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The Cu-Beag of the Willow-Wood |
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(Cu-beag is Irish for Little Hound.)
ONCE upon a time, and a good time it was, there were a King and a Queen in Donegal, who had one son called Cormac. A fine, brave, likely boy he was; and when he found himself getting to be a young man, Cormac asked his father's and mother's blessing, saying he would go off to push his fortune. His mother baked him a cake, and asked Cormac whether he would rather have half the cake with her blessing, or the whole of the cake without; and Cormac, with no hesitation, said, "Half the cake, dear Mother, and your blessing." He got half the cake-and his father's and mother's hearty blessing. And, bidding good-by to his friends-who were right sorry to lose him, because Cormac had always been a first favorite -off he set.
At noon-day, hungry and tired, Cormac sat down to eat his cake. Up to him, out of the willow-wood near by, came trotting a little brown dog, with a very hungry look in his eyes. And the dog said, "Cormac, my poor pups haven't tasted food for twenty-four hours-won't you divide your cake with them?"
"Indeed, and I will that," said Cormac, right heartily. For a kindly soul he was, to bird, beast, and fish. So he broke his cake in two, and gave by far the bigger half to the little brown dog.
Then the little brown dog said, "Cormac, look under your foot and lift an iron nail that you'll find there!"
Cormac looked under his foot, and lifted an iron nail that he found there. And the moment he took it up, it became a shining sword in his hand.
Said the little brown dog, "Cormac, that's the Sword of Victory. It is yours, because you were good to the pups. With that Sword you can vanquish the greatest champions in the world-with only one exception, and that is the Giant called Crohore of the Four Heads. The Sword cannot kill him, because his soul is not in his body. As you are not likely to meet him in all your travels," said the little dog, "you will always be able to win with that Sword, wherever you go. But if you ever find yourself in any terrible difficulty, and unable to extricate yourself, call three times upon me, the Cu-beag of the Willow-Wood, and I'll instantly appear, and do what I can to help you."
Cormac thanked the Cu-beag right heartily, and the little brown dog trotted back with the cake to her pups. Cormac did not lie down to sleep, but went forward again, with the Sword of Victory buckled on him. He traveled away and away, where you wouldn't know day from night, or night from day, far further than I could tell you, and twice further than you could tell me, over high hills, low hills, sheep-walks, and bullock-tracks, the Cove o' Cork, and old Tom Fox and his bugle horn-till at length, one evening late, he saw a castle of seven towers in the distance.
Cormac said, "That castle may mean adventure, and maybe fortune." So he went up and knocked at the gates; and the King himself came to the gates, and looking down at little Cormac, asked him what did he want.
"I'm looking for service, sir," said Cormac.
"And what can you do?" said the King.
"I'm apt at most anything," said Cormac, "but I'm particularly handy at handling a sword."
The King he laughed, and said, "I'm afraid I cannot give you anything to do, for the only man I'm looking for now is one who can fight Giants."
"That," said Cormac, "is what I'm especially good at. And I'd rather be fighting Giants than eating bread and butter with sugar on top of it."
The King laughed again, and shook his head, and said, "I'm afraid you would not be much good against these Giants, for they're the most terrible in the world."
"It will cost you nothing to give me a trial," said Cormac.
"Well," said the King, "if you're bent on throwing away your life, I'm not the man to stand in your way." He said, "I'll engage you for a year and a day, and I'll give you your weight in gold for wages, -and my beautiful daughter in marriage, if you're alive at the end of that time. The only duty you have to do is to carry every morning a can of water for my daughter's bathing from the Well of Beauty in the valley below."
"Humph," said Cormac, "not much of a duty, that."
"Oh, but," said the King, "there are three terrible Giants who claim the ownership of that Well, and have killed every champion that ever undertook to carry a can of water from it. A thousand of the world's greatest champions have gone to that Well for water, but none of them ever returned alive."
"Well," said Cormac, "I'll do my best, and the best can do no more."
Very well and good. Cormac had a fine supper and a soft bed. And he was awakened in the middle of the night by the terrible roaring of three Giants in the valley. After breakfast the next morning, Cormac, getting a can from the King, started to the valley to fetch a can of water from the Well of Beauty.
