Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 3 (Celtic and Slavic).djvu/274

172 who hated him. While dancing, Seachran was seized by a hairy claw from the roof, but escaped, throwing his mother into the cauldron destined for him. He and Fionn fled, pursued by the brother, who slew Seachran, but was killed by Fionn, who learned from his thumb that a ring guarded by warriors would heal him who drank thrice above It. Diarmald obtained the ring, but was pursued by the warriors, whom Seachran's wife slew, after which the giant was restored to life.$40$

Other stories record the chase of enchanted or monstrous animals. Oisln slew a huge boar of the breed of Balor's swine, which supplied a week's eating for men and hounds; but meanwhile Donn, one of the síde, carried off a hundred maidens from Aodh's síd. Aodh's wife, secretly in love with Donn, changed them into hinds, and when he would not return her love, transformed him into a stag. In this guise he boasted that the Féinn could not take him, but after a mighty encounter, Oisin, with Bran and Sgeolan, slew him.$41$ In another tale a vast boar, off whom weapons only glanced, killed many hounds; but at last it was brought to bay by Bran, when "a churl of the hill" appeared and carried it away, inviting the Féinn to follow. They reached a síd where the churl changed the boar Into a handsome youth, his son; and in the síd were many splendours, fair women, and noble youths. The churl was Eanna, King of the síd, his wife Manannan's daughter. Fionn offered to wed their daughter, Sgáthach, for a year; and Eanna agreed to give her, saying that the chase had been arranged In order to bring Fionn to the síd. Presents were then given to him and his men, but at night Sgáthach played a sleep-strain on the harp which lulled to slumber Fionn and the others, who in the morning found themselves far from the síd, but with the presents beside them, while It proved that the night had not yet arrived, an Incident which should be compared with a similar one in the story of Nera.$42$ This overcoming of the Féinn by glamour and enchantment is a common episode in these stories.