" So she went to where he lay in his Dun at Tethba.
And seeing him wasted and pale she was moved with pity and distress
and said,
"What ails thee, young man? Long thou hast lain prostrate, in fair
weather and in foul, thou who wert wont to be so swift and strong?"
And Ailill said,
"Truly, I have a cause for my suffering; and I cannot eat, nor listen
to the music makers; my affliction is very sore."
Then said Etain,
"Though I am a woman I am wise in many a thing; tell me what ails thee
and thy healing shall be done."
Ailill replied,
"Blessing be with thee, O fair one; I am not worthy of thy speech; I
am torn by the contention of body and of soul."
Then Etain deemed that she knew somewhat of his trouble, and she said,
"If thy heart is set on any of the white maidens that are my
handmaids, tell me of it, and I shall court her for thee and she shall
come to thee," and then Ailill cried out,
"Love indeed, O Queen, hath brought me low. It is a plague nearer than
the skin, it overwhelms my soul as an earthquake, it is farther than
the height of the sky, and harder to win than the treasures of the
Fairy Folk. If I contend with it, it is like a combat with a spectre;
if I fly to the ends of the earth from it, it is there; if I seek to
seize it, it is a passion for an echo.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161