When the righteous law shall be
restored, it will seal up the lips of the false black demon; and his
druids shall no longer have power to work their guileful spells."
Now the King observed, and marveled greatly, that whenever the lady
was present his son never spoke one word to any one, even though they
addressed him many times. And when the lady had ceased to speak, the
King said: "Connla, my son, has thy mind been moved by the words of
the lady?"
Connla spake then, and replied, "Father, I am very unhappy; for though
I love my people beyond all, I am filled with sadness on account of
this lady!"
When Connla had said this, the maiden again addressed him, and chanted
these words in a very sweet voice:
"A land of youth, a land of rest,
A land from sorrow free;
It lies far off in the golden west,
On the verge of the azure sea.
A swift canoe of crystal bright,
That never met mortal view--
We shall reach the land ere fall of night,
In that strong and swift canoe;
We shall reach the strand
Of that sunny land,
From druids and demons free;
The land of rest
In the golden west,
On the verge of the azure sea!
"A pleasant land of winding vales, bright streams, and verdurous plains,
Where summer all the live-long year in changeless splendor reigns;
A peaceful land of calm delight, of everlasting bloom;
Old age and death we never know, no sickness, care, or gloom;
The land of youth,
Of love and truth,
From pain and sorrow free,
The land of rest,
In the golden west,
On the verge of the azure sea!
"There are strange delights for mortal men in that island of the west;
The sun comes down each evening in its lovely vales to rest;
And though far and dim
On the ocean's rim
It seems to mortal view,
We shall reach its halls
Ere the evening falls,
In my strong and swift canoe;
And evermore
That verdant shore
Our happy home shall be;
The land of rest,
In the golden west,
On the verge of the azure sea!
"It will guard thee, gentle Connla of the flowing golden hair,
It will guard thee from the druids, from the demons of the air,
My crystal boat will guard thee, till we reach that western shore,
When thou and I in joy and love shall live for evermore:
From the druid's incantation,
From his black and deadly snare,
From the withering imprecation
Of the demon of the air,
"It will guard thee, gentle Connla of the flowing golden hair;
My crystal boat shall guard thee, till we reach that silver strand
Where thou shalt reign in endless joy, the King of the Fairyland!"
When the maiden had ended her chant, Connla suddenly walked away
from his father's side, and sprang into the curragh, the gleaming,
straight-gliding, strong, crystal canoe.
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