d at the renegade people who
no longer did them honor, sent another minstrel, who after laying
the ancient religious seat Tara under a twenty-three years' charm,
burned up the city with his fiery breath.

These infamous spirits dwelt in grassy mounds, called "forts,"
which were the entrances to underground palaces full of treasure,
where was always music and dancing. These treasure-houses were open
only on November Eve

"For the fairy mounds of Erinn are always
opened about Hallowe'en."

_Expedition of Nera._ (Meyer _trans._)

when the throngs of spirits, fairies, and goblins trooped out for
revels about the country. The old Druid idea of obsession, the
besieging of a person by an evil spirit, was practised by them at
that time.

"This is the first day of the winter, and to-day the
Hosts of the Air are in their greatest power."

WARREN: _Twig of Thorn._

If the fairies wished to seize a mortal--which power they had as
the sun-god could take men to himself--they caused him to give
them certain tokens by which he delivered himself into their hands.
They might be milk and fire--

"_Maire Bruin:_
A little queer old woman cloaked in green,
Who came to beg a porringer of milk.

_Bridget Bruin:_
The good people go asking milk and fire
Upon May Eve--woe to the house that gives,
For they have power over it for a year."

YEATS: _Land of Heart's Desire._

or one might receive a fairy thorn such as Oonah brings home, which
shrivels up at the touch of St. Bridget's image;

"Oh, ever since I kept the twig of thorn and hid it, I have seen
strange things, and heard strange laughter and far voices
calling."

WARREN: _Twig of Thorn._

or one might be lured by music as he stopped near the fort to watch
the dancing, for the revels were held in secret, as those of the
Druids had been, and no one could look on them unaffected.

A story is told of Paddy More, a great stout uncivil churl, and
Paddy Beg, a cheerful little hunchback. The latter, seeing lights
and hearing music, paused by a mound, and was invited in. Urged to
tell stories, he complied; he danced as spryly as he could for his
deformity; he sang, and made himself so agreeable that the fairies
decided to take the hump off his back, and send him home a straight
manly fellow. The nex