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  3. The House in the Lake
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The House in the Lake
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•Das Haus im See
•Ein irisches Volksmärchen von Edmund Leamy.

•Vor langer , langer Zeit, da lebte in einer kleinen Hütte, mitten in einem der Binnenseen von Erin, ein alter Fischer und sein Sohn. •Die Hütte war auf Pfählen errichtet, die in das Bett des Sees geschlagen worden waren, und befand sich so hoch über dem Wasser, dass es selbst dann die Türschwelle nicht erreichte, wenn es von dem aus den Bergen herunterkommenden Wind zu Wellen aufgewühlt war. •Außerhalb der Hütte, auf derselben Höhe wie der Fußboden, war rundherum eine kleine Korbwaren-Arbeitsplattform, und unter der Plattform nahe bei den Stufen, die zu ihr vom Wasser hochführten, war des Fischers aus Weiden gemachtes, mit Fellen überzogenes Paddelboot vertäut, und nur durch das Fellboot konnten er und sein Sohn Enda ihre Seebehausung verlassen.

•An vielen Sommerabenden lag Enda ausgestreckt auf der Plattform und beobachtete, wie der Sonnenuntergang auf den Berggipfeln verblasste und die Abenddämmerung über das Wasser des Sees kroch, und als er einmal auf diese Art beschäftigt war, hörte er zufällig ein Rascheln in einem Büschel Riedgras, das nah an einer Seite der Hütte wuchs. •Er drehte sich nach dem Geräusch um, und alles was er sehen konnte, war nur ein Otter, der mit einer kleinen Forelle im Maul auf ihn zuschwamm. •Als der Otter dort ankam, wo Enda lag, hob er seinen Kopf und halben Körper aus dem Wasser und warf die Forelle auf die Plattform, fast an Endas Füße, und verschwand dann.

•Enda nahm die kleine keuchende Forelle in die Hand, aber als er es tat, hörte er ganz nah bei sich im See ein Geräusch, als ob Wasser auf Wasser platschte, und er sah die sich ausdehnenden Kreise, die von einer Forelle verursacht wurden, die gerade zu einer Fliege hochgestiegen war; und er sagte zu der kleinen Forelle, die er in der Hand hielt: "Ich will dich nicht behalten, armes Ding! •Vielleicht war das ein kleiner Kamerad, der gekommen ist, um nach dir zu sehen und so will ich dich zu ihm zurückschicken." Und als er das sagte, ließ er die kleine Forelle in den See fallen.

•Also lag Enda, als der nächste Abend kam, wieder ausgestreckt draußen vor der Hütte und noch einmal hörte er das Rascheln im Riedgras, und noch einmal kam der Otter und warf die kleine Forelle fast bis in seine Hände.

•Enda, überraschter als je zuvor, wusste nicht, was er tun sollte. •Er sah, dass es dieselbe kleine Forelle war, die ihm der Otter die Nacht zuvor gebracht hatte, und er sagte: " Nun, vorige Nacht habe ich dir eine Chance gegeben. •Ich werde dir noch eine geben, wenn auch nur um zu sehen, was dabei herauskommt." Und er warf die Forelle in den See; aber kaum hatte sie die Gewässer berührt, als sie sich in einen wunderschönen, milchweißen Schwan verwandelte. •Und Enda konnte seinen Augen kaum trauen, als er ihn über den See segeln sah, bis er in den Riedgräsern, die am Ufer wuchsen, verschwand.

•Die ganze Nacht lag er wach und dachte an das, was er gesehen hatte, und sobald der Morgen auf den Bergspitzen stand und seine goldenen Lichtstrahlen über den See warf, stand Enda auf und stieg in sein kleines Boot.

•Er ruderte überall am Ufer entlang und schlug bei der Verfolgung des Schwanes das Riedgras mit seinem Ruder nieder; aber alles vergeblich; er konnte nirgendwo einen Blick auf das weiße Gefieder erhaschen. •Tag für Tag ruderte er auf der Suche nach ihm über den See, und jeden Abend lag er vor seiner Hütte und beobachtete das Wasser. •Endlich, eines Nachts, als der über den Bergen aufgehende Vollmond den ganzen See mit Licht überflutete, sah er den schnell auf sich zukommenden Schwan, heller strahlend als die Mondstrahlen. •Der Schwan kam herbei, bis er fast eine Bootslänge von der Hütte entfernt war; und was Enda hören sollte, war nur, dass der Schwan ihn in seiner eigenen Sprache ansprach: "Steig in dein Paddelboot, Enda, und folge mir", sagte er, drehte sich um und segelte davon. ...

•Enda sprang ins Boot und bald funkelten die Wassertropfen, die von seinem Ruder tröpfelten, wie Diamanten im Mondlicht. •Und er ruderte dem Schwan nach, der vor ihm her glitt, bis er zu der Stelle kam, wo die Schatten der Berge am tiefsten auf dem See lagen. •Dann ruhte der Schwan und als Enda zu ihm kam, sagte er: "Enda, ich habe dich dahin gebracht, wo niemand hören kann, was ich dir zu sagen wünsche. •Ich bin Mave, die Tochter des Königs von Erin. •Durch die magischen Künste meiner grausamen Stiefmutter wurde ich in eine Forelle verwandelt und ein Jahr und einen Tag vor dem Abend, als du mich zum zweiten Mal wieder ins Wasser zurückgebracht hast, in diesen See geworfen. •Wenn du es nicht in der ersten Nacht, in der der Otter mich zu dir gebracht hat, getan hättest, wäre ich in ein rufendes Käuzchen verwandelt worden; wenn du es in der zweiten Nacht nicht getan hättest, wäre ich in einen krähenden Raben verwandelt worden. •Aber Dank dir, Enda, bin ich jetzt ein schneeweißer Schwan und werde eine Stunde lang in der ersten Nacht jedes Vollmonds sprechen können, so lange ich ein Schwan bleibe. •Und ich muss für immer ein Schwan bleiben, außer du bist bereit, den Zauberbann, unter dem ich stehe, zu brechen; und allein du kannst ihn brechen." "Ich werde alles, was ich für dich tun kann, tun. •Oh, Prinzessin!" sagte Enda. •"Aber wie kann ich den Bann brechen?" "Das kannst du nur tun", sagte der Schwan, "indem du das wohlduftende Wasser, das sich in der goldenen Schale, die sich im innersten Raum des Palastes der Feenkönigin unter dem See, auf meine Federn schüttest." "Und wie kann ich das bekommen?" sagte Enda.

•"Nun", sagte der Schwan, "du musst auf den Grund des Sees tauchen und sein Bett entlang gehen, bis du dahin kommst, wo der Seedrache den Eingang der Herrschaftsgebiete der Feenkönigin bewacht." "Ich kann wie ein Fisch tauchen", sagte Enda, "aber wie kann ich unter Wasser gehen?" "Du kannst es ganz einfach tun", sagte der Schwan, "wenn du den Wasser-Anzug von Brian, einem der drei Söhne von Turenn, und seinen Helm aus durchsichtigem Kristall bekommst, durch deren Hilfe er in der Lage war, unter dem grünen Salzsee zu wandern." "Und wo kann ich sie finden?" "Sie sind im Wasserpalast von Angus von Boyne", sagte der Schwan. "Aber du solltest dich sofort aufmachen, denn wenn der Zauber nicht gebannt ist, bevor wieder Vollmond ist, kann er für ein Jahr und einen Monat nicht gebrochen werden." "Ich werde mich beim ersten Morgenstrahl aufmachen", sagte Enda.

•"Mögen Glück und Freude mit dir gehen", sagte der Schwan.

•"Und nun kommen die Stunden der Stille auf mich zu, und ich habe nur noch Zeit, dich zu warnen, dass in deiner Suche nach dem goldenen Pokal Gefahren vor dir liegen, von denen du kaum zu träumen wagst." "Ich bin gewillt, um Euretwillen, oh Prinzessin, allen Gefahren ins Auge zu sehen", sagte Enda.

•"Der Segen sei mit dir, Enda", sagte der Schwan und segelte aus dem Schatten hinaus in das Licht über den See zu den mit Riedgras bewachsenen Ufern. •Und Enda sah sie nicht mehr.

•Er ruderte sein Curragh nach Hause und er legte sich hin, ohne seine Kleider auszuziehen. •Und als der erste schwache Schimmer des Morgens schräg über die Berge fiel, stieg er in sein Paddelboot, ruderte über den See und nahm die Straße in Richtung des Wasserpalastes von Angus von Boyne.

•Als er die Ufer des glänzenden Flusses erreichte, stand eine kleine, rot gekleidete Frau vor ihm.

•"Ich heiße dich willkommen, Enda", sagte sie. •"Und ich bin erfreut, dass ich den Tag miterleben kann, an dem du hier bist, um der reizenden Prinzessin Mave zu helfen. •Und jetzt warte einen Augenblick, und der Wasser-Anzug und der Kristallhelm werden für dich bereit sein." Und nachdem sie das gesagt hatte, pflückte die kleine Frau eine Handvoll Wildgräser, und sie hauchte dreimal auf sie, warf sie dann auf den Fluss, und ein Dutzend feenhafte Nymphen kamen durchs Wasser, die den Wasser-Anzug, den Kristallhelm und einen glänzenden Speer hielten. •Und sie legten sie zu Füßen Endas auf das Ufer und entschwanden darauf.

•Nun, Enda", sagte die Feenfrau, "nimm diese; mit Hilfe des Kleides und des Helmes kannst du unter Wasser gehen. •Du wirst den Speer brauchen, um den Gefahren zu begegnen, die vor dir liegen. •Aber mit diesem Speer, wenn du nur Mut hast, kannst du alles und jeden überwinden, der dir den Weg versagen will." Nachdem sie dies ausgesprochen hatte, sagte sie Lebewohl zu Enda, und als sie vom Ufer stieg, schwebte sie auf dem Fluss so leicht wie ein rotes Mohnblatt. •Und als sie die Mitte des Flusses erreichte, verschwand sie in den Fluten.

