"Nay," said Torna, "let the sons of Mongfinn be peaceful." Hence is the proverb.

Then Mongfinn said that she would not abide by Sithchenn's judgment. So she sent her sons to the same Sithchenn to ask for arms. They went to the smith, and he made arms for them... the weapon that was finest he put into Niall's hand… and the rest of the arms he gave to the other sons.

"Now go to hunt and try your arms," said the smith. So the sons went and hunted, and it happened that they went far astray.

When they ceased from straying they kindled a fire, broiled some of their quarry, and ate it until they were satisfied. Then they were thirsty and in great drouth from the cooked food. "Let one of us go and seek for a water, " they said. "I will go," said Fergus. The lad went seeking water, till he chanced on a well and saw an old woman guarding it.

Thus was the hag... every joint and limb of her... from the top of her head to the earth was as black as coal. Like the tail of a wild horse was the gray bristly mane that came through the upper part of her head-crown. The green branch of an oak in bearing would be severed by the sickle green teeth that lay in her head and reached to her ears. Dark smoky eyes she had... a nose crooked and hollow.

She had a middle fibrous, spotted with pustules, diseased and shins distorted and awry. Her ankles were thick, her shoulder blades were broad, her knees were big, and her nails were green. Loathsome in sooth was the hag's appearance.

"That is so," said the youth.

"Tis so indeed," said she.

“Art thou guarding the well.”

“Yea truly.”

“Dost thou permit me to take away some of the water...”

“I will permit provided there come from thee one kiss on my cheek”

“By no means”

“Then no water shalt thou get from me.”

“I give my word”, he answered, “that I would rather perish of thirst than give thee a kiss”.

The lad then went back to the place where his brothers were biding, and told them he had not found water. So Ailill went to look for water, and chanced on the same well. He too refused to kiss the hag, returned without water, and did not confess that he found the well.

Then Brian, the eldest of the sons went to seek water, chanced on the same well, refused to kiss the old woman and returned waterless.

Fiachra then went, found the well and he had and asked her for water.

"I will grant it,said she, but give me a kiss”.

“I would give few kisses for it”.

“Thou shalt visit Tara”, said she.

That fell true for two of his race took the kingship of Erin, namely Dathi and Aillil Wether and no one of the others sons, Brian, Aillil, Fergus, took it. So Fiachra returned without water.

 Page 79