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044 - The Story of Conn-eda · Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry

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  Speaker 1: Section forty three of Fairy and Folk Tales of the
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  Speaker 1: Irish Peasantry. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
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  Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
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  Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Fairy and Folk Tales of
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  Speaker 1: the Irish Peasantry, edited and selected by W. B.
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  Speaker 2: Yates.
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  Speaker 1: Section forty three The Story of cordon Edda or the
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  Speaker 1: Golden Apples of locke Urn footnote printed first in the
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  Speaker 1: Camberine Journal eighteen fifty five, reprinted and re edited in
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  Speaker 1: The Folklore Record Volume two. End footnote. Translated from the
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  Speaker 1: original Irish of the story teller Abraham McCoy by Nicholas o'kearney.
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  Speaker 1: It was long before the time the western districts of
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  Speaker 1: innes Fola had any settled name, but were indiscriminately called
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  Speaker 1: after the person who took possession of them, and whose
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  Speaker 1: name they attained only as long as his sway lasted.
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  Speaker 1: That a powerful king reigned over this part of the
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  Speaker 1: sacred island footnote in Esfola island of destiny, an old
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  Speaker 1: name for Ireland. End footnote. He was a poissant warrior,
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  Speaker 1: and no individual was found able to compete with him,
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  Speaker 1: either on land or sea, or question his right to
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  Speaker 1: his conquest. The Great King of the West held uncontrolled
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  Speaker 1: sway from the island of Raftlin to the mouth of
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  Speaker 1: the Shannon by sea, and as far as the Glittering
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  Speaker 1: Length by land. The ancient King of the West, whose
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  Speaker 1: name was Cone, was good as well as great, and
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  Speaker 1: passionately loved by his people. His queen was a breaton
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  Speaker 1: British princess, and was equally beloved and esteemed because she
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  Speaker 1: was the great count part of the king in every respect.
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  Speaker 1: For whatever good qualification was wanting in the one, the
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  Speaker 1: other was certain to indemnify the omission. It was plainly
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  Speaker 1: manifest that Heaven approved of the career in life of
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  Speaker 1: the virtuous couple, For during their reign the earth produced
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  Speaker 1: exuberant crops. The trees fruit ninefold consumerate with their usual bearing.
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  Speaker 1: The rivers, lakes and surrounding sea teemed with abundance of
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  Speaker 1: choice fish, while herds and flocks were unusually prolific, and
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  Speaker 1: kine and sheep yielded such abundance of rich milk that
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  Speaker 1: they shed it in torrents upon the pastures, and furrows
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  Speaker 1: and cavities were always filled with the pure lacteal produce
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  Speaker 1: of the dairy. All these were blessings heaped by Heaven
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  Speaker 1: upon the western districts of Inesfola, over which the bedignant
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  Speaker 1: and just conswayed his sector in approbation of the course
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  Speaker 1: of government he had marked out for his own death.
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  Speaker 1: It is needless to state that the people who owned
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  Speaker 1: the authority of this great and good sovereign were the
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  Speaker 1: happiest on the face of the wide expanse of earth.
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  Speaker 1: It was during his reign and that of his son's successor,
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  Speaker 1: that Ireland acquired the title of the Happy Isle of
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  Speaker 1: the West among foreign nations. Con Moore and his good
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  Speaker 1: Queen Edda reigned in great glory during many years. They
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  Speaker 1: were blessed with an only son, whom they named con
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  Speaker 1: Edda after both his parents, because the Druids foretold at
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  Speaker 1: his birth that he would inherit the good qualities of both.
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  Speaker 1: According as the young prince grew in years, his amiable
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  Speaker 1: and benignant qualities of mind, as well as his great
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  Speaker 1: strength of body and manly bearing, became more manifest. He
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  Speaker 1: was the idol of his parents and the boast of
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  Speaker 1: his people. He was beloved and respected to that degree
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  Speaker 1: that neither prince Lord nor plebeians worn oath by the sun, moon,
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  Speaker 1: stars or elements, except by the head of con Edder.
