: The Highest Type of Celtic Womanhood Author(s): A. C. Macdonell Source: The Celtic Review, Vol. 8, No. 32 (May, 1913), pp. 347-356 Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30070259 Accessed: 27-06-2016 07:16 UTC

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://about.jstor.org/terms

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Celtic Review

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DEIRDRE 347 a single reference to the harp or even to the fiddle, though there are a good few references to music, and two or three to the pipes and the Jew's harp.

DEIRDRE

THE HIGHEST TYPE OF CELTIC WOMANHOOD

PART I

'I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway or on pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart's core.' W. B. YEATs.

IN my ears the roar of the cataract, and before my eyes floats a vision of other days, and the mists of spirits departed. By the still dark pools of the Etive, where the silvery salmon lies beneath the shadow of rocks, with tangle of glossy-leaved berry mingling its tendrils amidst the vivid green of evergreen mosses and delicate fronds of ferns. Above is the great tumbling ' Eas,' or waterfall, falling in foamy splashes on to the grey granite rocks below. Here I see, as in a vision, the slender white feet of a queen darting hither and thither, swift as a swallow, on cool green lush of rushes, laid to form the carpet of her 'grianan' or summer bower. The long waving tresses of golden hair reach far below her waist; her eyes are like twin stars of deepest blue fringed with long black lashes. On her, delicate cheek the colour comes and goes, like unto the rays of the sun reflected in the pool below ; flaming like its setting when human eye rests upon her. On her low white brow is set the seal of knowledge, of wisdom, and of future vision. But beyond, and above all, the wealth of beauty that is hers, far surpassing the fairest of Erin's daughters, is virtue, gentleness, and truth. In her eyes, dewy starred, rests a tear as yet unshed: for she knows, this child of destiny, that through her shall

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 348 THE CELTIC REVIEW come the sorrow of all sorrows, that shall involve a whole kingdom in bloodshed. Kings must lose their lives for her. Warriors and clansmen be dragged down to their ruin. For her sake the walls of Eman will smoulder in burning ruins, and a curse fall on the fair land of 'Ulladh.' And oh ! Ochon a righ ! the sorrow of all sorrows-that through her the three peerless Sons of Uisneach, , her beloved, Ainle, and Ardan, the sons of chivalry and strength, must die. 'Deirdre, or Deirdire, shall be her name.' Thus spoke old the , as he held her, a new-born babe, in his arms. 'For through her shall come sorrow and bloodshed to Erin.' Here, where the dark waters of Loch Etive lie glistening in the sunlight, reflex of the bright steel of Naoise, Knight of the , was enacted one of the greatest dramas the world has ever known. There, where the towering rugged peaks of the Buachaile Beag and the Buachaile Mor raise proud summits to the skies, and the wooded shores of Loch Etive stretches away in the distance, Deirdre dreamed and sang. In her ' grianan,' above the great 'Eas,' and below the hill which takes its name from her 'An grianan,' she could shoot the stag from her window, and fish the salmon in the pool below. Here her memory, fragrant as a rose, dwells in loving remembrance. Every spot of this entrancing is classic ground. In the old royal forest of Dal-an-Eas, or Dalness, Naoise, Ainle, and Ardan hunted the red deer, and startled the hind, the swift-footed bride, like Diana of old, by their side. But, we are told, at close of eve they bore her on their bucklers, lest her delicate feet should tire, down to their home by Loch Etive, sheltered by the magic 'Luis' or quicken trees. Of all the wealth of legend and of song bequeathed to us from the brave old Fingalian days, and, as some aver,

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DEIRDRE 349 even earlier song-cycles, nothing touches or quickens the imagination so much, to my mind, as this one, of the 'three sorrows of storytelling': the fate of Deirdre and the Sons of Usnach, so alive with human interest and beauty of idealism. Deirdre stands out as the highest ideal ever conceived of Celtic womanhood, and, may I add, of any womanhood, prior to Christianity; as Oscar, the beautiful son of Ossian, reveals our best type of chivalry-the only one, save Bran, his faithful dog, whose death drew tears from the eyes of his naughty grandfather, Fionn. Deirdre the Fair was daughter to Felim, or Fedelim, chief bard and favourite of Conor, or Conchubar, the usurper of the throne of Ulster. As to Naoise, of whose beauty, prowess, and fascination tales innumerable are told, I shall have more to say later on. Now it is to his gentle consort we must turn. Far be it from me to do anything, in a brief sketch like this, except to touch very lightly on what I consider to be the beauties of character and the salient points in the story of my heroine. W. B. Yeats places the date of Deirdre and the Sons of Usnach as being about one hundred to one hundred and fifty years before the great German epic of the Niebelung- leid, at least two hundred years before the romances of Charlemagne, and one hundred to two hundred years before Scandinavian mythology crystallised into shape. Yet what a contrast between the courtly Naoise, and even the treacherous Conor, to King Olaf's wooing of 'Sigrid the haughty,' whose lands he coveted as being next his own. Sigrid, on learning from her goldsmiths that the ring sent to her by Olaf was of copper, not of gold, flies into a towering rage. When Olaf presents himself before her, she refuses his suit, saying, 'I hold to my gods, and my land'; whereupon the king smites her cheek with his mailed hand, calling her 'a withered old hag, a heathenish jade.' Truly ungallant conduct. Conor, at his

