Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 3 (Celtic and Slavic).djvu/168

108 sea;$41$ and March suggests the Fomorlan More, who taxed the Nemedians in two-thirds of their children, corn, and milk on November-Eve.$42$ The Welsh plagues, however, occur at Beltane, i. e. at the beginning of summer, rather than winter, as might be expected. Lludd is praised for generosity in giving' meat and drink—the attribute of a kindly god. The Coranians are connected with Welsh còr ("dwarf") and are still known as mischievous fairies.

In connexion with such dwarfs it is interesting to note that a dwarf fairy-folk is described by Giraldus Cambrensis (1147–1223). Two of them took the priest Elidurus, when a boy, through subterranean passages to a delightful region, whose people lived on milk and saffron, swore no oaths, and contemned human ambition and inconstancy. Elidurus frequently visited them, but being persuaded by his mother to steal their gold, he was pursued and the gold was taken from him, after which he never again found the way to fairy-land.^^ Save for their size, these fairies recall the Tuatha De Danann, dwelling in the'síd.

Gwyn, son of Nudd, is connected both with Annwfn and also in later belief with fairy-land.$44$ He was a great magician and a mighty warrior—"the hope of armies"—while his horse was also "the torment of battle";$45$ without him and a certain steed named Du, the monster boar, the Twrch Trwyth, could not be caught by Kulhwch. Gwyn abducted Creidylad (Cordelia), daughter of Lludd, who was affianced to Gwythur; but in the fight which followed Gwyn was victor and forced one of his foes to eat his dead father's heart so that he became mad. Arthur interfered, however, and ordered that Creidylad should remain with her father, while Gwyn and Gwythur must fight for her every day until doom, when she would be given to the victor.$46$ This story is illustrated by folk-survivals. On Mayday in the Isle of Man a girl representing the May Queen was attended by a captain and several others; and there was also a Queen of Winter with her company. The two bands met in mock battle, and if the May Queen was captured, her men had