And no man dared to follow Dermat. Nor did the hero
rest until he came to the warm, well-lighted hut where Grania sat with
Angus before a blazing fire.
When Grania saw Dermat her heart leaped for joy. Then did he tell her his
tidings from beginning to end, and after they had eaten they slept in
peace until the morning brake.
And while it was yet early Angus bid them farewell, and he left with them
this warning, knowing that Finn would pursue them still: 'Go into no tree
that has but one trunk; nor into any cave having but one opening; land on
no island that has but one way leading to it; where you cook your food,
there eat it not; where you eat, sleep not there; and where you sleep
to-night, rise not there to-morrow.' [Footnote: Angus meant that Dermat
should change his place of sleeping during the night.]
And when Angus had left them, Dermat and Grania sorrowed after him, and it
was not long until they journeyed forth.
* * * * *
All that befell Dermat and Grania cannot be told in this book, but of
Sharvan the giant and of the fairy quicken-tree you shall hear now.
After many wanderings Dermat came with Grania to the wood where Sharvan
guarded the quicken-tree. Honey-sweet were the berries of the tree, and
gladness flowed through the veins of him who ate thereof. Though he were
one hundred years old, yet would he be but thirty so soon as he had eaten
three of the fairy berries.
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