Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER IV: THE EARLY MILESIAN KINGS 137of Etain and Midir may be regarded as what the Irish called apriomscel, “introductory tale,” showing the more remote originof the events related. The genealogy of Conary Mōr will help thereader to understand the connexion of events.Eochy=Etain.Cormac, King=Etain Oig (Etain the younger).of Ulster.Eterskel, King=Messbuachalla (the cowherd's fosterling).of Erin.Conary Mōr.The Law of the GeisThe tale of Conary introduces us for the first time to thelaw or institution of the geis, which plays henceforward a veryimportant part in Irish legend, the violation or observance of ageis being frequently the turning-point in a tragic narrative. Wemust therefore delay a moment to explain to the reader exactlywhat this peculiar institution was.Dineen's “Irish Dictionary” explains the word geis(pronounced “gaysh”—plural, “gaysha”) as meaning “a bond, [165]a spell, a prohibition, a taboo, a magical injunction, the violationof which led to misfortune and death.” 128 Every Irish chieftainor personage of note had certain geise peculiar to himself whichhe must not transgress. These geise had sometimes referenceto a code of chivalry—thus Dermot of the Love-spot, whenappealed to by Grania to take her away from Finn, is under geisenot to refuse protection to a woman. Or they may be merelysuperstitious or fantastic—thus Conary, as one of his geise, isforbidden to follow three red horsemen on a road, nor must128 The meaning quoted will be found in the Dictionary under the alternativeform geas