{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_16464/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_16464","id":"gutenberg_16464","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16464","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Historical Novels","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Mythology, Celtic -- Ireland"],"text":"Produced by Ted Garvin, Brendan O'Connor and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                        THE ANCIENT IRISH EPIC TALE\n\n                              TAIN BO CUALNGE\n\n                         \"THE CUALNGE CATTLE-RAID\"\n\n\n              Now for the first time done entire into English\n                 out of the Irish of the Book of Leinster\n                          and Allied Manuscripts\n\n                                    By\n\n                                JOSEPH DUNN\n                   Professor at the Catholic University\n                                Washington\n\n              WITH TWO PAGES IN FACSIMILE OF THE MANUSCRIPTS\n\n [Illustration: \"Daig concechlabat fin hErend & Alban inn ainm sin, & bat\n             lana beoil fer n-hErend & Alban din anmun sin.\"]\n                        Book of Leinster, fo. 64a.\n\n               \"For the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that\n            name (Cuchulain) and the mouths of the men of Erin\n                   and Alba shall be full of that name.\"\n\n\n                                  LONDON\n                                DAVID NUTT\n                  17 GRAPE STREET, NEW OXFORD STREET, W.C\n                                   1914\n\n\n                             To the Memory of\n\n                                 MY MOTHER\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Illustration: FACSIMILE, PAGE 55--_from the Book of Leinster_.]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n         Preface, xi.\n     I   The Pillow-talk, 1.\n    II   The Occasion of the Tain, 5.\n   III   The Rising-out of the Men of Connacht at Cruachan Ai, 10.\n    IV   The Foretelling, 13.\n     V   The Route of the Tain, 19.\n    VI   The March of the Host, 21.\n   VII   The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain, 46.\n   VIIa  The Slaying of the Smith's Hound by Cuchulain, 54.\n   VIIb  The Taking of Arms by Cuchulain and\n         The Slaying of the Three Sons of Necht Scene, 60.\n   VIIc  A Separate Version as far as the Slaying Of Orlam, 80.\n  VIII   The Slaying of Orlam, 82.\n  VIIIa  The Slaying of the Three MacArach, 85.\n  VIIIb  The Combat of Lethan and Cuchulain, 86.\n  VIIIc  The Killing of the Squirrel and of the Tame Bird, 88.\n  VIIId  The Slaying of Loche, 93.\n  VIIIe  The Killing of Uala, 95.\n  VIIIf  The Harrying of Cualnge, 99.\n    IX   The Proposals, 104.\n     X   The Violent Death of Etarcumul, 115.\n    XI   The Slaying of Nathcrantail, 126.\n   XII   The Finding of the Bull, 132.\n   XIIa  The Death of Forgemen, 136.\n   XIIb  The Slaying of Redg the Lampoonist, 137.\n   XIIc  The Meeting of Cuchulain and Finnabair, 139.\n   XIId  The Combat of Munremar and Curoi, 141.\n   XIIe  The Slaughter of the Boy-troop, 143.\n   XIIf  The Slaughter of the King's Bodyguard, 145.\n  XIII   The Combat of Cur with Cuchulain, 146.\n   XIV   The Slaying of Ferbaeth, 150.\n   XIVa  The Combat of Larine MacNois, 155.\n   XIVb  The Colloquy of the Morrigan and Cuchulain, 161.\n    XV   The Combat of Loch and Cuchulain, and\n         The Slaying of Loch son of Mofemis, 163.\n   XVI   The Violation of the Agreement, 175.\n   XVIa  The Healing of the Morrigan, 177.\n  XVII   The Great Rout on the Plain of Murthemne, 180.\n  XVIIa  The Slaughter of the Youths of Ulster, 184.\n  XVIIb  The Scythed Chariot, 187.\n  XVIIc  The Appearance of Cuchulain, 195.\n  XVIId  Dubthach's Jealousy, 198.\n XVIII   The Slaying of Oengus son of Oenlam, 201.\n XVIIIa  The Misthrow at Belach Eoin, 202.\n XVIIIb  The Disguising of Tamon, 204.\n   XIX   The Battle of Fergus and Cuchulain, 205.\n   XIXa  The Head-place of Ferchu, 209.\n   XIXb  Mann's Fight, 211.\n   XIXc  The Combat of Calatin's Children, 213.\n    XX   The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain, 217.\n   XXI   Cuchulain and the Rivers, 268.\n  XXII   Cethern's Strait-fight, 269.\n  XXIIa  Cethern's Bloody Wounds, 273.\n XXIII   The Tooth-fight of Fintan, 283.\n XXIIIa  The Red-Shame of Menn, 285.\n XXIIIb  The Accoutrement of the Charioteers, 287.\n XXIIIc  The White-fight of Rochad, 288.\n XXIIId  Iliach's Clump-fight, 292.\n XXIIIe  The Deer-stalking of Amargin in Taltiu, 295.\n XXIIIf  The Adventures of Curoi son of Dare, 296.\n  XXIV   The Repeated Warning of Sualtaim, 298.\n  XXIVa  The Agitation of Celtchar, 306.\n   XXV   The Array of the Host, 309.\n  XXVI   The Decision of the Battle, 345.\n XXVII   The Battle of Garech, 348.\n XXVIIa  The Muster of the Men of Erin, 351.\nXXVIII   The Battle of the Bulls, 363.\n  XXIX   The Account of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, 366.\n         Index of Place and Personal Names, 371.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Illustration: FACSIMILE PAGE 55--_from Leabhar na h-Uidhri_.]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE\n\n\nThe Gaelic Literature of Ireland is vast in extent and rich in quality. The\ninedited manuscript materials, if published, would occupy several hundred\nlarge volumes. Of this mass only a small portion has as yet been explored\nby scholars. Nevertheless three saga-cycles stand out from the rest,\ndistinguished for their compass, age and literary worth, those, namely, of\nthe gods, of the demigod Cuchulain, and of Finn son of Cumhall. The\nCuchulain cycle, also called the Ulster cycle--from the home of its hero in\nthe North of Ireland--forms the core of this great mass of epic material.\nIt is also known as the cycle of Conchobar, the king round whom the Ulster\nwarriors mustered, and, finally, it has been called the Red Branch Cycle\nfrom the name of the banqueting hall at Emain Macha in Ulster.\n\nOnly a few of the hundred or more tales which once belonged to this cycle\nhave survived. There are some dozen in particular, technically known as\n_Remscela_ or \"Foretales,\" because they lead up to and explain the great\nTain, the Tain Bo Cualnge, \"The Cualnge Cattle-raid,\" the Iliad of Ireland,\nas it has been called, the queen of Irish epic tales, and the wildest and\nmost fascinating saga-tale, not only of the entire Celtic world, but even\nof all western Europe.\n\nThe mediaeval Irish scholars catalogued their native literature under\nseveral heads, probably as an aid to the memory of the professional poets\nor story-tellers whose stock-in-trade it was, and to one of these divisions\nthey gave the name _Tainte_, plural of _Tain_. By this term, which is most\noften followed by the genitive plural _bo_, \"cows,\" they meant \"a driving,\"\nor \"a reaving,\" or even \"a drove\" or \"herd\" of cattle. It is only by\nextension of meaning that this title is applied to the Tain Bo Cualnge, the\nmost famous representative of the class, for it is not, strictly speaking,\nwith the driving of cattle that it deals but with that of the Brown Bull of\nCualnge. But, since to carry off the bull implies the carrying off of the\nherd of which he was the head, and as the \"Brown\" is always represented as\naccompanied by his fifty heifers, there were sufficient grounds for putting\nthe Brown Bull Quest in the class of Cow-spoils.\n\nThe prominence accorded to this class of stories in the early literature of\nIreland is not to be wondered at when the economic situation of the country\nand the stage of civilization of which they are the faithful mirror is\nborne in mind.[1] Since all wars are waged for gain, and since among the\nIrish, who are still very much a nation of cattle raisers, cattle was the\nchief article of wealth and measure of value,[2] so marauding expeditions\nfrom one district into another for cattle must have been of frequent\noccurrence, just as among the North American Indians tribal wars used to be\nwaged for the acquisition of horses. That this had been a common practice\namong their kinsmen on the Continent also we learn from Caesar's account of\nthe Germans (and Celts?) who, he says, practised warfare not only for a\nmeans of subsistence but also for exercising their warriors. How long-lived\nthe custom has been amongst the Gaelic Celts, as an occupation or as a\npastime, is evident not only from the plundering incursions or \"creaghs\"[3]\nas they are called in the Highlands and described by Scott in _Waverley_\nand _The Fair Maid of Perth_, but also from the \"cattle-drives\" which have\nbeen resorted to in our own day in Ireland, though these latter had a\ndifferent motive than plunder. As has been observed by Sir Henry Sumner\nMaine, Lord Macaulay was mistaken in ascribing this custom to \"some native\nvice of Irish character,\" for, as every student of ancient Ireland may\nperceive, it is rather to be regarded as \"a survival, an ancient and\ninveterate habit\" of the race.\n\nOne of these many Cattle-preys was the Tain Bo Cualnge,[4] which, there can\nbe little doubt, had behind it no mere myth but some kernel of actual\nfact. Its historical basis is that a Connacht chieftain and his lady went\nto war with Ulster about a drove of cattle. The importance of a racial\nstruggle between the north-east province and the remaining four grand\nprovinces of Ireland cannot be ascribed to it. There is, it is true, strong\nevidence to show that two chief centres, political, if not cultural and\nnational, existed at the time of the Tain in Ireland, Cruachan Ai, near the\npresent Rathcroghan in Connacht, and Emain Macha, the Navan Fort, two miles\nwest of Armagh in Ulster, and it is with the friendly or hostile relations\nof these two that the Ultonian cycle of tales deals. Ulster, or, more\nprecisely, the eastern portion of the Province, was the scene of all the\nCattle-raids, and there is a degree of truth in the couplet,--\n\n    \"Leinster for breeding, And Ulster for reaving;\n    Munster for reading, And Connacht for thieving.\"\n\nBut there are no indications of a racial clash or war of tribes. With the\nexception of the Oghamic writings inscribed on the pillar-stones by\nCuchulain, which seem to require interpretation to the men of Connacht by\nUlstermen, the description of the warriors mustered by the Connacht warrior\nqueen and those gathered round King Conchobar of Ulster accord quite\nclosely.\n\nThe Tain Bo Cualnge is the work not of any one man but of a corporation of\nartists known as _filid_. The author of the Tain in its present state,\nwhoever he may have been, was a strong partisan of Ulster and never misses\nan opportunity of flattering the pride of her chieftains. Later a kind of\nreaction against the pre-eminence given to Ulster and the glorification of\nits hero sets in, and a group of stories arises in which the war takes a\ndifferent end and Cuchulain is shown to disadvantage, finally to fall at\nthe hands of a Munster champion. It is to this southern province that the\nsaga-cycle which followed the Cuchulain at an interval of two hundred years\nbelongs, namely, the Fenian saga,--the saga of Finn son of Cumhall, which\nstill flourishes among the Gaelic speakers of Ireland and Scotland, while\nthe Cuchulain stories have almost died out among them. The mingling of the\ntwo sagas is the work of the eighteenth-century Scots Lowlander, James\nMacpherson.\n\nThe Tain Bo Cualnge is one of the most precious monuments of the world's\nliterature, both because of the poetic worth it evidences at an early stage\nof civilization, and for the light it throws on the life of the people\namong whom it originated and that of their ancestors centuries earlier. It\nis not less valuable and curious because it shows us the earlier stages of\nan epic--an epic in the making--which it does better perhaps than any other\nwork in literature. Ireland had at hand all the materials for a great\nnational epic, a wealth of saga-material replete with interesting episodes,\npicturesque and dramatic incidents and strongly defined personages, yet she\nnever found her Homer, a gifted poet to embrace her entire literary wealth,\nto piece the disjointed fragments together, smooth the asperities and hand\ndown to posterity the finished epic of the Celtic world, superior, perhaps,\nto the Iliad or the Odyssey. What has come down to us is \"a sort of\npatchwork epic,\" as Prescott called the Ballads of the Cid, a popular\nepopee in all its native roughness, wild phantasy and extravagance of deed\nand description as it developed during successive generations. It resembles\nthe frame of some huge ship left unfinished by the builders on the beach\nand covered with shells and drift from the sea of Celtic tradition. From\nthe historical standpoint, however, and as a picture of the old barbaric\nCeltic culture, and as a pure expression of elemental passion, it is of\nmore importance to have the genuine tradition as it developed amongst the\npeople, unvarnished by poetic art and uninfluenced by the example of older\nand alien societies.\n\nAccording to the Chronicles of Ireland, as formulated in the Annals of\nTigernach,[5] who died in 1088, King Conchobar of Ulster began to reign in\nthe year 30 B.C., and he is said to have died of grief at the news that\nChrist had been crucified. His reign therefore lasted about sixty\nyears. Cuchulain died in the year 39 A.D. in the twenty-seventh year of\nhis age, as we learn from the following entry: \"The death of Cuchulain, the\nbravest hero of the Irish, by Lugaid son of Three Hounds, king of Munster,\nand by Erc, king of Tara, son of Carbre Niafer, and by the three sons of\nCalatin of Connacht. Seven years was his age when he assumed arms,\nseventeen was his age when he followed the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge,\nbut twenty-seven years was his age when he died.\"[6]\n\nA very different account is given in the manuscript known as H. 3. 17,\nTrinity College, Dublin, quoted by O'Curry in his _Manuscript Materials_,\npage 508. The passage concludes with the statement: \"So that the year of\nthe Tain was the fifty-ninth year of Cuchulain's age, from the night of his\nbirth to the night of his death.\" The record first quoted, however, is\npartly corroborated by the following passage which I translate from the\nBook of Ballymote, facsimile edition, page 13, col. a, lines 9-21: \"In the\nfourteenth year of the reign of Conaire (killed in 40 B.C.) and of\nConchobar, the Blessed Virgin was born. At that time Cuchulain had\ncompleted thirteen years; and in the fourth year after the birth of Mary,\nthe expedition of the Kine of Cualnge took place ... that is, in the\neighteenth year of the reign of Conaire. Cuchulain had completed his\nseventeenth year at that time. That is, it was in the thirty-second year of\nthe reign of Octavius Augustus that the same expedition took place. Eight\nyears after the Tain Bo Cualnge, Christ was born, and Mary had completed\ntwelve years then, and that was in the fortieth year of the reign of\nOctavius Augustus; and in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Conaire and\nConchobar, and in the second year after the birth of Christ, Cuchulain\ndied. And twenty-seven years was Cuchulain's age at that time.\"\n\nThese apparent synchronisms, of course, may only rest upon the imagination\nof the Christian annalists of Ireland, who hoped to exalt their ancient\nrulers and heroes by bringing them into relation with and even making them\nparticipate in the events of the life of the Saviour. But in placing the\ndate of the expedition of the Tain at about the beginning of the Christian\nera, Irish tradition is undoubtedly correct, as appears from the character\nof the civilization depicted in the Ulster tales, which corresponds in a\nremarkable degree with what authors of antiquity have recorded of the Celts\nand with the character of the age which archaeologists call \"la Tene,\" or\n\"Late Celtic,\" which terminates at the beginning of the first century of\nour era. Oral tradition was perhaps occupied for five hundred years working\nover and developing the story of the Tain, and by the close of the fifth\ncentury the saga to which it belonged was substantially the one we have\nnow. The text of the tale must have been completed by the first half of the\nseventh century, and, as we shall see, its oldest extant version, the Book\nof the Dun, dates from about the year 1100.\n\nBut, whatever may be the precise dates of these events, which we are not in\na position to determine more accurately, the composition of the Tain\nBo Cualnge antedates by a considerable margin the epic tales of the\nAnglo-Saxons, the Scandinavians, the Franks and the Germans. It is the\noldest epic tale of western Europe, and it and the cycle of tales to which\nit belongs form \"the oldest existing literature of any of the peoples to\nthe north of the Alps.\"[7] The deeds it recounts belong to the heroic age\nof Ireland three hundred years before the introduction of Christianity into\nthe island, and its spirit never ceased to remain markedly pagan. The\nmythology that permeates it is one of the most primitive manifestations of\nthe personification of the natural forces which the Celts worshipped. Its\nhistorical background, social organization, chivalry, mood and thought and\nits heroic ideal are to a large extent, and with perhaps some pre-Aryan\nsurvivals, not only those of the insular Celts of two thousand years ago,\nbut also of the important and wide-spread Celtic race with whom Caesar\nfought and who in an earlier period had sacked Rome and made themselves\nfeared even in Greece and Asia Minor.\n\nThe following is the Argument of the Tain Bo Cualnge, which, for the sake\nof convenience, is here divided into sections:\n\n\nI. The Prologue\n\nOne night at the palace of Cruachan in Connacht, a dispute arose between\nQueen Medb, the sometime wife of Conchobar, king of Ulster, and her consort\nAilill, as to the amount of their respective possessions. It may be\nremarked in passing that in those days in Ireland, married women retained\ntheir private fortune independent of their husbands, as well as the dowry\nsecured to them in marriage. To procure the evidence of their wealth, the\nroyal pair sent messengers to assemble all their chattels which, on\ncomparison, were found to be equal, excepting only that among Ailill's kine\nwas a lordly bull called Finnbennach, \"the Whitehorned,\" whose match was\nnot to be found in the herds of the queen.\n\n\nII. The Embassage to Dare and the Occasion of the Tain\n\nAs we might expect, Medb was chagrined at the discovery. Now her herald\nmacRoth had told her that Dare macFiachna, a landowner of Cualnge, a\ndistrict in the territory of her former husband, possessed an even more\nwonderful bull than Ailill's, called Donn Cualnge, \"the Brown Bull of\nCualnge.\" So she despatched macRoth to Dare to pray for the loan of the\nbull.\n\nDare received the queen's messengers hospitably and readily granted her\nrequest, but in the course of the entertainment, one of the messengers,\ndeep in his cups, spoke against Dare, and he, hearing this, withdrew his\npromise and swore that he would never hand over the Brown Bull of Cualnge.\n\n\nIII. The Gathering of Medb's Forces\n\nThe impetuous queen, enraged at the failure of her mission, immediately\nmustered a formidable army, composed not only of her Connachtmen but also\nof allies from all parts of Ireland, wherewith to undertake the invasion of\nUlster. On her side were the Ulster chieftains who had gone into exile into\nConnacht after the treacherous slaughter of the sons of Usnech by King\nConchobar of Ulster. Chief among them was Fergus, who, moreover, had a\npersonal grievance against Conchobar. For, while Fergus was king of Ulster,\nhe had courted the widow Ness and, in order to win her, promised to\nabdicate for the term of one year in favour of her son Conchobar. But when\nthe term had elapsed, the youth refused to relinquish the throne, and\nFergus in anger entered the service of Medb of Connacht. There he was\nloaded with favours, became the counsellor of the realm and, as appears\nfrom more than one allusion in the tale, the more than friend of the wife\nof King Ailill.\n\nThe four leagued provinces of Ireland being gathered at Cruachan, the\nguidance of the host was entrusted to Fergus, because he was acquainted\nwith the province of Ulster through which they were to march, and at\nthe beginning of winter--a point emphasized by the exponents of the\nsun-theory--the mighty host, including in its ranks the king and queen and\nsome of the greatest warriors of Ireland, with the princess Finnabair as a\nlure, set forth on the raid into Ulster.\n\nThey crossed the Shannon near Athlone and, marching through the province of\nMeath, arrived at the borders of Cualnge. Fortunately for the invaders, the\nexpedition took place while the Ulstermen lay prostrate in their _cess_, or\n\"Pains,\" a mysterious state of debility or torpor which was inflicted on\nthem periodically in consequence of an ancient curse laid upon Conchobar\nand the warriors of Ulster as a punishment for a wrong done to the goddess\nMacha. This strange malady, resembling the _couvade_ among certain savage\nnations, ordinarily lasted five days and four nights, but on this occasion\nthe Ulstermen were prostrate from the beginning of November till the\nbeginning of February. During all that time the burden of defending the\nprovince fell on the shoulders of the youthful champion Cuchulain, who had\nin his particular charge the plain of Murthemne, the nearest district to\nCualnge, the goal of the expedition. For Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim\nwere alone exempt from the curse and the \"Pains\" which had befallen the\nremainder of the champions of Ulster.\n\n\nIV. The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain\n\nThe Connacht host had not proceeded far when they came upon evidence of\nsome mighty force that opposed them. In answer to the inquiries of Ailill\nand Medb, Fergus explains that it is Cuchulain who disputes their further\nadvance, and, as evidence of the superhuman strength and prowess of the\nUlster youth, then in the seventeenth year of his age, the Ulster exiles\nrecount the mighty deeds he had performed in his boyhood, chief among which\nis the tale according to which, as eric for the killing of the hound of\nCulann the Smith, the boy-hero Setanta assumed the station and the name\nwhich ever after clung to him of Cuchulain, \"the Hound of Culann.\"\n\n\nV. The Single Combats of Cuchulain\n\nCuchulain agrees to allow the Connacht host to continue their march on\ncondition that every day they send one of their champions to meet him in\nsingle combat. When he shall have killed his opponent, the host shall halt\nand pitch camp until the following morning. Medb agrees to abide by these\nterms. In each of the contests which ensue, the heroic youth is victorious\nand slays many of the most celebrated warriors on the side of Connacht.\nThe severest of all these single combats was the one in which he had as\nopponent his former friend and foster-brother Ferdiad. At the end of a\nfour days' battle, in which both adversaries exhibited astounding deeds of\nvalour, Ferdiad fell by the hands of Cuchulain.\n\nImpatient at these delays, Medb broke the sacred laws of ancient Irish\nchivalry and led her army into Ulster, overrunning the province, pillaging\nand burning as she went, even up to the walls of Emain Macha, the residence\nof Conchobar, and finally took possession of the Brown Bull of Cualnge.\n\n\nVI. The Gathering of the Ulstermen and the Final Battle of the Tain\n\nBy this time King Conchobar and his warriors have come out of their\ndebility and summoned their forces to an eminence in Slane of Meath. The\ngreat gathering of the Ulstermen is reported to Medb by her trusty herald\nmacRoth, and from his description of the leaders and their troops, their\nexiled countryman Fergus designates them to the nobles of Connacht. In the\nfinal battle Medb's army is repulsed and retreats in flight into Connacht.\nThus each host has had its share of the fortunes of war: Medb has laid\nwaste the lands of her divorced husband and carried off the Brown Bull of\nCualnge, the prize of war, while on the other hand, Conchobar has won the\nvictory in the great battle of Garech and Ilgarech.\n\n\nVII. The End of the two Bulls\n\nOn the way back to Connacht, the Brown Bull of Cualnge emitted such\nterrible bellowings that they reached the ears of the Whitehorned remaining\nat home in his stall in Cruachan, whence he rushed at full speed to attack\nthe other. A furious battle took place between the bulls, but the Brown was\nthe stronger, and raising his rival on his horns he shook the Whitehorned\ninto fragments over all Ireland. He then returned in fury to Ulster, and in\nhis wild rage dashed his head against a rock and was killed.\n\n\nThe Tain Bo Cualnge has been preserved, more or less complete, in a score\nof manuscripts ranging in date from the beginning of the twelfth to the\nmiddle of the nineteenth century. There probably existed other manuscripts\ncontaining not only the Tain as we have it but even episodes now wanting in\nit. All of the extant manuscripts go back to versions which date from the\nseventh century or earlier. No manuscript of the Tain is wholly in the\nlanguage of the time when it was copied, but, under the cloak of the\ncontemporaneous orthography, contains forms and words so obsolete that they\nwere not understood by the copyist, so that glossaries had to be compiled\nto explain them.\n\nIt is by a singular good fortune that this, the greatest of all the epic\ntales of the Irish, has been handed down to our day in the two most ancient\nand, for that reason, most precious of the great Middle Irish collections\nof miscellaneous contents known as the _Leabhar na hUidhre_, \"the Book of\nThe Dun (Cow),\" and the Book of Leinster. The former and older of these\nvellum manuscripts (abbreviated LU.) is kept in the Library of the Royal\nIrish Academy at Dublin. It must have been written about the beginning of\nthe twelfth century, for its compiler and writer, Moelmuire macCeilechair\n(Kelleher), is known to have been slain at Clonmacnois in the year 1106;\nsome of its linguistic forms, however, are as old as the eighth century\nglosses. Unfortunately, LU.'s account of the Tain is incomplete at the\nbeginning and the end, but the latter portion is made good by the closely\nrelated, though independent, version contained in the manuscript known as\nthe Yellow Book of Lecan (abbreviated YBL.). This manuscript was written\nabout the year 1391 and it is also kept in Dublin in the Library of Trinity\nCollege. To the same group as LU. and YBL., which for the sake of\nconvenience we may call version A, belong also the British Museum MSS.,\nEgerton 1782, a large fragment, and Egerton 114, both dating from the\nfifteenth or sixteenth century.\n\nVersion B comprises the closely related accounts of the Tain as contained\nin the Book of Leinster (abbreviated LL.) and the following MSS.: Stowe\n984 (Royal Irish Academy), written in the year 1633 and giving, except for\nthe loss of a leaf, a complete story of the Tain; H. 1. 13 (Trinity\nCollege, Dublin), written in the year 1745 and giving the Tain entire;\nAdditional 18748 (abbreviated Add.), British Museum, copied in the year\n1800 from a 1730 original; Egerton 209 and Egerton 106 (British Museum),\nboth fragments and dating from the eighteenth century. Fragments of a\nmodern version are also found in MS. LIX, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.\n\nTo version C belong only fragments: H. 2. 17 (Trinity College, Dublin),\ndating from the end of the fourteenth or the beginning of the fifteenth\ncentury; the almost identical Egerton 93 (British Museum), consisting of\nonly ten leaves and dating from nearly a century later, and H. 2. 12\n(Trinity College, Dublin), consisting of only two pages.[8]\n\n\nThe manuscripts belonging to each of these versions, A, B, and C, have\nsufficient traits in common to place them in a group by themselves. The\nquestion of the relationship of these manuscripts to one another and of the\ncharacter of the suppositional archetype from which they are all descended\nis a most intricate one and one which has given rise to considerable\ndiscussion. The question still awaits a definite answer, which may never be\nforthcoming, because of the disappearance not only of the first draft of\nthe Tain, but also of that of some of its later redactions. We must not\noverlook the possibility, either, of an otherwise faithful copyist having\ninserted in the text before him a passage, or even an entire episode, of\nhis own fabrication. This, no doubt, happened not infrequently, especially\nin the earlier period of the copying of Irish manuscripts, and a single\ninsertion of this kind, or the omission, intentionally or by oversight, of\na part of the original from the copy might, it will easily be seen, lead\none to conclude that there once existed a form of the story which as a\nmatter of fact never existed.\n\nThe version of the Tain which I have chosen as the basis for my translation\nis the one found in the Book of Leinster (_Leabhar Laighneach_), a\nvoluminous vellum manuscript sometime called the Book of Glendalough and\nnow kept in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, catalogue number\nH. 2. 18. Only a part of the original book remains. It dates from about the\nyear 1150. This date is established by two entries in the manuscript\nitself: \"Aed son of Crimthann (Hugh macGriffin) hath written this book and\nout of many books hath he compiled it\" (facsimile, at the bottom of page\n313). Who this Aed was will be clear from the other entry. It appears that\nhe had lent the manuscript while still unfinished to Finn macGorman, who\nwas Bishop of Kildare from 1148 and died in the year 1160, and who on\nreturning the book wrote in it the following laudatory note in Irish to\nAed: \"(Life) and health from Finn, the Bishop of Kildare, to Aed son of\nCrimthann, tutor of the chief king (i.e. of King Dermod macMurrogh, the\ninfamous prince who half a century later invited Strongbow and the Normans\nto come over from Wales to Ireland) of Mug Nuadat's Half (i.e. of Leinster\nand Munster), and successor of Colum son of Crimthann (this Colum was abbot\nof Tir da ghlass the modern Terryglas on the shore of Lough Derg, in the\nCounty Tipperary--and died in the year 548), and chief historian of\nLeinster in respect of wisdom and intelligence, and cultivation of books,\nscience and learning. And let the conclusion of this little tale (i.e. the\nstory of Ailill Aulom son of Mug Nuadat, the beginning of which was\ncontained in the book which Finn returns) be written for me accurately by\nthee, O cunning Aed, thou man of the sparkling intellect. May it be long\nbefore we are without thee. My desire is that thou shouldst always be with\nus. And let macLonan's Songbook be given to me, that I may understand the\nsense of the poems that are in it. _Et vale in Christo._\"[9]\n\nIt would seem from another note in the manuscript[10] that the Book of\nLeinster afterwards belonged to some admirer of King Dermod, for he wrote:\n\"O Mary! Great was the deed that was done in Ireland this day, the kalends\nof August (1166)--Dermod, son of Donnoch macMurrogh, King of Leinster and\nof the (Dublin) Danes to be banished by the men of Ireland over the sea\neastwards. Woe, woe is me, O Lord, what shall I do!\"[11]\n\nMy reason for founding the translation on the LL. version, in spite of the\nfact that its composition is posterior by half a century to that of LU.,\nwas not merely out of respect for the injunction of the scribe of the _ne\nvarietur_ and to merit his blessing (page 369), but also because LL.'s is\nthe oldest _complete_ version of the Tain extant. Though as a rule (and as\nis easily discernible from a comparison of LU. and LL.), the shorter,\nterser and cruder the form of a tale is, the more primitive it is, yet it\nis not always the oldest preserved form of a work that represents the\nmost ancient form of the story. Indeed, it is not at all improbable\nthat LL. contains elements which represent a tradition antedating the\ncomposition of LU. At all events, LL. has these strong points in its\nfavour, that, of all the versions, it is the most uniform and consistent,\nthe most artistically arranged, the one with most colour and imagination,\nand the one which lends itself most readily to translation, both in itself\nand because of the convenient Irish text provided by Professor Windisch's\nedition. In order to present the Tain in its completest form, however, I\nhave adopted the novel plan of incorporating in the LL. account the\ntranslations of what are known as conflate readings. These, as a rule, I\nhave taken from no manuscript that does not demonstrably go back to a\ntwelfth or earlier century redaction. Some of these additions consist of\nbut a single word: others extend over several pages. This dovetailing could\nnot always be accomplished with perfect accuracy, but no variants have been\nadded that do not cohere with the context or destroy the continuity of the\nstory. Whatever slight inconsistencies there may be in the accounts of\nsingle episodes, they are outweighed, in my opinion, by the value and\ninterest of the additions. In all cases, however, the reader can control\nthe translation by means of the foot-notes which indicate the sources and\ndistinguish the accretions from the basic text. The numerous passages in\nwhich Eg. 1782 agrees with LU. and YBL. have not all been marked. The\nasterisk shows the beginning of each fresh page in the lithographic\nfacsimile of LL., and the numbers following \"W\" in the upper left hand\nmargin show the corresponding lines in the edition of the Irish text by\nWindisch.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nIn general, I believe it should be the aim of a translator to give a\nfaithful rather than a literal version of his original. But, owing to the\nfact that so little of Celtic scholarship has filtered down even to the\nupper strata of the educated public and to the additional fact that the\nsubject matter is so incongruous to English thought, the first object of\nthe translator from the Old Irish must continue to be, for some time to\ncome, rather exactness in rendering than elegance, even at the risk of the\ntranslation appearing laboured and puerile. This should not, however, be\ncarried to the extent of distorting his own idiom in order to imitate the\nidiomatic turns and expressions of the original. In this translation, I\nhave endeavoured to keep as close to the sense and the literary form of the\noriginal as possible, but when there is conflict between the two\ndesiderata, I have not hesitated to give the first the preference. I have\nalso made use of a deliberately archaic English as, in my opinion,\nharmonizing better with the subject. It means much to the reader of the\ntranslation of an Old Irish text to have the atmosphere of the original\ntransferred as perfectly as may be, and this end is attained by preserving\nits archaisms and quaintness of phrase, its repetitions and inherent\ncrudities and even, without suppression or attenuation, the grossness of\nspeech of our less prudish ancestors, which is also a mark of certain\nprimitive habits of life but which an over-fastidious translator through\ndelicacy of feeling might wish to omit. These side-lights on the\nsemi-barbaric setting of the Old Irish sagas are of scarcely less interest\nand value than the literature itself.\n\nThe Tain Bo Cualnge, like most of the Irish saga-tales as they have come\ndown to us in their Middle Irish dress, is chiefly in prose, but\ninterspersed with verse. The verse-structure is very intricate and is\nmostly in strophic form composed of verses of fixed syllabic length, rhymed\nand richly furnished with alliteration. There is a third form of speech\nwhich is neither prose nor verse, but partakes of the character of both, a\nsort of irregular, rhymeless verse, without strophic division and\nexceedingly rich in alliteration, internal rhyme and assonance. This kind\nof speech, resembling in a way the dithyrambic passages in the Old\nTestament, was known to the native Irish scholars as _rosc_ and it is\nusually marked in the manuscripts by the abbreviation _R_. It was used in\nshort, impetuous outbursts on occasions of triumph or mourning.\n\nWhile, on the whole, I believe the student will feel himself safer with a\nprose translation of a poem than with one in verse, it has seemed to me\nthat a uniform translation of the Tain Bo Cualnge in prose would destroy\none of its special characteristics, which is that in it both prose and\nverse are mingled. It was not in my power, however, to reproduce at once\nclosely and clearly the metrical schemes and the rich musical quality of\nthe Irish and at the same time compress within the compass of the Irish\nmeasure such an analytic language as English, which has to express by means\nof auxiliaries what is accomplished in Early Irish by inflection. But I\nhope to have accomplished the main object of distinguishing the verse from\nthe prose without sacrifice of the thought by the simple device of turning\nthe verse-passages into lines of the same syllabic length as those of the\noriginal--which is most often the normal seven-syllable line--but without\nany attempt at imitating the rhyme-system or alliteration.\n\nIn order not to swell the volume of the book, the notes have been reduced\nto the indispensable minimum, reserving the commentary and the apparatus of\nillustrative material for another volume, which we hope some day to be able\nto issue, wherein more definitely critical questions can be discussed.\nThere are a few Irish words which have been retained in the translation and\nwhich require a word of explanation: The Old Irish _geis_ (later, also\n_geas_[12]; plural _geasa_) has as much right to a place in the English\nvocabulary as the Polynesian word _tabu_, by which it is often translated.\nIt is sometimes Englished \"injunction,\" \"condition,\" \"prohibition,\" \"bond,\"\n\"ban,\" \"charm,\" \"magical decree,\" or translated by the Scots-Gaelic\n\"spells,\" none of which, however, expresses the idea which the word had\naccording to the ancient laws of Ireland. It was an adjuration by the\nhonour of a man, and was either positive or negative. The person adjured\nwas either compelled or made in duty bound to do a certain thing, or, more\ncommonly, was prohibited from doing it. The Old Irish _gilla_ is often\ntranslated \"vassal,\" \"youth,\" \"boy,\" \"fellow,\" \"messenger,\" \"servant,\"\n\"page,\" \"squire\" and \"guide,\" but these words bear false connotations for\nthe society of the time, as does the Anglicised form of the word, \"gillie,\"\nwhich smacks of modern sport. It meant originally a youth in the third of\nthe six ages of man. Compare the sense of the word _varlet_ or _valet_ in\nEnglish, which was once \"a more honourable title; for all young gentlemen,\nuntill they come to be eighteen years of age, were termed so\" (Cotgrave),\nand of the same word in Old French, which was \"un jeune homme de condition\nhonorable\" (J. Loth, _Les Mabinogion_, I, page 40, note). A _liss_ or\n_rath_ is a fortified place enclosed by a circular mound or trench, or\nboth. A _dun_ is a fortified residence surrounded by an earthen rampart.\nIn the case of names of places and persons, I have thought it best to\nadhere as closely as possible to the spellings used in the LL. manuscript\nitself. It is of the utmost importance to get the names of Irish places and\nof Irish heroes correctly determined and to discard their English corrupted\nspellings. There are certain barbarisms, however, such as Slane (Slemain),\nBoyne (Boann), and perhaps even Cooley (Cualnge), which have been\nstereotyped in their English dress and nothing is to be gained by reforming\nthem. The forms _Erin_ (dative of _Eriu_, the genuine and poetic name of\nthe island) and _Alba_ have been retained throughout instead of the hybrids\n\"Ireland\" and \"Scotland.\" Final _e_ is occasionally marked with a grave\n(_e.g._ Mane, Dare) to show that it is not silent as it often is in\nEnglish.\n\nI quite perceive that I have not always succeeded in reproducing the\nprecise shade of meaning of words certain of which had become antiquated\nand even unintelligible to the native scholars of the later Middle Irish\nperiod themselves. This is especially true of the passages in _rosc_, which\nare fortunately not numerous and which were probably intentionally made as\nobscure and allusive as possible, the object being, perhaps, as much the\nmusic of the words as the sense. Indeed, in some cases, I have considered\nmyself fortunate if I have succeeded in getting their mere drift. No one\ntakes to heart more than the present writer the truth of Zimmer's remark,\nthat \"it needs no great courage to affirm that _not one_ of the living\nCeltic scholars, _with_ all the aids at their disposal, possesses such a\nready understanding of the contents of, for example, the most important Old\nIrish saga-text, \"The Cualnge Cattle-raid,\" as was required thirty or more\nyears ago in Germany of a good Gymnasium graduate in the matter of the\nHomeric poems and _without_ aids of any kind.\"[13] However, in spite of its\ndefects, I trust I have not incurred the censure of Don Quijote[14] by\ndoing what he accuses bad translators of and shown the wrong side of the\ntapestry, thereby obscuring the beauty and exactness of the work, and I\nventure to hope that my translation may prove of service in leading\nstudents to take an interest in the language and literature of Ireland.\n\n\nWORKS ON THE TAIN BO CUALNGE\n\n(Our Bibliography has no Pretension at being Complete)\n\n\nThe Tain has been analysed by J.T. Gilbert, in the facsimile edition of\nLU., pages xvi-xviii, based on O'Curry's unpublished account written about\n1853; by Eugene O'Curry in his \"Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of\nAncient Irish History,\" pages 28-40, Dublin, 1861; by John Rhys in his\n\"Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by Celtic\nHeathendom,\" page 136, the Hibbert Lectures, London, 1898; by J.A.\nMacCulloch in \"The Religion of the Ancient Celts,\" pages 127 and 141,\nLondon, 1911; in the Celtic Magazine, vol. xiii, pages 427-430, Inverness,\n1888; by Don. Mackinnon in the Celtic Review, vol. iv, page 92, Edinburgh,\n1907-8; by H. d'Arbois de Jubainville, in Bibliotheque de l'ecole des\nchartes, tome xl, pages 148-150, Paris, 1879; by Bryan O'Looney, in the\nProceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Second Series, vol. I, pages\n242-248, Dublin, 1879; by H. Lichtenberger, \"Le Poeme et la Legende des\nNibelungen,\" pages 432-434, Paris, 1891; by Eleanor Hull, in \"A Text Book\nof Irish Literature,\" Pt. I, p. 24, Dublin and London, 1906; by Victor\nTourneur, \"La Formation du Tain Bo Cualnge,\" in Melanges Godefroid Kurth,\nII, 413-424, Liege, 1908; by E.C. Quiggin, in the Encyclopedia Britannica,\n11th edition, page 626.\n\nThe text of the Tain is found in whole or in part in the facsimile reprints\npublished by the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1870 and following; viz.: the\nBook of Leinster, folios 53b-104b; the Book of the Dun Cow, folios 55a-82b,\nand the Yellow Book of Lecan, folios 17a.-53a; in \"Die Altirische\nHeldensage, Tain Bo Cualnge, herausgegeben von Ernst Windisch, Irische\nTexte, Extraband, Leipzig, 1905\"; from LU. and YBL., by John Strachan and\nJ.G. O'Keeffe, as a supplement to Eriu, vol. i, Dublin, 1904 and fol.; our\nreferences to LU. and YBL. are from this edition as far as it appeared;\nfrom that point, the references to YBL. are to the pages of the facsimile\nedition; the LU. text of several passages also is given by John Strachan in\nhis \"Stories from the Tain,\" which first appeared in Irisleabhar na\nGaedhilge (\"The Gaelic Journal\"), Dublin; reprinted, London and Dublin,\n1908; Max Nettlau, \"The Fer Diad Episode of the Tain Bo Cuailnge,\" Revue\nCeltique, tome x, pages 330-346, tome xi, pages 23-32, 318-343; \"The\nFragment of the Tain Bo Cuailnge in MS. Egerton 93,\" Revue Celtique, tome\nxiv, pages 254-266, tome xv, pages 62-78, 198-208; R. Thurneysen, \"Tain Bo\nCuailghni nach H. 2. 17,\" Zeitschrift fuer Celtische Philologie, Bd. viii,\nS. 525-554; E. Windisch, \"Tain Bo Cuailnge nach der Handschrift Egerton\n1782,\" Zeitschrift fuer Celtische Philologie, Bd. ix, S. 121-158. The text\nof \"The Fight at the Ford,\" from the Murphy MS. 103 (written about 1760),\nis printed in Irisleabhar Muighe Nuadhad, Dublin, 1911, pp. 84-90.\n\nThe Tain has been translated by Bryan O'Looney in a manuscript entitled\n\"Tain Bo Cualnge. Translated from the original vellum manuscript known as\nthe Book of Leinster, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. To which\nare added the ancient Prologues, Prefaces, and the Pretales or Stories,\nAdventures which preceded the principal Expedition or Tain, from various\nvellum MSS. in the Libraries of Trinity College and the Royal Irish\nAcademy, Dublin, 1872.\" (A good translation, for its time. For O'Looney's\nworks on the Tain, see the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Second\nSeries, Vol. i, No. 11, Polite Literature and Antiquities, Dublin, 1875;\nfor W.J. Hennessy's, see The Academy, No. 873, Lee, \"Dictionary of National\nBiography,\" xxv, 1891, pages 424-425, and V. Tourneur, \"Esquisse d'une\nhistoire des etudes celtiques,\" page 90, note 5.) The Royal Irish Academy\ncontains another manuscript translation of the Tain (24, M, 39), by John\nO'Daly, 1857. It is a wretched translation. In one place, O'Daly speaks of\nWilliam Rily as the translator. L. Winifred Faraday's \"The Cattle-Raid of\nCualnge,\" London, 1904, is based on LU. and YBL. Two copies of a complete\ntranslation of the LL. text dating from about 1850 is in the possession\nof John Quinn, Esq., of New York City. H. d'Arbois de Jubainville\ntranslated the Tain from the LL. text, but with many omissions: \"Enlevement\n[du Taureau Divin et] des Vaches de Cooley,\" Revue Celtique, tomes\nxxviii-xxxii, Paris, 1907 and fl. Eleanor Hull's \"The Cuchullin Saga,\"\nLondon, 1898, contains (pages 111-227) an analysis of the Tain and a\ntranslation by Standish H. O'Grady of portions of the Add. 18748 text. \"The\nTain, An Irish Epic told in English Verse,\" by Mary A. Hutton, Dublin,\n1907, and Lady Augusta Gregory's, \"Cuchulain of Muirthemne,\" London, 1903,\nare paraphrases. The episode \"The Boyish Feats of Cuchulinn\" was translated\nby Eugene O'Curry, \"On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish,\"\nVol. i, Introduction, pages 359-366, and the episode \"The Fight of Ferdiad\nand Cuchulaind,\" was translated by W.K. Sullivan, ibid., Vol. ii, Lectures,\nVol. i, Appendix, pages 413-463.\n\nImportant studies on the Tain have come from the pen of Heinrich Zimmer:\n\"Ueber den compilatorischen Charakter der irischen Sagentexte im sogenannten\nLebor na hUidre,\" Kuhn's Zeitschrift fuer vergleichende Sprachforschung, Bd.\nxxviii, 1887, pages 417-689, and especially pages 426-554; \"Keltische\nBeitraege,\" Zeitschrift fuer deutsches Alterthum und deutsche Litteratur,\nVol. xxxii, 1888, pages 196-334; \"Beitraege zur Erklaerung irischer\nSagentexte,\" Zeitschrift fuer Celtische Philologie, Bd. i, pages 74-101, and\nBd. iii, pages 285-303. See also, William Ridgeway, \"The Date of the first\nShaping of the Cuchulainn Saga,\" Oxford, 1907; H. d'Arbois de Jubainville,\n\"Etude sur le Tain Bo Cualnge,\" Revue Celtique, tome xxviii, 1907, pages\n17-40; Alfred Nutt, \"Cuchulainn, the Irish Achilles,\" in Popular Studies in\nMythology, Romance and Folklore, No. 8, London, 1900. The Celtic Magazine,\nVol. xiii, pages 319-326, 351-359, Inverness, 1888, contains an English\ntranslation of a degenerated Scottish Gaelic version taken down by A.A.\nCarmichael, in Benbecula; the Gaelic text was printed in the Transactions\nof the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Vol. ii. In the same volume of the\nCeltic Magazine, pages 514-516, is a translation of a version of the Tain,\ntaken down in the island of Eigg. Eleanor Hull's \"Cuchulain, the Hound of\nUlster,\" London, 1911, is a retelling of the story for younger readers. The\nfollowing, bearing more or less closely upon the Tain, are also to be\nmentioned: Harry G. Tempest, \"Dun Dealgan, Cuchulain's Home Fort,\" Dundalk,\n1910; A.M. Skelly, \"Cuchulain of Muirtheimhne,\" Dublin, 1908; Standish\nO'Grady, \"The Coming of Cuculain,\" London, 1894, \"In the Gates of the\nNorth,\" Kilkenny, 1901, \"Cuculain, A Prose Epic,\" London, 1882 and the same\nauthor's \"History of Ireland: the Heroic Period,\" London, 1878-80; \"The\nHigh Deeds of Finn, and other Bardic Romances of Ancient Ireland,\" by\nT.W. Rolleston, London, 1910; Stephen Gwynn, \"Celtic Sagas Re-told,\" in his\n\"To-day and To-morrow in Ireland,\" pages 38-58, Dublin, 1903; Edward\nThomas, \"Celtic Stories,\" Oxford, 1911; \"Children of Kings,\" by W. Lorcan\nO'Byrne, London, 1904, and \"The Boy Hero of Erin,\" by Charles Squire,\nLondon, 1907.\n\nAmong the many poems which have taken their theme from the Tain and the\ndeeds of Cuchulain may be mentioned: \"The Foray of Queen Meave,\" by Aubrey\nde Vere, Poetic Works, London, 1882, vol. ii, pages 255-343; \"The Old Age\nof Queen Maeve,\" by William Butler Yeats, Collected Works, vol. I, page 41,\nLondon, 1908; \"The Defenders of the Ford,\" by Alice Milligan, in her \"Hero\nLays,\" page 50, Dublin, 1908; George Sigerson, \"Bards of the Gael and the\nGall,\" London, 1897; \"The Tain-Quest,\" by Sir Samuel Ferguson, in his \"Lays\nof the Western Gael and other Poems,\" Dublin, 1897; \"The Red Branch Crests,\nA Trilogy,\" by Charles Leonard Moore, London, 1906; \"The Laughter of\nScathach,\" by Fiona Macleod, in \"The Washer of the Ford and Barbaric\nTales\"; Hector Maclean, \"Ultonian Hero-Ballads collected in the Highlands\nand Western Isles of Scotland,\" Glasgow, 1892; ballad versions from\nScotland are found in Leabhar na Feinne, pages 1 and fol., in J.G.\nCampbell's \"The Fians,\" pages 6 and fol., and in the Book of the Dean\nof Lismore.\n\nFinally, scenes from the Tain have been dramatized by Canon Peter O'Leary,\nin the Cork \"Weekly Examiner,\" April 14, 1900 and fol., by Sir Samuel\nFerguson, \"The Naming of Cuchulain: A Dramatic Scene,\" first played in\nBelfast, March 9, 1910; in \"The Triumph of Maeve,\" A Romance in dramatic\nform, 1906; \"Cuchulain,\" etc., (A Cycle of Plays, by S. and J. Varian,\nDublin), and in \"The Boy-Deeds of Cuchulain,\" A Pageant in three Acts,\nperformed in Dublin in 1909.\n\n\n    [1] \"L'histoire entiere de l'Irlande est une enigme si on n'a pas sans\n    cesse a l'esprit ce fait primordial que le climat humide de l'ile est\n    tout a fait contraire a la culture des cereales, mais en revanche\n    eminemment favorable a l'elevage du betail, surtout de la race bovine,\n    car le climat est encore trop humide pour l'espece ovine.\" F. Lot, in\n    _La Grande Encyclopedie_, xx, 956.\n\n    [2] As it is to this day in some parts of Ireland, and as for example\n    a female slave was sometimes appraised at three head of cattle among\n    the ancient Gaels.\n\n    [3] In fact the Clan Mackay was known as the Clan of the creaghs, and\n    their perpetuation was enjoined on the rising generation from the\n    cradle; See _The Old Highlands_, vol. III., p. 338, Glasgow.\n\n    [4] Pronounced approximately _Thawin' bow Hooln'ya_.\n\n    [5] _Revue Celtique_, 1895, tome xvi. pp. 405-406; _Rerum Hibernicarum\n    Scriptores_, ii. 14.\n\n    [6] _Mors Conchulaind fortissimi herois Scottorum la Lugaid mac tri\n    con, i. ri Muman, agus la Ercc, i. ri Temrach, mac Coirpri Niad fir,\n    agus la tri maccu Calattin de Chonnachtaib; vii. mbliadna a aes intan\n    rogab gaisced. xvii. mbliadna dano a aes intan mboi indegaid Tana Bo\n    Cualnge. xxvii. bliadna immorro a aes intan atbath. Revue Celtique,_\n    tome xvi. page 407.\n\n    [7] Ridgeway.\n\n    [8] See H. d'Arbois de Jubainville, _Essai d'un catalogue de la\n    litterature epique de l'Irlande_, Paris, 1883, pages 214-216, and the\n    Supplement to the same by G. Dottin, _Revue Celtique_, t. xxxiii,\n    pages 34-35; Donald Mackinnon, _A Descriptive Catalogue of Gaelic\n    Manuscripts_, Edinburgh, 1912, pp. 174, 220; E. Windisch, Tain Bo\n    Cualnge, _Einleitung und Vorrede_, S. lx. ff.\n\n    [9] Facsimile, page 288, foot margin.\n\n    [10] Facsimile, page 275, top margin.\n\n    [11] Vd. Robert Atkinson, _The Book of Leinster_, Introduction, pages\n    7-8; J.H. Todd, _Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, Rerum Britannicarum medii\n    aevi scriptores_, 1867, Introduction, pages ix and ff. Eugene O'Curry,\n    _On the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History_, page 186;\n    Ernst Windisch, _Tain Bo Cualnge_, pages 910-911.\n\n    [12] Pronounced _gesh_ or _gas_.\n\n    [13] \"Es gehoert keine grosse Kuehnheit dazu zu behaupten, dass keiner\n    der lebenden Keltologen beispielsweise von dem wichtigsten altirischen\n    Sagentext 'Der Rinderraub von Cualnge' ... mit allen vorhandenen\n    Hilfsmitteln ein solches fortlaufendes Verstaendnis des Inhalts hat,\n    wie von einem guten Gymnasialabiturienten hinsichtlich der homerischen\n    Gedichte ohne jegliches Hilfsmittel vor gut 30 Jahren in Deutschland\n    verlangt wurde.\"--_Die Kultur der Gegenwart_, herausgegeben von Paul\n    Hinneberg, Berlin, 1909. Teil I, Abt. xi, I. S. 75.\n\n    [14] Part II, chap, lxii (Garnier Hermanos edition, page 711).\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 1]\n\n\n\n\nHere beginneth Tain Bo Cualnge\n\nThe Cualnge Cattle-raid\n\n\n\n\nI\n\nTHE PILLOW-TALK\n\n\n[W.1.] [LL.fo.53.] Once of a time, that Ailill and Medb had spread their\nroyal bed in Cruachan, the stronghold of Connacht, such was the pillow-talk\nthat befell betwixt them:\n\nQuoth Ailill: \"True is the saying, lady, 'She is a well-off woman that is a\nrich man's wife.'\" \"Aye, that she is,\" answered the wife; \"but wherefore\nopin'st thou so?\" \"For this,\" Ailill replied, \"that thou art this day\nbetter off than the day that first I took thee.\" Then answered Medb: \"As\nwell-off was I before I ever saw thee.\" \"It was a wealth, forsooth, we\nnever heard nor knew of,\" Ailill said; \"but a woman's wealth was all thou\nhadst, and foes from lands next thine were used to carry off the spoil and\nbooty that they took from thee.\" \"Not so was I,\" quoth Medb; \"the High King\nof Erin himself was my sire, Eocho Fedlech ('the Enduring') son of Finn, by\nname, who was son of Findoman, son of Finden, son of Findguin, son of Rogen\nRuad ('the Red'), son of Rigen, son of Blathacht, son of Beothacht, son of\nEnna Agnech, son of Oengus Turbech. Of daughters, had he six: Derbriu,\nEthne and Ele, Clothru, Mugain and Medb, myself, that was the noblest and\nseemliest of them. 'Twas I was the goodliest of them in bounty [W.17.] and\ngift-giving, [1]in riches and treasures.[1] 'Twas I was best of them in\nbattle and strife and combat. 'Twas I that had fifteen hundred royal\nmercenaries of the sons of aliens exiled from their own land, and as many\nmore of the sons of freemen of the land. And there were ten men with every\none of these hirelings, [2]and nine men with every hireling,[2] and eight\nmen with every hireling, and seven men with every hireling, and six men\nwith every hireling, and five men with every hireling, [3]and four men with\nevery hireling,[3] and three men with every hireling, and two men with\nevery hireling, and one hireling with every hireling. These were as a\nstanding household-guard,\" continued Medb; \"hence hath my father bestowed\none of the five provinces of Erin upon me, even the province of Cruachan;\nwherefore 'Medb of Cruachan' am I called. Men came from Finn son of Ross\nRuad ('the Red'), king of Leinster, to seel me [4]for a wife, and I refused\nhim;[4] and from Carbre Niafer ('the Champion') son of Ross Ruad ('the\nRed'), king of Temair,[a] [5]to woo me, and I refused him;[5] and they came\nfrom Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach ('the Mighty'), king of Ulster,\n[6]and I refused him in like wise.[6] They came from Eocho Bec ('the\nSmall'), and I went not; for 'tis I that exacted a singular bride-gift,\nsuch as no woman before me had ever required of a man of the men of Erin,\nnamely, a husband without avarice, without jealousy, without fear. For\nshould he be mean, the man with whom I should live, we were ill-matched\ntogether, inasmuch as I am great [LL.fo.54a.] in largess and gift-giving,\nand it would be a disgrace for my husband if I should be better [W.34.] at\nspending than he, [1]and for it to be said that I was superior in wealth\nand treasures to him[1], while no disgrace would it be were one as great as\nthe other[a]. Were my husband a coward, 'twere as unfit for us to be mated,\nfor I by myself and alone break battles and fights and combats, and 'twould\nbe a reproach for my husband should his wife be more full of life than\nhimself, and no reproach our being equally bold. Should he be jealous, the\nhusband with whom I should live, that too would not suit me, for there\nnever was a time that I had not my paramour[b]. Howbeit, such a husband\nhave I found, namely in thee thyself, Ailill son of Ross Ruad ('the Red')\nof Leinster. Thou wast not churlish; thou wast not jealous; thou wast not a\nsluggard. It was I plighted thee, and gave purchase-price to thee, which\nof right belongs to the bride--of clothing, namely, the raiment of twelve\nmen, a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids, the breadth of thy face of red\ngold[c], the weight of thy left forearm of silvered bronze. Whoso brings\nshame and sorrow and madness upon thee, no claim for compensation nor\nsatisfaction hast thou therefor that I myself have not, [2]but it is to me\nthe compensation belongs,\"[2] said Medb, \"for a man dependent upon a\nwoman's maintenance is what thou art.\"[d]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [a] That is, from the supreme king of Ireland.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and, similarly Add.\n\n    [a] A short sentence in LL., which is probably corrupt, is omitted\n    here.\n\n    [b] Literally, \"A man behind (in) the shadow of another.\"\n\n    [c] Instead of a ring, which would be given to the bride.\n\n    [2-2] Add. and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [d] For a detailed explanation of this entire passage see H. Zimmer,\n    in the _Sitzungsberichte der Koeninglich Preussischen Akademie der\n    Wissenschaften_, 16 Februar, 1911. _philosophisch historischen Classe,\n    Seite 217_.\n\n\"Nay, not such was my state,\" said Ailill; \"but two brothers had I; one of\nthem over Temair, the other over Leinster; namely, Finn, over Leinster, and\nCarbre, over Temair. I left the kingship to them because they were [W.52.]\nolder but not superior to me in largess and bounty. Nor heard I of province\nin Erin under woman's keeping but this province alone. And for this I came\nand assumed the kingship here as my mother's successor; for Mata of Muresc,\ndaughter of Magach [1]of Connacht,[1] was my mother. And who could there be\nfor me to have as my queen better than thyself, being, as thou wert,\ndaughter of the High King of Erin?\" \"Yet so it is,\" pursued Medb, \"my\nfortune is greater than thine.\" \"I marvel at that,\" Ailill made answer,\n\"for there is none that hath greater treasures and riches and wealth than\nI: yea, to my knowledge there is not.\"\n\n    [1-1] Add. and H. 1. 13.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 5]\n\n\n\n\nII\n\n[1]THE OCCASION OF THE TAIN[1]\n\n\n[W.62.] Then were brought to them the least precious of their possessions,\nthat they might know which of them had the more treasures, riches and\nwealth. Their pails and their cauldrons and their iron-wrought vessels,\ntheir jugs and their keeves and their eared pitchers were fetched to them.\n\n    [1-1] Add. and Stowe.\n\nLikewise, their rings and their bracelets and their thumb-rings and their\ngolden treasures were fetched to them, and their apparel, both purple and\nblue and black and green, yellow, vari-coloured and gray, dun, mottled and\nbrindled.\n\nTheir numerous flocks of sheep were led in from fields and meeds and\nplains. These were counted and compared, and found to be equal, of like\nsize, of like number; however, there was an uncommonly fine ram over Medb's\nsheep, and he was equal in worth to a bondmaid, but a corresponding ram was\nover the ewes of Ailill.\n\nTheir horses and steeds and studs were brought from pastures and paddocks.\nThere was a noteworthy horse in Medb's herd and he was of the value of a\nbondmaid; a horse to match was found among Ailill's.\n\nThen were their numerous droves of swine driven from woods and shelving\nglens and wolds. These were numbered and counted and claimed. There was a\nnoteworthy boar With Medb, and yet another with Ailill.\n\nNext they brought before them their droves of cattle [W.77.] and their\nherds and their roaming flocks from the brakes and wastes of the province.\n\n\nThese were counted and numbered and claimed, and were the same for both,\nequal in size, equal in number, except only there was an especial bull\nof the bawn of Ailill, and he was a calf of one of Medb's cows, and\nFinnbennach ('the Whitehorned') was his name. But he, deeming it no honour\nto be in a woman's possession, [LL.fo.54b.] had left and gone over to the\nkine of the king. And it was the same to Medb as if she owned not a\npennyworth, forasmuch as she had not a bull of his size amongst her cattle.\n\nThen it was that macRoth the messenger was summoned to Medb, and Medb\nstrictly bade macRoth to learn where there might be found a bull of that\nlikeness in any of the provinces of Erin. \"Verily,\" said macRoth, \"I know\nwhere the bull is that is best and better again, in the province of Ulster,\nin the hundred of Cualnge, in the house of Dare son of Fiachna; even Donn\nCualnge ('the Brown Bull of Cualnge') he is called.\"\n\n\"Go thou to him, macRoth, and ask for me of Dare the loan for a year of the\nBrown Bull of Cualnge, and at the year's end he shall have the meed of the\nloan, to wit, fifty heifers and the Donn Cualnge himself. And bear thou a\nfurther boon with thee, macRoth. Should the border-folk and those of the\ncountry grudge the loan of that rare jewel that is the Brown Bull of\nCualnge, let Dare himself come with his bull, and he shall get a measure\nequalling his own land of the smooth Plain of Ai and a chariot of the worth\nof thrice seven bondmaids and he shall enjoy my own close friendship.\"[a]\n\n    [a] Literally, \"Habebit amicitiam fermoris mei.\"\n\nThereupon the messengers fared forth to the house of Dare son of Fiachna.\nThis was the number wherewith macRoth went, namely, nine couriers. Anon\nwelcome was [W.99.] lavished on macRoth in Dare's house--fitting, welcome\nit was--chief messenger of all was macRoth. Dare asked of macRoth what had\nbrought him upon the journey and why he was come. The messenger announced\nthe cause for which he was come and related the contention between Medb and\nAilill.\n\n\"And it is to beg the loan of the Brown Bull of Cualnge to match the\nWhitehorned that I am come,\" said he; \"and thou shalt receive the hire of\nhis loan, even fifty heifers and the Brown of Cualnge himself. And yet more\nI may add: Come thyself with thy bull and thou shalt have of the land of\nthe smooth soil of Mag Ai as much as thou ownest here, and a chariot of the\nworth of thrice seven bondmaids and enjoy Medb's friendship to boot.\"\n\nAt these words Dare was well pleased, and he leaped for joy so that the\nseams of his flock-bed rent in twain beneath him.\n\n\"By the truth of our conscience,\" said he; \"however the Ulstermen take it,\n[1]whether ill or well,[1] this time this jewel shall be delivered to\nAilill and to Medb, the Brown of Cualnge to wit, into the land of\nConnacht.\" Well pleased was macRoth at the words of the son of Fiachna.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and Add.\n\nThereupon they were served, and straw and fresh rushes were spread under\nthem. The choicest of food was brought to them and a feast was served to\nthem and soon they were noisy and drunken. And a discourse took place\nbetween two of the messengers. \"'Tis true what I say,\" spoke the one; \"good\nis the man in whose house we are.\" \"Of a truth, he is good.\" \"Nay, is there\none among all the men of Ulster better than he?\" persisted the first. \"In\nsooth, there is,\" answered the second messenger. \"Better is Conchobar whose\nman he is, [2]Conchobar who holds the kingship of the province.[2] And\nthough all the Ulstermen [W.120.] gathered around him, it were no shame\nfor them. Yet is it passing good of Dare, that what had been a task for the\nfour mighty provinces of Erin to bear away from the land of Ulster, even\nthe Brown Bull of Cualnge, is surrendered so freely to us nine footmen.\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and Add.\n\n\nHereupon a third runner had his say: \"What is this ye dispute about?\" he\nasked. \"Yon runner says, 'A good man is the man in whose house we are.'\"\n\"Yea, he is good,\" saith the other. \"Is there among all the Ulstermen any\nthat is better than he?\" demanded the first runner further. \"Aye, there\nis,\" answered the second runner; \"better is Conchobar whose man he is; and\nthough all the Ulstermen gathered around him, it were no shame for them.\nYet, truly good it is of Dare, that what had been a task for four of the\ngrand provinces of Erin to bear away out of the borders of Ulster is handed\nover even unto us nine footmen.\" \"I would not grudge to see a retch of\nblood and gore in the mouth whereout that was said; for, were the bull not\ngiven [LL.fo.55a.] willingly, yet should he be taken by force!\"\n\nAt that moment it was that Dare macFiachna's chief steward came into the\nhouse and with him a man with drink and another with food, and he heard the\nfoolish words of the runners; and anger came upon him, and he set down\ntheir food and drink for them and he neither said to them, \"Eat,\" nor did\nhe say, \"Eat not.\"\n\nStraightway he went into the house where was Dare macFiachna and said: \"Was\nit thou that hast given that notable jewel to the messengers, the Brown\nBull of Cualnge?\" \"Yea, it was I,\" Dare made answer. \"Verily, it was not\nthe part of a king to give him. For it is true what they say: Unless thou\nhadst bestowed him of thine own free will, so wouldst thou yield him in\ndespite of thee by the host of Ailill and Medb and by the great cunning of\nFergus macRoig.\" \"I swear by the gods whom I worship,\" [W.143.] [1]spoke\nDare,[1] \"they shall in no wise take by foul means what they cannot take by\nfair!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and Add.\n\nThere they abide till morning. Betimes on the morrow the runners arise and\nproceed to the house where is Dare. \"Acquaint us, lord, how we may reach\nthe place where the Brown Bull of Cualnge is kept.\" \"Nay then,\" saith Dare;\n\"but were it my wont to deal foully with messengers or with travelling folk\nor with them that go by the road, not one of you would depart alive!\" \"How\nsayest thou?\" quoth macRoth. \"Great cause there is,\" replied Dare; \"ye\nsaid, unless I yielded in good sort, I should yield to the might of\nAilill's host and Medb's and the great cunning of Fergus.\"\n\n\"Even so,\" said macRoth, \"whatever the runners drunken with thine ale and\nthy viands have said, 'tis not for thee to heed nor mind, nor yet to be\ncharged on Ailill and on Medb.\" \"For all that, macRoth, this time I will\nnot give my bull, if ever I can help it!\"\n\nBack then the messengers go till they arrive at Cruachan, the stronghold of\nConnacht. Medb asks their tidings, and macRoth makes known the same: that\nthey had not brought his bull from Dare. \"And the reason?\" demanded Medb.\nMacRoth recounts to her how the dispute arose. \"There is no need to polish\nknots over such affairs as that, macRoth; for it was known,\" said Medb, \"if\nthe Brown Bull of Cualnge would not be given with their will, he would be\ntaken in their despite, and taken he shall be!\"\n\n[2]To this point is recounted the Occasion of the Tain.[2]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and Add.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 10]\n\n\n\n\nIII\n\n[1]THE RISING-OUT OF THE MEN OF CONNACHT AT CRUACHAN AI[1]\n\n\n[W.161.] [2]A mighty host was now assembled by the men of Connacht, that\nis, by Ailill and Medb, and they sent word to the three other provinces,\nand[2] messengers were despatched from Medb to the Mane that they should\ngather in Cruachan, the seven Mane with their seven divisions; to wit: Mane\n\"Motherlike,\" Mane \"Fatherlike,\" and Mane \"All-comprehending\", [3]'twas he\nthat possessed the form of his mother and of his father and the dignity of\nthem both;[3] Mane \"Mildly-submissive,\" and Mane \"Greatly-submissive,\" Mane\n\"Boastful\" [4]and Mane \"the Dumb.\"[4]\n\n    [1-1] Add.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 1-2; with these words, the LU. version begins, fo. 55a.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 182.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and Add.\n\nOther messengers were despatched [5]by Ailill[5] to the sons of Maga; to\nwit: to Cet ('the First') son of Maga, Anluan ('the Brilliant Light') son\nof Maga, and Maccorb ('Chariot-child') son of Maga, and Bascell ('the\nLunatic') son of Maga, and En ('the Bird') son of Maga, Doche son of Maga;\nand Scandal ('Insult') son of Maga.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 1782.\n\nThese came, and this was their muster, thirty hundred armed men. Other\nmessengers were despatched from them to Cormac Conlongas ('the Exile') son\nof Conchobar and to Fergus macRoig, and they also came, thirty hundred\ntheir number.\n\n[W.173.] [1]Now Cormac had three companies which came to Cruachan.[1]\nBefore all, the first company. A covering of close-shorn [2]black[2] hair\nupon them. Green mantles and [3]many-coloured cloaks[3] wound about them;\ntherein, silvern brooches. Tunics of thread of gold next to their skin,\n[4]reaching down to their knees,[4] with interweaving of red gold.\nBright-handled swords they bore, with guards of silver. [5]Long shields\nthey bore, and there was a broad, grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the\nhand of each man.[5] \"Is that Cormac, yonder?\" all and every one asked.\n\"Not he, indeed,\" Medb made answer.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 7.\n\n    [2-2] Add.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 8.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 9.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 9-10.\n\nThe second troop. Newly shorn hair they wore [6]and manes on the back of\ntheir heads,[6] [7]fair, comely indeed.[7] Dark-blue cloaks they all had\nabout them. Next to their skin, gleaming-white tunics, [LL.fo.55b.] [8]with\nred ornamentation, reaching down to their calves.[8] Swords they had with\nround hilts of gold and silvern fist-guards, [9]and shining shields upon\nthem and five-pronged spears in their hands.[9] \"Is yonder man Cormac?\" all\nthe people asked. \"Nay, verily, that is not he,\" Medb made answer.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [7-7] Add.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 11-12.\n\n    [9-9] LU. 12-13.\n\n[10]Then came[10] the last troop. Hair cut broad they wore; fair-yellow,\ndeep-golden, loose-flowing back hair [11]down to their shoulders[11] upon\nthem. Purple cloaks, fairly bedizened, about them; golden, embellished\nbrooches over their breasts; [12]and they had curved shields with sharp,\nchiselled edges around them and spears as long as the pillars of a king's\nhouse in the hand of each man.[12] Fine, long, silken tunics [13]with\nhoods[13] they wore to the very instep. Together they raised their feet,\nand together they set them down again. \"Is that Cormac, yonder?\" asked\nall. \"Aye, it is he, [14]this time,[14]\" Medb made answer.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [11-11] LU. 16.\n\n    [12-12] LU. 17-18.\n\n    [13-13] LU. 15.\n\n    [14-14] Eg. 1782.\n\n[W.186.] [1]Thus the four provinces of Erin gathered in Cruachan Ai.[1]\nThey pitched their camp and quarters that night, so that a thick cloud of\nsmoke and fire rose between the four fords of Ai, which are, Ath Moga, Ath\nBercna, Ath Slissen and Ath Coltna. And they tarried for the full space of\na fortnight in Cruachan, the hostel of Connacht, in wassail and drink and\nevery disport, to the end that their march and muster might be easier.\n[2]And their poets and druids would not let them depart from thence till\nthe end of a fortnight while awaiting good omen.[2] And then it was that\nMedb bade her charioteer to harness her horses for her, that she might go\nto address herself to her druid, to seek for light and for augury from him.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 20-21.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 13]\n\n\n\n\nIV\n\nTHE FORETELLING[a]\n\n\n[W.194.] When Medb was come to the place where her druid was, she craved\nlight and augury of him. \"Many there be,\" saith Medb, \"who do part with\ntheir kinsmen and friends here to-day, and from their homes and their\nlands, from father and from mother; and unless unscathed every one shall\nreturn, upon me will they cast their sighs and their ban, [1]for it is I\nthat have assembled this levy.[1] Yet there goeth not forth nor stayeth\nthere at home any dearer to me than are we to ourselves. And do thou\ndiscover for us whether we ourselves shall return, or whether we shall\nnever return.\"\n\n    [a] This heading is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 23-24.\n\nAnd the druid made answer, \"Whoever comes not, thou thyself shalt come.\"\n[2]\"Wait, then,\" spake the charioteer,\" let me wheel the chariot by the\nright,[b] that thus the power of a good omen may arise that we return\nagain.\"[2] Then the charioteer wheeled his chariot round and Medb went back\n[3]again,[3] when she espied a thing that surprised her: A lone virgin\n[4]of marriageable age[4] standing on the hindpole of a chariot a little\nway off drawing nigh her. And thus the maiden appeared: Weaving lace was\nshe, and in her right hand was a bordering rod of silvered [W.204.] bronze\nwith its seven strips of red gold at the sides. A many-spotted green mantle\naround her; a bulging, strong-headed pin [1]of gold[1] in the mantle over\nher bosom; [2]a hooded tunic, with red interweaving, about her.[2] A ruddy,\nfair-faced countenance she had, [3]narrow below and broad above.[3] She had\na blue-grey and laughing eye; [4]each eye had three pupils.[4] [5]Dark and\nblack were her eyebrows; the soft, black lashes threw a shadow to the\nmiddle of her cheeks.[5] Red and thin were her lips. Shiny and pearly were\nher teeth; thou wouldst believe they were showers of white pearls that had\nrained into her head. Like to fresh Parthian crimson were her lips. As\nsweet as the strings of lutes [6]when long sustained they are played by\nmaster players' hands[6] was the melodious sound of her voice and her fair\nspeech.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 24-25.\n\n    [b] Right-hand wise, as a sign of a good omen.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 29.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 35-36.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 31.\n\n    [6-6] Adopting Windisch's emendation of the text.\n\nAs white as snow in one night fallen was the sheen of her skin and her body\nthat shone outside of her dress. Slender and very white were her feet;\nrosy, even, sharp-round nails she had; [7]two sandals with golden buckles\nabout them.[7] Fair-yellow, long, golden hair she wore; three braids of\nhair [8]she wore; two tresses were wound[8] around her head; the other\ntress [9]from behind[9] threw a shadow down on her calves. [10]The maiden\ncarried arms, and two black horses were under her chariot.[10]\n\n    [7-7] LU. 29.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [9-9] Add.\n\n    [10-10] LU. 36.\n\nMedb gazed at her. \"And what doest thou here now, O maiden?\" asked Medb. \"I\nimpart [LL.fo.56a.] to thee thine advantage and good fortune in thy\ngathering and muster of the four mighty provinces of Erin against the land\nof Ulster on the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge.\" \"Wherefore doest thou this\nfor me?\" asked Medb. \"Much cause have I. A bondmaid 'mid thy people am I.\"\n\"Who of [W.220.] my people art thou [1]and what is thy name[1]?\" asked\nMedb. \"Not hard, in sooth, to say. The prophetess Fedelm, from the Sid\n('the Fairy Mound') of Cruachan, [2]a poetess of Connacht[2] am I.\"\n[3]\"Whence comest thou?\" asked Medb. \"From Alba, after learning prophetic\nskill,\" the maiden made answer. \"Hast thou the form of divination?\"[b]\n\"Verily, have I,\" the maiden said.[3] [4]\"Look, then, for me, how will my\nundertaking be.\" The maiden looked. Then spake Medb:--[4]\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 39-41.\n\n    [b] _Imbass forosna_, 'illumination between the hands.'\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n\"Good now,\n\n    \"Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid,\n    How beholdest thou our host?\"\n\n[5]Fedelm answered and spoke:[5]\n\n    \"Crimson-red from blood they are;\n    I behold them bathed in red!\"\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 1782.\n\n[6]\"That is no true augury,\"[6] said Medb. \"Verily, Conchobar [7]with the\nUlstermen[7] is in his 'Pains' in Emain; thither fared my messengers [8]and\nbrought me true tidings[8]; naught is there that we need dread from\nUlster's men. But speak truth, O Fedelm:--\n\n    \"Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid,\n    How beholdest thou our host?\"\n\n    \"Crimson-red from blood they are;\n    I behold them bathed in red!\"\n\n    [6-6] LU. 44.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 1782.\n\n[9]\"That is no true augury.[9] Cuscraid Mend ('the Stammerer') of Macha,\nConchobar's son, is in Inis Cuscraid ('Cuscraid's Isle') in his 'Pains.'\nThither fared my messengers; naught need we fear from Ulster's men. But\nspeak truth, O Fedelm:--\n\n    [W.233.] \"Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid,\n    How beholdest thou our host?\"\n\n    \"Crimson-red from blood they are;\n    I behold them bathed in red!\"\n\n    [9-9] LU. 48.\n\n\"Eogan, Durthacht's son, is in Rath Airthir ('the Eastern Rath') in his\n'Pains.' Thither went my messengers. Naught need we dread from Ulster's\nmen. But speak truth, O Fedelm:--\n\n    \"Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid,\n    How beholdest thou our host?\"\n\n    \"Crimson-red from blood they are;\n    I behold them bathed in red!\"\n\n\"Celtchar, Uthechar's son, is in his fort [1]at Lethglas[1] in his 'Pains,'\n[2]and a third of the Ulstermen with him.[2] Thither fared my messengers.\nNaught have we to fear from Ulster's men. [3]And Fergus son of Roig son of\nEochaid is with us here in exile, and thirty hundred with him.[3] But speak\ntruth, O Fedelm:--\n\n    \"Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid,\n    How beholdest thou our host?\"\n\n    \"Crimson-red from blood they are;\n    I behold them bathed in red!\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. 50.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 49.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 50-51.\n\n\"Meseemeth this not as it seemeth to thee,\" quoth Medb, \"for when Erin's\nmen shall assemble in one place, there quarrels will arise and broils,\ncontentions and disputes amongst them about the ordering of themselves in\nthe van or rear, at ford or river, over who shall be first at killing a\nboar or a stag or a deer or a hare. But, [4]look now again for us and[4]\nspeak truth, O Fedelm:--\n\n    \"Tell, O Fedelm, prophet-maid,\n    How beholdest thou our host?\"\n\n    \"Crimson-red from blood they are;\n    I behold them bathed in red!\"\n\n    [4-4] LU. 55.\n\nTherewith she began to prophesy and to foretell the coming of Cuchulain to\nthe men of Erin, and she chanted a lay:--\n\n    [W.255.] \"[a]Fair, of deeds, the man I see;\n    Wounded sore is his fair skin;\n    On his brow shines hero's light;\n    Victory's seat is in his face!\n\n    \"Seven gems of champions brave\n    Deck the centre of his orbs;\n    Naked are the spears he bears,\n    And he hooks a red cloak round!\n\n    \"Noblest face is his, I see;\n    He respects all womankind.\n    Young the lad and fresh his hue,\n    With a dragon's form in fight!\n\n    \"I know not who is the Hound,\n    Culann's hight,[b] [1]of fairest fame[1];\n    But I know full well this host\n    Will be smitten red by him!\n\n    \"Four small swords--a brilliant feat--\n    He supports in either hand;\n    These he'll ply upon the host,\n    Each to do its special deed!\n\n    \"His Gae Bulga,[c] too, he wields,\n    With his sword and javelin.\n    Lo, the man in red cloak girt\n    Sets his foot on every hill!\n\n    \"Two spears [2]from the chariot's left[2]\n    He casts forth in orgy wild.\n    And his form I saw till now\n    Well I know will change its guise!\n\n    \"On to battle now he comes;\n    If ye watch not, ye are doomed.\n    This is he seeks ye in fight\n    Brave Cuchulain, Sualtaim's son!\n\n    \"All your host he'll smite in twain,\n    Till he works your utter ruin.\n    [W.291.] All your heads ye'll leave with him.\n    Fedelm, prophet-maid, hides not!\n\n    \"Gore shall flow from warriors' wounds;\n    Long 'twill live in memory.\n    [LL.fo.56b.] Bodies hacked and wives in tears,\n    Through the Smith's Hound[a] whom I see!\"\n\n    [a] The Eg. 1782 version of this poem differs in several details\n    from LL.\n\n    [b] That is, Cu Chulain, 'the Hound of Culann.'\n\n    [1-1] Tranlating from LU. 65, Stowe and Add.\n\n    [c] The _Gae Bulga_, 'barbed spear,' which only Cuchulain could wield.\n\n    [2-2] Translating from LU. 72, Add. and Stowe; 'from the left,' as a\n    sign of enmity.\n\n    [a] That is, Cuchulain. See page 17.\n\nThus far the Augury and the Prophecy and the Preface of the Tale, and the\nOccasion of its invention and conception, and the Pillow-talk which Ailill\nand Medb had in Cruachan. [1]Next follows the Body of the Tale itself.[1]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and Add.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 19]\n\n\n\n\nV\n\nTHIS IS THE ROUTE OF THE TAIN\n\n\n[W.301.] and the Beginning of the Expedition and the Names of the Roads\nwhich the hosts of the four of the five grand provinces of Erin took into\nthe land of Ulster. [1]On Monday after Summer's end[1] [2]they set forth\nand proceeded:[2]\n\n    [1-1] LU. 81.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\n[3]South-east from Cruachan Ai,[3] by Mag Cruimm, over Tuaim Mona ('the\nHill of Turf'), by Turloch Teora Crich ('the Creek of three Lands'), by Cul\n('the Nook') of Silinne, by Dubloch ('Black Lough'), [4]by Fid Dubh ('Black\nWoods'),[4] by Badbgna, by Coltain, by the Shannon, by Glune Gabur, by Mag\nTrega, by Tethba in the north, by Tethba in the south, by Cul ('the Nook'),\nby Ochain, northwards by Uatu, eastwards by Tiarthechta, by Ord ('the\nHammer'), by Slaiss ('the Strokes'), [5]southwards,[5] by Indeoin ('the\nAnvil'), by Carn, by Meath, by Ortrach, by Findglassa Assail, ('White\nStream of Assail'), by Drong, by Delt, by Duelt, by Delinn, by Selaig, by\nSlabra, by Slechta, where swords hewed out roads before Medb and Ailill, by\nCul ('the Nook') of Siblinne, by Dub ('the Blackwater'), by Ochonn\n[6]southwards,[6] by Catha, by Cromma [7]southwards,[7] by Tromma,\n[8]eastwards[8] by Fodromma, by Slane, by Gort Slane, [9]to the south\nof[9] Druim Licce, by Ath Gabla, by Ardachad ('Highfield'), [W.356.]\n[1]northwards[1] by Feorainn, by Finnabair ('White Plain'), by Assa\n[2]southwards,[2] by Airne, by Aurthuile, by Druim Salfind ('Salfind\nRidge'), by Druim Cain, by Druim Caimthechta, by Druim macDega, by the\nlittle Eo Dond ('Brown Tree'), by the great Eo Dond, by Meide in Togmaill\n('Ferret's Neck'), by Meide in Eoin, ('Bird's Neck'), by Baille ('the\nTown'), by Aile, by Dall Scena, by Ball Scena, by Ross Mor ('Great Point'),\nby Scuap ('the Broom'), by Imscuap, by Cenn Ferna, by Anmag, by Fid Mor\n('Great Wood') in Crannach of Cualnge, [3]by Colbtha, by Crond in\nCualnge,[3] by Druim Cain on the road to Midluachar, [4]from Finnabair of\nCualnge. It is at that point that the hosts of Erin divided over the\nprovince in pursuit of the bull. For it was by way of those places they\nwent until they reached Finnabair. Here endeth the Title. The Story\nbegineth in order.[4]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 87, Stowe and Add.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 96. and Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 113.\n\n    [9-9] LU. 116.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 119.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 121.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 146-148.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 149-161.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 21]\n\n\n\n\nVI\n\nTHE MARCH OF THE HOST\n\n\n[W.389.] On the first stage the hosts went [1]from Cruachan,[1] they slept\nthe night at Cul Silinne, [2]where to-day is Cargin's Lough.[2] And [3]in\nthat place[3] was fixed the tent of Ailill son of Ross, [4]and the\ntrappings were arranged, both bedding and bed-clothes.[4] The tent of\nFergus macRoig was on his right hand; Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son,\nwas beside him; Ith macEtgaith next to that; Fiachu macFiraba, [5]the son\nof Conchobar's daughter,[5] at its side; [6]Conall Cernach at its side,[6]\nGobnenn macLurnig at the side of that. The place of Ailill's tent was on\nthe right on the march, and thirty hundred men of Ulster beside him. And\nthe thirty hundred men of Ulster on his right hand had he to the end that\nthe whispered talk and conversation and the choice supplies of food and of\ndrink might be the nearer to them.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Translating from Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 156-157.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 160.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 1782.\n\nMedb of Cruachan, [7]daughter of Eocho Fedlech,[7] moreover, was at\nAilill's left. Finnabair ('Fairbrow'), [8]daughter of Ailill and Medb,[8]\nat her side, [9]besides servants and henchmen.[9] Next, Flidais Foltchain\n('of the Lovely Hair'), wife first of Ailill Finn ('the Fair'). She took\npart in the Cow-spoil of Cualnge after she had slept with Fergus; and she\nit was that every seventh night brought sustenance [W.404.] in milk to the\nmen of Erin on the march, for king and queen and prince and poet and pupil.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 160.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 161.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 1782.\n\nMedb remained in the rear of the host that day in quest of tidings and\naugury [LL.fo.57a.] and knowledge. [1]She called to her charioteer to get\nready her nine chariots for her,[1] [2]to make a circuit of the camp[2]\nthat she might learn who was loath and who eager to take part in the\nhosting.  [3]With nine chariots[a] she was wont to travel, that the dust of\nthe great host might not soil her.[3] Medb suffered not her chariot to be\nlet down nor her horses unyoked until she had made a circuit of the camp.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 153.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [3-3] Gloss in LU. fo. 56b, 3.\n\n    [a] Following the emendation suggested by L. Chr. Stern, _Zeitschrift\n    fuer Celtische Philologie, Band_ II, S. 417, LU. has 'nine charioteers.'\n\nThen, [4]when she had reviewed the host,[4] were Medb's horses unyoked and\nher chariots let down, and she took her place beside Ailill macMata. And\nAilill asked tidings of Medb: who was eager and who was loath for the\nwarfare. \"Futile for all is the emprise but for one troop only, [5]namely\nthe division of the Galian ('of Leinster'),\"[5] quoth Medb. [6]\"Why blamest\nthou these men?\" queried Ailill. \"It is not that we blame them,\" Medb made\nanswer.[6] \"What good service then have these done that they are praised\nabove all?\" asked Ailill. \"There is reason to praise them,\" said Medb.\n[7]\"Splendid are the warriors.[7] When the others begin making their pens\nand pitching their camp, these have finished building their bothies and\nhuts. When the rest are building their bothies and huts, these have\nfinished preparing their food and drink. When the rest are preparing their\nfood and drink, these have finished eating and feasting, [8]and their harps\nare playing for them.[8] When all the others have finished eating and\nfeasting, these are by that [W.422.] time asleep. And even as their\nservants and thralls are distinguished above the servants and thralls of\nthe men of Erin, so shall their heroes and champions be distinguished\nbeyond the heroes and champions of the men of Erin this time on this\nhosting. [1]It is folly then for these to go, since it is those others will\nenjoy the victory of the host.[1]\" \"So much the better, I trow,\" replied\nAilill; \"for it is with us they go and it is for us they fight.\" \"They\nshall not go with us nor shall they fight for us.\" [2]cried Medb.[2] \"Let\nthem stay at home then,\" said Ailill. \"Stay they shall not,\" answered\nMedb. \"[3]They will fall on us in the rear and will seize our land against\nus.[3]\" \"What shall they do then,\" Finnabair[a] asked, \"if they go not out\nnor yet remain at home?\" \"Death and destruction and slaughter is what I\ndesire for them,\" answered Medb. \"For shame then on thy speech,\" spake\nAilill; \"[4]'tis a woman's advice,[4] for that they pitch their tents\nand make their pens so promptly and unwearily.\" \"By the truth of my\nconscience,\" cried Fergus, [5]\"not thus shall it happen, for they are\nallies of us men of Ulster.[5] No one shall do them to death but he that\ndoes death to myself [6]along with them!\"[6]\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 164 and Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] LU. 165.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 165.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 168.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 169.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 171-172.\n\n    [a] 'Ailill,' in Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 175-176.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe\n\n\"Not to me oughtest thou thus to speak, O Fergus,\" then cried Medb, \"for I\nhave hosts enough to slay and slaughter thee with the division of\nLeinstermen round thee. For there are the seven Mane, [7]that is, my seven\nsons[7] with their seven divisions, and the sons of Maga with their\n[8]seven[8] divisions, and Ailill with his division, and I myself with my\nown body-guard besides. We are strong enough here to kill and slaughter\nthee with thy cantred of the Leinstermen round thee!\"\n\n    [7-7] LU. 179.\n\n    [8-8] Add.\n\n\"It befits thee not thus to speak to me,\" said Fergus, [W.439.] \"for\nI have with me here [1]in alliance with us Ulstermen,[1] the seven\nUnder-kings of Munster, with their seven cantreds.  [2]Here we have what is\nbest of the youths of Ulster, even the division of the Black Banishment.[2]\nHere we have what is best of the noble youths of Ulster, even the division\nof the Galian ('of Leinster'). Furthermore, I myself am bond and surety and\nguarantee for them, since ever they left their own native land. [3]I will\ngive thee battle in the midst of the camp,[3] and to me will they hold\nsteadfast on the day of battle. More than all that,\" added Fergus, \"these\nmen shall be no subject of dispute. By that I mean I will never forsake\nthem. [4]For the rest, we will care for these warriors, to the end that\nthey get not the upper hand of the host.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 184.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with Stowe; LL. appears to be corrupt. This was the name\n    given to Fergus, Cormac and the other exiles from Ulster.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n\"The number of our force is seventeen cantreds, besides our rabble and our\nwomen-folk--for with each king was his queen in Medb's company--and our\nstriplings; the eighteenth division is namely the cantred of the Galian.[4]\nThis division of Leinstermen I will distribute among [5]all the host of[5]\nthe men of Erin in such wise that no five men of them shall be in any one\nplace.\" \"That pleaseth me well,\" said Medb: \"let them be as they may, if\nonly they be not in the battle-order of the ranks where they now are in\nsuch great force.\"\n\n    [4-4] LU. 187-192.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 1782.\n\nForthwith Fergus distributed the cantred [6]of the Galian[6] among the men\nof Erin in such wise that there were not five men of them in any one place.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe and Add.\n\n[LL.fo.57b.] Thereupon, the troops set out on their way and march.  It was\nno easy thing [7]for their kings and their leaders[7] to attend to that\nmighty host. They took part in the expedition [W.453.] according to the\nseveral tribes and according to the several stems and the several districts\nwherewith they had come, to the end that they might see one other and know\none other, that each man might be with his comrades and with his friends\nand with his kinsfolk on the march. They declared that in such wise they\nshould go. They also took counsel in what manner they should proceed on\ntheir hosting. Thus they declared they should proceed: Each host with its\nking, each troop with its lord, and each band with its captain; each king\nand each prince of the men of Erin [1]by a separate route[1] on his halting\nheight apart. They took counsel who was most proper to seek tidings in\nadvance of the host between the two provinces. And they said it was Fergus,\ninasmuch as the expedition was an obligatory one with him, for it was he\nthat had been seven years in the kingship of Ulster. And [2]after Conchobar\nhad usurped the kingship and[2] after the murder of the sons of Usnech who\nwere under his protection and surety, Fergus left the Ultonians, and for\nseventeen years he was away from Ulster in exile and in enmity. For that\nreason it was fitting that he above all should go after tidings.