Mider

Yet at the appointed hour Mider stood in their midst, fairer than ever; and he sang to Etain: --

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

On a summer's day, as the king sat on the heights of Tara beholding the plain of Breg, a strange young warrior appeared, gave his name as Mider, and challenged Eochaid to a game of chess for a wager.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

And the king would not, yet allowed Mider to embrace her before him.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

Mider took his weapons into his left hand, and Etain with his right, and bore her away through the skylight.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

But this Oberon of _Huon of Bordeaux_ is mortal, and is not pictured as being abnormal in stature, any more than Mider.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

Eochaid Airemm, king of Ireland, found him a wife in Etain daughter of Etar in the Bay of Cichmany, and with her Mider of Bri Leith (a fairy chief) was in love.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

But at last Eochaid was defeated, and Mider for his reward asked to be allowed to hold Etain in his arms and kiss her.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

For nine years Eochaid waged war against Mider, digging into the elf-mounds, until he hit upon the fairy-mansion; whereupon Mider sent to the side of the palace sixty women, all exactly like Etain.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

Many were the games they played, and at first Eochaid won, and bade Mider carry out certain tasks.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick

Mider are invisible (or can make themselves so), both have supernatural powers, and both are immortal.

The Sources and Analogues of 'A Midsummer-night's Dream' Compiled by Frank Sidgwick