Irish Tales / Ирландские сказки. Книга для чтения на английском языке

�Oh, for this life and raiment, you man that came in, keep restraint on your tongue[11 - keep restraint on your tongue – (устар.) держите язык за зубами]!’ said the old woman. �It is not a great thing for you to keep your mouth shut and your tongue quiet when you get a home and shelter of a hearth on a gloomy winter’s night.’

�Well;’ said the hunter, �I may do that – keep my mouth shut and my tongue quiet, since I came to the house and received hospitality from you; but by the hand of thy father and grandfather, and by your own two hands, if some other of the people of the world saw this beauteous creature you have here hid away, they would not long leave her with you, I swear.

�What men are these you refer to?’ said Deirdre.

�Well, I will tell you, young woman,’ said the hunter. �They art Naois, son of Uisnech, and Allen and Arden his two brothers.’

�What like are these men when seen, if we were to see them?’ said Deirdre.

�Why, the aspect and form of the men when seen are these,’ said the hunter. �They have the colour of the raven on their hair, their skin like swan on the wave in whiteness, and their cheeks as the blood of the brindled red calf, and their speed and their leap are those of the salmon of the torrent and the deer of the grey mountainside. And Naois is head and shoulders over the rest of the people of Erin.’

�However they are,’ said the nurse, �be you off from here and take another road.

The hunter went away, and went straight to the palace of King Connachar. He sent word into the king that he wished to speak to him if he pleased. The king answered the message and came out to speak to the man.

�What is the reason of your journey?’ said the king to the hunter.

�I have only to tell you, O king,’ said the hunter, �that I saw the fairest creature that ever was born in Erin, and I came to tell you of it.’

�Who is this beauty and where is she to be seen, when she was not seen before till you saw her, if you did see her?’

�Well, I did see her,’ said the hunter. �But, if I did, no man else can see her unless he get directions from me as to where she is dwelling.