Blair Collection > Beside the fire

THE TAILOR AND THE THREE BEASTS.
There was once a tailor in Galway, and he was sewing
cloth. He saw a flea springing up out of the cloth, and
he threw his needle at it and killed it. Then he said :
" Am I not a fine hero when I was able to kill that
flea?"
Then he said that he must go to Blackleea (Dublin), to
the king's court, to see would he be able to build it.
That court was a' building fora long time ; but as much of
it as would be made during the day used to be thrown
down again during the night, and for that reason nobody
could build it up. It was three giants who used to come
in the night and throw it. The day on the morrow the
tailor went off, and brought with him his tools, the
spade and the shovel.
He had not gone far till he met a white horse, and he
saluted him.
" God save you," said the horse. " Where are you
going ? "
"I am going to Dublin," said the tailor, " to build a
court for the king, and to get a lady for a wife, if I am
able to do it ; " for the king had promised that he would
give his own daughter, and a lot of money with her, to
whoever would be able to build up his court.
" Would you make me a hole," said the old white
garraun (horse) "where I could go a' hiding whenever the