•Enda nahm den Helm, den Anzug und den Speer, und es dauerte nicht lange, bis er zu den mit Riedgras bewachsenen Ufern kam, wo sein kleines Boot auf ihn wartete. •Als er in das Paddelboot stieg, ging der Mond über den Bergen auf. •Er ruderte weiter, bis er zur Hütte kam, und nachdem er das Boot an der Tür vertäut hatte, zog er den Wasser-Anzug an, setzte den Kristallhelm auf und sprang, den Speer in die Hand nehmend, über den Bootsrand und sank weiter und weiter, bis er den Boden berührte. •Dann ging er weiter, ohne darauf zu achten, wohin er ging, und das einzige Licht, das er hatte, war das schimmernde Mondlicht, das so schwach durch das Wasser hinabfiel, als ob es durch Milchglas schien. •Er war nicht sehr weit gegangen, als er ein schreckliches Fauchen hörte, und direkt vor sich sah er etwas, das er für zwei brennende Kohlen hielt.

•Nach ein paar weiteren Schritten fand er sich von Antlitz zu Antlitz dem Drachen des Sees gegenüber, dem Wächter des Palastes der Feenkönigin. •Bevor er Zeit hatte, seinen Speer zu heben, hatte der Drache seinen Körper um ihn geschlungen. Er hörte die entsetzlichen Zähne an der Seite seines Kristallhelms knirschen, er spürte den Druck der Glieder um seine Flanken, und fast verließ der Atem seinen Körper. Doch der Drache, der den Helm nicht durchdringen konnte, löste seine Umklammerung, und bald waren Endas Hände frei, und bevor der Drache versuchen konnte, ihn erneut zu ergreifen, trieb er seinen Speer durch eines der feurigen Augen, und der fauchende Drache krümmte sich vor Schmerz und raste durch eine Höhle hinter ihm. •Enda, der aus der Flucht des Drachens Mut schöpfte, marschierte weiter, bis er zu einer Tür aus mattem Messing kam, die in den Felsen geschlagen war. •Er versuchte sie aufzustoßen, aber er hätte genauso gut versuchen können, die Felsen wegzustoßen. •Während er sich fragte, was er tun sollte, hörte er wieder das Fauchen des Drachens und er sah das rote grelle Licht seines feurigen Auges im Wasser.

•Seinen Speer hebend und sich hastig umdrehend, um dem wilden Monster zu begegnen, berührte Enda zufällig die Tür mit der Spitze des Speers, und die Tür öffnete sich weit. •Enda ging hindurch und die Tür schloß sich hinter ihm mit einem knirschenden Geräusch und er marschierte durch einen felsigen Gang, der zu einer sandigen Ebene führte.

•Als er aus dem Gang auf die Ebene schritt, begann sich der Sand zu bewegen, als ob er lebendig wäre. •Innerhalb einer Sekunde stiegen tausend grässliche Schlangen, beinahe in der Farbe des Sandes, zischend auf und bildeten vor ihm mit ihren gespaltenen Zungen einen schrecklichen, giftigen Schutzwall. •Eine Sekunde lang stand er bestürzt da, aber dann stürmte er mit erhobenem Speer gegen den Schutzschild der Schlangen und sie sanken, während sie Gift auf ihn abfeuerten, unter den Sand. •Aber das Gift konnte ihm wegen des Wasser-Anzugs und des Kristall-Helms nichts anhaben.

•Als er die sandige Ebene durchquert hatte, musste er einen großen, steilen, zerklüfteten Felsen erklimmen. •Als er auf die Spitze des Felsens kam, sah er, wie sich vor ihm eine steinige Wüste, ohne Grasbüschel oder Grashalm, ausbreitete. •In einiger Entfernung vor ihm bemerkte er ein großes dunkles Gebilde, das er für einen Felsen hielt, aber bei genauerem Hinsehen sah er, dass es sich um eine riesige, missgestaltete, geschwollene, scheinbar lebendige Körpermasse handelte. •Und sie wurde von Moment zu Moment größer und größer. •Enda blieb bei dem Anblick erstaunt stehen, und bevor er wusste, wo er war, erhob sich die abscheuliche Kreatur vom Boden und sprang ihn an, bevor er seinen Speer benutzen konnte, erwischte ihn in ihrer entsetzlichen Umklammerung und schleuderte ihn über die Felsen zurück in die sandige Ebene. •Enda war beinahe betäubt, aber das Zischen der Schlangen, die um ihn herum aus dem Sand aufstiegen, brachte ihn zu Bewusstsein, und er sprang auf seine Füße und trieb sie erneut unter die Oberfläche.

•Dann näherte er sich dem schroffen Felsen, auf dessen Spitze er das scheußliche Ungeheuer erblickte, das ihn mit wütendem Blick und blutunterlaufenen Augen ansah. •Enda hob seinen Speer und schleuderte ihn auf seinen Feind. •Er drang zwischen den Augen des Ungeheuers ein, und von der Wunde floss das Blut wie ein schwarzer Strom und färbte das flache Land, und der in sich zusammengesunkene Kadaver rutschte an der Vorderseite des Felsens hinunter und verschwand unter dem Sand. •Enda stieg erneut auf den Felsen und überquerte die steinige Einöde, ohne irgendetwas zu treffen oder zu sehen, und kam schließlich in einen dichten Wald. •Er war nicht weit gegangen, als er den Klang märchenhafter Musik hörte, und als er weiter ging kam er auf eine moosbedeckte Lichtung, wo er tanzende Feen fand, die rund um ihre Königin tanzten. •Sie waren so klein und waren alle so leuchtend gekleidet, dass sie wie eine Menge wogender Blumen aussahen. Aber als er von ihnen entdeckt worden war, verschwanden sie wie ein herrlicher Traum, und keine blieb bei ihm außer der Feenkönigin. •Die Königin errötete, als sie sich alleine wiederfand, aber als sie mit ihrem kleinen Fuß dreimal auf den Boden stampfte, schlichen die angsterfüllten Feen wieder zurück.

•"Ich heiße dich willkommen, Enda", sagte die Königin. •"Meine kleinen Untertaninnen wurden durch deinen seltsamen Anzug und den Kristallhelm erschreckt. •Ich bitte dich, sie abzulegen, du brauchst sie hier nicht." Enda tat, wie ihm geheißen wurde, er legte seinen Wasser-Anzug und seinen Helm auf das Gras, und als die kleinen Feen seine wahre Gestalt sahen, überwanden sie ihren Schrecken und liefen, ungehemmt von der Anwesenheit der Königin, übereinander purzelnd, um zu versuchen, sich den Kristallhelm genauer ansehen zu können.

•"Ich weiß, weswegen du gekommen bist, Enda", sagte die Königin. •"Den goldenen Kelch sollst du morgen haben, aber heute Abend musst du an unserem Festmahl teilhaben, also folge mir zum Palast." Nachdem sie das gesagt hatte, winkte die Königin ihre Pagen zu sich, und ging von ihnen begleitet und gefolgt von Enda weiter durch den Wald. •Als sie ihn hinter sich gelassen hatten, sah Enda auf einem grünen Hügel vor sich den schneeweißen Palast der Feenkönigin.

•Als sich die Königin den Stufen näherte, die zur offenen Tür hinaufführten, kam eine Gruppe von winzigen, in rosafarbene Seide gekleideten Feen heraus, die Blumenkörbe trugen, aus denen sie Blüten auf die Stufen warfen, um einen duftenden Teppich für sie zu bereiten. •Ihnen folgte eine Gruppe von Harfenspielern, in gelbe Seidengewänder gekleidet, die sich an jeder Seite der Stufen aufstellten und ihre süßeste Musik spielten, als die Königin herabstieg.

•Als die Königin, gefolgt von Enda in den Palast trat, passierten sie einen Kristallflur, der zu einem Festsaal führte. •Der Raum war von einem einzigen Stern, so groß wie ein Schutzschild, erleuchtet. •Er war an der Wand über einem Diamantthron befestigt.

•Die Königin saß auf dem Thron und die Pagen näherten sich ihr und verbeugten sich tief, als sie die Stufen erreichten, übergaben sie ihr einen goldenen Zauberstab.

•Die Königin schwenkte den Zauberstab dreimal, und ein Tisch, beladen mit allerlei Köstlichkeiten, erschien auf dem Boden. •Dann winkte sie Enda zu sich, und als er neben ihr stand, war der Zaubertisch nicht höher als sein Knie.

•"Ich fürchte, ich muss dich kleiner machen, Enda," sagte die Königin, "oder du wirst nie an meinem Zaubertisch sitzen können." Und während sie das sagte, berührte sie Enda mit dem goldenen Zauberstab und sofort wurde er so klein wie ihr größter Page. •Dann schlug sie gegen die Stufen des Throns und alle Edlen an ihrem Hof nahmen, von ihren Barden geleitet, ihre Plätze an der festlichen Tafel ein.

•Das Fest ging recht vergnügt weiter, und als die winzigen, mit Juwelen besetzten Trinkbecher auf den Tisch gestellt waren, gab die Königin den Harfenspielern das Zeichen, zu spielen.

•Und die kleinen Harfenspieler schlugen die Akkorde, und als Enda der Musik lauschte, schien es ihm, als würde er langsam von seinem Platz gehoben, und als die Musik endete, verschwanden die Feen, der leuchtende Stern erlosch und Enda war in vollkommener Dunkelheit.

•Die Luft blies ihm scharf ins Gesicht und er wusste nicht, wo er war. •Schließlich sah er ein mattes graues Licht und bald wurde dieses Licht größer und heller, und als die Schatten davor flüchteten, konnte er kaum seinen Augen trauen, als er sich in seinem Paddelboot auf dem See wiederfand und das Mondlicht von den Bergspitzen herunterströmte.

•Einen Moment lang dachte er, er müsse geträumt haben; aber dort im Boot vor ihm waren der Kristallhelm und der Wasser-Anzug, der glänzende Speer und die goldene Schale mit duftendem Wasser, das den Zauberbann vom weißen Schwan des Sees entfernen sollte, und als er zu ihm hin segelte, kam vom Schilfufer der schneeweiße Schwan. Als er das Boot berührte, streckte Enda seine Hände aus und hob ihn hinein und goss über sein Gefieder das duftende Wasser aus der goldenen Schale, und Prinzessin Mave stand in all ihrer mädchenhaften Schönheit vor ihm.

•"Nimm dein Ruder, Enda", sagte sie, "und rudere zum Südufer." Enda ergriff sein Ruder, und das Curragh flog schneller über das Wasser als eine Schwalbe im Flug. •Als das Boot das Ufer berührte, sprang Enda hinaus und hob die Prinzessin ans Ufer.

