Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

Witchcraft, Sorcery, Ghosts, and Fetches. 175
was already provided with a sighe-love, so he secured the
fate of his aunt in this wise. He put her hand into that
of Oisin, who intrusted her to Caoilte, who intrusted her
to Mac Luacha, &c. ; and thus she passed under the
guardianship of Diarmaid, GoU Mac Morna, another
Luacha, and so into the arms of Ulan. Her married life
was happy for a while, but it did not please the Sighe,
Uchtdcalbh (Fair Bosom) that her mortal lover should
be happy in any society but her own. So she paid her a
visit in the absence of her husband, and invited her out,
as she wished to give her an important message from
Fion, relative to a feast he wanted to have prepared.
Being safe from the eyes of the household, she muttered
some words, and drawing a druidic wand from under her
mantle, she struck her with it, and changed her into the
most beautiful wolf-hound that eyes ever beheld. She
then took her to the house of Feargus Fionnliath, on the
shore of the bay of Galway. Ulan, hearing on his return
that his wife had gone out with a strange woman,
and had not since been seen, guessed that Fair Bosom
had disposed of her in some way, and began to tremble
for the result. It was not long arriving. Fion missing
his aunt, demanded her safe in life and limb at the hands
of Oisin, who demanded her from Caoilte, who demanded
her from Mac Luacha, &c. till Luacha the second demanded
from Ulan the person of his wife in good health,
or his own head. Ulan acknowledged the justice of the
request, and merely demanded a few days' grace.
He at once set forward to the palace-cavern of his
sighe, and obtained his wish, but on the pure condition
of being faithful to her till his death, and never more
seeking mortal mistress or wife. She then sought out
Tuirrean, and bringing her to some distance from Fergus's
rath, restored her to her pristine shape, and then
delivered her over to her nephew. Luacha the second,
the last of the sureties, represented to the great chief,
that the least recompense he could make him for the
terror he had experienced, was the hand of the restored