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FACSIMILE, PAGE 55—/vom the Book of Leinster.
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THE ANCIENT IRISH a EPIC TALE | TAIN BO CUALNGE
“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 sat the Catholic University
Washington
WITH TWO PAGES IN FACSIMILE OF THE MANUSCRIPTS
“Days coynceclabac Fy HEpeno 7 Albay syy ayy yoy, 7 bac lana bedi ren H-hGpeno 7 Alban ony Anmun yn.” 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.”’
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V Tue Rovre op mae TA. ww wt
VI Tue Marcu or THE Host. ‘ , ’ ' ‘VIL Tue YouTHFut ExPLoits oF CUCHULAIN . : VIIa THE Stayinc or THE SmiTH’s Hound By CUCHULAIN . DOs NORMAL. OPC NG ie’ ,
Vils THE TAKING oF ARMS By CUCHULAIN AND THE SLAYING OF THE THREE SONS oF NECHT SCENE
VIIc A SEPARATE VERSION AS FAR AS THE SLAYING OF
ORLAM . i R i ‘ : i VIII Tue SLAYING OF ORLAM . i , H . VIIIA THE SLAYING OF THE THREE MAcARAcCH . !
VIilIis THe ComBat oF LETHAN AND CUCHULAIN .
VIlIc THe KILLING OF THE SQUIRREL AND OF THE TAME
BirD . ° ° ° . ; é
Vilip, Tus Stavine oF Locate
_ VIIIz THe Kirzrine or Uara .. ‘ ? 2 n | ‘VIIIr THE Harryinc or CUALNGE . . .. IX THE PROPOSALS, * ° ‘ ; : ‘
X Tue VIOLENT Dear oF ETARCUMUL . ; :
XI Tue SLayinc oF NATHCRANTAIL é : ‘
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‘ID Stas Coen or ae MAR | - XIIz THE SLAUGHTER OF THE Sohne A XIIr THE SLAUGHTER OF THE Kinc’s. Bopeaiend | XIII Tse Comsat or Cor wir CucHuLarn — tes Ss ¢ oe 7 oe
4 XIV THE SLAYING OF FERBAETH <u. 150 A ” ; XIVa THE ComBAT oF LartnE MacNois . .. 155 a XIVs THE CoLLoguy OF THE MORRIGAN AND CUCHULAIN. I6I Ki :
XV Tue ComBat oF LocH AND CUCHULAIN, AND THE
SLAYING OF LocH son oF MoremMIs : . POR XVI THE VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT " ee i XVIa Toe HEALING oF THE MorRIGAN . . . I77.
XVII THE GREAT ROUT ON THE PLAIN OF MURTHEMNE . 180
XVIIA THE SLAUGHTER OF THE YOUTHS OF ULSTER . 184 XVIIs THE ScYTHED CHARIOT . : s ‘ ; 187 XVIIc THE APPEARANCE OF CUCHULAIN 4 ‘ . SES XVIIp DusBtTHAcH’s JEALOUSY... ss > -. 108 XVIII Tuer SLtayinc oF OENGUS SON OF OENLAM . +), 208 XVIIIaA THe MistHrow at BELAcH Eoin - i ») 202 XVIIIs THE Discuisinc oF TAMON ake ‘ r - 204 XIX Tue BaTTLe oF FERGUS AND CUCHULAIN . “2 205 XIXa THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU \ : th ‘ - 209 XIXs MANN’s FicHt . . ie a : oy 2x8 XIXc THE ComBat oF Caratin’s CHILDREN. ye XX Tue Comsat oF FERD’aD AND CUCHULAIN . 217
XXI CUCHULAIN AND THE RIVERS
XXII CETHERN’s STRAIT-FIGHT
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XXV Tur Array or tHe Host. ‘ . ai oa
- XXVI ‘Tur Decision oF THE BATTLE . } : :
XXVII THE BaTrtLe oF GARECH . . ; ; :
_ X&XVIIa THe Muster oF THE MEN oF ERIN . ; ;
_ XXVIII Tue BartLe oF THE Butts. i : ;
XXIX Tue Account oF THE BROowN BULL OF CUALNGE
INDEX OF PLACE AND PERSONAL NAMES . ’ ; :
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PREFACE
Tue Gaelic Literature of Ireland is vast in extent and rich
hk in quality. The inedited manuscript materials, if pub-
lished, would occupy several hundred large volumes. Of this mass only a small portion has as yet been explored by scholars. Nevertheless three saga-cycles stand out from the rest, distinguished for their compass, age and literary worth, those, namely, of the gods, of the demigod Cuchulain, and of Finn son of Cumhall. The Cuchulain cycle, also called the Ulster cycle—from the home of its hero in the 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 Ulster warriors mustered, and, finally, it has been called the Red Branch Cycle from 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 cycle have survived. There are some dozen in particular, technically known as Remscéla or “ Foretales,’’ because they lead up to and explain the great Tain, the Téin Bé Ctalnge, “The Cualnge Cattle-raid,”’ the Iliad of Ireland, as it has been called, the queen of Irish epic tales, and the wildest and most fascinating saga-tale, not only of the entire Celtic world, but even of all western Europe.
The mediaeval Irish scholars catalogued their native literature under several heads, probably as an aid to the memory of the professional poets or story-tellers whose
stock-in-trade it was, and to one of these divisions they
xi
Li Jj ead &
UN Eo aa
rn a hiltcal A ei ‘eae se i
3 c
eee a
gave the name Téinte, plural of Tain is most often followed by the genitive plural D6, ** ¢ they meant “‘ a driving,” or “a reaving,” or even “a di or ‘‘ herd” of cattle. It is only by extension of meaning — that this title is applied to the Tain B6é Ctalnge, the most famous representative of the class, for it is not, strictl speaking, with the driving of cattle that it deals but with — ; that of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. But, since to carry _ off the bull implies the carrying off of the herd of which he was the head, and as the “‘ Brown”’ is always repre- sented as accompanied by his fifty heifers, there were suffi- cient grounds for putting the Brown Bull Quest in the class of Cow-spoils. The prominence accorded to this class of stories in the early literature of Ireland is not to be wondered at when the economic situation of the country and the stage of civilization of which they are the faithful mirror is borne in mind.* Since all wars are waged for gain, and since among the Irish, who are still very much a nation of cattle raisers, cattle was the chief article of wealth and measure of value,** so marauding expeditions from one district into another for cattle must have been of frequent occurrence, just as among the North American Indians tribal wars used to be waged for the acquisition of horses. That this had been a common practice among their kinsmen on the Continent also we learn from Caesar’s account of the Germans (and Celts ?) who, he says, practised warfare not only for a means of subsistence but also for exercising their
qa ae ae fal U
* « L’histoire entiére de I’Irlande est une énigme si on n’a pas sans cesse 4 l’esprit ce fait primordial que le climat humide de I’ile est tout a fait contraire 4 la culture des céréales, mais en revanche éminemment favorable 4 l’élevage du bétail, surtout de la race bovine, car le climat est encore trop humide pour l’espéce ovine.” F. Lot, in La Grande Encyclopédie, xx, 956.
** 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.
Preface — Xill
warriors. Howlong-lived the custom has been amongst the
- Gaelic Celts, as an occupation or as a pastime, is evident not only from the plundering incursions or “ creaghs ” *
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 have been resorted to in our own day in Ireland, though these latter had a different motive than plunder. As has been observed by Sir Henry Sumner Maine, Lord Macaulay was mistaken in ascribing this custom to ‘‘ some native vice of Irish character,’’ for, as every student of ancient Ireland may perceive, it is rather to be regarded as “a survival, an ancient and inveterate habit ’’ of the race.
One of these many Cattle-preys was the Tain Bé
Ctialnge,** which, there can be little doubt, had behind it
no mere myth but some kernel of actual fact. Its his- torical basis is that a Connacht chieftain and his lady went to war with Ulster about a drove of cattle. The import- ance of a racial struggle between the north-east province and the remaining four grand provinces of Ireland cannot be ascribed to it. There is, it is true, strong evidence to show that two chief centres, political, if not cultural and national, existed at the time of the Tain in Ireland, Cruachan Ai, near the present Rathcroghan in Connacht, and Emain Macha, the Navan Fort, two miles west of Armagh in Ulster, and it is with the friendly or hostile relations of these two that the Ultonian cycle of tales deals. Ulster, or, more precisely, the eastern portion of the Province, was the scene of all the Cattle-raids, and there is a degree of truth in the couplet,—
* 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.
** Pronounced approximately Thawin’ bd Hiuin’ya (6a: n bo: xu: lye.)
Ee oe
- But the fications of ‘ on the Slee by Cyenuiee | which seen
interpretation to the men of Connacht by Ulstermen, the description of the warriors mustered by the Connacht warrior queen and those gathered round King Conchobar of Ulster accord quite closely.
The TAin B6é Ctialnge is the work not of any one man but of a corporation of artists known as filid. The author of the TAin in its present state, whoever he may have been, was a strong partisan of Ulster and never misses an opportunity of flattering the pride of her chieftains. Later a kind of reaction against the pre-eminence given to Ulster and the © glorification of its hero sets in, and a group of stories arises. in which the war takes a different end and Cuchulain is shown to disadvantage, finally to fall at the hands of a Munster champion. It is to this southern province that the saga-cycle which followed the Cuchulain at an interval of two hundred years belongs, namely, the Fenian saga,— the saga of Finn son of Cumhall, which still flourishes : among the Gaelic speakers of Ireland and Scotland, while the Cuchulain stories have almost died out among them. The mingling of the two sagas is the work of the eighteenth- century Scots Lowlander, James Macpherson. )
The Tain B6é Cialnge is one of the most precious monu- ments of the world’s literature, both because of the poetic worth it evidences at an early stage of civilization, and for the light it throws on the life of the people among whom it originated and that of their ancestors centuries earlier. It is not less valuable and curious because it shows us the earlier stages of an epic—an epic in the making—which it does better perhaps than any other work in literature. Ireland had at hand all the materials for a great national
Preface | xv
- jointed te icekba smooth the eabesiiaes ibe hand _ down to posterity the finished epic of the Celtic world, a superior, perhaps, to the Iliad or the Odyssey. What
has come down to us is “a sort of patchwork epic,” as
_ Prescott called the Ballads of the Cid, a popular epopee
____ in all its native roughness, wild phantasy and extravagance
; of deed and description as it developed during successive generations. It resembles the frame of some huge ship left unfinished by the builders on the beach and covered
te _ with shells and drift from the sea of Celtic tradition. From
the historical standpoint, however, and as a picture of the
old barbaric Celtic culture, and as a pure expression of elemental passion, it is of more importance to have the genuine tradition as it developed amongst the people, un- varnished by poetic art and uninfluenced by the example of older and alien societies.
According to the Chronicles of Ireland, as formulated in the Annals of Tigernach,* who died in 1088, King Conchobar of Ulster began to reign in the year 30 B.c., and he is said to have died of grief at the news, that Christ had been crucified. His reign therefore lasted about sixty years. Cuchulain died in the year 39 A.D. in the twenty-seventh year of his age, as we learn from the following entry: ‘“‘ The death of Cuchulain, the bravest 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 of Calatin of Connacht. Seven years was his age when he assumed arms, seventeen was
* Revue Celtique, 1895, tome xvi. pp. 405-406; Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores, li. 14.
his Manuscript Materials, The passage cor cludes with the statement: “So that the year of the Tain
on eel
or hg e qe _ Dublin,
rel $4, page 508. The pass
‘H, ee 17,
arab % ’ »
was the fifty-ninth year of Cuchulain’s age, from the night of his birth to the night of his death.” The record first quoted, however, is partly corroborated by the following passage which I translate from the Book of Ballymote, facsimilé edition, page 13, col. a, lines g-21: “In the fourteenth year of the reign of Conairé (killed in 40 B.c.) and of Conchobar, the Blessed Virgin was born. At that time Cuchulain had completed thirteen years; and in the fourth year after the birth of Mary, the expedi- tion of the Kine of Cualnge took place . . . that is, in the eighteenth year of the reign of Conairé. Cuchulain had completed his seventeenth year at thattime. That is, it was in the thirty-second year of the reign of Octavius Augustus that the same expedition took place. Eight years after the Tain B6 Ctalnge, Christ was born, and Mary had com- pleted twelve years then, and that was in the fortieth year of the reign of Octavius Augustus; and in the twenty- sixth year of the reign of Conairé and Conchobar, and in the second year after the birth of Christ, Cuchulain died. And twenty-seven years was Cuchulain’s age at that time.” These apparent synchronisms, of course, may only rest upon the imagination of the Christian annalists of Ireland, who hoped to exalt their ancient rulers and heroes by bring- ing them into relation with and even making them partici- * Mois Conchulaind fortissimi herois Scottorum la Lugaid mac ivi con, t. ri Muman, agus la Ercc, i. ri Temrach, mac Coirpri Niad ji, agus la tri maccu Calattin de Chonnachtaib ; vii. mbliadna a des
tntan vogab gaisced. xvii. mbliadna dano a aes intan mb6i inde-
gaid Tana Bé Cualnge. xxvii. bliadna immorro a aes intan atbath. Revue Celtique, tome xvi. page 407.
Preface - Xvi
K = in the of the Fa cdition of the Tain at ‘absorat the begin- ning of the Christian era, Irish tradition is undoubtedly
correct, as appears from the character of the civilization
depicted in the Ulster tales, which corresponds in a remark- able degree with what authors of antiquity have recorded of the Celts and with the character of the age which archae- ologists call ‘‘la Téne,” or “‘ Late Celtic,’’ which terminates at the beginning of the first century of our era. Oral tradition was perhaps occupied for five hundred years working over and developing the story of the Tdin, and by the close of the fifth century the saga to which it belonged was substantially the one we have now. The text of the tale must have been pan by the first, half of the
a c
II0O. :
But, whatever may be the precise dates of these events, which we are not in a position to determine more accurately, the composition of the T4in Bé Ctalnge antedates by a considerable margin the epic tales of the Anglo-Saxons, the Scandinavians, the Franks and the Germans. It is the oldest epic tale of western Europe, and it and the cycle of tales to which it belongs form “the oldest existing literature of any of the peoples to the north of the Alps.” * The deeds it recounts belong to the heroic age of Ireland three hundred years before the introduction of Christianity into the island, and its spirit never ceased to remain mark- edly pagan. The mythology that permeates it is one of the most primitive manifestations of the personification of the natural forces which the Celts worshipped. Its historical background, social organization, chivalry, mood and thought and its heroic ideal are to a large extent, and with perhaps some pre-Aryan survivals, not only those of
* Ridgeway.
satin v We ch ah ‘ah ‘ yh
“The aes ma is nor 3c Argument of the Ta n Bo halnge,
“which, for the sake of convenience, is here divided into — sections : Cee ee : . wae I. THE Pande es aa
One night at the palace of Cruachan in Canis) a dls a y pute arose between Queen Medb, the sometime wife of — Conchobar, king of Ulster, and her consort Ailill, as to the
amount of their respective possessions. It may be re- marked in passing that in those days in Ireland, married women retained their private fortune independent of their __ husbands, as well as the dowry secured to them in marriage. } To procure the evidence of their wealth, the royal pair sent messengers to assemble all their chattels which, on comparison, were found to be equal, excepting only that among Ailill’s kine was a lordly bull called Finnbennach, “the Whitehorned,’”” whose match was not to be found in the herds of the queen. |
Il. THE EMBASSAGE TO DARE AND THE OCCASION OF THE TAIN
As we might expect, Medb was chagrined at the dis- covery. Now her herald macRoth had told her that Daré macFiachna, a landowner of Cualnge, a district in the territory of her former husband, possessed an even more wonderful bull than Ailill’s, called Donn Cualnge, “the Brown Bull of Cualnge.” So she despatched mac- Roth to Daré to pray for the loan of the bull.
Daré received the queen’s messengers hospitably ‘and readily granted her request, but in the course of the enter- — tainment, one of the messengers, deep in his cups, spoke
aré, and he, hearing this, withdrew his promise ¢ that he would never hand over the Brown Bull
_ TIT. Tue GaTHERING oF MEpDB’s ForcES
_ The impetuous queen, enraged at the failure of her mis- sion, immediately mustered a formidable army, composed _ not only of her Connachtmen but also of allies from all ___ parts of Ireland, wherewith to undertake the invasion of Ulster. On her side were the Ulster chieftains who had _ gone into exile into Connacht after the treacherous slaughter of the sons of Usnech by King Conchobar of Ulster. Chief } among them was Fergus, who, moreover, had a personal _-~—s- grievance against Conchobar. For, while Fergus was i king of Ulster, he had courted the widow Ness and, in order to win her, promised to abdicate for the term of one year in favour of her son Conchobar. But when the term had elapsed, the youth refused to relinquish the throne, and Fergus in anger entered the service of Medb of Connacht. There he was loaded with favours, became the counsellor of the realm and, as appears from more than one allusion in the tale, the more than friend of the wife of King Ailill.
The four leagued provinces of Ireland being gathered at Cruachan, the guidance of the host was entrusted to Fergus, because he was acquainted with the province of Ulster through which they were to march, and at the begin- ning of winter—a point emphasized by the exponents of the sun-theory—the mighty host, including in its ranks the king and queen and some of the greatest warriors of Ireland, with the princess Finnabair as a lure, set forth on the raid into Ulster. ,
They crossed the Shannon near Athlone and, marching through the province of Meath, arrived at the borders of Cualnge. Fortunately for the invaders, the expedition took place while the Ulstermen lay prostrate in their cess,
de ey certain savage Nei ordinarily lasted f and four nights, but on this cecasion uche ermen were prostrate from the beginning of November till the beginni : of February. During all that time the burden of def a the province fell on the shoulders of the youthful champion _ Cuchulain, who had in his particular charge the plain of Murthemne, the nearest district to Cualnge, the goal of the — expedition. For Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim were alone exempt from the curse and the “ Pains’ which had befallen the remainder of the champions of Ulster.
IV. THE YouTHFUL EXPLoITs oF CUCHULAIN
The Connacht host had not proceeded far when they came upon evidence of some mighty force that opposed them. In answer to the inquiries of Ailill and Medb, Fergus explains that it is Cuchulain who disputes their fur- ther advance, and, as evidence of the superhuman strength and prowess of the Ulster youth, then in the seventeenth year of his age, the Ulster exiles recount the mighty deeds he had performed in his boyhood, chief among which is the tale according to which, as eric for the killing of the hound of Culann the Smith, the boy-hero Setanta assumed the station and the name which 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 on condition that every day they send one of
Preface XXL
v 1 heir ir champions to meet him in single combat. When he M 4 ‘shall have killed his opponent, the host shall halt and pitch camp until the following morning. Medb agrees to abide
by these terms. In each of the contests which ensue, the heroic youth is victorious and slays many of the most cele- brated warriors on the side of Connacht. The severest of all these single combats was the one in which he had as opponent his former friend and foster-brother Ferdiad. At the end of a four days’ battle, in which both adversaries. exhibited astounding deeds of valour, Ferdiad fell by the hands of Cuchulain.
Impatient at these delays, Medb broke the sacred laws of ancient Irish chivalry and led her army into Ulster, overrunning the province, pillaging and burning as she: went, even up to the walls of Emain Macha, the residence of Conchobar, and finally took possession of the Brown. Bull of Cualnge.
VI. THE GATHERING OF THE ULSTERMEN AND THE FINAL ‘BATTLE OF THE TAIN
By this time King Conchobar and his warriors have come: out of their debility and summoned their forces to an emin- ence in Slane of Meath. The great gathering of the Ulster- men is reported to Medb by her trusty herald macRoth, and from his description of the leaders and their troops, their exiled countryman Fergus designates them to the nobles of Connacht. In the final 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. laid waste the lands of her divorced husband and carried. off the Brown Bull of Cualnge, the prize of war, while on the other hand, Conchobar has won the OY in the great. battle of Garech and [lgarech.
ie Cruachan, acu he ‘rushed es at other. A furious battle took debi
The Tain Bé Caalnge has been paren more or ney a
complete, in a score of manuscripts ranging in date from the beginning of the twelfth to the middle of the nineteenth Te century. There ‘probably existed other manuscripts con- Bh: taining not only the Tain as we have it but even episodes now wanting it. All of the extant manuscripts go back to
versions which date from the seventh century or earlier. No manuscript of the Tain is wholly in the language of the time when it was copied, but, under the cloak of the con- temporaneous orthography, contains forms and words so obsolete that they were not understood by the copyist, so that glossaries had to be compiled to explain them.
It is by a singular good fortune that this, the greatest of all the epic tales of the Irish, has been handed down to — our day in the two most ancient and, for that reason, most precious of the great Middle Irish collections of miscel- laneous contents known as the Leabhar na hUidhre, “ the Book of The Dun (Cow),” and the Book of Leinster. The former and older of these vellum manuscripts (abbreviated LU.) is kept in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy at Dublin. It must have been written about the beginning of the twelfth century, for its compiler and writer, Moel- muire macCeilechair (Kelleher), is known to have been slain at Clonmacnois in the year 1106 ; some of its linguistic
Preface | VES XX
1 ze ihe tieitaltaela “ind the end, but the latter pon is pie _ good by the closely related, though independent, version contained in the manuscript known as the Yellow Book of Lecan (abbreviated YBL.). This manuscript was written about the year 1391 and it is also kept in Dublin in the Library of Trinity College. To the same group as LU. and YBL., which for the sake of convenience we may call version A, belong also the British Museum MSS., Egerton 1782, a large fragment, and Egerton 114, both dating from the fifteenth or sixteenth century.
Version B comprises the closely related accounts of the Tain as contained in the Book of Leinster (abbreviated LL.) and the following MSS.: Stowe 984 (Royal Irish-Academy), written in the year 1633 and giving, except for the loss of a leaf, a complete story of the Tain; H. 1. 13 (Trinity Col- lege, Dublin), written in the year 1745 and giving the Tain entire; Additional 18748 (abbreviated Add.), British Museum, copied in the year 1800 from a 1730 original ; Egerton 209 and Egerton 106 (British Museum), both fragments and dating from the eighteenth century. Frag- ments of a modern 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 fifteenth century; the almost identical Egerton 93 (British Museum), consisting of only ten leaves and dating from nearly a century later, and H. 2. 12 (Trinity College, Dublin), consisting of only two pages.*
* See H. d’Arbois de Jubainville, Essai d’un catalogue de la littérature épique de I’ Ivlande, 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
of the ‘suppositional archetype from which they descended is a most intricate one and one v hich t rise to considerable discussion. The question still awe a definite answer, which may never be forthcoming, be of the disappearance not only of the first draft oh the Tain, a but also of that of some its later redactions. We must not overlook the possibility, either, of an otherwise faithful copyist having inserted in the text before him a — passage, or even an entire episode, of his own fabrication, __ This, no doubt, happened not infrequently, especially in _ the earlier period of the copying of Irish manuscripts, and = a single insertion of this kind, or the omission, intentionally iy or by oversight, of a part of the original from the copy’. Fa might, it will easily be seen, lead one to conclude that there | once existed a form of the story which as a matter of fact never existed.
The version of the Tain which I have chosen as the basis for my translation is the one found in the Book of Leinster (Leabhay Laighneach), a voluminous vellum manu- script sometime called the Book of Glendalough and now . kept in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, catalogue number H.2.18. Only a part of the original book remains.
It dates from about the year 1150. This date is estab- lished by two entries in the manuscript itself: ‘‘ Aed son of Crimthann (Hugh macGriffin) hath written this book. and out of many books hath he compiled it ’’ (facsimilé, at the bottom of page 313). Who this Aed was will be: clear from the other entry. It appears that he had lent the manuscript while still unfinished to Finn macGorman,
Manuscripts, Edinburgh, 1912, pp. 174, 220; E. Windisch, Tain Bé Ciialnge, Einleitung und Vorrede, S. \x. ff.
Preface _ XXV
pho tho was Bistiop of Kildare from 1148 and died in the year 1160, and who on returning the book wrote in it the P otowing laudatory note in Irish to Aed: “ (Life) and health from Finn, the Bishop of Kildare, to Aed son of _ Crimthann, tutor of the chief king (i.e. of King Dermod macMurrogh, the infamous prince who half a century later he: invited Strongbow and the Normans to come over from ___-Wales to Ireland) of Mug Nuadat’s Half (i.e. of Leinster | and Munster), and successor of Colum son of Crimthann (this Colum was abbot of Tir da ghlass—the modern Terry- glas on the shore of Lough Derg, in the County Tipperary— and died in the year 548), and chief historian of Leinster in respect of wisdom and intelligence, and cultivation of books, science and learning. And let the conclusion of this little tale (i.e. the story of Ailill Aulom son of Mug Nuadat, the beginning of which was contained in the book which Finn returns) be written for me accurately by thee, O cunning Aed, thou man of the sparkling intellect. May it be long before we are without thee. My desire is that thou shouldst always be with us. And let macLonan’s Songbook be given to me, that I may understand the
sense of the poems that are in it.. Et vale in Christo.” * It would seem from another note in the manuscript ** that the Book of Leinster afterwards belonged to some ad- mirer of King Dermod, for he wrote: ‘‘O Mary! Great was the deed that was done in Ireland this day, the kalends of August (1166)—-Dermod, son of Donnoch macMurrogh, King of Leinster and of the (Dublin) Danes to be banished by the men of Ireland over the sea eastwards. Woe, woe
is me, O Lord, what shall I do!” ***
* Facsimilé, page 288, foot margin.
** Facsimilé, page 275, top margin.
*** Vd. Robert Atkinsony The Bookiof Leinster, Introduction, pages 7-8; J. H. Todd, Cogadh Gaedhel ve Gallatbh, Rerum Britannicarum medii aevi scriptoves, 1867, Introduction, pages ix and ff. Eugene
OS
se for the injunction of the scribe o ‘the me
oldest: shales | version A ‘he T ain extant, h Though rule (and as is easily discernible from a comparison of. | and LL.), the shorter, terser and cruder the form of a tale is, the more primitive it is, yet it is not always the oldest — preserved form of a work that represents the most ancient form of the story. Indeed, it is not at all improbable that LL. contains elements which represent a tradition ante- dating the composition of LU. At all events, LL. has these strong points in its favour, 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 itself and because of the convenient Irish text provided — by Professor Windisch’s edition. In order to present the Tain in its completest form, however, I have adopted the y novel plan of incorporating in the LL. account the transla- q tions of what are known as conflate readings. These,asa rule, I have taken from no manuscript that does not demon- —s_— strably go back to a twelfth or earlier century redaction. q Some of these additions consist of but a single word : others. 7 extend over several pages. This dovetailing could not al-
ways be accomplished with perfect accuracy, but no variants
have been added that do not cohere with the context or
destroy the continuity of the story. Whatever slight incon- a sistencies there may be in the accounts of single episodes, q they are outweighed, in my opinion, by the value and in- a terest of the additions. In all cases, however, the reader can control the translation by means of the foot-notes which >,
O’Curry, On the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Ivish History, page 186; Ernst Windisch, Tdin Bé Cualnge, pages QIO-9II.
u : has filtered down even to the upper strata of the educated. _ public and to the additional fact that the subject matter is so incongruous to English thought, the first object of | ‘the translator from the Old Irish must continue to be, for
some time to come, rather exactness in rendering than elegance, even at the risk of the translation appearing laboured and puerile. This should not, however, be carried to the extent of distorting his own idiom in order to imitate the idiomatic turns and expressions of the original. In this translation, I have endeavoured to keep as close to the sense and the literary form of the original as possible, but when there is conflict between the two desiderata, I . have not hesitated to give the first the preference. I have also made use of a deliberately archaic English as, in my opinion, harmonizing better with the subject. It means much to the reader of the translation of an Old Irish text to have the atmosphere of the original transferred as per-
_fectly as may be, and this end is attained by preserving its.
archaisms and quaintness of phrase, its repetitions and inherent crudities and even, without suppression or attenua- tion, the grossness of speech of our less prudish ancestors, which is also a mark of certain primitive habits of life but which an over-fastidious translator through delicacy of feeling might wish to omit. These side-lights on the semi-
as ay kare come doen to us in their Middle Ir is chiefly in prose, but interspersed with - verse. _ The ve structure is very intricate and is mostly in strophic : composed of verses of fixed syllabic length, thymed a a richly furnished with alliteration. There is a third form of speech which is neither prose nor verse, but partakes of the character of both, a sort of irregular, rhymeless verse, — a without strophic division and exceedingly rich in allitera~ tion, internal rhyme and assonance. This kind of speech, resembling in a way the dithyrambic passages in the Old Testament, was known to the native Irish scholars as vosc and it is usually marked in the manuscripts by the abbre- viation R. It was used in short, impetuous outbursts on occasions of triumph or mourning.
While, on the whole, I believe the student will feel himself safer with a prose translation of a poem than with one in verse, it has seemed to me that a uniform translation of the Tain Bé Ciéialnge in prose would destroy one of its special characteristics, which is that in it both prose and verse are mingled. It was not in my power, however, to re- produce at once closely and clearly the metrical schemes and the rich musical quality of the Irish and at the same time compress within the compass of the Irish measure such an analytic language as English, which has to express by means of auxiliaries what is accomplished in Early Irish by inflection. But I hope to have accomplished the main object of distinguishing the verse from the prose without sacrifice of the thought by the simple device of turning the verse-passages into lines of the same syllabic length as those of the original—which is most often the normal seven-syllable line—but without any attempt at imitating the rhyme-system or alliteration.
‘ > ah Ae
Preface XX1X
_ In order not to swell the volume of the book, the notes have been reduced to the indispensable minimum, reserving the commentary and the apparatus of illustrative material for another volume, which we hope some day to be able to issue, wherein more definitely critical questions can be dis- cussed. There are a few Irish words which have been re- tained in the translation and which require a word of ex- planation: The Old Irish gezs (later, also geas*; plural geasa) has as much right to a place in the English vocabulary as the Polynesian word tabu, by which it is often translated. It is sometimes Englished “injunction,” ‘ condition,” “ prohibition,” “bond,” “ban,” ‘‘ charm, magical de- cree,’ or translated by the Scots-Gaelic “ spells,’ none of which, however, expresses the idea which the word had according to the ancient laws of Ireland. It was an adjura- tion by the honour of a man, and was either positive or negative. The person adjured was either compelled or made in duty bound to doa certain thing, or, more commonly, was prohibited from doing it. The Old Irish gzlla is often translated “ vassal,’’ “‘ youth,’ “ boy,” ‘“‘ fellow,” “‘ mes- senger,”’ “servant,” “page,” ‘“‘squire’’ and “ guide,” but these words bear false connotations for the 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 of the six ages of man. Compare the sense of the word varlet or valet in English, 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 condition honorable” (J. Loth, Les Mabinogion, I, page 40, note). A liss or rath is a fortified place enclosed by a circular mound or trench, or both. A dun is a fortified residence surrounded by an earthen ram- part. In the case of names of places and persons, I have
; er
29> €€
‘
* Pronounced gesh or gas.
ever, a Se as ‘Slane a, Boy Bo even Cooley (Cualnge), which have be n st their English dress and nothing i is to iyo gain ine e
aekic name of the island) and Alba ave heen voting’ throughout instead of the hybrids “‘ Ireland” and “ Scot. land.” Final e is occasionally marked with a grave (e. ey Mané, Daré) to show that it is not silent as it often is in- English.
I quite perceive that I have not always cubioveltiad in .. reproducing the precise shade of meaning of words certain e a of which had become antiquated and even ‘unintelligible aa _ to the native scholars of the later Middle Irish period them- selves. This is especially true of the passages in vosc, which are fortunately not numerous and which were prob- ably intentionally made as obscure and allusive as possible, __ the object being, perhaps, as much the music of the words as the sense. Indeed, in some cases, I have considered myself fortunate if I have succeeded in getting their mere drift. No one takes to heart more than the present writer the truth of Zimmer’s remark, that “it needs no great courage to affirm that ot one of the living Celtic scholars, with all the aids at their disposal, possesses such a ready understanding of the contents of, for example, the most important Old Irish saga-text, ‘‘ The Cualnge Cattle-raid,” as was required thirty or more years ago in Germany of a good Gymnasium graduate in the matter of the Homeric. poems and without aids of any kind.’ * However, in
* “Es gehért keine grosse Kiihnheit dazu zu behaupten, dass keiner der lebenden Keltologen beispielsweise von dem wichtigsten.
“<i Der Rinaeaate von E iscear 0) ee , ‘Hilfsmitteln ein solches fortlaufendes Verstandnis , wie von einem guten Gymnasialabiturienten hin- ! - homerischen Gedichte ohne jegliches Hilfsmittel vor o ) Jahren in Deutschland verlangt wurde.’’—Die Kultur der nwe _ herausgegeben von Paul ara ila Berlin, 1909. Teil.
Abt. Es, 1. 8. 75.
mrs th
Tue T4in has been analysed by J. T. Gilbert, in the facsimilé _ edition of LU., pages xvi-xviii, based on O’Curry’s un- — aalsacuri account written about 1853; by Eugene O’Curry a in his ‘Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History,” pages 28-40, Dublin, 1861; by John Rhys — in his “ Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by Celtic Heathendom,” page 136, the Hibbert Lectures, London, 1898; by J. A. MacCulloch in “ The Religion of the Ancient Celts,” pages 127 and 141, London, IgII; 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 Bibliothéque de I’école des chartes, tome _ xl, pages 148-150, Paris, 1879; by Bryan O’Looney, in the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Second Series, vol. I, pages 242-248, Dublin, 1879; by H. Lichten- berger, “Le Poéme-et la Légende des Nibelungen,” pages 432-434, Paris, 1891 ; by Eleanor Hull,in ‘‘ A Text Book of Irish Literature,” Pt. I, p. 24, Dublin and London, 1906; by Victor Tourneur, ‘‘La Formation du Tain B6é Caalnge,” in Mélanges Godefroid Kurth, II, 413-424, Liége, 1908; by _ E. C. Quiggin, in the Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition, page 626. a The text of oe Tain is found in whole or in pert inthe
XXXii
SO Midis mathe-Téin' BAiChainge 9 xxxiii -
| similé reprints published by the Royal Irish Academy, D3 ‘Dublin, 1870 and following ; viz.: the Book of Leinster, i folios 53b—104b ; the Book of the Pas Cow, folios 55a—82b, and the Yellow Book of Lecan, folios 17a-53a; in “ Die Altirische Heldensage, Téin B6é Ctalnge, herausgegeben von Ernst Windisch, Irische Texte, Extraband, Leipzig, ' 1905’; from LU. and YBL., by John Strachan and J. G. O’ Keeffe, as a supplement to Eriu, vol. i, Dublin,1904 and fol.; our references 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 facsimilé edition; the LU. text of several passages also is given by John Strachan in his “ Stories from the Tain,” which first appeared in Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge (‘‘ The Gaelic Journal”’), Dublin ; reprinted, London and Dublin, 1908; Max Nettlau, ‘‘ The Fer Diad. Episode of the Tain Bo Cuailnge,’’ Revue Celtique, tome X, pages 330-346, tome xi, pages 23-32, 318-343; ‘‘ The Fragment of the Tain Bo Cuailnge in MS. Egerton 93,” Revue Celtique, tome xiv, pages 254-266, tome xv, pages 62-78, 198-208; R. Thurneysen, ‘“‘ Tain Bé Ctailghni nach H.2.17,’’ Zeitschrift fiir Celtische Philologie, Bd. viii, S. 525-554; E. Windisch, “Tain Bé Ciailnge nach der Hand- schrift Egerton 1782,” Zeitschrift fiir Celtische Philologie, Bd. ix, S. 121-158. The text of ‘“‘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 Téin has been translated by Bryan O’Looney in a manuscript entitled ‘‘ Tain Bo Cualnge. Translated from the original vellum manuscript known as the Book of Leinster, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. To _ which are added the ancient Prologues, Prefaces, and the Pretales or Stories, Adventures which preceded the principal Expedition or Tain, from various vellum MSS, in the Libraries of Trinity College and the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1872.” (A good translation, for its time. For
a
Oe e: see ‘The Academy, No. | National —o | XXV, a
oO’ on pi ‘of Willen Rily as. thas endlen L Winifred Faraday’s ‘‘ The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge,” London, 1904, is based on LU. and YBL. Two copies of a com- 4 plete translation of the LL. text dating from about 1850 is in the possession of John Quinn, Esq., of New York City. — -H. d’Arbois de Jubainville translated the Tain from the LL. text, but with many omissions: “‘Enlévement [du — Taureau Divin et] des Vaches de Cooley,’ Revue Celtique, tomes xxviii-xxxii, Paris, 1907 and fl. EleanorHull’s “The Cuchullin Saga,’’ London, 1898, contains (pages III-227) an analysis of the Tain and a translation by Standish H. O’Grady of portions of the Add. 18748 text. “ The TAin, 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 translated by Eugene O’Curry, ‘““On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish,” Vol. i, Introduction, pages 359-366, and the episode “‘ The Fight of Ferdiad and Cuchulaind,”’ was translated by W. K. Sullivan, ibid., Vol. ii, Lectures, Vol. i, Appendix, pages 413-463. . Important studies on the Tain have come from the pen of Heinrich Zimmer : “‘ Uber den compilatorischen Charakter der irischen Sagentexte im sogenannten Lebor na hUidre,” Kuhn’s Zeitschrift fiir vergleichende Sprachforschung, Bd. XxXvili, 1887, pages 417-689, and especially pages 426-554 ;
™“
a eee on the Tain Bo Coattige XXXV
techie Beitriige,” Zeitschrift fiir deutsches Alterthum nd deutsche Litteratur, Vol. xxxii, 1888, pages 196-334 ; _ “Beitraége zur Erklarung irischer Sagentexte,”’ Zeitschrift % _ fiir Celtische Philologie, Bd. i, pages 74-101, and Bd. iii, pages 285-303. See also, William Ridgeway, “‘ The Date of the m first Shaping of the Cuchulainn Saga,” Oxford, 1907; H.
- d’Arbois de Jubainville, ‘ Etude sur le Téin Bé Ctialnge,” Revue Celtique, tome xxviii, 1907, pages 17-40 ; Alfred Nutt, — “Cuchulainn, the Irish Achilles,” in Popular Studies in __ Mythology, Romance and Folklore, No. 8, London, rgoo.
_ The Celtic Magazine, Vol. xiii, pages 319-326, 351-359, Inver- ness, 1888, contains an English translation of a degenerated Scottish Gaelic version taken down by A. A. Carmichael, in Benbecula ; the Gaelic text was printed in the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Vol. ii. In the same volume of the Celtic Magazine, pages 514-516, is a translation of a version of the Téin, taken down in the island of Eigg. Eleanor Hull’s ‘‘ Cuchulain, the Hound of Ulster,’’ London, I9II, is a retelling of the story for younger readers. The following, bearing more or less closely upon the TAin, are also to be mentioned: Harry G. Tempest, “Dun Dealgan, Cuchulain’s Home Fort,” Dundalk, 1910; A. M. Skelly, “Cuchulain of Muirtheimhne,’’ Dublin, 1908; Standish O'Grady, “ The Coming of Cuculain,” London, 1894, “‘ In the Gates of the North,” Kilkenny, rgor, ‘‘ Cuculain, A Prose Epic,’’ London, 1882 and the same author’s ‘‘ History of Ireland: the Heroic Period,’ London, 1878-80; ‘‘ The High Deeds of Finn, and other Bardic Romances of Ancient Ireland,” by T. W. Rolleston, London, rozo ; Stephen Gwynn, “ Celtic Sagas Re-told,’’ in his ‘‘ To-day and To-morrow in Ireland,” pages 38-58, Dublin, 1903 ; Edward Thomas, “‘ Celtic Stories,’ Oxford, rgr1 ; ‘‘ Child- ren of Kings,’’ by W. Lorcan O’Byrne, London, 1904, and “The Boy Hero of Erin,” by Charles Squire, London, 1907.
a Goeth: Works, onder ee 1882, \ Old Age of Queen Maeve, by Will ‘Butler — Collected Works, vol. I, page ‘41, n, 1908; ‘ Defenders of the Ford,’ by Alice ‘Milligan, in her “1 Lays,” page 50, Dublin, 1908; George Sigerson, “ of the Gael and the Gall,” London, 1897; “The Quest,”’ by Sir Samuel Ferguson, in his ‘“‘ Lays off tern Gael and other Poems,’’ Dublin, 1897; “’ | Branch Crests, A Trilogy,” by Charles Leouaea Moore, London, 1906; ‘‘ The Laughter of Scathach,” by Plies Macleod, in “‘ The Washer of the Ford and Barbaric Tales ” ;_ Hector Maclean, ‘‘ Ultonian Hero-Ballads collected in BS ' 4 Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland,” Glasgow, 1892; ballad versions from Scotland are found in Leabhar na a Feinne, pages 1 and fol., in J. G. Campbell’s “ The Fians,”
pages 6'and fol., and in the Book of the Dean of Lismore.
Finally, scenes from the Tdin have been dramatized
by Canon Peter O’Leary, in the Cork ‘‘ Weekly Examiner,” April 14, 1900 and fol., by Sir Samuel Ferguson, ‘‘ The Naming of Cuchulain: A Dramatic Scene,” first played in Belfast, March 9, 1910; in ‘“‘ The Triumph of Maeve,” A Romance in dramatic form, 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 rg09.
Heck Kitab a : THE PILLOW-TALK
royal bed in Cruachan, the stronghold of Connacht, such was the pillow-talk that befell betwixt them: _ Quoth Ailili: “ True is the saying, lady, ‘She is a well- - off woman that is a rich man’s wife.’”’ ‘‘ Aye,that she is,” answered the wife; ‘‘ but wherefore opin’st thou so?” ‘ Por this,” Ailill replied, “ that thou art this day better off _ than the day that first I took thee.”” Then answered Medb : “ As well-off wasI before I eversaw thee.” “ It wasa wealth, forsooth, we never heard nor knew of,’’ Ailill said; ‘“‘ but a woman’s wealth was all thou hadst, and foes from lands -next thine were used to carry off the spoil and booty that they took from thee.” ‘‘ Not so was I,” quoth Medb; | “ the High King of Erin himself was my sire, Eocho Fediech (‘the Enduring’) son of Finn, by name, who was son of _ Findoman, son of Finden, son of Findguin, son of Rogen __ Ruad (‘the Red’), son of Rigen, son of Blathacht, son of _ Beothacht, son of Enna Agnech, son of Oengus Turbech. Of daughters, had he six: Derbriu, Ethne and Ele, Clothru, Mugain and Medb, myself, that was the noblest and seem- - liest of them. ’Twas I was the goodliest of them in bounty
1 B
ay a Hei that Ailill and Medb had spread their LL. fo. 53.
*LL. fo. 54a.
every one of these bivelinge — nine men a ele every hire ling,? and eight men with every hireling, and seven me with every hireling, and six men with every hireling, < n five men with every hireling, ?and four men with ever hireling,? and three men with every hireling, and two men with every hireling, and one hireling with every hire- _ ling. These were as a standing household-guard,” con- tinued Medb; ‘hence hath my father bestowed one 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 Ross Ruad (‘the Red’), king of Leinster, to seek me 4 for a wife, and I refused him; 4 q and from Carbre Niafer (‘the Champion’) son of ‘RossRuad (‘the Red’), king of Temair,* § to woo me, and I refused him ; ® and they came from Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach (‘the Mighty’), king of Ulster, *and I refused him in like wise. They came from Eocho Bec (‘the Small’), 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. For should he be mean, the man with whom I should live, we were ill-matched together, inasmuch as I am great: * in largess and gift-giving, and it would be a disgrace for my husband if I should be better
--1 Stowe.
--2 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
--3 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
-4 Stowe and Add.
That is, from the supreme king of Ireland. -5 Stowe and Add.
--6 Stowe and Add.
oa ane wr
The Pillow-talk | 3
4. at spending than he, ! and for it to be said that I was superior in wealth and treasures to him,! while no disgrace would
it be were one as great as the other. 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 ’twould be a reproach for my husband should his wife be more full of life than himself, and no reproach our being equally bold. Should he be jealous, the husband with whom I should live, that too would not suit me, for there never was a time that I had not my paramour.? Howbeit, such a husband have 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 a sluggard. It was I plighted thee, and gave purchase-price to thee, which of right belongs to the bride—of clothing, namely, the raiment of twelve men, a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids, the breadth of thy face of red gold,’ the weight of thy left forearm of silvered bronze. Whoso brings shame and sorrow and madness upon thee, no claim for compensa- tion nor satisfaction hast thou therefor that I myself have not,* but it is to me the compensation belongs,” ? said Medb, “ for a man dependent upon a woman’s maintenance is what thou art.” 4
“Nay, not such was my state,” said Ailill; ‘“‘ but two brothers had I; one of them over Temair, the other over Leinster; namely, Finn, over Leinster, and Carbre, over Temair. I left the kingship to them because they were
1... Stowe and, similarly, Add. * A short sentence in LL., which is probably corrupt, is omitted here.
» Literally, ‘‘ A man behind (in) the shadow of another.”
* Instead of a ring, which would be given to the bride.
2...2 Add. and H. 1. 13.
¢ For a detailed explanation of this entire passage, see H. Zim- mer, in the Sitzungsberichie der Kéniglich Pveussischen Akademie
dey Wissenschaften, 16 Februar, 1911, philosophisch historischen Classe, Seite 217.
answer, “ for alg is aides ee i
"y
riches and wealth than I : yea, to my kno |
he a if)
1...1 Add. and H a ies ‘ a Hs NE ern S70) Wh PROY Pee se ” t mh RAN 2M = , \ , ‘ Ty y « ‘ ae \'} J Pare) | OR Sta sy i thy)! Nigh j Aaa
SR a yal oS 1b poe : if lay a) sa , Ha athe
whi - { Pe dah ee Y f Tis st 4 J ; Ay ied hae ne
_cauldrons and their iron-wrought vessels, their jugs and ie their keeves and their eared pitchers were fetched to them. Likewise, their rings and their bracelets and their thumb-
rings and their golden treasures were fetched to them, and
their apparel, both purple and blue and black and green, yellow, vari-coloured and gray, dun, mottled and brindled.
Their numerous flocks of sheep were led in from fields and meeds and plains. These were counted and compared, and
- found to be equal, of like size, of like number; however,
there was an uncommonly fine ram over Medb’s sheep, and he was equal in worth to a bondmaid, but a corresponding ram was over the ewes of Ailill.
Their horses and steeds and studs were brought from pas-
oul and paddocks. There was a noteworthy horse in _Medb’s herd and he was of the value of a bondmaid; a
horse to match was found among Ailill’s. Then were their numerous droves of swine driven from woods and shelving glens and wolds. These were numbered
i _ and counted and claimed. There was a noteworthy boar _ with Medb, and yet another with Ailill.
_ Next they brought before them their droves of cattle
1...1 Add. and Stowe. Bn
*LL,fo.54b. honour to be in a woman’s possession, *had left and gone _ rs
were the same for both, pene in size, goer, in; nu: D except only there was an especial bull of the bawn of. A and he was a calf of one of Medb’s cows, and Finnbenna q (‘ the Whitehorned’) was his name. But he, deeming it no q over to the kine of the king. And it was the same to Medb © 7 as if she owned not a pennyworth, 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 Medb strictly bade macRoth to learn where ¥ there might be found a bull of that likeness in any of the __ provinces of Erin. “ Verily,” said macRoth, “I know _ 4 where the bull is that is best and better again, in the province —__ of Ulster, in the hundred of Cualnge, in the house of Daré son of Fiachna; even Donn Cualnge (‘the Brown Bull of Cualnge’) he is called.”
“Go thou to him, macRoth, and ask for me of Daré the loan for a year of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, and at the year’s end he shall have the meed of the loan, to wit, fifty ; heifers and the Donn Cualnge himself. And bear thou a { further boon with thee, macRoth. Should the border- folk and those of the country grudge the loan of that rare | jewel that is the Brown Bull of Cualnge, let Daré himself come with his bull, and he shall get a measure equalling his own land of the smooth Plain of Ai and a chariot of the - worth of thrice seven bondmaids and he shall enjoy sar own close friendship.”’ 4 .
Thereupon the messengers fared forth to ths Heine of Daré son of Fiachna. This was the number wherewith macRoth went, namely, nine couriers. Anon welcome was
“a /
* Literally, “‘ Habebit amicitiam fermoris met.”
The Occasion of the Tain 7
lavished on macRoth in Daré’s house—fitting welcome ‘it _ was—chief messenger of all was macRoth. Daré asked of _macRoth what had brought him upon the journey and why he was come. The messenger announced the cause for which he was come and related the contention between Medb and Ailill.
“ And it is to beg the loan of the Brown Bull of Cualnge _- tomatch the Whitehorned that I am come,” said he; ‘‘ and thou shalt receive the hire of his loan, even fifty heifers and the Brown of Cualnge himself. And yet more I may add: Come thyself with thy bull and thou shalt have of the land of the smooth soil of Mag Ai as much as thou ownest here, and a chariot of the worth of thrice seven bond- maids and enjoy Medb’s friendship to boot.”
At these words Daré was well pleased, and he leaped for joy so that the seams 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,! this time this jewel shall be delivered to Ailill and to Medb, the Brown of Cualnge to wit, into the land of Connacht.” Well pleased was macRoth at the words of the son of Fiachna.
Thereupon they were served, and straw and fresh rushes were spread under them. The choicest of food was brought to them and a feast was served to them and soon they were noisy and drunken. And a discourse took place between two of the messengers. “’Tis true what I say,’’ spoke the one; ‘‘ good is the man in whose house we are.”’ “Of a truth, he is good.” “‘ Nay, is there one among all the men of Ulster better than he ? ”’ persisted the first. ‘‘ In sooth, there is,’ answered the second messenger. ‘‘ Better is Conchobar whose man he is, ? Conchobar who holds the kingship of the province.2. And though all the Ulstermen
1..-1 Stowe and Add. 2..-2 Stowe and Add.
‘LL. fo. 55a. that was said; for, were the bull not given *willingly,
Ulster, even sive Born Bull of Cual ge, freely to us nine footmen.” _ Hereupon a third runner had sie say: “Wh ye dispute about?” he asked. “ Yon runner says, | good man is the man in whose house we are.’” “ Yea, he is good,’ saith the other. “Is there among all the Ulstermen any that is better than he?’ demanded the first runner further. ‘‘ Aye, there is,’ answered the second runner; “‘ better is Conchobar whose man he is; and though all the Ulstermen gathered around him, it were no shame for them. Yet, truly good it is of Daré, that what had been a task for four of the grand provinces of __ Erin to bear away out of the borders of Ulster is handed = over even unto us nine footmen.” ‘‘I would not grudge ~ a to see a retch of blood and gore in the mouth whereout
44
yet should he be taken by force! At that moment it was that Daré macFiachna’s chief steward came into the house and with him a man with drink and another with food, and he heard the foolish words of the runners; and anger came upon him, and he set down their food and drink for them and he neither said to them, “ Eat,” nor did he say, “‘ Eat not.” Straightway he went into the house where was Daré macFiachna and said: ‘‘ Was it thou that hast given that notable jewel to the messengers, the Brown Bull of Cualnge?”’ “‘ Yea,it was I,’’ Daré made answer. ‘‘Verily, it was not the part of a king to give him. For it is true what they say: Unless thou hadst bestowed him of thine own free will, so wouldst thou yield him in despite of thee by the host of Ailill and Medb and by the great cunning of Fergus macRoig.” “I swear by the gods whom I wor-
The | Occasion of the T4in 9
OU
‘ means tga ote they Pit take by fair! ”’
There they abide till morning. Betimes on the morrow a the runners arise and proceed to the house where is Daré. _ “ Acquaint us, lord, how we may reach the place where _ the Brown Bull of Cualnge is kept.” ‘‘ Nay then,” saith Daré; “but were it my wont to deal foully with mes- sengers or with travelling folk or with them that go by the road, not one of you would depart alive!’’ ‘‘ How sayest _ thou?” quoth macRoth. ‘Great cause there is,” replied _ Daré; “ ye said, unless I yielded in good sort, I should yield _ to the might of Aulill’s host and Medb’s and the great cunning of Fergus.”
“Even so,’ said machRoth, ‘‘ whatever the runners drunken with thine ale and thy viands have said, ’tis not for thee to heed nor mind, nor yet to be charged on Ailill and on Medb.”’ “ For all that, macRoth, this time I will not give my bull, if ever I can help it!”
Back then the messengers go till they arrive at Cruachan, the stronghold of Connacht. Medb asks their tidings, and macRoth makes known the same: that they had not brought his bull from Daré. “And the reason?’’ demanded Medb. MacRoth recounts to her how the dispute arose. “ There is no need to polish knots over such affairs as that, macRoth; for it was known,” said Medb, “‘if the Brown Bull of Cualnge would not be given with their will, he would be taken in their despite, and taken he shall be! ”’
2 To this point is recounted the Occasion of the Tain.*
1.--1 Stowe and Add. 2...2 Stowe and Add.
W. 161,
Maga; and Scandal (‘ Insult’) son of Maga.
1 THE RISING-OUT OF THE MEN OF CONNACHT CRUACHAN AITt ria Sey gl
, ie
2 A MIGHTY host was now askenien i vib? men ‘of:C on- nacht, that is, by Ailill and Medb, and they sent word to "
from Medb to the Mané that they should watlien® in Gibihe | an, the seven Mané with their seven divisions; to wit:
_ Mané “‘ Motherlike,” Mané ‘“‘ Fatherlike,’”’ and Mané “All ie ‘
comprehending” ; *’twas he that possessed the form of his mother and of this father and the dignity of them both ; * Mané “ Mildly-submissive,” and Mané “ Greatly ebeiie 4 sive,’ Mané “ Boastful’”” #and Mané “ the Dumb.” 4 Other messengers were despatched ® by Ailill® to the sons of Maga; to wit: to Cet (‘the First’) son of Maga, Anluan (‘the Brilliant Light’) son of Maga, and Maccorb (‘ Chariot- i 4 child’) son of Maga, and Bascell (‘the Lunatic’) son of q Maga, and En (‘the Bird’) son of Maga, Doché son of
These came, and this was their muster, thirty sitive armed men. Other messengers were despatched from them to Cormac Conlongas (‘the Exile’) son of Conchobar and to Fergus macRoig, and they also came, thirty hundred — ‘ their number. | ie
1.0 Add. s 4 a 2...2 LU. 1-2; with these words, the LU. version begins, rs 5 5a. 3..-3 TU, 182.
4---4 Stowe and Add. S-+95 Bia, Ses
10
FACSIMILE, PAGE 55—/vom Leabhar na h-Uidhri.
vei) “The Rising-out of the Men of Connacht 11
3. .1Now Cormac had three companies which came to Cru- _achan.? Before all, the first company. A covering of close-shorn ? black * hair upon them. Green mantles and _ %many-coloured cloaks? wound about them; therein, silvern brooches. Tunics of thread of gold next to their skin, ‘reaching down to their knees,* with interweaving of red gold. Bright-handled swords they bore, with guards
grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the hand of each man.° “Ts that Cormac, yonder?” all and every one asked. “Not he, indeed,’’ Medb made answer.
The second troop. Newly shorn hair they wore and manes on the back of their heads,® 7 fair, comely indeed.’ Dark-blue cloaks they all had about them. Next to their skin, gleaming-white tunics,* *®with red orna- mentation, reaching down to their calves.2 Swords they had with round hilts of gold and silvern fist-guards, and shining shields upon them and five-pronged spears in their hands.® ‘ Is yonder man Cormac ? ’”’ all the people asked. “ Nay, verily, that is not he,’’ Medb made answer.
10 Then came” the last troop. Hair cut broad they wore ; fair-yellow, deep-golden, loose-flowing back hair 4 down to their shoulders" uponthem. Purple cloaks, fairly bedizened, about them; golden, embellished brooches over their breasts ; * and they had curved shields with sharp, chiselled edges around them and spears as long as the pillars of a king’s house in the hand of each man. Fine, long, silken tunics 4% with hoods * they wore to the veryinstep. Together they raised their feet, and together they set them down again. “‘Is that Cormac, yonder?” asked all. ‘ Aye, it is he, “this time,“’’ Medb made answer.
1-2 LU, 7. 2...2 Add. Dio UT BR, 4.4 LU. 9. 5...5 LU. 9-10. 6-6 Eg 1782. 7? Add. 8...8 TU. 11-12. 9...9 LU, 12-13. 10-+-10 Eg. 1782. 11...11 TU, 16. 12---42 TU, 17-18
mem EU, 15. SRC tS ae. T7G2.
of silver. ° Long shields they bore, and there was a broad,
>
*LL. fo. 55b.
Sauer Srey
ana drink coved lis nd muster nagit bo bale noe their poets at not let them depart from thence till the end of a fortni while awaiting good omen.2. And then it was th de V bade her charioteer to harness her horses for her, that : might go to address herself to her druid, to seek for | and for augury from him.
dt Eg. 1782. 2. LU. 20-21.
“Mead v was come to the died Shits her druid was, raved light and augury of him. “‘ Many there be,” 1 Medb, “‘ who do part with their kinsmen and friends ‘e to-day, and from their homes and their lands, from _ father and from mother; and unless unscathed every one - shall return, upon me will they cast their sighs and their ban, ! for it is I that have assembled this levy.t Yet there - goeth not forth nor stayeth there at home any dearer to _ me than are we to ourselves. And do thou discover for us whether we ourselves shall return, or whether we shall never
_ And the druid made answer, ““ Whoever comes not, _ thou thyself shalt come.” 2‘‘ Wait, then,’ spake the charioteer, ‘‘let me wheel the chariot by the right,® that thus the power of a good omen may arise that we return again.’ * Then the charioteer wheeled his chariot round and Medb went back * again,* when she espied a thing that _ surprised her: A lone virgin ‘of marriageable age* stand- ing on the hindpole of a chariot a little way off drawing nigh her. And thus the maiden appeared: Weaving lace was
3 . she, and in her right hand was a bordering rod of silvered
"4 ¢ This sie, is taken from the colophon,at the end of the _ chapter.
1-2 LU. 23-24. 2.02 LU. 24-25. > Right-hand wise, as a sign of soue omen. 3...3 Stowe. "4 Eg. 1782.
13
*LL. fo. 56a.
_a shadow down on her calves. 1 The maiden carried arms,
fair-faced counteuanhe oh had, ‘ — below F above.? She had a blue-grey and ares? sche a9
soft, black iashés threw a shadow to the inidale’s cr cheeks.5 Red and thin were her lips. Shiny and pearly © were her teeth ; thou wouldst believe they were showers a white pearls that had rained into her head. Like to fresh ; Parthian crimson were her lips. As sweet as the strings of — lutes ®* when long sustained they are played by master — | players’ hands * was the melodious sound of her voice and a her fair speech. y
As white as snow in one night fallen was the sheen of | her skin and her body that shone outside of her dress. — Slender and very white were her feet; rosy, even, sharp- round nails she had; ‘two sandals with golden buckles about them.’ Fair-yellow, long, golden hair she wore ; three braids of hair *she wore; two tresses were wound § around her head; the other tress® from behind *® threw
and two black horses were under her chariot.” Medb gazed at her. “‘And what doest thou here now, O maiden?” asked Medb. “I impart *to thee thine advantage and good fortune in thy gathering and muster of the four mighty provinces of Erin against the land of Ulster on the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge.”’ “‘ Where- ~ fore doest thou this for me? ’’ asked Medb. ‘‘ Much cause ~ have I. A bondmaid ’mid thy people am I.” ‘‘ Who of — aoe’ (TUR. a2. 30-8 Ege. eee: 4-8 EU. 29. 4-4 LU. 35-36. S>8 DU aes ---6 Adopting Windisch’s emendation of the text.
6 7.7 LU. 209. 8-8 Ep. 1782. 9...9 Add. 10...19 LU. 36.
ye mie fave L i" the malted said. i te r me, how will my undertaking be.” The maiden - Then spake Medb :—
ON - “ “Good now,
*« Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host ?”’
py a * Fedelm answered and spoke :5
a “Crimson-red from blood they are ;
I behold them bathed in red!” 6“ That is no true augury, ”6 said Medb. “ Verily, Con- * chobar ?with the Ulstermen’” is in his ‘ Pains’ in Emain ; thither fared my messengers *and brought me true tidings; naught is there that we need dread from Ulster’s men. But speak truth, O Fedelm :—
Bs Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid, How beholdest thou our host ?”’
“Crimson-red from blood they are ;
I behold them bathed in red!”’ *“ That is no true augury.® Cuscraid Mend (‘the | Stammerer’) of Macha, Conchobar’s son, is in Inis Cuscraid (‘ Cuscraid’sIsle’)in his ‘ Pains.’ Thither fared my messen- gers; naught need we fear from Ulster’s men. But speak truth, O Fedelm :—
4 4-1 Eg. 1782. 2---2, Be. 1782. 8-8 LU. 39-41. + ora. Fig. 1782, ; > Imbass forosna, ‘ illumination between the hands.’ Rote Eg, 5782. 58 LU: a4, 7-7 Eg, 1782.
Bea Eg. 1782. %...° LU. 48.
need we dread strom { ‘Ul
truth, 0 Fedelm :— asain
3 “Tell, O Fedelm, li ma
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 ‘Lethe aq
in his ‘ Pains,’ 2and a third of the Ulstermen with him.2 a
Thither fared my messengers. Naught have we to fear
from Ulster’s men. *And Fergus son of Roig son of —
Eochaid is with us here in exile, and thirty hundred with
him. But speak truth, O Fedelm:—_ :
‘Tell, O Fedelm, Sires
How beholdest thou our host ? ”
“Crimson-red from blood they are ; I behold them bathed in red!”
““ Meseemeth this not as it seemeth to thee,” quoth Medb,. “for when Erin’s men shall assemble in one place, there quarrels will arise and broils, contentions and disputes amongst them about the ordering of themselves in the van or rear, at ford or river, over who shall be first at killing a boar or a stag or a deer or a hare. But, *look now again for us and* 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!” Therewith she began to prophesy and to foretell the coming of Cuchulain to the men of Erin, and she chanted a lay :—
» Nears Nw 8% 50. 2...2 LU. 49. $...3 LU. 50-51. 4ee4 LU. 55.
a ap Ga
st face i is his, T see ; He re all womankind. Bixee Be lad and fresh hid, Mas _ With a dragon’s form in fight!
“T know not who is the Hound, Bit Culann’s hight,’ 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,* too, he wields, With his sword and javelin. Lo, the man in red cloak girt Sets his foot on every hill!
“‘ Two spears ? from the chariot’s left * 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.
9 The Eg. 1782 version of this poem differs in several details from
ap > That is, Cu Chulain, ‘the Hound of Culann.’ «4-1 Translating from LU. 65, Stowe and Add. | _ * The Gae Bulga, ‘ barbed spear,’ which only Cuchulain could © wield. by *...2 Translating from LU. 72, Add. and Stowe; ‘from the left,’
CG ;
+ Np h - / i Sees rt ty , ae x uJ ; . : j
pa ak the Pillow-talke in Cruachan. 1 Next follows the
* That is, Cuchulain. “See | Jee] ore and Add.
V
THIS IS THE ROUTE OF THE TAIN
zor. and the Beginning of the Expedition and the Names of
the Roads which the hosts of the four of the five grand provinces of Erin took into theland of Ulster. 4On Monday after Summer’s end? *they set forth and proceeded: ?
8 South-east from Cruachan Ai,? by Mag Cruimm, over Tuaim Mona (‘the Hill of Turf’), by Turloch Teora Crich (‘ the Creek of three Lands’), by Cul (‘ the Nook ’) of Silinne, by Dubloch (‘ Black Lough’), *by Fid Dubh (‘ Black Woods’),4 by Badbgna, by Coltain, by the Shannon, by Glune Gabur, by Mag Trega, by Tethba in the north, by Tethba in the south, by Cul (‘the Nook’), by Ochain, northwards by Uatu, eastwards by Tiarthechta, by Ord (‘the Hammer’), by Slaiss (‘ the Strokes ’), > southwards,5 by Indeoin (‘ the Anvil’), by Carn, by Meath, by Ortrach, by Findglassa Assail, (‘White Stream of Assail’), by Drong, by Delt, by Duelt, by Delinn, by Selaig, by Slabra, by Slechta, where swords hewed out roads before Medb and Aiulill, by Cul (‘the Nook’) of Siblinne, by Dub (‘the Blackwater’), by Ochonn *southwards,* by Catha, by Cromma *’southwards,’ by Tromma, § eastwards § by Fodromma, by Slane, by Gort Slane, ® to the south of ® Druim Liccé, by Ath Gabla, by Ardachad (‘ Highfield’),
1.-1 LU. 81.
%...3 Stowe and Add. 5.-.5 TU. 96 and Stowe. Pent TI, 113.
pec Begs: 1 Oe,
4 LU. 87, Stowe and Add. te@) Eee. 3 962, se SR Ge 8 ---® LU. 116.
19
oo f bw
Tree’), by AS ond, by 1 ret’s Neck’), by Meide | in Eoin, c 3ird’s (‘ the Town’), by Aile, by Dall Scena, by B all Scena Mor (‘Great Point’), by Scuap (hth, c: TOOT Mo (
Wood’) in Crannach of Cualnge, ° by Colbtha, t yy Cron Cualnge,? by Druim Cain on the road to Midluachar, 4 Finnabair of Cualnge. It is at that point that the est Erin divided over the province in pursuit of the bull. . iy ; it was by way of those places they went until they reached — Finnabair. Here endeth the Title. The Story meri in order.
1.1 LU, ro. 2.442 LU. 121. 8.3 LU, 146-148. 4.4 LU. 149-161.
t Be frst. stipe the hosts went 4 from Cruachan,! they the ores at Cul Seung 2 where silat is Cargin’ S
side him; Ith macEtgaith next to that; Fiachu mac- Firaba, ®the son of Conchobar’s daughter,® at its side ; *Conall Cernach at its side,* Gobnenn macLurnig at i the side of that. The place of Ailill’s tent was on the ‘right on the march, and thirty hundred men of Ulster beside him. And the thirty hundred men of Ulster on his right hand had he to the end that the whispered talk and conversation and the choice supplies of food and of drink might be the nearer to them. Medb of Cruachan, ? daughter of Eocho Fedlech,’? more- over, was at Ailill’s left. Finnabair (‘ Fairbrow’), * daughter _ of Ailill and Medb,® at her side, * besides servants and henchmen.’ Next, Flidais Foltchain (‘ of the Lovely Hair’), _ wife first of Ailill Finn (‘the Fair’). She took part in the Cow-spoil of Cualnge after she had slept with Fergus ; “and she it was that every seventh night brought sustenance
_ el Eg. 1782. 2+. Stowe. %.-.3 Translating from Stowe. et 8 LU, 156-157. . $66 TU. 160. S86 Eg. 1782, 0 7? LU. 160, %* LU. 161." Eg. 1782.
21
Sip oe prince a poet a ae ass
“LL. fo. 57a.
Medb remained in _the rear of the hot
called to her charioteer to get aay, her 1 nine » chari her,! 2to make a circuit of the camp? that she might learn who was loath and who eager to take part in the hosting " 3 With nine chariots* she was wont to travel, that the dust of the great host might not soil her. Medb suffered _ not her chariot to be let down nor her horses ayo until she had made a circuit of the camp.
Then, ‘when she had reviewed the host, were Medb’s horses unyoked and her chariots let down, and she q took her place beside Ailill macMata. And Ailill asked tidings of Medb: who was eager and who was loath for the warfare. ‘Futile for all is the emprise but — for one troop only, 'namely the division of the Galian (‘of Leinster ’),” 5 quoth Medb. *“‘ Why blamest thou — these men?” queried Ailill. “It is not that we blame them,” Medb made answer.* ‘‘ What good service then — have these done that they are praised above all?” asked Ailill. ‘“‘There is reason to praise them,” said Medb. — 7“ Splendid are the warriors.?- When the others begin making their pens and pitching their camp, these have finished building their bothies and huts. When the rest are build- ing their bothies and huts, these have finished preparing _ their food and drink. When the rest are preparing their food and drink, these have finished eating and feasting, Sand their harps are playing for them. When all the others have finished eating and feasting, these are by that
2 LU. 3153. "2 Eg. 1782. --3 Gloss in LU. fo. 56b, 3.
. « Follow! ing the einbdiantael ciaeceal by L. Chr. Stern, Zeit- schrift fiir Celtische Philologie, Band II, S. 417, LU. has ‘ nine charioteers.’
4-4 Eg. 1782. s...5 LU. 164 and Stowe. — %&-8 LU: 165. vere?) Us 165. |, $...8 TU. 168. ae os
The March of the Host 23 ,, time asleep. And even as their servants and thralls are
_ distinguished above the servants and thralls of the men of
Erin, so shall their heroes and champions be distinguished beyond the heroes and champions of the men of Erin this time on this hosting. ‘It is folly then for these to go, since it isthose others will enjoy the victory of the host.?”’ “So much the better, I trow,’’ replied Ailill; “for it is with us they go and it is for us they fight.” ‘“ They shall not go with us nor shall they fight for us.” ? cried Medb.” “ Let them stay at home then,” said Ailill. ‘ Stay they shall not,” answered Medb. *?“ They will fall on us in the rear and will seize our land against us.’’* ‘‘ What shall they do then,” Finnabair* asked, “‘if they go not out nor yet remain at home?” ‘“‘ Death and destruction and slaughter is what I desire for them,’’ answered Medb. “‘ For shame then on thy speech,’’ spake Ailill ; “‘ *’tis a woman’s advice,* for that they pitch their tents and make their pens so promptly and unwearily.”’ “ By the truth of my con- science,” cried Fergus, *“‘ not thus shall it happen, for they are allies of us men of Ulster. No one shall do them to death but he that does death to myself * along with them !’’ §
“Not to me oughtest thou thus to speak, O Fergus,” then cried Medb, “for I have hosts enough to slay and Slaughter thee with the division of Leinstermen round thee. For there are the seven Mané, 7 that is, my seven sons’ with their seven divisions, and the sons of Maga with their * seven ® divisions, and Ailill with his division, and I myself with my own body-guard besides. We are strong enough here to kill and slaughter thee with thy cantred of the Leinstermen round thee! ”’
“It befits thee not thus to speak to me,” said Fergus,
1-61 LU. 169. 2...2 Stowe. 3...8 LU. 171-172.
