at once by reason of the report of thee that I had heard; it is thou, I know, to whom we have attained.”  “It is no evil-minded lover who now inviteth thee,” says Eochaid.  “Thou shalt be welcomed by me, and I will leave all women for thy sake, and thine alone will I be so long as it is pleasing to thee.”  “Let the bride-price that befits me be paid,” said the maiden, “and after that let my desire be fulfilled.”  “It shall be as thou hast said,” the king answered her; and he gave the value of seven cumals to be her brideprice; and after that he brought her to Tara, whereon a fair and hearty welcome was made to her.

Now there were three brothers of the one blood, all sons of Finn, namely, Eochaid Airem, and Eochaid, and Ailill Anglonnach, or Ailill of the Single Stain, because the only stain that was upon him was the love that he had for his brother’s wife.  And at that time came all the men of Ireland to hold the festival of Tara; they were there for fourteen days before Samhain, the day when the summer endeth, and for fourteen days after that day.  It was at the feast of Tara that love for Etain the daughter of Etar came upon Ailill Anglonnach; and ever so long as they were at the Tara Feast, so long he gazed upon the maid.  And it was there that the wife of Ailill spoke to him; she who was the daughter of Luchta of the Red Hand, who came from the province of Leinster:  “Ailill,” said she, “why dost thou gaze at her from afar? for long gazing is a token of love.”  And Ailill gave blame to himself for this thing, and after that he looked not upon the maid.

Now it followed that after that the Feast of Tara had been consumed, the men of Ireland parted from one another, and then it was that Ailill became filled with the pangs of envy and of desire; and he brought upon himself the choking misery of a sore sickness, and was borne to the stronghold of Fremain in Tethba after that he had fallen into that woe.  There also, until a whole year had ended, sickness long brooded over Ailill, and for long was he in distress, yet he allowed none to know of his sickness.  And there Eochaid came to learn of his brother’s state, and he came near to his brother, and laid his hand upon his chest; and Ailill heaved a sigh.  “Why,” said Eochaid, “surely this sickness of thine is not such as to cause thee to lament; how fares it with thee?” “By my word,” said Ailill, “’tis no easier that I grow; but it is worse each day, and each night.”  “Why, what ails thee?” said Eochaid, “By my word of truth,” said Ailill, “I know not.”  “Bring one of my folk hither,” said Eochaid, “one who can find out the cause of this illness.”

Then Fachtna, the chief physician of Eochaid, was summoned to give aid to Ailill, and he laid his hand upon his chest, and Ailill heaved a sigh.  “Ah,” said Fachtna, “there is no need for lament in this matter, for I know the cause of thy sickness; one or other of these two evils oppresseth thee, the pangs of envy, or the pangs of love:  nor hast thou been aided to escape from them until now.”  And Ailill was full of shame, and he refused to confess to Fachtna the cause of his illness, and the physician left him.