Half-way down he saw a sight which surprised him-a terrible, big Giant with four heads, bound with willows, and tied up to the branch of a tree. The Giant said, "Good-luck to you, Cormac." But Cormac took no notice of him.
He reached the Well safely, and was dipping in his can, when he heard such a terrible roar as made the teeth in his head rattle. Jumping up, there he saw standing over him a great Giant with one head.
"You are too big for one bite and too small for two," said the Giant of the one head; "so I'll let you choose how to lose your life-whether with a swing by the back, a cut of the sword, or a square round of wrestling."
"Why, if it's the same to you," said the manly little Cormac, "I'll choose a cut of the sword."
So the Giant drew his sword, and Cormac drew his Sword of Victory, and to fighting both of them fell. They fought up and they fought down, and they fought round, and they fought over seventeen acres of ground. And such a fight was never seen in the world before or since. But at length, when the Giant was nearly exhausted, Cormac gave a skip, a leap, and a bound, and landed with his Sword right upon the Giant's neck, and cut the head off his shoulders. Then he filled his can with water at the Well of Beauty, and set out for the castle.
On his way he had to pass again the Giant of the Four Heads, who was tied up to a great branch of a tree. And the Giant said, "T gave you good-luck going down, Cormac, and as you're coming back the winner, I know you will be so kind as to cut me down, and free me."
"Let whoever tied you up, cut you down," said Cormac. "It wasn't your good deeds left you there, anyhow." And he went off.
The King was the first man Cormac met at the >` castle, and mightily surprised was he to see Cormac return.
The King said, "Cormac, had you any trouble getting the can of water this morning?" "Oh, no trouble worth mentioning, sir," said Cormac.
"Well," said the King, "that surely astonishes me. But I'm afraid you'll not find it so next morning."
"Let every day look out for itself," said Cormac "I never believe in worrying about next year's winds." And as he had his task done for that day, he went and enjoyed himself.
Next morning, when the King came to give the can to Cormac, he said, "It is a strange thing, Cormac but I heard the roaring of only two Giants last night-whatever can be the meaning of it?"
"Maybe," said Cormac, "one of them was too sleepy."
"It must have been that," said the King.
Off Cormac started with his can for the Well of Beauty, in the hollow. And half-way down, he passed the tree from which the Giant of the Four Heads was hung. And the Giant, as he passed, said, "Good-luck, Cormac." But Cormac took no notice.
Cormac reached the Well of Beauty, and was just dipping in his can, when he heard an awful roar that made the teeth in his head rattle. Jumping up, there he saw a terrible Giant with two heads, standing over him.
"You're too big," said the Giant of the Two Heads, "for one bite, and too small for two, but I'll leave you your choice of how to lose your life -whether a swing by the back, a cut of the sword, or a square round of wrestling."
"Why," said Cormac, "if I must lose my life, I think I'd sooner lose it by a cut of the sword than any other way."
"Very well," said the Giant of the Two Heads.
And he drew his sword, and Cormac drew his Sword of Victory, and to fighting both of them fell. They fought up and they fought down, and they fought round, and they fought over thirtyfour acres of ground. And the like of such a fight was never seen in the world before or since. At long and at last when the Giant was nearly exhausted, Cormac took a skip, a leap, and a bound, and landed with his Sword upon the Giant's neck, and cut off his two heads from his shoulders.
Then he filled his can from the Well of Beauty, and started for the castle.
As he passed the tree from which the G'i'ant of the Four Heads was hanging, the Giant spoke out and said, "I gave you good-luck going down, Cormac, and as you are coming back the winner, I know you'll be so kind as to cut me down, and free me."
Said Cormac, "Let whoever tied you up, cut you down. It's not your good deeds that left you there, anyhow." And he went on.
The King was the first man who met Cormac at the castle, and right surprised he looked.
"Cormac," said the King, "I'm astonished to see you coming back alive. Had you no trouble in getting the can of water?"
"Oh, no trouble worth mentioning, sir," said Cormac.
"Well," said the King, "you have come back alive two mornings, but Cormac, you'll never come home the third."