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  Speaker 1: This career of glory, however, was doomed to meet a
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  Speaker 1: powerful but temporary impediment. For the good Queen Edda took
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  Speaker 1: a sudden and severe illness, of which she died in
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  Speaker 1: a few days, thus plunging her spouse, her son, and
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  Speaker 1: all her people into a depth of grief and sorrow
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  Speaker 1: from which it was found difficult to relieve them. The
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  Speaker 1: good King and his subjects mourned the loss of Queen
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  Speaker 1: Edda for a year and a day, and at the
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  Speaker 1: expiration of that time, con Moore reluctantly yielded to the
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  Speaker 1: advice of his dru and and counselors, and took to
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  Speaker 1: wife the daughter of his arch Druid. The new queen
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  Speaker 1: appeared to walk in the footsteps of the Good Edda
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  Speaker 1: for several years and gave great satisfaction to her subjects.
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  Speaker 1: But in course of time, having had several children, and
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  Speaker 1: perceiving that conn Eda was the favorite son of the
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  Speaker 1: King and the darling of the people, she clearly foresaw
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  Speaker 1: that he would become successor to me throne after the
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  Speaker 1: demise of his father, and that her son would certainly
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  Speaker 1: be excluded. This excited the hatred and inflamed the jealousy
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  Speaker 1: of the Druid's daughter against her step son to such
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  Speaker 1: an extent that she resolved in her own mind to
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  Speaker 1: leave nothing in her power undone to secure his death
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  Speaker 1: or even exile from the kingdom. She began by circulating
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  Speaker 1: evil reports of the prince, but as he was above suspicion,
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  Speaker 1: the king only laughed at the weakness of the Queen,
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  Speaker 1: and the great princes and chieftains, supported by the people
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  Speaker 1: in general, gave an unqualified contradiction. While the Prince himself
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  Speaker 1: bore all his trials with the utmost patience and always
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  Speaker 1: repaid her bad and malicious acts towards him with good
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  Speaker 1: and benevolent ones. The enmity of the Queen towards kln
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  Speaker 1: edin knew no bounds. When she saw that the false
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  Speaker 1: reports she circulated could not injure him. As a last
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  Speaker 1: resort to carry out her wicked project, she determined to
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  Speaker 1: consult her Carloch kiach Hen wife, who was a reputed enchantress.
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  Speaker 1: Pursuant to her resolution, by the early dawn of morning,
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  Speaker 1: she hied to the cabin of the Coloch Kiach, and
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  Speaker 1: I vulged to her the cause of her trouble. I
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  Speaker 1: cannot render you any help, said the Koloch, until your
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  Speaker 1: names a deuish reward. What dewish do you require, asked
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  Speaker 1: the queen impatiently. My deuish, replied the Enchantress, is to
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  Speaker 1: fill the cavity of my arm with wool, and the
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  Speaker 1: whole I shall bore with my distaff with red wheat.
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  Speaker 1: Your duesss is granted and shall be immediately given you,
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  Speaker 1: said the queen. The enchantress thereupon stood in the door
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  Speaker 1: of her hut, and, bending her arm in a circle
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  Speaker 1: with her side, directed the royal attendants to thrust the
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  Speaker 1: wool into her house through her arm, and she never
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  Speaker 1: permitted them to cease until all the available space within
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  Speaker 1: was filled with wool. She then got on the roof
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  Speaker 1: of her brother's house, and, having made a hole through
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  Speaker 1: it with her distaff, caused red wheat to be spilled
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  Speaker 1: through it, until that was filled up to the roof
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  Speaker 1: with red wheat, so that there was no room for
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  Speaker 1: another grain within. Now, said the Queen, since you have
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  Speaker 1: received your due ass tell me how I can accomplish
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  Speaker 1: my purpose. Take this chess board and chess and invite
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  Speaker 1: the Prince to play with you. You shall win the
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  Speaker 1: first game. The condition you shall make is that whoever
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  Speaker 1: wins a game shall be at liberty to impose whatever
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  Speaker 1: getcha conditions the winner pleases on the loser. When you win,
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  Speaker 1: you must bid the Prince under the penalty either to
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  Speaker 1: go into honor, exile, or procure for you within the
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  Speaker 1: space of year and a day. The three golden apples
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  Speaker 1: that grew in the garden, the och duv black steed,
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  Speaker 1: and the larn Corn Macnure hound of supernatural powers called Snammer,
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  Speaker 1: which are in possession of the King of the Ferbilog race,
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  Speaker 1: who resides in Loch Erne. Footnote. The Ferbilogs believed their
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  Speaker 1: Elysian to be under water. Peasantry still believe many lakes
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  Speaker 1: to be peopled. See section on tier nanog end footnote.
