Myths and legends ; the Celtic race . in a house of wickerwork having only aroof-opening. But one of King Eterskels folk has thecuriosity to climb up and look in, and sees there thefairest maiden in Ireland. He bears word to the king,who orders an opening to be made in the wall and themaiden fetched forth, for the king was childless, andit had been prophesied to him by his Druid that awoman of unknown race would bear him a son. Thensaid the king : This is the woman that has beenprophesied to me. Parentage and Birth of Conary Before her release, however, she is visited by adenizen from the Land
Myths and legends ; the Celtic race . in a house of wickerwork having only aroof-opening. But one of King Eterskels folk has thecuriosity to climb up and look in, and sees there thefairest maiden in Ireland. He bears word to the king,who orders an opening to be made in the wall and themaiden fetched forth, for the king was childless, andit had been prophesied to him by his Druid that awoman of unknown race would bear him a son. Thensaid the king : This is the woman that has beenprophesied to me. Parentage and Birth of Conary Before her release, however, she is visited by adenizen from the Land of Youth. A great bird comesdown through her roof-window. On the floor of thehut his bird-plumage falls from him and reveals aglorious youth. Like Danae, like Leda, like Ethlinndaughter of Balor, she gives her love to the god. Erethey part he tells her that she will be taken to theking, but that she will bear to her Danaan lover a son * I quote from Whitley Stokes translation, Revue Ce/iiguef]sinuzryI901, and succeeding ** On the floor of the hut his bird-plumage falls from him i66 / CONARY THE HIGH KING whose name shall be Conary, and that it shall beforbidden to him to go a-hunting after birds. So Conary was born, and grew up into a wise andnoble youth, and he was fostered with a lord namedDesa, whose three great-grandsons grew up with himfrom childhood. Their names were Ferlee and Fergarand Ferrogan ; and Conary, it is said, loved them welland taught them his wisdom. Conary the High King Then King Eterskel died, and a successor had to beappointed. In Ireland the eldest son did not succeedto the throne or chieftaincy as a matter of right, butthe ablest and best of the family at the time wassupposed to be selected by the clan. In this tale wehave a curious account of this selection by means ofdivination. A bull-feast was held—, a bull wasslain, and the diviner would eat his fill and drink itsbroth ; then he went to bed, where a truth-compellingspell was cha
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectcelticl, bookyear1910
