to relate the further developments of this remarkable game of plot and
counterplot. Although the hen-wife was successful in the last event
mentioned, it must be inferred that she was ultimately defeated. I
believe there are other deficiencies in the story. One hears nothing more
of the skin of the wild pig after its first mention, p. 203. The same
remark applies to the Gruagach of the Apple, p. 206. On the other hand,
“the divided stone of druidism” is brought in without explanation. It had
not been asked for.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_THE RED PONY._
_Narrator, P. MINAHAN, Malinmore, co. Donegal._
There was a poor man there. He had a great family of sons. He had no
means to put them forward. He had them at school. One day, when they were
coming from school, he thought that whichever of them was last at the
door he would keep him out. It was the youngest of the family was last
at the door. The father shut the door. He would not let him in. The boy
went weeping. He would not let him in till night came. The father said he
would never let him in; that he had boys enough.
The lad went away. He was walking till night. He came to a house on
the rugged side of a hill on a height, one feather giving it shelter
and support. He went in. He got a place till morning. When he made his
breakfast in the morning, he was going. The man of the house made him a
present of a red pony, a saddle, and bridle. He went riding on the pony.
He went away with himself.
“Now,” said the pony, “whatever thing you may see before you, don’t touch
it.”
They went on with themselves. He saw a light before him on the high-road.
When he came as far as the light, there was an open box on the road, and
a light coming up out of it. He took up the box. There was a lock of hair
in it.
“Are you going to take up the box?” said the pony.
“I am. I cannot go past it.”
“It’s better for you to leave it,” said the pony.
He took up the box. He put it in his pocket. He was going with himself. A
gentleman met him.
“Pretty is your little beast. Where are you going?”
“I am looking for service.”
“I am in want of one like you, among the stable boys.”
He hired the lad. The lad said he must get room for the little beast in
the stable. The gentleman said he would get it. They went home then. He
had eleven boys. When they were going out into the stable at ten o’clock
each of them took a light but he. He took no candle at all with him.
Each of them went to his own stable. When he went into his stable he
opened the box. He left it in a hole in the wall. The light was great.
It was twice as much as in the other stables. There was wonder on the
boys what was the reason of the light being so great, and he without a
candle with him at all. They told the master they did not know what was
the cause of the light with the last boy. They had given him no candle,
and he had twice as much light as they had.
“Watch to-morrow night what kind of light he has,” said the master.
They watched the night of the morrow. They saw the box in the hole that
was in the wall, and the light coming out of the box. They told the
master. When the boys came to the house, the king asked him what was the
reason why he did not take a candle to the stable, as well as the other
boys. The lad said he had a candle. The king said he had not. He asked
him how he got the box from which the light came. He said he had no box.
The king said he had, and that he must give it to him; that he would not
keep him unless he gave him the box. The boy gave it to him. The king
opened it. He drew out the lock of hair, in which was the light.
“You must go,” said the king, “and bring me the woman, to whom the hair
belongs.”
The lad was troubled. He went out. He told the red pony.
“I told you not to take up the box. You will get more than that on
account of the box. When you have made your breakfast to-morrow, put the
saddle and bridle on me.”
When he made his breakfast on the morning of the morrow, he put saddle
and bridle on the pony. He went till they came to three miles of sea.
“Keep a good hold now. I am going to give a jump over the sea. When I
arrive yonder there is a fair on the strand. Every one will be coming up
to you to ask for a ride, because I am such a pretty little beast. Give
no one a ride. You will see a beautiful woman drawing near you, her in
whose hair was the wonderful light. She will come up to you. She will ask
you to let her ride for a while. Say you will and welcome. When she comes
riding, I will be off.”
When she came to the sea, she cleared the three miles at a jump. She
came upon the land opposite, and every one was asking for a ride upon
the beast, she was that pretty. He was giving a ride to no one. He saw
that woman in the midst of the people. She was drawing near. She asked
him would he give her a little riding. He said he would give it, and a
hundred welcomes. She went riding. She went quietly till she got out of
the crowd. When the pony came to the sea she made the three-mile jump
again, the beautiful woman along with her. She took her home to the king.
