And sorely do I fear some evil chance.

Was not the love of Niam of the Head of Gold enough to fill a mortal's heart?
But if thou must go, then go, and blessing and victory be thine." Then Oisin held her long in his arms and kissed her, and vowed to make no long stay and never to alight from the fairy steed.

And then he shook the golden reins and the horse threw its head aloft and snorted and bore him away in a pace like that of flowing water for speed and smoothness.

Anon they came to the margin of the blue sea, and still the white steed galloped on, brushing the crests of the waves into glittering spray.

The sun glared upon the sea and Oisin's head swam with the heat and motion, and in mist and dreams he rode where no day was, nor night, nor any thought of time, till at last his horse's hoofs ploughed through wet, yellow sands, and he saw black rocks rising up at each side of a little bay, and inland were fields green or brown, and white cottages thatched with reeds, and men and women, toil-worn and clad in earth-coloured garments, went to and fro about their tasks or stopped gazing at the rider in his crimson cloak and at the golden trappings of his horse.