There was a time long ago, and if we had lived then, we shouldn't be
living now.
In that time there was a law in the world that if a young man came to
woo a young woman, and her people wouldn't give her to him, the young
woman should get her death by the law.
There was a king in Erin at that time who had a daughter, and he had a
son too, who was called Kil Arthur, son of the monarch of Erin.
Now, not far from the castle of the king there was a tinker; and one
morning he said to his mother: "Put down my breakfast for me, mother."
"Where are you going?" asked the mother.
"I'm going for a wife."
"Where?"
"I am going for the daughter of the king of Erin."
"Oh! my son, bad luck is upon you. It is death to ask for the king's
daughter, and you a tinker."
"I don't care for that," said he.
So the tinker went to the king's castle. They were at dinner when he
came, and the king trembled as he saw him.
Though they were at table, the tinker went into the room.