There was great joy on the king to see her. He took her into the parlour.
She said to him, she would not marry any one until he would get the
bottle of healing water that was in the eastern world. The king said to
the lad he must go and bring the bottle of healing water that was in the
eastern world to the lady. The lad was troubled. He went to the pony. He
told the pony he must go to the eastern world for the bottle of healing
water that was in it, and bring it to the lady.
“My advice was good,” said the pony, “on the day you took the box up. Put
saddle and bridle on me.”
He went riding on her. They were going till they came to the sea. She
stood then.
“You must kill me,” said the pony; “that, or I must kill you.”
“It is hard to me to kill you,” said the boy. “If I kill you there will
be no way to myself.”
He cut her belly down. He opened it up. She was not long opened when
there came two black ravens and one small one. The two ravens went into
the body. They drank their fill of the blood. When they came out the
little raven went in. He closed the belly of the pony. He would not let
the little bird come out till he got the bottle of healing water was in
the eastern world. The ravens were very troubled. They were begging him
to let the little bird out. He said he would not let it out till they
brought him the bottle. They went to seek the bottle. They came back and
there was no bottle with them. They were entreating him to let the bird
out to them. He would not let the bird out till he got the bottle. They
went away again for the bottle. They came at evening. They were tossed
and scorched, and they had the bottle. They came to the place where the
pony was. They gave the bottle to the boy. He rubbed the healing water
to every place where they were burned. Then he let out the little bird.
There was great joy on them to see him. He rubbed some of the healing
water to the place where he cut the pony. He spilt a drop into her ear.
She arose as well as she ever was. He had a little bottle in his pocket.
He put some of the healing water into it. They went home.
When the king perceived the pony coming he rose out. He took hold of her
with his two hands. He took her in. He smothered her with kisses and
drowned her with tears: he dried her with finest cloths of silk and satin.
This is what the lady was doing while they were away. She boiled pitch
and filled a barrel, and that boiling. Now she went beside it and
stripped herself. She rubbed the healing water to herself. She came out;
she went to the barrel, naked. She gave a jump in and out of the barrel.
Three times she went in and out. She said she would never marry any one
who could not do the same. The young king came. He stripped himself. He
went to the barrel. He fell half in, half out.
He was all boiled and burned. Another gentleman came. He stripped
himself. He gave a jump into the barrel. He was burned. He came not out
till he died. After that there was no one going in or out. The barrel was
there, and no one at all was going near it. The lad went up to it and
stripped himself. He rubbed the healing water on himself. He came to the
barrel. He jumped in and out three times. He was watching her. She came
out. She said she would never marry any one but him.
Came the priest of the pattens, and the clerk of the bells. The pair
were married. The wedding lasted three nights and three days. When it
was over, the lad went to look at the place where the pony was. He never
remembered to go and see the pony during the wedding. He found nothing
but a heap of bones. There were two champions and two young girls playing
cards. The lad went crying when he saw the bones of the pony. One of the
girls asked what was the matter with him. He said it was all one to her;
that she cared nothing for his troubles.
“I would like to get knowledge of the cause why you are crying.”
“It is my pony who was here. I never remembered to see her during the
wedding. I have nothing now but her bones. I don’t know what I shall do
after her. It was she who did all that I accomplished.”
The girl went laughing. “Would you know your pony if you saw her?”
“I would know,” said he.
She laid aside the cards. She stood up.
“Isn’t that your pony?” said she.
“It is,” he said.
“I was the pony,” said the girl, “and the two ravens who went in to
drink my blood my two brothers. When the ravens came out, a little bird
went in. You closed the pony. You would not let the little bird out till
they brought the bottle of healing water that was in the eastern world.
