It is said by the wise women and fairy doctors that the roots of the
elder tree, and the roots of an apple tree that bears red apples, if
boiled together and drunk fasting, will expel any evil living thing or
evil spirit that may have taken up its abode in the body of a man.
But an evil charm to produce a living thing in the body can also be
made, by pronouncing a certain magic and wicked spell over the food or
drink taken by any person that an enemy wishes to injure.
One should therefore be very cautious in accepting anything to eat from
a person of known malicious tongue and spiteful heart, or who has an
ill will against you, for poison lies in their glance and in the touch
of their hands; and an evil spell is in their very presence, and on all
they do, say, or touch.
Cathal, king of Munster, was the tallest and handsomest of all the
kings of Erin, and he fell deeply in love with the beautiful sister
of Fergus, king of Ulster; and the lovers were happy in their love
and resolved on marriage. But Fergus, King of the North, had a mortal
hatred to Cathal, King of the South, and wished, in secret, to prevent
the marriage. So he set a watch over his sister, and by this means
found out that she was sending a basket of the choicest apples to her
lover, by the hands of a trusty messenger. On this Fergus managed to
get hold of the basket of fruit from the messenger; and he changed them
secretly for another lot of apples, over which he worked an evil spell.
Furnished with these the messenger set out for Cashel, and presented
them to Cathal the king, who, delighted at this proof of love from his
princess, began at once to eat the apples. But the more he ate, the
more he longed for them, for a wicked spell was on every apple. When
he had eaten them all up, he sent round the country for more, and ate,
and ate, until there was not an apple left in Cashel, nor in all the
country round.
Then he bade his chieftains go forth and bring in food to appease his
appetite; and he ate up all the cattle and the grain and the fruit, and
still cried for more; and had the houses searched for food to bring
to him. So the people were in despair, for they had no more food, and
starvation was over the land.
Now a great and wise man, the chief poet of his tribe, happened to be
travelling through Munster at that time, and hearing of the king’s
state, he greatly desired to see him, for he knew there was devil’s
work in the evil spell. So they brought him to the king, and many
strong invocations he uttered over him, and many powerful incantations,
for poets have a knowledge of mysteries above all other men; until
finally, after three days had passed, he announced to the lords and
chiefs that on that night, when the moon rose, the spell would be
broken, and the king restored to his wonted health. So all the chiefs
gathered round in the courtyard to watch; but no one was allowed to
enter the room where the king lay, save only the poet. And he was to
give the signal when the hour had come and the spell was broken.
So as they watched, and just as the moon rose, a great cry was heard
from the king’s room, and the poet, flinging open the door, bade the
chiefs enter; and there on the floor lay a huge dead wolf, who for
a whole year had taken up his abode in the king’s body; but was now
happily cast forth by the strong incantations of the poet.
After this the king fell into a deep sleep, and when he arose he was
quite well, and strong again as ever, in all the pride of his youth and
beauty. At this the people rejoiced much, for he was greatly loved, and
the poet who had restored him was honoured above all men in the land;
for the king himself took off the golden torque from his own neck, and
placed it on that of the poet, and he set him at his right hand at the
feast.
Now a strange thing happened just at this time; for Fergus, King
of the North, fell ill, and wasted away to a shadow, and of all the
beautiful meats and wines they set before him he could taste nothing.
So he died before a year had passed by; and then Cathal the king wedded
his beloved princess, and they lived happily through many years.