burnings, and over their ashes are thrown the three throws of dishonour.  And well I know that these laws ofttimes to the unthinking and to those who judge by their affections merely, seem harsh and unnatural.  Yea truly, were I not high King, I could weep, seeing gentle youths and maidens, and men and women, whom the singing of Angus Ogue’s birds have made mad, led away by my orders to be devoured by flame.  But so it is best, for without chastity valour faileth in a nation, and lawlessness in this respect begetteth sure and rapid decay, and I give not this forth as an opinion but as a thing that I know, seeing it as clearly with my mind, O Fergus, as I see with my eyes thy countenance and form and the foldings of thy fuan [Footnote:  Mantle.] and the shape and ornamentation of the wheel-brooch upon thy breast.  Without chastity there is no enduring valour in a nation.  And thou, too, O Fergus, sitting there in the champion’s throne, hast more than once or twice heard me pronounce the dread sentence without word of protest or dissent.  But now, because it toucheth thee thyself, strongly and fiercely thy voice of protest is lifted up, and unless I and this Council can over-persuade thee, this thy rebellious purpose will be thy own undoing or that of the Red Branch.  Are the sons of Usna dear only to thee?  I say they are dearer to me, but the Red Branch is still dearer, and it is the destruction of the Red Branch which unwittingly thou wouldst Compass.  Nor was that law concerning the inviolable virginity of the child of Felim foolish or unwise, for it was made solemnly by the Ultonians in obedience to the united voice of the Druids of Ulla, men who see deeply into the hidden causes of things and the obscure relations of events, of which we men of war have no perception.”

So spoke Concobar, not threateningly like a sovereign king, but pleadingly.  On the other hand Fergus Mac Roy, rearing his huge form, stood upon his feet, and said—­

“To answer fine reasonings I have no skill, but I swear by the sun and the wind and the earth and by my own right hand, which is a stronger oath than any, that I will bring back the sons of Usna into Ireland, and that they shall live and flourish in their place and sit honourably in this great hall of the Clanna Rury, whether it be pleasing to thee or displeasing.  For I take the Clan Usna under my protection from this day forth, and well I know that there is not in Erin or in Alba a man born of a woman, no nor the Tuatha De Danan themselves, who will break through that protection!”

“I will break through it,” said the King.