¢ * Ailill,’ in Eg. 1782. 4-4 Eo, 1782. $656 LU, 175-176. 6...6 Stowe. Veoe? LU. 2709. §...8 Add,
L. fo. 57b.
* 1 Hy WAN) GVEA OREEN OLY NTN Ab alta AY wet ew a re VO eee r BAD Chis tay! Nee FE ae divisi I \: Y
sion of the Black Banishment | is best of the noble youths of Ulster, even - of the Galian (‘of Leinster’). Furthermore, L m) rselt bond and surety and guarantee for them, since ever left their own native land. I will give thee battle in the midst of the camp,? and to me will they hold stead- fast on the day of battle. More than all that,” added Fergus, ‘these men shall be no subject of dispute. By — that I mean I will never forsake them. ‘For the rest, we will care for these warriors, to the end Lota they ia not the upper hand of the host. ae
“The number of our force is seventeen wilivods besides our rabble and our women-folk—for with each king was his queen in Medb’s company—and our striplings; the eight- 4 eenth division is namely the cantred of the Galian* This division of Leinstermen I will distribute among *all the host of ® the men of Erin in such wise that no five men of them shall be in any one place.” “That pleaseth me _ well,” said Medb: ‘let them be as they may, if only they be not in the battle-order of the ranks where they now are in such great force.”
forthwith Fergus distributed the cantred * of the Galian § among the men of Erin in such wise that there were not _ five men of them in any one place. _ | q
* Thereupon, the troops set out on their way and march. {t was no easy thing ? for their kings and their leaders 7 to attend to that mighty host. They took part in the expe-
t-0/% LU. 184.
-* Reading with Stowe; LL. appears to be corrupt. This was a the name given to Fergus, Cormac and the other exiles from Ulster.
33 Eg, 1782. 404 LU, 187-192. 5-5 Ee, 19782. $...6 Stowe and Add. 7.4.7 Stowe.
eg The March of the Host 25 3 dition according to the several tribes and according to the
several stems and the several districts wherewith they had
come, to the end that they might see one other and know one other, that each man might be with his comrades and with his friends and with his kinsfolk on the march. They declared that in such wise they should go. They also took counsel in what manner they should proceed on their hosting. Thus they declared they should proceed: Each host with its king, each troop with its lord, and each band with its captain; each king and each prince of the men of Erin + by a separate route! on his halting height apart. They took counsel who was most proper to seek tidings in advance of the host between the two pro- vinces. And they said it was Fergus, inasmuch as the expe- dition was an obligatory one with him, for it was he that had been seven years in the kingship of Ulster. And ? after Conchobar had usurped the kingship and ? after the murder of the sons of Usnech who were under his pro- tection and surety, Fergus left the Ultonians, and for Seventeen years he was away from Ulster in exile and in enmity. For that reason it was fitting that he above all should go after tidings.
So *the lead of the way was entrusted to Fergus.’ Fergus before all fared forth to seek tidings, and a feeling of *love and 4-affection for his kindred of the men of Ulster came over him, and he led the troops astray in a great circuit to the north andthe south. And he despatched messengers with warnings to the Ulstermen, 5 who were at that time in their ‘ Pains’ except Cuchulain and ‘his father Sualtaim.® And he began to detain and delay the host * until such time as the men of Ulster should have gathered together anarmy.* 7 Because ofaffection he did so.’
2...1 Stowe and Add. #++62 Stowe and Add. *::3 Eg. 1782,
4...4 Stowe. 5-5 LU. and YBL. 217. *.-§ LU. and YBL. 227. Peet Er 2982:
“T will be in the van of the troops no longer,
For all that, Fergus kept his place in the van of the troops. | The four mighty provinces of Erin passed that night on Cul Silinne. The sharp, keen-edged anxiety for Cuchulain _ came upon Fergus and he warned the men of Erinto beon their guard, because there would come upon them the rapacious lion, and the doom of foes, the vanquisher of multitudes, and the chief of retainers, the mangler of great hosts, the hand that dispenseth * treasures,* and the flaming
ee we ie nc 1 and sout! Over other lands we str ray!’
Fergus: ‘‘ Medb, why art thou So. e: é
. There’s no treacherous purpose |
Ulster’s land it is, O queen, Over which I’ve led thy host ! Fy
Medb: “ Ailill, splendid with his hosts, 1 Fears thee lest thou should’st betray. 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 Pea Sualtach’s son, the Blacksmith’s Hound!” * ©
Medb: “ Ill of thee to wrong our host, : Fergus, son of Ross the Red ; ; a Much good hast thou found with us, ' Fergus, in thy banishment !”’
‘‘2Tf thou showest our foemen love, No more shalt thou lead our troops; a Haply someone else we’ll find q To direct us on our way!?” a
cried 4 “but do thou find another to go before them.”
>
2.--1 Reading with LU. and YBL. 252. * That is, Cuchulain. Reed Big. e482, 8...3 Stowe and Add.
~
ae Rail cerns: the one we fear. Praia Dia bide ox Nd ois (og _. _Murthemne’s great, deedful youth |” cain) Mints doth hig eT b: ‘ How so dear, this battle-rede, ) Ain ! tn Ze
_ Comes from thee,* Roig’s son most bold. * LL, fo. 58a. Men and arms have I enough huis 7,
io To attend Cuchulain here!”
V Berens ° : “ Thou shalt need them, Medb of Ai, Men and arms for battle hard, re With the grey steed’s* 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!”
Re _ 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* gloats upon. ¥ For the Blacksmith’s Hound will spill . Showers of blood on hosts of men!”
* MS.: Sualtach. : > Liath Mache (‘ the Roan of Macha ’), the name ot one of Cuchu- ____ lain’s two horses. tn ¢ That is, the goddess or fury of battle.
3 aye path So surrounded on a escaped. |
it was ie that pe them, uae’ ¢ Yi deer pa which? was the men of Erin’s share thereof, so that one division took all the eight score deer.
*Then they proceed to Mag Trega and they unyoke there k and prepare their food. It is said that it is there that Dubthach recited this stave :— | 4
sy 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!*
“There will come the chief of hosts,* War for Murthemne to wage. Ravens shall drink garden’s milk,* This the fruit of swineherds’ strife(?) ¢
“ Turfy Cron will hold them back, Keep them back from Murthemne,’ * Till the warriors’ work is done On Ochainé’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!’
1-61 LU, 195. 2...2 Stowe and Add. oe 3...3 Stowe and Add. 4 LU. 196. 4 * Literally, ‘ of Ailill’s } spouse,’ » That is, Cuchulain., i i ¢ A kenning for ‘ blood.’ oy * Referring to the two bulls, the Heiser 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 sore in Ivische Texte, iii, i, pp. 230-275) $5 TU, 198-205.
The March of the Host _ ao
‘** Battle they’ll have here eftsoon, Medb and one third of the host. _ Corpses will be scattered wide If the Wildman * come to you!”’
Then Nemain, 1the Badb to wit,! attacked them, and that was not the quietest of nights they had, with the noise of the churl, namely Dubthach, in their? sleep. Such fears he scattered amongst the host straightway, and he hurled a great stone at the throng till Medb came to check him, They continued their march then till they slept a night in Granard Tethba in the north,® * after the
_ host had made a circuitous way across sloughs and streams.?
It was on that same day, * after the coming of the warn- ing from Fergus* ‘to the Ulstermen,* that Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, >and Sualtaim® Sidech (‘of the Fairy Mound’), his father, * when they had received the warning from Fergus, ® came so near ?on their watch for the host? that their horses grazed in pasture round the pillar- stone on Ard Cuillenn (‘the Height of Cuillenn’). Sualtaim’s horses cropped the grass north of the pillar- stone close to the ground; Cuchulain’s cropped the grass south of the pillar-stone even to the ground and the bare stones. ‘“‘ Well, O master Sualtaim,’’ said Cuchulain; ‘“‘ the thought of the host is fixed sharp upon me 8 to-night,® so do thou depart for us with warnings to the men of Ulster, that they remain not in the smooth plains but that they betake themselves to the woods and wastes and steep glens of the province, if so they may keep out of the way of the men of Erin.” ‘And thou, lad, what wilt thou do?” “IT must go southwards to Temair to keep tryst with the
* Literally, ‘the Contorted one’; that is, Cuchulain. 1..-1 Gloss in YBL. 211; *‘ his’ Eg. 1782. 9-® YBL. and LU.206-215. With this passage Y BL. begins, fo.17a!
2...2 LU. 215. 3...3 LU. 218. Oe Re. 1782. 5.-.6 Sualtach, in LL. 68 Be, 1782. -
: T0002 Eg. 1782. %...6 TU. and YBL. 220,
| ai
‘LL fo. 5 8.b. Camp and on every march, at every ford and every river *
till morning.” ‘ « Alas, th : ‘such a journey,” 2 said Sualtaim, “ and leave [ men under the feet of their foes and their enemies sake of a tryst with a woman!” “For all that, ‘must go. For, an I go not, the troth of men will be for false and the promises of women held for true.” Sualtaim departed with warnings to the men of Ulster, Cuchulain strode into the wood, and there, with a single a blow, he lopped the prime sapling of an oak, root and top, ; ‘ and with only one foot and one hand and one eye he exerted _ himself; and he made a twig-ring thereof and set an ogam ® script on the plug of the ring, and set the ring round the narrow part of the pillar-stone on Ard (‘the Height’) of Cuillenn. He forced the ring till it reached the thick of the pillar-stone. Thereafter Cuchulain went his way to his tryst with the woman. | Touching the men of Erin, the account follows here : They came up to the pillar-stone at Ard Cuillenn, 3 which is called Crossa Coil to-day,* and they began looking out upon the province that was unknown to them, the province of Ulster. And two of Medb’s people went always before them in the van of the host, at every __
and every gap. They were wont to doso ‘that they might save the brooches and cushions and cloaks of the host, so that the dust of the multitude might not soil them* and that no stain might come on the princes’ raiment in the crowd or the crush of the hosts or the throng ;—these were the two sons of Nera, who was the son of Nuathar,
* “* Who was secretly as a concubine wath Cuchulain ’’ ; gloss in
a ie YBL. 222 and Eg. 1782. "1 Eg. 1782. -2 Stowe and Add. > The old kind of writing of the Irish,
3-3 Eg, 1782. 4.4 LU, and YBL. 245-246. |
Ese rrrrmrmro rr SSS ne
The March of the Host —~ 3I
5. son of Tacan, two sons of the house-stewards of Cruachan, _ Err and Innell, to wit. Fraech and Fochnam were the
names of their charioteers.
The nobles of Erin arrived at the pillar-stone and they there beheld the signs of the browsing of the horses, cropping around the pillar, and they looked close at the rude hoop which the royal hero had left behind about the pillar-stone. 1 Then sat they down to wait till the army should come, the while their musicians played to them.4 And Ailill took the withy in his hand and placed it in Fergus’ hand, and Fergus read the ogam script graven on the plug of the withy, and made known to the men of Erin what was the meaning of the ogam writing that was on it. * When Medb came, she asked, ‘‘ Why wait ye here?” ‘“‘ Because of yonder withy we wait,’’ Fergus made answer; “ 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 unto this, using only one hand and made of a single branch, and I except my master Fergus.’ Truly,” Fergus added, “it was Cuchulain threw it, and it was his steeds that grazed this plain.’’ And he placed the hoop in the hands of the druids,? and it is thus he began to recite and he pronounced a lay :—
“What bespeaks this withe to us, What purports its secret rede ?
And what number cast it here, Was it one man or a host ?
“Tf ye go past here this night, And bide not *one night * 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,‘ If ye go your way past this.
-1 LU. and YBL. 250.
“2 LU. and YBL. 252-258.
-’ Reading with Stowe, Add. and H. Pa & 4 Reading with LU. and YBL. 261.
et aS
i \ yy 4 7A druid speaks * 1; oe hag: ip nf Me a er:
vi man anak it wi
“With fierce rage the battle ‘eins Of the Smith’s Hound of Brat Bound to meet this madman’s rag ii 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!”
After that lay: ‘“‘I pledge you my word,” said Fergus, “if so ye set at naught yon withy and the royal hero that made it, ? and if ye go beyond * without passing a night’s camp and quarterage here, or until a man of you make a withy of like kind, using but one foot and one eye and one hand, even as he made it, ‘certain it is, whether ye be* under the ground or in a tight-shut house, > the man that wrote the ogam hereon ® will bring slaughter and blood- shed upon ye before the hour of rising on the morrow, if ye make light ofhim!” ‘‘ That, surely, would not be pleas- ing to us,” quoth Medb, ‘‘ that any one should *straight- way ® spill our blood or besmirch us red, now that we are come to this unknown province, even to the province of q Ulster. More pleasing would it be to us, to spill another’s | blood and redden him.” ‘“‘ Far be it from us to set this
-1 LU., marginal note. ° , The name of the festal hall of the kings of Ulster. Zoosk Eg. 1782. : 3.38 LU. 270. 4.--4 Reading with Stowe. $66 LU, 271, 6...6 LU. and YBL, 273.
The March of the Host pe ee
i withy at naught,” said Ailill, “nor shall we make little i ie of the royal hero that wrought it, rather will we a a to
_ Wood of the Dain’)! southwards till morning. There will __-we pitch our camp and quarters.”
Thereupon the hosts advanced, and as they went they felled the wood with their swords before their chariots, so that Slechta (‘the Hewn Road’) is still the by-name of that place where is Partraige Beca (‘the Lesser Partry’) south-west of Cenannas na Rig (‘ Kells ofthe aii! ) near Cul Sibrille.
2 According to other books, it is told as follows: After they had come to * Fidduin® they saw a chariot and therein a beautiful maiden. It is there that the conversation between Medb and Fedelm the seeress took place that we spoke of before, and it is after the answer she made to Medb that the 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 I cast
upon them in the wood.” ‘Then it is plough-land this shall be,’’ quoth Medb; ‘“‘ we will cut down the wood.” Now, this was done, so that this is the name of the place, Slechta, to wit.?
*They slept in Cul Sibrille, which is Cenannas.t A heavy snow fell on them that night, and so great it was that it reached to the shoulders * of the men and to the flanks of the horses and to the poles® of the chariots, so that all the provinces of Erin were one level plane from the snow. But no huts nor bothies nor tents did they set up that night, nor did they * prepare food nor drink, nor made they a meal nor repast. None of the men of Erin
--t A gloss in YBL. 274; found also in Eg. 1782.
2 YBL. 276-283. 8...3 * Redaduin,’ MS. 4-4 Eg. 1782. ‘Girdles,’ LU. and YBL. 284; ‘shields,’ Eg. 1782. ‘Wheels,’ LU. and YBL. 285 and Eg. 1782.
+ 8 w °
*LL. fo. 59.
Cul Sibrille. The four halo provinces ps Erin 2 m
early on the morrow ? with the rising of the bright-shin sun glistening on the snow? and marched on from. h part into another. :
Now, as regards Cuchulain: It was far from ‘Hela ear y q when he arose ? from his tryst. And then he ate a meal —
and took a repast, and * he remained until he had # washed q
himself and bathed on that day.
He called to his charioteer to lead out the horses a q yoke the chariot. The charioteer led out the horses and —
yoked the chariot, and Cuchulain mounted his chariot.
And they came on the track of the army. They found — _ the trail of the men of Erin leading past them from that part into another. ‘‘ Alas, O master Laeg,” cried Cuchu- © lain, ‘‘ by no good luck went we to our tryst with the woman — last night. ® Would that we had not gone thither nor © betrayed the Ultonians. This is the least that might be — looked for from him that keeps guard on the marches, a |
cry, or a shout, or an alarm, or to call, ‘Who goes the road?’ This it fell not unto us to say. The men of Erin
have gone past us, ® without warning, without complaint,® ;
into the land of Ulster.”” “I foretold thee that, O Cuchu-
——
SS
aa
lain,” said Laeg. ‘‘ Even though thou wentest to thy — woman-tryst “last night,” such a disgrace would come upon thee.” ‘‘ Good now, O Laeg, go thou for us on the — trail of the host and make an estimate of them, and dis-
-1 LU. and YBL. 287. 2...2 Reading with Stowe. -% LU. and YBL. 288. 4.4 LU. and YBL. 289. -5 LU. and YBL. 290.
--6 Stowe. 7...7 Stowe.
oanwe onl}, hea: Oe
—s
lied. | a“ Tt is Bat pc Ae that I hod ould ‘go, ” said Cuchulain. ‘‘Come into the ; as I will make a separa: of them.” The
4 “Not perplexed,’ answered Cuchulain ; 4“ it is easier for me than for thee. ®For I have three BD ticical virtues: Gift of sight, gift of understanding, and pe of reckoning.’ For I know the number wherewith _ the hosts went past us, namely, eighteen cantreds. Nay more: the eighteenth cantred has been distributed among _ the entire host of * the men of Erin, 7so that their num- 5 ber is not clear, namely, that of the cantred of Lein- a stermen.”7 *®This here is the third cunningest * and most difficult® reckoning that ever was made in Erin. _ These were: The reckoning by Cuchulain of the men of r Erin on the Tain, the reckoning by Lug Lamfota (‘ Long- hand’) of the host of the Fomorians 1 in the Battle of Moy- tura,?° and the reckoning by Incel of the host in the Hostel of Da Derga.® _ Now, many and divers were the magic virtues that were _ in Cuchulain™ that were inno one else in his day." Excel- - : lence of form, excellence of shape, excellence of build, ex- Teed LU. and YBL. 294-295. ?:--? LU. and YBL. 297. - 3-8 LU. and YBL. 297. « ‘4-4 LU. and YBL. 297-208. moee® LU. and YBL. 298-299. s...6 TU. and YBL. 302. 7" LU. and YBL. 302. 9...9 LU. fo. 58a, in the margin.
70...10 TU. fo. 58a, in the margin. 8...8 Stowe. a Stowe, and LU. fo. 58a, 24, marginal note.
the ford: because, even n though the Utstarmen: onde there, they would not kill the son of their own king. There- upon Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar’s son, set forth and this was the complement with which he went, ten hundred — in addition to twenty hundred armed men, to ascertain — what was at the ford. And when he was come, he saw naught save the fork in the middle of the ford, with four — heads upon it dripping their blood down along the stem of — the fork into the stream of the river, * and a writing in ogam on the side,? and the signs of the two horses and the ~ track of a single chariot-driver and the marks of a single warrior leading out of the ford going therefrom to the east- a ward. * By that time,? the nobles of Erin had 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 yonder heads those of our people? ’’ Medb asked. ‘“‘They are our people’s, and our chosen ones’,’”’ answered — Ailill, One of their men deciphered the ogam-writing that was on the side of the fork, to wit: ‘ A single man cast — this fork with but a single hand; and go ye not past it
till one man of you throw it with one hand, excepting Fer- gus.’* “‘ What name have ye men of Ulster for this ford till now, ehesate ?” asked Ailill. ‘‘ Ath Grenca,”* an- — swered Fergus; “and Ath Gabla (‘ Ford of the Fork’) shall : now be its name forever from this fork,” said Fergus. — 7 And he recited the lay :— .
1++1 Stowe. 2...2 TU. and YBL. 353. 8...3 LU, and YBL. 314. 4...4 LU. and YBL. 314-318. * So Stowe; LL. has ‘ Grena.’
a am Gree sat ‘ake rear Err’s head and Innell’s withal!
pyaans. And yon ogam on its side, Le Find, ye druids, in due form, rugs Who has set it upright there ? What host drove it in the ground?”
‘Which thou seest, ihre 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 * be its name for aye, From the fork that’s in the ford!’’
ane After’ the lay, spake Ailill: ‘‘I marvel and wonder, O _ Fergus, who could have sharpened the fork and slain with such speed the four that had gone out before us.” “‘ Fitter it were to marvel and wonder at him who with a single stroke lopped the fork which thou seest, root and top, pointed and charred it 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 the ground and that naught save one-third is above; nor was a hole first dug with his sword, but through a grey stone’s flag it was thrust, and thus it is geis for the men of Erin to proceed to the bed of this ford till one of ye pull out the fork with the tip of one hand, even as he erewhile drove it down.” “Thou art of our hosts, O Fergus,’ said Medb;
@ That is, Ath Gabla.
- *LL.fo.61a. ters and * scraps of the chariot. ‘Let another chari
a fork ‘hey ee sae "ae “bed of chariot be brought are cried Fer rgu a
a chant was brought to papar Ra “ng lai ] . * with a truly mighty grip * on the fork, and he made sp.
be brought me,” cried Fergus. * Another‘ chariot was
brought to Fergus, and Fergus made a tug at the fork and 4
again made fragments and splinters of the chariot, ° both its box and its yoke and its wheels.’ ‘‘ Again let a chariot -
be brought me,’’ cried Fergus. And Fergus exerted his — _ Strength on the fork, and made pieces and bits of the char- iot. There where the seventeen* chariots of the Con-
nachtmen’s chariots were, Fergus made pieces and bits of them all, and yet he failed to 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 been now engaged on this hosting, * by this time ¢ should
we have come to Ulster, driving divers spoils and cattle- —
herds with us. We wot wherefore thou workest all this, to delay and detain the host till the Ulstermen rise from their ‘ Pains’ and offer us battle, the battle of the Tain.”
“ Bring me a swift chariot,” cried Fergus. And his own chariot was brought to Fergus, and Fergus gave a tug at the fork, and nor wheel nor floor nor one of the chariot-poles creaked nor cracked. Even though it was with his strength and prowess that the one had driven it down, with his might and doughtiness the other drew it out,—the battle-champion, the gap-breaker of hundreds, the crushing sledge, the stone-of-battle for enemies, the
t-<48 OU. and baie 2 A 2...2 LU. and YBL. 324. -8 Stowe. 4 Stowe. ---5 Stowe,
¢ * Fourteen,”’ LU. and YBL. 325 va Eg. 1782 *-6 Stowe.
" ‘a 4
a
€ : plea butt re top.” 6 hal all a more | ‘ergus replied. And Fergus began to sing cial ot ae
lain,* and he made a lay thereon :—
i) “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 * 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,? *Neath Cuchulain’s baneful sword !
“No gain will their ® stout bull be, For which sharp-armed war will rage ; At the fall of each head’s skull Erin’s every tribe shall weep!
“‘T have nothing to relate As regards Dechtiré’s son.° Men and women hear the tale Of this fork, how it came here!”
After as lay: ‘‘ Let us pitch our booths and tents,’ said Ailill, ‘‘ and let us make ready food and drink, and let us sing songs and strike wR harps, and let us eat and
1..-1 Stowe. _ * Literally, ‘ painless,’ feferring to Cuchulain’s. exemption from the cess or ‘ debility’ of the Uistermen. | _ %-% Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.
> Translating from Stowe; LL. has ‘his’ or ‘ its. _¢ That is, Cuchulain.
3
*LL. fo. 61b.
cht : Let us give err to he pap of f folk
we go and let us hear somewhat of their deeds ae fa tales. ue i
ready * their food and drink, and songs: were sung wi a harping intoned by them, and feasting and eating =a 4 in, 2and they were told of the feats of Cuchulain.? ‘
And Ailill inquired of Fergus : “‘ Imarveland wonder who could have come to us to our lands and slain so quickly 4 the four that had gone out before us. Is it likely that — Conchobar son of Fachtna Fatach (‘the Mighty’), High King of Ulster, hascome to us?” “It is never likely that he has,” Fergus answered; ‘‘ 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. Forif he hadcome — hither * to the border of the land *, there would have come armies and troops and the pick of the men of Erin that are © with him. And even though against him in one and the — same place, and in one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the same hill were the men of Erin and Alba, Britons and Saxons, he would give them battle, before him they would break and it is not he that would be routed.”
“A question, then: Who would be like to have come to us? Is it like that Cuscraid 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 his honour. For were it ay that had come hither, there would have come the
-- LU. and YBL. 329-330. -2 LU. and YBL. 331. | 3-8 LU. and YBL. 333.
in er of Erin ces safle} peek a ane rah
_ give then battle, before him they would break ot he that would be routed.”
sk, , then, whether Eogan oo of Durthacht, King
i, would have come?” ‘‘In sooth, it is not
di ‘For, had he come hither, the pick of the men of
Sorsae would have come with him, battle he would give
o ponld he boisbedd “Task, then: Who would be likely to have come to us? Is it likely that he would have come, Celtchai son of q Uthechar?”’ ‘No more is it likely that it was he. A shame it would be to make light of him in his absence, him the battle-stone for the foes of the province, the head of all the retainers and the gate-of-battle of Ulster. And even should there be against him in one place and one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the same hill all the men of Erin from the west to the east, from the south to the north, battle he would give them, before him they would break and it is not he that would _ be routed.”’ “T ask, then: Who would be like to have come to us?”
- #asked Ailill.2 *“‘I know not,” Fergusreplied,* “ unless it be the little lad, my nursling and Conchobar’s. | ; a Cuchulain (‘the Wolf-dog of Culann the Smith’) he is | a called. ‘He is the one who could have done the deed,” answered Fergus. ‘Heit is who could have lopped the tree _ with one blow from its root, could have killed the four with the quickness wherewith they were killed and could have - come to the border with his charioteer.”’
| 1..-1Stowe. ?---?Stowe. %---?Stowe. 4:--4LU.and YBL. 337-340
SO a ae aa ‘ . ae Se as ee
ya ne
if Bi.
vt <a
a i
, {
t
om !
*LL. fo. 62a.
‘time Sian he was younger thal’ ni a sae 1 i. 0 fifth year he went in quest of warlike deeds am bi i lads of Emain Macha. In his sixth* year he went q learn skill in arms and feats with Scathach,? ? and he went _ to woo Emer ;? 4in his seventh® year he took arms; in 4 his seventeenth year he is at this time.’ * “How so!” exclaimed Medb. “Is there even now amongst the Ulster- a men one his equal in age that is more redoubtable thanhe?” ‘We have not found there'a man-at-arms that is harder,> Snor a point that is keener, more terrible nor quicker,* nor — a more bloodthirsty wolf,’ nor a raven more flesh-loving,? nor a wilder warrior, nor a match of his age that would iM reach to a third or a fourth * the likes of Cuchulain. Thou findest not there,’ Fergus went on, “a hero his peer, Snor _ q a lion that is fiercer, nor a plank of battle, nor a sledge of destruction, ® nor a gate of combat,® nor a doom of hosts, nor a contest of valour that would be of more worth than Cuchulain. Thou findest not there one that could equal his age and his growth, 1 his dress #° 1! and his terror, i his size and his splendour, ” his fame and his voice, his shape — } and his power,” his form and his speech, his strength and his feats and his valour, “his smiting, his heat and his anger,48 his dash, his assault and attack, his dealing of
1.-.1 Stowe. 2.2 LU. and YBL. se « ‘ Seventh,’ YBL. 344: -§ LU. and YBL.
4...4 LU. 346-347, and, similarly, VBL. Ai Eight, * ‘YBL. 5...5 LU. and YBL. 349. 6 LU. 349-350.
7.7 LU. and YBL. 350. 8-8 LU. and YBL. 351-352. 9 LU. and YBL. 352. 10...10 TU, and YBL. 354.
11...11 YBL. 354. #812 LU, and YBL. 355-356. 13---18 LU. and YBL. 356-357.
r — out eae tried men, ‘this young, mf 3 . of whom thou sport ra Ores 9! ‘We say
oe ig he was younger than he * now ® is,’
iw
- with Stowe, LU. and YBL. 359, which is more intel- L on each hair,’ which is the translation of LL. and YBL. 363. 7%? “That is not true,’ Stowe.
W. 865.
go to have last in the games on the play-field of Emain.
“Now this lad was reared in the ee of his father and mother at Dairgthech ! (‘ the Oak House’ (?)), namely, in i the plain of Murthemne, and the tales of the youths of Braise | weretoldto him. # For there are? always * thrice fifty oe at play there,’ said Fergus.2. ‘‘ Forasmuch as in this wise Conchobar passed his reign ever since he, the king, assumed his sovereignty, to wit: As soon as he arose, forthwith A a settling the cares 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 skill and of hurling; the next third of the day, a-playing draughts and chess, q and the last third a-feasting on meat and *a-quaffing* — q ale, till sleep possessed them all, the while minstrels and harpers lulled him to sleep. For all that I ama long time W in banishment because of him, I give my word,” said Fergus, “‘ there is not in Erin nor in Alba a warrior the ~ like of Conchobar.”’ qi
‘‘ And the lad was told the tales of the bee and the boy troop in Emain ; and the child said to his mother, he would
t he ; a
“‘ It is too soon for thee, little son,’”’ said his mother ; “ wait till there go with thee a champion of the champions of
1 Reading with LU. and YBL. 367. 2...2 LU. and YBL. 368-360. $3 Ee. 1782. 4---4 LU, and YBL. 371. i:
46
», Ulster, or some of the attendants of Conchobar to enjoin _ thy protection and thy safety on the boy-troop.” “I think it too long for that, my mother,”’ the little lad answered, “T will not wait for it. But do thou show me what place lies Emain 4 Macha.1”’ 2“ Northwards, there? ; it is far away from thee,’ said his mother, ‘‘ the place wherein it lies, * and the way is hard.* Sliab Fuait lies between thee and Emain.”’ “ At all hazards, I will essay it,’ he answered.
‘““The boy fared forth and took his playthings with him. 4 His little lath-shield 4 he took, and his hurley of bronze and his ball of silver; and he took his little javelin for throw- ing; and his toy-staff he took with its fire-hardened _____butt-end, and he began to shorten the length of his journey ___with them. He would give the ball a stroke * with the hurl-bat, so that he sent it a long distance from him. Then with a second throw he would cast his hurley so that it went a distance no shorter than the 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 and pick up the ball and snatch up the dart, and the stock of the toy-staff had not touched the ground when he caught its tip which was in the air.
‘“‘ 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 on the fair-green of Emain.
“The little lad went on to the play-field into the midst of the boys, and he whipped the ball between his two legs away from them, nor did he suffer it to travel higher up than the top of his knee, nor did he let it lower down than his ankle, and he drove it and held it between his two legs and not one of the boys was able to get a prod norastroke nor a blow nor a shot at it, so that he carried it over the
Bere® Re. 1752. 2...2 LU. and YBL. 376-377. $3 TU, and YBL. 377. 4-4 LU, and YBL. 380.
The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain 47
*LL. fo. 62b.
| -weetless thereof.+ tiecas
uv ope securing cde tied ms Hale f
“Then they all gazed upon him. “They Pantin marvelled. “ Come, boys!” cried Folloman, Conchol ‘s son, 2‘‘ the urchin insults us.2. Throw yourselves | all o1 yon fellow, and his death shall come at my hands ; for it is geis among you for any youth to come ‘into your game, e without first entrusting his safety to you. And do you all | attack him together, for we know that yon wight is some _ one of the heroes of Ulster; and they shall not make it _ their wont to break into your sports sehen first entrust- BS, ing their safety and protection to you.”
‘Thereupon they all set upon him together. They cast their thrice fifty hurl-bats at the poll of the boy’s head.
He raises his single toy-staff and wards off the thrice fifty hurlies, ?so that they neither hurt him nor harm him,’ ~4and he takes a load of them on his back. Then they throw their thrice fifty balls at the lad. He raises his upper arm and his forearm and the palms of his hands * against them ® and parries the thrice fifty balls, ® and he catches them, each single ball in his bosom. They throw at him the thrice fifty play-spears charred at the end. The boy raises his little lath-shield * against them’ and fends off the thrice fifty play-staffs, § and they all remain stuck in his lath-shield.§ ®Thereupon contortions took hold of him. Thou wouldst have weened it was a hammering wherewith each hair was hammered into his head, with such an uprising it rose. Thou wouldst have weened it was a
1.1 LU. and YBL. 382-384. #?---* LU. and YBL. 384-385. 3..-3 Stowe. 4---4 LU. and YBL. 391. 5.-.5 Stowe. 6...6 TU. and YBL. 380. 7...7 Stowe.
8
+8 LU. and YBL. 387. 9...9 TU. and YBL. 391-397.
————--
| The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain 49
i "spark of fire that was on every single hair there. He closed _ one of his eyes so that it was no wider than the eye of a
needle. He opened the other wide so that it was as big as the mouth of a mead-cup.? He stretched his mouth from his jaw-bones to his ears; he opened his mouth wide to his jaw so that his gullet was seen. The champion’s light rose up from his crown.®
“Tt was then he raninamong them. He scattered fifty king’s sons of them over the ground underneath him 1 before they got to the gate of Emain. 1 Five? of them,” Fergus continued, ‘“‘ dashed headlong between me and Conchobar, where we were playing chess, éven on Cennchaem (‘ Fair- head’) # the chessboard of Conchobar,? on the mound-seat of Emain. The little boy pursued them to cut them off. ’Then he sprang over the chessboard after the nine.* Conchobar seized the little lad by the wrists. ‘“‘ Hold, little boy. I see ’tis not gently thou dealest with the boy- band.” ‘Good reason [I have,” quoth the little lad. 4“ From home, from mother and father I came to play with them, and they have not been good to me.* I had not a guest’s honour at the hands of the boy-troop on my arrival,. for all that I came from far-away lands.” ‘‘ How is that ? Who art thou, * and what is thy name ? ” ® asked Concho- bar. ‘“‘ Little Setanta am I, son of Sualtaim. Son am [ to Dechtiré, thine own sister; and not through thee did IT expect to be thus agegrieved.’’ ‘‘ Howso, little one?” said Conchobar. ‘‘ Knewest thou not that it is forbidden among the boy-troop, that it is geis for them for any boy to approach them in their land without first claiming his protection fromthem?” ‘I knew it not,” said the lad.
* Or, ‘a wooden beaker,’ YBL. 395. 1...1 LU. and YBL. 308. > ‘Nine,’ LU. and YBL. 399 and Eg. 1782.
2...2 Stowe.
3-.-8 LU. and YBL. 400. 4..4 LU, and YBL. 403-404.
5...6 LU. and YBL, 405. *-9 LU. and YBL. 3901-397. E
Bias “upon you ithe paokection ee ie lit i indeed,” they made answer,
“The little lad went * 1 into the game again lur protection of the boy-troop. Thereupon they | hands from him, and once more he rushed amongst 2throughout the house.? He laid low fifty of their princes on the ground under him. Their fathers thought — it was death he had given them. That was it not, but | stunned they were with front-blows and mid-blows and long-blows. ‘‘ Hold!” cried Conchobar. “Why art — thou yet at them?” “I swear by my gods whom i worship ” (said the boy) ‘they shall all come under my ~ protection and shielding, as I have put myself under their 7 protection and shielding. Otherwise I shall not lighten my hands 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 and shielding. ;
“3 Then they all went back to the ac | and the boys whom he had overthrown there arose. Their nurses and tutors helped them.
““ Now, once upon a time,’’ continued Fergus, “when he was a gilla, he slept not in Emain Macha till morn- ing.”’ “‘ Tell me,’’ Conchobar said to him, “‘ why sleepest thou not ‘in Emain Macha, Cuchulain?’”* “TI sleep not, unless it be equally high at my head and my feet.” Then Conchobar had a pillar-stone set up at his head and another at his feet, and between them a bed apart was made for him. f
“ Another time a certain man went to wake him, and
1...1 Stowe. %--2 LU. and YBL. 410. 8-8 LU, and YBL. 413-481. 4.4 YBL,; 418.
The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain 51
t
| 4 the lad struck him with his fist in ! the neck or in the forehead, so that it drove in the front of his forehead on to
his brain and he overthrew the pillar-stone with his fore-
arm.” ‘It is known,” exclaimed Ailill, ‘‘ that that was
the fist of a champion and the arm of a hero.” ‘“ And from that time,’ continued Fergus, “‘no one durst wake him, so that he used to wake of himself.
“ Then, another time, he played ball on the play-field east of Emain, and he was alone on one side against the thrice fifty boys. He always worsted in every game in the east (?) in this way. Thereafter the lad began to use his fists on them, so that fifty boys of them died thereof. He took to flight then, till he took refuge under the cushion
of Conchobar’s couch. The Ulstermen 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 the couch and the thirty warriors that were on it withal, so that he bore it into the middle of the house. Straight- way the Ulstermen sat around him in the house. We settled it then,” continued Fergus, “‘and reconciled the boy-troop to him afterwards.
“The broil of war arose between Ulster and Eogan son of Durthacht. The Ulstermen go forth to the war. The lad Setanta is left behind asleep. The men of Ulster are beaten. Conchobarand Cuscraid Menn (‘ the Stammerer ’) of Macha are left on the field and many besides them. Their groans awaken the lad. Thereat he stretches him- self, so that the two stones are snapped that are near him. This took place in the presence of Bricriu yonder,” Fergus added. ‘‘ Then he gets up. I meet him at the door of the liss, I being severely wounded.. ‘“‘ Hey, God keep thy life,* O Fergus my master,” says he; ““where is Concho- bar?” “IT know not,’ I answer. Thereupon he goes
out. The night is dark. He makes for the battlefield,
deoed Eo, 1782; *¢ A Christian salutation.
They ae wiell one NTS ‘Cachet is paste hrown. — Then I heard something. It was Badb* from the corpses : a ‘Tl the stuff of a warrior that is there under the feet ofa phantom.” Thereat Cuchulain arises from underneath | him, and he strikes off his head with his playing-stick and Y | proceeds to drive the ball before him over the field of battle. — ‘‘Is my master Conchobar on this battle-field ? ” That . q one makes answer. He goes towards him, to where he — espies him in a ditch and the earth piled around him on © both sides to hide him. ‘‘ Wherefore art thou come to the battle-field ? ’’ Conchobar asks; ‘‘is it that thou mightst see mortal terror there?” Then Cuchulain lifts him out ~ of the ditch.. The six strong men of Ulster that were with us could not have lifted “him out more bravely. “Get thee before us to yonder house,” says Conchobar, !“to make me a fire there.” He kindles a great fire for him. “Good now,” quoth Conchobar,! “if one would bring me a roast pig, I would live.” ‘I will go fetch it,” says Cuchu- lain. Thereupon he sallies out, when he sees a man at a cooking-pit in the heart of the wood. One of his hands holds his weapons therein, the other roasts the pork. Tl-+ favoured, indeed, is the man. For the which, Cuchulain ~ attacks him and takes his head and his pig with him. Con- chobar eats the pig then. ‘“‘ Let us go to our house,” says Conchobar. They meet Cuscraid son of Conchobar and — there were heavy wounds on him. Cuchulain carries him — on his back. The three then proceed to Emain Macha. “Another time the Ulstermen were in their ‘ Pains.”
¢ The war-fury. 2.1 YBL. 461. es
\
( pg on ie one that silt e Ae 1 o nine men from the Isles of sini They
scream in the fort. The youths are in tiie play- field. | They come at the cry. When the boys catch sight of the swarthy men, they all take to flight save Cuchu- lain alone. He hurls the hand-stones and his playing-staff atthem. Heslays nine of them and they leave fifty wounds ‘on him and proceed thence on their journey.? | WR aes youngster did that deed,” Fergus continued, “ at the close of five years after his birth, when he overthrew the sons of champions and warriors at the very door of their liss and din. No need is there of wonder or surprise, ? if he should do great deeds,? if he should come to the con- fines of the land, if he should cut off the four-pronged fork, if he should slay one man or two men or three men or four men, when there are seventeen full years of him now on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge.”” 4 ‘‘ In sooth, then, we know that youth,” spoke out Conall Cernach (‘the Victorious ’), “ and it is all the better we should know him,
for he isa fosterling of our own.’’4
“a
1..-1 LU., edition of Strachan and O’Keeffe, page 19, note 23. 4... LU., and YBL. 413~481 ; see page 50. %+-2 Eg. 1782. #...4 LU. ‘and YBL. 484-485.
=
W. 956. THEN it was that Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar ‘
eh soit ehh ATCT tet Li hie ee" Peony ak sat? anh Katto ng
vet A Rare tu
VIIA
THE SLAYING OF THE SMITH’S HOUND BY _ CUCHULAIN, AND THE REASON HE IS CALLED CUCHULAIN
spake: “Again that little lad performed a second deed in the following year.”” ‘‘ What deed was that?” asked Ailill.
1“ A goodly smith there was in the land of Ulster, Culann the Smith, by name.1 He made ready a feast for Con- chobar and set out for Emain to invite him. He made known to him that only a few should come with him, that he should bring none but a true guest along, forasmuch as it was not a domain or lands of his own that he had, but *the fruit of his two hands,? his sledges and anvils, his fists and his tongs. Conchobar replied that only a few would go to him.
“Culann went back to the stithy to prepare and make ready meat and drink ?in readiness for the king.* Con- chobar sat in Emain till it was time to set out *for the feast,* till came the close of the day. The king put his fine, light travelling apparel about him, 'and went with fifty chariot-chiefs of those that were noblest and most illustrious of the heroes,> and betook him to the boys ® before starting,® to bid them farewell. 7’ It was always
1.1 Stowe. 2...2 LU and YBL 480. 3...8 Stowe. 4...4 Stowe. 5.5 LU. and YBL. 489-491. _—°---* Stowe.
54
68 his custom to visit and revisit them when going and coming,
to seek his blessing of the boys.? Conchobar came on to the fair-green, and he saw a thing that astounded him: Thrice fifty boys at one end of the green and a single boy at the other, and the single boy won the victory at the goal and at hurling from the thrice fifty boys. When it was at hole-play they were—a game of hole that used to be played on the fair-green of Emain—and it was their turn to drive and his to keep guard, he would catch the thrice fifty balls just outside of the hole, and not one went by him into the hole. When it was their turn to keep guard and his to drive, he would send the thrice fifty balls into the hole without fail, and the boys were unable to ward them off. When it was at tearing off each other’s garments
they played, he would strip off them their thrice fifty _
suits *so that they were quite naked,? and they were not able all of them to take as much as the brooch from his mantle. When it was at wrestling they were, he would throw those same thrice fifty boys to the ground under him, and they did not succeed all of them around him in lifting him up. Conchobar looked with wonder at the little lad. “O, ye youths,” cried * Conchobar. ‘‘ Hail to the land whence cometh the lad ye see, if the deeds of his manhood shall be such as are those of his boyhood!” “’Tis not just to speak thus,’ exclaimed Fergus; ‘“‘e’en as the little lad grows, so will his deeds of manhood grow with him.” ‘‘ The little lad shall be called to us, that he may come with us to enjoy the feast to which 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, *for thou art a guest.”% “Nay, but I will not go,” the little boy answered. ‘“‘ Howso?”’ asked Con-
7.7 LU. and YBL. 492—494. 1.1 LU. and YBL. 497. --2 LU. and YBL. 502. 3---3 LU, and YBL. 507
*LL, fo.63b.
ny psu thee till then, little boy, and by no meal wait.” ‘Go then before us,” said the little bo will follow after ye.” “ Thou knowest naught of the we little boy,” said Conchobar. “I will follow the t the company and of the horses and chariots.’ ‘f Thereafter Conchobar came to the house of Culann
honour, as befitted their rank and calling and stein | nobility andgentleaccomplishment. Strawandfreshrushes — were spread out under them. They commenced to carouse — and make merry. Culann inquired of Conchobar: “ Hast thou, O king, appointed any to come after thee this night to this din?” ‘“‘ No, I appointed no one,” replied Con- _ chobar, for he had forgotten the little lad whom he had ~ charged to come after him. “Why so?” asked Con- chobar. ‘‘ An excellent bloodhound have I, !that was brought from Spain.+ ? There are three* chains upon him, and three men at each chain. Because of our goods and © our cattle he is slipped 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 a circuit, and > he knows no one but myself. The power of hundreds is — in him for strength.”” Then spake Conchobar, “‘ Let the ~ din be opened for the ban-dog, that he may guard the cantred.”” The dog-chain is taken off the ban-dog, and — he makes a swift round of the cantred. And he comes to ~ the mound whereon he was wont to keep guard of the stead, y and there he was, his head couched on his paws, and wild, A untameable, furious, savage, ferocious, ready for fight was the dog that was there.
1...1 LU, 513. 2-.-2 LU, and YBL. 512-513. «- ‘four,’ Eg. 1782. .
a vie
~4
13. ‘‘Asforthe boys: They were in Emain until the time came _ forthem to disperse. Each of them went to the house of his father and mother, of his foster-mother and foster-father. : i _ Then the little lad went on the trail of the party, till he reached r the house of Culann the Smith. He began to shorten the way as he went with his play-things. 4He threw his ball and threw his club after it, so that it hit the ball. The one throw was no greater than the other. Then he threw his staff after them both, so that it reached the ball and the club before ever they fell. *Soon the lad came up.? When he was nigh to the green of the fort wherein were Culann and Conchobar, he threw all his play-things before him except only the ball. The watch-dog descried the lad and bayed at him, so that in all the countryside was heard the howl of the watch-hound. And not a division of feast- ing was what he was inclined to make of him, but to swallow him down at one gulp past the cavity * of his chest and *LL. fo, 64a, the width of his throat and the pipe of his breast. *% And it interfered not with the lad’s play, although the hound made for him.* And the lad had not with him any means of defence, but he hurled an unerring cast of the ball, so that it passed through the gullet of the watch-dog’s neck and carried the guts within him out through his back door, and he laid hold of the hound by the two legs and dashed him against a pillar-stone ‘ that was near him, so that every limb of him sprang apart,* so that he broke into bits all over the ground.* Conchobar heard the yelp of the ban-dog. *Conchobar and his people could not move; they weened they would not find the lad alive before them.® “ Alas, O warriors,’ cried Conchobar; “in no good luck
| tt LU. and YBL. 515-518. 2.2 LU. and YBL. 514.
| 3...3 LU. and YBL. 518-519. 4...4 LU. and YBL. 525.
| * 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 TU, and YBL. 519-521.
' * P Oa joe FEES
i hs one man, arose all the roiled men Por Uls ro a door of the hostel was thrown wide open, they all ru: the other direction out over the palings of the fortress.
and he lifted the little lad from the geonind on the abe of 4 his shoulder and bore him into the presence of Conchobar. 1They put him on Conchobar’s knee. A great alarm — arose amongst them that the king’s sister’s son should have __ been all but killed.1 And Culann came out, and he saw his slaughter-hound in many pieces. He felt his heart beating against his breast. Whereupon he went into the din. ‘‘ Welcome thy coming, little lad,” said Culann, “because of thy mother and father, but not welcome is thy coming for thine own sake. * Yet would that I had not made a feast.””2 “‘ What hast thou against thelad?”” _ queried Conchobar. ‘‘ Not luckily for me hast thou come to quaff my ale and to eat my food; for my substance is now a wealth gone to waste, and my livelihood is a livelihood lost *now after my dog.? ‘He hath kept honour and life for me.* Good was the friend thou hast 4 robbed me of, ® even my dog,® in that he tended my herds | and flocks and stock for me; *he was the protection of all our cattle, both afield and at home.” ® “‘ Be not angered thereat, O Culann my master,” said the little boy. 7“ It is no great matter,’ for I will pass a just judgement upon it.’ “What judgement thereon wilt thou pass, lad?” Conchobar asked. ‘“‘ If there is a whelp of the breed of that dog in Erin, he shall be reared by me till he be fit to do
1 LU. and YBL. 529-530. _ 24 LU, and YBL. 532.
1
8...8 Stowe, YBL. and LU. 533-534.
4---4 LU. and YBL. 334. 5-5 LU. and YBL. 535. 6
--§ LU. and YBL. 536. © 77 LU. and YBL. 537.
1049. business as was his sire. +Till then! myself will be the hound to protect his flocks and his cattle and his land ? and even himself * in the meanwhile. * And I will safeguard the whole plain of Murthemne, and no one will carry off flock nor herd without that I know it.” 3
««“ Well hast thou given judgement, little lad,”’ said Con- chobar. “In sooth, we ‘ ourselves * could not give one that would be better,” said Cathba.* ‘“‘ Why should it not be from this that thou shouldst take the name Cuchulain, (‘ Wolfhound of Culann’)?” ‘ Nay, then,” answered the lad; “‘ dearer to me mine own name, Setanta son of Sual- taim.’”’ ‘Say not so, lad,’’ Cathba continued; “for the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that name and the mouths of the men of Erin and Alba shall be full of that name !”’ “It pleaseth me so, whatever the name that is given me,”’ quoth the little lad. Hence the famous name that stuck to him, namely Cuchulain, after he had killed the hound that was Culann’s the Smith’s.
“A little lad did that deed,’ * added Cormac Conlongas «LL, fo. 64b son of Conchobar, ‘‘ when he had completed six years after his birth, when he slew the watch-dog that hosts nor companies dared not approach in the same cantred. No need would there be of wonder or of surprise if he should come to the edge of the marches, if he should cut off the four-pronged fork, if he should slay one man or two men or three men or four men, now when his seventeen years are completed on the Cattle-driving of Cualnge!”’
| 1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Literally, ‘ thyself,’ LU. and YBL. 539. 3... TU. and YBL. 540-541.
4...4 Stowe. « The name of Conchobar’s druid.
4 a he . ae a Senet @ LS tee W sa See JS Cae ft ee 3s Mea Sr ay 29 Stale SUNY REREAD ee
i, 1068.
F “> '& », ) ie wie: oe hat : AN, eek We} ate
the number that Cathba instructed.¢ 7One of them?
: ‘kw vsh wel rs Shag PASS ars ene Ce Ree oe Pee we \ ‘ niece he Mas Pero as CP ope Mery SR 2
VIIB
1 THE TAKING OF ARMS BY CUCHULAIN AND We D *THE SLAYING OF THE THREE SONS OF NECHT ~ _ SCENE IS NOW TOLD HERE? :
“Tue little lad performed a third deed in the follow : year,” said Fiachu son of Firaba. ‘“‘ What deed performed he?” asked Ailill. a “Cathba the druid was *with his son, namely Con-_ ‘ chobar son of Ness,* imparting ‘learning 4 to his pupils — in the north-east of Emain, and eight® * eager® com in the class of druidic cunning were with him. °® That is
questioned his teacher, what fortune and presage might there be for the day they were in, whether it was good or whether it was ill. Then spake Cathba: “ The little boy that takes arms * this day® shallbe splendidand renowned ~ ®for deeds of arms® above the youths of Erin “and — the tales of his high deeds shall be told 11 forever, but he shall be short-lived and fleeting.” Cuchulain overheard what he said, though far off at his play-feats south-west of Emain ; and he threw away all his play-things and hastened to Conchobar’s sleep-room 12to ask for arms.!* “ All
deer he. 5982. -2 LU. fo. 61a, in the margin.
$...3 LU. and VBL. . ee 4...4 Stowe.
@ ‘One hundred’ is the number ya LU. and YBL. 547. 5-5 LU. and YBL. 548. -6 LU. and YBL. 548. 77 Stowe. *..4 ‘LU, ane TEL. 550.
%...9 TU. and YBL. 551. 10 TU, and YBL. 551-552. 41.+11 Stowe. 12 LU, per YBL. 553.
60
bp ‘The Taking of Arms bi Cuchulain 6r fod sthcad thee, O king of the Fené!” cried the little lad.
_ “This greeting is the speech of one soliciting something of
some one. What wouldst 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 boy shook and brand-
ished the arms 1in the middle of the house! so that he
made small pieces and fragments of them. Conchobar gave him other two spears and ashieldandasword. Heshook and brandished, flourished and poised them, so that he shivered them into small pieces and fragments. There where were the fourteen* suits of arms which Conchobar had in Emain,
2in reserve in case of breaking of weapons or ? for equipping
the youths and the boys—to the end that whatever boy assumed arms, it might be Conchobar that gave him the equipment of battle, and the victory of cunning would be his thenceforward—even so, this little boy made splinters and fragments of them all.
““ Truly these arms here are not good,O Conchobar my master,’ the stripling cried. ‘‘ Herefrom cometh not what is worthy of me.’’ Conchobar gave him his own two spears and his shield and his sword. He shook and he brandished, he bent and he poised them so that tip touched butt, and he brake not the arms and they bore up against him, and he saluted the king whose arms they were.* “ Truly, these arms are good,” said the little boy; ‘they are suited to me. Hail to the king whose arms and equip- ment these are. Hail to the land whereout he is come!”’
‘Then Cathba the druid chanced to come into the tent, and what he said was, “‘ Hath he van @ taken arms?”
-- LU. and YBL. 557-
* “ Bifteen,’ LU. and YBL. 556; ‘seventeen,’ Stowe. 2 LU. and YBL. 557. 8-.-8 LU, and YBL. 559-560.
He went to Conchobar and said to him, ‘O Conchobar
bewitched Shean ts " peel Gunchtnr 2to Cuc “Ts it a lie thou hast told us?” * “ But be not wr ’ thereat, O my master Conchobar,” said the little boy oy. 4‘“*No lie have I told;* for yet is it he that advised ne, 5 when he taught his other pupils this morning.® For ti : pupil asked him what luck might lie in the day, and he said: <a The youth that took arms on this day would be illustrious — and famous, * that his name would be over the men of Erin — for ever, and that no evil result would be on him thereafter on" except that he would be fleeting and short-lived. ?To the - south of Emain I heard him, and then I came to thee.”? “ That I avow to betrue,” spake Cathba. *‘‘Good indeed — is the day,® glorious and renowned shalt thou be, — ®the one that taketh arms,® yet passing and short lived!” “Noble the gift!’’ cried Cuchulain. “‘ Little it recks me,° though I should be but one day and one night in the © world, if only the fame of me and of my deeds live after 4 me!”’ 7 «‘1 Another day one of them asked of the druids for what that day would be propitious. ‘‘ The one that mounts a chariot to-day,’’ Cathba answered, “his name will be re- nowned over Erin for ever.”” Now Cuchulain heard that.
iit le i on a
my master, give me a chariot!’’ He gave him a chariot.™
--1 Reading with Stowe, LU. ane Wao 563.
1.
2...2 TU. and YBL. 566. 3 Stowe.
4...4 LU. and YBL. 567. -5 LU. and YBL. 567.
$...6 Stowe. 7-7 LU. and vat. 568.
s...8 LU. and YBL. 569. 9... TU, and YBL. 570. a 10:9 Sadeasac sy S,- 11... LU, and YBL. 573-577. _
The Taking of Arms by Cuchulain 63
113. “Come, lad, mount the chariot, for this is the next thing
for thee.” i
“He mounted the chariot. 14He put his hands between the two poles of the chariot, and the first chariot he mounted withal he shook and tossed about him till he reduced it to splinters and fragments. He mounted the second chariot, so that he made small pieces and fragments of it in like manner. Further he made pieces of the third chariot. There where were the seventeen * chariots which Conchobar kept for the boy-troop and youths in Emain, the lad made small pieces and fragments of them and they did not withstand him. ‘‘ These chariots here are not good, O my master Conchobar,”’ said the little boy; ‘“‘ my merit cometh not fromthem.”” ‘‘ Where is Ibar® son of 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 the little boy mounted the chariot *and Conchobar’s charioteer with him.2 He shook the chariot about him, and it with- stood him, and he broke it not. “Truly this chariot is good,” cried the lad, “‘and this chariot is suited to me.” *The charioteer turned the chariot under him.? “Prithee, little boy,’”’ said Ibar, *‘‘come out* of the chariot now‘ and let the horses out on their pasture.” “It is yet too soon, O Ibar,” the lad arswered. 5° ‘‘ The horses are fair. I, too, am fair, their little lad.§ ¢ Only ° let us go on a circuit of Emain to-day 7and thou shalt have a reward therefor,’ to-day being my first day of
1-1 LU. and YBL. 578. ¢ “ Twelve,’ LU. and YBL. 579.
+ The name of Conchobar’s charioteer.
2 TU. and YBL. 580-581 and Eg. 1782.
3---8 LU, and YBL. 581.
¢ Following the emendation suggested by Strachan and O’Keeffe, page 23, note 21. - 4-4 LU. and YBL. 582. 5...6 LU. and YBL. 583.
$...6 TU. and YBL. 584. 7.7 LU. and YBL. 585.
answered. 1“‘ Ply the goad on the horses,” said he. “‘ What —
*LL. fo 65b.
W ! goodele now to their grazing, 0 little boy,’ is yet too soon, O Ibar,” the little lad answ
Ulstermen * and the province in dudgeon, he is there to ©
wey ‘Thrice Sie inal on |
keep on, that the boys may give me a blessing -d first day of my taking arms.” They kept their cour the place where the boys were. “Is it arms he yor has taken?” each one asked. “Of a truth, are they.” ‘May it be for victory, for first wounding and triumph, a But we deem it too soon for thee to take arms, because — 7 thou departest from us at the game-feats.” ‘“ By no — : means will I leave ye, but for luck I took arms this day.” “Now, little boy, leave the horses to their grazing,” — said Ibar. ‘“‘It is still too soon for that, O Ibar,” the lad
way, then?” the charioteer asked. ‘‘ As far as the road shall lead,” answered Cuchulain.t “And this great road winding by us, what way leads it ?”’ the ladasked. ‘“‘ What is that to thee?” Ibar answered. “‘ But thou art a plea- sant wight, I trow, little lad,” quoth Ibar. “I wish, fellow, to inquire about the high-road of the province, what stretch it goes?” “To Ath na Foraire (‘the Ford of Watching’) _ in Sliab Fuait it goes,” Ibar answered. ‘“‘ Wherefore is it called ‘ the Ford of Watching,’ knowest thou?” “Yea,I know it well,” Ibar made answer. ‘‘ Astout warrior of Ulster — is on watch and on guard there * every day,? so that there — come no strange youths into Ulster to challenge them to battle, and he is a champion to give battle in behalf of — the whole province. Likewise if men of song leave the ~
ie
Se a de
soothe them by proffering treasures and valuables, and so to save the honour of the province. sani if men of sore
1.1 LU. and YBL. 589-590. | 2...2 Stowe.
The Taking of Arms by Cuchulain 65
Se ice the land, he is the man that is their surety that they win the favour of Conchobar, so that songs and lays made for him will be the first to be sung after their arrival in ’Emain.”’ “ Knowest thou who is at the ford to-day?” “Yea, I know,” Ibar answered; ‘“‘ Conall Cernach (‘ the Triumphant ’), the heroic, warlike son of Amargin, royal champion of Erin,’ Ibar answered. ‘“‘ Thither guide us, fellow, that so we reach the ford.”
“Onwards they drove into sight of the ford where was. Conall. + Now it fell to Conall Cernach to guard the pro- vince that day. For each champion of Ulster spent his day on Sliab Fuait to protect him that came with a lay or to fight with a warrior, so that some one would be there to meet him, in order that none might come to Emain unperceived.t ‘‘ Are those arms he yonder has taken ?”’ asked Conall. “‘ Of atruth, arethey,” Ibar made answer. “‘ May it be for victory and for triumph and first wounding,” said Conall; ‘‘ but we think it too soon for thee to take arms, because thou art not yet capable of deeds. Were it surety he needed, he that should come hither,’ he continued, “so wouldst thou furnish a perfect warrant amongst the Ulstermen, and the nobles of the province would rise up to support thee in the contest.” “‘ What dost thou here, O Conall my master ?”’ asked the lad. ‘‘ Watch and ward of the province, lad, I keep here,’’ Conall made answer. “Do thou go home now, O master Conall,” said the lad, “and leave me the watch and guard of the province to keep here.” “Say not so, little son,’ replied Conall ; 2‘*’twould be enough, were it to protect one that came with a song ; were it to fight with a man, however, that is still too soon for thee? ; thou art not yet able to cope with a goodly warrior.” ‘‘ Then, will I keep on to the south,’
1...1 LU. and YBL. 592—596. 2...2 LU, and YBL. 599-601.
hay perchance I Fiaiy aedacgiar Eek wee riend or on day.” “TI will go, little boy,” said Condi “to se that thou go not alone ? into peril 2 on the border.” Not | so,” said the lad. ‘“‘ But I will go,” said Conall; “fora 1] ie | men of Ulster will blame me for leaving thee to go a the border.” ia “Conall’s horses were caught for him and his chavigt 4
was yoked and he set out to protect the little boy. When — Conall came up abreast of him, Cuchulain felt certain that, | even though a chance came to him, Conall would not permit _ him to use it. He picked up a hand-stone from the ground _ which was the full of his grasp. He hurled it from him 3 from his sling* the length of a stone-shot at the yoke of Conall’s chariot, so that he broke the chariot-collar*in two and thereby Conall fell to the ground, so that the nape of his neck went out from his shoulder. ‘‘ What have we here, boy?” asked Conall; 4“ why threwest thou thestone?’’* “‘ Itis I threw it to see if my cast be straight, or how I cast at all, or if I have the stuff of a warrior in me.” “A bane on thy cast and a bane on thyself as well. E’en though thou leavest thy head this time with thine enemies, I will go no further to protect thee.’’ ‘“‘’ITwas what I craved of thee,’’ answered he; “ for it is geis amongst you men of Ulster to proceed, after a mishap has befallen your chariots. 5®Go back ® *to Emain,* 7O Conall, and leave me here to keep watch.” ‘‘ That pleaseth me well,” re- plied Conall.? Conall turned back northwards again to the Ford of Watching. * Thereafter Conall Cernach went not past that place.®
i"
Ss
ae
I
q
1..-1 LU. and YBL. 603. 2...2Stowe. %---8 LU.and YBL. 604.
4 In LU. and YBL., ‘ the shaft of the chariot.’
4..4 LU. and YBL. 605-606. "5.5 LU. and YBL. 608. O5068 TS. OB, 7-7 LU. and blo 609-610.
s...8 LU. and YBL. 610.
“The Taking of pel by Cuchulan —s- 67
92 Bier ivf As for the little boy, he fared southwards to Fertas _ Locha Echtrann. He remained there till the end of the _ day 4and they found no one there before them. “If we _ dared tell thee, little boy,’ spoke Ibar, ‘‘ it were time for us to return to Emain * now; for dealing and carving *LL, fo. 66a. and dispensing of food is long since begun in Emain, and there is a place assigned for thee there. Every day it is appointed thee to sit between Conchobar’s feet, while for me there is naught but to tarry among the hostlers and tumblers of Conchobar’s household. *?For that reason,? methinks it is time to have a scramble* among them.”’ “Fetch then the horses for us.’”’ The charioteer fetched the horses and the lad mounted the chariot. ‘‘ 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 go and get there,” said Cuchulain. Then they go on till they reach it. * When they reached the mountain, Cuchulain asked,* ““ And what is that white cairn yonder on the height of the mountain ?’”’ “ And that is Finncharn (‘the White Cairn’) of Sliab Moduirn,” Ibar answered. “But yonder cairn is beautiful,” exclaimed the lad. “It surely is beautiful,” Ibar answered. ‘“‘ Lead on, fellow, till we reach yonder cairn.” ‘‘ Well, but thou art both a pleasant and tedious inquisitor, I see,’’ exclaimed Ibar; “but this is my first -journey and my first > time with - thee. It shall be my last time till the very day of doom, if once I get back to Emain.”
“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 am no wise acquainted with the land of my master Conchobar.”” The horseman
1...1 LU. and YBL. 612. 2...2 Stowe. « Or, more literally, ‘a clawing match.’ 3...3 LU. and YBL. 615-616. 4...4 TU, and YBL. 616.
5...5 Stowe.
: c oO Ibar,” exclaimed the little lad.
in Aas midair of the ti
angular, bordered and glenny Sn be: t ‘ “ Mag Breg,” replied Ibar. “‘ Tell. thou tome the build and forts of that plain.” The gilla taught him 4 the na every chief din between Temair and Cenannas,? Tema and Taltiu, Cletech and Cnogba and Brug (‘the Fort’) of - Mac ind Oc. *He pointed out to him then? the dan of the * three * sons of Necht Scené (‘the Fierce’): ¢ Foill and Fandall and Tuachall, their names;4 *Fer Ulli son of — i, Lugaid was their father, and Necht *from the mouth of the § Scené was their mother. Now the Ulstermen had slain their father; it was for that reason they were at war with Ulster.5 ‘‘ But are those not Necht’s sons, that boast that not more of the Ulstermen are alive than have fallen — at their hands?” ‘‘ The same, in sooth,’ answered the | gilla. ‘‘On with us to the dfn of the macNechta,” cried the little boy. ‘Alas, in truth, that thou sayest ’ quoth Ibar; 7“‘’tis a peril for us.”7 *®‘‘ Truly, not to avoid it do we go,”’ answered Cuchulain.§ ‘We know it is an act of great folly for us to say so, but whoever may go,” said Ibar, ‘‘ it will not be myself.’ “Living or dead, _ go there thou shalt,” the little boy cried. “’Tis alive L shall go to the south,” answered Ibar, ‘‘ and dead I shall be left at the din, I know, even at the dain of the mac- a Nechta.”’ 6 m “They push on to the din tand they uaa their horses in the place where the bog and the river meet south
1-1 LU, and YBL. 620. 2...2 LU. and YBL. 623. s...3 LU. and YBL. 623. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 624. s...5 LU, 623, marginal note. 6...6 LU, 623, gloss.
ue
“7 LU. and YBL. 627. $...6 LU. and YBL. 628.
and this i is the writing it bore ; ‘ Whoever
And we know thou shalt now get on this green the thing thou desirest, even the token of death, yea, of doom and destruction!” sons of Necht Scené to do that thing.* ‘‘ Good, O Ibar, spread the chariot-coverings and its skins for me that I may * snatch a little sleep.”” ‘‘ Woe is me, that thou say- est so,” answered the gilla; ‘“‘for a foeman’s land is this
and not a green for diversion.’”’ 4 And Cuchulain said to
for many.” ‘ The gilla arranged the chariot-coverings htt and its skins > under Cuchulain, and the lad fell asleep on the green.® .
‘Then came one of the macNechta on to the fair-green, to wit, Foill son of Necht. ®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. ‘“ Unyoke not
_ the horses, gilla,” cried Foill. ‘‘ I am not fain to, at all,” answered Ibar; ‘‘the reins and the lines are still in my hand.” ‘‘ Whose horses are those, then ?”’ Foill asked.
1-1 LU. and YBL. 629.: ;
2.4.2 LU. and YBL. 630. 3...3 LU. and YBL. 631. 4.4 LU, and YBL. 634-635. 5.5 Stowe.
s...6 LU, and YBL. 635-638.
. ~
OW essit was, and there was a writing in
€ to the green, if he be a champion, it is geis for a spina the oe without. sarbeie: ee to |
8 For it was the violation of a geis of the
*LL. fo. 66
the gilla, ““Do not awaken me for a few but awaken me
. ~ Thave of them. And what hath brought
~
arms amongst. us } to-day for luck and good O01 the horseboy answered, “‘ is come to the edges of the :
“Think sl to earn enmity,”’* Ibar said further to the a
5 )] 1
‘of the Paar |
to the borders?” “A tender youth that hi
to display his comeliness.” ‘“‘ May it not be for 4 y nor for triumph, “his first-taking of arms,” ? exclaim 1 Foill. °‘‘ Let him not stop in our land and let the horses not graze here any longer.? If I knew he was fit for deeds, _ it is dead he should go back northwards to Emain and a not alive!” “ In good sooth, he is not fit for deeds,” — i Ibar answered ; “it is by no means right to say it of him; ) : it is the seventh year since he was taken from the crib. _
warrior ; “‘and moreover the child sleepeth.” #
‘The little lad raised his face from the ground and drew his hand over his face, and he became as one crimson wheelball from his crown to the ground. 5“ Not a child am I, at all, but it is to seek battle with a man that this child here is come. Aye, but I am fit for deeds!” the lad cried. ‘¢*‘‘ That pleaseth me well,’ said the ~ champion ;* “but more like than what thou sayest, me- seemeth, thou art not fit for deeds.” ‘Thou wilt know that better if we go tothe ford. But, go fetch thy weapons, for I see it is in the guise of a churl thou art come, andI slay nor charioteers nor grooms nor folk without arms.” The man went apace after his arms. 7“ Now” thou shouldst have a care for us against yonder man *® that comes to meet thee,® little lad,” said Ibar. “And why so?” |
-1 Stowe. “2 LU. and YBL. O41. ** LU. and YBL. pay Ds “That is, the enmity of the Ulstermen by slaying Cuchulain, 4 LU. and YBL. 644-645. 5.5 LU. and YBL. 645-646. |
-6 LU. and YBL. 647. 7-7 LU. and YBL. 649. “8 LU. and YBL. 649.
eg eS ae
The Taking of Arms by Cuchulain 7
1262, asked the lad. ‘“‘ Foill son of Necht is the man thou seest. Neither points nor edges of weapons can harm him.” ‘“ Not before me shouldst thou say that, O Ibar,”’ quoth the lad. ‘TI will put my hand to the lath-trick for him, namely, to the apple of twice-melted iron, and it will light upon the disc of his shield and on the flat of his forehead, and it will carry away the size of an apple of his brain out through the back of his head, so that it will make a sieve-hole out- side of his head, till the light of the sky will be visible through his head.”
“Foill son of Necht came forth. Cuchulain took the lath-trick in hand for him and threw it from him the length of his cast, so that it lighted on the flat of his shield and on the front of his forehead and carried away the bulk of an apple of his brain out through the back of his head, so that it made a sieve-hole thereof outside of his head, till the light of the sky might be seen through his head. 4He went to him then ? and struck off the head from the trunk. * Thereafter he bore away his spoils and his head with him.?
