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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:44:22 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:44:22 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14391-0.txt b/14391-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..70135fe --- /dev/null +++ b/14391-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5410 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14391 *** + +THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN BO CUAILNGE) + +An Old Irish Prose-Epic + +Translated for the first time from Leabhar na h-Uidhri +and the Yellow Book of Lecan by + +L. WINIFRED FARADAY, M. A. + +London + +Published by David Nutt +At the Sign of the Phoenix +Long Acre + +1904 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION +THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (from Leabhar na h-Uidhri) + Cuchulainn's Boyish Deeds + The Death of Fraech + The Death of Orlam + The Death of the Meic Garach + The Death of the Squirrel + The Death of Lethan + The Death of Lochu + The Harrying of Cualnge (first version) + The Harrying of Cualnge (second version) + Mac Roth's Embassy + The Death of Etarcomol + The Death of Nadcrantail + The Finding of the Bull + The Death of Redg + The Meeting of Cuchulainn and Findabair + The Combat of Munremar and Curoi + The Death of the Boys (first version) + The Woman-fight of Rochad + The Death of the Princes + The Death of Cur + The Number of the Feats + The Death of Ferbaeth + The Combat of Larine Mac Nois + The Conversation of the Morrigan with Cuchulainn + The Death of Long Mac Emonis + The Healing of the Morrigan + The Coming of Lug Mac Ethlend + The Death of the Boys (second version) + The Arming of Cuchulainn +CONTINUATION (from the Yellow Book of Lecan) + The Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn + The Long Warning of Sualtaim + The Muster of the Ulstermen + The Vision of Dubthach + The March of the Companies + The Muster of the Men of Ireland + The Battle on Garach and Irgarach + The Meeting of the Bulls + The Peace + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge [Note: Pronounce _Cooley_] is the chief +story belonging to the heroic cycle of Ulster, which had its centre +in the deeds of the Ulster king, Conchobar Mac Nessa, and his +nephew and chief warrior, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. Tradition places +their date at the beginning of the Christian era. + +The events leading up to this tale, the most famous of Irish +mythical stories, may be shortly summarised here from the Book of +Leinster introduction to the _Tain_, and from the other tales +belonging to the Ulster cycle. + +It is elsewhere narrated that the Dun Bull of Cualnge, for whose +sake Ailill and Medb [Note: Pronounce _Maive_.], the king and queen +of Connaught, undertook this expedition, was one of two bulls in +whom two rival swineherds, belonging to the supernatural race known +as the people of the _Sid_, or fairy-mounds, were re-incarnated, +after passing through various other forms. The other bull, +Findbennach, the White-horned, was in the herd of Medb at Cruachan +Ai, the Connaught capital, but left it to join Ailill's herd. This +caused Ailill's possessions to exceed Medb's, and to equalise +matters she determined to secure the great Dun Bull, who alone +equalled the White-horned. An embassy to the owner of the Dun Bull +failed, and Ailill and Medb therefore began preparations for an +invasion of Ulster, in which province (then ruled by Conchobar Mac +Nessa) Cualnge was situated. A number of smaller _Tana_, or +cattle-raids, prefatory to the great _Tain Bo Cuailnge_, relate +some of their efforts to procure allies and provisions. + +Medb chose for the expedition the time when Conchobar and all the +warriors of Ulster, except Cuchulainn and Sualtaim, were at their +capital, Emain Macha, in a sickness which fell on them periodically, +making them powerless for action; another story relates the cause +of this sickness, the effect of a curse laid on them by a fairy +woman. Ulster was therefore defended only by the seventeen-year-old +Cuchulainn, for Sualtaim's appearance is only spasmodic. +Cuchulainn (Culann's Hound) was the son of Dechtire, the king's +sister, his father being, in different accounts, either Sualtaim, +an Ulster warrior; Lug Mac Ethlend, one of the divine heroes +from the _Sid_, or fairy-mound; or Conchobar himself. The +two former both appear as Cuchulainn's father in the present +narrative. Cuchulainn is accompanied, throughout the adventures +here told, by his charioteer, Loeg Mac Riangabra. + +In Medb's force were several Ulster heroes, including Cormac +Condlongas, son of Conchobar, Conall Cernach, Dubthach Doeltenga, +Fiacha Mac Firfebe, and Fergus Mac Roich. These were exiled from +Ulster through a bitter quarrel with Conchobar, who had caused the +betrayal and murder of the sons of Uisnech, when they had come to +Ulster under the sworn protection of Fergus, as told in the _Exile +of the Sons of Uisnech_. [Note: 1 Text in Windisch and Stokes's +_Irische Texte_; English translation in Miss Hull's _Cuchullin +Saga_.] The Ulster mischief-maker, Bricriu of the Poison-tongue, +was also with the Connaught army. Though fighting for Connaught, +the exiles have a friendly feeling for their former comrades, and a +keen jealousy for the credit of Ulster. There is a constant +interchange of courtesies between them and their old pupil, +Cuchulainn, whom they do not scruple to exhort to fresh efforts for +Ulster's honour. An equally half-hearted warrior is Lugaid Mac Nois, +king of Munster, who was bound in friendship to the Ulstermen. + +Other characters who play an important part in the story are +Findabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, who is held out as a bribe +to various heroes to induce them to fight Cuchulainn, and is on one +occasion offered to the latter in fraud on condition that he will +give up his opposition to the host; and the war-goddess, variously +styled the Nemain, the Badb (scald-crow), and the Morrigan (great +queen), who takes part against Cuchulainn in one of his chief +fights. Findabair is the bait which induces several old comrades of +Cuchulainn's, who had been his fellow-pupils under the sorceress +Scathach, to fight him in single combat. + +The tale may be divided into:-- + +1. Introduction: Fedelm's prophecy. + +2. Cuchulainn's first feats against the host, and the several + _geis_, or taboos, which he lays on them. + +3. The narration of Cuchulainn's boyish deeds, by the Ulster exiles +to the Connaught host. + +4. Cuchulainn's harassing of the host. + +5. The bargain and series of single combats, interrupted by + breaches of the agreement on the part of Connaught. + +6. The visit of Lug Mac Ethlend. + +7. The fight with Fer Diad. + +8. The end: the muster of the Ulstermen. + + +The MSS. + +The _Tain Bo Cuailnge_ survives, in whole or in part, in a +considerable number of MSS., most of which are, however, late. The +most important are three in number:-- + +(1) Leabhar na h-Uidhri (LU), 'The Book of the Dun Cow,' a MS. +dating from about 1100. The version here given is an old one, +though with some late additions, in later language. The chief of +these are the piece coming between the death of the herd Forgemen +and the fight with Cur Mac Dalath (including Cuchulainn's meeting +with Findabair, and the 'womanfight' of Rochad), and the whole of +what follows the Healing of the Morrigan. The tale is, like others +in this MS., unfinished, the MS. being imperfect. + +(2) The Yellow Book of Lecan (YBL), a late fourteenth-century MS. +The _Tain_ in this is substantially the same as in LU. The +beginning is missing, but the end is given. Some of the late +additions of LU are not found here; and YBL, late as it is, often +gives an older and better text than the earlier MS. + +(3) The Book of Leinster (LL), before 1160. The _Tain_ here is +longer, fuller, and later in both style and language than in LU or +YBL. It is essentially a literary attempt to give a complete and +consistent narrative, and is much less interesting than the older +LU-YBL recension. + +In the present version, I have collated LU, as far as it goes, with +YBL, adding from the latter the concluding parts of the story, from +the Fight with Fer Diad to the end. After the Fight with Fer Diad, +YBL breaks off abruptly, leaving nearly a page blank; then follow +several pages containing lists, alternative versions of some +episodes given in LU (Rochad's Woman-fight, the Warning to +Conchobar), and one or two episodes which are narrated in LL. I +omit about one page, where the narrative is broken and confused. + +The pages which follow the Healing of the Morrigan in LU are +altogether different in style from the rest of the story as told in +LU, and are out of keeping with its simplicity. This whole portion +is in the later manner of LL, with which, for the most part, it is +in verbal agreement. Further, it is in part repetition of material +already given (i.e. the coming of the boy-host of Ulster, and +Cuchulainn's displaying himself to the Connaught troops). + + +COMPARISON OF THE VERSIONS + +A German translation of the Leinster text of the _Tain Bo Cuailnge_ +will soon be accessible to all in Dr. Windisch's promised edition +of the text. It is therefore unnecessary to compare the two +versions in detail. Some of the main differences may be pointed +out, however. + +Of our three copies none is the direct ancestor of any other. LU +and YBL are from a common source, though the latter MS. is from an +older copy; LL is independent. The two types differ entirely in aim +and method. The writers of LU and YBL aimed at accuracy; the +Leinster man, at presenting an intelligible version. Hence, where +the two former reproduce obscurities and corruptions, the latter +omits, paraphrases, or expands. The unfortunate result is that LL +rarely, if ever, helps to clear up textual obscurities in the older +copy. + +On the other hand, it offers explanations of certain episodes not +clearly stated in LU. Thus, for example, where LU, in the story of +the sons of Nechta Scene, simply mentions 'the withe that was on +the pillar,' LL explains that the withe had been placed there by +the sons of Nechta Scene (as Cuchulainn placed a similar with in +the path of the Connaught host), with an ogam inscription +forbidding any to pass without combat; hence its removal was an +insult and a breach of _geis_. Again, the various embassies to +Cuchulainn, and the terms made with him (that he should not harass +the host if he were supplied daily with food, and with a champion +to meet him in single combat), are more clearly described in LL. + +Some of the episodes given in LU are not told in the Leinster +version. Of the boyish deeds of Cuchulainn, LL tells only three: +his first appearance at Emain (told by Fergus), Culann's feast (by +Cormac), and the feats following Cuchulainn's taking of arms (by +Fiacha). In the main narrative, the chief episodes omitted in LL +are the fight with Fraech, the Fergus and Medb episode, and the +meeting of Findabair and Cuchulainn. The meeting with the Morrigan +is missing, owing to the loss of a leaf. Other episodes are +differently placed in LL: e.g. the Rochad story (an entirely +different account), the fight of Amairgen and Curoi with stones, +and the warning to Conchobar, all follow the fight with Fer Diad. + +A peculiarity of the LU-YBL version is the number of passages which +it has in common with the _Dinnsenchas_, an eleventh-century +compilation of place-legends. The existing collections of +_Dinnsenchas_ contain over fifty entries derived from the _Tain_ +cycle, some corresponding with, others differing from those in LU. + +This version has also embodied a considerable number of glosses in +the text. As many of these are common to LU and YBL, they must go +back to the common original, which must therefore have been a +harmony of previously existing versions, since many of these +passages give variants of incidents. + + +AGE OF THE VERSIONS + +There is no doubt that the version here translated is a very old +one. The language in LU is almost uniformly Middle Irish, not more +than a century earlier than the date of the MS.; thus it shows the +post-thetic _he_, _iat_, etc. as object, the adverb with _co_, the +confusion of _ar_ and _for_, the extension of the _b_-future, etc. +But YBL preserves forms as old as the Glosses:-- + +(1) The correct use of the infixed relative, e.g. _rombith_, 'with +which he struck.' (LU, _robith_, 58a, 45.) + +(2) The infixed accusative pronoun, e.g. _nachndiusced_, 'that he +should not wake him.' (LU, _nach diusced_, 62a, 30.) + +(3) _no_ with a secondary tense, e.g. _nolinad_, 'he used to fill.' +(LU, _rolinad_, 60b, 6.) + +(4) Very frequently YBL keeps the right aspirated or non-aspirated +consonant, where LU shows a general confusion, etc. + +LL has no very archaic forms, though it cultivates a pseudo-archaic +style; and it is unlikely that the Leinster version goes back much +earlier than 1050. The latter part of the LU _Tain_ shows that a +version of the Leinster type was known to the compiler. The style +of this part, with its piling-up of epithets, is that of +eleventh-century narrative, as exemplified in texts like the _Cath +Ruis na Rig_ and the _Cogadh Gaidhil_; long strings of alliterative +epithets, introduced for sound rather than sense, are characteristic +of the period. The descriptions of chariots and horses in the Fer +Diad episode in YBL are similar, and evidently belong to the same +rescension. + +The inferences from the facts noted in the foregoing sections may +be stated as follows: A version of the _Tain_ goes back to the +early eighth, or seventh century, and is preserved under the YBL +text; an opinion based on linguistic evidence, but coinciding +with the tradition which ascribes the 'Recovery of the _Tain_' to +Senchan Torpeist, a bard of the later seventh century. This version +continued to be copied down to the eleventh century, gradually +changing as the language changed. Meanwhile, varying accounts of +parts of the story came into existence, and some time in the +eleventh century a new redaction was made, the oldest representative +of which is the LL text. Parts of this were embodied in or added +to the older version; hence the interpolations in LU. + + +THE FER DIAD EPISODE + +There is much difference between the two versions of this episode. +In YBL, the introductory portion is long and full, the actual fight +very short, while in LL the fight is long-drawn-out, and much more +stress is laid on the pathetic aspect of the situation. Hence it is +generally assumed that LL preserves an old version of the episode, +and that the scribe of the Yellow Book has compressed the latter +part. It is not, however, usual, in primitive story-telling, to +linger over scenes of pathos. Such lingering is, like the painted +tears of late Italian masters, invariably a sign of decadence. It +is one of the marks of romance, which recognises tragedy only when +it is voluble, and prodigal of lamentation. The older version of +the _Tain_ is throughout singularly free from pathos of the feebler +sort; the humorous side is always uppermost, and the tragic +suggestions interwoven with it. + +But it is still a matter of question whether the whole Fer Diad +episode may not be late. Professor Zimmer thinks it is; but even +the greatest scholar, with a theory to prove, is not quite free. It +will of course be noticed, on this side, that the chief motives of +the Fer Diad episode all appear previously in other episodes (e.g. +the fights with Ferbaeth and with Loch). Further, the account even +in YBL is not marked by old linguistic forms as are other parts of +the tale, while much of it is in the bombastic descriptive style of +LL. In the condition in which we have the tale, however, this +adventure is treated as the climax of the story. Its motive is to +remove Cuchulainn from the field, in order to give the rest of +Ulster a chance. But in the account of the final great fight in +YBL, Cuchulainn's absence is said to be due to his having been +wounded in a combat against odds (_crechtnugud i n-ecomlund_). +Considering, therefore, that even in YBL the Fer Diad episode is +late in language, it seems possible that it may have replaced some +earlier account in which Cuchulainn was so severely wounded that he +was obliged to retire from the field. + + +PREVIOUS WORK ON THE '_TAIN_' + +Up to the present time the _Tain_ has never been either printed or +translated, though the LU version has been for thirty years easily +accessible in facsimile. Dr. Windisch's promised edition will +shortly be out, containing the LL and LU texts, with a German +translation of the former. The most useful piece of work done +hitherto for the _Tain_ is the analysis by Professor Zimmer of the +LU text (conclusion from the Book of Leinster), in the fifth of his +_Keltische Studien (Zeitschrift für vergl. Sprachforschung_, xxviii.). +Another analysis of the story, by Mr. S. H. O'Grady, appeared in +Miss Eleanor Hull's _The Cuchullin Saga_; it is based on a late +paper MS. in the British Museum, giving substantially the same +version as LL. This work contains also a map of ancient Ireland, +showing the route of the Connaught forces; but a careful working-out +of the topography of the _Tain_ is much needed, many names being +still unidentified. Several of the small introductory _Tana_ have +been published in Windisch and Stokes's _Irische Texte_; and +separate episodes from the great _Tain_ have been printed and +translated from time to time. The Fight with Fer Diad (LL) was +printed with translation by O'Curry in the _Manners and Customs of +the Ancient Irish_. The story of the Two Swineherds, with their +successive reincarnations until they became the Dun Bull and the +White-horned (an introductory story to the _Tain_ ), is edited with +translation in _Irische Texte_, and Mr. Nutt printed an abridged +English version in the _Voyage of Bran_. + +The Leinster version seems to have been the favourite with modern +workers, probably because it is complete and consistent; possibly +its more sentimental style has also served to commend it. + + +AIM OF THIS TRANSLATION + +It is perhaps unnecessary to say that the present version is +intended for those who cannot read the tale in the original; it is +therefore inadvisable to overload the volume with notes, variant +readings, or explanations of the readings adopted, which might +repel the readers to whom it is offered. + +At the present time, an enthusiasm for Irish literature is not +always accompanied by a knowledge of the Irish language. It seems +therefore to be the translator's duty, if any true estimate of this +literature is to be formed, to keep fairly close to the original, +since nothing is to be gained by attributing beauties which it does +not possess, while obscuring its true merits, which are not few. +For the same reason, while keeping the Irish second person singular +in verses and formal speech, I have in ordinary dialogue +substituted the pronoun _you_, which suggests the colloquial style +of the original better than the obsolete _thou_. + +The so-called rhetorics are omitted in translating; they are +passages known in Irish as _rosc_, often partly alliterative, but +not measured. They are usually meaningless strings of words, with +occasional intelligible phrases. In all probability the passages +aimed at sound, with only a general suggestion of the drift. Any +other omissions are marked where they occur; many obscure words in +the long descriptive passages are of necessity left untranslated. +In two places I have made slight verbal changes without altering +the sense, a liberty which is very rarely necessary in Irish. + +Of the headings, those printed in capitals are in the text in the +MS.; those italicised are marginal. I have bracketed obvious +scribal glosses which have crept into the text. Some of the +marginal glosses are translated in the footnotes. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES + +As a considerable part of the _Tain_ is occupied by connecting +episodes with place-names, an explanation of some of the commonest +elements in these may be of use to those who know no Irish: + +Ath=a ford; e.g. Ath Gabla (Ford of the Fork), Ath Traiged (Ford of +the Foot), Ath Carpat (Ford of Chariots), Ath Fraich (Fraech's +Ford), etc. + +Belat=cross-roads; e.g. Belat Alioin. + +Bernas=a pass, or gap; e.g. _Bernas Bo Ulad_ or _Bernas Bo Cuailnge_ +(Pass of the Cows of Ulster, or of Cualnge). + +Clithar=a shelter; e.g. Clithar Bo Ulad (shelter of the Cows of +Ulster). + +Cul=a corner; e.g. Cul Airthir (eastern corner). + +Dun= a fort; e.g. Dun Sobairche. + +Fid=a wood; e.g. Fid Mor Drualle (Great Wood of the Sword-sheath). + +Glass=a brook, stream; e.g. Glass Chrau (the stream of Blood), +Glass Cruind, Glass Gatlaig (gatt=a withe, laig=a calf). + +Glenn=a glen; e.g. Glenn Gatt (Glen of the Withe), Glenn Firbaith +(Ferbaeth's Glen), Glenn Gatlaig. + +Grellach=a bog; e.g. Grellach Doluid. + +Guala=a hill-shoulder; e.g. Gulo Mulchai (Mulcha's shoulder). + +Loch=a lake; e.g. Loch Reoin, Loch Echtra. + +Mag=a plain; e.g. Mag Ai, Mag Murthemne, Mag Breg, Mag Clochair +(cloch=a stone). + +Methe, explained as if from meth (death); Methe Togmaill (death of +the Squirrel), Methe n-Eoin (death of the Bird). + +Reid, gen. Rede=a plain; e.g. Ath Rede Locha (Ford of Locha's Plain). + +Sid=a fairy mound; e.g. Sid Fraich (Fraech's Mound). + +Sliab=a mountain; e.g. Sliab Fuait. + +I need perhaps hardly say that many of the etymologies given in +Irish sources are pure invention, stories being often made up to +account for the names, the real meaning of which was unknown to the +mediaeval story-teller or scribe. + +In conclusion, I have to express my most sincere thanks to +Professor Strachan, whose pupil I am proud to be. I have had the +advantage of his wide knowledge and experience in dealing with many +obscurities in the text, and he has also read the proofs. I am +indebted also to Mr. E. Gwynn, who has collated at Trinity College, +Dublin, a number of passages in the Yellow Book of Lecan, which are +illegible or incorrect in the facsimile; and to Dr. Whitley Stokes +for notes and suggestions on many obscure words. + +LLANDAFF, November 1903. + + + + + +THIS IS THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE + +I + +A great hosting was brought together by the Connaughtmen, that is, +by Ailill and Medb; and they sent to the three other provinces. And +messengers were sent by Ailill to the seven sons of Magach: Ailill, +Anluan, Mocorb, Cet, En, Bascall, and Doche; a cantred with each of +them. And to Cormac Condlongas Mac Conchobair with his three +hundred, who was billeted in Connaught. Then they all come to +Cruachan Ai. + +Now Cormac had three troops which came to Cruachan. The first troop +had many-coloured cloaks folded round them; hair like a mantle (?); +the tunic falling(?) to the knee, and long(?) shields; and a broad +grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the hand of each man. + +The second troop wore dark grey cloaks, and tunics with red +ornamentation down to their calves, and long hair hanging behind +from their heads, and white shields (?), and five-pronged spears +were in their hands. + +'This is not Cormac yet,' said Medb. + +Then comes the third troop; and they wore purple cloaks and hooded +tunics with red ornamentation down to their feet, hair smooth to +their shoulders, and round shields with engraved edges, and the +pillars [Note: i.e. spears as large as pillars, etc.] of a palace +in the hand of each man. + +'This is Cormac now,' said Medb. + +Then the four provinces of Ireland were assembled, till they were +in Cruachan Ai. And their poets and their druids did not let them +go thence till the end of a fortnight, for waiting for a good omen. +Medb said then to her charioteer the day that they set out: + + +'Every one who parts here to-day from his love or his friend will +curse me,' said she, 'for it is I who have gathered this hosting.' + +'Wait then,' said the charioteer, 'till I turn the chariot with the +sun, and till there come the power of a good omen that we may come +back again.' + +Then the charioteer turned the chariot, and they set forth. Then +they saw a full-grown maiden before them. She had yellow hair, and +a cloak of many colours, and a golden pin in it; and a hooded tunic +with red embroidery. She wore two shoes with buckles of gold. Her +face was narrow below and broad above. Very black were her two +eyebrows; her black delicate eyelashes cast a shadow into the +middle of her two cheeks. You would think it was with _partaing_ +[Note: Exact meaning unknown. It is always used in this +connection.] her lips were adorned. You would think it was a shower +of pearls that was in her mouth, that is, her teeth. She had three +tresses: two tresses round her head above, and a tress behind, so +that it struck her two thighs behind her. A shuttle [Note: Literally, +a beam used for making fringe.] of white metal, with an inlaying +of gold, was in her hand. Each of her two eyes had three pupils. +The maiden was armed, and there were two black horses to her chariot. + +'What is your name?' said Medb to the maiden. + +'Fedelm, the prophetess of Connaught, is my name,' said the maiden. + +'Whence do you come?' said Medb. + +'From Scotland, after learning the art of prophecy,' said the +maiden. + +'Have you the inspiration(?) which illumines?' [Note: Ir. _imbas +forasnai_, the name of a kind of divination.] said Medb. + +'Yes, indeed,' said the maiden. + +'Look for me how it will be with my hosting,' said Medb. + +Then the maiden looked for it; and Medb said: 'O Fedelm the +prophetess, how seest thou the host?' + +Fedelm answered and said: 'I see very red, I see red.' + +'That is not true,' said Medb; 'for Conchobar is in his sickness at +Emain and the Ulstermen with him, with all the best [Note: +Conjectural; some letters missing. For the Ulster sickness, see +Introduction.] of their warriors; and my messengers have come and +brought me tidings thence. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' said Medb. + +'I see red,' said the maiden. + +'That is not true,' said Medb; 'for Celtchar Mac Uithichair is in +Dun Lethglaise, and a third of the Ulstermen with him; and Fergus, +son of Roich, son of Eochaid, is here with us, in exile, and a +cantred with him. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' said Medb. + +'I see very red, I see red,' said the maiden. + +'That matters not,' said Medb; 'for there are mutual angers, and +quarrels, and wounds very red in every host and in every +assembly of a great army. Look again for us then, and tell us the +truth. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' + +'I see very red, I see red,' said Fedelm. + + 'I see a fair man who will make play + With a number of wounds(?) on his girdle; +[Note: Unless this is an allusion to the custom of carrying an +enemy's head at the girdle, the meaning is obscure. LL has quite a +different reading. The language of this poem is late.] + A hero's flame over his head, + His forehead a meeting-place of victory. + + 'There are seven gems of a hero of valour + In the middle of his two irises; + There is ---- on his cloak, + He wears a red clasped tunic. + + 'He has a face that is noble, + Which causes amazement to women. + A young man who is fair of hue + Comes ---- +[Note: Five syllables missing.] + + 'Like is the nature of his valour + To Cuchulainn of Murthemne. + I do not know whose is the Hound + Of Culann, whose fame is the fairest. + But I know that it is thus + That the host is very red from him. + + 'I see a great man on the plain + He gives battle to the hosts; + Four little swords of feats + There are in each of his two hands. + + 'Two _Gae-bolga_, he carries them, +[Note: The Gae-bolga was a special kind of spear, which only +Cuchulainn could use.] + Besides an ivory-hilted sword and spear; + ---- [Note: Three syllables missing] he wields to the host; + Different is the deed for which each arm goes from him. + + 'A man in a battle-girdle (?), of a red cloak, + He puts ---- every plain. + He smites them, over left chariot wheel (?); + The _Riastartha_ wounds them. +[Note: The Riastartha ('distorted one') was a name given to +Cuchulainn because of the contortion, described later, which came +over him.] + The form that appeared to me on him hitherto, + I see that his form has been changed. + + 'He has moved forward to the battle, + If heed is not taken of him it will be treachery. + I think it likely it is he who seeks you: + Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. + + 'He will strike on whole hosts, + He will make dense slaughters of you, + Ye will leave with him many thousands of heads. + The prophetess Fedelm conceals not. + + 'Blood will rain from warriors' wounds + At the hand of a warrior--'twill be full harm. + He will slay warriors, men will wander + Of the descendants of Deda Mac Sin. + Corpses will be cut off, women will lament + Through the Hound of the Smith that I see.' + +The Monday after Samain [Note: Samain, 'summer-end,' about the +beginning of November.] they set forth, and this is the way they +took: south-east from Cruachan Ai, i.e. by Muicc Cruimb, by Teloch +Teora Crich, by Tuaim Mona, by Cul Sibrinne, by Fid, by Bolga, by +Coltain, by Glune-gabair, by Mag Trego, by North Tethba, by South +Tethba, by Tiarthechta, by Ord, by Slais southwards, by Indiuind, +by Carnd, by Ochtrach, by Midi, by Findglassa Assail, by Deilt, by +Delind, by Sailig, by Slaibre, by Slechta Selgatar, by Cul +Sibrinne, by Ochaind southwards, by Uatu northwards, by Dub, by +Comur southwards, by Tromma, by Othromma eastwards, by Slane, by +Gortslane, by Druim Licce southwards, by Ath Gabla, by Ard Achad, +by Feraind northwards, by Findabair, by Assi southwards, by Druim +Salfind, by Druim Cain, by Druim Mac n-Dega, by Eodond Mor, by +Eodond Bec, by Methe Togmaill, by Methe Eoin, by Druim Caemtechta, +by Scuaip, by Imscuaip, by Cend Ferna, by Baile, by Aile, by Bail +Scena, by Dail Scena, by Fertse, by Ross Lochad, by Sale, by +Lochmach, by Anmag, by Deind, by Deilt, by Dubglaiss, by Fid Mor, +by Colbtha, by Cronn, to Cualnge. + + + +From Findabair Cuailnge, it is thence the hosts of Ireland were +divided over the province to seek the Bull. For it is past these +places that they came, till they reached Findabair. + +(Here ends the title; and the story begins as follows:-- + +THIS IS THE STORY IN ORDER + +When they had come on their first journey from Cruachan as far as +Cul Sibrinne, Medb told her charioteer to get ready her nine +chariots for her, that she might make a circuit in the camp, to see +who disliked and who liked the expedition. + +Now his tent was pitched for Ailill, and the furniture was +arranged, both beds and coverings. Fergus Mac Roich in his tent was +next to Ailill; Cormac Condlongas Mac Conchobair beside him; Conall +Cernach by him; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe, the son of Conchobar's +daughter, by him. Medb, daughter of Eochaid Fedlech, was on +Ailill's other side; next to her, Findabair, daughter of Ailill and +Medb. That was besides servants and attendants. + +Medb came, after looking at the host, and she said it were folly +for the rest to go on the hosting, if the cantred of the +Leinstermen went. + +'Why do you blame the men?' said Ailill. + +'We do not blame them,' said Medb; 'splendid are the warriors. When +the rest were making their huts, they had finished thatching their +huts and cooking their food; when the rest were at dinner, they had +finished dinner, and their harpers were playing to them. It is +folly for them to go,' said Medb; 'it is to their credit the +victory of the hosts will be.' + +'It is for us they fight,' said Ailill. + +'They shall not come with us,' said Medb. + +'Let them stay then,' said Ailill. + +'They shall not stay,' said Medb. 'They will come on us after we +have gone,' said she, 'and seize our land against us.' + +'What is to be done to them?' said Ailill; 'will you have them +neither stay nor go?' + +'To kill them,' said Medb. + +'We will not hide that this is a woman's plan,' said Ailill; 'what +you say is not good!' + +'With this folk,' said Fergus, 'it shall not happen thus (for it is +a folk bound by ties to us Ulstermen), unless we are all killed.' + +'Even that we could do,' said Medb; 'for I am here with my retinue +of two cantreds,' said she, 'and there are the seven Manes, that +is, my seven sons, with seven cantreds; their luck can protect +them,' (?) said she; 'that is Mane-Mathramail, and Mane-Athramail, +and Mane-Morgor, and Mane-Mingor, and Mane-Moepert (and he is +Mane-Milscothach), Mane-Andoe, and Mane-who-got-everything: he got +the form of his mother and of his father, and the dignity of both.' + +'It would not be so,' said Fergus. 'There are seven kings of +Munster here, and a cantred with each of them, in friendship with +us Ulstermen. I will give battle to you,' said Fergus, 'in the +middle of the host in which we are, with these seven cantreds, and +with my own cantred, and with the cantred of the Leinstermen. But I +will not urge that,' said Fergus, 'we will provide for the warriors +otherwise, so that they shall not prevail over the host. Seventeen +cantreds for us,' said Fergus, 'that is the number of our army, +besides our rabble, and our women (for with each king there is his +queen, in Medb's company), and besides our striplings. This is the +eighteenth cantred, the cantred of the Leinstermen. Let them be +distributed among the rest of the host.' + +'I do not care,' said Medb, 'provided they are not gathered as they +are.' + +Then this was done; the Leinstermen were distributed among the host. + +They set out next morning to Moin Choiltrae, where eight score deer +fell in with them in one herd. They surrounded them and killed them +then; wherever there was a man of the Leinstermen, it was he who +got them, except five deer that all the rest of the host got. Then +they came to Mag Trego, and stopped there and prepared their food. +They say that it is there that Dubthach sang this song: + + 'Grant what you have not heard hitherto, + Listening to the fight of Dubthach. + A hosting very black is before you, + Against Findbend of the wife of Ailill. +[Note: Findbennach, the Whitehorned; i.e. the other of the two +bulls in whom the rival swineherds were reincarnated.] + + 'The man of expeditions will come + Who will defend (?) Murthemne. + Ravens will drink milk of ---- [Note: Some kenning for blood?] + From the friendship of the swineherds. + + 'The turfy Cronn will resist them; +[Note: i.e. the river Cronn. This line is a corruption of a +reference which occurs later, in the account of the flooding of the +Cronn, as Professor Strachan first pointed out to me.] + He will not let them into Murthemne + Until the work of warriors is over + In Sliab Tuad Ochaine. + + '"Quickly," said Ailill to Cormac, + "Go that you may ---- your son. + The cattle do not come from the fields + That the din of the host may not terrify them(?). + + '"This will be a battle in its time + For Medb with a third of the host. + There will be flesh of men therefrom + If the Riastartha comes to you."' + +Then the Nemain attacked them, and that was not the quietest of +nights for them, with the uproar of the churl (i.e. Dubthach) +through their sleep. The host started up at once, and a great +number of the host were in confusion, till Medb came to reprove +him. + +Then they went and spent the night in Granard Tethba Tuascirt, +after the host had been led astray over bogs and over streams. A +warning was sent from Fergus to the Ulstermen here, for friendship. +They were now in the weakness, except Cuchulainn and his father +Sualtaim. + +Cuchulainn and his father went, after the coming of the warning +from Fergus, till they were in Iraird Cuillend, watching the host +there. + +'I think of the host to-night,' said Cuchulainn to his father. 'Go +from us with a warning to the Ulstermen. I am forced to go to a +tryst with Fedelm Noichride, [Note: Gloss incorporated in the text: +that is, with her servant,' etc.] from my own pledge that went out +to her.' + +He made a spancel-withe [This was a twig twisted in the form of two +rings, joined by one straight piece, as used for hobbling horses +and cattle.] then before he went, and wrote an ogam on its ----, +and threw it on the top of the pillar. + +The leadership of the way before the army was given to Fergus. Then +Fergus went far astray to the south, till Ulster should have +completed the collection of an army; he did this for friendship. +Ailill and Medb perceived it; it was then Medb said: + + 'O Fergus, this is strange, + What kind of way do we go? + Straying south or north + We go over every other folk. + + 'Ailill of Ai with his hosting + Fears that you will betray them. + You have not given your mind hitherto + To the leading of the way. + + 'If it is in friendship that you do it, + Do not lead the horses + Peradventure another may be found + To lead the way.' + +Fergus replied: + + 'O Medb, what troubles you? + This is not like treachery. + It belongs to the Ulstermen, O woman, + The land across which I am leading you. + + 'It is not for the disadvantage of the host + That I go on each wandering in its turn; + It is to avoid the great man + Who protects Mag Murthemne. + + 'Not that my mind is not distressed + On account of the straying on which I go, + But if perchance I may avoid even afterwards + Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim.' + +Then they went till they were in Iraird Cuillend. Eirr and Indell, +Foich and Foclam (their two charioteers), the four sons of Iraird +Mac Anchinne, [Marginal gloss: 'or the four sons of Nera Mac Nuado +Mac Taccain, as it is found in other books.'] it is they who were +before the host, to protect their brooches and their cushions and +their cloaks, that the dust of the host might not soil them. They +found the withe that Cuchulainn threw, and perceived the grazing +that the horses had grazed. For Sualtaim's two horses had eaten the +grass with its roots from the earth; Cuchulainn's two horses had +licked the earth as far as the stones beneath the grass. They sit +down then, until the host came, and the musicians play to them. +They give the withe into the hands of Fergus Mac Roich; he read the +ogam that was on it. + +When Medb came, she asked, 'Why are you waiting here?' + +'We wait,' said Fergus,' because of the withe yonder. There is an +ogam on its ----, and this is what is in it: "Let no one go past +till a man is found to throw a like withe with his one hand, and +let it be one twig of which it is made; and I except my friend +Fergus." Truly,' said Fergus, 'Cuchulainn has thrown it, and they +are his horses that grazed the plain.' + + +And he put it in the hands of the druids; and Fergus sang this song: + + 'Here is a withe, what does the withe declare to us? + What is its mystery? + What number threw it? + Few or many? + + 'Will it cause injury to the host, + If they go a journey from it? + Find out, ye druids, something therefore + For what the withe has been left. + + '---- of heroes the hero who has thrown it, + Full misfortune on warriors; + A delay of princes, wrathful is the matter, + One man has thrown it with one hand. + + 'Is not the king's host at the will of him, + Unless it breaks fair play? + Until one man only of you + Throw it, as one man has thrown it. + I do not know anything save that + For which the withe should have been put. + Here is a withe.' + +Then Fergus said to them: 'If you outrage this withe,' said he, 'or +if you go past it, though he be in the custody of a man, or in a +house under a lock, the ---- of the man who wrote the ogam on it +will reach him, and will slay a goodly slaughter of you before +morning, unless one of you throw a like withe.' + +'It does not please us, indeed, that one of us should be slain at +once,' said Ailill. 'We will go by the neck of the great wood +yonder, south of us, and we will not go over it at all.' + +The troops hewed down then the wood before the chariots. This is +the name of that place, Slechta. It is there that Partraige is. +(According to others, the conversation between Medb and Fedelm the +prophetess took place there, as we told before; and then it is +after the answer she gave to Medb that the wood was cut down; i.e. +'Look for me,' said Medb, 'how my hosting will be.' 'It is +difficult to me,' said the maiden; 'I cannot cast my eye over them +in the wood.' 'It is ploughland (?) there shall be,' said Medb; 'we +will cut down the wood.' Then this was done, so that Slechta was +the name of the place.) + + +They spent the night then in Cul Sibrille; a great snowstorm fell +on them, to the girdles of the men and the wheels of the chariots. +The rising was early next morning. And it was not the most peaceful +of nights for them, with the snow; and they had not prepared food +that night. But it was not early when Cuchulainn came from his +tryst; he waited to wash and bathe. + +Then he came on the track of the host. 'Would that we had not gone +there,' said Cuchulainn, 'nor betrayed the Ulstermen; we have let +the host go to them unawares. Make us an estimation of the host,' +said Cuchulainn to Loeg, 'that we may know the number of the host.' + +Loeg did this, and said to Cuchulainn: 'I am confused,' said he, 'I +cannot attain this.' + +'It would not be confusion that I see, if only I come,' said + +Cuchulainn. + +'Get into the chariot then,' said Loeg. + +Cuchulainn got into the chariot, and put a reckoning over the host +for a long time. + +'Even you,' said Loeg, 'you do not find it easy.' + +'It is easier indeed to me than to you,' said Cuchulainn; 'for I +have three gifts, the gifts of eye, and of mind, and of reckoning. +I have put a reckoning [Marginal gloss: 'This is one of the three +severest and most difficult reckonings made in Ireland; i.e. +Cuchulainn's reckoning of the men of Ireland on the _Tain_; and +ug's reckoning of the Fomorian hosts at the battle of Mag Tured; +and Ingcel's reckoning of the hosts at the Bruiden Da Derga.'] on +this,' said he; 'there are eighteen cantreds,' said he, 'for their +number; only that the eighteenth cantred is distributed among all +the host, so that their number is not clear; that is, the cantred +of the Leinstermen.' + +Then Cuchulainn went round the host till he was at Ath Gabla. +[Note: LU has Ath Grena.] He cuts a fork [Note: i.e. fork of a +tree.] there with one blow of his sword, and put it on the middle +of the stream, so that a chariot could not pass it on this side or +that. Eirr and Indell, Foich and Fochlam (their two charioteers) +came upon him thereat. He strikes their four heads off, and throws +them on to the four points of the fork. Hence is Ath Gabla. + +Then the horses of the four went to meet the host, and their +cushions very red on them. They supposed it was a battalion that +was before them at the ford. A troop went from them to look at the +ford; they saw nothing there but the track of one chariot and the +fork with the four heads, and a name in ogam written on the side. +All the host came then. + +'Are the heads yonder from our people?' said Medb. + +'They are from our people and from our choice warriors,' said +Ailill. + +One of them read the ogam that was on the side of the fork; that +is: 'A man has thrown the fork with his one hand; and you shall not +go past it till one of you, except Fergus, has thrown it with one +hand.' + +'It is a marvel,' said Ailill, 'the quickness with which the four +were struck.' + +It was not that that was a marvel,' said Fergus; 'it was the +striking of the fork from the trunk with one blow; and if the end +was [cut] with one blow, [Note: Lit. 'if its end was one cutting.'] +it is the fairer for it, and that it was thrust in in this manner; +for it is not a hole that has been dug for it, but it is from the +back of the chariot it has been thrown with one hand.' + +'Avert this strait from us, O Fergus,' said Medb. + +Bring me a chariot then,' said Fergus, 'that I may take it out, +that you may see whether its end was hewn with one blow.' Fergus +broke then fourteen chariots of his chariots, so that it was from +his own chariot that he took it out of the ground, and he saw that +the end was hewn with one blow. + +'Heed must be taken to the character of the tribe to which we are +going,' said Ailill. 'Let each of you prepare his food; you had no +rest last night for the snow. And something shall be told to us of +the adventures and stories of the tribe to which we are going.' + +It is then that the adventures of Cuchulainn were related to them. +Ailill asked: 'Is it Conchobar who has done this?' + +'Not he,' said Fergus; 'he would not have come to the border of the +country without the number of a battalion round him.' + +'Was it Celtchar Mac Uithidir?' + +'Not he; he would not have come to the border of the country +without the number of a battalion round him.' + +'Was it Eogan Mac Durtacht?' + +'Not he,' said Fergus; 'he would not have come over the border of +the country without thirty chariots two-pointed (?) round him. This +is the man who would have done the deed,' said Fergus, 'Cuchulainn; +it is he who would have cut the tree at one blow from the trunk, +and who would have killed the four yonder as quickly as they were +killed, and who would have come to the boundary with his charioteer.' + +'What kind of man,' said Ailill, 'is this Hound of whom we have +heard among the Ulstermen? What age is this youth who is famous?' + +'An easy question, truly,' said Fergus. 'In his fifth year he went +to the boys at Emain Macha to play; in his sixth year he went to +learn arms and feats with Scathach. In his seventh year he took +arms. He is now seventeen years old at this time.' + +'Is it he who is hardest to deal with among the Ulstermen?' said +Medb. + +'Over every one of them,' said Fergus. 'You will not find before +you a warrior who is harder to deal with, nor a point that is +sharper or keener or swifter, nor a hero who is fiercer, nor a +raven that is more flesh-loving, nor a match of his age that can +equal him as far as a third; nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a +fence(?) of battle, nor a hammer of destruction, nor a door of +battle, nor judgment on hosts, nor preventing of a great host that +is more worthy. You will not find there a man who would reach his +age, and his growth, and his dress, and his terror, his speech, his +splendour, his fame, his voice, his form, his power, his hardness, +his accomplishment, his valour, his striking, his rage, his anger, +his victory, his doom-giving, his violence, his estimation, his +hero-triumph, his speed, his pride, his madness, with the feat of +nine men on every point, like Cuchulainn!' + +'I don't care for that,' said Medb; 'he is in one body; he endures +wounding; he is not above capturing. Therewith his age is that of a +grown-up girl, and his manly deeds have not come yet.' + +'Not so,' said Fergus. 'It would be no wonder if he were to do a +good deed to-day; for even when he was younger his deeds were +manly.' + + +HERE ARE HIS BOYISH DEEDS + +'He was brought up,' said Fergus, 'by his mother and father at the +---- in Mag Murthemne. The stories of the boys in Emain were +related to him; for there are three fifties of boys there,' said +Fergus, 'at play. It is thus that Conchobar enjoys his sovereignty: +a third of the day watching the boys; another third playing chess; +[Note: _Fidchill_, usually so translated, but the exact nature of +the game is uncertain.] another third drinking beer till sleep +seizes him therefrom. Although we are in exile, there is not in +Ireland a warrior who is more wonderful,' said Fergus. + +'Cuchulainn asked his mother then to let him go to the boys. + + +'"You shall not go," said his mother, "until you have company of +warriors." + +'"I deem it too long to wait for it," said Cuchulainn. "Show me on +which side Emain is." + +'"Northwards so," said his mother; "and the journey is hard," said +she, "Sliab Fuait is between you." + +'"I will find it out," said Cuchulainn. + +'He goes forth then, and his shield of lath with him, and his +toy-spear, and his playing-club, and his ball. He kept throwing his +staff before him, so that he took it by the point before the end +fell on the ground. + +'He goes then to the boys without binding them to protect him. For +no one used to go to them in their play-field till his protection +was guaranteed. He did not know this. + +'"The boy insults us," said Follomon Mac Conchobair, "besides we +know he is of the Ulstermen. ... Throw at him!" + +'They throw their three fifties of toy-spears at him, and they all +remained standing in his shield of lath. Then they throw all the +balls at him; and he takes them, each single ball, in his bosom. +Then they throw their three fifties of hurling-clubs at him; he +warded them off so that they did not touch him, and he took a +bundle of them on his back. Then contortion seized him. You would +have thought that it was a hammering wherewith each little hair had +been driven into his head, with the arising with which he arose. +You would have thought there was a spark of fire on every single +hair. He shut one of his eyes so that it was not wider than the eye +of a needle. He opened the other so that it was as large as the +mouth of a meadcup. He laid bare from his jawbone to his ear; he +opened his mouth to his jaw [Note: Conjectured from the later +description of Cuchulainn's distortion.] so that his gullet was +visible. The hero's light rose from his head. Then he strikes at +the boys. He overthrows fifty of them before they reached the door +of Emain. Nine of them came over me and Conchobar as we were +playing chess. Then he springs over the chessboard after the nine. +Conchobar caught his elbow. + +'"The boys are not well treated," said Conchobar. + +'"Lawful for me, O friend Conchobar," said he. "I came to them from +my home to play, from my mother and father; and they have not been +good to me." + +'"What is your name?" said Conchobar. + + +'"Setanta Mac Sualtaim am I," said he, "and the son of Dechtere, +your sister. It was not fitting to hurt me here." + +'"Why were the boys not bound to protect you?" said Conchobar. + +'"I did not know this," said Cuchulainn. "Undertake my protection +against them then." + +'"I recognise it," said Conchobar. + +'Then he turned aside on [Note: i.e. to attack them.] the boys +throughout the house. + +'"What ails you at them now?" said Conchobar. + +'"That I may be bound to protect them," said Cuchulainn. + +'"Undertake it," said Conchobar. + +'"I recognise it," said Cuchulainn. + +'Then they all went into the play-field, and those boys who had +been struck down there arose. Their foster-mothers and foster-fathers +helped them. + + +'Once,' said Fergus, 'when he was a youth, he used not to sleep in +Emain Macha till morning. + +'"Tell me," said Conchobar to him, "why you do not sleep?" + +'"I do not do it," said Cuchulainn, "unless it is equally high at +my head and my feet." + +'Then a stone pillar was put by Conchobar at his head, and another +at his feet, and a bed was made for him separately between them. + + +'Another time a certain man went to awaken him, and he struck him +with his fist in his forehead, so that it took the front of his +forehead on to the brain, and so that he overthrew the pillar with +his arm.' + +'It is known,' said Ailill, 'that it was the fist of a warrior and +that it was the arm of a hero.' + +'From that time,' said Fergus, 'no one dared to waken him till he +awoke of himself. + + +'Another time he was playing ball in the play-field east of Emain; +he alone apart against the three fifties of boys; he used to defeat +them in every game in this way always. The boys lay hold of him +therewith, and he plied his fist upon them until fifty of them were +killed. He took to flight then, till he was under the pillow of +Conchobar's bed. All the Ulstermen rise round him, and I rise, and +Conchobar himself. Then he rose under the bed, and put the bed from +him, with the thirty heroes who were on it, till it was in the +middle of the house. The Ulstermen sit round him in the house. We +arrange and make peace then,' said Fergus, 'between the boys and +him. + + +'There was contention between Ulster and Eogan Mac Durtacht. The +Ulstermen went to the battle. He was left asleep. The Ulstermen +were defeated. Conchobar was left [on the field], and Cuscraid Mend +Macha, and many more beside. Their lament awoke Cuchulainn. He +stretched himself then, so that the two stones that were about him +broke; in the presence of Bricriu yonder it was done,' said Fergus. +'Then he arose. I met him in the door of the fort, and I wounded. + +'"Alas! God save you, friend Fergus," said he, "where is Conchobar?" + +'"I do not know," said I. + +'Then he went forth. The night was dark. He made for the +battlefield. He saw a man before him, with half his head on, and +half of another man on his back. + +'"Help me, O Cuchulainn," said he; "I have been wounded and I have +brought half of my brother on my back. Carry it for me a while." + +'"I will not carry it," said he. + +'Then he throws the burden to him; he throws it from him; they +wrestle; Cuchulainn was overthrown. I heard something, the +Badb from the corpses: "Ill the stuff of a hero that is under the +feet of a phantom." Then Cuchulainn rose against him, and strikes +his head off with his playing-club, and begins to drive his ball +before him across the plain. + +'"Is my friend Conchobar in this battlefield?" + +'He answered him. He goes to him, till he sees him in the trench, +and there was the earth round him on every side to hide him. + +'"Why have you come into the battlefield," said Conchobar, "that +you may swoon there?" + +'He lifts him out of the trench then; six of the strong men of +Ulster with us would not have brought him out more bravely. + +'"Go before us to the house yonder," said Conchobar; "if a roast +pig came to me, I should live." + +'"I will go and bring it," said Cuchulainn. + +'He goes then, and saw a man at a cooking-hearth in the middle of +the wood; one of his two hands had his weapons in it, the other was +cooking the pig. + +'The hideousness of the man was great; nevertheless he attacked him +and took his head and his pig with him. Conchobar ate the pig then. + +'"Let us go to our house," said Conchobar. + +'They met Cuscraid Mac Conchobair. There were sure wounds on him; +Cuchulainn took him on his back. The three of them went then to +Emain Macha. + + +'Another time the Ulstermen were in their weakness. There was not +among us,' said Fergus, 'weakness on women and boys, nor on any one +who was outside the country of the Ulstermen, nor on Cuchulainn and +his father. And so no one dared to shed their blood; for the +suffering springs on him who wounds them. [Gloss incorporated in +text: 'or their decay, or their shortness of life.'] + +'Three times nine men came to us from the Isles of Faiche. They +went over our back court when we were in our weakness. The women +screamed in the court. The boys were in the play-field; they come +at the cries. When the boys saw the dark, black men, they all take +to flight except Cuchulainn alone. He plies hand-stones and his +playing-club on them. He kills nine of them, and they leave fifty +wounds on him, and they go forth besides. A man who did these deeds +when his five years were not full, it would be no wonder that he +should have come to the edge of the boundary and that he should +have cut off the heads of yonder four.' + + +'We know him indeed, this boy,' said Conall Cernach, 'and we know +him none the worse that he is a fosterling of ours. It was not long +after the deed that Fcrgus has just related, when he did another +deed. When Culann the smith served a feast to Conchobar, Culann +said that it was not a multitude that should be brought to him, for +the preparation which he had made was not from land or country, but +from the fruit of his two hands and his pincers. Then Conchobar +went, and fifty chariots with him, of those who were noblest and +most eminent of the heroes. Now Conchobar visited then his +play-field. It was always his custom to visit and revisit them at +going and coming, to seek a greeting of the boys. He saw then +Cuchulainn driving his ball against the three fifties of boys, and +he gets the victory over them. When it was hole-driving that they +did, he filled the hole with his balls and they could not ward him +off. When they were all throwing into the hole, he warded them off +alone, so that not a single ball would go in it. When it was +wrestling they were doing, he overthrew the three fifties of boys +by himself, and there did not meet round him a number that could +overthrow him. When it was stripping that they did, he stripped +them all so that they were quite naked, and they could not take +from him even his brooch out of his cloak. + +'Conchobar thought this wonderful. He said "Would he bring his +deeds to completion, provided the age of manhood came to them?" +Every one said: "He would bring them to completion." Conchobar said +to Cuchulainn: "Come with me," said he, "to the feast to which we +are going, because you are a guest." + +'"I have not had enough of play yet, O friend Conchobar," said the +boy; "I will come after you." + +'When they had all come to the feast, Culann said to Conchobar: "Do +you expect any one to follow you?" said he. + +'"No," said Conchobar. He did not remember the appointment with his +foster-son who was following him. + +'"I'll have a watch-dog," said Culann; "there are three chains on +him, and three men to each chain. [Gloss incorporated in text: 'He +was brought from Spain.'] Let him be let slip because of our cattle +and stock, and let the court be shut." + +'Then the boy comes. The dog attacks him. He went on with his play +still: he threw his ball, and threw his club after it, so that it +struck the ball. One stroke was not greater than another; and he +threw his toy-spear after them, and he caught it before falling; +and it did not hinder his play, though the dog was approaching him. +Conchobar and his retinue ---- this, so that they could not move; +they thought they would not find him alive when they came, even +though the court were open. Now when the dog came to him, he threw +away his ball and his club, and seized the dog with his two hands; +that is, he put one of his hands to the apple of the dog's throat; +and he put the other at its back; he struck it against the pillar +that was beside him, so that every limb sprang apart. (According to +another, it was his ball that he threw into its mouth, and brought +out its entrails through it.) + +'The Ulstermen went towards him, some over the wall, others over +the doors of the court. They put him on Conchobar's knee. A great +clamour arose among them, that the king's sister's son should have +been almost killed. Then Culann comes into the house. + +'"Welcome, boy, for the sake of your mother. Would that I had not +prepared a feast! My life is a life lost, and my husbandry is a +husbandry without, without my dog. He had kept honour and life for +me," said he, "the man of my household who has been taken from me, +that is, my dog. He was defence and protection to our property and +our cattle; he was the protection of every beast to us, both field +and house." + +'"It is not a great matter," said the boy; "a whelp of the same +litter shall be raised for you by me, and I will be a dog for the +defence of your cattle and for your own defence now, until that dog +grows, and until he is capable of action; and I will defend Mag +Murthemne, so that there shall not be taken away from me cattle nor +herd, unless I have ----." + +'"Then your name shall be Cu-chulainn," said Cathbad. + +'"I am content that it may be my name," said Cuchulainn. + +'A man who did this in his seventh year, it would be no wonder that +he should have done a great deed now when his seventeen years are +completed,' said Conall Cernach. + + +'He did another exploit,' said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe. 'Cathbad the +Druid was with his son, Conchobar Mac Nessa. A hundred active men +were with him, learning magic from him. That is the number that +Cathbad used to teach. A certain one of his pupils asked of him for +what this day would be good. Cathbad said a warrior should take +arms therein whose name should be over Ireland for ever, for deed +of valour, and his fame should continue for ever. Cuchulainn heard +this. He comes to Conchobar to ask for arms. Conchobar said, "Who +has instructed you?" + +'"My friend Cathbad," said Cuchulainn. + +'"We know indeed," said Conchobar. + +'He gave him spear and shield. He brandished them in the middle of +the house, so that nothing remained of the fifteen sets of armour +that were in store in Conchobar's household against the breaking of +weapons or taking of arms by any one. Conchobar's own armour was +given to him. That withstood him, and he brandished it, and blessed +the king whose armour it was, and said, "Blessing to the people and +race to whom is king the man whose armour that is." + +'Then Cathbad came to them, and said: "Has the boy taken arms?" +said Cathbad. + +'"Yes," said Conchobar. + +'"This is not lucky for the son of his mother," said he. + +'"What, is it not you advised it?" said Conchobar. + +'"Not I, surely," said Cathbad. + +'"What advantage to you to deceive me, wild boy?" said Conchobar to +Cuchulainn. + +'"O king of heroes, it is no trick," said Cuchulainn; "it is he who +taught it to his pupils this morning; and I heard him, south of +Emain, and I came to you then." + +'"The day is good thus," said Cathbad; "it is certain he will be +famous and renowned, who shall take arms therein; but he will be +short-lived only." + +'"A wonder of might," said Cuchulainn; "provided I be famous, I am +content though I were but one day in the world." + +'Another day a certain man asked the druids what it is for which +that day was good. + +'"Whoever shall go into a chariot therein," said Cathbad, "his name +shall be over Ireland for ever." + +'Then Cuchulainn heard this; he comes to Conchobar and said to him: +"O friend Conchobar," said he, "give me a chariot." He gave him a +chariot. He put his hand between the two poles [Note: The _fertais_ +were poles sticking out behind the chariot, as the account of the +wild deer, later, shows.] of the chariot, so that the chariot +broke. He broke twelve chariots in this way. Then Conchobar's +chariot was given to him. This withstood him. He goes then in the +chariot, and Conchobar's charioteer with him. The charioteer (Ibor +was his name) turned the chariot under him. "Come out of the +chariot now," said the charioteer. + +'"The horses are fine, and I am fine, their little lad," said +Cuchulainn. "Go forward round Emain only, and you shall have a +reward for it." + +'So the charioteer goes, and Cuchulainn forced him then that he +should go on the road to greet the boys "and that the boys might +bless me." + +'He begged him to go on the way again. When they come, Cuchulainn +said to the charioteer: "Ply the goad on the horses," said he. + +'"In what direction?" said the charioteer. + +'"As long as the road shall lead us," said Cuchulainn. + +'They come thence to Sliab Fuait, and find Conall Cernach there. It +fell to Conall that day to guard the province; for every hero of +Ulster was in Sliab Fuait in turn, to protect any one who should +come with poetry, or to fight against a man; so that it should be +there that there should be some one to encounter him, that no one +should go to Emain unperceived. + +'"May that be for prosperity," said Conall; "may it be for victory +and triumph." + +'"Go to the fort, O Conall, and leave me to watch here now," said +Cuchulainn. + +'"It will be enough," said Conall, "if it is to protect any one +with poetry; if it is to fight against a man, it is early for you +yet." + +'"Perhaps it may not be necessary at all," said Cuchulainn. "Let us +go meanwhile," said Cuchulainn, "to look upon the edge of Loch +Echtra. Heroes are wont to abide there." + +'"I am content," said Conall. + +'Then they go thence. He throws a stone from his sling, so that a +pole of Conall Cernach's chariot breaks. + +'"Why have you thrown the stone, O boy?" said Conall. + +"To try my hand and the straightness of my throw," said Cuchulainn; +"and it is the custom with you Ulstermen, that you do not travel +beyond your peril. Go back to Emain, O friend Conall, and leave me +here to watch." + +'"Content, then," said Conall. + +'Conall Cernach did not go past the place after that. Then +Cuchulainn goes forth to Loch Echtra, and they found no one there +before them. The charioteer said to Cuchulainn that they should go +to Emain, that they might be in time for the drinking there. + +'"No," said Cuchulainn. "What mountain is it yonder?" said +Cuchulainn. + +'"Sliab Monduirn," said the charioteer. + +'"Let us go and get there," said Cuchulainn. They go then till +they reach it. When they had reached the mountain, Cuchulainn +asked: "What is the white cairn yonder on the top of the +mountain?" + +'"Find Carn," said the charioteer. + +'"What plain is that over there?" said Cuchulainn. + +'"Mag Breg," said the charioteer. He tells him then the name of +every chief fort between Temair and Cenandas. He tells him first +their meadows and their fords, their famous places and their +dwellings, their fortresses and their high hills. He shows [Note: +Reading with YBL.] him then the fort of the three sons of Nechta +Scene; Foill, Fandall, and Tuachell were their names. + +'"Is it they who say," said Cuchulainn, "that there are not more +of the Ulstermen alive than they have slain of them?" + +'"It is they indeed," said the charioteer. + +'"Let us go till we reach them," said Cuchulainn. + +'"Indeed it is peril to us," said the charioteer. + +'"Truly it is not to avoid it that we go," said Cuchulainn. + +'Then they go forth and unharness their horses at the meeting of +the bog and the river, to the south above the fort of the others; +and he threw the withe that was on the pillar as far as he could +throw into the river and let it go with the stream, for this was a +breach of _geis_ to the sons of Nechta Scene. They perceive it +then, and come to them. Cuchulainn goes to sleep by the pillar +after throwing the withe at the stream; and he said to the +charioteer: "Do not waken me for few; but waken me for many." + +'Now the charioteer was very frightened, and he made ready their +chariot and pulled its coverings and skins which were over +Cuchulainn; for he dared not waken him, because Cuchulainn told him +at first that he should not waken him for a few. + +'Then come the sons of Nechta Scene. + +'"Who is it who is there?" said one of them. + +'"A little boy who has come to-day into the chariot for an +expedition," said the charioteer. + +'"May it not be for his happiness," said the champion; "and may it +not be for his prosperity, his first taking of arms. Let him not be +in our land, and let the horses not graze there any more," said the +champion. + +'"Their reins are in my hands," said the charioteer. + + +'"It should not be yours to earn hatred," said Ibar to the +champion; "and the boy is asleep." + +'"I am not a boy at all," said Cuchulainn; "but it is to seek +battle with a man that the boy who is here has come." + +'"That pleases me well," said the champion. + +'"It will please you now in the ford yonder," said Cuchulainn. + +'"It befits you," said the charioteer, "take heed of the man who +comes against you. Foill is his name," said he; "for unless you +reach him in the first thrust, you will not reach him till +evening." + +'"I swear by the god by whom my people swear, he will not ply his +skill on the Ulstermen again, if the broad spear of my friend +Conchobar should reach him from my hand. It will be an outlaw's +hand to him." + +'Then he cast the spear at him, so that his back broke. He took +with him his accoutrements and his head. + +'"Take heed of another man," said the charioteer, "Fandall [Note: +i.e. 'Swallow.'] is his name. Not more heavily does he traverse(?) +the water than swan or swallow." + +'"I swear that he will not ply that feat again on the Ulstermen," +said Cuchulainn. "You have seen," said he, "the way I travel the +pool at Emain." + +'They meet then in the ford. Cuchulainn kills that man, and took +his head and his arms. + +'"Take heed of another man who comes towards you," said the +charioteer. "Tuachell [Note: i.e. 'Cunning.'] is his name. It is no +misname for him, for he does not fall by arms at all." + +'"Here is the javelin for him to confuse him, so that it may make +a red-sieve of him," said Cuchulainn. + +'He cast the spear at him, so that it reached him in his ----. Then +He went to him and cut off his head. Cuchulainn gave his head and +his accoutrements to his own charioteer. He heard then the cry of +their mother, Nechta Scene, behind them. + +'He puts their spoils and the three heads in his chariot with him, +and said: "I will not leave my triumph," said he, "till I reach +Emain Macha." 'then they set out with his triumph. + +'Then Cuchulainn said to the charioteer: "You promised us a good +run," said he, "and we need it now because of the strife and the +pursuit that is behind us." They go on to Sliab Fuait; and such was +the speed of the run that they made over Breg after the spurring of +the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot overtook the wind +and the birds in flight, and that Cuchulainn caught the throw that +he sent from his sling before it reached the ground. + +'When they reached Sliab Fuait, they found a herd of wild deer +there before them. + +'"What are those cattle yonder so active?" said Cuchulainn. + +'"Wild deer," said the charioteer. + +'"Which would the Ulstermen think best," said Cuchulainn, "to bring +them dead or alive?" + +'"It is more wonderful alive," said the charioteer; "it is not +every one who can do it so. Dead, there is not one of them who +cannot do it. You cannot do this, to carry off any of them alive," +said the charioteer. + +'"I can indeed," said Cuchulainn. "Ply the goad on the horses into +the bog." + +'The charioteer does this. The horses stick in the bog. Cuchulainn +sprang down and seized the deer that was nearest, and that was the +finest of them. He lashed the horses through the bog, and overcame +the deer at once, and bound it between the two poles of the chariot. + +'They saw something again before them, a flock of swans. + +'"Which would the Ulstermen think best," said Cuchulainn, "to have +them dead or alive?" + +'"All the most vigorous and finest(?) bring them alive," said the +charioteer. + +'Then Cuchulainn aims a small stone at the birds, so that he struck +eight of the birds. He threw again a large stone, so that he struck +twelve of them. All that was done by his return stroke. + +"Collect the birds for us," said Cuchulainn to his charioteer. "If +it is I who go to take them," said he, "the wild deer will spring +upon you." + +'"It is not easy for me to go to them," said the charioteer. "The +horses have become wild so that I cannot go past them. I cannot go +past the two iron tyres [Interlinear gloss, _fonnod_. The _fonnod_ +was some part of the rim of the wheel apparently.] of the chariot, +because of their sharpness; and I cannot go past the deer, for his +horn has filled all the space between the two poles of the chariot." + +'"Step from its horn," said Cuchulainn. "I swear by the god by whom +the Ulstermen swear, the bending with which I will bend my head on +him, and the eye that I will make at him, he will not turn his head +on you, and he will not dare to move." + + +'That was done then. Cuchulainn made fast the reins, and the +charioteer collects the birds. Then Cuchulainn bound the birds from +the strings and thongs of the chariot; so that it was thus he went +to Emain Macha: the wild deer behind his chariot, and the flock of +swans flying over it, and the three heads in his chariot. Then they +come to Emain. + +"A man in a chariot is coming to you," said the watchman in Emain +Macha; "he will shed the blood of every man who is in the court, +unless heed is taken, and unless naked women go to him." + +'Then he turned the left side of his chariot towards Emain, and +that was a _geis_ [Note: i.e. it was an insult.] to it; and +Cuchulainn said: "I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, +unless a man is found to fight with me, I will shed the blood of +every one who is in the fort." + +'"Naked women to meet him!" said Conchobar. + +'Then the women of Emain go to meet him with Mugain, the wife of +Conchobar Mac Nessa, and bare their breasts before him. "These are +the warriors who will meet you to-day," said Mugain. + +'He covers his face; then the heroes of Emain seize him and throw +him into a vessel of cold water. That vessel bursts round him. The +second vessel into which he was thrown boiled with bubbles as big +as the fist therefrom. The third vessel into which he went, he +warmed it so that its heat and its cold were rightly tempered. Then +he comes out; and the queen, Mugain, puts a blue mantle on him, and +a silver brooch therein, and a hooded tunic; and he sits at +Conchobar's knee, and that was his couch always after that. The man +who did this in his seventh year,' said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe, 'it +were not wonderful though he should rout an overwhelming force, and +though he should exhaust (?) an equal force, when his seventeen +years are complete to-day.' + + +(What follows is a separate version [Note: The next episode, the +Death of Fraech, is not given in LL.] to the death of Orlam.) + +'Let us go forth now,' said Ailill. + +Then they reached Mag Mucceda. Cuchulainn cut an oak before them +there, and wrote an ogam in its side. It is this that was therein: +that no one should go past it till a warrior should leap it with +one chariot. They pitch their tents there, and come to leap over it +in their chariots. There fall thereat thirty horses, and thirty +chariots are broken. Belach n-Ane, that is the name of that place +for ever. + + +_The Death of Fraech_ + +They are there till next morning; then Fraech is summoned to them. +'Help us, O Fraech,' said Medb. 'Remove from us the strait that is +on us. Go before Cuchulainn for us, if perchance you shall fight +with him.' + +He set out early in the morning with nine men, till he reached Ath +Fuait. He saw the warrior bathing in the river. + +'Wait here,' said Fraech to his retinue, 'till I come to the man +yonder; not good is the water,' said he. + +He took off his clothes, and goes into the water to him. + +'Do not come to me,' said Cuchulainn. 'You will die from it, and I +should be sorry to kill you.' + +'I shall come indeed,' said Fraech, 'that we may meet in the water; +and let your play with me be fair.' + +'Settle it as you like,' said Cuchulainn. + +'The hand of each of us round the other,' said Fraech. + +They set to wrestling for a long time on the water, and Fraech was +submerged. Cuchulainn lifted him up again. + +'This time,' said Cuchulainn, 'will you yield and accept your +life?' [Note: Lit. 'will you acknowledge your saving?'] + +'I will not suffer it,' said Fraech. + +Cuchulainn put him under it again, until Fraech was killed. He +comes to land; his retinue carry his body to the camp. Ath Fraich, +that was the name of that ford for ever. All the host lamented +Fraech. They saw a troop of women in green tunics [Note: Fraech was +descended from the people of the Sid, his mother Bebind being a +fairy woman. Her sister was Boinn (the river Boyne).] on the body +of Fraech Mac Idaid; they drew him from them into the mound. Sid +Fraich was the name of that mound afterwards. + +Fergus springs over the oak in his chariot. They go till they reach +Ath Taiten; Cuchulainn destroys six of them there: that is, the six +Dungals of Irress. + +Then they go on to Fornocht. Medb had a whelp named Baiscne. +Cuchulainn throws a cast at him, and took his head off. Druim was +the name of that place henceforth. + +'Great is the mockery to you,' said Medb, 'not to hunt the deer +of misfortune yonder that is killing you.' + +Then they start hunting him, till they broke the shafts of their +chariots thereat. + + +_The Death of Orlam_ + +They go forth then over Iraird Culend in the morning. Cuchulainn +went forward; he overtook the charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill +and Medb, in Tamlacht Orlaim, a little to the north of Disert +Lochait, cutting wood there. (According to another version, it is +The shaft of Cuchulainn's chariot that had broken, and it is to cut +a shaft that he had gone when he met Orlam's charioteer. It is the +charioteer who cut the shafts according to this version.) + +'It is over-bold what the Ulstermen are doing, if it is they who +are yonder,' said Cuchulainn, 'while the host is behind them.' He +goes to the charioteer to reprove him; he thought that he was of +Ulster, and he saw the man cutting wood, that is the chariot shaft. + +'What are you doing here?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Cutting chariot-shafts,' said the charioteer. 'We have broken our +chariots hunting the wild deer Cuchulainn yonder. Help me,' said +the charioteer. 'Look only whether you are to select the shafts, or +to strip them.' + +'It will be to strip them indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +Then Cuchulainn stripped the shafts through his fingers in the +presence of the other, so that he cleared them both of bark and +knots. + +'This cannot be your proper work that I put on you,' said the +charioteer; he was greatly afraid. + +'Whence are you?' said Cuchulainn. + +'The charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill and Medb,' said he. 'And +you?' said the charioteer. + +'My name is Cuchulainn,' said he. + +'Alas!' said the charioteer. + +'Fear nothing,' said Cuchulainn. 'Where is your master?' said he. + +'He is in the trench yonder,' said the charioteer. + +'Go forth then with me,' said Cuchulainn, 'for I do not kill +charioteers at all.' + +Cuchulainn goes to Orlam, kills him, cuts his head off, and shakes +his head before the host. Then he puts the head on the charioteer's +back, and said to him: + +'Take that with you,' said Cuchulainn, 'and go to the camp thus. If +you do not go thus, a stone will come to you from my sling.' + +When he got near the camp, he took the head from his back, and told +his adventures to Ailill and Medb. + +'This is not like taking birds,' said she. + +And he said, 'Unless I brought it on my back to the camp, he would +break my head with a stone.' + + +_The Death of the Meic Garach_ + +Then the Meic Garach waited on their ford. These are their names: +Lon and Ualu and Diliu; and Mes-Ler, and Mes-Laech, and Mes-Lethan +were their three charioteers. They thought it too much what +Cuchulainn had done: to slay two foster-sons of the king, and his +son, and to shake the head before the host. They would slay +Cuchulainn in return for him, and would themselves remove this +annoyance from the host. They cut three aspen wands for their +charioteers, that the six of them should pursue combat against him. +He killed them all then, because they had broken fair-play towards +him. + +Orlam's charioteer was then between Ailill and Medb. Cuchulainn +hurled a stone at him, [Note: Apparently because the charioteer had +not carried Orlam's head into the camp on his back. Or an +alternative version.] so that his head broke, and his brains came +over his ears; Fertedil was his name. (Thus it is not true that +Cuchulainn did not kill charioteers; howbeit, he did not kill them +without fault.) + + +_The Death of the Squirrel_ + +Cuchulainn threatened in Methe, that wherever he should see Ailill +or Medb afterwards he would throw a stone from his sling at them. +He did this then: he threw a stone from his sling, so that he +killed the squirrel that was on Medb's shoulder south of the ford: +hence is Methe Togmaill. And he killed the bird that was on +Ailill's shoulder north of the ford: hence is Methe n-Eoin. (Or it +is on Medb's shoulder that both squirrel and bird were together, +and it is their heads that were struck from them by the casts.) + + +Reoin was drowned in his lake. Hence is Loch Reoin. + + +'That other is not far from you,' said Ailill to the Manes. + +They arose and looked round. When they sat down again, Cuchulainn +struck one of them, so that his head broke. + +'It was well that you went for that: your boasting was not +fitting,' said Maenen the fool. 'I would have taken his head off.' + +Cuchulainn threw a stone at him, so that his head broke. It is thus +then that these were killed: Orlam in the first place on his hill; +the Meic Garach on their ford; Fertedil in his ---; Maenan in his +hill. + +'I swear by the god by whom my people swear,' said Ailill, 'that +man who shall make a mock of Cuchulainn here, I will make two +halves of him.' + +'Go forth for us both day and night,' said Ailill, 'till we reach +Cualnge. That man will kill two-thirds of the host in this way.' It +is there that the harpers of the _Cainbili_ [Note: Reference +obscure. They were wizards of some sort.] from Ossory came to them +to amuse them. They thought it was from the Ulstermen to spy on +them. They set to hunting them, till they went before them in the +forms of deer into the stones at Liac Mor on the north. For they +were wizards with great cunning. + + +_The Death of Lethan_ + + +Lethan came on to his ford on the Nith (?) in Conaille. He waited +himself to meet Cuchulainn. It vexed him what Cuchulainn had done. +Cuchulainn cuts off his head and left it, hence it is Ath Lethan on +the Nith. And their chariots broke in the battle on the ford by +him; hence it is Ath Carpat. Mulcha, Lethan's charioteer, fell on +the shoulder of the hill that is between them; hence is Gulo +Mulchai. While the hosts were going over Mag Breg, he struck(?) +their ---- still. [Note: 2 Something apparently missing here. The +passage in LL is as follows: 'It is the same day that the Morrigan, +daughter of Ernmas, came from the Sid, so that she was on the +pillar in Temair Cuailnge, taking a warning to the Dun of Cualnge +before the men of Ireland, and she began to speak to him, and +"Good, O wretched one, O Dun of Cualnge," said the Morrigan, "keep +watch, for the men of Ireland have reached thee, and they will take +thee to their camp unless thou keepest watch"; and she began to +take a warning to him thus, and uttered her words on high.' (The +Rhetoric follows as in LU.)] + +Yet that was the Morrigan in the form of a bird on the pillar in +Temair Cuailnge; and she spoke to the Bull: + + 'Does the Black know,' etc. [Note: A Rhetoric.] + +Then the Bull went, and fifty heifers with him, to Sliab Culind; +and his keeper, Forgemen by name, went after him. He threw off the +three fifties of boys who used always to play on him, and he killed +two-thirds of his boys, and dug a trench in Tir Marcceni in Cualnge +before he went. + + +_The Death of Lochu_ + +Cuchulainn killed no one from the Saile ind Orthi (?) in the +Conaille territory, until they reached Cualnge. Cuchulainn was then +in Cuince; he threatened then that when he saw Medb he would throw +a stone at her head. This was not easy to him, for it is thus that +Medb went and half the host about her, with their shelter of +shields over her head. + +Then a waiting-woman of Medb's, Lochu by name, went to get water, +and a great troop of women with her. Cuchulainn thought it was +Medb. He threw two stones from Cuince, so that he slew her in her +plain(?). Hence is Ath Rede Locha in Cualnge. + +From Findabair Cuailnge the hosts divided, and they set the country +on fire. They collect all there were of women, and boys, and +maidens; and cattle, in Cualnge together, so that they were all in +Findabair. + +'You have not gone well,' said Medb; 'I do not see the Bull with +you.' + +'He is not in the province at all,' said every one. + +Lothar the cowherd is summoned to Medb. + +'Where is the Bull?' said she. 