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and Add.\n\nSo [3]the lead of the way was entrusted to Fergus.[3] Fergus before all\nfared forth to seek tidings, and a feeling of [4]love and[4] affection for\nhis kindred of the men of Ulster came over him, and he led the troops\nastray in a great circuit to the north and the south. And he despatched\nmessengers with warnings to the Ulstermen, [5]who were at that time in\ntheir 'Pains' except Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim.[5] And he began to\ndetain and delay the host [6]until such time as the men of Ulster should\nhave gathered together an army.[6] [7]Because of affection he did so.[7]\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 217.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 227.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 1782.\n\n[W.472.] Medb perceived this and she upbraided him for it, and chanted the\nlay:--\n\n    Medb:   \"Fergus, speak, what shall we say?\n            What may mean this devious way?\n            For we wander north and south;\n            Over other lands we stray!\"\n\n    Fergus: \"Medb, why art thou so perturbed?\n            There's no treacherous purpose here.\n            Ulster's land it is, O queen,\n            Over which I've led thy host!\"\n\n    Medb:   \"Ailill, splendid with his hosts,\n            [1]Fears thee lest thou should'st betray.[1]\n            Thou hast not bent all thy mind\n            To direct us on our way!\"\n\n    Fergus: \"Not to bring the host to harm\n            Make these changing circuits I.\n            Haply could I now avoid\n            Sualtach's son, the Blacksmith's Hound!\"[a]\n\n    Medb:   \"Ill of thee to wrong our host,\n            Fergus, son of Ross the Red;\n            Much good hast thou found with us,\n            Fergus, in thy banishment!\"\n\n            \"[2]If thou showest our foemen love,\n            No more shalt thou lead our troops;\n            Haply someone else we'll find\n            To direct us on our way![2]\"\n\n    [1-1] Reading with LU. and YBL. 252.\n\n    [a] That is, Cuchulain.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\n\"I will be in the van of the troops no longer,\" cried Fergus; \"but do thou\nfind another to go before them.\" For all that, Fergus kept his place in\nthe van of the troops.\n\nThe four mighty provinces of Erin passed that night on Cul Silinne. The\nsharp, keen-edged anxiety for Cuchulain came upon Fergus and he warned the\nmen of Erin to be on their guard, because there would come upon them the\nrapacious lion, and the doom of foes, the vanquisher of multitudes, and the\nchief of retainers, the mangler of great hosts, the hand that dispenseth\n[3]treasures,[3] and the flaming [W.502.] torch, even Cuchulain son of\nSualtaim.[a] And thus he foreshowed him and chanted a lay, and Medb\nresponded:--\n\n    Fergus: \"Well for ye to heed and watch,\n            With array of arms and men.\n            He will come, the one we fear,\n            Murthemne's great, deedful youth!\"\n\n    Medb:   \"How so dear, this battle-rede,\n            Comes from thee, [LL.fo.58a.] Roig's son most bold.\n            Men and arms have I enough\n            To attend Cuchulain here!\"\n\n    Fergus: \"Thou shalt need them, Medb of Ai,\n            Men and arms for battle hard,\n            With the grey steed's[b] horseman brave.\n            All the night and all the day!\"\n\n    Medb:   \"I have kept here in reserve\n            Heroes fit for fight and spoil;\n            Thirty hundred hostage-chiefs,\n            Leinster's bravest champions they.\n\n            Fighting men from Cruachan fair,\n            Braves from clear-streamed Luachair,\n            Four full realms of goodly Gaels\n            Will defend me from this man!\"\n\n    Fergus: \"Rich in troops from Mourne and Bann,\n            Blood he'll draw o'er shafts of spears;\n            He will cast to mire and sand\n            These three thousand Leinstermen.\n\n            With the swallow's swiftest speed,\n            With the rush of biting wind,\n            So bounds on my dear brave Hound,\n            Breathing slaughter on his foes!\"\n\n    Medb:   \"Fergus, should he come 'tween us,\n            To Cuchulain bear this word:\n            He were prudent to stay still;\n            Cruachan holds a check in store.\"\n\n    Fergus: \"Valiant will the slaughter be\n            Badb's wild daughter[c] gloats upon.\n            For the Blacksmith's Hound will spill\n            Showers of blood on hosts of men!\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [a] MS.: _Sualtach._\n\n    [b] _Liath Mache_ ('the Roan of Macha'), the name of one of Cuchulain's\n    two horses.\n\n    [c] That is, the goddess or fury of battle.\n\n[W.540.] After this lay the men of the four grand provinces of Erin marched\n[1]on the morrow[1] over Moin Coltna ('the Marsh of Coltain') eastwards\nthat day; and there met them eight score deer [2]in a single herd.[2] The\ntroops spread out and surrounded and killed them so that none of them\nescaped.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 195.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and Add.\n\nBut there is one event to add: Although the division of the Galian had been\ndispersed [3]among the men of Erin,[3] [4]wherever there was a man of the\nGalian, it was he that got them, except[4] five deer only which was the men\nof Erin's share thereof, so that one division took all the eight score\ndeer.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 196.\n\n[5]Then they proceed to Mag Trega and they unyoke there and prepare their\nfood. It is said that it is there that Dubthach recited this stave:--\n\n    \"Grant ye have not heard till now,\n    Giving ear to Dubthach's fray:\n    Dire-black war upon ye waits,\n    'Gainst the Whitehorned of Queen Medb![a]\n\n    \"There will come the chief of hosts,[b]\n    War for Murthemne to wage.\n    Ravens shall drink garden's milk,[c]\n    This the fruit of swineherds' strife (?)[d]\n\n    \"Turfy Cron will hold them back,\n    Keep them back from Murthemne,[5]\n    [9]Till the warriors' work is done\n    On Ochaine's northern mount!\n\n    \"'Quick,' to Cormac, Ailill cries;\n    'Go and seek ye out your son,\n    Loose no cattle from the fields,\n    Lest the din of the host reach them!'\n\n    \"Battle they'll have here eftsoon,\n    Medb and one third of the host.\n    Corpses will be scattered wide\n    If the Wildman[a] come to you!\"\n\n    [a] Literally, 'of Ailill's spouse.'\n\n    [b] That is, Cuchulain.\n\n    [c] A kenning for 'blood.'\n\n    [d] Referring to the two bulls, the Brown and the Whitehorned, which\n    were the re-incarnations through seven intermediate stages of two\n    divine swineherds of the gods of the under-world. The story is told in\n    _Irische Texte_, iii, i, pp. 230-275.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 198-205.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'the Contorted one'; that is, Cuchulain.\n\nThen Nemain, [1]the Badb to wit,[1] attacked them, and that was not the\nquietest of nights they had, with the noise of the churl, namely Dubthach,\nin their[b] sleep.  Such fears he scattered amongst the host straightway,\nand he hurled a great stone at the throng till Medb came to check him. They\ncontinued their march then till they slept a night in Granard Tethba in the\nnorth,[9] [2]after the host had made a circuitous way across sloughs and\nstreams.[2]\n\n    [1-1] Gloss in YBL. 211.\n\n    [b] 'his' Eg. 1782.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. and LU. 206-215. With this passage YBL. begins, fo. 17a.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 215.\n\n[W.547.] It was on that same day, [3]after the coming of the warning from\nFergus[3] [4]to the Ulstermen,[4] that Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, [5]and\nSualtaim[5] Sidech ('of the Fairy Mound'), his father, [6]when they had\nreceived the warning from Fergus,[6] came so near [7]on their watch for the\nhost[7] that their horses grazed in pasture round the pillar-stone on Ard\nCuillenn ('the Height of Cuillenn').  Sualtaim's horses cropped the grass\nnorth of the pillar-stone close to the ground; Cuchulain's cropped the\ngrass south of the pillar-stone even to the ground and the bare stones.\n\"Well, O master Sualtaim,\" said Cuchulain; \"the thought of the host is\nfixed sharp upon me [8]to-night,[8] so do thou depart for us with warnings\nto the men of Ulster, that they remain not in the smooth plains but that\nthey betake themselves to the woods and wastes and steep glens of the\nprovince, if so they may keep out of the way of the men of Erin.\" \"And\nthou, lad, what wilt thou do?\" \"I must go southwards to Temair to keep\ntryst with the [W.556.] maid[a] of Fedlimid Nocruthach ('of the Nine\nForms') [1]Conchobar's daughter,[1] according to my own agreement, till\nmorning.\" \"Alas, that one should go [2]on such a journey,\"[2] said\nSualtaim, \"and leave the Ulstermen under the feet of their foes and their\nenemies for the sake of a tryst with a woman!\" \"For all that, I needs must\ngo. For, an I go not, the troth of men will be held for false and the\npromises of women held for true.\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. 218\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [5-5] _Sualtach_, in LL.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 220.\n\n    [a] \"Who was secretly as a concubine with Cuchulain\"; gloss in LU. and\n    YBL. 222 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and Add.\n\nSualtaim departed with warnings to the men of Ulster.  Cuchulain strode\ninto the wood, and there, with a single blow, he lopped the prime sapling\nof an oak, root and top, and with only one foot and one hand and one eye he\nexerted himself; and he made a twig-ring thereof and set an ogam[b] script\non the plug of the ring, and set the ring round the narrow part of the\npillar-stone on Ard ('the Height') of Cuillenn. He forced the ring till it\nreached the thick of the pillar-stone. Thereafter Cuchulain went his way to\nhis tryst with the woman.\n\n    [b] The old kind of writing of the Irish.\n\nTouching the men of Erin, the account follows here: They came up to the\npillar-stone at Ard Cuillenn, [3]which is called Crossa Coil to-day,[3] and\nthey began looking out upon the province that was unknown to them, the\nprovince of Ulster. And two of Medb's people went always before them in the\nvan of the host, at every camp and on every march, at every ford and every\nriver [LL.fo.58b.] and every gap. They were wont to do so [4]that they\nmight save the brooches and cushions and cloaks of the host, so that the\ndust of the multitude might not soil them[4] and that no stain might come\non the princes' raiment in the crowd or the crush of the hosts or the\nthrong;--these were the two sons of Nera, who was the son of Nuathar,\n[W.575.] son of Tacan, two sons of the house-stewards of Cruachan, Err and\nInnell, to wit. Fraech and Fochnam were the names of their charioteers.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 245-246.\n\nThe nobles of Erin arrived at the pillar-stone and they there beheld the\nsigns of the browsing of the horses, cropping around the pillar, and they\nlooked close at the rude hoop which the royal hero had left behind about\nthe pillar-stone. [1]Then sat they down to wait till the army should come,\nthe while their musicians played to them.[1] And Ailill took the withy in\nhis hand and placed it in Fergus' hand, and Fergus read the ogam script\ngraven on the plug of the withy, and made known to the men of Erin what was\nthe meaning of the ogam writing that was on it. [2]When Medb came, she\nasked, \"Why wait ye here?\" \"Because of yonder withy we wait,\" Fergus made\nanswer; \"there is an ogam writing on its binding and this is what it saith:\n'Let no one go past here till a man be found to throw a withy like unto\nthis, using only one hand and made of a single branch, and I except my\nmaster Fergus.'  Truly,\" Fergus added, \"it was Cuchulain threw it, and it\nwas his steeds that grazed this plain.\" And he placed the hoop in the hands\nof the druids,[2] and it is thus he began to recite and he pronounced a\nlay:--\n\n    \"What bespeaks this withe to us,\n    What purports its secret rede?\n    And what number cast it here,\n    Was it one man or a host?\n\n    \"If ye go past here this night,\n    And bide not [3]one night[3] in camp.\n    On ye'll come the tear-flesh Hound;\n    Yours the blame, if ye it scorn!\n\n    \"[4]Evil on the host he'll bring,[4]\n    If ye go your way past this.\n    [W.596.] Find, ye druids, find out here,\n    For what cause this withe was made!\"\n\n[1]A druid speaks[1]:\n\n    \"Cut by hero, cast by chief,\n    As a perfect trap for foes.\n    Stayer of lords--with hosts of men--\n    One man cast it with one hand!\n\n    \"With fierce rage the battle 'gins\n    Of the Smith's Hound of Red Branch.[a]\n    Bound to meet this madman's rage;\n    This the name that's on the withe!\n\n    [2]\"Would the king's host have its will--\n    Else they break the law of war--\n    Let some one man of ye cast,\n    As one man this withe did cast![2]\n\n    \"Woes to bring with hundred fights\n    On four realms of Erin's land;\n    Naught I know 'less it be this\n    For what cause the withe was made!\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 250.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 252-258.\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Stowe, Add. and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] Reading with LU. and YBL. 261.\n\n    [1-1] LU., marginal note.\n\n    [a] The name of the festal hall of the kings of Ulster.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\nAfter that lay: \"I pledge you my word,\" said Fergus, \"if so ye set at\nnaught yon withy and the royal hero that made it, [3]and if ye go beyond[3]\nwithout passing a night's camp and quarterage here, or until a man of you\nmake a withy of like kind, using but one foot and one eye and one hand,\neven as he made it, [4]certain it is, whether ye be[4] under the ground or\nin a tight-shut house, [5]the man that wrote the ogam hereon[5] will bring\nslaughter and bloodshed upon ye before the hour of rising on the morrow, if\nye make light of him!\" \"That, surely, would not be pleasing to us,\" quoth\nMedb, \"that any one should [6]straightway[6] spill our blood or besmirch us\nred, now that we are come to this unknown province, even to the province of\nUlster. More pleasing would it be to us, to spill another's blood and\nredden him.\" \"Far be it from us to set this [W.618.] withy at naught,\" said\nAilill, \"nor shall we make little of the royal hero that wrought it, rather\nwill we resort to the shelter of this great wood, [1]that is, Fidduin,\n('the Wood of the Dun')[1] southwards till morning. There will we pitch our\ncamp and quarters.\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. 270.\n\n    [4-4] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 271.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 273.\n\n    [1-1] A gloss in YBL. 274; found also in Eg. 1782.\n\nThereupon the hosts advanced, and as they went they felled the wood with\ntheir swords before their chariots, so that Slechta ('the Hewn Road') is\nstill the by-name of that place where is Partraige Beca ('the Lesser\nPartry') south-west of Cenannas na Rig ('Kells of the Kings') near Cul\nSibrille.\n\n[2]According to other books, it is told as follows: After they had come to\n[3]Fidduin[3] they saw a chariot and therein a beautiful maiden. It is\nthere that the conversation between Medb and Fedelm the seeress took place\nthat we spoke of before, and it is after the answer she made to Medb that\nthe wood was cut down: \"Look for me,\" said Medb, \"how my journey will be.\"\n\"It is hard for me,\" the maiden made answer, \"for no glance of eye can I\ncast upon them in the wood.\" \"Then it is plough-land this shall be,\" quoth\nMedb; \"we will cut down the wood.\"  Now, this was done, so that this is the\nname of the place, Slechta, to wit.[2]\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 276-283.\n\n    [3-3] '_Fedaduin_,' MS.\n\n[4]They slept in Cul Sibrille, which is Cenannas.[4] A heavy snow fell on\nthem that night, and so great it was that it reached to the shoulders[a]\nof the men and to the flanks of the horses and to the poles[b] of the\nchariots, so that all the provinces of Erin were one level plane from the\nsnow. But no huts nor bothies nor tents did they set up that night, nor did\nthey [LL.fo.59.] prepare food nor drink, nor made they a meal nor repast.\nNone of the men of Erin [W.630.] wot whether friend or foe was next him\nuntil the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [a] 'Girdles,' LU. and YBL. 284; 'shields,' Eg. 1782.\n\n    [b] 'Wheels,' LU. and YBL. 285 and Eg. 1782.\n\nCertain it is that the men of Erin experienced not a night of encampment or\nof station that held more discomfort or hardship for them than that night\n[1]with the snow[1] at Cul Sibrille. The four grand provinces of Erin moved\nout early on the morrow [2]with the rising of the bright-shining sun\nglistening on the snow[2] and marched on from that part into another.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 287.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with Stowe.\n\nNow, as regards Cuchulain: It was far from being early when he arose\n[3]from his tryst.[3] And then he ate a meal and took a repast, and [4]he\nremained until he had[4] washed himself and bathed on that day.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 288.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 289.\n\nHe called to his charioteer to lead out the horses and yoke the chariot.\nThe charioteer led out the horses and yoked the chariot, and Cuchulain\nmounted his chariot.  And they came on the track of the army. They found\nthe trail of the men of Erin leading past them from that part into another.\n\"Alas, O master Laeg,\" cried Cuchulain, \"by no good luck went we to our\ntryst with the woman last night. [5]Would that we had not gone thither nor\nbetrayed the Ultonians.[5] This is the least that might be looked for from\nhim that keeps guard on the marches, a cry, or a shout, or an alarm, or to\ncall, 'Who goes the road?' This it fell not unto us to say. The men of Erin\nhave gone past us, [6]without warning, without complaint,[6] into the land\nof Ulster.\" \"I foretold thee that, O Cuchulain,\" said Laeg. \"Even though\nthou wentest to thy woman-tryst [7]last night,[7] such a disgrace would\ncome upon thee.\" \"Good now, O Laeg, go thou for us on the trail of the host\nand make an estimate of them, and discover [W.649.] for us in what number\nthe men of Erin went by us.\"\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 290.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\nLaeg came on the track of the host, and he went to the front of the trail\nand he came on its sides and he went to the back of it. \"Thou art confused\nin thy counting, O Laeg, my master,\" quoth Cuchulain. \"Confused I must be,\"\nLaeg replied. [1]\"It is not confusedly that I should see, if I should go,\"\nsaid Cuchulain.[1] \"Come into the chariot then, and I will make a reckoning\nof them.\" The charioteer mounted the chariot and Cuchulain went on the\ntrail of the hosts and [2]after a long while[2] he made a reckoning of\nthem. [3]\"Even thou, it is not easy for thee.[3] Thou art perplexed in thy\ncounting, my little Cuchulain,\" quoth Laeg. \"Not perplexed,\" answered\nCuchulain; [4]\"it is easier for me than for thee.[4] [5]For I have three\nmagical virtues: Gift of sight, gift of understanding, and gift of\nreckoning.[5] For I know the number wherewith the hosts went past us,\nnamely, eighteen cantreds. Nay more: the eighteenth cantred has been\ndistributed among [6]the entire host of[6] the men of Erin, [7]so that\ntheir number is not clear, namely, that of the cantred of Leinstermen.\"[7]\n[8]This here is the third cunningest [9]and most difficult[9] reckoning\nthat ever was made in Erin.  These were: The reckoning by Cuchulain of the\nmen of Erin on the Tain, the reckoning by Lug Lamfota ('Long-hand') of the\nhost of the Fomorians [10]in the Battle of Moytura,[10] and the reckoning\nby Incel of the host in the Hostel of Da Derga.[8]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 294-295.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 297.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 297.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 297-298.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 298-299.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 302.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 302.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] LU. fo. 58a, in the margin.\n\n    [10-10] LU. fo. 58a, in the margin.\n\nNow, many and divers were the magic virtues that were in Cuchulain [11]that\nwere in no one else in his day.[11] Excellence of form, excellence of\nshape, excellence of build, excellence [W.661.] in swimming, excellence in\nhorsemanship, excellence in chess and in draughts, excellence in battle,\nexcellence in contest, excellence in single combat, excellence in\nreckoning, excellence in speech, excellence in counsel, excellence in\nbearing, excellence in laying waste and in plundering from the neighbouring\nborder.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe, and LU. fo. 58a, 24, marginal note.\n\n\"Good, my friend Laeg. Brace the horses for us to the chariot; lay on the\ngoad for us on the horses; drive on the chariot for us and give thy left[a]\nboard to the hosts, to see can we overtake the van or the rear or the midst\nof the hosts, for I will cease to live unless there fall by my hand this\nnight a friend or foe of the men of Erin.\"\n\n    [a] A sign of enmity.\n\nThen it was that the charioteer gave the prick to the steeds. He turned his\nleft board to the hosts till he arrived at Turloch[b] Caille More ('the\nCreek of the Great Wood') northwards of Cnogba na Rig ('Knowth of the\nKings') which is called Ath Gabla ('the Ford of the Fork'). [1]Thereupon\nCuchulain went round the host till he came to Ath Grenca.[1] He went into\nthe wood at that place and sprang out of his chariot, and he lopped off a\nfour-pronged fork, root and top, with a single stroke [2]of his sword.[2]\nHe pointed and charred it and put a writing in ogam on its side, and he\ngave it a long throw from the hinder part of his chariot with the tip of a\nsingle hand, in such wise that two-thirds of it sank into the ground and\nonly one-third was above it [3]in the mid part of the stream, so that no\nchariot could go thereby on this side or that.[3]\n\n    [b] _Belach_ ('the Pass'), Eg. 1782.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 304.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 305.\n\nThen it was that the same two striplings surprised him, namely, the two\nsons of Nera son of Nuathar son of Tacan, while engaged in that feat. And\nthey vied which of the twain [4]would be the first to fight and contend\nwith Cuchuain, which of them[4] would inflict the first wound upon [W.680.]\nhim and be the first to behead him. Cuchulain turned on them, and\nstraightway he struck off their four heads [1]from themselves [2]Eirr and\nIndell[2] and [3]from Foich and Fochlam,[3] their drivers,[1] and he fixed\na head of each man of them on each of the prongs of the pole. And Cuchulain\nlet the horses of the party go back in the direction of the men of Erin, to\nreturn by the same road, their reins loose [4]around their ears[4] and\ntheir bellies red and the bodies of the warriors dripping their blood down\noutside on the ribs of the chariots. [5]Thus he did,[5] for he deemed it no\nhonour nor deemed he it fair to take horses or garments or arms from\ncorpses or from the dead. And then the troops saw the horses of the party\nthat had gone out in advance before them, and the headless bodies of the\nwarriors oozing their blood down on the ribs of the chariots ([6]and their\ncrimsoned trappings upon them[6]). The van of the army waited for the rear\nto come up, and all were thrown into confusion of striking, that is as much\nas to say, into a tumult of arms.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 306.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 306.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 310.\n\nMedb and Fergus and the Mane and the sons of Maga drew near. For in this\nwise was Medb wont to travel, and nine chariots with her alone; two of\nthese chariots before her, and two chariots behind, and two chariots at\neither side, and her own chariot in the middle between them.  This is why\nMedb did so, that the turves from the horses' hoofs, or the flakes of foam\nfrom the bridle-bits, or the dust of the mighty host or of the numerous\nthrong might not reach the queen's diadem of gold [7]which she wore round\nher head.[7] \"What have we here?\" queried Medb. \"Not hard to say,\" each and\nall made answer; [LL.fo.60.] \"the horses of the band that went out before\nus are here and their bodies lacking their heads in their chariots.\" They\nheld [W.702.] a council and they felt certain it was the sign of a\nmultitude and of the approach of a mighty host, and that it was the\nUlstermen that had come [1]and that it was a battle that had taken place\nbefore them on the ford.[1] And this was the counsel they took: to\ndespatch Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, from them to learn what was at\nthe ford; because, even though the Ulstermen might be there, they would not\nkill the son of their own king. Thereupon Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's\nson, set forth and this was the complement with which he went, ten hundred\nin addition to twenty hundred armed men, to ascertain what was at the\nford. And when he was come, he saw naught save the fork in the middle of\nthe ford, with four heads upon it dripping their blood down along the stem\nof the fork into the stream of the river, [2]and a writing in ogam on the\nside,[2] and the signs of the two horses and the track of a single\nchariot-driver and the marks of a single warrior leading out of the ford\ngoing therefrom to the eastward.  [3]By that time,[3] the nobles of Erin\nhad drawn nigh to the ford and they all began to look closely at the fork.\nThey marvelled and wondered who had set up the trophy.  [4]\"Are yonder\nheads those of our people?\" Medb asked.  \"They are our people's, and\nour chosen ones',\" answered Ailill. One of their men deciphered the\nogam-writing that was on the side of the fork, to wit: 'A single man cast\nthis fork with but a single hand; and go ye not past it till one man of you\nthrow it with one hand, excepting Fergus.'[4] \"What name have ye men of\nUlster for this ford till now, Fergus?\" asked Ailill. \"Ath Grenca,\"[a]\nanswered Fergus; \"and Ath Gabla ('Ford of the Fork') shall now be its name\nforever from this fork,\" said Fergus.  And he recited the lay:--\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 313.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 314.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 314-318.\n\n    [a] So Stowe; LL. has '_Grena_.'\n\n    [W.719.] \"Grenca's ford shall change its name,\n    From the strong and fierce Hound's deed.\n    Here we see a four-pronged fork,\n    Set to prove all Erin's men!\n\n    \"On two points--as sign of war--\n    Are Fraech's head and Fochnam's head;\n    On its other points are thrust\n    Err's head and Innell's withal!\n\n    \"And yon ogam on its side,\n    Find, ye druids, in due form,\n    Who has set it upright there?\n    What host drove it in the ground?\"\n\n(A druid answers:)\n\n    \"Yon forked pole--with fearful strength--\n    Which thou seest, Fergus, there,\n    One man cut, to welcome us,\n    With one perfect stroke of sword!\n\n    \"Pointed it and shouldered it--\n    Though this was no light exploit--\n    After that he flung it down,\n    To uproot for one of you!\n\n    \"Grenca was its name till now--\n    All will keep its memory--\n    Fork-ford[a] be its name for aye,\n    From the fork that's in the ford!\"\n\n    [a] That is, _Ath Gabla_.\n\nAfter the lay, spake Ailill: \"I marvel and wonder, O Fergus, who could have\nsharpened the fork and slain with such speed the four that had gone out\nbefore us.\" \"Fitter it were to marvel and wonder at him who with a single\nstroke lopped the fork which thou seest, root and top, pointed and charred\nit and flung it the length of a throw from the hinder part of his chariot,\nfrom the tip of a single hand, so that it sank over two-thirds into the\nground and that naught save one-third is above; nor was a hole first dug\nwith his sword, but through a grey stone's flag it was thrust, and thus it\nis geis for the men of Erin to proceed to the bed of this ford till one of\nye pull out the fork with the tip of one hand, even as he erewhile drove it\ndown.\"\n\n\"Thou art of our hosts, O Fergus,\" said Medb; [W.753.] [1]avert this\nnecessity from us,[1] and do thou draw the fork for us from the bed of the\nford.\" \"Let a chariot be brought me,\" cried Fergus, [2]\"till I draw it out,\nthat it may be seen that its butt is of one hewing.\"[2] And a chariot was\nbrought to Fergus, and Fergus laid hold [3]with a truly mighty grip[3] on\nthe fork, and he made splinters and [LL.fo.61a.] scraps of the chariot.\n\"Let another chariot be brought me,\" cried Fergus. [4]Another[4] chariot\nwas brought to Fergus, and Fergus made a tug at the fork and again made\nfragments and splinters of the chariot, [5]both its box and its yoke and\nits wheels.[5] \"Again let a chariot be brought me,\" cried Fergus. And\nFergus exerted his strength on the fork, and made pieces and bits of the\nchariot.  There where the seventeen[a] chariots of the Connachtmen's\nchariots were, Fergus made pieces and bits of them all, and yet he failed\nto draw the fork from the bed of the ford. \"Come now, let it be, O Fergus,\"\ncried Medb; \"break our people's chariots no more. For hadst thou not been\nnow engaged on this hosting, [6]by this time[6] should we have come to\nUlster, driving divers spoils and cattle-herds with us. We wot wherefore\nthou workest all this, to delay and detain the host till the Ulstermen rise\nfrom their 'Pains' and offer us battle, the battle of the Tain.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 322.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 324.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [a] \"Fourteen,\" LU. and YBL. 325 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n\"Bring me a swift chariot,\" cried Fergus. And his own chariot was brought\nto Fergus, and Fergus gave a tug at the fork, and nor wheel nor floor nor\none of the chariot-poles creaked nor cracked. Even though it was with his\nstrength and prowess that the one had driven it down, with his might and\ndoughtiness the other drew it out,--the battle-champion, the gap-breaker of\nhundreds, the crushing sledge, the stone-of-battle for enemies, the\n[W.777.] head of retainers, the foe of hosts, the hacking of masses, the\nflaming torch and the leader of mighty combat. He drew it up with the tip\nof one hand till it reached the slope of his shoulder, and he placed the\nfork in Ailill's hand.  Ailill scanned it; he regarded it near. \"The fork,\nmeseems, is all the more perfect,\" quoth Ailill; \"for a single stroke I see\non it from butt to top.\" \"Aye, all the more perfect,\" Fergus replied. And\nFergus began to sing praise [1]of Cuchulain,[1] and he made a lay\nthereon:--\n\n    \"Here behold the famous fork,\n    By which cruel Cuchulain stood.\n    Here he left, for hurt to all,\n    Four heads of his border-foes!\n\n    \"Surely he'd not flee therefrom,\n    'Fore aught man, how brave or bold.\n    Though the scatheless[a] Hound this left,\n    On its hard rind there is gore!\n\n    \"To its hurt the host goes east,\n    Seeking Cualnge's wild Brown bull.\n    [2]Warriors' cleaving there shall be,[2]\n    'Neath Cuchulain's baneful sword!\n\n    \"No gain will their[b] stout bull be,\n    For which sharp-armed war will rage;\n    At the fall of each head's skull\n    Erin's every tribe shall weep!\n\n    \"I have nothing to relate\n    As regards Dechtire's son.[c]\n    Men and women hear the tale\n    Of this fork, how it came here!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'painless,' referring to Cuchulain's exemption from the\n    _cess_ or 'debility' of the Ulstermen.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [b] Translating from Stowe; LL. has 'his' or 'its.'\n\n    [c] That is, Cuchulain.\n\nAfter this lay: \"Let us pitch our booths and tents,\" said Ailill, \"and let\nus make ready food and drink, and let us sing songs and strike up harps,\nand let us eat and [W.807.] regale ourselves, for, of a truth, never before\nnor since knew the men of Erin a night of encampment or of entrenchment\nthat held sorer discomfort or distress for them than yester-night. [1]Let\nus give heed to the manner of folk to whom we go and let us hear somewhat\nof their deeds and famous tales.\"[1]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 329-330.\n\nThey raised their booths and pitched their tents. They got ready\n[LL.fo.61b.] their food and drink, and songs were sung and harping intoned\nby them, and feasting and eating indulged in, [2]and they were told of the\nfeats of Cuchulain.[2]\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 331.\n\nAnd Ailill inquired of Fergus: \"I marvel and wonder who could have come to\nus to our lands and slain so quickly the four that had gone out before\nus. Is it likely that Conchobar son of Fachtna Fatach ('the Mighty'), High\nKing of Ulster, has come to us?\" \"It is never likely that he has,\" Fergus\nanswered; \"for a shame it would be to speak ill of him in his absence.\nThere is nothing he would not stake for the sake of his honour. For if he\nhad come hither [3]to the border of the land[3], there would have come\narmies and troops and the pick of the men of Erin that are with him. And\neven though against him in one and the same place, and in one mass and one\nmarch and one camp, and on one and the same hill were the men of Erin and\nAlba, Britons and Saxons, he would give them battle, before him they would\nbreak and it is not he that would be routed.\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 333.\n\n\"A question, then: Who would be like to have come to us? Is it like that\nCuscraid Mend ('the Stammerer') of Macha would have come, Conchobar's son,\nfrom Inis Cuscraid?\" \"Nay then, it is not; he, the son of the High King,\"\nFergus answered. \"There is nothing he would not hazard for the sake of his\nhonour. For were it he that had come hither, there would have come the\n[W.827.] sons of kings and the royal leaders [1]of Ulster and Erin[1] that\nare serving as hirelings with him. And though there might be against him in\none and the same place, in one mass and one march and one camp, and on one\nand the same hill the men of Erin and Alba, Britons and Saxons, he would\ngive them battle, before him they would break and it is not he that would\nbe routed.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n\"I ask, then, whether Eogan son of Durthacht, King of Fernmag, would have\ncome?\" \"In sooth, it is not likely. For, had he come hither, the pick of\nthe men of Fernmag would have come with him, battle he would give them,\nbefore him they would break, and it is not he that would be routed.\"\n\n\"I ask, then: Who would be likely to have come to us? Is it likely that he\nwould have come, Celtchai son of Uthechar?\" \"No more is it likely that it\nwas he. A shame it would be to make light of him in his absence, him the\nbattle-stone for the foes of the province, the head of all the retainers\nand the gate-of-battle of Ulster. And even should there be against him in\none place and one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the same\nhill all the men of Erin from the west to the east, from the south to the\nnorth, battle he would give them, before him they would break and it is not\nhe that would be routed.\"\n\n\"I ask, then: Who would be like to have come to us?\"  [2]asked Ailill.[2]\n[3]\"I know not,\" Fergus replied,[3] \"unless it be the little lad, my\nnursling and Conchobar's.  Cuchulain ('the Wolf-dog of Culann the Smith')\nhe is called. [4]He is the one who could have done the deed,\" answered\nFergus. \"He it is who could have lopped the tree with one blow from its\nroot, could have killed the four with the quickness wherewith they were\nkilled and could have come to the border with his charioteer.\"[4]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 337-340.\n\n[W.843.] \"Of a truth,\" spake Ailill, \"I heard from ye of this little boy\nonce on a time in Cruachan. What might be the age of this little boy now?\"\n\"It is by no means his age that is most formidable in him,\" answered\nFergus.  \"Because, manful were his deeds, those of that lad, at a time when\nhe was younger than he [1]now[1] is. [2]In his fifth year he went in quest\nof warlike deeds among the lads of Emain Macha. In his sixth[a] year he\nwent to learn skill in arms and feats with Scathach,[2] [3]and he went to\nwoo Emer;[3] [4]in his seventh[b] year he took arms; in his seventeenth\nyear he is at this time.\"[4] \"How so!\"  exclaimed Medb. \"Is there even now\namongst the Ulstermen one his equal in age that is more redoubtable than\nhe?\"  \"We have not found there [5]a man-at-arms that is harder,[5] [6]nor a\npoint that is keener, more terrible nor quicker,[6] nor a more bloodthirsty\nwolf, [7]nor a raven more flesh-loving,[7] nor a wilder warrior, nor a\nmatch of his age that would reach to a third or a fourth [LL.fo.62a.] the\nlikes of Cuchulain. Thou findest not there,\" Fergus went on, \"a hero his\npeer, [8]nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a plank of battle,[8] nor a sledge\nof destruction, [9]nor a gate of combat,[9] nor a doom of hosts, nor a\ncontest of valour that would be of more worth than Cuchulain. Thou findest\nnot there one that could equal his age and his growth, [10]his dress[10]\n[11]and his terror,[11] his size and his splendour, [12]his fame and his\nvoice, his shape and his power,[12] his form and his speech, his strength\nand his feats and his valour, [13]his smiting, his heat and his anger,[13]\nhis dash, his assault and attack, his dealing of [W.857.] doom and\naffliction, his roar, his speed, his fury, his rage, and his quick triumph\nwith the feat of nine men on each sword's point[a] above him, like unto\nCuchulain.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 342-345.\n\n    [a] 'Seventh,' YBL. 344.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 345.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 346-347, and, similarly, YBL.\n\n    [b] \"Eight,\" YBL.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 349.\n\n    [6-6] LU. 349-350.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 350.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 351-352.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 352.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 354.\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 354.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 355-356.\n\n    [13-13 LU. and YBL. 356-357.\n\n    [a] Reading with Stowe, LU. and YBL. 359, which is more intelligible\n    than 'on each hair,' which is the translation of LL.\n\n\"We make not much import of him,\" quoth Medb. \"It is but a single body he\nhas; he shuns being wounded; he avoids being taken. They do say his age is\nbut that of a girl to be wed. [1]His deeds of manhood have not yet come,[1]\nnor will he hold out against tried men, this young, beardless elf-man of\nwhom thou spokest.\" [2]\"We say not so,\"[2] replied Fergus, \"for manful were\nthe deeds of the lad at a time when he was younger than he [3]now[3] is.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 363.\n\n    [2-2] 'That is not true,' Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 46]\n\n\n\n\nVII\n\nTHE YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS OF CUCHULAIN\n\n\n[W.865.] \"Now this lad was reared in the house of his father and mother at\nDairgthech[1] ('the Oak House' (?)), namely, in the plain of Murthemne,\nand the tales of the youths of Emain were told to him. [2]For there are\n[3]always[3] thrice fifty boys at play there,\" said Fergus.[2] \"Forasmuch\nas in this wise Conchobar passed his reign ever since he, the king, assumed\nhis sovereignty, to wit: As soon as he arose, forthwith in settling the\ncares and affairs of the province; thereafter, the day he divided in three:\nfirst, the first third he spent a-watching the youths play games of skill\nand of hurling; the next third of the day, a-playing draughts and chess,\nand the last third a-feasting on meat and [4]a-quaffing[4] ale, till sleep\npossessed them all, the while minstrels and harpers lulled him to sleep.\nFor all that I am a long time in banishment because of him, I give my\nword,\" said Fergus, \"there is not in Erin nor in Alba a warrior the like\nof Conchobar.\"\n\n    [1] Reading with LU. and YBL. 367.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 368-369.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 371.\n\n\"And the lad was told the tales of the boys and the boy-troop in Emain; and\nthe child said to his mother, he would go to have part in the games on the\nplay-field of Emain. \"It is too soon for thee, little son,\" said his\nmother; \"wait till there go with thee a champion of the champions of\n[W.880.] Ulster, or some of the attendants of Conchobar to enjoin thy\nprotection and thy safety on the boy-troop.\" \"I think it too long for that,\nmy mother,\" the little lad answered, \"I will not wait for it. But do thou\nshow me what place lies Emain [1]Macha.\"[1] [2]\"Northwards, there;[2] it is\nfar away from thee,\" said his mother, \"the place wherein it lies, [3]and\nthe way is hard.[3] Sliab Fuait lies between thee and Emain.\" \"At all\nhazards, I will essay it,\" he answered.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 376-377.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 377.\n\n\"The boy fared forth and took his playthings with him. [4]His little\nlath-shield[4] he took, and his hurley of bronze and his ball of silver;\nand he took his little javelin for throwing; and his toy-staff he took with\nits fire-hardened butt-end, and he began to shorten the length of his\njourney with them. He would give the ball a stroke [LL.fo.62b.] with the\nhurl-bat, so that he sent it a long distance from him. Then with a second\nthrow he would cast his hurley so that it went a distance no shorter than\nthe first throw. He would hurl his little darts, and let fly his toy-staff,\nand make a wild chase after them. Then he would catch up his hurl-bat and\npick up the ball and snatch up the dart, and the stock of the toy-staff had\nnot touched the ground when he caught its tip which was in the air.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 380.\n\n\"He went his way to the mound-seat of Emain, where was the boy-troop.\nThrice fifty youths were with Folloman, Conchobar's son, at their games on\nthe fair-green of Emain.\n\n\"The little lad went on to the play-field into the midst of the boys, and\nhe whipped the ball between his two legs away from them, nor did he suffer\nit to travel higher up than the top of his knee, nor did he let it lower\ndown than his ankle, and he drove it and held it between his two legs and\nnot one of the boys was able to get a prod nor a stroke nor a blow nor a\nshot at it, so that he carried it over the [W.904.] brink of the goal away\nfrom them. [1]Then he goes to the youths without binding them to protect\nhim. For no one used to approach them on their play-field without first\nsecuring from them a pledge of protection. He was weetless thereof.[1]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 382-384.\n\n\"Then they all gazed upon him. They wondered and marvelled. \"Come, boys!\"\ncried Folloman, Conchobar's son, [2]\"the urchin insults us.[2] Throw\nyourselves all on yon fellow, and his death shall come at my hands; for it\nis geis among you for any youth to come into your game, without first\nentrusting his safety to you. And do you all attack him together, for we\nknow that yon wight is some one of the heroes of Ulster; and they shall not\nmake it their wont to break into your sports without first entrusting their\nsafety and protection to you.\"\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 384-385.\n\n\"Thereupon they all set upon him together. They cast their thrice fifty\nhurl-bats at the poll of the boy's head. He raises his single toy-staff\nand wards off the thrice fifty hurlies, [3]so that they neither hurt him\nnor harm him,[3] [4]and he takes a load of them on his back.[4] Then they\nthrow their thrice fifty balls at the lad. He raises his upper arm and his\nforearm and the palms of his hands [5]against them[5] and parries the\nthrice fifty balls, [6]and he catches them, each single ball in his\nbosom.[6] They throw at him the thrice fifty play-spears charred at the\nend. The boy raises his little lath-shield [7]against them[7] and fends off\nthe thrice fifty play-staffs, [8]and they all remain stuck in his\nlath-shield.[8] [9]Thereupon contortions took hold of him. Thou wouldst\nhave weened it was a hammering wherewith each hair was hammered into his\nhead, with such an uprising it rose. Thou wouldst have weened it was a\nspark of fire that was on every single hair there. He closed one of his\neyes so that it was no wider than the eye of a needle. He opened the other\nwide so that it was as big as the mouth of a mead-cup.[a] He stretched his\nmouth from his jaw-bones to his ears; he opened his mouth wide to his jaw\nso that his gullet was seen. The champion's light rose up from his\ncrown.[9]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 391.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 389.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 387.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 391-397.\n\n    [a] Or, 'a wooden beaker,' YBL. 395.\n\n[W.919.] \"It was then he ran in among them. He scattered fifty king's sons\nof them over the ground underneath him [1]before they got to the gate of\nEmain.[1] Five[b] of them,\" Fergus continued, \"dashed headlong between me\nand Conchobar, where we were playing chess, even on Cennchaem ('Fair-head')\n[2]the chessboard of Conchobar,[2] on the mound-seat of Emain. The little\nboy pursued them to cut them off. [3]Then he sprang over the chessboard\nafter the nine.[3] Conchobar seized the little lad by the wrists. \"Hold,\nlittle boy. I see 'tis not gently thou dealest with the boy-band.\" \"Good\nreason I have,\" quoth the little lad. [4]\"From home, from mother and father\nI came to play with them, and they have not been good to me.[4] I had not a\nguest's honour at the hands of the boy-troop on my arrival, for all that I\ncame from far-away lands.\" \"How is that?  Who art thou, [5]and what is thy\nname?\"[5] asked Conchobar. \"Little Setanta am I, son of Sualtaim. Son am I\nto Dechtire, thine own sister; and not through thee did I expect to be thus\naggrieved.\" \"How so, little one?\" said Conchobar. \"Knewest thou not that it\nis forbidden among the boy-troop, that it is geis for them for any boy to\napproach them in their land without first claiming his protection from\nthem?\" \"I knew it not,\" said the lad. [W.932.] \"Had I known it, I would\nhave been on my guard against them.\" \"Good, now, ye boys,\" Conchobar cried;\n\"take ye upon you the protection of the little lad.\" \"We grant it, indeed,\"\nthey made answer.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 398.\n\n    [b] 'Nine,' LU. and YBL. 399 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 400.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 403-404.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 405.\n\n\"The little lad went [LL.fo.63a.] [1]into the game again[1] under the\nprotection of the boy-troop. Thereupon they loosed hands from him, and once\nmore he rushed amongst them [2]throughout the house.[2] He laid low fifty\nof their princes on the ground under him. Their fathers thought it was\ndeath he had given them. That was it not, but stunned they were with\nfront-blows and mid-blows and long-blows. \"Hold!\" cried Conchobar. \"Why art\nthou yet at them?\" \"I swear by my gods whom I worship\" (said the boy) \"they\nshall all come under my protection and shielding, as I have put myself\nunder their protection and shielding. Otherwise I shall not lighten my\nhands off them until I have brought them all to earth.\"  \"Well, little lad,\ntake thou upon thee the protection of the boy-troop.\" \"I grant it, indeed,\"\nsaid the lad. Thereupon the boy-troop went under his protection and\nshielding.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 410.\n\n\"[3]Then they all went back to the play-field, and the boys whom he had\noverthrown there arose. Their nurses and tutors helped them.\n\n\"Now, once upon a time,\" continued Fergus, \"when he was a gilla, he slept\nnot in Emain Macha till morning.\" \"Tell me,\" Conchobar said to him, \"why\nsleepest thou not [4]in Emain Macha, Cuchulain?\"[4] \"I sleep not, unless it\nbe equally high at my head and my feet.\" Then Conchobar had a pillar-stone\nset up at his head and another at his feet, and between them a bed apart\nwas made for him.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 413-481.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 418.\n\n\"Another time a certain man went to wake him, and the lad struck him with\nhis fist in [1]the neck or in[1] the forehead, so that it drove in the\nfront of his forehead on to his brain and he overthrew the pillar-stone\nwith his forearm.\"  \"It is known,\" exclaimed Ailill, \"that that was the\nfist of a champion and the arm of a hero.\" \"And from that time,\" continued\nFergus, \"no one durst wake him, so that he used to wake of himself.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n\"Then, another time, he played ball on the play-field east of Emain, and he\nwas alone on one side against the thrice fifty boys. He always worsted in\nevery game in the east (?) in this way. Thereafter the lad began to use his\nfists on them, so that fifty boys of them died thereof.  He took to flight\nthen, till he took refuge under the cushion of Conchobar's couch. The\nUlstermen sprang up all around him. I, too, sprang up, and Conchobar,\nthereat.  The lad himself rose up under the couch, so that he hove up the\ncouch and the thirty warriors that were on it withal, so that he bore it\ninto the middle of the house. Straightway the Ulstermen sat around him in\nthe house. We settled it then,\" continued Fergus, \"and reconciled the\nboy-troop to him afterwards.\n\n\"The broil of war arose between Ulster and Eogan son of Durthacht. The\nUlstermen go forth to the war. The lad Setanta is left behind asleep. The\nmen of Ulster are beaten. Conchobar and Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of\nMacha are left on the field and many besides them. Their groans awaken the\nlad. Thereat he stretches himself, so that the two stones are snapped that\nare near him. This took place in the presence of Bricriu yonder,\" Fergus\nadded. \"Then he gets up. I meet him at the door of the liss, I being\nseverely wounded. \"Hey, God keep thy life,[a] O Fergus my master,\" says he;\n\"where is Conchobar?\" \"I know not,\" I answer. Thereupon he goes out. The\nnight is dark. He makes for the battlefield, until he sees before him a man\nand half his head on him and half of another man on his back. \"Help me,\nCuchulain,\" he cries; \"I have been stricken, and I bear on my back half of\nmy brother. Carry it for me a while.\" \"I will not carry it,\" says he.\nThereupon the man throws the load at him. Cuchulain throws it back from\nhim. They grapple with one another. Cuchulain is overthrown. Then I heard\nsomething. It was Badb[a] from the corpses: \"Ill the stuff of a warrior\nthat is there under the feet of a phantom.\" Thereat Cuchulain arises from\nunderneath him, and he strikes off his head with his playing-stick and\nproceeds to drive the ball before him over the field of battle.\n\n    [a] A Christian salutation.\n\n    [a] The war-fury.\n\n\"Is my master Conchobar on this battle-field?\" That one makes answer. He\ngoes towards him, to where he espies him in a ditch and the earth piled\naround him on both sides to hide him. \"Wherefore art thou come to the\nbattle-field?\" Conchobar asks; \"is it that thou mightst see mortal terror\nthere?\" Then Cuchulain lifts him out of the ditch. The six strong men of\nUlster that were with us could not have lifted him out more bravely. \"Get\nthee before us to yonder house,\" says Conchobar, [1]\"to make me a fire\nthere.\" He kindles a great fire for him. \"Good now,\" quoth Conchobar,[1]\n\"if one would bring me a roast pig, I would live.\" \"I will go fetch it,\"\nsays Cuchulain. Thereupon he sallies out, when he sees a man at a\ncooking-pit in the heart of the wood. One of his hands holds his weapons\ntherein, the other roasts the pork. Ill-favoured, indeed, is the man. For\nthe which, Cuchulain attacks him and takes his head and his pig with\nhim. Conchobar eats the pig then. \"Let us go to our house,\" says Conchobar.\nThey meet Cuscraid son of Conchobar and there were heavy wounds on\nhim. Cuchulain carries him on his back. The three then proceed to Emain\nMacha.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 461.\n\n\"Another time the Ulstermen were in their 'Pains.' Now, there was no\n'Pains' amongst us,\" Fergus continued, \"in women or boys, nor in any one\noutside the borders of Ulster, nor in Cuchulain and his father. [1]It was\nfor this reason no one dared shed the blood of the men of Ulster, for that\nthe 'Pains' fell on the one that wounded them.[1] There came thrice nine\nmen from the Isles of Faiche. They pass over our rear fort, the whiles we\nare in our 'Pains.' The women scream in the fort. The youths are in the\nplay-field. They come at the cry. When the boys catch sight of the swarthy\nmen, they all take to flight save Cuchulain alone. He hurls the hand-stones\nand his playing-staff at them. He slays nine of them and they leave fifty\nwounds on him and proceed thence on their journey.[3]\n\n    [1-1] LU., edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 19, note 23.\n\n    [3-3] LU., and YBL. 413-481; see page 50.\n\n[W.947.] \"A youngster did that deed,\" Fergus continued, \"at the close of\nfive years after his birth, when he overthrew the sons of champions and\nwarriors at the very door of their liss and dun. No need is there of wonder\nor surprise, [2]if he should do great deeds,[2] if he should come to the\nconfines of the land, if he should cut off the four-pronged fork, if he\nshould slay one man or two men or three men or four men, when there are\nseventeen full years of him now on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge.\"\n[4]\"In sooth, then, we know that youth,\" spoke out Conall Cernach ('the\nVictorious'), \"and it is all the better we should know him, for he is a\nfosterling of our own.\"[4]\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 484-485.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 54]\n\n\n\n\nVIIa\n\nTHE SLAYING OF THE SMITH'S HOUND BY CUCHULAIN, AND THE REASON HE IS CALLED\nCUCHULAIN\n\n\n[W.956.] Then it was that Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar spake: \"Again\nthat little lad performed a second deed in the following year.\" \"What deed\nwas that?\" asked Ailill.\n\n[1]\"A goodly smith there was in the land of Ulster, Culann the Smith, by\nname.[1] He made ready a feast for Conchobar and set out for Emain to\ninvite him. He made known to him that only a few should come with him, that\nhe should bring none but a true guest along, forasmuch as it was not a\ndomain or lands of his own that he had, but [2]the fruit of his two\nhands,[2] his sledges and anvils, his fists and his tongs. Conchobar\nreplied that only a few would go to him.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU and YBL 489.\n\n\"Culann went back to the stithy to prepare and make ready meat and drink\n[3]in readiness for the king.[3] Conchobar sat in Emain till it was time to\nset out [4]for the feast,[4] till came the close of the day. The king put\nhis fine, light travelling apparel about him, [5]and went with fifty\nchariot-chiefs of those that were noblest and most illustrious of the\nheroes,[5] and betook him to the boys [6]before starting,[6] to bid them\nfarewell. [7]It was always [W.968.] his custom to visit and revisit them\nwhen going and coming, to seek his blessing of the boys.[7] Conchobar came\non to the fair-green, and he saw a thing that astounded him: Thrice fifty\nboys at one end of the green and a single boy at the other, and the single\nboy won the victory at the goal and at hurling from the thrice fifty\nboys. When it was at hole-play they were--a game of hole that used to be\nplayed on the fair-green of Emain--and it was their turn to drive and his\nto keep guard, he would catch the thrice fifty balls just outside of the\nhole, and not one went by him into the hole. When it was their turn to keep\nguard and his to drive, he would send the thrice fifty balls into the hole\nwithout fail, [1]and the boys were unable to ward them off.[1] When it was\nat tearing off each other's garments they played, he would strip off them\ntheir thrice fifty suits [2]so that they were quite naked,[2] and they were\nnot able all of them to take as much as the brooch from his mantle. When it\nwas at wrestling they were, he would throw those same thrice fifty boys to\nthe ground under him, and they did not succeed all of them around him in\nlifting him up. Conchobar looked with wonder at the little lad. \"O, ye\nyouths,\" cried [LL.fo.63b.] Conchobar. \"Hail to the land whence cometh the\nlad ye see, if the deeds of his manhood shall be such as are those of his\nboyhood!\" \"Tis not just to speak thus,\" exclaimed Fergus; \"e'en as the\nlittle lad grows, so will his deeds of manhood grow with him.\" \"The little\nlad shall be called to us, that he may come with us to enjoy the feast to\nwhich we go.\" The little lad was summoned to Conchobar. \"Good, my lad,\"\nsaid Conchobar. \"Come thou with us to enjoy the feast whereto we go, [3]for\nthou art a guest.\"[3] \"Nay, but I will not go,\" the little boy answered.\n\"How so?\" asked Conchobar.  [W.990.] \"Forasmuch as the boys have not yet\nhad their fill of games and of sport, and I will not leave them till they\nhave had enough play.\" \"It is too long for us to await thee till then,\nlittle boy, and by no means shall we wait.\" \"Go then before us,\" said the\nlittle boy, \"and I will follow after ye.\" \"Thou knowest naught of the way,\nlittle boy,\" said Conchobar. \"I will follow the trail of the company and of\nthe horses and chariots.\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 489-491.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 492-494.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 497.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 502.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 507.\n\n\"Thereafter Conchobar came to the house of Culann the Smith. The king was\nwaited upon and all were shown honour, as befitted their rank and calling\nand privileges, nobility and gentle accomplishment. Straw and fresh rushes\nwere spread out under them. They commenced to carouse and make merry.\nCulann inquired of Conchobar: \"Hast thou, O king, appointed any to come\nafter thee this night to this dun?\" \"No, I appointed no one,\" replied\nConchobar, for he had forgotten the little lad whom he had charged to come\nafter him. \"Why so?\" asked Conchobar.  \"An excellent bloodhound have I,\n[1]that was brought from Spain.[1] [2]There are three[a] chains upon him,\nand three men at each chain. Because of our goods and our cattle he is\nslipped and the liss is closed.[2] When his dog-chain is loosed from him,\nno one dares approach the same cantred with him to make a course or a\ncircuit, and he knows no one but myself. The power of hundreds is in him\nfor strength.\" Then spake Conchobar, \"Let the dun be opened for the\nban-dog, that he may guard the cantred.\" The dog-chain is taken off the\nban-dog, and he makes a swift round of the cantred. And he comes to the\nmound whereon he was wont to keep guard of the stead, and there he was, his\nhead couched on his paws, and wild, untameable, furious, savage, ferocious,\nready for fight was the dog that was there.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 513.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 512-513.\n\n    [a] 'four,' Eg. 1782.\n\n[W.1013.] \"As for the boys: They were in Emain until the time came for them\nto disperse. Each of them went to the house of his father and mother, of\nhis foster-mother and foster-father.  Then the little lad went on the trail\nof the party, till he reached the house of Culann the Smith. He began to\nshorten the way as he went with his play-things. [1]He threw his ball and\nthrew his club after it, so that it hit the ball. The one throw was no\ngreater than the other. Then he threw his staff after them both, so that it\nreached the ball and the club before ever they fell.[1] [2]Soon the lad\ncame up.[2] When he was nigh to the green of the fort wherein were Culann\nand Conchobar, he threw all his play-things before him except only the\nball. The watch-dog descried the lad and bayed at him, so that in all the\ncountryside was heard the howl of the watch-hound. And not a division of\nfeasting was what he was inclined to make of him, but to swallow him down\nat one gulp past the cavity [LL.fo.64a.] of his chest and the width of his\nthroat and the pipe of his breast. [3]And it interfered not with the lad's\nplay, although the hound made for him.[3] And the lad had not with him any\nmeans of defence, but he hurled an unerring cast of the ball, so that it\npassed through the gullet of the watch-dog's neck and carried the guts\nwithin him out through his back door, and he laid hold of the hound by the\ntwo legs and dashed him against a pillar-stone [4]that was near him, so\nthat every limb of him sprang apart,[4] so that he broke into bits all over\nthe ground.[a] Conchobar heard the yelp of the ban-dog. [5]Conchobar and\nhis people could not move; they weened they would not find the lad alive\nbefore them.[5] \"Alas, O warriors,\" cried Conchobar; \"in no good luck\n[W.1029.] have we come to enjoy this feast.\" \"How so?\" asked all. \"The\nlittle lad who has come to meet me, my sister's son, Setanta son of\nSualtaim, is undone through the hound.\"  As one man, arose all the renowned\nmen of Ulster. Though a door of the hostel was thrown wide open, they all\nrushed in the other direction out over the palings of the fortress. But\nfast as they all got there, faster than all arrived Fergus, and he lifted\nthe little lad from the ground on the slope of his shoulder and bore him\ninto the presence of Conchobar.  [1]They put him on Conchobar's knee. A\ngreat alarm arose amongst them that the king's sister's son should have\nbeen all but killed.[1] And Culann came out, and he saw his slaughter-hound\nin many pieces. He felt his heart beating against his breast. Whereupon he\nwent into the dun. \"Welcome thy coming, little lad,\" said Culann, \"because\nof thy mother and father, but not welcome is thy coming for thine own\nsake. [2]Yet would that I had not made a feast.\"[2] \"What hast thou against\nthe lad?\"  queried Conchobar. \"Not luckily for me hast thou come to quaff\nmy ale and to eat my food; for my substance is now a wealth gone to waste,\nand my livelihood is a livelihood lost [3]now after my dog.[3] [4]He hath\nkept honour and life for me.[4] Good was the friend thou hast robbed me of,\n[5]even my dog,[5] in that he tended my herds and flocks and stock for me;\n[6]he was the protection of all our cattle, both afield and at home.\"[6]\n\"Be not angered thereat, O Culann my master,\" said the little boy. [7]\"It\nis no great matter,[7] for I will pass a just judgement upon it.\" \"What\njudgement thereon wilt thou pass, lad?\"  Conchobar asked. \"If there is a\nwhelp of the breed of that dog in Erin, he shall be reared by me till he be\nfit to do [W.1049.] business as was his sire. [1]Till then[1] myself will\nbe the hound to protect his flocks and his cattle and his land [2]and even\nhimself[2] in the meanwhile. [3]And I will safeguard the whole plain of\nMurthemne, and no one will carry off flock nor herd without that I know\nit.\"[3]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 515-518.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 514.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 518-519.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 525.\n\n\n    [a] According to the LU.-YBL. version, Cuchulain seized the hound with\n    one hand by the apple of the throat and with the other by the back.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 519-521.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 529-530.\n\n    [2-2] LU and YBL. 532.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, YBL. and LU. 533-534.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 334.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 535.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 536.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 537.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Literally, 'thyself,' LU. and YBL. 539.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 540-541.\n\n\"Well hast thou given judgement, little lad,\" said Conchobar.  \"In sooth,\nwe [4]ourselves[4] could not give one that would be better,\" said\nCathba.[a] \"Why should it not be from this that thou shouldst take the name\nCuchulain, ('Wolfhound of Culann')?\" \"Nay, then,\" answered the lad; \"dearer\nto me mine own name, Setanta son of Sualtaim.\" \"Say not so, lad,\" Cathba\ncontinued; \"for the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that name and the\nmouths of the men of Erin and Alba shall be full of that name!\" \"It\npleaseth me so, whatever the name that is given me,\" quoth the little\nlad. Hence the famous name that stuck to him, namely Cuchulain, after he\nhad killed the hound that was Culann's the Smith's.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [a] The name of Conchobar's druid.\n\n\"A little lad did that deed,\" [LL.fo.64b.] added Cormac Conlongas son of\nConchobar, \"when he had completed six years after his birth, when he slew\nthe watch-dog that hosts nor companies dared not approach in the same\ncantred. No need would there be of wonder or of surprise if he should come\nto the edge of the marches, if he should cut off the four-pronged fork, if\nhe should slay one man or two men or three men or four men, now when his\nseventeen years are completed on the Cattle-driving of Cualnge!\"\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 60]\n\n\n\n\nVIIb\n\n[1]THE TAKING OF ARMS BY CUCHULAIN AND[1]\n[2]THE SLAYING OF THE THREE SONS OF NECHT SCENE IS NOW TOLD HERE[2]\n\n\n[W.1068.] \"The little lad performed a third deed in the following year,\"\nsaid Fiachu son of Firaba. \"What deed performed he?\" asked Ailill.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] LU. fo. 61a, in the margin.\n\n\"Cathba the druid was [3]with his son, namely Conchobar son of Ness,[3]\nimparting [4]learning[4] to his pupils in the north-east of Emain, and\neight[a] [5]eager[5] pupils in the class of druidic cunning were with\nhim. [6]That is the number that Cathba instructed.[6] [7]One of them[7]\nquestioned his teacher, what fortune and presage might there be for the day\nthey were in, whether it was good or whether it was ill. Then spake Cathba:\n\"The little boy that takes arms [8]this day[8] shall be splendid and\nrenowned [9]for deeds of arms[9] [10]above the youths of Erin [11]and the\ntales of his high deeds shall be told[11] forever,[10] but he shall be\nshort-lived and fleeting.\" Cuchulain overheard what he said, though far\noff at his play-feats south-west of Emain; and he threw away all his\nplay-things and hastened to Conchobar's sleep-room [12]to ask for arms.[12]\n\"All [W.1077.] good attend thee, O king of the Fene!\" cried the little lad.\n\"This greeting is the speech of one soliciting something of some one. What\nwouldst thou, lad?\" said Conchobar. \"To take arms,\" the lad made answer.\n\"Who hath advised thee, little boy?\" asked Conchobar. \"Cathba the druid,\"\nsaid the lad. \"He would not deceive thee, little boy,\" said Conchobar.\nConchobar gave him two spears and a sword and a shield. The little boy\nshook and brandished the arms [1]in the middle of the house[1] so that he\nmade small pieces and fragments of them. Conchobar gave him other two\nspears and a shield and a sword. He shook and brandished, flourished and\npoised them, so that he shivered them into small pieces and fragments.\nThere where were the fourteen[a] suits of arms which Conchobar had in\nEmain, [2]in reserve in case of breaking of weapons or[2] for equipping the\nyouths and the boys--to the end that whatever boy assumed arms, it might be\nConchobar that gave him the equipment of battle, and the victory of cunning\nwould be his thenceforward--even so, this little boy made splinters and\nfragments of them all.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 547.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [a] 'One hundred' is the number in LU. and YBL. 547.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 548.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 548.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 550.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 551.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 551-552.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 553.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 557.\n\n    [a] 'Fifteen,' LU. and YBL. 556; 'seventeen,' Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 557.\n\n\"Truly these arms here are not good, O Conchobar my master,\" the stripling\ncried. \"Herefrom cometh not what is worthy of me.\" Conchobar gave him his\nown two spears and his shield and his sword. He shook and he brandished, he\nbent and he poised them so that tip touched butt, and he brake not the arms\nand they bore up against him, [3]and he saluted the king whose arms they\nwere.[3] \"Truly, these arms are good,\" said the little boy; \"they are\nsuited to me. Hail to the king whose arms and equipment these are. Hail to\nthe land whereout he is come!\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 559-560.\n\n\"Then Cathba the druid chanced to come into the tent, and what he said was,\n\"Hath he yonder taken arms?\" [W.1101.] Cathba asked. \"Aye, then, it must\nbe,\" Conchobar answered. \"Not by [1]his[1] mother's son would I wish them\nto be taken this day,\" said Cathba. \"How so?  Was it not thyself advised\nhim?\" Conchobar asked. \"Not I, in faith,\" replied Cathba. \"What mean'st\nthou, bewitched elf-man?\" cried Conchobar [2]to Cuchulain.[2] \"Is it a lie\nthou hast told us?\" [LL.fo.65a.] \"But be not wroth [3]thereat,[3] O my\nmaster Conchobar,\" said the little boy.  [4]\"No lie have I told;[4] for yet\nis it he that advised me, [5]when he taught his other pupils this\nmorning.[5] For his pupil asked him what luck might lie in the day, and he\nsaid: The youth that took arms on this day would be illustrious and famous,\n[6]that his name would be over the men of Erin for ever, and that no evil\nresult would be on him thereafter,[6] except that he would be fleeting and\nshort-lived. [7]To the south of Emain I heard him, and then I came to\nthee.\"[7] \"That I avow to be true,\" spake Cathba. [8]\"Good indeed is the\nday,[8] glorious and renowned shalt thou be, [9]the one that taketh\narms,[9] yet passing and short lived!\" \"Noble the gift!\" cried Cuchulain.\n[10]\"Little it recks me,[10] though I should be but one day and one night\nin the world, if only the fame of me and of my deeds live after me!\"\n\n    [1-1] Reading with Stowe, LU. and YBL. 563.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 566.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 567.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 567.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 568.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 569.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 570.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n\"[11] Another day one of them asked of the druids for what that day would\nbe propitious. \"The one that mounts a chariot to-day,\" Cathba answered,\n\"his name will be renowned over Erin for ever.\" Now Cuchulain heard that.\nHe went to Conchobar and said to him, \"O Conchobar my master, give me a\nchariot!\" He gave him a chariot.[11] [W.1113.] \"Come, lad, mount the\nchariot, for this is the next thing for thee.\"\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 573-577.\n\n\"He mounted the chariot. [1]He put his hands between the two poles of the\nchariot,[1] and the first chariot he mounted withal he shook and tossed\nabout him till he reduced it to splinters and fragments. He mounted the\nsecond chariot, so that he made small pieces and fragments of it in like\nmanner. Further he made pieces of the third chariot. There where were the\nseventeen[a] chariots which Conchobar kept for the boy-troop and youths in\nEmain, the lad made small pieces and fragments of them and they did not\nwithstand him. \"These chariots here are not good, O my master Conchobar,\"\nsaid the little boy; \"my merit cometh not from them.\" \"Where is Ibar[b] son\nof Riangabair?\" asked Conchobar. \"Here, in sooth, am I,\" Ibar answered.\n\"Take with thee mine own two steeds for him yonder, and yoke my chariot.\"\nThereupon the charioteer took the horses and yoked the chariot. Then the\nlittle boy mounted the chariot [2]and Conchobar's charioteer with him.[2]\nHe shook the chariot about him, and it withstood him, and he broke it\nnot. \"Truly this chariot is good,\" cried the lad, \"and this chariot is\nsuited to me.\" [3]The charioteer turned the chariot under him.[3] \"Prithee,\nlittle boy,\" said Ibar, [4]\"come out[c] of the chariot now[4] and let the\nhorses out on their pasture.\" \"It is yet too soon, O Ibar,\" the lad\nanswered. [5]\"The horses are fair. I, too, am fair, their little lad.[5]\n[6]Only[6] let us go on a circuit of Emain to-day [7]and thou shalt have a\nreward therefor,[7] to-day being my first day of [W.1132.] taking arms, to\nthe end that it be a victory of cunning for me.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 578.\n\n    [a] 'Twelve,' LU. and YBL. 579.\n\n    [b] The name of Conchobar's charioteer.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 580-581 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 581.\n\n    [c] Following the emendation suggested by Strachan and O'Keeffe, page\n    23, note 21.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 582.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 583.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 584.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 585.\n\n\"Thrice they made the circuit of Emain. \"Leave the horses now to their\ngrazing, O little boy,\" said Ibar. \"It is yet too soon, O Ibar,\" the little\nlad answered; \"let us keep on, that the boys may give me a blessing to-day\nthe first day of my taking arms.\" They kept their course to the place where\nthe boys were. \"Is it arms he yonder has taken?\" each one asked. \"Of a\ntruth, are they.\"  \"May it be for victory, for first wounding and triumph.\nBut we deem it too soon for thee to take arms, because thou departest from\nus at the game-feats.\" \"By no means will I leave ye, but for luck I took\narms this day.\"  \"Now, little boy, leave the horses to their grazing,\" said\nIbar. \"It is still too soon for that, O Ibar,\" the lad answered. [1]\"Ply\nthe goad on the horses,\" said he. \"What way, then?\" the charioteer\nasked. \"As far as the road shall lead,\" answered Cuchulain.[1] \"And this\ngreat road winding by us, what way leads it?\" the lad asked. \"What is that\nto thee?\" Ibar answered. \"But thou art a pleasant wight, I trow, little\nlad,\" quoth Ibar. \"I wish, fellow, to inquire about the high-road of the\nprovince, what stretch it goes?\" \"To Ath na Foraire ('the Ford of\nWatching') in Sliab Fuait it goes,\" Ibar answered. \"Wherefore is it called\n'the Ford of Watching,' knowest thou?\" \"Yea, I know it well,\" Ibar made\nanswer. \"A stout warrior of Ulster is on watch and on guard there [2]every\nday,[2] so that there come no strange youths into Ulster to challenge them\nto battle, and he is a champion to give battle in behalf of the whole\nprovince. Likewise if men of song leave the Ulstermen [LL.fo.65b.] and the\nprovince in dudgeon, he is there to soothe them by proffering treasures and\nvaluables, and so to save the honour of the province. Again, if men of song\n[W.1155.] enter the land, he is the man that is their surety that they win\nthe favour of Conchobar, so that songs and lays made for him will be the\nfirst to be sung after their arrival in Emain.\" \"Knowest thou who is at the\nford to-day?\"  \"Yea, I know,\" Ibar answered; \"Conall Cernach ('the\nTriumphant'), the heroic, warlike son of Amargin, royal champion of Erin,\"\nIbar answered. \"Thither guide us, fellow, that so we reach the ford.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 589-590.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n\"Onwards they drove into sight of the ford where was Conall. [1]Now it fell\nto Conall Cernach to guard the province that day. For each champion of\nUlster spent his day on Sliab Fuait to protect him that came with a lay or\nto fight with a warrior, so that some one would be there to meet him, in\norder that none might come to Emain unperceived.[1] \"Are those arms he\nyonder has taken?\" asked Conall. \"Of a truth, are they,\" Ibar made\nanswer. \"May it be for victory and for triumph and first wounding,\" said\nConall; \"but we think it too soon for thee to take arms, because thou art\nnot yet capable of deeds. Were it surety he needed, he that should come\nhither,\" he continued, \"so wouldst thou furnish a perfect warrant amongst\nthe Ulstermen, and the nobles of the province would rise up to support thee\nin the contest.\" \"What dost thou here, O Conall my master?\" asked the\nlad. \"Watch and ward of the province, lad, I keep here,\" Conall made\nanswer.  \"Do thou go home now, O master Conall,\" said the lad, \"and leave\nme the watch and guard of the province to keep here.\" \"Say not so, little\nson,\" replied Conall; [2]\"'twould be enough, were it to protect one that\ncame with a song; were it to fight with a man, however, that is still too\nsoon for thee[2]; thou art not yet able to cope with a goodly warrior.\"\n\"Then, will I keep on to the south,\" [W.1172.] said the little boy, \"to\nFertas ('the Bank') of Loch Echtrann for a while; [1]champions are wont to\ntake stand there;[1] perchance I may redden my hands on friend or on foe\nthis day.\" \"I will go, little boy,\" said Conall, \"to save thee, that thou\ngo not alone [2]into peril[2] on the border.\" \"Not so,\" said the lad. \"But\nI will go,\" said Conall; \"for the men of Ulster will blame me for leaving\nthee to go alone on the border.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 592-596.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 599-601.\n\n    [1-1] LU.and YBL. 603.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n\"Conall's horses were caught for him and his chariot was yoked and he set\nout to protect the little boy. When Conall came up abreast of him,\nCuchulain felt certain that, even though a chance came to him, Conall would\nnot permit him to use it. He picked up a hand-stone from the ground which\nwas the full of his grasp. He hurled it from him [3]from his sling[3] the\nlength of a stone-shot at the yoke of Conall's chariot, so that he broke\nthe chariot-collar[a] in two and thereby Conall fell to the ground, so that\nthe nape of his neck went out from his shoulder. \"What have we here, boy?\"\nasked Conall; [4]\"why threwest thou the stone?\"[4] \"It is I threw it to see\nif my cast be straight, or how I cast at all, or if I have the stuff of a\nwarrior in me.\" \"A bane on thy cast and a bane on thyself as well. E'en\nthough thou leavest thy head this time with thine enemies, I will go no\nfurther to protect thee.\" \"'Twas what I craved of thee,\" answered he; \"for\nit is geis amongst you men of Ulster to proceed, after a mishap has\nbefallen your chariots. [5]Go back[5] [6]to Emain,[6] [7]O Conall, and\nleave me here to keep watch.\" \"That pleaseth me well,\" replied Conall.[7]\nConall turned back northwards again to the Ford of Watching. [8]Thereafter\nConall Cernach went not past that place.[8]\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 604.\n\n    [a] In LU. and YBL., 'the shaft of the chariot.'\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 605-606.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 608.\n\n    [6-6] LU. 608.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 609-610.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 610.\n\n[W.1192.] As for the little boy, he fared southwards to Fertas Locha\nEchtrann. He remained there till the end of the day [1]and they found no\none there before them.[1] \"If we dared tell thee, little boy,\" spoke Ibar,\n\"it were time for us to return to Emain [LL.fo.66a.] now; for dealing and\ncarving and dispensing of food is long since begun in Emain, and there is a\nplace assigned for thee there. Every day it is appointed thee to sit\nbetween Conchobar's feet, while for me there is naught but to tarry among\nthe hostlers and tumblers of Conchobar's household. [2]For that reason,[2]\nmethinks it is time to have a scramble[a] among them.\"  \"Fetch then the\nhorses for us.\" The charioteer fetched the horses and the lad mounted the\nchariot. \"But, O Ibar, what hill is that there now, the hill to the north?\"\nthe lad asked. \"Now, that is Sliab Moduirn,\" Ibar answered. [3]\"Let us go\nand get there,\" said Cuchulain. Then they go on till they reach it.[3]\n[4]When they reached the mountain, Cuchulain asked,[4] \"And what is that\nwhite cairn yonder on the height of the mountain?\" \"And that is Finncharn\n('the White Cairn') of Sliab Moduirn,\" Ibar answered.  \"But yonder cairn is\nbeautiful,\" exclaimed the lad. \"It surely is beautiful,\" Ibar answered.\n\"Lead on, fellow, till we reach yonder cairn.\" \"Well, but thou art both a\npleasant and tedious inquisitor, I see,\" exclaimed Ibar; \"but this is my\nfirst [5]journey and my first[5] time with thee. It shall be my last time\ntill the very day of doom, if once I get back to Emain.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 612.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [a] Or, more literally, 'a clawing match.'\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 615-616.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 616.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n\"Howbeit they went to the top of the hill. \"It is pleasant here, O Ibar,\"\nthe little boy exclaimed. \"Point out to me Ulster on every side, for I am\nno wise acquainted with the land of my master Conchobar.\" The horseman\n[W.1211.] pointed him out Ulster all around him. He pointed him out the\nhills and the fields and the mounts of the province on every side. He\npointed him out the plains and the duns and the strongholds of the\nprovince. \"'Tis a goodly sight, O Ibar,\" exclaimed the little lad. \"What is\nthat indented, angular, bordered and glenny plain to the south of us?\"\n\"Mag Breg,\" replied Ibar. \"Tell thou to me the buildings and forts of that\nplain.\" The gilla taught him [1]the name of every chief dun between Temair\nand Cenannas,[1] Temair and Taltiu, Cletech and Cnogba and Brug ('the\nFort') of Mac ind Oc. [2]He pointed out to him then[2] the dun of the\n[3]three[3] sons of Necht Scene ('the Fierce'): [4]Foill and Fandall and\nTuachall, their names;[4] [5]Fer Ulli son of Lugaid was their father, and\nNecht [6]from the mouth of the[6] Scene was their mother. Now the Ulstermen\nhad slain their father; it was for that reason they were at war with\nUlster.[5] \"But are those not Necht's sons, that boast that not more of the\nUlstermen are alive than have fallen at their hands?\" \"The same, in sooth,\"\nanswered the gilla. \"On with us to the dun of the macNechta,\" cried the\nlittle boy. \"Alas, in truth, that thou sayest so,\" quoth Ibar; [7]\"'tis\na peril for us.\"[7] [8]\"Truly, not to avoid it do we go,\" answered\nCuchulain.[8] \"We know it is an act of great folly for us to say so, but\nwhoever may go,\" said Ibar, \"it will not be myself.\" \"Living or dead, go\nthere thou shalt,\" the little boy cried. \"'Tis alive I shall go to the\nsouth,\" answered Ibar, \"and dead I shall be left at the dun, I know, even\nat the dun of the macNechta.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 620.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 623.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 623.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 624.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 623, marginal note.\n\n    [6-6] LU. 623, gloss.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 627.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 628.\n\n\"They push on to the dun [1]and they unharness their horses in the place\nwhere the bog and the river meet south [W.1227.] of the dun of the\nmacNechta.[1] And the little boy sprang out of the chariot onto the\ngreen. Thus was the green of the dun, with a pillar-stone upon it and an\niron band around that, and a band for prowess it was, and there was a\nwriting in ogam at its joint, and this is the writing it bore: 'Whoever\nshould come to the green, if he be a champion, it is geis for him to depart\nfrom the green without giving challenge to single combat.[1] The lad\ndeciphered the writing and put his two arms around the pillar-stone. Just\nas the pillar-stone was with its ring, he flung it [2]with a cast of his\nhand[2] into the moat, so that a wave passed over it. \"Methinks,\" spake\nIbar, \"it is no better now than to be where it was.  And we know thou shalt\nnow get on this green the thing thou desirest, even the token of death,\nyea, of doom and destruction!\" [3]For it was the violation of a geis of\nthe sons of Necht Scene to do that thing.[3] \"Good, O Ibar, spread the\nchariot-coverings and its skins for me that I may [LL.fo.66b.] snatch a\nlittle sleep.\" \"Woe is me, that thou sayest so,\" answered the gilla; \"for a\nfoeman's land is this and not a green for diversion.\" [4]And Cuchulain said\nto the gilla, \"Do not awaken me for a few but awaken me for many.\"[4] The\ngilla arranged the chariot-coverings and its skins [5]under Cuchulain, and\nthe lad fell asleep on the green.[5]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 629.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 630.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 631.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 634-635.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n\"Then came one of the macNechta on to the fair-green, to wit, Foill son of\nNecht. [6]Then was the charioteer sore afraid, for he durst not waken him,\nfor Cuchulain had told him at first not to waken him for a few.[6] \"Unyoke\nnot the horses, gilla,\" cried Foill. \"I am not fain to, at all,\" answered\nIbar; \"the reins and the lines are still in my hand.\" \"Whose horses are\nthose, then?\" Foill asked. [W.1246.] \"Two of Conchobar's horses,\" answered\nthe gilla; \"the two of the dappled heads.\" \"That is the knowledge I have of\nthem. And what hath brought these steeds here to the borders?\" \"A tender\nyouth that has assumed arms amongst us [1]to-day for luck and good\nomen,\"[1] the horseboy answered, \"is come to the edges of the marshes to\ndisplay his comeliness.\" \"May it not be for victory nor for triumph, [2]his\nfirst-taking of arms,\"[2] exclaimed Foill. [3]\"Let him not stop in our land\nand let the horses not graze here any longer.[3] If I knew he was fit for\ndeeds, it is dead he should go back northwards to Emain and not alive!\" \"In\ngood sooth, he is not fit for deeds,\" Ibar answered; \"it is by no means\nright to say it of him; it is the seventh year since he was taken from the\ncrib. [4]Think not to earn enmity,\"[a] Ibar said further to the warrior;\n\"and moreover the child sleepeth.\"[4]\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 635-638.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 641.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 642.\n\n    [a] That is, the enmity of the Ulstermen by slaying Cuchulain.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 644-645.\n\n\"The little lad raised his face from the ground and drew his hand over his\nface, and he became as one crimson wheelball from his crown to the\nground. [5]\"Not a child am I, at all, but it is to seek battle with a man\nthat this child here is come.[5] Aye, but I am fit for deeds!\"  the lad\ncried. [6]\"That pleaseth me well,\" said the champion;[6] \"but more like\nthan what thou sayest, meseemeth, thou art not fit for deeds.\" \"Thou wilt\nknow that better if we go to the ford. But, go fetch thy weapons, for I see\nit is in the guise of a churl thou art come, and I slay nor charioteers nor\ngrooms nor folk without arms.\"  The man went apace after his arms.\n[7]\"Now[7] thou shouldst have a care for us against yonder man [8]that\ncomes to meet thee,[8] little lad,\" said Ibar. \"And why so?\" [W.1262.]\nasked the lad. \"Foill son of Necht is the man thou seest.  Neither points\nnor edges of weapons can harm him.\" \"Not before me shouldst thou say that,\nO Ibar,\" quoth the lad.  \"I will put my hand to the lath-trick for him,\nnamely, to the apple of twice-melted iron, and it will light upon the disc\nof his shield and on the flat of his forehead, and it will carry away the\nsize of an apple of his brain out through the back of his head, so that it\nwill make a sieve-hole outside of his head, till the light of the sky will\nbe visible through his head.\"\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 645-646.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 647.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 649.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 649.\n\n\"Foill son of Necht came forth. Cuchulain took the lath-trick in hand for\nhim and threw it from him the length of his cast, so that it lighted on the\nflat of his shield and on the front of his forehead and carried away the\nbulk of an apple of his brain out through the back of his head, so that it\nmade a sieve-hole thereof outside of his head, till the light of the sky\nmight be seen through his head. [1]He went to him then[1] and struck off\nthe head from the trunk. [2]Thereafter he bore away his spoils and his\nhead with him.[2]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 665.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 655.\n\n\"Then came the second son out on the green, [3]his name[3] Tuachall ('the\nCunning') son of Necht. \"Aha, I see thou wouldst boast of this deed,\" quoth\nTuachall. \"In the first place I deem it no cause to boast for slaying one\nchampion,\" said Cuchulain; \"thou shalt not boast of it this time, for thou\nshalt fall by my hand.\" \"Off with thee for thine arms, then, for 'tis not\nas a warrior thou art come.\" The man rushed after his arms. \"Thou shouldst\nhave a care for us against yon man, lad,\" said Ibar. \"How so?\" the lad\nasked. \"Tuachall son of Necht is the man thou beholdest. [4]And he is\nnowise miss-named, for he falls not by arms at all.[4] Unless thou worstest\nhim with the first blow or with the first shot or with the first touch,\n[LL.fo.67a.] thou wilt not worst him [W.1283.] ever, because of his\ncraftiness and the skill wherewith he plays round the points of the\nweapons.\" \"That should not be said before me, O Ibar,\" cried the lad. [1]\"I\nswear by the god by whom my people swear, he shall never again ply\nhis skill on the men of Ulster.[1] I will put my hand on Conchobar's\nwell-tempered lance, on the Craisech Neme ('the Venomous Lance'). [2]It\nwill be an outlaw's hand to him.[2] It will light on the shield over his\nbelly, and it will crush through his ribs on the farther side after\npiercing his heart in his breast. That would be the smiting cast of an\nenemy and not the friendliness of a fellow countryman![a] From me he shall\nnot get sick-nursing or care till the brink of doom.\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 662-663.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 651-652.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 653; probably a proverbial expression.\n\n    [a] The force of Cuchulain's boast lay in the fact that, according to\n    the Brehon Laws, if the aggressor were not a native or of the same\n    class as the injured party, he was exempt from the law of compensation.\n\n\"Tuachall son of Necht came forth on the green, and the lad laid his hand\non Conchobar's lance against him, and it struck the shield above his belly\nand broke through the ribs on the farther side after piercing his heart\nwithin his breast. He struck off his head or ever it reached the ground.\n[3]Thereafter Cuchulain carried off his head and his spoils with him to his\nown charioteer.[3]\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 666.\n\n\"Then came the youngest of the sons forth on the green, namely, Fandall son\nof Necht. \"Fools were the folk who fought with thee here,\" cried Fandall.\n\"How, now!\"  cried the lad. \"Come down to the pool, where thy foot findeth\nnot bottom.\" Fandall rushed on to the pool.  \"Thou shouldst be wary for us\nof him, little boy,\" said Ibar. \"Why should I then?\" asked the lad.