““Then came the second son out on the green, * his name® Tuachall (‘ the Cunning’) son of Necht. “‘ Aha, I see thou wouldst boast ofthis deed,” quoth Tuachall. ‘In the first place I deemit no cause to boast for slaying one champion,”’ said Cuchulain; ‘‘thou shalt not boast of it this time, for thou shalt fallbymyhand.” “ Off with thee for thine arms, then, for ’tis not as a warrior thou art come.” The man rushed after hisarms. “‘Thoushouldst havea care for us against yon man, lad,” said Ibar. ‘‘ Howso?’”’ thelad asked. ‘‘Tua- chall son of Necht is the man thou beholdest. *And he is nowise miss-named, for he falls not by arms at all. Unless thou worstest him with the first blow or with the first shot or with the first touch,* thou wilt not worst him *LL. fo. 67a.
~ . deet LU. and YBL. 665. 2.2 LU. and YBL. 655. 3.4.3 Stowe. - 4...4 LU, and YBL.. 662-663.
iy his skill. on the men. _ Ulster if ‘will pal myih Conchobar’s well-tempered lance, on the Craisech — (‘the Venomous Lance’). *It will be an outlaw’s hand to him.? It will light on the shield over his belly, and it will crush through his ribs on the farther side after piercing his heart in his breast. That would be the smiting cast of — ‘ an enemy and not the friendliness of afellowcountryman!* From me he shall not get sick-nursing or care till the brink of doom.” Be
‘“‘Tuachall son of Necht came forth on the green, and the lad laid his hand on Conchobar’s lance against him, and it struck the shield above his belly and broke through the ribs on the farther side after piercing his heart within his breast. He struck off his head or ever it reached the ground. *% Thereafter Cuchulain carried off his head and his spoils with him to his own charioteer.®
“Then came the youngest of the sons forth on the green, namely, Fandall son of 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 findeth not bottom.’ Fandall rushed on to the pool. “Thou shouldst be wary for us of 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 the name Fandall (‘the Swallow’): like a swallow or weasel ® he courseth the sea ; the swimmers of the world
1 LU. and YBL. 651-652. #8 LU. and YBL. 653; probably a proverbial expression. * 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 sameclass as phe injured party, he was exempt from the law of compensation. -* LU. and YBL. 666. °* LU. and YBL. have ‘a swan.”
in our land, pin Sristes ‘the Callann / When ys freq uent it with, their games of sport and when si ‘is not beneath them, * if the surface is not reached m all LAT do carry a boy over it on either of my ian
i) even wet my skies under the weight Me them.”
_ “They met upon the water * and they engaged in wrest-
: rene upon it,* and the little boy closed his arms over Fan-
dal, so that the sea came up even with him, and he gave him a deft blow with Conchobar’s sword and chopped off his head from the trunk, and left the body to go down with the stream, and he carried off the head *and the spoils * with him.
“ Thereupon Cuchulain went into the din and pillaged the place and burned it so that its buildings were no higher than its walls. And they turned on their way to Sliab Fuait and carried the three heads of Necht’s sons with them. Soon Cuchulain heard the cry of their mother after them, of Necht Scené, namely.” 5 §¢® “Now I will not give over my spoils,” cried Cuchulain, “ till I reach Emain Macha.” Thereupon Cuchulain and Ibar set out for Emain Macha with their spoils. It was then Cuchulain spoke to his charioteer: ‘‘ Thou didst promise us a good run,’ said Cuchulain, ‘‘ and we need it now because of the
) storm and pursuit that is after us.” Forthwith they has-
ten to Sliab Fuait. Such was the speed of the course they held over Breg, after the urging of the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot overtook the wind and the birds in >
1-1 LU, and YBL. 657-658.
2...2 Stowe. That is, when the water is over their heads. 3.4.3 Stowe. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 661.
5.6 LU. and YBL. 667-668. 6...6 LU, and YBL. 669-679.
*LL. fo. 67.
_O Ibar, those nimble ones vyridler' ?” asked the |
i sr sey came 446" Sliab Fuait ° they es a wild deer before them. - What are those
they tame or are they other deer?” ‘ They are re deer, indeed,” Ibar answered; “herds of wild deer haunt the wastes of Sliab Fuait.’”’ 14‘‘ Which,” as Cuchulain, ‘‘ would the men of Ulster deem best, to bring them dead or alive?” ‘‘ More wonderful, alive,” an- swered the charioteer ; ‘‘ not every one can do it so; but dead, there is none of them cannot do it. Thou canst not do this, carry off any of them alive.” “Truly I can,” said Cuchulain.1 “ Ply the goad for us on the horses s into the bog,? to see can we take some of them.” The char- ioteer drove a goad into the horses. It was beyond the power of the king’s overfat steeds to keep up with the deer. — ‘ 8 Soon the horses stuck in the marsh. The lad got down = from the chariot and ‘as the fruit of his run and his race, in’ the morass which was around him,‘ he caught two of the — swift, stout deer. He fastened them to the back poles and — the bows and the thongs of the chariot. a ““ They continued their way to the mound-seat of Emain, — where they saw flocks of white swans flying by them, — si “What are those birds there, O Ibar?’”’ the lad wee ‘are yonder birds tame * or are they other birds?’ “In- — deed, they are real wild birds,’’ Ibar answered; * flocks P of swans are they that come from the rocks and crags and islands of the great sea bacon to feed on the plains and smooth spots of Erin.” ‘‘ Which would be stranger ® to 4 the Ulstermen,® O Ibar, for them to be fetched alive to — Emain or dead?” asked the lad. “Stranger far, alive,”
S6 LU. and YBL. 669-679. -1 LU. and YBL. 681-686. 2...2 TU. and YBL. 686. -3 LU. and YBL. 687. 4.-.4 Stowe. + LU. and YBL.. 692.
ew a ening shind at tea * wid he icaaaht
wn 1 of their number. ¢ With his return stroke
‘th 3 was done.* He fastened them to the hind poles.
a nd the bows and the thes § and the ropes and the traces. of the chariot.
agit aon Take the birds along with thee, O Ibar,” wed the |
added, “the wild deer will spring upon thee.”> “ I am in sore cage answered Ibar; “‘*I find it not easy to go.” ® “What may it be?” asked the lad. “Great cause have I. 7The horses have become wild, so that I cannot go by them.’ If I stir at all from where I am, the chariot’s iron wheels will cut me down ® because of their sharpness ® and because of the strength and the power and the might of the career of the horses. If I make any move, the horns of the deer will pierce and gore me, ® for
the horns of the stag have filled the whole space between
the two shafts of the chariot.”*® ‘‘ Ah, no true champion
art thou any longer, O Ibar,’’ 1° said the lad ; #9 11“ step thus. from his horn. "JI swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear,1? because of the look I shall give at the horses they will not depart from the straight way; at the look I shall give at the deer they will bend their heads.
in fear and awe of me; “they will not dare move,* and
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. «¢ ‘Seven,’ LU. and YBL. 695. a 8...3 Stowe. > ‘ Twelve,’.LU. and YBL. 696. : 4..4 LU. and YBL. 696-697. 5..-5 LU. and YBL. 698-699.
6...6 LU. and YBL. 699. 7-7 LU. and YBL. 700. --§ LU. and YBL. 702. - %...8 LU. and YBL. 703. +10 Stowe. 11...11 TU, and YBL. 703. +12 LU. and YBL. 704. 13...18 TU, and YBL. 706.
nn pendeseicd to Emain marae the sae deer | chariot, and’ the flock of swans flying over the same, a: the three heads of the sons of Necht Scené *and the jewe treasures and wealth of their enemies arranged e in chariot: 5 ub ‘? Thereupon 7 hey went on till 8 bravely, poldly battle-victoriously, boastingly, blade-redded,* they reache *the fair plain of Emain. It was then Lebarcham,” the watch in Emain Macha, !1!came forth and ™ discerned them, she, the daughter of Aue (‘ Ear’) and of Adarc (‘ Horn’) 122 and she hastened to Conchobar’s house, her eye restless in her head and her tongue faltering in her jaw? “A single chariot-fighter is here, 13coming towards Emain Macha,’ 3% | cried Lebarcham, ‘‘and his coming is 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 — him are wild, untamed deer, bound and fettered, shackled — and pinioned. And*I give my word,” if he be not attended — ‘to this night, blood will flow over Conchobar’s province ‘by him and™ the youths of Ulster will fall by his hand.” “We know him, that chariot-fighter,’”’ spake Conchobar ; “6 belike it is* the little gilla, my sister’s son, who went — to the edge of the marches !’ at the beginning of the day,” )
a8 LU. and YBL.' 70%. 2..-2 Stowe.
9.3 LU. and YBL...708. 4.-.4 Stowe.
5-5 LU. and YBL. 709-711. Sr OTE, West 9.
Wa de, oe LP wate) AR PIRe > MO
en? Eh2.. x9, 10...10 TU. and ‘YBL. 773. mth: Oe ke A 12-38, 2.0, : bas dthite hh: Ba: Oe cette <: PR ES 5
BS AP EL ol 7, De iid Maps, OM Sy
ro RP Tes 87
ie’ by tela of was iis ipsnetie abet saree to follow: to let.
out the womenfolk to meet the youth, namely, thrice fifty
women, even ten and seven-score bold, stark-naked women,
i at one and the same time, and their chieftainess, Scannlach
_ (‘the Wanton’) before them, to discover their persons and ee “ec ”? i iy their shame” ‘ap him. #“ Let the young women go,” said - Conchobar, ‘‘and bare their paps and their breasts and their swelling bosoms, and if he be a true warrior he will not withstand being bound, and he shall be placed in a vat of
cold water until hisanger go from him.” * Thereupon 3 the young women all*arose and *marched out,* and these are the: names of those queens: Sgamalus and Sgannlachand Sgiathan,. Feidlim and Deigtini Finnchas, and Finngheal and Fidniam and Niam, daughter of Celtchar son of Uthechar®; and they discovered their nakedness and all their shame to him. 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 turned his gaze on the chariot, that he might not see the nakedness or the shame of the women.’ Then the lad was lifted out of the chariot. He was placed in three vats of cold water to extinguish his. wrath ; and the first vat into which he. was put burst its
‘staves and its hoops like the cracking of nuts around him..
1-1 LU, and YBL. 715-718.
* To turn the left side was an insult and sign.of hostility. | ** Breasts, LU: and YBL. 720. *---? H. 2.17. 3-3 Hy 2, 97..
pore EE, 2, 17. &...5 A. 2. 17. 6...6 LU, and YBL. 720-721... > This exposure was a powerful magico-religious. symbol and-
- had a quasi-sacred or ritual character.
*LL, fo. 68a.
- feet of Conchobar, 4 and that was his couch ever after,4and
hate. = peperiertarlt “The
wrath went down. Py ake’ Bea
men might endure it and 0 ema ne
sa eho Ws « 4 Thereupon ne: ‘dutea out,! and his *festive ments were put on him * by Mugain ie” queens comeliness appeared on him* and he made a crimson wheel-ball of himself from his crown to the ground. 7A shout was raised at the bluish purple about him.? 8 Beaute ful then was the lad® *that was raised up in view.? — Seven toes he had to each of his two feet, and seven — fingers to each of his two hands, and seven pupils to — q each of his two kingly eyes, and seven gems of the ~ brilliance of the eye was each separate pupil. Four — spots of down on either of his two cheeks: a blue spot, a purple spot, a green spot, a yellow 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 face of the sun. A clear, white, shorn spot was upon him, as if a cow had licked it. A ?fair, laced green * mantle about him ; a silver pin therein 14over his white breast, so that the eyes of men could not look at it for its gleam and its brightness." A+? hooded # tunic of thread of gold about him. 138 A magnificent, fair-coloured, dark purple shield he bore, Two hard, five-pointed spears inhishand. A diadem of gold round his head 1% And the lad was seated between the two
Py ey = te eo Pee nae age we —- Sa es
the king began to stroke his close-shorn hair. |
1..-1 Stowe. 2..-2 Translating from Stowe and H. 2. 17.
aes8 FT 2. 34, 4...4 LU. ss YBL. 726.
5...5 Stowe. $...6 LU. 726
7-7 H.2.17. Thurneysen, Zeitschvift fir Celtische Philologie, Bd. VIII, S. 538, note 13, understands this to mean, ‘a bluish purple cloak was thrown around him.’ 8...8 Stowe and $1.2. 18 oy
a et Et. 2.17, 1-0 2.17. © Blue,’ LU. and YBL. 727 and Eg. 1782.
EES? x9: 12...13° LU, and’ YBL. 9727. oe 0, es
44...4¢, TU. and YBL. 728.
‘got their , or them. No ‘need hen j is ; ite oF onde », though he came to the border, though he 1 or two men or three men or four men, Sage |
af his shining eeord 2 when now are fulfilled his seventeen Z at the time of the Téin Bo Cfalnge.” =»
a lad that had done those deeds i in the time of his boyhood, _ it would be no wonder if he should do great deeds of valour in the time of his manhood.? , ih These, accordingly, are some of the youthful exploits of - Cuchulain on the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge, and the wh Prologue of the Tale, and the Names of the Roads and the March of the Host up to this Point. The Story proper is this which follows now.
1...1 LU. and YBL. 729-730. $0668) FT 2; F772 S-8 HL. 227
pene a4
. BELOW IS A. SEPARATE VERSION AS. | | SLAYING OF ORL AM
lain lopped off an oak that was bebobet hin § in that’ ‘habe al set an ogam-writing on its side. This is what was on i “That no one should pass by till a chariot-warrior with chariot should overleap it.’ by They pitch there their tents and sepia to ey beg the oak in their chariots. Thereat thirty horses fall and — thirty chariots are broken. Now, Belach Ané (‘the Pass — of Sport ’) is the name of that place forever. a They bide there till morning. Fraech ?son of Fidach® | % was summoned to them. ‘Help us, O Fraech,” spake — Medb ; “ deliver us from the strait we are in. Rise up for — us to meet Cuchulain, if perchance thou wilt fight him.” — Betimes in the morning, with nine men Fraech went out from thence till he arrived at Ath Fuait, when he saw the i ; youth Cuchulain bathing in the river. ‘‘ Bide here,” spake — ¥ Fraech to his people, “till I fight with yonder man ; he is” q not good in the water,” said he. He doffs his lathes and 4 goes into the water to meet him. “Come not before me,” — cried Cuchulain ; “‘ it shall be thy death and it would grieve — me to kill thee.” ‘‘ Nay, but I will go,” answered Fraech, — “so that we come together 4 in the water, and it behoves thee to engage with me.” ‘“‘ Settle that as seemeth thee good,” ii 1-1 LU. and YBL. 733-766. 2.2 YBL. 741. a : a | |
gain. 4 This feng,” ria Cuchulain, wledge that I saved thee?” “I will nswered. Cuchulain thrusts him under again, ch is ‘destroyed. Heis placed onthe ground. His oo body ?° with them 2° to the camp. Ath Fraeich
-
; Bi These women bear him into the fairy Su dinn, Sid Fraeich (‘Fraech’s Mound’) is the name of the Elf- te , - mound ever since.
Fergus leaps over the taleatanip in his %own® chariot 4and knocks off its head.4 5 According to another ver- sion,’ they proceed till they reach * Ath Meislir.6 Cuchulain destroys six of them there, namely, 7 Meislir e¢ vreliqua,* Sthe six Dungals of Irrus.®
They go thence to Fornocht. Medb had a whelp named Baiscné. Cuchulain made a cast at him, so that he struck off his head. Now, Druim (‘ Ridge’) is the name of that place ever after. Ny
® According to another version, however, it is there that the youth who was in the chariot by the side of Medb and the pet bird were slain by the casts, but, according to this version, that happened after the slaying of Orlam.®
19619 Eg. 1782, 2...2 VBL. 758. Bese Ne. 1762. 4-4 Eg. 1782. 6...8 YBL. 762. $...6 Reading with YBL. ‘ Ath Taiten,’ LU. 762.
-* YBL,. 763. &...6 LU. 763.
“1 LU. and YBL. 733-766 (see page 80). °*+-® YBL. 766-769.
eastwards over Cronn (‘the Round’), which is a mount: Cuchulain had gone out before them, till he came upon th charioteer of Orlam son of Aililla andof Medb. This was a1 Tamlacht Orlaim (‘Orlam’s Gravestone’) 1a little to the! north of Disert Lochaid (‘ Lochat’s Hermitage’). The charioteer ‘was engaged in cutting chariot-poles from a holly-tree in the wood. *But according to another version it is the © hind pole of Cuchulain’s chariot that was broken and it — was to cut a pole he had gone when Orlam’s charioteer came — 4 up.2 3 According to this version, it was the charioteer who 4 7 was cutting the pole.? — a 4Not long was the battle-victorious Hound there when he heardasound and an uproar.* ‘“‘ Behold, O Laeg,” cried _ Cuchulain ; “‘ 'who of the host of the foe have come into this - land to carry off a share of cattle and booty from the pre-— vince wherein they came?*® How bold are the ways of — the Ulstermen, if it be they that cut down the woods in this b> fashion in the face of the men of Erin. But, *check the horses and hold the chariot.6 Tarry thou here a little, tillI © _ know who cuts down the woods in this manner.” Then
1.01 LU. and YBL. 772, 9%? YBL. 773-775. 8.9 LU. 773-775:
408 W207, shite! = eae EG
7...7 Stowe. it
82
igs SA ara i a i a eI a Tia oe TP AS) aio bi ; bra? }
“ pre brat),
fa} ‘4 > Vid hoa Ji
| The ‘gldyine of Orlam ag is Basoe mia hie: thought he was one of the men of
J i
| f Ulster. 1 ‘What dost thou here, gilla ? ” asked Cuchulain. “Indeed, then,” answered the gilla, “I cut chariot-
__- yesterday in pursuit of that famous wildling, namely Cuchulain. And for thy manhood’s sake, young warrior, pray come to my aid, so that that famous Cuchulain come not upon me.” ‘Take thy choice, gilla,”’ said Cuchu-
lain, “‘to gather or to trim them, either.” ‘I will see to
gathering them, for it is easier,’ *the gilla answered.? Cuchulain started to cut the poles and he drew them be- tween the forks of his feet and his hands against their bends and their knots, so that he made them smooth and straight and slippery and trimmed; he polished them so that not even a midge could find footing thereon when he had passed them away from him. Then full sure the gilla gazed upon him. “Far then, meseems, from fitting is the task I put on thee. *And for love of thy valour,’ who art thou, say, O warrior? ’’ the gilla asked, + for he was sore affrighted.4 ‘“‘That same renowned Cuchulain am I of whom thou spakest °a while ago *® inthe morning.” ‘‘ Woe is me then, by reason of this,’’ cried the gilla; ‘‘ for this
am I lost forever.” * ®‘‘ Whence comest thou 7and who *LL. fo. 68b,
art thou??’’ Cuchulain asked. ‘“‘ Charioteer am I of Orlam, Ailill’s son and Medb’s,” * §said he.8 °® “‘ Fear nothing ;® I will not slay thee at all, boy,” said Cuchulain; “for I slay nor charioteers nor horseboys nor persons unarmed. But, prithee, where is thy master, !°gilla1°? ” ‘“‘ Over yon- der by the trench, 44with his back to the pillar-stone,!!”’ answered the gilla. ‘‘ Off with thee thither to him and bear him a warning that he be on his guard. For if we meet he shall fall by my hand.”
1-1 LU. and YBL. 777. 2...2 Stowe.
RR ET, 2. 27. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 786.’ eyes EE 2. 34, $6 LU. and YBL. 786-787. presage Nee eb ty o 8...8 LU. 787, 9-9 LU. and YBL. 789. PACE EE 2 29s pediment 2 ae yr by 6°
‘poles from this holm, because our chariots were broken
a!
head;-and' urietia it aloft gers | Erin, and he flourished it in the: presendsiat ¢ 5’Then he put the head on the chariotee: and said, ‘‘ Take this with thee, and so go to the pai Unless : thou goest so, a stone out of my sling will reach thee.”
When the charioteer came nigh to the camp he took) | q the head from his back and told his adventures to Ailill and Medb. “It is not tne same, this exploit and the catch- ing of birds,” quoth she. ‘‘ And he told me” (said the q boy), “ unless I brought it on my back to the camp, he would break my!head with a stone.” 5 Hence Leaca Orlaim (‘Orlam’s Flagstones ’) to the north of Disert Lochaid isthe name of the; place where he fell) Tamlachta (‘Grave- stones ’) is another name for it, and it is for this reason it is so called because of the little gravestones and the violent deaths which Cuchulain worked on it.”’ ®
UK ames 2-8 HL 2.'ry, Reve Ee, --4 Stowe, LU. and YBL. 792. -5 LU. and YBL. 793-799. Bre? FLEET
VIIA
1THE SLAYING OF THE THREE MacARACH :
W. 1425. THEN came the three macArach on to the ford at Ard
need
Ciannacht to encounter Cuchulain: Lon [(‘ Ousel’), Uala (‘ Pride’), and Diliu (‘ Deluge ’) ;—Meslir (‘ Lir’s Fosterling’), and Meslaoc (‘ Hero’s Fosterling ’), and Meslethain (‘ Lethan’s Fosterling’) were the names of their charioteers. This is why they came to engage with Cuchulain, for the deed he had done the day before they deemed past bearing, when the two sons of 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 displayed to the men of Erin, so that ? their desire was? to kill Cuchulain in the same manner * in revenge for him,* 4 and that they should be the ones to rid the host of that pest 4 and bring his head with them to set it aloft. They went into the wood and cut off three > great > white-hazel wood-strips (and put them) into the hands of their charioteers, so that the six 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 the macArach at the hands of Cuchulain, 6 because they observed not fair fight with 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 brains came out over his ears. Fertedil was his name. Hence it is not true that Cuchulain slew no chariot- eers. Albeit he slew them not without fault.®
1...1 H. 2.17, and, similarly, LU. fo. 64a,inthe margin. LU. reads
MacGarach. 2...2 Stowe. 3-3 LU. and YBL. 806. 4-4 TU. and YBL. 806-807. votre : OE & B 6-6 TU. and YBL. 808-812.
85
Yeas
1 THE COMBAT OF LETHAN AND CUCHULAIN * ane
W. 1439. _ THERE came also Lethan (‘the Broad ) tohis ford on the Nith | a
in the land of Conalle Murthemni, to fight with Cuchulain.
2 He was angered at what Cuchulain had wrought. 2 Hecame upon him at the ford. Ath Carpait (‘ Chariot-ford’) is the name of the ford where they fought, for their chariots were __
broken in the combat on the ford. It is there that Mulcha, 8Lethan’s charioteer,® fell on the ¢ shoulder of the * hill between the two fords, 5 for he had offered battle and com-
bat to Laeg son of Riangabair.> Hence it is called Guala
Mulchi (‘ Mulcha’s Shoulder ’) ever since. It is there, too, that Cuchulain and Lethan met, and Lethan fell at Cuchulain’s hands and he smote his head from his neck on the ford and left it therewith, that is, he left the head with the trunk. Wherefore the name of the ford ® of the Nith * was called Ath Lethain (‘ Lethain’s Ford’) ever since in the district of Conalle Murthemni.
Then came ?unto them’? the Crutti Cainbili (‘the Tuneful Harpers’), from Ess Ruaid in the north to amuse them, Sout of friendship for Ailill and Medb.* They opined it was to spy upon them *they were come® from Ulster. 1° When they came within sight of the camp of the men of Erin, fear, terror, and dread possessed them,?° and the hosts pur-
1...1 The superscription is taken from Stowe. WA
2-2 TU. and YBL. 837. 3-3 LU. and YBL. 841. ne 4 LU. and YBL. 841. Sehcaatt.< Vik Lae & 8..
-*° LU. and YBL. 839 and Stowe. Yen FEZ. 89. 8 H. 2.17. © © % Stowe. adenomas Oh She Sy os
86
ay ie i rl ntodd
YBL 835.-
2.2 LU, and
W. 1456.
-VItIe
1 THE KILLING OF THE SQUIRREL AND OF THE eo. TAME BIRD?
THEN Cuchulain made a threat *in Meth? that wherever he saw Medb he would cast astone at her and that it would — not go far from the side of her head. That he also fulfilled. __ In the place where he saw Medb west of the ford he casta stone from his sling at her, so that it killed the pet bird that was on her shoulder. Medb passed over the ford east- __ wards, and again he cast a stone from his slingathereastof the ford, so that it killed the tame squirrel that was on her shoulder. Hence the names of those places are still, Meide in Togmail (‘ Squirrel’s Neck’) and Meide ind Eoin (‘ Bird’s Neck’). And Ath Srethe (‘Ford of the Throw’) is the name of the ford over which Cuchulain cast the stone from his sling.
3 Then Reuin was drowned in his lake. Hence is Loch Reuin. ‘‘ Your companion is not afar off from you,” cried Ailill to the Mané. They stood up and looked around. When they sat down again, Cuchulain struck one of them so that his head was split. ‘“‘It is well it was thou hast essayed that; thy* mirth was not seemly,” quoth Mané the fool; ‘‘ it is I would have taken his head off.” Cuchu- lain flung a stone at him, so that his head was split. Thus
1..-1 The superscription is taken from LU. fo. 64a, in the margin. vy -2 LU. and YBL. 813.
8 LAD, and YBL. 820-831 and, partly, in Eg. iia @ Bessa your.’
88
Ae ao -
ha
‘
ying
| “till hogs come . to Cualnge. That man 1 will ae s of your host in this fashion.” 3
p ieee qT 1e a did the men of Erin deliberate about. going to
"ravage and lay waste Mag Breg and Meath and the plain of Conall and the land of Cuchulain; and it was in the
_ presence of Fergus macRoig they discussed it. _ The four grand provinces of Erin moved out on the morrow, and began to harry the plains of Breg and Mur- »
themne. And the sharp, keen-edged anxiety * for Cuchu- *LL, fo. 69 lain came over his fosterer Fergus. And he bade the men
of Erin be on their guard that night, for that Cuchulain
would come uponthem. And here again he sang in his
‘Praise, as we wrote it before,’ and he uttered the lay :—
“Tf 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® held his course,
Till he reached Armenia’s heights ; Battle dared he, past his wont,
And the Burnt-breasts ¢ 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!
* Garech,’ LU. and YBL. 827. Meoek FL 25.7: > See above, p.' 41. 454 TE; 2. S79: ¢ That is, Cuchulain. 4 That is, the Amazons. %% LU. and YBL. 820-831 and, partly, in Eg. 1782.
Bull 1) of (cals came into ds end of Marging to § ~ Culinn 1 and with him fifty heifers’ of the heifers ? of and there he was pawing and digging up the earth in 1 place, *in the land of Marginé, in Cualnge;* that is, he flung the turf over him with his heels. 4 While the hosts _ % | were marching over Mag Breg, Cuchulain in the mean- R while laid hands on their camps.4 It was on the same 4 day that the Morrigan, daughter of Ernmas, ‘the pro- phetess * of the fairy-folk, came *in the form of a bird,® — and she perched on the standing-stone in Temair of - Cualnge giving the Brown Bull of Cualnge warning ~ 7and lamentations? before the men of Erin. Then she began to address him and what she said was this: “Good, now, O luckless one, thou Brown Bull of Cualnge,’”” so spake the Morrigan; ‘‘ take heed; for the men of Erin Sare on thy track and seeking thee® and they will come upon thee, and °if thou art taken® they will carry thee away to their camp” like any ox on a raid, unless thou art on thy guard.’’ And she commenced to give warning to him in this fashion, ™ telling him he would be slain on the T4in, and she delivered this judgement“ and spake these words aloud : *—
“Knows not the restless Brown of the ony denelly *
1.1 LU. and YBL. 853. 2.-.2 Stowe. 8... LU. and baba 857. 4-4 LU, and Marat 842-843. 5.5 H. 2.17. 8-6 LU. and YBL. 844. “7 H. 2. 17.
Sigh Sas: a a °°? H. 2. 17. sicecatt sy Oe Pa hi « The following passage in ‘rose ’ is exceedingly difficult and obscure, and the translation given here is consequently incomplete and.
uncertain. 12...122 TU. and YBL. 846, and Stowe.
na. it tL
-Wee th of flowers’ ail cow- 1e raven—Dead the men—A tale of woe— r * on Cualnge evermore, to the death of mighty ; ‘ag looking on the death of kin!”
en | the Brown Bull of ae heard those words 2
of his heifers with him, * and his herdsman sroomenanisl him; Forgemen was the name of the cowherd.4 5 And he threw off the thrice fifty boys who were wont to play on _ his back and he destroyed two-thirds of the boys.5 This was one of the magic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge : Fifty heifers he would coverevery day. These calved before that same hour on the next day and such of them that calved not ®at the due time ® burst with the calves, because they could not suffer the begetting of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. One of the magic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge were the fifty * grown’ youths who engaged in games, ®who® on his fine back *found room® every evening to play draughts and assembly’ and leap- a ing; “he would not put them from him nor would +i ‘totter under them.!! Another of the magic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge was the hundred warriors
* The Morrigan, the Irish goddess of battle, most often appeared in the form of a raven.
1...1 Reading with H. 2. 17.
* Translating cloe, as puekestes by Windisch.
eh 2...2 Stowe. th 5 ee Ee i
aa 4-4 LU. and YBL. 3H, "and H. 2. 17.
fant 5...65 LU. and YBL. 855-856. _ 8 Stowe. ys 70.7 AH 2, 17. 8...8 FH. 2, I7. 9...9 H, 2. 17. | a + Apparently the name of some game. Ms HL. 2. TP
rks Ss DF:
to his haggard, his shed and his Byte ‘It was music enough and delight for a man in thenorth and inthe south, 1 int he east and the west,1 and in the middle of the cantred of Cualnge, the lowing he made at even as he came to haggard, his shed, and his byre. These, then, are some of] the magic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. |
Thereupon on the morrow the hosts proceeded among — the rocks and dunes of the land of Conalle Murthemni. — , *Cuchulain killed no one from Sailé (‘the Sea’) around — Dorthé in the land of Conalle, until he reached Cualnge. — At that time Cuchulain was in Cuincé, 2? that is a moun- — tain He had threatened that, where he would see Medb, he would hurl a stone at her head. It was not easy todo this, for it was thus Medb went, with half the host around her and their canopy of shields over her head. And Medb ordered a canopy of shields to be held over her head in order that Cuchulain might not strike her from the hills _ or hillocks or heights. Howbeit on that day, no killing nor attack came from Cuchulain upon the men of Erin, in the land of Murthemne among the rocks and dunes of Conalle Murthemni. .
Ayoek ET, 25 Ber, 2...2 LU. 860. 8...3 LU. and YBL. 858-863.
ara D NA
“<5
hd he by 1 THE SLAYING OF LOCHE4 ~~
putas if:
ha ma “Ob
Be. of four of the five grand provinces of Erin bide their time in Redé Loché in Cualnge and pitched camp ‘and took quarters therein for that night. Medb : i "bade her fair handmaiden from amongst her attendants to go for her to the river for water for drinking and washing. _ Loché was the name of the maiden. Thereupon Loché
__-went, and fifty * women in her train and the queen’s diadem
mn j of gold on her head. And Cuchulain *?espied them and
ae _ he? * put a stone on his sling and ® cast * a stone from his
4 staff 4sling at her, so that he broke the diadem of gold
ai in three pieces and killed the maiden on her plain. Thence
is Redé Loché (‘the Plain of Loché’) in Cualnge. For
si P Cuchulain had thought, for want of acquaintance and
1.1 LU. fo. 65a, in the margin. 2002 FT. 2. 17. 8...3 Stowe. &.5 LU. and YBL. 867-887.
93
____ knowledge, that it was Medb that was there. ne 5From Finnabair of Cualnge the hosts divided and set the country on fire. They gathered all their women and boys and girls and cattle in Cualnge together so that they all were in Finnabair. “Ye have not fared well,”’ quoth ---—- Medb; “I see not the bull amongst you.” “He is not in the land at all,” replied every one. . They summoned Lothar, the cowherd, to Medb. is the bull? ’’ she asked. “‘ I have great fear to tell,”
“Where, thinkest thou,
said
* ‘forty,’ H. 2. 17. 4...4 Hf, 2. 17.
tis ah) Bete in
*L.Lfo. 69b
they do accordingly. : Hence is the that glen. ch OES REE
Then they led the bull to Finnabair. ie the places the bull saw Lothar, the cowherd, he attacked him,
with his thrice fifty Hetners he thanked the: camp, ‘so. lat fifty warriors perished. Hence this is the Tragical Death of Lothar on the T4in 1 and the Finding of the Bull accord- ing to this version.! * Thereafter the bull went from them — away from the camp and they knew not whither he had : gone from them and they were ashamed. Medb asked the cowherd if he might know where the bull was. “ I. i trow he is in the wilds of Sliab Culinn.” 2. Then they turned — .
ia
back ravaging Cualnge and they found not the bull there.® a
-1 YBL. 882, which adds: ‘ We will not follow it further here’
2 LU., pdition of Strachan and O’Keeffe, page 34, note 16.
Sons (See page 93) LU. and YBL. 867-887.
i eg je Meath and Machaire Conaill (‘Conall’s Plain’) ___ and the land of Cualnge. It was then that the streams and m ¥) oe _ rivers of Conalle Murthemni rose to the tops of the trees, and i" _ the streams of the Cronn rose withal, until the hosts arrived at Glaiss Cruinn (‘Cronn’s Stream’). And they attempted the stream and failed to cross it* because of the size of its waves! ®so that they slept on its bank.’ And _Cluain Carpat (‘ Chariot-meadow’) is the name of the first Fics where they reached it. This is why Cluain Carpat _is the name of that place, because of the hundred ¢ chariots which the river carried away from them to the sea. Medb ordered her people that one of the warriors should go try the river. And *on the morrow® there arose a great, stout, 7 wonderful? warrior of the *particular® people rn ‘4 of Medb %and Ailill, Uala by name, and he took on his back a massy rock, to the end that Glaiss Cruinn might a not carry him back. And he went to essay the stream,
oye P vs
and the stream threw him back dead, lifeless, with his
; . 1..2 TU. fo. 65a, in the margin. appt: Cae Dee Y wast? FT. 2. T7. 4...4 Stowe. 5...5 LU, 887, a gloss. *H. 2. 17 has ‘ fifty charioteers.’ . > &-¢ LU. and YBL. 889. 7..7 LU. and YBL. 889. me? ET. 2. 27. my) ET a 89 20...10 HT, 2. 17.
95
"that he be lifted ? out of thr n _ Erin® and his grave dug ‘and his keen 1 ad raised over his grave,® so that it is thence (‘ Uala’s Stone’) *on the road near the stream bs 1 of Cualnge. A Cuchulain clung close to the hosts that day provoke cing them to encounter and combat. 7 Four and seven score © kings fell at his hands at that same stream,’ and he slew Bi a hundred of their ®armed,® *kinglike ® warriors around — q Roen and Roi, the two chroniclers of the Téin. 10 This is the reason the account of the Téin was lost and had to “aq be sought afterwards for so long a time.” oi Medb called upon her people to go meet Cuchulain in By encounter and combat 1 for the sake of the hosts.11 “It will not be I,” and “ It will not be I,” spake each and every one from his place. “No caitiff is due from my people. Even though one should be due, it is not I would go to os oppose Cuchulain, for no easy thing is it to do battle with him.”’ | 12 When they had failed to find the Donn Cualnge,” the hosts kept their way along the river 1% around the river Cronn to its source,!* being unable to cross it, till they reached the place where the river rises out of the moun- tains, and, had they wished it, they would have gone be- tween the river and the mountain, but Medb would not allow it, so they had to dig and hollow out the mountain
© ‘ ‘a
s
Beit Hs 2 7, 2...2 Stowe. od ol > Pay
4...4 Hi. 2. 17. w cain ie PH s...6 TU. and YBL. 8o1. o 7...7 LU. and YBL. goo. 8.8 Stowe and H, 2. 17. |) am ste MOS Se J yr
+10 Hf, 2,17; the story of the finding of the Tain is toldinthe I sabe na Tromdhaimhe (“ The Proceedings of the Great Bardic a Institution ’’), edited by Owen Connellan, in the Transactions of the Ossian Society, vol. v, 1857, pp. 103 He ‘a
-11 Stowe. Lo uted > OE Me yA “38 LU. and YBL. 893-
th h before them.? gata Beside’ (‘ ‘is foray of Medb and the Gap of the‘ Foray of another name for the place ever since, for it is ol the drove afterwards peeee) 8 There Cuchulain ed Cronn and Coemdele and... , mA _ The warriors of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and took quarters that night at Belat Aileain (‘the " Island’s Crossway’). Belat Aileain was its name up to _ then, but Glenn Tail (‘Glen of Shedding’) is henceforth i ss its name because of the abundance of curds and of milk Sand of new warm milk > which the droves of cattle and the flocks * of the land of Conalle and Murthemne * yielded there 7that night 7 for the men of Erin. And Liasa Liac ___ (‘Stone Sheds’) is another name for it *to this day,’ and a it is for this it bears that name, for it is there that the men of Erin raised cattle-stalls and byres for their herds and 4 droves * between Cualnge and Conalle.® Botha is still Ain another name for it, for the men of Erin erected bothies + and huts there.! . The four of the five grand provinces of Erin took ) up the march until they reached the Sechair “in the west on the morrow.!! Sechair was the name of the river hitherto; Glaiss Gatlaig (‘ Osier-water’) is its name henceforward. 12And Glaiss Gatlaig rose up against them.!2 Now this is the reason it had that name, for it was in osiers and ropes that the men of Erin brought
bisa 1..-1 TU, and YBL. 895.. 2...2 TU. and YBL. 896. ie 4-6 HY. 2. 17. 8...3 LU. and YBL. 898-899. Dy «8° Stowe. Prem Ee, By: 27s te50¥, BE, 2.: 37. ome &e8 EL 2, 17. 9...2 LU. and YBL. 909. 10---10 FT 2. 17. | ae M---1l FT 2, 17. 12...12 TU, and YBL. gro. a H
A te zh J
Pe IM
Ts ig es
is + THE HARRYING OF CUALNGE FOLLOWETH HERE ity BELOW *
t es 23 Astas every one had come with their spoils and they ey
were all gathered in Finnabair of Cualnge, Medb spake: “Let the camp be divided here,” said Medb; “ the foray cannot be caried on by a single road. Let Ailill with half his force go by Midluachair. We and Fergus will go by Bernas Bo Ulad (‘the Pass of the Cattle of Ulster’).” “Not fair is the part that has fallen to us of the force,” said Fergus; “‘the cattle cannot be driven over the moun- tain without dividing.” This then is done. Hence cometh > Bernas Bo Ulad (‘ the Pass of the Cattle of Ulster’).
Then spake Ailill to his charioteer Cuillius: ‘‘ Find out for me to-day Medb and Fergus. I wot not what hath led them to keep thus together. I would fain have a token from thee.” Cuillius went where Medb and Fergus wan- toned. The pair dallied behind while the warriors continued their march. Cuillius stole 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 the sheath empty. Then Cuillius betook himself to Ailill. ‘“‘ Well? ” said Ailill. “‘ Well, then,” replied *Cuillius;* “thou knowest the signification of this token. As thou hast thought,” continued Cuillius, “it is thus I discovered them,
1.1 LU. fo. 65b, in the margin. #--8 LU. 930. 2.2 LU. and YBL. 916-1197, omitting 1079-1091. 99
a tole Nip wit hie helen ie Le a the sword carefully by tt .” said Ailill ; + out d Der thy seat in the chariot and a sh sisi wrapped | wl ap? i When Fergus got up to take his Saar “ Alas!” cri¢ a he. “What aileth thee?” Medb asked. “An ill deed have I done Ailill,” said he. “ way thou here till I come 4 4 out of the wood,” said Fergus, “and wonder not though _ it be long till 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 he fashioned a sword froma tree inthe wood. Hence is Fid Mor Thruailli (‘ Great Scabbard-Wood’) in Ulster.
‘Let us hasten after our comrades,” said Fergus. The forces of all came together in the plain. They raised their tents. Fergus was summoned to Ailill for a game of chess. When Fergus entered the tent Ailill laughed at him.* |
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.” ‘“‘I swear by the gods,”’ said the charioteer, ‘‘ I will do a mighty feat in the eyes of chariot-fighters, in quick spurring-on of the slender steeds; with yokes of silver and golden wheels shall they be urged on (?) in triumph. Thou shalt ride before heads of kings. The steeds I guide will bring victory with their bounding.’ ‘‘ Take heed, O Laeg,’’ said Cuchulain ; ‘ hold the reins for the great triumph of Macha, that the horses drag thee not over the mass at the ... (?) of a woman.
¢ 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 etn just narrated and Fergus replies.
-Hacp
& an‘ opposed ‘them,* . Ils them back oom Martane,
. is Oe
Therewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the f; F | trees.
-- Mané son of Ailill and Medb marched in advance of oe, «:/ a iaicest. ~Cuchulain slew him on the ford and thirty horse- men of his people were drowned. Again Cuchulain laid ______ low twice sixteen warriors of theirs near the stream. The ___-warrors of Erin pitched their tents near the ford. Lugaid son of Nos 1 grandson of Lomarc?! Allcomach went to parley with Cuchulain. Thirty horsemen were with him. _ “Welcome to thee, O Lugaid,” cried Cuchulain. “Should a flock of birds graze upon the plain of Murthemne, thou shalt have a wild goose with halfthe other. Should fish come to the falls or to the bays, thou shalt have a salmon with as much again. Thou shalt have the three sprigs, even a sprig of cresses, a sprig of laver, and a sprig of sea-grass ; there will be a man to take thy place at the ford.” ‘‘ This welcome is truly meant,” replied Lugaid; “ the choice of people for the youth whom Idesire!”’ ‘‘ Splendid are your hosts,’ said Cuchulain. ‘‘ It will be no misfortune,” said Lugaid, “‘ for thee to stand up alone before them.” ‘“‘ True courage and valour have I,’ Cuchulain made answer. “ Lugaid, my master,’’ said Cuchulain, ‘‘ do the hosts fear | me?” “‘ By the god,” Lugaid made answer, ‘‘ I swear that ) no one man of them nor two men dares make water outside the camp unless twenty or thirty go with him.” “It will be something for them,” said Cuchulain, “‘if I begin to
* That is, the men of Erin. > That is, Cuchulain and Laeg. * See above, page 97. 1.61 LU. 1041.
cprided there be a hae be ecto eal tell my : Fergus that there shall be a token’ on the host. Tell. "4 leeches that there shall be a token on the host, and let ab them swear to preserve my life and ch them lita me i each night with provision.” ‘es | - Lugaid went from him. It happened that Fergus was a in the tent with Ailill. Lugaid called him out and reported — that (proposal of Cuchulain’ a to him. Then nine was heard : *
“T swear by the god, I cannot,” said 3 Fergus, “‘ ates I askthelad. Helpme, O Lugaid,” said Fergus. ‘“‘ Do thou go to him, to see whether Ailill with a division maycome tome tomycompany. Take him an oxwith salt pork andakeg of wine.” Thereupon Lugaid goes to Cuchulain and tells him that. ‘“‘’Tis the same to me whether he go,” said Cuchulain. Then the two hosts unite. Theyremain there till night, ¢or untilthey spend thirty nights there. Cuchulain destroyed thirty of their warriors with his sling. ‘‘ Your journeyings will be ill-starred,’”’ said Fergus (to Medb and Ailill) ; “the men of Ulster will come out of their ‘ Pains’ and will grind you down to the earth and the gravel. Evil is the battle-corner wherein we are.” He proceeds to 4 Cul Airthir (‘the Eastern Nook’). Cuchulain slays thirty of their heroes on Ath Duirn (‘ Ford of the Fist’). Now they could not reach Cul Airthir till night. Cuchulain killed
a
‘ _ = re a ae ee Eee ee a = %
1-1 Literally, ‘if there oppose me the strength of each single man.’ * The sense of this proposal of Ailill’s, omitted in the translation (EU, 1064-1069 and Eg. 1782), is not clear, -*S “ Lugaid,’ LU. 1069. a 4 YBL. 1075; but, ‘they would be twenty migiete there, as. ae books say,’ LU.
' ° , “
ni a »
( J o> oy : Dae 4 ¥ : « aie-T i A) See Ty . , ,
—W. 1603.
ARSE TET Bk
Geen Rah REP AN
L To ri ie OL
4 at,
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THE PROPOSALS
THE four grand provinces of Erin proceeded - till they ss q camp and took quarters in Druim En (‘ Birds’ Ridge’) in — 7 the land of Conalle Murthemni, ‘and they slept there ait 4
that night, ? as we said before,? and Cuchulain held himself — at Ferta Illergaib (‘ the Burial-mound on the Slopes’) hard by them that night, and he, Cuchulain, shook, brandished — and flourished his weapons that night. * Every night of © the three nights they were there he made casts from his sling at them, from Ochaine nearby,’ so that one hundred warriors of the host perished of fright and fear and dread of Cuchulain. 4“ Not long will our host endure in this
way with Cuchulain,” quoth Ailill’* Medb called upon ;
Fiachu son of Ferfebé of the Ulstermen to go parley with Cuchulain, to come to some terms with him. ‘“‘ What terms shall be given him?” asked Fiachu son of Ferfebé. ‘“‘ Not hard to answer,” Medb replied: ‘“‘ He shall be recom- pensed * for the loss of his lands and estates,® for whosoever has been slain of the Ulstermen, so that it be paid to him as the men of Erin adjudge ® according to the will of
the Ulstermen and of Fergus and of the nobles of the men a of Erin who are in this camp and encampment.* Enter- — tainment shall be his at all times in Cruachan; wine and ~
-1 LU. and YBL. 1097. 2...2 LU. and YBL. 1098. +3 LU. and YBL. 1100-1101. -4 LU. and YBL. I100-1102. mits Pay FIND 2 Fa ida des pe SN 7!
104
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AY vag
.
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EE SS RS . mene
x fon oe Oe ee 2 ed en ee ee ee ee eer ye} wh Ege De PRM Ferre [on ee MN ot! CR yO he ee pe, Sa “eS Pee eae at ie ¢ ee ra ed ee SF Ca | es oie : _ M ar ws] , = - ; ‘ ; een, * vi va, : f ‘ >
, The Proposals . 105 , W. 1614. mead shall be poured * out for him. 1 He shall have from *LL. fo. 70 the plain of Ai the equal of the plain of Murthemne and the ‘best - chariot that is in Ai and the equipment of twelve men. Offer, if it please him more, the plain wherein he was reared and thrice 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 lordling with whom he is, even of Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathatch.?
Accordingly this was the greatest word of scorn and insult spoken on the Cow-Raid of Cualnge, to make a lordling of the best king of a province in Erin, even of Con- chobar. |
Then came Fiachu son of Ferfebé to converse with Cuchulain. Cuchulain bade him welcome, ‘“*® Welcome thy coming and thine arrival, O Fiachu,” said Cuchulain.® “I regard that welcome as truly meant,” #said Fiachu. “Tt is truly meant for thee”’ replied Cuchulain®; “ and thou shalt have a night of hospitality this night.” ‘‘ Vic- tory and a blessing attend thee, O fosterling,” replied Fiachu. ‘‘Not for hospitality am I come, but® to parley with thee am I come from Medb, 7’and to bring thee terms.’”? ‘“‘ What hast thou brought with thee?” ‘‘ Thou shalt be recompensed for whatsoever was destroyed of Ulster which shall be paid thee as best the men of Erin adjudge. Entertainment shalt thou enjoy in Cruachan; wine and mead shall be poured out for thee and thou shalt enter the service of Ailill and Medb, for that is more seemly for thee than to be in the service of the lordling with whom thou art.” ‘“‘ Nay, ofatruth,” answered Cuchulain, ‘I would not sell my mother’s brother * for any other king!”’ “ Further,” ® continued Fiachu,® ‘“ that
1-1 LU. and YBL. 1103-1105. St Ph 2, P7. 3.3 A. 2. 17. Or ET. 2.29: $0068 FT. 2. F7. Ree ET) 2. X7. 7...7 Stowe. *¢ That is, Conchobar.
8...8 Stowe.
health with Cachulain sO IER atk? NE Accordingly, early on the morrow, Cuchulai for arn Fochaings: VTalleewise Medb and Fergus
“Wer spirit chafed her at bite, that day, for: no bigger than bulk of a stripling did he seem to her. “Is that yonde the renowned Cuchulain thou speakest of, O Fergus ? ” asked Medb, 2‘‘ of whom it is said amongst ye Ulstermen that there is not in Erin a warrior for whom he is nota 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 is not a match and mighty combat.’ And Medb began to address Fergus and she made 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 ye’ll not o’ercome This Hound from proud Murthemne ! Deeds he fears not—fierce and bright— This I know, if it be he!”
‘ Accost Cuchulain, O Fergus,” said Medb. ‘“‘ Nay, then,’” | ( 4 quoth Fergus, “‘ but do thou accost him thyself, for ye are not asunder here in the valley, in Glenn Fochaine.” —
1...1 Stowe. Reset TTS 2a hos
fi “Mea of Mur, he Mase's son, _ | _ No base arrant wight am I. | While I live I'll never cease Cualnge’s raid to harass sore {"
Valiant chief, tion Cualnge’s Hound ; Half thy cows, thy women, half, Thou shalt have * through ‘fear of thee!” 2
“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—? fair the cheer—* Counsel mine is little worth!”
Medb: ‘‘ Shame thou hast none for what thou sayest, O Dechtiré’s lordly ° son ! Famous are the terms for thee, _ O thou battling Culann’s Hound!”
When this lay was finished, Cuchulain accepted none of the terms which she had offered. In such wise they parted in the valley and withdrew in equal anger on the one side and on the other.
The warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and took quarters for three days and three
a nights at Druim En (‘ Birds’ Ridge’) in Conalle Murthemni, _ but neither huts nor tents did they set up, nor did they
1..-1 Stowe. * Literally, ‘ love.’ 2...2 Reading with H. 1. 13 and Stowe. b...b A cheville.
¢ Literally, ‘ richly trooped.’
‘ “*LL fo.” 70b.
ee iia warriors ; every oat ere ee iad h ou: on the morrow. ee aa
asked Ailill. ‘“ Let the cattle that have milk be given t a him and the captive women from amongst our booty. i And he on his side shall check his staff-sling from the men _ of Erin and give leave to me hosts to sleep, 1 even though — he slay them by day.” 1 ‘“ Who shall go with that pro- — posal? ’’ Ailill asked. ‘‘ Who,’ answered Medb, “ but macRoth the chief? runner!” ‘“ Nay, but I will not go,” — said macRoth, “for I am in no way experienced and — know not where Cuchulain may be, ?and even though I~ should meet him, I should not know him.*” “ Ask Fer- gus,” quoth Medb; “like enough he knows where he — Baers ee Nay, then, I know it not,” answered Fergus ; a “but I trow he is in the snow® between Fochain and the sea, taking the wind and the sun after his sleeplessness last night, killing and slaughtering the host single handed.” _ And so it truly was. ®Then on that errand to Delga mac- — Roth set forth, the messenger of Ailill and Medb. He it a is that circles Erin in one day. There it is that Fergus — opined that Cuchulain would be, in Delga.® a Heavy snow fell that night so that all the ? five’ prov- q inces of Erin were a white plane with the snow. And — Cuchulain doffed the seven-score waxed, boardlike tunics 4 which were used to be held under cords and strings next his — skin, in order that his sense might not be deranged when — 1...1 LU. and YBL. 1128. i
bien: Te Y Pama ceili oo ONL O06 HS roy eer 17. 6...6 TU, and YBL. 1109-1111. 7:7 Stowe. a
The Proposals. 10g.
09. the fit of his fury came on him. And the snow melted for _ thirty feet all around him, because of the intensity of the
warrior’s heat and the warmth of Cuchulain’s body. And the gilla tremained a good distance from him for het could not endure to remain near him because of the might of his rage and the warrior’s fury and the heat of his body. “A single warrior approacheth, O Cuchulain,”’ cried Laeg 2to Cuchulain.? “‘ What manner of warrior is he?” asked Cuchulain. ‘‘A brown, broad-faced, handsome. fellow: 3a yellow head of hair and a linen ornament round it *; a splendid, brown, * hooded * cloak, > with red ornamenta- tion,® 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-hazel dog- staff in one of his hands; a single-edged sword with orna- ments of walrus-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 to bring me message and offer of parley.”
Now was macRoth arrived at the place where Laeg was. “6 How now ®! What is thy title as vassal, O gilla ? ’’ mac- Roth asked. ‘“‘ Vassalam I to the youth up yonder,” the gilla made answer. MacRoth came to the place where Cuchulain was. 7? Cuchulain was sitting in the snow there up to his two hips with nothing about him . . . hismantle.? ““* How now *®! Whatis thy name as vassal, O warrior ? ’’ asked mac- Roth. ‘‘ Vassalam I toConchobarson of Fachtna Fathach, ®son of the High King of this province.’ ® ‘‘ Hast not some- thing, a name?’ more special than that?”’ “‘’Tis enough for the nonce,”’ answered Cuchulain. “‘ Haply, thou knowest where I might find that famous Cuchulain of whom the men
eel H. 2. 27. 2..-2 LU. and YBL. 1112. s---8 LU. and YBL. 1112. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 1113. s...6 LU. and YBL. 1114. 2 7 8 9
--7 LU. and YBL. 1116-1118. : - 2. 17. -® H. 2, 17. 10...10 LU. and YBL. 1120.
Seat To girreteers him am I com rt of aaky Medb, Soe -
for not sada is the thremitinden’ tie ean every eve upon them.” ‘Even though the one thou seekest really at hand, he would not accept the proposals th askest.”” ‘‘1How so, then,” said macRoth!; “for t Ulstermen, as amends for their honour and in repr isa : for injuries and satires and hindrances * and for | of troops and marauders,? will kill *for meat in the winter ? the milch-cows ye have captured, should they happen to have no yeld cattle. And, what is more, they will bring their bondwomen to bed to them, and thus will — grow up a base progeny on the side of the mothers in the — land of Ulster, ¢and loath I am to leave after me such a disgrace on the men of Ulster.* | -MacRoth went his way back to the camp of ba men of Erin to where Ailill and Medb and Fergus were.® ‘‘ What! Didst thou not find him?” Medb asked. “Verily, I know not, but® I found a surly, angry, hateful, wrathful gilla 7in the snow’? betwixt Fochain and thesea. Sooth to say, I know not if he were Cuchulain.” ‘‘ Hath he pa cepted these proposals *from thee? ”* “Nay then, he — hath not.” And macRoth related ® unto them all his — y answer,® the reason why he did not accept them. “It was \ he himself with whom thou spakest,”’ said Fergus. i, “‘ Another offer shall be made him,” said Medb. “What a) is the offer? ’’ asked Ailill. ‘“‘ There shall be given to hint a
ine cero or Palme
aes SE oe
Isl Hy 2. 17. 2.2 A, 2. 17, 3 LU. and YBL. 1135+ 4.4 H. 2. 17, 63 HT. 2. 17. prea: He Bee ig 4 Door? H. 2. 17. 8...8 Stowe. ; 9.4.8 Stowe.
~The Proposals | - 4II
oh la cattle wie: the noblest of the captive women of the booty, and his sig shall si checked from these hosts, for
: “a : Pevsting? “Who should go make this covenant ?” ‘said
_ they.1 “ Who but macRoth ? the king’s envoy,” 2 * said every one.* ‘“ Yea, I will go,” said macRoth, “ because this time I- know him.”’
4Thereupon* macRoth *arose and® came to parley with Cuchulain. “‘To parley with thee am I come this time *with other terms,® for I wis it is thou art the renowned Cuchulain.” “What hast thou brought with thee now?” 7Cuchulain asked.’ ‘‘ What is dry of the kine and what is noblest of the captives *shalt thou get,® and hold thy staff-sling * from the men of Erin and suffer the men of Erin to go to sleep, for not pleasant is the thunder- feat thou workest upon them every evening.” “I accept not that offer, because, as amends for their honour, the Ulstermen will kill the dry cattle. For the men of Ulster are honourable men and they would remain wholly without dry kine and milch-kine. They would bring their free women ye have captured to the querns and to the kneading- troughs and into bondage and °® other ® serfdom ?° besides.?° 11 This would be a disgrace.“ Loath I should be to leave after me this shame in Ulster, that slave-girls and bond- maids should be made of the daughters of kings and princes of Ulster.” “Is there any offer at all thou wilt accept this time?’”’ *said macRoth™® ‘‘ Aye, but there is,” answered Cuchulain. ‘‘ Then wilt thou tell me the offer ? ” asked macRoth. ‘‘ By my word,” Cuchulain made answer, “tis not I that will tell you.” “It is a question, then,” said macRoth. “If there be among you in the camp,” said Cuchulain, ‘‘ one that knows the terms I demand, let
cytat — Re See & | ena Ho 2, t7. *+% Stowe. mvt Th. 2. 39.
1 So 8 BE, 2. 1g, 08 FA. 2. 14. 7.+-7 Stowe. 8...8 Stowe. 9...9 Stowe. 10,,.10 Stowe. 11,,.11 H. 2. st, Be 12...12 H. 2. 17.
*LL. fo. 71a.
injunction, 8 ica; hasabeae: may ¢ come, it wil be th he c of his life!’’ | +R MacRoth came back Sto the camp: rae sation oft men of Erin, to where Ailill, Medb, and Fergus were,‘ and Medb asked his tidings. ‘‘ Didst thou find him?” } f sdb on asked. ‘‘In truth, I found him,’ macRoth replied. ay “Hath he accepted *the terms?” 5 ‘He hath not — accepted,” replied macRoth. ‘*How so;” said Ailill,* 4 “is there an offer he will accept?” ‘‘ There is one, he said,’ 7answered macRoth.”? “‘ Hath he made known ‘al wy thee this offer? ’’. “This is his word,’ said macRoth, “that he himself would not disclose it to ye.” “’Tisa question, then,’ said Medb. ‘‘ But” (macRoth con- tinued), ‘‘ should there be one in our midst that knows his terms, that one would tell it to me.”’ ‘Andifthere be not,” \ 8said Ailill. ‘And if there be not,” ® (answered macRoth), ‘let no one go seek him any more. But, there is one thing I promise ® thee,’’ ® said macRoth ; “‘ even though the kingdom of Erin were ? given me ?° for it, I for one would not go # on these same legs to that place" to parley with him — again,’ 2 18 “ Belike, Fergus knows,” quoth Ailill.* There- with Medb looked at Fergus. ‘‘ What are the terms yonder man demands, O Fergus?” Medb asked. 1“ I know what the man meant to disclose.“ I see no advantage at all for ye in the terms he demands,” Fergus replied. ““™But® what are those terms?” asked Medb. “‘1*Not difficult to say,” replied Fergus.* ‘That a single champion of
1... Stowe. sets SR 3...3 Stowe. .
ts: FE 2. 39. Bose® eM Ry ED, came 3 he
7..-7 Stowe and H. 2. 17. $...6 H. 2. 17. | 923" Shower 10...10 Stowe. 11...11 Stowe. 12...12 Stowe. 13...13 H. 2. i 2 vl 14..14 TU, and YBL. 1138. 16..-35 FY, 2. 17. | 26s6 2
; be iit Pike price of their healing. Whatever daughter of kings or of princes of the men of Erin shall love him, ye shall af __ bring her to him together with her purchase and bride-price.* ___ And further, Cuchulain’s food and clothing shall be pro- _ vided by you, °so long as he will be * on this expedition.’’ 6 «Good, O Fergus,’”’® asked Ailill,* 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.” ’ is “‘ By our conscience,”’ said Ailill, “ this isa grievous pro- posal.’”’ ‘‘ What he asks is good,” replied Medb; “and he shall obtain those terms, for we deem it easier to bear that he should have one of our warriors every day than a hundred every night.” ‘ Who will go and make known those terms to Cuchulain?’’ ‘‘ Who, then, but Fergus?” replied Medb. ‘®Come now, O Fergus,’’ said Medb; “take upon thee to fulfil and make good those terms to him.’ ® “Nevermore!” said Fergus. ‘“‘ Why not?” asked Ailill. “TJ fear ye will not make true and fulfil them for
1...1 Stowe. %e8 Th, 2. 17. 8.--8 LU. and YBL. 1140-1143. y 4...4 H, 2. 17. 5...5 Stowe and H. 2. 17. 606 Fi. 2. 17- Was (Medb,’ H.2.17.0 %--? H.2.17, %-® H. 2.17 Pt H. 2. 17
I
THE VIOLENT DEATH OF ETARCUMUL» RGUS’ horses were brought and his chariot was hitched and Fergus set forth on that errand. And two horses ere brought for Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn, a ‘soft youth of the people of Medb and of Ailill. * Now - Etarcumul followed Fergus. ‘‘ Whither goest thou?” _ Fergus demanded. “‘ We go with thee,’’ Etarcumul made answer. 4 “‘ And why goest thou with me? ” asked Fergus.* _ “ To behold the form and appearance of Cuchulain, and to _ gazeupon him, ® for heis unknown to me.”® “ Wilt thou do my bidding,” said Fergus, “ thou wilt in no wise go thither.” “Why shall I not, pray?’ ®“ I would not have thee go,” said Fergus; ‘‘ and it is not out of hatred of thee, only I should be loath to have combat between thee and Cuchu- lain.6 Thy light-heartedness, 7thy haughtiness and thy
_ pride? and thine overweeningness (I know), but (I also know) the fierceness and valour and hostility, the § violence and vehemence*® of the youth against whom thou goest, ®even Cuchulain.? And methinks ye will have contention before ye part. 1%°No good will come from your meeting.’’ 1
_ “ Art thounot able to come between us to protect me?” 1
1..14 LU. fo. 68a, in the margin. ?--? LU. and YBL. 1145. +83 LU. and YBL. 1145. ch uk es RO Shae 5 Cnn er cog: Mae Ree iP «8.6 LU. and YBL. 1147-1149. 7-7 LU. and YBL. 1149. | Wada Stowe. 9... LU. and YBL. 1150. 810 LU. and YBL. 1150. 11..42 HW, 2. 17.
yr Pe
115
*LL. fo. 71b.
‘of the chief mountains that are highest on a great plain ‘7
13 and I would liken to the battlements of one of the vast,
ped around him; a golden, ornamented brooch in the ©
“ah the" very ‘ae of doom !” rae | Betts Then they went their ways ?in ee chariots to I to come up to Cuchulain where Cuchulain was between Fochain and the sea. ‘There it is that he was that dé y, *) with his back to the pillar-stone at Crich Rois,‘ playir er | draughts with Laeg, > to wit, his charioteer.6 ® The bs c | of his head was turned towards them that approached a | be: Laeg faced them.* And not a “living? thing entered — the *entire® plain without Laeg perceiving it and, not- withstanding, he continued to win every other game of ‘. draughts from Cuchulain. ‘‘ A lone warrior cometh to- — wards us *over the plain,® 1%°my master? Cucuc,” spake Laeg.’ ‘‘ What manner of warrior ? ” queried Cuchulain. 11“ A fine, large chariot is there,’’ said he.44 12‘ But what sort of chariot?” 12 “As large as one ~
appears to me* the chariot that is under the warrior;
royal seats of the province the chariot that is in the trap- pings of those horses; *8 as large as one of the noble trees on a main fort’s green meseems the curly, tressed, fair- yellow, all-golden hair hanging loose around the man’s | head ; a purple mantle fringed with thread of gold 44 wrap- —
mantle 1° over his breast ; ® 16a bright-shining, hooded shirt, —
with red embroidery of red gold trussed up on his white — 1.1 LU. and YBL. 1152. Gg 2...2 Stowe and H. 2. 17. g 8..-3 LU. and YBL. 1153. ..6 Fy 2, Tg, A 5...5 TL., in the margin. ee L. at ‘YBL. 1154-1155. Vos EE Oo a cing = Stee = mm ag pe EBs 8 bh 10...10 H. 2. 17. 2. chs H. 2. rv: 12...12 H. 2. et 13...13 H. bs Be va My : 14...14 FT. 2, 17. 15...15 Stowe. 16...16 FT, 2, 37,
1e two thighs: 6 of the great acienn warrior it hin the chariot.*” | Holla! “Welcome the coming of this guest to us!”
i” cried Cuchulain. ‘We know the man; it is my master
ed ; Fergus that cometh hither. * Empty is the great paddle
that my master Fergus carries,” said Cuchulain; “ for
1 _ there is no sword in its sheath but a sword of wood. For
I have heard,’ Cuchulain continued, “that Ailill got a chance at him and Medb as they lay, and he took away Fergus’ sword from him and gave it to his charioteer to take care of, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath.” 7
‘“‘ Yet another single chariot-fighter I see coming towards us. With fulness of skill and beauty and splendour his horses speed.’ * A young, tender gilla in armour is in the chariot.” “‘ One ofthe youths of the men of Erin is he, O my master Laeg,”’ responded Cuchulain. ‘“‘To scan my appearance and form is that man come, for I am renowned amongst them in the midst of their camp, °and they know me not at all.’”’®
Fergus came up 1°to where Cuchulain was ! and he sprang from the chariot, and Cuchulain bade him “a hearty welcome. 12 ‘‘ Welcome to thine arrival and thy coming,
-O my master Fergus!” cried Cuchulain ; “and a night’s
* Some part of the spear. 1-1 LU. and YBL. 1159. 2.2 LU, and YBL. 1158. eu ae Pee
4..-4 Following erect Nag RT of the text.
Se? H. 2. 17. -6 LU. and YBL. 1160.
7-7 LU. and YBL. Bees Set EE, ae 17. eek. 2.17. 10...10 Stowe. ae ” Sie eb te 12,..12 H. 2. 17.
the sand 4 artaruarde 4 If foil ae a oe or comba ’ with warrior before thee,> I myself will go in thy ste: to the ford. &I will bear the fight that thou mayes return safe to the camp and the fort of the men of Erin on the morrow,® 7 and thou shalt lie on a litter of fresh rushes till heavy sleep and slumber come on thee,’ * and i I will watch and guard thee as long as thou sleepest.’’® — “Well, then, ® mayest thou have victory and blessing, O — fosterling,’’ said Fergus.? “‘ We know of what sort is thy — hospitality on this occasion, on the Cow-spoil of Cualnge. 10 But, not to claim that are we come,!° “a night’s hospital- ity of thee, but to fulfil and make good the terms thou askest.11_ As for this compact which thou hast asked of © the men of Erin, single-handed combat with one man, — thou shalt have it. It is for that I am come, to bind © thee thereto, and do thou take it upon thee.” ‘I pledge myself truly,” said Cuchulain, ™ provided fair play and single-handed combat be granted to me.¥ ‘‘ And O, my — master Fergus, *do thou take upon thee the pact,” said } Cuchulain. ‘‘I bind myself to it,’ replied Fergus.44
ReoR EL 2a) amd: Seen Stowe.
maida «OBL FED ty 2 -s LU. and YBL. ge and H. 2, vy ered FE a, 89, obits See NGS oy hs WU Sib 5, A
ett HV Seah: yd 8...8 Reading with Stowe,
dca: Sie Sine oy 10...10 Stowe, DAs athy Ea me
aad Nb 3 YR AR By A diane oe ue Aa
ts Hed’ behind | gazing ray a parti tind pre is At what starest thou, gilla?’’ asked sid I look at thee,” said Etarcumul. si ine
ee is no need of Hediaton thine eye for that ; riot ‘ far from thee within sight, thine eye seeth what is not smaller than I nor bigger. If thou but knewest 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 as thou art; a comely, *shapely,? wonderful, beautiful youth thou art, with brilliant, striking, various feats. Yet as for rating thee © where goodly warriors are or forward youths or heroes of bravery or sledges of destruction, we count thee not nor consider thee at all. *I know not why thou shouldst be feared by any one. I behold nothing of terror or fearfulness or of the overpowering of a host in thee. So, a comely. youth with arms of wood and with showy feats is all thou art!*’$ 4° Though thou revilest me,” * said Cuchulain, “‘itisa surety for thee that thou camest from the camp under the protection of Fergus, 5 as thou well knowest.' For the rest, I swear by my gods whom I worship, were it not for the honour of Fergus, it would be only bits of thy bones and shreds of thy limbs, *thy reins drawn and thy quarters scattered * that would be brought back to the camp 7 behind thy horses and chariot!’’? ‘‘ But threaten me no longer
1...1 Reading with H. 2. 17. 2...2 Stowe.
3 LU. and YBL. 1178-1180. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 1181. 5..-5 Stowe; LL. reads * Iknow.’ ®&---6 LU. and YBL. 1182-1183. ans ae H. 2. 17.
on the Plunder of the Hine of Cualnge and neither will ey -
*LL. fo. 724.
| aay self aes come pitas 6 at morn’ Ss e 1
the ford ® to attack thee.” Si ME sii nee
fly before thee!’’ § a
Etarcumul returned ° from Metha bind Cethé,® andl “ah began to talk with his driver. ‘‘ I must needs fight with Cuchulain to-morrow, gilla,” said Etarcumul,! “for I gave my word to go.’ ‘’Tis true, thou didst,” quoth the chariot- | q
eer.* ‘‘ Howbeit, I know not wilt thou fulfil it.’ “But what is better “ for us," to fulfil it to-morrow or forthwith to- night?’’ “‘To our thinking,” said the gilla, “‘ albeit no victory is to be won by fighting to-morrow, there is still less to be gained by fighting to-night, for thy combat “and hurt ® is the nearer.” ‘‘18Be that as it may,” said he2*; “turn the 14horses and™ chariot back again % from the hill #* for us, gilla, 4° till we go to the ford of combat,!* for I swear bythe gods whom I worship, I will not return 1” to the camp ” till the end of life and time, till I bring with me the head of that young wildling, even 1® the head-of Cuchulain, for a trophy ! bt
The charioteer wheeled the lasiat again towards the
Mik SA, 2, XY 2-2 Stowe. 838 LU. and YBL. 1185. CAEL. 2g. catego CUS NR ada = eM 7.2.7 H. 2. 17. -8 H. 2. 17. %..8 LU. and VEL. 1188. 10...10 Stowe. i. MRR Sie Me ed sausiatibaaeN os. fue 6 - 18...18 H. 2. 17, 14-14 FT 2, 17, 26...15' TU. :and YBL. 1190. vegidanall = Cae Vie
bbe APE Stowe. 18,,.18 Stowe.
ee Te It i is Biasosorl fo) Odile 2] owe no refusal,? but =
combat o Ana aw ICKE is his coming, hepa of ithe b ee of my foster-father > Fergus® under whom a he came forth from the camp “of the men of Erin. But
2 not that I would protect him do I thus. Fetch me my arms, gilla, to the ford. 7’Bring me my horse and my
chariot after me.? I deem it no honour for myself if Vat Sthe fellow® reaches the ford before me.” And straight- e's way Cuchulain betook himself to the ford, and he bared __ his sword over his fair, well-knit spalls and he was ready ae on the ford to await Etarcumul.