•"Lass dein Boot treiben, Enda", sagte sie, "aber nimm zuerst deinen glänzenden Speer. Der Wasser-Anzug und der Kristallhelm werden auf sich selbst aufpassen." Enda nahm den Speer heraus und stieß dann das Boot vom Ufer weg. •Es trieb rasch auf die Hütte in der Mitte des Sees zu, aber bevor es die Hälfte der Strecke erreicht hatte, schnellten sechs Nymphen aus dem Wasser, ergriffen Helm und Anzug, versanken mit ihnen in der Flut, und das Boot trieb weiter, bis es seinen Bug gegen die Stufen der kleinen Hütte schob, wo es verblieb.

•Dann wandten sich Enda und die Prinzessin nach Süden, und es dauerte nicht lange, bis sie zu einem tiefen Wald kamen, der seine Schatten zusammenfaltete und und seine moosigen Lichtungen ausbreitete vor den strahlenden Fußstapfen des Morgens. •Sie waren nicht weit durch den Wald gegangen, als sie die Laute von Jagdhunden und die Rufe von Jagdleuten hörten, und als sie durch die niedrigen Zweige hindurch zu ihnen vorstießen, sahen sie ein grimmiges Wildschwein. •Enda schob die Prinzessin behutsam hinter sich, erhob seinen Speer und stieß ihn, als der Eber ihm nahe kam, in seinen Hals. •Das Tier fiel zu seinen Füßen tot um, und die heraufstürmenden Hunde begannen es in Stücke zu reißen. •Bei dem Anblick wurde die Prinzessin ohnmächtig, und während Enda sich bemühte, sie wieder zu sich zu bringen, erschien der König von Erin, gefolgt von seinen Jagdleuten. Und als der König die Prinzessin sah, fing er an zu staunen, da er die Gesichtszüge seiner Tochter Mave wiedererkannte.

•In diesem Augenblick kam die Prinzessin zu sich und ihr Vater küsste sie immer wieder, als er sie zärtlich in seine Arme hob.

•"Ich habe dich als tot betrauert, mein Liebling", sagte er, "und jetzt bist du mir zurückgegeben, schöner denn je. •Dafür hätte ich freudig meinen Thron aufgegeben. •Aber sprich, wer ist der Held, der dich hierher gebracht hat, und wer hat das Wildschwein erlegt, das wir so viele Jahre vergeblich gejagt haben?" Die Prinzessin errötete wie eine Rose, als sie sagte: "Sein Name ist Enda, Vater, er hat mich zu dir zurückgebracht." Dann umarmte der König Enda und sagte: "Verzeih mir, Enda, dass ich Fragen über dich stellte, bevor du die Gastfreundschaft meines Hofes genossen hast. •Mein Palast liegt jenseits des Waldes, und wir werden ihn bald erreichen." Dann befahl der König seinem Jäger, das Horn zu blasen, und alle seine Adeligen galoppierten heran, und als sie Prinzessin Mave sahen, waren sie so von ihrer Schönheit geblendet, dass sie den Tod des Wildschweins kaum beachteten.

•"Es ist meine Tochter Mave, die zu mir zurückgekommen ist", sagte der König.

•Und alle Adligen senkten ihre Lanzen und verneigten sich ehrfürchtig vor ihrer Herrin.
•"Und da steht der Held, der sie nach Hause gebracht hat", sagte der König und zeigte auf Enda.

•Die Adligen blickten Enda an und verneigten sich artig, aber in ihren Herzen waren sie eifersüchtig auf den Helden, da sie sahen, dass er bereits ein Günstling des Königs war.

•Dann kamen die Knappen, milchweiße Rösser mit goldenem Zaumzeug herbeiführend, und der König, der Enda befahl, eines davon zu besteigen, hob Mave selbst hinauf und saß hinter ihr auf. •Die Knappen, die den Kopf des Wildschweins auf einem hohlen Schild trugen, und vorausgehende Jagdleute, die ihre Hörner tönen ließen, brachen zum Palast auf und die Hofgesellschaft folgte ihnen.

•Als der Umzug sich dem Palast näherte, kamen Menschenmengen herbeigeeilt, um die Jagdtrophäen zu sehen, und durch die schneeweiße Tür erschien die Königin, Maves grausame Stiefmutter, begleitet von ihren Ehrenjungfrauen und den Hofsängern, um den König zu grüßen. •Aber als sie Prinzessin Mave vor ihm sitzen sah, von der sie dachte, dass sie unter einem Zauberbann auf dem Grund des Sees sei, stieß sie einen lauten Schrei aus und fiel besinnungslos zu Boden.

•Der König sprang von seinem Pferd, eilte zur Königin und hob sie auf und trug sie in seinen Armen zu ihren Gemächern, denn er hatte keine Ahnung von ihrer Bösartigkeit, derer sie schuldig geworden war.

•Und die Heiler des Hofs wurden gerufen, um sie zu behandeln, doch sie starb noch in dieser Nacht, und erst als ein grüner Hügel, würdig einer Königin von Erin, über ihrem Grab errichtet worden war, erzählte Prinzessin Mave ihrem Vater von der Ruchlosigkeit ihrer Stiefmutter. •Und als sie ihm die ganze Geschichte erzählte, wie Enda den Bann der Verzauberung gebrochen hatte, und von den Gefahren, denen er sich ihretwegen gestellt hatte, rief der König eine Versammlung aller seiner Adeligen zusammen. Und er setzte sich auf seinen Thron, trug seinen goldenen Helm, die Barden zu seiner rechten, die Druiden zu seiner linken Hand und die Adeligen in Reihen vor sich mit glänzenden Helmen und blinkenden Speeren, und erzählte ihnen die Geschichte der Prinzessin und von dem Dienst, den Enda ihr erwiesen hatte.

•"Und nun", sagte der König, "wenn die Prinzessin ihren Befreier zum Gemahl nehmen will, bin ich bereit, sie ihm zur Frau zu geben. Und wenn ihr, meine Untertanen, Barden, Druiden, Adligen und Anführer von Erin, etwas gegen diese Vereinigung zu sagen habt, dann sprecht. •Aber zuerst Mave", sagte der König, als er die errötende Prinzessin zu sich hin drehte, "sprich, Liebling, wie es der Tochter eines Königs zukommt - sprich in Gegenwart der Adeligen von Erin, und sag, ob es dein Wunsch ist, Endas Braut zu werden." Die Prinzessin schlang ihrem Vater ihre weißen Arme um den Hals und flüsterte: "Vater, Enda hat mich zu dir zurückgebracht, und vor allen Prinzen und Adeligen von Erin: ich bin gewillt, seine Braut zu sein." Und sie lehnte ihren Kopf an die Brust des Königs, und als er ihre seidenen Haare streichelte, die ihren Rücken hinunterflossen, schlugen die Barden ihre goldenen Harfen, aber der Klang der fröhlichen Musik konnte kaum das Gemurmel der eifersüchtigen Adligen übertönen.

•Als die Musik endete, winkte der König Enda zu sich und wollte gerade dessen Hand in Maves Hand legen, als ein Druide, dessen weißer Bart beinahe den Boden berührte, der ein Liebling der toten Stiefmutter gewesen war und der Mave um ihrer selbst willen hasste, nach vorne trat und sagte: "Oh König von Erin, noch nie wurde die Tochter eines Königs freiwillig einem anderen als einem kampferprobten Helden zur Frau gegeben, und dieser Grünschnabel hat noch nie mit seinem Speer den Schild eines Kriegers getroffen." Ein Raunen der Billigung erhob sich von den eifersüchtigen Prinzen, und Kongal, der tapferste unter ihnen, trat aus den Reihen und sagte: "Der Druide spricht die Wahrheit, König! •Dieses Bürschchen hat noch nie einen Krieger gesehen und ich fordere ihn im Namen aller Adligen deines Landes heraus, gegen irgendeinen von uns zu kämpfen. Und da er jung und nicht an Waffen gewöhnt ist, sind wir bereit, dass ihm der Jüngste und Unerfahrenste gegenübergestellt wird." Als Congal gesprochen hatte, schlugen die Adligen in Billigung seiner Worte mit ihren Schwertern auf ihre Schilde und der metallische Klang stieg in den Himmel auf.
•Das Antlitz der Prinzessin, einen Moment zuvor wie eine Rose errötet, wurde weiß wie eine Lilie; doch die Farbe kehrte auf ihre Wangen zurück, als sie Endas Stimme laut und deutlich erklingen hörte.

•"Es ist wahr, oh König!" sagte er, "dass ich meinen Speer noch nie im Kampf benutzt habe. •Prinz Congal hat mich aufgefordert, auf den jüngsten und am wenigsten erprobten der Anführer von Erin zu treffen. •Ich habe schon mein Leben um ihrer Tochter willen riskiert. •Ich würde den Tod tausendmal ins Auge sehen für die Chance, sie als Braut zu gewinnen. Aber ich würde es als unwürdig erachten, Anspruch auf ihre Hand zu erheben, wenn ich es nicht wagen würde, den tapfersten Kriegshelden aus den Adligen von Erin entgegenzutreten, und hier vor dir, oh König, und vor den Barden, Druiden, Adligen und Häuptlingen von Erin, und hier, in Gegenwart von Lady Mave, fordere ich den tapfersten von allen heraus." Die Augen des Königs blitzten vor Freude, als er den mutigen Worten von Enda lauschte.

•"So soll es sein", sagte der König,"der Wettstreit wird morgen auf dem Rasen vor unseren Palasttoren stattfinden, aber bevor sich unsere Versammlung auflöst, rufe ich euch, Adlige und Anführer von Erin, auf, euren kühnsten Helden zu benennen. Laute Rufe von "Congal! •Congal!" beantworteten die Rede des Königs. ...

•"Bist du bereit, Congal?" fragte der König.

•"Bereit, mein König!" antwortete Congal.

•"Es ist gut", sagte der König. •"Wir werden uns alle heute Abend in unserem Bankettsaal wieder treffen." Und der König betrat mit Prinzessin Mave am Arm den Palast, begleitet von seinen Barden und Druiden, und die Oberhäupter und Adligen gingen ihre eigenen Wege.

