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Cuchulainn in Fairyland
One of the strangest tales in Celltic legend tells how Cuchulainn, as he lay asleep after hunting, against a pillar-stone, had a vision of two Danaan women who came to him armed with rods and alternately beat him till he was all but dead, and he could not lift a hand to defend himself. Next day, and for a year thereafter, he lay in sore sickness, and none could heal him.
Then a man whom none knew came and told him to go to the pillar-stone where he had seen the vision, and he would learn what was to be done for his recovery. There he found a Danaan woman in a green mantle, one of those who had chastised him, and she told him that Fand, the Pearl of Beauty, wife of Mananan the Sea-god, had set her love on him; and she was at enmity with her husband Mananan; and her realm was besieged by three demon kings, against whom Cuchulainn's help was sought, and the price of his help would be the love of Fand. Laeg, the charioteer, was then sent by Cuchulainn to report upon Fand and her message. He entered Fairyland, which lies beyond a lake across he passed in an enchanted boat of bronze, and came home with a report of Fand's surpassing beauty and the wonders of the kingdom; and Cuchulainn then betook himself thither. Here he had a battle in a dense mist with the demons, who are described as resembling sea-waves - no doubt we are to understand that they are the folk of the angry husband, Mananan. Then he abode with Fand, enjoying all the delights of Fairyland for a month, after which he bade her farewell, and appointed a trysting-place on earth, the Strand of the Yew-Tree, where she was to meet him.
But Emer (the wife of Cuculainn) heard of the tryst; and though not commonly disturbed at Cuchulainn's numerous infidelities, she came on this occasion with fifty of her maidens armed with sharp knives to slay Fand. Cuchulainn and Fand perceive their chariots from afar, and the armed angry women with golden clasps shining on their breasts, and he prepars to protect his mistress, He adresses Emer in a curious poem, describing the beauty and skill and magical powers of Fand - "There is nothing the spirit can wish for that she has not got." Emer replies: "In good sooth, the lady to whom thou dost ling seems in no way better than I am, but the new is ever sweet and the well-known is sour; thou hast all the wisdom of the time, Cuchulainn! Once we dwelled in honour together, and still might dwell if I could find favour in thy sight." "By my word thou dost," said Cuchulainn, "and shalt find it so long as I live."
"Give it up," then said Fand. But Emer said: "Nay, it is more fitting that I be the deserted one."
"Not so," said Fand; "it is I who must go." And an eagerness for lamentation seized upon Fand, and her soul was great within her, for it was shame for her to be deserted and straightway to return to her home; moreover, the mighty love that she bore Cuchulainn was tumultuous in her.
But Mananan, the Son of the Sea, knew her sorrow and her shame, and he came to her aid, none seeing him but she alone, and welcomed him in a mystic song. "Wilt thou return to me?" said Mananan, "or abide with Cuchulainn?" "In truth," said Fand, "neither of ye is better or nobler than the other, but I will go with thee, Mananan, for thou hast no other mate worthy of thee, but that Cuchulainn has in Emer."
So she went to Mananan, and Cuchulainn, who did not see the god, asked Laeg what was happening. "Fand," he replied, "is going away with the Son of the Sea, since she hath not been pleasing in thy sight.'"
Then Cuchulainn bounded into the air and fled from the place, and lay a long time refusing meat and drink, until atlast the Druids gave him a draught of forgetfulness; and Mananan, it is said, shook his cloak between Cuchulainn and Fand, so that they might meet no more throughout eternity.
(an ecerpt from Celtic Myths and Legends by T.W. Rolleston)
Then a man whom none knew came and told him to go to the pillar-stone where he had seen the vision, and he would learn what was to be done for his recovery. There he found a Danaan woman in a green mantle, one of those who had chastised him, and she told him that Fand, the Pearl of Beauty, wife of Mananan the Sea-god, had set her love on him; and she was at enmity with her husband Mananan; and her realm was besieged by three demon kings, against whom Cuchulainn's help was sought, and the price of his help would be the love of Fand. Laeg, the charioteer, was then sent by Cuchulainn to report upon Fand and her message. He entered Fairyland, which lies beyond a lake across he passed in an enchanted boat of bronze, and came home with a report of Fand's surpassing beauty and the wonders of the kingdom; and Cuchulainn then betook himself thither. Here he had a battle in a dense mist with the demons, who are described as resembling sea-waves - no doubt we are to understand that they are the folk of the angry husband, Mananan. Then he abode with Fand, enjoying all the delights of Fairyland for a month, after which he bade her farewell, and appointed a trysting-place on earth, the Strand of the Yew-Tree, where she was to meet him.
But Emer (the wife of Cuculainn) heard of the tryst; and though not commonly disturbed at Cuchulainn's numerous infidelities, she came on this occasion with fifty of her maidens armed with sharp knives to slay Fand. Cuchulainn and Fand perceive their chariots from afar, and the armed angry women with golden clasps shining on their breasts, and he prepars to protect his mistress, He adresses Emer in a curious poem, describing the beauty and skill and magical powers of Fand - "There is nothing the spirit can wish for that she has not got." Emer replies: "In good sooth, the lady to whom thou dost ling seems in no way better than I am, but the new is ever sweet and the well-known is sour; thou hast all the wisdom of the time, Cuchulainn! Once we dwelled in honour together, and still might dwell if I could find favour in thy sight." "By my word thou dost," said Cuchulainn, "and shalt find it so long as I live."
"Give it up," then said Fand. But Emer said: "Nay, it is more fitting that I be the deserted one."
"Not so," said Fand; "it is I who must go." And an eagerness for lamentation seized upon Fand, and her soul was great within her, for it was shame for her to be deserted and straightway to return to her home; moreover, the mighty love that she bore Cuchulainn was tumultuous in her.
But Mananan, the Son of the Sea, knew her sorrow and her shame, and he came to her aid, none seeing him but she alone, and welcomed him in a mystic song. "Wilt thou return to me?" said Mananan, "or abide with Cuchulainn?" "In truth," said Fand, "neither of ye is better or nobler than the other, but I will go with thee, Mananan, for thou hast no other mate worthy of thee, but that Cuchulainn has in Emer."
So she went to Mananan, and Cuchulainn, who did not see the god, asked Laeg what was happening. "Fand," he replied, "is going away with the Son of the Sea, since she hath not been pleasing in thy sight.'"
Then Cuchulainn bounded into the air and fled from the place, and lay a long time refusing meat and drink, until atlast the Druids gave him a draught of forgetfulness; and Mananan, it is said, shook his cloak between Cuchulainn and Fand, so that they might meet no more throughout eternity.
(an ecerpt from Celtic Myths and Legends by T.W. Rolleston)