terrible malediction over Breas and his race, which can still be found in the
ancient books of Ireland, commencing thus—
"Without fire, without bed, on the surface of the floor!
Without meat, without fowl, on the surface of the dish.
Three little dishes and no flesh thereon,
A cell without bed, a dish without meat, a cup without wine,
Are these fit offerings from a king to a poet?
May the king and his race be three times accursed for ever and for ever!"Immediately three large blisters rose on the king's forehead, and
remained there as a sign and mark of the poet's vengeance.
And from that day forth to his death, which happened not long after, the
reign of Breas was a time of sore trouble and disaster, for he was three times
defeated by his enemies, and from care and sorrow a grievous disease fell
on him; for though hungry he could not swallow any food; and though all
the meat and wine of the best was set before him, yet his throat seemed
closed, and though raging with hunger yet not a morsel could pass his lips;
and so he died miserably, starved in the midst of plenty, and accursed in all
things by the power and malediction of the angry poet.
DRIMIAL AGUS THORIAL
(A Wicked Spell)
When a girl wishes to gain the love of a man, and to make him marry
her, the dreadful spell is used called Drimial Agus Thorial. At dead of night,
she and an accomplice go to a churchyard, exhume a newly-buried corpse,
and take a strip of the skin from the head to the heel. This is wound round
the girl as a belt with a solemn invocation to the devil for his help.
After she has worn it for a day and a night she watches her opportunity
and ties it round the sleeping man whose love she desires; during which
process the name of God must not he mentioned.
When he awakes the man is bound by the spell; and is forced to marry
the cruel and evil harpy. It is said the children of such marriages bear a
black mark round the wrist, and are known and shunned by the people,
who call them "sons of the devil."