'Have you an idea?' + +'I have great fear to tell it,' said the herd. 'The night,' said +he, 'when the Ulstermen went into their weakness, he went with +three twenties of heifers with him, so that he is at the Black +Corrie of Glenn Gatt.' + +'Go,' said Medb, 'and carry a withe [Note: Ir. _gatt_, a withe.] +between each two of you.' + +They do this: hence this glen is called Glenn Gatt. Then they bring +the Bull to Findabair. The place where he saw the herd, Lothar, he +attacked him, so that he brought his entrails out on his horns; and +he attacked the camp with his three fifties of heifers, so that +fifty warriors were killed. And that is the death of Lothar on the +Foray. + +Then the Bull went from them out of the camp, and they knew not +where he had gone from them; and they were ashamed. Medb asked the +herd if he had an idea where the Bull was. + +'I think he would be in the secret places of Sliab Culind.' + +When they returned thus after ravaging Cualnge, and did not find +the Bull there. The river Cronn rose against them to the tops of +the trees; and they spent the night by it. And Medb told part of +her following to go across. + +A wonderful warrior went next day, Ualu his name. He took a great +stone on his back to go across the water; the stream drove him +backwards with the stone on his back. His grave and his stone are +on the road at the stream: Lia Ualand is its name. + +They went round the river Cronn to the source, and they would have +gone between the source and the mountain, only that they could not +get leave from Medb; she preferred to go across the mountain, that +their track might remain there for ever, for an insult to the +Ulstermen. They waited there three days and three nights, till they +dug the earth in front of them, the Bernas Bo Cuailnge. + +It is there that Cuchulainn killed Crond and Coemdele and ---- +[Note: Obscure.]. A hundred warriors ---- [Note: Obscure.] died with +Roan and Roae, the two historians of the Foray. A hundred and +forty-four, kings died by him at the same stream. They came then +over the Bernas Bo Cuailnge with the cattle and stock of Cualnge, +and spent the night in Glenn Dail Imda in Cualnge. Botha is the +name of this place, because they made huts over them there. They +come next day to Colptha. They try to cross it through heedlessness. +It rose against them then, and it carries a hundred charioteers +of them to the sea; this is the name of the land in which they +were drowned, Cluain Carptech. + +They go round Colptha then to its source, to Belat Alioin, and +spent the night at Liasa Liac; that is the name of this place, +because they made sheds over their calves there between Cualnge and +Conaille. They came over Glenn Gatlaig, and Glass Gatlaig rose +against them. Sechaire was its name before; Glass Gatlaig +thenceforth, because it was in withes they brought their calves; +and they slept at Druim Fene in Conaille. (Those then are the +wanderings from Cualnge to Machaire according to this version.) + + +_This is the Harrying of Cualnge_ + +(Other authors and books make it that another way was taken on +their journeyings from Findabair to Conaille, as follows: + +Medb said after every one had come with their booty, so that they +were all in Findabair Cuailnge: 'Let the host be divided,' said +Medb; 'it will be impossible to bring this expedition by one way. +Let Ailill go with half the expedition by Midluachair; Fergus and I +will go by Bernas Ulad.' [Note: YBL. Bernas Bo n-Ulad.] + +'It is not fine,' said Fergus, 'the half of the expedition that has +fallen to us. It will be impossible to bring the cattle over the +mountain without dividing it.' + +That was done then, so that it is from that there is Bernas Bo n-Ulad.) + +It is there then that Ailill said to his charioteer Cuillius: 'Find +out for me to-day Medb and Fergus. I know not what has brought them +to this union. I shall be pleased that a token should come to me by +you.' + +Cuillius came when they were in Cluichre. The pair remained behind, +and the warriors went on. Cuillius came to them, and they heard not +the spy. Fergus' sword happened to be beside him. Cuillius drew it +out of its sheath, and left the sheath empty. Cuillius came to +Ailill. + +'So?' said Ailill. + +'So indeed,' said Cuillius; 'there is a token for you.' + +'It is well,' said Ailill. + +Each of them smiles at the other. + +'As you thought,' said Cuillius, 'it is thus that I found them, in +one another's arms.' + +'It is right for her,' said Ailill; 'it is for help on the Foray +that she has done it. See that the sword is kept in good condition,' +said Ailill. 'Put it under your seat in the chariot, and a cloth of +linen around it.' + +Fergus got up for his sword after that. + +'Alas!' said he. + +'What is the matter with you?' said Medb. + + +'An ill deed have I done to Ailill,' said he. 'Wait here, while I +go into the wood,' said Fergus; 'and do not wonder though it be +long till I come.' + +It happened that Medb knew not the loss of the sword. He goes +thence, and takes the sword of his charioteer with him in his hand. +He makes a wooden sword in the wood. Hence there is Fid Mor Drualle +in Ulster. + +'Let us go on after our comrades,' said Fergus. All their hosts +meet in the plain. They pitch their tents. Fergus is summoned to +Ailill to play chess. When Fergus went to the tent, Ailill began to +laugh at him. [Note: Here follows about two columns of rhetoric, +consisting of a taunting dialogue between Ailill, Fergus and Medb.] + +*** + +Cuchulainn came so that he was at Ath Cruinn before them. + +'O friend Loeg,' said he to his charioteer, 'the hosts are at hand +to us.' + +'I swear by the gods,' said the charioteer, 'I will do a mighty +feat before warriors ... on slender steeds with yokes of silver, +with golden wheels ...' + +'Take heed, O Loeg,' said Cuchulainn; 'hold the reins for great +victory of Macha ... I beseech,' said Cuchulainn, 'the waters to +help me. I beseech heaven and earth, and the Cronn in particular.' + +The (river) Cronn takes to fighting against them; it will not let +them into Murthemne until the work of heroes be finished in Sliab +Tuath Ochaine. + +Therewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the trees. + +Mane, son of Ailill and Medb, went before the rest. Cuchulainn +smites them on the ford, and thirty horsemen of Mane's retinue were +drowned in the water. Cuchulainn overthrew two sixteens of warriors +of them again by the water. + +They pitch their tents at that ford. Lugaid Mac Nois, descendant of +Lomarc Allchomach, came to speak to Cuchulainn, with thirty +horsemen. + +'Welcome, O Lugaid,' said Cuchulainn. 'If a flock of birds graze +upon Mag Murthemne, you shall have a duck with half of another; if +fish come to the estuaries, you shall have a salmon with half of +another. You shall have the three sprigs, the sprig of watercress, +and the sprig of marshwort, and the sprig of seaweed. You shall +have a man in the ford in your place.' [Note: This and the +following speech are apparently forms of greeting. Cuchulainn +offers Lugaid such hospitality as lies in his power. See a similar +speech later to Fergus.] + +'I believe it,' said Lugaid. 'Excellence of people to the boy whom +I desire.' + +'Your hosts are fine,' said Cuchulainn. + +It would not be sad for you alone before them,' said Lugaid. + +'Fair-play and valour will support me,' said Cuchulainn. 'O friend +Lugaid, do the hosts fear me?' + +'I swear by God,' said Lugaid, 'one man nor two dare not go out of +the camp, unless it be in twenties or thirties.' + +'It will be something extra for them,' said Cuchulainn, 'if I take +to throwing from the sling. Fitting for you will be this fellow-vassal, +O Lugaid, that you have among the Ulstermen, if there come to me +the force of every man. Say what you would have,' said Cuchulainn. + +'That I may have a truce with you towards my host.' + +'You shall have it, provided there be a token on it. And tell my +friend Fergus that there be a token on his host. Tell the +physicians, let there be a token on their host. And let them swear +preservation of life to me, and let there come to me provision +every night from them.' + +Then Lugaid goes from him. Fergus happened to be in the tent with +Ailill. Lugaid called him out, and told him this. Something was +heard, namely Ailill. ... [Note: Rhetoric, six lines, the substance +of which is, apparently, that Ailill asks protection also.] + +'I swear by God I cannot do it,' said Lugaid, 'unless I ask the boy +Again.' + +'Help me, [Note: Spoken by Fergus?] O Lugaid, go to him to see +whether Ailill may come with a cantred into my troop. Take an ox +with bacon to him and a jar of wine.' + +He goes to Cuchulainn then and tells him this. + +'I do not mind though he go,' said Cuchulainn. + +Then their two troops join. They are there till night. Cuchulainn +kills thirty men of them with the sling. (Or they would be twenty +nights there, as some books say.) + +'Your journeyings are bad,' said Fergus. 'The Ulstermen will come +to you out of their weakness, and they will grind you to earth and +gravel. "The corner of battle" in which we are is bad.' + +He goes thence to Cul Airthir. It happened that Cuchulainn had gone +that night to speak to the Ulstermen [Note: In LL and Y BL this +incident occurs later, and the messenger is Sualtaim, not +Cuchulainn. LU is clearly wrong here.] + +'Have you news?' said Conchobar. + +'Women are captured,' said Cuchulainn, 'cattle are driven away, men +are slain.' + +'Who carries them off? who drives them away? who kills them?' + +'... Ailill Mac Matae carries them off, and Fergus Mac Roich +very bold ...' [Note: Rhetoric.] + +'It is not great profit to you,' said Conchobar, 'to-day, our +smiting has come to us all the same.' + +Cuchulainn goes thence from them; he saw the hosts going forth. + +'Alas,' said Ailill, 'I see chariots' ..., etc [Note: Rhetoric, +five lines.] + +Cuchulainn kills thirty men of them on Ath Duirn. They could not +reach Cul Airthir then till night. He slays thirty of them there, +and they pitch their tents there. Ailill's charioteer, Cuillius, +was washing the chariot tyres [Note: See previous note on the word +_fonnod_; the word used here is _fonnod_.] in the ford in the +morning; Cuchulainn struck him with a stone and killed him. Hence +is Ath Cuillne in Cul Airthir. They reach Druim Feine in Conaille +and spent the night there, as we have said before. + +Cuchulainn attacked them there; he slays a hundred men of them +every night of the three nights that they were there; he took a +sling to them from Ochaine near them. + +'Our host will be short-lived through Cuchulainn in this way,' said +Ailill. 'Let an agreement be carried from us to him: that he shall +have the equal of Mag Murthemne from Mag Ai, and the best chariot +that is in Ai, and the equipment of twelve men. Offer, if it +pleases him better, the plain in which he was brought up, and three +sevens of cumals [Note: The _cumal_ (bondmaid) was a standard of +value.]; and everything that has been destroyed of his household (?) +and cattle shall be made good, and he shall have full compensation (?), +and let him go into my service; it is better for him than the +service of a sub king.' + + +'Who shall go for that?' + +'Mac Roth yonder.' + +Mac Roth, the messenger of Ailill and Medb, went on that errand to +Delga: it is he who encircles Ireland in one day. It is there that +Fergus thought that Cuchulainn was, in Delga. + +'I see a man coming towards us,' said Loeg to Cuchulainn. 'He has +a yellow head of hair, and a linen emblem round it; a club of +fury(?) in his hand, an ivory-hilted sword at his waist; a hooded +tunic with red ornamentation on him.' + +'Which of the warriors of the king is that?' said Cuchulainn. + +Mac Roth asked Loeg whose man he was. + +'Vassal to the man down yonder,' said Loeg. + +Cuchulainn was there in the snow up to his two thighs, without +anything at all on him, examining his shirt. + +Then Mac Roth asked Cuchulainn whose man he was. + +'Vassal of Conchobar Mac Nessa,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Is there no clearer description?' + +'That is enough,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Where then is Cuchulainn?' said Mac Roth. + +'What would you say to him?' said Cuchulainn. + +Mac Roth tells him then all the message, as we have told it. + +'Though Cuchulainn were near, he would not do this; he will not +barter the brother of his mother for another king.' + +He came to him again, and it was said to Cuchulainn that there +should be given over to him the noblest of the women and the cows +that were without milk, on condition that he should not ply his +sling on them at night, even if he should kill them by day. + +'I will not do it,' said Cuchulainn; 'if our slavewomen are taken +from us, our noble women will be at the querns; and we shall be +without milk if our milch-cows are taken from us.' + +He came to him again, and he was told that he should have the +slave-women and the milch-cows. + +'I will not do it,' said Cuchulainn; 'the Ulstermen will take their +slave-women to their beds, and there will be born to them a servile +offspring, and they will use their milch-cows for meat in the +winter.' + +'Is there anything else then?' said the messenger. + +'There is,' said Cuchulainn; 'and I will not tell it you. It shall +be agreed to, if any one tell it you.' + +'I know it,' said Fergus; 'I know what the man tried to suggest; +and it is no advantage to you. And this is the agreement,' said +Fergus: 'that the ford on which takes place (?) his battle and +combat with one man, the cattle shall not be taken thence a day and +a night; if perchance there come to him the help of the Ulstermen. +And it is a marvel to me,' said Fergus, 'that it is so long till +they come out of their sufferings.' + +'It is indeed easier for us,' said Ailill, 'a man every day than a +hundred every night.' + + +_The Death of Etarcomol_ + +Then Fergus went on this errand; Etarcomol, son of Edan [Note: Name +uncertain. YBL has Eda, LL Feda.] and Lethrinne, foster-son of +Ailill and Medb, followed. + +'I do not want you to go,' said Fergus, 'and it is not for hatred +of you; but I do not like combat between you and Cuchulainn. Your +pride and insolence, and the fierceness and hatred, pride and +madness of the other, Cuchulainn: there will be no good from your +meeting.' + +'Are you not able to protect me from him?' said Etarcomol. + +'I can,' said Fergus, 'provided only that you do not treat his, +sayings with disrespect.' + +They go thence in two chariots to Delga. Cuchulainn was then +playing chess [Note: _Buanfach_, like _fidchell_, is apparently a +game something like chess or draughts.] with Loeg; the back of his +head was towards them, and Loeg's face. + +'I see two chariots coming towards us,' said Loeg; 'a great dark +man in the first chariot, with dark and bushy hair; a purple cloak +round him, and a golden pin therein; a hooded tunic with gold +embroidery on him; and a round shield with an engraved edge of +white metal, and a broad spear-head, with rings from point to +haft(?), in his hand. A sword as long as the rudder of a boat on +his two thighs.' + +'It is empty, this great rudder that is brought by my friend +Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; 'for there is no sword in its sheath +except a sword of wood. It has been told to me,' said Cuchulainn; +'Ailill got a chance of them as they slept, he and Medb; and he +took away his sword from Fergus, and gave it to his charioteer to +take care of, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath.' + +Then Fergus comes up. + +'Welcome, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; 'if a fish comes +into the estuary, you shall have it with half of another; if a +flock comes into the plain, you shall have a duck with half of +another; a spray of cress or seaweed, a spray of marshwort; a drink +from the sand; you shall have a going to the ford to meet a man, if +it should happen to be your watch, till you have slept.' + +'I believe it,' said Fergus; 'it is not your provision that we have +come for; we know your housekeeping here.' + +Then Cuchulainn receives the message from Fergus; anti Fergus goes +away. Etarcomol remains looking at Cuchulainn. + +'What are you looking at?' said Cuchulainn. + +'You,' said Etarcomol. + +'The eye soon compasses it indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +'That is what I see,' said Etarcomol. 'I do not know at all why you +should be feared by any one. I do not see terror or fearfulness, or +overwhelming of a host, in you; you are merely a fair youth with +arms of wood, and with fine feats.' + +'Though you speak ill of me,' said Cuchulainn, 'I will not kill you +for the sake of Fergus. But for your protection, it would have been +your entrails drawn (?) and your quarters scattered, that would +have gone from me to the camp behind your chariot.' + +'Threaten me not thus,' said Etarcomol. 'The wonderful agreement +that he has bound, that is, the single combat, it is I who will +first meet you of the men of Ireland to-morrow.' + +Then he goes away. He turned back from Methe and Cethe and said to +his charioteer: + +'I have boasted,' said he, 'before Fergus combat with Cuchulainn +to-morrow. It is not possible for us [Note: YBL reading.] to wait +for it; turn the horses back again from the hill.' + +Loeg sees this and says to Cuchulainn: 'There is the chariot back +again, and it has put its left board [Note: An insult.] towards us.' + +'It is not a "debt of refusal,"' said Cuchulainn. 'I do not wish,' +said Cuchulainn, 'what you demand of me.' + +'This is obligatory to you,' said Etarcomol. + +Cuchulainn strikes the sod under his feet, so that he fell +prostrate, and the sod behind him. + +'Go from me,' said Cuchulainn. 'I am loath to cleanse my hands in +you. I would have divided you into many parts long since but for +Fergus.' + + +'We will not part thus,' said Etarcomol, 'till I have taken your +head, or left my head with you.' + +'It is that indeed that will be there,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn strikes him with his sword in his two armpits, so that +his clothes fell from him, and it did not wound his skin. + +'Go then,' said Cuchulainn. + + +'No,' said Etarcomol. + +Then Cuchulainn attacked him with the edge of his sword, and took +his hair off as if it was shaved with a razor; he did not put even +a scratch (?) on the surface. When the churl was troublesome then +and stuck to him, he struck him on the hard part of his crown, so +that he divided him down to the navel. + +Fergus saw the chariot go past him, and the one man therein. He +turned to quarrel with Cuchulainn. + +'Ill done of you, O wild boy!' said he, 'to insult me. You would +think my club [Note: Or 'track'?] short,' said he. + +'Be not angry with me, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn ... [Note: +Rhetoric, five lines.] 'Reproach me not, O friend Fergus.' + +He stoops down, so that Fergus's chariot went past him thrice. + +He asked his charioteer: 'Is it I who have caused it?' + +'It is not you at all,' said his charioteer. + +'He said,' said Cuchulainn, 'he would not go till he took my head, +or till he left his head with me. Which would you think easier to +bear, O friend Fergus?' said Cuchulainn. + +'I think what has been done the easier truly,' said Fergus, 'for it +is he who was insolent.' + +Then Fergus put a spancel-withe through Etarcomol's two heels and +took him behind his own chariot to the camp. When they went over +rocks, one-half would separate from the other; when it was smooth, +they came together again. + +Medb saw him. 'Not pleasing is that treatment of a tender whelp, O +Fergus,' said Medb. + +'The dark churl should not have made fight,' said Fergus, 'against +the great Hound whom he could not contend with (?).' + +His grave is dug then and his stone planted; his name is written in +ogam; his lament is celebrated. Cuchulainn did not molest them that +night with his sling; and the women and maidens and half the cattle +are taken to him; and provision continued to be brought to him by day. + + +_The Death of Nadcrantail_ + +'What man have you to meet Cuchulainn tomorrow?' said Lugaid. + +'They will give it to you to-morrow,' said Mane, son of Ailill. + +'We can find no one to meet him,' said Medb. 'Let us have peace +with him till a man be sought for him.' + +They get that then. + +'Whither will you send,' said Ailill, 'to seek that man to meet +Cuchulainn?' + +'There is no one in Ireland who could be got for him,' said Medb, +'unless Curoi Mac Dare can be brought, or Nadcrantail the warrior.' + +There was one of Curoi's followers in the tent. 'Curoi will not +come,' said he; 'he thinks enough of his household has come. Let a +message be sent to Nadcrantail.' + +Mane Andoi goes to him, and they tell their tale to him. + +'Come with us for the sake of the honour of Connaught.' + +'I will not go,' said he, 'unless Findabair be given to me.' + +He comes with them then. They bring his armour in a chariot, from +the east of Connaught till it was in the camp. + +'You shall have Findabair,' said Medb, 'for going against that man +yonder.' + +'I will do it,' said he. + +Lugaid comes to Cuchulainn that night. + +'Nadcrantail is coming to meet you to-morrow; it is unlucky for +you: you will not withstand him.' + +'That does not matter,' said Cuchulainn. ... [Note: Corrupt.] + +Nadcrantail goes next morning from the camp, and he takes nine +spits of holly, sharpened and burned. Now Cuchulainn was there +catching birds, and his chariot near him. Nadcrantail throws a +spear at Cuchulainn; Cuchulainn performed a feat on to the point of +that spear, and it did not hinder him from catching the birds. The +same with the eight other spears. When he throws the ninth spear, +the flock flies from Cuchulainn, and he went after the flock. He +goes on the points of the spears like a bird, from each spear to +the next, pursuing the birds that they should not escape. It seemed +to every one, however, that it was in flight that Cuchulainn went +before Nadcrantail. + +'Your Cuchulainn yonder,' said he, 'has gone in flight before me.' + +'That is of course,' said Medb; 'if good warriors should come to +him, the wild boy would not resist ----.' + +This vexed Fergus and the Ulstermen; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe comes from +them to remonstrate with Cuchulainn. + +'Tell him,' said Fergus, 'it was noble to be before the warriors +while he did brave deeds. It is more noble for him,' said Fergus, +'to hide himself when he flees before one man, for it were not +greater shame to him than to the rest of Ulster.' + +'Who has boasted that?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Nadcrantail,' said Fiacha. + +'Though it were that that he should boast, the feat that I have +done before him, it was no more shame to me,' (?) said Cuchulainn. +'He would by no means have boasted it had there been a weapon in +his hand. You know full well that I kill no one unarmed. Let him +come to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn, 'till he is between Ochaine and +the sea, and however early he comes, he will find me there, and I +shall not flee before him.' + +Cuchulainn came then to his appointed meeting-place, and he threw +the hem [of his cloak] round him after his night-watch, and he did +not perceive the pillar that was near him, of equal size with +himself. He embraced it under his cloak, and placed it near him. + +Therewith Nadcrantail came; his arms were brought with him in a +wagon. + +'Where is Cuchulainn?' said he. + +'There he is yonder,' said Fergus. + +'It was not thus he appeared to me yesterday,' said Nadcrantail. + +'Are you Cuchulainn?' + +'And if I am then?' said Cuchulainn. + +'If you are indeed,' said Nadcrantail, 'I cannot bring the head of +a little lamb to camp; I will not take the head of a beardless +boy.' + +'It is not I at all,' said Cuchulainn. 'Go to him round the hill.' + +Cuchulainn comes to Loeg: 'Smear a false beard on me,' said he; +'I cannot get the warrior to fight me without a beard.' It was done +for him. He goes to meet him on the hill. 'I think that more +fitting,' said he. + +'Take the right way of fighting with me,' said Nadcrantail. + +'You shall have it if only we know it,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I will throw a cast at you,' said Nadcrantail, 'and do not avoid +it.' + +'I will not avoid it except on high,' said Cuchulainn. + +Nadcrantail throws a cast at him; Cuchulainn leaps on high before +it. + +'You do ill to avoid my cast,' said Nadcrantail. + +'Avoid my throw then on high,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn throws the spear at him, but it was on high, so that +from above it alighted in his crown, and it went through him to the +ground. + +'Alas! it is you are the best warrior in Ireland!' said Nadcrantail. +'I have twenty-four sons in the camp. I will go and tell them what +hidden treasures I have, and I will come that you may behead me, +for I shall die if the spear is taken out of my head.' + +'Good,' said Cuchulainn. 'You will come back.' + +Nadcrantail goes to the camp then. Every one comes to meet him. + +'Where is the madman's head?' said every one. + +'Wait, O heroes, till I tell my tale to my sons, and go back that I +may fight with Cuchulainn.' + +He goes thence to seek Cuchulainn, and throws his sword at +Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn leaps on high, so that it struck the pillar, +and the sword broke in two. Then Cuchulainn went mad as he had done +against the boys in Emain, and he springs on his shield therewith, +and struck his head off. He strikes him again on the neck down to +the navel. His four quarters fall to the ground. Then Cuchulainn +said this: + + 'If Nadcrantail has fallen, + It will be an increase to the strife. + Alas! that I cannot fight at this time + With Medb with a third of the host.' + + +HERE IS THE FINDING OF THE BULL ACCORDING TO THIS VERSION: + +It is then that Medb went with a third of the host with her to Cuib +to seek the Bull; and Cuchulainn went after her. Now on the road of +Midluachair she had gone to harry Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dun +Sobairche. Cuchulainn saw something: Bude Mac Bain from Sliab +Culinn with the Bull, and fifteen heifers round him; and his force +was sixty men of Ailill's household, with a cloak folded round +every man. Cuchulainn comes to them. + +'Whence have you brought the cattle?' said Cuchulainn. + +'From the mountain yonder,' said the man.' + +'Where are their cow-herds?' said Cuchulainn. + +'He is as we found him,' said the man. + +Cuchulainn made three leaps after them to seek speech with them as +far as the ford. It is there he said to the leader: + +'What is your name?' said he. + +'One who fears you not(?) and loves you not; Bude Mac Bain,' said +he. + +'This spear at Bude!' said Cuchulainn. He hurls at him the javelin, +so that it went through his armpits, and one of the livers broke in +two before the spear. He kills him on his ford; hence is Ath Bude. +The Bull is brought into the camp then. They considered then that +it would not be difficult to deal with Cuchulainn, provided his +javelin were got from him. + + +_The Death of Redg the Satirist_ + +It is then that Redg, Ailill's satirist, went to him on an errand +to seek the javelin, that is, Cuchulainn's spear. + +'Give me your spear,' said the satirist. + +'Not so,' said Cuchulainn; 'but I will give you treasure.' + +'I will not take it,' said the satirist. + +Then Cuchulainn wounded the satirist, because he would not accept +from him what he offered him, and the satirist said he would take +away his honour unless he got the javelin. Then Cuchulainn threw +the javelin at him, and it went right through his head. + +'This gift is overpowering (?),' said the satirist. Hence is Ath +Tolam Set. + +There was now a ford east of it, where the copper of the javelin +rested; Humarrith, then, is the name of that ford. It is there that +Cuchulainn killed all those that we have mentioned in Cuib; i.e. +Nathcoirpthe at his trees; Cruthen on his ford; the sons of the +Herd at their cairn; Marc on his hill; Meille on his hill; Bodb in +his tower; Bogaine in his marsh (?). + +Cuchulainn turned back to Mag Murthemne; he liked better to defend +his own home. After he went, he killed the men of Crocen (or +Cronech), i.e. Focherd; twenty men of Focherd. He overtook them +taking camp: ten cup-bearers and ten fighting-men. + +Medb turned back from the north when she had remained a fortnight +ravaging the province, and when she had fought a battle against +Findmor, wife of Celtchar Mac Uthidir. And after taking Dun +Sobairche upon her, she brought fifty women into the province of +Dalriada. Wherever Medb placed a horse-switch in Cuib its name is +Bile Medba [Note: i.e. Tree of Medb]; every ford and every hill by +which she slept, its name is Ath Medba and Dindgna Medba. + +They all meet then at Focherd, both Ailill and Medb and the troop +that drove the Bull. But their herd took their Bull from them, and +they drove him across into a narrow gap with their spear-shafts on +their shields(?). [Note: A very doubtful rendering.] So that the +feet of the cattle drove him [Note, i.e. Forgemen.] through the +ground. Forgemen was the herd's name. He is there afterwards, so +that that is the name of the hill, Forgemen. There was no annoyance +to them that night, provided a man were got toward off Cuchulainn +on the ford. + +'Let a sword-truce be asked by us from Cuchulainn,' said Ailill. + +'Let Lugaid go for it,' said every one. + +Lugaid goes then to speak to him. + +'How am I now with the host?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Great indeed is the mockery that you asked of them,' said Lugaid, +'that is, your women and your maidens and half your cattle. And +they think it heavier than anything to be killed and to provide you +with food.' + +A man fell there by Cuchulainn every day to the end of a week. +Fair-play is broken with Cuchulainn: twenty are sent to attack him +at one time; and he killed them all. + +'Go to him, O Fergus,' said Ailill, 'that he may allow us a change +of place.' + +They go then to Cronech. This is what fell by him in single combat +at this place: two Roths, two Luans, two female horse messengers, +[Note: Or 'female stealers.' (O'Davoren.)] ten fools, ten +cup-bearers, ten Ferguses, six Fedelms, six Fiachras. These then +were all killed by him in single combat. When they pitched their +tents in Cronech, they considered what they should do against +Cuchulainn. + +'I know,' said Medb, 'what is good in this case: let a message be +sent from us to ask him that we may have a sword-truce from him +towards the host, and he shall have half the cattle that are here.' + +This message is taken to him. + +'I will do this,' said Cuchulainn, 'provided the compact is not +broken by you.' + + +_The Meeting of Cuchulainn and Findabair_ + +'Let an offer go to him,' said Ailill, 'that Findabair will be +given to him on condition that he keeps away from the hosts.' + +Mane Athramail goes to him. He goes first to Loeg. + +'Whose man are you?' said he. + +Loeg does not speak to him. Mane spoke to him thrice in this way. + +'Cuchulainn's man,' said he, 'and do not disturb me, lest I strike +your head off.' + +'This man is fierce,' said Mane, turning from him. He goes then to +speak to Cuchulainn. Now Cuchulainn had taken off his tunic, and +the snow was round him up to his waist as he sat, and the snow +melted round him a cubit for the greatness of the heat of the hero. + +Mane said to him in the same way thrice, 'whose man was he?' + +'Conchobar's man, and do not disturb me. If you disturb me any +longer, I will strike your head from you as the head is taken from +a blackbird.' + +'It is not easy,' said Mane, 'to speak to these two.' + +Mane goes from them then and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb. + +'Let Lugaid go to him,' said Ailill, 'and offer to him the maiden.' + +Lugaid goes then and tells Cuchulainn that. + +'O friend Lugaid,' said Cuchulainn, 'this is a snare.' + +'It is the king's word that has said it,' said Lugaid; 'there will +be no snare therefrom.' + +'Let it be done so,' said Cuchulainn. + +Lugaid went from him therewith, and tells Ailill and Medb that +answer. + +'Let the fool go in my form,' said Ailill, 'and a king's crown on +his head, and let him stand at a distance from Cuchulainn lest he +recognise him, and let the maiden go with him, and let him betroth +her to him, and let them depart quickly in this way; and it is +likely that you will play a trick on him thus, so that he will not +hinder you, till he comes with the Ulstermen to the battle.' + +Then the fool goes to him, and the maiden also; and it was from a +distance he spoke to Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn goes to meet them. It +happened that he recognised by the man's speech that he was a fool. +He threw a sling stone that was in his hand at him, so that it +sprang into his head and brought his brains out. Then he comes to +the maiden, cuts her two tresses off, and thrusts a stone through +her mantle and through her tunic, and thrusts a stone pillar +through the middle of the fool. There are their two pillars there: +the pillar of Findabair, and the fool's pillar. + +Cuchulainn left them thus. A party was sent from Ailill and Medb to +seek out their folk, for they thought they were long; they were +seen in this position. All this was heard throughout the camp. +There was no truce for them with Cuchulainn afterwards. + + +_The Combat of Munremar and Curoi_ + +When the hosts were there in the evening; they saw that one stone +lighted on them from the east, and another from the west to meet +it. They met in the air, and kept falling between Fergus's camp, +and Ailill's, and Era's. [Note: Or Nera?] This sport and play went +on from that hour to the same hour next day; and the hosts were +sitting down, and their shields were over their heads to protect +them against the masses of stones, till the plain was full of the +stones. Hence is Mag Clochair. It happened that Curoi Mac Daire did +this; he had come to help his comrades, and he was in Cotal over +against Munremar Mac Gerrcind. He had come from Emain Macha to help +Cuchulainn, and he was in Ard Roich. Curoi knew that there was no +man in the host who could withstand Munremar. So it was these two +who had made this sport between them. They were asked by the host +to be quiet; then Munremar and Curoi make peace, and Curoi goes to +his house and Munremar to Emain Macha. And Munremar did not come +till the day of the battle; Curoi did not come till the combat with +Fer Diad. + + +'Speak to Cuchulainn,' said Medb and Ailill, 'that he allow us +change of place.' + +It is granted to them then, and they change the place. The weakness +of the Ulstermen was over then. For when they awoke from their +suffering, some of them kept coming on the host, that they might +take to slaying them again. + + +_The Death of the Boys_ + +Then the boys of Ulster had consulted in Emain Macha. + +'Wretched indeed,' said they, 'for our friend Cuchulainn to be +without help.' + +'A question indeed,' said Fiachna Fulech Mac Fir-Febe, own brother +to Fiacha Fialdama Mac Fir-Febe, 'shall I have a troop among you, +and go to take help to him therefrom?' + +Three fifties of boys go with their playing-clubs, and that was a +third of the boys of Ulster. The host saw them coming towards them +across the plain. + +'A great host is at hand to us over the plain,' said Ailill. + +Fergus goes to look at them. 'Some of the boys of Ulster that,' +said he; 'and they come to Cuchulainn's help.' + +'Let a troop go against them,' said Ailill, 'without Cuchulainn's +knowledge; for if they meet him, you will not withstand them.' + +Three fifties of warriors go to meet them. They fell by one another +so that no one escaped alive of the abundance(?) of the boys at Lia +Toll. Hence it is the Stone of Fiachra Mac Fir-Febe; for it is +there he fell. + + +'Make a plan,' said Ailill. + +'Ask Cuchulainn about letting you go out of this place, for you +will not come beyond him by force, because his flame of valour has +sprung.' + +For it was customary with him, when his flame of valour sprang in +him, that his feet would go round behind him, and his hams before; +and the balls of his calves on his shins, and one eye in his head +and the other out of his head; a man's head could have gone into +his mouth. Every hair on him was as sharp as a thorn of hawthorn, +and a drop of blood on each hair. He would not recognise comrades +or friends. He would strike alike before and behind. It is from +this that the men of Connaught gave Cuchulainn the name Riastartha. + + +_The Woman-fight of Rochad_ + +Cuchulainn sent his charioteer to Rochad Mac Fatheman of Ulster, +that he should come to his help. Now it happened that Findabair +loved Rochad, for he was the fairest of the warriors among the +Ulstermen at that time. The man goes to Rochad and told him to come +to help Cuchulainn if he had come out of his weakness; that they +should deceive the host, to get at some of them to slay them. +Rochad comes from the north with a hundred men. + +'Look at the plain for us to-day,' said Ailill. + +'I see a troop coming over the plain,' said the watchman, 'and a +warrior of tender years among them; the men only reach up to his +shoulders.' + +'Who is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'Rochad Mac Fatheman,' said he, 'and it is to help Cuchulainn he +comes.' + +'I know what you had better do with him,' said Fergus. 'Let a +hundred men go from you with the maiden yonder to the middle of the +plain, and let the maiden go before them; and let a horseman go to +speak to him, that he come alone to speak with the maiden, and let +hands be laid on him, and this will keep off (?) the attack of his +army from us.' + +This is done then. Rochad goes to meet the horseman. + +'I have come from Findabair to meet you, that you come to speak +with her.' + +He goes then to speak with her alone. The host rushes about him +from every side. He is taken, and hands are laid on him. His force +breaks into flight. He is let go then, and he is bound over not to +go against the host till he should come together with all Ulster. +It was promised to him that Findabair should be given to him, and +he returned from them then. So that that is Rochad's Woman-fight. + + +_The Death of the Princes_ [Note: Or 'royal mercenaries.'] + +'Let a sword-truce be asked of Cuchulainn for us,' said Ailill and +Medb. + +Lugaid goes on that errand, and Cuchulainn grants the truce. + +'Put a man on the ford for me to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn. + +There were with Medb six princes, i.e. six king's heirs of the +Clanna Dedad, the three Blacks of Imlech, and the three Reds of +Sruthair. + +'Why should we not go against Cuchulainn?' said they. + +They go next day, and Cuchulainn slew the six of them. + + +_The Death of Cur_ + +Then Cur Mac Dalath is besought to go against Cuchulainn. He from +whom he shed blood, he is dead before the ninth day. + +'If he slay him,' said Medb, 'it is victory; and though it be he +who is slain, it is removing a load from the host: for it is not +easy to be with him in regard to eating and sleeping.' + +Then he goes forth. He did not think it good to go against a +beardless wild boy. + +'Not so(?) indeed,' said he, 'right is the honour (?) that you give +us! If I had known that it was against this man that I was sent, I +would not have bestirred myself to seek him; it were enough in my +opinion for a boy of his own age from my troop to go against him.' + +'Not so,' said Cormac Condlongas; 'it were a marvel for us if you +yourself were to drive him off.' + +'Howbeit,' said he, 'since it is on myself that it is laid you +Shall go forth to-morrow morning; it will not delay me to kill the +young deer yonder.' + +He goes then early in the morning to meet him; and he tells the +host to get ready to take the road before them, for it was a clear +road that he would make by going against Cuchulainn. + + +_This is the Number of the Feats_ + +He went on that errand then. Cuchulainn was practising feats at +that time, i.e. the apple-feat, the edge-feat, the supine-feat, the +javelin-feat, the ropefeat, the ---- feat, the cat-feat, the hero's +salmon[-leap?], the cast ----, the leap over ----, the noble +champion's turn, the _gae bolga_, the ---- of swiftness, the +wheel-feat, the ----, the feat on breath, the mouth-rage (?), the +champion's shout, the stroke with proper adjustment, the +back-stroke, the climbing a javelin with stretching of the body on +its point, with the binding (?) of a noble warrior. + +Cur was plying his weapons against him in a fence(?) of his shield +till a third of the day; and not a stroke of the blow reached +Cuchulainn for the madness of the feats, and he did not know that a +man was trying to strike him, till Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe said to him: +'Beware of the man who is attacking you.' + +Cuchulainn looked at him; he threw the feat-apple that remained in +his hand, so that it went between the rim and the body of the +shield, and went back through the head of the churl. It would be in +Imslige Glendanach that Cur fell according to another version. + +Fergus returned to the army. 'If your security hold you,' said he, +'wait here till to-morrow.' + +'It would not be there,' said Ailill; 'we shall go back to our +camp.' + +Then Lath Mac Dabro is asked to go against Cuchulainn, as Cur had +been asked. He himself fell then also. Fergus returns again to put +his security on them. They remained there until there were slain +there Cur Mac Dalath, and Lath Mac Dabro, and Foirc, son of the +three Swifts, and Srubgaile Mac Eobith. They were all slain there +in single combat. + + +_The Death of Ferbaeth_ + +'Go to the camp for us, O friend Loeg' [said Cuchulainn], 'and +consult Lugaid Mac Nois, descendant of Lomarc, to know who is +coming against me tomorrow. Let it be asked diligently, and give +him my greeting.' + +Then Loeg went. + +'Welcome,' said Lugaid; 'it is unlucky for Cuchulainn, the trouble +in which he is, alone against the men of Ireland. It is a comrade +of us both, Ferbaeth (ill-luck to his arms!), who goes against him +to morrow. Findabair is given to him for it, and the kingdom of his +race.' + +Loeg turns back to where Cuchulainn is. + +He is not very joyful over his answer, my friend Loeg,' said +Cuchulainn. + +Loeg tells him all that. Ferbaeth had been summoned into the tent +to Ailill and Medb, and he is told to sit by Findabair, and that +she should be given to him, for he was her choice for fighting with +Cuchulainn. He was the man they thought worthy of them, for they +had both learned the same arts with Scathach. Then wine is given to +him, till he was intoxicated, and he is told, 'They thought that +wine fine, and there had only been brought the load of fifty +wagons. And it was the maiden who used to put hand to his portion +therefrom.' + +'I do not wish it,' said Ferbaeth; 'Cuchulainn is my foster-brother, +and a man of perpetual covenant with me. Nevertheless I will go +against him to-morrow and cut off his head.' + +'It will be you who would do it,' said Medb. + +Cuchulainn told Loeg to go to meet Lugaid, that he should come and +speak with him. Lugaid comes to him. + +'So Ferbaeth is coming against me to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn. + +'He indeed,' said Lugaid. + +'An evil day!' said Cuchulainn; 'I shall not be alive therefrom. +Two of equal age we, two of equal deftness, two equal when we meet. +O Lugaid, greet him for me; tell him that it is not true valour to +come against me; tell him to come to meet me to-night, to speak +with me.' + +Lugaid tells him this. When Ferbaeth did not avoid it, he went that +night to renounce his friendship with Cuchulainn, and Fiacha Mac +Fir-Febe with him. Cuchulainn appealed to him by his foster-brotherhood, +and Scathach, the foster-mother of them both. + +'I must,' said Ferbaeth. 'I have promised it' + +'Take back (?) your bond of friendship then,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn went from him in anger. A spear of holly was driven into +Cuchulainn's foot in the glen, and appeared up by his knee. He +draws it out. + +'Go not, O Ferbaeth, till you have seen the find that I have +found.' + +'Throw it,' said Ferbaeth. + +Cuchulainn threw the spear then after Ferbaeth so that it hit the +hollow of his poll, and came out at his mouth in front, so that he +fell back into the glen. + +'That is a throw indeed,' said Ferbaeth. Hence is Focherd +Murthemne. (Or it is Fiacha who had said, 'Your throw is vigorous +to-day, O Cuchulainn,' said he; so that Focherd Murthemne is from +that.) + +Ferbaeth died at once in the glen. Hence is Glenn Firbaith. +Something was heard: Fergus, who said: + + 'O Ferbaeth, foolish is thy expedition + In the place in which thy grave is. + Ruin reached thee ... + In Croen Corand. + + 'The hill is named Fithi (?) for ever; + Croenech in Murthemne, + From to-day Focherd will be the name + Of the place in which thou didst fall, O Ferbaeth. + O Ferbaeth,' etc. + +'Your comrade has fallen,' said Fergus. 'Say will you pay for this +man on the morrow?' + +'I will pay indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn sends Loeg again for news, to know how they are in the +camp, and whether Ferbaeth lived. Lugaid said: 'Ferbaeth is dead,' +and Cuchulainn comes in turn to talk with them. + + +_The Combat of Larine Mac Nois_ + +'One of you to-morrow to go readily against the other,' said +Lugaid. + +'He will not be found at all,' said Ailill, 'unless you practise +trickery therein. Any man who comes to you, give him wine, so that +his mind may be glad, and it shall be said to him that that is all +the wine that has been brought from Cruachan. It grieves us that +you should be on water in the camp. And Findabair shall be put at +his right hand, and it shall be said: "She shall come to you, if +you bring us the head of the Riastartha."' + +A messenger used to be sent to every hero on his night, and that +used to be told to him; he continued to kill every man of them in. +turn. No one could be got by them to meet him at last. Larine Mac +Nois, brother to Lugaid, King of Munster, was summoned to them the +next day. Great was his pride. Wine is given to him, and Findabair +is put at his right hand. + +Medb looked at the two. 'It pleases me, yonder pair,' said she; 'a +match between them would be fitting.' + +'I will not stand in your way,' said Ailill; 'he shall have her if +he brings me the head of the Riastartha.' + +'I will bring it,' said Larine. + +Then Lugaid comes. 'What man have you for the ford to-morrow?' said +he. + +'Larine goes,' said Ailill. + +Then Lugaid comes to speak with Cuchulainn. They meet in Glenn +Firbaith. Each gives the other welcome. + +'It is for this I have come to speak to you,' said Lugaid: 'there +is a churl here, a fool and proud,' said he, 'a brother of mine named +Larine; he is befooled about the same maiden. On your friendship +then, do not kill him, lest you should leave me without a brother. +For it is for this that he is being sent to you, so that we two +might quarrel. I should be content, however, that you should give +him a sound drubbing, for it is in my despite that he comes.' + +Larine goes next day to meet Cuchulainn, and the maiden near him to +encourage him. Cuchulainn attacks him without arms. [Note: This is +apparently the sense, but the passage seems corrupt.] He takes +Larine's arms from him perforce. He takes him then between his two +hands, and grinds and shakes him, ... and threw him till he was +between Lugaid's two hands ...; nevertheless, he is the only man +who escaped [even] a bad escape from him, of all who met him on the +Tain. + + +_The Conversation of the Morrigan with Cuchulainn_ + +Cuchulainn saw a young woman coming towards him, with a dress of +every colour on, and her form very excellent. + +'Who are you?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Daughter of Buan the king,' said she. 'I have come to you; I have +loved you for your reputation, and I have brought my treasures and +my cattle with me.' + +'The time at which you have come to us is not good. For our +condition is evil, through hunger. It is not easy to me to meet a +woman, while I am in this strife.' + +'I will be a help to you. ... I shall be more troublesome to you,' +said she, 'when I come against you when you are in combat against +the men. I will come in the form of an eel about your feet in the +ford, so that you shall fall.' + +'I think that likelier than the daughter of a king. I will take +you,' said he, 'between my toes, till your ribs are broken, and you +will be in this condition till a doom of blessing comes (?) on +you.' + +'I will drive the cattle on the ford to you, in the form of a grey +she-wolf.' + +'I will throw a stone at you from my sling, so that it shall break +your eye in your head; and you will be in that state till a doom of +blessing comes on you.' + +'I will come to you in the form of a hornless red heifer before the +cattle. They will rush on you on the plains(?), and on the fords, +and on the pools, and you will not see me before you.' + +'I will throw a stone at you,' said he, 'so that your leg shall +break under you, and you will be in this state till a doom of +blessing comes on you.' + +Therewith she goes from him. + +So he was a week on Ath Grencha, and a man used to fall every day +by him in Ath Grencha, i.e. in Ath Darteisc. + + +_The Death of Loch Mac Emonis_ + +Then Loch Mac Emonis was asked like the others, and there was +promised to him a piece of the arable land of Mag Ai equal in size +to Mag Murthemne, and the equipment of twelve warriors and a +chariot worth seven cumals [Note: A measure of value.]; and he did +not think combat with a youth worthy. He had a brother, Long Mac +Emonis himself. The same price was given to him, both maiden and +raiment and chariots and land. He goes to meet Cuchulainn. +Cuchulainn slays him, and he was brought dead before his brother, +Loch. + +This latter said that if he only knew that it was a bearded man who +slew him, he would kill him for it. + +'Take a battle-force to him,' said Medb to her household, 'across +the ford from the west, that you may go-across; and let fair-play +be broken on him.' + +Then the seven Manes, warriors, go first, so that they saw him on +the edge of the ford westward. He puts his feast-dress on that day. +It is then that the women kept climbing on the men to look at him. + +'I am sorry,' said Medb; 'I cannot see the boy about whom they go +there.' + +'Your mind will not be the gladder for it,' said Lethrend, Ailill's +squire, 'if you could see him.' + +He comes to the ford then as he was. + +'What man is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Medb. + +'A boy who wards off,' etc. ... 'if it is Culann's Hound.' [Note: +Rhetoric, four lines.] + +Medb climbed on the men then to look at him. + +It is then that the women said to Cuchulainn 'that he was laughed +at in the camp because he had no beard, and no good warriors would +go against him, only wild men; it were easier to make a false +beard.' So this is what he did, in order to seek combat with a man; +i.e. with Loch. Cuchulainn took a handful of grass, and said a +spell over it, so that every one thought he had a beard. + +'True,' said the troop of women, 'Cuchulainn has a beard. It is +fitting for a warrior to fight with him.' + +They had done this on urging Loch. + +'I will not make combat against him till the end of seven days +from to-day,' said Loch. + +'It is not fitting for us to have no attack on the man for this +space,' said Medb. 'Let us put a hero to hunt(?) him every night, +if perchance we may get a chance at him.' + +This is done then. A hero used to come every night to hunt him, and +he used to kill them all. These are the names of the men who fell +there: seven Conalls, seven Oenguses, seven Uarguses, seven +Celtris, eight Fiacs, ten Ailills, ten Delbaths, ten Tasachs. These +are his deeds of this week in Ath Grencha. + + + +Medb asked advice, to know what she should do to Cuchulainn, for +what had been killed of their hosts by him distressed her greatly. +This is the plan she arrived at, to put brave, high-spirited men to +attack him all at once when he should come to an appointed meeting +to speak with Medb. For she had an appointment the next day with +Cuchulainn to make a peace in fraud with him, to get hold of him. +She sent messengers forth to seek him that he should come to meet +her; and it was thus he should come, and he unarmed: 'for she would +come only with her troop of women to meet him.' + +The messenger, Traigtren, went to the place where Cuchulainn was, +and tells him Medb's message. Cuchulainn promised that he would do +so. + +'In what manner does it please you to go to meet Medb to-morrow, O +Cuchulainn?' said Loeg. + +'As Medb has asked me,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Great are Medb's deeds,' said the charioteer; 'I fear a hand +behind the back with her.' + +'How is it to be done then?' said he. + +'Your sword at your waist,' said the charioteer, 'that you may not +be taken at an unfair advantage. For the warrior is not entitled to +his honour-price if he is without arms; and it is the coward's law +that he deserves in that way.' + +'Let it be done so then,' said Cuchulainn. + +The meeting-place was in Ard Aignech, which is called Fochaird +to-day. Now Medb came to the meeting-place and set in ambush +fourteen men of her own special following, of those who were of +most prowess, ready for him. These are they: two Glassines, the two +sons of Bucchridi; two Ardans, the two sons of Licce; two +Glasogmas, the two sons of Crund; Drucht and Delt and Dathen; Tea +and Tascra and Tualang; Taur and Glese. + +Then Cuchulainn comes to meet her. The men rise to attack him. +Fourteen spears are thrown at him at once. Cuchulainn guards +himself so that his skin or his ---- (?) is not touched. Then he +turns on them and kills them, the fourteen of them. So that they +are the fourteen men of Focherd, and they are the men of Cronech, +for it is in Cronech at Focherd that they were killed. Hence +Cuchulainn said: 'Good is my feat of heroism,' [Note: _Fo_, 'good'; +_cherd_, 'feat.' Twelve lines of rhetoric.] etc. + +So it is from this that the name Focherd stuck to the place; that +is, _focherd_, i.e. 'good is the feat of arms' that happened to +Cuchulainn there. + +So Cuchulainn came, and overtook them taking camp, and there were +slain two Daigris and two Anlis and four Dungais of Imlech. Then +Medb began to urge Loch there. + +'Great is the mockery of you,' said she, 'for the man who has +killed your brother to be destroying our host, and you do not go to +battle with him! For we deem it certain that the wild man, great +and fierce [Note: Literally, 'sharpened.'], the like of him yonder, +will not be able to withstand the rage and fury of a hero like you. +For it is by one foster-mother and instructress that an art was +built up for you both.' + +Then Loch came against Cuchulainn, to avenge his brother on him, +for it was shown to him that Cuchulainn had a beard. + +'Come to the upper ford,' said Loch; 'it would not be in the +polluted ford that we shall meet, where Long fell.' + +When he came then to seek the ford, the men drove the cattle +across. + +'It will be across your water [Note: Irish, _tarteisc_.] here +to-day,' said Gabran the poet. Hence is Ath Darteisc, and Tir Mor +Darteisc from that time on this place. + +When the men met then on the ford, and when they began to fight and +to strike each other there, and when each of them began to strike +the other, the eel threw three folds round Cuchulainn's feet, till +he lay on his back athwart the ford. Loch attacked him with the +sword, till the ford was blood-red with his blood. + +'Ill indeed,' said Fergus, 'is this deed before the enemy. Let each +of you taunt the man, O men,' said he to his following, 'that he +may not fall for nothing.' + +Bricriu Poison-tongue Mac Carbatha rose and began inciting +Cuchulainn. + +'Your strength is gone,' said he, 'when it is a little salmon that +overthrows you when the Ulstermen are at hand [coming] to you out +of their sickness yonder. Grievous for you to undertake a hero's +deed in the presence of the men of Ireland and to ward off a +formidable warrior in arms thus!' + +Therewith Cuchulainn arises and strikes the eel so that its ribs +broke in it, and the cattle were driven over the hosts eastwards +by force, so that they took the tents on their horns, with the +thunder-feat that the two heroes had made in the ford. + +The she-wolf attacked him, and drove the cattle on him westwards. +He throws a stone from his sling, so that her eye broke in her +head. She goes in the form of a hornless red heifer; she rushes +before the cows upon the pools and fords. It is then he said: 'I +cannot see the fords for water.' He throws a stone at the hornless +red heifer, so that her leg breaks under her. Then he sang a song: + + 'I am all alone before flocks; + I get them not, I let them not go; + I am alone at cold hours (?) + Before many peoples. + + 'Let some one say to Conchobar + Though he should come to me it were not too soon; + Magu's sons have carried off their kine + And divided them among them. + + 'There may be strife about one head + Only that one tree blazes not; + If there were two or three + Their brands would blaze. [Note: Meaning not clear.] + + 'The men have almost worn me out + By reason of the number of single combats; + I cannot work the slaughter (?) of glorious warriors + As I am all alone. + I am all alone.' + +*** + +It is there then that Cuchulainn did to the Morrigan the three +things that he had promised her in the _Tain Bo Regamna_ [Note: +One of the introductory stories to the _Tain Bo Cuailnge_, printed +with translation in _Irische Texte_, 2nd series.]; and he fights +Loch in the ford with the gae-bolga, which the charioteer threw him +along the stream. He attacked him with it, so that it went into his +body's armour, for Loch had a horn-skin in fighting with a man. + +'Give way to me,' said Loch. Cuchulainn gave way, so that it was on +the other side that Loch fell. Hence is Ath Traiged in Tir Mor. +Cuchulainn cut off his head then. + +Then fair-play was broken with him that day when five men came +against him at one time; i.e. two Cruaids, two Calads, Derothor; +Cuchulainn killed them by himself. Hence is Coicsius Focherda, and +Coicer Oengoirt; or it is fifteen days that Cuchulainn was in +Focherd, and hence is Coicsius Focherda in the Foray. + +Cuchulainn hurled at them from Delga, so that not a living thing, +man or beast, could put its head past him southwards between Delga +and the sea. + + +_The Healing of the Morrigan_ + +When Cuchulainn was in this great weariness, the Morrigan met him +in the form of an old hag, and she blind and lame, milking a cow +with three teats, and he asked her for a drink. She gave him milk +from a teat. + +'He will be whole who has brought it(?),' said Cuchulainn; 'the +blessings of gods and non-gods on you,' said he. (Gods with them +were the Mighty Folk [Note: i.e. the dwellers in the Sid. The words +in brackets are a gloss incorporated in the text.]; non-gods the +people of husbandry.) + +Then her head was healed so that it was whole. + +She gave the milk of the second teat, and her eye was whole; and +gave the milk of the third teat, and her leg was whole. So that +this was what he said about each thing of them, 'A doom of blessing +on you,' said he. + +'You told me,' said the Morrigan, 'I should not have healing from +you for ever.' + +'If I had known it was you,' said Cuchulainn, 'I would not have +healed you ever.' + +So that formerly Cuchulainn's throng (?) on Tarthesc was the name +of this story in the Foray. + +It is there that Fergus claimed of his securities that faith should +not be broken with Cuchulainn; and it is there that Cuchulainn ... +[Note: Corrupt; one and a half lines.] i.e. Delga Murthemne at that +time. + +Then Cuchulainn killed Fota in his field; Bomailce on his ford; +Salach in his village (?); Muine in his hill; Luair in Leth-bera; +Fer-Toithle in Toithle; these are the names of these lands for +ever, every place in which each man of them fell. Cuchulainn killed +also Traig and Dornu and Dernu, Col and Mebul and Eraise on this +side of Ath Tire Moir, at Methe and Cethe: these were three [Note: +MS. 'two.'] druids and their three wives. + +Then Medb sent a hundred men of her special retinue to kill +Cuchulainn. . He killed them all on Ath Ceit-Chule. Then Medb said: +'It is _cuillend_ [Note: Interlinear gloss: 'We deem it a crime.'] +to us, the slaying of our people.' Hence is Glass Chrau and +Cuillend Cind Duin and Ath Ceit-Chule. + +Then the four provinces of Ireland took camp and fortified post in +the Breslech Mor in Mag Murthemne, and send part of their cattle +and booty beyond them to the south into Clithar Bo Ulad. Cuchulainn +took his post at the mound in Lerga near them, and his charioteer +Loeg Mac Riangabra kindled a fire for him on the evening of that +night. He saw the fiery sheen of the bright golden arms over the +heads of the four provinces of Ireland at the setting of the clouds +of evening. Fury and great rage came over him at sight of the host, +at the multitude of his enemies, the abundance of his foes. He took +his two spears and his shield and his sword; he shook his shield +and brandished his spears and waved his sword; and he uttered his +hero's shout from his throat, so that goblins and sprites and +spectres of the glen and demons of the air answered, for the terror +of the shout which they uttered on high. So that the Nemain +produced confusion on the host. The four provinces of Ireland came +into a tumult of weapons about the points of their own spears and +weapons, so that a hundred warriors of them died of terror and of +heart-burst in the middle of the camp and of the position that +night. + +When Loeg was there, he saw something: a single man who came +straight across the camp of the men of Ireland from the north-east +straight towards him. + +'A single man is coming to us now, O Little Hound!' said Loeg. + +'What kind of man is there?' said Cuchulainn. + +'An easy question: a man fair and tall is he, with hair cut broad, +waving yellow hair; a green mantle folded round him; a brooch of +white silver in the mantle on his breast; a tunic of royal silk, +with red ornamentation of red gold against the white skin, to his +knees. A black shield with a hard boss of white metal; a five +pointed spear in his hand; a forked (?) javelin beside it. +Wonderful is the play and sport and exercise that he makes; but no +one attacks him, and he attacks no one, as if no one saw him.' + +'It is true, O fosterling,' said he; 'which of my friends from the +_sÃd_ is that who comes to have pity on me, because they know the +sore distress in which I am, alone against the four great provinces +of Ireland, on the Cattle-Foray of Cualnge at this time?' + +That was true for Cuchulainn. When the warrior had reached the +place where Cuchulainn was, he spoke to him, and had pity on him +for it. + +'This is manly, O Cuchulainn,' said he. + +'It is not much at all,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I will help you,' said the man. + + +'Who are you at all?' said Cuchulainn. + +'It is I, your father from the _sÃd_, Lug Mac Ethlend.' + +'My wounds are heavy, it were high time that I should be healed.' + +'Sleep a little, O Cuchulainn,' said the warrior; 'your heavy +swoon (?) [Note: Conjectural--MS. _tromthortim_.] of sleep at the +mound of Lerga till the end of three days and three nights, and I +will fight against the hosts for that space.' + +Then he sings the _ferdord_ to him, and he sleeps from it. Lug +looked at each wound that it was clean. Then Lug said: + +'Arise, O great son of the Ulstermen, whole of thy wounds. ... Go +into thy chariot secure. Arise, arise!' [Note: Rhetoric.] + +For three days and three nights Cuchulainn was asleep. It were +right indeed though his sleep equalled his weariness. From the +Monday after the end of summer exactly to the Wednesday after +Candlemas, for this space Cuchulainn had not slept, except when he +slept a little while against his spear after midday, with his head +on his clenched fist, and his clenched fist on his spear, and his +spear on his knee; but he was striking and cutting and attacking +and slaying the four great provinces of Ireland for that space. + +It is then that the warrior of the sÃd cast herbs and grasses of +curing and charms of healing into the hurts and wounds and into +the injuries and into the many wounds of Cuchulainn, so that +Cuchulainn recovered in his sleep without his perceiving it at all. + + +Now it was at this time that the boys came south from Emain Macha: +Folloman Mac Conchobair with three fifties of kings' sons of +Ulster, and they gave battle thrice to the hosts, so that three +times their own number fell, and all the boys fell except Folloman +Mac Conchobair. Folloman boasted that he would not go back to Emain +for ever and ever, until he should take the head of Ailill with +him, with the golden crown that was above it. This was not easy to +him; for the two sons of Bethe Mac Bain, the two sons of Ailill's +foster-mother and foster-father, came on him, and wounded him so +that he fell by them. So that that is the death of the boys of +Ulster and of Folloman Mac Conchobair. + +Cuchulainn for his part was in his deep sleep till the end of three +days and three nights at the mound in Lerga. Cuchulainn arose then +from his sleep, and put his hand over his face, and made a purple +wheelbeam from head to foot, and his mind was strong in him, and he +would have gone to an assembly, or a march, or a tryst, or a +beer-house, or to one of the chief assemblies of Ireland. + +'How long have I been in this sleep now, O warrior?' said +Cuchulainn. + +'Three days and three nights,' said the warrior. + +'Alas for that!' said Cuchulainn. + +'What is the matter?' said the warrior. + +'The hosts without attack for this space,' said Cuchulainn. + +'They are not that at all indeed,' said the warrior. + +'Who has come upon them?' said Cuchulainn. + +'The boys came from the north from Emain Macha; Folloman Mac +Conchobair with three fifties of boys of the kings' sons of Ulster; +and they gave three battles to the hosts for the space of the three +days and the three nights in which you have been in your sleep now. +And three times their own number fell, and the boys fell, except +Folloman Mac Conchobair. Folloman boasted that he would take +Ailill's head, and that was not easy to him, for he was killed.' + +'Pity for that, that I was not in my strength! For if I had been in +my strength, the boys would not have fallen as they have fallen, +and Folloman Mac Conchobair would not have fallen.' + +'Strive further, O Little Hound, it is no reproach to thy honour +and no disgrace to thy valour.' + +'Stay here for us to-night, O warrior,' said Cuchulainn, 'that we +may together avenge the boys on the hosts.' + +'I will not stay indeed,' said the warrior, 'for however great the +contests of valour and deeds of arms any one does near thee, it is +not on him there will be the renown of it or the fame or the +reputation, but it is on thee; therefore I will not stay. But ply +thy deed of arms thyself alone on the hosts, for not with them is +there power over thy life this time.' + +'The scythe-chariot, O my friend Loeg!' said Cuchulainn; 'can you +yoke it? and is its equipment here? If you can yoke it, and if you +have its equipment, yoke it; and if you have not its equipment, do +not yoke it at all.' + +It is then that the charioteer arose, and he put on his hero's +dress of charioteering. This was his hero's dress of charioteering +that he put on: his soft tunic of skin, light and airy, +well-turned [Note: Lit. 'kneaded.'], made of skin, sewn, of +deer-skin, so that it did not restrain the movement of his hands +outside. He put on his black (?) upper-cloak over it outside: Simon +Magus had made it for Darius, King of the Romans, so that Darius +gave it to Conchobar, and Conchobar gave it to Cuchulainn, and +Cuchulainn gave it to his charioteer. The charioteer took first +then his helm, ridged, like a board (?), four-cornered, with much +of every colour and every form, over the middle of his shoulders. +This was well-measured (?) to him, and it was not an overweight. +His hand brought the circlet of red-yellow, as though it were a +plate of red-gold, of refined gold smelted over the edge of an +anvil, to his brow, as a sign of his charioteering, in distinction +to his master. + +He took the goads (?) of his horses, and his whip (?) inlaid in his +right hand. He took the reins to hold back his horses in his left +hand. [Note: Gloss incorporated in text: 'i. e. to direct his +horses, in his left hand, for the great power of his charioteering.'] +Then he put the iron inlaid breastplates on the horses, so that +they were covered from forehead to forefoot with spears and points +and lances and hard points, so that every motion in this chariot +was spear-near, so that every corner and every point and every +end and every front of this chariot was a way of tearing. It is +then that he cast a spell of covering over his horses and over +his companion, so that he was not visible to any one in the +camp, and so that every one in the camp was visible to them. +It was proper that he should cast this, because there were the +three gifts of charioteering on the charioteer that day, the +leap over ----, and the straight ----, and the ----. + +Then the hero and the champion and he who made the fold of the Badb +[Note: The Badb (scald-crow) was a war-goddess. This is an +expressive term for the piled-up bodies of the slain.] of the men +of the earth, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, took his battle-array of +battle and contest and strife. This was his battle-array of battle +and contest and strife: he put on twenty-seven skin tunics, waxed, +like board, equally thick, which used to be under strings and +chains and thongs, against his white skin, that he might not lose +his mind nor his understanding when his rage should come. He put on +his hero's battle-girdle over it outside, of hard-leather, hard, +tanned, of the choice of seven ox-hides of a heifer, so that it +covered him from the thin part of his sides to the thick part of +his arm-pit; it used to be on him to repel spears, and points, and +darts, and lances, and arrows. For they were cast from him just as +if it was stone or rock or horn that they struck (?). Then he put +on his apron, skin like, silken, with its edge of white gold +variegated, against the soft lower part of his body. He put on his +dark apron of dark leather, well tanned, of the choice of four +ox-hides of a heifer, with his battle-girdle of cows' skins (?) +about it over his silken skin-like apron. Then the royal hero took +his battle-arms of battle and contest and strife. These then were +his battle-arms of battle: he took his ivory-hilted, bright-faced +weapon, with his eight little swords; he took his five-pointed +spear, with his eight little spears [Note: In the margin: 'and his +quiver,' probably an interpolation.]; he took his spear of battle, +with his eight little darts; he took his javelin with his eight +little javelins; his eight shields of feats, with his round shield, +dark red, in which a boar that would be shown at a feast would go +into the boss (?), with its edge sharp, keen, very sharp, round +about it, so that it would cut hairs against the stream for +sharpness and keenness and great sharpness; when the warrior did +the edge-feat with it, he would cut equally with his shield, and +with his spear, and with his sword. + +Then he put on his head a ridged-helmet of battle and contest and +strife, from which there was uttered the shout of a hundred +warriors, with along cry from every corner and every angle of it. +For there used to cry from it equally goblins and sprites and +ghosts of the glen and demons of the air, before and above and +around, wherever he used to go before shedding the blood of +warriors and enemies. There was cast over him his dress of +concealment by the garment of the Land of Promise that was given by +his foster-father in wizardry. + +It is then came the first contortion on Cuchulainn, so that it made +him horrible, many-shaped, wonderful, strange. His shanks shook +like a tree before the stream, or like a rush against the stream, +every limb and every joint and every end and every member, of him +from head to foot. He made a ---- of rage of his body inside his +skin. His feet and his shins and his knees came so that they were +behind him; his heels and his calves and his hams came so that they +were in front. The front-sinews of his calves came so that they +were on the front of his shins, so that every huge knot of them was +as great as a warrior's clenched fist. The temple-sinews of his +head were stretched, so that they were on the hollow of his neck, +so that every round lump of them, very great, innumerable, not to +be equalled (?), measureless, was as great as the head of a month +old child. + +Then he made a red bowl of his face and of his visage on him; he +swallowed one of his two eyes into his head, so that from his cheek +a wild crane could hardly have reached it [to drag it] from the +back of his skull. The other sprang out till it was on his cheek +outside. His lips were marvellously contorted. Tie drew the cheek +from the jawbone, so that his gullet was visible. His lungs and his +lights came so that they were flying in his mouth and in his +throat. He struck a blow of the ---- of a lion with his upper +palate on the roof of his skull, so that every flake of fire that +came into his mouth from his throat was as large as a wether's +skin. His heart was heard light-striking (?) against his ribs like +the roaring of a bloodhound at its food, or like a lion going +through bears. There were seen the palls of the Badb, and the +rain-clouds of poison, and the sparks of fire very red in clouds +and in vapours over his head with the boiling of fierce rage, that +rose over him. + +His hair curled round his head like the red branches of a thorn in +the gap of Atalta (?). Though a royal apple-tree under royal fruit +had been shaken about it, hardly would an apple have reached the +ground through it, but an apple would have fixed on every single +hair there, for the twisting of the rage that rose from his hair +above him. + +The hero's light rose from his forehead, so that it was as long, +and as thick, as a warrior's whet-stone, so that it was equally +long with the nose, till he went mad in playing with the shields, +in pressing on (?) the charioteer, in ---- the hosts. As high, as +thick, as strong, as powerful, as long, as the mast of a great +ship, was the straight stream of dark blood that rose straight up +from the very top of his head, so that it made a dark smoke of +wizardry like the smoke of a palace when the king comes to equip +himself in the evening of a wintry day. + +After that contortion wherewith Cuchulainn was contorted, then the +hero of valour sprang into his scythed battle-chariot, with its +iron points, with its thin edges, with its hooks, and with its hard +points, with its sharp points (?) of a hero, with their pricking +goads (?), with its nails of sharpness that were on shafts and +thongs and cross-pieces and ropes (?) of that chariot. + +It was thus the chariot was, with its body thin-framed (?), +dry-framed (?), feat-high, straight-shouldered (?), of a champion, +on which there would have been room for eight weapons fit for a +lord, with the speed of swallow or of wind or of deer across the +level of the plain. The chariot was placed on two horses, swift, +vehement, furious, small-headed, small-round, small-end, pointed, +----, red-breasted, ----, easy to recognise, well-yoked, ... One of +these two horses was supple, swift-leaping, great of strength, great +of curve, great of foot, great of length, ----. The other horse was +flowing-maned, slender-footed, thin-footed, slender-heeled, ----. + +It is then that he threw the thunder-feat of a hundred, and the +thunder-feat of four hundred, and he stopped at the thunder-feat +of five hundred, for he did not think it too much for this equal +number to fall by him in his first attack, and in his first contest +of battle on the four provinces of Ireland; and he came forth in +this way to attack his enemies, and he took his chariot in a great +circuit about the four great provinces of Ireland, and he put the +attack of an enemy among enemies on them. And a heavy course was +put on his chariot, and the iron wheels of the chariot went into +the ground, so that it was enough for fort and fortress, the way +the iron wheels of the chariot went into the ground; for there +arose alike turfs and stones and rocks and flagstones and gravel of +the ground as high as the iron wheels of the chariot. + +The reason why he cast the circle of war round about the four great +provinces of Ireland, was that they might not flee from him, and +that they might not scatter, that he might make sure of them, to +avenge the boys on them; and he comes into the battle thus in the +middle, and overthrew great fences of his enemies' corpses round +about the host thrice, and puts the attack of an enemy among +enemies on them, so that they fell sole to sole, and neck to neck; +such was the density of the slaughter. + +He went round again thrice thus, so that he left a layer of six +round them in the great circuit; i.e. soles of three to necks of +three in the course of a circuit round the camp. So that its name +in the Foray is Sesrech Breslige, and it is one of the three not to +be numbered in the Foray; i.e. Sesrech Breslige and Imslige +Glendamnach and the battle on Garach and Irgarach, except that it +was alike dog and horse and man there. + +This is what others say, that Lug Mac Ethlend fought along with +Cuchulainn the Sesrech Breslige. Their number is not known, and it +is impossible to count what number fell there of the rabble. But +the chief only have been counted. These are the names of the +princes and chiefs: two Cruads, two Calads, two Cirs, two Ciars, +two Ecells, three Croms, three Caurs, three Combirge, four +Feochars, four Furachars, four Cass, four Fotas, five Caurs, five +Cermans, five Cobthachs, six Saxans, six Dachs, six Dares, seven +Rochads, seven Ronans, seven Rurthechs, eight Roclads, eight +Rochtads, eight Rindachs, eight Corpres, eight Mulachs, nine Daigs, +nine Dares, nine Damachs, ten Fiachs, ten Fiachas, ten Fedelmids. + +Ten kings over seven fifties did Cuchulainn slay in Breslech Mor +in Mag Murthemne; and an innumerable number besides of dogs and +horses and women and boys and people of no consequence and rabble. +For there did not escape one man out of three of the men of Ireland +without a thigh-bone or half his head or one eye broken, or without +being marked for ever. And he came from them after giving them +battle without wound or blood-stain on himself or on his servant or +on either of his horses. + +Cuchulainn came next day to survey the host and to show his soft +fair form to the women and the troops of women and the girls and +the maidens and the poets and the bards, for he did not hold in +honour or dignity that haughty form of wizardry that had appeared +to them on him the night before. Therefore he came to show his soft +fair form that day. + +Fair indeed the boy who came then to show his form to the hosts, +that is, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. The appearance of three heads of +hair on him, dark against the skin of his head, blood-red in the +middle, a crown gold-yellow which covers them. A fair arrangement +of this hair so that it makes three circles round the hollow of the +back of his head, so that each hair ----, dishevelled, very golden, +excellent, in long curls, distinguished, fair-coloured, over his +shoulders, was like gold thread. + +A hundred ringlets, bright purple, of red-gold, gold-flaming, round +his neck; a hundred threads with mixed carbuncle round his head. +Four dimples in each of his two cheeks; that is, a yellow dimple, +and a green dimple, and a blue dimple, and a purple dimple. Seven +gems of brilliance of an eye, in each of his two royal eyes. Seven +toes on each of his two feet, seven fingers on each of his two +hands, with the grasp of a hawk's claws, with the seizure of a +griffin's claws on each of them separately. + +Then he puts on his feast-dress that day. This was his raiment on +him: a fair tunic, proper; bright-purple, with a border with five +folds. A white brooch of white silver with adorned gold inlaid over +his white breast, as if it was a lantern full of light, that the +eyes of men could not look at for its splendour and its brightness. +A silken tunic of silk against his skin so that it covered him to +the top of his dark apron of dark-red, soldierly, royal, silken. + +A dark shield; dark red, dark purple, with five chains of gold, +with a rim of white metal on it. A sword gold-hilted, inlaid with +ivory hilt of red-gold raised high on his girdle. A spear, long, +grey-edged, with a spear-head sharp, attacking, with rivets of +gold, gold-flaming by him in the chariot. Nine heads in one of his +two hands, and ten heads in the other hand. He shook them from him +towards the hosts. So that this is the contest of a night to +Cuchulainn. Then the women of Connaught raised themselves on the +hosts, and the women were climbing on the men to look at +Cuchulainn's form. Medb hid her face and dare not show her face, +but was under the shield-shelter for fear of Cuchulainn. So that it +is hence Dubthach Doeltenga of Ulster said: + + 'If it is the Riastartha, there will be corpses + Of men therefrom,' etc. [Note: Rhetoric, fifty-four lines.] + +Fiacha Fialdana from Imraith (?) came to speak with the son of his +mother's sister, Mane Andoe his name. Docha Mac Magach went with +Mane Andoe: Dubthach Doeltenga of Ulster came with Fiacha Fialdana +from Imraith (?). Docha threw a spear at Fiacha, so that it went +into Dubthach. Then Dubthach threw a spear at Mane, so that it +went into Docha. The mothers of Dubthach and Docha were two +sisters. Hence is Imroll Belaig Euin. [Note: i.e. the Random Throw +of Belach Euin.] + +(Or Imroll Belaig Euin is from this: the hosts go to Belach Euin, +their two troops wait there. Diarmait Mac Conchobair comes from the +north from Ulster. + +'Let a horseman go from you,' said Diarmait, 'that Mane may come to +speak with me with one man, and I will come with one man to meet +him.' They meet then. + +I have come,' said Diarmait, 'from Conchobar, who says to Medb and +Ailill, that they let the cows go, and make whole all that they +have done there, and bring the Bull [Note: i.e. bring Findbennach +to meet the Dun of Cualnge.] from the west hither to the Bull, that +they may meet, because Medb has promised it.' + +'I will go and tell them,' said Mane. He tells this then to Medb +and Ailill. + +'This cannot be got of Medb,' said Mane. + +'Let us exchange arms then, 'said Diarmait, 'if you think it +better.' + +'I am content,' said Mane. Each of them throws his spear at the +other, so that the two of them die, and so that the name of this +place is Imroll Belaig Euin.) + +Their forces rush at each other: there fall three twenties of them +in each of the forces. Hence is Ard-in-Dirma. [Note: The Height of +the Troop.] + +Ailill's folk put his king's crown on Tamun the fool; Ailill dare +not have it on himself. Cuchulainn threw a stone at him at Ath +Tamuin, so that his head broke thereby. Hence is Ath Tamuin and +Tuga-im-Tamun. [Note: i.e., Covering about Tamun.] + +Then Oengus, son of Oenlam the Fair, a bold warrior of Ulster, +turned all the host at Moda Loga (that is the same as Lugmod) as +far as Ath Da Ferta: He did not let them go past, and he pelted +them with stones, and the learned say ---- before till they should +go under the sword at Emain Macha, if it had been in single combat +that they had come against him. Fair-play was broken on him, and +they slew him in an unequal fight. + +'Let some one come from you against me,' said Cuchulainn at Ath Da +Ferta. + +'It will not be I, it will not be I,' said every one from his +place. 