"Let every day look after itself," said Cormac. "I never worry about next year's winds." And as his task was done for the day, he went and played and enjoyed himself.
Next morning when the King gave the can to Cormac, he said, "It's a very strange thing, but I heard only one Giant roaring last night-whatever is the matter?"
Said Cormac, "The other two must have been sleepy."
"That must have been it," said the King.
And Cormac started off with his can for the Well of Beauty.
Half-way down, he passed the Giant of the Four Heads tied up to the branch of a tree, and the Giant said, "Good-luck, Cormac." But Cormac took no notice of the fellow.
Down to the Well he went, and he was just dipping in his can, when he heard a terrible roar that made the teeth in his head rattle. Up jumped Cormac, and there was an awful Giant with three heads, standing over him.
"You are too big for one bite, and too small for two," said the Giant of the Three Heads. "I'll leave you your choice of how to lose your lifewhether by a swing by the back, a cut of the sword, or a square round of wrestling."
"Well," said Cormac, "if I must lose my life, I think I'd sooner lose it by a cut of the sword than any other way."
"All right," said the Giant, drawing his sword.
And Cormac drew his Sword of Victory, and to fighting both of them fell. They fought up, and they fought down, and they fought round, and they fought over fifty-one acres of ground. Such a fight was never seen in the world before. or since. At length when the Giant was nearly exhausted, Cormac took a skip, a leap, and a bound, and landed with his Sword upon the Giant's neck, and cut the three heads from his shoulders. Then he filled his can and started for home.
But when Cormac was half-way up the hill, and passing the tree from which the Giant of the Four Heads hung, the Giant said, "I gave you good-luck when you were going down, Cormac, and now that you're returning the winner, I know you'll be so kind as to cut me down, and set me free."
Now Cormac was such a good-hearted fellow, that he couldn't bear to see even the worst in the world suffering distress. So he said, "Oh l you have me pestered, every time I pass here, and I'll cut you down rather than be listening to you any longer."
So he took out his Sword, and cut the willows that bound the Giant of the Four Heads to the tree, and the Giant dropped off.
And the minute the Giant of the Four Heads found his feet, he drew his sword and said to Cormac, "You rascal, you have taken the lives of my three brothers, and now I'm going to take yours!"
"You vagabond!" said Cormac, drawing his Sword of Victory, "I'll soon leave your heads as low as your brothers' l maybe you don't know that I have the Sword of Victory which can vanquish all people in the world."
The Giant of the Four Heads laughed heartily, and said, "Cormac, there's one man in the world that your Sword of Victory has no power against, and that is the Crohore of the Four Heads, whose soul is not in his body-and I'm that man."
When Cormac heard that he was the Crohore of the Four Heads, he knew he was beaten. But he bravely said, "I defy you anyhow!"
Said the Giant, "As you were so good as to cut me down, I'll not take your life, but only tie you up in my stead."
So he bound Cormac with willows, and tied him up to the branch. Then Crohore made a raid on the castle, and carried off the King's beautiful daughter.
The King and all his court set out in search, and the first thing they found was Cormac tied up to the tree.
"How did you come here?" said the King.
And Cormac told him how he had cut down the Crohore, and the Crohore had tied him up in his stead.
"Oh, you rascal!" said the King. "It took ten years and ten thousand men to catch Crohore and tie him up to that tree, and you loosed him again, and ended all my work, and lost me my daughter! Before we go further, after the Crohore, we'll first hang you for what you've done."
Poor Cormac was downhearted and grieved when he heard this, and begged that the King would give him one chance for his life.
"What chance do you want?" said the King.
"This chance," said Cormac. "I'll undertake to set out this minute, and I promise never to sleep two nights in the same house, nor eat two meals' meat at the same table, till I have found the castle of the Crohore, and rescued your daughter."
Said the King, "For a year and a day then, Cormac, your life will be spared, to see if you can succeed."
And Cormac, setting off, traveled away and away, where you wouldn't know day from night, or night from day, far further than I could tell you, and twice further than you could tell.me, over high hills, low hills, sheep-walks and bullocktracks, the Cove o' Cork, and old Tom Fox and his bugle horn-till, at length, one night late Cormac reached a little house in a dark wood, with one little old man in it, and the little old man welcomed him by name as Cormac, the King of Donegal's son, and asked him where he was going.