\n\"Fandall son of Necht is the man whom thou seest. For this he bears the\nname Fandall ('the Swallow'): like a swallow or weasel[b] he courseth the\nsea; the swimmers of the world [W.1302.] cannot reach him.\" \"Thou shouldst\nnot speak thus before me, O Ibar,\" said the lad. [1]\"I swear, never again\nwill he ply that feat on the men of Ulster.[1] Thou knowest the river that\nis in our land, in Emain, the Callann. When the boys frequent it with their\ngames of sport and when the water is not beneath them, [2]if the surface is\nnot reached by them all,[2] I do carry a boy over it on either of my palms\nand a boy on either of my shoulders, and I myself do not even wet my ankles\nunder the weight of them.\"\n\n    [b] LU. and YBL. have 'a swan.'\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 657-658.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe. That is, when the water is over their heads.\n\n\"They met upon the water [3]and they engaged in wrestling upon it,[3] and\nthe little boy closed his arms over Fandall, so that the sea came up even\nwith him, and he gave him a deft blow with Conchobar's sword and chopped\noff his head from the trunk, and left the body to go down with the stream,\nand he carried off the head [4]and the spoils[4] with him.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 661.\n\n\"Thereupon Cuchulain went into the dun and pillaged the place and burned it\nso that its buildings were no higher than its walls. And they turned on\ntheir way to Sliab Fuait and carried the three heads of Necht's sons with\nthem. [5]Soon Cuchulain heard the cry of their mother after them, of Necht\nScene, namely.\"[5] [6]\"Now I will not give over my spoils,\" cried\nCuchulain, \"till I reach Emain Macha.\" Thereupon Cuchulain and Ibar set out\nfor Emain Macha with their spoils. It was then Cuchulain spoke to his\ncharioteer: \"Thou didst promise us a good run,\" said Cuchulain, \"and we\nneed it now because of the storm and pursuit that is after us.\" Forthwith\nthey hasten to Sliab Fuait. Such was the speed of the course they held over\nBreg, after the urging of the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot\novertook the wind and the birds in [W.1317.] their flight and Cuchulain\ncaught the throw he had cast from his sling or ever it reached the ground.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 667-668.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 669-679.\n\n\"When they came to Sliab Fuait[6] they espied a herd of wild deer before\nthem. \"What are those many cattle, O Ibar, those nimble ones yonder?\" asked\nthe lad; \"are they tame or are they other deer?\" \"They are real wild deer,\nindeed,\" Ibar answered; \"herds of wild deer that haunt the wastes of Sliab\nFuait.\" [1]\"Which,\" asked Cuchulain, \"would the men of Ulster deem best,\nto bring them dead or alive?\" \"More wonderful, alive,\" answered the\ncharioteer; \"not every one can do it so; but dead, there is none of them\ncannot do it. Thou canst not do this, carry off any of them alive.\" \"Truly\nI can,\" said Cuchulain.[1] \"Ply the goad for us on the horses [2]into the\nbog,[2] to see can we take some of them.\" The charioteer drove a goad into\nthe horses. It was beyond the power of the king's overfat steeds to keep up\nwith the deer.  [3]Soon the horses stuck in the marsh.[3] The lad got down\nfrom the chariot and [4]as the fruit of his run and his race, in the morass\nwhich was around him,[4] he caught two of the swift, stout deer. He\nfastened them to the back poles and the bows and the thongs of the chariot.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 669-679.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 681-686.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 686.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 687.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n\"They continued their way to the mound-seat of Emain, where they saw flocks\nof white swans flying by them. \"What are those birds there, O Ibar?\" the\nlad asked; \"are yonder birds tame [LL.fo.67.] or are they other birds?\"\n\"Indeed, they are real wild birds,\" Ibar answered; \"flocks of swans are\nthey that come from the rocks and crags and islands of the great sea\nwithout, to feed on the plains and smooth spots of Erin.\" \"Which would be\nstranger [5]to the Ulstermen,[5] O Ibar, for them to be fetched alive to\nEmain or dead?\" asked the lad. \"Stranger far, alive,\" [W.1333.] Ibar\nanswered, \"for not every one succeeds in taking the birds alive, [1]while\nthey are many that take them dead.\"[1] Then did the lad perform one of his\nlesser feats upon them: [2]he put a small stone in his sling,[2] so that he\nbrought down eight[a] of the birds; and then he performed a greater feat:\n[3]he threw a large stone at them[3] and he brought down sixteen[b] of\ntheir number. [4]With his return stroke all that was done.[4] He fastened\nthem to the hind poles and the bows and the thongs and the ropes and the\ntraces of the chariot.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 692.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [a] 'Seven,' LU. and YBL. 695.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [b] 'Twelve,' LU. and YBL. 696.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 696-697.\n\n\"Take the birds along with thee, O Ibar,\" cried the lad [5]to his\ncharioteer. If I myself go to take them,\" he added, \"the wild deer will\nspring upon thee.\"[5] \"I am in sore straits,\" answered Ibar; \"[6]I find it\nnot easy to go.\"[6] \"What may it be?\" asked the lad. \"Great cause have\nI. [7]The horses have become wild, so that I cannot go by them.[7] If I\nstir at all from where I am, the chariot's iron wheels will cut me down\n[8]because of their sharpness[8] and because of the strength and the power\nand the might of the career of the horses. If I make any move, the horns of\nthe deer will pierce and gore me, [9]for the horns of the stag have filled\nthe whole space between the two shafts of the chariot.\"[9] \"Ah, no true\nchampion art thou any longer, O Ibar,\" [10]said the lad;[10] [11]\"step thus\nfrom his horn.[11] [12]I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear,[12]\nbecause of the look I shall give at the horses they will not depart from\nthe straight way; at the look I shall give at the deer they will bend their\nheads in fear and awe of me; [13]they will not dare move,[13] and [W.1346.]\nit will be safe for thee e'en though thou goest in front of their horns.\"\n[1]And so it was done. Cuchulain fastened the reins.[1] [2]Then[2] [3]the\ncharioteer[3] [4]went and collected the birds, and he bound them to the\nhind poles and to the thongs and the traces of the chariot.[4] [5]Thus it\nwas that he proceeded to Emain Macha: the wild deer behind his chariot, and\nthe flock of swans flying over the same, and the three heads of the sons of\nNecht Scene [6]and the jewels, treasures and wealth of their enemies\narranged[6] in his chariot.[5]\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 698-699.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 699.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 700.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 702.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 703.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 703.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 704.\n\n    [13-13] LU. and YBL. 706.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 707.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 708.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 709-711.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n\"[7]Thereupon[7] they went on till [8]bravely, boldly, battle-victoriously,\nboastingly, blade-redded,[8] they reached [9]the fair plain of[9] Emain. It\nwas then Lebarcham, [10]the watch in Emain Macha,[10] [11]came forth\nand[11] discerned them, she, the daughter of Aue ('Ear') and of Adarc\n('Horn') [12]and she hastened to Conchobar's house, her eye restless in her\nhead and her tongue faltering in her jaw.[12] \"A single chariot-fighter is\nhere, [13]coming towards Emain Macha,\"[13] cried Lebarcham, \"and his coming\nis fearful. The heads of his foes all red in his chariot with him.\nBeautiful, all-white birds he has hovering around in the chariot. With him\nare wild, untamed deer, bound and fettered, shackled and pinioned. And\n[14]I give my word,[14] if he be not attended to this night, [15]blood will\nflow over Conchobar's province by him and[15] the youths of Ulster will\nfall by his hand.\"  \"We know him, that chariot-fighter,\" spake Conchobar;\n\"[16]belike it is[16] the little gilla, my sister's son, who went to the\nedge of the marches [17]at the beginning of the day,[17] [W.1355.] who has\nreddened his hands and is still unsated of combat, and unless he be\nattended to, all the youths of Emain will fall by his hand.\" [1]Soon he\nturned the left[a] side of his chariot towards Emain, and this was geis for\nEmain. And Cuchulain cried, \"I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen\nswear, if a man be not found to engage with me, I will spill the blood of\nevery one in the dun!\"[1]\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 713.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [15-15] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [16-16] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [17-17] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 715-718.\n\n    [a] To turn the left side was an insult and sign of hostility.\n\n\"And this was the counsel they agreed to follow: to let out the womenfolk\nto meet the youth, namely, thrice fifty women, even ten and seven-score\nbold, stark-naked women, at one and the same time, and their chieftainess,\nScannlach ('the Wanton') before them, to discover their persons and their\nshame[b] to him. [2]\"Let the young women go,\" said Conchobar, \"and bare\ntheir paps and their breasts and their swelling bosoms, and if he be a true\nwarrior he will not withstand being bound, and he shall be placed in a vat\nof cold water until his anger go from him.\"[2] [3]Thereupon[3] the young\nwomen all [4]arose and[4] marched out, [5]and these are the names of those\nqueens: Sgamalus and Sgannlach and Sgiathan, Feidlim and Deigtini\nFinnchas, and Finngheal and Fidniam and Niam, daughter of Celtchar son of\nUthechar[5]; and they discovered their nakedness and all their shame to\nhim. [6]\"These are the warriors that will meet thee to-day,\" quoth Mugain,\nwife of Conchobar son of Ness.[6] The lad hid his face from them and turned\nhis gaze on the chariot, that he might not see the nakedness or the shame\nof the women.[c] Then the lad was lifted out of the chariot. He was placed\nin three vats of cold water to extinguish his wrath; and the first vat into\nwhich he was put burst its staves and its hoops like the cracking of nuts\naround him. [W.1367.] The next vat [1]into which he went[1] [2]boiled with\nbubbles as big as fists[2] therefrom. The third vat [3]into which he\nwent,[3] some men might endure it and others might not. Then the boy's\nwrath went down.\n\n    [b] 'Breasts,' LU. and YBL. 720.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 720-721.\n\n    [c] This exposure was a powerful magico-religious symbol and had a\n    quasi-sacred or ritual character.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Translating from Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n\"[4]Thereupon he came out,[4] and his [5]festive[5] garments were put on\nhim [6]by Mugain the queen.[6] His comeliness appeared on him [LL.fo.68a.]\nand he made a crimson wheel-ball of himself from his crown to the\nground. [7]A shout was raised at the bluish purple about him.[7]\n[8]Beautiful then was the lad[8] [9]that was raised up in view.[9] Seven\ntoes he had to each of his two feet, and seven fingers to each of his two\nhands, and seven pupils to each of his two kingly eyes, and seven gems of\nthe brilliance of the eye was each separate pupil. Four spots of down on\neither of his two cheeks: a blue spot, a purple spot, a green spot, a\nyellow spot. Fifty strands of bright-yellow hair from one ear to the other,\nlike to a comb of birch twigs or like to a brooch of pale gold in the face\nof the sun. A clear, white, shorn spot was upon him, as if a cow had licked\nit. A [10]fair, laced[10] green[a] mantle about him; a silver pin therein\n[11]over his white breast, so that the eyes of men could not look at it for\nits gleam and its brightness.[11] A [12]hooded[12] tunic of thread of gold\nabout him. [13]A magnificent, fair-coloured, dark purple shield he bore.\nTwo hard, five-pointed spears in his hand. A diadem of gold round his\nhead.[13] And the lad was seated between the two feet of Conchobar, [14]and\nthat was his couch ever after,[14] and the king began to stroke his\nclose-shorn hair.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 726.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] LU. 726.\n\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17. Thurneysen, _Zeitschrift fuer Celtische Philologie_, Bd.\n    VIII, S. 538, note 13, understands this to mean, 'a bluish purple cloak\n    was thrown around him.'\n\n    [8-8] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] 'Blue,' LU. and YBL. 727 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 727.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] LU. and YBL. 728.\n\n[W.1381.] \"A mere lad accomplished these deeds at the end of seven years\nafter his birth,\" [1]continued Fiachu son of Fiarba;[1] \"for he overcame\nheroes and battle-champions at whose hands two-thirds of the men of Ulster\nhad fallen, and these had not got their revenge on them until that scion\nrose up for them. No need then is there of wonder or of surprise, though he\ncame to the border, though he slew one man or two men or three men or four\nmen, [2]though he cut off the four-headed pole with one cut and one blow of\nhis shining sword[2] when now are fulfilled his seventeen years at the time\nof the Tain Bo Cualnge.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 729-730.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n[3]Albeit gladness, joy and happiness was the part of the men of Ulster for\nthat, sorrow, grief and unhappiness was the part of the men of Erin, for\nthey knew that the little lad that had done those deeds in the time of his\nboyhood, it would be no wonder if he should do great deeds of valour in the\ntime of his manhood.[3]\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\nThese, accordingly, are some of the youthful exploits of Cuchulain on the\nRaid for the Kine of Cualnge, and the Prologue of the Tale, and the Names\nof the Roads and the March of the Host up to this Point.\n\nThe Story proper is this which follows now.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 80]\n\n\n\n\nVIIc\n\n[1]BELOW IS A SEPARATE VERSION AS FAR AS THE SLAYING OF ORLAM\n\n\n\"Let us fare forth now,\" quoth Ailill. Thereafter they reached Mag Mucceda\n('the plain of the Swineherd.') Cuchulain lopped off an oak that was before\nhim in that place and set an ogam-writing on its side. This is what was on\nit: 'That no one should pass by till a chariot-warrior with a chariot\nshould overleap it.'\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 733-766.\n\nThey pitch there their tents and proceed to leap over the oak in their\nchariots. Thereat thirty horses fall and thirty chariots are broken. Now,\nBelach Ane ('the Pass of Sport') is the name of that place forever.\n\nThey bide there till morning. Fraech [2]son of Fidach[2] was summoned to\nthem. \"Help us, O Fraech,\" spake Medb; \"deliver us from the strait we are\nin. Rise up for us to meet Cuchulain, if perchance thou wilt fight him.\"\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 741.\n\nBetimes in the morning, with nine men Fraech went out from thence till he\narrived at Ath Fuait, when he saw the youth Cuchulain bathing in the\nriver. \"Bide here,\" spake Fraech to his people, \"till I fight with yonder\nman; he is not good in the water,\" said he. He doffs his clothes and goes\ninto the water to meet him. \"Come not before me,\" cried Cuchulain; \"it\nshall be thy death and it would grieve me to kill thee.\" \"Nay, but I will\ngo,\" answered Fraech, \"so that we come together in the water, and it\nbehoves thee to engage with me.\" \"Settle that as seemeth thee good,\"\nCuchulain made answer. \"Each of us with his arms round the other,\" said\nFraech. They fall to wrestling for a long time in the water and Fraech is\nthrust under. Cuchulain brings him above again. \"This time,\" spake\nCuchulain, \"wilt thou acknowledge that I saved thee?\" \"I will not,\" Fraech\nanswered. Cuchulain thrusts him under again, so that Fraech is destroyed.\n\nHe is placed on the ground. His people bear the body [10]with them[10] to\nthe camp. Ath Fraeich ('Fraech's Ford') is the name of that ford for\never. All the army keen [2]their[2] Fraech, till they see a troop of women,\nin green tunics standing over the corpse of Fraech son of Fidach. These\nwomen bear him into the fairy dwelling.  Sid Fraeich ('Fraech's Mound') is\nthe name of the Elfmound ever since.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 758.\n\nFergus leaps over the oak-stump in his [3]own[3] chariot [4]and knocks off\nits head.[4] [5]According to another version,[5] they proceed till they\nreach [6]Ath Meislir.[6] Cuchulain destroys six of them there, namely,\n[7]Meislir _et reliqua_,[7] [8]the six Dungals of Irrus.[8]\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 762.\n\n    [6-6] Reading with YBL. '_Ath Taiten_,' LU. 762.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 763.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 763.\n\nThey go thence to Fornocht. Medb had a whelp named Baiscne. Cuchulain made\na cast at him, so that he struck off his head. Now, Druim ('Ridge') is the\nname of that place ever after.[1]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 733-766 (see page 80).\n\n[9]According to another version, however, it is there\nthat the youth who was in the chariot by the side of Medb\nand the pet bird were slain by the casts, but, according to\nthis version, that happened after the slaying of Orlam.[9]\n\n    [9] YBL. 766-769.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 82]\n\n\n\n\nVIII\n\nTHE SLAYING OF ORLAM\n\n\n[W.1393.] The four grand provinces of Erin set forth on the morrow\neastwards over Cronn ('the Round'), which is a mountain.  Cuchulain had\ngone out before them, till he came upon the charioteer of Orlam son of\nAililla and of Medb. This was at Tamlacht Orlaim ('Orlam's Gravestone')\n[1]a little to the[1] north of Disert Lochaid ('Lochat's Hermitage'). The\ncharioteer was engaged in cutting chariot-poles from a holly-tree in the\nwood. [2]But according to another version it is the hind pole of\nCuchulain's chariot that was broken and it was to cut a pole he had gone\nwhen Orlam's charioteer came up.[2] [3]According to this version, it was\nthe charioteer who was cutting the pole.[3]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 772.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 773-775.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 773-775.\n\n[4]Not long was the battle-victorious Hound there when he heard a sound and\nan uproar.[4] \"Behold, O Laeg,\" cried Cuchulain; \"[5]who of the host of the\nfoe have come into this land to carry off a share of cattle and booty from\nthe province wherein they came?[5] How bold are the ways of the Ulstermen,\nif it be they that cut down the woods in this fashion in the face of the\nmen of Erin. But, [6]check the horses and hold the chariot.[6] Tarry thou\nhere a little, till I know who cuts down the woods in this manner.\" Then\nCuchulain went on till he came up to [7]Orlam's[7] charioteer, [W.1401.]\n[1]to stop him; he thought he was one of the men of Ulster.[1] \"What dost\nthou here, gilla?\" asked Cuchulain.  \"Indeed, then,\" answered the gilla, \"I\ncut chariot-poles from this holm, because our chariots were broken\nyesterday in pursuit of that famous wildling, namely Cuchulain. And for thy\nmanhood's sake, young warrior, pray come to my aid, so that that famous\nCuchulain come not upon me.\" \"Take thy choice, gilla,\" said Cuchulain, \"to\ngather or to trim them, either.\" \"I will see to gathering them, for it is\neasier,\" [2]the gilla answered.[2] Cuchulain started to cut the poles and\nhe drew them between the forks of his feet and his hands against their\nbends and their knots, so that he made them smooth and straight and\nslippery and trimmed; he polished them so that not even a midge could find\nfooting thereon when he had passed them away from him. Then full sure the\ngilla gazed upon him. \"Far then, meseems, from fitting is the task I put on\nthee. [3]And for love of thy valour,[3] who art thou, say, O warrior?\" the\ngilla asked, [4]for he was sore affrighted.[4] \"That same renowned\nCuchulain am I of whom thou spakest [5]a while ago[5] in the morning.\" \"Woe\nis me then, by reason of this,\" cried the gilla; \"for this am I lost\nforever.\" [LL.fo.68b.] [6]\"Whence comest thou [7]and who art thou[7]?\"\nCuchulain asked. \"Charioteer am I of Orlam, Ailill's son and Medb's,\"[6]\n[8]said he.[8] [9]\"Fear nothing;[9] I will not slay thee at all, boy,\" said\nCuchulain; \"for I slay nor charioteers nor horseboys nor persons unarmed.\nBut, prithee, where is thy master, [10]gilla[10]?\" \"Over yonder by the\ntrench, [11]with his back to the pillar-stone,[11]\" answered the gilla.\n\"Off with thee thither to him and bear him a warning that he be on his\nguard. For if we meet he shall fall by my hand.\"\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 777.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 786\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 786-787.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 787.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 789.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n[W.1419.] Thereupon the charioteer repaired [1]by one way[1] to his master,\n[2]and Cuchulain went by another,[2] and fast as the gilla sped to Orlam,\nfaster still Cuchulain did reach him [3]and offered him combat[3] and he\nstruck off his head, and raising it aloft displayed it to the men of Erin,\n[4]and he flourished it in the presence of the host.[4] [5]Then he put the\nhead on the charioteer's back and said, \"Take this with thee, and so go to\nthe camp. Unless thou goest so, a stone out of my sling will reach thee.\"\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, LU. and YBL. 792.\n\nWhen the charioteer came nigh to the camp he took the head from his back\nand told his adventures to Ailill and Medb. \"It is not the same, this\nexploit and the catching of birds,\" quoth she. \"And he told me\" (said the\nboy), \"unless I brought it on my back to the camp, he would break my head\nwith a stone.\"[5] [6]Hence Leaca Orlaim ('Orlam's Flagstones') to the north\nof Disert Lochaid is the name of the place where he fell. Tamlachta\n('Gravestones') is another name for it, and it is for this reason it is so\ncalled because of the little gravestones and the violent deaths which\nCuchulain worked on it.\"[6]\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 793-799.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 85]\n\n\n\n\nVIIIa\n\n[1]THE SLAYING OF THE THREE MacARACH[1]\n\n\n[W.1425.] Then came the three macArach on to the ford at Ard Ciannacht\nto encounter Cuchulain: Lon ('Ousel'), Uala ('Pride'), and Diliu\n('Deluge');--Meslir ('Lir's Fosterling'), and Meslaoc ('Hero's\nFosterling'), and Meslethain ('Lethan's Fosterling') were the names of\ntheir charioteers. This is why they came to engage with Cuchulain, for the\ndeed he had done the day before they deemed past bearing, when the two sons\nof Nera son of Nuatar, son of Tacan, were slain at Ath Gabla ('Fork-ford'),\nand Orlam, Ailill's son and Medb's, was slain withal and his head displayed\nto the men of Erin, so that [2]their desire was[2] to kill Cuchulain in the\nsame manner [3]in revenge for him,[3] [4]and that they should be the ones\nto rid the host of that pest[4] and bring his head with them to set it\naloft. They went into the wood and cut off three [5]great[5] white-hazel\nwood-strips (and put them) into the hands of their charioteers, so that the\nsix of them might engage in battle at one and the same time with Cuchulain.\nCuchulain turned on them and smote their six heads from them. Thus fell the\nmacArach at the hands of Cuchulain, [6]because they observed not fair fight\nwith him. At that same time Orlam's charioteer was between Ailill and Medb.\nCuchulain slung a stone at him, so that it broke his head and his brains\ncame out over his ears. Fertedil was his name. Hence it is not true that\nCuchulain slew no charioteers.  Albeit he slew them not without fault.[6]\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. fo. 64a, in the margin. LU. reads\n    _MacGarach_.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 806.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 806-807.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 808-812.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 86]\n\n\n\n\nVIIIb\n\n[1]THE COMBAT OF LETHAN AND CUCHULAIN[1]\n\n\n[W.1439.] There came also Lethan ('the Broad') to his ford on the Nith in\nthe land of Conalle Murthemni, to fight with Cuchulain.  [2]He was angered\nat what Cuchulain had wrought.[2] He came upon him at the ford. Ath Carpait\n('Chariot-ford') is the name of the ford where they fought, for their\nchariots were broken in the combat on the ford. It is there that Mulcha,\n[3]Lethan's charioteer,[3] fell on the [4]shoulder of the[4] hill between\nthe two fords, [5]for he had offered battle and combat to Laeg son of\nRiangabair.[5] Hence it is called Guala Mulchi ('Mulcha's Shoulder') ever\nsince. It is there, too, that Cuchulain and Lethan met, and Lethan fell at\nCuchulain's hands and he smote his head from his neck on the ford and left\nit therewith, that is, he left the head with the trunk.  Wherefore the name\nof the ford [6]of the Nith[6] was called Ath Lethain ('Lethain's Ford')\never since in the district of Conalle Murthemni.\n\n    [1-1] The superscription is taken from Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 837.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 841.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 841.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 839 and Stowe.\n\nThen came [7]unto them[7] the Crutti Cainbili ('the Tuneful Harpers'), from\nEss Ruaid in the north to amuse them, [8]out of friendship for Ailill and\nMedb.[8] They opined it was to spy upon them [9]they were come[9] from\nUlster. [10]When they came within sight of the camp of the men of Erin,\nfear, terror, and dread possessed them,[10] and the hosts pursued [W.1450.]\nthem as never men pursued, far and wide, till they escaped them in the\nshapes of deer near the standing stones at Lia Mor ('Great Stone') [1]in\nthe north.[1] For though they were known as the 'Mellifluous Harpers' they\nwere [2]druids,[2] men of great cunning and great power of augury and\nmagic.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 835.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 835.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 88]\n\n\n\n\nVIIIc\n\n[1]THE KILLING OF THE SQUIRREL AND OF THE TAME BIRD[1]\n\n\n[W.1456.] Then Cuchulain made a threat [2]in Methe[2] that wherever he saw\nMedb he would cast a stone at her and that it would not go far from the\nside of her head. That he also fulfilled. In the place where he saw Medb\nwest of the ford he cast a stone from his sling at her, so that it killed\nthe pet bird that was on her shoulder. Medb passed over the ford eastwards,\nand again he cast a stone from his sling at her east of the ford, so that\nit killed the tame squirrel that was on her shoulder. Hence the names of\nthose places are still, Meide in Togmail ('Squirrel's Neck') and Meide ind\nEoin ('Bird's Neck'). And Ath Srethe ('Ford of the Throw') is the name of\nthe ford over which Cuchulain cast the stone from his sling.\n\n    [1-1] The superscription is taken from LU. fo. 64a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 813.\n\n[3]Then Reuin was drowned in his lake. Hence is Loch Reuin. \"Your companion\nis not afar off from you,\" cried Ailill to the Mane. They stood up and\nlooked around. When they sat down again, Cuchulain struck one of them so\nthat his head was split. \"It is well it was thou hast essayed that; thy[a]\nmirth was not seemly,\" quoth Mane the fool; \"it is I would have taken his\nhead off.\" Cuchulain flung a stone at him, so that his head was split. Thus\nthese people were slain: Orlam, first of all, on his hill; the three sons\nof Arach[a] on their ford; Fertidil in his ... (?); Maenan on his hill. \"I\nswear by the god by whom my people swear,\" cried Ailill; \"the man that\nscoffs at Cuchulain here I will make two halves of. But above all let us\nhasten our way by day and by night,\" Ailill continued, \"till we come to\nCualnge. That man will slay two-thirds of your host in this fashion.\"[3]\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 820-831 and, partly, in Eg. 1782.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'your.'\n\n    [a] '_Garech_,' LU. and YBL. 827.\n\n[1]Then did the men of Erin deliberate about going to ravage and lay waste\nMag Breg and Meath and the plain of Conall and the land of Cuchulain; and\nit was in the presence of Fergus macRoig they discussed it.[1]\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n[W.1465.] The four grand provinces of Erin moved out on the morrow, and\nbegan to harry the plains of Breg and Murthemne. And the sharp, keen-edged\nanxiety [LL.fo.69a.] for Cuchulain came over his fosterer Fergus. And he\nbade the men of Erin be on their guard that night, for that Cuchulain would\ncome upon them. And here again he sang in his praise, as we wrote it\nbefore,[b] and he uttered the lay:--\n\n    \"If Cuchulain, Cualnge's Hound,\n    And Red Branch chiefs on you come,\n    Men will welter in their blood,\n    Laying waste Murthemne's plain!\n\n    [4]\"Woe to him possesses wealth,\n    'Less he find a way to 'scape;\n    And your wives will be enslaved,\n    And your chiefs fill pools of blood![4]\n\n    \"Far away he[c] held his course,\n    Till he reached Armenia's heights;\n    Battle dared he, past his wont,\n    And the Burnt-breasts[d] put to death!\n\n    \"Hardest for him was to drive\n    Necht's sons from their chieftest haunts;\n    And the smith's hound--mighty deed--\n    Hath he slain with single hand!\n\n    [W.1483.] \"More than this I've naught to say,\n    As concerns Dechtire's son;\n    My belief, in troth, is this:\n    Ye will now meet with your fate.\"\n\n    [b] See above, p. 41.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [c] That is, Cuchulain.\n\n    [d] That is, the Amazons.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 820-831 and, partly, in Eg. 1782.\n\nAfter this lay, that was the day that Donn ('the Brown Bull') of Cualnge\ncame into the land of Margine [1]to Sliab Culinn[1] and with him fifty\nheifers of the heifers [2]of Ulster;[2] and there he was pawing and digging\nup the earth in that place, [3]in the land of Margine, in Cualnge;[3] that\nis, he flung the turf over him with his heels. [4]While the hosts were\nmarching over Mag Breg, Cuchulain in the meanwhile laid hands on their\ncamps.[4] It was on the same day that the Morrigan, daughter of Ernmas,\n[5]the prophetess[5] of the fairy-folk, came [6]in the form of a bird,[6]\nand she perched on the standing-stone in Temair of Cualnge giving the Brown\nBull of Cualnge warning [7]and lamentations[7] before the men of Erin. Then\nshe began to address him and what she said was this: \"Good, now, O luckless\none, thou Brown Bull of Cualnge,\" so spake the Morrigan; \"take heed; for\nthe men of Erin.  [8]are on thy track and seeking thee[8] and they will\ncome upon thee, and [9]if thou art taken[9] they will carry thee away to\ntheir camp [10]like any ox on a raid,[10] unless thou art on thy guard.\"\nAnd she commenced to give warning to him in this fashion, [11]telling him\nhe would be slain on the Tain, and she delivered this judgement[11] and\nspake these words aloud:[a]--\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 853.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 857.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 842-843.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 844.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] The following passage in '_rosc_' is exceedingly difficult and\n    obscure, and the translation given here is consequently incomplete and\n    uncertain.\n\n\"Knows not the restless Brown of the [12]truly deadly[12] [W.1502.] fray\nthat is not uncertain?--A raven's[a] croak--The raven that doth not\nconceal--Foes range your checkered plain--[1]Troops on raids[1]--I have a\nsecret--Ye shall know ... The waving fields--The deep-green grass ... and\nrich, soft plain--Wealth of flowers' splendour--Badb's cow-lowing--Wild the\nraven--Dead the men--A tale of woe--Battle-storms[b] on Cualnge evermore,\nto the death of mighty sons--Kith looking on the death of kin!\"\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 846, and Stowe.\n\n    [a] The Morrigan, the Irish goddess of battle, most often appeared in\n    the form of a raven.\n\n    [1-1] Reading with H. 2. 17.\n\n    [b] Translating _cloe_, as suggested by Windisch.\n\n[2]When the Brown Bull of Cualnge heard those words[2] he moved on to Glenn\nna Samaisce ('Heifers' Glen') in Sliab Culinn ('Hollymount') [3]in the\nnorth of Ulster,[3] and fifty of his heifers with him, [4]and his herdsman\naccompanied him; Forgemen was the name of the cowherd.[4] [5]And he threw\noff the thrice fifty boys who were wont to play on his back and he\ndestroyed two-thirds of the boys.[5] This was one of the magic virtues of\nthe Brown Bull of Cualnge: Fifty heifers he would cover every day. These\ncalved before that same hour on the next day and such of them that calved\nnot [6]at the due time[6] burst with the calves, because they could not\nsuffer the begetting of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. One of the magic virtues\nof the Brown Bull of Cualnge were the fifty [7]grown[7] youths who engaged\nin games, [8]who[8] on his fine back [9]found room[9] every evening [10]to\nplay draughts and assembly[c] and leaping[10]; [11]he would not put them\nfrom him nor would he totter under them.[11] Another of the magic virtues\nof the Brown Bull of Cualnge was the hundred warriors [W.1535.] he screened\nfrom the heat and the cold under his shadow and shelter. Another of the\nmagic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge was that no goblin nor boggart\nnor sprite of the glen dared come into one and the same cantred with\nhim. Another of the magic virtues of the Brown Bull of Cualnge was his\nmusical lowing every evening as he returned to his haggard, his shed and\nhis byre. It was music enough and delight for a man in the north and in the\nsouth, [1]in the east and the west,[1] and in the middle of the cantred of\nCualnge, the lowing he made at even as he came to his haggard, his shed,\nand his byre. These, then, are some of the magic virtues of the Brown Bull\nof Cualnge.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 854, and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 855-856.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [c] Apparently the name of some game.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\nThereupon on the morrow the hosts proceeded among the rocks and dunes of\nthe land of Conalle Murthemni.  [3]Cuchulain killed no one from Saile ('the\nSea') around Dorthe in the land of Conalle, until he reached Cualnge.  At\nthat time Cuchulain was in Cuince, [2]that is a mountain.[2] He had\nthreatened that, where he would see Medb, he would hurl a stone at her\nhead. It was not easy to do this, for it was thus Medb went, with half the\nhost around her and their canopy of shields over her head.[3] And Medb\nordered a canopy of shields to be held over her head in order that\nCuchulain might not strike her from the hills or hillocks or heights.\nHowbeit on that day, no killing nor attack came from Cuchulain upon the men\nof Erin, in the land of Murthemne among the rocks and dunes of Conalle\nMurthemni.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 860.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 858-863.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 93]\n\n\n\n\nVIIId\n\n[1]THE SLAYING OF LOCHE[1]\n\n\n[W.1552.] The warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin bided\ntheir time in Rede Loche in Cualnge and pitched camp and took quarters\ntherein for that night. Medb bade her fair handmaiden from amongst her\nattendants to go for her to the river for water for drinking and washing.\nLoche was the name of the maiden. Thereupon Loche went, and fifty[a] women\nin her train and the queen's diadem of gold on her head. And Cuchulain\n[2]espied them and he[2] [3]put a stone on his sling and[3] cast\n[LL.fo.69b.] a stone from his [4]staff[4]-sling at her, so that he broke\nthe diadem of gold in three pieces and killed the maiden on her plain.\nThence is Rede Loche ('the Plain of Loche') in Cualnge. For Cuchulain had\nthought, for want of acquaintance and knowledge, that it was Medb that was\nthere.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 65a, in the margin.\n\n    [a] 'forty,' H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n[5]From Finnabair of Cualnge the hosts divided and set the country on\nfire. They gathered all their women and boys and girls and cattle in\nCualnge together so that they all were in Finnabair. \"Ye have not fared\nwell,\" quoth Medb; \"I see not the bull amongst you.\" \"He is not in the land\nat all,\" replied every one. They summoned Lothar, the cowherd, to Medb.\n\"Where, thinkest thou, is the bull?\" she asked. \"I have great fear to\ntell,\" said the cowherd. \"The night,\" said he, \"that the Ulstermen fell\ninto their 'Pains,' the Donn went and three score heifers along with him;\nand he is at Dubcaire Glinni Gat ('the Black Corrie of the Osier-glen').\"\n\"Rise,\" said Medb, \"and take a withy between each two of you.\" And they do\naccordingly. Hence is the name, Glenn Gatt, of that glen.\n\n[5-5] LU. and YBL. 867-887.]\n\nThen they led the bull to Finnabair. In the place where the bull saw\nLothar, the cowherd, he attacked him, and soon he carried his entrails out\non his horns and together with his thrice fifty heifers he attacked the\ncamp, so that fifty warriors perished. Hence this is the Tragical Death\nof Lothar on the Tain [1]and the Finding of the Bull according to this\nversion.[1] [2]Thereafter the bull went from them away from the camp and\nthey knew not whither he had gone from them and they were ashamed. Medb\nasked the cowherd if he might know where the bull was. \"I trow he is in the\nwilds of Sliab Culinn.\"[2] Then they turned back ravaging Cualnge and they\nfound not the bull there.[5]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 882, which adds: 'We will not follow it further here.'\n\n    [2-2] LU., edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 34, note 16.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 867-887.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 95]\n\n\n\n\nVIIIe\n\n[1]THE KILLING OF UALA[1]\n\n\n[W.1563.] [2]Early[2] on the morrow the hosts continued their way [3]to lay\nwaste the plain of Murthemne and to sack Mag Breg and Meath and Machaire\nConaill ('Conall's Plain') and the land of Cualnge. It was then that the\nstreams and rivers of Conalle Murthemni rose to the tops of the trees, and\nthe streams of the Cronn rose withal, until the hosts arrived at Glaiss\nCruinn ('Cronn's Stream').[3] And they attempted the stream and failed to\ncross it [4]because of the size of its waves,[4] [5]so that they slept on\nits bank.[5] And Cluain Carpat ('Chariot-meadow') is the name of the first\nplace where they reached it. This is why Cluain Carpat is the name of that\nplace, because of the hundred[a] chariots which the river carried away from\nthem to the sea. Medb ordered her people that one of the warriors should go\ntry the river. And [6]on the morrow[6] there arose a great, stout,\n[7]wonderful[7] warrior of the [8]particular[8] people of Medb [9]and\nAilill,[9] Uala by name, and he took on his back a massy rock, [10]to the\nend that Glaiss Cruinn might not carry him back.[10] And he went to essay\nthe stream, and the stream threw him back dead, lifeless, with his\n[W.1571.] stone on his back [1]and so he was drowned.[1] Medb ordered that\nhe be lifted [2]out of the river then[2] [3]by the men of Erin[3] and his\ngrave dug [4]and his keen made[4] and his stone raised [5]over his\ngrave,[5] so that it is thence Lia Ualann ('Uala's Stone') [6]on the road\nnear the stream[6] in the land of Cualnge.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 65a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 887, a gloss.\n\n    [a] H. 2. 17 has 'fifty charioteers.'\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 889.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 889.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 891.\n\nCuchulain clung close to the hosts that day provoking them to encounter and\ncombat. [7]Four and seven score kings fell at his hands at that same\nstream,[7] and he slew a hundred of their [8]armed,[8] [9]kinglike[9]\nwarriors around Roen and Roi, the two chroniclers of the Tain. [10]This is\nthe reason the account of the Tain was lost and had to be sought afterwards\nfor so long a time.[10]\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 900.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17; the story of the finding of the Tain is told in the\n    _Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe_ (\"The Proceedings of the Great Bardic\n    Institution\"), edited by Owen Connellan, in the Transactions of the\n    Ossianic Society, vol. v, 1857, pp. 103 fl.\n\nMedb called upon her people to go meet Cuchulain in encounter and combat\n[11]for the sake of the hosts.[11] \"It will not be I,\" and \"It will not be\nI,\" spake each and every one from his place. \"No caitiff is due from my\npeople. Even though one should be due, it is not I would go to oppose\nCuchulain, for no easy thing is it to do battle with him.\"\n\n[12]When they had failed to find the Donn Cualnge,[12] the hosts kept their\nway along the river [13]around the river Cronn to its source,[13] being\nunable to cross it, till they reached the place where the river rises out\nof the mountains, and, had they wished it, they would have gone between the\nriver and the mountain, but Medb would not allow it, so they had to dig and\nhollow out the mountain [W.1585.] before her in order [1]that their trace\nmight remain there forever and[1] that it might be for a shame and reproach\nto Ulster.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] LU. and YBL. 893.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 895.\n\n[2]They tarried there three days and three nights till they had dug out the\nearth before them.[2] And Bernais ('the Gap') of the [4]Foray of Medb and\nthe Gap of the[4] Foray of Cualnge is another name for the place ever\nsince, for it is through it the drove afterwards passed. [3]There Cuchulain\nkilled Cronn and Coemdele and ...[3]\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 896.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 898-899.\n\nThe warriors of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and took\nquarters that night at Belat Aileain ('the Island's Crossway'). Belat\nAileain was its name up to then, but Glenn Tail ('Glen of Shedding') is\nhenceforth its name because of the abundance of curds and of milk [5]and of\nnew warm milk[5] which the droves of cattle and the flocks [6]of the land\nof Conalle and Murthemne[6] yielded there [7]that night[7] for the men of\nErin. And Liasa Liac ('Stone Sheds') is another name for it [8]to this\nday,[8] and it is for this it bears that name, for it is there that the men\nof Erin raised cattle-stalls and byres for their herds and droves\n[9]between Cualnge and Conalle.[9] [10]Botha is still another name for it,\nfor the men of Erin erected bothies and huts there.[10]\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 909.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\nThe four of the five grand provinces of Erin took up the march until they\nreached the Sechair [11]in the west on the morrow.[11] Sechair was the name\nof the river hitherto; Glaiss Gatlaig ('Osier-water') is its name\nhenceforward. [12]And Glaiss Gatlaig rose up against them.[12] Now this is\nthe reason it had that name, for it was in osiers and ropes that the men of\nErin brought [W.1599.] their flocks and droves over across it, and the\nentire host let their osiers and ropes drift with the stream after\ncrossing.  Hence the name, Glaiss Gatlaig. [1]Then they slept at Druim Fene\nin Conalle. These then are their stages from Cualnge to the plain (of\nConalle Murthemni) according to this version. Other authors [2]of this\nWork[2] and other books aver that they followed another way on their\njourneyings from Finnabair to Conalle.[1]\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 910.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 912-914.\n\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 914.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 99]\n\n\n\n\nVIIIf\n\n[1]THE HARRYING OF CUALNGE FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW[1]\n\n\n[2]After every one had come with their spoils and they were all gathered in\nFinnabair of Cualnge, Medb spake: \"Let the camp be divided here,\" said\nMedb; \"the foray cannot be caried on by a single road. Let Ailill with half\nhis force go by Midluachair. We and Fergus will go by Bernas Bo Ulad ('the\nPass of the Cattle of Ulster').\"  \"Not fair is the part that has fallen to\nus of the force,\" said Fergus; \"the cattle cannot be driven over the\nmountain without dividing.\" This then is done. Hence cometh Bernas Bo Ulad\n('the Pass of the Cattle of Ulster').\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 65b, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 916-1197, omitting 1079-1091.\n\nThen spake Ailill to his charioteer Cuillius: \"Find out for me to-day Medb\nand Fergus. I wot not what hath led them to keep thus together. I would\nfain have a token from thee.\" Cuillius went where Medb and Fergus wantoned.\nThe pair dallied behind while the warriors continued their march. Cuillius\nstole near them and they perceived not the spy. It happened that Fergus'\nsword lay close by him. Cuillius drew it from its sheath and left the\nsheath empty. Then Cuillius betook himself to Ailill. \"Well?\" said Ailill.\n\"Well, then,\" replied [3]Cuillius;[3] \"thou knowest the signification of\nthis token. As thou hast thought,\" continued Cuillius, \"it is thus I\ndiscovered them, lying together.\" \"It is so, then.\" Each of them laughs, at\nthe other. \"It is well so,\" said Ailill; \"she had no choice; to win his\nhelp on the Tain she hath done it. Keep the sword carefully by thee,\" said\nAilill; \"put it beneath thy seat in the chariot and a linen cloth wrapped\nround it.\"\n\n[3-3] LU. 930.]\n\nWhen Fergus got up to take his sword, \"Alas!\" cried he. \"What aileth thee?\"\nMedb asked. \"An ill deed have I done Ailill,\" said he. \"Wait thou here till\nI come out of the wood,\" said Fergus, \"and wonder not though it be long\ntill I come.\" It happened that Medb knew not of the loss of the sword.\nFergus went out taking his charioteer's sword with him in his hand, and he\nfashioned a sword from a tree in the wood. Hence is Fid Mor Thruailli\n('Great Scabbard-Wood') in Ulster.\n\n\"Let us hasten after our comrades,\" said Fergus. The forces of all came\ntogether in the plain. They raised their tents. Fergus was summoned to\nAilill for a game of chess.  When Fergus entered the tent Ailill laughed at\nhim.[a]\n\n    [a] Here follows in LU. and YBL. 946-1020, Eg. 1782, a most difficult\n    passage, rendered more obscure by the incorporation of glossarial\n    notes into the body of the text. It is almost incapable of\n    translation; it consists of a dialogue or series of repartees during a\n    game of chess, in which Ailill taunts Fergus on the episode just\n    narrated and Fergus replies.\n\nCuchulain came so that he was before Ath Cruinn ('the Ford of the Cronn').\n\"O master Laeg,\" he cried to his driver, \"here are the hosts for us.\" \"I\nswear by the gods,\" said the charioteer, \"I will do a mighty feat in the\neyes of chariot-fighters, in quick spurring-on of the slender steeds; with\nyokes of silver and golden wheels shall they be urged on (?) in triumph.\nThou shalt ride before heads of kings. The steeds I guide will bring\nvictory with their bounding.\" \"Take heed, O Laeg,\" said Cuchulain; \"hold\nthe reins for the great triumph of Macha, that the horses drag thee not\nover the mass at the ... (?) of a woman.  Let us go over the straight plain\nof these ... (?). I call on the waters to help me,\" cried Cuchulain. \"I\nbeseech heaven and earth and the Cronn above all.\"\n\n    Then the Cronn opposes them,[a]\n    Holds them back from Murthemne,\n    Till the heroes'[b] work is done\n    On the mount of Ocaine![c]\n\n    [a] That is, the men of Erin.\n\n    [b] That is, Cuchulain and Laeg.\n\n    [c] See above, page 97.\n\nTherewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the trees.\n\nMane son of Ailill and Medb marched in advance of the rest. Cuchulain slew\nhim on the ford and thirty horsemen of his people were drowned. Again\nCuchulain laid low twice sixteen warriors of theirs near the stream. The\nwarriors of Erin pitched their tents near the ford. Lugaid son of Nos\n[1]grandson of Lomarc[1] Allcomach went to parley with Cuchulain. Thirty\nhorsemen were with him.  \"Welcome to thee, O Lugaid,\" cried Cuchulain.\n\"Should a flock of birds graze upon the plain of Murthemne, thou shalt have\na wild goose with half the other. Should fish come to the falls or to the\nbays, thou shalt have a salmon with as much again. Thou shalt have the\nthree sprigs, even a sprig of cresses, a sprig of laver, and a sprig of\nsea-grass; there will be a man to take thy place at the ford.\"  \"This\nwelcome is truly meant,\" replied Lugaid; \"the choice of people for the\nyouth whom I desire!\" \"Splendid are your hosts,\" said Cuchulain. \"It will\nbe no misfortune,\" said Lugaid, \"for thee to stand up alone before them.\"\n\"True courage and valour have I,\" Cuchulain made answer.  \"Lugaid, my\nmaster,\" said Cuchulain, \"do the hosts fear me?\" \"By the god,\" Lugaid made\nanswer, \"I swear that no one man of them nor two men dares make water\noutside the camp unless twenty or thirty go with him.\" \"It will be\nsomething for them,\" said Cuchulain, \"if I begin to cast from my sling. He\nwill be fit for thee, O Lugaid, this companion thou hast in Ulster, [1]if\nthe men oppose me one by one.[1] Say, then, what wouldst thou?\" asked\nCuchulain.  \"A truce with my host.\" \"Thou shalt have it, provided there be\na token therefor. And tell my master Fergus that there shall be a token on\nthe host. Tell the leeches that there shall be a token on the host, and let\nthem swear to preserve my life and let them provide me each night with\nprovision.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. 1041.\n\n    [1-1] Literally, 'if there oppose me the strength of each single man.'\n\nLugaid went from him. It happened that Fergus was in the tent with Ailill.\nLugaid called him out and reported that (proposal of Cuchulain's) to him.\nThen Ailill was heard:[a]\n\n    [a] The sense of this proposal of Ailill's, omitted in the translation\n    (LU. 1064-1069 and Eg. 1782), is not clear.\n\n\"I swear by the god, I cannot,\" said [3]Fergus,[3] \"unless I ask the\nlad. Help me, O Lugaid,\" said Fergus. \"Do thou go to him, to see whether\nAilill with a division may come to me to my company. Take him an ox with\nsalt pork and a keg of wine.\" Thereupon Lugaid goes to Cuchulain and tells\nhim that. \"'Tis the same to me whether he go,\" said Cuchulain. Then the two\nhosts unite. They remain there till night, [4]or until they spend thirty\nnights there.[4] Cuchulain destroyed thirty of their warriors with his\nsling. \"Your journeyings will be ill-starred,\" said Fergus (to Medb and\nAilill); \"the men of Ulster will come out of their 'Pains' and will grind\nyou down to the earth and the gravel. Evil is the battle-corner wherein we\nare.\" He proceeds to Cul Airthir ('the Eastern Nook'). Cuchulain slays\nthirty of their heroes on Ath Duirn ('Ford of the Fist'). Now they could\nnot reach Cul Airthir till night. Cuchulain killed thirty of their men\nthere and they raised their tents in that place. In the morning Ailill's\ncharioteer, Cuillius to wit, was washing the wheel-bands in the ford.\nCuchulain struck him with a stone so that he killed him. Hence is Ath\nCuillne ('Ford of Destruction') in Cul Airthir.'[2]\n\n    [3-3] 'Lugaid,' LU. 1069.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 1075; but, 'they would be twenty nights there, as other\n    books say,' LU.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 916-1197, omitting 1079-1091.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 104]\n\n\n\n\nIX\n\nTHE PROPOSALS\n\n\n[W.1603.] The four grand provinces of Erin proceeded till they pitched camp\nand took quarters in Druim En ('Birds' Ridge') in the land of Conalle\nMurthemni, [1]and they slept there[1] that night, [2]as we said before,[2]\nand Cuchulain held himself at Ferta Illergaib ('the Burial-mound on the\nSlopes') hard by them that night, and he, Cuchulain, shook, brandished and\nflourished his weapons that night. [3]Every night of the three nights they\nwere there he made casts from his sling at them, from Ochaine nearby,[3] so\nthat one hundred warriors of the host perished of fright and fear and\ndread of Cuchulain. [4]\"Not long will our host endure in this way with\nCuchulain,\" quoth Ailill.[4] Medb called upon Fiachu son of Ferfebe of the\nUlstermen to go parley with Cuchulain, to come to some terms with him.\n\"What terms shall be given him?\" asked Fiachu son of Ferfebe.  \"Not hard to\nanswer,\" Medb replied: \"He shall be recompensed [5]for the loss of his\nlands and estates,[5] for whosoever has been slain of the Ulstermen, so\nthat it be paid to him as the men of Erin adjudge [6]according to the will\nof the Ulstermen and of Fergus and of the nobles of the men of Erin who are\nin this camp and encampment.[6] Entertainment shall be his at all times in\nCruachan; wine and [W.1614.] mead shall be poured [LL.fo.70a.] out for\nhim. [1]He shall have from the plain of Ai the equal of the plain of\nMurthemne and the best chariot that is in Ai and the equipment of twelve\nmen. Offer, if it please him more, the plain wherein he was reared and\nthrice seven bondmaids.[1] And he shall come into my service and Ailill's,\nfor that is more seemly for him than to be in the service of the lordling\nwith whom he is, [2]even of Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathatch.[2]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1097.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1098.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1100-1101.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1100-1102.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1103-1105.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\nAccordingly this was the greatest word of scorn and insult spoken on the\nCow-Raid of Cualnge, to make a lordling of the best king of a province in\nErin, even of Conchobar.\n\nThen came Fiachu son of Ferfebe to converse with Cuchulain. Cuchulain bade\nhim welcome. \"[3]Welcome thy coming and thine arrival, O Fiachu,\" said\nCuchulain.[3] \"I regard that welcome as truly meant,\" [4]said Fiachu.[4]\n\"It is truly meant for thee\" [5]replied Cuchulain[5]; \"[6]and thou shalt\nhave a night of hospitality this night.\" \"Victory and a blessing attend\nthee, O fosterling,\" replied Fiachu. \"Not for hospitality am I come, but[6]\nto parley with thee am I come from Medb, [7]and to bring thee terms.\"[7]\n\"What hast thou brought with thee?\" \"Thou shalt be recompensed for\nwhatsoever was destroyed of Ulster which shall be paid thee as best the men\nof Erin adjudge. Entertainment shalt thou enjoy in Cruachan; wine and mead\nshall be poured out for thee and thou shalt enter the service of Ailill and\nMedb, for that is more seemly for thee than to be in the service of the\nlordling with whom thou art.\" \"Nay, of a truth,\" answered Cuchulain, \"I\nwould not sell my mother's brother[a] for any other king!\" \"Further,\"\n[8]continued Fiachu,[8] \"that [W.1627.] thou comest to-morrow to a tryst\nwith Medb and Fergus in Glenn Fochaine.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [a] That is, Conchobar.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n[1]Therewith Fiachu left behind a wish for long life and health with\nCuchulain.[1]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nAccordingly, early on the morrow, Cuchulain set forth for Glenn\nFochaine. Likewise Medb and Fergus went to meet him. And Medb looked\nnarrowly at Cuchulain, and her spirit chafed her at him that day, for no\nbigger than the bulk of a stripling did he seem to her. \"Is that yonder the\nrenowned Cuchulain thou speakest of, O Fergus?\"  asked Medb, [2]\"of whom it\nis said amongst ye Ulstermen that there is not in Erin a warrior for whom\nhe is not a match and mighty combat?\" \"Not in Erin alone, did we say,\"\nFergus made answer; \"but there is not in the world a warrior for whom he is\nnot a match and mighty combat.\"[2] And Medb began to address Fergus and she\nmade this lay:--\n\n      Medb: \"If that be the noble Hound,\n             Of whom ye of Ulster boast,\n             What man e'er stout foe hath faced,\n             Will fend him from Erin's men!\"\n\n    Fergus: \"Howe'er young the Hound thou seest,\n             That Murthemne's Plain doth course,\n             That man hath not stood on earth\n             Whom he'd crush not with his might!\"\n\n      Medb: \"We will bring this warrior terms;\n             If he slight them, he is mad:\n             Half his cows, his women, half.\n             He shall change his way of fight!\"\n\n    Fergus: \"My wish, that yell not o'ercome\n             This Hound from proud Murthemne!\n             Deeds he fears not--fierce and bright--\n             This I know, if it be he!\"\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n\"Accost Cuchulain, O Fergus,\" said Medb. \"Nay, then,\" quoth Fergus, \"but do\nthou accost him thyself, for ye are not asunder here in the valley, in\nGlenn Fochaine.\"  [W.1653.] And Medb began to address Cuchulain and she\nmade a lay, [1]to which he responded:[1]\n\n         Medb: \"Culann's Hound, whom quatrains praise,[a]\n                Keep thy staff-sling far from us;\n                Thy fierce, famed fight hath us ruined,\n                Hath us broken and confused!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Medb of Mur, he, Maga's son,\n                No base arrant wight am I.\n                While I live I'll never cease\n                Cualnge's raid to harass sore!\"\n\n         Medb: \"If thou wilt take this from us,\n                Valiant chief, thou Cualnge's Hound;\n                Half thy cows, thy women, half,\n                Thou shalt have [2]through fear of thee!\"[2]\n\n    Cuchulain: \"As by right of thrusts am I\n                Ulster's champion and defence,\n                Naught I'll yield till I retrieve\n                Cow and woman ta'en from Gael!\"\n\n         Medb: \"What thou askest is too much,\n                After slaughtering our fair troops,\n                That we keep but steeds and gauds,\n                All because of one sole man!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Eocho's daughter, fair, of Fal,\n                I'm not good at wars of words;\n                Though a warrior--[b] fair the cheer--[b]\n                Counsel mine is little worth!\"\n\n         Medb: \"Shame thou hast none for what thou sayest,\n                O Dechtire's lordly[c] son!\n                Famous are the terms for thee,\n                O thou battling Culann's Hound!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'love.'\n\n    [2-2] Reading with H. 1. 13 and Stowe.\n\n    [b-b] A cheville.\n\n    [c] Literally, 'richly trooped.'\n\nWhen this lay was finished, Cuchulain accepted none of the terms which she\nhad offered. In such wise they parted in the valley and withdrew in equal\nanger on the one side and on the other.\n\nThe warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and\ntook quarters for three days and three nights at Druim En ('Birds' Ridge')\nin Conalle Murthemni, but neither huts nor tents did they set up, nor did\nthey [W.1688.] engage in feasts or repasts, nor sang they songs nor carols\nthose three nights. And Cuchulain destroyed a hundred of their warriors\nevery night ere the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow.\n\n[LL.fo.70b.] \"Our hosts will not last long in this fashion,\" said Medb, \"if\nCuchulain slays a hundred of our warriors every night. Wherefore is a\nproposal not made to him and do we not parley with him?\" \"What might the\nproposal be?\"  asked Ailill. \"Let the cattle that have milk be given to him\nand the captive women from amongst our booty.  And he on his side shall\ncheck his staff-sling from the men of Erin and give leave to the hosts to\nsleep, [1]even though he slay them by day.\"[1] \"Who shall go with\nthat proposal?\"  Ailill asked. \"Who,\" answered Medb, \"but macRoth the\n[2]chief[2] runner!\" \"Nay, but I will not go,\" said macRoth, \"for I am in\nno way experienced and know not where Cuchulain may be, [3]and even though\nI should meet him, I should not know him.[3]\" \"Ask Fergus,\" quoth Medb;\n\"like enough he knows [4]where he is.[4]\" \"Nay, then, I know it not,\"\nanswered Fergus; \"but I trow he is [5]in the snow[5] between Fochain and\nthe sea, taking the wind and the sun after his sleeplessness last night,\nkilling and slaughtering the host single handed.\"  And so it truly\nwas. [6]Then on that errand to Delga macRoth set forth, the messenger of\nAilill and Medb. He it is that circles Erin in one day. There it is that\nFergus opined that Cuchulain would be, in Delga.[6]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1128.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1109-1111.\n\nHeavy snow fell that night so that all the [7]five[7] provinces of Erin\nwere a white plane with the snow. And Cuchulain doffed the seven-score\nwaxed, boardlike tunics which were used to be held under cords and strings\nnext his skin, in order that his sense might not be deranged when [W.1709.]\nthe fit of his fury came on him. And the snow melted for thirty feet all\naround him, because of the intensity of the warrior's heat and the warmth\nof Cuchulain's body. And the gilla [1]remained a good distance from him for\nhe[1] could not endure to remain near him because of the might of his rage\nand the warrior's fury and the heat of his body.  \"A single warrior\napproacheth, O Cuchulain,\" cried Laeg [2]to Cuchulain.[2] \"What manner of\nwarrior is he?\" asked Cuchulain. \"A brown, broad-faced, handsome fellow;\n[3]a yellow head of hair and a linen ornament round it[3]; a splendid,\nbrown, [4]hooded[4] cloak, [5]with red ornamentation,[5] about him; a fine,\nbronze pin in his cloak; a leathern three-striped doublet next his skin;\ntwo gapped shoes between his two feet and the ground; a white-hazel\ndog-staff in one of his hands; a single-edged sword with ornaments of\nwalrus-tooth on its hilt in the other. \"Good, O gilla,\" quoth Cuchulain,\n\"these be the tokens of a herald.  One of the heralds of Erin is he to\nbring me message and offer of parley.\"\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1112.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1112.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1113.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1114.\n\nNow was macRoth arrived at the place where Laeg was, \"[6]How now[6]! What\nis thy title as vassal, O gilla? \"macRoth asked. \"Vassal am I to the youth\nup yonder,\" the gilla made answer. MacRoth came to the place where\nCuchulain was. [7]Cuchulain was sitting in the snow there up to his two\nhips with nothing about him ... his mantle.[7] \"[8]How now[8]! What is thy\nname as vassal, O warrior?\" asked macRoth.  \"Vassal am I to Conchobar son\nof Fachtna Fathach, [9]son of the High King of this province.\"[9] \"Hast not\nsomething, [10]a name[10] more special than that?\" \"Tis enough for the\nnonce,\" answered Cuchulain. \"Haply, thou knowest where I might find that\nfamous Cuchulain of whom the men [W.1729.] of Erin clamour now on this\nforay?\" \"What wouldst thou say to him that thou wouldst not to me?\" asked\nCuchulain.  \"To parley with him am I come on the part of Ailill and Medb,\nwith terms and friendly intercourse for him.\" \"What terms hast thou brought\nwith thee for him?\" \"The milch-kine and the bondwomen of the booty he shall\nhave, and for him to hold back his staff-sling from the hosts, for not\npleasant is the thunder-feat he works every evening upon them.\" \"Even\nthough the one thou seekest were really at hand, he would not accept the\nproposals thou askest.\" \"[1]How so, then,\" said macRoth[1]; \"for the\nUlstermen, as amends for their honour and in reprisal for injuries and\nsatires and hindrances [2]and for bands of troops and marauders,[2] will\nkill [3]for meat in the winter[3] the milch-cows ye have captured, should\nthey happen to have no yeld cattle. And, what is more, they will bring\ntheir bondwomen to bed to them, and thus will grow up a base progeny on the\nside of the mothers in the land of Ulster, [4]and loath I am to leave after\nme such a disgrace on the men of Ulster.[4]\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1116-1118.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1120.\n\n    [1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3] LU. and YBL. 1135.\n\n    [4] H. 2. 17.\n\nMacRoth went his way back [5]to the camp of the men of Erin to where Ailill\nand Medb and Fergus were.[5] \"What!  Didst thou not find him?\" Medb\nasked. \"Verily, [6]I know not, but[6] I found a surly, angry, hateful,\nwrathful gilla [7]in the snow[7] betwixt Fochain and the sea. Sooth to say,\nI know not if he were Cuchulain.\" \"Hath he accepted these proposals [8]from\nthee?\"[8] \"Nay then, he hath not.\" And macRoth related [9]unto them all his\nanswer,[9] the reason why he did not accept them. \"It was he himself with\nwhom thou spakest,\" said Fergus.\n\n    [5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8] Stowe.\n\n    [9] Stowe.\n\n\"Another offer shall be made him,\" said Medb. \"What is the offer?\"\nasked Ailill. \"There shall be given to him [W.1747.] the yeld cattle\nand the noblest of the captive women of the booty, and his sling shall\nbe checked from the hosts, for not pleasant is the thunder-feat he\nworks on them every evening.\" \"Who should go make this covenant?\"\n[1]said they.[1] \"Who but macRoth [2]the king's envoy,\"[2] [3]said\nevery one.[3] \"Yea, I will go,\" said macRoth, \"because this time I\nknow him.\"\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n[4]Thereupon[4] macRoth [5]arose and[5] came to parley with Cuchulain. \"To\nparley with thee am I come this time [6]with other terms,[6] for I wis it\nis thou art the renowned Cuchulain.\" \"What hast thou brought with thee\nnow?\" [7]Cuchulain asked.[7] \"What is dry of the kine and what is noblest\nof the captives [8]shalt thou get,[8] and hold thy staff-sling [LL.fo.71a.]\nfrom the men of Erin and suffer the men of Erin to go to sleep, for not\npleasant is the thunder-feat thou workest upon them every evening.\" \"I\naccept not that offer, because, as amends for their honour, the Ulstermen\nwill kill the dry cattle. For the men of Ulster are honourable men and they\nwould remain wholly without dry kine and milch-kine. They would bring their\nfree women ye have captured to the querns and to the kneading-troughs and\ninto bondage and [9]other[9] serfdom [10]besides.[10] [11]This would be a\ndisgrace.[11] Loath I should be to leave after me this shame in Ulster,\nthat slave-girls and bondmaids should be made of the daughters of kings and\nprinces of Ulster.\" \"Is there any offer at all thou wilt accept this time?\"\n[12]said macRoth[12] \"Aye, but there is,\" answered Cuchulain. \"Then wilt\nthou tell me the offer?\" asked macRoth. \"By my word,\" Cuchulain made\nanswer, \"'tis not I that will tell you.\" \"It is a question, then,\" said\nmacRoth. \"If there be among you in the camp,\" said Cuchulain, \"one that\nknows the terms I demand, let [W.1766.] him inform you, [1]and I will abide\nthereby.\"[1] \"And if there be not?\"[2] said macRoth. \"If there be not,\"\nsaid Cuchulain,[2] \"let no one come near me any more with offers or with\nfriendly intercourse [3]or concerning aught other injunction,[3] for,\nwhosoever may come, it will be the term of his life!\"\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\nMacRoth came back [4]to the camp and station of the men of Erin, to where\nAilill, Medb, and Fergus were,[4] and Medb asked his tidings. \"Didst thou\nfind him?\" Medb asked. \"In truth, I found him,\" macRoth replied.  \"Hath he\naccepted [5]the terms?\"[5] \"He hath not accepted,\" replied macRoth. \"[6]How\nso;\" said Ailill,[6] \"is there an offer he will accept?\" \"There is one, he\nsaid,\" [7]answered macRoth.[7] \"Hath he made known to thee this offer?\"\n\"This is his word,\" said macRoth, \"that he himself would not disclose it to\nye.\" \"'Tis a question, then,\" said Medb. \"But\" (macRoth continued), \"should\nthere be one in our midst that knows his terms, that one would tell it to\nme.\" \"And if there be not,\" [8]said Ailill. \"And if there be not,\"[8]\n(answered macRoth), \"let no one go seek him any more. But, there is one\nthing I promise [9]thee,\"[9] said macRoth; \"even though the kingdom of Erin\nwere [10]given me[10] for it, I for one would not go [11]on these same legs\nto that place[11] to parley with him [12]again.\"[12] [13]\"Belike, Fergus\nknows,\" quoth Ailill.[13] Therewith Medb looked at Fergus. \"What are the\nterms yonder man demands, O Fergus? \"Medb asked. [14]\"I know what the man\nmeant to disclose.[14] I see no advantage at all for ye in the terms he\ndemands,\" Fergus replied. \"[15]But[15] what are those terms?\" asked\nMedb. \"[16]Not difficult to say,\" replied Fergus.[16] \"That a single\nchampion of [W.1782.] the men of Erin [1]be sent[1] to fight [2]and\ncontend[2] with him every day. The while he slayeth that man, the army will\nbe permitted to continue its march. Then, when he will have slain that man,\nanother warrior shall be sent to meet him on the ford. Either that, or the\nmen of Erin shall halt and camp there till sunrise's bright hour in the\nmorning. [3]And, by the ford whereon his single-handed battle and fight\ntakes place, the cattle shall not be taken by day or by night, to see if\nthere come to him help from the men of Ulster. And I wonder,\" continued\nFergus, \"how long it will be till they come out of their 'Pains.'[3]\n[4]Whatever Ulstermen are injured or wounded nearby him, your leeches shall\nheal them and ye shall not be paid for the price of their healing. Whatever\ndaughter of kings or of princes of the men of Erin shall love him, ye shall\nbring her to him together with her purchase and bride-price.[4] And\nfurther, Cuchulain's food and clothing shall be provided by you, [5]so long\nas he will be[5] on this expedition.\"  [6]\"Good, O Fergus,\"[6] asked\nAilill,[a] [7]\"will he abate aught of these terms?\" \"In sooth, will he,\"\nreplied Fergus; \"namely, he will not exact to be fed and clothed by you,\nbut of himself will provide food and clothing.\"[7]\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe.\n\n    [12-12] Stowe.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] LU. and YBL. 1138.\n\n    [15-15] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [16-16] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1140-1143.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] 'Medb,' H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n\"By our conscience,\" said Ailill, \"this is a grievous proposal.\"  \"What he\nasks is good,\" replied Medb; \"and he shall obtain those terms, for we deem\nit easier to bear that he should have one of our warriors every day than\na hundred every night.\" \"Who will go and make known those terms to\nCuchulain?\" \"Who, then, but Fergus?\" replied Medb. \"[8]Come now, O Fergus,\"\nsaid Medb; \"take upon thee to fulfil and make good those terms to him.\"[8]\n\"Nevermore!\" said Fergus. \"Why not?\" asked Ailill.  [9]\"I fear ye will\nnot make true and fulfil them for [W.1792.] me.\" \"They will truly be\nfulfilled,\" said Medb.[9] (Then said Fergus:) \"Bonds and covenants, pledges\nand bail shall be given for abiding by those terms and for their fulfilment\ntowards Cuchulain.\" \"I abide by it,\" said Medb, and she fast bound Fergus\nto them in like manner.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 115]\n\n\n\n\nX\n\n[1]THE VIOLENT DEATH OF ETARCUMUL[1]\n\n\n[W.1798.] Fergus' horses were brought and his chariot was hitched [2]and\nFergus set forth on that errand.[2] And two horses were brought for\nEtarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn, a soft youth of the people of Medb\nand of Ailill. [3]Now Etarcumul followed Fergus.[3] \"Whither goest thou?\"\nFergus demanded. \"We go with thee,\" Etarcumul made answer. [4]\"And why\ngoest thou with me?\" asked Fergus.[4] \"To behold the form and appearance of\nCuchulain, and to gaze upon him, [5]for he is unknown to me.\"[5] \"Wilt thou\ndo my bidding,\" said Fergus, \"thou wilt in no wise go thither.\"  \"Why shall\nI not, pray?\" [6]\"I would not have thee go,\" said Fergus; \"and it is not\nout of hatred of thee, only I should be loath to have combat between thee\nand Cuchulain.[6] Thy light-heartedness, [7]thy haughtiness and thy\npride[7] and thine overweeningness (I know), but (I also know) the\nfierceness and valour and hostility, the [8]violence and vehemence[8] of\nthe youth against whom thou goest, [9]even Cuchulain.[9] And methinks ye\nwill have contention before ye part. [10]No good will come from your\nmeeting.\"[10] \"Art thou not able to come between us [11]to protect me?\"[11]\n[W.1806.] \"I am, to be sure,\" Fergus answered, \"provided thou thyself seek\nnot the combat[1] and treat not what he says with contempt.\"[1] \"I will not\nseek it,\" [2]said Etarcumul,[2] \"till the very day of doom!\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 68a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1145.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1145.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1147-1149.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1149.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1150.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1150.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1152.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\nThen they went their ways [3]in two chariots to Delga,[3] to come up to\nCuchulain where Cuchulain was between Fochain and the sea. [4]There it is\nthat he was that day, with his back to the pillar-stone at Crich Rois,[4]\nplaying draughts with Laeg, [5]to wit, his charioteer.[5] [6]The back of\nhis head was turned towards them that approached and Laeg faced them.[6]\nAnd not a [7]living[7] thing entered the [8]entire[8] plain without Laeg\nperceiving it and, notwithstanding, he continued to win every other game of\ndraughts from Cuchulain. \"A lone warrior cometh towards us [9]over the\nplain,[9] [10]my master[10] Cucuc,\" spake Laeg. \"What manner of warrior?\"\nqueried Cuchulain. [11]\"A fine, large chariot is there,\" said he.[11]\n[12]\"But what sort of chariot?\"[12] \"As large as one of the chief mountains\nthat are highest on a great plain appears to me [LL.fo.71b.] the chariot\nthat is under the warrior; [13]and I would liken to the battlements of one\nof the vast, royal seats of the province the chariot that is in the\ntrappings of those horses;[13] as large as one of the noble trees on a main\nfort's green meseems the curly, tressed, fair-yellow, all-golden hair\nhanging loose around the man's head; a purple mantle fringed with thread of\ngold [14]wrapped[14] around him; a golden, ornamented brooch in the mantle\n[15]over his breast;[15] [16]a bright-shining, hooded shirt, with red\nembroidery of red gold trussed up on his white [W.1819.] skin;[16] a broad\nand grey-shafted lance, [1]perforated from _mimasc_[a] to 'horn,'[1]\nflaming red in his hand; over him, a bossed, plaited shield, [2]curved,\nwith an engraved edge of silvered bronze,[2] [3]with applied ornaments of\nred gold thereon,[3] and a boss of red gold; a lengthy sword, as long as\nthe oar[4] of a huge currach [5]on a wild, stormy night,[5] [6]resting\non the two thighs[6] of the great haughty warrior that is within the\nchariot.[4]\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1153.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] LL., in the margin.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1154-1155.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [15-15] Stowe.\n\n    [16-16] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] Some part of the spear.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1159.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1158.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Following Windisch's emendation of the text.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1160.\n\n\"Holla! Welcome the coming of this guest to us!\"  cried Cuchulain. \"We know\nthe man; it is my master Fergus that cometh hither. [7]Empty is the great\npaddle that my master Fergus carries,\" said Cuchulain; \"for there is no\nsword in its sheath but a sword of wood. For I have heard,\" Cuchulain\ncontinued, \"that Ailill got a chance at him and Medb as they lay, and he\ntook away Fergus' sword from him and gave it to his charioteer to take care\nof, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath.\"[7]\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1160-1165.\n\n\"Yet another single chariot-fighter I see coming towards us. With fulness\nof skill and beauty and splendour his horses speed.\" [8]\"A young, tender\ngilla in armour is in the chariot.[8]\" \"One of the youths of the men of\nErin is he, O my master Laeg,\" responded Cuchulain. \"To scan my appearance\nand form is that man come, for I am renowned amongst them in the midst of\ntheir camp, [9]and they know me not at all.\"[9]\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\nFergus came up [10]to where Cuchulain was[10] and he sprang from the\nchariot, and Cuchulain bade him [11]a hearty[11] welcome. [12]\"Welcome to\nthine arrival and thy coming, O my master Fergus!\" cried Cuchulain; \"and a\nnight's [W.1831.] lodging shalt thou have here this night.\"[12] [1]\"Thy\nhospitality and eke thy welcome[1] I take for true,\" Fergus responded.\n\"Verily, it is truly meant for thee,\" said Cuchulain; \"for comes there a\nbrace of birds into the plain, thou shalt have a wild goose with half the\nother. If fish rise to the river-mouths, [2]to the stones or waterfalls,[2]\nthou shalt have a salmon with as much again.  Thou shalt have a handful of\nwatercress and a handful of sea-grass and a handful of laver [3]and a drink\nfrom the sand[3] [4]afterwards.[4] If thou hast a fight or combat [5]with\nwarrior before thee,[5] I myself will go in thy stead to the ford. [6]I\nwill bear the fight that thou mayest return safe to the camp and the fort\nof the men of Erin on the morrow,[6] [7]and thou shalt lie on a litter of\nfresh rushes till heavy sleep and slumber come on thee,[7] [8]and I will\nwatch and guard thee as long as thou sleepest.\"[8] \"Well, then, [9]mayest\nthou have victory and blessing, O fosterling,\" said Fergus.[9] \"We know of\nwhat sort is thy hospitality on this occasion, on the Cow-spoil of Cualnge.\n[10]But, not to claim that are we come,[10] [11]a night's hospitality of\nthee, but to fulfil and make good the terms thou askest.[11] As for this\ncompact which thou hast asked of the men of Erin, single-handed combat with\none man, thou shalt have it. It is for that I am come, to bind thee\nthereto, and do thou take it upon thee.\" \"I pledge myself truly,\" said\nCuchulain, [13]provided fair play and single-handed combat be granted to\nme.[13] \"And, O, my master Fergus, [14]do thou take upon thee the pact,\"\nsaid Cuchulain. \"I bind myself to it,\" replied Fergus.[14] [W.1841.] And no\nlonger than that did he remain in parley, lest the men of Erin should say\nthey were betrayed or deserted by Fergus for his disciple. Fergus' two\nhorses were brought and his chariot was harnessed and he went back.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17, and, similarly, Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1170 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10 Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] H. 2. 17.\n\nEtarcumul tarried behind gazing for a long time at Cuchulain. \"At what\nstarest thou, gilla?\" asked Cuchulain. \"I look at thee,\" said Etarcumul.\n\"In truth then, thou hast not far to look,\" said Cuchulain.  [1]\"There is\nno need of straining thine eye for that; not far from thee within sight,\nthine eye seeth what is not smaller than I nor bigger.[1] If thou but\nknewest how angered is the little creature thou regardest, myself, to wit!\nAnd how then do I appear unto thee gazing upon me?\" \"Thou pleasest me as\nthou art; a comely, [2]shapely,[2] wonderful, beautiful youth thou art,\nwith brilliant, striking, various feats. Yet as for rating thee where\ngoodly warriors are or forward youths or heroes of bravery or sledges of\ndestruction, we count thee not nor consider thee at all. [3]I know not\nwhy thou shouldst be feared by any one. I behold nothing of terror or\nfearfulness or of the overpowering of a host in thee. So, a comely youth\nwith arms of wood and with showy feats is all thou art!\"[3] [4]\"Though thou\nrevilest me,\"[4] said Cuchulain, \"it is a surety for thee that thou camest\nfrom the camp under the protection of Fergus, [5]as thou well knowest.[5]\nFor the rest, I swear by my gods whom I worship, were it not for the honour\nof Fergus, it would be only bits of thy bones and shreds of thy limbs,\n[6]thy reins drawn and thy quarters scattered[6] that would be brought back\nto the camp [7]behind thy horses and chariot!\"[7] \"But threaten me no\nlonger [W.1858.] in this wise, [1]Cuchulain[1]!\" [2]cried Etarcumul;[2]\n\"for the [3]wonderful[3] terms thou didst exact of the men of Erin, [4]that\nfair play and[4] combat with one man [5]should be granted thee,[5] none\nother of the men of Erin but mine own self will come to-morrow [6]at morn's\nearly hour on the ford[6] to attack thee.\"\n\n    [1-1] Reading with H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1178-1180.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1181.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe; LL. reads 'I know.'\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1182-1183.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1185.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n\"Come out, then,\" [7]said Cuchulain,[7] \"and howso early thou comest, thou\nwilt find me here. I will not fly before thee. [8]Before no man have I put\nfoot in flight till now on the Plunder of the Kine of Cualnge and neither\nwill I fly before thee!\"[8]\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\nEtarcumul returned [9]from Methe and Cethe,[9] and began to talk with his\ndriver. \"I must needs fight with Cuchulain to-morrow, gilla,\" said\nEtarcumul, [10]\"for I gave my word to go.\"[10] \"'Tis true, thou didst,\"\nquoth the charioteer.  [LL.fo.72a.] \"Howbeit, I know not wilt thou fulfil\nit.\" \"But what is better [11]for us,[11] to fulfil it to-morrow or\nforthwith to-night?\"  \"To our thinking,\" said the gilla, \"albeit no victory\nis to be won by fighting to-morrow, there is still less to be gained by\nfighting to-night, for thy combat [12]and hurt[12] is the nearer.\" \"[13]Be\nthat as it may,\" said he[13]; \"turn the [14]horses and[14] chariot back\nagain [15]from the hill[15] for us, gilla, [16]till we go to the ford of\ncombat,[16] for I swear by the gods whom I worship, I will not return\n[17]to the camp[17] till the end of life and time, till I bring with me the\nhead of that young wildling, [18]even[18] the head of Cuchulain, for a\ntrophy!\"\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1188.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [15-15] LU. and YBL. 1190.\n\n    [16-16] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [17-17] Stowe.\n\n    [18-18] Stowe.\n\nThe charioteer wheeled the chariot again towards the [W.1871.] ford. They\nbrought the left[a] board to face the pair in a line with the ford. Laeg\nmarked [1]this and he cried[1] [2]to Cuchulain[2]: (\"Wist thou) the last\nchariot-fighter that was here a while ago, O Cucuc?\" \"What of him?\"  asked\nCuchulain. \"He has brought his left board towards us in the direction of\nthe ford.\" \"It is Etarcumul, O gilla, who seeks me in combat. [3]I owe no\nrefusal,[3] but far from pleased am I thereat [4]that he should come and\nseek combat of me. And unwelcome is his coming,[4] because of the honour of\nmy foster-father [5]Fergus[5] under whom he came forth from the camp [6]of\nthe men of Erin.[6] But not that I would protect him do I thus. Fetch me my\narms, gilla, to the ford. [7]Bring me my horse and my chariot after me.[7]\nI deem it no honour for myself if [8]the fellow[8] reaches the ford before\nme.\" And straightway Cuchulain betook himself to the ford, and he bared his\nsword over his fair, well-knit spalls and he was ready on the ford to await\nEtarcumul.\n\n    [a] A sign of hostility and an insult.\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1191.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1192.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\nThen, too, came Etarcumul. \"What seekest thou, gilla?\" demanded Cuchulain.\n\"Battle with thee I seek,\" replied Etarcumul. \"Hadst thou been advised by\nme,\" said Cuchulain, \"thou wouldst never have come. [9]I do not desire what\nthou demandest of me.[9] [10]I have no thought of fighting or contending\nwith thee, Etarcumul.[10] Because of the honour of Fergus under whom thou\ncamest out of the camp [11]and station of the men of Erin,[11] and not\nbecause I would spare thee, do I behave thus.\"  [12]\"Thou hast no choice\nbut to fight,\" replied Etarcumul.[12] Thereupon Cuchulain gave him a\nlong-blow whereby [W.1886.] he cut away the sod that was under the soles of\nhis feet, so that he was stretched out like a sack on his back, and [1]his\nlimbs in the air[1] and the sod on his belly.  Had Cuchulain wished it it\nis two pieces he might have made of him. [2]\"Hold, fellow.[2] Off with thee\nnow, for I have given thee warning. [3]It mislikes me to cleanse my hands\nin thee. I would have cloven thee into many parts long since but for\nFergus.\"[3] \"I will not go. We will fight on,\" said Etarcumul. Cuchulain\ndealt him a well-aimed edge-stroke. [4]With the edge of his sword[4] he\nsheared the hair from him from poll to forehead, from one ear to the other,\nas if it were with a light, keen razor he had been shorn. [5]Not a scratch\nof his skin gave blood.[5] [6]\"Hold, fellow.[6] Get thee home now,\" said\nCuchulain, \"for a laughing-stock I have made of thee.\" \"I go not,\"\n[7]rejoined Etarcumul.[7] \"We will fight to the end, till I take thy head\nand thy spoils and boast over thee, or till thou takest my head and my\nspoils and boastest over me!\"  \"So let it be, what thou saidst last, that\nit shall be. I will take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee!\"\n[8]When now the churl became troublesome and persistent,[8] Cuchulain\n[9]sprang from the ground, so that he alighted on the edge of Etarcumul's\nshield, and he[9] dealt him a cleaving-blow on the crown of the head, so\nthat it drove to his navel. He dealt him a second crosswise stroke, so that\nat the one time the three portions of his body came to the ground. Thus\nfell Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1194-1195.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 1195.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1197-1199.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1204.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2 17.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1206-1207.\n\n    [9-9] H. 2. 17.\n\n[10]Then Etarcumul's charioteer went his way after Fergus,[10] and Fergus\nknew not that the combat had been. For thus was his wont: [11]From the day\nFergus took warrior's arms in hand,[11] he never for aught looked back,\nwhether at [W.1904.] sitting or at rising or when travelling or walking, in\nbattle or fight or combat, lest some one might say it was out of fear he\nlooked back, but ever he looked at the thing that was before and beside\nhim. [1]Fergus saw the chariot go past him and a single man in it.[1]\n[2]And when[2] Etarcumul's squire came up abreast of Fergus, Fergus asked,\n\"But, where is thy lord, gilla?\" \"He fell a while since at the ford by the\nhand of Cuchulain,\" the gilla made answer.  \"That indeed was not fair!\"\nexclaimed Fergus, \"for that elf-like sprite to wrong me in him that came\nunder my safeguard [3]and protection[3] [4]from the camp and fort of the\nmen of Erin.[4] Turn the chariot for us, gilla,\" cried Fergus, \"that we may\ngo to [5]the ford of fight and combat[5] for a parley with Cuchulain.\"\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1208.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\nThereupon the driver wheeled the chariot. They fared thither towards the\nford. [6]Fergus turned to rebuke Cuchulain.[6] \"How darest thou offend me,\nthou wild, [7]perverse, little[7] elf-man,\" cried Fergus, \"in him that\ncame under my safeguard and protection? [8]Thou thinkest my club short.\"[8]\n[LL.fo.72b.] [9]\"Be not wroth with me, my master Fergus,\" said Cuchulain.[9]\n \"After the nurture and care thou didst bestow on me [10]and the Ulstermen\nbestowed and Conchobar[10] tell me, which wouldst thou hold better, [11]for\nthe Ulstermen to be conquered without anyone to punish them but me alone\nand[11] for him to triumph and boast over me, or for me to triumph and\nboast over him? And yet more, [12]of his own fault he fell.[12] Ask his own\ngilla which of us was in fault in respect of the other; [13]it was none\nother but he.[13][a] [1]Reproach me not, O Fergus my master.\" He bent down\nso that Fergus' chariot went past him thrice.  \"Ask his charioteer, is it I\nthat have caused it?\" \"Not thou indeed,\" answered his charioteer. \"He\nsaid,\" Cuchulain went on, \"he would not go till either he took my head or\nhe left me his own.\"[1] [2]Then Etarcumul's gilla related to Fergus how it\nall befel. When Fergus heard that, what he said was:[2] [W.1921.] \"Liefer\nto me what thou hast done, [3]O fosterling,\" said Fergus, \"that Etarcumul\nis slain, and[3] a blessing on the hand that smote him, [4]for it is he\nthat was overweening.\"[4]\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1209.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1210. Probably a proverbial expression.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1210.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] Lines 1212-1216 LU. and YBL. (Edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe) are\n    omitted in the translation.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1216-1220.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1222.\n\nSo then they bound two spancels about the ankle-joints of Etarcumul's feet\nand he was dragged along behind his horses and chariot. At every rock that\nwas rough for him, his lungs and his liver were left on the stones and the\nrugged places. At every place that was smooth for him, his skilfully\nsevered limbs came together again round the horses.  In this wise he was\ndragged through the camp to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb:\n\"There's your young warrior for you,\" cried Fergus, \"for 'Every restoration\ntogether with its restitution' is what the law saith.\"[a] Medb came forth\nto the door of her tent and she raised her [5]quick, splitting,[5] loud\nvoice [6]of a warrior.[6] Quoth Medb. \"Truly, methought that great was the\nheat and the wrath of this young hound [7]on leaving us awhile since[7] at\nthe beginning of the day as he went from the camp. [8]It is no fortune for\na tender youth that falls on thee now.[8] We had thought that the honour\nunder which he went, even the honour of Fergus, was not the honour of a\ndastard!\" \"What hath crazed the virago and wench?\" cried Fergus. \"Good\nlack, [W.1935.] is it fitting for the mongrel to seek the Hound of battle\nwhom [1]the warriors and champions[1] of four of the five grand provinces\nof Erin dare not approach nor withstand?  What, I myself was glad to escape\nwhole from him!\"\n\n    [a] A law maxim. Since Etarcumul had broken his promise not to fight,\n    Fergus deems himself absolved from the spirit of his engagement to\n    bring back Etarcumul but fulfils the letter of it.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 17.\n\n[2]Etarcumul's grave was then dug and his tombstone erected; his name was\nwritten in ogam and they raised the keen over him. Cuchulain shot not from\nhis sling at them that night[2] [3]and the women and maidens were brought\nover to him and half the cattle, and they brought provision to him by\nday.[3] In this manner fell Etarcumul and such was the combat of Etarcumul\nwith Cuchulain.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1230-1232.\n\n    [3-3] LU. fo. 69, between the columns.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 126]\n\n\n\n\nXI\n\n[1]THE SLAYING OF NATHCRANTAIL[1]\n\n\n[2]Then the men of Erin held counsel who would be fit to fight and contend\nwith Cuchulain and drive him off from the men of Erin.[2] [3]\"What man have\nye to face Cuchulain to-morrow?\" asked Lugaid. \"They will give him to thee\nto-morrow,\" answered Mane son of Ailill. \"We find no one to meet him,\"\nquoth Medb; \"let us have a truce with him then till a man be found to\noppose him.\" This they obtain. \"Whither will ye turn,\" asked Ailill,\n\"to find the man to oppose Cuchulain?\" \"There is not in Erin,\" Medb\nanswered, \"one that could be got to meet him unless Curoi macDare come, or\nNathcrantail the warrior.\" A man of Curoi's people was in the tent. \"Curoi\nwill not come,\" said he; \"he weens enough of his people have come!\" \"Let a\nmessage be sent then for Nathcrantail.\"[3] [W.1941.] Then arose a huge\nwarrior of Medb's people, Nathcrantail by name. [4]Mane Andoe ('the\nUnslow') goes to him. They tell him their message. \"Come with us for the\nsake of the honour of Connacht.\" \"I will not go,\" said he, \"unless they\ngive Finnabair to me.\" Afterwards he goes with them. They bring his armour\nin a car from the east of Connacht and place it in the camp.[4] [5]Then was\nNathcrantail called into the tent of Ailill and Medb.[5] [6]\"Wherefore am I\nsummoned to ye?\" Nathcrantail asked. \"It would please us well,\" Medb\nreplied, \"werest thou to fight and contend with Cuchulain on the ford and\nward him off from us at the morning hour early on the morrow.[6] [1]Thou\nshalt have Finnabair,\" said Medb, \"for going to fight yonder man.\" \"I will\ndo it,\" said he.[1] [2]He engaged to undertake the battle and combat and\nthat night be made ready, and early on the morrow Nathcrantail arose for\nthe battle and combat and he took his warlike implements with him to the\nfight, and though early he arose, Cuchulain arose still earlier.[2]\n[3]That night Lugaid came to Cuchulain.  \"Nathcrantail comes to meet thee\nto-morrow. Alas for thee, thou wilt not withstand him.\" \"That matters not,\"\nCuchulain made answer.[3][a]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, and LU. fo. 69a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1233-1242 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1242-1246.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1246-1247.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1248-1250.\n\n    [a] Here follows one line (1251 in LU., edition of Strachan and\n    O'Keeffe, and almost similarly in YBL.) which seems to refer to some\n    saying of Cuchulain's about Nathcrantail which we cannot locate.\n\n[4]On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp[4] and he came to\nattack Cuchulain. [W.1942.] He did not deign to bring along arms but thrice\nnine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. And\nthere before him on the pond was Cuchulain [5]a-fowling and his chariot\nhard by him,[5][b] and there was no shelter whatever. [6]And when\nNathcrantail perceived Cuchulain[6] he [7]straightway[7] cast a dart at\nCuchulain. Cuchulain sprang [8]from the middle of the ground[8] till he\ncame on the tip of the dart.  [9]And he performed a feat on the point of\nthe dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds.[9] And again\nNathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart and\nCuchulain sprang on the point of the second [W.1951.] dart and so on till\nhe was on the point of the last dart. It was then, [1]when Nathcrantail\nthrew the ninth dart,[1] that the flock of birds [2]which Cuchulain\npursued[2] on the plain [3]flew away from Cuchulain.[3] Cuchulain chased\nthem even as any bird [4]of the air.[4] [5]He hopped on the points of the\ndarts like a bird from each dart to the next, pursuing the birds[5] that\nthey might not escape him but that they might leave behind a portion of\nfood for the night. For this is what sustained and served Cuchulain, fish\nand fowl and game on the Cualnge Cow-spoil. Something more remains to be\ntold: Nathcrantail deemed full surely that Cuchulain went from him in rout\nof defeat and flight. And he went his way till he came to the door of the\ntent of Ailill and Medb and he lifted up his loud voice [6]of a warrior[6]:\n\"That famous Cuchulain that ye so talk of ran and fled in defeat [7]before\nme when he came to me[7] in the morning.\" \"We knew,\" spake Medb, \"it would\nbe even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that this\nbeardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, [8]Nathcrantail\nto wit,[8] came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!\"\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1253.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1255.\n\n    [b] Here follow lines 1945-1946, edition of Windisch, which are\n    unintelligible and have been omitted in the translation.\n\n    [6-6] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1256-1257.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1258.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1258.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1259-1260.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\nAnd Fergus heard that, and Fergus [9]and the Ulstermen[9] were sore angered\nthat any one should boast that Cuchulain had fled. And Fergus addressed\nhimself to Fiachu, Feraba's son, that he should go to rebuke Cuchulain.\n\"And tell [LL.fo.73a.] him it is an honour for him to oppose the hosts for\nas long or as short a space as he does deeds of valour upon them, but that\nit were fitter for him to hide himself than to fly before any one of their\nwarriors, [10]forasmuch as the dishonour would be not greater for him than\nfor the rest of Ulster.\"[10]\n\n    [9-9] LU. 1264.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1268.\n\n[W.1969.] Thereupon Fiachu went to address Cuchulain. Cuchulain bade him\nwelcome. \"I trow that welcome to be truly meant, but it is for counsel with\nthee I am come from thy fosterer Fergus. And he has said, 'It would be a\nglory for thee to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as thou\ndoest valiantly [1]with them;[1] but it would be fitter for thee to hide\nthyself than to fly before any one of their warriors!'\" \"How now, who makes\nthat boast among ye?\" Cuchulain asked. \"Nathcrantail, of a surety,\" Fiachu\nanswered. \"How may this be? Dost not know, thou and Fergus and the nobles\nof Ulster, that I slay no charioteers nor heralds nor unarmed people?  And\nhe bore no arms but a spit of wood. And I would not slay Nathcrantail until\nhe had arms. And do thou tell him, let him come here early in the morning,\n[2]till he is between Ochaine and the sea, and however early he comes, he\nwill find me here[2] and I will not fly before him!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1273-1275.\n\n[3]Fiachu went back to the camp[3] [4]and to the station of the men of\nErin, and he bound Nathcrantail to go to the ford of combat on the\nmorrow. They bided there that night,[4] and it seemed long to Nathcrantail\ntill day with its light came for him to attack Cuchulain. He set out early\non the morrow to attack Cuchulain. Cuchulain arose early [5]and came to his\nplace of meeting[5] and his wrath bided with him on that day. And [6]after\nhis night's vigil,[6] with an angry cast he threw his cloak around him, so\nthat it passed over the pillar-stone [7]near by, the size of himself,[7]\nand snapped the pillar-stone off from the ground between himself and his\ncloak. And he was aware of naught because of the measure of anger that had\ncome on and raged in him. Then, too, came Nathcrantail. [8]His arms were\nbrought with him on a wagon,[8] and he spake, \"Where is [W.1987.]\nthis Cuchulain?\" shouted Nathcrantail. \"Why, over yonder [1]near the\npillar-stone before thee,\"[1] answered Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar.\n\"Not such was the shape wherein he appeared to me yesterday,\" said\nNathcrantail.  \"Repel yon warrior,\" quoth Cormac, \"and it will be the same\nfor thee as if thou repellest Cuchulain!\"  [2]\"Art thou Cuchulain?\"  \"And\nif I am?\" answered Cuchulain. \"If thou be truly he,\" said Nathcrantail, \"I\nwould not bring a lambkin's head to the camp. I will not take thy head, the\nhead of a beardless boy.\" \"It is not I at all,\" said Cuchulain; \"go find\nhim around the hill!\"  Cuchulain hastens to Laeg. \"Rub a false beard on me;\nI cannot get the warrior to fight with me beardless.\"  This was done for\nhim. He goes to meet Nathcrantail on the hill.  \"Methinks that more\nfitting. Now fight with me fairly,\" said Nathcrantail. \"Thou shalt have thy\nwish, if only we know it,\" Cuchulain made answer. \"I will make a cast at\nthee,\" said Nathcrantail, \"and thou shalt not avoid it.\" \"I will not avoid\nit except on high,\" said Cuchulain. Nathcrantail makes a cast at him.\nCuchulain springs on high before it. \"'Tis ill of thee to avoid the cast,\"\ncried Nathcrantail. \"Avoid then my cast on high!\" quoth Cuchulain.\nCuchulain lets the spear fly at him and it went on high, so that from above\nit alighted on Nathcrantail's crown and through him it went to the\nground. \"Alas,\" said he, \"the best warrior in Erin art thou,\" spake\nNathcrantail. \"Four and twenty sons have I in the camp. I will go and tell\nthem what hidden treasure I have and then return for thee to behead me, for\nI shall die if the spear be taken out of my head.\"  \"It is well,\" quoth\nCuchulain; \"thou shalt come back.\"  Then Nathcrantail returns to the\ncamp. They all come to meet him. \"Where is the madman's head with thee?\"\n[1]every one asks.[1] \"Wait, ye warriors, till I tell my tale to my sons\nand return to do battle with Cuchulain.\"[2]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Egerton 93 begins here.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1276.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1277.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1277-1278.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1279.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1281-1305.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 1303.\n\n[W.1992.] Soon came Nathcrantail [3]to seek Cuchulain[3] and he made a wide\nsweep with his sword at Cuchulain. [4]Cuchulain leaps on high,[4] so that\nthe sword encountered the pillar of stone that was between Cuchulain and\nhis cloak, and the sword broke [5]atwain[5] on the pillar-stone. [6]Then\nCuchulain became filled with rage, as he had been with the boys in Emain,\nand[6] he sprang from the ground and alighted on the top of the boss of\nNathcrantail's shield and dealt him a side stroke over the upper edge of\nthe shield, so that he struck off his head from his trunk. He raised his\nhand quickly again and gave him another blow on the top of the trunk so\nthat he cleft him in twain down to the ground. [7]His four severed parts\nfell to the ground.[7] Thus fell Nathcrantail slain by Cuchulain. Whereupon\nCuchulain spoke [8]the verse:--[8]\n\n    \"Now that Nathcrantail has fallen,\n    [9]There will be increase of strife![9]\n    Would that Medb had battle [10]now,[10]\n    And the third part of the host!\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1305.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1306.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1307.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1307-1308.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1310.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe, and LU. and YBL. 1313.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe, and YBL. and LU. 1313.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 132]\n\n\n\n\nXII\n\n[1]THE FINDING OF THE BULL[1]\n\n\n[W.2007.] Thereafter [2]on the morrow[2] Medb proceeded with a third of the\nhost of the men of Erin about her, [3]and she set forth by the highroad of\nMidluachair[3] till she reached Dun Sobairche in the north. And Cuchulain\npressed heavily on Medb that day. [4]Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bull\nand Cuchulain pursued her. Now on the road to Midluachair she had gone to\ninvade Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dun Sobairche.[4] [5]There it is that\nCuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib.[5] Cuchulain killed Fer\nTaidle, whence cometh Taidle; and [6]as they went northwards[6] he killed\nthe macBuachalla ('the Herdsman's sons') [7]at their cairn,[7] whence\ncometh Carn macBuachalla; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence Lettre\nLuasc ('the Watery Slopes of Luasc'); and he slew Bobulge in his marsh,\nwhence Grellach ('the Trampled Place') of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne on\nhis hill, whence Delga ('the Points') of Murthemne; [8]he slew Nathcoirpthe\nat his trees, Cruthen on his ford, Marc on his hill, Meille on his mound\nand Bodb in his tower.[8] It was afterwards then [W.2016.] that Cuchulain\nturned back from the north [1]to Mag Murthemni,[1] to protect and defend\nhis own borders and land, for dearer to him was [2]his own land and\ninheritance and belongings[2] than the land and territory and belongings of\nanother.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, and LU. fo. 70a.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1315-1317. Eg. 93 mentions a number of places to\n    which Cuchulain pursued Medb.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1341.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1343.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1342-1344.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1345.]\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\nIt was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce ('the men of Crannach')\n[3]from whom cometh Crannach in Murthemne;[3] to wit, the two Artinne and\nthe two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, and\nDrucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Torc Glaisse\nand Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard.\nCuchulain surprised them as they were pitching [LL.fo.73b.] camp in advance\nof all others--[4]ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were[4]--so that\nthey fell by his hand.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1348.\n\nThen it was that Buide ('the Yellow') son of Ban Blai ('the White') from\n[5]Sliab Culinn ('Hollymount'),[5] the country of Ailill and Medb, and\nbelonging to the special followers of [6]Ailill and[6] Medb, met Cuchulain.\nFour and twenty[a] warriors [7]was their strength.[7] A [8]blue[8] mantle\nenwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careering\nbefore them after he had been brought from Glenn na Samaisce ('Heifers'\nGlen') to Sliab Culinn, and fifty of his heifers with him. [9]Cuchulain\nadvances to meet them.[9] \"Whence bring ye the drove, [10]ye men?\"[10]\nCuchulain asks. \"From yonder mountain,\" Buide answers.  [11]\"Where are its\nherdsmen?\" Cuchulain asks.  \"One is here where we found him,\" the warrior\nanswers.  Cuchulain made three leaps after them, seeking to speak [W.2031.]\nwith them, as far as the ford. Then it was he spoke to the leader[11],\n\"What is thine own name?\" said Cuchulain.  \"One that neither loves thee nor\nfears thee,\" Buide made answer; \"Buide son of Ban Blai am I, from the\ncountry of Ailill and Medb.\" [1]\"Wella-day, O Buide,\" cried Cuchulain;\n\"haste to the ford below that we exchange a couple of throws with each\nother.\" They came to the ford and exchanged a couple of throws there.[1]\n\"Lo, here for thee this short spear,\" said Cuchulain, and he casts the\nspear at him. It struck the shield over his belly, so that it shattered\nthree ribs in his farther side after piercing his heart in his bosom. And\nBuide son of Ban Blai fell [2]on the ford.[2] So that thence is Ath Buidi\n('Athboy') in Crich Roiss ('the land of Ross').\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1318.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [a] 'Sixty' is the number in LU. and YBL.; 'eight' in Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and LU. and YBL. 1319.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1320.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93.\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1322-1325.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL 1328.\n\nFor as long or as short a space as [3]these bold champions and\nbattle-warriors[3] were engaged in this work of exchanging their two short\nspears--for it was not in a moment they had accomplished it--the Brown Bull\nof Cualnge was carried away in quick course and career [4]by the eight\ngreat men[4] to the camp [5]of the men of Erin[5] as swiftly as any beeve\ncan be brought to a camp. [6]They opined then it would not be hard to\ndeal with Cuchulain if only his spear were got from him.[6] From this\naccordingly came the greatest shame and grief and madness that was brought\non Cuchulain on that hosting.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1330-1331.\n\nAs regards Medb: every ford [7]and every hill[7] whereon she stopped, Ath\nMedba ('Medb's Ford') [8]and Dindgna Medba ('Medb's Hill')[8] is its\nname. Every place wherein she pitched her tent, Pupall Medba ('Medb's\nTent') is its name.  Every spot she rested her horselash, Bili Medba\n('Medb's Tree') is its name.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL 1353.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL 1354.\n\nOn this circuit Medb [9]turned back from the north after [W.2047.] she had\nremained a fortnight laying waste the province[9] [1]and plundering the\nland of the Picts and of Cualnge and the land of Conall son of Amargin,[1]\nand having offered battle [2]one night[2] to Findmor ('the Fair-large')\nwife of Celtchar [3]son of Uthechar[3] at the gate of Dun Sobairche; and\nshe slew Findmor and laid waste Dun Sobairche; [5]and, after taking Dun\nSobairche from her, she brought fifty of [4]her[4] women into the province\nof Dalriada.[5] [6]Then she had them hanged and crucified.  Whence cometh\nMas na Righna ('Queen's Buttock') as the name of the hill, from their\nhanging.[6]\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL 1348-1349.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1351-1352.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 33.\n\nThen came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at the\nend of a long fortnight[a] to camp and station [7]at Fochard,[7] together\nwith Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull.\n\n    [a] Omitting _ar mis_ (LL.), which is not found in the other MSS.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1355.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 136]\n\n\n\n\nXIIa\n\nTHE DEATH OF FORGEMEN\n\n\n[W.2054.] And the bull's cowherd would not allow them [1]to carry off[1]\nthe Brown Bull of Cualnge, so that they urged on the bull, beating shafts\non shields, till they drove him into a narrow gap, and the herd trampled\nthe cowherd's body thirty feet into the ground, so that they made fragments\nand shreds of his body. Forgemen was the neatherd's name. [2]And this is\nthe name of the hill, Forgemen.[2] This then is the Death of Forgemen on\nthe Cattle-prey of Cualnge. [3]Now there was no peril to them that night so\nlong as a man was got to ward off Cuchulain from them on the ford.[3]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1359.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1360-1361.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 137]\n\n\n\n\nXIIb\n\n[1]HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST[1]\n\n\n[W.2061.] When the men of Erin had come together in one place, both Medb\nand Ailill and the force that was bringing the bull to the camp and\nenclosure, they all declared Cuchulain would be no more valiant than\nanother [2]of the men of Erin[2] were it not for the wonderful little trick\nhe possessed, the spearlet of Cuchulain. Accordingly the men of Erin\ndespatched from them Redg, Medb's[a] jester, to demand the light javelin\n[3]of Cuchulain.[3]\n\n    [1-1] LU. page 70b, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [a] 'Ailill's,' LU. and YBL. 1332 and Eg. 1782.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\nSo Redg [4]came forward to where Cuchulain was and[4] asked for the little\njavelin, but Cuchulain did not give him the little javelin [5]at once[5];\nhe did not deem it good and proper to yield it. [6]\"Give me thy spear,\"\nsaid the jester. \"Nay then, I will not,\" answered Cuchulain; \"but I will\ngive thee treasure.\" \"I will not take it,\" said the jester. Then he wounded\nthe jester because he would not accept from him what he had offered him.[6]\nRedg declared he would deprive Cuchulain of his honour [7]unless he got the\nlittle javelin.[7] Thereupon Cuchulain hurled the javelin at him, so that\nit struck him in the nape of the neck[b] and fell out through his mouth on\nthe ground. And the only words Redg uttered were these, \"This precious gift\nis readily [W.2072.] ours,\" and his soul separated from his body at the\nford. Therefrom that ford is ever since called Ath Solom Shet ('Ford of\nthe Ready Treasure'). And the copper of the javelin was thrown into the\nriver. Hence is Uman-Sruth ('Copperstream') ever after.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1333-1336.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1337.\n\n    [b] More literally, 'in the pit of his occiput.'\n\n[1]\"Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain,\" says Ailill. \"Let Lugaid\ngo to him,\" one and all answer. Then Lugaid goes to parley with him. \"How\nnow do I stand with the host?\" Cuchulain asks. \"Disgraceful indeed is the\nthing thou hast demanded of them,\" Lugaid answers, \"even this, that thou\nshouldst have thy women and maidens and half of thy kine. But more grievous\nthan all do they hold it that they themselves should be killed and thou\nprovisioned.\"\n\nEvery day there fell a man by Cuchulain till the end of a week. [2]Then[2]\nfaith is broken with Cuchulain. Twenty are despatched at one time to attack\nhim and he destroys them all. \"Go to him, O Fergus,\" says Ailill, \"that he\nmay vouchsafe us a change of place.\" A while after this they proceed to\nCronech. These are they that fell in single combat with him in that place,\nto wit: the two Roth, the two Luan, two women-thieves, ten fools, ten\ncup-bearers, the ten Fergus, the six Fedelm, the six Fiachu. Now these were\nall killed by him in single combat.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 1782.\n\nWhen their tents were pitched by them in Cronech they discussed what they\nhad best do with Cuchulain. \"I know,\" quoth Medb, \"what is best here. Let\nsome one go to him from us for a sword-pact from him in respect of the\nhost, and he shall have half the cattle that are here.\"  This message they\nbring to him. \"I will do it,\" said Cuchulain, \"provided the bond is not\nbroken by you[1] [3]to-morrow.[3]\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. 1362-1379.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 139]\n\n\n\n\nXIIc\n\n[1]HERE IS TOLD THE MEETING OF CUCHULAIN AND FINNABAIR[1]\n\n\n[2]\"Let a message be sent to him,\" said Ailill, \"that Finnabair my daughter\nwill be bestowed on him, and for him to keep away from the hosts.\" Mane\nAthramail ('Fatherlike') goes to him. But first he addresses himself to\nLaeg.  \"Whose man art thou?\" spake Mane. Now Laeg made no answer. Thrice\nMane addressed him in this [3]same[3] wise. \"Cuchulain's man,\" Laeg\nanswers, \"and provoke me not, lest it happen I strike thy head off thee!\"\n\"This man is mad,\" quoth Mane as he leaves him. Then he goes to accost\nCuchulain. It was there Cuchulain had doffed his tunic, and the [4]deep[4]\nsnow was around him where he sat, up to his belt, and the snow had melted a\ncubit around him for the greatness of the heat of the hero. And Mane\naddressed him three times in like manner, whose man he was?  \"Conchobar's\nman, and do not provoke me. For if thou provokest me any longer I will\nstrike thy head off thee as one strikes off the head of a blackbird!\" \"No\neasy thing,\" quoth Mane, \"to speak to these two.\" Thereupon Mane leaves\nthem and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 71a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 1380-1414.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 1782.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 1782.\n\n\"Let Lugaid go to him,\" said Ailill, \"and offer him the girl.\" Thereupon\nLugaid goes and repeats this to Cuchulain. \"O master Lugaid,\" quoth\nCuchulain, \"it is a snare!\" \"It is the word of a king; he hath said it,\"\nLugaid answered; \"there can be no snare in it.\" \"So be it,\" said Cuchulain.\nForthwith Lugaid leaves him and takes that answer to Ailill and Medb. \"Let\nthe fool go forth in my form,\" said Ailill, \"and the king's crown on his\nhead, and let him stand some way off from Cuchulain lest he know him; and\nlet the girl go with him and let the fool promise her to him, and let them\ndepart quickly in this wise. And methinks ye will play a trick on him thus,\nso that he will not stop you any further till he comes with the Ulstermen\nto the battle.\"\n\nThen the fool goes to him and the girl along with him, and from afar he\naddresses Cuchulain. The Hound comes to meet him. It happened he knew by\nthe man's speech that he was a fool. A slingstone that was in his hand he\nthrew at him so that it entered his head and bore out his brains. He comes\nup to the maiden, cuts off her two tresses and thrusts a stone through her\ncloak and her tunic, and plants a standing-stone through the middle of the\nfool. Their two pillar-stones are there, even the pillar-stone of Finnabair\nand the pillar-stone of the fool.\n\nCuchulain left them in this plight. A party was sent out from Ailill and\nMedb to search for their people, for it was long they thought they were\ngone, when they saw them in this wise. This thing was noised abroad by all\nthe host in the camp. Thereafter there was no truce for them with\nCuchulain.[2]\n\n    [2-2] LU. 1380-1414.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 141]\n\n\n\n\nXIId\n\n[1]HERE THE COMBAT OF MUNREMAR AND CUROI[1]\n\n\n[2]While the hosts were there in the evening they perceived that one stone\nfell on them coming from the east and another from the west to meet it. The\nstones met one another in the air and kept falling between Fergus' camp,\nthe camp of Ailill and the camp of Nera. This sport and play continued from\nthat hour till the same hour on the next day, and the hosts spent the time\nsitting down, with their shields over their heads to protect them from the\nblocks of stones, till the plain was full of the boulders, whence cometh\nMag Clochair ('the Stony Plain'). Now it happened it was Curoi macDare did\nthis. He had come to bring help to his people and had taken his stand in\nCotal to fight against Munremar son of Gerrcend.[a] The latter had come\nfrom Emain Macha to succour Cuchulain and had taken his stand on Ard ('the\nHeight') of Roch. Curoi knew there was not in the host a man to compete\nwith Munremar. These then it was who carried on this sport between them.\nThe army prayed them to cease. Whereupon Munremar and Curoi made peace, and\nCuroi withdrew to his house and Munremar to Emain Macha and Munremar came\nnot again till the day of the battle. As for Curoi, he came not till the\ncombat of Ferdiad.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 71b, in the margin.\n\n    [a] Here a sheet is missing in Eg. 1782.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 1415-1486.\n\n\"Pray Cuchulain,\" said Medb and Ailill, \"that he suffer us to change our\nplace.\" This then was granted to them and the change was made.\n\nThe 'Pains' of the Ulstermen left them then. When now they awoke from their\n'Pains,' bands of them came continually upon the host to restrain it again.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 143]\n\n\n\n\nXIIe\n\n[1]THE SLAUGHTER OF THE BOY-TROOP[1][a]\n\n\nNow the youths of Ulster discussed the matter among themselves in Emain\nMacha. \"Alas for us,\" said they, \"that our friend Cuchulain has no one to\nsuccour him!\" \"I would ask then,\" spake Fiachu Fulech ('the Bloody') son of\nFerfebe and own brother to Fiachu[b] Fialdana ('the Generous-daring') son\nof Ferfebe, \"shall I have a company from you to go to him with help?\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 71b, in the margin.\n\n    [a] The LU. version of the episode is given under XVIIa, page 184.\n\n    [b] Fiachna, in LU. 1436.\n\nThrice fifty youths accompany him with their play-clubs, and that was a\nthird of the boy-troop of Ulster. The army saw them drawing near them over\nthe plain. \"A great army approaches us over the plain,\" spake Ailill Fergus\ngoes to espy them. \"Some of the youths of Ulster are they,\" said he, \"and\nit is to succour Cuchulain they come.\" \"Let a troop go to meet them,\" said\nAilill, \"unknown to Cuchulain; for if they unite with him ye will never\novercome them.\" Thrice fifty warriors went out to meet them. They fell at\none another's hands, so that not one of them got off alive of the number of\nthe youths of Lia Toll. Hence is Lia ('the Stone') of Fiachu son of\nFerfebe, for it is there that he fell.\n\n\"Take counsel,\" quoth Ailill; \"inquire of Cuchulain about letting you go\nfrom hence, for ye will not go past him by force, now that his flame of\nvalour has risen.\" For it was usual with him, when his hero's flame arose\nin him, that his feet would turn back on him and his buttocks, before him,\nand the knobs of his calves would come on his shins, and one eye would be\nin his head and the other one out of his head. A man's head would have gone\ninto his mouth. There was not a hair on him that was not as sharp as the\nthorn of the haw, and a drop of blood was on each single hair. He would\nrecognize neither comrades nor friends. Alike he would strike them before\nand behind.  Therefrom it was that the men of Connacht gave Cuchulain the\nname Riastartha ('the Contorted One').\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 145]\n\n\n\n\nXIIf\n\n[1]THE SLAUGHTER OF THE KING'S BODYGUARD[1]\n\n\n\"Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain,\" said Ailill and Medb. Lugaid\ngoes to him and Cuchulain accords the truce. \"Put a man for me on the ford\nto-morrow,\" said Cuchulain. There happened to be with Medb six royal\nhirelings, to wit: six princes of the Clans of Deda, the three Dubs ('the\nBlacks') of Imlech, and the three Dergs ('the Reds') of Sruthair, by\nname. \"Why should it not be for us,\" quoth they, \"to go and attack\nCuchulain?\" So the next day they went and Cuchulain put an end to the six\nof them.[2]\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 72b, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] See page 141, note 2.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 146]\n\n\n\n\nXIII\n\n[1]THE COMBAT OF CUR WITH CUCHULAIN[1]\n\n\n[W.2076.] The men of Erin discussed among themselves who of them would be\nfit to attack [2]and contend with[2] Cuchulain, [LL.fo.74a.] [3]and drive\nhim off from them on the ford at the morning-hour early on the morrow.[3]\nAnd what they all said was that Cur ('the Hero') son of Da Loth should be\nthe one to attack him. For thus it stood with Cur: No joy was it to be his\nbedfellow or to live with him. [4]He from whom he drew blood is dead ere\nthe ninth day.[4] And [5]the men of Erin[5] said: \"Even should it be Cur\nthat falls, a trouble [6]and care[6] would be removed from the hosts;\n[7]for it is not easy to be with him in regard to sitting, eating or\nsleeping.[7] Should it be Cuchulain, it would be so much the better.\" Cur\nwas summoned to Medb's tent. \"For what do they want me?\" Cur asked. \"To\nengage with Cuchulain,\" replied Medb, [8]\"to do battle, and ward him off\nfrom us on the ford at the morning hour early on the morrow.\"[8] [9]Cur\ndeemed it not fitting to go and contend with a beardless boy.[9] \"Little ye\nrate our worth. Nay, but it is wonderful how ye regard it. Too tender is\nthe youth with whom ye compare me. Had I known [10]I was sent against\nhim[10] I would not have come myself. I would have lads [11]enough[11] of\n[W.2086.] his age from amongst my people to go meet him on a ford.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1488.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1491.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1491-1492.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1492-1493.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe and LU. and YBL. 1493.\n\n\"Indeed, it is easy to talk so,\" quoth Cormac Conlongas son of\nConchobar. \"It would be well worth while for thyself if by thee fell\nCuchulain.\" [1]\"Howbeit,\" said Cur, \"since on myself it falls,[1] make ye\nready a journey [2]for me[2] at morn's early hour on the morrow, for a\npleasure I will make of the way [3]to this fight,[3] [4]a-going to meet\nCuchulain.[4] It is not this will detain you, namely the killing of yonder\nwildling, Cuchulain!\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1496-1497.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1499-1500.\n\n[5]There they passed the night.[5] Then early on the morrow morn arose Cur\nmacDa Loth [6]and he came to the ford of battle and combat; and however\nearly he arose, earlier still Cuchulain arose.[6] A cart-load of arms was\ntaken along with him wherewith to engage with Cuchulain, and he began to\nply his weapons, seeking to kill Cuchulain.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\nNow Cuchulain had gone early that day [7]to practise[7] his feats [8]of\nvalour and prowess.[8] These are the names of them all: the Apple-feat, and\nthe Edge-feat, and the Level Shield-feat, and the Little Dart-feat, and the\nRope-feat, and the Body-feat, and the Feat of Catt, and the Hero's\nSalmon-leap,[a] and the Pole-cast, and the Leap over a Blow (?), and the\nFolding of a noble Chariot-fighter, and the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed\nSpear') and the Vantage (?) of Swiftness, and the Wheel-feat, [9]and the\nRim-feat,[9] and the Over-Breath-feat, and the Breaking of a Sword, and the\nChampion's Cry, and the Measured Stroke, and the Side Stroke, and the\nRunning up a Lance and standing erect on its Point, and the Binding of the\n[10]noble[10] Hero (around spear points).\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1500.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [a] \"The Salmon-leap--lying flat on his face and then springing up,\n    horizontally, high in the air.\"--J.A. Synge, \"The Aran Islands,\" page\n    111, Dublin, 1907.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 1504.\n\n    [10-10] LU. 1506.\n\n[W.2121.] Now this is the reason Cuchulain was wont to practise early every\nmorning each of those feats [1]with the agility of a single hand, as best a\nwild-cat may,[1] in order that they might not depart from him through\nforgetfulness or lack of remembrance.\n\n    [1-1] An obscure gloss in LL.\n\nAnd macDa Loth waited beside his shield until the third part of the day,\n[2]plying his weapons,[2] seeking the chance to kill Cuchulain; [3]and not\nthe stroke of a blow reached Cuchulain, because of the intensity of his\nfeats, nor was he aware that a warrior was thrusting at him.[3] It was then\nLaeg[a] [4]looked at him[4] and spake to Cuchulain, \"Hark! Cucuc. Attend to\nthe warrior that seeks to kill thee.\" Then it was that Cuchulain glanced at\nhim and then it was that he raised and threw the eight apples on high\n[5]and cast the ninth apple[5] a throw's length from him at Cur macDa Loth,\nso that it struck on the disk of his shield [6]between the edge and the\nbody of the shield[6] and on the forehead [7]of the churl,[7] so that it\ncarried the size of an apple of his brains out through the back of his\nhead. Thus fell Cur macDa Loth also at the hand of Cuchulain. [8]According\nto another version[8] [9]it was in Imslige Glendamnach that Cur fell.[9]\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1507.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1508-1509.\n\n    [a] 'Fiachu,' LU. and YBL. 1510.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Following Windisch's emendation of the text.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1512.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1513.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 1513.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1513-1514.\n\n[10]Fergus greeted each one there and this is what he said:[10] \"If your\nengagements and pledges bind you now,\" said Fergus, \"another warrior ye\nmust send to him yonder on the ford; else, do ye keep to your camp and your\nquarters here till the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow, for Cur son of\nDa Loth is fallen.\" [11]\"We will grant that,\" said Medb, \"and we will not\npitch tents nor take quarters here now, but we will remain where we were\nlast night in camp.[11] [W.2136.] Considering why we have come, it is the\nsame to us even though we remain in those same tents.\"\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93.\n\n[1]The four great provinces of Erin[1] remained in that camp till Cur son\nof Da Loth had fallen, and Loth son of Da Bro and Srub Dare son of Feradach\nand [2]Morc[2] son of Tri Aigneach. These then fell in single combat with\nCuchulain. But it is tedious to recount one by one the cunning and valour\nof each man of them.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 150]\n\n\n\n\nXIV\n\n[1]THE SLAYING OF FERBAETH ('THE WITLESS')[1]\n\n\n[2]Then again the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit to fight and do\ncombat with Cuchulain and to ward him off from them on the ford at the\nmorning-hour early on the morrow. What they each and all said was, that it\nwould be his own friend and companion and the man who was his equal in arms\nand feats, even Ferbaeth son of Ferbend.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 73a, in the margin.\n\nThen was Ferbaeth son of Ferbend summoned to them, to the tent of Ailill\nand Medb. \"Wherefore do ye call me to you?\" Ferbaeth asked. \"In sooth, it\nwould please us,\" Medb answered, \"for thee to do battle and contend with\nCuchulain, and to ward him off from us on the ford at the morning hour\nearly on the morrow.\"\n\nGreat rewards they promised to him for making the battle and combat.[2]\n[3]Finnabair is given to him for this and the kingdom of his race, for he\nwas their choice to combat Cuchulain. He was the man they thought worthy of\nhim, for they both had learned the same service in arms with Scathach.[3]\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1529-1553.\n\n[4]\"I have no desire to act thus,\" Ferbaeth protested. \"Cuchulain is my\nfoster-brother and of everlasting covenant with me. Yet will I go meet him\nto-morrow, so shall I strike off his head!\" \"It will be thou that canst do\nit,\" Medb made answer.[4]\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1538-1540.\n\n[W.2143.] Then it was that Cuchulain said to his charioteer, namely to\nLaeg: \"Betake thee thither, O master Laeg,\" said Cuchulain, \"to the camp of\nthe men of Erin, and bear a greeting [LL.fo.74b.] from me to my comrades\nand foster-brothers and age-mates. Bear a greeting to Ferdiad son of Daman,\nand to Ferdet son of Daman, and to Brass son of Ferb, and to Lugaid son of\nNos, and to Lugaid son of Solamach, to Ferbaeth son of Baetan, and to\nFerbaeth son of Ferbend, and a particular greeting withal to mine own\nfoster-brother, to Lugaid son of Nos, for that he is the one man that still\nhas friendliness and friendship with me now on the hosting. And bear him a\nblessing. [1]Let it be asked diligently of him[1] that he may tell thee who\n[2]of the men of Erin[2] will come to attack me on the morrow.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1525.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\nThen Laeg went his way to the camp of the men of Erin and brought the\naforementioned greetings to the comrades and foster-brothers of Cuchulain.\nAnd he also went into the tent of Lugaid son of Nos. Lugaid bade him\nwelcome. \"I take [3]that welcome[3] to be truly meant,\" said Laeg. \"'Tis\ntruly meant for thee,\" replied Lugaid.  \"To converse with thee am I come\nfrom Cuchulain,\" said Laeg, \"and I bring these greetings truly and\nearnestly from him to the end that thou tell me who comes to fight with\nCuchulain to-day.\" [4]\"Truly not lucky is it for Cuchulain,\" said Lugaid,\n\"the strait wherein he is alone against the men of Erin.[4] The curse of\nhis fellowship and brotherhood and of his friendship and affection [5]and\nof his arms[5] be upon that man; even his own real foster-brother himself,\n[6]even the companion of us both,[6] Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. [7]He it is\nthat comes to meet him to-morrow.[7] He was invited into the tent of\n[8]Ailill and[8] Medb a while [W.2165.] since. The daughter Finnabair was\nset by his side. It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it is\nshe who gives him a kiss with every drink that he takes; it is she who\nserveth the food [1]to him.[1] Not for every one with Medb is the ale[a]\nthat is poured out for Ferbaeth [2]till he is drunk.[2] Only fifty\nwagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp.\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1526-1527.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1528.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1527.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1528.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1532.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1535.\n\n    [a] In LU. and YBL. it is wine.\n\nThen with heavy head, sorrowful, downcast, heaving sighs, Laeg retraced his\nsteps to Cuchulain. \"With heavy head, sorrowful, downcast and sighing, my\nmaster Laeg comes to meet me,\" said Cuchulain. \"It must be that one of my\nbrothers-in-arms comes to attack me.\" For he regarded as worse a man of the\nsame training in arms as himself than aught other warrior. \"Hail now, O\nLaeg my friend,\" cried Cuchulain; \"who comes to attack me to-day?\" \"The\ncurse of his fellowship and brotherhood, of his friendship and affection be\nupon him; even thine own real foster-brother himself, namely Ferbaeth son\nof Ferbend. A while ago he was summoned into the tent of Medb. The maiden\nwas set by his side; It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it\nis she who gives him a kiss with every drink; it is she who serveth his\nfood. Not for every one with Medb is the ale that is poured out for\nFerbaeth. Only fifty wagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp.\"\n\n[3]Cuchulain bade Laeg go to Lugaid, that he come to talk with him. Lugaid\ncame to Cuchulain. \"So Ferbaeth comes to oppose me to-morrow,\" said\nCuchulain. \"Aye, then,\" answered Lugaid.[3] [4]\"Evil is this day,\" cried\nCuchulain. \"I shall not be alive thereafter. Two of the same age are we,\ntwo of equal deftness, two of equal weight, when we come together. O\nLugaid, greet him for me. Tell him, also, it is not the part of true valour\nto come to oppose me. Tell him to come meet me to-night to speak with me.\"\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1541-1544.\n\nLugaid brought back this word to Ferbaeth. [W.2183.] Now inasmuch as\nFerbaeth shunned not the parley,[4] he by no means waited till morn but\nhe went straightway [1]to the glen[1] [2]that night[2] to recant his\nfriendship with Cuchulain, [3]and Fiachu son of Ferfebe went with him.[3]\nAnd Cuchulain called to mind the friendship and fellowship and brotherhood\n[5]that had been between them,[5] [6]and Scathach, the nurse of them\nboth;[6] and Ferbaeth would not consent to forego the fight.[a] [7]\"I must\nfight,\" said Ferbaeth.  \"I have promised it [8]to Medb.\"[8] [9]\"Friendship\nwith thee then is at an end,\"[9] cried Cuchulain,[7] and in anger he\nleft him and drove the sole of his foot against a holly-spit [10]in the\nglen,[10] so that it pierced through flesh and bone and skin [11]and came\nout by his knee.[11] [12]Thereat Cuchulain became frantic, and he gave a\nstrong tug and[12] drew the spit out from its roots, [13]from sinew and\nbone, from flesh and from skin.[13] [14]\"Go not, Ferbaeth, till thou seest\nthe find I have made.\" \"Throw it then,\" cried Ferbaeth.[14] And Cuchulain\nthrew the holly-spit over his shoulder after Ferbaeth, and he would as lief\nthat it reached him or that it reached him not. The spit struck Ferbaeth in\nthe nape of the neck,[b] so that it passed out through his [W.2192.] mouth\n[1]in front[1] and fell to the ground, and thus Ferbaeth fell [2]backward\ninto the glen.[2]\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1544-1549.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93, LU. and YBL. 1549.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1550.\n\n    [4-4] See page 152, note 4.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1551-1552.\n\n    [a] Reading, with Windisch, from Stowe which gives a better meaning\n    than LL.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1552-1553.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 1553.\n\n    [9-9] Literally, 'Keep thy covenant, then!'\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1554.\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1555.\n\n    [12-12] Eg. 93.\n\n    [13-13] Eg. 93.\n\n    [14-14] LU. and YBL. 1556-1557.\n\n    [b] See note, page 137.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1559.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1559-1560.\n\n\"Now that was a good throw, Cucuc!\" cried [3]Fiachu son of Ferfebe,[3]\n[4]who was on the mound between the two camps,[4] for he considered it a\ngood throw to kill that warrior with a spit of holly. Hence it is that\nFocherd Murthemni ('the good Cast of Murthemne') is the name of the place\nwhere they were.\n\n    [3-3] \"Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar.\" Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n[5]Straightway Ferbaeth died in the glen. Hence cometh Glenn\nFerbaeth. Something was heard. It was Fergus who sang:--\n\n    \"Fool's[a] emprise was thine, Ferbaeth,\n    That did bring thee to thy grave.\n    Ruin hath come on anger here;\n    Thy last end in Croen Corann!\n\n    Fithi was the hill's old name,\n    In Croenech in Murthemne.\n    'Ferbaeth' now shall be the name\n    Of the plain where Ferbaeth fell!\"[5]\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1563-1569.\n\n    [a] With a play on the word Ferbaeth, 'a foolish man.'\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 155]\n\n\n\n\nXIVa\n\n[1]THE COMBAT OF LARINE MacNOIS[1]\n\n\n[2]Lugaid spake: \"Let one of you be ready on the morrow to go against that\nother.\" \"There shall not any one at all be found to go,\" quoth Ailill,\n\"unless guile be used. Whatever man comes to you, give him wine, so that\nhis soul may be glad, and let him be told that that is all the wine that\nhas been brought to Cruachan: 'It would grieve us that thou shouldst drink\nwater in our camp.' And let Finnabair be placed on his right hand and let\nhim be told, 'She shall go with thee if thou bring us the head of the\nContorted.'\"  So a summons was sent to each warrior, one on each night, and\nthose words used to be told him. Cuchulain killed every man of them in\nturn. At length no one could be got to attack him.[2]\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 73b, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1574-1584 and Eg. 1782. Here Eg. 1782 breaks off.\n\n[W.2197.] [3]\"Good,[3] my master Laeg,\" [4]said Cuchulain,[4] \"go for me to\nthe camp of the men of Erin to hold converse with Lugaid [5]macNois,[5]\n[6]my friend, my companion and my foster-brother,[6] [7]and bear him a\ngreeting from me and bear him my blessing, for he is the one man that keeps\namity and friendship with me on the great hosting of the Cattle-raid of\nCualnge.[7] And discover [8]in what way they are in the camp,[8] whether or\nno anything has [W.2199.] happened to Ferbaeth,[a] [1]whether Ferbaeth has\nreached the camp;[1] [2]and inquire for me if the cast I made a while ago\nreached Ferbaeth or did not reach, and if it did reach him,[2] ask who\n[3]of the men of Erin[3] comes to meet me [4]to fight and do battle with me\nat the morning hour early[4] on the morrow.\"\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1572.\n\n    [a] From here to p. 170 is lacking in LL. owing to the loss of a sheet.\n    This is supplied from Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe. Eg. 209 and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\nLaeg proceeds to Lugaid's tent. Lugaid bids him welcome. [5]\"Welcome to thy\ncoming and arrival, O Laeg,\" said Lugaid.[5] \"I take that welcome as truly\nmeant,\" Laeg replied. \"It is truly meant for thee,\" quoth Lugaid, [6]\"and\nthou shalt have entertainment here to-night.\"[6] [7]\"Victory and blessing\nshalt thou have,\" said Laeg; \"but not for entertainment am I come, but[7]\nto hold converse with thee am I come from [8]thine own friend and companion\nand[8] foster-brother, [9]from Cuchulain,[9] that thou mayest tell me\nwhether Ferbaeth [10]was smitten.\"[10] \"He was,\" answered Lugaid, \"and a\nblessing on the hand that smote him, for he fell dead in the valley a while\nago.\" \"Tell me who [11]of the men of Erin[11] comes to-morrow to [12]combat\nand[12] fight with Cuchulain [13]at the morning hour early on the\nmorrow?\"[13] \"They are persuading a brother of mine own to go meet him, a\nfoolish, haughty arrogant youth, yet dealing stout blows and stubborn.\n[14]And he has agreed to do the battle and combat.[14] And it is to this\nend they will send him to fight Cuchulain, that he, my brother, may fall at\nhis hands, so that I myself must then go to avenge him upon Cuchulain. But\nI will not go there till the very day of doom. Larine great-grandson\n[W.2211.] of Blathmac is that brother. [1]And, do thou tell Cuchulain to\ncome to Ferbaeth's Glen and[1] I will go [2]thither[2] to speak with\nCuchulain about him,\" said Lugaid.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 209.\n\n    [10-10] Following Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93.\n\n    [12-12] Eg. 93.\n\n    [13-13] Eg. 93.\n\n    [14-14] Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n[3]Laeg betook him to where Cuchulain was.[3] Lugaid's two horses were\ntaken and his chariot was yoked to them [4]and[4] he came [5]to Glen\nFerbaeth[5] to his tryst with Cuchulain, so that a parley was had between\nthem. [6]The two champions and battle-warriors gave each other welcome.[6]\nThen it was that Lugaid spake: [7]\"There is no condition that could be\npromised to me for fighting and combating with thee,\" said Lugaid, \"and\nthere is no condition on which I would undertake it, but[7] they are\npersuading a brother of mine to come fight thee [8]on the morrow,[8]\nto-wit, a foolish, dull, uncouth youth, dealing stout blows. [9]They\nbrought him into the tent of Ailill and Medb and he has engaged to do\nthe battle and combat with thee.[9] [10]He is befooled about the same\nmaiden.[10] And it is for this reason they are to send him to fight thee,\nthat he may fall at thy hands, [11]so that we two may quarrel,[11] and to\nsee if I myself will come to avenge him upon thee. But I will not, till the\nvery day of doom. And by the fellowship that is between us, [12]and by the\nrearing and nurture I bestowed on thee and thou didst bestow on me, bear me\nno grudge because of Larine.[12] Slay not my brother [13]lest thou shouldst\nleave me brotherless.\"[13]\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1592 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1593 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 209.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 93.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1595-1596.\n\n    [11-11] LU. 1597.\n\n    [12-12] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [13-13] LU. and YBL. 1596-1597.\n\n\"By my conscience, truly,\" cried Cuchulain, [14]kill him I will not,\nbut[14] the next thing to death will I inflict on him. [15]No worse would\nit be for him to die than what I [W.2222.] will give him.\"[15] \"I give thee\nleave. [1]It would please me well shouldst thou beat him sorely,[1] for to\nmy dishonour he comes to attack thee.\"\n\n    [14-14] Eg. 93.\n\n    [15-15] Eg. 209.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1597 and Eg. 93.\n\nThereupon Cuchulain went back and Lugaid returned to the camp [2]lest the\nmen of Erin should say it was betraying them or forsaking them he was if he\nremained longer parleying with Cuchulain.[2]\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\nThen [3]on the next day[3] it was that Larine son of Nos, [4]brother of\nLugaid king of Munster,[4] was summoned to the tent of Ailill and Medb,\nand Finnabair was placed by his side. It was she that filled up the\ndrinking-horns for him and gave him a kiss with each draught that he took\nand served him his food. \"Not to every one with Medb is given the drink\nthat is poured out for Ferbaeth or for Larine,\" quoth Finnabair; \"only the\nload of fifty wagons of it was brought to the camp.\"[a]\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1598.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1585.\n\n    [a] Emending the text to agree with the two similar passages above.\n\n[5]Medb looked at the pair. \"Yonder pair rejoiceth my heart,\" said she.[5]\n\"Whom wouldst thou say?\" asked [6]Ailill.[6] \"The man yonder, [7]in\ntruth,\"[7] said she. \"What of him?\" asked Ailill. \"It is thy wont to set\nthe mind on that which is far from the purpose (Medb answered). It were\nmore becoming for thee to bestow thy thought on the couple in whom are\nunited the greatest distinction and beauty to be found on any road in Erin,\nnamely Finnabair, [8]my daughter,[8] and Larine macNois. [9]'Twould be\nfitting to bring them together.\"[9] \"I regard them as thou dost,\" answered\nAilill; [10]\"I will not oppose thee herein. He shall have her if only he\nbrings me the head of Cuchulain.\"[a] \"Aye, bring it I will,\" said\nLarine.[10] [W.2235.] It was then that Larine shook and tossed himself with\njoy, so that the sewings of the flock bed burst under him and the mead of\nthe camp was speckled with its feathers.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1586.\n\n    [6-6] Corrected from LL., which has 'Medb.'\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1588.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'of the Contorted.'\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1588-1590.\n\n\n[1]They passed the night there.[1] Larine longed for day with its full\nlight [2]to go[2] to attack Cuchulain. At the early day-dawn on the morrow\nhe came, [3]and the maiden came too to embolden him,[3] and he brought a\nwagon-load of arms with him, and he came on to the ford to encounter\nCuchulain. The mighty warriors of the camp and station considered it not a\ngoodly enough sight to view the combat of Larine; only the women and boys\nand girls, [4]thrice fifty of them,[4] went to scoff and to jeer at his\nbattle.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1599.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\nCuchulain went to meet him at the ford and he deemed it unbecoming to\nbring along arms [5]or to ply weapons upon him,[5] so Cuchulain came\nto the encounter unarmed [6]except for the weapons he wrested from his\nopponent.[6] [7]And when Larine reached the ford, Cuchulain saw him and\nmade a rush at him.[7] Cuchulain knocked all of Larine's weapons out of his\nhand as one might knock toys out of the hand of an infant. Cuchulain ground\nand bruised him between his arms, he lashed him and clasped him, he\nsqueezed him and shook him, so that he spilled all the dirt out of him,\n[8]so that the ford was defiled with his dung[8] [9]and the air was fouled\nwith his dust[9] and an [10]unclean, filthy[10] wrack of cloud arose in the\nfour airts wherein he was. Then from the middle of the ford Cuchulain\nhurled Larine far from him across through the camp [11]till he fell into\nLugaid's two hands[11] at the door of the tent of his brother. [W.2252.]\nHowbeit [1]from that time forth[1] [2]for the remainder of his life[2] he\nnever got up without a [3]sigh and a[3] groan, and [4]he never lay down\nwithout hurt, and he never stood up without a moan;[4] [5]as long as he\nlived[5] he never ate [6]a meal[6] without plaint, and never thenceforward\nwas he free from weakness of the loins and oppression of the chest and\nwithout cramps and the frequent need which obliged him to go out. Still he\nis the only man that made escape, [7]yea though a bad escape,[7] after\ncombat with Cuchulain on the Cualnge Cattle-raid. Nevertheless that maiming\ntook effect upon him, so that it afterwards brought him his death. Such\nthen is the Combat of Larine on the Tain Bo Cualnge.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 209.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 209.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1602.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1603.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1604.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 209.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1604.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 209.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1607.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 161]\n\n\n\n\nXIVb\n\n[1]THE COLLOQUY OF THE MORRIGAN AND CUCHULAIN[1]\n\n\n[2]Then Cuchulain saw draw near him a young woman with a dress of every\ncolour about her and her appearance was most surpassing. \"Who art thou?\"\nCuchulain asked. \"Daughter of Buan ('the Eternal'), the king,\" she\nanswered. \"I am come to thee; I have loved thee for the high tales they\ntell of thee and have brought my treasures and cattle with me.\" \"Not good\nis the time thou hast come. Is not our condition weakened through hunger?\nNot easy then would it be for me to foregather with a woman the while I am\nengaged in this struggle.\" \"Herein I will come to thy help.\" \"Not for the\nlove of a woman[a] did I take this in hand.\" \"This then shall be thy lot,\"\nsaid she, \"when I come against thee what time thou art contending with men:\nIn the shape of an eel I will come beneath thy feet in the ford; so shalt\nthou fall.\" \"More likely that, methinks, than daughter of a king! I will\nseize thee,\" said he, \"in the fork of my toes till thy ribs are broken, and\nthou shalt remain in such sorry plight till there come my sentence of\nblessing on thee.\" \"In the shape of a grey she-wolf will I drive the cattle\non to the ford against thee.\" \"I will cast a stone from my sling at thee,\nso shall it smash thine eye in thy head\" (said he), \"and thou wilt so\nremain maimed till my sentence of blessing come on thee.\" \"I will attack\nthee,\" said she, \"in the shape of a hornless red heifer at the head of the\ncattle, so that they will overwhelm thee on the waters and fords and pools\nand thou wilt not see me before thee.\" \"I will,\" replied he, \"fling a stone\nat thee that will break thy leg under thee, and thou wilt thus be lamed\ntill my sentence of blessing come on thee.\" Therewith she went from him.[2]\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 74a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1609-1629.\n\n    [a] Literally, '_non causa podicis feminae_.' The MS. is partly erased\n    here.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 163]\n\n\n\n\nXV\n\n[1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE COMBAT OF LOCH AND CUCHULAIN ON THE TAIN,[1]\n[2]AND THE SLAYING OF LOCH SON OF MOFEMIS[2]\n\n\n[3]Then it was debated by the men of Erin who would be fitted to fight and\ncontend with Cuchulain and ward him off from them on the ford at the\nmorning-hour early on the morrow. What they all agreed was that it should\nbe Loch Mor ('the Great') son of Mofemis, the royal champion of Munster.[3]\n[W.2260.] It was then that Loch Mor son of Mofemis was summoned [4]like the\nrest[4] to the pavilion of Ailill and Medb, [5]and he was promised the\nequal of Mag Murthemni of the smooth field of Mag Ai, and the accoutrement\nof twelve men, and a chariot of the value of seven bondmaids.[5] \"What\nwould ye of me?\" asked Loch. \"To have fight with Cuchulain,\" replied\nMedb. \"I will not go on that errand, for I esteem it no honour nor becoming\nto attack a tender, young, smooth-chinned, beardless boy. [6]'Tis not\nseemly to speak thus to me, and ask it not of me.[6] And not to belittle\nhim do I say it, but I have [7]a doughty brother, [8]the match of\nhimself,\"[8] said Loch,[7] \"a man to confront him, Long macEmonis, to wit,\nand he will rejoice to accept an offer from you; [9]and it were fitting for\nhim to contend with Cuchulain for Long has no beard on cheek or lip any\nmore than Cuchulain.\"[9]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 1630.\n\n    [2-2] LU. fo. 74b, between the columns.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1631.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1631-1633.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 209.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n[W.2266.] [1]Thereupon[1] Long was summoned to the tent of Ailill and Medb,\nand Medb promised him great gifts, even livery for twelve men of cloth of\nevery colour, and a chariot worth four[a] times seven bondmaids, and\nFinnabair to wife for him alone, and at all times entertainment in\nCruachan, and that wine[b] would be poured out for him.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] 'Thrice.' Eg. 209.\n\n    [b] 'Ale,' Eg. 209.\n\n[2]They passed there that night and he engaged to do the battle and combat,\nand early on the morrow[2] went Long [3]to the ford of battle and combat[3]\nto seek Cuchulain, and Cuchulain slew him and [5]they brought him dead into\nthe presence of his brother, namely of Loch. And Loch [4]came forth and\nraised up his loud, quick voice and[4] cried, had he known it was a bearded\nman that slew him, he would slay him for it.[5] [6]And it was in the\npresence of Medb that he said it.[6] [7]\"Lead a battle-force against him,\"\nMedb cried to her host, \"over the ford from the west, that ye may cross,\nand let the law of fair fight be broken with Cuchulain.\" The seven Mane the\nwarriors went first, till they saw him to the west of the edge of the\nford. He wore his festive raiment on that day and the women clambered on\nthe men that they might behold him. \"It grieves me,\" said Medb. \"I cannot\nsee the boy because of whom they go there.\" \"Thy mind would not be the\neasier for that,\" quoth Lethrenn, Ailill's horseboy, \"if thou shouldst see\nhim.\" Cuchulain came to the ford as he was. \"What man is that yonder, O\nFergus?\" asked Medb.[c] And Medb, too, climbed on the men to get a look\n[W.2272.] at him.[7] [1]Then[1] Medb called upon [2]her handmaid for two\nwoman-bands,[2] [3]fifty or twice fifty[3] of her women, to go speak with\nCuchulain and to charge him to put a false beard on. The woman-troop went\ntheir way to Cuchulain and told him to put a false beard on [4]if he wished\nto engage in battle or combat with goodly warriors or with goodly youths of\nthe men of Erin;[4] [5]that sport was made of him in the camp for that he\nhad no beard, and that no good warrior would go meet him but only madmen.\nIt were easier to make a false beard:[5] \"For no brave warrior in the camp\nthinks it seemly to come fight with thee, and thou beardless,\" [6]said\nthey.[6] [7]\"If that please me,\" said Cuchulain, \"then I shall do it.\"[7]\nThereupon Cuchulain [8]took a handful of grass and speaking a spell over it\nhe[8] bedaubed himself a beard [9]in order to obtain combat with a man,\nnamely with Loch.[9] And he came onto the knoll overlooking the men of Erin\nand made that beard manifest to them all, [10]so that every one thought it\nwas a real beard he had.[10] [11]\"'Tis true,\" spake the women, \"Cuchulain\nhas a beard. It is fitting for a warrior to fight with him.\" They said that\nto urge on Loch.[11] Loch son of Mofemis saw it, and what he said was,\n\"Why, that is a beard on Cuchulain!\" \"It is what I perceive,\" Medb\nanswered. Medb promised the same great terms to Loch to put a check to\nCuchulain. [12]\"I will not undertake the fight till the end of seven days\nfrom this day,\" exclaimed Loch. \"Not fitting is it for us to leave that man\nunattacked for all that time,\" Medb answered. \"Let us put a warrior every\nnight to spy upon him if, peradventure, we might get a chance at him.\" This\nthen they did. A warrior went every night to spy upon him and he slew them\nall. These are the names of the men who fell there: the seven Conall, the\nseven Oengus, the seven Uargus, the seven Celtri, the eight Fiach, the ten\nAilill, the ten Delbrath, the ten Tasach. These are the deeds of that week\non Ath Grenca.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1637-1639.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] LU. fo. 61, note 7, edition O'Keeffe and Strachan.\n\n    [c] Fergus' answer, eight lines in _rosc_, LU. page 61, note 7, edition\n    of Strachan and O'Keeffe (these lines are not in YBL.), has been\n    omitted in the translation.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1640-1641.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 209.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 1643.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1642.]\n\n    [10-10] LU. 1644.\n\n    [11-11] LU. 1645-1647.\n\n    [a] In Eg. 93, this is said by Medb.\n\nMedb sought counsel, what was best to be done with Cuchulain, for she was\nsore grieved at all of her host that had been slain by him. This is the\ncounsel she took: To despatch keen, high-spirited men at one time to attack\nhim when he would come to an appointment she would make to speak with\nhim. For she had a tryst the next day with Cuchulain, to conclude the\npretence of a truce with him in order to get a chance at him. She sent\nforth messengers to seek him to advise him to come to her, and thus it was\nthat he should come, unarmed, for she herself would not come but with her\nwomen attendants to converse with him.\n\nThe runner, namely Traigtren ('Strongfoot') [1]son of Traiglethan\n('Broadfoot')[1] went to the place where Cuchulain was and gave him Medb's\nmessage. Cuchulain promised that he would do her will. \"How liketh it thee\nto meet Medb to-morrow, O Cuchulain?\" asked Laeg. \"Even as Medb desires\nit,\" answered Cuchulain. \"Great are Medb's deeds,\" said the charioteer; \"I\nfear a hand behind the back with her.\" \"How is it to be done [2]by us[2]\nthen?\"  asked he. \"Thy sword at thy waist,\" the charioteer answered, \"that\nthou be not taken off thy guard. For a warrior is not entitled to his\nhonour-price if he be taken without arms, and it is the coward's law that\nfalls to him in this manner.\" \"Let it be so, then,\" said Cuchulain.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\nNow it was on Ard ('the Height') of Aignech which is called Fochard to-day\nthat the meeting took place. Then fared Medb to the tryst and she stationed\nfourteen men of those that were bravest of her bodyguard in ambush against\nhim. These were they: the two Glassine, the two sons of Buccridi, the two\nArdan, the two sons of Licce, the two Glasogma, the two sons of Crund,\nDrucht and Delt and Dathen, Tea and Tascur and Tualang, Taur and Glese.\n\nThen Cuchulain comes to meet her. The men rise against him. Fourteen spears\nare hurled at him at the same time. The Hound defends himself, so that\nneither his skin nor protection (?) is touched and he turns in upon them\nand kills them, the fourteen men. Hence these are the 'Fourteen men of\nFochard.' And they are also the 'Men of Cronech,' for it is in Cronech at\nFochard they were slain. And it is of this Cuchulain spake:--\n\n    \"Good my skill[a] in champion's deeds.\n    Valorous are the strokes I deal\n    On the brilliant phantom host.\n    War with numerous bands I wage,\n    For the fall of warlike chief--\n    This, Medb's purpose and Ailill's--\n    Direful (?) hatred hath been raised!\"[b]\n\n    [a] With a play on the name _Focherd_, as is explained in the following\n    paragraph.\n\n    [b] Here follow six lines in _rosc_, LU. 1692-1697, edition of Strachan\n    and O'Keeffe (the passage does not occur in YBL.), of uncertain\n    meaning; they are omitted in the translation.\n\nThis is the reason why the name Focherd clung to that place, to wit: _Fo_\n'Good' and _Cerd_ 'Art,' which signifieth 'Good the feat of arms' that\nhappened to Cuchulain there.\n\nThen came Cuchulain and he overtook [1]the hosts[1] pitching camp, and\nthere were slain the two Daigri, the two Anli and the four Dungai of\nImlech. And there Medb began to urge on Loch: \"Great is the scorn that is\nmade of thee,\" said she, \"that the man that killed thy brother should be\ndestroying our host [2]here before thee[2] and thou not attack him. For\nsure we are that such as he yonder, that great and fierce madman, will not\nbe able to withstand the valour and rage of a warrior such as thou\nart. And, further, from one and the same instructress the art was acquired\nby you both.\"[12]\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [12-12] LU. 1647-1708 and Eg. 93 (_Revue Celtique_, t. xv. 1894,\n    pp. 64-66).\n\n[W.2283.] \"I will go forth and attack him,\" cried Loch. Loch went to attack\nCuchulain, [1]to take vengeance on him for his brother,[1] [2]for it was\nshown him that Cuchulain had a beard;[2] so they met on the ford where Long\nhad fallen. \"Let us move to the upper ford,\" said Loch, \"for I will not\nfight on this ford,\" since he held it defiled, [3]cursed and unclean,[3]\nthe ford whereon his brother had fallen. [4]Now when Cuchulain came to look\nfor the ford, the men drove the cattle across.[4] [5]\"The cattle[5] [6]will\nbe across thy water here to-day,\" said Gabran[6] [7]the poet.[7] [8]Hence\ncometh Ath Tarteise ('the Ford over thy Water') and Tir Mor Tarteise ('the\nGreat Land over thy Water').[8] Thereafter they fought on the upper ford\n[9]between Methe and Cethe at the head of Tir Mor,[9] [10]and they were for\na long space and time at their feats wounding and striking each other.[10]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1709 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and LU. 1709.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and, partly, YBL. 1711.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 1711.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1711.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 1712.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1712.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93.\n\nThen it was that the Morrigan daughter of [11]Aed[11] Ernmas came from the\nfairy dwellings to destroy Cuchulain.  For she had threatened on the\nCattle-raid of Regomain [a] that she would come to undo Cuchulain what time\nhe would be [13]in sore distress[13] when engaged in [14]battle and[14]\ncombat with a goodly warrior, [15]with Loch,[15] in the course of the\nCattle-spoil of Cualnge. Thither then the Morrigan [W.2293.] came in the\nshape of a white, [1]hornless,[1] red-eared heifer, with fifty heifers\nabout her and a chain of silvered bronze between each two of the heifers.\n[2]She bursts upon the pools and fords at the head of the cattle. It was\nthen that Cuchulain said, \"I cannot see the fords for the waters.\"[2] The\nwomen [3]came with their strange sorcery, and[3] constrained Cuchulain by\ngeasa and by inviolable bonds [4]to check the heifer for them[4] lest she\nshould escape from him without harm. Cuchulain made an unerring cast\n[5]from his sling-stick[5] at her, so that he shattered one of the\nMorrigan's eyes.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] See page 165, note 12.\n\n    [a] Edited by Wh. Stokes and E. Windisch, in _Irische Texte_, Bd. II,\n    SS. 241-254.\n\n    [13-13] Eg. 93.\n\n    [14-14] Eg. 93.\n\n    [15-15] Eg. 209.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1722.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1722.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n[6]Now when the men met on the ford and began to fight and to struggle, and\nwhen each of them was about to strike the other,[6] the Morrigan came\nthither in the shape of a slippery, black eel down the stream. Then she\ncame on the linn and she coiled [7]three folds[7] [8]and twists[8] around\nthe [9]two[9] feet [10]and the thighs and forks[10] of Cuchulain, [11]till\nhe was lying on his back athwart the ford[11] [12]and his limbs in the\nair.[12]\n\n    [6-6] LU. 1713.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1713.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1714.\n\n    [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nWhile Cuchulain was busied freeing himself [13]and before he was able to\nrise,[13] Loch wounded him crosswise through the breast, [14]so that the\nspear[a] went through him[14] [15]and the ford was gore-red with his\nblood.[15] [16]\"Ill, indeed,\" cried Fergus, \"is this deed in the face of\nthe foe. Let some of ye taunt him, ye men,\" he cried to his people, \"to the\nend that he fall not in vain!\"\n\n    [13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [14-14] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] 'Sword,' LU. and YBL. 1734.\n\n    [15-15] LU. 1714.\n\nBricriu Nemthenga ('Of the Venom-tongue') son of Carbad arose and began to\nrevile Cuchulain. \"Thy strength has gone from thee,\" said he, \"when a\nlittle salmon overthrows thee even now when the Ulstermen are about to come\nout of their 'Pains.'[16] [1]Hard it would be for thee to take on thee\nwarrior's deeds in the presence of the men of Erin and to repel a stout\nwarrior clad in his armour!\"[1]\n\n    [16-16] LU., edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, p. 63, note 17.\n    Similarly, YBL. 1714-1716, and Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 63, note 19, edit. Strachan and O'Keeffe, and Eg. 93.\n\n[2]Then[2] [3]at this incitation[3] [4]Cuchulain arose,[4] [5]and with his\nleft heel he smote the eel on the head,[5] [6]so that its ribs broke within\nit[6] [7]and he destroyed one half of its brains after smashing half of its\nhead.[7] [8]And the cattle were driven by force past the hosts to the east\nand they even carried away the tents on their horns at the thunder-feat the\ntwo warriors made on the ford.[8]\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1716.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1717.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1717.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1718-1720.\n\n[W.2302.] The Morrigan next came in the form of a rough, grey-red\nbitch-wolf [9]with wide open jaws[9] [10]and she bit Cuchulain in the\narm[10] [11]and drove the cattle against him westwards,[11] [12]and\nCuchulain made a cast of his little javelin at her, strongly, vehemently,\nso that it shattered one eye in her head.[12] During this space of time,\nwhether long or short, while Cuchulain was engaged in freeing himself, Loch\nwounded him [13]through the loins.[13] Thereupon Cuchulain chanted a\nlay.[a]\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 209.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1721.\n\n    [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. and YBL. 1721.\n\n    [13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] The three stanzas of this lay in YBL. (four in LU.) are found, with\n    slight changes, in the lay on page 172fl.\n\n[14]Then did Cuchulain to the Morrigan the three things he had threatened\nher on the Cattle-raid of Regomain,[14] and his anger arose within him and\nhe [LL.fo.75a.] wounded Loch with the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed-spear'), so\nthat it passed through [W.2307.] his heart in his breast. [1]For truly it\nmust have been that Cuchulain could not suffer the treacherous blows and\nthe violence of Loch Mor the warrior, and he called for the Gae Bulgae from\nLaeg son of Riangabair. And the charioteer sent the Gae Bulga down the\nstream and Cuchulain made it ready. And when Loch heard that, he gave a\nlunge down with his shield, so that he drove it over two-thirds deep into\nthe pebbles and sand and gravel of the ford. And then Cuchulain let go the\nBarbed-spear upwards, so as to strike Loch over the border of his hauberk\nand the rim of his shield.[1] [2]And it pierced his body's covering, for\nLoch wore a horn skin when fighting with a man,[2] [3]so that his farther\nside was pierced clear after his heart had been thrust through in his\nbreast.[3]\n\n    [14-14] LU. and YBL. 1732.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1735-1736.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n[4]\"That is enough now,\" spake Loch; \"I am smitten by that.[4] [5]For thine\nhonour's sake[5] [6]and on the truth of thy valour and skill in arms,[6]\ngrant me a boon now, O Cuchulain,\" said Loch. \"What boon askest thou?\"\n\"'Tis no boon of quarter nor a prayer of cowardice that I make of thee,\"\nsaid Loch. \"But fall back a step from me [7]and permit me to rise,[7] that\nit be on my face to the east I fall and not on my back to the west toward\nthe warriors of Erin, to the end that no man of them shall say, [8]if I\nfall on my back,[8] it was in retreat or in flight I was before thee, for\nfallen I have by the Gae Bulga!\" \"That will I do,\" answered Cuchulain, \"for\n'tis a [9]true[9] warrior's prayer that thou makest.\"\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nAnd Cuchulain stepped back, [10]so that Loch fell on his face, and his soul\nparted from his body and Laeg despoiled him.[10] [11]Cuchulain cut off his\nhead then.[11] Hence cometh [W.2314.] the name the ford bears ever since,\nnamely Ath Traged ('Foot-ford') in Cenn Tire Moir ('Great Headland').\n[1]It was then they broke their terms of fair fight that day with\nCuchulain, when five men went against him at one time, namely the two\nCruaid, the two Calad and Derothor. All alone, Cuchulain killed them. Hence\ncometh Coicsius Focherda ('Fochard's Fortnight') and Coicer Oengoirt ('Five\nWarriors in one Field'). Or it may be, fifteen days Cuchulain passed in\nFochard and it is hence cometh Coicsius Focherda on the Tain.[1]\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] LU. fo. 77a, in the margin.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1739-1743.\n\nAnd deep distress[a] possessed Cuchulain that day [2]more than any other\nday[2] for his being all alone on the Tain, [3]confronting four of the five\ngrand provinces of Erin,[3] [4]and he sank into swoons and faints.[4]\nThereupon Cuchulain enjoined upon Laeg his charioteer to go to the men of\nUlster, that they should come to defend their drove. [5]And, on rising,\nthis is what he said:[5] [6]\"Good, O Laeg, get thee to Emain to the\nUlstermen, and bid them come henceforward to look after their drove for I\ncan defend their fords no longer. For surely it is not fair fight nor equal\ncontest for any man for the Morrigan to oppose and overpower him and Loch\nto wound and pierce him.\"[6] And weariness of heart and weakness overcame\nhim, and he gave utterance to a lay:--\n\n    \"Rise, O Laeg, arouse the hosts,\n    Say for me in Emain strong:\n    I am worn each day in fight,\n    Full of wounds, and bathed in gore!\n\n    \"My right side and eke my left:\n    Hard to say which suffers worse;\n    Fingin's[b] hand hath touched them not,\n    Stanching blood with strips of wood!\n\n    [W.2329.] \"Bring this word to Conchobar dear,\n    I am weak, with wounded sides.\n    Greatly has he changed in mien,\n    Dechtire's fond, rich-trooped son!\n\n    \"I alone these cattle guard,\n    Leave them not, yet hold them not.\n    Ill my plight, no hope for me,\n    Thus alone on many fords!\n\n    \"Showers of blood rain on my arms,\n    Full of hateful wounds am I.\n    No friend comes to help me here,\n    Save my charioteer alone!\n\n    \"Few make music here for me,\n    Joy I've none in single horn.\n    When the mingled trumpets sound,[a]\n    This is sweetest from the drone!\n\n    \"This old saying, ages old:--\n    'Single log gives forth no flame;'\n    Let there be a two or three,\n    Up the firebrands all will blaze!\n\n    \"One sole log burns not so well\n    As when one burns by its side.\n    Guile can be employed on one;\n    Single mill-stone doth not grind!\n\n    \"Hast not heard at every time,\n    'One is duped'?--'tis true of me.\n    That is why I cannot last\n    These long battles of the hosts!\n\n    \"However small a host may be,\n    It receives some thought and pains;\n    Take but this: its daily meat\n    On one fork is never cooked!\n\n    \"Thus alone I've faced the host,\n    By the ford in broad Cantire;\n    Many came, both Loch and Badb,\n    As foretold in 'Regomain!'[b]\n\n    \"Loch has mangled my two thighs;\n    Me the grey-red wolf hath bit;\n    Loch my sides[c] has wounded sore,\n    And the eel has dragged me down!\n\n    \"With my spear I kept her off;\n    I put out the she-wolf's eye;\n    [W.2371.] And I broke her lower leg,\n    At the outset of the strife!\n\n    \"Then when Laeg sent Aife's spear,[a]\n    Down the stream--like swarm of bees--\n    That sharp deadly spear I hurled,\n    Loch, [1]Mobebuis'[1] son, fell there!\n\n    \"Will not Ulster battle give\n    To Ailill and Eocho's lass,[b]\n    While I linger here in pain,\n    Full of wounds and bathed in blood?\n\n    [LL.fo.75b.] \"Tell the splendid Ulster chiefs\n    They shall come to guard their drove.\n    Maga's sons[c] have seized their kine\n    And have portioned them all out!\n\n    \"Fight on fight--though much I vowed,\n    I have kept my word in all.\n    For pure honour's sake I fight;\n    'Tis too much to fight alone!\n\n    \"Vultures joyful at the breach\n    In Ailill's and in Medb's camp.\n    Mournful cries of woe are heard;\n    On Murthemne's plain is grief!\n\n    \"Conchobar comes not out with help;\n    In the fight, no troops of his.\n    Should one leave _him_ thus alone,\n    Hard 'twould be his rage to tell!\n\n    [1]\"Men have almost worn me out\n    In these single-handed fights;\n    Warrior's deeds I cannot do,\n    Now that I must fight alone!\"[1]\n\n    [a] Literally 'repentance.'\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [b] Physician to King Conchobar.\n\n    [a] Following Windisch's emended reading of LL.\n\n    [b] See above, page 168, note a.\n\n    [c] Literally, 'liver.'\n\n    [a] That is, the 'barbed' spear.\n\n    [1-1] Reading with MS. Stowe.\n\n    [b] That is, Medb.\n\n    [c] That is, the followers of Ailill.]\n\n    [1-1] LU. page 64, note 5, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe.\n\n[2]Although Cuchulain spoke thus, he had no strength for Laeg to leave\nhim.[2]\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nThis then is the Combat of Loch Mor ('the Great') son of Mofemis against\nCuchulain on the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 175]\n\n\n\n\nXVI\n\n[1]THE VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT[1]\n\n\n[2]Then were five men sent against Cuchulain on the morrow to contend with\nhim and he killed them, so that they fell by his hand, and 'the Five\nof Cenn Cursighi' was their name.[2] [W.2400.] Then it was that Medb\ndespatched six men at one and the same time to attack Cuchulain, to wit:\nTraig ('Foot') and Dorn ('Fist') and Dernu ('Palm'), Col ('Sin') and\nAccuis[a] ('Curse') and Eraise ('Heresy'), three druid-men and three\ndruid-women, [3]their three wives.[3] Cuchulain attacked them, [4]the six\nof them, and struck off their six heads,[4] so that they fell at his hands\n[5]on this side of Ath Tire Moire ('Big Land's Ford') at Methe and\nCethe.[5]\n\n    [1-1] This heading is supplied by Windisch.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [a] LU. 1764, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93 have for this, _Mebul_, 'Shame.'\n\n    [3-3] LU. 1767.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 1766-1767.\n\n[6]Then it was that Fergus demanded of his sureties that fair-dealing\nshould not be broken with Cuchulain. And it was there that Cuchulain was at\nthat time,[6] [7]that is, at Delga Murthemni. Then Cuchulain killed Fota in\nhis field, Bomailce on his ford, Salach in his homestead, Muine in his\nfort, Luar in Lethbera, Fertoithle in Toithle. These are the names of these\nlands forever, every place in which each man of them fell.[7]\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1759-1760.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 1761-1765.\n\nForasmuch as covenant and terms of single combat had been broken with\nCuchulain, Cuchulain took his sling in hand that day and began to shoot at\nthe host from Delga ('the Little Dart') in the south, [8]in Murthemne.[8]\nThough [W.2406.] numerous were the men of Erin on that day, not one of them\ndurst turn his face southwards [1]towards Cuchulain, towards the side where\nhe was[1] [2]between Delga and the sea,[2] whether dog, or horse, or\nman. [3]So that he slew an hundred warriors till came the bright hour of\nsunrise on the morrow.[3]\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1745.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 177]\n\n\n\n\nXVIa\n\n[1]THE HEALING OF THE MORRIGAN[1]\n\n\n[W.2410.] [2]Great weariness came over Cuchulain after that night, and a\ngreat thirst, after his exhaustion.[2] Then it was that the Morrigan,\ndaughter of Emmas, came from the fairy dwellings, in the guise of an old\nhag, [3]with wasted knees, long-legged,[3] [4]blind and lame,[4] engaged in\nmilking a [5]tawny,[5] three-teated [6]milch[6] cow before the eyes of\nCuchulain.[a] And for this reason she came in this fashion, that she might\nhave redress from Cuchulain. For none whom Cuchulain ever wounded recovered\ntherefrom without himself aided in the healing. Cuchulain, maddened with\nthirst, begged her for a milking. She gave him a milking of one of the\nteats [7]and straightway Cuchulain drank it.[7] \"May this be a cure in time\nfor me, [8]old crone,\" quoth Cuchulain, \"and the blessing of gods and of\nnon-gods upon thee!\" said he;[8] and one of the queen's eyes became whole\nthereby. He begged the milking of [9]another[9] teat. [10]She milked the\ncow's second teat and[10] gave it to him and [11]he drank it and said,[11]\n\"May she straightway be sound that gave it.\" [12]Then her head was healed\nso that it was whole.[12] He begged a third drink [W.2418.] [1]of the\nhag.[1] [2]She milked the cow's third teat[2] and gave him the milking\nof the teat [3]and he drank it.[3] \"A blessing on thee of gods and of\nnon-gods, O woman! [4]Good is the help and succour thou gavest me.\"[4]\n[5]And her leg was made whole thereby.[5] [6]Now these were their gods, the\nmighty folk: and these were their non-gods, the folk of husbandry.[6] And\nthe queen was healed [7]forthwith.[7] [8]\"Well, Cuchulain,[8] [9]thou\nsaidst to me,\" spake the Morrigan, \"I should not get healing [10]nor\nsuccour[10] from thee forever.\" \"Had I known it was thou,\" Cuchulain made\nanswer, \"I would never have healed thee.\" Or, it may be Drong Conculainn\n('Cuchulain's Throng') on Tarthesc is the name of this tale in the Reaving\nof the Kine of Cualnge.[9]\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 77a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1748.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] Reading _fiadnaisse_.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 1753.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL 1755.\n\n    [6-6] A gloss incorporated in the text of LL., LU., YBL., Stowe,\n    H. 2. 17. and Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1755-1758.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 93.\n\n[11]Then it was she alighted in the form of a royston crow on the bramble\nthat grows over Grelach Dolair ('the Stamping-ground of Dolar') in Mag\nMurthemni. \"Ominous is the appearance of a bird in this place above all,\"\nquoth Cuchulain. Hence cometh Sge nah Einchi ('Crow's Bramble') as a name\nof Murthemne.[11]\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nThen Medb ordered out the hundred [12]armed[12] warriors [13]of her\nbody-guard[13] at one and the same time to assail Cuchulain. Cuchulain\nattacked them all, so that they fell by his hand [14]at Ath Ceit Cuile\n('Ford of the First Crime').[14] \"It is a dishonour for us that our people\nare slaughtered in this wise,\" quoth Medb. \"It is not the first destruction\nthat has befallen us from that same man,\" replied Ailill. Hence Cuilenn\nCind Duni ('The Destruction of the Head [W.2426.] of the Dun') is\nhenceforth the name of the place where they were,[1] the mound whereon Medb\nand Ailill tarried that night.[1] Hence Ath Cro ('Gory Ford') is the name\nof the ford where they were, [2]and Glass Cro ('River of Gore') the name of\nthe stream.[2] And fittingly, too, because of the abundance of gore and\nblood that went with the flow of the river.\n\n    [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [13-13] LU. 1768.\n\n    [14-14] LU. 1769.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. 1771.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 180]\n\n\n\n\nXVII\n\nTHE GREAT ROUT ON THE PLAIN OF MURTHEMNE FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW\n\n\n[W.2431.] [1]That night[1] the warriors of four of the five grand provinces\nof Erin pitched camp and made their station in the place called Breslech\nMor ('the Great Rout') in the Plain of Murthemne. Their portion of cattle\nand spoils they sent on before them to the south to the cow-stalls of\nUlster. [LL.fo.76a.] Cuchulain took station at Ferta ('the Gravemound') at\nLerga ('the Slopes') hard by them. And his charioteer kindled him a fire on\nthe evening of that night, namely Laeg son of Riangabair. Cuchulain saw far\naway in the distance the fiery glitter of the bright-golden arms over the\nheads of four of the five grand provinces of Erin, in the setting of the\nsun in the clouds of evening. Great anger and rage possessed him at their\nsight, because of the multitude of his foes, because of the number of his\nenemies [2]and opponents, and because of the few that were to avenge his\nsores and his wounds upon them.[2]\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n[3]Then Cuchulain arose and[3] he grasped his two spears and his shield and\nhis sword. He shook his shield and brandished his spears and wielded his\nsword and sent out the hero's shout from his throat, so that the fiends and\ngoblins and sprites of the glens and demons of the air gave answer for the\nfearfulness of the shout [4]that he lifted on [W.2444.] high,[4] until\nNemain, [1]which is Badb,[1] brought confusion on the host. The warriors of\nthe four provinces of Erin made such a clangour of arms with the points of\ntheir spears and their weapons that an hundred [2]strong, stout-sturdy[2]\nwarriors of them fell dead that night of fright and of heartbreak in the\nmiddle of the camp and quarters [3]of the men of Erin at the awfulness of\nthe horror and the shout which Cuchulain lifted on high.[3]\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Translating from Stowe, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, and LL., in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\nAs Laeg stood there he descried something: A single man coming from the\nnorth-eastern quarter athwart the camp of the four grand provinces of\nErin making directly for him. \"A single man here cometh towards us now,\nCucucan,\" cried Laeg. \"But what manner of man is he?\" Cuchulain asked.\n\"Not hard to say,\" [4]Laeg made answer.[4] \"A great, well-favoured man,\nthen. Broad, close-shorn hair upon him, and yellow and curly his back\nhair. A green mantle wrapped around him. A brooch of white silver[a] in\nthe mantle over his breast. A kirtle of silk fit for a king, with red\ninterweaving of ruddy gold he wears trussed up on his fair skin and\nreaching down to his knees. [5]A great one-edged sword in his hand.[5] A\nblack shield with hard rim of silvered bronze thereon. A five-barbed spear\nin his hand. A pronged bye-spear beside it. Marvellous, in sooth, the feats\nand the sport and the play that he makes. But him no one heeds, nor gives\nhe heed to any one. [6]No one shows him courtesy nor does he show courtesy\nto any one,[6] like as if none saw him in the camp of the four grand\nprovinces of Erin.\" \"In sooth, O fosterling,\" answered Cuchulain, \"it is\none of my friends of fairy kin [7]that comes[7] to take pity upon me,\nbecause they know the great distress wherein I am now all alone against the\nfour grand provinces of Erin on the Plunder of the Kine of [W.2463.]\nCualnge, [1]killing a man on the ford each day and fifty each night, for\nthe men of Erin grant me not fair fight nor the terms of single combat from\nnoon of each day.\"[1]\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [a] 'Of gold,' Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nNow in this, Cuchulain spoke truth. When the young warrior was come up to\nCuchulain he bespoke him and condoled with him [2]for the greatness of his\ntoil and the length of time he had passed without sleep.[2] [3]\"This is\nbrave of thee, O Cuchulain,\" quoth he. \"It is not much, at all,\" replied\nCuchulain. \"But I will bring thee help,\" said the young warrior. \"Who then\nart thou?\" asked Cuchulain. \"Thy father from Faery am I, even Lug son of\nEthliu.\" \"Yea, heavy are the bloody wounds upon me; let thy healing be\nspeedy.\"[3] \"Sleep then awhile, O Cuchulain,\" said the young warrior, \"thy\nheavy fit of sleep by Ferta in Lerga ('the Gravemound on the Slopes') till\nthe end of three days and three nights and I will oppose the hosts during\nthat time.\" [4]He examined each wound so that it became clean. Then he sang\nhim the 'men's low strain' till Cuchulain fell asleep withal. It was then\nLug recited[4] [5]the Spell-chant of Lug.[5]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 1803-1807, and, similarly, Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 1810-1811.\n\n    [5-5] LU. fo. 78a, in the margin; also in H. 2. 17. and Eg. 93.\n\nAccordingly Cuchulain slept his heavy fit of sleep at 'the Gravemound on\nthe Slopes' till the end of three days and three nights. And well he might\nsleep. Yet as great as was his sleep, even so great was his weariness.  