An Ancient Tale of Éire

HOW THE GUBBAUN SAOR WENT INTO THE COUNTRY

OF THE EVER-YOUNG 

by

Ella Young

From STORIES FROM THE WONDER SMITH AND HIS SON (1927)

"I had the Master-Word," said the Gubbaun. "I had knowledge enough to make a sky of stars. Now it is gone from me."
"You know the talk of the birds," said the Son, "and the talk of the beasts, and the talk of the grasses. Is that not enough?"
"I knew the joy that is in the heart of the sun! I knew the secret of life. Now it is gone."
He said no more. He sat day-long like a stone. He lay night-long like a stone; like a sea-crag when the water ebbs from it. For the length of time the moon takes to broaden and grow slender he was like that: strength ebbed from him.
"My thousand griefs!" cried the Son, "he will die: he will not leave behind him the wisdom of his craft!"
"Go to him," said Aunya, "when day whitens. Ask him what tree is king of the forest. It may be that the brightness of his mind will come back to him: if it comes back, cry out that the Dune of Angus is fallen!"
The Son of the Gubbaun rose early. He kindled a fire with boughs of the blackthorn. He dipped the palms of his hands in clear cold well-water. He wrapped himself in a cloak the colour of an amethyst stone.
He went and stood before the Gub­baun.
"0 Wonder-Smith, 0 Master-Builder," he cried, "The Sun is mirrored in the Sacred Well.  What Tree is King of the Forest?"  

"I know a Forest," said the Gubbaun, "the roots of it go down deep, deep into the heart of the earth: the branches of it spread among the stars: the stars are fruit upon its branches. The leaves of it make a singing in my mind — singing and sleep."


* Available in this collection: At the Gates of Dawn: A Collection of Writings by Ella Young.