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 350 THE CELTIC REVIEW worst, raised neither hand nor word against Deirdre's own person. The story of Deirdre, got in the far-off Hebrides by Dr. Carmichael, differs little from that translated by Lady Gregory from old Gaelic MSS. lying neglected for ages in the Dublin archives. As she herself so quaintly puts it: 'Indeed, if there was more respect for Irish things among the learned men that live in the College at Dublin, where so many of these old writings are stored, this work would not have been left to a woman of the house, that has to be minding the place, and listening to complaints, and dividing her share of food.' Lady Gregory's version, com- mitted to writing a few hundreds of years ago, is much fuller and more detailed than Dr. Carmichael's version, whose life has been in the lips of the unlettered people,.yet the essen- tials differ not at all-another proof, were one needed, of the extraordinary way in which our Highland, and indeed all Celtic peoples, have handed down orally from genera- tion to generation long tales in prose and verse for hundreds of years. Neither do the more poetic versions of other learned Irish scholars show much difference. In the accounts of the two former translators, the birth of Deirdre is foretold to Felim by Cathbad the Druid. Lady Gregory and others name him so; Dr. Carmichael's John, from whom he had the tale, calls him Calum, an altering of the unknown word for a known one which is apt to occur in folk-tales, and which Dr. Carmichael points out as having occurred in other places in this tale. Felim at first disbelieves in the Druid's prophecy, as he and his spouse had given up all hope of offspring. How- ever, on the birth of the wonderful 'child of destiny,' Cathbad again visits the house of the bard, and holding her in his arms, addresses her thus :- 'Let Deirdre be her name. Harm will come through her. She will be fairest of all the fair daughters of Erin. Heroes will fight for her; and kings go seeking her. O Deirdre ! on whose account many shall weep, on whose

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DEIRDRE 351 account many women will be envious. There will be trouble in " Ulladh" for your sake, fair daughter of Fedelim the Bard!' This prophecy was pronounced at a great feast given by Felim in honour of the occasion, at which, we learn, King Conor and all his court were present, as also the Knights of the Red Branch, each in his bannered stall. These knights must have been the oldest order of chivalry on record. They possessed two houses. One, that of the 'Craobh Ruadh,' from whence their name, in which were kept the heads and weapons of their beaten foes; in the second, 'the Speckled House,' they kept their own swords and shields. One of their 'Geasan,' or vows of knight- hood, as they were called, was that no insult offered to one of their order was to go unpunished, even although it occurred during a banquet at a friend's house. King Conor deemed it prudent, therefore, in times of peace, to have their weapons kept in the said 'Speckled House.' As in most orders of chivalry, they were bound to defend the weak; never to permit or offer an insult to a woman; never to refuse the combat; never to break an oath, etc. Some of their 'geasan' seem to us to be trivial enough. For instance, both Fergus Roy and Cuchullain took a '' never to refuse an invitation to a banquet given by a good man, however humble. A fatal oath indeed, when we remember that it led to the death of the pick of the Red Branch Knights-the three Sons of Usnach. An oath, taken by Naoise, was, never to return to Erin except at the request of Fergus Roy, Conall Cearnach, or Cuchullain. None of the Sons of Usnach could have been present at this banquet given by Felim, being then in their infancy. And Cuchullain was but a young boy, although a Knight of the Red Branch. From the description of Cuchullain's dress on another occasion, it may be inferred that this would have been the gala costume of the knights: 'A crimson five-folded tunic with a brooch of inlaid gold; a

