THE ANCIENT IRISH EPIC TALE TÁIN BÓ CÚALNGE "THE CUALNGE CATTLE-RAID" Now for the first time done entire into English out of the Irish of the Book of Leinster and Allied Manuscripts By JOSEPH DUNN Professor at the Catholic University Washington WITH TWO PAGES IN FACSIMILÉ OF THE MANUSCRIPTS [Illustration: "Daig concechlabat fin hErend & Alban inn ainm sin, & bat lana beóil fer n-hErend & Alban din anmun sin. "] Book of Leinster, fo. 64a. "For the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that name (Cuchulain) and the mouths of the men of Erin and Alba shall be full of that name. " LONDON DAVID NUTT 17 GRAPE STREET, NEW OXFORD STREET, W. C 1914 To the Memory of MY MOTHER * * * * * [Illustration: FACSIMILE, PAGE 55--_from the Book of Leinster_. ] * * * * * CONTENTS Preface, xi. I The Pillow-talk, 1. II The Occasion of the Táin, 5. III The Rising-out of the Men of Connacht at Cruachan Ai, 10. IV The Foretelling, 13. V The Route of the Táin, 19. VI The March of the Host, 21. VII The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain, 46. VIIa The Slaying of the Smith's Hound by Cuchulain, 54. VIIb The Taking of Arms by Cuchulain and The Slaying of the Three Sons of Necht Scenè, 60. VIIc A Separate Version as far as the Slaying Of Orlam, 80. VIII The Slaying of Orlam, 82. VIIIa The Slaying of the Three MacArach, 85. VIIIb The Combat of Lethan and Cuchulain, 86. VIIIc The Killing of the Squirrel and of the Tame Bird, 88. VIIId The Slaying of Lochè, 93. VIIIe The Killing of Uala, 95. VIIIf The Harrying of Cualnge, 99. IX The Proposals, 104. X The Violent Death of Etarcumul, 115. XI The Slaying of Nathcrantail, 126. XII The Finding of the Bull, 132. XIIa The Death of Forgemen, 136. XIIb The Slaying of Redg the Lampoonist, 137. XIIc The Meeting of Cuchulain and Finnabair, 139. XIId The Combat of Munremar and Curoi, 141. XIIe The Slaughter of the Boy-troop, 143. XIIf The Slaughter of the King's Bodyguard, 145. XIII The Combat of Cûr with Cuchulain, 146. XIV The Slaying of Ferbaeth, 150. XIVa The Combat of Larinè MacNois, 155. XIVb The Colloquy of the Morrigan and Cuchulain, 161. XV The Combat of Loch and Cuchulain, and The Slaying of Loch son of Mofemis, 163. XVI The Violation of the Agreement, 175. XVIa The Healing of the Morrigan, 177. XVII The Great Rout on the Plain of Murthemne, 180. XVIIa The Slaughter of the Youths of Ulster, 184. XVIIb The Scythed Chariot, 187. XVIIc The Appearance of Cuchulain, 195. XVIId Dubthach's Jealousy, 198. XVIII The Slaying of Oengus son of Oenlam, 201. XVIIIa The Misthrow at Belach Eoin, 202. XVIIIb The Disguising of Tamon, 204. XIX The Battle of Fergus and Cuchulain, 205. XIXa The Head-place of Ferchu, 209. XIXb Mann's Fight, 211. XIXc The Combat of Calatin's Children, 213. XX The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain, 217. XXI Cuchulain and the Rivers, 268. XXII Cethern's Strait-fight, 269. XXIIa Cethern's Bloody Wounds, 273. XXIII The Tooth-fight of Fintan, 283. XXIIIa The Red-Shame of Menn, 285. XXIIIb The Accoutrement of the Charioteers, 287. XXIIIc The White-fight of Rochad, 288. XXIIId Iliach's Clump-fight, 292. XXIIIe The Deer-stalking of Amargin in Taltiu, 295. XXIIIf The Adventures of Curoi son of Darè, 296. XXIV The Repeated Warning of Sualtaim, 298. XXIVa The Agitation of Celtchar, 306. XXV The Array of the Host, 309. XXVI The Decision of the Battle, 345. XXVII The Battle of Garech, 348. XXVIIa The Muster of the Men of Erin, 351. XXVIII The Battle of the Bulls, 363. XXIX The Account of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, 366. Index of Place and Personal Names, 371. * * * * * [Illustration: FACSIMILE PAGE 55--_from Leabhar na h-Uidhri_. ] * * * * * PREFACE The Gaelic Literature of Ireland is vast in extent and rich in quality. Theinedited manuscript materials, if published, would occupy several hundredlarge volumes. Of this mass only a small portion has as yet been exploredby scholars. Nevertheless three saga-cycles stand out from the rest, distinguished for their compass, age and literary worth, those, namely, ofthe gods, of the demigod Cuchulain, and of Finn son of Cumhall. TheCuchulain cycle, also called the Ulster cycle--from the home of its hero inthe North of Ireland--forms the core of this great mass of epic material. It is also known as the cycle of Conchobar, the king round whom the Ulsterwarriors mustered, and, finally, it has been called the Red Branch Cyclefrom the name of the banqueting hall at Emain Macha in Ulster. Only a few of the hundred or more tales which once belonged to this cyclehave survived. There are some dozen in particular, technically known as_Remscéla_ or "Foretales, " because they lead up to and explain the greatTáin, the Táin Bó Cúalnge, "The Cualnge Cattle-raid, " the Iliad of Ireland, as it has been called, the queen of Irish epic tales, and the wildest andmost fascinating saga-tale, not only of the entire Celtic world, but evenof all western Europe. The mediaeval Irish scholars catalogued their native literature underseveral heads, probably as an aid to the memory of the professional poetsor story-tellers whose stock-in-trade it was, and to one of these divisionsthey gave the name _Táinte_, plural of _Táin_. By this term, which is mostoften followed by the genitive plural _bó_, "cows, " they meant "a driving, "or "a reaving, " or even "a drove" or "herd" of cattle. It is only byextension of meaning that this title is applied to the Táin Bó Cúalnge, themost famous representative of the class, for it is not, strictly speaking, with the driving of cattle that it deals but with that of the Brown Bull ofCualnge. But, since to carry off the bull implies the carrying off of theherd of which he was the head, and as the "Brown" is always represented asaccompanied by his fifty heifers, there were sufficient grounds for puttingthe Brown Bull Quest in the class of Cow-spoils. The prominence accorded to this class of stories in the early literature ofIreland is not to be wondered at when the economic situation of the countryand the stage of civilization of which they are the faithful mirror isborne in mind. [1] Since all wars are waged for gain, and since among theIrish, who are still very much a nation of cattle raisers, cattle was thechief article of wealth and measure of value, [2] so marauding expeditionsfrom one district into another for cattle must have been of frequentoccurrence, just as among the North American Indians tribal wars used to bewaged for the acquisition of horses. That this had been a common practiceamong their kinsmen on the Continent also we learn from Caesar's account ofthe Germans (and Celts?) who, he says, practised warfare not only for ameans of subsistence but also for exercising their warriors. How long-livedthe custom has been amongst the Gaelic Celts, as an occupation or as apastime, is evident not only from the plundering incursions or "creaghs"[3]as they are called in the Highlands and described by Scott in _Waverley_and _The Fair Maid of Perth_, but also from the "cattle-drives" which havebeen resorted to in our own day in Ireland, though these latter had adifferent motive than plunder. As has been observed by Sir Henry SumnerMaine, Lord Macaulay was mistaken in ascribing this custom to "some nativevice of Irish character, " for, as every student of ancient Ireland mayperceive, it is rather to be regarded as "a survival, an ancient andinveterate habit" of the race. One of these many Cattle-preys was the Táin Bó Cúalnge, [4] which, there canbe little doubt, had behind it no mere myth but some kernel of actualfact. Its historical basis is that a Connacht chieftain and his lady wentto war with Ulster about a drove of cattle. The importance of a racialstruggle between the north-east province and the remaining four grandprovinces of Ireland cannot be ascribed to it. There is, it is true, strongevidence to show that two chief centres, political, if not cultural andnational, existed at the time of the Táin in Ireland, Cruachan Ai, near thepresent Rathcroghan in Connacht, and Emain Macha, the Navan Fort, two mileswest of Armagh in Ulster, and it is with the friendly or hostile relationsof these two that the Ultonian cycle of tales deals. Ulster, or, moreprecisely, the eastern portion of the Province, was the scene of all theCattle-raids, and there is a degree of truth in the couplet, -- "Leinster for breeding, And Ulster for reaving; Munster for reading, And Connacht for thieving. " But there are no indications of a racial clash or war of tribes. With theexception of the Oghamic writings inscribed on the pillar-stones byCuchulain, which seem to require interpretation to the men of Connacht byUlstermen, the description of the warriors mustered by the Connacht warriorqueen and those gathered round King Conchobar of Ulster accord quiteclosely. The Táin Bó Cúalnge is the work not of any one man but of a corporation ofartists known as _filid_. The author of the Táin in its present state, whoever he may have been, was a strong partisan of Ulster and never missesan opportunity of flattering the pride of her chieftains. Later a kind ofreaction against the pre-eminence given to Ulster and the glorification ofits hero sets in, and a group of stories arises in which the war takes adifferent end and Cuchulain is shown to disadvantage, finally to fall atthe hands of a Munster champion. It is to this southern province that thesaga-cycle which followed the Cuchulain at an interval of two hundred yearsbelongs, namely, the Fenian saga, --the saga of Finn son of Cumhall, whichstill flourishes among the Gaelic speakers of Ireland and Scotland, whilethe Cuchulain stories have almost died out among them. The mingling of thetwo sagas is the work of the eighteenth-century Scots Lowlander, JamesMacpherson. The Táin Bó Cúalnge is one of the most precious monuments of the world'sliterature, both because of the poetic worth it evidences at an early stageof civilization, and for the light it throws on the life of the peopleamong whom it originated and that of their ancestors centuries earlier. Itis not less valuable and curious because it shows us the earlier stages ofan epic--an epic in the making--which it does better perhaps than any otherwork in literature. Ireland had at hand all the materials for a greatnational epic, a wealth of saga-material replete with interesting episodes, picturesque and dramatic incidents and strongly defined personages, yet shenever found her Homer, a gifted poet to embrace her entire literary wealth, to piece the disjointed fragments together, smooth the asperities and handdown to posterity the finished epic of the Celtic world, superior, perhaps, to the Iliad or the Odyssey. What has come down to us is "a sort ofpatchwork epic, " as Prescott called the Ballads of the Cid, a popularepopee in all its native roughness, wild phantasy and extravagance of deedand description as it developed during successive generations. It resemblesthe frame of some huge ship left unfinished by the builders on the beachand covered with shells and drift from the sea of Celtic tradition. Fromthe historical standpoint, however, and as a picture of the old barbaricCeltic culture, and as a pure expression of elemental passion, it is ofmore importance to have the genuine tradition as it developed amongst thepeople, unvarnished by poetic art and uninfluenced by the example of olderand alien societies. According to the Chronicles of Ireland, as formulated in the Annals ofTigernach, [5] who died in 1088, King Conchobar of Ulster began to reign inthe year 30 B. C. , and he is said to have died of grief at the news thatChrist had been crucified. His reign therefore lasted about sixtyyears. Cuchulain died in the year 39 A. D. In the twenty-seventh year ofhis age, as we learn from the following entry: "The death of Cuchulain, thebravest hero of the Irish, by Lugaid son of Three Hounds, king of Munster, and by Erc, king of Tara, son of Carbre Niafer, and by the three sons ofCalatin of Connacht. Seven years was his age when he assumed arms, seventeen was his age when he followed the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge, but twenty-seven years was his age when he died. "[6] A very different account is given in the manuscript known as H. 3. 17, Trinity College, Dublin, quoted by O'Curry in his _Manuscript Materials_, page 508. The passage concludes with the statement: "So that the year ofthe Táin was the fifty-ninth year of Cuchulain's age, from the night of hisbirth to the night of his death. " The record first quoted, however, ispartly corroborated by the following passage which I translate from theBook of Ballymote, facsimilé edition, page 13, col. A, lines 9-21: "In thefourteenth year of the reign of Conairè (killed in 40 B. C. ) and ofConchobar, the Blessed Virgin was born. At that time Cuchulain hadcompleted thirteen years; and in the fourth year after the birth of Mary, the expedition of the Kine of Cualnge took place . . . That is, in theeighteenth year of the reign of Conairè. Cuchulain had completed hisseventeenth year at that time. That is, it was in the thirty-second year ofthe reign of Octavius Augustus that the same expedition took place. Eightyears after the Táin Bó Cúalnge, Christ was born, and Mary had completedtwelve years then, and that was in the fortieth year of the reign ofOctavius Augustus; and in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Conairè andConchobar, and in the second year after the birth of Christ, Cuchulaindied. And twenty-seven years was Cuchulain's age at that time. " These apparent synchronisms, of course, may only rest upon the imaginationof the Christian annalists of Ireland, who hoped to exalt their ancientrulers and heroes by bringing them into relation with and even making themparticipate in the events of the life of the Saviour. But in placing thedate of the expedition of the Táin at about the beginning of the Christianera, Irish tradition is undoubtedly correct, as appears from the characterof the civilization depicted in the Ulster tales, which corresponds in aremarkable degree with what authors of antiquity have recorded of the Celtsand with the character of the age which archaeologists call "la Tène, " or"Late Celtic, " which terminates at the beginning of the first century ofour era. Oral tradition was perhaps occupied for five hundred years workingover and developing the story of the Táin, and by the close of the fifthcentury the saga to which it belonged was substantially the one we havenow. The text of the tale must have been completed by the first half of theseventh century, and, as we shall see, its oldest extant version, the Bookof the Dun, dates from about the year 1100. But, whatever may be the precise dates of these events, which we are not ina position to determine more accurately, the composition of the TáinBó Cúalnge antedates by a considerable margin the epic tales of theAnglo-Saxons, the Scandinavians, the Franks and the Germans. It is theoldest epic tale of western Europe, and it and the cycle of tales to whichit belongs form "the oldest existing literature of any of the peoples tothe north of the Alps. "[7] The deeds it recounts belong to the heroic ageof Ireland three hundred years before the introduction of Christianity intothe island, and its spirit never ceased to remain markedly pagan. Themythology that permeates it is one of the most primitive manifestations ofthe personification of the natural forces which the Celts worshipped. Itshistorical background, social organization, chivalry, mood and thought andits heroic ideal are to a large extent, and with perhaps some pre-Aryansurvivals, not only those of the insular Celts of two thousand years ago, but also of the important and wide-spread Celtic race with whom Caesarfought and who in an earlier period had sacked Rome and made themselvesfeared even in Greece and Asia Minor. The following is the Argument of the Táin Bó Cúalnge, which, for the sakeof convenience, is here divided into sections: I. The Prologue One night at the palace of Cruachan in Connacht, a dispute arose betweenQueen Medb, the sometime wife of Conchobar, king of Ulster, and her consortAilill, as to the amount of their respective possessions. It may beremarked in passing that in those days in Ireland, married women retainedtheir private fortune independent of their husbands, as well as the dowrysecured to them in marriage. To procure the evidence of their wealth, theroyal pair sent messengers to assemble all their chattels which, oncomparison, were found to be equal, excepting only that among Ailill's kinewas a lordly bull called Finnbennach, "the Whitehorned, " whose match wasnot to be found in the herds of the queen. II. The Embassage to Darè and the Occasion of the Táin As we might expect, Medb was chagrined at the discovery. Now her heraldmacRoth had told her that Darè macFiachna, a landowner of Cualnge, adistrict in the territory of her former husband, possessed an even morewonderful bull than Ailill's, called Donn Cualnge, "the Brown Bull ofCualnge. " So she despatched macRoth to Darè to pray for the loan of thebull. Darè received the queen's messengers hospitably and readily granted herrequest, but in the course of the entertainment, one of the messengers, deep in his cups, spoke against Darè, and he, hearing this, withdrew hispromise and swore that he would never hand over the Brown Bull of Cualnge. III. The Gathering of Medb's Forces The impetuous queen, enraged at the failure of her mission, immediatelymustered a formidable army, composed not only of her Connachtmen but alsoof allies from all parts of Ireland, wherewith to undertake the invasion ofUlster. On her side were the Ulster chieftains who had gone into exile intoConnacht after the treacherous slaughter of the sons of Usnech by KingConchobar of Ulster. Chief among them was Fergus, who, moreover, had apersonal grievance against Conchobar. For, while Fergus was king of Ulster, he had courted the widow Ness and, in order to win her, promised toabdicate for the term of one year in favour of her son Conchobar. But whenthe term had elapsed, the youth refused to relinquish the throne, andFergus in anger entered the service of Medb of Connacht. There he wasloaded with favours, became the counsellor of the realm and, as appearsfrom more than one allusion in the tale, the more than friend of the wifeof King Ailill. The four leagued provinces of Ireland being gathered at Cruachan, theguidance of the host was entrusted to Fergus, because he was acquaintedwith the province of Ulster through which they were to march, and atthe beginning of winter--a point emphasized by the exponents of thesun-theory--the mighty host, including in its ranks the king and queen andsome of the greatest warriors of Ireland, with the princess Finnabair as alure, set forth on the raid into Ulster. They crossed the Shannon near Athlone and, marching through the province ofMeath, arrived at the borders of Cualnge. Fortunately for the invaders, theexpedition took place while the Ulstermen lay prostrate in their _cess_, or"Pains, " a mysterious state of debility or torpor which was inflicted onthem periodically in consequence of an ancient curse laid upon Conchobarand the warriors of Ulster as a punishment for a wrong done to the goddessMacha. This strange malady, resembling the _couvade_ among certain savagenations, ordinarily lasted five days and four nights, but on this occasionthe Ulstermen were prostrate from the beginning of November till thebeginning of February. During all that time the burden of defending theprovince fell on the shoulders of the youthful champion Cuchulain, who hadin his particular charge the plain of Murthemne, the nearest district toCualnge, the goal of the expedition. For Cuchulain and his father Sualtaimwere alone exempt from the curse and the "Pains" which had befallen theremainder of the champions of Ulster. IV. The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain The Connacht host had not proceeded far when they came upon evidence ofsome mighty force that opposed them. In answer to the inquiries of Aililland Medb, Fergus explains that it is Cuchulain who disputes their furtheradvance, and, as evidence of the superhuman strength and prowess of theUlster youth, then in the seventeenth year of his age, the Ulster exilesrecount the mighty deeds he had performed in his boyhood, chief among whichis the tale according to which, as eric for the killing of the hound ofCulann the Smith, the boy-hero Setanta assumed the station and the namewhich ever after clung to him of Cuchulain, "the Hound of Culann. " V. The Single Combats of Cuchulain Cuchulain agrees to allow the Connacht host to continue their march oncondition that every day they send one of their champions to meet him insingle combat. When he shall have killed his opponent, the host shall haltand pitch camp until the following morning. Medb agrees to abide by theseterms. In each of the contests which ensue, the heroic youth is victoriousand slays many of the most celebrated warriors on the side of Connacht. The severest of all these single combats was the one in which he had asopponent his former friend and foster-brother Ferdiad. At the end of afour days' battle, in which both adversaries exhibited astounding deeds ofvalour, Ferdiad fell by the hands of Cuchulain. Impatient at these delays, Medb broke the sacred laws of ancient Irishchivalry and led her army into Ulster, overrunning the province, pillagingand burning as she went, even up to the walls of Emain Macha, the residenceof Conchobar, and finally took possession of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. VI. The Gathering of the Ulstermen and the Final Battle of the Táin By this time King Conchobar and his warriors have come out of theirdebility and summoned their forces to an eminence in Slane of Meath. Thegreat gathering of the Ulstermen is reported to Medb by her trusty heraldmacRoth, and from his description of the leaders and their troops, theirexiled countryman Fergus designates them to the nobles of Connacht. In thefinal battle Medb's army is repulsed and retreats in flight into Connacht. Thus each host has had its share of the fortunes of war: Medb has laidwaste the lands of her divorced husband and carried off the Brown Bull ofCualnge, the prize of war, while on the other hand, Conchobar has won thevictory in the great battle of Garech and Ilgarech. VII. The End of the two Bulls On the way back to Connacht, the Brown Bull of Cualnge emitted suchterrible bellowings that they reached the ears of the Whitehorned remainingat home in his stall in Cruachan, whence he rushed at full speed to attackthe other. A furious battle took place between the bulls, but the Brown wasthe stronger, and raising his rival on his horns he shook the Whitehornedinto fragments over all Ireland. He then returned in fury to Ulster, and inhis wild rage dashed his head against a rock and was killed. The Táin Bó Cúalnge has been preserved, more or less complete, in a scoreof manuscripts ranging in date from the beginning of the twelfth to themiddle of the nineteenth century. There probably existed other manuscriptscontaining not only the Táin as we have it but even episodes now wanting init. All of the extant manuscripts go back to versions which date from theseventh century or earlier. No manuscript of the Táin is wholly in thelanguage of the time when it was copied, but, under the cloak of thecontemporaneous orthography, contains forms and words so obsolete that theywere not understood by the copyist, so that glossaries had to be compiledto explain them. It is by a singular good fortune that this, the greatest of all the epictales of the Irish, has been handed down to our day in the two most ancientand, for that reason, most precious of the great Middle Irish collectionsof miscellaneous contents known as the _Leabhar na hUidhre_, "the Book ofThe Dun (Cow), " and the Book of Leinster. The former and older of thesevellum manuscripts (abbreviated LU. ) is kept in the Library of the RoyalIrish Academy at Dublin. It must have been written about the beginning ofthe twelfth century, for its compiler and writer, Moelmuire macCeilechair(Kelleher), is known to have been slain at Clonmacnois in the year 1106;some of its linguistic forms, however, are as old as the eighth centuryglosses. Unfortunately, LU. 's account of the Táin is incomplete at thebeginning and the end, but the latter portion is made good by the closelyrelated, though independent, version contained in the manuscript known asthe Yellow Book of Lecan (abbreviated YBL. ). This manuscript was writtenabout the year 1391 and it is also kept in Dublin in the Library of TrinityCollege. To the same group as LU. And YBL. , which for the sake ofconvenience we may call version A, belong also the British Museum MSS. , Egerton 1782, a large fragment, and Egerton 114, both dating from thefifteenth or sixteenth century. Version B comprises the closely related accounts of the Táin as containedin the Book of Leinster (abbreviated LL. ) and the following MSS. : Stowe984 (Royal Irish Academy), written in the year 1633 and giving, except forthe loss of a leaf, a complete story of the Táin; H. 1. 13 (TrinityCollege, Dublin), written in the year 1745 and giving the Táin entire;Additional 18748 (abbreviated Add. ), British Museum, copied in the year1800 from a 1730 original; Egerton 209 and Egerton 106 (British Museum), both fragments and dating from the eighteenth century. Fragments of amodern version are also found in MS. LIX, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. To version C belong only fragments: H. 2. 17 (Trinity College, Dublin), dating from the end of the fourteenth or the beginning of the fifteenthcentury; the almost identical Egerton 93 (British Museum), consisting ofonly ten leaves and dating from nearly a century later, and H. 2. 12(Trinity College, Dublin), consisting of only two pages. [8] The manuscripts belonging to each of these versions, A, B, and C, havesufficient traits in common to place them in a group by themselves. Thequestion of the relationship of these manuscripts to one another and of thecharacter of the suppositional archetype from which they are all descendedis a most intricate one and one which has given rise to considerablediscussion. The question still awaits a definite answer, which may never beforthcoming, because of the disappearance not only of the first draft ofthe Táin, but also of that of some of its later redactions. We must notoverlook the possibility, either, of an otherwise faithful copyist havinginserted in the text before him a passage, or even an entire episode, ofhis own fabrication. This, no doubt, happened not infrequently, especiallyin the earlier period of the copying of Irish manuscripts, and a singleinsertion of this kind, or the omission, intentionally or by oversight, ofa part of the original from the copy might, it will easily be seen, leadone to conclude that there once existed a form of the story which as amatter of fact never existed. The version of the Táin which I have chosen as the basis for my translationis the one found in the Book of Leinster (_Leabhar Laighneach_), avoluminous vellum manuscript sometime called the Book of Glendalough andnow kept in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, catalogue numberH. 2. 18. Only a part of the original book remains. It dates from about theyear 1150. This date is established by two entries in the manuscriptitself: "Aed son of Crimthann (Hugh macGriffin) hath written this book andout of many books hath he compiled it" (facsimilé, at the bottom of page313). Who this Aed was will be clear from the other entry. It appears thathe had lent the manuscript while still unfinished to Finn macGorman, whowas Bishop of Kildare from 1148 and died in the year 1160, and who onreturning the book wrote in it the following laudatory note in Irish toAed: "(Life) and health from Finn, the Bishop of Kildare, to Aed son ofCrimthann, tutor of the chief king (i. E. Of King Dermod macMurrogh, theinfamous prince who half a century later invited Strongbow and the Normansto come over from Wales to Ireland) of Mug Nuadat's Half (i. E. Of Leinsterand Munster), and successor of Colum son of Crimthann (this Colum was abbotof Tir da ghlass the modern Terryglas on the shore of Lough Derg, in theCounty Tipperary--and died in the year 548), and chief historian ofLeinster in respect of wisdom and intelligence, and cultivation of books, science and learning. And let the conclusion of this little tale (i. E. Thestory of Ailill Aulom son of Mug Nuadat, the beginning of which wascontained in the book which Finn returns) be written for me accurately bythee, O cunning Aed, thou man of the sparkling intellect. May it be longbefore we are without thee. My desire is that thou shouldst always be withus. And let macLonan's Songbook be given to me, that I may understand thesense of the poems that are in it. _Et vale in Christo. _"[9] It would seem from another note in the manuscript[10] that the Book ofLeinster afterwards belonged to some admirer of King Dermod, for he wrote:"O Mary! Great was the deed that was done in Ireland this day, the kalendsof August (1166)--Dermod, son of Donnoch macMurrogh, King of Leinster andof the (Dublin) Danes to be banished by the men of Ireland over the seaeastwards. Woe, woe is me, O Lord, what shall I do!"[11] My reason for founding the translation on the LL. Version, in spite of thefact that its composition is posterior by half a century to that of LU. , was not merely out of respect for the injunction of the scribe of the _nevarietur_ and to merit his blessing (page 369), but also because LL. 's isthe oldest _complete_ version of the Táin extant. Though as a rule (and asis easily discernible from a comparison of LU. And LL. ), the shorter, terser and cruder the form of a tale is, the more primitive it is, yet itis not always the oldest preserved form of a work that represents themost ancient form of the story. Indeed, it is not at all improbablethat LL. Contains elements which represent a tradition antedating thecomposition of LU. At all events, LL. Has these strong points in itsfavour, that, of all the versions, it is the most uniform and consistent, the most artistically arranged, the one with most colour and imagination, and the one which lends itself most readily to translation, both in itselfand because of the convenient Irish text provided by Professor Windisch'sedition. In order to present the Táin in its completest form, however, Ihave adopted the novel plan of incorporating in the LL. Account thetranslations of what are known as conflate readings. These, as a rule, Ihave taken from no manuscript that does not demonstrably go back to atwelfth or earlier century redaction. Some of these additions consist ofbut a single word: others extend over several pages. This dovetailing couldnot always be accomplished with perfect accuracy, but no variants have beenadded that do not cohere with the context or destroy the continuity of thestory. Whatever slight inconsistencies there may be in the accounts ofsingle episodes, they are outweighed, in my opinion, by the value andinterest of the additions. In all cases, however, the reader can controlthe translation by means of the foot-notes which indicate the sources anddistinguish the accretions from the basic text. The numerous passages inwhich Eg. 1782 agrees with LU. And YBL. Have not all been marked. Theasterisk shows the beginning of each fresh page in the lithographicfacsimilé of LL. , and the numbers following "W" in the upper left handmargin show the corresponding lines in the edition of the Irish text byWindisch. * * * * * In general, I believe it should be the aim of a translator to give afaithful rather than a literal version of his original. But, owing to thefact that so little of Celtic scholarship has filtered down even to theupper strata of the educated public and to the additional fact that thesubject matter is so incongruous to English thought, the first object ofthe translator from the Old Irish must continue to be, for some time tocome, rather exactness in rendering than elegance, even at the risk of thetranslation appearing laboured and puerile. This should not, however, becarried to the extent of distorting his own idiom in order to imitate theidiomatic turns and expressions of the original. In this translation, Ihave endeavoured to keep as close to the sense and the literary form of theoriginal as possible, but when there is conflict between the twodesiderata, I have not hesitated to give the first the preference. I havealso made use of a deliberately archaic English as, in my opinion, harmonizing better with the subject. It means much to the reader of thetranslation of an Old Irish text to have the atmosphere of the originaltransferred as perfectly as may be, and this end is attained by preservingits archaisms and quaintness of phrase, its repetitions and inherentcrudities and even, without suppression or attenuation, the grossness ofspeech of our less prudish ancestors, which is also a mark of certainprimitive habits of life but which an over-fastidious translator throughdelicacy of feeling might wish to omit. These side-lights on thesemi-barbaric setting of the Old Irish sagas are of scarcely less interestand value than the literature itself. The Táin Bó Cúalnge, like most of the Irish saga-tales as they have comedown to us in their Middle Irish dress, is chiefly in prose, butinterspersed with verse. The verse-structure is very intricate and ismostly in strophic form composed of verses of fixed syllabic length, rhymedand richly furnished with alliteration. There is a third form of speechwhich is neither prose nor verse, but partakes of the character of both, asort of irregular, rhymeless verse, without strophic division andexceedingly rich in alliteration, internal rhyme and assonance. This kindof speech, resembling in a way the dithyrambic passages in the OldTestament, was known to the native Irish scholars as _rosc_ and it isusually marked in the manuscripts by the abbreviation _R_. It was used inshort, impetuous outbursts on occasions of triumph or mourning. While, on the whole, I believe the student will feel himself safer with aprose translation of a poem than with one in verse, it has seemed to methat a uniform translation of the Táin Bó Cúalnge in prose would destroyone of its special characteristics, which is that in it both prose andverse are mingled. It was not in my power, however, to reproduce at onceclosely and clearly the metrical schemes and the rich musical quality ofthe Irish and at the same time compress within the compass of the Irishmeasure such an analytic language as English, which has to express by meansof auxiliaries what is accomplished in Early Irish by inflection. But Ihope to have accomplished the main object of distinguishing the verse fromthe prose without sacrifice of the thought by the simple device of turningthe verse-passages into lines of the same syllabic length as those of theoriginal--which is most often the normal seven-syllable line--but withoutany attempt at imitating the rhyme-system or alliteration. In order not to swell the volume of the book, the notes have been reducedto the indispensable minimum, reserving the commentary and the apparatus ofillustrative material for another volume, which we hope some day to be ableto issue, wherein more definitely critical questions can be discussed. There are a few Irish words which have been retained in the translation andwhich require a word of explanation: The Old Irish _geis_ (later, also_geas_[12]; plural _geasa_) has as much right to a place in the Englishvocabulary as the Polynesian word _tabu_, by which it is often translated. It is sometimes Englished "injunction, " "condition, " "prohibition, " "bond, ""ban, " "charm, " "magical decree, " or translated by the Scots-Gaelic"spells, " none of which, however, expresses the idea which the word hadaccording to the ancient laws of Ireland. It was an adjuration by thehonour of a man, and was either positive or negative. The person adjuredwas either compelled or made in duty bound to do a certain thing, or, morecommonly, was prohibited from doing it. The Old Irish _gilla_ is oftentranslated "vassal, " "youth, " "boy, " "fellow, " "messenger, " "servant, ""page, " "squire" and "guide, " but these words bear false connotations forthe society of the time, as does the Anglicised form of the word, "gillie, "which smacks of modern sport. It meant originally a youth in the third ofthe six ages of man. Compare the sense of the word _varlet_ or _valet_ inEnglish, which was once "a more honourable title; for all young gentlemen, untill they come to be eighteen years of age, were termed so" (Cotgrave), and of the same word in Old French, which was "un jeune homme de conditionhonorable" (J. Loth, _Les Mabinogion_, I, page 40, note). A _liss_ or_rath_ is a fortified place enclosed by a circular mound or trench, orboth. A _dûn_ is a fortified residence surrounded by an earthen rampart. In the case of names of places and persons, I have thought it best toadhere as closely as possible to the spellings used in the LL. Manuscriptitself. It is of the utmost importance to get the names of Irish places andof Irish heroes correctly determined and to discard their English corruptedspellings. There are certain barbarisms, however, such as Slane (Slemain), Boyne (Boann), and perhaps even Cooley (Cualnge), which have beenstereotyped in their English dress and nothing is to be gained by reformingthem. The forms _Erin_ (dative of _Eriu_, the genuine and poetic name ofthe island) and _Alba_ have been retained throughout instead of the hybrids"Ireland" and "Scotland. " Final _e_ is occasionally marked with a grave(_e. G. _ Manè, Darè) to show that it is not silent as it often is inEnglish. I quite perceive that I have not always succeeded in reproducing theprecise shade of meaning of words certain of which had become antiquatedand even unintelligible to the native scholars of the later Middle Irishperiod themselves. This is especially true of the passages in _rosc_, whichare fortunately not numerous and which were probably intentionally made asobscure and allusive as possible, the object being, perhaps, as much themusic of the words as the sense. Indeed, in some cases, I have consideredmyself fortunate if I have succeeded in getting their mere drift. No onetakes to heart more than the present writer the truth of Zimmer's remark, that "it needs no great courage to affirm that _not one_ of the livingCeltic scholars, _with_ all the aids at their disposal, possesses such aready understanding of the contents of, for example, the most important OldIrish saga-text, "The Cualnge Cattle-raid, " as was required thirty or moreyears ago in Germany of a good Gymnasium graduate in the matter of theHomeric poems and _without_ aids of any kind. "[13] However, in spite of itsdefects, I trust I have not incurred the censure of Don Quijote[14] bydoing what he accuses bad translators of and shown the wrong side of thetapestry, thereby obscuring the beauty and exactness of the work, and Iventure to hope that my translation may prove of service in leadingstudents to take an interest in the language and literature of Ireland. WORKS ON THE TÁIN BÓ CÚALNGE (Our Bibliography has no Pretension at being Complete) The Táin has been analysed by J. T. Gilbert, in the facsimilé edition ofLU. , pages xvi-xviii, based on O'Curry's unpublished account written about1853; by Eugene O'Curry in his "Lectures on the Manuscript Materials ofAncient Irish History, " pages 28-40, Dublin, 1861; by John Rhys in his"Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by CelticHeathendom, " page 136, the Hibbert Lectures, London, 1898; by J. A. MacCulloch in "The Religion of the Ancient Celts, " pages 127 and 141, London, 1911; in the Celtic Magazine, vol. Xiii, pages 427-430, Inverness, 1888; by Don. Mackinnon in the Celtic Review, vol. Iv, page 92, Edinburgh, 1907-8; by H. D'Arbois de Jubainville, in Bibliothèque de l'école deschartes, tome xl, pages 148-150, Paris, 1879; by Bryan O'Looney, in theProceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Second Series, vol. I, pages242-248, Dublin, 1879; by H. Lichtenberger, "Le Poème et la Légende desNibelungen, " pages 432-434, Paris, 1891; by Eleanor Hull, in "A Text Bookof Irish Literature, " Pt. I, p. 24, Dublin and London, 1906; by VictorTourneur, "La Formation du Táin Bó Cúalnge, " in Mélanges Godefroid Kurth, II, 413-424, Liège, 1908; by E. C. Quiggin, in the Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition, page 626. The text of the Táin is found in whole or in part in the facsimilé reprintspublished by the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1870 and following; viz. : theBook of Leinster, folios 53b-104b; the Book of the Dun Cow, folios 55a-82b, and the Yellow Book of Lecan, folios 17a. -53a; in "Die AltirischeHeldensage, Táin Bó Cúalnge, herausgegeben von Ernst Windisch, IrischeTexte, Extraband, Leipzig, 1905"; from LU. And YBL. , by John Strachan andJ. G. O'Keeffe, as a supplement to Ériu, vol. I, Dublin, 1904 and fol. ; ourreferences to LU. And YBL. Are from this edition as far as it appeared;from that point, the references to YBL. Are to the pages of the facsimiléedition; the LU. Text of several passages also is given by John Strachan inhis "Stories from the Tain, " which first appeared in Irisleabhar naGaedhilge ("The Gaelic Journal"), Dublin; reprinted, London and Dublin, 1908; Max Nettlau, "The Fer Diad Episode of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, " RevueCeltique, tome x, pages 330-346, tome xi, pages 23-32, 318-343; "TheFragment of the Tain Bo Cuailnge in MS. Egerton 93, " Revue Celtique, tomexiv, pages 254-266, tome xv, pages 62-78, 198-208; R. Thurneysen, "Táin BóCúailghni nach H. 2. 17, " Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie, Bd. Viii, S. 525-554; E. Windisch, "Táin Bó Cúailnge nach der Handschrift Egerton1782, " Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie, Bd. Ix, S. 121-158. The textof "The Fight at the Ford, " from the Murphy MS. 103 (written about 1760), is printed in Irisleabhar Muighe Nuadhad, Dublin, 1911, pp. 84-90. The Táin has been translated by Bryan O'Looney in a manuscript entitled"Tain Bo Cualnge. Translated from the original vellum manuscript known asthe Book of Leinster, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. To whichare added the ancient Prologues, Prefaces, and the Pretales or Stories, Adventures which preceded the principal Expedition or Tain, from variousvellum MSS. In the Libraries of Trinity College and the Royal IrishAcademy, Dublin, 1872. " (A good translation, for its time. For O'Looney'sworks on the Táin, see the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, SecondSeries, Vol. I, No. 11, Polite Literature and Antiquities, Dublin, 1875;for W. J. Hennessy's, see The Academy, No. 873, Lee, "Dictionary of NationalBiography, " xxv, 1891, pages 424-425, and V. Tourneur, "Esquisse d'unehistoire des études celtiques, " page 90, note 5. ) The Royal Irish Academycontains another manuscript translation of the Táin (24, M, 39), by JohnO'Daly, 1857. It is a wretched translation. In one place, O'Daly speaks ofWilliam Rily as the translator. L. Winifred Faraday's "The Cattle-Raid ofCualnge, " London, 1904, is based on LU. And YBL. Two copies of a completetranslation of the LL. Text dating from about 1850 is in the possessionof John Quinn, Esq. , of New York City. H. D'Arbois de Jubainvilletranslated the Táin from the LL. Text, but with many omissions: "Enlèvement[du Taureau Divin et] des Vaches de Cooley, " Revue Celtique, tomesxxviii-xxxii, Paris, 1907 and fl. Eleanor Hull's "The Cuchullin Saga, "London, 1898, contains (pages 111-227) an analysis of the Táin and atranslation by Standish H. O'Grady of portions of the Add. 18748 text. "TheTáin, An Irish Epic told in English Verse, " by Mary A. Hutton, Dublin, 1907, and Lady Augusta Gregory's, "Cuchulain of Muirthemne, " London, 1903, are paraphrases. The episode "The Boyish Feats of Cuchulinn" was translatedby Eugene O'Curry, "On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, "Vol. I, Introduction, pages 359-366, and the episode "The Fight of Ferdiadand Cuchulaind, " was translated by W. K. Sullivan, ibid. , Vol. Ii, Lectures, Vol. I, Appendix, pages 413-463. Important studies on the Táin have come from the pen of Heinrich Zimmer:"Über den compilatorischen Charakter der irischen Sagentexte im sogenanntenLebor na hUidre, " Kuhn's Zeitschrift für vergleichende Sprachforschung, Bd. Xxviii, 1887, pages 417-689, and especially pages 426-554; "KeltischeBeiträge, " Zeitschrift für deutsches Alterthum und deutsche Litteratur, Vol. Xxxii, 1888, pages 196-334; "Beiträge zur Erklärung irischerSagentexte, " Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie, Bd. I, pages 74-101, andBd. Iii, pages 285-303. See also, William Ridgeway, "The Date of the firstShaping of the Cuchulainn Saga, " Oxford, 1907; H. D'Arbois de Jubainville, "Étude sur le Táin Bó Cúalnge, " Revue Celtique, tome xxviii, 1907, pages17-40; Alfred Nutt, "Cuchulainn, the Irish Achilles, " in Popular Studies inMythology, Romance and Folklore, No. 8, London, 1900. The Celtic Magazine, Vol. Xiii, pages 319-326, 351-359, Inverness, 1888, contains an Englishtranslation of a degenerated Scottish Gaelic version taken down by A. A. Carmichael, in Benbecula; the Gaelic text was printed in the Transactionsof the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Vol. Ii. In the same volume of theCeltic Magazine, pages 514-516, is a translation of a version of the Táin, taken down in the island of Eigg. Eleanor Hull's "Cuchulain, the Hound ofUlster, " London, 1911, is a retelling of the story for younger readers. Thefollowing, bearing more or less closely upon the Táin, are also to bementioned: Harry G. Tempest, "Dun Dealgan, Cuchulain's Home Fort, " Dundalk, 1910; A. M. Skelly, "Cuchulain of Muirtheimhne, " Dublin, 1908; StandishO'Grady, "The Coming of Cuculain, " London, 1894, "In the Gates of theNorth, " Kilkenny, 1901, "Cuculain, A Prose Epic, " London, 1882 and the sameauthor's "History of Ireland: the Heroic Period, " London, 1878-80; "TheHigh Deeds of Finn, and other Bardic Romances of Ancient Ireland, " byT. W. Rolleston, London, 1910; Stephen Gwynn, "Celtic Sagas Re-told, " in his"To-day and To-morrow in Ireland, " pages 38-58, Dublin, 1903; EdwardThomas, "Celtic Stories, " Oxford, 1911; "Children of Kings, " by W. LorcanO'Byrne, London, 1904, and "The Boy Hero of Erin, " by Charles Squire, London, 1907. Among the many poems which have taken their theme from the Táin and thedeeds of Cuchulain may be mentioned: "The Foray of Queen Meave, " by Aubreyde Vere, Poetic Works, London, 1882, vol. Ii, pages 255-343; "The Old Ageof Queen Maeve, " by William Butler Yeats, Collected Works, vol. I, page 41, London, 1908; "The Defenders of the Ford, " by Alice Milligan, in her "HeroLays, " page 50, Dublin, 1908; George Sigerson, "Bards of the Gael and theGall, " London, 1897; "The Tain-Quest, " by Sir Samuel Ferguson, in his "Laysof the Western Gael and other Poems, " Dublin, 1897; "The Red Branch Crests, A Trilogy, " by Charles Leonard Moore, London, 1906; "The Laughter ofScathach, " by Fiona Macleod, in "The Washer of the Ford and BarbaricTales"; Hector Maclean, "Ultonian Hero-Ballads collected in the Highlandsand Western Isles of Scotland, " Glasgow, 1892; ballad versions fromScotland are found in Leabhar na Feinne, pages 1 and fol. , in J. G. Campbell's "The Fians, " pages 6 and fol. , and in the Book of the Deanof Lismore. Finally, scenes from the Táin have been dramatized by Canon Peter O'Leary, in the Cork "Weekly Examiner, " April 14, 1900 and fol. , by Sir SamuelFerguson, "The Naming of Cuchulain: A Dramatic Scene, " first played inBelfast, March 9, 1910; in "The Triumph of Maeve, " A Romance in dramaticform, 1906; "Cuchulain, " etc. , (A Cycle of Plays, by S. And J. Varian, Dublin), and in "The Boy-Deeds of Cuchulain, " A Pageant in three Acts, performed in Dublin in 1909. [1] "L'histoire entière de l'Irlande est une énigme si on n'a pas sans cesse à l'esprit ce fait primordial que le climat humide de l'île est tout à fait contraire à la culture des céréales, mais en revanche éminemment favorable à l'élevage du bétail, surtout de la race bovine, car le climat est encore trop humide pour l'espèce ovine. " F. Lot, in _La Grande Encyclopédie_, xx, 956. [2] As it is to this day in some parts of Ireland, and as for example a female slave was sometimes appraised at three head of cattle among the ancient Gaels. [3] In fact the Clan Mackay was known as the Clan of the creaghs, and their perpetuation was enjoined on the rising generation from the cradle; See _The Old Highlands_, vol. III. , p. 338, Glasgow. [4] Pronounced approximately _Thawin' bow Hooln'ya_. [5] _Revue Celtique_, 1895, tome xvi. Pp. 405-406; _Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores_, ii. 14. [6] _Mors Conchulaind fortissimi herois Scottorum la Lugaid mac trí con, i. Ri Muman, agus la Ercc, i. Ri Temrach, mac Coirpri Niad fir, agus la trí maccu Calattin de Chonnachtaib; vii. Mbliadna a aes intan rogab gaisced. Xvii. Mbliadna dano a aes intan mbói indegaid Tána Bó Cúalnge. Xxvii. Bliadna immorro a aes intan atbath. Revue Celtique, _ tome xvi. Page 407. [7] Ridgeway. [8] See H. D'Arbois de Jubainville, _Essai d'un catalogue de la littérature épique de l'Irlande_, Paris, 1883, pages 214-216, and the Supplement to the same by G. Dottin, _Revue Celtique_, t. Xxxiii, pages 34-35; Donald Mackinnon, _A Descriptive Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts_, Edinburgh, 1912, pp. 174, 220; E. Windisch, Táin Bó Cúalnge, _Einleitung und Vorrede_, S. Lx. Ff. [9] Facsimilé, page 288, foot margin. [10] Facsimilé, page 275, top margin. [11] Vd. Robert Atkinson, _The Book of Leinster_, Introduction, pages 7-8; J. H. Todd, _Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, Rerum Britannicarum medii aevi scriptores_, 1867, Introduction, pages ix and ff. Eugene O'Curry, _On the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History_, page 186; Ernst Windisch, _Táin Bó Cúalnge_, pages 910-911. [12] Pronounced _gesh_ or _gas_. [13] "Es gehört keine grosse Kühnheit dazu zu behaupten, dass keiner der lebenden Keltologen beispielsweise von dem wichtigsten altirischen Sagentext 'Der Rinderraub von Cualnge' . . . Mit allen vorhandenen Hilfsmitteln ein solches fortlaufendes Verständnis des Inhalts hat, wie von einem guten Gymnasialabiturienten hinsichtlich der homerischen Gedichte ohne jegliches Hilfsmittel vor gut 30 Jahren in Deutschland verlangt wurde. "--_Die Kultur der Gegenwart_, herausgegeben von Paul Hinneberg, Berlin, 1909. Teil I, Abt. Xi, I. S. 75. [14] Part II, chap, lxii (Garnier Hermanos edition, page 711). * * * * * [Page 1] Here beginneth Táin Bó Cúalnge The Cualnge Cattle-raid I THE PILLOW-TALK [W. 1. ] [LL. Fo. 53. ] Once of a time, that Ailill and Medb had spread theirroyal bed in Cruachan, the stronghold of Connacht, such was the pillow-talkthat befell betwixt them: Quoth Ailill: "True is the saying, lady, 'She is a well-off woman that is arich man's wife. '" "Aye, that she is, " answered the wife; "but whereforeopin'st thou so?" "For this, " Ailill replied, "that thou art this daybetter off than the day that first I took thee. " Then answered Medb: "Aswell-off was I before I ever saw thee. " "It was a wealth, forsooth, wenever heard nor knew of, " Ailill said; "but a woman's wealth was all thouhadst, and foes from lands next thine were used to carry off the spoil andbooty that they took from thee. " "Not so was I, " quoth Medb; "the High Kingof Erin himself was my sire, Eocho Fedlech ('the Enduring') son of Finn, byname, who was son of Findoman, son of Finden, son of Findguin, son of RogenRuad ('the Red'), son of Rigen, son of Blathacht, son of Beothacht, son ofEnna Agnech, son of Oengus Turbech. Of daughters, had he six: Derbriu, Ethne and Ele, Clothru, Mugain and Medb, myself, that was the noblest andseemliest of them. 'Twas I was the goodliest of them in bounty [W. 17. ] andgift-giving, [1]in riches and treasures. [1] 'Twas I was best of them inbattle and strife and combat. 'Twas I that had fifteen hundred royalmercenaries of the sons of aliens exiled from their own land, and as manymore of the sons of freemen of the land. And there were ten men with everyone of these hirelings, [2]and nine men with every hireling, [2] and eightmen with every hireling, and seven men with every hireling, and six menwith every hireling, and five men with every hireling, [3]and four men withevery hireling, [3] and three men with every hireling, and two men withevery hireling, and one hireling with every hireling. These were as astanding household-guard, " continued Medb; "hence hath my father bestowedone of the five provinces of Erin upon me, even the province of Cruachan;wherefore 'Medb of Cruachan' am I called. Men came from Finn son of RossRuad ('the Red'), king of Leinster, to seel me [4]for a wife, and I refusedhim;[4] and from Carbre Niafer ('the Champion') son of Ross Ruad ('theRed'), king of Temair, [a] [5]to woo me, and I refused him;[5] and they camefrom Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach ('the Mighty'), king of Ulster, [6]and I refused him in like wise. [6] They came from Eocho Bec ('theSmall'), and I went not; for 'tis I that exacted a singular bride-gift, such as no woman before me had ever required of a man of the men of Erin, namely, a husband without avarice, without jealousy, without fear. Forshould he be mean, the man with whom I should live, we were ill-matchedtogether, inasmuch as I am great [LL. Fo. 54a. ] in largess and gift-giving, and it would be a disgrace for my husband if I should be better [W. 34. ] atspending than he, [1]and for it to be said that I was superior in wealthand treasures to him[1], while no disgrace would it be were one as great asthe other[a]. Were my husband a coward, 'twere as unfit for us to be mated, for I by myself and alone break battles and fights and combats, and 'twouldbe a reproach for my husband should his wife be more full of life thanhimself, and no reproach our being equally bold. Should he be jealous, thehusband with whom I should live, that too would not suit me, for therenever was a time that I had not my paramour[b]. Howbeit, such a husbandhave I found, namely in thee thyself, Ailill son of Ross Ruad ('the Red')of Leinster. Thou wast not churlish; thou wast not jealous; thou wast not asluggard. It was I plighted thee, and gave purchase-price to thee, whichof right belongs to the bride--of clothing, namely, the raiment of twelvemen, a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids, the breadth of thy face of redgold[c], the weight of thy left forearm of silvered bronze. Whoso bringsshame and sorrow and madness upon thee, no claim for compensation norsatisfaction hast thou therefor that I myself have not, [2]but it is to methe compensation belongs, "[2] said Medb, "for a man dependent upon awoman's maintenance is what thou art. "[d] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4-4] Stowe and Add. [a] That is, from the supreme king of Ireland. [5-5] Stowe and Add. [6-6] Stowe and Add. [1-1] Stowe and, similarly Add. [a] A short sentence in LL. , which is probably corrupt, is omitted here. [b] Literally, "A man behind (in) the shadow of another. " [c] Instead of a ring, which would be given to the bride. [2-2] Add. And H. 1. 13. [d] For a detailed explanation of this entire passage see H. Zimmer, in the _Sitzungsberichte der Köninglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften_, 16 Februar, 1911. _philosophisch historischen Classe, Seite 217_. "Nay, not such was my state, " said Ailill; "but two brothers had I; one ofthem over Temair, the other over Leinster; namely, Finn, over Leinster, andCarbre, over Temair. I left the kingship to them because they were [W. 52. ]older but not superior to me in largess and bounty. Nor heard I of provincein Erin under woman's keeping but this province alone. And for this I cameand assumed the kingship here as my mother's successor; for Mata of Muresc, daughter of Magach [1]of Connacht, [1] was my mother. And who could there befor me to have as my queen better than thyself, being, as thou wert, daughter of the High King of Erin?" "Yet so it is, " pursued Medb, "myfortune is greater than thine. " "I marvel at that, " Ailill made answer, "for there is none that hath greater treasures and riches and wealth thanI: yea, to my knowledge there is not. " [1-1] Add. And H. 1. 13. * * * * * [Page 5] II [1]THE OCCASION OF THE TÁIN[1] [W. 62. ] Then were brought to them the least precious of their possessions, that they might know which of them had the more treasures, riches andwealth. Their pails and their cauldrons and their iron-wrought vessels, their jugs and their keeves and their eared pitchers were fetched to them. [1-1] Add. And Stowe. Likewise, their rings and their bracelets and their thumb-rings and theirgolden treasures were fetched to them, and their apparel, both purple andblue and black and green, yellow, vari-coloured and gray, dun, mottled andbrindled. Their numerous flocks of sheep were led in from fields and meeds andplains. These were counted and compared, and found to be equal, of likesize, of like number; however, there was an uncommonly fine ram over Medb'ssheep, and he was equal in worth to a bondmaid, but a corresponding ram wasover the ewes of Ailill. Their horses and steeds and studs were brought from pastures and paddocks. There was a noteworthy horse in Medb's herd and he was of the value of abondmaid; a horse to match was found among Ailill's. Then were their numerous droves of swine driven from woods and shelvingglens and wolds. These were numbered and counted and claimed. There was anoteworthy boar With Medb, and yet another with Ailill. Next they brought before them their droves of cattle [W. 77. ] and theirherds and their roaming flocks from the brakes and wastes of the province. These were counted and numbered and claimed, and were the same for both, equal in size, equal in number, except only there was an especial bullof the bawn of Ailill, and he was a calf of one of Medb's cows, andFinnbennach ('the Whitehorned') was his name. But he, deeming it no honourto be in a woman's possession, [LL. Fo. 54b. ] had left and gone over to thekine of the king. And it was the same to Medb as if she owned not apennyworth, forasmuch as she had not a bull of his size amongst her cattle. Then it was that macRoth the messenger was summoned to Medb, and Medbstrictly bade macRoth to learn where there might be found a bull of thatlikeness in any of the provinces of Erin. "Verily, " said macRoth, "I knowwhere the bull is that is best and better again, in the province of Ulster, in the hundred of Cualnge, in the house of Darè son of Fiachna; even DonnCualnge ('the Brown Bull of Cualnge') he is called. " "Go thou to him, macRoth, and ask for me of Darè the loan for a year of theBrown Bull of Cualnge, and at the year's end he shall have the meed of theloan, to wit, fifty heifers and the Donn Cualnge himself. And bear thou afurther boon with thee, macRoth. Should the border-folk and those of thecountry grudge the loan of that rare jewel that is the Brown Bull ofCualnge, let Darè himself come with his bull, and he shall get a measureequalling his own land of the smooth Plain of Ai and a chariot of the worthof thrice seven bondmaids and he shall enjoy my own close friendship. "[a] [a] Literally, "Habebit amicitiam fermoris mei. " Thereupon the messengers fared forth to the house of Darè son of Fiachna. This was the number wherewith macRoth went, namely, nine couriers. Anonwelcome was [W. 99. ] lavished on macRoth in Darè's house--fitting, welcomeit was--chief messenger of all was macRoth. Darè asked of macRoth what hadbrought him upon the journey and why he was come. The messenger announcedthe cause for which he was come and related the contention between Medb andAilill. "And it is to beg the loan of the Brown Bull of Cualnge to match theWhitehorned that I am come, " said he; "and thou shalt receive the hire ofhis loan, even fifty heifers and the Brown of Cualnge himself. And yet moreI may add: Come thyself with thy bull and thou shalt have of the land ofthe smooth soil of Mag Ai as much as thou ownest here, and a chariot of theworth of thrice seven bondmaids and enjoy Medb's friendship to boot. " At these words Darè was well pleased, and he leaped for joy so that theseams of his flock-bed rent in twain beneath him. "By the truth of our conscience, " said he; "however the Ulstermen take it, [1]whether ill or well, [1] this time this jewel shall be delivered toAilill and to Medb, the Brown of Cualnge to wit, into the land ofConnacht. " Well pleased was macRoth at the words of the son of Fiachna. [1-1] Stowe and Add. Thereupon they were served, and straw and fresh rushes were spread underthem. The choicest of food was brought to them and a feast was served tothem and soon they were noisy and drunken. And a discourse took placebetween two of the messengers. "'Tis true what I say, " spoke the one; "goodis the man in whose house we are. " "Of a truth, he is good. " "Nay, is thereone among all the men of Ulster better than he?" persisted the first. "Insooth, there is, " answered the second messenger. "Better is Conchobar whoseman he is, [2]Conchobar who holds the kingship of the province. [2] Andthough all the Ulstermen [W. 120. ] gathered around him, it were no shamefor them. Yet is it passing good of Darè, that what had been a task for thefour mighty provinces of Erin to bear away from the land of Ulster, eventhe Brown Bull of Cualnge, is surrendered so freely to us nine footmen. " [2-2] Stowe and Add. Hereupon a third runner had his say: "What is this ye dispute about?" heasked. "Yon runner says, 'A good man is the man in whose house we are. '""Yea, he is good, " saith the other. "Is there among all the Ulstermen anythat is better than he?" demanded the first runner further. "Aye, thereis, " answered the second runner; "better is Conchobar whose man he is; andthough all the Ulstermen gathered around him, it were no shame for them. Yet, truly good it is of Darè, that what had been a task for four of thegrand provinces of Erin to bear away out of the borders of Ulster is handedover even unto us nine footmen. " "I would not grudge to see a retch ofblood and gore in the mouth whereout that was said; for, were the bull notgiven [LL. Fo. 55a. ] willingly, yet should he be taken by force!" At that moment it was that Darè macFiachna's chief steward came into thehouse and with him a man with drink and another with food, and he heard thefoolish words of the runners; and anger came upon him, and he set downtheir food and drink for them and he neither said to them, "Eat, " nor didhe say, "Eat not. " Straightway he went into the house where was Darè macFiachna and said: "Wasit thou that hast given that notable jewel to the messengers, the BrownBull of Cualnge?" "Yea, it was I, " Darè made answer. "Verily, it was notthe part of a king to give him. For it is true what they say: Unless thouhadst bestowed him of thine own free will, so wouldst thou yield him indespite of thee by the host of Ailill and Medb and by the great cunning ofFergus macRoig. " "I swear by the gods whom I worship, " [W. 143. ] [1]spokeDarè, [1] "they shall in no wise take by foul means what they cannot take byfair!" [1-1] Stowe and Add. There they abide till morning. Betimes on the morrow the runners arise andproceed to the house where is Darè. "Acquaint us, lord, how we may reachthe place where the Brown Bull of Cualnge is kept. " "Nay then, " saith Darè;"but were it my wont to deal foully with messengers or with travelling folkor with them that go by the road, not one of you would depart alive!" "Howsayest thou?" quoth macRoth. "Great cause there is, " replied Darè; "yesaid, unless I yielded in good sort, I should yield to the might ofAilill's host and Medb's and the great cunning of Fergus. " "Even so, " said macRoth, "whatever the runners drunken with thine ale andthy viands have said, 'tis not for thee to heed nor mind, nor yet to becharged on Ailill and on Medb. " "For all that, macRoth, this time I willnot give my bull, if ever I can help it!" Back then the messengers go till they arrive at Cruachan, the stronghold ofConnacht. Medb asks their tidings, and macRoth makes known the same: thatthey had not brought his bull from Darè. "And the reason?" demanded Medb. MacRoth recounts to her how the dispute arose. "There is no need to polishknots over such affairs as that, macRoth; for it was known, " said Medb, "ifthe Brown Bull of Cualnge would not be given with their will, he would betaken in their despite, and taken he shall be!" [2]To this point is recounted the Occasion of the Táin. [2] [2-2] Stowe and Add. * * * * * [Page 10] III [1]THE RISING-OUT OF THE MEN OF CONNACHT AT CRUACHAN AI[1] [W. 161. ] [2]A mighty host was now assembled by the men of Connacht, thatis, by Ailill and Medb, and they sent word to the three other provinces, and[2] messengers were despatched from Medb to the Manè that they shouldgather in Cruachan, the seven Manè with their seven divisions; to wit: Manè"Motherlike, " Manè "Fatherlike, " and Manè "All-comprehending", [3]'twas hethat possessed the form of his mother and of his father and the dignity ofthem both;[3] Manè "Mildly-submissive, " and Manè "Greatly-submissive, " Manè"Boastful" [4]and Manè "the Dumb. "[4] [1-1] Add. [2-2] LU. 1-2; with these words, the LU. Version begins, fo. 55a. [3-3] LU. 182. [4-4] Stowe and Add. Other messengers were despatched [5]by Ailill[5] to the sons of Maga; towit: to Cet ('the First') son of Maga, Anluan ('the Brilliant Light') sonof Maga, and Maccorb ('Chariot-child') son of Maga, and Bascell ('theLunatic') son of Maga, and En ('the Bird') son of Maga, Dochè son of Maga;and Scandal ('Insult') son of Maga. [5-5] Eg. 1782. These came, and this was their muster, thirty hundred armed men. Othermessengers were despatched from them to Cormac Conlongas ('the Exile') sonof Conchobar and to Fergus macRoig, and they also came, thirty hundredtheir number. [W. 173. ] [1]Now Cormac had three companies which came to Cruachan. [1]Before all, the first company. A covering of close-shorn [2]black[2] hairupon them. Green mantles and [3]many-coloured cloaks[3] wound about them;therein, silvern brooches. Tunics of thread of gold next to their skin, [4]reaching down to their knees, [4] with interweaving of red gold. Bright-handled swords they bore, with guards of silver. [5]Long shieldsthey bore, and there was a broad, grey spearhead on a slender shaft in thehand of each man. [5] "Is that Cormac, yonder?" all and every one asked. "Not he, indeed, " Medb made answer. [1-1] LU. 7. [2-2] Add. [3-3] LU. 8. [4-4] LU. 9. [5-5] LU. 9-10. The second troop. Newly shorn hair they wore [6]and manes on the back oftheir heads, [6] [7]fair, comely indeed. [7] Dark-blue cloaks they all hadabout them. Next to their skin, gleaming-white tunics, [LL. Fo. 55b. ] [8]withred ornamentation, reaching down to their calves. [8] Swords they had withround hilts of gold and silvern fist-guards, [9]and shining shields uponthem and five-pronged spears in their hands. [9] "Is yonder man Cormac?" allthe people asked. "Nay, verily, that is not he, " Medb made answer. [6-6] Eg. 1782. [7-7] Add. [8-8] LU. 11-12. [9-9] LU. 12-13. [10]Then came[10] the last troop. Hair cut broad they wore; fair-yellow, deep-golden, loose-flowing back hair [11]down to their shoulders[11] uponthem. Purple cloaks, fairly bedizened, about them; golden, embellishedbrooches over their breasts; [12]and they had curved shields with sharp, chiselled edges around them and spears as long as the pillars of a king'shouse in the hand of each man. [12] Fine, long, silken tunics [13]withhoods[13] they wore to the very instep. Together they raised their feet, and together they set them down again. "Is that Cormac, yonder?" askedall. "Aye, it is he, [14]this time, [14]" Medb made answer. [10-10] Eg. 1782. [11-11] LU. 16. [12-12] LU. 17-18. [13-13] LU. 15. [14-14] Eg. 1782. [W. 186. ] [1]Thus the four provinces of Erin gathered in Cruachan Ai. [1]They pitched their camp and quarters that night, so that a thick cloud ofsmoke and fire rose between the four fords of Ai, which are, Ath Moga, AthBercna, Ath Slissen and Ath Coltna. And they tarried for the full space ofa fortnight in Cruachan, the hostel of Connacht, in wassail and drink andevery disport, to the end that their march and muster might be easier. [2]And their poets and druids would not let them depart from thence tillthe end of a fortnight while awaiting good omen. [2] And then it was thatMedb bade her charioteer to harness her horses for her, that she might goto address herself to her druid, to seek for light and for augury from him. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] LU. 20-21. * * * * * [Page 13] IV THE FORETELLING[a] [W. 194. ] When Medb was come to the place where her druid was, she cravedlight and augury of him. "Many there be, " saith Medb, "who do part withtheir kinsmen and friends here to-day, and from their homes and theirlands, from father and from mother; and unless unscathed every one shallreturn, upon me will they cast their sighs and their ban, [1]for it is Ithat have assembled this levy. [1] Yet there goeth not forth nor stayeththere at home any dearer to me than are we to ourselves. And do thoudiscover for us whether we ourselves shall return, or whether we shallnever return. " [a] This heading is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter. [1-1] LU. 23-24. And the druid made answer, "Whoever comes not, thou thyself shalt come. "[2]"Wait, then, " spake the charioteer, " let me wheel the chariot by theright, [b] that thus the power of a good omen may arise that we returnagain. "[2] Then the charioteer wheeled his chariot round and Medb went back[3]again, [3] when she espied a thing that surprised her: A lone virgin[4]of marriageable age[4] standing on the hindpole of a chariot a littleway off drawing nigh her. And thus the maiden appeared: Weaving lace wasshe, and in her right hand was a bordering rod of silvered [W. 204. ] bronzewith its seven strips of red gold at the sides. A many-spotted green mantlearound her; a bulging, strong-headed pin [1]of gold[1] in the mantle overher bosom; [2]a hooded tunic, with red interweaving, about her. [2] A ruddy, fair-faced countenance she had, [3]narrow below and broad above. [3] She hada blue-grey and laughing eye; [4]each eye had three pupils. [4] [5]Dark andblack were her eyebrows; the soft, black lashes threw a shadow to themiddle of her cheeks. [5] Red and thin were her lips. Shiny and pearly wereher teeth; thou wouldst believe they were showers of white pearls that hadrained into her head. Like to fresh Parthian crimson were her lips. Assweet as the strings of lutes [6]when long sustained they are played bymaster players' hands[6] was the melodious sound of her voice and her fairspeech. [2-2] LU. 24-25. [b] Right-hand wise, as a sign of a good omen. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Eg. 1782. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] Eg. 1782. [3-3] LU. 29. [4-4] LU. 35-36. [5-5] LU. 31. [6-6] Adopting Windisch's emendation of the text. As white as snow in one night fallen was the sheen of her skin and her bodythat shone outside of her dress. Slender and very white were her feet;rosy, even, sharp-round nails she had; [7]two sandals with golden bucklesabout them. [7] Fair-yellow, long, golden hair she wore; three braids ofhair [8]she wore; two tresses were wound[8] around her head; the othertress [9]from behind[9] threw a shadow down on her calves. [10]The maidencarried arms, and two black horses were under her chariot. [10] [7-7] LU. 29. [8-8] Eg. 1782. [9-9] Add. [10-10] LU. 36. Medb gazed at her. "And what doest thou here now, O maiden?" asked Medb. "Iimpart [LL. Fo. 56a. ] to thee thine advantage and good fortune in thygathering and muster of the four mighty provinces of Erin against the landof Ulster on the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge. " "Wherefore doest thou thisfor me?" asked Medb. "Much cause have I. A bondmaid 'mid thy people am I. ""Who of [W. 220. ] my people art thou [1]and what is thy name[1]?" askedMedb. "Not hard, in sooth, to say. The prophetess Fedelm, from the Sid('the Fairy Mound') of Cruachan, [2]a poetess of Connacht[2] am I. "[3]"Whence comest thou?" asked Medb. "From Alba, after learning propheticskill, " the maiden made answer. "Hast thou the form of divination?"[b]"Verily, have I, " the maiden said. [3] [4]"Look, then, for me, how will myundertaking be. " The maiden looked. Then spake Medb:--[4] [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] Eg. 1782. [3-3] LU. 39-41. [b] _Imbass forosna_, 'illumination between the hands. ' [4-4] Eg. 1782. "Good now, "Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host?" [5]Fedelm answered and spoke:[5] "Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red!" [5-5] Eg. 1782. [6]"That is no true augury, "[6] said Medb. "Verily, Conchobar [7]with theUlstermen[7] is in his 'Pains' in Emain; thither fared my messengers [8]andbrought me true tidings[8]; naught is there that we need dread fromUlster's men. But speak truth, O Fedelm:-- "Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host?" "Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red!" [6-6] LU. 44. [7-7] Eg. 1782. [8-8] Eg. 1782. [9]"That is no true augury. [9] Cuscraid Mend ('the Stammerer') of Macha, Conchobar's son, is in Inis Cuscraid ('Cuscraid's Isle') in his 'Pains. 'Thither fared my messengers; naught need we fear from Ulster's men. Butspeak truth, O Fedelm:-- [W. 233. ] "Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host?" "Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red!" [9-9] LU. 48. "Eogan, Durthacht's son, is in Rath Airthir ('the Eastern Rath') in his'Pains. ' Thither went my messengers. Naught need we dread from Ulster'smen. But speak truth, O Fedelm:-- "Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host?" "Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red!" "Celtchar, Uthechar's son, is in his fort [1]at Lethglas[1] in his 'Pains, '[2]and a third of the Ulstermen with him. [2] Thither fared my messengers. Naught have we to fear from Ulster's men. [3]And Fergus son of Roig son ofEochaid is with us here in exile, and thirty hundred with him. [3] But speaktruth, O Fedelm:-- "Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host?" "Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red!" [1-1] LU. 50. [2-2] LU. 49. [3-3] LU. 50-51. "Meseemeth this not as it seemeth to thee, " quoth Medb, "for when Erin'smen shall assemble in one place, there quarrels will arise and broils, contentions and disputes amongst them about the ordering of themselves inthe van or rear, at ford or river, over who shall be first at killing aboar or a stag or a deer or a hare. But, [4]look now again for us and[4]speak truth, O Fedelm:-- "Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host?" "Crimson-red from blood they are; I behold them bathed in red!" [4-4] LU. 55. Therewith she began to prophesy and to foretell the coming of Cuchulain tothe men of Erin, and she chanted a lay:-- [W. 255. ] "[a]Fair, of deeds, the man I see; Wounded sore is his fair skin; On his brow shines hero's light; Victory's seat is in his face! "Seven gems of champions brave Deck the centre of his orbs; Naked are the spears he bears, And he hooks a red cloak round! "Noblest face is his, I see; He respects all womankind. Young the lad and fresh his hue, With a dragon's form in fight! "I know not who is the Hound, Culann's hight, [b] [1]of fairest fame[1]; But I know full well this host Will be smitten red by him! "Four small swords--a brilliant feat-- He supports in either hand; These he'll ply upon the host, Each to do its special deed! "His Gae Bulga, [c] too, he wields, With his sword and javelin. Lo, the man in red cloak girt Sets his foot on every hill! "Two spears [2]from the chariot's left[2] He casts forth in orgy wild. And his form I saw till now Well I know will change its guise! "On to battle now he comes; If ye watch not, ye are doomed. This is he seeks ye in fight Brave Cuchulain, Sualtaim's son! "All your host he'll smite in twain, Till he works your utter ruin. [W. 291. ] All your heads ye'll leave with him. Fedelm, prophet-maid, hides not! "Gore shall flow from warriors' wounds; Long 'twill live in memory. [LL. Fo. 56b. ] Bodies hacked and wives in tears, Through the Smith's Hound[a] whom I see!" [a] The Eg. 1782 version of this poem differs in several details from LL. [b] That is, Cu Chulain, 'the Hound of Culann. ' [1-1] Tranlating from LU. 65, Stowe and Add. [c] The _Gae Bulga_, 'barbed spear, ' which only Cuchulain could wield. [2-2] Translating from LU. 72, Add. And Stowe; 'from the left, ' as a sign of enmity. [a] That is, Cuchulain. See page 17. Thus far the Augury and the Prophecy and the Preface of the Tale, and theOccasion of its invention and conception, and the Pillow-talk which Aililland Medb had in Cruachan. [1]Next follows the Body of the Tale itself. [1] [1-1] Stowe and Add. * * * * * [Page 19] V THIS IS THE ROUTE OF THE TÁIN [W. 301. ] and the Beginning of the Expedition and the Names of the Roadswhich the hosts of the four of the five grand provinces of Erin took intothe land of Ulster. [1]On Monday after Summer's end[1] [2]they set forthand proceeded:[2] [1-1] LU. 81. [2-2] Eg. 1782. [3]South-east from Cruachan Ai, [3] by Mag Cruimm, over Tuaim Mona ('theHill of Turf'), by Turloch Teora Crich ('the Creek of three Lands'), by Cul('the Nook') of Silinne, by Dubloch ('Black Lough'), [4]by Fid Dubh ('BlackWoods'), [4] by Badbgna, by Coltain, by the Shannon, by Glune Gabur, by MagTrega, by Tethba in the north, by Tethba in the south, by Cul ('the Nook'), by Ochain, northwards by Uatu, eastwards by Tiarthechta, by Ord ('theHammer'), by Slaiss ('the Strokes'), [5]southwards, [5] by Indeoin ('theAnvil'), by Carn, by Meath, by Ortrach, by Findglassa Assail, ('WhiteStream of Assail'), by Drong, by Delt, by Duelt, by Delinn, by Selaig, bySlabra, by Slechta, where swords hewed out roads before Medb and Ailill, byCul ('the Nook') of Siblinne, by Dub ('the Blackwater'), by Ochonn[6]southwards, [6] by Catha, by Cromma [7]southwards, [7] by Tromma, [8]eastwards[8] by Fodromma, by Slane, by Gort Slane, [9]to the southof[9] Druim Liccè, by Ath Gabla, by Ardachad ('Highfield'), [W. 356. ][1]northwards[1] by Feorainn, by Finnabair ('White Plain'), by Assa[2]southwards, [2] by Airne, by Aurthuile, by Druim Salfind ('SalfindRidge'), by Druim Cain, by Druim Caimthechta, by Druim macDega, by thelittle Eo Dond ('Brown Tree'), by the great Eo Dond, by Meide in Togmaill('Ferret's Neck'), by Meide in Eoin, ('Bird's Neck'), by Baille ('theTown'), by Aile, by Dall Scena, by Ball Scena, by Ross Mor ('Great Point'), by Scuap ('the Broom'), by Imscuap, by Cenn Ferna, by Anmag, by Fid Mor('Great Wood') in Crannach of Cualnge, [3]by Colbtha, by Crond inCualnge, [3] by Druim Cain on the road to Midluachar, [4]from Finnabair ofCualnge. It is at that point that the hosts of Erin divided over theprovince in pursuit of the bull. For it was by way of those places theywent until they reached Finnabair. Here endeth the Title. The Storybegineth in order. [4] [3-3] Stowe and Add. [4-4] LU. 87, Stowe and Add. [5-5] LU. 96. And Stowe. [6-6] Eg. 1782. [7-7] Eg. 1782. [8-8] LU. 113. [9-9] LU. 116. [1-1] LU. 119. [2-2] LU. 121. [3-3] LU. 146-148. [4-4] LU. 149-161. * * * * * [Page 21] VI THE MARCH OF THE HOST [W. 389. ] On the first stage the hosts went [1]from Cruachan, [1] they sleptthe night at Cul Silinne, [2]where to-day is Cargin's Lough. [2] And [3]inthat place[3] was fixed the tent of Ailill son of Ross, [4]and thetrappings were arranged, both bedding and bed-clothes. [4] The tent ofFergus macRoig was on his right hand; Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, was beside him; Ith macEtgaith next to that; Fiachu macFiraba, [5]the sonof Conchobar's daughter, [5] at its side; [6]Conall Cernach at its side, [6]Gobnenn macLurnig at the side of that. The place of Ailill's tent was onthe right on the march, and thirty hundred men of Ulster beside him. Andthe thirty hundred men of Ulster on his right hand had he to the end thatthe whispered talk and conversation and the choice supplies of food and ofdrink might be the nearer to them. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Translating from Stowe. [4-4] LU. 156-157. [5-5] LU. 160. [6-6] Eg. 1782. Medb of Cruachan, [7]daughter of Eocho Fedlech, [7] moreover, was atAilill's left. Finnabair ('Fairbrow'), [8]daughter of Ailill and Medb, [8]at her side, [9]besides servants and henchmen. [9] Next, Flidais Foltchain('of the Lovely Hair'), wife first of Ailill Finn ('the Fair'). She tookpart in the Cow-spoil of Cualnge after she had slept with Fergus; and sheit was that every seventh night brought sustenance [W. 404. ] in milk to themen of Erin on the march, for king and queen and prince and poet and pupil. [7-7] LU. 160. [8-8] LU. 161. [9-9] Eg. 1782. Medb remained in the rear of the host that day in quest of tidings andaugury [LL. Fo. 57a. ] and knowledge. [1]She called to her charioteer to getready her nine chariots for her, [1] [2]to make a circuit of the camp[2]that she might learn who was loath and who eager to take part in thehosting. [3]With nine chariots[a] she was wont to travel, that the dust ofthe great host might not soil her. [3] Medb suffered not her chariot to belet down nor her horses unyoked until she had made a circuit of the camp. [1-1] LU. 153. [2-2] Eg. 1782. [3-3] Gloss in LU. Fo. 56b, 3. [a] Following the emendation suggested by L. Chr. Stern, _Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie, Band_ II, S. 417, LU. Has 'nine charioteers. ' Then, [4]when she had reviewed the host, [4] were Medb's horses unyoked andher chariots let down, and she took her place beside Ailill macMata. AndAilill asked tidings of Medb: who was eager and who was loath for thewarfare. "Futile for all is the emprise but for one troop only, [5]namelythe division of the Galian ('of Leinster'), "[5] quoth Medb. [6]"Why blamestthou these men?" queried Ailill. "It is not that we blame them, " Medb madeanswer. [6] "What good service then have these done that they are praisedabove all?" asked Ailill. "There is reason to praise them, " said Medb. [7]"Splendid are the warriors. [7] When the others begin making their pensand pitching their camp, these have finished building their bothies andhuts. When the rest are building their bothies and huts, these havefinished preparing their food and drink. When the rest are preparing theirfood and drink, these have finished eating and feasting, [8]and their harpsare playing for them. [8] When all the others have finished eating andfeasting, these are by that [W. 422. ] time asleep. And even as theirservants and thralls are distinguished above the servants and thralls ofthe men of Erin, so shall their heroes and champions be distinguishedbeyond the heroes and champions of the men of Erin this time on thishosting. [1]It is folly then for these to go, since it is those others willenjoy the victory of the host. [1]" "So much the better, I trow, " repliedAilill; "for it is with us they go and it is for us they fight. " "Theyshall not go with us nor shall they fight for us. " [2]cried Medb. [2] "Letthem stay at home then, " said Ailill. "Stay they shall not, " answeredMedb. "[3]They will fall on us in the rear and will seize our land againstus. [3]" "What shall they do then, " Finnabair[a] asked, "if they go not outnor yet remain at home?" "Death and destruction and slaughter is what Idesire for them, " answered Medb. "For shame then on thy speech, " spakeAilill; "[4]'tis a woman's advice, [4] for that they pitch their tentsand make their pens so promptly and unwearily. " "By the truth of myconscience, " cried Fergus, [5]"not thus shall it happen, for they areallies of us men of Ulster. [5] No one shall do them to death but he thatdoes death to myself [6]along with them!"[6] [4-4] Eg. 1782. [5-5] LU. 164 and Stowe. [6-6] LU. 165. [7-7] LU. 165. [8-8] LU. 168. [1-1] LU. 169. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. 171-172. [a] 'Ailill, ' in Eg. 1782. [4-4] Eg. 1782. [5-5] LU. 175-176. [6-6] Stowe "Not to me oughtest thou thus to speak, O Fergus, " then cried Medb, "for Ihave hosts enough to slay and slaughter thee with the division ofLeinstermen round thee. For there are the seven Manè, [7]that is, my sevensons[7] with their seven divisions, and the sons of Maga with their[8]seven[8] divisions, and Ailill with his division, and I myself with myown body-guard besides. We are strong enough here to kill and slaughterthee with thy cantred of the Leinstermen round thee!" [7-7] LU. 179. [8-8] Add. "It befits thee not thus to speak to me, " said Fergus, [W. 439. ] "forI have with me here [1]in alliance with us Ulstermen, [1] the sevenUnder-kings of Munster, with their seven cantreds. [2]Here we have what isbest of the youths of Ulster, even the division of the Black Banishment. [2]Here we have what is best of the noble youths of Ulster, even the divisionof the Galian ('of Leinster'). Furthermore, I myself am bond and surety andguarantee for them, since ever they left their own native land. [3]I willgive thee battle in the midst of the camp, [3] and to me will they holdsteadfast on the day of battle. More than all that, " added Fergus, "thesemen shall be no subject of dispute. By that I mean I will never forsakethem. [4]For the rest, we will care for these warriors, to the end thatthey get not the upper hand of the host. [1-1] LU. 184. [2-2] Reading with Stowe; LL. Appears to be corrupt. This was the name given to Fergus, Cormac and the other exiles from Ulster. [3-3] Eg. 1782. "The number of our force is seventeen cantreds, besides our rabble and ourwomen-folk--for with each king was his queen in Medb's company--and ourstriplings; the eighteenth division is namely the cantred of the Galian. [4]This division of Leinstermen I will distribute among [5]all the host of[5]the men of Erin in such wise that no five men of them shall be in any oneplace. " "That pleaseth me well, " said Medb: "let them be as they may, ifonly they be not in the battle-order of the ranks where they now are insuch great force. " [4-4] LU. 187-192. [5-5] Eg. 1782. Forthwith Fergus distributed the cantred [6]of the Galian[6] among the menof Erin in such wise that there were not five men of them in any one place. [6-6] Stowe and Add. [LL. Fo. 57b. ] Thereupon, the troops set out on their way and march. It wasno easy thing [7]for their kings and their leaders[7] to attend to thatmighty host. They took part in the expedition [W. 453. ] according to theseveral tribes and according to the several stems and the several districtswherewith they had come, to the end that they might see one other and knowone other, that each man might be with his comrades and with his friendsand with his kinsfolk on the march. They declared that in such wise theyshould go. They also took counsel in what manner they should proceed ontheir hosting. Thus they declared they should proceed: Each host with itsking, each troop with its lord, and each band with its captain; each kingand each prince of the men of Erin [1]by a separate route[1] on his haltingheight apart. They took counsel who was most proper to seek tidings inadvance of the host between the two provinces. And they said it was Fergus, inasmuch as the expedition was an obligatory one with him, for it was hethat had been seven years in the kingship of Ulster. And [2]after Conchobarhad usurped the kingship and[2] after the murder of the sons of Usnech whowere under his protection and surety, Fergus left the Ultonians, and forseventeen years he was away from Ulster in exile and in enmity. For thatreason it was fitting that he above all should go after tidings. [7-7] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe and Add. [2-2] Stowe and Add. So [3]the lead of the way was entrusted to Fergus. [3] Fergus before allfared forth to seek tidings, and a feeling of [4]love and[4] affection forhis kindred of the men of Ulster came over him, and he led the troopsastray in a great circuit to the north and the south. And he despatchedmessengers with warnings to the Ulstermen, [5]who were at that time intheir 'Pains' except Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim. [5] And he began todetain and delay the host [6]until such time as the men of Ulster shouldhave gathered together an army. [6] [7]Because of affection he did so. [7] [3-3] Eg. 1782. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 217. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 227. [7-7] Eg. 1782. [W. 472. ] Medb perceived this and she upbraided him for it, and chanted thelay:-- Medb: "Fergus, speak, what shall we say? What may mean this devious way? For we wander north and south; Over other lands we stray!" Fergus: "Medb, why art thou so perturbed? There's no treacherous purpose here. Ulster's land it is, O queen, Over which I've led thy host!" Medb: "Ailill, splendid with his hosts, [1]Fears thee lest thou should'st betray. [1] Thou hast not bent all thy mind To direct us on our way!" Fergus: "Not to bring the host to harm Make these changing circuits I. Haply could I now avoid Sualtach's son, the Blacksmith's Hound!"[a] Medb: "Ill of thee to wrong our host, Fergus, son of Ross the Red; Much good hast thou found with us, Fergus, in thy banishment!" "[2]If thou showest our foemen love, No more shalt thou lead our troops; Haply someone else we'll find To direct us on our way![2]" [1-1] Reading with LU. And YBL. 252. [a] That is, Cuchulain. [2-2] Eg. 1782. "I will be in the van of the troops no longer, " cried Fergus; "but do thoufind another to go before them. " For all that, Fergus kept his place inthe van of the troops. The four mighty provinces of Erin passed that night on Cul Silinne. Thesharp, keen-edged anxiety for Cuchulain came upon Fergus and he warned themen of Erin to be on their guard, because there would come upon them therapacious lion, and the doom of foes, the vanquisher of multitudes, and thechief of retainers, the mangler of great hosts, the hand that dispenseth[3]treasures, [3] and the flaming [W. 502. ] torch, even Cuchulain son ofSualtaim. [a] And thus he foreshowed him and chanted a lay, and Medbresponded:-- Fergus: "Well for ye to heed and watch, With array of arms and men. He will come, the one we fear, Murthemne's great, deedful youth!" Medb: "How so dear, this battle-rede, Comes from thee, [LL. Fo. 58a. ] Roig's son most bold. Men and arms have I enough To attend Cuchulain here!" Fergus: "Thou shalt need them, Medb of Ai, Men and arms for battle hard, With the grey steed's[b] horseman brave. All the night and all the day!" Medb: "I have kept here in reserve Heroes fit for fight and spoil; Thirty hundred hostage-chiefs, Leinster's bravest champions they. Fighting men from Cruachan fair, Braves from clear-streamed Luachair, Four full realms of goodly Gaels Will defend me from this man!" Fergus: "Rich in troops from Mourne and Bann, Blood he'll draw o'er shafts of spears; He will cast to mire and sand These three thousand Leinstermen. With the swallow's swiftest speed, With the rush of biting wind, So bounds on my dear brave Hound, Breathing slaughter on his foes!" Medb: "Fergus, should he come 'tween us, To Cuchulain bear this word: He were prudent to stay still; Cruachan holds a check in store. " Fergus: "Valiant will the slaughter be Badb's wild daughter[c] gloats upon. For the Blacksmith's Hound will spill Showers of blood on hosts of men!" [3-3] Stowe and Add. [a] MS. : _Sualtach. _ [b] _Liath Mache_ ('the Roan of Macha'), the name of one of Cuchulain's two horses. [c] That is, the goddess or fury of battle. [W. 540. ] After this lay the men of the four grand provinces of Erin marched[1]on the morrow[1] over Moin Coltna ('the Marsh of Coltain') eastwardsthat day; and there met them eight score deer [2]in a single herd. [2] Thetroops spread out and surrounded and killed them so that none of themescaped. [1-1] LU. 195. [2-2] Stowe and Add. But there is one event to add: Although the division of the Galian had beendispersed [3]among the men of Erin, [3] [4]wherever there was a man of theGalian, it was he that got them, except[4] five deer only which was the menof Erin's share thereof, so that one division took all the eight scoredeer. [3-3] Stowe and Add. [4-4] LU. 196. [5]Then they proceed to Mag Trega and they unyoke there and prepare theirfood. It is said that it is there that Dubthach recited this stave:-- "Grant ye have not heard till now, Giving ear to Dubthach's fray: Dire-black war upon ye waits, 'Gainst the Whitehorned of Queen Medb![a] "There will come the chief of hosts, [b] War for Murthemne to wage. Ravens shall drink garden's milk, [c] This the fruit of swineherds' strife (?)[d] "Turfy Cron will hold them back, Keep them back from Murthemne, [5] [9]Till the warriors' work is done On Ochainè's northern mount! "'Quick, ' to Cormac, Ailill cries; 'Go and seek ye out your son, Loose no cattle from the fields, Lest the din of the host reach them!' "Battle they'll have here eftsoon, Medb and one third of the host. Corpses will be scattered wide If the Wildman[a] come to you!" [a] Literally, 'of Ailill's spouse. ' [b] That is, Cuchulain. [c] A kenning for 'blood. ' [d] Referring to the two bulls, the Brown and the Whitehorned, which were the re-incarnations through seven intermediate stages of two divine swineherds of the gods of the under-world. The story is told in _Irische Texte_, iii, i, pp. 230-275. [5-5] LU. 198-205. [a] Literally, 'the Contorted one'; that is, Cuchulain. Then Nemain, [1]the Badb to wit, [1] attacked them, and that was not thequietest of nights they had, with the noise of the churl, namely Dubthach, in their[b] sleep. Such fears he scattered amongst the host straightway, and he hurled a great stone at the throng till Medb came to check him. Theycontinued their march then till they slept a night in Granard Tethba in thenorth, [9] [2]after the host had made a circuitous way across sloughs andstreams. [2] [1-1] Gloss in YBL. 211. [b] 'his' Eg. 1782. [9-9] YBL. And LU. 206-215. With this passage YBL. Begins, fo. 17a. [2-2] LU. 215. [W. 547. ] It was on that same day, [3]after the coming of the warning fromFergus[3] [4]to the Ulstermen, [4] that Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, [5]andSualtaim[5] Sidech ('of the Fairy Mound'), his father, [6]when they hadreceived the warning from Fergus, [6] came so near [7]on their watch for thehost[7] that their horses grazed in pasture round the pillar-stone on ArdCuillenn ('the Height of Cuillenn'). Sualtaim's horses cropped the grassnorth of the pillar-stone close to the ground; Cuchulain's cropped thegrass south of the pillar-stone even to the ground and the bare stones. "Well, O master Sualtaim, " said Cuchulain; "the thought of the host isfixed sharp upon me [8]to-night, [8] so do thou depart for us with warningsto the men of Ulster, that they remain not in the smooth plains but thatthey betake themselves to the woods and wastes and steep glens of theprovince, if so they may keep out of the way of the men of Erin. " "Andthou, lad, what wilt thou do?" "I must go southwards to Temair to keeptryst with the [W. 556. ] maid[a] of Fedlimid Nocruthach ('of the NineForms') [1]Conchobar's daughter, [1] according to my own agreement, tillmorning. " "Alas, that one should go [2]on such a journey, "[2] saidSualtaim, "and leave the Ulstermen under the feet of their foes and theirenemies for the sake of a tryst with a woman!" "For all that, I needs mustgo. For, an I go not, the troth of men will be held for false and thepromises of women held for true. " [3-3] LU. 218 [4-4] Eg. 1782. [5-5] _Sualtach_, in LL. [6-6] Eg. 1782. [7-7] Eg. 1782. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 220. [a] "Who was secretly as a concubine with Cuchulain"; gloss in LU. And YBL. 222 and Eg. 1782. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] Stowe and Add. Sualtaim departed with warnings to the men of Ulster. Cuchulain strodeinto the wood, and there, with a single blow, he lopped the prime saplingof an oak, root and top, and with only one foot and one hand and one eye heexerted himself; and he made a twig-ring thereof and set an ogam[b] scripton the plug of the ring, and set the ring round the narrow part of thepillar-stone on Ard ('the Height') of Cuillenn. He forced the ring till itreached the thick of the pillar-stone. Thereafter Cuchulain went his way tohis tryst with the woman. [b] The old kind of writing of the Irish. Touching the men of Erin, the account follows here: They came up to thepillar-stone at Ard Cuillenn, [3]which is called Crossa Coil to-day, [3] andthey began looking out upon the province that was unknown to them, theprovince of Ulster. And two of Medb's people went always before them in thevan of the host, at every camp and on every march, at every ford and everyriver [LL. Fo. 58b. ] and every gap. They were wont to do so [4]that theymight save the brooches and cushions and cloaks of the host, so that thedust of the multitude might not soil them[4] and that no stain might comeon the princes' raiment in the crowd or the crush of the hosts or thethrong;--these were the two sons of Nera, who was the son of Nuathar, [W. 575. ] son of Tacan, two sons of the house-stewards of Cruachan, Err andInnell, to wit. Fraech and Fochnam were the names of their charioteers. [3-3] Eg. 1782. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 245-246. The nobles of Erin arrived at the pillar-stone and they there beheld thesigns of the browsing of the horses, cropping around the pillar, and theylooked close at the rude hoop which the royal hero had left behind aboutthe pillar-stone. [1]Then sat they down to wait till the army should come, the while their musicians played to them. [1] And Ailill took the withy inhis hand and placed it in Fergus' hand, and Fergus read the ogam scriptgraven on the plug of the withy, and made known to the men of Erin what wasthe meaning of the ogam writing that was on it. [2]When Medb came, sheasked, "Why wait ye here?" "Because of yonder withy we wait, " Fergus madeanswer; "there is an ogam writing on its binding and this is what it saith:'Let no one go past here till a man be found to throw a withy like untothis, using only one hand and made of a single branch, and I except mymaster Fergus. ' Truly, " Fergus added, "it was Cuchulain threw it, and itwas his steeds that grazed this plain. " And he placed the hoop in the handsof the druids, [2] and it is thus he began to recite and he pronounced alay:-- "What bespeaks this withe to us, What purports its secret rede? And what number cast it here, Was it one man or a host? "If ye go past here this night, And bide not [3]one night[3] in camp. On ye'll come the tear-flesh Hound; Yours the blame, if ye it scorn! "[4]Evil on the host he'll bring, [4] If ye go your way past this. [W. 596. ] Find, ye druids, find out here, For what cause this withe was made!" [1]A druid speaks[1]: "Cut by hero, cast by chief, As a perfect trap for foes. Stayer of lords--with hosts of men-- One man cast it with one hand! "With fierce rage the battle 'gins Of the Smith's Hound of Red Branch. [a] Bound to meet this madman's rage; This the name that's on the withe! [2]"Would the king's host have its will-- Else they break the law of war-- Let some one man of ye cast, As one man this withe did cast![2] "Woes to bring with hundred fights On four realms of Erin's land; Naught I know 'less it be this For what cause the withe was made!" [1-1] LU. And YBL. 250. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 252-258. [3-3] Reading with Stowe, Add. And H. 1. 13. [4-4] Reading with LU. And YBL. 261. [1-1] LU. , marginal note. [a] The name of the festal hall of the kings of Ulster. [2-2] Eg. 1782. After that lay: "I pledge you my word, " said Fergus, "if so ye set atnaught yon withy and the royal hero that made it, [3]and if ye go beyond[3]without passing a night's camp and quarterage here, or until a man of youmake a withy of like kind, using but one foot and one eye and one hand, even as he made it, [4]certain it is, whether ye be[4] under the ground orin a tight-shut house, [5]the man that wrote the ogam hereon[5] will bringslaughter and bloodshed upon ye before the hour of rising on the morrow, ifye make light of him!" "That, surely, would not be pleasing to us, " quothMedb, "that any one should [6]straightway[6] spill our blood or besmirch usred, now that we are come to this unknown province, even to the province ofUlster. More pleasing would it be to us, to spill another's blood andredden him. " "Far be it from us to set this [W. 618. ] withy at naught, " saidAilill, "nor shall we make little of the royal hero that wrought it, ratherwill we resort to the shelter of this great wood, [1]that is, Fidduin, ('the Wood of the Dûn')[1] southwards till morning. There will we pitch ourcamp and quarters. " [3-3] LU. 270. [4-4] Reading with Stowe. [5-5] LU. 271. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 273. [1-1] A gloss in YBL. 274; found also in Eg. 1782. Thereupon the hosts advanced, and as they went they felled the wood withtheir swords before their chariots, so that Slechta ('the Hewn Road') isstill the by-name of that place where is Partraige Beca ('the LesserPartry') south-west of Cenannas na Rig ('Kells of the Kings') near CulSibrille. [2]According to other books, it is told as follows: After they had come to[3]Fidduin[3] they saw a chariot and therein a beautiful maiden. It isthere that the conversation between Medb and Fedelm the seeress took placethat we spoke of before, and it is after the answer she made to Medb thatthe wood was cut down: "Look for me, " said Medb, "how my journey will be. ""It is hard for me, " the maiden made answer, "for no glance of eye can Icast upon them in the wood. " "Then it is plough-land this shall be, " quothMedb; "we will cut down the wood. " Now, this was done, so that this is thename of the place, Slechta, to wit. [2] [2-2] YBL. 276-283. [3-3] '_Fedaduin_, ' MS. [4]They slept in Cul Sibrille, which is Cenannas. [4] A heavy snow fell onthem that night, and so great it was that it reached to the shoulders[a]of the men and to the flanks of the horses and to the poles[b] of thechariots, so that all the provinces of Erin were one level plane from thesnow. But no huts nor bothies nor tents did they set up that night, nor didthey [LL. Fo. 59. ] prepare food nor drink, nor made they a meal nor repast. None of the men of Erin [W. 630. ] wot whether friend or foe was next himuntil the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow. [4-4] Eg. 1782. [a] 'Girdles, ' LU. And YBL. 284; 'shields, ' Eg. 1782. [b] 'Wheels, ' LU. And YBL. 285 and Eg. 1782. Certain it is that the men of Erin experienced not a night of encampment orof station that held more discomfort or hardship for them than that night[1]with the snow[1] at Cul Sibrille. The four grand provinces of Erin movedout early on the morrow [2]with the rising of the bright-shining sunglistening on the snow[2] and marched on from that part into another. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 287. [2-2] Reading with Stowe. Now, as regards Cuchulain: It was far from being early when he arose[3]from his tryst. [3] And then he ate a meal and took a repast, and [4]heremained until he had[4] washed himself and bathed on that day. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 288. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 289. He called to his charioteer to lead out the horses and yoke the chariot. The charioteer led out the horses and yoked the chariot, and Cuchulainmounted his chariot. And they came on the track of the army. They foundthe trail of the men of Erin leading past them from that part into another. "Alas, O master Laeg, " cried Cuchulain, "by no good luck went we to ourtryst with the woman last night. [5]Would that we had not gone thither norbetrayed the Ultonians. [5] This is the least that might be looked for fromhim that keeps guard on the marches, a cry, or a shout, or an alarm, or tocall, 'Who goes the road?' This it fell not unto us to say. The men of Erinhave gone past us, [6]without warning, without complaint, [6] into the landof Ulster. " "I foretold thee that, O Cuchulain, " said Laeg. "Even thoughthou wentest to thy woman-tryst [7]last night, [7] such a disgrace wouldcome upon thee. " "Good now, O Laeg, go thou for us on the trail of the hostand make an estimate of them, and discover [W. 649. ] for us in what numberthe men of Erin went by us. " [5-5] LU. And YBL. 290. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe. Laeg came on the track of the host, and he went to the front of the trailand he came on its sides and he went to the back of it. "Thou art confusedin thy counting, O Laeg, my master, " quoth Cuchulain. "Confused I must be, "Laeg replied. [1]"It is not confusedly that I should see, if I should go, "said Cuchulain. [1] "Come into the chariot then, and I will make a reckoningof them. " The charioteer mounted the chariot and Cuchulain went on thetrail of the hosts and [2]after a long while[2] he made a reckoning ofthem. [3]"Even thou, it is not easy for thee. [3] Thou art perplexed in thycounting, my little Cuchulain, " quoth Laeg. "Not perplexed, " answeredCuchulain; [4]"it is easier for me than for thee. [4] [5]For I have threemagical virtues: Gift of sight, gift of understanding, and gift ofreckoning. [5] For I know the number wherewith the hosts went past us, namely, eighteen cantreds. Nay more: the eighteenth cantred has beendistributed among [6]the entire host of[6] the men of Erin, [7]so thattheir number is not clear, namely, that of the cantred of Leinstermen. "[7][8]This here is the third cunningest [9]and most difficult[9] reckoningthat ever was made in Erin. These were: The reckoning by Cuchulain of themen of Erin on the Táin, the reckoning by Lug Lamfota ('Long-hand') of thehost of the Fomorians [10]in the Battle of Moytura, [10] and the reckoningby Incel of the host in the Hostel of Da Derga. [8] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 294-295. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 297. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 297. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 297-298. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 298-299. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 302. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 302. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] LU. Fo. 58a, in the margin. [10-10] LU. Fo. 58a, in the margin. Now, many and divers were the magic virtues that were in Cuchulain [11]thatwere in no one else in his day. [11] Excellence of form, excellence ofshape, excellence of build, excellence [W. 661. ] in swimming, excellence inhorsemanship, excellence in chess and in draughts, excellence in battle, excellence in contest, excellence in single combat, excellence inreckoning, excellence in speech, excellence in counsel, excellence inbearing, excellence in laying waste and in plundering from the neighbouringborder. [11-11] Stowe, and LU. Fo. 58a, 24, marginal note. "Good, my friend Laeg. Brace the horses for us to the chariot; lay on thegoad for us on the horses; drive on the chariot for us and give thy left[a]board to the hosts, to see can we overtake the van or the rear or the midstof the hosts, for I will cease to live unless there fall by my hand thisnight a friend or foe of the men of Erin. " [a] A sign of enmity. Then it was that the charioteer gave the prick to the steeds. He turned hisleft board to the hosts till he arrived at Turloch[b] Caille More ('theCreek of the Great Wood') northwards of Cnogba na Rig ('Knowth of theKings') which is called Ath Gabla ('the Ford of the Fork'). [1]ThereuponCuchulain went round the host till he came to Ath Grenca. [1] He went intothe wood at that place and sprang out of his chariot, and he lopped off afour-pronged fork, root and top, with a single stroke [2]of his sword. [2]He pointed and charred it and put a writing in ogam on its side, and hegave it a long throw from the hinder part of his chariot with the tip of asingle hand, in such wise that two-thirds of it sank into the ground andonly one-third was above it [3]in the mid part of the stream, so that nochariot could go thereby on this side or that. [3] [b] _Belach_ ('the Pass'), Eg. 1782. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 304. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 305. Then it was that the same two striplings surprised him, namely, the twosons of Nera son of Nuathar son of Tacan, while engaged in that feat. Andthey vied which of the twain [4]would be the first to fight and contendwith Cuchuain, which of them[4] would inflict the first wound upon [W. 680. ]him and be the first to behead him. Cuchulain turned on them, andstraightway he struck off their four heads [1]from themselves [2]Eirr andIndell[2] and [3]from Foich and Fochlam, [3] their drivers, [1] and he fixeda head of each man of them on each of the prongs of the pole. And Cuchulainlet the horses of the party go back in the direction of the men of Erin, toreturn by the same road, their reins loose [4]around their ears[4] andtheir bellies red and the bodies of the warriors dripping their blood downoutside on the ribs of the chariots. [5]Thus he did, [5] for he deemed it nohonour nor deemed he it fair to take horses or garments or arms fromcorpses or from the dead. And then the troops saw the horses of the partythat had gone out in advance before them, and the headless bodies of thewarriors oozing their blood down on the ribs of the chariots ([6]and theircrimsoned trappings upon them[6]). The van of the army waited for the rearto come up, and all were thrown into confusion of striking, that is as muchas to say, into a tumult of arms. [4-4] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 306. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 306. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 310. Medb and Fergus and the Manè and the sons of Maga drew near. For in thiswise was Medb wont to travel, and nine chariots with her alone; two ofthese chariots before her, and two chariots behind, and two chariots ateither side, and her own chariot in the middle between them. This is whyMedb did so, that the turves from the horses' hoofs, or the flakes of foamfrom the bridle-bits, or the dust of the mighty host or of the numerousthrong might not reach the queen's diadem of gold [7]which she wore roundher head. [7] "What have we here?" queried Medb. "Not hard to say, " each andall made answer; [LL. Fo. 60. ] "the horses of the band that went out beforeus are here and their bodies lacking their heads in their chariots. " Theyheld [W. 702. ] a council and they felt certain it was the sign of amultitude and of the approach of a mighty host, and that it was theUlstermen that had come [1]and that it was a battle that had taken placebefore them on the ford. [1] And this was the counsel they took: todespatch Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, from them to learn what was atthe ford; because, even though the Ulstermen might be there, they would notkill the son of their own king. Thereupon Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar'sson, set forth and this was the complement with which he went, ten hundredin addition to twenty hundred armed men, to ascertain what was at theford. And when he was come, he saw naught save the fork in the middle ofthe ford, with four heads upon it dripping their blood down along the stemof the fork into the stream of the river, [2]and a writing in ogam on theside, [2] and the signs of the two horses and the track of a singlechariot-driver and the marks of a single warrior leading out of the fordgoing therefrom to the eastward. [3]By that time, [3] the nobles of Erinhad drawn nigh to the ford and they all began to look closely at the fork. They marvelled and wondered who had set up the trophy. [4]"Are yonderheads those of our people?" Medb asked. "They are our people's, andour chosen ones', " answered Ailill. One of their men deciphered theogam-writing that was on the side of the fork, to wit: 'A single man castthis fork with but a single hand; and go ye not past it till one man of youthrow it with one hand, excepting Fergus. '[4] "What name have ye men ofUlster for this ford till now, Fergus?" asked Ailill. "Ath Grenca, "[a]answered Fergus; "and Ath Gabla ('Ford of the Fork') shall now be its nameforever from this fork, " said Fergus. And he recited the lay:-- [7-7] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 313. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 314. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 314-318. [a] So Stowe; LL. Has '_Grena_. ' [W. 719. ] "Grenca's ford shall change its name, From the strong and fierce Hound's deed. Here we see a four-pronged fork, Set to prove all Erin's men! "On two points--as sign of war-- Are Fraech's head and Fochnam's head; On its other points are thrust Err's head and Innell's withal! "And yon ogam on its side, Find, ye druids, in due form, Who has set it upright there? What host drove it in the ground?" (A druid answers:) "Yon forked pole--with fearful strength-- Which thou seest, Fergus, there, One man cut, to welcome us, With one perfect stroke of sword! "Pointed it and shouldered it-- Though this was no light exploit-- After that he flung it down, To uproot for one of you! "Grenca was its name till now-- All will keep its memory-- Fork-ford[a] be its name for aye, From the fork that's in the ford!" [a] That is, _Ath Gabla_. After the lay, spake Ailill: "I marvel and wonder, O Fergus, who could havesharpened the fork and slain with such speed the four that had gone outbefore us. " "Fitter it were to marvel and wonder at him who with a singlestroke lopped the fork which thou seest, root and top, pointed and charredit and flung it the length of a throw from the hinder part of his chariot, from the tip of a single hand, so that it sank over two-thirds into theground and that naught save one-third is above; nor was a hole first dugwith his sword, but through a grey stone's flag it was thrust, and thus itis geis for the men of Erin to proceed to the bed of this ford till one ofye pull out the fork with the tip of one hand, even as he erewhile drove itdown. " "Thou art of our hosts, O Fergus, " said Medb; [W. 753. ] [1]avert thisnecessity from us, [1] and do thou draw the fork for us from the bed of theford. " "Let a chariot be brought me, " cried Fergus, [2]"till I draw it out, that it may be seen that its butt is of one hewing. "[2] And a chariot wasbrought to Fergus, and Fergus laid hold [3]with a truly mighty grip[3] onthe fork, and he made splinters and [LL. Fo. 61a. ] scraps of the chariot. "Let another chariot be brought me, " cried Fergus. [4]Another[4] chariotwas brought to Fergus, and Fergus made a tug at the fork and again madefragments and splinters of the chariot, [5]both its box and its yoke andits wheels. [5] "Again let a chariot be brought me, " cried Fergus. AndFergus exerted his strength on the fork, and made pieces and bits of thechariot. There where the seventeen[a] chariots of the Connachtmen'schariots were, Fergus made pieces and bits of them all, and yet he failedto draw the fork from the bed of the ford. "Come now, let it be, O Fergus, "cried Medb; "break our people's chariots no more. For hadst thou not beennow engaged on this hosting, [6]by this time[6] should we have come toUlster, driving divers spoils and cattle-herds with us. We wot whereforethou workest all this, to delay and detain the host till the Ulstermen risefrom their 'Pains' and offer us battle, the battle of the Táin. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 322. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 324. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [a] "Fourteen, " LU. And YBL. 325 and Eg. 1782. [6-6] Stowe. "Bring me a swift chariot, " cried Fergus. And his own chariot was broughtto Fergus, and Fergus gave a tug at the fork, and nor wheel nor floor norone of the chariot-poles creaked nor cracked. Even though it was with hisstrength and prowess that the one had driven it down, with his might anddoughtiness the other drew it out, --the battle-champion, the gap-breaker ofhundreds, the crushing sledge, the stone-of-battle for enemies, the[W. 777. ] head of retainers, the foe of hosts, the hacking of masses, theflaming torch and the leader of mighty combat. He drew it up with the tipof one hand till it reached the slope of his shoulder, and he placed thefork in Ailill's hand. Ailill scanned it; he regarded it near. "The fork, meseems, is all the more perfect, " quoth Ailill; "for a single stroke I seeon it from butt to top. " "Aye, all the more perfect, " Fergus replied. AndFergus began to sing praise [1]of Cuchulain, [1] and he made a laythereon:-- "Here behold the famous fork, By which cruel Cuchulain stood. Here he left, for hurt to all, Four heads of his border-foes! "Surely he'd not flee therefrom, 'Fore aught man, how brave or bold. Though the scatheless[a] Hound this left, On its hard rind there is gore! "To its hurt the host goes east, Seeking Cualnge's wild Brown bull. [2]Warriors' cleaving there shall be, [2] 'Neath Cuchulain's baneful sword! "No gain will their[b] stout bull be, For which sharp-armed war will rage; At the fall of each head's skull Erin's every tribe shall weep! "I have nothing to relate As regards Dechtirè's son. [c] Men and women hear the tale Of this fork, how it came here!" [1-1] Stowe. [a] Literally, 'painless, ' referring to Cuchulain's exemption from the _cess_ or 'debility' of the Ulstermen. [2-2] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13. [b] Translating from Stowe; LL. Has 'his' or 'its. ' [c] That is, Cuchulain. After this lay: "Let us pitch our booths and tents, " said Ailill, "and letus make ready food and drink, and let us sing songs and strike up harps, and let us eat and [W. 807. ] regale ourselves, for, of a truth, never beforenor since knew the men of Erin a night of encampment or of entrenchmentthat held sorer discomfort or distress for them than yester-night. [1]Letus give heed to the manner of folk to whom we go and let us hear somewhatof their deeds and famous tales. "[1] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 329-330. They raised their booths and pitched their tents. They got ready[LL. Fo. 61b. ] their food and drink, and songs were sung and harping intonedby them, and feasting and eating indulged in, [2]and they were told of thefeats of Cuchulain. [2] [2-2] LU. And YBL. 331. And Ailill inquired of Fergus: "I marvel and wonder who could have come tous to our lands and slain so quickly the four that had gone out beforeus. Is it likely that Conchobar son of Fachtna Fatach ('the Mighty'), HighKing of Ulster, has come to us?" "It is never likely that he has, " Fergusanswered; "for a shame it would be to speak ill of him in his absence. There is nothing he would not stake for the sake of his honour. For if hehad come hither [3]to the border of the land[3], there would have comearmies and troops and the pick of the men of Erin that are with him. Andeven though against him in one and the same place, and in one mass and onemarch and one camp, and on one and the same hill were the men of Erin andAlba, Britons and Saxons, he would give them battle, before him they wouldbreak and it is not he that would be routed. " [3-3] LU. And YBL. 333. "A question, then: Who would be like to have come to us? Is it like thatCuscraid Mend ('the Stammerer') of Macha would have come, Conchobar's son, from Inis Cuscraid?" "Nay then, it is not; he, the son of the High King, "Fergus answered. "There is nothing he would not hazard for the sake of hishonour. For were it he that had come hither, there would have come the[W. 827. ] sons of kings and the royal leaders [1]of Ulster and Erin[1] thatare serving as hirelings with him. And though there might be against him inone and the same place, in one mass and one march and one camp, and on oneand the same hill the men of Erin and Alba, Britons and Saxons, he wouldgive them battle, before him they would break and it is not he that wouldbe routed. " [1-1] Stowe. "I ask, then, whether Eogan son of Durthacht, King of Fernmag, would havecome?" "In sooth, it is not likely. For, had he come hither, the pick ofthe men of Fernmag would have come with him, battle he would give them, before him they would break, and it is not he that would be routed. " "I ask, then: Who would be likely to have come to us? Is it likely that hewould have come, Celtchai son of Uthechar?" "No more is it likely that itwas he. A shame it would be to make light of him in his absence, him thebattle-stone for the foes of the province, the head of all the retainersand the gate-of-battle of Ulster. And even should there be against him inone place and one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the samehill all the men of Erin from the west to the east, from the south to thenorth, battle he would give them, before him they would break and it is nothe that would be routed. " "I ask, then: Who would be like to have come to us?" [2]asked Ailill. [2][3]"I know not, " Fergus replied, [3] "unless it be the little lad, mynursling and Conchobar's. Cuchulain ('the Wolf-dog of Culann the Smith')he is called. [4]He is the one who could have done the deed, " answeredFergus. "He it is who could have lopped the tree with one blow from itsroot, could have killed the four with the quickness wherewith they werekilled and could have come to the border with his charioteer. "[4] [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 337-340. [W. 843. ] "Of a truth, " spake Ailill, "I heard from ye of this little boyonce on a time in Cruachan. What might be the age of this little boy now?""It is by no means his age that is most formidable in him, " answeredFergus. "Because, manful were his deeds, those of that lad, at a time whenhe was younger than he [1]now[1] is. [2]In his fifth year he went in questof warlike deeds among the lads of Emain Macha. In his sixth[a] year hewent to learn skill in arms and feats with Scathach, [2] [3]and he went towoo Emer;[3] [4]in his seventh[b] year he took arms; in his seventeenthyear he is at this time. "[4] "How so!" exclaimed Medb. "Is there even nowamongst the Ulstermen one his equal in age that is more redoubtable thanhe?" "We have not found there [5]a man-at-arms that is harder, [5] [6]nor apoint that is keener, more terrible nor quicker, [6] nor a more bloodthirstywolf, [7]nor a raven more flesh-loving, [7] nor a wilder warrior, nor amatch of his age that would reach to a third or a fourth [LL. Fo. 62a. ] thelikes of Cuchulain. Thou findest not there, " Fergus went on, "a hero hispeer, [8]nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a plank of battle, [8] nor a sledgeof destruction, [9]nor a gate of combat, [9] nor a doom of hosts, nor acontest of valour that would be of more worth than Cuchulain. Thou findestnot there one that could equal his age and his growth, [10]his dress[10][11]and his terror, [11] his size and his splendour, [12]his fame and hisvoice, his shape and his power, [12] his form and his speech, his strengthand his feats and his valour, [13]his smiting, his heat and his anger, [13]his dash, his assault and attack, his dealing of [W. 857. ] doom andaffliction, his roar, his speed, his fury, his rage, and his quick triumphwith the feat of nine men on each sword's point[a] above him, like untoCuchulain. " [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 342-345. [a] 'Seventh, ' YBL. 344. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 345. [4-4] LU. 346-347, and, similarly, YBL. [b] "Eight, " YBL. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 349. [6-6] LU. 349-350. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 350. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 351-352. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 352. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 354. [11-11] YBL. 354. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 355-356. [13-13 LU. And YBL. 356-357. [a] Reading with Stowe, LU. And YBL. 359, which is more intelligible than 'on each hair, ' which is the translation of LL. "We make not much import of him, " quoth Medb. "It is but a single body hehas; he shuns being wounded; he avoids being taken. They do say his age isbut that of a girl to be wed. [1]His deeds of manhood have not yet come, [1]nor will he hold out against tried men, this young, beardless elf-man ofwhom thou spokest. " [2]"We say not so, "[2] replied Fergus, "for manful werethe deeds of the lad at a time when he was younger than he [3]now[3] is. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 363. [2-2] 'That is not true, ' Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 46] VII THE YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS OF CUCHULAIN [W. 865. ] "Now this lad was reared in the house of his father and mother atDairgthech[1] ('the Oak House' (?)), namely, in the plain of Murthemne, and the tales of the youths of Emain were told to him. [2]For there are[3]always[3] thrice fifty boys at play there, " said Fergus. [2] "Forasmuchas in this wise Conchobar passed his reign ever since he, the king, assumedhis sovereignty, to wit: As soon as he arose, forthwith in settling thecares and affairs of the province; thereafter, the day he divided in three:first, the first third he spent a-watching the youths play games of skilland of hurling; the next third of the day, a-playing draughts and chess, and the last third a-feasting on meat and [4]a-quaffing[4] ale, till sleeppossessed them all, the while minstrels and harpers lulled him to sleep. For all that I am a long time in banishment because of him, I give myword, " said Fergus, "there is not in Erin nor in Alba a warrior the likeof Conchobar. " [1] Reading with LU. And YBL. 367. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 368-369. [3-3] Eg. 1782. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 371. "And the lad was told the tales of the boys and the boy-troop in Emain; andthe child said to his mother, he would go to have part in the games on theplay-field of Emain. "It is too soon for thee, little son, " said hismother; "wait till there go with thee a champion of the champions of[W. 880. ] Ulster, or some of the attendants of Conchobar to enjoin thyprotection and thy safety on the boy-troop. " "I think it too long for that, my mother, " the little lad answered, "I will not wait for it. But do thoushow me what place lies Emain [1]Macha. "[1] [2]"Northwards, there;[2] it isfar away from thee, " said his mother, "the place wherein it lies, [3]andthe way is hard. [3] Sliab Fuait lies between thee and Emain. " "At allhazards, I will essay it, " he answered. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 376-377. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 377. "The boy fared forth and took his playthings with him. [4]His littlelath-shield[4] he took, and his hurley of bronze and his ball of silver;and he took his little javelin for throwing; and his toy-staff he took withits fire-hardened butt-end, and he began to shorten the length of hisjourney with them. He would give the ball a stroke [LL. Fo. 62b. ] with thehurl-bat, so that he sent it a long distance from him. Then with a secondthrow he would cast his hurley so that it went a distance no shorter thanthe first throw. He would hurl his little darts, and let fly his toy-staff, and make a wild chase after them. Then he would catch up his hurl-bat andpick up the ball and snatch up the dart, and the stock of the toy-staff hadnot touched the ground when he caught its tip which was in the air. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 380. "He went his way to the mound-seat of Emain, where was the boy-troop. Thrice fifty youths were with Folloman, Conchobar's son, at their games onthe fair-green of Emain. "The little lad went on to the play-field into the midst of the boys, andhe whipped the ball between his two legs away from them, nor did he sufferit to travel higher up than the top of his knee, nor did he let it lowerdown than his ankle, and he drove it and held it between his two legs andnot one of the boys was able to get a prod nor a stroke nor a blow nor ashot at it, so that he carried it over the [W. 904. ] brink of the goal awayfrom them. [1]Then he goes to the youths without binding them to protecthim. For no one used to approach them on their play-field without firstsecuring from them a pledge of protection. He was weetless thereof. [1] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 382-384. "Then they all gazed upon him. They wondered and marvelled. "Come, boys!"cried Folloman, Conchobar's son, [2]"the urchin insults us. [2] Throwyourselves all on yon fellow, and his death shall come at my hands; for itis geis among you for any youth to come into your game, without firstentrusting his safety to you. And do you all attack him together, for weknow that yon wight is some one of the heroes of Ulster; and they shall notmake it their wont to break into your sports without first entrusting theirsafety and protection to you. " [2-2] LU. And YBL. 384-385. "Thereupon they all set upon him together. They cast their thrice fiftyhurl-bats at the poll of the boy's head. He raises his single toy-staffand wards off the thrice fifty hurlies, [3]so that they neither hurt himnor harm him, [3] [4]and he takes a load of them on his back. [4] Then theythrow their thrice fifty balls at the lad. He raises his upper arm and hisforearm and the palms of his hands [5]against them[5] and parries thethrice fifty balls, [6]and he catches them, each single ball in hisbosom. [6] They throw at him the thrice fifty play-spears charred at theend. The boy raises his little lath-shield [7]against them[7] and fends offthe thrice fifty play-staffs, [8]and they all remain stuck in hislath-shield. [8] [9]Thereupon contortions took hold of him. Thou wouldsthave weened it was a hammering wherewith each hair was hammered into hishead, with such an uprising it rose. Thou wouldst have weened it was aspark of fire that was on every single hair there. He closed one of hiseyes so that it was no wider than the eye of a needle. He opened the otherwide so that it was as big as the mouth of a mead-cup. [a] He stretched hismouth from his jaw-bones to his ears; he opened his mouth wide to his jawso that his gullet was seen. The champion's light rose up from hiscrown. [9] [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 391. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 389. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 387. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 391-397. [a] Or, 'a wooden beaker, ' YBL. 395. [W. 919. ] "It was then he ran in among them. He scattered fifty king's sonsof them over the ground underneath him [1]before they got to the gate ofEmain. [1] Five[b] of them, " Fergus continued, "dashed headlong between meand Conchobar, where we were playing chess, even on Cennchaem ('Fair-head')[2]the chessboard of Conchobar, [2] on the mound-seat of Emain. The littleboy pursued them to cut them off. [3]Then he sprang over the chessboardafter the nine. [3] Conchobar seized the little lad by the wrists. "Hold, little boy. I see 'tis not gently thou dealest with the boy-band. " "Goodreason I have, " quoth the little lad. [4]"From home, from mother and fatherI came to play with them, and they have not been good to me. [4] I had not aguest's honour at the hands of the boy-troop on my arrival, for all that Icame from far-away lands. " "How is that? Who art thou, [5]and what is thyname?"[5] asked Conchobar. "Little Setanta am I, son of Sualtaim. Son am Ito Dechtirè, thine own sister; and not through thee did I expect to be thusaggrieved. " "How so, little one?" said Conchobar. "Knewest thou not that itis forbidden among the boy-troop, that it is geis for them for any boy toapproach them in their land without first claiming his protection fromthem?" "I knew it not, " said the lad. [W. 932. ] "Had I known it, I wouldhave been on my guard against them. " "Good, now, ye boys, " Conchobar cried;"take ye upon you the protection of the little lad. " "We grant it, indeed, "they made answer. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 398. [b] 'Nine, ' LU. And YBL. 399 and Eg. 1782. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 400. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 403-404. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 405. "The little lad went [LL. Fo. 63a. ] [1]into the game again[1] under theprotection of the boy-troop. Thereupon they loosed hands from him, and oncemore he rushed amongst them [2]throughout the house. [2] He laid low fiftyof their princes on the ground under him. Their fathers thought it wasdeath he had given them. That was it not, but stunned they were withfront-blows and mid-blows and long-blows. "Hold!" cried Conchobar. "Why artthou yet at them?" "I swear by my gods whom I worship" (said the boy) "theyshall all come under my protection and shielding, as I have put myselfunder their protection and shielding. Otherwise I shall not lighten myhands off them until I have brought them all to earth. " "Well, little lad, take thou upon thee the protection of the boy-troop. " "I grant it, indeed, "said the lad. Thereupon the boy-troop went under his protection andshielding. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 410. "[3]Then they all went back to the play-field, and the boys whom he hadoverthrown there arose. Their nurses and tutors helped them. "Now, once upon a time, " continued Fergus, "when he was a gilla, he sleptnot in Emain Macha till morning. " "Tell me, " Conchobar said to him, "whysleepest thou not [4]in Emain Macha, Cuchulain?"[4] "I sleep not, unless itbe equally high at my head and my feet. " Then Conchobar had a pillar-stoneset up at his head and another at his feet, and between them a bed apartwas made for him. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 413-481. [4-4] YBL. 418. "Another time a certain man went to wake him, and the lad struck him withhis fist in [1]the neck or in[1] the forehead, so that it drove in thefront of his forehead on to his brain and he overthrew the pillar-stonewith his forearm. " "It is known, " exclaimed Ailill, "that that was thefist of a champion and the arm of a hero. " "And from that time, " continuedFergus, "no one durst wake him, so that he used to wake of himself. [1-1] Eg. 1782. "Then, another time, he played ball on the play-field east of Emain, and hewas alone on one side against the thrice fifty boys. He always worsted inevery game in the east (?) in this way. Thereafter the lad began to use hisfists on them, so that fifty boys of them died thereof. He took to flightthen, till he took refuge under the cushion of Conchobar's couch. TheUlstermen sprang up all around him. I, too, sprang up, and Conchobar, thereat. The lad himself rose up under the couch, so that he hove up thecouch and the thirty warriors that were on it withal, so that he bore itinto the middle of the house. Straightway the Ulstermen sat around him inthe house. We settled it then, " continued Fergus, "and reconciled theboy-troop to him afterwards. "The broil of war arose between Ulster and Eogan son of Durthacht. TheUlstermen go forth to the war. The lad Setanta is left behind asleep. Themen of Ulster are beaten. Conchobar and Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') ofMacha are left on the field and many besides them. Their groans awaken thelad. Thereat he stretches himself, so that the two stones are snapped thatare near him. This took place in the presence of Bricriu yonder, " Fergusadded. "Then he gets up. I meet him at the door of the liss, I beingseverely wounded. "Hey, God keep thy life, [a] O Fergus my master, " says he;"where is Conchobar?" "I know not, " I answer. Thereupon he goes out. Thenight is dark. He makes for the battlefield, until he sees before him a manand half his head on him and half of another man on his back. "Help me, Cuchulain, " he cries; "I have been stricken, and I bear on my back half ofmy brother. Carry it for me a while. " "I will not carry it, " says he. Thereupon the man throws the load at him. Cuchulain throws it back fromhim. They grapple with one another. Cuchulain is overthrown. Then I heardsomething. It was Badb[a] from the corpses: "Ill the stuff of a warriorthat is there under the feet of a phantom. " Thereat Cuchulain arises fromunderneath him, and he strikes off his head with his playing-stick andproceeds to drive the ball before him over the field of battle. [a] A Christian salutation. [a] The war-fury. "Is my master Conchobar on this battle-field?" That one makes answer. Hegoes towards him, to where he espies him in a ditch and the earth piledaround him on both sides to hide him. "Wherefore art thou come to thebattle-field?" Conchobar asks; "is it that thou mightst see mortal terrorthere?" Then Cuchulain lifts him out of the ditch. The six strong men ofUlster that were with us could not have lifted him out more bravely. "Getthee before us to yonder house, " says Conchobar, [1]"to make me a firethere. " He kindles a great fire for him. "Good now, " quoth Conchobar, [1]"if one would bring me a roast pig, I would live. " "I will go fetch it, "says Cuchulain. Thereupon he sallies out, when he sees a man at acooking-pit in the heart of the wood. One of his hands holds his weaponstherein, the other roasts the pork. Ill-favoured, indeed, is the man. Forthe which, Cuchulain attacks him and takes his head and his pig withhim. Conchobar eats the pig then. "Let us go to our house, " says Conchobar. They meet Cuscraid son of Conchobar and there were heavy wounds onhim. Cuchulain carries him on his back. The three then proceed to EmainMacha. [1-1] YBL. 461. "Another time the Ulstermen were in their 'Pains. ' Now, there was no'Pains' amongst us, " Fergus continued, "in women or boys, nor in any oneoutside the borders of Ulster, nor in Cuchulain and his father. [1]It wasfor this reason no one dared shed the blood of the men of Ulster, for thatthe 'Pains' fell on the one that wounded them. [1] There came thrice ninemen from the Isles of Faiche. They pass over our rear fort, the whiles weare in our 'Pains. ' The women scream in the fort. The youths are in theplay-field. They come at the cry. When the boys catch sight of the swarthymen, they all take to flight save Cuchulain alone. He hurls the hand-stonesand his playing-staff at them. He slays nine of them and they leave fiftywounds on him and proceed thence on their journey. [3] [1-1] LU. , edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 19, note 23. [3-3] LU. , and YBL. 413-481; see page 50. [W. 947. ] "A youngster did that deed, " Fergus continued, "at the close offive years after his birth, when he overthrew the sons of champions andwarriors at the very door of their liss and dûn. No need is there of wonderor surprise, [2]if he should do great deeds, [2] if he should come to theconfines of the land, if he should cut off the four-pronged fork, if heshould slay one man or two men or three men or four men, when there areseventeen full years of him now on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge. "[4]"In sooth, then, we know that youth, " spoke out Conall Cernach ('theVictorious'), "and it is all the better we should know him, for he is afosterling of our own. "[4] [2-2] Eg. 1782. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 484-485. * * * * * [Page 54] VIIa THE SLAYING OF THE SMITH'S HOUND BY CUCHULAIN, AND THE REASON HE IS CALLEDCUCHULAIN [W. 956. ] Then it was that Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar spake: "Againthat little lad performed a second deed in the following year. " "What deedwas that?" asked Ailill. [1]"A goodly smith there was in the land of Ulster, Culann the Smith, byname. [1] He made ready a feast for Conchobar and set out for Emain toinvite him. He made known to him that only a few should come with him, thathe should bring none but a true guest along, forasmuch as it was not adomain or lands of his own that he had, but [2]the fruit of his twohands, [2] his sledges and anvils, his fists and his tongs. Conchobarreplied that only a few would go to him. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU and YBL 489. "Culann went back to the stithy to prepare and make ready meat and drink[3]in readiness for the king. [3] Conchobar sat in Emain till it was time toset out [4]for the feast, [4] till came the close of the day. The king puthis fine, light travelling apparel about him, [5]and went with fiftychariot-chiefs of those that were noblest and most illustrious of theheroes, [5] and betook him to the boys [6]before starting, [6] to bid themfarewell. [7]It was always [W. 968. ] his custom to visit and revisit themwhen going and coming, to seek his blessing of the boys. [7] Conchobar cameon to the fair-green, and he saw a thing that astounded him: Thrice fiftyboys at one end of the green and a single boy at the other, and the singleboy won the victory at the goal and at hurling from the thrice fiftyboys. When it was at hole-play they were--a game of hole that used to beplayed on the fair-green of Emain--and it was their turn to drive and histo keep guard, he would catch the thrice fifty balls just outside of thehole, and not one went by him into the hole. When it was their turn to keepguard and his to drive, he would send the thrice fifty balls into the holewithout fail, [1]and the boys were unable to ward them off. [1] When it wasat tearing off each other's garments they played, he would strip off themtheir thrice fifty suits [2]so that they were quite naked, [2] and they werenot able all of them to take as much as the brooch from his mantle. When itwas at wrestling they were, he would throw those same thrice fifty boys tothe ground under him, and they did not succeed all of them around him inlifting him up. Conchobar looked with wonder at the little lad. "O, yeyouths, " cried [LL. Fo. 63b. ] Conchobar. "Hail to the land whence cometh thelad ye see, if the deeds of his manhood shall be such as are those of hisboyhood!" "Tis not just to speak thus, " exclaimed Fergus; "e'en as thelittle lad grows, so will his deeds of manhood grow with him. " "The littlelad shall be called to us, that he may come with us to enjoy the feast towhich we go. " The little lad was summoned to Conchobar. "Good, my lad, "said Conchobar. "Come thou with us to enjoy the feast whereto we go, [3]forthou art a guest. "[3] "Nay, but I will not go, " the little boy answered. "How so?" asked Conchobar. [W. 990. ] "Forasmuch as the boys have not yethad their fill of games and of sport, and I will not leave them till theyhave had enough play. " "It is too long for us to await thee till then, little boy, and by no means shall we wait. " "Go then before us, " said thelittle boy, "and I will follow after ye. " "Thou knowest naught of the way, little boy, " said Conchobar. "I will follow the trail of the company and ofthe horses and chariots. " [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 489-491. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 492-494. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 497. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 502. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 507. "Thereafter Conchobar came to the house of Culann the Smith. The king waswaited upon and all were shown honour, as befitted their rank and callingand privileges, nobility and gentle accomplishment. Straw and fresh rusheswere spread out under them. They commenced to carouse and make merry. Culann inquired of Conchobar: "Hast thou, O king, appointed any to comeafter thee this night to this dûn?" "No, I appointed no one, " repliedConchobar, for he had forgotten the little lad whom he had charged to comeafter him. "Why so?" asked Conchobar. "An excellent bloodhound have I, [1]that was brought from Spain. [1] [2]There are three[a] chains upon him, and three men at each chain. Because of our goods and our cattle he isslipped and the liss is closed. [2] When his dog-chain is loosed from him, no one dares approach the same cantred with him to make a course or acircuit, and he knows no one but myself. The power of hundreds is in himfor strength. " Then spake Conchobar, "Let the dûn be opened for theban-dog, that he may guard the cantred. " The dog-chain is taken off theban-dog, and he makes a swift round of the cantred. And he comes to themound whereon he was wont to keep guard of the stead, and there he was, hishead couched on his paws, and wild, untameable, furious, savage, ferocious, ready for fight was the dog that was there. [1-1] LU. 513. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 512-513. [a] 'four, ' Eg. 1782. [W. 1013. ] "As for the boys: They were in Emain until the time came for themto disperse. Each of them went to the house of his father and mother, ofhis foster-mother and foster-father. Then the little lad went on the trailof the party, till he reached the house of Culann the Smith. He began toshorten the way as he went with his play-things. [1]He threw his ball andthrew his club after it, so that it hit the ball. The one throw was nogreater than the other. Then he threw his staff after them both, so that itreached the ball and the club before ever they fell. [1] [2]Soon the ladcame up. [2] When he was nigh to the green of the fort wherein were Culannand Conchobar, he threw all his play-things before him except only theball. The watch-dog descried the lad and bayed at him, so that in all thecountryside was heard the howl of the watch-hound. And not a division offeasting was what he was inclined to make of him, but to swallow him downat one gulp past the cavity [LL. Fo. 64a. ] of his chest and the width of histhroat and the pipe of his breast. [3]And it interfered not with the lad'splay, although the hound made for him. [3] And the lad had not with him anymeans of defence, but he hurled an unerring cast of the ball, so that itpassed through the gullet of the watch-dog's neck and carried the gutswithin him out through his back door, and he laid hold of the hound by thetwo legs and dashed him against a pillar-stone [4]that was near him, sothat every limb of him sprang apart, [4] so that he broke into bits all overthe ground. [a] Conchobar heard the yelp of the ban-dog. [5]Conchobar andhis people could not move; they weened they would not find the lad alivebefore them. [5] "Alas, O warriors, " cried Conchobar; "in no good luck[W. 1029. ] have we come to enjoy this feast. " "How so?" asked all. "Thelittle lad who has come to meet me, my sister's son, Setanta son ofSualtaim, is undone through the hound. " As one man, arose all the renownedmen of Ulster. Though a door of the hostel was thrown wide open, they allrushed in the other direction out over the palings of the fortress. Butfast as they all got there, faster than all arrived Fergus, and he liftedthe little lad from the ground on the slope of his shoulder and bore himinto the presence of Conchobar. [1]They put him on Conchobar's knee. Agreat alarm arose amongst them that the king's sister's son should havebeen all but killed. [1] And Culann came out, and he saw his slaughter-houndin many pieces. He felt his heart beating against his breast. Whereupon hewent into the dûn. "Welcome thy coming, little lad, " said Culann, "becauseof thy mother and father, but not welcome is thy coming for thine ownsake. [2]Yet would that I had not made a feast. "[2] "What hast thou againstthe lad?" queried Conchobar. "Not luckily for me hast thou come to quaffmy ale and to eat my food; for my substance is now a wealth gone to waste, and my livelihood is a livelihood lost [3]now after my dog. [3] [4]He hathkept honour and life for me. [4] Good was the friend thou hast robbed me of, [5]even my dog, [5] in that he tended my herds and flocks and stock for me;[6]he was the protection of all our cattle, both afield and at home. "[6]"Be not angered thereat, O Culann my master, " said the little boy. [7]"Itis no great matter, [7] for I will pass a just judgement upon it. " "Whatjudgement thereon wilt thou pass, lad?" Conchobar asked. "If there is awhelp of the breed of that dog in Erin, he shall be reared by me till he befit to do [W. 1049. ] business as was his sire. [1]Till then[1] myself willbe the hound to protect his flocks and his cattle and his land [2]and evenhimself[2] in the meanwhile. [3]And I will safeguard the whole plain ofMurthemne, and no one will carry off flock nor herd without that I knowit. "[3] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 515-518. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 514. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 518-519. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 525. [a] According to the LU. -YBL. Version, Cuchulain seized the hound with one hand by the apple of the throat and with the other by the back. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 519-521. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 529-530. [2-2] LU and YBL. 532. [3-3] Stowe, YBL. And LU. 533-534. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 334. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 535. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 536. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 537. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Literally, 'thyself, ' LU. And YBL. 539. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 540-541. "Well hast thou given judgement, little lad, " said Conchobar. "In sooth, we [4]ourselves[4] could not give one that would be better, " saidCathba. [a] "Why should it not be from this that thou shouldst take the nameCuchulain, ('Wolfhound of Culann')?" "Nay, then, " answered the lad; "dearerto me mine own name, Setanta son of Sualtaim. " "Say not so, lad, " Cathbacontinued; "for the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that name and themouths of the men of Erin and Alba shall be full of that name!" "Itpleaseth me so, whatever the name that is given me, " quoth the littlelad. Hence the famous name that stuck to him, namely Cuchulain, after hehad killed the hound that was Culann's the Smith's. [4-4] Stowe. [a] The name of Conchobar's druid. "A little lad did that deed, " [LL. Fo. 64b. ] added Cormac Conlongas son ofConchobar, "when he had completed six years after his birth, when he slewthe watch-dog that hosts nor companies dared not approach in the samecantred. No need would there be of wonder or of surprise if he should cometo the edge of the marches, if he should cut off the four-pronged fork, ifhe should slay one man or two men or three men or four men, now when hisseventeen years are completed on the Cattle-driving of Cualnge!" * * * * * [Page 60] VIIb [1]THE TAKING OF ARMS BY CUCHULAIN AND[1][2]THE SLAYING OF THE THREE SONS OF NECHT SCENE IS NOW TOLD HERE[2] [W. 1068. ] "The little lad performed a third deed in the following year, "said Fiachu son of Firaba. "What deed performed he?" asked Ailill. [1-1] Eg. 1782. [2-2] LU. Fo. 61a, in the margin. "Cathba the druid was [3]with his son, namely Conchobar son of Ness, [3]imparting [4]learning[4] to his pupils in the north-east of Emain, andeight[a] [5]eager[5] pupils in the class of druidic cunning were withhim. [6]That is the number that Cathba instructed. [6] [7]One of them[7]questioned his teacher, what fortune and presage might there be for the daythey were in, whether it was good or whether it was ill. Then spake Cathba:"The little boy that takes arms [8]this day[8] shall be splendid andrenowned [9]for deeds of arms[9] [10]above the youths of Erin [11]and thetales of his high deeds shall be told[11] forever, [10] but he shall beshort-lived and fleeting. " Cuchulain overheard what he said, though faroff at his play-feats south-west of Emain; and he threw away all hisplay-things and hastened to Conchobar's sleep-room [12]to ask for arms. [12]"All [W. 1077. ] good attend thee, O king of the Fenè!" cried the little lad. "This greeting is the speech of one soliciting something of some one. Whatwouldst thou, lad?" said Conchobar. "To take arms, " the lad made answer. "Who hath advised thee, little boy?" asked Conchobar. "Cathba the druid, "said the lad. "He would not deceive thee, little boy, " said Conchobar. Conchobar gave him two spears and a sword and a shield. The little boyshook and brandished the arms [1]in the middle of the house[1] so that hemade small pieces and fragments of them. Conchobar gave him other twospears and a shield and a sword. He shook and brandished, flourished andpoised them, so that he shivered them into small pieces and fragments. There where were the fourteen[a] suits of arms which Conchobar had inEmain, [2]in reserve in case of breaking of weapons or[2] for equipping theyouths and the boys--to the end that whatever boy assumed arms, it might beConchobar that gave him the equipment of battle, and the victory of cunningwould be his thenceforward--even so, this little boy made splinters andfragments of them all. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 547. [4-4] Stowe. [a] 'One hundred' is the number in LU. And YBL. 547. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 548. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 548. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 550. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 551. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 551-552. [11-11] Stowe. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 553. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 557. [a] 'Fifteen, ' LU. And YBL. 556; 'seventeen, ' Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 557. "Truly these arms here are not good, O Conchobar my master, " the striplingcried. "Herefrom cometh not what is worthy of me. " Conchobar gave him hisown two spears and his shield and his sword. He shook and he brandished, hebent and he poised them so that tip touched butt, and he brake not the armsand they bore up against him, [3]and he saluted the king whose arms theywere. [3] "Truly, these arms are good, " said the little boy; "they aresuited to me. Hail to the king whose arms and equipment these are. Hail tothe land whereout he is come!" [3-3] LU. And YBL. 559-560. "Then Cathba the druid chanced to come into the tent, and what he said was, "Hath he yonder taken arms?" [W. 1101. ] Cathba asked. "Aye, then, it mustbe, " Conchobar answered. "Not by [1]his[1] mother's son would I wish themto be taken this day, " said Cathba. "How so? Was it not thyself advisedhim?" Conchobar asked. "Not I, in faith, " replied Cathba. "What mean'stthou, bewitched elf-man?" cried Conchobar [2]to Cuchulain. [2] "Is it a liethou hast told us?" [LL. Fo. 65a. ] "But be not wroth [3]thereat, [3] O mymaster Conchobar, " said the little boy. [4]"No lie have I told;[4] for yetis it he that advised me, [5]when he taught his other pupils thismorning. [5] For his pupil asked him what luck might lie in the day, and hesaid: The youth that took arms on this day would be illustrious and famous, [6]that his name would be over the men of Erin for ever, and that no evilresult would be on him thereafter, [6] except that he would be fleeting andshort-lived. [7]To the south of Emain I heard him, and then I came tothee. "[7] "That I avow to be true, " spake Cathba. [8]"Good indeed is theday, [8] glorious and renowned shalt thou be, [9]the one that taketharms, [9] yet passing and short lived!" "Noble the gift!" cried Cuchulain. [10]"Little it recks me, [10] though I should be but one day and one nightin the world, if only the fame of me and of my deeds live after me!" [1-1] Reading with Stowe, LU. And YBL. 563. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 566. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 567. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 567. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 568. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 569. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 570. [10-10] Stowe. "[11] Another day one of them asked of the druids for what that day wouldbe propitious. "The one that mounts a chariot to-day, " Cathba answered, "his name will be renowned over Erin for ever. " Now Cuchulain heard that. He went to Conchobar and said to him, "O Conchobar my master, give me achariot!" He gave him a chariot. [11] [W. 1113. ] "Come, lad, mount thechariot, for this is the next thing for thee. " [11-11] LU. And YBL. 573-577. "He mounted the chariot. [1]He put his hands between the two poles of thechariot, [1] and the first chariot he mounted withal he shook and tossedabout him till he reduced it to splinters and fragments. He mounted thesecond chariot, so that he made small pieces and fragments of it in likemanner. Further he made pieces of the third chariot. There where were theseventeen[a] chariots which Conchobar kept for the boy-troop and youths inEmain, the lad made small pieces and fragments of them and they did notwithstand him. "These chariots here are not good, O my master Conchobar, "said the little boy; "my merit cometh not from them. " "Where is Ibar[b] sonof Riangabair?" asked Conchobar. "Here, in sooth, am I, " Ibar answered. "Take with thee mine own two steeds for him yonder, and yoke my chariot. "Thereupon the charioteer took the horses and yoked the chariot. Then thelittle boy mounted the chariot [2]and Conchobar's charioteer with him. [2]He shook the chariot about him, and it withstood him, and he broke itnot. "Truly this chariot is good, " cried the lad, "and this chariot issuited to me. " [3]The charioteer turned the chariot under him. [3] "Prithee, little boy, " said Ibar, [4]"come out[c] of the chariot now[4] and let thehorses out on their pasture. " "It is yet too soon, O Ibar, " the ladanswered. [5]"The horses are fair. I, too, am fair, their little lad. [5][6]Only[6] let us go on a circuit of Emain to-day [7]and thou shalt have areward therefor, [7] to-day being my first day of [W. 1132. ] taking arms, tothe end that it be a victory of cunning for me. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 578. [a] 'Twelve, ' LU. And YBL. 579. [b] The name of Conchobar's charioteer. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 580-581 and Eg. 1782. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 581. [c] Following the emendation suggested by Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 23, note 21. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 582. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 583. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 584. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 585. "Thrice they made the circuit of Emain. "Leave the horses now to theirgrazing, O little boy, " said Ibar. "It is yet too soon, O Ibar, " the littlelad answered; "let us keep on, that the boys may give me a blessing to-daythe first day of my taking arms. " They kept their course to the place wherethe boys were. "Is it arms he yonder has taken?" each one asked. "Of atruth, are they. " "May it be for victory, for first wounding and triumph. But we deem it too soon for thee to take arms, because thou departest fromus at the game-feats. " "By no means will I leave ye, but for luck I tookarms this day. " "Now, little boy, leave the horses to their grazing, " saidIbar. "It is still too soon for that, O Ibar, " the lad answered. [1]"Plythe goad on the horses, " said he. "What way, then?" the charioteerasked. "As far as the road shall lead, " answered Cuchulain. [1] "And thisgreat road winding by us, what way leads it?" the lad asked. "What is thatto thee?" Ibar answered. "But thou art a pleasant wight, I trow, littlelad, " quoth Ibar. "I wish, fellow, to inquire about the high-road of theprovince, what stretch it goes?" "To Ath na Foraire ('the Ford ofWatching') in Sliab Fuait it goes, " Ibar answered. "Wherefore is it called'the Ford of Watching, ' knowest thou?" "Yea, I know it well, " Ibar madeanswer. "A stout warrior of Ulster is on watch and on guard there [2]everyday, [2] so that there come no strange youths into Ulster to challenge themto battle, and he is a champion to give battle in behalf of the wholeprovince. Likewise if men of song leave the Ulstermen [LL. Fo. 65b. ] and theprovince in dudgeon, he is there to soothe them by proffering treasures andvaluables, and so to save the honour of the province. Again, if men of song[W. 1155. ] enter the land, he is the man that is their surety that they winthe favour of Conchobar, so that songs and lays made for him will be thefirst to be sung after their arrival in Emain. " "Knowest thou who is at theford to-day?" "Yea, I know, " Ibar answered; "Conall Cernach ('theTriumphant'), the heroic, warlike son of Amargin, royal champion of Erin, "Ibar answered. "Thither guide us, fellow, that so we reach the ford. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 589-590. [2-2] Stowe. "Onwards they drove into sight of the ford where was Conall. [1]Now it fellto Conall Cernach to guard the province that day. For each champion ofUlster spent his day on Sliab Fuait to protect him that came with a lay orto fight with a warrior, so that some one would be there to meet him, inorder that none might come to Emain unperceived. [1] "Are those arms heyonder has taken?" asked Conall. "Of a truth, are they, " Ibar madeanswer. "May it be for victory and for triumph and first wounding, " saidConall; "but we think it too soon for thee to take arms, because thou artnot yet capable of deeds. Were it surety he needed, he that should comehither, " he continued, "so wouldst thou furnish a perfect warrant amongstthe Ulstermen, and the nobles of the province would rise up to support theein the contest. " "What dost thou here, O Conall my master?" asked thelad. "Watch and ward of the province, lad, I keep here, " Conall madeanswer. "Do thou go home now, O master Conall, " said the lad, "and leaveme the watch and guard of the province to keep here. " "Say not so, littleson, " replied Conall; [2]"'twould be enough, were it to protect one thatcame with a song; were it to fight with a man, however, that is still toosoon for thee[2]; thou art not yet able to cope with a goodly warrior. ""Then, will I keep on to the south, " [W. 1172. ] said the little boy, "toFertas ('the Bank') of Loch Echtrann for a while; [1]champions are wont totake stand there;[1] perchance I may redden my hands on friend or on foethis day. " "I will go, little boy, " said Conall, "to save thee, that thougo not alone [2]into peril[2] on the border. " "Not so, " said the lad. "ButI will go, " said Conall; "for the men of Ulster will blame me for leavingthee to go alone on the border. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 592-596. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 599-601. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 603. [2-2] Stowe. "Conall's horses were caught for him and his chariot was yoked and he setout to protect the little boy. When Conall came up abreast of him, Cuchulain felt certain that, even though a chance came to him, Conall wouldnot permit him to use it. He picked up a hand-stone from the ground whichwas the full of his grasp. He hurled it from him [3]from his sling[3] thelength of a stone-shot at the yoke of Conall's chariot, so that he brokethe chariot-collar[a] in two and thereby Conall fell to the ground, so thatthe nape of his neck went out from his shoulder. "What have we here, boy?"asked Conall; [4]"why threwest thou the stone?"[4] "It is I threw it to seeif my cast be straight, or how I cast at all, or if I have the stuff of awarrior in me. " "A bane on thy cast and a bane on thyself as well. E'enthough thou leavest thy head this time with thine enemies, I will go nofurther to protect thee. " "'Twas what I craved of thee, " answered he; "forit is geis amongst you men of Ulster to proceed, after a mishap hasbefallen your chariots. [5]Go back[5] [6]to Emain, [6] [7]O Conall, andleave me here to keep watch. " "That pleaseth me well, " replied Conall. [7]Conall turned back northwards again to the Ford of Watching. [8]ThereafterConall Cernach went not past that place. [8] [3-3] LU. And YBL. 604. [a] In LU. And YBL. , 'the shaft of the chariot. ' [4-4] LU. And YBL. 605-606. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 608. [6-6] LU. 608. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 609-610. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 610. [W. 1192. ] As for the little boy, he fared southwards to Fertas LochaEchtrann. He remained there till the end of the day [1]and they found noone there before them. [1] "If we dared tell thee, little boy, " spoke Ibar, "it were time for us to return to Emain [LL. Fo. 66a. ] now; for dealing andcarving and dispensing of food is long since begun in Emain, and there is aplace assigned for thee there. Every day it is appointed thee to sitbetween Conchobar's feet, while for me there is naught but to tarry amongthe hostlers and tumblers of Conchobar's household. [2]For that reason, [2]methinks it is time to have a scramble[a] among them. " "Fetch then thehorses for us. " The charioteer fetched the horses and the lad mounted thechariot. "But, O Ibar, what hill is that there now, the hill to the north?"the lad asked. "Now, that is Sliab Moduirn, " Ibar answered. [3]"Let us goand get there, " said Cuchulain. Then they go on till they reach it. [3][4]When they reached the mountain, Cuchulain asked, [4] "And what is thatwhite cairn yonder on the height of the mountain?" "And that is Finncharn('the White Cairn') of Sliab Moduirn, " Ibar answered. "But yonder cairn isbeautiful, " exclaimed the lad. "It surely is beautiful, " Ibar answered. "Lead on, fellow, till we reach yonder cairn. " "Well, but thou art both apleasant and tedious inquisitor, I see, " exclaimed Ibar; "but this is myfirst [5]journey and my first[5] time with thee. It shall be my last timetill the very day of doom, if once I get back to Emain. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 612. [2-2] Stowe. [a] Or, more literally, 'a clawing match. ' [3-3] LU. And YBL. 615-616. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 616. [5-5] Stowe. "Howbeit they went to the top of the hill. "It is pleasant here, O Ibar, "the little boy exclaimed. "Point out to me Ulster on every side, for I amno wise acquainted with the land of my master Conchobar. " The horseman[W. 1211. ] pointed him out Ulster all around him. He pointed him out thehills and the fields and the mounts of the province on every side. Hepointed him out the plains and the dûns and the strongholds of theprovince. "'Tis a goodly sight, O Ibar, " exclaimed the little lad. "What isthat indented, angular, bordered and glenny plain to the south of us?""Mag Breg, " replied Ibar. "Tell thou to me the buildings and forts of thatplain. " The gilla taught him [1]the name of every chief dûn between Temairand Cenannas, [1] Temair and Taltiu, Cletech and Cnogba and Brug ('theFort') of Mac ind Oc. [2]He pointed out to him then[2] the dûn of the[3]three[3] sons of Necht Scenè ('the Fierce'): [4]Foill and Fandall andTuachall, their names;[4] [5]Fer Ulli son of Lugaid was their father, andNecht [6]from the mouth of the[6] Scenè was their mother. Now the Ulstermenhad slain their father; it was for that reason they were at war withUlster. [5] "But are those not Necht's sons, that boast that not more of theUlstermen are alive than have fallen at their hands?" "The same, in sooth, "answered the gilla. "On with us to the dûn of the macNechta, " cried thelittle boy. "Alas, in truth, that thou sayest so, " quoth Ibar; [7]"'tisa peril for us. "[7] [8]"Truly, not to avoid it do we go, " answeredCuchulain. [8] "We know it is an act of great folly for us to say so, butwhoever may go, " said Ibar, "it will not be myself. " "Living or dead, gothere thou shalt, " the little boy cried. "'Tis alive I shall go to thesouth, " answered Ibar, "and dead I shall be left at the dûn, I know, evenat the dûn of the macNechta. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 620. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 623. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 623. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 624. [5-5] LU. 623, marginal note. [6-6] LU. 623, gloss. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 627. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 628. "They push on to the dûn [1]and they unharness their horses in the placewhere the bog and the river meet south [W. 1227. ] of the dûn of themacNechta. [1] And the little boy sprang out of the chariot onto thegreen. Thus was the green of the dûn, with a pillar-stone upon it and aniron band around that, and a band for prowess it was, and there was awriting in ogam at its joint, and this is the writing it bore: 'Whoevershould come to the green, if he be a champion, it is geis for him to departfrom the green without giving challenge to single combat. [1] The laddeciphered the writing and put his two arms around the pillar-stone. Justas the pillar-stone was with its ring, he flung it [2]with a cast of hishand[2] into the moat, so that a wave passed over it. "Methinks, " spakeIbar, "it is no better now than to be where it was. And we know thou shaltnow get on this green the thing thou desirest, even the token of death, yea, of doom and destruction!" [3]For it was the violation of a geis ofthe sons of Necht Scenè to do that thing. [3] "Good, O Ibar, spread thechariot-coverings and its skins for me that I may [LL. Fo. 66b. ] snatch alittle sleep. " "Woe is me, that thou sayest so, " answered the gilla; "for afoeman's land is this and not a green for diversion. " [4]And Cuchulain saidto the gilla, "Do not awaken me for a few but awaken me for many. "[4] Thegilla arranged the chariot-coverings and its skins [5]under Cuchulain, andthe lad fell asleep on the green. [5] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 629. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 630. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 631. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 634-635. [5-5] Stowe. "Then came one of the macNechta on to the fair-green, to wit, Foill son ofNecht. [6]Then was the charioteer sore afraid, for he durst not waken him, for Cuchulain had told him at first not to waken him for a few. [6] "Unyokenot the horses, gilla, " cried Foill. "I am not fain to, at all, " answeredIbar; "the reins and the lines are still in my hand. " "Whose horses arethose, then?" Foill asked. [W. 1246. ] "Two of Conchobar's horses, " answeredthe gilla; "the two of the dappled heads. " "That is the knowledge I have ofthem. And what hath brought these steeds here to the borders?" "A tenderyouth that has assumed arms amongst us [1]to-day for luck and goodomen, "[1] the horseboy answered, "is come to the edges of the marshes todisplay his comeliness. " "May it not be for victory nor for triumph, [2]hisfirst-taking of arms, "[2] exclaimed Foill. [3]"Let him not stop in our landand let the horses not graze here any longer. [3] If I knew he was fit fordeeds, it is dead he should go back northwards to Emain and not alive!" "Ingood sooth, he is not fit for deeds, " Ibar answered; "it is by no meansright to say it of him; it is the seventh year since he was taken from thecrib. [4]Think not to earn enmity, "[a] Ibar said further to the warrior;"and moreover the child sleepeth. "[4] [6-6] LU. And YBL. 635-638. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 641. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 642. [a] That is, the enmity of the Ulstermen by slaying Cuchulain. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 644-645. "The little lad raised his face from the ground and drew his hand over hisface, and he became as one crimson wheelball from his crown to theground. [5]"Not a child am I, at all, but it is to seek battle with a manthat this child here is come. [5] Aye, but I am fit for deeds!" the ladcried. [6]"That pleaseth me well, " said the champion;[6] "but more likethan what thou sayest, meseemeth, thou art not fit for deeds. " "Thou wiltknow that better if we go to the ford. But, go fetch thy weapons, for I seeit is in the guise of a churl thou art come, and I slay nor charioteers norgrooms nor folk without arms. " The man went apace after his arms. [7]"Now[7] thou shouldst have a care for us against yonder man [8]thatcomes to meet thee, [8] little lad, " said Ibar. "And why so?" [W. 1262. ]asked the lad. "Foill son of Necht is the man thou seest. Neither pointsnor edges of weapons can harm him. " "Not before me shouldst thou say that, O Ibar, " quoth the lad. "I will put my hand to the lath-trick for him, namely, to the apple of twice-melted iron, and it will light upon the discof his shield and on the flat of his forehead, and it will carry away thesize of an apple of his brain out through the back of his head, so that itwill make a sieve-hole outside of his head, till the light of the sky willbe visible through his head. " [5-5] LU. And YBL. 645-646. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 647. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 649. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 649. "Foill son of Necht came forth. Cuchulain took the lath-trick in hand forhim and threw it from him the length of his cast, so that it lighted on theflat of his shield and on the front of his forehead and carried away thebulk of an apple of his brain out through the back of his head, so that itmade a sieve-hole thereof outside of his head, till the light of the skymight be seen through his head. [1]He went to him then[1] and struck offthe head from the trunk. [2]Thereafter he bore away his spoils and hishead with him. [2] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 665. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 655. "Then came the second son out on the green, [3]his name[3] Tuachall ('theCunning') son of Necht. "Aha, I see thou wouldst boast of this deed, " quothTuachall. "In the first place I deem it no cause to boast for slaying onechampion, " said Cuchulain; "thou shalt not boast of it this time, for thoushalt fall by my hand. " "Off with thee for thine arms, then, for 'tis notas a warrior thou art come. " The man rushed after his arms. "Thou shouldsthave a care for us against yon man, lad, " said Ibar. "How so?" the ladasked. "Tuachall son of Necht is the man thou beholdest. [4]And he isnowise miss-named, for he falls not by arms at all. [4] Unless thou worstesthim with the first blow or with the first shot or with the first touch, [LL. Fo. 67a. ] thou wilt not worst him [W. 1283. ] ever, because of hiscraftiness and the skill wherewith he plays round the points of theweapons. " "That should not be said before me, O Ibar, " cried the lad. [1]"Iswear by the god by whom my people swear, he shall never again plyhis skill on the men of Ulster. [1] I will put my hand on Conchobar'swell-tempered lance, on the Craisech Nemè ('the Venomous Lance'). [2]Itwill be an outlaw's hand to him. [2] It will light on the shield over hisbelly, and it will crush through his ribs on the farther side afterpiercing his heart in his breast. That would be the smiting cast of anenemy and not the friendliness of a fellow countryman![a] From me he shallnot get sick-nursing or care till the brink of doom. " [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 662-663. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 651-652. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 653; probably a proverbial expression. [a] The force of Cuchulain's boast lay in the fact that, according to the Brehon Laws, if the aggressor were not a native or of the same class as the injured party, he was exempt from the law of compensation. "Tuachall son of Necht came forth on the green, and the lad laid his handon Conchobar's lance against him, and it struck the shield above his bellyand broke through the ribs on the farther side after piercing his heartwithin his breast. He struck off his head or ever it reached the ground. [3]Thereafter Cuchulain carried off his head and his spoils with him to hisown charioteer. [3] [3-3] LU. And YBL. 666. "Then came the youngest of the sons forth on the green, namely, Fandall sonof Necht. "Fools were the folk who fought with thee here, " cried Fandall. "How, now!" cried the lad. "Come down to the pool, where thy foot findethnot bottom. " Fandall rushed on to the pool. "Thou shouldst be wary for usof him, little boy, " said Ibar. "Why should I then?" asked the lad. "Fandall son of Necht is the man whom thou seest. For this he bears thename Fandall ('the Swallow'): like a swallow or weasel[b] he courseth thesea; the swimmers of the world [W. 1302. ] cannot reach him. " "Thou shouldstnot speak thus before me, O Ibar, " said the lad. [1]"I swear, never againwill he ply that feat on the men of Ulster. [1] Thou knowest the river thatis in our land, in Emain, the Callann. When the boys frequent it with theirgames of sport and when the water is not beneath them, [2]if the surface isnot reached by them all, [2] I do carry a boy over it on either of my palmsand a boy on either of my shoulders, and I myself do not even wet my anklesunder the weight of them. " [b] LU. And YBL. Have 'a swan. ' [1-1] LU. And YBL. 657-658. [2-2] Stowe. That is, when the water is over their heads. "They met upon the water [3]and they engaged in wrestling upon it, [3] andthe little boy closed his arms over Fandall, so that the sea came up evenwith him, and he gave him a deft blow with Conchobar's sword and choppedoff his head from the trunk, and left the body to go down with the stream, and he carried off the head [4]and the spoils[4] with him. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 661. "Thereupon Cuchulain went into the dûn and pillaged the place and burned itso that its buildings were no higher than its walls. And they turned ontheir way to Sliab Fuait and carried the three heads of Necht's sons withthem. [5]Soon Cuchulain heard the cry of their mother after them, of NechtScenè, namely. "[5] [6]"Now I will not give over my spoils, " criedCuchulain, "till I reach Emain Macha. " Thereupon Cuchulain and Ibar set outfor Emain Macha with their spoils. It was then Cuchulain spoke to hischarioteer: "Thou didst promise us a good run, " said Cuchulain, "and weneed it now because of the storm and pursuit that is after us. " Forthwiththey hasten to Sliab Fuait. Such was the speed of the course they held overBreg, after the urging of the charioteer, that the horses of the chariotovertook the wind and the birds in [W. 1317. ] their flight and Cuchulaincaught the throw he had cast from his sling or ever it reached the ground. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 667-668. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 669-679. "When they came to Sliab Fuait[6] they espied a herd of wild deer beforethem. "What are those many cattle, O Ibar, those nimble ones yonder?" askedthe lad; "are they tame or are they other deer?" "They are real wild deer, indeed, " Ibar answered; "herds of wild deer that haunt the wastes of SliabFuait. " [1]"Which, " asked Cuchulain, "would the men of Ulster deem best, to bring them dead or alive?" "More wonderful, alive, " answered thecharioteer; "not every one can do it so; but dead, there is none of themcannot do it. Thou canst not do this, carry off any of them alive. " "TrulyI can, " said Cuchulain. [1] "Ply the goad for us on the horses [2]into thebog, [2] to see can we take some of them. " The charioteer drove a goad intothe horses. It was beyond the power of the king's overfat steeds to keep upwith the deer. [3]Soon the horses stuck in the marsh. [3] The lad got downfrom the chariot and [4]as the fruit of his run and his race, in the morasswhich was around him, [4] he caught two of the swift, stout deer. Hefastened them to the back poles and the bows and the thongs of the chariot. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 669-679. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 681-686. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 686. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 687. [4-4] Stowe. "They continued their way to the mound-seat of Emain, where they saw flocksof white swans flying by them. "What are those birds there, O Ibar?" thelad asked; "are yonder birds tame [LL. Fo. 67. ] or are they other birds?""Indeed, they are real wild birds, " Ibar answered; "flocks of swans arethey that come from the rocks and crags and islands of the great seawithout, to feed on the plains and smooth spots of Erin. " "Which would bestranger [5]to the Ulstermen, [5] O Ibar, for them to be fetched alive toEmain or dead?" asked the lad. "Stranger far, alive, " [W. 1333. ] Ibaranswered, "for not every one succeeds in taking the birds alive, [1]whilethey are many that take them dead. "[1] Then did the lad perform one of hislesser feats upon them: [2]he put a small stone in his sling, [2] so that hebrought down eight[a] of the birds; and then he performed a greater feat:[3]he threw a large stone at them[3] and he brought down sixteen[b] oftheir number. [4]With his return stroke all that was done. [4] He fastenedthem to the hind poles and the bows and the thongs and the ropes and thetraces of the chariot. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 692. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [a] 'Seven, ' LU. And YBL. 695. [3-3] Stowe. [b] 'Twelve, ' LU. And YBL. 696. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 696-697. "Take the birds along with thee, O Ibar, " cried the lad [5]to hischarioteer. If I myself go to take them, " he added, "the wild deer willspring upon thee. "[5] "I am in sore straits, " answered Ibar; "[6]I find itnot easy to go. "[6] "What may it be?" asked the lad. "Great cause haveI. [7]The horses have become wild, so that I cannot go by them. [7] If Istir at all from where I am, the chariot's iron wheels will cut me down[8]because of their sharpness[8] and because of the strength and the powerand the might of the career of the horses. If I make any move, the horns ofthe deer will pierce and gore me, [9]for the horns of the stag have filledthe whole space between the two shafts of the chariot. "[9] "Ah, no truechampion art thou any longer, O Ibar, " [10]said the lad;[10] [11]"step thusfrom his horn. [11] [12]I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, [12]because of the look I shall give at the horses they will not depart fromthe straight way; at the look I shall give at the deer they will bend theirheads in fear and awe of me; [13]they will not dare move, [13] and [W. 1346. ]it will be safe for thee e'en though thou goest in front of their horns. "[1]And so it was done. Cuchulain fastened the reins. [1] [2]Then[2] [3]thecharioteer[3] [4]went and collected the birds, and he bound them to thehind poles and to the thongs and the traces of the chariot. [4] [5]Thus itwas that he proceeded to Emain Macha: the wild deer behind his chariot, andthe flock of swans flying over the same, and the three heads of the sons ofNecht Scenè [6]and the jewels, treasures and wealth of their enemiesarranged[6] in his chariot. [5] [5-5] LU. And YBL. 698-699. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 699. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 700. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 702. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 703. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] LU. And YBL. 703. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 704. [13-13] LU. And YBL. 706. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 707. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 708. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 709-711. [6-6] H. 2. 17. "[7]Thereupon[7] they went on till [8]bravely, boldly, battle-victoriously, boastingly, blade-redded, [8] they reached [9]the fair plain of[9] Emain. Itwas then Lebarcham, [10]the watch in Emain Macha, [10] [11]came forthand[11] discerned them, she, the daughter of Aue ('Ear') and of Adarc('Horn') [12]and she hastened to Conchobar's house, her eye restless in herhead and her tongue faltering in her jaw. [12] "A single chariot-fighter ishere, [13]coming towards Emain Macha, "[13] cried Lebarcham, "and his comingis fearful. The heads of his foes all red in his chariot with him. Beautiful, all-white birds he has hovering around in the chariot. With himare wild, untamed deer, bound and fettered, shackled and pinioned. And[14]I give my word, [14] if he be not attended to this night, [15]blood willflow over Conchobar's province by him and[15] the youths of Ulster willfall by his hand. " "We know him, that chariot-fighter, " spake Conchobar;"[16]belike it is[16] the little gilla, my sister's son, who went to theedge of the marches [17]at the beginning of the day, [17] [W. 1355. ] who hasreddened his hands and is still unsated of combat, and unless he beattended to, all the youths of Emain will fall by his hand. " [1]Soon heturned the left[a] side of his chariot towards Emain, and this was geis forEmain. And Cuchulain cried, "I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermenswear, if a man be not found to engage with me, I will spill the blood ofevery one in the dûn!"[1] [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 713. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [14-14] H. 2. 17. [15-15] H. 2. 17. [16-16] H. 2. 17. [17-17] H. 2. 17. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 715-718. [a] To turn the left side was an insult and sign of hostility. "And this was the counsel they agreed to follow: to let out the womenfolkto meet the youth, namely, thrice fifty women, even ten and seven-scorebold, stark-naked women, at one and the same time, and their chieftainess, Scannlach ('the Wanton') before them, to discover their persons and theirshame[b] to him. [2]"Let the young women go, " said Conchobar, "and baretheir paps and their breasts and their swelling bosoms, and if he be a truewarrior he will not withstand being bound, and he shall be placed in a vatof cold water until his anger go from him. "[2] [3]Thereupon[3] the youngwomen all [4]arose and[4] marched out, [5]and these are the names of thosequeens: Sgamalus and Sgannlach and Sgiathan, Feidlim and DeigtiniFinnchas, and Finngheal and Fidniam and Niam, daughter of Celtchar son ofUthechar[5]; and they discovered their nakedness and all their shame tohim. [6]"These are the warriors that will meet thee to-day, " quoth Mugain, wife of Conchobar son of Ness. [6] The lad hid his face from them and turnedhis gaze on the chariot, that he might not see the nakedness or the shameof the women. [c] Then the lad was lifted out of the chariot. He was placedin three vats of cold water to extinguish his wrath; and the first vat intowhich he was put burst its staves and its hoops like the cracking of nutsaround him. [W. 1367. ] The next vat [1]into which he went[1] [2]boiled withbubbles as big as fists[2] therefrom. The third vat [3]into which hewent, [3] some men might endure it and others might not. Then the boy'swrath went down. [b] 'Breasts, ' LU. And YBL. 720. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 720-721. [c] This exposure was a powerful magico-religious symbol and had a quasi-sacred or ritual character. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Translating from Stowe and H. 2. 17. [3-3] H. 2. 17. "[4]Thereupon he came out, [4] and his [5]festive[5] garments were put onhim [6]by Mugain the queen. [6] His comeliness appeared on him [LL. Fo. 68a. ]and he made a crimson wheel-ball of himself from his crown to theground. [7]A shout was raised at the bluish purple about him. [7][8]Beautiful then was the lad[8] [9]that was raised up in view. [9] Seventoes he had to each of his two feet, and seven fingers to each of his twohands, and seven pupils to each of his two kingly eyes, and seven gems ofthe brilliance of the eye was each separate pupil. Four spots of down oneither of his two cheeks: a blue spot, a purple spot, a green spot, ayellow spot. Fifty strands of bright-yellow hair from one ear to the other, like to a comb of birch twigs or like to a brooch of pale gold in the faceof the sun. A clear, white, shorn spot was upon him, as if a cow had lickedit. A [10]fair, laced[10] green[a] mantle about him; a silver pin therein[11]over his white breast, so that the eyes of men could not look at it forits gleam and its brightness. [11] A [12]hooded[12] tunic of thread of goldabout him. [13]A magnificent, fair-coloured, dark purple shield he bore. Two hard, five-pointed spears in his hand. A diadem of gold round hishead. [13] And the lad was seated between the two feet of Conchobar, [14]andthat was his couch ever after, [14] and the king began to stroke hisclose-shorn hair. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 726. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] LU. 726. [7-7] H. 2. 17. Thurneysen, _Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie_, Bd. VIII, S. 538, note 13, understands this to mean, 'a bluish purple cloak was thrown around him. ' [8-8] Stowe and H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [a] 'Blue, ' LU. And YBL. 727 and Eg. 1782. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 727. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [14-14] LU. And YBL. 728. [W. 1381. ] "A mere lad accomplished these deeds at the end of seven yearsafter his birth, " [1]continued Fiachu son of Fiarba;[1] "for he overcameheroes and battle-champions at whose hands two-thirds of the men of Ulsterhad fallen, and these had not got their revenge on them until that scionrose up for them. No need then is there of wonder or of surprise, though hecame to the border, though he slew one man or two men or three men or fourmen, [2]though he cut off the four-headed pole with one cut and one blow ofhis shining sword[2] when now are fulfilled his seventeen years at the timeof the Táin Bó Cúalnge. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 729-730. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3]Albeit gladness, joy and happiness was the part of the men of Ulster forthat, sorrow, grief and unhappiness was the part of the men of Erin, forthey knew that the little lad that had done those deeds in the time of hisboyhood, it would be no wonder if he should do great deeds of valour in thetime of his manhood. [3] [3-3] H. 2. 17. These, accordingly, are some of the youthful exploits of Cuchulain on theRaid for the Kine of Cualnge, and the Prologue of the Tale, and the Namesof the Roads and the March of the Host up to this Point. The Story proper is this which follows now. * * * * * [Page 80] VIIc [1]BELOW IS A SEPARATE VERSION AS FAR AS THE SLAYING OF ORLAM "Let us fare forth now, " quoth Ailill. Thereafter they reached Mag Mucceda('the plain of the Swineherd. ') Cuchulain lopped off an oak that was beforehim in that place and set an ogam-writing on its side. This is what was onit: 'That no one should pass by till a chariot-warrior with a chariotshould overleap it. ' [1-1] LU. And YBL. 733-766. They pitch there their tents and proceed to leap over the oak in theirchariots. Thereat thirty horses fall and thirty chariots are broken. Now, Belach Anè ('the Pass of Sport') is the name of that place forever. They bide there till morning. Fraech [2]son of Fidach[2] was summoned tothem. "Help us, O Fraech, " spake Medb; "deliver us from the strait we arein. Rise up for us to meet Cuchulain, if perchance thou wilt fight him. " [2-2] YBL. 741. Betimes in the morning, with nine men Fraech went out from thence till hearrived at Ath Fuait, when he saw the youth Cuchulain bathing in theriver. "Bide here, " spake Fraech to his people, "till I fight with yonderman; he is not good in the water, " said he. He doffs his clothes and goesinto the water to meet him. "Come not before me, " cried Cuchulain; "itshall be thy death and it would grieve me to kill thee. " "Nay, but I willgo, " answered Fraech, "so that we come together in the water, and itbehoves thee to engage with me. " "Settle that as seemeth thee good, "Cuchulain made answer. "Each of us with his arms round the other, " saidFraech. They fall to wrestling for a long time in the water and Fraech isthrust under. Cuchulain brings him above again. "This time, " spakeCuchulain, "wilt thou acknowledge that I saved thee?" "I will not, " Fraechanswered. Cuchulain thrusts him under again, so that Fraech is destroyed. He is placed on the ground. His people bear the body [10]with them[10] tothe camp. Ath Fraeich ('Fraech's Ford') is the name of that ford forever. All the army keen [2]their[2] Fraech, till they see a troop of women, in green tunics standing over the corpse of Fraech son of Fidach. Thesewomen bear him into the fairy dwelling. Sid Fraeich ('Fraech's Mound') isthe name of the Elfmound ever since. [10-10] Eg. 1782. [2-2] YBL. 758. Fergus leaps over the oak-stump in his [3]own[3] chariot [4]and knocks offits head. [4] [5]According to another version, [5] they proceed till theyreach [6]Ath Meislir. [6] Cuchulain destroys six of them there, namely, [7]Meislir _et reliqua_, [7] [8]the six Dungals of Irrus. [8] [3-3] Eg. 1782. [4-4] Eg. 1782. [5-5] YBL. 762. [6-6] Reading with YBL. '_Ath Taiten_, ' LU. 762. [7-7] YBL. 763. [8-8] LU. 763. They go thence to Fornocht. Medb had a whelp named Baiscnè. Cuchulain madea cast at him, so that he struck off his head. Now, Druim ('Ridge') is thename of that place ever after. [1] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 733-766 (see page 80). [9]According to another version, however, it is therethat the youth who was in the chariot by the side of Medband the pet bird were slain by the casts, but, according tothis version, that happened after the slaying of Orlam. [9] [9] YBL. 766-769. * * * * * [Page 82] VIII THE SLAYING OF ORLAM [W. 1393. ] The four grand provinces of Erin set forth on the morroweastwards over Cronn ('the Round'), which is a mountain. Cuchulain hadgone out before them, till he came upon the charioteer of Orlam son ofAililla and of Medb. This was at Tamlacht Orlaim ('Orlam's Gravestone')[1]a little to the[1] north of Disert Lochaid ('Lochat's Hermitage'). Thecharioteer was engaged in cutting chariot-poles from a holly-tree in thewood. [2]But according to another version it is the hind pole ofCuchulain's chariot that was broken and it was to cut a pole he had gonewhen Orlam's charioteer came up. [2] [3]According to this version, it wasthe charioteer who was cutting the pole. [3] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 772. [2-2] YBL. 773-775. [3-3] LU. 773-775. [4]Not long was the battle-victorious Hound there when he heard a sound andan uproar. [4] "Behold, O Laeg, " cried Cuchulain; "[5]who of the host of thefoe have come into this land to carry off a share of cattle and booty fromthe province wherein they came?[5] How bold are the ways of the Ulstermen, if it be they that cut down the woods in this fashion in the face of themen of Erin. But, [6]check the horses and hold the chariot. [6] Tarry thouhere a little, till I know who cuts down the woods in this manner. " ThenCuchulain went on till he came up to [7]Orlam's[7] charioteer, [W. 1401. ][1]to stop him; he thought he was one of the men of Ulster. [1] "What dostthou here, gilla?" asked Cuchulain. "Indeed, then, " answered the gilla, "Icut chariot-poles from this holm, because our chariots were brokenyesterday in pursuit of that famous wildling, namely Cuchulain. And for thymanhood's sake, young warrior, pray come to my aid, so that that famousCuchulain come not upon me. " "Take thy choice, gilla, " said Cuchulain, "togather or to trim them, either. " "I will see to gathering them, for it iseasier, " [2]the gilla answered. [2] Cuchulain started to cut the poles andhe drew them between the forks of his feet and his hands against theirbends and their knots, so that he made them smooth and straight andslippery and trimmed; he polished them so that not even a midge could findfooting thereon when he had passed them away from him. Then full sure thegilla gazed upon him. "Far then, meseems, from fitting is the task I put onthee. [3]And for love of thy valour, [3] who art thou, say, O warrior?" thegilla asked, [4]for he was sore affrighted. [4] "That same renownedCuchulain am I of whom thou spakest [5]a while ago[5] in the morning. " "Woeis me then, by reason of this, " cried the gilla; "for this am I lostforever. " [LL. Fo. 68b. ] [6]"Whence comest thou [7]and who art thou[7]?"Cuchulain asked. "Charioteer am I of Orlam, Ailill's son and Medb's, "[6][8]said he. [8] [9]"Fear nothing;[9] I will not slay thee at all, boy, " saidCuchulain; "for I slay nor charioteers nor horseboys nor persons unarmed. But, prithee, where is thy master, [10]gilla[10]?" "Over yonder by thetrench, [11]with his back to the pillar-stone, [11]" answered the gilla. "Off with thee thither to him and bear him a warning that he be on hisguard. For if we meet he shall fall by my hand. " [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] Stowe. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 777. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 786 [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 786-787. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] LU. 787. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 789. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [W. 1419. ] Thereupon the charioteer repaired [1]by one way[1] to his master, [2]and Cuchulain went by another, [2] and fast as the gilla sped to Orlam, faster still Cuchulain did reach him [3]and offered him combat[3] and hestruck off his head, and raising it aloft displayed it to the men of Erin, [4]and he flourished it in the presence of the host. [4] [5]Then he put thehead on the charioteer's back and said, "Take this with thee, and so go tothe camp. Unless thou goest so, a stone out of my sling will reach thee. " [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] Stowe, LU. And YBL. 792. When the charioteer came nigh to the camp he took the head from his backand told his adventures to Ailill and Medb. "It is not the same, thisexploit and the catching of birds, " quoth she. "And he told me" (said theboy), "unless I brought it on my back to the camp, he would break my headwith a stone. "[5] [6]Hence Leaca Orlaim ('Orlam's Flagstones') to the northof Disert Lochaid is the name of the place where he fell. Tamlachta('Gravestones') is another name for it, and it is for this reason it is socalled because of the little gravestones and the violent deaths whichCuchulain worked on it. "[6] [5-5] LU. And YBL. 793-799. [6-6] H. 2. 17. * * * * * [Page 85] VIIIa [1]THE SLAYING OF THE THREE MacARACH[1] [W. 1425. ] Then came the three macArach on to the ford at Ard Ciannachtto encounter Cuchulain: Lon ('Ousel'), Uala ('Pride'), and Diliu('Deluge');--Meslir ('Lir's Fosterling'), and Meslaoc ('Hero'sFosterling'), and Meslethain ('Lethan's Fosterling') were the names oftheir charioteers. This is why they came to engage with Cuchulain, for thedeed he had done the day before they deemed past bearing, when the two sonsof Nera son of Nuatar, son of Tacan, were slain at Ath Gabla ('Fork-ford'), and Orlam, Ailill's son and Medb's, was slain withal and his head displayedto the men of Erin, so that [2]their desire was[2] to kill Cuchulain in thesame manner [3]in revenge for him, [3] [4]and that they should be the onesto rid the host of that pest[4] and bring his head with them to set italoft. They went into the wood and cut off three [5]great[5] white-hazelwood-strips (and put them) into the hands of their charioteers, so that thesix of them might engage in battle at one and the same time with Cuchulain. Cuchulain turned on them and smote their six heads from them. Thus fell themacArach at the hands of Cuchulain, [6]because they observed not fair fightwith him. At that same time Orlam's charioteer was between Ailill and Medb. Cuchulain slung a stone at him, so that it broke his head and his brainscame out over his ears. Fertedil was his name. Hence it is not true thatCuchulain slew no charioteers. Albeit he slew them not without fault. [6] [1-1] H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. Fo. 64a, in the margin. LU. Reads _MacGarach_. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 806. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 806-807. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 808-812. * * * * * [Page 86] VIIIb [1]THE COMBAT OF LETHAN AND CUCHULAIN[1] [W. 1439. ] There came also Lethan ('the Broad') to his ford on the Nith inthe land of Conalle Murthemni, to fight with Cuchulain. [2]He was angeredat what Cuchulain had wrought. [2] He came upon him at the ford. Ath Carpait('Chariot-ford') is the name of the ford where they fought, for theirchariots were broken in the combat on the ford. It is there that Mulcha, [3]Lethan's charioteer, [3] fell on the [4]shoulder of the[4] hill betweenthe two fords, [5]for he had offered battle and combat to Laeg son ofRiangabair. [5] Hence it is called Guala Mulchi ('Mulcha's Shoulder') eversince. It is there, too, that Cuchulain and Lethan met, and Lethan fell atCuchulain's hands and he smote his head from his neck on the ford and leftit therewith, that is, he left the head with the trunk. Wherefore the nameof the ford [6]of the Nith[6] was called Ath Lethain ('Lethain's Ford')ever since in the district of Conalle Murthemni. [1-1] The superscription is taken from Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 837. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 841. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 841. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 839 and Stowe. Then came [7]unto them[7] the Crutti Cainbili ('the Tuneful Harpers'), fromEss Ruaid in the north to amuse them, [8]out of friendship for Ailill andMedb. [8] They opined it was to spy upon them [9]they were come[9] fromUlster. [10]When they came within sight of the camp of the men of Erin, fear, terror, and dread possessed them, [10] and the hosts pursued [W. 1450. ]them as never men pursued, far and wide, till they escaped them in theshapes of deer near the standing stones at Lia Mor ('Great Stone') [1]inthe north. [1] For though they were known as the 'Mellifluous Harpers' theywere [2]druids, [2] men of great cunning and great power of augury andmagic. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 835. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 835. * * * * * [Page 88] VIIIc [1]THE KILLING OF THE SQUIRREL AND OF THE TAME BIRD[1] [W. 1456. ] Then Cuchulain made a threat [2]in Methè[2] that wherever he sawMedb he would cast a stone at her and that it would not go far from theside of her head. That he also fulfilled. In the place where he saw Medbwest of the ford he cast a stone from his sling at her, so that it killedthe pet bird that was on her shoulder. Medb passed over the ford eastwards, and again he cast a stone from his sling at her east of the ford, so thatit killed the tame squirrel that was on her shoulder. Hence the names ofthose places are still, Meide in Togmail ('Squirrel's Neck') and Meide indEoin ('Bird's Neck'). And Ath Srethe ('Ford of the Throw') is the name ofthe ford over which Cuchulain cast the stone from his sling. [1-1] The superscription is taken from LU. Fo. 64a, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 813. [3]Then Reuin was drowned in his lake. Hence is Loch Reuin. "Your companionis not afar off from you, " cried Ailill to the Manè. They stood up andlooked around. When they sat down again, Cuchulain struck one of them sothat his head was split. "It is well it was thou hast essayed that; thy[a]mirth was not seemly, " quoth Manè the fool; "it is I would have taken hishead off. " Cuchulain flung a stone at him, so that his head was split. Thusthese people were slain: Orlam, first of all, on his hill; the three sonsof Arach[a] on their ford; Fertidil in his . . . (?); Maenan on his hill. "Iswear by the god by whom my people swear, " cried Ailill; "the man thatscoffs at Cuchulain here I will make two halves of. But above all let ushasten our way by day and by night, " Ailill continued, "till we come toCualnge. That man will slay two-thirds of your host in this fashion. "[3] [3-3] LU. And YBL. 820-831 and, partly, in Eg. 1782. [a] Literally, 'your. ' [a] '_Garech_, ' LU. And YBL. 827. [1]Then did the men of Erin deliberate about going to ravage and lay wasteMag Breg and Meath and the plain of Conall and the land of Cuchulain; andit was in the presence of Fergus macRoig they discussed it. [1] [1-1] H. 2. 17. [W. 1465. ] The four grand provinces of Erin moved out on the morrow, andbegan to harry the plains of Breg and Murthemne. And the sharp, keen-edgedanxiety [LL. Fo. 69a. ] for Cuchulain came over his fosterer Fergus. And hebade the men of Erin be on their guard that night, for that Cuchulain wouldcome upon them. And here again he sang in his praise, as we wrote itbefore, [b] and he uttered the lay:-- "If Cuchulain, Cualnge's Hound, And Red Branch chiefs on you come, Men will welter in their blood, Laying waste Murthemne's plain! [4]"Woe to him possesses wealth, 'Less he find a way to 'scape; And your wives will be enslaved, And your chiefs fill pools of blood![4] "Far away he[c] held his course, Till he reached Armenia's heights; Battle dared he, past his wont, And the Burnt-breasts[d] put to death! "Hardest for him was to drive Necht's sons from their chieftest haunts; And the smith's hound--mighty deed-- Hath he slain with single hand! [W. 1483. ] "More than this I've naught to say, As concerns Dechtirè's son; My belief, in troth, is this: Ye will now meet with your fate. " [b] See above, p. 41. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [c] That is, Cuchulain. [d] That is, the Amazons. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 820-831 and, partly, in Eg. 1782. After this lay, that was the day that Donn ('the Brown Bull') of Cualngecame into the land of Marginè [1]to Sliab Culinn[1] and with him fiftyheifers of the heifers [2]of Ulster;[2] and there he was pawing and diggingup the earth in that place, [3]in the land of Marginè, in Cualnge;[3] thatis, he flung the turf over him with his heels. [4]While the hosts weremarching over Mag Breg, Cuchulain in the meanwhile laid hands on theircamps. [4] It was on the same day that the Morrigan, daughter of Ernmas, [5]the prophetess[5] of the fairy-folk, came [6]in the form of a bird, [6]and she perched on the standing-stone in Temair of Cualnge giving the BrownBull of Cualnge warning [7]and lamentations[7] before the men of Erin. Thenshe began to address him and what she said was this: "Good, now, O lucklessone, thou Brown Bull of Cualnge, " so spake the Morrigan; "take heed; forthe men of Erin. [8]are on thy track and seeking thee[8] and they willcome upon thee, and [9]if thou art taken[9] they will carry thee away totheir camp [10]like any ox on a raid, [10] unless thou art on thy guard. "And she commenced to give warning to him in this fashion, [11]telling himhe would be slain on the Táin, and she delivered this judgement[11] andspake these words aloud:[a]-- [1-1] LU. And YBL. 853. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 857. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 842-843. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 844. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [a] The following passage in '_rosc_' is exceedingly difficult and obscure, and the translation given here is consequently incomplete and uncertain. "Knows not the restless Brown of the [12]truly deadly[12] [W. 1502. ] fraythat is not uncertain?--A raven's[a] croak--The raven that doth notconceal--Foes range your checkered plain--[1]Troops on raids[1]--I have asecret--Ye shall know . . . The waving fields--The deep-green grass . . . Andrich, soft plain--Wealth of flowers' splendour--Badb's cow-lowing--Wild theraven--Dead the men--A tale of woe--Battle-storms[b] on Cualnge evermore, to the death of mighty sons--Kith looking on the death of kin!" [12-12] LU. And YBL. 846, and Stowe. [a] The Morrigan, the Irish goddess of battle, most often appeared in the form of a raven. [1-1] Reading with H. 2. 17. [b] Translating _cloe_, as suggested by Windisch. [2]When the Brown Bull of Cualnge heard those words[2] he moved on to Glennna Samaisce ('Heifers' Glen') in Sliab Culinn ('Hollymount') [3]in thenorth of Ulster, [3] and fifty of his heifers with him, [4]and his herdsmanaccompanied him; Forgemen was the name of the cowherd. [4] [5]And he threwoff the thrice fifty boys who were wont to play on his back and hedestroyed two-thirds of the boys. [5] This was one of the magic virtues ofthe Brown Bull of Cualnge: Fifty heifers he would cover every day. Thesecalved before that same hour on the next day and such of them that calvednot [6]at the due time[6] burst with the calves, because they could notsuffer the begetting of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. One of the magic virtuesof the Brown Bull of Cualnge were the fifty [7]grown[7] youths who engagedin games, [8]who[8] on his fine back [9]found room[9] every evening [10]toplay draughts and assembly[c] and leaping[10]; [11]he would not put themfrom him nor would he totter under them. [11] Another of the magic virtuesof the Brown Bull of Cualnge was the hundred warriors [W. 1535. ] he screenedfrom the heat and the cold under his shadow and shelter. Another of themagic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge was that no goblin nor boggartnor sprite of the glen dared come into one and the same cantred withhim. Another of the magic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge was hismusical lowing every evening as he returned to his haggard, his shed andhis byre. It was music enough and delight for a man in the north and in thesouth, [1]in the east and the west, [1] and in the middle of the cantred ofCualnge, the lowing he made at even as he came to his haggard, his shed, and his byre. These, then, are some of the magic virtues of the Brown Bullof Cualnge. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 854, and H. 2. 17. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 855-856. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [c] Apparently the name of some game. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [1-1] H. 2. 17. Thereupon on the morrow the hosts proceeded among the rocks and dunes ofthe land of Conalle Murthemni. [3]Cuchulain killed no one from Sailè ('theSea') around Dorthè in the land of Conalle, until he reached Cualnge. Atthat time Cuchulain was in Cuincè, [2]that is a mountain. [2] He hadthreatened that, where he would see Medb, he would hurl a stone at herhead. It was not easy to do this, for it was thus Medb went, with half thehost around her and their canopy of shields over her head. [3] And Medbordered a canopy of shields to be held over her head in order thatCuchulain might not strike her from the hills or hillocks or heights. Howbeit on that day, no killing nor attack came from Cuchulain upon the menof Erin, in the land of Murthemne among the rocks and dunes of ConalleMurthemni. [2-2] LU. 860. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 858-863. * * * * * [Page 93] VIIId [1]THE SLAYING OF LOCHE[1] [W. 1552. ] The warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin bidedtheir time in Redè Lochè in Cualnge and pitched camp and took quarterstherein for that night. Medb bade her fair handmaiden from amongst herattendants to go for her to the river for water for drinking and washing. Lochè was the name of the maiden. Thereupon Lochè went, and fifty[a] womenin her train and the queen's diadem of gold on her head. And Cuchulain[2]espied them and he[2] [3]put a stone on his sling and[3] cast[LL. Fo. 69b. ] a stone from his [4]staff[4]-sling at her, so that he brokethe diadem of gold in three pieces and killed the maiden on her plain. Thence is Redè Lochè ('the Plain of Lochè') in Cualnge. For Cuchulain hadthought, for want of acquaintance and knowledge, that it was Medb that wasthere. [1-1] LU. Fo. 65a, in the margin. [a] 'forty, ' H. 2. 17. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5]From Finnabair of Cualnge the hosts divided and set the country onfire. They gathered all their women and boys and girls and cattle inCualnge together so that they all were in Finnabair. "Ye have not faredwell, " quoth Medb; "I see not the bull amongst you. " "He is not in the landat all, " replied every one. They summoned Lothar, the cowherd, to Medb. "Where, thinkest thou, is the bull?" she asked. "I have great fear totell, " said the cowherd. "The night, " said he, "that the Ulstermen fellinto their 'Pains, ' the Donn went and three score heifers along with him;and he is at Dubcaire Glinni Gat ('the Black Corrie of the Osier-glen'). ""Rise, " said Medb, "and take a withy between each two of you. " And they doaccordingly. Hence is the name, Glenn Gatt, of that glen. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 867-887. ] Then they led the bull to Finnabair. In the place where the bull sawLothar, the cowherd, he attacked him, and soon he carried his entrails outon his horns and together with his thrice fifty heifers he attacked thecamp, so that fifty warriors perished. Hence this is the Tragical Deathof Lothar on the Táin [1]and the Finding of the Bull according to thisversion. [1] [2]Thereafter the bull went from them away from the camp andthey knew not whither he had gone from them and they were ashamed. Medbasked the cowherd if he might know where the bull was. "I trow he is in thewilds of Sliab Culinn. "[2] Then they turned back ravaging Cualnge and theyfound not the bull there. [5] [1-1] YBL. 882, which adds: 'We will not follow it further here. ' [2-2] LU. , edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 34, note 16. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 867-887. * * * * * [Page 95] VIIIe [1]THE KILLING OF UALA[1] [W. 1563. ] [2]Early[2] on the morrow the hosts continued their way [3]to laywaste the plain of Murthemne and to sack Mag Breg and Meath and MachaireConaill ('Conall's Plain') and the land of Cualnge. It was then that thestreams and rivers of Conalle Murthemni rose to the tops of the trees, andthe streams of the Cronn rose withal, until the hosts arrived at GlaissCruinn ('Cronn's Stream'). [3] And they attempted the stream and failed tocross it [4]because of the size of its waves, [4] [5]so that they slept onits bank. [5] And Cluain Carpat ('Chariot-meadow') is the name of the firstplace where they reached it. This is why Cluain Carpat is the name of thatplace, because of the hundred[a] chariots which the river carried away fromthem to the sea. Medb ordered her people that one of the warriors should gotry the river. And [6]on the morrow[6] there arose a great, stout, [7]wonderful[7] warrior of the [8]particular[8] people of Medb [9]andAilill, [9] Uala by name, and he took on his back a massy rock, [10]to theend that Glaiss Cruinn might not carry him back. [10] And he went to essaythe stream, and the stream threw him back dead, lifeless, with his[W. 1571. ] stone on his back [1]and so he was drowned. [1] Medb ordered thathe be lifted [2]out of the river then[2] [3]by the men of Erin[3] and hisgrave dug [4]and his keen made[4] and his stone raised [5]over hisgrave, [5] so that it is thence Lia Ualann ('Uala's Stone') [6]on the roadnear the stream[6] in the land of Cualnge. [1-1] LU. Fo. 65a, in the margin. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. 887, a gloss. [a] H. 2. 17 has 'fifty charioteers. ' [6-6] LU. And YBL. 889. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 889. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 891. Cuchulain clung close to the hosts that day provoking them to encounter andcombat. [7]Four and seven score kings fell at his hands at that samestream, [7] and he slew a hundred of their [8]armed, [8] [9]kinglike[9]warriors around Roen and Roi, the two chroniclers of the Táin. [10]This isthe reason the account of the Táin was lost and had to be sought afterwardsfor so long a time. [10] [7-7] LU. And YBL. 900. [8-8] Stowe and H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] H. 2. 17; the story of the finding of the Táin is told in the _Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe_ ("The Proceedings of the Great Bardic Institution"), edited by Owen Connellan, in the Transactions of the Ossianic Society, vol. V, 1857, pp. 103 fl. Medb called upon her people to go meet Cuchulain in encounter and combat[11]for the sake of the hosts. [11] "It will not be I, " and "It will not beI, " spake each and every one from his place. "No caitiff is due from mypeople. Even though one should be due, it is not I would go to opposeCuchulain, for no easy thing is it to do battle with him. " [12]When they had failed to find the Donn Cualnge, [12] the hosts kept theirway along the river [13]around the river Cronn to its source, [13] beingunable to cross it, till they reached the place where the river rises outof the mountains, and, had they wished it, they would have gone between theriver and the mountain, but Medb would not allow it, so they had to dig andhollow out the mountain [W. 1585. ] before her in order [1]that their tracemight remain there forever and[1] that it might be for a shame and reproachto Ulster. [11-11] Stowe. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [13-13] LU. And YBL. 893. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 895. [2]They tarried there three days and three nights till they had dug out theearth before them. [2] And Bernais ('the Gap') of the [4]Foray of Medb andthe Gap of the[4] Foray of Cualnge is another name for the place eversince, for it is through it the drove afterwards passed. [3]There Cuchulainkilled Cronn and Coemdele and . . . [3] [2-2] LU. And YBL. 896. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 898-899. The warriors of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and tookquarters that night at Belat Aileain ('the Island's Crossway'). BelatAileain was its name up to then, but Glenn Tail ('Glen of Shedding') ishenceforth its name because of the abundance of curds and of milk [5]and ofnew warm milk[5] which the droves of cattle and the flocks [6]of the landof Conalle and Murthemne[6] yielded there [7]that night[7] for the men ofErin. And Liasa Liac ('Stone Sheds') is another name for it [8]to thisday, [8] and it is for this it bears that name, for it is there that the menof Erin raised cattle-stalls and byres for their herds and droves[9]between Cualnge and Conalle. [9] [10]Botha is still another name for it, for the men of Erin erected bothies and huts there. [10] [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 909. [10-10] H. 2. 17. The four of the five grand provinces of Erin took up the march until theyreached the Sechair [11]in the west on the morrow. [11] Sechair was the nameof the river hitherto; Glaiss Gatlaig ('Osier-water') is its namehenceforward. [12]And Glaiss Gatlaig rose up against them. [12] Now this isthe reason it had that name, for it was in osiers and ropes that the men ofErin brought [W. 1599. ] their flocks and droves over across it, and theentire host let their osiers and ropes drift with the stream aftercrossing. Hence the name, Glaiss Gatlaig. [1]Then they slept at Druim Fenèin Conalle. These then are their stages from Cualnge to the plain (ofConalle Murthemni) according to this version. Other authors [2]of thisWork[2] and other books aver that they followed another way on theirjourneyings from Finnabair to Conalle. [1] [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 910. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 912-914. [2-2] YBL. 914. * * * * * [Page 99] VIIIf [1]THE HARRYING OF CUALNGE FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW[1] [2]After every one had come with their spoils and they were all gathered inFinnabair of Cualnge, Medb spake: "Let the camp be divided here, " saidMedb; "the foray cannot be caried on by a single road. Let Ailill with halfhis force go by Midluachair. We and Fergus will go by Bernas Bo Ulad ('thePass of the Cattle of Ulster'). " "Not fair is the part that has fallen tous of the force, " said Fergus; "the cattle cannot be driven over themountain without dividing. " This then is done. Hence cometh Bernas Bo Ulad('the Pass of the Cattle of Ulster'). [1-1] LU. Fo. 65b, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 916-1197, omitting 1079-1091. Then spake Ailill to his charioteer Cuillius: "Find out for me to-day Medband Fergus. I wot not what hath led them to keep thus together. I wouldfain have a token from thee. " Cuillius went where Medb and Fergus wantoned. The pair dallied behind while the warriors continued their march. Cuilliusstole near them and they perceived not the spy. It happened that Fergus'sword lay close by him. Cuillius drew it from its sheath and left thesheath empty. Then Cuillius betook himself to Ailill. "Well?" said Ailill. "Well, then, " replied [3]Cuillius;[3] "thou knowest the signification ofthis token. As thou hast thought, " continued Cuillius, "it is thus Idiscovered them, lying together. " "It is so, then. " Each of them laughs, atthe other. "It is well so, " said Ailill; "she had no choice; to win hishelp on the Táin she hath done it. Keep the sword carefully by thee, " saidAilill; "put it beneath thy seat in the chariot and a linen cloth wrappedround it. " [3-3] LU. 930. ] When Fergus got up to take his sword, "Alas!" cried he. "What aileth thee?"Medb asked. "An ill deed have I done Ailill, " said he. "Wait thou here tillI come out of the wood, " said Fergus, "and wonder not though it be longtill I come. " It happened that Medb knew not of the loss of the sword. Fergus went out taking his charioteer's sword with him in his hand, and hefashioned a sword from a tree in the wood. Hence is Fid Mor Thruailli('Great Scabbard-Wood') in Ulster. "Let us hasten after our comrades, " said Fergus. The forces of all cametogether in the plain. They raised their tents. Fergus was summoned toAilill for a game of chess. When Fergus entered the tent Ailill laughed athim. [a] [a] Here follows in LU. And YBL. 946-1020, Eg. 1782, a most difficult passage, rendered more obscure by the incorporation of glossarial notes into the body of the text. It is almost incapable of translation; it consists of a dialogue or series of repartees during a game of chess, in which Ailill taunts Fergus on the episode just narrated and Fergus replies. Cuchulain came so that he was before Ath Cruinn ('the Ford of the Cronn'). "O master Laeg, " he cried to his driver, "here are the hosts for us. " "Iswear by the gods, " said the charioteer, "I will do a mighty feat in theeyes of chariot-fighters, in quick spurring-on of the slender steeds; withyokes of silver and golden wheels shall they be urged on (?) in triumph. Thou shalt ride before heads of kings. The steeds I guide will bringvictory with their bounding. " "Take heed, O Laeg, " said Cuchulain; "holdthe reins for the great triumph of Macha, that the horses drag thee notover the mass at the . . . (?) of a woman. Let us go over the straight plainof these . . . (?). I call on the waters to help me, " cried Cuchulain. "Ibeseech heaven and earth and the Cronn above all. " Then the Cronn opposes them, [a] Holds them back from Murthemne, Till the heroes'[b] work is done On the mount of Ocainè![c] [a] That is, the men of Erin. [b] That is, Cuchulain and Laeg. [c] See above, page 97. Therewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the trees. Manè son of Ailill and Medb marched in advance of the rest. Cuchulain slewhim on the ford and thirty horsemen of his people were drowned. AgainCuchulain laid low twice sixteen warriors of theirs near the stream. Thewarriors of Erin pitched their tents near the ford. Lugaid son of Nos[1]grandson of Lomarc[1] Allcomach went to parley with Cuchulain. Thirtyhorsemen were with him. "Welcome to thee, O Lugaid, " cried Cuchulain. "Should a flock of birds graze upon the plain of Murthemne, thou shalt havea wild goose with half the other. Should fish come to the falls or to thebays, thou shalt have a salmon with as much again. Thou shalt have thethree sprigs, even a sprig of cresses, a sprig of laver, and a sprig ofsea-grass; there will be a man to take thy place at the ford. " "Thiswelcome is truly meant, " replied Lugaid; "the choice of people for theyouth whom I desire!" "Splendid are your hosts, " said Cuchulain. "It willbe no misfortune, " said Lugaid, "for thee to stand up alone before them. ""True courage and valour have I, " Cuchulain made answer. "Lugaid, mymaster, " said Cuchulain, "do the hosts fear me?" "By the god, " Lugaid madeanswer, "I swear that no one man of them nor two men dares make wateroutside the camp unless twenty or thirty go with him. " "It will besomething for them, " said Cuchulain, "if I begin to cast from my sling. Hewill be fit for thee, O Lugaid, this companion thou hast in Ulster, [1]ifthe men oppose me one by one. [1] Say, then, what wouldst thou?" askedCuchulain. "A truce with my host. " "Thou shalt have it, provided there bea token therefor. And tell my master Fergus that there shall be a token onthe host. Tell the leeches that there shall be a token on the host, and letthem swear to preserve my life and let them provide me each night withprovision. " [1-1] LU. 1041. [1-1] Literally, 'if there oppose me the strength of each single man. ' Lugaid went from him. It happened that Fergus was in the tent with Ailill. Lugaid called him out and reported that (proposal of Cuchulain's) to him. Then Ailill was heard:[a] [a] The sense of this proposal of Ailill's, omitted in the translation (LU. 1064-1069 and Eg. 1782), is not clear. "I swear by the god, I cannot, " said [3]Fergus, [3] "unless I ask thelad. Help me, O Lugaid, " said Fergus. "Do thou go to him, to see whetherAilill with a division may come to me to my company. Take him an ox withsalt pork and a keg of wine. " Thereupon Lugaid goes to Cuchulain and tellshim that. "'Tis the same to me whether he go, " said Cuchulain. Then the twohosts unite. They remain there till night, [4]or until they spend thirtynights there. [4] Cuchulain destroyed thirty of their warriors with hissling. "Your journeyings will be ill-starred, " said Fergus (to Medb andAilill); "the men of Ulster will come out of their 'Pains' and will grindyou down to the earth and the gravel. Evil is the battle-corner wherein weare. " He proceeds to Cul Airthir ('the Eastern Nook'). Cuchulain slaysthirty of their heroes on Ath Duirn ('Ford of the Fist'). Now they couldnot reach Cul Airthir till night. Cuchulain killed thirty of their menthere and they raised their tents in that place. In the morning Ailill'scharioteer, Cuillius to wit, was washing the wheel-bands in the ford. Cuchulain struck him with a stone so that he killed him. Hence is AthCuillne ('Ford of Destruction') in Cul Airthir. '[2] [3-3] 'Lugaid, ' LU. 1069. [4-4] YBL. 1075; but, 'they would be twenty nights there, as other books say, ' LU. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 916-1197, omitting 1079-1091. * * * * * [Page 104] IX THE PROPOSALS [W. 1603. ] The four grand provinces of Erin proceeded till they pitched campand took quarters in Druim En ('Birds' Ridge') in the land of ConalleMurthemni, [1]and they slept there[1] that night, [2]as we said before, [2]and Cuchulain held himself at Ferta Illergaib ('the Burial-mound on theSlopes') hard by them that night, and he, Cuchulain, shook, brandished andflourished his weapons that night. [3]Every night of the three nights theywere there he made casts from his sling at them, from Ochaine nearby, [3] sothat one hundred warriors of the host perished of fright and fear anddread of Cuchulain. [4]"Not long will our host endure in this way withCuchulain, " quoth Ailill. [4] Medb called upon Fiachu son of Ferfebè of theUlstermen to go parley with Cuchulain, to come to some terms with him. "What terms shall be given him?" asked Fiachu son of Ferfebè. "Not hard toanswer, " Medb replied: "He shall be recompensed [5]for the loss of hislands and estates, [5] for whosoever has been slain of the Ulstermen, sothat it be paid to him as the men of Erin adjudge [6]according to the willof the Ulstermen and of Fergus and of the nobles of the men of Erin who arein this camp and encampment. [6] Entertainment shall be his at all times inCruachan; wine and [W. 1614. ] mead shall be poured [LL. Fo. 70a. ] out forhim. [1]He shall have from the plain of Ai the equal of the plain ofMurthemne and the best chariot that is in Ai and the equipment of twelvemen. Offer, if it please him more, the plain wherein he was reared andthrice seven bondmaids. [1] And he shall come into my service and Ailill's, for that is more seemly for him than to be in the service of the lordlingwith whom he is, [2]even of Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathatch. [2] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1097. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1098. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1100-1101. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1100-1102. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1103-1105. [2-2] H. 2. 17. Accordingly this was the greatest word of scorn and insult spoken on theCow-Raid of Cualnge, to make a lordling of the best king of a province inErin, even of Conchobar. Then came Fiachu son of Ferfebè to converse with Cuchulain. Cuchulain badehim welcome. "[3]Welcome thy coming and thine arrival, O Fiachu, " saidCuchulain. [3] "I regard that welcome as truly meant, " [4]said Fiachu. [4]"It is truly meant for thee" [5]replied Cuchulain[5]; "[6]and thou shalthave a night of hospitality this night. " "Victory and a blessing attendthee, O fosterling, " replied Fiachu. "Not for hospitality am I come, but[6]to parley with thee am I come from Medb, [7]and to bring thee terms. "[7]"What hast thou brought with thee?" "Thou shalt be recompensed forwhatsoever was destroyed of Ulster which shall be paid thee as best the menof Erin adjudge. Entertainment shalt thou enjoy in Cruachan; wine and meadshall be poured out for thee and thou shalt enter the service of Ailill andMedb, for that is more seemly for thee than to be in the service of thelordling with whom thou art. " "Nay, of a truth, " answered Cuchulain, "Iwould not sell my mother's brother[a] for any other king!" "Further, "[8]continued Fiachu, [8] "that [W. 1627. ] thou comest to-morrow to a trystwith Medb and Fergus in Glenn Fochaine. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] Stowe. [a] That is, Conchobar. [8-8] Stowe. [1]Therewith Fiachu left behind a wish for long life and health withCuchulain. [1] [1-1] Stowe. Accordingly, early on the morrow, Cuchulain set forth for GlennFochaine. Likewise Medb and Fergus went to meet him. And Medb lookednarrowly at Cuchulain, and her spirit chafed her at him that day, for nobigger than the bulk of a stripling did he seem to her. "Is that yonder therenowned Cuchulain thou speakest of, O Fergus?" asked Medb, [2]"of whom itis said amongst ye Ulstermen that there is not in Erin a warrior for whomhe is not a match and mighty combat?" "Not in Erin alone, did we say, "Fergus made answer; "but there is not in the world a warrior for whom he isnot a match and mighty combat. "[2] And Medb began to address Fergus and shemade this lay:-- Medb: "If that be the noble Hound, Of whom ye of Ulster boast, What man e'er stout foe hath faced, Will fend him from Erin's men!" Fergus: "Howe'er young the Hound thou seest, That Murthemne's Plain doth course, That man hath not stood on earth Whom he'd crush not with his might!" Medb: "We will bring this warrior terms; If he slight them, he is mad: Half his cows, his women, half. He shall change his way of fight!" Fergus: "My wish, that yell not o'ercome This Hound from proud Murthemne! Deeds he fears not--fierce and bright-- This I know, if it be he!" [2-2] H. 2. 17. "Accost Cuchulain, O Fergus, " said Medb. "Nay, then, " quoth Fergus, "but dothou accost him thyself, for ye are not asunder here in the valley, inGlenn Fochaine. " [W. 1653. ] And Medb began to address Cuchulain and shemade a lay, [1]to which he responded:[1] Medb: "Culann's Hound, whom quatrains praise, [a] Keep thy staff-sling far from us; Thy fierce, famed fight hath us ruined, Hath us broken and confused!" Cuchulain: "Medb of Mur, he, Maga's son, No base arrant wight am I. While I live I'll never cease Cualnge's raid to harass sore!" Medb: "If thou wilt take this from us, Valiant chief, thou Cualnge's Hound; Half thy cows, thy women, half, Thou shalt have [2]through fear of thee!"[2] Cuchulain: "As by right of thrusts am I Ulster's champion and defence, Naught I'll yield till I retrieve Cow and woman ta'en from Gael!" Medb: "What thou askest is too much, After slaughtering our fair troops, That we keep but steeds and gauds, All because of one sole man!" Cuchulain: "Eocho's daughter, fair, of Fal, I'm not good at wars of words; Though a warrior--[b] fair the cheer--[b] Counsel mine is little worth!" Medb: "Shame thou hast none for what thou sayest, O Dechtirè's lordly[c] son! Famous are the terms for thee, O thou battling Culann's Hound!" [1-1] Stowe. [a] Literally, 'love. ' [2-2] Reading with H. 1. 13 and Stowe. [b-b] A cheville. [c] Literally, 'richly trooped. ' When this lay was finished, Cuchulain accepted none of the terms which shehad offered. In such wise they parted in the valley and withdrew in equalanger on the one side and on the other. The warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin pitched camp andtook quarters for three days and three nights at Druim En ('Birds' Ridge')in Conalle Murthemni, but neither huts nor tents did they set up, nor didthey [W. 1688. ] engage in feasts or repasts, nor sang they songs nor carolsthose three nights. And Cuchulain destroyed a hundred of their warriorsevery night ere the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow. [LL. Fo. 70b. ] "Our hosts will not last long in this fashion, " said Medb, "ifCuchulain slays a hundred of our warriors every night. Wherefore is aproposal not made to him and do we not parley with him?" "What might theproposal be?" asked Ailill. "Let the cattle that have milk be given to himand the captive women from amongst our booty. And he on his side shallcheck his staff-sling from the men of Erin and give leave to the hosts tosleep, [1]even though he slay them by day. "[1] "Who shall go withthat proposal?" Ailill asked. "Who, " answered Medb, "but macRoth the[2]chief[2] runner!" "Nay, but I will not go, " said macRoth, "for I am inno way experienced and know not where Cuchulain may be, [3]and even thoughI should meet him, I should not know him. [3]" "Ask Fergus, " quoth Medb;"like enough he knows [4]where he is. [4]" "Nay, then, I know it not, "answered Fergus; "but I trow he is [5]in the snow[5] between Fochain andthe sea, taking the wind and the sun after his sleeplessness last night, killing and slaughtering the host single handed. " And so it trulywas. [6]Then on that errand to Delga macRoth set forth, the messenger ofAilill and Medb. He it is that circles Erin in one day. There it is thatFergus opined that Cuchulain would be, in Delga. [6] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1128. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1109-1111. Heavy snow fell that night so that all the [7]five[7] provinces of Erinwere a white plane with the snow. And Cuchulain doffed the seven-scorewaxed, boardlike tunics which were used to be held under cords and stringsnext his skin, in order that his sense might not be deranged when [W. 1709. ]the fit of his fury came on him. And the snow melted for thirty feet allaround him, because of the intensity of the warrior's heat and the warmthof Cuchulain's body. And the gilla [1]remained a good distance from him forhe[1] could not endure to remain near him because of the might of his rageand the warrior's fury and the heat of his body. "A single warriorapproacheth, O Cuchulain, " cried Laeg [2]to Cuchulain. [2] "What manner ofwarrior is he?" asked Cuchulain. "A brown, broad-faced, handsome fellow;[3]a yellow head of hair and a linen ornament round it[3]; a splendid, brown, [4]hooded[4] cloak, [5]with red ornamentation, [5] about him; a fine, bronze pin in his cloak; a leathern three-striped doublet next his skin;two gapped shoes between his two feet and the ground; a white-hazeldog-staff in one of his hands; a single-edged sword with ornaments ofwalrus-tooth on its hilt in the other. "Good, O gilla, " quoth Cuchulain, "these be the tokens of a herald. One of the heralds of Erin is he tobring me message and offer of parley. " [7-7] Stowe. [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1112. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1112. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1113. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1114. Now was macRoth arrived at the place where Laeg was, "[6]How now[6]! Whatis thy title as vassal, O gilla? "macRoth asked. "Vassal am I to the youthup yonder, " the gilla made answer. MacRoth came to the place whereCuchulain was. [7]Cuchulain was sitting in the snow there up to his twohips with nothing about him . . . His mantle. [7] "[8]How now[8]! What is thyname as vassal, O warrior?" asked macRoth. "Vassal am I to Conchobar sonof Fachtna Fathach, [9]son of the High King of this province. "[9] "Hast notsomething, [10]a name[10] more special than that?" "Tis enough for thenonce, " answered Cuchulain. "Haply, thou knowest where I might find thatfamous Cuchulain of whom the men [W. 1729. ] of Erin clamour now on thisforay?" "What wouldst thou say to him that thou wouldst not to me?" askedCuchulain. "To parley with him am I come on the part of Ailill and Medb, with terms and friendly intercourse for him. " "What terms hast thou broughtwith thee for him?" "The milch-kine and the bondwomen of the booty he shallhave, and for him to hold back his staff-sling from the hosts, for notpleasant is the thunder-feat he works every evening upon them. " "Eventhough the one thou seekest were really at hand, he would not accept theproposals thou askest. " "[1]How so, then, " said macRoth[1]; "for theUlstermen, as amends for their honour and in reprisal for injuries andsatires and hindrances [2]and for bands of troops and marauders, [2] willkill [3]for meat in the winter[3] the milch-cows ye have captured, shouldthey happen to have no yeld cattle. And, what is more, they will bringtheir bondwomen to bed to them, and thus will grow up a base progeny on theside of the mothers in the land of Ulster, [4]and loath I am to leave afterme such a disgrace on the men of Ulster. [4] [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1116-1118. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1120. [1] H. 2. 17. [2] H. 2. 17. [3] LU. And YBL. 1135. [4] H. 2. 17. MacRoth went his way back [5]to the camp of the men of Erin to where Aililland Medb and Fergus were. [5] "What! Didst thou not find him?" Medbasked. "Verily, [6]I know not, but[6] I found a surly, angry, hateful, wrathful gilla [7]in the snow[7] betwixt Fochain and the sea. Sooth to say, I know not if he were Cuchulain. " "Hath he accepted these proposals [8]fromthee?"[8] "Nay then, he hath not. " And macRoth related [9]unto them all hisanswer, [9] the reason why he did not accept them. "It was he himself withwhom thou spakest, " said Fergus. [5] H. 2. 17. [6] H. 2. 17. [7] H. 2. 17. [8] Stowe. [9] Stowe. "Another offer shall be made him, " said Medb. "What is the offer?"asked Ailill. "There shall be given to him [W. 1747. ] the yeld cattleand the noblest of the captive women of the booty, and his sling shallbe checked from the hosts, for not pleasant is the thunder-feat heworks on them every evening. " "Who should go make this covenant?"[1]said they. [1] "Who but macRoth [2]the king's envoy, "[2] [3]saidevery one. [3] "Yea, I will go, " said macRoth, "because this time Iknow him. " [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] Stowe. [4]Thereupon[4] macRoth [5]arose and[5] came to parley with Cuchulain. "Toparley with thee am I come this time [6]with other terms, [6] for I wis itis thou art the renowned Cuchulain. " "What hast thou brought with theenow?" [7]Cuchulain asked. [7] "What is dry of the kine and what is noblestof the captives [8]shalt thou get, [8] and hold thy staff-sling [LL. Fo. 71a. ]from the men of Erin and suffer the men of Erin to go to sleep, for notpleasant is the thunder-feat thou workest upon them every evening. " "Iaccept not that offer, because, as amends for their honour, the Ulstermenwill kill the dry cattle. For the men of Ulster are honourable men and theywould remain wholly without dry kine and milch-kine. They would bring theirfree women ye have captured to the querns and to the kneading-troughs andinto bondage and [9]other[9] serfdom [10]besides. [10] [11]This would be adisgrace. [11] Loath I should be to leave after me this shame in Ulster, that slave-girls and bondmaids should be made of the daughters of kings andprinces of Ulster. " "Is there any offer at all thou wilt accept this time?"[12]said macRoth[12] "Aye, but there is, " answered Cuchulain. "Then wiltthou tell me the offer?" asked macRoth. "By my word, " Cuchulain madeanswer, "'tis not I that will tell you. " "It is a question, then, " saidmacRoth. "If there be among you in the camp, " said Cuchulain, "one thatknows the terms I demand, let [W. 1766. ] him inform you, [1]and I will abidethereby. "[1] "And if there be not?"[2] said macRoth. "If there be not, "said Cuchulain, [2] "let no one come near me any more with offers or withfriendly intercourse [3]or concerning aught other injunction, [3] for, whosoever may come, it will be the term of his life!" [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] Stowe. MacRoth came back [4]to the camp and station of the men of Erin, to whereAilill, Medb, and Fergus were, [4] and Medb asked his tidings. "Didst thoufind him?" Medb asked. "In truth, I found him, " macRoth replied. "Hath heaccepted [5]the terms?"[5] "He hath not accepted, " replied macRoth. "[6]Howso;" said Ailill, [6] "is there an offer he will accept?" "There is one, hesaid, " [7]answered macRoth. [7] "Hath he made known to thee this offer?""This is his word, " said macRoth, "that he himself would not disclose it toye. " "'Tis a question, then, " said Medb. "But" (macRoth continued), "shouldthere be one in our midst that knows his terms, that one would tell it tome. " "And if there be not, " [8]said Ailill. "And if there be not, "[8](answered macRoth), "let no one go seek him any more. But, there is onething I promise [9]thee, "[9] said macRoth; "even though the kingdom of Erinwere [10]given me[10] for it, I for one would not go [11]on these same legsto that place[11] to parley with him [12]again. "[12] [13]"Belike, Fergusknows, " quoth Ailill. [13] Therewith Medb looked at Fergus. "What are theterms yonder man demands, O Fergus? "Medb asked. [14]"I know what the manmeant to disclose. [14] I see no advantage at all for ye in the terms hedemands, " Fergus replied. "[15]But[15] what are those terms?" askedMedb. "[16]Not difficult to say, " replied Fergus. [16] "That a singlechampion of [W. 1782. ] the men of Erin [1]be sent[1] to fight [2]andcontend[2] with him every day. The while he slayeth that man, the army willbe permitted to continue its march. Then, when he will have slain that man, another warrior shall be sent to meet him on the ford. Either that, or themen of Erin shall halt and camp there till sunrise's bright hour in themorning. [3]And, by the ford whereon his single-handed battle and fighttakes place, the cattle shall not be taken by day or by night, to see ifthere come to him help from the men of Ulster. And I wonder, " continuedFergus, "how long it will be till they come out of their 'Pains. '[3][4]Whatever Ulstermen are injured or wounded nearby him, your leeches shallheal them and ye shall not be paid for the price of their healing. Whateverdaughter of kings or of princes of the men of Erin shall love him, ye shallbring her to him together with her purchase and bride-price. [4] Andfurther, Cuchulain's food and clothing shall be provided by you, [5]so longas he will be[5] on this expedition. " [6]"Good, O Fergus, "[6] askedAilill, [a] [7]"will he abate aught of these terms?" "In sooth, will he, "replied Fergus; "namely, he will not exact to be fed and clothed by you, but of himself will provide food and clothing. "[7] [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] Stowe and H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] Stowe. [12-12] Stowe. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [14-14] LU. And YBL. 1138. [15-15] H. 2. 17. [16-16] H. 2. 17. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1140-1143. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] Stowe and H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [a] 'Medb, ' H. 2. 17. [7-7] H. 2. 17. "By our conscience, " said Ailill, "this is a grievous proposal. " "What heasks is good, " replied Medb; "and he shall obtain those terms, for we deemit easier to bear that he should have one of our warriors every day thana hundred every night. " "Who will go and make known those terms toCuchulain?" "Who, then, but Fergus?" replied Medb. "[8]Come now, O Fergus, "said Medb; "take upon thee to fulfil and make good those terms to him. "[8]"Nevermore!" said Fergus. "Why not?" asked Ailill. [9]"I fear ye willnot make true and fulfil them for [W. 1792. ] me. " "They will truly befulfilled, " said Medb. [9] (Then said Fergus:) "Bonds and covenants, pledgesand bail shall be given for abiding by those terms and for their fulfilmenttowards Cuchulain. " "I abide by it, " said Medb, and she fast bound Fergusto them in like manner. [8-8] H. 2. 17 [9-9] H. 2. 17. * * * * * [Page 115] X [1]THE VIOLENT DEATH OF ETARCUMUL[1] [W. 1798. ] Fergus' horses were brought and his chariot was hitched [2]andFergus set forth on that errand. [2] And two horses were brought forEtarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn, a soft youth of the people of Medband of Ailill. [3]Now Etarcumul followed Fergus. [3] "Whither goest thou?"Fergus demanded. "We go with thee, " Etarcumul made answer. [4]"And whygoest thou with me?" asked Fergus. [4] "To behold the form and appearance ofCuchulain, and to gaze upon him, [5]for he is unknown to me. "[5] "Wilt thoudo my bidding, " said Fergus, "thou wilt in no wise go thither. " "Why shallI not, pray?" [6]"I would not have thee go, " said Fergus; "and it is notout of hatred of thee, only I should be loath to have combat between theeand Cuchulain. [6] Thy light-heartedness, [7]thy haughtiness and thypride[7] and thine overweeningness (I know), but (I also know) thefierceness and valour and hostility, the [8]violence and vehemence[8] ofthe youth against whom thou goest, [9]even Cuchulain. [9] And methinks yewill have contention before ye part. [10]No good will come from yourmeeting. "[10] "Art thou not able to come between us [11]to protect me?"[11][W. 1806. ] "I am, to be sure, " Fergus answered, "provided thou thyself seeknot the combat[1] and treat not what he says with contempt. "[1] "I will notseek it, " [2]said Etarcumul, [2] "till the very day of doom!" [1-1] LU. Fo. 68a, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1145. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1145. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1147-1149. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1149. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1150. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1150. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1152. [2-2] Stowe and H. 2. 17. Then they went their ways [3]in two chariots to Delga, [3] to come up toCuchulain where Cuchulain was between Fochain and the sea. [4]There it isthat he was that day, with his back to the pillar-stone at Crich Rois, [4]playing draughts with Laeg, [5]to wit, his charioteer. [5] [6]The back ofhis head was turned towards them that approached and Laeg faced them. [6]And not a [7]living[7] thing entered the [8]entire[8] plain without Laegperceiving it and, notwithstanding, he continued to win every other game ofdraughts from Cuchulain. "A lone warrior cometh towards us [9]over theplain, [9] [10]my master[10] Cucuc, " spake Laeg. "What manner of warrior?"queried Cuchulain. [11]"A fine, large chariot is there, " said he. [11][12]"But what sort of chariot?"[12] "As large as one of the chief mountainsthat are highest on a great plain appears to me [LL. Fo. 71b. ] the chariotthat is under the warrior; [13]and I would liken to the battlements of oneof the vast, royal seats of the province the chariot that is in thetrappings of those horses;[13] as large as one of the noble trees on a mainfort's green meseems the curly, tressed, fair-yellow, all-golden hairhanging loose around the man's head; a purple mantle fringed with thread ofgold [14]wrapped[14] around him; a golden, ornamented brooch in the mantle[15]over his breast;[15] [16]a bright-shining, hooded shirt, with redembroidery of red gold trussed up on his white [W. 1819. ] skin;[16] a broadand grey-shafted lance, [1]perforated from _mimasc_[a] to 'horn, '[1]flaming red in his hand; over him, a bossed, plaited shield, [2]curved, with an engraved edge of silvered bronze, [2] [3]with applied ornaments ofred gold thereon, [3] and a boss of red gold; a lengthy sword, as long asthe oar[4] of a huge currach [5]on a wild, stormy night, [5] [6]restingon the two thighs[6] of the great haughty warrior that is within thechariot. [4]" [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1153. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] LL. , in the margin. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1154-1155. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [14-14] H. 2. 17. [15-15] Stowe. [16-16] H. 2. 17. [a] Some part of the spear. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1159. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1158. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] Following Windisch's emendation of the text. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1160. "Holla! Welcome the coming of this guest to us!" cried Cuchulain. "We knowthe man; it is my master Fergus that cometh hither. [7]Empty is the greatpaddle that my master Fergus carries, " said Cuchulain; "for there is nosword in its sheath but a sword of wood. For I have heard, " Cuchulaincontinued, "that Ailill got a chance at him and Medb as they lay, and hetook away Fergus' sword from him and gave it to his charioteer to take careof, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath. "[7] [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1160-1165. "Yet another single chariot-fighter I see coming towards us. With fulnessof skill and beauty and splendour his horses speed. " [8]"A young, tendergilla in armour is in the chariot. [8]" "One of the youths of the men ofErin is he, O my master Laeg, " responded Cuchulain. "To scan my appearanceand form is that man come, for I am renowned amongst them in the midst oftheir camp, [9]and they know me not at all. "[9] [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] H. 2. 17. Fergus came up [10]to where Cuchulain was[10] and he sprang from thechariot, and Cuchulain bade him [11]a hearty[11] welcome. [12]"Welcome tothine arrival and thy coming, O my master Fergus!" cried Cuchulain; "and anight's [W. 1831. ] lodging shalt thou have here this night. "[12] [1]"Thyhospitality and eke thy welcome[1] I take for true, " Fergus responded. "Verily, it is truly meant for thee, " said Cuchulain; "for comes there abrace of birds into the plain, thou shalt have a wild goose with half theother. If fish rise to the river-mouths, [2]to the stones or waterfalls, [2]thou shalt have a salmon with as much again. Thou shalt have a handful ofwatercress and a handful of sea-grass and a handful of laver [3]and a drinkfrom the sand[3] [4]afterwards. [4] If thou hast a fight or combat [5]withwarrior before thee, [5] I myself will go in thy stead to the ford. [6]Iwill bear the fight that thou mayest return safe to the camp and the fortof the men of Erin on the morrow, [6] [7]and thou shalt lie on a litter offresh rushes till heavy sleep and slumber come on thee, [7] [8]and I willwatch and guard thee as long as thou sleepest. "[8] "Well, then, [9]mayestthou have victory and blessing, O fosterling, " said Fergus. [9] "We know ofwhat sort is thy hospitality on this occasion, on the Cow-spoil of Cualnge. [10]But, not to claim that are we come, [10] [11]a night's hospitality ofthee, but to fulfil and make good the terms thou askest. [11] As for thiscompact which thou hast asked of the men of Erin, single-handed combat withone man, thou shalt have it. It is for that I am come, to bind theethereto, and do thou take it upon thee. " "I pledge myself truly, " saidCuchulain, [13]provided fair play and single-handed combat be granted tome. [13] "And, O, my master Fergus, [14]do thou take upon thee the pact, "said Cuchulain. "I bind myself to it, " replied Fergus. [14] [W. 1841. ] And nolonger than that did he remain in parley, lest the men of Erin should saythey were betrayed or deserted by Fergus for his disciple. Fergus' twohorses were brought and his chariot was harnessed and he went back. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [1-1] H. 2. 17, and, similarly, Stowe. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1170 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] Reading with Stowe. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10-10 Stowe. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [14-14] H. 2. 17. Etarcumul tarried behind gazing for a long time at Cuchulain. "At whatstarest thou, gilla?" asked Cuchulain. "I look at thee, " said Etarcumul. "In truth then, thou hast not far to look, " said Cuchulain. [1]"There isno need of straining thine eye for that; not far from thee within sight, thine eye seeth what is not smaller than I nor bigger. [1] If thou butknewest how angered is the little creature thou regardest, myself, to wit!And how then do I appear unto thee gazing upon me?" "Thou pleasest me asthou art; a comely, [2]shapely, [2] wonderful, beautiful youth thou art, with brilliant, striking, various feats. Yet as for rating thee wheregoodly warriors are or forward youths or heroes of bravery or sledges ofdestruction, we count thee not nor consider thee at all. [3]I know notwhy thou shouldst be feared by any one. I behold nothing of terror orfearfulness or of the overpowering of a host in thee. So, a comely youthwith arms of wood and with showy feats is all thou art!"[3] [4]"Though thourevilest me, "[4] said Cuchulain, "it is a surety for thee that thou camestfrom the camp under the protection of Fergus, [5]as thou well knowest. [5]For the rest, I swear by my gods whom I worship, were it not for the honourof Fergus, it would be only bits of thy bones and shreds of thy limbs, [6]thy reins drawn and thy quarters scattered[6] that would be brought backto the camp [7]behind thy horses and chariot!"[7] "But threaten me nolonger [W. 1858. ] in this wise, [1]Cuchulain[1]!" [2]cried Etarcumul;[2]"for the [3]wonderful[3] terms thou didst exact of the men of Erin, [4]thatfair play and[4] combat with one man [5]should be granted thee, [5] noneother of the men of Erin but mine own self will come to-morrow [6]at morn'searly hour on the ford[6] to attack thee. " [1-1] Reading with H. 2. 17. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1178-1180. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1181. [5-5] Stowe; LL. Reads 'I know. ' [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1182-1183. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1185. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. "Come out, then, " [7]said Cuchulain, [7] "and howso early thou comest, thouwilt find me here. I will not fly before thee. [8]Before no man have I putfoot in flight till now on the Plunder of the Kine of Cualnge and neitherwill I fly before thee!"[8] [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. Etarcumul returned [9]from Methè and Cethè, [9] and began to talk with hisdriver. "I must needs fight with Cuchulain to-morrow, gilla, " saidEtarcumul, [10]"for I gave my word to go. "[10] "'Tis true, thou didst, "quoth the charioteer. [LL. Fo. 72a. ] "Howbeit, I know not wilt thou fulfilit. " "But what is better [11]for us, [11] to fulfil it to-morrow orforthwith to-night?" "To our thinking, " said the gilla, "albeit no victoryis to be won by fighting to-morrow, there is still less to be gained byfighting to-night, for thy combat [12]and hurt[12] is the nearer. " "[13]Bethat as it may, " said he[13]; "turn the [14]horses and[14] chariot backagain [15]from the hill[15] for us, gilla, [16]till we go to the ford ofcombat, [16] for I swear by the gods whom I worship, I will not return[17]to the camp[17] till the end of life and time, till I bring with me thehead of that young wildling, [18]even[18] the head of Cuchulain, for atrophy!" [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1188. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [14-14] H. 2. 17. [15-15] LU. And YBL. 1190. [16-16] H. 2. 17. [17-17] Stowe. [18-18] Stowe. The charioteer wheeled the chariot again towards the [W. 1871. ] ford. Theybrought the left[a] board to face the pair in a line with the ford. Laegmarked [1]this and he cried[1] [2]to Cuchulain[2]: ("Wist thou) the lastchariot-fighter that was here a while ago, O Cucuc?" "What of him?" askedCuchulain. "He has brought his left board towards us in the direction ofthe ford. " "It is Etarcumul, O gilla, who seeks me in combat. [3]I owe norefusal, [3] but far from pleased am I thereat [4]that he should come andseek combat of me. And unwelcome is his coming, [4] because of the honour ofmy foster-father [5]Fergus[5] under whom he came forth from the camp [6]ofthe men of Erin. [6] But not that I would protect him do I thus. Fetch me myarms, gilla, to the ford. [7]Bring me my horse and my chariot after me. [7]I deem it no honour for myself if [8]the fellow[8] reaches the ford beforeme. " And straightway Cuchulain betook himself to the ford, and he bared hissword over his fair, well-knit spalls and he was ready on the ford to awaitEtarcumul. [a] A sign of hostility and an insult. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1191. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1192. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. Then, too, came Etarcumul. "What seekest thou, gilla?" demanded Cuchulain. "Battle with thee I seek, " replied Etarcumul. "Hadst thou been advised byme, " said Cuchulain, "thou wouldst never have come. [9]I do not desire whatthou demandest of me. [9] [10]I have no thought of fighting or contendingwith thee, Etarcumul. [10] Because of the honour of Fergus under whom thoucamest out of the camp [11]and station of the men of Erin, [11] and notbecause I would spare thee, do I behave thus. " [12]"Thou hast no choicebut to fight, " replied Etarcumul. [12] Thereupon Cuchulain gave him along-blow whereby [W. 1886. ] he cut away the sod that was under the soles ofhis feet, so that he was stretched out like a sack on his back, and [1]hislimbs in the air[1] and the sod on his belly. Had Cuchulain wished it itis two pieces he might have made of him. [2]"Hold, fellow. [2] Off with theenow, for I have given thee warning. [3]It mislikes me to cleanse my handsin thee. I would have cloven thee into many parts long since but forFergus. "[3] "I will not go. We will fight on, " said Etarcumul. Cuchulaindealt him a well-aimed edge-stroke. [4]With the edge of his sword[4] hesheared the hair from him from poll to forehead, from one ear to the other, as if it were with a light, keen razor he had been shorn. [5]Not a scratchof his skin gave blood. [5] [6]"Hold, fellow. [6] Get thee home now, " saidCuchulain, "for a laughing-stock I have made of thee. " "I go not, "[7]rejoined Etarcumul. [7] "We will fight to the end, till I take thy headand thy spoils and boast over thee, or till thou takest my head and myspoils and boastest over me!" "So let it be, what thou saidst last, thatit shall be. I will take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee!"[8]When now the churl became troublesome and persistent, [8] Cuchulain[9]sprang from the ground, so that he alighted on the edge of Etarcumul'sshield, and he[9] dealt him a cleaving-blow on the crown of the head, sothat it drove to his navel. He dealt him a second crosswise stroke, so thatat the one time the three portions of his body came to the ground. Thusfell Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1194-1195. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 1195. [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1197-1199. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1204. [5-5] H. 2 17. [6-6] H. 2 17. [7-7] Stowe and H. 2. 17. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1206-1207. [9-9] H. 2. 17. [10]Then Etarcumul's charioteer went his way after Fergus, [10] and Fergusknew not that the combat had been. For thus was his wont: [11]From the dayFergus took warrior's arms in hand, [11] he never for aught looked back, whether at [W. 1904. ] sitting or at rising or when travelling or walking, inbattle or fight or combat, lest some one might say it was out of fear helooked back, but ever he looked at the thing that was before and besidehim. [1]Fergus saw the chariot go past him and a single man in it. [1][2]And when[2] Etarcumul's squire came up abreast of Fergus, Fergus asked, "But, where is thy lord, gilla?" "He fell a while since at the ford by thehand of Cuchulain, " the gilla made answer. "That indeed was not fair!"exclaimed Fergus, "for that elf-like sprite to wrong me in him that cameunder my safeguard [3]and protection[3] [4]from the camp and fort of themen of Erin. [4] Turn the chariot for us, gilla, " cried Fergus, "that we maygo to [5]the ford of fight and combat[5] for a parley with Cuchulain. " [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1208. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17. [5-5] H. 2. 17. Thereupon the driver wheeled the chariot. They fared thither towards theford. [6]Fergus turned to rebuke Cuchulain. [6] "How darest thou offend me, thou wild, [7]perverse, little[7] elf-man, " cried Fergus, "in him thatcame under my safeguard and protection? [8]Thou thinkest my club short. "[8][LL. Fo. 72b. ] [9]"Be not wroth with me, my master Fergus, " said Cuchulain. [9] "After the nurture and care thou didst bestow on me [10]and the Ulstermenbestowed and Conchobar[10] tell me, which wouldst thou hold better, [11]forthe Ulstermen to be conquered without anyone to punish them but me aloneand[11] for him to triumph and boast over me, or for me to triumph andboast over him? And yet more, [12]of his own fault he fell. [12] Ask his owngilla which of us was in fault in respect of the other; [13]it was noneother but he. [13][a] [1]Reproach me not, O Fergus my master. " He bent downso that Fergus' chariot went past him thrice. "Ask his charioteer, is it Ithat have caused it?" "Not thou indeed, " answered his charioteer. "Hesaid, " Cuchulain went on, "he would not go till either he took my head orhe left me his own. "[1] [2]Then Etarcumul's gilla related to Fergus how itall befel. When Fergus heard that, what he said was:[2] [W. 1921. ] "Lieferto me what thou hast done, [3]O fosterling, " said Fergus, "that Etarcumulis slain, and[3] a blessing on the hand that smote him, [4]for it is hethat was overweening. "[4] [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1209. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1210. Probably a proverbial expression. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1210. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] H. 2. 17. [12-12] H. 2. 17. [13-13] H. 2. 17. [a] Lines 1212-1216 LU. And YBL. (Edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe) are omitted in the translation. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1216-1220. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1222. So then they bound two spancels about the ankle-joints of Etarcumul's feetand he was dragged along behind his horses and chariot. At every rock thatwas rough for him, his lungs and his liver were left on the stones and therugged places. At every place that was smooth for him, his skilfullysevered limbs came together again round the horses. In this wise he wasdragged through the camp to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb:"There's your young warrior for you, " cried Fergus, "for 'Every restorationtogether with its restitution' is what the law saith. "[a] Medb came forthto the door of her tent and she raised her [5]quick, splitting, [5] loudvoice [6]of a warrior. [6] Quoth Medb. "Truly, methought that great was theheat and the wrath of this young hound [7]on leaving us awhile since[7] atthe beginning of the day as he went from the camp. [8]It is no fortune fora tender youth that falls on thee now. [8] We had thought that the honourunder which he went, even the honour of Fergus, was not the honour of adastard!" "What hath crazed the virago and wench?" cried Fergus. "Goodlack, [W. 1935. ] is it fitting for the mongrel to seek the Hound of battlewhom [1]the warriors and champions[1] of four of the five grand provincesof Erin dare not approach nor withstand? What, I myself was glad to escapewhole from him!" [a] A law maxim. Since Etarcumul had broken his promise not to fight, Fergus deems himself absolved from the spirit of his engagement to bring back Etarcumul but fulfils the letter of it. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [1-1] H. 2. 17. [2]Etarcumul's grave was then dug and his tombstone erected; his name waswritten in ogam and they raised the keen over him. Cuchulain shot not fromhis sling at them that night[2] [3]and the women and maidens were broughtover to him and half the cattle, and they brought provision to him byday. [3] In this manner fell Etarcumul and such was the combat of Etarcumulwith Cuchulain. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1230-1232. [3-3] LU. Fo. 69, between the columns. * * * * * [Page 126] XI [1]THE SLAYING OF NATHCRANTAIL[1] [2]Then the men of Erin held counsel who would be fit to fight and contendwith Cuchulain and drive him off from the men of Erin. [2] [3]"What man haveye to face Cuchulain to-morrow?" asked Lugaid. "They will give him to theeto-morrow, " answered Manè son of Ailill. "We find no one to meet him, "quoth Medb; "let us have a truce with him then till a man be found tooppose him. " This they obtain. "Whither will ye turn, " asked Ailill, "to find the man to oppose Cuchulain?" "There is not in Erin, " Medbanswered, "one that could be got to meet him unless Curoi macDarè come, orNathcrantail the warrior. " A man of Curoi's people was in the tent. "Curoiwill not come, " said he; "he weens enough of his people have come!" "Let amessage be sent then for Nathcrantail. "[3] [W. 1941. ] Then arose a hugewarrior of Medb's people, Nathcrantail by name. [4]Manè Andoe ('theUnslow') goes to him. They tell him their message. "Come with us for thesake of the honour of Connacht. " "I will not go, " said he, "unless theygive Finnabair to me. " Afterwards he goes with them. They bring his armourin a car from the east of Connacht and place it in the camp. [4] [5]Then wasNathcrantail called into the tent of Ailill and Medb. [5] [6]"Wherefore am Isummoned to ye?" Nathcrantail asked. "It would please us well, " Medbreplied, "werest thou to fight and contend with Cuchulain on the ford andward him off from us at the morning hour early on the morrow. [6] [1]Thoushalt have Finnabair, " said Medb, "for going to fight yonder man. " "I willdo it, " said he. [1] [2]He engaged to undertake the battle and combat andthat night be made ready, and early on the morrow Nathcrantail arose forthe battle and combat and he took his warlike implements with him to thefight, and though early he arose, Cuchulain arose still earlier. [2][3]That night Lugaid came to Cuchulain. "Nathcrantail comes to meet theeto-morrow. Alas for thee, thou wilt not withstand him. " "That matters not, "Cuchulain made answer. [3][a] [1-1] Stowe, and LU. Fo. 69a, in the margin. [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1233-1242 and Eg. 1782. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1242-1246. [5-5] H. 2. 17. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1246-1247. [2-2] H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1248-1250. [a] Here follows one line (1251 in LU. , edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, and almost similarly in YBL. ) which seems to refer to some saying of Cuchulain's about Nathcrantail which we cannot locate. [4]On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp[4] and he came toattack Cuchulain. [W. 1942. ] He did not deign to bring along arms but thricenine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. Andthere before him on the pond was Cuchulain [5]a-fowling and his chariothard by him, [5][b] and there was no shelter whatever. [6]And whenNathcrantail perceived Cuchulain[6] he [7]straightway[7] cast a dart atCuchulain. Cuchulain sprang [8]from the middle of the ground[8] till hecame on the tip of the dart. [9]And he performed a feat on the point ofthe dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds. [9] And againNathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart andCuchulain sprang on the point of the second [W. 1951. ] dart and so on tillhe was on the point of the last dart. It was then, [1]when Nathcrantailthrew the ninth dart, [1] that the flock of birds [2]which Cuchulainpursued[2] on the plain [3]flew away from Cuchulain. [3] Cuchulain chasedthem even as any bird [4]of the air. [4] [5]He hopped on the points of thedarts like a bird from each dart to the next, pursuing the birds[5] thatthey might not escape him but that they might leave behind a portion offood for the night. For this is what sustained and served Cuchulain, fishand fowl and game on the Cualnge Cow-spoil. Something more remains to betold: Nathcrantail deemed full surely that Cuchulain went from him in routof defeat and flight. And he went his way till he came to the door of thetent of Ailill and Medb and he lifted up his loud voice [6]of a warrior[6]:"That famous Cuchulain that ye so talk of ran and fled in defeat [7]beforeme when he came to me[7] in the morning. " "We knew, " spake Medb, "it wouldbe even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that thisbeardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, [8]Nathcrantailto wit, [8] came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!" [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1253. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1255. [b] Here follow lines 1945-1946, edition of Windisch, which are unintelligible and have been omitted in the translation. [6-6] H. 2. 17. [7-7] H. 2. 17. [8-8] H. 2. 17. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1256-1257. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1258. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1258. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1259-1260. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] Stowe. And Fergus heard that, and Fergus [9]and the Ulstermen[9] were sore angeredthat any one should boast that Cuchulain had fled. And Fergus addressedhimself to Fiachu, Feraba's son, that he should go to rebuke Cuchulain. "And tell [LL. Fo. 73a. ] him it is an honour for him to oppose the hosts foras long or as short a space as he does deeds of valour upon them, but thatit were fitter for him to hide himself than to fly before any one of theirwarriors, [10]forasmuch as the dishonour would be not greater for him thanfor the rest of Ulster. "[10] [9-9] LU. 1264. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1268. [W. 1969. ] Thereupon Fiachu went to address Cuchulain. Cuchulain bade himwelcome. "I trow that welcome to be truly meant, but it is for counsel withthee I am come from thy fosterer Fergus. And he has said, 'It would be aglory for thee to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as thoudoest valiantly [1]with them;[1] but it would be fitter for thee to hidethyself than to fly before any one of their warriors!'" "How now, who makesthat boast among ye?" Cuchulain asked. "Nathcrantail, of a surety, " Fiachuanswered. "How may this be? Dost not know, thou and Fergus and the noblesof Ulster, that I slay no charioteers nor heralds nor unarmed people? Andhe bore no arms but a spit of wood. And I would not slay Nathcrantail untilhe had arms. And do thou tell him, let him come here early in the morning, [2]till he is between Ochainè and the sea, and however early he comes, hewill find me here[2] and I will not fly before him!" [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1273-1275. [3]Fiachu went back to the camp[3] [4]and to the station of the men ofErin, and he bound Nathcrantail to go to the ford of combat on themorrow. They bided there that night, [4] and it seemed long to Nathcrantailtill day with its light came for him to attack Cuchulain. He set out earlyon the morrow to attack Cuchulain. Cuchulain arose early [5]and came to hisplace of meeting[5] and his wrath bided with him on that day. And [6]afterhis night's vigil, [6] with an angry cast he threw his cloak around him, sothat it passed over the pillar-stone [7]near by, the size of himself, [7]and snapped the pillar-stone off from the ground between himself and hiscloak. And he was aware of naught because of the measure of anger that hadcome on and raged in him. Then, too, came Nathcrantail. [8]His arms werebrought with him on a wagon, [8] and he spake, "Where is [W. 1987. ]this Cuchulain?" shouted Nathcrantail. "Why, over yonder [1]near thepillar-stone before thee, "[1] answered Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar. "Not such was the shape wherein he appeared to me yesterday, " saidNathcrantail. "Repel yon warrior, " quoth Cormac, "and it will be the samefor thee as if thou repellest Cuchulain!" [2]"Art thou Cuchulain?" "Andif I am?" answered Cuchulain. "If thou be truly he, " said Nathcrantail, "Iwould not bring a lambkin's head to the camp. I will not take thy head, thehead of a beardless boy. " "It is not I at all, " said Cuchulain; "go findhim around the hill!" Cuchulain hastens to Laeg. "Rub a false beard on me;I cannot get the warrior to fight with me beardless. " This was done forhim. He goes to meet Nathcrantail on the hill. "Methinks that morefitting. Now fight with me fairly, " said Nathcrantail. "Thou shalt have thywish, if only we know it, " Cuchulain made answer. "I will make a cast atthee, " said Nathcrantail, "and thou shalt not avoid it. " "I will not avoidit except on high, " said Cuchulain. Nathcrantail makes a cast at him. Cuchulain springs on high before it. "'Tis ill of thee to avoid the cast, "cried Nathcrantail. "Avoid then my cast on high!" quoth Cuchulain. Cuchulain lets the spear fly at him and it went on high, so that from aboveit alighted on Nathcrantail's crown and through him it went to theground. "Alas, " said he, "the best warrior in Erin art thou, " spakeNathcrantail. "Four and twenty sons have I in the camp. I will go and tellthem what hidden treasure I have and then return for thee to behead me, forI shall die if the spear be taken out of my head. " "It is well, " quothCuchulain; "thou shalt come back. " Then Nathcrantail returns to thecamp. They all come to meet him. "Where is the madman's head with thee?"[1]every one asks. [1] "Wait, ye warriors, till I tell my tale to my sonsand return to do battle with Cuchulain. "[2] [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Egerton 93 begins here. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1276. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1277. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1277-1278. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1279. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1281-1305. [1-1] LU. 1303. [W. 1992. ] Soon came Nathcrantail [3]to seek Cuchulain[3] and he made a widesweep with his sword at Cuchulain. [4]Cuchulain leaps on high, [4] so thatthe sword encountered the pillar of stone that was between Cuchulain andhis cloak, and the sword broke [5]atwain[5] on the pillar-stone. [6]ThenCuchulain became filled with rage, as he had been with the boys in Emain, and[6] he sprang from the ground and alighted on the top of the boss ofNathcrantail's shield and dealt him a side stroke over the upper edge ofthe shield, so that he struck off his head from his trunk. He raised hishand quickly again and gave him another blow on the top of the trunk sothat he cleft him in twain down to the ground. [7]His four severed partsfell to the ground. [7] Thus fell Nathcrantail slain by Cuchulain. WhereuponCuchulain spoke [8]the verse:--[8] "Now that Nathcrantail has fallen, [9]There will be increase of strife![9] Would that Medb had battle [10]now, [10] And the third part of the host!" [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1305. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1306. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1307. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1307-1308. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1310. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Stowe, and LU. And YBL. 1313. [10-10] Stowe, and YBL. And LU. 1313. * * * * * [Page 132] XII [1]THE FINDING OF THE BULL[1] [W. 2007. ] Thereafter [2]on the morrow[2] Medb proceeded with a third of thehost of the men of Erin about her, [3]and she set forth by the highroad ofMidluachair[3] till she reached Dûn Sobairche in the north. And Cuchulainpressed heavily on Medb that day. [4]Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bulland Cuchulain pursued her. Now on the road to Midluachair she had gone toinvade Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dûn Sobairche. [4] [5]There it is thatCuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib. [5] Cuchulain killed FerTaidle, whence cometh Taidle; and [6]as they went northwards[6] he killedthe macBuachalla ('the Herdsman's sons') [7]at their cairn, [7] whencecometh Carn macBuachalla; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence LettreLuasc ('the Watery Slopes of Luasc'); and he slew Bobulge in his marsh, whence Grellach ('the Trampled Place') of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne onhis hill, whence Delga ('the Points') of Murthemne; [8]he slew Nathcoirptheat his trees, Cruthen on his ford, Marc on his hill, Meille on his moundand Bodb in his tower. [8] It was afterwards then [W. 2016. ] that Cuchulainturned back from the north [1]to Mag Murthemni, [1] to protect and defendhis own borders and land, for dearer to him was [2]his own land andinheritance and belongings[2] than the land and territory and belongings ofanother. [1-1] Stowe, and LU. Fo. 70a. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1315-1317. Eg. 93 mentions a number of places to which Cuchulain pursued Medb. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1341. [6-6] Eg. 93. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1343. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1342-1344. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1345. ] [2-2] Eg. 93. It was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce ('the men of Crannach')[3]from whom cometh Crannach in Murthemne;[3] to wit, the two Artinne andthe two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, andDrucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Torc Glaisseand Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard. Cuchulain surprised them as they were pitching [LL. Fo. 73b. ] camp in advanceof all others--[4]ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were[4]--so thatthey fell by his hand. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1348. Then it was that Buide ('the Yellow') son of Ban Blai ('the White') from[5]Sliab Culinn ('Hollymount'), [5] the country of Ailill and Medb, andbelonging to the special followers of [6]Ailill and[6] Medb, met Cuchulain. Four and twenty[a] warriors [7]was their strength. [7] A [8]blue[8] mantleenwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careeringbefore them after he had been brought from Glenn na Samaisce ('Heifers'Glen') to Sliab Culinn, and fifty of his heifers with him. [9]Cuchulainadvances to meet them. [9] "Whence bring ye the drove, [10]ye men?"[10]Cuchulain asks. "From yonder mountain, " Buide answers. [11]"Where are itsherdsmen?" Cuchulain asks. "One is here where we found him, " the warrioranswers. Cuchulain made three leaps after them, seeking to speak [W. 2031. ]with them, as far as the ford. Then it was he spoke to the leader[11], "What is thine own name?" said Cuchulain. "One that neither loves thee norfears thee, " Buide made answer; "Buide son of Ban Blai am I, from thecountry of Ailill and Medb. " [1]"Wella-day, O Buide, " cried Cuchulain;"haste to the ford below that we exchange a couple of throws with eachother. " They came to the ford and exchanged a couple of throws there. [1]"Lo, here for thee this short spear, " said Cuchulain, and he casts thespear at him. It struck the shield over his belly, so that it shatteredthree ribs in his farther side after piercing his heart in his bosom. AndBuide son of Ban Blai fell [2]on the ford. [2] So that thence is Ath Buidi('Athboy') in Crich Roiss ('the land of Ross'). [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1318. [6-6] Stowe. [a] 'Sixty' is the number in LU. And YBL. ; 'eight' in Eg. 93. [7-7] Stowe and LU. And YBL. 1319. [8-8] Eg. 93. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1320. [10-10] Eg. 93. [11-11] LU. And YBL. 1322-1325. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] LU. And YBL 1328. For as long or as short a space as [3]these bold champions andbattle-warriors[3] were engaged in this work of exchanging their two shortspears--for it was not in a moment they had accomplished it--the Brown Bullof Cualnge was carried away in quick course and career [4]by the eightgreat men[4] to the camp [5]of the men of Erin[5] as swiftly as any beevecan be brought to a camp. [6]They opined then it would not be hard todeal with Cuchulain if only his spear were got from him. [6] From thisaccordingly came the greatest shame and grief and madness that was broughton Cuchulain on that hosting. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] Eg. 93. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1330-1331. As regards Medb: every ford [7]and every hill[7] whereon she stopped, AthMedba ('Medb's Ford') [8]and Dindgna Medba ('Medb's Hill')[8] is itsname. Every place wherein she pitched her tent, Pupall Medba ('Medb'sTent') is its name. Every spot she rested her horselash, Bili Medba('Medb's Tree') is its name. [7-7] LU. And YBL 1353. [8-8] LU. And YBL 1354. On this circuit Medb [9]turned back from the north after [W. 2047. ] she hadremained a fortnight laying waste the province[9] [1]and plundering theland of the Picts and of Cualnge and the land of Conall son of Amargin, [1]and having offered battle [2]one night[2] to Findmor ('the Fair-large')wife of Celtchar [3]son of Uthechar[3] at the gate of Dûn Sobairche; andshe slew Findmor and laid waste Dûn Sobairche; [5]and, after taking DûnSobairche from her, she brought fifty of [4]her[4] women into the provinceof Dalriada. [5] [6]Then she had them hanged and crucified. Whence comethMas na Righna ('Queen's Buttock') as the name of the hill, from theirhanging. [6] [9-9] LU. And YBL 1348-1349. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1351-1352. [6-6] Eg. 33. Then came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at theend of a long fortnight[a] to camp and station [7]at Fochard, [7] togetherwith Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull. [a] Omitting _ar mis_ (LL. ), which is not found in the other MSS. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1355. * * * * * [Page 136] XIIa THE DEATH OF FORGEMEN [W. 2054. ] And the bull's cowherd would not allow them [1]to carry off[1]the Brown Bull of Cualnge, so that they urged on the bull, beating shaftson shields, till they drove him into a narrow gap, and the herd trampledthe cowherd's body thirty feet into the ground, so that they made fragmentsand shreds of his body. Forgemen was the neatherd's name. [2]And this isthe name of the hill, Forgemen. [2] This then is the Death of Forgemen onthe Cattle-prey of Cualnge. [3]Now there was no peril to them that night solong as a man was got to ward off Cuchulain from them on the ford. [3] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1359. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1360-1361. * * * * * [Page 137] XIIb [1]HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST[1] [W. 2061. ] When the men of Erin had come together in one place, both Medband Ailill and the force that was bringing the bull to the camp andenclosure, they all declared Cuchulain would be no more valiant thananother [2]of the men of Erin[2] were it not for the wonderful little trickhe possessed, the spearlet of Cuchulain. Accordingly the men of Erindespatched from them Redg, Medb's[a] jester, to demand the light javelin[3]of Cuchulain. [3] [1-1] LU. Page 70b, in the margin. [2-2] Eg. 93. [a] 'Ailill's, ' LU. And YBL. 1332 and Eg. 1782. [3-3] Stowe. So Redg [4]came forward to where Cuchulain was and[4] asked for the littlejavelin, but Cuchulain did not give him the little javelin [5]at once[5];he did not deem it good and proper to yield it. [6]"Give me thy spear, "said the jester. "Nay then, I will not, " answered Cuchulain; "but I willgive thee treasure. " "I will not take it, " said the jester. Then he woundedthe jester because he would not accept from him what he had offered him. [6]Redg declared he would deprive Cuchulain of his honour [7]unless he got thelittle javelin. [7] Thereupon Cuchulain hurled the javelin at him, so thatit struck him in the nape of the neck[b] and fell out through his mouth onthe ground. And the only words Redg uttered were these, "This precious giftis readily [W. 2072. ] ours, " and his soul separated from his body at theford. Therefrom that ford is ever since called Ath Solom Shet ('Ford ofthe Ready Treasure'). And the copper of the javelin was thrown into theriver. Hence is Uman-Sruth ('Copperstream') ever after. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] Eg. 93. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1333-1336. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1337. [b] More literally, 'in the pit of his occiput. ' [1]"Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain, " says Ailill. "Let Lugaidgo to him, " one and all answer. Then Lugaid goes to parley with him. "Hownow do I stand with the host?" Cuchulain asks. "Disgraceful indeed is thething thou hast demanded of them, " Lugaid answers, "even this, that thoushouldst have thy women and maidens and half of thy kine. But more grievousthan all do they hold it that they themselves should be killed and thouprovisioned. " Every day there fell a man by Cuchulain till the end of a week. [2]Then[2]faith is broken with Cuchulain. Twenty are despatched at one time to attackhim and he destroys them all. "Go to him, O Fergus, " says Ailill, "that hemay vouchsafe us a change of place. " A while after this they proceed toCronech. These are they that fell in single combat with him in that place, to wit: the two Roth, the two Luan, two women-thieves, ten fools, tencup-bearers, the ten Fergus, the six Fedelm, the six Fiachu. Now these wereall killed by him in single combat. [2-2] Eg. 1782. When their tents were pitched by them in Cronech they discussed what theyhad best do with Cuchulain. "I know, " quoth Medb, "what is best here. Letsome one go to him from us for a sword-pact from him in respect of thehost, and he shall have half the cattle that are here. " This message theybring to him. "I will do it, " said Cuchulain, "provided the bond is notbroken by you[1] [3]to-morrow. [3]" [1-1] LU. 1362-1379. [3-3] Eg. 1782. * * * * * [Page 139] XIIc [1]HERE IS TOLD THE MEETING OF CUCHULAIN AND FINNABAIR[1] [2]"Let a message be sent to him, " said Ailill, "that Finnabair my daughterwill be bestowed on him, and for him to keep away from the hosts. " ManèAthramail ('Fatherlike') goes to him. But first he addresses himself toLaeg. "Whose man art thou?" spake Manè. Now Laeg made no answer. ThriceManè addressed him in this [3]same[3] wise. "Cuchulain's man, " Laeganswers, "and provoke me not, lest it happen I strike thy head off thee!""This man is mad, " quoth Manè as he leaves him. Then he goes to accostCuchulain. It was there Cuchulain had doffed his tunic, and the [4]deep[4]snow was around him where he sat, up to his belt, and the snow had melted acubit around him for the greatness of the heat of the hero. And Manèaddressed him three times in like manner, whose man he was? "Conchobar'sman, and do not provoke me. For if thou provokest me any longer I willstrike thy head off thee as one strikes off the head of a blackbird!" "Noeasy thing, " quoth Manè, "to speak to these two. " Thereupon Manè leavesthem and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb. [1-1] LU. Fo. 71a, in the margin. [2-2] LU. 1380-1414. [3-3] Eg. 1782. [4-4] Eg. 1782. "Let Lugaid go to him, " said Ailill, "and offer him the girl. " ThereuponLugaid goes and repeats this to Cuchulain. "O master Lugaid, " quothCuchulain, "it is a snare!" "It is the word of a king; he hath said it, "Lugaid answered; "there can be no snare in it. " "So be it, " said Cuchulain. Forthwith Lugaid leaves him and takes that answer to Ailill and Medb. "Letthe fool go forth in my form, " said Ailill, "and the king's crown on hishead, and let him stand some way off from Cuchulain lest he know him; andlet the girl go with him and let the fool promise her to him, and let themdepart quickly in this wise. And methinks ye will play a trick on him thus, so that he will not stop you any further till he comes with the Ulstermento the battle. " Then the fool goes to him and the girl along with him, and from afar headdresses Cuchulain. The Hound comes to meet him. It happened he knew bythe man's speech that he was a fool. A slingstone that was in his hand hethrew at him so that it entered his head and bore out his brains. He comesup to the maiden, cuts off her two tresses and thrusts a stone through hercloak and her tunic, and plants a standing-stone through the middle of thefool. Their two pillar-stones are there, even the pillar-stone of Finnabairand the pillar-stone of the fool. Cuchulain left them in this plight. A party was sent out from Ailill andMedb to search for their people, for it was long they thought they weregone, when they saw them in this wise. This thing was noised abroad by allthe host in the camp. Thereafter there was no truce for them withCuchulain. [2] [2-2] LU. 1380-1414. * * * * * [Page 141] XIId [1]HERE THE COMBAT OF MUNREMAR AND CUROI[1] [2]While the hosts were there in the evening they perceived that one stonefell on them coming from the east and another from the west to meet it. Thestones met one another in the air and kept falling between Fergus' camp, the camp of Ailill and the camp of Nera. This sport and play continued fromthat hour till the same hour on the next day, and the hosts spent the timesitting down, with their shields over their heads to protect them from theblocks of stones, till the plain was full of the boulders, whence comethMag Clochair ('the Stony Plain'). Now it happened it was Curoi macDarè didthis. He had come to bring help to his people and had taken his stand inCotal to fight against Munremar son of Gerrcend. [a] The latter had comefrom Emain Macha to succour Cuchulain and had taken his stand on Ard ('theHeight') of Roch. Curoi knew there was not in the host a man to competewith Munremar. These then it was who carried on this sport between them. The army prayed them to cease. Whereupon Munremar and Curoi made peace, andCuroi withdrew to his house and Munremar to Emain Macha and Munremar camenot again till the day of the battle. As for Curoi, he came not till thecombat of Ferdiad. [1-1] LU. Fo. 71b, in the margin. [a] Here a sheet is missing in Eg. 1782. [2-2] LU. 1415-1486. "Pray Cuchulain, " said Medb and Ailill, "that he suffer us to change ourplace. " This then was granted to them and the change was made. The 'Pains' of the Ulstermen left them then. When now they awoke from their'Pains, ' bands of them came continually upon the host to restrain it again. * * * * * [Page 143] XIIe [1]THE SLAUGHTER OF THE BOY-TROOP[1][a] Now the youths of Ulster discussed the matter among themselves in EmainMacha. "Alas for us, " said they, "that our friend Cuchulain has no one tosuccour him!" "I would ask then, " spake Fiachu Fulech ('the Bloody') son ofFerfebè and own brother to Fiachu[b] Fialdana ('the Generous-daring') sonof Ferfebè, "shall I have a company from you to go to him with help?" [1-1] LU. Fo. 71b, in the margin. [a] The LU. Version of the episode is given under XVIIa, page 184. [b] Fiachna, in LU. 1436. Thrice fifty youths accompany him with their play-clubs, and that was athird of the boy-troop of Ulster. The army saw them drawing near them overthe plain. "A great army approaches us over the plain, " spake Ailill Fergusgoes to espy them. "Some of the youths of Ulster are they, " said he, "andit is to succour Cuchulain they come. " "Let a troop go to meet them, " saidAilill, "unknown to Cuchulain; for if they unite with him ye will neverovercome them. " Thrice fifty warriors went out to meet them. They fell atone another's hands, so that not one of them got off alive of the number ofthe youths of Lia Toll. Hence is Lia ('the Stone') of Fiachu son ofFerfebè, for it is there that he fell. "Take counsel, " quoth Ailill; "inquire of Cuchulain about letting you gofrom hence, for ye will not go past him by force, now that his flame ofvalour has risen. " For it was usual with him, when his hero's flame arosein him, that his feet would turn back on him and his buttocks, before him, and the knobs of his calves would come on his shins, and one eye would bein his head and the other one out of his head. A man's head would have goneinto his mouth. There was not a hair on him that was not as sharp as thethorn of the haw, and a drop of blood was on each single hair. He wouldrecognize neither comrades nor friends. Alike he would strike them beforeand behind. Therefrom it was that the men of Connacht gave Cuchulain thename Riastartha ('the Contorted One'). * * * * * [Page 145] XIIf [1]THE SLAUGHTER OF THE KING'S BODYGUARD[1] "Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain, " said Ailill and Medb. Lugaidgoes to him and Cuchulain accords the truce. "Put a man for me on the fordto-morrow, " said Cuchulain. There happened to be with Medb six royalhirelings, to wit: six princes of the Clans of Deda, the three Dubs ('theBlacks') of Imlech, and the three Dergs ('the Reds') of Sruthair, byname. "Why should it not be for us, " quoth they, "to go and attackCuchulain?" So the next day they went and Cuchulain put an end to the sixof them. [2] [1-1] LU. Fo. 72b, in the margin. [2-2] See page 141, note 2. * * * * * [Page 146] XIII [1]THE COMBAT OF CÛR WITH CUCHULAIN[1] [W. 2076. ] The men of Erin discussed among themselves who of them would befit to attack [2]and contend with[2] Cuchulain, [LL. Fo. 74a. ] [3]and drivehim off from them on the ford at the morning-hour early on the morrow. [3]And what they all said was that Cûr ('the Hero') son of Da Loth should bethe one to attack him. For thus it stood with Cûr: No joy was it to be hisbedfellow or to live with him. [4]He from whom he drew blood is dead erethe ninth day. [4] And [5]the men of Erin[5] said: "Even should it be Cûrthat falls, a trouble [6]and care[6] would be removed from the hosts;[7]for it is not easy to be with him in regard to sitting, eating orsleeping. [7] Should it be Cuchulain, it would be so much the better. " Cûrwas summoned to Medb's tent. "For what do they want me?" Cûr asked. "Toengage with Cuchulain, " replied Medb, [8]"to do battle, and ward him offfrom us on the ford at the morning hour early on the morrow. "[8] [9]Cûrdeemed it not fitting to go and contend with a beardless boy. [9] "Little yerate our worth. Nay, but it is wonderful how ye regard it. Too tender isthe youth with whom ye compare me. Had I known [10]I was sent againsthim[10] I would not have come myself. I would have lads [11]enough[11] of[W. 2086. ] his age from amongst my people to go meet him on a ford. " [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1488. [5-5] Eg. 93. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1491. [8-8] Eg. 93. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1491-1492. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1492-1493. [11-11] Stowe and LU. And YBL. 1493. "Indeed, it is easy to talk so, " quoth Cormac Conlongas son ofConchobar. "It would be well worth while for thyself if by thee fellCuchulain. " [1]"Howbeit, " said Cûr, "since on myself it falls, [1] make yeready a journey [2]for me[2] at morn's early hour on the morrow, for apleasure I will make of the way [3]to this fight, [3] [4]a-going to meetCuchulain. [4] It is not this will detain you, namely the killing of yonderwildling, Cuchulain!" [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1496-1497. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1499-1500. [5]There they passed the night. [5] Then early on the morrow morn arose CûrmacDa Loth [6]and he came to the ford of battle and combat; and howeverearly he arose, earlier still Cuchulain arose. [6] A cart-load of arms wastaken along with him wherewith to engage with Cuchulain, and he began toply his weapons, seeking to kill Cuchulain. [5-5] Eg. 93. [6-6] Eg. 93. Now Cuchulain had gone early that day [7]to practise[7] his feats [8]ofvalour and prowess. [8] These are the names of them all: the Apple-feat, andthe Edge-feat, and the Level Shield-feat, and the Little Dart-feat, and theRope-feat, and the Body-feat, and the Feat of Catt, and the Hero'sSalmon-leap, [a] and the Pole-cast, and the Leap over a Blow (?), and theFolding of a noble Chariot-fighter, and the Gae Bulga ('the BarbedSpear') and the Vantage (?) of Swiftness, and the Wheel-feat, [9]and theRim-feat, [9] and the Over-Breath-feat, and the Breaking of a Sword, and theChampion's Cry, and the Measured Stroke, and the Side Stroke, and theRunning up a Lance and standing erect on its Point, and the Binding of the[10]noble[10] Hero (around spear points). [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1500. [8-8] Stowe. [a] "The Salmon-leap--lying flat on his face and then springing up, horizontally, high in the air. "--J. A. Synge, "The Aran Islands, " page 111, Dublin, 1907. [9-9] YBL. 1504. [10-10] LU. 1506. [W. 2121. ] Now this is the reason Cuchulain was wont to practise early everymorning each of those feats [1]with the agility of a single hand, as best awild-cat may, [1] in order that they might not depart from him throughforgetfulness or lack of remembrance. [1-1] An obscure gloss in LL. And macDa Loth waited beside his shield until the third part of the day, [2]plying his weapons, [2] seeking the chance to kill Cuchulain; [3]and notthe stroke of a blow reached Cuchulain, because of the intensity of hisfeats, nor was he aware that a warrior was thrusting at him. [3] It was thenLaeg[a] [4]looked at him[4] and spake to Cuchulain, "Hark! Cucuc. Attend tothe warrior that seeks to kill thee. " Then it was that Cuchulain glanced athim and then it was that he raised and threw the eight apples on high[5]and cast the ninth apple[5] a throw's length from him at Cûr macDa Loth, so that it struck on the disk of his shield [6]between the edge and thebody of the shield[6] and on the forehead [7]of the churl, [7] so that itcarried the size of an apple of his brains out through the back of hishead. Thus fell Cûr macDa Loth also at the hand of Cuchulain. [8]Accordingto another version[8] [9]it was in Imslige Glendamnach that Cûr fell. [9] [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1507. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1508-1509. [a] 'Fiachu, ' LU. And YBL. 1510. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Following Windisch's emendation of the text. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1512. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1513. [8-8] LU. 1513. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1513-1514. [10]Fergus greeted each one there and this is what he said:[10] "If yourengagements and pledges bind you now, " said Fergus, "another warrior yemust send to him yonder on the ford; else, do ye keep to your camp and yourquarters here till the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow, for Cûr son ofDa Loth is fallen. " [11]"We will grant that, " said Medb, "and we will notpitch tents nor take quarters here now, but we will remain where we werelast night in camp. [11] [W. 2136. ] Considering why we have come, it is thesame to us even though we remain in those same tents. " [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] Eg. 93. [1]The four great provinces of Erin[1] remained in that camp till Cûr sonof Da Loth had fallen, and Loth son of Da Bro and Srub Darè son of Feradachand [2]Morc[2] son of Tri Aigneach. These then fell in single combat withCuchulain. But it is tedious to recount one by one the cunning and valourof each man of them. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 150] XIV [1]THE SLAYING OF FERBAETH ('THE WITLESS')[1] [2]Then again the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit to fight and docombat with Cuchulain and to ward him off from them on the ford at themorning-hour early on the morrow. What they each and all said was, that itwould be his own friend and companion and the man who was his equal in armsand feats, even Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. [1-1] LU. Fo. 73a, in the margin. Then was Ferbaeth son of Ferbend summoned to them, to the tent of Aililland Medb. "Wherefore do ye call me to you?" Ferbaeth asked. "In sooth, itwould please us, " Medb answered, "for thee to do battle and contend withCuchulain, and to ward him off from us on the ford at the morning hourearly on the morrow. " Great rewards they promised to him for making the battle and combat. [2][3]Finnabair is given to him for this and the kingdom of his race, for hewas their choice to combat Cuchulain. He was the man they thought worthy ofhim, for they both had learned the same service in arms with Scathach. [3] [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1529-1553. [4]"I have no desire to act thus, " Ferbaeth protested. "Cuchulain is myfoster-brother and of everlasting covenant with me. Yet will I go meet himto-morrow, so shall I strike off his head!" "It will be thou that canst doit, " Medb made answer. [4] [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1538-1540. [W. 2143. ] Then it was that Cuchulain said to his charioteer, namely toLaeg: "Betake thee thither, O master Laeg, " said Cuchulain, "to the camp ofthe men of Erin, and bear a greeting [LL. Fo. 74b. ] from me to my comradesand foster-brothers and age-mates. Bear a greeting to Ferdiad son of Daman, and to Ferdet son of Daman, and to Brass son of Ferb, and to Lugaid son ofNos, and to Lugaid son of Solamach, to Ferbaeth son of Baetan, and toFerbaeth son of Ferbend, and a particular greeting withal to mine ownfoster-brother, to Lugaid son of Nos, for that he is the one man that stillhas friendliness and friendship with me now on the hosting. And bear him ablessing. [1]Let it be asked diligently of him[1] that he may tell thee who[2]of the men of Erin[2] will come to attack me on the morrow. " [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1525. [2-2] Stowe. Then Laeg went his way to the camp of the men of Erin and brought theaforementioned greetings to the comrades and foster-brothers of Cuchulain. And he also went into the tent of Lugaid son of Nos. Lugaid bade himwelcome. "I take [3]that welcome[3] to be truly meant, " said Laeg. "'Tistruly meant for thee, " replied Lugaid. "To converse with thee am I comefrom Cuchulain, " said Laeg, "and I bring these greetings truly andearnestly from him to the end that thou tell me who comes to fight withCuchulain to-day. " [4]"Truly not lucky is it for Cuchulain, " said Lugaid, "the strait wherein he is alone against the men of Erin. [4] The curse ofhis fellowship and brotherhood and of his friendship and affection [5]andof his arms[5] be upon that man; even his own real foster-brother himself, [6]even the companion of us both, [6] Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. [7]He it isthat comes to meet him to-morrow. [7] He was invited into the tent of[8]Ailill and[8] Medb a while [W. 2165. ] since. The daughter Finnabair wasset by his side. It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it isshe who gives him a kiss with every drink that he takes; it is she whoserveth the food [1]to him. [1] Not for every one with Medb is the ale[a]that is poured out for Ferbaeth [2]till he is drunk. [2] Only fiftywagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp. " [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1526-1527. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1528. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1527. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1528. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1532. [1-1] H. 1. 13. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1535. [a] In LU. And YBL. It is wine. Then with heavy head, sorrowful, downcast, heaving sighs, Laeg retraced hissteps to Cuchulain. "With heavy head, sorrowful, downcast and sighing, mymaster Laeg comes to meet me, " said Cuchulain. "It must be that one of mybrothers-in-arms comes to attack me. " For he regarded as worse a man of thesame training in arms as himself than aught other warrior. "Hail now, OLaeg my friend, " cried Cuchulain; "who comes to attack me to-day?" "Thecurse of his fellowship and brotherhood, of his friendship and affection beupon him; even thine own real foster-brother himself, namely Ferbaeth sonof Ferbend. A while ago he was summoned into the tent of Medb. The maidenwas set by his side; It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; itis she who gives him a kiss with every drink; it is she who serveth hisfood. Not for every one with Medb is the ale that is poured out forFerbaeth. Only fifty wagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp. " [3]Cuchulain bade Laeg go to Lugaid, that he come to talk with him. Lugaidcame to Cuchulain. "So Ferbaeth comes to oppose me to-morrow, " saidCuchulain. "Aye, then, " answered Lugaid. [3] [4]"Evil is this day, " criedCuchulain. "I shall not be alive thereafter. Two of the same age are we, two of equal deftness, two of equal weight, when we come together. OLugaid, greet him for me. Tell him, also, it is not the part of true valourto come to oppose me. Tell him to come meet me to-night to speak with me. " [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1541-1544. Lugaid brought back this word to Ferbaeth. [W. 2183. ] Now inasmuch asFerbaeth shunned not the parley, [4] he by no means waited till morn buthe went straightway [1]to the glen[1] [2]that night[2] to recant hisfriendship with Cuchulain, [3]and Fiachu son of Ferfebè went with him. [3]And Cuchulain called to mind the friendship and fellowship and brotherhood[5]that had been between them, [5] [6]and Scathach, the nurse of themboth;[6] and Ferbaeth would not consent to forego the fight. [a] [7]"I mustfight, " said Ferbaeth. "I have promised it [8]to Medb. "[8] [9]"Friendshipwith thee then is at an end, "[9] cried Cuchulain, [7] and in anger heleft him and drove the sole of his foot against a holly-spit [10]in theglen, [10] so that it pierced through flesh and bone and skin [11]and cameout by his knee. [11] [12]Thereat Cuchulain became frantic, and he gave astrong tug and[12] drew the spit out from its roots, [13]from sinew andbone, from flesh and from skin. [13] [14]"Go not, Ferbaeth, till thou seestthe find I have made. " "Throw it then, " cried Ferbaeth. [14] And Cuchulainthrew the holly-spit over his shoulder after Ferbaeth, and he would as liefthat it reached him or that it reached him not. The spit struck Ferbaeth inthe nape of the neck, [b] so that it passed out through his [W. 2192. ] mouth[1]in front[1] and fell to the ground, and thus Ferbaeth fell [2]backwardinto the glen. [2] [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1544-1549. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93, LU. And YBL. 1549. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1550. [4-4] See page 152, note 4. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1551-1552. [a] Reading, with Windisch, from Stowe which gives a better meaning than LL. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1552-1553. [8-8] YBL. 1553. [9-9] Literally, 'Keep thy covenant, then!' [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1554. [11-11] LU. And YBL. 1555. [12-12] Eg. 93. [13-13] Eg. 93. [14-14] LU. And YBL. 1556-1557. [b] See note, page 137. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1559. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1559-1560. "Now that was a good throw, Cucuc!" cried [3]Fiachu son of Ferfebè, [3][4]who was on the mound between the two camps, [4] for he considered it agood throw to kill that warrior with a spit of holly. Hence it is thatFocherd Murthemni ('the good Cast of Murthemne') is the name of the placewhere they were. [3-3] "Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar. " Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5]Straightway Ferbaeth died in the glen. Hence cometh GlennFerbaeth. Something was heard. It was Fergus who sang:-- "Fool's[a] emprise was thine, Ferbaeth, That did bring thee to thy grave. Ruin hath come on anger here; Thy last end in Croen Corann! Fithi was the hill's old name, In Croenech in Murthemne. 'Ferbaeth' now shall be the name Of the plain where Ferbaeth fell!"[5] [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1563-1569. [a] With a play on the word Ferbaeth, 'a foolish man. ' * * * * * [Page 155] XIVa [1]THE COMBAT OF LARINE MacNOIS[1] [2]Lugaid spake: "Let one of you be ready on the morrow to go against thatother. " "There shall not any one at all be found to go, " quoth Ailill, "unless guile be used. Whatever man comes to you, give him wine, so thathis soul may be glad, and let him be told that that is all the wine thathas been brought to Cruachan: 'It would grieve us that thou shouldst drinkwater in our camp. ' And let Finnabair be placed on his right hand and lethim be told, 'She shall go with thee if thou bring us the head of theContorted. '" So a summons was sent to each warrior, one on each night, andthose words used to be told him. Cuchulain killed every man of them inturn. At length no one could be got to attack him. [2] [1-1] LU. Fo. 73b, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1574-1584 and Eg. 1782. Here Eg. 1782 breaks off. [W. 2197. ] [3]"Good, [3] my master Laeg, " [4]said Cuchulain, [4] "go for me tothe camp of the men of Erin to hold converse with Lugaid [5]macNois, [5][6]my friend, my companion and my foster-brother, [6] [7]and bear him agreeting from me and bear him my blessing, for he is the one man that keepsamity and friendship with me on the great hosting of the Cattle-raid ofCualnge. [7] And discover [8]in what way they are in the camp, [8] whether orno anything has [W. 2199. ] happened to Ferbaeth, [a] [1]whether Ferbaeth hasreached the camp;[1] [2]and inquire for me if the cast I made a while agoreached Ferbaeth or did not reach, and if it did reach him, [2] ask who[3]of the men of Erin[3] comes to meet me [4]to fight and do battle with meat the morning hour early[4] on the morrow. " [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209. [5-5] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209. [6-6] Eg. 93. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1572. [a] From here to p. 170 is lacking in LL. Owing to the loss of a sheet. This is supplied from Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. Eg. 209 and H. 1. 13. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] H. 2. 17. [4-4] Eg. 93. Laeg proceeds to Lugaid's tent. Lugaid bids him welcome. [5]"Welcome to thycoming and arrival, O Laeg, " said Lugaid. [5] "I take that welcome as trulymeant, " Laeg replied. "It is truly meant for thee, " quoth Lugaid, [6]"andthou shalt have entertainment here to-night. "[6] [7]"Victory and blessingshalt thou have, " said Laeg; "but not for entertainment am I come, but[7]to hold converse with thee am I come from [8]thine own friend and companionand[8] foster-brother, [9]from Cuchulain, [9] that thou mayest tell mewhether Ferbaeth [10]was smitten. "[10] "He was, " answered Lugaid, "and ablessing on the hand that smote him, for he fell dead in the valley a whileago. " "Tell me who [11]of the men of Erin[11] comes to-morrow to [12]combatand[12] fight with Cuchulain [13]at the morning hour early on themorrow?"[13] "They are persuading a brother of mine own to go meet him, afoolish, haughty arrogant youth, yet dealing stout blows and stubborn. [14]And he has agreed to do the battle and combat. [14] And it is to thisend they will send him to fight Cuchulain, that he, my brother, may fall athis hands, so that I myself must then go to avenge him upon Cuchulain. ButI will not go there till the very day of doom. Larinè great-grandson[W. 2211. ] of Blathmac is that brother. [1]And, do thou tell Cuchulain tocome to Ferbaeth's Glen and[1] I will go [2]thither[2] to speak withCuchulain about him, " said Lugaid. [5-5] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. [6-6] Eg. 93. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] Eg. 93. [9-9] Eg. 209. [10-10] Following Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [11-11] Eg. 93. [12-12] Eg. 93. [13-13] Eg. 93. [14-14] Eg. 93. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3]Laeg betook him to where Cuchulain was. [3] Lugaid's two horses weretaken and his chariot was yoked to them [4]and[4] he came [5]to GlenFerbaeth[5] to his tryst with Cuchulain, so that a parley was had betweenthem. [6]The two champions and battle-warriors gave each other welcome. [6]Then it was that Lugaid spake: [7]"There is no condition that could bepromised to me for fighting and combating with thee, " said Lugaid, "andthere is no condition on which I would undertake it, but[7] they arepersuading a brother of mine to come fight thee [8]on the morrow, [8]to-wit, a foolish, dull, uncouth youth, dealing stout blows. [9]Theybrought him into the tent of Ailill and Medb and he has engaged to dothe battle and combat with thee. [9] [10]He is befooled about the samemaiden. [10] And it is for this reason they are to send him to fight thee, that he may fall at thy hands, [11]so that we two may quarrel, [11] and tosee if I myself will come to avenge him upon thee. But I will not, till thevery day of doom. And by the fellowship that is between us, [12]and by therearing and nurture I bestowed on thee and thou didst bestow on me, bear meno grudge because of Larinè. [12] Slay not my brother [13]lest thou shouldstleave me brotherless. "[13] [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1592 and Eg. 93. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1593 and Eg. 93. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] Eg. 209. [9-9] Eg. 93. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1595-1596. [11-11] LU. 1597. [12-12] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. [13-13] LU. And YBL. 1596-1597. "By my conscience, truly, " cried Cuchulain, [14]kill him I will not, but[14] the next thing to death will I inflict on him. [15]No worse wouldit be for him to die than what I [W. 2222. ] will give him. "[15] "I give theeleave. [1]It would please me well shouldst thou beat him sorely, [1] for tomy dishonour he comes to attack thee. " [14-14] Eg. 93. [15-15] Eg. 209. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1597 and Eg. 93. Thereupon Cuchulain went back and Lugaid returned to the camp [2]lest themen of Erin should say it was betraying them or forsaking them he was if heremained longer parleying with Cuchulain. [2] [2-2] Eg. 93. Then [3]on the next day[3] it was that Larinè son of Nos, [4]brother ofLugaid king of Munster, [4] was summoned to the tent of Ailill and Medb, and Finnabair was placed by his side. It was she that filled up thedrinking-horns for him and gave him a kiss with each draught that he tookand served him his food. "Not to every one with Medb is given the drinkthat is poured out for Ferbaeth or for Larinè, " quoth Finnabair; "only theload of fifty wagons of it was brought to the camp. "[a] [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1598. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1585. [a] Emending the text to agree with the two similar passages above. [5]Medb looked at the pair. "Yonder pair rejoiceth my heart, " said she. [5]"Whom wouldst thou say?" asked [6]Ailill. [6] "The man yonder, [7]intruth, "[7] said she. "What of him?" asked Ailill. "It is thy wont to setthe mind on that which is far from the purpose (Medb answered). It weremore becoming for thee to bestow thy thought on the couple in whom areunited the greatest distinction and beauty to be found on any road in Erin, namely Finnabair, [8]my daughter, [8] and Larinè macNois. [9]'Twould befitting to bring them together. "[9] "I regard them as thou dost, " answeredAilill; [10]"I will not oppose thee herein. He shall have her if only hebrings me the head of Cuchulain. "[a] "Aye, bring it I will, " saidLarinè. [10] [W. 2235. ] It was then that Larinè shook and tossed himself withjoy, so that the sewings of the flock bed burst under him and the mead ofthe camp was speckled with its feathers. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1586. [6-6] Corrected from LL. , which has 'Medb. ' [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1588. [a] Literally, 'of the Contorted. ' [10-10] LU. And YBL. 1588-1590. [1]They passed the night there. [1] Larinè longed for day with its fulllight [2]to go[2] to attack Cuchulain. At the early day-dawn on the morrowhe came, [3]and the maiden came too to embolden him, [3] and he brought awagon-load of arms with him, and he came on to the ford to encounterCuchulain. The mighty warriors of the camp and station considered it not agoodly enough sight to view the combat of Larinè; only the women and boysand girls, [4]thrice fifty of them, [4] went to scoff and to jeer at hisbattle. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 209. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 1599. [4-4] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. Cuchulain went to meet him at the ford and he deemed it unbecoming tobring along arms [5]or to ply weapons upon him, [5] so Cuchulain cameto the encounter unarmed [6]except for the weapons he wrested from hisopponent. [6] [7]And when Larinè reached the ford, Cuchulain saw him andmade a rush at him. [7] Cuchulain knocked all of Larinè's weapons out of hishand as one might knock toys out of the hand of an infant. Cuchulain groundand bruised him between his arms, he lashed him and clasped him, hesqueezed him and shook him, so that he spilled all the dirt out of him, [8]so that the ford was defiled with his dung[8] [9]and the air was fouledwith his dust[9] and an [10]unclean, filthy[10] wrack of cloud arose in thefour airts wherein he was. Then from the middle of the ford Cuchulainhurled Larinè far from him across through the camp [11]till he fell intoLugaid's two hands[11] at the door of the tent of his brother. [W. 2252. ]Howbeit [1]from that time forth[1] [2]for the remainder of his life[2] henever got up without a [3]sigh and a[3] groan, and [4]he never lay downwithout hurt, and he never stood up without a moan;[4] [5]as long as helived[5] he never ate [6]a meal[6] without plaint, and never thenceforwardwas he free from weakness of the loins and oppression of the chest andwithout cramps and the frequent need which obliged him to go out. Still heis the only man that made escape, [7]yea though a bad escape, [7] aftercombat with Cuchulain on the Cualnge Cattle-raid. Nevertheless that maimingtook effect upon him, so that it afterwards brought him his death. Suchthen is the Combat of Larinè on the Táin Bó Cualnge. [5-5] Eg. 209. [6-6] Eg. 209. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1602. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1603. [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [11-11] LU. And YBL. 1604. [1-1] Eg. 93, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 209. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 209. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1604. [6-6] Eg. 209. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1607. * * * * * [Page 161] XIVb [1]THE COLLOQUY OF THE MORRIGAN AND CUCHULAIN[1] [2]Then Cuchulain saw draw near him a young woman with a dress of everycolour about her and her appearance was most surpassing. "Who art thou?"Cuchulain asked. "Daughter of Buan ('the Eternal'), the king, " sheanswered. "I am come to thee; I have loved thee for the high tales theytell of thee and have brought my treasures and cattle with me. " "Not goodis the time thou hast come. Is not our condition weakened through hunger?Not easy then would it be for me to foregather with a woman the while I amengaged in this struggle. " "Herein I will come to thy help. " "Not for thelove of a woman[a] did I take this in hand. " "This then shall be thy lot, "said she, "when I come against thee what time thou art contending with men:In the shape of an eel I will come beneath thy feet in the ford; so shaltthou fall. " "More likely that, methinks, than daughter of a king! I willseize thee, " said he, "in the fork of my toes till thy ribs are broken, andthou shalt remain in such sorry plight till there come my sentence ofblessing on thee. " "In the shape of a grey she-wolf will I drive the cattleon to the ford against thee. " "I will cast a stone from my sling at thee, so shall it smash thine eye in thy head" (said he), "and thou wilt soremain maimed till my sentence of blessing come on thee. " "I will attackthee, " said she, "in the shape of a hornless red heifer at the head of thecattle, so that they will overwhelm thee on the waters and fords and poolsand thou wilt not see me before thee. " "I will, " replied he, "fling a stoneat thee that will break thy leg under thee, and thou wilt thus be lamedtill my sentence of blessing come on thee. " Therewith she went from him. [2] [1-1] LU. Fo. 74a, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1609-1629. [a] Literally, '_non causa podicis feminae_. ' The MS. Is partly erased here. * * * * * [Page 163] XV [1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE COMBAT OF LOCH AND CUCHULAIN ON THE TÁIN, [1][2]AND THE SLAYING OF LOCH SON OF MOFEMIS[2] [3]Then it was debated by the men of Erin who would be fitted to fight andcontend with Cuchulain and ward him off from them on the ford at themorning-hour early on the morrow. What they all agreed was that it shouldbe Loch Mor ('the Great') son of Mofemis, the royal champion of Munster. [3][W. 2260. ] It was then that Loch Mor son of Mofemis was summoned [4]like therest[4] to the pavilion of Ailill and Medb, [5]and he was promised theequal of Mag Murthemni of the smooth field of Mag Ai, and the accoutrementof twelve men, and a chariot of the value of seven bondmaids. [5] "Whatwould ye of me?" asked Loch. "To have fight with Cuchulain, " repliedMedb. "I will not go on that errand, for I esteem it no honour nor becomingto attack a tender, young, smooth-chinned, beardless boy. [6]'Tis notseemly to speak thus to me, and ask it not of me. [6] And not to belittlehim do I say it, but I have [7]a doughty brother, [8]the match ofhimself, "[8] said Loch, [7] "a man to confront him, Long macEmonis, to wit, and he will rejoice to accept an offer from you; [9]and it were fitting forhim to contend with Cuchulain for Long has no beard on cheek or lip anymore than Cuchulain. "[9] [1-1] YBL. 1630. [2-2] LU. Fo. 74b, between the columns. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1631. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1631-1633. [6-6] Eg. 209. [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [8-8] Eg. 93. [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [W. 2266. ] [1]Thereupon[1] Long was summoned to the tent of Ailill and Medb, and Medb promised him great gifts, even livery for twelve men of cloth ofevery colour, and a chariot worth four[a] times seven bondmaids, andFinnabair to wife for him alone, and at all times entertainment inCruachan, and that wine[b] would be poured out for him. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [a] 'Thrice. ' Eg. 209. [b] 'Ale, ' Eg. 209. [2]They passed there that night and he engaged to do the battle and combat, and early on the morrow[2] went Long [3]to the ford of battle and combat[3]to seek Cuchulain, and Cuchulain slew him and [5]they brought him dead intothe presence of his brother, namely of Loch. And Loch [4]came forth andraised up his loud, quick voice and[4] cried, had he known it was a beardedman that slew him, he would slay him for it. [5] [6]And it was in thepresence of Medb that he said it. [6] [7]"Lead a battle-force against him, "Medb cried to her host, "over the ford from the west, that ye may cross, and let the law of fair fight be broken with Cuchulain. " The seven Manè thewarriors went first, till they saw him to the west of the edge of theford. He wore his festive raiment on that day and the women clambered onthe men that they might behold him. "It grieves me, " said Medb. "I cannotsee the boy because of whom they go there. " "Thy mind would not be theeasier for that, " quoth Lethrenn, Ailill's horseboy, "if thou shouldst seehim. " Cuchulain came to the ford as he was. "What man is that yonder, OFergus?" asked Medb. [c] And Medb, too, climbed on the men to get a look[W. 2272. ] at him. [7] [1]Then[1] Medb called upon [2]her handmaid for twowoman-bands, [2] [3]fifty or twice fifty[3] of her women, to go speak withCuchulain and to charge him to put a false beard on. The woman-troop wenttheir way to Cuchulain and told him to put a false beard on [4]if he wishedto engage in battle or combat with goodly warriors or with goodly youths ofthe men of Erin;[4] [5]that sport was made of him in the camp for that hehad no beard, and that no good warrior would go meet him but only madmen. It were easier to make a false beard:[5] "For no brave warrior in the campthinks it seemly to come fight with thee, and thou beardless, " [6]saidthey. [6] [7]"If that please me, " said Cuchulain, "then I shall do it. "[7]Thereupon Cuchulain [8]took a handful of grass and speaking a spell over ithe[8] bedaubed himself a beard [9]in order to obtain combat with a man, namely with Loch. [9] And he came onto the knoll overlooking the men of Erinand made that beard manifest to them all, [10]so that every one thought itwas a real beard he had. [10] [11]"'Tis true, " spake the women, "Cuchulainhas a beard. It is fitting for a warrior to fight with him. " They said thatto urge on Loch. [11] Loch son of Mofemis saw it, and what he said was, "Why, that is a beard on Cuchulain!" "It is what I perceive, " Medbanswered. Medb promised the same great terms to Loch to put a check toCuchulain. [12]"I will not undertake the fight till the end of seven daysfrom this day, " exclaimed Loch. "Not fitting is it for us to leave that manunattacked for all that time, " Medb answered. "Let us put a warrior everynight to spy upon him if, peradventure, we might get a chance at him. " Thisthen they did. A warrior went every night to spy upon him and he slew themall. These are the names of the men who fell there: the seven Conall, theseven Oengus, the seven Uargus, the seven Celtri, the eight Fiach, the tenAilill, the ten Delbrath, the ten Tasach. These are the deeds of that weekon Ath Grenca. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1637-1639. [6-6] Eg. 93. [7-7] LU. Fo. 61, note 7, edition O'Keeffe and Strachan. [c] Fergus' answer, eight lines in _rosc_, LU. Page 61, note 7, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe (these lines are not in YBL. ), has been omitted in the translation. [1-1] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209. [2-2] Eg. 209. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 1640-1641. [6-6] Eg. 209. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] LU. 1643. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1642. ] [10-10] LU. 1644. [11-11] LU. 1645-1647. [a] In Eg. 93, this is said by Medb. Medb sought counsel, what was best to be done with Cuchulain, for she wassore grieved at all of her host that had been slain by him. This is thecounsel she took: To despatch keen, high-spirited men at one time to attackhim when he would come to an appointment she would make to speak withhim. For she had a tryst the next day with Cuchulain, to conclude thepretence of a truce with him in order to get a chance at him. She sentforth messengers to seek him to advise him to come to her, and thus it wasthat he should come, unarmed, for she herself would not come but with herwomen attendants to converse with him. The runner, namely Traigtren ('Strongfoot') [1]son of Traiglethan('Broadfoot')[1] went to the place where Cuchulain was and gave him Medb'smessage. Cuchulain promised that he would do her will. "How liketh it theeto meet Medb to-morrow, O Cuchulain?" asked Laeg. "Even as Medb desiresit, " answered Cuchulain. "Great are Medb's deeds, " said the charioteer; "Ifear a hand behind the back with her. " "How is it to be done [2]by us[2]then?" asked he. "Thy sword at thy waist, " the charioteer answered, "thatthou be not taken off thy guard. For a warrior is not entitled to hishonour-price if he be taken without arms, and it is the coward's law thatfalls to him in this manner. " "Let it be so, then, " said Cuchulain. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93. Now it was on Ard ('the Height') of Aignech which is called Fochard to-daythat the meeting took place. Then fared Medb to the tryst and she stationedfourteen men of those that were bravest of her bodyguard in ambush againsthim. These were they: the two Glassinè, the two sons of Buccridi, the twoArdan, the two sons of Liccè, the two Glasogma, the two sons of Crund, Drucht and Delt and Dathen, Tea and Tascur and Tualang, Taur and Glesè. Then Cuchulain comes to meet her. The men rise against him. Fourteen spearsare hurled at him at the same time. The Hound defends himself, so thatneither his skin nor protection (?) is touched and he turns in upon themand kills them, the fourteen men. Hence these are the 'Fourteen men ofFochard. ' And they are also the 'Men of Cronech, ' for it is in Cronech atFochard they were slain. And it is of this Cuchulain spake:-- "Good my skill[a] in champion's deeds. Valorous are the strokes I deal On the brilliant phantom host. War with numerous bands I wage, For the fall of warlike chief-- This, Medb's purpose and Ailill's-- Direful (?) hatred hath been raised!"[b] [a] With a play on the name _Focherd_, as is explained in the following paragraph. [b] Here follow six lines in _rosc_, LU. 1692-1697, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe (the passage does not occur in YBL. ), of uncertain meaning; they are omitted in the translation. This is the reason why the name Focherd clung to that place, to wit: _Fo_'Good' and _Cerd_ 'Art, ' which signifieth 'Good the feat of arms' thathappened to Cuchulain there. Then came Cuchulain and he overtook [1]the hosts[1] pitching camp, andthere were slain the two Daigri, the two Anli and the four Dungai ofImlech. And there Medb began to urge on Loch: "Great is the scorn that ismade of thee, " said she, "that the man that killed thy brother should bedestroying our host [2]here before thee[2] and thou not attack him. Forsure we are that such as he yonder, that great and fierce madman, will notbe able to withstand the valour and rage of a warrior such as thouart. And, further, from one and the same instructress the art was acquiredby you both. "[12] [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93. [12-12] LU. 1647-1708 and Eg. 93 (_Revue Celtique_, t. Xv. 1894, pp. 64-66). [W. 2283. ] "I will go forth and attack him, " cried Loch. Loch went to attackCuchulain, [1]to take vengeance on him for his brother, [1] [2]for it wasshown him that Cuchulain had a beard;[2] so they met on the ford where Longhad fallen. "Let us move to the upper ford, " said Loch, "for I will notfight on this ford, " since he held it defiled, [3]cursed and unclean, [3]the ford whereon his brother had fallen. [4]Now when Cuchulain came to lookfor the ford, the men drove the cattle across. [4] [5]"The cattle[5] [6]willbe across thy water here to-day, " said Gabran[6] [7]the poet. [7] [8]Hencecometh Ath Tarteise ('the Ford over thy Water') and Tir Mor Tarteise ('theGreat Land over thy Water'). [8] Thereafter they fought on the upper ford[9]between Methè and Cethè at the head of Tir Mor, [9] [10]and they were fora long space and time at their feats wounding and striking each other. [10] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1709 and Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93 and LU. 1709. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] LU. And, partly, YBL. 1711. [5-5] YBL. 1711. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1711. [7-7] LU. 1712. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1712. [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [10-10] Eg. 93. Then it was that the Morrigan daughter of [11]Aed[11] Ernmas came from thefairy dwellings to destroy Cuchulain. For she had threatened on theCattle-raid of Regomain [a] that she would come to undo Cuchulain what timehe would be [13]in sore distress[13] when engaged in [14]battle and[14]combat with a goodly warrior, [15]with Loch, [15] in the course of theCattle-spoil of Cualnge. Thither then the Morrigan [W. 2293. ] came in theshape of a white, [1]hornless, [1] red-eared heifer, with fifty heifersabout her and a chain of silvered bronze between each two of the heifers. [2]She bursts upon the pools and fords at the head of the cattle. It wasthen that Cuchulain said, "I cannot see the fords for the waters. "[2] Thewomen [3]came with their strange sorcery, and[3] constrained Cuchulain bygeasa and by inviolable bonds [4]to check the heifer for them[4] lest sheshould escape from him without harm. Cuchulain made an unerring cast[5]from his sling-stick[5] at her, so that he shattered one of theMorrigan's eyes. [11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [12-12] See page 165, note 12. [a] Edited by Wh. Stokes and E. Windisch, in _Irische Texte_, Bd. II, SS. 241-254. [13-13] Eg. 93. [14-14] Eg. 93. [15-15] Eg. 209. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1722. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1722. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [6]Now when the men met on the ford and began to fight and to struggle, andwhen each of them was about to strike the other, [6] the Morrigan camethither in the shape of a slippery, black eel down the stream. Then shecame on the linn and she coiled [7]three folds[7] [8]and twists[8] aroundthe [9]two[9] feet [10]and the thighs and forks[10] of Cuchulain, [11]tillhe was lying on his back athwart the ford[11] [12]and his limbs in theair. [12] [6-6] LU. 1713. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 1713. [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [11-11] LU. And YBL. 1714. [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. While Cuchulain was busied freeing himself [13]and before he was able torise, [13] Loch wounded him crosswise through the breast, [14]so that thespear[a] went through him[14] [15]and the ford was gore-red with hisblood. [15] [16]"Ill, indeed, " cried Fergus, "is this deed in the face ofthe foe. Let some of ye taunt him, ye men, " he cried to his people, "to theend that he fall not in vain!" [13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [14-14] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [a] 'Sword, ' LU. And YBL. 1734. [15-15] LU. 1714. Bricriu Nemthenga ('Of the Venom-tongue') son of Carbad arose and began torevile Cuchulain. "Thy strength has gone from thee, " said he, "when alittle salmon overthrows thee even now when the Ulstermen are about to comeout of their 'Pains. '[16] [1]Hard it would be for thee to take on theewarrior's deeds in the presence of the men of Erin and to repel a stoutwarrior clad in his armour!"[1] [16-16] LU. , edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, p. 63, note 17. Similarly, YBL. 1714-1716, and Eg. 93. [1-1] LU. Fo. 63, note 19, edit. Strachan and O'Keeffe, and Eg. 93. [2]Then[2] [3]at this incitation[3] [4]Cuchulain arose, [4] [5]and with hisleft heel he smote the eel on the head, [5] [6]so that its ribs broke withinit[6] [7]and he destroyed one half of its brains after smashing half of itshead. [7] [8]And the cattle were driven by force past the hosts to the eastand they even carried away the tents on their horns at the thunder-feat thetwo warriors made on the ford. [8] [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1716. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1717. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1717. [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [8-8] LU. And YBL. 1718-1720. [W. 2302. ] The Morrigan next came in the form of a rough, grey-redbitch-wolf [9]with wide open jaws[9] [10]and she bit Cuchulain in thearm[10] [11]and drove the cattle against him westwards, [11] [12]andCuchulain made a cast of his little javelin at her, strongly, vehemently, so that it shattered one eye in her head. [12] During this space of time, whether long or short, while Cuchulain was engaged in freeing himself, Lochwounded him [13]through the loins. [13] Thereupon Cuchulain chanted alay. [a] [9-9] Eg. 209. [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [11-11] LU. And YBL. 1721. [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. And YBL. 1721. [13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [a] The three stanzas of this lay in YBL. (four in LU. ) are found, with slight changes, in the lay on page 172fl. [14]Then did Cuchulain to the Morrigan the three things he had threatenedher on the Cattle-raid of Regomain, [14] and his anger arose within him andhe [LL. Fo. 75a. ] wounded Loch with the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed-spear'), sothat it passed through [W. 2307. ] his heart in his breast. [1]For truly itmust have been that Cuchulain could not suffer the treacherous blows andthe violence of Loch Mor the warrior, and he called for the Gae Bulgae fromLaeg son of Riangabair. And the charioteer sent the Gae Bulga down thestream and Cuchulain made it ready. And when Loch heard that, he gave alunge down with his shield, so that he drove it over two-thirds deep intothe pebbles and sand and gravel of the ford. And then Cuchulain let go theBarbed-spear upwards, so as to strike Loch over the border of his hauberkand the rim of his shield. [1] [2]And it pierced his body's covering, forLoch wore a horn skin when fighting with a man, [2] [3]so that his fartherside was pierced clear after his heart had been thrust through in hisbreast. [3] [14-14] LU. And YBL. 1732. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1735-1736. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4]"That is enough now, " spake Loch; "I am smitten by that. [4] [5]For thinehonour's sake[5] [6]and on the truth of thy valour and skill in arms, [6]grant me a boon now, O Cuchulain, " said Loch. "What boon askest thou?""'Tis no boon of quarter nor a prayer of cowardice that I make of thee, "said Loch. "But fall back a step from me [7]and permit me to rise, [7] thatit be on my face to the east I fall and not on my back to the west towardthe warriors of Erin, to the end that no man of them shall say, [8]if Ifall on my back, [8] it was in retreat or in flight I was before thee, forfallen I have by the Gae Bulga!" "That will I do, " answered Cuchulain, "for'tis a [9]true[9] warrior's prayer that thou makest. " [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Eg. 93. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. And Cuchulain stepped back, [10]so that Loch fell on his face, and his soulparted from his body and Laeg despoiled him. [10] [11]Cuchulain cut off hishead then. [11] Hence cometh [W. 2314. ] the name the ford bears ever since, namely Ath Traged ('Foot-ford') in Cenn Tire Moir ('Great Headland'). [1]It was then they broke their terms of fair fight that day withCuchulain, when five men went against him at one time, namely the twoCruaid, the two Calad and Derothor. All alone, Cuchulain killed them. Hencecometh Coicsius Focherda ('Fochard's Fortnight') and Coicer Oengoirt ('FiveWarriors in one Field'). Or it may be, fifteen days Cuchulain passed inFochard and it is hence cometh Coicsius Focherda on the Táin. [1] [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [11-11] LU. Fo. 77a, in the margin. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 1739-1743. And deep distress[a] possessed Cuchulain that day [2]more than any otherday[2] for his being all alone on the Táin, [3]confronting four of the fivegrand provinces of Erin, [3] [4]and he sank into swoons and faints. [4]Thereupon Cuchulain enjoined upon Laeg his charioteer to go to the men ofUlster, that they should come to defend their drove. [5]And, on rising, this is what he said:[5] [6]"Good, O Laeg, get thee to Emain to theUlstermen, and bid them come henceforward to look after their drove for Ican defend their fords no longer. For surely it is not fair fight nor equalcontest for any man for the Morrigan to oppose and overpower him and Lochto wound and pierce him. "[6] And weariness of heart and weakness overcamehim, and he gave utterance to a lay:-- "Rise, O Laeg, arouse the hosts, Say for me in Emain strong: I am worn each day in fight, Full of wounds, and bathed in gore! "My right side and eke my left: Hard to say which suffers worse; Fingin's[b] hand hath touched them not, Stanching blood with strips of wood! [W. 2329. ] "Bring this word to Conchobar dear, I am weak, with wounded sides. Greatly has he changed in mien, Dechtire's fond, rich-trooped son! "I alone these cattle guard, Leave them not, yet hold them not. Ill my plight, no hope for me, Thus alone on many fords! "Showers of blood rain on my arms, Full of hateful wounds am I. No friend comes to help me here, Save my charioteer alone! "Few make music here for me, Joy I've none in single horn. When the mingled trumpets sound, [a] This is sweetest from the drone! "This old saying, ages old:-- 'Single log gives forth no flame;' Let there be a two or three, Up the firebrands all will blaze! "One sole log burns not so well As when one burns by its side. Guile can be employed on one; Single mill-stone doth not grind! "Hast not heard at every time, 'One is duped'?--'tis true of me. That is why I cannot last These long battles of the hosts! "However small a host may be, It receives some thought and pains; Take but this: its daily meat On one fork is never cooked! "Thus alone I've faced the host, By the ford in broad Cantire; Many came, both Loch and Badb, As foretold in 'Regomain!'[b] "Loch has mangled my two thighs; Me the grey-red wolf hath bit; Loch my sides[c] has wounded sore, And the eel has dragged me down! "With my spear I kept her off; I put out the she-wolf's eye; [W. 2371. ] And I broke her lower leg, At the outset of the strife! "Then when Laeg sent Aifè's spear, [a] Down the stream--like swarm of bees-- That sharp deadly spear I hurled, Loch, [1]Mobebuis'[1] son, fell there! "Will not Ulster battle give To Ailill and Eocho's lass, [b] While I linger here in pain, Full of wounds and bathed in blood? [LL. Fo. 75b. ] "Tell the splendid Ulster chiefs They shall come to guard their drove. Maga's sons[c] have seized their kine And have portioned them all out! "Fight on fight--though much I vowed, I have kept my word in all. For pure honour's sake I fight; 'Tis too much to fight alone! "Vultures joyful at the breach In Ailill's and in Medb's camp. Mournful cries of woe are heard; On Murthemne's plain is grief! "Conchobar comes not out with help; In the fight, no troops of his. Should one leave _him_ thus alone, Hard 'twould be his rage to tell! [1]"Men have almost worn me out In these single-handed fights; Warrior's deeds I cannot do, Now that I must fight alone!"[1] [a] Literally 'repentance. ' [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] Eg. 93. [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [b] Physician to King Conchobar. [a] Following Windisch's emended reading of LL. [b] See above, page 168, note a. [c] Literally, 'liver. ' [a] That is, the 'barbed' spear. [1-1] Reading with MS. Stowe. [b] That is, Medb. [c] That is, the followers of Ailill. ] [1-1] LU. Page 64, note 5, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe. [2]Although Cuchulain spoke thus, he had no strength for Laeg to leavehim. [2] [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. This then is the Combat of Loch Mor ('the Great') son of Mofemis againstCuchulain on the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge. * * * * * [Page 175] XVI [1]THE VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT[1] [2]Then were five men sent against Cuchulain on the morrow to contend withhim and he killed them, so that they fell by his hand, and 'the Fiveof Cenn Cursighi' was their name. [2] [W. 2400. ] Then it was that Medbdespatched six men at one and the same time to attack Cuchulain, to wit:Traig ('Foot') and Dorn ('Fist') and Dernu ('Palm'), Col ('Sin') andAccuis[a] ('Curse') and Eraisè ('Heresy'), three druid-men and threedruid-women, [3]their three wives. [3] Cuchulain attacked them, [4]the sixof them, and struck off their six heads, [4] so that they fell at his hands[5]on this side of Ath Tire Moire ('Big Land's Ford') at Methè andCethè. [5] [1-1] This heading is supplied by Windisch. [2-2] Eg. 93. [a] LU. 1764, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93 have for this, _Mebul_, 'Shame. ' [3-3] LU. 1767. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. 1766-1767. [6]Then it was that Fergus demanded of his sureties that fair-dealingshould not be broken with Cuchulain. And it was there that Cuchulain was atthat time, [6] [7]that is, at Delga Murthemni. Then Cuchulain killed Fota inhis field, Bomailcè on his ford, Salach in his homestead, Muinè in hisfort, Luar in Lethbera, Fertoithle in Toithle. These are the names of theselands forever, every place in which each man of them fell. [7] [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1759-1760. [7-7] LU. 1761-1765. Forasmuch as covenant and terms of single combat had been broken withCuchulain, Cuchulain took his sling in hand that day and began to shoot atthe host from Delga ('the Little Dart') in the south, [8]in Murthemne. [8]Though [W. 2406. ] numerous were the men of Erin on that day, not one of themdurst turn his face southwards [1]towards Cuchulain, towards the side wherehe was[1] [2]between Delga and the sea, [2] whether dog, or horse, orman. [3]So that he slew an hundred warriors till came the bright hour ofsunrise on the morrow. [3] [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 1745. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. * * * * * [Page 177] XVIa [1]THE HEALING OF THE MORRIGAN[1] [W. 2410. ] [2]Great weariness came over Cuchulain after that night, and agreat thirst, after his exhaustion. [2] Then it was that the Morrigan, daughter of Emmas, came from the fairy dwellings, in the guise of an oldhag, [3]with wasted knees, long-legged, [3] [4]blind and lame, [4] engaged inmilking a [5]tawny, [5] three-teated [6]milch[6] cow before the eyes ofCuchulain. [a] And for this reason she came in this fashion, that she mighthave redress from Cuchulain. For none whom Cuchulain ever wounded recoveredtherefrom without himself aided in the healing. Cuchulain, maddened withthirst, begged her for a milking. She gave him a milking of one of theteats [7]and straightway Cuchulain drank it. [7] "May this be a cure in timefor me, [8]old crone, " quoth Cuchulain, "and the blessing of gods and ofnon-gods upon thee!" said he;[8] and one of the queen's eyes became wholethereby. He begged the milking of [9]another[9] teat. [10]She milked thecow's second teat and[10] gave it to him and [11]he drank it and said, [11]"May she straightway be sound that gave it. " [12]Then her head was healedso that it was whole. [12] He begged a third drink [W. 2418. ] [1]of thehag. [1] [2]She milked the cow's third teat[2] and gave him the milkingof the teat [3]and he drank it. [3] "A blessing on thee of gods and ofnon-gods, O woman! [4]Good is the help and succour thou gavest me. "[4][5]And her leg was made whole thereby. [5] [6]Now these were their gods, themighty folk: and these were their non-gods, the folk of husbandry. [6] Andthe queen was healed [7]forthwith. [7] [8]"Well, Cuchulain, [8] [9]thousaidst to me, " spake the Morrigan, "I should not get healing [10]norsuccour[10] from thee forever. " "Had I known it was thou, " Cuchulain madeanswer, "I would never have healed thee. " Or, it may be Drong Conculainn('Cuchulain's Throng') on Tarthesc is the name of this tale in the Reavingof the Kine of Cualnge. [9] [1-1] LU. Fo. 77a, in the margin. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 1748. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [a] Reading _fiadnaisse_. [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [8-8] Eg. 93. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [12-12] LU. And YBL. 1753. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. [5-5] LU. And YBL 1755. [6-6] A gloss incorporated in the text of LL. , LU. , YBL. , Stowe, H. 2. 17. And Eg. 93. [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [8-8] Eg. 93. [9-9] LU. And YBL. 1755-1758. [10-10] Eg. 93. [11]Then it was she alighted in the form of a royston crow on the bramblethat grows over Grelach Dolair ('the Stamping-ground of Dolar') in MagMurthemni. "Ominous is the appearance of a bird in this place above all, "quoth Cuchulain. Hence cometh Sgè nah Einchi ('Crow's Bramble') as a nameof Murthemne. [11] [11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Then Medb ordered out the hundred [12]armed[12] warriors [13]of herbody-guard[13] at one and the same time to assail Cuchulain. Cuchulainattacked them all, so that they fell by his hand [14]at Ath Ceit Cuilè('Ford of the First Crime'). [14] "It is a dishonour for us that our peopleare slaughtered in this wise, " quoth Medb. "It is not the first destructionthat has befallen us from that same man, " replied Ailill. Hence CuilennCind Duni ('The Destruction of the Head [W. 2426. ] of the Dûn') ishenceforth the name of the place where they were, [1] the mound whereon Medband Ailill tarried that night. [1] Hence Ath Cro ('Gory Ford') is the nameof the ford where they were, [2]and Glass Cro ('River of Gore') the name ofthe stream. [2] And fittingly, too, because of the abundance of gore andblood that went with the flow of the river. [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [13-13] LU. 1768. [14-14] LU. 1769. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. 1771. * * * * * [Page 180] XVII THE GREAT ROUT ON THE PLAIN OF MURTHEMNE FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW [W. 2431. ] [1]That night[1] the warriors of four of the five grand provincesof Erin pitched camp and made their station in the place called BreslechMor ('the Great Rout') in the Plain of Murthemne. Their portion of cattleand spoils they sent on before them to the south to the cow-stalls ofUlster. [LL. Fo. 76a. ] Cuchulain took station at Ferta ('the Gravemound') atLerga ('the Slopes') hard by them. And his charioteer kindled him a fire onthe evening of that night, namely Laeg son of Riangabair. Cuchulain saw faraway in the distance the fiery glitter of the bright-golden arms over theheads of four of the five grand provinces of Erin, in the setting of thesun in the clouds of evening. Great anger and rage possessed him at theirsight, because of the multitude of his foes, because of the number of hisenemies [2]and opponents, and because of the few that were to avenge hissores and his wounds upon them. [2] [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3]Then Cuchulain arose and[3] he grasped his two spears and his shield andhis sword. He shook his shield and brandished his spears and wielded hissword and sent out the hero's shout from his throat, so that the fiends andgoblins and sprites of the glens and demons of the air gave answer for thefearfulness of the shout [4]that he lifted on [W. 2444. ] high, [4] untilNemain, [1]which is Badb, [1] brought confusion on the host. The warriors ofthe four provinces of Erin made such a clangour of arms with the points oftheir spears and their weapons that an hundred [2]strong, stout-sturdy[2]warriors of them fell dead that night of fright and of heartbreak in themiddle of the camp and quarters [3]of the men of Erin at the awfulness ofthe horror and the shout which Cuchulain lifted on high. [3] [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] Translating from Stowe, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. [1-1] Stowe, and LL. , in the margin. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] Eg. 93. As Laeg stood there he descried something: A single man coming from thenorth-eastern quarter athwart the camp of the four grand provinces ofErin making directly for him. "A single man here cometh towards us now, Cucucan, " cried Laeg. "But what manner of man is he?" Cuchulain asked. "Not hard to say, " [4]Laeg made answer. [4] "A great, well-favoured man, then. Broad, close-shorn hair upon him, and yellow and curly his backhair. A green mantle wrapped around him. A brooch of white silver[a] inthe mantle over his breast. A kirtle of silk fit for a king, with redinterweaving of ruddy gold he wears trussed up on his fair skin andreaching down to his knees. [5]A great one-edged sword in his hand. [5] Ablack shield with hard rim of silvered bronze thereon. A five-barbed spearin his hand. A pronged bye-spear beside it. Marvellous, in sooth, the featsand the sport and the play that he makes. But him no one heeds, nor giveshe heed to any one. [6]No one shows him courtesy nor does he show courtesyto any one, [6] like as if none saw him in the camp of the four grandprovinces of Erin. " "In sooth, O fosterling, " answered Cuchulain, "it isone of my friends of fairy kin [7]that comes[7] to take pity upon me, because they know the great distress wherein I am now all alone against thefour grand provinces of Erin on the Plunder of the Kine of [W. 2463. ]Cualnge, [1]killing a man on the ford each day and fifty each night, forthe men of Erin grant me not fair fight nor the terms of single combat fromnoon of each day. "[1] [4-4] Eg. 93. [a] 'Of gold, ' Eg. 93. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Now in this, Cuchulain spoke truth. When the young warrior was come up toCuchulain he bespoke him and condoled with him [2]for the greatness of histoil and the length of time he had passed without sleep. [2] [3]"This isbrave of thee, O Cuchulain, " quoth he. "It is not much, at all, " repliedCuchulain. "But I will bring thee help, " said the young warrior. "Who thenart thou?" asked Cuchulain. "Thy father from Faery am I, even Lug son ofEthliu. " "Yea, heavy are the bloody wounds upon me; let thy healing bespeedy. "[3] "Sleep then awhile, O Cuchulain, " said the young warrior, "thyheavy fit of sleep by Ferta in Lerga ('the Gravemound on the Slopes') tillthe end of three days and three nights and I will oppose the hosts duringthat time. " [4]He examined each wound so that it became clean. Then he sanghim the 'men's low strain' till Cuchulain fell asleep withal. It was thenLug recited[4] [5]the Spell-chant of Lug. [5] [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] LU. 1803-1807, and, similarly, Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] LU. 1810-1811. [5-5] LU. Fo. 78a, in the margin; also in H. 2. 17. And Eg. 93. Accordingly Cuchulain slept his heavy fit of sleep at 'the Gravemound onthe Slopes' till the end of three days and three nights. And well he mightsleep. Yet as great as was his sleep, even so great was his weariness. Forfrom the Monday before Samain[a] ('Summer-end') even to the Wednesday afterSpring-beginning, [b] Cuchulain slept not for all that space, except for abrief snatch after mid-day, leaning against his spear, and his head on his[W. 2475. ] fist, and his fist clasping his spear, and his spear on his knee, [LL. Fo. 76b. ] but hewing and cutting, slaying and destroying four of thefive grand provinces of Erin during that time. [a] Hallowtide, the first of November and the beginning of winter. [b] I. E. Candlemas. Stowe contains a Christian addition: 'to the feast of Brigit;' that is, the first of February. Then it was that the warrior [1]from Faery[1] laid plants from thefairy-rath and healing herbs and put a healing charm into the cuts andstabs, into the sores and gaping wounds of Cuchulain, so that Cuchulainrecovered during his sleep without ever perceiving it. [1-1] LU. 1826. * * * * * [Page 184] XVIIa THE SLAUGHTER OF THE YOUTHS OF ULSTER[a] [W. 2482. ] That was the time the youths came out of the north from EmainMacha [1]to the help of Cuchulain. [1] Thrice fifty boys of the sons of thekings of Ulster, accompanying Follomain, Conchobar's son, and three battlesthey offered to the hosts, so that thrice their number fell and the youthsalso fell, save Conchobar's son Follomain. Follomain vowed that never tillthe very day of doom and of life would he return to Emain unless he shouldbring Ailill's head with him together with the diadem of gold that was onit. That was no easy thing for him to achieve, for the two sons of Bethèson of Ban--the two sons of Ailill's foster-mother and foster-father [2]towhom King Ailill's diadem had been entrusted[2]--attacked and wounded[3]Follomain, [3] so that he fell by their hands. This then is the Massacreof the youths of Ulster and of Follomain son of Conchobar. [a] The LU. Version of this episode was given above under XIIe, page 143. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] Eg. 93. Touching Cuchulain, he remained in his sound, heavy sleep till the end ofthree days and three nights at the 'Gravemound on the Slopes. ' ThereafterCuchulain arose from his sleep. He passed his hand over his face and hebecame as a wild[b] wheel-thunder (?) from his crown to the ground, and hefelt his courage strengthened, and he would have [W. 2497. ] been able togo into an assembly or on a march or to a tryst with a woman or to anale-house or into one of the chief assemblies of Erin. "How long am Iasleep now, young warrior?" Cuchulain asked. "Three days and three nights, "the young warrior made answer. "Woe is me for that!" quoth Cuchulain. "Whyso?" asked the young warrior. "For that the hosts have not been attacked inthat time, " answered Cuchulain. "Nay, not so were they spared, " the youngwarrior made answer. "I would fain inquire who then attacked them?"Cuchulain asked. "The youths came hither out of the north from Emain Macha, thrice fifty boys accompanying Follomain, Conchobar's son, and they thesons of the kings of Ulster. And three battles they offered the hosts inthe space of the three days and three nights wherein thou wast till nowasleep, and thrice their number are fallen at their hands and the youthsthemselves are fallen except Follomain [1]alone, [1] Conchobar's son. AndFollomain vowed that never till the very day of doom and of life [3]wouldhe return [2]north[2] to Emain Macha till he carried off Ailill's head withthe diadem of gold which was on it. Howbeit not such was his luck, for hefell at the hands of the two sons of Bethè son of Ban, after engaging inbattle with them. "[3] [b] Literally, 'crimson. ' [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] Stowe. "Alas, that I was not [4]there[4] in my strength!" cried Cuchulain; "forhad I been in my strength the youths would not have fallen, as now theyhave, and Follomain would not have perished. " "But this avow, O Cucan, "[a][5]said the young warrior;[5] "it is no reproach to thine honour and nodisgrace to thy valour. " "Bide here this night with us, young warrior, "said Cuchulain, "that together we avenge the youths on the hosts. " "Naythen, I may not tarry, " answered the [W. 2515. ] young warrior. [1]"Why so?"asked Cuchulain. "Easy to say, " replied the young warrior;[1] "for howeverprodigious the deeds of valour and skill in arms one may perform in thycompany, not on him will fall the glory nor the honour nor the fame but onthyself. For this reason will I not tarry with thee, but do thou thyselftry thy feats of arms [2]and the strength of thy hands[2] alone on thehosts, for not with them is the power over thy life on this occasion. " [4-4] Stowe. [a] A pet name for Cuchulain. [5-5] Eg. 93. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3]Then the young warrior from Faery went from him and they knew not whatway he had gone. "Good, O my master Laeg, " said Cuchulain; "together wewill go to avenge the youths on the hosts. " "I will go with thee, " Laegmade answer. [3] "And the scythed chariot, my friend Laeg, " said Cuchulain. "Canst thou get it ready? If thou canst get it ready and hast itsequipment, make it ready, and if its equipment is not at hand, make it notready. " [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. * * * * * [Page 187] XVIIb THE SCYTHED CHARIOT [W. 2525. ] Thereupon the charioteer arose and donned his yeoman's suit forcharioteering. Of this [LL. Fo. 77a. ] yeoman's suit for charioteering, thisis what he put on him: His soft kirtle of skin which was light and airy, which was smooth and sparkling, which was stitched and of buckskin, so thatit hindered not the movements of his arms outside. Over that he put outsidean over-mantle of raven's feathers, which Simon Magus had made [1]as agift[1] [2]for Darius[2] [3]Nero, [3] king of the Romans. Darius bestowed itupon Conchobar; Conchobar gave it to Cuchulain; Cuchulain presented it to[4]Laeg son of Riangabair, [4] his charioteer. The same charioteer took thecrested, plated, four-bordered battle-cap with variety of every colourand every figure, reaching [5]down[5] over the middle of his shouldersbehind. It was an adornment for him and not an encumbrance. With his handhe placed the red-yellow frontlet--like one red-golden strip of glowinggold smelted over the edge of an anvil--on his forehead as a token ofcharioteering, to distinguish him from his master. He opened the hobblesthat fastened his steeds and grasped his gold-mounted goad in his righthand. In his left hand he seized the lines, that is, the bridle-reins ofhis horses for restraining his steeds before performing his charioteering. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Stowe and LU. 1874. [3-3] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93, instead of, 'Darius. ' [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [W. 2542. ] He next threw the iron-sheathed gold-bedecked coats of mail overhis horses, so that they covered them from forehead to forehand. [1]Thechariot was[1] [2]studded with[2] dartlets, lancelets, spearlets, andhardened spits, so that every portion of the frame bristled with points inthat chariot and every corner and end and point and face of that chariotwas a passage of laceration. [1-1] There is a gap in the MS. , and these words are supplied from the context. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Then cast he a spell of concealment over his horses and over his fellow, sothat they were not visible to any one in the camp, while all in the campwere visible to them, [3]and over this veil of protection he wounded eachone and through it and behind it. [3] Well indeed was it that he cast thatcharm, for on that day the charioteer had to perform the three gifts ofcharioteership, namely leaping over a cleft in the ranks, unerring driving, and the handling of the goad. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Then [4]arose[4] the champion and battle-warrior and the instrument ofBadb's corpse-fold[a] among the men of the earth, [c] Cuchulain son ofSualtaim, and he donned his war-dress of battle and fight and combat. Tothat war-dress of battle and fight and combat which he put about himbelonged seven and twenty[b] waxed, board-like, equally close skin-tunicswhich were girded by cords and swathings and ropes on his fair skin, to theend that his wit and reason might not become deranged when the violence ofhis nature came over him. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [a] That is, the piled up bodies of the slain. [c] 'Of Erin, ' Eg. 93. [b] 'Eight and twenty, '. Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Over him he put on the outside his battle-girdle of a champion, of tough, tanned, stout leather cut from the forequarters of seven ox-hides ofyearlings, so that it reached from the slender parts of his waist to thestout part under [W. 2562. ] his arm-pits. He was used to wear it to keep offspears and points and irons and lances and arrows. For in like manner theywould bound back from it as if from stone or rock or horn they rebounded. Then he took his silken, glossy trews with their band of spotted pale-goldagainst the soft lower parts of his loins. His brown, well-sewn kilt ofbrown leather from the shoulders of four ox-hides of yearlings, with hisbattle-girdle of cow-skins, he put underneath over the shining silken trewson the outside, [1]so that it covered him from the slender part of hiswaist to the thick part of his thighs and reached up to the battle-belt ofthe hero. [1] Then the king-hero [LL. Fo. 77a. ] [2]and king-warrior[2] seizedhis battle-arms of battle and fight and combat. This is what belonged tothose warlike weapons of battle: He took his eight little swords togetherwith the bright-faced, tusk-hilted straightsword [3]along with hisquiver;[3] he took his eight little spears besides his five-prongedspear; he took his eight little darts together with his javelin with itswalrus-tooth ornaments; he took his eight little shafts along with hisplay-staff; he took his eight shields for feats together with his dark-redbent-shield, whereon a show-boar could lie in its hollow boss, with itsvery sharp, razor-like, keen-cutting, hard [4]iron[4] rim all around it, sothat it would cut a hair against the stream because of its sharpness andfineness and keenness. When the young warrior would perform the edge-featwithal, it was the same whether he cut with his shield or his spear or hissword. Next he put round his head his crested war-helm of battle and fightand combat, [5]wherein were four carbuncle-gems on each point and each endto adorn it, [5] whereout was uttered the cry of an hundred young warriorswith the long-drawn wail from each of its angles and corners. [W. 2583. ]For this was the way that the fiends, the goblins and the sprites of theglens and the demons of the air screamed before and above and around him, what time he went forth for the shedding of blood of heroes and champions, [1]exulting in the mighty deeds wrought underneath it[1]. His veil ofconcealment was thrown over him then, of raiment from Tir Tairngirè ('theLand of Promise') which had been brought to him [2]as a gift[2] by Manannanson of Ler ('the Sea') from the king of Tir na Sorcha ('the Land ofLight'), [3]his foster-father in magic[3]. [4]His fair, purple-red fan wasplaced in front of his face. Past it and through it and over it everythingwas visible to him and no one wounded him past it nor through it nor overit[4]. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. 1914. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] Stowe and LU. 1927. [4-4] Eg. 93. Then took place the first twisting-fit [5]and rage[5] of [6]the royalhero[6] Cuchulain, so that he made a terrible, many-shaped, wonderful, unheard of thing of himself. His flesh trembled about him like a poleagainst the torrent or like a bulrush against the stream, every member andevery joint and every point and every knuckle of him from crown to ground. He made a mad whirling-feat of his body within his hide. His feet and hisshins and his knees slid so that they came behind him. His heels and hiscalves and his hams shifted so that they passed to the front. The musclesof his calves moved so that they came to the front of his shins, so thateach huge knot was the size of a soldier's balled fist. He stretched thesinews of his head so that they stood out on the nape of his neck, and aslarge as the head of a month-old child was each of the hill-like lumps, huge, incalculable, vast, immeasurable. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. He next made a ruddy bowl of his face and his countenance. He gulped downone eye into his head so that it [W. 2603. ] would be hard work if a wildcrane succeeded in drawing it out on to the middle of his cheek from therear of his skull. Its mate sprang forth till it came out on his cheek, [1]so that it was the size of a five-fist kettle, and he made a red berrythereof out in front of his head. [1] His mouth was distorted monstrously[2]and twisted up to his ears[2]. He drew the cheek from the jaw-bone sothat the interior of his throat was to be seen. His lungs and his lightsstood out so that they fluttered in his mouth and his gullet. He struck amad lion's blow with the upper jaw [3]on its fellow[3] so that as large asa wether's fleece of a three year old was each [4]red, [4] fiery flake[5]which his teeth forced[5] into his mouth from his gullet. There washeard the loud clap of his heart against his breast like the yelp of ahowling bloodhound or like a lion going among bears. [LL. Fo. 78a. ] Therewere seen the [a]torches of the Badb, [a] and the rain clouds of poison, andthe sparks of glowing-red fire, [6]blazing and flashing[6] in hazes andmists over his head with the seething of the truly-wild wrath that rose upabove him. His hair bristled all over his head like branches of a redthornthrust into a gap in a great hedge. Had a king's apple-tree laden withroyal fruit been shaken around him, scarce an apple of them all would havepassed over him to the ground, but rather would an apple have stayed stuckon each single hair there, for the twisting of the anger which met it as itrose from his hair above him. The Lon Laith ('Champion's Light') stood outof his forehead, so that it was as long and as thick as a warrior'swhetstone, [7]so that it was as long as his nose, till he got furioushandling the shields, thrusting out the charioteer, destroying thehosts. [7] As high, as thick, as strong, as steady, as long as the sail-treeof some huge [W. 2623. ] prime ship was the straight spout of dark bloodwhich arose right on high from the very ridgepole of his crown, so that ablack fog of witchery was made thereof like to the smoke from a king'shostel what time the king comes to be ministered to at nightfall of awinter's day. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Reading with Stowe. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] Reading with Eg. 93. [a-a] A kenning for 'swords. ' [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [7-7] LU. 1958-1959. When now this contortion had been completed in Cuchulain, then it was thatthe hero of valour sprang into his scythed war-chariot, with its ironsickles, its thin blades, its hooks and its hard spikes, with its hero'sfore-prongs, with its opening fixtures, with its stinging nails that werefastened to the poles and thongs and bows and lines of the chariot, [1]lacerating heads and bones and bodies, legs and necks and shoulders. [1] [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. It was then he delivered [2]over his chariot[2] the thunder-feat of ahundred and the thunder-feat of two hundred and the thunder-feat of threehundred and the thunder-feat of four hundred, and he ceased at thethunder-feat of five hundred. For he did not deem it too much that sucha great number should fall by his hand at his first onset and firstbattle-assault on four of the five grand provinces of Erin, [3]whileavenging on them the slaughter of the youths and of Follomain son ofConchobar, [3] In such wise fared he forth for to seek his foes, and hedrove his chariot in a wide circuit round about the hosts of the four grandprovinces of Erin. And he led his chariot a heavy way. The chariot's ironwheels sank into the ground so that [4]the earth dug up by the ironwheels[4] might have served for a dûn and a fortress, so did the chariot'siron wheels cut into the ground. For in like manner the clods and bouldersand rocks and the clumps and the shingle of the earth arose up outside on aheight with the iron wheels. It was for this cause he made this circling[5]hedge[5] of the Badb [W. 2646. ] round about the hosts of four of the fivegrand provinces of Erin, that they might not escape him nor get away beforehe would come on them to press a reprisal for the boys. And he went intothe midst of the ranks and mowed down huge walls of the corpses of his foes[1]and enemies and opponents[1] in a great circle round about the host. Andhe made the onslaught of a foe amongst foes upon them, so that they fellsole to sole, neck to neck, [2]arm to arm, elbow to elbow, and rib to rib, [3]such was the closeness of their bodies, [3] and there were pools of ruddyblood where they moved. [2] Thrice again in this manner he circled themround, so that he left them in beds of six in a great ring around them, even the soles of three to the backs of three men in a circle around thecamp. Hence Sessrech Bresligè ('Great sixfold Slaughter')[a] is the name ofthis event on the Táin, and it is one of the three unreckonable events ofthe Táin, which were, to wit, Sessrech Bresligè, Immsligè Glennamnach ('theMutual Slaying at Glennamain'), and the battle of Garech [LL. Fo. 78b. ] andIlgarech; only that here, hound and horse and man were one to him [4]in thegreat rout on Mag Murthemni that night avenging the youths on four of thefive grand provinces of Erin. [4] [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [3-3] LU. 1996. [a] Or, 'Ploughland of the Great Slaughter. ' [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. What others say is that Lug son of Ethliu fought on Cuchulain's side at theSessrech Bresligè. Their number is not known and it cannot be reckoned how many fell there ofthe rabble rout, but only their chiefs have been counted. Here below aretheir names, to wit:-- The two Cruad, two Calad, two Cir, two Ciar, two Ecell, three Cromm, threeCur, three Combirgè, four Feochar, four Furachar, four Cassè, four Fota, five Caur, five Cerman, [W. 2679. ] five Cobtach, six Saxan, six Duach, sixDarè, [1]six Dunchadh, six Daimiach, [1] seven Rochad, seven Ronan, sevenRurthech, eight Rochlad, eight Rochtad, eight Rindach, [2]eight Corprè, [2]eight Malach, nine Daigith, nine Darè, nine Damach, ten Fiach, ten Fiacach, ten Fedlimid. [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 2010. Ten and six-score[b] kings, [3]leaders and men of the land, [3] Cuchulainlaid low in the great slaughter on the Plain of Murthemne, besides acountless horde of dogs and horses and women and boys and children andcommon folk; for there escaped not a third man of the men of Erin[4]without a wound or a hurt or a blueing or a reddening or a lump or amark or breaking of thigh or of leg or of shinbone, [4] without havinghip-bone broken or half his skull or an eye hurt, or without an enduringmark for the course of his life. [5]And he left them then after inflictingthat battle upon them, without having his blood drawn or wound brought onhimself or on his charioteer or on either of his horses. [5] [b] 'Nineteen and nine-score, ' H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [5-5] LU. , edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 72, note 19. * * * * * [Page 195] XVIIc [1]THE ACCOUNT OF THE APPEARANCE OF CUCHULAIN[1] [W. 2706. ] [2]Early[2] the next morning Cuchulain came to observe the hostand to display his comely, beautiful form to the matrons and dames andgirls and maidens and poets and men of art, [a] for he did not consider itan honour nor becoming, the [3]wild, [3] proud shape of magic which had beenmanifested to them the night before. It was for that then that he came toexhibit his comely, beautiful form on that day. [1-1] LU. Fo. 81a, in the margin. [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [a] A general term for poets, singers, seers and druids. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Truly fair was the youth that came there to display his form to the hosts, Cuchulain, to wit son of Sualtaim [4]son of Boefoltach ('Of littlepossessions') son of Morfoltach ('Of great possessions') son of Red NeilmacRudhraidi. [4] Three heads of hair he wore; brown at the skin, blood-redin the middle, a golden-yellow crown what thatched it. Beautiful was thearrangement of the hair, with three coils of hair wound round the nape ofhis neck, so that like to a strand of thread of gold was each thread-like, loose-flowing, deep-golden, magnificent, long-tressed, splendid, beauteous-hued hair as it fell down over his shoulders. A hundredbright-purple windings of gold-flaming red gold at his neck. A hundredsalmon-coloured (?) cords strung with carbuncles as a covering round hishead. Four spots on either of his two cheeks, even a yellow spot, and agreen spot, and a blue spot, [W. 2722. ] and a purple spot. Seven jewels ofthe eye's brilliance was either of his kingly eyes. Seven toes to either ofhis two feet. Seven fingers to either of his two hands, with the clutch ofhawk's claw, with the grip of hedgehog's talon in every separate one ofthem. [4-4] H. 2. 17. He also put on him that day his fair-day dress. To this apparel about himbelonged, namely, a beautiful, well-fitting, purple, fringed, five-foldedmantle. A white brooch of [1]silvered bronze or of[1] white silverincrusted with burnished gold over his fair white breast, as if it were afull-fulgent lantern that eyes of men could not behold [LL. Fo. 79a. ] for itsresplendence and crystal shining. A [2]striped[2] chest-jacket of silk onhis skin, fairly adorned with borders and braidings and trimmings of goldand silver and silvered bronze; it reached to the upper hem of his dark, brown-red warlike breeches of royal silk. A magnificent, brown-purplebuckler he bore, [3]with five wheels of gold on it, [3] with a rim of purewhite silver around it. A gold-hilted hammered sword [4]with ivory guards, raised high at his girdle[4] at his left side. A long grey-edged speartogether with a trenchant bye-spear for defence, with thongs for throwingand with rivets of whitened bronze, alongside him in the chariot. Nineheads he bore in one of his hands and ten in the other, and these hebrandished before the hosts in token of his prowess and cunning. [5]Thisthen was a night's attack for Cuchulain on the hosts of four of the fiveprovinces of Erin. [5] Medb hid her face beneath a shelter of shields lestCuchulain should cast at her that day. [1-1] YBL. 2040. [2-2] YBL. 2043. [3-3] LU. And YBL. 2045. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 2046. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 2050. Then it was that the maidens [6]of Connacht[6] besought the men of Erin tolift them up on the flat of the shields above the warriors' shoulders;[7]and the women [8]of Munster[8] clomb on the men[7] to behold the aspectof [W. 2746. ] Cuchulain. For they marvelled at the beautiful, comelyappearance he showed them that day compared with the low, arrogant shape ofmagic in which they had seen him the night before. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 1205. [7-7] LU. And YBL. 2052. [8-8] YBL, added later above the line. * * * * * [Page 198] XVIId DUBTHACH'S JEALOUSY[a] [W. 2749. ] [1]And Dubthach's wife prayed to be lifted to regard the form ofCuchulain. [1] Then it was that jealousy, ill-will and envy possessedDubthach Doel ('the Black-tongue')[b] of Ulster because of his wife [2]inregard to Cuchulain; for he saw his wife climb on the men to get a glimpseof Cuchulain;[2] and he counselled the hosts to act treacherously towardsCuchulain and to entrap him, even to lay up an ambush around him on allsides to the end that he might fall by them. And he spake these words:-- "If this be the Twisted one, By him shall men's bodies fall; Shrieks there shall be round the liss; Deeds to tell of shall be wrought! "Stones shall be on graves from him; Kingly martyrs shall increase. Not well have ye battle found On the slopes with this wild Hound! [3]"If this be the Twisted one, Men shall soon be slain by him; 'Neath his feet shall corpses lie; Under bushes mantles white![3] "Now the Wildman's form I see, Nine[c] heads dangling by his side; Shattered spoils he has, behold; Ten[d] heads as his treasure great! [W. 2766. ] "And your women, too, I see, Raise their heads above the lines; I behold your puissant queen Makes no move t'engage in fight! "Were it mine to give advice, Men would be on every side, That they soon might end his life; If this be the Twisted one!" [a] This superscription is not found in the MSS. [1-1] Eg. 93. [b] Literally, 'the Chafer (or Scorpion?). ' [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [c] 'Eight, ' LU. And YBL. 2060. [d] 'Nine, ' LU. And YBL. 2061, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. Fergus macRoig heard this and he deemed it an outrage that Dubthach shouldcounsel how to betray Cuchulain to the hosts. And he reached him a strong, sharp kick with his foot away from him, so that Dubthach struck with hismouth against the group outside. And Fergus reproached him for all thewrongs and iniquities and treachery and shameful deeds he had ever done tothe Ulstermen of old and anew. And then he spake these words:-- "If this 'Black-tongue' Dubthach be, Let him skulk behind the hosts; No good hath he ever wrought, Since he slew the princesses![a] "Base and foul, the deed he wrought: Fiachu, Conchobar's son, he slew. No more fair was heard of him: Carbrè's death, Fedilmid's son! "Ne'er for Ulster's weal doth aim Lugaid's son, Casruba's scion;[b] Such is how he acts to men: Whom he stabs not he incites! "Ulster's exiles it would grieve If their beardless boy[c] should fall. If on you come Ulster's troops They will make your herds their spoil! "Strewn afar your herds will be By the rising Ulstermen. Tales there'll be of mighty deeds That will tell of far-famed queens! [W. 2800. ] [1]"Corpses will be under foot, [1] [2]Food there'll be at ravens' rests;[2] Bucklers lying on the slopes; Wild and furious deeds increase! [3]"I behold just now your wives Raise their heads above the ranks. I behold your puissant queen Moves not to engage in war![3] [LL. Fo. 79b. ] "Valour none nor generous deed Comes from Lugaid's craven son; Nor will kings see lances red, If this 'Black-tongue' Dubthach be!" [a] The reference is to the maidens of Emain Macha slain by Dubthach in punishment for the death of the sons of Usnech. [b] That is, Dubthach. [c] That is, Cuchulain. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 2077. [2-2] Reading: _Betit buind fri brannfossaib_. [3-3] This quatrain is almost identical with the one translated on page 199. Thus far 'The Scythed Chariot. '[a] [a] A very obscure and fragmentary passage in LU. And YBL. (lines 2083-2106, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, lacking in Eg. 93, _Revue Celtique_, tome xv, page 204), consisting of a series of short strains in _rosc_ spoken in turn by Ailill, Medb, Gabran the poet, and Fergus, is omitted in the translation. * * * * * [Page 201] XVIII [1]THE SLAYING OF OENGUS SON OF OENLAM[1] [W. 2814. ] Then it was that a very bold young warrior of the Ulstermen camenigh the hosts; his bye-name was Oengus son of Oenlam Gabè ('the One-handedSmith'). And he drove the hosts before him from Moda Loga, which at thattime was called Lugmud, to Ath da Fert ('the Ford of the Two Gravemounds')in Sliab Fuait. [2]And he suffered them not to go by, but he showered themwith stones. [2] What scholars say is: If Oengus son of Oenlam Gabè hadfought them in single combat, [3]two-thirds of[3] the host would havefallen before that by him in single battle [4]at Emain Macha. [4] Howbeit itwas by no means so that they acted, but they attacked him from ambush onevery side, till he fell at their hands [5]in unequal fight[5] at Ath daFert in Sliab Fuait. [1-1] LU. Fo. 82a, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 2135-2136. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] LU. And YBL. 2137. [5-5] LU. And YBL. 2139. * * * * * [Page 202] XVIIIa HERE NOW IS TOLD THE MISTHROW AT BELACH EOIN. [W. 2823. ] Then came to them Fiacha Fialdana ('the Generous and Intrepid')of the Ulstermen to speak with the son of his mother's sister, namelywith Manè Andoè ('the Unslow') of the Connachtmen. And thus he came, andDubthach Doel ('the Black Tongue') of Ulster with him. It was in this wisethat Manè Andoè came, and Dochè son of Maga along with him. When now DochèmacMagach espied Fiacha Fialdana, he straightway hurled a spear at him, butso that it went through his own friend, through Dubthach Doel of Ulster. Then Fiacha Fialdana hurled a spear at Dochè macMagach, so that it wentthrough his own friend, through Manè Andoè of Connacht. Thereupon said themen of Erin: "A mishap in throwing, " they said, "is what hath happened tothe men, for each of them to kill his friend and nearest relation. " Hencethis is entitled Imroll Belaig Eoin ('the Misthrow at Bird-pass'). And 'theOther Misthrow at Bird-pass' is another name for it. [1]Or it may be this from which cometh Imroll Belaig Eoin: The hostsproceed to Belach Eoin ('Bird-pass'). Their two troops wait there. Diarmait macConchobar of the Ulstermen comes from the north. "Let ahorseman start from you, " cries Diarmait, "that Manè may come with one manto parley with me, and I will go with another man to parley with him. " Awhile thereafter they meet "I am come, " says Diarmait, "from Conchobar, with commands to Ailill and Medb that they let the cows go and make goodall the ill they have done here and bring hither the bull[a] from the westto meet the other bull, [b] to the end that they may encounter, since Medbhas pledged it. " "I will go, " says Manè, "to tell them. " He takes thismessage to Medb and Ailill. "This cannot be had of Medb, " Manè reported. "Let us make a fair exchange of arms, then, " says Diarmait, "if perchancethat pleaseth thee better. " "I am content, " replies Manè. Each of themcasts his spear at the other so that both of them die, and hence the nameof this place is Imroll Belaig Eoin. Their forces rush upon one another. Three-score of each force fall. Hence is Ard in Dirma ('the Height of theTroop'). [1] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 2114-2128. [a] The 'White-horned. ' [b] The 'Brown of Cualnge. ' * * * * * [Page 204] XVIIIb HERE NOW FOLLOWETH THE DISGUISING OF TAMON [W. 2837. ] Then said the men of Erin to Tamon the fool that he should donthe garments of Ailill and the king's golden shawl, and go to the ford thatwas close before them. So he put the garments and golden shawl of Ailillupon him. [1]Ailill's people placed the king's diadem on the head of Tamonthe fool, for Ailill dared not wear it himself, [1] and he went on to theford under their eyes. The men of Erin began to scoff and to shout and jeerat him. "It is a disguising of Tamon ('a Stump') for thee, O Tamon thefool, " they cried, "with the dress and the golden shawl of Ailill uponthee!" When Cuchulain saw him, it seemed to him in his ignorance and lackof knowledge that it was Ailill himself that was there. And he slung astone from his staff-sling at him so that [2]his head was broken thereby[2]and Tamon the fool was smitten lifeless where he was on the ford. Hence AthTamuin ('the Ford of a Stump') [3]is the name of that ford ever since[3]and 'the Disguising of Tamon' [4]is the name of the tale. [4] [1-1] LU. And YBL. 2129. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 2131. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 205] XIX [1]THE BATTLE OF FERGUS AND CUCHULAIN[1] [W. 2851. ] The hosts of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp andentrenched themselves for that night at the pillar-stone in Crich Roiss('the Borders of Ross'). Then Medb called upon the men of Erin for one ofthem to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the morrow. And every oneof them spake thus: "It shall not be I! it shall not be I!" [2]cried eachfrom his place. [2] "No victim is owing from my people, [3]and even if onewere it would not be myself whom ye would send as a victim in his stead. [3][4]I will not be the man to go in his place to fight with Cuchulain tillthe very day of doom and of life!"[4] [1-1] LU. Fo. 82b, in the margin. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 2141. [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. , LU. And YBL. 2142-2143. [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. Thereupon Medb summoned Fergus to [5]go forth and[5] contend and fight withCuchulain, [6]to drive him off from them on the ford[6] [7]at the earlymorning-hour[7] [8]on the morrow, [8] for that the men of Erin had failedher [9]to go and do battle with him. [9] "Ill would it befit me, " quothFergus, "to fight with a callow young lad without any beard, and mine owndisciple, [10]the fosterling of Ulster, [10] [11]the foster-child that saton Conchobar's knee, the lad from Craeb Ruad ('Red Branch'). "[11] HowbeitMedb [W. 2861. ] murmured sore that Fergus foreswore her combat and battle. [1]They filled him with wine till he was heavily drunken and then theyquestioned him about going to the combat. [1] They bode the night in thatplace. Early on the morrow Fergus arose, [2]since they importuned himurgently, [2] [3]and his horses were got ready for him and his chariotharnessed[3] and he fared forth to the place of combat where Cuchulain was. [5-5] Stowe and H. 2. 17. [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] H. 2. 17. [11-11] Eg. 93. [1-1] LU. And YBL. 2145-2146. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 2147. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4]When now[4] Cuchulain saw him coming nigh, [5]this is what he said:[5][6]"Welcome thine arrival and thy coming, O my master Fergus, " spokeCuchulain. "Truly given we esteem thy greeting, " Fergus answered. "It istruly given for thee, O Fergus" said Cuchulain; "and thou shalt have anight's lodging here this night. " "Success and a blessing attend thee, Ofosterling; not for hospitality from thee am I come, but to fight and dobattle with thee. "[6] "A vain surety [LL. Fo. 80a. ] is the one wherewith mymaster Fergus comes to me; for no sword is in the sheath of the great staffhe bears. " It was true what he said. A year before this tale, [a] [7]beforethe expedition of the Táin, [7] Ailill had found Fergus going to a trystwith Medb on the hillside in Cruachan and his sword on a [8]branch[8] nearby him. And Ailill had torn the sword from its sheath and put a woodensword in its stead and vowed he would not restore him the sword till camethe day of the great battle, [9]when the men of Erin would clash in thegreat battle of the Cualnge Cattle-raid at Garech and Ilgarech. [9] [10]"Itis a perilous thing for thee to come to a place of fight, O my masterFergus, without thy sword. "[10] "It matters not to me, O fosterling, "replied Fergus; "for had I a sword in this, it never would cut thee nor beplied on thee. But, by [W. 2874. ] the honour and training I bestowed uponthee and the Ulstermen and Conchobar bestowed, [1]by the troth of thyvalour and knighthood[1] I adjure thee, give way before me this day in thepresence of the men of Erin!" "Truly I am loath [2]to do that, "[2] answeredCuchulain, "to flee before any one man on the Cattle-spoil of Cualnge. ""Nay then it is not a thing to be taken amiss by thee, " said Fergus; "for Iin my turn will retreat before thee when thou wilt be covered with woundsand dripping with gore and pierced with holes in the battle of the Táin. And when I alone shall turn in flight [3]before thee, [3] so will all themen of Erin also flee [4]before thee in like manner. "[4] So zealous wasCuchulain to do whatever made for Ulster's weal that he had his chariotbrought to him, and he mounted his chariot and he went in confusion andflight [5]from Fergus in the presence[5] of the men of Erin. [6]As far asGrellach Dolluid ('the Stamping-place at Dolluid') he fled, in order thatFergus might give way before him on the day of the battle. [6] [7]When[7]the men of Erin saw that, [8]they were joyful, and what they said wasthis:[8] "He is fled from thee! He is fled from thee, O Fergus!" criedall. "Pursue him, pursue him [9]quickly, [9] O Fergus, " Medb cried, "that hedo not escape thee. " "Nay then, " said Fergus, "I will pursue him nofurther. [10]It is not like a tryst. Yon fellow is too speedy for me. [10]For however little ye may make of the flight I have put him to, none of themen of Erin, [11]not even four of the five provinces of Erin[11] could haveobtained so much as that of him on the Cow-creagh of Cualnge. For thiscause, till the men of Erin take turns in single combat, I will not engageagain with this same man. " Hence here we have the [12]'White[12] [W. 2891. ]Battle' of Fergus [1]on the Táin thus far; and it is for this cause it iscalled the 'White Battle, ' because no 'blood on weapons'[a] resultedtherefrom. [1] [2]They continue their march past Cuchulain and pitch camp inCrich Roiss. [2] [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Eg. 93. [a] See above, page 99. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] Reading with Stowe; LL. Has 'on the slope. ' [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] Stowe. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] LU. And YBL. 2154-2155. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] LU. And YBL. 2157. [11-11] Eg. 93. [12-12] Eg. 93. [1-1] Eg. 93. [a] A traditional tag; it occurs again, page 216. [2-2] LU. And YBL. 2158-2159. * * * * * [Page 209] XIXa HERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU [W. 2893. ] Ferchu Longsech ('the Exile'), [1]a wonderful warrior fromLoch Ce, outlawed from his land by Ailill and Medb, [1] although of theConnachtmen, was engaged in battle and plunder with Ailill and Medb. Fromthe day these came to the kingship, there never was a time that he fared totheir camp or took part in their expeditions or shared in their straits ortheir needs or their hardships, but he was ever at their heels, pillagingand plundering their borders and land. At that time he sojourned in theeastern part of Mag Ai. Twelve[a] men was his muster. He learned that asingle man checked and stopped four of the five grand provinces of Erinfrom Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring, slaying a man onthe ford every one of those days and a hundred warriors every night. Heweighed his plan privily with his people. "What better plan could wedevise?" quoth he, "than to go and attack yonder man that checketh andstoppeth four of the five grand provinces of Erin, and bring his head andhis arms with us to Ailill and Medb? However great the injuries and wrongswe have done to Ailill and Medb, we shall obtain our peace therefor, ifonly that man fall by our hand. " [2]He made no doubt that if Cuchulain fellthrough him, the eastern territory of Connacht would be his. [2] Now thiswas the [W. 2908. ] resolve they took, and they proceeded to where Cuchulainwas [1]at Ath Aladh ('Speckled Ford') on the Plain of Murthemne. [1] Andwhen they came, [2]they espied the lone warrior and knew that it wasCuchulain. [2] It was not fair fight nor combat with one they vouchsafedhim, but at one and the same time the twelve men fell upon him [3]so thattheir spears sank up to their middles into his shield. [3] Cuchulain on hispart [4]drew his sword from the sheath of the Badb to attack them, and hefell to to cut away their weapons and to lighten his shield. Then he[4]turned on them, [5]front and back, to the left and the right, [5] andstraightway he smote off their twelve heads; [6]and he engaged in afurious, bloody and violent battle with Ferchu himself, after killing hispeople. And not long did it avail Ferchu thus, for he fell at last byCuchulain, [6] [7]and Cuchulain cut off Ferchu's head to the east of theford. [7] And he set up twelve stones in the earth for them, and he put thehead of each one of them on its stone and he likewise put Ferchu Longsech'shead on its stone. Hence Cinnit Ferchon Longsig is [8]henceforth the nameof[8] the place where Ferchu Longsech left his head [9]and his twelve mentheirs and their arms and their trophies, [9] to wit, Cenn-aitt Ferchon('the Head-place of Ferchu'). [1-1] Eg. 93. [a] 'Thirteen, ' LU. And YBL. 2161, and Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93. [1-1] Eg. 93. [2-2] Eg. 93. [3-3] Eg. 93. [4-4] Eg. 93. [5-5] Eg. 93. [6-6] Eg. 93. [7-7] Eg. 93. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Eg. 93. * * * * * [Page 211] XIXb [1]MANN'S FIGHT[1] [2]Medb despatched Mann son of Muresc son of Darè, of the Dommandach, tofight with Cuchulain. Own brothers were he and Daman, Ferdiad's father. Aman, rough, inordinate in eating and sleeping was this Mann. An ill-tonguedfoul-mouthed man like Dubthach Doel ('Black-tongue') of Ulster. A man, stout, mighty, with strength of limb like Munremur ('Thick-neck') son ofGerrcend ('Short-head'). A fiery champion like Triscoth, the strong man ofConchobar's household. "I will go, " said he, "and unarmed, and I will grindhim between my hands, for I consider it no honour nor credit to use armsagainst a beardless madcap such as he. " [1-1] LU. , fo. 82, in the margin. Therewith he went to attack Cuchulain. There he was, himself and hischarioteer on the ford watching the host. "A lone warrior approacheth ushere, " cried Laeg to Cuchulain. "What manner of man?" asked Cuchulain. "Adark, black man, strong, bull-like, and he unarmed. " "Let him go by thee, "said Cuchulain. At that he comes nigh them. "To fight with thee am Icome, " Mann announced. Therewith they fell to wrestling for a long time, and thrice Mann threw Cuchulain, till the charioteer incited Cuchulain. "Were it the champion's portion thou wast contending for in Emain, " spakeLaeg, "thou wouldst be all powerful over the young bloods in Emain!" Atthese words the hero's wrath and warrior's rage returned to Cuchulain, sothat he overcame Mann at the pillar-stone and he fell to pieces in morsels. Hence cometh Mag Mandachta ('the Plain of Mann's death'). [2] [2-2] YBL. , and, partly, LU. 2163-2181. Here the LU. Version breaks off, fo. 82b. * * * * * [Page 213] XIXc [1]THE COMBAT OF CALATIN'S CHILDREN[1] [W. 2918. ] Then was it debated by the men of Erin who would be fit tocontend and cope with Cuchulain at the morning hour early on the nextday. What they all said was, that Calatin Dana ('the Bold') would be theone, with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson[a] Glass macDelga. Thus were they: Poison was on every man of them and poison on every weaponof their arms; and not one of them missed his throw, and there was no oneon whom one of them drew blood that, if he succumbed not on the spot, wouldnot be dead before the end of the ninth day. Great gifts were promised tothem for engaging to do battle and to contend [LL. Fo. 80b. ] [2]withCuchulain. [2] And they took the matter in hand, and it should be in thepresence of Fergus that the covenant would be made. But Fergus refused tohave part therein, for what they [3]all[3] contended was that they wouldhold it as a single combat, [4]a combat, to wit, of[4] Calatin Dana and hisseven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga; for their contentionwas that his son was a limb of his limbs and a part of his parts, and thatto Calatin Dana belonged all that proceeded from his body. [1-1] The title is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter. [a] 'Nephew. ' Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. Fergus betook himself to his tent and to his people and he breathed hissigh of weariness aloud. "Grievous it [W. 2935. ] seems to us, the deed to bedone here on the morrow, " quoth Fergus. "What deed may that be?" asked hispeople. "The slaying of Cuchulain, " answered Fergus. "Alas, " said they, "who should kill him?" "Calatin Dana, " he replied, "with his seven andtwenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga. For this is their nature:Poison is on every man of them and poison on every weapon of their arms;and there is no one on whom one of them draws blood, that, if he succumbnot on the spot, will not be dead before the end of the ninth day. Andthere is no one [1]of you[1] that would go and learn for me and be witnessof the battle and fight and bring me news how Cuchulain died on whom Iwould not bestow my blessing and armour. " "I will go thither, " spake Fiachuson of Ferfebè. [1-1] Stowe. They abode so that night. Early on the morrow Calatin Dana arose with hisseven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga, and they wentforward to where Cuchulain was. And there went also Fiachu son of Ferfebè. And when Calatin arrived at the place where Cuchulain was, they forthwithhurled their nine and twenty spears, and not one of them went past him by amisthrow. Cuchulain played the edge-feat with his shield, so that all thespears sank up to their middles into the shield. But for all that theirswas no erring cast, not one of the spears was blooded or reddened uponhim. Thereupon Cuchulain drew [2]his[2] sword from the sheath of the Badb, to cut away the weapons and lighten the shield that was on him. While thusengaged, they rushed in upon him and delivered their nine and twenty rightfists at the same time on his head. They smote him and curbed him withal, till his face and his countenance and visage met the sand and gravel of theford. Cuchulain raised his warrior's shout aloud and his cry of unequalcombat, so that there was not an Ulsterman [W. 2962. ] alive [1]in thecamp[1] of those that were not asleep but heard it. Then [2]when they allhad reached for their swords, [2] came Fiachu son of Ferfebè [3]after themout of the camp, [3] and he saw what they did and a qualm of [4]love and[4]the bond of kindred came over him, and [5]when he saw all their handsraised against Cuchulain, he leaped from his chariot and[5] drew his swordfrom the sheath of the Badb and dealt them a blow, so that he cut off theirnine and twenty right fists from them at one stroke, and they all fellbackwards from the intensity of the exertion and hold which they had. [2-2] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] YBL. 2186. [3-3] YBL. 2187. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. 2187-2188. Cuchulain raised his head and drew breath and gave a sigh of wearinessand perceived who it was that had come to his aid. "A ready relief, Ofoster-brother, [6]what thou hast done, "[6] said Cuchulain. "Although forthee a ready relief, " said Fiachu, "yet is it not so for us. Even thoughwe are the best division of three thousand of the Clann Rudraige in thecamp and station of the men of Erin, [7]nevertheless this small thing is abreach of covenant in us men of Ulster. If one of Calatin's childrenreaches the camp, [7] we shall all be brought under the mouth of spear andof sword, however feeble thou mayst deem the blow I struck, if this treasonbe found in us. " "I give my word, " quoth Cuchulain; "so soon as I raise myhead and draw breath, [8]not a man of them shall reach the camp alive, [8]and unless thou thyself tellest the tale not one of these ever will tellit!" [6-6] YBL. 2190. [7-7] YBL. 2190-2191. [8-8] YBL. 2193. With that, Cuchulain turned on them, and he fell to smiting and hewingthem, so that he sent them [LL. Fo. 81a. ] from him in small disjointed piecesand divided quarters eastwards and westwards along the ford. A single mangot away from him, trusting to his speed while Cuchulain was busied[W. 2981. ] beheading the rest; it was Glass macDelga. And Cuchulain racedafter him like a blast of wind, and Glass ran on round the tent of Aililland Medb, and all he could pant out was, "Fiach! Fiach!"[a] when Cuchulainfetched him a stroke that cut off his head. [a] There is a play on words. Glass attempts to pronounce the name 'Fiachu, ' but is only able to utter the first syllable of the word which alone means 'debt. ' "'Tis quick work was made of that man, " quoth Medb. "What debt was that hespoke of, O Fergus?" "I know not, " Fergus answered, "unless it be some onein the camp and quarters that owed him a debt. It is that which troubledhis mind. But be that as it may, " continued Fergus, "it is a debt of bloodand flesh for him. And upon my word, " Fergus added, "now are his debts paidto him for good and all!" In this wise fell Calatin Dana ('the Bold') at the hands of Cuchulain, together with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga[1]and the two sons of Ficcè with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who hadcome to use their strength on the host. [1] So that for evermore in the bedof the ford is still the rock whereabout they had their strife and struggle[2]and their slaughtering of each other;[2] and the mark of theirsword-hilts is in it and of their knees and their elbows [3]and theirfists[3] and the butt-ends of their spears. [4]And their nine and twentystanding stones were set up there. [4] Hence Fuil Iairn ('Blood of Iron') tothe west[b] of Ath Firdead ('Ferdiad's Ford') is the name of the ford. Itis for this it is called Fuil Iairn, because of the 'blood over weapons'[c]that was there. [1-1] YBL. 2194-2196. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 2198. [4-4] YBL. 2198. [b] 'South, ' YBL. 2184. [c] See page 208, note _a_. Thus far then [5]this exploit on the Táin, [5] the Combat of the ClannCalatin [6]of his children and his grandson with Cuchulain, [6] [7]when theywent to do battle with Cuchulain. [7] [5-5] YBL. 2196. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] YBL. 2196-2197. * * * * * [Page 217] XX THE COMBAT OF FERDIAD [1]AND CUCHULAIN[1] [2]The four grand provinces of Erin were side by side and against Cuchulain, from Monday before Samain-tide[a] to Wednesday after Spring-beginning, andwithout leave to work harm or vent their rage on the province of Ulster, while yet all the Ulstermen were sunk in their nine days' 'Pains, ' andConall Cernach ('the Victorious') sought out battle in strange foreignlands paying the tribute and tax of Ulster. Great was the plight and straitof Cuchulain during that time, for he was not a day or a night withoutfierce, fiery combat waged on him by the men of Erin, until he killedCalatin with his seven and twenty sons and Fraech son of Fiadach andperformed many deeds and successes which are not enumerated here. Now thiswas sore and grievous for Medb and for Ailill. [2] [1-1] Stowe and YBL. 2200 and Eg. 106. [2-2] Eg. 106. [a] See note p. 182. [W. 3001. ] Then the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit [3]to send tothe ford[3] to fight and do battle with Cuchulain, [4]to drive him off fromthem[4] at the morning hour early on the morrow. [3-3] YBL. 2203. [4-4] YBL. 2202. [5]With one accord[5] they declared that it should be Ferdiad son of Damanson of Darè, the great and valiant warrior of the men of Domnann, [6]thehorn-skin from Irrus Domnann, the irresistible force, and the battle-rockof destruction, the own, dear, foster-brother of Cuchulain. [6] [W. 3005. ][1]And fitting it was for him to go thither, [1] for well-matched and alikewas their manner of fight and of combat. Under the same instructresses hadthey done skilful deeds of valour and arms, when learning the art withScathach ('the Modest') and with Uathach ('the Dreadful') and with Aifè('the Handsome'). [2]Yet was it the felling of an oak with one's fists, andthe stretching of the hand into a serpent's nest, and a spring into thelair of a lion, for hero or champion in the world, aside from Cuchulain, tofight or combat with Ferdiad on whatever ford or river or mere he set hisshield. [2] And neither of them overmatched the other, save in the feat ofthe Gae Bulga ('the Barbed Spear') which Cuchulain possessed. Howbeit, against this, Ferdiad was horn-skinned when fighting and in combat with awarrior on the ford; [3]and they thought he could avoid the Gae Bulga anddefend himself against it, because of the horn about him of such kind thatneither arms nor multitude of edges could pierce it. [3] [5-5] Eg. 106. [6-6] YBL. 2204-2206. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Eg. 106. [3-3] YBL. 2208-2209. Then were messengers and envoys sent [4]from Medb and Ailill[4] to Ferdiad. Ferdiad denied them their will, and dismissed and sent back the messengers, and he went not with them, for he knew wherefore they would have him, tofight and combat with his friend, with his comrade and foster-brother, [5]Cuchulain. [5] [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. Then did Medb despatch the druids [6]and the poets of the camp, [6] thelampoonists and hard-attackers, [a] for Ferdiad, to the end that they mightmake three satires to stay him and three scoffing speeches against him, [7]to mock at him and revile and disgrace him, [7] that they might raisethree blisters on his face, Blame, Blemish and Disgrace, [8]that he mightnot find a place in the world to lay his head, [8] [W. 3021. ] if he came not[1]with them[1] [2]to the tent of Medb and Ailill on the foray. [2] [6-6] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209. [a] Literally, 'the cheek-blisterers. ' [7-7] YBL. 2213. [8-8] YBL. 2214. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] YBL. 2214. Ferdiad came with them for the sake of his own honour and [3]for fear oftheir bringing shame on him, [3] forasmuch as he deemed it better to fall bythe shafts of valour and bravery and skill, than to fall by the shafts ofsatire, abuse and reproach. And when [4]Ferdiad[4] was come [5]into thecamp, [5] [6]Medb and Ailill beheld him, and great and most wonderful joypossessed them, and they sent him to where their trusty people were, and[6]he was honoured and waited on, and choice, well-flavoured strong liquorwas poured out for him till he became drunken and merry. [7]Finnabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, was seated at his side. It was Finnabair thatplaced her hand on every goblet and cup Ferdiad quaffed. She it was thatgave him three kisses with every cup that he took. She it was that passedhim sweet-smelling apples over the bosom of her tunic. This is what sheceased not to say, that her darling and her chosen sweetheart of theworld's men was Ferdiad. [7] [8]And when Medb got Ferdiad drunken andmerry, [8] great rewards were promised him if he would make the fight andcombat. [3-3] YBL. 2215. [4-4] Stowe and Eg. 209. [5-5] Stowe and Eg. 209. [6-6] Eg. 106. [7-7] YBL. 2216-2221. [8-8] Eg. 106. [9]When now Ferdiad was satisfied, happy and joyful, it was that Medbspoke: "Hail now, Ferdiad. Dost know the occasion wherefore thou artsummoned to this tent?" "I know not, in truth, " Ferdiad replied; "unlessit be that the nobles of the men of Erin are here. Why is it less fittingfor me to be here than any other good warrior?" "'Tis not that, forsooth, "answered Medb: "but to give thee[9] a chariot worth four[a] times sevenbondmaids, and the apparel of two men and ten men, of cloth of everycolour, [W. 3028. ] and the equivalent [1]of the Plain of Murthemne[1] of therich Plain of Ai, [2]and that thou shouldst be at all times in Cruachan, and wine be poured out for thee there; the freedom of thy descendants andthy race forever, [2] free of tribute, free of rent, without constraint toencamp or take part in our expeditions, [LL. Fo. 81b. ] without duress for[3]thy son, or for thy grandson, or for thy great-grandson, till the end oftime and existence;[3] [4]this leaf-shaped golden brooch of mine shall bethine, wherein are ten-score ounces, and ten-score half ounces, andten-score scruples, and ten-score quarters;[4] Finnabair, [5]my daughterand Ailill's, [5] to be thine own one wife, [6]and mine own most intimatefriendship, if thou exactest that withal. " "He needs it not, " they cried, one and all; "great are the rewards and gifts!"[6] [9-9] YBL. 2221-2225. [a] 'Thrice seven, ' YBL. 2226, Stowe, and Eg. 209. [1-1] YBL. 2227. [2-2] YBL. 2228. [3-3] In LL. This passage is reported in indirect discourse; consequently, instead of 'thy, ' LL. Has 'his. ' [4-4] YBL. 2229-2231. [5-5] YBL. 2231-2232. [6-6] YBL. 2232-2234. Such were the words of Medb, and she spake them here and Ferdiadresponded:-- Medb: "Great rewards in arm-rings, Share of plain and forest, Freedom of thy children From this day till doom! Ferdiad son of Daman, More than thou couldst hope for, Why shouldst thou refuse it, That which all would take?" Ferdiad: "Naught I'll take without bond-- No ill spearman am I-- Hard on me to-morrow: Great will be the strife! Hound that's hight of Culann, How his thrust is grievous! No soft thing to stand him; Rude will be the wound!" Medb: "Champions will be surety, Thou needst not keep hostings. Reins and splendid horses Shall be given as pledge! [W. 3056. ] Ferdiad, good, of battle, For that thou art dauntless, Thou shalt be my lover, Past all, free of cain!" Ferdiad: "Without bond I'll go not To engage in ford-feats; It will live till doomsday In full strength and force. Ne'er I'll yield--who hears me, Whoe'er counts upon me-- Without sun- and moon-oath, Without sea and land!" Medb: "Why then dost delay it? Bind it as it please thee, By kings' hands and princes', Who will stand for thee! Lo, I will repay thee, [a] Thou shalt have thine asking, For I know thou'lt slaughter Man that meeteth thee!" Ferdiad: "Nay, without six sureties-- It shall not be fewer-- Ere I do my exploits There where hosts will be! Should my will be granted, I swear, though unequal, That I'll meet in combat Cuchulain the brave!" Medb: "Domnall, then, or Carbrè, Niaman famed for slaughter, Or e'en folk of barddom, Natheless, thou shalt have. Bind thyself on Morann, Wouldst thou its fulfilment, Bind on smooth Man's Carbrè, And our two sons, bind!" Ferdiad: "Medb, with wealth of cunning, Whom no spouse can bridle, Thou it is that herdest Cruachan of the mounds! High thy fame and wild power! Mine the fine pied satin; Give thy gold and silver, Which were proffered me!" Medb: [W. 3100. ] "To thee, foremost champion, I will give my ringed brooch. From this day till Sunday, Shall thy respite be! Warrior, mighty, famous, All the earth's fair treasures Shall to thee be given; Everything be thine! "Finnabair of the champions (?), Queen of western Erin, When thou'st slain the Smith's Hound, Ferdiad, she's thine!" Ferdiad: [1]"Should I have Finnabair to wife, Falls of Ai and Cruachan too, And to dwell for alway there, I'd not seek the deedful Hound! "Equal skill to me and him--" Thus spake Ferdiad withal-- "The same nurses raised us[a] both, And with them we learned our art. "Not for fear of battle hard, Noble Eocho Fedlech's maid, Would I shun the Blacksmith's Hound, But my heart bleeds for his love!" Medb: "Thou shalt have, dear, bright-scaled[b] man, [c] One swift, proud, high-mettled steed. Thou shalt have domains and land And shalt stay not from the fight (?)!" Ferdiad: "But that Medb entreated so, And that poets' tongues did urge, I'd not go for hard rewards To contend with mine own friend!" Medb: "Son of Daman of white cheeks, Shouldst thou check this heroes' Hound, E'er so long thy fame will live, When thou comest from Ferdiad's Ford!"[1] [a] Translating from Stowe. [1-1] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique, _ t. X, page 339). The metre is changed designedly to agree with the original. [a] MS. 'ye. ' [b] Referring to Ferdiad's horn-skin. [c] Literally, 'calf. ' [2]Then said they, one and all, those gifts were great. [3]"'Tis true, theyare great. [3] But though they are, " said [W. 3113. ] Ferdiad, "with Medbherself I will leave them, and I will not accept them if it be to do battleor combat with my foster-brother, the man of my alliance and affection, [1]and my equal in skill of arms, [1] namely, with Cuchulain. " And hesaid:-- "Greatest toil, [2]this, greatest toil, [2] Battle with the Hound of gore! Liefer would I battle twice With two hundred men of Fal! "Sad the fight, [2]and sad the fight, [2] I and Hound of feats shall wage! We shall hack both flesh and blood; Skin and body we shall hew! "Sad, O god, [2]yea, sad, O god, [2] That a woman should us part! My heart's half, the blameless Hound; Half the brave Hound's heart am I! "By my shield, [2]O, by my shield, [2] If Ath Cliath's brave Hound should fall, I will drive my slender glaive Through my heart, my side, my breast! "By my sword, [2]O, by my sword, [2] If the Hound of Glen Bolg fall! No man after him I'll slay, Till I o'er the world's brink spring! "By my hand, [2]O, by my hand![2] Falls the Hound of Glen in Sgail, Medb with all her host I'll kill, And then no more men of Fal! "By my spear, [2]O, by my spear![2] Should Ath Cro's brave Hound be slain, I'll be buried in his grave; May one grave hide me and him! [3]"Liefer would I, [2]liefer far, [2] Arms should slay me in fierce fight, Than the death of heroes' Hound, "[a] Should be food for ravenous birds?[3] "Tell him this, [2]O, tell him this, [2] To the Hound of beauteous hue, Fearless Scathach hath foretold My fall on a ford through him! [W. 3149. ] "Woe to Medb, [1]yea, woe to Medb, [1] Who hath used her [3]guile[3] on us; She hath set me face to face 'Gainst Cuchulain--hard the toil!" [2-2] Stowe, Add. 18, 748 and Eg. 209. [3-3] YBL. 2234. [1-1] Eg. 106, Eg. 209. [2-2] Eg. 209. [a] The word is illegible in the manuscript. [3-3] Eg. 106. [1-1] Eg. 209. [3-3] Reading with Eg. 209. "Ye men, " spake Medb, in the wonted fashion of stirring up disunion anddissension, [4]as if she had not heard Ferdiad at all, [4] "true is the wordCuchulain speaks. " "What word is that?" asked Ferdiad. "He said, then, "replied Medb, "he would not think it too much if thou shouldst fall by hishands in the choicest feat of his skill in arms, in the land whereto heshould come. " "It was not just for him to speak so, " quoth Ferdiad; "for itis not cowardice or lack of boldness that he hath ever seen in me [5]by dayor by night. [5] [6]And I speak not so to him, for I have it not to say ofhim. [6] And I swear by my arms [7]of valour, [7] if it be true that he spokeso, I will be the first man of the men of Erin to contend with him on themorrow, [8]how loath soever I am to do so!"[8] [4-4] YBL. 2238. [5-5] YBL. 2242. [6-6] Eg. 106. [7-7] Eg. 209. [8-8] Eg. 106. [9]And he gave his word in the presence of them all that he would go andmeet Cuchulain. For it pleased Medb, if Ferdiad should fail to go, to havethem as a witness against him, in order that she might say it was fear ordread that caused him to break his word. [9] "A blessing [10]and victory[10]upon thee for that!" said Medb; "it pleaseth me more than for thee to showfear and lack of boldness. For every man loves his own land, and how is itbetter for him to seek the welfare of Ulster, [11]because his mother wasdescended from the Ulstermen, [11] than for thee to seek the welfare ofConnacht, [2] [12]as thou art the son of a king of Connacht?"[12] [9-9] Eg. 106. [10-10] YBL. 2244. [11-11] YBL. 2247. [12-12] YBL. 2248. Then it was that Medb obtained from Ferdiad the easy [W. 3163. ] surety of acovenant to fight and contend on the morrow with six warriors [1]of thechampions of Erin, [1] or to fight and contend with Cuchulain alone, if tohim this last seemed lighter. Ferdiad obtained [2]of Medb[2] the easysurety, [3]as he thought, [3] to send the aforesaid six men for thefulfilment of the terms which had been promised him, should Cuchulain fallat his hands. [1-1] Stowe and Eg. 209. [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [3-3] A gloss, in LL. [4]There was a wonderful warrior of the Ulstermen present at that covenant, and that was Fergus macRoig. Fergus betook him to his tent. "Woe is me, forthe deed that will be done on the morning of the morrow!" "What deed isthat?" his tent-folk asked. "My good fosterling Cuchulain will be slain!""Good lack! who makes that boast?" "Not hard to say: None other but hisdear, devoted foster-brother, Ferdiad son of Daman. Why bear ye not myblessing, " Fergus continued, "and let one of you go with a warning andmercy to Cuchulain, if perchance he would leave the ford on the morn of themorrow?" "As we live, " said they; "though it were thyself was on the fordof battle, we would not go near him to seek thee. " "Come, my lad, " criedFergus, "get our horses for us, and yoke the chariot!"[4] [4-4] YBL. Fo. 36a, 21-36. Then were Fergus' horses fetched for him and his chariot was yoked, and hecame forward to the place [5]of combat[5] where Cuchulain was, to informhim [6]of the challenge, that Ferdiad was to fight with him. [6] [5-5] YBL. Fo. 36a, 38. [6-6] Eg. 209. [7]"A chariot cometh hither towards us, O Cuchulain!" cried Laeg. For inthis wise was the gilla, with his back towards his lord. He used to winevery other game of draughts and of chess from his master. Watch and guardof the four airts was he besides. "What manner of chariot is it?" askedCuchulain. "A chariot like to a royal fort, huge, with its yoke, strong, golden; with its great board of copper; with its shafts of bronze; with itsthin-framed, dry-bodied box (?) . . . Set on two horses, black, swift, stout, strong-forked, thick-set, under beautiful shafts. One kingly, broad-eyedwarrior is the combatant in the chariot. A curly, forked beard he wearsthat reaches below outside over the smooth lower part of his soft tunic, which would shelter fifty warriors on a day of storm and rain under theheavy shield of the warrior's beard. A bent buckler, white, beautiful, ofmany colours, he bears, with three stout-wrought chains, so that there isroom from edge to edge for four troops of ten men behind the leather of theshield which hangs upon the broad back of the warrior. A long, hard-edged, broad, red sword in a sheath woven and twisted of white silver, over the. . . Of the battle-warrior. A strong, three-ridged spear, wound and bandedwith all-gleaming white silver he has lying across the chariot. " [7-7] YBL. Fo. 36a, 39-36b, 15. "Not difficult to recognize him, " said Cuchulain: "'tis my master Fergusthat cometh hither with a warning and with compassion for me, before allthe four provinces of Erin. " [W. 3172. ] Fergus drew nigh and sprang from his chariot. [7] Cuchulain badehim welcome. [LL. Fo. 82a. ] "Welcome is thy coming, O my master Fergus!"cried Cuchulain. [1]"If a flock of birds comes into the plain, thou shalthave a duck with half of another. If a fish comes into the river-mouths, thou shalt have a salmon with half of another. A handful of water-cress anda bunch of laver and a sprig of sea-grass and a drink of cold water fromthe sand thou shalt have thereafter. " "Tis an outlaw's portion, that, "said Fergus. "Tis true; 'tis an outlaw's portion is mine, " answeredCuchulain. [1] "Truly intended, methinks, the welcome, O [W. 3174. ]fosterling, " said Fergus. "But, [1]were it for this I came, I should thinkit better to leave it. [1] It is for this I am here, to inform thee whocomes to fight and contend with thee at the morning hour early on themorrow. " "E'en so will we hear it from thee, " said Cuchulain. "Thine ownfriend and comrade and foster-brother, the man thine equal in feats and inskill of arms and in deeds, Ferdiad son of Daman son of Darè, the great andmighty warrior of the men of Domnann. " [2]"As my soul liveth, "[2] repliedCuchulain, "it is not to an encounter we wish our friend to come, and[3]not for fear, but for love and affection of him;[3] [4]and almost Iwould prefer to fall by the hand of that warrior than for him to fall bymine. "[4] "It is even for that, " answered Fergus, "thou shouldst be on thyguard and prepared. [5]Say not that thou hast no fear of Ferdiad, for it isfitting that thou shouldst have fear and dread before fighting withFerdiad. [5] For unlike all to whom it fell to fight and contend with theeon the Cualnge Cattle-raid on this occasion is Ferdiad son of Daman son ofDarè, [9]for he hath a horny skin about him [6]in battle against a man, [6][7]a belt, [7] [8]equally strong, victorious in battle, [8] and neitherpoints nor edges are reddened upon it[9] [10]in the hour of strife andanger. For he is the fury of a lion, and the bursting of wrath, and theblow of doom, and the wave that drowneth foes. "[10] [12]"Speak not thus!"cried Cuchulain, "for I swear [11]by my arms of valour, [11] the oath thatmy people swear, that every limb and every joint will be as soft as apliant rush in the bed of a river under the point of sword, if he showhimself to me on the ford![12] Truly am I here, " said Cuchulain, "checkingand [W. 3185. ] staying four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Mondayat[a] Summer's end till[b] the beginning of spring, [1]and I have not leftmy post for a night's disport, through stoutly opposing the men of Erin onthe Cattle-lifting of Cualnge. [1] And in all this time, I have not put footin retreat before any one man [2]nor before a multitude, [2] and methinksjust as little will I turn foot in flight before him. " [1-1] YBL. 36b, 27-28. [7-7] YBL. Fo. 36a, 39-36b, 15. [1-1] YBL. 36b, 18-24. [2-2] Literally, 'I say our confession. ' [3-3] Stowe, Eg. 209, Eg. 106. [4-4] Eg. 106. [5-5] Eg. 106. [6-6] YBL. Fo. 36b, 38. [7-7] Eg. 106. [8-8] Eg. 106. [9-9] Stowe and Eg. 209, and, similarly, YBL. 36b, 37. [10-10] Eg. 106. [11-11] Eg. 106. [12-12] YBL. 36b, 38-43 [1-1] YBL. 36b, 25-26. [2-2] Stowe. [3]And thus spake he, that it was not fear of Ferdiad that caused hisanxiety for the fight, but his love for him. [3]And, on his part, so spakeFergus, putting him on his guard [4]because of Ferdiad's strength, [4] andhe said these words and Cuchulain responded:-- Fergus: "O Cuchulain--splendid deed-- Lo, 'tis time for thee to rise. Here in rage against thee comes Ferdiad, red-faced Daman's son!" Cuchulain: "Here am I--no easy task--[c] Holding Erin's men at bay; Foot I've never turned in flight In my fight with single foe!" Fergus: "Dour the man when anger moves, Owing to his gore-red glaive; Ferdiad wears a skin of horn, 'Gainst which fight nor might prevails!" Cuchulain: "Be thou still; urge not thy tale, Fergus of the mighty arms. On no land and on no ground, For me is there aught defeat!" Fergus: "Fierce the man with scores of deeds; No light thing, him to subdue. Strong as hundreds--brave his mien-- Point pricks not, edge cuts him not!" Cuchulain: "If we clash upon the ford, I and Ferdiad of known skill, We'll not part without we know: Fierce will be our weapon fight!" Fergus: [W. 3214. ] "More I'd wish it than reward, O Cuchulain of red sword, Thou shouldst be the one to bring Eastward haughty Ferdiad's spoils!" Cuchulain: "Now I give my word and vow, Though unskilled in strife of words, It is I will conquer this Son of Daman macDarè!" Fergus: "It is I brought east the host, Thus requiting Ulster's wrong. With me came they from their lands, With their heroes and their chiefs!" Cuchulain: "Were not Conchobar in the 'Pains, ' Hard 'twould be to come near us. Never Medb of Mag in Scail On more tearful march had come!" Fergus: "Greatest deed awaits thy hand: Fight with Ferdiad, Daman's son. Hard stern arms with stubborn edge, [b] Shalt thou have, thou Culann's Hound!" [a] Stowe and H. 1. 13: 'before'; YBL. 36b, 24: 'after. ' [b] 'Till Wednesday after Spring, ' is the reading of H. 1. 13. [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209. [4-4] Stowe. [c] Literally, 'no meagre sail. ' [b] Or, 'which quatrains love (?), ' a cheville. [1]After that, [1] Fergus returned to the camp and halting-place [2]of themen of Erin, [2] [3]lest the men of Erin should say he was betraying them orforsaking them, if he should remain longer than he did conversing withCuchulain. And they took farewell of each other. [3] [1-1] YBL. 37a, 22. [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [3-3] Eg. 106. [4]Now as regards the charioteer of Cuchulain [5]after Fergus went fromthem:[5] "What wilt thou do to-night?" asked Laeg. "What, indeed?" saidCuchulain. "It will be thus" (said the charioteer) "Ferdiad will come toattack thee, with new beauty of plaiting and dressing of hair, and washingand bathing, and the four provinces of Erin with him to look at thecombat. I would that thou wouldst go where thou wilt get a like adorningfor thyself, to the place where is Emer Foltchain ('Emer of the BeautifulHair, ' thy wife), [6]daughter of Forgal Monach, [6] at Cairthenn in Cluan daDam, ('two Oxen's Meadow') in Sliab Fuait, [1]where thou wilt get evensuch an adorning for thyself. "[1] [2]"It is fitting to do so, " saidCuchulain. [2] Then Cuchulain went thither that night [3]to Dundelgan, [3]and passed the night with his wife. His doings from that time are notrelated here now. [4] [4-4] YBL. 37a, 29-39, and, similarly, Eg. 106. [5-5] Eg. 106. [6-6] Eg. 106. [1-1] Eg. 106. [2-2] Eg. 106. [3-3] Eg. 106. [W. 3235. ] [5]As for[5] Ferdiad, he betook himself to his tent and to hispeople, and imparted to them the easy surety which Medb had obtained fromhim to do combat and battle with six warriors on the morrow, or to docombat and battle with Cuchulain alone, if he thought it a lighter task. He made known to them also the fair terms he had obtained from Medb ofsending the same six warriors for the fulfilment of the covenant she hadmade with him, should Cuchulain fall by his hands. [5-5] Eg. 106. [6]The folk of Ferdiad were not joyful, blithe, cheerful or merry thatnight, [6] [LL. Fo. 82b. ] but they were sad, sorrowful and downcast, for theyknew that where the two champions and the two bulwarks in a gap for ahundred, [7]the two pillars of battle and strife of the men of Erin[7][8]of that time[8] met in combat, one or other of them would fall there orboth would fall, and if it should be one of them, they believed it would be[9]their king and[9] their own lord [10]that would fall there, [10] for itwas not easy to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the Raid for theKine of Cualnge. [6-6] LL. , with the help of Stowe; LL. Being partly illegible here. [7-7] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and YBL. 37a, 43. [8-8] YBL. 37a, 43. [9-9] H. 1. 13. [10-10] Stowe. Ferdiad slept right heavily the first part of the night, but when the endof the night was come, his sleep and his heaviness left him. And theanxiousness of the combat and the battle came upon him. [11]But mosttroubled in spirit was he that he should allow all the treasures to passfrom him, and the maiden, by reason of combat with one man. Unless hefought with that one man, he must needs fight with six champions on themorrow. What tormented him more than that was, should he once show himselfon the ford to Cuchulain he was certain he would never have power of heador of life ever after. And Ferdiad arose early on the morrow. [11] [W. 3252. ]And he charged his charioteer to take his horses and to yoke his chariot. The charioteer sought to dissuade him [1]from that journey. [1] [2]"By ourword, "[2] said the gilla, "'twould be better for thee[a] [3]to remain thanto go thither, " said he; "for, not more do I commend it for thee than Icondemn it. "[3] "Hold thy peace about us, boy!" quoth Ferdiad, [4]"for wewill brook no interference from any one concerning this journey. [4] [5]Forthe promise we gave to Medb and Ailill in the presence of the men of Erin, it would shame us to break it; for they would say it was fear or dread thatcaused us to break it. And, by my conscience, I would almost liefer fallmyself by Cuchulain's hand than that he should fall by mine on thisoccasion. And should Cuchulain fall by my hand on the ford of combat, thenshall Medb and many of the men of Erin fall by my hand because of thepledge they extorted from me, and I drunken and merry. [5] And in thismanner he spake, [6]conversing with the charioteer, [6] and he uttered thesewords, [7]the little lay that follows, urging on the charioteer, [7] and thehenchman responded:-- Ferdiad: "Let's haste to th' encounter, To battle with this man; The ford we will come to, O'er which Badb will shriek! To meet with Cuchulain, To wound his slight body, To thrust the spear through him So that he may die!" The Henchman: [W. 3266. ] "To stay it were better; Your threats are not gentle; Death's sickness will one have, And sad will ye part! To meet Ulster's noblest, To meet whence ill cometh; Long will men speak of it. Alas, for your[a] course!" Ferdiad: "Not fair what thou speakest; No fear hath the warrior; We owe no one meekness; We stay not for thee! Hush, gilla, about us! The time will bring strong hearts; More meet strength than weakness; [1]Let's on to the tryst!"[1] [11-11] YBL. 37a, 47-37b, 5. [1-1] Stowe, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13. [2-2] YBL. 37b, 7. [a] MSS. : 'ye. ' [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106, Eg. 109 and H. 1. 13. [4-4] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13. [5-5] Eg. 106. [6-6] YBL. 37b, 9. [7-7] YBL. 37b, 10. [a] MS. : 'his. ' [1-1] YBL. 37b, 22. Ferdiad's horses were now brought forth and his chariot was hitched, and heset out [2]from the camp[2] for the ford of battle when yet day with itsfull light had not come there for him. [3]"My lad, " spake Ferdiad, "it isnot fitting that we make our journey without bidding farewell to the men ofErin. Turn the horses and the chariot for us towards the men of Erin. "Thrice the servant turned the heads of the horses and the chariot towardsthe men of Erin. Then he came upon Medb letting her water from her on thefloor of the tent. "Ailill, sleepest thou still?" asked Medb. "Not so!"replied Ailill. "Dost hear thy new son-in-law taking farewell, of thee?""Is that what he doth?" asked Ailill. "'Tis that, verily, " Medb madeanswer; "but I swear by what my tribe swears, not on the same feet will theman who makes that greeting come back to you. " "Howbeit, we have profitedby a happy alliance of marriage with him, " quoth Ailill; "if only Cuchulainfalls by his hand, I should be pleased if they both fell, yet would Iprefer that Ferdiad should escape. " [2-2] YBL. 37b, 24. [3-3] YBL. 37b, 25-38a, 25. Ferdiad came to the ford of combat. "Look, my lad!" said Ferdiad, "isCuchulain on the ford?" "That he is not, " replied the gilla. "Look well forus, " said Ferdiad. "Cuchulain is not a little speck where he would be inhiding, " answered the gilla. "'Tis true, then, my lad; till this dayCuchulain hath not heard of a goodly warrior coming to meet him on theCow-spoil of Cualnge, and now when he has heard of one, he has left theford. " "Shame for thee to slander Cuchulain in his absence. Rememberest thou notwhen ye gave battle to German Garbglas above the borders of the TyrrheneSea, thou leftest thy sword with the hosts, and it was Cuchulain who slew ahundred warriors till he reached it and brought it to thee? And mindestthou well where we were that night?" the gilla asked further. "I know not, "Ferdiad answered. "At the house of Scathach's steward, " said the other;"and thou wentest . . . And proudly in advance of us all into the house. Thechurl gave thee a blow with his three-pointed fork in the small of theback, so that thou flewest like a bolt out over the door. Cuchulain came inand gave the churl a blow with his sword, so that he made two pieces ofhim. I was their house-steward whilst ye were in that place. If it werethat day, thou wouldst not say thou wast a better warrior than Cuchulain. ""Wrong is what thou hast done, O gilla, " said Ferdiad; "for I would nothave come to the combat, hadst thou spoken thus to me at first. Why dostthou not lay the chariot-poles at my side and the skin-coverings under myhead, that so I may sleep now?" "Alas, " said the gilla, "'tis a sorry sleepbefore deer and packs of wolves here!" "How so, gilla? Art thou not able tokeep watch and guard for me?" "I am, " the gilla answered; "unless they comein clouds or in the air to attack thee, they shall not come from east orfrom west to attack thee without warning, without notice. "[3] "Come, gilla, " said Ferdiad, [1]"unharness the horses and[1] [W. 3285. ] spread forme the cushions and skins of my chariot under me here, so that I sleep offmy heavy fit of sleep and slumber here, for I slept not the last part ofthe night with the anxiousness of the battle and combat. " [1-1] Stowe. The gilla unharnessed the horses; he unfastened the chariot under him, [1]and spread beneath him the chariot-cloths. [1] He slept off the heavy fitof sleep that was on him. [2]The gilla remained on watch and guard forhim. [2] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Eg. 106. Now how Cuchulain fared [3]is related[3] here: He arose not till the daywith its bright light had come to him, lest the men of Erin might say itwas fear or fright of the champion he had, if he should arise [4]early. [4]And when day with its full light had come, he [5]passed his hand over hisface and[5] bade his charioteer take his horses and yoke them to hischariot. "Come, gilla, " said Cuchulain, "take out our horses for us andharness our chariot, for an early riser is the warrior appointed to meetus, Ferdiad son of Daman son of Darè. [6]If Ferdiad awaits us, he mustneeds think it long. "[6] "The horses are taken out, " [7]said the gilla;[7]"the chariot is harnessed. Mount, and be it no shame to thy valour [8]to gothither!"[8] [9]Cuchulain stepped into the chariot and they pressedforward to the ford. [9] Then it was that the cutting, feat-performing, battle-winning, red-sworded hero, Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, mounted hischariot, so that there shrieked around him the goblins and fiends and thesprites of the glens and the demons of the air; for the Tuatha De Danann('the Folk of the Goddess Danu') were wont to set up their cries aroundhim, to the end that the dread and the fear and the fright and the terrorof him might be so much the greater in every [W. 3304. ] battle and on everyfield, in every fight and in every combat wherein he went. [3-3] Stowe and YBL. 38a, 28. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe, and, similarly Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [6-6] YBL. 38a, 30. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] H. 1. 13. [9-9] YBL. 38a, 31-32. Not long had Ferdiad's charioteer waited when he heard something: [1]A rushand a crash and a hurtling sound, and a din and a thunder, [1] [LL. Fo. 83a. ]and a clatter and a clash, namely, the shield-cry of feat-shields, and thejangle of javelins, and the deed-striking of swords, and the thud of thehelmet, [2]and the ring of spears, [2] and the clang of the cuirass, and thestriking of arms, the fury of feats, the straining of ropes, and the whirrof wheels, and the creaking of the chariot, and the trampling of horses'hoofs, and the deep voice of the hero and battle-warrior [3]in grave speechwith his servant[3] on his way to the ford to attack his opponent. [1-1] From Stowe; LL. Is illegible here. [2-2] H. 1. 13. [3-3] Stowe. The servant came and touched his master with his hand [4]and awakenedhim. [4] "Ferdiad, master, " said the youth, "rise up! They are here to meetthee at the ford. " [5]Then[5] [6]Ferdiad arose and girt his body in hiswar-dress of battle and combat. [6] And the gilla spake these words:-- "The roll of a chariot, Its fair yoke of silver; A man great and stalwart O'ertops the strong car! O'er Bri Ross, o'er Branè Their swift path they hasten; Past Old-tree Town's[a] tree-stump, Victorious they speed! "A sly Hound that driveth, A fair chief that urgeth, A free hawk that speedeth His steeds towards the south! Gore-coloured, the Cua, [b] 'Tis sure he will take us; We know--vain to hide it-- He brings us defeat![c] [W. 3335. ] "Woe him on the hillock, The brave Hound before him; Last year I foretold it, That some time he'd come! Hound from Emain Macha, Hound formed of all colours, The Border-hound, War-hound, I hear what I've heard!" [4-4] YBL. 38a, 35. [5-5] H. 1. 13. [6-6] Stowe and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13. [a] _Baile in bile_, MSS. [b] A shortened form for 'Cuchulain. ' [c] Literally, 'battle, strife. ' "Come, gilla, " said Ferdiad; "for what reason laudest thou this man eversince I am come from my house? And it is almost a cause for strife withthee that thou hast praised him thus highly. But, Ailill and Medb haveprophesied to me that this man will fall by my hand. And since it is for areward, he shall quickly be torn asunder by me. [1]And make ready the armson the ford against his coming. " "Should I turn my face backward, " said thegilla; "methinks the poles of yon chariot will pass through the back of myneck. " "Too much, my lad, " said Ferdiad, "dost thou praise Cuchulain, fornot a reward has he given thee for praising, [1] but it is time to fetchhelp. " And he spake these words, and the henchman responded:-- Ferdiad: "'Tis time now to help me; Be silent! cease praising! 'Twas no deed of friendship, No doom o'er the brink (?)[a] The Champion of Cualnge, Thou seest 'midst proud feats, For that it's for guerdon, Shall quickly be slain!"[b] The Henchman: "I see Cualnge's hero, With feats overweening, Not fleeing he flees us, But towards us he comes. He runneth--not slowly-- Though cunning--not sparing-- Like water 'down high cliff Or thunderbolt quick!" Ferdiad: [W. 3365. ] "'Tis cause of a quarrel, So much thou hast praised him; And why hast thou chose him, Since I am from home? And now they extol him, They fall to proclaim him; None come to attack him, But soft simple men (?). " [1-1] YBL. 38b, 46-57. [a] The meaning is obscure. [b] Literally, 'torn. ' [1]Here followeth the Description of Cuchulain's chariot, one of the three chief Chariots of the Tale of the Foray ofCualnge. [1] [1-1] YBL. 38a, 48-49. In the following description of the chariot and steeds has been incorporated part of the parallel passages in LU. 1969-1977 and YBL. 38a-38b. Eg. 106, Eg. 109 and H. 2. 12 (_Revue Celtique_, xi, 25) contain more adjectives. It was not long that Ferdiad's charioteer remained there when he sawsomething: [2]"How beholdest thou Cuchulain?" asked Ferdiad of hischarioteer. "I behold, " said he, [2] "a beautiful, live-pointed chariot, [3]broad above, of white crystal, with a thick yoke of gold, with stoutplates of copper, with shafts of bronze, with wheel-bands of bronze coveredwith silver, [3] approaching with swiftness, with speed, with perfect skill;with a green shade, with a thin-framed, dry-bodied (?) box surmounted withfeats of cunning, [4]straight-poled, [4] as long as a warrior's sword. [5]Onthis[5] was room for a hero's seven arms, the fair seat for its lord;[6]two wheels, dark, black; a pole of tin, with red enamel, of a beautifulcolour; two inlaid, golden bridles. [6] [7]This chariot was placed[7]behind two fleet steeds, [8]nimble, furious, small-headed, [8] bounding, large-eared, [9]small-snouted, sharp-beaked, red-chested, [9] gailyprancing, with inflated[a] nostrils, broad-chested, quick-hearted, high-flanked, broad-hoofed, slender-limbed, overpowering and resolute. Agrey, broad-hipped, small-stepping, long-maned horse, [10]whose name wasLiath ('the Roan') of Macha, [10] was under [W. 3379. ] one of the yokes ofthe chariot; a black, crispèd-maned, swift-moving, broad-backed horse, [1]whose name was Dubh ('the Black') of Sithleann, [1] under the other. Likeunto a hawk after its prey on a sharp tempestuous day, or to a tearingblast of wind of Spring on a March day over the back of a plain, or unto astartled stag when first roused by the hounds in the first of the chase, [LL. Fo. 83b. ] were Cuchulain's two horses before the chariot, as if theywere on glowing, fiery flags, so that they shook the earth and made ittremble with the fleetness of their course. [2-2] YBL. 38a, 51-52. [3-3] YBL. 38b, 1-3. [4-4] LU. 1973. [5-5] YBL. [6-6] YBL. 38b. 19-21. [7-7] LU. 1972. [8-8] LU. 1973. [9-9] LU. 1973. [10-10] Eg. 209. [a] Literally, 'bagnosed. ' [1-1] Eg. 209. [2]"In the front of this chariot is a man with fair, curly, long hair. There is around him a cloak, blue, Parthian purple. A spear with red andkeen-cutting blades, flaming-red in his hand. The semblance of three headsof hair he has, namely, brown hair next to the skin of his head, blood-redhair in the middle, a crown of gold is the third head of hair. "Beautiful is the arrangement of that hair so that it makes three coilsdown behind over his shoulders. Even as a thread of gold it seems, when itshue has been wrought over the edge of an anvil; or like to the yellow ofbees whereon shines the sun on a summer's day is the shining of each singlehair of his hair. Seven toes he has on each of his feet and seven fingerson each of his hands and the brilliance of a very great fire is around hiseye. "Befitting him is the charioteer beside him, with curly, jet-black hair, shorn broad over his head. A cowled garment around him, open at the elbows. A horse-whip, very fine and golden in his hand, and a light-grey cloakwrapped around him, and a goad of white silver in his hand. He plies thegoad on the horses whatever way would go the deed-renowned warrior that isin the chariot. "[2] [2-2] YBL. 38b, 21-44. And Cuchulain reached the ford. Ferdiad waited on [W. 3387. ] the south sideof the ford; Cuchulain stood on the north side. Ferdiad bade welcome toCuchulain. "Welcome is thy coming, O Cuchulain!" said Ferdiad. "Trulyspoken meseemed thy welcome till now, " answered Cuchulain; "but to-day Iput no more trust in it. And, O Ferdiad, " said Cuchulain, "it were fitterfor me to bid thee welcome than that thou should'st welcome me; for it isthou that art come to the land and province wherein I dwell; and it is notfitting for thee to come to contend and do battle with me, but it werefitter for me to go to contend and do battle with thee. For before thee inflight are my women and my boys and my youths, my steeds and my troops ofhorses, my droves, my flocks and my herds of cattle. " "Good, O Cuchulain, " spake Ferdiad; "what has ever brought thee out tocontend and do battle with me? For when we were [1]together[1] withScathach and with Uathach and with Aifè, [2]thou wast not a man worthy ofme, for[2] thou wast my serving-man, even for arming my spear and dressingmy bed. " "That was indeed true, " answered Cuchulain; "because of my youthand my littleness did I so much for thee, but this is by no means my moodthis day. For there is not a warrior in the world I would not drive offthis day [3]in the field of battle and combat. "[3] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4]It was not long before they met in the middle of the ford. [4] And thenit was that each of them cast sharp-cutting reproaches at the other, renouncing his friendship; and Ferdiad spake these words there, andCuchulain responded:-- Ferdiad: "What led thee, O Cua, To fight a strong champion? Thy flesh will be gore-red O'er smoke of thy steeds! Alas for thy journey, A kindling of firebrands; In sore need of healing, If home thou shouldst reach!" Cuchulain: [W. 3417. ] "I'm come before warriors Around the herd's wild Boar, [a] Before troops and hundreds, To drown thee in deep. In anger, to prove thee In hundred-fold battle, Till on thee come havoc, Defending thy head!" Ferdiad: "Here stands one to crush thee, 'Tis I will destroy thee, [1]. . . [1] From me there shall come The flight of their warriors In presence of Ulster, That long they'll remember The loss that was theirs!" Cuchulain: "How then shall we combat? For wrongs shall we heave sighs? Despite all, we'll go there, To fight on the ford! Or is it with hard swords, Or e'en with red spear-points, Before hosts to slay thee, If [2]thy[2] hour hath come?" Ferdiad: "'Fore sunset, 'fore nightfall-- If need be, then guard thee-- I'll fight thee at Bairchè, Not bloodlessly fight! The Ulstermen call thee, 'He has him!' Oh, hearken! The sight will distress them That through them will pass[b]!" Cuchulain: "In danger's gap fallen, At hand is thy life's term; On thee plied be weapons, Not gentle the skill! One champion will slay thee; We both will encounter; No more shalt lead forays, [3]From this day till Doom!"[3] Ferdiad: [W. 3457. ] "Avaunt with thy warnings, Thou world's greatest braggart; Nor guerdon nor pardon, [1]Low warrior for thee![1] 'Tis I that well know thee, Thou heart of a cageling This lad merely tickles-- Without skill or force!" Cuchulain: "When we were with Scathach, For wonted arms training, Together we'd fare forth, To seek every fight. Thou wast my heart's comrade. My clan and my kinsman; Ne'er found I one dearer; Thy loss would be sad!" Ferdiad: [LL. Fo. 84a. ] "Thou wager'st thine honour Unless we do battle; Before the cock croweth, Thy head on a spit! Cuchulain of Cualnge, Mad frenzy hath seized thee All ill we'll wreak on thee, For thine is the sin!" [4-4] YBL. 39a. 14. [a] That is, King Conchobar. [1-1] A line has dropped out here in the MS. , and cannot be reconstructed, since the stanza is found only in LL. For this reason the meaning of the following line is uncertain. [2-2] Reading with YBL. 39a, 34. [B] Literally, 'it will go over and through them!' [3-3] Translating from YBL. Fo. 39a, 41. [1-1] Literally, '(For) thou art not a bush (i. E. A hero) over a bush (hero). ' "Come now, O Ferdiad, " cried Cuchulain, "not meet was it for thee to cometo contend and do battle with me, because of the instigation andintermeddling of Ailill and Medb, [2]and because of the false promises thatthey made thee. Because of their deceitful terms and of the maiden havemany good men been slain. [2] And all that came [3]because of those promisesof deceit, [3] neither profit nor success did it bring them, and they havefallen by me. And none the more, [4]O Ferdiad, [4] shall it win victory orincrease of fame for thee; and, [5]as they all fell, [5] shalt thou too fallby my hand!" Thus he spake, [W. 3486. ] and he further uttered these wordsand Ferdiad hearkened to him:-- "Come not nigh me, noble chief, Ferdiad, comrade, Daman's son. Worse for thee than 'tis for me; Thou'lt bring sorrow to a host! "Come not nigh me 'gainst all right; Thy last bed is made by me. Why shouldst thou alone escape From the prowess of my arms? "Shall not great feats thee undo, Though thou'rt purple, horny-skinned? And the maid thou boastest of, Shall not, Daman's son, be thine! "Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair, Great her charms though they may be, Fair as is the damsel's form, She's for thee not to enjoy! "Finnabair, the king's own child, Is the lure, if truth be told; Many they whom she's deceived And undone as she has thee! "Break not, weetless, oath with me; Break not friendship, break not bond; Break not promise, break not word; Come not nigh me, noble chief! "Fifty chiefs obtained in plight This same maid, a proffer vain. Through me went they to their graves; Spear-right all they had from me! "Though for brave was held Ferbaeth, With whom was a warriors' train, In short space I quelled his rage; Him I slew with one sole blow! "Srubdarè--sore sank his might-- Darling of the noblest dames, Time there was when great his fame-- Gold nor raiment saved him not! "Were she mine affianced wife, Smiled on me this fair land's head, [a] I would not thy body hurt. Right nor left, in front, behind!" [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [4-4] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [5-5] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [a] That is, Queen Medb. [W. 3527. ] "Good, O Ferdiad!" cried Cuchulain. [1]A pity it is for thee toabandon my alliance and my friendship for the sake of a woman that has beentrafficked to fifty other warriors before thee, and it would be long beforeI would forsake thee for that woman. [1] Therefore, it is not right for theeto come to fight and combat with me; for when we were with Scathach andwith Uathach and with Aifè, [2]we were together in practice of valour andarms of the world, and[2] it was together we were used to seek out everybattle and every battle-field, every combat and every contest, every woodand every desert, every covert and every recess. " And thus he spake and heuttered these words:-- Cuchulain: "We were heart-companions once; We were comrades in the woods; We were men that shared a bed, When we slept the heavy sleep, After hard and weary fights. Into many lands, so strange, Side by side we sallied forth, And we ranged the woodlands through, When with Scathach we learned arms!" Ferdiad: "O Cuchulain, rich in feats, Hard the trade we both have learned; Treason hath o'ercome our love; Thy first wounding hath been bought; Think not of our friendship more, Cua, it avails thee not!" [1-1] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. "Too long are we now in this way, " quoth Ferdiad; "and what arms shall weresort to to-day, O Cuchulain?" "With thee is thy choice of weapons thisday till night time, " answered Cuchulain, "for thou art he that first didstreach the ford. " "Rememberest thou at all, " asked Ferdiad, "the choicedeeds of arms we were wont to practise with Scathach and with Uathach andwith Aifè?" "Indeed, and I do remember, " answered Cuchulain. "If thourememberest, let us begin [3]with them. "[3] [3-3] Stowe. [W. 3555. ] They betook them to their choicest deeds of arms. They took uponthem two equally-matched shields for feats, and their eight-edged targesfor feats, and their eight small darts, and their eight straightswords withornaments of walrus-tooth and their eight lesser, ivoried spears which flewfrom them and to them like bees [LL. Fo. 84b. ] on a day of fine weather. They cast no weapon that struck not. Each of them was busy casting atthe other with those missiles from morning's early twilight till noon atmid-day, the while they overcame their various feats with the bosses andhollows of their feat-shields. However great the excellence of the throwingon either side, equally great was the excellence of the defence, so thatduring all that time neither of them bled or reddened the other. "Let uscease now from this bout of arms, O Cuchulain, " said Ferdiad; "for it isnot by such our decision will come. " "Yea, surely, let us cease, if thetime hath come, " answered Cuchulain. [1]Then[1] they ceased. They threwtheir feat-tackle from them into the hands of their charioteers. "To what weapons shall we resort next, O Cuchulain?" asked Ferdiad. "Thineis the choice of weapons till nightfall, " replied Cuchulain; "for thou arthe that didst first reach the ford. " "Let us begin, then, " said Ferdiad, "with our straight-cut, smooth-hardened throwing-spears, with cords offull-hard flax on them. " "Aye, let us begin then, " assented Cuchulain. Thenthey took on them two hard shields, equally strong. They fell to theirstraight-cut, smooth-hardened spears with cords of full-hard flax on them. Each of them was engaged in casting at the other with the spears from themiddle of noon [2]till yellowness came over the sun[2] at the hour ofevening's sundown. However great the excellence of the defence, equallygreat was the excellence of the throwing on either side, so that [W. 3578. ]each of them bled and reddened and wounded the other during that time. [1]"Wouldst thou fain make a truce, O Cucugan?"[a] asked Ferdiad. "It wouldplease me, " replied Cuchulain; "for whoso begins with arms has the right todesist. "[1] "Let us leave off from this now, O Cuchulain, " said Ferdiad. "Aye, let us leave off, an the time hath come, " answered Cuchulain. So theyceased. They threw their arms from them into the hands of theircharioteers. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] H. 2. 12. [1-1] H. 2. 12. [a] See note, page 185. Thereupon each of them went toward the other [2]in the middle of theford, [2] and each of them put his hand on the other's neck and gave himthree kisses [3]in remembrance of his fellowship and friendship. [3] Theirhorses were in one and the same paddock that night, and their charioteersat one and the same fire; and their charioteers made ready a litter-bed offresh rushes for them with pillows for wounded men on them. Then camehealing and curing folk to heal and to cure them, and they laid healingherbs and grasses and a curing charm on their cuts and stabs, their gashesand many wounds. Of every healing herb and grass and curing charm that[4]was brought from the fairy dwellings of Erin to Cuchulain and[4] wasapplied to the cuts and stabs, to the gashes and many wounds of Cuchulain, a like portion thereof he sent across the ford westward to Ferdiad, [5]toput to his wounds and his pools of gore, [5] so that the men of Erin shouldnot have it to say, should Ferdiad fall at his hands, it was more than hisshare of care had been given to him. [2-2] H. 2. 12. [3-3] H. 2. 12. [4-4] H. 2. 12. [5-5] H. 2. 12. Of every food and of every savoury, soothing and strong drink that wasbrought by the men of Erin to Ferdiad, a like portion thereof he sent overthe ford northwards to Cuchulain; for the purveyors of Ferdiad were morenumerous than the purveyors of Cuchulain. All the men of Erin werepurveyors to Ferdiad, to the end that he might keep [W. 3598. ] Cuchulain offfrom them. But only the inhabitants of Mag Breg ('the Plain of Breg') werepurveyors to Cuchulain. They were wont to come daily, that is, everynight, to converse with him. They bided there that night. Early on the morrow they arose and went theirways to the ford of combat. "To what weapons shall we resort on this day, OFerdiad?" asked Cuchulain. [LL. Fo. 85a. ] "Thine is the choosing of weaponstill night time, " Ferdiad made answer, "because it was I had my choice ofweapons on the day aforegone. " "Let us take, then, " said Cuchulain, "to ourgreat, well-tempered lances to-day, for we think that the thrusting willbring nearer the decisive battle to-day than did the casting of yesterday. Let our horses be brought to us and our chariots yoked, to the end that weengage in combat over our horses and chariots on this day. " "Aye, let usgo so, " Ferdiad assented. Thereupon they girded two full-firm broad-shieldson them for that day. They took to their great, well-tempered lances onthat day. Either of them began to pierce and to drive, to throw and topress down the other, from early morning's twilight till the hour ofevening's close. If it were the wont for birds in flight to fly through thebodies of men, they could have passed through their bodies on that day andcarried away pieces of blood and flesh through their wounds and their soresinto the clouds and the air all around. And when the hour of evening'sclose was come, their horses were spent and their drivers were wearied, andthey themselves, the heroes and warriors of valour, were exhausted. "Let usgive over now, O Ferdiad, " said Cuchulain, "for our horses are spent andour drivers tired, and when they are exhausted, why should we too not beexhausted?" And in this wise he spake, and he uttered these words at thatplace:-- "We need not our chariots break-- This, a struggle fit for giants. [W. 3626. ] Place the hobbles on the steeds, Now that din of arms is o'er!" "Yea, we will cease, if the time hath come, " replied Ferdiad. They ceased[1]then. [1] They threw their arms away from them into the hands of theircharioteers. Each of them came towards his fellow. Each laid his hand onthe other's neck and gave him three kisses. Their horses were in the onepen that night, and their charioteers at the one fire. Their charioteersprepared [2]two[2] litter-beds of fresh rushes for them with pillows forwounded men on them. The curing and healing men came to attend and watchand mark them that night; for naught else could they do, because of thedirefulness of their cuts and their stabs, their gashes and their numerouswounds, but apply to them philtres and spells and charms, to staunch theirblood and their bleeding and their deadly pains. Of every magic potion andevery spell and every charm that was applied to the cuts and stabs ofCuchulain, their like share he sent over the ford westwards to Ferdiad. Ofevery food and every savoury, soothing and strong drink that was broughtby the men of Erin to Ferdiad, an equal portion he sent over the fordnorthwards to Cuchulain, for the victuallers of Ferdiad were more numerousthan the victuallers of Cuchulain. For all the men of Erin were Ferdiad'snourishers, to the end that he might ward off Cuchulain from them. But theindwellers of the Plain of Breg alone were Cuchulain's nourishers. Theywere wont to come daily, that is, every night, to converse with him. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. They abode there that night. Early on the morrow they arose and repaired tothe ford of combat. Cuchulain marked an evil mien and a dark mood that day[3]beyond every other day[3] on Ferdiad. "It is evil thou appearest to-day, O Ferdiad, " spake Cuchulain; "thy hair has [W. 3653. ] become dark[a] to-day, and thine eye has grown drowsy, and thine upright form [LL. Fo. 85b. ] and thyfeatures and thy gait have gone from thee!" "Truly not for fear nor fordread of thee is that happened to me to-day, " answered Ferdiad; "for thereis not in Erin this day a warrior I could not repel!" [1]"Alas, O Ferdiad, "said Cuchulain, "a pity it is for thee to oppose thy foster-brother and thycomrade and friend, on the counsel of any woman in the world!" "A pity itis, O Cuchulain, " Ferdiad responded. "But, should I part without a strugglewith thee, I should be in ill repute forever with Medb and with the noblesof the four grand provinces of Erin. " "A pity it is, O Ferdiad, " saidCuchulain; "not on the counsel of all the men and women in the world wouldI desert thee or would I do thee harm. And almost would it make a clot ofgore of my heart to be combating with thee!"[1] [3-3] Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. [a] An unusual colour of the hair betokened misfortune. [1-1] Eg. 106. And Cuchulain lamented and moaned, and he spake these words and Ferdiadresponded:-- Cuchulain: "Ferdiad, ah, if it be thou, Well I know thou'rt doomed to die! To have gone at woman's hest, Forced to fight thy comrade sworn!" Ferdiad: "O Cuchulain--wise decree-- Loyal champion, hero true, Each man is constrained to go 'Neath the sod that hides his grave!" Cuchulain: "Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair, Stately maiden though she be, Not for love they'll give to thee, But to prove thy kingly might!" Ferdiad: "Provèd was my might long since, Cu of gentle spirit thou. Of one braver I've not heard; Till to-day I have not found!" Cuchulain: "Thou art he provoked this fight, Son of Daman, Darè's son, To have gone at woman's word, Swords to cross with thine old friend!" Ferdiad: [W. 3679. ] "Should we then unfought depart, Brothers though we are, bold Hound, Ill would be my word and fame With Ailill and Cruachan's Medb!" Cuchulain: "Food has not yet passed his lips, Nay nor has he yet been born, Son of king or blameless queen, For whom I would work thee harm!" Ferdiad: "Culann's Hound, with floods of deeds, Medb, not thou, hath us betrayed; Fame and victory thou shalt have; Not on thee we lay our fault!" Cuchulain: "Clotted gore is my brave heart, Near I'm parted from my soul; Wrongful 'tis--with hosts of deeds-- Ferdiad, dear, to fight with thee!" [1]After this colloquy, Ferdiad spake:[1] "How much soever thou findestfault with me to-day, " said Ferdiad, [2]"for my ill-boding mien and evildoing, it will be as an offset to my prowess. " And he said, [2] "To whatweapons shall we resort to-day?" "With thyself is the choice of weaponsto-day till night time, " replied Cuchulain, "for it is I that chose onthe day gone by. " "Let us resort, then, " said Ferdiad, "to our heavy, hard-smiting swords this day, for we trow that the smiting each other willbring us nearer to the decision of battle to-day than was our piercing eachother on yesterday. " "Let us go then, by all means, " responded Cuchulain. [1-1] Stowe, Eg. 106. [2-2] Eg. 106. Then they took two full-great long-shields upon them for that day. Theyturned to their heavy, hard-smiting swords. Each of them fell to strike andto hew, to lay low and cut down, to slay and undo [3]his fellow, [3] till aslarge as the head of a month-old child was each lump and each cut, [4]eachclutter and each clot of gore[4] that each of them took from the shouldersand thighs and shoulder-blades of the other. [3-3] Stowe, Eg. 106. [4-4] Eg. 106. [W. 3708. ] Each of them was engaged in smiting the other in this way fromthe twilight of early morning till the hour of evening's close. "Let usleave off from this now, O Cuchulain!" cried Ferdiad. "Aye, let us leaveoff, if the hour has come, " said Cuchulain. They parted [1]then, and[1]threw their arms away from them into the hands of their charioteers. Thoughit had been the meeting of two happy, blithe, cheerful, joyful men, theirparting that night was of two that were sad, sorrowful and full ofsuffering. [2]They parted without a kiss a blessing or aught other sign offriendship, and their servants disarmed the steeds, the squires and theheroes; no healing or curing herbs were sent from Cuchulain to Ferdiad thatnight, and no food nor drink was brought from Ferdiad to him. [2] Theirhorses were not in the same paddock that night. Their charioteers were notat the same fire. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] H. 2. 12. They passed there that night. It was then that Ferdiad arose early on themorrow and went alone to the ford of combat, [3]and dauntless, vengeful andmighty was the man that went thither that day, even Ferdiad son ofDaman. [3] For he knew that that would be the decisive day of the battle andcombat; and he knew that one or other of them would fall there that day, orthat they both would fall. It was then he donned his battle-weed of battleand fight and combat, [LL. Fo. 86a. ] or ever Cuchulain came to meet him. Andthus was the manner of this harness of battle and fight and combat: He puthis silken, glossy trews with its border of speckled gold, next to hiswhite skin. Over this, outside, he put his brown-leathern, well-sewedkilt. Outside of this he put a huge, goodly flag, the size of a millstone, [4]the shallow (?) stone of adamant which he had brought from Africa andwhich neither points nor edges could pierce. [4] He put his solid, verydeep, iron kilt of twice molten iron over the huge, goodly flag as large asa millstone, through [W. 3730. ] fear and dread of the Gae Bulga on thatday. About his head he put his crested war-cap of battle and fight andcombat, whereon were forty carbuncle-gems beautifully adorning it andstudded with red-enamel and crystal and rubies and with [1]shiningstones[1] of the Eastern world. His angry, fierce-striking spear he seizedin his right hand. On his left side he hung his curved battle-falchion, [2]which would cut a hair against the stream with its keenness andsharpness, [2] with its golden pommel and its rounded hilt of red gold. Onthe arch-slope of his back he slung his massive, fine-buffalo shield [3]ofa warrior, [3] whereon were fifty bosses, wherein a boar could be shown ineach of its bosses, apart from the great central boss of red gold. Ferdiadperformed divers, brilliant, manifold, marvellous feats on high that day, unlearned from any one before, neither from foster-mother nor fromfoster-father, neither from Scathach nor from Uathach nor from Aifè, but hefound them of himself that day in the face of Cuchulain. [3-3] Eg. 106. [4-4] Eg. 209. [1-1] Reading with Egerton 106, which gives better sense than LL. 's 'brilliant plants. ' [2-2] Eg. 209. [3-3] Stowe and Eg. 209. Cuchulain likewise came to the ford, and he beheld the various, brilliant, manifold, wonderful feats that Ferdiad performed on high. "Thou seestyonder, O Laeg my master, the divers, bright, numerous, marvellous featsthat Ferdiad performs on high, and I shall receive yon feats one after theother, and, therefore, [4]O Laeg, " cried Cuchulain, [4] "if defeat be my lotthis day, do thou prick me on and taunt me and speak evil to me, so thatthe more my spirit and anger shall rise in me. If, however, before me hisdefeat takes place, say thou so to me and praise me and speak me fair, tothe end that the greater may be my courage!" "It shall surely be done so, if need be, O Cucuc, " Laeg answered. [4-4] Stowe. Then Cuchulain, too, girded his war-harness of battle and [W. 3757. ] fightand combat about him, and performed all kinds of splendid, manifold, marvellous feats on high that day which he had not learned from any onebefore, neither with Scathach nor with Uathach nor with Aifè. Ferdiad observed those feats, and he knew they would be plied against himin turn. "To what weapons shall we resort [1]to-day[1], O Ferdiad?" askedCuchulain. "With thee is thy choice of weapons till night time, " Ferdiadresponded. "Let us go to the 'Feat of the Ford, ' then, " said Cuchulain. "Aye, let us do so, " answered Ferdiad. Albeit Ferdiad spoke that, he deemedit the most grievous thing whereto he could go, for he knew that in thatsort Cuchulain used to destroy every hero and every battle-soldier whofought with him in the 'Feat of the Ford. ' [1-1] Stowe. Great indeed was the deed that was done on the ford that day. The twoheroes, the two champions, the two chariot-fighters of the west of Europe, the two bright torches of valour of the Gael, the two hands of dispensingfavour and of giving rewards [2]and jewels and treasures[2] in the west ofthe northern world, [LL. Fo. 86b. ] [3]the two veterans[3] of skill and thetwo keys of bravery of the Gael, [4]the man for quelling the variance anddiscord of Connacht, the man for guarding the cattle and herds ofUlster[4], to be brought together in encounter as from afar, [5]set to slayeach other or to kill one of them[5], through the sowing of dissension andthe incitement of Ailill and Medb. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Reading with Stowe. [4-4] Eg. 106. [5-5] Stowe and Eg. 106. Each of them was busy hurling at the other in those deeds of arms fromearly morning's gloaming till the middle of noon. When mid-day came, therage of the men became wild, and each drew nearer to the other. Thereupon Cuchulain gave one spring once from the bank of the ford till hestood upon the boss of Ferdiad macDaman's shield, seeking to reach hishead and to strike [W. 3779. ] it from above over the rim of the shield. Straightway Ferdiad gave the shield a blow with his left elbow, so thatCuchulain went from him like a bird onto the brink of the ford. AgainCuchulain sprang from the brink of the ford, so that he alighted upon theboss of Ferdiad macDaman's shield, that he might reach his head and strikeit over the rim of the shield from above. Ferdiad gave the shield a thrustwith his left knee, so that Cuchulain went from him like an infant onto thebank of the ford. Laeg espied that. "Woe then, [1]O Cuchulain!"[1] cried Laeg; [2]"meseems[2]the battle-warrior that is against thee hath shaken thee as a fond womanshakes her child. He hath washed thee as a cup is washed in a tub. He hathground thee as a mill grinds soft malt. He hath pierced thee as a toolbores through an oak. He hath bound thee as the bindweed binds the trees. He hath pounced on thee as a hawk pounces on little birds, so that no morehast thou right or title or claim to valour or skill in arms till the veryday of doom and of life, thou little imp of an elf-man!" cried Laeg. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. Thereat for the third time, Cuchulain arose with the speed of the wind, andthe swiftness of a swallow, and the dash of a dragon, and the strength (ofa lion) [3]into the clouds[3] of the air, till he alighted on the boss ofthe shield of Ferdiad son of Daman, so as to reach his head that he mightstrike it from above over the rim of his shield. Then it was that thebattle-warrior gave the shield a [4]violent and powerful[4] shake, so thatCuchulain flew from it into the middle of the ford, the same as if he hadnot sprung at all. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. It was then the first twisting-fit of Cuchulain took place, so that aswelling and inflation filled him like breath in a bladder, until he made adreadful, terrible, many-coloured, wonderful bow of himself, so that as bigas a giant or a man [W. 3805. ] of the sea was the hugely-brave warriortowering directly over Ferdiad. Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that their headsencountered above and their feet below and their hands in the middle overthe rims and bosses of the shields. Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that their shields burstand split from their rims to their centres. Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that their spears bent andturned and shivered from their tips to their rivets. Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that the boccanach and thebananach ('the puck-faced Fays' and 'the white-faced Fays') and the spritesof the glens and the eldritch beings of the air screamed from the rims oftheir shields and from the guards of their swords and from the tips oftheir spears. Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that they forced the riverout of its bed and out of its course, so that there might have been areclining place [LL. Fo. 87a. ] for a king or a queen in the middle of theford, and not a drop of water was in it but what fell there with thetrampling and slipping which the two heroes and the two battle-warriorsmade in the middle of the ford. Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that the steeds of the Gaelbroke loose affrighted and plunging with madness and fury, so that theirchains and their shackles, their traces and tethers snapped, and the womenand children and pygmy-folk, the weak and the madmen among the men of Erinbrake out through the camp south-westward. At that time they were at the edge-feat of swords. It was then Ferdiadcaught Cuchulain in an unguarded moment, and he gave him a thrust with histusk-hilted blade, so that he buried it in his breast, and his blood fellinto his belt, [W. 3831. ] till the ford became crimsoned with the clottedblood from the battle-warrior's body. Cuchulain endured it not, underFerdiad's attack, with his death-bringing, heavy blows, and his longstrokes and his mighty, middle slashes at him. [1]Then Cuchulain bethought him of his friends from Faery and of his mightyfolk who would come to defend him and of his scholars to protect him, whattime he would be hard pressed in the combat. It was then that Dolb andIndolb arrived to help and to succour their friend, namely Cuchulain, [2]and one of them went on either side of him and they smote Ferdiad, thethree of them, and Ferdiad did not perceive the men from Sid ('the FaeryDwelling')[2]. Then it was that Ferdiad felt the onset of the threetogether smiting his shield against him, and he gave all his care andattention thereto, and thence he called to mind that, when they were withScathach and with Uathach [3]learning together, Dolb and Indolb used tocome to help Cuchulain out of every stress wherein he was. [3] Ferdiadspake: "Not alike are our foster-brothership and our comradeship, OCuchulain, " quoth he. "How so, then?" asked Cuchulain. "Thy friends of theFairy-folk have succoured thee, and thou didst not disclose them to mebefore, " said Ferdiad. "Not easy for me were that, " answered Cuchulain;"for if the magic veil be once revealed to one of the sons of Milè, [a] noneof the Tuatha De Danann ('the Folk of the Goddess Danu') will have power topractise concealment or magic. And why complainest thou here, [4]OFerdiad?" said Cuchulain. [4] "Thou hast a horn skin whereby to multiplyfeats and deeds of arms on me, and thou hast not shown me how it is closedor how it is opened. " [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13. Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. [2-2] Eg. 106. [3-3] Eg. 106. [4-4] Eg. 106. [a] That is, the Milesians, the ancestors of the Irish. Then it was they displayed all their skill and secret cunning to oneanother, so that there was not a secret of [W. 3851. ] either of them keptfrom the other except the Gae Bulga, which was Cuchulain's. Howbeit, whenthe Fairy friends found Cuchulain had been wounded, each of them inflictedthree great, heavy wounds on him, on Ferdiad, to wit. It was then thatFerdiad made a cast to the right, so that he slew Dolb with that goodlycast. Then followed the two woundings and the two throws that overcame him, till Ferdiad made a second throw towards Cuchulain's left, and with thatthrow he stretched low and killed Indolb dead on the floor of the ford. Hence it is that the story-teller sang the rann:-- "Why is this called Ferdiad's Ford, E'en though three men on it fell? None the less it washed their spoils-- It is Dolb's and Indolb's Ford!" What need to relate further! When the devoted, equally great sires[a][2]and champions, [2] and the hard, battle-victorious wild beasts thatfought for Cuchulain had fallen, it greatly strengthened the courage ofFerdiad, so that he gave two blows for every blow of Cuchulain's. When Laegson of Riangabair saw his lord being overcome by the crushing blows of thechampion who oppressed him, Laeg began to stir up and rebuke Cuchulain, insuch a way that a swelling and an inflation filled Cuchulain [3]from top toground, [3] as the wind fills a spread, open banner, so that he made adreadful, wonderful bow of himself like a sky-bow in a shower of rain, andhe made for Ferdiad with the violence of a dragon or the strength of ablood-hound. [1] [1-1] See note 1, page 255. [2-2] H. 1. 13. [3-3] Eg. 106. And Cuchulain called for the Gae Bulga from Laeg son of Riangabair. Thiswas its nature: With the stream it was made ready, and from between thefork of the foot [a] Cuchulain was partly of divine birth, on one side theson of Lugh lámh-fhada ('Lug long-hand'), the Irish sun-god; on the earthlyside he had also a mortal father, Sualtaim or Sualtach. ] [W. 3874. ] it wascast; the wound of a single spear it gave when entering the body, andthirty[a] barbs had it when it opened, and it could not be drawn out of aman's flesh till [1]the flesh[1] had been cut about it. [a] 'Twenty four, ' YBL. 39b, 23, and Eg. 106; but 'five, ' Eg. 209. [1-1] Stowe. [2]Thereupon Laeg came forward to the brink of the river and to the placewhere the fresh water was dammed, and the Gae Bulga was sharpened and setin position. He filled the pool and stopped the stream and checked the tideof the ford. Ferdiad's charioteer watched the work, for Ferdiad had said tohim early [3]in the morning:[3] "Now, gilla, do thou hold back Laegfrom me to-day, and I will hold back Cuchulain from thee [4]and thy menforever. "[4] "This is a pity, " quoth the henchman; "no match for him am I;for a man to combat a hundred is he [5]amongst the men of Erin, [5] and thatam I not. Still, however slight his help, it shall not come to his lordpast me. " [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209. [3-3] Eg. 106. [4-4] Eg. 209. [5-5] Eg. 106. [6]Thus were the henchmen: two brothers were they, namely, Id[b] son ofRiangabair, and Laeg[c] son of Riangabair. As for Id son of Riangabair, [6]he was then watching his brother [7]thus making the dam[7] till he filledthe pools and went to set the Gae Bulga downwards. It was then that Id wentup and released the stream and opened the dam and undid the fixing of theGae Bulga. Cuchulain became deep purple and red all over when he saw thesetting undone on the Gae Bulga. He sprang from the top of the ground sothat he alighted light and quick on the rim of Ferdiad's shield. Ferdiadgave a [8]strong[8] shake to the shield, so that he hurled Cuchulain themeasure of nine paces out to the westward over the ford. Then Cuchulaincalled and shouted to Laeg to set about preparing the Gae Bulga for him. Laeg hastened to the pool and began the work. Id [W. 3895. ] ran and openedthe dam and released it before the stream. Laeg sprang at his brother andthey grappled on the spot. Laeg threw Id and handled him sorely, for hewas loath to use weapons upon him. Ferdiad pursued Cuchulain westwards overthe ford. Cuchulain sprang on the rim of the shield. Ferdiad shook theshield, so that he sent Cuchulain the space of nine paces eastwards overthe ford. Cuchulain called and shouted to Laeg, [1]and bade him stop thestream and make ready the spear. [1] Laeg attempted to come nigh it, butFerdiad's charioteer let him not, so that Laeg turned on him and left himon the sedgy bottom of the ford. He gave him many a heavy blow withclenched fist on the face and countenance, so that he broke his mouth andhis nose and put out his eyes and his sight, [3]and left him lying wounded(?) and full of terror. [3] And forthwith Laeg left him and filled the pooland checked the stream and stilled the noise of the river's voice, and setin position the Gae Bulga. After some time Ferdiad's charioteer arose fromhis death-cloud, and set his hand on his face and countenance, and helooked away towards the ford of combat and saw Laeg fixing the Gae Bulga. He ran again to the pool and made a breach in the dike quickly andspeedily, so that the river burst out in its booming, bounding, bellying, bank-breaking billows making its own wild course. Cuchulain became purpleand red all over when he saw the setting of the Gae Bulga had beendisturbed, and for the third time he sprang from the top of the ground andalighted on the edge of Ferdiad's shield, so as to strike him over theshield from above. Ferdiad gave a blow with his left knee against theleather of the bare shield, so that Cuchulain was thrown into the waves ofthe ford. [6-6] Eg. 106. [b] Ferdiad's charioteer. [c] Cuchulain's charioteer. [7-7] Eg. 106. [8-8] Eg. 106. [1-1] Eg. 106. [3-3] Eg. 106. Thereupon Ferdiad gave three severe woundings to Cuchulain. Cuchulain criedand shouted [4]loudly[4] to Laeg to make ready the Gae Bulga for him. Laegattempted to [W. 3919. ] get near it, but Ferdiad's charioteer preventedhim. Then Laeg grew [1]very[1] wroth [3]at his brother[3] and he made aspring at him, and he closed his long, full-valiant hands over him, so thathe quickly threw him to the ground and straightway [4]bound[4] him. And[5]then[5] he went from him quickly and courageously, so that he filled thepool and stayed the stream and set the Gae Bulga. And he cried out toCuchulain that it was served, for it was not to be discharged without aquick word of warning before it. Hence it is that Laeg cried out:-- "Ware! beware the Gae Bulga, Battle-winning Culann's hound!" _et reliqua. _ [4-4] Eg. 106. [1-1] Eg. 106. [2-2] See note 2, page 257. [3-3] Eg. 106. [4-4] Reading with Eg. 106. [5-5] Eg. 106. [6]And he sent it to Cuchulain along the stream. [6] [6-6] YBL. 39b, 20. Then it was that Cuchulain let fly the white Gae Bulga from the fork of hisirresistible right foot. [7]Ferdiad began to defend the ford againstCuchulain, so that the noble Cu arose with the swiftness of a swallow andthe wail of the storm-play in the rafters of the firmament, so that he laidhold of the breadth of his two feet of the bed of the ford, in spite of thechampion. [7] Ferdiad prepared for the feat according to the testimonythereof. He lowered his shield, so that the spear went over its edge intothe watery, water-cold river. And he looked at Cuchulain, and he saw allhis various, venomous feats made ready, and he knew not to which of them heshould first give answer, whether to the 'Fist's breast-spear, ' or to the'Wild shield's broad-spear, ' or to the 'Short spear from the middle of thepalm, ' or to the white Gae Bulga over the fair, watery river. [2] [7-7] Eg. 209. [8]When Ferdiad saw that his gilla had been thrown[8] and heard the GaeBulga called for, he thrust his shield down to protect the lower part ofhis body. Cuchulain gripped the short spear [9]which was in his hand, [9]cast it [W. 3938. ] off the palm of his hand over the rim of the shield andover the edge of the [1]corselet and[1] horn-skin, so that its farther halfwas visible after piercing his heart in his bosom. Ferdiad gave a thrust ofhis shield upwards to protect the upper part of his body, though it washelp that came too late. The gilla set the Gae Bulga down the stream, andCuchulain caught it in the fork of his foot, and [2]when Ferdiad raisedhis shield[2] Cuchulain threw the Gae Bulga as far as he could cast[3]underneath[3] at Ferdiad, so that it passed through the strong, thick, iron apron of wrought iron, and broke in three parts the huge, goodly stonethe size of a millstone, so that it cut its way through the body'sprotection into him, till every joint and every limb was filled with itsbarbs. [8-8] Eg. 106. [9-9] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe and Eg. 209. [3-3] Stowe and Eg. 209. "Ah, that now sufficeth, " sighed Ferdiad: "I am fallen of that! But, yetone thing more: mightily didst thou drive with thy right foot. And 'twasnot fair of thee for me to fall by thy hand. " And he yet spake and utteredthese words:-- "O Cu of grand feats, Unfairly I'm slain! Thy guilt clings to me; My blood falls on thee! "No meed for the wretch[a] Who treads treason's gap. Now weak is my voice; Ah, gone is my bloom! "My ribs' armour bursts, My heart is all gore; I battled not well; I'm smitten, O Cu! [4]"Unfair, side by side, To come to the ford. 'Gainst my noble ward[b] Hath Medb turned my hand! "There'll come rooks and crows To gaze on my arms, To eat flesh and blood. A tale, Cu, for thee!"[4] [a] Reading _taobh re taobh_. [b] Omitting _seng_; the line has a syllable too many in the original. [4-4] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique_, tome xi, p. 327). [W. 3964. ] Thereupon Cuchulain hastened towards Ferdiad and clasped his twoarms about him, and bore him with all his arms and his armour and his dressnorthwards over the ford, that so it should be [1]with his face[1] to thenorth[a] of the ford the triumph took place and not to the west[b] of theford with the men of Erin. [LL. Fo. 87b. ] Cuchulain laid Ferdiad there on theground, and a cloud and a faint and a swoon came over Cuchulain there bythe head of Ferdiad. Laeg espied it, and the men of Erin all arose for theattack upon him. "Come, O Cucuc, " cried Laeg; "arise now [2]from thytrance, [2] for the men of Erin will come to attack us, and it is not singlecombat they will allow us, now that Ferdiad son of Daman son of Darè isfallen by thee. " "What availeth it me to arise, O gilla, " moaned Cuchulain, "now that this one is fallen by my hand?" In this wise the gilla spake andhe uttered these words and Cuchulain responded:-- Laeg: "Now arise, O Emain's Hound; Now most fits thee courage high. Ferdiad hast thou thrown--of hosts-- God's fate! How thy fight was hard!" Cuchulain: "What avails me courage now? I'm oppressed with rage and grief, For the deed that I have done On his body sworded sore!" Laeg: "It becomes thee not to weep; Fitter for thee to exult! Yon red-speared one thee hath left Plaintful, wounded, steeped in gore!" Cuchulain: "Even had he cleaved my leg, And one hand had severed too; Woe, that Ferdiad--who rode steeds-- Shall not ever be in life!" Laeg: [W. 3993. ] "Liefer far what's come to pass, To the maidens of Red Branch; He to die, thou to remain; They grudge not that ye should part!" Cuchulain: "From the day I Cualnge left, Seeking high and splendid Medb, Carnage has she had--with fame-- Of her warriors whom I've slain!" Laeg: "Thou hast had no sleep in peace, In pursuit of thy great Táin; Though thy troop was few and small, Oft thou wouldst rise at early morn!" [1-1] Eg. 106. [a] That is, in Ulster. Stowe and Eg. 106 read '(with his face) to the south. ' [b] That is, in Connacht. [2-2] Stowe. Cuchulain began to lament and bemoan Ferdiad, and he spake the words: "Alas, O Ferdiad, " [1]spake he, [1] "'twas thine ill fortune thou didst nottake counsel with any of those that knew my real deeds of valour and arms, before we met in clash of battle! [1-1] Stowe. "Unhappy for thee that Laeg son of Riangabair did not make thee blush inregard to our comradeship! "Unhappy for thee that the truly faithful warning of Fergus thou didst nottake! "Unhappy for thee that dear, trophied, triumphant, battle-victorious Conallcounselled thee not in regard to our comradeship! [2]"For those men would not have spoken in obedience to the messages ordesires or orders or false words of promise of the fair-haired women ofConnacht. "For well do those men know that there will not be borna being that will perform deeds so tremendous and so great[3]among the Connachtmen as I, [3] till the very day of doomand of everlasting life, whether at handling of shield andbuckler, at plying of spear and sword, at playing at draughtsand chess, at driving of steeds and chariots. "[2] [2-2] The order of these two paragraphs is that of Stowe; they are found in the reverse order in LL. [3-3] Reading with Stowe. [4]And he spake these warm words, sadly, sorrowfully in praise ofFerdiad:--[4] [4-4] Eg. 209. [W. 4022. ] "There shall not be found the hand of a hero that will woundwarrior's flesh, like cloud-coloured Ferdiad! [1]"There shall not be heard from the gap[a] the cry of red-mouthed Badb[b]to the winged, shade-speckled flocks![1] [1-1] This difficult sentence is composed of two alliterating groups, which it is impossible to follow in the translation. ] [a] That is, the battle breach. [b] That is, the fury of war and carnage which appeared in the form of a carrion crow. "There shall not be one that will contend for Cruachan that will obtaincovenants equal to thine, till the very day of doom and of lifehenceforward, O red-cheeked son of Daman!" said Cuchulain. Then it was that Cuchulain arose and stood over Ferdiad: "Ah, Ferdiad, "spake Cuchulain "greatly have the men of Erin deceived and abandoned thee, to bring thee to contend and do battle [LL. Fo. 88a. ] with me. For no easything is it to contend and do battle with me on the Raid for the Kine ofCualnge! [2]And yet, never before have I found combat that was so sore ordistressed me so as thy combat, save the combat with Oenfer Aifè, [c] mineone own son. "[2] Thus he spake, and he uttered these words:-- "Ah, Ferdiad, betrayed to death. Our last meeting, oh, how sad! Thou to die, I to remain. Ever sad our long farewell! "When we over yonder dwelt With our Scathach, steadfast, true, This we thought till end of time, That our friendship ne'er would end! "Dear to me thy noble blush; Dear thy comely, perfect form; Dear thine eye, blue-grey and clear; Dear thy wisdom and thy speech! "Never strode to rending fight, Never wrath and manhood held, Nor slung shield across broad back, One like thee, Daman's red son! [W. 4051. ] "Never have I met till now, Since I Oenfer Aifè slew, One thy peer in deeds of arms, Never have I found, Ferdiad! "Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair, Beauteous, lovely though she be, As a gad round sand or stones, She was shown to thee, Ferdiad!" [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. [c] That is, Conlaech. Then Cuchulain turned to gaze on Ferdiad. "Ah, my master Laeg, " criedCuchulain, "now strip Ferdiad and take his armour and garments off him, that I may see the brooch for the sake of which he entered on the combatand fight [1]with me. "[1] Laeg came up and stripped Ferdiad. He took hisarmour and garments off him and he saw the brooch [2]and he placed thebrooch in Cuchulain's hand, [2] and Cuchulain began to lament and complain[3]over Ferdiad, [3] and he spake these words:-- "Alas, golden brooch; Ferdiad of the hosts, O good smiter, strong, Victorious thy hand! "Thy hair blond and curled, A wealth fair and grand. Thy soft, leaf-shaped belt Around thee till death! "Our comradeship dear; Thy noble eye's gleam; Thy golden-rimmed shield; Thy sword, [a] treasures worth! [4]"Thy white-silver torque Thy noble arm binds. Thy chess-board worth wealth; Thy fair, ruddy cheek![4] "To fall by my hand, I own was not just! 'Twas no noble fight. Alas, golden brooch! [1]"Thy death at Cu's hand Was dire, O dear calf![a] Unequal the shield Thou hadst for the strife! "Unfair was our fight, Our woe and defeat! Fair the great chief; Each host overcome And put under foot! Alas, golden brooch!"[1] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [a] Reading with YBL. 39b, 31, as more intelligible than the 'chess-board' of LL. , which occurs in the next stanza. [4-4] YBL. 39b, 31-33. [1-1] YBL. 39b, 35-39. [a] A term of endearment which survives in Modern Irish. [W. 4092. ] "Come, O Laeg my master, " cried Cuchulain; "now cut open Ferdiadand take the Gae Bulga out, because I may not be without my weapons. " Laegcame and cut open Ferdiad and he took the Gae Bulga out of him. AndCuchulain saw his weapons bloody and red-stained by the side of Ferdiad, and he uttered these words:-- "O Ferdiad, in gloom we meet. Thee I see both red and pale. I myself with unwashed arms; Thou liest in thy bed of gore! "Were we yonder in the East, Scathach and our Uathach near, There would not be pallid lips Twixt us two, and arms of strife! "Thus spake Scathach trenchantly (?), Words of warning, strong and stern: 'Go ye all to furious fight; German, blue-eyed, fierce will come!' "Unto Ferdiad then I spake, And to Lugaid generous, To the son of fair Baetan, [b] German we would go to meet! "We came to the battle-rock, Over Lake Linn Formait's shore. And four hundred men we brought[c] From the Isles of the Athissech! "As I stood and Ferdiad brave At the gate of German's fort, [LL. Fo. 88b. ] I slew Rinn the son of Nel; He slew Ruad son of Fornel! [W. 4122. ] "Ferdiad slew upon the slope Blath, of Colba 'Red-sword' son. Lugaid, fierce and swift, then slew Mugairne of the Tyrrhene Sea! "I slew, after going in, Four times fifty grim, wild men. Ferdiad killed--a furious horde-- Dam Dremenn and Dam Dilenn! "We laid waste shrewd German's fort O'er the broad, bespangled sea. German we brought home alive To our Scathach of broad shield! "Then our famous nurse made fast Our blood-pact[a] of amity, That our angers should not rise 'Mongst the tribes of noble Elg! "Sad the morn, a day in March, Which struck down weak Daman's son. Woe is me, the friend is fall'n Whom I pledged in red blood's draught![a] "Were it there I saw thy death, Midst the great Greeks' warrior-bands, I'd not live on after thee, But together we would die! "Woe, what us befel therefrom, Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings, Me sore wounded, red with blood, Thee no more to drive thy car! "Woe, what us befel therefrom, Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings, Me sore wounded, stiff with gore, Thee to die the death for aye! "Woe, what us befel therefrom, Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings, Thee in death, me, strong, alive. Valour is an angry strife!" [b] That is, Ferbaeth. [c] That is, as prisoners. [a] Referring to the Celtic custom of binding an alliance by each of the parties thereto drinking the blood of the other. "Good, O Cucuc, " spake Laeg, "let us leave this ford now; too long are wehere!" "Aye, let us leave it, O my master Laeg, " replied Cuchulain. "Butevery combat and battle I have fought seems a game and a sport to mecompared with the combat and battle of Ferdiad. " Thus he spake, and heuttered these words:-- [W. 4164. ] "All was play, all was sport, Till came Ferdiad to the ford! One task for both of us, Equal our reward. Our kind, gentle nurse Chose him over all! "All was play, all was sport, Till came Ferdiad to the ford! One our life, one our fear, One our skill in arms. Shields gave Scathach twain To Ferdiad and me! "All was play, all was sport, Till came Ferdiad to the ford! Dear the shaft of gold[a] I smote on the ford. Bull-chief of the tribes, Braver he than all! "Only games and only sport, Till came Ferdiad to the ford! Lion, furious, flaming, fierce; Swollen wave that wrecks like doom! "Only games and only sport, Till came Ferdiad to the ford! Lovèd Ferdiad seemed to me After me would live for aye! Yesterday, a mountain's size-- He is but a shade to-day! "Three things countless on the Táin Which have fallen by my hand: Hosts of cattle, men and steeds, I have slaughtered on all sides! "Though the hosts were e'er so great, That came out of Cruachan wild, More than third and less than half, Slew I in my direful sport! "Never trod in battle's ring; Banba[b] nursed not on her breast; Never sprang from sea or land, King's son that had larger fame!" [a] That is, Ferdiad. [b] An old name for Ireland. Thus far [1]the Combat of Ferdiad with Cuchulain[1] and the Tragical Deathof Ferdiad. [1-1] Stowe and Eg. 209. * * * * * [Page 268] XXI [1]CUCHULAIN AND THE RIVERS[1] [2]Now while the hosts proceeded from Ath Firdead ('Ferdiad's Ford')southwards, Cuchulain lay in his sickbed in that place. [2] [LL. Fo. 89a. ]Then came certain men of the Ulstermen thither to help and succourCuchulain. [W. 4205. ] [3]Before all, [3] Senoll Uathach and the two sons ofGegè: Muridach and Cotreb, to wit. And they bore him to the streams andrivers of Conalle Murthemni, to rub and to wash his stabs and his cuts, hissores and his many wounds in the face of these streams and rivers. For theTuatha De Danann ('the Tribes divine of Danu') were wont to put herbs andplants of healing and a curing charm in the waters and rivers of theterritory of Conalle Murthemni, to help and to succour Cuchulain, so thatthe streams were speckled and green-topped therewith. [1-1] This sub-title is supplied by Windisch. [2-2] YBL. 40a, 1-2. [3-3] YBL. 40a, 3. Accordingly these are the names of the healing rivers of Cuchulain:-- Sas, Buan, [4]Buas, [4] Bithslan, Findglas ('Whitewater'), Gleoir, Glenamain, Bedg, Tadg, Telameit, Rind, Bir, Brenidè, Dichaem, Muach, Miliuc, Cumung, Cuilind, Gainemain, Drong, Delt, Dubglas ('Blackwater'). [4-4] Stowe. [5]Then was the grave of Ferdiad dug by the men of Erin and his funeralgames were held. [5] [5-5] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 269] XXII [1]CETHERN'S STRAIT-FIGHT[1] [2]While now Cuchulain went to bathe in the waters, the hosts went by tothe south till they pitched camp at Imorach Smiromrach ('Edge of theMarrow-bath'). [2] [W. 4238. ] Then said the men of Erin to macRoth thechief runner, to go watch and keep guard for them at Sliab Fuait, to theend that the Ulstermen might not come upon them without warning andunobserved. Thereupon macRoth went [3]from the host southwards[3] as far asSliab Fuait [4]to spy out the men of Ulster, to learn if any one came afterthem. [4] MacRoth was not long there when he saw something: a lone charioton Sliab Fuait making from the north straight towards him. A fierce man, stark-naked, in that chariot coming towards him, without arms, withoutarmour at all save an iron spit in his hand. In equal manner he goaded hisdriver and his horses [5]at one and the same time. [5] And it seemed to himthat he would never in his life come up to the hosts. And macRoth hastenedto tell this news [6]at the fort[6] where Ailill and Medb and Fergus wereand the nobles of the men of Erin. Ailill asked tidings of him on hisarrival. "Aye, macRoth, " inquired Ailill; "hast thou seen any of theUlstermen on the track of the host this day?" "That, truly, I know not, "answered macRoth; "but I saw something: a lone chariot coming over SliabFuait [W. 4252. ] [1]from the north[1] straight towards us. A [2]white, grey, [2] wild, stark-naked man in the chariot, without arms or armour atall, except for an iron spit in his hand. In equal manner he prodded hisdriver and his steeds. It seemed to him he would never in his life come upto the host. [3]A brindled greyhound before him. "[3] "Who, thinkest thou, might it be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. [4]"Is it Conchobar or Celtchar?"[4]"Of a truth, [5]that is not likely, "[5] Fergus answered; "meseems it isCethern son of [6]generous, red-edged[6] Fintan [7]from Linè in thenorth[7] that came there. [8]And if so it be, ye shall be on your guardagainst him!"[8] Fergus indeed spoke true, that it was Fintan's son Cethernthat was come there. And so Cethern son of Fintan came on them, and thecamp and the garrison were confounded and he wounded all around him inevery direction and on all sides [9]and they wounded him in like manner. [9]And then [10]Cethern[10] left them, [11]and it was thus he went, and thefront-guard of the chariot pressed up against his belly to keep hisentrails and vitals within him, [11] [12]and his intestines were wound abouthis legs. [12] He came to the place where was Cuchulain, to be healed andcured, and he demanded a leech of Cuchulain to heal and to cure him. [13]Cuchulain had compassion on his wounds;[13] [14] a bed of fresh rusheswas made for him and a pillow set to it. [14] "Come, master Laeg!" criedCuchulain. [15]"Arise, [15] away with thee to the garrison and camp of themen of Erin and summon [LL. Fo. 89. ] the leeches to come out to cure CethernmacFintain. I give my word, e'en though it be under the [W. 4270. ] ground orin a well-shut house they are, I myself will bring death and destructionand slaughter upon them before this hour to-morrow, if they come not [1]tominister to Cethern. "[1] [1-1] This heading is taken from the colophon of the episode. [2-2] YBL. 40a, 9-12. [3-3] YBL. 40a, 12-13. [4-4] YBL. 40a, 12-14. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe, and YBL. 41a, 10. [2-2] YBL. 41a, 11. [3-3] YBL. 41a, 15. [4-4] YBL. 40a, 17. [5-5] YBL. 40a, 17. [6-6] YBL. 40a, 18. [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] Stowe and YBL. 41a, 10. [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] I have translated from the more circumstantial account in Stowe. LL. Has, simply, 'his entrails and bowels outside on him. ' [12-12] YBL. 40a, 21. [13-13] YBL. 40a, 22. [14-14] YBL. 40a, 23-24. [15-15] Stowe. [1-1] YBL. 40a, 29. Laeg went his way to the quarters and camp of the men of Erin, and hecalled upon the leeches of the men of Erin to go forth to cure Cethern sonof Fintan. Truth to tell, the leeches of the men of Erin were unwilling togo cure their adversary, their enemy and their stranger-foe. But theyfeared Cuchulain would work death and destruction and slaughter upon themif they went not. And so they went. As one man of them [2]after theother[2] came to him, Cethern son of Fintan showed him his stabs and hiscuts, his sores and his bloody wounds. [3]When the first leech that camelooked at him, "thou wilt not live, " he declared. "Neither wilt thou forthis, " replied Cethern. [3] Each man of them that said he would not live andcould not be healed, Cethern son of Fintan struck him a blow with his rightfist in the front of his forehead, so that he drove the brains out throughthe windows of his ears and the seams of his skull. Howbeit Cethern son ofFintan killed them till, by reason of him, there had come fifteen[a]leeches of the leeches of the men of Erin, [4]as the historian hathdeclared in proof thereof:-- "These the leeches of the Táin, Who by Cethern--bane--did fall. No light thing, in floods of tribes, That their names are known to me: "Littè, Luaidren, known o'er sea, Lot and Luaimnech, 'White-hand' Lonn, Latheirnè skilful, also Lonn, Laisrè, Slanoll 'That cures all. ' "Dubthach, Fintan's blameless son, Fintan, master Firfial, too, Mainè, Boethan 'Gives not pain, ' Eke his pupil, Boethan's son. "These the leeches, five and ten, Struck to death by Cethern, true; I recall them in my day; They are in the leeches' roll!"[4] [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 40a, 31-33. [a] 'Fifty or fifteen, ' YBL. 40a, 35. [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 18, 748. [W. 4284. ] Yea, even the fifteenth leech, it was but the tip of a blow thatreached him. Yet he fell lifeless of the great stun between the bodies ofthe other physicians and lay there for a long space and time. Ithall, leechof Ailill and Medb, was his name. Thereafter Cethern son of Fintan asked another leech of Cuchulain to healand to cure him [1]forasmuch as the leeches of the men of Erin had failedhim. [1] "Come, master Laeg, " quoth Cuchulain, "go for me to Fingin theseer-leech, at 'Fingin's Grave-mound' at Leccan ('the Brow') of SliabFuait, [2]him that is[2] leech to Conchobar. Bid him come to heal Cethernson of Fintan. " [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] YBL. 40a, 40. Laeg hastened to Fingin the seer-leech at 'Fingin's Grave-mound' at Leccanof Sliab Fuait, to the leech of Conchobar. And he told him to go cureCethern son of Fintan. Thereupon Fingin the prophet-leech came [3]with himto where Cuchulain and Cethern were. [3] As soon as he was come, Cethern sonof Fintan showed him his stabs and his cuts, his sores and his bloodywounds. [3-3] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 273] XXIIa [1]CETHERN'S BLOODY WOUNDS[1] [W. 4299. ] [2]"Look at this bloody wound for me, O Fingin, " said Cethern. [2]Fingin looked at the bloody wound. "Why, it is a slight, unwillingly givenwound we behold here, " said the leech; [3]"even a wound that some one ofthine own blood hath given thee, and no desire or wish had he therefor, [3]and it will not carry thee off at once. " "That, now, is true, " exclaimedCethern. "A lone man came upon me there; bushy hair on him; a blue mantlewrapped around him; a silver brooch in the mantle over his breast; an ovalshield with plaited rim he bore; a five-pointed spear in his hand; apronged spare spear at his side. He gave this bloody wound. He bore away aslight wound from me too. " "Why, we know that man!" cried Cuchulain; "'twasIllann Ilarchless ('Illann of many feats') son of Fergus [4]macRoig. [4] Andhe would not wish that thou shouldst fall by his hand, but he gave theethis mock-blow that the men of Erin might not have it to say it was tobetray them or to forsake them if he gave it not. " [1-1] The heading is taken from LL. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] YBL. 41b, 19. "Now look at this bloody wound for me, O Fingin my master, " saidCethern. Fingin looked closely into the bloody wound. "Why, 'tis a woman'swanton deed of arms we behold here, " said the leech; [5]"namely the woundwhich a warrior-woman inflicted on thee, " said he. [5] "Aye, that is truethen, " quoth Cethern; "a woman [W. 4314. ] came upon me there by herself. Awoman, beautiful, fair-faced, long-cheeked, tall; a golden-yellow head ofhair [1]down to the top of her two shoulder-blades she wore; a smock ofroyal sammet next to her white skin;[1] [2]two birds of gold on hershoulders;[2] a purple cloak without other colour she had around her;[LL. Fo. 90a. ] a brooch of gold in the cloak over her bosom; a straight, ridged spear, red-flaming in her hand. She it was that gave me this bloodywound. She bore away a slight wound from me too. " "Ah, but we know thatwoman, " cried Cuchulain; "Medb daughter of Eocho Fedlech, daughter of theHigh King of Erin; it is she that came unto us in that dress. A victory andtriumph and trophy she had considered it hadst thou fallen at her hands. " [5-5] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] YBL. 41b, 5. "Look at this bloody wound for me too, O Fingin my master, " said Cethern. Fingin looked at the bloody wound. "Why, the feat of arms of two warriorsis this, " said the leech; [3]"that is to say, two warriors inflicted thesetwo wounds as one wound upon thee. "[3] "Yea, that is true, " answeredCethern. "There came two [4]men-at-arms[4] upon me in that place; two, withbushy hair on them; two blue cloaks wrapped around them; brooches of silverin the cloaks over their breasts; a necklace of all-white silver around theneck of each of them; [5]two long shields they bore; two hard chains ofsilver on each of them; a band of silver around them; two five-pointedspears they bore; a vein of silver around them. [5] [6]They smote me thiswound and I smote a little wound on each of them. "[6] "Indeed we know thatpair, " quoth Cuchulain; "Oll and Othinè they, of the bodyguard of Aililland Medb; they never go to a hosting, [7]to battle or combat, [7] but whenthe wounding of a man is certain. They would have held [W. 4330. ] it forvictory and triumph and a boast hadst thou fallen at their hands. " [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. 41b, 21-26. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe. "Look on this bloody wound also for me, O Fingin my master, " said Cethern. Fingin looked closely at the bloody wound. "There came upon me a pair ofyoung warriors of the Fian, " [1]said Cethern;[1] "a splendid, manlyappearance they had. Each of them cast a spear at me. I drave this spearthrough the one of them. " Fingin looked into the bloody wound. "Why, thisblood is all black, " quoth the leech; "through thy heart those spearspassed so that they formed a cross of themselves through thy heart, [2]andthy healing and curing are not easy;[2] and I prophesy no cure here, but Iwould get thee some healing plants and curing charms that they destroy theenot forthwith. " "Ah, but we know them, that pair, " quoth Cuchulain; "Bunand Mecconn ('Stump' and 'Root') are they, of the bodyguard of Ailill andMedb. It was their hope that thou shouldst fall at their hands. " [1-1] YBL. 41b, 30. [2-2] Stowe. "Look at this bloody wound for me, too, O Fingin my master, " saidCethern. Fingin examined the bloody wound. "Why, it is the red rush of thetwo sons of Ri Cailè ('the King of the Woods') that is here, " said theleech. "Aye, 'tis so, " replied Cethern; "there attacked me there twofair-faced, dark-browed youths, huge, with diadems of gold [3]on theirheads. [3] Two green mantles folded about them; two pins of bright silver onthe mantles over their breasts; two five-pronged spears in their hands. ""Why, near each other are the bloody wounds they gave thee, " said theleech; "into thy gullet they went, so that the points of the spears struckone another within thee, and none the easier is it to work thy cure here. ""We know that pair, " quoth Cuchulain; [4]"noble youths of Medb's greathousehold, [4] Broen and Brudni, are they, [5]two[5] [W. 4352. ] sons of Riteora Soillse ('the King of the three Lights'), that is, the two sons ofthe King of the Woods. It had been victory and triumph and a boast forthem, hadst thou fallen at their hands. " [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] YBL. 41b, 41. [5-5] Stowe. "Look at this bloody wound for me, too, my good Fingin, " said Cethern. Fingin looked into the bloody wound. "The joint deed of two brothers ishere, " said the leech. "'Tis indeed true, " replied Cethern. "There cameupon me two leading, king's warriors. Yellow hair upon them; dark-greymantles with fringes, wrapped around them; leaf-shaped brooches of silveredbronze in the mantles over their breasts; broad, grey lances in theirhands. " "Ah, but we know that pair, " quoth Cuchulain; "Cormac Colomon rig('King's pillar') is the one, and Cormac son of Mael Foga, of the bodyguardof Ailill and Medb (the other). What they sought was that thou shouldstfall at their hands. " "Look at this bloody wound for me too, O Fingin my master, " said Cethern. [LL. Fo. 90b. ] Fingin looked into that bloody wound. "The assault of twobrothers is here, " said the leech. "Aye then, 'tis true, " answered Cethern. "There came upon me two tender youths there; very much alike were they;curly [1]dark[1] hair on the one of them; curly yellow hair on the other;two green cloaks wrapped around them; two bright-silver brooches in thecloaks over their breasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk [2]with hoodsand red embroidery[2] next their skin; [3]two[3] white-hilted swords attheir belts; two bright shields having the likenesses of beasts in whitesilver they bore; two five-pronged spears with veins of all-white silver intheir hands. " "Ah, but we know that pair, " quoth Cuchulain; "Manè 'Like tohis mother' and Manè 'Like to his father, ' two sons of Ailill and Medb; andit would be matter of victory, [W. 4377. ] triumph and boasting to them, hadst thou fallen at their hands. " [1-1] YBL. 42a, 28. [2-2] YBL. 42a, 30-31. [3-3] Stowe. "Look at this bloody wound for me, too, O Fingin my master, " said Cethern. "There came upon me a pair of young warriors of the Fian there. A brilliantappearance, stately-tall and manlike, they had; wonderful garments fromfar-away countries upon them. Each of them thrust [1]the spear he had[1] atme. [2]Then[2] I thrust [3]this spear[3] through each of them. " Finginlooked into the bloody wound. "Cunning are the bloody wounds they inflictedupon thee, " said the leech; "they have severed the strings of thy heartwithin thee, so that thy heart rolls about in thy breast like an apple inmotion or like a ball of yarn in an empty bag, and there is no string atall to support it; [4]and there is no means to cure thee or to savethee, [4] and no healing can I effect here. " "Ah, but we know those twain, "quoth Cuchulain; "a pair of champions from Norway who, [5]because of theircunning and violence, [5] have been sent particularly by Ailill and Medb toslay thee; for not often does one ever issue alive from their combats, andit would be their will that thou shouldst fall at their hands. " [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe and YBL. 42a, 1. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. "Look upon this bloody wound for me too, my good Fingin, " said Cethern. Fingin looked at that bloody wound in like manner. "Why, the alternatewoundings of a son and his father we behold here, " answered the leech. "Yea, it is so, " quoth Cethern; "two tall men, red as torches, came upon methere, with diadems of burnished gold upon them; kingly garments they wore;gold-hilted, hammered swords at their girdles, with scabbards of pure-whitesilver, [6]with a cunningly ornamented and delicate embossing[6] andsupports of mottled gold outside upon them. "Ah, but we know that pair, "quoth Cuchulain; "Ailill and his [W. 4399. ] son are they, Manè 'Thatembraces the traits of them all. ' They would deem it victory and triumphand a boast shouldst thou fall at their hands. " [6-6] Stowe. Thus far the "Bloody Wounds" of the Táin. "Speak, O Fingin prophetic leech, " spake Cethern son of Fintan; "whatverdict and what counsel givest me now?" "This verily is what I say tothee, " replied Fingin the prophetic leech: "Count not on thy big cows foryearlings this year; for if thou dost, it is not thou that will enjoy them, and no profit will they bring thee. " "This is the judgement and counsel theother surgeons did give me, and certain it is it brought them neitheradvantage nor profit, and they fell at my hands; and none the more will itbring thee advantage or profit, and thou shalt fall at my hands!" And hegave Fingin a strong, stiff kick with his foot, and sent him between thechariot's two wheels [1]and the creaking of the chariot might be heard afaroff. [1] [1-1] Stowe. "Oh, but vicious is the kick from the old warrior, " cried Cuchulain;[2]"'twould be more fitting if thou shouldst ply it on foes than onleech!"[2] Hence, from this saying, is the name Uachtar Lua ('the Height ofthe Kick') in the land of Ross from then until this day. [2-2] YBL. 42a, 50-51. Nevertheless [LL. Fo. 91a. ] Fingin the prophet-leech gave his choice toCethern son of Fintan: A long illness for him and afterwards to obtain helpand succour, or a red[a] healing for the space of three days and threenights, so that he might then employ his strength on his enemies. WhatCethern son of Fintan chose was a red healing for the space of three daysand three nights, to the end that he might then vent [3]his anger and[3]strength on his enemies. For what he said was that there would not be foundafter him any one he would rather have vindicate or avenge him thanhimself. [W. 4420. ] Thereupon Fingin the prophetic leech asked of Cuchulaina vat of marrow wherewith to heal and to cure Cethern son of Fintan. Cuchulain proceeded to the camp and entrenchment of the men of Erin, andwhatsoever he found of herds and flocks and droves there he took away withhim. And he made a marrow-mash of their flesh and their bones and theirskins; and Cethern son of Fintan was placed in the marrow-bath till the endof three days and three nights. And his flesh began to drink in themarrow-bath about him and the marrow-bath entered in within his stabs andhis cuts, his sores and his many wounds. Thereafter he arose from themarrow-bath at the end of three days and three nights, [1]and he slept aday and a night after taking in the marrow. [1] [2]"I have no ribs more, "said Cethern; "put the ribs of the chariot-box into me. " "Thou shalt haveit, " Cuchulain made answer. [2] It was thus Cethern arose, with a slab ofthe chariot pressed to his belly so that his entrails and bowels would notdrop out of him. [3]"Had I my own weapons, " said Cethern, "the story ofwhat I would do would live forever!"[3] [a] That is, 'extreme or drastic. ' [3-3] Stowe. [1-1] YBL. 42b, 7. [2-2] YBL. 42b, 8-9. [3-3] YBL. 42b, 10-11. That was the time when his wife came from the north, from Dûn da Benn('Fort of the two Gables'), and she brought his sword with her, even Finnadaughter of Eocho. [4]"What seest thou?" asked Cethern. [4] [5]"Meseems, "answered Cuchulain, "'tis the chariot of little Finna, Eocho's daughter, thy wife, that comes nigh us. "[5] [6]And they saw the woman, with the armsin the chariot. [6] Cethern son of Fintan [7]seized his arms[7] andproceeded to attack the men of Erin, [8]with the chariot-box bound aroundhis back, for he was not the stronger therefor. [8] But this is to be added:They sent a warning before him; Ithall, [a] physician of Ailill and Medb, had remained as one dead of [W. 4436. ] the great stun [1]from the blow ofCethern[1] among the bodies of the other leeches for a long space and time, [2]and continued in that state till then; at last he rose and rushed to theencampment, [2] [3]and he, the leech that had alone escaped from Cethern, brought the alarm to the camp. [3] [4-4] YBL. 42b, 13. [5-5] YBL. 42b, 14. [6-6] YBL. 42b, 16. [7-7] YBL. 42b, 17. [8-8] YBL. 42b, 18-19. [a] See above, page 272. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 42b, 20. "Hark, ye men of Erin, " shouted the leech; "Cethern son of Fintan comes toattack you, now that he has been healed and cured by Fingin the propheticleech, and take ye heed of him!" Thereat the men of Erin [4]in fear[4] putAilill's dress and his golden shawl [5]and his regal diadem[5] on thepillar-stone in Crich Ross, that it might be thereon that Cethern son ofFintan should first give vent to his anger on his arrival. [6]Eftsoons[6]Cethern [7]reached the place where he[7] saw those things, namely Ailill'sdress and his golden shawl around the standing-stone in Crich Ross, and he, being unaware and weetless, conceived it to be Ailill himself that was init. And he made a rush at it like a blast of wind and drave the swordthrough the stone pillar till it went up to its pommel, [8]so that his fistwent through it after the sword. [8] "Deceit is here, " cried Cethern son ofFintan, "and on me have ye worked this deceit. And I swear an oath, tillthere be found among ye [9]of the men of Erin[9] one that will put yonroyal dress about him and the golden shawl, I will not stay my hand fromthem, slaughtering and destroying withal!" [4-4] YBL. 42b, 22. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe [8-8] YBL. 42b, 24. [9-9] Stowe. Manè Andoe son of Ailill and Medb heard that, and he put [10]hisfather's[10] royal raiment about him and the golden shawl [11]and thediadem on his head, and he snatched them up in his chariot before him[11]and dashed off through the midst of the men of Erin. Cethern son of Fintanpursued him closely and hurled his shield the length of a cast at him, [W. 4454. ] so that the chiselled rim of the shield clave him[a] to theground, with chariot, driver, and horses. [1]When the men of Erin sawthat, [1] they surrounded Cethern on every side [2]and made him a victim ofspears and lances, [2] so that he fell at their hands in the strait whereinhe was. Wherefore 'Cethern's Strait-Fight and the Bloody Wounds of Cethern'[3]is the name of this tale. [3] [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] YBL. 42b, 29-30. [a] Omitting _i tri_, 'in three'; it is not found in Stowe or in YBL. And seems out of place here. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4]His wife, Finna[b] daughter of Eocho Salbuidê ('Yellow-heel') stood overhim and she was in great sorrow, and she made the funeral-song below:-- "I care for naught, care for naught; Ne'er more man's hand 'neath my head, Since was dug the earthy bed, Cethern's bold, of Dûn da Benn! "Kingly Cethern, Fintan's son; Few were with him on the ford. Connacht's men with all their host, For nine hours he left them not! "Arms he bore not--this an art-- But a red, two-headed pike; With it slaughtered he the host, While his anger still was fresh! "Felled by double-headed pike, Cethern's hand held, with their crimes, [c] Seven times fifty of the hosts, Fintan's son brought to their graves! "Willa-loo, oh, willa-loo! Woman's[d] wandering through the mist. Worse it is for him that's dead. She that lives may find a man![e] "Never I shall take a man[e] Of the hosts of this good world; Never shall I sleep with man; Never shall my man with wife! [W. 4485. ] "Dear the homestead, 'Horse-head's Dûn, '[a] Where our hosts were wont to go. Dear the water, soft and sweet; Dear the isle, 'Isle of the Red!'[b] "Sad the care, oh, sad the care, Cualnge's Cow-raid brought on me: Cethern, Fintan's son, to keen. Oh that he had shunned his woe! "Great the doings, these, oh, great, And the deed that here was done: I bewailing him till death, Him that has been smitten down! "Finna, Eocho's daughter, I, Found a fight of circling spears. Had my champion had his arms: By his side a slaughtered heap!"[4] [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 18, 748. [b] Reading Finna, to agree with the reading in LL. , _supra_, page 279. Inna, in Stowe, etc. [c] That is, unshrived of their sins (?), a Christian intrusion [d] Literally, 'heifer's. ' [e] Literally, 'a bull. ' [a] In Irish, _Dun cind eich_. [b] In Irish, _Innis ruaidh_. [4-4] See note 4, page 211. * * * * * [Page 283] XXIII HERE FOLLOWETH THE TOOTH-FIGHT OF FINTAN [W. 4502. ] Fintan, himself the son of Niall Niamglonnach ('of the brilliantExploits') from Dûn da Benn [1]in the north, [1] was father of Cethern sonof Fintan. And he came to save the honour of Ulster and to avenge his sonupon the hosts. Thrice fifty [2]with many pointed weapons[2] was hisnumber. And thus it was they came, and two spear-heads on each shaft withthem, a spear-head on the top and a spear-head at the butt, so that it madeno difference whether they wounded the hosts with the points or with thebutts. They offered three[a] battles to the hosts. And thrice their ownnumber fell at their hands, and there fell also the people [LL. Fo. 91b. ] ofFintan son of Niall, all excepting Fintan's son Crimthann alone, [3] so thatthere did not escape any of his people excepting himself and his son. [3]This one was saved under a canopy of shields by Ailill and Medb. [4]And theson was separated from him, his father Fintan, and was saved by Ailill outof fear of Fintan and in order that Fintan might not wreak his fury on themtill he should come with Conchobar to the battle. [4] Then said the men ofErin, it would be no disgrace for Fintan son of Niall to withdraw from thecamp and quarters, and that they would give up Crimthann son of Fintan tohim, and then the hosts would fall back a day's march to the north again;and that he [W. 4515. ] should cease from his deeds of arms against the hoststill he would come to encounter them on the day of the great battle at theplace where the four grand provinces of Erin would clash at Garech andIlgarech in the battle of the Cattle-reaving of Cualnge, as was foretold bythe druids of the men of Erin. Fintan son of Niall consented to that, andthey gave over his son to him. [1]He made friendship with them then whenhis son had been restored to him. [1] He withdrew from the camp and station, and the hosts marched a day's journey back to the north again, to stop andcease their advance. [2]Thereafter Fintan went to his own land. [2] In thismanner they found each man of the people of Fintan son of Niall and eachman of the men of Erin, with the lips and the nose [3]and the ear[3] ofeach of them in the teeth and tusks of the other [4]after they had used uptheir arms. [4] The men of Erin gave thought to that: "This is a tooth-fightfor us, " said they; "the tooth-fight of Fintan's people and of Fintanhimself. " So this is the 'Tooth-fight' of Fintan. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] YBL. 42b, 36. [a] 'Seven, ' YBL. 42b, 38. [3-3] YBL. 42b, 38-39. [4-4] YBL. 42b, 39-43. [1-1] YBL. 42b, 43-44. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 285] XXIIIa THE RED-SHAME OF MENN FOLLOWETH HERE [W. 4529. ] [1]It was then came [2]to them[2] great[1] Menn son of Salcholga, he from Renna ('the Waterways') of the Boyne [3]in the north. [3] Twelve[a]men [4]with many-pointed weapons, [4] that was his number. It was thus theycame, and two spear-heads on each shaft with them, a spear-head on the topand a spear-head at the butt, so that it made no difference whether theywounded the hosts with the points or with the butts. They offered threeattacks upon the hosts. Three times their own number fell at their handsand there fell twelve men of the people of Menn, [5]so that there remainedalive of them but Menn alone. [5] But Menn himself was [6]sorely[6] woundedin the strait, so that blood ran crimson on him [7]and his followers toowere crimsoned. [7] Then said the men of Erin: "Red is this shame, " saidthey, "for Menn son of Salcholga, that his people, [8]twelve men, [8] shouldbe slain and destroyed and he himself wounded till blood ran crimson redupon him. " Hence here is the 'Reddening Shame of Menn, ' [9]the name of thistale on the Spoil of the Kine of Cualnge. [9] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] YBL. 42b, 45. [3-3] Stowe. [a] 'Thirty, ' YBL. 42b, 45. [4-4] YBL. 42b, 46. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] YBL. 42b, 49. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Stowe. Then said the men of Erin, it would be no dishonour for Menn son ofSalcholga to leave the camp and quarters, and that the hosts would go aday's journey back to the [W. 4542. ] north again, and that Menn should ceasehis weapon-feats[a] on the hosts till Conchobar arose out of his 'Pains'and battle would be offered them at Garech and Ilgarech [1]on the day ofthe great battle when the men of Erin and of Ulster would meet together incombat in the great battle of the Cualnge Cow-spoil, [1] as the druids andsoothsayers and the knowers of the men of Erin had foretold it. [a] Following Windisch's emendation of the text. [1-1] Stowe. Menn son of Salcholga agreed to that, to leave the camp and halting-place. And the hosts fell back a day's march for to rest and wait, [2]and Mennwent his way to his own land. [2] [2-2] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 287] XXIIIb HERE FOLLOWETH THE ACCOUTREMENT OF THE CHARIOTEERS [W. 4551. ] Then came the charioteers of the Ulstermen to them. Thrice fiftywas their number. They offered three battles to the hosts. Thrice theirnumber fell at their hands, and the charioteers themselves fell on thefield whereon they stood. Hence this here is the 'Accoutrement of theCharioteers. ' [1]It is for this cause it is called the 'Accoutrement of theCharioteers, ' because it is with rocks and with boulders and with clumps ofearth they accomplished the defeat of the men of Erin. [1] [1-1] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 288] XXIIIc [LL. Fo. 92a. ] [1]THE WHITE-FIGHT OF ROCHAD NOW FOLLOWETH[1] [W. 4556. ] [2]Cuchulain despatched his charioteer to[2] Rochad [3]Rigderg('Red-king')[3] son of Fathemon, [4]from Rigdorn in the north, [4] [5]thathe should come to his aid. [5] He was of Ulster. [6]The gilla comes up toRochad and tells him, if he has come out of his weakness, to go to the helpof Cuchulain, that they should employ a ruse to reach the host to seizesome of them and slay them. Rochad set out from the north. [6] Thricefifty[a] warriors was his number, and he took possession of a hill frontingthe hosts. [7]"Scan the plain for us to-day, " said Ailill. "I see a companycrossing the plain, " the watchman answered, "and a tender youth comes intheir midst; the other warriors reach but up to his shoulder. " "Who is thatwarrior, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "Rochad son of Fathemon, " he answered;"and it is to bring help to Cuchulain he comes. I know what ye had best dowith him, " Fergus continued. "Let a hundred warriors go from ye with themaiden yonder to the middle of the plain and let the maid go before them, and let a horseman go tell Rochad to come alone to hold converse with themaid and let hands be laid on him, and thus shall be removed all fear ofhis people from us. [7] Finnabair, [W. 4558. ] daughter of Ailill and Medb, perceived that and she went to speak to her mother thereof, even to Medb. [1]Now it happened that Finnabair loved Rochad. It is he was the fairestyoung warrior in Ulster at that time. [1] [2]And Finnabair disclosed hersecret and her love[a] to her mother. [2] "Truly have I loved yonder warriorfor a long time, " said she; "and it is he is my sweetheart, [3]my firstlove[3] and mine own choice one in wooing [4]of the men of Erin. "[4] "Anthou hast [5]so[5] loved him, daughter, " [6]quoth Ailill and Medb, [6]"sleep with him this night and crave for us a truce of him for the hosts, until [7]with Conchobar[7] he encounters us on the day of the great battlewhen four of the grand provinces of Erin will meet at Garech and Ilgarechin the battle of the Foray of Cualnge. " [1-1] The LU. Version of the 'White-fight, ' which occurs much earlier (fo. 72a, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, lines 1457 and fol. ), is incorporated with the LL. Version above. [2-2] LU. 1457. [3-3] YBL. 43a, 6. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] LU. 1458. [6-6] LU. 1460-1463. [a] 'One hundred fighting men, ' LU. 1463. [7-7] LU. 1463-1472. [1-1] LU. 1458. [2-2] Stowe. [a] Literally, 'whisper. ' [3-3] YBL. 43a, 10. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. 43a, 10. [6-6] YBL. 43a, 10 [7-7] YBL. 43a, 11. [8]This then is done. Rochad sets forth to meet the horseman. "I am come, "says the horseman, "from Finnabair to meet thee that thou come to speakwith the maiden. " Thereupon Rochad goes alone to converse with her. Thearmy surrounds him on all sides; he is seized and hands are laid on him;his followers are routed and driven in flight. Afterwards he is set freeand bound over not to oppose Ailill's host till the time he will come withall the warriors of Ulster. Also they promise to give Finnabair to him. [8] [8-8] LU. 1472-1478. Rochad son of Fathemon accepted the offer [9]and thereupon he left them[9]and that night the damsel slept with him. [9-9] LU. 1478-1479. An Under-king of Munster that was in the camp heard the tale. He went tohis people to speak of it. "Yonder maiden was plighted to me [10]on fifteenhostages[10] once long ago, " said he; "and it is for this I have now comeon this [W. 4568. ] hosting. " Now wherever it happened that the seven[a]Under-kings of Munster were, what they all said was that it was for thisthey were come. [1]"Yonder maiden was pledged to each of us in the bargainas our sole wife, to the end that we should take part in this warfare. "They all declared that that was the price and condition on which they hadcome on the hosting. [1] "Why, " said they, [2]"what better counsel could wetake?[2] Should we not go to avenge our wife and our honour on the Manè[3]the sons of Ailill[3] who are watching [4]and guarding[4] the rear ofthe army at Imlech in Glendamrach ('Kettle-glen's navel)?" [10-10] YBL 43a, 17. [a] 'Twelve, ' Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 43a, 20. [4-4] Stowe. This was the course they resolved upon. And with their seven divisions ofthirty hundreds they arose, [5]each man of them to attack the Manè. WhenAilill heard that, [5] he arose [6]with a start with ready shield[6] againstthem and thirty hundred [7]after them. [7] Medb arose with her thirtyhundred. The sons of Maga with theirs and the Leinstermen and theMunstermen and the people of Tara. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe. [8]Then arose Fergus with his thirty hundred to intervene between them, andthat was a hand for that mighty work. [8] And a mediation was made betweenthem so that each of them sat down near the other and hard by his arms. Howbeit before the intervention took place, eight hundred[b] very valiantwarriors of them had fallen [9]in the slaughter of Glenn Domain ('DeepGlen'). [9] [8-8] Stowe. [b] 'Seven hundred, ' YBL. 43a, 24 and Stowe. [9-9] YBL. 43a, 25. Finnabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, had tidings that so great a numberof the men of Erin had fallen for her sake and on account of her. And herheart broke in her breast even as a nut, through shame and disgrace, sothat Finnabair Slebè ('Finnabair of the Mount') is the name of the placewhere she fell, [10]died and was buried. [10] [10-10] Stowe. [W. 4585. ] Then said the men of Erin, "White is this battle, " said they, "for Rochad son of Fathemon, in that eight hundred exceeding brave warriorsfell for his sake and on his account, and he himself goes[1] safe and wholeto his country and land[1] without blood-shedding or reddening on him. "Hence this is the 'White-fight' of Rochad. [1] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 292] XXIIId HERE FOLLOWETH ILIACH'S CLUMP-FIGHT [W. 4590. ] [1]Then came to them[1] Iliach son of Cass son of Bacc son ofRoss Ruad son of Rudraige. [2]He was at that time an old man cared for byhis son's son, namely by Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious') in Rath Imbilin the north. [2] It was told him that the four grand provinces of Erin eventhen laid waste and invaded the lands of Ulster and of the Picts [3]and ofCualnge[3] from Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring, [4]andwere carrying off their women and their cows and their children, theirflocks, their herds and their cattle, their oxen and their kine and theirdroves, their steeds and their horses. [4] He then conceived a plan [5]inhis mind[5] and he made perfect his plan privily with his people. "Whatcounsel were better for me to make than to go and attack the men of Erin[6]and to use my[a] strength on them[6] and have [7]my boast and[7] victoryover them, and thus avenge the honour of Ulster. And I care not though Ishould fall myself there thereafter. " [1-1] YBL. 43a, 29. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe. [a] The MS. Has 'his. ' [7-7] Stowe. [LL. Fo. 92b. ] And this is the counsel he followed. His two withered, mangy, [8]sorrel[8] nags that were upon the strand hard by the fort were led tohim. And to them was fastened his ancient, [9]worn-out[9] chariot. [10]Thushe mounted his chariot, [10] without either covers or cushions; [W. 4601. ][1]a hurdle of wattles around it. [1] His [2]big, [2] rough, pale-grey shieldof iron he carried upon him, with its rim of hard silver around it. He worehis rough, grey-hilted, huge-smiting sword at his left side. He placed histwo rickety-headed, nicked, [3]blunt, rusted[3] spears by his side in thechariot. His folk furnished his chariot around him with cobbles andboulders and huge clumps, [4]so that it was full up to its . . . [4] (?) [8-8] YBL. 43a, 36. [9-9] YBL. 43a, 36. [10-10] YBL. 43a, 35. [1-1] YBL. 43a, 35. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] YBL. 48a, 38. In such wise he fared forth to assail the men of Erin. And thus he came, [5]stark-naked, [5] [6]and the spittle from his gaping mouth trickling downthrough the chariot under him. [6] [7]When the men of Erin saw him thus, they began to mock and deride him. [7] "Truly it would be well for us, " saidthe men of Erin, [a] "if this were the manner in which all the Ulstermencame to us [8]on the plain. "[8] [5-5] YBL. 43a, 40. [6-6] This is the sense of Zimmer's translation, which is only conjectural, of this difficult passage (see _Zeitschrift für Deutsches Alterthum und Deutsche Litteratur_, Bd. Xxxii, 1888, S. 275). The idea is probably more clearly expressed in Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 43a, 41, and may be rendered, '_membrum virile ejus coram viros Hiberniae et testes pendentes per currum_. ' [7-7] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13. [a] 'Said Medb, ' Stowe. [8-8] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13, Add. Dochè son of Maga met him and bade him welcome. "Welcome is thy coming, OIliach, " spake Dochè son of Maga. [9]"Who bids me welcome?" asked Iliach. "A comrade and friend of Loegaire Buadach am I, namely Dochè macMagach. "[9]"Truly spoken I esteem that welcome, " answered Iliach; "but do thou [10]forthe sake of that welcome[10] come to me when now, alas, my deeds of armswill be over and my warlike vigour will have vanished, [11]when I willhave spent my rage upon the hosts, [11] so that thou be the one to cut offmy head and none other of the men of Erin. However, my sword shall remainwith [W. 4615. ] thee [1]for thine own friend, even[1] for Loegaire[2]Buadach!"[2] [9-9] Stowe. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] Stowe. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. He assailed the men of Erin with his weapons till he had made an end ofthem. And when weapons failed he assailed the men of Erin with cobbles andboulders and huge clumps [3]of earth[3] till he had used them up. And whenthese weapons failed him he spent his rage on the man [4]that was nearesthim[4] of the men of Erin, and bruised him grievously between his fore-arms[5]and his sides[5] and the palms of his hands, till he made a marrow-massof him, of flesh and bones and sinews and skin. Hence in memory thereof, these two masses of marrow still live on side by side, the marrow-mass thatCuchulain made of the bones of the Ulstermen's cattle for the healing ofCethern son of Fintan, [a] and the marrow-mass that Iliach made of the bonesof the men of Erin. Wherefore this was one of the three innumerable thingsof the Táin, the number of them that fell at the hands of Iliach. So thatthis is the 'Clump-fight' of Iliach. It is for this reason it is called the'Clump-fight' of Iliach, because with cobbles and boulders and massy clumpshe made his fight. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [a] See above, page 279. [6]Thereafter[6] Dochè son of Maga met him. "Is not this Iliach?" askedDochè son of Maga. "It is truly I, " Iliach gave answer; "and come to me nowand cut off my head and let my sword remain with thee for thy friend, forLoegaire [7]Buadach ('the Victorious'). "[7] [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe. Dochè came near him and gave him a blow with the sword so that he severedhis head, [8]and he took with him the head and the spoils vauntingly towhere were Ailill and Medb. [8] Thus to this point, the 'Clump-fight' ofIliach. [8-8] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 295] XXIIIe HERE NOW THE DEER-STALKING OF AMARGIN IN TALTIU [W. 4638. ] This Amargin was the son of Cass who was son of Bacc who was sonof Ross Ruad ('the Red') who was son of Rudraige, [1]father of ConallCernach ('the Triumphant'). [1] He came upon the warriors going over Taltiuwestward, and he made them turn before him over Taltiu northwards. And heput his left[a] elbow under him in Taltiu. And his people furnished himwith rocks and boulders and great clumps [2]of earth, [2] and he began topelt the men of Erin till the end of three days and three nights, [3]and hedid great slaughter among them[3] [4]so that no man could show his face tohim in Taltiu. [4] [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [a] As a challenge or sign of hostility. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] YBL. 43b, 13-14. * * * * * [Page 296] XXIIIf THE ADVENTURES OF CUROI SON OF DARÈ FOLLOW NOW [W. 4645. ] He was told that a single man was checking and stopping four ofthe five grand provinces of Erin [1]during the three months of winter[1]from Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring. And he felt itunworthy of himself and he deemed it too long that his people were withouthim. And [2]it was then[2] he set out [3]to the host[3] to fight andcontend with Cuchulain. And when he was come to the place where Cuchulainwas, he saw Cuchulain there moaning, full of wounds and pierced throughwith holes, and he felt it would not be honourable nor fair to fight andcontend with him after the combat with Ferdiad. [4]Because it would be saidit was not that Cuchulain died of the sores [LL. Fo. 93a. ] and wounds whichhe would give him so much as of the wounds which Ferdiad had inflicted onhim in the conflict before. [4] Be that as it might, Cuchulain offered toengage with him in battle and combat. [1-1] YBL. 43b, 17. [2-2] YBL. 43b, 14-15. [3-3] YBL. 43b, 15. [4-4] Reading with Stowe, which is to be preferred to LL. Thereupon Curoi set forth for to seek the men of Erin and, when he wasnear at hand, he espied Amargin there and his left elbow under him to thewest of Taltiu. Curoi reached the men of Erin from the north. His peopleequipped him with rocks and boulders and great clumps, and he began to hurlthem right over against Amargin, so that Badb's battle-stones collided inthe clouds and in the air high above them, and every rock of them wasshivered [W. 4662. ] into an hundred stones. "By the truth of thy valour, OCuroi, " cried Medb, "desist from thy throwing, for no real succour nor helpcomes to us therefrom, but ill is the succour [1]and help[1] that thencecome to us, " "I pledge my word, " cried Curoi, "I will not cease till thevery day of doom and of life, till first Amargin cease!" "I will cease, "said Amargin; "and do thou engage that thou wilt no more come to succour orgive aid to the men of Erin. " Curoi consented to that and went his way toreturn to his land and people. [1-1] Stowe. About this time [2]the hosts[2] went past Taltiu westwards. "It is notthis was enjoined upon me, " quoth Amargin: "never again to cast at thehosts [3]but rather that I should part from them. "[3] And he went to thewest of them and he turned them before him north-eastwards past Taltiu. Andhe began to pelt them for a long while and time [4]so that he slaughteredmore of them than can be numbered. [4] [5]This is one of the threeincalculable things on the Táin, the number of those he slew. And his sonConall Cernach ('the Victorious') remained with him providing him withstones and spears. [5] [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. Fo. 43b, 34-36. Then it was also that the men of Erin said it would be no disgrace forAmargin to leave the camp and quarters, and that the hosts would retire aday's march back to the north again, there to stop and stay, and for him toquit his feats of arms upon the hosts until such time as he would meet themon the day of the great battle when the four grand provinces of Erin wouldencounter at Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raid for the Kine ofCualnge. Amargin accepted that offer, and the hosts proceeded a day's marchback to the northwards again. Wherefore the 'Deer-stalking' of Amargin inTaltiu [6]is the name of this tale. [6] [6-6] Stowe. * * * * * [Page 298] XXIV THE REPEATED WARNING OF SUALTAIM [1]Now while the deeds we have told here were being done, [1] [W. 4685. ]Sualtaim ('Goodly fosterer') son of Becaltach ('of Small belongings') sonof Moraltach ('of Great belongings'), the same the father of CuchulainmacSualtaim, [2]of Sualtaim's Rath in the plain of Murthemne, [2] was toldof the distress and [3]sore wounding[3] of his son contending in unequalcombat on the Cualnge Cattle-spoil, even against Calatin Dana ('the Bold')with his seven and twenty[a] sons, and against Glass son of Delga, hisgrandson, [4]and at the last against Ferdiad son of Daman. [4] [1-1] YBL. 43b, 38-39. [2-2] YBL. 43b, 39-40. [3-3] Stowe. [a] 'Twelve, ' YBL. 43b, 41. [4-4] Stowe. [5]It is then that Sualtaim said[5]: "Whate'er it be, [6]this that Ihear[6] from afar, " quoth Sualtaim, "it is the sky that bursts or the seathat ebbs or the earth that quakes, or is it the distress of my sonovermatched in the strife on the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge?" [5-5] Stowe and YBL. 43b, 42. [6-6] Stowe. In that, indeed, Sualtaim spoke true. And he went to learn all after awhile, without hastening on his way. And when Sualtaim was come to where[7]his son[7] Cuchulain was [8]and found him covered with wounds and bloodygashes and many stabs, [8] Sualtaim began to moan and lament [9]forCuchulain. [9] [7-7] YBL. 43b, 46. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Stowe. [W. 4695. ] Forsooth Cuchulain deemed it neither an honour nor glory thatSualtaim should bemoan and lament him, for Cuchulain knew that, wounded andinjured though he was, Sualtaim would not be [1]the man[1] to avenge hiswrong. For such was Sualtaim: He was no mean warrior and he was no mightywarrior, but only a good, worthy man was he. "Come, my father Sualtaim, "said Cuchulain; [2]"cease thy sighing and mourning for me, and[2] do thougo to Emain [3]Macha[3] to the men of Ulster and tell them to come now tohave a care for their droves, for no longer am I able to protect them inthe gaps and passes of the land of Conalle Murthemni. All alone am Iagainst four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday at Summer'send till the beginning of Spring, every day slaying a man on a ford and ahundred warriors every night. Fair fight is not granted me nor singlecombat, and no [LL. Fo. 93b. ] one comes to aid me nor to succour. [4]And suchis the measure of my wounds and my sores that I cannot bear my garments ormy clothing to touch my skin, so that[4] spancel-hoops hold my cloak overme. Dry tufts of grass are stuffed in my wounds. [5]There is not the spaceof a needle's point from my crown to my sole without wound or sore, and[5]there is not a single hair [6]on my body[6] from my crown to my solewhereon the point of a needle could stand, without a drop of deep-red bloodon the top of each hair, save the left hand alone which is holding myshield, and even there thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. [7]And letthem straightway give battle to the warriors, [7] and unless they avengethis anon, they will never avenge it till the very day of doom and oflife!" [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] YBL. 43b, 49. Sualtaim set out on Liath ('the Roan') of Macha as his only horse, withwarning to the men of Ulster. And when [W. 4716. ] he was come alongside ofEmain, he shouted these words there: "Men are slain, women stolen, cattlelifted, ye men of Ulster!" cried Sualtaim. He had not [1]the answer[1] that served him from the Ulstermen, andforasmuch as he had it not he went on further to the rampart of Emain. Andhe cried out the same words there: "Men are slain, women stolen, cattlelifted, ye men of Ulster!" cried Sualtaim. [1-1] Stowe. And [2]a second time[2] he had not the response that served him from themen of Ulster. Thus stood it among the Ulstermen: It was geis for theUlstermen to speak before their king, geis for the king to speak before his[3]three[3] druids. Thereafter Sualtaim drove on to the 'Flag-stone of thehostages' in Emain Macha. He shouted the same words there: "Men areslain, women stolen, cows carried off!" "But who has slain them, andwho has stolen them, and who has carried them off?" asked Cathba thedruid. "Ailill and Medb have, [4]with the cunning of Fergus mac Roig, [4]overwhelmed you. [5]Your people have been harassed as far as DûnSobairche, "[5] said Sualtaim. "Your wives and your sons and your children, your steeds and your stock of horses, your herds and your flocks and yourdroves of cattle have been carried away. Cuchulain all alone is checkingand staying the hosts of the four great provinces of Erin at the gaps andpasses of the land of Conalle Murthemni. Fair fight is refused him, nor ishe granted single combat, nor comes any one to succour or aid him. [6]Cuchulain has not suffered them to enter the plain of Murthemne or intothe land of Ross. Three winter months is he there. [6] The youth is wounded, his limbs are out of joint. Spancel-hoops hold his cloak over him. Thereis not a hair from his crown to his sole whereon the point of a needlecould stand, without a drop of deep-red [W. 4737. ] blood on the top of eachhair, except his left hand alone which is holding his shield, and eventhere thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. And unless ye avenge thisbetimes, ye will never avenge it till the end of time and of life. " [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 44a, 9. [4-4] YBL. 44a, 13. [5-5] YBL. 44a, 13. [6-6] YBL. 44a, 15. [LL. Fo. 94a. ] "Fitter is death and doom and destruction for the man that soincites the king!" quoth Cathba the druid. "In good sooth, it is true!"[1]said the Ulstermen[1] all together. [1-1] Stowe. [2]Thereupon[2] Sualtaim went his way [3]from them, [3] indignant and angrybecause from the men of Ulster he had not had the answer that served him. Then reared Liath ('the Roan') of Macha under Sualtaim and dashed on tothe ramparts of Emain. Thereat [4]Sualtaim fell under his own shield, sothat[4] his own shield turned on Sualtaim and the [5]scalloped[5] edge ofthe shield severed Sualtaim's head, [6]though others say he was asleep onthe stone, and that he fell thence onto his shield on awaking. [6] [7]Hencethis is the 'Tragical Death of Sualtaim. '[7] [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. 44a, 28. [6-6] YBL. 44a, 32-33. [7-7] Stowe. The horse himself turned back again to Emain, and the shield on the horseand the head on the shield. And Sualtaim's head uttered the same words:"Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!" spake thehead of Sualtaim. "Some deal too great is that cry, " quoth Conchobar; "for yet is the skyabove us, the earth underneath and the sea round about us. And unless theheavens shall fall with their showers of stars on the man-like[a] face ofthe world, or unless the ground burst open in quakes [8]beneath ourfeet, [8] or unless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o'er the tuftedbrow of the earth, will I restore [W. 4756. ] to her byre and her stall, toher abode and her dwelling-place, each and every cow and woman of them withvictory of battle and contest and combat!" [a] Reading with LL. 5027 and 5975, which gives better meaning than the expression 'fort-face, ' of LL. [8-8] Stowe. Thereupon a runner of his body-guard was summoned to Conchobar, FindchadFerbenduma ('he of the copper Horn') to wit, son of Fraech Lethan ('theBroad'), and Conchobar bade him go assemble and muster the men of Ulster. And in like manner, in the drunkenness of sleep and of his 'Pains, 'Conchobar enumerated to him their quick and their dead, and he utteredthese words:-- "Arise, O Findchad! [1]Thee I send forth:[1] A negligence not to be wished (?); Proclaim it to the chiefs of Ulster!" [1-1] Reading with YBL. 44a, 41. [2]The Order of the men of Ulster. [2] [2-2] Stowe and YBL. 44a, 41. [3]Go thou forward to Derg, [3] to Deda at his bay, to Lemain, to Follach, to Illann [4]son of Fergus[4] at Gabar, to Dornaill Feic at Imchlar, toDerg Imdirg, to Fedilmid [5]son of Ilar Cetach of Cualnge[5] at Ellonn, toReochad [6]son of Fathemon[6] at Rigdonn, to Lug, to Lugaid, to Cathba athis bay, to Carfre at Ellne, to Laeg at his causeway, to Gemen in hisvalley, to Senoll Uathach at Diabul Ard, [LL. Fo. 94b. ] to Cethern son ofFintan at Carrloig, [7]to Cethern at Eillne, [7] to Tarothor, to Mulach athis fort, to the royal poet Amargin, to Uathach Bodba, to the Morrigan atDûn Sobairche, to Eit, to Roth, to Fiachna at his mound, to Dam drend, toAndiaraid, to Manè Macbriathrach ('the Eloquent'), to Dam Derg ('the Red'), to Mod, to Mothus, to Iarmothus at Corp Cliath, to Gabarlaig in Linè, toEocho Semnech in Semne, [8]to Eochaid Laithrech at Latharne, [8] toCeltchar son of Uthecar in Lethglas, to Errgè Echbel ('Horsemouth') atBri Errgi ('Errgè's Hill'), to Uma son of Remarfessach ('Thickbeard')at Fedain [W. 4819. ] in Cualnge, to Munremur ('Thickneck') son ofGerrcend ('Shorthead') at Moduirn, to Senlabair at Canann Gall ('of theForeigners'), to Fallomain, to Lugaid, [1]king of the Fir Bolg, [1] toLugaid of Linè, to Buadgalach ('the Victorious Hero'), to Abach, [2]toFergna at Barrene, [2] to Anè, to Aniach, [3]to Abra, [3] to Loegaire Milbel('Honey-mouth'), at his fire (?), to the three sons of Trosgal at BaccDraigin ('Thornhollow'), to Drend, to Drenda, to Drendus, to Cimb, toCimbil, to Cimbin at Fan na Coba ('the Slope of . . . ), to Fachtna son ofSencha at his rath, to Sencha, to Senchainte, to Bricriu, to Briccirne sonof Bricriu, to Brecc, to Buan, to Barach, to Oengus of the Fir Bolg, toOengus son of Letè, [4]to Fergus son of Letè, [4] to . . . [a] (?), toBruachar, to Slangè, to Conall Cernach ('the Victorious') son of Amargin atMidluachar, to Cuchulain son of Sualtaim at Murthemne, to Menn son ofSalcholga at Rena ('the Waterways'), to the three sons of Fiachna, Ross, Darè and Imchad at Cualnge, to Connud macMorna at the Callann, to Condrason of Amargin at his rath, to Amargin at Ess Ruaid, to Laeg at Leirè, toOengus Ferbenduma ('him of the copper Horn'), to Ogma Grianainech('Sun-faced') at Brecc, to Eo macFornè, to Tollcend, to Sudè at MagEol in Mag Dea, to Conla Saeb at Uarba, to Loegaire [5]Buadach ('theTriumphant')[5] at Immail, to Amargin Iarngiunnach ('the Darkhaired') atTaltiu, [LL. Fo. 94c. ] to Furbaide Ferbenn ('the man with Horns on hishelmet') son of Conchobar at Sil in Mag Inis ('the Island-plain'), toCuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of Macha son of Conchobar at Macha, toFingin at Fingabair, to Blae 'the Hospitaller of a score, ' to Blae 'theHospitaller of six men, ' to Eogan son of Durthacht at Fernmag, to Ord atMag Sered, to Oblan, to Obail at Culenn, to Curethar, to Liana at Ethbenna, to Fernel, to Finnchad [W. 4892. ] of Sliab Betha, to Talgoba [1]at Bernas('the Gap'), [1] to Menn son of the Fir Cualann at Mag Dula, to Iroll atBlarinè, [2]to Tobraidè son of Ailcoth, [2] to Ialla Ilgremma ('of manyCaptures'), to Ross son of Ulchrothach ('the Many-shaped') at Mag Dobla, toAilill Finn ('the Fair'), to Fethen Bec ('the Little'), to Fethan Mor ('theBig'), to Fergus son of Finnchoem ('the Fair-comely') at Burach, to Olchar, to Ebadchar, to Uathchar, to Etatchar, to Oengus son of Oenlam Gabè ('theone-handed Smith'), to Ruadri at Mag Tail, [3]to Manè son of Crom ('theBent'), to Nindech son of Cronn, to . . . (?), to Mal macRochraidi, [3] toBeothach ('the Lively'), to Briathrach ('the Wordy') at his rath, toNarithla at Lothor, to the two sons of Feic, Muridach and Cotreb, to Fintanson of Niamglonnach ('of brilliant Exploits') at Dun da Benn ('thetwo-gabled Dûn'), to Feradach Finn Fechtnach ('the Fair and Upright') atNemed ('the Shrine') of Sliab Fuait, [LL. Fo. 95a. ] to Amargin son ofEcetsalach ('the grimy Smith') at the Buas, to Bunnè son of Munremar, toFidach son of Dorarè, [4]to Muirnè Menn ('the Stammerer'). [4] [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4-4] YBL. 44a, 46. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] YBL. 44a, 45. [7-7] YBL. 44b, 7-8. [8-8] YBL. 44b, 28-29, Stowe and H. 1. 13. [1-1] H. 1. 13 and YBL. 44b, 36. [2-2] YBL. 44b, 40-41. [3-3] YBL. 44b, 44. [4-4] Stowe and YBL. 44b, 14. [a] The readings are corrupt. [5-5] YBL. 44b, 44. [1-1] Reading with YBL. 45a, 14; LL. Is corrupt. [2-2] YBL. 45a, 3. [3-3] YBL. 45a, 7. [4-4] YBL. 45a, 14. It was nowise a heavy task for Finnchad to gather this assembly andmuster which Conchobar had enjoined upon him. For all there were [5]ofUlstermen[5] to the east of Emain and to the west of Emain and to the northof Emain set out at once for the field of Emain in the service of theirking, and at the word of their lord, and to await the recovery ofConchobar. Such as were from the south of Emain [6]waited not forConchobar, but[6] set out directly on the trail of the host and on thehoof-prints of the Táin. [5-5] Stowe. The first stage the men of Ulster marched under Conchobar was [7]fromEmain[7] to the green in Iraird Cuillinn [W. 4932. ] that night. "Why nowdelay we, ye men?" Conchobar asked. "We await thy sons, " they answered;"Fiacha and Fiachna who have gone [1]with a division[1] from us [2]toTara[2] to fetch Erc son of thy daughter Fedlimid Nocruthach ('Nine-shaped'), son also of Carbre Niafer [3]king of Tara, [3] to the end that he shouldcome with the number of his muster and his troops, his levy and his forcesto our host at this time. [4]Until these two divisions come to us, nofurther advance will we make from this place. "[4] "By my word, " exclaimedConchobar; "I will delay here no longer for them, lest the men of Erin hearof my rising from the weakness and 'Pains' wherein I was. For the men ofErin know not even if I am still alive!" [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] Stowe and YBL. 45a, 24. [1-1] YBL. 45a, 26. [2-2] YBL. 45a, 27. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] YBL. 45a, 29. Thereupon Conchobar and Celtchar proceeded with thirty hundredspear-bristling chariot-fighters to Ath Irmidi ('the Ford ofSpear-points'). And there met them there eight-score huge men of thebody-guard of Ailill and Medb, with eight-score women [5]of the Ulstermen'swomen[5] as their spoils. Thus was their portion of the plunder of Ulster:A woman-captive in the hand of each man of them. Conchobar and Celtcharstruck off their eight-score heads and released their eight-scorecaptive-women. Ath Irmidi ('the Ford of Spear-points') was the name of theplace till that time; Ath Fenè is its name ever since. It is for this it iscalled Ath Fenè, because the warriors of the Fenè from the east and thewarriors of the Fenè from the west encountered one another in battle andcontest man for man on the brink of the ford. [6]Touching the four grand provinces of Erin, they encamped at Slemain Midè('Slane of Meath') that night, and[6] Conchobar and Celtchar returned thatnight to the green in Iraird Cuillinn hard by the men of Ulster. ThereuponCeltchar aroused the men of Ulster. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13. * * * * * [Page 306] XXIVa [1]THE AGITATION OF CELTCHAR[1] [W. 4954. ] It was then that Celtchar [2]in his sleep[2] uttered these words[3]to Conchobar[3] in the midst of the men of Ulster in Iraird Cuillinnthat night:[a]-- "Thirty hundred chariot-men; An hundred horse-companions stout; An hundred with an hundred druids! To lead us will not fail The hero of the land, Conchobar with hosts around him! Let the battle line be formed! Gather now, ye warriors! Battle shall be fought At Garech and Ilgarech On aftermorrow's morn!" [1-1] This title is supplied by the present writer. [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [3-3] YBL. 45a, 38. [a] I can make nothing of the first four lines of the following poem, and they are consequently omitted from the translation. The translation of the remainder of the _rosc_ is largely conjectural. [4]Or it was Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of Macha, Conchobar's son, whosang this lay on the night before the battle . . . , [b] after the lay 'Ariseye Kings of Macha' which Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious ') sang. [4] [4-4] YBL. 45a, 45-45b, 2. [b] There is a small gap in the MS. On that same night Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, spake these words tothe men of Erin at Slemain Midè that night:-- [W. 4973. ] "A wonder of a morning, A wondrous [1]time![1] When hosts will be confused, [2]Kings[2] turned back in flight! [3]Necks will be broken, The sand[a] made red, [3] When forth breaks the battle, The seven chieftains before, Of Ulster's host round Conchobar! Their women will they defend, For their herds will they fight At Garech and Ilgarech, On the morning after the morrow! [4]Heroes will be slaughtered then, Hounds cut to pieces, Steeds overwhelmed!"[4] [1-1] YBL. 45b, 7. [2-2] Reading with YBL. 45b, 8; LL. Has 'hosts'. [3-3] YBL. 45b, 8-9. [a] Or, 'the sun. ' [4-4] YBL. 45b, 11-14. On that same night, Dubthach Doel ('the Scorpion')[b] of Ulster [5]saw thedream wherein were the hosts at Garech and Ilgarech. Then it was[5] heuttered these words [6]in his sleep[6] among the men of Erin at SlemainMidè that night:-- "Great be the morn, The morn of Meath! Great be the truce The [7]truce[7] of Culenn! "Great be the fight, The fight of [8]Clartha![8] Great, too, the steeds, The steeds of Assal! "Great be the plague, The plague of Tuath-Bressi![c] Great be the storm, Ulster's battle-storm round Conchobar! "Their women will they defend, For their herds will they fight At Garech and Ilgarech, On the morning after the morrow!" [5-5] YBL. 45b, 4-5. [6-6] YBL. 45b, 5-6. [7-7] YBL. 45b, 19. [8-8] Reading with Stowe. [b] See note, page 198. [c] Probably Connacht. [W. 5003. ] Then [1]when the hosts were assembled at Garech and Ilgarech, [1]Dubthach was awakened from his sleep, so that Nemain brought confusion onthe host and they fell trembling in their arms under the points of theirspears and weapons, so that an hundred warriors of them fell dead[LL. Fo. 95b. ] in the midst of their camp and quarters at the fearfulness ofthe shout they raised on high. Be that as it would, that night was not thecalmest for the men of Erin that they passed before or since, because ofthe forebodings and predictions and because of the spectres and visionsthat were revealed to them. [1-1] YBL. 45b, 4-5. * * * * * [Page 309] XXV [1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE ARRAY OF THE HOST[1] [2]While these things were being done, the Connachtmen by the counsel ofAilill, Medb, and Fergus, resolved to send messengers from thence to spyout the men of Ulster, to make certain if they had taken possession of theplain. [2] [W. 5011. ] Said Ailill: "Truly have I succeeded, " said he, "inlaying waste Ulster and the land of the Picts [3]and Cualnge[3] from Mondayat Summer's end till Spring's beginning. We have taken their women andtheir sons and their children, their steeds and their troops of horses, their herds and their flocks and their droves. We have laid level theirhills after them, so that they have become lowlands and are all one height. For this cause, will I await them no longer here, but let them offer mebattle on Mag Ai, if so it please them. But, say here what we will, someone shall go forth [4]from us[4] to watch the great, wide plain of Meath, to know if the men of Ulster come hither. And, should the men of Ulstercome hither, I will in no wise be the first to retreat [5]till battle begiven them, [5] for it was never the wont of a good king to retreat. " [1-1] YBL. 45b, 22. [2-2] YBL. 45b, 23-26. [3-3] Stowe. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "Who should fitly go thither?" asked all. "Who but macRoth our chief runneryonder, " [6]answered another group of them. [6] [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [W. 5023. ] MacRoth went his way to survey the great wide-spreading plain ofMeath. Not long was macRoth there when he heard something: A rush and acrash and a clatter and a clash. Not slight the thing he judged it to be, but as though it was the firmament itself that fell on the man-like face ofthe world, or as though it was the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean that brokeo'er the tufted brow of the earth, or as though the ground had gone asunderin quakes, or as though the forest fell, each of the trees in the crotchesand forks and branches of the other. But why give further accounts! Thewood's wild beasts were hunted out on the plain, so that beneath them thegrassy forelocks of the plain of Meath were not to be seen. MacRoth hastened to tell this tale at the place where were Ailill and Medband Fergus and the nobles of the men of Erin. MacRoth related the wholematter to them. "What was that there, O Fergus?" asked Ailill; [1]"to what likenest thouit?"[1] "Not hard [2]for me to say what it resembled. [2] It was the rushand tramp and clatter that he heard, " said Fergus, "the din and thunder, the tumult and turmoil [3]of the Ulstermen. [3] It was the men of Ulster[4]arising from their 'Pains, '[4] who have come into the woods, the throngof champions and battle-heroes cutting down with their swords the woods inthe way of their chariots. This it was that hath put the wild animals toflight on the plain, so that the grassy forelocks of the field of Meath arehidden beneath them!" [1-1] YBL. 46a, 2. [2-2] YBL. 46a, 1-2. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4-4] YBL. 46a, 3-4. Another time macRoth surveyed the plain and he saw something: A heavy, greymist that filled [5]the glens and the slopes, [5] [6]the upper void andveil, [6] the space between the heavens and earth. It seemed to him that[7]the hills[7] were islands in lakes that he saw rising up out of thesloping [W. 5044. ] valleys of mist. It seemed to him they were wide-yawningcaverns that he saw there leading into that mist. It seemed to him it wasall-white, flaxy sheets of linen, or sifted snow a-falling that he sawthere through a rift in the mist. It seemed to him it was a flight of many, varied, wonderful, numerous birds [1]that he[a] saw in the same mist, [1] orthe constant sparkling of shining stars [LL. Fo. 96a. ] on a bright, clearnight of hoar-frost, or sparks of red-flaming fire. He heard something: Arush and a din and a hurtling sound, a noise and a thunder, a tumult and aturmoil, [2]and a great wind that all but took the hair from his[b] headand threw him[c] on his[b] back, and yet the wind of the day was notgreat. [2] He hastened on to impart these tidings at the place where wereAilill and Medb and Fergus and the nobles of the men of Erin. He reportedthe matter to them. [5-5] YBL. 45b, 40-41. [6-6] Stowe. [7-7] YBL. 45b, 41. [a] MS. : 'I. ' [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] YBL. 45b, 46-46a, 1. [b] MS. 'my. ' [c] MS. 'me. ' "But what was that, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "Not hard to say, " Fergus madeanswer. "This was the great, grey mist that he saw which filled the spacebetween the heavens and earth, namely, the streaming breath both of horsesand men, the smoke of the earth and the dust of the roads as it rose overthem with the driving of the wind, so that it made a heavy, deep-grey mistyvapour thereof in the clouds and the air. "These were the islands over lakes that he saw there, and the tops of hillsand of heights over the sloping valleys of mist, even the heads of thechampions and battle-heroes over the chariots and the chariots withal. These were the wide-yawning caverns that he saw there leading into thatmist, even the mouths and the nostrils of the horses and champions exhalingand inhaling the sun and the wind with the speed of the host. These werethe all-white, flax-like cloths that he saw there or the streaming[W. 5066. ] snow a-falling, to wit the foam and the froth that the bridles ofthe reins flung from the bits of strong, stout steeds with the stress, [1]with the swiftness and strength and speed[1] of the host. [1-1] H. 1. 13. "These were the flights of many, various, wonderful, numerous birds that hesaw there, even the dust of the ground and the top of the earth [2]and thesods[2] which the horses flung from their feet and their hoofs and arose[3]over the heads of the host[3] with the driving of the wind. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe. "This was the rush and the crash and the hurtling sound, the din and thethunder, the clatter and clash that he heard there, to wit the shield-shockof shields and the jangle of javelins and the hard-smiting of swords andthe ring of helmets, the clangour of breast-plates and the rattle of armsand the fury of feats, the straining of ropes and the whirr of wheels andthe trampling of horses' hoofs and the creaking of chariots, and the deepvoices of heroes and battle-warriors coming hither towards us. "This was the constant sparkling of shining stars on a bright, clearnight that he saw there and the sparks of red-flaming fire, even thebloodthirsty, terrible eyes of the champions and battle-warriors from underbeautiful, well-shaped, finely-adorned battle-helmets; eyes full of thefury and rage they brought with them, against the which neither before norsince has equal combat nor overwhelming force of battle prevailed, andagainst which it will never prevail till the very day of doom and of life!" "We make not much of that, " quoth Medb;[a] [4]"we will await them. [4][5]For[5] there are goodly warriors and goodly fighting-men with us to copewith them. " [6]"Thou shall have need of them, " answered Fergus. [6] "Truly, I count not on that, O Medb. For I give my word, thou [W. 5087. ] shalt findno host in [1]all[1] Erin, nor in Alba, [2]nor in the western part of theworld from Greece and Scythia westwards to the Orkney Islands, the Pillarsof Hercules, Bregon's Tower and the islands of Cadiz[2] to cope with themen of Ulster when once their anger comes on them!" [a] 'Ailill, ' YBL. 46a, 23. [4-4] YBL. 46a, 22. [5-5] Stowe. [6-6] YBL. 46a, 23. [1-1] YBL. 46a, 24. [2-2] YBL. 45a, 25-28. Then did the four grand provinces of Erin pitch camp and make lodgment atClartha for that night. They sent forth folk to keep watch and guardagainst Ulster, to the end that the Ulstermen might not come upon themwithout warning, without notice. Then it was that Conchobar and Celtchar with thirty hundred bristlingchariot-fighters set forth, till they halted at Slemain Midè ('Slane ofMeath') [LL. Fo. 96b. ] in the rear of the host of Erin. But, though 'halted'we have said, [3]a very brief halt made they there. [3] Not straightwaypitched they camp, but proceeded for a favourable sign to the quarters ofAilill and Medb, so they might be the first of all to redden their hands[4]on the men of Erin. [4] [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [5]Then did macRoth go again to view the hosting of the men of Ulster, sothat he reached their encampment at Slane of Meath. [5] It was not longmacRoth had been there when he saw something: An incomparable, immensetroop of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming straight from the north-east. Hehastened forward to where were Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the chiefs ofthe men of Erin. Ailill asked tidings of him on his arrival: "Say, macRoth, " queried Ailill; "sawest thou aught of the men of Ulster on thetrail of the host this day?" "Truly I know not, " answered macRoth; "but Isaw an incomparable, immense troop of horsemen in Slane of Meath comingstraight from the north-east. " "But how many numbered the horse-troop?"asked Ailill. "Not fewer, meseemed, [W. 5107. ] than thirty hundred fullyarmed chariot-fighters were they, even ten hundred and twenty hundred fullyarmed chariot-fighters, " macRoth made answer. [5-5] YBL. 46a, 28-31. "So, O Fergus, " quoth Ailill, [1]"those are the warriors of Ulster withConchobar![1] How thinkest thou to terrify us till now with the smoke anddust and the breath of a mighty host, while all the battle-force thou hastis that we see yonder!" [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "A little too soon belittlest thou them, " Fergus retorted; "for mayhap thebands are more numerous than is said they are. " "Let us take good, swift counsel on the matter, " said Medb; "for yon huge, most fierce, most furious man will attack us we ween, Conchobar, to wit, son of Fachtna Fathach ('the Giant') son of Ross Ruad ('the Red') son ofRudraige, himself High King of Ulster and son of the High King of Erin. Letthere be a hollow array of the men of Erin before Conchobar and a force ofthirty hundred ready to close in from behind, and the men shall be takenand in no wise wounded; for, no more than is a caitiff's lot is thiswhereto they are come!" Wherefore this is the third most derisive word thatwas spoken on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge, even to take Conchobar [2]andhis people[2] prisoners without wounding, and to inflict a caitiff's lot onthe ten hundred and twenty hundred who accompanied the kings of Ulster. [2-2] Stowe. And Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar heard that, and he knew that unlesshe took vengeance at once upon Medb for her great boast, he would notavenge it till the very day of doom and of life. It was then that Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar arose with his troop ofthirty hundred to inflict the revenge of battle and prowess upon Ailill andMedb. Ailill arose [W. 5129. ] with his thirty hundred to meet him. Medbarose with her thirty hundred. The Manè arose with their thirty hundred. The sons of Maga arose with their thirty hundred. The Leinstermen and theMunstermen and the people of Temair arose and made interposition betweenthem, so that on both sides each warrior sat down near to the other andnear by his arms. Meanwhile a hollow array of men was made by Medb to face Conchobar and a[1]warlike[1] band of thirty hundred ready to close in from behind. Conchobar proceeded to attack the circle of men, [2]to force an opening. [2]And he was far from seeking any particular breach, but he worked a smallgap, broad enough for a man-at-arms, right in front over against him in thecircle of combatants, and effected a breach of an hundred on his rightside, and a breach of an hundred on his left, and he turned in on them, andmingled [3]among them[3] on their ground, and there fell of them eighthundred fully brave warriors at his hands. And thereafter he left themwithout blood or bleeding from himself and took his station in Slane ofMeath at the head of the men of Ulster. [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] Reading with Stowe. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "Come, ye men of Erin!" cried Ailill. "Let some one go hence to scan thewide-stretching plain of Meath, to know in what guise the men of Ulstercome to the height in Slane of Meath, to bring us an account of their armsand their gear [4]and their trappings, their kings and their royalleaders, [4] their champions and battle-warriors and gap-breakers ofhundreds and their yeomen, [5]to which to listen will shorten the time forus. "[5] [LL. Fo. 97a. ] "Who should go thither?" asked all. "Who but macRoththe chief runner, " Aililla[a] made answer. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [5-5] Following Stowe. [a] 'Fergus, ' H. 1. 13 and Stowe. MacRoth went his way till he took his station in Slane [W. 5151. ] of Meath, awaiting the men of Ulster. The Ulstermen were busied in marching to thathill from gloaming of early morn till sunset hour in the evening. In suchmanner the earth was never left naked under them during all that time, every division of them under its king, and every band under its leader, andevery king and every leader and every lord with the number of his force andhis muster, his gathering and his levy apart. Howbeit, by sunset hour inthe evening all the men of Ulster had taken position on that height inSlane of Meath. MacRoth came forward with the account of their first company to the placewhere Ailill and Medb and Fergus were and the nobles of the men ofErin. Ailill and Medb asked tidings of him when he arrived. "Come, macRoth, " quoth Ailill, "tell us in what manner of array do the Ulstermenadvance to the hill of Slane in Meath?" "Truly, I know not, " answeredmacRoth, "except [1]this alone:[1] There came a fiery, powerful, mostwell-favoured company upon the hill of Slane in Meath, " said macRoth. "Itseemed, on scanning and spying, that[a] thrice thirty hundred[a] warriorswere in it. [2]Anon[2] they all doffed their garments and threw up a turfymound for their leader to sit on. A youth, slender, long, exceeding greatof stature, fair to behold, proud of mien, in the van of the troop. Fairestof the princes of the world was he in the midst of his warriors, as well infearsomeness and in awe, in courage and command; fair-yellow hair, curled, delicately arranged in ridges and bushy had he [3]reaching to the nape ofhis neck;[3] a comely, clear-rosy countenance he had, [4]narrow below andbroad above;[4] a deep-blue-grey, angry eye, devouring. [W. 5175. ] andfear-inspiring, in his head; a two-forked beard, yellow, fairly curled, onhis chin; a purple mantle with fringes and five-folded wrapped around him;a [1]conspicuous, [1] salmon-shaped brooch of [2]red[2] gold in the mantleover his breast; a shining-white, hooded shirt under red interweaving ofred gold he wore next his white skin; a bright-white shield with figures ofbeasts of red gold thereon; a gold-hilted, hammered sword in one of hishands; a broad and grey-green lance-head [3]on an ashen shaft[3] in theother; [4]the pillar of a king's house on his back. [4] That warrior tookhis station on the top of the mound, so that each one came up to him andhis company took their places around him. [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [a-a] 'Thirty hundred, ' Stowe, H. 1. 13, and YBL. 46a, 47. [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13, and, similarly, YBL. 46a, 42. [4-4] YBL. 46a, 47. [1-1] YBL. 46a, 44. [2-2] YBL. 46a, 44. [3-3] YBL. 46b, 3. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. That is, 'a great spear. ' "There came also another company to the same height in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. "Second of the two divisions of thirty hundred it was, [5]and next to the other in numbers and attendance, in accoutrements andfearfulness and horror. [5] A [6]great, [6] [7]hero-like, [7] well-favouredwarrior was there likewise at the head of that company; fair-yellow hair hewore; a bright, curly beard about his chin; a green mantle wrapped aroundhim; a bright-silvern pin in the mantle at his breast; a brown-red, soldier's tunic under red interweaving of red gold trussed up against hisfair skin down to his knees; a candle of a king's house[a] in his hand, with windings of silver and bands of gold; wonderful the feats and gamesperformed with the spear in the hand of the youth; the windings of silverran round it by the side of the bands of gold, now from the butt to thesocket, while at other times it was the bands of gold that circled by theside of the windings of silver from socket to spear-end; a smiting shieldwith [W. 5195. ] plaited edge he bore; a sword with hilt-pieces of ivory, andornamented with thread of gold on his left side. This warrior took hisstation on the left of the leader[1] of the first company[1] who had cometo the mound, and his followers got them seated around him. But, though wehave said they sat, they did not verily seat themselves at once, but[2]they sat thus, [2] with their knees on the ground and the rims of theirshields against their chins, so long it seemed to them till they should belet at us. But, one thing yet: Meseemed that [LL. Fo. 97b. ] the great, fierceyouth who led the troop stammered grievously [3]in his speech. [3] [5-5] YBL. 46b, 8-9. [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [7-7] YBL. 46b, 9. [a] That is, 'a flaming-red spear. ' [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] YBL. 46b, 19. [3-3] YBL. 46b, 21. "Still another battalion there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. "Second to its fellow in number and followers andapparel. A handsome, broad-headed warrior at the head of that troop;dark-yellow hair in tresses he wore; an eager, dark-blue eye rollingrestlessly in his head; a bright, curled beard, forked and tapering, at hischin; a dark-grey cloak with fringes, folded around him; a leaf-shapedbrooch of silvered bronze in the mantle over his breast; a white-hoodedshirt [4]reaching to his knees[4] [5]was girded[5] next to his skin; abright shield with raised devices of beasts thereon he bore; a sword withwhite silver hilt in battle-scabbard at his waist; the pillar of a king'spalace he bore on his back. This warrior took his station on the hill ofturf facing the warrior who first came to the hill, and his company tooktheir places around him. But sweet as the tone of lutes in masters' handswhen long sustained, so seemed to me the melodious sound of the voice andthe speech of the youth conversing with the warrior who first came to thehill and offering him every counsel. " [4-4] YBL. 46b, 30. [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "But who might that be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. [W. 5218. ] "Truly, we knowhim well, " Fergus made answer. "This, to wit, is the first hero for whomthey threw up the mound of turf on the height of the hill and whom allapproached, namely, Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach son of Ross Ruad sonof Rudraige, High King of Ulster, and son of the High King of Erin. [1]Itis he that sat on the mound of sods. [1] This, to wit, is the stammering, great warrior, " [2]Fergus continued, [2] "who took station on [3]hisfather[3] Conchobar's left, namely, Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') ofMacha, Conchobar's son, with the sons of the king of Ulster [4]and the sonsof the princes of the men of Erin[4] close by him. This is the spear he sawin his hand, even the 'Torch of Cuscraid, ' with its windings of silver andbands of gold. It is the wont of that spear that neither before nor afterdo the silver windings run round it by the side of the bands of gold butonly on the eve of a triumph. Belike, it is almost before a triumph theycourse round it now. [1-1] YBL. 46b, 36. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 46b, 40. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "The well-favoured, broad-headed warrior who seated himself on the hill inthe presence of the youth who first came on the mound, namely is Sencha sonof Ailill son of Maelcho 'the Eloquent' of Ulster, he that is wont toappease the hosts of the men of Erin. But, yet a word more I say: It is notthe counsel of cowardice nor of fear that he gives his lord this day on theday of strife, but counsel to act with valour and courage and wisdom andcunning. But, again one word further I say, " added Fergus: "It is a goodlypeople for performing great deeds that has risen there early this dayaround Conchobar!" "We make not much of them, " quoth Medb; "we have goodlywarriors and stout youths to deal with them. " "I count not that for much, "answered Fergus again; "but I say this word: Thou wilt not find in Erin norin Alba a host to be a match [W. 5242. ] for the men of Ulster when oncetheir anger comes upon them. " "Yet another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath, " saidmacRoth. [1]"Not fewer than a battalion of thirty hundred was in it. [1] Afair, tall, great warrior [LL. Fo. 98a. ] in the van of that battalion, and heof fiery spirit, with noble countenance. Brown, dark-coloured hair he wore, smooth and thin on his forehead; a dull-grey cloak girt around him; asilver pin in the cloak over his breast; a bright, sleeved tunic next tohis skin; a curved shield with sharp, plaited rim he bore; a five-prongedspear in his hand; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth in itsplace. " "But, who might that be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "In very sooth, we know him, " Fergus made answer. "The putting of hands on strife is he; abattle-warrior for combat and destruction on foes is the one who is comethere, [2]even[2] Eogan son of Durthacht, [3]king of the stout-handed[3]Fernmag in the north, is the one yonder. " [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13, and, similarly, YBL. 47a, 1. [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47a, 12. [3-3] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. Seems to be corrupt here. "Another battalion there came thither to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. "It is surely no false word that boldly they took thehill. Deep the terror, great the fear they brought with them. [4]Terriblethe clangour of arms they made as they advanced. [4] Their raiment allthrown back behind them. A great-headed, warlike warrior in the forefrontof the company, and he eager for blood, dreadful to look upon; spare, grizzly hair had he; huge, yellow eyes in his head; a yellow, close-napped(?) cloak around him; a pin of yellow gold in the cloak over his breast; ayellow tunic with lace next his skin; [5]a great, smiting sword under hiswaist;[5] in his hand a nailed, broad-plated, long-shafted spear with adrop [W. 5262. ] of blood on its edge. " "But, who might that be?" askedAilill of Fergus. "In truth then, we know him, that warrior, " Fergus gaveanswer. "Neither battle nor battle-field nor combat nor contest shuns he, the one who is come thither. Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious') son ofConnad Buidè ('the Yellow') son of Iliach, from Immail in the north, is theone yonder. " [4-4] YBL. 47a, 18-19. [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "Another company there came there too to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. "A thick-necked, burly warrior at the head of thattroop; black, bushy hair he had; a scarred, crimsoned face he had; adeep-blue-grey, blazing eye in his head; a spear set with eyes of glass, casting shadows over him; a black shield with a hard rim of silvered bronzeupon him; a dun-coloured cloak of curly wool about him; a brooch of palegold in the cloak over his breast; a three-striped tunic of silk [1]withred embroidery[1] next to his skin; a sword with ivory hilt and withornamentation of thread of gold over his dress on the outside. " "But, whomight that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "We know him full well, "Fergus made answer. "He is the putting of hand on strife; a wave of thehigh sea that drowneth [2]the small streams;[2] he is the man of threeshouts; the sea over walls; [3]the venomous destruction of enemies, [3] theman who comes thither. Muremur ('Thick-neck') son of Gerrcend ('Short-head')from Moduirn in the north is the one yonder. " [1-1] YBL. 47a, 40. [2-2] YBL. 47a, 43. [3-3] YBL. 47a, 44. "Still another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. [4]"Not fewer than thirty hundred, the battle line ofthe troops. [4] A [5]broad-headed, [5] stout warrior, pleasantly found oflimb, in the front of that troop; he is dried and sallow; he is wild andbull-like; a dun, round eye, proud in his head; [W. 5283. ] yellow, verycurly is his hair; a red, round shield with hard-silver rim about it hebore; a [1]trebly riveted, [1] broad-plated, long-shafted spear in his hand;a streaked-grey cloak around him; a salmon-shaped brooch of copper in thecloak over his breast; a hooded kirtle girded around him reaching down tohis calves; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth on his leftthigh. " "But who might he be?" [LL. Fo. 98b. ] asked Ailill of Fergus. "I knowhim indeed, " Fergus made answer. "He is the prop of battle; [2]he is thewild heat of anger; he is the daring of every battle;[2] he is the triumphof every combat; he is the tool that pierces, is the man who comesthither. Connud macMorna, from the Callann in the north, is the manyonder. " [4-4] YBL. 47b, 12-13. [5-5] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13. "There came still another company to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. [3]"A company most fair to look upon, most notable bothin numbers and in attendance and apparel. [3] It is indeed no lying word, itis with might and storm they gained the hill, so that [4]with the clash ofarms they made at the approach of that company[4] they startled the hoststhat had arrived there before them. A man, comely and noble, in advance ofthat band; most well-favoured to see of the men of the world, whether inshape or form or frame; [5]whether in hair or eyes or fearfulness; whetherin voice or brightness or knowledge or adornment; whether in rank or wisdomor kindred;[5] whether in arms or apparel; whether in size or worth orbeauty; whether in figure or valour or conduct. " [6]"Who might that man be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. [6] "Then it is surely no lying word, " Fergus madeanswer: "A fitting saying is this, 'No fool 'mongst the naked'[a] is he who[W. 5299. ] comes thither. He is the foe of all others; he is a powerirresistible; the storm-wave that drowneth, the glitter of ice is thatwell-favoured man. Fedilmid [1]son of[1] [2]Ilar Cetach of Cualnge, [2] fromEllonn in the north, is he yonder, [3]with trophies from other lands afterdealing destruction to his enemies. "[3] [1-1] YBL. 47b, 20. [2-2] YBL. 47b, 21-22. [3-3] YBL. 47a, 48-49. [4-4] YBL. 47a, 50-51. [5-5] YBL. 47b, 1-3. [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [a] A proverbial saying, the exact force of which we cannot determine. The reading of H. 1. 13 may be translated, 'No fool on a board (or shield ?), ' that is, a clown or tumbler (?). [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] Reading with Stowe. [3-3] YBL. 47b, 9-10. "Still another battalion came thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath, "macRoth proceeded. [4]"It is the array of an army for greatness. [4] Notoften is a warrior seen more handsome than the warrior that is in the frontrank of that company. Bushy, red-yellow hair he wore; [5]his countenancecomely, ruddy, well-formed;[5] his face [6]slender below, [6] broad above; adeep-blue-grey, beaming eye, and it flashing and laughing in his head; awell-set, shapely man, tall, slender below and broad above; red, thin lipshe had; teeth shining and pearl-like; [7]a clear, ringing voice;[7] awhite-skinned body; [8]most beautiful of the forms of men;[8] [9]a purplecloak wrapped around him;[9] a brooch of gold in the mantle over hisbreast; a [10]hooded[10] tunic of royal silk with a red hem of red gold hewore next to his white skin; a bright, [11]curved[11] shield with[12]wonderful, [12] [13]many-coloured[13] devious figures of beasts in redgold thereon [14]and with hollows of silver he bore at his left side;[14] agold-hilted, inlaid sword [15]hanging from his neck[15] at his left side; along, grey-edged spear [W. 5313. ] along with a cutting bye-spear of attack, with thongs for throwing, with fastenings of silvered bronze, in his hand. " [4-4] YBL. 47b, 26. [5-5] YBL. 47b, 29-30; Stowe and H. 1. 13. [6-6] Translating from YBL. 47b, 30, Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. Has, 'very beautiful. ' [7-7] YBL. 47b, 32. [8-8] YBL. 47b, 34, Stowe and H. 1. 13. [9-9] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13. [10-10] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 40-41. [11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 36. [12-12] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [13-13] YBL. 47b, 37. [14-14] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 37. [15-15] YBL. 47b, 40. "But who might that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "We know him fullwell, " Fergus made answer. "He is half of a battle; he is the dividing[a]of combat; he is the wild rage of a watchhound, the man who is comethither; Rochad son of Fatheman, from Rigdonn in the north, is heyonder. [1]Your son-in-law is he[1]; [2]he wedded your daughter, namelyFinnabair, [2] [3]without dower, and he brought neither marriage-gift norbride-price to her. "[3] [a] That is, 'a single-handed warrior, ' translating from YBL. 47b, 43 and Stowe. [1-1] YBL. 47b. 45. [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 46. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "Another battalion there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. "A stalwart, thick-thighed, [4]gross-calved[4] warriorat the head of that company; little but every limb of him as stout as aman. Verily it is no lying word, he is a man down to the ground, " said he. "Brown, bushy hair upon his head; a round-faced, ruddy countenance[5]covered with scars[5] he had; a flashing, proud eye in his head;a splendid, dexterous man was there, in this wise: Accompanied byblack-haired, black-eyed youths; with a red, flaming banner; [6]with terrorand fearsomeness; with wonderful appearance, both of arms and apparel andraiment and countenance and splendour; with converse of heroes; withchampions' deeds;[6] with wilful rashness, so that they seek to routoverwhelming numbers outside of equal combat, [7]with their wrath uponfoes, with raids into hostile lands, [7] with the violence of assault uponthem, without having aught assistance from [W. 5327. ] Conchobar. [1]It is nolying word, stiffly they made their march, that company to Slane ofMeath. "[1] [4-4] YBL. 47b, 48, Stowe and H. 1. 13. [5-5] YBL. 48a, 2, Stowe and H. 1. 13. [6-6] Stowe, and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 4-6, H. 1. 13. [7-7] YBL. 48a, 8-9, and, similarly, Stowe and H. 1. 13. [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 10-11. "But, who might he be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Aye then we know him, "Fergus made answer. "A thirst for valour and prowess; a thirst for madnessand fury; [2]a man of strength and of courage, of pride and of greatness ofheart[2] is he that came thither. The welding of hosts and of arms; thepoint of battle and of slaughter of the men of the north of Erin, mine ownreal foster-brother himself, Fergus son of Letè, [3]the king[3] from Linèin the north, is the man yonder!" [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [3-3] YBL. 48a, 14. "Still another [4]great, fierce[4] company came to the same hill in Slaneof Meath, " macRoth continued. [5]"A battle-line with strange garmentsupon them, [5] steadfast, without equal. A [6]comely, [6] handsome, [7]matchless, [7] untiring warrior in the van of this company; [8]the flowerof every form, whether as regards hair, or eye, or whiteness; whether ofsize, or followers or fitness. [8] Next to his skin a blue, narrow-borderedcloth, with strong, woven and twisted hoops of silvered bronze, withbecoming, sharp-fashioned buttons of red gold on its slashes andbreast-borders; a [9]green[9] mantle, pieced together with the choicest ofall colours, [10]folded about him;[10] [11]a brooch of pale gold in thecloak over his breast;[11] five circles of gold, [LL. Fo. 99a. ] that is, hisshield, he bore on him; a tough, obdurate, straight-bladed sword for ahero's handling hung high on his left side. A straight, fluted spear, flaming red [12]and venomous[12] in his hand. " "But, who might that be?"asked [W. 5342. ] Ailill of Fergus. "Truly, we know him well, " Fergus madeanswer. [1]"Fiery is the manner of the warlike champion who has so comethither. [1] The choice flower of royal poets is he. He is the rush on therath; he is the way to the goal; fierce is his valour, the man that camethither; Amargin son of the smith Ecetsalach ('the Grimy'), the noble poetfrom the Buas in the north, is he. " [4-4] YBL. 48a, 16. [5-5] YBL. 48a, 17. [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 18. [7-7] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [8-8] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 19-20. [9-9] YBL. 48a, 21. [10-10] YBL. 48a, 21. [11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 22. [12-12] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [1-1] YBL. 48a, 24-25. "There came yet another company there to the same hill in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. "A fair, yellow-haired hero in the front rank of thatband. Fair was the man, both in hair and eye and beard and eyebrows andapparel; a rimmed shield he bore; a gold-hilted, overlaid sword on his leftside; in his hand, a five-pointed spear that reflected its glare overthe entire host, [2]and a hollow lance in his hand. Hero-like was hiscoming!"[2] [2-2] YBL. 48b, 1-2. "But who was that man?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "In sooth, we know himwell, " Fergus made answer. "Cherished, in truth, is that warrior by thepeople, he that to us is come thither; cherished, the stout-blow-dealingbeast; cherished, the bear of great deeds against foes, [3]with theviolence of his attack. [3] Feradach Finn Fectnach ('the Fair andRighteous') from Nemed ('the Grove') in Sliab Fuait in the north, is theone that is come there. " [3-3] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4]"Another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath, " continuedmacRoth. "Three bold, high-spirited youths of noble countenance, [5]fieryand noble, [5] in the front rank of that company. Three cloaks of the onecolour [6]they wore folded[6] upon them; [7]three close shorn, blae-yellowheads; three gold brooches over their arms; three sleeved tunics withembroidery of red gold, girded around them;[7] three shields wholly alikethey bore; [8]three gold-hilted swords on their shoulders;[8] threefive-pointed, [W. 5360. ] [1]broad and grey-green[1] spears in their[2]right[2] hands. " "Who were those men there?" Ailill asked. "I know, "Fergus answered; "the three princes of Roth, the three champions of Colph, the three of Midluachair, great in achievements, three seasoned warriors ofthe east of Erin, to wit, the three sons of Fiachna in quest of their bullare there, even Ros and Darè and Imchad, for theirs was the possession ofthe Brown Bull of Cualnge. Even had they come alone, they would haveoffered you battle in defence of their bull and their drove, even thoughbefore them the enemy should not be routed. "[4] [4-4] Stowe, and, partly, YBL. 48b, 33-45. [5-5] YBL. 48b, 34. [6-6] YBL. 48b, 36. [7-7] YBL. 48b, 35-38. [8-8] YBL. 48b, 39. [1-1] YBL. 48b, 40. [2-2] YBL. 48b, 40. "Yet another company there came thither to the same hill in Slane ofMeath, " said macRoth. "Two [3]fair, [3] tender, young warriors at the headof that company, [5]and both wholly alike. Brown, curly hair on the head ofone of them; fair, yellow hair on that of the other;[5] two green cloakswrapped about them; two bright-silver brooches in the cloaks over theirbreasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk next to their skin; bright-hiltedswords on their belts; [6]two bright shields with devious figures of beastsin silver;[6] two five-pronged spears with windings of pure bright silverin their hands. Moreover, their years were nigh the same. [7]Together theylifted their feet and set them down again, for it was not their way foreither of them to lift up his feet past the other. "[7] [3-3] YBL. 48b, 20. [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [6-6] YBL. 48b, 22. [7-7] YBL. 48b, 23-25. "But, who might they be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Well do we know them, "Fergus made answer. "Two single, strong-necked champions are they; twounited flames; two united torches; two champions; two heroes; tworidge-poles of hosts[a]; two dragons; two thunderbolts; two destroyers (?);two boars; two bold ones; two mad ones; the two loved ones of Ulster aroundtheir king; [W. 5378. ] [1]two breach-makers of hundreds; two spencers; thetwo darlings of the north of Erin, namely[1] Fiacha and Fiachna have comethither, two sons of Conchobar son of Fachtna son of Ross Ruad son ofRudraige. " [a] That is, 'two chiefs of hospitality. ' [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "There came also another company to that same mound, " said macRoth. "'Tisthe engulphing of the sea for size; red-flaming fire [2]for splendour;[2] alegion for number; a rock for strength; annihilation for battle; thunderfor might. A [3]rough-visaged, [3] wrathful, terrible, ill-favoured one atthe head of that band, and he was big-nosed, large-eared, apple-eyed, [4]red-limbed, [4] [5]great-bellied, thick-lipped. [5] Coarse, grizzly hairhe wore; a streaked-grey cloak about him; a skewer of iron in the cloakover his breast, so that it reached from one of his shoulders to the other;a rough, three-striped tunic next to his skin; a sword of seven charges ofremelted iron he bore on his rump; a brown hillock he bore, namely hisshield; a great, grey spear with thirty nails driven through its socket hehad in his hand. But, what need to tell further? [6]All the host arose tomeet him, and[6] the lines and battalions were thrown into disorder at thesight of that warrior, as he came surrounded by his company to the hill, inSlane of Meath [7]and the stream of battle-hosts with him. "[7] "But whomight that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Ah, but we know him well, "Fergus made answer. "He is the half of the battle; he is the head of strife[8]of Ulster;[8] he is the head [9]of combat[9] in valour; [10]he is thestorm-wave that drowneth;[10] he is the sea overbounds, the man that iscome thither; the mighty Celtchar son of Uthechar, from Lethglass in thenorth, is the man there!" [2-2] YBL. 48a, 30. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 33. [4-4] H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 36. [5-5] YBL. 48a, 35. [6-6] YBL. 48a, 42. [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Stowe. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] YBL. 48a, 44. [10-10] YBL. 48a, 45-46. [W. 5397. ] "There came yet another company thither to the same hill in Slaneof Meath, " said macRoth; "one that is firm and furious; one that is uglyand fearful. A great-bellied, big-mouthed champion, [1]the size of whosemouth is the mouth of a horse, [1] in the van of that troop; with but oneclear eye, and [2]half-brained, [2] long-handed. Brown, very curly hair hewore; a black, flowing mantle around him; a wheel-shaped brooch of tin inthe mantle over his breast; a cunningly wrought tunic next to his skin; agreat long sword under his waist; a well-tempered lance in his right hand;[LL. Fo. 99b. ] a grey buckler he bore on him, that is, his shield. " [1-1] YBL. 48b, 9-10. [2-2] YBL. Has, 'broad-headed. ' "Pray, who might that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Indeed, but we knowhim, " Fergus made answer; "the wild, red-handed, [3]rending[3] lion; thefierce, fearful bear that overcometh valour. [4]He is the high doer ofdeeds, warlike, and fierce, [4] Errgè Echbel ('Horse-mouth'), from Bri Errgi('Errgè's Mound') in the north, is the one there. " [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4-4] YBL. 48b, 16. "Yet another company there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath, " saidmacRoth. "A large, noble, [5]fiery[5] man at the head of that company;foxy-red hair he had; huge, crimson-red eyes in his head; bulging as far asthe bend of a warrior's finger is either of the very large crimson, kinglyeyes he had; a many-coloured cloak about him; [6]a wheel-shaped brooch ofsilver therein;[6] a grey shield he bore [7]on his left arm;[7] a slender, blue lance above him; [8]a bright, hooded shirt tucked around him thatreached down to his knees;[8] [9]a sword with silver hilt at his hip; aspear remarkable for keenness in his revengeful right hand;[9] ablood-smeared, becrimsoned company [W. 5414. ] around him; himself coveredwith wounds and blood in their midst. " [5-5] YBL. 48b, 47. [6-6] YBL. 48b, 49-50. [7-7] YBL. 48b, 51. [8-8] YBL. 48b, 52-49a, 1. [9-9] YBL. 48b, 51-52. "Now who might he be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Well do we know him, "Fergus made answer. "He is the bold, the ruthless, [1]the swift-movingeagle;[1] the eager lance; the goring beast; [2]the torrent[2] of theColbtha; [3]the border-gate of the north of Erin;[3] the triumphant herofrom Bailè; he is the shaft (?); [a] he is the bellowing hero from Bernas('the Gap'); the furious bull; Menn son of Salcholga, from Rena ('theWaterways') of the Boyne [4]in the north; he hath come to take vengeance onye for his bloody wounds and his sores which ye inflicted on him afore. "[4] [1-1] Translating from Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [3-3] YBL. 49a, 7. [a] A word has fallen out in the MS. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "Yet another company came thither to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. [5]"High spirited and worthy of one another. [5] Along-jawed, sallow-faced warrior, [6]huge, broad, and tall, [6] at the headof that company; black hair on his head; long limbs are his legs; a cloakof red curly wool about him; a brooch of white silver in the cloak over hisbreast; an [7]all-white, [7] linen shirt next to his skin; a gory-red shieldwith a boss [8]of gold[8] he bore; a sword with hilt of [9]white[9] silveron his left side; a sharp-cornered, gold-socketed spear he held over him;[10]a broad, grey, interwoven spear-head, fairly set on an ashen shaft, inhis hand. "[10] "But, who might he be?" Ailill asked of Fergus. "Truly, weknow him, " Fergus made answer. [11]"The man of three stout blows hascome;[11] the man of three highways is he; the man of three roads, theman of three paths, the man of three [W. 5431. ] ways; the man of threevictories, the man of three triumphs; [1]the man of three shouts; theman that breaks battles on foes in another province;[1] Fergna son ofFindchoem, king of Burach, [2]from Coronn, [2] [3]royal hospitaller[3] ofUlster in the north, has come thither. " [5-5] YBL. 49a, 11-12. [6-6] YBL. 49a, 12-13. [7-7] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [8-8] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [9-9] YBL. 49a, 17. [10-10] YBL. 49a, 18-20. [11-11] YBL. 49a, 20-21. [1-1] YBL. 49a, 23-24. [2-2] YBL. 49a, 25. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. "Even another company came there to the same mound in Slane of Meath, "continued macRoth. [4]"Vaster than a division of three thousand was itsappearance. [4] A large, [5]white-breasted, [5] well-favoured man in the vanof that company. Like to Ailill yonder, with his pointed weapons, therestrainer, both in features and noble bearing and fairness, both in armsand apparel, in valour and bravery and fame and deeds. A blue shield[6]adapted for striking, [6] with boss of gold was [7]upon him. [7] Agold-hilted sword, [8]the pillar of a palace, [8] [9]along his shoulder[9]he bore on his left side; a five-pronged spear with gold, in his hand;[10]an exceeding fine cloak folded about him; a brooch of gold in the cloakover his breast; a tunic with red ornaments about him;[10] a golden crownon his head. " [4-4] YBL. 49a, 28. [5-5] YBL. 49a, 29. [6-6] YBL. 49a, 34. [7-7] YBL. 49a, 35, Stowe and H. 1. 13. [8-8] YBL. 49a, 35. [9-9] YBL. 49a, 35. [10-10] YBL. 49a, 31-34. "But, who might that be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Ah, but we know himwell, " Fergus made answer. [11]"Truly, the sea over rivers is the one thatis come thither; the wild rage of fire; not to be borne is his wrathagainst foes;[11] the root of all manhood; the assault of overwhelmingpower; the annihilation of men is he that is come thither. Furbaide Ferbennson of Conchobar, from Sil in Mag Inis in the north, is there. " [11-11] YBL. 49a, 36-38. [12]"Yet another company came to the mound in Slane [W. 5444. ] of Meath, "continued macRoth. "A sharp, proud folk; a stately, royal company, withtheir apparel of many colours, as well white and blue and black and purple, so that to a king could be likened each spirited, chosen man in the noble, most wonderful troop. A feast for the eyes of a host, to gaze on theircomeliness and their garb, as if it was going forth to some greatsurpassing assembly was each single man of that company. A trine of noble, distinguished men were in the front rank of that company. The first man ofthem with a dark-grey mantle fringed with gold thread about him; a broochof gold in the mantle over his breast; a tunic of rare silk next to hisskin; sandals of lamb's skin he wore. Not many men in the world arebetter-favoured than is he. A light-yellow head of hair he has; abright-faced sword with ivory hilt and with coils of gold thread, in hisright hand. He flings on high the tooth-hilted sword, so that it falls onthe head of the middle man but it simply grazes it. He catches it up in theair again, so that it falls on the head of the other man, and the first mancatches it in his hand, and it divided not a ringlet nor the skin of thehead of either of them, and these two men did not perceive it. Two brown, rich-hued, bright-faced youths; reddish-grey mantles around them;white-silver brooches in their mantles over their breasts; a bright-hiltedsword under their waists; purple sandals they wore; as sweet as strings oflutes when long sustained in players' hands was the voice and song of oneof the men, so that enough of delight it was to the host to listen to thesound of his voice. Worthy of a king or of a prince was each man in thatcompany as regards apparel and appearance; thou wouldst think, at the sightof them, they were all kings. Neither spears nor swords do they bear, buttheir servants bear them. " [12-12] The following passage extending to page 337 is not found in LL. Owing to the loss of a leaf. It is translated here from Stowe with the help of H. 1. 13 and Add. 18, 748. "An over-proud body is that, " quoth Ailill; "and who may they be, OFergus?" he asked. "I know full well, " [W. 5466. ] replied Fergus; "the poetsof Ulster are they, with that Fercerdne the fair, much-gifted, whom thousawest, even the learned master of Ulster, Fercerdne. 'Tis before him thatthe lakes and rivers sink when he upbraids, and they swell up high when heapplauds. The two others thou sawest are Athirnè the chief poet, whom nonecan deny, and Ailill Miltenga ('Honey-tongue') son of Carba; and he iscalled Ailill 'Honey-tongue' for that as sweet as honey are the words ofwisdom that fall from him. " "There came yet another company to the mound in Slane of Meath, " saidmacRoth. "A most terrible, dreadful sight to behold them. Blue and pied andgreen, purple, grey and white and black mantles; a kingly, white-grey, broad-eyed hero in the van of that company; wavy, grizzled hair upon him; ablue-purple cloak about him; a leaf-shaped brooch with ornamentation ofgold in the cloak over his breast; a shield, stoutly braced with buckles ofred copper; yellow sandals he wore; a large, strange-fashioned sword alonghis shoulder. Two curly-haired, white-faced youths close by him, wearinggreen cloaks and purple sandals and blue tunics, and with brown shieldsfitted with hooks, in their hands; white-hilted swords with silvered bronzeornaments they bore; a broad, somewhat light countenance had one ofthem. One of these cunning men raises his glance to heaven and scans theclouds of the sky and bears their answer to the marvellous troop that iswith him. They all lift their eyes on high and watch the clouds and worktheir spells against the elements, so that the elements fall to warringwith each other, till they discharge rain-clouds of fire downwards on thecamp and entrenchments of the men of Erin. " "Who might that be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "I know him, " repliedFergus; "the foundation of knowledge; the master of the elements; theheaven-soaring one; he that blindeth the eyes; that depriveth his foe[W. 5488. ] of his strength through incantations of druids, namely Cathba thefriendly druid, with the druids of Ulster about him. And to this end hemakes augury when judging the elements, in order to ascertain therefrom howthe great battle on Garech and Ilgarech will end. The two youths that areabout him, they are his own two sons, to wit Imrinn son of Cathba andGenonn Gruadsolus ('Bright-cheek') son of Cathba, he that has the somewhatlight countenance. Howbeit it will be hard for the men of Erin to withstandthe spells of the druids. " "Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath, " continuedmacRoth. "A numberless, bright-faced band; unwonted garments they wore; alittle bag at the waist of each man of them. A white-haired, bull-faced manin the front of that company; an eager, dragon-like eye in his head; ablack, flowing robe with edges of purple around him; a many coloured, leaf-shaped brooch with gems, in the robe over his breast; a ribbed tunicof thread of gold around him; a short sword, keen and hard, with plates ofgold, in his hand; they all came to show him their stabs and their sores, their wounds and their ills, and he told each one his sickness, and he gaveeach a cure, and what at last happened to each was even the ill he foretoldhim. " "He is the power of leechcraft; he is the healing of wounds; he isthe thwarting of death; he is the absence of every weakness, is that man, "said Fergus, "namely Fingin the prophet mediciner, the physician ofConchobar, with the leeches of Ulster around him. It is he that knoweththe sickness of a man by the smoke of the house wherein he lies, or byhearing his groans. Their medicine bags are the sacks which thou sawestwith them. " "Another company came to the mound in Slane of Meath, " continued macRoth. "A powerful, heavy, turbulent company; they caused uproar in their deeds ofarms [W. 5512. ] for the accomplishment of brilliant feats;[a] they tore upthe sad-sodded earth with the strength of their bitter rage, for the mightyprinces of the proud province of Conchobar would not allow them to proceedto the great camp till all should be arrived. Two youths, swarthy and huge, in the front of that company; soft, playful eyes in their heads; aboutthem, dark-grey tunics with silver pins set with stones; great, horn-toppedswords with sheaths they bore; strong, stout shields they bore; hollowlances with rows of rivets, in their hands; glossy tunics next to theirskin. " "We know well that company, " quoth Fergus; "the household ofConchobar and his vassals are those; their two leaders, Glasnè and Menn, two sons of Uthechar. " [a] There is a gap here in both Stowe and H. 1. 13, and consequently the translation is uncertain. "There came yet another band to the mound in Slane of Meath, " continuedmacRoth; "to wit, a band of a numerous body of henchmen. A black, hasty, swarthy, . . . , man in the front rank of that band; seven chains around hisneck; seven men at the end of each chain; these seven groups of men hedrags along, so that their faces strike against the ground, and they revilehim until he desists. Another terrible man is there, and the ponderousstone which powerful men could not raise, he sets on his palm and flings onhigh to the height a lark flies on a day of fine weather; a club of iron athis belt. " "I know those men, " quoth Fergus: "Triscoth the strong man ofConchobar's house; it is he that flings the stone on high. Ercenn son ofthe three stewards, he it is in the chains. " "There came [1]another[1] large, stately company to the mound in Slane ofMeath, " macRoth went on. "Three, very curly-headed, white-faced youths inthe van of that troop; three curly-red kirtles with brooches of silveredbronze was the apparel they wore about them; three [W. 5535. ] sparklingtunics of silk with golden seams tucked up about them; three studdedshields with images of beasts for emblems in silvered bronze upon them andwith bosses of red gold; three very keen swords with guards adorned withgold thread along their shoulders; broad-bladed javelin-heads on ashenshafts in their hands. " "Who might that be there, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "That I know, " answered Fergus: "the three venoms of serpents; threecutting ones; three edges; three watchful ones; three points of combat;three pillars of the borders; three powerful companies of Ulster; threewardens of Erin; three triumph-singers of a mighty host are there, " saidFergus, "the three sons of Conchobar, namely Glas and Manè and Conaing. " [1-1] H. 1. 13. "Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath, " saidmacRoth. "Stately, in beautiful colours, gleaming-bright they came to themound. Not fewer than an army-division, as a glance might judge them. Abold, fair-cheeked youth in the van of that troop; light-yellow hair hashe; though a bag of red-shelled nuts were spilled on his crown, not a nutof them would fall to the ground because of the twisted, curly locks of hishead. Bluish-grey as harebell is one of his eyes; as black as beetle'sback is the other; the one brow black, the other white; a forked, light-yellow beard has he; a magnificent red-brown mantle about him; around brooch adorned with gems of precious stones fastening it in hismantle over his right shoulder; a striped tunic of silk with a goldenhem next to his skin; an ever-bright shield he bore; a hard-smiting, threatening spear he held over him; a very keen sword with hilt-piece ofred gold on his thigh. " "Who might that be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "Iknow, then, " replied Fergus: "it is battle against foes; it is the incitingof strife; it is the rage of a monster; it is the madness of a lion; it isthe cunning of a snake; it is the rock of the [W. 5558. ] Badb; it is the seaover dikes; it is the shaking of rocks; it is the stirring of a wild host, namely Conall Cernach ('the Victorious'), the high-glorious son of Amargin, that is come hither. "[12] [12-12] See note 12, page 331. "Yet another company came to the same mound in Slane of Meath, " saidmacRoth. [1]"Very heroic and without number it is;[1] steady and dissimilarto the other companies. [2]Strange garments, unlike the other companiesthey wore. Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. Agreat host and fierce is that company. [2] Some wore red cloaks, otherslight-blue cloaks, [LL. Fo. 100a. ] others dark blue cloaks, others greencloaks; white and yellow jerkins, beautiful and shiny, were over them. Behold the little, freckled, red-faced lad with purple, [3]fringed[3]mantle [4]folded about him[4] amongst them in their midst. [5]Fairest ofthe forms of men was his form. [5] A salmon-shaped brooch of gold in themantle over his breast; a [6]bright, hooded[6] tunic of royal silk with redtrimming of red gold next to his white skin; a bright shield with intricatefigures of beasts in red gold upon it; a boss of gold on the shield; anedge of gold around it; a small, gold-hilted sword at his waist; a sharp, light lance cast its shadow over him. " "But, who might he be?" asked Ailillof Fergus. "Truly, I know not, " Fergus made answer, "that I left behind mein Ulster the like of that company nor of the little lad that is in it. But, one thing I think likely, that they are the men of Temair with [7]thewell-favoured, wonderful, noble youth[7] Erc son of Fedilmid Nocruthach, [8]Conchobar's daughter, [8] and of Carbre Niafer. And if it be they, theyare not more friends than their leaders here. Mayhap despite his father[W. 5576. ] has this lad come to succour his grandfather[a] at this time. Andif these they be, a sea that drowneth shall this company be to ye, becauseit is through this company and the little lad that is in it that the battleshall this time be won against ye. " "How through him?" asked Ailill. "Nothard to tell, " Fergus responded: "for this little lad will know neitherfear nor dread when slaying and slaughtering, until at length he comes intothe midst of your battalion. Then shall be heard the whirr of Conchobar'ssword like the yelp of a howling war-hound, or like a lion rushing amongbears, [1]while the boy will be saved. [1] Then outside around the battlelines will Conchobar pile up huge walls of men's bodies [2]while he seeksthe little lad. [2] In turn the princes of the men of Ulster, filled withlove and devotion, will hew the enemy to pieces. Boldly will those powerfulbulls, [3]the brave warriors of Ulster, [3] bellow as [4]their grandson, [4]the calf of their [5]cow, [5] is rescued in the battle on the morn of themorrow. " [1-1] YBL. 49a, 41. [2-2] YBL. 49a, 42-44. [3-3] YBL. 49a, 50. [4-4] YBL. 49a, 50. [5-5] YBL. 49a, 46-47. [6-6] YBL. 49a, 52. [7-7] YBL. 49b, 4-5. [8-8] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 49b, 6. [a] That is, Conchobar. [1-1] YBL. 49b, 17. [2-2] YBL. 49b, 18. [3-3] YBL. 49b, 19-20. [4-4] Stowe; that is, Erc son of Fedlimid, Conchobar's daughter. ] [5-5] 'Of their heart, ' YBL. 49b, 13. [6]"Then came there three huge (?), strong, well-braced, cunningly-builtcastles; three mighty, wheeled-towers like unto mountains, in this wiseplaced in position: Three royal castles with their thirty fully armedbattalions, swarming with evil-tongued warriors and with thirtyround-shielded heroes. A bright, beautiful, glistening shield-guard was oneach of the three strong, stout battle-castles, with black, deadly armamentof huge, high, blue, sharp pine-lances, such that one's bent knee would fitin the socket of each smooth, polished, even and hard spear-head that is oneach huge, terrible, strange shaft of the terrible, awful, heavy, monstrous, indescribable armament [W. 5598. ] that I saw. A third part ofeach shaft was contained in the socket of the riveted, very long, securelyplaced spears; as high as [1]two[1] cubits was each citadel from theground; as long as a warrior's spear was the height of each battle-hurdle;as sharp as charmed sword was the blade of each sickle on the sides and theflanks of each of [2]Badb's hurdles;[2] on each of the three stout and hardbattle-hurdles they are to be found. Four dark, yet gleaming, well-adorneddoors were on each battle-wheeled tower of the three royal wheeled-towerswhich were displayed and spread over the plain, with ivory door-posts, withlintels of cypress, with stately thresholds set of speckled, beautiful, strong pine, with their blue, glass door-leaves, with the glitter ofcrystal gems around each door-frame, so that its appearance from afar waslike that of bright shining stars. As loud as the crash of a mighty wave atthe great spring-tide, or of a huge heavy fleet upon the sea when toilingwith the oars along the shore, was the similitude of the din and theclamour and the shouts and the tumult of the multitude and the to-and-froof the thirty champions with their thirty heavy, iron clubs that they bearin their hands. And when the wheeled-towers advance massively and boldlyagainst the line of heroes, these almost leave behind their arms at thefierce charge of the outland battalions. Then spring the three hundredchampions with a shout of vengeful anger over the sides and over the frontof the huge iron towers on wheels, so that this it was that checked theswift course and the great, hasty onslaught of the well-grounded, swiftly-moving, mighty chariots. The three stout, strong, battle-prooftowers on wheels careered over rough places and over obstacles, over rocksand over heights. There coursed the thirty entire chargers, powerful, strong-backed, four abreast, the equal of ninety entire chargers, with[W. 5622. ] manes more than big, bold[a] and leaping, with sack-like, distended nostrils, high-headed, towering, over-powering, wonderful, sothat they shook with their ramping the thick shell of the sad-soddedearth. They flecked the plain behind them with the foam dripping from the[1]swift[1] Danish steeds, from the bits and bridles, from the traces andtracks of the huge, maned, mighty[b] steeds, greater than can be told! Theyexcited strife with their din of arms. They plunged headlong in theirswift impatience. They aroused great terror at their accoutrement, at theirarmour, at their cunning, at their power, at their hugeness, at theirdestructive, terrible, hostile vengeance on the four grand, proud provincesof Erin. Amazing to me was their appearance because of the unwontedness oftheir trappings both in form and in garb. Three wonderful flights of birdswith variety of appearance hovered over them. The first flock was all red, the second flock was white as swans, the third flock as black as ravens. Three red-mouthed, crow-shaped demons of battle sped around them as swiftas hares, circling the three wheeled towers, and this is what theyprophesied:-- "Sheaves[c] of battle, Might of quelling, Ill of war-deeds, Sating of foul ravens! Sodden ground, blood-red; Men low in dust; Sheaves[c] on sword-blades!" [6-6] The following passage, to page 342, is taken from Stowe and H. 1. 13; it is not found in LL. [1-1] H. 1. 13 and Add. 18, 748. [2-2] That is, the movable towers. [a] Following the emendation _bairnech_, suggested by Windisch. [1-1] H. 1. 13. [b] Following the emendation _moradbal_, suggested by Windisch. [c] That is, the layers of the slain. "They wheeled about and brought them twelve[d] battle-pillars of thick, huge, iron pillars. As thick as the middle of a warrior's thigh, as tall asa champion's spear was each battle-fork of them, and they placed four forksunder each [W. 5646. ] wheeled-tower. And their horses all ran from them andgrazed upon the plain. And those forty[a] that had gone in advance descendclad in armour on the plain, and the garrison of the three battle-wheeledtowers falls to attacking and harassing them, and is attacked and harassedin turn by those forty champions, so that there was heard the breakingof shields and the loud blows of hard iron poles on bucklers andbattle-helmets, on coats of mail and on the iron plates of smooth, hard, blue-black, sharp-beaked, forkèd spears. And in the whole camp there isnone but is on the watch for their fierceness and their wrath and theircunning and their strangeness, for their fury, their achievements and theexcellence of their guard. And in the place where the forty champions areand the thousand armed men contending with them, not one of the thousandhad a wounding stroke nor a blow on his opponent because of the might oftheir skill in arms and the excellence of their defence withal!" [d] That is, a battle-pillar or prop for each of the four wheels of each of the three towers. [a] This is the first mention of the 'forty. ' "They are hard to contend with for all such as are unfamiliar with them, isthe opinion held of them, " spake Fergus, "but they are readily to be dealtwith for such as do know them. These are three battle-wheeled towers, "Fergus continued, "as I perceive from their account. Once I saw their like, namely when as prentice I accompanied Darè to Spain, so that we entered theservice, of the king of Spain, Esorb to wit, and we afterwards made anexpedition to Soda, that is, to the king of Africa, and we gave battle tothe Carthaginians. There came their like upon us against the battle-linewherein we were, an hundred battalions and three score hundred in eachbattalion. One of the wheeled-towers won victory over us all, for we werenot on our guard against them. And this is the way to defeat them: To minea hole broader than the tower in the ground in the front thereof and coverover the pitfall; [W. 5669. ] and for the battle-line to be drawn up overagainst it and not to advance to attack, so that it is the towers thatadvance and fall into the pit. Lebarcham told me, as I passed over Taltiu, that the Ulstermen brought these towers from Germany, and the towers held athird of the exiles of Ulster among them as their only dwelling; andCualgae ('a Heap of Spears') is their name, namely battle-penfolds. Andherein have ye the sorest of all hardships, for although all the men ofErin are drawn up against them, it is the men of Erin that will bedefeated. When they take it upon them to engage in battle they cannot holdout without a combat. Thus will they remain now till morning, every fortymen of them contending with the others. And this is my advice to you, " saidFergus: "permit me with my division to withstand them, and do ye betakeyourselves to the woods and wilds of Erin, and the Ulstermen shall not findye in any place, and I will proceed as an example, depending on my ownmen-of-war. " "There are men here for ye!" cried Medb. "That will be a forcefor yourselves, " Fergus made answer. [6] [6-6] See note 6, page 338. "Yet another company came there to the same height in Slane of Meath, "said macRoth. "Not fewer than a division was in it; wild, dark-red, warrior-bands; [1]bright, clear, blue-purple men;[1] long, fair-yellowheads of hair they wore; handsome, shining countenances they had; clear, kingly eyes; magnificent vesture with beautiful mantles; conspicuous, golden brooches along their bright-coloured sleeves; silken, glossy tunics;blue, glassy spears; yellow shields for striking withal; gold-hilted, inlaid swords set on their thighs; loud-tongued care has beset them;sorrowful are they all, and mournful; sad are the royal leaders; orphanedthe brilliant company without [W. 5689. ] their protecting lord who was wontto guard their lands. " "But, who may they be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Indeed, we know them well, " Fergus made answer. "Furious lions are they;deeds of battle; the division from the field of Murthemne are they. [LL. Fo. 100b. ] It is this that makes them cast-down, sorrowful, joyless[1]as they are, [1] because that their own divisional king himself is notamongst them, even Cuchulain, the restraining, victorious, red-sworded onethat triumpheth in battle!" "Good reason, in truth, there is for them to beso, " quoth Medb, "if they are dejected, mournful and joyless. There is noevil we have not worked on them. We have harassed and we have assailedthem, [2]their territory and their land, [2] from Monday at the beginning ofSamaintide till the beginning of Spring. [a] We have taken their women andtheir sons and their youths, their steeds and their troops of horses, theirherds and their flocks and their droves. We have razed their hills afterthem till they are become lowlands, so that they are level with theplain. [3]We have brought their lords to bloody stabs and sores, to cutsand many wounds. "[3] "Not so, O Medb!" cried Fergus. "There is naught thoucanst boast over them. For thou didst them no hurt nor harm that yon finecompany's leader avenged not on thee. For, every mound and every grave, every stone and every tomb that is from hence to the east of Erin is themound and the grave, the stone and the tomb of some goodly warrior andgoodly youth [4]of thy people, [4] fallen at the hands of the noblechieftain of yonder company. Happy he to whom they hold! Woe to him whomthey oppose! It will be enough, e'en as much as half a battle, for the menof Erin, when these defend their lord in the battle on the morning of themorrow. " [1-1] This seems out of place here; it is not found in Stowe nor in H. 1. 13. [1-1] Stowe. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [4-4] Stowe. [a] See notes a and b, page 182. "I heard a great uproar there, west of the battle or to [W. 5711. ] itseast, " said macRoth. "Say, what noise was it?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Ah, but we know it well, " Fergus made answer: "Cuchulain it was, strainingto go, sick as he is, to battle, wearied at the length of his lying sick onFert Sciach ('Thorn-mound') under hoops and clasps and ropes, and the menof Ulster do not permit him to go because of his sores and his wounds, inasmuch as he is not fit for battle and is powerless for combat after hisencounter with Ferdiad. " True indeed spake Fergus. Cuchulain it was, wearied at the length of hislying supine on Fert Sciach under hoops and clasps and ropes. [1]"But, there is one thing more to tell, " said Fergus: "unless he be held back now, he will surely come to the battle!" Thus far the Companies of the Táin Bó Cúalnge[1] [2]mustered by Conchobarand the men of Ulster. [2] [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] H. 1. 13. Then came two women lampoonists from the camp and quarters of the men ofErin; [3]their names, [3] Fethan and Collach, to wit; and they stood with afeint of weeping and wailing over Cuchulain, telling him of the defeat ofUlster and the death of Conchobar and the fall of Fergus in combat. [3-3] Stowe. [4]Now Conchobar proceeded with his troops till he pitched camp nearby hiscompanions. Conchobar asked a truce of Ailill till sunrise on the morrow, and Ailill granted it for the men of Erin and the exiles, and Conchobargranted it for the men of Ulster, and thereupon Conchobar's tents werepitched. In this way the ground was bare between them, and the Ulstermencame thither at sunset. [4] [4-4] YBL. 50a, 11. * * * * * [Page 345] XXVI [1]THE DECISION OF THE BATTLE[1] [W. 5727. ] It was on that night that the Morrigan, [a] daughter of Ernmas, came, and she was engaged in fomenting strife and sowing dissension betweenthe two camps on either side, and she spoke these words [2]in the twilightbetween the two encampments[2]:-- "Ravens shall pick The necks of men! Blood shall gush [3]In combat wild![3] Skins shall be hacked; Crazed with spoils! [4]Men's sides pierced[4] In battle brave, Luibnech near! Warriors' storm; Mien of braves; Cruachan's men! [5]Upon them comes[5] Ruin complete! Lines shall be strewn Under foot; Their race die out! Then Ulster hail: To Erna[b] woe! To Ulster woe: [6]Then Erna hail![6] (This she said in Erna's ear. ) Naught inglorious shall they do Who them await!" [1-1] YBL. 41a, 7. [a] The Irish goddess of war. [2-2] YBL. 50a, 18-19. [3-3] YBL. 50a, 19. [4-4] YBL. 50a, 21. [5-5] Translating from YBL. 50a, 23; LL. Appears to be corrupt. [b] The Munstermen in Ailill's army. [6-6] YBL. 50a, 26. [1]Now Cuchulain was at Fedain Collna near by. Food was brought to him thatnight by the purveyors, and they were used to come to converse with him byday. He killed not any of the men of Erin to the left of Ferdiad's Ford. [1][W. 5756. ] It was then that Cuchulain spake to Laeg son of Riangabair. "Itwould surely be unworthy of thee, O Laeg my master, " said Cuchulain, "ifbetween the two battle-lines there should happen anything to-day whereofthou hadst no tidings for me. " "Whatsoever I shall learn, O Cucucuc, "answered Laeg, "will be told thee. But, see yonder a little flock comingforth on the plain from the western camp and station now. [LL. Fo. 101a. ]Behold a band of henchmen after them to check and to stay them. Behold alsoa company of henchmen emerging from the eastern camp and station to seizethem. " "Surely, that is so!" exclaimed Cuchulain. "That bodes a mightycombat and is the occasion of a grand battle. The little flock will comeover the plain and the band of henchmen [2]from the east and the band ofhenchmen from the west[2] [3]will encounter one another betimes [4]aboutthe little flock[4] on the great field of battle. "[3] There, indeed, Cuchulain spoke true. And the little flock came forth upon the plain, andthe companies of henchmen met in fray. "Who gives the battle now, O Laeg mymaster, " Cuchulain asked. "The folk of Ulster, " Laeg answered: "that is thesame as the young warriors [5]of Ulster. "[5] "But how fight they?"Cuchulain asked. "Like men they fight, " Laeg answered. "There where are theheroes of valour from the east in battle, they force a breach through theranks to the west. There where are the heroes from the west, they lay abreach through the ranks to the eastward. " [6]"It would be a vow for themto fall in rescuing their herds, " said Cuchulain; "and [W. 5774. ] now?" "Thebeardless youths are fighting now, " said the charioteer. "Has a brightcloud come over the sun yet?" Cuchulain asked. "Nay, then, " the charioteeranswered. [6] "I grieve that I am not yet strong enough to be on my feetamongst them. For, were I able to be on my feet amongst them, my breachwould be manifest there to-day like that of another!" "But, this avow, OCucuc, " said Laeg: "it is no reproach to thy valour; it is no disgrace tothine honour. Thou hast done bravely in time before now and thou wilt dobravely hereafter. " [1-1] YBL. 50a, 28-31. [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13 [3-3] LL. Seems to be defective here. [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [6-6] YBL. 50a, 39-43. [1]About the hour of sunrise: "It is a haughty folk that now fight thebattle, " quoth the charioteer; "but there are no kings amongst them, forsleep is still upon them. "[1] "Come, O my master Laeg!" cried Cuchulain;"rouse the men of Ulster to the battle now, for it is time that they come. " [1-1] YBL. 50a, 45-47. [2]Then, when the sun arose, [2] [3]Cuchulain saw the kings from the eastputting their crowns on their heads and relieving their men-at-arms. Cuchulain told his charioteer to awaken the men of Ulster. [3] Laeg came androused the men of Ulster to battle, and he uttered these words there:-- "Arise, ye kings of Macha, Valiant in your deeds! Imbel's kine the Badb doth covet: [4]Blood of hearts pours out! Goodly heroes' battle rushes in[4] With deeds of valour! Hearts all red with gore: Brows turned in flight. Dismay of battle riseth. For there was never found One like unto Cuchulain, Hound that Macha's[a] weal doth work! If it is for Cualnge's kine, Let them now arise!" [2-2] YBL. 50a, 48. [3-3] YBL. 50b, 18-23. [4-4] YBL 50b, 27-29. [a] Another name for Badb, the battle-fury. * * * * * [Page 348] XXVII [1]NOW OF THE BATTLE OF GARECH[1] [W. 5804. ] Thereupon arose all the men of Ulster at the one time in thetrain of their king, and at the word of their prince, and to prepare forthe uprising in response to the call of Laeg son of Riangabair. And in thiswise they arose: stark-naked all of them, only their weapons in theirhands. Each one whose tent door looked to the east, through the tentwestwards he went, for that he deemed it too long to go round about it. [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. "How arise the Ulstermen now to [2]the battle, [2] O Laeg my master?" askedCuchulain. "Manfully they rise, " said Laeg: "stark-naked all of them, [3]except for their arms only. [3] Every man whose tent-door faces the east, through the tent westwards he goes, for he deems it too long to go roundabout it. " "I pledge my word!" cried Cuchulain: "at a fitting hour havethey now in the early day risen around Conchobar!" [2-2] H. 1. 13, Add. , Stowe, and YBL. 50b, 34. [3-3] YBL. 50b, 34. Then spake Conchobar to Sencha son of Ailill: "Come, O Sencha my master, "said Conchobar; "stay the men of Ulster, and let them not go to the battletill there come the strength of a good omen and favourable portent, tillthe sun mounts to the roof-tree of heaven and sunshine fills the glens andlowlands and hills and watch-towers of Erin. " [W. 5822. ] They tarried there till the strength of a good omen came and afavourable portent, till sunshine filled the glens and slopes and heightsand watch-towers of the province. "Come, O Sencha my master, " said Conchobar; "rouse the men of Ulster tobattle, for it is time for them to proceed thither. " Sencha roused the menof Ulster to battle, and he spake these words:-- "Now shall Macha's kings arise, Large-hearted folk! Weapons let them shatter: Let them fight the battle: Let them plow the earth in anger: Let them strike on shields! [1]Wearied all the hands;[1] Herds loud bellowing: Steadfast the resistance: Furious the retainers: Battle-lines shall prostrate fall 'Neath the feet of others! [2]Prince and lord prepare for battle. [2] Perish [LL. Fo. 101b. ] shall their race! [3]Manful contest there shall be;[3] Their foes they lie in wait for And slay them all to-day! Deep draughts of blood they drink: Grief fills the hearts of queens: [4]Tender lamentations follow: Till soaked in blood shall be the grassy sod On which they're slain, To which they come. [4] If for Cualnge's kine it be, [5]Let Macha's kings![5] Let them arise!" [1-1] Reading with YBL 50a, 52. [2-2] From a conjectural emendation of YBL. 50a, 54. [3-3] YBL. 50b, 1. [4-4] YBL. 50b, 3. [5-5] YBL. 50b, 5. Not long was Laeg there when he witnessed something: the men of Erin allarising at one time, taking their shields and their spears and their swordsand their helmets, and urging the men-of-war before them to the battle. Themen of Erin, every single man of them, fell to smite and to batter, to cutand to hew, to slay and to destroy the others [W. 5859. ] for a long spaceand while. Thereupon Cuchulain asked of his charioteer, of Laeg son ofRiangabair, at the time that a bright cloud came over the sun: [1]"Look forus![1] How fight [2]the Ulstermen[2] the battle now, O my master Laeg?""Like men they fight, " Laeg answered. "Should I mount my chariot, and En, Conall [3]Cernach's ('the Victorious')[3] charioteer, his chariot, andshould we go in two chariots from one wing to the other on the points ofthe weapons, neither hoof nor wheel nor axle-tree nor chariot-pole wouldtouch [4]the ground[4] for the denseness and closeness and firmness withwhich their arms are held in the hands of the men-at-arms at this time. " [1-1] YBL. 51a, 45. [2-2] YBL. 51a, 45. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13, Add. And YBL. 51a, 47. [4-4] Stowe and Add. "Alas, that I am not yet strong enough to be amongst them [5]now!"[5] criedCuchulain; "for, were I able, my breach would be manifest there to-day likethat of another, " spake Cuchulain. "But this avow, O Cucuc, " said Laeg:"'tis no reproach to thy valour; 'tis no disgrace to thine honour. Thouhast wrought great deeds before now and thou wilt work great deedshereafter. " [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. Then began the men of Erin to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, toslay and to destroy the others for a long space and while. Next came tothem the nine chariot-fighters of the champions from Norseland, and thethree foot-warriors along with them, and no swifter were the ninechariot-men than the three men on foot. Then came to them also [6]on the ford of hosting[6] the governors of themen of Erin. And this was their sole office [7]with Medb[7] in the battle:to smite to death Conchobar if it were he that suffered defeat, and torescue Ailill and Medb if it should be they were defeated. And these arethe names of the governors: [6-6] YBL. 51b, 6. [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. * * * * * [Page 351] XXVIIa [1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF ERIN[1] [W. 5883. ] The three Conarè from Sliab Mis, the three Lussen from Luachair, the three Niadchorb from Tilach Loiscthe, the three Doelfer from Deill, thethree Damaltach from Dergderc, the three Buder from the Buas, the threeBaeth from Buagnige, the three Buageltach from Mag Breg, the three Suibnèfrom the Siuir, the three Eochaid from Anè, the three Malleth from LochErne, the three Abatruad from Loch Ri, the three macAmra from Ess Ruaid, the three Fiacha from Fid Nemain, the three Manè from Muresc, the threeMuredach from Mairg, the three Loegaire from Lecc Derg, the three Broduindefrom the Berba, the three Bruchnech, from Cenn Abrat, the three Descertachfrom Druim Fornacht, the three Finn from Finnabair, the three Conall fromCollamair, the three Carbre from Cliu, the three Manè from Mossa, the threeScathglan from Scairè, the three Echtach from Ercè, the three Trenfer fromTaitè, the three Fintan from Femen, [LL. Fo. 102a. ] the three Rotanach fromRognè, the three Sarchorach from Suidè Lagen, the three Etarscel fromEtarbane, the three Aed from Aidnè, the three Guarè from Gabal. [a] [1-1] YBL. 50b, 41. [a] YBL. 50b-51a has more than three times as many names as are enumerated here. Then said Medb to Fergus. "It were truly a thing to boast of for thee, [2]OFergus, " said she, [2] "werest thou [W. 5943. ] to use thy mightiness ofbattle [1]vehemently[1] without stint amongst us to-day, forasmuch as thouhast been driven out of thine own land and out of thine inheritance;amongst us hast thou found land and domain and inheritance, and muchgood-will hath been shown thee!" [2-2] Stowe, Add. And H. 1. 13. [1-1] Stowe, Add. , and H. 1. 13. [2]Thereupon Fergus uttered this oath: "I swear, " _et reliqua_, "jaws ofmen I would break from necks, necks of men with arms, arms of men withelbows, elbows of men with wrists, wrists of men with fists, fists of menwith fingers, fingers of men with nails, nails[a] of men with scalps, scalps of men with trunks, trunks of men with thighs, thighs of men withknees, knees of men with calves, calves of men with feet, feet of men withtoes, toes of men with nails, [2] so that [3]heads of men over shields[3]would be as numerous [4]with me[4] as bits of ice [5]on the mirystamping-ground[5] [6]between two dry fields[6] that a king's horses wouldcourse on. Every limb of the Ulstermen [7]would I send flying through theair[7] before and behind me this day [8]like the flitting of bees on a dayof fine weather, [8] if only I had my sword!" [2-2] I have given preference to the reading of YBL. 51b, 18-30. [a] A word is omitted here in the MS. , presumably for, 'nails. ' [3-3] YBL. 51b, 19-20. [4-4] YBL. 51b, 19. [5-5] YBL. 51b, 20. [6-6] Adopting Windisch's emendation of the text. [7-7] YBL. 51b, 31. [8-8] YBL. 51b, 32. At that Ailill spoke to his own charioteer, Ferloga, to wit: "Fetch me aquick sword that wounds the skin, O gilla, " said Ailill. [9]"A year to-dayI put that sword in thy hand in the flower of its condition and bloom. [9] Igive my word, if its bloom and condition be the worse at thy hands this daythan the day I gave it [10]thee[10] on the hillside of Cruachan Ai [11]inthe borders of Ulster, [11] though thou hadst the men of Erin and of Alba torescue thee from me to-day, they would not all save thee!" [9-9] Stowe and YBL. 51b, 35. [10-10] Stowe. [11-11] YBL. 51b, 36. [W. 5956. ] Ferloga went his way, and he brought the sword with him in theflower of its safe-keeping, and fair flaming as a candle. And the sword wasplaced in Ailill's hand, and Ailill put it in Fergus' hand, and Fergusoffered welcome to the sword:[a] "Welcome, O Calad Colg[b] ('Hardblade'), Letè's sword!" said he. "Weary, O champion of Badb! On whom shall I plythis weapon?" Fergus asked. "On the men-of-war around thee, " Medb answered. "No one shall find indulgence nor quarter from thee to-day, unless somefriend of thy bosom find it!" [a] Here follows in YBL. 51b, 38-57 a difficult passage in _rosc_ which I have omitted in the translation. Only a portion of it has been preserved in LL. And is here translated. [b] Reading with Stowe, II. 1. 13, Add. And YBL. 51b, 45. Whereupon, Fergus took his arms and went forward to the battle, [1]and hecleared a gap of an hundred in the battle-ranks with his sword in his twohands. [1] Ailill seized his weapons. Medb seized her weapons and enteredthe battle. [2]The Manè seized their arms and came to the battle. ThemacMagach seized their arms and came to the battle, [2] so that thrice theUlstermen were routed before them from the north, till Cualgae[c] and sworddrove them back again. [3]Or it was Cuchulain that drove the men of Erinbefore him, so that he brought them back into their former line in thebattle. [3] [1-1] YBL. 52a, 6-8. [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Add. [c] The name of the wheeled towers described above, page 338 fl. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. Conchobar heard that from his place in the line of battle, that the battlehad gone against him thrice from the north. Then he addressed hisbodyguard, even the inner circle of the Red Branch: "Hold ye here a while, ye men!" cried he; "even in the line [4]of battle[4] where I am, that I maygo and learn by whom the battle has been thus forced against us thrice fromthe north. " Then said his household: "We will hold out, " said they, [5]"inthe place wherein we are:[5] [W. 5974. ] for the sky is above us and theearth underneath and the sea round about us, [1]and[1] unless the heavensshall fall with their showers of stars on the man-face of the world, orunless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o'er the tufted brow of theearth, or unless the ground yawns open, will we not move a thumb's breadthbackward from here till the very day of doom and of everlasting life, tillthou come back to us!" [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. 52a, 14. [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. Conchobar went his way to the place where he heard the battle had gonethree times [LL. Fo. 102b. ] against him from the north. [2]Then Conchobarmade a rush at Fergus, [2] and he lifted shield against shield there, namelyagainst Fergus mac Roig, even Ochain ('the Fair-ear')[a] of Conchobar withits four ears of gold and its four bracings of red gold. Therewith Fergusgave three stout blows of Badb on the Ochain of Conchobar, so thatConchobar's shield cried aloud on him [3]and the three chief waves of Eringave answer, the Wave of Clidna, the Wave of Rudraige and the Wave of Tuag, to wit. [3] Whenever Conchobar's shield cried out, the shields of all theUlstermen cried out. However great the strength and power with which Fergussmote Conchobar on the shield, so great also was the might and valourwherewith Conchobar held the shield, so that the ear of the shield did noteven touch the ear of Conchobar. [2-2] YBL. 52a, 16-17. [a] The name of Conchobar's shield. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. "Hearken, ye men [4]of Erin!"[4] cried Fergus; "who opposes a shield to meto-day on this day of battle when four of the five grand provinces of Erincome together on Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Cattle-raidof Cualnge?" "Why, then, a gilla that is younger and mightier [5]andcomelier[5] than thyself is here, " [6]Conchobar answered, [6] "and whosemother and father were [W. 5995. ] better! The man that hath driven thee outof thy borders, thy land and thine inheritance; the man that hath driventhee into the lairs of the deer and the wild hare and the foxes; the manthat hath not granted thee to take the breadth [1]of thy foot[1] of thineown domain or land; the man that hath made thee dependent upon the bountyof a woman; the man that of a time disgraced thee by slaying the [2]threebright lights of the valour of the Gael, [2] the three sons of Usnech thatwere under thy safeguard [3]and protection;[3] the man that will repel theethis day in the presence of the men of Erin; Conchobar son of FachtnaFathach son of Ross Ruad son of Rudraige, High King of Ulster and son ofthe High King of Erin; [4]and though any one should insult thee, there isno satisfaction nor reparation for thee, for thou art in the service of awoman!"[4] [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13. [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. "Truly hath this happened to me. " Fergus responded. And Fergus placed histwo hands on Calad Colg ('Hardblade'), and he heaved a blow with itbackwards behind him, so that its point touched the ground, and he thoughtto strike his three fateful blows of Badb on the men of Ulster, so thattheir dead would be more in number than their living. Cormac Conlongas sonof Conchobar saw that and he rushed to [5]his foster-father, namely to[5]Fergus, and he closed his two [6]royal hands[6] over him [7]outside hisarmour. [7] [8]"Ungentle, not heedful is this, Fergus my master! Full ofhate, not of friendship is this, [8] O Fergus my master! Let not theUlstermen be slain and destroyed by thee through thy destructive blows, buttake thou thought for their honour to-day on this day of battle!"[W. 6013. ] "Get thee away from me, boy! [1]Whom then should I strike?"[1]exclaimed Fergus; "for I will not remain alive unless I deliver my threefateful strokes of Badb on the men of Ulster this day, till their dead bemore in number than their living. " "Then turn thy hand slantwise, " saidCormac Conlongas, "and slice off the hill-tops over the heads of the hosts[2]on every side[2] and this will be an appeasing of thine anger. " "TellConchobar also to fall [3]back again[3] to his place in the battle, "[4]said Fergus; "and I will no longer belabour the hosts. "[4] [5]Cormactold this to Conchobar:[5] [6]"Go to the other side, O Conchobar, " saidCormac to his father, "and this man will not visit his anger any longerhere on the men of Ulster. "[6] So Conchobar went to his place in thebattle. [7]In this manner Fergus and Conchobar parted. [7] [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [8-8] Following Windisch's emendation of the text. The MSS. Are corrupt here. [1-1] YBL. 52a, 35. [2-2] YBL. 52a, 36. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] YBL. 52a, 39-41. [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [8]Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the firstonslaught with the sword. He met Conall Cernach. "Too great is this rage, "said Conall, "upon people and kindred because of the whim of a wanton. ""What would ye have me do, ye warriors?" asked Fergus. "Smite the hillscrosswise and the bushes around, " Conall Cernach made answer. [8] [8-8] YBL. 52a, 41-47. Thus it was with that sword, which was the sword of Fergus: The sword ofFergus, the sword of Letè from Faery: Whenever he desired to strike withit, it became the size of a rainbow in the air. Thereupon Fergus turned hishand slantwise over the heads of the hosts, so that he smote the three topsof the three hills, so that they are still on the moor in sight of [9]themen of Erin. [9] And these are the three Maels ('the Balds') of Meath inthat place, [1]which Fergus smote as a reproach and a rebuke to the men ofUlster. [1] [9-9] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [W. 6027. ] Now as regards Cuchulain. He heard the Ochain of Conchobarsmitten by Fergus macRoig. "Come, O Laeg my master, " cried Cuchulain: "whodares thus smite [2]with those strong blows, mighty and far-away, [2] theOchain of Conchobar my master, and I alive?" [3]Then Laeg made answer, saying: "The choice of men, Fergus macRoig, the very bold, smites it:--[3] "Blood he sheds--increase of slaughter-- Splendid the hero, Fergus macRoig! Hidden had lain Fairyland's chariot-sword! Battle now hath reached the shield, Shield of my master Conchobar!" [2-2] YBL. 52a, 52. [3-3] YBL. 52b, 1-2. [4]"How far have the hosts advanced, O Laeg?" Cuchulain asked. "They havecome to Garech, " Laeg answered. "I give my word for that, " Cuchulain cried;"they will not come as far as Ilgarech, if I catch up with them! [4]Quicklyunloose the bands, gilla!" cried Cuchulain. [5]"Blood covers men. Feats ofswords shall be done. Men shall be spent therefrom!"[5] [4-4] Stowe. [5-5] YBL. 52b, 7-8. [6]Since Cuchulain's going into battle had been prevented, his twisting fitcame upon him, and seven and twenty skin tunics were given to him that usedto be about him under strings and cords when going into battle. [6][LL. Fo. 103a. ] Then Cuchulain gave a mighty spring, so that the bindings ofhis wounds flew from him to Mag Tuag ('the Plain of the Bows') in Connacht. His bracings went from him to Bacca ('the Props') in Corcomruad [7]in thedistrict of Boirenn, [7] [8]His supports sprang from him to [9]Rath[9] CinnBara ('the Rath of Spithead') in Ulster, and likewise his pins flew fromhim to Rath Clo ('the Rath of the Nails') in the land of the tribe ofConall. [8] The dry wisps that were stuffed in his wounds rose to the roof[W. 6040. ] of the air and the sky as highest larks fly on a day of sunshinewhen there is no wind. Thereupon, his bloody wounds got the better of him, so that the ditches and furrows of the earth were full of streams of bloodand torrents of gore. [6-6] YBL. 52b, 17-20. [7-7] Stowe and Add. [8-8] Stowe. [9-9] Add. And H. 1. 13. [1]Some of the narrators aver that it was the strength of the warrior andchampion that hurled these things [2]to the aforementioned places;[2] butit was not that, but his powerful friends, the fairy-folk, that broughtthem thither, to the end to make famous his history, so that from themthese places are named. [1] [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [2-2] Add. This was the first exploit of valour that Cuchulain performed on rising[3]out of his weakness:[3] The two women lampoonists that made a feint ofweeping and wailing [4]over his head, [4] Fethan and Collach to wit, hesmote each of them against the head of the other, so that he[a] was redwith their blood and grey with their brains. [5]These women had come fromMedb to raise a pretended lamentation over him, to the end that his bloodywounds might burst forth on him, and to tell him that the men of Ulster hadmet with defeat and that Fergus had fallen in meeting the battle. [5] Hisarms had not been left near him, except his chariot only. And he took hischariot on his back [6]with its frame and its two axle-trees, [6] and he setout to attack the men of Erin, and he smote them with the chariot, until hereached the place where Fergus macRoig was. "Turn hither, O Fergus mymaster!" he cried. Fergus did not answer, for he heard not. He spoke again, "Turn hither, [7]turn hither, [7] O Fergus my master!" he cried; "and ifthou turn not, [8]I swear to god what the Ulstermen swear, [8] I [W. 6052. ]will grind thee as a mill grinds fresh grain; I will wash thee as a cup iswashed in a tub; I will bind thee as the woodbine binds the trees; I willpounce on thee as hawk pounces on fledglings; [1]I will go over thee as itstail goes over a cat;[1] [2]I will pierce thee as a tool bores through atree-trunk; I will pound thee as a fish is pounded on the sand!"[2] "Trulythis is my lot!" spake Fergus. "Who [3]of the men of Erin[3] dares toaddress these stiff, vengeful words to me, where now the four grandprovinces of Erin are met on Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raidfor the Kine of Cualnge?" "Thy fosterling is before thee, " he replied, "andfosterling of the men of Ulster and of Conchobar as well, Cuchulain son ofSualtaim [4]and sister's son to Conchobar, " replied Cuchalain. [4] "And thoudidst promise to flee before me what time I should be wounded, in pools ofgore and riddled in the battle of the Táin. [a] For, [5]when thou hadst notthy sword with thee, [5] I did flee before thee in thine own combat on theTáin; [6]and do thou avoid me, " said he. "Even that did I promise, " Fergusanswered. "Away with thee, then!" cried Cuchulain. "'Tis well, " repliedFergus; "thou didst avoid me; now thou art pierced with wounds. "[6] [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [a] 'The ground, ' Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. ; 'so that each of them was grey with the brains of the other, ' YBL. 52b, 13-14. [5-5] YBL. 52b, 14-17. [6-6] YBL. 52b, 21. [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add. [8-8] YBL. 52b, 24. [1-1] YBL. 52b, 24-25. [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add. [3-3] YBL. 52b, 27. [4-4] YBL. 52b, 28. [a] See page 207. [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] YBL. 52b, 29-33. Fergus gave ear to that word of Cuchulain, and he turned and made his threegreat strides of a hero [7]back from Cuchulain and turned in flight fromhim. [7] And as he turned [8]with his company of three thousand warriors andthe Leinstermen following after Fergus--for it is under Fergus' warrantthey had come[8]--[9]and the men of Munster, [9] there turned all the men ofErin. [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add. [8-8] H. 1. 13 and Add. [9-9] YBL. 52b, 33. [W. 6065. ] [1]Then[1] the men of Erin broke their ranks westwards over thehill. The battle raged around the men of Connacht, [2]around Ailill and hisdivision and around Medb with hers and around the Manè with theirs and themac Magach with theirs. [2] At midday Cuchulain came to the battle. At thetime of sunset at the ninth hour [3]as the sun entered the tresses of thewood, [3] [4]when man and tree were no more to be known apart, Medb and[4]the last company of the men of Connacht fled in rout westwards over thehill. [1-1] H. 1. 13 and Add. [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add. [3-3] YBL. 52b, 36. [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add. At that time there did not remain in Cuchulain's hand of the chariot but ahandful of its spokes around the wheel, and a handbreadth of its polesaround the shell, with the slaying and slaughtering of the four grandprovinces of Erin during all that time. Then Medb betook her to a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin. Thereafter Medb sent off the Brown Bull of Cualnge along with fifty of hisheifers and eight of her runners with him around to Cruachan, to the endthat whoso might and whoso might not escape, the Brown Bull of Cualngeshould get away safely, even as she had promised. Then it was that the issue of blood came upon Medb, [5]and she said: "Dothou, Fergus, undertake[5] a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erintill I let my water flow from me. " "By my troth, " replied Fergus, "'tis anill hour for thee to be taken so. " "Howbeit there is no help for me, " Medbanswered; "for I shall not live if I do not void water!" Fergus accordinglycame and raised a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin. Medbvoided her water, so that it made three large dikes, so that a mill[a]could find room in each dike. Hence the place is known as Fual Medbha('Medb's Water'). [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add. [a] It is not uncommon in folk-tales that lakes, rivers, etc. Arose from the micturition of a giant or fairy. Reading with Add. [W. 6085. ] Cuchulain came upon her as she was thus engaged, [1]on his way tothe battle, [1] and he did not attack her. He would not strike her a blowfrom behind. [2]He spared her then because it was not his wont to slaywomen. [2] [3]"Spare me!" cried Medb. "If I should slay thee, it were justfor me, " Cuchulain answered. [3] [4]"Arise from hence, " said he; "for I deemit no honour to wound thee from behind with my weapons. "[4] "I crave a boonof thee this day, O Cuchulain, " spake Medb. "What boon cravest thou [5]ofme?"[5] asked Cuchulain. "That this host be under thine honour and thyprotection till they pass westwards over Ath Mor ('the Great Ford'). "[LL. Fo. 103b. ] "Yea, I promise that, " said Cuchulain. [6]Then[6] wentCuchulain around the men of Erin, and he undertook a shield-defence on oneside of them, in order to protect the men of Erin. On the other side wentthe governors of the men of Erin. Medb went to her own place and assumed ashield-defence in the rear of the men of Erin, and in this manner theyconvoyed the men of Erin over Ath Mor westwards. [1-1] YBL. 52b, 41. [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add. [3-3] YBL. 52b, 41-42. [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] H. 1. 13. [6-6] H. 1. 13. And Add. [7]Then Laeg [8]son of Riangabair[8] brought Cuchulain's sword unto him, [9]the 'Hard-headed Steeling' to wit, [9] and Cuchulain took the sword inhis hand. [7] Then he [10]stood still and[10] gave a blow to the threebald-topped hills of Ath Luain over against the three Maela ('the BaldTops') of Meath, so that he struck their three heads off them. [11]And theyare in the bog as a witness ever since. Hence these are the Maolain ('theFlat Tops') of Ath Luain. Cuchulain cut them off as a reproach and affrontto the men of Connacht, in order that every time men should speak ofMeath's three Bald Tops, these in the west should be the answer the 'ThreeFlat Tops of Ath Luain. '[11] [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add. [8-8] Add. [9-9] YBL. 52b, 43. [10-10] YBL. 52b. 45. [11-11] H. 1. 13 and Add. [W. 6099. ] Then [1]when the battle had been lost, [1] Fergus [2]began toview[2] the host as it went westwards of Ath Mor. "It was thus indeed itbehoved this day to prove, for following in the lead of a woman, " [3]saidFergus. [3] "Faults and feuds have met here to-day, " [4]said Medb[4] toFergus. "Betrayed and sold is this host to-day, " [5]Fergus answered. [5]"And even as a brood-mare leads her foals into a land unknown, without ahead to advise or give counsel before them, such is the plight of this hostto-day [6]in the train of a woman that hath ill counselled them. "[6] [1-1] YBL. 52b, 47-48. [2-2] Reading with H. 1. 13. [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] YBL. 52b, 48. [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] YBL. 52b, 52. [7]Then Cuchulain turned to where Conchobar was with the nobles of Ulsterbefore him. Conchobar bewailed and lamented Cuchulain, and then he utteredthis lay:-- "How is this, O Cualnge's Hound, Hero of the Red Branch, thou: Great woe, champion, hast thou borne, Battling in thy land's defence! "Every morn a hundred slain, Every eve a hundred more, While the host purveyed thy fare, Feeding thee with cooling food! "Five-score heroes of the hosts, These I reckon are in graves. While their women--fair their hue-- Spend the night bewailing them!"[7] [7-7] H. 1. 13. * * * * * [Page 363] XXVIII [1]THE BATTLE OF THE BULLS[1] [W. 6121. ] As regards Medb, it is related here: [2]She suffered not thehosts to disperse forthwith, [2] but she gathered the men of Erin and ledthem forth to Cruachan to behold the battle of the bulls [3]and in whatmanner they would part from one another. For during the while the battlewas being fought, the Brown Bull of Cualnge with fifty heifers in hiscompany had been brought to Cruachan. [3] [1-1] YBL. 41a, 8. [2-2] H. 1. 13. [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add. As regards the Brown Bull of Cualnge, it is now recounted in this place:When he saw the beautiful, strange land, he sent forth his three bellowingcalls aloud. And Finnbennach Ai ('the Whitehorned of Ai') heard him. Now nomale beast durst [4]send forth[4] a low that was louder than a moo incompare with him within the four fords of all Ai, Ath Moga and Ath Coltna, Ath Slissen and Ath Bercha. And [5]the Whitehorned[5] lifted his head withfierce anger [6]at the bellowing of the Brown of Cualnge, [6] and hehastened to Cruachan to look for the Brown Bull of Cualnge. [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add. It was then the men of Erin debated who would be [7]fitted[7] to witness[8]the fight[8] of the bulls. They all agreed that it should be Bricriu sonof Carbad [9]that were fitted for that office. [9] For, a year before thistale of the Cualnge Cattle-raid, Bricriu had gone from the one provinceinto the other to make a request of Fergus. And Fergus had retained[W. 6134. ] him with him waiting for his treasures and goods. And a quarrelarose between him and Fergus at a game of chess. [a] And he spake evil wordsto Fergus. Fergus smote him with his fist and with the chess-man that wasin his hand, so that he drave the chess-man into his head and broke a bonein his head. Whilst the men of Erin were on the foray of the Táin, all thattime Bricriu was being cured at Cruachan. And the day they returned fromthe expedition was the day Bricriu rose. [1]He came with the rest towitness the battle of the bulls. [1] [2]And this is why they selectedBricriu, [2] for that Bricriu was no fairer to his friend than to hisfoe. [3]"Come, ye men of Erin!" cried Bricriu; "permit me to judge thefight of the bulls, [3] [4]for it is I shall most truly recount their taleand their deeds afterwards. "[4] And he was brought [5]before the men ofErin[5] to a gap whence to view the bulls. [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add. [8-8] H. 1. 13 and Add. [9-9] H. 1. 13 and Add. [a] The story is told in 'The Adventures of Nera, ' published in the _Revue Celtique_, t. X, p. 227. [1-1] YBL. 53a, 4-5. [2-2] Stowe. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] H. 1. 13. [6]So they drove the Brown Bull the morning of the fight till he met theWhitehorned at Tarbga in the plain of Ai: or Tarbguba ('Bull-groan'), orTarbgleo ('Bull-fight'); Roi Dedond was the first name of that hill. Everyone that had lived through the battle cared for naught else than to see thecombat of the two bulls. [6] [6-6] YBL. 52b, 52-53a, 3. Each of the bulls sighted the other and there was a pawing and digging upof the ground in their frenzy there, and they tossed the earth overthem. They threw up the earth over their withers and shoulders, and theireyes blazed red [LL. Fo. 104a. ] in their heads like firm balls of fire, [7]and their sides bent like mighty boars on a hill. [7] Their cheeks andtheir nostrils swelled like smith's bellows in a forge. And each of themgave a resounding, deadly blow to the other. Each of them began to hole andto gore, to endeavour to slaughter [W. 6151. ] and demolish the other. Thenthe Whitehorned of Ai visited his wrath upon the Brown Bull of Cualnge forthe evil of his ways and his doings, and he drave a horn into his side andvisited his angry rage upon him. Then they directed their headlong courseto where Bricriu was, so that the hoofs of the bulls drove him a man'scubit deep into the ground after his destruction. Hence, this is theTragical Death of Bricriu [1]son of Carbad. [1] [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar saw that, [2]and the force of affectionarose in him, [2] and he laid hold of a spearshaft that filled his grasp, and gave three blows to the Brown Bull of Cualnge from ear to tail, [3]sothat it broke on his thick hide from ear to rump. [3] "No wonderful, lastingtreasure was this precious prize for us, " said Cormac, "that cannot defendhimself against a stirk of his own age!" The Brown Bull of Cualngeheard this--for he had human understanding[a]--and he turned upon theWhitehorned. [4]Thereupon the Brown of Cualnge became infuriated, and hedescribed a very circle of rage around the Whitehorned, and he rushed athim, so that he broke his lower leg with the shock. [4] And thereafter theycontinued to strike at each other for a long while and great space of time, [5]and so long as the day lasted they watched the contest of the bulls[5]till night fell on the men of Erin. And when night had fallen, all that themen of Erin could hear was the bellowing and roaring. That night the bullscoursed over [6]the greater part of[6] all Erin. [7]For every spot in Erinwherein is a 'Bulls' Ditch, ' or a 'Bulls' Gap, ' or a 'Bulls' Fen, ' or a'Bulls' Loch, ' or a 'Bulls' Rath, ' [8]or a 'Bulls' Back, '[8] it is fromthem[7] [9]those places are named. [9] [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [a] See note [d], page 28, _supra_. [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [8-8] H. 1. 13 and Add. [9-9] Add. * * * * * [Page 366] XXIX [1]ACCOUNT OF THE BROWN BULL OF CUALNGE[1] [2]A journey of a day and a night the Brown Bull carried the remains of theWhitehorned till he came to the loch that is by Cruachan. And he camethereout with the loin and the shoulder-blade and the liver of the other onhis horns. [2] [W. 6168. ] It was not long before the men of Erin, as theywere there [3]in the company of Ailill and Medb[3] early on the morrow, sawcoming over Cruachan from the west the Brown Bull of Cualnge with theWhitehorned of Ai in torn fragments hanging about his ears and horns. Themen of Erin arose, and they knew not which of the bulls it was. "Come, yemen!" cried Fergus; "leave him alone if it be the Whitehorned that isthere; and if it be the Brown of Cualnge, leave him his trophy with him!" [1-1] YBL. 41a, 8. [2-2] YBL. 53a, 13-16. [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add. [4]Then it was that the [5]seven[5] Manè arose to take vengeance on theBrown Bull of Cualnge for his violence and his valour. "Whither go yondermen?" asked Fergus. "They go to kill the Brown of Cualnge, " [6]said all, [6]"because of his evil deeds. "[4] "I pledge my word, " [7]shouted Fergus:[7]"what has already been done in regard to the bulls is a small thing incompare with that which will [W. 6179. ] now take place, [1]unless with hisspoils and victory ye let the Brown of Cualnge go from you into his ownland. "[1] [4-4] Stowe and Add. [5-5] Add. [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add. [7-7] H. 1. 13, Stowe and Add. [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [2]Then the Brown Bull of Cualnge gave forth the three chiefest bellowingsof his throat in boast of his triumph, and fear of Fergus held back the menof Erin from attacking the Brown Bull of Cualnge. [2] [2-2] H. 1. 13. [3]Then[3] went the Brown Bull of Cualnge [4]to the west of Cruachan. [4] Heturned his right[a] side towards Cruachan, and he left there a heap of theliver [5]of the Whitehorned, [5] so that thence is [6]named[6] Cruachan Ai('Liver-reeks'). [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add. [a] As a sign of friendliness. [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add. [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add. [7]Next he [8]came to his own land and[8] reached the river Finnglas('Whitewater'), and, [9]on coming, [9] he drank a draught from the river, and, so long as he drank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flowby him. Then he raised his head, and the shoulder-blades of the Whitehornedfell from him in that place. Hence, Sruthair Finnlethe ('Stream of theWhite Shoulder-blade') is the name given to it. [7] [7-7] Stowe. [8-8] YBL. 53a, 18. [9-9] YBL. 53a, 18. He pursued his way [10]to the river Shannon, [10] to the brink of Ath Mor('the Great Ford'), [11]and he drank a draught from it, and, as long as hedrank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow past him. Then heraised his head, so that the two haunches of the Whitehorned fell from himthere;[11] and he left behind the loin of the Whitehorned in that place, sothat thence cometh Athlone ('Loinford'). He continued eastwards into theland of Meath to Ath Truim. [12]He sent forth his roar at Iraird Cuillinn;he was heard over the entire province. And he drank in Tromma. [12] [13]Aslong as he drank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow pasthim. [13] And he left behind [W. 6192. ] there the liver of the Whitehorned. [1]Some [2]learned men[2] say, it is from the liver of the Whitehornedwhich fell from the Brown of Cualnge, that Ath Truim ('Liverford') iscalled. [1] [10-10] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [12-12] YBL. 53a, 22. [13-13] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [1-1] H. 1. 13 and Add. [2-2] Add. He raised his head haughtily and shook the remains of the Whitehorned fromhim over Erin. He sent its hind leg away from him to Port Largè ('Port ofthe Hind Leg'). He sent its ribs from him to Dublin, which is called AthCliath ('Ford of the Ribs' or 'of the Hurdles'). He turned his face northwards then, [3]and went on thence to the summit ofSliab Breg, and he saw the peaks[3] and knew the land of Cualnge, [4]and agreat agitation came over him at the sight of his own land and country, [4]and he went his way towards it. In that place were women and youths andchildren lamenting the Brown Bull of Cualnge. They saw the Brown ofCualnge's forehead approaching them. "The forehead of a bull cometh towardsus!" they shouted. Hence is Taul Tairb ('Bull's Brow') ever since. [5]Thenhe went on the road of Midluachar to Cuib, where he was wont to be with theyeld cow of Darè, and he tore up the earth there. Hence cometh Gort Buraig('Field of the Trench'). [5] [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [5-5] YBL. 53a, 26-28. [LL. Fo. 104b. ] Then turned the Brown of Cualnge on the women and youths andchildren of the land of Cualnge, and [6]with the greatness of his fury andrage[6] he effected a great slaughter [7]amongst them. [7] He turned hisback to the hill then and his heart broke in his breast, even as a nutbreaks, [8]and he belched out his heart like a black stone of darkblood. [8] [9]He went then and died between Ulster and Ui Echach at DruimTairb. Druim Tairb ('Bull's Back') is the name of that place. [9] [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add. [7-7] Translating from Stowe. [8-8] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. [9-9] YBL. 53a, 28-29. [1]Such, then, is the account of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, and the end ofthe Táin by Medb of Cruachan daughter of Eocho Fedlech, and by Ailill sonof Maga, and by all the men of Ulster up to this point. [1] [2]Ailill andMedb made peace with the men of Ulster and with Cuchulain. For seven yearsthere was no killing of men amongst them in Erin. Finnabair remained withCuchulain, and the Connachtmen went to their own land, and the men ofUlster returned to Emain Macha with their great triumph. _Finit. Amen. _[2] [1-1] Translating from H. 1. 13 and Add. [2-2] YBL. 53a, 29-33. * * * * * [W. 6206. ] A blessing be upon all such as shall faithfully keep the Táin inmemory as it stands here and shall not add any other form to it. [a] [a] With this the Irish text concludes: What follows is in Latin. * * * * * I, however, who have copied this history, or more truly legend, give nocredence to various incidents narrated in it. For, some things herein arethe feats of jugglery of demons, sundry others poetic figments, a few areprobable, others improbable, and even more invented for the delectation offools. * * * * * [Page 371] INDEX AND PRONUNCIATION OF THE MORE FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PLACE ANDPERSONAL-NAMES. It will simplify matters for the English reader if the following pointsrespecting the pronunciation of proper names in medieval Irish, are bornein mind: Each _simple_ word is accented on the first syllable. Pronounce: á (long), as in _aught_; a (short), as in _hot_. C with slender vowels (e, i), as in _king_; never as _s_. C with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _car_; never as _s_. Ch with slender vowels (e, i), as in German _Ich_; never as in _church_. Ch with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in German _Buch_; never as in _church_. D with slender vowels (e, i), as in French _dieu_. D with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _thy_. é (long), as in _ale_; e (short), as in _bet_. G with slender vowels (e, i), as in _give_; never as _j_. G with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _go_; never as _j_. Gh with slender vowels (e, i) is slender ch _voiced_. Gh with broad vowels (a, o, u) is broad ch _voiced_. í (long), as in _feel_; i (short), as in _it_. Mh and bh intervocalic with slender vowels, as _v_. Mh and bh intervocalic with broad vowels, as _w_. ó (long), as in _note_; o (short), as in _done_. S with slender vowels (e, i), as in _shine_; never as _z_. S with broad vowels (a, o, u), as _s_. T with slender vowels (e, i), as in _tin_. T with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _threw_. Th, like _h_. ú (long), as in _pool_; u (short), as in _full_. The remaining consonants are pronounced almost as in English. Aed: to rime with _Day_ Aed Ernmas: the father of the Morrigan Ai: _see_ Mag Ai Aidne: a district comprising the barony of Kiltartan, in the south-west ofthe County Galway Aifè: one of the three women-teachers of Cuchulain and Ferdiad (pronounced_Eefe_) Ailè: north-east of Baile, on Medb's march from Cruachan into Ulster Ailill: king-consort of Queen Medb, dwelling in Cruachan Ai (pronounced_Ayeleel_) Ailill Find Miltenga: one of the chief heroes of Ulster Ailill macMailchlo: father of Sencha Ainè: _see_ Cnoc Ainè Airnè: north-east of Assè Alba: Scotland Amargin Iarngiunnach: a leading Ulster hero; father of Conall Cernach andbrother of Iliach (pronounced _Avergin_) Ane: a district in which is Knockaney in the County Limerick Ardachad: north of Druim Liccè Ard Ciannachta: a place in the barony of Ferrard, in the County Louth Ard Cuillenn: in Ulster, east of Moin Coltna Ard Macha: Armagh Assail: a place in Meath Assè: north of Finnabair (Fennor), on Medb's march out of Connacht intoUlster Ath: 'a ford' (pronounced _Ah_) Ath Aladh Ind: a ford in the Plain of Murthemne Ath Berchna: in Connacht, north-west of Croohan, near Bellanagare; it maybe for Ath Bercha, in East Roscommon, and on or near the Shannon Ath Buide: the village of Athboy, in the territory of Ross, County Meath Ath Carpat: a ford on the river Nith (now the Dee), in the County Louth Ath Ceit Chule: a ford on the river Glais, in Ulster Ath Cliath: Dublin Ath Coltna: in Connacht, south-west of Ath Moga and south-east of Cruachan Ath Cro: a ford in Murthemne Ath da Fert: a ford in Sliab Fuait, probably in the south of the barony ofUpper Fews, County Armagh Ath Darteisc: a ford in Murthemne Ath Feidli: a ford in Ulster Ath Fene: _see_ Ath Irmidi Ath Firdead: Ardee, a ford and a small town on the river Dee, in the CountyLouth Ath Gabla: a ford on the Boyne, north of Knowth, in the County Meath(pronounced _Ah gowla_) Ath Grenca: the same as Ath Gabla Ath Irmidi: the older name of Ath Fene, south of Iraird Cuillinn Ath Lethain: a ford on the Nith, in Conalle Murthemni Ath Luain: Athlone, on the Shannon, on the borders of Connacht and Meath Ath Meislir: a ford in Sliab Fuait, in Ulster Ath Moga: the present Ballymoe, on the river Suck, about ten miles to thesouth-west of Cruachan, County Galway Ath Mor: the old name for Ath Luain Ath na Foraire: on the road between Emain and Loch Echtrann Ath Slissen: Bellaslishen Bridge; a ford on the Owenure River, near Elphin, in Connacht Ath Solomshet: a ford, probably in Ulster Ath Srethe: a ford in Conalle Murthemni Ath Tamuin: a ford, somewhere in Ulster Ath Traged: at the extremity of Tir Mor, in Murthemne Ath Truim: Trim, on the river Boyne, in the County Meath Aue: a slave in the household of King Conchobar Aurthuile: north-east of Airne Bacca: in Corcumruad Bacc Draigin: a place in Ulster Badb: the war-fury, or goddess of war and carnage; she was wont to appearin the form of a carrion-crow. Sometimes she is the sister of the Morrigan, and, as in the Táin Bó Cúalnge, is even identified with her (pronounced_Bive_) Badbgna: now Slieve Bawne, a mountainous range, in the barony ofBallintubber, in the east of County Roscommon Baile: north-east of Meide ind Eoin, on Medb's march from Connacht intoUlster Baile in Bile: on the way to Ardee Bairche: Benna Bairche, the Mourne Mountains, north of Dundalk, in Ulster Ball Scena: north-east of Dall Scena Banba: an old name for Ireland Banna: now the Bann, a river in Ulster Becaltach: grandfather of Cuchulain Bedg: a river in Murthemne Belat Aileain: probably between Cualnge and Conalle Murthemni Belach Caille More: north of Cnogba Benna Bairche: _see_ Bairche Berba: the Barrow, a river in Leinster Bercha: on or near the Shannon, near Bellanagare, in East Roscommon Berchna: probably for Bercha Bernas: the pass cut by Medb from Louth into Armagh; probably the "WindyGap" across the Carlingford Peninsula Betha: see Sliab Betha Bir: the name of several rivers; probably Moyola Water, a river flowinginto Lough Neagh Bithslan: a river in Conalle Murthemni Blai: a rich Ulster noble and hospitaller Boann: the River Boyne Bodb: the father of Badb Boirenn: Burren, in the County Clare Branè: probably a hill not far from Ardee, in the County Louth Breslech Mor: a fort in Murthemne Brecc: a place in Ulster Brega: the eastern part of Meath Brenide: a river in Conalle Murthemni, near Strangford Lough Bricriu: son of Carbad, and the evil adviser of the Ulstermen Bri Errgi: stronghold of Errge Echbel, in the County Down Brigantia: Betanzos, in Galicia, on the north coast of Spain Bri Ross: a hill to the north of Ardee, in the County Louth Brug Meic ind Oc, or, as it is also called, Brug na Boinde: Brugh on the Boyne, near Stackallen Bridge, County Meath, one of the chief burial-places of the pagan Irish Buagnech: probably in Leinster and near the river Liffey Buan: a river in Conalle Murthemni Buas: the river Bush, in the County Antrim Burach: a place in Ulster Callann: the Callan, a river near Emain Macha Canann Gall: a place in Ulster Carn: north of Inneoin; probably Carn Fiachach, in the parish of Conry, barony of Rathconrath, Westmeath Carn macBuachalla, at Dunseverick, in Ulster Carbre: stepson of Conchobar and brother of Ailill Carrloeg: a place in Ulster Casruba: father of Lugaid and grandfather of Dubthach Cathba: north-east of Ochonn, in Meath; or a river flowing into the Boyne, some distance to the west of Slane Cathba: a druid of Conchobar's court; according to some accounts, thenatural father of King Conchobar (pronounced _Cahvah_) Celtchar: son of Uthechar, an Ulster warrior Cenannas na rig: Kells, in the Covinty Meath Cenn Abrat: a range of hills on the borders of the Counties Cork andLimerick Cet macMagach: a Connacht warrior Cinn Tire: a place in Ulster Clann Dedad: one of the three warrior-clans of Erin: a sept occupying theterritory around Castleisland, County Kerry Clann Rudraige: the warriors of King Conchobar: one of the three heroictribes of Ireland Clartha: Clara, near the present town of Mullingar, in the County Westmeath Cletech: a residence of the kings of Ireland in Mag Breg, near StackallanBridge, on the banks of the Boyne Clidna: _see sub_ Tonn Clithar Bo Ulad: probably in the centre of the County Louth Cliu: an extensive territory in the county Limerick Clothru: sister of Medb: Medb slew her while her son, Firbaide, was stillunborn Cluain Cain: now Clonkeen, in the west of County Louth Cluain Carpat: a meadow at the river Cruinn in Cualnge Cluain maccuNois: Clonmacnoise, on the Shannon, about nine miles belowAthlone Cnoc Aine: Knockany, a hill and plain in the County Limerick Cnogba: Knowth, on the Boyne, near Drogheda, a couple of miles east ofSlane, in the County Meath Colbtha: the mouth of the Boyne at Drogheda, or some place near the Boyne Collamair: between Gormanstown and Turvey, in the County Dublin Coltain: south of Cruachan Ai Conall: probably Tyrconnel, in the County Donegal Conall Cernach: one of the chief warriors of Ulster: foster-brother ofCuchulain and next to him in point of prowess Conalle Murthemni: a level plain in the County Louth, extending from theCooley Mountains, or Carlingford, to the Boyne Conchobar: son of Cathba the druid, and of Ness, and foster-son of FachtnaFatach (variously pronounced _Cruhóor_, _Connahóor_) Conlaech: son of Cuchulain and Aifè Corcumruad: the present barony of Corcomroe, in the County Clare Cormac Conlongas: King Conchobar's eldest son; called "the IntelligentExile, " because of the part he took as surety for the safety of the exiledsons of Usnech Coronn: the barony of Corran, in the County Sligo Corp Cliath: a place in Ulster Craeb ruad: ordinarily Englished "Red Branch"; better, perhaps, "Nobles'Branch:" King Conchobar's banqueting-hall, at Emain Macha Crannach: at Faughart, north-east of Fid Mor Cromma: a river flowing into the Boyne not far from Slane Cronn hi Cualngi: probably a hill or river of this name near Cualnge Cruachan Ai: the ancient seat and royal burial-place of the kings ofConnacht, ten miles north-east of the modern Rathcroghan, near Belanagare, in the County Roscommon (pronounced _Croohan_) Cruinn: a river in Cualnge: probably the stream now called the PiedmontRiver, emptying into Dundalk Bay Cruthnech: the land of the Irish Picts; the northern part of the CountyDown and the southern part of the County Antrim Cu, Cucuc, Cuacain, Cucucan, Cucucuc: diminutives of the name Cuchulain Cualnge: Cooley, a mountainous district between Dundalk Bay and Drogheda, in the barony of Lower Dundalk, in the County Louth. It originally extendedto the County Down, and the name is now applied to the southern side of theCarlingford Mountains (pronounced _Cooln'ya_) Cualu: a district in the County Wicklow Cuchulain: the usual name of the hero Setanta; son of the god Lug and ofDechtire, and foster-son of Sualtaim (pronounced _Cuhoolin_) Cuib: on the road to Midluachair Cuilenn: the Cully Waters flowing southward from County Armagh into CountyLouth Cul Siblinne: now Kells in East Meath Cul Silinne: Kilcooley, a few miles to the south-east of Cruachan, in theCounty Roscommon Culenn: a river in Conalle Murthemni Cuillenn: _see_ Ard Cuillenn Cuillenn Cinn Duni: a hill in Ulster Cuince: a mountain in Cualnge Cumung: a river in Conalle Murthemni Curoi: son of Darè and king of South Munster Cuscraid Menn Macha: son of Conchobar Dall Scena: a place north of Ailè Dalraida: now "the Route, " a territory north of Slieve Mish, in the northof the County Antrim Darè: chieftain of the cantred of Cualnge and owner of the Brown Bull ofCualnge Dechtire: sister of King Conchobar and mother of Cuchulain Delga: _see_ Dun Delga Delga Murthemni: Dundalk Delinn: a place or river near Kells between Duelt and Selaig, on Medb'smarch from Cruachan into Ulster Delt: a place north of Drong, on Medb's march from Cruachan into Ulster Delt: a river in Conalle Murthemni Dergderc: Lough Derg, an expansion of the Shannon near Killaloe Dichaem: a river in Conalle Murthemni Domnann: _see_ Irrus Domnann Drong: a river in the land of the men of Assail, in Meath Druim Caimthechta: north-east of Druim Cain Druim Cain: possibly an older name for Temair (Tara) Druim En: in South Armagh; probably a wooded height, near Ballymascanlan, in the County Louth Druim Fornocht: near Newry, in the County Down Druim Liccè: north-east of Gort Slane, on Medb's march from Connacht intoUlster Druim Salfinn: now Drumshallon, a townland in the County Louth, six milesnorth of Drogheda Dub: the Blackwater, on the confines of Ulster and Connacht; or theconfluence of the Rivers Boyne and Blackwater at Navan Dubh Sithleann (or Sainglenn): the name of one of Cuchulain's two horses Dubloch: a lake between Kilcooley and Slieve Bawne, in the CountyRoscommon, on Medb's march from Cruachan into Ulster Dubthach Doel Ulad: the Ulster noble who shares with Bricriu the place asprime mover of evil among the Ulstermen (pronounced _Duffach_) Duelt: north or north-west of Delt, on Medb's march from Cruachan intoUlster Dun da Benn: Mount Sandle, on the Bann, near Coleraine in the County Derry Dun Delga: Dundalk, or the moat of Castletown, on the east coast nearDundalk; Cuchulain's home town Dun macNechtain Scenè: a fort in Mag Breg, at the place where the Mattockfalls into the Boyne, about three miles above Drogheda Dun Sobairche: Dunseverick, about three miles from the Giants' Causeway, inthe County Antrim Elg: an old name for Ireland Ellne: probably east of the River Bann, near Coleraine Ellonn: a place in Ulster Emain Macha: the Navan Fort, or Hill, two miles west of Armagh; KingConchobar's capital and the chief town of Ulster (pronounced _Evvin Maha_) Emer Foltchain: wife of Cuchulain (pronounced _Evver_) Enna Agnech: according to the Annals of the Four Masters, he was High Kingof Ireland from 312 to 293 B. C. Eo Donn Mor: north-east of Eo Donn Bec, in the County Louth Eocho Fedlech: father of Medb; according to the Four Masters, he reigned asmonarch of Ireland from 142 to 131 B. C. (pronounced _Yokh-ho_) Eocho Salbuide: King of Ulster and father of Cethern's wife, Inna Eogan macDurthachta: a chief warrior of Ulster and Prince of Fernmag Erc macFedilmithi: an Ulster hero, son of Fedlimid and grandson ofConchobar Erna: a sept of Munstermen who later settled about Lough Erne, in Connacht Ess Ruaid: Assaroe; a cataract on the River Erne near Ballyshannon, in thesouth of the County Donegal. It constituted part of the old boundarybetween Ulster and Connacht Etarbane: one of the "seats" of the king of Cashel, in Tipperary Ethliu: father of Lug Ethne: sister of Medb (pronounced _Ehnna_) Fachtna Fathach: king of Ulster and later of all Ireland; adoptive fatherof Conchobar and husband of Ness, Conchobar's mother Fal (or Inisfail): one of the bardic names for Ireland; Medb is called "ofFal, " as daughter of the High King of Ireland (pronounced _Fawl_) Fan na Coba: a territory in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, in theCounty Down Fedain Cualngi: a place in Ulster Fedlimid Nocruthach: daughter of King Conchobar, wife of Loegaire Buadach, mother of Fiachna and cousin-german of Cuchulain (pronounced _Falemid_) Femen: a territory at Slieve-na-man, extending perhaps from Cashel toClonmel, in the southern part of the County Tipperary Fenè: the old tribal name of the Gaels; the "King of the Fenè" isConchobar, King of Ulster Feorainn: a place near Ardachad, on Medb's march into Ulster Fercerdne: chief poet of the men of Ulster Ferdiad: (pronounced _Fair-dee-ah_) Fergus macRoig: one time king of Ulster; in voluntary exile in Connachtafter the treacherous putting to death of the sons of Usnech byConchobar. He became the chief director of the Táin under Medb Ferloga: Ailill's charioteer Fernmag: Farney, a barony in the County Monaghan Ferta Fingin: at Sliab Fuait Fiachu macFiraba: one of the exiles of Ulster in the camp of Medb Fian: the warrior-class Fid Dub: a wood, north of Cul Silinne, on Medb's march into Ulster Fid Mor: a wood, north of Dundalk and between it and Sliab Fuait Fingabair: probably in the Fews Mountains Finnabair: daughter to Ailill and Medb (pronounced _Fín-nuh-hur_) Finnabair: Fennor, on the banks of the Boyne, near Slane, in Meath Finnabair Slebe: near Imlech Glendamrach Finncharn Slebe Moduirn: a height in the Mourne Mountains Finnglas: a river in Conalle Murthemni Finnglassa Asail: a river south-east of Cruachan Fir Assail: a district containing the barony of Farbill, in Westmeath Flidais Foltchain: wife of Ailill Finn, a Connacht chieftain; after herhusband's violent death she became the wife of Fergus, and accompanied himon the Táin Fochain: near Cuchulain's abode Fochard Murthemni: Faughart, two miles north-west of Dundalk, in the CountyLouth Fodromma: a river flowing into the Boyne near Slane Fuil Iairn: the name of a ford west of Ardee Gabal: the Feeguile, a river in the King's County nGabar: a place near Donaghmore, perhaps to, the west of Lough Neagh in theCounty Tyrone Galian: a name the Leinstermen bore. They were Ailill's countrymen Gainemain: a river in Conalle Murthemni Garech: the name of the hill where the final battle of the Táin was fought, some distance south-east of Athlone and near Mullingar, in Westmeath Gegg: a woman's name Genonn Gruadsolus: a druid and poet of Ulster; son of Cathba Glaiss Colptha: the river Boyne Glaiss Gatlaig: a river in Ulster Glenamain: a river in Conalle Murthemni Glenn Fochain: probably a valley east of Bellurgan Station Glenn Gatt: a valley in Ulster Glennamain: in Murthemne Glenn in Scail: a place in Dalaraide, East Ulster Glenn na Samaisce: in Slieve Gullion, in the County Armagh Glenn Tail: another name for Belat Aileain Gleoir: the Glore, a river in Conalle Murthemni Gluine Gabur: east of the Shannon, in the County Longford Gort Slane: north of Slane and south-west of Druim Liccè Grellach Bobulge: at Dunseverick, in Ulster Grellach Dolar (or Dolluid): Girley, near Kells, in the County Meath Gualu Mulchi: the town-land of Drumgoolestown on the river Dee, in theCounty Louth Ialla Ilgremma: near Sliab Betha and Mag Dula Ibar macRiangabra: Conchobar's charioteer Id macRiangabra: Ferdiad's charioteer, brother to Laeg Ilgarech: a hill near Garech, _q. V. _ Iliach: grandfather to Conall Cernach Illann Ilarchless: an Ulster warrior, son to Fergus Imchad: son to Fiachna Imchlar: near Donaghmore, west of Dungannon, in the County Tyrone Immail: a place in the Mourne Mountains, in Ulster Imrinn: a druid, son to Cathba Inis Cuscraid: Inch, near Downpatrick Inis Clothrann: Inishcloghran in Loch Ree, County Longford Innbir Scene: the mouth of Waterford Harbour near Tramore; or the mouth ofKenmare Bay, in the County Kerry Inncoin: the Dungolman, a river into which the Inny flows and which dividesthe barony of Kilkenny West from Rathconrath, in the County Westmeath Iraird Cuillinn: a height south of Emain Macha, in Ulster Irrus Domnann: the barony of Erris, in County Mayo: the clan which borethis name and to which Ferdiad belonged was one of the three heroic racesof ancient Ireland Laeg: son of Riangabair and Cuchulain's faithful charioteer (pronounced_Lay_) Latharne: Larne, in the County Antrim Lebarcham: a sorceress Leire: in the territory of the Fir Roiss, in the south of the County Antrim Ler: the Irish sea-god Lethglas: Dun Lethglaisse, now Downpatrick, in Ulster Lettre Luasce: between Cualnge and Conalle Lia Mor: in Conalle Murthemni Liath Mache: 'the Roan, ' one of Cuchulain's two horses. Lia Ualann: in Cualnge Linè (or Mag Linè): Moylinne, in the County Antrim Loch Ce: Lough Key, in the County Roscommon Loch Echtrann: Muckno Lake, south of Sliab Fuait, in the County Monaghan Loch Erne: Lough Erne, in the County Fermanagh Loch Ri: Lough Ree, on the Shannon, in the County Galway Loegaire Buadach: son to Connad Buide and husband of Fedlimid Nocruthach;one of the chief warriors of Ulster (pronounced _Layeray_) Lothor: a place in Ulster Luachair: probably Slieve Lougher, or the plain in which lay TemairLuachra, a fort somewhere near the town of Castleisland, in the CountyKerry Lug: the divine father of Cuchulain Lugaid: father of Dubthach Lugmud: Louth, in the County of that name Luibnech: possibly a place now called Limerick, in the County Wexford MacMagach: relatives of Ailill MacRoth: Medb's chief messenger Mag: 'a plain' (pronounced _moy_) Mag Ai: the great plain in the County Roscommon, extending from Ballymoreto Elphin, and from Bellanagare to Strokestown (pronounced _Moy wee_) Mag Breg: the plain along and south of the lower Boyne, comprising the eastof County Meath and the north of County Dublin (pronounced _Moy bray_) Mag Cruimm: south-east of Cruachan, in Connacht Mag Dea: a plain in Ulster Mag Dula: a plain though which the Do flows by Castledawson into LoughNeagh Mag Eola: a plain in Ulster Mag Inis: the plain comprising the baronies of Lecale and UpperCastlereagh, in the County Down Mag Linè: Moylinne, a plain to the north-east of Lough Neagh, in the baronyof Upper Antrim Mag Mucceda: a plain near Emain Macha Mag Trega: Moytra, in the County Longford Mag Tuaga: a plain in Mayo Maic Miled: the Milesians Mairg: a district in which is Slievemargie, in the Queen's County and theCounty Kilkenny Manannan: son of Ler, a fairy god Margine: a place in Cualnge Mas na Righna: Massareene, in the County Antrim Mata Murisc: mother of Ailill Medb: queen of Connacht and wife of Ailill (pronounced _Mave_; in modernConnacht Irish _Mow_ to rhyme with _cow_) Meide ind Eoin, and Meide in Togmail: places in or near the Boyne, in theCounty Louth Midluachair: Slige Midluachra, the name of the highroad east of Armagh, leading north from Tara to Emain and into the north of Ireland Mil: the legendary progenitor of the Milesians (See Maic Miled) Miliuc: a river in Conalle Murthemni Moduirn: _see_ Sliab Moduirn Moin Coltna: a bog between Slieve Bawne and the Shannon Moraltach: great grandfather of Cuchulain Morann: a famous judge Morrigan: the war-goddess of the ancient Irish, "_monstrum in feminaefigura_" (pronounced _More-reegan_) Mossa: a territory, the southern part of which must have been in the baronyof Eliogarty, not far from Cashel, in the County Tipperary Muach: a river in Conalle Murthemni Muresc: the land of Ailill's mother; Murresk Hamlet, between Clew Bay andCroagh Patrick, in the County Mayo Murthemne: a great plain along the northern coast of the County Louthbetween the river Boyne and the Cooley Mountains; now belonging toLeinster, but, at the time of the Táin, to Ulster (pronounced_Muhr-hev-ny_) Nemain: the Badb Ness: mother of King Conchobar by Cathba; she afterwards married FachtnaFathach and subsequently Fergus macRoig Nith: the river Dee which flows by Ardee, in the County Louth Ochain: the name of Conchan bar's shield Ochonn Midi: a place near the Blackwater at Navan Ochtrach: near Finnglassa Asail, in Meath Oenfer Aifè: another name for Conlaech Oengus Turbech: according to the Annals of Ireland, he reigned as High Kingfrom 384 to 326 B. C. Ord: south-east of Cruachan and north of Tiarthechta Partraige beca: Partry in Slechta south-west of Kells, in Meath Port Largè: Waterford Rath Airthir: a place in Connacht Rath Cruachan: Rathcroghan, between Belanagare and Elphin, in the CountyRoscommon Rede Loche: a place in Cualnge Renna: the mouth of the Boyne Riangabair: father of the charioteers, Laeg and Id Rigdonn: a place in the north Rinn: a river in Conalle Murthemni Rogne: a territory between the rivers Suir and Barrow, in the barony ofKells, the County Kildare or Kilkenny Ross: a district in the south of the County Monaghan Ross Mor: probably Ross na Rig, near Ball Scena Sas: a river in Conalle Murthemni Scathach: the Amazon dwelling in Alba who taught Cuchulain and Ferdiadtheir warlike feats (pronounced _Scaw-ha_) Selaig: Sheelagh, a townland in the barony of Upper Dundalk Semne: Island Magee, north-east of Carrickfergus, in the County Antrim Senbothae: Templeshanbo, at the foot of Mount Leinster, in the CountyWexford Sencha macAilella: the wise counsellor and judge of the Ulstermen Sered: a plain in the north of the barony of Tirhugh, County Donegal Setanta: the real name of Cuchulain Sid: the terrene gods (pronounced _She_) Sil: in Lecale, in the County Down Sinann: the river Shannon Siuir: the Suir, a river in Munster, forming the northern boundary of theCounty Waterford Slabra: a place north of Selaig, near Kells, in Meath Slaiss: south-east of Cruachan, between Ord and Inneoin Slane: a town on the Boyne, in Meath Slechta: south-west of Kells, in Meath Slemain Mide: "Slane of Meath, " Slewen, three miles to the west ofMullingar, in Westmeath Sliab Betha: Slieve Beagh, a mountain whereon the Counties of Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Monaghan meet Sliab Culinn: Slieve Gullion, in the County Armagh Sliab Fuait: the Fews Mountains, near Newtown-Hamilton, to the west andnorth-west of Slieve Gullion; in the southern part of the County Armagh Sliab Mis: Slieve Mish, a mountain in the County Kerry, extending eastwardsfrom Tralee Sliab Moduirn: the Mourne Range, in the County Monaghan, partly in Cavanand partly in Meath Sruthair Finnlethe: a river west of Athlone Sualtaim (or, Sualtach) Sidech: the human father of Cuchulain Suide Lagen: Mount Leinster, in the County Wexford Tadg: a river in Conalle Murthemni Taidle: near Cuib Taltiu: Teltown, in the County Meath, on or near the Blackwater, betweenNavan and Kells; one of the chief places of assembly and burial of theUlstermen Taul Tairb: in Cualnge Telamet: a river in Conalle Murthemni Temair: Tara, the seat of the High King of Ireland, near Navan, in theCounty Meath (pronounced _Tavvir_) Tethba descirt: South Teffia, a territory about and south of the riverInny, in the County Longford Tethba tuascirt: south-east of Cruachan, in Teffia, County Longford Tir Mor: in Murthemne Tir na Sorcha: a fabled land, ruled over by Manannan Tir Tairngire: "the Land of Promise" Tonn Clidna: a loud surge in the Bay of Glandore Tonn Rudraige: a huge wave in the Bay of Dundrum, in the County Cork Tonn Tuage Inbir: "the Tuns, " near the mouth of the river Bann on the northcoast of Antrim Tor Breogain: "Bregon's Tower, " in Spain Tromma: south-east of Cruachan; also the name of a river flowing into theBoyne near Slane Tuaim Mona: Tumona, a townland in the parish of Ogulla, near Tulsk, southof Cruachan Ai, County Roscommon Tuatha Bressi: a name for the people of Connacht Tuatha De Danann: "the Tribes divine of Danu, " the gods of the IrishOlympus Turloch teora Crich: north of Tuaim Mona Uachtur Lua: in the land of Ross Uarba: a place in Ulster Uathach: one of the three women-teachers of Cuchulain and Ferdiad Uathu: north of Ochain Ui Echach: the barony of Iveagh, in the County Down Umansruth: a stream in Murthemne Usnech: father of Noisi, Annle and Ardan Uthechar: father of Celtchar and of Menn * * * * * _Printed by_ BUTLER & TANNER, _Frome and London_ * * * * *