ut before our assembly
dissolves I call on you, nobles and chiefs of Erin, to name your
boldest champion."

Loud cries of "Congal! Congal!" answered the king's speech.

"Are you willing, Congal?" asked the king.

"Willing, O king!" answered Congal.

"It is well," said the king. "We shall all meet again to-night in our
banquet-hall."

And the king, with the Princess Mave on his arm, attended by his bards
and Druids, entered the palace, and the chiefs and nobles went their
several ways.

At the feast that night the princess sat beside the king, and Enda
beside the princess, and the bards and Druids, nobles and chiefs, took
their places in due order. And the bards sang songs of love and
battle, and never merrier hours were spent than those which passed
away that night in the banquet-hall of Erin's king.

When the feast was over Enda retired to his apartment to spend the
night dreaming of the Princess Mave, and Congal went to his quarters;
but not to sleep or dream, for the Druid who had provoked the contest
came to him bringing his golden wand, and all night long the Druid was
weaving spells to charm the shield and spear and helmet of Congal, to
make them invulnerable in the battle of the morrow.

But while Enda lay dreaming of the Princess Mave, the little fairy
woman who gave him the water-dress, and crystal helmet, and shining
spear on the banks of the Boyne, slid into his room, and she placed
beside his couch a silver helmet and a silver shield. And she rubbed
the helmet, and the shield, and the blue blade and haft of his spear
with the juice of the red rowan berries, and she let a drop fall upon
his face and hands, and then she slid out as silently as she came.

When the morning broke, Enda sprang from his couch, and he could
hardly believe his eyes when he saw the silver shield and helmet. At
the sight of them he longed for the hour of battle, and he watched
with eager gaze the sun climbing the sky; and, after hours of
suspense, he heard the trumpet's sound and the clangour of the hollow
shields, struck by the hard-pointed spears.

Putting on the helmet, and fastening the shield upon his left arm, and
taking the spear in his right hand, he stepped out bravely to the
fight. The edge of the lawn before the palace gates was ringed by the
princes, nobles, and chiefs of Erin. And the palace walls were
thronged by all the beauties of the Court and all the noble ladies of
the land. And on his throne, surrounded