Shepard of Myddvai by Joseph Jacobs
There once was a man. He led his flock to the lake up in the top of the mountains. One day, he saw three beautiful maidens. He attempted to woo her. He gave her bread and she sang him a song. She sang of his overcooked bread, giggled, and ran into the lake. The next day he was determined to try again. He brought her another loaf of bread and she and her sisters sang him a different song. She sang of his undercooked bread, giggled, and ran into the lake. He was determined to have her. On the third day, he found bread floating in the lake. He gave it to her and she rejoiced. She agreed to be his wife as long as he did not strike her three times. He did not see this being an issue so he agreed. Time went on and they had three children. He had never come against her demand. One day, they were running behind and he told her to go grab the horses and he will go and grab her gloves. When he returned she was not with the horses and he patted her with her gloves. She said that was one strike. Later she was crying hysterically at a wedding. He patted her on the shoulder and asked why she was crying? She counted that as two and gave him a warning that he had one left. Finally they were at a funeral. She began laughing. He shook her shoulders and said why are you laughing? Because this was nothing to be laughing about. She told him that was his third strike. She gathered all the animal she offered him with her hand and went back to the lake.
This is an image of the Black Mountains where he found her. Source: Flickr
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