A very ancient story, as old as the tenth century, is narrated, and
firmly believed by the people, that once on a time when the reapers
were at work, a fine handsome young married woman, who was in the
field with them, suddenly fell down dead. This caused a great fear
and consternation, especially as it was asserted that just before the
fatal event, a fairy blast had passed over the field, carrying a cloud
of dust and stones with it; and there could be no doubt but that the
fairies had rushed by in the cloud, and struck the woman dead as they
passed.
Then her people sent for the great wise poet of the tribe, who
was reputed to have the power by his song to break the strongest
fairy spells: and he chanted low music over her, and uttered mystic
incantations, the words of which no man heard; but after a while the
woman unclosed her eyes and rose up, restored to life.
When they questioned her, she told them all she knew.
“In sickness I was,” she said, “and I appeared to be dead, for I could
neither speak nor move, till the song of the poet gave me power. Then
the life rose up in me again, and the strength, and I was healed.”