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  Speaker 1: These two things are so precious and so well guarded
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  Speaker 1: that he can never attain them by his own power,
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  Speaker 1: and if he would rashly attempt to seek them, he
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  Speaker 1: should lose his life. The Queen was greatly pleased at
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  Speaker 1: the advice and lost no time in inviting con Edda
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  Speaker 1: to play a game at chess under the conditions she
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  Speaker 1: had been instructed to arrange by the Enchantress. The Queen
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  Speaker 1: won the game, as the Enchantress foretold, but so great
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  Speaker 1: was her anxiety to have the Prince completely in her
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  Speaker 1: power that she was tempted to challenge him to play
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  Speaker 1: a second game, which con Edda, to her astonishment and
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  Speaker 1: no less mortification, easily won. Now, said the Prince. Since
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  Speaker 1: you won the first game, it is your duty to
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  Speaker 1: inpropose your gesh. First. My guesh, said the Queen, which
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  Speaker 1: I impose upon you, is to procure me the three
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  Speaker 1: golden apples that grow in the garden, the ochtov black steed,
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  Speaker 1: and the Quilon corn Macnu hound of supernatural powers, which
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  Speaker 1: are in the keeping of the King of the Herbologs
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  Speaker 1: in lock Urn, within the space of a year and
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  Speaker 1: a day, or in case you fail to go into honover,
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  Speaker 1: exile and never return, except you surrender yourself to lose
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  Speaker 1: your head and come aid be har preservation of life. Well, then,
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  Speaker 1: said the Prince. The gesh which I bind you by
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  Speaker 1: is to sit upon the pinnacle of beyonder tower until
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  Speaker 1: my return, and to take neither food nor nourishment of
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  Speaker 1: any description except what redweat you can pick up with
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  Speaker 1: the point of your bodkin. But if I do not return,
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  Speaker 1: you are at perfect liberty to go come down. At
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  Speaker 1: the expiration of the year and a day. In consequence
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  Speaker 1: of the severe gesh imposed upon him, con Eda was
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  Speaker 1: very much troubled in mind, and well knowing he had
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  Speaker 1: a long journey to make before he would reach his destination,
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  Speaker 1: immediately prepare to set out on his way. Not, however,
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  Speaker 1: before he had the satisfaction of witnessing the assent of
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  Speaker 1: the Queen to the place where she was obliged to
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  Speaker 1: remain exposed to the scorching sun of the summer and
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  Speaker 1: the blasting storms of winter the space of one year
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  Speaker 1: and a day at least. Con Edda, being ignorant of
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  Speaker 1: what steps he should take to procure the k duff
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  Speaker 1: and quilon corn Macner, though he was well aware that
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  Speaker 1: human energy would prove unavailing, thought proper to consult the
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  Speaker 1: great druid orn Dinah of Slia Bainer, who was a
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  Speaker 1: friend of his, before he ventured to proceed to locke Ern.
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  Speaker 1: When he arrived at the Brion the Druid, he received
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  Speaker 1: with cordial friendship and the fulture welcome as usual was
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  Speaker 1: poured out before him, and when he was seated, warm
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  Speaker 1: water was fetched and his feet bathed, so that the
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  Speaker 1: fatigue he felt after his journey was greatly relieved. The Druid,
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  Speaker 1: after he had partaken of refreshments consisting of the newest
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  Speaker 1: of food and oldest of liquors, asked him the reason
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  Speaker 1: for paying the visit, and more particularly the cause of
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  Speaker 1: his sorrow. For the Prince appeared exceedingly depressed in spirit.
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  Speaker 1: Corn Edar told his friend the whole history of the
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  Speaker 1: transaction with his stepmother, from beginning to end. Can he
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  Speaker 1: not assist me, asked the prince, with downcast countenance. I
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  Speaker 1: cannot indeed assist you at present, replied the Jewid. But
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  Speaker 1: I will retire to my grianan green place at sunrising
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  Speaker 1: on the morrow and learned by virtue of my druidism
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  Speaker 1: what can be done to assist you. The druid accordingly,
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  Speaker 1: as so rose on the following morning, retired to his
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  Speaker 1: grinam and consulted the god he adored through the power
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  Speaker 1: of his Driochtutne dryocht Ai. The druidic workship, magic, sorcery,
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  Speaker 1: divination ent footnote. When he returned, he called condor Aside
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  Speaker 1: on the plain and addressed him, Thus, my dear son,
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  Speaker 1: I find you have been under a severe and almost
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  Speaker 1: impossible guesh intended for your destruction. No personal on earth
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  Speaker 1: could have advised the Queen to impose it, except the
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  Speaker 1: pH of low Coreb, who was the greatest druidess now
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  Speaker 1: in Ireland and sister to Throuffer Bolog, king of low Urn.