They brought the bottle to you. The little bird was my sister. It was my
brothers were the ravens. We were all under enchantments. It is my sister
who is married to you. The enchantments are gone from us since she was
married.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_THE NINE-LEGGED STEED._
_Narrator, P. MINAHAN, Malinmore, co. Donegal._
There was a king and a queen. They had but one son. The queen died. He
married another queen. The queen was good to the child. She took care of
him till he was a young man. She sent him away to learn chivalry. When he
came home there was great joy on the queen. When he had rested at home,
he and the huntsman went hunting on the mountain. They found no game at
all. They came to the lake. They sat down on a height beside the lake.
They saw three swans coming towards the height. They rested on the lake.
They swam in under the place where they were sitting. They came on the
shore. They threw off them the transforming caps. They arose the three
maidens. One woman of them was very comely. They came up to the young
men. The comely woman was there. She and the king’s son were talking
until night. When they were going she asked him would he be there the
next day. He said he would. The women went on the shore. They put on the
transforming caps. They went away the three swans. The young men came
home. There was great joy on the young queen. She asked the huntsman what
kind of sport they had. He said they had none at all; that three swans
came from the eastern direction; that they had settled on the lake; that
they swam in to the place where they were sitting; that they rose up on
the beach; that they threw off the transforming caps; that they rose the
three maidens; that one of them was very beautiful; that he himself and
the king’s son were talking with the girl.
The young queen said they were done with his master. “I will give you
five pounds if you put the slumber-pin in his clothes. He will fall
asleep then. She won’t get a word of talk from him. He will be sleeping.”
The young man said he would do it. They took their supper. They went to
lie down. When day came they arose. They washed themselves. They took
their breakfast. They went hunting. They found no sport at all till they
came to the lake. They sat down on a pretty hillock. They saw the three
swans coming. They settled on the lake. They came in on the shore. They
threw off them the transforming caps. They rose the three maidens. When
the son of the king and the huntsman sat down, the huntsman put the
slumber-pin in his clothes. He fell asleep. The girls came up. They sat
by his side.
“Great is the sleep that’s on your master to-day.”
“That is no wonder for him,” said the huntsman. “He does not sleep one
night at home, but is out rambling and courting.”
She was shaking him to wake him. She failed to wake him till it was time
for her to be going. She said to the young man, “Tell your master we will
come here to-morrow; unless he is awake to-morrow to speak to us, we will
come no more.”
They went away then. They put on them the transforming caps. They went
away again the three swans. The young man took out the slumber-pin from
his master’s clothes. He awoke then. They went home then. He was not
speaking a word. The young queen asked the huntsman how it happened with
him to-day? He said it happened well; that he put him asleep to-day.
“A good man you are,” said she. “Here are five pounds more for you. Do
the same to-morrow.”
They took their supper. They went to lie down. When the day came on the
morrow, they arose and took their breakfast. The king’s son said to the
huntsman that he would not go with him to-day; that it was he was doing
something or other to him.
“It is not I,” said the huntsman.
The king’s son went out. The huntsman followed him. When they were coming
near the lake, he could not fasten the slumber-pin in him. When they were
coming to the place where they sat he threw the slumber-pin. He got it
fastened in his frock. He fell asleep on the instant. He took hold of
him; he drew him to the place where they used to sit. He sat down by his
side. The three swans came. They settled on the lake. They swam in to the
shore. They threw off them the transforming caps. They rose the three
maidens. They came again to the place where the young men were.
“Is your master asleep to-day?”
“He is; he has not slept a wink at home for three nights.”
She was shaking him to try if she could wake him. She failed. When she
was going, “Say to your master that he will never see sight of me while
streams run or grass grows.”
They went away then. The huntsman took the slumber-pin out. Then he
awoke. He looked up at the sun. Night was at hand. He asked were the
maidens there that day. The young man said they were.
“What did they say when they were going?”
“They said you would never have a sight of them while streams run or
grass grows.”
“Don’t come near me or I will kill you.”
Fear would not let the huntsman come near him. They went home then. The
young queen asked the young man were the maidens with them that day. The
young man said they were.
“What did they say to you?”
“They said you would not see a sight of them while streams run or grass
grows.”
“You are done with her,” said the queen.
