Ah lady! said Ailill, “easily could the cure of my sickness be wrought by the aid of thee, and great gain should there come from the deed, but thus it is with me until that be accomplished: 

Long ago did my passion begin,
A full year it exceeds in its length;
And it holds me, more near than my skin,
And it rules over wrath in its strength.

And the earth into four it can shake,
Can reach up to the heights of the sky
And a neck with its might it can break,
Nor from fight with a spectre would fly.

In vain race up to heaven ’tis urged;
It is chilled, as with water, and drowned: 
’Tis a weapon, in ocean submerged;
’Tis desire for an echo, a sound.

’Tis thus my love, my passion seem; ’tis thus I strive in vain To win the heart of her whose love I long so much to gain.

[FN#9] Pronounced Yeo-ho Fayllya, see note, p. 166.

And the lady stood there in that place, and she looked upon Ailill, and the sickness in which he lay was perceived by her; and she was grieved on account of it:  so that upon a certain day came the lady to Ailill, and “Young man,” she said, “arouse thyself quickly, for in very truth thou shalt have all that thou desirest; and thereon did she make this lay: 

Now arouse thyself, Ailill the royal: 
Let thy heart, and thy courage rise high;
Every longing thou hast shall be sated,
For before thee, to heal thee, am I.

Is my neck and its beauty so pleasing? 
’Tis around it thine arms thou shalt place;
And ’tis known as a courtship’s beginning
When a man and a woman embrace.

And if this cometh not to content thee,
O thou man, that art son to a king! 
I will dare to do crime for thy healing,
And my body to please thee will bring.

There were steeds, with their bridles, one hundred,
When the price for my wedding was told;
And one hundred of gay-coloured garments,
And of cattle, and ounces of gold.

Of each beast that men know, came one hundred;
And king Eocho to grant them was swift: 
When a king gave such dowry to gain me,
Is’t not wondrous to win me, as gift?

Now each day the lady came to Ailill to tend him, and to divide for him the portion of food that was allotted to him; and she wrought a great healing upon him:  for it grieved her that he should perish for her sake.  And one day the lady spoke to Ailill:  “Come thou to-morrow,” said she, “to tryst with me at the break of day, in the house which lieth outside, and is beyond the fort, and there shalt thou have granted thy request and thy desire.”  On that night Ailill lay without sleep until the coming of the morning; and when the time had come that was appointed for his tryst, his sleep lay heavily upon him; so that till the hour of his rising he lay deep in his sleep.  And Etain went to the tryst, nor had she long to wait ere she saw a man coming towards her in the likeness of Ailill,