•Beim Festmahl an jenem Abend saß die Prinzessin neben dem König und Enda neben der Prinzessin, und die Barden und Druiden, die Adeligen und Oberhäupter nahmen ihre Plätze in der gebotenen Ordnung ein. •Und die Barden sangen Lieder von Liebe und Kampf, und nie wurden fröhlichere Stunden verbracht, als die, die in dieser Nacht im Bankettsaal des Königs von Erin verstrichen.

•Als das Fest vorüber war, zog sich Enda in seine Wohnung zurück, um die Nacht mit dem Träumen von seiner Prinzessin Mave zu verbringen, und Congal ging in sein Quartier, aber nicht um zu schlafen oder zu träumen, denn der Druide, der den Wettkampf hervorgerufen hatte, kam zu ihm, um ihm seinen goldenen Zauberstab zu bringen. Die ganze Nacht lang wob der Druide Zaubersprüche, um Congals Schild, Speer und Helm zu verzaubern und sie unangreifbar im morgigen Kampf zu machen.

•Aber während Enda von Prinzessin Mave träumend dalag, schlüpfte die kleine Fee, die ihm den Wasser-Anzug, den Kristall-Helm und den glänzenden Speer am Ufer des Boyne gegeben hatte, in sein Zimmer und legte neben seine Liegestatt einen silbernen Helm und einen silbernen Schild. •Und sie rieb den Helm, den Schild, die blaue Klinge und den Griff seines Speers mit dem Saft der roten Vogelbeeren ein, und sie ließ einen Tropfen auf sein Gesicht und seine Hände fallen, und dann schlüpfte sie, so leise wie sie gekommen war, hinaus.

•Als der Morgen anbrach, sprang Enda von seiner Liegestatt und konnte kaum seinen Augen trauen, als er den silbernen Schild und den silbernen Helm sah. •Bei ihrem Anblick sehnte er die Stunde des Kampfes herbei und beobachtete mit ungeduldigem Blick die Sonne den Himmel hinaufklettern, und nach Stunden der Spannung hörte er den Klang der Trompete und den Schall der hohlen Schutzschilde, auf die mit den harten spitzen Speeren geschlagen wurde.

•Indem er den Helm aufsetzte, den Schild auf seinem linken Arm befestigte und den Speer in seine rechte Hand nahm, ging er tapfer hinaus zum Kampf. •Am Rand des Rasens vor den Palasttoren bildeten die Prinzen, die Adligen und die Anführer von Erin einen Ring. •Und alle Schönheiten des Hofes und alle edlen Damen des Landes drängten sich auf den Mauern des Palastes. •Und auf seinem Thron, umgeben von seinen Druiden, seinen Richtern und seinen Barden, saß der König von Erin, und zu seinen Füßen saß die liebliche Lady Mave.

•Als Enda auf den Rasen trat, sah er, wie Congal aus den Reihen der Adligen vortrat, und die beiden Helden gingen aufeinander zu, bis sie sich direkt vor dem Thron trafen.

•Dann drehten sich beide zum Thron und verneigten sich vor dem König und Prinzessin Mave. Und als sie sich wieder zueinander wandten, traten sie einen Schritt zurück, und als ihre Speere für den Kampf bereit waren, gab der König das Signal, das vom Aneinanderschlagen der Schilde beantwortet wurde, und Congal und Enda hoben ihre glänzenden Speere. •Sie funkelten wie Blitze in der sonnenbeschienenen Atmosphäre, und nach einem Augenblick war Congals Speer an Endas Schild zerbrochen, aber Endas Speer durchbohrte Congals Helm und warf ihn besinnungslos auf den Boden.

•Die Adligen und Anführer konnten kaum begreifen, dass in diesem einen Augenblick ihr tapferster Held gestürzt worden war, aber als sie ihn regungslos auf der Grasnarbe ausgestreckt liegen sahen, traten sechs Krieger aus ihren Reihen dorthin vor, wo ihr Oberhaupt lag, und sie trugen ihn betrübt auf ihren Schlachtschilden fort, und Enda blieb als Sieger auf dem Feld.

•Und dann ertönte die Stimme des Königs klar wie der Klang einer Trompete am stillen Morgen: "Barden und Richter, Prinzen, Adlige und Anführer von Erin, Enda hat sich als Kriegsheld erwiesen, und wer unter euch wird es jetzt wagen, seinem Recht zu widersprechen, meine Tochter als seine Braut zu beanspruchen?" Und es kam keine Antwort.

