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148 CELTIC POETRY.
The steps along the mountain-side with hollow sound came on. Fast beat the hero's heart; and close, down-crouching by his
knee Trembled the hound, while through the haze, huge as through
mists at sea, The week-long sleepless mariner descries some mountain
cape, Wreck-infamous, rise on his lee, appeared a monstrous shape Striding impatient, like a man much grieved, who walks
alone Considering of a grievous wrong ; down from his shoulders
thrown A mantle skirted stiff with soil, splashed from the miry
ground, At every stride against his calves struck with as loud rebound As makes the mainsail of a ship brought up along the blast, When with the coil of all its ropes it beats the sounding
mast. So, striding vast, the giant passed ; the King held fast his
breath ; Motionless save his throbbing heart ; and still and chill as
death Stood listening while a second time the giant took his round Of all the camp ; but when, at length, the third time the
sound Came up, and through the haze a third time huge and dim Rose out the Shape, the valiant hound sprang forth and
challenged him. And forth, disdaining that a dog should put him so to shame, Sprang Congal and essayed to speak.
" Dread shadow, stand ! Proclaim What wouldst thou that thou thus around my camp shouldst
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