VIII

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CORMAC

In the chronicle of the Kings of Ireland that was written by Tierna the Historian in the eleventh century after Christ’s coming, there is noted down in the annals of the year 248, “Disappearance of Cormac, grandson of Conn, for seven months.”  That which happened to Cormac during these seven months is told in one of the bardic stories of Ireland, being the Story of Cormac’s Journey to Fairyland, and this was the manner of it.

One day Cormac, son of Art, was looking over the ramparts of his royal Dun of Tara, when he saw a young man, glorious to look on in his person and his apparel, coming towards him across the plain of Bregia.  The young man bore in his hand, as it were, a branch, from which hung nine golden bells formed like apples.  When he shook the branch the nine apples beat against each other and made music so sweet that there was no pain or sorrow in the world that a man would not forget while he hearkened to it.

“Does this branch belong to thee?” asked Cormac of the youth.

“Truly it does,” replied the youth.

“Wilt thou sell it to me?” said Cormac.

“I never had aught that I would not sell for a price,” said the young man.

“What is thy price?” asked Cormac.

“The price shall be what I will,” said the young man.

“I will give thee whatever thou desirest of all that is mine,” said Cormac, for he coveted the branch exceedingly, and the enchantment was heavy upon him.

So the youth gave him the bell-branch, and then said, “My price is thy wife and thy son and thy daughter.”

Then they went together into the palace and found there Cormac’s wife and his children.  “That is a wonderful jewel thou hast in thy hand, Cormac,” said Ethne.

“It is,” said Cormac, “and great is the price I have paid for it.”

“What is that price?” said Ethne.

“Even thou and thy children twain,” said the King.

“Never hast thou done such a thing,” cried Ethne, “as to prefer any treasure in the world before us three!” And they all three lamented and implored, but Cormac shook the branch and immediately their sorrow was forgotten, and they went away willingly with the young man across the plain of Bregia until a mist hid them from the eyes of Cormac.  And when the people murmured and complained against Cormac, for Ethne and her children were much beloved of them, Cormac shook the bell-branch and their grief was turned into joy.