And he well knew its meaning;
And, “Lift me, my folk,”
He cried, “surely that keening
From Boand’s women broke: 
My mother, the Fairy, is nigh.”

Then they raised him, and bore him
Where wild rose the sound;
To his kin they restored him;
His women pressed round: 

And he passed from their sight out of Croghan;
For that night from earth was he freed,
And he dwelt with his kin, the Sid-Dwellers
In the caverns of Croghan’s deep Sid.[FN#11]

[FN#11] Pronounced Sheed; Sid is the fairy mound.

All at nine, next morrow,
Gazed, for back he came,
Round their darling pressing
Many a fairy dame: 

Brave he seemed, for healing
All his wounds had got;
None could find a blemish,
None a sear or spot.

Fifty fairies round him,
Like in age and grace;
Like each form and bearing;
Like each lovely face.

All in fairy garments,
All alike were dressed;
None was found unequal;
None surpassed the rest.

And the men who stood round, as they neared them,
Were struck with a marvellous awe;
They were moved at the sight, and they feared them,
And hardly their breath they could draw.

At the Liss all the fairies departed,
But on Fraech, as they vanished, they cried: 
And the sound floated in of their wailing,
And it thrilled through the men, and they sighed.

Then first that mournful measure,
“The Ban-Shee[FN#12] Wail,” was heard;
All hearts with grief and pleasure
That air, when harped, hath stirred.

[FN#12] Spelt “Ban Side,” the fairy women.

To the dun came Fraech, and the hosts arose, and welcome by all was shown:  For it seemed as if then was his birth among men, from a world to the earth unknown!  Up rose for him Maev and King Ailill, their fault they confessed, and for grace they prayed, And a penance they did, and for all that assault they were pardoned, and peace was made.  And now free from all dread, they the banquet spread, the banqueting straight began:  But a thought came to Fraech, and from out of his folk he called to his side a man.

“Now hie thee,” he said, “to the river bank, a salmon thou there shalt find; For nigh to the spot where in stream I sank, it was hurled, and ’twas left behind; To Finnabar take it, and bid her from me that the salmon with skill she broil:  In the midst of the fish is the ring:  and none but herself at the task must toil; And to-night, as I think, for her ring they call “:  then he turned to the feast again, And the wine was drunk, and the revellers sunk, for the fumes of it seized their brain, And music and much of delights they had; but the king had his plans laid deep, “Bring ye all of my jewels,” he cried-on the board they were poured in a dazzling heap.  “They are wonderful, wonderful!” cried they all:  “Call Finnabar!” said the king; And his daughter obeyed, and her fifty maids stood round in a lovely ring.  My daughter,” said Ailill, “a ring last year I gave thee, is’t here with thee yet?  Bring it hither to show to the chiefs, and anon in thy hand shall the gem be set.”  “That jewel is lost,” said the maid, “nor aught of the fate of the ring I know!” Then find it,” said Ailill, “the ring must be brought, or thy soul from thy limbs must go!”