"I'm going searching for the castle of Crohore of the Four Heads," said Cormac. "Maybe you could help me to find it."
Said the old man: "A third of the castles of the world I know, but the castle of the Crohore I don't know, nor do I want to know it. You will never find the terrible Crohore, and if you did, it would be better for you had you never found it. Take my advice, and go back home."
"I'll not go back home," said Cormac. "I have promised never to sleep two nights in the same house, nor eat two meals' meat at the same table, till I have found the castle of the Crohore, and rescued the King's daughter. And I'll keep my promise or perish."
"Very well," said the old man. "If you are bent on going, go you must, and I'll do what I can to help you."
In the morning, after breakfast, the old man took out Cormac, and mounted him on a horse, which had wings to its feet.
"With the speed of the wind this horse can go, Cormac," said the old man. "Get on his back, and you will reach tonight my elder brother's house, who'll be able to help you further, because he has lived two hundred years longer in the world than I, and knows four times as much about it. And," said the old man, "if you are ever in great distress call three times on me, the Gray Hawk of the Beechwood."
Cormac thanked him, mounted the horse and started-sweeping through the skies, his horse's heels touched only the hilltops-and on they sped, till, late, that night, he reached a little house on the edge of a lake in a dark wood, and he saw there a very old man, who welcomed him by name as Cormac, the King of Donegal's son. And he said, "I see, Cormac, that you stopped at my younger brother's house last night. Tell me where you are going, and what's your errand."
Cormac told him, and asked if the old man could help him.
The old man said, "I have lived four hundred years in the world, and know half of the castles in the world, but I don't know the castle of the Crohore. You had better go back home, for you'll never be able to find him. And if you did find him, it would be better for you had you never found him."
"I'll not go back home," said Cormac. "I have promised never to sleep two nights in the same house, nor eat two meals' meat at the same table, till I have found the castle of Crohore and rescued the King's daughter. And I'll keep my promise or perish."
"Very well," said the old man. "Then, I'll do what I can to help you."
After breakfast the next morning the old man took Cormac out, and plucked a lily from his garden, and blew on it. Immediately it was a beautiful balloon floating in the air, and waiting for Cormac to get in.
"That balloon," said the old man, "will take you through the skies with the speed of the lightning. You'll reach our eldest brother's house this night. He has lived two hundred years longer in the world than I, and knows ten times as much about' it. Maybe he will be able to help you. And if ever you are in any great distress, and need my assistance, call three times on me, the Black Otter of Lough Finn."
Cormac thanked him right heartily, and set off through the skies with the speed of the lightning. He sped away and away, till, late that evening, he landed at a little house on the edge of the ocean, and going in, found there, one very, very old man, who welcomed him by name as Cormac, the King of Donegal's son. And he said, "I see that you stopped at my two younger brothers' houses, these two last nights. Sit down and tell me where you are going, and what's your errand."
And Cormac told him, and asked if he could direct him to the castle of Crohore.
Said the old man, "I have lived in the world for six hundred years, and in all that time, I only once reached the castle of Crohore, so far is it out of the world. I advise you to go back, for you can never reach it. And, besides, if you ever did find it, it would be far better that you had never found it."
"I'll not go back," said Cormac, "for I have promised never to sleep two nights in the same house, nor eat two meals' meat at the same table, till I have found the castle of Crohore, and rescued the King's daughter. I mean to keep my promise or perish."
"Very well," said the old man. "Then, I'll do all I can to help you."
And in the morning after breakfast, he took Cormac down to the ocean's edge, and plucking a May-flower, laid it on the water, where immediately it was a full-rigged ship.
Said the old man: "This ship goes with the speed of the sunlight. Get into it, and it will take you to the land where the Crohore lives. After that, you will have to find your own way. But if you are ever in great distress, and need my help, call three times upon the Blue Hern of the Billows."
