When we have had a restless night, we often awaken in the morning with the idea in our head that have not slept a wink all night. A long time ago, on the island kingdom that we now refer to as Ireland, lived such a king, who was unable to sleep. Clearly something was troubling him but he did not know what. The peruser of the saga of King Cormac will soon find just cause for the King's insomnia.
The good king had three beautiful daughters. They were, we are informed, as gorgeous as human eye has ever witnessed. Say no more! There is ample justification for the king's restless nights. Although many modern men may have three daughters, it is highly unlikely than any father in modern times had a daughter that experienced what King Cormac's daughter did.
During a very warm summer, when it was so hot that sleep became impossible,King Cormac and his good wife made a tour of Ireland staying in each of the king's many palaces. The king did so in the hope that he would be able to sleep but it was all in vain. The three daughters remained at home. There is a saying in Ireland that when the cat is away the mice will play but the Irish prefer dance to play as if that would make a difference but it does as you shall soon see.
In the folklore of many ancient cultures there are abundant tales of beautiful young women being seduced by powerful and magnificent creatures. Leda and the Swan come to mind. In this case, the daughters had gone swimming in the lake. The youngest had been seduced by a gigantic otter. When the king returned, he was not amused once he had shaken the truth out of his youngest and fairest.
The king ran through a gamut of emotions but was soon reconciled to the results of the ordeal that his fairest and youngest daughter had endured. We now know why the death of the king's only son was mentioned at the beginning of the tale by most tellers save the present one.
You guessed it, the daughter gave birth to a boy who soon grew into a strapping lad. The boy suggested to the king that he take over the reins of power but the king wished to reign just a bit longer and refused. As luck would have it, the boy was now a teenager and he became impossible to live with. Sound familiar?
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