•Aber als er Enda zu seinem Thron rief und die Hand der Herrin in seine legte, erhob sich Jubel aus der großen Versammlung, der bewies, dass die Eifersucht aus allen Herzen gelöscht war und dass alle glaubten, dass Enda der schönen Braut würdig war. Und nie, obwohl tausend Jahre vergangen sind, gab es auf der ganzen Welt seit jenem Tag eine fröhlichere und freudigere Hochzeit als die Hochzeit von Enda und Prinzessin Mave.
unit 1
The House in the Lake.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 2
An Irish folktale by Edmund Leamy.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 3
A long, long time ago, there lived in a little hut, in the midst of one of the inland lakes of Erin, an old fisherman and his son.
3 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 4
The hut was built on stakes driven into the bed of the lake, and was so high above the waters that even when they were stirred into waves by the wind coming down from the mountains they did not reach the threshold of the door.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 5
Around, outside the hut, on a level with the floor, was a little wicker-work platform, and under the platform, close to the steps leading up to it from the water, the fisherman’s curragh, made of willows, covered with skins, was moored, and it was only by means of the curragh that he and his son, Enda, could leave their lake dwelling.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 6
On many a summer evening Enda lay stretched on the platform, watching the sunset fading from the mountain-tops, and the twilight creeping over the waters of the lake, and it chanced that once when he was so engaged he heard a rustle in a clump of sedge that grew close to one side of the hut.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 7
He turned to where the sound came from, and what should he see but an otter swimming towards him, with a little trout in his mouth.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 8
When the otter came up to where Enda was lying, he lifted his head and half his body from the water, and flung the trout on the platform, almost at Enda’s feet, and then disappeared.
3 Translations, 6 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 9
Enda took the little panting trout in his hand; but as he did so he heard, quite close to him, in the lake, a sound like that of water plashing upon water, and he saw the widening circles caused by a trout which had just risen to a fly; and he said to the little trout he held in his hand: “I won’t keep you, poor thing!
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 10
Perhaps that was a little comrade come to look for you, and so I’ll send you back to him.” And saying this, he dropped the little trout into the lake.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 11
Well, when the next evening came, again Enda was lying stretched outside the hut, and once more he heard the rustle in the sedge, and once more the otter came and flung the little trout almost into his hands.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 12
Enda, more surprised than ever, did not know what to do.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 13
He saw that it was the same little trout the otter had brought him the night before, and he said: “Well, I gave you a chance last night.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 14
I’ll give you another, if only to see what will come of it.” And he dropped the trout into the lake; but no sooner had it touched the waters than it was changed into a beautiful, milk-white swan.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 15
And Enda could hardly believe his eyes, as he saw it sailing across the lake, until it was lost in the sedges growing by the shore.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 16
All that night he lay awake, thinking of what he had seen, and as soon as the morning stood on the hill-tops, and cast its shafts of golden light across the lake, Enda rose and got into his curragh.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 17
He rowed all round the shores, beating the sedges with his oar, in pursuit of the swan; but all in vain; he could not catch a glimpse of her white plumage anywhere.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 18
Day after day he rowed about the lake in search of her, and every evening he lay outside the hut watching the waters.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 19
At long last, one night, when the full moon, rising above the mountains, flooded the whole lake with light, he saw the swan coming swiftly towards him, shining brighter than the moonbeams.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 20
The swan came on until it was almost within a boat’s length of the hut; and what should Enda hear but the swan speaking to him in his own language: “Get into your curragh, Enda, and follow me,” said she, and, saying this, she turned round and sailed away.
3 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 21
Enda jumped into the curragh, and soon the water, dripping from his oar, was flashing like diamonds in the moonlight.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 22
And he rowed after the swan, who glided on before him, until she came to where the shadows of the mountains lay deepest on the lake.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 23
Then the swan rested, and when Enda came up to her: “Enda,” said she, “I have brought you where none may hear what I wish to say to you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 24
I am Mave, the daughter of the king of Erin.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 25
By the magic arts of my cruel stepmother I was changed into a trout, and cast into this lake a year and a day before the evening when you restored me to the waters the second time.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 26
If you had not done so the first night the otter brought me to you I should have been changed into a hooting owl; if you had not done so the second night, I should have been changed into a croaking raven.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 27
But, thanks to you, Enda, I am now a snow-white swan, and for one hour on the first night of every full moon the power of speech is and will be given to me as long as I remain a swan.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 28
And a swan I must always remain, unless you are willing to break the spell of enchantment that is over me; and you alone can break it.” “I’ll do anything I can for you.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 29
O princess!” said Enda.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 30
“But how can I break the spell?” “You can do so,” said the swan, “only by pouring upon my plumage the perfumed water that fills the golden bowl that is in the inmost room of the palace of the fairy queen, beneath the lake.” “And how can I get that?” said Enda.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 31
“Well,” said the swan, “you must dive beneath the lake, and walk along its bed, until you come to where the lake dragon guards the entrance of the fairy queen’s dominions.” “I can dive like a fish,” said Enda; “but how can I walk beneath the waters?” “You can do it easily enough,” said the swan, “if you get the water-dress of Brian, one of the three sons of Turenn, and his helmet of transparent crystal, by the aid of which he was able to walk under the green salt sea.” “And where shall I find them?” “They are in the water-palace of Angus of the Boyne,” said the swan; “but you should set out at once, for if the spell be not broken before the moon is full again, it cannot be broken for a year and a day.” “I’ll set out in the first ray of the morning,” said Enda.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 32
“May luck and joy go with you,” said the swan.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 33
“And now the hours of silence are coming upon me, and I have only time to warn you that dangers you little dream of will lie before you in your quest for the golden cup.” “I am willing to face all dangers for your sake, O princess,” said Enda.
5 Translations, 6 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 34
“Blessings be upon you, Enda,” said the swan, and she sailed away from the shadow out into the light across the lake to the sedgy banks.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 35
And Enda saw her no more.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 36
He rowed his curragh home, and he lay on his bed without taking off his clothes.
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 37
And as the first faint glimmer of the morning came slanting down the mountains, he stepped into his curragh and pulled across the lake, and took the road towards the water-palace of Angus of the Boyne.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 38
When he reached the banks of the glancing river a little woman, dressed in red, was standing there before him.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 39
“You are welcome, Enda,” said she.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 40
“And glad am I to see the day that brings you here to help the winsome Princess Mave.
3 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 41
And now wait a second, and the water-dress and crystal helmet will be ready for you.” And, having said this, the little woman plucked a handful of wild grasses, and she breathed upon them three times and then flung them on the river, and a dozen fairy nymphs came springing up through the water, bearing the water-dress and crystal helmet and a shining spear.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 42
And they laid them down upon the bank at Enda’s feet, and then disappeared.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 43
“Now, Enda,” said the fairy woman, “take these; by the aid of the dress and the helmet you can walk beneath the waters.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 44
You will need the spear to enable you to meet the dangers that lie before you.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 45
But with that spear, if you only have courage, you can overcome everything and everyone that may attempt to bar your way.” Having said this, she bid good-bye to Enda, and stepping off the bank, she floated out upon the river as lightly as a red poppy leaf.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 46
And when she came to the middle of the stream she disappeared beneath the waters.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 47
Enda took the helmet, dress, and spear, and it was not long until he came to the sedgy banks where his little boat was waiting for him.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 48
As he stepped into the curragh the moon was rising above the mountains.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 49
He rowed on until he came to the hut, and having moored the boat to the door, he put on the water-dress and the crystal helmet, and taking the spear in his hand, he leaped over the side of the curragh, and sank down and down until he touched the bottom.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 50
Then he walked along without minding where he was going, and the only light he had was the shimmering moonlight, which descended as faintly through the waters as if it came through muffled glass.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 51
He had not gone very far when he heard a horrible hissing, and straight before him he saw what he thought were two flaming coals.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 52
After a few more steps he found himself face to face with the dragon of the lake, the guardian of the palace of the fairy queen.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 53
Before he had time to raise his spear, the dragon had wound its coils around him, and he heard its horrible teeth crunching against the side of his crystal helmet, and he felt the pressure of its coils around his side, and the breath almost left his body; but the dragon, unable to pierce the helmet, unwound his coils, and soon Enda’s hands were free, and before the dragon could attempt to seize him again, he drove his spear through one of its fiery eyes, and, writhing with pain, the hissing dragon darted through a cave behind him.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 54
Enda, gaining courage from the dragon’s flight, marched on until he came to a door of dull brass set in the rocks.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 55
He tried to push it in before him, but he might as well have tried to push away the rocks.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 56
While he was wondering what he should do, he heard again the fierce hissing of the dragon, and saw the red glare of his fiery eye dimly in the water.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 57
Lifting his spear and hastily turning round to meet the furious monster, Enda accidently touched the door with the point of the spear, and the door flew open.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 58
Enda passed through, and the door closed behind him with a grating sound, and he marched along through a rocky pass which led to a sandy plain.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 59
As he stepped from the pass into the plain the sands began to move, as if they were alive.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 60
In a second, a thousand hideous serpents, almost the colour of the sand, rose hissing up, and with their forked tongues made a horrible, poisonous hedge in front of him.
2 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 61
For a second he stood dismayed, but then, levelling his spear, he rushed against the hedge of serpents, and they, shooting poison at him, sank beneath the sand.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 62
But the poison did not harm him, because of his water-dress and crystal helmet.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 63
When he had passed over the sandy plain, he had to climb a great steep, jagged rock.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 64
When he got to the top of the rock he saw spread out before him a stony waste without a tuft or blade of grass.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 65
At some distance in front of him he noticed a large dark object, which he took to be a rock, but on looking at it more closely he saw that it was a huge, misshapen, swollen mass, apparently alive.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 66
And it was growing bigger and bigger every moment.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 67
Enda stood amazed at the sight, and before he knew where he was the loathsome creature rose from the ground, and sprang upon him before he could use his spear, and, catching him in its horrid grasp, flung him back over the rocks on to the sandy plain.
2 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 68
Enda was almost stunned, but the hissing of the serpents rising from the sand around him brought him to himself, and, jumping to his feet, once more he drove them down beneath the surface.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 69
He then approached the jagged rock, on the top of which he saw the filthy monster glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 70
Enda poised his spear and hurled it against his enemy.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 71
It entered between the monster’s eyes, and from the wound the blood flowed down like a black torrent and dyed the plain, and the shrunken carcase slipped down the front of the rocks and disappeared beneath the sand.
2 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 72
Enda once more ascended the rock, and without meeting or seeing anything he passed over the stony waste, and at last he came to a leafy wood.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 73
He had not gone far in the wood until he heard the sound of fairy music, and walking on he came upon a mossy glade, and there he found the fairies dancing around their queen.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 74
They were so small, and were all so brightly dressed, that they looked like a mass of waving flowers; but when he was seen by them they vanished like a glorious dream, and no one remained before him but the fairy queen.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 7 years, 5 months ago
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unit 75
The queen blushed at finding herself alone, but on stamping her little foot three times upon the ground, the frightened fairies all crept back again.
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unit 76
“You are welcome, Enda,” said the queen.
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unit 77
“My little subjects have been alarmed by your strange dress and crystal helmet.
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unit 78
I pray you take them off; you do not need them here.” Enda did as he was bidden, and he laid down his water-dress and helmet on the grass, and the little fairies, seeing him in his proper shape, got over their fright, and, unrestrained by the presence of the queen, they ran tumbling over one another to try and get a good look at the crystal helmet.
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unit 79
“I know what you have come for, Enda,” said the queen.
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unit 80
“The golden cup you shall have to-morrow; but to-night you must share our feast, so follow me to the palace.” Having said this, the queen beckoned her pages to her, and, attended by them and followed by Enda, she went on through the wood.
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unit 81
When they had left it behind them Enda saw on a green hill before him the snow-white palace of the fairy queen.
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unit 82
As the queen approached the steps that led up to the open door, a band of tiny fairies, dressed in rose-coloured silk, came out, carrying baskets of flowers, which they flung down on the steps to make a fragrant carpet for her.
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unit 83
They were followed by a band of harpers dressed in yellow silken robes, who ranged themselves on each side of the steps and played their sweetest music as the queen ascended.
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unit 84
When the queen, followed by Enda, entered the palace, they passed through a crystal hall that led to a banquet-room.
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unit 85
The room was lighted by a single star, large as a battle-shield.
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unit 86
It was fixed against the wall above a diamond throne.
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unit 87
The queen seated herself upon the throne, and the pages, advancing towards her, and bending low, as they approached the steps, handed her a golden wand.
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unit 88
The queen waved the wand three times, and a table laden with all kinds of delicacies appeared upon the floor.
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unit 89
Then she beckoned Enda to her, and when he stood beside her the fairy table was no higher than his knee.
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unit 90
“I am afraid I must make you smaller, Enda,” said the queen, “or you will never be able to seat yourself at my fairy table.” And having said this, she touched Enda with the golden wand, and at once he became as small as her tallest page.
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unit 91
Then she struck the steps of her throne, and all the nobles of her court, headed by her bards, took their places at the festive board.
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unit 92
The feast went on right merrily, and when the tiny jewelled drinking-cups were placed upon the table, the queen ordered the harpers to play.
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unit 93
And the little harpers struck the chords, and as Enda listened to the music it seemed to him as if he was being slowly lifted from his seat, and when the music ended the fairies vanished, the shining star went out, and Enda was in perfect darkness.
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unit 94
The air blew keenly in his face, and he knew not where he was.
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unit 95
At last he saw a faint grey light, and soon this light grew broader and brighter, and as the shadows fled before it, he could hardly believe his eyes when he found himself in his curragh on the lake, and the moonlight streaming down from the mountain-tops.
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unit 96
For a moment he thought he must have been dreaming; but there in the boat before him were the crystal helmet, and the water-dress, and the gleaming spear, and the golden bowl of perfumed water that was to remove the spell of enchantment from the white swan of the lake, and sailing towards him from the sedgy bank came the snow-white swan; and when she touched the boat, Enda put out his hands and lifted her in, and then over her plumage he poured the perfumed water from the golden bowl, and the Princess Mave in all her maiden beauty stood before him.
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unit 97
“Take your oar, Enda,” she said, “and row to the southern bank.” Enda seized his oar, and the curragh sped across the waters swifter than a swallow in its flight.
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unit 98
When the boat touched the shore Enda jumped out, and lifted the princess on to the bank.
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unit 99
“Send your boat adrift, Enda,” she said; “but first take out your shining spear; the water-dress and the crystal helmet will take care of themselves.” Enda took out the spear, and then pushed the boat from the bank.
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unit 100
It sped on towards the hut in the middle of the lake; but before it had reached halfway six nymphs sprang up from the water and seizing the helmet and dress, sank with them beneath the tide, and the boat went on until it pushed its prow against the steps of the little hut, where it remained.
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unit 101
Then Enda and the princess turned towards the south, and it was not long until they came to a deep forest, that was folding up its shadows and spreading out its mossy glades before the glancing footsteps of the morning.
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unit 102
They had not gone far through the forest when they heard the music of hounds and the cries of huntsmen, and crashing towards them through the low branches they saw a fierce wild boar.
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unit 103
Enda, gently pushing the princess behind him, levelled his spear, and when the boar came close to him he drove it into his throat.
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unit 104
The brute fell dead at his feet, and the dogs rushing up began to tear it to pieces.
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unit 105
The princess fainted at the sight, and while Enda was endeavouring to restore her, the king of Erin, followed by his huntsmen, appeared, and when the king saw the princess he started in amazement, as he recognised the features of his daughter Mave.
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unit 106
At that moment the princess came to herself, and her father, lifting her tenderly in his arms, kissed her again and again.
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unit 107
“I have mourned you as dead, my darling,” said he, “and now you are restored to me more lovely than ever.
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unit 108
I would gladly have given up my throne for this.
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unit 109
But say who is the champion who has brought you hither, and who has slain the wild boar we have hunted so many years in vain?” The princess blushed like a rose as she said: “His name is Enda, father; it is he has brought me back to you.” Then the king embraced Enda and said: “Forgive me, Enda, for asking any questions about you before you have shared the hospitality of my court.
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unit 110
My palace lies beyond the forest, and we shall reach it soon.” Then the king ordered his huntsman to sound the bugle-horn, and all his nobles galloped up in answer to it, and when they saw the Princess Mave they were so dazzled by her beauty that they scarcely gave a thought to the death of the wild boar.
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unit 111
“It is my daughter, Mave, come back to me,” said the king.
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unit 112
And all the nobles lowered their lances, and bowed in homage to the lady.
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unit 113
“And there stands the champion who has brought her home,” said the king, pointing to Enda.
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unit 114
The nobles looked at Enda, and bowed courteously, but in their hearts they were jealous of the champion, for they saw he was already a favourite of the king’s.
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unit 115
Then the pages came up, leading milk-white steeds with golden bridles, and the king, ordering Enda to mount one of them, lifted Mave on to his own, and mounted behind her.
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unit 116
The pages, carrying the boar’s head on a hollow shield, preceded by the huntsmen sounding their horns, set out towards the palace, and the royal party followed them.
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unit 117
As the procession approached the palace crowds came rushing out to see the trophies of the chase, and through the snow-white door the queen, Mave’s cruel stepmother, attended by her maids-of-honour and the royal bards, came forth to greet the king.
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unit 118
But when she saw seated before him the Princess Mave, who she thought was at the bottom of the lake under a spell of enchantment, she uttered a loud cry, and fell senseless to the ground.
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unit 119
The king jumped from his horse, and rushing to the queen, lifted her up and carried her in his arms to her apartments, for he had no suspicion of the wickedness of which she had been guilty.
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unit 120
And the court leeches were summoned to attend her, but she died that very night, and it was not until a green mound, worthy of a queen of Erin, had been raised over her grave that the Princess Mave told her father of the wickedness of her stepmother.
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unit 121
And when she told him the whole story of how Enda had broken the spell of enchantment, and of the dangers which he had faced for her sake, the king summoned an assembly of all his nobles, and seated on his throne, wearing his golden helmet, the bards upon his right hand and the Druids upon his left, and the nobles in ranks before him with gleaming helmets and flashing spears, he told them the story of the princess, and of the service which Enda had rendered to her.
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unit 122
“And now,” said the king, “if the princess is willing to take her deliverer for her husband, I am willing that she shall be his bride; and if you, my subjects, Bards and Druids and Nobles and Chiefs of Erin, have anything to say against this union, speak.
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unit 123
But first, Mave,” said the king, as he drew the blushing princess to him, “speak, darling, as becomes the daughter of a king––speak in the presence of the nobles of Erin, and say if it is your wish to become Enda’s bride.” The princess flung her white arms around her father’s neck, as she murmured: “Father, it was Enda brought me back to you, and before all the princes and nobles of Erin I am willing to be his bride.” And she buried her head upon the king’s breast, and as he stroked her silken hair falling to her feet, the bards struck their golden harps, but the sound of the joyous music could hardly drown the murmurs of the jealous nobles.
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unit 124
When the music ceased the king beckoned Enda to him, and was about to place his hand in Mave’s when a Druid, whose white beard almost touched the ground, and who had been a favourite of the dead stepmother, and hated Mave for her sake, stepped forward and said: “O King of Erin, never yet has the daughter of a king been freely given in marriage to any save a battle champion; and that stripling there has never struck his spear against a warrior’s shield.” A murmur of approbation rose from the jealous princes, and Congal, the bravest of them all, stepped out from the ranks, and said: “The Druid speaks the truth, O king!
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unit 125
That stripling has never faced a battle champion yet, and, speaking for all the nobles of your land, I challenge him to fight any one of us; and as he is young and unused to arms, we are willing that the youngest and least experienced amongst us should be set against him.” When Congal had spoken, the nobles, in approval of his words, struck their shields with their swords, and the brazen sound ascended to the skies.
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unit 126
The face of the princess, blushing a moment before like a rose, became as white as a lily; but the colour returned to her cheeks when she heard Enda’s voice ringing loud and clear.
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unit 127
“It is true, O king!” said he, “that I have never used my spear in battle yet.
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unit 128
The Prince Congal has challenged me to meet the youngest and least experienced of the chiefs of Erin.
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unit 129
I have risked my life already for your daughter’s sake.
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unit 130
I would face death a thousand times for the chance of winning her for my bride; but I would scorn to claim her hand if I dared not meet the boldest battle champion of the nobles of Erin, and here before you, O king, and bards, Druids, and nobles, and chiefs of Erin, and here, in the presence of the Lady Mave, I challenge the boldest of them all.” The king’s eyes flashed with joy as he listened to the brave words of Enda.
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unit 131
“It is well,” said the king; “the contest shall take place to-morrow on the lawn outside our palace gates; but before our assembly dissolves I call on you, nobles and chiefs of Erin, to name your boldest champion.” Loud cries of “Congal!
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unit 132
Congal!” answered the king’s speech.
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unit 133
“Are you willing, Congal?” asked the king.
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unit 134
“Willing, O king!” answered Congal.
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unit 135
“It is well,” said the king.
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unit 136
“We shall all meet again to-night in our banquet-hall.” And the king, with the Princess Mave on his arm, attended by his bards and Druids, entered the palace, and the chiefs and nobles went their several ways.
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unit 137
At the feast that night the princess sat beside the king, and Enda beside the princess, and the bards and Druids, nobles and chiefs, took their places in due order.
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unit 138
And the bards sang songs of love and battle, and never merrier hours were spent than those which passed away that night in the banquet-hall of Erin’s king.
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unit 139
When the feast was over Enda retired to his apartment to spend the night dreaming of the Princess Mave, and Congal went to his quarters; but not to sleep or dream, for the Druid who had provoked the contest came to him bringing his golden wand, and all night long the Druid was weaving spells to charm the shield and spear and helmet of Congal, to make them invulnerable in the battle of the morrow.
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unit 140
But while Enda lay dreaming of the Princess Mave, the little fairy woman who gave him the water-dress, and crystal helmet, and shining spear on the banks of the Boyne, slid into his room, and she placed beside his couch a silver helmet and a silver shield.
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unit 141
And she rubbed the helmet, and the shield, and the blue blade and haft of his spear with the juice of the red rowan berries, and she let a drop fall upon his face and hands, and then she slid out as silently as she came.
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unit 142
When the morning broke, Enda sprang from his couch, and he could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the silver shield and helmet.
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unit 143
At the sight of them he longed for the hour of battle, and he watched with eager gaze the sun climbing the sky; and, after hours of suspense, he heard the trumpet’s sound and the clangour of the hollow shields, struck by the hard-pointed spears.
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unit 144
Putting on the helmet, and fastening the shield upon his left arm, and taking the spear in his right hand, he stepped out bravely to the fight.
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unit 145
The edge of the lawn before the palace gates was ringed by the princes, nobles, and chiefs of Erin.
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unit 146
And the palace walls were thronged by all the beauties of the Court and all the noble ladies of the land.
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unit 147
And on his throne, surrounded by his Druids, his brehons, and his bards, was the king of Erin, and at his feet sat the lovely Lady Mave.
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unit 148
As Enda stepped out upon the lawn, he saw Congal advancing from the ranks of the nobles, and the two champions approached each other until they met right in front of the throne.
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unit 149
Then both turned towards the throne, and bowed to the king and the Princess Mave; and then facing each other again, they retired a space, and when their spears were poised, ready for battle, the king gave the signal, which was answered by the clang of stricken shields, and Congal and Enda launched their gleaming spears.
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unit 150
They flashed like lightning in the sunlit air, and in a second Congal’s had broken against Enda’s shield; but Enda’s, piercing Congal’s helmet, hurled him senseless on the plain.
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unit 151
The nobles and chiefs could hardly realize that in that single second their boldest champion was overthrown; but when they saw him stretched motionless on the grassy sward, from out their ranks six warriors advanced to where the chieftain lay, and sadly they bore him away upon their battle-shields, and Enda remained victor upon the field.
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unit 152
And then the king’s voice rang out clear as the sound of a trumpet in the still morning: “Bards and brehons, princes and nobles, and chiefs of Erin, Enda has proved himself a battle champion, and who amongst you now will dare gainsay his right to claim my daughter for his bride?” And no answer came.
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unit 153
But when he summoned Enda to his throne, and placed the lady’s hand in his, a cheer arose from the great assembly, that proved that jealousy was extinguished in all hearts, and that all believed that Enda was worthy of the winsome bride; and never since that day, although a thousand years have passed, was there in all the world a brighter and joyous wedding than the wedding of Enda and the Princess Mave.
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The House in the Lake.
An Irish folktale by Edmund Leamy.

