Voyage of Bran
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The Voyage of Bran is a tale of a man's journey across the sea to avenge his father's murder. The content derives from Irish Mythology, but was written in the 8th century. Old Irish storyteller's lists categorize the tale as an Echtra, or "Adventure", but it contains the essential elements of an Immram, or "Voyage". It may have influenced the story of Saint Brendan's voyage later on.
[edit] Synopsis
In Irish Mythology, Bran, son of Febal, embarks upon a quest to the Other World. One day while Bran is walking, he hears beautiful music, so beautiful, in fact, that it lulls him to sleep. Upon awakening, he sees a beautiful silver branch in front of him. He returns to his royal house, and while his company is there, a strange woman appears, and sings to him a poem about the land where the branch had grown. In this Otherworld, it is always summer, there is no want of food or water, and no sickness or despair ever touches the perfect people. She tells Bran to voyage to the Land of Women across the sea, and the next day he gathers a company of men to do so.
After two days, he sees a man on a chariot speeding towards him. The man is Manannan mac Lir, and he tells Bran that he is not sailing upon the ocean, but upon a flowery plain. He also reveals to Bran that there are many men riding in chariots, but that they are invisible. He tells Bran of how he is to beget his son in Ireland, and that his son will become a great warrior.
Bran leaves Manannan mac Lir, and comes to the Isle of Joy. All the people upon the Isle of Joy laugh and stare at him, but will not answer his calls. When Bran sends a man ashore to see what the matter is, the man starts to laugh and gape just like the others. Bran leaves him and sails farther.
He then reaches the Land of Women, but is hesitant to go ashore. However, the leader of the women throws a magical clew at him which sticks to his hand. She then pulls the boat to shore, and each man pairs off with a woman, Bran with the leader.
For one whole year, although it seemed like many more, the men feasted happily in the Land of Women until Nechtan Mac Collbran felt homesickness stir within him. The leader of the women was reluctant to let them go, and warned them not to step upon the shores of Ireland.
Bran and his company sailed back to Ireland. The people that had gathered on the shores to meet him did not recognize his name except in their legends. Nechtan Mac Collbran, upset, jumped off the boat onto the land. Immediately, Nechtan Mac Collbran turned to ashes.
Bran and his company related the rest of their story to the Irish, and then sailed across the sea, never to be seen again.
[edit] Historical Notes
This poem was written down between AD 700 and 900, by Christian monks. These monks added a few stanzas to the poem that predicted the coming of Christ.