They took their supper then and went to lie down. When the day came he
arose and washed. He took his breakfast. He said good-bye to them. He
said he would not sleep a second time for one night in one house; that he
would wear his legs to his knees till he got one sight of that woman.
He went with himself then. He was walking till it was night. He saw not
a house at all that would give him lodging. He saw one house on the side
of a hill, one feather giving it support and shelter. He went into the
house. A horse-beast spoke to him from the side. He gave welcome to the
son of the King of Erin.
“Go down to the fire and warm yourself; when you have warmed yourself, go
to the room, and there is food and drink on the table: don’t be afraid
of anything at all. Nothing will happen to you till morning. When you
have eaten enough come down and lie here on the grass under my head that
I may talk with you.”
He came down and sat on the grass: “Have no wonder at anything you see.”
It was not long till he heard a troop coming into the house. Three seals
came in. They came into the room. They threw off the transforming caps.
They sat down to dinner. The son of the king wondered when he saw the
three seals coming in. It was not long till he heard them talking and
laughing. Said the eldest of them,—
“If I had the son of the King of Erin here I would give on him a gift. I
would give him an apple. There is not a going astray, nor any (trouble),
let him throw the apple in the air, there would come a court and castle
in the track; there would come food and drink in the track.”
Said the second son, “If I had the son of the King of Erin here, I would
give him a ring; and there is not a battle or breaking that would come on
him, let him raise the ring between himself and his (enemies) he would
blind them and kill them all.”
Said the son that was youngest, “If I had the son of the King of Erin
here, I would give him the nine-legged steed for his riding.”
“Get up now,” said the nine-legged steed; “get up and shake yourself out
of the grass. Go forward. You will find three champions as handsome as
ever you saw. Salute them as politely as you can. Tell them you hope they
will not be worse than their promise.”
He went forward and saluted them. He took them by the hand. He sat in
their company till morning. When the day came they were going. They left
a breakfast on the table. They gave him the three gifts. They went then
and put on the transforming caps. They went away as three seals. The son
of the king came down then, and sat under the beast’s head.
“Now,” said the nine-legged steed, “I have one fault, that a rider
never gets on me but I must throw him three times. When you take your
breakfast, get a saddle and bridle; put them on me. Take me down to the
soft ground; go riding on me, and I must throw you.”
He took his breakfast. He went riding on her then. She asked him if he
was ready. He said he was.
“I will throw you as gently and quietly as I can.”
She walked a couple of steps. She lifted her rump and flung him. He was
jerked up into the air, and fell down on the back of his head.
She came about him. “I believe you are killed.”
“I am not,” said he. “I am none the worse.”
“You are a good man,” said she; “if you stand two other tumbles I will
never throw you again.”
When he was rested, he went riding again. She lifted her rump again, and
jerked him into the air. She came about him to see if he was killed. “I
believe you are killed.”
“I am none the worse,” said he.
“If you stand one more tumble, I will never throw you again.”
He rested himself. He went riding again. She asked him if he was ready.
He said he was. She flung him again and tossed him into the air. He fell
down on the back of his head. She looked about to see if he was alive.
“Now,” said she, “I will never throw you again. Now when you are rested,
and you run to your riding, do not pull the bridle on my head. I know
where you are going. I will bring you to the place you are drawing to.”
She stretched herself to her full speed and red running;
So that she took the hill at a leap, the glen at a standing jump:
So that she overtook the wind that was before her,
And the wind behind did not overtake her:
Till the cups of her two knees were rubbing her two jaws bare:
So greatly she was running,
till she came to the door of the king.
“Give me to no one whatever till a red boy comes,” said the nine-legged
steed.
The king rose out. He gave welcome to the son of the King of Erin. Boys
came up to the horse to put her in the stable. He did not give her to
them. A red boy came. He asked would he give her to him. She told him to
give her. They came into the parlour.
He got dinner then. He was eating and drinking till it was well on in
the night. The king said then that he had an island, and that he gained
nothing by it for a long time: that Owases were risen up on it.
“I am not going to give my daughter to any one who does not kill them and
clear the island.”