For\nfrom the Monday before Samain[a] ('Summer-end') even to the Wednesday after\nSpring-beginning,[b] Cuchulain slept not for all that space, except for a\nbrief snatch after mid-day, leaning against his spear, and his head on his\n[W.2475.] fist, and his fist clasping his spear, and his spear on his knee,\n[LL.fo.76b.]  but hewing and cutting, slaying and destroying four of the\nfive grand provinces of Erin during that time.\n\n    [a] Hallowtide, the first of November and the beginning of winter.\n\n    [b] I.e. Candlemas. Stowe contains a Christian addition: 'to the feast\n    of Brigit;' that is, the first of February.\n\nThen it was that the warrior [1]from Faery[1] laid plants from the\nfairy-rath and healing herbs and put a healing charm into the cuts and\nstabs, into the sores and gaping wounds of Cuchulain, so that Cuchulain\nrecovered during his sleep without ever perceiving it.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 1826.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 184]\n\n\n\n\nXVIIa\n\nTHE SLAUGHTER OF THE YOUTHS OF ULSTER[a]\n\n\n[W.2482.] That was the time the youths came out of the north from Emain\nMacha [1]to the help of Cuchulain.[1] Thrice fifty boys of the sons of the\nkings of Ulster, accompanying Follomain, Conchobar's son, and three battles\nthey offered to the hosts, so that thrice their number fell and the youths\nalso fell, save Conchobar's son Follomain. Follomain vowed that never till\nthe very day of doom and of life would he return to Emain unless he should\nbring Ailill's head with him together with the diadem of gold that was on\nit. That was no easy thing for him to achieve, for the two sons of Bethe\nson of Ban--the two sons of Ailill's foster-mother and foster-father [2]to\nwhom King Ailill's diadem had been entrusted[2]--attacked and wounded\n[3]Follomain,[3] so that he fell by their hands. This then is the Massacre\nof the youths of Ulster and of Follomain son of Conchobar.\n\n    [a] The LU. version of this episode was given above under XIIe, page\n    143.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\nTouching Cuchulain, he remained in his sound, heavy sleep till the end of\nthree days and three nights at the 'Gravemound on the Slopes.' Thereafter\nCuchulain arose from his sleep. He passed his hand over his face and he\nbecame as a wild[b] wheel-thunder (?) from his crown to the ground, and he\nfelt his courage strengthened, and he would have [W.2497.] been able to\ngo into an assembly or on a march or to a tryst with a woman or to an\nale-house or into one of the chief assemblies of Erin. \"How long am I\nasleep now, young warrior?\" Cuchulain asked. \"Three days and three nights,\"\nthe young warrior made answer. \"Woe is me for that!\" quoth Cuchulain. \"Why\nso?\" asked the young warrior. \"For that the hosts have not been attacked in\nthat time,\" answered Cuchulain. \"Nay, not so were they spared,\" the young\nwarrior made answer. \"I would fain inquire who then attacked them?\"\nCuchulain asked. \"The youths came hither out of the north from Emain Macha,\nthrice fifty boys accompanying Follomain, Conchobar's son, and they the\nsons of the kings of Ulster. And three battles they offered the hosts in\nthe space of the three days and three nights wherein thou wast till now\nasleep, and thrice their number are fallen at their hands and the youths\nthemselves are fallen except Follomain [1]alone,[1] Conchobar's son. And\nFollomain vowed that never till the very day of doom and of life [3]would\nhe return [2]north[2] to Emain Macha till he carried off Ailill's head with\nthe diadem of gold which was on it. Howbeit not such was his luck, for he\nfell at the hands of the two sons of Bethe son of Ban, after engaging in\nbattle with them.\"[3]\n\n    [b] Literally, 'crimson.'\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n\"Alas, that I was not [4]there[4] in my strength!\"  cried Cuchulain; \"for\nhad I been in my strength the youths would not have fallen, as now they\nhave, and Follomain would not have perished.\" \"But this avow, O Cucan,\"[a]\n[5]said the young warrior;[5] \"it is no reproach to thine honour and no\ndisgrace to thy valour.\"  \"Bide here this night with us, young warrior,\"\nsaid Cuchulain, \"that together we avenge the youths on the hosts.\" \"Nay\nthen, I may not tarry,\" answered the [W.2515.] young warrior. [1]\"Why so?\"\nasked Cuchulain. \"Easy to say,\" replied the young warrior;[1] \"for however\nprodigious the deeds of valour and skill in arms one may perform in thy\ncompany, not on him will fall the glory nor the honour nor the fame but on\nthyself. For this reason will I not tarry with thee, but do thou thyself\ntry thy feats of arms [2]and the strength of thy hands[2] alone on the\nhosts, for not with them is the power over thy life on this occasion.\"\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [a] A pet name for Cuchulain.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n[3]Then the young warrior from Faery went from him and they knew not what\nway he had gone. \"Good, O my master Laeg,\" said Cuchulain; \"together we\nwill go to avenge the youths on the hosts.\" \"I will go with thee,\" Laeg\nmade answer.[3] \"And the scythed chariot, my friend Laeg,\" said Cuchulain.\n\"Canst thou get it ready? If thou canst get it ready and hast its\nequipment, make it ready, and if its equipment is not at hand, make it not\nready.\"\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 187]\n\n\n\n\nXVIIb\n\nTHE SCYTHED CHARIOT\n\n\n[W.2525.] Thereupon the charioteer arose and donned his yeoman's suit for\ncharioteering. Of this [LL.fo.77a.] yeoman's suit for charioteering, this\nis what he put on him: His soft kirtle of skin which was light and airy,\nwhich was smooth and sparkling, which was stitched and of buckskin, so that\nit hindered not the movements of his arms outside. Over that he put outside\nan over-mantle of raven's feathers, which Simon Magus had made [1]as a\ngift[1] [2]for Darius[2] [3]Nero,[3] king of the Romans. Darius bestowed it\nupon Conchobar; Conchobar gave it to Cuchulain; Cuchulain presented it to\n[4]Laeg son of Riangabair,[4] his charioteer. The same charioteer took the\ncrested, plated, four-bordered battle-cap with variety of every colour\nand every figure, reaching [5]down[5] over the middle of his shoulders\nbehind. It was an adornment for him and not an encumbrance. With his hand\nhe placed the red-yellow frontlet--like one red-golden strip of glowing\ngold smelted over the edge of an anvil--on his forehead as a token of\ncharioteering, to distinguish him from his master. He opened the hobbles\nthat fastened his steeds and grasped his gold-mounted goad in his right\nhand. In his left hand he seized the lines, that is, the bridle-reins of\nhis horses for restraining his steeds before performing his charioteering.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and LU. 1874.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93, instead of, 'Darius.'\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n[W.2542.] He next threw the iron-sheathed gold-bedecked coats of mail over\nhis horses, so that they covered them from forehead to forehand. [1]The\nchariot was[1] [2]studded with[2] dartlets, lancelets, spearlets, and\nhardened spits, so that every portion of the frame bristled with points in\nthat chariot and every corner and end and point and face of that chariot\nwas a passage of laceration.\n\n    [1-1] There is a gap in the MS., and these words are supplied from the\n    context.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nThen cast he a spell of concealment over his horses and over his fellow, so\nthat they were not visible to any one in the camp, while all in the camp\nwere visible to them, [3]and over this veil of protection he wounded each\none and through it and behind it.[3] Well indeed was it that he cast that\ncharm, for on that day the charioteer had to perform the three gifts of\ncharioteership, namely leaping over a cleft in the ranks, unerring driving,\nand the handling of the goad.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nThen [4]arose[4] the champion and battle-warrior and the instrument of\nBadb's corpse-fold[a] among the men of the earth,[c] Cuchulain son of\nSualtaim, and he donned his war-dress of battle and fight and combat. To\nthat war-dress of battle and fight and combat which he put about him\nbelonged seven and twenty[b] waxed, board-like, equally close skin-tunics\nwhich were girded by cords and swathings and ropes on his fair skin, to the\nend that his wit and reason might not become deranged when the violence of\nhis nature came over him.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] That is, the piled up bodies of the slain.\n\n    [c] 'Of Erin,' Eg. 93.\n\n    [b] 'Eight and twenty,'. Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nOver him he put on the outside his battle-girdle of a champion, of tough,\ntanned, stout leather cut from the forequarters of seven ox-hides of\nyearlings, so that it reached from the slender parts of his waist to the\nstout part under [W.2562.] his arm-pits. He was used to wear it to keep off\nspears and points and irons and lances and arrows. For in like manner they\nwould bound back from it as if from stone or rock or horn they rebounded.\nThen he took his silken, glossy trews with their band of spotted pale-gold\nagainst the soft lower parts of his loins. His brown, well-sewn kilt of\nbrown leather from the shoulders of four ox-hides of yearlings, with his\nbattle-girdle of cow-skins, he put underneath over the shining silken trews\non the outside, [1]so that it covered him from the slender part of his\nwaist to the thick part of his thighs and reached up to the battle-belt of\nthe hero.[1] Then the king-hero [LL.fo.77a.] [2]and king-warrior[2] seized\nhis battle-arms of battle and fight and combat. This is what belonged to\nthose warlike weapons of battle: He took his eight little swords together\nwith the bright-faced, tusk-hilted straightsword [3]along with his\nquiver;[3] he took his eight little spears besides his five-pronged\nspear; he took his eight little darts together with his javelin with its\nwalrus-tooth ornaments; he took his eight little shafts along with his\nplay-staff; he took his eight shields for feats together with his dark-red\nbent-shield, whereon a show-boar could lie in its hollow boss, with its\nvery sharp, razor-like, keen-cutting, hard [4]iron[4] rim all around it, so\nthat it would cut a hair against the stream because of its sharpness and\nfineness and keenness. When the young warrior would perform the edge-feat\nwithal, it was the same whether he cut with his shield or his spear or his\nsword. Next he put round his head his crested war-helm of battle and fight\nand combat, [5]wherein were four carbuncle-gems on each point and each end\nto adorn it,[5] whereout was uttered the cry of an hundred young warriors\nwith the long-drawn wail from each of its angles and corners. [W.2583.]\nFor this was the way that the fiends, the goblins and the sprites of the\nglens and the demons of the air screamed before and above and around him,\nwhat time he went forth for the shedding of blood of heroes and champions,\n[1]exulting in the mighty deeds wrought underneath it[1]. His veil of\nconcealment was thrown over him then, of raiment from Tir Tairngire ('the\nLand of Promise') which had been brought to him [2]as a gift[2] by Manannan\nson of Ler ('the Sea') from the king of Tir na Sorcha ('the Land of\nLight'), [3]his foster-father in magic[3]. [4]His fair, purple-red fan was\nplaced in front of his face. Past it and through it and over it everything\nwas visible to him and no one wounded him past it nor through it nor over\nit[4].\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 1914.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and LU. 1927.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\nThen took place the first twisting-fit [5]and rage[5] of [6]the royal\nhero[6] Cuchulain, so that he made a terrible, many-shaped, wonderful,\nunheard of thing of himself.  His flesh trembled about him like a pole\nagainst the torrent or like a bulrush against the stream, every member and\nevery joint and every point and every knuckle of him from crown to ground.\nHe made a mad whirling-feat of his body within his hide. His feet and his\nshins and his knees slid so that they came behind him. His heels and his\ncalves and his hams shifted so that they passed to the front. The muscles\nof his calves moved so that they came to the front of his shins, so that\neach huge knot was the size of a soldier's balled fist. He stretched the\nsinews of his head so that they stood out on the nape of his neck, and as\nlarge as the head of a month-old child was each of the hill-like lumps,\nhuge, incalculable, vast, immeasurable.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nHe next made a ruddy bowl of his face and his countenance. He gulped down\none eye into his head so that it [W.2603.] would be hard work if a wild\ncrane succeeded in drawing it out on to the middle of his cheek from the\nrear of his skull. Its mate sprang forth till it came out on his cheek,\n[1]so that it was the size of a five-fist kettle, and he made a red berry\nthereof out in front of his head.[1] His mouth was distorted monstrously\n[2]and twisted up to his ears[2]. He drew the cheek from the jaw-bone so\nthat the interior of his throat was to be seen. His lungs and his lights\nstood out so that they fluttered in his mouth and his gullet. He struck a\nmad lion's blow with the upper jaw [3]on its fellow[3] so that as large as\na wether's fleece of a three year old was each [4]red,[4] fiery flake\n[5]which his teeth forced[5] into his mouth from his gullet. There was\nheard the loud clap of his heart against his breast like the yelp of a\nhowling bloodhound or like a lion going among bears. [LL.fo.78a.] There\nwere seen the [a]torches of the Badb,[a] and the rain clouds of poison, and\nthe sparks of glowing-red fire, [6]blazing and flashing[6] in hazes and\nmists over his head with the seething of the truly-wild wrath that rose up\nabove him. His hair bristled all over his head like branches of a redthorn\nthrust into a gap in a great hedge. Had a king's apple-tree laden with\nroyal fruit been shaken around him, scarce an apple of them all would have\npassed over him to the ground, but rather would an apple have stayed stuck\non each single hair there, for the twisting of the anger which met it as it\nrose from his hair above him. The Lon Laith ('Champion's Light') stood out\nof his forehead, so that it was as long and as thick as a warrior's\nwhetstone, [7]so that it was as long as his nose, till he got furious\nhandling the shields, thrusting out the charioteer, destroying the\nhosts.[7] As high, as thick, as strong, as steady, as long as the sail-tree\nof some huge [W.2623.] prime ship was the straight spout of dark blood\nwhich arose right on high from the very ridgepole of his crown, so that a\nblack fog of witchery was made thereof like to the smoke from a king's\nhostel what time the king comes to be ministered to at nightfall of a\nwinter's day.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] Reading with Eg. 93.\n\n    [a-a] A kenning for 'swords.'\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 1958-1959.\n\nWhen now this contortion had been completed in Cuchulain, then it was that\nthe hero of valour sprang into his scythed war-chariot, with its iron\nsickles, its thin blades, its hooks and its hard spikes, with its hero's\nfore-prongs, with its opening fixtures, with its stinging nails that were\nfastened to the poles and thongs and bows and lines of the chariot,\n[1]lacerating heads and bones and bodies, legs and necks and shoulders.[1]\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nIt was then he delivered [2]over his chariot[2] the thunder-feat of a\nhundred and the thunder-feat of two hundred and the thunder-feat of three\nhundred and the thunder-feat of four hundred, and he ceased at the\nthunder-feat of five hundred. For he did not deem it too much that such\na great number should fall by his hand at his first onset and first\nbattle-assault on four of the five grand provinces of Erin, [3]while\navenging on them the slaughter of the youths and of Follomain son of\nConchobar,[3] In such wise fared he forth for to seek his foes, and he\ndrove his chariot in a wide circuit round about the hosts of the four grand\nprovinces of Erin. And he led his chariot a heavy way. The chariot's iron\nwheels sank into the ground so that [4]the earth dug up by the iron\nwheels[4] might have served for a dun and a fortress, so did the chariot's\niron wheels cut into the ground. For in like manner the clods and boulders\nand rocks and the clumps and the shingle of the earth arose up outside on a\nheight with the iron wheels. It was for this cause he made this circling\n[5]hedge[5] of the Badb [W.2646.] round about the hosts of four of the five\ngrand provinces of Erin, that they might not escape him nor get away before\nhe would come on them to press a reprisal for the boys. And he went into\nthe midst of the ranks and mowed down huge walls of the corpses of his foes\n[1]and enemies and opponents[1] in a great circle round about the host. And\nhe made the onslaught of a foe amongst foes upon them, so that they fell\nsole to sole, neck to neck, [2]arm to arm, elbow to elbow, and rib to rib,\n[3]such was the closeness of their bodies,[3] and there were pools of ruddy\nblood where they moved.[2] Thrice again in this manner he circled them\nround, so that he left them in beds of six in a great ring around them,\neven the soles of three to the backs of three men in a circle around the\ncamp. Hence Sessrech Breslige ('Great sixfold Slaughter')[a] is the name of\nthis event on the Tain, and it is one of the three unreckonable events of\nthe Tain, which were, to wit, Sessrech Breslige, Immslige Glennamnach ('the\nMutual Slaying at Glennamain'), and the battle of Garech [LL.fo.78b.] and\nIlgarech; only that here, hound and horse and man were one to him [4]in the\ngreat rout on Mag Murthemni that night avenging the youths on four of the\nfive grand provinces of Erin.[4]\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [3-3] LU. 1996.\n\n    [a] Or, 'Ploughland of the Great Slaughter.'\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nWhat others say is that Lug son of Ethliu fought on Cuchulain's side at the\nSessrech Breslige.\n\nTheir number is not known and it cannot be reckoned how many fell there of\nthe rabble rout, but only their chiefs have been counted. Here below are\ntheir names, to wit:--\n\nThe two Cruad, two Calad, two Cir, two Ciar, two Ecell, three Cromm, three\nCur, three Combirge, four Feochar, four Furachar, four Casse, four Fota,\nfive Caur, five Cerman, [W.2679.] five Cobtach, six Saxan, six Duach, six\nDare, [1]six Dunchadh, six Daimiach,[1] seven Rochad, seven Ronan, seven\nRurthech, eight Rochlad, eight Rochtad, eight Rindach, [2]eight Corpre,[2]\neight Malach, nine Daigith, nine Dare, nine Damach, ten Fiach, ten Fiacach,\nten Fedlimid.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 2010.\n\nTen and six-score[b] kings, [3]leaders and men of the land,[3] Cuchulain\nlaid low in the great slaughter on the Plain of Murthemne, besides a\ncountless horde of dogs and horses and women and boys and children and\ncommon folk; for there escaped not a third man of the men of Erin\n[4]without a wound or a hurt or a blueing or a reddening or a lump or a\nmark or breaking of thigh or of leg or of shinbone,[4] without having\nhip-bone broken or half his skull or an eye hurt, or without an enduring\nmark for the course of his life. [5]And he left them then after inflicting\nthat battle upon them, without having his blood drawn or wound brought on\nhimself or on his charioteer or on either of his horses.[5]\n\n    [b] 'Nineteen and nine-score,' H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [5-5] LU., edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, page 72, note 19.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 195]\n\n\n\n\nXVIIc\n\n[1]THE ACCOUNT OF THE APPEARANCE OF CUCHULAIN[1]\n\n\n[W.2706.] [2]Early[2] the next morning Cuchulain came to observe the host\nand to display his comely, beautiful form to the matrons and dames and\ngirls and maidens and poets and men of art,[a] for he did not consider it\nan honour nor becoming, the [3]wild,[3] proud shape of magic which had been\nmanifested to them the night before. It was for that then that he came to\nexhibit his comely, beautiful form on that day.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 81a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [a] A general term for poets, singers, seers and druids.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nTruly fair was the youth that came there to display his form to the hosts,\nCuchulain, to wit son of Sualtaim [4]son of Boefoltach ('Of little\npossessions') son of Morfoltach ('Of great possessions') son of Red Neil\nmacRudhraidi.[4] Three heads of hair he wore; brown at the skin, blood-red\nin the middle, a golden-yellow crown what thatched it. Beautiful was the\narrangement of the hair, with three coils of hair wound round the nape of\nhis neck, so that like to a strand of thread of gold was each thread-like,\nloose-flowing, deep-golden, magnificent, long-tressed, splendid,\nbeauteous-hued hair as it fell down over his shoulders. A hundred\nbright-purple windings of gold-flaming red gold at his neck. A hundred\nsalmon-coloured (?) cords strung with carbuncles as a covering round his\nhead. Four spots on either of his two cheeks, even a yellow spot, and a\ngreen spot, and a blue spot, [W.2722.] and a purple spot. Seven jewels of\nthe eye's brilliance was either of his kingly eyes. Seven toes to either of\nhis two feet. Seven fingers to either of his two hands, with the clutch of\nhawk's claw, with the grip of hedgehog's talon in every separate one of\nthem.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 17.\n\nHe also put on him that day his fair-day dress. To this apparel about him\nbelonged, namely, a beautiful, well-fitting, purple, fringed, five-folded\nmantle. A white brooch of [1]silvered bronze or of[1] white silver\nincrusted with burnished gold over his fair white breast, as if it were a\nfull-fulgent lantern that eyes of men could not behold [LL.fo.79a.] for its\nresplendence and crystal shining. A [2]striped[2] chest-jacket of silk on\nhis skin, fairly adorned with borders and braidings and trimmings of gold\nand silver and silvered bronze; it reached to the upper hem of his dark,\nbrown-red warlike breeches of royal silk. A magnificent, brown-purple\nbuckler he bore, [3]with five wheels of gold on it,[3] with a rim of pure\nwhite silver around it. A gold-hilted hammered sword [4]with ivory guards,\nraised high at his girdle[4] at his left side. A long grey-edged spear\ntogether with a trenchant bye-spear for defence, with thongs for throwing\nand with rivets of whitened bronze, alongside him in the chariot. Nine\nheads he bore in one of his hands and ten in the other, and these he\nbrandished before the hosts in token of his prowess and cunning. [5]This\nthen was a night's attack for Cuchulain on the hosts of four of the five\nprovinces of Erin.[5] Medb hid her face beneath a shelter of shields lest\nCuchulain should cast at her that day.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 2040.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 2043.\n\n    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 2045.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 2046.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 2050.\n\nThen it was that the maidens [6]of Connacht[6] besought the men of Erin to\nlift them up on the flat of the shields above the warriors' shoulders;\n[7]and the women [8]of Munster[8] clomb on the men[7] to behold the aspect\nof [W.2746.] Cuchulain. For they marvelled at the beautiful, comely\nappearance he showed them that day compared with the low, arrogant shape of\nmagic in which they had seen him the night before.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1205.\n\n    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 2052.\n\n    [8-8] YBL, added later above the line.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 198]\n\n\n\n\nXVIId\n\nDUBTHACH'S JEALOUSY[a]\n\n\n[W.2749.] [1]And Dubthach's wife prayed to be lifted to regard the form of\nCuchulain.[1] Then it was that jealousy, ill-will and envy possessed\nDubthach Doel ('the Black-tongue')[b] of Ulster because of his wife [2]in\nregard to Cuchulain; for he saw his wife climb on the men to get a glimpse\nof Cuchulain;[2] and he counselled the hosts to act treacherously towards\nCuchulain and to entrap him, even to lay up an ambush around him on all\nsides to the end that he might fall by them. And he spake these words:--\n\n    \"If this be the Twisted one,\n    By him shall men's bodies fall;\n    Shrieks there shall be round the liss;\n    Deeds to tell of shall be wrought!\n\n    \"Stones shall be on graves from him;\n    Kingly martyrs shall increase.\n    Not well have ye battle found\n    On the slopes with this wild Hound!\n\n    [3]\"If this be the Twisted one,\n    Men shall soon be slain by him;\n    'Neath his feet shall corpses lie;\n    Under bushes mantles white![3]\n\n    \"Now the Wildman's form I see,\n    Nine[c] heads dangling by his side;\n    Shattered spoils he has, behold;\n    Ten[d] heads as his treasure great!\n\n    [W.2766.] \"And your women, too, I see,\n    Raise their heads above the lines;\n    I behold your puissant queen\n    Makes no move t'engage in fight!\n\n    \"Were it mine to give advice,\n    Men would be on every side,\n    That they soon might end his life;\n    If this be the Twisted one!\"\n\n    [a] This superscription is not found in the MSS.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [b] Literally, 'the Chafer (or Scorpion?).'\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [c] 'Eight,' LU. and YBL. 2060.\n\n    [d] 'Nine,' LU. and YBL. 2061, H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\nFergus macRoig heard this and he deemed it an outrage that Dubthach should\ncounsel how to betray Cuchulain to the hosts. And he reached him a strong,\nsharp kick with his foot away from him, so that Dubthach struck with his\nmouth against the group outside. And Fergus reproached him for all the\nwrongs and iniquities and treachery and shameful deeds he had ever done to\nthe Ulstermen of old and anew.  And then he spake these words:--\n\n    \"If this 'Black-tongue' Dubthach be,\n    Let him skulk behind the hosts;\n    No good hath he ever wrought,\n    Since he slew the princesses![a]\n\n    \"Base and foul, the deed he wrought:\n    Fiachu, Conchobar's son, he slew.\n    No more fair was heard of him:\n    Carbre's death, Fedilmid's son!\n\n    \"Ne'er for Ulster's weal doth aim\n    Lugaid's son, Casruba's scion;[b]\n    Such is how he acts to men:\n    Whom he stabs not he incites!\n\n    \"Ulster's exiles it would grieve\n    If their beardless boy[c] should fall.\n    If on you come Ulster's troops\n    They will make your herds their spoil!\n\n    \"Strewn afar your herds will be\n    By the rising Ulstermen.\n    Tales there'll be of mighty deeds\n    That will tell of far-famed queens!\n\n    [W.2800.] [1]\"Corpses will be under foot,[1]\n    [2]Food there'll be at ravens' rests;[2]\n    Bucklers lying on the slopes;\n    Wild and furious deeds increase!\n\n    [3]\"I behold just now your wives\n    Raise their heads above the ranks.\n    I behold your puissant queen\n    Moves not to engage in war![3]\n\n    [LL.fo.79b.] \"Valour none nor generous deed\n    Comes from Lugaid's craven son;\n    Nor will kings see lances red,\n    If this 'Black-tongue' Dubthach be!\"\n\n    [a] The reference is to the maidens of Emain Macha slain by Dubthach in\n    punishment for the death of the sons of Usnech.\n\n    [b] That is, Dubthach.\n\n    [c] That is, Cuchulain.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 2077.\n\n    [2-2] Reading: _Betit buind fri brannfossaib_.\n\n    [3-3] This quatrain is almost identical with the one translated on page\n    199.\n\nThus far 'The Scythed Chariot.'[a]\n\n    [a] A very obscure and fragmentary passage in LU. and YBL. (lines\n    2083-2106, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, lacking in Eg. 93, _Revue\n    Celtique_, tome xv, page 204), consisting of a series of short strains\n    in _rosc_ spoken in turn by Ailill, Medb, Gabran the poet, and Fergus,\n    is omitted in the translation.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 201]\n\n\n\n\nXVIII\n\n[1]THE SLAYING OF OENGUS SON OF OENLAM[1]\n\n\n[W.2814.] Then it was that a very bold young warrior of the Ulstermen came\nnigh the hosts; his bye-name was Oengus son of Oenlam Gabe ('the One-handed\nSmith'). And he drove the hosts before him from Moda Loga, which at that\ntime was called Lugmud, to Ath da Fert ('the Ford of the Two Gravemounds')\nin Sliab Fuait. [2]And he suffered them not to go by, but he showered them\nwith stones.[2] What scholars say is: If Oengus son of Oenlam Gabe had\nfought them in single combat, [3]two-thirds of[3] the host would have\nfallen before that by him in single battle [4]at Emain Macha.[4] Howbeit it\nwas by no means so that they acted, but they attacked him from ambush on\nevery side, till he fell at their hands [5]in unequal fight[5] at Ath da\nFert in Sliab Fuait.\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 82a, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 2135-2136.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 2137.\n\n    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 2139.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 202]\n\n\n\n\nXVIIIa\n\nHERE NOW IS TOLD THE MISTHROW AT BELACH EOIN.\n\n\n[W.2823.] Then came to them Fiacha Fialdana ('the Generous and Intrepid')\nof the Ulstermen to speak with the son of his mother's sister, namely\nwith Mane Andoe ('the Unslow') of the Connachtmen. And thus he came, and\nDubthach Doel ('the Black Tongue') of Ulster with him. It was in this wise\nthat Mane Andoe came, and Doche son of Maga along with him. When now Doche\nmacMagach espied Fiacha Fialdana, he straightway hurled a spear at him, but\nso that it went through his own friend, through Dubthach Doel of Ulster.\nThen Fiacha Fialdana hurled a spear at Doche macMagach, so that it went\nthrough his own friend, through Mane Andoe of Connacht. Thereupon said the\nmen of Erin: \"A mishap in throwing,\" they said, \"is what hath happened to\nthe men, for each of them to kill his friend and nearest relation.\" Hence\nthis is entitled Imroll Belaig Eoin ('the Misthrow at Bird-pass'). And 'the\nOther Misthrow at Bird-pass' is another name for it.\n\n[1]Or it may be this from which cometh Imroll Belaig Eoin: The hosts\nproceed to Belach Eoin ('Bird-pass').  Their two troops wait there.\nDiarmait macConchobar of the Ulstermen comes from the north. \"Let a\nhorseman start from you,\" cries Diarmait, \"that Mane may come with one man\nto parley with me, and I will go with another man to parley with him.\" A\nwhile thereafter they meet \"I am come,\" says Diarmait, \"from Conchobar,\nwith commands to Ailill and Medb that they let the cows go and make good\nall the ill they have done here and bring hither the bull[a] from the west\nto meet the other bull,[b] to the end that they may encounter, since Medb\nhas pledged it.\" \"I will go,\" says Mane, \"to tell them.\" He takes this\nmessage to Medb and Ailill. \"This cannot be had of Medb,\" Mane reported.\n\"Let us make a fair exchange of arms, then,\" says Diarmait, \"if perchance\nthat pleaseth thee better.\" \"I am content,\" replies Mane. Each of them\ncasts his spear at the other so that both of them die, and hence the name\nof this place is Imroll Belaig Eoin. Their forces rush upon one another.\nThree-score of each force fall. Hence is Ard in Dirma ('the Height of the\nTroop').[1]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 2114-2128.\n\n    [a] The 'White-horned.'\n\n    [b] The 'Brown of Cualnge.'\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 204]\n\n\n\n\nXVIIIb\n\nHERE NOW FOLLOWETH THE DISGUISING OF TAMON\n\n\n[W.2837.] Then said the men of Erin to Tamon the fool that he should don\nthe garments of Ailill and the king's golden shawl, and go to the ford that\nwas close before them. So he put the garments and golden shawl of Ailill\nupon him. [1]Ailill's people placed the king's diadem on the head of Tamon\nthe fool, for Ailill dared not wear it himself,[1] and he went on to the\nford under their eyes. The men of Erin began to scoff and to shout and jeer\nat him. \"It is a disguising of Tamon ('a Stump') for thee, O Tamon the\nfool,\" they cried, \"with the dress and the golden shawl of Ailill upon\nthee!\" When Cuchulain saw him, it seemed to him in his ignorance and lack\nof knowledge that it was Ailill himself that was there. And he slung a\nstone from his staff-sling at him so that [2]his head was broken thereby[2]\nand Tamon the fool was smitten lifeless where he was on the ford. Hence Ath\nTamuin ('the Ford of a Stump') [3]is the name of that ford ever since[3]\nand 'the Disguising of Tamon' [4]is the name of the tale.[4]\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 2129.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 2131.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 205]\n\n\n\n\nXIX\n\n[1]THE BATTLE OF FERGUS AND CUCHULAIN[1]\n\n\n[W.2851.] The hosts of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and\nentrenched themselves for that night at the pillar-stone in Crich Roiss\n('the Borders of Ross'). Then Medb called upon the men of Erin for one of\nthem to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the morrow. And every one\nof them spake thus: \"It shall not be I! it shall not be I!\" [2]cried each\nfrom his place.[2] \"No victim is owing from my people, [3]and even if one\nwere it would not be myself whom ye would send as a victim in his stead.[3]\n[4]I will not be the man to go in his place to fight with Cuchulain till\nthe very day of doom and of life!\"[4]\n\n    [1-1] LU. fo. 82b, in the margin.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 2141.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17., LU. and YBL. 2142-2143.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\nThereupon Medb summoned Fergus to [5]go forth and[5] contend and fight with\nCuchulain, [6]to drive him off from them on the ford[6] [7]at the early\nmorning-hour[7] [8]on the morrow,[8] for that the men of Erin had failed\nher [9]to go and do battle with him.[9] \"Ill would it befit me,\" quoth\nFergus, \"to fight with a callow young lad without any beard, and mine own\ndisciple, [10]the fosterling of Ulster,[10] [11]the foster-child that sat\non Conchobar's knee, the lad from Craeb Ruad ('Red Branch').\"[11] Howbeit\nMedb [W.2861.] murmured sore that Fergus foreswore her combat and battle.\n[1]They filled him with wine till he was heavily drunken and then they\nquestioned him about going to the combat.[1] They bode the night in that\nplace. Early on the morrow Fergus arose, [2]since they importuned him\nurgently,[2] [3]and his horses were got ready for him and his chariot\nharnessed[3] and he fared forth to the place of combat where Cuchulain was.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] H. 2. 17.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 2145-2146.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 2147.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n[4]When now[4] Cuchulain saw him coming nigh, [5]this is what he said:[5]\n[6]\"Welcome thine arrival and thy coming, O my master Fergus,\" spoke\nCuchulain. \"Truly given we esteem thy greeting,\" Fergus answered. \"It is\ntruly given for thee, O Fergus\" said Cuchulain; \"and thou shalt have a\nnight's lodging here this night.\" \"Success and a blessing attend thee, O\nfosterling; not for hospitality from thee am I come, but to fight and do\nbattle with thee.\"[6] \"A vain surety [LL.fo.80a.] is the one wherewith my\nmaster Fergus comes to me; for no sword is in the sheath of the great staff\nhe bears.\" It was true what he said. A year before this tale,[a] [7]before\nthe expedition of the Tain,[7] Ailill had found Fergus going to a tryst\nwith Medb on the hillside in Cruachan and his sword on a [8]branch[8] near\nby him. And Ailill had torn the sword from its sheath and put a wooden\nsword in its stead and vowed he would not restore him the sword till came\nthe day of the great battle, [9]when the men of Erin would clash in the\ngreat battle of the Cualnge Cattle-raid at Garech and Ilgarech.[9] [10]\"It\nis a perilous thing for thee to come to a place of fight, O my master\nFergus, without thy sword.\"[10] \"It matters not to me, O fosterling,\"\nreplied Fergus; \"for had I a sword in this, it never would cut thee nor be\nplied on thee. But, by [W.2874.] the honour and training I bestowed upon\nthee and the Ulstermen and Conchobar bestowed, [1]by the troth of thy\nvalour and knighthood[1] I adjure thee, give way before me this day in the\npresence of the men of Erin!\" \"Truly I am loath [2]to do that,\"[2] answered\nCuchulain, \"to flee before any one man on the Cattle-spoil of Cualnge.\"\n\"Nay then it is not a thing to be taken amiss by thee,\" said Fergus; \"for I\nin my turn will retreat before thee when thou wilt be covered with wounds\nand dripping with gore and pierced with holes in the battle of the Tain.\nAnd when I alone shall turn in flight [3]before thee,[3] so will all the\nmen of Erin also flee [4]before thee in like manner.\"[4] So zealous was\nCuchulain to do whatever made for Ulster's weal that he had his chariot\nbrought to him, and he mounted his chariot and he went in confusion and\nflight [5]from Fergus in the presence[5] of the men of Erin. [6]As far as\nGrellach Dolluid ('the Stamping-place at Dolluid') he fled, in order that\nFergus might give way before him on the day of the battle.[6] [7]When[7]\nthe men of Erin saw that, [8]they were joyful, and what they said was\nthis:[8] \"He is fled from thee! He is fled from thee, O Fergus!\" cried\nall. \"Pursue him, pursue him [9]quickly,[9] O Fergus,\" Medb cried, \"that he\ndo not escape thee.\" \"Nay then,\" said Fergus, \"I will pursue him no\nfurther. [10]It is not like a tryst. Yon fellow is too speedy for me.[10]\nFor however little ye may make of the flight I have put him to, none of the\nmen of Erin, [11]not even four of the five provinces of Erin[11] could have\nobtained so much as that of him on the Cow-creagh of Cualnge. For this\ncause, till the men of Erin take turns in single combat, I will not engage\nagain with this same man.\" Hence here we have the [12]'White[12] [W.2891.]\nBattle' of Fergus [1]on the Tain thus far; and it is for this cause it is\ncalled the 'White Battle,' because no 'blood on weapons'[a] resulted\ntherefrom.[1] [2]They continue their march past Cuchulain and pitch camp in\nCrich Roiss.[2]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [a] See above, page 99.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Reading with Stowe; LL. has 'on the slope.'\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 2154-2155.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 2157.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 93.\n\n    [12-12] Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [a] A traditional tag; it occurs again, page 216.\n\n    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 2158-2159.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 209]\n\n\n\n\nXIXa\n\nHERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU\n\n\n[W.2893.] Ferchu Longsech ('the Exile'), [1]a wonderful warrior from\nLoch Ce, outlawed from his land by Ailill and Medb,[1] although of the\nConnachtmen, was engaged in battle and plunder with Ailill and Medb. From\nthe day these came to the kingship, there never was a time that he fared to\ntheir camp or took part in their expeditions or shared in their straits or\ntheir needs or their hardships, but he was ever at their heels, pillaging\nand plundering their borders and land.  At that time he sojourned in the\neastern part of Mag Ai.  Twelve[a] men was his muster. He learned that a\nsingle man checked and stopped four of the five grand provinces of Erin\nfrom Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring, slaying a man on\nthe ford every one of those days and a hundred warriors every night. He\nweighed his plan privily with his people. \"What better plan could we\ndevise?\" quoth he, \"than to go and attack yonder man that checketh and\nstoppeth four of the five grand provinces of Erin, and bring his head and\nhis arms with us to Ailill and Medb? However great the injuries and wrongs\nwe have done to Ailill and Medb, we shall obtain our peace therefor, if\nonly that man fall by our hand.\" [2]He made no doubt that if Cuchulain fell\nthrough him, the eastern territory of Connacht would be his.[2] Now this\nwas the [W.2908.] resolve they took, and they proceeded to where Cuchulain\nwas [1]at Ath Aladh ('Speckled Ford') on the Plain of Murthemne.[1] And\nwhen they came, [2]they espied the lone warrior and knew that it was\nCuchulain.[2] It was not fair fight nor combat with one they vouchsafed\nhim, but at one and the same time the twelve men fell upon him [3]so that\ntheir spears sank up to their middles into his shield.[3] Cuchulain on his\npart [4]drew his sword from the sheath of the Badb to attack them, and he\nfell to to cut away their weapons and to lighten his shield. Then he[4]\nturned on them, [5]front and back, to the left and the right,[5] and\nstraightway he smote off their twelve heads; [6]and he engaged in a\nfurious, bloody and violent battle with Ferchu himself, after killing his\npeople. And not long did it avail Ferchu thus, for he fell at last by\nCuchulain,[6] [7]and Cuchulain cut off Ferchu's head to the east of the\nford.[7] And he set up twelve stones in the earth for them, and he put the\nhead of each one of them on its stone and he likewise put Ferchu Longsech's\nhead on its stone. Hence Cinnit Ferchon Longsig is [8]henceforth the name\nof[8] the place where Ferchu Longsech left his head [9]and his twelve men\ntheirs and their arms and their trophies,[9] to wit, Cenn-aitt Ferchon\n('the Head-place of Ferchu').\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [a] 'Thirteen,' LU. and YBL. 2161, and Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 93.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 93.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 93.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 93.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 93.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 93.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 93.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 93.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 211]\n\n\n\n\nXIXb\n\n[1]MANN'S FIGHT[1]\n\n\n[2]Medb despatched Mann son of Muresc son of Dare, of the Dommandach, to\nfight with Cuchulain. Own brothers were he and Daman, Ferdiad's father. A\nman, rough, inordinate in eating and sleeping was this Mann. An ill-tongued\nfoul-mouthed man like Dubthach Doel ('Black-tongue') of Ulster. A man,\nstout, mighty, with strength of limb like Munremur ('Thick-neck') son of\nGerrcend ('Short-head'). A fiery champion like Triscoth, the strong man of\nConchobar's household. \"I will go,\" said he, \"and unarmed, and I will grind\nhim between my hands, for I consider it no honour nor credit to use arms\nagainst a beardless madcap such as he.\"\n\n    [1-1] LU., fo. 82, in the margin.\n\nTherewith he went to attack Cuchulain. There he was, himself and his\ncharioteer on the ford watching the host. \"A lone warrior approacheth us\nhere,\" cried Laeg to Cuchulain. \"What manner of man?\" asked Cuchulain. \"A\ndark, black man, strong, bull-like, and he unarmed.\" \"Let him go by thee,\"\nsaid Cuchulain.  At that he comes nigh them. \"To fight with thee am I\ncome,\" Mann announced. Therewith they fell to wrestling for a long time,\nand thrice Mann threw Cuchulain, till the charioteer incited Cuchulain.\n\"Were it the champion's portion thou wast contending for in Emain,\" spake\nLaeg, \"thou wouldst be all powerful over the young bloods in Emain!\" At\nthese words the hero's wrath and warrior's rage returned to Cuchulain, so\nthat he overcame Mann at the pillar-stone and he fell to pieces in morsels.\nHence cometh Mag Mandachta ('the Plain of Mann's death').[2]\n\n    [2-2] YBL., and, partly, LU. 2163-2181. Here the LU. version breaks\n    off, fo. 82b.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 213]\n\n\n\n\nXIXc\n\n[1]THE COMBAT OF CALATIN'S CHILDREN[1]\n\n\n[W.2918.] Then was it debated by the men of Erin who would be fit to\ncontend and cope with Cuchulain at the morning hour early on the next\nday. What they all said was, that Calatin Dana ('the Bold') would be the\none, with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson[a] Glass macDelga.\nThus were they: Poison was on every man of them and poison on every weapon\nof their arms; and not one of them missed his throw, and there was no one\non whom one of them drew blood that, if he succumbed not on the spot, would\nnot be dead before the end of the ninth day. Great gifts were promised to\nthem for engaging to do battle and to contend [LL.fo.80b.]  [2]with\nCuchulain.[2] And they took the matter in hand, and it should be in the\npresence of Fergus that the covenant would be made. But Fergus refused to\nhave part therein, for what they [3]all[3] contended was that they would\nhold it as a single combat, [4]a combat, to wit, of[4] Calatin Dana and his\nseven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga; for their contention\nwas that his son was a limb of his limbs and a part of his parts, and that\nto Calatin Dana belonged all that proceeded from his body.\n\n    [1-1] The title is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter.\n\n    [a] 'Nephew.' Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\nFergus betook himself to his tent and to his people and he breathed his\nsigh of weariness aloud. \"Grievous it [W.2935.] seems to us, the deed to be\ndone here on the morrow,\" quoth Fergus. \"What deed may that be?\" asked his\npeople. \"The slaying of Cuchulain,\" answered Fergus.  \"Alas,\" said they,\n\"who should kill him?\" \"Calatin Dana,\" he replied, \"with his seven and\ntwenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga. For this is their nature:\nPoison is on every man of them and poison on every weapon of their arms;\nand there is no one on whom one of them draws blood, that, if he succumb\nnot on the spot, will not be dead before the end of the ninth day. And\nthere is no one [1]of you[1] that would go and learn for me and be witness\nof the battle and fight and bring me news how Cuchulain died on whom I\nwould not bestow my blessing and armour.\" \"I will go thither,\" spake Fiachu\nson of Ferfebe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nThey abode so that night. Early on the morrow Calatin Dana arose with his\nseven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga, and they went\nforward to where Cuchulain was. And there went also Fiachu son of Ferfebe.\nAnd when Calatin arrived at the place where Cuchulain was, they forthwith\nhurled their nine and twenty spears, and not one of them went past him by a\nmisthrow. Cuchulain played the edge-feat with his shield, so that all the\nspears sank up to their middles into the shield. But for all that theirs\nwas no erring cast, not one of the spears was blooded or reddened upon\nhim. Thereupon Cuchulain drew [2]his[2] sword from the sheath of the Badb,\nto cut away the weapons and lighten the shield that was on him. While thus\nengaged, they rushed in upon him and delivered their nine and twenty right\nfists at the same time on his head.  They smote him and curbed him withal,\ntill his face and his countenance and visage met the sand and gravel of the\nford. Cuchulain raised his warrior's shout aloud and his cry of unequal\ncombat, so that there was not an Ulsterman [W.2962.] alive [1]in the\ncamp[1] of those that were not asleep but heard it. Then [2]when they all\nhad reached for their swords,[2] came Fiachu son of Ferfebe [3]after them\nout of the camp,[3] and he saw what they did and a qualm of [4]love and[4]\nthe bond of kindred came over him, and [5]when he saw all their hands\nraised against Cuchulain, he leaped from his chariot and[5] drew his sword\nfrom the sheath of the Badb and dealt them a blow, so that he cut off their\nnine and twenty right fists from them at one stroke, and they all fell\nbackwards from the intensity of the exertion and hold which they had.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 2186.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 2187.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 2187-2188.\n\nCuchulain raised his head and drew breath and gave a sigh of weariness\nand perceived who it was that had come to his aid. \"A ready relief, O\nfoster-brother, [6]what thou hast done,\"[6] said Cuchulain. \"Although for\nthee a ready relief,\" said Fiachu, \"yet is it not so for us. Even though\nwe are the best division of three thousand of the Clann Rudraige in the\ncamp and station of the men of Erin, [7]nevertheless this small thing is a\nbreach of covenant in us men of Ulster. If one of Calatin's children\nreaches the camp,[7] we shall all be brought under the mouth of spear and\nof sword, however feeble thou mayst deem the blow I struck, if this treason\nbe found in us.\" \"I give my word,\" quoth Cuchulain; \"so soon as I raise my\nhead and draw breath, [8]not a man of them shall reach the camp alive,[8]\nand unless thou thyself tellest the tale not one of these ever will tell\nit!\"\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 2190.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 2190-2191.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 2193.\n\nWith that, Cuchulain turned on them, and he fell to smiting and hewing\nthem, so that he sent them [LL.fo.81a.] from him in small disjointed pieces\nand divided quarters eastwards and westwards along the ford. A single man\ngot away from him, trusting to his speed while Cuchulain was busied\n[W.2981.] beheading the rest; it was Glass macDelga. And Cuchulain raced\nafter him like a blast of wind, and Glass ran on round the tent of Ailill\nand Medb, and all he could pant out was, \"Fiach! Fiach!\"[a] when Cuchulain\nfetched him a stroke that cut off his head.\n\n    [a] There is a play on words. Glass attempts to pronounce the name\n    'Fiachu,' but is only able to utter the first syllable of the word\n    which alone means 'debt.'\n\n\"'Tis quick work was made of that man,\" quoth Medb. \"What debt was that he\nspoke of, O Fergus?\" \"I know not,\" Fergus answered, \"unless it be some one\nin the camp and quarters that owed him a debt. It is that which troubled\nhis mind. But be that as it may,\" continued Fergus, \"it is a debt of blood\nand flesh for him. And upon my word,\" Fergus added, \"now are his debts paid\nto him for good and all!\"\n\nIn this wise fell Calatin Dana ('the Bold') at the hands of Cuchulain,\ntogether with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga\n[1]and the two sons of Ficce with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who had\ncome to use their strength on the host.[1] So that for evermore in the bed\nof the ford is still the rock whereabout they had their strife and struggle\n[2]and their slaughtering of each other;[2] and the mark of their\nsword-hilts is in it and of their knees and their elbows [3]and their\nfists[3] and the butt-ends of their spears. [4]And their nine and twenty\nstanding stones were set up there.[4] Hence Fuil Iairn ('Blood of Iron') to\nthe west[b] of Ath Firdead ('Ferdiad's Ford') is the name of the ford. It\nis for this it is called Fuil Iairn, because of the 'blood over weapons'[c]\nthat was there.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 2194-2196.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 2198.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 2198.\n\n    [b] 'South,' YBL. 2184.\n\n    [c] See page 208, note _a_.\n\nThus far then [5]this exploit on the Tain,[5] the Combat of the Clann\nCalatin [6]of his children and his grandson with Cuchulain,[6] [7]when they\nwent to do battle with Cuchulain.[7]\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 2196.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 2196-2197.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 217]\n\n\n\n\nXX\n\nTHE COMBAT OF FERDIAD [1]AND CUCHULAIN[1]\n\n\n[2]The four grand provinces of Erin were side by side and against Cuchulain,\nfrom Monday before Samain-tide[a] to Wednesday after Spring-beginning, and\nwithout leave to work harm or vent their rage on the province of Ulster,\nwhile yet all the Ulstermen were sunk in their nine days' 'Pains,' and\nConall Cernach ('the Victorious') sought out battle in strange foreign\nlands paying the tribute and tax of Ulster. Great was the plight and strait\nof Cuchulain during that time, for he was not a day or a night without\nfierce, fiery combat waged on him by the men of Erin, until he killed\nCalatin with his seven and twenty sons and Fraech son of Fiadach and\nperformed many deeds and successes which are not enumerated here. Now this\nwas sore and grievous for Medb and for Ailill.[2]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and YBL. 2200 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 106.\n\n    [a] See note p. 182.\n\n[W.3001.] Then the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit [3]to send to\nthe ford[3] to fight and do battle with Cuchulain, [4]to drive him off from\nthem[4] at the morning hour early on the morrow.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 2203.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 2202.\n\n[5]With one accord[5] they declared that it should be Ferdiad son of Daman\nson of Dare, the great and valiant warrior of the men of Domnann, [6]the\nhorn-skin from Irrus Domnann, the irresistible force, and the battle-rock\nof destruction, the own, dear, foster-brother of Cuchulain.[6] [W.3005.]\n[1]And fitting it was for him to go thither,[1] for well-matched and alike\nwas their manner of fight and of combat. Under the same instructresses had\nthey done skilful deeds of valour and arms, when learning the art with\nScathach ('the Modest') and with Uathach ('the Dreadful') and with Aife\n('the Handsome'). [2]Yet was it the felling of an oak with one's fists, and\nthe stretching of the hand into a serpent's nest, and a spring into the\nlair of a lion, for hero or champion in the world, aside from Cuchulain, to\nfight or combat with Ferdiad on whatever ford or river or mere he set his\nshield.[2] And neither of them overmatched the other, save in the feat of\nthe Gae Bulga ('the Barbed Spear') which Cuchulain possessed. Howbeit,\nagainst this, Ferdiad was horn-skinned when fighting and in combat with a\nwarrior on the ford; [3]and they thought he could avoid the Gae Bulga and\ndefend himself against it, because of the horn about him of such kind that\nneither arms nor multitude of edges could pierce it.[3]\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 2204-2206.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 106.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 2208-2209.\n\nThen were messengers and envoys sent [4]from Medb and Ailill[4] to Ferdiad.\nFerdiad denied them their will, and dismissed and sent back the messengers,\nand he went not with them, for he knew wherefore they would have him, to\nfight and combat with his friend, with his comrade and foster-brother,\n[5]Cuchulain.[5]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\nThen did Medb despatch the druids [6]and the poets of the camp,[6] the\nlampoonists and hard-attackers,[a] for Ferdiad, to the end that they might\nmake three satires to stay him and three scoffing speeches against him,\n[7]to mock at him and revile and disgrace him,[7] that they might raise\nthree blisters on his face, Blame, Blemish and Disgrace, [8]that he might\nnot find a place in the world to lay his head,[8] [W.3021.] if he came not\n[1]with them[1] [2]to the tent of Medb and Ailill on the foray.[2]\n\n    [6-6] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'the cheek-blisterers.'\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 2213.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 2214.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 2214.\n\nFerdiad came with them for the sake of his own honour and [3]for fear of\ntheir bringing shame on him,[3] forasmuch as he deemed it better to fall by\nthe shafts of valour and bravery and skill, than to fall by the shafts of\nsatire, abuse and reproach. And when [4]Ferdiad[4] was come [5]into the\ncamp,[5] [6]Medb and Ailill beheld him, and great and most wonderful joy\npossessed them, and they sent him to where their trusty people were, and\n[6]he was honoured and waited on, and choice, well-flavoured strong liquor\nwas poured out for him till he became drunken and merry. [7]Finnabair,\ndaughter of Ailill and Medb, was seated at his side.  It was Finnabair that\nplaced her hand on every goblet and cup Ferdiad quaffed. She it was that\ngave him three kisses with every cup that he took. She it was that passed\nhim sweet-smelling apples over the bosom of her tunic.  This is what she\nceased not to say, that her darling and her chosen sweetheart of the\nworld's men was Ferdiad.[7] [8]And when Medb got Ferdiad drunken and\nmerry,[8] great rewards were promised him if he would make the fight and\ncombat.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 2215.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 106.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 2216-2221.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 106.\n\n[9]When now Ferdiad was satisfied, happy and joyful, it was that Medb\nspoke: \"Hail now, Ferdiad. Dost know the occasion wherefore thou art\nsummoned to this tent?\"  \"I know not, in truth,\" Ferdiad replied; \"unless\nit be that the nobles of the men of Erin are here. Why is it less fitting\nfor me to be here than any other good warrior?\"  \"'Tis not that, forsooth,\"\nanswered Medb: \"but to give thee[9] a chariot worth four[a] times seven\nbondmaids, and the apparel of two men and ten men, of cloth of every\ncolour, [W.3028.] and the equivalent [1]of the Plain of Murthemne[1] of the\nrich Plain of Ai, [2]and that thou shouldst be at all times in Cruachan,\nand wine be poured out for thee there; the freedom of thy descendants and\nthy race forever,[2] free of tribute, free of rent, without constraint to\nencamp or take part in our expeditions, [LL.fo.81b.] without duress for\n[3]thy son, or for thy grandson, or for thy great-grandson, till the end of\ntime and existence;[3] [4]this leaf-shaped golden brooch of mine shall be\nthine, wherein are ten-score ounces, and ten-score half ounces, and\nten-score scruples, and ten-score quarters;[4] Finnabair, [5]my daughter\nand Ailill's,[5] to be thine own one wife, [6]and mine own most intimate\nfriendship, if thou exactest that withal.\" \"He needs it not,\" they cried,\none and all; \"great are the rewards and gifts!\"[6]\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 2221-2225.\n\n    [a] 'Thrice seven,' YBL. 2226, Stowe, and Eg. 209.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 2227.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 2228.\n\n    [3-3] In LL. this passage is reported in indirect discourse;\n    consequently, instead of 'thy,' LL. has 'his.'\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 2229-2231.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 2231-2232.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 2232-2234.\n\nSuch were the words of Medb, and she spake them here and Ferdiad\nresponded:--\n\n    Medb: \"Great rewards in arm-rings,\n          Share of plain and forest,\n          Freedom of thy children\n            From this day till doom!\n          Ferdiad son of Daman,\n          More than thou couldst hope for,\n          Why shouldst thou refuse it,\n            That which all would take?\"\n\n    Ferdiad: \"Naught I'll take without bond--\n             No ill spearman am I--\n             Hard on me to-morrow:\n               Great will be the strife!\n             Hound that's hight of Culann,\n             How his thrust is grievous!\n             No soft thing to stand him;\n               Rude will be the wound!\"\n\n    Medb: \"Champions will be surety,\n          Thou needst not keep hostings.\n          Reins and splendid horses\n            Shall be given as pledge!\n          [W.3056.] Ferdiad, good, of battle,\n          For that thou art dauntless,\n          Thou shalt be my lover,\n            Past all, free of cain!\"\n\n    Ferdiad: \"Without bond I'll go not\n             To engage in ford-feats;\n             It will live till doomsday\n               In full strength and force.\n             Ne'er I'll yield--who hears me,\n             Whoe'er counts upon me--\n             Without sun- and moon-oath,\n               Without sea and land!\"\n\n    Medb: \"Why then dost delay it?\n          Bind it as it please thee,\n          By kings' hands and princes',\n            Who will stand for thee!\n          Lo, I will repay thee,[a]\n          Thou shalt have thine asking,\n          For I know thou'lt slaughter\n            Man that meeteth thee!\"\n\n    Ferdiad: \"Nay, without six sureties--\n             It shall not be fewer--\n             Ere I do my exploits\n               There where hosts will be!\n             Should my will be granted,\n             I swear, though unequal,\n             That I'll meet in combat\n               Cuchulain the brave!\"\n\n    Medb: \"Domnall, then, or Carbre,\n          Niaman famed for slaughter,\n          Or e'en folk of barddom,\n            Natheless, thou shalt have.\n          Bind thyself on Morann,\n          Wouldst thou its fulfilment,\n          Bind on smooth Man's Carbre,\n            And our two sons, bind!\"\n\n    Ferdiad: \"Medb, with wealth of cunning,\n             Whom no spouse can bridle,\n             Thou it is that herdest\n               Cruachan of the mounds!\n             High thy fame and wild power!\n             Mine the fine pied satin;\n             Give thy gold and silver,\n               Which were proffered me!\"\n\n    Medb: [W.3100.] \"To thee, foremost champion,\n          I will give my ringed brooch.\n          From this day till Sunday,\n            Shall thy respite be!\n          Warrior, mighty, famous,\n          All the earth's fair treasures\n          Shall to thee be given;\n            Everything be thine!\n\n          \"Finnabair of the champions (?),\n          Queen of western Erin,\n          When thou'st slain the Smith's Hound,\n          Ferdiad, she's thine!\"\n\n    Ferdiad: [1]\"Should I have Finnabair to wife,\n             Falls of Ai and Cruachan too,\n             And to dwell for alway there,\n             I'd not seek the deedful Hound!\n\n             \"Equal skill to me and him--\"\n             Thus spake Ferdiad withal--\n             \"The same nurses raised us[a] both,\n             And with them we learned our art.\n\n             \"Not for fear of battle hard,\n             Noble Eocho Fedlech's maid,\n             Would I shun the Blacksmith's Hound,\n             But my heart bleeds for his love!\"\n\n    Medb: \"Thou shalt have, dear, bright-scaled[b] man,[c]\n          One swift, proud, high-mettled steed.\n          Thou shalt have domains and land\n          And shalt stay not from the fight (?)!\"\n\n    Ferdiad: \"But that Medb entreated so,\n             And that poets' tongues did urge,\n             I'd not go for hard rewards\n             To contend with mine own friend!\"\n\n    Medb: \"Son of Daman of white cheeks,\n          Shouldst thou check this heroes' Hound,\n          E'er so long thy fame will live,\n          When thou comest from Ferdiad's Ford!\"[1]\n\n    [a] Translating from Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique,_ t. x, page 339). The metre is changed\n    designedly to agree with the original.\n\n    [a] MS. 'ye.'\n\n    [b] Referring to Ferdiad's horn-skin.\n\n    [c] Literally, 'calf.'\n\n[2]Then said they, one and all, those gifts were great. [3]\"'Tis true, they\nare great.[3] But though they are,\" said [W.3113.] Ferdiad, \"with Medb\nherself I will leave them, and I will not accept them if it be to do battle\nor combat with my foster-brother, the man of my alliance and affection,\n[1]and my equal in skill of arms,[1] namely, with Cuchulain.\" And he\nsaid:--\n\n    \"Greatest toil, [2]this, greatest toil,[2]\n    Battle with the Hound of gore!\n    Liefer would I battle twice\n    With two hundred men of Fal!\n\n    \"Sad the fight, [2]and sad the fight,[2]\n    I and Hound of feats shall wage!\n    We shall hack both flesh and blood;\n    Skin and body we shall hew!\n\n    \"Sad, O god, [2]yea, sad, O god,[2]\n    That a woman should us part!\n    My heart's half, the blameless Hound;\n    Half the brave Hound's heart am I!\n\n    \"By my shield, [2]O, by my shield,[2]\n    If Ath Cliath's brave Hound should fall,\n    I will drive my slender glaive\n    Through my heart, my side, my breast!\n\n    \"By my sword, [2]O, by my sword,[2]\n    If the Hound of Glen Bolg fall!\n    No man after him I'll slay,\n    Till I o'er the world's brink spring!\n\n    \"By my hand, [2]O, by my hand![2]\n    Falls the Hound of Glen in Sgail,\n    Medb with all her host I'll kill,\n    And then no more men of Fal!\n\n    \"By my spear, [2]O, by my spear![2]\n    Should Ath Cro's brave Hound be slain,\n    I'll be buried in his grave;\n    May one grave hide me and him!\n\n    [3]\"Liefer would I, [2]liefer far,[2]\n    Arms should slay me in fierce fight,\n    Than the death of heroes' Hound,\"[a]\n    Should be food for ravenous birds?[3]\n\n    \"Tell him this, [2]O, tell him this,[2]\n    To the Hound of beauteous hue,\n    Fearless Scathach hath foretold\n    My fall on a ford through him!\n\n    [W.3149.] \"Woe to Medb, [1]yea, woe to Medb,[1]\n    Who hath used her [3]guile[3] on us;\n    She hath set me face to face\n    'Gainst Cuchulain--hard the toil!\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, Add. 18,748 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 2234.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106, Eg. 209.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 209.\n\n    [a] The word is illegible in the manuscript.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Eg. 209.\n\n\"Ye men,\" spake Medb, in the wonted fashion of stirring up disunion and\ndissension, [4]as if she had not heard Ferdiad at all,[4] \"true is the word\nCuchulain speaks.\" \"What word is that?\" asked Ferdiad. \"He said, then,\"\nreplied Medb, \"he would not think it too much if thou shouldst fall by his\nhands in the choicest feat of his skill in arms, in the land whereto he\nshould come.\" \"It was not just for him to speak so,\" quoth Ferdiad; \"for it\nis not cowardice or lack of boldness that he hath ever seen in me [5]by day\nor by night.[5] [6]And I speak not so to him, for I have it not to say of\nhim.[6] And I swear by my arms [7]of valour,[7] if it be true that he spoke\nso, I will be the first man of the men of Erin to contend with him on the\nmorrow, [8]how loath soever I am to do so!\"[8]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 2238.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 2242.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 106.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 209.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 106.\n\n[9]And he gave his word in the presence of them all that he would go and\nmeet Cuchulain. For it pleased Medb, if Ferdiad should fail to go, to have\nthem as a witness against him, in order that she might say it was fear or\ndread that caused him to break his word.[9] \"A blessing [10]and victory[10]\nupon thee for that!\" said Medb; \"it pleaseth me more than for thee to show\nfear and lack of boldness. For every man loves his own land, and how is it\nbetter for him to seek the welfare of Ulster, [11]because his mother was\ndescended from the Ulstermen,[11] than for thee to seek the welfare of\nConnacht,[2] [12]as thou art the son of a king of Connacht?\"[12]\n\n    [9-9] Eg. 106.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 2244.\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 2247.\n\n    [12-12] YBL. 2248.\n\nThen it was that Medb obtained from Ferdiad the easy [W.3163.] surety of a\ncovenant to fight and contend on the morrow with six warriors [1]of the\nchampions of Erin,[1] or to fight and contend with Cuchulain alone, if to\nhim this last seemed lighter. Ferdiad obtained [2]of Medb[2] the easy\nsurety, [3]as he thought,[3] to send the aforesaid six men for the\nfulfilment of the terms which had been promised him, should Cuchulain fall\nat his hands.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [3-3] A gloss, in LL.\n\n[4]There was a wonderful warrior of the Ulstermen present at that covenant,\nand that was Fergus macRoig. Fergus betook him to his tent. \"Woe is me, for\nthe deed that will be done on the morning of the morrow!\" \"What deed is\nthat?\" his tent-folk asked. \"My good fosterling Cuchulain will be slain!\"\n\"Good lack! who makes that boast?\" \"Not hard to say: None other but his\ndear, devoted foster-brother, Ferdiad son of Daman. Why bear ye not my\nblessing,\" Fergus continued, \"and let one of you go with a warning and\nmercy to Cuchulain, if perchance he would leave the ford on the morn of the\nmorrow?\" \"As we live,\" said they; \"though it were thyself was on the ford\nof battle, we would not go near him to seek thee.\" \"Come, my lad,\" cried\nFergus, \"get our horses for us, and yoke the chariot!\"[4]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. fo. 36a, 21-36.\n\nThen were Fergus' horses fetched for him and his chariot was yoked, and he\ncame forward to the place [5]of combat[5] where Cuchulain was, to inform\nhim [6]of the challenge, that Ferdiad was to fight with him.[6]\n\n    [5-5] YBL. fo. 36a, 38.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 209.\n\n[7]\"A chariot cometh hither towards us, O Cuchulain!\" cried Laeg. For in\nthis wise was the gilla, with his back towards his lord. He used to win\nevery other game of draughts and of chess from his master. Watch and guard\nof the four airts was he besides. \"What manner of chariot is it?\" asked\nCuchulain. \"A chariot like to a royal fort, huge, with its yoke, strong,\ngolden; with its great board of copper; with its shafts of bronze; with its\nthin-framed, dry-bodied box (?) ... set on two horses, black, swift, stout,\nstrong-forked, thick-set, under beautiful shafts. One kingly, broad-eyed\nwarrior is the combatant in the chariot. A curly, forked beard he wears\nthat reaches below outside over the smooth lower part of his soft tunic,\nwhich would shelter fifty warriors on a day of storm and rain under the\nheavy shield of the warrior's beard. A bent buckler, white, beautiful, of\nmany colours, he bears, with three stout-wrought chains, so that there is\nroom from edge to edge for four troops of ten men behind the leather of the\nshield which hangs upon the broad back of the warrior. A long, hard-edged,\nbroad, red sword in a sheath woven and twisted of white silver, over the\n... of the battle-warrior. A strong, three-ridged spear, wound and banded\nwith all-gleaming white silver he has lying across the chariot.\"\n\n    [7-7] YBL. fo. 36a, 39-36b, 15.\n\n\"Not difficult to recognize him,\" said Cuchulain: \"'tis my master Fergus\nthat cometh hither with a warning and with compassion for me, before all\nthe four provinces of Erin.\"\n\n[W.3172.] Fergus drew nigh and sprang from his chariot.[7] Cuchulain bade\nhim welcome. [LL.fo.82a.] \"Welcome is thy coming, O my master Fergus!\"\ncried Cuchulain. [1]\"If a flock of birds comes into the plain, thou shalt\nhave a duck with half of another. If a fish comes into the river-mouths,\nthou shalt have a salmon with half of another. A handful of water-cress and\na bunch of laver and a sprig of sea-grass and a drink of cold water from\nthe sand thou shalt have thereafter.\" \"Tis an outlaw's portion, that,\"\nsaid Fergus. \"Tis true; 'tis an outlaw's portion is mine,\" answered\nCuchulain.[1] \"Truly intended, methinks, the welcome, O [W.3174.]\nfosterling,\" said Fergus. \"But, [1]were it for this I came, I should think\nit better to leave it.[1] It is for this I am here, to inform thee who\ncomes to fight and contend with thee at the morning hour early on the\nmorrow.\" \"E'en so will we hear it from thee,\" said Cuchulain. \"Thine own\nfriend and comrade and foster-brother, the man thine equal in feats and in\nskill of arms and in deeds, Ferdiad son of Daman son of Dare, the great and\nmighty warrior of the men of Domnann.\" [2]\"As my soul liveth,\"[2] replied\nCuchulain, \"it is not to an encounter we wish our friend to come, and\n[3]not for fear, but for love and affection of him;[3] [4]and almost I\nwould prefer to fall by the hand of that warrior than for him to fall by\nmine.\"[4] \"It is even for that,\" answered Fergus, \"thou shouldst be on thy\nguard and prepared. [5]Say not that thou hast no fear of Ferdiad, for it is\nfitting that thou shouldst have fear and dread before fighting with\nFerdiad.[5] For unlike all to whom it fell to fight and contend with thee\non the Cualnge Cattle-raid on this occasion is Ferdiad son of Daman son of\nDare, [9]for he hath a horny skin about him [6]in battle against a man,[6]\n[7]a belt,[7] [8]equally strong, victorious in battle,[8] and neither\npoints nor edges are reddened upon it[9] [10]in the hour of strife and\nanger. For he is the fury of a lion, and the bursting of wrath, and the\nblow of doom, and the wave that drowneth foes.\"[10] [12]\"Speak not thus!\"\ncried Cuchulain, \"for I swear [11]by my arms of valour,[11] the oath that\nmy people swear, that every limb and every joint will be as soft as a\npliant rush in the bed of a river under the point of sword, if he show\nhimself to me on the ford![12] Truly am I here,\" said Cuchulain, \"checking\nand [W.3185.] staying four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday\nat[a] Summer's end till[b] the beginning of spring, [1]and I have not left\nmy post for a night's disport, through stoutly opposing the men of Erin on\nthe Cattle-lifting of Cualnge.[1] And in all this time, I have not put foot\nin retreat before any one man [2]nor before a multitude,[2] and methinks\njust as little will I turn foot in flight before him.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 36b, 27-28.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. fo. 36a, 39-36b, 15.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 36b, 18-24.\n\n    [2-2] Literally, 'I say our confession.'\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, Eg. 209, Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 106.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. fo. 36b, 38.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 106.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 106.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe and Eg. 209, and, similarly, YBL. 36b, 37.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 106.\n\n    [11-11] Eg. 106.\n\n    [12-12] YBL. 36b, 38-43\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 36b, 25-26.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n[3]And thus spake he, that it was not fear of Ferdiad that caused his\nanxiety for the fight, but his love for him. [3]And, on his part, so spake\nFergus, putting him on his guard [4]because of Ferdiad's strength,[4] and\nhe said these words and Cuchulain responded:--\n\n       Fergus: \"O Cuchulain--splendid deed--\n               Lo, 'tis time for thee to rise.\n               Here in rage against thee comes\n               Ferdiad, red-faced Daman's son!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Here am I--no easy task--[c]\n               Holding Erin's men at bay;\n               Foot I've never turned in flight\n               In my fight with single foe!\"\n\n       Fergus: \"Dour the man when anger moves,\n               Owing to his gore-red glaive;\n               Ferdiad wears a skin of horn,\n               'Gainst which fight nor might prevails!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Be thou still; urge not thy tale,\n               Fergus of the mighty arms.\n               On no land and on no ground,\n               For me is there aught defeat!\"\n\n       Fergus: \"Fierce the man with scores of deeds;\n               No light thing, him to subdue.\n               Strong as hundreds--brave his mien--\n               Point pricks not, edge cuts him not!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"If we clash upon the ford,\n               I and Ferdiad of known skill,\n               We'll not part without we know:\n               Fierce will be our weapon fight!\"\n\n       Fergus: [W.3214.] \"More I'd wish it than reward,\n               O Cuchulain of red sword,\n               Thou shouldst be the one to bring\n               Eastward haughty Ferdiad's spoils!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Now I give my word and vow,\n               Though unskilled in strife of words,\n               It is I will conquer this\n               Son of Daman macDare!\"\n\n       Fergus: \"It is I brought east the host,\n               Thus requiting Ulster's wrong.\n               With me came they from their lands,\n               With their heroes and their chiefs!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Were not Conchobar in the 'Pains,'\n               Hard 'twould be to come near us.\n               Never Medb of Mag in Scail\n               On more tearful march had come!\"\n\n       Fergus: \"Greatest deed awaits thy hand:\n               Fight with Ferdiad, Daman's son.\n               Hard stern arms with stubborn edge,[b]\n               Shalt thou have, thou Culann's Hound!\"\n\n    [a] Stowe and H. 1. 13: 'before'; YBL. 36b, 24: 'after.'\n\n    [b] 'Till Wednesday after Spring,' is the reading of H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [c] Literally, 'no meagre sail.'\n\n    [b] Or, 'which quatrains love (?),' a cheville.\n\n[1]After that,[1] Fergus returned to the camp and halting-place [2]of the\nmen of Erin,[2] [3]lest the men of Erin should say he was betraying them or\nforsaking them, if he should remain longer than he did conversing with\nCuchulain. And they took farewell of each other.[3]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 37a, 22.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n[4]Now as regards the charioteer of Cuchulain [5]after Fergus went from\nthem:[5] \"What wilt thou do to-night?\" asked Laeg. \"What, indeed?\" said\nCuchulain. \"It will be thus\" (said the charioteer) \"Ferdiad will come to\nattack thee, with new beauty of plaiting and dressing of hair, and washing\nand bathing, and the four provinces of Erin with him to look at the\ncombat. I would that thou wouldst go where thou wilt get a like adorning\nfor thyself, to the place where is Emer Foltchain ('Emer of the Beautiful\nHair,' thy wife), [6]daughter of Forgal Monach,[6] at Cairthenn in Cluan da\nDam, ('two Oxen's Meadow') in Sliab Fuait, [1]where thou wilt get even\nsuch an adorning for thyself.\"[1] [2]\"It is fitting to do so,\" said\nCuchulain.[2] Then Cuchulain went thither that night [3]to Dundelgan,[3]\nand passed the night with his wife. His doings from that time are not\nrelated here now.[4]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 37a, 29-39, and, similarly, Eg. 106.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 106.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 106.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n[W.3235.] [5]As for[5] Ferdiad, he betook himself to his tent and to his\npeople, and imparted to them the easy surety which Medb had obtained from\nhim to do combat and battle with six warriors on the morrow, or to do\ncombat and battle with Cuchulain alone, if he thought it a lighter task.\nHe made known to them also the fair terms he had obtained from Medb of\nsending the same six warriors for the fulfilment of the covenant she had\nmade with him, should Cuchulain fall by his hands.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n[6]The folk of Ferdiad were not joyful, blithe, cheerful or merry that\nnight,[6] [LL.fo.82b.] but they were sad, sorrowful and downcast, for they\nknew that where the two champions and the two bulwarks in a gap for a\nhundred, [7]the two pillars of battle and strife of the men of Erin[7]\n[8]of that time[8] met in combat, one or other of them would fall there or\nboth would fall, and if it should be one of them, they believed it would be\n[9]their king and[9] their own lord [10]that would fall there,[10] for it\nwas not easy to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the Raid for the\nKine of Cualnge.\n\n    [6-6] LL., with the help of Stowe; LL. being partly illegible here.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and YBL. 37a, 43.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 37a, 43.\n\n    [9-9] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\nFerdiad slept right heavily the first part of the night, but when the end\nof the night was come, his sleep and his heaviness left him. And the\nanxiousness of the combat and the battle came upon him. [11]But most\ntroubled in spirit was he that he should allow all the treasures to pass\nfrom him, and the maiden, by reason of combat with one man. Unless he\nfought with that one man, he must needs fight with six champions on the\nmorrow. What tormented him more than that was, should he once show himself\non the ford to Cuchulain he was certain he would never have power of head\nor of life ever after. And Ferdiad arose early on the morrow.[11] [W.3252.]\nAnd he charged his charioteer to take his horses and to yoke his chariot.\nThe charioteer sought to dissuade him [1]from that journey.[1] [2]\"By our\nword,\"[2] said the gilla, \"'twould be better for thee[a] [3]to remain than\nto go thither,\" said he; \"for, not more do I commend it for thee than I\ncondemn it.\"[3] \"Hold thy peace about us, boy!\" quoth Ferdiad, [4]\"for we\nwill brook no interference from any one concerning this journey.[4] [5]For\nthe promise we gave to Medb and Ailill in the presence of the men of Erin,\nit would shame us to break it; for they would say it was fear or dread that\ncaused us to break it. And, by my conscience, I would almost liefer fall\nmyself by Cuchulain's hand than that he should fall by mine on this\noccasion. And should Cuchulain fall by my hand on the ford of combat, then\nshall Medb and many of the men of Erin fall by my hand because of the\npledge they extorted from me, and I drunken and merry.[5] And in this\nmanner he spake, [6]conversing with the charioteer,[6] and he uttered these\nwords, [7]the little lay that follows, urging on the charioteer,[7] and the\nhenchman responded:--\n\n    Ferdiad: \"Let's haste to th' encounter,\n             To battle with this man;\n             The ford we will come to,\n               O'er which Badb will shriek!\n             To meet with Cuchulain,\n             To wound his slight body,\n             To thrust the spear through him\n               So that he may die!\"\n\n    The Henchman: [W.3266.] \"To stay it were better;\n                  Your threats are not gentle;\n                  Death's sickness will one have,\n                    And sad will ye part!\n                  To meet Ulster's noblest,\n                  To meet whence ill cometh;\n                  Long will men speak of it.\n                    Alas, for your[a] course!\"\n\n         Ferdiad: \"Not fair what thou speakest;\n                  No fear hath the warrior;\n                  We owe no one meekness;\n                    We stay not for thee!\n                  Hush, gilla, about us!\n                  The time will bring strong hearts;\n                  More meet strength than weakness;\n                    [1]Let's on to the tryst!\"[1]\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 37a, 47-37b, 5.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 37b, 7.\n\n    [a] MSS.: 'ye.'\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106, Eg. 109 and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 37b, 9.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 37b, 10.\n\n    [a] MS.: 'his.'\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 37b, 22.\n\nFerdiad's horses were now brought forth and his chariot was hitched, and he\nset out [2]from the camp[2] for the ford of battle when yet day with its\nfull light had not come there for him. [3]\"My lad,\" spake Ferdiad, \"it is\nnot fitting that we make our journey without bidding farewell to the men of\nErin. Turn the horses and the chariot for us towards the men of Erin.\"\nThrice the servant turned the heads of the horses and the chariot towards\nthe men of Erin. Then he came upon Medb letting her water from her on the\nfloor of the tent. \"Ailill, sleepest thou still?\" asked Medb. \"Not so!\"\nreplied Ailill. \"Dost hear thy new son-in-law taking farewell, of thee?\"\n\"Is that what he doth?\" asked Ailill. \"'Tis that, verily,\" Medb made\nanswer; \"but I swear by what my tribe swears, not on the same feet will the\nman who makes that greeting come back to you.\" \"Howbeit, we have profited\nby a happy alliance of marriage with him,\" quoth Ailill; \"if only Cuchulain\nfalls by his hand, I should be pleased if they both fell, yet would I\nprefer that Ferdiad should escape.\"\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 37b, 24.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 37b, 25-38a, 25.\n\nFerdiad came to the ford of combat. \"Look, my lad!\" said Ferdiad, \"is\nCuchulain on the ford?\" \"That he is not,\" replied the gilla. \"Look well for\nus,\" said Ferdiad. \"Cuchulain is not a little speck where he would be in\nhiding,\" answered the gilla. \"'Tis true, then, my lad; till this day\nCuchulain hath not heard of a goodly warrior coming to meet him on the\nCow-spoil of Cualnge, and now when he has heard of one, he has left the\nford.\"\n\n\"Shame for thee to slander Cuchulain in his absence. Rememberest thou not\nwhen ye gave battle to German Garbglas above the borders of the Tyrrhene\nSea, thou leftest thy sword with the hosts, and it was Cuchulain who slew a\nhundred warriors till he reached it and brought it to thee? And mindest\nthou well where we were that night?\" the gilla asked further. \"I know not,\"\nFerdiad answered. \"At the house of Scathach's steward,\" said the other;\n\"and thou wentest ... and proudly in advance of us all into the house. The\nchurl gave thee a blow with his three-pointed fork in the small of the\nback, so that thou flewest like a bolt out over the door. Cuchulain came in\nand gave the churl a blow with his sword, so that he made two pieces of\nhim. I was their house-steward whilst ye were in that place. If it were\nthat day, thou wouldst not say thou wast a better warrior than Cuchulain.\"\n\"Wrong is what thou hast done, O gilla,\" said Ferdiad; \"for I would not\nhave come to the combat, hadst thou spoken thus to me at first. Why dost\nthou not lay the chariot-poles at my side and the skin-coverings under my\nhead, that so I may sleep now?\" \"Alas,\" said the gilla, \"'tis a sorry sleep\nbefore deer and packs of wolves here!\" \"How so, gilla? Art thou not able to\nkeep watch and guard for me?\" \"I am,\" the gilla answered; \"unless they come\nin clouds or in the air to attack thee, they shall not come from east or\nfrom west to attack thee without warning, without notice.\"[3] \"Come,\ngilla,\" said Ferdiad, [1]\"unharness the horses and[1] [W.3285.] spread for\nme the cushions and skins of my chariot under me here, so that I sleep off\nmy heavy fit of sleep and slumber here, for I slept not the last part of\nthe night with the anxiousness of the battle and combat.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nThe gilla unharnessed the horses; he unfastened the chariot under him,\n[1]and spread beneath him the chariot-cloths.[1] He slept off the heavy fit\nof sleep that was on him. [2]The gilla remained on watch and guard for\nhim.[2]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 106.\n\nNow how Cuchulain fared [3]is related[3] here: He arose not till the day\nwith its bright light had come to him, lest the men of Erin might say it\nwas fear or fright of the champion he had, if he should arise [4]early.[4]\nAnd when day with its full light had come, he [5]passed his hand over his\nface and[5] bade his charioteer take his horses and yoke them to his\nchariot. \"Come, gilla,\" said Cuchulain, \"take out our horses for us and\nharness our chariot, for an early riser is the warrior appointed to meet\nus, Ferdiad son of Daman son of Dare. [6]If Ferdiad awaits us, he must\nneeds think it long.\"[6] \"The horses are taken out,\" [7]said the gilla;[7]\n\"the chariot is harnessed. Mount, and be it no shame to thy valour [8]to go\nthither!\"[8] [9]Cuchulain stepped into the chariot and they pressed\nforward to the ford.[9] Then it was that the cutting, feat-performing,\nbattle-winning, red-sworded hero, Cuchulain son of Sualtaim, mounted his\nchariot, so that there shrieked around him the goblins and fiends and the\nsprites of the glens and the demons of the air; for the Tuatha De Danann\n('the Folk of the Goddess Danu') were wont to set up their cries around\nhim, to the end that the dread and the fear and the fright and the terror\nof him might be so much the greater in every [W.3304.] battle and on every\nfield, in every fight and in every combat wherein he went.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and YBL. 38a, 28.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, and, similarly Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 38a, 30.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 38a, 31-32.\n\nNot long had Ferdiad's charioteer waited when he heard something: [1]A rush\nand a crash and a hurtling sound, and a din and a thunder,[1] [LL.fo.83a.]\nand a clatter and a clash, namely, the shield-cry of feat-shields, and the\njangle of javelins, and the deed-striking of swords, and the thud of the\nhelmet, [2]and the ring of spears,[2] and the clang of the cuirass, and the\nstriking of arms, the fury of feats, the straining of ropes, and the whirr\nof wheels, and the creaking of the chariot, and the trampling of horses'\nhoofs, and the deep voice of the hero and battle-warrior [3]in grave speech\nwith his servant[3] on his way to the ford to attack his opponent.\n\n    [1-1] From Stowe; LL. is illegible here.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\nThe servant came and touched his master with his hand [4]and awakened\nhim.[4] \"Ferdiad, master,\" said the youth, \"rise up! They are here to meet\nthee at the ford.\" [5]Then[5] [6]Ferdiad arose and girt his body in his\nwar-dress of battle and combat.[6] And the gilla spake these words:--\n\n    \"The roll of a chariot,\n    Its fair yoke of silver;\n    A man great and stalwart\n      O'ertops the strong car!\n    O'er Bri Ross, o'er Brane\n    Their swift path they hasten;\n    Past Old-tree Town's[a] tree-stump,\n      Victorious they speed!\n\n    \"A sly Hound that driveth,\n    A fair chief that urgeth,\n    A free hawk that speedeth\n      His steeds towards the south!\n    Gore-coloured, the Cua,[b]\n    'Tis sure he will take us;\n    We know--vain to hide it--\n      He brings us defeat![c]\n\n    [W.3335.] \"Woe him on the hillock,\n    The brave Hound before him;\n    Last year I foretold it,\n      That some time he'd come!\n    Hound from Emain Macha,\n    Hound formed of all colours,\n    The Border-hound, War-hound,\n      I hear what I've heard!\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 38a, 35.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [a] _Baile in bile_, MSS.\n\n    [b] A shortened form for 'Cuchulain.'\n\n    [c] Literally, 'battle, strife.'\n\n\"Come, gilla,\" said Ferdiad; \"for what reason laudest thou this man ever\nsince I am come from my house? And it is almost a cause for strife with\nthee that thou hast praised him thus highly. But, Ailill and Medb have\nprophesied to me that this man will fall by my hand. And since it is for a\nreward, he shall quickly be torn asunder by me. [1]And make ready the arms\non the ford against his coming.\" \"Should I turn my face backward,\" said the\ngilla; \"methinks the poles of yon chariot will pass through the back of my\nneck.\" \"Too much, my lad,\" said Ferdiad, \"dost thou praise Cuchulain, for\nnot a reward has he given thee for praising,[1] but it is time to fetch\nhelp.\" And he spake these words, and the henchman responded:--\n\n         Ferdiad: \"'Tis time now to help me;\n                  Be silent! cease praising!\n                  'Twas no deed of friendship,\n                    No doom o'er the brink (?)[a]\n                  The Champion of Cualnge,\n                  Thou seest 'midst proud feats,\n                  For that it's for guerdon,\n                    Shall quickly be slain!\"[b]\n\n    The Henchman: \"I see Cualnge's hero,\n                  With feats overweening,\n                  Not fleeing he flees us,\n                    But towards us he comes.\n                  He runneth--not slowly--\n                  Though cunning--not sparing--\n                  Like water 'down high cliff\n                    Or thunderbolt quick!\"\n\n         Ferdiad: [W.3365.] \"'Tis cause of a quarrel,\n                  So much thou hast praised him;\n                  And why hast thou chose him,\n                    Since I am from home?\n                  And now they extol him,\n                  They fall to proclaim him;\n                  None come to attack him,\n                    But soft simple men (?).\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 38b, 46-57.\n\n    [a] The meaning is obscure.\n\n    [b] Literally, 'torn.'\n\n[1]Here followeth the Description of Cuchulain's chariot,\none of the three chief Chariots of the Tale of the Foray of\nCualnge.[1]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 38a, 48-49. In the following description of the chariot and\n    steeds has been incorporated part of the parallel passages in LU.\n    1969-1977 and YBL. 38a-38b. Eg. 106, Eg. 109 and H. 2. 