Then, too, came Etarcumul. ‘‘ What seekest thou, gilla? ”’ demanded Cuchulain. ‘‘ Battle with thee I seek,” replied Etarcumul. ‘‘ Hadst thou been advised by me,” said Cuchulain, ‘thou wouldst never have come. °I do not desire what thou demandest of me.® I have no thought of fighting or contending with thee, Etarcumul.” Because of the honour of Fergus under whom thou camest out of the camp “and station of the men of Erin," and not because I would spare thee, do I behave thus.” 12 “ Thou hast no choice but to fight,” replied Etarcumul.?2 Thereupon Cuchulain gave him a long-blow whereby
| e 4 sign of hostility and an insult.
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 TU. and YBL. 1101.
| $...3 LU. and YBL. 1192. 4...4 Stowe. phe: See oD oe ee Ab Sa tall BB Fae & 08 8.--8 H. 2. 17. | 9..
* LU. and YBL. 1194-1195. 9H. 2.17, 4%! H. 2 17. 12..12 TU, and YBL. 1195. ;
T hive’ given thee war it. Ss me -my hands in thee. I shal eas oee thee into 1 parts long Stace but for Fergus.” 3 “T will | will fight on,” said Btarcumul. Cuchulain, dealt ‘tidy 3 well-aimed edge-stroke. %
-one ear to the other, as if it were with a light, snes razor he had been shorn. * Not a scratch of his skin gave blood.> — 6“ Hold, fellow.6 Get thee home now,” said Cuchulain, — “for a laughing-stock I have made of thee.” “I go not,’ — 7 rejoined Etarcumul.? “‘ We will fight to the end, till I take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee, or till thou takest my head and my spoils and boastest over me!” “So let it be, what thou saidst last, that it shall be. I
will take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee!” 8 When now the churl became troublesome and persistent,® Cuchulain *sprang from the ground, so that he alightedon = the edge of Etarcumul’s shield, and he® dealt himacleaving- __ blow on the crown of the head, so that it drove to his.
navel. He dealt him a second crosswise stroke, so that at
the one time the three portions of his body came to the ground. Thus fell Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn.
10 Then Etarcumul’s charioteer went his way after Fergus,!” and Fergus knew not that the combat had been. For thus was his wont: “From the day Fergus took warrior’s” arms in hand," he never for aught looked back, whether at
enka c Sth Bat Sy J cea oe EN Me te GH ee 8-3 LU. and YBL. 1197-1199. 4-4 LU, and YBL. 1204. meek aes BR Mi ty waite ¢ Sin” Pat ty &
7-7 Stowe and H. 2, 17, 8...8 LU. and YBL. 1206-1207, 9.
ne EL eee tt oa s Br 3AM 8 Uh oeetS Fe Bai eae
Jord, gilla 2”
ideed was not fair!” exclaimed Fergus, ‘‘ for that < sprite to wrong me in him that came under my safe- guard %and protection *® ‘from the camp and fort of the - menofErin* Turnthe chariot for us, gilla,” cried Fergus,
a parley with Cuchulain.” Thereupon the driver wheeled the chariot. They fared thither towards the ford. ®Fergus turned to rebuke Cuchulain.6 ‘‘ How darest thou offend me, thou wild, 7 perverse, little’ elf-man,’” cried Fergus, ‘‘in him that came under my safeguard and protection? *® Thou think- est my club short.’”’&* °®“‘ Be not wroth with me, my “ink master Fergus,’’ said Cuchulain.® “After the nurture nt and care thou didst bestow on me “and the Ulstermen xe bestowed and Conchobar?® tell me, which wouldst thou hold better, “for the Ulstermen to be conquered with- out anyone to punish them but me alone and" for him to triumph and boast over me, or for me to triumph and boast over him? And yet more, "of his own fault he ne fell.12 Ask his own gilla which of us was in fault in i respect of the other; it was none other but he.1**
1..4 LU. and YBL. 1208. bined hk Ney 2 heels Mey Nae & | em ae Pw §...8 Fl, 2. 17: } 6-6 LU. and YBL. 1209. Piet EL 2.) BP f! 8&8 LU, and YBL. 1210. Probably a proverbial expression. f 9
both -® LU. and YBL. 1210. idhiuae s Bor tie
‘ae M--lt FH 2, 17, 12...12 H, 2, 17, Pach: ELy! Bast Dp — -- # Lines 1212-1216 LU. and YBL. (Edition of Strachan and 1 O’Keeffe) are omitted in the translation.
" ‘He fell a wile since 2 ats hove - hand of Cuchulain,” the gilla made answer.
“that we may go to * the ford of fight and combat ® for
*LL. fo. 72
1921.
Ki Satay went a on, “ BS nnd not go ‘till either he toe r
or he left me his own.”!_ 2 Then Etarcumul’s gilla to Fergus how it all befel. When Fergus heard that, what he said was: 2 “ Liefer to me what thou hast Risk. >) 8 O fosterling,” said Fergus, “ that Etarcumul is slain, and? a blessing on — Koi that smote him, * for it is 5 he that was overweening.”’ | So then ce bound two spancels about the ankle-joints of Etarcumul’s feet and he was dragged along behind his horses and chariot. At every rock that was rough for him, his lungs and his liver were left on the stones and the rugged places. At every place that was smooth for him, his skil- fully severed limbs came together again round the horses. In this wise he was dragged through the camp to the door 4 of the tent of Ailill and Medb: “ There’s your young war- x rior for you,” cried Fergus, “for ‘Every restoration toe gether with its restitution ’ is what the law saith.’* Medb 4 came forth to the door of her tent and she raised her ®quick, splitting, * loud voice * of a warrior. Quoth Medb:“‘ Truly, methought that great was the heat and the wrath of this Mg young hound 7 on leaving us awhile since? at the beginning of the day as he went from the camp. *It is no fortune | for a tender youth that falls on thee now. We had thought that the honour under which he went, even the honour of Fergus, was not the honour of a dastard!”’ ‘“‘“What hath eset the virago and wench? ”’ cried nee “Good lack,
-1 LU. and YBL. 1216-1220. -2 Stowe. “8 H. 2. 17. . 4---4 LU, and VBL. 222; .
6 ny law maxim. Since Etarcumul had broken his promise not to fight, Fergus deems himself absolved from the spirit of his engage- mene to bring back rected omen but fulfils the letter of it.
mance = Pwis Sa dy A 6 Stowe. Foon? HY, 12, EF . rah teeta kh
| ns deed ee 2.87. 2.2 LU. and YBL. 1230-1232. | Sede ba mL. fo. 69, between the columns.
, 1941.
him then till a man be found to oppose him.” This they _
fight and contend with Cuchulain sae dios him off a ae ! men of Erin.2 *“ What man have ye to face Cuchulain ~ to-morrow ? ’’ asked Lugaid. ‘‘ They will give him to thee © to-morrow,” answered Mané son of Ailill. “‘ We find no
one to meet him,” quoth Medb; “let us have a truce with _
obtain. ‘“‘ Whither will ye turn,” asked Ailill, “to find the man to oppose Cuchulain?”’ ‘‘ There is not in Erin,” — a Medb answered, ‘“‘ one that could be got to meet him unless Curoi macDaré come, or Nathcrantail the warrior.” A man of Curoi’s people was in the tent. “Curoi will not come,” said he; “he weens enough of his people have — come!” ‘‘ Let a message be sent then for Nathcrantail.” 3 Then arose a huge warrior of Medb’s people, Nathcrantail by name. * Mané Andoe (‘the Unslow’)goestohim. They | tell him their message. “‘ Come with us for the sake of the honour of Connacht.” “TI will not go,” said he, ‘unless they give Finnabair to me.” Afterwards he goes with a them. They bring his armour in a car from the east of Connacht and place it in the camp.* ® Then was Nathcran- tail called into the tent of Aililland Medb.5 ® ‘‘ Where- 1 Stowe, and LU. fo. 69a, in the margin. © 2 Stowe, and, similarly, H. 2. 17.
-8 LU. and YBL. 1233-1242 and Eg. 1782. 4 LU. and YBL. 1242-1246.
5
| = Ob Se CeO A eae: - 126
a fF Oo YP fH . * . . . . 2 . .
Libbe [wi ” 2 He es! er the Hbaittic and ipllbnt roe that night be made
le Ac combat and he took his waite implements
ey with him to the fight, and though early he arose, Cuchulain
arose still earlier.* * That night Lugaid came to Cuchulain. | _ “Nathcrantail comes to meet thee to-morrow. Alas for thee, thou wilt not withstand him.” ‘‘ That matters not,”
Cuchulain made answer.? ¢ 4 On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp 4
-and he came to attack Cuchulain. He did not deign to
bring along arms but thrice nine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. And there before him on the pond was Cuchulain * a-fowling and his chariot hard by him,® ’and there was no shelter whatever. ® And when Nathcrantail perceived Cuchulain ® he ’ straightway ” cast a dart at Cuchulain. Cuchulain sprang *from the middle of the ground ® till he came on the tip of the dart. ® And he performed a feat on the point of the dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds. And again Nathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart and Cuchulain sprang on the point of the second
1...4 LU. and YBL. 1246-1247. faipadtts Malte Ok a7
8-3 LU. and YBL. 1248-1250.
¢ 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 emia NEG about Nathcrantail which we cannot Sar abi ,
4 LU. and YBL. bla 5..-5 TU, and YBL. 1255.
> Here follow lines 1945-1946, edition of Windisch, which are
ene le and have teh omitted in the translation.
cgi: Mee Bie ty 2 oes ite Pow % vile: Male big P ®...2 LU, and YBL. See aph
*LL. fo. 73a.
so talkof ran and fled in defeat 7 before me when he came
points of the darts like a bee sgl By tile +. the pursuing the birds 5 that ae bisa not escape: hit
night. For this is what stistairied ana! Dead Cuchul alain fish and fowl and game on the Cualnge Cow-spoil. Some- iat thing more remains to be told: Nathcrantail deemed full — surely that Cuchulain went from him in rout of defeat and flight. And he went his way till he came to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb and he lifted up his loud voice * of a warrior ®: ‘‘ That famous Cuchulain that ye
to me? in the morning.” ‘‘ We knew,” spake Medb, “ it would be even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that this beardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, § Nathcrantail to wit,* came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!”
And Fergus heard that, and Fergus ® and the Ulstermen °® were sore angered that any one should boast that Cuchu- lain had fled. And Fergus addressed himself to Fiachu, Feraba’s son, that he should go to rebuke Cuchulain. ‘ And tell * him it is an honour for him to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as he does deeds of valour upon them, but that it were fitter for him to hide himself than to fly before any one of their warriors, 1° forasmuch as the dishonour would be not greater for him than for the rest of
Ulster.’’ 1°
:
9 a
™ ~
1..-1 LU. and YBL. 1258. _ 82 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. 9.9 LU. 1264
10...10 TU, and YBL. 1268.
The Slaying of Nathiceentee : 129
ia 8 tr, ereupon Fiachu went to address Cuchulain. . Cuchu- By Ain ‘bade him welcome. “I trow that welcome to be truly meant, but it is for counsel with thee I am come from thy _ fosterer Fergus. And he has said, ‘It would be a glory for thee to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as thou doest valiantly 1 with them; but it would be fitter for thee to hide thyself than to fly before any one of their warriors!’’’ ‘‘ How now, who makes that boast among ye?” Cuchulain asked. ‘“‘ Nathcrantail, of a surety,” Fiachu answered. ‘‘ How may this be? Dost not know, thou and Fergus and the nobles of Ulster, that I slay no charioteers nor heralds nor unarmed people ? And he bore no arms but a spit of wood. And I would not slay Nathcrantail until he had arms. And do thou tell him, let him come here early in the morning, ? till he is be- tween Ochainé and the sea, and however early he comes, ‘ he will find me here? and I will not fly before him!”
vi ’Fiachu went back to the camp * ‘and to the station of the men of Erin, and he bound Nathcrantail to go to the ford of combat on the morrow. They bided there that night,* and it seemed long to Nathcrantail till day with its light came for him to attack Cuchulain. He set out early on the morrow to attack Cuchulain. Cuchulain arose early 5 and came to his place of meeting ® and his wrath bided : with him on that day. And ® after his night’s vigil,* with : an angry cast he threw his cloak around him, so that it passed over the pillar-stone 7near by, the size of himself,’ and snapped the pillar-stone off from the ground between himself and his cloak. And he was aware of naught be- cause of the measure of anger that had come on and raged in him. Then, too, came Nathcrantail. ® His arms were brought with him on a wagon,® and he spake, “‘ Where is
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 LU. and YBL. 1273-1275. 3...3 Stowe. 4...4 Egerton 93 begins here. 5-5 LU. and YBL. 1276.
$...6 LU. and YBL. 1277. 7...7 LU. and YBL. 1277-1278. 8.-.8 LU. and YBL. 1279.
K
Cormac Conlongas apn ae ips on ay s “Not s . shape wherein he appeared to me viataelaaet said} Tee, crantail. ‘‘ Repel yon warrior,” quoth Cormac, ‘ pees ee
will be the same for thee as if thou repellest Cuchulain!” 2“ Art thou Cuchulain?” “And if I am?” answered Cuchulain. “If thou be teuly he,” said Nathcrantail, “I would not bring a lambkin’s head to the camp. I will not take thy head, the head of a beardless boy.”’ “It is not I at all,” said Cuchulain ; ‘‘ go find him 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 doneforhim. He goes to meet Nathcrantail on the hill. “Methinks that more fitting. Now fight with me fairly,” said Nathcrantail. ‘‘ Thou shalt have thy wish, if only we know it,’’ Cuchulain made answer. “I will make a cast at thee,’ said Nathcrantail, ‘‘ and thou shalt not avoid it.” “I will not avoid it 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 above it alighted on Nathcrantail’s crown and through him it went to the ground. “Alas,” said he, “the best warrior in Erin art thou,” spake Nathcrantail. ‘‘ Four and twenty sons have I in the camp. I will go and tell them what hidden treasure I have and then return for thee to behead me, for I shall die if the spear be taken out of my head.” “Tt is well,’ quoth Cuchulain; “thou shalt come back.’ Then Nathcrantail returns to the camp. They all come to meet him. ‘“‘ Where is the madman’s head with thee? ”’
1..-1 Stowe. 2...2 LU, and YBL. 1281-1305.
ne : sword a | ee 1 high,‘ so that the sword encountered the pol
was between Cuchulain and ‘his cloak, and — roke *atwain® on the pillar-stone. * Then tor an e filled with rage, as he had been with the
} $0. i be pert off his head from his trunk. He ‘iil his hand quickly again and gave him another blow on the top of the trunk so that he cleft him in twain down to the ground. 7His four severed parts fell to the ground.’ Thus fell Nathcrantail slain by Cuchulain. Whereupon Cuchulain spoke * the verse :— § | “Now that Nathcrantail has, fallen,
® There will be increase of strife ! ®
Would that Medb had battle 1 now,” And the third part of the host!”
1.61 LU. 1303. 2.2 TU. and YBL. 1281-1305.
8---3 LU. and YBL. 1305. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 1306.
&..-6 LU. and YBL. 1307. -§ LU. and as 1307-1308. 7-7 LU, and YBL. 1310. --8 Stowe.
9
---9 Stowe, and LU. and VBL. 1313. 10...19 Stowe, and YBL. and LU. 1313.
W. 2007, THEREAFTER *on the morrow * Medb iidieetnd matted a
1THE FINDING OF THE BULL?
ef -
third of the host of the men of Erin about her, * and aa set forth by the highroad of Midluachair * till she reached Dan Sobairchein the north. And Cuchulain pressed heavily on Medb that day. *Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bull and Cuchulain pursued her. Now on the road to Midluachair she had gone to invade Ulster and Cruthne — as far as Dan Sobairche.* * There it is that Cuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib.§ Cuchulain killed Fer Taidle, whence cometh Taidle; and *as they went northwards* he killed the macBuachalla (‘the Herdsman’s sons’)? at their cairn,? whence cometh Carn macBuachalla ; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence q Lettre Luasc (‘the Watery Slopes of Luasc’); and he slew
Bobulge in his marsh, whence Grellach (‘the Trampled Place’)
of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne on his hill, whence By Delga (‘ the Points’) of Murthemne ; * he slew Nathcoirpthe at his trees, Cruthen on his ford, Marc on his hill, Meille on his mound and Bodb in his tower. It was afterwards then
4
-
1...1 Stowe, and LU. fo. 70a. &.--8 Bg. Og. |
3...3 Eg. 93. Pe |
4.4 LU. and YBL. 1315-1317. Eg. 93 mentivns | a number of Bais 9, to which Cuchulain nay op Medb. -§ LU. and YBL. 1341. 6 Eg. 93.
7.7 LU. and YBL. 1343. §..8 LU. and YBL. 1342-1344.
132
SE
The Finding of the Bull — 133
20r6. that Cuchulain turned back from the north } to Mag Mur-
themni,! to protect and defend his own borders and land, for dearer to him was ” his own land and inheritance and belongings ? than the land and territory and belongings of another.
It was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce (‘the men of Crannach’) * from whom cometh Crannach in Mur- themne ; * to wit, the two Artinne and the two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, and Drucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Tore Glaisse and Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard. Cuchulain surprised them as they were pitching * camp in advance of all others— 4ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were*— so that they fell by his hand.
Then it was that Buide (‘the Yellow’) son of Ban Blai (‘the White’) from 5 Sliab Culinn (‘ Hollymount’), > the country of Ailill and Medb, and belonging to the special followers of ® Ailill and *® Medb, met Cuchulain. Four and twenty * warriors ? was their strength.*? A § blue ® mantle enwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careering before them after he had been brought from
*LL. fo. 73
Glenn na Samaisce (‘ Heifers’ Glen’) to Sliab Culinn, and °
fifty of his heifers with him. % Cuchulain advances to meet them.® ‘‘ Whence bring ye the drove, ye men?” Cuchulain asks. ‘‘ From yonder mountain,’ Buide an- swers. 11‘‘ Where are its herdsmen?’’ Cuchulain asks. “One is here where we found him,” the warrior answers. Cuchulain made three leaps after them, seeking to speak
1-1. LU. and YBL. 1345. 2.0.2 Eg, 93. 8.0.3 Eo. 93. 4-4 LU. and YBL. 1348. 5...65 LU. and YBL. 1318.
$...6 Stowe.
* “Sixty ’ is the number in LU. and YBL.; ‘eight’ in Eg. 93. 7---7 Stowe and LU. and YBL. 1319. &...8 Kg. 93.
*..-§ LU. and YBL. 1320. 10...10 He, 93.
1
1-41 LU, and YBL. 1322-1325.
of icon with daithe other.” sree came to ‘ie ford ' al exchanged a couple of throws there.t “ Lo, here for th this short spear,” said Cuchulain, aie he casts the spear at him. It struck the shield over his belly, so that it shat- — tered three ribs in his farther side after piercing his heart Be in his bosom. And Buide son of Ban Blai fell 20n the
ford.2 So that thence is Ath Buidi (‘ Athboy ‘) in seine y.
Roiss (‘the land of Ross’). , a
For as long or as short a space as * these bold champions and battle-warriors ® were engaged in this work of ex- changing their two short spears—for it was not in a moment they had accomplished it—the Brown Bull of Cualnge was carried away in quick course and career * by the eight great men * to the camp 5 of the men of Erin ° as swiftly as any beeve can be brought to a camp. °® They opined then it would not be hard to deal with Cuchulain if only his spear were got from him. From this accordingly came the greatest shame and grief and madness that was brought ¢ on Cuchulain on that hosting.
As regards Medb: every ford? and every hill? whereon she stopped, Ath Medba (‘ Medb’s Ford’) Sand Dindgna Medba (‘Medb’s Hill’)® is its name. Every place wherein she pitched her tent, Pupall Medba (‘Medb’s Tent’)isits name. Every spot she rested her horselash, Bili Medba (‘Medb’s Tree’) is its name.
On this circuit Medb ® turned back from the north afien
abt rite a..2° LU, and 2 BL. x 5et | a 3.0.3 Eg. 93. 4.004 Eg. 93. Pt Eg. 9 93. \\ ae 6..6 TU. and YBL. 1330-1331. 07 LU. and YBL. 1353.
8-8 LU. and YBL. 1354. 9...8 LU and YBL. 1348-1349.
after aki | Dan Sobeirche idly she yea if ‘ea women into the Paprhiereny of Dal Melon's)
i ia aod station 7 at Fochard, ‘ together with Medb X¢ and Ailill and Wis company that were bringing the bull.
‘ Bont eee 5. 7, eek Bs) 93: he Stowe. 4,4 Bet ogy} iy ng 55 LU. and YBL. 1351-1352. 6 Kg. 3 ome |e 8 oa ar mis (LL.), which is not Me Bly in the rb MSS.
Be ke ws" LU. and YBL. 1355.
W. 2054.
Cualnge. * Now there was no peril to them that night so
om) ¥ sort raat SEN
ei shad nat etter: Niece ye : aA shiv
“THE DEATH OF F FO! GEMEN
Anp the bull’s cae would not ale them ie to. | off 1 the Brown Bull of Cualnge, so that they urged on pi a bull, beating shafts on shields, till they drove him into a ® narrow gap, and the herd trampled the cowherd’s body thirty feet into the ground, so that they made fragments and shreds of his body. Forgemen was the neatherd’s name. *And this is the name of the hill, Forgemen.2 This then is the Death of Forgemen on the Cattle-prey of
long as a man was got to ward off Cuchulain from them on the ford.®
1...1 Stowe. 3..3 LU. and YBL. 1359:-- 3...3 LU. and YBL. 1360-1361.
136
, 2061.
XIIB
1 HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST ?
WHEN the men of Erin had come together in one place, both Medb and Ailill and the force that was bringing the bull to the camp and enclosure, they all declared Cuchulain would be no more valiant than another ? of the men of Erin ? were it not for the wonderful little trick he possessed, the spearlet of Cuchulain. Accordingly the men of Erin despatched from them Redg, Medb’s®? jester, to demand the light javelin * of Cuchulain.®
So Redg 4 came forward to where Cuchulain was and 4 asked for the little javelin, but Cuchulain did not give him the little javelin © at once®; he did not deem it good and proper to yield it. °‘‘ Give me thy spear,” said the jester. “‘ Nay then, I will not,” answered Cuchulain ; “‘ but I will give thee treasure.’”’ ‘‘I will not take it,” said the jester. Then he wounded the jester because he would not accept from him what he had offered him.* Redg declared he would deprive Cuchulain of his honour 7 unless he got the little javelin.? Thereupon Cuchulain hurled the javelin at him, so that it struck him in the nape of the neck * and fell out through his mouth on the ground. And the only words Redg uttered were these, “‘ This precious gift is readily
1.1 LU. page 7ob, in the margin. 2...2 Eg, 93.
* ‘ Ailill’s,’” LU. and YBL. 1332 and Eg. 1782.
8-.-3 Stowe. 4-..4 Eg, 93. 5...5 Ke. 93.
$...6 LU. and YBL. 1333-1336. 7-7 LU. and YBL. 1337. * More literally, ‘in the pit of his occiput.’
137
‘ las was thrown ante ney river. | | “Hence is Uma (‘ Copperstream ’) ever after. BAC,
1“ Let us ask for a sword-truce from ‘Cachalaun” Ailill. “ Let Lugaid go to him,” one and all ans\ Then Lugaid goes to parley with him. “How now do stand with the host?” Cuchulain asks. ‘“ Disgracef 4 indeed is Ae thing thou hast demanded of them,” ‘Lugaid 4 answers, “ even this, that thou shouldst have thy women and maidens and half of thy kine. But more grievous than all do they hold it that they themselves should be bi. and thou provisioned.” ‘i
Every day there fell a man by Cuchulain till the end of a y week. *Then* faith is broken with Cuchulain. Twenty are q despatched at one time to attack him and he destroys them a all. “Go to him, O Fergus,” says Ailill, “that he may vouchsafe us a change of place.” A while after this they — o proceed to Cronech. These are they that fell in single com- bat with him in that place, to wit: the two Roth, the two — Luan, two women-thieves, ten fools, ten cup-bearers, the ten Fergus, the six Fedelm, the six Fiachu. Now these ~ were all killed by him in single combat. A
When their tents were pitched by them in Cronech. they a discussed what they had best do with Cuchulain. “I know,” quoth Medb, ‘“‘ what is best here. Let some one © go to him from us for a sword-pact from him in respect of the host, and he shall have half the cattle that are here.” — This message they bring to him. “TI will do it,” said — Cuchulain, “ provided the bond is not broken by you!*to- — morrow.®”’ | eis i
2-1 LU. 1362-1379. a8 Eg, 2762; 9*-8 Eg. £782.) \ el |
\iiag Weheve: man art thous ?”’ spake Mané. Now Laeg made
- noanswer. Thrice Mané addressed him in this * same * wise. “ Cuchulain’s man, ”’ Laeg answers, “‘ and provoke me not, lest it happen I strike thy head off thee!’’ ‘‘ This man is
-accost Cuchulain. It was there Cuchulain had doffed his. tunic, and the *deep*snow was around him where he sat, up _tohis belt, and the snow had melted a cubit around him for _ the greatness of the heat of the hero. And Mané addressed. him three times in like manner, whose man he was? a “ Conchobar’s man, and do not provoke me. For if thou _ provokest me any longer I will strike thy head off thee as one strikes off the head of a blackbird!” “ Noeasy thing,” -quoth Mané, “to speak to these two.” Thereupon Mané leaves them and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb.
“Let Lugaid go to him,” said Ailill, “ and offer him the Thereupon Lugaid goes and repeats this to Cuchu- “O master Lugaid,’” quoth Cuchulain, “it is a
1...1 LU. fo. 71a, in the margin. 2.2 LU, 1380-1414. wrt Eg. 1782. 4-4 Eo, 1782.
139
be knoe bin eh let the or go with him Pe let th fool promise her to him, and let them depart 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 — Ulstermen to the battle.” a Then the fool goes to him and the girl sibie with fio 4 and from afar he addresses Cuchulain. TheHoundcomesto — meethim. Ithappened he knew by theman’sspeech that he was a fool. Aslingstone that was in his hand he threw at him so that it entered his head and bore out his brains. He comes up to the maiden, cuts off her two tresses and ~ thrusts a stone through her cloak and her tunic, and plants — 4 a standing-stone through the middle of the fool. Their 4 two pillar-stones are there, even the pillarstone of Finna- bair and the pillar-stone of the fool. Cuchulain left them in this plight. A party was sent © out from Ailill and Medb to search for their people, for it was long they thought they were gone, when they saw them in this wise. This thing was noised abroad by all the host in the camp. Thereafter there was ne truce for them with Cachulain- .
a2 See page 1 39, note 2,
XIIp 1 HERE THE COMBAT OF MUNREMAR AND CUROI *®
2 WHILE the hosts were there in the evening they perceived. that one stone fell on them coming from the east and another from the west to meet it. The stones 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 con- tinued from that hour till the same hour on the next day, and the hosts spent the time sitting down, with their shields. over their heads to protect them from the blocks of stones, till the plain was full of the boulders, whence cometh Mag Clochair (‘ the Stony Plain’). Now it happened it was Curoi macDaré did this. He had come to bring help to his. people and had taken his stand in Cotal to fight against Munremar son of Gerrcend.* The latter had come from Emain Macha to succour Cuchulain and had taken his stand on Ard (‘the Height’) of Roch. Curoi knew there was not in the host a man to compete with Munremar. These then it was who carried on this sport between them. The army prayed them to cease. Whereupon Munremar and Curoi made peace, and Curoi withdrew to his house and Munremar to Emain Macha and Munremar came not again till the day of the battle. As for Curoi, he came: not till the combat of Ferdiad.
“Pray Cuchulain,” said Medb and Ailill, “‘ that he suffer
1... LU. fo. 71b, in the margin. * Here a sheet is missing in Eg. 1782. 2---2 LU. 1415-1486.
141
T ¥ atten ’ ass ray,
; i 7 oy in ou ey 4 4: taal We i es ist GR eae ae HORS Hie a ey ‘ nhs f Hy { \ Bie eS " as Aleut co ‘ i §% RAAT RY Pay aN } y ys ij ey : Va g mae XY, ” tae NN Ci: oe, ¥ Shes ‘ ‘ ie rey ; ; ‘ Pd ; ( « td . | € < \ i 1 ‘8 / * ‘ *
C 4
eg youths of Ulster discussed the matter among elves in Emain Macha. ‘Alas for us,” said they,
mt I would ask then,” spake Fiachu Fulech (‘ the Bloody’)
son of Ferfebé and own brother to Fiachu, Fialdana
m (‘the Generous-daring ’) son of Ferfebé, “shall I have a - company from you to go to him with help? ”
Thrice fifty youths accompany him with their play- _ clubs, and that was a third of the boy-troop of Ulster. The army saw them drawing near them over the plain. “A great army approaches us over the plain,’ spake Ailill Fergus goes to espy them. ‘“‘ Some of the youths of Ulster are they,” said he, “‘ and it is to succour Cuchulain they come.’’ ‘Let a troop go to meet them,” said Ailill, ‘ known to Cuchulain; for if they unite with him ye will never overcome them.” Thrice fifty warriors went out to meet them. They fell at one another’s hands, so that not one of them got off alive of the number of the youths of Lia Toll. Hence is Lia (‘the Stone’) of Fiachu son of Ferfebé, for it is there that he fell.
“Take counsel,” quoth Ailill; ‘inquire of Cuchulain about letting you go from’hence, for ye will not go past
1 LU. fo. 71b, in the margin.
Oe : The LU. version of the episode is given under eek pea page rh _ ® Fiachna, in LU. 1436.
143
mouth. There | was ane a gross Gn hat was as Ae aS sha as the thorn of the haw, and a drop of blood was on a single hair. He would recognize neither comrades no friends. Alike he would strike them before and beh: ind. Therefrom it was that the men of Connacht gave Cuchul vs the name Riastartha (‘the Contorted One’ )e ati
nF 7 ras us seh ie a sword-truce from Cuchulain,” said Ailill and Medb. Lugaid goes to him and Cuchulain accords _ the truce. ‘‘ Put a man for me on the ford to-morrow,”
m ; _ said Cuchulain. There happened to be with Medb six royal
_hirelings, to wit : six princes of the Clans of Deda, the three _ Dubs (‘ the Blacks’) of Imlech, and the three Dergs (‘ the Reds’) of Sruthair, by name. ‘‘ Why should it not be for us,’ quoth they, “‘ to go and attack Cuchulain?’’ So the next day they went and Cuchulain put an end to the six of them.?
1...1 LU. fo. 72b, in the margin. 2-2 See page 141, note 2.
145 L
W. Jha
1THE COMBAT OF HG WITH cUCHULAIN | THE men of Erin discussed among themselves who of t
8 and drive him off from them on the ford at the morning- ; hour early on the morrow. And what they all said was — that Car (‘ the Hero’) son of Da Loth should be the one to attack him. For thus it stood with Cir: Nojoy wasittobe — his, bedfellow or tolive with him. *He from whom he drew _ blood is dead ere the ninth day. And*®the men of Erin® — said: ‘‘ Even should it be Cir that falls, a trouble *and
care * would be removed from the hosts ; 7 for it isnot easy to be with him in regard to sitting, eating or sleeping.? Should _ it be Cuchulain, it would be so muchthe better.”’ Cir was A summoned to Medb’s tent. “‘ For what do they want me?” — Car asked. “To engage with Cuchulain,” replied Medb, — 8“ to do battle, and ward him off from us on the ford at — the morning hour early on the morrow.’’® °®Car deemed — it not fitting to go and contend with a beardless boy.® — “ Little ye rate our worth. Nay, but it is wonderful how a ye regard it. Too tender is the youth with whom ye com- pareme. Had I known ?°I was sent against him ¥ I would — not have come myself. I would have lads" enough 4 of ©
Level Stowe. 2...2 Eg. 93. 3...3 Eg. 93.
4...4 LU. and YBL. 1488. BoB eg. ee! 5: 6...6 Stowe. 7-7 LU. and YBL. 1491. O08 Be ae 9
+9 LU. and YBL. 1491-1492. 10...10 TU. and YBL. 1492-1493. 11...11 Stowe and LU. and YBL. 1493.
146
PO on gel eee Te, hee” iAerga ite ut - i BAF hs heats et ‘. WA, EPS, ‘set re SPAT ATW lls foe iat ls en 8 ,
The Combat of Car with Cuchulain 149
. his age from amongst my people to go meet him on a ford.”
“ Indeed, it is easy to talk so,’ quoth Cormac Conlongas
gon of Conchobar. “It would be well worth while for
thyself if by thee fell Cuchulain.”” !‘‘ Howbeit,’’ said Car, “since on myself it falls.) make ye ready a journey ? for me* at morn’s early hour on the morrow, for a pleasure I will make of the way *to this fight,? *a-going to meet Cuchulain.* It is not this will detain you, namely the killing of yonder wildling, Cuchulain!”
>There they passed the night.» Then early on the morrow morn arose Cir macDa Loth * and he came to the ford of battle and combat; and however early he arose, earlier still Cuchulain arose. A cart-load of arms was taken along with him wherewith to engage with Cuchulain, and he began to ply his weapons, seeking to kill Cuchulain.
Now Cuchulain had gone early that day 7to practise? his feats * of valour ‘and prowess.* These are the names of them all: the Apple-feat, and the Edge-feat, and the Level Shield-feat, and the Little Dart-feat, and the Rope-feat, and the Body-feat, and the Feat of Catt, and the Hero’s Salmon-leap,* and the Pole-cast, and the Leap over a Blow (?), and the Folding of a noble Chariot-fighter, and the Gae Bulga (‘the Barbed Spear’) and the Vantage (?) of Swiftness, and the Wheel-feat, °and the Rim-feat,® and the Over-Breath-feat, and the Breaking of a Sword, and the Champion’s Cry, and the Measured Stroke, and the Side Stroke, and the Running up a Lance and standing erect on its Point, andthe Binding of the noble” Hero (around spear points).
1...1 LU. and YBL. 3496-1497. 2...2 Stowe, 3..-3 Stowe. 4 LU. and YBL. 1499-1500. &...5 Eg. 93. -6 Eg. 93.
7...7 LU. and YEU. 1500. 8...8 Stowe.
‘‘The Salmon-leap—lying flat on his face and then springing up, horizontally, high in the air.”—J. A. Synge, “ The Aran Is-
_ lands,” page rrr, Dublin, 1907.
9..8 YBL. 1504. 10,..10 TU, 15006.
early every morning ez : of a single hand, as best a fildoat my, n order the ihe. might not depart from. hina pause forget ‘ulness of remembrance. — : BES yt And macDa Loth waited: foie his shield until the part of the day, ? plying his weapons,? seeking the char ne to kill Cuchulain ; * and not the stroke of a blow reached Ne Cuchulain, because of the intensity of his feats, nor was he a aware that a warrior was thrusting at him.? It was then _ Laeg* ‘looked at him‘ and spake to Cuchulain, “Hark! Cucuc. Attend to the warrior that seeks to kill thee.” — " Then it was that Cuchulain glanced at him and then it was that he raised and threw the eight apples on high and cast the ninth apple * a throw’s length from him at Car a macDa Loth, so that it struck on the disk of his shield 6 between the edge and the body of the shield * and on the forehead ” of the churl,’ so that it carried the size of anapple of his brains out through the back of his head. Thus fell Car macDa Loth also at the hand of Cuchulain. *® According ‘§ to another version® %it was in Imslige Glendamnach that Car fell.® | | a 10 Fergus greeted each one there and this is what he said : 1° “ If your engagements and pledges bind you now,” __ said Fergus, ‘‘ another warrior ye must send to him yonder on the ford ; else, do ye keep to your camp and your quarters _ here till the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow, for Car son of Da Loth is fallen.” 14“ We will grant that,” said Medb, “‘ and we will not pitch tents nor take quarters here
1...1 An obscure gloss in LL. ; i
2.--2 LU. and YBL. 1507. 3-3 LU. and YBL. 1508-1509. ¢ «Fiachu,’ LU. and YBL. 1510. 4---4 Stowe. —
$..-5 Following Windisch’s emmendation of the text.
¢ LU. and XBL (ASR “7 LU. and YBL. 1513.
8...8 LU. 1513. © LU. can YBL. 1513-1514.
san SHWE) ie od) 4) ee Big, og.
7 lore “son i * thee then fell in ae éombat’ wi with | " it is tedious to noha one by one the ie ur of each man of them. |
deel Eg. 93. 2...2 Stowe. . ae y
: \ see
2 THEN again the men of Erin took cou who would be He to fight and do combat with Cuchulain and to ward him off from them on the ford at the morning-hour early on the morrow. What they each and all said was, that it would be his own friend and companion and the man who was his equal in arms and feats, even Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. |
Then was Ferbaeth son of Ferbend summoned to them, to the tent of Ailill and Medb. ‘‘ Wherefore do ye callme to you?” Ferbaeth asked. ‘‘In sooth, it would please
’ Medb answered, ‘‘ for thee to do battle and contend with Cuchulain, and to ward him off from us on the ford at the morning hour early on the morrow.”
Great rewards they promised to him for making the battle and combat.? * Finnabair is given to him for this and the kingdom of his race, for he was their choice to combat Cuchulain. He was the man they thought worthy ‘ of him, for they both had learned the same service in arms a with Scathach.* i
4“T have no desire to act thus,” Ferbaeth protested. — “Cuchulain is my foster-brother and of everlasting cove- nant with me. Yet will I go meet him to-morrow, so shall I strike off his head!”’ ‘“‘ It will be thou that canst do it,’’ Medb made answer.4
1...1 LU, fo, 73a., in the margin. Ress® EB. 03: 8-8 LU. and YBL. 1529-1553. 4.4 LU. and YBL. 1538-1540.
150
Hy The Slaying of Ferbaeth the Witless 151 43- Then it was that Cuchulain said to his charioteer, namely to Laeg: “ Betake thee thither, O master Laeg,” said Cuchulain, ‘to the camp of the men of Erin, and bear a greeting * from me to my comrades and 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 of Nos, and to Lugaid son of Solamach, to Ferbaeth son of Baetan, and to Ferbaeth son of Fer- bend, and a particular greeting withal to mine own foster- brother, to Lugaid son of Nos, for that he is the one man that still has friendliness and friendship with me now on the hosting. And bear him a blessing. 4Let it be asked diligently of him ! that he may tell thee who ? of the men of Erin? will come to attack me on the morrow.”
Then Laeg went his way to the camp of the men of Erin and brought the aforementioned greetings to the com- rades and foster-brothers of Cuchulain. And he also went into the tent of Lugaid son of Nos. Lugaid bade him welcome. ‘I take *that welcome® to be truly meant,” said Laeg. ‘“‘’Tis truly meant for thee,” replied Lugaid. “To converse with thee am I come from Cuchulain,” said Laeg, ‘‘ and I bring these greetings truly and earnestly from him to the end that thou tell me who comes to fight with
*LL. fo. 74b.
Cuchulain to-day.” 4“ Truly not lucky is it for Cuchu-—
lain,’ said Lugaid, ‘‘ the strait wherein he is alone against
the men of Erin. The curse of his fellowship and brother- hood and of his friendship and affection * and of his arms ® be upon that man; even his own real foster-brother him- self, ®even the companion of us both,® Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. 7 He it is that comes to meet him to-morrow.’ He was invited into the tent of ® Ailill and § Medb a while
1-2 TU. and YBL. 1525. 2...2 Stowe. %--3 Stowe.
A 4-4 LU. and YBL. 1526-1527. 5..6 TU. and YBL. 1528. t yp *-© LU. and YBL.. 1527. 7-7 LU. and YBL. 1528. 5
8 LU, and YBL. 1532.
PS TPT
oo = aia”
wae aK 7 ‘
to the peas | sas Then with “heavy Lae sone Aancast: Heavi ing
sighs, Laeg retraced his steps to Cuchulain. “ With heel head, sorrowful, downcast and sighing, my master teed comes to meet me,” said Cuchulain. ‘It must be that : one of my brothers-in-arms comes to attack me.” For he regarded as worse a man of the same training in arms as himself than aught other warrior. “Hail now, O Laeg my friend,’’ cried Cuchulain; ‘‘ who comes to oe attack me to-day?” “ The curse of his fellowship and brotherhood, of his friendship and affection be upon him; even thine own real foster-brother himself, namely Fer- baeth son of Ferbend. A while ago he was summoned into the tent of Medb. The maiden was set by his side; It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it is she who gives him a kiss with every drink; it is she who serveth his food. Not for every one with Medb is the ale that is poured out for Ferbaeth. 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. Lugaid came to Cuchulain. ‘‘ So Ferbaeth comes to oppose me to-morrow,” said Cuchulain. “‘ Aye, then,” answered Lugaid.? 4‘ Evil is this day,” cried Cuchulain. ‘‘I shall not be alive thereafter. Two of the same age are we, two of equal deftness, two of equal " |
1.51 HA ¥.. 13. 2...2 LU. and YBL. 1535. «In LU. and YBL. it is wine.
8..-3 LU. and YBL. 1541-1544. 4.4 TU. and YBL. 1544-1549.
N. 2183.
The Slaying of Ferbaeth the Witless 153
_ weight, when we come together. O Lugaid, greet him for
me. Tell him, also, it is not the part of true valour to come to oppose me. Tell him to come meet me to-night to speak with me.”’
Lugaid brought back this word to Ferbaeth. Now inasmuch as Ferbaeth shunned not the parley, he by no means waited till morn but he went straightway to the glen ! that night ? to recant his friendship with Cuchulain, 8 and Fiachu son of Ferfebé went with him. And Cuchulain called to mind the friendship and fellowship and brother- hood *that had been between them, *® and Scathach, the nurse of them both ; § and Ferbaeth would not consent to forego the fight. 7‘ I must fight,” said Ferbaeth. “I have promised it ®&to Medb.”® °* Friendship with thee then is at an end,” ® cried Cuchulain,’? and in anger he left him and drove the sole of his foot against a holly-spit 10in the glen,” so that it pierced through flesh and bone and skin 14 and came out by his knee.“ 1? Thereat Cuchulain became frantic, and he gave a strong tug and }? drew the spit out from its roots, 1% from sinew and bone, from flesh and from skin.1* 14‘‘Go not, Ferbaeth, till thou seest the find I have made.” ‘‘ Throw it then,” cried Fer- baeth.14 And Cuchulain threw the holly-spit over his shoulder after Ferbaeth, and he would as lief that it reached him or that it reached him not. The spit struck Ferbaeth in the nape of the neck,’ so that it passed out through his
i...1 Eg. 93. 2..2 Eg, 93, LU. and YBL. 1549.
$---3 LU. and YBL. 1550. 4---4 See page 152, note 4.
5...5 Stowe. 6...6 LU. and YBL. 1551-1552.
* Reading, with Windisch, from Stowe which gives a better meaning than LL.
7-7 LU. and YBL. 1552-1553.
8.8 YBL. 1553. °-+* Literally, ‘Keep thy covenant, then! ’
10...10 TU, and YBL. 1554.
11.-11 LU. and YBL. 1555. 12...12 Ke, 93.
38...18 Ke. 93. 14...44 TU. and YBL. 1556-1557.
* See note, page 137.
of the place where they were: Shes Glenn Ferbaeth. Something was heard. It was |
who sang :— don hal
« Fool’s* 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. wa ‘Ferbaeth’ now shall be the name Of the plain where: Ferbaeth fell!” ®
14-1 LU. and YBL. 1559.
2...2 LU. and YBL. 1559-1560.
3...8 « Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar.’’ Eg. 93. t--.6 Bg. 93.
5.8 LU. and YBL. 1563-1560.
« With a play on the word Ferbaeth, ‘a foolish man.”
may be glad, and let him be told that that 4 is all the wine that has been brought to Cruachan: ‘It would grieve us. that thou shouldst drink water in our camp.’ And let Bie Finnabair be placed on his right hand and let him be told, ‘She shall go with thee if thou bring us the head of the Con- _ +torted.’”” So a summons was sent to each warrior, one _ oneach night, and those words used to be told him. Cuchu- _ Tain killed every man of them in turn. At length no one could be got to attack him.? .2197. * ““Good* my master Laeg,” ‘said Cuchulain,* ‘€eo for me to the camp of the men of Erin to hold con- verse with Lugaid *macNois,>5 ®*my friend, my com- panion and my foster-brother,* *and bear him a greeting from me and bear him my blessing, for he is the one man that keeps amity and friendship with me on the great hosting of the Cattle-raid of Cualnge.? And discover *in what ‘We lad are in the camp,® whether or no anything has
-! LU. fo. 73b, in the margin. -® LU. and YBL. 1574-1584 and Eg. 1782. Here Eg. 1782
hee off. 8.3 Eg, 93. i Se 93. and Eg. at “fos Bg. 99 and Bg, 200. eee tt Eg, 93. +8 LU. pew YBL. 1572.
155
* hte: fight ant ae: battle with x me a the mornin r on the morrow.’ | Sera Laeg prone to Lapa! teak ieee bids him come. °*‘‘ Welcome to thy coming and arrival, O Laeg,” said Lugaid.5 ‘I take that welcome as truly Hohe | Laeg replied. ‘‘ It is truly meant for thee,’”’ quoth Lugai 6“ and thou shalt have entertainment here to-night.’ 7“ Victory and blessing shalt thou have,” said Laeg “Dut not for entertainment am I come, but? to hold con- — verse with thee am I come from * thine own friend and — companion and® foster-brother, ® from Cuchulain,® tha thou mayest tell me whether Ferbaeth was smitten.” © “ He was,” answered Lugaid, ‘“‘ and a blessing on the hand that smote him, for he fell dead in the valley a while ago.” ‘ Tell me who 11 of the men of Erin 11 comes to-morrow to 7? combat and ?? fight with Cuchulain at the morning ~ hour early on the morrow?” 23 “ They are persuading a_ q brother of mine own to go meet him, a foolish, haneeel arrogant youth, yet dealing stout blows and stubborn. — . 14 And he has agreed to do the battle and combat.4 And — it is to this end they will send him to fight Cuchulain, that — he, my brother, may fall at his hands, so that I mysela 4 must then go to avenge him upon Cuchulain. But Ii will not go there ull the very day of doom. ‘Lpring great- a
¢ From heretop. 170 is lacking in LL. owing to the loss of a cheat P bic is supplied from Stowe. :
-1 Stowe. Eg. 209 and H. 1. 13. 2.4.2 Kg. 93. i 3...3 FT, 2, 27. 4.004 Eg. 93. De “a $8 Fie. 27 and Ee. 93. &...6 Eg, 93. a 7.7 Eg. 93. 8...8 Eg. 93. 9...9 Eg. 2009. . 10...10 Following Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 11.012, Be, 93,
12.,.12 Eg. 93. . 18...13 Eg. 93. eine Eg. 93.
Ce eee
The Combat of Lariné macNois | 157
; 1. grandson of Blathmac is that brother. 4And do thou
tell Cuchulain to come to Ferbaeth’s Glen and‘ I will go *thither? to speak with Cuchulain about him,” said Lugaid.
3 Laeg betook him to where Cuchulain was.* Lugaid’s
_ two horses were taken and his chariot was yoked to them |
*and* he came *to Glen Ferbaeth® to his tryst with Cuchulain, so that a parley was had between them. *® The two champions and battle-warriors gave each other wel- come. Then it was that Lugaid spake: 7“ There is no condition that could be promised to me for fighting and combating with thee,” said Lugaid, ‘‘ and there is no con- dition on which I would undertake it, but? they are per- suading a brother of mine to come fight thee ®on the morrow,’ to-wit, a foolish, dull, uncouth youth, dealing stout blows. They brought him into the tent of Ailill and Medb and he has engaged to do the battle and combat with thee.? 1%°He is befooled about the same maiden.?° And it is for this reason they are to send him to fight thee, that he may fall at thy hands, +4so that we two may quarrel,?! and to see if I myself will come to avenge him upon thee. But I will not, till the very day of doom. And by the fellowship that is between us, 12.and by the rearing and nurture I bestowed on thee and thou didst bestow on me, bear me no grudge because of Lariné.12 Slay not my brother 13 lest thou shouldst leave me brotherless.”’ 1%
“ By my conscience, truly,” cried Cuchulain, “kill him I will not, but 1* the next thing to death will I inflict on him. +45 No worse would it be for him to die than what I
ee 8 Eg. 93. 3-3 Eg. 93.
4.4 Eg, 5.08 LU. and YBL. 1592 and ae, 93.
6...6 LU, et YBL. 1593 and Eg. 93. 7 Eg. 93. © 8-8 Eg. 209. 9-9 Eg. 93.
10...10 TU. and YBL. 1595-1590. 11...11 TU. 1597
12.-.12 FT. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. 13---13 LU. and YBL. 1596-1597. 14.,.14 Eg. 93. 18...15 ee 209.
We >
ing them or forsaking them he was. ‘4 he oe do
tothe camp * lest the sayeth of E Erin should say
parleying with Cuchulain.? | ;
Then *on the next day? it was that arin Nos, ‘brother of Lugaid king of Munster, was sur moned to the tent of Ailill and Medb, and Finnabair 7 placed by his side. It was she that filled up the drinkin horns for him and gave him a kiss with each draught thai he took and served him his food. ‘Not to every one with Medb is given the drink that is poured out for Ferbaeth or for Lariné,” quoth Finnabair; “only the load of fifty wagons of it was brought to the camp.”’= _
5 Medb looked at the pair. i‘‘ Yonder pair rejoiceth my heart,’’ said she.> ‘“‘ Whom wouldst thou say ? “a asked ¢ Ailill.® ‘The man yonder, ’in truth,”’? said — she. ‘‘ What of him?” asked Ailill. ‘‘It is thy wont to © set the mind on that which is far from the purpose (Medb ~ answered). It were more becoming for thee to bestow | thy thought on the couple in whom are united the greatest — distinction and beauty to be found on any road in Erin, namely Finnabair, ® my daughter,* and Lariné macNois. — ®’Twould be fitting to bring them together.” ® “I regard m them as thou dost,” answered Ailill ; #° “‘ I will not oppose - thee herein. He shall have her if only he brings me the
‘1 LU. and YBL. 1597 py Eg. 9
4 Bae eae 49° 3 LU. Nail YBL. ine 4 LU. and YBL. 1585. ae ‘Emending the text to agree with the two sishidtile passages above
-* LU. and YBL. 1586. i
-§ Corrected from pret which has ‘ Medb.’
oF 93) 8 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. aM -* LU. and YBL. phy 1) On TU. and ae. 1588-1590, F
crrrperrr
: The Combat of Lariné macNois 159 of Cuchulain.”* ‘‘ Aye, bring it I will,” said Lariné.”
35: It was then that Lariné shook and tossed himself with joy, so that the sewings of the flock bed burst under him and
the mead of the camp was speckled with its feathers.
1 They passed the night there.1 Lariné longed for day with its full light ?to go* to attack Cuchulain. At the early day-dawn on the morrow he came, * and the maiden came too to embolden him,* and he brought a wagon-load of arms with him, and he came on to the ford to encounter Cuchulain. The mighty warriors of the camp
and station considered it not a goodly enough sight to view
the combat of Lariné; only the women and boys and girls, “thrice fifty of them, went to scoff and to jeer at his
. battle.
Cuchulain went to meet him at the ford and he deemed it unbecoming to bring along arms *or to ply weapons upon him,® so Cuchulain came to the encounter unarmed S except for the weapons he wrested from his opponent.® 7 And when Lariné reached the ford, Cuchulain saw him and made a rush at him.’ Cuchulain knocked all of Lariné’s weapons out of his hand as one might knock toys out of the hand of aninfant. Cuchulain ground and bruised him between his arms, he lashed him and clasped him, he squeezed him and shook him, so that he spilled all the dirt out of him, ® so that the ford was defiled with his dung & ®and the air was fouled with his dust ® and an 2° unclean, filthy! wrack of cloud arose in the four airts wherein he was. Then from the middle of the ford Cuchulain hurled Lariné far from him across through the camp 1 till he fell into Lugaid’s two hands 14 at the door of the tent of his brother.
¢ Literally, ‘of the Contofted.’ 1+-:1 Eg.'93. ?+--? Eg. 209.
8...3 TU. and YBL. 1599. 4-4 AH. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. 5...5 Eg. 2009. 6...6 Eg. 209. Vooed Eg. 93. 8..8 TU. and YBL. 1602. 9...9 TU. and YBL. 1603. 10...10 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 11...12 TU. and YBL. 1604.
Wy
on the Cualnge Cattle-raid. Nevertheless that me took effect upon him, so that it afterwards brought h his death. Such then is the Combat of Lariné « on the Fi Bo Caalnge. wy.
7 yea saan a pit portale pea mie with Cc ach |
1...1 Eg, 93, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 209. a3 Eg, 93 3...8 Eg. 200. 4..4 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. 5..-5 LU. and YBL. 1604. 6...6 Eg. 209. 7...7 LU. and YBL. 1607. ai
fe ‘ ew thes) eit
1 THE COLLOQUY OF THE MORRIGAN AND hares A CUCHULAIN *
e
ey THEN Cuchulain saw draw near him a young woman
Nt was , most surpassing. “‘ Who art thou ? ”’ Cuchulain asked. “Daughter of Buan (‘the Eternal’), the king,” she an- swered. “Il am come to thee; I have loved thee for the high tales they tell of thee and! have brought my treasures and cattle with me.” ‘‘ Not good is 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 am engaged in this struggle.”” “‘ Herein I will come to thy help.” “‘ Not for the love of a woman ® 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 be- neath thy feet in the ford ; soshalt thou fall.’’ ‘“‘ More likely that, methinks, than daughter of a king! Iwillseize thee,” said he, “‘in the fork of my toes till thy ribs are broken, and thou shalt remain in such sorry plight till there come my sentence of blessing on thee.”” ‘‘ In the shape of a grey she-wolf will I drive the cattle on to the ford against thee.” “ T will cast a stone from my sling at thee, so shall it smash
1...1 LU. fo. 74a, in the margin.
2-2 TU. and YBL. 1609-1629. ® Literally, ‘non causa podicis feminae.’ The MS. is partly erased. here. —
161 M
Rie ty Me fy
OLLOWETH THE COMBAT OF LOCH AND JCI TULAIN ON THE TAIN #AND THE
i) ae if Tat HEN it was debated by the men of Erin who would be a 3 fitted to fight and contend with Cuchulain and ward him i, ©: off from them on the ford at the morning-hour early on the morrow. What they all agreed was that it should be
__ Loch Mor (‘ the Great’) son of Mofemis, the royal champion 2260. of Munster.* It was then that Loch Mor son of Mofemis was summoned ‘like the rest 4 to the pavilion of Ailill and Medb, * and he was promised the equal of Mag Murthemni
of the smooth field of Mag Ai, and the accoutrement of
| twelve men, and a chariot of the value of seven bondmaids.5 | “ What would ye of me?” asked Loch. ‘“ To have fight with Cuchulain,” replied Medb. “I will not go on that errand, for I esteem it no honour nor becoming to attack a tender, young, smooth-chinned, beardless boy. ®’Tis not seemly to speak thus to me, and ask it not of me.® And not to belittle him do I say it, but I have ? a doughty brother, ®*the match of himself,’’® said Loch,’ “a man to confront him, Long macEmonis, to wit, and he will re- joice to accept an offer from you; * and it were fitting
1.1 YBL. 1630. 2.0.2 LU, fo. 74b, between the columns, 4.8 Ee. 93. +4 LU. and Eig’ 1631. oe LU. and YBL. bei uiegede *6 Eg. 209.
aye. 93 and H: 2. 17. §.-8 Eg. 93. wane ee, 93 and H. 2. 17. .
163
ote hi on seheek or ND. any more
e than Cuchulain.”” 1 Thereupon ! Long was summoned to t r and Medb, and Medb i ita him ‘age zi ts,
and that wine 8 would be poured out Ps him. ‘a
2 They passed there that night and he city: to ‘al 2 the battle and combat, and early on the morrow ? went bY ‘Long *to the ford of battle and combat * to seek Cuchu- lain, and Cuchulain slew him and * they brought him dead — into the presence of his brother, namely of Loch. And | Loch *came forth and raised up his loud, quick voice > and 4 cried, had he known it was a bearded man that slew — him, he would slay him for it.» ® And it was in the presence — 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 4 broken with Cuchulain.”” The seven Mané the warriors — went first, till they saw him to the west of the edge of the — ford. He wore his festive raiment on that day and the | women clambered on the men that they might behold — him. “It grieves me,” said Medb. “I cannot see the boy — because of whom they go there.” ‘Thy mind would not q be the easier for that,” (lapel Lethrenn, Ailill’s horseboy. — “if thou shouldst see him.” Cuchulain came to the ford — as he was. ‘‘ What man is that yonder, O Fergus ? ” asked 7 Medb. And Medb, too, climbed on the men to get a look
1...1 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. q
a‘ * Thrice.’ Eg. 209. > * Ale,’ Eg. 209. 2...2 Eg. 93. ‘3 Eg. 9 93. 4...4 Eg. 93. q -5 LU. and YBL. 1637-1639. 6 Eg. 93. (
7 LU. fo. 61, note 7, edition O’ Keeffe he Strachan. “a
e Meoae answer, eight lines in vosc, LU. page 61, note 7, edition n of Strachan and O’Keeffe (these lines are not in YBL), has been omitted in the translation. ie
on. tse Li renner aes nee diet way to 2 ain and told him to put a false beard on ‘if he “wished to eng sage i in battle or combat with goodly warriors
"was sharia of him in the camp for that fed had no beard, a - and that no good warrior would go meet him but only mad- f ue men. It were easier to make a false beard: ® “ For no brave ee warrior in the camp thinks it seemly to come fight with Ne thee, and thou beardless,” ®said they.6 7“ If that please me,”’ said Cuchulain, ‘‘ then I shall do it.’’? There- upon Cuchulain * took a handful of grass and speaking a spell over it he ® bedaubed himself a beard ®in order to obtain combat with a man, namely with Loch.® And he came onto the knoll overlooking the men of Erin and made that beard manifest to them all, !so that every one thought it was a real beard he had.#° 11“ ’Tistrue,” spake the women, ‘ Cuchulain has a beard. It is fitting for a warrior to fight with him.” They said that to urge on Loch.44_ Loch son of Mofemis saw it, and what he said was, “‘ Why, that is a beard on Cuchulain!” ‘“‘ It is what I perceive,’ Medb answered. Medb promised the same great terms to Loch to put a check to Cuchulain. ” “I will not undertake the fight till the end of seven days from this day,’’ exclaimed Loch. ‘“‘ Not fitting is it for us to leave that man unattacked for all that time,’’ Medb an- swered. ‘“‘ Let us put a warrior every night to spy upon him
11 Eg, and Eg. 209. 2.03 Eg. 200. 3.2.3 Eg. 9 4004 Eg. 93. 5...5 LU, me YBL. 1640-164. 8...6 Eg, 209. 7..7 Eg, 93. -§ LU. 1643. %.-9 LU. and YBL. 1642. 10.--10 LU. 1644. 11 LU. 1645-1647. ¢ In Eg. 93, this is said by Medb.
_ 14...12 LU, 1647-1708 and Eg. 93 (Revue Celtique, t. xv, 1894, pp. 64-66).
' seven eked the s seven Celtri, the eigh KF the ten Delbrath, the ten Tasach. These are - that week on Ath Grenca. > Bisse Medb sought counsel, what was HAE to ee abe Cuchulain, for she was sore grieved at all of her host -had been slain by him. This is the counsel she took : despatch keen, high-spirited men at one time to atin . him when he would come to an appointment she would make to speak with him. For she had a tryst the next day with Cuchulain, to conclude the pretence of a truce ~ with him in order to get a chance at him. She sent forth — messengers to seek him to advise him to come to her, and ~ thus it was that he should come, unarmed, for she herself would not come but with her women attendants to converse i with him. | The runner, namely Traigtren (‘ Strongfoot ') 1son of Traiglethan (‘ Broadfoot’)+ went to the place where Cuchu- :. lain was and gave him Medb’s message. Cuchulain promised _ that he would do her will. ‘‘ How liketh it thee to meet — q Medb to-morrow, O Cuchulain?”’ asked Laeg. “ Even a
as Medb desires it,” answered Cuchulain. “Great are | Medb’s deeds,’’ said the charioteer; “I fear a hand behind ~ the back with her.” ‘‘ How is it to be done ? by us ? then ? ”’ ‘Y |
asked he. ‘“‘ Thy sword at thy waist,” the charioteer answered, ‘“‘ that thou be not taken off thy guard. Fora ~ warrior is not entitled to his honour-price if he be taken — without arms, ine it is the coward’s law that falls to him el in this manner.” ‘Let it be so, then,” said Cuchulain. Now it was on Ard (‘the Height’) of Aignech which is — called Fochard to-day that the meeting took place. Then 4 f 1.4.1 Ep, 93. 2...2 Eg, 93. wh
1 tapas iad a Taur bi Glesd. air es tomeet her. The men rise seins fourteen Sects are hurled at him at the same time. Hound defends himself, so that neither his skin nor protection (?) is touched and he turns in upon them and — “kills them, the fourteen men. Hence these are the ‘ Four-
teen men of Fochard.’ And they are also the ‘Men of ci | Cronech, for it is in Cronech at Fochard they were slain.
_ And it is of this Cuchulain spake :—
“Good my skill ¢ in ora: 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!” ®
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’ that happened to Cuchulain there.
Then came Cuchulain and he overtook ! the hosts ! pitch- ing camp, and there were slain the two Daigri, the two Anli and the four Dungai of Imlech. And there Medb began to urge on Loch: “‘ Great is the scorn that is made of thee,” said she, “that the man that killed thy brother should be destroying our host *here before thee* and thou not
¢ With a play on the name Focherd, as is explained in the following paragraph. ' > Here follow six lines in vosc, 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. 1...1 Eg. 93- 2.4.2 Eg. 93.
from one and the same instractress the act ws | you both.” PARK) | on
went to attack Cabhutatit 1to take deapbies on | his brother,! 2 for it was shown him that Cuchulain a beard; so they met on the ford where Long had fallen. . ‘Let us move to the upper ford,” said Loch, “ for I will! " not fight on this ford,” since he held it defiled, ? cursed and i” unclean,* the ford whereon his brother had fallen. 4 Now — when Cuchulain came to look for the ford, the men aol the cattle across. 5‘ The cattle > ®will be across thy — water here to-day,’ said Gabran® 7the poet.? §& Hence cometh Ath Tarteisc (‘the Ford over thy Water’) and Tir Mor Tarteisc (‘the Great Land over thy Water’). There- after they fought on the upper ford ® between Methé and Cethé at the head of Tir Mor,® °and they were for a long space and time at their feats wounding and Pasi: each other. 1°
Then it was that the Morrigan daughter of 11 hes i Ernmas came from the fairy dwellings to destroy Cuchulain. For she had threatened on the Cattle-raid of Regomain * that she would come to undo Cuchulain what time he would be 1%in sore distress 1? when engaged in 14 battle and 44 combat with a goodly warrior, 15 with Loch,1> in the course of the Cattle-spoil of Cualnge. Thither then the Morrigan - LU. and YBL. 1709 and Eg. 93. Y
sky tas Se al
1.
2...2 Eg. 93 and LU. 1709. +3 Eg, 93 and H. 2. £9. 4 4-4 LU. and, partly, YBL. 1711. --§ YBL. 17a,
6..-6 TU. and YBL. 1711. “? LV. bata » $...8 LU. and YBL. 17:2. -® Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. a 10...10 Eo, 93. 11...11 Eg, 93 uae H. 2. 17: = a
12-12 See page 165, note 12. - * Edited by Wh. Stokes and E. Windisch, in Ivische Texte, — Bd. II, SS: 241-254. eS . 13...18 Eg. 93. - 14...14 Eg. 93. | 15...15 Eg. 209.
a The women. ga with ¢ eS it sorcery, haa 3 con-
@s “
»d Cuchulain by geasa and by inviolable bonds * to chad the heifer for them ‘ lest she should escape from him. without harm. Cuchulain made an unerring cast ° from his
eng-stick > at her, so that he shattered one of the Morri- gan’s eyes.
_* Now when the men met on the ford and began to fight
: and to struggle, and when each of them was about to strike
the other,* the Morrigan came thither in the shape of a slippery, black eel down the stream. Then she came on the linn and she coiled “three folds’ * and twists® around the * two ® feet 1° and the thighs and forks ! of Cuchulain, 11 till he was lying on his back athwart the ford 11 and his limbs in the air.1?
While Cuchulain was busied freeing himself 1% and be- fore he was able to rise,13 Loch wounded him crosswise through the breast, 14 so that the spear * went through him 14 15and the ford was gore-red with his blood. 16“ Tl, indeed,”’ cried Fergus, “‘ is this deed in the face of the foe. Let some of ye taunt him, ye men,” he cried to his people, “to the end that he fall not in vain!” |
Bricriu Nemthenga (‘ Of the Venom-tongue’) son of Car-
el LU. and i a mae: 2...2 LU. and YBL. 1722.
wr Eg. OF. 4 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
5...5 Ege. 93 and H. S37. 6...6 LU. 1713.
“ee? LU. and YBL.' 1713. $...8 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17.
9...9 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 10...10 Ke, 93 and H. 2. 17. 11 LU. and YBL. 1714. 12...12 Ke..93 and H. 2. 17. 89 EBg..99 and Hf. ‘2.57. 14.. 14 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
mr Sword LU. and YBL. 1734. 15 LU. 1714.
nen 38 LU., edition of Strachan and O’ Keeffe, p. bis note 17. Simi-
arly, ‘ee 1714-1716, and Eg. 93.
AS sitet ‘thee L NG en thee even now whe
of Erin dna to ese a tient warrior tee in hae armo * Then? ?at this incitation ? 4 Cuchulain arose, foie with his left heel he smote the eel on the head,® & so tha its ribs broke within it * 7 and he destroyed one half of its brains after smashing half of its head.? * And the cattle _
were driven by force past the hosts to the east and they — even carried away the tents on their horns at the Lie 8s i feat the two warriors made on the ford.® TS W. 2302. The Morrigan next came in the form of a rough, grey- red bitch-wolf ® with wide open jaws® © andshe bit Cuchu-— lain in the arm 2° 1 and drove the cattle against him west- wards,!! 12 and Cuchulain made a cast of his little javelin " at her, strongly, vehemently, so that it shattered one eye ~ q in her head.12 During this space of time, whether long or short, while Cuchulain was engaged in freeing himself, Loch wounded him 1* through the loins. 18 Thereupon Cuchu-
lain chanted a lay.
144 Then did Cuchulain to the Morrigan the three things he had threatened her on the Cattle-raid of Regomain,* *LL, fo. 75a. and his anger arose within him and he * wounded Loch with the Gae Bulga (‘ the Barbed-spear ’), so that it passed through
--1 LU. fo. 63, note 19, edit. Strachan and O’ Keeffe, and Eg. 93..
1.
2...2 TU, and YBL. 1716. 3...3 Ee, 93 and H. 2. 17.
4.4 LU. and YBL. 1717. -5 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
é...6 LU. and YBL. 1717.. - 7 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 89.
8.-.§ LU. and YBL. 1718-1720. 9 Eg. 209. 10 Eg. 93 and H..2. 17. -11 LU, and YBL. 1721.
12 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, oiiae: LU. and YBL. 1721. Lik; Bg 93 and H. 2. 17. . : The three stanzas of this lay in YBL. (four in LU.) are found, with slight changes, in the lay on page 17241. “14 LU. and YBL. 1732.
wees yon the border of his hauberk and the rim of his
lai i ae go the ulead upwards, s scr torstsine
shield. 1 2 And it pierced his body’s covering, for Loch wore
i a horn skin when fighting with a man,? ? so that his farther ___ side was pierced clear after his heart had been thrust through
in his breast.*
4“ That is enough now,” spake Loch; “I am smitten by that. ® For thine honour’s sake®> ®and on the truth of thy valour and skill in arms,® 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,’ that it be on my face to the east I fall and not on my back to the west toward the warriors of Erin, to the end that no man of them shall say, * if I fall on my back,® it was in retreat or in flight I was before thee, for fallen I have by the Gae Bulga!’ ‘‘ That will I do,” an- swered Cuchulain, “for ’tis a ® true ® warrior’s prayer that thou makest.”
And Cuchulain stepped back, so that Loch fell on his face, and his soul parted from his body and Laeg despoiled him.?® 411 Cuchulain cut off his head then.1!_ Hence cometh
1...1 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 2.2 LU. and YBL. 1735-1736. 8...3 Ee. 93 and H. 2. 17.* 4.4 Eo, 93%
5..-5 Stowe. 6...6 Eg. 93.