'A scapegoat is not owed from my race, and if it were owed, +it would not be I whom they would give in his stead for a +scapegoat.' + +Then Fergus Mac Roich was asked to go against him. He refuses to go +against his foster-son Cuchulainn. Wine was given to him, and he +was greatly intoxicated, and he was asked about going to the +combat. He goes forth then since they were urgently imploring him. + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'It is with my security that you come against +me, O friend Fergus,' said he, 'with no sword in its place.' For +Ailill had stolen it, as we said before. + +'I do not care at all,' said Fergus; 'though there were a sword +there, it would not be plied on you. Give way to me, O Cuchulainn,' +said Fergus. + +'You will give way to me in return then,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Even so,' said Fergus. + +Then Cuchulainn fled back before Fergus as far as Grellach Doluid, +that Fergus might give way to him on the day of the battle. Then +Cuchulainn sprang in to Grellach Doluid. + + +'Have you his head, O Fergus?' said every one. + +'No,' said Fergus, 'it is not like a tryst. He who is there is too +lively for me. Till my turn comes round again, I will not go.' + +Then they go past him, and take camp at Crich Ross. Then Ferchu, an +exile, who was in exile against Ailill, hears them. He comes to +meet Cuchulainn. Thirteen men was his number. Cuchulainn kills +Ferchu's warriors. Their thirteen stones are there. + +Medb sent Mand of Muresc, son of Daire, of the Domnandach, to fight +Cuchulainn. Own brothers were lie and Fer Diad, and two sons of one +father. This Mand was a man fierce and excessive in eating and +sleeping, a man ill-tongued, foul-mouthed, like Dubthach Doeltenga +of Ulster. He was a man strong, active, with strength of limb like +Munremar Mac Gerrcind; a fiery warrior like Triscod Trenfer of +Conchobar's house. + +'I will go, and I unarmed, and I will grind him between my hands, +for I deem it no honour or dignity to ply weapons on a beardless +wild boy such as he.' + +He went then to seek Cuchulainn. He and his charioteer were there +on the plain watching the host. + +'One man coming towards us,' said Loeg to Cuchulainn. + +'What kind of man?' said Cuchulainn. + +'A man black, dark, strong, bull-like, and he unarmed.' + +'Let him come past you,' said Cuchulainn. + +He came to them therewith. + +To fight against you have I come,' said Mand. + +Then they begin to wrestle for a long time, and Mand overthrows +Cuchulainn thrice, so that the charioteer urged him. + +'If you had a strife for the hero's portion in Emain,' said he, +'you would be mighty over the warriors of Emain!' + + +His hero's rage comes, and his warrior's fury rises, so that he +overthrew Mand against the pillar, so that he falls in pieces. +Hence is Mag Mand Achta, that is, Mand Echta, that is, Mand's death +there. + + +[From the Yellow Book of Lecan] + +On the morrow Medb sent twenty-seven men to Cuchulainn's bog. +Fuilcarnn is the name of the bog, on this side of Fer Diad's Ford. +They threw their twenty-nine spears at him at once; i.e. +Gaile-dana with his twenty-seven sons and his sister's son, Glas +Mac Delgna. When then they all stretched out their hands to +their swords, Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe came after them out of the +camp. He gave a leap from his chariot when he saw all their +hands against Cuchulainn, and he strikes off the arms of the +twenty-nine of them. + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'What you have done I deem help at the +nick of time (?).' + +'This little,' said Fiacha, 'is a breach of compact for us +Ulstermen. If any of them reaches the camp, we will go with our +cantred under the point of the sword.' + +'I swear, etc., since I have emitted my breath,' said Cuchulainn, +'not a man of them shall reach it alive.' + +Cuchulainn slew then the twenty-nine men and the two sons of Ficce +with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who came to ply their might +on the host. This is that deed on the Foray, when they went to the +battle with Cuchulainn. + + +_This is the Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn_ + +Then they considered what man among them would be fit to ward off +Cuchulainn. The four provinces of Ireland spoke, and confirmed, and +discussed, whom it would be fitting to send to the ford against +Cuchulainn. All said that it was the Horn-skin from Irrus Domnand, +the weight that is not supported, the battle-stone of doom, his own +dear and ardent foster-brother. For Cuchulainn had not a feat that +he did not possess, except it were the Gae Bolga alone; and they +thought he could avoid it, and defend himself against it, because +of the horn about him, so that neither arms nor many edges pierced +it. + +Medb sent messengers to bring Fer Diad. Fer Diad did not come with +those messengers. Medb sent poets and bards and satirists [Note: +Ir. _aes glantha gemaidi_, the folk who brought blotches on the +cheeks (i.e. by their lampoons).] to him, that they might satirise +him and mock him and put him to ridicule, that he might not find a +place for his head in the world, until he should come to the tent +of Medb and Ailill on the Foray. Fer Diad came with those +messengers, for the fear of their bringing shame on him. + +Findabair, the daughter of Medb and Ailill, was put on one side of +him: it is Findabair who put her hand on every goblet and on every +cup of Fer Diad; it is she who gave him three kisses at every cup +of them; it is she who distributed apples right frequent over the +bosom of his tunic. This is what she said: that he, Fer Diad, was +her darling and her chosen wooer of the men of the world. + +When Fer Diad was satisfied and happy and very joyful, Medb said: + +'Alé! O Fer Diad, do you know why you have been summoned into this +tent?' + +'I do not know indeed,' said Fer Diad; 'except that the nobles of +the men of Ireland are there. What is there less fitting for me to +be there than for any other good warrior?' + +'It is not that indeed,' said Medb; 'but to give you a chariot +worth three sevens of cumals [See previous note about _cumal_.] and +the equipment of twelve men, and the equal of Mag Murthemne from +the arable land of Mag Ai; and that you should be in Cruachan +always, and wine to be poured for you there; and freedom of your +descendants and of your race for ever without tribute or tax; my +leaf-shaped brooch of gold to be given to you, in which there are +ten score ounces and ten score half-ounces, and ten score _crosach_ +and ten score quarters; Findabair, my daughter and Ailill's +daughter, for your one wife, and you shall get my love if you need +it over and above.' + +'He does not need it,' said every, one: 'great are the rewards and +gifts.' + +'That is true,' said Fer Diad, 'they are great; and though they are +great, O Medb, it is with you yourself they will be left, rather +than that I should go against my foster-brother to battle.' + +'O men,' said she, said Medb (through the right way of division and +setting by the ears), 'true is the word that Cuchulainn spoke,' as +if she had not heard Fer Diad at all. + +'What word is this, O Medb?' said Fer Diad. + +'He said indeed,' said she, 'that he would not think it too much +that you should fall by him as the first fruits of his prowess in +the province to which he should come.' + +'To say that was not fitting for him. For it is not weariness or +cowardice that he has ever known in me, day nor night. I swear, +etc., [Note: The usual oath, 'by the god by whom my people swear,' +understood.] that I will be the first man who will come to-morrow +morning to the ford of combat.' + +'May victory and blessing come to you,' said Medb. 'And I think it +better that weariness or cowardice be found with you, because of +friendship beyond my own men (?). Why is it more fitting for him to +seek the good of Ulster because his mother was of them, than for +you to seek the good of the province of Connaught, because you are +the son of a king of Connaught?' + +It is thus they were binding their covenants and their compact, and +they made a song there: + + 'Thou shalt have a reward,' etc. + +There was a wonderful warrior of Ulster who witnessed that +bargaining, and that was Fergus Mac Roich. Fergus came to his tent. + +'Woe is me! the deed that is done to-morrow morning!' said Fergus. + +'What deed is that?' said the folk in the tent. + +'My good fosterling Cuchulainn to be slain.' + +'Good lack! who makes that boast?' + +'An easy question: his own dear ardent foster-brother, Fer Diad Mac +Damain. Why do ye not win my blessing?' said Fergus; 'and let one +of you go with a warning and with compassion to Cuchulainn, if +perchance he would leave the ford to-morrow morning.' + +'On our conscience,' said they, 'though it were you yourself who +were on the ford of combat, we would not come as far as [the ford] +to seek you.' + +'Good, my lad,' said Fergus; 'get our horses for us and yoke the +chariot.' + +The lad arose and got the horses and yoked the chariot. They came +forth to the ford of combat where Cuchulainn was. + +'One chariot coming hither towards us, O Cuchulainn!' said Loeg. +For it is thus the lad was, with his back towards his lord. He used +to win every other game of _brandub_ [_Brandub_, the name of a +game; probably, like _fidchill_ and _buanfach_, of the nature of +chess or draughts.] and of chess-playing from his master: the +sentinel and watchman on the four quarters of Ireland over and +above that. + +'What kind of chariot then?' said Cuchulainn. + +'A chariot like a huge royal fort, with its yolcs strong golden, +with its great panel(?) of copper, with its shafts of bronze, with +its body thin-framed (?), dry-framed (?), feat-high, scythed, +sword-fair (?), of a champion, on two horses, swift, stout(?), +well-yoked (?), ---- (?). One royal warrior, wide-eyed, was the +combatant of the chariot. A beard curly, forked, on him, so that it +reached over the soft lower part of his soft shirt, so that it +would shelter (?) fifty warriors to be under the heavy ---- of the +warrior's beard, on a day of storm and rain. A round shield, white, +variegated, many-coloured on him, with three chains ----, so that +there would be room from front to back for four troops of ten men +behind the leather of the shield which is upon the ---- of the +warrior. A sword, long, hard-edged, red-broad in the sheath, woven +and twisted of white silver, over the skin of the bold-in-battle. A +spear, strong, three-ridged, with a winding and with bands of white +silver all white by him across the chariot.' + +'Not hard the recognition,' said Cuchulainn; 'my friend Fergus +comes there, with a warning and with compassion to me before all +the four provinces.' + +Fergus reached them and sprang from his chariot and Cuchulainn +greeted him. + +'Welcome your coming, O my friend, O Fergus,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I believe your welcome,' said Fergus. + +'You may believe it,' said Cuchulainn; 'if a flock of birds come to +the plain, you shall have a duck with half of another; if fish come +to the estuaries, you shall have a salmon with half of another; a +sprig of watercress, and a sprig of marshwort, and a sprig of +seaweed, and a drink of cold sandy water after it.' + +'That portion is that of an outlaw,' said Fergus. + +'That is true, it is an outlaw's portion that I have,' said +Cuchulainn, 'for I have been from the Monday after Samain to this +time, and I have not gone for a night's entertainment, through +strongly obstructing the men of Ireland on the Cattle-Foray of +Cualnge at this time.' + +'If it were for this we came,' said Fergus, 'we should have thought +it the better to leave it; and it is not for this that we have +come.' + +'Why else have you come to me?' said Cuchulainn. + +'To tell you the warrior who comes against you in battle and combat +to-morrow morning,' said he. + +'Let us find it out and let us hear it from you then,' said +Cuchulainn. + +'Your own foster-brother, Fer Diad Mac Damain.' + +'On our word, we think it not best that it should be he we come to +meet,'said Cuchulainn, 'and it is not for fear of him but for the +greatness of our love for him.' + +'It is fitting to fear him,' said Fergus, 'for he has a skin of +horn in battle against a man, so that neither weapon nor edge will +pierce it.' + +'Do not say that at all,' said Cuchulainn, 'for I swear the oath +that my people swear, that every joint and every limb of him will +be as pliant as a pliant rush in the midst of a stream under the +point of my sword, if he shows himself once to me on the ford.' + +It is thus they were speaking, and they made a song: + + 'O Cuchulainn, a bright meeting,' etc. + +After that, 'Why have you come, O my friend, O Fergus?' said +Cuchulainn. + +'That is my purpose,' said Fergus. + +'Good luck and profit,' said Cuchulainn, 'that no other of the men +of Ireland has come for this purpose, unless the four provinces of +Ireland all met at one time. I think nothing of a warning before a +single warrior.' + +Then Fergus went to his tent. + +As regards the charioteer and Cuchulainn: + +'What shall you do to-night?' said Loeg. + +'What indeed?' said Cuchulainn. + +'It is thus that Fer Diad will come to seek you, with new beauty of +plaiting and haircutting, and washing and bathing, and the four +provinces of Ireland with him to look at the fight. It would please +me if you went to the place where you will get the same adorning +for yourself, to the place where is Emer of the Beautiful Hair, to +Cairthend of Cluan Da Dam in Sliab Fuait.' + +So Cuchulainn went thither that night, and spent the night with his +own wife. His adventures from this time are not discussed here now. +As to Fer Diad, he came to his tent; it was gloomy and weary that +Fer Diad's tent-servants were that night. They thought it certain +that where the two pillars of the battle of the world should meet, +that both would fall; or the issue of it would be, that it would be +their own lord who would fall there. For it was not easy to fight +with Cuchulainn on the Foray. + +There were great cares on Fer Diad's mind that night, so that they +did not let him sleep. One of his great anxieties was that he +should let pass from him all the treasures that had been offered +to him, and the maiden, by reason of combat with one man. If he did +not fight with that one man, he must fight with the six warriors on +the morrow. His care that was greater than this was that if he +should show himself once on the ford to Cuchulainn, he was certain +that he himself would not have power of his head or life +thereafter; and Fer Diad arose early on the morrow. + +'Good, my lad,' said he, 'get our horses for us, and harness the +chariot.' + +'On our word,' said the servant, 'we think it not greater praise to +go this journey than not to go it.' + +He was talking with his charioteer, and he made this little song, +inciting his charioteer: + + 'Let us go to this meeting,' etc. + +The servant got the horses and yoked the chariot, and they went +forth from the camp. + +'My lad,' said Fer Diad, 'it is not fitting that we make our +journey without farewell to the men of Ireland. Turn the horses +and the chariot for us towards the men of Ireland.' + +The servant turned the horses and the chariot thrice towards the +men of Ireland. ... + + +'Does Ailill sleep now?' said Medb. + +'Not at all,' said Ailill. + +'Do you hear your new son-in-law greeting you?' + +'Is that what he is doing?' said Ailill. + +'It is indeed,' said Medb, 'and I swear by what my people swear, +the man who makes the greeting yonder will not come back to you on +the same feet.' + +'Nevertheless we have profited by(?) the good marriage connection +with him,' said Ailill; 'provided Cuchulainn fell by him, I should +not care though they both fell. But we should think it better for +Fer Diad to escape.' + + +Fer Diad came to the ford of combat. + +'Look, my lad,' said Fer Diad; 'is Cuchulainn on the ford?' + +'He is not, indeed,' said the servant. + +'Look well for us,' said Fer Diad. + +'Cuchulainn is not a little speck in hiding where he would be,' +said the lad. + +'It is true, O boy, until to-day Cuchulainn has not heard of the +coming of a good warrior [Note: Gloss incorporated in the text: 'or +a good man.'] against him on the Cattle Foray of Cualnge, and when +he has heard of it he has left the ford.' + +'A great pity to slander Cuchulainn in his absence! For do you +remember how when you gave battle to German Garbglas above the +edge-borders of the Tyrrhene Sea, you left your sword with the +hosts, and it was Cuchulainn who killed a hundred warriors in +reaching it, and he brought it to you; and do you remember where we +were that night?' said the lad. + +'I do not know it,' said Fer Diad. + +'At the house of Scathach's steward,' said the lad, 'and you went +---- and haughtily before us into the house first. The churl gave +you a blow with the three-pointed flesh-hook in the small of your +back, so that it threw you out over the door like a shot. +Cuchulainn came into the house and gave the churl a blow with his +sword, so that it made two pieces of him. It was I who was steward +for you while you were in that place. If only for that day, you +should not say that you are a better warrior than Cuchulainn.' + +'What you have done is wrong,' said Fer Diad, 'for I would not have +come to seek the combat if you had said it to me at first. Why do +you not pull the cushions [Note: LL _fortchai_. YBL has _feirtsi_, +'shafts.'] of the chariot under my side and my skin-cover under my +head, so that I might sleep now?' + +'Alas!' said the lad, 'it is the sleep of a fey man before deer and +hounds here.' + +'What, O lad, are you not fit to keep watch and ward for me?' + +'I am fit,' said the lad; 'unless men come in clouds or in mist to +seek you, they will not come at all from east or west to seek you +without warning and observation.' + +The cushions [Note: LL _fortchai_. YBL has _feirtsi_, 'shafts.'] +of his chariot were pulled under his side and the skin under his +head. And yet he could not sleep a little. + + +As to Cuchulainn it is set forth: + +'Good, O my friend, O Loeg, take the horses and yoke the chariot; +if Fer Diad is waiting for us, he is thinking it long.' + +The boy rose and took the horses and yoked the chariot. + +Cuchulainn stepped into his chariot and they came on to the ford. +As to Fer Diad's servant, he had not long to watch till he heard +the creaking of the chariot coming towards them. He took to waking +his master, and made a song: + + 'I hear a chariot,' etc. + +(This is the description of Cuchulainn's chariot: one of the three +chief chariots of the narration on the Cattle Foray of Cualnge.) + +'How do you see Cuchulainn?' said he, said Fer Diad, to his +charioteer. + +'I see,' said he, 'the chariot broad above, fine, of white crystal, +with a yoke of gold with ---- (?), with great panels of copper, +with shafts of bronze, with tyres of white metal, with its body +thin-framed (?) dry-framed (?), feat-high, sword-fair (?), of a +champion, on which there would be room for seven arms fit for a +lord (?). A fair seat for its lord; so that this chariot, +Cuchulainn's chariot, would reach with the speed of a swallow or of +a wild deer, over the level land of Mag Slebe. That is the speed +and ---- which they attain, for it is towards us they go. This +chariot is at hand on two horses small-headed, small-round, +small-end, pointed, ----, red-breasted, ----, easy to recognise, +well-yoked. ... One of the two horses is supple(?), swift-leaping, +great of strength, great of foot, great of length, ----. The other +horse is curly-maned, slender-footed, narrow-footed, heeled, ----. +Two wheels dark, black. A pole of metal adorned with red enamel, of +a fair colour. Two bridles golden, inlaid. There is a man with fair +curly hair, broad cut (?), in the front of this chariot. There is +round him a blue mantle, red-purple. A spear with wings (?), and it +red, furious; in his clenched fist, red-flaming. The appearance of +three heads of hair on him, i.e. dark hair against the skin of his +head, hair blood-red in the middle, a crown of gold covers the +third hair. + +'A fair arrangement of the hair so that it makes three circles +round about his shoulders down behind. I think it like gold thread, +after its colour has been made over the edge of the anvil; or like +the yellow of bees on which the sun shines in a summer day, is the +shining of each single hair of his hair. Seven toes on each of his +feet, and seven fingers on each of his hands, and the shining of a +very great fire round his eye, ---- (?) and the hoofs of his +horses; a hero's ---- in his hands. + +'The charioteer of the chariot is worthy of him in his presence: +curly hair very black has he, broad-cut along his head. A cowl-dress +is on him open; two very fine golden leaf-shaped switches in his +hand, and a light grey mantle round him, and a goad of white silver +in his hand, plying the goad on the horses, whichever way the +champion of great deeds goes who was at hand in the chariot. + +'He is veteran of his land (?): he and his servant think little of +Ireland.' + +'Go, O fellow,' said he, said Fer Diad; 'you praise too much +altogether; and prepare the arms in the ford against his coming.' + +'If I turned my face backwards, it seems to me the chariot would +come through the back of my neck.' + +'O fellow,' said he, 'too greatly do you praise Cuchulainn, for it +is not a reward for praising he has given you'; and it is thus he +was giving his description, and he said: + + 'The help is timely,' etc. + +It is not long afterwards that they met in the middle of the ford, +and Fer Diad said to Cuchulainn: + +'Whence come you, O Cua?' said he (for [Note: An interpolation.] +_cua_ was the name of squinting in old Gaelic; and there were seven +pupils in Cuchulainn's royal eye, and two of these pupils were +squinting, and the ugliness of it is no greater than its beauty on +him; and if there had been a greater blemish on Cuchulainn, it is +that with which he reproached him; and he was proclaiming it); and +he made a song, and Cuchulainn answered: + + 'Whence art thou come, O Hound,' etc. + +Then Cuchulainn said to his charioteer that he was to taunt him +when he was overcome, and that he was to praise him when he was +victorious, in the combat against Fer Diad. Then the charioteer +said to him: + +'The man goes over thee as the tail over a cat; he washes thee as +foam is washed in water, he squeezes (?) thee as a loving mother +her son.' + + +Then they took to the ford-play. Scathach's ---- (?)came to them +both. Fer Diad and Cuchulainn performed marvellous feats. +Cuchulainn went and leapt into Fer Diad's shield; Fer Diad hurled +him from him thrice into the ford; so that the charioteer taunted +him again ---- and he swelled like breath in a bag. + +His size increased till he was greater than Fer Diad. + +'Give heed to the _Gae bolga_,' said the charioteer; he sent it to +him along the stream. + +Cuchulainn seized it between his toes, and wielded it on Fer Diad, +into his body's armour. It advances like one spear, so that it +became twenty-four points. Then Fer Diad turned the shield below. +Cuchulainn thrust at him with the spear over the shield, so that it +broke the shaft of his ribs and went through Fer Diad's heart. + +[_Fer Diad_:] 'Strong is the ash from thy right hand! The ---- rib +breaks, my heart is blood. Well hast thou given battle! I fall, O +Hound.' + +[_Cuchulainn_:] 'Alas, O golden brooch, O Fer Diad! ----, O fair +strong striker! Thy hand was victorious; our dear foster +brotherhood, O delight of the eyes! Thy shield with the rim of +gold, thy sword was dear. Thy ring of white silver round thy noble +arm. Thy chess-playing was worthy of a great man. Thy cheek +fair-purple; thy yellow curling hair was great, it was a fair +treasure. Thy soft folded girdle which used to be about thy side. +That thou shouldst fall at Cuchulainn's hands was sad, O Calf! Thy +shield did not suffice which used to be for service. Our combat +with thee is not fitting, our horses and our tumult. Fair was the +great hero! every host used to be defeated and put under foot. +Alas, O golden brooch, O Fer Diad!' + +*** + +THIS IS THE LONG WARNING OF SUALTAIM + +While the things that we have related were done, Suallaith heard +from Rath Sualtaim in Mag Murthemne the vexing of his son +Cuchulainn against twelve sons of Gaile Dana [Note: LL, +'Twenty-seven sons of Calatin.' In the story as related earlier in +YBL it is 'Gaile Dana with his twenty-seven sons.'] and his +sister's son. It is then that Sualtaim said: + +'Is it heaven that bursts, or the sea over its boundaries, or earth +that is destroyed, or the shout of my son against odds?' + +Then he comes to his son. Cuchulainn was displeased that he should +come to him. + +'Though he were slain, I should not have strength to avenge him. Go +to the Ulstermen,' says Cuchulainn, 'and let them give battle to +the warriors at once; if they do not give it, they will not be +avenged for ever.' + +When his father saw him, there was not in his chariot as much as +the point of a rush would cover that was not pierced. His left hand +which the shield protected, twenty wounds were in it. + +Sualtaim came over to Emain and shouted to the Ulstermen: + +'Men are being slain, women carried off, cows driven away!' + +His first shout was from the side of the court; his second from the +side of the fortress; the third shout was on the mound of the +hostages in Emain. No one answered; it was the practice of the +Ulstermen that none of them should speak except to Conchobar; and +Conchobar did not speak before the three druids. + +'Who takes them, who steals them, who carries them off?' said the +druid. + +Ailill Mac Mata carries them off and steals them and takes them, +through the guidance of Fergus Mac Roich,' said Sualtaim. 'Your +people have been enslaved as far as Dun Sobairce; their cows and +their women and their cattle have been taken. Cuchulainn did not +let them into Mag Murthemne and into Crich Rois; three months of +winter then, bent branches of hazel held together his dress upon +him. Dry wisps are on his wounds. He has been wounded so that he +has been parted joint from joint.' + +'Fitting,' said the druid, 'were the death of the man who has +spurred on the king.' + +'It is fitting for him,' said Conchobar. + +'It is fitting for him,' said the Ulstermen. + +'True is what Sualtaim says,' said Conchobar; 'from the Monday +night of Samain to the Monday night of Candlemas he has been in +this foray.' + +Sualtaim gave a leap out thereupon. He did not think sufficient +the answer that he had. He falls on his shield, so that the +engraved edge of the shield cut his head off. His head is brought +back into Emain into the house on the shield, and the head says the +same word (though some say that he was asleep on the stone, and +that he fell thence on to his shield in awaking). + +'Too great was this shout,' said Conchobar. 'The sea before them, +the heaven over their tops, the earth under their feet. I will +bring every cow into its milking-yard, and every woman and every +boy from their house, after the victory in battle.' + +Then Conchobar struck his hand on his son, Findchad Fer m-Bend. +Hence he is so called because there were horns of silver on him. + + +THE MUSTER OF THE ULSTERMEN + + +'Arise, O Findchad, I will send thee to Deda,' etc. [Note: +Rhetoric, followed by a long list of names.] + + +It was not, difficult for Findchad to take his message, for they +were, the whole province of Conchobar, every chief of them, +awaiting Conchobar; every one was then east and north and west of +Emain. When they were there, they all came till they were at Emain +Macha. When they were there, they Beard the uprising of Conchobar +in Emain. They went past Emain southwards after the host. Their +first march then was from Emain to Irard Cuillend. + +'What are you waiting for here?' said Conchobar. + +'Waiting for your sons,' said the host. 'They have gone with thirty +with them to Temair to seek Eirc, son of Coirpre Niafer and Fedelm +Noicride. Till their two cantreds should come to us, we will not go +from this place.' + +'I will not remain indeed,' said Conchobar, 'till the men of +Ireland know that I have awaked from the sickness in which I was.' + +Conchobar and Celtchar went with three fifties of chariots, and +they brought eight twenties of heads from Ath Airthir Midi; hence +is Ath Fene. They were there watching the host. And eight twenties +of women, that was their share of the spoil. Their heads were +brought there, and Conchobar and Celtchar sent them to the camp. It +is there that Celtchar said to Conchobar: [Note: Rhetoric.] + + +(Or it was Cuscraid, the Stammerer of Macha, son of Conchobar, sang +this song the night before the battle, after the song which +Loegaire Buadach had sung, to wit, 'Arise, kings of Macha,' etc., +and it would be in the camp it was sung.) + +It was in this night that the vision happened to Dubthach Doeltenga +of Ulster, when the hosts were on Garach and Irgarach. It is there +that he said in his sleep: + + +THE VISION OF DUBTHACH + +'A wonder of a morning,' [Note: Rhetoric.] a wonder of a time, when +hosts will be confused, kings will be turned, necks will break, the +sun will grow red, three hosts will be routed by the track of a +host about Conchobar. They will strive for their women, they will +chase their flocks in fight on the morning, heroes will be smitten, +dogs will be checked (?), horses will be pressed (?), ---- ----, +---- will drip, from the assemblies of great peoples.' + +Therewith they awoke through their sleep (?). The Nemain threw the +host into confusion there; a hundred men of them died. There is +silence there then; when they heard Cormac Condlongas again (or it +is Ailill Mac Matae in the camp who sang this): + +'The time of Ailill. Great his truce, the truce of Cuillend,' etc. +[Note: Rhetoric.] + + +THE MARCH OF THE COMPANIES + +While these things were being done, the Connaughtman determined to +send messengers by the counsel of Ailill and Medb and Fergus, to +look at the Ulstermen, to see whether they had reached the plain. +It is there that Ailill said: + +'Go, O Mac Roth,' said Ailill, 'and look for us whether the men are +all(?) in the plain of Meath in which we are. If they have not +come, I have carried off their spoil and their cows; let them give +battle to me, if it suits them. I will not await them here any +longer.' + +Then Mac Roth went to look at and to watch the plain. He came back +to Ailill and Medb and Fergus The first time then that Mac Roth +looked from the circuit of Sliab Fuait, he saw that all the wild +beast came out of the wood, so that they were all in the plain. + +'The second time,' said Mac Roth, 'that I surveyed the plain, I saw +a heavy mist that filled the glens and the valleys, so that it made +the hills between them like islands in lakes. Then there appeared +to me sparks of fire out of this great mist: there appeared to me a +variegation of every different colour in the world. I saw then +lightning and din and thunder and a great wind that almost took my +hair from my head, and threw me on my back; and yet the wind of the +day was not great.' + +'What is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Ailill. 'Say what it means.' +[Note: Literally, 'is like.'] + +'That is not hard; this is what it means,' said Fergus: 'This is +the Ulstermen after coming out of their sickness. It is they who +have come into the wood. The throng and the greatness and the +violence of the heroes, it is that which has shaken the wood; it is +before them that the wild beasts have fled into the plain. The +heavy mist that you saw, which filled the valleys, was the breath +of those warriors, which filled the glens so that it made the hills +between them like islands in lakes. The lightning and the sparks of +fire and the many colours that you saw, O Mac Roth,' said Fergus, +'are the eyes of the warriors from their heads which have shone to +you like sparks of fire. The thunder and the din and the noise(?) +that you heard, was the whistling of the swords and of the +ivory-hilted weapons, the clatter of arms, the creaking of the +chariots, the beating of the hoofs of the horses, the strength of +the warriors, the roar of the fighting-men, the noise of the +soldiers, the great rage and anger and fierceness of the heroes +going in madness to the battle, for the greatness of the rage and +of the fury(?). They would think they would not reach it at all,' +said Fergus. + +'We will await them,' said Ailill; 'we have warriors for them.' + +'You will need that,' said Fergus, 'for there will not be found in +all Ireland, nor in the west of the world, from Greece and Scythia +westward to the Orkneys and to the Pillars of Hercules and to the +Tower of Bregon and to the island of Gades, any one who shall +endure the Ulstermen in their fury and in their rage,' said Fergus. + +Then Mac Roth went again to look at the march of the men of Ulster, +so that he was in their camp at Slemon Midi, and Fergus; and he +told them certain tidings, and Mac Roth said in describing them: + +'A great company has come, of great fury, mighty, fierce, to the +hill at Slemon Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'I think there is a cantred +therein; they took off their clothing at once, and dug a mound of +sods under their leader's seat. A warrior fair and tall and long +and high, beautiful, the fairest of kings his form, in the front of +the company. Hair white-yellow has he, and it curly, neat, bushy (?), +ridged, reaching to the hollow of his shoulders. A tunic curly, +purple, folded round him; a brooch excellent, of red-gold, in his +cloak on his breast; eyes very grey, very fair, in his head; a face +proper, purple, has he, and it narrow below and broad above: a +beard forked, very curly, gold-yellow he has; a shirt white, +hooded, with red ornamentation, round about him; a sword gold-hilted +on his shoulders; a white shield with rivets(?) of gold; abroad +grey spear-head on a slender shaft in his hand. The fairest of the +princes of the world his march, both in host and rage and form and +dress, both in face and terror and battle and triumph, both in +prowess and horror and dignity. + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth; 'it is next to the +other in number and quarrelling and dress and terror and horror. A +fair warrior, heroic, is in the front of this company. A green +cloak folded round him; a brooch of gold over his arm; hair curly +and yellow: an ivory-hilted sword with a hilt of ivory at his left. +A shirt with ---- to his knee; a wound-giving shield with engraved +edge; the candle of a palace [Note: i.e. spear.] in his hand; a +ring of silver about it, and it runs round along the shaft forward +to the point, and again it runs to the grip. And that troop sat +down on the left hand of the leader of the first troop, and it is +thus they sat down, with their knees to the ground, and the rims of +their shields against their chins. And I thought there was +stammering in the speech of the great fierce warrior who is the +leader of that company. + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth; 'its appearance is +vaster than a cantred; a man brave, difficult, fair, with broad +head, before it. Hair dark and curly on him; a beard long, with +slender points, forked, has he; a cloak dark-grey, ----, folded +round him; a leaf-shaped brooch of white metal over his breast; a +white, hooded shirt to his knees; a hero's shield with rivets on +him; a sword of white silver about his waist; a five-pointed spear +in his hand. He sat down in front of the leader of the first +troop.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'I know indeed,' said Fergus, 'those companies. Conchobar, king of +a province of Ireland, it is he who has sat down on the mound of +sods. Sencha Mac Aililla, the orator of Ulster, it is he who has +sat down before him. Cuscraid, the Stammerer of Macha, son of +Conchobar, it is he who has sat down at his father's side. It is +the custom for the spear that is in his hand in sport yonder before +victory ---- before or after. That is a goodly folk for wounding, +for essaying every conflict, that has come,' said Fergus. + +'They will find men to speak with them here,' said Medb. + +'I swear by the god by whom my people swear,' said Fergus, 'there +has not been born in Ireland hitherto a man who would check the +host of Ulster.' [Note: Conjectural; the line is corrupt in the MS.] + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth. 'Greater than a +cantred its number. A great warrior, brave, with horror and terror, +and he mighty, fiery-faced, before it. Hair dark, greyish on him, +and it smooth-thin on his forehead. Around shield with engraved +edge on him, a spear five-pointed in his hand, a forked javelin +beside him; a hard sword on the back of his head; a purple cloak +folded round him; a brooch of gold on his arm; a shirt, white, +hooded, to his knee.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the putting of a hand on strife; he is a battle champion for +fight; he is judgment against enemies who has come there; that is, +Eogan Mac Durthacht, King of Fermoy is that,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come, great, fierce, to the hill at Slemon +Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'They have put their clothing behind them. +Truly, it is strong, dark, they have come to the hill; heavy is the +terror and great the horror which they have put upon themselves; +terrible the clash of arms that they made in marching. A man thick +of head, brave, like a champion, before it; and he horrible, +hideous; hair light, grey on him; eyes yellow, great, in his head; +a cloak yellow, with white ---- round about him. A shield, +wound-giving, with engraved edge, on him, without; a broad spear, a +javelin with a drop of blood along the shaft; and a spear its match +with the blood of enemies along its edge in his hand; a great +wound-giving sword on his shoulders.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'The man who has so come does not avoid battle or combat or strife: +that is, Loegaire the Victorious, Mac Connaid Meic Ilech, from +Immail from the north,' said Fergus. + +'Another great company has come to Slemon Midi to the hill,' said +Mac Roth. 'A warrior thick-necked, fleshy, fair, before that +company. Hair black and curly on him, and he purple, blue-faced; +eyes grey, shining, in his head; a cloak grey, lordly (?), about +him; a brooch of white silver therein; a black shield with a boss +of bronze on it; a spear, covered with eyes, with ---- (?), in his +hand; a shirt, braided(?), with red ornamentation, about him; a +sword with a hilt of ivory over his dress outside.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the putting of a hand on a skirmish; he is the wave of a +great sea that drowns little streams; he is a man of three shouts; +he is the judgment of ---- of enemies, who so comes,' said Fergus; +'that is, Munremar Mac Gerrcind, from Moduirn in the north.' + +'Another great company has come there to the hill to Slemon Midi,' +said Mac Roth. 'A company very fair, very beautiful, both in number +and strife and raiment. It is fiercely that they make for the hill; +the clatter of arms which they raised in going on their course +shook the host. A warrior fair, excellent, before the company. Most +beautiful of men his form, both in hair and eyes and fear, both in +raiment and form and voice and whiteness, both in dignity and size +and beauty, both in weapons and knowledge and adornment, both in +equipment and armour and fitness, both in honour and wisdom and +race.' + +'This is his description,' said Fergus; 'he is the brightness of +fire, the fair man, Fedlimid, who so comes there; he is fierceness +of warriors, he is the wave of a storm that drowns, he is might +that is not endured, with triumphs out of other territories after +destruction (?) of his foes; that is Fedlimid ---- ---- there.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth, 'which is not fewer than a warlike cantred (?). A warrior +great, brave, grey, proper, ----, in front of it. Hair black, +curly, on him; round eyes, grey(?), very high, in his head. A man +bull-like, strong, rough; a grey cloak about him, with a brooch of +silver on his arm; a shirt white, hooded, round him; a sword at his +side; a red shield with a hard boss of silver on it. A spear with +three rivets, broad, in his hand.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the fierce glow of wrath, he is a shaft (?) of every battle; +he is the victory of every combat, who has so come there, Connad +Mac Mornai from Callann,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come to the hill at Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'It is the march of an army for greatness. The leader who is +in front of that company, not common is a warrior fairer both in +form and attire and equipment. Hair bushy, red-yellow, on him; a +face proper, purple, well-proportioned; a face narrow below, broad +above; lips red, thin; teeth shining, pearly; a voice clear, +ringing; a face fair, purple, shapely; most beautiful of the forms +of men; a purple cloak folded round him; a brooch with full +adornment of gold, over his white breast; a bent shield with +many-coloured rivets, with a boss of silver, at his left; a long +spear, grey-edged, with a sharp javelin for attack in his hand; a +sword gold-hilted, of gold, on his back; a hooded shirt with red +ornamentation about him.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'We know, indeed,' said Fergus. 'He is half of a combat truly,' +said he, 'who so comes there; he is a fence(?) of battle, he is +fierce rage of a bloodhound; Rochad Mac Fathemain from Bridamae, +your son-in-law, is that, who wedded your daughter yonder, that is, +Findabair.' + +'Another company has come to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'A warrior with great calves, stout, with great thighs, big, +in front of that company. Each of his limbs is almost as thick as a +man. Truly, he is a man down to the ground,' said he. 'Hair black +on him; a face full of wounds, purple, has he; an eye parti-coloured, +very high, in his head; a man glorious, dexterous, thus, with +horror and terror, who has a wonderful apparel, both raiment and +weapons and appearance and splendour and dress; he raises himself +with the prowess of a warrior, with achievements of ----, with the +pride of wilfulness, with a going through battle to rout +overwhelming numbers, with wrath upon foes, with a marching on many +hostile countries without protection. In truth, mightily have they +come on their course into Slemon Midi.' + +'He was ---- of valour and of prowess, in sooth,' said Fergus; 'he +was of ---- pride(?) and of haughtiness, he was ---- of strength +and dignity, ---- then of armies and hosts of my own foster-brother, +Fergus Mac Leiti, King of Line, point of battle of the north of +Ireland.' + +'Another company, great, fierce, has come to the hill, to Slemon +Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'Strife before it, strange dresses on them. A +warrior fair, beautiful, before it; gift of every form, both hair +and eye and whiteness, both size and strife and fitness; five +chains of gold on him; a green cloak folded about him; a brooch of +gold in the cloak over his arm; a shirt white, hooded, about +him; the tower of a palace in his hand; a sword gold-hilted on his +shoulders.' + +'Fiery is the bearing of the champion of combat who has so come +there,' said Fergus. 'Amorgene, son of Eccet Salach the smith, from +Buais in the north is that.' + +'Another company has come there, to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' +said Mac Roth. It is a drowning for size, it is a fire for +splendour, it is a pin for sharpness, it is a battalion for number, +it is a rock for greatness, it is ---- for might, it is a judgment +for its ----, it is thunder for pride. A warrior rough-visaged, +terrible, in front of this company, and he great-bellied, +large-lipped; rough hair, a grey beard on him; and he great-nosed, +red-limbed; a dark cloak about him, an iron spike on his cloak; a +round shield with an engraved edge on him; a rough shirt, +braided(?), about him; a great grey spear in his hand, and thirty +rivets therein; a sword of seven charges of metal on his shoulders. +All the host rose before him, and he overthrew multitudes of the +battalion about him in going to the hill.' + +'He is a head of strife who has so come,' said Fergus; 'he is a +half of battle, he is a warrior for valour, he is a wave of a storm +which drowns, he is a sea over boundaries; that is, Celtchar Mac +Uithechair from Dunlethglaisi in the north.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A warrior of one whiteness in front of it, all white, +both hair and eyelashes and beard and equipment; a shield with a +boss of gold on him, and a sword with a hilt of ivory, and a broad +spear with rings in his hand. Very heroic has his march come.' + +'Dear is the bear, strong-striking, who has so come,' said Fergus; +'the bear of great deeds against enemies, who breaks men, Feradach +Find Fechtnach from the grove of Sliab Fuait in the north is that.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A hideous warrior in front of it, and he great-bellied, +large-lipped; his lips as big as the lips of a horse; hair dark, +curly, on him, and he himself ----, broad-headed, long-handed; a +cloak black, hairy, about him; a chain of copper over it, a dark +grey buckler over his left hand; a spear with chains in his right +hand; a long sword on his shoulders.' + +'He is a lion red-handed, fierce of ----, who so comes,' said +Fergus. 'He is high of deeds, great in battle, rough; he is a +raging on the land who is unendurable, Eirrgi Horse-lipped from Bri +Eirge in the north,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Two warriors, fair, both alike, in front of it; yellow +hair on them; two white shields with rivets of silver; they are of +equal age. They lift up their feet and set them down together; it +is not their manner for either of them to lift up his feet without +the other. Two heroes, two splendid flames, two points of battle, +two warriors, two pillars of fight, two dragons, two fires, two +battle-soldiers, two champions of combat, two rods (?), two bold +ones, two pets of Ulster about the king.' + +'Who are those, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'Fiachna and Fiacha, two sons of Conchobar Mac Nessa, two darlings +of the north of Ireland,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'Three warriors, fiery, noble, blue-faced, before it. Three +heads of hair very yellow have they; three cloaks of one colour in +folds about them; three brooches of gold over their arms, three +shirts ---- with red ornamentation round about them; three shields +alike have they; three swords gold-hilted on their shoulders; three +spears, broad-grey, in their right hands. They are of equal age.' + +'Three glorious champions of Coba, three of great deeds of +Midluachair, three princes of Roth, three veterans of the east of +Sliab Fuait,' said Fergus; 'the three sons of Fiachna are these, +after the Bull; that is, Rus and Dairi and Imchath,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A man lively, fiery, before it; eyes very red, of a +champion, in his head; a many-coloured cloak about him; a chain of +silver thereon; a grey shield on his left; [a sword] with a hilt of +silver at his side; a spear, excellent with a striking of cruelty +in his vengeful right hand; a shirt white, hooded, to his knee. A +company very red, with wounds, about him, and he himself wounded +and bleeding.' + +'That,' said Fergus, 'is the bold one, unsparing; that is the +tearing; it is the boar [Note: Ir. _rop_, said to be a beast that +wounds or gores.] of combat, it is the mad bull; it is the +victorious one of Baile; it is the warlike one of the gap; it is +the champion of Colptha, the door of war of the north of Ireland: +that is, Menn Mac Salchalca from Corann. To avenge his wounds upon +you has that man come,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth, 'and they very heroic, mutually willing. A warrior grey, +great, broad, tall, before it. Hair dark, curly, on him; a cloak +red, woollen, about him; a shirt excellent; a brooch of gold over +his arms in his cloak; a sword, excellent, with hilt of white +silver on his left; a red shield has he; a spear-head broad-grey on +a fair shaft [Note: Conjecture; the Irish is obscure.] of ash in +his hand. + +'A man of three strong blows who has so come,' said Fergus; 'a man +of three roads, a man of three highways, a man of three gifts, a +man of three shouts, who breaks battles on enemies in another +province: Fergrae Mac Findchoime from Corann is that.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Its appearance is greater than a cantred. A warrior +white-breasted, very fair, before it; like to Ailill yonder in size +and beauty and equipment and raiment. A crown of gold above his +head; a cloak excellent folded about him; a brooch of gold in the +cloak on his breast; a shirt with red ornamentation round about +him; a shield wound-giving with rims of gold; the pillar of a +palace in his hand; a sword gold-hilted on his shoulders.' + +'It is a sea over rivers who has so come, truly,' said Fergus; 'it +is a fierce glow of fire; his rage towards foes is insupportable: +Furbaidi Ferbend is that,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Very heroic, innumerable,' said Mac Roth; 'strange +garments, various, about them, different from other companies. +Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. A +great host and fierce is that company. A lad flame red before it; +the most beautiful of the forms of men his form; ... a shield with +white boss in his hand, the shield of gold and a rim of gold round +it; a spear sharp, light, with in his hand; a cloak purple, +fringed, folded about him; a brooch of silver in the cloak, on his +breast; a shirt white, hooded, with red ornamentation, about him; a +sword gold-hilted over his dress outside.' + +Therewith Fergus is silent. + + +'I do not know indeed,' said Fergus, 'the like of this lad in +Ulster, except that I think it is the men of Temair about a lad +proper, wonderful, noble: with Erc, son of Coirpre Niafer and of +Conchobar's daughter. They love not one another; ---- without his +father's leave has that man come, to help his grandfather. It is +through the combat of that lad,' said Fergus, 'that you will be +defeated in the battle. That lad knows not terror nor fear at +coming to you among them into the midst of your battalion. It would +be like men that the warriors of the men of Ulster will roar in +saving the calf their heart, in striking the battle. There will +come to them a feeling of kinship at seeing that lad in the great +battle, striking the battle before them. There will be heard the +rumble of Conchobar's sword like the barking of a watch-dog in +saving the lad. He will throw three walls of men about the battle +in seeking the lad. It will be with the affection of kinsmen that +the warriors of Ulster will attack the countless host,' said +Fergus. + +'I think it long,' said Mac Roth, 'to be recounting all that I have +seen, but I have come meanwhile (?) with tidings to you.' + +'You have brought it,' said Fergus. + +'Conall Cernach has not come with his great company,' said Mac +Roth; 'the three sons of Conchobar with their three cantreds have +not come; Cuchulainn too has not come there after his wounding in +combat against odds. Unless it is a warrior with one chariot,' said +Mac Roth, 'I think it would be he who has come there. Two horses ... +under his chariot; they are long-tailed, broad-hoofed, broad above, +narrow beneath, high-headed, great of curve, thin-mouthed, with +distended nostrils. Two wheels black, ----, with tyres even, +smooth-running; the body very high, clattering; the tent ... +therein; the pillars carved. The warrior in that chariot four-square, +purple-faced; hair cropped short on the top, curly, very black has +he, down to his shoulders; ... a cloak red about him; four thirties +of feat-poles (?) in each of his two arms. A sword gold-hilted on +his left; shield and spear has he, and twenty-four javelins about +him on strings and thongs. The charioteer in front of him; the back +of the charioteer's head towards the horses, the reins grasped by +his toes (?) before him; the chessboard spread between them, half +the men of yellow gold, the others of white metal; the _buanfach_ +[Note: the name of a game; probably in the nature of chess or +draughts.] under their thighs. Nine feats were performed by him on +high.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'An easy question,' said Fergus. 'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim from the +_Sid_, [Note: Cuchulainn was of fairy birth.] and Loeg Mac +Riangabra his charioteer. Cuchulainn is that,' said Fergus. + +'Many hundreds and thousands,' said Mac Roth, 'have reached the +camp of Ulster. Many heroes and champions and fighting-men have +come with a race to the assembly. Many companies,' said Mac Roth, +'were reaching the same camp, of those who had not reached or come +to the camp when I came; only,' said Mac Roth, 'my eye did not +rest on hill or height of all that my eye reached from Fer Diad's +Ford to Slemon Midi, but upon horse and man.' + +'You saw the household of a man truly,' said Fergus. + +Then Conchobar went with his hosts and took camp near the others. +Conchobar asked for a truce till sunrise on the morrow from Ailill, +and Ailill ratified it for the men of Ireland and for the exiles, +and Conchobar ratified it for the Ulstermen; and then Conchobar's +tents are pitched. The ground between them is a space, ----, bare, +and the Ulstermen came to it before sunset. Then said the Morrigan +in the twilight between the two camps: [Note: Rhetoric, seven lines] + +*** + +Now Cuchulainn was at Fedan Chollna near them. Food was brought to +him by the hospitallers that night; and they used to come to speak +to him by day. + +He did not kill any of them to the left of Fer Diad's Ford. + +'Here is a small herd from the camp from the west to the camp to +the east,' said the charioteer to Cuchulainn. 'Here is a troop of +lads to meet them.' + +'Those lads shall come,' said Cuchulainn. 'The little herd shall +come over the plain. He who will not ---- (?) shall come to help +the lads.' + +This was done then as Cuchulainn had said. + +'How do the lads of Ulster fight the battle?' + +'Like men,' said the charioteer. + +'It would be a vow for them, to fall in rescuing their herds,' said +Cuchulainn. 'And now?' + +'The beardless striplings are fighting now,' said the charioteer. + + +'Has a bright cloud come over the sun yet?' + +'Not so,' said the charioteer. + +'Alas, that I had not strength to go to them!' said Cuchulainn. + + +'There will be contest without that to-day,' said the charioteer, +'at sunrise; haughty folk fight the battle now,' said the +charioteer, 'save that there are not kings there, for they are +still asleep.' + +Then Fachna said when the sun rose (or it is Conchobar who sang in +his sleep): + +'Arise, Kings of Macha, of mighty deeds, noble household, grind +your weapons, fight the battle,' etc. + +'Who has sung this?' said every one. + +'Conchobar Mac Nessa,' said they; 'or Fachtna sang it,' said they. +'Sleep, sleep, save your sentinels.' + +Loegaire the Victorious was heard: 'Arise, Kings of Macha,' etc. + +'Who has sung that?' said every one. + +'Loegaire the Victorious, son of Connad Buide Mac Ilech. Sleep, +sleep, except your sentinels.' + +'Wait for it still,' said Conchobar, 'till sunrise ... in the glens +and heights of Ireland.' + +When Cuchulainn saw the kings from the east taking their crowns on +their heads and marshalling (?) the companies, Cuchulainn said to +his charioteer that he should awaken the Ulstermen; and the +charioteer said (or it is Amairgen, son of Eccet the poet, who +said): + +'Arise, Kings of Macha,' etc. + +'I have awakened them,' said the charioteer. 'Thus have they come +to the battle, quite naked, except for their arms only. He, the +door of whose tent is east, has come out through it west.' + +'It is a "goodly help of necessity,"' said Cuchulainn. + +The adventures of the Ulstermen are not followed up here now. As +for the men of Ireland, Badb and Net's wife and Nemain [Note: +Nemain was the wife of Net, the war-god, according to Cormac.] +called upon them that night on Garach and Irgarach, so that a +hundred warriors of them died for terror; that was not the most +peaceful of nights for them. + +THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF IRELAND HERE + +Ailill Mac Matae sang that night before the battle, and said: +'Arise, arise,' etc [Note: Here follows a list of names.] + +As for Cuchulainn, this is what is told here now. + +'Look for us, O my friend, O Loeg, how the Ulstermen are fighting +the battle now.' + +'Like men,' said the charioteer. + +'Though I were to go with my chariot, and Oen the charioteer of +Conall Cernach with his chariot, so that we should go from one wing +to the other along the dense mass, neither hoofs nor tyres shall go +through it.' + +'That is the stuff for a great battle,' said Cuchulainn. 'Nothing +must be done in the battle,' said Cuchulainn to his charioteer, +'that we shall not know from you.' + +'That will be true, so far as I can,' said the charioteer. 'The +place where the warriors are now from the west,' said the +charioteer, 'they make a breach in the battle eastwards. Their +first defence from the east, they make a breach in the battle +westwards.' + +'Alas! that I am not whole!' said Cuchulainn; 'my breach would be +manifest like the rest.' + +Then came the men of the bodyguard to the ford of the hosting. Fine +the way in which the fightingmen came to the battle on Garach and +Irgarach. Then came the nine chariot-men of the champions of +Iruath, three before them on foot. Not more slowly did they come +than the chariot-men. Medb did not let them into the battle, for +dragging Ailill out of the battle if it is him they should defeat, +or for killing Conchobar if it is he who should be defeated. + +Then his charioteer told Cuchulainn that Ailill and Medb were +asking Fergus to go into the battle; and they said to him that it +was only right for him to do it, for they had done him much +kindness on his exile. + +'If I had my sword indeed,' said Fergus, 'the heads of men over +shields would be more numerous with me than hailstones in the mire +to which come the horses of a king after they have broken into the +land (?).' + +Then Fergus made this oath: 'I swear, etc., there would be broken +by me cheeks of men from their necks, necks of men with their +(lower) arms, arms of men with their elbows, elbows of men with +their arms, arms of men with their fists, fists of men with their +fingers, fingers of men with their nails, [nails] of men with their +skull-roofs, skull-roofs of men with their middle, middle of men +with their thighs, thighs of men with their knees, knees of men +with their calves, calves of men with their feet, feet of men with +their toes, toes of men with their nails. I would make their necks +whizz (?) ---- as a bee would move to and fro on a day of beauty (?).' + +Then Ailill said to his charioteer: 'Let there come to me the +sword which destroys skin. I swear by the god by whom my people +swear, if you have its bloom worse to-day than on the day on which +I gave it to you in the hillside in the boundary of Ulster, though +the men of Ireland were protecting you from me, they should not +protect you.' + +Then his sword was brought to Fergus, and Ailill said: 'Take thy +sword,' etc. [Note: Rhetoric, twelve lines.] + +'A pity for thee to fall on the field of battle, thick [with slain ?],' +said Fergus to Ailill. + +The Badb and Net's wife and the Nemain called on them that night on +Garach and Irgarach; so that a hundred warriors of them died for +terror. That was not the quietest of nights for them. + +Then Fergus takes his arms and turns into the battle, and clears a +gap of a hundred in the battle with his sword in his two hands. +Then Medb took the arms of Fergus (?) and rushed into the battle, +and she was victorious thrice, so that she was driven back by force +of arms. + +'I do not know,' said Conchobar to his retinue who were round him, +'before whom has the battle been broken against us from the north. +Do you maintain the fight here, that I may go against him.' + +'We will hold the place in which we are,' said the warriors, +'unless the earth bursts beneath us, or the heaven upon us from +above, so that we shall break therefrom.' + +Then Conchobar came against Fergus. He lifts his shield against +him, i.e. Conchobar's shield Ochan, with three horns of gold on it, +and four ----- of gold over it. Fergus strikes three blows on it, +so that even the rim of his shield over his head did not touch him. + +'Who of the Ulstermen holds the shield?' said Fergus. + +'A man who is better than you,' said Conchobar; 'and he has brought +you into exile into the dwellings of wolves and foxes, and he will +repel you to-day in combat in the presence of the men of Ireland.' + +Fergus aimed on him a blow of vengeance with his two hands on +Conchobar, so that the point of the sword touched the ground behind +him. + +Cormac Condlongas put his hands upon him, and closed his two hands +about his arm. + +'----, O my friend, O Fergus,' said Cormac. '... Hostile is the +friendship; right is your enmity; your compact has been destroyed; +evil are the blows that you strike, O friend, O Fergus,' said +Cormac. + +'Whom shall I smite?' said Fergus. + +'Smite the three hills ... in some other direction over them; turn +your hand; smite about you on every side, and have no consideration +for them. Take thought for the honour of Ulster: what has not been +lost shall not be lost, if it be not lost through you to-day (?). + +'Go in some other direction, O Conchobar,' said Cormac to his +father; 'this man will not put out his rage on the Ulstermen any +more here.' + +Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the +first combat with the sword. He met Conall Cernach. + +'Too great rage is that,' said Conall Cernach, 'on people and race, +for a wanton.' + +'What shall I do, O warriors?' said he. + +'Smite the hills across them and the champions (?) round them,' +said Conall Cernach. + +Fergus smote the hills then, so that he struck the three Maela +[Note: i.e. flat-topped hills.] of Meath with his three blows. +Cuchulainn heard the blows then that Fergus gave on the hills or on +the shield of Conchobar himself. + +'Who strikes the three strong blows, great and distant?' said +Cuchulainn. + +... Then Loeg answered and said: 'The choice of men, Fergus Mac +Roich the very bold, smites them.' ... + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'Unloose quickly the hazeltwigs; blood covers +men, play of swords will be made, men will be spent therefrom.' + +Then his dry wisps spring from him on high, as far as ---- goes; +and his hazel-twigs spring off, till they were in Mag Tuag in +Connaught ... and he smote the head of each of the two handmaidens +against the other, so that each of them was grey from the brain of +the other. They came from Medb for pretended lamentation over him, +that his wounds might burst forth on him; and to say that the +Ulstermen had been defeated, and that Fergus had fallen in opposing +the battle, since Cuchulainn's coming into the battle had been +prevented. The contortion came on him, and twenty-seven skin-tunics +were given to him, that used to be about him under strings and +thongs when he went into battle; and he takes his chariot on his +back with its body and its two tyres, and he made for Fergus round +about the battle. + +'Turn hither, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; and he did not +answer till the third time. 'I swear by the god by whom the +Ulstermen swear,' said he, 'I will wash thee as foam [Note: Reading +with L.L.] (?) is washed in a pool, I will go over thee as the tail +goes over a cat, I will smite thee as a fond mother smites her son.' + +'Which of the men of Ireland speaks thus to me?' said Fergus. + +'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, sister's son to Conchobar,' said +Cuchulainn; 'and avoid me,' said he. + +'I have promised even that,' said Fergus. + +'Your promise falls due, then,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Good,' said Fergus, '(you avoided me), when you are pierced with +wounds.' + +Then Fergus went away with his cantred; the Leinstermen go and the +Munstermen; and they left in the battle nine cantreds of Medb's and +Ailill's and their seven sons. + +In the middle of the day it is that Cuchulainn came into the +battle; when the sun came into the leaves of the wood, it is then +that he defeated the last company, so that there remained of the +chariot only a handful of the ribs about the body, and a handful of +the shafts about the wheel. + +Cuchulainn overtook Medb then when he went into the battle. + +'Protect me,' said Medb. + +'Though I should slay thee with a slaying, it were lawful for me,' +said Cuchulainn. + +Then he protected her, because he used not to slay women. He +convoyed them westward, till they passed Ath Luain. Then he +stopped. He struck three blows with his sword on the stone in Ath +Luain. Their name is the Maelana [Note: i.e., flat-topped hills] of +Ath Luain. + +When the battle was broken, then said Medb to Fergus: 'Faults and +meet here to-day, O Fergus,' said she. + +'It is customary,' said Fergus, 'to every herd which a mare +precedes; ... after a woman who has ill consulted their interest.' + +They take away the Bull then in that morning of the battle, so that +he met the White-horned at Tarbga in Mag Ai; i.e. Tarbguba or +Tarbgleo.[Note: 'Bull-Sorrow or Bull-Fight,' etymological +explanation of Tarbga.] The first name of that hill was Roi Dedond. +Every one who escaped in the fight was intent on nothing but +beholding the two Bulls fighting. + +Bricriu Poison-tongue was in the west in his sadness after Fergus +had broken his head with his draughtmen [Note: This story is told +in the _Echtra Nerai_. (See _Revue Celtique_, vol. x. p. 227.)] He +came with the rest then to see the combat of the Bulls. The two +Bulls went in fighting over Bricriu, so that he died therefrom. +That is the Death of Bricriu. + +The foot of the Dun of Cualnge lighted on the horn of the other. +For a day and a night he did not draw his foot towards him, till +Fergus incited him and plied a rod along his body. + +''Twere no good luck,' said Fergus, 'that this conbative old calf +which has been brought here should leave the honour of clan and +race; and on both sides men have been left dead through you.' +Therewith he drew his foot to him so that his leg (?) was broken, +and the horn sprang from the other and was in the mountain by him. +It was Sliab n-Adarca [Note: Mountain of the Horn.] afterwards. + +He carried them then a journey of a day and a night, till he +lighted in the loch which is by Cruachan, and he came to Cruachan +out of it with the loin and the shoulder-blade and the liver of the +other on his horns. Then the hosts came to kill him. Fergus did not +allow it, but that he should go where he pleased. He came then to +his land and drank a draught in Findlethe on coming. It is there +that he left the shoulderblade of the other. Findlethe afterwards +was the name of the land. He drank another draught in Ath Luain; he +left the loin of the other there: hence is Ath Luain. He gave forth +his roar on Iraird Chuillend; it was heard through all the +province. He drank a draught in Tromma. There the liver of the +other fell from his horns; hence is Tromma. He came to Etan Tairb. +[Note: The Bull's Forehead.] He put his forehead against the hill +at Ath Da Ferta; hence is Etan Tairb in Mag Murthemne. Then he went +on the road of Midluachair in Cuib. There he used to be with the +milkless cow of Dairi, and he made a trench there. Hence is Gort +Buraig. [Note: The Field of the Trench.] Then he went till he died +between Ulster and Iveagh at Druim Tairb. Druim Tairb is the name +of that place. + +Ailill and Medb made peace with the Ulstermen and with Cuchulainn. +For seven years after there was no wounding of men between them. +Findabair stayed with Cuchulainn, and the Connaughtmen went to +their country, and the Ulstermen to Emain Macha with their great +triumph. Finit, amen. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14391 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4688e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14391 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14391) diff --git a/old/14391-8.txt b/old/14391-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6b6291 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14391-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5802 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge (Tain Bo Cualnge), +by Unknown, Translated by L. Winnifred Faraday + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge (Tain Bo Cualnge) + +Author: Unknown + +Release Date: December 20, 2004 [eBook #14391] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN +BO CUALNGE)*** + + +E-text prepared by Nicole Apostola + + + +THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN BO CUAILNGE) + +An Old Irish Prose-Epic + +Translated for the first time from Leabhar na h-Uidhri +and the Yellow Book of Lecan by + +L. WINIFRED FARADAY, M. A. + +London + +Published by David Nutt +At the Sign of the Phoenix +Long Acre + +1904 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION +THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (from Leabhar na h-Uidhri) + Cuchulainn's Boyish Deeds + The Death of Fraech + The Death of Orlam + The Death of the Meic Garach + The Death of the Squirrel + The Death of Lethan + The Death of Lochu + The Harrying of Cualnge (first version) + The Harrying of Cualnge (second version) + Mac Roth's Embassy + The Death of Etarcomol + The Death of Nadcrantail + The Finding of the Bull + The Death of Redg + The Meeting of Cuchulainn and Findabair + The Combat of Munremar and Curoi + The Death of the Boys (first version) + The Woman-fight of Rochad + The Death of the Princes + The Death of Cur + The Number of the Feats + The Death of Ferbaeth + The Combat of Larine Mac Nois + The Conversation of the Morrigan with Cuchulainn + The Death of Long Mac Emonis + The Healing of the Morrigan + The Coming of Lug Mac Ethlend + The Death of the Boys (second version) + The Arming of Cuchulainn +CONTINUATION (from the Yellow Book of Lecan) + The Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn + The Long Warning of Sualtaim + The Muster of the Ulstermen + The Vision of Dubthach + The March of the Companies + The Muster of the Men of Ireland + The Battle on Garach and Irgarach + The Meeting of the Bulls + The Peace + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge [Note: Pronounce _Cooley_] is the chief +story belonging to the heroic cycle of Ulster, which had its centre +in the deeds of the Ulster king, Conchobar Mac Nessa, and his +nephew and chief warrior, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. Tradition places +their date at the beginning of the Christian era. + +The events leading up to this tale, the most famous of Irish +mythical stories, may be shortly summarised here from the Book of +Leinster introduction to the _Tain_, and from the other tales +belonging to the Ulster cycle. + +It is elsewhere narrated that the Dun Bull of Cualnge, for whose +sake Ailill and Medb [Note: Pronounce _Maive_.], the king and queen +of Connaught, undertook this expedition, was one of two bulls in +whom two rival swineherds, belonging to the supernatural race known +as the people of the _Sid_, or fairy-mounds, were re-incarnated, +after passing through various other forms. The other bull, +Findbennach, the White-horned, was in the herd of Medb at Cruachan +Ai, the Connaught capital, but left it to join Ailill's herd. This +caused Ailill's possessions to exceed Medb's, and to equalise +matters she determined to secure the great Dun Bull, who alone +equalled the White-horned. An embassy to the owner of the Dun Bull +failed, and Ailill and Medb therefore began preparations for an +invasion of Ulster, in which province (then ruled by Conchobar Mac +Nessa) Cualnge was situated. A number of smaller _Tana_, or +cattle-raids, prefatory to the great _Tain Bo Cuailnge_, relate +some of their efforts to procure allies and provisions. + +Medb chose for the expedition the time when Conchobar and all the +warriors of Ulster, except Cuchulainn and Sualtaim, were at their +capital, Emain Macha, in a sickness which fell on them periodically, +making them powerless for action; another story relates the cause +of this sickness, the effect of a curse laid on them by a fairy +woman. Ulster was therefore defended only by the seventeen-year-old +Cuchulainn, for Sualtaim's appearance is only spasmodic. +Cuchulainn (Culann's Hound) was the son of Dechtire, the king's +sister, his father being, in different accounts, either Sualtaim, +an Ulster warrior; Lug Mac Ethlend, one of the divine heroes +from the _Sid_, or fairy-mound; or Conchobar himself. The +two former both appear as Cuchulainn's father in the present +narrative. Cuchulainn is accompanied, throughout the adventures +here told, by his charioteer, Loeg Mac Riangabra. + +In Medb's force were several Ulster heroes, including Cormac +Condlongas, son of Conchobar, Conall Cernach, Dubthach Doeltenga, +Fiacha Mac Firfebe, and Fergus Mac Roich. These were exiled from +Ulster through a bitter quarrel with Conchobar, who had caused the +betrayal and murder of the sons of Uisnech, when they had come to +Ulster under the sworn protection of Fergus, as told in the _Exile +of the Sons of Uisnech_. [Note: 1 Text in Windisch and Stokes's +_Irische Texte_; English translation in Miss Hull's _Cuchullin +Saga_.] The Ulster mischief-maker, Bricriu of the Poison-tongue, +was also with the Connaught army. Though fighting for Connaught, +the exiles have a friendly feeling for their former comrades, and a +keen jealousy for the credit of Ulster. There is a constant +interchange of courtesies between them and their old pupil, +Cuchulainn, whom they do not scruple to exhort to fresh efforts for +Ulster's honour. An equally half-hearted warrior is Lugaid Mac Nois, +king of Munster, who was bound in friendship to the Ulstermen. + +Other characters who play an important part in the story are +Findabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, who is held out as a bribe +to various heroes to induce them to fight Cuchulainn, and is on one +occasion offered to the latter in fraud on condition that he will +give up his opposition to the host; and the war-goddess, variously +styled the Nemain, the Badb (scald-crow), and the Morrigan (great +queen), who takes part against Cuchulainn in one of his chief +fights. Findabair is the bait which induces several old comrades of +Cuchulainn's, who had been his fellow-pupils under the sorceress +Scathach, to fight him in single combat. + +The tale may be divided into:-- + +1. Introduction: Fedelm's prophecy. + +2. Cuchulainn's first feats against the host, and the several + _geis_, or taboos, which he lays on them. + +3. The narration of Cuchulainn's boyish deeds, by the Ulster exiles +to the Connaught host. + +4. Cuchulainn's harassing of the host. + +5. The bargain and series of single combats, interrupted by + breaches of the agreement on the part of Connaught. + +6. The visit of Lug Mac Ethlend. + +7. The fight with Fer Diad. + +8. The end: the muster of the Ulstermen. + + +The MSS. + +The _Tain Bo Cuailnge_ survives, in whole or in part, in a +considerable number of MSS., most of which are, however, late. The +most important are three in number:-- + +(1) Leabhar na h-Uidhri (LU), 'The Book of the Dun Cow,' a MS. +dating from about 1100. The version here given is an old one, +though with some late additions, in later language. The chief of +these are the piece coming between the death of the herd Forgemen +and the fight with Cur Mac Dalath (including Cuchulainn's meeting +with Findabair, and the 'womanfight' of Rochad), and the whole of +what follows the Healing of the Morrigan. The tale is, like others +in this MS., unfinished, the MS. being imperfect. + +(2) The Yellow Book of Lecan (YBL), a late fourteenth-century MS. +The _Tain_ in this is substantially the same as in LU. The +beginning is missing, but the end is given. Some of the late +additions of LU are not found here; and YBL, late as it is, often +gives an older and better text than the earlier MS. + +(3) The Book of Leinster (LL), before 1160. The _Tain_ here is +longer, fuller, and later in both style and language than in LU or +YBL. It is essentially a literary attempt to give a complete and +consistent narrative, and is much less interesting than the older +LU-YBL recension. + +In the present version, I have collated LU, as far as it goes, with +YBL, adding from the latter the concluding parts of the story, from +the Fight with Fer Diad to the end. After the Fight with Fer Diad, +YBL breaks off abruptly, leaving nearly a page blank; then follow +several pages containing lists, alternative versions of some +episodes given in LU (Rochad's Woman-fight, the Warning to +Conchobar), and one or two episodes which are narrated in LL. I +omit about one page, where the narrative is broken and confused. + +The pages which follow the Healing of the Morrigan in LU are +altogether different in style from the rest of the story as told in +LU, and are out of keeping with its simplicity. This whole portion +is in the later manner of LL, with which, for the most part, it is +in verbal agreement. Further, it is in part repetition of material +already given (i.e. the coming of the boy-host of Ulster, and +Cuchulainn's displaying himself to the Connaught troops). + + +COMPARISON OF THE VERSIONS + +A German translation of the Leinster text of the _Tain Bo Cuailnge_ +will soon be accessible to all in Dr. Windisch's promised edition +of the text. It is therefore unnecessary to compare the two +versions in detail. Some of the main differences may be pointed +out, however. + +Of our three copies none is the direct ancestor of any other. LU +and YBL are from a common source, though the latter MS. is from an +older copy; LL is independent. The two types differ entirely in aim +and method. The writers of LU and YBL aimed at accuracy; the +Leinster man, at presenting an intelligible version. Hence, where +the two former reproduce obscurities and corruptions, the latter +omits, paraphrases, or expands. The unfortunate result is that LL +rarely, if ever, helps to clear up textual obscurities in the older +copy. + +On the other hand, it offers explanations of certain episodes not +clearly stated in LU. Thus, for example, where LU, in the story of +the sons of Nechta Scene, simply mentions 'the withe that was on +the pillar,' LL explains that the withe had been placed there by +the sons of Nechta Scene (as Cuchulainn placed a similar with in +the path of the Connaught host), with an ogam inscription +forbidding any to pass without combat; hence its removal was an +insult and a breach of _geis_. Again, the various embassies to +Cuchulainn, and the terms made with him (that he should not harass +the host if he were supplied daily with food, and with a champion +to meet him in single combat), are more clearly described in LL. + +Some of the episodes given in LU are not told in the Leinster +version. Of the boyish deeds of Cuchulainn, LL tells only three: +his first appearance at Emain (told by Fergus), Culann's feast (by +Cormac), and the feats following Cuchulainn's taking of arms (by +Fiacha). In the main narrative, the chief episodes omitted in LL +are the fight with Fraech, the Fergus and Medb episode, and the +meeting of Findabair and Cuchulainn. The meeting with the Morrigan +is missing, owing to the loss of a leaf. Other episodes are +differently placed in LL: e.g. the Rochad story (an entirely +different account), the fight of Amairgen and Curoi with stones, +and the warning to Conchobar, all follow the fight with Fer Diad. + +A peculiarity of the LU-YBL version is the number of passages which +it has in common with the _Dinnsenchas_, an eleventh-century +compilation of place-legends. The existing collections of +_Dinnsenchas_ contain over fifty entries derived from the _Tain_ +cycle, some corresponding with, others differing from those in LU. + +This version has also embodied a considerable number of glosses in +the text. As many of these are common to LU and YBL, they must go +back to the common original, which must therefore have been a +harmony of previously existing versions, since many of these +passages give variants of incidents. + + +AGE OF THE VERSIONS + +There is no doubt that the version here translated is a very old +one. The language in LU is almost uniformly Middle Irish, not more +than a century earlier than the date of the MS.; thus it shows the +post-thetic _he_, _iat_, etc. as object, the adverb with _co_, the +confusion of _ar_ and _for_, the extension of the _b_-future, etc. +But YBL preserves forms as old as the Glosses:-- + +(1) The correct use of the infixed relative, e.g. _rombith_, 'with +which he struck.' (LU, _robith_, 58a, 45.) + +(2) The infixed accusative pronoun, e.g. _nachndiusced_, 'that he +should not wake him.' (LU, _nach diusced_, 62a, 30.) + +(3) _no_ with a secondary tense, e.g. _nolinad_, 'he used to fill.' +(LU, _rolinad_, 60b, 6.) + +(4) Very frequently YBL keeps the right aspirated or non-aspirated +consonant, where LU shows a general confusion, etc. + +LL has no very archaic forms, though it cultivates a pseudo-archaic +style; and it is unlikely that the Leinster version goes back much +earlier than 1050. The latter part of the LU _Tain_ shows that a +version of the Leinster type was known to the compiler. The style +of this part, with its piling-up of epithets, is that of +eleventh-century narrative, as exemplified in texts like the _Cath +Ruis na Rig_ and the _Cogadh Gaidhil_; long strings of alliterative +epithets, introduced for sound rather than sense, are characteristic +of the period. The descriptions of chariots and horses in the Fer +Diad episode in YBL are similar, and evidently belong to the same +rescension. + +The inferences from the facts noted in the foregoing sections may +be stated as follows: A version of the _Tain_ goes back to the +early eighth, or seventh century, and is preserved under the YBL +text; an opinion based on linguistic evidence, but coinciding +with the tradition which ascribes the 'Recovery of the _Tain_' to +Senchan Torpeist, a bard of the later seventh century. This version +continued to be copied down to the eleventh century, gradually +changing as the language changed. Meanwhile, varying accounts of +parts of the story came into existence, and some time in the +eleventh century a new redaction was made, the oldest representative +of which is the LL text. Parts of this were embodied in or added +to the older version; hence the interpolations in LU. + + +THE FER DIAD EPISODE + +There is much difference between the two versions of this episode. +In YBL, the introductory portion is long and full, the actual fight +very short, while in LL the fight is long-drawn-out, and much more +stress is laid on the pathetic aspect of the situation. Hence it is +generally assumed that LL preserves an old version of the episode, +and that the scribe of the Yellow Book has compressed the latter +part. It is not, however, usual, in primitive story-telling, to +linger over scenes of pathos. Such lingering is, like the painted +tears of late Italian masters, invariably a sign of decadence. It +is one of the marks of romance, which recognises tragedy only when +it is voluble, and prodigal of lamentation. The older version of +the _Tain_ is throughout singularly free from pathos of the feebler +sort; the humorous side is always uppermost, and the tragic +suggestions interwoven with it. + +But it is still a matter of question whether the whole Fer Diad +episode may not be late. Professor Zimmer thinks it is; but even +the greatest scholar, with a theory to prove, is not quite free. It +will of course be noticed, on this side, that the chief motives of +the Fer Diad episode all appear previously in other episodes (e.g. +the fights with Ferbaeth and with Loch). Further, the account even +in YBL is not marked by old linguistic forms as are other parts of +the tale, while much of it is in the bombastic descriptive style of +LL. In the condition in which we have the tale, however, this +adventure is treated as the climax of the story. Its motive is to +remove Cuchulainn from the field, in order to give the rest of +Ulster a chance. But in the account of the final great fight in +YBL, Cuchulainn's absence is said to be due to his having been +wounded in a combat against odds (_crechtnugud i n-ecomlund_). +Considering, therefore, that even in YBL the Fer Diad episode is +late in language, it seems possible that it may have replaced some +earlier account in which Cuchulainn was so severely wounded that he +was obliged to retire from the field. + + +PREVIOUS WORK ON THE '_TAIN_' + +Up to the present time the _Tain_ has never been either printed or +translated, though the LU version has been for thirty years easily +accessible in facsimile. Dr. Windisch's promised edition will +shortly be out, containing the LL and LU texts, with a German +translation of the former. The most useful piece of work done +hitherto for the _Tain_ is the analysis by Professor Zimmer of the +LU text (conclusion from the Book of Leinster), in the fifth of his +_Keltische Studien (Zeitschrift für vergl. Sprachforschung_, xxviii.). +Another analysis of the story, by Mr. S. H. O'Grady, appeared in +Miss Eleanor Hull's _The Cuchullin Saga_; it is based on a late +paper MS. in the British Museum, giving substantially the same +version as LL. This work contains also a map of ancient Ireland, +showing the route of the Connaught forces; but a careful working-out +of the topography of the _Tain_ is much needed, many names being +still unidentified. Several of the small introductory _Tana_ have +been published in Windisch and Stokes's _Irische Texte_; and +separate episodes from the great _Tain_ have been printed and +translated from time to time. The Fight with Fer Diad (LL) was +printed with translation by O'Curry in the _Manners and Customs of +the Ancient Irish_. The story of the Two Swineherds, with their +successive reincarnations until they became the Dun Bull and the +White-horned (an introductory story to the _Tain_ ), is edited with +translation in _Irische Texte_, and Mr. Nutt printed an abridged +English version in the _Voyage of Bran_. + +The Leinster version seems to have been the favourite with modern +workers, probably because it is complete and consistent; possibly +its more sentimental style has also served to commend it. + + +AIM OF THIS TRANSLATION + +It is perhaps unnecessary to say that the present version is +intended for those who cannot read the tale in the original; it is +therefore inadvisable to overload the volume with notes, variant +readings, or explanations of the readings adopted, which might +repel the readers to whom it is offered. + +At the present time, an enthusiasm for Irish literature is not +always accompanied by a knowledge of the Irish language. It seems +therefore to be the translator's duty, if any true estimate of this +literature is to be formed, to keep fairly close to the original, +since nothing is to be gained by attributing beauties which it does +not possess, while obscuring its true merits, which are not few. +For the same reason, while keeping the Irish second person singular +in verses and formal speech, I have in ordinary dialogue +substituted the pronoun _you_, which suggests the colloquial style +of the original better than the obsolete _thou_. + +The so-called rhetorics are omitted in translating; they are +passages known in Irish as _rosc_, often partly alliterative, but +not measured. They are usually meaningless strings of words, with +occasional intelligible phrases. In all probability the passages +aimed at sound, with only a general suggestion of the drift. Any +other omissions are marked where they occur; many obscure words in +the long descriptive passages are of necessity left untranslated. +In two places I have made slight verbal changes without altering +the sense, a liberty which is very rarely necessary in Irish. + +Of the headings, those printed in capitals are in the text in the +MS.; those italicised are marginal. I have bracketed obvious +scribal glosses which have crept into the text. Some of the +marginal glosses are translated in the footnotes. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES + +As a considerable part of the _Tain_ is occupied by connecting +episodes with place-names, an explanation of some of the commonest +elements in these may be of use to those who know no Irish: + +Ath=a ford; e.g. Ath Gabla (Ford of the Fork), Ath Traiged (Ford of +the Foot), Ath Carpat (Ford of Chariots), Ath Fraich (Fraech's +Ford), etc. + +Belat=cross-roads; e.g. Belat Alioin. + +Bernas=a pass, or gap; e.g. _Bernas Bo Ulad_ or _Bernas Bo Cuailnge_ +(Pass of the Cows of Ulster, or of Cualnge). + +Clithar=a shelter; e.g. Clithar Bo Ulad (shelter of the Cows of +Ulster). + +Cul=a corner; e.g. Cul Airthir (eastern corner). + +Dun= a fort; e.g. Dun Sobairche. + +Fid=a wood; e.g. Fid Mor Drualle (Great Wood of the Sword-sheath). + +Glass=a brook, stream; e.g. Glass Chrau (the stream of Blood), +Glass Cruind, Glass Gatlaig (gatt=a withe, laig=a calf). + +Glenn=a glen; e.g. Glenn Gatt (Glen of the Withe), Glenn Firbaith +(Ferbaeth's Glen), Glenn Gatlaig. + +Grellach=a bog; e.g. Grellach Doluid. + +Guala=a hill-shoulder; e.g. Gulo Mulchai (Mulcha's shoulder). + +Loch=a lake; e.g. Loch Reoin, Loch Echtra. + +Mag=a plain; e.g. Mag Ai, Mag Murthemne, Mag Breg, Mag Clochair +(cloch=a stone). + +Methe, explained as if from meth (death); Methe Togmaill (death of +the Squirrel), Methe n-Eoin (death of the Bird). + +Reid, gen. Rede=a plain; e.g. Ath Rede Locha (Ford of Locha's Plain). + +Sid=a fairy mound; e.g. Sid Fraich (Fraech's Mound). + +Sliab=a mountain; e.g. Sliab Fuait. + +I need perhaps hardly say that many of the etymologies given in +Irish sources are pure invention, stories being often made up to +account for the names, the real meaning of which was unknown to the +mediaeval story-teller or scribe. + +In conclusion, I have to express my most sincere thanks to +Professor Strachan, whose pupil I am proud to be. I have had the +advantage of his wide knowledge and experience in dealing with many +obscurities in the text, and he has also read the proofs. I am +indebted also to Mr. E. Gwynn, who has collated at Trinity College, +Dublin, a number of passages in the Yellow Book of Lecan, which are +illegible or incorrect in the facsimile; and to Dr. Whitley Stokes +for notes and suggestions on many obscure words. + +LLANDAFF, November 1903. + + + + + +THIS IS THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE + +I + +A great hosting was brought together by the Connaughtmen, that is, +by Ailill and Medb; and they sent to the three other provinces. And +messengers were sent by Ailill to the seven sons of Magach: Ailill, +Anluan, Mocorb, Cet, En, Bascall, and Doche; a cantred with each of +them. And to Cormac Condlongas Mac Conchobair with his three +hundred, who was billeted in Connaught. Then they all come to +Cruachan Ai. + +Now Cormac had three troops which came to Cruachan. The first troop +had many-coloured cloaks folded round them; hair like a mantle (?); +the tunic falling(?) to the knee, and long(?) shields; and a broad +grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the hand of each man. + +The second troop wore dark grey cloaks, and tunics with red +ornamentation down to their calves, and long hair hanging behind +from their heads, and white shields (?), and five-pronged spears +were in their hands. + +'This is not Cormac yet,' said Medb. + +Then comes the third troop; and they wore purple cloaks and hooded +tunics with red ornamentation down to their feet, hair smooth to +their shoulders, and round shields with engraved edges, and the +pillars [Note: i.e. spears as large as pillars, etc.] of a palace +in the hand of each man. + +'This is Cormac now,' said Medb. + +Then the four provinces of Ireland were assembled, till they were +in Cruachan Ai. And their poets and their druids did not let them +go thence till the end of a fortnight, for waiting for a good omen. +Medb said then to her charioteer the day that they set out: + + +'Every one who parts here to-day from his love or his friend will +curse me,' said she, 'for it is I who have gathered this hosting.' + +'Wait then,' said the charioteer, 'till I turn the chariot with the +sun, and till there come the power of a good omen that we may come +back again.' + +Then the charioteer turned the chariot, and they set forth. Then +they saw a full-grown maiden before them. She had yellow hair, and +a cloak of many colours, and a golden pin in it; and a hooded tunic +with red embroidery. She wore two shoes with buckles of gold. Her +face was narrow below and broad above. Very black were her two +eyebrows; her black delicate eyelashes cast a shadow into the +middle of her two cheeks. You would think it was with _partaing_ +[Note: Exact meaning unknown. It is always used in this +connection.] her lips were adorned. You would think it was a shower +of pearls that was in her mouth, that is, her teeth. She had three +tresses: two tresses round her head above, and a tress behind, so +that it struck her two thighs behind her. A shuttle [Note: Literally, +a beam used for making fringe.] of white metal, with an inlaying +of gold, was in her hand. Each of her two eyes had three pupils. +The maiden was armed, and there were two black horses to her chariot. + +'What is your name?' said Medb to the maiden. + +'Fedelm, the prophetess of Connaught, is my name,' said the maiden. + +'Whence do you come?' said Medb. + +'From Scotland, after learning the art of prophecy,' said the +maiden. + +'Have you the inspiration(?) which illumines?' [Note: Ir. _imbas +forasnai_, the name of a kind of divination.] said Medb. + +'Yes, indeed,' said the maiden. + +'Look for me how it will be with my hosting,' said Medb. + +Then the maiden looked for it; and Medb said: 'O Fedelm the +prophetess, how seest thou the host?' + +Fedelm answered and said: 'I see very red, I see red.' + +'That is not true,' said Medb; 'for Conchobar is in his sickness at +Emain and the Ulstermen with him, with all the best [Note: +Conjectural; some letters missing. For the Ulster sickness, see +Introduction.] of their warriors; and my messengers have come and +brought me tidings thence. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' said Medb. + +'I see red,' said the maiden. + +'That is not true,' said Medb; 'for Celtchar Mac Uithichair is in +Dun Lethglaise, and a third of the Ulstermen with him; and Fergus, +son of Roich, son of Eochaid, is here with us, in exile, and a +cantred with him. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' said Medb. + +'I see very red, I see red,' said the maiden. + +'That matters not,' said Medb; 'for there are mutual angers, and +quarrels, and wounds very red in every host and in every +assembly of a great army. Look again for us then, and tell us the +truth. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' + +'I see very red, I see red,' said Fedelm. + + 'I see a fair man who will make play + With a number of wounds(?) on his girdle; +[Note: Unless this is an allusion to the custom of carrying an +enemy's head at the girdle, the meaning is obscure. LL has quite a +different reading. The language of this poem is late.] + A hero's flame over his head, + His forehead a meeting-place of victory. + + 'There are seven gems of a hero of valour + In the middle of his two irises; + There is ---- on his cloak, + He wears a red clasped tunic. + + 'He has a face that is noble, + Which causes amazement to women. + A young man who is fair of hue + Comes ---- +[Note: Five syllables missing.] + + 'Like is the nature of his valour + To Cuchulainn of Murthemne. + I do not know whose is the Hound + Of Culann, whose fame is the fairest. + But I know that it is thus + That the host is very red from him. + + 'I see a great man on the plain + He gives battle to the hosts; + Four little swords of feats + There are in each of his two hands. + + 'Two _Gae-bolga_, he carries them, +[Note: The Gae-bolga was a special kind of spear, which only +Cuchulainn could use.] + Besides an ivory-hilted sword and spear; + ---- [Note: Three syllables missing] he wields to the host; + Different is the deed for which each arm goes from him. + + 'A man in a battle-girdle (?), of a red cloak, + He puts ---- every plain. + He smites them, over left chariot wheel (?); + The _Riastartha_ wounds them. +[Note: The Riastartha ('distorted one') was a name given to +Cuchulainn because of the contortion, described later, which came +over him.] + The form that appeared to me on him hitherto, + I see that his form has been changed. + + 'He has moved forward to the battle, + If heed is not taken of him it will be treachery. + I think it likely it is he who seeks you: + Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. + + 'He will strike on whole hosts, + He will make dense slaughters of you, + Ye will leave with him many thousands of heads. + The prophetess Fedelm conceals not. + + 'Blood will rain from warriors' wounds + At the hand of a warrior--'twill be full harm. + He will slay warriors, men will wander + Of the descendants of Deda Mac Sin. + Corpses will be cut off, women will lament + Through the Hound of the Smith that I see.' + +The Monday after Samain [Note: Samain, 'summer-end,' about the +beginning of November.] they set forth, and this is the way they +took: south-east from Cruachan Ai, i.e. by Muicc Cruimb, by Teloch +Teora Crich, by Tuaim Mona, by Cul Sibrinne, by Fid, by Bolga, by +Coltain, by Glune-gabair, by Mag Trego, by North Tethba, by South +Tethba, by Tiarthechta, by Ord, by Slais southwards, by Indiuind, +by Carnd, by Ochtrach, by Midi, by Findglassa Assail, by Deilt, by +Delind, by Sailig, by Slaibre, by Slechta Selgatar, by Cul +Sibrinne, by Ochaind southwards, by Uatu northwards, by Dub, by +Comur southwards, by Tromma, by Othromma eastwards, by Slane, by +Gortslane, by Druim Licce southwards, by Ath Gabla, by Ard Achad, +by Feraind northwards, by Findabair, by Assi southwards, by Druim +Salfind, by Druim Cain, by Druim Mac n-Dega, by Eodond Mor, by +Eodond Bec, by Methe Togmaill, by Methe Eoin, by Druim Caemtechta, +by Scuaip, by Imscuaip, by Cend Ferna, by Baile, by Aile, by Bail +Scena, by Dail Scena, by Fertse, by Ross Lochad, by Sale, by +Lochmach, by Anmag, by Deind, by Deilt, by Dubglaiss, by Fid Mor, +by Colbtha, by Cronn, to Cualnge. + + + +From Findabair Cuailnge, it is thence the hosts of Ireland were +divided over the province to seek the Bull. For it is past these +places that they came, till they reached Findabair. + +(Here ends the title; and the story begins as follows:-- + +THIS IS THE STORY IN ORDER + +When they had come on their first journey from Cruachan as far as +Cul Sibrinne, Medb told her charioteer to get ready her nine +chariots for her, that she might make a circuit in the camp, to see +who disliked and who liked the expedition. + +Now his tent was pitched for Ailill, and the furniture was +arranged, both beds and coverings. Fergus Mac Roich in his tent was +next to Ailill; Cormac Condlongas Mac Conchobair beside him; Conall +Cernach by him; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe, the son of Conchobar's +daughter, by him. Medb, daughter of Eochaid Fedlech, was on +Ailill's other side; next to her, Findabair, daughter of Ailill and +Medb. That was besides servants and attendants. + +Medb came, after looking at the host, and she said it were folly +for the rest to go on the hosting, if the cantred of the +Leinstermen went. + +'Why do you blame the men?' said Ailill. + +'We do not blame them,' said Medb; 'splendid are the warriors. When +the rest were making their huts, they had finished thatching their +huts and cooking their food; when the rest were at dinner, they had +finished dinner, and their harpers were playing to them. It is +folly for them to go,' said Medb; 'it is to their credit the +victory of the hosts will be.' + +'It is for us they fight,' said Ailill. + +'They shall not come with us,' said Medb. + +'Let them stay then,' said Ailill. + +'They shall not stay,' said Medb. 'They will come on us after we +have gone,' said she, 'and seize our land against us.' + +'What is to be done to them?' said Ailill; 'will you have them +neither stay nor go?' + +'To kill them,' said Medb. + +'We will not hide that this is a woman's plan,' said Ailill; 'what +you say is not good!' + +'With this folk,' said Fergus, 'it shall not happen thus (for it is +a folk bound by ties to us Ulstermen), unless we are all killed.' + +'Even that we could do,' said Medb; 'for I am here with my retinue +of two cantreds,' said she, 'and there are the seven Manes, that +is, my seven sons, with seven cantreds; their luck can protect +them,' (?) said she; 'that is Mane-Mathramail, and Mane-Athramail, +and Mane-Morgor, and Mane-Mingor, and Mane-Moepert (and he is +Mane-Milscothach), Mane-Andoe, and Mane-who-got-everything: he got +the form of his mother and of his father, and the dignity of both.' + +'It would not be so,' said Fergus. 'There are seven kings of +Munster here, and a cantred with each of them, in friendship with +us Ulstermen. I will give battle to you,' said Fergus, 'in the +middle of the host in which we are, with these seven cantreds, and +with my own cantred, and with the cantred of the Leinstermen. But I +will not urge that,' said Fergus, 'we will provide for the warriors +otherwise, so that they shall not prevail over the host. Seventeen +cantreds for us,' said Fergus, 'that is the number of our army, +besides our rabble, and our women (for with each king there is his +queen, in Medb's company), and besides our striplings. This is the +eighteenth cantred, the cantred of the Leinstermen. Let them be +distributed among the rest of the host.' + +'I do not care,' said Medb, 'provided they are not gathered as they +are.' + +Then this was done; the Leinstermen were distributed among the host. + +They set out next morning to Moin Choiltrae, where eight score deer +fell in with them in one herd. They surrounded them and killed them +then; wherever there was a man of the Leinstermen, it was he who +got them, except five deer that all the rest of the host got. Then +they came to Mag Trego, and stopped there and prepared their food. +They say that it is there that Dubthach sang this song: + + 'Grant what you have not heard hitherto, + Listening to the fight of Dubthach. + A hosting very black is before you, + Against Findbend of the wife of Ailill. +[Note: Findbennach, the Whitehorned; i.e. the other of the two +bulls in whom the rival swineherds were reincarnated.] + + 'The man of expeditions will come + Who will defend (?) Murthemne. + Ravens will drink milk of ---- [Note: Some kenning for blood?] + From the friendship of the swineherds. + + 'The turfy Cronn will resist them; +[Note: i.e. the river Cronn. This line is a corruption of a +reference which occurs later, in the account of the flooding of the +Cronn, as Professor Strachan first pointed out to me.] + He will not let them into Murthemne + Until the work of warriors is over + In Sliab Tuad Ochaine. + + '"Quickly," said Ailill to Cormac, + "Go that you may ---- your son. + The cattle do not come from the fields + That the din of the host may not terrify them(?). + + '"This will be a battle in its time + For Medb with a third of the host. + There will be flesh of men therefrom + If the Riastartha comes to you."' + +Then the Nemain attacked them, and that was not the quietest of +nights for them, with the uproar of the churl (i.e. Dubthach) +through their sleep. The host started up at once, and a great +number of the host were in confusion, till Medb came to reprove +him. + +Then they went and spent the night in Granard Tethba Tuascirt, +after the host had been led astray over bogs and over streams. A +warning was sent from Fergus to the Ulstermen here, for friendship. +They were now in the weakness, except Cuchulainn and his father +Sualtaim. + +Cuchulainn and his father went, after the coming of the warning +from Fergus, till they were in Iraird Cuillend, watching the host +there. + +'I think of the host to-night,' said Cuchulainn to his father. 'Go +from us with a warning to the Ulstermen. I am forced to go to a +tryst with Fedelm Noichride, [Note: Gloss incorporated in the text: +that is, with her servant,' etc.] from my own pledge that went out +to her.' + +He made a spancel-withe [This was a twig twisted in the form of two +rings, joined by one straight piece, as used for hobbling horses +and cattle.] then before he went, and wrote an ogam on its ----, +and threw it on the top of the pillar. + +The leadership of the way before the army was given to Fergus. Then +Fergus went far astray to the south, till Ulster should have +completed the collection of an army; he did this for friendship. +Ailill and Medb perceived it; it was then Medb said: + + 'O Fergus, this is strange, + What kind of way do we go? + Straying south or north + We go over every other folk. + + 'Ailill of Ai with his hosting + Fears that you will betray them. + You have not given your mind hitherto + To the leading of the way. + + 'If it is in friendship that you do it, + Do not lead the horses + Peradventure another may be found + To lead the way.' + +Fergus replied: + + 'O Medb, what troubles you? + This is not like treachery. + It belongs to the Ulstermen, O woman, + The land across which I am leading you. + + 'It is not for the disadvantage of the host + That I go on each wandering in its turn; + It is to avoid the great man + Who protects Mag Murthemne. + + 'Not that my mind is not distressed + On account of the straying on which I go, + But if perchance I may avoid even afterwards + Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim.' + +Then they went till they were in Iraird Cuillend. Eirr and Indell, +Foich and Foclam (their two charioteers), the four sons of Iraird +Mac Anchinne, [Marginal gloss: 'or the four sons of Nera Mac Nuado +Mac Taccain, as it is found in other books.'] it is they who were +before the host, to protect their brooches and their cushions and +their cloaks, that the dust of the host might not soil them. They +found the withe that Cuchulainn threw, and perceived the grazing +that the horses had grazed. For Sualtaim's two horses had eaten the +grass with its roots from the earth; Cuchulainn's two horses had +licked the earth as far as the stones beneath the grass. They sit +down then, until the host came, and the musicians play to them. +They give the withe into the hands of Fergus Mac Roich; he read the +ogam that was on it. + +When Medb came, she asked, 'Why are you waiting here?' + +'We wait,' said Fergus,' because of the withe yonder. There is an +ogam on its ----, and this is what is in it: "Let no one go past +till a man is found to throw a like withe with his one hand, and +let it be one twig of which it is made; and I except my friend +Fergus." Truly,' said Fergus, 'Cuchulainn has thrown it, and they +are his horses that grazed the plain.' + + +And he put it in the hands of the druids; and Fergus sang this song: + + 'Here is a withe, what does the withe declare to us? + What is its mystery? + What number threw it? + Few or many? + + 'Will it cause injury to the host, + If they go a journey from it? + Find out, ye druids, something therefore + For what the withe has been left. + + '---- of heroes the hero who has thrown it, + Full misfortune on warriors; + A delay of princes, wrathful is the matter, + One man has thrown it with one hand. + + 'Is not the king's host at the will of him, + Unless it breaks fair play? + Until one man only of you + Throw it, as one man has thrown it. + I do not know anything save that + For which the withe should have been put. + Here is a withe.' + +Then Fergus said to them: 'If you outrage this withe,' said he, 'or +if you go past it, though he be in the custody of a man, or in a +house under a lock, the ---- of the man who wrote the ogam on it +will reach him, and will slay a goodly slaughter of you before +morning, unless one of you throw a like withe.' + +'It does not please us, indeed, that one of us should be slain at +once,' said Ailill. 'We will go by the neck of the great wood +yonder, south of us, and we will not go over it at all.' + +The troops hewed down then the wood before the chariots. This is +the name of that place, Slechta. It is there that Partraige is. +(According to others, the conversation between Medb and Fedelm the +prophetess took place there, as we told before; and then it is +after the answer she gave to Medb that the wood was cut down; i.e. +'Look for me,' said Medb, 'how my hosting will be.' 'It is +difficult to me,' said the maiden; 'I cannot cast my eye over them +in the wood.' 'It is ploughland (?) there shall be,' said Medb; 'we +will cut down the wood.' Then this was done, so that Slechta was +the name of the place.) + + +They spent the night then in Cul Sibrille; a great snowstorm fell +on them, to the girdles of the men and the wheels of the chariots. +The rising was early next morning. And it was not the most peaceful +of nights for them, with the snow; and they had not prepared food +that night. But it was not early when Cuchulainn came from his +tryst; he waited to wash and bathe. + +Then he came on the track of the host. 'Would that we had not gone +there,' said Cuchulainn, 'nor betrayed the Ulstermen; we have let +the host go to them unawares. Make us an estimation of the host,' +said Cuchulainn to Loeg, 'that we may know the number of the host.' + +Loeg did this, and said to Cuchulainn: 'I am confused,' said he, 'I +cannot attain this.' + +'It would not be confusion that I see, if only I come,' said + +Cuchulainn. + +'Get into the chariot then,' said Loeg. + +Cuchulainn got into the chariot, and put a reckoning over the host +for a long time. + +'Even you,' said Loeg, 'you do not find it easy.' + +'It is easier indeed to me than to you,' said Cuchulainn; 'for I +have three gifts, the gifts of eye, and of mind, and of reckoning. +I have put a reckoning [Marginal gloss: 'This is one of the three +severest and most difficult reckonings made in Ireland; i.e. +Cuchulainn's reckoning of the men of Ireland on the _Tain_; and +ug's reckoning of the Fomorian hosts at the battle of Mag Tured; +and Ingcel's reckoning of the hosts at the Bruiden Da Derga.'] on +this,' said he; 'there are eighteen cantreds,' said he, 'for their +number; only that the eighteenth cantred is distributed among all +the host, so that their number is not clear; that is, the cantred +of the Leinstermen.' + +Then Cuchulainn went round the host till he was at Ath Gabla. +[Note: LU has Ath Grena.] He cuts a fork [Note: i.e. fork of a +tree.] there with one blow of his sword, and put it on the middle +of the stream, so that a chariot could not pass it on this side or +that. Eirr and Indell, Foich and Fochlam (their two charioteers) +came upon him thereat. He strikes their four heads off, and throws +them on to the four points of the fork. Hence is Ath Gabla. + +Then the horses of the four went to meet the host, and their +cushions very red on them. They supposed it was a battalion that +was before them at the ford. A troop went from them to look at the +ford; they saw nothing there but the track of one chariot and the +fork with the four heads, and a name in ogam written on the side. +All the host came then. + +'Are the heads yonder from our people?' said Medb. + +'They are from our people and from our choice warriors,' said +Ailill. + +One of them read the ogam that was on the side of the fork; that +is: 'A man has thrown the fork with his one hand; and you shall not +go past it till one of you, except Fergus, has thrown it with one +hand.' + +'It is a marvel,' said Ailill, 'the quickness with which the four +were struck.' + +It was not that that was a marvel,' said Fergus; 'it was the +striking of the fork from the trunk with one blow; and if the end +was [cut] with one blow, [Note: Lit. 'if its end was one cutting.'] +it is the fairer for it, and that it was thrust in in this manner; +for it is not a hole that has been dug for it, but it is from the +back of the chariot it has been thrown with one hand.' + +'Avert this strait from us, O Fergus,' said Medb. + +Bring me a chariot then,' said Fergus, 'that I may take it out, +that you may see whether its end was hewn with one blow.' Fergus +broke then fourteen chariots of his chariots, so that it was from +his own chariot that he took it out of the ground, and he saw that +the end was hewn with one blow. + +'Heed must be taken to the character of the tribe to which we are +going,' said Ailill. 'Let each of you prepare his food; you had no +rest last night for the snow. And something shall be told to us of +the adventures and stories of the tribe to which we are going.' + +It is then that the adventures of Cuchulainn were related to them. +Ailill asked: 'Is it Conchobar who has done this?' + +'Not he,' said Fergus; 'he would not have come to the border of the +country without the number of a battalion round him.' + +'Was it Celtchar Mac Uithidir?' + +'Not he; he would not have come to the border of the country +without the number of a battalion round him.' + +'Was it Eogan Mac Durtacht?' + +'Not he,' said Fergus; 'he would not have come over the border of +the country without thirty chariots two-pointed (?) round him. This +is the man who would have done the deed,' said Fergus, 'Cuchulainn; +it is he who would have cut the tree at one blow from the trunk, +and who would have killed the four yonder as quickly as they were +killed, and who would have come to the boundary with his charioteer.' + +'What kind of man,' said Ailill, 'is this Hound of whom we have +heard among the Ulstermen? What age is this youth who is famous?' + +'An easy question, truly,' said Fergus. 'In his fifth year he went +to the boys at Emain Macha to play; in his sixth year he went to +learn arms and feats with Scathach. In his seventh year he took +arms. He is now seventeen years old at this time.' + +'Is it he who is hardest to deal with among the Ulstermen?' said +Medb. + +'Over every one of them,' said Fergus. 'You will not find before +you a warrior who is harder to deal with, nor a point that is +sharper or keener or swifter, nor a hero who is fiercer, nor a +raven that is more flesh-loving, nor a match of his age that can +equal him as far as a third; nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a +fence(?) of battle, nor a hammer of destruction, nor a door of +battle, nor judgment on hosts, nor preventing of a great host that +is more worthy. You will not find there a man who would reach his +age, and his growth, and his dress, and his terror, his speech, his +splendour, his fame, his voice, his form, his power, his hardness, +his accomplishment, his valour, his striking, his rage, his anger, +his victory, his doom-giving, his violence, his estimation, his +hero-triumph, his speed, his pride, his madness, with the feat of +nine men on every point, like Cuchulainn!' + +'I don't care for that,' said Medb; 'he is in one body; he endures +wounding; he is not above capturing. Therewith his age is that of a +grown-up girl, and his manly deeds have not come yet.' + +'Not so,' said Fergus. 'It would be no wonder if he were to do a +good deed to-day; for even when he was younger his deeds were +manly.' + + +HERE ARE HIS BOYISH DEEDS + +'He was brought up,' said Fergus, 'by his mother and father at the +---- in Mag Murthemne. The stories of the boys in Emain were +related to him; for there are three fifties of boys there,' said +Fergus, 'at play. It is thus that Conchobar enjoys his sovereignty: +a third of the day watching the boys; another third playing chess; +[Note: _Fidchill_, usually so translated, but the exact nature of +the game is uncertain.] another third drinking beer till sleep +seizes him therefrom. Although we are in exile, there is not in +Ireland a warrior who is more wonderful,' said Fergus. + +'Cuchulainn asked his mother then to let him go to the boys. + + +'"You shall not go," said his mother, "until you have company of +warriors." + +'"I deem it too long to wait for it," said Cuchulainn. "Show me on +which side Emain is." + +'"Northwards so," said his mother; "and the journey is hard," said +she, "Sliab Fuait is between you." + +'"I will find it out," said Cuchulainn. + +'He goes forth then, and his shield of lath with him, and his +toy-spear, and his playing-club, and his ball. He kept throwing his +staff before him, so that he took it by the point before the end +fell on the ground. + +'He goes then to the boys without binding them to protect him. For +no one used to go to them in their play-field till his protection +was guaranteed. He did not know this. + +'"The boy insults us," said Follomon Mac Conchobair, "besides we +know he is of the Ulstermen. ... Throw at him!" + +'They throw their three fifties of toy-spears at him, and they all +remained standing in his shield of lath. Then they throw all the +balls at him; and he takes them, each single ball, in his bosom. +Then they throw their three fifties of hurling-clubs at him; he +warded them off so that they did not touch him, and he took a +bundle of them on his back. Then contortion seized him. You would +have thought that it was a hammering wherewith each little hair had +been driven into his head, with the arising with which he arose. +You would have thought there was a spark of fire on every single +hair. He shut one of his eyes so that it was not wider than the eye +of a needle. He opened the other so that it was as large as the +mouth of a meadcup. He laid bare from his jawbone to his ear; he +opened his mouth to his jaw [Note: Conjectured from the later +description of Cuchulainn's distortion.] so that his gullet was +visible. The hero's light rose from his head. Then he strikes at +the boys. He overthrows fifty of them before they reached the door +of Emain. Nine of them came over me and Conchobar as we were +playing chess. Then he springs over the chessboard after the nine. +Conchobar caught his elbow. + +'"The boys are not well treated," said Conchobar. + +'"Lawful for me, O friend Conchobar," said he. "I came to them from +my home to play, from my mother and father; and they have not been +good to me." + +'"What is your name?" said Conchobar. + + +'"Setanta Mac Sualtaim am I," said he, "and the son of Dechtere, +your sister. It was not fitting to hurt me here." + +'"Why were the boys not bound to protect you?" said Conchobar. + +'"I did not know this," said Cuchulainn. "Undertake my protection +against them then." + +'"I recognise it," said Conchobar. + +'Then he turned aside on [Note: i.e. to attack them.] the boys +throughout the house. + +'"What ails you at them now?" said Conchobar. + +'"That I may be bound to protect them," said Cuchulainn. + +'"Undertake it," said Conchobar. + +'"I recognise it," said Cuchulainn. + +'Then they all went into the play-field, and those boys who had +been struck down there arose. Their foster-mothers and foster-fathers +helped them. + + +'Once,' said Fergus, 'when he was a youth, he used not to sleep in +Emain Macha till morning. + +'"Tell me," said Conchobar to him, "why you do not sleep?" + +'"I do not do it," said Cuchulainn, "unless it is equally high at +my head and my feet." + +'Then a stone pillar was put by Conchobar at his head, and another +at his feet, and a bed was made for him separately between them. + + +'Another time a certain man went to awaken him, and he struck him +with his fist in his forehead, so that it took the front of his +forehead on to the brain, and so that he overthrew the pillar with +his arm.' + +'It is known,' said Ailill, 'that it was the fist of a warrior and +that it was the arm of a hero.' + +'From that time,' said Fergus, 'no one dared to waken him till he +awoke of himself. + + +'Another time he was playing ball in the play-field east of Emain; +he alone apart against the three fifties of boys; he used to defeat +them in every game in this way always. The boys lay hold of him +therewith, and he plied his fist upon them until fifty of them were +killed. He took to flight then, till he was under the pillow of +Conchobar's bed. All the Ulstermen rise round him, and I rise, and +Conchobar himself. Then he rose under the bed, and put the bed from +him, with the thirty heroes who were on it, till it was in the +middle of the house. The Ulstermen sit round him in the house. We +arrange and make peace then,' said Fergus, 'between the boys and +him. + + +'There was contention between Ulster and Eogan Mac Durtacht. The +Ulstermen went to the battle. He was left asleep. The Ulstermen +were defeated. Conchobar was left [on the field], and Cuscraid Mend +Macha, and many more beside. Their lament awoke Cuchulainn. He +stretched himself then, so that the two stones that were about him +broke; in the presence of Bricriu yonder it was done,' said Fergus. +'Then he arose. I met him in the door of the fort, and I wounded. + +'"Alas! God save you, friend Fergus," said he, "where is Conchobar?" + +'"I do not know," said I. + +'Then he went forth. The night was dark. He made for the +battlefield. He saw a man before him, with half his head on, and +half of another man on his back. + +'"Help me, O Cuchulainn," said he; "I have been wounded and I have +brought half of my brother on my back. Carry it for me a while." + +'"I will not carry it," said he. + +'Then he throws the burden to him; he throws it from him; they +wrestle; Cuchulainn was overthrown. I heard something, the +Badb from the corpses: "Ill the stuff of a hero that is under the +feet of a phantom." Then Cuchulainn rose against him, and strikes +his head off with his playing-club, and begins to drive his ball +before him across the plain. + +'"Is my friend Conchobar in this battlefield?" + +'He answered him. He goes to him, till he sees him in the trench, +and there was the earth round him on every side to hide him. + +'"Why have you come into the battlefield," said Conchobar, "that +you may swoon there?" + +'He lifts him out of the trench then; six of the strong men of +Ulster with us would not have brought him out more bravely. + +'"Go before us to the house yonder," said Conchobar; "if a roast +pig came to me, I should live." + +'"I will go and bring it," said Cuchulainn. + +'He goes then, and saw a man at a cooking-hearth in the middle of +the wood; one of his two hands had his weapons in it, the other was +cooking the pig. + +'The hideousness of the man was great; nevertheless he attacked him +and took his head and his pig with him. Conchobar ate the pig then. + +'"Let us go to our house," said Conchobar. + +'They met Cuscraid Mac Conchobair. There were sure wounds on him; +Cuchulainn took him on his back. The three of them went then to +Emain Macha. + + +'Another time the Ulstermen were in their weakness. There was not +among us,' said Fergus, 'weakness on women and boys, nor on any one +who was outside the country of the Ulstermen, nor on Cuchulainn and +his father. And so no one dared to shed their blood; for the +suffering springs on him who wounds them. [Gloss incorporated in +text: 'or their decay, or their shortness of life.'] + +'Three times nine men came to us from the Isles of Faiche. They +went over our back court when we were in our weakness. The women +screamed in the court. The boys were in the play-field; they come +at the cries. When the boys saw the dark, black men, they all take +to flight except Cuchulainn alone. He plies hand-stones and his +playing-club on them. He kills nine of them, and they leave fifty +wounds on him, and they go forth besides. A man who did these deeds +when his five years were not full, it would be no wonder that he +should have come to the edge of the boundary and that he should +have cut off the heads of yonder four.' + + +'We know him indeed, this boy,' said Conall Cernach, 'and we know +him none the worse that he is a fosterling of ours. It was not long +after the deed that Fcrgus has just related, when he did another +deed. When Culann the smith served a feast to Conchobar, Culann +said that it was not a multitude that should be brought to him, for +the preparation which he had made was not from land or country, but +from the fruit of his two hands and his pincers. Then Conchobar +went, and fifty chariots with him, of those who were noblest and +most eminent of the heroes. Now Conchobar visited then his +play-field. It was always his custom to visit and revisit them at +going and coming, to seek a greeting of the boys. He saw then +Cuchulainn driving his ball against the three fifties of boys, and +he gets the victory over them. When it was hole-driving that they +did, he filled the hole with his balls and they could not ward him +off. When they were all throwing into the hole, he warded them off +alone, so that not a single ball would go in it. When it was +wrestling they were doing, he overthrew the three fifties of boys +by himself, and there did not meet round him a number that could +overthrow him. When it was stripping that they did, he stripped +them all so that they were quite naked, and they could not take +from him even his brooch out of his cloak. + +'Conchobar thought this wonderful. He said "Would he bring his +deeds to completion, provided the age of manhood came to them?" +Every one said: "He would bring them to completion." Conchobar said +to Cuchulainn: "Come with me," said he, "to the feast to which we +are going, because you are a guest." + +'"I have not had enough of play yet, O friend Conchobar," said the +boy; "I will come after you." + +'When they had all come to the feast, Culann said to Conchobar: "Do +you expect any one to follow you?" said he. + +'"No," said Conchobar. He did not remember the appointment with his +foster-son who was following him. + +'"I'll have a watch-dog," said Culann; "there are three chains on +him, and three men to each chain. [Gloss incorporated in text: 'He +was brought from Spain.'] Let him be let slip because of our cattle +and stock, and let the court be shut." + +'Then the boy comes. The dog attacks him. He went on with his play +still: he threw his ball, and threw his club after it, so that it +struck the ball. One stroke was not greater than another; and he +threw his toy-spear after them, and he caught it before falling; +and it did not hinder his play, though the dog was approaching him. +Conchobar and his retinue ---- this, so that they could not move; +they thought they would not find him alive when they came, even +though the court were open. Now when the dog came to him, he threw +away his ball and his club, and seized the dog with his two hands; +that is, he put one of his hands to the apple of the dog's throat; +and he put the other at its back; he struck it against the pillar +that was beside him, so that every limb sprang apart. (According to +another, it was his ball that he threw into its mouth, and brought +out its entrails through it.) + +'The Ulstermen went towards him, some over the wall, others over +the doors of the court. They put him on Conchobar's knee. A great +clamour arose among them, that the king's sister's son should have +been almost killed. Then Culann comes into the house. + +'"Welcome, boy, for the sake of your mother. Would that I had not +prepared a feast! My life is a life lost, and my husbandry is a +husbandry without, without my dog. He had kept honour and life for +me," said he, "the man of my household who has been taken from me, +that is, my dog. He was defence and protection to our property and +our cattle; he was the protection of every beast to us, both field +and house." + +'"It is not a great matter," said the boy; "a whelp of the same +litter shall be raised for you by me, and I will be a dog for the +defence of your cattle and for your own defence now, until that dog +grows, and until he is capable of action; and I will defend Mag +Murthemne, so that there shall not be taken away from me cattle nor +herd, unless I have ----." + +'"Then your name shall be Cu-chulainn," said Cathbad. + +'"I am content that it may be my name," said Cuchulainn. + +'A man who did this in his seventh year, it would be no wonder that +he should have done a great deed now when his seventeen years are +completed,' said Conall Cernach. + + +'He did another exploit,' said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe. 'Cathbad the +Druid was with his son, Conchobar Mac Nessa. A hundred active men +were with him, learning magic from him. That is the number that +Cathbad used to teach. A certain one of his pupils asked of him for +what this day would be good. Cathbad said a warrior should take +arms therein whose name should be over Ireland for ever, for deed +of valour, and his fame should continue for ever. Cuchulainn heard +this. He comes to Conchobar to ask for arms. Conchobar said, "Who +has instructed you?" + +'"My friend Cathbad," said Cuchulainn. + +'"We know indeed," said Conchobar. + +'He gave him spear and shield. He brandished them in the middle of +the house, so that nothing remained of the fifteen sets of armour +that were in store in Conchobar's household against the breaking of +weapons or taking of arms by any one. Conchobar's own armour was +given to him. That withstood him, and he brandished it, and blessed +the king whose armour it was, and said, "Blessing to the people and +race to whom is king the man whose armour that is." + +'Then Cathbad came to them, and said: "Has the boy taken arms?" +said Cathbad. + +'"Yes," said Conchobar. + +'"This is not lucky for the son of his mother," said he. + +'"What, is it not you advised it?" said Conchobar. + +'"Not I, surely," said Cathbad. + +'"What advantage to you to deceive me, wild boy?" said Conchobar to +Cuchulainn. + +'"O king of heroes, it is no trick," said Cuchulainn; "it is he who +taught it to his pupils this morning; and I heard him, south of +Emain, and I came to you then." + +'"The day is good thus," said Cathbad; "it is certain he will be +famous and renowned, who shall take arms therein; but he will be +short-lived only." + +'"A wonder of might," said Cuchulainn; "provided I be famous, I am +content though I were but one day in the world." + +'Another day a certain man asked the druids what it is for which +that day was good. + +'"Whoever shall go into a chariot therein," said Cathbad, "his name +shall be over Ireland for ever." + +'Then Cuchulainn heard this; he comes to Conchobar and said to him: +"O friend Conchobar," said he, "give me a chariot." He gave him a +chariot. He put his hand between the two poles [Note: The _fertais_ +were poles sticking out behind the chariot, as the account of the +wild deer, later, shows.] of the chariot, so that the chariot +broke. He broke twelve chariots in this way. Then Conchobar's +chariot was given to him. This withstood him. He goes then in the +chariot, and Conchobar's charioteer with him. The charioteer (Ibor +was his name) turned the chariot under him. "Come out of the +chariot now," said the charioteer. + +'"The horses are fine, and I am fine, their little lad," said +Cuchulainn. "Go forward round Emain only, and you shall have a +reward for it." + +'So the charioteer goes, and Cuchulainn forced him then that he +should go on the road to greet the boys "and that the boys might +bless me." + +'He begged him to go on the way again. When they come, Cuchulainn +said to the charioteer: "Ply the goad on the horses," said he. + +'"In what direction?" said the charioteer. + +'"As long as the road shall lead us," said Cuchulainn. + +'They come thence to Sliab Fuait, and find Conall Cernach there. It +fell to Conall that day to guard the province; for every hero of +Ulster was in Sliab Fuait in turn, to protect any one who should +come with poetry, or to fight against a man; so that it should be +there that there should be some one to encounter him, that no one +should go to Emain unperceived. + +'"May that be for prosperity," said Conall; "may it be for victory +and triumph." + +'"Go to the fort, O Conall, and leave me to watch here now," said +Cuchulainn. + +'"It will be enough," said Conall, "if it is to protect any one +with poetry; if it is to fight against a man, it is early for you +yet." + +'"Perhaps it may not be necessary at all," said Cuchulainn. "Let us +go meanwhile," said Cuchulainn, "to look upon the edge of Loch +Echtra. Heroes are wont to abide there." + +'"I am content," said Conall. + +'Then they go thence. He throws a stone from his sling, so that a +pole of Conall Cernach's chariot breaks. + +'"Why have you thrown the stone, O boy?" said Conall. + +"To try my hand and the straightness of my throw," said Cuchulainn; +"and it is the custom with you Ulstermen, that you do not travel +beyond your peril. Go back to Emain, O friend Conall, and leave me +here to watch." + +'"Content, then," said Conall. + +'Conall Cernach did not go past the place after that. Then +Cuchulainn goes forth to Loch Echtra, and they found no one there +before them. The charioteer said to Cuchulainn that they should go +to Emain, that they might be in time for the drinking there. + +'"No," said Cuchulainn. "What mountain is it yonder?" said +Cuchulainn. + +'"Sliab Monduirn," said the charioteer. + +'"Let us go and get there," said Cuchulainn. They go then till +they reach it. When they had reached the mountain, Cuchulainn +asked: "What is the white cairn yonder on the top of the +mountain?" + +'"Find Carn," said the charioteer. + +'"What plain is that over there?" said Cuchulainn. + +'"Mag Breg," said the charioteer. He tells him then the name of +every chief fort between Temair and Cenandas. He tells him first +their meadows and their fords, their famous places and their +dwellings, their fortresses and their high hills. He shows [Note: +Reading with YBL.] him then the fort of the three sons of Nechta +Scene; Foill, Fandall, and Tuachell were their names. + +'"Is it they who say," said Cuchulainn, "that there are not more +of the Ulstermen alive than they have slain of them?" + +'"It is they indeed," said the charioteer. + +'"Let us go till we reach them," said Cuchulainn. + +'"Indeed it is peril to us," said the charioteer. + +'"Truly it is not to avoid it that we go," said Cuchulainn. + +'Then they go forth and unharness their horses at the meeting of +the bog and the river, to the south above the fort of the others; +and he threw the withe that was on the pillar as far as he could +throw into the river and let it go with the stream, for this was a +breach of _geis_ to the sons of Nechta Scene. They perceive it +then, and come to them. Cuchulainn goes to sleep by the pillar +after throwing the withe at the stream; and he said to the +charioteer: "Do not waken me for few; but waken me for many." + +'Now the charioteer was very frightened, and he made ready their +chariot and pulled its coverings and skins which were over +Cuchulainn; for he dared not waken him, because Cuchulainn told him +at first that he should not waken him for a few. + +'Then come the sons of Nechta Scene. + +'"Who is it who is there?" said one of them. + +'"A little boy who has come to-day into the chariot for an +expedition," said the charioteer. + +'"May it not be for his happiness," said the champion; "and may it +not be for his prosperity, his first taking of arms. Let him not be +in our land, and let the horses not graze there any more," said the +champion. + +'"Their reins are in my hands," said the charioteer. + + +'"It should not be yours to earn hatred," said Ibar to the +champion; "and the boy is asleep." + +'"I am not a boy at all," said Cuchulainn; "but it is to seek +battle with a man that the boy who is here has come." + +'"That pleases me well," said the champion. + +'"It will please you now in the ford yonder," said Cuchulainn. + +'"It befits you," said the charioteer, "take heed of the man who +comes against you. Foill is his name," said he; "for unless you +reach him in the first thrust, you will not reach him till +evening." + +'"I swear by the god by whom my people swear, he will not ply his +skill on the Ulstermen again, if the broad spear of my friend +Conchobar should reach him from my hand. It will be an outlaw's +hand to him." + +'Then he cast the spear at him, so that his back broke. He took +with him his accoutrements and his head. + +'"Take heed of another man," said the charioteer, "Fandall [Note: +i.e. 'Swallow.'] is his name. Not more heavily does he traverse(?) +the water than swan or swallow." + +'"I swear that he will not ply that feat again on the Ulstermen," +said Cuchulainn. "You have seen," said he, "the way I travel the +pool at Emain." + +'They meet then in the ford. Cuchulainn kills that man, and took +his head and his arms. + +'"Take heed of another man who comes towards you," said the +charioteer. "Tuachell [Note: i.e. 'Cunning.'] is his name. It is no +misname for him, for he does not fall by arms at all." + +'"Here is the javelin for him to confuse him, so that it may make +a red-sieve of him," said Cuchulainn. + +'He cast the spear at him, so that it reached him in his ----. Then +He went to him and cut off his head. Cuchulainn gave his head and +his accoutrements to his own charioteer. He heard then the cry of +their mother, Nechta Scene, behind them. + +'He puts their spoils and the three heads in his chariot with him, +and said: "I will not leave my triumph," said he, "till I reach +Emain Macha." 'then they set out with his triumph. + +'Then Cuchulainn said to the charioteer: "You promised us a good +run," said he, "and we need it now because of the strife and the +pursuit that is behind us." They go on to Sliab Fuait; and such was +the speed of the run that they made over Breg after the spurring of +the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot overtook the wind +and the birds in flight, and that Cuchulainn caught the throw that +he sent from his sling before it reached the ground. + +'When they reached Sliab Fuait, they found a herd of wild deer +there before them. + +'"What are those cattle yonder so active?" said Cuchulainn. + +'"Wild deer," said the charioteer. + +'"Which would the Ulstermen think best," said Cuchulainn, "to bring +them dead or alive?" + +'"It is more wonderful alive," said the charioteer; "it is not +every one who can do it so. Dead, there is not one of them who +cannot do it. You cannot do this, to carry off any of them alive," +said the charioteer. + +'"I can indeed," said Cuchulainn. "Ply the goad on the horses into +the bog." + +'The charioteer does this. The horses stick in the bog. Cuchulainn +sprang down and seized the deer that was nearest, and that was the +finest of them. He lashed the horses through the bog, and overcame +the deer at once, and bound it between the two poles of the chariot. + +'They saw something again before them, a flock of swans. + +'"Which would the Ulstermen think best," said Cuchulainn, "to have +them dead or alive?" + +'"All the most vigorous and finest(?) bring them alive," said the +charioteer. + +'Then Cuchulainn aims a small stone at the birds, so that he struck +eight of the birds. He threw again a large stone, so that he struck +twelve of them. All that was done by his return stroke. + +"Collect the birds for us," said Cuchulainn to his charioteer. "If +it is I who go to take them," said he, "the wild deer will spring +upon you." + +'"It is not easy for me to go to them," said the charioteer. "The +horses have become wild so that I cannot go past them. I cannot go +past the two iron tyres [Interlinear gloss, _fonnod_. The _fonnod_ +was some part of the rim of the wheel apparently.] of the chariot, +because of their sharpness; and I cannot go past the deer, for his +horn has filled all the space between the two poles of the chariot." + +'"Step from its horn," said Cuchulainn. "I swear by the god by whom +the Ulstermen swear, the bending with which I will bend my head on +him, and the eye that I will make at him, he will not turn his head +on you, and he will not dare to move." + + +'That was done then. Cuchulainn made fast the reins, and the +charioteer collects the birds. Then Cuchulainn bound the birds from +the strings and thongs of the chariot; so that it was thus he went +to Emain Macha: the wild deer behind his chariot, and the flock of +swans flying over it, and the three heads in his chariot. Then they +come to Emain. + +"A man in a chariot is coming to you," said the watchman in Emain +Macha; "he will shed the blood of every man who is in the court, +unless heed is taken, and unless naked women go to him." + +'Then he turned the left side of his chariot towards Emain, and +that was a _geis_ [Note: i.e. it was an insult.] to it; and +Cuchulainn said: "I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, +unless a man is found to fight with me, I will shed the blood of +every one who is in the fort." + +'"Naked women to meet him!" said Conchobar. + +'Then the women of Emain go to meet him with Mugain, the wife of +Conchobar Mac Nessa, and bare their breasts before him. "These are +the warriors who will meet you to-day," said Mugain. + +'He covers his face; then the heroes of Emain seize him and throw +him into a vessel of cold water. That vessel bursts round him. The +second vessel into which he was thrown boiled with bubbles as big +as the fist therefrom. The third vessel into which he went, he +warmed it so that its heat and its cold were rightly tempered. Then +he comes out; and the queen, Mugain, puts a blue mantle on him, and +a silver brooch therein, and a hooded tunic; and he sits at +Conchobar's knee, and that was his couch always after that. The man +who did this in his seventh year,' said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe, 'it +were not wonderful though he should rout an overwhelming force, and +though he should exhaust (?) an equal force, when his seventeen +years are complete to-day.' + + +(What follows is a separate version [Note: The next episode, the +Death of Fraech, is not given in LL.] to the death of Orlam.) + +'Let us go forth now,' said Ailill. + +Then they reached Mag Mucceda. Cuchulainn cut an oak before them +there, and wrote an ogam in its side. It is this that was therein: +that no one should go past it till a warrior should leap it with +one chariot. They pitch their tents there, and come to leap over it +in their chariots. There fall thereat thirty horses, and thirty +chariots are broken. Belach n-Ane, that is the name of that place +for ever. + + +_The Death of Fraech_ + +They are there till next morning; then Fraech is summoned to them. +'Help us, O Fraech,' said Medb. 'Remove from us the strait that is +on us. Go before Cuchulainn for us, if perchance you shall fight +with him.' + +He set out early in the morning with nine men, till he reached Ath +Fuait. He saw the warrior bathing in the river. + +'Wait here,' said Fraech to his retinue, 'till I come to the man +yonder; not good is the water,' said he. + +He took off his clothes, and goes into the water to him. + +'Do not come to me,' said Cuchulainn. 'You will die from it, and I +should be sorry to kill you.' + +'I shall come indeed,' said Fraech, 'that we may meet in the water; +and let your play with me be fair.' + +'Settle it as you like,' said Cuchulainn. + +'The hand of each of us round the other,' said Fraech. + +They set to wrestling for a long time on the water, and Fraech was +submerged. Cuchulainn lifted him up again. + +'This time,' said Cuchulainn, 'will you yield and accept your +life?' [Note: Lit. 'will you acknowledge your saving?'] + +'I will not suffer it,' said Fraech. + +Cuchulainn put him under it again, until Fraech was killed. He +comes to land; his retinue carry his body to the camp. Ath Fraich, +that was the name of that ford for ever. All the host lamented +Fraech. They saw a troop of women in green tunics [Note: Fraech was +descended from the people of the Sid, his mother Bebind being a +fairy woman. Her sister was Boinn (the river Boyne).] on the body +of Fraech Mac Idaid; they drew him from them into the mound. Sid +Fraich was the name of that mound afterwards. + +Fergus springs over the oak in his chariot. They go till they reach +Ath Taiten; Cuchulainn destroys six of them there: that is, the six +Dungals of Irress. + +Then they go on to Fornocht. Medb had a whelp named Baiscne. +Cuchulainn throws a cast at him, and took his head off. Druim was +the name of that place henceforth. + +'Great is the mockery to you,' said Medb, 'not to hunt the deer +of misfortune yonder that is killing you.' + +Then they start hunting him, till they broke the shafts of their +chariots thereat. + + +_The Death of Orlam_ + +They go forth then over Iraird Culend in the morning. Cuchulainn +went forward; he overtook the charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill +and Medb, in Tamlacht Orlaim, a little to the north of Disert +Lochait, cutting wood there. (According to another version, it is +The shaft of Cuchulainn's chariot that had broken, and it is to cut +a shaft that he had gone when he met Orlam's charioteer. It is the +charioteer who cut the shafts according to this version.) + +'It is over-bold what the Ulstermen are doing, if it is they who +are yonder,' said Cuchulainn, 'while the host is behind them.' He +goes to the charioteer to reprove him; he thought that he was of +Ulster, and he saw the man cutting wood, that is the chariot shaft. + +'What are you doing here?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Cutting chariot-shafts,' said the charioteer. 'We have broken our +chariots hunting the wild deer Cuchulainn yonder. Help me,' said +the charioteer. 'Look only whether you are to select the shafts, or +to strip them.' + +'It will be to strip them indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +Then Cuchulainn stripped the shafts through his fingers in the +presence of the other, so that he cleared them both of bark and +knots. + +'This cannot be your proper work that I put on you,' said the +charioteer; he was greatly afraid. + +'Whence are you?' said Cuchulainn. + +'The charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill and Medb,' said he. 'And +you?' said the charioteer. + +'My name is Cuchulainn,' said he. + +'Alas!' said the charioteer. + +'Fear nothing,' said Cuchulainn. 'Where is your master?' said he. + +'He is in the trench yonder,' said the charioteer. + +'Go forth then with me,' said Cuchulainn, 'for I do not kill +charioteers at all.' + +Cuchulainn goes to Orlam, kills him, cuts his head off, and shakes +his head before the host. Then he puts the head on the charioteer's +back, and said to him: + +'Take that with you,' said Cuchulainn, 'and go to the camp thus. If +you do not go thus, a stone will come to you from my sling.' + +When he got near the camp, he took the head from his back, and told +his adventures to Ailill and Medb. + +'This is not like taking birds,' said she. + +And he said, 'Unless I brought it on my back to the camp, he would +break my head with a stone.' + + +_The Death of the Meic Garach_ + +Then the Meic Garach waited on their ford. These are their names: +Lon and Ualu and Diliu; and Mes-Ler, and Mes-Laech, and Mes-Lethan +were their three charioteers. They thought it too much what +Cuchulainn had done: to slay two foster-sons of the king, and his +son, and to shake the head before the host. They would slay +Cuchulainn in return for him, and would themselves remove this +annoyance from the host. They cut three aspen wands for their +charioteers, that the six of them should pursue combat against him. +He killed them all then, because they had broken fair-play towards +him. + +Orlam's charioteer was then between Ailill and Medb. Cuchulainn +hurled a stone at him, [Note: Apparently because the charioteer had +not carried Orlam's head into the camp on his back. Or an +alternative version.] so that his head broke, and his brains came +over his ears; Fertedil was his name. (Thus it is not true that +Cuchulainn did not kill charioteers; howbeit, he did not kill them +without fault.) + + +_The Death of the Squirrel_ + +Cuchulainn threatened in Methe, that wherever he should see Ailill +or Medb afterwards he would throw a stone from his sling at them. +He did this then: he threw a stone from his sling, so that he +killed the squirrel that was on Medb's shoulder south of the ford: +hence is Methe Togmaill. And he killed the bird that was on +Ailill's shoulder north of the ford: hence is Methe n-Eoin. (Or it +is on Medb's shoulder that both squirrel and bird were together, +and it is their heads that were struck from them by the casts.) + + +Reoin was drowned in his lake. Hence is Loch Reoin. + + +'That other is not far from you,' said Ailill to the Manes. + +They arose and looked round. When they sat down again, Cuchulainn +struck one of them, so that his head broke. + +'It was well that you went for that: your boasting was not +fitting,' said Maenen the fool. 'I would have taken his head off.' + +Cuchulainn threw a stone at him, so that his head broke. It is thus +then that these were killed: Orlam in the first place on his hill; +the Meic Garach on their ford; Fertedil in his ---; Maenan in his +hill. + +'I swear by the god by whom my people swear,' said Ailill, 'that +man who shall make a mock of Cuchulainn here, I will make two +halves of him.' + +'Go forth for us both day and night,' said Ailill, 'till we reach +Cualnge. That man will kill two-thirds of the host in this way.' It +is there that the harpers of the _Cainbili_ [Note: Reference +obscure. They were wizards of some sort.] from Ossory came to them +to amuse them. They thought it was from the Ulstermen to spy on +them. They set to hunting them, till they went before them in the +forms of deer into the stones at Liac Mor on the north. For they +were wizards with great cunning. + + +_The Death of Lethan_ + + +Lethan came on to his ford on the Nith (?) in Conaille. He waited +himself to meet Cuchulainn. It vexed him what Cuchulainn had done. +Cuchulainn cuts off his head and left it, hence it is Ath Lethan on +the Nith. And their chariots broke in the battle on the ford by +him; hence it is Ath Carpat. Mulcha, Lethan's charioteer, fell on +the shoulder of the hill that is between them; hence is Gulo +Mulchai. While the hosts were going over Mag Breg, he struck(?) +their ---- still. [Note: 2 Something apparently missing here. The +passage in LL is as follows: 'It is the same day that the Morrigan, +daughter of Ernmas, came from the Sid, so that she was on the +pillar in Temair Cuailnge, taking a warning to the Dun of Cualnge +before the men of Ireland, and she began to speak to him, and +"Good, O wretched one, O Dun of Cualnge," said the Morrigan, "keep +watch, for the men of Ireland have reached thee, and they will take +thee to their camp unless thou keepest watch"; and she began to +take a warning to him thus, and uttered her words on high.' (The +Rhetoric follows as in LU.)] + +Yet that was the Morrigan in the form of a bird on the pillar in +Temair Cuailnge; and she spoke to the Bull: + + 'Does the Black know,' etc. [Note: A Rhetoric.] + +Then the Bull went, and fifty heifers with him, to Sliab Culind; +and his keeper, Forgemen by name, went after him. He threw off the +three fifties of boys who used always to play on him, and he killed +two-thirds of his boys, and dug a trench in Tir Marcceni in Cualnge +before he went. + + +_The Death of Lochu_ + +Cuchulainn killed no one from the Saile ind Orthi (?) in the +Conaille territory, until they reached Cualnge. Cuchulainn was then +in Cuince; he threatened then that when he saw Medb he would throw +a stone at her head. This was not easy to him, for it is thus that +Medb went and half the host about her, with their shelter of +shields over her head. + +Then a waiting-woman of Medb's, Lochu by name, went to get water, +and a great troop of women with her. Cuchulainn thought it was +Medb. He threw two stones from Cuince, so that he slew her in her +plain(?). Hence is Ath Rede Locha in Cualnge. + +From Findabair Cuailnge the hosts divided, and they set the country +on fire. They collect all there were of women, and boys, and +maidens; and cattle, in Cualnge together, so that they were all in +Findabair. + +'You have not gone well,' said Medb; 'I do not see the Bull with +you.' + +'He is not in the province at all,' said every one. + +Lothar the cowherd is summoned to Medb. + +'Where is the Bull?' said she. 'Have you an idea?' + +'I have great fear to tell it,' said the herd. 'The night,' said +he, 'when the Ulstermen went into their weakness, he went with +three twenties of heifers with him, so that he is at the Black +Corrie of Glenn Gatt.' + +'Go,' said Medb, 'and carry a withe [Note: Ir. _gatt_, a withe.] +between each two of you.' + +They do this: hence this glen is called Glenn Gatt. Then they bring +the Bull to Findabair. The place where he saw the herd, Lothar, he +attacked him, so that he brought his entrails out on his horns; and +he attacked the camp with his three fifties of heifers, so that +fifty warriors were killed. And that is the death of Lothar on the +Foray. + +Then the Bull went from them out of the camp, and they knew not +where he had gone from them; and they were ashamed. Medb asked the +herd if he had an idea where the Bull was. + +'I think he would be in the secret places of Sliab Culind.' + +When they returned thus after ravaging Cualnge, and did not find +the Bull there. The river Cronn rose against them to the tops of +the trees; and they spent the night by it. And Medb told part of +her following to go across. + +A wonderful warrior went next day, Ualu his name. He took a great +stone on his back to go across the water; the stream drove him +backwards with the stone on his back. His grave and his stone are +on the road at the stream: Lia Ualand is its name. + +They went round the river Cronn to the source, and they would have +gone between the source and the mountain, only that they could not +get leave from Medb; she preferred to go across the mountain, that +their track might remain there for ever, for an insult to the +Ulstermen. They waited there three days and three nights, till they +dug the earth in front of them, the Bernas Bo Cuailnge. + +It is there that Cuchulainn killed Crond and Coemdele and ---- +[Note: Obscure.]. A hundred warriors ---- [Note: Obscure.] died with +Roan and Roae, the two historians of the Foray. A hundred and +forty-four, kings died by him at the same stream. They came then +over the Bernas Bo Cuailnge with the cattle and stock of Cualnge, +and spent the night in Glenn Dail Imda in Cualnge. Botha is the +name of this place, because they made huts over them there. They +come next day to Colptha. They try to cross it through heedlessness. +It rose against them then, and it carries a hundred charioteers +of them to the sea; this is the name of the land in which they +were drowned, Cluain Carptech. + +They go round Colptha then to its source, to Belat Alioin, and +spent the night at Liasa Liac; that is the name of this place, +because they made sheds over their calves there between Cualnge and +Conaille. They came over Glenn Gatlaig, and Glass Gatlaig rose +against them. Sechaire was its name before; Glass Gatlaig +thenceforth, because it was in withes they brought their calves; +and they slept at Druim Fene in Conaille. (Those then are the +wanderings from Cualnge to Machaire according to this version.) + + +_This is the Harrying of Cualnge_ + +(Other authors and books make it that another way was taken on +their journeyings from Findabair to Conaille, as follows: + +Medb said after every one had come with their booty, so that they +were all in Findabair Cuailnge: 'Let the host be divided,' said +Medb; 'it will be impossible to bring this expedition by one way. +Let Ailill go with half the expedition by Midluachair; Fergus and I +will go by Bernas Ulad.' [Note: YBL. Bernas Bo n-Ulad.] + +'It is not fine,' said Fergus, 'the half of the expedition that has +fallen to us. It will be impossible to bring the cattle over the +mountain without dividing it.' + +That was done then, so that it is from that there is Bernas Bo n-Ulad.) + +It is there then that Ailill said to his charioteer Cuillius: 'Find +out for me to-day Medb and Fergus. I know not what has brought them +to this union. I shall be pleased that a token should come to me by +you.' + +Cuillius came when they were in Cluichre. The pair remained behind, +and the warriors went on. Cuillius came to them, and they heard not +the spy. Fergus' sword happened to be beside him. Cuillius drew it +out of its sheath, and left the sheath empty. Cuillius came to +Ailill. + +'So?' said Ailill. + +'So indeed,' said Cuillius; 'there is a token for you.' + +'It is well,' said Ailill. + +Each of them smiles at the other. + +'As you thought,' said Cuillius, 'it is thus that I found them, in +one another's arms.' + +'It is right for her,' said Ailill; 'it is for help on the Foray +that she has done it. See that the sword is kept in good condition,' +said Ailill. 'Put it under your seat in the chariot, and a cloth of +linen around it.' + +Fergus got up for his sword after that. + +'Alas!' said he. + +'What is the matter with you?' said Medb. + + +'An ill deed have I done to Ailill,' said he. 'Wait here, while I +go into the wood,' said Fergus; 'and do not wonder though it be +long till I come.' + +It happened that Medb knew not the loss of the sword. He goes +thence, and takes the sword of his charioteer with him in his hand. +He makes a wooden sword in the wood. Hence there is Fid Mor Drualle +in Ulster. + +'Let us go on after our comrades,' said Fergus. All their hosts +meet in the plain. They pitch their tents. Fergus is summoned to +Ailill to play chess. When Fergus went to the tent, Ailill began to +laugh at him. [Note: Here follows about two columns of rhetoric, +consisting of a taunting dialogue between Ailill, Fergus and Medb.] + +*** + +Cuchulainn came so that he was at Ath Cruinn before them. + +'O friend Loeg,' said he to his charioteer, 'the hosts are at hand +to us.' + +'I swear by the gods,' said the charioteer, 'I will do a mighty +feat before warriors ... on slender steeds with yokes of silver, +with golden wheels ...' + +'Take heed, O Loeg,' said Cuchulainn; 'hold the reins for great +victory of Macha ... I beseech,' said Cuchulainn, 'the waters to +help me. I beseech heaven and earth, and the Cronn in particular.' + +The (river) Cronn takes to fighting against them; it will not let +them into Murthemne until the work of heroes be finished in Sliab +Tuath Ochaine. + +Therewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the trees. + +Mane, son of Ailill and Medb, went before the rest. Cuchulainn +smites them on the ford, and thirty horsemen of Mane's retinue were +drowned in the water. Cuchulainn overthrew two sixteens of warriors +of them again by the water. + +They pitch their tents at that ford. Lugaid Mac Nois, descendant of +Lomarc Allchomach, came to speak to Cuchulainn, with thirty +horsemen. + +'Welcome, O Lugaid,' said Cuchulainn. 'If a flock of birds graze +upon Mag Murthemne, you shall have a duck with half of another; if +fish come to the estuaries, you shall have a salmon with half of +another. You shall have the three sprigs, the sprig of watercress, +and the sprig of marshwort, and the sprig of seaweed. You shall +have a man in the ford in your place.' [Note: This and the +following speech are apparently forms of greeting. Cuchulainn +offers Lugaid such hospitality as lies in his power. See a similar +speech later to Fergus.] + +'I believe it,' said Lugaid. 'Excellence of people to the boy whom +I desire.' + +'Your hosts are fine,' said Cuchulainn. + +It would not be sad for you alone before them,' said Lugaid. + +'Fair-play and valour will support me,' said Cuchulainn. 'O friend +Lugaid, do the hosts fear me?' + +'I swear by God,' said Lugaid, 'one man nor two dare not go out of +the camp, unless it be in twenties or thirties.' + +'It will be something extra for them,' said Cuchulainn, 'if I take +to throwing from the sling. Fitting for you will be this fellow-vassal, +O Lugaid, that you have among the Ulstermen, if there come to me +the force of every man. Say what you would have,' said Cuchulainn. + +'That I may have a truce with you towards my host.' + +'You shall have it, provided there be a token on it. And tell my +friend Fergus that there be a token on his host. Tell the +physicians, let there be a token on their host. And let them swear +preservation of life to me, and let there come to me provision +every night from them.' + +Then Lugaid goes from him. Fergus happened to be in the tent with +Ailill. Lugaid called him out, and told him this. Something was +heard, namely Ailill. ... [Note: Rhetoric, six lines, the substance +of which is, apparently, that Ailill asks protection also.] + +'I swear by God I cannot do it,' said Lugaid, 'unless I ask the boy +Again.' + +'Help me, [Note: Spoken by Fergus?] O Lugaid, go to him to see +whether Ailill may come with a cantred into my troop. Take an ox +with bacon to him and a jar of wine.' + +He goes to Cuchulainn then and tells him this. + +'I do not mind though he go,' said Cuchulainn. + +Then their two troops join. They are there till night. Cuchulainn +kills thirty men of them with the sling. (Or they would be twenty +nights there, as some books say.) + +'Your journeyings are bad,' said Fergus. 'The Ulstermen will come +to you out of their weakness, and they will grind you to earth and +gravel. "The corner of battle" in which we are is bad.' + +He goes thence to Cul Airthir. It happened that Cuchulainn had gone +that night to speak to the Ulstermen [Note: In LL and Y BL this +incident occurs later, and the messenger is Sualtaim, not +Cuchulainn. LU is clearly wrong here.] + +'Have you news?' said Conchobar. + +'Women are captured,' said Cuchulainn, 'cattle are driven away, men +are slain.' + +'Who carries them off? who drives them away? who kills them?' + +'... Ailill Mac Matae carries them off, and Fergus Mac Roich +very bold ...' [Note: Rhetoric.] + +'It is not great profit to you,' said Conchobar, 'to-day, our +smiting has come to us all the same.' + +Cuchulainn goes thence from them; he saw the hosts going forth. + +'Alas,' said Ailill, 'I see chariots' ..., etc [Note: Rhetoric, +five lines.] + +Cuchulainn kills thirty men of them on Ath Duirn. They could not +reach Cul Airthir then till night. He slays thirty of them there, +and they pitch their tents there. Ailill's charioteer, Cuillius, +was washing the chariot tyres [Note: See previous note on the word +_fonnod_; the word used here is _fonnod_.] in the ford in the +morning; Cuchulainn struck him with a stone and killed him. Hence +is Ath Cuillne in Cul Airthir. They reach Druim Feine in Conaille +and spent the night there, as we have said before. + +Cuchulainn attacked them there; he slays a hundred men of them +every night of the three nights that they were there; he took a +sling to them from Ochaine near them. + +'Our host will be short-lived through Cuchulainn in this way,' said +Ailill. 