Diarmuid and Grainne

The years they passed like a flowing stream
In a highland vale shrouded in green
The Fianna marched with Fionn at their helm
Though older and wiser this lord of the realm
He was loyal to his king, Cormac Mac Art
And to his daughter would give his heart
Her name was Grainne, noble and fair
But to marry Fionn she would not dare

A feast was prepared in Tara's great halls
Marriage banners adorned on the walls
Grainne sat pale as the feast began
Then she spied Diarmuid and to him she ran
"My heart is filled with longing for you"
She whispered to Diarmuid, he knew not what to do
"Grainne, so fair, with eyes like the sun
Please, do not tempt me; do not anger Fionn."

She did not listen and she did not care;
She enchanted Diarmuid with her fiery stare
He was under a geis to do what she pleased
(though) he did not resist or ask for release
During the night when the Fianna did sleep
Through Tara's great halls, the lovers did creep
They fled through the night, to where they knew not
Away from Fionn. They dared not stop

The cry of hounds they heard in the night
They ran until they were far from sight
Days became weeks and still they fled;
If caught by Fionn, they would both be dead
One night as they lay in a forest so dark
They pledged their love, gave each other their heart
They made love that night on a bed of grass
Two lovers united, never to part

For a year and a half, the chase went on
Wherever Fionn looked, the lovers were gone
They were aided by Aengus, many a time
He was father of Diarmuid, a warrior fine
Aengus grew tired of this bitter pursuit;
He met Fionn and the king to try end the dispute
Neither were pleased, but they did agree
They could live in peace, they were now free

Fionn relented and gave them some land
They lived in peace and all was grand
Years passed by and the lovers grew old;
They had four sons who grew mighty and bold
Diarmuid longed to go hunting with Fionn
Like in the old days, when they were young
One fateful night, he opened the door;
There stood Fionn, they were friends once more

There was feasting that night and stories told
The two merry men remembered the battles of old
They planned to go hunting at first light
Though Diarmuid heard cries throughout the night
The Boar was a beast he would not hunt
From the wildest swine to the smallest runt
To kill it would bring his own demise
This curse he had carried all his life

When morning came, Diarmuid set out
He remembered those cries and was filled with doubt
He came upon Fionn at the top of a hill
There was blood on his hands; he looked ready to kill
"A boar is loose, it has killed my hound."
Fionn pointed to the beast that lay on the ground
There then came a crash and the boar attacked
It struck Diarmuid hard and broke his back

As he fell down, he stabbed the boar
He killed the beast; it was no more
"Fionn, help me, I'm dying and you have the gift
Of healing, get water, I'm starting to drift."
Fionn ran to the stream and cupped his hand
But the water fell through and soaked into the sand
He tried again, this time with success
But when he returned Diarmuid was dead

Grainne fell ill when she heard he was dead
She cursed Fionn and Fianna, oh, how her heart bled
"Diarmuid, sweet Diarmuid, I will always love thee;
I will never forget the way you loved me."
She lived on her own for some time on her land
Until Fionn did come to ask for her hand
This time she agreed; Fionn had mended his ways
They went to Kildare to see out their days