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d the other too full of gaiety to know what a dreadful being stood there。 open！ cried another voice； for i am a crone of the grey hawk； and i watch over his nest in the darkness of the great wood。 the nurse opened the door again； though her fingers could scarce hold the bolts for trembling； and another grey woman； not less old than the other； and with like feathers instead of hair； came in and stood by the first。 in a little； came a third grey woman； and after her a fourth； and then another and another and another； until the hut was full of their immense bodies。 they stood a long time in perfect silence and stillness； for they were of those whom the dropping of the sand has never troubled； but at last one muttered in a low thin voice： sisters； i knew him far away by the redness of his heart under his silver skin； and then another spoke： sisters； i knew him because his heart fluttered like a bird under a net of silver cords ； and then another took up the word： sisters； i knew him because his heart sang like a bird that is happy in a silver cage。 and after that they sang together； those who were nearest rocking the cradle with long wrinkled fingers； and their voices were now tender and caressing； now like the wind blowing in the great wood； and this was their song： out of sight is out of mind： long have man and woman？kind； heavy of will and light of mood； taken away our wheaten food； taken away our altar stone； hail and rain and thunder alone； and red hearts we turn to grey； are true till time gutter away。
when the song had died out； the crone who had first spoken； said： we have nothing more to do but to mix a drop of our blood into his blood。 and she scratched her arm with the sharp point of a spindle； which she had made the nurse bring to her； and let a drop of blood； grey as the mist； fall upon the lips of the child； and passed out into the darkness。 then the others passed out in silence one by one； and all the while the child had not opened his pink eyelids or the fire ceased to dance； for the one was too ignorant and the other too full of gaiety to know what great beings had bent over the cradle。
when the crones were gone； the nurse came to her courage again； and hurried to the dun of the high？king； and cried out in the midst of the assembly hall that the sidhe； whether for good or evil she knew not； had bent over the child that night； and the king and his poets and men of law； and his huntsmen； and his cooks； and his chief warriors went with her to the hut and gathered about the cradle； and were as noisy as magpies； and the child sat up and looked at them。
two years passed over； and the king died fighting against the fer bolg； and the poets and the men of law ruled in the name of the child； but looked to see him bee the master himself before long； for no one had seen so wise a child； and tales of his endless questions about the household of the gods and the making of the world went hither and thither among the wicker houses of the poor。 everything had been well but for a miracle that began to trouble all men； and all women； who； indeed； talked of it without ceasing。 the feathers of the grey hawk had begun to grow in the childs hair； and though； his nurse cut them continually； in but a little while they would be more numerous than ever。 this had not been a matter of great moment； for miracles were a little thing in those days； but for an ancient law of eri that none who had any blemish of body could sit upon the throne； and as a grey hawk was a wild thing of the air which had never sat at the board； or listened to the songs of the poets in the light of the fire； it was not possible to think of one in whose hair its feathers grew as other than marred and blasted； nor could the people separate from their admiration of the wisdom that grew in him a horror as at one of unhuman blood。 yet all were resolved that he should reign； for they had suffered much from foolish kings and their own disorders； and moreover they desired to watch out the spectacle of his days； and no one had any other fear but that his great wisdom might bid him obey the law； and call some other； who had but a mon mind； to reign in his stead。
when the child was seven years old the poets and the men of law were called together by the chief poet； and all these matters weighed and considered。 the child had already seen that those about him had hair only； and； though they had told him that they too had had feathers but had lost them because of a sin mitted by their forefathers； they knew that he would learn the truth when he began to wander into the country round about。
after much consideration they decreed a new law manding every one upon pain of death to mingle artificially the feathers of the grey hawk into his hair； and they sent men with nets and slings and bows into the countries round about to gather a sufficiency of feathers。 they decreed also that any who told the truth to the child should be flung from a cliff into the sea。
the years passed； and the child grew from childhood into boyhood and from boyhood into manhood； and from being curious about all things he became busy with strange and subtle thoughts which came to him in dreams； and with distinctions between things long held the same and with the resemblance of things long held different。 multitudes came from other lands to see him and to ask his counsel； but there were guards set at the frontiers； who pelled all that came to wear the feathers of the grey hawk in their hair。 while they listened to him his words seemed to make all darkness light and filled their hearts like music； but； alas； when they returned to their own lands his words seemed far off； and what they could remember too strange and subtle to help them to live out their hasty days。 a number indeed did live differently afterwards； but their new life was less excellent than the old： some among them had long served a good cause； but when they heard him praise it and their labour； they returned to their own lands to find what they had loved less lovable and their arm lighter in the battle； for he had taught them how little a hair divides the false and true； others； again； who had served no cause； but wrought in peace the welfare of their own households； when he had expounded the meaning of their purpose； found their bones softer and their will less ready for toil； for he had shown them greater purposes； and numbers of the young； when they had heard him upon all these things； remembered certain words that became like a fire in their hearts； and made all kindly joys and traffic between man and man as nothing； and went different ways； but all into vague regret。
when any asked him concerning the mon things of life； disputes about the mear of a territory； or about the straying of cattle； or about the penalty of blood； he would turn to those nearest him for advice； but this was held to be from courtesy； for none knew that these matters were hidden from him by thoughts and dreams that filled his mind like the marching and counter？marching of armies。 far less could any know that his heart wandered lost amid throngs of overing thoughts and dreams； shuddering at its own consuming solitude。
among those who came to look at him and to listen to him was the daughter of a little king who lived a great way off； and when he saw her he loved； for she was beautiful； with a strange and pale beauty unlike the women of his land； but dana； the great mother； had decreed her a heart that was but as the heart of others； and when she considered the mystery of the hawk feathers she was troubled with a great horror。 he called her to him when the assembly was over and told her of her beauty； and praised her simply and frankly as though she were a fable of the bards； and he asked her humbly to give him her love； for he was only subtle in his dreams。
overwhelmed with his greatness； she half consented； and yet half refused； for she longed to marry some warrior who could carry her over a mountain in his arms。 day by day the king gave her gifts； cups with ears of gold and findrinny wrought by the craftsmen of distant lands； cloth from over sea； which； though woven with curious figures； seemed to her less beautiful than the bright cloth of her own countr