Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/19

 warriors, wept and lamented as though all they held dearest had gone from them. Then he played the second strain, and they all ceased their weeping and laughed for joy. He played again, and this time a deep sleep fell upon all who heard the music, and the Dagda and his companions left the hall and went back in safety to their own people.

It is from Dana, the great mother of the gods, that the Tuatha de Danann derived their name, which means "children of the goddess Dana." She is very often called the Mor Riga, or "Great Queen," too, and whenever her people went into battle she watched over them. Once there was a great battle fought between the Fomorians and the Tuatha de Danann, and when the Fomorians were conquered the Mor Riga changed herself into a grey-necked crow, and proclaimed the victory to all the people of Ireland, and to the high mountains and rivers and headlands, singing: