“Here is all the ale that I have,” she said, as she gave the flagon to Joseph: “and here, Mary, is all the water that there is. Little there is, but it is you that are welcome to it.”
Then, when they had quenched their thirst she brought out oatcakes and scones and brown bread, and would fain have added milk, but there was none.
“Go to the byre, Brighid,” said Mary, “and the first of the kye shall give milk.”
So Bride went, but returned saying that the creature would not give milk without a sian or song, and that her throat was too dry to sing.
“Say this sian,” said Mary:
Give up thy milk to her who calls
Across the low green hills of Heaven
And stream-cool meads of Paradise!
And sure enough, when Bride did this, the milk came: and she soothed her thirst, and went back to her guests rejoicing. It was sorrow to her not to let them stay where they were, but she could not, because of her oath.
The man Joseph was weary, and said he was too tired to seek far that night, and asked if there was no empty byre or stable where he and Mary could sleep till morning. At that, Bride was glad: for she knew there was a clean cool stable close to the byre where her kye were: and thereto she led them, and returned with peace at her heart.