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  Speaker 1: It is not in my power nor in that of
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  Speaker 1: the deity. I adore to interfere in your behalf. But
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  Speaker 1: go directly to she Lamish and consult a kin, dinner
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  Speaker 1: bird of the human head. And if there be any
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  Speaker 1: possibility your believing you, that bird can do it. There
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  Speaker 1: is not a bird in the Western world so celebrated
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  Speaker 1: as that bird, because it knows all things that are passed,
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  Speaker 1: all things that are present and exist, and all things
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  Speaker 1: that shall hereafter exist. It's difficult to find access to
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  Speaker 1: his place of concealment, and more difficult still to obtain
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  Speaker 1: an answer from him. But I will endeavor to regulate
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  Speaker 1: that matter for you, And this is all I can
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  Speaker 1: do for you at present. The arch Druid then instructed him, Thus, take,
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  Speaker 1: said he yonder little shaggy steed, and mount him immediately,
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  Speaker 1: for in three days the bird will make himself visible,
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  Speaker 1: and the little shaggy steed will conduct you to his
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  Speaker 1: place for abode. But lest the bird should refuse to
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  Speaker 1: reply to your queries, take this precious stone lag lor
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  Speaker 1: Clar and present it to him. And then little danger
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  Speaker 1: and doubt exist, but that he will give you a
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  Speaker 1: ready answer. The Prince returned heartfelt thanks to the Druid,
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  Speaker 1: and having saddled and mounted the little shaggy horse, without
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  Speaker 1: much delay, received the precious stone from the Druid, and,
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  Speaker 1: after having taken his leave of him, set out on
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  Speaker 1: his journey. He suffered the reins to fall loose upon
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  Speaker 1: the neck of the horse, according as he had been instructed,
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  Speaker 1: so that the animal took whatever road he chose. It
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  Speaker 1: would be tedious to relate the numerous adventures he had
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  Speaker 1: with the little shaggy horse, which had the extraordinary gift
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  Speaker 1: of speech and was a dryocht horse during his journey.
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  Speaker 1: The Prince, having reached the hiding place the strange bird
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  Speaker 1: at the appointed time, and having presented him with the
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  Speaker 1: lad Lorga according to Fiorn's finer instructions, and proposed his
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  Speaker 1: questions relative to the manner he could best arrange for
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  Speaker 1: the fillment of his gesh. The bird took up in
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  Speaker 1: his mouth the jewel from the stone on which it
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  Speaker 1: was placed, and flew to inaccessible rock at some distance.
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  Speaker 1: And when their perch he thus addressed the Prince Edda,
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  Speaker 1: son of the King or Rakha, said he in a loud,
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  Speaker 1: croaking human voice, remove the stone just under your right foot,
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  Speaker 1: and take out the ball of iron and corn cup.
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  Speaker 2: You shall find under it. Then mount your horse, cast
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  Speaker 2: the ball before you, and having done so, your horse
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  Speaker 2: will tell you all the other things necessary to be done.
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  Speaker 2: The bird, having said this, immediately flew out of sight.
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  Speaker 2: Con Edar took great care to do everything according to
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  Speaker 2: the instructions of the bird. He found the iron, ball
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  Speaker 2: and corner in the place which had been pointed out.
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  Speaker 2: He took them up, mounted his horse, and cast the
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  Speaker 2: ball before him. The ball rolled on at a regular gate,
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  Speaker 2: while the little shaggy horse.
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  Speaker 1: Followed on the way it led until they reached the
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  Speaker 1: margin of Loch Urn. Hear the ball rolled in the
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  Speaker 1: water and became invisible. All right now, said the driocht pony,
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  Speaker 1: and put your hand into mine ear. Take from thence
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  Speaker 1: the small bottle of eki waarheel and the little wicker
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  Speaker 1: basket which you find there, and remount with speed, for
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  Speaker 1: just now your great dangers and difficulties. Commence con Eda,
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  Speaker 1: ever faithful to the kind advice of histriocht pony, did
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  Speaker 1: what he had been advised. Having taken the basket and
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  Speaker 1: bottle of iki from the animal's ear, he remounted and
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  Speaker 1: proceeded on his journey, while the water of the lake
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  Speaker 1: appeared only like an atmosphere above his head. When he
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  Speaker 1: entered the lake, the ball again appeared and rolled along
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  Speaker 1: until it came to the margin, across which was a
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  Speaker 1: causeway guarded by three frightful serpents. The hissings of the
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  Speaker 1: monsters was heard at a great distance, while on a
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  Speaker 1: nearer approach, their yawning mouths and formidable fangs were quite
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  Speaker 1: sufficient to terrify the stoutest heart. Now, said the horse,
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  Speaker 1: open the basket and cast a piece of the meat
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  Speaker 1: you find in it into the mouth of each serpent.
