" Then he remembered that it was a hundred years, and thathis very race had perished, and he turned with contempt on the little menand their little horses. Three hundred of them as he rode by were tryingto lift a vast stone, but they staggered under its weight, and at lastfell and lay beneath it; then leaning from his saddle Usheen lifted thestone with one hand and flung it five yards. But with the strain thesaddle girth broke, and Usheen came to the ground; the white steed shookhimself and neighed, then galloped away, bearing Niam with him, and Usheenlay with all his strength gone from him--a feeble old man. The Island ofYouth could only be known by those who dwelt always within it, and thosemortals who had once left it could dwell there no more.VBRAN THE BLESSEDThe mighty king Bran, a being of gigantic size, sat one day on the cliffsof his island in the Atlantic Ocean, near to Hades and the Gates of Night,when he saw ships sailing towards him and sent men to ask what they were.They were a fleet sent by Matholweh, the king of Ireland, who had sent toask for Branwen, Bran's sister, as his wife. Without moving from his rockBran bid the monarch land, and sent Branwen back with him as queen.But there came a time when Branwen was ill-treated at the palace; theysent her into the kitchen and made her cook for the court, and they causedthe butcher to come every day (after he had cut up the meat) and give hera blow on the ear.
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