hat evening the King observed that there was grief and great trouble on his young son, and when he went to sleep the King and every person that was in the castle heard heavy sighings and ravings from him. The King was in grief—a goat’s head to be on the Queen—but he was seven times worse when they told him the (whole) story how it happened from beginning to end.
He sent for a wise councillor, and asked him did he know where the King of the Black Desert was living.
“I do not, indeed,” said he; “but as sure as there’s a tail on the cat, unless the young heir finds out that enchanter he will lose his head.”
There was great grief that day in the castle of the King. There was a goat’s head on the Queen, and the King’s son was going searching for an enchanter, without knowing whether he would ever come back.
After a week the goat’s head was taken off the Queen, and her own head was put upon her. When she heard of how the goat’s head was put upon her, a great hate came upon her against the King’s son, and she said “that he may never come back, alive or dead.”
Of a Monday morning he left his blessing with his father and his kindred; his travelling bag was bound upon his shoulder, and he went—
His hound at his foot,
His hawk on his hand,
And his fine black horse to bear him.
He walked that day until the sun was gone beneath the shadow of the hills and till the darkness of the night was coming, without knowing where he could get lodgings. He noticed a large wood on his left-hand side, and he drew towards it as quickly as he could, hoping to spend the night under the shelter of the trees. He sat down at the foot of a large oak tree, and opened his travelling bag to take some food and drink, when he saw a great eagle coming towards him.
“Do not be afraid of me, King’s son; I know you—you are the son of O’Conor, King of Ireland. I am a friend, and if you give me your horse to give to eat to four hungry birds that I have, I shall bear you farther than your horse would bear you, and, perhaps, I would put you on the track of him you are looking for.”
“You can have the horse, and welcome,” says the King’s son, “although I’m sorrowful at parting from him.”