Grania then rose slowly from her seat and crossed the hall to where Dermat
sat, for Dermat, of those nobles that Finn brought with him, pleased her
the best. And to him she spake thus:
[Illustration: Dermat]
'Dermat, it is from the champion who sat next me that I have learnt thy
name, but ere I knew it I loved thee. From the sunny window of my chamber
did I not watch thee on the day of the hurling-match? No part didst thou
take in the contest till, seeing the game go against the men of Allen,
thou didst rush into the crowd, and three times didst thou win the goal.
My heart went out to thee that day, and now do I know that thee only do I
love. Sore is my distress for the heedless words I spake which have
brought Finn hither. Older is he than Cormac my father, and him will I not
wed. Therefore, I pray thee, flee with me hence.'
Sore troubled was Dermat as he listened to these words, and at length he
replied, 'Unworthy am I of thy love, and there is not a stronghold in Erin
that would shelter us from the wrath of Finn were this thing to be.'
When Grania heard the words that Dermat spake, she said, 'I place thee
under a solemn vow that thou follow me from Tara ere Finn shall wake. And
thou knowest there is no true hero but will hold his vow binding even unto
death.'
'Even though we so willed it,' replied Dermat, 'could we not escape from
Tara, for Finn hath in his keeping the keys of the great gate.
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