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Key words£ºFinn£¬Sadhbh£¬Bran,
Sceolan, deer |
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Genre£ºlegend |
Topic£ºlove |
Words:930 |
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"Where is my wife?" he cried out. "Where is Sadhbh?" |
The story of Sadhbh
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Author£º Grainne
Rowland |
Source£ºwww.irishcultureandcustoms.com
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Nation£ºIreland
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Date£º2008-8-9 |
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(Illustration by Shinod AP)
Not long after the twin
wolfhounds, Sceolan (shkih-oh-lawn) and Bran came to live with
Finn, they went out hunting with their master and the Fianna.
They came across a young deer and gave chase. But, much to their
surprise, the deer was very fast of foot and easily outran most
of the men. At last, only Finn, Bran, and Sceolan were still
chasing the deer. Finn was getting tired and was ready to stop
when Bran and Sceolan gave a bark. When Finn drew close to the
dogs, he saw that the deer had stopped and was resting quietly.
The dogs were laying beside her, resting their heads on her soft
hide.
Finn looked on with amazement. Bran and Sceolan were the best
hunters ever seen, but now they protected the deer. Finn decided
to bring the deer back to Alm¨² (ahl-moo) and protect it. For
surely, there was something special about this creature. When
Bran and Sceolan rose and followed Finn, so did the deer. When
they arrived at Alm¨² (ahl-moo), Finn gave orders that the deer
was to be left alone and kept safe within the palace walls.
That night, Finn was suddenly awakened by a soft noise. He saw a
beautiful woman walking towards him. She wore a long white robe
that flowed about her as she moved.
She said, "Finn, do not be afraid. I am Sadhbh, (Sive as in
hive), the deer you rescued today. You see me in my true form. I
have been under the charm of the Dark Druid. He put the form of
a deer on me because I would not do as he wished in certain
matters. I am grateful to you for bringing me here, for the Dark
Druid's magic cannot reach me as long as I am inside your palace
walls."
Well, it wasn't long before Finn and Sadhbh were married, for
Sadhbh was as kind as she was beautiful. But she would not go
outside the palace walls, for she feared the Dark Druid. So Finn
and Sadhbh stayed a whole year together, inside the walls.
Then came reports that invaders had been seen on Ireland's
shores. Finn knew he must go and fight them to protect Ireland.
He was sad to leave, for he would miss Sadhbh, and she was also
expecting a baby. So Finn promised that he would come back as
fast as he could, and Sadhbh said she would watch for him from
the palace walls.
The battle went on for a week. When it was over and the invaders
were sent back out of Ireland, Finn hurried home. He could think
of nothing but seeing Sadhbh again. How happy he would be when
he arrived home!
But when he came close to the palace, he did not see Sadhbh
watching for him. The palace was very quiet. Where were all the
hustling, bustling people? What was wrong? Finn was very
frightened.
"Where is my wife?" he cried out. "Where is Sadhbh?"
Finally, one of the servants answered Finn.
"It was on the fourth day after you left," the servant said. "Sadhbh
was standing on the palace walls awaiting your return. It was
then that we all saw you walking up to the walls with Bran and
Sceolan. We thought it strange that you did not enter the gates,
but we thought perhaps you and Sadhbh had planned something
special for your return. So when she went out to greet you, we
thought nothing of it. But then the man who looked like you took
out from his robe a hazel wand, and with that he touched her.
She cried out and and changed back into the deer she had been,
and then followed him as if her feet had a mind of their own.
Whenever she tried to turn back, the dogs disguised to look like
Bran and Sceolan, cruelly nipped at her heels. By the time our
men could arm themselves and go after her, they were gone."
Finn raged and cried, for he knew that the Dark Druid had taken
Sadhbh away. Immediately, he set out to find her and bring her
home. He roamed the countryside for seven years, but could not
find Sadhbh. His heart grew heavier and heavier.
One day, Finn went out hunting, for he needed to take his mind
off missing Sadhbh so much. In a clearing, sitting in the sun,
was a boy of about seven years. Bran and Sceolan whined and
licked the boy, although the lad seemed to be wild. The dogs
protected the boy, and remembering how the dogs had protected
Sadhbh, Finn knew this boy must be his son.
So Finn took the boy back to Alm¨². After many months, the lad
began to lose some of his wildness, and he also began to speak.
He told of the deer who had raised him, and of her gentleness.
He spoke also of the evil man who came at times to speak with
the deer. Sometimes, he was kind and brought food, but at other
times, he was mean and cruel towards the deer. One day, the man
touched the deer with a hazel wand, and the deer started to
follow him. Then the man turned back and touched him, too, and
the boy suddenly found himself sitting in the clearing where
Finn had found him.
Finn never did find Sadhbh. But he named the boy Oisin
(Uh-sheen), which means "Little Fawn". Oisin grew up to be a
valiant warrior - one of the best of the Fianna - and he had
many adventures of his own.
Discussion£º
1. Why did the Dark Druid
put the form of a deer on Sadhbh?
2. What would Sadhbh do as
Finn fight the invaders?
3. What had happened after
Finn returned?
4. Who was the boy in the
clearing?
5. Did Finn find his wife
Sadhbh?
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