Read Online Early Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffrey Gantz - Free Book Online Page B

dressed and with an angry expression on his face. Echu was afraid, but he greeted Mider, and the latter replied‘It is for that I have come. It was harsh and senseless of you to impose such great difficulties and hardships upon me. I would have performed yet another task that would have pleased you, but I was angry with you.’ ‘I will not return anger for anger – rather, I will set your mind at ease,’ said Echu. ‘I will accept that,’ said Mider. ‘Will we play fidchell now?’ ‘What will the wager be?’ asked Echu. ‘Whatever stake the winner names,’ said Mider. That day it was Mider who won. ‘You have taken my stake,’ said Echu. ‘I could have done so earlier if I had wished,’ replied Mider. ‘What will you have from me?’ asked Echu. ‘My arms round Étaín and a kiss from her,’ said Mider. Echu fell silent at that; finally, he said ‘Return a month from today, and you will have that.’
    The previous year, Mider had come to woo Étaín, but he had not been successful. The name by which he had called her then was Bé Find, 9 and this is how he had spoken to her:
    Bé Find, will you come with me
to a wondrous land where there is music?
Hair is like the blooming primrose there;
smooth bodies are the colour of snow.
    There, there is neither mine nor yours;
bright are teeth, dark are brows.
A delight to the eye the number of our hosts,
the colour of foxglove every cheek.
    The colour of the plain-pink every neck,
a delight to the eye blackbirds’ eggs;
though fair to the eye Mag Fáil,
it is a desert next to Mag Már.
    Intoxicating the ale of Inis Fáil;
more intoxicating by far that of Tír Már.
Á wonderful land that I describe:
youth does not precede age.
    Warm, sweet streams throughout the land,
your choice of mead and wine.
A distinguished people, without blemish,
conceived without sin or crime.
    We see everyone everywhere,
and no one sees us:
the darkness of Adam’s sin
prevents our being discerned.
    Woman, if you come to my bright people,
you will have a crown of gold for your head;
honey, wine, fresh milk to drink
you will have with me there, Bé Find.
    Étaín had replied ‘If you obtain me from my husband, I will go with you, but if you do not, I will stay.’ After that, Mider went to Echu to play fidchell, and at first he lost in order that he might have reason to quarrel. That is why he fulfilled Echu’s great demands, and that is why he afterwards proposed an undetermined stake.
    Mider thus agreed to return after a month. Echu arranged for the best warriors and warbands in Ériu to assemble at Temuir, each band encircling the next, with Temuir in the middle and the king and queen in the centre of their house and the doors locked, for they knew it was a man of great power who would come. That night, Étaín was serving the chieftains, for serving drink was a special talent of hers. As they were talking, they saw Mider coming towards them in the centre of the house; he had always been beautiful, but that night he was more beautiful still. The hosts who saw him were astonished, and they fell silent, but Echu bade him welcome. ‘It is that I have come for,’ Mider said, ‘that and what was promised me, for it is due. What was promised you was given.’ ‘I have not thought about it,’ said Echu. ‘Étaín herself promised me she would leave you,’ said Mider, and at that, Étaín blushed. ‘Do not blush, Étain,’said Mider, ‘for you have done no wrong. I have spent a year wooing you with the most beautiful gifts and treasures in Ériu, and I have not taken you without Echu’s permission. If I have won you, I have done no evil.’ ‘I have said,’ Étaín replied, ‘that I will not go with you unless Echu sells me. For my part, you may take me if Echu sells me.’ ‘Indeed, I will not sell you,’ said Echu, ‘but he may put his arms round you here in the centre of the house.’ ‘That I will do.’ said Mider. He shifted his weapons to his left hand and put his