‘But what help for it now but that I must betake myself to it?’ said poor Brian.
‘Well, then,’ said the fox, ‘come thou on top of me, and I am in hopes thou wilt be wiser the next time.’
They went then further than I can remember, till they reached the knoll of the country at the back of the wind and the face of the sun, that was in the realm of Big Women.
‘Now,’ said the fox, ‘thou shalt sit here, and thou shalt begin at blubbering and crying; and when the Big Women come out where thou art, they will lift thee in their oxters; and when they reach the house with thee, they will try to coax thee. But never thou cease of crying until thou get the White Glaive of Light; and they will leave it with thee in the cradle the length of the night, to keep thee quiet.’
Worthy Brian was not long blubbering and crying when the Big Women came, and they took Brian with them as the fox had said. And when Brian found the house quiet, he went away with the White Glaive of Light. And when he thought he was a good way from the house, he thought he would see if he had the right sword. He took it out of the sheath, and the sword gave out a ring. This awoke the Big Women, and they were on their soles. ‘Whom have we here,’ said they, ‘but the son of the king of Greece coming to steal the White Glaive of Light.’
They took after Brian, and they were not long bringing him back. They tied him roundly (like a ball), and they threw him into the peat-corner till the white morrow’s day was. When the morning came, they asked him to be under the sparks of the bellows,[8] or to go to steal the Sun Goddess, daughter of the king of the gathering of Fionn. [[286]]
‘A man is kind to his life,’ said Brian. ‘I will go steal the Sun Goddess.’
Never mind. Brian went, but he was not long on the path when the fox met him. ‘O poor fool,’ said the fox, ‘thou art as silly as thou wert ever. What good for me to be giving thee counsel? Thou art now going to steal the [[287]]Sun Goddess. Many a better thief than thou went on the same journey, but ever a man came never back. There are nine guards guarding her, and there is no dress under the seven russet rungs of the world that is like the dress that is on her but one other dress, and here is that dress for thee. And mind,’ said the fox, ‘that thou dost as I ask thee, or, if thou dost not, thou wilt not come to the next tale.’
Never mind. They went, and when they were near the guard, the fox put the dress on Brian, and he said to him to go forward straight through them, and when he reached the Sun Goddess to do as he bid him. ‘And, Brian, if thou gettest her out, I will not be far from you.’
But never mind. Brian took courage, and he went on, and each guard made way for him, till he went in where the Sun Goddess, daughter of the king of the gathering of Fionn, was. She put all-hail and good-luck on him, and she it was who was pleased to see him, for her father was not letting man come near her. And there they were.