Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE 211literature of primitive races) with magical powers. Iubdan, 170 theKing of Faylinn, when flushed with wine at a feast, is braggingof the greatness of his power and the invincibility of his armedforces—have they not the strong man Glower, who with his axehas been known to hew down a thistle at a stroke? But the king'sbard, Eisirt, has heard something of a giant race oversea in a [247]land called Ulster, one man of whom would annihilate a wholebattalion of the Wee Folk, and he incautiously allows himself tohint as much to the boastful monarch. He is immediately clappedinto prison for his audacity, and only gets free by promising togo immediately to the land of the mighty men, and bring backevidence of the truth of his incredible story.So off he goes; and one fine day King Fergus and his lordsfind at the gate of their Dūn a tiny little fellow magnificentlyclad in the robes of a royal bard, who demands entrance. Heis borne in upon the hand of Æda, the king's dwarf and bard,and after charming the court by his wise and witty sayings, andreceiving a noble largesse, which he at once distributes amongthe poets and other court attendants of Ulster, he goes off home,taking with him as a guest the dwarf Æda, before whom theWee Folk fly as a “Fomorian giant,” although, as Eisirt explains,the average man of Ulster can carry him like a child. Iubdanis now convinced, but Eisirt puts him under geise, the bond ofchivalry which no Irish chieftain can repudiate without beingshamed, to go himself, as Eisirt has done, to the palace of Fergusand taste the king's porridge. Iubdan, after he has seen Æda, ismuch dismayed, but he prepares to go, and bids Bebo, his wife,accompany him. “You did an ill deed,” she says, “when youcondemned Eisirt to prison; but surely there is no man under thesun that can make thee hear reason.”So off they go, and Iubdan's fairy steed bears them over thesea till they reach Ulster, and by midnight they stand before the170 “Youb´dan.”