A long, long time ago, there lived in a little hut, in the midst of one of the inland lakes of Erin, an old fisherman and his son. The hut was built on stakes driven into the bed of the lake, and was so high above the waters that even when they were stirred into waves by the wind coming down from the mountains they did not reach the threshold of the door. Around, outside the hut, on a level with the floor, was a little wicker-work platform, and under the platform, close to the steps leading up to it from the water, the fisherman’s curragh, made of willows, covered with skins, was moored, and it was only by means of the curragh that he and his son, Enda, could leave their lake dwelling.

On many a summer evening Enda lay stretched on the platform, watching the sunset fading from the mountain-tops, and the twilight creeping over the waters of the lake, and it chanced that once when he was so engaged he heard a rustle in a clump of sedge that grew close to one side of the hut. He turned to where the sound came from, and what should he see but an otter swimming towards him, with a little trout in his mouth. When the otter came up to where Enda was lying, he lifted his head and half his body from the water, and flung the trout on the platform, almost at Enda’s feet, and then disappeared.

Enda took the little panting trout in his hand; but as he did so he heard, quite close to him, in the lake, a sound like that of water plashing upon water, and he saw the widening circles caused by a trout which had just risen to a fly; and he said to the little trout he held in his hand:

“I won’t keep you, poor thing! Perhaps that was a little comrade come to look for you, and so I’ll send you back to him.”

And saying this, he dropped the little trout into the lake.

Well, when the next evening came, again Enda was lying stretched outside the hut, and once more he heard the rustle in the sedge, and once more the otter came and flung the little trout almost into his hands.

Enda, more surprised than ever, did not know what to do. He saw that it was the same little trout the otter had brought him the night before, and he said:

“Well, I gave you a chance last night. I’ll give you another, if only to see what will come of it.”

