Re: Otherworldly Branches
Beirdd
 
Sun Aug 23 21:39:23 1998
TopazOwl wrote,*br*:*br*:      Was it Manannan who gave a branch to Cormac mac Art *br*: that was in stages of both flowering and fruiting? Or am I *br*: mixing up my tales again? <g>*br*:*p*I think that the branch given to Cormac by Manannan was silver with three golden apples. I don't recall flowers.*p*The branch given to Bran mac Fabel in "The Voyage of Bran mac Febal to the Land of Faery" is apple, silver and covered in white flowers. In some versions, there are silver fruit on it which chime and send the poet into ecstasies. However, if these replace the blossoms or coincide with them, I'm not sure.*p*In the story of Teigue, Son of Cian, the protagonist who is visiting the Otherworld witnesses an apple tree bearing blossoms and fruit at the same time.  He is informed by the tree's otherworldly owners that it feeds all who come to their house. In this context, I would suspect that the presence of both flowers and fruit on a single tree are indicative of the common source of vitality or life (the flower) and poetic inspiration (the fruit).  *p*Does this help?*p*--Beirdd*br*
Otherworldly Branches
TopazOwl
148
Sun Aug 23 09:05:56 1998