{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/cool/cool17d.htm","path":"neu/cool/cool17d.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/cool/cool17d.htm","text":"17d. Dubthach's Jealousy\nThen it was that jealousy, ill-will and envy possessed Dubthach Doel ('the Black-tongue') of Ulster because of his wife in regard to Cuchulain; and he counselled the hosts to act treacherously towards Cuchulain and to entrap him, even to lay up an ambush around him on all sides to the end that he might fall by them. And he spake these words:\n\"If this be the Twisted one,\nBy him shall men's bodies fall\nShrieks there shall be round the liss;\nDeeds to tell of shall be wrought!\n\"Stones shall be on graves from him;\nKingly martyrs shall increase.\nNot well have ye battle found\nOn the slopes with this wild Hound!\n\"Now the Wildman's form I see,\nNine o heads dangling by his side;\nShattered spoils he has, behold;\nTen heads as his treasure great!\n\"And your women, too, I see,\nRaise their heads above the lines\nI behold your puissant queen\nMakes no move t'engage in fight!\n\"Were it mine to give advice,\nMen would be on every side,\nThat they soon might end his life\nIf this be the Twisted one!\"\nFergus macRoig heard this and he deemed it an outrage that Dubthach should counsel how to betray Cuchulain to the hosts. And he reached him a strong, sharp kick with his foot away from him, so that Dubthach struck with his mouth against the group outside. And Fergus reproached him for all the wrongs and iniquities and treachery and shameful deeds he had ever done to the Ulstermen of old and anew. And then he spake these words:\n\"If this 'Black-tongue' Dubthach be,\nLet him skulk behind the hosts\nNo good hath he ever wrought\nSince he slew the princesses!\n\"Base and foul, the deed he wrought:\nFiachu, Conchobar's son, he slow.\nNo more fair was heard of him:\nCarbr\u00e8's death, Fedilmid's son!\n\"Ne'er for Ulster's weal doth aim\nLugaid's son, Casruba's scion\nSuch is how he acts to men:\nWhom he stabs not he incites!\n\"Ulster's exiles it would grieve\nIf their beardless boy should fall.\nIf on you come Ulster's troops\nThey will make your herds their spoil!\n\"Strown afar your herds will be\nBy the rising Ulstermen.\nTales there'll be of mighty deeds\nThat will tell of far-famed queens!\n\"Corpses will be under foot\nFood there'll be at ravens rests;\nBucklers lying on the slopes;\nWild and furious deeds increase!\n\"I behold just now your wives\nRaise their heads above the ranks.\nI behold your puissant queen\nMoves not to engage in war!\n\"Valour none nor generous deed\nComes from Lugaid's craven son\nNor will kings see lances red,\nIf this 'Blacktongue' Dubthach be!\"\nThus far 'The Scythed Chariot.'","title":"17d. Dubthach's Jealousy","type":"page"}