12 (_Revue\n    Celtique_, xi, 25) contain more adjectives.\n\nIt was not long that Ferdiad's charioteer remained there when he saw\nsomething: [2]\"How beholdest thou Cuchulain?\" asked Ferdiad of his\ncharioteer. \"I behold,\" said he,[2] \"a beautiful, live-pointed chariot,\n[3]broad above, of white crystal, with a thick yoke of gold, with stout\nplates of copper, with shafts of bronze, with wheel-bands of bronze covered\nwith silver,[3] approaching with swiftness, with speed, with perfect skill;\nwith a green shade, with a thin-framed, dry-bodied (?) box surmounted with\nfeats of cunning, [4]straight-poled,[4] as long as a warrior's sword. [5]On\nthis[5] was room for a hero's seven arms, the fair seat for its lord;\n[6]two wheels, dark, black; a pole of tin, with red enamel, of a beautiful\ncolour; two inlaid, golden bridles.[6] [7]This chariot was placed[7]\nbehind two fleet steeds, [8]nimble, furious, small-headed,[8] bounding,\nlarge-eared, [9]small-snouted, sharp-beaked, red-chested,[9] gaily\nprancing, with inflated[a] nostrils, broad-chested, quick-hearted,\nhigh-flanked, broad-hoofed, slender-limbed, overpowering and resolute. A\ngrey, broad-hipped, small-stepping, long-maned horse, [10]whose name was\nLiath ('the Roan') of Macha,[10] was under [W.3379.] one of the yokes of\nthe chariot; a black, crisped-maned, swift-moving, broad-backed horse,\n[1]whose name was Dubh ('the Black') of Sithleann,[1] under the other. Like\nunto a hawk after its prey on a sharp tempestuous day, or to a tearing\nblast of wind of Spring on a March day over the back of a plain, or unto a\nstartled stag when first roused by the hounds in the first of the chase,\n[LL.fo.83b.] were Cuchulain's two horses before the chariot, as if they\nwere on glowing, fiery flags, so that they shook the earth and made it\ntremble with the fleetness of their course.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 38a, 51-52.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 38b, 1-3.\n\n    [4-4] LU. 1973.\n\n    [5-5] YBL.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 38b. 19-21.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 1972.\n\n    [8-8] LU. 1973.\n\n    [9-9] LU. 1973.\n\n    [10-10] Eg. 209.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'bagnosed.'\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 209.\n\n[2]\"In the front of this chariot is a man with fair, curly, long hair.\nThere is around him a cloak, blue, Parthian purple. A spear with red and\nkeen-cutting blades, flaming-red in his hand. The semblance of three heads\nof hair he has, namely, brown hair next to the skin of his head, blood-red\nhair in the middle, a crown of gold is the third head of hair.\n\n\"Beautiful is the arrangement of that hair so that it makes three coils\ndown behind over his shoulders. Even as a thread of gold it seems, when its\nhue has been wrought over the edge of an anvil; or like to the yellow of\nbees whereon shines the sun on a summer's day is the shining of each single\nhair of his hair. Seven toes he has on each of his feet and seven fingers\non each of his hands and the brilliance of a very great fire is around his\neye.\n\n\"Befitting him is the charioteer beside him, with curly, jet-black hair,\nshorn broad over his head. A cowled garment around him, open at the elbows.\nA horse-whip, very fine and golden in his hand, and a light-grey cloak\nwrapped around him, and a goad of white silver in his hand. He plies the\ngoad on the horses whatever way would go the deed-renowned warrior that is\nin the chariot.\"[2]\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 38b, 21-44.\n\nAnd Cuchulain reached the ford. Ferdiad waited on [W.3387.] the south side\nof the ford; Cuchulain stood on the north side. Ferdiad bade welcome to\nCuchulain. \"Welcome is thy coming, O Cuchulain!\" said Ferdiad. \"Truly\nspoken meseemed thy welcome till now,\" answered Cuchulain; \"but to-day I\nput no more trust in it. And, O Ferdiad,\" said Cuchulain, \"it were fitter\nfor me to bid thee welcome than that thou should'st welcome me; for it is\nthou that art come to the land and province wherein I dwell; and it is not\nfitting for thee to come to contend and do battle with me, but it were\nfitter for me to go to contend and do battle with thee. For before thee in\nflight are my women and my boys and my youths, my steeds and my troops of\nhorses, my droves, my flocks and my herds of cattle.\"\n\n\"Good, O Cuchulain,\" spake Ferdiad; \"what has ever brought thee out to\ncontend and do battle with me? For when we were [1]together[1] with\nScathach and with Uathach and with Aife, [2]thou wast not a man worthy of\nme, for[2] thou wast my serving-man, even for arming my spear and dressing\nmy bed.\" \"That was indeed true,\" answered Cuchulain; \"because of my youth\nand my littleness did I so much for thee, but this is by no means my mood\nthis day. For there is not a warrior in the world I would not drive off\nthis day [3]in the field of battle and combat.\"[3]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n[4]It was not long before they met in the middle of the ford.[4] And then\nit was that each of them cast sharp-cutting reproaches at the other,\nrenouncing his friendship; and Ferdiad spake these words there, and\nCuchulain responded:--\n\n      Ferdiad: \"What led thee, O Cua,\n               To fight a strong champion?\n               Thy flesh will be gore-red\n                 O'er smoke of thy steeds!\n               Alas for thy journey,\n               A kindling of firebrands;\n               In sore need of healing,\n                 If home thou shouldst reach!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: [W.3417.] \"I'm come before warriors\n               Around the herd's wild Boar,[a]\n               Before troops and hundreds,\n                 To drown thee in deep.\n               In anger, to prove thee\n               In hundred-fold battle,\n               Till on thee come havoc,\n                 Defending thy head!\"\n\n      Ferdiad: \"Here stands one to crush thee,\n               'Tis I will destroy thee,\n               [1]...[1]\n                 From me there shall come\n               The flight of their warriors\n               In presence of Ulster,\n               That long they'll remember\n                 The loss that was theirs!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"How then shall we combat?\n               For wrongs shall we heave sighs?\n               Despite all, we'll go there,\n                 To fight on the ford!\n               Or is it with hard swords,\n               Or e'en with red spear-points,\n               Before hosts to slay thee,\n                 If [2]thy[2] hour hath come?\"\n\n      Ferdiad: \"'Fore sunset, 'fore nightfall--\n               If need be, then guard thee--\n               I'll fight thee at Bairche,\n                 Not bloodlessly fight!\n               The Ulstermen call thee,\n               'He has him!' Oh, hearken!\n               The sight will distress them\n                 That through them will pass[b]!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"In danger's gap fallen,\n               At hand is thy life's term;\n               On thee plied be weapons,\n                 Not gentle the skill!\n               One champion will slay thee;\n               We both will encounter;\n               No more shalt lead forays,\n                 [3]From this day till Doom!\"[3]\n\n      Ferdiad: [W.3457.] \"Avaunt with thy warnings,\n               Thou world's greatest braggart;\n               Nor guerdon nor pardon,\n                 [1]Low warrior for thee![1]\n               'Tis I that well know thee,\n               Thou heart of a cageling\n               This lad merely tickles--\n                 Without skill or force!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"When we were with Scathach,\n               For wonted arms training,\n               Together we'd fare forth,\n                 To seek every fight.\n               Thou wast my heart's comrade.\n               My clan and my kinsman;\n               Ne'er found I one dearer;\n                 Thy loss would be sad!\"\n\n      Ferdiad: [LL.fo.84a.] \"Thou wager'st thine honour\n               Unless we do battle;\n               Before the cock croweth,\n                 Thy head on a spit!\n               Cuchulain of Cualnge,\n               Mad frenzy hath seized thee\n               All ill we'll wreak on thee,\n                 For thine is the sin!\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 39a. 14.\n\n    [a] That is, King Conchobar.\n\n    [1-1] A line has dropped out here in the MS., and cannot be\n    reconstructed, since the stanza is found only in LL. For this reason\n    the meaning of the following line is uncertain.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with YBL. 39a, 34.\n\n    [B] Literally, 'it will go over and through them!'\n\n    [3-3] Translating from YBL. fo. 39a, 41.\n\n    [1-1] Literally, '(For) thou art not a bush (i.e. a hero) over a bush\n    (hero).'\n\n\"Come now, O Ferdiad,\" cried Cuchulain, \"not meet was it for thee to come\nto contend and do battle with me, because of the instigation and\nintermeddling of Ailill and Medb, [2]and because of the false promises that\nthey made thee. Because of their deceitful terms and of the maiden have\nmany good men been slain.[2] And all that came [3]because of those promises\nof deceit,[3] neither profit nor success did it bring them, and they have\nfallen by me. And none the more, [4]O Ferdiad,[4] shall it win victory or\nincrease of fame for thee; and, [5]as they all fell,[5] shalt thou too fall\nby my hand!\" Thus he spake, [W.3486.] and he further uttered these words\nand Ferdiad hearkened to him:--\n\n    \"Come not nigh me, noble chief,\n    Ferdiad, comrade, Daman's son.\n    Worse for thee than 'tis for me;\n    Thou'lt bring sorrow to a host!\n\n    \"Come not nigh me 'gainst all right;\n    Thy last bed is made by me.\n    Why shouldst thou alone escape\n    From the prowess of my arms?\n\n    \"Shall not great feats thee undo,\n    Though thou'rt purple, horny-skinned?\n    And the maid thou boastest of,\n    Shall not, Daman's son, be thine!\n\n    \"Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair,\n    Great her charms though they may be,\n    Fair as is the damsel's form,\n    She's for thee not to enjoy!\n\n    \"Finnabair, the king's own child,\n    Is the lure, if truth be told;\n    Many they whom she's deceived\n    And undone as she has thee!\n\n    \"Break not, weetless, oath with me;\n    Break not friendship, break not bond;\n    Break not promise, break not word;\n    Come not nigh me, noble chief!\n\n    \"Fifty chiefs obtained in plight\n    This same maid, a proffer vain.\n    Through me went they to their graves;\n    Spear-right all they had from me!\n\n    \"Though for brave was held Ferbaeth,\n    With whom was a warriors' train,\n    In short space I quelled his rage;\n    Him I slew with one sole blow!\n\n    \"Srubdare--sore sank his might--\n    Darling of the noblest dames,\n    Time there was when great his fame--\n    Gold nor raiment saved him not!\n\n    \"Were she mine affianced wife,\n    Smiled on me this fair land's head,[a]\n    I would not thy body hurt.\n    Right nor left, in front, behind!\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [a] That is, Queen Medb.\n\n[W.3527.] \"Good, O Ferdiad!\" cried Cuchulain. [1]A pity it is for thee to\nabandon my alliance and my friendship for the sake of a woman that has been\ntrafficked to fifty other warriors before thee, and it would be long before\nI would forsake thee for that woman.[1] Therefore, it is not right for thee\nto come to fight and combat with me; for when we were with Scathach and\nwith Uathach and with Aife, [2]we were together in practice of valour and\narms of the world, and[2] it was together we were used to seek out every\nbattle and every battle-field, every combat and every contest, every wood\nand every desert, every covert and every recess.\" And thus he spake and he\nuttered these words:--\n\n    Cuchulain: \"We were heart-companions once;\n                We were comrades in the woods;\n                We were men that shared a bed,\n                When we slept the heavy sleep,\n                After hard and weary fights.\n                Into many lands, so strange,\n                Side by side we sallied forth,\n                And we ranged the woodlands through,\n                When with Scathach we learned arms!\"\n\n       Ferdiad: \"O Cuchulain, rich in feats,\n                Hard the trade we both have learned;\n                Treason hath o'ercome our love;\n                Thy first wounding hath been bought;\n                Think not of our friendship more,\n                Cua, it avails thee not!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209.\n\n\"Too long are we now in this way,\" quoth Ferdiad; \"and what arms shall we\nresort to to-day, O Cuchulain?\" \"With thee is thy choice of weapons this\nday till night time,\" answered Cuchulain, \"for thou art he that first didst\nreach the ford.\" \"Rememberest thou at all,\" asked Ferdiad, \"the choice\ndeeds of arms we were wont to practise with Scathach and with Uathach and\nwith Aife?\" \"Indeed, and I do remember,\" answered Cuchulain. \"If thou\nrememberest, let us begin [3]with them.\"[3]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n[W.3555.] They betook them to their choicest deeds of arms. They took upon\nthem two equally-matched shields for feats, and their eight-edged targes\nfor feats, and their eight small darts, and their eight straightswords with\nornaments of walrus-tooth and their eight lesser, ivoried spears which flew\nfrom them and to them like bees [LL.fo.84b.] on a day of fine weather.\n\nThey cast no weapon that struck not. Each of them was busy casting at\nthe other with those missiles from morning's early twilight till noon at\nmid-day, the while they overcame their various feats with the bosses and\nhollows of their feat-shields. However great the excellence of the throwing\non either side, equally great was the excellence of the defence, so that\nduring all that time neither of them bled or reddened the other. \"Let us\ncease now from this bout of arms, O Cuchulain,\" said Ferdiad; \"for it is\nnot by such our decision will come.\" \"Yea, surely, let us cease, if the\ntime hath come,\" answered Cuchulain. [1]Then[1] they ceased. They threw\ntheir feat-tackle from them into the hands of their charioteers.\n\n\"To what weapons shall we resort next, O Cuchulain?\" asked Ferdiad. \"Thine\nis the choice of weapons till nightfall,\" replied Cuchulain; \"for thou art\nhe that didst first reach the ford.\" \"Let us begin, then,\" said Ferdiad,\n\"with our straight-cut, smooth-hardened throwing-spears, with cords of\nfull-hard flax on them.\" \"Aye, let us begin then,\" assented Cuchulain. Then\nthey took on them two hard shields, equally strong. They fell to their\nstraight-cut, smooth-hardened spears with cords of full-hard flax on them.\nEach of them was engaged in casting at the other with the spears from the\nmiddle of noon [2]till yellowness came over the sun[2] at the hour of\nevening's sundown. However great the excellence of the defence, equally\ngreat was the excellence of the throwing on either side, so that [W.3578.]\neach of them bled and reddened and wounded the other during that time.\n[1]\"Wouldst thou fain make a truce, O Cucugan?\"[a] asked Ferdiad. \"It would\nplease me,\" replied Cuchulain; \"for whoso begins with arms has the right to\ndesist.\"[1] \"Let us leave off from this now, O Cuchulain,\" said Ferdiad.\n\"Aye, let us leave off, an the time hath come,\" answered Cuchulain. So they\nceased. They threw their arms from them into the hands of their\ncharioteers.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 12.\n\n    [1-1] H. 2. 12.\n\n    [a] See note, page 185.\n\nThereupon each of them went toward the other [2]in the middle of the\nford,[2] and each of them put his hand on the other's neck and gave him\nthree kisses [3]in remembrance of his fellowship and friendship.[3] Their\nhorses were in one and the same paddock that night, and their charioteers\nat one and the same fire; and their charioteers made ready a litter-bed of\nfresh rushes for them with pillows for wounded men on them. Then came\nhealing and curing folk to heal and to cure them, and they laid healing\nherbs and grasses and a curing charm on their cuts and stabs, their gashes\nand many wounds. Of every healing herb and grass and curing charm that\n[4]was brought from the fairy dwellings of Erin to Cuchulain and[4] was\napplied to the cuts and stabs, to the gashes and many wounds of Cuchulain,\na like portion thereof he sent across the ford westward to Ferdiad, [5]to\nput to his wounds and his pools of gore,[5] so that the men of Erin should\nnot have it to say, should Ferdiad fall at his hands, it was more than his\nshare of care had been given to him.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 12.\n\n    [3-3] H. 2. 12.\n\n    [4-4] H. 2. 12.\n\n    [5-5] H. 2. 12.\n\nOf every food and of every savoury, soothing and strong drink that was\nbrought by the men of Erin to Ferdiad, a like portion thereof he sent over\nthe ford northwards to Cuchulain; for the purveyors of Ferdiad were more\nnumerous than the purveyors of Cuchulain. All the men of Erin were\npurveyors to Ferdiad, to the end that he might keep [W.3598.] Cuchulain off\nfrom them. But only the inhabitants of Mag Breg ('the Plain of Breg') were\npurveyors to Cuchulain.  They were wont to come daily, that is, every\nnight, to converse with him.\n\nThey bided there that night. Early on the morrow they arose and went their\nways to the ford of combat. \"To what weapons shall we resort on this day, O\nFerdiad?\"  asked Cuchulain. [LL.fo.85a.] \"Thine is the choosing of weapons\ntill night time,\" Ferdiad made answer, \"because it was I had my choice of\nweapons on the day aforegone.\" \"Let us take, then,\" said Cuchulain, \"to our\ngreat, well-tempered lances to-day, for we think that the thrusting will\nbring nearer the decisive battle to-day than did the casting of yesterday.\nLet our horses be brought to us and our chariots yoked, to the end that we\nengage in combat over our horses and chariots on this day.\"  \"Aye, let us\ngo so,\" Ferdiad assented. Thereupon they girded two full-firm broad-shields\non them for that day. They took to their great, well-tempered lances on\nthat day. Either of them began to pierce and to drive, to throw and to\npress down the other, from early morning's twilight till the hour of\nevening's close. If it were the wont for birds in flight to fly through the\nbodies of men, they could have passed through their bodies on that day and\ncarried away pieces of blood and flesh through their wounds and their sores\ninto the clouds and the air all around. And when the hour of evening's\nclose was come, their horses were spent and their drivers were wearied, and\nthey themselves, the heroes and warriors of valour, were exhausted. \"Let us\ngive over now, O Ferdiad,\" said Cuchulain, \"for our horses are spent and\nour drivers tired, and when they are exhausted, why should we too not be\nexhausted?\" And in this wise he spake, and he uttered these words at that\nplace:--\n\n    \"We need not our chariots break--\n    This, a struggle fit for giants.\n\n    [W.3626.] Place the hobbles on the steeds,\n    Now that din of arms is o'er!\"\n\n\"Yea, we will cease, if the time hath come,\" replied Ferdiad. They ceased\n[1]then.[1] They threw their arms away from them into the hands of their\ncharioteers. Each of them came towards his fellow. Each laid his hand on\nthe other's neck and gave him three kisses. Their horses were in the one\npen that night, and their charioteers at the one fire. Their charioteers\nprepared [2]two[2] litter-beds of fresh rushes for them with pillows for\nwounded men on them. The curing and healing men came to attend and watch\nand mark them that night; for naught else could they do, because of the\ndirefulness of their cuts and their stabs, their gashes and their numerous\nwounds, but apply to them philtres and spells and charms, to staunch their\nblood and their bleeding and their deadly pains. Of every magic potion and\nevery spell and every charm that was applied to the cuts and stabs of\nCuchulain, their like share he sent over the ford westwards to Ferdiad. Of\nevery food and every savoury, soothing and strong drink that was brought\nby the men of Erin to Ferdiad, an equal portion he sent over the ford\nnorthwards to Cuchulain, for the victuallers of Ferdiad were more numerous\nthan the victuallers of Cuchulain. For all the men of Erin were Ferdiad's\nnourishers, to the end that he might ward off Cuchulain from them. But the\nindwellers of the Plain of Breg alone were Cuchulain's nourishers. They\nwere wont to come daily, that is, every night, to converse with him.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\nThey abode there that night. Early on the morrow they arose and repaired to\nthe ford of combat. Cuchulain marked an evil mien and a dark mood that day\n[3]beyond every other day[3] on Ferdiad. \"It is evil thou appearest to-day,\nO Ferdiad,\" spake Cuchulain; \"thy hair has [W.3653.] become dark[a] to-day,\nand thine eye has grown drowsy, and thine upright form [LL.fo.85b.] and thy\nfeatures and thy gait have gone from thee!\" \"Truly not for fear nor for\ndread of thee is that happened to me to-day,\" answered Ferdiad; \"for there\nis not in Erin this day a warrior I could not repel!\" [1]\"Alas, O Ferdiad,\"\nsaid Cuchulain, \"a pity it is for thee to oppose thy foster-brother and thy\ncomrade and friend, on the counsel of any woman in the world!\"  \"A pity it\nis, O Cuchulain,\" Ferdiad responded. \"But, should I part without a struggle\nwith thee, I should be in ill repute forever with Medb and with the nobles\nof the four grand provinces of Erin.\" \"A pity it is, O Ferdiad,\" said\nCuchulain; \"not on the counsel of all the men and women in the world would\nI desert thee or would I do thee harm.  And almost would it make a clot of\ngore of my heart to be combating with thee!\"[1]\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.\n\n    [a] An unusual colour of the hair betokened misfortune.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106.\n\nAnd Cuchulain lamented and moaned, and he spake these words and Ferdiad\nresponded:--\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Ferdiad, ah, if it be thou,\n               Well I know thou'rt doomed to die!\n               To have gone at woman's hest,\n               Forced to fight thy comrade sworn!\"\n\n      Ferdiad: \"O Cuchulain--wise decree--\n               Loyal champion, hero true,\n               Each man is constrained to go\n               'Neath the sod that hides his grave!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair,\n               Stately maiden though she be,\n               Not for love they'll give to thee,\n               But to prove thy kingly might!\"\n\n      Ferdiad: \"Proved was my might long since,\n               Cu of gentle spirit thou.\n               Of one braver I've not heard;\n               Till to-day I have not found!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Thou art he provoked this fight,\n               Son of Daman, Dare's son,\n               To have gone at woman's word,\n               Swords to cross with thine old friend!\"\n\n      Ferdiad: [W.3679.] \"Should we then unfought depart,\n               Brothers though we are, bold Hound,\n               Ill would be my word and fame\n               With Ailill and Cruachan's Medb!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Food has not yet passed his lips,\n               Nay nor has he yet been born,\n               Son of king or blameless queen,\n               For whom I would work thee harm!\"\n\n      Ferdiad: \"Culann's Hound, with floods of deeds,\n               Medb, not thou, hath us betrayed;\n               Fame and victory thou shalt have;\n               Not on thee we lay our fault!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Clotted gore is my brave heart,\n               Near I'm parted from my soul;\n               Wrongful 'tis--with hosts of deeds--\n               Ferdiad, dear, to fight with thee!\"\n\n[1]After this colloquy, Ferdiad spake:[1] \"How much soever thou findest\nfault with me to-day,\" said Ferdiad, [2]\"for my ill-boding mien and evil\ndoing, it will be as an offset to my prowess.\" And he said,[2] \"To what\nweapons shall we resort to-day?\" \"With thyself is the choice of weapons\nto-day till night time,\" replied Cuchulain, \"for it is I that chose on\nthe day gone by.\" \"Let us resort, then,\" said Ferdiad, \"to our heavy,\nhard-smiting swords this day, for we trow that the smiting each other will\nbring us nearer to the decision of battle to-day than was our piercing each\nother on yesterday.\" \"Let us go then, by all means,\" responded Cuchulain.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, Eg. 106.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 106.\n\nThen they took two full-great long-shields upon them for that day. They\nturned to their heavy, hard-smiting swords. Each of them fell to strike and\nto hew, to lay low and cut down, to slay and undo [3]his fellow,[3] till as\nlarge as the head of a month-old child was each lump and each cut, [4]each\nclutter and each clot of gore[4] that each of them took from the shoulders\nand thighs and shoulder-blades of the other.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 106.\n\n[W.3708.] Each of them was engaged in smiting the other in this way from\nthe twilight of early morning till the hour of evening's close. \"Let us\nleave off from this now, O Cuchulain!\" cried Ferdiad. \"Aye, let us leave\noff, if the hour has come,\" said Cuchulain. They parted [1]then, and[1]\nthrew their arms away from them into the hands of their charioteers. Though\nit had been the meeting of two happy, blithe, cheerful, joyful men, their\nparting that night was of two that were sad, sorrowful and full of\nsuffering. [2]They parted without a kiss a blessing or aught other sign of\nfriendship, and their servants disarmed the steeds, the squires and the\nheroes; no healing or curing herbs were sent from Cuchulain to Ferdiad that\nnight, and no food nor drink was brought from Ferdiad to him.[2] Their\nhorses were not in the same paddock that night. Their charioteers were not\nat the same fire.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] H. 2. 12.\n\nThey passed there that night. It was then that Ferdiad arose early on the\nmorrow and went alone to the ford of combat, [3]and dauntless, vengeful and\nmighty was the man that went thither that day, even Ferdiad son of\nDaman.[3] For he knew that that would be the decisive day of the battle and\ncombat; and he knew that one or other of them would fall there that day, or\nthat they both would fall.  It was then he donned his battle-weed of battle\nand fight and combat, [LL.fo.86a.] or ever Cuchulain came to meet him. And\nthus was the manner of this harness of battle and fight and combat: He put\nhis silken, glossy trews with its border of speckled gold, next to his\nwhite skin. Over this, outside, he put his brown-leathern, well-sewed\nkilt. Outside of this he put a huge, goodly flag, the size of a millstone,\n[4]the shallow (?) stone of adamant which he had brought from Africa and\nwhich neither points nor edges could pierce.[4] He put his solid, very\ndeep, iron kilt of twice molten iron over the huge, goodly flag as large as\na millstone, through [W.3730.] fear and dread of the Gae Bulga on that\nday. About his head he put his crested war-cap of battle and fight and\ncombat, whereon were forty carbuncle-gems beautifully adorning it and\nstudded with red-enamel and crystal and rubies and with [1]shining\nstones[1] of the Eastern world.  His angry, fierce-striking spear he seized\nin his right hand. On his left side he hung his curved battle-falchion,\n[2]which would cut a hair against the stream with its keenness and\nsharpness,[2] with its golden pommel and its rounded hilt of red gold. On\nthe arch-slope of his back he slung his massive, fine-buffalo shield [3]of\na warrior,[3] whereon were fifty bosses, wherein a boar could be shown in\neach of its bosses, apart from the great central boss of red gold. Ferdiad\nperformed divers, brilliant, manifold, marvellous feats on high that day,\nunlearned from any one before, neither from foster-mother nor from\nfoster-father, neither from Scathach nor from Uathach nor from Aife, but he\nfound them of himself that day in the face of Cuchulain.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 209.\n\n    [1-1] Reading with Egerton 106, which gives better sense than LL.'s\n    'brilliant plants.'\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\nCuchulain likewise came to the ford, and he beheld the various, brilliant,\nmanifold, wonderful feats that Ferdiad performed on high. \"Thou seest\nyonder, O Laeg my master, the divers, bright, numerous, marvellous feats\nthat Ferdiad performs on high, and I shall receive yon feats one after the\nother, and, therefore, [4]O Laeg,\" cried Cuchulain,[4] \"if defeat be my lot\nthis day, do thou prick me on and taunt me and speak evil to me, so that\nthe more my spirit and anger shall rise in me. If, however, before me his\ndefeat takes place, say thou so to me and praise me and speak me fair, to\nthe end that the greater may be my courage!\" \"It shall surely be done so,\nif need be, O Cucuc,\" Laeg answered.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\nThen Cuchulain, too, girded his war-harness of battle and [W.3757.] fight\nand combat about him, and performed all kinds of splendid, manifold,\nmarvellous feats on high that day which he had not learned from any one\nbefore, neither with Scathach nor with Uathach nor with Aife.\n\nFerdiad observed those feats, and he knew they would be plied against him\nin turn. \"To what weapons shall we resort [1]to-day[1], O Ferdiad?\" asked\nCuchulain. \"With thee is thy choice of weapons till night time,\" Ferdiad\nresponded. \"Let us go to the 'Feat of the Ford,' then,\" said Cuchulain.\n\"Aye, let us do so,\" answered Ferdiad. Albeit Ferdiad spoke that, he deemed\nit the most grievous thing whereto he could go, for he knew that in that\nsort Cuchulain used to destroy every hero and every battle-soldier who\nfought with him in the 'Feat of the Ford.'\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nGreat indeed was the deed that was done on the ford that day. The two\nheroes, the two champions, the two chariot-fighters of the west of Europe,\nthe two bright torches of valour of the Gael, the two hands of dispensing\nfavour and of giving rewards [2]and jewels and treasures[2] in the west of\nthe northern world, [LL.fo.86b.] [3]the two veterans[3] of skill and the\ntwo keys of bravery of the Gael, [4]the man for quelling the variance and\ndiscord of Connacht, the man for guarding the cattle and herds of\nUlster[4], to be brought together in encounter as from afar, [5]set to slay\neach other or to kill one of them[5], through the sowing of dissension and\nthe incitement of Ailill and Medb.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 106.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and Eg. 106.\n\nEach of them was busy hurling at the other in those deeds of arms from\nearly morning's gloaming till the middle of noon. When mid-day came, the\nrage of the men became wild, and each drew nearer to the other.\n\nThereupon Cuchulain gave one spring once from the bank of the ford till he\nstood upon the boss of Ferdiad macDaman's shield, seeking to reach his\nhead and to strike [W.3779.] it from above over the rim of the shield.\nStraightway Ferdiad gave the shield a blow with his left elbow, so that\nCuchulain went from him like a bird onto the brink of the ford. Again\nCuchulain sprang from the brink of the ford, so that he alighted upon the\nboss of Ferdiad macDaman's shield, that he might reach his head and strike\nit over the rim of the shield from above. Ferdiad gave the shield a thrust\nwith his left knee, so that Cuchulain went from him like an infant onto the\nbank of the ford.\n\nLaeg espied that. \"Woe then, [1]O Cuchulain!\"[1] cried Laeg; [2]\"meseems[2]\nthe battle-warrior that is against thee hath shaken thee as a fond woman\nshakes her child. He hath washed thee as a cup is washed in a tub. He hath\nground thee as a mill grinds soft malt. He hath pierced thee as a tool\nbores through an oak. He hath bound thee as the bindweed binds the trees.\nHe hath pounced on thee as a hawk pounces on little birds, so that no more\nhast thou right or title or claim to valour or skill in arms till the very\nday of doom and of life, thou little imp of an elf-man!\" cried Laeg.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\nThereat for the third time, Cuchulain arose with the speed of the wind, and\nthe swiftness of a swallow, and the dash of a dragon, and the strength (of\na lion) [3]into the clouds[3] of the air, till he alighted on the boss of\nthe shield of Ferdiad son of Daman, so as to reach his head that he might\nstrike it from above over the rim of his shield. Then it was that the\nbattle-warrior gave the shield a [4]violent and powerful[4] shake, so that\nCuchulain flew from it into the middle of the ford, the same as if he had\nnot sprung at all.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\nIt was then the first twisting-fit of Cuchulain took place, so that a\nswelling and inflation filled him like breath in a bladder, until he made a\ndreadful, terrible, many-coloured, wonderful bow of himself, so that as big\nas a giant or a man [W.3805.] of the sea was the hugely-brave warrior\ntowering directly over Ferdiad.\n\nSuch was the closeness of the combat they made, that their heads\nencountered above and their feet below and their hands in the middle over\nthe rims and bosses of the shields.\n\nSuch was the closeness of the combat they made, that their shields burst\nand split from their rims to their centres.\n\nSuch was the closeness of the combat they made, that their spears bent and\nturned and shivered from their tips to their rivets.\n\nSuch was the closeness of the combat they made, that the boccanach and the\nbananach ('the puck-faced Fays' and 'the white-faced Fays') and the sprites\nof the glens and the eldritch beings of the air screamed from the rims of\ntheir shields and from the guards of their swords and from the tips of\ntheir spears.\n\nSuch was the closeness of the combat they made, that they forced the river\nout of its bed and out of its course, so that there might have been a\nreclining place [LL.fo.87a.] for a king or a queen in the middle of the\nford, and not a drop of water was in it but what fell there with the\ntrampling and slipping which the two heroes and the two battle-warriors\nmade in the middle of the ford.\n\nSuch was the closeness of the combat they made, that the steeds of the Gael\nbroke loose affrighted and plunging with madness and fury, so that their\nchains and their shackles, their traces and tethers snapped, and the women\nand children and pygmy-folk, the weak and the madmen among the men of Erin\nbrake out through the camp south-westward.\n\nAt that time they were at the edge-feat of swords. It was then Ferdiad\ncaught Cuchulain in an unguarded moment, and he gave him a thrust with his\ntusk-hilted blade, so that he buried it in his breast, and his blood fell\ninto his belt, [W.3831.] till the ford became crimsoned with the clotted\nblood from the battle-warrior's body. Cuchulain endured it not, under\nFerdiad's attack, with his death-bringing, heavy blows, and his long\nstrokes and his mighty, middle slashes at him.\n\n[1]Then Cuchulain bethought him of his friends from Faery and of his mighty\nfolk who would come to defend him and of his scholars to protect him, what\ntime he would be hard pressed in the combat. It was then that Dolb and\nIndolb arrived to help and to succour their friend, namely Cuchulain,\n[2]and one of them went on either side of him and they smote Ferdiad, the\nthree of them, and Ferdiad did not perceive the men from Sid ('the Faery\nDwelling')[2]. Then it was that Ferdiad felt the onset of the three\ntogether smiting his shield against him, and he gave all his care and\nattention thereto, and thence he called to mind that, when they were with\nScathach and with Uathach [3]learning together, Dolb and Indolb used to\ncome to help Cuchulain out of every stress wherein he was.[3] Ferdiad\nspake: \"Not alike are our foster-brothership and our comradeship, O\nCuchulain,\" quoth he. \"How so, then?\" asked Cuchulain. \"Thy friends of the\nFairy-folk have succoured thee, and thou didst not disclose them to me\nbefore,\" said Ferdiad. \"Not easy for me were that,\" answered Cuchulain;\n\"for if the magic veil be once revealed to one of the sons of Mile,[a] none\nof the Tuatha De Danann ('the Folk of the Goddess Danu') will have power to\npractise concealment or magic. And why complainest thou here, [4]O\nFerdiad?\" said Cuchulain.[4] \"Thou hast a horn skin whereby to multiply\nfeats and deeds of arms on me, and thou hast not shown me how it is closed\nor how it is opened.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13. Eg. 106 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [2-2] Eg. 106.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 106.\n\n    [a] That is, the Milesians, the ancestors of the Irish.\n\nThen it was they displayed all their skill and secret cunning to one\nanother, so that there was not a secret of [W.3851.] either of them kept\nfrom the other except the Gae Bulga, which was Cuchulain's. Howbeit, when\nthe Fairy friends found Cuchulain had been wounded, each of them inflicted\nthree great, heavy wounds on him, on Ferdiad, to wit.  It was then that\nFerdiad made a cast to the right, so that he slew Dolb with that goodly\ncast. Then followed the two woundings and the two throws that overcame him,\ntill Ferdiad made a second throw towards Cuchulain's left, and with that\nthrow he stretched low and killed Indolb dead on the floor of the ford.\nHence it is that the story-teller sang the rann:--\n\n    \"Why is this called Ferdiad's Ford,\n    E'en though three men on it fell?\n    None the less it washed their spoils--\n    It is Dolb's and Indolb's Ford!\"\n\nWhat need to relate further! When the devoted, equally great sires[a]\n[2]and champions,[2] and the hard, battle-victorious wild beasts that\nfought for Cuchulain had fallen, it greatly strengthened the courage of\nFerdiad, so that he gave two blows for every blow of Cuchulain's. When Laeg\nson of Riangabair saw his lord being overcome by the crushing blows of the\nchampion who oppressed him, Laeg began to stir up and rebuke Cuchulain, in\nsuch a way that a swelling and an inflation filled Cuchulain [3]from top to\nground,[3] as the wind fills a spread, open banner, so that he made a\ndreadful, wonderful bow of himself like a sky-bow in a shower of rain, and\nhe made for Ferdiad with the violence of a dragon or the strength of a\nblood-hound.[1]\n\n    [1-1] See note 1, page 255.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\nAnd Cuchulain called for the Gae Bulga from Laeg son of Riangabair. This\nwas its nature: With the stream it was made ready, and from between the\nfork of the foot [a] Cuchulain was partly of divine birth, on one side the\nson of Lugh lamh-fhada ('Lug long-hand'), the Irish sun-god; on the earthly\nside he had also a mortal father, Sualtaim or Sualtach.] [W.3874.] it was\ncast; the wound of a single spear it gave when entering the body, and\nthirty[a] barbs had it when it opened, and it could not be drawn out of a\nman's flesh till [1]the flesh[1] had been cut about it.\n\n    [a] 'Twenty four,' YBL. 39b, 23, and Eg. 106; but 'five,' Eg. 209.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n[2]Thereupon Laeg came forward to the brink of the river and to the place\nwhere the fresh water was dammed, and the Gae Bulga was sharpened and set\nin position. He filled the pool and stopped the stream and checked the tide\nof the ford. Ferdiad's charioteer watched the work, for Ferdiad had said to\nhim early [3]in the morning:[3] \"Now, gilla, do thou hold back Laeg\nfrom me to-day, and I will hold back Cuchulain from thee [4]and thy men\nforever.\"[4] \"This is a pity,\" quoth the henchman; \"no match for him am I;\nfor a man to combat a hundred is he [5]amongst the men of Erin,[5] and that\nam I not. Still, however slight his help, it shall not come to his lord\npast me.\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 209.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n[6]Thus were the henchmen: two brothers were they, namely, Id[b] son of\nRiangabair, and Laeg[c] son of Riangabair.  As for Id son of Riangabair,[6]\nhe was then watching his brother [7]thus making the dam[7] till he filled\nthe pools and went to set the Gae Bulga downwards. It was then that Id went\nup and released the stream and opened the dam and undid the fixing of the\nGae Bulga. Cuchulain became deep purple and red all over when he saw the\nsetting undone on the Gae Bulga. He sprang from the top of the ground so\nthat he alighted light and quick on the rim of Ferdiad's shield. Ferdiad\ngave a [8]strong[8] shake to the shield, so that he hurled Cuchulain the\nmeasure of nine paces out to the westward over the ford. Then Cuchulain\ncalled and shouted to Laeg to set about preparing the Gae Bulga for him.\nLaeg hastened to the pool and began the work. Id [W.3895.] ran and opened\nthe dam and released it before the stream.  Laeg sprang at his brother and\nthey grappled on the spot.  Laeg threw Id and handled him sorely, for he\nwas loath to use weapons upon him. Ferdiad pursued Cuchulain westwards over\nthe ford. Cuchulain sprang on the rim of the shield. Ferdiad shook the\nshield, so that he sent Cuchulain the space of nine paces eastwards over\nthe ford. Cuchulain called and shouted to Laeg, [1]and bade him stop the\nstream and make ready the spear.[1] Laeg attempted to come nigh it, but\nFerdiad's charioteer let him not, so that Laeg turned on him and left him\non the sedgy bottom of the ford. He gave him many a heavy blow with\nclenched fist on the face and countenance, so that he broke his mouth and\nhis nose and put out his eyes and his sight, [3]and left him lying wounded\n(?) and full of terror.[3] And forthwith Laeg left him and filled the pool\nand checked the stream and stilled the noise of the river's voice, and set\nin position the Gae Bulga. After some time Ferdiad's charioteer arose from\nhis death-cloud, and set his hand on his face and countenance, and he\nlooked away towards the ford of combat and saw Laeg fixing the Gae Bulga.\nHe ran again to the pool and made a breach in the dike quickly and\nspeedily, so that the river burst out in its booming, bounding, bellying,\nbank-breaking billows making its own wild course. Cuchulain became purple\nand red all over when he saw the setting of the Gae Bulga had been\ndisturbed, and for the third time he sprang from the top of the ground and\nalighted on the edge of Ferdiad's shield, so as to strike him over the\nshield from above. Ferdiad gave a blow with his left knee against the\nleather of the bare shield, so that Cuchulain was thrown into the waves of\nthe ford.\n\n    [6-6] Eg. 106.\n\n    [b] Ferdiad's charioteer.\n\n    [c] Cuchulain's charioteer.\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 106.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 106.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\nThereupon Ferdiad gave three severe woundings to Cuchulain. Cuchulain cried\nand shouted [4]loudly[4] to Laeg to make ready the Gae Bulga for him. Laeg\nattempted to [W.3919.] get near it, but Ferdiad's charioteer prevented\nhim. Then Laeg grew [1]very[1] wroth [3]at his brother[3] and he made a\nspring at him, and he closed his long, full-valiant hands over him, so that\nhe quickly threw him to the ground and straightway [4]bound[4] him. And\n[5]then[5] he went from him quickly and courageously, so that he filled the\npool and stayed the stream and set the Gae Bulga. And he cried out to\nCuchulain that it was served, for it was not to be discharged without a\nquick word of warning before it. Hence it is that Laeg cried out:--\n\n    \"Ware! beware the Gae Bulga,\n    Battle-winning Culann's hound!\" _et reliqua._\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 106.\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106.\n\n    [2-2] See note 2, page 257.\n\n    [3-3] Eg. 106.\n\n    [4-4] Reading with Eg. 106.\n\n    [5-5] Eg. 106.\n\n[6]And he sent it to Cuchulain along the stream.[6]\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 39b, 20.\n\nThen it was that Cuchulain let fly the white Gae Bulga from the fork of his\nirresistible right foot. [7]Ferdiad began to defend the ford against\nCuchulain, so that the noble Cu arose with the swiftness of a swallow and\nthe wail of the storm-play in the rafters of the firmament, so that he laid\nhold of the breadth of his two feet of the bed of the ford, in spite of the\nchampion.[7] Ferdiad prepared for the feat according to the testimony\nthereof. He lowered his shield, so that the spear went over its edge into\nthe watery, water-cold river. And he looked at Cuchulain, and he saw all\nhis various, venomous feats made ready, and he knew not to which of them he\nshould first give answer, whether to the 'Fist's breast-spear,' or to the\n'Wild shield's broad-spear,' or to the 'Short spear from the middle of the\npalm,' or to the white Gae Bulga over the fair, watery river.[2]\n\n    [7-7] Eg. 209.\n\n[8]When Ferdiad saw that his gilla had been thrown[8] and heard the Gae\nBulga called for, he thrust his shield down to protect the lower part of\nhis body. Cuchulain gripped the short spear [9]which was in his hand,[9]\ncast it [W.3938.] off the palm of his hand over the rim of the shield and\nover the edge of the [1]corselet and[1] horn-skin, so that its farther half\nwas visible after piercing his heart in his bosom. Ferdiad gave a thrust of\nhis shield upwards to protect the upper part of his body, though it was\nhelp that came too late.  The gilla set the Gae Bulga down the stream, and\nCuchulain caught it in the fork of his foot, and [2]when Ferdiad raised\nhis shield[2] Cuchulain threw the Gae Bulga as far as he could cast\n[3]underneath[3] at Ferdiad, so that it passed through the strong, thick,\niron apron of wrought iron, and broke in three parts the huge, goodly stone\nthe size of a millstone, so that it cut its way through the body's\nprotection into him, till every joint and every limb was filled with its\nbarbs.\n\n    [8-8] Eg. 106.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\n\"Ah, that now sufficeth,\" sighed Ferdiad: \"I am fallen of that! But, yet\none thing more: mightily didst thou drive with thy right foot. And 'twas\nnot fair of thee for me to fall by thy hand.\" And he yet spake and uttered\nthese words:--\n\n    \"O Cu of grand feats,\n    Unfairly I'm slain!\n    Thy guilt clings to me;\n    My blood falls on thee!\n\n    \"No meed for the wretch[a]\n    Who treads treason's gap.\n    Now weak is my voice;\n    Ah, gone is my bloom!\n\n    \"My ribs' armour bursts,\n    My heart is all gore;\n    I battled not well;\n    I'm smitten, O Cu!\n\n    [4]\"Unfair, side by side,\n    To come to the ford.\n    'Gainst my noble ward[b]\n    Hath Medb turned my hand!\n\n    \"There'll come rooks and crows\n    To gaze on my arms,\n    To eat flesh and blood.\n    A tale, Cu, for thee!\"[4]\n\n    [a] Reading _taobh re taobh_.\n\n    [b] Omitting _seng_; the line has a syllable too many in the original.\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique_, tome xi, p. 327).\n\n[W.3964.] Thereupon Cuchulain hastened towards Ferdiad and clasped his two\narms about him, and bore him with all his arms and his armour and his dress\nnorthwards over the ford, that so it should be [1]with his face[1] to the\nnorth[a] of the ford the triumph took place and not to the west[b] of the\nford with the men of Erin. [LL.fo.87b.] Cuchulain laid Ferdiad there on the\nground, and a cloud and a faint and a swoon came over Cuchulain there by\nthe head of Ferdiad. Laeg espied it, and the men of Erin all arose for the\nattack upon him. \"Come, O Cucuc,\" cried Laeg; \"arise now [2]from thy\ntrance,[2] for the men of Erin will come to attack us, and it is not single\ncombat they will allow us, now that Ferdiad son of Daman son of Dare is\nfallen by thee.\" \"What availeth it me to arise, O gilla,\" moaned Cuchulain,\n\"now that this one is fallen by my hand?\" In this wise the gilla spake and\nhe uttered these words and Cuchulain responded:--\n\n         Laeg: \"Now arise, O Emain's Hound;\n                Now most fits thee courage high.\n                Ferdiad hast thou thrown--of hosts--\n                God's fate! How thy fight was hard!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"What avails me courage now?\n                I'm oppressed with rage and grief,\n                For the deed that I have done\n                On his body sworded sore!\"\n\n         Laeg: \"It becomes thee not to weep;\n                Fitter for thee to exult!\n                Yon red-speared one thee hath left\n                Plaintful, wounded, steeped in gore!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"Even had he cleaved my leg,\n                And one hand had severed too;\n                Woe, that Ferdiad--who rode steeds--\n                Shall not ever be in life!\"\n\n         Laeg: [W.3993.] \"Liefer far what's come to pass,\n                To the maidens of Red Branch;\n                He to die, thou to remain;\n                They grudge not that ye should part!\"\n\n    Cuchulain: \"From the day I Cualnge left,\n                Seeking high and splendid Medb,\n                Carnage has she had--with fame--\n                Of her warriors whom I've slain!\"\n\n         Laeg: \"Thou hast had no sleep in peace,\n                In pursuit of thy great Tain;\n                Though thy troop was few and small,\n                Oft thou wouldst rise at early morn!\"\n\n    [1-1] Eg. 106.\n\n    [a] That is, in Ulster. Stowe and Eg. 106 read '(with his face) to the\n    south.'\n\n    [b] That is, in Connacht.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\nCuchulain began to lament and bemoan Ferdiad, and he spake the words:\n\n\"Alas, O Ferdiad,\" [1]spake he,[1] \"'twas thine ill fortune thou didst not\ntake counsel with any of those that knew my real deeds of valour and arms,\nbefore we met in clash of battle!\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n\"Unhappy for thee that Laeg son of Riangabair did not make thee blush in\nregard to our comradeship!\n\n\"Unhappy for thee that the truly faithful warning of Fergus thou didst not\ntake!\n\n\"Unhappy for thee that dear, trophied, triumphant, battle-victorious Conall\ncounselled thee not in regard to our comradeship!\n\n[2]\"For those men would not have spoken in obedience to the messages or\ndesires or orders or false words of promise of the fair-haired women of\nConnacht.\n\n\"For well do those men know that there will not be born\na being that will perform deeds so tremendous and so great\n[3]among the Connachtmen as I,[3] till the very day of doom\nand of everlasting life, whether at handling of shield and\nbuckler, at plying of spear and sword, at playing at draughts\nand chess, at driving of steeds and chariots.\"[2]\n\n    [2-2] The order of these two paragraphs is that of Stowe; they are\n    found in the reverse order in LL.\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Stowe.\n\n[4]And he spake these warm words, sadly, sorrowfully in praise of\nFerdiad:--[4]\n\n    [4-4] Eg. 209.\n\n[W.4022.] \"There shall not be found the hand of a hero that will wound\nwarrior's flesh, like cloud-coloured Ferdiad!\n\n[1]\"There shall not be heard from the gap[a] the cry of red-mouthed Badb[b]\nto the winged, shade-speckled flocks![1]\n\n    [1-1] This difficult sentence is composed of two alliterating groups,\n    which it is impossible to follow in the translation.]\n\n    [a] That is, the battle breach.\n\n    [b] That is, the fury of war and carnage which appeared in the form of\n    a carrion crow.\n\n\"There shall not be one that will contend for Cruachan that will obtain\ncovenants equal to thine, till the very day of doom and of life\nhenceforward, O red-cheeked son of Daman!\" said Cuchulain.\n\nThen it was that Cuchulain arose and stood over Ferdiad: \"Ah, Ferdiad,\"\nspake Cuchulain \"greatly have the men of Erin deceived and abandoned thee,\nto bring thee to contend and do battle [LL.fo.88a.] with me. For no easy\nthing is it to contend and do battle with me on the Raid for the Kine of\nCualnge! [2]And yet, never before have I found combat that was so sore or\ndistressed me so as thy combat, save the combat with Oenfer Aife,[c] mine\none own son.\"[2] Thus he spake, and he uttered these words:--\n\n    \"Ah, Ferdiad, betrayed to death.\n    Our last meeting, oh, how sad!\n    Thou to die, I to remain.\n    Ever sad our long farewell!\n\n    \"When we over yonder dwelt\n    With our Scathach, steadfast, true,\n    This we thought till end of time,\n    That our friendship ne'er would end!\n\n    \"Dear to me thy noble blush;\n    Dear thy comely, perfect form;\n    Dear thine eye, blue-grey and clear;\n    Dear thy wisdom and thy speech!\n\n    \"Never strode to rending fight,\n    Never wrath and manhood held,\n    Nor slung shield across broad back,\n    One like thee, Daman's red son!\n\n    [W.4051.] \"Never have I met till now,\n    Since I Oenfer Aife slew,\n    One thy peer in deeds of arms,\n    Never have I found, Ferdiad!\n\n    \"Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair,\n    Beauteous, lovely though she be,\n    As a gad round sand or stones,\n    She was shown to thee, Ferdiad!\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209.\n\n    [c] That is, Conlaech.\n\nThen Cuchulain turned to gaze on Ferdiad. \"Ah, my master Laeg,\" cried\nCuchulain, \"now strip Ferdiad and take his armour and garments off him,\nthat I may see the brooch for the sake of which he entered on the combat\nand fight [1]with me.\"[1] Laeg came up and stripped Ferdiad.  He took his\narmour and garments off him and he saw the brooch [2]and he placed the\nbrooch in Cuchulain's hand,[2] and Cuchulain began to lament and complain\n[3]over Ferdiad,[3] and he spake these words:--\n\n    \"Alas, golden brooch;\n    Ferdiad of the hosts,\n    O good smiter, strong,\n    Victorious thy hand!\n\n    \"Thy hair blond and curled,\n    A wealth fair and grand.\n    Thy soft, leaf-shaped belt\n    Around thee till death!\n\n    \"Our comradeship dear;\n    Thy noble eye's gleam;\n    Thy golden-rimmed shield;\n    Thy sword,[a] treasures worth!\n\n    [4]\"Thy white-silver torque\n    Thy noble arm binds.\n    Thy chess-board worth wealth;\n    Thy fair, ruddy cheek![4]\n\n    \"To fall by my hand,\n    I own was not just!\n    'Twas no noble fight.\n    Alas, golden brooch!\n\n    [1]\"Thy death at Cu's hand\n    Was dire, O dear calf![a]\n    Unequal the shield\n    Thou hadst for the strife!\n\n    \"Unfair was our fight,\n    Our woe and defeat!\n    Fair the great chief;\n    Each host overcome\n    And put under foot!\n    Alas, golden brooch!\"[1]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n\n    [a] Reading with YBL. 39b, 31, as more intelligible than the\n    'chess-board' of LL., which occurs in the next stanza.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 39b, 31-33.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 39b, 35-39.\n\n    [a] A term of endearment which survives in Modern Irish.\n\n[W.4092.] \"Come, O Laeg my master,\" cried Cuchulain; \"now cut open Ferdiad\nand take the Gae Bulga out, because I may not be without my weapons.\" Laeg\ncame and cut open Ferdiad and he took the Gae Bulga out of him. And\nCuchulain saw his weapons bloody and red-stained by the side of Ferdiad,\nand he uttered these words:--\n\n    \"O Ferdiad, in gloom we meet.\n    Thee I see both red and pale.\n    I myself with unwashed arms;\n    Thou liest in thy bed of gore!\n\n    \"Were we yonder in the East,\n    Scathach and our Uathach near,\n    There would not be pallid lips\n    Twixt us two, and arms of strife!\n\n    \"Thus spake Scathach trenchantly (?),\n    Words of warning, strong and stern:\n    'Go ye all to furious fight;\n    German, blue-eyed, fierce will come!'\n\n    \"Unto Ferdiad then I spake,\n    And to Lugaid generous,\n    To the son of fair Baetan,[b]\n    German we would go to meet!\n\n    \"We came to the battle-rock,\n    Over Lake Linn Formait's shore.\n    And four hundred men we brought[c]\n    From the Isles of the Athissech!\n\n    \"As I stood and Ferdiad brave\n    At the gate of German's fort,\n    [LL.fo.88b.] I slew Rinn the son of Nel;\n    He slew Ruad son of Fornel!\n\n    [W.4122.] \"Ferdiad slew upon the slope\n    Blath, of Colba 'Red-sword' son.\n    Lugaid, fierce and swift, then slew\n    Mugairne of the Tyrrhene Sea!\n\n    \"I slew, after going in,\n    Four times fifty grim, wild men.\n    Ferdiad killed--a furious horde--\n    Dam Dremenn and Dam Dilenn!\n\n    \"We laid waste shrewd German's fort\n    O'er the broad, bespangled sea.\n    German we brought home alive\n    To our Scathach of broad shield!\n\n    \"Then our famous nurse made fast\n    Our blood-pact[a] of amity,\n    That our angers should not rise\n    'Mongst the tribes of noble Elg!\n\n    \"Sad the morn, a day in March,\n    Which struck down weak Daman's son.\n    Woe is me, the friend is fall'n\n    Whom I pledged in red blood's draught![a]\n\n    \"Were it there I saw thy death,\n    Midst the great Greeks' warrior-bands,\n    I'd not live on after thee,\n    But together we would die!\n\n    \"Woe, what us befel therefrom,\n    Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings,\n    Me sore wounded, red with blood,\n    Thee no more to drive thy car!\n\n    \"Woe, what us befel therefrom,\n    Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings,\n    Me sore wounded, stiff with gore,\n    Thee to die the death for aye!\n\n    \"Woe, what us befel therefrom,\n    Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings,\n    Thee in death, me, strong, alive.\n    Valour is an angry strife!\"\n\n    [b] That is, Ferbaeth.\n\n    [c] That is, as prisoners.\n\n    [a] Referring to the Celtic custom of binding an alliance by each of\n    the parties thereto drinking the blood of the other.\n\n\"Good, O Cucuc,\" spake Laeg, \"let us leave this ford now; too long are we\nhere!\" \"Aye, let us leave it, O my master Laeg,\" replied Cuchulain. \"But\nevery combat and battle I have fought seems a game and a sport to me\ncompared with the combat and battle of Ferdiad.\" Thus he spake, and he\nuttered these words:--\n\n    [W.4164.] \"All was play, all was sport,\n    Till came Ferdiad to the ford!\n      One task for both of us,\n        Equal our reward.\n        Our kind, gentle nurse\n        Chose him over all!\n\n    \"All was play, all was sport,\n    Till came Ferdiad to the ford!\n      One our life, one our fear,\n        One our skill in arms.\n        Shields gave Scathach twain\n        To Ferdiad and me!\n\n    \"All was play, all was sport,\n    Till came Ferdiad to the ford!\n      Dear the shaft of gold[a]\n        I smote on the ford.\n        Bull-chief of the tribes,\n        Braver he than all!\n\n    \"Only games and only sport,\n    Till came Ferdiad to the ford!\n    Lion, furious, flaming, fierce;\n    Swollen wave that wrecks like doom!\n\n    \"Only games and only sport,\n    Till came Ferdiad to the ford!\n    Loved Ferdiad seemed to me\n    After me would live for aye!\n    Yesterday, a mountain's size--\n    He is but a shade to-day!\n\n    \"Three things countless on the Tain\n    Which have fallen by my hand:\n    Hosts of cattle, men and steeds,\n    I have slaughtered on all sides!\n\n    \"Though the hosts were e'er so great,\n    That came out of Cruachan wild,\n    More than third and less than half,\n    Slew I in my direful sport!\n\n    \"Never trod in battle's ring;\n    Banba[b] nursed not on her breast;\n    Never sprang from sea or land,\n    King's son that had larger fame!\"\n\n    [a] That is, Ferdiad.\n\n    [b] An old name for Ireland.\n\nThus far [1]the Combat of Ferdiad with Cuchulain[1] and the Tragical Death\nof Ferdiad.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and Eg. 209.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 268]\n\n\n\n\nXXI\n\n[1]CUCHULAIN AND THE RIVERS[1]\n\n\n[2]Now while the hosts proceeded from Ath Firdead ('Ferdiad's Ford')\nsouthwards, Cuchulain lay in his sickbed in that place.[2] [LL.fo.89a.]\nThen came certain men of the Ulstermen thither to help and succour\nCuchulain. [W.4205.] [3]Before all,[3] Senoll Uathach and the two sons of\nGege: Muridach and Cotreb, to wit. And they bore him to the streams and\nrivers of Conalle Murthemni, to rub and to wash his stabs and his cuts, his\nsores and his many wounds in the face of these streams and rivers. For the\nTuatha De Danann ('the Tribes divine of Danu') were wont to put herbs and\nplants of healing and a curing charm in the waters and rivers of the\nterritory of Conalle Murthemni, to help and to succour Cuchulain, so that\nthe streams were speckled and green-topped therewith.\n\n    [1-1] This sub-title is supplied by Windisch.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 40a, 1-2.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 40a, 3.\n\nAccordingly these are the names of the healing rivers of Cuchulain:--\n\nSas, Buan, [4]Buas,[4] Bithslan, Findglas ('Whitewater'), Gleoir,\nGlenamain, Bedg, Tadg, Telameit, Rind, Bir, Brenide, Dichaem, Muach,\nMiliuc, Cumung, Cuilind, Gainemain, Drong, Delt, Dubglas ('Blackwater').\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n[5]Then was the grave of Ferdiad dug by the men of Erin and his funeral\ngames were held.[5]\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 269]\n\n\n\n\nXXII\n\n[1]CETHERN'S STRAIT-FIGHT[1]\n\n\n[2]While now Cuchulain went to bathe in the waters, the hosts went by to\nthe south till they pitched camp at Imorach Smiromrach ('Edge of the\nMarrow-bath').[2] [W.4238.] Then said the men of Erin to macRoth the\nchief runner, to go watch and keep guard for them at Sliab Fuait, to the\nend that the Ulstermen might not come upon them without warning and\nunobserved. Thereupon macRoth went [3]from the host southwards[3] as far as\nSliab Fuait [4]to spy out the men of Ulster, to learn if any one came after\nthem.[4] MacRoth was not long there when he saw something: a lone chariot\non Sliab Fuait making from the north straight towards him. A fierce man,\nstark-naked, in that chariot coming towards him, without arms, without\narmour at all save an iron spit in his hand. In equal manner he goaded his\ndriver and his horses [5]at one and the same time.[5] And it seemed to him\nthat he would never in his life come up to the hosts. And macRoth hastened\nto tell this news [6]at the fort[6] where Ailill and Medb and Fergus were\nand the nobles of the men of Erin. Ailill asked tidings of him on his\narrival. \"Aye, macRoth,\" inquired Ailill; \"hast thou seen any of the\nUlstermen on the track of the host this day?\" \"That, truly, I know not,\"\nanswered macRoth; \"but I saw something: a lone chariot coming over Sliab\nFuait [W.4252.] [1]from the north[1] straight towards us. A [2]white,\ngrey,[2] wild, stark-naked man in the chariot, without arms or armour at\nall, except for an iron spit in his hand. In equal manner he prodded his\ndriver and his steeds. It seemed to him he would never in his life come up\nto the host. [3]A brindled greyhound before him.\"[3] \"Who, thinkest thou,\nmight it be, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill. [4]\"Is it Conchobar or Celtchar?\"[4]\n\"Of a truth, [5]that is not likely,\"[5] Fergus answered; \"meseems it is\nCethern son of [6]generous, red-edged[6] Fintan [7]from Line in the\nnorth[7] that came there. [8]And if so it be, ye shall be on your guard\nagainst him!\"[8] Fergus indeed spoke true, that it was Fintan's son Cethern\nthat was come there. And so Cethern son of Fintan came on them, and the\ncamp and the garrison were confounded and he wounded all around him in\nevery direction and on all sides [9]and they wounded him in like manner.[9]\nAnd then [10]Cethern[10] left them, [11]and it was thus he went, and the\nfront-guard of the chariot pressed up against his belly to keep his\nentrails and vitals within him,[11] [12]and his intestines were wound about\nhis legs.[12] He came to the place where was Cuchulain, to be healed and\ncured, and he demanded a leech of Cuchulain to heal and to cure him.\n[13]Cuchulain had compassion on his wounds;[13] [14] a bed of fresh rushes\nwas made for him and a pillow set to it.[14] \"Come, master Laeg!\" cried\nCuchulain. [15]\"Arise,[15] away with thee to the garrison and camp of the\nmen of Erin and summon [LL.fo.89.] the leeches to come out to cure Cethern\nmacFintain. I give my word, e'en though it be under the [W.4270.] ground or\nin a well-shut house they are, I myself will bring death and destruction\nand slaughter upon them before this hour to-morrow, if they come not [1]to\nminister to Cethern.\"[1]\n\n    [1-1] This heading is taken from the colophon of the episode.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 40a, 9-12.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 40a, 12-13.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 40a, 12-14.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, and YBL. 41a, 10.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 41a, 11.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 41a, 15.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 40a, 17.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 40a, 17.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 40a, 18.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe and YBL. 41a, 10.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] I have translated from the more circumstantial account in\n    Stowe. LL. has, simply, 'his entrails and bowels outside on him.'\n\n    [12-12] YBL. 40a, 21.\n\n    [13-13] YBL. 40a, 22.\n\n    [14-14] YBL. 40a, 23-24.\n\n    [15-15] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 40a, 29.\n\nLaeg went his way to the quarters and camp of the men of Erin, and he\ncalled upon the leeches of the men of Erin to go forth to cure Cethern son\nof Fintan. Truth to tell, the leeches of the men of Erin were unwilling to\ngo cure their adversary, their enemy and their stranger-foe. But they\nfeared Cuchulain would work death and destruction and slaughter upon them\nif they went not. And so they went. As one man of them [2]after the\nother[2] came to him, Cethern son of Fintan showed him his stabs and his\ncuts, his sores and his bloody wounds. [3]When the first leech that came\nlooked at him, \"thou wilt not live,\" he declared. \"Neither wilt thou for\nthis,\" replied Cethern.[3] Each man of them that said he would not live and\ncould not be healed, Cethern son of Fintan struck him a blow with his right\nfist in the front of his forehead, so that he drove the brains out through\nthe windows of his ears and the seams of his skull. Howbeit Cethern son of\nFintan killed them till, by reason of him, there had come fifteen[a]\nleeches of the leeches of the men of Erin, [4]as the historian hath\ndeclared in proof thereof:--\n\n    \"These the leeches of the Tain,\n    Who by Cethern--bane--did fall.\n    No light thing, in floods of tribes,\n    That their names are known to me:\n\n    \"Litte, Luaidren, known o'er sea,\n    Lot and Luaimnech, 'White-hand' Lonn,\n    Latheirne skilful, also Lonn,\n    Laisre, Slanoll 'That cures all.'\n\n    \"Dubthach, Fintan's blameless son,\n    Fintan, master Firfial, too,\n    Maine, Boethan 'Gives not pain,'\n    Eke his pupil, Boethan's son.\n\n    \"These the leeches, five and ten,\n    Struck to death by Cethern, true;\n    I recall them in my day;\n    They are in the leeches' roll!\"[4]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 40a, 31-33.\n\n    [a] 'Fifty or fifteen,' YBL. 40a, 35.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 18,748.\n\n[W.4284.] Yea, even the fifteenth leech, it was but the tip of a blow that\nreached him. Yet he fell lifeless of the great stun between the bodies of\nthe other physicians and lay there for a long space and time. Ithall, leech\nof Ailill and Medb, was his name.\n\nThereafter Cethern son of Fintan asked another leech of Cuchulain to heal\nand to cure him [1]forasmuch as the leeches of the men of Erin had failed\nhim.[1] \"Come, master Laeg,\" quoth Cuchulain, \"go for me to Fingin the\nseer-leech, at 'Fingin's Grave-mound' at Leccan ('the Brow') of Sliab\nFuait, [2]him that is[2] leech to Conchobar. Bid him come to heal Cethern\nson of Fintan.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 40a, 40.\n\n\nLaeg hastened to Fingin the seer-leech at 'Fingin's Grave-mound' at Leccan\nof Sliab Fuait, to the leech of Conchobar. And he told him to go cure\nCethern son of Fintan. Thereupon Fingin the prophet-leech came [3]with him\nto where Cuchulain and Cethern were.[3] As soon as he was come, Cethern son\nof Fintan showed him his stabs and his cuts, his sores and his bloody\nwounds.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 273]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIa\n\n[1]CETHERN'S BLOODY WOUNDS[1]\n\n\n[W.4299.] [2]\"Look at this bloody wound for me, O Fingin,\" said Cethern.[2]\nFingin looked at the bloody wound. \"Why, it is a slight, unwillingly given\nwound we behold here,\" said the leech; [3]\"even a wound that some one of\nthine own blood hath given thee, and no desire or wish had he therefor,[3]\nand it will not carry thee off at once.\" \"That, now, is true,\" exclaimed\nCethern. \"A lone man came upon me there; bushy hair on him; a blue mantle\nwrapped around him; a silver brooch in the mantle over his breast; an oval\nshield with plaited rim he bore; a five-pointed spear in his hand; a\npronged spare spear at his side. He gave this bloody wound. He bore away a\nslight wound from me too.\" \"Why, we know that man!\" cried Cuchulain; \"'twas\nIllann Ilarchless ('Illann of many feats') son of Fergus [4]macRoig.[4] And\nhe would not wish that thou shouldst fall by his hand, but he gave thee\nthis mock-blow that the men of Erin might not have it to say it was to\nbetray them or to forsake them if he gave it not.\"\n\n    [1-1] The heading is taken from LL.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 41b, 19.\n\n\"Now look at this bloody wound for me, O Fingin my master,\" said\nCethern. Fingin looked closely into the bloody wound. \"Why, 'tis a woman's\nwanton deed of arms we behold here,\" said the leech; [5]\"namely the wound\nwhich a warrior-woman inflicted on thee,\" said he.[5] \"Aye, that is true\nthen,\" quoth Cethern; \"a woman [W.4314.] came upon me there by herself. A\nwoman, beautiful, fair-faced, long-cheeked, tall; a golden-yellow head of\nhair [1]down to the top of her two shoulder-blades she wore; a smock of\nroyal sammet next to her white skin;[1] [2]two birds of gold on her\nshoulders;[2] a purple cloak without other colour she had around her;\n[LL.fo.90a.] a brooch of gold in the cloak over her bosom; a straight,\nridged spear, red-flaming in her hand. She it was that gave me this bloody\nwound. She bore away a slight wound from me too.\" \"Ah, but we know that\nwoman,\" cried Cuchulain; \"Medb daughter of Eocho Fedlech, daughter of the\nHigh King of Erin; it is she that came unto us in that dress. A victory and\ntriumph and trophy she had considered it hadst thou fallen at her hands.\"\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 41b, 5.\n\n\"Look at this bloody wound for me too, O Fingin my master,\" said Cethern.\nFingin looked at the bloody wound. \"Why, the feat of arms of two warriors\nis this,\" said the leech; [3]\"that is to say, two warriors inflicted these\ntwo wounds as one wound upon thee.\"[3] \"Yea, that is true,\" answered\nCethern. \"There came two [4]men-at-arms[4] upon me in that place; two, with\nbushy hair on them; two blue cloaks wrapped around them; brooches of silver\nin the cloaks over their breasts; a necklace of all-white silver around the\nneck of each of them; [5]two long shields they bore; two hard chains of\nsilver on each of them; a band of silver around them; two five-pointed\nspears they bore; a vein of silver around them.[5] [6]They smote me this\nwound and I smote a little wound on each of them.\"[6] \"Indeed we know that\npair,\" quoth Cuchulain; \"Oll and Othine they, of the bodyguard of Ailill\nand Medb; they never go to a hosting, [7]to battle or combat,[7] but when\nthe wounding of a man is certain. They would have held [W.4330.] it for\nvictory and triumph and a boast hadst thou fallen at their hands.\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 41b, 21-26.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n\"Look on this bloody wound also for me, O Fingin my master,\" said Cethern.\nFingin looked closely at the bloody wound. \"There came upon me a pair of\nyoung warriors of the Fian,\" [1]said Cethern;[1] \"a splendid, manly\nappearance they had. Each of them cast a spear at me. I drave this spear\nthrough the one of them.\" Fingin looked into the bloody wound. \"Why, this\nblood is all black,\" quoth the leech; \"through thy heart those spears\npassed so that they formed a cross of themselves through thy heart, [2]and\nthy healing and curing are not easy;[2] and I prophesy no cure here, but I\nwould get thee some healing plants and curing charms that they destroy thee\nnot forthwith.\"  \"Ah, but we know them, that pair,\" quoth Cuchulain; \"Bun\nand Mecconn ('Stump' and 'Root') are they, of the bodyguard of Ailill and\nMedb. It was their hope that thou shouldst fall at their hands.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 41b, 30.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n\"Look at this bloody wound for me, too, O Fingin my master,\" said\nCethern. Fingin examined the bloody wound. \"Why, it is the red rush of the\ntwo sons of Ri Caile ('the King of the Woods') that is here,\" said the\nleech. \"Aye, 'tis so,\" replied Cethern; \"there attacked me there two\nfair-faced, dark-browed youths, huge, with diadems of gold [3]on their\nheads.[3] Two green mantles folded about them; two pins of bright silver on\nthe mantles over their breasts; two five-pronged spears in their hands.\"\n\"Why, near each other are the bloody wounds they gave thee,\" said the\nleech; \"into thy gullet they went, so that the points of the spears struck\none another within thee, and none the easier is it to work thy cure here.\"\n\"We know that pair,\" quoth Cuchulain; [4]\"noble youths of Medb's great\nhousehold,[4] Broen and Brudni, are they, [5]two[5] [W.4352.] sons of Ri\nteora Soillse ('the King of the three Lights'), that is, the two sons of\nthe King of the Woods. It had been victory and triumph and a boast for\nthem, hadst thou fallen at their hands.\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 41b, 41.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n\"Look at this bloody wound for me, too, my good Fingin,\" said Cethern.\nFingin looked into the bloody wound. \"The joint deed of two brothers is\nhere,\" said the leech. \"'Tis indeed true,\" replied Cethern. \"There came\nupon me two leading, king's warriors. Yellow hair upon them; dark-grey\nmantles with fringes, wrapped around them; leaf-shaped brooches of silvered\nbronze in the mantles over their breasts; broad, grey lances in their\nhands.\" \"Ah, but we know that pair,\" quoth Cuchulain; \"Cormac Colomon rig\n('King's pillar') is the one, and Cormac son of Mael Foga, of the bodyguard\nof Ailill and Medb (the other). What they sought was that thou shouldst\nfall at their hands.\"\n\n\"Look at this bloody wound for me too, O Fingin my master,\" said Cethern.\n[LL.fo.90b.] Fingin looked into that bloody wound. \"The assault of two\nbrothers is here,\" said the leech. \"Aye then, 'tis true,\" answered Cethern.\n\"There came upon me two tender youths there; very much alike were they;\ncurly [1]dark[1] hair on the one of them; curly yellow hair on the other;\ntwo green cloaks wrapped around them; two bright-silver brooches in the\ncloaks over their breasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk [2]with hoods\nand red embroidery[2] next their skin; [3]two[3] white-hilted swords at\ntheir belts; two bright shields having the likenesses of beasts in white\nsilver they bore; two five-pronged spears with veins of all-white silver in\ntheir hands.\" \"Ah, but we know that pair,\" quoth Cuchulain; \"Mane 'Like to\nhis mother' and Mane 'Like to his father,' two sons of Ailill and Medb; and\nit would be matter of victory, [W.4377.] triumph and boasting to them,\nhadst thou fallen at their hands.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 42a, 28.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 42a, 30-31.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n\"Look at this bloody wound for me, too, O Fingin my master,\" said Cethern.\n\"There came upon me a pair of young warriors of the Fian there. A brilliant\nappearance, stately-tall and manlike, they had; wonderful garments from\nfar-away countries upon them. Each of them thrust [1]the spear he had[1] at\nme. [2]Then[2] I thrust [3]this spear[3] through each of them.\" Fingin\nlooked into the bloody wound. \"Cunning are the bloody wounds they inflicted\nupon thee,\" said the leech; \"they have severed the strings of thy heart\nwithin thee, so that thy heart rolls about in thy breast like an apple in\nmotion or like a ball of yarn in an empty bag, and there is no string at\nall to support it; [4]and there is no means to cure thee or to save\nthee,[4] and no healing can I effect here.\" \"Ah, but we know those twain,\"\nquoth Cuchulain; \"a pair of champions from Norway who, [5]because of their\ncunning and violence,[5] have been sent particularly by Ailill and Medb to\nslay thee; for not often does one ever issue alive from their combats, and\nit would be their will that thou shouldst fall at their hands.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and YBL. 42a, 1.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n\"Look upon this bloody wound for me too, my good Fingin,\" said Cethern.\nFingin looked at that bloody wound in like manner. \"Why, the alternate\nwoundings of a son and his father we behold here,\" answered the leech.\n\"Yea, it is so,\" quoth Cethern; \"two tall men, red as torches, came upon me\nthere, with diadems of burnished gold upon them; kingly garments they wore;\ngold-hilted, hammered swords at their girdles, with scabbards of pure-white\nsilver, [6]with a cunningly ornamented and delicate embossing[6] and\nsupports of mottled gold outside upon them. \"Ah, but we know that pair,\"\nquoth Cuchulain; \"Ailill and his [W.4399.] son are they, Mane 'That\nembraces the traits of them all.'  They would deem it victory and triumph\nand a boast shouldst thou fall at their hands.\"\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\nThus far the \"Bloody Wounds\" of the Tain.\n\n\"Speak, O Fingin prophetic leech,\" spake Cethern son of Fintan; \"what\nverdict and what counsel givest me now?\" \"This verily is what I say to\nthee,\" replied Fingin the prophetic leech: \"Count not on thy big cows for\nyearlings this year; for if thou dost, it is not thou that will enjoy them,\nand no profit will they bring thee.\" \"This is the judgement and counsel the\nother surgeons did give me, and certain it is it brought them neither\nadvantage nor profit, and they fell at my hands; and none the more will it\nbring thee advantage or profit, and thou shalt fall at my hands!\" And he\ngave Fingin a strong, stiff kick with his foot, and sent him between the\nchariot's two wheels [1]and the creaking of the chariot might be heard afar\noff.[1]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n\"Oh, but vicious is the kick from the old warrior,\" cried Cuchulain;\n[2]\"'twould be more fitting if thou shouldst ply it on foes than on\nleech!\"[2] Hence, from this saying, is the name Uachtar Lua ('the Height of\nthe Kick') in the land of Ross from then until this day.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 42a, 50-51.\n\nNevertheless [LL.fo.91a.] Fingin the prophet-leech gave his choice to\nCethern son of Fintan: A long illness for him and afterwards to obtain help\nand succour, or a red[a] healing for the space of three days and three\nnights, so that he might then employ his strength on his enemies. What\nCethern son of Fintan chose was a red healing for the space of three days\nand three nights, to the end that he might then vent [3]his anger and[3]\nstrength on his enemies. For what he said was that there would not be found\nafter him any one he would rather have vindicate or avenge him than\nhimself. [W.4420.] Thereupon Fingin the prophetic leech asked of Cuchulain\na vat of marrow wherewith to heal and to cure Cethern son of Fintan.\nCuchulain proceeded to the camp and entrenchment of the men of Erin, and\nwhatsoever he found of herds and flocks and droves there he took away with\nhim. And he made a marrow-mash of their flesh and their bones and their\nskins; and Cethern son of Fintan was placed in the marrow-bath till the end\nof three days and three nights. And his flesh began to drink in the\nmarrow-bath about him and the marrow-bath entered in within his stabs and\nhis cuts, his sores and his many wounds. Thereafter he arose from the\nmarrow-bath at the end of three days and three nights, [1]and he slept a\nday and a night after taking in the marrow.[1] [2]\"I have no ribs more,\"\nsaid Cethern; \"put the ribs of the chariot-box into me.\" \"Thou shalt have\nit,\" Cuchulain made answer.[2] It was thus Cethern arose, with a slab of\nthe chariot pressed to his belly so that his entrails and bowels would not\ndrop out of him. [3]\"Had I my own weapons,\" said Cethern, \"the story of\nwhat I would do would live forever!\"[3]\n\n    [a] That is, 'extreme or drastic.'\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 42b, 7.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 42b, 8-9.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 42b, 10-11.\n\nThat was the time when his wife came from the north, from Dun da Benn\n('Fort of the two Gables'), and she brought his sword with her, even Finna\ndaughter of Eocho. [4]\"What seest thou?\" asked Cethern.[4] [5]\"Meseems,\"\nanswered Cuchulain, \"'tis the chariot of little Finna, Eocho's daughter,\nthy wife, that comes nigh us.\"[5] [6]And they saw the woman, with the arms\nin the chariot.[6] Cethern son of Fintan [7]seized his arms[7] and\nproceeded to attack the men of Erin, [8]with the chariot-box bound around\nhis back, for he was not the stronger therefor.[8] But this is to be added:\nThey sent a warning before him; Ithall,[a] physician of Ailill and Medb,\nhad remained as one dead of [W.4436.] the great stun [1]from the blow of\nCethern[1] among the bodies of the other leeches for a long space and time,\n[2]and continued in that state till then; at last he rose and rushed to the\nencampment,[2] [3]and he, the leech that had alone escaped from Cethern,\nbrought the alarm to the camp.[3]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 42b, 13.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 42b, 14.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 42b, 16.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 42b, 17.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 42b, 18-19.\n\n    [a] See above, page 272.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 42b, 20.\n\n\"Hark, ye men of Erin,\" shouted the leech; \"Cethern son of Fintan comes to\nattack you, now that he has been healed and cured by Fingin the prophetic\nleech, and take ye heed of him!\" Thereat the men of Erin [4]in fear[4] put\nAilill's dress and his golden shawl [5]and his regal diadem[5] on the\npillar-stone in Crich Ross, that it might be thereon that Cethern son of\nFintan should first give vent to his anger on his arrival. [6]Eftsoons[6]\nCethern [7]reached the place where he[7] saw those things, namely Ailill's\ndress and his golden shawl around the standing-stone in Crich Ross, and he,\nbeing unaware and weetless, conceived it to be Ailill himself that was in\nit. And he made a rush at it like a blast of wind and drave the sword\nthrough the stone pillar till it went up to its pommel, [8]so that his fist\nwent through it after the sword.[8] \"Deceit is here,\" cried Cethern son of\nFintan, \"and on me have ye worked this deceit. And I swear an oath, till\nthere be found among ye [9]of the men of Erin[9] one that will put yon\nroyal dress about him and the golden shawl, I will not stay my hand from\nthem, slaughtering and destroying withal!\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 42b, 22.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe\n\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 42b, 24.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\nMane Andoe son of Ailill and Medb heard that, and he put [10]his\nfather's[10] royal raiment about him and the golden shawl [11]and the\ndiadem on his head, and he snatched them up in his chariot before him[11]\nand dashed off through the midst of the men of Erin. Cethern son of Fintan\npursued him closely and hurled his shield the length of a cast at him,\n[W.4454.] so that the chiselled rim of the shield clave him[a] to the\nground, with chariot, driver, and horses. [1]When the men of Erin saw\nthat,[1] they surrounded Cethern on every side [2]and made him a victim of\nspears and lances,[2] so that he fell at their hands in the strait wherein\nhe was. Wherefore 'Cethern's Strait-Fight and the Bloody Wounds of Cethern'\n[3]is the name of this tale.[3]\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 42b, 29-30.\n\n    [a] Omitting _i tri_, 'in three'; it is not found in Stowe or in YBL.\n    and seems out of place here.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n[4]His wife, Finna[b] daughter of Eocho Salbuide ('Yellow-heel') stood over\nhim and she was in great sorrow, and she made the funeral-song below:--\n\n    \"I care for naught, care for naught;\n    Ne'er more man's hand 'neath my head,\n    Since was dug the earthy bed,\n    Cethern's bold, of Dun da Benn!\n\n    \"Kingly Cethern, Fintan's son;\n    Few were with him on the ford.\n    Connacht's men with all their host,\n    For nine hours he left them not!\n\n    \"Arms he bore not--this an art--\n    But a red, two-headed pike;\n    With it slaughtered he the host,\n    While his anger still was fresh!\n\n    \"Felled by double-headed pike,\n    Cethern's hand held, with their crimes,[c]\n    Seven times fifty of the hosts,\n    Fintan's son brought to their graves!\n\n    \"Willa-loo, oh, willa-loo!\n    Woman's[d] wandering through the mist.\n    Worse it is for him that's dead.\n    She that lives may find a man![e]\n\n    \"Never I shall take a man[e]\n    Of the hosts of this good world;\n    Never shall I sleep with man;\n    Never shall my man with wife!\n\n    [W.4485.] \"Dear the homestead, 'Horse-head's Dun,'[a]\n    Where our hosts were wont to go.\n    Dear the water, soft and sweet;\n    Dear the isle, 'Isle of the Red!'[b]\n\n    \"Sad the care, oh, sad the care,\n    Cualnge's Cow-raid brought on me:\n    Cethern, Fintan's son, to keen.\n    Oh that he had shunned his woe!\n\n    \"Great the doings, these, oh, great,\n    And the deed that here was done:\n    I bewailing him till death,\n    Him that has been smitten down!\n\n    \"Finna, Eocho's daughter, I,\n    Found a fight of circling spears.\n    Had my champion had his arms:\n    By his side a slaughtered heap!\"[4]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add. 18,748.\n\n    [b] Reading Finna, to agree with the reading in LL., _supra_, page 279.\n    Inna, in Stowe, etc.\n\n    [c] That is, unshrived of their sins (?), a Christian intrusion\n\n    [d] Literally, 'heifer's.'\n\n    [e] Literally, 'a bull.'\n\n    [a] In Irish, _Dun cind eich_.\n\n    [b] In Irish, _Innis ruaidh_.\n\n    [4-4] See note 4, page 211.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 283]\n\n\n\n\nXXIII\n\nHERE FOLLOWETH THE TOOTH-FIGHT OF FINTAN\n\n\n[W.4502.] Fintan, himself the son of Niall Niamglonnach ('of the brilliant\nExploits') from Dun da Benn [1]in the north,[1] was father of Cethern son\nof Fintan. And he came to save the honour of Ulster and to avenge his son\nupon the hosts. Thrice fifty [2]with many pointed weapons[2] was his\nnumber. And thus it was they came, and two spear-heads on each shaft with\nthem, a spear-head on the top and a spear-head at the butt, so that it made\nno difference whether they wounded the hosts with the points or with the\nbutts. They offered three[a] battles to the hosts. And thrice their own\nnumber fell at their hands, and there fell also the people [LL.fo.91b.]  of\nFintan son of Niall, all excepting Fintan's son Crimthann alone,[3] so that\nthere did not escape any of his people excepting himself and his son.[3]\nThis one was saved under a canopy of shields by Ailill and Medb. [4]And the\nson was separated from him, his father Fintan, and was saved by Ailill out\nof fear of Fintan and in order that Fintan might not wreak his fury on them\ntill he should come with Conchobar to the battle.[4] Then said the men of\nErin, it would be no disgrace for Fintan son of Niall to withdraw from the\ncamp and quarters, and that they would give up Crimthann son of Fintan to\nhim, and then the hosts would fall back a day's march to the north again;\nand that he [W.4515.] should cease from his deeds of arms against the hosts\ntill he would come to encounter them on the day of the great battle at the\nplace where the four grand provinces of Erin would clash at Garech and\nIlgarech in the battle of the Cattle-reaving of Cualnge, as was foretold by\nthe druids of the men of Erin. Fintan son of Niall consented to that, and\nthey gave over his son to him. [1]He made friendship with them then when\nhis son had been restored to him.[1] He withdrew from the camp and station,\nand the hosts marched a day's journey back to the north again, to stop and\ncease their advance. [2]Thereafter Fintan went to his own land.[2] In this\nmanner they found each man of the people of Fintan son of Niall and each\nman of the men of Erin, with the lips and the nose [3]and the ear[3] of\neach of them in the teeth and tusks of the other [4]after they had used up\ntheir arms.[4] The men of Erin gave thought to that: \"This is a tooth-fight\nfor us,\" said they; \"the tooth-fight of Fintan's people and of Fintan\nhimself.\" So this is the 'Tooth-fight' of Fintan.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 42b, 36.\n\n    [a] 'Seven,' YBL. 42b, 38.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 42b, 38-39.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 42b, 39-43.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 42b, 43-44.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 285]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIIa\n\nTHE RED-SHAME OF MENN FOLLOWETH HERE\n\n\n[W.4529.] [1]It was then came [2]to them[2] great[1] Menn son of Salcholga,\nhe from Renna ('the Waterways') of the Boyne [3]in the north.[3] Twelve[a]\nmen [4]with many-pointed weapons,[4] that was his number. It was thus they\ncame, and two spear-heads on each shaft with them, a spear-head on the top\nand a spear-head at the butt, so that it made no difference whether they\nwounded the hosts with the points or with the butts. They offered three\nattacks upon the hosts. Three times their own number fell at their hands\nand there fell twelve men of the people of Menn, [5]so that there remained\nalive of them but Menn alone.[5] But Menn himself was [6]sorely[6] wounded\nin the strait, so that blood ran crimson on him [7]and his followers too\nwere crimsoned.[7] Then said the men of Erin: \"Red is this shame,\" said\nthey, \"for Menn son of Salcholga, that his people, [8]twelve men,[8] should\nbe slain and destroyed and he himself wounded till blood ran crimson red\nupon him.\" Hence here is the 'Reddening Shame of Menn,' [9]the name of this\ntale on the Spoil of the Kine of Cualnge.[9]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 42b, 45.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [a] 'Thirty,' YBL. 42b, 45.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 42b, 46.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 42b, 49.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\nThen said the men of Erin, it would be no dishonour for Menn son of\nSalcholga to leave the camp and quarters, and that the hosts would go a\nday's journey back to the [W.4542.] north again, and that Menn should cease\nhis weapon-feats[a] on the hosts till Conchobar arose out of his 'Pains'\nand battle would be offered them at Garech and Ilgarech [1]on the day of\nthe great battle when the men of Erin and of Ulster would meet together in\ncombat in the great battle of the Cualnge Cow-spoil,[1] as the druids and\nsoothsayers and the knowers of the men of Erin had foretold it.\n\n    [a] Following Windisch's emendation of the text.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nMenn son of Salcholga agreed to that, to leave the camp and halting-place.\nAnd the hosts fell back a day's march for to rest and wait, [2]and Menn\nwent his way to his own land.[2]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 287]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIIb\n\nHERE FOLLOWETH THE ACCOUTREMENT OF THE CHARIOTEERS\n\n\n[W.4551.] Then came the charioteers of the Ulstermen to them. Thrice fifty\nwas their number. They offered three battles to the hosts. Thrice their\nnumber fell at their hands, and the charioteers themselves fell on the\nfield whereon they stood. Hence this here is the 'Accoutrement of the\nCharioteers.' [1]It is for this cause it is called the 'Accoutrement of the\nCharioteers,' because it is with rocks and with boulders and with clumps of\nearth they accomplished the defeat of the men of Erin.