Then arose from Fraech's trumpets complaining, As his men travelled back to the dun; Their soft notes lamentation sustaining, And a many their deaths from them won; And he well knew its meaning; And, "Lift me, my folk," He cried, "surely that keening From Boand's women broke: My mother, the Fairy, is nigh." Then they raised him, and bore him Where wild rose the sound; To his kin they restored him; His women pressed round: And he passed from their sight out of Croghan; For that night from earth was he freed, And he dwelt with his kin, the Sid-Dwellers In the caverns of Croghan's deep Sid.[FN#11] [FN#11] Pronounced Sheed; Sid is the fairy mound. All at nine, next morrow, Gazed, for back he came, Round their darling pressing Many a fairy dame: Brave he seemed, for healing All his wounds had got; None could find a blemish, None a sear or spot. Fifty fairies round him, Like in age and grace; Like each form and bearing; Like each lovely face. All in fairy garments, All alike were dressed; None was found unequal; None surpassed the rest. And the men who stood round, as they neared them, Were struck with a marvellous awe; They were moved at the sight, and they feared them, And hardly their breath they could draw. At the Liss all the fairies departed, But on Fraech, as they vanished, they cried: And the sound floated in of their wailing, And it thrilled through the men, and they sighed. Then first that mournful measure, "The Ban-Shee[FN#12] Wail," was heard; All hearts with grief and pleasure That air, when harped, hath stirred. [FN#12] Spelt "Ban Side," the fairy women. To the dun came Fraech, and the hosts arose, and welcome by all was shown: For it seemed as if then was his birth among men, from a world to the earth unknown! Up rose for him Maev and King Ailill, their fault they confessed, and for grace they prayed, And a penance they did, and for all that assault they were pardoned, and peace was made. And now free from all dread, they the banquet spread, the banqueting straight began: But a thought came to Fraech, and from out of his folk he called to his side a man.