7.0.7 Stowe. 8...8 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
e...8 Ke. 93 and H. 2. 17. 10...10 Be, 93 and H. 2. 17.
11...11 LU, fo. 77a, in the margin.
“with Cuchulain; when. five men went. against h m at time, namely the two Cruaid, the two Calad and All alone, Cuchulain killed them. Hence cometh Coi Focherda (‘ Fochard’s Fortnight ’) and Coicer Oengoirt — _(‘ Five Warriors in one Field’). Or it may be, fifteen days p Cuchulain passed in Fochard and it is hence cometh Coie . Focherda on the Tain.?
And deep distress possessed Cuchulain that days? more> than any other day? for his being all alone on the Tain, * confronting four of the five grand provinces of Erin,* 4 and he sank into swoons and faints. Thereupon Cuchulain enjoined upon Laeg his charioteer to go to the men of Ulster, that they should come to defend their drove. ® And, on rising, this is what he said: 5 ® ‘‘ Good, O Laeg, get thee - to Emain to the Ulstermen, and bid them come hence-— forward to look after their drove for I can defend their fords no longer. For surely it is not fair fight nor equal contest for any man for the Morrigan to oppose and over- power him and Loch to wound and pierce him.” *& And weariness of heart and weakness overcame him, 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®’ hand hath touched them not, Stanching blood with strips of wood!
1...1 LU. and YBL. 1739-1743. EG" x
* Literally ‘ repentance.’ 2...2 Stowe. 3...3 Stowe. 4...4 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. &...5 He, 93. $...8 Reo and HH. 2.17.
> Physician to King Conchobar,
‘ pyle "TG Bets en ‘
A! Fi. pary Dp . i
a yt :
ar
med
Goh at hy
ial
ea | te 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,*
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!’?®
“Loch has mangled my two thighs ; Me the grey-red wolf hath bit ; Loch my sides * 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 ;
* Following Windisch’s emended reading of LL.. >See above, page 168, note *%.
¢ Literally, ‘ liver.’
Whilesk Hhace nae ne cake a Seni vs Full of wounds and bathed in blood ; *“ Tell the splendid Ulster chiefs They shall come to guard their drove. Maga’s sons* have seized their kine © And have portioned them all out ! x “ 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! ”’ }
* Although Cuchulain spoke thus, he had no strength for Laeg to leave him.? a This then is the Combat of Loch Mor (‘ the Great’) son | of Mofemis against Cuchulain on the Driving of the Kine a of Cualnge.
¢ That is, the ‘barbed’ spear. 1:--1 Reading with MS. Stowe. > > That is, Medb.
¢ That is, the followers of Ailill. — 1...1 LU. page 64, note 5, edition of Strachan and v ‘Keeffe. 3...2 Eg. 93 and BX. 2. 07.
F h Tam weve five men sent against Cuchulain on the morrow f to contend with him and he killed them, so that they fell by his hand, and ‘the Five of Cenn Cursighi’ was their : name. Then it was that Medb despatched six men at one and the same time to attack Cuchulain, to wit: Traig (‘ Foot’) and Dorn (‘ Fist’) and Dernu (‘ Palm’), Col (‘ Sin’) and Accuis* (‘ Curse’) and Eraisé (‘ Heresy’), three druid- men and three druid-women, * their three wives.? Cuchu- lain attacked them, 4 the six of them, and struck off their six heads,* so that they fell at his hands ° on this side of Ath Tire Moire (‘ Big Land’s Ford’) at Methé and Cethé.5 _ Then it was that Fergus demanded of his sureties that fair-dealing should not be broken with Cuchulain. And it was there that Cuchulain was at that time,® 7 that is, at Delga Murthemni. Then Cuchulain killed Fota in his field, Bomailcé on his ford, Salach in his homestead, Muiné in his fort, Luar in Lethbera, Fertoithle in Toithle. These are the names of these lands forever, every place in which each man of them fell.” | | Forasmuch as covenant and terms of single combat had been broken with Cuchulain, Cuchulain took his sling in hand that day and began to shoot at the host from Delga | (‘the Little Dart’) in the south, §in Murthemne.* Though
1...1 This heading is supplied by Windisch. a...8 Eg. 9 * LU. 1764, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93 have for this, Mebul, ‘ Shame.’ $0.8 LU. 1767. 4--.4 Stowe. 5..-5 LU. 1766-1767. $...6 TU. and YBL. 1759-1760. 7-7 LU. 1761-1765. Ms? Fe..93 and H..2. 17.
175
. Kah os ai t ape ie Y
Wares BB
1...1 Stowe. Ns Na ieee $) 3...3 Ee, 93 and HS ory, 4
iS Bhay st ae or, » ‘g)
Bar, 4 ‘a
y
GREAT weariness came over Cuchulain after that night, d a great thirst, after his exhaustion.2 Then it was that the Morrigan, daughter of Ernmas, came from the fairy dwellings, in the guise of an old hag, * with wasted knees, long-legged,* * blind and lame,* engaged in milk- ing a ®tawny,' three-teated ®milch* cow before the
eyes of Cuchulain.* And for this reason she came in this fashion, that she might have redress from Cuchulain. For none whom Cuchulain ever wounded recovered there- from without himself aided in the healing. Cuchulain, maddened with thirst, begged her for a milking. She gave him a milking of one of the teats ? and straightway Cuchu- lain drank it.? “‘ May this be a cure in time for me, ® old crone,” quoth Cuchulain, ‘‘ and the blessing of gods and of non-gods upon thee!” said he;* and one of the queen’s eyes became whole thereby. He begged the milking of ®another® teat. 1She milked the cow’s second teat and 1° gave it to him and **he drank it and said,14 “‘ May she straightway be sound that gave it.” Then her head was healed so that it was whole.1? He begged a third drink
1...1 LU. fo. 77a, in the margin. Sees Ee Oe SIME. EA..2, 7.
3...3 Eg. 93. “ 4-4 LU. and YBL. 1748. 5... Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17.
6...6 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. * Reading fiadnaisse.
7...7 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. on * Be. \93~
9...9 Stowe, 10...10 Ke. 93 and H. 2. 17.
11...11 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. 12..-12 LU. and YBL. 1753. 177 N
folk of husbandry.® And the queen was helad 7 with.? ®“ Well, Cuchulain,® *®thou saidst to me,” spake the Morrigan, ‘“‘ I should not get healing 1° nor uc- cour 1 from thee forever.’’ “‘ Had I known it was thou, “a Cuchulain made answer, ‘“‘ I would never have healed thee.” Or, it may be Drong Conculainn (‘ Cuchulain’s Throng’ y on Tarthesc is the name of this tale in the ae of the Kine of Cualnge.®
11 Then it was she alighted in the form of a royston crow on the bramble that grows over Grelach Dolair (‘ the Stamp ing-ground of Dolar’) in Mag Murthemni. ‘‘ Ominous is | the appearance of a bird in this place above all,” quoth — Cuchulain. Hence cometh Sgé nah Einchi (‘ Crow’s Bran ble’) as a name of Murthemne.1! q
Then Medb ordered out the hundred 1 armed 1? warriors — 13 of her body-guard 1° at one and the same time to assail Cuchulain. Cuchulain attacked them all, so that they fell — by his hand at Ath Ceit Cuilé (‘ Ford of the First Crime’).24 _ “It is a dishonour for us that our people are slaughtered ; in this wise,’ quoth Medb. “‘ It is not the first destruction — that has befallen us from that same man,” replied Ailill. q Hence Cuilenn Cind Duni (‘ The Destruction of the Head j
aa
--1 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 2...4 Ke. 93 and H. 2. 17. Me he Nl i Mid 4-4 H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. -5 LU. and YBL. 1755. --6 A gloss, incorporated in the text of LL., me YBL., Stowe, HL 2. 17 and Eg. 93. --7 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. Spe oe 9...8 TU. and YBL. 1755-1758. 10 Bes os) 11...11 Kg, 93 and H. 2, 17. 12,..12 Ke, 93 and H. 2. ie 13...18 LU, 1768. 14 LU. 17609.
ES Os
THE GREAT ROUT ON THE pee OF een FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW
W. 2431.1 Taat seat 1 the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and made their station in the place called Breslech Mor (‘the Great Rout ’) in the Plain of awe themne. Their portion of cattle and spoils they sent on |
*LL. fo. 76a, before them to the south to the cow-stalls of Ulster.* ‘Cachadl lain took station at Ferta (‘the Gravemound’) at Lerga (‘the Slopes’) hard by them. And his charioteer kindled _ him a fire on the evening of that night, namely Laeg son of Riangabair. Cuchulain saw far away in the distance the fiery glitter of the bright-golden arms over the heads of four of the five grand provinces of Erin, in the setting of the sun in the clouds of evening. Great anger and rage pos- sessed him at their sight, because of the multitude of his — 1 foes, because of the number of his enemies *and opponents, and because of the few that were to avenge his sores and his _ wounds upon them.”
3’ Then Cuchulain arose and ® tes grasped his two sieail and his shield and his sword. He shook his shield siti | brandished his spears and wielded his sword and sent out — the hero’s shout from his throat, so that the fiends and 4 goblins and sprites of the glens and demons of the air gave answer for the fearfulness of the shout 4 that he lifted on
1 Eg. 93. _ 2% Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. 3...3 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 4.4 Translating from Stowe, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.
180:
s tha lay. hundred. Sitedhi’ aha timcnaaiy * f th fell dead that night of fright and of heart- break in the middle of the camp and quarters * of the men | a “of Bria at the awfulness of the horror and the shout which chulain lifted on high.* i Ss Laeg stood there he descried something: A singleman Ri coming from the north-eastern quarter athwart the camp of, the four grand provinces of Erin making directly for _ him. “A single man here cometh towards us now, Cucu- can,” cried Laeg. ‘‘ But what manner of man is he? ”’ ‘Cuchulain asked. “‘ Not hard to say,” 4 Laeg made answer. “A great, well-favoured man, then. Broad, close-shorn hair upon him, and yellow and curly his back hair. A green mantle wrapped around him. A brooch of white silver in the mantle overhis breast. A kirtle of silk fit for a king. with red interweaving of ruddy gold he wears trussed up on his fair skin and reaching down to his knees. °A great one-edged sword in his hand.5 A black shield with hard rim of silvered bronze thereon. A five-barbed spear in his hand. A pronged bye-spear beside it. Marvellous, in sooth, the feats and the sport and the play that he makes, But him no one heeds, nor gives he heed to any one. * No one shows him courtesy nor does he show courtesy to any | one,® like as if none saw him in the camp of the four grand provinces of Erin.” ‘‘In sooth, O fosterling,” answered Cuchulain, “‘it is one of my friends of fairy kin 7 that comes? to take pity upon me, because they know the great distress wherein I am now all alone against the four grand provinces of Erin on the Plunder of the Kine of
1.--1 Stowe, and LL., in the margin. ?---* Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. #---3 Eg. 93. 4.4 Eg, 93. * ‘Of gold,’ Eg. 93. $.-56 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. $...6 Stowe, 7...27 Stowe,
cach night, forthe Gee ‘grant me not fail the terms of single combat from noon of ¢ each day.’ .
Now in this, Cuchulain spoke truth. — "Whe: 1 th | warrior was come up to Cuchulain he bespoke hit condoled with him 2? for the greatness of his toil and length of time he had passed without sleep.2 3“ This ; brave of thee, O Cuchulain,’”’ quoth he. Tt is not much, ‘: at all,” replied Cuchulain. “But I will bring thee help,” q | _said the young warrior. ‘‘ Who then art thou?” asked — Cuchulain. ‘‘ Thy father from Faery am I, even Lug son of Ethliu.” “Yea, heavy are the bloody wounds — upon me; let thy healing be speedy.” * “ mae then — awhile, O Cuchulain,’”’ said the young warrior, “‘ thy heavy ' fit of sleep by Ferta in Lerga (‘the Gravemound on the Slopes ’) till the end of three days and three nights and I will oppose the hosts during that time.’’ *He examined — each wound so that it became clean. Then he sang him — the ‘men’s low strain’ till Cuchulain fell asleep withal. It was then Lug recited 4 >the Spell-chant of Lug.
Accordingly Cuchulain slept his heavy fit of sleep at — ‘the Gravemound on the Slopes’ till the end of three days and three nights. And well he might sleep. Yet — as great as was his sleep, even so great was his weariness. — For from the Monday before Samain* (‘Summer-end’) — even to the Wednesday after Spring-beginning,? Cuchu- — lain slept not for all that space, except for a brief snatch — after mid-day, leaning against his spear, and his head on his —
1...1 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 2...2 Stowe.
8.-.8 LU. 1803-1807, and, similarly, Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
4-4 LU. 1810-1811. Hiuagy” a
5...5 LU. fo. 78a, in the margin; also in H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93. —
. Hallowtile, the first of November and the beginning of ~ winter. 4
> Le. Candlemas. Stowe contains a Christian addition: ‘to the © feast of Brigit;’ that is, the first of February.
Ww. 2482. THAT was the time the youths came out of the north trom
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE YOUTHS OF ULSTER+ i
Emain Macha ! to the help of Cuchulain. Thrice fifty boys of the sons of the kings of Ulster, accompanying Follomain, Conchobar’s son, and three battles they offered to the hosts, _ so that thrice their number fell and the youths also fell, — save Conchobar’s son Follomain. Follomain vowed that M4 " never till the very day of doom and of life would he return — to Emain unless he should bring Ailill’s head with him to- — gether with the diadem of gold that was on it. That was no easy thing for him to achieve, for the two sons of Bethé son of Ban—the two sons of Ailill’s foster-mother and foster- father ? to whom King Ailill’s diadem had been entrusted ?— attacked and wounded * Follomain,? so-that he fell by their — hands. This then is the Massacre of the youths of Ulster and of Follomain son of Conchobar. | a
Touching Cuchulain, he remained in his sound, heavy sleep till the end of three days and three nights at the ‘ Grave- mound on the Slopes.’ Thereafter Cuchulain arose from his sleep. He passed his hand over his face and he became _ as a wild’ wheel-thunder (?) from his crown to the ground, and he felt his courage strengthened, and he would have —
¢ The LU. version of this episode was given above under XIIz, page 143. | a
1..-2 Stowe. 2..2 Be. 93 and H. 2. 17. Rook ie, 1032) ae
> Literally, ‘ crimson.’
184
a) y
asst:
nights, > the pana warrior made answer. “ Woe is me Re eeloney !”? quoth Cuchulain. | Fee young: warrior. “For that the hosts have not been
BS attacked i in that time,’’ answered Cuchulain. ‘‘ Nay, not
so were they spared,” the young warrior made answer. “I
ie would fain inquire who then attacked them?” Cuchu- Jain asked. ‘‘ The youths came hither out of the north _ from Emain Macha, thrice fifty boys accompanying Follo-
- main, Conchobar’s son, and they the sons of the kings of
Ulster. And three battles they offered the hosts in the space of the three days and three nights wherein thou wast till now asleep, and thrice their number are fallen at their hands and the youths themselves are fallen except Follo- main talone,4 Conchobar’s son. And Follomain vowed that never till the very day of doom and of life * would he return ? north 2 to Emain Macha till he carried off Ailill’s head with the diadem of gold which was on it. Howbeit not such was his luck, for he fell at the hands of the two sons of Bethé son of Ban, after engaging in battle with them.”
“Alas, that I was not ‘*there* in my strength!” cried Cuchulain; “‘for had I been in my strength the youths would not have fallen, as now they have, and Follomain would not have perished.” ‘‘ But this avow, O Cucan,”* ®said the young warrior;> “it is no re- proach to thine honour and no disgrace to thy valour.” “Bide here this night with us, young warrior,” said Cuchulain, ‘‘ that together we avenge the youths on the hosts.” ‘‘ Nay then, I may not tarry,” answered the
1.461 Eg. 93. 2...2 Ee, 93 and H. 2. 17. 3...3 Stowe. #4 Stowe. * A pet name for Cuchulain. 5-5 Eg. 93.
“Why so?” asked.
he»
tarry ath thee, but ds? thou thyself a th pale’ n 2 and the strength of thy hands 2. alone on ie hosts, , for no} with them is the power over thy life on this occkatne ph ’Then the young warrior from Faery went from — ni and they knew not what way he had gone. “‘ Good, Oo my master Laeg,’”’ said Cuchulain; “‘ together we will go avenge the youths on the iis: ” “T will go with thee, me % Laeg made answer.* ‘‘ And the scythed chariot, my friend Laeg,” said Cuchulain. “Canst thou get it ready? If thou canst get it ready and hast its equipment, make it i 4 ready, and if its equipment is not at hand, make it not ready.”’ 1
1...1 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. 2...2 Ee. 93 and H. 2. 17." 3...3 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. | :
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“tee z aes Mw Rees Maa. Maleahie. 8 Rot aes emrigat eg? Ge Ps vr. Or eer. ae oe ar “tel Gee ; (ite ¥ ink Ss fin, v S| be ey P - : : r* - a t, f i4 £9
eee Ge Tg
“XVIIs. THE SCYTHED CHARIOT
oT HEI EUPON the charioteer arose and donned his yeoman’s
is ‘suit for charioteering. Of this * yeoman’s suit for charioteer- *LL. fo. 77a. ing, this is what he put on him: His soft kirtle of skin
bs which was light and airy, which was smooth and sparkling,
_ which was stitched and of buckskin, so that it hindered not the movements of his arms outside. Over that he put outside an over-mantle of raven’s feathers, which Simon Magus had made ‘as a gift 1 *for Darius? * Nero,* king of the Romans. Darius bestowed it upon Conchobar ; Con- chobar gave it to Cuchulain; Cuchulain presented it to 4 Laeg son of Riangabair,* his charioteer. The same charioteer took the crested, plated, four-bordered battle-cap with variety of every colour and every figure, reaching 5 down ® over the middle of his shoulders behind. It was an adornment for him and not an encumbrance. With his hand he placed the red-yellow frontlet—like one red- golden strip of glowing gold smelted over the edge of an anvil—on his forehead as a token of charioteering, to distinguish him from his master. He opened the hobbles that fastened his steeds and grasped his gold-mounted goad in his right hand. In his left hand he seized the lines, that is, the bridle-reins of his horses for restraining his steeds before performing his charioteering.
1.01 Eg, 93. 2..-2 Stowe and LU. 1874. 3... H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93, instead of, ‘ Darius,’ 4
+4 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. &...5 Fg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 187 |
my of mail over his horses, oun head” to forehand.
every RHE of the frame bristled with points chariot and every corner and end and point and — of chariot was a passage of laceration. $ in
Then cast he a spell of concealment over his PRE over his fellow, so that they were not visible to any one in Ba the camp, while all in the camp were visible to them, 3 sin over this veil of protection. he wounded each one and through it and behind it.2 Well indeed was it that he cast — that charm, for on that day the charioteer had to perform q the three gifts of charioteership, namely leaping over a cleft in the ranks, unerring driving, and the handling of the goad.
Then 4 arose 4 the champion and battle-warrior and the instrument of Badb’s corpse-fold* among the men of the - earth,” Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, and he donned his war-dress of battle and fight and combat. To that war- dress of battle and fight and combat which he put about him belonged seven and twenty’ waxed, board-like, equally close skin-tunics which were girded by cords and swathings and ropes on his fair skin, to the end that his wit and reason might not become deranged when the violence of his nature came over him.
Over him he put on the outside his battle-girdle of a champion, of tough, tanned, stout leather cut from the fore- quarters of seven ox-hides of yearlings, so that it reached from the slender parts of his waist to the stout part under
-1 There is a gap in the MS., and these words are supplied from the ebatext, 2 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. -3 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. . + That i is, the piled up bodies of the slain. --4 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. ¢ ‘Of Erin,’ Eg. 93. > ‘Fight and twenty,’ Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
--—~— Phe Seythed Chariot =-s——s«8
562. his arm-pits. He was used to wear it to keep off spears and _ points and irons and lances and arrows. For in like manner _ they would 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-gold against the soft lower parts of his loins. His brown, well-sewn kilt of brown leather from the shoulders of four ox-hides of yearlings, with his battle-girdle of cow-skins, he put underneath over the shining silken trews on the outside, so that it covered him from the slender part of his waist to the thick part of his thighs and reached up to the battle-belt of the hero. Then the king-hero * * and king-warrior ? seized his battle- arms of battle and fight and combat. This is what be- longed to those warlike weapons of battle: He took his
*LL. fo. 7724.
eight little swords together with the bright-faced, tusk- ©
hilted straightsword *along with his quiver;* he took his eight little spears besides his five-pronged spear; he took his eight little darts together with his javelin with its walrus-tooth ornaments; he took his eight little shafts along with his play-staff; he took his eight shields for feats together with his dark-red bent-shield, whereon a show-boar could lie in its hollow boss, with its very sharp, razor-like, keen-cutting, hard * iron * rim all around it, so that it would cut a hair against the stream because of its
sharpness and fineness and keenness. When the young ©
watrior would perform the edge-feat withal, it was the same whether he cut with his shield or his spear or his sword. Next he put round his head his crested war-helm of battle and fight and combat, 5 wherein were four car- buncle-gems on each point and each end to adorn it,5 where- out was uttered the cry of an hundred young warriors with the long-drawn wail from each of its angles and corners.
eae | Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 2.4.2 Eg. 93 and H. 2. I7- 8...3 LU, 1914. 4.4 Ko, 93 and H, 2. 17. 5...5 Re, 93 and H. 2. 17.
Rag sprites. ar the: ai and the demons s of
‘before and above and around him, what - for the shedding of blood of heroes and champions,? e: ing in the mighty deeds wrought underneath it.t q veil of concealment was thrown over him then, of raiment from Tir Tairngiré (‘ the Land of Promise’) which aan = brought to him 2 as a gift 2 by Manannan son of Ler (‘ the Sea’) from the king of Tir na Sorcha (‘ the Land of Light va 8 his foster-father in magic.? 4 His fair, purple-red fan was — placed in front of his face. Past it and through it and over — it everything was visible to him and no one aastineisis him — past it nor through it nor over it.¢ iq
Then took place the first twisting-fit 'and rage of a 6the royal hero * Cuchulain, so that he made a terrible, many-shaped, wonderful, unheard of thing of himself. — His flesh trembled about him like a pole against the torrent i or like a bulrush against the stream, every member and ~ every 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 his shins and his knees slid so that they came behind him. His heels and his calves and his hams shifted so that they passed to the front. The muscles of his calves moved so that they came to the front of his shins, so that each huge knot was the size of a soldier’s balled fist. He stretched the sinews of ‘his head. so that they stood out on the nape of his neck, and as large as the head of a month-old child was each © of the hill-like lumps, huge, incalculable, vast, immeasur- _ able.
_ He next made a ruddy bowl of his face and his counten- — ance. He gulped down one eye into his head so that it ©
4.1 Ee, 93 and H. 2. 17. 2...2 Ee. 93 and H. 2. 17." 3..-8 Stowe and LU. 1927. 4---4 Eg. 93. s...5 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. s...6 Eg. 93 and. H. 2. 17.
y
The Scythed Chariot Ox
out on to the middle of his cheek from the rear of his skull.
2 iad Its mate sprang forth till it came out on his cheek,! so that
it was the size of a five-fist kettle, and he made a red berry thereof out in front of his head.1_ His mouth was distorted monstrously * and twisted up to his ears.2, He drew the cheek from the jaw-bone so that the interior of his throat was to be seen. His lungs and his lights stood out so that they fluttered in his mouth and his gullet. He struck a mad lion’s blow with the upper jaw * onits fellow *so that as large as a wether’s fleece of a three year old was each ‘ red,‘ fiery flake ® which his teeth forced ® into his mouth from his gullet. There was heard the loud clap of his heart against his breast like the yelp of a howling bloodhound or like a lion going among bears.* There were seen the “torches of the Badb,* and the rain clouds of poison, and the sparks of glowing-red fire, ® blazing and flashing ® in hazes and mists over his head with the seething of the truly- wild wrath that rose up above him. His hair bristled all over his head like branches of a redthorn thrust into a gapina great hedge. Had a king’s apple-tree laden with royal fruit been shaken around him, scarce an apple of them all would have passed over him to the ground, but rather would an apple have stayed stuck on each single hair there, for the twisting of the anger which met it as it rose from his hair above him. The Lon Laith (‘ Champion’s Light’) stood out of his forehead, so that it was as long and as thick as a warrior’s whetstone, 7so that it was as long as his nose, till he got furious handling the shields, thrusting out the charioteer, destroying the hosts.? As high, as thick, as strong, as steady, as long as the sail-tree of some huge
1.01 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17. 2...2 Stowe.
3---8 Reading with Stowe. 4...4 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 5...5 Reading with Eg. 93. s..¢ A kenning for ‘swords,’ s...6 Ee. 93 and H. 2. 17. 7-7 LU. 1958-1959.
. would be hard work if a wild crane succeeded in drawing it ©
*LL. fo. 78a.
: ‘ one a king’s hostel wtiae time
tered to at eaaeah of a winter's dey.
with its opening fixtures, with its stinging nails that wer fastened to the poles and thongs and bows and lines of they “a chariot, tlacerating heads and bones and bodies, legs and necks and shoulders.1
It was then he delivered 2 over wis chariot the thunder-feat 4
of a hundred and the thunder-feat of two hundred and — the thunder-feat of three hundred and the thunder-feat —
of four hundred, and he ceased at the thunder-feat of five — hundred. For he did not deem it too much that such a
great number should fall by his hand at his first onset and first battle-assault on four of the five grand provinces of Erin, * while avenging on them the slaughter of the youths and of Follomain son of Conchobar.* In such wise fared he forth for to seek his foes, and he drove his chariot in a
wide circuit round about the hosts of the four grand prov- a vinces of Erin. And he led his chariot a heavy way. The — chariot’s iron wheels sank into the ground so that ‘the earth dug up by the iron wheels * might have served for a din — and a fortress, so did the chariot’s iron wheels cut into the ~ ground. For in like manner the clods and boulders and ~ rocks and the clumps and the shingle of the earth arose q up outside on a height with the iron wheels. It was for — this cause he made this circling ° boa a 5 of the Badb q
1...1 Ke, 93 and H. 2. 17. 2...2 Eg. 93 3...8 Ee. 93 and H. 2. 17. 4-4 Stowe. Beo® Be. Oz and HH. 2. 27.
+ ie
At ae =i midst ‘at fh ranks and
MOV bag a OWI BCE. Sng
sper vhs say he made the onslaught of a foe amongst foes’ a geese them, so that they fell sole to sole, neck to neck, 2 arm. 4 ‘to arm, elbow to elbow, and rib to rib, ® such was the close- ness of their bodies,* and there were pools of ruddy blood where they moved.? Thrice again in this manner he circled them round, 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 inacircle around the camp. Hence Sessrech Bresligé (‘Great sixfold Slaughter’)* is the name of this event on the Tain, and it is one of the three unreckonable events of the Tain, which were, to wit, Sessrech Bresligé, Immsligé Glennamnach (‘the Mutual Slaying at Glenna- main’), andthe battle of Garech * and Ilgarech ; only that here, hound and horse and man were one to him ‘in the great rout on Mag Murthemni that night avenging the youths on four of the five grand provinces of Erin.4
What others say is that Lug son of Ethliu fought on Cuchulain’s side at the Sessrech Bresligé.
Their number is not known and it cannot be reckoned how many fell there of the rabble rout, but only their chiefs have been counted. Here below are their names, to wit :—
The two Cruad, two Calad, two Cir, two yee two Ecell,
) three Cromm, three Cur, three Combirgé, four Feochar, four Furachar, four Cassé, four Fota, five Caur, five Cerman,
1...1 Re. 93 and H. 2. 17.
2...2 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 3-.-3 TU. 1996. * Or, ‘ Ploughland of the Great Slaughter.’
4.4 Eg, 93 and H. 2. 17.
alls ape the corpses of his foes tand | ‘opponents lina great circle round about the —
*LL. fo. 78b
Guchubein laid iow, in the Hien aughter o1
Murthemne, besides a countless horde oe does and women and boys and children and common there escaped not a third man of the men of Erin * a wound or a hurt or a blueing or a reddening or a tr a mark or breaking of thigh or of leg or of ei a out having hip-bone broken or half his skull or an eye hurt, or without an enduring mark for the course of his life. 5 An he left them then after inflicting that battle upon them without having his blood drawn or wound brought on I self or on his charioteer or on either of his horses.®
--1 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. -2 LU. and YBL. 2010. ats Weineteen and nine-score,’ H. 2. i wre Eg. 93. a 3..-3 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 4...4 Kg, 93 and H. 2. 17. 5...6 TU., edition of Strachan and O’Keeffe, page 72, note 19.
\. ARLY ? tds next morning Cuchulain came 16 observe tl « Post! and to display his comely, beautiful form to the
. yA ( Fst and dames and girls and maidens and poets and
men of art,* for he did not consider it an honour nor becom- ing, the ? wild,* proud shape of magic which had been mani- fested to them the night before. It was for that then that he came to exhibit his comely, beautiful form on that day. Truly fair was the youth that came there to display his form to the hosts, Cuchulain, to wit son of Sualtaim ¢son of Becfoltach (‘Of little possessions’) son of Morfoltach (‘ Of great possessions’) son of Red Neil macRudhraidi.4 Three heads of hair he wore; brown at the skin, blood-red in the middle, a golden-yellow crown what thatched it. Beautiful was the arrangement of the hair, with three coils of hair wound round the nape of his 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 hundred bright-purple windings of gold-flaming red gold at his neck. A hundred salmon-coloured (?) cords strung with carbuncles as a covering round hishead. Four spots on either of his two cheeks, even a yellow spot, and a green spot, and a blue spot,
“4... LU. fo. 81a, in the margin. 2...2 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. _ ® A general term for poets, singers, seers and druids. #8 Eg. 93 and H. 2.17. ‘4-4 H. 2. 17.
195
ahve Gites of his seat ‘ee, Seven
_*LL. fo. 79a.
feet. Seven fingers to either of his | twa. bia : clutch of hawk’s claw, with the grip of hedgehog’s tal every separate one of them. He also put on him that day his fainday deg this apparel about him belonged, namely, a beautiful, wel fitting, purple, fringed, five-folded mantle. A white broock of *silvered bronze or of + white silver incrusted with pel nished gold over his fair white breast, as if it were a full- fulgent lantern that eyes of men could not behold * for its : resplendence and crystal shining. A *striped? chest-— jacket of silk on his skin, fairly adorned with borders and © braidings and trimmings of gold and silver and silvered © bronze ; it reached to the upper hem of his dark, brown- — red warlike breeches of royal silk. A magnificent, brown- — purple buckler he bore, * with five wheels of gold on it, with a rim of pure white silver around it. A gold-hilted hammered sword 4 with ivory guards, raised high at his — girdle * at his left side. A long grey-edged spear together with a trenchant bye-spear, for defence, with thongs for — throwing and with rivets of whitened bronze, alongside him in the chariot. Nine heads he bore in one of his hands and ten in the other, and these he brandished before the hosts — in token of his prowess and cunning. ® This then was a — night’s attack for Cuchulain on the hosts of four of the five — provinces of Erin.’ Medb hid her face beneath a shelter of shields lest Cuchulain should cast at her that day. 4 Then it was that the maidens * of Connacht * besought the men of Erin to lift them up on the flat of the shields - above the warriors’ shoulders; 7and the women * of Munster® clomb on the men’ to behold the aspect of 1 YBL.2040. 2? YBL. 2043. 3-3 LU. and YBL. 2045. --4 LU. and YBL. 2046. 5...5 LU. and YBL. 2050.
-6 LU. and YBL. 1205. 7...7 LU. and YBL. 2052 . 8 YBL, added later above the line.
eo oe > --—2 .
ey eR TA p Ue TS |. BMAD ai Hal ein hua ae gad
m~ s 4 a - a > _
ih} ithe , * i : S «oe vs + ‘ ry i 3 : ; ‘2 £ ! ‘ ‘ e Fr - 4 a¥,% : 4 a, y = Pus 5 ra) ¥ " r a y * , | : ) - > \ Hi ri’ , ’ . ' i +7 : ‘7 LL Fede ‘
bi tee iki " : } ata Wek
PR ed ANY AN | ey [ or A \ eae , . . te : a‘ yy } nee & URLS v im Ne 1m O)\b AV
DUBTHACH’S JEALOUSY:
W. 2749. 1AND Dubthach’s wife prayed to. be lifted to regard tl form of Cuchulain.1 Then it was that jealousy, ill-will and envy possessed Dubthach Doel (‘the Black-tongue’)’ _ of Ulster because of his wife 2 in regard to Cuchulain ; for he saw his wife climb on the men to get a glimpse of Cuchu- q lain; and he counselled the hosts to act treacherously towards Cuchulain and to entrap him, even to lay up an 4 ambush around him on all sides to the end that he > RE aa fall by them. And he spake these words :—
“Tf 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‘* Tf this be the Twisted one, Men shall soon be slain by him ; ’Neath his feet shall corpses lie; Under bushes mantles white ! *
‘‘ Now the Wildman’s form I see, Nine * heads dangling by his side; Shattered spoils he has, behold ; Ten ¢ heads as his treasure great!
* This superscription is not found in the MSS. lesel Eg. 93.
> Literally, ‘ the Chafer (or Scorpion ?).’
2...2 Stowe. ; A) 8...8 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. ¢ ‘ Eight,’ LU. and YBL. 2060
¢ ‘Nine,’ LU. and YBL. 2061, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.
198
y for “e the wrongs and iaqusitiee and treachery and shameful ih free he had ever done to the Ulstermen of old and anew. _ And then he spake these words :—
“Tf this ‘ Black-tongue ’ Dubthach be, Let him skulk behind the hosts; | No good hath he ever wrought, Since he slew the princesses! ¢
“Base and foul, the deed he wrought : Fiachu, Conchobar’s son, he slew. _ No more fair was heard of him: Carbré’s death, Fedilmid’s son!
“Ne’er for Ulster’s weal doth aim Lugaid’s son, Casruba’s scion ; ® Such is how he acts to men: Whom he stabs not he incites !
| “ Ulster’s exiles it would grieve ~ If their beardless boy * 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!
7
_* The reference is to the maidens of Emain Macha slain by Dub- | _-thach in punishment for the death of the sons of Usnech. _ + That is, Dubthach. | ¢ That is, Cuchulain.
LL. fo. 79b.
Thus far ‘ The Sid Chariot.’ gina
1.1 LU. and YBL. 2077.
®---2 Reading: Betit buind fri ine
8... This quatrain is almost identical with the one ae 7 page 199. } |
¢ A very obscure and fragmentary passage in LU. and (lines 2083-2106, edition of Strachan and O’Keeffe, jacking 4 Eg. 93, Revue Celtique, tome xv, page 204), consisting of a series . short strains in vosc spoken in turn by Ailill, Medb, Gabran the © poet, and Fergus, is omitted in the translation. [
74 bh - , p > c ci 4 ¢ a Py in a ete Wi) “ht ms ins ) a eae b uv ; 's : Lh 2 i! i iA hes a2 = J i 4 a% ‘| a. oe jah Mg (eam i ihe :
pdvaeee oP gare poh aie os wists BN ees
1e eee the hosts ; his bye-name was Oengus s son of
rf) nl m Gabé (‘ the One-handed Smith’). And he drove the
hosts before him from Moda Loga, which at that time was
bi called Lugmud, to Ath da Fert (‘the Ford of the Two
-Gravemounds’)inSliab Fuait. 2 And he suffered them not
_ to go by, but he showered them with stones.2. What scholars
say is: If Oengus son of Oenlam Gabé had fought them in
_ single combat, * two-thirds of * the host would have fallen
before that by him in single battle *at Emain Macha.‘
Howbeit it was by no means so that they acted, but they
attacked him from ambush on every side, till he fell at their hands ® in unequal fight > at Ath da Fert 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.
201
pas 1, 2 . , ne: ‘hee, 7; es OA oe rid ‘ fh: hy et ane ap a, A ' i lial ESRC 2 hae ROAR PERL , A
W. 2823.
HERE NOW IS TOLD THE ‘MIsTHROW AT BE y.
EOIN.
THEN came to them Fiacha Fialdana (‘ the Generous and % Intrepid’) of the Ulstermen to speak with the son of his — mother’s sister, namely with Mané Andoé (‘ the Unslow * 1 of the Connachtmen. And thus he came, and Dubthach _ Doel (‘ the Black Tongue’) of Ulster withhim. Itwasinthis wise that Mané Andoé came, and Doché son of Maga along with him. When now Doché macMagach espied Fiacha Fialdana, he straightway hurled a spear at him, but so ~ that it went through his own friend, through Dubthach Doel of Ulster. Then Fiacha Fialdana hurled a spear at Doché macMagach, so that it went through his own friend, through Mané Andoé of Connacht. Thereupon said the men of Erin: ‘A mishap in throwing,” they said, 4 what hath happened to the men, for each of them to kill his friend and nearest relation.” Hence this is entitled Imroll Belaig Eoin (‘the Misthrow at Bird-pass’). And ‘ the Other Misthrow at Bird-pass’ is another name for it.
1Or it may be this from which cometh Imroll Belaig Eoin: The hosts proceed to Belach Eoin (‘ Bird-pass’). Their two troops wait there. Diarmait macConchobar _ of the Ulstermen comes from the north. “ Let a horse- man start from you,” cries Diarmait, “that Mané may come with one man to parley with me, and I will go with another man to parley with him.’”’ A while thereafter they
14-1 LU. and YBL. 2114-2128. 202
repo DEO PPE ani : says ‘Diarmait, ‘if perchance that pleaseth — | wg am content,” replies Mané. Each of em casts be spear at the other so that both of them , and hence the name of this place is Imroll Belaig ‘oin. Their forces rush upon one another. Three-score of i pte force fall. Hence is Ard i in Dirma (‘ the Height of the
_ Troop oh Oey , is . ne ne White-horned,’ ’ The ‘ Brown of Cualnge.’
Ae et he
don the garments of Ailill and the king’s golden shawl, and ot i to the ford that was close beforethem. So he put the garments — and golden shawl of Ailill upon him. + Ailill’s people placed _ the king’s diadem on the head of Tamon the fool, for Ailill } dared not wear it himself,1 and he went on to the ford under _ theireyes. The men of Erin began to scoff and to shout and a jeer at him. ‘It is a disguising of Tamon (‘a Stump’) for — thee, O Tamon the fool,” they cried, ‘‘ with the dressandthe golden shawl of Ailill upon thee!’ When Cuchulain saw him, it seemed to him in his ignorance and lack of knowledge _ that it was Ailill himself that was there. And he slung a stone from his staff-sling at him so that #his head was
broken thereby ? and Tamon the fool was smitten lifeless where he was on the ford. Hence Ath Tamuin (‘the Ford — of a Stump’) *isthename of that ford ever since * and‘ the Disguising of Tamon’ 4 is the name of the tale. }
1-1 LU. and YBL. 2129. 2 LU. and YBL. 2131. 3...3 Stowe. 4.004 Stowe.
204
Beige one eS BATTLE OF FERGUS AND CUCHULAIN !
ei ek
A a
. 28 Tu a e hosts of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and entrenched themselves for that night at the pillar- stone in Crich Roiss (‘the Borders of Ross’). Then Medb ns ‘called upon the men of Erin for one of them to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the morrow. And every one of them spake thus: “It shall not be I! it shall not be I!” * cried each from his place.2 “‘ No victim is owing from my people, * and even if one were it would not be my- self whom ye would send as a victim in his stead. _4T will not be the man to goin his place to fight with Cuchu-
lain till the very day of doom and of life!”’ 4 Thereupon Medb summoned Fergus to ® go forth and & contend and fight with Cuchulain, * to drive him off from them on the ford® “at the early morning-hour’? *on the morrow,® for that the men of Erin had failed her ° to go and do battle with him.® “Ill would it befit me,” quoth Fergus, “to fight with a callow young lad without any beard, and mine own disciple, 1° the fosterling of Ulster,?° 11 the foster-child that sat on Conchobar’s knee, the lad from Craeb Ruad (‘Red Branch’).” 44 Howbeit Medb |
1..-1 LU. fo. 82b, in the margin. 2.2 LU. and YBL. 2141. 3...3 Ee, 93 and H. 2. 17.) LU. and YBL. 2142-2143.
4...4 Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17. 5...65 Stowe and H. 2. 17. 6...6 Ke, 93 and H. 2. 17. ToT Eg. 93.
8...8 AH. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.
9...2 Stowe. 10,..10 FT, 2, he fy 11...11 Eg. 93.
205
*LL. fo. 80a.
| dren 1 They bole nag }
the morrow Fergus arose, ? anny they impo rt urgently, 2 8 and his horses ¥ were got Spe for him
where Cuchulain was. 4 When now * Cuchulain saw him coming nigh, © ‘this.
O my master Fergus,” spoke Cuchulain. ‘ Truly eh | ‘ we esteem thy greeting,’ Fergus answered. “It is truly — given for thee, O Fergus’’ said Cuchulain ; “‘ and thou shalt. have a night’s lodging here this night.’”’ ‘“‘ Success and a blessing attend thee, O fosterling ; not for hospitality from thee am I come, but to fight and do battle with thee.”* — ‘A vain surety * is the one wherewith my master Fergus comes to me; for no sword is in the sheath of the great staff he bears.’’ It was true what he said. A year before ~ this tale,* ’ before the expedition of the Tain,’ Ailill had found Fergus going to a tryst with Medb on the hillside in Cruachan and his sword on a § branch § near by him. And a Ailill had torn the sword from its sheath and put a wooden sword in its stead and vowed he would not restore him the sword till came the day of the great battle °when the men of Erin would clash in the great battle of the Cualnge Cattle-raid at Garech and Ilgarech.® 1% “It is a perilous — thing for thee to come to a place of fight, O my master | Fergus, without thy sword.’’?° ‘It matters not to me, : O fosterling,”’ replied Fergus; “‘ for had I a sword in this, a it never would cut thee nor be plied on thee. But, by a
1.1 LU. and YBL. ii edi nie taRE) (AP 2.2 LU. and YBL. 2147. 3:---? Eg. 93. --4 Stowe. a 5...5 Stowe, %--§ Ee, 93. 4% See above, anes 99. %...7 Stowe. | 8...8 Reading with Stowe ; LL. has ‘ on the slope.’ om
9.4.9 Stowe. : 10..,10 YAM
e bec covered with wounds and dripping with gore and pierced
KG ee in flight bles thee,? so will all the men ia Erin also flee * before thee in like manner.” + So zealous was -Cuchulain to do whatever made for Ulster’s weal that
he had his chariot brought to him, and he mounted his
chariot and he went in confusion and flight 5 from Fer- gus in the presence® of the men of Erin. * As far as Grellach Dolluid (‘ the Stamping-place at Dolluid’) he fled, in order that Fergus might give way before him on the day of the battle.© 7? When? the men of Erin saw that, ~8they were joyful, and what they said was this: § “‘ He is fled from thee! He is fled from thee, O Fergus!’’ cried all. “Pursue him, pursue him ® quickly,® O Fergus, ” Medb cried, ‘‘ that he do not escape thee.’ ‘‘ Nay then,” said Fergus, “‘ I will pursue him no further. 1° It is not like a tryst. Yon fellow is too speedy for me.4° For however little ye may make of the flight I have put him to, none of the men of Erin, 11 not even four of the five provinces of Erin?! could have obtained so much as that of him on the Cow-creagh of Cualnge. For this cause, till the men of Erin take turns in single combat, I will not engage again
4“ a ‘for Tin my cr will retreat before thee when thee wilt ©
+
with this same man.”’ Hence here we haye the 12‘ White #2 . 1.1 Eg. 93. 2 Stowe. 8..-3 Stowe. 4...4 Stowe. -5 Stowe. s...6 LU. and VBL. sie toes. 7-7 Stowe, 8...8 Stowe. 9...8 Stowe. 10...10 LU. and YBL. 2157.
BLooy32 Eg. 93- 12,..12 Eg. 93.
ui . Ny ' Pa) uy as apy teks OS
‘hi Sy ty . ago
Re 4 , “iy Yh Seat +N Nee ety 4 y yt ; \ ’ . . r ‘ y ‘
FEI CHU LoncsEcu (‘the Exile’), 1a wonderful warrior Be from Loch Ce, outlawed from his land by Ailill and Medb,? mi although of the Connachtmen, was engaged in battle and be _ plunder with Ailill and Medb. From the day these came to the kingship, there never was a time that he fared to their camp or took part in their expeditions or shared in their straits or their needs or their hardships, but he was ever at their heels, pillaging and plundering their borders and land. At that time he sojourned in the eastern part of Mag Ai. Twelve * men was his muster. He learned that a single man checked and stopped four of the five grand pro- vinces of Erin from Monday at Summer’s end till the be- ginning of Spring, slaying a man on the ford every one of those days and a hundred warriors every night. He weighed his plan privily with his people. ‘‘ What better plan could we devise?” quoth he, “ than to go and attack yonder man that checketh and stoppeth four of the five grand provinces of Erin, and bring his head and his arms with us to Ailill and Medb? However great the injuries and wrongs we have done to Ailill and Medb, we shall obtain our peace therefor, if only that man fall by our hand.’”’” *He made no doubt that if Cuchulain fell through him, the eastern territory of Connacht would be his.2 Now this was the _ tt Eg. 93 *¢ ‘ Thirteen,’ LU. and YBL. 2161, and Eg. 93. 88 Eg. 93. . 209 P
i OS) Ny
fight nor Cone wie one tl a U c : and the same time the twelve men fell upon J Be
them, * front and back, to the left and the right,§ 5 ate a straightway he smote off their twelve heads; ° and he engaged in a furious, bloody and violent battle with Ferchu 4 himself, after killing his people. And not long did it avail
And he set up twelve stones in the earth for them, and he © put the head of each one of them on its stone and he like- — wise put Ferchu Longsech’s head on its stone. Hence — Cinnit Ferchon Longsig is * henceforth the name of ® the — place where Ferchu Longsech left his head *® and his twelve men theirs and their arms and their trophies,® to wit, Cenn-aitt Ferchon (‘ the Head-place of Ferchu’).
q "
heed Eg. 93. | 2...2 Eg. 93. 3...3 Eg. 93. 4.4 Eg. 93. B86 Be. os, $08 Eg.) 93. Vaeed Eg. 93- 8...8 Stowe. 9...9 Eg. 93.
- iid
amar dach, to fight with Ciencia, ee brothers he and Daman, Ferdiad’s father. A man, rough, ‘dinate in eating and sleeping was this Mann. An _ ill-tongued foul-mouthed man like Dubthach Doel (‘ Black-
A pee ’) of Ulster. A man, stout, mighty, with strength
of limb like Munremur (‘ Thick-neck’) son of Gerrcend oh ¢ Short-head’). A fiery champion like Triscoth, the strong man of Conchobar’s household. ‘I will go,’ said he, “and unarmed, and I will grind him between my hands, for I consider it no honour nor credit to use arms against a beardless madcap such as he.”
Therewith he went to attack Cuchulain. There he was, himself and his charioteer on the ford watching the host. ‘A lone warrior approacheth us here,” cried Laeg to Cuchulain. ‘“‘ What manner of man?” asked Cuchulain. ‘A dark, 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 I come,’ 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
“1.1 LU., fo. 82, in the margin. (Beet YBL., and, partly, LU. 2163-2181. Here the LU. version Psa off, fo. 8b.
211
- @a on the next day. What p Mb all said was, that Cala- "q si tin Dana (‘ the Bold’) would be the one, with his seven and ‘i twenty sons and his grandson* Glass macDelga. Thus were they: Poison was on every man of them and poison on every weapon of their arms ; and not one of them missed his throw, and there was no one on whom one of them drew blood that, if he succumbed not on the spot, would not be dead before the end of the ninth day. Great gifts were promised to them for engaging to do battle and to contend * 2 with Cuchulain.2 And they took the matter «LL. fo. 80b, in hand, and it should be in the presence of Fergus that the covenant would be made. But Fergus refused to have part therein, for what they *all * contended was that they would hold it as a single combat, 4a combat, to wit, of 4 - Calatin Dana and his seven and twenty sons and his grand- » son Glass macDelga; for their contention was that his son was a limb of his limbs and a part of his parts, and that to Calatin Dana belonged all that proceeded from his body. ' Fergus betook himself to his tent and to his people and he breathed his sigh of weariness aloud. ‘‘ Grievous it
1..-1 The title is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter. « “ Nephew,’ Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. _ 3... Stowe. 4...4 Stowe. ° 4
213
nena
tine replied, | ‘with mG seven and t his poh Glass macDelga. For this i is. thei Poison is on every man of them and poison on every of their arms ; and there is no one on wae one a
one tof you ? that would go and learn Ur me and be wit ness of the battle and fight and bring me news how Cuchu- lain died on whom I would not bestow my blessing and armour.” ‘I will go thither,’ spake Fiachu son of Ferfebé. ;
They abode so that night. Early on the morrow Calatin- ; Dana arose with his seven and twenty sons and his ~ grandson Glass macDelga, and they went forward to where ~ Cuchulain was. And there went also Fiachu son of Fer- febé. And when Calatin arrived at the place where Cuchu-- i lain was, they forthwith hurled their nine and twenty spears, q and not one of them went past him by a misthrow. Cuchu-— : ; lain played the edge-feat with his shield, so that all the 3 _ spears sank up to their middles into the shield. But for ‘ all that theirs was no erring cast, not one of the spears was blooded or reddened upon him. Thereupon Cuchulaiail i drew * his ? sword from thesheath of the Badb, to cut away the weapons and lighten the shield that was on him. — While , thus engaged, they rushed in upon him and delivered their a nine and twenty right fists at the same time on his head. fi They smote him and curbed him withal, till his face and Lj his countenance and visage met the sand and gravel of the ford. Cuchulain raised his warrior’s shout aloud and h cry of unequal combat, so that there was not an Ulstermar
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe,
i,
Zs a? ‘Ouckivtaity ce dca ie drew his sword from the sheath of the
a
all: their | ee his chariot and >
all fet! Bickwands from the intensity of the exertion and
hi a ‘hold which they had.
- Cuchulain raised his head and drew breath and gave a sigh of weariness and perceived who it was that had come to his aid. “A ready relief, O foster-brother, * what thou hast done,” ® said or egaweceat -“ Although for thee a ready relief,” said Fiachu, “yet is it not so for us.
_ Even though we are the best division of three thousand | of the Clann Rudraige in the camp and station of the men of Erin, 7 nevertheless this small thing is a breach of cove- nant in us men of Ulster. If one of Calatin’s children reaches the camp,’ we shall all be brought under the mouth of spear and of sword, however feeble thou mayst deem the blow I struck, if this treason be found in us.” “I give my word,” quoth Cuchulain ; ‘‘ so soon as I raise my head and draw breath, * not a man of them shall reach the camp
alive,’ and unless thou thyself tellest the tale not one of
these ever will tell it!”
With that, Cuchulain turned on them, and he fell to | smiting and hewing them, so that he sent them * from him | in small disjointed pieces and divided quarters eastwards and westwards along the ford. A single man got away
from him, trusting to his speed while Cuchulain was busied
1.+-1 Stowe. a.-2 YBL. 2186. 3.3 YBL. 2187. 4-4 Stowe. B.S YBL. 2187-2188, §---* YBL. 2190. t+? YBL. 2190-21091. _ S08 YBL, 2193.
_ Badb and dealt them a blow, so that he cut off their nine _
*LL, fo. 81a.
joie iat was, “ Bidehe Fiach ! va vast Cuch la him a stroke that cut off his. head. ts. Bag “Tis quick work was made of that man,’ sew ] ‘What debt was that he spoke of, O Fergus?” “Ikn not,”’ Fergus answered, ‘‘ unless it be some one in the camp — and quarters that owed him a debt. It is that. which — | troubled his mind. But be that as it may,” continued — Fergus, ‘‘ it is a debt of blood and flesh for him. And spon i my word,” Fergus added, “ now are his debts paid to him for —
good and all!” 4 In this wise fell Calatin Dana (‘the Bold’) at the handel q
of Cuchulain, together with his seven and twenty sons and ~ his grandson Glass macDelga 1 and the two sons of Ficcé with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who had come to ~ use their strength on the host. So that for evermore in the bed of the ford is still the rock whereabout they had their strife and struggle ? and their slaughtering of each other; 2 and the mark of their sword-hilts is in it and of their knees and their elbows * and their fists * and the butt- ends of their spears. 4 And their nine and twenty standing stones were set up there. Hence Fuil Iairn (‘ Blood of Iron’) to the west® of Ath Firdead (‘ Ferdiad’s Ford’) is — the name of the ford. It is for this it is called Fuil Iairn, — because of the ‘ blood over weapons ’¢ that was there.
Thus far then *this exploit on the Tain,> the Combat of the Clann Calatin *of his children and his grandson with Cuchulain,* ? when they went to do battle with Cuchu- _ 4 lain.’ a
« There is a play on words. Glass attempts to pronounce the a name ‘ Fiachu,’ but is only able to utter the first syllable of the
word which alone means ‘ debt.’ 1.1 YBL. 2194-2196. oy, 2...2 Stowe. 8...3 YBL. 2198. 4-4 YBL. 2198. | a * «South,’ YBL. 2184. ° Bee page 208, note a.
5...5 YBL. 2196. 6...6 Stowe. --?7 YBL, 2196-2197.
| four ees Pe ttaces of ‘Erin were side by side and st Cuchulain, from Monday before Samain-tide* to esday after Spring-beginning, and without leave to pork harm or vent their rage on the province of Ulster, while yet all the Ulstermen were sunk in their nine days’ ‘Pains,’ and Conall Cernach (‘the Victorious’) sought out battle in strange foreign lands paying the tribute and tax of Ulster. Great was the plight and strait of Cuchulain
- during that time, for he was not a day or a night without
fierce, fiery combat waged on him by the men of Erin, until he killed Calatin with his seven and twenty sons and Fraech son of Fiadach and performed many deeds and successes which are not enumerated here. Now this was sore and grievous for Medb and for Ailill. 3001. Then the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit *to send to the ford* to fight and do battle with Cuchulain, -4to drive him off from them * at the morning hour early on the morrow.
5 With one accord® they declared that it should be Ferdiad son of Daman son of Daré, the great and valiant warrior of the men of Domnann, * the horn-skin from Irrus Domnann, the irresistible force, and the battle-rock of destruction, the own, dear, foster-brother of Cuchulain.¢
Ae
|
1...1 Stowe and YBL. 2200 and Eg. 106. 3-..8 Eg. 100. * See note p. 182. *-3 YBL. 2203. 4-4 YBL. 2202. 5s.6 Eg. 106, $...6 YBL. 2204-2206.
_ 217
ies)
oi lie and with Uathach ( the Dreadful ce (‘the Handsome’). 2% Yet was it the felling of n one’s fists, and the stretching of the hand into a
Ferdiad on SRN ford or river or mere he set his mer And neither of them overmatched the other, save in th feat of the Gae Bulga (‘ the Barbed Spear’) which Cuchulain — possessed. Howbeit, against this, Ferdiad was horn- — skinned when fighting and in combat with a warrior on the ~ . ford; and they thought he could avoid the Gae Bulga ~ and defend himself against it, because of the horn about him of such kind that neither arms nor multitude of edges ve could pierce it.® ; ie Then were messengers and envoys sent *from Medb and — Ailill * 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, to fight and combat with his friend, with his comrade and foster-brother, * Cuchulain.® | Then did Medb despatch the druids * and the poets of the © camp,* the lampoonists and hard-attackers,* for Ferdiad,to the end that they might make three satires to stay him ~ and three scoffing speeches against him, 7 to mock at him and revile and disgrace him,’ that they might raise three blisters on his face, Blame, Blemish and Disgrace, *that he might not find a place in 1 the world to lay his head,® —
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Ke, 106.
8...3 YBL. 2208-2209. 4...4 Stowe.
5.4.5 Stowe. 6...6 Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209. ¢ Literally, ‘the cheek-blisterers.’
7.7 YBL. 2213. 8...8 YBL, 2214.
ni ler al | Veibe nin ape them, and ined sent his to pian eir trusty people were, an and ® he was honoured and waited
Wii iy on, and choice, well-flavoured strong liquor was poured
out for him till he became drunken and merry. 7 Finna- bair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, was seated at his side. It was Finnabair that placed her hand on every goblet and cup Ferdiad quaffed. She it was that gave him three _Kisses with every cup that he took. She it was that passed him sweet-smelling apples over the bosom of her tunic. This is what she ceased not to say, that her darling and her chosen sweetheart of the world’s men was Ferdiad.’ §And when Medb got Ferdiad drunken and merry,® great rewards were Breen era him if he would make the fight and combat. |
® When now Ferdiad was eagdd happy and joyful, it was that Medb spoke: ‘“‘ Hail now, Ferdiad. Dost know the occasion wherefore thou art summoned to this tent ? ” “T know not, in truth,” Ferdiad replied; ‘‘ unless it be that the nobles of the men of Erin are here. Why is it less fitting for me to be here than any other good warrior ? ”’ “*Tis not that, forsooth,’’ answered Medb: “ but to give thee ° a chariot worth four* times seven bondmaids, and the apparel of two men and ten men, of cloth of every colour,
1ee1 Stowe. 2...2 YBL, 2214. 8403 YBL. 2215. a 4-4 Stowe and Eg. 209. 5-5 Stowe and Eg. 209. 6 Eg. 106. 7 YBL. 2216-2221. 8...8 Ee, 106.
%...9 YBL. 2221-2225. * “ Thrice seven,’ YBL. 2226, Stowe, and Eg. 209.
LL. fo. 8rb, part in our expeditions,* without duress for * ay 36 (
Fe gedian fund) ine oc pan fechas of thy Scscied as Elly cate tribute, free of rent, without constraint to encamp
for thy grandson, or for thy great-grandson, till the end of time and existence; * 4 this leaf-shaped golden ” brooch | of mine shall be thine, wherein are ten-score ounces, and — ten-score half ounces, and ten-score scruples, and ten-score quarters ;4 Finnabair, ®my daughter and Ailill’s,5 to be thine own one wife, ®and mine own most intimate friend- — ; ship, if thou exactest that withal.” ‘He needs it not,” they cried, one and all ; “ great are the rewards and gifts!”
Such were the words of Medb, and she spake them here and Ferdiad responded :—
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 Ill 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!
AY BL: 2227. 2 YBL. 2228. --3 In LL. this paniane is reported in indirect discourse ; sequently, instead of ‘ thy,’ LL. sonal Aira 7 -4 YBL. 2229-2231. 5 YBL. 2231-2232. §...6 YBL. 2232-2234.
con-
Whoe’ er remit upod I AES or eR - Without sun- and moon-oath, _ : ‘4 Without sea and land!” )
“ 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, bik : Thou shalt have thine asking, Mi, 34 For I know thou’lt slaughter oem 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 Carbré, | 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 Carbré, And our two sons, bind!”
erdiad: ‘‘ 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 !’”
® Translating from Stowe.
pate ce fiesesetnes ys ecekere, ‘Bans: TLACRRERERATTEORY PS * | . When thou’st slain the Smith’s Mtn’ phy Ferdiad, she’s thine!” OO EEN Ferdiad: 1‘‘ Should I have Finnabair to sebhis Falls of Ai and Cruachan too, d 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? 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® man,*¢ 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!’’ !
2 Then said they, one and all, those gifts were eres ° “Tis true, they are great.* But though they are,’ ’ said
“i P|
wet Eg. 106 (Revue Celtique, t. x, page 339). The metre is changed designedly to. agree with the original. * MS. ‘ye.’ °® Referring to Ferdiad’s horn-skin.
¢ Literally, ‘ calf.’ ; 2...2 Stowe, Add. 18,748 and Eg. 209. 3...3 YBL. 2234.
oy
t Oa cet of “pile ope We . or would I battle twice
J With two hundred men of Fal!
my: “Sad the fight, and sad the fght,* a
I and Hound of feats shall wage ! We shall hack both flesh and blood ; _$kin and body we shall hew !
“Sad, O god, ? yea, sad, O god,? That a woman should us part! My heart’s half, the blameless Hound ; Half the brave Hound’s heart am I!
“By my shield, ?O, by my shield,?
If Ath Cliath’s brave Hound should fall,
I will drive my slender glaive
Through my heart, my side, my breast ! “By my sword, ?O, by my sword,?
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, 70, by my hand !? 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, ?O, by my spear !? Should Ath Cro’s brave Hound be slain, Tl be buried in his grave;
May one grave hide me and him!
3“* Liefer would I, * liefer far,? Arms should slay me in fierce fight, Than the death of heroes’ Hound,? Should be food for ravenous birds ? 3
“ Tell him this, ?O, tell him this,? _ To the Hound of beauteous hue, Fearless Scathach hath foretold My fall on a ford through him !
lel Eg. 106, Eg. 209. 2...2 Be. 209.
* The word is illegible in the manuscript.
$...3 Kg. 106.
up disunion a RAL ad 4as if shé had not heard Fer at all,t “true is the word Cuchulain speaks.” _ word is that?” asked Ferdiad. “He said, then,” repl Medb, “‘ he would not think it too much if thou shouldst — fall by his hands in the choicest feat of his skill in arms, in’ the land whereto he should come.” “It was not just for him to speak so,’’ quoth Ferdiad; “‘ for it is not cowardice — or lack of boldness that he hath ever seen in me ® by day or — by night.6 §® And I speak not so to him, for I have it not — to say of him.¢ And I swear by my arms 7 of valour,” if — it be true that he spoke so, I will be the first man of the men — of Erin to contend with him on the morrow, * how loath — soever I am to do so!” ® | | B.
® And he gave his word in the presence of them all that — he would go and meet Cuchulain. For it pleased Medb, — if Ferdiad should fail to go, to have them as a witness against q him, in order that she might say it was fear or dread that caused him to break his word.® ‘“‘ A blessing #° and victory 7 — upon thee for that!” said Medb; “it pleaseth me more — ; than for thee to show fear and lack of boldness. For every — man loves his own land, and how is it better for him to seek the welfare of Ulster, 14 because his mother was des- — cended from the Ulstermen,!! than for thee to seek the — welfare of Connacht,* as thou art the son of a king of — Connacht ? ”’ #2 q Then it was that Medb obtains from Ferdiad the easy 4
1...1 Eg, 200.
8...3 Reading with Eg. 209. 4...4 YBL. 2238. 5...5 YBL. 2242. &+-§ Eg. 106. ¥...7 Kg. 200.
8...8 ne 106. 9...9 Eg. 106. 10...10 YBL, 2244.
11 YBL, 2247. 12...12 YBL, 2248.
: him to his tent. ‘‘ Woe is me, for the deed that ill be done on the morning of the morrow!” ‘‘ What deed i is that ?”’ his tent-folk asked. “My good fosterling - Cuchulain will be slain!” ‘ Good lack! who makes that - boast?”’ “Not hard to say: None other but his dear, devoted foster-brother, Ferdiad son of Daman. Why bear ye not my blessing,” Fergus continued, “‘ and let one of you go with a warning and mercy to Cuchulain, if per- chance he would leave the ford on the morn of the morrow ? ”’ “As we live,” said they; ‘‘ though it were thyself was on the ford of battle, we would not go near him to seek thee.” “Come, my lad,” cried Fergus, “‘ get our horses for us, and yoke the chariot!” 4
Then were Fergus’ horses fetched for him and his chariot was yoked, and he came forward to the place ® of combat ® where Cuchulain was, to inform him ° of the challenge, that Ferdiad was to fight with him.®
7** A chariot cometh hither towards us, O Cuchulain! ’”’ cried Laeg. For in this wise was the gilla, with his back to- wards hislord. He used to win every other game of draughts and of chess from his master. Watchand guard of the four airts was he besides. “ What manner of chariot is it?”
1...1 Stowe and Eg. 209.
2...2 Stowe, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106. 8... A gloss, in LL.
44 YBL. fo. 36a, 21-36. 6.8 YBL. fo. 36a,: 38. S--6 Eg. 209.
7...7 YBL, fo. 36a, 39-36b, 15. Q
W. 3172. *LL. fo. 82a. lain bade him welcome.* ‘‘ Welcome is thy coming, —
| with iis sats —
PY iba
cash Ahn
white, beautiful, of many saan a, bears, aera) th stout-wrought chains, so that there is room from edge 1 ; edge for four troops of ten men behind the leather of th ; shield which hangs upon the broad back of the warrio A long, hard-edged, broad, red sword in a sheath wov and twisted of white silver, over the . - - of the batt warrior. A strong, three-ridged spear, wound and bande with all-gleaming white silver he has lying across t] h chariot.”’ ral “Not difficult to recognize him,” said Cuchulain: “’ i my master Fergus that cometh hither with a warning < d with compassion for me, before all the four provinces of Erin.”’ | i Fergus drew nigh and sprang from his chariot.’ Cuchu- | my master Fergus!’’ cried Cuchulain. 1“ If a flock birds comes into the plain, thou shalt have a duck wi half of another. Ifa fish comes into the river-mouths, th shalt have a salmon with half of another. A handful water-cress and a bunch of laver and a sprig of sea-gra and a drink of cold water from the sand thou shalt ha thereafter.”” ‘‘ Tis an outlaw’s portion, that,” Sate Fer, “?’Tis true; ‘tis an outlaw’s portion is mine,’ answe a Cuchulain.! ‘ Truly intended, methinks, the welcomical fe)
1.62 YBL. 36b, 27-28. 77 See note 7, page 225.
‘ oe alg son of Dare, ee ‘ots and indy warrior of the men of Domnann.” *‘‘ As my soul liveth,” ? replied Cuchulain, “it is not to an encounter we wish our friend to = pe and * not for fear, but for love and affection of him ; * -4and almost I would prefer to fall by the hand of that warrior than for him to fall by mine.” 4 “Tt is even for that,” answered Fergus, ‘‘ thou shouldst be on thy guard and prepared. *Say not that thou hast no fear of Ferdiad, for it is fitting that thou shouldst have fear and dread before fighting with Ferdiad.® For unlike all to whom it fell to fight and contend with thee on the Cualnge Cattle-raid on this occasion is Ferdiad son of Daman son of Dara, ® for he hath a horny skin about him *in battle against a man,® 7a belt,? %equally strong, victorious in battle,§ and neither points nor edges are reddened upon it ® in the hour of strife and anger. For he is the fury of a lion, and the bursting of wrath, and the blow of doom, and the wave that drowneth foes.” 1° 12 “‘ Speak not thus! ”’ cried Cuchulain, “for I swear 14 by my arms of valour,?! the oath that my people swear, that every limb and every joint will be as soft as a pliant rush in the bed of a river under the point of sword, if he show himself to me on the ford! 12 Trulyam I here,” said Cuchulain, “‘ checking and
1.1 YBL. 36b, 18-24. *---? Literally, ‘I say our confession.’
3..-3 Stowe, Eg. G09) Eg. 106." 4...4 Ee. 106, 5...5 Eg, 106. *6 YBL. fo. 36b, 38. ...% Eg. 106. 8...8 Eg. 106.
9... Stowe and Eg. 209, and, sprays 8 YBL. 36b, 37. (10...10 Eg. 106. 11...11 Eg, 106, +12 YBL. 36b, 38-43.
any one man 2 nor E oaies: a iohualtasah as little will I turn foot in flight ay him,”
3 And thus spake he, that it was not fear of . caused his anxiety for the fight, but his love for him. R on his part, so spake Fergus, putting him on his guard ant ‘ De cause of Ferdiad’s strength,+ and he said these words a 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— Holding Erin’s men at bay ; ' Foot I’ve never turned in flight . i In my fight with single foe!” a
Fergus: ‘‘ Dour the man when anger moves, Owing to his gore-red glaive ; Ferdiad wears a skin of horn, i ’Gainst which fight nor might prevails!”
Cuchulain: ‘‘ Be thou still; urge not thy tale, 4 Fergus of the mighty arms. on On no land and on no ground, Oh 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! ”
« Stowe and H. 1. 13: ‘before’; YBL. 36b, 24: ‘ after.’ ¥
sinh ae Wednesday after Spring ii is the reading of H. 1. 13. ‘1 YBL. 36b, 25-26. -2 Stowe.
-3 Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209. 4...4 Stowe.
‘ie ieee. no meagre sail.’ i .
Thus Searitine Ulster’s wrong. With me came they from their lands, | With their heroes and their chiefs!”
| el ““ 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!”
“Greatest deed awaits thy hand: — ‘ i Fight with Ferdiad, Daman’s son.
Atty Hard stern arms with stubborn edge,’
Shalt thou have, thou Culann’s Hound !”’
1 After that,1 Fergus returned to the camp and halting- place * of the men of Erin,® * lest the men of Erin should say he was betraying them or forsaking them, if he should remain longer than he did conversing with Cuchulain. And they took farewell of each other.*
4Now as regards the charioteer of Cuchulain ° after Fergus went from them:® ‘‘ What wilt thou do to-night ? ” asked Laeg. ‘‘ What, indeed?” said Cuchulain. “It will be thus”’ (said the charioteer) ‘‘ Ferdiad will come to attack thee, with new beauty of plaiting and dressing of hair, and washing and bathing, and the four provinces of Erin with him to look at the combat. I would that thou wouldst go where thou wilt get a like adorning for thyself, to the place where is Emer Foltchain (‘ Emer of the Beau- tiful Hair,’ thy wife), ®‘daughter of Forgal Monach,®
_ ® Or, ‘ which quatrains love (2), a cheville. SUN ane YBL. 37a, 22. * Stowe and H. 1. 13. iene aes. 106, 4-4 ‘BL, a7 29-39 and, similarly, ie. 106.
a deg. 106. © Eg. 106
TaN 3235.