[1]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 288]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIIc\n\n[LL. fo. 92a.] [1]THE WHITE-FIGHT OF ROCHAD NOW FOLLOWETH[1]\n\n\n[W.4556.] [2]Cuchulain despatched his charioteer to[2] Rochad [3]Rigderg\n('Red-king')[3] son of Fathemon, [4]from Rigdorn in the north,[4] [5]that\nhe should come to his aid.[5] He was of Ulster. [6]The gilla comes up to\nRochad and tells him, if he has come out of his weakness, to go to the help\nof Cuchulain, that they should employ a ruse to reach the host to seize\nsome of them and slay them. Rochad set out from the north.[6] Thrice\nfifty[a] warriors was his number, and he took possession of a hill fronting\nthe hosts. [7]\"Scan the plain for us to-day,\" said Ailill. \"I see a company\ncrossing the plain,\" the watchman answered, \"and a tender youth comes in\ntheir midst; the other warriors reach but up to his shoulder.\" \"Who is that\nwarrior, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill. \"Rochad son of Fathemon,\" he answered;\n\"and it is to bring help to Cuchulain he comes. I know what ye had best do\nwith him,\" Fergus continued. \"Let a hundred warriors go from ye with the\nmaiden yonder to the middle of the plain and let the maid go before them,\nand let a horseman go tell Rochad to come alone to hold converse with the\nmaid and let hands be laid on him, and thus shall be removed all fear of\nhis people from us.[7] Finnabair, [W.4558.] daughter of Ailill and Medb,\nperceived that and she went to speak to her mother thereof, even to Medb.\n[1]Now it happened that Finnabair loved Rochad. It is he was the fairest\nyoung warrior in Ulster at that time.[1] [2]And Finnabair disclosed her\nsecret and her love[a] to her mother.[2] \"Truly have I loved yonder warrior\nfor a long time,\" said she; \"and it is he is my sweetheart, [3]my first\nlove[3] and mine own choice one in wooing [4]of the men of Erin.\"[4] \"An\nthou hast [5]so[5] loved him, daughter,\" [6]quoth Ailill and Medb,[6]\n\"sleep with him this night and crave for us a truce of him for the hosts,\nuntil [7]with Conchobar[7] he encounters us on the day of the great battle\nwhen four of the grand provinces of Erin will meet at Garech and Ilgarech\nin the battle of the Foray of Cualnge.\"\n\n    [1-1] The LU. version of the 'White-fight,' which occurs much earlier\n    (fo. 72a, edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, lines 1457 and fol.), is\n    incorporated with the LL. version above.\n\n    [2-2] LU. 1457.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 43a, 6.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] LU. 1458.\n\n    [6-6] LU. 1460-1463.\n\n    [a] 'One hundred fighting men,' LU. 1463.\n\n    [7-7] LU. 1463-1472.\n\n    [1-1] LU. 1458.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [a] Literally, 'whisper.'\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 43a, 10.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 43a, 10.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 43a, 10\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 43a, 11.\n\n[8]This then is done. Rochad sets forth to meet the horseman. \"I am come,\"\nsays the horseman, \"from Finnabair to meet thee that thou come to speak\nwith the maiden.\" Thereupon Rochad goes alone to converse with her. The\narmy surrounds him on all sides; he is seized and hands are laid on him;\nhis followers are routed and driven in flight. Afterwards he is set free\nand bound over not to oppose Ailill's host till the time he will come with\nall the warriors of Ulster. Also they promise to give Finnabair to him.[8]\n\n    [8-8] LU. 1472-1478.\n\nRochad son of Fathemon accepted the offer [9]and thereupon he left them[9]\nand that night the damsel slept with him.\n\n    [9-9] LU. 1478-1479.\n\nAn Under-king of Munster that was in the camp heard the tale. He went to\nhis people to speak of it. \"Yonder maiden was plighted to me [10]on fifteen\nhostages[10] once long ago,\" said he; \"and it is for this I have now come\non this [W.4568.] hosting.\" Now wherever it happened that the seven[a]\nUnder-kings of Munster were, what they all said was that it was for this\nthey were come. [1]\"Yonder maiden was pledged to each of us in the bargain\nas our sole wife, to the end that we should take part in this warfare.\"\nThey all declared that that was the price and condition on which they had\ncome on the hosting.[1] \"Why,\" said they, [2]\"what better counsel could we\ntake?[2] Should we not go to avenge our wife and our honour on the Mane\n[3]the sons of Ailill[3] who are watching [4]and guarding[4] the rear of\nthe army at Imlech in Glendamrach ('Kettle-glen's navel)?\"\n\n    [10-10] YBL 43a, 17.\n\n    [a] 'Twelve,' Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 43a, 20.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\nThis was the course they resolved upon. And with their seven divisions of\nthirty hundreds they arose, [5]each man of them to attack the Mane. When\nAilill heard that,[5] he arose [6]with a start with ready shield[6] against\nthem and thirty hundred [7]after them.[7] Medb arose with her thirty\nhundred. The sons of Maga with theirs and the Leinstermen and the\nMunstermen and the people of Tara.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n[8]Then arose Fergus with his thirty hundred to intervene between them, and\nthat was a hand for that mighty work.[8] And a mediation was made between\nthem so that each of them sat down near the other and hard by his arms.\nHowbeit before the intervention took place, eight hundred[b] very valiant\nwarriors of them had fallen [9]in the slaughter of Glenn Domain ('Deep\nGlen').[9]\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [b] 'Seven hundred,' YBL. 43a, 24 and Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 43a, 25.\n\nFinnabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, had tidings that so great a number\nof the men of Erin had fallen for her sake and on account of her. And her\nheart broke in her breast even as a nut, through shame and disgrace, so\nthat Finnabair Slebe ('Finnabair of the Mount') is the name of the place\nwhere she fell, [10]died and was buried.[10]\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n[W.4585.] Then said the men of Erin, \"White is this battle,\" said they,\n\"for Rochad son of Fathemon, in that eight hundred exceeding brave warriors\nfell for his sake and on his account, and he himself goes[1] safe and whole\nto his country and land[1] without blood-shedding or reddening on him.\"\nHence this is the 'White-fight' of Rochad.\n\n    [1] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 292]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIId\n\nHERE FOLLOWETH ILIACH'S CLUMP-FIGHT\n\n\n[W.4590.] [1]Then came to them[1] Iliach son of Cass son of Bacc son of\nRoss Ruad son of Rudraige. [2]He was at that time an old man cared for by\nhis son's son, namely by Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious') in Rath Imbil\nin the north.[2] It was told him that the four grand provinces of Erin even\nthen laid waste and invaded the lands of Ulster and of the Picts [3]and of\nCualnge[3] from Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring, [4]and\nwere carrying off their women and their cows and their children, their\nflocks, their herds and their cattle, their oxen and their kine and their\ndroves, their steeds and their horses.[4] He then conceived a plan [5]in\nhis mind[5] and he made perfect his plan privily with his people. \"What\ncounsel were better for me to make than to go and attack the men of Erin\n[6]and to use my[a] strength on them[6] and have [7]my boast and[7] victory\nover them, and thus avenge the honour of Ulster. And I care not though I\nshould fall myself there thereafter.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 43a, 29.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [a] The MS. has 'his.'\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n[LL.fo.92b.] And this is the counsel he followed. His two withered, mangy,\n[8]sorrel[8] nags that were upon the strand hard by the fort were led to\nhim. And to them was fastened his ancient, [9]worn-out[9] chariot. [10]Thus\nhe mounted his chariot,[10] without either covers or cushions; [W.4601.]\n[1]a hurdle of wattles around it.[1] His [2]big,[2] rough, pale-grey shield\nof iron he carried upon him, with its rim of hard silver around it. He wore\nhis rough, grey-hilted, huge-smiting sword at his left side. He placed his\ntwo rickety-headed, nicked, [3]blunt, rusted[3] spears by his side in the\nchariot. His folk furnished his chariot around him with cobbles and\nboulders and huge clumps, [4]so that it was full up to its ...[4] (?)\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 43a, 36.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 43a, 36.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 43a, 35.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 43a, 35.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 48a, 38.\n\nIn such wise he fared forth to assail the men of Erin. And thus he came,\n[5]stark-naked,[5] [6]and the spittle from his gaping mouth trickling down\nthrough the chariot under him.[6] [7]When the men of Erin saw him thus,\nthey began to mock and deride him.[7] \"Truly it would be well for us,\" said\nthe men of Erin,[a] \"if this were the manner in which all the Ulstermen\ncame to us [8]on the plain.\"[8]\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 43a, 40.\n\n    [6-6] This is the sense of Zimmer's translation, which is only\n    conjectural, of this difficult passage (see _Zeitschrift fuer Deutsches\n    Alterthum und Deutsche Litteratur_, Bd. xxxii, 1888, S. 275). The idea\n    is probably more clearly expressed in Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL.  43a,\n    41, and may be rendered, '_membrum virile ejus coram viros Hiberniae et\n    testes pendentes per currum_.'\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13.\n\n    [a] 'Said Medb,' Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13, Add.\n\nDoche son of Maga met him and bade him welcome. \"Welcome is thy coming, O\nIliach,\" spake Doche son of Maga. [9]\"Who bids me welcome?\" asked Iliach.\n\"A comrade and friend of Loegaire Buadach am I, namely Doche macMagach.\"[9]\n\"Truly spoken I esteem that welcome,\" answered Iliach; \"but do thou [10]for\nthe sake of that welcome[10] come to me when now, alas, my deeds of arms\nwill be over and my warlike vigour will have vanished, [11]when I will\nhave spent my rage upon the hosts,[11] so that thou be the one to cut off\nmy head and none other of the men of Erin. However, my sword shall remain\nwith [W.4615.] thee [1]for thine own friend, even[1] for Loegaire\n[2]Buadach!\"[2]\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\nHe assailed the men of Erin with his weapons till he had made an end of\nthem. And when weapons failed he assailed the men of Erin with cobbles and\nboulders and huge clumps [3]of earth[3] till he had used them up. And when\nthese weapons failed him he spent his rage on the man [4]that was nearest\nhim[4] of the men of Erin, and bruised him grievously between his fore-arms\n[5]and his sides[5] and the palms of his hands, till he made a marrow-mass\nof him, of flesh and bones and sinews and skin. Hence in memory thereof,\nthese two masses of marrow still live on side by side, the marrow-mass that\nCuchulain made of the bones of the Ulstermen's cattle for the healing of\nCethern son of Fintan,[a] and the marrow-mass that Iliach made of the bones\nof the men of Erin. Wherefore this was one of the three innumerable things\nof the Tain, the number of them that fell at the hands of Iliach. So that\nthis is the 'Clump-fight' of Iliach. It is for this reason it is called the\n'Clump-fight' of Iliach, because with cobbles and boulders and massy clumps\nhe made his fight.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [a] See above, page 279.\n\n[6]Thereafter[6] Doche son of Maga met him. \"Is not this Iliach?\" asked\nDoche son of Maga. \"It is truly I,\" Iliach gave answer; \"and come to me now\nand cut off my head and let my sword remain with thee for thy friend, for\nLoegaire [7]Buadach ('the Victorious').\"[7]\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\nDoche came near him and gave him a blow with the sword so that he severed\nhis head, [8]and he took with him the head and the spoils vauntingly to\nwhere were Ailill and Medb.[8] Thus to this point, the 'Clump-fight' of\nIliach.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 295]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIIe\n\nHERE NOW THE DEER-STALKING OF AMARGIN IN TALTIU\n\n\n[W.4638.] This Amargin was the son of Cass who was son of Bacc who was son\nof Ross Ruad ('the Red') who was son of Rudraige, [1]father of Conall\nCernach ('the Triumphant').[1] He came upon the warriors going over Taltiu\nwestward, and he made them turn before him over Taltiu northwards.  And he\nput his left[a] elbow under him in Taltiu. And his people furnished him\nwith rocks and boulders and great clumps [2]of earth,[2] and he began to\npelt the men of Erin till the end of three days and three nights, [3]and he\ndid great slaughter among them[3] [4]so that no man could show his face to\nhim in Taltiu.[4]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [a] As a challenge or sign of hostility.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 43b, 13-14.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 296]\n\n\n\n\nXXIIIf\n\nTHE ADVENTURES OF CUROI SON OF DARE FOLLOW NOW\n\n\n[W.4645.] He was told that a single man was checking and stopping four of\nthe five grand provinces of Erin [1]during the three months of winter[1]\nfrom Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring. And he felt it\nunworthy of himself and he deemed it too long that his people were without\nhim. And [2]it was then[2] he set out [3]to the host[3] to fight and\ncontend with Cuchulain. And when he was come to the place where Cuchulain\nwas, he saw Cuchulain there moaning, full of wounds and pierced through\nwith holes, and he felt it would not be honourable nor fair to fight and\ncontend with him after the combat with Ferdiad. [4]Because it would be said\nit was not that Cuchulain died of the sores [LL.fo.93a.] and wounds which\nhe would give him so much as of the wounds which Ferdiad had inflicted on\nhim in the conflict before.[4] Be that as it might, Cuchulain offered to\nengage with him in battle and combat.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 43b, 17.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 43b, 14-15.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 43b, 15.\n\n    [4-4] Reading with Stowe, which is to be preferred to LL.\n\nThereupon Curoi set forth for to seek the men of Erin and, when he was\nnear at hand, he espied Amargin there and his left elbow under him to the\nwest of Taltiu. Curoi reached the men of Erin from the north. His people\nequipped him with rocks and boulders and great clumps, and he began to hurl\nthem right over against Amargin, so that Badb's battle-stones collided in\nthe clouds and in the air high above them, and every rock of them was\nshivered [W.4662.] into an hundred stones. \"By the truth of thy valour, O\nCuroi,\" cried Medb, \"desist from thy throwing, for no real succour nor help\ncomes to us therefrom, but ill is the succour [1]and help[1] that thence\ncome to us,\" \"I pledge my word,\" cried Curoi, \"I will not cease till the\nvery day of doom and of life, till first Amargin cease!\" \"I will cease,\"\nsaid Amargin; \"and do thou engage that thou wilt no more come to succour or\ngive aid to the men of Erin.\" Curoi consented to that and went his way to\nreturn to his land and people.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nAbout this time [2]the hosts[2] went past Taltiu westwards. \"It is not\nthis was enjoined upon me,\" quoth Amargin: \"never again to cast at the\nhosts [3]but rather that I should part from them.\"[3] And he went to the\nwest of them and he turned them before him north-eastwards past Taltiu. And\nhe began to pelt them for a long while and time [4]so that he slaughtered\nmore of them than can be numbered.[4] [5]This is one of the three\nincalculable things on the Tain, the number of those he slew. And his son\nConall Cernach ('the Victorious') remained with him providing him with\nstones and spears.[5]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. fo. 43b, 34-36.\n\nThen it was also that the men of Erin said it would be no disgrace for\nAmargin to leave the camp and quarters, and that the hosts would retire a\nday's march back to the north again, there to stop and stay, and for him to\nquit his feats of arms upon the hosts until such time as he would meet them\non the day of the great battle when the four grand provinces of Erin would\nencounter at Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raid for the Kine of\nCualnge. Amargin accepted that offer, and the hosts proceeded a day's march\nback to the northwards again. Wherefore the 'Deer-stalking' of Amargin in\nTaltiu [6]is the name of this tale.[6]\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 298]\n\n\n\n\nXXIV\n\nTHE REPEATED WARNING OF SUALTAIM\n\n\n[1]Now while the deeds we have told here were being done,[1] [W.4685.]\nSualtaim ('Goodly fosterer') son of Becaltach ('of Small belongings') son\nof Moraltach ('of Great belongings'), the same the father of Cuchulain\nmacSualtaim, [2]of Sualtaim's Rath in the plain of Murthemne,[2] was told\nof the distress and [3]sore wounding[3] of his son contending in unequal\ncombat on the Cualnge Cattle-spoil, even against Calatin Dana ('the Bold')\nwith his seven and twenty[a] sons, and against Glass son of Delga, his\ngrandson, [4]and at the last against Ferdiad son of Daman.[4]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 43b, 38-39.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 43b, 39-40.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [a] 'Twelve,' YBL. 43b, 41.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n[5]It is then that Sualtaim said[5]: \"Whate'er it be, [6]this that I\nhear[6] from afar,\" quoth Sualtaim, \"it is the sky that bursts or the sea\nthat ebbs or the earth that quakes, or is it the distress of my son\novermatched in the strife on the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge?\"\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and YBL. 43b, 42.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\nIn that, indeed, Sualtaim spoke true. And he went to learn all after a\nwhile, without hastening on his way. And when Sualtaim was come to where\n[7]his son[7] Cuchulain was [8]and found him covered with wounds and bloody\ngashes and many stabs,[8] Sualtaim began to moan and lament [9]for\nCuchulain.[9]\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 43b, 46.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Stowe.\n\n[W.4695.] Forsooth Cuchulain deemed it neither an honour nor glory that\nSualtaim should bemoan and lament him, for Cuchulain knew that, wounded and\ninjured though he was, Sualtaim would not be [1]the man[1] to avenge his\nwrong.  For such was Sualtaim: He was no mean warrior and he was no mighty\nwarrior, but only a good, worthy man was he. \"Come, my father Sualtaim,\"\nsaid Cuchulain; [2]\"cease thy sighing and mourning for me, and[2] do thou\ngo to Emain [3]Macha[3] to the men of Ulster and tell them to come now to\nhave a care for their droves, for no longer am I able to protect them in\nthe gaps and passes of the land of Conalle Murthemni. All alone am I\nagainst four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday at Summer's\nend till the beginning of Spring, every day slaying a man on a ford and a\nhundred warriors every night. Fair fight is not granted me nor single\ncombat, and no [LL.fo.93b.] one comes to aid me nor to succour. [4]And such\nis the measure of my wounds and my sores that I cannot bear my garments or\nmy clothing to touch my skin, so that[4] spancel-hoops hold my cloak over\nme. Dry tufts of grass are stuffed in my wounds. [5]There is not the space\nof a needle's point from my crown to my sole without wound or sore, and[5]\nthere is not a single hair [6]on my body[6] from my crown to my sole\nwhereon the point of a needle could stand, without a drop of deep-red blood\non the top of each hair, save the left hand alone which is holding my\nshield, and even there thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. [7]And let\nthem straightway give battle to the warriors,[7] and unless they avenge\nthis anon, they will never avenge it till the very day of doom and of\nlife!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 43b, 49.\n\nSualtaim set out on Liath ('the Roan') of Macha as his only horse, with\nwarning to the men of Ulster. And when [W.4716.] he was come alongside of\nEmain, he shouted these words there: \"Men are slain, women stolen, cattle\nlifted, ye men of Ulster!\" cried Sualtaim.\n\nHe had not [1]the answer[1] that served him from the Ulstermen, and\nforasmuch as he had it not he went on further to the rampart of Emain. And\nhe cried out the same words there: \"Men are slain, women stolen, cattle\nlifted, ye men of Ulster!\" cried Sualtaim.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\nAnd [2]a second time[2] he had not the response that served him from the\nmen of Ulster. Thus stood it among the Ulstermen: It was geis for the\nUlstermen to speak before their king, geis for the king to speak before his\n[3]three[3] druids. Thereafter Sualtaim drove on to the 'Flag-stone of the\nhostages' in Emain Macha. He shouted the same words there: \"Men are\nslain, women stolen, cows carried off!\" \"But who has slain them, and\nwho has stolen them, and who has carried them off?\" asked Cathba the\ndruid. \"Ailill and Medb have, [4]with the cunning of Fergus mac Roig,[4]\noverwhelmed you. [5]Your people have been harassed as far as Dun\nSobairche,\"[5] said Sualtaim. \"Your wives and your sons and your children,\nyour steeds and your stock of horses, your herds and your flocks and your\ndroves of cattle have been carried away. Cuchulain all alone is checking\nand staying the hosts of the four great provinces of Erin at the gaps and\npasses of the land of Conalle Murthemni. Fair fight is refused him, nor is\nhe granted single combat, nor comes any one to succour or aid him.\n[6]Cuchulain has not suffered them to enter the plain of Murthemne or into\nthe land of Ross. Three winter months is he there.[6] The youth is wounded,\nhis limbs are out of joint. Spancel-hoops hold his cloak over him. There\nis not a hair from his crown to his sole whereon the point of a needle\ncould stand, without a drop of deep-red [W.4737.] blood on the top of each\nhair, except his left hand alone which is holding his shield, and even\nthere thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. And unless ye avenge this\nbetimes, ye will never avenge it till the end of time and of life.\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 44a, 9.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 44a, 13.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 44a, 13.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 44a, 15.\n\n[LL.fo.94a.] \"Fitter is death and doom and destruction for the man that so\nincites the king!\" quoth Cathba the druid. \"In good sooth, it is true!\"\n[1]said the Ulstermen[1] all together.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n[2]Thereupon[2] Sualtaim went his way [3]from them,[3] indignant and angry\nbecause from the men of Ulster he had not had the answer that served him.\nThen reared Liath ('the Roan') of Macha under Sualtaim and dashed on to\nthe ramparts of Emain. Thereat [4]Sualtaim fell under his own shield, so\nthat[4] his own shield turned on Sualtaim and the [5]scalloped[5] edge of\nthe shield severed Sualtaim's head, [6]though others say he was asleep on\nthe stone, and that he fell thence onto his shield on awaking.[6] [7]Hence\nthis is the 'Tragical Death of Sualtaim.'[7]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 44a, 28.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 44a, 32-33.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\nThe horse himself turned back again to Emain, and the shield on the horse\nand the head on the shield. And Sualtaim's head uttered the same words:\n\"Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!\" spake the\nhead of Sualtaim.\n\n\"Some deal too great is that cry,\" quoth Conchobar; \"for yet is the sky\nabove us, the earth underneath and the sea round about us. And unless the\nheavens shall fall with their showers of stars on the man-like[a] face of\nthe world, or unless the ground burst open in quakes [8]beneath our\nfeet,[8] or unless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o'er the tufted\nbrow of the earth, will I restore [W.4756.] to her byre and her stall, to\nher abode and her dwelling-place, each and every cow and woman of them with\nvictory of battle and contest and combat!\"\n\n    [a] Reading with LL. 5027 and 5975, which gives better meaning than the\n    expression 'fort-face,' of LL.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\nThereupon a runner of his body-guard was summoned to Conchobar, Findchad\nFerbenduma ('he of the copper Horn') to wit, son of Fraech Lethan ('the\nBroad'), and Conchobar bade him go assemble and muster the men of Ulster.\nAnd in like manner, in the drunkenness of sleep and of his 'Pains,'\nConchobar enumerated to him their quick and their dead, and he uttered\nthese words:--\n\n    \"Arise, O Findchad!\n    [1]Thee I send forth:[1]\n    A negligence not to be wished (?);\n    Proclaim it to the chiefs of Ulster!\"\n\n    [1-1] Reading with YBL. 44a, 41.\n\n[2]The Order of the men of Ulster.[2]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and YBL. 44a, 41.\n\n[3]Go thou forward to Derg,[3] to Deda at his bay, to Lemain, to Follach,\nto Illann [4]son of Fergus[4] at Gabar, to Dornaill Feic at Imchlar, to\nDerg Imdirg, to Fedilmid [5]son of Ilar Cetach of Cualnge[5] at Ellonn, to\nReochad [6]son of Fathemon[6] at Rigdonn, to Lug, to Lugaid, to Cathba at\nhis bay, to Carfre at Ellne, to Laeg at his causeway, to Gemen in his\nvalley, to Senoll Uathach at Diabul Ard, [LL.fo.94b.] to Cethern son of\nFintan at Carrloig, [7]to Cethern at Eillne,[7] to Tarothor, to Mulach at\nhis fort, to the royal poet Amargin, to Uathach Bodba, to the Morrigan at\nDun Sobairche, to Eit, to Roth, to Fiachna at his mound, to Dam drend, to\nAndiaraid, to Mane Macbriathrach ('the Eloquent'), to Dam Derg ('the Red'),\nto Mod, to Mothus, to Iarmothus at Corp Cliath, to Gabarlaig in Line, to\nEocho Semnech in Semne, [8]to Eochaid Laithrech at Latharne,[8] to\nCeltchar son of Uthecar in Lethglas, to Errge Echbel ('Horsemouth') at\nBri Errgi ('Errge's Hill'), to Uma son of Remarfessach ('Thickbeard')\nat Fedain [W.4819.] in Cualnge, to Munremur ('Thickneck') son of\nGerrcend ('Shorthead') at Moduirn, to Senlabair at Canann Gall ('of the\nForeigners'), to Fallomain, to Lugaid, [1]king of the Fir Bolg,[1] to\nLugaid of Line, to Buadgalach ('the Victorious Hero'), to Abach, [2]to\nFergna at Barrene,[2] to Ane, to Aniach, [3]to Abra,[3] to Loegaire Milbel\n('Honey-mouth'), at his fire (?), to the three sons of Trosgal at Bacc\nDraigin ('Thornhollow'), to Drend, to Drenda, to Drendus, to Cimb, to\nCimbil, to Cimbin at Fan na Coba ('the Slope of ...), to Fachtna son of\nSencha at his rath, to Sencha, to Senchainte, to Bricriu, to Briccirne son\nof Bricriu, to Brecc, to Buan, to Barach, to Oengus of the Fir Bolg, to\nOengus son of Lete, [4]to Fergus son of Lete,[4] to ...[a] (?), to\nBruachar, to Slange, to Conall Cernach ('the Victorious') son of Amargin at\nMidluachar, to Cuchulain son of Sualtaim at Murthemne, to Menn son of\nSalcholga at Rena ('the Waterways'), to the three sons of Fiachna, Ross,\nDare and Imchad at Cualnge, to Connud macMorna at the Callann, to Condra\nson of Amargin at his rath, to Amargin at Ess Ruaid, to Laeg at Leire, to\nOengus Ferbenduma ('him of the copper Horn'), to Ogma Grianainech\n('Sun-faced') at Brecc, to Eo macForne, to Tollcend, to Sude at Mag\nEol in Mag Dea, to Conla Saeb at Uarba, to Loegaire [5]Buadach ('the\nTriumphant')[5] at Immail, to Amargin Iarngiunnach ('the Darkhaired') at\nTaltiu, [LL.fo.94c.] to Furbaide Ferbenn ('the man with Horns on his\nhelmet') son of Conchobar at Sil in Mag Inis ('the Island-plain'), to\nCuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of Macha son of Conchobar at Macha, to\nFingin at Fingabair, to Blae 'the Hospitaller of a score,' to Blae 'the\nHospitaller of six men,' to Eogan son of Durthacht at Fernmag, to Ord at\nMag Sered, to Oblan, to Obail at Culenn, to Curethar, to Liana at Ethbenna,\nto Fernel, to Finnchad [W.4892.] of Sliab Betha, to Talgoba [1]at Bernas\n('the Gap'),[1] to Menn son of the Fir Cualann at Mag Dula, to Iroll at\nBlarine, [2]to Tobraide son of Ailcoth,[2] to Ialla Ilgremma ('of many\nCaptures'), to Ross son of Ulchrothach ('the Many-shaped') at Mag Dobla, to\nAilill Finn ('the Fair'), to Fethen Bec ('the Little'), to Fethan Mor ('the\nBig'), to Fergus son of Finnchoem ('the Fair-comely') at Burach, to Olchar,\nto Ebadchar, to Uathchar, to Etatchar, to Oengus son of Oenlam Gabe ('the\none-handed Smith'), to Ruadri at Mag Tail, [3]to Mane son of Crom ('the\nBent'), to Nindech son of Cronn, to ... (?), to Mal macRochraidi,[3] to\nBeothach ('the Lively'), to Briathrach ('the Wordy') at his rath, to\nNarithla at Lothor, to the two sons of Feic, Muridach and Cotreb, to Fintan\nson of Niamglonnach ('of brilliant Exploits') at Dun da Benn ('the\ntwo-gabled Dun'), to Feradach Finn Fechtnach ('the Fair and Upright') at\nNemed ('the Shrine') of Sliab Fuait, [LL.fo.95a.] to Amargin son of\nEcetsalach ('the grimy Smith') at the Buas, to Bunne son of Munremar, to\nFidach son of Dorare, [4]to Muirne Menn ('the Stammerer').[4]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 44a, 46.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 44a, 45.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 44b, 7-8.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 44b, 28-29, Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13 and YBL. 44b, 36.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 44b, 40-41.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 44b, 44.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and YBL. 44b, 14.\n\n    [a] The readings are corrupt.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 44b, 44.\n\n    [1-1] Reading with YBL. 45a, 14; LL. is corrupt.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 45a, 3.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 45a, 7.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 45a, 14.\n\nIt was nowise a heavy task for Finnchad to gather this assembly and\nmuster which Conchobar had enjoined upon him. For all there were [5]of\nUlstermen[5] to the east of Emain and to the west of Emain and to the north\nof Emain set out at once for the field of Emain in the service of their\nking, and at the word of their lord, and to await the recovery of\nConchobar. Such as were from the south of Emain [6]waited not for\nConchobar, but[6] set out directly on the trail of the host and on the\nhoof-prints of the Tain.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\nThe first stage the men of Ulster marched under Conchobar was [7]from\nEmain[7] to the green in Iraird Cuillinn [W.4932.] that night. \"Why now\ndelay we, ye men?\" Conchobar asked. \"We await thy sons,\" they answered;\n\"Fiacha and Fiachna who have gone [1]with a division[1] from us [2]to\nTara[2] to fetch Erc son of thy daughter Fedlimid Nocruthach ('Nine-shaped'),\nson also of Carbre Niafer [3]king of Tara,[3] to the end that he should\ncome with the number of his muster and his troops, his levy and his forces\nto our host at this time. [4]Until these two divisions come to us, no\nfurther advance will we make from this place.\"[4] \"By my word,\" exclaimed\nConchobar; \"I will delay here no longer for them, lest the men of Erin hear\nof my rising from the weakness and 'Pains' wherein I was. For the men of\nErin know not even if I am still alive!\"\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and YBL. 45a, 24.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 45a, 26.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 45a, 27.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 45a, 29.\n\nThereupon Conchobar and Celtchar proceeded with thirty hundred\nspear-bristling chariot-fighters to Ath Irmidi ('the Ford of\nSpear-points'). And there met them there eight-score huge men of the\nbody-guard of Ailill and Medb, with eight-score women [5]of the Ulstermen's\nwomen[5] as their spoils. Thus was their portion of the plunder of Ulster:\nA woman-captive in the hand of each man of them.  Conchobar and Celtchar\nstruck off their eight-score heads and released their eight-score\ncaptive-women. Ath Irmidi ('the Ford of Spear-points') was the name of the\nplace till that time; Ath Fene is its name ever since. It is for this it is\ncalled Ath Fene, because the warriors of the Fene from the east and the\nwarriors of the Fene from the west encountered one another in battle and\ncontest man for man on the brink of the ford.\n\n[6]Touching the four grand provinces of Erin, they encamped at Slemain Mide\n('Slane of Meath') that night, and[6] Conchobar and Celtchar returned that\nnight to the green in Iraird Cuillinn hard by the men of Ulster. Thereupon\nCeltchar aroused the men of Ulster.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n    [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 306]\n\n\n\n\nXXIVa\n\n[1]THE AGITATION OF CELTCHAR[1]\n\n\n[W.4954.] It was then that Celtchar [2]in his sleep[2] uttered these words\n[3]to Conchobar[3] in the midst of the men of Ulster in Iraird Cuillinn\nthat night:[a]--\n\n    \"Thirty hundred chariot-men;\n    An hundred horse-companions stout;\n    An hundred with an hundred druids!\n    To lead us will not fail\n    The hero of the land,\n    Conchobar with hosts around him!\n    Let the battle line be formed!\n    Gather now, ye warriors!\n    Battle shall be fought\n    At Garech and Ilgarech\n    On aftermorrow's morn!\"\n\n    [1-1] This title is supplied by the present writer.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 45a, 38.\n\n    [a] I can make nothing of the first four lines of the following poem,\n    and they are consequently omitted from the translation. The translation\n    of the remainder of the _rosc_ is largely conjectural.\n\n[4]Or it was Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of Macha, Conchobar's son, who\nsang this lay on the night before the battle ...,[b] after the lay 'Arise\nye Kings of Macha' which Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious ') sang.[4]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 45a, 45-45b, 2.\n\n    [b] There is a small gap in the MS.\n\nOn that same night Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, spake these words to\nthe men of Erin at Slemain Mide that night:--\n\n    [W.4973.] \"A wonder of a morning,\n    A wondrous [1]time![1]\n    When hosts will be confused,\n    [2]Kings[2] turned back in flight!\n    [3]Necks will be broken,\n    The sand[a] made red,[3]\n    When forth breaks the battle,\n    The seven chieftains before,\n    Of Ulster's host round Conchobar!\n    Their women will they defend,\n    For their herds will they fight\n    At Garech and Ilgarech,\n    On the morning after the morrow!\n    [4]Heroes will be slaughtered then,\n    Hounds cut to pieces,\n    Steeds overwhelmed!\"[4]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 45b, 7.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with YBL. 45b, 8; LL. has 'hosts'.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 45b, 8-9.\n\n    [a] Or, 'the sun.'\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 45b, 11-14.\n\nOn that same night, Dubthach Doel ('the Scorpion')[b] of Ulster [5]saw the\ndream wherein were the hosts at Garech and Ilgarech. Then it was[5] he\nuttered these words [6]in his sleep[6] among the men of Erin at Slemain\nMide that night:--\n\n    \"Great be the morn,\n    The morn of Meath!\n    Great be the truce\n    The [7]truce[7] of Culenn!\n\n    \"Great be the fight,\n    The fight of [8]Clartha![8]\n    Great, too, the steeds,\n    The steeds of Assal!\n\n    \"Great be the plague,\n    The plague of Tuath-Bressi![c]\n    Great be the storm,\n    Ulster's battle-storm round Conchobar!\n\n    \"Their women will they defend,\n    For their herds will they fight\n    At Garech and Ilgarech,\n    On the morning after the morrow!\"\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 45b, 4-5.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 45b, 5-6.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 45b, 19.\n\n    [8-8] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [b] See note, page 198.\n\n    [c] Probably Connacht.\n\n[W.5003.] Then [1]when the hosts were assembled at Garech and Ilgarech,[1]\nDubthach was awakened from his sleep, so that Nemain brought confusion on\nthe host and they fell trembling in their arms under the points of their\nspears and weapons, so that an hundred warriors of them fell dead\n[LL.fo.95b.] in the midst of their camp and quarters at the fearfulness of\nthe shout they raised on high. Be that as it would, that night was not the\ncalmest for the men of Erin that they passed before or since, because of\nthe forebodings and predictions and because of the spectres and visions\nthat were revealed to them.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 45b, 4-5.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 309]\n\n\n\n\nXXV\n\n[1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE ARRAY OF THE HOST[1]\n\n\n[2]While these things were being done, the Connachtmen by the counsel of\nAilill, Medb, and Fergus, resolved to send messengers from thence to spy\nout the men of Ulster, to make certain if they had taken possession of the\nplain.[2] [W.5011.] Said Ailill: \"Truly have I succeeded,\" said he, \"in\nlaying waste Ulster and the land of the Picts [3]and Cualnge[3] from Monday\nat Summer's end till Spring's beginning. We have taken their women and\ntheir sons and their children, their steeds and their troops of horses,\ntheir herds and their flocks and their droves. We have laid level their\nhills after them, so that they have become lowlands and are all one height.\nFor this cause, will I await them no longer here, but let them offer me\nbattle on Mag Ai, if so it please them. But, say here what we will, some\none shall go forth [4]from us[4] to watch the great, wide plain of Meath,\nto know if the men of Ulster come hither. And, should the men of Ulster\ncome hither, I will in no wise be the first to retreat [5]till battle be\ngiven them,[5] for it was never the wont of a good king to retreat.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 45b, 22.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 45b, 23-26.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Who should fitly go thither?\" asked all. \"Who but macRoth our chief runner\nyonder,\" [6]answered another group of them.[6]\n\n    [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n[W.5023.] MacRoth went his way to survey the great wide-spreading plain of\nMeath. Not long was macRoth there when he heard something: A rush and a\ncrash and a clatter and a clash. Not slight the thing he judged it to be,\nbut as though it was the firmament itself that fell on the man-like face of\nthe world, or as though it was the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean that broke\no'er the tufted brow of the earth, or as though the ground had gone asunder\nin quakes, or as though the forest fell, each of the trees in the crotches\nand forks and branches of the other. But why give further accounts! The\nwood's wild beasts were hunted out on the plain, so that beneath them the\ngrassy forelocks of the plain of Meath were not to be seen.\n\nMacRoth hastened to tell this tale at the place where were Ailill and Medb\nand Fergus and the nobles of the men of Erin. MacRoth related the whole\nmatter to them.\n\n\"What was that there, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill; [1]\"to what likenest thou\nit?\"[1] \"Not hard [2]for me to say what it resembled.[2] It was the rush\nand tramp and clatter that he heard,\" said Fergus, \"the din and thunder,\nthe tumult and turmoil [3]of the Ulstermen.[3] It was the men of Ulster\n[4]arising from their 'Pains,'[4] who have come into the woods, the throng\nof champions and battle-heroes cutting down with their swords the woods in\nthe way of their chariots. This it was that hath put the wild animals to\nflight on the plain, so that the grassy forelocks of the field of Meath are\nhidden beneath them!\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 46a, 2.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 46a, 1-2.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 46a, 3-4.\n\nAnother time macRoth surveyed the plain and he saw something: A heavy, grey\nmist that filled [5]the glens and the slopes,[5] [6]the upper void and\nveil,[6] the space between the heavens and earth. It seemed to him that\n[7]the hills[7] were islands in lakes that he saw rising up out of the\nsloping [W.5044.] valleys of mist. It seemed to him they were wide-yawning\ncaverns that he saw there leading into that mist. It seemed to him it was\nall-white, flaxy sheets of linen, or sifted snow a-falling that he saw\nthere through a rift in the mist. It seemed to him it was a flight of many,\nvaried, wonderful, numerous birds [1]that he[a] saw in the same mist,[1] or\nthe constant sparkling of shining stars [LL.fo.96a.] on a bright, clear\nnight of hoar-frost, or sparks of red-flaming fire. He heard something: A\nrush and a din and a hurtling sound, a noise and a thunder, a tumult and a\nturmoil, [2]and a great wind that all but took the hair from his[b] head\nand threw him[c] on his[b] back, and yet the wind of the day was not\ngreat.[2] He hastened on to impart these tidings at the place where were\nAilill and Medb and Fergus and the nobles of the men of Erin. He reported\nthe matter to them.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 45b, 40-41.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 45b, 41.\n\n    [a] MS.: 'I.'\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 45b, 46-46a, 1.\n\n    [b] MS. 'my.'\n\n    [c] MS. 'me.'\n\n\"But what was that, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill. \"Not hard to say,\" Fergus made\nanswer. \"This was the great, grey mist that he saw which filled the space\nbetween the heavens and earth, namely, the streaming breath both of horses\nand men, the smoke of the earth and the dust of the roads as it rose over\nthem with the driving of the wind, so that it made a heavy, deep-grey misty\nvapour thereof in the clouds and the air.\n\n\"These were the islands over lakes that he saw there, and the tops of hills\nand of heights over the sloping valleys of mist, even the heads of the\nchampions and battle-heroes over the chariots and the chariots withal.\nThese were the wide-yawning caverns that he saw there leading into that\nmist, even the mouths and the nostrils of the horses and champions exhaling\nand inhaling the sun and the wind with the speed of the host. These were\nthe all-white, flax-like cloths that he saw there or the streaming\n[W.5066.] snow a-falling, to wit the foam and the froth that the bridles of\nthe reins flung from the bits of strong, stout steeds with the stress,\n[1]with the swiftness and strength and speed[1] of the host.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13.\n\n\"These were the flights of many, various, wonderful, numerous birds that he\nsaw there, even the dust of the ground and the top of the earth [2]and the\nsods[2] which the horses flung from their feet and their hoofs and arose\n[3]over the heads of the host[3] with the driving of the wind.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n\"This was the rush and the crash and the hurtling sound, the din and the\nthunder, the clatter and clash that he heard there, to wit the shield-shock\nof shields and the jangle of javelins and the hard-smiting of swords and\nthe ring of helmets, the clangour of breast-plates and the rattle of arms\nand the fury of feats, the straining of ropes and the whirr of wheels and\nthe trampling of horses' hoofs and the creaking of chariots, and the deep\nvoices of heroes and battle-warriors coming hither towards us.\n\n\"This was the constant sparkling of shining stars on a bright, clear\nnight that he saw there and the sparks of red-flaming fire, even the\nbloodthirsty, terrible eyes of the champions and battle-warriors from under\nbeautiful, well-shaped, finely-adorned battle-helmets; eyes full of the\nfury and rage they brought with them, against the which neither before nor\nsince has equal combat nor overwhelming force of battle prevailed, and\nagainst which it will never prevail till the very day of doom and of life!\"\n\n\"We make not much of that,\" quoth Medb;[a] [4]\"we will await them.[4]\n[5]For[5] there are goodly warriors and goodly fighting-men with us to cope\nwith them.\" [6]\"Thou shall have need of them,\" answered Fergus.[6] \"Truly,\nI count not on that, O Medb. For I give my word, thou [W.5087.] shalt find\nno host in [1]all[1] Erin, nor in Alba, [2]nor in the western part of the\nworld from Greece and Scythia westwards to the Orkney Islands, the Pillars\nof Hercules, Bregon's Tower and the islands of Cadiz[2] to cope with the\nmen of Ulster when once their anger comes on them!\"\n\n    [a] 'Ailill,' YBL. 46a, 23.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 46a, 22.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 46a, 23.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 46a, 24.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 45a, 25-28.\n\nThen did the four grand provinces of Erin pitch camp and make lodgment at\nClartha for that night. They sent forth folk to keep watch and guard\nagainst Ulster, to the end that the Ulstermen might not come upon them\nwithout warning, without notice.\n\nThen it was that Conchobar and Celtchar with thirty hundred bristling\nchariot-fighters set forth, till they halted at Slemain Mide ('Slane of\nMeath') [LL.fo.96b.] in the rear of the host of Erin. But, though 'halted'\nwe have said, [3]a very brief halt made they there.[3] Not straightway\npitched they camp, but proceeded for a favourable sign to the quarters of\nAilill and Medb, so they might be the first of all to redden their hands\n[4]on the men of Erin.[4]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n[5]Then did macRoth go again to view the hosting of the men of Ulster, so\nthat he reached their encampment at Slane of Meath.[5] It was not long\nmacRoth had been there when he saw something: An incomparable, immense\ntroop of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming straight from the north-east. He\nhastened forward to where were Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the chiefs of\nthe men of Erin. Ailill asked tidings of him on his arrival: \"Say,\nmacRoth,\" queried Ailill; \"sawest thou aught of the men of Ulster on the\ntrail of the host this day?\" \"Truly I know not,\" answered macRoth; \"but I\nsaw an incomparable, immense troop of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming\nstraight from the north-east.\" \"But how many numbered the horse-troop?\"\nasked Ailill. \"Not fewer, meseemed, [W.5107.] than thirty hundred fully\narmed chariot-fighters were they, even ten hundred and twenty hundred fully\narmed chariot-fighters,\" macRoth made answer.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 46a, 28-31.\n\n\"So, O Fergus,\" quoth Ailill, [1]\"those are the warriors of Ulster with\nConchobar![1] How thinkest thou to terrify us till now with the smoke and\ndust and the breath of a mighty host, while all the battle-force thou hast\nis that we see yonder!\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"A little too soon belittlest thou them,\" Fergus retorted; \"for mayhap the\nbands are more numerous than is said they are.\"\n\n\"Let us take good, swift counsel on the matter,\" said Medb; \"for yon huge,\nmost fierce, most furious man will attack us we ween, Conchobar, to wit,\nson of Fachtna Fathach ('the Giant') son of Ross Ruad ('the Red') son of\nRudraige, himself High King of Ulster and son of the High King of Erin. Let\nthere be a hollow array of the men of Erin before Conchobar and a force of\nthirty hundred ready to close in from behind, and the men shall be taken\nand in no wise wounded; for, no more than is a caitiff's lot is this\nwhereto they are come!\" Wherefore this is the third most derisive word that\nwas spoken on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge, even to take Conchobar [2]and\nhis people[2] prisoners without wounding, and to inflict a caitiff's lot on\nthe ten hundred and twenty hundred who accompanied the kings of Ulster.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\nAnd Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar heard that, and he knew that unless\nhe took vengeance at once upon Medb for her great boast, he would not\navenge it till the very day of doom and of life.\n\nIt was then that Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar arose with his troop of\nthirty hundred to inflict the revenge of battle and prowess upon Ailill and\nMedb. Ailill arose [W.5129.] with his thirty hundred to meet him. Medb\narose with her thirty hundred. The Mane arose with their thirty hundred.\nThe sons of Maga arose with their thirty hundred. The Leinstermen and the\nMunstermen and the people of Temair arose and made interposition between\nthem, so that on both sides each warrior sat down near to the other and\nnear by his arms.\n\nMeanwhile a hollow array of men was made by Medb to face Conchobar and a\n[1]warlike[1] band of thirty hundred ready to close in from behind.\nConchobar proceeded to attack the circle of men, [2]to force an opening.[2]\nAnd he was far from seeking any particular breach, but he worked a small\ngap, broad enough for a man-at-arms, right in front over against him in the\ncircle of combatants, and effected a breach of an hundred on his right\nside, and a breach of an hundred on his left, and he turned in on them, and\nmingled [3]among them[3] on their ground, and there fell of them eight\nhundred fully brave warriors at his hands. And thereafter he left them\nwithout blood or bleeding from himself and took his station in Slane of\nMeath at the head of the men of Ulster.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Come, ye men of Erin!\" cried Ailill. \"Let some one go hence to scan the\nwide-stretching plain of Meath, to know in what guise the men of Ulster\ncome to the height in Slane of Meath, to bring us an account of their arms\nand their gear [4]and their trappings, their kings and their royal\nleaders,[4] their champions and battle-warriors and gap-breakers of\nhundreds and their yeomen, [5]to which to listen will shorten the time for\nus.\"[5] [LL.fo.97a.] \"Who should go thither?\" asked all. \"Who but macRoth\nthe chief runner,\" Aililla[a] made answer.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [5-5] Following Stowe.\n\n    [a] 'Fergus,' H. 1. 13 and Stowe.\n\nMacRoth went his way till he took his station in Slane [W.5151.] of Meath,\nawaiting the men of Ulster. The Ulstermen were busied in marching to that\nhill from gloaming of early morn till sunset hour in the evening. In such\nmanner the earth was never left naked under them during all that time,\nevery division of them under its king, and every band under its leader, and\nevery king and every leader and every lord with the number of his force and\nhis muster, his gathering and his levy apart. Howbeit, by sunset hour in\nthe evening all the men of Ulster had taken position on that height in\nSlane of Meath.\n\nMacRoth came forward with the account of their first company to the place\nwhere Ailill and Medb and Fergus were and the nobles of the men of\nErin. Ailill and Medb asked tidings of him when he arrived. \"Come,\nmacRoth,\" quoth Ailill, \"tell us in what manner of array do the Ulstermen\nadvance to the hill of Slane in Meath?\" \"Truly, I know not,\" answered\nmacRoth, \"except [1]this alone:[1] There came a fiery, powerful, most\nwell-favoured company upon the hill of Slane in Meath,\" said macRoth. \"It\nseemed, on scanning and spying, that[a] thrice thirty hundred[a] warriors\nwere in it. [2]Anon[2] they all doffed their garments and threw up a turfy\nmound for their leader to sit on. A youth, slender, long, exceeding great\nof stature, fair to behold, proud of mien, in the van of the troop. Fairest\nof the princes of the world was he in the midst of his warriors, as well in\nfearsomeness and in awe, in courage and command; fair-yellow hair, curled,\ndelicately arranged in ridges and bushy had he [3]reaching to the nape of\nhis neck;[3] a comely, clear-rosy countenance he had, [4]narrow below and\nbroad above;[4] a deep-blue-grey, angry eye, devouring. [W.5175.] and\nfear-inspiring, in his head; a two-forked beard, yellow, fairly curled, on\nhis chin; a purple mantle with fringes and five-folded wrapped around him;\na [1]conspicuous,[1] salmon-shaped brooch of [2]red[2] gold in the mantle\nover his breast; a shining-white, hooded shirt under red interweaving of\nred gold he wore next his white skin; a bright-white shield with figures of\nbeasts of red gold thereon; a gold-hilted, hammered sword in one of his\nhands; a broad and grey-green lance-head [3]on an ashen shaft[3] in the\nother; [4]the pillar of a king's house on his back.[4] That warrior took\nhis station on the top of the mound, so that each one came up to him and\nhis company took their places around him.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [a-a] 'Thirty hundred,' Stowe, H. 1. 13, and YBL. 46a, 47.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13, and, similarly, YBL. 46a, 42.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 46a, 47.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 46a, 44.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 46a, 44.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 46b, 3.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13. That is, 'a great spear.'\n\n\"There came also another company to the same height in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"Second of the two divisions of thirty hundred it was,\n[5]and next to the other in numbers and attendance, in accoutrements and\nfearfulness and horror.[5] A [6]great,[6] [7]hero-like,[7] well-favoured\nwarrior was there likewise at the head of that company; fair-yellow hair he\nwore; a bright, curly beard about his chin; a green mantle wrapped around\nhim; a bright-silvern pin in the mantle at his breast; a brown-red,\nsoldier's tunic under red interweaving of red gold trussed up against his\nfair skin down to his knees; a candle of a king's house[a] in his hand,\nwith windings of silver and bands of gold; wonderful the feats and games\nperformed with the spear in the hand of the youth; the windings of silver\nran round it by the side of the bands of gold, now from the butt to the\nsocket, while at other times it was the bands of gold that circled by the\nside of the windings of silver from socket to spear-end; a smiting shield\nwith [W.5195.] plaited edge he bore; a sword with hilt-pieces of ivory, and\nornamented with thread of gold on his left side. This warrior took his\nstation on the left of the leader[1] of the first company[1] who had come\nto the mound, and his followers got them seated around him. But, though we\nhave said they sat, they did not verily seat themselves at once, but\n[2]they sat thus,[2] with their knees on the ground and the rims of their\nshields against their chins, so long it seemed to them till they should be\nlet at us. But, one thing yet: Meseemed that [LL.fo.97b.] the great, fierce\nyouth who led the troop stammered grievously [3]in his speech.[3]\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 46b, 8-9.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 46b, 9.\n\n    [a] That is, 'a flaming-red spear.'\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 46b, 19.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 46b, 21.\n\n\"Still another battalion there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"Second to its fellow in number and followers and\napparel. A handsome, broad-headed warrior at the head of that troop;\ndark-yellow hair in tresses he wore; an eager, dark-blue eye rolling\nrestlessly in his head; a bright, curled beard, forked and tapering, at his\nchin; a dark-grey cloak with fringes, folded around him; a leaf-shaped\nbrooch of silvered bronze in the mantle over his breast; a white-hooded\nshirt [4]reaching to his knees[4] [5]was girded[5] next to his skin; a\nbright shield with raised devices of beasts thereon he bore; a sword with\nwhite silver hilt in battle-scabbard at his waist; the pillar of a king's\npalace he bore on his back. This warrior took his station on the hill of\nturf facing the warrior who first came to the hill, and his company took\ntheir places around him. But sweet as the tone of lutes in masters' hands\nwhen long sustained, so seemed to me the melodious sound of the voice and\nthe speech of the youth conversing with the warrior who first came to the\nhill and offering him every counsel.\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 46b, 30.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"But who might that be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. [W.5218.] \"Truly, we know\nhim well,\" Fergus made answer. \"This, to wit, is the first hero for whom\nthey threw up the mound of turf on the height of the hill and whom all\napproached, namely, Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach son of Ross Ruad son\nof Rudraige, High King of Ulster, and son of the High King of Erin. [1]It\nis he that sat on the mound of sods.[1] This, to wit, is the stammering,\ngreat warrior,\" [2]Fergus continued,[2] \"who took station on [3]his\nfather[3] Conchobar's left, namely, Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of\nMacha, Conchobar's son, with the sons of the king of Ulster [4]and the sons\nof the princes of the men of Erin[4] close by him. This is the spear he saw\nin his hand, even the 'Torch of Cuscraid,' with its windings of silver and\nbands of gold. It is the wont of that spear that neither before nor after\ndo the silver windings run round it by the side of the bands of gold but\nonly on the eve of a triumph. Belike, it is almost before a triumph they\ncourse round it now.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 46b, 36.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 46b, 40.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"The well-favoured, broad-headed warrior who seated himself on the hill in\nthe presence of the youth who first came on the mound, namely is Sencha son\nof Ailill son of Maelcho 'the Eloquent' of Ulster, he that is wont to\nappease the hosts of the men of Erin. But, yet a word more I say: It is not\nthe counsel of cowardice nor of fear that he gives his lord this day on the\nday of strife, but counsel to act with valour and courage and wisdom and\ncunning. But, again one word further I say,\" added Fergus: \"It is a goodly\npeople for performing great deeds that has risen there early this day\naround Conchobar!\" \"We make not much of them,\" quoth Medb; \"we have goodly\nwarriors and stout youths to deal with them.\" \"I count not that for much,\"\nanswered Fergus again; \"but I say this word: Thou wilt not find in Erin nor\nin Alba a host to be a match [W.5242.] for the men of Ulster when once\ntheir anger comes upon them.\"\n\n\"Yet another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\" said\nmacRoth. [1]\"Not fewer than a battalion of thirty hundred was in it.[1] A\nfair, tall, great warrior [LL.fo.98a.] in the van of that battalion, and he\nof fiery spirit, with noble countenance. Brown, dark-coloured hair he wore,\nsmooth and thin on his forehead; a dull-grey cloak girt around him; a\nsilver pin in the cloak over his breast; a bright, sleeved tunic next to\nhis skin; a curved shield with sharp, plaited rim he bore; a five-pronged\nspear in his hand; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth in its\nplace.\" \"But, who might that be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"In very sooth,\nwe know him,\" Fergus made answer. \"The putting of hands on strife is he; a\nbattle-warrior for combat and destruction on foes is the one who is come\nthere, [2]even[2] Eogan son of Durthacht, [3]king of the stout-handed[3]\nFernmag in the north, is the one yonder.\"\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13, and, similarly, YBL. 47a, 1.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47a, 12.\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. seems to be corrupt here.\n\n\"Another battalion there came thither to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"It is surely no false word that boldly they took the\nhill. Deep the terror, great the fear they brought with them. [4]Terrible\nthe clangour of arms they made as they advanced.[4] Their raiment all\nthrown back behind them. A great-headed, warlike warrior in the forefront\nof the company, and he eager for blood, dreadful to look upon; spare,\ngrizzly hair had he; huge, yellow eyes in his head; a yellow, close-napped\n(?) cloak around him; a pin of yellow gold in the cloak over his breast; a\nyellow tunic with lace next his skin; [5]a great, smiting sword under his\nwaist;[5] in his hand a nailed, broad-plated, long-shafted spear with a\ndrop [W.5262.] of blood on its edge.\" \"But, who might that be?\" asked\nAilill of Fergus. \"In truth then, we know him, that warrior,\" Fergus gave\nanswer. \"Neither battle nor battle-field nor combat nor contest shuns he,\nthe one who is come thither. Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious') son of\nConnad Buide ('the Yellow') son of Iliach, from Immail in the north, is the\none yonder.\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 47a, 18-19.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Another company there came there too to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"A thick-necked, burly warrior at the head of that\ntroop; black, bushy hair he had; a scarred, crimsoned face he had; a\ndeep-blue-grey, blazing eye in his head; a spear set with eyes of glass,\ncasting shadows over him; a black shield with a hard rim of silvered bronze\nupon him; a dun-coloured cloak of curly wool about him; a brooch of pale\ngold in the cloak over his breast; a three-striped tunic of silk [1]with\nred embroidery[1] next to his skin; a sword with ivory hilt and with\nornamentation of thread of gold over his dress on the outside.\" \"But, who\nmight that man be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"We know him full well,\"\nFergus made answer. \"He is the putting of hand on strife; a wave of the\nhigh sea that drowneth [2]the small streams;[2] he is the man of three\nshouts; the sea over walls; [3]the venomous destruction of enemies,[3] the\nman who comes thither. Muremur ('Thick-neck') son of Gerrcend ('Short-head')\nfrom Moduirn in the north is the one yonder.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 47a, 40.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 47a, 43.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 47a, 44.\n\n\"Still another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. [4]\"Not fewer than thirty hundred, the battle line of\nthe troops.[4] A [5]broad-headed,[5] stout warrior, pleasantly found of\nlimb, in the front of that troop; he is dried and sallow; he is wild and\nbull-like; a dun, round eye, proud in his head; [W.5283.] yellow, very\ncurly is his hair; a red, round shield with hard-silver rim about it he\nbore; a [1]trebly riveted,[1] broad-plated, long-shafted spear in his hand;\na streaked-grey cloak around him; a salmon-shaped brooch of copper in the\ncloak over his breast; a hooded kirtle girded around him reaching down to\nhis calves; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth on his left\nthigh.\" \"But who might he be?\" [LL.fo.98b.] asked Ailill of Fergus. \"I know\nhim indeed,\" Fergus made answer. \"He is the prop of battle; [2]he is the\nwild heat of anger; he is the daring of every battle;[2] he is the triumph\nof every combat; he is the tool that pierces, is the man who comes\nthither. Connud macMorna, from the Callann in the north, is the man\nyonder.\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 47b, 12-13.\n\n    [5-5] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"There came still another company to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. [3]\"A company most fair to look upon, most notable both\nin numbers and in attendance and apparel.[3] It is indeed no lying word, it\nis with might and storm they gained the hill, so that [4]with the clash of\narms they made at the approach of that company[4] they startled the hosts\nthat had arrived there before them. A man, comely and noble, in advance of\nthat band; most well-favoured to see of the men of the world, whether in\nshape or form or frame; [5]whether in hair or eyes or fearfulness; whether\nin voice or brightness or knowledge or adornment; whether in rank or wisdom\nor kindred;[5] whether in arms or apparel; whether in size or worth or\nbeauty; whether in figure or valour or conduct.\" [6]\"Who might that man be,\nO Fergus?\" asked Ailill.[6] \"Then it is surely no lying word,\" Fergus made\nanswer: \"A fitting saying is this, 'No fool 'mongst the naked'[a] is he who\n[W.5299.] comes thither. He is the foe of all others; he is a power\nirresistible; the storm-wave that drowneth, the glitter of ice is that\nwell-favoured man. Fedilmid [1]son of[1] [2]Ilar Cetach of Cualnge,[2] from\nEllonn in the north, is he yonder, [3]with trophies from other lands after\ndealing destruction to his enemies.\"[3]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 47b, 20.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 47b, 21-22.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 47a, 48-49.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 47a, 50-51.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 47b, 1-3.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\n    [a] A proverbial saying, the exact force of which we cannot determine.\n    The reading of H. 1. 13 may be translated, 'No fool on a board (or\n    shield ?),' that is, a clown or tumbler (?).\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 47b, 9-10.\n\n\"Still another battalion came thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath,\"\nmacRoth proceeded. [4]\"It is the array of an army for greatness.[4] Not\noften is a warrior seen more handsome than the warrior that is in the front\nrank of that company. Bushy, red-yellow hair he wore; [5]his countenance\ncomely, ruddy, well-formed;[5] his face [6]slender below,[6] broad above; a\ndeep-blue-grey, beaming eye, and it flashing and laughing in his head; a\nwell-set, shapely man, tall, slender below and broad above; red, thin lips\nhe had; teeth shining and pearl-like; [7]a clear, ringing voice;[7] a\nwhite-skinned body; [8]most beautiful of the forms of men;[8] [9]a purple\ncloak wrapped around him;[9] a brooch of gold in the mantle over his\nbreast; a [10]hooded[10] tunic of royal silk with a red hem of red gold he\nwore next to his white skin; a bright, [11]curved[11] shield with\n[12]wonderful,[12] [13]many-coloured[13] devious figures of beasts in red\ngold thereon [14]and with hollows of silver he bore at his left side;[14] a\ngold-hilted, inlaid sword [15]hanging from his neck[15] at his left side; a\nlong, grey-edged spear [W.5313.] along with a cutting bye-spear of attack,\nwith thongs for throwing, with fastenings of silvered bronze, in his hand.\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 47b, 26.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 47b, 29-30; Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [6-6] Translating from YBL. 47b, 30, Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. has, 'very\n    beautiful.'\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 47b, 32.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 47b, 34, Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [9-9] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 40-41.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 36.\n\n    [12-12] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [13-13] YBL. 47b, 37.\n\n    [14-14] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 37.\n\n    [15-15] YBL. 47b, 40.\n\n\"But who might that man be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus.  \"We know him full\nwell,\" Fergus made answer. \"He is half of a battle; he is the dividing[a]\nof combat; he is the wild rage of a watchhound, the man who is come\nthither; Rochad son of Fatheman, from Rigdonn in the north, is he\nyonder. [1]Your son-in-law is he[1]; [2]he wedded your daughter, namely\nFinnabair,[2] [3]without dower, and he brought neither marriage-gift nor\nbride-price to her.\"[3]\n\n    [a] That is, 'a single-handed warrior,' translating from YBL. 47b, 43\n    and Stowe.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 47b. 45.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 46.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Another battalion there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"A stalwart, thick-thighed, [4]gross-calved[4] warrior\nat the head of that company; little but every limb of him as stout as a\nman. Verily it is no lying word, he is a man down to the ground,\" said he.\n\"Brown, bushy hair upon his head; a round-faced, ruddy countenance\n[5]covered with scars[5] he had; a flashing, proud eye in his head;\na splendid, dexterous man was there, in this wise: Accompanied by\nblack-haired, black-eyed youths; with a red, flaming banner; [6]with terror\nand fearsomeness; with wonderful appearance, both of arms and apparel and\nraiment and countenance and splendour; with converse of heroes; with\nchampions' deeds;[6] with wilful rashness, so that they seek to rout\noverwhelming numbers outside of equal combat, [7]with their wrath upon\nfoes, with raids into hostile lands,[7] with the violence of assault upon\nthem, without having aught assistance from [W.5327.] Conchobar. [1]It is no\nlying word, stiffly they made their march, that company to Slane of\nMeath.\"[1]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 47b, 48, Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 48a, 2, Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe, and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 4-6, H. 1. 13.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 48a, 8-9, and, similarly, Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 10-11.\n\n\"But, who might he be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"Aye then we know him,\"\nFergus made answer. \"A thirst for valour and prowess; a thirst for madness\nand fury; [2]a man of strength and of courage, of pride and of greatness of\nheart[2] is he that came thither. The welding of hosts and of arms; the\npoint of battle and of slaughter of the men of the north of Erin, mine own\nreal foster-brother himself, Fergus son of Lete, [3]the king[3] from Line\nin the north, is the man yonder!\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 48a, 14.\n\n\"Still another [4]great, fierce[4] company came to the same hill in Slane\nof Meath,\" macRoth continued. [5]\"A battle-line with strange garments\nupon them,[5] steadfast, without equal. A [6]comely,[6] handsome,\n[7]matchless,[7] untiring warrior in the van of this company; [8]the flower\nof every form, whether as regards hair, or eye, or whiteness; whether of\nsize, or followers or fitness.[8] Next to his skin a blue, narrow-bordered\ncloth, with strong, woven and twisted hoops of silvered bronze, with\nbecoming, sharp-fashioned buttons of red gold on its slashes and\nbreast-borders; a [9]green[9] mantle, pieced together with the choicest of\nall colours, [10]folded about him;[10] [11]a brooch of pale gold in the\ncloak over his breast;[11] five circles of gold, [LL.fo.99a.]  that is, his\nshield, he bore on him; a tough, obdurate, straight-bladed sword for a\nhero's handling hung high on his left side. A straight, fluted spear,\nflaming red [12]and venomous[12] in his hand.\" \"But, who might that be?\"\nasked [W.5342.] Ailill of Fergus. \"Truly, we know him well,\" Fergus made\nanswer. [1]\"Fiery is the manner of the warlike champion who has so come\nthither.[1] The choice flower of royal poets is he. He is the rush on the\nrath; he is the way to the goal; fierce is his valour, the man that came\nthither; Amargin son of the smith Ecetsalach ('the Grimy'), the noble poet\nfrom the Buas in the north, is he.\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 48a, 16.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 48a, 17.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 18.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 19-20.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 48a, 21.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 48a, 21.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 22.\n\n    [12-12] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 48a, 24-25.\n\n\"There came yet another company there to the same hill in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"A fair, yellow-haired hero in the front rank of that\nband. Fair was the man, both in hair and eye and beard and eyebrows and\napparel; a rimmed shield he bore; a gold-hilted, overlaid sword on his left\nside; in his hand, a five-pointed spear that reflected its glare over\nthe entire host, [2]and a hollow lance in his hand. Hero-like was his\ncoming!\"[2]\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 48b, 1-2.\n\n\"But who was that man?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"In sooth, we know him\nwell,\" Fergus made answer. \"Cherished, in truth, is that warrior by the\npeople, he that to us is come thither; cherished, the stout-blow-dealing\nbeast; cherished, the bear of great deeds against foes, [3]with the\nviolence of his attack.[3] Feradach Finn Fectnach ('the Fair and\nRighteous') from Nemed ('the Grove') in Sliab Fuait in the north, is the\none that is come there.\"\n\n    [3-3] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n[4]\"Another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath,\" continued\nmacRoth. \"Three bold, high-spirited youths of noble countenance, [5]fiery\nand noble,[5] in the front rank of that company. Three cloaks of the one\ncolour [6]they wore folded[6] upon them; [7]three close shorn, blae-yellow\nheads; three gold brooches over their arms; three sleeved tunics with\nembroidery of red gold, girded around them;[7] three shields wholly alike\nthey bore; [8]three gold-hilted swords on their shoulders;[8] three\nfive-pointed, [W.5360.] [1]broad and grey-green[1] spears in their\n[2]right[2] hands.\" \"Who were those men there?\" Ailill asked. \"I know,\"\nFergus answered; \"the three princes of Roth, the three champions of Colph,\nthe three of Midluachair, great in achievements, three seasoned warriors of\nthe east of Erin, to wit, the three sons of Fiachna in quest of their bull\nare there, even Ros and Dare and Imchad, for theirs was the possession of\nthe Brown Bull of Cualnge. Even had they come alone, they would have\noffered you battle in defence of their bull and their drove, even though\nbefore them the enemy should not be routed.\"[4]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, and, partly, YBL. 48b, 33-45.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 48b, 34.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 48b, 36.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 48b, 35-38.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 48b, 39.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 48b, 40.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 48b, 40.\n\n\"Yet another company there came thither to the same hill in Slane of\nMeath,\" said macRoth. \"Two [3]fair,[3] tender, young warriors at the head\nof that company, [5]and both wholly alike. Brown, curly hair on the head of\none of them; fair, yellow hair on that of the other;[5] two green cloaks\nwrapped about them; two bright-silver brooches in the cloaks over their\nbreasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk next to their skin; bright-hilted\nswords on their belts; [6]two bright shields with devious figures of beasts\nin silver;[6] two five-pronged spears with windings of pure bright silver\nin their hands. Moreover, their years were nigh the same. [7]Together they\nlifted their feet and set them down again, for it was not their way for\neither of them to lift up his feet past the other.\"[7]\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 48b, 20.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 48b, 22.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 48b, 23-25.\n\n\"But, who might they be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"Well do we know them,\"\nFergus made answer. \"Two single, strong-necked champions are they; two\nunited flames; two united torches; two champions; two heroes; two\nridge-poles of hosts[a]; two dragons; two thunderbolts; two destroyers (?);\ntwo boars; two bold ones; two mad ones; the two loved ones of Ulster around\ntheir king; [W.5378.] [1]two breach-makers of hundreds; two spencers; the\ntwo darlings of the north of Erin, namely[1] Fiacha and Fiachna have come\nthither, two sons of Conchobar son of Fachtna son of Ross Ruad son of\nRudraige.\"\n\n    [a] That is, 'two chiefs of hospitality.'\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"There came also another company to that same mound,\" said macRoth. \"'Tis\nthe engulphing of the sea for size; red-flaming fire [2]for splendour;[2] a\nlegion for number; a rock for strength; annihilation for battle; thunder\nfor might. A [3]rough-visaged,[3] wrathful, terrible, ill-favoured one at\nthe head of that band, and he was big-nosed, large-eared, apple-eyed,\n[4]red-limbed,[4] [5]great-bellied, thick-lipped.[5] Coarse, grizzly hair\nhe wore; a streaked-grey cloak about him; a skewer of iron in the cloak\nover his breast, so that it reached from one of his shoulders to the other;\na rough, three-striped tunic next to his skin; a sword of seven charges of\nremelted iron he bore on his rump; a brown hillock he bore, namely his\nshield; a great, grey spear with thirty nails driven through its socket he\nhad in his hand. But, what need to tell further? [6]All the host arose to\nmeet him, and[6] the lines and battalions were thrown into disorder at the\nsight of that warrior, as he came surrounded by his company to the hill, in\nSlane of Meath [7]and the stream of battle-hosts with him.\"[7] \"But who\nmight that man be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"Ah, but we know him well,\"\nFergus made answer. \"He is the half of the battle; he is the head of strife\n[8]of Ulster;[8] he is the head [9]of combat[9] in valour; [10]he is the\nstorm-wave that drowneth;[10] he is the sea overbounds, the man that is\ncome thither; the mighty Celtchar son of Uthechar, from Lethglass in the\nnorth, is the man there!\"\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 48a, 30.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 33.\n\n    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and YBL. 48a, 36.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 48a, 35.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 48a, 42.\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 48a, 44.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 48a, 45-46.\n\n[W.5397.] \"There came yet another company thither to the same hill in Slane\nof Meath,\" said macRoth; \"one that is firm and furious; one that is ugly\nand fearful. A great-bellied, big-mouthed champion, [1]the size of whose\nmouth is the mouth of a horse,[1] in the van of that troop; with but one\nclear eye, and [2]half-brained,[2] long-handed. Brown, very curly hair he\nwore; a black, flowing mantle around him; a wheel-shaped brooch of tin in\nthe mantle over his breast; a cunningly wrought tunic next to his skin; a\ngreat long sword under his waist; a well-tempered lance in his right hand;\n[LL.fo.99b.] a grey buckler he bore on him, that is, his shield.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 48b, 9-10.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. has, 'broad-headed.'\n\n\"Pray, who might that man be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"Indeed, but we know\nhim,\" Fergus made answer; \"the wild, red-handed, [3]rending[3] lion; the\nfierce, fearful bear that overcometh valour. [4]He is the high doer of\ndeeds, warlike, and fierce,[4] Errge Echbel ('Horse-mouth'), from Bri Errgi\n('Errge's Mound') in the north, is the one there.\"\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 48b, 16.\n\n\"Yet another company there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath,\" said\nmacRoth. \"A large, noble, [5]fiery[5] man at the head of that company;\nfoxy-red hair he had; huge, crimson-red eyes in his head; bulging as far as\nthe bend of a warrior's finger is either of the very large crimson, kingly\neyes he had; a many-coloured cloak about him; [6]a wheel-shaped brooch of\nsilver therein;[6] a grey shield he bore [7]on his left arm;[7] a slender,\nblue lance above him; [8]a bright, hooded shirt tucked around him that\nreached down to his knees;[8] [9]a sword with silver hilt at his hip; a\nspear remarkable for keenness in his revengeful right hand;[9] a\nblood-smeared, becrimsoned company [W.5414.] around him; himself covered\nwith wounds and blood in their midst.\"\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 48b, 47.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 48b, 49-50.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 48b, 51.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 48b, 52-49a, 1.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 48b, 51-52.\n\n\"Now who might he be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus. \"Well do we know him,\"\nFergus made answer. \"He is the bold, the ruthless, [1]the swift-moving\neagle;[1] the eager lance; the goring beast; [2]the torrent[2] of the\nColbtha; [3]the border-gate of the north of Erin;[3] the triumphant hero\nfrom Baile; he is the shaft (?); [a] he is the bellowing hero from Bernas\n('the Gap'); the furious bull; Menn son of Salcholga, from Rena ('the\nWaterways') of the Boyne [4]in the north; he hath come to take vengeance on\nye for his bloody wounds and his sores which ye inflicted on him afore.\"[4]\n\n    [1-1] Translating from Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 49a, 7.\n\n    [a] A word has fallen out in the MS.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Yet another company came thither to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. [5]\"High spirited and worthy of one another.[5] A\nlong-jawed, sallow-faced warrior, [6]huge, broad, and tall,[6] at the head\nof that company; black hair on his head; long limbs are his legs; a cloak\nof red curly wool about him; a brooch of white silver in the cloak over his\nbreast; an [7]all-white,[7] linen shirt next to his skin; a gory-red shield\nwith a boss [8]of gold[8] he bore; a sword with hilt of [9]white[9] silver\non his left side; a sharp-cornered, gold-socketed spear he held over him;\n[10]a broad, grey, interwoven spear-head, fairly set on an ashen shaft, in\nhis hand.\"[10] \"But, who might he be?\" Ailill asked of Fergus. \"Truly, we\nknow him,\" Fergus made answer. [11]\"The man of three stout blows has\ncome;[11] the man of three highways is he; the man of three roads, the\nman of three paths, the man of three [W.5431.] ways; the man of three\nvictories, the man of three triumphs; [1]the man of three shouts; the\nman that breaks battles on foes in another province;[1] Fergna son of\nFindchoem, king of Burach, [2]from Coronn,[2] [3]royal hospitaller[3] of\nUlster in the north, has come thither.\"\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 49a, 11-12.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 49a, 12-13.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 49a, 17.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 49a, 18-20.\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 49a, 20-21.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 49a, 23-24.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 49a, 25.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Even another company came there to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. [4]\"Vaster than a division of three thousand was its\nappearance.[4] A large, [5]white-breasted,[5] well-favoured man in the van\nof that company. Like to Ailill yonder, with his pointed weapons, the\nrestrainer, both in features and noble bearing and fairness, both in arms\nand apparel, in valour and bravery and fame and deeds. A blue shield\n[6]adapted for striking,[6] with boss of gold was [7]upon him.[7] A\ngold-hilted sword, [8]the pillar of a palace,[8] [9]along his shoulder[9]\nhe bore on his left side; a five-pronged spear with gold, in his hand;\n[10]an exceeding fine cloak folded about him; a brooch of gold in the cloak\nover his breast; a tunic with red ornaments about him;[10] a golden crown\non his head.\"\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 49a, 28.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 49a, 29.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 49a, 34.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 49a, 35, Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 49a, 35.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 49a, 35.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 49a, 31-34.\n\n\"But, who might that be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus.  \"Ah, but we know him\nwell,\" Fergus made answer.  [11]\"Truly, the sea over rivers is the one that\nis come thither; the wild rage of fire; not to be borne is his wrath\nagainst foes;[11] the root of all manhood; the assault of overwhelming\npower; the annihilation of men is he that is come thither. Furbaide Ferbenn\nson of Conchobar, from Sil in Mag Inis in the north, is there.\"\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 49a, 36-38.\n\n[12]\"Yet another company came to the mound in Slane [W.5444.] of Meath,\"\ncontinued macRoth. \"A sharp, proud folk; a stately, royal company, with\ntheir apparel of many colours, as well white and blue and black and purple,\nso that to a king could be likened each spirited, chosen man in the noble,\nmost wonderful troop. A feast for the eyes of a host, to gaze on their\ncomeliness and their garb, as if it was going forth to some great\nsurpassing assembly was each single man of that company. A trine of noble,\ndistinguished men were in the front rank of that company. The first man of\nthem with a dark-grey mantle fringed with gold thread about him; a brooch\nof gold in the mantle over his breast; a tunic of rare silk next to his\nskin; sandals of lamb's skin he wore. Not many men in the world are\nbetter-favoured than is he. A light-yellow head of hair he has; a\nbright-faced sword with ivory hilt and with coils of gold thread, in his\nright hand. He flings on high the tooth-hilted sword, so that it falls on\nthe head of the middle man but it simply grazes it. He catches it up in the\nair again, so that it falls on the head of the other man, and the first man\ncatches it in his hand, and it divided not a ringlet nor the skin of the\nhead of either of them, and these two men did not perceive it. Two brown,\nrich-hued, bright-faced youths; reddish-grey mantles around them;\nwhite-silver brooches in their mantles over their breasts; a bright-hilted\nsword under their waists; purple sandals they wore; as sweet as strings of\nlutes when long sustained in players' hands was the voice and song of one\nof the men, so that enough of delight it was to the host to listen to the\nsound of his voice. Worthy of a king or of a prince was each man in that\ncompany as regards apparel and appearance; thou wouldst think, at the sight\nof them, they were all kings. Neither spears nor swords do they bear, but\ntheir servants bear them.\"\n\n    [12-12] The following passage extending to page 337 is not found in\n    LL. owing to the loss of a leaf. It is translated here from Stowe with\n    the help of H. 1. 13 and Add. 18,748.\n\n\"An over-proud body is that,\" quoth Ailill; \"and who may they be, O\nFergus?\" he asked. \"I know full well,\" [W.5466.] replied Fergus; \"the poets\nof Ulster are they, with that Fercerdne the fair, much-gifted, whom thou\nsawest, even the learned master of Ulster, Fercerdne. 'Tis before him that\nthe lakes and rivers sink when he upbraids, and they swell up high when he\napplauds. The two others thou sawest are Athirne the chief poet, whom none\ncan deny, and Ailill Miltenga ('Honey-tongue') son of Carba; and he is\ncalled Ailill 'Honey-tongue' for that as sweet as honey are the words of\nwisdom that fall from him.\"\n\n\"There came yet another company to the mound in Slane of Meath,\" said\nmacRoth. \"A most terrible, dreadful sight to behold them. Blue and pied and\ngreen, purple, grey and white and black mantles; a kingly, white-grey,\nbroad-eyed hero in the van of that company; wavy, grizzled hair upon him; a\nblue-purple cloak about him; a leaf-shaped brooch with ornamentation of\ngold in the cloak over his breast; a shield, stoutly braced with buckles of\nred copper; yellow sandals he wore; a large, strange-fashioned sword along\nhis shoulder. Two curly-haired, white-faced youths close by him, wearing\ngreen cloaks and purple sandals and blue tunics, and with brown shields\nfitted with hooks, in their hands; white-hilted swords with silvered bronze\nornaments they bore; a broad, somewhat light countenance had one of\nthem. One of these cunning men raises his glance to heaven and scans the\nclouds of the sky and bears their answer to the marvellous troop that is\nwith him. They all lift their eyes on high and watch the clouds and work\ntheir spells against the elements, so that the elements fall to warring\nwith each other, till they discharge rain-clouds of fire downwards on the\ncamp and entrenchments of the men of Erin.\"\n\n\"Who might that be, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill. \"I know him,\" replied\nFergus; \"the foundation of knowledge; the master of the elements; the\nheaven-soaring one; he that blindeth the eyes; that depriveth his foe\n[W.5488.] of his strength through incantations of druids, namely Cathba the\nfriendly druid, with the druids of Ulster about him. And to this end he\nmakes augury when judging the elements, in order to ascertain therefrom how\nthe great battle on Garech and Ilgarech will end. The two youths that are\nabout him, they are his own two sons, to wit Imrinn son of Cathba and\nGenonn Gruadsolus ('Bright-cheek') son of Cathba, he that has the somewhat\nlight countenance. Howbeit it will be hard for the men of Erin to withstand\nthe spells of the druids.\"\n\n\"Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath,\" continued\nmacRoth. \"A numberless, bright-faced band; unwonted garments they wore; a\nlittle bag at the waist of each man of them. A white-haired, bull-faced man\nin the front of that company; an eager, dragon-like eye in his head; a\nblack, flowing robe with edges of purple around him; a many coloured,\nleaf-shaped brooch with gems, in the robe over his breast; a ribbed tunic\nof thread of gold around him; a short sword, keen and hard, with plates of\ngold, in his hand; they all came to show him their stabs and their sores,\ntheir wounds and their ills, and he told each one his sickness, and he gave\neach a cure, and what at last happened to each was even the ill he foretold\nhim.\" \"He is the power of leechcraft; he is the healing of wounds; he is\nthe thwarting of death; he is the absence of every weakness, is that man,\"\nsaid Fergus, \"namely Fingin the prophet mediciner, the physician of\nConchobar, with the leeches of Ulster around him. It is he that knoweth\nthe sickness of a man by the smoke of the house wherein he lies, or by\nhearing his groans. Their medicine bags are the sacks which thou sawest\nwith them.\"\n\n\"Another company came to the mound in Slane of Meath,\" continued macRoth.\n\"A powerful, heavy, turbulent company; they caused uproar in their deeds of\narms [W.5512.] for the accomplishment of brilliant feats;[a] they tore up\nthe sad-sodded earth with the strength of their bitter rage, for the mighty\nprinces of the proud province of Conchobar would not allow them to proceed\nto the great camp till all should be arrived. Two youths, swarthy and huge,\nin the front of that company; soft, playful eyes in their heads; about\nthem, dark-grey tunics with silver pins set with stones; great, horn-topped\nswords with sheaths they bore; strong, stout shields they bore; hollow\nlances with rows of rivets, in their hands; glossy tunics next to their\nskin.\" \"We know well that company,\" quoth Fergus; \"the household of\nConchobar and his vassals are those; their two leaders, Glasne and Menn,\ntwo sons of Uthechar.\"\n\n    [a] There is a gap here in both Stowe and H. 1. 13, and consequently\n    the translation is uncertain.\n\n\"There came yet another band to the mound in Slane of Meath,\" continued\nmacRoth; \"to wit, a band of a numerous body of henchmen. A black, hasty,\nswarthy, ..., man in the front rank of that band; seven chains around his\nneck; seven men at the end of each chain; these seven groups of men he\ndrags along, so that their faces strike against the ground, and they revile\nhim until he desists. Another terrible man is there, and the ponderous\nstone which powerful men could not raise, he sets on his palm and flings on\nhigh to the height a lark flies on a day of fine weather; a club of iron at\nhis belt.\" \"I know those men,\" quoth Fergus: \"Triscoth the strong man of\nConchobar's house; it is he that flings the stone on high. Ercenn son of\nthe three stewards, he it is in the chains.