After this the time came that Eochy the High King should make a royal progress throughout his realm of Ireland, but Etain he left behind at Tara. Before he departed he charged her saying, "Do thou be gentle and kind to my brother Ailill while he lives, and should he die, let his burial mound be heaped over him, and a pillar stone set up above it, and his name written thereon in letters of Ogham." Then the King took leave of Ailill and looked to see him again on earth no more.
After a while Etain bethought her and said, "Let us go to see how it fares with Ailill." So she went to where he lay in his Dún at Tethba. And seeing him wasted and pale she was moved with pity and distress and said,
"What ails thee, young man? Long thou hast lain prostrate, in fair weather and in foul, thou who wert wont to be so swift and strong?"
And Ailill said,
"Truly, I have a cause for my suffering; and I cannot eat, nor listen to the music makers; my affliction is very sore."
Then said Etain,
"Though I am a woman I am wise in many a thing; tell me what ails thee and thy healing shall be done."
Ailill replied,
"Blessing be with thee, O fair one; I am not worthy of thy speech; I am torn by the contention of body and of soul."
Then Etain deemed that she knew somewhat of his trouble, and she said,