a lot of it is just its an AI. People tend to be extremely fearful of the idea of AI or AI that isn't under control. I mean, there's a reason this is a common theme in sci-fi. So for all intents and purposes, I think a large part is just AI = danger to the Alliance. As for why Cassidy and crew are risking their lives, it's probably just they see the AI as a person, not some hardened criminal threat. As for whose side is right, probably neither in my personal opinion. XD They're two extremes that fail to consider the other point of view.

I get the feeling that Cassidy was probably a bit too free-spirited and rebellious for the Alliance's liking, so they outcasted her and snowballed the whole thing. In regards to Arerio, I feel like he witnessed something horrible and just noped outta the situation. I don't think we should trust the Alliance as an organization. Maybe individual people in it, but the whole organization is surely corrupt. I've talked a bit about the world-building I think, but I want to mention again I actually enjoy the Intermission the most. Really gave some context to the story. I kind of feel Arerio is gonna cause Cassidy to take more risks. Cause there is less of a need to be careful if you've got muscle. And while this may increase good deeds, it will inevitably put them in more dangerous as they become more infamous.

Erin Ptah (BICP | Leif & Thorn)

The Intermission was hosted by an AI with some kind of official role, so it's definitely specific to AI that don't "follow the rules" in some way. Details to be revealed, I'm sure. And if one extreme is "I am definitely a person" while the other extreme is "You are definitely not a person", that's not a situation where you should try to consider each other's views and find a truth somewhere in the middle! You gotta stand up for the person, insist that they deserve the same human rights (...sapient rights?) as everyone else.

RebelVampire

I don't really view this as an argument of definitely a person vs. not a person for this story personally. I mean I'm sure that's in there. But I think this is more about "AIs are safe" vs. "AIs are dangerous"

Calliope Ψ ^,^

AIs will absolutely be deserving of rights. Their danger notwithstanding, it would be unethical to withhold inalienable rights from a sentient being simply based on their being digital instead of electrochemical.

RebelVampire

Just in case anyone thinks otherwise, I 100% think AIs are deserving of the same rights as people. However, I do think talking about safety is still important and to blanket say AIs are auto safe or auto dangerous are two extremes, neither of which is entirely correct. But obviously I'm basing this off my interpretation of the comic. It could shift to the people vs. not people debate, which would be a different matter to me.

Calliope Ψ ^,^

Humans are just as dangerous as AIs, that much is true, especially given how much we appropriate low-level proto-AIs to do our bidding. Though, I definitely understand where you're coming from ^^

RebelVampire

Yeah. Like i mean humans are the exact same, which is why we take precautions and have laws and enforcement to stop dangerous people. AIs should be treated in a similar respected but cautionary fashion. Just enforcement for AIs will obviously have to be different cause you can't exactly throw an AI in jail and hope for the same results.

Comic Tea Party

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 3

13. What are you most looking forward to seeing in regards to the comic?

14. Any final words of encouragement for the comic?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

mathtans

Found a little time today. So quickly running through the prompts:

1. Liked the setup of meeting someone who doesn't know the plot to act as our window into things... with the twist that Cassidy and crew are actually known by reputation at least.

2. The cloaked ship angle was a good one, I didn't think of that (I was envisioning that moment in Back to the Future II when Marty steps off the roof) and wow leap of faith by Arerio.

I think that kinda shows how the Alliance is bad news. Arerio was practically willing to die instead of be captured (though presumably he figured there was an ace up a sleeve somewhere).

3. Honestly, I like Sequoia. Cassidy's a bit reckless for my tastes, Arerio didn't really ping for whatever reason, and the others we're still learning about... and here's a character who seemingly drinks water by holding hair in a cup. I gather s/he's a type of tree. Seems to hang back and observe. Liking that. Of course, I'm weird.

4. The Cassidy/Tiko felt a little annoying at first but the interaction on the bridge later helped me to realize this is just a thing they do, and I like that they can be so casual with each other. (When it's not some life and death thing!)

5. Each character's distinctly different, though maybe that's more about the background than the art. I also liked the trip up the stairs and the fall off the tower. The visuals conveyed the scale/scope to me.

6. I'm bad with themes. I suppose the idea of coming together (when faced with a problematic Alliance)?

7. The AI thing has set up a good mystery. And maybe I'm watching too much "Picard" lately, but there's different places they can go with that that others have pointed out too... seems to have been a bit of a topic so far.

(I'm fading, I'll hit a bit more tomorrow.)

(Oh, I like the little comments at the bottom of the panels. So maybe that's a strength too.)

RebelVampire

What I'm most looking forward to seeing in the comic right now is just this first mission so we can get a feel as to what the characters are involved in. That will really set a lot of the tone for the rest of the story, so it'll definitely be a positive step forward. Overall, though, I really enjoy the effort put into the comic so far, and it'll be nice to see where it is in a few months~!

mathtans

Just to hit the highlights of the last questions, continuing from last night... there's probably the idea that family is the people who stick by you more than the people you're related to. In fact it might be interesting to see who some of their parents are (assuming they're alive) and whether they approve versus got into similar trouble.

The AI is being hunted because it's mostly armless. Eh heh... I'm wondering if maybe it's obsolete and refused upgrades or something? But maybe Cassidy and team are able to prevent any viral takeovers, the Alliance simply isn't listening? (That got a bit random but I don't think it's been pitched already.) And "right" is probably somewhere in the middle.

Alliance, as others have said, is probably shady (not the least of which because of the art portrayal?). But I guess there's some reason they're still in charge. ("Firefly" comes to mind, not because I was ever one who watched it, but because I think they were in a similar situation? I could be way off base.)

I liked the thought (I think it was Rebel) of the crew getting riskier now that Arerio is there. Though they seem a bit free spirited anyway, so it might be more a case of not raising their guard as much as they have before.

Anyway, I'd be looking forward to a bit more of the secondary characters (like Sequoia) as the twist of their mission (isn't there always a twist?) becomes apparent. Best with it!

Comic Tea Party

BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about The Phoenix this week! Please also give a special thank you to Bri de Danann for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked The Phoenix, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: https://www.bridedanann.com/thephoenix

Bri’s Redbubble Shop: https://www.redbubble.com/people/bridanann/shop?asc=u

Bri’s Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/bridedanann

Bri’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/BriDanann

#ctparchive #comics #webcomics #indie comics #comic chat #comic discussion #book club #bookclub #webcomic book club #webcomic bookclub #comic tea party #ctp #the phoenix #bri de danann

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teatitty · 4 years

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Family Tree of Tuatha De Danann

Hopefully yall saw my post earlier about how hard it is to make a proper family tree for the Irish Pantheon. As a result, the layout here is a little different than usual and the names I’m using are the more common spellings for all the characters but they are by no means universal (as usual)

This is very long so it’s going under a cut. I will preface this by saying that Danu is more commonly seen as the Mother-Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann (hence their name), and so is usually The Dagda’s mother and/or wife instead of his daughter, but I had to include all versions just to cover my bases

