Diarmad appears to have possessed one fatal gift—the _ball-seirce_—that of kindling love in all the women he met. It is said that there was a spot of beauty on his forehead which captivated all the ladies that saw him. He was the nephew of the king; and full proud was Finn at times of the deeds of valour which his sister’s son had achieved. He was generally described as the young, the beautiful, the brown-haired Diarmad. He was as brave and gallant as he was handsome, and a universal favourite among the Féinn. But he was soon to come under the influence of the inexorable _Geasa_ which decided “the woful fate of MacDoon.” At the wedding feast of Finn and Gràine, the daughter of King Cormac, the bride lays _Geasa_ on Diarmad to carry her off; and though this was highly repugnant to his loyal feeling, and in direct contravention to his military oath, as well as against his personal interests, he was obliged to comply. With what result the well known ballad, called “The Lay of Diarmad,” describes. There are many versions of this ballad; the one translated here is that found in “The Book of the Dean of Lismore.” It is here entitled “Bàs Dhiarmaid;” or, “_The Death of Diarmad_. “A houdir so Allane M’Royree,” or “_The Author of this is Allan M’Rorie_,” is prefixed. MacRorie was probably a mere reciter. The ballad begins thus:— Here is Glen-Shee of the elk and deer, Where we hear the sweetest sounds! Where oft on its strath the Féinn Have hunted with eager hounds. On the fair brows of blue Ben-Gulbin The sun its bright rays has shed, Where Finn oft pursued the chase, And the streamlets ran down blood-red. Come, harken a little; I sing Of one of these heroes great— Of Ben-Gulbin and generous Finn; Of Diarmad’s sorrowful fate. In other versions the name of Gràine and her elopement with Diarmad are introduced here, as well as some sharp colloquy between the latter and Finn. Mournful was Finn on that day That the fair ruddy Diarmad died, When he followed the terrible boar That yet had all spears defied. ’Twas left to bright-armed MacDoon To meet with the dreaded boar; It was Fingal’s deceitful plan That the others should flee it before. Few were beloved like him— MacDoon of that lovely band! By beautiful women bewailed As he lay with his spear in hand. Bravely he roused the boar On the hillside where it had lain— The old boar of the sweet Glen-Shee, The fiercest that ever was slain. There Finn of the ruddiest hue sat down ’Neath Ben-Gulbin’s grassy side; Whence issued the boar for the woodland; Oh, the ill that did there betide! ’Twas the clank of the Finian arms, And the echoing shout of the men, That wakened the slumbering monster: Before them he rushed down the glen.