Right heartily Cormac thanked him, and off he went in his magic ship, sailing with the speed of the sunlight, till, that evening late, it ran up upon the shore of a far land-and Cormac got out and slept on the shore. And in the morning he went forward, and traveled away and away, where you wouldn't know day from night, or night from day, far further than I could tell you, and twice further than you could tell me, over high hills, low hills, sheep-walks, and bullock-tracks, the Cove o' Cork, and old Tom Fox and his bugle horn. Till at long and at last one evening late. he sighted a great castle of ten tall towers in a dark wood.
As he came near the castle he saw, looking from a window in the tallest tower, no other than the King's daughter herself, whom he had come to rescue, the most beautiful damsel in all the world. She waved with delight to Cormac when she saw him, and Cormac came to the bottom of the tower. She told him that this was the castle of Crohore, and that he held her a prisoner there. Crohore, she said, wanted her to marry him-but she had asked for a year and a day's freedom before she would give her consent-in hope that she might be rescued. He had granted her request. The greater part of the year and a day was now up, and she had begun to despair of ever escaping.
"And I'm afraid, Cormac," she said, "by venturing yourself here you have only thrown away your life."
"Well," said Cormac, "it will be thrown away in a good cause."
"Cormac," she said, "Crohore, who is away hunting, will soon be returning; and you had better go to a little house that is in the valley, and hide yourself till the Crohore has gone to the hunt again to-morrow."
Said Cormac, "As you know, the Crohore cannot be killed because his soul is not in his body. I want you to try and find out, tonight, where his soul is. Then we'd have chance of escaping."
She promised to do her best to find this; and Cormac went off and hid in the valley.
When the Crohore returned from the hunt that night, the Princess came to him after his supper, and for the first time since he had carried her away, discoursed pleasantly with him. As soon as she thought she had him in a good humor, she said, "If you want me to love you, why do you keep your secrets from me?"
"What secrets am I keeping from you?" asked the Crohore.
"You have never told me where your soul is," said she.
"Oh," said Crohore, "my soul is in the great rock on the lawn in front of the hall-door."
Very well and good. Next day she told the news to Cormac.
"I'm sure it isn't there," said Cormac. "But, nevertheless, we'll test it." So, by Cormac's directions, the Princess decorated the rock-hung flowers around it, and put gold and silver ornaments upon it till it looked rich and grand.
When Crohore returned from the hunt that evening, and saw how she had decorated the rock where his soul was supposed to be, he was right well pleased. And he said to her that night, after supper, "It's a pity to waste all your beautiful work, and all your pretty flowers and valuable ornaments, on that old rock-for, after all, my soul isn't there. I only told you that to test you; and now that I see you really love me, I'll tell you where my soul is. It is in the beech-tree at the east of the house."
When she told this to Cormac next day, Cormac said, "I don't think it is in the beech-tree either. However, just to try him," Cormac said, "decorate the beech-tree today."
So she hung the beech-tree with lovely flowers, and beautiful ribbons, and gold and silver ornaments. And when Crohore returned he was mightily pleased at the sight. Now he was fully convinced that the King's daughter at length loved him. So, after supper, he said to her, "I see now that you certainly do love me, and I'll tell you where my soul really is, for it is not in the beechtree."
"Where is it?" she asked.
He said, "In the center of the garden grows a green holly-tree."
"I know it," she said.
Said Crohore, "My soul is in that holly-tree, but still no one can hurt or harm it, because even if the holly-tree were cut down, my soul would escape in a fox, that would jump out of the heart of the holly-tree, and there's no dog in all the world can catch that fox-except one dog, the Cu-beag of the Willow-Wood. Even if the fox were killed, out of the fox would fly a wild duck with my soul in it. And there's nothing in all the world could catch that wild duck-except the Gray Hawk of the Beech-Wood. And if that wild duck were caught and killed, out of the wild duck would drop an egg with my soul in it. The egg would fall to the bottom of the deepest lake in the world, and nothing in all the world could bring up that egg-except the Black Otter of Lough Finn.
Even if that egg were brought up and opened, my soul would escape out of it in an eel, which would swim into the River Shannon, and curl under a stone in the deepest pool there, and nothing in all
the world could find that eel-except the Blue Hern of the Billows. Even then my soul would hide in the head of the eel, and I could never be killed till the eel's head was cut off, and I was struck with it on the black spot that's on the,-back of my throat. Then and then only would I be killed.