Also this is not a complete list, it’s just all the info I’ve gathered, I’m sure there’s a lot more you can find out there

Danu's sons: Dagda, Dian Cecht, Nuada, Lir, Ogma (all have different fathers)

Unspecified parents: Dagda, Nuada, Credne, Luchta

Indui’s son: Neit (fomorian, King of Tuatha De, favoured his brethren so was disliked, also The Dagda’s Uncle)

____

Neit

Spouses: Badb, Fea and/or Nemain (Nemain and Fea or Nemain and Badb might be the same person)

Neit's sons: Delbaeth or Esarg

Neit's grandchildren: Balor, Eab, Senchab, Esarg (if son of Delbaeth)

Esarg's sons: Dian Cecht, Goibniu, Credna, Luchta

Balor's spouse: Cathleann

Balor's children: Bres, Eithne (daughter)

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The Dagda

Spouses and Consorts/Lovers: A wife with three names (Breng, Meng and Meabel), Danu, The Morrigan, Ernmas, Boann and many unnamed consorts

Dagda's children (unnamed spouse/s and consorts): Aed Minbhrec, Aine (daughter), Bodb Dearg, Cermait (may be the same deity as Ogma), Danu, Dian Cecht, Midir, Nuada, Ogma

Daughter by 3 name wife: Brigid

Daughters by Ernmas: Eiriu, Fodla and Banba

Son by affair with Boann: Aengus Og

____

Bodb Dearg

Children (unknown mother/s): Aedh (same as Aed Minbhrech maybe), Angus, Artrach, Aodh Aithfhiosach, Doirend (daughter), Fergus Fithchiollach, Mesca (daughter), Sadhbh (daughter), Scathniamh (daughter)

Sadhbh: marries Fionn and bears Oisin

Scathniamh: Gives her love to Cailte (Fionn's nephew) but they were forced to part

____

Cermait

Sons (had a joint rule as Kings of Ireland): Mac Cecht (marries Fodla), Mac Cuill (marries Banba), Mac Greine (marries Eiriu)

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Dian Cecht

Children (no mother given): Midach/Miach (may have a brother/aspect called Ormiach), Airmed (daughter), Octruil, Etan (daughter), triplets Cian, Cethe and Cu

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Midir

Spouse and lovers: Fuamach (wife), Etain Og (lover, human), possibly Ernmas

All daughters (mother/s unclear): Bri (loved Leith), Blathnat, Ailbe, Doirind, Macha (also said to be a daughter of Ernmas), Blathaine (gender unclear)

Foster son: Aengus Og

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Nuada

Spouses: Macha (among many others), Eithne (Balor's daughter), Nemain

Son by Eithne: Tadg

Son by unknown spouse: Gaible

Tadg: marries Ethlinn and fathers Muirne (Fionn's mother) and Tuirenn (daughter)

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Ogma

Spouse: Etan/Etain (either Dian Cecht’s daughter or the daughter of a human king)

Sons by Etain: Cairpre or Cairbre mac Ethne (Pro bard of the Tuatha De), Tuireann (Chieftain of Ben Eadair)

Tuireann's lover: Danu

Children with Danu (presumably all sons but I'm not sure): Brian, Iuchar, Iucharba, Ethne (not the same as Eithne)

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Brigid

Spouses: Bres, Senchan Torpeist (real Irish poet, lived around 560–647 AD)

Daughters (unclear if they have a father or not): 3 daughters/aspects all named Brigid

Son by Bres: Ruadan

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Boann

Spouses and Lover: Nechtan and Elcmar (both are aliases of Nuada's lol), Dagda (affair)

Son by affair with Dagda: Aengus Og

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Aengus Og

Spouse and Lover: Caer Ibormeith (human wife, cursed to be a swan 324 days of the year), Eithne (lover/affair, Balor's daughter (she gets around with this family dont worry about it))

Foster-son: Diarmuid (Caer is cited as his foster-mother in some sources bc of her marriage to Aengus)

Son by Eithne: Delbaeth

Daughter (unknown mother): Maga

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Delbaeth

Spouse/lover: Ernmas or Eirnin

Daughters by Ernmas: Eiriu, Fodla and Banba

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Maga

Maga's spouses: Ross the Red, Cathbad (Druid, more often seen as Nessa's one-night lover who fathered Conchobar)

Son by Ross: Fachtna Fathach/the Giant

Children by Cathbad (not likely but a version of this still exists): Conchobar, Deichtine, Findchoem (both daughters)

Fachtna's spouse: Nessa

Son by Nessa: Conchobar

Daughters: Deichtine, Findcheom (unclear if biological or not)

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Lir

Spouses: Aeb, Aife (not Scathach's sister)

Sons (unknown mother/s): Manannan mac Lir, Lodan

Children by Aeb (presumably all sons): Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, Conn

No kids with Aife

Lodan's child (no mother given, gender unclear): Sinann

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Manannan mac Lir

Lovers: Caintigern (wife of Fiachna mac Baetain), Aengus Og (much evidence for this), Fand (wife, had a brief affair with Cu Chulainn)

Son by Caintigern: Mongan (may also be a reincarnation of Fionn mac Cumhaill)

Other children (no parent/s given): Aine (possibly same as Dagda's daughter), Donall Don-Ruadh, Sine Sindearg, Sgoith Gleigeil, Guitne Gorm-Shuileach,

Other sons, explicitly not Donall’s brothers: Gaidiar (had an affair with Bechuma of the Fair Skin leading to her banishment to the human world), Gleigal Garb, Rabach Slaitin

Daughter: Niamh

Foster Sons: Lugh (Noted as being the foster-brother of all the sons listed above, but not the foster-brother of Diarmuid, possibly due to there being a large gap between their respective eras), Diarmuid (raised him with Aengus Og)

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Niamh

Husband: Oisin

Children: Oscar, Finn, Plor na mBan (daughter)

TW below for suicide mention

Though most people know Niamh as Manannan’s daughter, in the oldest text she was human, daughter of Aengus Tirech, King of Munster. She spent 6 weeks with the Fianna before her father arrived in pursuit of her. She then killed herself for fear of him, alongside thirty other women

It’s possible there are two different Niamh’s, as the poem in which Niamh is a Fairy Woman may have been based on lost traditional material

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Ernmas

Lover: either The Dagda or Delbaeth

Mother of following daughters (no father given), collectively known as Morrigna: The Morrigan, Badb, Macha, Nemain, Fea, Fiachna

Daughters by Dagda or Delbaeth: Banba, Eriu and Fodla

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The Morrigan

Husband/mate (yes they really use this term): The Dagda

Children (possibly by Dagda): Mechi (killed by Mac Cecht as a babe), Aine (either her daughter or The Morrigan herself)

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Cainte

Sons (no mother given): Cian, Cu and Cethe

Spouse and Lover: Findchoem (wife), Eithne (lover. Told you she gets around)

Son by Eithne: Lugh

Lugh fathers Setanta/Cu Chulainn with Deichtine as the mother

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Donn (most likely an aspect of Dagda)