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  Speaker 1: When you have done this, secure yourself and your seat
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  Speaker 1: in the best manner you can, so that we may
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  Speaker 1: make all due arrangements to pass those trioch pastes. If
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  Speaker 1: you cast the pieces of meat into the mouth of
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  Speaker 1: eachte unerringly, we shall pass them safely. Otherwise we are lost.
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  Speaker 1: Conada flung the pieces of meat into the jaws of
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  Speaker 1: the serpents with unerring aim. Bear a benison and victory,
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  Speaker 1: said the driocht steed, for you are a youth that
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  Speaker 1: will win and prosper. And on saying these words, he
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  Speaker 1: sprang aloft and clearing his leap.
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  Speaker 2: The river and ford guarded by the serpents seven measures
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  Speaker 2: beyond the margin. Are you still mounted, Prince, Conedda, said
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  Speaker 2: the steed. It has taken only half my exertion to remain, so,
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  Speaker 2: replied Connorda.
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  Speaker 1: I find, said the pony, that you are a young
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  Speaker 1: prince that deserves to succeed. One danger is now over,
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  Speaker 1: but two others remain. They proceeded onwards after the ball
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  Speaker 1: until they came in view of a great mountain flaming
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  Speaker 1: with fire. Hold yourself in readiness for another dangerous leap,
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  Speaker 1: said the horse. The trembling prince had no answer to make,
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  Speaker 1: but seated himself as securely as the magnitude of the
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  Speaker 1: danger before him would permit. The horse, in the next instant,
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  Speaker 1: sprang from the earth and flew like an arrow over
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  Speaker 1: the burning mountain. Are you still alive, con Edda, son
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  Speaker 1: of con Moore, inquired the faithful horse. I'm just alive,
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  Speaker 1: and no more, for I'm greatly scorched, answered the prince.
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  Speaker 1: Since you are yet alive, I feel assured that you
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  Speaker 1: are a young man destined to meet supernatural success and benisons,
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  Speaker 1: said the druidic steed. Our greatest dangers are over added he,
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  Speaker 1: and there is hope that we shall overcome the next
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  Speaker 1: and last danger. After they proceeded a short distance, his
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  Speaker 1: faithful Steed, addressing con Edda, said all right now, and
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  Speaker 1: apply a portion of the little bottle of eating to
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  Speaker 1: your wounds. The prince immediately followed the advice of his mentor,
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  Speaker 1: and as soon as he rubs the eaty all heel
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  Speaker 1: to his wounds. He became as whole and fresh as
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  Speaker 1: ever he had been before. After having done this, Conoda remounted,
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  Speaker 1: and following the track of the ball, soon came in
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  Speaker 1: sight of a great city surrounded by high walls. The
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  Speaker 1: only gate that was visible was not defended by armed men,
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  Speaker 1: but by two great towers that emitted flames that could
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  Speaker 1: be seen at a great distance. Alight on this plain,
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  Speaker 1: said the steed, And take a small knife from my
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  Speaker 1: other ear, and with this knife you shall kill and
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  Speaker 1: flame me. When you have done this, envelop yourself in
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  Speaker 1: my hide, and you can pass the gate unscathed and unmolested.
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  Speaker 1: When you get inside, you can come out at pleasure,
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  Speaker 1: because when once you enter, there is no danger, and
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  Speaker 1: you can pass and repass whenever you wish. And let
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  Speaker 1: me tell you that all I have to ask of
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  Speaker 1: you in return is that you, when once inside the gates,
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  Speaker 1: will immediately return and drive away the birds of prey
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: that must be fluttering round to feed on my carcass.
