Seoithin-Seo (I) (Fairy Lullaby)

DESCRIPTION: Gaelic. On the first anniversary of her capture by fairies a woman is washing by a river and hushing a baby not hers. She asks a passer-by to tell her husband how to rescue her, if not the next day then never "for they'll make me Fairy Queen for ever"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1947 (OCroinin/Cronin-TheSongsOfElizabethCronin)
KEYWORDS: foreignlanguage captivity request separation abduction rescue magic ritual baby husband supernatural royalty
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
OCroinin/Cronin-TheSongsOfElizabethCronin 128, "Seoithin-Seo" (2 texts, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Elizabeth Cronin, "Seoithin-Seo" (on IRECronin01)
NOTES [45 words]: The description is a summary of the translation at George Sigerson, Bards of the Gael and Gall (London: T Fisher-Unwin, 1897), pp. 344-346, "Fairy Lullaby." Sigerson's version of the rescue is much briefer than but reminiscent of the rescue in Child 39, "Tam Lin." - BS
Last updated in version 3.2
File: OCC128

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