\"\n\n\"There came [1]another[1] large, stately company to the mound in Slane of\nMeath,\" macRoth went on. \"Three, very curly-headed, white-faced youths in\nthe van of that troop; three curly-red kirtles with brooches of silvered\nbronze was the apparel they wore about them; three [W.5535.] sparkling\ntunics of silk with golden seams tucked up about them; three studded\nshields with images of beasts for emblems in silvered bronze upon them and\nwith bosses of red gold; three very keen swords with guards adorned with\ngold thread along their shoulders; broad-bladed javelin-heads on ashen\nshafts in their hands.\" \"Who might that be there, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill.\n\"That I know,\" answered Fergus: \"the three venoms of serpents; three\ncutting ones; three edges; three watchful ones; three points of combat;\nthree pillars of the borders; three powerful companies of Ulster; three\nwardens of Erin; three triumph-singers of a mighty host are there,\" said\nFergus, \"the three sons of Conchobar, namely Glas and Mane and Conaing.\"\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13.\n\n\"Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath,\" said\nmacRoth. \"Stately, in beautiful colours, gleaming-bright they came to the\nmound. Not fewer than an army-division, as a glance might judge them. A\nbold, fair-cheeked youth in the van of that troop; light-yellow hair has\nhe; though a bag of red-shelled nuts were spilled on his crown, not a nut\nof them would fall to the ground because of the twisted, curly locks of his\nhead. Bluish-grey as harebell is one of his eyes; as black as beetle's\nback is the other; the one brow black, the other white; a forked,\nlight-yellow beard has he; a magnificent red-brown mantle about him; a\nround brooch adorned with gems of precious stones fastening it in his\nmantle over his right shoulder; a striped tunic of silk with a golden\nhem next to his skin; an ever-bright shield he bore; a hard-smiting,\nthreatening spear he held over him; a very keen sword with hilt-piece of\nred gold on his thigh.\" \"Who might that be, O Fergus?\" asked Ailill. \"I\nknow, then,\" replied Fergus: \"it is battle against foes; it is the inciting\nof strife; it is the rage of a monster; it is the madness of a lion; it is\nthe cunning of a snake; it is the rock of the [W.5558.] Badb; it is the sea\nover dikes; it is the shaking of rocks; it is the stirring of a wild host,\nnamely Conall Cernach ('the Victorious'), the high-glorious son of Amargin,\nthat is come hither.\"[12]\n\n    [12-12] See note 12, page 331.\n\n\"Yet another company came to the same mound in Slane of Meath,\" said\nmacRoth. [1]\"Very heroic and without number it is;[1] steady and dissimilar\nto the other companies. [2]Strange garments, unlike the other companies\nthey wore. Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. A\ngreat host and fierce is that company.[2] Some wore red cloaks, others\nlight-blue cloaks, [LL.fo.100a.] others dark blue cloaks, others green\ncloaks; white and yellow jerkins, beautiful and shiny, were over them.\nBehold the little, freckled, red-faced lad with purple, [3]fringed[3]\nmantle [4]folded about him[4] amongst them in their midst. [5]Fairest of\nthe forms of men was his form.[5] A salmon-shaped brooch of gold in the\nmantle over his breast; a [6]bright, hooded[6] tunic of royal silk with red\ntrimming of red gold next to his white skin; a bright shield with intricate\nfigures of beasts in red gold upon it; a boss of gold on the shield; an\nedge of gold around it; a small, gold-hilted sword at his waist; a sharp,\nlight lance cast its shadow over him.\" \"But, who might he be?\" asked Ailill\nof Fergus. \"Truly, I know not,\" Fergus made answer, \"that I left behind me\nin Ulster the like of that company nor of the little lad that is in it.\nBut, one thing I think likely, that they are the men of Temair with [7]the\nwell-favoured, wonderful, noble youth[7] Erc son of Fedilmid Nocruthach,\n[8]Conchobar's daughter,[8] and of Carbre Niafer. And if it be they, they\nare not more friends than their leaders here. Mayhap despite his father\n[W.5576.] has this lad come to succour his grandfather[a] at this time. And\nif these they be, a sea that drowneth shall this company be to ye, because\nit is through this company and the little lad that is in it that the battle\nshall this time be won against ye.\" \"How through him?\" asked Ailill. \"Not\nhard to tell,\" Fergus responded: \"for this little lad will know neither\nfear nor dread when slaying and slaughtering, until at length he comes into\nthe midst of your battalion. Then shall be heard the whirr of Conchobar's\nsword like the yelp of a howling war-hound, or like a lion rushing among\nbears, [1]while the boy will be saved.[1] Then outside around the battle\nlines will Conchobar pile up huge walls of men's bodies [2]while he seeks\nthe little lad.[2] In turn the princes of the men of Ulster, filled with\nlove and devotion, will hew the enemy to pieces. Boldly will those powerful\nbulls, [3]the brave warriors of Ulster,[3] bellow as [4]their grandson,[4]\nthe calf of their [5]cow,[5] is rescued in the battle on the morn of the\nmorrow.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 49a, 41.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 49a, 42-44.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 49a, 50.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 49a, 50.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 49a, 46-47.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 49a, 52.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 49b, 4-5.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 49b, 6.\n\n    [a] That is, Conchobar.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 49b, 17.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 49b, 18.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 49b, 19-20.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe; that is, Erc son of Fedlimid, Conchobar's daughter.]\n\n    [5-5] 'Of their heart,' YBL. 49b, 13.\n\n[6]\"Then came there three huge (?), strong, well-braced, cunningly-built\ncastles; three mighty, wheeled-towers like unto mountains, in this wise\nplaced in position: Three royal castles with their thirty fully armed\nbattalions, swarming with evil-tongued warriors and with thirty\nround-shielded heroes. A bright, beautiful, glistening shield-guard was on\neach of the three strong, stout battle-castles, with black, deadly armament\nof huge, high, blue, sharp pine-lances, such that one's bent knee would fit\nin the socket of each smooth, polished, even and hard spear-head that is on\neach huge, terrible, strange shaft of the terrible, awful, heavy,\nmonstrous, indescribable armament [W.5598.] that I saw. A third part of\neach shaft was contained in the socket of the riveted, very long, securely\nplaced spears; as high as [1]two[1] cubits was each citadel from the\nground; as long as a warrior's spear was the height of each battle-hurdle;\nas sharp as charmed sword was the blade of each sickle on the sides and the\nflanks of each of [2]Badb's hurdles;[2] on each of the three stout and hard\nbattle-hurdles they are to be found. Four dark, yet gleaming, well-adorned\ndoors were on each battle-wheeled tower of the three royal wheeled-towers\nwhich were displayed and spread over the plain, with ivory door-posts, with\nlintels of cypress, with stately thresholds set of speckled, beautiful,\nstrong pine, with their blue, glass door-leaves, with the glitter of\ncrystal gems around each door-frame, so that its appearance from afar was\nlike that of bright shining stars. As loud as the crash of a mighty wave at\nthe great spring-tide, or of a huge heavy fleet upon the sea when toiling\nwith the oars along the shore, was the similitude of the din and the\nclamour and the shouts and the tumult of the multitude and the to-and-fro\nof the thirty champions with their thirty heavy, iron clubs that they bear\nin their hands. And when the wheeled-towers advance massively and boldly\nagainst the line of heroes, these almost leave behind their arms at the\nfierce charge of the outland battalions. Then spring the three hundred\nchampions with a shout of vengeful anger over the sides and over the front\nof the huge iron towers on wheels, so that this it was that checked the\nswift course and the great, hasty onslaught of the well-grounded,\nswiftly-moving, mighty chariots. The three stout, strong, battle-proof\ntowers on wheels careered over rough places and over obstacles, over rocks\nand over heights. There coursed the thirty entire chargers, powerful,\nstrong-backed, four abreast, the equal of ninety entire chargers, with\n[W.5622.] manes more than big, bold[a] and leaping, with sack-like,\ndistended nostrils, high-headed, towering, over-powering, wonderful, so\nthat they shook with their ramping the thick shell of the sad-sodded\nearth. They flecked the plain behind them with the foam dripping from the\n[1]swift[1] Danish steeds, from the bits and bridles, from the traces and\ntracks of the huge, maned, mighty[b] steeds, greater than can be told! They\nexcited strife with their din of arms.  They plunged headlong in their\nswift impatience. They aroused great terror at their accoutrement, at their\narmour, at their cunning, at their power, at their hugeness, at their\ndestructive, terrible, hostile vengeance on the four grand, proud provinces\nof Erin. Amazing to me was their appearance because of the unwontedness of\ntheir trappings both in form and in garb. Three wonderful flights of birds\nwith variety of appearance hovered over them. The first flock was all red,\nthe second flock was white as swans, the third flock as black as ravens.\nThree red-mouthed, crow-shaped demons of battle sped around them as swift\nas hares, circling the three wheeled towers, and this is what they\nprophesied:--\n\n    \"Sheaves[c] of battle,\n    Might of quelling,\n    Ill of war-deeds,\n    Sating of foul ravens!\n    Sodden ground, blood-red;\n    Men low in dust;\n    Sheaves[c] on sword-blades!\"\n\n    [6-6] The following passage, to page 342, is taken from Stowe and\n    H. 1. 13; it is not found in LL.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13 and Add. 18,748.\n\n    [2-2] That is, the movable towers.\n\n    [a] Following the emendation _bairnech_, suggested by Windisch.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [b] Following the emendation _moradbal_, suggested by Windisch.\n\n    [c] That is, the layers of the slain.\n\n\"They wheeled about and brought them twelve[d] battle-pillars of thick,\nhuge, iron pillars. As thick as the middle of a warrior's thigh, as tall as\na champion's spear was each battle-fork of them, and they placed four forks\nunder each [W.5646.] wheeled-tower. And their horses all ran from them and\ngrazed upon the plain. And those forty[a] that had gone in advance descend\nclad in armour on the plain, and the garrison of the three battle-wheeled\ntowers falls to attacking and harassing them, and is attacked and harassed\nin turn by those forty champions, so that there was heard the breaking\nof shields and the loud blows of hard iron poles on bucklers and\nbattle-helmets, on coats of mail and on the iron plates of smooth, hard,\nblue-black, sharp-beaked, forked spears. And in the whole camp there is\nnone but is on the watch for their fierceness and their wrath and their\ncunning and their strangeness, for their fury, their achievements and the\nexcellence of their guard. And in the place where the forty champions are\nand the thousand armed men contending with them, not one of the thousand\nhad a wounding stroke nor a blow on his opponent because of the might of\ntheir skill in arms and the excellence of their defence withal!\"\n\n    [d] That is, a battle-pillar or prop for each of the four wheels of\n    each of the three towers.\n\n    [a] This is the first mention of the 'forty.'\n\n\"They are hard to contend with for all such as are unfamiliar with them, is\nthe opinion held of them,\" spake Fergus, \"but they are readily to be dealt\nwith for such as do know them. These are three battle-wheeled towers,\"\nFergus continued, \"as I perceive from their account. Once I saw their like,\nnamely when as prentice I accompanied Dare to Spain, so that we entered the\nservice, of the king of Spain, Esorb to wit, and we afterwards made an\nexpedition to Soda, that is, to the king of Africa, and we gave battle to\nthe Carthaginians. There came their like upon us against the battle-line\nwherein we were, an hundred battalions and three score hundred in each\nbattalion. One of the wheeled-towers won victory over us all, for we were\nnot on our guard against them. And this is the way to defeat them: To mine\na hole broader than the tower in the ground in the front thereof and cover\nover the pitfall; [W.5669.] and for the battle-line to be drawn up over\nagainst it and not to advance to attack, so that it is the towers that\nadvance and fall into the pit. Lebarcham told me, as I passed over Taltiu,\nthat the Ulstermen brought these towers from Germany, and the towers held a\nthird of the exiles of Ulster among them as their only dwelling; and\nCualgae ('a Heap of Spears') is their name, namely battle-penfolds. And\nherein have ye the sorest of all hardships, for although all the men of\nErin are drawn up against them, it is the men of Erin that will be\ndefeated.  When they take it upon them to engage in battle they cannot hold\nout without a combat. Thus will they remain now till morning, every forty\nmen of them contending with the others. And this is my advice to you,\" said\nFergus: \"permit me with my division to withstand them, and do ye betake\nyourselves to the woods and wilds of Erin, and the Ulstermen shall not find\nye in any place, and I will proceed as an example, depending on my own\nmen-of-war.\" \"There are men here for ye!\" cried Medb. \"That will be a force\nfor yourselves,\" Fergus made answer.[6]\n\n    [6-6] See note 6, page 338.\n\n\"Yet another company came there to the same height in Slane of Meath,\"\nsaid macRoth. \"Not fewer than a division was in it; wild, dark-red,\nwarrior-bands; [1]bright, clear, blue-purple men;[1] long, fair-yellow\nheads of hair they wore; handsome, shining countenances they had; clear,\nkingly eyes; magnificent vesture with beautiful mantles; conspicuous,\ngolden brooches along their bright-coloured sleeves; silken, glossy tunics;\nblue, glassy spears; yellow shields for striking withal; gold-hilted,\ninlaid swords set on their thighs; loud-tongued care has beset them;\nsorrowful are they all, and mournful; sad are the royal leaders; orphaned\nthe brilliant company without [W.5689.] their protecting lord who was wont\nto guard their lands.\" \"But, who may they be?\" asked Ailill of Fergus.\n\"Indeed, we know them well,\" Fergus made answer. \"Furious lions are they;\ndeeds of battle; the division from the field of Murthemne are they.\n[LL.fo.100b.] It is this that makes them cast-down, sorrowful, joyless\n[1]as they are,[1] because that their own divisional king himself is not\namongst them, even Cuchulain, the restraining, victorious, red-sworded one\nthat triumpheth in battle!\" \"Good reason, in truth, there is for them to be\nso,\" quoth Medb, \"if they are dejected, mournful and joyless. There is no\nevil we have not worked on them. We have harassed and we have assailed\nthem, [2]their territory and their land,[2] from Monday at the beginning of\nSamaintide till the beginning of Spring.[a] We have taken their women and\ntheir sons and their youths, their steeds and their troops of horses, their\nherds and their flocks and their droves. We have razed their hills after\nthem till they are become lowlands, so that they are level with the\nplain. [3]We have brought their lords to bloody stabs and sores, to cuts\nand many wounds.\"[3] \"Not so, O Medb!\" cried Fergus. \"There is naught thou\ncanst boast over them. For thou didst them no hurt nor harm that yon fine\ncompany's leader avenged not on thee. For, every mound and every grave,\nevery stone and every tomb that is from hence to the east of Erin is the\nmound and the grave, the stone and the tomb of some goodly warrior and\ngoodly youth [4]of thy people,[4] fallen at the hands of the noble\nchieftain of yonder company. Happy he to whom they hold! Woe to him whom\nthey oppose! It will be enough, e'en as much as half a battle, for the men\nof Erin, when these defend their lord in the battle on the morning of the\nmorrow.\"\n\n    [1-1] This seems out of place here; it is not found in Stowe nor in\n    H. 1. 13.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [a] See notes a and b, page 182.\n\n\"I heard a great uproar there, west of the battle or to [W.5711.] its\neast,\" said macRoth. \"Say, what noise was it?\" asked Ailill of Fergus.\n\"Ah, but we know it well,\" Fergus made answer: \"Cuchulain it was, straining\nto go, sick as he is, to battle, wearied at the length of his lying sick on\nFert Sciach ('Thorn-mound') under hoops and clasps and ropes, and the men\nof Ulster do not permit him to go because of his sores and his wounds,\ninasmuch as he is not fit for battle and is powerless for combat after his\nencounter with Ferdiad.\"\n\nTrue indeed spake Fergus. Cuchulain it was, wearied at the length of his\nlying supine on Fert Sciach under hoops and clasps and ropes. [1]\"But,\nthere is one thing more to tell,\" said Fergus: \"unless he be held back now,\nhe will surely come to the battle!\"\n\nThus far the Companies of the Tain Bo Cualnge[1] [2]mustered by Conchobar\nand the men of Ulster.[2]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13.\n\nThen came two women lampoonists from the camp and quarters of the men of\nErin; [3]their names,[3] Fethan and Collach, to wit; and they stood with a\nfeint of weeping and wailing over Cuchulain, telling him of the defeat of\nUlster and the death of Conchobar and the fall of Fergus in combat.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe.\n\n[4]Now Conchobar proceeded with his troops till he pitched camp nearby his\ncompanions. Conchobar asked a truce of Ailill till sunrise on the morrow,\nand Ailill granted it for the men of Erin and the exiles, and Conchobar\ngranted it for the men of Ulster, and thereupon Conchobar's tents were\npitched. In this way the ground was bare between them, and the Ulstermen\ncame thither at sunset.[4]\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 50a, 11.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 345]\n\n\n\n\nXXVI\n\n[1]THE DECISION OF THE BATTLE[1]\n\n\n[W.5727.] It was on that night that the Morrigan,[a] daughter of Ernmas,\ncame, and she was engaged in fomenting strife and sowing dissension between\nthe two camps on either side, and she spoke these words [2]in the twilight\nbetween the two encampments[2]:--\n\n    \"Ravens shall pick\n    The necks of men!\n    Blood shall gush\n    [3]In combat wild![3]\n    Skins shall be hacked;\n    Crazed with spoils!\n    [4]Men's sides pierced[4]\n    In battle brave,\n    Luibnech near!\n    Warriors' storm;\n    Mien of braves;\n    Cruachan's men!\n    [5]Upon them comes[5]\n    Ruin complete!\n    Lines shall be strewn\n    Under foot;\n    Their race die out!\n    Then Ulster hail:\n    To Erna[b] woe!\n    To Ulster woe:\n    [6]Then Erna hail![6]\n    (This she said in Erna's ear.)\n    Naught inglorious shall they do\n    Who them await!\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 41a, 7.\n\n    [a] The Irish goddess of war.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 50a, 18-19.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 50a, 19.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 50a, 21.\n\n    [5-5] Translating from YBL. 50a, 23; LL. appears to be corrupt.\n\n    [b] The Munstermen in Ailill's army.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 50a, 26.\n\n[1]Now Cuchulain was at Fedain Collna near by. Food was brought to him that\nnight by the purveyors, and they were used to come to converse with him by\nday. He killed not any of the men of Erin to the left of Ferdiad's Ford.[1]\n[W.5756.] It was then that Cuchulain spake to Laeg son of Riangabair. \"It\nwould surely be unworthy of thee, O Laeg my master,\" said Cuchulain, \"if\nbetween the two battle-lines there should happen anything to-day whereof\nthou hadst no tidings for me.\" \"Whatsoever I shall learn, O Cucucuc,\"\nanswered Laeg, \"will be told thee. But, see yonder a little flock coming\nforth on the plain from the western camp and station now. [LL.fo.101a.]\nBehold a band of henchmen after them to check and to stay them. Behold also\na company of henchmen emerging from the eastern camp and station to seize\nthem.\" \"Surely, that is so!\" exclaimed Cuchulain. \"That bodes a mighty\ncombat and is the occasion of a grand battle. The little flock will come\nover the plain and the band of henchmen [2]from the east and the band of\nhenchmen from the west[2] [3]will encounter one another betimes [4]about\nthe little flock[4] on the great field of battle.\"[3] There, indeed,\nCuchulain spoke true. And the little flock came forth upon the plain, and\nthe companies of henchmen met in fray. \"Who gives the battle now, O Laeg my\nmaster,\" Cuchulain asked. \"The folk of Ulster,\" Laeg answered: \"that is the\nsame as the young warriors [5]of Ulster.\"[5] \"But how fight they?\"\nCuchulain asked. \"Like men they fight,\" Laeg answered. \"There where are the\nheroes of valour from the east in battle, they force a breach through the\nranks to the west. There where are the heroes from the west, they lay a\nbreach through the ranks to the eastward.\" [6]\"It would be a vow for them\nto fall in rescuing their herds,\" said Cuchulain; \"and [W.5774.] now?\" \"The\nbeardless youths are fighting now,\" said the charioteer. \"Has a bright\ncloud come over the sun yet?\" Cuchulain asked. \"Nay, then,\" the charioteer\nanswered.[6] \"I grieve that I am not yet strong enough to be on my feet\namongst them. For, were I able to be on my feet amongst them, my breach\nwould be manifest there to-day like that of another!\" \"But, this avow, O\nCucuc,\" said Laeg: \"it is no reproach to thy valour; it is no disgrace to\nthine honour. Thou hast done bravely in time before now and thou wilt do\nbravely hereafter.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 50a, 28-31.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13\n\n    [3-3] LL. seems to be defective here.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 50a, 39-43.\n\n[1]About the hour of sunrise: \"It is a haughty folk that now fight the\nbattle,\" quoth the charioteer; \"but there are no kings amongst them, for\nsleep is still upon them.\"[1] \"Come, O my master Laeg!\" cried Cuchulain;\n\"rouse the men of Ulster to the battle now, for it is time that they come.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 50a, 45-47.\n\n[2]Then, when the sun arose,[2] [3]Cuchulain saw the kings from the east\nputting their crowns on their heads and relieving their men-at-arms.\nCuchulain told his charioteer to awaken the men of Ulster.[3] Laeg came and\nroused the men of Ulster to battle, and he uttered these words there:--\n\n    \"Arise, ye kings of Macha,\n    Valiant in your deeds!\n    Imbel's kine the Badb doth covet:\n    [4]Blood of hearts pours out!\n    Goodly heroes' battle rushes in[4]\n    With deeds of valour!\n    Hearts all red with gore:\n    Brows turned in flight.\n    Dismay of battle riseth.\n    For there was never found\n    One like unto Cuchulain,\n    Hound that Macha's[a] weal doth work!\n    If it is for Cualnge's kine,\n    Let them now arise!\"\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 50a, 48.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 50b, 18-23.\n\n    [4-4] YBL 50b, 27-29.\n\n    [a] Another name for Badb, the battle-fury.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 348]\n\n\n\n\nXXVII\n\n[1]NOW OF THE BATTLE OF GARECH[1]\n\n\n[W.5804.] Thereupon arose all the men of Ulster at the one time in the\ntrain of their king, and at the word of their prince, and to prepare for\nthe uprising in response to the call of Laeg son of Riangabair. And in this\nwise they arose: stark-naked all of them, only their weapons in their\nhands. Each one whose tent door looked to the east, through the tent\nwestwards he went, for that he deemed it too long to go round about it.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n\"How arise the Ulstermen now to [2]the battle,[2] O Laeg my master?\" asked\nCuchulain. \"Manfully they rise,\" said Laeg: \"stark-naked all of them,\n[3]except for their arms only.[3] Every man whose tent-door faces the east,\nthrough the tent westwards he goes, for he deems it too long to go round\nabout it.\" \"I pledge my word!\"  cried Cuchulain: \"at a fitting hour have\nthey now in the early day risen around Conchobar!\"\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13, Add., Stowe, and YBL. 50b, 34.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 50b, 34.\n\nThen spake Conchobar to Sencha son of Ailill: \"Come, O Sencha my master,\"\nsaid Conchobar; \"stay the men of Ulster, and let them not go to the battle\ntill there come the strength of a good omen and favourable portent, till\nthe sun mounts to the roof-tree of heaven and sunshine fills the glens and\nlowlands and hills and watch-towers of Erin.\"\n\n[W.5822.] They tarried there till the strength of a good omen came and a\nfavourable portent, till sunshine filled the glens and slopes and heights\nand watch-towers of the province.\n\n\"Come, O Sencha my master,\" said Conchobar; \"rouse the men of Ulster to\nbattle, for it is time for them to proceed thither.\" Sencha roused the men\nof Ulster to battle, and he spake these words:--\n\n    \"Now shall Macha's kings arise,\n    Large-hearted folk!\n    Weapons let them shatter:\n    Let them fight the battle:\n    Let them plow the earth in anger:\n    Let them strike on shields!\n    [1]Wearied all the hands;[1]\n    Herds loud bellowing:\n    Steadfast the resistance:\n    Furious the retainers:\n    Battle-lines shall prostrate fall\n    'Neath the feet of others!\n    [2]Prince and lord prepare for battle.[2]\n    Perish [LL.fo.101b.] shall their race!\n    [3]Manful contest there shall be;[3]\n    Their foes they lie in wait for\n    And slay them all to-day!\n    Deep draughts of blood they drink:\n    Grief fills the hearts of queens:\n    [4]Tender lamentations follow:\n    Till soaked in blood shall be the grassy sod\n    On which they're slain,\n    To which they come.[4]\n    If for Cualnge's kine it be,\n    [5]Let Macha's kings![5] Let them arise!\"\n\n    [1-1] Reading with YBL 50a, 52.\n\n    [2-2] From a conjectural emendation of YBL. 50a, 54.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 50b, 1.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 50b, 3.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 50b, 5.\n\nNot long was Laeg there when he witnessed something: the men of Erin all\narising at one time, taking their shields and their spears and their swords\nand their helmets, and urging the men-of-war before them to the battle. The\nmen of Erin, every single man of them, fell to smite and to batter, to cut\nand to hew, to slay and to destroy the others [W.5859.] for a long space\nand while. Thereupon Cuchulain asked of his charioteer, of Laeg son of\nRiangabair, at the time that a bright cloud came over the sun: [1]\"Look for\nus![1] How fight [2]the Ulstermen[2] the battle now, O my master Laeg?\"\n\"Like men they fight,\" Laeg answered. \"Should I mount my chariot, and En,\nConall [3]Cernach's ('the Victorious')[3] charioteer, his chariot, and\nshould we go in two chariots from one wing to the other on the points of\nthe weapons, neither hoof nor wheel nor axle-tree nor chariot-pole would\ntouch [4]the ground[4] for the denseness and closeness and firmness with\nwhich their arms are held in the hands of the men-at-arms at this time.\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 51a, 45.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 51a, 45.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13, Add. and YBL. 51a, 47.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and Add.\n\n\"Alas, that I am not yet strong enough to be amongst them [5]now!\"[5] cried\nCuchulain; \"for, were I able, my breach would be manifest there to-day like\nthat of another,\" spake Cuchulain. \"But this avow, O Cucuc,\" said Laeg:\n\"'tis no reproach to thy valour; 'tis no disgrace to thine honour. Thou\nhast wrought great deeds before now and thou wilt work great deeds\nhereafter.\"\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nThen began the men of Erin to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, to\nslay and to destroy the others for a long space and while. Next came to\nthem the nine chariot-fighters of the champions from Norseland, and the\nthree foot-warriors along with them, and no swifter were the nine\nchariot-men than the three men on foot.\n\nThen came to them also [6]on the ford of hosting[6] the governors of the\nmen of Erin. And this was their sole office [7]with Medb[7] in the battle:\nto smite to death Conchobar if it were he that suffered defeat, and to\nrescue Ailill and Medb if it should be they were defeated. And these are\nthe names of the governors:\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 51b, 6.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 351]\n\n\n\n\nXXVIIa\n\n[1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF ERIN[1]\n\n\n[W.5883.] The three Conare from Sliab Mis, the three Lussen from Luachair,\nthe three Niadchorb from Tilach Loiscthe, the three Doelfer from Deill, the\nthree Damaltach from Dergderc, the three Buder from the Buas, the three\nBaeth from Buagnige, the three Buageltach from Mag Breg, the three Suibne\nfrom the Siuir, the three Eochaid from Ane, the three Malleth from Loch\nErne, the three Abatruad from Loch Ri, the three macAmra from Ess Ruaid,\nthe three Fiacha from Fid Nemain, the three Mane from Muresc, the three\nMuredach from Mairg, the three Loegaire from Lecc Derg, the three Broduinde\nfrom the Berba, the three Bruchnech, from Cenn Abrat, the three Descertach\nfrom Druim Fornacht, the three Finn from Finnabair, the three Conall from\nCollamair, the three Carbre from Cliu, the three Mane from Mossa, the three\nScathglan from Scaire, the three Echtach from Erce, the three Trenfer from\nTaite, the three Fintan from Femen, [LL.fo.102a.] the three Rotanach from\nRogne, the three Sarchorach from Suide Lagen, the three Etarscel from\nEtarbane, the three Aed from Aidne, the three Guare from Gabal.[a]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 50b, 41.\n\n    [a] YBL. 50b-51a has more than three times as many names as are\n    enumerated here.\n\nThen said Medb to Fergus. \"It were truly a thing to boast of for thee, [2]O\nFergus,\" said she,[2] \"werest thou [W.5943.] to use thy mightiness of\nbattle [1]vehemently[1] without stint amongst us to-day, forasmuch as thou\nhast been driven out of thine own land and out of thine inheritance;\namongst us hast thou found land and domain and inheritance, and much\ngood-will hath been shown thee!\"\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, Add. and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, Add., and H. 1. 13.\n\n[2]Thereupon Fergus uttered this oath: \"I swear,\" _et reliqua_, \"jaws of\nmen I would break from necks, necks of men with arms, arms of men with\nelbows, elbows of men with wrists, wrists of men with fists, fists of men\nwith fingers, fingers of men with nails, nails[a] of men with scalps,\nscalps of men with trunks, trunks of men with thighs, thighs of men with\nknees, knees of men with calves, calves of men with feet, feet of men with\ntoes, toes of men with nails,[2] so that [3]heads of men over shields[3]\nwould be as numerous [4]with me[4] as bits of ice [5]on the miry\nstamping-ground[5] [6]between two dry fields[6] that a king's horses would\ncourse on. Every limb of the Ulstermen [7]would I send flying through the\nair[7] before and behind me this day [8]like the flitting of bees on a day\nof fine weather,[8] if only I had my sword!\"\n\n    [2-2] I have given preference to the reading of YBL. 51b, 18-30.\n\n    [a] A word is omitted here in the MS., presumably for, 'nails.'\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 51b, 19-20.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 51b, 19.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 51b, 20.\n\n    [6-6] Adopting Windisch's emendation of the text.\n\n    [7-7] YBL. 51b, 31.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 51b, 32.\n\nAt that Ailill spoke to his own charioteer, Ferloga, to wit: \"Fetch me a\nquick sword that wounds the skin, O gilla,\" said Ailill. [9]\"A year to-day\nI put that sword in thy hand in the flower of its condition and bloom.[9] I\ngive my word, if its bloom and condition be the worse at thy hands this day\nthan the day I gave it [10]thee[10] on the hillside of Cruachan Ai [11]in\nthe borders of Ulster,[11] though thou hadst the men of Erin and of Alba to\nrescue thee from me to-day, they would not all save thee!\"\n\n    [9-9] Stowe and YBL. 51b, 35.\n\n    [10-10] Stowe.\n\n    [11-11] YBL. 51b, 36.\n\n[W.5956.] Ferloga went his way, and he brought the sword with him in the\nflower of its safe-keeping, and fair flaming as a candle. And the sword was\nplaced in Ailill's hand, and Ailill put it in Fergus' hand, and Fergus\noffered welcome to the sword:[a] \"Welcome, O Calad Colg[b] ('Hardblade'),\nLete's sword!\" said he. \"Weary, O champion of Badb! On whom shall I ply\nthis weapon?\" Fergus asked. \"On the men-of-war around thee,\" Medb answered.\n\"No one shall find indulgence nor quarter from thee to-day, unless some\nfriend of thy bosom find it!\"\n\n    [a] Here follows in YBL. 51b, 38-57 a difficult passage in _rosc_ which\n    I have omitted in the translation. Only a portion of it has been\n    preserved in LL. and is here translated.\n\n    [b] Reading with Stowe, II. 1. 13, Add. and YBL. 51b, 45.\n\nWhereupon, Fergus took his arms and went forward to the battle, [1]and he\ncleared a gap of an hundred in the battle-ranks with his sword in his two\nhands.[1] Ailill seized his weapons. Medb seized her weapons and entered\nthe battle. [2]The Mane seized their arms and came to the battle. The\nmacMagach seized their arms and came to the battle,[2] so that thrice the\nUlstermen were routed before them from the north, till Cualgae[c] and sword\ndrove them back again. [3]Or it was Cuchulain that drove the men of Erin\nbefore him, so that he brought them back into their former line in the\nbattle.[3]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 52a, 6-8.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Add.\n\n    [c] The name of the wheeled towers described above, page 338 fl.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nConchobar heard that from his place in the line of battle, that the battle\nhad gone against him thrice from the north. Then he addressed his\nbodyguard, even the inner circle of the Red Branch: \"Hold ye here a while,\nye men!\" cried he; \"even in the line [4]of battle[4] where I am, that I may\ngo and learn by whom the battle has been thus forced against us thrice from\nthe north.\" Then said his household: \"We will hold out,\" said they, [5]\"in\nthe place wherein we are:[5] [W.5974.] for the sky is above us and the\nearth underneath and the sea round about us, [1]and[1] unless the heavens\nshall fall with their showers of stars on the man-face of the world, or\nunless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o'er the tufted brow of the\nearth, or unless the ground yawns open, will we not move a thumb's breadth\nbackward from here till the very day of doom and of everlasting life, till\nthou come back to us!\"\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 52a, 14.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nConchobar went his way to the place where he heard the battle had gone\nthree times [LL.fo.102b.] against him from the north. [2]Then Conchobar\nmade a rush at Fergus,[2] and he lifted shield against shield there, namely\nagainst Fergus mac Roig, even Ochain ('the Fair-ear')[a] of Conchobar with\nits four ears of gold and its four bracings of red gold. Therewith Fergus\ngave three stout blows of Badb on the Ochain of Conchobar, so that\nConchobar's shield cried aloud on him [3]and the three chief waves of Erin\ngave answer, the Wave of Clidna, the Wave of Rudraige and the Wave of Tuag,\nto wit.[3] Whenever Conchobar's shield cried out, the shields of all the\nUlstermen cried out. However great the strength and power with which Fergus\nsmote Conchobar on the shield, so great also was the might and valour\nwherewith Conchobar held the shield, so that the ear of the shield did not\neven touch the ear of Conchobar.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 52a, 16-17.\n\n    [a] The name of Conchobar's shield.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n\"Hearken, ye men [4]of Erin!\"[4] cried Fergus; \"who opposes a shield to me\nto-day on this day of battle when four of the five grand provinces of Erin\ncome together on Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Cattle-raid\nof Cualnge?\" \"Why, then, a gilla that is younger and mightier [5]and\ncomelier[5] than thyself is here,\" [6]Conchobar answered,[6] \"and whose\nmother and father were [W.5995.] better! The man that hath driven thee out\nof thy borders, thy land and thine inheritance; the man that hath driven\nthee into the lairs of the deer and the wild hare and the foxes; the man\nthat hath not granted thee to take the breadth [1]of thy foot[1] of thine\nown domain or land; the man that hath made thee dependent upon the bounty\nof a woman; the man that of a time disgraced thee by slaying the [2]three\nbright lights of the valour of the Gael,[2] the three sons of Usnech that\nwere under thy safeguard [3]and protection;[3] the man that will repel thee\nthis day in the presence of the men of Erin; Conchobar son of Fachtna\nFathach son of Ross Ruad son of Rudraige, High King of Ulster and son of\nthe High King of Erin; [4]and though any one should insult thee, there is\nno satisfaction nor reparation for thee, for thou art in the service of a\nwoman!\"[4]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n\"Truly hath this happened to me.\" Fergus responded. And Fergus placed his\ntwo hands on Calad Colg ('Hardblade'), and he heaved a blow with it\nbackwards behind him, so that its point touched the ground, and he thought\nto strike his three fateful blows of Badb on the men of Ulster, so that\ntheir dead would be more in number than their living. Cormac Conlongas son\nof Conchobar saw that and he rushed to [5]his foster-father, namely to[5]\nFergus, and he closed his two [6]royal hands[6] over him [7]outside his\narmour.[7] [8]\"Ungentle, not heedful is this, Fergus my master! Full of\nhate, not of friendship is this,[8] O Fergus my master! Let not the\nUlstermen be slain and destroyed by thee through thy destructive blows, but\ntake thou thought for their honour to-day on this day of battle!\"\n[W.6013.] \"Get thee away from me, boy! [1]Whom then should I strike?\"[1]\nexclaimed Fergus; \"for I will not remain alive unless I deliver my three\nfateful strokes of Badb on the men of Ulster this day, till their dead be\nmore in number than their living.\" \"Then turn thy hand slantwise,\" said\nCormac Conlongas, \"and slice off the hill-tops over the heads of the hosts\n[2]on every side[2] and this will be an appeasing of thine anger.\" \"Tell\nConchobar also to fall [3]back again[3] to his place in the battle,\"\n[4]said Fergus; \"and I will no longer belabour the hosts.\"[4] [5]Cormac\ntold this to Conchobar:[5] [6]\"Go to the other side, O Conchobar,\" said\nCormac to his father, \"and this man will not visit his anger any longer\nhere on the men of Ulster.\"[6] So Conchobar went to his place in the\nbattle. [7]In this manner Fergus and Conchobar parted.[7]\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [8-8] Following Windisch's emendation of the text. The MSS. are corrupt\n    here.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 52a, 35.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 52a, 36.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 52a, 39-41.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n[8]Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the first\nonslaught with the sword. He met Conall Cernach. \"Too great is this rage,\"\nsaid Conall, \"upon people and kindred because of the whim of a wanton.\"\n\"What would ye have me do, ye warriors?\" asked Fergus. \"Smite the hills\ncrosswise and the bushes around,\" Conall Cernach made answer.[8]\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 52a, 41-47.\n\nThus it was with that sword, which was the sword of Fergus: The sword of\nFergus, the sword of Lete from Faery: Whenever he desired to strike with\nit, it became the size of a rainbow in the air. Thereupon Fergus turned his\nhand slantwise over the heads of the hosts, so that he smote the three tops\nof the three hills, so that they are still on the moor in sight of [9]the\nmen of Erin.[9] And these are the three Maels ('the Balds') of Meath in\nthat place, [1]which Fergus smote as a reproach and a rebuke to the men of\nUlster.[1]\n\n    [9-9] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n[W.6027.] Now as regards Cuchulain. He heard the Ochain of Conchobar\nsmitten by Fergus macRoig. \"Come, O Laeg my master,\" cried Cuchulain: \"who\ndares thus smite [2]with those strong blows, mighty and far-away,[2] the\nOchain of Conchobar my master, and I alive?\" [3]Then Laeg made answer,\nsaying: \"The choice of men, Fergus macRoig, the very bold, smites it:--[3]\n\n    \"Blood he sheds--increase of slaughter--\n    Splendid the hero, Fergus macRoig!\n    Hidden had lain Fairyland's chariot-sword!\n    Battle now hath reached the shield,\n    Shield of my master Conchobar!\"\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 52a, 52.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 52b, 1-2.\n\n[4]\"How far have the hosts advanced, O Laeg?\" Cuchulain asked. \"They have\ncome to Garech,\" Laeg answered. \"I give my word for that,\" Cuchulain cried;\n\"they will not come as far as Ilgarech, if I catch up with them! [4]Quickly\nunloose the bands, gilla!\" cried Cuchulain. [5]\"Blood covers men. Feats of\nswords shall be done. Men shall be spent therefrom!\"[5]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 52b, 7-8.\n\n[6]Since Cuchulain's going into battle had been prevented, his twisting fit\ncame upon him, and seven and twenty skin tunics were given to him that used\nto be about him under strings and cords when going into battle.[6]\n[LL.fo.103a.] Then Cuchulain gave a mighty spring, so that the bindings of\nhis wounds flew from him to Mag Tuag ('the Plain of the Bows') in Connacht.\nHis bracings went from him to Bacca ('the Props') in Corcomruad [7]in the\ndistrict of Boirenn,[7] [8]His supports sprang from him to [9]Rath[9] Cinn\nBara ('the Rath of Spithead') in Ulster, and likewise his pins flew from\nhim to Rath Clo ('the Rath of the Nails') in the land of the tribe of\nConall.[8] The dry wisps that were stuffed in his wounds rose to the roof\n[W.6040.] of the air and the sky as highest larks fly on a day of sunshine\nwhen there is no wind. Thereupon, his bloody wounds got the better of him,\nso that the ditches and furrows of the earth were full of streams of blood\nand torrents of gore.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 17-20.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe.\n\n    [9-9] Add. and H. 1. 13.\n\n[1]Some of the narrators aver that it was the strength of the warrior and\nchampion that hurled these things [2]to the aforementioned places;[2] but\nit was not that, but his powerful friends, the fairy-folk, that brought\nthem thither, to the end to make famous his history, so that from them\nthese places are named.[1]\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [2-2] Add.\n\nThis was the first exploit of valour that Cuchulain performed on rising\n[3]out of his weakness:[3] The two women lampoonists that made a feint of\nweeping and wailing [4]over his head,[4] Fethan and Collach to wit, he\nsmote each of them against the head of the other, so that he[a] was red\nwith their blood and grey with their brains. [5]These women had come from\nMedb to raise a pretended lamentation over him, to the end that his bloody\nwounds might burst forth on him, and to tell him that the men of Ulster had\nmet with defeat and that Fergus had fallen in meeting the battle.[5] His\narms had not been left near him, except his chariot only. And he took his\nchariot on his back [6]with its frame and its two axle-trees,[6] and he set\nout to attack the men of Erin, and he smote them with the chariot, until he\nreached the place where Fergus macRoig was. \"Turn hither, O Fergus my\nmaster!\" he cried. Fergus did not answer, for he heard not. He spoke again,\n\"Turn hither, [7]turn hither,[7] O Fergus my master!\" he cried; \"and if\nthou turn not, [8]I swear to god what the Ulstermen swear,[8] I [W.6052.]\nwill grind thee as a mill grinds fresh grain; I will wash thee as a cup is\nwashed in a tub; I will bind thee as the woodbine binds the trees; I will\npounce on thee as hawk pounces on fledglings; [1]I will go over thee as its\ntail goes over a cat;[1] [2]I will pierce thee as a tool bores through a\ntree-trunk; I will pound thee as a fish is pounded on the sand!\"[2] \"Truly\nthis is my lot!\" spake Fergus. \"Who [3]of the men of Erin[3] dares to\naddress these stiff, vengeful words to me, where now the four grand\nprovinces of Erin are met on Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raid\nfor the Kine of Cualnge?\" \"Thy fosterling is before thee,\" he replied, \"and\nfosterling of the men of Ulster and of Conchobar as well, Cuchulain son of\nSualtaim [4]and sister's son to Conchobar,\" replied Cuchalain.[4] \"And thou\ndidst promise to flee before me what time I should be wounded, in pools of\ngore and riddled in the battle of the Tain.[a] For, [5]when thou hadst not\nthy sword with thee,[5] I did flee before thee in thine own combat on the\nTain; [6]and do thou avoid me,\" said he. \"Even that did I promise,\" Fergus\nanswered. \"Away with thee, then!\" cried Cuchulain. \"'Tis well,\" replied\nFergus; \"thou didst avoid me; now thou art pierced with wounds.\"[6]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [a] 'The ground,' Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.; 'so that each of them was\n    grey with the brains of the other,' YBL. 52b, 13-14.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 52b, 14-17.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 21.\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 52b, 24.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 52b, 24-25.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 52b, 27.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 52b, 28.\n\n    [a] See page 207.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 29-33.\n\nFergus gave ear to that word of Cuchulain, and he turned and made his three\ngreat strides of a hero [7]back from Cuchulain and turned in flight from\nhim.[7] And as he turned [8]with his company of three thousand warriors and\nthe Leinstermen following after Fergus--for it is under Fergus' warrant\nthey had come[8]--[9]and the men of Munster,[9] there turned all the men of\nErin.\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [8-8] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 52b, 33.\n\n[W.6065.] [1]Then[1] the men of Erin broke their ranks westwards over the\nhill. The battle raged around the men of Connacht, [2]around Ailill and his\ndivision and around Medb with hers and around the Mane with theirs and the\nmac Magach with theirs.[2] At midday Cuchulain came to the battle. At the\ntime of sunset at the ninth hour [3]as the sun entered the tresses of the\nwood,[3] [4]when man and tree were no more to be known apart, Medb and[4]\nthe last company of the men of Connacht fled in rout westwards over the\nhill.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 52b, 36.\n\n    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nAt that time there did not remain in Cuchulain's hand of the chariot but a\nhandful of its spokes around the wheel, and a handbreadth of its poles\naround the shell, with the slaying and slaughtering of the four grand\nprovinces of Erin during all that time.\n\nThen Medb betook her to a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin.\nThereafter Medb sent off the Brown Bull of Cualnge along with fifty of his\nheifers and eight of her runners with him around to Cruachan, to the end\nthat whoso might and whoso might not escape, the Brown Bull of Cualnge\nshould get away safely, even as she had promised.\n\nThen it was that the issue of blood came upon Medb, [5]and she said: \"Do\nthou, Fergus, undertake[5] a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin\ntill I let my water flow from me.\" \"By my troth,\" replied Fergus, \"'tis an\nill hour for thee to be taken so.\" \"Howbeit there is no help for me,\" Medb\nanswered; \"for I shall not live if I do not void water!\" Fergus accordingly\ncame and raised a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin. Medb\nvoided her water, so that it made three large dikes, so that a mill[a]\ncould find room in each dike. Hence the place is known as Fual Medbha\n('Medb's Water').\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [a] It is not uncommon in folk-tales that lakes, rivers, etc. arose\n    from the micturition of a giant or fairy. Reading with Add.\n\n[W.6085.] Cuchulain came upon her as she was thus engaged, [1]on his way to\nthe battle,[1] and he did not attack her. He would not strike her a blow\nfrom behind. [2]He spared her then because it was not his wont to slay\nwomen.[2] [3]\"Spare me!\" cried Medb. \"If I should slay thee, it were just\nfor me,\" Cuchulain answered.[3] [4]\"Arise from hence,\" said he; \"for I deem\nit no honour to wound thee from behind with my weapons.\"[4] \"I crave a boon\nof thee this day, O Cuchulain,\" spake Medb. \"What boon cravest thou [5]of\nme?\"[5] asked Cuchulain. \"That this host be under thine honour and thy\nprotection till they pass westwards over Ath Mor ('the Great Ford').\"\n[LL.fo.103b.] \"Yea, I promise that,\" said Cuchulain. [6]Then[6] went\nCuchulain around the men of Erin, and he undertook a shield-defence on one\nside of them, in order to protect the men of Erin. On the other side went\nthe governors of the men of Erin. Medb went to her own place and assumed a\nshield-defence in the rear of the men of Erin, and in this manner they\nconvoyed the men of Erin over Ath Mor westwards.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 52b, 41.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [3-3] YBL. 52b, 41-42.\n\n    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [6-6] H. 1. 13. and Add.\n\n[7]Then Laeg [8]son of Riangabair[8] brought Cuchulain's sword unto him,\n[9]the 'Hard-headed Steeling' to wit,[9] and Cuchulain took the sword in\nhis hand.[7] Then he [10]stood still and[10] gave a blow to the three\nbald-topped hills of Ath Luain over against the three Maela ('the Bald\nTops') of Meath, so that he struck their three heads off them. [11]And they\nare in the bog as a witness ever since. Hence these are the Maolain ('the\nFlat Tops') of Ath Luain. Cuchulain cut them off as a reproach and affront\nto the men of Connacht, in order that every time men should speak of\nMeath's three Bald Tops, these in the west should be the answer the 'Three\nFlat Tops of Ath Luain.'[11]\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [8-8] Add.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 52b, 43.\n\n    [10-10] YBL. 52b. 45.\n\n    [11-11] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n[W.6099.] Then [1]when the battle had been lost,[1] Fergus [2]began to\nview[2] the host as it went westwards of Ath Mor. \"It was thus indeed it\nbehoved this day to prove, for following in the lead of a woman,\" [3]said\nFergus.[3] \"Faults and feuds have met here to-day,\" [4]said Medb[4] to\nFergus. \"Betrayed and sold is this host to-day,\" [5]Fergus answered.[5]\n\"And even as a brood-mare leads her foals into a land unknown, without a\nhead to advise or give counsel before them, such is the plight of this host\nto-day [6]in the train of a woman that hath ill counselled them.\"[6]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 52b, 47-48.\n\n    [2-2] Reading with H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] YBL. 52b, 48.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 52.\n\n[7]Then Cuchulain turned to where Conchobar was with the nobles of Ulster\nbefore him. Conchobar bewailed and lamented Cuchulain, and then he uttered\nthis lay:--\n\n    \"How is this, O Cualnge's Hound,\n    Hero of the Red Branch, thou:\n    Great woe, champion, hast thou borne,\n    Battling in thy land's defence!\n\n    \"Every morn a hundred slain,\n    Every eve a hundred more,\n    While the host purveyed thy fare,\n    Feeding thee with cooling food!\n\n    \"Five-score heroes of the hosts,\n    These I reckon are in graves.\n    While their women--fair their hue--\n    Spend the night bewailing them!\"[7]\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 363]\n\n\n\n\nXXVIII\n\n[1]THE BATTLE OF THE BULLS[1]\n\n\n[W.6121.] As regards Medb, it is related here: [2]She suffered not the\nhosts to disperse forthwith,[2] but she gathered the men of Erin and led\nthem forth to Cruachan to behold the battle of the bulls [3]and in what\nmanner they would part from one another. For during the while the battle\nwas being fought, the Brown Bull of Cualnge with fifty heifers in his\ncompany had been brought to Cruachan.[3]\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 41a, 8.\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13.\n\n    [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nAs regards the Brown Bull of Cualnge, it is now recounted in this place:\nWhen he saw the beautiful, strange land, he sent forth his three bellowing\ncalls aloud. And Finnbennach Ai ('the Whitehorned of Ai') heard him. Now no\nmale beast durst [4]send forth[4] a low that was louder than a moo in\ncompare with him within the four fords of all Ai, Ath Moga and Ath Coltna,\nAth Slissen and Ath Bercha. And [5]the Whitehorned[5] lifted his head with\nfierce anger [6]at the bellowing of the Brown of Cualnge,[6] and he\nhastened to Cruachan to look for the Brown Bull of Cualnge.\n\n    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nIt was then the men of Erin debated who would be [7]fitted[7] to witness\n[8]the fight[8] of the bulls. They all agreed that it should be Bricriu son\nof Carbad [9]that were fitted for that office.[9] For, a year before this\ntale of the Cualnge Cattle-raid, Bricriu had gone from the one province\ninto the other to make a request of Fergus. And Fergus had retained\n[W.6134.] him with him waiting for his treasures and goods. And a quarrel\narose between him and Fergus at a game of chess.[a] And he spake evil words\nto Fergus. Fergus smote him with his fist and with the chess-man that was\nin his hand, so that he drave the chess-man into his head and broke a bone\nin his head. Whilst the men of Erin were on the foray of the Tain, all that\ntime Bricriu was being cured at Cruachan. And the day they returned from\nthe expedition was the day Bricriu rose. [1]He came with the rest to\nwitness the battle of the bulls.[1] [2]And this is why they selected\nBricriu,[2] for that Bricriu was no fairer to his friend than to his\nfoe. [3]\"Come, ye men of Erin!\" cried Bricriu; \"permit me to judge the\nfight of the bulls,[3] [4]for it is I shall most truly recount their tale\nand their deeds afterwards.\"[4] And he was brought [5]before the men of\nErin[5] to a gap whence to view the bulls.\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [8-8] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [9-9] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [a] The story is told in 'The Adventures of Nera,' published in\n    the _Revue Celtique_, t. x, p. 227.\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 53a, 4-5.\n\n    [2-2] Stowe.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13.\n\n[6]So they drove the Brown Bull the morning of the fight till he met the\nWhitehorned at Tarbga in the plain of Ai: or Tarbguba ('Bull-groan'), or\nTarbgleo ('Bull-fight'); Roi Dedond was the first name of that hill. Every\none that had lived through the battle cared for naught else than to see the\ncombat of the two bulls.[6]\n\n    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 52-53a, 3.\n\nEach of the bulls sighted the other and there was a pawing and digging up\nof the ground in their frenzy there, and they tossed the earth over\nthem. They threw up the earth over their withers and shoulders, and their\neyes blazed red [LL.fo.104a.] in their heads like firm balls of fire,\n[7]and their sides bent like mighty boars on a hill.[7] Their cheeks and\ntheir nostrils swelled like smith's bellows in a forge. And each of them\ngave a resounding, deadly blow to the other. Each of them began to hole and\nto gore, to endeavour to slaughter [W.6151.] and demolish the other. Then\nthe Whitehorned of Ai visited his wrath upon the Brown Bull of Cualnge for\nthe evil of his ways and his doings, and he drave a horn into his side and\nvisited his angry rage upon him. Then they directed their headlong course\nto where Bricriu was, so that the hoofs of the bulls drove him a man's\ncubit deep into the ground after his destruction. Hence, this is the\nTragical Death of Bricriu [1]son of Carbad.[1]\n\n    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\nCormac Conlongas son of Conchobar saw that, [2]and the force of affection\narose in him,[2] and he laid hold of a spearshaft that filled his grasp,\nand gave three blows to the Brown Bull of Cualnge from ear to tail, [3]so\nthat it broke on his thick hide from ear to rump.[3] \"No wonderful, lasting\ntreasure was this precious prize for us,\" said Cormac, \"that cannot defend\nhimself against a stirk of his own age!\" The Brown Bull of Cualnge\nheard this--for he had human understanding[a]--and he turned upon the\nWhitehorned. [4]Thereupon the Brown of Cualnge became infuriated, and he\ndescribed a very circle of rage around the Whitehorned, and he rushed at\nhim, so that he broke his lower leg with the shock.[4] And thereafter they\ncontinued to strike at each other for a long while and great space of time,\n[5]and so long as the day lasted they watched the contest of the bulls[5]\ntill night fell on the men of Erin. And when night had fallen, all that the\nmen of Erin could hear was the bellowing and roaring. That night the bulls\ncoursed over [6]the greater part of[6] all Erin. [7]For every spot in Erin\nwherein is a 'Bulls' Ditch,' or a 'Bulls' Gap,' or a 'Bulls' Fen,' or a\n'Bulls' Loch,' or a 'Bulls' Rath,' [8]or a 'Bulls' Back,'[8] it is from\nthem[7] [9]those places are named.[9]\n\n    [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [a] See note [d], page 28, _supra_.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [8-8] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [9-9] Add.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 366]\n\n\n\n\nXXIX\n\n[1]ACCOUNT OF THE BROWN BULL OF CUALNGE[1]\n\n\n[2]A journey of a day and a night the Brown Bull carried the remains of the\nWhitehorned till he came to the loch that is by Cruachan. And he came\nthereout with the loin and the shoulder-blade and the liver of the other on\nhis horns.[2] [W.6168.] It was not long before the men of Erin, as they\nwere there [3]in the company of Ailill and Medb[3] early on the morrow, saw\ncoming over Cruachan from the west the Brown Bull of Cualnge with the\nWhitehorned of Ai in torn fragments hanging about his ears and horns. The\nmen of Erin arose, and they knew not which of the bulls it was. \"Come, ye\nmen!\" cried Fergus; \"leave him alone if it be the Whitehorned that is\nthere; and if it be the Brown of Cualnge, leave him his trophy with him!\"\n\n    [1-1] YBL. 41a, 8.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 53a, 13-16.\n\n    [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n[4]Then it was that the [5]seven[5] Mane arose to take vengeance on the\nBrown Bull of Cualnge for his violence and his valour. \"Whither go yonder\nmen?\" asked Fergus. \"They go to kill the Brown of Cualnge,\" [6]said all,[6]\n\"because of his evil deeds.\"[4] \"I pledge my word,\" [7]shouted Fergus:[7]\n\"what has already been done in regard to the bulls is a small thing in\ncompare with that which will [W.6179.] now take place, [1]unless with his\nspoils and victory ye let the Brown of Cualnge go from you into his own\nland.\"[1]\n\n    [4-4] Stowe and Add.\n\n    [5-5] Add.\n\n    [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [7-7] H. 1. 13, Stowe and Add.\n\n    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n[2]Then the Brown Bull of Cualnge gave forth the three chiefest bellowings\nof his throat in boast of his triumph, and fear of Fergus held back the men\nof Erin from attacking the Brown Bull of Cualnge.[2]\n\n    [2-2] H. 1. 13.\n\n[3]Then[3] went the Brown Bull of Cualnge [4]to the west of Cruachan.[4] He\nturned his right[a] side towards Cruachan, and he left there a heap of the\nliver [5]of the Whitehorned,[5] so that thence is [6]named[6] Cruachan Ai\n('Liver-reeks').\n\n    [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [a] As a sign of friendliness.\n\n    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n[7]Next he [8]came to his own land and[8] reached the river Finnglas\n('Whitewater'), and, [9]on coming,[9] he drank a draught from the river,\nand, so long as he drank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow\nby him. Then he raised his head, and the shoulder-blades of the Whitehorned\nfell from him in that place. Hence, Sruthair Finnlethe ('Stream of the\nWhite Shoulder-blade') is the name given to it.[7]\n\n    [7-7] Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] YBL. 53a, 18.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 53a, 18.\n\nHe pursued his way [10]to the river Shannon,[10] to the brink of Ath Mor\n('the Great Ford'), [11]and he drank a draught from it, and, as long as he\ndrank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow past him. Then he\nraised his head, so that the two haunches of the Whitehorned fell from him\nthere;[11] and he left behind the loin of the Whitehorned in that place, so\nthat thence cometh Athlone ('Loinford'). He continued eastwards into the\nland of Meath to Ath Truim. [12]He sent forth his roar at Iraird Cuillinn;\nhe was heard over the entire province. And he drank in Tromma.[12] [13]As\nlong as he drank the draught, he let not one drop of the river flow past\nhim.[13] And he left behind [W.6192.] there the liver of the Whitehorned.\n[1]Some [2]learned men[2] say, it is from the liver of the Whitehorned\nwhich fell from the Brown of Cualnge, that Ath Truim ('Liverford') is\ncalled.[1]\n\n    [10-10] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [12-12] YBL. 53a, 22.\n\n    [13-13] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [1-1] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [2-2] Add.\n\nHe raised his head haughtily and shook the remains of the Whitehorned from\nhim over Erin. He sent its hind leg away from him to Port Large ('Port of\nthe Hind Leg'). He sent its ribs from him to Dublin, which is called Ath\nCliath ('Ford of the Ribs' or 'of the Hurdles').\n\nHe turned his face northwards then, [3]and went on thence to the summit of\nSliab Breg, and he saw the peaks[3] and knew the land of Cualnge, [4]and a\ngreat agitation came over him at the sight of his own land and country,[4]\nand he went his way towards it. In that place were women and youths and\nchildren lamenting the Brown Bull of Cualnge. They saw the Brown of\nCualnge's forehead approaching them. \"The forehead of a bull cometh towards\nus!\" they shouted. Hence is Taul Tairb ('Bull's Brow') ever since. [5]Then\nhe went on the road of Midluachar to Cuib, where he was wont to be with the\nyeld cow of Dare, and he tore up the earth there. Hence cometh Gort Buraig\n('Field of the Trench').[5]\n\n    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [5-5] YBL. 53a, 26-28.\n\n[LL.fo.104b.] Then turned the Brown of Cualnge on the women and youths and\nchildren of the land of Cualnge, and [6]with the greatness of his fury and\nrage[6] he effected a great slaughter [7]amongst them.[7] He turned his\nback to the hill then and his heart broke in his breast, even as a nut\nbreaks, [8]and he belched out his heart like a black stone of dark\nblood.[8] [9]He went then and died between Ulster and Ui Echach at Druim\nTairb. Druim Tairb ('Bull's Back') is the name of that place.[9]\n\n    [6-6] H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [7-7] Translating from Stowe.\n\n    [8-8] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [9-9] YBL. 53a, 28-29.\n\n[1]Such, then, is the account of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, and the end of\nthe Tain by Medb of Cruachan daughter of Eocho Fedlech, and by Ailill son\nof Maga, and by all the men of Ulster up to this point.[1] [2]Ailill and\nMedb made peace with the men of Ulster and with Cuchulain. For seven years\nthere was no killing of men amongst them in Erin. Finnabair remained with\nCuchulain, and the Connachtmen went to their own land, and the men of\nUlster returned to Emain Macha with their great triumph. _Finit. Amen._[2]\n\n    [1-1] Translating from H. 1. 13 and Add.\n\n    [2-2] YBL. 53a, 29-33.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[W.6206.] A blessing be upon all such as shall faithfully keep the Tain in\nmemory as it stands here and shall not add any other form to it.[a]\n\n    [a] With this the Irish text concludes: What follows is in Latin.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nI, however, who have copied this history, or more truly legend, give no\ncredence to various incidents narrated in it.  For, some things herein are\nthe feats of jugglery of demons, sundry others poetic figments, a few are\nprobable, others improbable, and even more invented for the delectation of\nfools.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Page 371]\n\n\n\n\nINDEX AND PRONUNCIATION OF THE MORE FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PLACE AND\nPERSONAL-NAMES.\n\n\nIt will simplify matters for the English reader if the following points\nrespecting the pronunciation of proper names in medieval Irish, are borne\nin mind:\n\nEach _simple_ word is accented on the first syllable.\n\nPronounce:\n\na (long), as in _aught_; a (short), as in _hot_.\nc with slender vowels (e, i), as in _king_; never as _s_.\nc with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _car_; never as _s_.\nch with slender vowels (e, i), as in German _Ich_; never as in _church_.\nch with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in German _Buch_; never as in _church_.\nd with slender vowels (e, i), as in French _dieu_.\nd with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _thy_.\ne (long), as in _ale_; e (short), as in _bet_.\ng with slender vowels (e, i), as in _give_; never as _j_.\ng with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _go_; never as _j_.\ngh with slender vowels (e, i) is slender ch _voiced_.\ngh with broad vowels (a, o, u) is broad ch _voiced_.\ni (long), as in _feel_; i (short), as in _it_.\nmh and bh intervocalic with slender vowels, as _v_.\nmh and bh intervocalic with broad vowels, as _w_.\no (long), as in _note_; o (short), as in _done_.\ns with slender vowels (e, i), as in _shine_; never as _z_.\ns with broad vowels (a, o, u), as _s_.\nt with slender vowels (e, i), as in _tin_.\nt with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in _threw_.\nth, like _h_.\nu (long), as in _pool_; u (short), as in _full_.\n\n\nThe remaining consonants are pronounced almost as in English.\n\n\nAed: to rime with _Day_\n\nAed Ernmas: the father of the Morrigan\n\nAi: _see_ Mag Ai\n\nAidne: a district comprising the barony of Kiltartan, in the south-west of\nthe County Galway\n\nAife: one of the three women-teachers of Cuchulain and Ferdiad (pronounced\n_Eefe_)\n\nAile: north-east of Baile, on Medb's march from Cruachan into Ulster\n\nAilill: king-consort of Queen Medb, dwelling in Cruachan Ai (pronounced\n_Ayeleel_)\n\nAilill Find Miltenga: one of the chief heroes of Ulster\n\nAilill macMailchlo: father of Sencha\n\nAine: _see_ Cnoc Aine\n\nAirne: north-east of Asse\n\nAlba: Scotland\n\nAmargin Iarngiunnach: a leading Ulster hero; father of Conall Cernach and\nbrother of Iliach (pronounced _Avergin_)\n\nAne: a district in which is Knockaney in the County Limerick\n\nArdachad: north of Druim Licce\n\nArd Ciannachta: a place in the barony of Ferrard, in the County Louth\n\nArd Cuillenn: in Ulster, east of Moin Coltna\n\nArd Macha: Armagh\n\nAssail: a place in Meath\n\nAsse: north of Finnabair (Fennor), on Medb's march out of Connacht into\nUlster\n\nAth: 'a ford' (pronounced _Ah_)\n\nAth Aladh Ind: a ford in the Plain of Murthemne\n\nAth Berchna: in Connacht, north-west of Croohan, near Bellanagare; it may\nbe for Ath Bercha, in East Roscommon, and on or near the Shannon\n\nAth Buide: the village of Athboy, in the territory of Ross, County Meath\n\nAth Carpat: a ford on the river Nith (now the Dee), in the County Louth\n\nAth Ceit Chule: a ford on the river Glais, in Ulster\n\nAth Cliath: Dublin\n\nAth Coltna: in Connacht, south-west of Ath Moga and south-east of Cruachan\n\nAth Cro: a ford in Murthemne\n\nAth da Fert: a ford in Sliab Fuait, probably in the south of the barony of\nUpper Fews, County Armagh\n\nAth Darteisc: a ford in Murthemne\n\nAth Feidli: a ford in Ulster\n\nAth Fene: _see_ Ath Irmidi\n\nAth Firdead: Ardee, a ford and a small town on the river Dee, in the County\nLouth\n\nAth Gabla: a ford on the Boyne, north of Knowth, in the County Meath\n(pronounced _Ah gowla_)\n\nAth Grenca: the same as Ath Gabla\n\nAth Irmidi: the older name of Ath Fene, south of Iraird Cuillinn\n\nAth Lethain: a ford on the Nith, in Conalle Murthemni\n\nAth Luain: Athlone, on the Shannon, on the borders of Connacht and Meath\n\nAth Meislir: a ford in Sliab Fuait, in Ulster\n\nAth Moga: the present Ballymoe, on the river Suck, about ten miles to the\nsouth-west of Cruachan, County Galway\n\nAth Mor: the old name for Ath Luain\n\nAth na Foraire: on the road between Emain and Loch Echtrann\n\nAth Slissen: Bellaslishen Bridge; a ford on the Owenure River, near Elphin,\nin Connacht\n\nAth Solomshet: a ford, probably in Ulster\n\nAth Srethe: a ford in Conalle Murthemni\n\nAth Tamuin: a ford, somewhere in Ulster\n\nAth Traged: at the extremity of Tir Mor, in Murthemne\n\nAth Truim: Trim, on the river Boyne, in the County Meath\n\nAue: a slave in the household of King Conchobar\n\nAurthuile: north-east of Airne\n\n\nBacca: in Corcumruad\n\nBacc Draigin: a place in Ulster\n\nBadb: the war-fury, or goddess of war and carnage; she was wont to appear\nin the form of a carrion-crow. Sometimes she is the sister of the Morrigan,\nand, as in the Tain Bo Cualnge, is even identified with her (pronounced\n_Bive_)\n\nBadbgna: now Slieve Bawne, a mountainous range, in the barony of\nBallintubber, in the east of County Roscommon\n\nBaile: north-east of Meide ind Eoin, on Medb's march from Connacht into\nUlster\n\nBaile in Bile: on the way to Ardee\n\nBairche: Benna Bairche, the Mourne Mountains, north of Dundalk, in Ulster\n\nBall Scena: north-east of Dall Scena\n\nBanba: an old name for Ireland\n\nBanna: now the Bann, a river in Ulster\n\nBecaltach: grandfather of Cuchulain\n\nBedg: a river in Murthemne\n\nBelat Aileain: probably between Cualnge and Conalle Murthemni\n\nBelach Caille More: north of Cnogba\n\nBenna Bairche: _see_ Bairche\n\nBerba: the Barrow, a river in Leinster\n\nBercha: on or near the Shannon, near Bellanagare, in East Roscommon\n\nBerchna: probably for Bercha\n\nBernas: the pass cut by Medb from Louth into Armagh; probably the \"Windy\nGap\" across the Carlingford Peninsula\n\nBetha: see Sliab Betha\n\nBir: the name of several rivers; probably Moyola Water, a river flowing\ninto Lough Neagh\n\nBithslan: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nBlai: a rich Ulster noble and hospitaller\n\nBoann: the River Boyne\n\nBodb: the father of Badb\n\nBoirenn: Burren, in the County Clare\n\nBrane: probably a hill not far from Ardee, in the County Louth\n\nBreslech Mor: a fort in Murthemne\n\nBrecc: a place in Ulster\n\nBrega: the eastern part of Meath\n\nBrenide: a river in Conalle Murthemni, near Strangford Lough\n\nBricriu: son of Carbad, and the evil adviser of the Ulstermen\n\nBri Errgi: stronghold of Errge Echbel, in the County Down\n\nBrigantia: Betanzos, in Galicia, on the north coast of Spain\n\nBri Ross: a hill to the north of Ardee, in the County Louth\n\nBrug Meic ind Oc, or, as it is also called,\n\nBrug na Boinde: Brugh on the Boyne, near Stackallen Bridge, County Meath,\none of the chief burial-places of the pagan Irish\n\nBuagnech: probably in Leinster and near the river Liffey\n\nBuan: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nBuas: the river Bush, in the County Antrim\n\nBurach: a place in Ulster\n\n\nCallann: the Callan, a river near Emain Macha\n\nCanann Gall: a place in Ulster\n\nCarn: north of Inneoin; probably Carn Fiachach, in the parish of Conry,\nbarony of Rathconrath, Westmeath\n\nCarn macBuachalla, at Dunseverick, in Ulster\n\nCarbre: stepson of Conchobar and brother of Ailill\n\nCarrloeg: a place in Ulster\n\nCasruba: father of Lugaid and grandfather of Dubthach\n\nCathba: north-east of Ochonn, in Meath; or a river flowing into the Boyne,\nsome distance to the west of Slane\n\nCathba: a druid of Conchobar's court; according to some accounts, the\nnatural father of King Conchobar (pronounced _Cahvah_)\n\nCeltchar: son of Uthechar, an Ulster warrior\n\nCenannas na rig: Kells, in the Covinty Meath\n\nCenn Abrat: a range of hills on the borders of the Counties Cork and\nLimerick\n\nCet macMagach: a Connacht warrior\n\nCinn Tire: a place in Ulster\n\nClann Dedad: one of the three warrior-clans of Erin: a sept occupying the\nterritory around Castleisland, County Kerry\n\nClann Rudraige: the warriors of King Conchobar: one of the three heroic\ntribes of Ireland\n\nClartha: Clara, near the present town of Mullingar, in the County Westmeath\n\nCletech: a residence of the kings of Ireland in Mag Breg, near Stackallan\nBridge, on the banks of the Boyne\n\nClidna: _see sub_ Tonn\n\nClithar Bo Ulad: probably in the centre of the County Louth\n\nCliu: an extensive territory in the county Limerick\n\nClothru: sister of Medb: Medb slew her while her son, Firbaide, was still\nunborn\n\nCluain Cain: now Clonkeen, in the west of County Louth\n\nCluain Carpat: a meadow at the river Cruinn in Cualnge\n\nCluain maccuNois: Clonmacnoise, on the Shannon, about nine miles below\nAthlone\n\nCnoc Aine: Knockany, a hill and plain in the County Limerick\n\nCnogba: Knowth, on the Boyne, near Drogheda, a couple of miles east of\nSlane, in the County Meath\n\nColbtha: the mouth of the Boyne at Drogheda, or some place near the Boyne\n\nCollamair: between Gormanstown and Turvey, in the County Dublin\n\nColtain: south of Cruachan Ai\n\nConall: probably Tyrconnel, in the County Donegal\n\nConall Cernach: one of the chief warriors of Ulster: foster-brother of\nCuchulain and next to him in point of prowess\n\nConalle Murthemni: a level plain in the County Louth, extending from the\nCooley Mountains, or Carlingford, to the Boyne\n\nConchobar: son of Cathba the druid, and of Ness, and foster-son of Fachtna\nFatach (variously pronounced _Cruhoor_, _Connahoor_)\n\nConlaech: son of Cuchulain and Aife\n\nCorcumruad: the present barony of Corcomroe, in the County Clare\n\nCormac Conlongas: King Conchobar's eldest son; called \"the Intelligent\nExile,\" because of the part he took as surety for the safety of the exiled\nsons of Usnech\n\nCoronn: the barony of Corran, in the County Sligo\n\nCorp Cliath: a place in Ulster\n\nCraeb ruad: ordinarily Englished \"Red Branch\"; better, perhaps, \"Nobles'\nBranch:\" King Conchobar's banqueting-hall, at Emain Macha\n\nCrannach: at Faughart, north-east of Fid Mor\n\nCromma: a river flowing into the Boyne not far from Slane\n\nCronn hi Cualngi: probably a hill or river of this name near Cualnge\n\nCruachan Ai: the ancient seat and royal burial-place of the kings of\nConnacht, ten miles north-east of the modern Rathcroghan, near Belanagare,\nin the County Roscommon (pronounced _Croohan_)\n\nCruinn: a river in Cualnge: probably the stream now called the Piedmont\nRiver, emptying into Dundalk Bay\n\nCruthnech: the land of the Irish Picts; the northern part of the County\nDown and the southern part of the County Antrim\n\nCu, Cucuc, Cuacain, Cucucan, Cucucuc: diminutives of the name Cuchulain\n\nCualnge: Cooley, a mountainous district between Dundalk Bay and Drogheda,\nin the barony of Lower Dundalk, in the County Louth. It originally extended\nto the County Down, and the name is now applied to the southern side of the\nCarlingford Mountains (pronounced _Cooln'ya_)\n\nCualu: a district in the County Wicklow\n\nCuchulain: the usual name of the hero Setanta; son of the god Lug and of\nDechtire, and foster-son of Sualtaim (pronounced _Cuhoolin_)\n\nCuib: on the road to Midluachair\n\nCuilenn: the Cully Waters flowing southward from County Armagh into County\nLouth\n\nCul Siblinne: now Kells in East Meath\n\nCul Silinne: Kilcooley, a few miles to the south-east of Cruachan, in the\nCounty Roscommon\n\nCulenn: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nCuillenn: _see_ Ard Cuillenn\n\nCuillenn Cinn Duni: a hill in Ulster\n\nCuince: a mountain in Cualnge\n\nCumung: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nCuroi: son of Dare and king of South Munster\n\nCuscraid Menn Macha: son of Conchobar\n\n\nDall Scena: a place north of Aile\n\nDalraida: now \"the Route,\" a territory north of Slieve Mish, in the north\nof the County Antrim\n\nDare: chieftain of the cantred of Cualnge and owner of the Brown Bull of\nCualnge\n\nDechtire: sister of King Conchobar and mother of Cuchulain\n\nDelga: _see_ Dun Delga\n\nDelga Murthemni: Dundalk\n\nDelinn: a place or river near Kells between Duelt and Selaig, on Medb's\nmarch from Cruachan into Ulster\n\nDelt: a place north of Drong, on Medb's march from Cruachan into Ulster\n\nDelt: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nDergderc: Lough Derg, an expansion of the Shannon near Killaloe\n\nDichaem: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nDomnann: _see_ Irrus Domnann\n\nDrong: a river in the land of the men of Assail, in Meath\n\nDruim Caimthechta: north-east of Druim Cain\n\nDruim Cain: possibly an older name for Temair (Tara)\n\nDruim En: in South Armagh; probably a wooded height, near Ballymascanlan,\nin the County Louth\n\nDruim Fornocht: near Newry, in the County Down\n\nDruim Licce: north-east of Gort Slane, on Medb's march from Connacht into\nUlster\n\nDruim Salfinn: now Drumshallon, a townland in the County Louth, six miles\nnorth of Drogheda\n\nDub: the Blackwater, on the confines of Ulster and Connacht; or the\nconfluence of the Rivers Boyne and Blackwater at Navan\n\nDubh Sithleann (or Sainglenn): the name of one of Cuchulain's two horses\n\nDubloch: a lake between Kilcooley and Slieve Bawne, in the County\nRoscommon, on Medb's march from Cruachan into Ulster\n\nDubthach Doel Ulad: the Ulster noble who shares with Bricriu the place as\nprime mover of evil among the Ulstermen (pronounced _Duffach_)\n\nDuelt: north or north-west of Delt, on Medb's march from Cruachan into\nUlster\n\nDun da Benn: Mount Sandle, on the Bann, near Coleraine in the County Derry\n\nDun Delga: Dundalk, or the moat of Castletown, on the east coast near\nDundalk; Cuchulain's home town\n\nDun macNechtain Scene: a fort in Mag Breg, at the place where the Mattock\nfalls into the Boyne, about three miles above Drogheda\n\nDun Sobairche: Dunseverick, about three miles from the Giants' Causeway, in\nthe County Antrim\n\n\nElg: an old name for Ireland\n\nEllne: probably east of the River Bann, near Coleraine\n\nEllonn: a place in Ulster\n\nEmain Macha: the Navan Fort, or Hill, two miles west of Armagh; King\nConchobar's capital and the chief town of Ulster (pronounced _Evvin Maha_)\n\nEmer Foltchain: wife of Cuchulain (pronounced _Evver_)\n\nEnna Agnech: according to the Annals of the Four Masters, he was High King\nof Ireland from 312 to 293 B.C.\n\nEo Donn Mor: north-east of Eo Donn Bec, in the County Louth\n\nEocho Fedlech: father of Medb; according to the Four Masters, he reigned as\nmonarch of Ireland from 142 to 131 B.C.  (pronounced _Yokh-ho_)\n\nEocho Salbuide: King of Ulster and father of Cethern's wife, Inna\n\nEogan macDurthachta: a chief warrior of Ulster and Prince of Fernmag\n\nErc macFedilmithi: an Ulster hero, son of Fedlimid and grandson of\nConchobar\n\nErna: a sept of Munstermen who later settled about Lough Erne, in Connacht\n\nEss Ruaid: Assaroe; a cataract on the River Erne near Ballyshannon, in the\nsouth of the County Donegal. It constituted part of the old boundary\nbetween Ulster and Connacht\n\nEtarbane: one of the \"seats\" of the king of Cashel, in Tipperary\n\nEthliu: father of Lug\n\nEthne: sister of Medb (pronounced _Ehnna_)\n\n\nFachtna Fathach: king of Ulster and later of all Ireland; adoptive father\nof Conchobar and husband of Ness, Conchobar's mother\n\nFal (or Inisfail): one of the bardic names for Ireland; Medb is called \"of\nFal,\" as daughter of the High King of Ireland (pronounced _Fawl_)\n\nFan na Coba: a territory in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, in the\nCounty Down\n\nFedain Cualngi: a place in Ulster\n\nFedlimid Nocruthach: daughter of King Conchobar, wife of Loegaire Buadach,\nmother of Fiachna and cousin-german of Cuchulain (pronounced _Falemid_)\n\nFemen: a territory at Slieve-na-man, extending perhaps from Cashel to\nClonmel, in the southern part of the County Tipperary\n\nFene: the old tribal name of the Gaels; the \"King of the Fene\" is\nConchobar, King of Ulster\n\nFeorainn: a place near Ardachad, on Medb's march into Ulster\n\nFercerdne: chief poet of the men of Ulster\n\nFerdiad: (pronounced _Fair-dee-ah_)\n\nFergus macRoig: one time king of Ulster; in voluntary exile in Connacht\nafter the treacherous putting to death of the sons of Usnech by\nConchobar. He became the chief director of the Tain under Medb\n\nFerloga: Ailill's charioteer\n\nFernmag: Farney, a barony in the County Monaghan\n\nFerta Fingin: at Sliab Fuait\n\nFiachu macFiraba: one of the exiles of Ulster in the camp of Medb\n\nFian: the warrior-class\n\nFid Dub: a wood, north of Cul Silinne, on Medb's march into Ulster\n\nFid Mor: a wood, north of Dundalk and between it and Sliab Fuait\n\nFingabair: probably in the Fews Mountains\n\nFinnabair: daughter to Ailill and Medb (pronounced _Fin-nuh-hur_)\n\nFinnabair: Fennor, on the banks of the Boyne, near Slane, in Meath\n\nFinnabair Slebe: near Imlech Glendamrach\n\nFinncharn Slebe Moduirn: a height in the Mourne Mountains\n\nFinnglas: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nFinnglassa Asail: a river south-east of Cruachan\n\nFir Assail: a district containing the barony of Farbill, in Westmeath\n\nFlidais Foltchain: wife of Ailill Finn, a Connacht chieftain; after her\nhusband's violent death she became the wife of Fergus, and accompanied him\non the Tain\n\nFochain: near Cuchulain's abode\n\nFochard Murthemni: Faughart, two miles north-west of Dundalk, in the County\nLouth\n\nFodromma: a river flowing into the Boyne near Slane\n\nFuil Iairn: the name of a ford west of Ardee\n\n\nGabal: the Feeguile, a river in the King's County\n\nnGabar: a place near Donaghmore, perhaps to, the west of Lough Neagh in the\nCounty Tyrone\n\nGalian: a name the Leinstermen bore. They were Ailill's countrymen\n\nGainemain: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nGarech: the name of the hill where the final battle of the Tain was fought,\nsome distance south-east of Athlone and near Mullingar, in Westmeath\n\nGegg: a woman's name\n\nGenonn Gruadsolus: a druid and poet of Ulster; son of Cathba\n\nGlaiss Colptha: the river Boyne\n\nGlaiss Gatlaig: a river in Ulster\n\nGlenamain: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nGlenn Fochain: probably a valley east of Bellurgan Station\n\nGlenn Gatt: a valley in Ulster\n\nGlennamain: in Murthemne\n\nGlenn in Scail: a place in Dalaraide, East Ulster\n\nGlenn na Samaisce: in Slieve Gullion, in the County Armagh\n\nGlenn Tail: another name for Belat Aileain\n\nGleoir: the Glore, a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nGluine Gabur: east of the Shannon, in the County Longford\n\nGort Slane: north of Slane and south-west of Druim Licce\n\nGrellach Bobulge: at Dunseverick, in Ulster\n\nGrellach Dolar (or Dolluid): Girley, near Kells, in the County Meath\n\nGualu Mulchi: the town-land of Drumgoolestown on the river Dee, in the\nCounty Louth\n\n\nIalla Ilgremma: near Sliab Betha and Mag Dula\n\nIbar macRiangabra: Conchobar's charioteer\n\nId macRiangabra: Ferdiad's charioteer, brother to Laeg\n\nIlgarech: a hill near Garech, _q.v._\n\nIliach: grandfather to Conall Cernach\n\nIllann Ilarchless: an Ulster warrior, son to Fergus\n\nImchad: son to Fiachna\n\nImchlar: near Donaghmore, west of Dungannon, in the County Tyrone\n\nImmail: a place in the Mourne Mountains, in Ulster\n\nImrinn: a druid, son to Cathba\n\nInis Cuscraid: Inch, near Downpatrick\n\nInis Clothrann: Inishcloghran in Loch Ree, County Longford\n\nInnbir Scene: the mouth of Waterford Harbour near Tramore; or the mouth of\nKenmare Bay, in the County Kerry\n\nInncoin: the Dungolman, a river into which the Inny flows and which divides\nthe barony of Kilkenny West from Rathconrath, in the County Westmeath\n\nIraird Cuillinn: a height south of Emain Macha, in Ulster\n\nIrrus Domnann: the barony of Erris, in County Mayo: the clan which bore\nthis name and to which Ferdiad belonged was one of the three heroic races\nof ancient Ireland\n\n\nLaeg: son of Riangabair and Cuchulain's faithful charioteer (pronounced\n_Lay_)\n\nLatharne: Larne, in the County Antrim\n\nLebarcham: a sorceress\n\nLeire: in the territory of the Fir Roiss, in the south of the County Antrim\n\nLer: the Irish sea-god\n\nLethglas: Dun Lethglaisse, now Downpatrick, in Ulster\n\nLettre Luasce: between Cualnge and Conalle\n\nLia Mor: in Conalle Murthemni\n\nLiath Mache: 'the Roan,' one of Cuchulain's two horses.\n\nLia Ualann: in Cualnge\n\nLine (or Mag Line): Moylinne, in the County Antrim\n\nLoch Ce: Lough Key, in the County Roscommon\n\nLoch Echtrann: Muckno Lake, south of Sliab Fuait, in the County Monaghan\n\nLoch Erne: Lough Erne, in the County Fermanagh\n\nLoch Ri: Lough Ree, on the Shannon, in the County Galway\n\nLoegaire Buadach: son to Connad Buide and husband of Fedlimid Nocruthach;\none of the chief warriors of Ulster (pronounced _Layeray_)\n\nLothor: a place in Ulster\n\nLuachair: probably Slieve Lougher, or the plain in which lay Temair\nLuachra, a fort somewhere near the town of Castleisland, in the County\nKerry\n\nLug: the divine father of Cuchulain\n\nLugaid: father of Dubthach\n\nLugmud: Louth, in the County of that name\n\nLuibnech: possibly a place now called Limerick, in the County Wexford\n\n\nMacMagach: relatives of Ailill\n\nMacRoth: Medb's chief messenger\n\nMag: 'a plain' (pronounced _moy_)\n\nMag Ai: the great plain in the County Roscommon, extending from Ballymore\nto Elphin, and from Bellanagare to Strokestown (pronounced _Moy wee_)\n\nMag Breg: the plain along and south of the lower Boyne, comprising the east\nof County Meath and the north of County Dublin (pronounced _Moy bray_)\n\nMag Cruimm: south-east of Cruachan, in Connacht\n\nMag Dea: a plain in Ulster\n\nMag Dula: a plain though which the Do flows by Castledawson into Lough\nNeagh\n\nMag Eola: a plain in Ulster\n\nMag Inis: the plain comprising the baronies of Lecale and Upper\nCastlereagh, in the County Down\n\nMag Line: Moylinne, a plain to the north-east of Lough Neagh, in the barony\nof Upper Antrim\n\nMag Mucceda: a plain near Emain Macha\n\nMag Trega: Moytra, in the County Longford\n\nMag Tuaga: a plain in Mayo\n\nMaic Miled: the Milesians\n\nMairg: a district in which is Slievemargie, in the Queen's County and the\nCounty Kilkenny\n\nManannan: son of Ler, a fairy god\n\nMargine: a place in Cualnge\n\nMas na Righna: Massareene, in the County Antrim\n\nMata Murisc: mother of Ailill\n\nMedb: queen of Connacht and wife of Ailill (pronounced _Mave_; in modern\nConnacht Irish _Mow_ to rhyme with _cow_)\n\nMeide ind Eoin, and Meide in Togmail: places in or near the Boyne, in the\nCounty Louth\n\nMidluachair: Slige Midluachra, the name of the highroad east of Armagh,\nleading north from Tara to Emain and into the north of Ireland\n\nMil: the legendary progenitor of the Milesians (See Maic Miled)\n\nMiliuc: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nModuirn: _see_ Sliab Moduirn\n\nMoin Coltna: a bog between Slieve Bawne and the Shannon\n\nMoraltach: great grandfather of Cuchulain\n\nMorann: a famous judge\n\nMorrigan: the war-goddess of the ancient Irish, \"_monstrum in feminae\nfigura_\" (pronounced _More-reegan_)\n\nMossa: a territory, the southern part of which must have been in the barony\nof Eliogarty, not far from Cashel, in the County Tipperary\n\nMuach: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nMuresc: the land of Ailill's mother; Murresk Hamlet, between Clew Bay and\nCroagh Patrick, in the County Mayo\n\nMurthemne: a great plain along the northern coast of the County Louth\nbetween the river Boyne and the Cooley Mountains; now belonging to\nLeinster, but, at the time of the Tain, to Ulster (pronounced\n_Muhr-hev-ny_)\n\n\nNemain: the Badb\n\nNess: mother of King Conchobar by Cathba; she afterwards married Fachtna\nFathach and subsequently Fergus macRoig\n\nNith: the river Dee which flows by Ardee, in the County Louth\n\n\nOchain: the name of Conchan bar's shield\n\nOchonn Midi: a place near the Blackwater at Navan\n\nOchtrach: near Finnglassa Asail, in Meath\n\nOenfer Aife: another name for Conlaech\n\nOengus Turbech: according to the Annals of Ireland, he reigned as High King\nfrom 384 to 326 B.C.\n\nOrd: south-east of Cruachan and north of Tiarthechta\n\n\nPartraige beca: Partry in Slechta south-west of Kells, in Meath\n\nPort Large: Waterford\n\n\nRath Airthir: a place in Connacht\n\nRath Cruachan: Rathcroghan, between Belanagare and Elphin, in the County\nRoscommon\n\nRede Loche: a place in Cualnge\n\nRenna: the mouth of the Boyne\n\nRiangabair: father of the charioteers, Laeg and Id\n\nRigdonn: a place in the north\n\nRinn: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nRogne: a territory between the rivers Suir and Barrow, in the barony of\nKells, the County Kildare or Kilkenny\n\nRoss: a district in the south of the County Monaghan\n\nRoss Mor: probably Ross na Rig, near Ball Scena\n\n\nSas: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nScathach: the Amazon dwelling in Alba who taught Cuchulain and Ferdiad\ntheir warlike feats (pronounced _Scaw-ha_)\n\nSelaig: Sheelagh, a townland in the barony of Upper Dundalk\n\nSemne: Island Magee, north-east of Carrickfergus, in the County Antrim\n\nSenbothae: Templeshanbo, at the foot of Mount Leinster, in the County\nWexford\n\nSencha macAilella: the wise counsellor and judge of the Ulstermen\n\nSered: a plain in the north of the barony of Tirhugh, County Donegal\n\nSetanta: the real name of Cuchulain\n\nSid: the terrene gods (pronounced _She_)\n\nSil: in Lecale, in the County Down\n\nSinann: the river Shannon\n\nSiuir: the Suir, a river in Munster, forming the northern boundary of the\nCounty Waterford\n\nSlabra: a place north of Selaig, near Kells, in Meath\n\nSlaiss: south-east of Cruachan, between Ord and Inneoin\n\nSlane: a town on the Boyne, in Meath\n\nSlechta: south-west of Kells, in Meath\n\nSlemain Mide: \"Slane of Meath,\" Slewen, three miles to the west of\nMullingar, in Westmeath\n\nSliab Betha: Slieve Beagh, a mountain whereon the Counties of Fermanagh,\nTyrone, and Monaghan meet\n\nSliab Culinn: Slieve Gullion, in the County Armagh\n\nSliab Fuait: the Fews Mountains, near Newtown-Hamilton, to the west and\nnorth-west of Slieve Gullion; in the southern part of the County Armagh\n\nSliab Mis: Slieve Mish, a mountain in the County Kerry, extending eastwards\nfrom Tralee\n\nSliab Moduirn: the Mourne Range, in the County Monaghan, partly in Cavan\nand partly in Meath\n\nSruthair Finnlethe: a river west of Athlone\n\nSualtaim (or, Sualtach) Sidech: the human father of Cuchulain\n\nSuide Lagen: Mount Leinster, in the County Wexford\n\n\nTadg: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nTaidle: near Cuib\n\nTaltiu: Teltown, in the County Meath, on or near the Blackwater, between\nNavan and Kells; one of the chief places of assembly and burial of the\nUlstermen\n\nTaul Tairb: in Cualnge\n\nTelamet: a river in Conalle Murthemni\n\nTemair: Tara, the seat of the High King of Ireland, near Navan, in the\nCounty Meath (pronounced _Tavvir_)\n\nTethba descirt: South Teffia, a territory about and south of the river\nInny, in the County Longford\n\nTethba tuascirt: south-east of Cruachan, in Teffia, County Longford\n\nTir Mor: in Murthemne\n\nTir na Sorcha: a fabled land, ruled over by Manannan\n\nTir Tairngire: \"the Land of Promise\"\n\nTonn Clidna: a loud surge in the Bay of Glandore\n\nTonn Rudraige: a huge wave in the Bay of Dundrum, in the County Cork\n\nTonn Tuage Inbir: \"the Tuns,\" near the mouth of the river Bann on the north\ncoast of Antrim\n\nTor Breogain: \"Bregon's Tower,\" in Spain\n\nTromma: south-east of Cruachan; also the name of a river flowing into the\nBoyne near Slane\n\nTuaim Mona: Tumona, a townland in the parish of Ogulla, near Tulsk, south\nof Cruachan Ai, County Roscommon\n\nTuatha Bressi: a name for the people of Connacht\n\nTuatha De Danann: \"the Tribes divine of Danu,\" the gods of the Irish\nOlympus\n\nTurloch teora Crich: north of Tuaim Mona\n\n\nUachtur Lua: in the land of Ross\n\nUarba: a place in Ulster\n\nUathach: one of the three women-teachers of Cuchulain and Ferdiad\n\nUathu: north of Ochain\n\nUi Echach: the barony of Iveagh, in the County Down\n\nUmansruth: a stream in Murthemne\n\nUsnech: father of Noisi, Annle and Ardan\n\nUthechar: father of Celtchar and of Menn\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n_Printed by_ BUTLER & TANNER, _Frome and London_\n\n       *       *       *       *       *","title":"The Ancient Irish Epic Tale T\u00e1in B\u00f3 C\u00faalnge","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":124115}