Stay, stay with us.'
And Lir and his people stayed on the shore that night and until the
morning glimmered. Then, with the dim dawn, silence stole over the lake.
Speedily did Lir rise, and in haste did he bid farewell to his children,
that he might seek Eva and see her tremble before him.
Swiftly did he drive and straight, until he came to the palace of Bove
Derg, and there by the waters of the Great Lake did Bove Derg meet him.
'Oh, Lir, wherefore have thy children come not hither?' And Eva stood by
the King.
Stern and sad rang the answer of Lir. 'Alas! Eva, your foster-child, hath
by her wicked magic changed them into four snow-white swans. On the blue
waters of Lake Darvra dwell Finola, Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, and thence come
I that I may avenge their doom.'
A silence as the silence of death fell upon the three, and all was still
save that Eva trembled greatly. But ere long Bove Derg spake. Fierce and
angry did he look, as, high above his foster-daughter, he held his magic
wand. Awful was his voice as he pronounced her doom. 'Wretched woman,
henceforth shalt thou no longer darken this fair earth, but as a demon of
the air shalt thou dwell in misery till the end of time.' And of a sudden
from out her shoulders grew black, shadowy wings, and, with a piercing
scream, she swirled upward, until the awe-stricken Dedannans saw nought
save a black speck vanish among the lowering clouds.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51