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Heroic Romances of Ireland — Volume 1 by Arthur Herbert Leahy
page 62 of 287 (21%)
and he gave welcome to him. "Thy welcome is such as I expected when I
came," said Mider. "Cruel and senseless hast thou been in thy
treatment of me, and much of hardship and suffering hast thou given me.
All things that seemed good in thy sight have I got for thee, but now
anger against thee hath filled my mind!" "I return not anger for
anger," answered Eochaid; "what thou wishest shall be done." "Let it
be as thou wishest," said Mider; "shall we play at the chess?" said he.
"What stake shall we set upon the game?" said Eochaid. "Even such
stake as the winner of it shall demand," said Mider. And in that very
place Eochaid was defeated, and he forfeited his stake.

"My stake is forfeit to thee," said Eochaid.

"Had I wished it, it had been forfeit long ago," said Mider.

"What is it that thou desirest me to grant?" said Eochaid.

"That I may hold Etain in my arms, and obtain a kiss from her!"
answered Mider.

Eochaid was silent for a while and then he said: "One month from this
day thou shalt come, and the very thing that thou hast asked for shall
be given to thee." Now for a year before that Mider first came to
Eochaid for the chess-play, had he been at the wooing of Etain, and he
obtained her not; and the name which he gave to Etain was Befind, or
Fair-haired Woman, so it was that he said:


Wilt thou come to my home, fair-haired lady?

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