Keep your head up

Though I have never been to it, I have always found the Isle of Man (traditionally called ‘Ellan Vannin’ by the islanders) to be a curious and wonderous place. Its name is itself a short form of Isle of Manánnan Mac Lir (god of the oceans) and even though it is a small island, close to both Ireland and Scotland, it has its own language - Manx.  One of my favourite folk tales told by the Manx is Y Chadee, as it has all the ingredients of what I consider to be a good tale: adventure, love, traditional wisdom and, of course (being a Celtic story), the supernatural. Below is, in brief, the version of the story that I know.

Once there was an aging king of Ellan Vannin who had two sons: the elder was named Eshyn and the younger was named Ny-Eshyn. Eshyn was brave and just in character and very good looking; while Ny-Eshyn was ordinary looking and was fond of drink, gambling and women. In addition, Ny-Eshyn was jealous of his elder brother, which made him angry and brood too much.

One evening, while passing the gate of a castle on the mount of South Barrule, Ny-Eshyn encountered a wizened old man who had strange eyes: one blue eye and one green eye. The old man asked Ny-Eshyn what ailed him, for as usual the prince had a scowl on his face. Ny-Eshyn replied, “I hate my brother. He has everything that makes him happy in life, but I have nothing.”

The old man said, “It is not he who has little that is poor, but he who desires more.” He then added, “But your situation can be fixed,” wherein he handed Ny-Eshyn a basket with a snake inside. The old man told Ny-Eshyn that if he puts the snake-basket under his brother’s bed, he will become ugly within a day. Ny-Eshyn was delighted by the offer and the promise. He duly took the basket from the old man and took it home to the castle in Doolish.

At dawn the next day, Eshyn went out hunting; while he was away, Ny-Eshyn placed the basket under Eshyn’s bed, as instructed.

In the evening, a man with coarse grey skin and a nose like a bird’s beak, matted hair, crossed eyes and a permanent drool approached the castle, riding Eshyn’s horse. The castle guards recognized the horse and accused the ugly man of killing Eshyn and stealing his horse. The strange-looking man insisted that he was Eshyn and called out to his parents; but when the king and queen saw the man, they did not recognize Eshyn transformed – and so, he was turned out of the castle.

Devastated and confused, Eshyn fled into the woods on his horse. After some time, he became thirsty and went to drink from a stream, but when he saw his own reflection in it, Eshyn screamed in surprise and horror. Letting his horse go, Eshyn wandered for a day and a night in the woods until he reached a deep black lake which lies in Druidale, by the black mountain Slieau Dhoo. The prince sat on a stone, head in hands, not able to understand how his form had changed so dramatically and what to do next.

After some time, an old woman wended her way along the path, bent double under the burden of a big bundle of sticks upon her back. Without a moment’s hesitation, Eshyn offered to carry the woman’s burden to her cabin on the peak of Slieau Dhoo. As they climbed up the mountainside, Eshyn told the old woman his strange story; she listened attentively. Once they reached the summit, the old woman invited Eshyn into her white stone cottage to rest while she starts a fire in the hearth. But Eshyn objected and told the old woman to rest. He kindled the fire and then put some mackerel into a kettle. After resting for some time, the old woman went to the window and studied the pattern of stars in the sky. After that she set the table.

While sitting to supper, the old woman told Eshyn to eat and grow strong and then to rest for the night. She promised to tell him in the morning how he is to become as comely and happy as he formerly was.

The next morning, while having tea, the old woman advised Eshyn to leave and walk past the fairy fortress that lies atop South Barrule – and if he meets an old man with one blue eye and one green eye, and if the man gives Eshyn advice, he should do exactly the opposite. Eshyn agreed to do so, even though he did not understand the rationale for the instructions.

Eshyn left the old woman and when he reached South Barrule he met the wizened old man and told him his troubles. The old man said that he must go inside to think, but he warned Eshyn that if in the meanwhile the Queen of the Fairies should pass, then Eshyn should hide himself and avoid her. Eshyn waited outside the fortress for a long time.

Late in the dark night, Eshyn saw a bright pinprick of light bobbing up and down across the mountainside. As the light drew closer, he saw a group of fairies and in the middle of the group was a beautiful young woman dressed in a green cloak, with golden hair that was held in place by a silver circlet. Resting on her left arm was a basket from which the light radiated.

