The young man bore in his hand, as it were, a branch, from which hung
nine golden bells formed like apples. When he shook the branch the
nine apples beat against each other and made music so sweet that there
was no pain or sorrow in the world that a man would not forget while
he hearkened to it.
"Does this branch belong to thee?" asked Cormac of the youth.
"Truly it does," replied the youth.
"Wilt thou sell it to me?" said Cormac.
"I never had aught that I would not sell for a price," said the young
man.
"What is thy price?" asked Cormac.
"The price shall be what I will," said the young man.
"I will give thee whatever thou desirest of all that is mine," said
Cormac, for he coveted the branch exceedingly, and the enchantment was
heavy upon him.
So the youth gave him the bell-branch, and then said, "My price is thy
wife and thy son and thy daughter."
Then they went together into the palace and found there Cormac's wife
and his children. "That is a wonderful jewel thou hast in thy hand,
Cormac," said Ethne.
"It is," said Cormac, "and great is the price I have paid for it."
"What is that price?" said Ethne.
"Even thou and thy children twain," said the King.
"Never hast thou done such a thing," cried Ethne, "as to prefer any
treasure in the world before us three!" And they all three lamented
and implored, but Cormac shook the branch and immediately their sorrow
was forgotten, and they went away willingly with the young man across
the plain of Bregia until a mist hid them from the eyes of Cormac.
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