'Let an agreement be carried from us to him: that he shall +have the equal of Mag Murthemne from Mag Ai, and the best chariot +that is in Ai, and the equipment of twelve men. Offer, if it +pleases him better, the plain in which he was brought up, and three +sevens of cumals [Note: The _cumal_ (bondmaid) was a standard of +value.]; and everything that has been destroyed of his household (?) +and cattle shall be made good, and he shall have full compensation (?), +and let him go into my service; it is better for him than the +service of a sub king.' + + +'Who shall go for that?' + +'Mac Roth yonder.' + +Mac Roth, the messenger of Ailill and Medb, went on that errand to +Delga: it is he who encircles Ireland in one day. It is there that +Fergus thought that Cuchulainn was, in Delga. + +'I see a man coming towards us,' said Loeg to Cuchulainn. 'He has +a yellow head of hair, and a linen emblem round it; a club of +fury(?) in his hand, an ivory-hilted sword at his waist; a hooded +tunic with red ornamentation on him.' + +'Which of the warriors of the king is that?' said Cuchulainn. + +Mac Roth asked Loeg whose man he was. + +'Vassal to the man down yonder,' said Loeg. + +Cuchulainn was there in the snow up to his two thighs, without +anything at all on him, examining his shirt. + +Then Mac Roth asked Cuchulainn whose man he was. + +'Vassal of Conchobar Mac Nessa,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Is there no clearer description?' + +'That is enough,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Where then is Cuchulainn?' said Mac Roth. + +'What would you say to him?' said Cuchulainn. + +Mac Roth tells him then all the message, as we have told it. + +'Though Cuchulainn were near, he would not do this; he will not +barter the brother of his mother for another king.' + +He came to him again, and it was said to Cuchulainn that there +should be given over to him the noblest of the women and the cows +that were without milk, on condition that he should not ply his +sling on them at night, even if he should kill them by day. + +'I will not do it,' said Cuchulainn; 'if our slavewomen are taken +from us, our noble women will be at the querns; and we shall be +without milk if our milch-cows are taken from us.' + +He came to him again, and he was told that he should have the +slave-women and the milch-cows. + +'I will not do it,' said Cuchulainn; 'the Ulstermen will take their +slave-women to their beds, and there will be born to them a servile +offspring, and they will use their milch-cows for meat in the +winter.' + +'Is there anything else then?' said the messenger. + +'There is,' said Cuchulainn; 'and I will not tell it you. It shall +be agreed to, if any one tell it you.' + +'I know it,' said Fergus; 'I know what the man tried to suggest; +and it is no advantage to you. And this is the agreement,' said +Fergus: 'that the ford on which takes place (?) his battle and +combat with one man, the cattle shall not be taken thence a day and +a night; if perchance there come to him the help of the Ulstermen. +And it is a marvel to me,' said Fergus, 'that it is so long till +they come out of their sufferings.' + +'It is indeed easier for us,' said Ailill, 'a man every day than a +hundred every night.' + + +_The Death of Etarcomol_ + +Then Fergus went on this errand; Etarcomol, son of Edan [Note: Name +uncertain. YBL has Eda, LL Feda.] and Lethrinne, foster-son of +Ailill and Medb, followed. + +'I do not want you to go,' said Fergus, 'and it is not for hatred +of you; but I do not like combat between you and Cuchulainn. Your +pride and insolence, and the fierceness and hatred, pride and +madness of the other, Cuchulainn: there will be no good from your +meeting.' + +'Are you not able to protect me from him?' said Etarcomol. + +'I can,' said Fergus, 'provided only that you do not treat his, +sayings with disrespect.' + +They go thence in two chariots to Delga. Cuchulainn was then +playing chess [Note: _Buanfach_, like _fidchell_, is apparently a +game something like chess or draughts.] with Loeg; the back of his +head was towards them, and Loeg's face. + +'I see two chariots coming towards us,' said Loeg; 'a great dark +man in the first chariot, with dark and bushy hair; a purple cloak +round him, and a golden pin therein; a hooded tunic with gold +embroidery on him; and a round shield with an engraved edge of +white metal, and a broad spear-head, with rings from point to +haft(?), in his hand. A sword as long as the rudder of a boat on +his two thighs.' + +'It is empty, this great rudder that is brought by my friend +Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; 'for there is no sword in its sheath +except a sword of wood. It has been told to me,' said Cuchulainn; +'Ailill got a chance of them as they slept, he and Medb; and he +took away his sword from Fergus, and gave it to his charioteer to +take care of, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath.' + +Then Fergus comes up. + +'Welcome, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; 'if a fish comes +into the estuary, you shall have it with half of another; if a +flock comes into the plain, you shall have a duck with half of +another; a spray of cress or seaweed, a spray of marshwort; a drink +from the sand; you shall have a going to the ford to meet a man, if +it should happen to be your watch, till you have slept.' + +'I believe it,' said Fergus; 'it is not your provision that we have +come for; we know your housekeeping here.' + +Then Cuchulainn receives the message from Fergus; anti Fergus goes +away. Etarcomol remains looking at Cuchulainn. + +'What are you looking at?' said Cuchulainn. + +'You,' said Etarcomol. + +'The eye soon compasses it indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +'That is what I see,' said Etarcomol. 'I do not know at all why you +should be feared by any one. I do not see terror or fearfulness, or +overwhelming of a host, in you; you are merely a fair youth with +arms of wood, and with fine feats.' + +'Though you speak ill of me,' said Cuchulainn, 'I will not kill you +for the sake of Fergus. But for your protection, it would have been +your entrails drawn (?) and your quarters scattered, that would +have gone from me to the camp behind your chariot.' + +'Threaten me not thus,' said Etarcomol. 'The wonderful agreement +that he has bound, that is, the single combat, it is I who will +first meet you of the men of Ireland to-morrow.' + +Then he goes away. He turned back from Methe and Cethe and said to +his charioteer: + +'I have boasted,' said he, 'before Fergus combat with Cuchulainn +to-morrow. It is not possible for us [Note: YBL reading.] to wait +for it; turn the horses back again from the hill.' + +Loeg sees this and says to Cuchulainn: 'There is the chariot back +again, and it has put its left board [Note: An insult.] towards us.' + +'It is not a "debt of refusal,"' said Cuchulainn. 'I do not wish,' +said Cuchulainn, 'what you demand of me.' + +'This is obligatory to you,' said Etarcomol. + +Cuchulainn strikes the sod under his feet, so that he fell +prostrate, and the sod behind him. + +'Go from me,' said Cuchulainn. 'I am loath to cleanse my hands in +you. I would have divided you into many parts long since but for +Fergus.' + + +'We will not part thus,' said Etarcomol, 'till I have taken your +head, or left my head with you.' + +'It is that indeed that will be there,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn strikes him with his sword in his two armpits, so that +his clothes fell from him, and it did not wound his skin. + +'Go then,' said Cuchulainn. + + +'No,' said Etarcomol. + +Then Cuchulainn attacked him with the edge of his sword, and took +his hair off as if it was shaved with a razor; he did not put even +a scratch (?) on the surface. When the churl was troublesome then +and stuck to him, he struck him on the hard part of his crown, so +that he divided him down to the navel. + +Fergus saw the chariot go past him, and the one man therein. He +turned to quarrel with Cuchulainn. + +'Ill done of you, O wild boy!' said he, 'to insult me. You would +think my club [Note: Or 'track'?] short,' said he. + +'Be not angry with me, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn ... [Note: +Rhetoric, five lines.] 'Reproach me not, O friend Fergus.' + +He stoops down, so that Fergus's chariot went past him thrice. + +He asked his charioteer: 'Is it I who have caused it?' + +'It is not you at all,' said his charioteer. + +'He said,' said Cuchulainn, 'he would not go till he took my head, +or till he left his head with me. Which would you think easier to +bear, O friend Fergus?' said Cuchulainn. + +'I think what has been done the easier truly,' said Fergus, 'for it +is he who was insolent.' + +Then Fergus put a spancel-withe through Etarcomol's two heels and +took him behind his own chariot to the camp. When they went over +rocks, one-half would separate from the other; when it was smooth, +they came together again. + +Medb saw him. 'Not pleasing is that treatment of a tender whelp, O +Fergus,' said Medb. + +'The dark churl should not have made fight,' said Fergus, 'against +the great Hound whom he could not contend with (?).' + +His grave is dug then and his stone planted; his name is written in +ogam; his lament is celebrated. Cuchulainn did not molest them that +night with his sling; and the women and maidens and half the cattle +are taken to him; and provision continued to be brought to him by day. + + +_The Death of Nadcrantail_ + +'What man have you to meet Cuchulainn tomorrow?' said Lugaid. + +'They will give it to you to-morrow,' said Mane, son of Ailill. + +'We can find no one to meet him,' said Medb. 'Let us have peace +with him till a man be sought for him.' + +They get that then. + +'Whither will you send,' said Ailill, 'to seek that man to meet +Cuchulainn?' + +'There is no one in Ireland who could be got for him,' said Medb, +'unless Curoi Mac Dare can be brought, or Nadcrantail the warrior.' + +There was one of Curoi's followers in the tent. 'Curoi will not +come,' said he; 'he thinks enough of his household has come. Let a +message be sent to Nadcrantail.' + +Mane Andoi goes to him, and they tell their tale to him. + +'Come with us for the sake of the honour of Connaught.' + +'I will not go,' said he, 'unless Findabair be given to me.' + +He comes with them then. They bring his armour in a chariot, from +the east of Connaught till it was in the camp. + +'You shall have Findabair,' said Medb, 'for going against that man +yonder.' + +'I will do it,' said he. + +Lugaid comes to Cuchulainn that night. + +'Nadcrantail is coming to meet you to-morrow; it is unlucky for +you: you will not withstand him.' + +'That does not matter,' said Cuchulainn. ... [Note: Corrupt.] + +Nadcrantail goes next morning from the camp, and he takes nine +spits of holly, sharpened and burned. Now Cuchulainn was there +catching birds, and his chariot near him. Nadcrantail throws a +spear at Cuchulainn; Cuchulainn performed a feat on to the point of +that spear, and it did not hinder him from catching the birds. The +same with the eight other spears. When he throws the ninth spear, +the flock flies from Cuchulainn, and he went after the flock. He +goes on the points of the spears like a bird, from each spear to +the next, pursuing the birds that they should not escape. It seemed +to every one, however, that it was in flight that Cuchulainn went +before Nadcrantail. + +'Your Cuchulainn yonder,' said he, 'has gone in flight before me.' + +'That is of course,' said Medb; 'if good warriors should come to +him, the wild boy would not resist ----.' + +This vexed Fergus and the Ulstermen; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe comes from +them to remonstrate with Cuchulainn. + +'Tell him,' said Fergus, 'it was noble to be before the warriors +while he did brave deeds. It is more noble for him,' said Fergus, +'to hide himself when he flees before one man, for it were not +greater shame to him than to the rest of Ulster.' + +'Who has boasted that?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Nadcrantail,' said Fiacha. + +'Though it were that that he should boast, the feat that I have +done before him, it was no more shame to me,' (?) said Cuchulainn. +'He would by no means have boasted it had there been a weapon in +his hand. You know full well that I kill no one unarmed. Let him +come to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn, 'till he is between Ochaine and +the sea, and however early he comes, he will find me there, and I +shall not flee before him.' + +Cuchulainn came then to his appointed meeting-place, and he threw +the hem [of his cloak] round him after his night-watch, and he did +not perceive the pillar that was near him, of equal size with +himself. He embraced it under his cloak, and placed it near him. + +Therewith Nadcrantail came; his arms were brought with him in a +wagon. + +'Where is Cuchulainn?' said he. + +'There he is yonder,' said Fergus. + +'It was not thus he appeared to me yesterday,' said Nadcrantail. + +'Are you Cuchulainn?' + +'And if I am then?' said Cuchulainn. + +'If you are indeed,' said Nadcrantail, 'I cannot bring the head of +a little lamb to camp; I will not take the head of a beardless +boy.' + +'It is not I at all,' said Cuchulainn. 'Go to him round the hill.' + +Cuchulainn comes to Loeg: 'Smear a false beard on me,' said he; +'I cannot get the warrior to fight me without a beard.' It was done +for him. He goes to meet him on the hill. 'I think that more +fitting,' said he. + +'Take the right way of fighting with me,' said Nadcrantail. + +'You shall have it if only we know it,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I will throw a cast at you,' said Nadcrantail, 'and do not avoid +it.' + +'I will not avoid it except on high,' said Cuchulainn. + +Nadcrantail throws a cast at him; Cuchulainn leaps on high before +it. + +'You do ill to avoid my cast,' said Nadcrantail. + +'Avoid my throw then on high,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn throws the spear at him, but it was on high, so that +from above it alighted in his crown, and it went through him to the +ground. + +'Alas! it is you are the best warrior in Ireland!' said Nadcrantail. +'I have twenty-four sons in the camp. I will go and tell them what +hidden treasures I have, and I will come that you may behead me, +for I shall die if the spear is taken out of my head.' + +'Good,' said Cuchulainn. 'You will come back.' + +Nadcrantail goes to the camp then. Every one comes to meet him. + +'Where is the madman's head?' said every one. + +'Wait, O heroes, till I tell my tale to my sons, and go back that I +may fight with Cuchulainn.' + +He goes thence to seek Cuchulainn, and throws his sword at +Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn leaps on high, so that it struck the pillar, +and the sword broke in two. Then Cuchulainn went mad as he had done +against the boys in Emain, and he springs on his shield therewith, +and struck his head off. He strikes him again on the neck down to +the navel. His four quarters fall to the ground. Then Cuchulainn +said this: + + 'If Nadcrantail has fallen, + It will be an increase to the strife. + Alas! that I cannot fight at this time + With Medb with a third of the host.' + + +HERE IS THE FINDING OF THE BULL ACCORDING TO THIS VERSION: + +It is then that Medb went with a third of the host with her to Cuib +to seek the Bull; and Cuchulainn went after her. Now on the road of +Midluachair she had gone to harry Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dun +Sobairche. Cuchulainn saw something: Bude Mac Bain from Sliab +Culinn with the Bull, and fifteen heifers round him; and his force +was sixty men of Ailill's household, with a cloak folded round +every man. Cuchulainn comes to them. + +'Whence have you brought the cattle?' said Cuchulainn. + +'From the mountain yonder,' said the man.' + +'Where are their cow-herds?' said Cuchulainn. + +'He is as we found him,' said the man. + +Cuchulainn made three leaps after them to seek speech with them as +far as the ford. It is there he said to the leader: + +'What is your name?' said he. + +'One who fears you not(?) and loves you not; Bude Mac Bain,' said +he. + +'This spear at Bude!' said Cuchulainn. He hurls at him the javelin, +so that it went through his armpits, and one of the livers broke in +two before the spear. He kills him on his ford; hence is Ath Bude. +The Bull is brought into the camp then. They considered then that +it would not be difficult to deal with Cuchulainn, provided his +javelin were got from him. + + +_The Death of Redg the Satirist_ + +It is then that Redg, Ailill's satirist, went to him on an errand +to seek the javelin, that is, Cuchulainn's spear. + +'Give me your spear,' said the satirist. + +'Not so,' said Cuchulainn; 'but I will give you treasure.' + +'I will not take it,' said the satirist. + +Then Cuchulainn wounded the satirist, because he would not accept +from him what he offered him, and the satirist said he would take +away his honour unless he got the javelin. Then Cuchulainn threw +the javelin at him, and it went right through his head. + +'This gift is overpowering (?),' said the satirist. Hence is Ath +Tolam Set. + +There was now a ford east of it, where the copper of the javelin +rested; Humarrith, then, is the name of that ford. It is there that +Cuchulainn killed all those that we have mentioned in Cuib; i.e. +Nathcoirpthe at his trees; Cruthen on his ford; the sons of the +Herd at their cairn; Marc on his hill; Meille on his hill; Bodb in +his tower; Bogaine in his marsh (?). + +Cuchulainn turned back to Mag Murthemne; he liked better to defend +his own home. After he went, he killed the men of Crocen (or +Cronech), i.e. Focherd; twenty men of Focherd. He overtook them +taking camp: ten cup-bearers and ten fighting-men. + +Medb turned back from the north when she had remained a fortnight +ravaging the province, and when she had fought a battle against +Findmor, wife of Celtchar Mac Uthidir. And after taking Dun +Sobairche upon her, she brought fifty women into the province of +Dalriada. Wherever Medb placed a horse-switch in Cuib its name is +Bile Medba [Note: i.e. Tree of Medb]; every ford and every hill by +which she slept, its name is Ath Medba and Dindgna Medba. + +They all meet then at Focherd, both Ailill and Medb and the troop +that drove the Bull. But their herd took their Bull from them, and +they drove him across into a narrow gap with their spear-shafts on +their shields(?). [Note: A very doubtful rendering.] So that the +feet of the cattle drove him [Note, i.e. Forgemen.] through the +ground. Forgemen was the herd's name. He is there afterwards, so +that that is the name of the hill, Forgemen. There was no annoyance +to them that night, provided a man were got toward off Cuchulainn +on the ford. + +'Let a sword-truce be asked by us from Cuchulainn,' said Ailill. + +'Let Lugaid go for it,' said every one. + +Lugaid goes then to speak to him. + +'How am I now with the host?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Great indeed is the mockery that you asked of them,' said Lugaid, +'that is, your women and your maidens and half your cattle. And +they think it heavier than anything to be killed and to provide you +with food.' + +A man fell there by Cuchulainn every day to the end of a week. +Fair-play is broken with Cuchulainn: twenty are sent to attack him +at one time; and he killed them all. + +'Go to him, O Fergus,' said Ailill, 'that he may allow us a change +of place.' + +They go then to Cronech. This is what fell by him in single combat +at this place: two Roths, two Luans, two female horse messengers, +[Note: Or 'female stealers.' (O'Davoren.)] ten fools, ten +cup-bearers, ten Ferguses, six Fedelms, six Fiachras. These then +were all killed by him in single combat. When they pitched their +tents in Cronech, they considered what they should do against +Cuchulainn. + +'I know,' said Medb, 'what is good in this case: let a message be +sent from us to ask him that we may have a sword-truce from him +towards the host, and he shall have half the cattle that are here.' + +This message is taken to him. + +'I will do this,' said Cuchulainn, 'provided the compact is not +broken by you.' + + +_The Meeting of Cuchulainn and Findabair_ + +'Let an offer go to him,' said Ailill, 'that Findabair will be +given to him on condition that he keeps away from the hosts.' + +Mane Athramail goes to him. He goes first to Loeg. + +'Whose man are you?' said he. + +Loeg does not speak to him. Mane spoke to him thrice in this way. + +'Cuchulainn's man,' said he, 'and do not disturb me, lest I strike +your head off.' + +'This man is fierce,' said Mane, turning from him. He goes then to +speak to Cuchulainn. Now Cuchulainn had taken off his tunic, and +the snow was round him up to his waist as he sat, and the snow +melted round him a cubit for the greatness of the heat of the hero. + +Mane said to him in the same way thrice, 'whose man was he?' + +'Conchobar's man, and do not disturb me. If you disturb me any +longer, I will strike your head from you as the head is taken from +a blackbird.' + +'It is not easy,' said Mane, 'to speak to these two.' + +Mane goes from them then and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb. + +'Let Lugaid go to him,' said Ailill, 'and offer to him the maiden.' + +Lugaid goes then and tells Cuchulainn that. + +'O friend Lugaid,' said Cuchulainn, 'this is a snare.' + +'It is the king's word that has said it,' said Lugaid; 'there will +be no snare therefrom.' + +'Let it be done so,' said Cuchulainn. + +Lugaid went from him therewith, and tells Ailill and Medb that +answer. + +'Let the fool go in my form,' said Ailill, 'and a king's crown on +his head, and let him stand at a distance from Cuchulainn lest he +recognise him, and let the maiden go with him, and let him betroth +her to him, and let them depart quickly in this way; and it is +likely that you will play a trick on him thus, so that he will not +hinder you, till he comes with the Ulstermen to the battle.' + +Then the fool goes to him, and the maiden also; and it was from a +distance he spoke to Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn goes to meet them. It +happened that he recognised by the man's speech that he was a fool. +He threw a sling stone that was in his hand at him, so that it +sprang into his head and brought his brains out. Then he comes to +the maiden, cuts her two tresses off, and thrusts a stone through +her mantle and through her tunic, and thrusts a stone pillar +through the middle of the fool. There are their two pillars there: +the pillar of Findabair, and the fool's pillar. + +Cuchulainn left them thus. A party was sent from Ailill and Medb to +seek out their folk, for they thought they were long; they were +seen in this position. All this was heard throughout the camp. +There was no truce for them with Cuchulainn afterwards. + + +_The Combat of Munremar and Curoi_ + +When the hosts were there in the evening; they saw that one stone +lighted on them from the east, and another from the west to meet +it. They met in the air, and kept falling between Fergus's camp, +and Ailill's, and Era's. [Note: Or Nera?] This sport and play went +on from that hour to the same hour next day; and the hosts were +sitting down, and their shields were over their heads to protect +them against the masses of stones, till the plain was full of the +stones. Hence is Mag Clochair. It happened that Curoi Mac Daire did +this; he had come to help his comrades, and he was in Cotal over +against Munremar Mac Gerrcind. He had come from Emain Macha to help +Cuchulainn, and he was in Ard Roich. Curoi knew that there was no +man in the host who could withstand Munremar. So it was these two +who had made this sport between them. They were asked by the host +to be quiet; then Munremar and Curoi make peace, and Curoi goes to +his house and Munremar to Emain Macha. And Munremar did not come +till the day of the battle; Curoi did not come till the combat with +Fer Diad. + + +'Speak to Cuchulainn,' said Medb and Ailill, 'that he allow us +change of place.' + +It is granted to them then, and they change the place. The weakness +of the Ulstermen was over then. For when they awoke from their +suffering, some of them kept coming on the host, that they might +take to slaying them again. + + +_The Death of the Boys_ + +Then the boys of Ulster had consulted in Emain Macha. + +'Wretched indeed,' said they, 'for our friend Cuchulainn to be +without help.' + +'A question indeed,' said Fiachna Fulech Mac Fir-Febe, own brother +to Fiacha Fialdama Mac Fir-Febe, 'shall I have a troop among you, +and go to take help to him therefrom?' + +Three fifties of boys go with their playing-clubs, and that was a +third of the boys of Ulster. The host saw them coming towards them +across the plain. + +'A great host is at hand to us over the plain,' said Ailill. + +Fergus goes to look at them. 'Some of the boys of Ulster that,' +said he; 'and they come to Cuchulainn's help.' + +'Let a troop go against them,' said Ailill, 'without Cuchulainn's +knowledge; for if they meet him, you will not withstand them.' + +Three fifties of warriors go to meet them. They fell by one another +so that no one escaped alive of the abundance(?) of the boys at Lia +Toll. Hence it is the Stone of Fiachra Mac Fir-Febe; for it is +there he fell. + + +'Make a plan,' said Ailill. + +'Ask Cuchulainn about letting you go out of this place, for you +will not come beyond him by force, because his flame of valour has +sprung.' + +For it was customary with him, when his flame of valour sprang in +him, that his feet would go round behind him, and his hams before; +and the balls of his calves on his shins, and one eye in his head +and the other out of his head; a man's head could have gone into +his mouth. Every hair on him was as sharp as a thorn of hawthorn, +and a drop of blood on each hair. He would not recognise comrades +or friends. He would strike alike before and behind. It is from +this that the men of Connaught gave Cuchulainn the name Riastartha. + + +_The Woman-fight of Rochad_ + +Cuchulainn sent his charioteer to Rochad Mac Fatheman of Ulster, +that he should come to his help. Now it happened that Findabair +loved Rochad, for he was the fairest of the warriors among the +Ulstermen at that time. The man goes to Rochad and told him to come +to help Cuchulainn if he had come out of his weakness; that they +should deceive the host, to get at some of them to slay them. +Rochad comes from the north with a hundred men. + +'Look at the plain for us to-day,' said Ailill. + +'I see a troop coming over the plain,' said the watchman, 'and a +warrior of tender years among them; the men only reach up to his +shoulders.' + +'Who is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'Rochad Mac Fatheman,' said he, 'and it is to help Cuchulainn he +comes.' + +'I know what you had better do with him,' said Fergus. 'Let a +hundred men go from you with the maiden yonder to the middle of the +plain, and let the maiden go before them; and let a horseman go to +speak to him, that he come alone to speak with the maiden, and let +hands be laid on him, and this will keep off (?) the attack of his +army from us.' + +This is done then. Rochad goes to meet the horseman. + +'I have come from Findabair to meet you, that you come to speak +with her.' + +He goes then to speak with her alone. The host rushes about him +from every side. He is taken, and hands are laid on him. His force +breaks into flight. He is let go then, and he is bound over not to +go against the host till he should come together with all Ulster. +It was promised to him that Findabair should be given to him, and +he returned from them then. So that that is Rochad's Woman-fight. + + +_The Death of the Princes_ [Note: Or 'royal mercenaries.'] + +'Let a sword-truce be asked of Cuchulainn for us,' said Ailill and +Medb. + +Lugaid goes on that errand, and Cuchulainn grants the truce. + +'Put a man on the ford for me to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn. + +There were with Medb six princes, i.e. six king's heirs of the +Clanna Dedad, the three Blacks of Imlech, and the three Reds of +Sruthair. + +'Why should we not go against Cuchulainn?' said they. + +They go next day, and Cuchulainn slew the six of them. + + +_The Death of Cur_ + +Then Cur Mac Dalath is besought to go against Cuchulainn. He from +whom he shed blood, he is dead before the ninth day. + +'If he slay him,' said Medb, 'it is victory; and though it be he +who is slain, it is removing a load from the host: for it is not +easy to be with him in regard to eating and sleeping.' + +Then he goes forth. He did not think it good to go against a +beardless wild boy. + +'Not so(?) indeed,' said he, 'right is the honour (?) that you give +us! If I had known that it was against this man that I was sent, I +would not have bestirred myself to seek him; it were enough in my +opinion for a boy of his own age from my troop to go against him.' + +'Not so,' said Cormac Condlongas; 'it were a marvel for us if you +yourself were to drive him off.' + +'Howbeit,' said he, 'since it is on myself that it is laid you +Shall go forth to-morrow morning; it will not delay me to kill the +young deer yonder.' + +He goes then early in the morning to meet him; and he tells the +host to get ready to take the road before them, for it was a clear +road that he would make by going against Cuchulainn. + + +_This is the Number of the Feats_ + +He went on that errand then. Cuchulainn was practising feats at +that time, i.e. the apple-feat, the edge-feat, the supine-feat, the +javelin-feat, the ropefeat, the ---- feat, the cat-feat, the hero's +salmon[-leap?], the cast ----, the leap over ----, the noble +champion's turn, the _gae bolga_, the ---- of swiftness, the +wheel-feat, the ----, the feat on breath, the mouth-rage (?), the +champion's shout, the stroke with proper adjustment, the +back-stroke, the climbing a javelin with stretching of the body on +its point, with the binding (?) of a noble warrior. + +Cur was plying his weapons against him in a fence(?) of his shield +till a third of the day; and not a stroke of the blow reached +Cuchulainn for the madness of the feats, and he did not know that a +man was trying to strike him, till Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe said to him: +'Beware of the man who is attacking you.' + +Cuchulainn looked at him; he threw the feat-apple that remained in +his hand, so that it went between the rim and the body of the +shield, and went back through the head of the churl. It would be in +Imslige Glendanach that Cur fell according to another version. + +Fergus returned to the army. 'If your security hold you,' said he, +'wait here till to-morrow.' + +'It would not be there,' said Ailill; 'we shall go back to our +camp.' + +Then Lath Mac Dabro is asked to go against Cuchulainn, as Cur had +been asked. He himself fell then also. Fergus returns again to put +his security on them. They remained there until there were slain +there Cur Mac Dalath, and Lath Mac Dabro, and Foirc, son of the +three Swifts, and Srubgaile Mac Eobith. They were all slain there +in single combat. + + +_The Death of Ferbaeth_ + +'Go to the camp for us, O friend Loeg' [said Cuchulainn], 'and +consult Lugaid Mac Nois, descendant of Lomarc, to know who is +coming against me tomorrow. Let it be asked diligently, and give +him my greeting.' + +Then Loeg went. + +'Welcome,' said Lugaid; 'it is unlucky for Cuchulainn, the trouble +in which he is, alone against the men of Ireland. It is a comrade +of us both, Ferbaeth (ill-luck to his arms!), who goes against him +to morrow. Findabair is given to him for it, and the kingdom of his +race.' + +Loeg turns back to where Cuchulainn is. + +He is not very joyful over his answer, my friend Loeg,' said +Cuchulainn. + +Loeg tells him all that. Ferbaeth had been summoned into the tent +to Ailill and Medb, and he is told to sit by Findabair, and that +she should be given to him, for he was her choice for fighting with +Cuchulainn. He was the man they thought worthy of them, for they +had both learned the same arts with Scathach. Then wine is given to +him, till he was intoxicated, and he is told, 'They thought that +wine fine, and there had only been brought the load of fifty +wagons. And it was the maiden who used to put hand to his portion +therefrom.' + +'I do not wish it,' said Ferbaeth; 'Cuchulainn is my foster-brother, +and a man of perpetual covenant with me. Nevertheless I will go +against him to-morrow and cut off his head.' + +'It will be you who would do it,' said Medb. + +Cuchulainn told Loeg to go to meet Lugaid, that he should come and +speak with him. Lugaid comes to him. + +'So Ferbaeth is coming against me to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn. + +'He indeed,' said Lugaid. + +'An evil day!' said Cuchulainn; 'I shall not be alive therefrom. +Two of equal age we, two of equal deftness, two equal when we meet. +O Lugaid, greet him for me; tell him that it is not true valour to +come against me; tell him to come to meet me to-night, to speak +with me.' + +Lugaid tells him this. When Ferbaeth did not avoid it, he went that +night to renounce his friendship with Cuchulainn, and Fiacha Mac +Fir-Febe with him. Cuchulainn appealed to him by his foster-brotherhood, +and Scathach, the foster-mother of them both. + +'I must,' said Ferbaeth. 'I have promised it' + +'Take back (?) your bond of friendship then,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn went from him in anger. A spear of holly was driven into +Cuchulainn's foot in the glen, and appeared up by his knee. He +draws it out. + +'Go not, O Ferbaeth, till you have seen the find that I have +found.' + +'Throw it,' said Ferbaeth. + +Cuchulainn threw the spear then after Ferbaeth so that it hit the +hollow of his poll, and came out at his mouth in front, so that he +fell back into the glen. + +'That is a throw indeed,' said Ferbaeth. Hence is Focherd +Murthemne. (Or it is Fiacha who had said, 'Your throw is vigorous +to-day, O Cuchulainn,' said he; so that Focherd Murthemne is from +that.) + +Ferbaeth died at once in the glen. Hence is Glenn Firbaith. +Something was heard: Fergus, who said: + + 'O Ferbaeth, foolish is thy expedition + In the place in which thy grave is. + Ruin reached thee ... + In Croen Corand. + + 'The hill is named Fithi (?) for ever; + Croenech in Murthemne, + From to-day Focherd will be the name + Of the place in which thou didst fall, O Ferbaeth. + O Ferbaeth,' etc. + +'Your comrade has fallen,' said Fergus. 'Say will you pay for this +man on the morrow?' + +'I will pay indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn sends Loeg again for news, to know how they are in the +camp, and whether Ferbaeth lived. Lugaid said: 'Ferbaeth is dead,' +and Cuchulainn comes in turn to talk with them. + + +_The Combat of Larine Mac Nois_ + +'One of you to-morrow to go readily against the other,' said +Lugaid. + +'He will not be found at all,' said Ailill, 'unless you practise +trickery therein. Any man who comes to you, give him wine, so that +his mind may be glad, and it shall be said to him that that is all +the wine that has been brought from Cruachan. It grieves us that +you should be on water in the camp. And Findabair shall be put at +his right hand, and it shall be said: "She shall come to you, if +you bring us the head of the Riastartha."' + +A messenger used to be sent to every hero on his night, and that +used to be told to him; he continued to kill every man of them in. +turn. No one could be got by them to meet him at last. Larine Mac +Nois, brother to Lugaid, King of Munster, was summoned to them the +next day. Great was his pride. Wine is given to him, and Findabair +is put at his right hand. + +Medb looked at the two. 'It pleases me, yonder pair,' said she; 'a +match between them would be fitting.' + +'I will not stand in your way,' said Ailill; 'he shall have her if +he brings me the head of the Riastartha.' + +'I will bring it,' said Larine. + +Then Lugaid comes. 'What man have you for the ford to-morrow?' said +he. + +'Larine goes,' said Ailill. + +Then Lugaid comes to speak with Cuchulainn. They meet in Glenn +Firbaith. Each gives the other welcome. + +'It is for this I have come to speak to you,' said Lugaid: 'there +is a churl here, a fool and proud,' said he, 'a brother of mine named +Larine; he is befooled about the same maiden. On your friendship +then, do not kill him, lest you should leave me without a brother. +For it is for this that he is being sent to you, so that we two +might quarrel. I should be content, however, that you should give +him a sound drubbing, for it is in my despite that he comes.' + +Larine goes next day to meet Cuchulainn, and the maiden near him to +encourage him. Cuchulainn attacks him without arms. [Note: This is +apparently the sense, but the passage seems corrupt.] He takes +Larine's arms from him perforce. He takes him then between his two +hands, and grinds and shakes him, ... and threw him till he was +between Lugaid's two hands ...; nevertheless, he is the only man +who escaped [even] a bad escape from him, of all who met him on the +Tain. + + +_The Conversation of the Morrigan with Cuchulainn_ + +Cuchulainn saw a young woman coming towards him, with a dress of +every colour on, and her form very excellent. + +'Who are you?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Daughter of Buan the king,' said she. 'I have come to you; I have +loved you for your reputation, and I have brought my treasures and +my cattle with me.' + +'The time at which you have come to us is not good. For our +condition is evil, through hunger. It is not easy to me to meet a +woman, while I am in this strife.' + +'I will be a help to you. ... I shall be more troublesome to you,' +said she, 'when I come against you when you are in combat against +the men. I will come in the form of an eel about your feet in the +ford, so that you shall fall.' + +'I think that likelier than the daughter of a king. I will take +you,' said he, 'between my toes, till your ribs are broken, and you +will be in this condition till a doom of blessing comes (?) on +you.' + +'I will drive the cattle on the ford to you, in the form of a grey +she-wolf.' + +'I will throw a stone at you from my sling, so that it shall break +your eye in your head; and you will be in that state till a doom of +blessing comes on you.' + +'I will come to you in the form of a hornless red heifer before the +cattle. They will rush on you on the plains(?), and on the fords, +and on the pools, and you will not see me before you.' + +'I will throw a stone at you,' said he, 'so that your leg shall +break under you, and you will be in this state till a doom of +blessing comes on you.' + +Therewith she goes from him. + +So he was a week on Ath Grencha, and a man used to fall every day +by him in Ath Grencha, i.e. in Ath Darteisc. + + +_The Death of Loch Mac Emonis_ + +Then Loch Mac Emonis was asked like the others, and there was +promised to him a piece of the arable land of Mag Ai equal in size +to Mag Murthemne, and the equipment of twelve warriors and a +chariot worth seven cumals [Note: A measure of value.]; and he did +not think combat with a youth worthy. He had a brother, Long Mac +Emonis himself. The same price was given to him, both maiden and +raiment and chariots and land. He goes to meet Cuchulainn. +Cuchulainn slays him, and he was brought dead before his brother, +Loch. + +This latter said that if he only knew that it was a bearded man who +slew him, he would kill him for it. + +'Take a battle-force to him,' said Medb to her household, 'across +the ford from the west, that you may go-across; and let fair-play +be broken on him.' + +Then the seven Manes, warriors, go first, so that they saw him on +the edge of the ford westward. He puts his feast-dress on that day. +It is then that the women kept climbing on the men to look at him. + +'I am sorry,' said Medb; 'I cannot see the boy about whom they go +there.' + +'Your mind will not be the gladder for it,' said Lethrend, Ailill's +squire, 'if you could see him.' + +He comes to the ford then as he was. + +'What man is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Medb. + +'A boy who wards off,' etc. ... 'if it is Culann's Hound.' [Note: +Rhetoric, four lines.] + +Medb climbed on the men then to look at him. + +It is then that the women said to Cuchulainn 'that he was laughed +at in the camp because he had no beard, and no good warriors would +go against him, only wild men; it were easier to make a false +beard.' So this is what he did, in order to seek combat with a man; +i.e. with Loch. Cuchulainn took a handful of grass, and said a +spell over it, so that every one thought he had a beard. + +'True,' said the troop of women, 'Cuchulainn has a beard. It is +fitting for a warrior to fight with him.' + +They had done this on urging Loch. + +'I will not make combat against him till the end of seven days +from to-day,' said Loch. + +'It is not fitting for us to have no attack on the man for this +space,' said Medb. 'Let us put a hero to hunt(?) him every night, +if perchance we may get a chance at him.' + +This is done then. A hero used to come every night to hunt him, and +he used to kill them all. These are the names of the men who fell +there: seven Conalls, seven Oenguses, seven Uarguses, seven +Celtris, eight Fiacs, ten Ailills, ten Delbaths, ten Tasachs. These +are his deeds of this week in Ath Grencha. + + + +Medb asked advice, to know what she should do to Cuchulainn, for +what had been killed of their hosts by him distressed her greatly. +This is the plan she arrived at, to put brave, high-spirited men to +attack him all at once when he should come to an appointed meeting +to speak with Medb. For she had an appointment the next day with +Cuchulainn to make a peace in fraud with him, to get hold of him. +She sent messengers forth to seek him that he should come to meet +her; and it was thus he should come, and he unarmed: 'for she would +come only with her troop of women to meet him.' + +The messenger, Traigtren, went to the place where Cuchulainn was, +and tells him Medb's message. Cuchulainn promised that he would do +so. + +'In what manner does it please you to go to meet Medb to-morrow, O +Cuchulainn?' said Loeg. + +'As Medb has asked me,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Great are Medb's deeds,' said the charioteer; 'I fear a hand +behind the back with her.' + +'How is it to be done then?' said he. + +'Your sword at your waist,' said the charioteer, 'that you may not +be taken at an unfair advantage. For the warrior is not entitled to +his honour-price if he is without arms; and it is the coward's law +that he deserves in that way.' + +'Let it be done so then,' said Cuchulainn. + +The meeting-place was in Ard Aignech, which is called Fochaird +to-day. Now Medb came to the meeting-place and set in ambush +fourteen men of her own special following, of those who were of +most prowess, ready for him. These are they: two Glassines, the two +sons of Bucchridi; two Ardans, the two sons of Licce; two +Glasogmas, the two sons of Crund; Drucht and Delt and Dathen; Tea +and Tascra and Tualang; Taur and Glese. + +Then Cuchulainn comes to meet her. The men rise to attack him. +Fourteen spears are thrown at him at once. Cuchulainn guards +himself so that his skin or his ---- (?) is not touched. Then he +turns on them and kills them, the fourteen of them. So that they +are the fourteen men of Focherd, and they are the men of Cronech, +for it is in Cronech at Focherd that they were killed. Hence +Cuchulainn said: 'Good is my feat of heroism,' [Note: _Fo_, 'good'; +_cherd_, 'feat.' Twelve lines of rhetoric.] etc. + +So it is from this that the name Focherd stuck to the place; that +is, _focherd_, i.e. 'good is the feat of arms' that happened to +Cuchulainn there. + +So Cuchulainn came, and overtook them taking camp, and there were +slain two Daigris and two Anlis and four Dungais of Imlech. Then +Medb began to urge Loch there. + +'Great is the mockery of you,' said she, 'for the man who has +killed your brother to be destroying our host, and you do not go to +battle with him! For we deem it certain that the wild man, great +and fierce [Note: Literally, 'sharpened.'], the like of him yonder, +will not be able to withstand the rage and fury of a hero like you. +For it is by one foster-mother and instructress that an art was +built up for you both.' + +Then Loch came against Cuchulainn, to avenge his brother on him, +for it was shown to him that Cuchulainn had a beard. + +'Come to the upper ford,' said Loch; 'it would not be in the +polluted ford that we shall meet, where Long fell.' + +When he came then to seek the ford, the men drove the cattle +across. + +'It will be across your water [Note: Irish, _tarteisc_.] here +to-day,' said Gabran the poet. Hence is Ath Darteisc, and Tir Mor +Darteisc from that time on this place. + +When the men met then on the ford, and when they began to fight and +to strike each other there, and when each of them began to strike +the other, the eel threw three folds round Cuchulainn's feet, till +he lay on his back athwart the ford. Loch attacked him with the +sword, till the ford was blood-red with his blood. + +'Ill indeed,' said Fergus, 'is this deed before the enemy. Let each +of you taunt the man, O men,' said he to his following, 'that he +may not fall for nothing.' + +Bricriu Poison-tongue Mac Carbatha rose and began inciting +Cuchulainn. + +'Your strength is gone,' said he, 'when it is a little salmon that +overthrows you when the Ulstermen are at hand [coming] to you out +of their sickness yonder. Grievous for you to undertake a hero's +deed in the presence of the men of Ireland and to ward off a +formidable warrior in arms thus!' + +Therewith Cuchulainn arises and strikes the eel so that its ribs +broke in it, and the cattle were driven over the hosts eastwards +by force, so that they took the tents on their horns, with the +thunder-feat that the two heroes had made in the ford. + +The she-wolf attacked him, and drove the cattle on him westwards. +He throws a stone from his sling, so that her eye broke in her +head. She goes in the form of a hornless red heifer; she rushes +before the cows upon the pools and fords. It is then he said: 'I +cannot see the fords for water.' He throws a stone at the hornless +red heifer, so that her leg breaks under her. Then he sang a song: + + 'I am all alone before flocks; + I get them not, I let them not go; + I am alone at cold hours (?) + Before many peoples. + + 'Let some one say to Conchobar + Though he should come to me it were not too soon; + Magu's sons have carried off their kine + And divided them among them. + + 'There may be strife about one head + Only that one tree blazes not; + If there were two or three + Their brands would blaze. [Note: Meaning not clear.] + + 'The men have almost worn me out + By reason of the number of single combats; + I cannot work the slaughter (?) of glorious warriors + As I am all alone. + I am all alone.' + +*** + +It is there then that Cuchulainn did to the Morrigan the three +things that he had promised her in the _Tain Bo Regamna_ [Note: +One of the introductory stories to the _Tain Bo Cuailnge_, printed +with translation in _Irische Texte_, 2nd series.]; and he fights +Loch in the ford with the gae-bolga, which the charioteer threw him +along the stream. He attacked him with it, so that it went into his +body's armour, for Loch had a horn-skin in fighting with a man. + +'Give way to me,' said Loch. Cuchulainn gave way, so that it was on +the other side that Loch fell. Hence is Ath Traiged in Tir Mor. +Cuchulainn cut off his head then. + +Then fair-play was broken with him that day when five men came +against him at one time; i.e. two Cruaids, two Calads, Derothor; +Cuchulainn killed them by himself. Hence is Coicsius Focherda, and +Coicer Oengoirt; or it is fifteen days that Cuchulainn was in +Focherd, and hence is Coicsius Focherda in the Foray. + +Cuchulainn hurled at them from Delga, so that not a living thing, +man or beast, could put its head past him southwards between Delga +and the sea. + + +_The Healing of the Morrigan_ + +When Cuchulainn was in this great weariness, the Morrigan met him +in the form of an old hag, and she blind and lame, milking a cow +with three teats, and he asked her for a drink. She gave him milk +from a teat. + +'He will be whole who has brought it(?),' said Cuchulainn; 'the +blessings of gods and non-gods on you,' said he. (Gods with them +were the Mighty Folk [Note: i.e. the dwellers in the Sid. The words +in brackets are a gloss incorporated in the text.]; non-gods the +people of husbandry.) + +Then her head was healed so that it was whole. + +She gave the milk of the second teat, and her eye was whole; and +gave the milk of the third teat, and her leg was whole. So that +this was what he said about each thing of them, 'A doom of blessing +on you,' said he. + +'You told me,' said the Morrigan, 'I should not have healing from +you for ever.' + +'If I had known it was you,' said Cuchulainn, 'I would not have +healed you ever.' + +So that formerly Cuchulainn's throng (?) on Tarthesc was the name +of this story in the Foray. + +It is there that Fergus claimed of his securities that faith should +not be broken with Cuchulainn; and it is there that Cuchulainn ... +[Note: Corrupt; one and a half lines.] i.e. Delga Murthemne at that +time. + +Then Cuchulainn killed Fota in his field; Bomailce on his ford; +Salach in his village (?); Muine in his hill; Luair in Leth-bera; +Fer-Toithle in Toithle; these are the names of these lands for +ever, every place in which each man of them fell. Cuchulainn killed +also Traig and Dornu and Dernu, Col and Mebul and Eraise on this +side of Ath Tire Moir, at Methe and Cethe: these were three [Note: +MS. 'two.'] druids and their three wives. + +Then Medb sent a hundred men of her special retinue to kill +Cuchulainn. . He killed them all on Ath Ceit-Chule. Then Medb said: +'It is _cuillend_ [Note: Interlinear gloss: 'We deem it a crime.'] +to us, the slaying of our people.' Hence is Glass Chrau and +Cuillend Cind Duin and Ath Ceit-Chule. + +Then the four provinces of Ireland took camp and fortified post in +the Breslech Mor in Mag Murthemne, and send part of their cattle +and booty beyond them to the south into Clithar Bo Ulad. Cuchulainn +took his post at the mound in Lerga near them, and his charioteer +Loeg Mac Riangabra kindled a fire for him on the evening of that +night. He saw the fiery sheen of the bright golden arms over the +heads of the four provinces of Ireland at the setting of the clouds +of evening. Fury and great rage came over him at sight of the host, +at the multitude of his enemies, the abundance of his foes. He took +his two spears and his shield and his sword; he shook his shield +and brandished his spears and waved his sword; and he uttered his +hero's shout from his throat, so that goblins and sprites and +spectres of the glen and demons of the air answered, for the terror +of the shout which they uttered on high. So that the Nemain +produced confusion on the host. The four provinces of Ireland came +into a tumult of weapons about the points of their own spears and +weapons, so that a hundred warriors of them died of terror and of +heart-burst in the middle of the camp and of the position that +night. + +When Loeg was there, he saw something: a single man who came +straight across the camp of the men of Ireland from the north-east +straight towards him. + +'A single man is coming to us now, O Little Hound!' said Loeg. + +'What kind of man is there?' said Cuchulainn. + +'An easy question: a man fair and tall is he, with hair cut broad, +waving yellow hair; a green mantle folded round him; a brooch of +white silver in the mantle on his breast; a tunic of royal silk, +with red ornamentation of red gold against the white skin, to his +knees. A black shield with a hard boss of white metal; a five +pointed spear in his hand; a forked (?) javelin beside it. +Wonderful is the play and sport and exercise that he makes; but no +one attacks him, and he attacks no one, as if no one saw him.' + +'It is true, O fosterling,' said he; 'which of my friends from the +_síd_ is that who comes to have pity on me, because they know the +sore distress in which I am, alone against the four great provinces +of Ireland, on the Cattle-Foray of Cualnge at this time?' + +That was true for Cuchulainn. When the warrior had reached the +place where Cuchulainn was, he spoke to him, and had pity on him +for it. + +'This is manly, O Cuchulainn,' said he. + +'It is not much at all,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I will help you,' said the man. + + +'Who are you at all?' said Cuchulainn. + +'It is I, your father from the _síd_, Lug Mac Ethlend.' + +'My wounds are heavy, it were high time that I should be healed.' + +'Sleep a little, O Cuchulainn,' said the warrior; 'your heavy +swoon (?) [Note: Conjectural--MS. _tromthortim_.] of sleep at the +mound of Lerga till the end of three days and three nights, and I +will fight against the hosts for that space.' + +Then he sings the _ferdord_ to him, and he sleeps from it. Lug +looked at each wound that it was clean. Then Lug said: + +'Arise, O great son of the Ulstermen, whole of thy wounds. ... Go +into thy chariot secure. Arise, arise!' [Note: Rhetoric.] + +For three days and three nights Cuchulainn was asleep. It were +right indeed though his sleep equalled his weariness. From the +Monday after the end of summer exactly to the Wednesday after +Candlemas, for this space Cuchulainn had not slept, except when he +slept a little while against his spear after midday, with his head +on his clenched fist, and his clenched fist on his spear, and his +spear on his knee; but he was striking and cutting and attacking +and slaying the four great provinces of Ireland for that space. + +It is then that the warrior of the síd cast herbs and grasses of +curing and charms of healing into the hurts and wounds and into +the injuries and into the many wounds of Cuchulainn, so that +Cuchulainn recovered in his sleep without his perceiving it at all. + + +Now it was at this time that the boys came south from Emain Macha: +Folloman Mac Conchobair with three fifties of kings' sons of +Ulster, and they gave battle thrice to the hosts, so that three +times their own number fell, and all the boys fell except Folloman +Mac Conchobair. Folloman boasted that he would not go back to Emain +for ever and ever, until he should take the head of Ailill with +him, with the golden crown that was above it. This was not easy to +him; for the two sons of Bethe Mac Bain, the two sons of Ailill's +foster-mother and foster-father, came on him, and wounded him so +that he fell by them. So that that is the death of the boys of +Ulster and of Folloman Mac Conchobair. + +Cuchulainn for his part was in his deep sleep till the end of three +days and three nights at the mound in Lerga. Cuchulainn arose then +from his sleep, and put his hand over his face, and made a purple +wheelbeam from head to foot, and his mind was strong in him, and he +would have gone to an assembly, or a march, or a tryst, or a +beer-house, or to one of the chief assemblies of Ireland. + +'How long have I been in this sleep now, O warrior?' said +Cuchulainn. + +'Three days and three nights,' said the warrior. + +'Alas for that!' said Cuchulainn. + +'What is the matter?' said the warrior. + +'The hosts without attack for this space,' said Cuchulainn. + +'They are not that at all indeed,' said the warrior. + +'Who has come upon them?' said Cuchulainn. + +'The boys came from the north from Emain Macha; Folloman Mac +Conchobair with three fifties of boys of the kings' sons of Ulster; +and they gave three battles to the hosts for the space of the three +days and the three nights in which you have been in your sleep now. +And three times their own number fell, and the boys fell, except +Folloman Mac Conchobair. Folloman boasted that he would take +Ailill's head, and that was not easy to him, for he was killed.' + +'Pity for that, that I was not in my strength! For if I had been in +my strength, the boys would not have fallen as they have fallen, +and Folloman Mac Conchobair would not have fallen.' + +'Strive further, O Little Hound, it is no reproach to thy honour +and no disgrace to thy valour.' + +'Stay here for us to-night, O warrior,' said Cuchulainn, 'that we +may together avenge the boys on the hosts.' + +'I will not stay indeed,' said the warrior, 'for however great the +contests of valour and deeds of arms any one does near thee, it is +not on him there will be the renown of it or the fame or the +reputation, but it is on thee; therefore I will not stay. But ply +thy deed of arms thyself alone on the hosts, for not with them is +there power over thy life this time.' + +'The scythe-chariot, O my friend Loeg!' said Cuchulainn; 'can you +yoke it? and is its equipment here? If you can yoke it, and if you +have its equipment, yoke it; and if you have not its equipment, do +not yoke it at all.' + +It is then that the charioteer arose, and he put on his hero's +dress of charioteering. This was his hero's dress of charioteering +that he put on: his soft tunic of skin, light and airy, +well-turned [Note: Lit. 'kneaded.'], made of skin, sewn, of +deer-skin, so that it did not restrain the movement of his hands +outside. He put on his black (?) upper-cloak over it outside: Simon +Magus had made it for Darius, King of the Romans, so that Darius +gave it to Conchobar, and Conchobar gave it to Cuchulainn, and +Cuchulainn gave it to his charioteer. The charioteer took first +then his helm, ridged, like a board (?), four-cornered, with much +of every colour and every form, over the middle of his shoulders. +This was well-measured (?) to him, and it was not an overweight. +His hand brought the circlet of red-yellow, as though it were a +plate of red-gold, of refined gold smelted over the edge of an +anvil, to his brow, as a sign of his charioteering, in distinction +to his master. + +He took the goads (?) of his horses, and his whip (?) inlaid in his +right hand. He took the reins to hold back his horses in his left +hand. [Note: Gloss incorporated in text: 'i. e. to direct his +horses, in his left hand, for the great power of his charioteering.'] +Then he put the iron inlaid breastplates on the horses, so that +they were covered from forehead to forefoot with spears and points +and lances and hard points, so that every motion in this chariot +was spear-near, so that every corner and every point and every +end and every front of this chariot was a way of tearing. It is +then that he cast a spell of covering over his horses and over +his companion, so that he was not visible to any one in the +camp, and so that every one in the camp was visible to them. +It was proper that he should cast this, because there were the +three gifts of charioteering on the charioteer that day, the +leap over ----, and the straight ----, and the ----. + +Then the hero and the champion and he who made the fold of the Badb +[Note: The Badb (scald-crow) was a war-goddess. This is an +expressive term for the piled-up bodies of the slain.] of the men +of the earth, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, took his battle-array of +battle and contest and strife. This was his battle-array of battle +and contest and strife: he put on twenty-seven skin tunics, waxed, +like board, equally thick, which used to be under strings and +chains and thongs, against his white skin, that he might not lose +his mind nor his understanding when his rage should come. He put on +his hero's battle-girdle over it outside, of hard-leather, hard, +tanned, of the choice of seven ox-hides of a heifer, so that it +covered him from the thin part of his sides to the thick part of +his arm-pit; it used to be on him to repel spears, and points, and +darts, and lances, and arrows. For they were cast from him just as +if it was stone or rock or horn that they struck (?). Then he put +on his apron, skin like, silken, with its edge of white gold +variegated, against the soft lower part of his body. He put on his +dark apron of dark leather, well tanned, of the choice of four +ox-hides of a heifer, with his battle-girdle of cows' skins (?) +about it over his silken skin-like apron. Then the royal hero took +his battle-arms of battle and contest and strife. These then were +his battle-arms of battle: he took his ivory-hilted, bright-faced +weapon, with his eight little swords; he took his five-pointed +spear, with his eight little spears [Note: In the margin: 'and his +quiver,' probably an interpolation.]; he took his spear of battle, +with his eight little darts; he took his javelin with his eight +little javelins; his eight shields of feats, with his round shield, +dark red, in which a boar that would be shown at a feast would go +into the boss (?), with its edge sharp, keen, very sharp, round +about it, so that it would cut hairs against the stream for +sharpness and keenness and great sharpness; when the warrior did +the edge-feat with it, he would cut equally with his shield, and +with his spear, and with his sword. + +Then he put on his head a ridged-helmet of battle and contest and +strife, from which there was uttered the shout of a hundred +warriors, with along cry from every corner and every angle of it. +For there used to cry from it equally goblins and sprites and +ghosts of the glen and demons of the air, before and above and +around, wherever he used to go before shedding the blood of +warriors and enemies. There was cast over him his dress of +concealment by the garment of the Land of Promise that was given by +his foster-father in wizardry. + +It is then came the first contortion on Cuchulainn, so that it made +him horrible, many-shaped, wonderful, strange. His shanks shook +like a tree before the stream, or like a rush against the stream, +every limb and every joint and every end and every member, of him +from head to foot. He made a ---- of rage of his body inside his +skin. His feet and his shins and his knees came so that they were +behind him; his heels and his calves and his hams came so that they +were in front. The front-sinews of his calves came so that they +were on the front of his shins, so that every huge knot of them was +as great as a warrior's clenched fist. The temple-sinews of his +head were stretched, so that they were on the hollow of his neck, +so that every round lump of them, very great, innumerable, not to +be equalled (?), measureless, was as great as the head of a month +old child. + +Then he made a red bowl of his face and of his visage on him; he +swallowed one of his two eyes into his head, so that from his cheek +a wild crane could hardly have reached it [to drag it] from the +back of his skull. The other sprang out till it was on his cheek +outside. His lips were marvellously contorted. Tie drew the cheek +from the jawbone, so that his gullet was visible. His lungs and his +lights came so that they were flying in his mouth and in his +throat. He struck a blow of the ---- of a lion with his upper +palate on the roof of his skull, so that every flake of fire that +came into his mouth from his throat was as large as a wether's +skin. His heart was heard light-striking (?) against his ribs like +the roaring of a bloodhound at its food, or like a lion going +through bears. There were seen the palls of the Badb, and the +rain-clouds of poison, and the sparks of fire very red in clouds +and in vapours over his head with the boiling of fierce rage, that +rose over him. + +His hair curled round his head like the red branches of a thorn in +the gap of Atalta (?). Though a royal apple-tree under royal fruit +had been shaken about it, hardly would an apple have reached the +ground through it, but an apple would have fixed on every single +hair there, for the twisting of the rage that rose from his hair +above him. + +The hero's light rose from his forehead, so that it was as long, +and as thick, as a warrior's whet-stone, so that it was equally +long with the nose, till he went mad in playing with the shields, +in pressing on (?) the charioteer, in ---- the hosts. As high, as +thick, as strong, as powerful, as long, as the mast of a great +ship, was the straight stream of dark blood that rose straight up +from the very top of his head, so that it made a dark smoke of +wizardry like the smoke of a palace when the king comes to equip +himself in the evening of a wintry day. + +After that contortion wherewith Cuchulainn was contorted, then the +hero of valour sprang into his scythed battle-chariot, with its +iron points, with its thin edges, with its hooks, and with its hard +points, with its sharp points (?) of a hero, with their pricking +goads (?), with its nails of sharpness that were on shafts and +thongs and cross-pieces and ropes (?) of that chariot. + +It was thus the chariot was, with its body thin-framed (?), +dry-framed (?), feat-high, straight-shouldered (?), of a champion, +on which there would have been room for eight weapons fit for a +lord, with the speed of swallow or of wind or of deer across the +level of the plain. The chariot was placed on two horses, swift, +vehement, furious, small-headed, small-round, small-end, pointed, +----, red-breasted, ----, easy to recognise, well-yoked, ... One of +these two horses was supple, swift-leaping, great of strength, great +of curve, great of foot, great of length, ----. The other horse was +flowing-maned, slender-footed, thin-footed, slender-heeled, ----. + +It is then that he threw the thunder-feat of a hundred, and the +thunder-feat of four hundred, and he stopped at the thunder-feat +of five hundred, for he did not think it too much for this equal +number to fall by him in his first attack, and in his first contest +of battle on the four provinces of Ireland; and he came forth in +this way to attack his enemies, and he took his chariot in a great +circuit about the four great provinces of Ireland, and he put the +attack of an enemy among enemies on them. And a heavy course was +put on his chariot, and the iron wheels of the chariot went into +the ground, so that it was enough for fort and fortress, the way +the iron wheels of the chariot went into the ground; for there +arose alike turfs and stones and rocks and flagstones and gravel of +the ground as high as the iron wheels of the chariot. + +The reason why he cast the circle of war round about the four great +provinces of Ireland, was that they might not flee from him, and +that they might not scatter, that he might make sure of them, to +avenge the boys on them; and he comes into the battle thus in the +middle, and overthrew great fences of his enemies' corpses round +about the host thrice, and puts the attack of an enemy among +enemies on them, so that they fell sole to sole, and neck to neck; +such was the density of the slaughter. + +He went round again thrice thus, so that he left a layer of six +round them in the great circuit; i.e. soles of three to necks of +three in the course of a circuit round the camp. So that its name +in the Foray is Sesrech Breslige, and it is one of the three not to +be numbered in the Foray; i.e. Sesrech Breslige and Imslige +Glendamnach and the battle on Garach and Irgarach, except that it +was alike dog and horse and man there. + +This is what others say, that Lug Mac Ethlend fought along with +Cuchulainn the Sesrech Breslige. Their number is not known, and it +is impossible to count what number fell there of the rabble. But +the chief only have been counted. These are the names of the +princes and chiefs: two Cruads, two Calads, two Cirs, two Ciars, +two Ecells, three Croms, three Caurs, three Combirge, four +Feochars, four Furachars, four Cass, four Fotas, five Caurs, five +Cermans, five Cobthachs, six Saxans, six Dachs, six Dares, seven +Rochads, seven Ronans, seven Rurthechs, eight Roclads, eight +Rochtads, eight Rindachs, eight Corpres, eight Mulachs, nine Daigs, +nine Dares, nine Damachs, ten Fiachs, ten Fiachas, ten Fedelmids. + +Ten kings over seven fifties did Cuchulainn slay in Breslech Mor +in Mag Murthemne; and an innumerable number besides of dogs and +horses and women and boys and people of no consequence and rabble. +For there did not escape one man out of three of the men of Ireland +without a thigh-bone or half his head or one eye broken, or without +being marked for ever. And he came from them after giving them +battle without wound or blood-stain on himself or on his servant or +on either of his horses. + +Cuchulainn came next day to survey the host and to show his soft +fair form to the women and the troops of women and the girls and +the maidens and the poets and the bards, for he did not hold in +honour or dignity that haughty form of wizardry that had appeared +to them on him the night before. Therefore he came to show his soft +fair form that day. + +Fair indeed the boy who came then to show his form to the hosts, +that is, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. The appearance of three heads of +hair on him, dark against the skin of his head, blood-red in the +middle, a crown gold-yellow which covers them. A fair arrangement +of this hair so that it makes three circles round the hollow of the +back of his head, so that each hair ----, dishevelled, very golden, +excellent, in long curls, distinguished, fair-coloured, over his +shoulders, was like gold thread. + +A hundred ringlets, bright purple, of red-gold, gold-flaming, round +his neck; a hundred threads with mixed carbuncle round his head. +Four dimples in each of his two cheeks; that is, a yellow dimple, +and a green dimple, and a blue dimple, and a purple dimple. Seven +gems of brilliance of an eye, in each of his two royal eyes. Seven +toes on each of his two feet, seven fingers on each of his two +hands, with the grasp of a hawk's claws, with the seizure of a +griffin's claws on each of them separately. + +Then he puts on his feast-dress that day. This was his raiment on +him: a fair tunic, proper; bright-purple, with a border with five +folds. A white brooch of white silver with adorned gold inlaid over +his white breast, as if it was a lantern full of light, that the +eyes of men could not look at for its splendour and its brightness. +A silken tunic of silk against his skin so that it covered him to +the top of his dark apron of dark-red, soldierly, royal, silken. + +A dark shield; dark red, dark purple, with five chains of gold, +with a rim of white metal on it. A sword gold-hilted, inlaid with +ivory hilt of red-gold raised high on his girdle. A spear, long, +grey-edged, with a spear-head sharp, attacking, with rivets of +gold, gold-flaming by him in the chariot. Nine heads in one of his +two hands, and ten heads in the other hand. He shook them from him +towards the hosts. So that this is the contest of a night to +Cuchulainn. Then the women of Connaught raised themselves on the +hosts, and the women were climbing on the men to look at +Cuchulainn's form. Medb hid her face and dare not show her face, +but was under the shield-shelter for fear of Cuchulainn. So that it +is hence Dubthach Doeltenga of Ulster said: + + 'If it is the Riastartha, there will be corpses + Of men therefrom,' etc. [Note: Rhetoric, fifty-four lines.] + +Fiacha Fialdana from Imraith (?) came to speak with the son of his +mother's sister, Mane Andoe his name. Docha Mac Magach went with +Mane Andoe: Dubthach Doeltenga of Ulster came with Fiacha Fialdana +from Imraith (?). Docha threw a spear at Fiacha, so that it went +into Dubthach. Then Dubthach threw a spear at Mane, so that it +went into Docha. The mothers of Dubthach and Docha were two +sisters. Hence is Imroll Belaig Euin. [Note: i.e. the Random Throw +of Belach Euin.] + +(Or Imroll Belaig Euin is from this: the hosts go to Belach Euin, +their two troops wait there. Diarmait Mac Conchobair comes from the +north from Ulster. + +'Let a horseman go from you,' said Diarmait, 'that Mane may come to +speak with me with one man, and I will come with one man to meet +him.' They meet then. + +I have come,' said Diarmait, 'from Conchobar, who says to Medb and +Ailill, that they let the cows go, and make whole all that they +have done there, and bring the Bull [Note: i.e. bring Findbennach +to meet the Dun of Cualnge.] from the west hither to the Bull, that +they may meet, because Medb has promised it.' + +'I will go and tell them,' said Mane. He tells this then to Medb +and Ailill. + +'This cannot be got of Medb,' said Mane. + +'Let us exchange arms then, 'said Diarmait, 'if you think it +better.' + +'I am content,' said Mane. Each of them throws his spear at the +other, so that the two of them die, and so that the name of this +place is Imroll Belaig Euin.) + +Their forces rush at each other: there fall three twenties of them +in each of the forces. Hence is Ard-in-Dirma. [Note: The Height of +the Troop.] + +Ailill's folk put his king's crown on Tamun the fool; Ailill dare +not have it on himself. Cuchulainn threw a stone at him at Ath +Tamuin, so that his head broke thereby. Hence is Ath Tamuin and +Tuga-im-Tamun. [Note: i.e., Covering about Tamun.] + +Then Oengus, son of Oenlam the Fair, a bold warrior of Ulster, +turned all the host at Moda Loga (that is the same as Lugmod) as +far as Ath Da Ferta: He did not let them go past, and he pelted +them with stones, and the learned say ---- before till they should +go under the sword at Emain Macha, if it had been in single combat +that they had come against him. Fair-play was broken on him, and +they slew him in an unequal fight. + +'Let some one come from you against me,' said Cuchulainn at Ath Da +Ferta. + +'It will not be I, it will not be I,' said every one from his +place. 'A scapegoat is not owed from my race, and if it were owed, +it would not be I whom they would give in his stead for a +scapegoat.' + +Then Fergus Mac Roich was asked to go against him. He refuses to go +against his foster-son Cuchulainn. Wine was given to him, and he +was greatly intoxicated, and he was asked about going to the +combat. He goes forth then since they were urgently imploring him. + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'It is with my security that you come against +me, O friend Fergus,' said he, 'with no sword in its place.' For +Ailill had stolen it, as we said before. + +'I do not care at all,' said Fergus; 'though there were a sword +there, it would not be plied on you. Give way to me, O Cuchulainn,' +said Fergus. + +'You will give way to me in return then,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Even so,' said Fergus. + +Then Cuchulainn fled back before Fergus as far as Grellach Doluid, +that Fergus might give way to him on the day of the battle. Then +Cuchulainn sprang in to Grellach Doluid. + + +'Have you his head, O Fergus?' said every one. + +'No,' said Fergus, 'it is not like a tryst. He who is there is too +lively for me. Till my turn comes round again, I will not go.' + +Then they go past him, and take camp at Crich Ross. Then Ferchu, an +exile, who was in exile against Ailill, hears them. He comes to +meet Cuchulainn. Thirteen men was his number. Cuchulainn kills +Ferchu's warriors. Their thirteen stones are there. + +Medb sent Mand of Muresc, son of Daire, of the Domnandach, to fight +Cuchulainn. Own brothers were lie and Fer Diad, and two sons of one +father. This Mand was a man fierce and excessive in eating and +sleeping, a man ill-tongued, foul-mouthed, like Dubthach Doeltenga +of Ulster. He was a man strong, active, with strength of limb like +Munremar Mac Gerrcind; a fiery warrior like Triscod Trenfer of +Conchobar's house. + +'I will go, and I unarmed, and I will grind him between my hands, +for I deem it no honour or dignity to ply weapons on a beardless +wild boy such as he.' + +He went then to seek Cuchulainn. He and his charioteer were there +on the plain watching the host. + +'One man coming towards us,' said Loeg to Cuchulainn. + +'What kind of man?' said Cuchulainn. + +'A man black, dark, strong, bull-like, and he unarmed.' + +'Let him come past you,' said Cuchulainn. + +He came to them therewith. + +To fight against you have I come,' said Mand. + +Then they begin to wrestle for a long time, and Mand overthrows +Cuchulainn thrice, so that the charioteer urged him. + +'If you had a strife for the hero's portion in Emain,' said he, +'you would be mighty over the warriors of Emain!' + + +His hero's rage comes, and his warrior's fury rises, so that he +overthrew Mand against the pillar, so that he falls in pieces. +Hence is Mag Mand Achta, that is, Mand Echta, that is, Mand's death +there. + + +[From the Yellow Book of Lecan] + +On the morrow Medb sent twenty-seven men to Cuchulainn's bog. +Fuilcarnn is the name of the bog, on this side of Fer Diad's Ford. +They threw their twenty-nine spears at him at once; i.e. +Gaile-dana with his twenty-seven sons and his sister's son, Glas +Mac Delgna. When then they all stretched out their hands to +their swords, Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe came after them out of the +camp. He gave a leap from his chariot when he saw all their +hands against Cuchulainn, and he strikes off the arms of the +twenty-nine of them. + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'What you have done I deem help at the +nick of time (?).' + +'This little,' said Fiacha, 'is a breach of compact for us +Ulstermen. If any of them reaches the camp, we will go with our +cantred under the point of the sword.' + +'I swear, etc., since I have emitted my breath,' said Cuchulainn, +'not a man of them shall reach it alive.' + +Cuchulainn slew then the twenty-nine men and the two sons of Ficce +with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who came to ply their might +on the host. This is that deed on the Foray, when they went to the +battle with Cuchulainn. + + +_This is the Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn_ + +Then they considered what man among them would be fit to ward off +Cuchulainn. The four provinces of Ireland spoke, and confirmed, and +discussed, whom it would be fitting to send to the ford against +Cuchulainn. All said that it was the Horn-skin from Irrus Domnand, +the weight that is not supported, the battle-stone of doom, his own +dear and ardent foster-brother. For Cuchulainn had not a feat that +he did not possess, except it were the Gae Bolga alone; and they +thought he could avoid it, and defend himself against it, because +of the horn about him, so that neither arms nor many edges pierced +it. + +Medb sent messengers to bring Fer Diad. Fer Diad did not come with +those messengers. Medb sent poets and bards and satirists [Note: +Ir. _aes glantha gemaidi_, the folk who brought blotches on the +cheeks (i.e. by their lampoons).] to him, that they might satirise +him and mock him and put him to ridicule, that he might not find a +place for his head in the world, until he should come to the tent +of Medb and Ailill on the Foray. Fer Diad came with those +messengers, for the fear of their bringing shame on him. + +Findabair, the daughter of Medb and Ailill, was put on one side of +him: it is Findabair who put her hand on every goblet and on every +cup of Fer Diad; it is she who gave him three kisses at every cup +of them; it is she who distributed apples right frequent over the +bosom of his tunic. This is what she said: that he, Fer Diad, was +her darling and her chosen wooer of the men of the world. + +When Fer Diad was satisfied and happy and very joyful, Medb said: + +'Alé! O Fer Diad, do you know why you have been summoned into this +tent?' + +'I do not know indeed,' said Fer Diad; 'except that the nobles of +the men of Ireland are there. What is there less fitting for me to +be there than for any other good warrior?' + +'It is not that indeed,' said Medb; 'but to give you a chariot +worth three sevens of cumals [See previous note about _cumal_.] and +the equipment of twelve men, and the equal of Mag Murthemne from +the arable land of Mag Ai; and that you should be in Cruachan +always, and wine to be poured for you there; and freedom of your +descendants and of your race for ever without tribute or tax; my +leaf-shaped brooch of gold to be given to you, in which there are +ten score ounces and ten score half-ounces, and ten score _crosach_ +and ten score quarters; Findabair, my daughter and Ailill's +daughter, for your one wife, and you shall get my love if you need +it over and above.' + +'He does not need it,' said every, one: 'great are the rewards and +gifts.' + +'That is true,' said Fer Diad, 'they are great; and though they are +great, O Medb, it is with you yourself they will be left, rather +than that I should go against my foster-brother to battle.' + +'O men,' said she, said Medb (through the right way of division and +setting by the ears), 'true is the word that Cuchulainn spoke,' as +if she had not heard Fer Diad at all. + +'What word is this, O Medb?' said Fer Diad. + +'He said indeed,' said she, 'that he would not think it too much +that you should fall by him as the first fruits of his prowess in +the province to which he should come.' + +'To say that was not fitting for him. For it is not weariness or +cowardice that he has ever known in me, day nor night. I swear, +etc., [Note: The usual oath, 'by the god by whom my people swear,' +understood.] that I will be the first man who will come to-morrow +morning to the ford of combat.' + +'May victory and blessing come to you,' said Medb. 