The Coming of Lugh

   by Iarwain 

Lugh the Il-Dana came to the Tara Lugh Samildanach came to the palace of the Tutha De Lugh, master of all arts, came to Eireann

The gate keeper did not recognize Lugh The gate keeper asked the Il-Dana his name The gate keeper asked Lugh Samildanach what skill he possesed

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of battle

The gate keeper said:

We have no need of a battle master King Nuada de Danann is our battle master Nuada Airgitlamh is our battle master

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of healing

The gate keeper said:

We have no need of a master of healing Diancecht de Danann is our master healer Diancecht is master of all herbs and healings

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of knowledge

The gate keeper said:

We have no need of a master of knowledge Oghma de Danann is master of all learning Oghma is master of all knowledge

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of Sailing

The gate keeper said:

We have no need of a master of sailing. Mananan mac Lyr de Danann is our master of ships. Mananan mac Lyr, son of the sea, is our master of sailing

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of sorcery

The gate keeper said:

We have no need of a master of sorcery The Badb de Danann are mistresses of all sorcery The three sisters Macha, Nemhain and

   Morrigan are mistresses of all witchcraft 

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of smithing

The gate keeper said:

We have no need of a master of smithing Goibniu de Danann is our master of smithing Goibniu is a master of all crafts

Lugh said:

I am Lugh Samildanach I am Lugh the Il-Dana I am Lugh, master of the battle I am Lugh, master of healing I am Lugh, master of knowledge I am Lugh, master of sailing I am Lugh, master of sorcery I am Lugh, master of smithing

I bid you, unless you know of another who is master of all these arts, take me to Nuada Airgitlamh, take me to Nuada, king of the Tutha de Danann.

The gatekeeper went to Nuada. When Nuada heard of Lugh's coming he said: Let him come in, for never has his like entered this fortress

Lugh the Il-Dana was admitted to the Tara Lugh Samildanach was admitted to the palace of the Tuatha De Lugh master of all arts found his place amongst the Tuatha de Denann

POETRY BY IOSEPH OF LOCKSLEY

1. copyright 1988, 1989 W.J.Bethancourt III

UPON MISTAKING HER FOR THE SUNRISE

My Lady, was it you I saw upon the grassy field this morn? I thought it was the dawn come up above the hills and fields of corn! The starlight paled, the rooster crowed, the Herald blew the morning horn, I thought it was the dawn come up, or Resurrection's glorious Morn!

I thought the hall was set with gold, your hair reflected such a light! My Lady, was it you I saw among the banqueters that night? I walked as mazed in Elfin Halls, and wared a Dragon's jealous Sight! I thought the Hall was set with gold, for golden was that joyful night!

My Lady, was it you I saw, a-combing spun-gold tresses fair? Was it The Lady of the Lake, or Yseult of the Golden Hair? Thine eyes shone out in candle-light and laughed at me a-standing there! My Lady, was it you I saw, or was it dawn a-sitting where

                                  I watched Her comb Her golden Hair? 

• *

MY HARP AND LUTE

My Harp and Lute are wood and wire,

                crafted lovingly and slow 
             Their music brings me from the pain 
                of this frail World here below 
             and takes me to the Doors of Heav'n; 
                whither upward I would go. 

My Drum's a heartbeat, keeping time,

                Marks the measure of the tune 
             Counts the moments of the Dance 
                Sets the sygil of the Rune. 
             On that rock I build my Song 
                Singing to the rising Moon. 

Harp and Lute, and Drum….and Words;

                Words to sweep, and twist, and roll, 
             Words the weft to weave the web 
                Woven with a single goal: 
             A Web to catch My Lady's heart; 
                A Web to touch My Lady's Soul. 

HE SPEAKS OF HIS WIFE WITH PASSION

1. Ioseph of Locksley

(after the Old Irish)

                              copyright 1989 W.J.Bethancourt III 

The Red Cat walked into my life, with no warning she came;

      Fearful and trembling, but still she came, 
      Looking at me thru eyes that saw a thousand years. 
      Filling my home with laughter, her hair aflame. 

The Red Cat walked into my life, with no warning she came;

      Free, unfettered, breaking her chains 
      That bound her to her mundane daily fears. 
      Filling my home with joy, her hair aflame. 

The Red Cat walked into my life, with no warning she came;

      Graceful and gentle, worthy of her name, 
      Giving me my children, hearts I hold so dear; 
      Gracing my home with sons and daughters, her hair aflame. 

Shy One, let us be gone to the hills

              And join the Sidhe in their revels, 
              Leaving the world behind us; 
              On a white horse will we ride, with a hound. 

The Red Cat walked into my life,

      With no warning she came! 

• SONGS BY IOSEPH OF LOCKSLEY -copyright 1988 W. J. Bethancourt III unless otherwise noted CELTIC CIRCLE DANCE copyright 1984 W. J. Bethancourt III recorded: CELTIC CIRCLE DANCE WTP-0002 tune: Same Old Man/Leatherwing Bat Hi said the Norn, sittin in the sand once I talked to a great Grey Man spun three times and said with a sigh hadn't been for the Runes had his other eye! Chorus: hi diddle i diddle i day hi diddle i diddle i diddle ay hi di diddle i diddle i day fol the dink a dum diddle do di day Hi said the Lady, dressed in green prettiest thing I've ever seen she went down underneath the hill and came back out of her own free will Brian Boru, on Irish ground walked three times the Island round Norsemen came lookin for a fight just another Irish Saturday night! Hi said Lugh on the banquest night a poet and a player and a good wheelwright a harper and a warrior and none the least: a Druid and he got in to the Feast! Harold Haardrada's face was red! Came to Britain and he wound up dead Stamford Bridge is where he's found got six feet of English ground the Legion with it's Eagles bright marched into the Pictish night met them there upon the sand gave em up to the Wicker Man! eight-legged steed and hound of Hel the one-eyed Man, he loves ya well fire burn and fire spark are you then feared of the dark? The Circle forms, the Circle flows the Circle goes where no man knows Hail to the Lady, one in three: Present is Past and Past is Me! Rhiannon's Birds are still in flight all thru the Day all thru the Night Hail to the Lady, one in Three Present is Past and Past is Thee! Hi said the Lady dressed in white sang the Day and sang the Night sang the Land and sang the Sea sang the Song, and then sang Me! (extra verses) Salt and oil and mirror bright fire and fleet and candlelight by fin and feather, leaf and tree, fill the cup and blessed be! From the misty crystal sea came the Lady to the lea Sword and Roses in Her Hand spread their seeds thruout the Land Came the Stag from oaken wood saw the Lady where she stood by the fire burning bright came to know his heart's delight! (end of extra verses) By Sword and Harp, and Irish Hound Blessed Be: the Day I've found Hail to the Lady, one in Three Present is Past and Past is WE By Oak and Ash and Holy Thorn bledded be the Day you're born! Fire burn and fire bright walk in safety thru the night ***