Episode 20

AND KNIGHT OF THE GLEN.

IN times of yore there was a King and a Queen in the south of Ireland who had three sons, all beautiful children; but the Queen, their mother, sickened unto death when they were yet very young, which caused great grief throughout the Court, particularly to the King, her husband, who could in no wise be comforted.

Seeing that death was drawing near her, she called the King to her and spoke as follows:

`I am now going to leave you, and as you are young and in your prime, of course after my death you will marry again.Now all the request I ask of you is that you will build a tower in an island in the sea, wherein you will keep your three sons until they are come of age and fit to do for themselves; so that they may not be under the power or jurisdiction of any other woman.Neglect not to give them education suitable to their birth, and let them be trained up to every exercise and pastime requisite for king's sons to learn.This is all I have to say, so farewell.'

The King had scarce time, with tears in his eyes, to assure her she should be obeyed in everything, when she, turning herself in her bed, with a smile gave up the ghost.Never was greater mourning seen than was throughout the Court and the whole kingdom; for a better woman than the Queen, to rich and poor, was not to be found in the world.She was interred with great pomp and magnificence, and the King, her husband, became in a manner inconsolable for the loss of her.However, he caused the tower to be built and his sons placed in it, under proper guardians, according to his promise.

In process of time the lords and knights of the kingdom counselled the King (as he was young) to live no longer as he had done, but to take a wife; which counsel prevailing, they chose him a rich and beautiful princess to be his consort--a neighbouring King's daughter, of whom he was very fond.Not long after, the Queen had a fine son, which caused great feasting and rejoicing at the Court, insomuch that the late Queen, in a manner, was entirely forgotten.That fared well, and King and Queen lived happy together for several years.

At length the Queen, having some business with the hen-wife, went herself to her, and, after a long conference passed, was taking leave of her, when the hen-wife prayed that if ever she should come back to her again she might break her neck.The Queen, greatly incensed at such a daring insult from one of her meanest subjects, demanded immediately the reason, or she would have her put to death.

It was worth your while, madam,' says the hen-wife,to pay me well for it, for the reason I prayed so on you concerns you much.'

`What must I pay you?' asked the Queen.

You must give me,' says she,the full of a pack of wool, and Ihave an ancient crock which you must fill with butter, likewise a barrel which you must fill for me full of wheat.'

`How much wool will it take to the pack?' says the Queen.

It will take seven herds of sheep,' said she,and their increase for seven years.'

`How much butter will it take to fill your crock?'

Seven dairies,' said she,and their increase for seven years.'

`And how much will it take to fill the barrel you have?' says the Queen.

`It will take the increase of seven barrels of wheat for seven years.'

That is a great quantity,' says the Queen;but the reason must be extraordinary, and before I want it, I will give you all you demand.'

Well,' says the hen-wife,it is because you are so stupid that you don't observe or find out those affairs that are so dangerous and hurtful to yourself and your child.'

`What is that?' says the Queen.

Why,' says she,the King your husband has three fine sons he had by the late Queen, whom he keeps shut up in a tower until they come of age, intending to divide the kingdom between them, and let your son push his fortune; now, if you don't find some means of destroying them; your child and perhaps yourself will be left desolate in the end.'

And what would you advise me to do?' said she;I am wholly at a loss in what manner to act in this affair.'

You must make known to the King,' says the hen-wife,that you heard of his sons, and wonder greatly that he concealed them all this time from you; tell him you wish to see them, and that it is full time for them to be liberated, and that you would be desirous he would bring them to the Court.The King will then do so, and there will be a great feast prepared on that account, and also diversions of every sort to amuse the people; and in these sports,' said she, ask the King's sons to play a game at cards with you, which they will not refuse.Now,' says the hen-wife,you must make a bargain, that if you win they must do whatever you command them, and if they win, that you must do whatever they command you to do; this bargain must be made before the assembly, and here is a pack of cards,' says she, `that I am thinking you will not lose by.'

The Queen immediately took the cards, and, after returning the hen-wife thanks for her kind instruction, went back to the palace, where she was quite uneasy until she got speaking to the King in regard of his children; at last she broke it off to him in a very polite and engaging manner, so that he could see no muster or design in it.He readily consented to her desire, and his sons were sent for to the tower, who gladly came to Court, rejoicing that they were freed from such confinement.They were all very handsome, and very expert in all arts and exercises, so that they gained the love and esteem of all that had seen them.

The Queen, more jealous with them than ever, thought it an age until all the feasting and rejoicing was over, that she might get making her proposal, depending greatly on the power of the hen-wife's cards.At length this royal assembly began to sport and play at all kinds of diversions, and the Queen very cunningly challenged the three Princes to play at cards with her, making bargain with them as she had been instructed.