*LL. fo. 82b.
for thyself." © 9° ds Inti - Then Cuchulain went: thither that night He
iting bo. ao
and passed the night with his wife. His —e ror re time are not related here now. 4
battle with nseaittas alone, if he thought it a lighter he He made known to them also the fair terms he had obtained from Medb of sending the same six warriors for the fulfilment 4
fall by his hands. 6 The folk of Ferdiad were not joyful, blithe, cheerful ' or merry that night,¢* but they were sad, sorrowful and downcast, for they knew that where the two champions and the two bulwarks in a gap for a hundred, 7 the two — q . pillars of battle and strife of the men of Erin? 8 of that time § met in combat, one or other of them would fall ther or both would fall, and if it should be one of them, they — believed it would be * their king and ® their own lord that — 4 would fall there,’ for it was not easy to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge a Ferdiad slept right heavily the first part of the night but when the end of the night was come, his sleep and his heaviness left him. And the anxiousness of the combat and the battle came upon him. 1 But most troubled in — spirit was he that he should allow all the treasures to pass from him, and the maiden, by reason of combat with oned] 4 1.01 Eg. t 2 Eg. 106. 3 Kg. x --5 Eg. 106. i acaiiatie et el pate fig taal of Stowe ; LL. beine ie illegible here. | hi Stowe, and, imsrempe ed Eg. 209, Eg. 106 aa YBL. 37a, 43-
8-8 YBL. 37a, 43. adh: Oke tiv +10 Stowe. 11 YBL. 37a, 47-37D, 5.
ght to pate him from that souleney 3 a“ “By our » rd,” said the gilla, “’twould be better for thee* * to n than to go thither,” said he; “‘ for, not more do I
mmend it for thee than I condemn it.” * ‘Hold thy’ | “peace about us, boy!” quoth Ferdiad, * “ for we will brook
no interference from any one concerning this journey.*
5 For the 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 that caused us to break it. And, by my conscience, I would almost liefer fall myself by Cuchulain’s hand than that he should fall by mine on this occasion. And should Cuchulain fall by my hand on the ford of combat, then shall Medb and many of the men © of Erin fall by my hand because of the pledge they extorted from me, and [ drunken and merry.’ And in this manner he spake, * conversing with the charioteer,* and he uttered these words, ‘the little lay that follows, urging on the charioteer,? and the henchman 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 ips he may die ia
ood Bs ae: 106 and H. a ** YBL. 37b, 7. . : Mss: CS sda Bie. and, similarly, Eg. 106, Eg. 109 and H. 1. 13. _ 4-4 Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg, 106 and H. 1. 13. §...5 Eg, 106. 6.8 YBL. '37b; ‘9. t.. YBL. 37b, ro.
No fear hath the warrior ; Babes
We owe no one meekness ; ek We stay not for thee!
Hush, gilla, about us! _
The time will bring strong heats Bier More meet strength than Hos ie) a “ 1 Let’s on to the tryst!” 3 oe
riot —
Ferdiad’s horses were now brought forth and his eee : was hitched, and he set out ? from the camp ? for the fas of battle when yet day with its full light had not come ther for him. *‘ My lad,” spake Ferdiad, “it is not fitting © that we make our journey without bidding farewell to the men of Erin. Turn the horses and the chariot for us to- wards the men of Erin.’’ Thrice the servant turned the heads of the horses and the chariot towards the men of Erin. Then he came upon Medb letting her water from | her on the floor 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 made 4 answer; “ but I swear by what my tribe swears, not on the same feet edu the man who makes that greeting come —
a
back to you.” ‘‘ Howbeit, we have profited by a happy — alliance of marriage with him,” quoth Ailill; “if only Cuchulain falls by his hand, I should be pleased if they both fell, yet would I prefer that Ferdiad should escape.”
Ferdiad came to the ford of combat. “ Look, my lad! said Ferdiad, ‘‘is Cuchulain on the ford?” ‘ That I
4 MS.: ‘his.’ 1.1 YBL. 37b, 22. 2.2 YBL. 37b, 24. 3-3 YBL. 37b, 25-38a, 25. ee
g to mee _ agence jenn of sti and now has howe of one, he has left the ford. i
Sooty“)
ig | Gi Grogs the borders of the Tyrrhene Sea, thou leftest
thy sword with the hosts, and it was Cuchulain who slew a _ hundred warriors till he reached it and brought it to thee?
And mindest thou 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. The churl gave thee a blow with his
three-pointed fork in the small of the back, so that thou flewest like a bolt out over the door. Cuchulain came in and gave the churl a blow with his sword, so that he made two pieces of him. Iwas their house-steward whilst ye were in that place. If it were that 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 not have come to the combat, hadst thou spoken thus to me at first. Why dost thou not lay the chariot-poles at my side and the skin-coverings under my head, that so I may sleep now?” “Alas,” said the gilla, “’tis a sorry sleep before deer and packs of wolves here!” ‘‘ How so, gilla ? Art thou not able to keep watch and guard forme?” “I am,’ the gilla answered; ‘‘ unless they come in clouds or in the air to attack thee, they shall not come from east or _ from west to attack thee without warning, without notice.” § “Come, gilla,’’ said Ferdiad, 1‘ unharness the horses and
1.1 Stowe.
him. 2 The gilla ireriathnad on soit an eon f Now how Cuchulain fared is related * here: He ar not till the day with its bright light had come to him, lest the men of Erin might say it was fear or fright of the cham pion he had, if he should arise 4 early. And when day with its full light had come, he® passed his hand over his face and® bade his charioteer take his horses and yoke them to his chariot. ‘‘ Come, gilla,” said Cuchulain, ‘‘ take out our horses for us and harness our chariot, for an early — riser is the warrior appointed to meet us, Ferdiad son of x Daman sonof Daré. *®If Ferdiad awaits us, he must needs think it long.” ® “The horses are taken out,” ?said the gilla;? “‘the chariot is harnessed. Mount, and be it no- shame to thy valour *to go thither!’® °® Cuchulain ~ stepped into the chariot and they pressed forward to the ford. Then it was that the cutting, feat-performing, -battle-winning, red-sworded hero, Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, mounted his chariot, so that there shrieked around him | the goblins and fiends and the sprites 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 around him, to the end that the dread and the fear and the fright i and the terror of him might be so much the greater in every —
1.--1 Stowe. at Eee, OD.
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 Ff, I. 13. 9.
9 YBL. 38a, 31-32.
a 4 rai a pie the pee at the'¢ cuirass, tiie : ee the ihe of feats, the Sines: of ‘san
the hero. ‘atid babe weno 3 in gti ioe with his servant * on his way to the ford to attack his opponent. - The servant came and touched his master with his hand ~4and awakened him.‘ ‘‘ Ferdiad, master,’’ said the youth, “riseup! They are here to meet thee at the ford.” ® Then 5 _ §Ferdiad arose and girt his body in his war-dress of battle and combat.* 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 Brané
Their swift path they hasten ;
Past Old-tree Town’s * 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,?
*Tis sure he will take us; | | We know —vain to hide it— He brings us defeat ! ¢
1...1 From Stowe; LL. is illegible here. . Soh ® EES Bu ES --3 Stowe. 4..4 YBL. 38a, 35. p< Aly ean tS
6...6 Stowe and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and H. I. i3.
* Baile in bile, MSS. » A shortened form for ‘Cuchulain.’
¢ Literally, ‘ battle, strife.’
Prainc him thus highly. But, Ailill ane Medb nave oe me that this man will fall by my hand. And since it for a reward, he shall quickly be torn asunder byme. + And d make ready the arms on the ford against his coming." “Should I turn my face backward,” said the gilla ; “me ‘a thinks the poles of yon chariot will pass through the back — of my neck.” “ Too much, my lad,” said Ferdiad, “ dost — thou praise Cuchulain, for not a reward has he given thee for praising,+ but it is time to fetch help.” And he spake these words, and the henchman responded :—
Ferdiad: ‘‘’Tis time now to help me; Ny
Be silent ! cease praising ! ‘Twas no deed of friendship,
No doom o’er the brink(?) ¢ The Champion of Cualnge, Thou seest ’midst proud feats, For that it’s for guerdon,
Shall quickly be slain !’’®
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!’’ . ~
eos 38b, 46-57. « The meaning is obscure, s ‘ally, ‘ torn.’ | a
The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain 237
Ferdiad: ‘‘ ’Tis cause of a quarrel, _ So much thou hast praised him ;
And why hast thou chose him, Since Iam from home? »
And now they extol him,
They fall to proclaim him ;
None come to attack him, But soft simple men(?).”’
1 Here followeth the Description of Cuchulain’s chariot, one of the three chief Chariots of the Tale of the Foray of Cualnge.!
It was not long that Ferdiad’s charioteer remained there when he saw something: ?‘‘ How beholdest thou Cuchu- lain? ’’ asked Ferdiad of his charioteer. ‘‘ I behold,” said he,? “ a beautiful, five-pointed chariot, *? broad above, of white crystal, with a thick yoke of gold, with stout plates of copper, with shafts of bronze, with wheel-bands of bronze ~ covered with silver? approaching with swiftness, with speed, with perfect skill; with a green shade, with a thin- framed, dry-bodied (?) box surmounted with feats of cunning, 4 straight-poled,* as long as a warrior’s sword. On this® 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 beautiful colour; two inlaid, golden bridles.* 7 This chariot was placed’ behind two fleet steeds, ® nimble, furious, small-headed,§ bounding, large-eared, ° small- snouted, sharp-beaked, red-chested,® gaily prancing, with inflated * nostrils, broad-chested, quick-hearted, high-flanked, broad-hoofed, slender-limbed, overpowering and resolute. A grey, broad-hipped, small-stepping, long-maned horse, 10 whose name was Liath (‘ the Roan ’) of Macha,! was under
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.
/ 22 VBL. 38a, 51-52. 3-3 YBL. 38b, 1-3. * 4-4 LU. 1973.
5...5 YBL. $...8 YBL. 38b. 19-21. 44... 7"? LU. 1972.
8...8 LU. 1973. cial 0 2
10...10 Ege, 209. ® Literally, ‘ bagnosed.’
LL, fo. 83b.
by the AG in the first ue ae * were a : two horses before the chariot, as if they were on glowing, — fiery flags, so that they shook the earth and made it tr emb e with the fleetness of their course. i 2«In the front of this chariot is a man with fair, chal long hair. There is around him a cloak, blue, Parthian b purple. A spear with red and keen-cutting blades, flaming- red in his hand. The semblance of three heads of hair he Me has, namely, brown hair next to the skin of his head, blood- __ red hair in the middle, a crown of gold is the third head a of hair. a “ Beautiful is the ESM NT of that hair so that it yy q makes three coils down behind over his shoulders. Evenas — a thread of gold it seems, when its hue has been wrought over the edge of an anvil ; or like to the yellow of bees where- on shines the sun on a summer’s day is the shining of each single hair of his hair. Seven toes he has on each of his feet and seven fingers on each of his hands and the brilliance of a very great fire is around his eye. 4 “ Befitting him is the charioteer beside him, with curly, jet-black hair, shorn broad over his head. A cowled gar- ment around him, open at the elbows. A horse-whip, very fine and golden in his hand, and a light-grey cloak wrapped a around him, and a goad of white silver in his hand. He ~~ plies the goad on the horses whatever way would go the @ deed-renowned warrior that is in the chariot.”? q And Cuchulain reached the ford. Ferdiad waited on
1.1 Eg, 209. 2-2 YBL, 38b, 21-44.
ut ny more ust in it. At Ms
a, it were fitter for me to bid thee elena: 1 should’ st welcome me ; for it is thou that art the land and province wherein I dwell; anditis not
it ia fitter for me to go to contend and do battle with — xe. For before thee in flight are my women and my ‘boys and my youths, my steeds and my frqops of horses, ae Pita droves, my flocks and my herds of cattle.” ay f © Good, O Cuchulain,”’ spake Ferdiad; ‘‘ what has ever ‘brought thee out to contend and do battle with me? For when we were ! together ! with Scathach and with Uathach and with Aifé, 2 thou wast not a man worthy of me, for? thou wast my serving-man, even for arming my spear and dressing my bed.” ‘‘ That was indeed true,’ answered Cuchulain ; “‘ because of my youth and my littleness did I so much for thee, but this is by no means my mood this day. For there is not a warrior in the world I would not drive off this day * in the field of battle and combat.’ 3 4It was not long before they met in the middle of the ford.* And then it was that each of them cast sharp- cutting reproaches at the other, renouncing his friendship ; and Ferdiad spake these words there, and Cuchulain re- sponded :— _ 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 ! ’’
2...2 Stowe. 3-3 Stowe, 4-4 YBL. 39a, 14.
Ww Wen, We TPR
is MV es Wee ELLE ae
| Cuchulain :
Ferdiad :
Cuchulain :
* neat is, King Conchobar. qi --1 A line has dropped out here in the MS., and cannot be re- Pi Nasri since the stanza is found only in i For this reason the ican: of the following line is uncertain. he
-2 Reading with YBL. 39a, 34. . ‘Literate, ‘it will go over and through them ! ’ 3... Translating from YBL. fo. 39a, 41.
VA ea 2h wv RE ERY = r Rell ? cha | teh, Brorh aie heme Shall come une sag
The flight of their warriors, a oy In presence of Ulster, ; | : 4 That long they’ll remember — DG
The loss that was theirs!” ota
“How then shall we combat ? cca 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 ?thy ? hour hath come?”
“*Fore sunset, *fore nightfall— If need be, then guard thee— I'll fight thee at Bairché, Not bloodlessly fight ! The Ulstermen call thee, ‘He has him!’ Oh, hearken ! The sight will distress them That through them will pass?!”
“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 ; 1 No more shalt lead forays, |
8’ From this day till Doom!” ’
ee ONS NEY To seek every Sart. PSE pone tad Thou wast my heart’s comrade, My clan and my kinsman; | _ _Ne’er found I one dearer ; Thy loss would be sad ! yy
Ferdiad : : ** 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!”
“Come now, O Ferdiad,” cried Cuchulain, “not meet was it for thee to come to contend and do battle with me. because of the instigation and intermeddling of Ailill and Medb, and because of the false promises that they made thee. Because of their deceitful terms and of the maiden have many good men been slain.? And all that came * because of those promises of deceit,? neither profit nor success did it bring them, and they have fallen by me. And none the more, *O Ferdiad,* shall it win victory or increase of fame for thee; and, ‘*as they all fell,5 shalt thou too fall by my hand!” Thus he spake,
Leek Literally, ‘ (For) thou art not a bush (i.e. a hero) over a ° am (hero).’ mhz | 2...2 Stowe, and, similarly, Ee. 209 and Eg. 106. 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.
R
*LL. fo. 84a,
Le Why shoutist Nios alone ene 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!
‘‘ Srubdaré—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 ini s I would not thy body hurt, - Right nor left, in front, behind !”’
« That is, Queen Medb.
; for when
ye we Cuchulain: ‘‘ We were heart-companions once ; ; cia We were comrades in the woods ; ry _ 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!”
“Too long are we now in this way,” quoth Ferdiad ; “and what arms shall we resort to to-day, O Cuchulain ? ”’ ““ With thee is thy choice of weapons this day till night time,”’ answered Cuchulain, ‘‘ for thou art he that first didst reach the ford.” ‘“‘ Rememberest thou at all,” asked Ferdiad, “the choice deeds of arms we were wont to practise with Scathach and with Uathach and with Aifé?” ‘‘ Indeed, and I do remember,’ answered Cuchulain. “If thou rememberest, let us begin * with them,’ %
1.1 Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. 2.2 Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. 3...3 Stowe,
An) was aunt casting at ‘he other with those 2 mis é from morning’s early twilight till noon at mid-day, the w they overcame their various feats with the bosses ane hollows of their feat-shields. However great the excellence of the throwing on either side, equally great was the excel- lence of the defence, so that during all that time neither of . them bled or reddened the other. ‘‘ Let us cease now from this bout of arms, O Cuchulain,” said Ferdiad ; “for it is — not by such our decision will come.” ‘‘ Yea, surely, let —
-us cease, if the time hath come,’ answered Cuchulain. — 1Then 1 they ceased. They threw their feat-tackle from. 4 them into the hands of their charioteers.
“To what weapons shall we resort next, O Cuchulain?’” _ asked Ferdiad. ‘‘ Thine is the choice of weapons till night- fall,” replied Cuchulain ; “for thou art he that didst first reach the ford.” ‘“‘ Let us begin, then,” said Ferdiad, ‘with our straight-cut, smooth-hardened throwing-spears, with — cords of full-hard flax on them.”’ ‘‘ Aye, let us begin then,” — assented Cuchulain. Then they took on them two hard ~ shields, equally strong. They fell to their straight-cut, iq smooth-hardened spears with cords of full-hard flax on
them. Each of them was engaged in casting at the other - a with the spears from the middle of noon ? till yellowness came over the sun? at the hour of evening’s sundown. ~ However great the excellence of the defence, equally great was the excellence of the throwing on either side, so tha 4
1...1 Stowe. 202 HT. 2, 12.
a ii , se his kata and friendship.* Their teas were in one and the same paddock that night, and their charioteers at one and the same fire ; and their charioteers made ready a litter-bed of fresh asi for them with pillows for wounded men on them. Then came healing and curing folk to heal and to cure them, and they laid healing herbs and grasses and a curing charm on their cuts and stabs, their gashes and many wounds. Of every healing herb and grass and curing charm that *was brought from the fairy dwellings of Erin to Cuchulain and * was applied 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, * to
put to his wounds and his pools of gore,5 so that the men of
) Erin should not have it to say, should Ferdiad fail at his
hands, it was more than his share of care had been given.
to him. | Of every food and of every savoury, soothing and strong
drink that was brought by the men of Erin to Ferdiad, a
like portion thereof he sent over the ford northwards to
Cuchulain ; for the purveyors of Ferdiad were more numer-
ous than the purveyors of,Cuchulain. Allthe men of Erin
were purveyors to Ferdiad, to the end that he might keep
uneers® TA, 2. 12, 2.02 HY 2, 12. 3.3 H. 2, 12. Seeere) td, 2. 12. Sesh Hy 2.032: « See note, page 185.
#LL, f0.852.
what weapons shall we resort on this day, O Ferdia
arose ory went their ways to ‘the oN of roe |
asked Cuchulain.* ‘‘ Thine is the choosing of weapo till night time,” Ferdiad made answer, “ because it was | | had my choice of weapons on the day aforegone.” “ Let .. us take, then,”’ said Cuchulain, ‘ to our great, well-tempered _ . lances to-day, for we think that the thrusting will bring | 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 we engage in combat over our horses ~ and chariots on this day.” ‘“ Aye, let us go so,” Ferdiad 4 assented. Thereupon they girded two full-firm broad-— q shields on them for that day. They took to their great, —
well-tempered lances on that day. Either of them began q to pierce and to drive, to throw and to press down the other, — from early morning’s twilight till the hour of evening’s
close. If it were the wont for birds in flight to fly hoes
the bodies of men, they could have passed through their
bodies on that day and carried away pieces of blood and —
flesh through their wounds and their sores into the clouds ©
and the air allaround. And when the hour of evening’s close d was come, their horses were spent and their drivers were — wearied, and they themselves, the heroes and warriors is q valour, were exhausted. ‘“‘ Let us give over now, O Fer- | diad,”’ said Cuchulain, ‘“‘ for our horses are spent and our 4 drivers tired, and when they are exhausted, why should
we too not be exhausted? ’”’ And in this wise he spake, and he uttered these words at that place :—
‘* We need not our chariots break— This, a struggle fit for giants.
The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain 247
eon a 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 ‘then.t They threw their arms away from them into the hands of their charioteers. Each of them came towards his fellow. Each laid his hand on the other’s neck and gave him three kisses. Their horses were in the one pen that night, and their charioteers at the one fire. Their charioteers prepared ? two? litter-beds of fresh rushes for them with pillows for wounded men on them. The curing and healing men came to attend and watch and mark them that night; for naught else could they do, because of the direfulness of their cuts and their stabs, their gashes and their numerous wounds, but apply to them philtres and spells and charms, to staunch their blood and their bleeding and their deadly pains. Of every magic potion and every spell and every charm that was applied to the cuts and stabs of Cuchulain, their like share he sent over the ford westwards to Ferdiad. Of every food and every savoury, soothing and strong drink that was brought by the men of Erin to Ferdiad, an equal portion he sent over the ford northwards to Cuchulain, for the victuallers of Ferdiad were more numerous than the victuallers of Cuchulain. For all the men of Erin were Ferdiad’s nourishers, to the end that he might ward off Cu- chulain fromthem. But the indwellers of the Plain of Breg alone were Cuchulain’s nourishers. They were wont to come daily, that is, every night, to converse with him.
They abode there that night. Early on the morrow they arose and repaired to the ford of combat. Cuchulain marked an evil mien and a dark mood that day * beyond every other day* on Ferdiad. ‘It is evil thou appearest to-day, O Ferdiad,”’ spake Cuchulain; ‘thy hair has
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. 8...3 Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.
i POE re gon + a? Pe uae thes te that happ on “for there is not in E - ach rept hs | 1 Alas, o Ferdiad,” X
and friend, on the counsel of any woman in n the 0 “A pity it is, 0 Cuchulain, * Ferdiad gga
grand provinces of Erin." A ei it is, O Pertiad: i ae Cuchulain ; ‘‘ not on the counsel of all the men and women in the world would I desert thee or would I do thee harm. And almost would it make a clot of gore of my heart to be combating with thee!” 1_ a
And Cuchulain lamented and moaned, and he spake a these words and Ferdiad responded :— :
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 rn
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: ‘‘ Provéd 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, Daré’s son,
To have gone at” woman’s ‘word, Swords to cross with thine old friend i”
« An unusual colour of the hair betokened misfortune. A. Kg. 1006,
Peas, s fibands with floods of pare _ Medb, not thou, hath us betrayed ;
_ Fame and victory thou shalt have; Not on thee we lay our fault!”
Tu - Cuchulai : -“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!” a Thier this colloquy, Ferdiad spake : + “‘ How much so- ever thou findest fault with me to-day,” said Ferdiad, 2 “for my ill-boding mien and evil doing, it will be as an offset to my prowess.’”’ And he said, ? ‘“‘ To what weapons shall we restort to-day?” ‘‘ With thyself is the choice of weapons to-day till night time,’ replied Cuchulain, “ for it is I that chose on the 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 will bring us nearer to the decision of battle to-day than was our piercing each other on yesterday.” ‘‘ Let us go then, by all means,” responded Cuchulain. _ Then they took two full-great long-shields upon them for that day. They turned to their heavy, hard-smiting swords. Each of them fell to strike and to hew, to lay low and cut down, to slay and undo * his fellow, till as large as the head of a month-old child was each lump and each cut, 4 each clutter and each clot of gore* that each of them took from the shoulders and thighs and shoulder-blades of
- the .other.
1...1 Stowe, Eg. 106. 3-53 Kp. 106, 8...8 Stowe, Eg. 106. 4...4 Eg. 106.
*LL. fo. 86a.
Res way front 1 ihe tyilight of
Sc eaag"s close, + Let us leave off from this
cried Ferdiad. “ Aye, let us leave off; if the. 101 said Cuchulain: They parted 1 then, and + threw the
the same paddock that night. Their charioteers were not q
away from them into the hands of their charioteers. Though it had been the meeting of two happy, blithe, cheer ul, joyful men, their parting that night was of two that wer | sad, sorrowful and full of suffering. ® They parted without — a kiss a blessing or aught other sign of friendship, and their servants disarmed the steeds, the squires and the i heroes ; no healing or.curing herbs were sent from Cuchu- — lain to Ferdiad that night, and no food nor drink was © brought from Ferdiad to him.? Their horses were not in —
at the same fire. | = They passed there that night. It was then that Ferdiad — arose early on the morrow and went alone to the ford of — combat, * and dauntless, vengeful and mighty was the man that went thither that day, even Ferdiad son of Daman.* — For he knew that that would be the decisive day of the — battle and combat ; and he knew that one or other of them would fall there that day, or that they both would fall. It was then he donned his battle-weed of battle and fight and combat,* or ever Cuchulain came to meet him. And q thus was the manner of this harness of battle and fight and — combat: He put his silken, glossy trews with its border ; of speckled gold, next to his whiteskin. Over this, outside, q he put his brown-leathern, well-sewed kilt. Outside of this he put a huge, goodly flag, the size of a millstone, * the shallow (?) stone of adamant which he had brought from — Africa and which neither points nor edges could pierce.* q He put his solid, very deep, iron kilt of twice molten iron over the huge, ae flag as Gee as a millstone, through 4
-1 Stowe. fe» Right Bay wy 9 -3 Eg. 106, 4-4 Eg. 209.
‘”
| : The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain 251 |
and dread of the Gae Bulga on that day. About his
ij : head he put his crested war-cap of battle and fight and
combat, whereon were forty carbuncle-gems beautifully adorning it and studded with ‘red-enamel and crystal and rubies and with !shining stones! of the Eastern world. His angry, fierce-striking spear he seized in _ his right hand. On his left side he hung his curved battle- falchion, ® which would cut a hair against the stream with its keenness and sharpness,” with its golden pommel and its rounded hilt of red gold. On the arch-slope of his back he slung his massive, fine-buffalo shield *of a warrior,® whereon were fifty bosses, wherein a boar could be shown in each of its bosses, apart from the great central boss of red gold. Ferdiad performed divers, brilliant, manifold, marvellous feats on high that day, unlearned from any one before, neither from foster-mother nor from foster-father, neither from Scathach nor from Uathach nor from Aifé, but he found them of himself that day in the face of Cuchu- lain.
Cuchulain likewise came to the ford, and he beheld the various, brilliant, manifold, wonderful feats that Ferdiad. performed on high. “‘ Thou seest yonder, O Laeg my master, the divers, bright, numerous, marvellous feats that Ferdiad performs on high, and I shall receive yon feats one after the other, and, therefore, 4O Laeg,” cried Cuchulain,* “if defeat be my lot this day, do thou prick me on and taunt me and speak evil to me, so that the more my spirit and anger shall rise in me. If, however, before me his defeat takes place, say thou so to me and praise me and speak me fair, to the end that the greater may be my courage!” “It shall surely be done so, if need be, O Cucuc,” Laeg answered. Then Cuchulain, too, girded his war-harness of battle and
Brood _Reading with Egerton ‘106, which gives better sense than
LL.’s ‘ brilliant plants.’
#2 Eg. 209. 8..-8 Stowe and Eg. 209. 4...4 Stowe.
*LL, fo. 86b.
: Rendiad batt als ok and he k knew hi plied against him in turn, “ Wo what weapons 2
thy choice of weapons till night aay ”F mr resp D0! nd “Let us go to the “ Feat of the Ford,’ then,”’ said Cuc lain. “Aye, let us do so,” answered Ferdiad. Alt Ferdiad spoke that, he deemed it the most wiped th:
fought with him in the ‘ Feat of the Ford.’ P Great indeed was the deed that was done on the calle that day. The two heroes, 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 dispensing favour and of giving rewards * and jewels and treasures ? : | in the west of the northern world,* * the two veterans : i of skill and the two keys of bravery of the Gael, * the man for quelling the variance and discord of Connacht, the man > for guarding the cattle and herds of Ulster,* to be brought together in encounter as from afar, >set to slay each other ny or to kill one of them,®> through the sowing of dissension | and the incitement of Ailill and Medb. ‘ Each of them was busy hurling at the other in those : deeds of arms from early morning’s gloaming till the middle — of noon. When mid-day came, the rage of the men became q wild, and each drew nearer to the other. iy Thereupon Cuchulain gave one spring once from the © bank of the ford till he stood upon the boss of Ferdiad i
macDaman’s shield, seeking to reach his head and to strike a 1...1 Stowe. i Pssdibek -3 Reading with Stowe, 4.4 Eg. 106. -5 Stowe and Es. 106. a
— gio
7 9. it from above over the rim of the shield. Straightway _ Ferdiad gave the shield a blow with his left elbow, so that ; ~ Cuchulain went from him like a bird onto the brink of the ford. Again Cuchulain sprang from the brink of the ford, so that he alighted upon the boss of Ferdiad macDaman’s. shield, that he might reach his head and strike it over the rim of the shield from above. Ferdiad gave the shield a thrust with his left knee, so that Cuchulain went from him like an infant onto the bank of the ford. Laeg espied that. “ Woe then, 1O Cuchulain!” ! cried Laeg; * “‘ meseems ? the battle-warrior that is against thee hath shaken thee as a fond woman shakes her child. He hath washed thee as a cup is washed in a tub. He hath ground thee as a mill grinds soft malt. He hath pierced. thee as a tool bores 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 more hast thou right or title or claim to valour or skill in arms till the very day of doom and of life, thou little imp of an elf-man!’”’ cried Laeg. | Thereat for the third time, Cuchulain arose with the speed of the wind, and the swiftness of a swallow, and the dash of a dragon, and the strength (of a lion)’ into the clouds ° of the air, till he alighted on the boss of the shield of Ferdiad son of Daman, so as to reach his head that he might strike it from above over the rim of his shield. Then it was that the battle-warrior gave the shield a * violent and power- ful ¢ shake, so that Cuchulain flew from it into the middle | of the ford, the same as if he had not sprung at all. It was then the first twisting-fit of Cuchulain took place, so that a swelling and inflation filled him like breath in a ' bladder, until he made a dreadful, terrible, many-coloured, wonderful bow of himself, so that as big as a giant or a man
4... Stowe. . 2-2 Stowe. 3..63 Stowe. 4...4 Stowe..
*LL. fo. 87a.
shite.) ie Such was the closeness of the combat they aye their shields burst and split from their rims to their centres.
Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that their spears bent and turned and shivered from thes tips | to their rivets. a
Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that — the boccanach and the bananach (‘the puck-faced Fays’” p and ‘the white-faced Fays’) and the sprites of the glens and the eldritch beings of the air screamed from the rims | of their shields and from the guards of their swords and q from the tips of their spears.
Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that q they forced the river out of its bed and out of its course, so that there might have been a reclining place * for a king il q or a queen in the middle of the ford, and not a drop of water — was in it but what fell there with the trampling and slipping - 4 which the two heroes and the two battle-warriors made in the middle of the ford. ]
Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that the steeds of the Gael broke loose affrighted and plunging © with madness and fury, so that their chains and their © shackles, their traces and tethers snapped, and the women and children and pygmy-folk, the weak and the madmen — among the men of Erin brake out through the camp south- westward. ;
At that time they were at the edge-feat of swords. It was then Ferdiad caught Cuchulain in an unguarded moment, - and he gave him a thrust with his tusk-hilted blade, so that — he buried it in his breast, and his blood fell into his bella
The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain 255
31. till the ford became crimsoned with the clotted blood from oy a the battle-warrior’s body. Cuchulain endured it not under __ Ferdiad’s attack, with his death-bringing, heavy blows, and
his long strokes and his mighty, middle slashes at him.
1Then Cuchulain bethought him of his friends from Faery and of his mighty folk who would come to defend him and of his scholars to protect him, what time he would be hard pressed in the combat. It was then that Dolb and Indolb 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, the three of them, and Ferdiad did not perceive the men from Sid (‘ the Faery Dwelling’) ?. Then it was that Ferdiad felt the onset of the three together smiting his shield against him, and he gave all his care and attention thereto, and thence he called to mind that, when they were with Scathach and with Uathach # learning together, Dolb and Indolb used to come to help Cuchulain out of every stress wherein he was.* Ferdiad spake: “Not alike are our foster-brothership and our comradeship, O Cuchulain,” quoth he. ‘“‘ How so, then ? ” asked Cuchu- lain. ‘“‘ Thy friends of the Fairy-folk have succoured thee, and thou didst not disclose them to me before,”’ said Ferdiad. “Not easy for me were that,” answered Cuchulain ; “ for if the magic veil be once revealed to one of the sons of Milé,* none of the Tuatha De Danann (‘ the Folk of the Goddess Danu’) will have power to practise concealment or magic. And why complainest thou here, *O Ferdiad ? ” said Cuchulain.4 “Thou hast a horn skin whereby to multiply feats and deeds of arms on me, and thou hast not shown me how it is closed or how it is opened.”
Then it was they displayed all their skill and secret cunning to one another, so that there was not a secret of
t-1 Stowe, H. 1. 13: Eg. 106 and Eg. 2009. ant Be. 106. $...3 Eg. 100. 4...4 Eg, 106, * That is, the Milesians, the ancestors of the Irish.
two elaine si the two Aven that ove rcam till Ferdiad made a second throw towards Cuchulair and with that throw he stretched low and killed Indo!
on the floor of the sia Hence it is that the — 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 * ? and champions,? and the hard, bette 4 victorious wild beasts that fought for Cuchulain had fallen, — it greatly strengthened the courage of Ferdiad, so that bell gave two blows for every blow of Cuchulain’s. When Laeg
son of Riangabair saw his lord being overcome by the — crushing blows of the champion who oppressed him, Laeg began to stir up and rebuke Cuchulain, in such a way that — a swelling and an inflation filled Cuchulain *from top to — ground,® as the wind fills a spread, open banner, so that — he made a dreadful, wonderful bow of himself like a sky- — bow in a shower of rain, and he made for Ferdiad with the violence of a dragon or the strength of a blood-hound.+
And Cuchulain called for the Gae Bulga from Laeg son y of Riangabair. This was its nature: With the stream. it was made ready, and from between the fork of the foot — j
ees
i” =m
a wep ac
¢ Cuchulain was partly of divine birth, on one side the son of — Lugh lar h-fhada, (‘Lug long-hand ’), the Irish sun-god ; on the earthly — side he had also a mortal father, Sualtaim or Sualtach. A 1-1 See note?, page 255. 2H. ©. 13. 3 Eg, 106. 4
‘The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain 257
it was cast ; the wound of a single spear it gave when enter- .
ing the body, and thirty“ barbs had it when it opened,
and it could not be drawn out of a man’s flesh till ! the flesh ! had been cut about it.
2 Thereupon Laeg came forward to the brink of the river and to the place where the fresh water was dammed, and the Gae Bulga was sharpened and set in position. He filled the pool and stopped the stream and checked the tide of the ford. Ferdiad’s charioteer watched the work, for Ferdiad had said to him early * in the morning : * “ Now, gilla, do thou hold back Laeg from me to-day, and I will hold back Cuchulain from thee ‘and thy men forever.” 4 “ This is a pity,’ quoth the henchman; ‘no match for him am I; for a man to combat a hundred is he * amongst the men of Erin,’ and that am I not. Still, however slight his help, it shall not come to his lord past me.”
6 Thus were the henchmen: two brothers were they, namely, Id’? son of Riangabair, and Laeg’ son of Riangabair. As for Id son of Riangabair,* he was then watching his brother 7 thus making the dam ’ till he filled the pools and went to set the Gae Bulga downwards. It was then that Id went up and released the stream and opened the dam and undid the fixing of the Gae Bulga. Cuchulain became
: deep purple and red all over when he saw the setting undone on the Gae Bulga. He sprang from the top of the ground _ so that he alighted light and quick on the rim of Ferdiad’s shield. Ferdiad gave a * strong ® shake to the shield, so that he hurled Cuchulain the measure of nine paces out to the westward over the ford. Then Cuchulain called and shouted to Laeg to set about preparing the Gae Bulga for him. Laeg hastened to the pool and began the work. Id « ‘ Twenty four,’ YBL. 39b, 23, and Eg. 106; but ‘ five,’ Eg. 209.
1...1 Stowe. 2+--2 Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209. $...3 Ee. 106. 4...4 Eg, 200. 5...5 Be. 106. $...6 Ee, 106. .
_» Ferdiad’s charioteer. ¢ Cuchulain’s charioteer. 7...7 Eg. 106. 8...8 Eg. 106.
and make ready the spear. Lae aveumipiea to come nig! it, but Ferdiad’s charioteer let him not, so that Laeg turne on him and left him on the sedgy bottom of the ford. He | gave him many a heavy blow with clenched fist on the face | and countenance, so that he broke his mouth and his nose _ and put out his eyes and his sight, ?and left him lying wounded (?) and full of terror. And forthwith Laeg left — him and filled the pool and checked the stream and stilled — the noise of the river’s voice, and set in position the Gae q Bulga. After some time Ferdiad’s charioteer arose from — his death-cloud, and set his hand on his face and counten- © ance, and he looked away towards the ford of combat and ~ saw Laeg fixing the Gae Bulga. He ran again to the poe ; and made a breach in the dike quickly and speedily, so that — the river burst out in its booming, bounding, bellying, bank- | | breaking billows making its own wild course. Cuchulain © became purple and red all over when he saw the setting of the Gae Bulga had been disturbed, and for the third time | 4 the sprang from the top of the ground and alighted on the edge of Ferdiad’s shield, so as to strike him over the shield _ from above. Ferdiad gave a blow with his left knee against — the leather of the bare shield, so that Cuchulain was thrown into the waves of the ford. 4 Thereupon Ferdiad gave three severe BRIG to Cuchu- lain. Cuchulain cried and shouted ‘loudly* to Laeg to. make wt the “Gae vied for him. Laeg attempted to
-t Eg. 106. ‘8 Eg. 106. 4-4 Figo. 106.
. ge . it, nok Ferdiad’ s charioteer prevented him. Then
over him, so that he quickly threw him to the ground and
straightway *bound* him. And *then® he went from him quickly and courageously, so that he filled the pool and stayed the stream and set the Gae Bulga. And he cried out to Cuchulain that it was served, for it was not to be discharged without a quick word of warning before it. Hence it is that Laeg cried out :—
“Ware ! beware the Gae Bulga,« Battle-winning Culann’s hound!”’ e¢ reliqua.
6 And he sent it to Cuchulain along the stream.
Then it was that Cuchulain let fly the white Gae Bulga from the fork of his irresistible right foot. 7’ Ferdiad began to defend the ford against Cuchulain, so that the noble Cu arose with the swiftness of a swallow and the wail of the storm-play in the rafters of the firmament, so that. he laid hold of the breadth of his two feet of the bed of the ford, in spite of the champion.’ Ferdiad prepared for the feat according to the testimony thereof. He lowered his shield, so that the spear went over its edge into the watery, water- cold river. And he looked at Cuchulain, and he saw all his various, venomous feats made ready, and he knew not to which of them he should 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 the palm,’ or to the white Gae Bulga over the fair, watery river.?
8 When Ferdiad saw that his gilla had been thrown 8
and heard the Gae Bulga called for, he thrust his shield ~
down to protect the lower part of his body. Cuchulain gripped the short spear ® which was in his hand,° cast it
1...1 Eg, 106. 2---2 See note 2, page 257. $+0:3 Eg. 106. #...4 Reading with Eg. 106.
5.6 Ee. 106. 6...6 YBL. 39b, 20. Tee? Ko, 200. ~ 8
+8 Eg. 106, 9...9 Stowe.
ay " Laeg grew 1 very 1 wroth * at his brother * and he made a p ue spring at him, and he closed his long, full-valiant hands
The gilla set eG Gae Bulga down the oh “ ar i . caught it in the fork of his foot, and 2 when Fe
him, till every joint and every limb was filled with its val DS.
‘Ah, that now sufficeth,” sighed Ferdiad: “I am fallen of that! But, yet one thing more: mightily didst thou drive with thy right foot. And ’twas not fair of thee fo r
+
me to fall by thy hand.” And he yet spake and utters ay these words :— dy
““O Cu of grand feats, Unfairly I’m slain ! Thy guilt clings to me; My blood falls on thee !
“No meed for the wretch» 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? Hath Medb turned my hand!
‘‘ There’ll come rooks and crows To gaze on my arms,
--1 Stowe. -2 Stowe and Eg. 209. a) -3 Stowe and Eg. 209. * Reading taobh re taobh. “mg b : Gates seng; the line has a syllable too many in the original 4...4 Eg, 106 (Revue Celtique, tome xi, p. 327). .
yi ;
riur h took wae and not to the west ° of the |
ith his face * to footie a |
‘the men of Erin.* " Cuchulain laid Ferdiad there *L. fo. 87b.
vula n es i the head of Ferdiad. Laeg espied and the men of Erin all arose for the attack 1 upon him. Come, O Cucuc,” cried Laeg; “arise now * from thy M ‘ance,? for the men of Erin will come to attack us, and it is not lease combat they will allow us, now that Berdigtt son of Daman son of Daré is fallen 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 and he 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! ”’
cake Eg. 1
the ® rhat’ is, in Ulster. Stowe and Eg. 106 read ‘ (with his face) to
, the south.’ |
| ® That is, in Connacht. 2...2 Stowe.
“Thou hast had no 0 sleep in (pea iat ‘Though thy freon was few and small, Oft thou wouldst rise at early morn | ”
Cuchuilain began to lament and bemoan F erdiad, he spake the words ;
thou didst not tae counsel with any of those that ‘5 my real deeds of valour and arms, before we met in Cee i of battle ! "a “Unhappy for thee that Laeg son of { Riangabair did ; not make thee blush in regard to our comradeship ! a “Unhappy for thee that the truly faithful warning of 1g Fergus thou didst not take ! “Unhappy for thee that dear, trophied, tumpant, q battle-victorious Conall counselled thee not in regard to our comradeship ! } 2“ For those men would not have spoken ‘in obedience | q to the messages or desires or orders or false words of promise of the fair-haired women of Connacht. i “For well do those men know that there will not be boa a being that will perform deeds so tremendous and so great - among the Connachtmen as I,? till the very day of doom — and of everlasting life, whether at handling of shield and — buckler, at plying of spear and sword, at playing at draughts ; i and chess, at driving of steeds and chariots.” 2 — q 4And he spake ee warm words, sadly, sorro in Rouen of Ferdiad :—
-1 Stowe. +2 The order of these two paragraphs is that of tare
are an in the reverse order in LL. 3..-3 Reading with Stowe. 4.--4 Eg, 200.
a i
ena nts ot to thine, till the anaes ay _ and of life henceforward, O red-cheeked son ee
1” said Cuchulain. ,
it was that Cuchulain arose and stood over Ferdiad:
Ferdia * Ang spake Cuchulain * | leet have the men
it 3 d and do battle * with me. Bor 1 no easy thing i is it to *LL, fo. 88a, _ contend and do battle with me on the Raid for the Kine of - Cualnge! ?And yet, never before have I found combat that was so sore or distressed me so as thy combat, save the combat with Oenfer Aifé,* mine one own son.” ? 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!
1-1 This difficult sentence is composed of two alliterating groups, which it is impossible to follow in the translation. * That is, the battle breach. * Thatis, the fury of war and carnage which appearedin the form of a carrion crow. | +2 Stowe, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209. *That is, Conlaech.
*., . “Then fae er to gaze on 3 master. Laeg,” ried, Cuchalain, “ now edi
brooch for the sake of which: he entered on es: pat fight 1 with me.” 1! Laeg came up and stripped Ferdia & He took his armour and garments off him and he saw the brooch 2 and he placed the brooch in Cuchulain’s hand,? and Cuchulain began to lament and complain * over “Fer. ‘ diad,* and he spake these words :—
en ie ul \ 5
““ Alas, golden brooch ; ; Ferdiad of the hosts, cme O good smiter, strong, Victorious thy hand !
“Thy hair blond and curled, er 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,* 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...1 Stowe. — -2 Stowe. --3 Stowe. —
6 Reading with YBL. ner 3I, as more intelligible than the ‘ ch board ’ of LL., which occurs in the next stanza.
4... YBL, 39b, 31-33.
) O Laeg my $isster Renee Caeciathins - “now , and take the Gae Bulga out, because I ‘maj cag without my weapons.” Laeg came and cut open Ferdiad and he took the Gae Bille out of him. And ih C uchulain saw his weapons bloody and red-stained: by the
“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,? German we would go to meet!
“We came to the battle-rock, Over Lake Linn Formait’s shore. And four hundred men we brought °¢ From the Isles of the Athissech!
** As I stood and Ferdiad brave At the gate of German’s fort, * TI slew Rinn the son of Nel; *LL. fo. 88b. He slew Ruad son of Fornel !
pet, Y BL. 39b, 35-39. # A term of endearment which survives in Modern Irish. * That is, Ferbaeth, | ¢ That is, as prisoners.
a
“We laid. waste shrew W O’er the broad, sabia ps sea. a oe German we brought home mes eet g ‘Ohi To our Scathach of broad shield!
“Then our famous nurse made fast
Our blood-pact* 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. Tg Woe is me, the friend is fall’n i a Whom I pledged in red blood’s draught ! ¢ .
“Were it there I saw thy death, © ee Midst the great Greeks’ warrior-bands, ath. 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! 3
** Woe, what us befel therefrom, Us, dear Scathach’s fosterlings, Thee in death, me, strong, alive. Valour is an angry strife!”
“Good, O Cucuc,’’ spake Laeg, “ let us leave this ford ; now ; too long are we here!’’ ‘‘ Aye, let us leave it, O my ~ master Laeg,” replied Cuchulain. ‘“‘ But every combat and battle I have fought seems a game and a Sport to me compared with the combat and battle of Ferdiad. 4 Th q he spake, and he uttered these words :-—
* Referring to the Celtic custom of binding an alliance by eacl of the parties thereto drinking the blood of the other.
Bull-chief of the tribes,
ef
es 5 Wie Pi ites smote on the ford.
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! Lovéd 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 Tain 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?® nursed not on her breast ; Never sprang from sea or land, King’s son that had larger fame! ”’
Thus far 1 the Combat of Ferdiad with Cuchulain ! and the Tragical Death of Ferdiad. ;
* That is, Ferdiad. ’ An old name for Ireland.
BARE _ 141 Stowe and Eg. 209.
*LL. fo. 89a. W. 4205.
“tebe She! ake die TREN OY Pao eh aviary} meekets AYRE cr Bathe NA saat yale Weep ‘MA |
1 CUCHULAIN AND THE RIVERS! 2 Now while the hosts phocedad from Ath. Firdead (‘F diad’s Ford’) southwards, Cuchulain lay in his sckbed aa that place.2* Then came certain men of the Ulstermen — thither to help and succour Cuchulain. * Before all? Senoll Uathach and the two sons of Gegé: Muridach and Cotreb, to wit. And they bore him to the streams and rivers of Conalle Murthemni, to rub and to wash his stabs — and his cuts, his sores and his many wounds in the face of these streams and rivers. For the Tuatha De Dananail f (‘the Tribes divine of Danu’) were wont to put herbs and j plants of healing and a curing charm in the waters and rivers of the territory of Conalle Murthemni, to help and — to succour Cuchulain, so that the streams were speckled and green-topped therewith. : q Accordingly these are the names of the healing rivers” q of Cuchulain :— : Sas, Buan, 4 Buas,* Bithslan, Findglas (‘ Whitewater v Gleoir, Glenamain, Bedg, Tadg, Telameit, Rind, Bir, Bred ' nidé, Dichaem, Muach, Miliuc, Cumung, Cuilind, Gainemain, — ft Drong, Delt, Dubglas (‘ Blackwater’). i 5 Then was the grave of Ferdiad dug by the men of Brin ; and his funeral games were held.® 7
1...1 This sub-title is supplied by Windisch. AR VBL, 1408, EB.) 4) | Se SB aie eae g 4...4 Stowe. 5..-5 Stowe.
268
Ane sig i
i a iss a nr 4 7 i it F oad es ane 4 niin oar ae "4 betes she . dvi ad Sails, Gab suisse ; ; > ¢ ? « 7 a ne) j pitty _ its “i ia ur Coe fee sy : Wy an wie yah ae ye) (er
* a 1 * t y ee A ToT rr ibe bi
¥ Phy ¢ A
Lee ro ee ss KIL.” ; i 5 ecg hg --.CETHERN’S STRAIT-FIGHT +
- ‘ yo aN 1ILE now Cuchulain went to bathe in the waters, the ig ) te went by to the south till they pitched camp at Imorach . Smiromrach (‘ Edge of the Marrow-bath’).2 Then said the _men of Erin to macRoth the chief runner, to go watch and keep guard for them at Sliab Fuait, to the end that the Ulstermen might not come upon them without warning and unobserved. Thereupon macRoth went *from the host southwards ® as far as Sliab Fuait * to spy out the men of Ulster, to learn if any one came after them. MacRoth was not long there when he saw something: a lone chariot on Sliab Fuait making from the north straight towards him. A fierce man, stark-naked, in that chariot coming - towards him, without arms, without armour at all save an iron spit in his hand. In equal manner he goaded his driver and his horses > at one and the same time.® And it seemed to him that he would never in his life come up to the hosts. And macRoth hastened to tell this news ® at the fort * where Ailill and Medb and Fergus were and the nobles: of the men of Erin. Ailill asked tidings of him on his arrival. ‘“‘ Aye, macRoth,” inquired Ailill ; “ hast thou seen any of the Ulstermen on the track of the host this day?” “ That, truly, I know not,” answered macRoth; “ but I saw something: a lone chariot coming over Sliab Fuait
1..-1 This heading is taken from the colophon of the episode.
2...2 YBL. 40a, 9-12. 8.3 YBL. 40a, 12-13. 4.4 YBL. 40a, 12-14. 5...5 Stowe. $.--6 Stowe.
269
*LL. fo. 80.
i isan at ‘all, ce nyo a : _ ‘manner he prodded his driver a his steet
Stowe. LL. has, simply, ‘ his entrails and bowels outside on him.’
to him he would never in his life cute up to the host. brindled greyhound before him.” 3 es thinkest t might it be, O Fergus ? ” asked Ailill. 4 ‘Is it Conchob or Celtchar?”4 “ “Of a truth, > an is not likely,’ i Fergus answered ; “‘ meseems it is Cethern son of * generous, m red-edged * Fintan 7from Liné in the north? that came there. * And if so it be, ye shall be on your guard against i him!” *® Fergus indeed spoke true, that it was Fintan’s son Cethern that was come there. And so Cethern son of Fintan came on them, and the camp and the garrison — were confounded and he wounded all around him in every direction and on all sides ® and they wounded him in like manner. And then 1 Cethern left them, 1 and it was thus he went, and the front-guard of the chariot pressed up against his belly to keep his entrails and vitals within him,12_ 12 and his intestines were wound about his legs.12 He came to the place where was Cuchulain, to be healed and cured, and he demanded a leech of Cuchulain to heal and to cure him. 1% Cuchulain had compassion on his wounds; 1!% "a bed of fresh rushes was made for him and a pillow set to it.14 ‘Come, master Laeg!” cried Cuchulain. %*‘ Arise,15 away with thee to the garrison and camp of the men of © Erin and summon * the leeches to come out to cure Cethern macFintain. I give my word, e’en though it be under the _
1...4 Stowe, and YBL. 41a, Io. 2...% YBL. ata,it.
3...3 YBL, 41a, 15. 4...4 YBL. 40a, 17} a 5...5 YBL. 40a, 17. a 6..6 YBL. 40a, 18. 7...7 Stowe. ~ ‘ ‘4 8...8 Stowe and YBL. 41a, Io. 9...2 Stowe. 16...10 Stowe.
11...11 JT have translated from the more circumstantial account in ~
12...12 YBL. 40a, 21. 18 YBL. 40a, 22. 14...14 YBL. 40a, 23-24. -15 Stowe.
leech helo the men of ‘Btn were qe to ie their adversary, their enemy and their igi y
1 ti ion and slaughter upon them if they went not. £80 they went. om one man of them ? after the other 3
and his cuts, his sores and his bloody wounds. *# When Bis the first leech that came looked at him, “thou wilt not live,” he declared. “Neither wilt thou for this,” replied
Cethern.* Each man of them that said he would not live
and could not be healed, Cethern son of Fintan struck
him a blow with his right fist in the front of his forehead,
so that he drove the brains out through the windows of his
ears and the seams of his skull. Howbeit Cethern son of Fintan killed them till, by reason of him, there had come fifteen * leeches of the leeches of the men of Erin, 4as the historian hath declared in proof thereof :—
“‘ These the leeches of the Tain, Who by Cethern—bane—did fall.
No light thing, in floods of tribes, That their names are known to me:
** Litté, Luaidren, known o’er sea, Lot and Luaimnech, ‘ White-hand’ Lonn, Latheirné skilful, also Lonn,
_Laisré, Slanoll ‘ That cures all.’
** Dubthach, Fintan’s blameless son,
fe ig Fintan, master Firfial, too, Mainé, Boethan “Gives not pain,’
Eke his pupil, Boethan’s son.
1-1 YBL. 40a, 29. 2..-2 Stowe. 8...3 YBL. 40a, 31-33. * ‘ Fifty or fifteen,’ YBL. 40a, 35.
Pate Oh WAS adh & a ae
Be that reached pew ; he ;
| betwben: the bodies of the other. phys ci for a long space and time. ‘Tthall, Jeech of Ail was his name. — wild
: aed }
' of Cuchulain to heal and to cure him 1 Peters ne
| leeches of the men of Erin had failed him.1 ‘‘ Come, master ' Laeg,” quoth Cuchulain, “ go for me to Fingin the seer- q : leech, at ‘ Fingin’s Grave-mound’ at Leccan (‘the Brow’ 9: 7 of Sliab Fuait,? him that is ? leech to Conchobar. Bid bey come to heal Cethern son of Fintan.”
Laeg hastened to Fingin the seer-leech at ij ingin’s a) Grave-mound’ at Leccan of Sliab Fuait, to the leech of Conchobar. And he told him to go cure Cethern son of — Fintan. Thereupon Fingin the prophet-leech came * with | him to where Cuchulain and Cethern were. As soon as he —
was come, Cethern son of Fintan showed him his stabs — and his cuts, his sores and his bloody wounds. 4
“5 4
4...4 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 18,748. 1.1 Stowe. 2...2 YBL. 40a, 40. 3.-.8 Stowe.
AS ee ar,
CET AE: : RN’S BLOODY ; WOUNDS» | t this bloody + wound for me, O Fingin, i said
blood hath given es, and no desire or wish had he there- -for,? and it will not carry thee off at once.” ‘‘ That, now, is true,” exclaimed Cethern. ‘‘A lone man came upon me there; bushy hair on him; a blue mantle wrapped around him; a silver brooch in the mantle over his ‘breast ; an oval shield with plaited rim he bore; a five- pointed spear in his hand; a pronged spare spear at his side. He gave this bloody wound. He bore away a slight wound from me too.”’ ‘“‘ Why, we know that man! ”’ cried Cuchulain; “’twas I[Illann Iarchless (‘Illann of many feats’) son of Fergus *macRoig.4 And he would not wish that thou shouldst fall by his hand, but he gave thee this mock-blow that the men of Erin might not have it to say it was to betray them or to forsake them if he gave it not.” “ Now look at this bloody wound for me, O Fingin my master,” said Cethern. Fingin looked closely into the bloody wound. “ Why, ’tis a woman’s wanton deed of | arms we behold here,” said the leech; 5°‘‘ namely the , wound which a warrior-woman inflicted on thee,” said he.® ‘“‘ Aye, that is true then,” quoth Cethern; “a woman
pry :
i (4441 The heading is taken from LL. 2...2 Stowe, K 3...8 Stowe. 4-4 YBL. 4tb, 19. 5...6 Stowe.
273 T
ie , a ‘down to the top. o ‘her phe ‘shoul a smock of royal sammet next to her white sk birds of gold on her Recut aa Hac clo ,
Vk in her hand. She itv was that gave me this Bloody wot an. | She bore away a slight wound from me too.” “Ah, but: ve know that woman,” cried Cuchulain; ‘“ Medb dangiiey of Eocho Fedlech, daughter of the Hien! King of Erin; it is she that came unto us in that dress. A victory and triumpti and acs 4 she had considered it hadst thou fallen at her q hands.” Sa
“Look at this bloody wouue for me too,.O Fingin my ] master,” said Cethern. Fingin looked at the bloody wound. | “Why, the feat of arms of two warriors is this,” said the ; leech; *“‘ that is to say, two warriors inflicted these two | ; wounds as one wound upon thee.’’? “ Yea, that is true,” answered Cethern. “There came two 4men-at-arms ¢ q upon me in that place; two, with bushy hair on them; two blue cloaks wrapped around them; brooches of | silver in the cloaks over their breasts; a necklace of all- white silver around the neck of each of them; * two long shields they bore; two hard chains of silver on each of them; a band of silver around them; two five-pointed spears they bore; a vein of silver around them.> ® They © smote me this wound and I smote a little wound on each of them.” & ‘‘ Indeed we know that pair,’”’ quoth Cuchulain ; “ Oll and Othiné they, of the bodyguard of Ailill and Medb; they never go to a hosting, 7 to battle or combat,’ but when the wounding of a man is certain. They shige have held
Ps) va
1-1 Stowe. 2...2 YBL. 41b, 5. 3...3 Stowe. 4...4 Stowe. 5...5 YBL, 41b, 21-26, 6...6 Stowe. 7.+.7 Stowe.
bsnl ie Wounds 275,
i . a ihe: Maca
“Look on this ~All wound also for me, O Fingin my master,’ said Cethern. Fingin looked closely at the bloody
wound, ‘“‘ There came upon me a pair of young warriors
of the Fian,” 1 said Cethern ; 1 ‘“‘ a splendid, manly appear- ance they had. Each of them cast a spear at me. I drave this spear through the one of them.” Fingin looked into
the bloody wound. “ Why, this blood is all black,”
quoth the leech; ‘“ through thy heart those spears passed so that they formed a cross of themselves through thy heart, * and thy healing and curing are not easy ; ? and I prophesy no cure here, but I would get thee some healing plants and curing charms that they destroy thee not forthwith.” “ Ah, but we know them, that pair,” quoth Cuchulain ; “ Bun and Mecconn (‘ Stump ’ and ‘ Root’) are they, of the bodyguard of Ailill and Medb. It was their hope that thou shouldst fall at their hands.”
“Look at this bloody wound for me, too, O Fingin my master,’ said Cethern. Fingin examined the bloody wound. “Why, it is the red rush of the two sons of Ri Cailé (‘ the King of the Woods’) that is here,” said the leech, “‘ Aye, *tis so,” replied Cethern; “‘ there attacked me there two fair-faced, dark-browed youths, huge, with diadems of gold *on their heads.* Two green mantles folded about them ; two pins of bright silver on the mantles over their breasts ; two five-pronged spears in their hands.” ‘‘ Why, near each other are the bloody wounds they gave thee,” said the leech; “into thy gullet they went, so that the points of the spears struck one another within thee, and none the easier is it to work thy cure here.”” ‘ We know that pair,’’ quoth Cuchulain,;; *“ noble youths of Medb’s great household,* Broen and Brudni, are they, * two
1...1 YBL. 41b, 30. 2..2 Stowe. 3-63 Stowe. / 4.4 YBL. 41b, 41. 5..-5 Stowe. ;
*LL. fo
. gob.
_ and red embroidery ? next their skin; * two 3 white-hilted
. to his mother’ and Mané ‘ Like to his father,’ two sons
Aor wound. “ The joint deed of two y boottlerd is ger leech. ‘‘’Tis indeed true,” replied Cethern. “ There
upon me two leading, king’s warriors. Yellow hair uy them; dark-grey mantles with fringes, ‘wrapped arou them; leaf-shaped brooches of silvered bronze in th mantles over their breasts; broad, grey lances in their — hands.” “ Ah, but we now that pair,’”’ quoth Cactunin 2M “Cormac Colomon rig (‘ King’s pillar’) is the one, and Cormac son of Mael Foga, of the bodyguard of Ailill and — Medb (the other). What they ase was that thou shouldst fall at their hands.”’
“Look at this bloody wound for me too, O Fingin my master,” said Cethern.* Fingin looked into that bloody 4 wound. ‘ The assault of two brothers 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 ! dark 1 hair on the one of them ; curly | yellow hair on the other ; two green cloaks wrapped around — them ; two brishineuver brooches in the cloaks over their breasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk ? with hoods ©
swords at their belts; two bright shictas having the like- nesses of beasts in lite silver they bore ; two five-pronged i) spears with veins of all-white silver in their hands.” “ Ah, but we know that pair,” quoth Cuchulain ; “ Mané ‘ Lik
Ailill and Medb; and it would be matter of victor ,
1...1 YBL. 42a, 28. 2...2 YBL. 42a, 30-31.
? Then # I ‘aint ® this skal ea h of tl Fingin looked into the bloody und. “ rst are the bloody wounds they inflicted
nite, Hy “said the leech; “‘ wie have severed the iene
i ti thy Faaaek like an jae in motion or ikke a ball of yarn in an empty bag, and there is no string at all to support it ; _ 4and there is no means to cure thee or to save thee,* and no healing can I effect here.” ‘‘ Ah, but we know those twain,’ quoth Cuchulain; ‘‘a pair of champions from Norway who, * because of their cunning and violence,*® have been sent particularly by Ailill and Medb to slay thee; for not often does one ever issue alive from their combats, and it would be their will that hon shouldst fall at their hands.” | “Look upon this bloody wound for me too, my good Fingin,”’ said Cethern. Fingin looked at that bloody wound in like manner. ‘“‘ Why, the alternate woundings 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 me there, with diadems of burnished gold upon them ; kingly garments they wore ; gold-hilted, hammered swords at their girdles, with scabbards of pure-white silver, ) ®with a cunningly ornamented and delicate embossing ° and supports of mottled gold outside upon them. “‘ Ah, but we know that pair,” quoth Cuchulain ; ‘ Ailill and his
1---1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. 8.-.8 Stowe and YBL. 42a, I. 4---4 Stowe. 5...6 Stowe. $...6 Stowe.
*LL. fo. gia.
“Speak, ° Fingin prophetic leech,” spake (
Thus ra ther “ * Bloody Wounds ’ ” of the
af Fintan; ‘what verdict and what ‘counsel now?” “ This verily is what I say to thee,” replied 1 the prophetic leech: ‘‘ Count not on thy big cows for ' lings this year; for if thou dost, it is not thou that enjoy them, and no profit will they bring thee.” ‘“‘ This is the judgement and counsel the other surgeons did give q me, and certain it is it brought them neither advantage nor — profit, and they fell at my hands; and none the more will | ; it bring thee advantage or proht. and thou shalt fall at my hands!” And he gave Fingin a strong, stiff kick © with his foot, and sent him between the chariot’s two wheels” 4 land the creaking of the chariot might be heard afar | off.+
“Oh, but vicious is the kick from the old datriot: cried Cuchulain; 2“ ’twould be more fitting if thou shouldst ply it on foes than on leech!’”’ 2? Hence, from this — saying, is the name Uachtar Lua (‘the Height of the Kick Wy in the land of Ross from then until this day.
Nevertheless * Fingin the prophet-leech gave his choickll q to Cethern son of Fintan: A long illness for him and after- wards to obtain help and succour, or a red * healing for the - space of three days and three nights, so that he might then — employ his strength on his enemies. What Cethern son - of Fintan chose was a red healing for the space of three days and three nights, to the end that he might then vent Shis anger and ® strength on his enemies. For what he said was that there would not be found after him any one j he would rather have vindicate or avenge him than himself.
1..-1 Stowe. 2...2 YBL. 42a, 50-51. * That is, ‘ extreme or drastic.’ 3...3 Stowe
- = SE eas
Cethern’s Bloody Wounds 279 reupon Fingin the prophetic leech asked of Cuchulain
ae ‘a vat of marrow wherewith to heal and to cure Cethern ; i son of Fintan. Cuchulain proceeded to the camp and en-
trenchment of the men of Erin, and whatsoever he found of herds and flocks and droves there he took away with him. And he made a marrow-mash of their flesh and their bones and their skins; and Cethern son of Fintan was placed in the marrow-bath till the end of three days and three nights. And his flesh began to drink in the marrow-bath about him and the marrow-bath entered in within his stabs and his cuts, his sores and his many wounds. There- after he arose from the marrow-bath at the end of three days and three nights, 1 and he slept a day and a night after taking in the marrow.t *“‘I have no ribs more,’ said Cethern ; “ put the ribs of the chariot-box into me.” ‘‘ Thou shalt have it,’’ Cuchulain made answer.? It was thus Cethern arose, with a slab of the chariot pressed to his belly so that his entrails and bowels would not drop out of him. *“ Had I my own weapons,” said Cethern, “‘ the story of what I would do would live forever !’’ ®
That was the time when his wife came from the north, from Din da Benn (‘Fort of the two Gables’), and she brought his sword with her, even Finna daughter of Eocho. 4“ What seest thou?” asked Cethern.4 * ‘‘ Meseems,”’ answered Cuchulain, “‘ ’tis the chariot of little Finna, Eocho’s daughter, thy wife, that comes nigh us.’”’> And they saw the woman, with the arms in the chariot. Cethern son of Fintan ’ seized his arms’ and proceeded to attack the men of Erin, * with the chariot-box bound around his back, for he was not the stronger therefor. But this is to be added: They sent a warning before him; Ithall,® physician of Ailill and Medb, had remained as one dead of
tet YBL. 42b, 7. *--? YBL. 42b, 8-9. %--:? YBL. 42b, 10-11.
#.--4 YBL. 42b, 13. 5...6 YBL. 42b, 14.
$...6 YBL. 42b, 16. 7-7 YBL.42b,17. 8+ YBL. 42b, 18-19. * See above, page 272.
A ees
“ Hark ye men ay ‘tan aerated say c thern son of Fintan comes to attack you, now that | e he been healed and cured by Fingin the prophetic le ch, an ‘take ye heed of him!” Thereat the men of Erin ¢ in fear put Ailill’s dress and his golden shawl 5 and his regal diadem on the pillar-stone in Crich Ross, that it might be thereon — that Cethern son of Fintan should first give vent to hi My anger on his arrival. ®Eftsoons® Cethern ? reached the place where he? saw those things, namely Ailill’s dress — and his golden shawl around the standing-stone in Crich Ross, and he, being unaware and weetless, conceived it to 5 be Ailill himself that was in it. And he made a rush at it like a blast of wind and drave the sword through the stone pillar till it went up to its pommel, *so that his fist went : through it after the Swine 8) “Deceit: is here,” cried 4 Cethern son of Fintan, ‘and on me have ye worked this © ho deceit. And I swear an oath, till there be found among i ye ° of the men of Erin ® one that will put yon royal dress about him and the golden shawl, I will not stay my hand from them, slaughtering and destroying withal ! ” Ml Mané Andoe son of Ailill and Medb heard that, and he put 2 his father’s 2° royal raiment about him and the golden shawl 11 and the diadem on his head, and he snatched them — up in his chariot before him 41 and dashed off through the midst of the men of Erin. Cethern son of Fintan pursued - him closely and hurled his shield the length of a cast at hoa a iy
1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. -3 YBL. 42b, 20.1 4.4 YBL. 42b, 22. 5.--5 Stowe. --6 Stowe. . 7...27 Stowe. 8...8 YBL. 42b, 24. %---® Stowe. i’ 10...10 Stowe. 11...11 YBL. 42b, seca oH
ro
4 His wife, Finna’ daughter of ocho ‘Salbuids ¢ valle r ws lads over him and she was in great sorrow, and she de ve funeral-song below :— |
“TI care for naught, care for ied _ Ne’er more man’s hand ’neath my head, Since was dug the earthy bed, Cethern’s bold, of Din 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 !
uf “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,‘ Seven times fifty of the hosts, Fintan’s son brought to their graves !
* Willa-loo, oh, willa-loo ! Woman’s ¢ wandering through the mist. Worse it is for him that’s dead. She that lives may find a man!¢
““ Never I shall take a man ¢ Of the hosts of this good world ; ; Never shall I sleep with man ; Never shall my man with wife!
* Omitting 7 tvi, ‘in three’ ; it is not found in Stowe or in YBL.
a seems out of place here. ‘1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. 3...3 Stowe.
| 4..-4 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 18,748. : ) > Reading Finna, to agree with the reading in LL., supra, page 279. Inna, in Stowe, etc. _ ¢ That is, unshrived of their sins (?), a Christian intrusion. 4 Literally, ‘ heifer’s.’ ¢ Literally,‘ a bull.’
ira We
“ Finna, Eocho’s pineal L
Found a fight of _ Spears.
Had my champion had his arms: .
By aig side a plnaphtered Baap 1 ely hc ae «In Irish, Dun cind eich. sr Neda Ponte
4-4 See note 4, page 2$1
. Si e | 7 it eee art A wee : i C , OE: ’
Toto rat : bad gee ) serine at Ww Fz sy ce
yj pret >, Vo ie i'd 4 be al see a ,
: ic mm ee oy . ery, eae ot ee yay Je a, i yy) ve A
: Bi Sas 7 er ‘ 4 5) ea gee Gy J wh eae fe
agi abled ay Ee et ‘sega yy i: in Ne ; bat) aay ei {
. AN ‘ d mand = <> sf aa 4 ra a < q FA tau fy aes: es eal J ae Gael! LO te Wee
ie i ¥ i ‘ x ‘ J ‘ , - oe - d e : qe
* s l) \ Le 3
i , a - f - 1 (a xad ,
) , 7 4 *i ‘ wipes
; wT TaN, ‘himself the son ‘ Niall Niamglonnach (‘ of the
P. rill: ant Exploits ’) from Dan da Benn +in the north, was
Peter of Cethern son of Fintan. And he came to save the ee honour of Ulster and to avenge his son upon the hosts. Thrice fifty ? with many pointed weapons ? was his number. And thus it was they came, and two spear-heads on each shaft with them, a spear-head on the top and a spear-head at the butt, so that it made no difference whether they wounded the hosts with the points or with the butts. They offered three * battles to the hosts. And thrice their own number fell at their hands, and there fell also the people * *LL. fo. grb. of Fintan son of Niall, all excepting Fintan’s son Crimthann alone, * so that there did not escape any of his people except- ing himself and his son.2 This one was saved under a canopy of shields by Ailill and Medb. 4 And the son was separated from him, his father Fintan, and was saved by Ailill out of fear of Fintan and in order that Fintan might not wreak his fury on them till he should come with Con- chobar to the battle. Then said the men of Erin, it would be no disgrace for Fintan son of Niall to withdraw from the camp and quarters, and that they would give up Crim- thann son of Fintan to him, and then the hosts would fall back a day’s march to the north again; and that he 1.-.1 Stowe. 2.2 YBL. 42b, 36.
