The Irish Fairy Book Part 28

When the King's daughter came home she said that she would never marry a man but the man whom that shoe would fit.

There were sons of kings, and great people among them, and they saying that it was themselves who killed the dragon; but she said it was not they, unless the shoe would fit them. Some of them were cutting the toes off their feet, and some of them taking off a piece of the heel, and more of them cutting the big toe off themselves, trying would the shoe fit them. There was no good for them in it. The King's daughter said that she would not marry one man of them.

She sent out soldiers, then, and the shoe with them, to try would it fit anyone at all. Every person, poor and rich, no matter where he was from, must try the shoe on him.

The lad was stretched out lying on the gra.s.s when the soldiers came, and when they saw him they said to him, "Show your foot."

"Oh, don't be humbugging me," says he.

"We have orders," said they, "and we cannot return without trying the shoe on everyone, poor and rich, so stretch out your foot." He did that, and the shoe went in on his foot on the moment.

They said to him that he must come with them.

"Oh, listen to me" (i.e., give me time), said he, "till I dress myself."

He went to the caher of the giants, and he got a fine new suit on him, and he went with them then.

That's where the welcome was for him, and he as dressed up as e'er a man of them. They had a wedding for three days and three nights.

They got the pond and I the lakelet. They were drowned, and I came through. And as I have it (i.e., the story) to-night, that ye may not have it to-morrow night, or if ye have it itself, that ye may only lose the back teeth by it!

DOUGLAS HYDE.

The Demon Cat

There was a woman in Connemara, the wife of a fisherman; as he had always good luck, she had plenty of fish at all times stored away in the house ready for market. But, to her great annoyance, she found that a great cat used to come in at night and devour all the best and finest fish. So she kept a big stick by her, and determined to watch.

One day, as she and a woman were spinning together, the house suddenly became quite dark; and the door was burst open as if by the blast of the tempest, when in walked a huge black cat, who went straight up to the fire, then turned round and growled at them.

"Why, surely this is the devil," said a young girl who was by, sorting fish.

"I'll teach you to call me names," said the cat; and, jumping at her, he scratched her arm till the blood came. "There, now," he said, "you will be more civil another time when a gentleman comes to see you." And, with that, he walked over to the door, and shut it close to prevent any of them going out, for the poor young girl, while crying loudly from fright and pain, had made a desperate rush to get away.

Just then a man was going by, and, hearing the cries, he pushed open the door, and tried to get in; but the cat stood on the threshold and would let no one pa.s.s. On this the man attacked him with a stick, and gave him a sound blow; the cat, however, was more than a match in the fight, for it flew at him, and tore his face and hands so badly that the man at last took to his heels, and ran away as fast as he could.

"Now, it's time for my dinner," said the cat, going up to examine the fish that was laid out on the tables. "I hope the fish is good to-day.

Now, don't disturb me, or make a fuss; I can help myself." With that, he jumped up, and began to devour all the best fish, while he growled at the woman.

"Away out of this, you wicked beast!" she cried, giving it a blow with the tongs that would have broken its back, only it was a devil; "out of this; no fish shall you have to-day!"

But the cat only grinned at her, and went on tearing and despoiling and devouring the fish, evidently not a bit the worse for the blows. On this both the women attacked it with sticks, and struck hard blows enough to kill it, on which the cat glared at them and spit fire; then, making a leap, it tore their heads and arms till the blood came, and the frightened women rushed shrieking from the house.

But presently the mistress of the house returned, carrying with her a bottle of holy water; and, looking in, she saw the cat still devouring the fish, and not minding. So she crept over quietly, and threw holy water on it without a word. No sooner was this done than a dense, black smoke filled the place, through which nothing was seen but the two red eyes of the cat burning like coals of fire. Then the smoke gradually cleared away, and she saw the body of the creature burning slowly, till it became shrivelled and black like a cinder, and finally disappeared.

And from that time the fish remained untouched and safe from harm, for the power of the Evil One was broken, and the Demon Cat was seen no more.

LADY WILDE.

The Abbot of Inisfalen

(_A Legend of Killarney._)

I.

The Abbot of Inisfalen awoke ere dawn of day; Under the dewy green leaves went he forth to pray, The lake around his island lay smooth and dark and deep, And wrapt in a misty stillness the mountains were all asleep.

Low kneel'd the Abbot Cormac when the dawn was dim and gray; The prayers of his holy office he faithfully 'gan to say.

Low kneel'd the Abbot Cormac while the dawn was waxing red; And for his sins' forgiveness a solemn prayer he said; Low kneel'd that holy Abbot while the dawn was waxing clear; And he pray'd with loving-kindness for his convent-brethren dear.

Low kneel'd that blessed Abbot while the dawn was waxing bright; He pray'd a great prayer for Ireland, he pray'd with all his might.

Low kneel'd that good old Father while the sun began to dart; He pray'd a prayer for all men, he pray'd it from his heart.

His blissful soul was in Heaven, tho' a breathing man was he; He was out of Time's dominion, so far as the living may be.

II.

The Abbot of Inisfalen arose upon his feet; He heard a small bird singing, and O but it sung sweet!

It sung upon a holly-bush, this little snow-white bird; A song so full of gladness he never before had heard.

It sung upon a hazel, it sung upon a thorn; He had never heard such music since the hour that he was born.

It sung upon a sycamore, it sung upon a briar; To follow the song and hearken this Abbot could never tire.

Till at last he well bethought him; he might no longer stay; So he blessed the little white singing-bird, and gladly went his way.

III.

But, when he came to his Abbey, he found a wondrous change; He saw no friendly faces there, for every face was strange.

The strange men spoke unto him; and he heard from all and each The foreign tongue of the Sa.s.senach, not wholesome Irish speech.

Then the oldest monk came forward, in Irish tongue spake he: "Thou wearest the holy Augustine's dress, and who hath given it to thee?"

"I wear the holy Augustine's dress, and Cormac is my name, The Abbot of this good Abbey by grace of G.o.d I am.

I went forth to pray, at the dawn of day; and when my prayers were said, I hearken'd awhile to a little bird that sung above my head."

The monks to him made answer, "Two hundred years have gone o'er, Since our Abbot Cormac went through the gate, and never was heard of more.

Matthias now is our Abbot, and twenty have pa.s.s'd away.

The stranger is lord of Ireland; we live in an evil day."

"Days will come and go," he said, "and the world will pa.s.s away, In Heaven a day is a thousand years, a thousand years are a day."

IV.

"Now, give me absolution; for my time is come," said he.

And they gave him absolution as speedily as might be.

Then, close outside the window, the sweetest song they heard That ever yet since the world began was utter'd by any bird.

The monks look'd out and saw the bird, its feathers all white and clean; And there in a moment, beside it, another white bird was seen.

Those two they sang together, waved their white wings, and fled; Flew aloft, and vanished; but the good old man was dead.