'And I think it +better that weariness or cowardice be found with you, because of +friendship beyond my own men (?). Why is it more fitting for him to +seek the good of Ulster because his mother was of them, than for +you to seek the good of the province of Connaught, because you are +the son of a king of Connaught?' + +It is thus they were binding their covenants and their compact, and +they made a song there: + + 'Thou shalt have a reward,' etc. + +There was a wonderful warrior of Ulster who witnessed that +bargaining, and that was Fergus Mac Roich. Fergus came to his tent. + +'Woe is me! the deed that is done to-morrow morning!' said Fergus. + +'What deed is that?' said the folk in the tent. + +'My good fosterling Cuchulainn to be slain.' + +'Good lack! who makes that boast?' + +'An easy question: his own dear ardent foster-brother, Fer Diad Mac +Damain. Why do ye not win my blessing?' said Fergus; 'and let one +of you go with a warning and with compassion to Cuchulainn, if +perchance he would leave the ford to-morrow morning.' + +'On our conscience,' said they, 'though it were you yourself who +were on the ford of combat, we would not come as far as [the ford] +to seek you.' + +'Good, my lad,' said Fergus; 'get our horses for us and yoke the +chariot.' + +The lad arose and got the horses and yoked the chariot. They came +forth to the ford of combat where Cuchulainn was. + +'One chariot coming hither towards us, O Cuchulainn!' said Loeg. +For it is thus the lad was, with his back towards his lord. He used +to win every other game of _brandub_ [_Brandub_, the name of a +game; probably, like _fidchill_ and _buanfach_, of the nature of +chess or draughts.] and of chess-playing from his master: the +sentinel and watchman on the four quarters of Ireland over and +above that. + +'What kind of chariot then?' said Cuchulainn. + +'A chariot like a huge royal fort, with its yolcs strong golden, +with its great panel(?) of copper, with its shafts of bronze, with +its body thin-framed (?), dry-framed (?), feat-high, scythed, +sword-fair (?), of a champion, on two horses, swift, stout(?), +well-yoked (?), ---- (?). One royal warrior, wide-eyed, was the +combatant of the chariot. A beard curly, forked, on him, so that it +reached over the soft lower part of his soft shirt, so that it +would shelter (?) fifty warriors to be under the heavy ---- of the +warrior's beard, on a day of storm and rain. A round shield, white, +variegated, many-coloured on him, with three chains ----, so that +there would be room from front to back for four troops of ten men +behind the leather of the shield which is upon the ---- of the +warrior. A sword, long, hard-edged, red-broad in the sheath, woven +and twisted of white silver, over the skin of the bold-in-battle. A +spear, strong, three-ridged, with a winding and with bands of white +silver all white by him across the chariot.' + +'Not hard the recognition,' said Cuchulainn; 'my friend Fergus +comes there, with a warning and with compassion to me before all +the four provinces.' + +Fergus reached them and sprang from his chariot and Cuchulainn +greeted him. + +'Welcome your coming, O my friend, O Fergus,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I believe your welcome,' said Fergus. + +'You may believe it,' said Cuchulainn; 'if a flock of birds come to +the plain, you shall have a duck with half of another; if fish come +to the estuaries, you shall have a salmon with half of another; a +sprig of watercress, and a sprig of marshwort, and a sprig of +seaweed, and a drink of cold sandy water after it.' + +'That portion is that of an outlaw,' said Fergus. + +'That is true, it is an outlaw's portion that I have,' said +Cuchulainn, 'for I have been from the Monday after Samain to this +time, and I have not gone for a night's entertainment, through +strongly obstructing the men of Ireland on the Cattle-Foray of +Cualnge at this time.' + +'If it were for this we came,' said Fergus, 'we should have thought +it the better to leave it; and it is not for this that we have +come.' + +'Why else have you come to me?' said Cuchulainn. + +'To tell you the warrior who comes against you in battle and combat +to-morrow morning,' said he. + +'Let us find it out and let us hear it from you then,' said +Cuchulainn. + +'Your own foster-brother, Fer Diad Mac Damain.' + +'On our word, we think it not best that it should be he we come to +meet,'said Cuchulainn, 'and it is not for fear of him but for the +greatness of our love for him.' + +'It is fitting to fear him,' said Fergus, 'for he has a skin of +horn in battle against a man, so that neither weapon nor edge will +pierce it.' + +'Do not say that at all,' said Cuchulainn, 'for I swear the oath +that my people swear, that every joint and every limb of him will +be as pliant as a pliant rush in the midst of a stream under the +point of my sword, if he shows himself once to me on the ford.' + +It is thus they were speaking, and they made a song: + + 'O Cuchulainn, a bright meeting,' etc. + +After that, 'Why have you come, O my friend, O Fergus?' said +Cuchulainn. + +'That is my purpose,' said Fergus. + +'Good luck and profit,' said Cuchulainn, 'that no other of the men +of Ireland has come for this purpose, unless the four provinces of +Ireland all met at one time. I think nothing of a warning before a +single warrior.' + +Then Fergus went to his tent. + +As regards the charioteer and Cuchulainn: + +'What shall you do to-night?' said Loeg. + +'What indeed?' said Cuchulainn. + +'It is thus that Fer Diad will come to seek you, with new beauty of +plaiting and haircutting, and washing and bathing, and the four +provinces of Ireland with him to look at the fight. It would please +me if you went to the place where you will get the same adorning +for yourself, to the place where is Emer of the Beautiful Hair, to +Cairthend of Cluan Da Dam in Sliab Fuait.' + +So Cuchulainn went thither that night, and spent the night with his +own wife. His adventures from this time are not discussed here now. +As to Fer Diad, he came to his tent; it was gloomy and weary that +Fer Diad's tent-servants were that night. They thought it certain +that where the two pillars of the battle of the world should meet, +that both would fall; or the issue of it would be, that it would be +their own lord who would fall there. For it was not easy to fight +with Cuchulainn on the Foray. + +There were great cares on Fer Diad's mind that night, so that they +did not let him sleep. One of his great anxieties was that he +should let pass from him all the treasures that had been offered +to him, and the maiden, by reason of combat with one man. If he did +not fight with that one man, he must fight with the six warriors on +the morrow. His care that was greater than this was that if he +should show himself once on the ford to Cuchulainn, he was certain +that he himself would not have power of his head or life +thereafter; and Fer Diad arose early on the morrow. + +'Good, my lad,' said he, 'get our horses for us, and harness the +chariot.' + +'On our word,' said the servant, 'we think it not greater praise to +go this journey than not to go it.' + +He was talking with his charioteer, and he made this little song, +inciting his charioteer: + + 'Let us go to this meeting,' etc. + +The servant got the horses and yoked the chariot, and they went +forth from the camp. + +'My lad,' said Fer Diad, 'it is not fitting that we make our +journey without farewell to the men of Ireland. Turn the horses +and the chariot for us towards the men of Ireland.' + +The servant turned the horses and the chariot thrice towards the +men of Ireland. ... + + +'Does Ailill sleep now?' said Medb. + +'Not at all,' said Ailill. + +'Do you hear your new son-in-law greeting you?' + +'Is that what he is doing?' said Ailill. + +'It is indeed,' said Medb, 'and I swear by what my people swear, +the man who makes the greeting yonder will not come back to you on +the same feet.' + +'Nevertheless we have profited by(?) the good marriage connection +with him,' said Ailill; 'provided Cuchulainn fell by him, I should +not care though they both fell. But we should think it better for +Fer Diad to escape.' + + +Fer Diad came to the ford of combat. + +'Look, my lad,' said Fer Diad; 'is Cuchulainn on the ford?' + +'He is not, indeed,' said the servant. + +'Look well for us,' said Fer Diad. + +'Cuchulainn is not a little speck in hiding where he would be,' +said the lad. + +'It is true, O boy, until to-day Cuchulainn has not heard of the +coming of a good warrior [Note: Gloss incorporated in the text: 'or +a good man.'] against him on the Cattle Foray of Cualnge, and when +he has heard of it he has left the ford.' + +'A great pity to slander Cuchulainn in his absence! For do you +remember how when you gave battle to German Garbglas above the +edge-borders of the Tyrrhene Sea, you left your sword with the +hosts, and it was Cuchulainn who killed a hundred warriors in +reaching it, and he brought it to you; and do you remember where we +were that night?' said the lad. + +'I do not know it,' said Fer Diad. + +'At the house of Scathach's steward,' said the lad, 'and you went +---- and haughtily before us into the house first. The churl gave +you a blow with the three-pointed flesh-hook in the small of your +back, so that it threw you out over the door like a shot. +Cuchulainn came into the house and gave the churl a blow with his +sword, so that it made two pieces of him. It was I who was steward +for you while you were in that place. If only for that day, you +should not say that you are a better warrior than Cuchulainn.' + +'What you have done is wrong,' said Fer Diad, 'for I would not have +come to seek the combat if you had said it to me at first. Why do +you not pull the cushions [Note: LL _fortchai_. YBL has _feirtsi_, +'shafts.'] of the chariot under my side and my skin-cover under my +head, so that I might sleep now?' + +'Alas!' said the lad, 'it is the sleep of a fey man before deer and +hounds here.' + +'What, O lad, are you not fit to keep watch and ward for me?' + +'I am fit,' said the lad; 'unless men come in clouds or in mist to +seek you, they will not come at all from east or west to seek you +without warning and observation.' + +The cushions [Note: LL _fortchai_. YBL has _feirtsi_, 'shafts.'] +of his chariot were pulled under his side and the skin under his +head. And yet he could not sleep a little. + + +As to Cuchulainn it is set forth: + +'Good, O my friend, O Loeg, take the horses and yoke the chariot; +if Fer Diad is waiting for us, he is thinking it long.' + +The boy rose and took the horses and yoked the chariot. + +Cuchulainn stepped into his chariot and they came on to the ford. +As to Fer Diad's servant, he had not long to watch till he heard +the creaking of the chariot coming towards them. He took to waking +his master, and made a song: + + 'I hear a chariot,' etc. + +(This is the description of Cuchulainn's chariot: one of the three +chief chariots of the narration on the Cattle Foray of Cualnge.) + +'How do you see Cuchulainn?' said he, said Fer Diad, to his +charioteer. + +'I see,' said he, 'the chariot broad above, fine, of white crystal, +with a yoke of gold with ---- (?), with great panels of copper, +with shafts of bronze, with tyres of white metal, with its body +thin-framed (?) dry-framed (?), feat-high, sword-fair (?), of a +champion, on which there would be room for seven arms fit for a +lord (?). A fair seat for its lord; so that this chariot, +Cuchulainn's chariot, would reach with the speed of a swallow or of +a wild deer, over the level land of Mag Slebe. That is the speed +and ---- which they attain, for it is towards us they go. This +chariot is at hand on two horses small-headed, small-round, +small-end, pointed, ----, red-breasted, ----, easy to recognise, +well-yoked. ... One of the two horses is supple(?), swift-leaping, +great of strength, great of foot, great of length, ----. The other +horse is curly-maned, slender-footed, narrow-footed, heeled, ----. +Two wheels dark, black. A pole of metal adorned with red enamel, of +a fair colour. Two bridles golden, inlaid. There is a man with fair +curly hair, broad cut (?), in the front of this chariot. There is +round him a blue mantle, red-purple. A spear with wings (?), and it +red, furious; in his clenched fist, red-flaming. The appearance of +three heads of hair on him, i.e. dark hair against the skin of his +head, hair blood-red in the middle, a crown of gold covers the +third hair. + +'A fair arrangement of the hair so that it makes three circles +round about his shoulders down behind. I think it like gold thread, +after its colour has been made over the edge of the anvil; or like +the yellow of bees on which the sun shines in a summer day, is the +shining of each single hair of his hair. Seven toes on each of his +feet, and seven fingers on each of his hands, and the shining of a +very great fire round his eye, ---- (?) and the hoofs of his +horses; a hero's ---- in his hands. + +'The charioteer of the chariot is worthy of him in his presence: +curly hair very black has he, broad-cut along his head. A cowl-dress +is on him open; two very fine golden leaf-shaped switches in his +hand, and a light grey mantle round him, and a goad of white silver +in his hand, plying the goad on the horses, whichever way the +champion of great deeds goes who was at hand in the chariot. + +'He is veteran of his land (?): he and his servant think little of +Ireland.' + +'Go, O fellow,' said he, said Fer Diad; 'you praise too much +altogether; and prepare the arms in the ford against his coming.' + +'If I turned my face backwards, it seems to me the chariot would +come through the back of my neck.' + +'O fellow,' said he, 'too greatly do you praise Cuchulainn, for it +is not a reward for praising he has given you'; and it is thus he +was giving his description, and he said: + + 'The help is timely,' etc. + +It is not long afterwards that they met in the middle of the ford, +and Fer Diad said to Cuchulainn: + +'Whence come you, O Cua?' said he (for [Note: An interpolation.] +_cua_ was the name of squinting in old Gaelic; and there were seven +pupils in Cuchulainn's royal eye, and two of these pupils were +squinting, and the ugliness of it is no greater than its beauty on +him; and if there had been a greater blemish on Cuchulainn, it is +that with which he reproached him; and he was proclaiming it); and +he made a song, and Cuchulainn answered: + + 'Whence art thou come, O Hound,' etc. + +Then Cuchulainn said to his charioteer that he was to taunt him +when he was overcome, and that he was to praise him when he was +victorious, in the combat against Fer Diad. Then the charioteer +said to him: + +'The man goes over thee as the tail over a cat; he washes thee as +foam is washed in water, he squeezes (?) thee as a loving mother +her son.' + + +Then they took to the ford-play. Scathach's ---- (?)came to them +both. Fer Diad and Cuchulainn performed marvellous feats. +Cuchulainn went and leapt into Fer Diad's shield; Fer Diad hurled +him from him thrice into the ford; so that the charioteer taunted +him again ---- and he swelled like breath in a bag. + +His size increased till he was greater than Fer Diad. + +'Give heed to the _Gae bolga_,' said the charioteer; he sent it to +him along the stream. + +Cuchulainn seized it between his toes, and wielded it on Fer Diad, +into his body's armour. It advances like one spear, so that it +became twenty-four points. Then Fer Diad turned the shield below. +Cuchulainn thrust at him with the spear over the shield, so that it +broke the shaft of his ribs and went through Fer Diad's heart. + +[_Fer Diad_:] 'Strong is the ash from thy right hand! The ---- rib +breaks, my heart is blood. Well hast thou given battle! I fall, O +Hound.' + +[_Cuchulainn_:] 'Alas, O golden brooch, O Fer Diad! ----, O fair +strong striker! Thy hand was victorious; our dear foster +brotherhood, O delight of the eyes! Thy shield with the rim of +gold, thy sword was dear. Thy ring of white silver round thy noble +arm. Thy chess-playing was worthy of a great man. Thy cheek +fair-purple; thy yellow curling hair was great, it was a fair +treasure. Thy soft folded girdle which used to be about thy side. +That thou shouldst fall at Cuchulainn's hands was sad, O Calf! Thy +shield did not suffice which used to be for service. Our combat +with thee is not fitting, our horses and our tumult. Fair was the +great hero! every host used to be defeated and put under foot. +Alas, O golden brooch, O Fer Diad!' + +*** + +THIS IS THE LONG WARNING OF SUALTAIM + +While the things that we have related were done, Suallaith heard +from Rath Sualtaim in Mag Murthemne the vexing of his son +Cuchulainn against twelve sons of Gaile Dana [Note: LL, +'Twenty-seven sons of Calatin.' In the story as related earlier in +YBL it is 'Gaile Dana with his twenty-seven sons.'] and his +sister's son. It is then that Sualtaim said: + +'Is it heaven that bursts, or the sea over its boundaries, or earth +that is destroyed, or the shout of my son against odds?' + +Then he comes to his son. Cuchulainn was displeased that he should +come to him. + +'Though he were slain, I should not have strength to avenge him. Go +to the Ulstermen,' says Cuchulainn, 'and let them give battle to +the warriors at once; if they do not give it, they will not be +avenged for ever.' + +When his father saw him, there was not in his chariot as much as +the point of a rush would cover that was not pierced. His left hand +which the shield protected, twenty wounds were in it. + +Sualtaim came over to Emain and shouted to the Ulstermen: + +'Men are being slain, women carried off, cows driven away!' + +His first shout was from the side of the court; his second from the +side of the fortress; the third shout was on the mound of the +hostages in Emain. No one answered; it was the practice of the +Ulstermen that none of them should speak except to Conchobar; and +Conchobar did not speak before the three druids. + +'Who takes them, who steals them, who carries them off?' said the +druid. + +Ailill Mac Mata carries them off and steals them and takes them, +through the guidance of Fergus Mac Roich,' said Sualtaim. 'Your +people have been enslaved as far as Dun Sobairce; their cows and +their women and their cattle have been taken. Cuchulainn did not +let them into Mag Murthemne and into Crich Rois; three months of +winter then, bent branches of hazel held together his dress upon +him. Dry wisps are on his wounds. He has been wounded so that he +has been parted joint from joint.' + +'Fitting,' said the druid, 'were the death of the man who has +spurred on the king.' + +'It is fitting for him,' said Conchobar. + +'It is fitting for him,' said the Ulstermen. + +'True is what Sualtaim says,' said Conchobar; 'from the Monday +night of Samain to the Monday night of Candlemas he has been in +this foray.' + +Sualtaim gave a leap out thereupon. He did not think sufficient +the answer that he had. He falls on his shield, so that the +engraved edge of the shield cut his head off. His head is brought +back into Emain into the house on the shield, and the head says the +same word (though some say that he was asleep on the stone, and +that he fell thence on to his shield in awaking). + +'Too great was this shout,' said Conchobar. 'The sea before them, +the heaven over their tops, the earth under their feet. I will +bring every cow into its milking-yard, and every woman and every +boy from their house, after the victory in battle.' + +Then Conchobar struck his hand on his son, Findchad Fer m-Bend. +Hence he is so called because there were horns of silver on him. + + +THE MUSTER OF THE ULSTERMEN + + +'Arise, O Findchad, I will send thee to Deda,' etc. [Note: +Rhetoric, followed by a long list of names.] + + +It was not, difficult for Findchad to take his message, for they +were, the whole province of Conchobar, every chief of them, +awaiting Conchobar; every one was then east and north and west of +Emain. When they were there, they all came till they were at Emain +Macha. When they were there, they Beard the uprising of Conchobar +in Emain. They went past Emain southwards after the host. Their +first march then was from Emain to Irard Cuillend. + +'What are you waiting for here?' said Conchobar. + +'Waiting for your sons,' said the host. 'They have gone with thirty +with them to Temair to seek Eirc, son of Coirpre Niafer and Fedelm +Noicride. Till their two cantreds should come to us, we will not go +from this place.' + +'I will not remain indeed,' said Conchobar, 'till the men of +Ireland know that I have awaked from the sickness in which I was.' + +Conchobar and Celtchar went with three fifties of chariots, and +they brought eight twenties of heads from Ath Airthir Midi; hence +is Ath Fene. They were there watching the host. And eight twenties +of women, that was their share of the spoil. Their heads were +brought there, and Conchobar and Celtchar sent them to the camp. It +is there that Celtchar said to Conchobar: [Note: Rhetoric.] + + +(Or it was Cuscraid, the Stammerer of Macha, son of Conchobar, sang +this song the night before the battle, after the song which +Loegaire Buadach had sung, to wit, 'Arise, kings of Macha,' etc., +and it would be in the camp it was sung.) + +It was in this night that the vision happened to Dubthach Doeltenga +of Ulster, when the hosts were on Garach and Irgarach. It is there +that he said in his sleep: + + +THE VISION OF DUBTHACH + +'A wonder of a morning,' [Note: Rhetoric.] a wonder of a time, when +hosts will be confused, kings will be turned, necks will break, the +sun will grow red, three hosts will be routed by the track of a +host about Conchobar. They will strive for their women, they will +chase their flocks in fight on the morning, heroes will be smitten, +dogs will be checked (?), horses will be pressed (?), ---- ----, +---- will drip, from the assemblies of great peoples.' + +Therewith they awoke through their sleep (?). The Nemain threw the +host into confusion there; a hundred men of them died. There is +silence there then; when they heard Cormac Condlongas again (or it +is Ailill Mac Matae in the camp who sang this): + +'The time of Ailill. Great his truce, the truce of Cuillend,' etc. +[Note: Rhetoric.] + + +THE MARCH OF THE COMPANIES + +While these things were being done, the Connaughtman determined to +send messengers by the counsel of Ailill and Medb and Fergus, to +look at the Ulstermen, to see whether they had reached the plain. +It is there that Ailill said: + +'Go, O Mac Roth,' said Ailill, 'and look for us whether the men are +all(?) in the plain of Meath in which we are. If they have not +come, I have carried off their spoil and their cows; let them give +battle to me, if it suits them. I will not await them here any +longer.' + +Then Mac Roth went to look at and to watch the plain. He came back +to Ailill and Medb and Fergus The first time then that Mac Roth +looked from the circuit of Sliab Fuait, he saw that all the wild +beast came out of the wood, so that they were all in the plain. + +'The second time,' said Mac Roth, 'that I surveyed the plain, I saw +a heavy mist that filled the glens and the valleys, so that it made +the hills between them like islands in lakes. Then there appeared +to me sparks of fire out of this great mist: there appeared to me a +variegation of every different colour in the world. I saw then +lightning and din and thunder and a great wind that almost took my +hair from my head, and threw me on my back; and yet the wind of the +day was not great.' + +'What is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Ailill. 'Say what it means.' +[Note: Literally, 'is like.'] + +'That is not hard; this is what it means,' said Fergus: 'This is +the Ulstermen after coming out of their sickness. It is they who +have come into the wood. The throng and the greatness and the +violence of the heroes, it is that which has shaken the wood; it is +before them that the wild beasts have fled into the plain. The +heavy mist that you saw, which filled the valleys, was the breath +of those warriors, which filled the glens so that it made the hills +between them like islands in lakes. The lightning and the sparks of +fire and the many colours that you saw, O Mac Roth,' said Fergus, +'are the eyes of the warriors from their heads which have shone to +you like sparks of fire. The thunder and the din and the noise(?) +that you heard, was the whistling of the swords and of the +ivory-hilted weapons, the clatter of arms, the creaking of the +chariots, the beating of the hoofs of the horses, the strength of +the warriors, the roar of the fighting-men, the noise of the +soldiers, the great rage and anger and fierceness of the heroes +going in madness to the battle, for the greatness of the rage and +of the fury(?). They would think they would not reach it at all,' +said Fergus. + +'We will await them,' said Ailill; 'we have warriors for them.' + +'You will need that,' said Fergus, 'for there will not be found in +all Ireland, nor in the west of the world, from Greece and Scythia +westward to the Orkneys and to the Pillars of Hercules and to the +Tower of Bregon and to the island of Gades, any one who shall +endure the Ulstermen in their fury and in their rage,' said Fergus. + +Then Mac Roth went again to look at the march of the men of Ulster, +so that he was in their camp at Slemon Midi, and Fergus; and he +told them certain tidings, and Mac Roth said in describing them: + +'A great company has come, of great fury, mighty, fierce, to the +hill at Slemon Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'I think there is a cantred +therein; they took off their clothing at once, and dug a mound of +sods under their leader's seat. A warrior fair and tall and long +and high, beautiful, the fairest of kings his form, in the front of +the company. Hair white-yellow has he, and it curly, neat, bushy (?), +ridged, reaching to the hollow of his shoulders. A tunic curly, +purple, folded round him; a brooch excellent, of red-gold, in his +cloak on his breast; eyes very grey, very fair, in his head; a face +proper, purple, has he, and it narrow below and broad above: a +beard forked, very curly, gold-yellow he has; a shirt white, +hooded, with red ornamentation, round about him; a sword gold-hilted +on his shoulders; a white shield with rivets(?) of gold; abroad +grey spear-head on a slender shaft in his hand. The fairest of the +princes of the world his march, both in host and rage and form and +dress, both in face and terror and battle and triumph, both in +prowess and horror and dignity. + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth; 'it is next to the +other in number and quarrelling and dress and terror and horror. A +fair warrior, heroic, is in the front of this company. A green +cloak folded round him; a brooch of gold over his arm; hair curly +and yellow: an ivory-hilted sword with a hilt of ivory at his left. +A shirt with ---- to his knee; a wound-giving shield with engraved +edge; the candle of a palace [Note: i.e. spear.] in his hand; a +ring of silver about it, and it runs round along the shaft forward +to the point, and again it runs to the grip. And that troop sat +down on the left hand of the leader of the first troop, and it is +thus they sat down, with their knees to the ground, and the rims of +their shields against their chins. And I thought there was +stammering in the speech of the great fierce warrior who is the +leader of that company. + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth; 'its appearance is +vaster than a cantred; a man brave, difficult, fair, with broad +head, before it. Hair dark and curly on him; a beard long, with +slender points, forked, has he; a cloak dark-grey, ----, folded +round him; a leaf-shaped brooch of white metal over his breast; a +white, hooded shirt to his knees; a hero's shield with rivets on +him; a sword of white silver about his waist; a five-pointed spear +in his hand. He sat down in front of the leader of the first +troop.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'I know indeed,' said Fergus, 'those companies. Conchobar, king of +a province of Ireland, it is he who has sat down on the mound of +sods. Sencha Mac Aililla, the orator of Ulster, it is he who has +sat down before him. Cuscraid, the Stammerer of Macha, son of +Conchobar, it is he who has sat down at his father's side. It is +the custom for the spear that is in his hand in sport yonder before +victory ---- before or after. That is a goodly folk for wounding, +for essaying every conflict, that has come,' said Fergus. + +'They will find men to speak with them here,' said Medb. + +'I swear by the god by whom my people swear,' said Fergus, 'there +has not been born in Ireland hitherto a man who would check the +host of Ulster.' [Note: Conjectural; the line is corrupt in the MS.] + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth. 'Greater than a +cantred its number. A great warrior, brave, with horror and terror, +and he mighty, fiery-faced, before it. Hair dark, greyish on him, +and it smooth-thin on his forehead. Around shield with engraved +edge on him, a spear five-pointed in his hand, a forked javelin +beside him; a hard sword on the back of his head; a purple cloak +folded round him; a brooch of gold on his arm; a shirt, white, +hooded, to his knee.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the putting of a hand on strife; he is a battle champion for +fight; he is judgment against enemies who has come there; that is, +Eogan Mac Durthacht, King of Fermoy is that,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come, great, fierce, to the hill at Slemon +Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'They have put their clothing behind them. +Truly, it is strong, dark, they have come to the hill; heavy is the +terror and great the horror which they have put upon themselves; +terrible the clash of arms that they made in marching. A man thick +of head, brave, like a champion, before it; and he horrible, +hideous; hair light, grey on him; eyes yellow, great, in his head; +a cloak yellow, with white ---- round about him. A shield, +wound-giving, with engraved edge, on him, without; a broad spear, a +javelin with a drop of blood along the shaft; and a spear its match +with the blood of enemies along its edge in his hand; a great +wound-giving sword on his shoulders.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'The man who has so come does not avoid battle or combat or strife: +that is, Loegaire the Victorious, Mac Connaid Meic Ilech, from +Immail from the north,' said Fergus. + +'Another great company has come to Slemon Midi to the hill,' said +Mac Roth. 'A warrior thick-necked, fleshy, fair, before that +company. Hair black and curly on him, and he purple, blue-faced; +eyes grey, shining, in his head; a cloak grey, lordly (?), about +him; a brooch of white silver therein; a black shield with a boss +of bronze on it; a spear, covered with eyes, with ---- (?), in his +hand; a shirt, braided(?), with red ornamentation, about him; a +sword with a hilt of ivory over his dress outside.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the putting of a hand on a skirmish; he is the wave of a +great sea that drowns little streams; he is a man of three shouts; +he is the judgment of ---- of enemies, who so comes,' said Fergus; +'that is, Munremar Mac Gerrcind, from Moduirn in the north.' + +'Another great company has come there to the hill to Slemon Midi,' +said Mac Roth. 'A company very fair, very beautiful, both in number +and strife and raiment. It is fiercely that they make for the hill; +the clatter of arms which they raised in going on their course +shook the host. A warrior fair, excellent, before the company. Most +beautiful of men his form, both in hair and eyes and fear, both in +raiment and form and voice and whiteness, both in dignity and size +and beauty, both in weapons and knowledge and adornment, both in +equipment and armour and fitness, both in honour and wisdom and +race.' + +'This is his description,' said Fergus; 'he is the brightness of +fire, the fair man, Fedlimid, who so comes there; he is fierceness +of warriors, he is the wave of a storm that drowns, he is might +that is not endured, with triumphs out of other territories after +destruction (?) of his foes; that is Fedlimid ---- ---- there.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth, 'which is not fewer than a warlike cantred (?). A warrior +great, brave, grey, proper, ----, in front of it. Hair black, +curly, on him; round eyes, grey(?), very high, in his head. A man +bull-like, strong, rough; a grey cloak about him, with a brooch of +silver on his arm; a shirt white, hooded, round him; a sword at his +side; a red shield with a hard boss of silver on it. A spear with +three rivets, broad, in his hand.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the fierce glow of wrath, he is a shaft (?) of every battle; +he is the victory of every combat, who has so come there, Connad +Mac Mornai from Callann,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come to the hill at Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'It is the march of an army for greatness. The leader who is +in front of that company, not common is a warrior fairer both in +form and attire and equipment. Hair bushy, red-yellow, on him; a +face proper, purple, well-proportioned; a face narrow below, broad +above; lips red, thin; teeth shining, pearly; a voice clear, +ringing; a face fair, purple, shapely; most beautiful of the forms +of men; a purple cloak folded round him; a brooch with full +adornment of gold, over his white breast; a bent shield with +many-coloured rivets, with a boss of silver, at his left; a long +spear, grey-edged, with a sharp javelin for attack in his hand; a +sword gold-hilted, of gold, on his back; a hooded shirt with red +ornamentation about him.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'We know, indeed,' said Fergus. 'He is half of a combat truly,' +said he, 'who so comes there; he is a fence(?) of battle, he is +fierce rage of a bloodhound; Rochad Mac Fathemain from Bridamae, +your son-in-law, is that, who wedded your daughter yonder, that is, +Findabair.' + +'Another company has come to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'A warrior with great calves, stout, with great thighs, big, +in front of that company. Each of his limbs is almost as thick as a +man. Truly, he is a man down to the ground,' said he. 'Hair black +on him; a face full of wounds, purple, has he; an eye parti-coloured, +very high, in his head; a man glorious, dexterous, thus, with +horror and terror, who has a wonderful apparel, both raiment and +weapons and appearance and splendour and dress; he raises himself +with the prowess of a warrior, with achievements of ----, with the +pride of wilfulness, with a going through battle to rout +overwhelming numbers, with wrath upon foes, with a marching on many +hostile countries without protection. In truth, mightily have they +come on their course into Slemon Midi.' + +'He was ---- of valour and of prowess, in sooth,' said Fergus; 'he +was of ---- pride(?) and of haughtiness, he was ---- of strength +and dignity, ---- then of armies and hosts of my own foster-brother, +Fergus Mac Leiti, King of Line, point of battle of the north of +Ireland.' + +'Another company, great, fierce, has come to the hill, to Slemon +Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'Strife before it, strange dresses on them. A +warrior fair, beautiful, before it; gift of every form, both hair +and eye and whiteness, both size and strife and fitness; five +chains of gold on him; a green cloak folded about him; a brooch of +gold in the cloak over his arm; a shirt white, hooded, about +him; the tower of a palace in his hand; a sword gold-hilted on his +shoulders.' + +'Fiery is the bearing of the champion of combat who has so come +there,' said Fergus. 'Amorgene, son of Eccet Salach the smith, from +Buais in the north is that.' + +'Another company has come there, to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' +said Mac Roth. It is a drowning for size, it is a fire for +splendour, it is a pin for sharpness, it is a battalion for number, +it is a rock for greatness, it is ---- for might, it is a judgment +for its ----, it is thunder for pride. A warrior rough-visaged, +terrible, in front of this company, and he great-bellied, +large-lipped; rough hair, a grey beard on him; and he great-nosed, +red-limbed; a dark cloak about him, an iron spike on his cloak; a +round shield with an engraved edge on him; a rough shirt, +braided(?), about him; a great grey spear in his hand, and thirty +rivets therein; a sword of seven charges of metal on his shoulders. +All the host rose before him, and he overthrew multitudes of the +battalion about him in going to the hill.' + +'He is a head of strife who has so come,' said Fergus; 'he is a +half of battle, he is a warrior for valour, he is a wave of a storm +which drowns, he is a sea over boundaries; that is, Celtchar Mac +Uithechair from Dunlethglaisi in the north.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A warrior of one whiteness in front of it, all white, +both hair and eyelashes and beard and equipment; a shield with a +boss of gold on him, and a sword with a hilt of ivory, and a broad +spear with rings in his hand. Very heroic has his march come.' + +'Dear is the bear, strong-striking, who has so come,' said Fergus; +'the bear of great deeds against enemies, who breaks men, Feradach +Find Fechtnach from the grove of Sliab Fuait in the north is that.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A hideous warrior in front of it, and he great-bellied, +large-lipped; his lips as big as the lips of a horse; hair dark, +curly, on him, and he himself ----, broad-headed, long-handed; a +cloak black, hairy, about him; a chain of copper over it, a dark +grey buckler over his left hand; a spear with chains in his right +hand; a long sword on his shoulders.' + +'He is a lion red-handed, fierce of ----, who so comes,' said +Fergus. 'He is high of deeds, great in battle, rough; he is a +raging on the land who is unendurable, Eirrgi Horse-lipped from Bri +Eirge in the north,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Two warriors, fair, both alike, in front of it; yellow +hair on them; two white shields with rivets of silver; they are of +equal age. They lift up their feet and set them down together; it +is not their manner for either of them to lift up his feet without +the other. Two heroes, two splendid flames, two points of battle, +two warriors, two pillars of fight, two dragons, two fires, two +battle-soldiers, two champions of combat, two rods (?), two bold +ones, two pets of Ulster about the king.' + +'Who are those, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'Fiachna and Fiacha, two sons of Conchobar Mac Nessa, two darlings +of the north of Ireland,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'Three warriors, fiery, noble, blue-faced, before it. Three +heads of hair very yellow have they; three cloaks of one colour in +folds about them; three brooches of gold over their arms, three +shirts ---- with red ornamentation round about them; three shields +alike have they; three swords gold-hilted on their shoulders; three +spears, broad-grey, in their right hands. They are of equal age.' + +'Three glorious champions of Coba, three of great deeds of +Midluachair, three princes of Roth, three veterans of the east of +Sliab Fuait,' said Fergus; 'the three sons of Fiachna are these, +after the Bull; that is, Rus and Dairi and Imchath,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A man lively, fiery, before it; eyes very red, of a +champion, in his head; a many-coloured cloak about him; a chain of +silver thereon; a grey shield on his left; [a sword] with a hilt of +silver at his side; a spear, excellent with a striking of cruelty +in his vengeful right hand; a shirt white, hooded, to his knee. A +company very red, with wounds, about him, and he himself wounded +and bleeding.' + +'That,' said Fergus, 'is the bold one, unsparing; that is the +tearing; it is the boar [Note: Ir. _rop_, said to be a beast that +wounds or gores.] of combat, it is the mad bull; it is the +victorious one of Baile; it is the warlike one of the gap; it is +the champion of Colptha, the door of war of the north of Ireland: +that is, Menn Mac Salchalca from Corann. To avenge his wounds upon +you has that man come,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth, 'and they very heroic, mutually willing. A warrior grey, +great, broad, tall, before it. Hair dark, curly, on him; a cloak +red, woollen, about him; a shirt excellent; a brooch of gold over +his arms in his cloak; a sword, excellent, with hilt of white +silver on his left; a red shield has he; a spear-head broad-grey on +a fair shaft [Note: Conjecture; the Irish is obscure.] of ash in +his hand. + +'A man of three strong blows who has so come,' said Fergus; 'a man +of three roads, a man of three highways, a man of three gifts, a +man of three shouts, who breaks battles on enemies in another +province: Fergrae Mac Findchoime from Corann is that.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Its appearance is greater than a cantred. A warrior +white-breasted, very fair, before it; like to Ailill yonder in size +and beauty and equipment and raiment. A crown of gold above his +head; a cloak excellent folded about him; a brooch of gold in the +cloak on his breast; a shirt with red ornamentation round about +him; a shield wound-giving with rims of gold; the pillar of a +palace in his hand; a sword gold-hilted on his shoulders.' + +'It is a sea over rivers who has so come, truly,' said Fergus; 'it +is a fierce glow of fire; his rage towards foes is insupportable: +Furbaidi Ferbend is that,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Very heroic, innumerable,' said Mac Roth; 'strange +garments, various, about them, different from other companies. +Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. A +great host and fierce is that company. A lad flame red before it; +the most beautiful of the forms of men his form; ... a shield with +white boss in his hand, the shield of gold and a rim of gold round +it; a spear sharp, light, with in his hand; a cloak purple, +fringed, folded about him; a brooch of silver in the cloak, on his +breast; a shirt white, hooded, with red ornamentation, about him; a +sword gold-hilted over his dress outside.' + +Therewith Fergus is silent. + + +'I do not know indeed,' said Fergus, 'the like of this lad in +Ulster, except that I think it is the men of Temair about a lad +proper, wonderful, noble: with Erc, son of Coirpre Niafer and of +Conchobar's daughter. They love not one another; ---- without his +father's leave has that man come, to help his grandfather. It is +through the combat of that lad,' said Fergus, 'that you will be +defeated in the battle. That lad knows not terror nor fear at +coming to you among them into the midst of your battalion. It would +be like men that the warriors of the men of Ulster will roar in +saving the calf their heart, in striking the battle. There will +come to them a feeling of kinship at seeing that lad in the great +battle, striking the battle before them. There will be heard the +rumble of Conchobar's sword like the barking of a watch-dog in +saving the lad. He will throw three walls of men about the battle +in seeking the lad. It will be with the affection of kinsmen that +the warriors of Ulster will attack the countless host,' said +Fergus. + +'I think it long,' said Mac Roth, 'to be recounting all that I have +seen, but I have come meanwhile (?) with tidings to you.' + +'You have brought it,' said Fergus. + +'Conall Cernach has not come with his great company,' said Mac +Roth; 'the three sons of Conchobar with their three cantreds have +not come; Cuchulainn too has not come there after his wounding in +combat against odds. Unless it is a warrior with one chariot,' said +Mac Roth, 'I think it would be he who has come there. Two horses ... +under his chariot; they are long-tailed, broad-hoofed, broad above, +narrow beneath, high-headed, great of curve, thin-mouthed, with +distended nostrils. Two wheels black, ----, with tyres even, +smooth-running; the body very high, clattering; the tent ... +therein; the pillars carved. The warrior in that chariot four-square, +purple-faced; hair cropped short on the top, curly, very black has +he, down to his shoulders; ... a cloak red about him; four thirties +of feat-poles (?) in each of his two arms. A sword gold-hilted on +his left; shield and spear has he, and twenty-four javelins about +him on strings and thongs. The charioteer in front of him; the back +of the charioteer's head towards the horses, the reins grasped by +his toes (?) before him; the chessboard spread between them, half +the men of yellow gold, the others of white metal; the _buanfach_ +[Note: the name of a game; probably in the nature of chess or +draughts.] under their thighs. Nine feats were performed by him on +high.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'An easy question,' said Fergus. 'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim from the +_Sid_, [Note: Cuchulainn was of fairy birth.] and Loeg Mac +Riangabra his charioteer. Cuchulainn is that,' said Fergus. + +'Many hundreds and thousands,' said Mac Roth, 'have reached the +camp of Ulster. Many heroes and champions and fighting-men have +come with a race to the assembly. Many companies,' said Mac Roth, +'were reaching the same camp, of those who had not reached or come +to the camp when I came; only,' said Mac Roth, 'my eye did not +rest on hill or height of all that my eye reached from Fer Diad's +Ford to Slemon Midi, but upon horse and man.' + +'You saw the household of a man truly,' said Fergus. + +Then Conchobar went with his hosts and took camp near the others. +Conchobar asked for a truce till sunrise on the morrow from Ailill, +and Ailill ratified it for the men of Ireland and for the exiles, +and Conchobar ratified it for the Ulstermen; and then Conchobar's +tents are pitched. The ground between them is a space, ----, bare, +and the Ulstermen came to it before sunset. Then said the Morrigan +in the twilight between the two camps: [Note: Rhetoric, seven lines] + +*** + +Now Cuchulainn was at Fedan Chollna near them. Food was brought to +him by the hospitallers that night; and they used to come to speak +to him by day. + +He did not kill any of them to the left of Fer Diad's Ford. + +'Here is a small herd from the camp from the west to the camp to +the east,' said the charioteer to Cuchulainn. 'Here is a troop of +lads to meet them.' + +'Those lads shall come,' said Cuchulainn. 'The little herd shall +come over the plain. He who will not ---- (?) shall come to help +the lads.' + +This was done then as Cuchulainn had said. + +'How do the lads of Ulster fight the battle?' + +'Like men,' said the charioteer. + +'It would be a vow for them, to fall in rescuing their herds,' said +Cuchulainn. 'And now?' + +'The beardless striplings are fighting now,' said the charioteer. + + +'Has a bright cloud come over the sun yet?' + +'Not so,' said the charioteer. + +'Alas, that I had not strength to go to them!' said Cuchulainn. + + +'There will be contest without that to-day,' said the charioteer, +'at sunrise; haughty folk fight the battle now,' said the +charioteer, 'save that there are not kings there, for they are +still asleep.' + +Then Fachna said when the sun rose (or it is Conchobar who sang in +his sleep): + +'Arise, Kings of Macha, of mighty deeds, noble household, grind +your weapons, fight the battle,' etc. + +'Who has sung this?' said every one. + +'Conchobar Mac Nessa,' said they; 'or Fachtna sang it,' said they. +'Sleep, sleep, save your sentinels.' + +Loegaire the Victorious was heard: 'Arise, Kings of Macha,' etc. + +'Who has sung that?' said every one. + +'Loegaire the Victorious, son of Connad Buide Mac Ilech. Sleep, +sleep, except your sentinels.' + +'Wait for it still,' said Conchobar, 'till sunrise ... in the glens +and heights of Ireland.' + +When Cuchulainn saw the kings from the east taking their crowns on +their heads and marshalling (?) the companies, Cuchulainn said to +his charioteer that he should awaken the Ulstermen; and the +charioteer said (or it is Amairgen, son of Eccet the poet, who +said): + +'Arise, Kings of Macha,' etc. + +'I have awakened them,' said the charioteer. 'Thus have they come +to the battle, quite naked, except for their arms only. He, the +door of whose tent is east, has come out through it west.' + +'It is a "goodly help of necessity,"' said Cuchulainn. + +The adventures of the Ulstermen are not followed up here now. As +for the men of Ireland, Badb and Net's wife and Nemain [Note: +Nemain was the wife of Net, the war-god, according to Cormac.] +called upon them that night on Garach and Irgarach, so that a +hundred warriors of them died for terror; that was not the most +peaceful of nights for them. + +THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF IRELAND HERE + +Ailill Mac Matae sang that night before the battle, and said: +'Arise, arise,' etc [Note: Here follows a list of names.] + +As for Cuchulainn, this is what is told here now. + +'Look for us, O my friend, O Loeg, how the Ulstermen are fighting +the battle now.' + +'Like men,' said the charioteer. + +'Though I were to go with my chariot, and Oen the charioteer of +Conall Cernach with his chariot, so that we should go from one wing +to the other along the dense mass, neither hoofs nor tyres shall go +through it.' + +'That is the stuff for a great battle,' said Cuchulainn. 'Nothing +must be done in the battle,' said Cuchulainn to his charioteer, +'that we shall not know from you.' + +'That will be true, so far as I can,' said the charioteer. 'The +place where the warriors are now from the west,' said the +charioteer, 'they make a breach in the battle eastwards. Their +first defence from the east, they make a breach in the battle +westwards.' + +'Alas! that I am not whole!' said Cuchulainn; 'my breach would be +manifest like the rest.' + +Then came the men of the bodyguard to the ford of the hosting. Fine +the way in which the fightingmen came to the battle on Garach and +Irgarach. Then came the nine chariot-men of the champions of +Iruath, three before them on foot. Not more slowly did they come +than the chariot-men. Medb did not let them into the battle, for +dragging Ailill out of the battle if it is him they should defeat, +or for killing Conchobar if it is he who should be defeated. + +Then his charioteer told Cuchulainn that Ailill and Medb were +asking Fergus to go into the battle; and they said to him that it +was only right for him to do it, for they had done him much +kindness on his exile. + +'If I had my sword indeed,' said Fergus, 'the heads of men over +shields would be more numerous with me than hailstones in the mire +to which come the horses of a king after they have broken into the +land (?).' + +Then Fergus made this oath: 'I swear, etc., there would be broken +by me cheeks of men from their necks, necks of men with their +(lower) arms, arms of men with their elbows, elbows of men with +their arms, arms of men with their fists, fists of men with their +fingers, fingers of men with their nails, [nails] of men with their +skull-roofs, skull-roofs of men with their middle, middle of men +with their thighs, thighs of men with their knees, knees of men +with their calves, calves of men with their feet, feet of men with +their toes, toes of men with their nails. I would make their necks +whizz (?) ---- as a bee would move to and fro on a day of beauty (?).' + +Then Ailill said to his charioteer: 'Let there come to me the +sword which destroys skin. I swear by the god by whom my people +swear, if you have its bloom worse to-day than on the day on which +I gave it to you in the hillside in the boundary of Ulster, though +the men of Ireland were protecting you from me, they should not +protect you.' + +Then his sword was brought to Fergus, and Ailill said: 'Take thy +sword,' etc. [Note: Rhetoric, twelve lines.] + +'A pity for thee to fall on the field of battle, thick [with slain ?],' +said Fergus to Ailill. + +The Badb and Net's wife and the Nemain called on them that night on +Garach and Irgarach; so that a hundred warriors of them died for +terror. That was not the quietest of nights for them. + +Then Fergus takes his arms and turns into the battle, and clears a +gap of a hundred in the battle with his sword in his two hands. +Then Medb took the arms of Fergus (?) and rushed into the battle, +and she was victorious thrice, so that she was driven back by force +of arms. + +'I do not know,' said Conchobar to his retinue who were round him, +'before whom has the battle been broken against us from the north. +Do you maintain the fight here, that I may go against him.' + +'We will hold the place in which we are,' said the warriors, +'unless the earth bursts beneath us, or the heaven upon us from +above, so that we shall break therefrom.' + +Then Conchobar came against Fergus. He lifts his shield against +him, i.e. Conchobar's shield Ochan, with three horns of gold on it, +and four ----- of gold over it. Fergus strikes three blows on it, +so that even the rim of his shield over his head did not touch him. + +'Who of the Ulstermen holds the shield?' said Fergus. + +'A man who is better than you,' said Conchobar; 'and he has brought +you into exile into the dwellings of wolves and foxes, and he will +repel you to-day in combat in the presence of the men of Ireland.' + +Fergus aimed on him a blow of vengeance with his two hands on +Conchobar, so that the point of the sword touched the ground behind +him. + +Cormac Condlongas put his hands upon him, and closed his two hands +about his arm. + +'----, O my friend, O Fergus,' said Cormac. '... Hostile is the +friendship; right is your enmity; your compact has been destroyed; +evil are the blows that you strike, O friend, O Fergus,' said +Cormac. + +'Whom shall I smite?' said Fergus. + +'Smite the three hills ... in some other direction over them; turn +your hand; smite about you on every side, and have no consideration +for them. Take thought for the honour of Ulster: what has not been +lost shall not be lost, if it be not lost through you to-day (?). + +'Go in some other direction, O Conchobar,' said Cormac to his +father; 'this man will not put out his rage on the Ulstermen any +more here.' + +Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the +first combat with the sword. He met Conall Cernach. + +'Too great rage is that,' said Conall Cernach, 'on people and race, +for a wanton.' + +'What shall I do, O warriors?' said he. + +'Smite the hills across them and the champions (?) round them,' +said Conall Cernach. + +Fergus smote the hills then, so that he struck the three Maela +[Note: i.e. flat-topped hills.] of Meath with his three blows. +Cuchulainn heard the blows then that Fergus gave on the hills or on +the shield of Conchobar himself. + +'Who strikes the three strong blows, great and distant?' said +Cuchulainn. + +... Then Loeg answered and said: 'The choice of men, Fergus Mac +Roich the very bold, smites them.' ... + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'Unloose quickly the hazeltwigs; blood covers +men, play of swords will be made, men will be spent therefrom.' + +Then his dry wisps spring from him on high, as far as ---- goes; +and his hazel-twigs spring off, till they were in Mag Tuag in +Connaught ... and he smote the head of each of the two handmaidens +against the other, so that each of them was grey from the brain of +the other. They came from Medb for pretended lamentation over him, +that his wounds might burst forth on him; and to say that the +Ulstermen had been defeated, and that Fergus had fallen in opposing +the battle, since Cuchulainn's coming into the battle had been +prevented. The contortion came on him, and twenty-seven skin-tunics +were given to him, that used to be about him under strings and +thongs when he went into battle; and he takes his chariot on his +back with its body and its two tyres, and he made for Fergus round +about the battle. + +'Turn hither, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; and he did not +answer till the third time. 'I swear by the god by whom the +Ulstermen swear,' said he, 'I will wash thee as foam [Note: Reading +with L.L.] (?) is washed in a pool, I will go over thee as the tail +goes over a cat, I will smite thee as a fond mother smites her son.' + +'Which of the men of Ireland speaks thus to me?' said Fergus. + +'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, sister's son to Conchobar,' said +Cuchulainn; 'and avoid me,' said he. + +'I have promised even that,' said Fergus. + +'Your promise falls due, then,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Good,' said Fergus, '(you avoided me), when you are pierced with +wounds.' + +Then Fergus went away with his cantred; the Leinstermen go and the +Munstermen; and they left in the battle nine cantreds of Medb's and +Ailill's and their seven sons. + +In the middle of the day it is that Cuchulainn came into the +battle; when the sun came into the leaves of the wood, it is then +that he defeated the last company, so that there remained of the +chariot only a handful of the ribs about the body, and a handful of +the shafts about the wheel. + +Cuchulainn overtook Medb then when he went into the battle. + +'Protect me,' said Medb. + +'Though I should slay thee with a slaying, it were lawful for me,' +said Cuchulainn. + +Then he protected her, because he used not to slay women. He +convoyed them westward, till they passed Ath Luain. Then he +stopped. He struck three blows with his sword on the stone in Ath +Luain. Their name is the Maelana [Note: i.e., flat-topped hills] of +Ath Luain. + +When the battle was broken, then said Medb to Fergus: 'Faults and +meet here to-day, O Fergus,' said she. + +'It is customary,' said Fergus, 'to every herd which a mare +precedes; ... after a woman who has ill consulted their interest.' + +They take away the Bull then in that morning of the battle, so that +he met the White-horned at Tarbga in Mag Ai; i.e. Tarbguba or +Tarbgleo.[Note: 'Bull-Sorrow or Bull-Fight,' etymological +explanation of Tarbga.] The first name of that hill was Roi Dedond. +Every one who escaped in the fight was intent on nothing but +beholding the two Bulls fighting. + +Bricriu Poison-tongue was in the west in his sadness after Fergus +had broken his head with his draughtmen [Note: This story is told +in the _Echtra Nerai_. (See _Revue Celtique_, vol. x. p. 227.)] He +came with the rest then to see the combat of the Bulls. The two +Bulls went in fighting over Bricriu, so that he died therefrom. +That is the Death of Bricriu. + +The foot of the Dun of Cualnge lighted on the horn of the other. +For a day and a night he did not draw his foot towards him, till +Fergus incited him and plied a rod along his body. + +''Twere no good luck,' said Fergus, 'that this conbative old calf +which has been brought here should leave the honour of clan and +race; and on both sides men have been left dead through you.' +Therewith he drew his foot to him so that his leg (?) was broken, +and the horn sprang from the other and was in the mountain by him. +It was Sliab n-Adarca [Note: Mountain of the Horn.] afterwards. + +He carried them then a journey of a day and a night, till he +lighted in the loch which is by Cruachan, and he came to Cruachan +out of it with the loin and the shoulder-blade and the liver of the +other on his horns. Then the hosts came to kill him. Fergus did not +allow it, but that he should go where he pleased. He came then to +his land and drank a draught in Findlethe on coming. It is there +that he left the shoulderblade of the other. Findlethe afterwards +was the name of the land. He drank another draught in Ath Luain; he +left the loin of the other there: hence is Ath Luain. He gave forth +his roar on Iraird Chuillend; it was heard through all the +province. He drank a draught in Tromma. There the liver of the +other fell from his horns; hence is Tromma. He came to Etan Tairb. +[Note: The Bull's Forehead.] He put his forehead against the hill +at Ath Da Ferta; hence is Etan Tairb in Mag Murthemne. Then he went +on the road of Midluachair in Cuib. There he used to be with the +milkless cow of Dairi, and he made a trench there. Hence is Gort +Buraig. [Note: The Field of the Trench.] Then he went till he died +between Ulster and Iveagh at Druim Tairb. Druim Tairb is the name +of that place. + +Ailill and Medb made peace with the Ulstermen and with Cuchulainn. +For seven years after there was no wounding of men between them. +Findabair stayed with Cuchulainn, and the Connaughtmen went to +their country, and the Ulstermen to Emain Macha with their great +triumph. Finit, amen. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN BO +CUALNGE)*** + + +******* This file should be named 14391-8.txt or 14391-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/9/14391 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/14391-8.zip b/old/14391-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0feed62 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14391-8.zip diff --git a/old/14391.txt b/old/14391.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2132a42 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14391.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5802 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge (Tain Bo Cualnge), +by Unknown, Translated by L. Winnifred Faraday + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge (Tain Bo Cualnge) + +Author: Unknown + +Release Date: December 20, 2004 [eBook #14391] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN +BO CUALNGE)*** + + +E-text prepared by Nicole Apostola + + + +THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN BO CUAILNGE) + +An Old Irish Prose-Epic + +Translated for the first time from Leabhar na h-Uidhri +and the Yellow Book of Lecan by + +L. WINIFRED FARADAY, M. A. + +London + +Published by David Nutt +At the Sign of the Phoenix +Long Acre + +1904 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION +THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (from Leabhar na h-Uidhri) + Cuchulainn's Boyish Deeds + The Death of Fraech + The Death of Orlam + The Death of the Meic Garach + The Death of the Squirrel + The Death of Lethan + The Death of Lochu + The Harrying of Cualnge (first version) + The Harrying of Cualnge (second version) + Mac Roth's Embassy + The Death of Etarcomol + The Death of Nadcrantail + The Finding of the Bull + The Death of Redg + The Meeting of Cuchulainn and Findabair + The Combat of Munremar and Curoi + The Death of the Boys (first version) + The Woman-fight of Rochad + The Death of the Princes + The Death of Cur + The Number of the Feats + The Death of Ferbaeth + The Combat of Larine Mac Nois + The Conversation of the Morrigan with Cuchulainn + The Death of Long Mac Emonis + The Healing of the Morrigan + The Coming of Lug Mac Ethlend + The Death of the Boys (second version) + The Arming of Cuchulainn +CONTINUATION (from the Yellow Book of Lecan) + The Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn + The Long Warning of Sualtaim + The Muster of the Ulstermen + The Vision of Dubthach + The March of the Companies + The Muster of the Men of Ireland + The Battle on Garach and Irgarach + The Meeting of the Bulls + The Peace + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge [Note: Pronounce _Cooley_] is the chief +story belonging to the heroic cycle of Ulster, which had its centre +in the deeds of the Ulster king, Conchobar Mac Nessa, and his +nephew and chief warrior, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. Tradition places +their date at the beginning of the Christian era. + +The events leading up to this tale, the most famous of Irish +mythical stories, may be shortly summarised here from the Book of +Leinster introduction to the _Tain_, and from the other tales +belonging to the Ulster cycle. + +It is elsewhere narrated that the Dun Bull of Cualnge, for whose +sake Ailill and Medb [Note: Pronounce _Maive_.], the king and queen +of Connaught, undertook this expedition, was one of two bulls in +whom two rival swineherds, belonging to the supernatural race known +as the people of the _Sid_, or fairy-mounds, were re-incarnated, +after passing through various other forms. The other bull, +Findbennach, the White-horned, was in the herd of Medb at Cruachan +Ai, the Connaught capital, but left it to join Ailill's herd. This +caused Ailill's possessions to exceed Medb's, and to equalise +matters she determined to secure the great Dun Bull, who alone +equalled the White-horned. An embassy to the owner of the Dun Bull +failed, and Ailill and Medb therefore began preparations for an +invasion of Ulster, in which province (then ruled by Conchobar Mac +Nessa) Cualnge was situated. A number of smaller _Tana_, or +cattle-raids, prefatory to the great _Tain Bo Cuailnge_, relate +some of their efforts to procure allies and provisions. + +Medb chose for the expedition the time when Conchobar and all the +warriors of Ulster, except Cuchulainn and Sualtaim, were at their +capital, Emain Macha, in a sickness which fell on them periodically, +making them powerless for action; another story relates the cause +of this sickness, the effect of a curse laid on them by a fairy +woman. Ulster was therefore defended only by the seventeen-year-old +Cuchulainn, for Sualtaim's appearance is only spasmodic. +Cuchulainn (Culann's Hound) was the son of Dechtire, the king's +sister, his father being, in different accounts, either Sualtaim, +an Ulster warrior; Lug Mac Ethlend, one of the divine heroes +from the _Sid_, or fairy-mound; or Conchobar himself. The +two former both appear as Cuchulainn's father in the present +narrative. Cuchulainn is accompanied, throughout the adventures +here told, by his charioteer, Loeg Mac Riangabra. + +In Medb's force were several Ulster heroes, including Cormac +Condlongas, son of Conchobar, Conall Cernach, Dubthach Doeltenga, +Fiacha Mac Firfebe, and Fergus Mac Roich. These were exiled from +Ulster through a bitter quarrel with Conchobar, who had caused the +betrayal and murder of the sons of Uisnech, when they had come to +Ulster under the sworn protection of Fergus, as told in the _Exile +of the Sons of Uisnech_. [Note: 1 Text in Windisch and Stokes's +_Irische Texte_; English translation in Miss Hull's _Cuchullin +Saga_.] The Ulster mischief-maker, Bricriu of the Poison-tongue, +was also with the Connaught army. Though fighting for Connaught, +the exiles have a friendly feeling for their former comrades, and a +keen jealousy for the credit of Ulster. There is a constant +interchange of courtesies between them and their old pupil, +Cuchulainn, whom they do not scruple to exhort to fresh efforts for +Ulster's honour. An equally half-hearted warrior is Lugaid Mac Nois, +king of Munster, who was bound in friendship to the Ulstermen. + +Other characters who play an important part in the story are +Findabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, who is held out as a bribe +to various heroes to induce them to fight Cuchulainn, and is on one +occasion offered to the latter in fraud on condition that he will +give up his opposition to the host; and the war-goddess, variously +styled the Nemain, the Badb (scald-crow), and the Morrigan (great +queen), who takes part against Cuchulainn in one of his chief +fights. Findabair is the bait which induces several old comrades of +Cuchulainn's, who had been his fellow-pupils under the sorceress +Scathach, to fight him in single combat. + +The tale may be divided into:-- + +1. Introduction: Fedelm's prophecy. + +2. Cuchulainn's first feats against the host, and the several + _geis_, or taboos, which he lays on them. + +3. The narration of Cuchulainn's boyish deeds, by the Ulster exiles +to the Connaught host. + +4. Cuchulainn's harassing of the host. + +5. The bargain and series of single combats, interrupted by + breaches of the agreement on the part of Connaught. + +6. The visit of Lug Mac Ethlend. + +7. The fight with Fer Diad. + +8. The end: the muster of the Ulstermen. + + +The MSS. + +The _Tain Bo Cuailnge_ survives, in whole or in part, in a +considerable number of MSS., most of which are, however, late. The +most important are three in number:-- + +(1) Leabhar na h-Uidhri (LU), 'The Book of the Dun Cow,' a MS. +dating from about 1100. The version here given is an old one, +though with some late additions, in later language. The chief of +these are the piece coming between the death of the herd Forgemen +and the fight with Cur Mac Dalath (including Cuchulainn's meeting +with Findabair, and the 'womanfight' of Rochad), and the whole of +what follows the Healing of the Morrigan. The tale is, like others +in this MS., unfinished, the MS. being imperfect. + +(2) The Yellow Book of Lecan (YBL), a late fourteenth-century MS. +The _Tain_ in this is substantially the same as in LU. The +beginning is missing, but the end is given. Some of the late +additions of LU are not found here; and YBL, late as it is, often +gives an older and better text than the earlier MS. + +(3) The Book of Leinster (LL), before 1160. The _Tain_ here is +longer, fuller, and later in both style and language than in LU or +YBL. It is essentially a literary attempt to give a complete and +consistent narrative, and is much less interesting than the older +LU-YBL recension. + +In the present version, I have collated LU, as far as it goes, with +YBL, adding from the latter the concluding parts of the story, from +the Fight with Fer Diad to the end. After the Fight with Fer Diad, +YBL breaks off abruptly, leaving nearly a page blank; then follow +several pages containing lists, alternative versions of some +episodes given in LU (Rochad's Woman-fight, the Warning to +Conchobar), and one or two episodes which are narrated in LL. I +omit about one page, where the narrative is broken and confused. + +The pages which follow the Healing of the Morrigan in LU are +altogether different in style from the rest of the story as told in +LU, and are out of keeping with its simplicity. This whole portion +is in the later manner of LL, with which, for the most part, it is +in verbal agreement. Further, it is in part repetition of material +already given (i.e. the coming of the boy-host of Ulster, and +Cuchulainn's displaying himself to the Connaught troops). + + +COMPARISON OF THE VERSIONS + +A German translation of the Leinster text of the _Tain Bo Cuailnge_ +will soon be accessible to all in Dr. Windisch's promised edition +of the text. It is therefore unnecessary to compare the two +versions in detail. Some of the main differences may be pointed +out, however. + +Of our three copies none is the direct ancestor of any other. LU +and YBL are from a common source, though the latter MS. is from an +older copy; LL is independent. The two types differ entirely in aim +and method. The writers of LU and YBL aimed at accuracy; the +Leinster man, at presenting an intelligible version. Hence, where +the two former reproduce obscurities and corruptions, the latter +omits, paraphrases, or expands. The unfortunate result is that LL +rarely, if ever, helps to clear up textual obscurities in the older +copy. + +On the other hand, it offers explanations of certain episodes not +clearly stated in LU. Thus, for example, where LU, in the story of +the sons of Nechta Scene, simply mentions 'the withe that was on +the pillar,' LL explains that the withe had been placed there by +the sons of Nechta Scene (as Cuchulainn placed a similar with in +the path of the Connaught host), with an ogam inscription +forbidding any to pass without combat; hence its removal was an +insult and a breach of _geis_. Again, the various embassies to +Cuchulainn, and the terms made with him (that he should not harass +the host if he were supplied daily with food, and with a champion +to meet him in single combat), are more clearly described in LL. + +Some of the episodes given in LU are not told in the Leinster +version. Of the boyish deeds of Cuchulainn, LL tells only three: +his first appearance at Emain (told by Fergus), Culann's feast (by +Cormac), and the feats following Cuchulainn's taking of arms (by +Fiacha). In the main narrative, the chief episodes omitted in LL +are the fight with Fraech, the Fergus and Medb episode, and the +meeting of Findabair and Cuchulainn. The meeting with the Morrigan +is missing, owing to the loss of a leaf. Other episodes are +differently placed in LL: e.g. the Rochad story (an entirely +different account), the fight of Amairgen and Curoi with stones, +and the warning to Conchobar, all follow the fight with Fer Diad. + +A peculiarity of the LU-YBL version is the number of passages which +it has in common with the _Dinnsenchas_, an eleventh-century +compilation of place-legends. The existing collections of +_Dinnsenchas_ contain over fifty entries derived from the _Tain_ +cycle, some corresponding with, others differing from those in LU. + +This version has also embodied a considerable number of glosses in +the text. As many of these are common to LU and YBL, they must go +back to the common original, which must therefore have been a +harmony of previously existing versions, since many of these +passages give variants of incidents. + + +AGE OF THE VERSIONS + +There is no doubt that the version here translated is a very old +one. The language in LU is almost uniformly Middle Irish, not more +than a century earlier than the date of the MS.; thus it shows the +post-thetic _he_, _iat_, etc. as object, the adverb with _co_, the +confusion of _ar_ and _for_, the extension of the _b_-future, etc. +But YBL preserves forms as old as the Glosses:-- + +(1) The correct use of the infixed relative, e.g. _rombith_, 'with +which he struck.' (LU, _robith_, 58a, 45.) + +(2) The infixed accusative pronoun, e.g. _nachndiusced_, 'that he +should not wake him.' (LU, _nach diusced_, 62a, 30.) + +(3) _no_ with a secondary tense, e.g. _nolinad_, 'he used to fill.' +(LU, _rolinad_, 60b, 6.) + +(4) Very frequently YBL keeps the right aspirated or non-aspirated +consonant, where LU shows a general confusion, etc. + +LL has no very archaic forms, though it cultivates a pseudo-archaic +style; and it is unlikely that the Leinster version goes back much +earlier than 1050. The latter part of the LU _Tain_ shows that a +version of the Leinster type was known to the compiler. The style +of this part, with its piling-up of epithets, is that of +eleventh-century narrative, as exemplified in texts like the _Cath +Ruis na Rig_ and the _Cogadh Gaidhil_; long strings of alliterative +epithets, introduced for sound rather than sense, are characteristic +of the period. The descriptions of chariots and horses in the Fer +Diad episode in YBL are similar, and evidently belong to the same +rescension. + +The inferences from the facts noted in the foregoing sections may +be stated as follows: A version of the _Tain_ goes back to the +early eighth, or seventh century, and is preserved under the YBL +text; an opinion based on linguistic evidence, but coinciding +with the tradition which ascribes the 'Recovery of the _Tain_' to +Senchan Torpeist, a bard of the later seventh century. This version +continued to be copied down to the eleventh century, gradually +changing as the language changed. Meanwhile, varying accounts of +parts of the story came into existence, and some time in the +eleventh century a new redaction was made, the oldest representative +of which is the LL text. Parts of this were embodied in or added +to the older version; hence the interpolations in LU. + + +THE FER DIAD EPISODE + +There is much difference between the two versions of this episode. +In YBL, the introductory portion is long and full, the actual fight +very short, while in LL the fight is long-drawn-out, and much more +stress is laid on the pathetic aspect of the situation. Hence it is +generally assumed that LL preserves an old version of the episode, +and that the scribe of the Yellow Book has compressed the latter +part. It is not, however, usual, in primitive story-telling, to +linger over scenes of pathos. Such lingering is, like the painted +tears of late Italian masters, invariably a sign of decadence. It +is one of the marks of romance, which recognises tragedy only when +it is voluble, and prodigal of lamentation. The older version of +the _Tain_ is throughout singularly free from pathos of the feebler +sort; the humorous side is always uppermost, and the tragic +suggestions interwoven with it. + +But it is still a matter of question whether the whole Fer Diad +episode may not be late. Professor Zimmer thinks it is; but even +the greatest scholar, with a theory to prove, is not quite free. It +will of course be noticed, on this side, that the chief motives of +the Fer Diad episode all appear previously in other episodes (e.g. +the fights with Ferbaeth and with Loch). Further, the account even +in YBL is not marked by old linguistic forms as are other parts of +the tale, while much of it is in the bombastic descriptive style of +LL. In the condition in which we have the tale, however, this +adventure is treated as the climax of the story. Its motive is to +remove Cuchulainn from the field, in order to give the rest of +Ulster a chance. But in the account of the final great fight in +YBL, Cuchulainn's absence is said to be due to his having been +wounded in a combat against odds (_crechtnugud i n-ecomlund_). +Considering, therefore, that even in YBL the Fer Diad episode is +late in language, it seems possible that it may have replaced some +earlier account in which Cuchulainn was so severely wounded that he +was obliged to retire from the field. + + +PREVIOUS WORK ON THE '_TAIN_' + +Up to the present time the _Tain_ has never been either printed or +translated, though the LU version has been for thirty years easily +accessible in facsimile. Dr. Windisch's promised edition will +shortly be out, containing the LL and LU texts, with a German +translation of the former. The most useful piece of work done +hitherto for the _Tain_ is the analysis by Professor Zimmer of the +LU text (conclusion from the Book of Leinster), in the fifth of his +_Keltische Studien (Zeitschrift fuer vergl. Sprachforschung_, xxviii.). +Another analysis of the story, by Mr. S. H. O'Grady, appeared in +Miss Eleanor Hull's _The Cuchullin Saga_; it is based on a late +paper MS. in the British Museum, giving substantially the same +version as LL. This work contains also a map of ancient Ireland, +showing the route of the Connaught forces; but a careful working-out +of the topography of the _Tain_ is much needed, many names being +still unidentified. Several of the small introductory _Tana_ have +been published in Windisch and Stokes's _Irische Texte_; and +separate episodes from the great _Tain_ have been printed and +translated from time to time. The Fight with Fer Diad (LL) was +printed with translation by O'Curry in the _Manners and Customs of +the Ancient Irish_. The story of the Two Swineherds, with their +successive reincarnations until they became the Dun Bull and the +White-horned (an introductory story to the _Tain_ ), is edited with +translation in _Irische Texte_, and Mr. Nutt printed an abridged +English version in the _Voyage of Bran_. + +The Leinster version seems to have been the favourite with modern +workers, probably because it is complete and consistent; possibly +its more sentimental style has also served to commend it. + + +AIM OF THIS TRANSLATION + +It is perhaps unnecessary to say that the present version is +intended for those who cannot read the tale in the original; it is +therefore inadvisable to overload the volume with notes, variant +readings, or explanations of the readings adopted, which might +repel the readers to whom it is offered. + +At the present time, an enthusiasm for Irish literature is not +always accompanied by a knowledge of the Irish language. It seems +therefore to be the translator's duty, if any true estimate of this +literature is to be formed, to keep fairly close to the original, +since nothing is to be gained by attributing beauties which it does +not possess, while obscuring its true merits, which are not few. +For the same reason, while keeping the Irish second person singular +in verses and formal speech, I have in ordinary dialogue +substituted the pronoun _you_, which suggests the colloquial style +of the original better than the obsolete _thou_. + +The so-called rhetorics are omitted in translating; they are +passages known in Irish as _rosc_, often partly alliterative, but +not measured. They are usually meaningless strings of words, with +occasional intelligible phrases. In all probability the passages +aimed at sound, with only a general suggestion of the drift. Any +other omissions are marked where they occur; many obscure words in +the long descriptive passages are of necessity left untranslated. +In two places I have made slight verbal changes without altering +the sense, a liberty which is very rarely necessary in Irish. + +Of the headings, those printed in capitals are in the text in the +MS.; those italicised are marginal. I have bracketed obvious +scribal glosses which have crept into the text. Some of the +marginal glosses are translated in the footnotes. + + +GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES + +As a considerable part of the _Tain_ is occupied by connecting +episodes with place-names, an explanation of some of the commonest +elements in these may be of use to those who know no Irish: + +Ath=a ford; e.g. Ath Gabla (Ford of the Fork), Ath Traiged (Ford of +the Foot), Ath Carpat (Ford of Chariots), Ath Fraich (Fraech's +Ford), etc. + +Belat=cross-roads; e.g. Belat Alioin. + +Bernas=a pass, or gap; e.g. _Bernas Bo Ulad_ or _Bernas Bo Cuailnge_ +(Pass of the Cows of Ulster, or of Cualnge). + +Clithar=a shelter; e.g. Clithar Bo Ulad (shelter of the Cows of +Ulster). + +Cul=a corner; e.g. Cul Airthir (eastern corner). + +Dun= a fort; e.g. Dun Sobairche. + +Fid=a wood; e.g. Fid Mor Drualle (Great Wood of the Sword-sheath). + +Glass=a brook, stream; e.g. Glass Chrau (the stream of Blood), +Glass Cruind, Glass Gatlaig (gatt=a withe, laig=a calf). + +Glenn=a glen; e.g. Glenn Gatt (Glen of the Withe), Glenn Firbaith +(Ferbaeth's Glen), Glenn Gatlaig. + +Grellach=a bog; e.g. Grellach Doluid. + +Guala=a hill-shoulder; e.g. Gulo Mulchai (Mulcha's shoulder). + +Loch=a lake; e.g. Loch Reoin, Loch Echtra. + +Mag=a plain; e.g. Mag Ai, Mag Murthemne, Mag Breg, Mag Clochair +(cloch=a stone). + +Methe, explained as if from meth (death); Methe Togmaill (death of +the Squirrel), Methe n-Eoin (death of the Bird). + +Reid, gen. Rede=a plain; e.g. Ath Rede Locha (Ford of Locha's Plain). + +Sid=a fairy mound; e.g. Sid Fraich (Fraech's Mound). + +Sliab=a mountain; e.g. Sliab Fuait. + +I need perhaps hardly say that many of the etymologies given in +Irish sources are pure invention, stories being often made up to +account for the names, the real meaning of which was unknown to the +mediaeval story-teller or scribe. + +In conclusion, I have to express my most sincere thanks to +Professor Strachan, whose pupil I am proud to be. I have had the +advantage of his wide knowledge and experience in dealing with many +obscurities in the text, and he has also read the proofs. I am +indebted also to Mr. E. Gwynn, who has collated at Trinity College, +Dublin, a number of passages in the Yellow Book of Lecan, which are +illegible or incorrect in the facsimile; and to Dr. Whitley Stokes +for notes and suggestions on many obscure words. + +LLANDAFF, November 1903. + + + + + +THIS IS THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE + +I + +A great hosting was brought together by the Connaughtmen, that is, +by Ailill and Medb; and they sent to the three other provinces. And +messengers were sent by Ailill to the seven sons of Magach: Ailill, +Anluan, Mocorb, Cet, En, Bascall, and Doche; a cantred with each of +them. And to Cormac Condlongas Mac Conchobair with his three +hundred, who was billeted in Connaught. Then they all come to +Cruachan Ai. + +Now Cormac had three troops which came to Cruachan. The first troop +had many-coloured cloaks folded round them; hair like a mantle (?); +the tunic falling(?) to the knee, and long(?) shields; and a broad +grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the hand of each man. + +The second troop wore dark grey cloaks, and tunics with red +ornamentation down to their calves, and long hair hanging behind +from their heads, and white shields (?), and five-pronged spears +were in their hands. + +'This is not Cormac yet,' said Medb. + +Then comes the third troop; and they wore purple cloaks and hooded +tunics with red ornamentation down to their feet, hair smooth to +their shoulders, and round shields with engraved edges, and the +pillars [Note: i.e. spears as large as pillars, etc.] of a palace +in the hand of each man. + +'This is Cormac now,' said Medb. + +Then the four provinces of Ireland were assembled, till they were +in Cruachan Ai. And their poets and their druids did not let them +go thence till the end of a fortnight, for waiting for a good omen. +Medb said then to her charioteer the day that they set out: + + +'Every one who parts here to-day from his love or his friend will +curse me,' said she, 'for it is I who have gathered this hosting.' + +'Wait then,' said the charioteer, 'till I turn the chariot with the +sun, and till there come the power of a good omen that we may come +back again.' + +Then the charioteer turned the chariot, and they set forth. Then +they saw a full-grown maiden before them. She had yellow hair, and +a cloak of many colours, and a golden pin in it; and a hooded tunic +with red embroidery. She wore two shoes with buckles of gold. Her +face was narrow below and broad above. Very black were her two +eyebrows; her black delicate eyelashes cast a shadow into the +middle of her two cheeks. You would think it was with _partaing_ +[Note: Exact meaning unknown. It is always used in this +connection.] her lips were adorned. You would think it was a shower +of pearls that was in her mouth, that is, her teeth. She had three +tresses: two tresses round her head above, and a tress behind, so +that it struck her two thighs behind her. A shuttle [Note: Literally, +a beam used for making fringe.] of white metal, with an inlaying +of gold, was in her hand. Each of her two eyes had three pupils. +The maiden was armed, and there were two black horses to her chariot. + +'What is your name?' said Medb to the maiden. + +'Fedelm, the prophetess of Connaught, is my name,' said the maiden. + +'Whence do you come?' said Medb. + +'From Scotland, after learning the art of prophecy,' said the +maiden. + +'Have you the inspiration(?) which illumines?' [Note: Ir. _imbas +forasnai_, the name of a kind of divination.] said Medb. + +'Yes, indeed,' said the maiden. + +'Look for me how it will be with my hosting,' said Medb. + +Then the maiden looked for it; and Medb said: 'O Fedelm the +prophetess, how seest thou the host?' + +Fedelm answered and said: 'I see very red, I see red.' + +'That is not true,' said Medb; 'for Conchobar is in his sickness at +Emain and the Ulstermen with him, with all the best [Note: +Conjectural; some letters missing. For the Ulster sickness, see +Introduction.] of their warriors; and my messengers have come and +brought me tidings thence. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' said Medb. + +'I see red,' said the maiden. + +'That is not true,' said Medb; 'for Celtchar Mac Uithichair is in +Dun Lethglaise, and a third of the Ulstermen with him; and Fergus, +son of Roich, son of Eochaid, is here with us, in exile, and a +cantred with him. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' said Medb. + +'I see very red, I see red,' said the maiden. + +'That matters not,' said Medb; 'for there are mutual angers, and +quarrels, and wounds very red in every host and in every +assembly of a great army. Look again for us then, and tell us the +truth. + +'Fedelm the prophetess, how seest thou our host?' + +'I see very red, I see red,' said Fedelm. + + 'I see a fair man who will make play + With a number of wounds(?) on his girdle; +[Note: Unless this is an allusion to the custom of carrying an +enemy's head at the girdle, the meaning is obscure. LL has quite a +different reading. The language of this poem is late.] + A hero's flame over his head, + His forehead a meeting-place of victory. + + 'There are seven gems of a hero of valour + In the middle of his two irises; + There is ---- on his cloak, + He wears a red clasped tunic. + + 'He has a face that is noble, + Which causes amazement to women. + A young man who is fair of hue + Comes ---- +[Note: Five syllables missing.] + + 'Like is the nature of his valour + To Cuchulainn of Murthemne. + I do not know whose is the Hound + Of Culann, whose fame is the fairest. + But I know that it is thus + That the host is very red from him. + + 'I see a great man on the plain + He gives battle to the hosts; + Four little swords of feats + There are in each of his two hands. + + 'Two _Gae-bolga_, he carries them, +[Note: The Gae-bolga was a special kind of spear, which only +Cuchulainn could use.] + Besides an ivory-hilted sword and spear; + ---- [Note: Three syllables missing] he wields to the host; + Different is the deed for which each arm goes from him. + + 'A man in a battle-girdle (?), of a red cloak, + He puts ---- every plain. + He smites them, over left chariot wheel (?); + The _Riastartha_ wounds them. +[Note: The Riastartha ('distorted one') was a name given to +Cuchulainn because of the contortion, described later, which came +over him.] + The form that appeared to me on him hitherto, + I see that his form has been changed. + + 'He has moved forward to the battle, + If heed is not taken of him it will be treachery. + I think it likely it is he who seeks you: + Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. + + 'He will strike on whole hosts, + He will make dense slaughters of you, + Ye will leave with him many thousands of heads. + The prophetess Fedelm conceals not. + + 'Blood will rain from warriors' wounds + At the hand of a warrior--'twill be full harm. + He will slay warriors, men will wander + Of the descendants of Deda Mac Sin. + Corpses will be cut off, women will lament + Through the Hound of the Smith that I see.' + +The Monday after Samain [Note: Samain, 'summer-end,' about the +beginning of November.] they set forth, and this is the way they +took: south-east from Cruachan Ai, i.e. by Muicc Cruimb, by Teloch +Teora Crich, by Tuaim Mona, by Cul Sibrinne, by Fid, by Bolga, by +Coltain, by Glune-gabair, by Mag Trego, by North Tethba, by South +Tethba, by Tiarthechta, by Ord, by Slais southwards, by Indiuind, +by Carnd, by Ochtrach, by Midi, by Findglassa Assail, by Deilt, by +Delind, by Sailig, by Slaibre, by Slechta Selgatar, by Cul +Sibrinne, by Ochaind southwards, by Uatu northwards, by Dub, by +Comur southwards, by Tromma, by Othromma eastwards, by Slane, by +Gortslane, by Druim Licce southwards, by Ath Gabla, by Ard Achad, +by Feraind northwards, by Findabair, by Assi southwards, by Druim +Salfind, by Druim Cain, by Druim Mac n-Dega, by Eodond Mor, by +Eodond Bec, by Methe Togmaill, by Methe Eoin, by Druim Caemtechta, +by Scuaip, by Imscuaip, by Cend Ferna, by Baile, by Aile, by Bail +Scena, by Dail Scena, by Fertse, by Ross Lochad, by Sale, by +Lochmach, by Anmag, by Deind, by Deilt, by Dubglaiss, by Fid Mor, +by Colbtha, by Cronn, to Cualnge. + + + +From Findabair Cuailnge, it is thence the hosts of Ireland were +divided over the province to seek the Bull. For it is past these +places that they came, till they reached Findabair. + +(Here ends the title; and the story begins as follows:-- + +THIS IS THE STORY IN ORDER + +When they had come on their first journey from Cruachan as far as +Cul Sibrinne, Medb told her charioteer to get ready her nine +chariots for her, that she might make a circuit in the camp, to see +who disliked and who liked the expedition. + +Now his tent was pitched for Ailill, and the furniture was +arranged, both beds and coverings. Fergus Mac Roich in his tent was +next to Ailill; Cormac Condlongas Mac Conchobair beside him; Conall +Cernach by him; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe, the son of Conchobar's +daughter, by him. Medb, daughter of Eochaid Fedlech, was on +Ailill's other side; next to her, Findabair, daughter of Ailill and +Medb. That was besides servants and attendants. + +Medb came, after looking at the host, and she said it were folly +for the rest to go on the hosting, if the cantred of the +Leinstermen went. + +'Why do you blame the men?' said Ailill. + +'We do not blame them,' said Medb; 'splendid are the warriors. When +the rest were making their huts, they had finished thatching their +huts and cooking their food; when the rest were at dinner, they had +finished dinner, and their harpers were playing to them. It is +folly for them to go,' said Medb; 'it is to their credit the +victory of the hosts will be.' + +'It is for us they fight,' said Ailill. + +'They shall not come with us,' said Medb. + +'Let them stay then,' said Ailill. + +'They shall not stay,' said Medb. 'They will come on us after we +have gone,' said she, 'and seize our land against us.' + +'What is to be done to them?' said Ailill; 'will you have them +neither stay nor go?' + +'To kill them,' said Medb. + +'We will not hide that this is a woman's plan,' said Ailill; 'what +you say is not good!' + +'With this folk,' said Fergus, 'it shall not happen thus (for it is +a folk bound by ties to us Ulstermen), unless we are all killed.' + +'Even that we could do,' said Medb; 'for I am here with my retinue +of two cantreds,' said she, 'and there are the seven Manes, that +is, my seven sons, with seven cantreds; their luck can protect +them,' (?) said she; 'that is Mane-Mathramail, and Mane-Athramail, +and Mane-Morgor, and Mane-Mingor, and Mane-Moepert (and he is +Mane-Milscothach), Mane-Andoe, and Mane-who-got-everything: he got +the form of his mother and of his father, and the dignity of both.' + +'It would not be so,' said Fergus. 'There are seven kings of +Munster here, and a cantred with each of them, in friendship with +us Ulstermen. I will give battle to you,' said Fergus, 'in the +middle of the host in which we are, with these seven cantreds, and +with my own cantred, and with the cantred of the Leinstermen. But I +will not urge that,' said Fergus, 'we will provide for the warriors +otherwise, so that they shall not prevail over the host. Seventeen +cantreds for us,' said Fergus, 'that is the number of our army, +besides our rabble, and our women (for with each king there is his +queen, in Medb's company), and besides our striplings. This is the +eighteenth cantred, the cantred of the Leinstermen. Let them be +distributed among the rest of the host.' + +'I do not care,' said Medb, 'provided they are not gathered as they +are.' + +Then this was done; the Leinstermen were distributed among the host. + +They set out next morning to Moin Choiltrae, where eight score deer +fell in with them in one herd. They surrounded them and killed them +then; wherever there was a man of the Leinstermen, it was he who +got them, except five deer that all the rest of the host got. Then +they came to Mag Trego, and stopped there and prepared their food. +They say that it is there that Dubthach sang this song: + + 'Grant what you have not heard hitherto, + Listening to the fight of Dubthach. + A hosting very black is before you, + Against Findbend of the wife of Ailill. +[Note: Findbennach, the Whitehorned; i.e. the other of the two +bulls in whom the rival swineherds were reincarnated.] + + 'The man of expeditions will come + Who will defend (?) Murthemne. + Ravens will drink milk of ---- [Note: Some kenning for blood?] + From the friendship of the swineherds. + + 'The turfy Cronn will resist them; +[Note: i.e. the river Cronn. This line is a corruption of a +reference which occurs later, in the account of the flooding of the +Cronn, as Professor Strachan first pointed out to me.] + He will not let them into Murthemne + Until the work of warriors is over + In Sliab Tuad Ochaine. + + '"Quickly," said Ailill to Cormac, + "Go that you may ---- your son. + The cattle do not come from the fields + That the din of the host may not terrify them(?). + + '"This will be a battle in its time + For Medb with a third of the host. + There will be flesh of men therefrom + If the Riastartha comes to you."' + +Then the Nemain attacked them, and that was not the quietest of +nights for them, with the uproar of the churl (i.e. Dubthach) +through their sleep. The host started up at once, and a great +number of the host were in confusion, till Medb came to reprove +him. + +Then they went and spent the night in Granard Tethba Tuascirt, +after the host had been led astray over bogs and over streams. A +warning was sent from Fergus to the Ulstermen here, for friendship. +They were now in the weakness, except Cuchulainn and his father +Sualtaim. + +Cuchulainn and his father went, after the coming of the warning +from Fergus, till they were in Iraird Cuillend, watching the host +there. + +'I think of the host to-night,' said Cuchulainn to his father. 'Go +from us with a warning to the Ulstermen. I am forced to go to a +tryst with Fedelm Noichride, [Note: Gloss incorporated in the text: +that is, with her servant,' etc.] from my own pledge that went out +to her.' + +He made a spancel-withe [This was a twig twisted in the form of two +rings, joined by one straight piece, as used for hobbling horses +and cattle.] then before he went, and wrote an ogam on its ----, +and threw it on the top of the pillar. + +The leadership of the way before the army was given to Fergus. Then +Fergus went far astray to the south, till Ulster should have +completed the collection of an army; he did this for friendship. +Ailill and Medb perceived it; it was then Medb said: + + 'O Fergus, this is strange, + What kind of way do we go? + Straying south or north + We go over every other folk. + + 'Ailill of Ai with his hosting + Fears that you will betray them. + You have not given your mind hitherto + To the leading of the way. + + 'If it is in friendship that you do it, + Do not lead the horses + Peradventure another may be found + To lead the way.' + +Fergus replied: + + 'O Medb, what troubles you? + This is not like treachery. + It belongs to the Ulstermen, O woman, + The land across which I am leading you. + + 'It is not for the disadvantage of the host + That I go on each wandering in its turn; + It is to avoid the great man + Who protects Mag Murthemne. + + 'Not that my mind is not distressed + On account of the straying on which I go, + But if perchance I may avoid even afterwards + Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim.' + +Then they went till they were in Iraird Cuillend. Eirr and Indell, +Foich and Foclam (their two charioteers), the four sons of Iraird +Mac Anchinne, [Marginal gloss: 'or the four sons of Nera Mac Nuado +Mac Taccain, as it is found in other books.'] it is they who were +before the host, to protect their brooches and their cushions and +their cloaks, that the dust of the host might not soil them. They +found the withe that Cuchulainn threw, and perceived the grazing +that the horses had grazed. For Sualtaim's two horses had eaten the +grass with its roots from the earth; Cuchulainn's two horses had +licked the earth as far as the stones beneath the grass. They sit +down then, until the host came, and the musicians play to them. +They give the withe into the hands of Fergus Mac Roich; he read the +ogam that was on it. + +When Medb came, she asked, 'Why are you waiting here?' + +'We wait,' said Fergus,' because of the withe yonder. There is an +ogam on its ----, and this is what is in it: "Let no one go past +till a man is found to throw a like withe with his one hand, and +let it be one twig of which it is made; and I except my friend +Fergus." Truly,' said Fergus, 'Cuchulainn has thrown it, and they +are his horses that grazed the plain.' + + +And he put it in the hands of the druids; and Fergus sang this song: + + 'Here is a withe, what does the withe declare to us? + What is its mystery? + What number threw it? + Few or many? + + 'Will it cause injury to the host, + If they go a journey from it? + Find out, ye druids, something therefore + For what the withe has been left. + + '---- of heroes the hero who has thrown it, + Full misfortune on warriors; + A delay of princes, wrathful is the matter, + One man has thrown it with one hand. + + 'Is not the king's host at the will of him, + Unless it breaks fair play? + Until one man only of you + Throw it, as one man has thrown it. + I do not know anything save that + For which the withe should have been put. + Here is a withe.' + +Then Fergus said to them: 'If you outrage this withe,' said he, 'or +if you go past it, though he be in the custody of a man, or in a +house under a lock, the ---- of the man who wrote the ogam on it +will reach him, and will slay a goodly slaughter of you before +morning, unless one of you throw a like withe.' + +'It does not please us, indeed, that one of us should be slain at +once,' said Ailill. 'We will go by the neck of the great wood +yonder, south of us, and we will not go over it at all.' + +The troops hewed down then the wood before the chariots. This is +the name of that place, Slechta. It is there that Partraige is. +(According to others, the conversation between Medb and Fedelm the +prophetess took place there, as we told before; and then it is +after the answer she gave to Medb that the wood was cut down; i.e. +'Look for me,' said Medb, 'how my hosting will be.' 'It is +difficult to me,' said the maiden; 'I cannot cast my eye over them +in the wood.' 'It is ploughland (?) there shall be,' said Medb; 'we +will cut down the wood.' Then this was done, so that Slechta was +the name of the place.) + + +They spent the night then in Cul Sibrille; a great snowstorm fell +on them, to the girdles of the men and the wheels of the chariots. +The rising was early next morning. And it was not the most peaceful +of nights for them, with the snow; and they had not prepared food +that night. But it was not early when Cuchulainn came from his +tryst; he waited to wash and bathe. + +Then he came on the track of the host. 'Would that we had not gone +there,' said Cuchulainn, 'nor betrayed the Ulstermen; we have let +the host go to them unawares. Make us an estimation of the host,' +said Cuchulainn to Loeg, 'that we may know the number of the host.' + +Loeg did this, and said to Cuchulainn: 'I am confused,' said he, 'I +cannot attain this.' + +'It would not be confusion that I see, if only I come,' said + +Cuchulainn. + +'Get into the chariot then,' said Loeg. + +Cuchulainn got into the chariot, and put a reckoning over the host +for a long time. + +'Even you,' said Loeg, 'you do not find it easy.' + +'It is easier indeed to me than to you,' said Cuchulainn; 'for I +have three gifts, the gifts of eye, and of mind, and of reckoning. +I have put a reckoning [Marginal gloss: 'This is one of the three +severest and most difficult reckonings made in Ireland; i.e. +Cuchulainn's reckoning of the men of Ireland on the _Tain_; and +ug's reckoning of the Fomorian hosts at the battle of Mag Tured; +and Ingcel's reckoning of the hosts at the Bruiden Da Derga.'] on +this,' said he; 'there are eighteen cantreds,' said he, 'for their +number; only that the eighteenth cantred is distributed among all +the host, so that their number is not clear; that is, the cantred +of the Leinstermen.' + +Then Cuchulainn went round the host till he was at Ath Gabla. +[Note: LU has Ath Grena.] He cuts a fork [Note: i.e. fork of a +tree.] there with one blow of his sword, and put it on the middle +of the stream, so that a chariot could not pass it on this side or +that. Eirr and Indell, Foich and Fochlam (their two charioteers) +came upon him thereat. He strikes their four heads off, and throws +them on to the four points of the fork. Hence is Ath Gabla. + +Then the horses of the four went to meet the host, and their +cushions very red on them. They supposed it was a battalion that +was before them at the ford. A troop went from them to look at the +ford; they saw nothing there but the track of one chariot and the +fork with the four heads, and a name in ogam written on the side. +All the host came then. + +'Are the heads yonder from our people?' said Medb. + +'They are from our people and from our choice warriors,' said +Ailill. + +One of them read the ogam that was on the side of the fork; that +is: 'A man has thrown the fork with his one hand; and you shall not +go past it till one of you, except Fergus, has thrown it with one +hand.' + +'It is a marvel,' said Ailill, 'the quickness with which the four +were struck.' + +It was not that that was a marvel,' said Fergus; 'it was the +striking of the fork from the trunk with one blow; and if the end +was [cut] with one blow, [Note: Lit. 'if its end was one cutting.'] +it is the fairer for it, and that it was thrust in in this manner; +for it is not a hole that has been dug for it, but it is from the +back of the chariot it has been thrown with one hand.' + +'Avert this strait from us, O Fergus,' said Medb. + +Bring me a chariot then,' said Fergus, 'that I may take it out, +that you may see whether its end was hewn with one blow.' Fergus +broke then fourteen chariots of his chariots, so that it was from +his own chariot that he took it out of the ground, and he saw that +the end was hewn with one blow. + +'Heed must be taken to the character of the tribe to which we are +going,' said Ailill. 'Let each of you prepare his food; you had no +rest last night for the snow. And something shall be told to us of +the adventures and stories of the tribe to which we are going.' + +It is then that the adventures of Cuchulainn were related to them. +Ailill asked: 'Is it Conchobar who has done this?' + +'Not he,' said Fergus; 'he would not have come to the border of the +country without the number of a battalion round him.' + +'Was it Celtchar Mac Uithidir?' + +'Not he; he would not have come to the border of the country +without the number of a battalion round him.' + +'Was it Eogan Mac Durtacht?' + +'Not he,' said Fergus; 'he would not have come over the border of +the country without thirty chariots two-pointed (?) round him. This +is the man who would have done the deed,' said Fergus, 'Cuchulainn; +it is he who would have cut the tree at one blow from the trunk, +and who would have killed the four yonder as quickly as they were +killed, and who would have come to the boundary with his charioteer.' + +'What kind of man,' said Ailill, 'is this Hound of whom we have +heard among the Ulstermen? What age is this youth who is famous?' + +'An easy question, truly,' said Fergus. 'In his fifth year he went +to the boys at Emain Macha to play; in his sixth year he went to +learn arms and feats with Scathach. In his seventh year he took +arms. He is now seventeen years old at this time.' + +'Is it he who is hardest to deal with among the Ulstermen?' said +Medb. + +'Over every one of them,' said Fergus. 'You will not find before +you a warrior who is harder to deal with, nor a point that is +sharper or keener or swifter, nor a hero who is fiercer, nor a +raven that is more flesh-loving, nor a match of his age that can +equal him as far as a third; nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a +fence(?) of battle, nor a hammer of destruction, nor a door of +battle, nor judgment on hosts, nor preventing of a great host that +is more worthy. You will not find there a man who would reach his +age, and his growth, and his dress, and his terror, his speech, his +splendour, his fame, his voice, his form, his power, his hardness, +his accomplishment, his valour, his striking, his rage, his anger, +his victory, his doom-giving, his violence, his estimation, his +hero-triumph, his speed, his pride, his madness, with the feat of +nine men on every point, like Cuchulainn!' + +'I don't care for that,' said Medb; 'he is in one body; he endures +wounding; he is not above capturing. Therewith his age is that of a +grown-up girl, and his manly deeds have not come yet.' + +'Not so,' said Fergus. 'It would be no wonder if he were to do a +good deed to-day; for even when he was younger his deeds were +manly.' + + +HERE ARE HIS BOYISH DEEDS + +'He was brought up,' said Fergus, 'by his mother and father at the +---- in Mag Murthemne. The stories of the boys in Emain were +related to him; for there are three fifties of boys there,' said +Fergus, 'at play. It is thus that Conchobar enjoys his sovereignty: +a third of the day watching the boys; another third playing chess; +[Note: _Fidchill_, usually so translated, but the exact nature of +the game is uncertain.] another third drinking beer till sleep +seizes him therefrom. Although we are in exile, there is not in +Ireland a warrior who is more wonderful,' said Fergus. + +'Cuchulainn asked his mother then to let him go to the boys. + + +'"You shall not go," said his mother, "until you have company of +warriors." + +'"I deem it too long to wait for it," said Cuchulainn. "Show me on +which side Emain is." + +'"Northwards so," said his mother; "and the journey is hard," said +she, "Sliab Fuait is between you." + +'"I will find it out," said Cuchulainn. + +'He goes forth then, and his shield of lath with him, and his +toy-spear, and his playing-club, and his ball. He kept throwing his +staff before him, so that he took it by the point before the end +fell on the ground. + +'He goes then to the boys without binding them to protect him. For +no one used to go to them in their play-field till his protection +was guaranteed. He did not know this. + +'"The boy insults us," said Follomon Mac Conchobair, "besides we +know he is of the Ulstermen. ... Throw at him!" + +'They throw their three fifties of toy-spears at him, and they all +remained standing in his shield of lath. Then they throw all the +balls at him; and he takes them, each single ball, in his bosom. +Then they throw their three fifties of hurling-clubs at him; he +warded them off so that they did not touch him, and he took a +bundle of them on his back. Then contortion seized him. You would +have thought that it was a hammering wherewith each little hair had +been driven into his head, with the arising with which he arose. +You would have thought there was a spark of fire on every single +hair. He shut one of his eyes so that it was not wider than the eye +of a needle. He opened the other so that it was as large as the +mouth of a meadcup. He laid bare from his jawbone to his ear; he +opened his mouth to his jaw [Note: Conjectured from the later +description of Cuchulainn's distortion.] so that his gullet was +visible. The hero's light rose from his head. Then he strikes at +the boys. He overthrows fifty of them before they reached the door +of Emain. Nine of them came over me and Conchobar as we were +playing chess. Then he springs over the chessboard after the nine. +Conchobar caught his elbow. + +'"The boys are not well treated," said Conchobar. + +'"Lawful for me, O friend Conchobar," said he. "I came to them from +my home to play, from my mother and father; and they have not been +good to me." + +'"What is your name?" said Conchobar. + + +'"Setanta Mac Sualtaim am I," said he, "and the son of Dechtere, +your sister. It was not fitting to hurt me here." + +'"Why were the boys not bound to protect you?" said Conchobar. + +'"I did not know this," said Cuchulainn. "Undertake my protection +against them then." + +'"I recognise it," said Conchobar. + +'Then he turned aside on [Note: i.e. to attack them.] the boys +throughout the house. + +'"What ails you at them now?" said Conchobar. + +'"That I may be bound to protect them," said Cuchulainn. + +'"Undertake it," said Conchobar. + +'"I recognise it," said Cuchulainn. + +'Then they all went into the play-field, and those boys who had +been struck down there arose. Their foster-mothers and foster-fathers +helped them. + + +'Once,' said Fergus, 'when he was a youth, he used not to sleep in +Emain Macha till morning. + +'"Tell me," said Conchobar to him, "why you do not sleep?" + +'"I do not do it," said Cuchulainn, "unless it is equally high at +my head and my feet." + +'Then a stone pillar was put by Conchobar at his head, and another +at his feet, and a bed was made for him separately between them. + + +'Another time a certain man went to awaken him, and he struck him +with his fist in his forehead, so that it took the front of his +forehead on to the brain, and so that he overthrew the pillar with +his arm.' + +'It is known,' said Ailill, 'that it was the fist of a warrior and +that it was the arm of a hero.' + +'From that time,' said Fergus, 'no one dared to waken him till he +awoke of himself. + + +'Another time he was playing ball in the play-field east of Emain; +he alone apart against the three fifties of boys; he used to defeat +them in every game in this way always. The boys lay hold of him +therewith, and he plied his fist upon them until fifty of them were +killed. He took to flight then, till he was under the pillow of +Conchobar's bed. All the Ulstermen rise round him, and I rise, and +Conchobar himself. Then he rose under the bed, and put the bed from +him, with the thirty heroes who were on it, till it was in the +middle of the house. The Ulstermen sit round him in the house. We +arrange and make peace then,' said Fergus, 'between the boys and +him. + + +'There was contention between Ulster and Eogan Mac Durtacht. The +Ulstermen went to the battle. He was left asleep. The Ulstermen +were defeated. Conchobar was left [on the field], and Cuscraid Mend +Macha, and many more beside. Their lament awoke Cuchulainn. He +stretched himself then, so that the two stones that were about him +broke; in the presence of Bricriu yonder it was done,' said Fergus. +'Then he arose. I met him in the door of the fort, and I wounded. + +'"Alas! God save you, friend Fergus," said he, "where is Conchobar?" + +'"I do not know," said I. + +'Then he went forth. The night was dark. He made for the +battlefield. He saw a man before him, with half his head on, and +half of another man on his back. + +'"Help me, O Cuchulainn," said he; "I have been wounded and I have +brought half of my brother on my back. Carry it for me a while." + +'"I will not carry it," said he. + +'Then he throws the burden to him; he throws it from him; they +wrestle; Cuchulainn was overthrown. I heard something, the +Badb from the corpses: "Ill the stuff of a hero that is under the +feet of a phantom." Then Cuchulainn rose against him, and strikes +his head off with his playing-club, and begins to drive his ball +before him across the plain. + +'"Is my friend Conchobar in this battlefield?" + +'He answered him. He goes to him, till he sees him in the trench, +and there was the earth round him on every side to hide him. + +'"Why have you come into the battlefield," said Conchobar, "that +you may swoon there?" + +'He lifts him out of the trench then; six of the strong men of +Ulster with us would not have brought him out more bravely. + +'"Go before us to the house yonder," said Conchobar; "if a roast +pig came to me, I should live." + +'"I will go and bring it," said Cuchulainn. + +'He goes then, and saw a man at a cooking-hearth in the middle of +the wood; one of his two hands had his weapons in it, the other was +cooking the pig. + +'The hideousness of the man was great; nevertheless he attacked him +and took his head and his pig with him. Conchobar ate the pig then. + +'"Let us go to our house," said Conchobar. + +'They met Cuscraid Mac Conchobair. There were sure wounds on him; +Cuchulainn took him on his back. The three of them went then to +Emain Macha. + + +'Another time the Ulstermen were in their weakness. There was not +among us,' said Fergus, 'weakness on women and boys, nor on any one +who was outside the country of the Ulstermen, nor on Cuchulainn and +his father. And so no one dared to shed their blood; for the +suffering springs on him who wounds them. [Gloss incorporated in +text: 'or their decay, or their shortness of life.'] + +'Three times nine men came to us from the Isles of Faiche. They +went over our back court when we were in our weakness. The women +screamed in the court. The boys were in the play-field; they come +at the cries. When the boys saw the dark, black men, they all take +to flight except Cuchulainn alone. He plies hand-stones and his +playing-club on them. He kills nine of them, and they leave fifty +wounds on him, and they go forth besides. A man who did these deeds +when his five years were not full, it would be no wonder that he +should have come to the edge of the boundary and that he should +have cut off the heads of yonder four.' + + +'We know him indeed, this boy,' said Conall Cernach, 'and we know +him none the worse that he is a fosterling of ours. It was not long +after the deed that Fcrgus has just related, when he did another +deed. When Culann the smith served a feast to Conchobar, Culann +said that it was not a multitude that should be brought to him, for +the preparation which he had made was not from land or country, but +from the fruit of his two hands and his pincers. Then Conchobar +went, and fifty chariots with him, of those who were noblest and +most eminent of the heroes. Now Conchobar visited then his +play-field. It was always his custom to visit and revisit them at +going and coming, to seek a greeting of the boys. He saw then +Cuchulainn driving his ball against the three fifties of boys, and +he gets the victory over them. When it was hole-driving that they +did, he filled the hole with his balls and they could not ward him +off. When they were all throwing into the hole, he warded them off +alone, so that not a single ball would go in it. When it was +wrestling they were doing, he overthrew the three fifties of boys +by himself, and there did not meet round him a number that could +overthrow him. When it was stripping that they did, he stripped +them all so that they were quite naked, and they could not take +from him even his brooch out of his cloak. + +'Conchobar thought this wonderful. He said "Would he bring his +deeds to completion, provided the age of manhood came to them?" +Every one said: "He would bring them to completion." Conchobar said +to Cuchulainn: "Come with me," said he, "to the feast to which we +are going, because you are a guest." + +'"I have not had enough of play yet, O friend Conchobar," said the +boy; "I will come after you." + +'When they had all come to the feast, Culann said to Conchobar: "Do +you expect any one to follow you?" said he. + +'"No," said Conchobar. He did not remember the appointment with his +foster-son who was following him. + +'"I'll have a watch-dog," said Culann; "there are three chains on +him, and three men to each chain. [Gloss incorporated in text: 'He +was brought from Spain.'] Let him be let slip because of our cattle +and stock, and let the court be shut." + +'Then the boy comes. The dog attacks him. He went on with his play +still: he threw his ball, and threw his club after it, so that it +struck the ball. One stroke was not greater than another; and he +threw his toy-spear after them, and he caught it before falling; +and it did not hinder his play, though the dog was approaching him. +Conchobar and his retinue ---- this, so that they could not move; +they thought they would not find him alive when they came, even +though the court were open. Now when the dog came to him, he threw +away his ball and his club, and seized the dog with his two hands; +that is, he put one of his hands to the apple of the dog's throat; +and he put the other at its back; he struck it against the pillar +that was beside him, so that every limb sprang apart. (According to +another, it was his ball that he threw into its mouth, and brought +out its entrails through it.) + +'The Ulstermen went towards him, some over the wall, others over +the doors of the court. They put him on Conchobar's knee. A great +clamour arose among them, that the king's sister's son should have +been almost killed. Then Culann comes into the house. + +'"Welcome, boy, for the sake of your mother. Would that I had not +prepared a feast! My life is a life lost, and my husbandry is a +husbandry without, without my dog. He had kept honour and life for +me," said he, "the man of my household who has been taken from me, +that is, my dog. He was defence and protection to our property and +our cattle; he was the protection of every beast to us, both field +and house." + +'"It is not a great matter," said the boy; "a whelp of the same +litter shall be raised for you by me, and I will be a dog for the +defence of your cattle and for your own defence now, until that dog +grows, and until he is capable of action; and I will defend Mag +Murthemne, so that there shall not be taken away from me cattle nor +herd, unless I have ----." + +'"Then your name shall be Cu-chulainn," said Cathbad. + +'"I am content that it may be my name," said Cuchulainn. + +'A man who did this in his seventh year, it would be no wonder that +he should have done a great deed now when his seventeen years are +completed,' said Conall Cernach. + + +'He did another exploit,' said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe. 'Cathbad the +Druid was with his son, Conchobar Mac Nessa. A hundred active men +were with him, learning magic from him. That is the number that +Cathbad used to teach. A certain one of his pupils asked of him for +what this day would be good. Cathbad said a warrior should take +arms therein whose name should be over Ireland for ever, for deed +of valour, and his fame should continue for ever. Cuchulainn heard +this. He comes to Conchobar to ask for arms. Conchobar said, "Who +has instructed you?" + +'"My friend Cathbad," said Cuchulainn. + +'"We know indeed," said Conchobar. + +'He gave him spear and shield. He brandished them in the middle of +the house, so that nothing remained of the fifteen sets of armour +that were in store in Conchobar's household against the breaking of +weapons or taking of arms by any one. Conchobar's own armour was +given to him. That withstood him, and he brandished it, and blessed +the king whose armour it was, and said, "Blessing to the people and +race to whom is king the man whose armour that is." + +'Then Cathbad came to them, and said: "Has the boy taken arms?" +said Cathbad. + +'"Yes," said Conchobar. + +'"This is not lucky for the son of his mother," said he. + +'"What, is it not you advised it?" said Conchobar. + +'"Not I, surely," said Cathbad. + +'"What advantage to you to deceive me, wild boy?" said Conchobar to +Cuchulainn. + +'"O king of heroes, it is no trick," said Cuchulainn; "it is he who +taught it to his pupils this morning; and I heard him, south of +Emain, and I came to you then." + +'"The day is good thus," said Cathbad; "it is certain he will be +famous and renowned, who shall take arms therein; but he will be +short-lived only." + +'"A wonder of might," said Cuchulainn; "provided I be famous, I am +content though I were but one day in the world." + +'Another day a certain man asked the druids what it is for which +that day was good. + +'"Whoever shall go into a chariot therein," said Cathbad, "his name +shall be over Ireland for ever." + +'Then Cuchulainn heard this; he comes to Conchobar and said to him: +"O friend Conchobar," said he, "give me a chariot." He gave him a +chariot. He put his hand between the two poles [Note: The _fertais_ +were poles sticking out behind the chariot, as the account of the +wild deer, later, shows.] of the chariot, so that the chariot +broke. He broke twelve chariots in this way. Then Conchobar's +chariot was given to him. This withstood him. He goes then in the +chariot, and Conchobar's charioteer with him. The charioteer (Ibor +was his name) turned the chariot under him. "Come out of the +chariot now," said the charioteer. + +'"The horses are fine, and I am fine, their little lad," said +Cuchulainn. "Go forward round Emain only, and you shall have a +reward for it." + +'So the charioteer goes, and Cuchulainn forced him then that he +should go on the road to greet the boys "and that the boys might +bless me." + +'He begged him to go on the way again. When they come, Cuchulainn +said to the charioteer: "Ply the goad on the horses," said he. + +'"In what direction?" said the charioteer. + +'"As long as the road shall lead us," said Cuchulainn. + +'They come thence to Sliab Fuait, and find Conall Cernach there. It +fell to Conall that day to guard the province; for every hero of +Ulster was in Sliab Fuait in turn, to protect any one who should +come with poetry, or to fight against a man; so that it should be +there that there should be some one to encounter him, that no one +should go to Emain unperceived. + +'"May that be for prosperity," said Conall; "may it be for victory +and triumph." + +'"Go to the fort, O Conall, and leave me to watch here now," said +Cuchulainn. + +'"It will be enough," said Conall, "if it is to protect any one +with poetry; if it is to fight against a man, it is early for you +yet." + +'"Perhaps it may not be necessary at all," said Cuchulainn. "Let us +go meanwhile," said Cuchulainn, "to look upon the edge of Loch +Echtra. Heroes are wont to abide there." + +'"I am content," said Conall. + +'Then they go thence. He throws a stone from his sling, so that a +pole of Conall Cernach's chariot breaks. + +'"Why have you thrown the stone, O boy?" said Conall. + +"To try my hand and the straightness of my throw," said Cuchulainn; +"and it is the custom with you Ulstermen, that you do not travel +beyond your peril. Go back to Emain, O friend Conall, and leave me +here to watch." + +'"Content, then," said Conall. + +'Conall Cernach did not go past the place after that. Then +Cuchulainn goes forth to Loch Echtra, and they found no one there +before them. The charioteer said to Cuchulainn that they should go +to Emain, that they might be in time for the drinking there. + +'"No," said Cuchulainn. "What mountain is it yonder?" said +Cuchulainn. + +'"Sliab Monduirn," said the charioteer. + +'"Let us go and get there," said Cuchulainn. They go then till +they reach it. When they had reached the mountain, Cuchulainn +asked: "What is the white cairn yonder on the top of the +mountain?" + +'"Find Carn," said the charioteer. + +'"What plain is that over there?" said Cuchulainn. + +'"Mag Breg," said the charioteer. He tells him then the name of +every chief fort between Temair and Cenandas. He tells him first +their meadows and their fords, their famous places and their +dwellings, their fortresses and their high hills. He shows [Note: +Reading with YBL.] him then the fort of the three sons of Nechta +Scene; Foill, Fandall, and Tuachell were their names. + +'"Is it they who say," said Cuchulainn, "that there are not more +of the Ulstermen alive than they have slain of them?" + +'"It is they indeed," said the charioteer. + +'"Let us go till we reach them," said Cuchulainn. + +'"Indeed it is peril to us," said the charioteer. + +'"Truly it is not to avoid it that we go," said Cuchulainn. + +'Then they go forth and unharness their horses at the meeting of +the bog and the river, to the south above the fort of the others; +and he threw the withe that was on the pillar as far as he could +throw into the river and let it go with the stream, for this was a +breach of _geis_ to the sons of Nechta Scene. They perceive it +then, and come to them. Cuchulainn goes to sleep by the pillar +after throwing the withe at the stream; and he said to the +charioteer: "Do not waken me for few; but waken me for many." + +'Now the charioteer was very frightened, and he made ready their +chariot and pulled its coverings and skins which were over +Cuchulainn; for he dared not waken him, because Cuchulainn told him +at first that he should not waken him for a few. + +'Then come the sons of Nechta Scene. + +'"Who is it who is there?" said one of them. + +'"A little boy who has come to-day into the chariot for an +expedition," said the charioteer. + +'"May it not be for his happiness," said the champion; "and may it +not be for his prosperity, his first taking of arms. Let him not be +in our land, and let the horses not graze there any more," said the +champion. + +'"Their reins are in my hands," said the charioteer. + + +'"It should not be yours to earn hatred," said Ibar to the +champion; "and the boy is asleep." + +'"I am not a boy at all," said Cuchulainn; "but it is to seek +battle with a man that the boy who is here has come." + +'"That pleases me well," said the champion. + +'"It will please you now in the ford yonder," said Cuchulainn. + +'"It befits you," said the charioteer, "take heed of the man who +comes against you. Foill is his name," said he; "for unless you +reach him in the first thrust, you will not reach him till +evening." + +'"I swear by the god by whom my people swear, he will not ply his +skill on the Ulstermen again, if the broad spear of my friend +Conchobar should reach him from my hand. It will be an outlaw's +hand to him." + +'Then he cast the spear at him, so that his back broke. He took +with him his accoutrements and his head. + +'"Take heed of another man," said the charioteer, "Fandall [Note: +i.e. 'Swallow.'] is his name. Not more heavily does he traverse(?) +the water than swan or swallow." + +'"I swear that he will not ply that feat again on the Ulstermen," +said Cuchulainn. "You have seen," said he, "the way I travel the +pool at Emain." + +'They meet then in the ford. Cuchulainn kills that man, and took +his head and his arms. + +'"Take heed of another man who comes towards you," said the +charioteer. "Tuachell [Note: i.e. 'Cunning.'] is his name. It is no +misname for him, for he does not fall by arms at all." + +'"Here is the javelin for him to confuse him, so that it may make +a red-sieve of him," said Cuchulainn. + +'He cast the spear at him, so that it reached him in his ----. Then +He went to him and cut off his head. Cuchulainn gave his head and +his accoutrements to his own charioteer. He heard then the cry of +their mother, Nechta Scene, behind them. + +'He puts their spoils and the three heads in his chariot with him, +and said: "I will not leave my triumph," said he, "till I reach +Emain Macha." 'then they set out with his triumph. + +'Then Cuchulainn said to the charioteer: "You promised us a good +run," said he, "and we need it now because of the strife and the +pursuit that is behind us." They go on to Sliab Fuait; and such was +the speed of the run that they made over Breg after the spurring of +the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot overtook the wind +and the birds in flight, and that Cuchulainn caught the throw that +he sent from his sling before it reached the ground. + +'When they reached Sliab Fuait, they found a herd of wild deer +there before them. + +'"What are those cattle yonder so active?" said Cuchulainn. + +'"Wild deer," said the charioteer. + +'"Which would the Ulstermen think best," said Cuchulainn, "to bring +them dead or alive?" + +'"It is more wonderful alive," said the charioteer; "it is not +every one who can do it so. Dead, there is not one of them who +cannot do it. You cannot do this, to carry off any of them alive," +said the charioteer. + +'"I can indeed," said Cuchulainn. "Ply the goad on the horses into +the bog." + +'The charioteer does this. The horses stick in the bog. Cuchulainn +sprang down and seized the deer that was nearest, and that was the +finest of them. He lashed the horses through the bog, and overcame +the deer at once, and bound it between the two poles of the chariot. + +'They saw something again before them, a flock of swans. + +'"Which would the Ulstermen think best," said Cuchulainn, "to have +them dead or alive?" + +'"All the most vigorous and finest(?) bring them alive," said the +charioteer. + +'Then Cuchulainn aims a small stone at the birds, so that he struck +eight of the birds. He threw again a large stone, so that he struck +twelve of them. All that was done by his return stroke. + +"Collect the birds for us," said Cuchulainn to his charioteer. "If +it is I who go to take them," said he, "the wild deer will spring +upon you." + +'"It is not easy for me to go to them," said the charioteer. "The +horses have become wild so that I cannot go past them. I cannot go +past the two iron tyres [Interlinear gloss, _fonnod_. The _fonnod_ +was some part of the rim of the wheel apparently.] of the chariot, +because of their sharpness; and I cannot go past the deer, for his +horn has filled all the space between the two poles of the chariot." + +'"Step from its horn," said Cuchulainn. "I swear by the god by whom +the Ulstermen swear, the bending with which I will bend my head on +him, and the eye that I will make at him, he will not turn his head +on you, and he will not dare to move." + + +'That was done then. Cuchulainn made fast the reins, and the +charioteer collects the birds. Then Cuchulainn bound the birds from +the strings and thongs of the chariot; so that it was thus he went +to Emain Macha: the wild deer behind his chariot, and the flock of +swans flying over it, and the three heads in his chariot. Then they +come to Emain. + +"A man in a chariot is coming to you," said the watchman in Emain +Macha; "he will shed the blood of every man who is in the court, +unless heed is taken, and unless naked women go to him." + +'Then he turned the left side of his chariot towards Emain, and +that was a _geis_ [Note: i.e. it was an insult.] to it; and +Cuchulainn said: "I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, +unless a man is found to fight with me, I will shed the blood of +every one who is in the fort." + +'"Naked women to meet him!" said Conchobar. + +'Then the women of Emain go to meet him with Mugain, the wife of +Conchobar Mac Nessa, and bare their breasts before him. "These are +the warriors who will meet you to-day," said Mugain. + +'He covers his face; then the heroes of Emain seize him and throw +him into a vessel of cold water. That vessel bursts round him. The +second vessel into which he was thrown boiled with bubbles as big +as the fist therefrom. The third vessel into which he went, he +warmed it so that its heat and its cold were rightly tempered. Then +he comes out; and the queen, Mugain, puts a blue mantle on him, and +a silver brooch therein, and a hooded tunic; and he sits at +Conchobar's knee, and that was his couch always after that. The man +who did this in his seventh year,' said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe, 'it +were not wonderful though he should rout an overwhelming force, and +though he should exhaust (?) an equal force, when his seventeen +years are complete to-day.' + + +(What follows is a separate version [Note: The next episode, the +Death of Fraech, is not given in LL.] to the death of Orlam.) + +'Let us go forth now,' said Ailill. + +Then they reached Mag Mucceda. Cuchulainn cut an oak before them +there, and wrote an ogam in its side. It is this that was therein: +that no one should go past it till a warrior should leap it with +one chariot. They pitch their tents there, and come to leap over it +in their chariots. There fall thereat thirty horses, and thirty +chariots are broken. Belach n-Ane, that is the name of that place +for ever. + + +_The Death of Fraech_ + +They are there till next morning; then Fraech is summoned to them. +'Help us, O Fraech,' said Medb. 'Remove from us the strait that is +on us. Go before Cuchulainn for us, if perchance you shall fight +with him.' + +He set out early in the morning with nine men, till he reached Ath +Fuait. He saw the warrior bathing in the river. + +'Wait here,' said Fraech to his retinue, 'till I come to the man +yonder; not good is the water,' said he. + +He took off his clothes, and goes into the water to him. + +'Do not come to me,' said Cuchulainn. 'You will die from it, and I +should be sorry to kill you.' + +'I shall come indeed,' said Fraech, 'that we may meet in the water; +and let your play with me be fair.' + +'Settle it as you like,' said Cuchulainn. + +'The hand of each of us round the other,' said Fraech. + +They set to wrestling for a long time on the water, and Fraech was +submerged. Cuchulainn lifted him up again. + +'This time,' said Cuchulainn, 'will you yield and accept your +life?' [Note: Lit. 'will you acknowledge your saving?'] + +'I will not suffer it,' said Fraech. + +Cuchulainn put him under it again, until Fraech was killed. He +comes to land; his retinue carry his body to the camp. Ath Fraich, +that was the name of that ford for ever. All the host lamented +Fraech. They saw a troop of women in green tunics [Note: Fraech was +descended from the people of the Sid, his mother Bebind being a +fairy woman. Her sister was Boinn (the river Boyne).] on the body +of Fraech Mac Idaid; they drew him from them into the mound. Sid +Fraich was the name of that mound afterwards. + +Fergus springs over the oak in his chariot. They go till they reach +Ath Taiten; Cuchulainn destroys six of them there: that is, the six +Dungals of Irress. + +Then they go on to Fornocht. Medb had a whelp named Baiscne. +Cuchulainn throws a cast at him, and took his head off. Druim was +the name of that place henceforth. + +'Great is the mockery to you,' said Medb, 'not to hunt the deer +of misfortune yonder that is killing you.' + +Then they start hunting him, till they broke the shafts of their +chariots thereat. + + +_The Death of Orlam_ + +They go forth then over Iraird Culend in the morning. Cuchulainn +went forward; he overtook the charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill +and Medb, in Tamlacht Orlaim, a little to the north of Disert +Lochait, cutting wood there. (According to another version, it is +The shaft of Cuchulainn's chariot that had broken, and it is to cut +a shaft that he had gone when he met Orlam's charioteer. It is the +charioteer who cut the shafts according to this version.) + +'It is over-bold what the Ulstermen are doing, if it is they who +are yonder,' said Cuchulainn, 'while the host is behind them.' He +goes to the charioteer to reprove him; he thought that he was of +Ulster, and he saw the man cutting wood, that is the chariot shaft. + +'What are you doing here?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Cutting chariot-shafts,' said the charioteer. 'We have broken our +chariots hunting the wild deer Cuchulainn yonder. Help me,' said +the charioteer. 'Look only whether you are to select the shafts, or +to strip them.' + +'It will be to strip them indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +Then Cuchulainn stripped the shafts through his fingers in the +presence of the other, so that he cleared them both of bark and +knots. + +'This cannot be your proper work that I put on you,' said the +charioteer; he was greatly afraid. + +'Whence are you?' said Cuchulainn. + +'The charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill and Medb,' said he. 'And +you?' said the charioteer. + +'My name is Cuchulainn,' said he. + +'Alas!' said the charioteer. + +'Fear nothing,' said Cuchulainn. 'Where is your master?' said he. + +'He is in the trench yonder,' said the charioteer. + +'Go forth then with me,' said Cuchulainn, 'for I do not kill +charioteers at all.' + +Cuchulainn goes to Orlam, kills him, cuts his head off, and shakes +his head before the host. Then he puts the head on the charioteer's +back, and said to him: + +'Take that with you,' said Cuchulainn, 'and go to the camp thus. If +you do not go thus, a stone will come to you from my sling.' + +When he got near the camp, he took the head from his back, and told +his adventures to Ailill and Medb. + +'This is not like taking birds,' said she. + +And he said, 'Unless I brought it on my back to the camp, he would +break my head with a stone.' + + +_The Death of the Meic Garach_ + +Then the Meic Garach waited on their ford. These are their names: +Lon and Ualu and Diliu; and Mes-Ler, and Mes-Laech, and Mes-Lethan +were their three charioteers. They thought it too much what +Cuchulainn had done: to slay two foster-sons of the king, and his +son, and to shake the head before the host. They would slay +Cuchulainn in return for him, and would themselves remove this +annoyance from the host. They cut three aspen wands for their +charioteers, that the six of them should pursue combat against him. +He killed them all then, because they had broken fair-play towards +him. + +Orlam's charioteer was then between Ailill and Medb. Cuchulainn +hurled a stone at him, [Note: Apparently because the charioteer had +not carried Orlam's head into the camp on his back. Or an +alternative version.] so that his head broke, and his brains came +over his ears; Fertedil was his name. (Thus it is not true that +Cuchulainn did not kill charioteers; howbeit, he did not kill them +without fault.) + + +_The Death of the Squirrel_ + +Cuchulainn threatened in Methe, that wherever he should see Ailill +or Medb afterwards he would throw a stone from his sling at them. +He did this then: he threw a stone from his sling, so that he +killed the squirrel that was on Medb's shoulder south of the ford: +hence is Methe Togmaill. And he killed the bird that was on +Ailill's shoulder north of the ford: hence is Methe n-Eoin. (Or it +is on Medb's shoulder that both squirrel and bird were together, +and it is their heads that were struck from them by the casts.) + + +Reoin was drowned in his lake. Hence is Loch Reoin. + + +'That other is not far from you,' said Ailill to the Manes. + +They arose and looked round. When they sat down again, Cuchulainn +struck one of them, so that his head broke. + +'It was well that you went for that: your boasting was not +fitting,' said Maenen the fool. 'I would have taken his head off.' + +Cuchulainn threw a stone at him, so that his head broke. It is thus +then that these were killed: Orlam in the first place on his hill; +the Meic Garach on their ford; Fertedil in his ---; Maenan in his +hill. + +'I swear by the god by whom my people swear,' said Ailill, 'that +man who shall make a mock of Cuchulainn here, I will make two +halves of him.' + +'Go forth for us both day and night,' said Ailill, 'till we reach +Cualnge. That man will kill two-thirds of the host in this way.' It +is there that the harpers of the _Cainbili_ [Note: Reference +obscure. They were wizards of some sort.] from Ossory came to them +to amuse them. They thought it was from the Ulstermen to spy on +them. They set to hunting them, till they went before them in the +forms of deer into the stones at Liac Mor on the north. For they +were wizards with great cunning. + + +_The Death of Lethan_ + + +Lethan came on to his ford on the Nith (?) in Conaille. He waited +himself to meet Cuchulainn. It vexed him what Cuchulainn had done. +Cuchulainn cuts off his head and left it, hence it is Ath Lethan on +the Nith. And their chariots broke in the battle on the ford by +him; hence it is Ath Carpat. Mulcha, Lethan's charioteer, fell on +the shoulder of the hill that is between them; hence is Gulo +Mulchai. While the hosts were going over Mag Breg, he struck(?) +their ---- still. [Note: 2 Something apparently missing here. The +passage in LL is as follows: 'It is the same day that the Morrigan, +daughter of Ernmas, came from the Sid, so that she was on the +pillar in Temair Cuailnge, taking a warning to the Dun of Cualnge +before the men of Ireland, and she began to speak to him, and +"Good, O wretched one, O Dun of Cualnge," said the Morrigan, "keep +watch, for the men of Ireland have reached thee, and they will take +thee to their camp unless thou keepest watch"; and she began to +take a warning to him thus, and uttered her words on high.' (The +Rhetoric follows as in LU.)] + +Yet that was the Morrigan in the form of a bird on the pillar in +Temair Cuailnge; and she spoke to the Bull: + + 'Does the Black know,' etc. [Note: A Rhetoric.] + +Then the Bull went, and fifty heifers with him, to Sliab Culind; +and his keeper, Forgemen by name, went after him. He threw off the +three fifties of boys who used always to play on him, and he killed +two-thirds of his boys, and dug a trench in Tir Marcceni in Cualnge +before he went. + + +_The Death of Lochu_ + +Cuchulainn killed no one from the Saile ind Orthi (?) in the +Conaille territory, until they reached Cualnge. Cuchulainn was then +in Cuince; he threatened then that when he saw Medb he would throw +a stone at her head. This was not easy to him, for it is thus that +Medb went and half the host about her, with their shelter of +shields over her head. + +Then a waiting-woman of Medb's, Lochu by name, went to get water, +and a great troop of women with her. Cuchulainn thought it was +Medb. He threw two stones from Cuince, so that he slew her in her +plain(?). Hence is Ath Rede Locha in Cualnge. + +From Findabair Cuailnge the hosts divided, and they set the country +on fire. They collect all there were of women, and boys, and +maidens; and cattle, in Cualnge together, so that they were all in +Findabair. + +'You have not gone well,' said Medb; 'I do not see the Bull with +you.' + +'He is not in the province at all,' said every one. + +Lothar the cowherd is summoned to Medb. + +'Where is the Bull?' said she. 'Have you an idea?' + +'I have great fear to tell it,' said the herd. 'The night,' said +he, 'when the Ulstermen went into their weakness, he went with +three twenties of heifers with him, so that he is at the Black +Corrie of Glenn Gatt.' + +'Go,' said Medb, 'and carry a withe [Note: Ir. _gatt_, a withe.] +between each two of you.' + +They do this: hence this glen is called Glenn Gatt. Then they bring +the Bull to Findabair. The place where he saw the herd, Lothar, he +attacked him, so that he brought his entrails out on his horns; and +he attacked the camp with his three fifties of heifers, so that +fifty warriors were killed. And that is the death of Lothar on the +Foray. + +Then the Bull went from them out of the camp, and they knew not +where he had gone from them; and they were ashamed. Medb asked the +herd if he had an idea where the Bull was. + +'I think he would be in the secret places of Sliab Culind.' + +When they returned thus after ravaging Cualnge, and did not find +the Bull there. The river Cronn rose against them to the tops of +the trees; and they spent the night by it. And Medb told part of +her following to go across. + +A wonderful warrior went next day, Ualu his name. He took a great +stone on his back to go across the water; the stream drove him +backwards with the stone on his back. His grave and his stone are +on the road at the stream: Lia Ualand is its name. + +They went round the river Cronn to the source, and they would have +gone between the source and the mountain, only that they could not +get leave from Medb; she preferred to go across the mountain, that +their track might remain there for ever, for an insult to the +Ulstermen. They waited there three days and three nights, till they +dug the earth in front of them, the Bernas Bo Cuailnge. + +It is there that Cuchulainn killed Crond and Coemdele and ---- +[Note: Obscure.]. A hundred warriors ---- [Note: Obscure.] died with +Roan and Roae, the two historians of the Foray. A hundred and +forty-four, kings died by him at the same stream. They came then +over the Bernas Bo Cuailnge with the cattle and stock of Cualnge, +and spent the night in Glenn Dail Imda in Cualnge. Botha is the +name of this place, because they made huts over them there. They +come next day to Colptha. They try to cross it through heedlessness. +It rose against them then, and it carries a hundred charioteers +of them to the sea; this is the name of the land in which they +were drowned, Cluain Carptech. + +They go round Colptha then to its source, to Belat Alioin, and +spent the night at Liasa Liac; that is the name of this place, +because they made sheds over their calves there between Cualnge and +Conaille. They came over Glenn Gatlaig, and Glass Gatlaig rose +against them. Sechaire was its name before; Glass Gatlaig +thenceforth, because it was in withes they brought their calves; +and they slept at Druim Fene in Conaille. (Those then are the +wanderings from Cualnge to Machaire according to this version.) + + +_This is the Harrying of Cualnge_ + +(Other authors and books make it that another way was taken on +their journeyings from Findabair to Conaille, as follows: + +Medb said after every one had come with their booty, so that they +were all in Findabair Cuailnge: 'Let the host be divided,' said +Medb; 'it will be impossible to bring this expedition by one way. +Let Ailill go with half the expedition by Midluachair; Fergus and I +will go by Bernas Ulad.' [Note: YBL. Bernas Bo n-Ulad.] + +'It is not fine,' said Fergus, 'the half of the expedition that has +fallen to us. It will be impossible to bring the cattle over the +mountain without dividing it.' + +That was done then, so that it is from that there is Bernas Bo n-Ulad.) + +It is there then that Ailill said to his charioteer Cuillius: 'Find +out for me to-day Medb and Fergus. I know not what has brought them +to this union. I shall be pleased that a token should come to me by +you.' + +Cuillius came when they were in Cluichre. The pair remained behind, +and the warriors went on. Cuillius came to them, and they heard not +the spy. Fergus' sword happened to be beside him. Cuillius drew it +out of its sheath, and left the sheath empty. Cuillius came to +Ailill. + +'So?' said Ailill. + +'So indeed,' said Cuillius; 'there is a token for you.' + +'It is well,' said Ailill. + +Each of them smiles at the other. + +'As you thought,' said Cuillius, 'it is thus that I found them, in +one another's arms.' + +'It is right for her,' said Ailill; 'it is for help on the Foray +that she has done it. See that the sword is kept in good condition,' +said Ailill. 'Put it under your seat in the chariot, and a cloth of +linen around it.' + +Fergus got up for his sword after that. + +'Alas!' said he. + +'What is the matter with you?' said Medb. + + +'An ill deed have I done to Ailill,' said he. 'Wait here, while I +go into the wood,' said Fergus; 'and do not wonder though it be +long till I come.' + +It happened that Medb knew not the loss of the sword. He goes +thence, and takes the sword of his charioteer with him in his hand. +He makes a wooden sword in the wood. Hence there is Fid Mor Drualle +in Ulster. + +'Let us go on after our comrades,' said Fergus. All their hosts +meet in the plain. They pitch their tents. Fergus is summoned to +Ailill to play chess. When Fergus went to the tent, Ailill began to +laugh at him. [Note: Here follows about two columns of rhetoric, +consisting of a taunting dialogue between Ailill, Fergus and Medb.] + +*** + +Cuchulainn came so that he was at Ath Cruinn before them. + +'O friend Loeg,' said he to his charioteer, 'the hosts are at hand +to us.' + +'I swear by the gods,' said the charioteer, 'I will do a mighty +feat before warriors ... on slender steeds with yokes of silver, +with golden wheels ...' + +'Take heed, O Loeg,' said Cuchulainn; 'hold the reins for great +victory of Macha ... I beseech,' said Cuchulainn, 'the waters to +help me. I beseech heaven and earth, and the Cronn in particular.' + +The (river) Cronn takes to fighting against them; it will not let +them into Murthemne until the work of heroes be finished in Sliab +Tuath Ochaine. + +Therewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the trees. + +Mane, son of Ailill and Medb, went before the rest. Cuchulainn +smites them on the ford, and thirty horsemen of Mane's retinue were +drowned in the water. Cuchulainn overthrew two sixteens of warriors +of them again by the water. + +They pitch their tents at that ford. Lugaid Mac Nois, descendant of +Lomarc Allchomach, came to speak to Cuchulainn, with thirty +horsemen. + +'Welcome, O Lugaid,' said Cuchulainn. 'If a flock of birds graze +upon Mag Murthemne, you shall have a duck with half of another; if +fish come to the estuaries, you shall have a salmon with half of +another. You shall have the three sprigs, the sprig of watercress, +and the sprig of marshwort, and the sprig of seaweed. You shall +have a man in the ford in your place.' [Note: This and the +following speech are apparently forms of greeting. Cuchulainn +offers Lugaid such hospitality as lies in his power. See a similar +speech later to Fergus.] + +'I believe it,' said Lugaid. 'Excellence of people to the boy whom +I desire.' + +'Your hosts are fine,' said Cuchulainn. + +It would not be sad for you alone before them,' said Lugaid. + +'Fair-play and valour will support me,' said Cuchulainn. 'O friend +Lugaid, do the hosts fear me?' + +'I swear by God,' said Lugaid, 'one man nor two dare not go out of +the camp, unless it be in twenties or thirties.' + +'It will be something extra for them,' said Cuchulainn, 'if I take +to throwing from the sling. Fitting for you will be this fellow-vassal, +O Lugaid, that you have among the Ulstermen, if there come to me +the force of every man. Say what you would have,' said Cuchulainn. + +'That I may have a truce with you towards my host.' + +'You shall have it, provided there be a token on it. And tell my +friend Fergus that there be a token on his host. Tell the +physicians, let there be a token on their host. And let them swear +preservation of life to me, and let there come to me provision +every night from them.' + +Then Lugaid goes from him. Fergus happened to be in the tent with +Ailill. Lugaid called him out, and told him this. Something was +heard, namely Ailill. ... [Note: Rhetoric, six lines, the substance +of which is, apparently, that Ailill asks protection also.] + +'I swear by God I cannot do it,' said Lugaid, 'unless I ask the boy +Again.' + +'Help me, [Note: Spoken by Fergus?] O Lugaid, go to him to see +whether Ailill may come with a cantred into my troop. Take an ox +with bacon to him and a jar of wine.' + +He goes to Cuchulainn then and tells him this. + +'I do not mind though he go,' said Cuchulainn. + +Then their two troops join. They are there till night. Cuchulainn +kills thirty men of them with the sling. (Or they would be twenty +nights there, as some books say.) + +'Your journeyings are bad,' said Fergus. 'The Ulstermen will come +to you out of their weakness, and they will grind you to earth and +gravel. "The corner of battle" in which we are is bad.' + +He goes thence to Cul Airthir. It happened that Cuchulainn had gone +that night to speak to the Ulstermen [Note: In LL and Y BL this +incident occurs later, and the messenger is Sualtaim, not +Cuchulainn. LU is clearly wrong here.] + +'Have you news?' said Conchobar. + +'Women are captured,' said Cuchulainn, 'cattle are driven away, men +are slain.' + +'Who carries them off? who drives them away? who kills them?' + +'... Ailill Mac Matae carries them off, and Fergus Mac Roich +very bold ...' [Note: Rhetoric.] + +'It is not great profit to you,' said Conchobar, 'to-day, our +smiting has come to us all the same.' + +Cuchulainn goes thence from them; he saw the hosts going forth. + +'Alas,' said Ailill, 'I see chariots' ..., etc [Note: Rhetoric, +five lines.] + +Cuchulainn kills thirty men of them on Ath Duirn. They could not +reach Cul Airthir then till night. He slays thirty of them there, +and they pitch their tents there. Ailill's charioteer, Cuillius, +was washing the chariot tyres [Note: See previous note on the word +_fonnod_; the word used here is _fonnod_.] in the ford in the +morning; Cuchulainn struck him with a stone and killed him. Hence +is Ath Cuillne in Cul Airthir. They reach Druim Feine in Conaille +and spent the night there, as we have said before. + +Cuchulainn attacked them there; he slays a hundred men of them +every night of the three nights that they were there; he took a +sling to them from Ochaine near them. + +'Our host will be short-lived through Cuchulainn in this way,' said +Ailill. 'Let an agreement be carried from us to him: that he shall +have the equal of Mag Murthemne from Mag Ai, and the best chariot +that is in Ai, and the equipment of twelve men. Offer, if it +pleases him better, the plain in which he was brought up, and three +sevens of cumals [Note: The _cumal_ (bondmaid) was a standard of +value.]; and everything that has been destroyed of his household (?) +and cattle shall be made good, and he shall have full compensation (?), +and let him go into my service; it is better for him than the +service of a sub king.' + + +'Who shall go for that?' + +'Mac Roth yonder.' + +Mac Roth, the messenger of Ailill and Medb, went on that errand to +Delga: it is he who encircles Ireland in one day. It is there that +Fergus thought that Cuchulainn was, in Delga. + +'I see a man coming towards us,' said Loeg to Cuchulainn. 'He has +a yellow head of hair, and a linen emblem round it; a club of +fury(?) in his hand, an ivory-hilted sword at his waist; a hooded +tunic with red ornamentation on him.' + +'Which of the warriors of the king is that?' said Cuchulainn. + +Mac Roth asked Loeg whose man he was. + +'Vassal to the man down yonder,' said Loeg. + +Cuchulainn was there in the snow up to his two thighs, without +anything at all on him, examining his shirt. + +Then Mac Roth asked Cuchulainn whose man he was. + +'Vassal of Conchobar Mac Nessa,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Is there no clearer description?' + +'That is enough,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Where then is Cuchulainn?' said Mac Roth. + +'What would you say to him?' said Cuchulainn. + +Mac Roth tells him then all the message, as we have told it. + +'Though Cuchulainn were near, he would not do this; he will not +barter the brother of his mother for another king.' + +He came to him again, and it was said to Cuchulainn that there +should be given over to him the noblest of the women and the cows +that were without milk, on condition that he should not ply his +sling on them at night, even if he should kill them by day. + +'I will not do it,' said Cuchulainn; 'if our slavewomen are taken +from us, our noble women will be at the querns; and we shall be +without milk if our milch-cows are taken from us.' + +He came to him again, and he was told that he should have the +slave-women and the milch-cows. + +'I will not do it,' said Cuchulainn; 'the Ulstermen will take their +slave-women to their beds, and there will be born to them a servile +offspring, and they will use their milch-cows for meat in the +winter.' + +'Is there anything else then?' said the messenger. + +'There is,' said Cuchulainn; 'and I will not tell it you. It shall +be agreed to, if any one tell it you.' + +'I know it,' said Fergus; 'I know what the man tried to suggest; +and it is no advantage to you. And this is the agreement,' said +Fergus: 'that the ford on which takes place (?) his battle and +combat with one man, the cattle shall not be taken thence a day and +a night; if perchance there come to him the help of the Ulstermen. +And it is a marvel to me,' said Fergus, 'that it is so long till +they come out of their sufferings.' + +'It is indeed easier for us,' said Ailill, 'a man every day than a +hundred every night.' + + +_The Death of Etarcomol_ + +Then Fergus went on this errand; Etarcomol, son of Edan [Note: Name +uncertain. YBL has Eda, LL Feda.] and Lethrinne, foster-son of +Ailill and Medb, followed. + +'I do not want you to go,' said Fergus, 'and it is not for hatred +of you; but I do not like combat between you and Cuchulainn. Your +pride and insolence, and the fierceness and hatred, pride and +madness of the other, Cuchulainn: there will be no good from your +meeting.' + +'Are you not able to protect me from him?' said Etarcomol. + +'I can,' said Fergus, 'provided only that you do not treat his, +sayings with disrespect.' + +They go thence in two chariots to Delga. Cuchulainn was then +playing chess [Note: _Buanfach_, like _fidchell_, is apparently a +game something like chess or draughts.] with Loeg; the back of his +head was towards them, and Loeg's face. + +'I see two chariots coming towards us,' said Loeg; 'a great dark +man in the first chariot, with dark and bushy hair; a purple cloak +round him, and a golden pin therein; a hooded tunic with gold +embroidery on him; and a round shield with an engraved edge of +white metal, and a broad spear-head, with rings from point to +haft(?), in his hand. A sword as long as the rudder of a boat on +his two thighs.' + +'It is empty, this great rudder that is brought by my friend +Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; 'for there is no sword in its sheath +except a sword of wood. It has been told to me,' said Cuchulainn; +'Ailill got a chance of them as they slept, he and Medb; and he +took away his sword from Fergus, and gave it to his charioteer to +take care of, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath.' + +Then Fergus comes up. + +'Welcome, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; 'if a fish comes +into the estuary, you shall have it with half of another; if a +flock comes into the plain, you shall have a duck with half of +another; a spray of cress or seaweed, a spray of marshwort; a drink +from the sand; you shall have a going to the ford to meet a man, if +it should happen to be your watch, till you have slept.' + +'I believe it,' said Fergus; 'it is not your provision that we have +come for; we know your housekeeping here.' + +Then Cuchulainn receives the message from Fergus; anti Fergus goes +away. Etarcomol remains looking at Cuchulainn. + +'What are you looking at?' said Cuchulainn. + +'You,' said Etarcomol. + +'The eye soon compasses it indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +'That is what I see,' said Etarcomol. 'I do not know at all why you +should be feared by any one. I do not see terror or fearfulness, or +overwhelming of a host, in you; you are merely a fair youth with +arms of wood, and with fine feats.' + +'Though you speak ill of me,' said Cuchulainn, 'I will not kill you +for the sake of Fergus. But for your protection, it would have been +your entrails drawn (?) and your quarters scattered, that would +have gone from me to the camp behind your chariot.' + +'Threaten me not thus,' said Etarcomol. 'The wonderful agreement +that he has bound, that is, the single combat, it is I who will +first meet you of the men of Ireland to-morrow.' + +Then he goes away. He turned back from Methe and Cethe and said to +his charioteer: + +'I have boasted,' said he, 'before Fergus combat with Cuchulainn +to-morrow. It is not possible for us [Note: YBL reading.] to wait +for it; turn the horses back again from the hill.' + +Loeg sees this and says to Cuchulainn: 'There is the chariot back +again, and it has put its left board [Note: An insult.] towards us.' + +'It is not a "debt of refusal,"' said Cuchulainn. 'I do not wish,' +said Cuchulainn, 'what you demand of me.' + +'This is obligatory to you,' said Etarcomol. + +Cuchulainn strikes the sod under his feet, so that he fell +prostrate, and the sod behind him. + +'Go from me,' said Cuchulainn. 'I am loath to cleanse my hands in +you. I would have divided you into many parts long since but for +Fergus.' + + +'We will not part thus,' said Etarcomol, 'till I have taken your +head, or left my head with you.' + +'It is that indeed that will be there,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn strikes him with his sword in his two armpits, so that +his clothes fell from him, and it did not wound his skin. + +'Go then,' said Cuchulainn. + + +'No,' said Etarcomol. + +Then Cuchulainn attacked him with the edge of his sword, and took +his hair off as if it was shaved with a razor; he did not put even +a scratch (?) on the surface. When the churl was troublesome then +and stuck to him, he struck him on the hard part of his crown, so +that he divided him down to the navel. + +Fergus saw the chariot go past him, and the one man therein. He +turned to quarrel with Cuchulainn. + +'Ill done of you, O wild boy!' said he, 'to insult me. You would +think my club [Note: Or 'track'?] short,' said he. + +'Be not angry with me, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn ... [Note: +Rhetoric, five lines.] 'Reproach me not, O friend Fergus.' + +He stoops down, so that Fergus's chariot went past him thrice. + +He asked his charioteer: 'Is it I who have caused it?' + +'It is not you at all,' said his charioteer. + +'He said,' said Cuchulainn, 'he would not go till he took my head, +or till he left his head with me. Which would you think easier to +bear, O friend Fergus?' said Cuchulainn. + +'I think what has been done the easier truly,' said Fergus, 'for it +is he who was insolent.' + +Then Fergus put a spancel-withe through Etarcomol's two heels and +took him behind his own chariot to the camp. When they went over +rocks, one-half would separate from the other; when it was smooth, +they came together again. + +Medb saw him. 'Not pleasing is that treatment of a tender whelp, O +Fergus,' said Medb. + +'The dark churl should not have made fight,' said Fergus, 'against +the great Hound whom he could not contend with (?).' + +His grave is dug then and his stone planted; his name is written in +ogam; his lament is celebrated. Cuchulainn did not molest them that +night with his sling; and the women and maidens and half the cattle +are taken to him; and provision continued to be brought to him by day. + + +_The Death of Nadcrantail_ + +'What man have you to meet Cuchulainn tomorrow?' said Lugaid. + +'They will give it to you to-morrow,' said Mane, son of Ailill. + +'We can find no one to meet him,' said Medb. 'Let us have peace +with him till a man be sought for him.' + +They get that then. + +'Whither will you send,' said Ailill, 'to seek that man to meet +Cuchulainn?' + +'There is no one in Ireland who could be got for him,' said Medb, +'unless Curoi Mac Dare can be brought, or Nadcrantail the warrior.' + +There was one of Curoi's followers in the tent. 