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: And more that you'll pour any drop of that powerful eating,
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: if such still remain in the bottle upon my flesh,
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: preserve it from corruption. When you do this in memory
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: of me, if it be not too troublesome, dig a
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: pit and cast my remains into it. Well, said Conorda,
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: my noblest deed. Because you have been so faithful to
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: me hitherto, and because you still would have rendered me
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: further service, I consider such a proposal insulting to my
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: feelings as a man, and totally invariance with the spirit
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: which can feel the value of gratitude. Not to speak
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: of my feelings as a prince, but as a prince,
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: I am ail to say, come what may come, death
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: itself in its most hideous form and terrors. I'll never
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: sacrifice private friendship to personal interest. Hence I am I
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: swear by my arms of valor, prepare to meet the worst,
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: even death itself, sooner than violate the principles of humanity, honor,
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: and friendship. What a sacrifice do you propose? Sure, ma'am
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: heed not that do what I advise you and prosper
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: never never, exclaimed the prince. Well, then, son of the
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: great Western Monarch, said the horse, with a tone of sorrow.
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: If you do not follow my advice on this occasion,
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: I tell you that both you and I shall perish
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: and shall never meet again. But if you act as
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: I have instructed you, matters shall assume a happier and
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: more pleasing aspect than you may imagine. I have not
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: misled you hithertofore, And if I have not, what need
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: have you to doubt the most important portion of my counsel,
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: do exactly as I have directed you, else you will
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: cause a worse fate than death to befall me. And moreover,
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: I can tell you that if you persist in your resolution,
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: I have done with you forever. When the Prince found
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: that his noble steed could not be persuaded from his purpose,
• 21:58
  Speaker 1: he took the knife out of his ear with a reluctance,
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: and with a faltering and trembling hand, essayed experimentally to
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: point the weapon at his throat. Conador's eyes were bathed
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: in tears. But no sooner had he pointed the druidic
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: siam to the throat of his good steed, than the dagger,
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: as if impelled by some Druidic power, struck in his neck,
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: and in an instant the work of death was done,
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: and the noble animal fell dead at his feet. When
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: the Prince saw his noble steed fall dead by his hand,
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: he cast himself on the ground and cried aloud until
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: his consciousness was gone. When he recovered, he perceived that
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: the steed was quite dead, and as he thought there
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: was no hope of resuscitating him, he considered it the
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: most prudent course. He could adopt to act according to
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: the advice he had given him. After many misgivings of
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: mind and abundant showers of tears, he essayed the task
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: of flaying him, which was only that of a few minutes.
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: When he found he had the hind separated from the body, he,
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: in the derangement of the moment, developed himself in it, and,
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: proceeding towards the magnificent city in rather a demented state
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: of mind, ended it without any molestation or opposition. It
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: was a surprisingly populous city and an extremely wealthy place,
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: but its beauty, magnificence, and wealth had no charms for
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: con Edda, because the thoughts of the loss he sustained
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: in his dear Steed were paramount to those of all
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: other earthly considerations he had guest. Proceeded more than a
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: fifty paces from the gate when the last request of
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: his beloved triochsk Steed forced itself upon his mind and
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: compelled him to return to the form the last summon
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: injunctions upon him. When he came to the spot upon
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: which the remains of his beloved triocht Steed lay, an
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: appalling sight presented itself. Ravens and other carnivorous birds of
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: prey were tearing and devouring the flesh of his dear steed.
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: It was but short work to put them to flight,
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: And having uncorked his little jar of Eti, he deemed
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: it a labor of love to embalm the now mangled remains.