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 352 THE CELTIC REVIEW white hooded shirt embroidered in red gold.' This reads to me a description of the ' Breacan-an-fheilidh.' We are then at the feast of Felim, when the wonderful babe is borne in by singing maidens on a flower-decked cushion. In the words of Aubrey de Vere:- 'Thereon a little maiden-wonder lay, Unlike all babes beside in mien and hue, Bright as a lily bud at break of day That flashes through the night's unlifted dew.' When Cathbad the Druid had pronounced his fatal prophecy, fear fell upon most of those present, many of whom clamoured for her instant death. Amongst whom none were louder in clamouring than the usurper of Fergus Roy's throne, Nessa's treacherous son, King Conor. But Conall Cearnach, Fergus, and Cuchullain-child as he was-rose from their bannered stalls, and holding their shields over the lovely child, cried with one voice, 'She shall not die.' As we know, Conall the Victorious 'ne'er was known to walk in any counsel save his own.' When Conor observed the attitude of his knights, with his usual astuteness he at once altered his tone. Calling to him a highly cultured lady of the Court, Lavarcum by name, he ordered her to take away with her the little 'babe of destiny' to a lonely island, only united to the mainland at low tide by a sort of causeway. There they were to dwell, far from the know- ledge of all men, until such time as Deirdre should reach woman's estate. Lavarcum was to teach her all know- ledge and accomplishments fitting for her future position in life as his own queen, always provided that the promise of her beauty be fulfilled. None to have access to her, under severe penalties, except, of course, the Lady Lavarcum and Cathbad, who was to instruct her in religious lore. That she more than fulfilled all human expectation we all know. To mere physical beauty was added an intelli- gence and power of assimilating knowledge given to few. Of her it is told that 'there was not a blade of grass, not

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DEIRDRE 353 a green root, a flower, or a tree, not a bird that sang, nor a star showing in the heavens, but of which she had know. ledge.' Add to this that she was the fairest and the gentlest woman in all Erin, that she had the sixth sense of future vision, a nobleness and tenderness of heart un- surpassed, and it is little to be wondered at, I think, that 'Heroes should fight for her, or kings come seeking her from afar'; nor that 'Brave heroes, the bright candles of the Gael, should lose their lives because of her.' Contrast with her the Norse heroines, Brunhild and Gudrun, and they appear nothing but screaming viragoes. Although the king forbids her all companionship, the young maidens of her own age defy his commands, in pity for her loneliness, running across the causeway at low tide to bring her news of the outer world, with presents of fruit and flowers. There is one very beautiful incident related of the maiden that gives the keynote at once to her thirst for knowledge, and her warm, impulsive heart. In the course of her religious instruction she suddenly asks the Druid: 'Tell me, who made the stars, the firma- ment above, the earth, the flowers, both you and me ? ' To which the old man, awed, replied: ' God. But who God is, alas ! no man can say.' Upon this, Deirdre impetuously snatches his Druid wand from his hand, breaks it in two, flinging it far out on to the waters as she says: 'Ah! there shall come One in the dim future for whom all your Druid spells and charms are nought.' Seeing a tear steal down the cheek of her friend, for the knew, although dimly, of the coming of our Lord, and felt that their Druid faith would then be doomed, Deirdre flings her arms round his neck, kissing him on both cheeks. The first meeting of Deirdre and Naoise varies slightly in different versions; yet I find no essential differences in any. There are more details of place and circumstances VOL. VIII. Z

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 354 THE CELTIC REVIEW given in some, or fuller description, but nothing that does not dovetail one into the other with ease. Lady Gregory and Dr. Carmichael's narrative in the earlier stage are almost word for word.' Those of Eugene O'Curry and other scholars differ in a few instances. The hunter who loses his way one night of storm and darkness, falling down exhausted at the door of the secret dwelling. His cry of distress three times repeated: 'If there is any one within, open in the name of the Sun and the Moon.' Lavarcum's vain efforts to ascribe the voice to the homing wild birds, or, in fact, anything rather than to a man's voice in distress. Deirdre's rescue and succour of the fallen hunter, and his astonishment at her marvellous beauty, which wrings from him the following thought, spoken aloud: 'If Naoise, the Son of Usnach, did but cast eyes on her once she would not long remain hidden here.' With his description of the hero, given in answer to Deirdre's questioning about the Sons of Usnach, 'the eldest of whom is head and shoulders above all the men of Erin, with the colour of the raven's wing on his hair, the darkest blue of the skies for the hue of his eyes, the red glow of health on his cheeks, and whose brow is like the snow'; answered by Deirdre: 'As you describe these men, I myself have seen them in a vision of the night, hunting upon these hills,' is almost the same in the accounts taken from the Highland and Irish Gaelic. So also is the passing of the three Sons of Usnach beneath the hill where Deirdre and her young companions were staying, the sweet voices of the three floating up to where the maid watched. That marvellous singing voice of Naoise, that cast a spell upon all things; so much so, that, we are told, 'the very cows gave a double quantity of milk on hearing it,' and which Deirdre likens to the deepest wave of the sea as it breaks upon the shore. Forgotten is her fear of the king,-love this fearless

