BookofTephi

“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.

(1) My children remember Zion. Moreover I bid

You mark

That the word of the Lord is holy, though His

Purpose therein be dark.

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 the tumult and flight and of Shaphan’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 has 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

Where the shepherd keepeth the ox, whilst the

Lion is couched full low.

Not by the banks of Jordan, not on the Holy

Hill

And 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. (Jeremiah 1:10)

In our fields he found no vineyard, on our pastures

a wasted soil,

No place for the shade of cedars, no depth of

the earth of oil.

Till the Land be fed by the Goim,* and the tale

of their slaughters told

The days shall be slowly numbered, and the hope

of the hills wax old.

*Nations

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, mindful

Of me

Unto the ending of days.

Therein a space was our rest

Till Baruch the scribe found tidings out of the

Isles of the West

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 promised 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.

Upon me was that promise fallen. For me was the prophet’s toil.

He hadf 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’re 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 in 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.

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

That the ways unto Tarshish were open, the ships

Of Javan afar,

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. (Cornwall in England)

CHAPTER X

Elatha and the servants of Ith give welcome at Pen Sauel; (2) Elatha sendeth men to Eriu (Eire or Ireland) for tidings; (3) They are sent back with gifts unto Tephi from the men of Eriu, and a welcome thither.

Blessed were we in the Lord when the traders of Ith came out,

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,

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 (Ireland) 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. (a King)

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, (Jacob 5) in the midst of the deep to be

Even yet in Abraham’s bosom, the home of his sons afar

(Abrahams promise and covenant Genesis 17:4 and Isaac in verse 20)

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

Of a guard against evil rulers, and the aire* cried with one voice

Upon Jochard, 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.

For the 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.

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 (Hebrews) and Finn (Fienians or Phonecians),

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.

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,

Ye are fat with the flesh forbidden, - Your foreheads swell with desire.

As swine ye rush on each other, - Ye gore as an unclean beast.

Your prayers are evil before Me, - My soul abhorreth your feast.

Ye are long cast out from Zion, - Your feet were the first to flee.

Ye have spawned in Javen 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, (the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem) - 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 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 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 I 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.

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

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 Mile 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

(The stone of Bethel annointed by Jacob in Genesis 35:11 & 14, also known in Gaelic as Lia Fail, as in the Irish political party Fianna Fail, or the in English language the stone of destiny, Jacob’s pillar, latterly known as the stone of Scone)

Henceforth of her sons forever. 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. (Jeremiah 1:10)

I shall not fail in His time. His hand hath holpen my want.

A builder, I set one stone; as a husbandman, a seed;

But the Stone is the swelling of Him from whose hand shall the nations feed,

And thereon shall rest His Chosen, whose Kingdom is East and West,

Whereupon the sun shall wander and find no place for his rest

Of the nigh, but the 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 kindreds and seasons and sons that should reign as kings;

Those that have brought good tidings, - See in the hand of Sri.

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 fullness 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.

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 beloved 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

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 storm wind, clear as a morning bird

Was his voice, and his touch on the harp strings light, like a fountain’s play,

A ripple of running music that chimed with the voice always.

Oft have I heard, and loved it. Ah me, that a bard be slain

By the coward deed of a churl, for a witch wife 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 torcs and armlets. Heavy his herdsmen’s toil.

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 sea beast brought from the northern deep,

And the chiefs of the merchants gave him a breastplate of well-wrought gold,

With an ivory chess play 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

With a golden sand by magic, and out of their hidden lore

Had heaped it in flowers and bosses, and marvellous 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 bard gift, lo, I am made a prince.

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 mourned 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.”

CHAPTER XI

(1) The men retun to Elatha, and give the gifts of Eriu unto Tephi, who telleth of her chief jewels; (2) Bres telleth his father of the prophecy upon Jochad; (3) Elatha mourned 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 thitherwards.

(1) 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 bard gift they bore

From the chiefs and Ethan, and showed it. Now behold the first of their store

Was the wonderful gift of Jochad. Mine eyes grew blinded thereon

And Elatha took, and laid it on my breast in place of the stone

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 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.

*Tumulus with chamber at centre, pronounced shee.

(2) Then Elatha spake with the Man of God, and called upon Bres,

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 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.

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,

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 lieth 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,

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 formorcs* of Khumru north till then reachest the furthest Pen

Of Lochlann, returning again by coasts of mountain 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 convoy 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.

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;

And 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,

With the summer breeze behind us. We journeyed 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 bought 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.

CHAPTER XII

(1) Tephi setteth foot upon Eriu, the defended island; (2) The song of the bards at her landing.

(1) 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 themselves 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 to 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

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 Teffia 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.

(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 Eire 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.

Eire shall not cloud thy brow.

It shall fold thee, feed thee, fill thee, Teia.

It shall stay thee where the white waves leap,

In thy weeping it shall still thee, Teia,

In thy midnight it shall watch thy couch of sleep.

Its reverence shall be on thee Teffia, Teia,

As a hallowed light upon thee Teffia, Teia.

As the glory of the morn

Shines upon thy crescent horn

Over the emeralds deep.

They ceased ere they reached the land, and lo, the 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.

CHAPTER XIII

(1) Of Tephi’s rest at Pen Edair; (2) She telleth of her person and of her state in going thence unto the Place of Assembly of the men of Eire; (3) Tephi rebuketh the priests; (4) Their idol is broken by Ethan.

Now the chiefs of that place and Ath Cliath (Dublin) 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” Tephi 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 the 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 Crimthann, chief of the fights,

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 chosen band of Elatha’s men from the shore

Came next in their varied raiment, the purples of them that sold

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 fluttered on sticks gay strands

Of woollens in tattered ribbons, as bright as a barley field

When it whiteneth unto harvest and the husbandman 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.

Upon midnight braids of my hair did my argent crescent shine.

My throat’s thin ivory column posed ‘twixt the wings divine

About Pharaoh’s wide blue heaven; whilst the sun of Eileen (Helen of Troy) 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 then wool

Or fairest linens of Egypt. Where this veil had been folded full

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, (shamrock) 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

Placed me high on a jennet, snowy, wild-eyed and still,

But therewith tall and stately, and so we pace 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,

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

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

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,

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 whored 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.”

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 is 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

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,

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,

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 gentle wise

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 lintel fastened the name Jerusalem

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.

CHAPTER XIV

(1) Tephi telleth 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.

(1) 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

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 old 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 listen 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’re 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,

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 remained. 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

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.

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.

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

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 Nuadh’s room;

Whose hand was severed by Sreng the son of Sennchan, whose doom

Thereafter the scribes have written. Now Diancecht, 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 Nuadh flashed with a starry flame

As he rode amongst his miledh.

CHAPTER XV

(1) Sri, the son of Ezru, calleth for the bow of Sampson, which is given to Ethdan, * son of Boethlam, who shooteth the first arrow unto the Stone of Jacob; (2) A second arrow is shot, and findeth the seat of Eochaid Garbh Mac Duach; (3) The sun betwixt the horns of Baal is smitten by the third arrow, and Sri, the son of Ezru, maketh a psalm thereon.

(1) 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 Boethlaim-too long for verse.

(It was decided to chose a husband by firing arrows high in the air and seeing where they land)

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, (Samson’s bow) 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 straining back from my seat

He bent it. Mighty the string wherewith that bow must be strung,

A finger of sinew to arm breadth 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 greywhite pillar of Jacob; and joy upon all men came

When they saw the altar of Bethel (Amos 3:14) alight with that golden flame:

And the priests of the gods bowed down, and covered each man his face;

And the chiefs of Eriu moved in wonder before that place;

And little 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 shepherdess

Who amongst the sheep of Eriu shall know none greater or less.

The sun that descended hither shall be as a light divine

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 ankle, 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

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.

(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, (Amos 3:14)

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 themselves; 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

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.”

CHAPTER XVI

(1) The seat whereon the silver arrow had struck is known for the seat of Eochaid; (2) Tephi resteth thereon when he cometh, and giveth her love unto him; (3) the Queen taketh Eochaid as her husband; (4) the spirit of prophecy cometh upon Sri the son of Ezru.

(1) 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 thereafter 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

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.”

The 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.

Though I spake not, he gave answer in a sudden word an 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

Every mist. Grey eyes and fearless gazed beneath 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, kneeling 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 newborn Summer drouth,

And my hands stayed on his shoulders, and my lips just passed his mouth,

And a cry was all about us in the dancing shapes around

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 plight

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

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 Tairngre

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 a house of the Lord be builded with praise and blessing and mirth.

(3) Then Sri, being moved, forbade that my husband’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:

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 Ollothair,

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,

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

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

(1) Maistiv,* the sister of Eocaid (Jochad) greeteth Tephi, and telleth of her brother; (2) Eochaid 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.

(1) 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.

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.

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 himself 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

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,

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 undying 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?”

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?

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,

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.

(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

CHAPTER XXXI

A lamentation of Tephi wherein she giveth instruction.

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