Son (mother unnamed): Diarmuid ua Duibhne

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Ailill Aulomm ("One-Eared", presumably human)

Spouse: Sadb ingen Chuinn (daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles)

Daughters (unknown mother/s): Aeb, Aife (wives of Lir), Ailbhe

Sons (unknown mother/s): Dichorb (nephew of Art mac Cuinn), Cormac Cas, Eogan, Cian (not Lugh's father)

Foster son: Lugaid mac Con

TW for Rape below

Ailill raped Aine, which led to her biting off his ear. By ancient law, only an "unblemished" person can rule, and so, by maiming him, Aine rendered him unfit to be King

___

Conn Cetchathach (of the Hundred Battles, human)

Spouse/Lover: Eithne Táebfada

Son by Eithne Táebfada: Art mac Cuinn

Daughter (unknown mother): Sadb ingen Chuinn

Son (by fairy woman): Connla

Conn became the consort of Be Chuille/Be Chuma of the Tuatha De. A later version has Connla as her consort instead

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Art mac Cuinn

Spouses: Delbchaem, Achtan

Lover: Etain (daughter of Olc Acha the smith, human, not Midir’s lover)

Son by Etain or Achtan: Cormac mac Airt (High King of Ireland in Fenian Cycle)

#mythology #this took for-fucking-ever to do oh my god #i didn't include everything for cormac's family tree #cuz u can just find that out on his wiki page yourself #but I included the important bits to the tuatha de #and of course the fenian cycle #augh i hope you can understand this format

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scapeszine · 5 years

Photo

🌃 SCAPES: A Backgrounds & Environments Zine 🌃

🌌 MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS 🌌

Alex Siple || Angi MC || Aquaria Moon || Arka WR

Bootlegwhale || Bri de Danann || Briarpatchpumpkin || Bullsfish

Carymono || Chase || CoriCuri || Crossing Lights

Cyanello || Donna Mendez || Eggsy || Eleanor Kirkwood

FairyArmour || Hoshibara || Jeanette Kulick || Katy L. Wood

Kelly Latham || Kristen || Laura Onderwater || LianneTheCatLady

LittleWoodlouse || Lucciana || Marina M || Marinya

Mic || NicoleAltDelete || Niktropolis || Noah Grace

Ozzie Sneddon || Princeau Arc-en-Ciel || Py || Saleha Chowdhury

Sam C || SaraBerry || Sarah K Turner || Shuuta

Subtlespell || WDragonArt || Wren

➡️ twitter + tumblr ⬅️

#Contributors #Original zine #Art zine #Artists on tumblr #Zine #Background illustrations #Mod Pilot #&#Mod Cirno #who made the AWESOME graphic!

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fuckyeahlabynight · 4 years

Link

#la by night #calisto 6 #annabelle #fanart

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brightartblog · 5 years

Link

A blue cat boy is in this comic now! Not a drill! New page out now!

#The Phoenix #my art #my comic #My art stuff #my artwork #scifi #scifiart #science fiction #callisto 6 #callisto 6 art #critterart #superpunks

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discovercomics · 2 years

Text

The Phoenix

The Phoenix by Bri de Danann Sci-fi, Space

Creator: Bri de DanannURL: https://www.bridedanann.com/thephoenixTwitter: @BriDanannPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/bridanannKo-fi: https://ko-fi.com/bridedanann Synopsis “A science fiction adventure comic about found family, identity, and humanity’s place in the cosmos! Join Cassidy and the crew of The Phoenix as they go on a life changing journey!”

View On WordPress

#anthropomorphic #Comic #Heartwarming #sci-fi #space

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oaklheart-blog · 6 years

Text

Tochmarc Étaíne - The Wooing of Etain - Passage 1

This was written for use as study material for Thistle Protogrove of Ár nDraíocht Féin, a Druid Fellowship. That isn't to say that it cannot be used for study outside of this group, but please let me know if you are using it. Insight is welcome, discussion is encouraged. Using this well-known story, I hope to help folks become better acquainted with some of the Gods of Irish Religion. The writing in the notes is informal, in hopes of holding the attention of some very distracted readers. You know who you are--I still love you.

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There was a famous king of Ireland of the race of the Tuatha De Danann [Tua-dey-Dan-ann], Eochaid Ollathair [OH-hay-d ALLA-hay] his name. He was also named the Dagda [DAG-dha], for it was he that worked wonders for them and controlled the weather and the crops. Wherefore men said he was called The Good God. Elcmar of the Brug [BRU] had a wife whose name was Eithne [En-Ya] and another name for her was Boand [BO-an] . The Dagda desired her in carnal union. The woman would have yielded to the Dagda had it not been for fear of Elcmar [elk-MER] , so great was his power. Thereupon the Dagda sent Elcmar away on a journey to Bres [BUR-as: Beautiful] son of Elatha in Mag nInis [ALE-ah-hah-in-Mag-Nin-ISH] , and the Dagda worked great spells upon Elcmar as he set out, that he might not return betimes (that is, early) and he dispelled the darkness of night for him, and he kept hunger and thirst from him. He sent him on long errands, so that nine months went by as one day, for he had said that he would return home again between day and night. Meanwhile the Dagda went in upon Elcmar's wife, and she bore him a son, Aengus, and the woman was whole of her sickness when Elcmar returned, and he perceived not her offense, that is, that she had lain with the Dagda.

The Dagda meanwhile brought his son to Midir's [MID-ir] house in Bri Leith in Tethba [BRUH-ley / TEY-buh] , to be fostered. There Aengus was reared for the space of nine years. Midir had a great playing-field in Bri Leith [BRUH-ley]. Thrice fifty lads of the young nobles of Ireland were there and thrice fifty maidens of the land of Ireland [150 boys + 150 girls = 300]. Aengus was the leader of them all, because of Midir's great love for him, and the beauty of his form and the nobility of his people. He was also called Mac Og (the Young Son), for his mother said: "Young is the son who was begotten at the break of day and born betwixt it and evening."

****1: NOTES****

This passage serves several purposes. Not only is it terribly important in Irish mythology to establish the lineage of a God or Goddess, but it is also terribly crucial, especially in earlier literature (of which sort this is) to highlight the parents' merits, abilities, and so on. This foreshadows those of the child, while adding bulk to the narrative in general; and as we know, this was important because they didn't have television, computers, and smart-phones back then. Initially, we see the very typical and oft-mentioned 'praises' to the Dagda for his abilities "for it was he that worked wonders for them and controlled the weather and crops". The next half of this section highlights his other abilities, which include magic and control over nature and time. The Dagda is sometimes referred to as "King of the Sidhe", for it is he who is accredited with building the Sidhe mounds, and who keeps the sacred magic of the Druids. Hence his title as Father of the Druids. These traits are highlighted by the rather potent spell he works on Elcmar. Furthermore, his deception here shows his cunning, a trait that is highlighted in Angus as something of a trickster.

