Page:Paton - Studies in the fairy mythology of Arthurian romance (1903).djvu/17

 2 Tile Fairy Queen

Brain maic Febail {The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febat), which there is reason to believe embodies oral tradition first written down in the seventh century, although our manuscripts are probably derived from an original that does not antedate the tenth century.^

One day when Bran chanced to be alone near his stronghold, he heard sweet music behind him, and however often he looked back, the music was ever behind him ; at last, such was its sweetness that he fell asleep. WTien he awoke he saw close by him a branch of silver covered with white blos- soms, which he carried with him to his dwelling. As he sat there with his hosts, a woman in strange raiment appeared before them, and began to sing to Bran of Emain, a distant island peopled by women, rich in flowers and birds, joy, music, and feasting, a land that knew nothing rough nor harsh, neither death nor decay.

" ' Not to all of yon is my speech,

Though its great marvel has been made known : Let Bran hear from the crowd of the world What of wisdom has been told to him.

Begin a voyage across the clear sea,

If perchance thou mayst reach the land of women.'

" Thereupon the woman went frmn them, while they knew not whither she went. And she took her branch with her. The branch sprang from Bran's hand into the hand of the woman, nor was there strength in Bran's hand to hold the branch." (§§29-31.)

The next day Bran obeyed the woman's summons and with a band of comrades began his mysterious voyage. As they neared the Land of Women, they saw the leader of the women at the port, and heard her voice calling them to shore and bidding them welcome. " The woman throws a ball of thread to Bran straight over his face. Bran put his hand on the ball, which clave to his palm. The thread of the ball was in the woman's hand, and she pulled the coracle towards the port. Thereupon they went into a large house .... The food that was put on every dish vanished not from them. It seemed a year to them that they were there, — it chanced to be many years. No savour was wanting to them.

" Homesickness seized one of them, even Nechtan the son of Collbran. His kindred kept praying Bran that he should go to Ireland with him. The woman said to them their going would make them rue. However, they went, and the woman said that none of them should touch the land. . . . Then they went until they arrived at a gathering at Srub Brain. The men asked of them who it was came over the sea. Said Bran : ' I am Bran the son of Febal,' saith he. However, the other saith: ' We do not know such a one, though the Voyage of Bran is in our ancient stories.'

1 Ed. Meyer and Nutt, I, 2-41. See also xvi, 133-142.