And he dropped the trout into the lake; but no sooner had it touched the waters than it was changed into a beautiful, milk-white swan. And Enda could hardly believe his eyes, as he saw it sailing across the lake, until it was lost in the sedges growing by the shore.

All that night he lay awake, thinking of what he had seen, and as soon as the morning stood on the hill-tops, and cast its shafts of golden light across the lake, Enda rose and got into his curragh.

He rowed all round the shores, beating the sedges with his oar, in pursuit of the swan; but all in vain; he could not catch a glimpse of her white plumage anywhere. Day after day he rowed about the lake in search of her, and every evening he lay outside the hut watching the waters. At long last, one night, when the full moon, rising above the mountains, flooded the whole lake with light, he saw the swan coming swiftly towards him, shining brighter than the moonbeams. The swan came on until it was almost within a boat’s length of the hut; and what should Enda hear but the swan speaking to him in his own language:

“Get into your curragh, Enda, and follow me,” said she, and, saying this, she turned round and sailed away.

Enda jumped into the curragh, and soon the water, dripping from his oar, was flashing like diamonds in the moonlight. And he rowed after the swan, who glided on before him, until she came to where the shadows of the mountains lay deepest on the lake. Then the swan rested, and when Enda came up to her:

“Enda,” said she, “I have brought you where none may hear what I wish to say to you. I am Mave, the daughter of the king of Erin. By the magic arts of my cruel stepmother I was changed into a trout, and cast into this lake a year and a day before the evening when you restored me to the waters the second time. If you had not done so the first night the otter brought me to you I should have been changed into a hooting owl; if you had not done so the second night, I should have been changed into a croaking raven. But, thanks to you, Enda, I am now a snow-white swan, and for one hour on the first night of every full moon the power of speech is and will be given to me as long as I remain a swan. And a swan I must always remain, unless you are willing to break the spell of enchantment that is over me; and you alone can break it.”

“I’ll do anything I can for you. O princess!” said Enda. “But how can I break the spell?”

“You can do so,” said the swan, “only by pouring upon my plumage the perfumed water that fills the golden bowl that is in the inmost room of the palace of the fairy queen, beneath the lake.”

“And how can I get that?” said Enda.

“Well,” said the swan, “you must dive beneath the lake, and walk along its bed, until you come to where the lake dragon guards the entrance of the fairy queen’s dominions.”

“I can dive like a fish,” said Enda; “but how can I walk beneath the waters?”

“You can do it easily enough,” said the swan, “if you get the water-dress of Brian, one of the three sons of Turenn, and his helmet of transparent crystal, by the aid of which he was able to walk under the green salt sea.”

“And where shall I find them?”

“They are in the water-palace of Angus of the Boyne,” said the swan; “but you should set out at once, for if the spell be not broken before the moon is full again, it cannot be broken for a year and a day.”

“I’ll set out in the first ray of the morning,” said Enda.

“May luck and joy go with you,” said the swan.

“And now the hours of silence are coming upon me, and I have only time to warn you that dangers you little dream of will lie before you in your quest for the golden cup.”

“I am willing to face all dangers for your sake, O princess,” said Enda.

“Blessings be upon you, Enda,” said the swan, and she sailed away from the shadow out into the light across the lake to the sedgy banks. And Enda saw her no more.

He rowed his curragh home, and he lay on his bed without taking off his clothes. And as the first faint glimmer of the morning came slanting down the mountains, he stepped into his curragh and pulled across the lake, and took the road towards the water-palace of Angus of the Boyne.

When he reached the banks of the glancing river a little woman, dressed in red, was standing there before him.

“You are welcome, Enda,” said she. “And glad am I to see the day that brings you here to help the winsome Princess Mave. And now wait a second, and the water-dress and crystal helmet will be ready for you.”

And, having said this, the little woman plucked a handful of wild grasses, and she breathed upon them three times and then flung them on the river, and a dozen fairy nymphs came springing up through the water, bearing the water-dress and crystal helmet and a shining spear. And they laid them down upon the bank at Enda’s feet, and then disappeared.

“Now, Enda,” said the fairy woman, “take these; by the aid of the dress and the helmet you can walk beneath the waters. You will need the spear to enable you to meet the dangers that lie before you. But with that spear, if you only have courage, you can overcome everything and everyone that may attempt to bar your way.”

Having said this, she bid good-bye to Enda, and stepping off the bank, she floated out upon the river as lightly as a red poppy leaf. And when she came to the middle of the stream she disappeared beneath the waters.

Enda took the helmet, dress, and spear, and it was not long until he came to the sedgy banks where his little boat was waiting for him. As he stepped into the curragh the moon was rising above the mountains. He rowed on until he came to the hut, and having moored the boat to the door, he put on the water-dress and the crystal helmet, and taking the spear in his hand, he leaped over the side of the curragh, and sank down and down until he touched the bottom. Then he walked along without minding where he was going, and the only light he had was the shimmering moonlight, which descended as faintly through the waters as if it came through muffled glass. He had not gone very far when he heard a horrible hissing, and straight before him he saw what he thought were two flaming coals.

After a few more steps he found himself face to face with the dragon of the lake, the guardian of the palace of the fairy queen. Before he had time to raise his spear, the dragon had wound its coils around him, and he heard its horrible teeth crunching against the side of his crystal helmet, and he felt the pressure of its coils around his side, and the breath almost left his body; but the dragon, unable to pierce the helmet, unwound his coils, and soon Enda’s hands were free, and before the dragon could attempt to seize him again, he drove his spear through one of its fiery eyes, and, writhing with pain, the hissing dragon darted through a cave behind him. Enda, gaining courage from the dragon’s flight, marched on until he came to a door of dull brass set in the rocks. He tried to push it in before him, but he might as well have tried to push away the rocks. While he was wondering what he should do, he heard again the fierce hissing of the dragon, and saw the red glare of his fiery eye dimly in the water.

Lifting his spear and hastily turning round to meet the furious monster, Enda accidently touched the door with the point of the spear, and the door flew open. Enda passed through, and the door closed behind him with a grating sound, and he marched along through a rocky pass which led to a sandy plain.

As he stepped from the pass into the plain the sands began to move, as if they were alive. In a second, a thousand hideous serpents, almost the colour of the sand, rose hissing up, and with their forked tongues made a horrible, poisonous hedge in front of him. For a second he stood dismayed, but then, levelling his spear, he rushed against the hedge of serpents, and they, shooting poison at him, sank beneath the sand. But the poison did not harm him, because of his water-dress and crystal helmet.

When he had passed over the sandy plain, he had to climb a great steep, jagged rock. When he got to the top of the rock he saw spread out before him a stony waste without a tuft or blade of grass. At some distance in front of him he noticed a large dark object, which he took to be a rock, but on looking at it more closely he saw that it was a huge, misshapen, swollen mass, apparently alive. And it was growing bigger and bigger every moment. Enda stood amazed at the sight, and before he knew where he was the loathsome creature rose from the ground, and sprang upon him before he could use his spear, and, catching him in its horrid grasp, flung him back over the rocks on to the sandy plain. Enda was almost stunned, but the hissing of the serpents rising from the sand around him brought him to himself, and, jumping to his feet, once more he drove them down beneath the surface.

He then approached the jagged rock, on the top of which he saw the filthy monster glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. Enda poised his spear and hurled it against his enemy. It entered between the monster’s eyes, and from the wound the blood flowed down like a black torrent and dyed the plain, and the shrunken carcase slipped down the front of the rocks and disappeared beneath the sand. Enda once more ascended the rock, and without meeting or seeing anything he passed over the stony waste, and at last he came to a leafy wood. He had not gone far in the wood until he heard the sound of fairy music, and walking on he came upon a mossy glade, and there he found the fairies dancing around their queen. They were so small, and were all so brightly dressed, that they looked like a mass of waving flowers; but when he was seen by them they vanished like a glorious dream, and no one remained before him but the fairy queen. The queen blushed at finding herself alone, but on stamping her little foot three times upon the ground, the frightened fairies all crept back again.

“You are welcome, Enda,” said the queen. “My little subjects have been alarmed by your strange dress and crystal helmet. I pray you take them off; you do not need them here.”

Enda did as he was bidden, and he laid down his water-dress and helmet on the grass, and the little fairies, seeing him in his proper shape, got over their fright, and, unrestrained by the presence of the queen, they ran tumbling over one another to try and get a good look at the crystal helmet.

“I know what you have come for, Enda,” said the queen. “The golden cup you shall have to-morrow; but to-night you must share our feast, so follow me to the palace.”

Having said this, the queen beckoned her pages to her, and, attended by them and followed by Enda, she went on through the wood. When they had left it behind them Enda saw on a green hill before him the snow-white palace of the fairy queen.

As the queen approached the steps that led up to the open door, a band of tiny fairies, dressed in rose-coloured silk, came out, carrying baskets of flowers, which they flung down on the steps to make a fragrant carpet for her. They were followed by a band of harpers dressed in yellow silken robes, who ranged themselves on each side of the steps and played their sweetest music as the queen ascended.

When the queen, followed by Enda, entered the palace, they passed through a crystal hall that led to a banquet-room. The room was lighted by a single star, large as a battle-shield. It was fixed against the wall above a diamond throne.

The queen seated herself upon the throne, and the pages, advancing towards her, and bending low, as they approached the steps, handed her a golden wand.

The queen waved the wand three times, and a table laden with all kinds of delicacies appeared upon the floor. Then she beckoned Enda to her, and when he stood beside her the fairy table was no higher than his knee.

“I am afraid I must make you smaller, Enda,” said the queen, “or you will never be able to seat yourself at my fairy table.”

And having said this, she touched Enda with the golden wand, and at once he became as small as her tallest page. Then she struck the steps of her throne, and all the nobles of her court, headed by her bards, took their places at the festive board.

The feast went on right merrily, and when the tiny jewelled drinking-cups were placed upon the table, the queen ordered the harpers to play.

And the little harpers struck the chords, and as Enda listened to the music it seemed to him as if he was being slowly lifted from his seat, and when the music ended the fairies vanished, the shining star went out, and Enda was in perfect darkness.

