in old times in ireland there was a great man of the fitzgeralds. the name on him was gerald, but the irish, that always had a great liking for the family, called him gearoidh iarla (earl gerald). he had a great castle or rath at mullymast (mullaghmast); and whenever the english government were striving to put some wrong on the country, he was always the man that stood up for it. along with being a great leader in a fight, and very skilful at all weapons, he was deep in the black art, and could change himself into whatever shape he pleased. his lady knew that he had this power, and often asked him to let her into some of his secrets, but he never would gratify her.
she wanted particularly to see him in some strange shape, but he put her off and off on one pretence or other. but she wouldn't be a woman if she hadn't perseverance; and so at last he let her know that if she took the least fright while he'd be out of his natural form, he would never recover it till many generations of men would be under the mould. "oh! she wouldn't be a fit wife for gearoidh iarla if she could be easily frightened. let him but gratify her in this whim, and he'd see what a hero she was!" so one beautiful summer evening, as they were sitting in their grand drawing-room, he turned his face away from her and muttered some words, and while you'd wink he was clever and clean out of sight, and a lovely goldfinch was flying about the room.
the lady, as courageous as she thought herself, was a little startled, but she held her own pretty well, especially when he came and perched on her shoulder, and shook his wings, and put his little beak to her lips, and whistled the delightfulest tune you ever heard. well, he flew in circles round the room, and played hide and go seek with his lady, [pg 295] and flew out into the garden, and flew back again, and lay down in her lap as if he was asleep, and jumped up again.
well, when the thing had lasted long enough to satisfy both, he took one flight more into the open air; but by my word he was soon on his return. he flew right into his lady's bosom, and the next moment a fierce hawk was after him. the wife gave one loud scream, though there was no need, for the wild bird came in like an arrow, and struck against a table with such force that the life was dashed out of him. she turned her eyes from his quivering body to where she saw the goldfinch an instant before, but neither goldfinch nor earl gerald did she ever lay eyes on again.
once every seven years the earl rides round the curragh of kildare on a steed, whose silver shoes were half an inch thick the time he disappeared; and when these shoes are worn as thin as a cat's ear, he will be restored to the society of living men, fight a great battle with the english, and reign king of ireland for two-score years. [68]
himself and his warriors are now sleeping in a long cavern under the rath of mullaghmast. there is a table running along through the middle of the cave. the earl is sitting at the head, and his troopers down along in complete armour both sides of the table, and their heads resting on it. their horses, saddled and bridled, are standing behind their masters in their stalls at each side; and when the day comes, the miller's son that's to be born with six fingers on each hand, will blow his trumpet, and the horses will stamp and whinny, and the knights awake and mount their steeds, and go forth to battle.
some night that happens once in every seven years, while the earl is riding round the curragh, the entrance may be seen by any one chancing to pass by. about a hundred years ago, a horse-dealer that was late abroad and a little drunk, saw the lighted cavern, and went in. the lights, and the stillness, and the sight of the men in armour, cowed him a good deal, and he became sober. his hands began [pg 296] to tremble, and he let a bridle fall on the pavement. the sound of the bit echoed through the long cave, and one of the warriors that was next him lifted his head a little, and said, in a deep hoarse voice, "is it time yet?" he had the wit to say, "not yet, but soon will," and the heavy helmet sunk down on the table. the horse-dealer made the best of his way out, and i never heard of any other one having got the same opportunity.
