under full blossom, and smooth plains in
it, and a king's dun that was very grand, and that had every colour in
it, and sunny-houses beside it, and palaces of shining stones, made by
skilled men. And we saw coming out to meet us three fifties of armed
men, very lively and handsome. And I asked Niamh was this the Country of
the Young, and she said it was. 'And indeed, Oisin,' she said, 'I told
you no lie about it, and you will see all I promised you before you for
ever.'

"And there came out after that a hundred beautiful young girls, having
cloaks of silk worked with gold, and they gave me a welcome to their own
country. And after that there came a great shining army, and with it a
strong beautiful king, having a shirt of yellow silk and a golden cloak
over it, and a very bright crown on his head. And there was following
after him a young queen, and fifty young girls along with her.

"And when all were come to the one spot, the king took me by the hand,
and he said out before them all: 'A hundred thousand welcomes before
you, Oisin, son of Finn. And as to this country you are come to,' he
said, 'I will tell you news of it without a lie. It is long and lasting
your life will be in it, and you yourself will be young for ever. And
there is no delight the heart ever thought of,' he said, 'but it is
here against your coming. And you can believe my words, Oisin,' he said,
'for I myself am the King of the Country of the Young, and this is its
comely queen, and it was golden-headed Niamh our daughter that went over
the sea looking for you to be her husband for ever.' I gave thanks to
him then, and I stooped myself down before the queen, and we went
forward to the royal house, and all the high nobles came out to meet us,
both men and women, and there was a great feast made there through the
length of ten days and ten nights.

"And that is the way I married Niamh of the Golden Hair, and that is the
way I went to the Country of the Young, although it is sorrowful to me
to be telling it now, O Patrick from Rome," said Oisin.

"Follow on with your story, Oisin of the destroying arms," said Patrick,
"and tell me what way did you leave the Country of the Young, for it is
long to me till I hear that; and tell us now had you any children by
Niamh, and was it long you were in that place."

"Two beautiful children I had by Niamh," said Oisin, "two young sons and
a comely daughter. And Niamh gave the two sons the name of Finn and of
O