1 Perhaps this is due to the fact that Lady Gregory's version is collated with Dr. Carmichael's and other versions, her aim being to give the complete story from the best sources.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DEIRDRE 355 fair one had ever denied him. Nor would she ever consent to wed him. With swift, nimble motion she races down the face of the hill, drawn by the irresistible spell of the voice, and feeling, as she sees the receding form, that it is fate itself which is escaping her. She cries out impetu- ously: 'A Naoise ! am beil thu 'gam fhagail ?' (Naoise! art thou leaving me ?). 'What voice is that ? ' the hero quickly asks. Both Ainle and Ardan, well aware of the identity of the beautiful destined Queen of Ulster, make answer: ''Tis but King Conor's swans crying out upon the lake.' And this proves that the lake is there. They endeavour to hasten their brother's steps, dreading the consequences should he turn round and see the lovely vision. 'A Naoise! A Naoise ! am bell thu 'gam fhagail. A Naoise! A Naoise! am beil thu 'gam fhagail. A Naoise! A Naoise! am beil thu 'gam fhagail.' At the third time repeated call of Deirdre Naoise turns, and those two most perfect beings stand face to face. What a moment that must have been when soul met soul in one all-conquering glance ! Naoise, in the quaint words of the story, 'gave his love to Deirdre above every other creature,' a love which lasted to the hour of his death, in spite of some other seeming defections. As to Deirdre, the light which illumined her beautiful starry eyes was never quenched until the hour when she closed them in death on the cold breast of her beloved, away there in Eman Macha. Lady Gregory tells us of how Naoise determines to win her for his own, despite the king's authority and the remonstrances of Ainle and Ardan, who foresaw in part the wrath of King Conor. 'Although harm should come,' answers the fiery Naoise, 'I am willing to live in disgrace for her sake the rest of my days.' To this other versions add a few more picturesque details. Naoise lacked the daring moral courage of the Lady Deirdre. He hesitates, and tries

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 356 THE CELTIC REVIEW to remember that she is the destined bride of the king. Deirdre here reminds him that she never has given and never will give her consent to be King Conor's bride. Plucking a red rose from a bush near by, she hands it to him with these words: 'As a Knight of the Red Branch you cannot refuse the gift, except for a valid reason.' Naoise's last scruples vanish; he takes the rose, and raising the maiden high upon his shoulders, sets out with her that night, accompanied by Ainle and Ardan. They took with them three times fifty men, three times fifty women, three times fifty horses, three times fifty greyhounds, and moved round Erin from Essa to Beinn Etair, and east again until King Conor's designs made it incumbent on them to fly for safety to Alba, which was the heritage of Usnach, called by Macpherson the Lord of Etha.

(To be continued)

BOOK REVIEWS

The Spiritual Songs of Dugald Buchanan. Edited with Introduction, Notes, and Vocabulary by Rev. DONALD MACLEAN, author of The Highlands before the Reformation; Duthil: Past and Present; The Literature of the Scottish Gael, etc. etc. New Edition. Edinburgh: John Grant, 1913.

Dugald Buchanan, at the time schoolmaster and catechist in Rannoch, and well known as a competent Gaelic scholar, was chosen to superintend the issue of the translation of the New Testament into Scottish Gaelic made by the Rev. James Stewart of Killin. While in Edinburgh on this duty the poet attended classes in the University, Natural Philosophy and Anatomy among them, and his signature is to be seen in the University Album. During his stay in the capital he conducted religious services among the Highlanders of Edinburgh, and published, in 1767, eight Religious Poems, amounting in all to only about 1590 lines. To the little volume were appended ' The Sum of Saving Knowledge,' ' The Shorter Catechism,' 'The Commandments,' 'The Lord's Prayer,' and 'The Creed.' It has always been said that these formed only a portion of the author's poetical compositions, and that he intended to publish others later. This may well

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:16:41 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms