It came to be noticed that after Ethne had grown up she never ate or drank of the fairy food, or of any other, yet she continued to seem healthy and well-nourished.

This was reported to Angus, and by him to Mananan, and Mananan by his wisdom discovered the cause of it.

One of the lords of the Danaans, happening to be on a visit with Angus, was rendered distraught by the maiden's beauty, and one day he laid hands upon her and strove to carry her away to his own dwelling.

Ethne escaped from him, but the blaze of resentment at the insult that lit up in her soul consumed in her the fairy nature, that knows not of good or evil, and the nature of the children of Adam took its place.
Thenceforth she ate not of the fairy food, which is prohibited to man, and she was nourished miraculously by the will of the One God.

But after a time it chanced that Mananan and Angus brought from the Holy Land two cows whose milk could never run dry.