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: With the precious ointment. The potent ETI had scarcely touched
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: the inanimate flesh, when, to the surprise of con Edda,
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: it commenced to undergo some strange change, and in a
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: few minutes, to his unspeakable astonishment and joy, it assumes
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: the form of one of the handsomest and noblest young
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: men imaginable, And in the twinkling of an eye, the
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: Prince was locked in his embrace, smothering him with kisses
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: and drowning him with tears of joy. When one recovered
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: from his ecstasy of joy, the other from his surprise,
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: the strange youth thus addressed the Prince, most noble and peusant, Prince,
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: you are the best sight I ever saw with my eyes,
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: and I am the most fortunate being existence for having
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: met you. Behold in my person, changed to the natural shape,
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: your little shaggy trioch steed, I am brother to the
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: king of the city, and it was the wicked druid
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: fiorn Bainer who kept me so long in bondage. But
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: he was forced to give me up when you came
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: to consult him, for my guesh was then broken. Yet
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: I could not recover my pristine shaven appearance unless she
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: had acted as you have kindly done. It was my
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: own sister that urged the Queen your stepmother to send
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: you and quest the steed and powerful puppy hound, which
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: my brother has now in keeping. My sister rest assured,
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: had no thought of doing you the least injury but
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: much good, as you will find hereafter, because if she
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: were maliciously inclined towards you, she could have accomplished her
• 25:27
  Speaker 1: end without any trouble. In short, she only wanted to
• 25:30
  Speaker 1: free you from all further danger and disaster and recover
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: me from my relentless enemies through your instrumentality. Come with me,
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: my friend and deliverer, and the steed and the puppy
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: hound of extraordinary powers and the gilden apples shall be yours,
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: and a cordial welcome shall greet you my brother's abode,
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: for you will deserve all this and much more. The
• 25:50
  Speaker 1: exciting joy felt on the occasion was mutual, and they
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: lost no time in idle congratulations, but proceeded on to
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: the royal residence of the King of locke Urn. Here
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: they were received with demonstrations of joy by the King
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: and his chieftains, And when the purpose of Koneda's visit
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: became known to the King, he gave a free consent
• 26:09
  Speaker 1: to sow on conded the black steed, the Quilon conmacnur,
• 26:13
  Speaker 1: pulled salah and three apples of health that were growing
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: in his garden, under the special condition, however, that he
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: would consent to remain as his guest until he could
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: set out on his journey in proper time to fulfill
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: his guesh con Edda, at the earnestlicitation of his friends,
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: consented and remained in the royal residence of the Fermologue,
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: King of loch Erne, in the enjoyment of the most
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: delicious and fascinating pressures during that period. When the time
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: of his departure came, the three golden apples were plucked
• 26:43
  Speaker 1: from the crystal tree in the midst of the pleasure
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: garden and deposited in his bottom the puppy hands Samma
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: was leashed and the leash put into his hand, and
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: the black steed, richly harnessed, was got in readiness for
• 26:56
  Speaker 1: him to mount. The king himself helped him on horseback,
• 27:00
  Speaker 1: and both he and his brother assured him that he
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: might not fear burning mountains or hissing serpents, because none
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: would impede him. The seed was always a passport to
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: and from his sebaqueous kingdom, and both he and his
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: brother extorted a promise from the con Edda that he
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: would visit them once every year. At least con Edda
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: took lee of his dear friend and the King his brother.
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: The parting was a tender one, soured by regret on
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: both sides. He proceeded on his way without meeting anything
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: to obstruct him, and in due time came in sight
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: of the Doom of his father, where the Queen had
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: been placed on the pinnacle of the tower, in full
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: hope that, as it was the last day of her
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: imprisonment there, the prince would not make his appearance and
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: thereby forfeit all pretensions and right to the crown of
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: his father forever. But her hopes were doomed to meet
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: a disappointment, for when it had been announced to her
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: by her couriers, who had been posted to watch the
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: arrival of the prince, that he approached, she was in predulous,
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: But when she saw him mounted on a foaming black steed,
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: richly harnessed, and leading a strange kind of animal by
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: a silver chain, she at once knew his returning in triumph,
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: and that her schemes laid for his destriction were frustrated.
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: In the excess of grief at her disappointment, she cast
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: herself from the top of the tower and was instantly
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: dashed to pieces. Con Eda met a welcome reception from
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: his father, who mourned him as lost to him forever.
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: During his absence, and when the base conduct of the
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: queen became known, the king and his chieftains ordered her
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: remains to be consumed for ashes for her perfidity and wickedness.
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: Con Edda planted the three golden apples in his garden,
• 28:42
  Speaker 1: and instantly a great tree bearing similar fruit sprang up.
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: This tree caused all the district were due to an
• 28:49
  Speaker 1: exuberance of crops and fruits, so it became as fertile
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: and plentiful as the dominions of the furbulogs. In consequence
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: of the extraordinary powers possessed by the golden fruit, the hound,
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: sammer and the stew were of the utmost utility to him,
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: and his reign was long and prosperous, and celebrated among
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: the old people for the great abundance of corn fruit, milk,
• 29:11
  Speaker 1: fowl and fish that prevails during this happy reign. It
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: was after the name Cornedda, the province of Connacht or
• 29:19
  Speaker 1: Cornedda or Cornac, or so called. End of section forty three,
• 29:28
  Speaker 1: end of Fairian Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry, edited
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: and selected by W. B. Yeats,