III. TABULATION OF FOLK-TALES.
[No..]
Title of Story.—How the great Tuairisgeul was put to death.
Dramatis personæ.—Hero: Son of King of Ireland.—Wizard who games against him.—Heroine: Woman, companion of wizard, won by hero.—Steed of wizard, won by hero.—Three brothers of heroine, Black, White, and Brown Squire.—Grooms of the three squires.—Young man, owner of the old grey man.—Old grey man who directs hero.—Captain and captain's wife and children.—Big hand that carries off the captain's children.—Stepmother of old grey man.—Great Tuairisgeul.
Abstract of Story.—(1) Threefold gaming of hero against wizard who comes out of a shower from the west, wins (a) heroine, described at once as beautiful (b) wizard's own steed, loses third time.—(2) Mutual bespelling of hero and wizard, hero to find out how Great Tuairisguel was put to death, wizard to remain on hill until hero returns.—(3) Departure of hero (steed tries the hero first by shaking him off) three times on quest, advice of heroine that he seek her three brothers.—(4) At each brothers' house he asks stable room for his horse, is denied, kicks denying groom, is referred to the master of the house, who sends him on to his brother.—(5) Third brother
Alphabetical List of Incidents.
- Bespelling, mutual, of hero and opponent (2).
- Cauldron, person to be thrown into (9).
- Children carried off supernaturally (8).
- Contrary, advice to be interpreted by (5).
- Gaming, threefold, of hero and opponent (1).
- Hand, monstrous, foiled (8).
- Lot casting for cannibalism (7).
- Midwives' false accusation (8).
- Obstacle overcome by advice of third brother (5).
- Purchase of apparently insignificant object or person (5).
- Questing hero referred to three brothers (3, 4).
- Stepmother persecutes stepchildren (7).
- Transformation into wolves (7).
Where published.—Scottish Celtic Review (Glasgow 1881) Gaelic Text, i. pp. 63-70. English Version, i. pp. 70-77. Notes (by Alfred Nutt), ii. pp. 137-141.