And all that, as you see, is impossible for all the world to accomplish."
Next day, when Crohore was gone to the hunt, she told Cormac the news: And Cormac said, "Well, we have found his secret at last, and, with the help of Heaven, will destroy this villain."
He asked for the sharpest and heaviest hatchet in the castle, and with it he went into the garden, and began to cut down the green holly-tree. At the first stroke, Crohore, who was hunting in the woods thirty miles away, gave a roar that shook every window in the castle, and the sound of which went three times round the world. And Crohore that moment started for home.
Cormac laid on the holly-tree with the hatchet with all his might-for he found the earth trembling as Crohore came. And at every stroke Cormac gave, Crohore put out of him another roar that rattled the stars. And at every piece that Cormac cut from the holly-tree, the Crohore, running for home, was growing weaker. When he came within sight of his castle, Cormac, feeling that his life was now on the speed of his work, with one blow cut the tree through. Crohore that instant staggered, and only saved himself from falling.
But he gave a cry that startled the birds from all the woods of the world, and sent them to the skies in terror.
When the holly-tree fell, out of the heart of it jumped a fox, and away like the wind. Cormac called three times on the Cu-beag of the WillowWood, which instantly appeared, sped after the fox, and killed it.
And Crohore, who was now getting near Cormac, was weaker and foaming with rage.
When the fox was killed, out of it flew the wild duck, who mounted the skies like a rocket. Three times Cormac called upon the Gray Hawk of the Beech-wood, which immediately swooped in sight, and after the wild duck, killing it in the clouds.
Cormac now saw the Crohore closer and closer upon him, and, weak as he was, he was still terrible enough to kill a hundred men.
When the wild duck was killed, from it fell an egg, which went to the very bottom of a deep lake. Cormac called three times upon the Black Otter of Lough Finn, who answered his call right quickly, and dived to the bottom of the lake and brought up the egg.
Still nearer now was the raging Crohore, and in very few minutes he would be on Cormac and have his life.
When the Black Otter brought up the egg, it broke, and out of it sprang an eel, which swam into the River Shannon, curling itself under a stone in the deepest pool there. Loudly, my brave Cormac called three times upon the Blue Hern of the Billows. And immediately the Blue Hern appeared, dived for the eel, brought it up, and dropped it at the feet of Cormac, who took the head off it immediately.
The Crohore, now staggering with weakness, but still terrible enough to have the lives of ten men, was within three bounds of poor Cormac, and his mouth as open wide as a castle-window with rage.
Through the wide-open mouth Cormac saw the black spot at the back of his throat. Taking good aim, he threw the eel's head, and struck the spot squarely. That instant, Crohore gave a roar that rattled the stars, and deafened all ears in the world for an hour-and he fell dead at Cormac's feet.
The King's daughter, who had been watching from her tower, gave three cries of joy, and came down and joined Cormac. From the Giant's castle, and the Giant's vaults, they filled their magic ship with jewels and pearls, precious ornaments, and- bags of gold and silver-and then set sail. And they never stopped till they reached her father's castle, which they did on the very day that the year and the day was expiring.
Great was the rejoicing by the King and all the court, who had now given both of them up for lost. A wedding was ordered, and the King asked in all the lords and ladies and all the nobles and all the knights of the land. And the magic ship went specially to Ireland for Cormac's father and mother, the King and Queen of Donegal, and brought them to the wedding likewise.
And in addition to all these, there were four very honored guests at the wedding-four to whom was given more honor than to all the other guests together-the Blue Hern of the Billows, the Black Otter of Lough Finn, the Gray Hawk of the Beech-Wood, and above all, Cu-beag of the Willow-Wood!
The wedding lasted nine days and nine nights, and the last day and night were better than the first.
The King gave his kingdom to Cormac and the bride. They needed, to guard them, neither army nor navy, for the Hern, the Hawk, and the Otter, under noble command of the Cu-beag, watched their realm by sea and land.
And in peace and happiness all of them lived ever after.
(from The Donegal Wonder Book , by Seumas MacManus)
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