The air blew keenly in his face, and he knew not where he was. At last he saw a faint grey light, and soon this light grew broader and brighter, and as the shadows fled before it, he could hardly believe his eyes when he found himself in his curragh on the lake, and the moonlight streaming down from the mountain-tops.

For a moment he thought he must have been dreaming; but there in the boat before him were the crystal helmet, and the water-dress, and the gleaming spear, and the golden bowl of perfumed water that was to remove the spell of enchantment from the white swan of the lake, and sailing towards him from the sedgy bank came the snow-white swan; and when she touched the boat, Enda put out his hands and lifted her in, and then over her plumage he poured the perfumed water from the golden bowl, and the Princess Mave in all her maiden beauty stood before him.

“Take your oar, Enda,” she said, “and row to the southern bank.”

Enda seized his oar, and the curragh sped across the waters swifter than a swallow in its flight. When the boat touched the shore Enda jumped out, and lifted the princess on to the bank.

“Send your boat adrift, Enda,” she said; “but first take out your shining spear; the water-dress and the crystal helmet will take care of themselves.”

Enda took out the spear, and then pushed the boat from the bank. It sped on towards the hut in the middle of the lake; but before it had reached halfway six nymphs sprang up from the water and seizing the helmet and dress, sank with them beneath the tide, and the boat went on until it pushed its prow against the steps of the little hut, where it remained.

Then Enda and the princess turned towards the south, and it was not long until they came to a deep forest, that was folding up its shadows and spreading out its mossy glades before the glancing footsteps of the morning. They had not gone far through the forest when they heard the music of hounds and the cries of huntsmen, and crashing towards them through the low branches they saw a fierce wild boar. Enda, gently pushing the princess behind him, levelled his spear, and when the boar came close to him he drove it into his throat. The brute fell dead at his feet, and the dogs rushing up began to tear it to pieces. The princess fainted at the sight, and while Enda was endeavouring to restore her, the king of Erin, followed by his huntsmen, appeared, and when the king saw the princess he started in amazement, as he recognised the features of his daughter Mave.

At that moment the princess came to herself, and her father, lifting her tenderly in his arms, kissed her again and again.

“I have mourned you as dead, my darling,” said he, “and now you are restored to me more lovely than ever. I would gladly have given up my throne for this. But say who is the champion who has brought you hither, and who has slain the wild boar we have hunted so many years in vain?”

The princess blushed like a rose as she said:
“His name is Enda, father; it is he has brought me back to you.”

Then the king embraced Enda and said:
“Forgive me, Enda, for asking any questions about you before you have shared the hospitality of my court. My palace lies beyond the forest, and we shall reach it soon.”

Then the king ordered his huntsman to sound the bugle-horn, and all his nobles galloped up in answer to it, and when they saw the Princess Mave they were so dazzled by her beauty that they scarcely gave a thought to the death of the wild boar.

“It is my daughter, Mave, come back to me,” said the king.

And all the nobles lowered their lances, and bowed in homage to the lady.
“And there stands the champion who has brought her home,” said the king, pointing to Enda.

The nobles looked at Enda, and bowed courteously, but in their hearts they were jealous of the champion, for they saw he was already a favourite of the king’s.

Then the pages came up, leading milk-white steeds with golden bridles, and the king, ordering Enda to mount one of them, lifted Mave on to his own, and mounted behind her. The pages, carrying the boar’s head on a hollow shield, preceded by the huntsmen sounding their horns, set out towards the palace, and the royal party followed them.

As the procession approached the palace crowds came rushing out to see the trophies of the chase, and through the snow-white door the queen, Mave’s cruel stepmother, attended by her maids-of-honour and the royal bards, came forth to greet the king. But when she saw seated before him the Princess Mave, who she thought was at the bottom of the lake under a spell of enchantment, she uttered a loud cry, and fell senseless to the ground.

The king jumped from his horse, and rushing to the queen, lifted her up and carried her in his arms to her apartments, for he had no suspicion of the wickedness of which she had been guilty.

And the court leeches were summoned to attend her, but she died that very night, and it was not until a green mound, worthy of a queen of Erin, had been raised over her grave that the Princess Mave told her father of the wickedness of her stepmother. And when she told him the whole story of how Enda had broken the spell of enchantment, and of the dangers which he had faced for her sake, the king summoned an assembly of all his nobles, and seated on his throne, wearing his golden helmet, the bards upon his right hand and the Druids upon his left, and the nobles in ranks before him with gleaming helmets and flashing spears, he told them the story of the princess, and of the service which Enda had rendered to her.

“And now,” said the king, “if the princess is willing to take her deliverer for her husband, I am willing that she shall be his bride; and if you, my subjects, Bards and Druids and Nobles and Chiefs of Erin, have anything to say against this union, speak. But first, Mave,” said the king, as he drew the blushing princess to him, “speak, darling, as becomes the daughter of a king––speak in the presence of the nobles of Erin, and say if it is your wish to become Enda’s bride.”

The princess flung her white arms around her father’s neck, as she murmured:
“Father, it was Enda brought me back to you, and before all the princes and nobles of Erin I am willing to be his bride.”

And she buried her head upon the king’s breast, and as he stroked her silken hair falling to her feet, the bards struck their golden harps, but the sound of the joyous music could hardly drown the murmurs of the jealous nobles.

When the music ceased the king beckoned Enda to him, and was about to place his hand in Mave’s when a Druid, whose white beard almost touched the ground, and who had been a favourite of the dead stepmother, and hated Mave for her sake, stepped forward and said:

“O King of Erin, never yet has the daughter of a king been freely given in marriage to any save a battle champion; and that stripling there has never struck his spear against a warrior’s shield.”

A murmur of approbation rose from the jealous princes, and Congal, the bravest of them all, stepped out from the ranks, and said:

“The Druid speaks the truth, O king! That stripling has never faced a battle champion yet, and, speaking for all the nobles of your land, I challenge him to fight any one of us; and as he is young and unused to arms, we are willing that the youngest and least experienced amongst us should be set against him.”

When Congal had spoken, the nobles, in approval of his words, struck their shields with their swords, and the brazen sound ascended to the skies.
The face of the princess, blushing a moment before like a rose, became as white as a lily; but the colour returned to her cheeks when she heard Enda’s voice ringing loud and clear.

“It is true, O king!” said he, “that I have never used my spear in battle yet. The Prince Congal has challenged me to meet the youngest and least experienced of the chiefs of Erin. I have risked my life already for your daughter’s sake. I would face death a thousand times for the chance of winning her for my bride; but I would scorn to claim her hand if I dared not meet the boldest battle champion of the nobles of Erin, and here before you, O king, and bards, Druids, and nobles, and chiefs of Erin, and here, in the presence of the Lady Mave, I challenge the boldest of them all.”

The king’s eyes flashed with joy as he listened to the brave words of Enda.

“It is well,” said the king; “the contest shall take place to-morrow on the lawn outside our palace gates; but before our assembly dissolves I call on you, nobles and chiefs of Erin, to name your boldest champion.”

Loud cries of “Congal! Congal!” answered the king’s speech.

“Are you willing, Congal?” asked the king.

“Willing, O king!” answered Congal.

“It is well,” said the king. “We shall all meet again to-night in our banquet-hall.”

And the king, with the Princess Mave on his arm, attended by his bards and Druids, entered the palace, and the chiefs and nobles went their several ways.

At the feast that night the princess sat beside the king, and Enda beside the princess, and the bards and Druids, nobles and chiefs, took their places in due order. And the bards sang songs of love and battle, and never merrier hours were spent than those which passed away that night in the banquet-hall of Erin’s king.

When the feast was over Enda retired to his apartment to spend the night dreaming of the Princess Mave, and Congal went to his quarters; but not to sleep or dream, for the Druid who had provoked the contest came to him bringing his golden wand, and all night long the Druid was weaving spells to charm the shield and spear and helmet of Congal, to make them invulnerable in the battle of the morrow.

But while Enda lay dreaming of the Princess Mave, the little fairy woman who gave him the water-dress, and crystal helmet, and shining spear on the banks of the Boyne, slid into his room, and she placed beside his couch a silver helmet and a silver shield. And she rubbed the helmet, and the shield, and the blue blade and haft of his spear with the juice of the red rowan berries, and she let a drop fall upon his face and hands, and then she slid out as silently as she came.

When the morning broke, Enda sprang from his couch, and he could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the silver shield and helmet. At the sight of them he longed for the hour of battle, and he watched with eager gaze the sun climbing the sky; and, after hours of suspense, he heard the trumpet’s sound and the clangour of the hollow shields, struck by the hard-pointed spears.

Putting on the helmet, and fastening the shield upon his left arm, and taking the spear in his right hand, he stepped out bravely to the fight. The edge of the lawn before the palace gates was ringed by the princes, nobles, and chiefs of Erin. And the palace walls were thronged by all the beauties of the Court and all the noble ladies of the land. And on his throne, surrounded by his Druids, his brehons, and his bards, was the king of Erin, and at his feet sat the lovely Lady Mave.

As Enda stepped out upon the lawn, he saw Congal advancing from the ranks of the nobles, and the two champions approached each other until they met right in front of the throne.

Then both turned towards the throne, and bowed to the king and the Princess Mave; and then facing each other again, they retired a space, and when their spears were poised, ready for battle, the king gave the signal, which was answered by the clang of stricken shields, and Congal and Enda launched their gleaming spears. They flashed like lightning in the sunlit air, and in a second Congal’s had broken against Enda’s shield; but Enda’s, piercing Congal’s helmet, hurled him senseless on the plain.

The nobles and chiefs could hardly realize that in that single second their boldest champion was overthrown; but when they saw him stretched motionless on the grassy sward, from out their ranks six warriors advanced to where the chieftain lay, and sadly they bore him away upon their battle-shields, and Enda remained victor upon the field.

And then the king’s voice rang out clear as the sound of a trumpet in the still morning:

“Bards and brehons, princes and nobles, and chiefs of Erin, Enda has proved himself a battle champion, and who amongst you now will dare gainsay his right to claim my daughter for his bride?”

And no answer came.

But when he summoned Enda to his throne, and placed the lady’s hand in his, a cheer arose from the great assembly, that proved that jealousy was extinguished in all hearts, and that all believed that Enda was worthy of the winsome bride; and never since that day, although a thousand years have passed, was there in all the world a brighter and joyous wedding than the wedding of Enda and the Princess Mave.