And when they
heard that Music of Mirth, the young
warriors of the Fomorians began to laugh;
they laughed till the cups fell from their
grasp, and the spears dropped from their
hands, while the wine flowed from the
broken bowls; they laughed until their
limbs were helpless with excess of glee.
Once more the Dagda touched his harp,
but very, very softly. And now a music
stole forth as soft as dreams, and as sweet
as joy: it was the magic Music of Sleep.
When they heard that, gently, gently, the
Fomorian women bowed their heads in
slumber; the little children crept to their
mothers' laps; the old men nodded; and
the young warriors drooped in their seats
and closed their eyes: one after another
all the Fomorians sank into sleep.
When they were all deep in slumber,
the Dagda took his magic harp, and he and
his golden-haired warriors stole softly
away, and came in safety to their own
homes again.
THE TAILOR AND THE THREE BEASTS[1]
[1] From Beside the Fire, Douglas Hyde (David Nutt, London).
There was once a tailor in Galway, and
he started out on a journey to go to the
king's court at Dublin.
He had not gone far till he met a white
horse, and he saluted him.
"God save you," said the tailor.
"God save you," said the horse. "Where
are you going?"
"I am going to Dublin," said the tailor,
"to build a court for the king and to get a
lady for a wife, if I am able to do it.
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