So fair was his realm that
poets sang its beauty, and such the wonder of his palace that the sweetest
songs of Erin were of its loveliness.
In a castle of this fair realm dwelt Felim, a warrior and harper dear unto
the King. And it was told him that Concobar with his chief lords would
visit the castle.
Then Felim made a feast, and there was great rejoicing, and all men were
glad.
But in the midst of the feast an old magician, who was of those that had
come with the King, stood up before the great gathering. Long and white
was the hair that fell upon his bent shoulders, black were the eyes that
gazed into space from beneath his shaggy eyebrows.
'Speak,' said the King to the old man, 'speak, and tell us that thou
seest, for well we know thou piercest the veil that hideth from us the
secrets of the morrow.'
Silently and with great awe did all the company look at the wise old man,
for those things that he had already foretold had they not come to pass?
The magician, also silent, looked from the face of one to the face of
another, but when his eyes fell on Concobar, the King, long did they dwell
there, and when he lifted them, on Felim did they rest.
Then the Wise Man spake:
'This night, O Felim the Harper, shall a girl-babe be born to thee within
these castle walls. Loveliest among the lovely shall thy star-eyed
daughter be; no harp-strings shall yield such music as her voice, no fairy
strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound.
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