« ‘Seven,’ YBL. 42b, 38. 3...3 YBL. 42b, 38-39. 4.4 YBL. 42b, 39-43.
283
AON: a aes S journey back’ to the: sort again, 3 and cease their advance. * Thereafter Fintan went to own land.? In this manner they found each man of © 1 people of Fintan son of Niall and each man of the : men Sid
them in the teeth and tusks of the other 4 after Hi had ) used up their arms.4 The men of Erin gave thought to that: _ ‘a “ This is a tooth-fight for us,” said they; “the tooth-fight of Fintan’s people and of Fintan himself.” So this is the Wy ‘ Tooth-fight ’ of Fintan. | q
1.1 YBL. 42b, 43-44- 2.52 Stowe, 3---3 Stowe. 4---4 Stowe. a
‘oe
Renna (‘the Waterways’) of the Boyne *in the iperth. » Twelve * men ‘ with many-pointed weapons,‘ that was his number. It was thus they came, and two spear-
_ spear-head at the butt, so that it made no difference whether they wounded the hosts with the points or with the butts. They offered three attacks upon the hosts. Three times their own number fell at their hands and there fell twelve men of the people of Menn, *so that there remained alive of them but Menn alone. But Menn himself was § sorely ® wounded in the strait, so that blood ran crimson on him 7and his followers too were crimsoned.? Then said the men of Erin: “ Red is this shame,”’ said they, “ for Menn son of Salcholga, that his people, * twelve men,’ should be
crimson red upon him.” MHence here is the ‘ Reddening
Kine of Cualnge.®
Then said the men of Erin, it would be no dishonour for a Menn son of Salcholga to leave the camp and quarters, \ and that the hosts would go a day’s journey back to the
1... Stowe. 2...2 YBL. 42b, 45. 3...3 Stowe. , *¢ ‘Thirty,’ YBL. 42b, 45. 4---4 YBL. 42b, 46. 5...5 Stowe. $...6 Stowe. 7.7 YBL. 42b, 49. _ 8-8 Stowe. 9-8 Stowe. _
285
r. was then came 2 to D thera 4 leg . Menn son of Salcholga, ;
heads on each shaft with them, a spear-head on the top anda —
slain and destroyed and he himself wounded till blood ran
Shame of Menn,’ ® the name of this tale on the Spoil of the
‘of the Cualnge Cow-spo and the knowers of the: mel
ga é and halting-place. And the ate fell back n for to rest and’ wait, ° * and Menn went his way to te owl land. a | he CONTIN
* Following beeen emendation of ithe text. 1...1 Stow 2...2 Stowe.
*
ty
Mr ® Nery of ’ a by ui laa i te
vee hata) Sgt | to RIEL OST RAR E:
ey ems ET Py
( FOLLOWETH THE ACCOUTREMENT OF ‘THE a CHARIOTEERS — uae
,
be eee. pans grote charioteers of the Ulstermen to them. _ Thrice fifty was their number. They offered three battles | ah to the hosts. Thrice their number fell at their hands, and the charioteers themselves fell on the field whereon they stood. Hence this here is the ‘Accoutrement of the Charioteers.’ 1It is for this cause it is called the ‘ Accoutre-
_ ment of the Charioteers,’ because it is with rocks and with boulders and with clumps of earth they ‘dies emuae the
defeat of the men of Erin.! if 1...1 Stowe. ] 287 ‘ at @> ; > An ICA Case =
(3, ore tt XXIIe at Ayinkt ?) Sopntas ge
| Ww. 4550.
U
_XxXIIc-
“ALL. fo. 92a. *1 THE WHITE-FIGHT OF ROCHAD NOW FO LOW
2 CUCHULAIN despatched his charioteer to? ee 8 Rigderg (‘ Red-king’) * son of Fathemon, * from Rigdorn in the north,‘ * that he should come to his aid. He was — of Ulster. ° The gilla comes up to Rochad and tells him, | if he has come out of his weakness, to go to the help of Cuchu- lain, that they should employ a ruse to reach the host to — seize some of them and slay them. Rochad set out from _ the north. Thrice fifty* warriors was his number, and _ he took possession of a hill fronting the hosts. 7 ‘‘ Scan the ©
plain for us to-day,” said Ailill. ‘“ Isee a company crossing the plain,” the watchman answered, “and a tender youth © comes in their midst ; the other warriors reach but up to his shoulder.” ‘‘ Who is that warrior, 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 do with him,” Fergus continued. “Let a hundred — warriors go from ye with the maiden 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 the maid and let hands be laid on him, and thus shall }
is roagh ed with the rp version above. | a..-2 LU. 1457. -3 YBL. 43a, 6. 4-..4 Stowe. — -5 LU. 1458. § LU. 1460-1463. ? e* “One hundred iene | men,’ LU. 1463. --7 LU. 1463-1472. 288
ruly have I ee ds warrior fot a Hin fiche oid) eg aa is he is my sweetheart, * my first love * and 4 Be! “ty in own choice one in wooing ‘of the men of Erin.” *
i oe thou hast * so ® loved him, daughter,” ® 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 en-
~ counters us on the day of the great battle when four of the " IM grand provinces of Erin will meet at Garech and Ilgarech q in the battle of the Foray of Cualnge.”
8 This then is done. Rochad sets forth to meet the horse- man. ‘“‘l am come,” says the horseman, “ from Finnabair to meet thee that thou come to speak with the maiden.” Thereupon Rochad goes alone to converse with her. The army 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 free and bound over not to oppose Ailill’s host till the time he will come with all the warriors of Ulster. Also they promise to give Finnabair to him. ,
Rochad son of Fathemon accepted the offer ® and there- upon he left them ® and that night the damsel slept with him. | An Under-king of Munster that was in the camp heard. | the tale. He went to his people to speak of it. “‘ Yonder | ‘maiden was plighted to me ? on fifteen hostages: once long a ago,’ said he; “ and it is for this I have now come on this
. 2-1 LU. 1458. 2...2 Stowe. ¢ Dhaai “ whisper.’ _ + %..8 YBL. 43a, 10. 4---4 Stowe. § YBL, 4 Io. y | s...6 YBL. 43a, 10. 7...7 YBL. 43a, II.
8-8 LU, 1472-1478. %-® LU. 1478-1479. 20...10 YBL. 43a, 17. :
Ailill * who are eateuane and aantiie ft ne rear ae Le army at Imlech in Glendamrach (‘ Kettle-glen’s navel)?” — This was the course they resolved upon. And with their — seven divisions of thirty hundreds they arose, > each man of them to attack the Mané. When Ailill heard that,® he i arose * with a start with ready shield * against them and thirty hundred ’ after them.’ Medb arose with her thirty - hundred. The sons of Maga with theirs and the Lanter and the Munstermen and the people of Tara. | 8 Then arose Fergus with his thirty hundred to eerie | between them, and that was a hand for that mighty work.’ And a mediation was made between them so that i) f of them sat down near the other and hard by his arms. Howbeit before the intervention took place, eight hundreds — 4 very valiant warriors of them had fallen ° in the slaughter | of Glenn Domain (‘ Deep Glen ’).® | Finnabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, had tidings that — so great a number of the men of Erin had fallen for her sake and on account of her. And her heart broke in her breast \ even as a nut, through shame and disgrace, so that Finnabair — Slebé (‘ Finnabair of the Mount ’) is the name of the plats | where she fell, 1° died and was buried. 10
« ‘ Twelve,’ Stowe. 1...1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. 3.8 YBL..43a, 20. 4.--4 Stowe. _ 5.65 Stowe. *6 Stowe. 3-7 Stowe. 8...8 Stowe.
s ‘ Seva hundred,’ YBL. 43a, 24 and Stowe. 9...9 YBL. 43a, 25. 10...10 Stowe,
Brae
ecm ie
W. 4590.
*LL. fo. 92b.
HERE FOLLOWETH ILIACH’S peame
1 THEN came to them ! Iliach son of Cass son of Bacc of Ross Ruad son of Rudraige. *He was at that time an old man cared for by his son’s son, namely by Loegaire Buadach (‘the Victorious’) in Rath Imbil in the north.” 2 It was told him that the four grand provinces of Erin even then laid waste and invaded the lands of Ulster and of the Picts and of Cualnge * from Monday at Summer’s end — till the beginning of Spring, *and were carrying off the ir women and their cows and their children, their flocks, thei r herds and their cattle, their oxen and their kine and their droves, their steeds and their horses. He then conceive i | a plan *in his mind § and he made perfect his plan prvi 2 with his people. ‘‘ What counsel were better for me to make than to go and attack the men of Erin * and to ol my * strength on them * and have 7? my boast and? victory over them, and thus avenge the honour of Ulster. And pi care not though I should fall myself there thereafter.” — * And this is the counsel he followed. His two withered, mangy, ® sorrel ®* nags that were upon the strand hard by the fort were led to him. And to them fastened his ancient, ® worn-out ® chariot. Thus h mounted his chariot,!° without either covers or cushions ;
. ve q '
+1 YBL. 43a, 29. 2...2 Stowe. 8.3 Stowe.
4..-4 Stowe. 5..-5 Stowe 6...6 oul * The MS. has ‘ his.’ 7...7 Stowe. 8...8 YBL. 43% ; 36
9...9 YBL. 43a, 36. %---10 YBL. 43a, 35. ‘GI fi
, 2 te ‘eens Clump-fight 293
601 1s F trurdic of wattles around it.1 His 2 big,? rough, pale- ae grey shield of iron he carried upon him, with its rim of hard silver around it. He wore his rough, grey-hilted, huge- smiting sword at his left side. He placed his two rickety- headed, nicked, * blunt, rusted * spears by his side in the chariot. His folk furnished his chariot around him with cobbles and boulders and huge clumps, ‘so that it was full MBLC ANS os 4. 4(?)
In such wise he fared forth to assail the men of Erin. And thus he came, *stark-naked,® ® and the spittle from his gaping mouth trickling down through the chariot under him. 7’ When the men of Erin saw him thus, they began to mock and deride him.’ “ Truly it would be well for us,” said the men of Erin,* “if this were the manner in which all the Ulstermen came to us on the plain.’’§
Doché son of Maga met him and bade him welcome. “Welcome is thy coming, O Iliach,’’ spake Doché son of Maga. °‘‘ Who bids me welcome?” asked Iliach. “A comrade and friend of Loegaire Buadach am I, namely Doché macMagach.”® ‘Truly spoken I esteem that welcome,’’ answered Iliach; ‘‘but do thou for the sake of that welcome * come to me when now, alas, my deeds of arms will be over and my warlike vigour will have van- ished, 14 when I will have spent my rage upon the hosts,*# so that thou be the one to cut off my head and none other : of the men of Erin. However, my sword shall remain with
2.1 YBL. 43a, 35. 2.--2 Stowe. 3...3 Stowe.
4...4 YBL. 48a, 38. 5...8 YBL. 43a, 40.
s...6 This is the sense of Zimmer’s translation, which is only con- jectural, of this difficult passage (see Zeitschrift fur Deutsches Alter- thum 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. * ‘Said Medb,’ Stowe.
8...8 Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13, Add. 9...9 Stowe.
10...10 Stowe. 11...11 Stowe.
—~-— = ___e nadaaeein
—
ST RSE PE
\ ceinee theneot these two masses of marrow ‘still ee on | side by side, the marrow-mass that Cuchulain made of the ~ bones of the Ulstermen’s cattle for the healing of Cethern — son of Fintan,’ and the marrow-mass that Iliach made of the 4 bones of the men of Erin. Wherefore this was one of the | three innumerable things of the Tain, the number of them — | that fell at the hands of Iliach. So that this is the ‘ Clump- : fight’ of Iliach. It is for this reason it is called the 4 ‘Clump-fight ’ of Iliach, because with cobbles and boulders - 4 and massy clumps he made his fight. . .,
6 Thereafter * Doché son of Maga met him, “ ie not this Iliach ? ” asked Doché son of Maga. “ It is truly I,’ Iliach gave answer; “‘ and come to me now and cut off my head and let my eure remain with thee for thy friend, — for Loegaire 7 Buadach (‘ the Victorious’).” ? |
Doché came near him and gave him a blow with the! sword so that he severed his head, § and he took with him | the head and the spoils vauntingly to where were Aili and Medb.§ Thus to this point, the ‘ Clump-fight * Tliach.
1..-2 Stowe. 2.--2 Stowe. Soee8 ‘Atowns ) q
4-4 Stowe. 5...5 Stowe. * See above, page 279. 6...6 Stowe. 7...7 Stowe, 8...8 Stowe, Gi
4
ui" o y, be
E DEER STALKING or * AMARGIN a IN TALTIU cat 1 was, fe son of Cass who was son of Bacc ho ) was: son of Ross Ruad i the Red ’) who was son of % Rt d: raige, 1 father of Conall Cernach (‘ the Triumphant’). _ He came upon the warriors going over Taltiu westward, and he made them turn before him oyer Taltiu northwards. | And he put his left * elbow under him in Taltiu. And his Ms people furnished him with rocks and boulders and great clumps ? of earth,? and he began to pelt the men of Erin _ till the end of three days and three nights, *and he did great slaughter among them * ?so that no man could show his face to him in Taltiu.4
SaaS AN eater 2...2 Stowe. | bu * As a challenge or sign of hostility
3...8 Stowe. 4-4 YBL. 43b, 13-14.
W. 4645.
*LL, fo.g3a.
FOLLOW NOW
HE was told that a _ single man was checking and st
four of the five grand provinces of Erin 1 during the chee : months of winter ! from Monday at Summer’s end till the —
beginning of Spring. And he felt it unworthy of ilo
and he deemed it too long that his people were without him. And * it was then * he set out * to the host * to fight
and contend with Cuchulain. And when he was come to
the place where Cuchulain was, he saw Cuchulain there — moaning, full of wounds and pierced through with holes, —
and he felt it would not be honourable nor fair to fight and contend with him after the combat with Ferdiad. 4 Because it would be said it was not that Cuchulain died of the sores
* and wounds which he would give him so much as of the a
wounds which Ferdiad had inflicted on him in the conflict before. Be that as it might, Cuchulain offered to engage with him in battle and combat.
Thereupon Curoi set forth for to seek the men of Erin © and, when he was near at hand, he espied Amargin there — and his left elbow under him to the west of Taltiu. Curoi — reached the men of Erin from the north. His people — equipped him with rocks and boulders and great clumps, — and he began to hurl them right over against Amargin, so — that Badb’s battle-stones collided in the clouds and in the © air high above them, and every rock of them was shivered 7
1.3-YBL..43b, 17. 2..2 YBL. 43b, 14-15. 8...8 YBL. 43b, 15. 4.-.4 Reading with Stowe, which is to be preferred to LL.
296
_
|
Ar. Fin ‘
7 662. into an hundred stones. “ By the truth of thy valour, O -_ Curoi,”’ cried Medb, “‘ desist from thy throwing, for no real
succour nor help comes to us therefrom, but ill is the suc- cour !and help 1 that thence come to us,” “I pledge my word,” cried Curoi, “‘ I will not cease till the very 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 or give aid to the men of Erin.” Curoi consented to that and went his way to return to his land and people. _ About this time * the hosts? went past Taltiu west- wards. “It is not this was enjoined upon me,” quoth Amargin: “never again to cast at the hosts * but rather that I should part from them.’’ * And he went to the west of them and he turned them before him north-eastwards past Taltiu. And he began to pelt them for a long while and time ‘so that he slaughtered more of them than can be numbered.* *This is one of the three incalculable things on the Tain, the number of those he slew. And his son Conall Cernach (‘the Victorious’) remained with him providing him with stones and spears.®
Then it was also that the men of Erin said it would be no disgrace for Amargin to leave the camp and quarters, and that the hosts would retire a day’s march back to the north again, there to stop and stay, and for him to quit his feats of arms upon the hosts until such time as he would meet them on the day of the great battle when the four grand provinces of Erin would encounter at Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge. Amargin accepted that offer, and the hosts proceeded a day’s march back to the northwards again. Wherefore the ‘ Deer-stalking ’ of Amargin in Taltiu ® is the name of this tale.®
1.--1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. 3..-3 Stowe. 4-4 Stowe. 5.5 YBL. fo. 43b, 34- 36. $...6 Stowe.
W. 4685.
against Glass son of Delga, his grandson, 4‘ and at the last
1
AORN aNeenae i aie .
1 Now while the deeds we have told here were being done,t Sualtaim (‘ Goodly fosterer’) son of Becaltach (‘of Small — belongings ’) son of Moraltach (‘ of Great belongings *y, the. (G same the father of Cuchulain macSualtaim, ? of Sualtaim’s. ¥ Rath in the plain of Murthemne,? was told of the distress and %sore wounding * of his son contending in unequal combat on the Cualnge Cattle-spoil, even against Calatin Dana (‘the Bold’) with his seven and twenty sons, and
against Ferdiad son of Daman.* a
6Tt is then that Sualtaim said®: ‘‘ Whate’er it be, Sthis that I hear * from afar,’ quoth Sualtaim, “it is the sky that bursts or the sea that ebbs or the earth that q quakes, or is it the distress of my son overmatched in the _ strife on the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge ? ”’ a
In that, indeed, Sualtaim spoke true. And he went to — learn all after a while, without hastening on his way. And when Sualtaim was come to where ’his son? weal ‘ was and found him covered with wounds and bloody — 4 gashes and many stabs,’ Sualtaim began to moan and lament "4 ‘ ® for Cuchulain.® it
ve Ny Pee | ,
2 YBL. 43b, 38-30. *? YBL. 43b, 39-40. 88 Stowe.
ss ‘Sitgalve.? YBL. 43b, 41. 4 Stowe. 5...6 Stowe and YBL. 43b, 42. $...6 Stowe. 7...7 VBL. 43b, 46. 8...8 Stowe. 99 Stowe.
298
ag . i that Sualtaim should bemoan ving abit ps for Y -Cuchulain knew that, wounded and injured though he was,
Sualtaim would not be tthe man? to avenge his wrong. For such was Sualtaim: He was no mean warrior and he was no mighty warrior, but only a good, worthy man was he. “Come, my father Sualtaim,’” said Cuchulain; 2“ cease thy sighing and mourning for me, and ? do thou go to Emain ° rene to the men of Ulster and tell them to come now to have a care for their droves, for no longer am I able to protect them in the gaps and passes of the land of Conalle Murthemni. All alone am I against four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday at Summer’s end till the beginning of Spring, every day slaying a man on a ford and a hundred warriors every night. Fair fight is not granted me nor single combat, and no * one comes to aid me nor to succour. 4 And such is the measure of my wounds and my sores that I cannot bear my garments or my clothing to touch my skin, so that * spancel-hoops hold my cloak over me. Dry tufts of grass are stuffed in my
_ wounds. °* There is not the space of a needle’s point from
my crown to my sole without wound or sore, and ® there is not a single hair *on my body ® from my crown to my sole whereon the point of a needle could stand, without a drop of deep-red blood on the top of each hair, save the left hand alone which is holding my shield, and even there thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. 7 And let them straightway give battle to the warriors,? and unless they avenge this anon, they will never avenge it till the very day of doom and of life!” | Sualtaim set out on Liath (‘the Roan’) of Macha as his only horse, with warning to the men of Ulster. And when
1...1 Stowe. 2..-2 Stowe. 8...3 Stowe. 4---4 Stowe. 5.5 Stowe. &---6 Stowe. 7---7 YBL. 43b, 49.
*LL, fo. 93b.
further nig the mone of i ieinate ne he I same words there: ‘‘ Men are slain, women stolen, cat | lifted, ye men of Ulster!” cried Sualtaim. = 3
And ? a second time ? he had not the response that rel him from the men of Ulster. Thus stood it among the — 4 Ulstermen: It was geis for the Ulstermen to speak before _ their king, geis for the king to speak before his * three ® druids. Thereafter Sualtaim drove on to the ‘ Flag-stone of the hostages’ in Emain Macha. He shouted the same words there: ‘‘ Men are slain, women stolen, cows carried a off!’ ‘‘ But who has slain them, and who has stolenthem, and who has carried them off?” asked Cathba the druid. “ Ailill and Medb have, 4 with the cunning of Fergus mac Roig, overwhelmed you. 5° Your people have been har- assed as far as Din Sobairche,” * said Sualtaim. ‘‘ Your wives and your sons and your children, your steeds and your stock of horses, your herds and your flocks and your ~ droves of cattle have been carried away. Cuchulain all alone is checking and staying the hosts of the four great provinces of Erin at the gaps and passes of the land of Conalle Murthemni. Fair fight is refused him, nor is he granted single combat, nor comes any one to succour or aid him. *Cuchulain has not suffered them to enter the plain of Murthemne or into the land of Ross. Three winter months is he there. The youth is wounded, his limbs are out of joint. Spancel-hoops hold his cloak over him. There is not a hair from his crown to his sole whereon the
pans of a needle Boas stand, without a drop of deep-red -1 Stowe.
-2 Stowe. $...8 YBL. 44a, 9. 4...4 YBL. 44a, 13.
5-5 YBL. 44a, 13. $...8 YB. 44a, ‘55.
we by oyna, i me) tl td
ar is- leath ney licoti ny dar denis fon thi *LL. fo. ons tha hat so incites the king!” quoth Cathba the druid. F wi d - sooth, it is ; true! 1” 1said the Ulstermen ? all
fo Y: reupon ‘ 2 | Sicatoan went his way * from them,® in-— g) sn ot and angry because from the men of Ulster he had
me on eas Roan *)of Macha under Gonitaini and dashed on to the - rampartsof Emain. Thereat 4 Sualtaim fell under his own shield, so that * his own shield turned on Sualtaim and the 5 scalloped > edge of the shield severed Sualtaim’s head, | is 6 though others say he was asleep on the stone, and that he fell thence onto his shield on awaking.* 7 Hence this | is the ‘ Tragical Death of Sualtaim.’ ” The ‘horse himself turned back again to Emain, and the L shield on the horse and the head on the shield. And Sual- a taim’s head uttered the same words: ‘“ Men are slain, VF women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!” spake the head of Sualtaim.
“Some deal too great is that cry,’ quoth Conchobar ; “for yet is the sky above us, the earth underneath and the sea round about us. And unless the heavens shall fall with their showers: of stars on the man-like* face of the world, or unless the ground burst open in quakes ® be-
neath our feet,® or unless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o’er the tufted brow of the earth, will I restore
1..-1 Stowe. 2...2 Stowe. 3..-3 Stowe. 4.4 Stowe. 5...5 YBL. 44a, 28. %&-6 YBL. 44a, 32-33. 7..-7 Stowe. . * Reading with LL. 5027 and 5975, which gives better meaning _ than the expression ‘ fort-face,’ of LL. 8...8 Stowe.
*LL. fo. o4b.
. Pains’ Conuhobur chinmeahen to ey their pes: their dead, and he uttered these words :— nt
** Arise, O Findchad ! oe 1 Thee I send forth: A negligence not to . wished ( as Proclaim it to the chiefs of Ulster!
2 The Order of the men of Ulster.? 8 Go thou forward to Derg,* to Deda at his bay, to Lemain,
to Follach, to I!ann ‘son of Fergus 4 at Gabar, to Dornaill a Feic at Imchlar, to Derg Imdirg, to Fedilmid ® son of Tar bP
Cetach of Cualnge > at Ellonn, to Reochad * son of Fathe- mon ® at Rigdonn, to Lug, to Lugaid, to Cathba at his bay, to Carfre at Ellne, to Laeg at his causeway, to Gemen in his valley, to Senoll Uathach at Diabul Ard, * to Cethern son of Fintan at Carrloig, 7 to Cethern at Eillne,’ to Tarothor, to Mulach at his fort, to the royal poet Amargin, to Uathach Bodba, to the Morrigan at Dain Sobairche, to Eit, to Roth, to Fiachna at his mound, to Dam drend, to Andiaraid, to Mané Macbriathrach (‘ the Eloquent’), to Dam Derg (‘the Red’), to Mod, to Mothus, to Iarmothus at Corp Cliath, to Gabarlaig in Liné, to Eocho Semnech in Semne, * to Eochaid
Laithrech at Latharne,® to Celtchar son of Uthecar in Leth- _
glas, to Errgé Echbel (‘ Horsemouth’) at Bri Errgi (‘ Errgé’s
Hill’), to Uma son of Remarfessach (‘ Thickbeard ’) at Fedain a
1-1 Reading with YBL. 44a, 41. y
2...2 Stowe and YBL. 44a, 41.
3... Stowe and’ H. 1. 13. . 4.04 has 4 442, 46. 5...5 Stowe. 6...6 YBL. 44a, 45. 7 YBL. 44b, 78. 8
+ YBL. 44b, 28-29, Stowe and H. 1. 13.
: € © Milbel ( (cep hit so ais 60 Oy. | > sons of Trosgal at Bacc Draigin (‘ Thornhollow 3 i , to Drenda, to Drendus, to Cimb, to Cimbil, to_ : Fan na Coba (‘the Slope of . . . ), to Fachtna f Sencha at his rath, to Sencha, to Senchainte, to criu, to Briccirne son of Bricriu, to Brecc, to Buan, to Jarach, to Oengus of the Fir Bolg, to Oengus son of Leté, -4to Fergus son of Leté,t to... (2), to Bruachar, to Slangé, to Conall Cernach (‘the Victorious’) son of Amargin at Midluachar, to Cuchulain son of Sualtaim at Murthemne, to Menn son of Salcholga at Rena (‘ the Water- ‘ ways’), to the three sons of Fiachna, Ross, Daré and Imchad_ We at Cualnge, to Connud macMorna at the Callann, to Condra | son of Amargin at his rath, to Amargin at Ess Ruaid, to Laeg at Leiré, to Oengus Ferbenduma (‘him of the copper Horn’), toOgma Grianainech (‘ Sun-faced’) at Brecc, ah to Eo macForné, to Tollcend, to Sudé at Mag Eol in Mag Ki Dea, to Conla Saeb at Uarba, to Loegaire ® Buadach (‘ the Triumphant’ )® at Immail, to Amargin Iarngiunnach (‘ the
with Horns on his helmet’) son of Conchobar at Sil in Mag Inis (‘ the Island-plain ’), to Cuscraid Menn (‘ the Stammerer’) of Macha son of Conchobar at Macha, to Fingin at Finga- bair, to Blae ‘the Hospitaller of a score,’ to Blae ‘the Hospitaller of six men,’ to Eogan son of Durthacht at Fernmag, to Ord at Mag Sered, to Oblan, to Obail at Culenn, to Curethar, to Liana at Ethbenna, to Fernel, to Finnchad
1...1 FH. r. 13 and YBL. 44b, 36.
2...2 YBL. 44b, 40-41. 3-68 YBL. 44b, 44.
4...4 Stowe and YBL. 44b, 14. * The readings are corrupt. 5... :
* YBL. 44b, 44.
Darkhaired’) at Taltiu,* to Furbaide Ferbenn (‘the man *LL. fo. g4¢:
*LL. fo. 95a.
OE \ at “at Dobla, to Ailill Finn (‘ the Pair’), to to Fet Bec (‘the Little’), to Fethan Mor (‘the Big’), t son of Finnchoem (‘ the Fair-comely ’) at Burach, to Ol to Ebadchar, to Uathchar, to Etatchar, to Oekste son | Oenlam Gabé (‘ the one-handed Smith’), to Ruadri at Mag} Tail, >to Mané son of Crom (‘ the Bent’), to Nindech son " of Cronn, to ... (?), to Mal macRochraidi,? to — Beothach (‘ the Lively ’), to Briathrach (‘the Wordy’) at his — rath, to Narithla at Lothor, to the two sons of Feic, Muridach and Cotreb, to Fintan son of Niamglonnach (‘ of brilliant Exploits’) at Dun da Benn (‘ the two-gabled Din ’), to Fera- dach ‘Finn Fechtnach (‘ the Fair and Upright’) at Nemed (‘the Shrine ’) of Sliab Fuait, * to Amargin son of Ecetsalach _ (‘ the grimy Smith’) at the Buas, to Bunné son of Munremar, to Fidach son of Doraré, *to Muirné Menn (‘ the Stam- merer ’).4
It was nowise a heavy task for Finnchad to gather this assembly and muster which Conchobar had enjoined upon him. For all there were ® of Ulstermen® to the east of Emain and to the west of Emain and to the north of Emain set out at once for the field of Emain in the service of their — king, and at the word of their lord, and to await the recovery — of Conchobar. Such as were from the south of Emain — ® waited not for Conchobar, but * set out directly on the — trail of the host and on the hoof-prints of the Tain.
The first stage the men of Ulster marched under Con- chobar was ’ from Emain’ to the green in Iraird Cuillinn —
-1 Reading with YBL. 45a, 14; LL. is corrupt. 2 YBL. 45a, 3. . 3-63 VBL. 452,95
4 YBL. 45a, 14. P. -5 Stowe. ¢...6 Stowe. 7...7 Stowe and YBL. 45a, 24. ©
ao - BD eH . . . . e . .
is m tae and his siesta his ia and his forces | t at this t time. 4 Until these two divisions come
my rent hidnliecetl Concaian “T will delay > no longer for them, lest the men of Erin hear of my rising from the weakness and ‘ Pains’ wherein I was. For the men of Erin know not even if I am still alive ! ”
Thereupon Conchobar and Celtchar proceeded with thirty
hundred spear-bristling charidt-fighters to Ath Irmidi (‘the Ford of Spear-points’). And there met them there eight-score huge men of the body-guard of Ailill and Medb, Me with eight-score women *of the Ulstermen’s women ® 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 Celtchar struck off their eight-score heads and released their eight-score captive-women. Ath Irmidi (‘the Ford of Spear-points’) was the name of the place till that time ; Ath Fené is its name ever since. It is for this ___ it is called Ath Fené, because the warriors of the Fené from the east and the warriors of the Fené from the west en- countered one another in battle and contest man for man on the brink of the ford.
6 Touching the four grand provinces of Erin, they en- camped at Slemain Midé (‘ Slane of Meath’) that night, and ° Conchobar and Celtchar returned that night to the green in Iraird Cuillinn hard by the men of Ulster. Thereupon Celtchar aroused the men of Ulster.
A Sa 45a, 26. a ore 45a, 27. oe owe. wh - 45a, 29. 5.-.5 Stowe. s...6 Stowe and H. 1. 13
x
W. 4954. Ir was then that Celtchar 2in his ia * netere
1 THE » AGITATION OF : ceren: \R
words *to Conchobar * in the midst of the men of {Uber in Iraird Cuillinn that night :*#—
“Thirty hundred chariot-men ; tee An hundred horse-companions stout ; An hundred with an hundred druids ! To lead us will not fail a ee The hero of the land, __ | Conchobar with hosts around him ! ° an Let the battle line be formed ! ' Gather now, ye warriors ! M Battle shall be fought | k At Garech and Ilgarech "i On aftermorrow’s morn !”’
4Or it was Cuscraid Menn (‘ the Stammerer ’) of Macha, | Conchobar’s son, who sang this lay on the night before iy battle ...,’ after the lay ‘Arise ye Kings of Macha * q which Loegaire Buadach (‘ the Victorious ’) sang.* , Wi On that same night Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar’s — son, spake these words to the men of Erin at Slemain Midé — that ee os 4 ‘1 This title is supplied by ae iE gesenet writer.
-2 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 3 YBL. 45a, 38.
* - can make nothing of the first bib lines of the following poem, and they are consequently omitted from the translation. The saggy of the remainder of the vosc is largely vise seria a
4 YBL. 45a, 45-45b, 2. i
‘There is a small gap in the MS.
306
-Steeds overwhelmed 7 4
i 5 that same night, Dubthach Doel (‘ the Scorpion’)? of i Ulster ®saw the dream wherein were the hosts at Garech and Ilgarech. Then it was® he uttered these words *in _ his sleep* among the men of Erin at Slemain Midé that
night : — “Great be the morn, The morn of Meath ! Great be the truce The 7 truce’? of Culenn !
“ Great be the fight, The fight of * Clartha ! ® Great, too, the steeds, The steeds of Assal !
“Great be the plague, The plague of Tuath-Bressi ! ¢ 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!”
1-1 YBL. 45b, 7. 2 Reading with YBL. 45b, 8; LL. has ‘ hosts. :
3 YBL. 45b, 8-9. ¢ « Or, “the stn.’ 4..4 YBL. 45b, 11-14. 5...5 YBL. 45b, 4-5. 6...6 YBL. 45b, 5-6. 7...7 YBL. 45b, 19. _ 8...8 Reading with Stowe. > See note, page 198. ¢ Probably Connacht.
passed elses hin eienebes eC predictions and because of the ‘s tres < were revealed to them. | Within: SHmaae
4.11 VBL, 4sb, 4-5.
aie i; ig; Tae ae
PY ssc oe
is to pate ak if they had taken possession of the plain. :
5. tt. Said Ailill: “ Truly have I succeeded,” said he, “ in laying
waste Ulster and the land of the Picts * and Cualnge * from Monday at Summer’s end till Spring’s beginning. We have taken their women and their sons and their children, their steeds and their troops of horses, their herds and their flocks and their droves. We have laid level their hills 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 me battle on Mag Ai, if so it please them. But, say here what we will, some one shall go forth *from us # to watch the great, wide plain of Meath, to know if the men of Ulster come hither. And, should the men of Ulster come hither, I will in no wise be the first to retreat ° till battle be given shem,° for it was never the wont of a good king to retreat.”
‘‘Who should fitly go thither?” asked all. ‘‘ Who but macRoth our chief runner yonder,’’ * answered another group of them.® : ‘
1.41 YBL. 45b, 22. 2...2 YBL. 45b, 23-26.. 8.-.3 Stowe. 4.--4 Stowe and H. I. 13. 5...65 Stowe and H. 1. 13. s...6 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
309
bine howineed ocean mn that broke « o’er ‘the tufted rhe of t th earth, or as though the ground had gone asunder in q or as though the forest fell, each of the trees in the crotche
and forks and branches of the other. But why give further Dh accounts! The wood’s wild beasts were hunted out on the
plain, so that beneath them the grassy forelocks of the plain of Meath were not to be seen.
MacRoth hastened to tell this tale at the ‘silt cihieile ‘a were Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the nobles of the men
of Erin. - MacRoth related the whole matter to them.
“What was that there, O Fergus?” asked Ailill; 1‘“to —
what likenest thou it?” 1 “Not hard *for me to say what it resembled.2. It was the rush and tramp and clatter
that he heard,” said Fergus, “the din and thunder, the -
tumult and turmoil * of the Ulstermen.* It was the men of Ulster 4 arising from their ‘ Pains,’ * who have come
into the woods, the throng of champions and battle-heroes ©
cutting down with their swords the woods in the way of their
chariots. This it was that hath put the wild animals to — flight on the plain, so that the grassy forelocks of nian field
of Meath are hidden beneath them! ”’
Another time macRoth surveyed the plain and he saw | something: A heavy, grey mist that filled * the glens and — the slopes,® ® the upper void and veil,® the space between —
the heavens and earth. It seemed to him that 7'the hills ?
were islands in lakes that he saw rising up out of the sloping ;
dood VEEG (40a) 12. 2 YBL. 46a, 1-2. 3.--8 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 4 YBL. haves 3-4. 5.5 YBL. 45b, 40-41. 6...6 Seoiies 7 YBL. 45b, 4
birds ah 1 that he saw in the’ sdme list, 1 or
Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the nobles of the men of Erin. He reported the matter to them.
“ But what was that, O Fergus? ” asked Ailill. ‘“ Not hard to say,” Fergus made answer. ‘ This was the great, grey mist that he saw which filled the space between the heavens and earth, namely, the streaming breath both of horses and men, the smoke of the earth and the dust of the roads as it rose over them with the driving of the wind, | so that it made a heavy, deep-grey misty vapour thereof in the clouds and the air. |
“These were the islands over lakes that he saw there, and the tops of hills and of heights over the sloping valleys of mist, even the heads of the champions and battle- heroes over the chariots and the chariots withal. These were the wide-yawning caverns that he saw there leading into that mist, even the mouths and the nostrils of the horses and champions exhaling and inhaling the sun and the wind with the speed of the host. These were the all- white, flax-like cloths that he saw there or the streaming
ie MS,.<°° TE.’ | 1...1 Stowe and H. 1. 13. cone YBL. 45b, 46-—46a, I. > MS. ‘ my.’
onstant Gaba of shining stars * on a bright, clear *LL. £0. o6a.. nig’ nt of hoar-frost, or sparks of red-flaming fire. Heheard something : A rush and a din and a hurtling sound, a noise and a thunder, a tumult and a turmoil, ? and a great wind that all but took the hair from his® head and threw him® on. _ his® back, and yet the wind of the day was not great.2 He
hastened on to impart these tidings at the place where were
qj These were the fights es many, various, numerous birds that he saw there, even the ¢ dust of. |
flung from their feet and their Hoots" ath arose 3 over heads of the host * with the driving of the wind. ale fot
‘“‘ This was the rush and the crash and the hurtling sancti a the din and the thunder, the clatter and clash that he heard there, to wit the shield-shock of shields and the jangle of javelins and the hard-smiting of swords and the ring of hel- | mets, the clangour of breast-plates and the rattle of arms and . the fury of feats, the straining of ropes and the whirr of wheels and the trampling of horses’ hoofs and the creaking of chariots, and the deep voices of heroes and battle-warriors _ coming hither towards us. |
‘This was the constant sparkling of shining stars on a bright, clear night that he saw there and the sparks of red- flaming fire, even the bloodthirsty, terrible eyes of the champions and battle-warriors from under beautiful, well- 4 shaped, finely-adorned battle-helmets ; eyes full of the fury and rage they brought with them, against the which neither before nor since has equal combat nor overwhelming force _ of battle prevailed, and against which it will never prevail — till the very day of doom and of life! ” | q
“We make not much of that,” quoth Medb ;* 4“ we will await them.* * For ® there are goodly warriors and goodly _ fighting-men with us to cope with them.” °® “ Thou shalt a have need of them,” answered Fergus.* “Truly, I count not on that, O Medb. For I give my word, thou —
1...1 FL, I, 13. 2.--2 Stowe. 3...3 Stowe. @ Ailill,””’ YBL. 46a, 23. 4...4 YBL. 46a, 22. 5...5 Stowe. $...6 YBL, 46a, 23.
ie Slane of Meath.§ Hy north-east.
Roth,” queried Aili ;
>)
not,
1..-1 YBL. 46a, 24.
Ulster on the trail of the host this day ? ” answered macRoth; immense troop of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming ___ straight from the north-east.” the horse-troop ?”’ asked’ Ailill.
3..-8 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 4...4 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
11 ang oF '< noe . grand provi of Brin mitch ani
vey sent
ee ‘Then j ft was that Canciobht and Celtchar with thirty ‘ peared bristling chariot-fighters set forth, till they halted at Slemain Midé (‘ Slane of Meath’) * in the rear of the *LL. fo. 96b. host of Erin, But, though ‘ halted ’ we have said, * a very __ brief halt made they there. Not straightway pitched they camp, but proceeded for a favourable sign to the quarters of Ailill and Medb, so they might be the first of all to redden their hands on the men of Erin.
5 Then did macRoth go again to view the hosting of the men of Ulster, so that he reached their encampment at It was not long macRoth had been there ____ when he saw something: An incomparable, immense troop ie. of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming straight from the 3 He hastened forward to where were Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the chiefs of the men of Erin. _ Ailill asked tidings of him on his arrival: | “‘sawest thou aught of the men of
“ Say, mac
“ Truly I know “but I saw an incomparable,
‘But how many numbered ‘““ Not fewer, meseemed,
2...2 YBL. 45a, 25-28. 5.5 YBL, 46a, 28-31.
us till 1 now with he ansoke: wad ‘duis and. the b mighty host, while all the battle-force thou hast i is tt see yonder!” | OER
‘A little too soon belittlest thou them,” mew tatoos “ for mayhap the bands are more numerous than is said bane) |
a)
are. *
“Let us take good, swift sdainla on the matter,” cin Medb ; “for yon huge, most fierce, most furious man will attack us we ween, Conchobar, to wit, son of Fachtna q { Fathach (‘the Giant’) son of Ross Ruad (‘the Red’)sonof Rudraige, himself High King of Ulster and son of the High King of Erin. Let there be a hollow array of the men of ~ Erin before Conchobar and a force of thirty hundred ready to close in from behind, and the men shall be taken and in no wise wounded; for, no more than is a caitiff’s lot is. this whereto they are come!’’ Wherefore this is the third most derisive word that was spoken on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge, even to take Conchobar ?and his people? prisoners without wounding, and to inflict a caitiff’s lot on — the ten hundred and twenty hundred who accompanied the _ kings of Ulster. | a
-And-Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar heard that, and he knew that unless he took vengeance at once upon Medb for her great boast, he would not avenge it till the ver e day of doom and of life. et
It was then that Cormac Conlongas son _ of Conchobar q arose with his troop of thirty hundred to inflict the revenge of battle and prowess upon Ailill and Medb. Ailill arose
1.1 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 2...2 Stowe.
a while a hollow array of men was made by Medb to Conchobar and a ! warlike 1 band of thirty hundred y to close in from behind. Conchobar proceeded to ack the circle of men, 2 to force an opening.? And he - was far from seeking any particular breach, but he worked -asmall gap, broad enough for a man-at-arms, Tight in front _ over against him in the circle of combatants, and effected a breach of an hundred on his right side, and a breach of an hundred on his left, and he turned in on them, and mingled among them * on their ground, and there fell of them eight hundred fully brave warriors at his hands. And thereafter he left them without blood or bleeding from himself and _ took his station in Slane of Meath at the head of the men © of Ulster. |
“Come, ye men of Erin!” cried Ailill. ‘‘ Let some one ' _ go hence to scan the wide-stretching plain of Meath, to know in what guise the men of Ulster come to the height _ in Slane of Meath, to bring us an account of their arms and their gear ‘and their trappings, their kings and their iy a royal leaders,* their champions and battle-warriors and gap- breakers of hundreds and their yeomen, *to which to Bi listen will shorten the time for us.’”’>* ‘‘ Who should _ go thither?” asked all. ‘‘ Who but macRoth the chief _ runner,” Ailill* made answer.
- MacRoth went his way till he took his’ station in Slane
[ ‘Wa Pr. Bh)
_ it Stowe and H. 1. 13. 2...2 Reading with Stowe. _ §--3 Stowe and H. fr. 13. 4-4 Stowe and H. I. 13. _ 5-5 Following Stowe. « ‘Fergus,’ H. 1. 13 and Stowe.
*LL. fo. 97a.
with the nanther bE be ae. a his mince ‘his is gath and his levy apart. Howbeit, by sunset hour in fs e all the men of Ulster had taken paren on that nee Slane of Meath, |
MacRoth came forward with the account of their Arse company to the place where Ailill and Medb and Femme were and the nobles of the men of Erin. Ailill and Medb — asked tidings of him when he arrived. ‘‘ Come, macRoth,” j quoth Ailill, ‘‘ tell us in what manner of array do the Ulster- a q men advance to the hill of Slane in Meath?” “Truly, I © know not,” answered macRoth, “except ‘this alone:? — There came a fiery, powerful, most well-favoured company — upon the hill of Slane in Meath,’ said macRoth. “It { seemed, on scanning and spying, that * thrice thirty hundred * — warriors were init. * Anon ? they all doffed their garments and threw up a turfy mound for their leader to sit on. AU q youth, slender, long, exceeding great of stature, fair to be- hold, proud of mien, in the van of the troop. Fairest of the princes of the world was he in the midst of his warriors, | . as well in fearsomeness and in awe, in courage and com mand; fair-yellow hair, curled, delicately arranged in ridges and bushy had he ? reaching to the nape of his neck ; ;3 , a.comely, clear-rosy countenance he had, * narrow below | and broad above;* a deep-blue-grey, angry eye, devour- —
«lt Stowe and H. 1. 13. -¢ ‘Thirty hundred,’ Stowe, H. 1. 13, and YBL. 46a, 47. -+2 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
--3 Stowe and H. 1. 13, and, ee YBL. 46a, 42. 4 YBL. 46a, 47-
e © WY 8 e
igh nei shield with fishin of fend of a — gol reon; a gold-hilted, hammered sword in one of | pee a ieee and grey-green lance-head * on an ashen | y's naft * in the other; ‘the pillar of a king’s house on his — H back That warrior took his station on the top of the ts mound, so that each one came up to him and his company ‘ be their places around him. “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, *and next to the other in numbers and attendance, in accoutrements and fearfulness and horror. A ® great,* 7 hero-like,’ well- favoured warrior was there likewise at the head of that company ; fair-yellow hair he wore; a bright, curly beard about his chin; a green mantle wrapped around him; 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 his fair skin down to his knees; a candle of a king’s house ® in his hand, with windings of silver and bands of gold; wonderful the feats and games performed with the spear in the hand of the youth; the windings of silver ran round it by the side of the bands of gold, now from the butt to the socket, while at other times it was the bands of gold, that circled by the side of the windings of silver from socket to spear-end; a smiting shield with
A ee ae.
——— a ee
ee
eae Lz . See pies
>
1.01 YBL. 46a, 44. %--:? YBL. 46a, 44. +8 YBL. 46b, 3. 4---4 Stowe and H. I. 13. Shar is, ‘a Baal spear.’ 5...5 YBL. 46b, 8-9. +6 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
7.7 YBL. 46b, 9. , That is, ‘a flaming-red spear.’
‘Barncicell Brie vously 3 in ‘bla shaseh, oar a
“ Still another battalion there came to the same mound a in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth. ‘“‘ Second to its — fellow in number and followers and apparel. A handsome, — -broad-headed warrior at the head of that troop; dark- yellow hair in tresses he wore; an eager, dark-blue f eye rolling restlessly in his head; a bright, curled beard, _ forked and tapering, at his chin; a dark-grey cloak with fringes, folded around him ; a leaf-shaped brooch of silvered _ bronze in the mantle over his breast ; a white-hooded shirt _ 4reaching to his knees * ® was girded ® next to his skin; a bright shield with raised devices of beasts thereon he _ bore ; a sword with white silver hilt in battle-scabbard at his waist ; the pillar of a king’s palace he bore on his back. a This warrior took his station on the hill of turf facing the warrior who first came to the hill, and his company took their places around him. But sweet as the tone of lutes © in masters’ hands when long sustained, so seemed to me if the melodious sound of the voice and the speech of the ~ youth conversing with the warrior who first came to the hill and offering him every counsel. a “But who might that be?” asked Ailill of F ergus. 1...1 Stowe and H. 1. 13. . 4442 YBL. 46b, 19.
8...8 YBL. 46b, 21. — 4-..4 YBL,. 46b, 30. 5...6 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
C — ’s son, with. the sons of the ine of | L | the sons of the princes of the men of Erin *
he ‘ Torch of Cuscraid,’ with its windings of silver and ids of gold. It is the wont of that spear that neither before nor after do the silver windings run round it by the __ side of the bands of gold but only on the eve of a triumph. | q Belike, it is almost before a triumph they course round it now. _ “The well-favoured, broad-headed warrior who seated _ himself on the hill in the presence of the youth who first came on the mound, namely is Sencha son of Ailill son of Maelcho ‘the Eloquent’ of Ulster, he that is wont to appease the hosts of the men of Erin. But, yet a word more I say: It is not the counsel of cowardice nor of fear that he gives his lord this day on the day of strife, but counsel to act with valour and courage and wisdom and cunning.. But, again one word further I say,’ added Fergus: “It is a _ goodly people for performing great deeds that has risen there > early this day around Conchobar!” ‘‘ We make not much _ of them,” quoth Medb; ‘‘ we have goodly warriors 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 nor in Alba a host to be a match
ay2 Y BL. 46b,. 36, 80% Stowe, 88 YBL. 46b, 40. _ #4 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
“with aay coneane Brown, dark-c ol wore, smooth and thin on his forehead ; va girt around him; a silver pin in the cloak over a bright, sleeved tunic next to his skin; a curved § with sharp, plaited rim he bore ; a five-pronged spear in his — hand; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth — in its place.” ‘‘ 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; a battle- warrior for combat and destruction on foes is the one hell q is come there, 2 even 2? Eogan son of Durthacht, * king of the stout-handed # Fernmag in the north, is the one yonder.” ‘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 the hill. Deep the terror, great the fear they brought with them. *Ter- | rible the clangour of arms they made as they advanced. — Their raiment all thrown back behind them. A great- a headed, warlike warrior in the forefront of the company, © . and he eager for blood, dreadful to look upon ; spare, grizzly i hair had he ; huge, yellow eyes in his head ; a yellow, close- napped (?) cloak around him; a pin of yellow gold in che q cloak over his breast; a voller tunic with lace next his j skin; 5a great, smiting sword under his waist ;> in his q hand a nailed, broad-plated, long-shafted spear with a Si
Pa
-1 Stowe, H. 1. 13, and, similarly, YBL. 47a, I. me oa
-2 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47a, 12. ¥
--3 Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. seems to be corrupt . aie ie 4...4 YBL. 47a, 18-19. -5 Stowe and H. 1.13.
,
“Another Saabs Vehets came there too to the Be
lat in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth. “ A thick- eee burly warrior at the head of that troop; black, bushy hair he had; a scarred, crimsoned face he had; a _ deep-blue-grey, blazing eye in his head; a spear set with eyes of glass, casting shadows over him; a black shield te with a hard rim of silvered bronze upon him; a dun- : 4 coloured cloak of curly wool about him; a brooch of pale gold in the cloak over his breast ; a three-striped tunic of silk ! with red embroidery! next to his skin ; a sword with ivory hilt and with ornamentation of thread of gold over his dress on the outside.” ‘“‘ But, who might 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 the high sea that drowneth 2 the small streams ; ? he is the man of three shouts; the sea over walls; *the . venomous destruction of enemies,? the man who comes. thither. Muremur (‘ Thick-neck ’) son of Gerrcend (‘ Short- head’) from Moduirn in the north is the one yonder.”’
‘« Still another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth. 4“ Not fewer than thirty hundred, the battle line of the troops.4 A 5 broad-headed,® stout warrior, pleasantly found of limb, in the front of that troop; he is dried and sallow; he is. wild and bull-like ; a dun, round eye, proud in his head ;
1...1 YBL. 47a, 40. *--? YBL. 47a, 43. 3:3 YBL. 47a, 44- 4...4 YBL. 47b, 12-13. . 5...65 Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.
¥
LL. fo. 98b. might he be?” * asked Ailill of Fergus. “I know
ornaments iy ate aoe | on rhe left t thigh.” :
indeed,’ Fergus made answer. “ He is the prop of batt | he is the wild heat of anger; he is the daring of every battle ;? he is the triumph of every combat; he is the tool that pierces, is the man who comes thither. Connud macMorna, from the Callann in the north, is the man yonder.”
“There came still another company to the same rainiadia in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth. *‘A company — most fair to look upon, most notable both in numbers and — in attendance and apparel.* It is indeed no lying word, it 7 is with might and storm they gained the hill, so that * with iy the clash of arms they made at the approach of that com- pany ‘ they startled the hosts that had arrived there before them. A man, comely and noble, in advance of that band ; most well-favoured to see of the men of the world, whether in shape or form or frame; * whether in hair or eyes or fearfulness ; whether in voice or brightness or cnoieaelil a 4 or adornment; whether in rank or wisdom or kindred ;5 q ‘whether in arms or apparel; whether in size or worth or — | beauty ; whether in figure or valour or conduct.” °“‘ Who — - might that man be, O Fergus? ”’ asked Ailill.® ‘‘ Then it is surely no lying word,” Fergus made answer: “A fitting — q saying is this, ‘No fool ’mongst the naked’: is he who
1...1 YBL. 47b, 20. 2...2 YBL. 47b, 21-22.) © $...3 YBL. 47a, 48-49. 4.4 YBL. 47a, 50-51. §...6 YBL. 47b, 1-3. 6...6 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
* A proverbial saying, the exact force of which we cannot deter- ‘@
lan of Meath,” i indRaeH pointing aK Tt is the ; of an army for greatness. Not often is a warrior ir more handsome than the warrior that is in the front : of that company. Bushy, red-yellow hair he wore ; his countenance comely, ruddy, well-formed; * his face o ®slender below,* broad above; a deep-blue-grey, beaming eye, and it flashing and laughing in his head; a well-set, eo .. man, tall, slender below and broad above; red, thin lips he had; teeth shining and pearl-like; *’a clear, _ ringing voice ;’ a white-skinned body; * most beautiful 4 of the forms of men;* %a purple cloak wrapped around _ him;° a brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a 1 hooded ?° tunic of royal silk with a red hem of red _ gold he wore next to his white skin ; a bright, 11 curved 1 shield with1* wonderful, !? 18 seknsioblouted 13 devious figures of beasts in red gold thereon 14 and with hollows of silver he bore at his left side ; 14a gold-hilted, inlaid sword ¥ hanging from his neck ¥ at his left side; a long, grey-edged spear
mine. 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. 4...4 YBL. 47b, 26.
5...5 YBL. 47b, 29-30; Stowe and H. 1. 13.
§&...6 Translating from YBL. 47b, 30, Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. has, ‘ very beautiful.’
> 7-7 YBL. 47b, 32. °-* YBL. 47b,; 34, Stawe and H. 1. 13. 9...2 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. 18 YBL. 47b, 37. 44...14 Stowe, H. 1.13 and YBL. Lb oe 15...18 YBL.47b, 40.
ie ate But ake baie that man be ?” asked
“ey We know him full well,” Fergus made answer. — half of a battle; he is the dividing ¢ of combat 5 he wild rage of a watchhound, the man 1. who 4 is Ci
ob eaten
yonder. ha Your ARATE is he1: 2%he pense your daughter, namely Finnabair, 2 3 ita bbee dower, and. he a brought neither marriage-gift nor bride-price to her.” 3 | ‘‘ Another battalion there came to the same hill in Slane _ of Meath,” continued macRoth. ‘A stalwart, thick- — thighed, * gross-calved ¢ warrior at the head of that company ; ] little but every limb of him as stout as a man. Very; it 4 is no lying word, he is a man down to the ground,” said he. ‘“ Brown, bushy hair upon his head; a round-faced, oud countenance ® covered with scars® he had; a flashing, — proud eye in his head ; a splendid, dexterous man was there, ' in this wise : Abiimpanion’ by black-haired, black-eyed — youths ; with a red, flaming banner; ® with terror and a fearsomeness ; with wonderful appearance, both of arms 7 and apparel and raiment and countenance and splendour ; with converse of heroes; with champions’ deeds ; ® with a wilful rashness, so that they seek to rout overwheliialle j numbers outside of equal combat, 7 with their wrath upon — foes, with raids into hostile lands,’ with the violence of | 4 assault upon them, without having aught assistance from y ; : ;
j?
* That is, ‘a single-handed warrior, translating from YBL. “ht i 43 sis Stowe. -1 YBL. 47b.+45. 2...2 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. Me 46. 8... Stowe and H. I. 13. 4...4 YBL. 47b, 48, Stowe and H. 1. 13. 5...6 YBL. 48a, 2, Stowe and H. 1. 13. $ Stowe, and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 4-6, H. 1. 13.
i YBL. 48a, 8-9, and, similarly, Stowe and H. I. 13-
~ . M . . sao nm
; d of courage, of pride and of boa et 4 | F is he that came thither. The welding of hosts and |
a of arms ; the point of battle and of slaughter of the men r, ih off the north of Erin, mine own real foster-brother himself, |
_ Fergus son of Leté, ?the king* from Liné in the north, is — |
the man yonder !’
“Still another 4 great, fierce* company came to the
same hill in Slane of Meath,” macRoth continued. °“A
4 battle-line with strange garments upon them,® steadfast,
without equal. A ‘comely,® handsome, 7? matchless,’
- untiring warrior in the van of this company; ® the flower
of every form, whether as regards hair, or eye, or white-
ness ; whether of size, or followers or fitness. Next to his
» skin a blue, narrow-bordered cloth, with strong, woven
and twisted hoops of silvered bronze, with becoming, sharp-
_ fashioned buttons of red gold on its slashes and breast-
borders; a *green® mantle, pieced together with the
_ choicest of all colours, 1° folded about him ; % 14a brooch of
pale gold in the cloak over his breast ;"! five circles of gold,* *LL. fo. gga.
that is, his shield, he bore on him; a tough, obdurate, straight-bladed sword fora hero’s handling hung high on his
left side. A straight, fluted spear, flaming red !? and veno-
mous !? in his hand.” ‘‘ But, who might that be? ”’ asked
---1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 10-11. ---2 Stowe and H. I. 13. 3...8 YBL. 48a, 14.
--4 YBL. 48a, 16. 8-8 VBL. 48a, 17-
--6 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 18.
---? Stowe and H. I. 13.
--§ Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 1I9~20.
9 YBL. 48a, 21. 10...10 YBL, 48a, 21.
11...11 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 22.
12...18 Stowe and H. 1. 13.
eens arn wn
| ‘ uN goal; fierce is his valour, the ‘man that
ge hha: ites he webb ct athe
‘Amargin son of the smith Ecetsalach (‘the ¢ noble poet from the Buas i in the north, is he. 25 UR
hill in Slane of Meath,” seit maeRtgeh' | yellow-haired hero in the front rank of that band. Fa was the man, both in hair and eye and beard and eyebrows and apparel; a rimmed shield he bore; a_ gold-hilted, overlaid sword on his left side; in his hand, a five-pointed _ spear that reflected its glare over the entire host, *and a _ \ 4 hollow lance in his hand. . Hero-like was his coming!” ? a
‘ But who was that man? ” asked Ailill of Fergus. “In _ sooth, we know him well,” Fergus made answer. “‘ Cherished, _ in truth, is that warrior by the people, he that tousiscome thither ; cherished, the stout-blow-dealing beast ; cherished, © the Silene of great deeds against foes, ? with the violence of | his attack. Feradach Finn Fectnach (‘the Fair and Righteous ’) from Nemed (‘the Grove’) in Sliab Fuait in the north, is the one that is come there.” | ow
4“ Another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath,’ continued macRoth. ‘“* Three bold, ee spirited youths of noble countenance, *° fiery and noble,> — in the front rank of that company.’ Three cloaks of the one colour * they wore folded ® upon them; 7 three lout shorn, blae-yellow heads; three gold brooches over their arms; three sleeved tunics with embroidery of red gold, girded around them ;? three shields wholly alike they bore; * three gold-hilted swords on their shoulders ; ® three five- —
1 YBL. 48a, 24-25. 2...2 YBL. 48b, 1-2. --3 Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.
--4 Stowe, and, partly, YBL. 48b, 33-45. °5---5 YBL. 48b, 34. 6 YBL. 48b, 36. 7-7 YBL. 48b, 35-38. §&--* YBL. 48b, 39.
Qa »- O Cine 6
Bh” a young warriors at the head of that company, ° and both wholly alike. Brown, curly hair on the head of one _ of them} fair, yellow hair on that of the other ;* two green cloaks wrapped about them ; two bright-silver brooches in _ the cloaks over their breasts ; two tunics of smooth yellow y oy silk next to their skin ; bright-hilted swords on their belts ; 6 two bright shields with devious figures of beasts in silver ; ° ____two five-pronged spears with windings of pure bright silver in their hands. Moreover, their years were nigh the same. 7 Together they lifted their feet and set them down again, for it was not their way for either of them to lift up his feet past the other.’’’ ‘But, who might they be?” asked Ailill of Fergus. -“ Well do we know them,” Fergus made answer. ‘‘ Two single, strong-necked champions are they; two united flames ; two united torches ; two champions ; two heroes ; “two ridge-poles of hosts*; two dragons ; two thunderbolts ; two destroyers (?) ; two boars: ; two bold ones; two mad ones - the two loved ones of Ulster around their king ;
1...1 YBL. 48b, 40. 2% VBL, 48b, 40.
8...3 YBL. 48b, 20. 5...6 Stowe and H. I. 13. 6...6 YBL. 48b, 22. 7 YBL. 48b, 23-25.
* That is, ‘ i chiefs of oapttatiey.'
ss There. came ads: pA ay ‘company. te t mound,” said macRoth. ‘’Tis the engulphing sea for size ; red-flaming fire ? for splendour ; 2a] for number ; a rock for strength; annihilation for. battl thunder sat might. A * rough-visaged,® wrathful, terrible, _ ill-favoured one at the head of that band, and he was » a big-nosed, large-eared, apple-eyed, * red-limbed,4 *great- bellied, thick-lipped.6 Coarse, grizzly hair he wore; a streaked-grey cloak about him; a skewer of iron in the cloak over his breast, so that it reached from one of yy his shoulders to the other; a rough, three-striped tunic ‘f next to his skin; a sword of seven charges of remelted iron he bore on his rump; a brown hillock he bore, namely his shield; a great, grey spear with thirty nails driven through its socket he had in his hand. But, what need to tell further? ®All the host arose to meet him, and ° the lines and battalions were thrown into disorder at __ the sight of that warrior, as he came surrounded by his company to the hill in Slane of Meath 7 and the stream of 4 battle-hosts with him.” 7 ‘‘ But who might thatman 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 * of Ulster;* he isthe head® of com- bat ® in valour; 1° he is the storm-wave that drowneth; © he is the sea overbounds, the man that is come thither; the mighty Celtchar son of Uthechar, from Lethglass in the north, is the man there! ”’
-1 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 2...2 YBL. 48a, 302 ~
--3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 33;
--4 H. zr. 13 and YBL. a 36. 5 YBL. 48a, 35.
6 YBL. 48a, 42. Tite > ian © 13 er Stowe.
---8 Stowe. iskpeten: = ‘iis 44. 10 YBL. 48a, 45-46.
e@oar ©
ba! sm die rencli of pee in ‘the piecide over hig -; a cunningly wrought tunic next to his skin; a t long ijl under his waist; a ectene lance \
is Gishicld, " |
_“ Pray, who might that man be ? ”’ asked Ailill of Fergus. ‘Indeed, but we know him,” Fergus made answer; “ the | wild, red-handed, * rending * lion; the fierce, fearful bear q that overcometh valour. ‘He is the high doer of deeds, _ warlike, and fierce,* Errgé Echbel (‘ Horse-mouth’), from i i Bn Birgit (‘Errgé’s Mound’) in the north, is the one 4 there.”
q “Yet another company there came to the same hill in _ Slane of Meath,” said macRoth. ‘A large, noble, ° fiery >
q man at the head of that company ; foxy-red hair he had ; _ huge, crimson-red eyes in his head; bulging as far as the 4 bend of a warrior’s finger is either of the very large crimson, 4 kingly eyes he had; a many-coloured cloak about him ; _ a wheel-shaped brooch of silver therein ;* a grey shield a bore 7on his left arm;7 a slender, blue lance above q om: 8a bfight, hooded shirt ‘tucked ‘around him. that _ reached down to his knees;* °%a sword with silver hilt at A his hip ; a spear remarkable for keenness in his revengeful _ right hand;°* a blood-smeared, becrimsoned company
1 i):
1.1 YBL. 48b, 9-10. 2...2 YL. -has,; f broad-headed.’ 3...3 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 4...4 YBL. 48b, 16.
‘$5 YBL. 48b, 47. 6...6 YBL. 48b, 49-50.
7.7 YBL. 48b, 51. 8..8 YBL. 48b, 52-494, I.
Be,
9 YBL. 48b, 51-52.
| pi goring pubis ie 2 of the C border-gate of the north ‘of Erin; 78 the tri 1 from Bailé; he is the shaft(?) ; he is the bello ng her from Bernas (‘the Gap’); the furious bull; Menn~ son Salcholga, from Rena (‘ the Waterways’) of tie Boyne 4 a the north; he hath come to take vengeance on ye for his : bloody wounds and his sores which ye am aRe on him afore.” 4 “Yet another company came thither to the same bait in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth. + “ High spirited : and worthy of one another.’ A long-jawed, sallow-faced mt | warrior, ® huge, broad, and tall,® at the head of that com- fi. pany; black hair on his head; long limbs are his legs; a cloak of red curly wool about him ; a brooch of white silver in the cloak over his breast; an 7 all-white,’ linen shirt © next to his skin; a gory-red shield with a boss * of gold * . he bore; a sword with hilt of ® white ® silver on his left — side; a sharp-cornered, gold-socketed spear he held over him; a broad, grey, interwoven spear-head, fairly set — on an ashen shaft,in his hand.” ° “ But, who might he — be?” Ailill asked of Fergus. ‘‘ Truly, we know him,” — Fergus made answer. 1!‘‘ The man of three stout blows has come ; 1! the man of three a is he; the na
Bred Translating from Stowe a" nia I. 13.
2...2 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 8 Y Bk. 40a) 7.
. A word has fallen out in ee MS, pag 4---4 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 5 YBL.. 49a, II-12. has *6 YBL. 49a, 12-13. | 77 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 8:..8 Stowe and H. I. 13. Ree? VY BL. 40a) Ree
10...10 VY BL. 49a, 18-20, 11...11 YBL, 49a, 20-21.
sion Moh three ieouuid was its pipet: 4A ack vh te-breasted, 5 well-favoured man in the van of that
mpany. Like to Ailill yonder, with his pointed weapons, © the ‘Testrainer, both in eon and noble bearing and
ich boss of per was ? Sees Hil? A gold-hilted mi _ §the pillar of a palace,® ® along his shoulder ® he’ bore on his. left side ; a five-pronged spear with gold, in his hand; Man exceeding fine cloak folded about him; a brooch of gold in the cloak over his breast ; a tunic with red ornaments. , _ about him; ” a golden crown on his head.”
_ “But, who might that be?” asked Ailill of Fergus. _ “Ah, but we know him well,” Fergus made answer. 11“ Truly, the sea over rivers is the one that is come thither ; the wild rage of fire; not to be borne is his wrath against - foes ; 11 the root of all manhood ; the assault of overwhelm- _ ing power; the annihilation of men is he that is come _ thither. Furbaide Ferbenn son of Conchobar, from Sil in _ Mag Inis in the north, is there.”
_ “Yet another company came to the mound in Slane
") 2...2 YBL. 49a, 23-24. 2...2 YBL. 49a, 25.
8... Stowe and H. I. 13. 4...4 YBL. 49a, 28. 5 YBL. 49a, 29. $0 YBL. 498, 34. m7 VBL, 49a, 35, Stowe and Mp 1 Dae 8 YBL. 49a, 35.
*® YBL. 49a, 35. “0 YBL. 49a, 31-34.
--11 YBL. 49a, 36-38. 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.
man of that company. A trine at bobble: isting 4 men were in the front rank of that company. The first man of them with a dark-grey mantle fringed with gold thread about him; a brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a tuinie of rare silk next to his skin; sandals of lamb’s skin he wore. Not many men in the world are better-favoured than is he. A light-yellow head of hair | he has ; a bright-faced sword with ivory hilt and with coils of gold thread, in his right hand. He flings on high the ~ tooth-hilted sword, so that it falls on the head of the middle man but it simply grazes it. He catches it up in the air — again, so that it falls on the head of the other man, andthe first man catches it in his hand, and it divided not aringlet nor the skin of the head 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- q _hilted sword under their waists ; purple sandals they wore ; y as sweet as strings of lutes when long sustained in players’ hands was the voice and song of one of the men, so that enough of delight it was to the host to listen to the sound of his voice. Worthy of a king or of a prince was each ~ man in that company as regards apparel and appearance; __ thou wouldst think, at the sight of them, they were all kings. _ Neither spears nor swords do they bear, but their servants bear them.” — q ‘An over-proud body is that,” quoth Ailill; “and who — may they be, O Fergus?’ he asked. “I know full well,” —
he is called Ailill ea ae for ‘that as swiet as _ honey are the words of wisdom that fall from him.” pe “There came yet another company to the mound in Ni ‘Slane of Meath,” said macRoth. “ A most terrible, dread- fal sight to behold them. Blue and pied and green, 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; a blue-purple cloak about him; a leaf- _ shaped’ brooch with ornamentation of gold in the cloak over his breast; a shield, stoutly braced with buckles of red copper; yellow sandals he wore; a large, strange- fashioned sword along his shoulder. Two curly-haired, white-faced youths close by him, wearing green cloaks and purple sandals and blue tunics, and with brown shields fitted with hooks, in their hands ; white-hilted swords with silvered bronze ornaments they bore; a broad, somewhat light countenance had one of them. One of these cunning men raises his glance to heaven and scans the clouds of the sky and bears their answer to the marvellous troop that is with him. They all lift their eyes on high and watch the clouds and work their spells against the elements, so that the elements fall to warring with each other, till they discharge rain-clouds of fire downwards on the camp and entrenchments of the men of Erin.”
““Who might that be, O Fergus? ’’ asked Ailill. “I know him,” replied Fergus; “the foundation of know- ledge; the master of the elements; the heaven-soaring
one; he that blindeth the eyes; that depriveth his foe
‘9
battle on Garech and Ilgarech will end. The two that are about him, they are his own two sons, to wit In son of Cathba and Genonn Grundzolus aC eset
peice it will be hard for isk men ioe Erin to withet bs . the spells of the druids.” mS
“Yet another company there came to the Sane in Slane of Meath,’’ continued macRoth. ‘A numberless, bright-faced band; unwonted garments they wore; a little bag at the waist of each man of them. A white-haired, bull-faced man in the front of that company; an eager, dragon-like eye in his head; a black, flowing robe with © edges of purple around him ; a many coloured, leaf-shaped brooch with gems, in the robe over his breast; a ribbed tunic of thread of gold around him; a short sword, keen and hard, with plates of gold, 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 gave each a cure, and what at last happened to each was even — the illhe foretold him.’”’ ‘‘ He is the power of leechcraft ; he is the healing of wounds; he is the thwarting of death; he is the absence of every weakness, is that man,” said a) Fergus, “namely Fingin the prophet mediciner, the phy- a sician of Conchobar, with the leeches of Ulster around him. — It is he that knoweth the sickness of a man by the smoke __ of the house wherein he lies, or by hearing his groans. Their medicine bags are the sacks which thoa sawest with them.”
‘Another company came to the mound in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth. ‘‘ A powerful, heavy, turbu- lent company; they caused uproar in their deeds of arms
at cor cara 3 peott, aa eyes in hy hada a them, dark-grey tunics with silver pins set with S pitti isaac swords with sheaths pe bore ;
oi ‘ad well that peanievsastie? ’ quoth Fergus ; es ‘ the ~ till ld of Conchobar and his vassals are those; their two aders, Glasné and Menn, two sons of Uthechar.”’ s “There came yet another band to the mound in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth; “to wit, a band of a a numerous hed ofhenchmen. A black, hasty, swarthy,.. ., ‘ -man in the front rank of that band; seven chains around his neck ; seven men at the end of each chain ; these seven _ groups of men he drags along, so that their faces strike "against the ground, and they revile him until he desists. f _ Another terrible man is there, and the ponderous stone which powerful men could not raise, he sets on his palm and flings on high to the height a lark flies on a day of fine a weather; aclub ofiron at his belt.’’ ‘‘ I know those men,”’ - quoth Fergus: ‘“ Triscoth the strong man of Conchobar’s house; it is he that flings the stone on high. Ercenn son of the three stewards, he it is in the chains.”
_ ** There came ! another ' large, stately company to the mound in Slane of Meath,’’ macRoth went on. “Three, _ very curly-headed, white-faced youths in the van of that _ troop; three curly-red kirtles with brooches of silvered _ bronze was the apparel they wore about them; three
ys There is a gap here in both Stowe and H. 1. 13, and conse- 4 quently the translation is uncertain. a _ 1.0 H. a; 43.
wie wold thread | ee Bias ishouldertt so, javelin-heads on ashen shafts in their band! rf might that be there, O padcaty ?” asked Ailill. “ T know,” answered Fergus: “‘ the three venoms of serpen three cutting ones ; three edges; three watchful ones; — three points of conabat': three pillars of the borders ; three powerful companies i Ulster; three wardens of Erin; 4 three triumph-singets of a mighty host are there,” said Fergus, “‘ the three sons of Conchobar, namely Glas and Mané and Conaing.”
“Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath,” said macRoth. “Stately, in ‘beautiful | colours, gleaming-bright they came to the mound. Not ~ fewer than an army-division, as a glance might judge them. © A bold, fair-cheeked youth in the van of that troop ; light- yellow hair has he; though a bag of red-shelled nuts were _ spilled on his crown, not a nut of them would fall to the © q ground because of the twisted, curly locks of his head. Bluish-grey as harebell is one of his eyes; as black as ~ beetle’s back is the other; the one brow black, the other a white ; a forked, light-yellow beard has he; a magnificent a) red-brown mantle about him; a round brooch adorned ~ with gems of precious stones fastening it in his mantle over — his right shoulder; a striped tunic of silk with a golden — hem next to his skin; an ever-bright shield he bore; a — hard-smiting, threatening spear he held over him; a very 4 keen sword with hilt-piece of red gold on his thigh.” ‘‘ Who — might that be, O Fergus ? ” asked Ailill. ‘‘ I know, then,” — replied Fergus: “it is battle against foes; it is the incit- — ing of strife ; it is the rage of a monster; it is the madness © of a lion; it is the cunning of a snake; it is the rock of the
Ki
upon it; a boss of gold on the shield ;
might he be?” asked Ailill of Fergus.
12...12 See note 12, page 331.
,
1.1 YBL. 49a, 41. a...2 YBL. 49a, 42-44. 3...3 YBL. 49a, 50. 4...4 YBL. 49a, 50. 5...5 YBL. 49a, 46-47. #s..6 YBL. 49a, 52.
"company came 18 the same matin in > said macRoth. 1“ Very heroic and it is; + steady and dissimilar to the other 6% eatin garments, unlike the other com-— nies ‘dhe wore. Famously have they come, both in rms and raiment and dress. A great host and fierce is Pat company.® Some wore red cloaks, others light-blue doaks,* * others dark blue cloaks, others green cloaks ; *LL. fo. 100a. white and yellow jerkins, beautiful and shiny, were over ; © them, Behold the little, freckled, red-faced lad with purple, *fringed* mantle 4 folded about him‘ amongst _ them in their midst. *Fairest of the forms of men was _ his form. A salmon-shaped brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a °* bright, hooded * tunic of royal silk _ with red trimming of red gold next to his white skin ; bright shield with intricate figures of beasts in red gold an edge of gold around it; a small, gold-hilted sword at his waist ; sharp, light lance cast its shadow over him.” ‘ But, who “ Truly, I know not,’’ Fergus made answer, “ that I left behind me in 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 7the well-favoured, wonderful, noble youth? Erc ' son of Fedilmid Nocruthach, * Conchobar’s daughter,* and _ of Carbre Niafer. And if it be they, they are not more friends than their leaders here. Mayhap despite his father
7.7 YBL. 49b, 4-5. *%-* Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 4gb, 6.
Z
"be won against ye.” “How Thats birt ” ask “ Not hard to tell,” eves responded : ® fon this | it will know neither fear nor dread when yor and s slz lat
like the yelp of a thneslng war-hound, or like a lion bg | among bears, 1 while the boy will be saved. Then outside around the battle lines will Conchobar pile up huge walls of men’s bodies * while he seeks the little lad? In turn the princes of the men of Ulster, filled with love and devotion, will hew the enemy to pieces. Boldly — will those powerful bulls, ?the brave warriors of Ulster,? — bellow as 4 their grandson,‘ the calf of their 5 cow, is rescued — in the battle on the morn of the morrow.”
6 « Then came there three huge (?), strong, ane cunningly-built castles; three mighty, wheeled-towers like unto mountains, in this wise placed in position: Three royal castles with their thirty fully armed battalions, swarming with evil-tongued warriors and with thirty ~ round-shielded heroes. A_ bright, beautiful, glistening - shield-guard was on each of the three strong, stout battle- castles, with black, deadly armament of huge, high, blue, | sharp pine-lances, such that one’s bent knee would fit in the socket of each smooth, polished, even and hard spear- — head that is on each huge, terrible, strange shaft of the — terrible, awful, heavy, monstrous, indescribable armament 4
« That is, Conchobar. lel YBL. 49b, 17.
+2 YBL. 4gb, 18. 3..-3 YBL. 49b, 19-20, _ --4 Stowe; that is, Erc son of Fedlimid, Conchobar’s daughter. 6 ‘Of their heart,’ YBL. 49b, 13. i 6 The following passage, to page 342, is taken from Stowe and —
H. 1. 13; it is not found in LL.
«rs
citadel from the gr s the height of each battle- mssgeningeamneniiee
are to gps roti: (sei sick bet Seaiits ae | : ed doors were on each battle-wheeled tower of the os wheeled-towers which were i ga and. an |
| pine, with their blue, prs devolves sible glitter of crystal gems around each door-frame, so that its appear- q ance from afar was like that of bright shining stars. As _ loud as the crash of a. mighty wave at the great spring-tide, q or of a huge heavy fleet upon the sea when toiling with _ the oars along the shore, was the similitude of the din and | _ the clamour and the shouts and the tumult of the multitude : q and the to-and-fro of the thirty champions with their thirty __ heavy, iron clubs that they bear in their hands. And when ; the wheeled-towers advance massively and boldly against _ the line of heroes, these almost leave behind their arms at the fierce charge of the outland battalions. Then spring the three hundred champions with a shout of vengeful _ anger over the sides and over the front of the huge iron _ “towers on wheels, so that this it was that checked the swift : ) course and the great, hasty onslaught of the well-grounded, __ swiftly-moving, mighty chariots. The three stout, strong, a battle-proof towers on wheels careered over rough places and over obstacles, over rocks and over heights. There coursed the thirty entire chargers, powerful, strong-backed, _ four abreast, the equal of ninety entire chargers, with
om, '
a y
1.4.2 H, 1, 13 and Add. 18,748. 2...2 That is, the movable towers.
pena iieta! with ‘the \fouth Tate: teem e Danish steeds, from the bits and bridles, from the t tracks of the huge, maned, mighty” steeds, greater can be told! They excited strife with their din of ms. They plunged headlong in their swift ‘impatience. Ther ey a aroused great terror at their accoutrement, at their armour, at their cunning, at their power, at their hugeness, at their " destructive, terrible, hostile vengeance on the four grand, proud provinces of Erin. Amazing to me was their appear- : 7 ance because of the unwontedness of their trappings both — in form and in garb. Three wonderful flights of birds with variety of appearance hovered over them. The first flock hy 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 swift as hares, circling 4 the three wheeled towers, and this is what they prophesied :— |
*“ Sheaves * of battle, . Might of quelling, Ill of war-deeds, Sating of foul ravens ! Sodden ground, blood-red ;
Men low in dust; Sheaves * on sword-blades ! ’’
“They wheeled about and brought them twelve *% battle- a pillars of thick, huge, iron pillars. As thick as the middle q of a warrior’s thigh, as tall as a champion’s spear was each — battle-fork of them, and they placed four forks under each
ig ¥
- * Following the emendation bairnech, snegested Mes Windisch. ted. 13; . ‘Following the emendation moradbal, suggested by “Windisch. ¢ That is, the layers of the slain. ) 4 That is, a battle-pillar or prop for each of the four wheels of — each of the three towers. .
area and Pike hatients, on oadts of mail ‘otk on the iron plates of smooth, hard, blue-black, sharp-beaked, for forked spears. And in the whole camp there is none but is on the watch for their fierceness and their wrath and tt heir cunning and their strangeness, for their fury, their | achievements and the excellence of their guard. And in __ the place where the forty champions are and the thousand armed men contending with them, not one of the thousand , had a wounding stroke nor a blow on his opponent be- cause of the might of their skill in arms and the excellence of their defence withal ! ” _ “They are hard to contend with for all such as are un- familiar with them, is the opinion held of them,’ spake Fergus, “ but they are readily to be dealt with 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 accom- panied Daré to Spain, so that we entered the service of the king of Spain, Esorb to wit, and we afterwards made an expedition to Soda, that is, to the king of Africa, and we gave battle to the Carthaginians. There came their like upon us against the battle-line wherein we were, an hundred battalions and three score hundred in each battalion. One of the wheeled-towers won victory over us all, for we were not on our guard against them. And_this is the way to _ defeat them: To mine a hole broader than the tower in the ground in the front thereof and cover over the pitfall ;
’ =a
« This is the first mention of the ‘ forty.’
of nae Hes ’) is ‘their - name, Shane soo rm \ herein have ye the sorest of all iia for alt C ugh .
Erin that will be defeated. When they ihke it upon 2 hee to engage in battle they cannot hold out without acombat. Thus will they remain now till morning, every forty men _ of them contending with the others. And thisismy advice _ to you,” said Fergus: “ permit me with my division to withstand them, and do ye betake yourselves to the woods
and wilds of Erin, and the Ulstermen shall not find ye in a
any place, and I will proceed as an example, depending on >
my own men-of-war.” “There are men here for ye!”
cried Medb. ‘‘ That will be a force for yourselves,’ Fergus made answer. .
“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; long, fair-yellow heads 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 H swords set on their thighs; loud-tongued care has beset ~ them; sorrowful are they all, and mournful; sad are the royal leaders; orphaned the brilliant company with-
6...6 See note 6, page 338. ; 1...1 This seems out of place here; it is not found in Stowe nor in A. eee |
th oaaimearl in battle!” “ ‘Good Seaton: in truth, ¢ there , for them to be so,”’ quoth Medb, “if they are dejected, mournful and joyless. There is no evil we have not worked on them. We have harassed and we have assailed them, * their territory and their land,* from Monday at the be- ginning of Samaintide till the beginning of Spring.* We have taken their women and their sons and their youths, their steeds and their troops of horses, their herds and their flocks and their droves. We have razed their hills after them till they are become lowlands, so that they are level with the plain. * We have brought their lords to bloody stabs and sores, to cuts and many wounds.” “ Not so, O Medb!”’ cried Fergus. “‘ There is naught thou canst boast overthem. For thou didst them no hurt nor harm that yon fine company’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 the mound and the grave, the stone and the tomb of some goodly warrior and goodly youth ‘of thy people,‘ fallen at the hands of the noble chieftain of yonder company. Happy he to whom they _ hold! ~Woe to him whom they oppose! It will be enough, ' e’enas much as half a battle, for the men of Erin, when these defend their lord in the battle on the morning of the morrow.’ ; “TI heard a great uproar there, west of the battle or to
ms 1...1 Stowe. _ 22 Stowe. 3...3 Stowe and H. I. I b 4...4 Stowe. @ See notes * and ®, page 182.
wu mol
iy sce Sciach t Thontaced i yy ‘hoops : en ropes, and the men of Ulster do not permit him tc —. cause of his sores and his wounds, inasmuch ¢ as heli
with Ferdiad. Ste i True indeed spe’ Fergus. Cuchulain it was, oe Be at the length of his lying 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 arehy come to the battle!”
Thus far the Companies of the Téin B6 Céalnge+ *mus- tered by Conchobar and the men of Ulster.? 7 ‘a
Then came two women lampoonists from the camp and _ | quarters of the men of Erin; *their names,? Fethan and Collach, to wit; and they stood with a feint of weeping and wailing over Cuchulain, telling him of the defeat of Ulster and the death of Conchobar and the fall of Fergus in combat.
# Now Conchobar proceeded with his sepsis till he pitched camp nearby his companions. Conchobar asked a truce of Ailill till sunrise on the morrow, and Ailill granted it for the | men of Erin and the exiles, and Conchobar granted it for the men of Ulster, and thereupon Conchobar’s tents were pitched. In this way the ground was bare between them, and the Ulstermen came thither at sunset.*
1...1 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 2,508 FE. 1.) Fa, Bae Stowe. — 4...4 YBL. 50a, ITI.
4 , 2
Di iy COPPER ETE
ie. <> sk
~
>? ee ee
a odin Aissndion Beaten the two camps on either side, ql and she spoke these words 2in the twilight between the two encampments =
““ Ravens shall pick _ The necks of men! Blood shall gush 3In combat wild ! 3
an Skins shall be hacked ;
Crazed with spoils ! 4Men’s sides pierced 4 In battle brave, Luibnech near ! Warriors’ storm ; Mien of braves; Cruachan’s men ! 5 Upon them comes ® Ruin complete ! ; Lines shall be strewn Under foot ; Their race die out! Then Ulster hail: To Erna?® woe! To Ulster woe: 6 Then Erna hail! ® (This she said in Erna’s ear.) Naught inglorious shall they do Who them await!”
1.4.1 YBL. 41a, 7. * The Irish goddess of war.
2 YBL. 50a, 18-19. *---? YBL. 50a, 19. 4+ YBL. 50a, 21. _. 4..5 Translating from YBL. 50a, 23; gp appears to be corrupt. m8 Ta Munstermen in Ailill’s army. *--* YBL. 50a, 26.
. 345
*LL. fo.1or1a.
vis “not @ any of the men of Erin to the e left « oo
said Cuchulain, “if between the two battle-lines
It was then that Cuchulain spake to Laeg son ¢ of Riz “Tt would surely be unworthy of thee, O Laeg my 1
should happen anything to-day whereof thou hadst no- tidings for me.” “‘ Whatsoever I shall learn, O Cucucuc,” answered Laeg, ‘‘ will be told thee. But, see yonder Wie little flock coming forth on the plain from the western camp — and station now.* Behold a band of henchmen after them to check and to stay them. Behold also a company of henchmen emerging from the eastern camp and station to seize them.”” “Surely, that is so!” exclaimed Cuchu- lain, ‘“‘ That bodes a mighty combat and is the occasion of a grand battle. The little flock will come over the plain and the band of henchmen ? from the east and the band of henchmen from the west 2 * will encounter one another betimes * about the little flock* on the great field of battle.” 3 There, indeed, Cuchulain spoke true. And the little flock came forth upon the plain, and the companies of henchmen met in fray. ‘“‘ Who gives the battle now, O Laeg my master,” Cuchulain asked. ‘‘ The folk of Ulster,” Laeg answered: ‘“‘ that is the same as the young warriors 5 of Ulster.” ® ‘ But how fight they ? ’’ Cuchulain asked. ‘Like men they fight,” Laeg answered. ‘‘ There where are the heroes of valour from the east in battle, they force a breach through the ranks to the west. There where are the heroes from the west, they lay a breach through the ranks to the eastward.’’ *® “ It would bea vow for them to fall in rescuing their herds,” said Cuchulain; “and
1...1 YBL. 50a, 28-31. 22 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 3... LL. seems to be defective here. 4:--+ Stowe and H. 1. 13. 5...6 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 6...6 YBL. 50a, 39-43.
igst them sa breach would be manila, Mee 1 hat of another !” “ But, this avow, O Cucuc,” aeg: “it is no reproach to thy valour ; it is no dis- act to. thine honour. Thou hast done bravely in time fo: ore now and thou wilt do bravely hereafter.” eek About the hour of sunrise: “It is a haughty folk that “now fight the battle,” quoth the charioteer; ‘“ but there are no kings amongst them, for sleep is still upon them.” ! “Come, O my master Laeg!”’ cried Cuchulain ; “‘ rouse the men of Ulster to the battle now, for it is time that they come.”’ a Be 2 Then, when the sun arose,? ? Cuchulain saw the kings from the east putting their crowns on their heads and relieving their men-at-arms. Cuchulain told his charioteer to awaken the men of Ulster.? Laeg came and roused 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: 4Blood of hearts pours out ! Goodly heroes’ battle rushes in * 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 * weal doth Bae If it is for Cualnge’s kine, Let them now arise!’’ 1.61 YBL. 50a, 45-47. 2...2 YBL. 50a, 48. +3 YBL, 50b, 18-23. _ 44 VBL. 50b, 27-29 * ation name for Badb, the battle-fury.
W.. 5804.
7 7 ‘ Late ® Soar cant fees ed i POE Gy at ‘ } re 1 pa ae a r oe t Hes een agen on 3 : Cue rae ig SiG ps XXVIII |
1 NOW OF THE BATTLE OF /GARECH 1
THEREUPON arose all the men of Ulster at the one time i in 4 the train of their king, and at the word of their prince, and to
prepare for the uprising in response to the call of Laeg son
of Riangabair. And in this wise they arose: stark-naked — all of them, only their weapons in their hands. Each one ~
whose tent door looked to the east, through the tent westwards he went, for that he deemed it too long to go round about it.
““How arise the Ulstermen now to *the battle? O Laeg my master?” asked Cuchulain. ‘ Manfully they rise,” said Laeg: ‘“‘stark-naked all of them, * except for their arms only.* Every man whose tent-door faces the
east, through the tent westwards he goes, for he deems it
too long to go round about it.” “I pledge my word!” cried Cuchulain: “at a fitting hour have they now in the early day risen around Conchobar ! ”
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 battle till there come the strength of a good omen and favourable portent, till
the sun mounts to the roof-tree of heaven and sunshine
fills the glens and lowlands and hills and watch-towers of Erin.”
1-.-1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 2...2 H. 1. 13, Add., Stowe, and YBL. 5ob, 34. 3...3 YBL. 50b, 34.
348
yee ihe 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 woe igor !
1 Wearied all the hands ; ‘ 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.?
Perish * shall their race ! *LL. fo.ror’ 3 Manful contest there shall be; 2
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.‘
If for Cualnge’s kine it be,
5 Let Macha’s kings! § Let them arise!
Not long was Laeg there when he witnessed something: the men of Erin all arising at one time, taking their shields and their spears and their swords and their helmets, and urging the men-of-war before them to the battle. The men of Erin, every single man of them, fell to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, to slay and to destroy the others
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.
5.6 YBL. 50b, 5.
Laeg?” “ Like men they fight, agente | s
Si % a brigh qi ne ¢ 1 the s ‘How fight 2 the Ulsterm en 2 the b:
I mount my chariot, and En, Conall * Cernach’s ( torious’ )* charioteer, his chariot, and should we go in chariots from one wing to the other on the points: of. : weapons, neither hoof nor wheel nor axle-tree nor -chariot- i pole would touch ‘the ground‘ for the denseness and — closeness and firmness with which their arms are held in the © hands of the men-at-arms at this time.”
“Alas, that Iam not yet strong enough to be amongst them ®now!’’® cried Cuchulain; “for, were I able, my breach would be manifest there to-day like that of another,” _ spake Cuchulain. ‘‘ But this avow, O Cucuc,” said Laeg: | “’tis no reproach to thy valour; ’tis no disgrace to thine honour. Thou hast wrought great deeds before now and thou wilt work great deeds hereafter.” | |
Then began the men of Erin to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, to slay and to destroy the others foralong space and while. Next came to them the nine chariot- fighters of the champions from Norseland, and the three foot-warriors along with them, and no swifter were the nine chariot-men than the three men on foot.
Then came to them also *on the ford of hosting * the governors of the men of Erin: And this was their sole office 7 with Medb’ in the battle: tosmite to death Con- chobar if it were he that suffered defeat, and to rescue Ailill and Medb if it should be they were defeated. And these _ are the names of the governors:
*
YBL. 51a, 45. 2.2 YBL. 51a, 45. Stowe, H. 1. 13, Add. and YBL. 51a, 47.
Stowe and Add. | Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. $...6 YBL. 51b, 6. Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
a0 » © . . . . . ae Lee eat a oO PF ©
7 a |
5) uf
oi
+h og
Dy) ‘ ry " , ry
“thee one these Niadchorb ark Tilach Loiscthe, pri
three Doelfer from Deill, the three Damaltach from Dergdere, _ the three Buder from the Buas, the three Baeth from Buag- -nige, the three Buageltach from Mag Breg, the three Suibné
from the Siuir, the three Eochaid from Ané, the three Malleth from Loch Erne, the three Abatruad from Loch Ri,
the three macAmra from Ess Ruaid, the three Fiacha from
Fid Nemain, the three Mané from Muresc, the three Mure- dach from Mairg, the three Loegaire from Lecc Derg, the
-three Broduinde from the Berba, the three Bruchnech,
from Cenn Abrat, the three Descertach from Druim Fornacht, the three Finn from Finnabair, the three Conall from Collamair, the three Carbre from Cliu, the three Mané from Mossa, the three Scathglan from Scairé, the three Echtach from Ercé, the three Trenfer from Taité, the three Fintan
_ from Femen,* the three Rotanach from Rogné, the three
Sarchorach from Suidé Lagen, the three Etarscel from Etarbane, the three Aed from Aidné, the three Guaré from
_ Gabal.?
Then said Medb to Fergus: “ It were truly a thing to boast of for thee, 20 Fergus,” said she,? “ werest thou
inet YBL. 50b;. 42.
* YBL. 50b—51a has more than three times as many names as are
enumerated here. 2...2 Stowe, Add. and H. 1. 13.
351
*LL, fo.102:
francil looked hath been oe ica’ Lx
- Thereupon Fergus uttered this oath: “ ‘14 y et reliqua, “jaws of men I would break from necks, ne ks. of men with arms, arms of men with elbows, elbows of — men with wrists, wrists of men with fists, fists of men with " q fingers, fingers of men with nails, nails* of men with scalps, scalps of men with trunks, trunks of men with thighs, — thighs of men with knees, knees of men with calves, calves of men with feet, feet of men with toes, toes of men with nails,? so that * heads of men over shields * would be as numerous 4 with me * as bits of ice > on the miry stamping- — ground ® ® between two dry fields* that a king’s horses would course on. Every limb of the Ulstermen *would I send flying through the air’ before and behind me this __ day ® like the flitting of bees on a day of fine weather,’ if only I had my sword!” a
At that Ailill spoke to his own charioteer, Ferloga, to wit: ‘Fetch me a quick sword that wounds the skin,O gilla,” said Ailill, ®“ A year to-day I put that sword in thy hand in the flower of its condition and bloom.® I give my word, if its bloom and condition be the worse at thy hands this day than the day I gave it 1 thee ” on the hillside of Cruachan Ai !in the borders of Ulster,14 though thou hadst the men of Erin and of Alba to rescue thee from me
Tas
to-day, they would not all save thee! a
1.--1 Stowe, Add., and H. 1. 13. a *---8 I have given preference to the reading of YBL. 51b, 189 oh f A word is omitted here in the MS., presi taatty. for, ‘nails.’ 3...3 YBL. 51b, 19-20. 4:--4 YBL. 5b, 19. 5-8 YBL. 51b, 20. 6..-6 Adopting Windisch’s Smep dane of the text. 7...7 YBL. 51b, 31. -§ YBL. 51b, 32. %...8 Stowe and YBL. 51b, 35-
10 Stowe. 41. VY BE. >srb, (s0n,
‘Hardblade’), DF Eemipiond of Bade | by this. bia lie Fergus asked. “On 21 rat w "around thee,” Medb answered. ‘‘ No one <f
Wer Wace. ill took his arms and went forward to _ the battle, 1 and he cleared a gap of an hundred in the battle- yanks with his sword in his two hands.! Ailill seized his weapons. Medb seized her weapons and entered the battle. _ 2 The Mané seized their arms and came to the battle. The macMagach seized their arms and came to the battle,? so a that thrice the Ulstermen were routed before them from __ the north, till Cualgae * and sword drove them back again. %Or it was Cuchulain that drove the men of Erin before him, so that he brought them back into their former line | in the battle.? | Conchobar heard that from his place in the line of battle, that the battle had gone against him thrice from the north. Then he addressed his bodyguard, even the inner circle of _ the Red Branch: “ Hold ye here a while, ye men! ” cried | he; ‘‘ even in the line 4 of battle * where I am, that I may go and learn by whom the battle has been thus forced against us thrice from the north.’”’ Then said his household: ‘“ We will hold out,” said they, ° “in the place wherein we are: ®*
SN
* Here follows in YBL. 51b, 38-57 a difficult passage in vosc which _ I have omitted in the translation. Only a portion of it has been _ preserved in LL. and is here translated. . Drisctoes with Stowe, H. te 13, Add. and YBL. 51b, 45. 1 YBL. 52a, 6-8. -2 Stowe, and, similarly, Add. ‘ “The name of the wheeled dhe described above, page 338 fi. +3 Stowe, H. 1. 1 3 and Add. _ 44 Stowe. Bus YBL. 52a, 14.
AA
*LL. fo.102b.
| feet we not move a bana 's bo ul
back to us!
the very day of doom and of everlasting life, :
Wey
battle had gone three times * against hint Fb isi nor 2Then Conchobar made a rush at Fergus,? and he lifted shield against shield there, namely against Fergus mac Roig, even Ochain (‘the Fair-ear’)* of Conchobar with | its four ears of gold and its four bracings of red gold. There- a with Fergus gave three stout blows of Badb on the Ochain of Conchobar, so that Conchobar’s shield cried aloud on him *and the three chief waves of Erin gave answer, the _ Wave of Clidna, the Wave of Rudraige and the Wave of Tuag, to wit. Whenever Conchobar’s shield cried out, the shields of all the Ulstermen cried out. However great q the strength and power with which Fergus smote Conchobar __ on the shield, so great also was the might and valour where- with Conchobar held the shield, so that the ear of the shield a did not even touch the ear of Conchobar. a
“ Hearken,. ye men ‘of Erin!’’* cried Fergus; “who opposes a shield to me to-day on this day of battle when four of the five grand provinces of Erin come together on . Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Cattle-raid of Cualnge?” ‘‘ Why, then, a gilla that is younger and mightier and comelier® than thyself is here,’ ®Con- — chobar answered,* ‘‘ and whose mother and father were
--1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 2...2 YBL. 52a, 16-17. . The name of Conchobar’s shield.
-’ Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. *::-4 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 5...5 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. +6 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
ee snech that were under thy safeguard * and protection ; 3 the man that will repel thee this day in the presence of the - men of Erin; Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach son of _ Ross Ruad son of Rudraige, High King of Ulster and son of the High King of Erin; *and though any one should insult thee, there is no satisfaction nor reparation for thee,
cc sora ‘oh the valour of the Gael,? the three sons of
for thou art in the service of a woman! ”’ 4 “ Truly hath this happened to me.” Fergus responded.
And Fergus placed his two hands on Calad Colg (‘ Hard-
blade ’), and he heaved a blow with it backwards behind him, so that its point touched the ground, and he thought to strike his three fateful blows of Badb on the men of Ulster, so that their dead would be more in number than their living. Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar saw that and he rushed to *his foster-father, namely to® Fergus, and he closed his two ® royal hands * over him ” outside his armour.’ *®“ Ungentle, not heedful is this, O Fergus my master! Full of hate, not of friendship is this,* O Fergus my master! Let not the Ulstermen be slain and destroyed by thee through thy destructive blows, but take thou thought for their honour to-day on this day of battle!” —
--1 Stowe and H. 1. 13. 2...2 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. --3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
1 3 4...4 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 5...5 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 8...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.
| ‘Socata ie thine anger.” } 3 back again * to his place in dhe battle,” 4 ‘said 1 Aids
“and I will no longer belabour the hosts.” 4 told this to Conchobar: § * “ Go to the other wie O Cone chobar,”’ said Cormac to his father, “and this man will a not visit his anger any longer here on the men of Ulster.’ * _ So Conchobar went to his place in the battle. 7 In ie vA manner Fergus and Conchobar parted.’ EE
8 Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors | \ Ulster in the first onslaught with the sword. He met Conall Cernach. “Too great is this rage,’’ said Conall, ‘upon people and kindred because of the whim of a wan- — ton.” “ What would ye have me do, ye warriors?” asked Fergus. “ Smite the hills crosswise and the bushes around,” My Conall Cernach made answer.’ a
Thus it was with that sword, which was the sword of H. d Fergus: The sword of Fergus, the sword of Leté from Oe Faery: Whenever he desired to strike with it, it became the size of a rainbow in the air. Thereupon Fergus turned a J his hand slantwise over the heads of the hosts, so that he smote the three tops of the three hills, so that they are still on the moor in sight of »the men of Erin.® And these — are the three Maels (‘ the Balds’) of Meath in that place, ‘ ‘
poe
Teel VBE 62a.) 35. 2...2 YBL. 52a, 306. gs ht 3...3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 4:---4 Stowe, H. 1. 23 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...8 YBL. 52a, 41-47. %...9 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
Conchobar my Pauistis and I alive?” %Then Laeg made Toby _ answer, saying : “The choice of men, Fergus macRoig, i ! : the. very bold, smites it :—* Msi)
oe sts Puaierare Blood he sheds—increase of slaughter—
agit who dares Mie snails Se is a i, My My 8; night aaa far-away,? the Ochain of .
‘Splendid the hero, Fergus macRoig !
Hidden had lain Fairyland’s chariot-sword !
Battle now hath reached the shield,
Shield of my master Conchobar !”’ 4“ How far have the hosts advanced, O Laeg ? ” Cuchu- Jain asked. ‘‘ They have come to Garech,” Laeg answered.
“‘T give my word for that,’”’ Cuchulain cried; “ they wil]
not come as far as Ilgarech, if I catch up with them! 4 Quickly
unloose the bands, gilla!’’ cried Cuchulain. 5“ Blood covers men. Feats of swords shall be done. Men shall be spent therefrom !” >
6 Since Cuchulain’s going into battle had been prevented,
his twisting fit came upon him, and seven and twenty skin
tunics were given to him that used to be about him under strings and cords when going into battle. * Then Cuchulain *LL fo.zo3a. gave a mighty spring, so that the bindings of his wounds flew from him to Mag Tuag (‘ the Plain of the Bows’) in Connacht. His bracings went from him to Bacca (‘ the Props’) in Cor- comruad 7in the district of Boirenn.’? *® His supports sprang from him to ® Rath ® Cinn Bara (‘the Rath of Spit- head’) in Ulster, and likewise his pins flew from him to Rath Clo (‘ the Rath of the Nails’) in the land of the tribe of Conall. The dry wisps that were stuffed in his wounds rose to the roof
1.--1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. | 2...2 YBL. 52a, 52. 3...3 YBL. 52b, 1-2. 4...4 Stowe. 5...6 YBL. 52b, 7-8. 6...6 YBL. 52b, 17-20. 7..-7 Stowe and Add.
8
--8 Stowe. 9...9 Add. and H. ft. 13.
eck fhe earth were full of ‘ re
‘gore. TESDUIEN TS BLK oe ot
1 Some of ans RBA aver - that it was ‘the st the warrior and champion that hurled these things * t¢ aforementioned places;2 but it was not that, but | ‘ powerful friends, the fairy-folk, that brought them thither, a to the end to make famous his history, s so that from them these places are named.}
This was the first exploit of valour that Cuchulain per- formed on. rising * out of his weakness: ? The two women lampoonists that made a feint of weeping and wailing * over his head,* Fethan and Collach to wit, he smote each of them against the head of the other, so that he* was red with their blood and grey with their brains. ° These women had come from Medb to raise a pretended lamentation over him, to the end that his bloody wounds might burst forth on him, and to tell him that the men of Ulster had met with defeat and that Fergus had fallen in meeting the battle.5 His arms had not been left near him, except his chariot only. And he took his chariot on his back ® with its frame and its two axle-trees,* and he set out to attack the men of Erin, and he smote them with the chariot, until he reached the place where Fergus macRoig was. ‘Turn hither, O Fergus my master!” he cried. Fergus did not answer, for he heard not. He spoke again, “‘ Turn hither, ? turn hither,’? O Fergus my master!” he cried; “and if thou turn not, I swear to god what the Ulstermen swear,’ I
1..-.1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 2...2 Add:
3..-3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
4.-.4 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. TUN)
* ‘ 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. 58 VBL. s2b)) 2a
7-7 H. r. 13 and Add. 8..8 YBL..52b, 24.
unc Lon the sand!’ tail oh si this is my lot !” spall | oud. | “Who *of the men of Erin? dares to address nese stiff, vengeful words to me, where now the four grand
me) provinces of Erin are met on Garech and Ilgarech in the ~
a battle of the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge?” “ Thy
fosterling is before thee,” he replied, ‘‘ and fosterling of the men of Ulster and of Conchobar as well, Cuchulain son of Sualtaim 4 and sister’s son to Conchobar,” replied Cuchu- lain* ‘And thou didst promise to flee before me what time I should be wounded, in pools of gore and riddled in the battle of the Tain.* For, > when thou hadst not thy sword with thee,® I did flee before thee in thine own combat on the Tain; ®and do thou avoid me,” said he. ‘“ Even that did I promise,’ Fergus answered. ‘‘ Away with thee, then!’ cried Cuchulain. ‘’Tis well,” replied Fergus ; “thou didst avoid me; now thou art pierced with wounds.” ®
Fergus gave ear to that word of Cuchulain, and he turned and made his three great strides of a hero 7 back from Cuchulain and turned in flight from him.’ And as he turned * with his company of three thousand warriors and the Leinstermen following after Fergus—for it is under Fergus’ warrant they had come 8—® and the men of Munster,® there turned all the men of Erin.
1 YBL. 52b, 24-25.. «
1.
2...2 H. 1. 13 and Add. _ 3.3 YBL. 52b, 27. 4.-.4 YBL. 52b, 28. ° * See page 207.
5...5 FT, 1. 13 and Add. 6...6 YBL. 52b, 29-33. 7.7 AL x. 13 and Add.
8...8 H. I
. 13 and Add. 9...9 YBL. 52b, 33.
ines were no more to vibe babies Masse ‘Medb and 4 ye company of the men of Connacht fled in rout westw. over the hill. | see At that time there did not remain in Cichullaina S hand oa of the chariot but a handful of its spokes around the wheel, — and a handbreadth of its poles around the shell, with the — slaying and slaughtering of the four grand artes of ‘ Erin during all that time. By Then Medb betook her to a shield-shelter in the rear ee a the men of Erin. Thereafter Medb sent off the Brown. me: Bull of Cualnge along with fifty of his heifers and eight of 4 her runners with him around to Cruachan, to the end that __ whoso might and whoso might not escape, the Brown Bull of Cualnge should get away safely, even as she had promised. | Then it was that the issue of blood came upon Medb, ’and she said: ‘Do thou, Fergus, undertake 5 a shield- shelter in the rear of the men of Erin till let my water flow from me.” “ By my troth,” replied Fergus, “’tis an ill i hour for thee to be taken so.” ‘‘ Howbeit there isnohelp for me,” Medb answered; ‘‘ for I shall not live if I do not void water!” Fergus accordingly came and raised a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin. Medb voided — her water, so that it made three large dikes, so that a mill © | could find room in each dike. Hence the place is known He : as Fual Medbha (‘ Medb’s Water’). J
1..-1 HY. r. 13 and Add. 2...2 A xr. 13 and Add. 3...3 YBL. 52b, 36. _ #-# Hor. 13 and Add. 5...6 A, x. 13 and Add. : « It is not uncommon in folk-tales that lakes, rivers, etc. arose from the micturition of a giant or fairy. % Pipentan’ i with Add.
“ What pit koh “That this isp be nee ‘thins Silo and thy btn till they . pass westwards over Ath Mor (‘the Great Ford’).” * *LL. fo, 103b. : te Yea, I promise that,’’ said Cuchulain. * Then *® went
‘Si Cuchulain around the men of Erin, and he undertook a shield-defence on one side of them, in order to protect the men of Erin. On the other side went the governors of the men of Erin. -Medb went to her own place and assumed
__ a Shield-defence in the rear of the men of Erin, and in
this manner they convoyed Ni men of Erin over Ath Mor
_s- westwards.
4 is 7 Then Laeg ®son of Pikteutale 8 brought Cuchulain’s
sword unto him, * the ‘ Hard-headed Steeling ’ to wit,® and
_ Cuchulain took the sword in his hand.’ Then he ” stood
4 still and !° gave a blow to the three bald-topped hills of Ath
_ Lwuain over against the three Maela (‘ the Bald Tops’) of
Meath, so that he struck their three heads off them. 41 And
_ they arein the bog asa witness ever since. Hence these are
__ the Maolain (‘ the Flat Tops’) of Ath Luain. Cuchulain cut
____ them off as a reproach and affront to the men of Connacht,
_ in order that every time men should speak of Meath’s
J feed VY RBUL Seb} 42. . 2-2 A, r. 13 and Add. Be 3...3 YBL. 52b, 41-42. 4...4 H, r, 13 and Add. i Nii Sei ORE SBE 3 6-.-6 Hf. 1. 13 and Add. wis: 7...7 A. x. 13 and Add. 8-8 Add.
a9 YBL. §2b, 43. 10...10 YBL. 52b. 45.
eit H. 1. 13 and Add.
noch Ail Al Ce RY Unis he .Giak.h ¥
| estidead it behoved this lay to pi one wing in the lead of a woman,” *said Eee | “Faults and fe ds have met here to-day,” 4 said Medb 4 to Fes. “ Be- trayed and sold is this host to-day,” ® Fergus ansy “And even as. a brood-mare leads her foals into a eps known, without a head to advise or give counsel before them, such is the plight of this host to-day °1 sg the train of a woman that hath ill counselled them.”
7 Then Cuchulain turned to where RAHA was with | the nobles of Ulster before him. Conchobar bewailed | and lamented Cuchulain, and then he uttered this 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 !’’’
1 YBL. 52b, 47-48.
1. : 2...2 Reading with H. 1. 13. $---8 Fi. r. 13 and Add. 4.4 YBL. 52b, 48. 5...5 A. r. 13 and Add. 6. * Te has
<8 YDL. 52b, $2. aga
ar A
7
re ; agar an ce Mead, it is s related here: 2 She eifteredt not the
} apa pig 3 dnd in ‘eae manner they weaid part from ay one another. For during the while the battle was being
_ fought, the Brown Bull of Cualnge with fifty heifers in his company had been brought to Cruachan.? | i 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 bellowing calls aloud. And Finn- __bennach Ai (‘ the Whitehorned of Ai’) heard him. Now no male beast durst ‘send forth * a low that was louder
4 all Ai, Ath Moga and Ath Coltna, Ath Slissen and Ath ' Bercha. And *the Whitehorned ® lifted his head with _. fierce anger * at the bellowing of the Brown of Cualnge,® and he hastened to Cruachan to look for the Brown Bull of 4 Cualnge.
It was then the men of Erin debated who would be 7 fitted ? to witness § the fight * of the bulls. They all agreed that it should be Bricriu son of Carbad * that were fitted __. for that office.® For, a year before this tale of the Cualnge Cattle-raid, Bricriu had gone from the one province into the ____ other to make arequest of Fergus. And Fergus had retained
| 1...1 YBL. 41a, 8. 2... He I, 13.
) %-8 Hy 1. 13,and. Add. 4-4 H, 1, 13 and Add. , ‘5...5 A. 1, 13 and Add. 6...6 FH, x. 13. and Add. a 7.7 H. 1. 13 and Add. 8...8 H. x, 13 and Add. 9... AH. r. 13 and Add.
363
4 than a moo in compare with him within the four fords of |
tevelie
*LL. fo.104a.
Ayes
of the Tain, all that time ‘Bake was ‘ioe, ai ed Cruachan. And the day they returned from the expe | was the day Bricriu rose. 4 He came with the rest to witness the battle of the bulls. ? And this is why they selected - Bricriu;? for that Bricriu was no fairer to his friend than to his foe. *“‘ Come, ye men of Erin!” cried Bricriu ; _“ per- mit me to judge the fight of the bulls,* * for it is I shall most _ truly recount their tale and their deeds” afterwards.” 4 a And he was brought * before the men of Erin® to a gap by: whence to view the bulls. !
6 So they drove the Brown Bull the morning of the fight ui till he met the Whitehorned at Tarbga in the plain of Ai: or Tarbguba (‘ Bull-groan’), or Tarbgleo (‘ Bull-fight ’) ; Roi Dedond was the first name of that hill. Every one that had lived through the battle cared for naught else than to see the combat of the two bulls.®
Each of the bulls sighted the other and there was a pawing and digging up of the ground in their frenzy there, and ~ they tossed the earth over them. They threw up the earth — over their withers and shoulders, and their eyes blazed red * in their heads like firm balls of fire, 7 and their sides _ bent like mighty boars on a hill.? Their cheeks and their — nostrils swelled like smith’s bellows in a forge. And each © of them gave a resounding, deadly blow to the other. Each of them began to hole and to gore, to endeavour to slaughter
« The story is told in ‘ The Adventures of Nera,’ published in the = Revue Celtique, t. x, p. 227. a
p we YBL. 53a, 4-5. 2.622 phe
3-.-3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 ae Add. 4 A oa 13 and Add. bt sstilt aly, *© YBL. 52b, hides
Viasat
Stowe, H. 1. 13 we ‘Add.
. ve vadinalieh a son of Sdachobas saw that, ? and
- the force of affection arose in him,? and he laid hold of a
pearshaft that filled his grasp, and gave three blows to
i hi: the Brown Bull of Cualnge from ear to tail, *so that it _ broke on his thick hide from ear to rump. ‘ No wonderful, _ lasting treasure was this precious prize for us,’’ said Cormac,
“that cannot defend himself against a stirk of his own age!’’ The Brown Bull of Cualnge heard this—for he had human understanding*’—and he turned upon the White- horned. ‘Thereupon the Brown of Cualnge became infuri- ated, and he described a very circle of rage around the Whitehorned, and he rushed at him, so that he broke his lower leg with the shock.* And thereafter they continued to strike at each other for a long while and great space of time, ®and so long as the day lasted they watched’ the contest of the bulls * till night fell on the men of Erin. And when night had fallen, all that the men of Erin could hear was the bellowing and roaring. That night the bulls coursed over * the greater part of ® all Erin. 7 For every spot in Erin wherein 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,’ ® it is from them | 7 ®those places are named.? :
1...1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
2...2 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and “Add. 3---3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. « See note 4%, 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---? Stowe, H. I. 13 and Add. 8...8 HT. r. 13 and Add. 9...9 Add.
W. 6168.
re ny, oe a ‘THE ACCOUNT OF THE BROWN BULL OF CUALNGE a
2A JOURNEY of a day anda night the Brown Bull ‘carried the remains of the Whitehorned till he came to the loch that is by Cruachan. And he came thereout with the loin and the shoulder-blade and the liver of the other on his horns.? It was not long before the men of Erin, as they were there in the company of Ailill and Medb ® early on the morrow, saw coming over Cruachan from the west the Brown Bull of Cualnge with the Whitehorned of Ai in’ torn fragments hanging about his ears and horns. The men of Erin arose, and they knew not which of the bulls it was. ‘‘ Come, ye men!” cried Fergus; “leave him alone if it be the White- horned that is there; and if it be the Brown of Cualnge, leave him his trophy with him!”
4Then it was that the ®seven® Mané arose to take vengeance on the Brown Bull of Cualnge for his violence and his valour. ‘‘ Whither go yonder men ? ” asked Fergus. “They go to kill the Brown of Cualnge,” ® said all,é “because of his evil deeds.” * “I pledge my word,” 7 shouted Fergus :7 ‘‘ what has already been done in regard to the bulls is a small thing in compare with that which will
1.1 YBL. 41a, 8. 2...2 YBL. 53a, 13-16. 8...3 A. r. 13 and Add. 4: Stowe and Add. 5.5 Add. $...6 Fi, r. 13 and Add.
7
7 H. r. 13, Stowe and Add. 366
J re ea he left there a heap of the liver * of the Whitehorned,® ais
| uachan. 4 He pages his sight * aide towards Cruachan,
o that thence is * named ¢ Cruachan Ai (‘ Liver-reeks’). 7 Next he 8 came to his own land and § reached the river
ie Finnglas (‘ Whitewater’), and, ®on coming,? he drank a _ draught from the river, and, so long as he drank the draught,
he let not one drop of the river flow by him. Then he raised his head, and the shoulder-blades of the Whitehorned fell from him in that place. Hence, Sruthair Finnlethe (‘ Stream of the White Shoulder-blade ’) is the name given to it.’
He pursued his way 1° to the river Shannon,” to the brink of Ath Mor (‘ the Great Ford’), 4 and he drank a draught from it, and, as long as he drank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow past him. Then he raised his head, so that the two haunches of the Whitehorned fell from him there ;11 and he left behind the loin of the Whitehorned in that place, so that thence cometh Athlone (‘ Loinford’). He continued eastwards into the land of Meath to Ath Truim. 1% He sent forth his roar at Iraird Cuillinn; he was heard over the entire province. And he drank in Tromma.!2_ 13 As long as he drank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow past him.13 And he left behind
1...1 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. $...8 HW. Fr. 13.
3-.-38 A, i. 13 and Add. 4...4 HA. r. 13 and Add.
° As a sign of friendliness. 5...5 A, r. 13 and Add. 6...6 A. rt. 13 and Add: “= 7*---? Stowe.
8...8 YBL. 53a, 18. 9...9 YBL. 53a, 18.
--10 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 1-44 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 12 YBL. 53a, 22. 13...13 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
‘LL. fo.104b.
hind beela away from him to pen | Lai ey I Leg’). He sent its ribs from him to Derbiin; gach cal Ath Cliath (‘ Ford of the Ribs’ or ‘ of the Hurdles’). Hie | He turned his face northwards then, * and went on we to the summit of Sliab Breg, and he saw the peaks * and knew the land of Cualnge, 4and a great agitation came over him at the sight of his own land and country,* and he went his way towards it. In that place were women and youths and children lamenting the Brown Bull of Cualnge. They saw the Brown of Cualnge’s forehead ap- proaching them. ‘‘ The forehead of a bull cometh towards us!’ they shouted. Hence is. Taul Tairb (‘ Bull’s Brow’) ever since. ® Then he went on the road of Midluachar to Cuib, where he was wont to be with the yeld cow of Daré,
and he tore up the earth there. Hence cometh Gort Buraig
(‘ Field of the Trench’).5
* Then turned the Brown of Cuainge on the women and youths and children of the land of Cualnge, and ° with the greatness of his fury and rage ® heeffecteda great slaughter 7 amongst them.? He turned his back to the hill then and his heart broke in his breast, even as a nut breaks, * and he belched out his heart like a black stone of dark blood.® ° He went then and died between Ulster and Ui Echach at Druim Tairb. Druim Tairb (‘ Bull’s Back’) is the name of that place.°
--l H. 1. 13 and Add. 2...2 Add. --3 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 4:4 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.
1
3
5...5 YBL. 53a, 26-28.
6...6 Ff. t..13 and Add. 7...7 Translating from Stowe. 8
---8 Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 9...9 YBL. 53a, 28-29.
OS ae ee ae Sih, * * | a A hie be upon all such as shall faithfully keep the 4 ‘Tain in memory as it stands here and shall not add any other form to it.’ : , * * * eal * | I, however, who have copied this history, or more truly _ legend, give no credence to various incidents narrated in it. For, some things herein are the feats of jugglery of demons, sundry others poetic figments, a few are probable, others improbable, and even more invented for the delectation of fools. Led Translating from H. 1. 13 and Add.
2 YBL. 53a, 29-33. 6 Sai this the Irish text concludes: what follows is in Latins
BB
aN
aol uit ahaa
UENTLY OCCURRING PLACE ~ ~ AND PERSONAL-NAMES.
will sion matters for the English reader if the ‘slip! ints respecting the pronunciation of proper names in medieval , are borne in mind: ~~ Each simple word is accented on the first syllable. pemoutice : : @ (long), as in aught; a (short), as in hot. c with slender vowels (e, i), as in Ring ; never as s.
ie c with broad vowels (a, 0, u), as in cay; never as s. ch with slender vowels (e, i), as in German Ich; never as in ei church.
4 ch with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in German Buch ; never as in . church.
he d with slender vowels (e, i), as in French dieu.
d with broad vowels (a, 0, uw), as in thy.
ie é (long), as in ale; e (short), as in bet.
’ g with slender vowels (e, i), as in yee ; never as 7. g with broad vowels (a, 0, u), as in go; never as 7.
gh with slender vowels (e, i) is slender ch voiced.
_ gh with broad vowels (a, 0, u) is broad ch voiced.
-i (long), as in feel; i (short), as in iz.
mh and bh intervocalic with slender vowels, as v.
mh and bh intervocalic with broad vowels, as w.
6 (long), as in mote; o (short), as in done.
s with slender vowels (e, i), as in shine; never as 2.
$s with broad vowels (a, 0, u), as s, :
t with slender vowels (e, i), as in tin.
t with broad vowels (a, 0, u), as in threw.
th, like h.
x G@ (long), as in Pool; u (short), as in full.
The remaining consonants are span almost as in English.
| .
_Aed: to rime with Day the south-west of the County Aed Ernmas: the father of the Galway
Morrigan Aifé: one of the three women-
Ai: see Mag Ai valk . teachers of Cuchulain and
Aidne: a district comprising Ferdiad (pronounced Eefe)
_the barony of Kiltartan, in Ailé: north-east of Baile, on | | | 371
Ai (pronounced Ayeleel)
Auli Find Miltenga : one of the —
chief heroes of Ulster
Ailill macMailchlo: father of Sencha
Ainé : see Cnoc Aina
Airné : north-east of Assé
Alba : Scotland
Amargin Iarngiunnach: a lead- ing Ulster hero; father of Conall Cernach and brother of Iliach (pronounced Aver- gin)
Ane: a district in which is Knockaney in the County Limerick
Ardachad : Liccé
Ard Ciannachta : a place in the barony of Ferrard, in the County Louth
Ard Cuillenn : Moin Coltna
Ard Macha: Armagh
Assail: a place in Meath
Assé: north of Finnabair (Fen- nor), on Medb’s march out of Connacht into Ulster
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 may be for Ath Bercha, in East Ros- common, and on or near the Shannon
Ath Buide; the village of Ath- boy, 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 :
“Medb, a in Cnmoian 5
He Ath Darteisc: a ford themne
- Ath Feidli: a ford i in Ulster | .
north of Druim
in Ulster, east of
in Connacht, south-
Rowe. comme Ar
Ath Fene: see Ath Irmidi Ath Firdead : Ardee, a ford a a small town on the river Dee, in the County Louth a Ath Gabla ; afordonthe Boyne, — north of Knowth, in the BS County Meath (pronounced . Ah gowla) Ath Grenca: the same as Ath — Gabla | ih Ath Irmidi: the older name of © Ath Fene, south of Iraird Cuillinn 4 Ath Lethain: a ford on the Nith, in Conalle Murthemni Ath Luain: Athlone, on the Shannon, on the borders of __ Connacht and Meath ~~ 7 Ath Meislir: a ford in Sliab Fuait, in Ulster a Ath Moga: the present Bally- moe, on the river Suck, about ten milestothesouth- west of Cruachan, County Galway ‘Sa Ath Mor: the old name for Ath Luain oi a. Ath na Foraire: on the road between Emain and Loch Echtrann es Ath Slissen : Bellaslishen Bridge ; yo i, a ford on the Owenure River, _ near Elphin, in Connacht Ath Solomshet : a ford, probaly i in Ulster ; Ath Srethe : Murthemni e Ath Tamuin : a ford, somewhere in Ulster -s Ath Traged: at the extremity — of Tir Mor,in Murthemne ©
a ford in Conalle a
. ate Badb : the war-fury, or goddess
- ~ f
\ .
Belach Caille More:
Berpa :
Drea a es i in a Ulster
of war and carnage; 3 she was wont to appear in the form of a _ carrion-crow. Sometimes she is the sister
Ree of the Morrigan, and, as in
the Tain Bé Chalnge, is even identified with her (pro- nounced Bive)
Badbgna : now Slieve Bawne, a mountainous range, in the barony of Ballintubber, in the east of County Ros- common
Baile: north-east of Meide ind Eoin, on Medb’s march from Connacht into Ulster
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 Cu- chulain
Bedg: a river in Murthemne
Belat Aileain: probably be- tween Cualnge and Conalle Murthemni
north of Cnogba
Benna Bairche: see Bairche
the Barrow, a river in Leinster
Bercha : on or near the Shannon, near, Bellanagare, in East Roscommon
Berchna: probably for Bercha
‘Bir: “the name “7. bet savers: ; probably Moyola Water, a — river flowing into Lough
Neagh a river in Conalle Murthemni a rich Ulster noble and hospitaller | Boann : the River Boyne Bodb: the father of Badb Boirenn : Burren, in the County Clare Brané: probably a hill not far from Ardee, in the County Louth Breslech Mor : themne Brecc : a place in Ulster Brega : the eastern part of Meath Brenide: a river in Conalle Murthemni, near Strang- ford Lough Bricriu : son of Carbad, and the evil adviser of the Ulster- men 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
Blai:
a fort in Mur-
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 Mur- themni
Buas: the river Bush, in the County Antrim
Burach : a place in Ulster
- Rathconrath, Westmeath Carn macBuachalla, at Dun- severick, 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 dis- tance to the west of Slane Cathba : a druid of Conchobar’s court; according to some
accounts, the natural father |
of King Conchobar (pro- nounced Cahvah)
Celtchar: son of Uthechar, an Ulster warrior
Cenannas na rig: Kells, in the |
County Meath
Cenn Abrat: a range of hills on the borders of the Counties Cork and Limerick |
Cet macMagach: a Connacht warrior
Cinn Tire: a place in Ulster
Clann Dedad: one of the three watrior-clans of Erin: a sept occupying the territory around Castleisland, County Kerry
Clann Rudraige: the warriors of King Conchobar: one of the three heroic tribes 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 Stackallan Bridge, on the banks of the Boyne
Clidna: see sub Tonn
Clithar Bo Ulad: probably in
oe pably Con Fiachach, 3 in Koel a parish of Conry, barony of
: noise, on n the Shannan abou t nine miles below Athlone
Cnoc Aine: Knockany, a hill” and plain in the County Limerick
Cnogba : Knowth, on the Boyne, near Drogheda, a couple of _ miles east of Slane, in the © County Meath mae
Colbtha: the mouth of the i Boyne at Drogheda, orsome place near the Boyne ‘)
Collamair: between Gormans- town and Turvey, in the County Dublin
Coltain : south of Cruachan AY an
Conall: probably Tyrconnel, in the County Donegal |
Conall Cernach : one of the chief - warriors of Ulster: foster- brother of Cuchulain and next to him in point of prowess
Conalle Murthemni: a level plain in the County Louth, ~~ extending from the Cooley — Mountains, or Carlingford, . to the Boyne Be)
Conchobar: son of Cathba the Bae druid, and of Ness, and foster-sonofFachtnaFatach (variously pronounced Crii- a héor, Connahéor) .
Conlaech : son of Cuchulain isa Aifé Se
Corcumruad : the present bar- | ony of Corcomroe, in the County Clare |
Cormac Conlongas : nae Con-
- ligo Ys
1: a place in Ulster d: ordinarily Eng- vit Htied “Red Branch ” ; bet- ter, perhaps,
Ais aia at Emain
hy i) apa 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 Cuainge -Cruachan Ai: the ancient seat i _ and royal burial-place of the bi kings of Connacht, ten miles y north-east of the modern Rathcroghan, near Belana- gare, in the County Roscom- mon (pronounced Croohan) Cruinn: a river in Cualnge: probably the stream now called the Piedmont River, emptying into Dundalk Bay Cruthnech: the land of the Irish Picts; the northern part of the County Down 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 origin- ally extended to the County Down, and the name is now applied to the southern side of the Carlingford Moun- tains (pronounced Culn’ya)
Cuib :
“ Nobles’ ; Branch :” King Conchobar’s
Delt:
i the eee a and iat Déche e, and foster-son of Sual-— ee (pronounced Cuhtilin) on the road to Midlua- chair Cuilenn : the Cully Waters flow- ing southward from County _ Armagh into County Louth Cul Siblinne: now Kells in East Meath Cul Silinne: Kilcooley, a few miles to the south-east of Cruachan, in the County
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 Daré and king of South Munster
Cuscraid Menn Macha : Conchobar
son of
Dall Scena: a place north of Ailé
Dalraida: now ‘‘the Route,” a territory north of Slieve Mish, in the north of the County Antrim
Daré: chieftain of the cantred of Cualnge and owner of the Brown Bull of Cualnge
Dechtire: sister of King Con- chobar and mother of Cu- chulain
Delga : see Dun Delga
Delga Murthemni: Dundalk
Delinn: a place or river near
Kells between Duelt and
Selaig, on Medb’s march
from Cruachan into Ulster
a place north of Drong, on Medb’s march from Crua- chan into Ulster
a ‘Kill 2 Dichaem : ‘Murthemni_ | Domnann_— see Irrus Domnannf Drong: a river in the land ot 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 Liccé : north-east of Gort |
on Medb’s march into. Ul-
Slane, from Connacht ster
Druim, Salfinn: now Drumshal- lon, a townland in the County Louth, six miles north of Drogheda
Dub: the Blackwater, on the confines of Ulster and Con- nacht; or the confluence of the Rivers Boyne and Black- water at- Navan
Dubh Sithleann (or Sainglenn) : the name of one of Cuchu- lain’s two horses
Dubloch: a lake between Kil- cooley and Slieve Bawne, in the County Roscommon, on Medb’s march from Crua- chan into Ulster
Dubthach Doel Ulad: the UI- ster noble who shares with Bricriu the place as prime mover of evil among the Ulstermen (pronounced Dzf- fach)
Duelt: north or north-west of Delt, on Medb’s march from Cruachan into Ulster
Dun da Benn: Mount Sandle,
Fak ube | een me river in Conalle
in Mag Breg ay where the Ma t
_ the Boyne, abou above Drogheda Dun Sobairche : ‘Dunsever ck about three miles from t
Giants’ Causeway, in the
County Antrim .
Elg: an old name for Ireland
Ellme: 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 ; King Conchobar’s capital and the chief town
of Ulster (pronounced Evvin
Maha) Emer Foltchain : wife of Cuchu- lain (pronounced Evver) Enna Agnech : according to the
Annals of the Four Masters,
he was High King of 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 as mon-
arch of Ireland from 142 to j
I13I B.C. (pronounced Yuh-
ho)
Eocho Salbuide: King of Ulster and father of Cethern’ s wife, Inna ~
Eogan macDurthachta: a chief warrior of Ulster and Prince of Fernmag
Ere macFedilmithi: an Ulster hero, son of Fedlimid and grandson of Conchobar
Erna : asept of Munstermen who
x | Ptarbane one of the’!
‘ seats ” a ph os of Cashel, in less
“pele! Ether of Lug
_ Ethne: sister of Medb (pro- fe he “Bounced Ehnna)
Fachtna Fathach: king of Ul
, ster and later of all Ireland ; adoptive father of Concho- bar and husband of Ness, Conchobar’s mother
Fal (or Inisfail) : one of the bar- dic names for Ireland ; Medb is called “ of Fal,” as daugh- ter of the High King of Ire- land (pronounced Faw/)
Fan na Coba: a territory in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, in the County Down
Fedain Cualngi : Ulster
Fedlimid Nocruthach: daugh- ter 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 to Clonmel, in
a place in
} t
r
. ;*\ the southern part of the
County Tipperary Fené: the old tribal name of the Gaels ; the ‘‘ King of the
Fené’’ is ‘Conchobar, King ©
of Ulster Feorainn: a place near Ard- achad, on Medb’s march into Ulster
raids baat to death of the sons of Usnech by Conchobar. He became the chief director of the Tain un- der Medb é
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 a of Medb
Fian : the warrior-class
Fid Dub: a wood, north of Cul Silinne, on Medb’s march into
Ulster
Fid Mor: awood, north of Dun- dalk and between it and Sliab Fuait
Fingabair : probably in the Fews Mountains
Finnabair: daughter to Ailill and Medb (pronounced Fin-. nU-thr)
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 Moun- tains
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 her husband’s violent death she became the wife of Fergus, and accompanied him on the Tain
the Boyne near Slane
Fuil Iairn: the name of a ford
west of Ardee
Gabal: the Peis! a river in-
_ the King’s County
Gabar: a place near Donagh- more, perhaps to, the west of Lough Neagh in the County Tyrone
Galian: a name the Leinster- men bore. They were Ail- ill’s countrymen
Gainemain; a river in Conalle Murthemni
Garech: the name of the hill where the final battle of the Tain was fought, some dis- tance south-east of Athlone and near Mullingar, in West- meath
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 val- ley east of Bellurgan Station
Glenn Gatt: a valley in Ulster
Glennamain : in Murthemne
Glenn in Scail: a place in Dala- raide, East Ulster
Glenn na Samaisce: in Slieve Gullion, in the County Ar- magh
Glenn Tail: another name for Belat Aileain
Gleoir: the Glore, a river in Conalle Murthemni
Gluine Gabur : east of the Shan- non, in the County Longford
Gort Slane : : north of Slane and south-west of Druim Liccé.
‘Illann Ilarchless : an Ulster war-
Iraird Cuillinn: a height south
Loe’ " da <A : . i | Fodromma : a river flowing into sant:
‘Louth
Talla en : near ‘ liab Betha and Mag Dulas
Ibar macRiangabra : Concho- Bi! bar’s charioteer )
Id macRiangabra: Ferdiad’s charioteer, brother to Laeg
Ilgarech: a hill near Garech,
q.v. Tliach: grandfather to Conall Cernach
rior, 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 Down- patrick | Inis Clothrann: Inishcloghran in Loch Ree, County Long-. ford Ny Innbir Scene: themouth of Water- i ford Harbour near Tramore; ne or the mouth of Kenmare Bay, in the County Kerry Inneoin : the Dungolman, a river into which the Inny flows and which divides the bar- ony of Kilkenny West from Rathconrath, in the County ~ Westmeath
of Emain Macha, in Ulster Irrus Domnann: the barony of Erris, in County Mayo: the clan which bore this name and to which Ferdiad be- longed was one of the three
Teire : : in the territory of the
Ler: the Irish sea-god
‘Lia Mor:
Fir Roiss, in the south of
the County Antrim
Lethglas: Dun Lethglaisse, now Downpatrick, in Ulster
i és Lettre Luasce : between Cualnge
and Conalle
in Conalle Mur- themni
Liath Mache: ‘the Roan,’ one of Cuchulain’s two horses.
Lia Ualann: in Cualnge
Liné (or Mag Liné): 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 Gal- way
Loegaire Buadach: son to Con- nad Buide and husband of Fedlimid Nocruthach; one of the chief warriors of Ulster (pronounced Layeray)
Lothor: a place in Ulster
Luachair: probably Slieve Lou- gher, or the plain in which lay Temair Luachra, a fort somewhere near the town of Castleisland, in the County Kerry
Lug: the divine father of Cuchu- lain
Lugaid : father of Dubthach
Lugmud: Louth, in the County
of that name
ih iy “MacRoth : Medb’s chief mes-
Mag Cruimm:
Beare of “Aulin
senger
ir Mag : ‘a plain’ (pronounced moy) ) Mag Ai:
the great plain in the County Roscommon, ex- tending from Ballymore to. Elphin, and from Bellana- gare to Strokestown (pro- nounced Moy wee) : Mag Breg: the plain along and south of the lower Boyne, comprising the east of Coun- ty Meath and the north of County Dublin (pronounced Moy bray) south-east of Cruachan, in Connacht Mag Dea: a plain in Ulster Mag Dula: a plain though which the Do flows by Castledaw- son into Lough Neagh Mag Eola: a plain in Ulster Mag Inis: the plain comprising the baronies of Lecale and Upper Castlereagh, in the County Down Mag Liné: Moylinne, a plain .to the north-east of Lough Neagh, in the barony of Upper Antrim Mag Mucceda: a plain near Emain Macha Mag Trega: Moytra, 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 the County Kil- kenny Manannan : god Margine: a place in Cualnge Mas na Righna: Massareene, in the County Antrim Mata Murisc: mother of Aililk
in the
son of Ler, a fairy
PG iets rhyme wit Meide ind Eoin, and Meide in Tog: Midluachair: Slige Midluachra,
the name of the highroad east of Armagh, leading
north from Tara to Emain |
and into the north of Ire- land the legendary progenitor of
the Milesians (see Maic Miled)
Miliuc: a river in Conalle Mur- themni
Moduirn: see Sliab Moduirn
Moin Coltna: a bog between Slieve Bawne and the Shan- non }
Mil:
Moraltach : great grandfather of
Cuchulain Morann: a famous judge Morrigan: the war-goddess of the ancient Irish, “‘ mon- sivum in feminae figura” (pronounced More-reegan) Mossa: a territory, the southern
part of which must have
been in the barony of Elio- garty, 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 and Croagh Patrick, in the County Mayo
Murthemne: a great plain along the northern coast of the
‘ County Louth between the
river Boyne and the Cooley Mountains ; now belonging to Leinster, but, at the time of the Tain, to Ulster (pro- nounced Muiw-hév-ny)
_Nemain: the Badb Ness: mother of King Concho-
mail: places in or near the e Boyne, in the County Louth
in Meath Oenfer Aifé : Conlaech Oengus Turbech : according to the Annals of Ireland, he
reigned as High King from ©
384 to 326 B.c. Ord: south-east of Cruachan and north of Tiarthechta
Partraige beca: Partry in Sle-
chta south-west of Kells, iB: 1
Meath Port Largé : Waterford Rath Airthir: a place in Con- nacht
Rath Cruachan: Rathcroghan,
between Belanagare and El- ‘
phin, in the County Ros- common Rede Loche: a place in Cualnge Renna : the mouth of the Boyne Riangabair : father of the chari- oteers, Laeg and Id Rigdonn : a place in the north Rinn : themni Rogne rivers Suir and Barrow, in
the barony of Kells, 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 : themni
anpther name for ui
a river in Conalle Mur- —
: a territory between the __
a river in Conalle Mur-
island) ebay fastest
elle Tia : east of Carrickfergus, in the eC. County Antrhe +~ ma, Senbothae :
Templeshanbo, at ee the foot of Mount Leinster, in the County Wexford
Dh Sumit teackiiclia | °° the wise Ke counsellor and judge of the
- -‘Ulstermen
: Sered : a plain in the north of the barony of Tirhugh,
County Donegal ©
Setanta: the real name of Cu- chulain
Sid: the terrene gods (pro- nounced She)
Sil: in Lecale, in the County |
Down
Sinann : the river Shannon
Siuir: the Suir, a river in Mun- ster, forming the northern boundary of the County 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 of Mullingar, in West- meath
Sliab Betha: Slieve Beagh, a mountain whereon the Coun- ties of Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Monaghan meet
Sliab Culinn: Slieve Gullion, in the County Armagh
Sliab Fuait: the Fews Moun-
_ tains, near Newtown-Ham-
, Modwin the. Mowe
Range, in the County Mon- -aghan, partly in Cavan ang ~ partly in Meath
Sruthair Finnlethe : a river eis of Athlone .
Sualtaim (or, Sualtach) Sidech : the human father of Cuchu- lain
Suide Lagen: Mount Leinster, in the County Wexford
Tadg: a river in Conalle Mur-
— themni
Taidle: near Cuib
Taltiu : Teltown, in the County Meath, on or near the Black- water, between Navan and Kells; one of the chief places of assembly and bur- ial of the Ulstermen
Taul Tairb: in Cualnge
Telamet: a river in Conalle Murthemni
Temair: Tara, the seat of the High King of Ireland, near Navan, in the County Meath (pronounced Tavvir)
Tethba descirt: South Teffia, a territory about and south of the river Inny, 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
land in the parish of
Ogulla, . near Tulsk, south of Crua-
chan Ai, County Roscom- mon Tuatha Bressi: a name for the people of Connacht Tuatha De Danann : “ the Tribes
Printed by Butter & TANNER, Frome and London -
Tuaim Mona : sag pe
os) Ciao father of Noisi, Annie Bien!
and Ardan Lee Uthechar : father of Celtchar aad we of Menn pe
‘
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