After Angus Og's birth, he is transported by his father to Midir's house in Tethba, who one of his older sons. This section has a few of those ever-present homages to the Druidic fixation with the number three. The first is, of course, the statement of the length of time of the pregnancy and the passage of days. Nine months in a pregnancy, and as we know if you divide nine by three you get, well . . . three. Elcmar is gone for the span of the pregnancy, but experiences time differently thanks to An Dagda's spell, which causes him to perceive nine months as one day. Nine divided by three is three, three divided by three is one. I may be losing some of you. In Irish myths, Gods are often three in one, and I have long assumed these numerical clues to be hints at that theme.

In the next paragraph, we are given more numbers to think on. Again, we have the theme of nine leading back to one, with Angus being reared in the span of nine years. The next reference to the number three is a little more elusive, if you're just reading it at face value, but a sequence of equations leads to an infinite progression of the sacred number three.

"Thrice fifty lads of the young nobles of Ireland were there and thrice fifty maidens of the land of Ireland."

3x50 = 150x2 = 300

300/3 = 100

100/3 = 33.3r

What does the infinite nature of the number three here indicate? Well, the number is in regard to those whom Angus is leader of, perhaps indicating his connection to the eternal and divine. Likely as well is this as a reference to his link with the royalty and kingship of the Tuatha De Dannan. Whatever the case, it is clear that numbers were hugely important in Irish, considering the nature of Ogam and the Druids' calenders of the phases of the moon and other celestial bodies. Figures such as The Morrigan and The Dagda, who are primordial mother and father archetypes each have a significant link to the triadic theme. The former having 6-9 Goddesses in her conclave, and the latter being referred to as a God of "Druidic sciences", and who is referenced as being of "multi-formed triads". Three is ever-present in Druidic writing, and surrounds the origins and stories of the Gods, seeming to hint at their divine qualities; and Angus the Young is no exception.

Names, phrases, and words in this section:

Tuatha De Danann - Tua-day-Dan-ann - There is some debate on the proper pronunciation and spelling of this phrase, mainly over the usage of "De", or "of". I won't get into that too much here, but wanted to make it apparent, if anyone ever sees it spelled sans "De", not to be alarmed or confused. It means the same thing either way, and that is "The Tribe/People of Danu". Danu being, of course, the ever-present but rarely heard from mother-deity in Irish mythology.

Eochaid Ollathair - OH-hay-d ALLA-hay - This is the Dagda's "true" name, which is handy to know seeing as how he has about a dozen or so monikers, many of which indicating his red nature.The color red is associated with magic and otherworldly forces in Irish mythology. Here, though, his name means "Horseman Allfather".

Dagda - DAG-dha - The Dagda, when translated quite literally and simply, means "The Good God", though there are other translations that have its meaning as "God of All" or "God of the World".

Brugh - BREW - This word refers to a dwelling or a house, though is sometimes translated as "mansion" or "palace". Brughs are where the Aes Sidhe [Ays-Shee] in Irish mythology dwell. An Dagda's Brugh na Boinne - The House at the River Boinne, which brings us to . . .

Boan - BO-an - Also spelled Boinne, the River Boinne is named for her, and in Irish mythology she is the Goddess associated with this body of water. The mother of Angus Og, her name means "White Cow".

Elcmar - ELK-mer - His name means "spiteful/envious one", from the proto-Irish "Ealcmhar". He serves as steward to the Dagda, and is husband to Boan. He is killed by Angus Og, and is clearly an ill-fated character from the start of things.

Bres - BUR-as - Bres the Beautiful appears in several legends, most notably the Silver Hand of Nuadu. Outwardly, he is considered to be the most beautiful and intelligent man in Ireland, but inwardly his heart is small and tarnished, full of ego and selfish vanity. Think the Beast in Beauty and the Beast before he turned all big and gnarly. Bres is made defacto King of the Tuatha De Danann due to Nuada's incapacity as King, and he drives the kingdom into the ground. Eventually, you have the God of Speech doing back-breaking labor and An Dagda being starved near to dying. He ends up being ousted as King, though, and everything is okay.

Elatha in Mag nInis - ALE-ah-hah-in-Mag-Nin-ISH - Often billed simply as Elatha, for reasons that should be quite obvious, though his name isn't as intimidating as it at first appears. He is a prince of the Formorians, considered to be the "bad guys" in several fables, never-minding that Irish mythology doesn't always have traditional concepts of 'good' and 'bad'. Before you go writing off the Fomorians as 'bad guys', bear in mind that one of the greatest heros of Irish oral tradition was half-Fomorian: That is, the shining one, Lugh. Anyways, Elatha is most likely the namesake remnant of a long-forgotten moon deity, as he is said to have visited Eriu [UR-you], the matron Goddess of Ireland, at night by way of a shining, silver boat.

Bri Leith / Tethba - BRUH-ley / TEY-buh - In this passage, it states that "the Dagda meanwhile brought his son to Midir's house in Bri Leith in Tethba, to be fostered". Bri Leith was a place in Tethba, which was a kingdom, the location of which is still up for question. Most can agree that it encompassed parts of Westmeath and most of County Longford--the North-West of the Province of Leinster. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at a Map of Ireland and find Dublin. You'll be in roughly the correct region.

*Note on Irish Writing*

"Young is the son who was begotten at the break of day and born betwixt it and evening."

This is a very round about way of saying that Angus was born in the afternoon. It would seem rather pointless to us, nowadays, to be so particularly wordy about this, but to the Druids it was all about the number of syllables present in their sentences. This, of course, is utterly destroyed when translated to English, but you understand the objective, I hope. These numbers usually referred back to the number three, or were otherwise numbers divisible by three. Some part of this roundabout speech is also a product of the syntax of the old Irish language. You may have found some examples of that in the excerpt so far, such as:

". . . the woman was whole of her sickness when Elcmar returned, and he perceived not her offense, that is, that she had lain with the Dagda."

A modernized version would read:

" . . . she was no longer pregnant when Elcmar came back, and he had no idea that she had lain with the Dagda."

It is important to remember this syntax difference, and the numeric syllable importance whilst reading Irish myths, as it can be very easy to become confused in the esoteric style. Honesty is my way of conveyance, of this subject, I speak not untrue. See, it's easy once you get the hang of it, but until you do it can make your eyes glaze over.

#druidism #irish mythology #irish myth #the wooing of etain #mythology #writings #mine

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Text

Lady Augusta Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of Tuatha de Danann, 1905

Page 7: And the Tuatha de Danaan took possession of Teamhair, that was sometimes called Druim Cain, the Beautiful Ridge, and LIathdruim, the Grey Ridge, and Druim na Descan, the Ridge of the Outlook, all this name were given to Teamhair. And from that time it was above all other places, for its king was the High King over all Ireland. The king’s rath lay to the north, and the Hill of the Hostages to the northeast of the High Sea, and the Green of Teamhair to the west of the Hill of the Hostages. And to the northeast, in the Hill of the Sidhe, was a well called Nemnach, and out of it there flowed a stream called Nith, and on that stream the first mill was built in Ireland.

