Celtic Fairy Tales
Joseph Jacobs
Paperback
(Independently published, April 29, 2020)
Connla of the Fiery Hair was son of Conn of the Hundred Fights. One day as he stood by the side of his father on the height of Usna, he saw a maiden clad in strange attire coming towards him."Whence comest thou, maiden?" said Connla."I come from the Plains of the Ever Living," she said, "there where there is neither death nor sin. There we keep holiday alway, nor need we help from any in our joy. And in all our pleasure we have no strife. And because we have our homes in the round green hills, men call us the Hill Folk."The king and all with him wondered much to hear a voice when they saw no one. For save Connla alone, none saw the Fairy Maiden."To whom art thou talking, my son?" said Conn the king.Then the maiden answered, "Connla speaks to a young, fair maid, whom neither death nor old age awaits. I love Connla, and now I call him away to the Plain of Pleasure, Moy Mell, where Boadag is king for aye, nor has there been complaint or sorrow in that land since he has held the kingship. Oh, come with me, Connla of the Fiery Hair, ruddy as the dawn with thy tawny skin. A fairy crown awaits thee to grace thy comely face and royal form. Come, and never shall thy comeliness fade, nor thy youth, till the last awful day of judgment."The king in fear at what the maiden said, which he heard though he could not see her, called aloud to his Druid, Coran by name.