Etain

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Etain

In ancient Irish romance, the second wife of Midir the Proud. The sorceress Fuamnach, Midir's first wife, became jealous of her beauty and turned her into a butterfly, and she was blown out of the palace by a magic storm. For seven years she was tossed throughout Ireland, but then was blown into the fairy palace of Angus on the Boyne. He could not release her from the spell, but during the day she fed on honey-laden flow-ers, and by night in her natural form gave Angus her love. Fuamnach discovered her hiding place and sent a dreadful tempest that blew Etain into the drinking cup of Etar, wife of an Ulster chief. Etar swallowed her, but she was reborn as Etar's daughter, and as such married Eochy, high king of Ireland.

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