Page 43: So they went to the king that very day, and he asked them what did they mean by getting themselves ready for a journey. “You will hear that, high king,” said Brian; “it is because trained fighting men from Ireland, like ourselves, have always trust put in them by the kings they guard, and we are used to be told the secrets and whispers of any person we are with, and that is not the way you have treated us since we came to you. For you have two horses and a chariot that are the best in the world, as we have been told, and we have not been given a sight of them yet.” “It would be a pity you to go on that account,” said the king, “when I would have showed them to you the first day, if I had known you had a wish to see them. And if you have a mind to see them now,” he said, “you may see them; for I think there never came soldiers from Ireland to this place that were thought more of by myself and by my people than yourselves.”

Page 74: It was Bodb’s swineherd went to Da Derga’s Inn, and his squealing pig along with him, the night Conaire, the High King of Ireland, met with his death; and it was said that whatever fast that swineherd would go to, there would blood be shed before it was over.

Page 91: And when Etain was grown to be a beautiful young woman, she was seen by Eochaid Feidlech, High King of Ireland, and this is the way that happened.

Page 95: But the same thing happened the next day. And when it happened on the third day, and the same man came to meet Etain, she said to him: “It is not you at all I come to meet here, and why is it that you come to meet me? And as to him I came to meet,” she said, “Indeed it is not for gain or through lightness I bade him come to me, but to heal him of the sickness he is lying under for my sake.” Then the man said: “It would be more fitting for you to come to meet me than any other on. For in the time long ago,” he said, “I was your first husband, and your first man.” “What is it you are saying,” she said, “and who are you yourself?” “It is easy to tell that,” he said; “I am Midhir of Bri Leith.” “And what parted us if I was your wife?” said Etain. “It was through Fuamach’s sharp jealousy and through the spells of Bresal Eterlaim, the Druid, we were parted. And will you come away with me now?” he said. But Etain said: “It is not for a man whose kindred is unknown I will give up the High King of Ireland.” And Midhir said: “Surely it was I myself put that great desire for you on Ailell, and it was I hinder him from going to meet you, the way you might keep your good name.”

Page 96: “And will you come there with me, Etain?” he said. But Etain said she would not leave Eochaid the High King. “Will you come if Eochaid gives you leave?” Midhir said then. “I will do that,” said Etain.

One day, after that time, Eochaid the High King was looking out from his palace at Teamhair, and he saw a strange man coming across the plain. Yellow hair he had, and eyes blue and shining like the fame of a candle, and a purple dress on him, and in his hand a five-pronged spear and a shield having gold knobs on it.

Page 99: Then they want to Bri Leith; and Etain’s daughter Esa came to them there, and she brought a hundred of every sort of cattle with her, and Midhir foster her for seven years. And all through that time Eochaid the High King was making a search for them.

Page 100: But there was great danger on Midhir and his people because of their bill being attacked and dug into. And it was in revenge for that insult they brought Conaire, High King of Irland, that was grandson of Eochaid and of Etain, to his death afterwards at Da Derga’s Inn.

Page 101: But he had many places of living, and he was often heard of in Ireland after. It was he sent a messenger to Etain, mother of Conaire the High King, the time she was hidden in the cowherd’s house. and it was he brought up Deirdre’s children in Emhain of the Apple Trees, and it was said of that place, “a house of peace is the hill of the Sidhe of Emhain.” And it was he taught Diarmid of the Fianna the use of weapons, and it was he taught Cuchulain the use of the Gae Bulg, and some say it was he was Deirdre’s father, and that he brought Conchubar, king of Ulstr, to the place she was hidden, and he running with the appearance of a hare before the hounds of the men of Ulster to bring them there.

Page 103: There was a young girl of the name of Tuag, a fosterling of Conaire the High King, was reared in Teamhair, and a great company of the daughters of the kings of Ireland are put about her to protect her, the way she would be kept for a king’s asking. But Manannan sent Fer Ferdiad, of the Tuatha de Danaan, that was a pupil of his own and a Druid, in the shape of a woman of his own household, and he went where Tuag was, and sang a sleep-spell over her, and brought her away to Inver Glas. And there he laid her down while he went looking for a boat, that he might bring her away in her sleep to the Land of the Ever-Living girl, and she was drowned, and Manannan killed Fer Ferdiad in his anger.

Page 164: And after that, Finn being but a young lad yet, made himself ready and went up at Samhain time to the gathering of the High King at Teamhair. And it was the law at that gathering, no one to raise a quarrel or bring out any grudges against another through the whole of the time it lasted. And the king and his chief men, and Goll, son of Morna, that was now Head of the Fianna, and Caoilte, son of Ronan, and Conan, son of Morna, of the sharp words, were sitting at a fast in the great house of the Middle Court; and the young lad cam in and took his place among them, and none of them knew who he was.

Page 165: The High King looked at him then, and the horn of meetings was brought to him, and he put it into the boy’s hand, and asked him who was he.

Page 179: And as to Caoilte, that was a grey thin man, he was the best runner of them all. And h did a good many great deeds; a big man of the Fomor he killed one tim, and he killed a five-headed giant in a wheeling door, and another time he made an end of an enchanted boar that no one else could get near, and he killed a grey stag that had got away from the Fianna through twenty-seven years. And another time he brought Finn out of Teamhair, where he was kept by force by the High King, because of some rebellion the Fianna had stirred up. And when Caoilte hard Finn had been brought away to Teamhair, he went out to avenge him. And the first he killed was Cuireach, a king of Leinster that had a great name, and he brought his head up to the hill that is above Buadhmaic. And after that he made a great rout through Ireland, bringing sorrow into every house for the sake of Finn, killing a man in every place, and killing the calls with the cows.

Page 201: And after a while the High King of Ireland came to Slieve Mis with a great troop of his men, to join with Finn and the Fianna. And they told the High King the whole story, and how the sons of Uar were destroying them, and the three sons of the King of Iruath were helping them against them. “Why would not the men that can do all that find some good spell that would drive the sons of Uar out of Ireland?” said the High King.

With that Caoilte want looking for the three young men from Iruath and brought them to the High King. “The are comely men,” said the High King, “good in their shape and having a good name. And could you find any charm, my sons,” he said, “that will drive out these three enemies that are destroying the Fianna of Ireland?” “We would do that if we could find those men near us,” said they; “and it is where they are now,” they said, “at Daire’s Cairn at the end of the raths.” “Where are Garb-Cronan, the Rough Buzzing One, and Saltran of the Long Heel?” said Finn. “Here we are, King of the Fianna,” said they. “Go out to those men beyond, and tell them I will give according to the judgment of the King of Ireland in satisfaction for their father.” The messengers went out then and brought them in, and they sat down on the bank of the rath.

Then the High King said: “Rise up, Dubh, son of the King of Iruath, and command these sons of Uar with a spell to quit Ireland.” And Dubh rose up, and he said: “Go out through the strength of this spell and this charm, you three enemies of the Fianna, one-eyed, lame-thighed, left-handed, of the bad race. And go out on the deep bitter sea,” he said, “and let each one of you strike a blow of his sword on the head of his brothers. For it is long enough you are doing harm and destruction on the king of the Fianna, Finn, son of Cumhal.”

