Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER VII: THE VOYAGE OF MAELDUN 279country.” But Maeldūn would not be left after them, and at lastone day, when the queen was away judging the folk, they wenton board their bark and put out to sea. Before they had gone far,however, the queen came riding up with a clew of twine in herhand, and she flung it after them. Maeldūn caught it in his hand,and it clung to his hand so that he could not free himself, and thequeen, holding the other end, drew them back to land. And theystayed on the island another three months. [325]Twice again the same thing happened, and at last the peopleaverred that Maeldūn held the clew on purpose, so great was hislove for the woman. So the next time another man caught theclew, but it clung to his hand as before; so Diuran smote off hishand, and it fell with the clew into the sea. “When she saw thatshe at once began to wail and shriek, so that all the land wasone cry, wailing and shrieking.” And thus they escaped from theIsland of the Women.The Island of the Red BerriesOn this island were trees with great red berries which yieldedan intoxicating and slumbrous juice. They mingled it with waterto moderate its power, and filled their casks with it, and sailedaway.The Island of the EagleA large island, with woods of oak and yew on one side of it,and on the other a plain, whereon were herds of sheep, and alittle lake in it; and there also they found a small church and afort, and an ancient grey cleric, clad only in his hair. Maeldūnasked him who he was.“I am the fifteenth man of the monks of St. Brennan of Birr,”he said. “We went on our pilgrimage into the ocean, and theyhave all died save me alone.” He showed them the tablet (?calendar) of the Holy Brennan, and they prostrated themselvesbefore it, and Maeldūn kissed it. They stayed there for a season,feeding on the sheep of the island.