Eshyn stepped forward and greeted the Queen of the Fairies. “Why do you stop me, Eshyn?” she asked him. Eshyn told her his tale and asked for her advice. Inspecting Eshyn closely, she told him that the serpent’s venom was responsible for his transformation and in order to cure it, he must follow her. Eshyn complied.

Soon they walked to the seashore and then onto the sea, walking on top of the waves. Walking across the sea, they reached another shore which was lined with an anchored armada. The Queen told Eshyn that this was the people of Orion the great hunter (Yn Shelgeyr Mooar) and the light of the Underworld. The Queen of the Fairies pointed out one ship and told Eshyn that upon it is Y Chadee (the Everlasting Pearl), daughter of Orion and the most beautiful princess under the sky – and that Y Chadee alone can cure Eshyn from his affliction. She said to Eshyn, “Y Chadee shall be your wife if you are strong and do not fear. The blood of Manannan Mac-y-Leirr (god of the oceans) flows in your veins and in your lineage, the kings of Ellan Vannin. You must follow your destiny. But first you need to pass three tests. First, you must enter the Cave of Heroes and seize the Sword of Orion, which is also known as the Sword of Light, and hold fast to it. Next, you must seize and do not give up the pearl of great beauty, the symbol of Y Chadee. And, lastly, a most beautiful woman will offer herself to you in return for the treasures that you possess: do not allow her to distract you from your mission.”

After showing Eshyn the path that he must take, the Queen of the Fairies blew into her basket, and as the light went out, she and the fairy host vanished.

Eshyn proceeded along the path shown by the Queen and after some time he encountered a gateway made of metal bars. Using as much strength as he could muster, Eshyn twisted the bars and successfully squeezed through them. From there he entered a great cave. He saw that it was full of warriors who were drinking and gambling, and at the end of the cave hung a great sword of blazing gold and silver. This was the Sword of Light, symbol of the sum of all knowledge and the dispeller of ignorance. Eshyn approached the warriors and told them that he had come to take the sword; they merely laughed at him and kept on drinking and gambling. Eshyn waited until all the warriors had fallen asleep. Then he quietly stacked tables and chairs and climbed up them to reach the sword.

As soon as Eshyn touched the sword, a great raven swooped in and sounded the alarm by cawing loudly. The warriors awoke only to see Eshyn holding the great Cliwe-ny-Sollys, which made him invincible. The warriors stayed where they were.

Keeping his eyes on the warriors, Eshyn left the cave and walked along a dark tunnel which led into a great feasting hall, which was accessed by a hole in the floor of the tunnel. The hall was full of warriors feasting on a vast table. In the middle of the great table was a candelabra made of silver and gold, with a pearl of great beauty sitting atop it.

The only way for Eshyn to access the feasting hall was to descend into it with the help of a rope that was hanging down. Eshyn slid down the rope. Once he had descended, Eshyn told the warriors that he had come for the pearl on the candelabra. All the warriors laughed at him and said that nobody can escape the hall with the pearl because the act of taking it plunges the hall into darkness and then the rope for escaping cannot be found.

Eshyn patiently waited. The warriors feasted and then eventually fell asleep. Once they were all snoring soundly, Eshyn ascended onto the table and reached out for the pearl with his right hand, while holding the rope with his left hand. As soon as he plucked the pearl from its seat, the hall was plunged in darkness, and a great raven entered the hall sounding alarm with its loud caws. The warriors awoke, but unable to see anything they attacked each other. During the melee, Eshyn safely stashed the pearl in his clothes, climbed up the rope and moved on.

Eshyn continued to follow the tunnel until it opened up by the sea. There he saw a great palace on the seashore, blazing with light. Entering the palace, Eshyn saw a beautiful hall and walked into it. In the hall were seven young maidens, each of whom approached him and encouraged Eshyn to stay. Though exhausted by his journey and the efforts of the two previous tests, and tempted to heed the maidens’ pleas, Eshyn remembered the advice that the Queen of the Fairies had given him and continued on his way.

Eshyn reached the sandy shore again, where he saw a great ship anchored – and before the ship stood a maiden. She asked Eshyn who he was and what his mission was. He replied, “I came to recover my lost manhood and my handsome form so that I can retrieve my place in the court of my father.” The maiden then asked Eshyn if he would give her the Sword of Light and the Everlasting Pearl, promising him greater pleasures than he could imagine if he did so. Eshyn refused, stating that he must retain them until the Queen of the Fairies tells him otherwise.

