Seeing at last that there was no escape from death unless he could slay
the witch-hag, he seized the Ga-derg, and, leaning backwards, flung it
with sure aim at the millstone, so that it went right through the hole,
and pierced the hag; and she fell dead at Dermat's feet. Then he
beheaded her, and brought the head to Angus of the Bruga; and he
related to him and to Grania how he had escaped that great danger.
CHAPTER IX.
PEACE AND REST AT LAST.
Angus arose next morning, and, going to Finn, asked him whether he would
make peace with Dermat. Finn, seeing that he was worsted in every
attempt against the hero, and that moreover he had lost his nurse and
many of his men, told Angus that he was weary of the quarrel, and that
he was fain to make peace on whatever terms Dermat should choose.
He next went to Tara to the king, Cormac, the grandson of Conn. Him he
asked in like manner whether he was willing to grant Dermat peace and
forgiveness; and Cormac answered that he was quite willing.
Then he came to Dermat and said, "Peace is better for thee: art thou
willing now to be at peace with Finn and Cormac?"
And Dermat answered, "Gladly will I make peace, if they grant me such
conditions as befit a champion and the husband of the princess Grania."
And when Angus asked what these conditions were, he answered--
"The cantred which my father had, that is to say, the cantred of
O'Dyna,[CXXXI.] without rent or tribute to the king of Erin; also the
cantred of Ben-Damis,[CXXXII.] namely, Ducarn of Leinster. These two to
be granted to me by Finn; and he shall not hunt over them, nor any of
his Fena, without my leave. And the king of Erin shall grant me the
cantred of Kesh-Corran,[CXXXIII.] as a dowry with his daughter. On these
conditions will I make peace."
Angus went to Finn, and afterwards to the king, with these conditions.
And they granted them, and forgave Dermat all he had done against them
during the time he was outlawed. So they made peace. And Cormac gave his
other daughter to Finn to wife.
Dermat and Grania went to live in the cantred of Kesh-Corran, far away
from Finn and Cormac; and they built a house for themselves, namely,
Rath-Grania, in which they abode many years in peace. And Grania bore
Dermat four sons and one daughter. And his possessions increased year by
year, insomuch that people said that no man of his time was richer than
Dermat, in gold and silver and jewels, in sheep, and in cattle-herds.
FOOTNOTES:
[CXXXI.] The cantred of O'Dyna, now the barony of Corkaguiny, in Kerry.
(See note, page 237.)
[CXXXII.] The cantred of Ben-Damis, or Ducarn of Leinster, probably the
district round Douce mountain, in the county Wicklow.
[CXXXIII.] The district round the mountain of Kesh-Corran, in Sligo.
CHAPTER X.
THE DEATH OF DERMAT.
Now when many years had passed, Grania said one day to Dermat--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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