Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 17, 1906.djvu/182

 170 The European Sky-God.

and, on returning home, planted the three apples in his own garden. Instantly a great tree bearing similar apples sprang up, and caused all the district to produce an exuberance of crops and fruit.

In The Colloquy with the Ancients'^ Caeilte tells St. Patrick that Lughaid Menn, son of Angus and king of Ireland, had three sons, Ruidhe, Fiacha, and Eochaid. They applied to their father for a country or domain ; and, when he refused their request, they went to Brugh na Boinn, where Bodhb Derg, son of the Daghda, showed them hospitality. At an assembly of the Tuatha De Danann it was decided to give them to wife the three daughters of Midir. Among other presents, they received from Aedh son of Aedh na Nabusach a vat that would turn fresh water into mead and a horn that would turn salt water into wine. Moreover, Angus gave them a spacious fort, and bade them carry away out of the Oak-wood three apple-trees, one in full bloom, another shedding its blossom, and a third covered with ripe fruit. They lived in their fort for three times fifty years and then, by virtue of their marriage alliance, returned to the Tuatha De Danann. It is here clearly implied that the sons of the Irish king had in their fort apple-trees, which were supposed to bear the fruit that fed the gods.

Again, Caeilte recites to St. Patrick the verses in which Gael O'Neamhain, one of Finn's warriors, described the mansion of Crede.^ This Crede was the daughter of Cairbre, king of Kerry, and had promised to marry the man who should give an adequate description of her palace and its contents. Those of Gael's verses that concern us are the following :

^S. H. O'Grady Silva Gadelica ii. 109 ff., Lady Gregory Gods and Fighting Men p. 74 ff.

'^O'Curry Manuscript Materials pp. 308 ff., 594 ff., gives text and translation. There is another English rendering by S. H. O'Grady Silva Gadelica ii. 119 ff., and yet another by Lady Gregory Gods and Fighting Men p. 207 ff. See also A. Nutt Voyage of Bran i. 194.