Eshyn asked the maiden her name; she replied, “I am Y Chadee, the Everlasting Pearl, daughter of Orion.” Again, she requested Eshyn to give her the sword and pearl, but he again refused. He said to her, “My joy in the world is more important than the shadows of this one.”

Y Chadee stopped pestering Eshyn. Instead, she told him to rest a bit, promising him that he would return to his world. The fatigued prince rested and closed his eyes for a moment – and when he opened his eyes again, he was back in the old woman’s cottage. It was all a dream! But no – he still had in his possession the Sword of Light and the Everlasting Pearl.

Once he regained his bearings, Eshyn told the old woman about his adventures. He also confessed to her that he had lost his heart to Y Chadee in the Otherworld and stated that he would happily exchange these “baubles” that he had gained for her love. The old woman replied, “What you did was wise. If you had accepted Y Chadee’s offer, you would have been eternally condemned to your ugly body and would have had a mere fleeting moment of joy in the Otherworld.”

The old woman then took Eshyn to a mirror and asked him to look into it. There he saw that he had returned to his original, handsome, form. He was amazed. “How can I replay you, old woman?” he enquired. She replied, “By returning to your father’s castle and showing them the two wonderous things that you have won; but afterwards, before the whole court, you must cast the sword and the pearl into the dark seas behind the castle walls.” Seeing how the old woman had helped him so much, Eshyn agreed to her request, though reluctantly and sadly.

Eshyn walked back to his father’s castle. When he approached the gates, the guards immediately recognized him and let him in. His parents were delighted to see him again – though Ny-Eshyn did not. Eshyn then told his family that he had been adventuring in the Otherworld. The critical Ny-Eshyn demanded proof of his elder brother’s claims. Eshyn then showed them the Sword of Orion and the Everlasting Pearl, both of which shone with dazzling supernatural brilliance.

Eshyn then told his family, and the courtiers who were in attendance, “I have another task to fulfill. Follow me.” Leading the royal family and court to the battlements, he continued, “I am here, returned to my normal shape, alive and well, and unharmed, entirely due to a promise that I have made. That promise I mean to keep.” And he prepared to hurl the Sword of Orion and the Everlasting Pearl into the sea.

The King, and courtiers, and all others in attendance begged Eshyn not to cast these wonders into the sea, as they are of inestimable worldly value. Disregarding them all, Eshyn threw both the sword and the pearl into the sea. Immediately, the great hand of Manannan Mac-y-Leirr came out of the waves and caught the sword and pearl. All stood in awe.

“You have thrown away a great treasure,” muttered Ny-Eshyn. “Not so,” answered Eshyn, “I have gathered a greater treasure, for I have garnered wisdom. I hold that wisdom is the greatest treasure.”

The old king reflected for a moment on what had just happened and then he spoke:

“He who holds must first have discovered;

He who has discovered must first have sought;

He who has sought must first have braved all impediments;

Thus did the Druids teach.”

Hearing the wisdom of the king’s words, the crowd fell silent. But a moment later, a horn sounded outside the castle, and a grand carriage, gilded in silver and gold, drove into the courtyard. A beautiful maiden stepped out of the carriage.

“Y Chadee!” gasped Eshyn. He rushed to the courtyard and welcomed her into the castle.

Y Chadee paid her respects to the king and queen and then said to Eshyn in the presence of all, “You did not settle for the treasures of the Otherworld, but rather for love in this one. For the love of a man such as you, I am destined in this world and the Otherworld, for there are no barriers to true love.”

All rejoiced when Eshyn announced his marriage to Y Chadee – except for Ny-Eshyn, who, some people say, cursed the fairy folk as he rode his horse away from the castle. He was never seen again in the Castle of Doolish or in all of Ellan Vannin.

What really impacts me whenever I read this story are the timeless messages that I find core to so much of Celtic culture, such as the importance of being spontaneously kind to and rendering service to strangers (no act of kindness is ever wasted); the importance of waiting for the right time to act; the need to act with both courage and intelligence; the value of keeping one’s promise no matter what the price; that wisdom is more valuable than any worldly object; acknowledging, but not getting lost in, the otherworld; and the importance of loving the world that we live in. These are some of the bedrock values that were instilled in me during my childhood, even though I am two generations removed from the Celtic soil of my ancestors. For that I am grateful, and hence I like to share these stories with others from time to time.