it of a farm and a few sheep, and it was
his intention that Shamus, likewise, should be a farmer and a
raiser of sheep.

Shamus, however, had other ideas. Being a shrewd lad, he saw early
that men seldom made a fortune and won the good things of the world
through toil and the sweat of their brows. Not at all! And Shamus
loved an easy life only less than he loved to play upon the harp
and sing songs of the old days, the wars of kings, and the love of
beautiful women. He was always playing upon the harp when he should
have been working in the fields and watching the sheep, and his
father soon realized that the lad was fit for no honest work but
was designed by nature only to be a harper and a maker of ballads.

One day he said to his son, "Take your harp and go to the house of
the King. Perhaps he may find a use for you, for sure it is you are
of no use to me. When you have won gold and wear fine clothes,
perhaps after long years you will return to see me in my old age,
and I will think better of you."

Shamus was glad at these words and, packing a few things in a bag
and slinging his harp upon his back, off he went to the house of
the King.

It was a fine house with many servants and poor relations of the
King, eating the bread of idleness. There were harpers, also, but
as there can never be too many of them in the world, the King said
to Shamus, "Play me a ballad of kings and wars, and the love of
women, and, if the song be good, you shall stay with me and have
little to do but make songs and sing them."

Shamus did as he was told and sang a song which the King liked
well, and accordingly the lad was given a fine coat and all he
could eat and nothing to do, and he was content.

Now, the King had a daughter who was as beautiful as the dawn. No
sooner had Shamus set eyes upon her than he fell in love with her
and resolved to win her as his wife, if she would have him and the
King would consent. He made songs which he sang to her, and the
Princess liked them. She grew fond of Shamus, who was a handsome
lad.

The King, however, after the way of kings and fathers, had other
ideas and announced throughout the kingdom that the Princess should
be the wife of him who was victorious in a quest, which was no
other than to win from the King of the Little People the gold cup