“We will throw a look around to-morrow,” said the son of the King of Erin.
When he took breakfast on the morrow-morning, he went out to the
nine-legged steed. She told him what was to be done.
“Put saddle and bridle on me: go riding on me. There are three miles of
sea between the land and the island. I will clear the three miles at a
leap. Tie me to the stump of a tree.”
She went forward then, and he had the ring in his hand. The first Owas
man that met him, he raised the ring between himself and him, and blinded
him. He was killing and slaughtering till he killed the last on the
island. He went down to the nine-legged steed. He went riding on her
then, and she cleared the three miles. She told him not to look behind
him till he came to the king’s door. When he came up to the gate there
was thunder and lightning, and he thought the mid-heaven was falling,
such was the rattle. There was a great sink of mud at the door of the
hen-wife, and when he was going past by the door he looked behind to see
if there was anything. He fell into the mud and filth. He got up with
dirt and sores on his skin. He was all covered with them.
The daughter of the hen-wife asked leave of her mother to pull him in, or
the pigs would tear him. Her mother told her to do it. She pulled him in.
She put a wisp of straw under him.
He asked her to go under the window of the greenawn on her two knees.
“Ask the girl is there anything at all to do me good, if she hopes to see
the man she left behind her at the fountain.”
The girl said, “Go into my father’s garden. There is a well of fresh
water there. There are rushes beside the well. Pull three stalks. Cut the
white root. Get a bowl. Raise the full of the bowl out of the well. Rub
the white roots in the water until they are melted. Rub the water to his
skin. He will be as well as ever he was.”
She rubbed the water then on every part of his body. He was as well
as he ever was. He had nothing to put on him but old clothes. There
was a butler in the great house. He saw the king’s son falling. He ran
to the place. He took away his clothes. He threw him his own clothes.
The king’s son had nothing to put on him but the butler’s clothes. He
went to the house of the king, and he was at work like the butler. The
butler was in the king’s house in the place of the son of the King of
Erin. The king thought it was the son of the King of Erin that was with
him. He published word through the island to come to the wedding. The
gentlemen were gathered the next day. They went fowling. The king’s son
was carrying the dogs’ food. There came a mist on the hill, and they lost
their way. They said they would be lost. The man who was carrying the
dogs’ food said to the king that if he would give him his daughter in
marriage he would save them all till morning. The king said his daughter
was given to a gentleman who had come there. The gentlemen then said that
they would all be dead in the morning, and it was better for him to tell
a lie and to save them.
“Well! I will give you my daughter if you save us,” said the king.
He threw down the bag with the dogs’ food. Then he got the apple that
he had as a gift. He threw it into the air. Where the apple fell there
rose a court and castle. There came food and drink enough for a hundred
men. They were hungry, and they ate enough and drank enough. Then they
fell asleep. When they woke in the morning, they were lying in a smooth
flat of rushes, and they sweating. There was great joy on them. The
gentleman then said he should get the woman. When the butler came he had
no wife to get. He was vexed. He went home then, and the woman who was
in the greenawn said she would not marry a man at all, but the man who
would ride the nine-legged steed under the window of the greenawn. The
report went out through the island that any man at all who would ride the
nine-legged steed, had the king’s daughter to get. The people were all
gathered. There was a great gathering there. The red boy brought out the
nine-legged steed under the windows of the greenawn. The butler would
let no one ride till he went riding himself the first time. Then he went
riding on her. The nine-legged steed asked him was he ready; he said he
was. She lifted her rump and jerked him up in the air. He fell and was
killed. Then there was another rider then and he went riding. She played
the same trick with him. She was there, and no one at all was going to
ride on her. The king’s son went, and bought himself clothes. He put
them on. He went riding then on the nine-legged steed. She walked up and
down under the windows of the greenawn, and she stirred not head nor
foot. The lady was looking out of the window. When she saw him riding,
she knew him and she came down. She ran out and they caught hold of each
other by the hands. There was great joy on her that she saw him. She
smothered him with kisses, and drowned him with tears; she dried him with
finest cloths and with silk.