Verily, of the world's women 'twas she was the dearest
and loveliest and justest that the eyes of men had ever beheld. It
seemed to King Eochaid and his followers that she was from the
elfmounds. Of her was said: "Shapely are all till compared with Etain,"
"Dear are all till compared with Etain."
A longing for her straightway seized the king; so he sent forward a man
of his people to detain her. The king asked tidings of her and said,
while announcing himself: "Shall I have an hour of dalliance with thee?"
"'Tis for that we have come hither under thy safeguard," quoth she.
"Query, whence art thou and whence hast thou come?" says Eochaid.
"Easy to say," quoth she. "Etain am I, daughter of Etar, king of the
cavalcade from the elfmounds. I have been here for twenty years since I
was born in an elfmound. The men of the elfmound, both kings and nobles,
have been wooing me; but nought was gotten from me, because ever since I
was able to speak, I have loved thee and given thee a child's love for
the high tales about thee and thy splendour.
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