Then Cormac put on the second quarter, and the woman took up her tale.  “I have seven white cows,” she said, “and seven pails are filled with the milk of them each day.  Though all the folk in the world were gathered together to drink of this milk, there would be enough and to spare for all.”  As soon as she had said that, they saw that the second quarter of the pig was roasted.

Then Cormac said:  “I know you now, who you are; for it is Mananan that owns the seven swine of Faery, and it is out of the Land of Promise that he fetched Fand his wife and her seven cows.”  Then immediately the third quarter of the pig was done.

“Tell us now,” said Mananan, “who thou art and why thou art come hither.”

Cormac then told his story, of the branch with its nine golden apples and how he had bartered for it his wife and his children, and he was now-seeking them through the world.  And when he had made an end, the last quarter of the pig was done.

“Come, let us set to the feast,” then said Mananan; but Cormac said, “Never have I sat down to meat in a company of two only.”  “Nay,” said Mananan, “but there are more to come.”  With that he opened a door in the hall and in it appeared Queen Ethne and her two children.  And when they had embraced and rejoiced in each other Mananan said, “It was I who took them from thee, Cormac, and who gave thee the bell-branch, for I wished to bring thee hither to be my guest for the sake of thy nobleness and thy wisdom.”

Then they all sat down to table and feasted and made merry, and when they had satisfied themselves with meat and drink, Mananan showed the wonders of his household to King Cormac.  And he took up a golden cup which stood on the table, and said:  “This cup hath a magical property, for if a lie be spoken over it, it will immediately break in pieces, and if a truth be spoken it will be made whole again.”  “Prove this to me,” said Cormac.  “That is easily done,” said Mananan.  “Thy wife hath had a new husband since I carried her off from thee.”  Straightway the cup fell apart into four pieces.  “My husband has lied to thee, Cormac,” said Fand, and immediately the cup became whole again.

Cormac then began to question Mananan as to the things he had seen on his way thither, and he told him of the house that was being thatched with the wings of birds, and of the men that kept returning ever and again to their work as the wind destroyed it.  And Mananan said, “These, O Cormac, are the men of art, who seek to gather together much money and gear of all kinds by the exercise of their craft, but as fast as they get it, so they spend it, or faster and the result is that they will never be rich.”  But when he had said this it is related that the golden cup broke into pieces where it stood.  Then Cormac said, “The explanation thou hast given of this mystery is not true.”  Mananan smiled, and said, “Nevertheless it must suffice thee, O King, for the truth of this matter may not be known, lest the men of art give over the roofing of the house and it be covered with common thatch.”