The Fairy Harp

In the caves on Cader Idris there lived many fairies. They were friendly little people and often went into the villages to visit the country folk. The fairies were welcomed in most of the cottages and in return for the kindness they received, the little folk would bring many gifts. But evil would befall all those who were unkind to them. Yet unkind people were few in the valleys around Cader Idris. Tudor ap Rhys sat alone in his cottage, for his wife had gone to visit her friends in Dolgelly. He watched the smoke curl out of his pipe as he sat thinking of past. He felt lonely, and kept looking at the clock, watching for the time that Anna would return. Tudor began to sing, at first quietly, for Anna had often laughed at his efforts. Then he sang more loudly, for the singing broke his loneliness. He began another tune. “Why does Anna laugh when I sing?” he asked himself. “I can sing quite bravely” He sang an old folk song, and his notes were true and sweet. When he had finished, there was a knocking at the door. “Come in!” called Tudor. But no one entered. “Come in”” called Tudor, more sharply this time. “Doors are made to come through, so please enter.” He rose from his armchair on the hearth in order to open the door, but before he got there, three travellers came in. Tudor could see they were travel stained and weary and even before they spoke to him he was sure they had walked over Cader Idris. What he did not realise was that they were not three ordinary travellers; not for a minute did he think they were three fairy folk come to test the welcome Tudor ap Rhys gave in his cottage. The three travellers were shy in crossing the threshold. One of them stepped forward and addressed Tudor. “Sir,” he said, “We are very weary after our travels, but all we ask of you is a little food to sustain us so we may continue.” “Dragon wings!” Tudor swore. “A little food? Is that all you need? Were Anna home we could have had a true feast!” The men laid their coats aside. “Come to the table, you are welcome to all that is here, bread and cheese.” Tudor invited. “Will that do sirs? I have eaten my supper and not left much, but let me look in the cupboard.” The travellers began to eat, Tudor returned. “Here my friends take it all. Anna’s cake is well worth a healthy bite, and people have come from miles to taste her fruit tart.” Tudor heaped before his guests all the good things he could find. “You are hungry good friends,” he said. “Eat and satisfy yourselves. We give the best welcome we can at the home of Tudor ap Rhys.” The travellers ate silently, then one of them spoke: “Sir, when we came to your door we heard some sweet singing.” Tudor bowed his head in modesty. How Anna would have laughed if she had heard! “I was amusing myself,” he explained. “I only sang to pass the time.” “Sing again” said the three travellers together. Tudor sang song after song while they finished their supper. The men rose from the table and prepared to leave. The man who had first spoken addressed their host: “Sir, we wish to thank you. Since you have been so generous, we wish to repay you. It is in our power to grant you whatsoever you wish. Tell us what you desire.” “Well ,” began Tudor, “I am pleased to give you a welcome. I ask no reward. It would have been well if Anna were here, she would have prepared you a feast.” “Tell us what you want,” said the travellers together, “For we must continue our journey.” “I would like,” said Tudor slowly, “ a little harp—a little harp that would play the sweetest music no matter how badly my clumsy fingers would pluck the strings. But good friends take no notice of my wish. It is a foolish request.” “Not at all,” said one of the men. “Surely that is not foolish?” He pointed to the hearth behind Tudor. Tudor turned and on the hearth was the most beautiful golden harp set with jewels. He raised his hands in amazement. “It is the most beautiful harp I have ever seen!” he cried. He looked towards his guests, but they had disappeared. Tudor plucked the strings of the harp that had come to him in such a strange way. He smiled. “I’ll play a merry tune,” he said. “I’ll surprise Anna when she returns.” He plucked the golden strings and the harp played sweet music. The tune was merry and sprightly, and delighted Tudor’s heart. Tune after tune he played. He could not leave the fairy harp, such sweet music did it play. There was the sound of footsteps. Anna was returning home accompanied by some friends. Tudor began to play the music of a fairy dance. Before Anna had time to speak in greeting she began to dance and her companions joined in the frolic. Round and round the kitchen they tripped, while Tudor played merrily on his golden harp. Only when he ceased to play, could the dancers stop. Tudor told them how the wonderful harp had come into his possession. The news spread through the countryside: Tudor ap Rhys had come into possession of a fairy harp having strange powers! People came from miles around to see the fairy gift. “Play the harp Tudor,” the visitors begged. When he played, those who heard felt bound to dance. “Stop playing, stop playing, Tudor!” the dancers would cry. “We have no breath left to dance anymore, and our limbs are aching.” Tudor played sometimes mercifully, sometimes mercilessly, to show the power of the magic harp. The visitors would return to their homes and recount wonderful stories of Tudor’s gift. One day there came to the house a man who was Tudor’s enemy. He had come to mock. Tudor was no musician, he declared. Where had the poor cottager learned to play a golden harp? Tudor invited him into the house. Very cautiously he spoke to the visitor, though he remembered how often he had endured his insults in silence. “Let me hear you play,” scoffed the man. Tudor began to play the golden harp. To the man’s annoyance he could not help but dance. It was now Tudor’s turn to laugh. “Stop!” cried the man. But Tudor continued to play a merry tune. Tudor played and the man danced. Tudor laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. The man twirled around and around, calling on the musician to stop, until Tudor’s sides ached with laughter. Then he felt it was time to halt. He set the harp aside, and the man sank down to the floor, unable to dance one step more. When the visitor had gone Tudor turned to the harp to play one tune more. He plucked the strings but the harp was silent. “Fairy music was not meant to be played in spite,” said a sweet voice. Tudor looked around but could see no one. Sad at heart Tudor failed to sleep that night. He arose early in the morning to examine his silent harp, but to his dismay the fairy gift had disappeared. “It’s all my own fault,” said Tudor to Anna., who stood sorrowfully beside him. “If I ever have a Fairy harp again, I’ll be more careful how I use it.” But although Tudor lived to be a very old man, he never received another fairy gift.