When he shook the branch the nine apples beat against each other and made music so sweet that there was no pain or sorrow in the world that a man would not forget while he hearkened to it.
"Does this branch belong to thee ?" asked Cormac of the youth.
"Truly it does," replied the youth.
"Wilt thou sell it to me ?" said Cormac.
"I never had aught that I would not sell for a price," said the young man.
"What is thy price ?" asked Cormac.
"The price shall be what I will," said the young man.
"I will give thee whatever thou desirest of all that is mine," said Cormac, for he coveted the branch exceedingly, and the enchantment was heavy upon him.
So the youth gave him the bell-branch, and then said, "My price is thy wife and thy son and thy daughter." Then they went together into the palace and found there Cormac's wife and his children.

"That is a wonderful jewel thou hast in thy hand, Cormac," said Ethne.
"It is," said Cormac, "and great is the price I have paid for it." "What is that price ?" said Ethne.
"Even thou and thy children twain," said the King.
"Never hast thou done such a thing," cried Ethne, "as to prefer any treasure in the world before us three!" And they all three lamented and implored, but Cormac shook the branch and immediately their sorrow was forgotten, and they went away willingly with the young man across the plain of Bregia until a mist hid them from the eyes of Cormac.

And when the people murmured and complained against Cormac, for Ethne and her children were much beloved of them, Cormac shook the bell-branch and their grief was turned into joy.
A year went by after this, and then Cormac longed for his wife and children again, nor could the bell-branch any longer bring him forgetfulness of them.

So one morning he took the branch and went out alone from Tara over the plain, taking the direction in which they had passed away a year agone; and ere long little wreathes of mist began to curl about his feet, and then to flit by him like long trailing robes, and he knew no more where he was.

After a time, however, he came out again into sunshine and clear sky, and found himself in a country of flowery meadows and of woods filled with singing-birds where he had never journeyed before.