Page 206: One time the enemies of Ireland gathered together under Daire Donn, High King of the Great World, thinking to take Ireland and to put it under tribute.

Page 213: He went back then to where the king was, and the king asked him which of the men of the Fianna was in it. “it is a kinsman of my own is in it, High King,” said Glas: “and it is weak my heart is, he to be alone, and I have a great desire to go and help him.” “If you go,” said the King of the World, “it is what I ask you, to come and to tell m every day how many of the Fianna of Ireland have fallen by me; and if a few of my own men should fall,” he said, “come and tell me who it was they fell by.” “It is what I ask you,” said Glas, “not to let your armies land till the Fianna come to us, but to let on man only come to fight with each of us until that time,” he said.

Page 215: Then Taistellach that was one of Finn’s messengers came to the White Strand asking news; and Conn bade him go back to where Finn was and tell him the way things were. But Taistellach would not go until he had wetted his sword in the blood of one of the enemies of Ireland, the same as the others had done. And he sent a challenge to the ships, and Coimhleathan, a champion that was very big and tall, cam and fought with him on the strand, and took him in his arms to bring him back living to the ship of the High King; but Taistellach struck his head off in the sea and brought it back to land.

Page 220: Then Glas, son of Dremen, gave out a challenge of fight from Cuban’s son, and the King of Greece answered it. And the two fought hand to hand, and the King of Greece made a great cast of his thick spear at Cuban’s son, that went through his body and broke his back in two. But he did not take that blow as a gift, but he paid for it with a strong cast of his own golden spear that went through the ring armor of the King of Greece. And those two fell together, sole to sole, and lip to lip. “There is grief on me, Cuban’s son to have fallen,” said Finn, “for no one ever went from his house unsatisfied; and a man that I would not keep, or the High King of Ireland would not keep for a week, he would keep him in his house through the length of a year. And let Follamain, his son, be called to me now,” he said, “and I will give him his father’s name and place.”

Page 223: But there was great grief and anger on Dolar Durba, the eldest of the sons of Garb, that had stopped in the ship, and he made a great oath that he would have satisfaction for his brothers. And he went to the High King, and he said: “I will go alone to the strand, and I will ill a hundred men very day till I have made an end of the whole of the armies of Ireland; and if any one of your own men comes to interfere with me,” he said, “I will kill him along with them.”

Page 228: And the fight want on from day to day, and from week to week, and there are great losses on both sides. And when Fergus of the Sweet Lips saw that so many of the Fianna were fallen, he asked no leave but went to Teamhair of the Kings, where the High King of Ireland was, and he told him the way it was with Finn and his people. “That is good,” said the High King, “Finn to be in that strait; for there is no laboring man dares touch a pig or a deer or a salmon if he finds it dead before him on account of the Fianna; and there is no man but is in dread to go from one place to another without leave from Finn, or to take a wife till he knows if she has a sweetheart among the Fianna of Ireland. And it is often Finn has given bad judgments against us,” he said, “and it would be better for us the foreigners to gain the day than himself.”

Page 229: Then Fergus went out to the lawn where the High King's son was playing at ball. “It is no good help you are giving to Ireland,” said Fergus then, “to be playing a game without lasting profit, and strangers taking away your country from you.” And he was urging him and blaming him, and great shame came on the young man, and he threw away the stick and went through the people of Teamhair and brought together all the young men, a thousand and twenty of them that were in it. And they asked no leave and no advice from the High King, but they set out and went on till they came to Finntraigh. And Fergus went to where Finn was, and told him the son of the High King of Ireland was come with him; and all the Fianna rose up before the young man and bade him welcome. And Finn said: “Young man,” he said, “we would sooner see you coming at a time when there would be musicians and singers and poets and high-up women to make pleasure for you than at the time we are in the straits of battle the way we are now.” “It is not for playing I am come,” said the young man, “but to give you my service in battle.” “I never brought a lad new to the work into the breast of battle,” said Finn, “for it is often a lad coming like that finds his death, and I would not wish him to fall through me.” “I give my word,” said the young man, “I will do battle with them on my own account if I may not do it on yours.” Then Fergus of the Fair Lips went out to give a challenge of battle from the son of the High King of Ireland to the King of the World.

“Who will answer the King of Ireland's son for me?” said the King of the World. “I will go against him,” said Sligech, King of the Men of Cepda; and he went on shore, and his three red battalions with him. And the High King's son went against them, and his comrades were near him, and they were saying to him: “Take a good heart now into the fight, for the Fianna will be no better pleased if it goes well with you than if it goes well with the foreigner.” And when the High King's son heard that, he made a rush through the army of the foreigners, and began killing and overthrowing them, till their chief men were all made an end of. Then Sligech their king came to meet him, very angry and destroying, and they struck at one another and made a great fight, but at the last the King of Ireland's son got the upper hand, and he killed the King of the Men of Cepda and struck off his head.

Page 261: And it was after that time the High King sent a messenger to bring the Fianna to the Feast of Teamhair. And they all gathered to it, men and women, boys and heroes and musicians. And Goll, son of Morna, was sitting at the feast beside the king. “It is a great loss you have had, Fianna of Ireland,” said the king, “losing your lord and your leader, Finn, son of Cumhal.” “It is a great loss indeed,” said Goll.

Page 262: The High King called then for Frgus of the True Lips, and he said: “Do you know how long is Finn away from us?” “I know that will,” said Fergus; “it is a month and a quarter and a year since we lost him. And indeed it is a great loss he is to the Fianna of Ireland,” he said, “himself and the men that were with him.” “It is a great loss indeed,” said the king, “and I have no hope at all of finding those six that were the best men of Ireland or of Alban.”

Page 294: And that was the hardest day’s work Caoilte ever did, unless the day he brought the flock of beasts and birds to Teamhair, to ransom Finn from the High King of Ireland.

Page 298: Then Finn and his men came up, but in place of a beast it was a tall man they saw lying dead before them. And the Red Woman came up at the same time, and she said: “High King of the Fianna, that is the King of the Firbolgs you have killed; and his people will put great troubles on this country in the time to come, when you yourself, Finn, and your people will be under the sod. And I myself am going now to the Country of the Young," she said, “and I will bring you with me if you have a mind to come.” “We give you our thanks for that,” said Finn, “but we would not give up our own country if we were to get the whole world as an estate, and the Country of the Young along with it.” “That is well,” said the Red Woman; “but you are going home empty after your hunt.” “It is likely we will find a deer in Gleann-na-Smol,” said Finn. “There is a fine deer at the foot of that tree beyond,” said the Red Woman, “and I will rouse it for you.” With that she gave a cry, and the deer started out and away, and Finn and his men after it, and it never stopped till it came to Gleann-na-Smol, but they could not come up with it. Then the Red Woman came to them, and she said: “I think you are tired now with following after the deer; and call your hounds off now," she said, “and I will let out my own little dog after it.” So Finn sounded a little horn he had at his side, and on the moment the hounds came back to him. And then the Red Woman brought out a little hound as white as the snow of the mountains, and put it after the deer; and it was not long till it had come up with the deer and killed it, and then it came back and made a leap in under the cloak of the Red Woman. There was great wonder on Finn; but before he could ask a question of the Red Woman, she was gone out of sight. And as to the deer, Finn knew there was enchantment on it, and so he left it there after him. And it is tired and empty the Fianna were, going back to Almhuin that night.

