ania, and ordered her lady to bring
her the golden goblet chased with jewels. When it was brought she
filled it up with the drink of nine times nine men, then bade her
handmaid carry it to Fionn and say that she had sent it to him, and
that he was to drink from it. Fionn took the goblet with joy, but no
sooner had he drunk than he fell down into a deep slumber; and the
same thing befel also Cormac, and Cormac's wife, and as many as drank
of the goblet sent by Grania.

When all were sleeping soundly, she rose softly and said to Ossian, 'I
marvel that Fionn should ask such a wife as I, for it were fitter that
he should give me a husband of my own age than a man older than my
father.'

'Say not so, O Grania,' answered Ossian, 'for if Fionn were to hear
you, he would not have you, neither should I dare to ask for you.'

'Then you will not listen to word of marriage from me?' asked Grania.

'I will not,' answered Ossian, 'for I must not lay my hand on what
Fionn has looked on.'

Then Grania turned her face to Diarmid Dowd and what she said was,
'Will you receive courtship from me, O Son of Dowd, since Ossian will
not receive it?'

'I will not,' answered Diarmid, 'for whatever woman is betrothed to
Fionn, I may not take her.'

'I will put you under bonds of destruction, O Diarmid,' said Grania,
'if you take me not out of this house to-night.'

'Those are indeed evil bonds,' answered Diarmid, 'and wherefore have
you laid them on me, seeing there is no man less worthy to be loved by
you than myself?'

'Not so, O son of Dowd,' said Grania, 'and I will tell you wherefore.'

'One day the King of Erin held a muster on the great plain of Tara,
and Fionn and his seven battalions were there. And a goaling match was
played, and all took part, save only the King, and Fionn, and myself
and you, O Diarmid. We watched till the game was going against the men
of the kingdom of Erin, then you rose, and, taking the pole of the man
who was standing by, threw him to the ground, and, joining the others,
did thrice win the goal from the warriors of Tara. And I turned the
light of my eyes upon you that day, and I never gave that love to any
other from that time to this, and will not for ever. So to-night we
will pass through my wicket-gate, and take heed you follow me.'

After she had spoken, Diarmid turned to Ossian and his companions.
'What shall I do, O Ossian, with the bonds that have been laid on me?'

'Follow Grania,' said Ossi