Page 310: Now as to Oisin, that was so brave and so comely, and that could overtake a deer at its greatest speed, and see a thistle thorn on the darkest night, the wife he took was Eibhir of the painted yellow hair, that was the foreign sweetheart of the High King of Ireland.

It is beyond the sea she lived, in a very sunny place; and her father’s name was Iunsa, and her sunny house was thatched with the feathers of birds, and the doorposts were of gold, and the doors of ribbed grass. And Oisin went there looking for her, and he fought for her against the High King and against an army of the Firbolgs he had helping him; and he got the better of them all, and brought away Eibhir of the yellow hair to Ireland.

Page 314: “What is her name?” said Finn. “Etain of the Fair Hair," he said; “a daughter of my own, and a darling of the Tuatha de Danaan. And it is the way with her, she has a lover of the men of the Fianna.” “That is well,” said Finn; “and who is that lover?” “It is Osgar, son of Oisin,” said Aedh ; “and it is she herself sent her messenger for you,” he said, “in her own shape, to Slieve Crot in the south. And the son of the High King of Ireland has offered a great bride-price to the Men of Dea for her,” he said, “three hundreds of the land nearest to Bregia and to Midhe, and to put himself and his weight of gold into a balance, and to give it all to her. But we did not take it,” he said, “since she had no mind or wish for it herself, and so we made no dealing or agreement about her.” “Well,” said Finn, “and what conditions will you ask of Osgar?” “Never to leave me for anything at all but my own fault,” said the girl. “I will make that agreement with you indeed,” said Osgar. “Give me sureties for it,” said she ; “give me the sureties of Goll for the sons of Morna, and of Finn, son of Cumhal, for the Fianna of Ireland.”

So they gave those sureties, and the wedding-feast was made, and they stopped there for twenty nights. And at the end of that time Osgar asked Finn where would he bring his wife. “Bring her to wide Almhuin for the first seven years," said Finn.

Page 339: Then Finn and the King of Sorcha called a great gathering of the people and a great meeting. And when it was going on they saw a woman-messenger coming to them through the crowd, and the king asked news of her. “I have news indecd,” she said; “the whole of the bay and the harbour is full of ships and of boats, and there are armies all through the country robbing all before them.” “I know well," said the king, “it is the High King of Greece is in it, for he has a mind to put the entire world under him, and to get hold of this country like every other.” The King of Sorcha looked at Finn then, and Finn understood it was help from him he was asking, and it is what he said: “I take the protection of this country on myself so long as I am in it.” He and his people rose up then, and the King of Sorcha along with them, and they went looking for the strange army. And when they came up with it they made great slaughter of its champions, and those they did not kill ran before them, and made no better stand than a flock of frightened birds, till there were hardly enough of them left to tell the story.

The High King spoke then, and it is what he said: “Who is it has done this great slaughter of my people? And I never heard before,” he said, “any talk of the courage or of the doings of the men of Ireland either at this time or in the old times. But from this out,” he said, “I will banish the Sons of the Gael for ever to the very ends of the earth.”

Page 343: Finn rose up one morning early in Almhuin of Leinster, and he sat out alone on the green lawn without a boy or a servant being with him. And Oisin followed him there, and Diorraing the Druid. “What is the cause of your early rising, Finn?” said Oisin. “It is not without cause, indeed, I rise early,” said Finn, “for I am without a wife or a companion since Maighneis, daughter of Black Garraidh, died from me; for quiet sleep is not used to come to a man that is without a fitting wife.” “Why would you be like that?” said Oisin, “for there is not a woman in all green Ireland you would throw a look on but we would bring her to you, willing or unwilling." “I myself could find a wife would be fitting for you." said Diorraing. “Who is that?” said Finn. “It is Grania, daughter of the High King of Ireland,” said Diorraing; “and she is the woman of the best make and shape and the best speech of the women of the whole world.” “By my word, Diorraing,” said Finn, “there is strife and disagreement between the High King and myself this long time, and it would not be pleasing to me to get a refusal from him. And it is best for you two to go together,” he said, “and to ask his daughter for me in marriage; the way that if he gives a refusal, it will be to you and not to myself he will give it.” “We will go," said Oisin, “even if it is little profit we will get by it. And let no one at all know of our going,” he said, “until such time as we are come back again.”

Page 372: Then Diarmid went to the Surly One, and he chanced to be asleep before him, and he gave him a store of his foot the way he lifted his head and looked up at him, and he said: “Have you a mind to break our peace, Grandson of Duibhne?” “That is not what I want,” said Diarmid; “but it is Grania, daughter of the High King,” he said, “has a desire to taste those berries, and it is to ask a handful of them I am come.” “I give my word,” said he, “if she is to die for it, sh will never taste a berry of those berries.” “I would not do treachery on you,” said Diarmid; “and so I tell you, willing or unwilling, I will take those berries from you.”

Page 379: “Tell me that,” she said, “Grandson of Duibhne, to whom I gave my love.” And Diarmid said: “O Grania, daughter of the High King, woman who never took a step aright, it is because she was frozen to the rocks she gave that cry.” And Grania was asking forgiveness of him, and he was reproaching her, and it is what he said: “O Grania of the beautiful hair, though you are more beautiful than the green tree under blossom, your love passes away as quickly as the cold cloud at break of day. And you are asking a hard thing of me now,” he said, “and it is a pity what you said to me, Grania, for it was you brought me away from the house of my lord, that I am banished from it to this day; and now I am troubled through the night, fretting after its delight in every place.

Page 388: And then he went back to where Diarmid and Grania were, and asked him would he make pace with the High King and with Finn. “I am willing,” said Diarmid, “if they will give the conditions I will ask.” “What conditions are those?” said Angus.

“The district my father had,” said Diarmidd, “that is, the district of Ui Duibhne, without right of hunting to Finn, and without rent or tribute to the King of Ireland, and with that the district of Dumhais in Leinster, for they are the best in Ireland, and the district of Ceis Corainn from the King of Ireland as a marriage portion with his daughter; and those are the conditions on which I will make pac with them.” “Would you be peaceable if you got those conditions?” said Angus. “It would go easier with me to make peace if I got them,” said Diarmid.

Page 389: But at last one day Grania spoke to Diarmuid, and it is what she said, that it was a shame on them, with all the people and the household they had, and all their riches, the two best men in Ireland never to have come to the house, the High King, her father, and Finn, son of Cumhal. “Why do you say that, Grania,” said Diarmuid, “and they being enemies to me?”

“It is what I would wish,” said Grania, “to give them a feast, the way you would get their affection.” “I give leave for that," said Diarmuid.

So Grania was making ready a great feast through the length of a year, and messengers were sent for the High King of Ireland, and for Finn and the seven battalions of the Fianna; and they came, and they were using the feast from day to day through the length of a year.

Page 420: But then Fergus of the True Lips rose up, and the rest of the poets of the Fianna along with him, and they sang their songs and their poems to check and to quiet them. And they left off their fighting at the sound of the poets’ songs, and they let their weapons fall on the floor, and the poets took them up, and made peace between the fighters; and they put bonds on Finn and on Goll to keep the peace for a while, till they could ask for a judgment from the High King of Ireland. And that was the end for that time of the little quarrel at Almhuin.

Page 425: Now, with one thing and another, the High King of Ireland had got to be someway bitter against Finn and the Fianna; and one time that he had a gathering of his people he spoke out to them, and he bade them to remember all the harm that had been done them through the Fianna, and all their pride, and the tribute they asked. “And as to myself,” he said, “I would sooner die fighting the Fianna, if I could bring them down along with me, than live with Ireland under them the way it is now.”

All his people were of the same mind, and they said they would make no delay, but would attack the Fianna and make an end of them. “And we will have good days of joy and of feasting,” they said, “when once Almhuin is clear of them.”

And the High King began to make plans against Finn; and he sent to all the men of Ireland to come and help him. And when all was ready, he sent and bade Osgar to come to a feast he was making at Teamhair.

Page 426: And Osgar, that never was afraid before any enemy, set out for Teamhair, and three hundred of his men with him. And on the way they saw a woman of the Sidhe washing clothes at a river, and there was the colour of blood on the water where she was washing them. And Osgar said to her: “There is red on the clothes you are washing; and it is for the dead you are washing them.” And the woman answered him, and it is what she said: “It is not long till the ravens will be croaking over your own head after the battle.” “Is there any weakness in our eyes,” said Osgar, “that a little story like that would set us crying? And do another foretelling for us now.” he said, “and tell us will any man of our enemies fall by us before we ourselves are made an end of?”

“There will nine hundred fall by yourself” she said; & “and the High King himself will get his death-wound from you.”

Osgar and his men went on then to the king's house at Teamhair, and they got good treatment, and the feast was made ready, and they were three days at pleasure and at drinking. And on the last day of the drinking, the High King called out with a loud voice, and he asked Osgar would he make an exchange of spears with him. “Why do you ask that exchange,” said Osgar, “when I myself and my spear were often with yourself in time of battle? And you would not ask it of me,” he said, “if Finn and the Fianna were with me now.” “I would ask it from any fighting man among you,” said the king, “and for rent and tribute along with it.” “Any gold or any treasure you might ask of us, we would give it to you,” said Osgar, “but it is not right for you to ask my spear.” There were very high words between them then, and they threatened one another, and at the last the High King said: “I will put my spear of the seven spells out through your body.” “And I give my word against that,” said Osgar, “I will put my spear of the nine spells between the meeting of your hair and your beard.”

With that he and his men rose up and went out of Teamhair, and they stopped to rest beside a river, and there they heard the sound of a very sorrowful tune, that was like keening, played on a harp. And there was great anger on Osgar when he heard that, and he rose up and took his arms and roused his people, and they went on again to where Finn was. And there came after them a messenger from the High King, and the message he brought was this, that he never would pay tribute to the Fianna or bear with them at all from that time.

Page 427: And when Finn heard that, he sent a challenge of battle, and he gathered together all the Fianna that were left to him. But as to the sons of Morna, it was to the High King of Ireland they gathered.

And it was at the hill of Gabhra the two armies met, and there were twenty men with the King of Ireland for every man that was with Finn.

And it is a very hard battle was fought that day, and there were great deeds done on both sides; and there never was a greater battle fought in Ireland than that One.

And as to Osgar, it would be hard to tell all he killed on that day; five score of the Sons of the Gael, and five score fighting men from the Country of Snow, and seven score of the Men of Green Swords that never went a step backward, and four hundred from the Country of the Lion, and five score of the sons of kings; and the shame was for the King of Ireland. But as to Osgar himself, that began the day so swift and so strong, at the last he was like leaves on a strong wind, or like an aspen-tree that is falling. But when he saw the High King near him, he made for him like a wave breaking on the strand; and the king saw him coming, and shook his greedy spear, and made a cast of it, and it went through his body and brought him down on his right knee, and that was the first grief of the Fianna. But Osgar himself was no way daunted, but he made a cast of his spear of the nine spells that went into the High King at the meeting of the hair and the beard, and gave him his death. And when the men nearest to the High King saw that, they put the king's helmet up on a pillar, the way his people would think he was living yet. But Osgar saw it, and he listed a thin bit of a slab-stone that was on the ground beside him, and he made a cast of it that broke the helmet where it was; and then he himself fell like a king.

And there fell in that battle the seven sons of Caoilte, and the son of the King of Lochlann that had come to give them his help, and it would be hard to count the number of the Fianna that fell in that battle.

And when it was ended, those that were left of them went looking for their dead. And Caoilte stooped down over his seven brave sons, and every living man of the Fianna stooped over his own dear friends. And it was a lasting grief to see all that were stretched in that place, but the Fianna would not have taken it to heart the way they did, but for being as they were, a beaten race.

Page 457: And Oisin used to be making laments, and sometimes he would be making praises of the old times and of Finn; and these are some of them that are remembered yet: —

I saw the household of Finn; it was not the household of a soft race; I had a vision of that man yesterday.

I saw the household of the High King, he with the brown, sweet-voiced son; I never saw a better man.

I saw the household of Finn; no one saw it as I saw it; I saw Finn with the sword, Mac an Luin. Oh! it was sorrowful to see it.

I cannot tell out every harm that is on my head; free us from our trouble forever; I have seen the household of Finn.

Page 467: Dr. Douglas Hyde, although he placed the Fenian after the Cuchulain cycle in his ‘History of Irish Literature,’ has allowed me to print this note: —

“While believing in the real objective existence of the Fenians as a body of Janissaries who actually lived, ruled, and hunted in King Cormac’s time, I think it equally certain that hundreds of stories, traits, and legends far older and more primitive than any to which they themselves could have given rise, have clusterd about them. There is probably as large a bulk of primitive mythology to be found in the Finn legend as in that of the Red Branch itself. The story of the Fenians was a kind of nucleus to which a vast amount of the flotsam and jetsam of a far older period attached itself, and has thus been preserved.”

As I found it impossible to give that historical date to the stories, I, while not adding in anything to support my theory, left out such names as those of Cormac and Art, and such more or less historical personages, substituting “the High King.” And in the “Battle of the White Strand,” I left out the name of Caelur, Tadg's wife, because I had already followed another chronicler in giving him Ethlinn for a wife. In the earlier part I have given back to Angus Og the name of “The Disturber,” which had, as I believe, strayed from him to the Saint of the same name.

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