'Curoi will not +come,' said he; 'he thinks enough of his household has come. Let a +message be sent to Nadcrantail.' + +Mane Andoi goes to him, and they tell their tale to him. + +'Come with us for the sake of the honour of Connaught.' + +'I will not go,' said he, 'unless Findabair be given to me.' + +He comes with them then. They bring his armour in a chariot, from +the east of Connaught till it was in the camp. + +'You shall have Findabair,' said Medb, 'for going against that man +yonder.' + +'I will do it,' said he. + +Lugaid comes to Cuchulainn that night. + +'Nadcrantail is coming to meet you to-morrow; it is unlucky for +you: you will not withstand him.' + +'That does not matter,' said Cuchulainn. ... [Note: Corrupt.] + +Nadcrantail goes next morning from the camp, and he takes nine +spits of holly, sharpened and burned. Now Cuchulainn was there +catching birds, and his chariot near him. Nadcrantail throws a +spear at Cuchulainn; Cuchulainn performed a feat on to the point of +that spear, and it did not hinder him from catching the birds. The +same with the eight other spears. When he throws the ninth spear, +the flock flies from Cuchulainn, and he went after the flock. He +goes on the points of the spears like a bird, from each spear to +the next, pursuing the birds that they should not escape. It seemed +to every one, however, that it was in flight that Cuchulainn went +before Nadcrantail. + +'Your Cuchulainn yonder,' said he, 'has gone in flight before me.' + +'That is of course,' said Medb; 'if good warriors should come to +him, the wild boy would not resist ----.' + +This vexed Fergus and the Ulstermen; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe comes from +them to remonstrate with Cuchulainn. + +'Tell him,' said Fergus, 'it was noble to be before the warriors +while he did brave deeds. It is more noble for him,' said Fergus, +'to hide himself when he flees before one man, for it were not +greater shame to him than to the rest of Ulster.' + +'Who has boasted that?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Nadcrantail,' said Fiacha. + +'Though it were that that he should boast, the feat that I have +done before him, it was no more shame to me,' (?) said Cuchulainn. +'He would by no means have boasted it had there been a weapon in +his hand. You know full well that I kill no one unarmed. Let him +come to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn, 'till he is between Ochaine and +the sea, and however early he comes, he will find me there, and I +shall not flee before him.' + +Cuchulainn came then to his appointed meeting-place, and he threw +the hem [of his cloak] round him after his night-watch, and he did +not perceive the pillar that was near him, of equal size with +himself. He embraced it under his cloak, and placed it near him. + +Therewith Nadcrantail came; his arms were brought with him in a +wagon. + +'Where is Cuchulainn?' said he. + +'There he is yonder,' said Fergus. + +'It was not thus he appeared to me yesterday,' said Nadcrantail. + +'Are you Cuchulainn?' + +'And if I am then?' said Cuchulainn. + +'If you are indeed,' said Nadcrantail, 'I cannot bring the head of +a little lamb to camp; I will not take the head of a beardless +boy.' + +'It is not I at all,' said Cuchulainn. 'Go to him round the hill.' + +Cuchulainn comes to Loeg: 'Smear a false beard on me,' said he; +'I cannot get the warrior to fight me without a beard.' It was done +for him. He goes to meet him on the hill. 'I think that more +fitting,' said he. + +'Take the right way of fighting with me,' said Nadcrantail. + +'You shall have it if only we know it,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I will throw a cast at you,' said Nadcrantail, 'and do not avoid +it.' + +'I will not avoid it except on high,' said Cuchulainn. + +Nadcrantail throws a cast at him; Cuchulainn leaps on high before +it. + +'You do ill to avoid my cast,' said Nadcrantail. + +'Avoid my throw then on high,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn throws the spear at him, but it was on high, so that +from above it alighted in his crown, and it went through him to the +ground. + +'Alas! it is you are the best warrior in Ireland!' said Nadcrantail. +'I have twenty-four sons in the camp. I will go and tell them what +hidden treasures I have, and I will come that you may behead me, +for I shall die if the spear is taken out of my head.' + +'Good,' said Cuchulainn. 'You will come back.' + +Nadcrantail goes to the camp then. Every one comes to meet him. + +'Where is the madman's head?' said every one. + +'Wait, O heroes, till I tell my tale to my sons, and go back that I +may fight with Cuchulainn.' + +He goes thence to seek Cuchulainn, and throws his sword at +Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn leaps on high, so that it struck the pillar, +and the sword broke in two. Then Cuchulainn went mad as he had done +against the boys in Emain, and he springs on his shield therewith, +and struck his head off. He strikes him again on the neck down to +the navel. His four quarters fall to the ground. Then Cuchulainn +said this: + + 'If Nadcrantail has fallen, + It will be an increase to the strife. + Alas! that I cannot fight at this time + With Medb with a third of the host.' + + +HERE IS THE FINDING OF THE BULL ACCORDING TO THIS VERSION: + +It is then that Medb went with a third of the host with her to Cuib +to seek the Bull; and Cuchulainn went after her. Now on the road of +Midluachair she had gone to harry Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dun +Sobairche. Cuchulainn saw something: Bude Mac Bain from Sliab +Culinn with the Bull, and fifteen heifers round him; and his force +was sixty men of Ailill's household, with a cloak folded round +every man. Cuchulainn comes to them. + +'Whence have you brought the cattle?' said Cuchulainn. + +'From the mountain yonder,' said the man.' + +'Where are their cow-herds?' said Cuchulainn. + +'He is as we found him,' said the man. + +Cuchulainn made three leaps after them to seek speech with them as +far as the ford. It is there he said to the leader: + +'What is your name?' said he. + +'One who fears you not(?) and loves you not; Bude Mac Bain,' said +he. + +'This spear at Bude!' said Cuchulainn. He hurls at him the javelin, +so that it went through his armpits, and one of the livers broke in +two before the spear. He kills him on his ford; hence is Ath Bude. +The Bull is brought into the camp then. They considered then that +it would not be difficult to deal with Cuchulainn, provided his +javelin were got from him. + + +_The Death of Redg the Satirist_ + +It is then that Redg, Ailill's satirist, went to him on an errand +to seek the javelin, that is, Cuchulainn's spear. + +'Give me your spear,' said the satirist. + +'Not so,' said Cuchulainn; 'but I will give you treasure.' + +'I will not take it,' said the satirist. + +Then Cuchulainn wounded the satirist, because he would not accept +from him what he offered him, and the satirist said he would take +away his honour unless he got the javelin. Then Cuchulainn threw +the javelin at him, and it went right through his head. + +'This gift is overpowering (?),' said the satirist. Hence is Ath +Tolam Set. + +There was now a ford east of it, where the copper of the javelin +rested; Humarrith, then, is the name of that ford. It is there that +Cuchulainn killed all those that we have mentioned in Cuib; i.e. +Nathcoirpthe at his trees; Cruthen on his ford; the sons of the +Herd at their cairn; Marc on his hill; Meille on his hill; Bodb in +his tower; Bogaine in his marsh (?). + +Cuchulainn turned back to Mag Murthemne; he liked better to defend +his own home. After he went, he killed the men of Crocen (or +Cronech), i.e. Focherd; twenty men of Focherd. He overtook them +taking camp: ten cup-bearers and ten fighting-men. + +Medb turned back from the north when she had remained a fortnight +ravaging the province, and when she had fought a battle against +Findmor, wife of Celtchar Mac Uthidir. And after taking Dun +Sobairche upon her, she brought fifty women into the province of +Dalriada. Wherever Medb placed a horse-switch in Cuib its name is +Bile Medba [Note: i.e. Tree of Medb]; every ford and every hill by +which she slept, its name is Ath Medba and Dindgna Medba. + +They all meet then at Focherd, both Ailill and Medb and the troop +that drove the Bull. But their herd took their Bull from them, and +they drove him across into a narrow gap with their spear-shafts on +their shields(?). [Note: A very doubtful rendering.] So that the +feet of the cattle drove him [Note, i.e. Forgemen.] through the +ground. Forgemen was the herd's name. He is there afterwards, so +that that is the name of the hill, Forgemen. There was no annoyance +to them that night, provided a man were got toward off Cuchulainn +on the ford. + +'Let a sword-truce be asked by us from Cuchulainn,' said Ailill. + +'Let Lugaid go for it,' said every one. + +Lugaid goes then to speak to him. + +'How am I now with the host?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Great indeed is the mockery that you asked of them,' said Lugaid, +'that is, your women and your maidens and half your cattle. And +they think it heavier than anything to be killed and to provide you +with food.' + +A man fell there by Cuchulainn every day to the end of a week. +Fair-play is broken with Cuchulainn: twenty are sent to attack him +at one time; and he killed them all. + +'Go to him, O Fergus,' said Ailill, 'that he may allow us a change +of place.' + +They go then to Cronech. This is what fell by him in single combat +at this place: two Roths, two Luans, two female horse messengers, +[Note: Or 'female stealers.' (O'Davoren.)] ten fools, ten +cup-bearers, ten Ferguses, six Fedelms, six Fiachras. These then +were all killed by him in single combat. When they pitched their +tents in Cronech, they considered what they should do against +Cuchulainn. + +'I know,' said Medb, 'what is good in this case: let a message be +sent from us to ask him that we may have a sword-truce from him +towards the host, and he shall have half the cattle that are here.' + +This message is taken to him. + +'I will do this,' said Cuchulainn, 'provided the compact is not +broken by you.' + + +_The Meeting of Cuchulainn and Findabair_ + +'Let an offer go to him,' said Ailill, 'that Findabair will be +given to him on condition that he keeps away from the hosts.' + +Mane Athramail goes to him. He goes first to Loeg. + +'Whose man are you?' said he. + +Loeg does not speak to him. Mane spoke to him thrice in this way. + +'Cuchulainn's man,' said he, 'and do not disturb me, lest I strike +your head off.' + +'This man is fierce,' said Mane, turning from him. He goes then to +speak to Cuchulainn. Now Cuchulainn had taken off his tunic, and +the snow was round him up to his waist as he sat, and the snow +melted round him a cubit for the greatness of the heat of the hero. + +Mane said to him in the same way thrice, 'whose man was he?' + +'Conchobar's man, and do not disturb me. If you disturb me any +longer, I will strike your head from you as the head is taken from +a blackbird.' + +'It is not easy,' said Mane, 'to speak to these two.' + +Mane goes from them then and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb. + +'Let Lugaid go to him,' said Ailill, 'and offer to him the maiden.' + +Lugaid goes then and tells Cuchulainn that. + +'O friend Lugaid,' said Cuchulainn, 'this is a snare.' + +'It is the king's word that has said it,' said Lugaid; 'there will +be no snare therefrom.' + +'Let it be done so,' said Cuchulainn. + +Lugaid went from him therewith, and tells Ailill and Medb that +answer. + +'Let the fool go in my form,' said Ailill, 'and a king's crown on +his head, and let him stand at a distance from Cuchulainn lest he +recognise him, and let the maiden go with him, and let him betroth +her to him, and let them depart quickly in this way; and it is +likely that you will play a trick on him thus, so that he will not +hinder you, till he comes with the Ulstermen to the battle.' + +Then the fool goes to him, and the maiden also; and it was from a +distance he spoke to Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn goes to meet them. It +happened that he recognised by the man's speech that he was a fool. +He threw a sling stone that was in his hand at him, so that it +sprang into his head and brought his brains out. Then he comes to +the maiden, cuts her two tresses off, and thrusts a stone through +her mantle and through her tunic, and thrusts a stone pillar +through the middle of the fool. There are their two pillars there: +the pillar of Findabair, and the fool's pillar. + +Cuchulainn left them thus. A party was sent from Ailill and Medb to +seek out their folk, for they thought they were long; they were +seen in this position. All this was heard throughout the camp. +There was no truce for them with Cuchulainn afterwards. + + +_The Combat of Munremar and Curoi_ + +When the hosts were there in the evening; they saw that one stone +lighted on them from the east, and another from the west to meet +it. They met in the air, and kept falling between Fergus's camp, +and Ailill's, and Era's. [Note: Or Nera?] This sport and play went +on from that hour to the same hour next day; and the hosts were +sitting down, and their shields were over their heads to protect +them against the masses of stones, till the plain was full of the +stones. Hence is Mag Clochair. It happened that Curoi Mac Daire did +this; he had come to help his comrades, and he was in Cotal over +against Munremar Mac Gerrcind. He had come from Emain Macha to help +Cuchulainn, and he was in Ard Roich. Curoi knew that there was no +man in the host who could withstand Munremar. So it was these two +who had made this sport between them. They were asked by the host +to be quiet; then Munremar and Curoi make peace, and Curoi goes to +his house and Munremar to Emain Macha. And Munremar did not come +till the day of the battle; Curoi did not come till the combat with +Fer Diad. + + +'Speak to Cuchulainn,' said Medb and Ailill, 'that he allow us +change of place.' + +It is granted to them then, and they change the place. The weakness +of the Ulstermen was over then. For when they awoke from their +suffering, some of them kept coming on the host, that they might +take to slaying them again. + + +_The Death of the Boys_ + +Then the boys of Ulster had consulted in Emain Macha. + +'Wretched indeed,' said they, 'for our friend Cuchulainn to be +without help.' + +'A question indeed,' said Fiachna Fulech Mac Fir-Febe, own brother +to Fiacha Fialdama Mac Fir-Febe, 'shall I have a troop among you, +and go to take help to him therefrom?' + +Three fifties of boys go with their playing-clubs, and that was a +third of the boys of Ulster. The host saw them coming towards them +across the plain. + +'A great host is at hand to us over the plain,' said Ailill. + +Fergus goes to look at them. 'Some of the boys of Ulster that,' +said he; 'and they come to Cuchulainn's help.' + +'Let a troop go against them,' said Ailill, 'without Cuchulainn's +knowledge; for if they meet him, you will not withstand them.' + +Three fifties of warriors go to meet them. They fell by one another +so that no one escaped alive of the abundance(?) of the boys at Lia +Toll. Hence it is the Stone of Fiachra Mac Fir-Febe; for it is +there he fell. + + +'Make a plan,' said Ailill. + +'Ask Cuchulainn about letting you go out of this place, for you +will not come beyond him by force, because his flame of valour has +sprung.' + +For it was customary with him, when his flame of valour sprang in +him, that his feet would go round behind him, and his hams before; +and the balls of his calves on his shins, and one eye in his head +and the other out of his head; a man's head could have gone into +his mouth. Every hair on him was as sharp as a thorn of hawthorn, +and a drop of blood on each hair. He would not recognise comrades +or friends. He would strike alike before and behind. It is from +this that the men of Connaught gave Cuchulainn the name Riastartha. + + +_The Woman-fight of Rochad_ + +Cuchulainn sent his charioteer to Rochad Mac Fatheman of Ulster, +that he should come to his help. Now it happened that Findabair +loved Rochad, for he was the fairest of the warriors among the +Ulstermen at that time. The man goes to Rochad and told him to come +to help Cuchulainn if he had come out of his weakness; that they +should deceive the host, to get at some of them to slay them. +Rochad comes from the north with a hundred men. + +'Look at the plain for us to-day,' said Ailill. + +'I see a troop coming over the plain,' said the watchman, 'and a +warrior of tender years among them; the men only reach up to his +shoulders.' + +'Who is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'Rochad Mac Fatheman,' said he, 'and it is to help Cuchulainn he +comes.' + +'I know what you had better do with him,' said Fergus. 'Let a +hundred men go from you with the maiden yonder to the middle of the +plain, and let the maiden go before them; and let a horseman go to +speak to him, that he come alone to speak with the maiden, and let +hands be laid on him, and this will keep off (?) the attack of his +army from us.' + +This is done then. Rochad goes to meet the horseman. + +'I have come from Findabair to meet you, that you come to speak +with her.' + +He goes then to speak with her alone. The host rushes about him +from every side. He is taken, and hands are laid on him. His force +breaks into flight. He is let go then, and he is bound over not to +go against the host till he should come together with all Ulster. +It was promised to him that Findabair should be given to him, and +he returned from them then. So that that is Rochad's Woman-fight. + + +_The Death of the Princes_ [Note: Or 'royal mercenaries.'] + +'Let a sword-truce be asked of Cuchulainn for us,' said Ailill and +Medb. + +Lugaid goes on that errand, and Cuchulainn grants the truce. + +'Put a man on the ford for me to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn. + +There were with Medb six princes, i.e. six king's heirs of the +Clanna Dedad, the three Blacks of Imlech, and the three Reds of +Sruthair. + +'Why should we not go against Cuchulainn?' said they. + +They go next day, and Cuchulainn slew the six of them. + + +_The Death of Cur_ + +Then Cur Mac Dalath is besought to go against Cuchulainn. He from +whom he shed blood, he is dead before the ninth day. + +'If he slay him,' said Medb, 'it is victory; and though it be he +who is slain, it is removing a load from the host: for it is not +easy to be with him in regard to eating and sleeping.' + +Then he goes forth. He did not think it good to go against a +beardless wild boy. + +'Not so(?) indeed,' said he, 'right is the honour (?) that you give +us! If I had known that it was against this man that I was sent, I +would not have bestirred myself to seek him; it were enough in my +opinion for a boy of his own age from my troop to go against him.' + +'Not so,' said Cormac Condlongas; 'it were a marvel for us if you +yourself were to drive him off.' + +'Howbeit,' said he, 'since it is on myself that it is laid you +Shall go forth to-morrow morning; it will not delay me to kill the +young deer yonder.' + +He goes then early in the morning to meet him; and he tells the +host to get ready to take the road before them, for it was a clear +road that he would make by going against Cuchulainn. + + +_This is the Number of the Feats_ + +He went on that errand then. Cuchulainn was practising feats at +that time, i.e. the apple-feat, the edge-feat, the supine-feat, the +javelin-feat, the ropefeat, the ---- feat, the cat-feat, the hero's +salmon[-leap?], the cast ----, the leap over ----, the noble +champion's turn, the _gae bolga_, the ---- of swiftness, the +wheel-feat, the ----, the feat on breath, the mouth-rage (?), the +champion's shout, the stroke with proper adjustment, the +back-stroke, the climbing a javelin with stretching of the body on +its point, with the binding (?) of a noble warrior. + +Cur was plying his weapons against him in a fence(?) of his shield +till a third of the day; and not a stroke of the blow reached +Cuchulainn for the madness of the feats, and he did not know that a +man was trying to strike him, till Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe said to him: +'Beware of the man who is attacking you.' + +Cuchulainn looked at him; he threw the feat-apple that remained in +his hand, so that it went between the rim and the body of the +shield, and went back through the head of the churl. It would be in +Imslige Glendanach that Cur fell according to another version. + +Fergus returned to the army. 'If your security hold you,' said he, +'wait here till to-morrow.' + +'It would not be there,' said Ailill; 'we shall go back to our +camp.' + +Then Lath Mac Dabro is asked to go against Cuchulainn, as Cur had +been asked. He himself fell then also. Fergus returns again to put +his security on them. They remained there until there were slain +there Cur Mac Dalath, and Lath Mac Dabro, and Foirc, son of the +three Swifts, and Srubgaile Mac Eobith. They were all slain there +in single combat. + + +_The Death of Ferbaeth_ + +'Go to the camp for us, O friend Loeg' [said Cuchulainn], 'and +consult Lugaid Mac Nois, descendant of Lomarc, to know who is +coming against me tomorrow. Let it be asked diligently, and give +him my greeting.' + +Then Loeg went. + +'Welcome,' said Lugaid; 'it is unlucky for Cuchulainn, the trouble +in which he is, alone against the men of Ireland. It is a comrade +of us both, Ferbaeth (ill-luck to his arms!), who goes against him +to morrow. Findabair is given to him for it, and the kingdom of his +race.' + +Loeg turns back to where Cuchulainn is. + +He is not very joyful over his answer, my friend Loeg,' said +Cuchulainn. + +Loeg tells him all that. Ferbaeth had been summoned into the tent +to Ailill and Medb, and he is told to sit by Findabair, and that +she should be given to him, for he was her choice for fighting with +Cuchulainn. He was the man they thought worthy of them, for they +had both learned the same arts with Scathach. Then wine is given to +him, till he was intoxicated, and he is told, 'They thought that +wine fine, and there had only been brought the load of fifty +wagons. And it was the maiden who used to put hand to his portion +therefrom.' + +'I do not wish it,' said Ferbaeth; 'Cuchulainn is my foster-brother, +and a man of perpetual covenant with me. Nevertheless I will go +against him to-morrow and cut off his head.' + +'It will be you who would do it,' said Medb. + +Cuchulainn told Loeg to go to meet Lugaid, that he should come and +speak with him. Lugaid comes to him. + +'So Ferbaeth is coming against me to-morrow,' said Cuchulainn. + +'He indeed,' said Lugaid. + +'An evil day!' said Cuchulainn; 'I shall not be alive therefrom. +Two of equal age we, two of equal deftness, two equal when we meet. +O Lugaid, greet him for me; tell him that it is not true valour to +come against me; tell him to come to meet me to-night, to speak +with me.' + +Lugaid tells him this. When Ferbaeth did not avoid it, he went that +night to renounce his friendship with Cuchulainn, and Fiacha Mac +Fir-Febe with him. Cuchulainn appealed to him by his foster-brotherhood, +and Scathach, the foster-mother of them both. + +'I must,' said Ferbaeth. 'I have promised it' + +'Take back (?) your bond of friendship then,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn went from him in anger. A spear of holly was driven into +Cuchulainn's foot in the glen, and appeared up by his knee. He +draws it out. + +'Go not, O Ferbaeth, till you have seen the find that I have +found.' + +'Throw it,' said Ferbaeth. + +Cuchulainn threw the spear then after Ferbaeth so that it hit the +hollow of his poll, and came out at his mouth in front, so that he +fell back into the glen. + +'That is a throw indeed,' said Ferbaeth. Hence is Focherd +Murthemne. (Or it is Fiacha who had said, 'Your throw is vigorous +to-day, O Cuchulainn,' said he; so that Focherd Murthemne is from +that.) + +Ferbaeth died at once in the glen. Hence is Glenn Firbaith. +Something was heard: Fergus, who said: + + 'O Ferbaeth, foolish is thy expedition + In the place in which thy grave is. + Ruin reached thee ... + In Croen Corand. + + 'The hill is named Fithi (?) for ever; + Croenech in Murthemne, + From to-day Focherd will be the name + Of the place in which thou didst fall, O Ferbaeth. + O Ferbaeth,' etc. + +'Your comrade has fallen,' said Fergus. 'Say will you pay for this +man on the morrow?' + +'I will pay indeed,' said Cuchulainn. + +Cuchulainn sends Loeg again for news, to know how they are in the +camp, and whether Ferbaeth lived. Lugaid said: 'Ferbaeth is dead,' +and Cuchulainn comes in turn to talk with them. + + +_The Combat of Larine Mac Nois_ + +'One of you to-morrow to go readily against the other,' said +Lugaid. + +'He will not be found at all,' said Ailill, 'unless you practise +trickery therein. Any man who comes to you, give him wine, so that +his mind may be glad, and it shall be said to him that that is all +the wine that has been brought from Cruachan. It grieves us that +you should be on water in the camp. And Findabair shall be put at +his right hand, and it shall be said: "She shall come to you, if +you bring us the head of the Riastartha."' + +A messenger used to be sent to every hero on his night, and that +used to be told to him; he continued to kill every man of them in. +turn. No one could be got by them to meet him at last. Larine Mac +Nois, brother to Lugaid, King of Munster, was summoned to them the +next day. Great was his pride. Wine is given to him, and Findabair +is put at his right hand. + +Medb looked at the two. 'It pleases me, yonder pair,' said she; 'a +match between them would be fitting.' + +'I will not stand in your way,' said Ailill; 'he shall have her if +he brings me the head of the Riastartha.' + +'I will bring it,' said Larine. + +Then Lugaid comes. 'What man have you for the ford to-morrow?' said +he. + +'Larine goes,' said Ailill. + +Then Lugaid comes to speak with Cuchulainn. They meet in Glenn +Firbaith. Each gives the other welcome. + +'It is for this I have come to speak to you,' said Lugaid: 'there +is a churl here, a fool and proud,' said he, 'a brother of mine named +Larine; he is befooled about the same maiden. On your friendship +then, do not kill him, lest you should leave me without a brother. +For it is for this that he is being sent to you, so that we two +might quarrel. I should be content, however, that you should give +him a sound drubbing, for it is in my despite that he comes.' + +Larine goes next day to meet Cuchulainn, and the maiden near him to +encourage him. Cuchulainn attacks him without arms. [Note: This is +apparently the sense, but the passage seems corrupt.] He takes +Larine's arms from him perforce. He takes him then between his two +hands, and grinds and shakes him, ... and threw him till he was +between Lugaid's two hands ...; nevertheless, he is the only man +who escaped [even] a bad escape from him, of all who met him on the +Tain. + + +_The Conversation of the Morrigan with Cuchulainn_ + +Cuchulainn saw a young woman coming towards him, with a dress of +every colour on, and her form very excellent. + +'Who are you?' said Cuchulainn. + +'Daughter of Buan the king,' said she. 'I have come to you; I have +loved you for your reputation, and I have brought my treasures and +my cattle with me.' + +'The time at which you have come to us is not good. For our +condition is evil, through hunger. It is not easy to me to meet a +woman, while I am in this strife.' + +'I will be a help to you. ... I shall be more troublesome to you,' +said she, 'when I come against you when you are in combat against +the men. I will come in the form of an eel about your feet in the +ford, so that you shall fall.' + +'I think that likelier than the daughter of a king. I will take +you,' said he, 'between my toes, till your ribs are broken, and you +will be in this condition till a doom of blessing comes (?) on +you.' + +'I will drive the cattle on the ford to you, in the form of a grey +she-wolf.' + +'I will throw a stone at you from my sling, so that it shall break +your eye in your head; and you will be in that state till a doom of +blessing comes on you.' + +'I will come to you in the form of a hornless red heifer before the +cattle. They will rush on you on the plains(?), and on the fords, +and on the pools, and you will not see me before you.' + +'I will throw a stone at you,' said he, 'so that your leg shall +break under you, and you will be in this state till a doom of +blessing comes on you.' + +Therewith she goes from him. + +So he was a week on Ath Grencha, and a man used to fall every day +by him in Ath Grencha, i.e. in Ath Darteisc. + + +_The Death of Loch Mac Emonis_ + +Then Loch Mac Emonis was asked like the others, and there was +promised to him a piece of the arable land of Mag Ai equal in size +to Mag Murthemne, and the equipment of twelve warriors and a +chariot worth seven cumals [Note: A measure of value.]; and he did +not think combat with a youth worthy. He had a brother, Long Mac +Emonis himself. The same price was given to him, both maiden and +raiment and chariots and land. He goes to meet Cuchulainn. +Cuchulainn slays him, and he was brought dead before his brother, +Loch. + +This latter said that if he only knew that it was a bearded man who +slew him, he would kill him for it. + +'Take a battle-force to him,' said Medb to her household, 'across +the ford from the west, that you may go-across; and let fair-play +be broken on him.' + +Then the seven Manes, warriors, go first, so that they saw him on +the edge of the ford westward. He puts his feast-dress on that day. +It is then that the women kept climbing on the men to look at him. + +'I am sorry,' said Medb; 'I cannot see the boy about whom they go +there.' + +'Your mind will not be the gladder for it,' said Lethrend, Ailill's +squire, 'if you could see him.' + +He comes to the ford then as he was. + +'What man is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Medb. + +'A boy who wards off,' etc. ... 'if it is Culann's Hound.' [Note: +Rhetoric, four lines.] + +Medb climbed on the men then to look at him. + +It is then that the women said to Cuchulainn 'that he was laughed +at in the camp because he had no beard, and no good warriors would +go against him, only wild men; it were easier to make a false +beard.' So this is what he did, in order to seek combat with a man; +i.e. with Loch. Cuchulainn took a handful of grass, and said a +spell over it, so that every one thought he had a beard. + +'True,' said the troop of women, 'Cuchulainn has a beard. It is +fitting for a warrior to fight with him.' + +They had done this on urging Loch. + +'I will not make combat against him till the end of seven days +from to-day,' said Loch. + +'It is not fitting for us to have no attack on the man for this +space,' said Medb. 'Let us put a hero to hunt(?) him every night, +if perchance we may get a chance at him.' + +This is done then. A hero used to come every night to hunt him, and +he used to kill them all. These are the names of the men who fell +there: seven Conalls, seven Oenguses, seven Uarguses, seven +Celtris, eight Fiacs, ten Ailills, ten Delbaths, ten Tasachs. These +are his deeds of this week in Ath Grencha. + + + +Medb asked advice, to know what she should do to Cuchulainn, for +what had been killed of their hosts by him distressed her greatly. +This is the plan she arrived at, to put brave, high-spirited men to +attack him all at once when he should come to an appointed meeting +to speak with Medb. For she had an appointment the next day with +Cuchulainn to make a peace in fraud with him, to get hold of him. +She sent messengers forth to seek him that he should come to meet +her; and it was thus he should come, and he unarmed: 'for she would +come only with her troop of women to meet him.' + +The messenger, Traigtren, went to the place where Cuchulainn was, +and tells him Medb's message. Cuchulainn promised that he would do +so. + +'In what manner does it please you to go to meet Medb to-morrow, O +Cuchulainn?' said Loeg. + +'As Medb has asked me,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Great are Medb's deeds,' said the charioteer; 'I fear a hand +behind the back with her.' + +'How is it to be done then?' said he. + +'Your sword at your waist,' said the charioteer, 'that you may not +be taken at an unfair advantage. For the warrior is not entitled to +his honour-price if he is without arms; and it is the coward's law +that he deserves in that way.' + +'Let it be done so then,' said Cuchulainn. + +The meeting-place was in Ard Aignech, which is called Fochaird +to-day. Now Medb came to the meeting-place and set in ambush +fourteen men of her own special following, of those who were of +most prowess, ready for him. These are they: two Glassines, the two +sons of Bucchridi; two Ardans, the two sons of Licce; two +Glasogmas, the two sons of Crund; Drucht and Delt and Dathen; Tea +and Tascra and Tualang; Taur and Glese. + +Then Cuchulainn comes to meet her. The men rise to attack him. +Fourteen spears are thrown at him at once. Cuchulainn guards +himself so that his skin or his ---- (?) is not touched. Then he +turns on them and kills them, the fourteen of them. So that they +are the fourteen men of Focherd, and they are the men of Cronech, +for it is in Cronech at Focherd that they were killed. Hence +Cuchulainn said: 'Good is my feat of heroism,' [Note: _Fo_, 'good'; +_cherd_, 'feat.' Twelve lines of rhetoric.] etc. + +So it is from this that the name Focherd stuck to the place; that +is, _focherd_, i.e. 'good is the feat of arms' that happened to +Cuchulainn there. + +So Cuchulainn came, and overtook them taking camp, and there were +slain two Daigris and two Anlis and four Dungais of Imlech. Then +Medb began to urge Loch there. + +'Great is the mockery of you,' said she, 'for the man who has +killed your brother to be destroying our host, and you do not go to +battle with him! For we deem it certain that the wild man, great +and fierce [Note: Literally, 'sharpened.'], the like of him yonder, +will not be able to withstand the rage and fury of a hero like you. +For it is by one foster-mother and instructress that an art was +built up for you both.' + +Then Loch came against Cuchulainn, to avenge his brother on him, +for it was shown to him that Cuchulainn had a beard. + +'Come to the upper ford,' said Loch; 'it would not be in the +polluted ford that we shall meet, where Long fell.' + +When he came then to seek the ford, the men drove the cattle +across. + +'It will be across your water [Note: Irish, _tarteisc_.] here +to-day,' said Gabran the poet. Hence is Ath Darteisc, and Tir Mor +Darteisc from that time on this place. + +When the men met then on the ford, and when they began to fight and +to strike each other there, and when each of them began to strike +the other, the eel threw three folds round Cuchulainn's feet, till +he lay on his back athwart the ford. Loch attacked him with the +sword, till the ford was blood-red with his blood. + +'Ill indeed,' said Fergus, 'is this deed before the enemy. Let each +of you taunt the man, O men,' said he to his following, 'that he +may not fall for nothing.' + +Bricriu Poison-tongue Mac Carbatha rose and began inciting +Cuchulainn. + +'Your strength is gone,' said he, 'when it is a little salmon that +overthrows you when the Ulstermen are at hand [coming] to you out +of their sickness yonder. Grievous for you to undertake a hero's +deed in the presence of the men of Ireland and to ward off a +formidable warrior in arms thus!' + +Therewith Cuchulainn arises and strikes the eel so that its ribs +broke in it, and the cattle were driven over the hosts eastwards +by force, so that they took the tents on their horns, with the +thunder-feat that the two heroes had made in the ford. + +The she-wolf attacked him, and drove the cattle on him westwards. +He throws a stone from his sling, so that her eye broke in her +head. She goes in the form of a hornless red heifer; she rushes +before the cows upon the pools and fords. It is then he said: 'I +cannot see the fords for water.' He throws a stone at the hornless +red heifer, so that her leg breaks under her. Then he sang a song: + + 'I am all alone before flocks; + I get them not, I let them not go; + I am alone at cold hours (?) + Before many peoples. + + 'Let some one say to Conchobar + Though he should come to me it were not too soon; + Magu's sons have carried off their kine + And divided them among them. + + 'There may be strife about one head + Only that one tree blazes not; + If there were two or three + Their brands would blaze. [Note: Meaning not clear.] + + 'The men have almost worn me out + By reason of the number of single combats; + I cannot work the slaughter (?) of glorious warriors + As I am all alone. + I am all alone.' + +*** + +It is there then that Cuchulainn did to the Morrigan the three +things that he had promised her in the _Tain Bo Regamna_ [Note: +One of the introductory stories to the _Tain Bo Cuailnge_, printed +with translation in _Irische Texte_, 2nd series.]; and he fights +Loch in the ford with the gae-bolga, which the charioteer threw him +along the stream. He attacked him with it, so that it went into his +body's armour, for Loch had a horn-skin in fighting with a man. + +'Give way to me,' said Loch. Cuchulainn gave way, so that it was on +the other side that Loch fell. Hence is Ath Traiged in Tir Mor. +Cuchulainn cut off his head then. + +Then fair-play was broken with him that day when five men came +against him at one time; i.e. two Cruaids, two Calads, Derothor; +Cuchulainn killed them by himself. Hence is Coicsius Focherda, and +Coicer Oengoirt; or it is fifteen days that Cuchulainn was in +Focherd, and hence is Coicsius Focherda in the Foray. + +Cuchulainn hurled at them from Delga, so that not a living thing, +man or beast, could put its head past him southwards between Delga +and the sea. + + +_The Healing of the Morrigan_ + +When Cuchulainn was in this great weariness, the Morrigan met him +in the form of an old hag, and she blind and lame, milking a cow +with three teats, and he asked her for a drink. She gave him milk +from a teat. + +'He will be whole who has brought it(?),' said Cuchulainn; 'the +blessings of gods and non-gods on you,' said he. (Gods with them +were the Mighty Folk [Note: i.e. the dwellers in the Sid. The words +in brackets are a gloss incorporated in the text.]; non-gods the +people of husbandry.) + +Then her head was healed so that it was whole. + +She gave the milk of the second teat, and her eye was whole; and +gave the milk of the third teat, and her leg was whole. So that +this was what he said about each thing of them, 'A doom of blessing +on you,' said he. + +'You told me,' said the Morrigan, 'I should not have healing from +you for ever.' + +'If I had known it was you,' said Cuchulainn, 'I would not have +healed you ever.' + +So that formerly Cuchulainn's throng (?) on Tarthesc was the name +of this story in the Foray. + +It is there that Fergus claimed of his securities that faith should +not be broken with Cuchulainn; and it is there that Cuchulainn ... +[Note: Corrupt; one and a half lines.] i.e. Delga Murthemne at that +time. + +Then Cuchulainn killed Fota in his field; Bomailce on his ford; +Salach in his village (?); Muine in his hill; Luair in Leth-bera; +Fer-Toithle in Toithle; these are the names of these lands for +ever, every place in which each man of them fell. Cuchulainn killed +also Traig and Dornu and Dernu, Col and Mebul and Eraise on this +side of Ath Tire Moir, at Methe and Cethe: these were three [Note: +MS. 'two.'] druids and their three wives. + +Then Medb sent a hundred men of her special retinue to kill +Cuchulainn. . He killed them all on Ath Ceit-Chule. Then Medb said: +'It is _cuillend_ [Note: Interlinear gloss: 'We deem it a crime.'] +to us, the slaying of our people.' Hence is Glass Chrau and +Cuillend Cind Duin and Ath Ceit-Chule. + +Then the four provinces of Ireland took camp and fortified post in +the Breslech Mor in Mag Murthemne, and send part of their cattle +and booty beyond them to the south into Clithar Bo Ulad. Cuchulainn +took his post at the mound in Lerga near them, and his charioteer +Loeg Mac Riangabra kindled a fire for him on the evening of that +night. He saw the fiery sheen of the bright golden arms over the +heads of the four provinces of Ireland at the setting of the clouds +of evening. Fury and great rage came over him at sight of the host, +at the multitude of his enemies, the abundance of his foes. He took +his two spears and his shield and his sword; he shook his shield +and brandished his spears and waved his sword; and he uttered his +hero's shout from his throat, so that goblins and sprites and +spectres of the glen and demons of the air answered, for the terror +of the shout which they uttered on high. So that the Nemain +produced confusion on the host. The four provinces of Ireland came +into a tumult of weapons about the points of their own spears and +weapons, so that a hundred warriors of them died of terror and of +heart-burst in the middle of the camp and of the position that +night. + +When Loeg was there, he saw something: a single man who came +straight across the camp of the men of Ireland from the north-east +straight towards him. + +'A single man is coming to us now, O Little Hound!' said Loeg. + +'What kind of man is there?' said Cuchulainn. + +'An easy question: a man fair and tall is he, with hair cut broad, +waving yellow hair; a green mantle folded round him; a brooch of +white silver in the mantle on his breast; a tunic of royal silk, +with red ornamentation of red gold against the white skin, to his +knees. A black shield with a hard boss of white metal; a five +pointed spear in his hand; a forked (?) javelin beside it. +Wonderful is the play and sport and exercise that he makes; but no +one attacks him, and he attacks no one, as if no one saw him.' + +'It is true, O fosterling,' said he; 'which of my friends from the +_sid_ is that who comes to have pity on me, because they know the +sore distress in which I am, alone against the four great provinces +of Ireland, on the Cattle-Foray of Cualnge at this time?' + +That was true for Cuchulainn. When the warrior had reached the +place where Cuchulainn was, he spoke to him, and had pity on him +for it. + +'This is manly, O Cuchulainn,' said he. + +'It is not much at all,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I will help you,' said the man. + + +'Who are you at all?' said Cuchulainn. + +'It is I, your father from the _sid_, Lug Mac Ethlend.' + +'My wounds are heavy, it were high time that I should be healed.' + +'Sleep a little, O Cuchulainn,' said the warrior; 'your heavy +swoon (?) [Note: Conjectural--MS. _tromthortim_.] of sleep at the +mound of Lerga till the end of three days and three nights, and I +will fight against the hosts for that space.' + +Then he sings the _ferdord_ to him, and he sleeps from it. Lug +looked at each wound that it was clean. Then Lug said: + +'Arise, O great son of the Ulstermen, whole of thy wounds. ... Go +into thy chariot secure. Arise, arise!' [Note: Rhetoric.] + +For three days and three nights Cuchulainn was asleep. It were +right indeed though his sleep equalled his weariness. From the +Monday after the end of summer exactly to the Wednesday after +Candlemas, for this space Cuchulainn had not slept, except when he +slept a little while against his spear after midday, with his head +on his clenched fist, and his clenched fist on his spear, and his +spear on his knee; but he was striking and cutting and attacking +and slaying the four great provinces of Ireland for that space. + +It is then that the warrior of the sid cast herbs and grasses of +curing and charms of healing into the hurts and wounds and into +the injuries and into the many wounds of Cuchulainn, so that +Cuchulainn recovered in his sleep without his perceiving it at all. + + +Now it was at this time that the boys came south from Emain Macha: +Folloman Mac Conchobair with three fifties of kings' sons of +Ulster, and they gave battle thrice to the hosts, so that three +times their own number fell, and all the boys fell except Folloman +Mac Conchobair. Folloman boasted that he would not go back to Emain +for ever and ever, until he should take the head of Ailill with +him, with the golden crown that was above it. This was not easy to +him; for the two sons of Bethe Mac Bain, the two sons of Ailill's +foster-mother and foster-father, came on him, and wounded him so +that he fell by them. So that that is the death of the boys of +Ulster and of Folloman Mac Conchobair. + +Cuchulainn for his part was in his deep sleep till the end of three +days and three nights at the mound in Lerga. Cuchulainn arose then +from his sleep, and put his hand over his face, and made a purple +wheelbeam from head to foot, and his mind was strong in him, and he +would have gone to an assembly, or a march, or a tryst, or a +beer-house, or to one of the chief assemblies of Ireland. + +'How long have I been in this sleep now, O warrior?' said +Cuchulainn. + +'Three days and three nights,' said the warrior. + +'Alas for that!' said Cuchulainn. + +'What is the matter?' said the warrior. + +'The hosts without attack for this space,' said Cuchulainn. + +'They are not that at all indeed,' said the warrior. + +'Who has come upon them?' said Cuchulainn. + +'The boys came from the north from Emain Macha; Folloman Mac +Conchobair with three fifties of boys of the kings' sons of Ulster; +and they gave three battles to the hosts for the space of the three +days and the three nights in which you have been in your sleep now. +And three times their own number fell, and the boys fell, except +Folloman Mac Conchobair. Folloman boasted that he would take +Ailill's head, and that was not easy to him, for he was killed.' + +'Pity for that, that I was not in my strength! For if I had been in +my strength, the boys would not have fallen as they have fallen, +and Folloman Mac Conchobair would not have fallen.' + +'Strive further, O Little Hound, it is no reproach to thy honour +and no disgrace to thy valour.' + +'Stay here for us to-night, O warrior,' said Cuchulainn, 'that we +may together avenge the boys on the hosts.' + +'I will not stay indeed,' said the warrior, 'for however great the +contests of valour and deeds of arms any one does near thee, it is +not on him there will be the renown of it or the fame or the +reputation, but it is on thee; therefore I will not stay. But ply +thy deed of arms thyself alone on the hosts, for not with them is +there power over thy life this time.' + +'The scythe-chariot, O my friend Loeg!' said Cuchulainn; 'can you +yoke it? and is its equipment here? If you can yoke it, and if you +have its equipment, yoke it; and if you have not its equipment, do +not yoke it at all.' + +It is then that the charioteer arose, and he put on his hero's +dress of charioteering. This was his hero's dress of charioteering +that he put on: his soft tunic of skin, light and airy, +well-turned [Note: Lit. 'kneaded.'], made of skin, sewn, of +deer-skin, so that it did not restrain the movement of his hands +outside. He put on his black (?) upper-cloak over it outside: Simon +Magus had made it for Darius, King of the Romans, so that Darius +gave it to Conchobar, and Conchobar gave it to Cuchulainn, and +Cuchulainn gave it to his charioteer. The charioteer took first +then his helm, ridged, like a board (?), four-cornered, with much +of every colour and every form, over the middle of his shoulders. +This was well-measured (?) to him, and it was not an overweight. +His hand brought the circlet of red-yellow, as though it were a +plate of red-gold, of refined gold smelted over the edge of an +anvil, to his brow, as a sign of his charioteering, in distinction +to his master. + +He took the goads (?) of his horses, and his whip (?) inlaid in his +right hand. He took the reins to hold back his horses in his left +hand. [Note: Gloss incorporated in text: 'i. e. to direct his +horses, in his left hand, for the great power of his charioteering.'] +Then he put the iron inlaid breastplates on the horses, so that +they were covered from forehead to forefoot with spears and points +and lances and hard points, so that every motion in this chariot +was spear-near, so that every corner and every point and every +end and every front of this chariot was a way of tearing. It is +then that he cast a spell of covering over his horses and over +his companion, so that he was not visible to any one in the +camp, and so that every one in the camp was visible to them. +It was proper that he should cast this, because there were the +three gifts of charioteering on the charioteer that day, the +leap over ----, and the straight ----, and the ----. + +Then the hero and the champion and he who made the fold of the Badb +[Note: The Badb (scald-crow) was a war-goddess. This is an +expressive term for the piled-up bodies of the slain.] of the men +of the earth, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, took his battle-array of +battle and contest and strife. This was his battle-array of battle +and contest and strife: he put on twenty-seven skin tunics, waxed, +like board, equally thick, which used to be under strings and +chains and thongs, against his white skin, that he might not lose +his mind nor his understanding when his rage should come. He put on +his hero's battle-girdle over it outside, of hard-leather, hard, +tanned, of the choice of seven ox-hides of a heifer, so that it +covered him from the thin part of his sides to the thick part of +his arm-pit; it used to be on him to repel spears, and points, and +darts, and lances, and arrows. For they were cast from him just as +if it was stone or rock or horn that they struck (?). Then he put +on his apron, skin like, silken, with its edge of white gold +variegated, against the soft lower part of his body. He put on his +dark apron of dark leather, well tanned, of the choice of four +ox-hides of a heifer, with his battle-girdle of cows' skins (?) +about it over his silken skin-like apron. Then the royal hero took +his battle-arms of battle and contest and strife. These then were +his battle-arms of battle: he took his ivory-hilted, bright-faced +weapon, with his eight little swords; he took his five-pointed +spear, with his eight little spears [Note: In the margin: 'and his +quiver,' probably an interpolation.]; he took his spear of battle, +with his eight little darts; he took his javelin with his eight +little javelins; his eight shields of feats, with his round shield, +dark red, in which a boar that would be shown at a feast would go +into the boss (?), with its edge sharp, keen, very sharp, round +about it, so that it would cut hairs against the stream for +sharpness and keenness and great sharpness; when the warrior did +the edge-feat with it, he would cut equally with his shield, and +with his spear, and with his sword. + +Then he put on his head a ridged-helmet of battle and contest and +strife, from which there was uttered the shout of a hundred +warriors, with along cry from every corner and every angle of it. +For there used to cry from it equally goblins and sprites and +ghosts of the glen and demons of the air, before and above and +around, wherever he used to go before shedding the blood of +warriors and enemies. There was cast over him his dress of +concealment by the garment of the Land of Promise that was given by +his foster-father in wizardry. + +It is then came the first contortion on Cuchulainn, so that it made +him horrible, many-shaped, wonderful, strange. His shanks shook +like a tree before the stream, or like a rush against the stream, +every limb and every joint and every end and every member, of him +from head to foot. He made a ---- of rage of his body inside his +skin. His feet and his shins and his knees came so that they were +behind him; his heels and his calves and his hams came so that they +were in front. The front-sinews of his calves came so that they +were on the front of his shins, so that every huge knot of them was +as great as a warrior's clenched fist. The temple-sinews of his +head were stretched, so that they were on the hollow of his neck, +so that every round lump of them, very great, innumerable, not to +be equalled (?), measureless, was as great as the head of a month +old child. + +Then he made a red bowl of his face and of his visage on him; he +swallowed one of his two eyes into his head, so that from his cheek +a wild crane could hardly have reached it [to drag it] from the +back of his skull. The other sprang out till it was on his cheek +outside. His lips were marvellously contorted. Tie drew the cheek +from the jawbone, so that his gullet was visible. His lungs and his +lights came so that they were flying in his mouth and in his +throat. He struck a blow of the ---- of a lion with his upper +palate on the roof of his skull, so that every flake of fire that +came into his mouth from his throat was as large as a wether's +skin. His heart was heard light-striking (?) against his ribs like +the roaring of a bloodhound at its food, or like a lion going +through bears. There were seen the palls of the Badb, and the +rain-clouds of poison, and the sparks of fire very red in clouds +and in vapours over his head with the boiling of fierce rage, that +rose over him. + +His hair curled round his head like the red branches of a thorn in +the gap of Atalta (?). Though a royal apple-tree under royal fruit +had been shaken about it, hardly would an apple have reached the +ground through it, but an apple would have fixed on every single +hair there, for the twisting of the rage that rose from his hair +above him. + +The hero's light rose from his forehead, so that it was as long, +and as thick, as a warrior's whet-stone, so that it was equally +long with the nose, till he went mad in playing with the shields, +in pressing on (?) the charioteer, in ---- the hosts. As high, as +thick, as strong, as powerful, as long, as the mast of a great +ship, was the straight stream of dark blood that rose straight up +from the very top of his head, so that it made a dark smoke of +wizardry like the smoke of a palace when the king comes to equip +himself in the evening of a wintry day. + +After that contortion wherewith Cuchulainn was contorted, then the +hero of valour sprang into his scythed battle-chariot, with its +iron points, with its thin edges, with its hooks, and with its hard +points, with its sharp points (?) of a hero, with their pricking +goads (?), with its nails of sharpness that were on shafts and +thongs and cross-pieces and ropes (?) of that chariot. + +It was thus the chariot was, with its body thin-framed (?), +dry-framed (?), feat-high, straight-shouldered (?), of a champion, +on which there would have been room for eight weapons fit for a +lord, with the speed of swallow or of wind or of deer across the +level of the plain. The chariot was placed on two horses, swift, +vehement, furious, small-headed, small-round, small-end, pointed, +----, red-breasted, ----, easy to recognise, well-yoked, ... One of +these two horses was supple, swift-leaping, great of strength, great +of curve, great of foot, great of length, ----. The other horse was +flowing-maned, slender-footed, thin-footed, slender-heeled, ----. + +It is then that he threw the thunder-feat of a hundred, and the +thunder-feat of four hundred, and he stopped at the thunder-feat +of five hundred, for he did not think it too much for this equal +number to fall by him in his first attack, and in his first contest +of battle on the four provinces of Ireland; and he came forth in +this way to attack his enemies, and he took his chariot in a great +circuit about the four great provinces of Ireland, and he put the +attack of an enemy among enemies on them. And a heavy course was +put on his chariot, and the iron wheels of the chariot went into +the ground, so that it was enough for fort and fortress, the way +the iron wheels of the chariot went into the ground; for there +arose alike turfs and stones and rocks and flagstones and gravel of +the ground as high as the iron wheels of the chariot. + +The reason why he cast the circle of war round about the four great +provinces of Ireland, was that they might not flee from him, and +that they might not scatter, that he might make sure of them, to +avenge the boys on them; and he comes into the battle thus in the +middle, and overthrew great fences of his enemies' corpses round +about the host thrice, and puts the attack of an enemy among +enemies on them, so that they fell sole to sole, and neck to neck; +such was the density of the slaughter. + +He went round again thrice thus, so that he left a layer of six +round them in the great circuit; i.e. soles of three to necks of +three in the course of a circuit round the camp. So that its name +in the Foray is Sesrech Breslige, and it is one of the three not to +be numbered in the Foray; i.e. Sesrech Breslige and Imslige +Glendamnach and the battle on Garach and Irgarach, except that it +was alike dog and horse and man there. + +This is what others say, that Lug Mac Ethlend fought along with +Cuchulainn the Sesrech Breslige. Their number is not known, and it +is impossible to count what number fell there of the rabble. But +the chief only have been counted. These are the names of the +princes and chiefs: two Cruads, two Calads, two Cirs, two Ciars, +two Ecells, three Croms, three Caurs, three Combirge, four +Feochars, four Furachars, four Cass, four Fotas, five Caurs, five +Cermans, five Cobthachs, six Saxans, six Dachs, six Dares, seven +Rochads, seven Ronans, seven Rurthechs, eight Roclads, eight +Rochtads, eight Rindachs, eight Corpres, eight Mulachs, nine Daigs, +nine Dares, nine Damachs, ten Fiachs, ten Fiachas, ten Fedelmids. + +Ten kings over seven fifties did Cuchulainn slay in Breslech Mor +in Mag Murthemne; and an innumerable number besides of dogs and +horses and women and boys and people of no consequence and rabble. +For there did not escape one man out of three of the men of Ireland +without a thigh-bone or half his head or one eye broken, or without +being marked for ever. And he came from them after giving them +battle without wound or blood-stain on himself or on his servant or +on either of his horses. + +Cuchulainn came next day to survey the host and to show his soft +fair form to the women and the troops of women and the girls and +the maidens and the poets and the bards, for he did not hold in +honour or dignity that haughty form of wizardry that had appeared +to them on him the night before. Therefore he came to show his soft +fair form that day. + +Fair indeed the boy who came then to show his form to the hosts, +that is, Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim. The appearance of three heads of +hair on him, dark against the skin of his head, blood-red in the +middle, a crown gold-yellow which covers them. A fair arrangement +of this hair so that it makes three circles round the hollow of the +back of his head, so that each hair ----, dishevelled, very golden, +excellent, in long curls, distinguished, fair-coloured, over his +shoulders, was like gold thread. + +A hundred ringlets, bright purple, of red-gold, gold-flaming, round +his neck; a hundred threads with mixed carbuncle round his head. +Four dimples in each of his two cheeks; that is, a yellow dimple, +and a green dimple, and a blue dimple, and a purple dimple. Seven +gems of brilliance of an eye, in each of his two royal eyes. Seven +toes on each of his two feet, seven fingers on each of his two +hands, with the grasp of a hawk's claws, with the seizure of a +griffin's claws on each of them separately. + +Then he puts on his feast-dress that day. This was his raiment on +him: a fair tunic, proper; bright-purple, with a border with five +folds. A white brooch of white silver with adorned gold inlaid over +his white breast, as if it was a lantern full of light, that the +eyes of men could not look at for its splendour and its brightness. +A silken tunic of silk against his skin so that it covered him to +the top of his dark apron of dark-red, soldierly, royal, silken. + +A dark shield; dark red, dark purple, with five chains of gold, +with a rim of white metal on it. A sword gold-hilted, inlaid with +ivory hilt of red-gold raised high on his girdle. A spear, long, +grey-edged, with a spear-head sharp, attacking, with rivets of +gold, gold-flaming by him in the chariot. Nine heads in one of his +two hands, and ten heads in the other hand. He shook them from him +towards the hosts. So that this is the contest of a night to +Cuchulainn. Then the women of Connaught raised themselves on the +hosts, and the women were climbing on the men to look at +Cuchulainn's form. Medb hid her face and dare not show her face, +but was under the shield-shelter for fear of Cuchulainn. So that it +is hence Dubthach Doeltenga of Ulster said: + + 'If it is the Riastartha, there will be corpses + Of men therefrom,' etc. [Note: Rhetoric, fifty-four lines.] + +Fiacha Fialdana from Imraith (?) came to speak with the son of his +mother's sister, Mane Andoe his name. Docha Mac Magach went with +Mane Andoe: Dubthach Doeltenga of Ulster came with Fiacha Fialdana +from Imraith (?). Docha threw a spear at Fiacha, so that it went +into Dubthach. Then Dubthach threw a spear at Mane, so that it +went into Docha. The mothers of Dubthach and Docha were two +sisters. Hence is Imroll Belaig Euin. [Note: i.e. the Random Throw +of Belach Euin.] + +(Or Imroll Belaig Euin is from this: the hosts go to Belach Euin, +their two troops wait there. Diarmait Mac Conchobair comes from the +north from Ulster. + +'Let a horseman go from you,' said Diarmait, 'that Mane may come to +speak with me with one man, and I will come with one man to meet +him.' They meet then. + +I have come,' said Diarmait, 'from Conchobar, who says to Medb and +Ailill, that they let the cows go, and make whole all that they +have done there, and bring the Bull [Note: i.e. bring Findbennach +to meet the Dun of Cualnge.] from the west hither to the Bull, that +they may meet, because Medb has promised it.' + +'I will go and tell them,' said Mane. He tells this then to Medb +and Ailill. + +'This cannot be got of Medb,' said Mane. + +'Let us exchange arms then, 'said Diarmait, 'if you think it +better.' + +'I am content,' said Mane. Each of them throws his spear at the +other, so that the two of them die, and so that the name of this +place is Imroll Belaig Euin.) + +Their forces rush at each other: there fall three twenties of them +in each of the forces. Hence is Ard-in-Dirma. [Note: The Height of +the Troop.] + +Ailill's folk put his king's crown on Tamun the fool; Ailill dare +not have it on himself. Cuchulainn threw a stone at him at Ath +Tamuin, so that his head broke thereby. Hence is Ath Tamuin and +Tuga-im-Tamun. [Note: i.e., Covering about Tamun.] + +Then Oengus, son of Oenlam the Fair, a bold warrior of Ulster, +turned all the host at Moda Loga (that is the same as Lugmod) as +far as Ath Da Ferta: He did not let them go past, and he pelted +them with stones, and the learned say ---- before till they should +go under the sword at Emain Macha, if it had been in single combat +that they had come against him. Fair-play was broken on him, and +they slew him in an unequal fight. + +'Let some one come from you against me,' said Cuchulainn at Ath Da +Ferta. + +'It will not be I, it will not be I,' said every one from his +place. 'A scapegoat is not owed from my race, and if it were owed, +it would not be I whom they would give in his stead for a +scapegoat.' + +Then Fergus Mac Roich was asked to go against him. He refuses to go +against his foster-son Cuchulainn. Wine was given to him, and he +was greatly intoxicated, and he was asked about going to the +combat. He goes forth then since they were urgently imploring him. + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'It is with my security that you come against +me, O friend Fergus,' said he, 'with no sword in its place.' For +Ailill had stolen it, as we said before. + +'I do not care at all,' said Fergus; 'though there were a sword +there, it would not be plied on you. Give way to me, O Cuchulainn,' +said Fergus. + +'You will give way to me in return then,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Even so,' said Fergus. + +Then Cuchulainn fled back before Fergus as far as Grellach Doluid, +that Fergus might give way to him on the day of the battle. Then +Cuchulainn sprang in to Grellach Doluid. + + +'Have you his head, O Fergus?' said every one. + +'No,' said Fergus, 'it is not like a tryst. He who is there is too +lively for me. Till my turn comes round again, I will not go.' + +Then they go past him, and take camp at Crich Ross. Then Ferchu, an +exile, who was in exile against Ailill, hears them. He comes to +meet Cuchulainn. Thirteen men was his number. Cuchulainn kills +Ferchu's warriors. Their thirteen stones are there. + +Medb sent Mand of Muresc, son of Daire, of the Domnandach, to fight +Cuchulainn. Own brothers were lie and Fer Diad, and two sons of one +father. This Mand was a man fierce and excessive in eating and +sleeping, a man ill-tongued, foul-mouthed, like Dubthach Doeltenga +of Ulster. He was a man strong, active, with strength of limb like +Munremar Mac Gerrcind; a fiery warrior like Triscod Trenfer of +Conchobar's house. + +'I will go, and I unarmed, and I will grind him between my hands, +for I deem it no honour or dignity to ply weapons on a beardless +wild boy such as he.' + +He went then to seek Cuchulainn. He and his charioteer were there +on the plain watching the host. + +'One man coming towards us,' said Loeg to Cuchulainn. + +'What kind of man?' said Cuchulainn. + +'A man black, dark, strong, bull-like, and he unarmed.' + +'Let him come past you,' said Cuchulainn. + +He came to them therewith. + +To fight against you have I come,' said Mand. + +Then they begin to wrestle for a long time, and Mand overthrows +Cuchulainn thrice, so that the charioteer urged him. + +'If you had a strife for the hero's portion in Emain,' said he, +'you would be mighty over the warriors of Emain!' + + +His hero's rage comes, and his warrior's fury rises, so that he +overthrew Mand against the pillar, so that he falls in pieces. +Hence is Mag Mand Achta, that is, Mand Echta, that is, Mand's death +there. + + +[From the Yellow Book of Lecan] + +On the morrow Medb sent twenty-seven men to Cuchulainn's bog. +Fuilcarnn is the name of the bog, on this side of Fer Diad's Ford. +They threw their twenty-nine spears at him at once; i.e. +Gaile-dana with his twenty-seven sons and his sister's son, Glas +Mac Delgna. When then they all stretched out their hands to +their swords, Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe came after them out of the +camp. He gave a leap from his chariot when he saw all their +hands against Cuchulainn, and he strikes off the arms of the +twenty-nine of them. + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'What you have done I deem help at the +nick of time (?).' + +'This little,' said Fiacha, 'is a breach of compact for us +Ulstermen. If any of them reaches the camp, we will go with our +cantred under the point of the sword.' + +'I swear, etc., since I have emitted my breath,' said Cuchulainn, +'not a man of them shall reach it alive.' + +Cuchulainn slew then the twenty-nine men and the two sons of Ficce +with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who came to ply their might +on the host. This is that deed on the Foray, when they went to the +battle with Cuchulainn. + + +_This is the Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn_ + +Then they considered what man among them would be fit to ward off +Cuchulainn. The four provinces of Ireland spoke, and confirmed, and +discussed, whom it would be fitting to send to the ford against +Cuchulainn. All said that it was the Horn-skin from Irrus Domnand, +the weight that is not supported, the battle-stone of doom, his own +dear and ardent foster-brother. For Cuchulainn had not a feat that +he did not possess, except it were the Gae Bolga alone; and they +thought he could avoid it, and defend himself against it, because +of the horn about him, so that neither arms nor many edges pierced +it. + +Medb sent messengers to bring Fer Diad. Fer Diad did not come with +those messengers. Medb sent poets and bards and satirists [Note: +Ir. _aes glantha gemaidi_, the folk who brought blotches on the +cheeks (i.e. by their lampoons).] to him, that they might satirise +him and mock him and put him to ridicule, that he might not find a +place for his head in the world, until he should come to the tent +of Medb and Ailill on the Foray. Fer Diad came with those +messengers, for the fear of their bringing shame on him. + +Findabair, the daughter of Medb and Ailill, was put on one side of +him: it is Findabair who put her hand on every goblet and on every +cup of Fer Diad; it is she who gave him three kisses at every cup +of them; it is she who distributed apples right frequent over the +bosom of his tunic. This is what she said: that he, Fer Diad, was +her darling and her chosen wooer of the men of the world. + +When Fer Diad was satisfied and happy and very joyful, Medb said: + +'Ale! O Fer Diad, do you know why you have been summoned into this +tent?' + +'I do not know indeed,' said Fer Diad; 'except that the nobles of +the men of Ireland are there. What is there less fitting for me to +be there than for any other good warrior?' + +'It is not that indeed,' said Medb; 'but to give you a chariot +worth three sevens of cumals [See previous note about _cumal_.] and +the equipment of twelve men, and the equal of Mag Murthemne from +the arable land of Mag Ai; and that you should be in Cruachan +always, and wine to be poured for you there; and freedom of your +descendants and of your race for ever without tribute or tax; my +leaf-shaped brooch of gold to be given to you, in which there are +ten score ounces and ten score half-ounces, and ten score _crosach_ +and ten score quarters; Findabair, my daughter and Ailill's +daughter, for your one wife, and you shall get my love if you need +it over and above.' + +'He does not need it,' said every, one: 'great are the rewards and +gifts.' + +'That is true,' said Fer Diad, 'they are great; and though they are +great, O Medb, it is with you yourself they will be left, rather +than that I should go against my foster-brother to battle.' + +'O men,' said she, said Medb (through the right way of division and +setting by the ears), 'true is the word that Cuchulainn spoke,' as +if she had not heard Fer Diad at all. + +'What word is this, O Medb?' said Fer Diad. + +'He said indeed,' said she, 'that he would not think it too much +that you should fall by him as the first fruits of his prowess in +the province to which he should come.' + +'To say that was not fitting for him. For it is not weariness or +cowardice that he has ever known in me, day nor night. I swear, +etc., [Note: The usual oath, 'by the god by whom my people swear,' +understood.] that I will be the first man who will come to-morrow +morning to the ford of combat.' + +'May victory and blessing come to you,' said Medb. 'And I think it +better that weariness or cowardice be found with you, because of +friendship beyond my own men (?). Why is it more fitting for him to +seek the good of Ulster because his mother was of them, than for +you to seek the good of the province of Connaught, because you are +the son of a king of Connaught?' + +It is thus they were binding their covenants and their compact, and +they made a song there: + + 'Thou shalt have a reward,' etc. + +There was a wonderful warrior of Ulster who witnessed that +bargaining, and that was Fergus Mac Roich. Fergus came to his tent. + +'Woe is me! the deed that is done to-morrow morning!' said Fergus. + +'What deed is that?' said the folk in the tent. + +'My good fosterling Cuchulainn to be slain.' + +'Good lack! who makes that boast?' + +'An easy question: his own dear ardent foster-brother, Fer Diad Mac +Damain. Why do ye not win my blessing?' said Fergus; 'and let one +of you go with a warning and with compassion to Cuchulainn, if +perchance he would leave the ford to-morrow morning.' + +'On our conscience,' said they, 'though it were you yourself who +were on the ford of combat, we would not come as far as [the ford] +to seek you.' + +'Good, my lad,' said Fergus; 'get our horses for us and yoke the +chariot.' + +The lad arose and got the horses and yoked the chariot. They came +forth to the ford of combat where Cuchulainn was. + +'One chariot coming hither towards us, O Cuchulainn!' said Loeg. +For it is thus the lad was, with his back towards his lord. He used +to win every other game of _brandub_ [_Brandub_, the name of a +game; probably, like _fidchill_ and _buanfach_, of the nature of +chess or draughts.] and of chess-playing from his master: the +sentinel and watchman on the four quarters of Ireland over and +above that. + +'What kind of chariot then?' said Cuchulainn. + +'A chariot like a huge royal fort, with its yolcs strong golden, +with its great panel(?) of copper, with its shafts of bronze, with +its body thin-framed (?), dry-framed (?), feat-high, scythed, +sword-fair (?), of a champion, on two horses, swift, stout(?), +well-yoked (?), ---- (?). One royal warrior, wide-eyed, was the +combatant of the chariot. A beard curly, forked, on him, so that it +reached over the soft lower part of his soft shirt, so that it +would shelter (?) fifty warriors to be under the heavy ---- of the +warrior's beard, on a day of storm and rain. A round shield, white, +variegated, many-coloured on him, with three chains ----, so that +there would be room from front to back for four troops of ten men +behind the leather of the shield which is upon the ---- of the +warrior. A sword, long, hard-edged, red-broad in the sheath, woven +and twisted of white silver, over the skin of the bold-in-battle. A +spear, strong, three-ridged, with a winding and with bands of white +silver all white by him across the chariot.' + +'Not hard the recognition,' said Cuchulainn; 'my friend Fergus +comes there, with a warning and with compassion to me before all +the four provinces.' + +Fergus reached them and sprang from his chariot and Cuchulainn +greeted him. + +'Welcome your coming, O my friend, O Fergus,' said Cuchulainn. + +'I believe your welcome,' said Fergus. + +'You may believe it,' said Cuchulainn; 'if a flock of birds come to +the plain, you shall have a duck with half of another; if fish come +to the estuaries, you shall have a salmon with half of another; a +sprig of watercress, and a sprig of marshwort, and a sprig of +seaweed, and a drink of cold sandy water after it.' + +'That portion is that of an outlaw,' said Fergus. + +'That is true, it is an outlaw's portion that I have,' said +Cuchulainn, 'for I have been from the Monday after Samain to this +time, and I have not gone for a night's entertainment, through +strongly obstructing the men of Ireland on the Cattle-Foray of +Cualnge at this time.' + +'If it were for this we came,' said Fergus, 'we should have thought +it the better to leave it; and it is not for this that we have +come.' + +'Why else have you come to me?' said Cuchulainn. + +'To tell you the warrior who comes against you in battle and combat +to-morrow morning,' said he. + +'Let us find it out and let us hear it from you then,' said +Cuchulainn. + +'Your own foster-brother, Fer Diad Mac Damain.' + +'On our word, we think it not best that it should be he we come to +meet,'said Cuchulainn, 'and it is not for fear of him but for the +greatness of our love for him.' + +'It is fitting to fear him,' said Fergus, 'for he has a skin of +horn in battle against a man, so that neither weapon nor edge will +pierce it.' + +'Do not say that at all,' said Cuchulainn, 'for I swear the oath +that my people swear, that every joint and every limb of him will +be as pliant as a pliant rush in the midst of a stream under the +point of my sword, if he shows himself once to me on the ford.' + +It is thus they were speaking, and they made a song: + + 'O Cuchulainn, a bright meeting,' etc. + +After that, 'Why have you come, O my friend, O Fergus?' said +Cuchulainn. + +'That is my purpose,' said Fergus. + +'Good luck and profit,' said Cuchulainn, 'that no other of the men +of Ireland has come for this purpose, unless the four provinces of +Ireland all met at one time. I think nothing of a warning before a +single warrior.' + +Then Fergus went to his tent. + +As regards the charioteer and Cuchulainn: + +'What shall you do to-night?' said Loeg. + +'What indeed?' said Cuchulainn. + +'It is thus that Fer Diad will come to seek you, with new beauty of +plaiting and haircutting, and washing and bathing, and the four +provinces of Ireland with him to look at the fight. It would please +me if you went to the place where you will get the same adorning +for yourself, to the place where is Emer of the Beautiful Hair, to +Cairthend of Cluan Da Dam in Sliab Fuait.' + +So Cuchulainn went thither that night, and spent the night with his +own wife. His adventures from this time are not discussed here now. +As to Fer Diad, he came to his tent; it was gloomy and weary that +Fer Diad's tent-servants were that night. They thought it certain +that where the two pillars of the battle of the world should meet, +that both would fall; or the issue of it would be, that it would be +their own lord who would fall there. For it was not easy to fight +with Cuchulainn on the Foray. + +There were great cares on Fer Diad's mind that night, so that they +did not let him sleep. One of his great anxieties was that he +should let pass from him all the treasures that had been offered +to him, and the maiden, by reason of combat with one man. If he did +not fight with that one man, he must fight with the six warriors on +the morrow. His care that was greater than this was that if he +should show himself once on the ford to Cuchulainn, he was certain +that he himself would not have power of his head or life +thereafter; and Fer Diad arose early on the morrow. + +'Good, my lad,' said he, 'get our horses for us, and harness the +chariot.' + +'On our word,' said the servant, 'we think it not greater praise to +go this journey than not to go it.' + +He was talking with his charioteer, and he made this little song, +inciting his charioteer: + + 'Let us go to this meeting,' etc. + +The servant got the horses and yoked the chariot, and they went +forth from the camp. + +'My lad,' said Fer Diad, 'it is not fitting that we make our +journey without farewell to the men of Ireland. Turn the horses +and the chariot for us towards the men of Ireland.' + +The servant turned the horses and the chariot thrice towards the +men of Ireland. ... + + +'Does Ailill sleep now?' said Medb. + +'Not at all,' said Ailill. + +'Do you hear your new son-in-law greeting you?' + +'Is that what he is doing?' said Ailill. + +'It is indeed,' said Medb, 'and I swear by what my people swear, +the man who makes the greeting yonder will not come back to you on +the same feet.' + +'Nevertheless we have profited by(?) the good marriage connection +with him,' said Ailill; 'provided Cuchulainn fell by him, I should +not care though they both fell. But we should think it better for +Fer Diad to escape.' + + +Fer Diad came to the ford of combat. + +'Look, my lad,' said Fer Diad; 'is Cuchulainn on the ford?' + +'He is not, indeed,' said the servant. + +'Look well for us,' said Fer Diad. + +'Cuchulainn is not a little speck in hiding where he would be,' +said the lad. + +'It is true, O boy, until to-day Cuchulainn has not heard of the +coming of a good warrior [Note: Gloss incorporated in the text: 'or +a good man.'] against him on the Cattle Foray of Cualnge, and when +he has heard of it he has left the ford.' + +'A great pity to slander Cuchulainn in his absence! For do you +remember how when you gave battle to German Garbglas above the +edge-borders of the Tyrrhene Sea, you left your sword with the +hosts, and it was Cuchulainn who killed a hundred warriors in +reaching it, and he brought it to you; and do you remember where we +were that night?' said the lad. + +'I do not know it,' said Fer Diad. + +'At the house of Scathach's steward,' said the lad, 'and you went +---- and haughtily before us into the house first. The churl gave +you a blow with the three-pointed flesh-hook in the small of your +back, so that it threw you out over the door like a shot. +Cuchulainn came into the house and gave the churl a blow with his +sword, so that it made two pieces of him. It was I who was steward +for you while you were in that place. If only for that day, you +should not say that you are a better warrior than Cuchulainn.' + +'What you have done is wrong,' said Fer Diad, 'for I would not have +come to seek the combat if you had said it to me at first. Why do +you not pull the cushions [Note: LL _fortchai_. YBL has _feirtsi_, +'shafts.'] of the chariot under my side and my skin-cover under my +head, so that I might sleep now?' + +'Alas!' said the lad, 'it is the sleep of a fey man before deer and +hounds here.' + +'What, O lad, are you not fit to keep watch and ward for me?' + +'I am fit,' said the lad; 'unless men come in clouds or in mist to +seek you, they will not come at all from east or west to seek you +without warning and observation.' + +The cushions [Note: LL _fortchai_. YBL has _feirtsi_, 'shafts.'] +of his chariot were pulled under his side and the skin under his +head. And yet he could not sleep a little. + + +As to Cuchulainn it is set forth: + +'Good, O my friend, O Loeg, take the horses and yoke the chariot; +if Fer Diad is waiting for us, he is thinking it long.' + +The boy rose and took the horses and yoked the chariot. + +Cuchulainn stepped into his chariot and they came on to the ford. +As to Fer Diad's servant, he had not long to watch till he heard +the creaking of the chariot coming towards them. He took to waking +his master, and made a song: + + 'I hear a chariot,' etc. + +(This is the description of Cuchulainn's chariot: one of the three +chief chariots of the narration on the Cattle Foray of Cualnge.) + +'How do you see Cuchulainn?' said he, said Fer Diad, to his +charioteer. + +'I see,' said he, 'the chariot broad above, fine, of white crystal, +with a yoke of gold with ---- (?), with great panels of copper, +with shafts of bronze, with tyres of white metal, with its body +thin-framed (?) dry-framed (?), feat-high, sword-fair (?), of a +champion, on which there would be room for seven arms fit for a +lord (?). A fair seat for its lord; so that this chariot, +Cuchulainn's chariot, would reach with the speed of a swallow or of +a wild deer, over the level land of Mag Slebe. That is the speed +and ---- which they attain, for it is towards us they go. This +chariot is at hand on two horses small-headed, small-round, +small-end, pointed, ----, red-breasted, ----, easy to recognise, +well-yoked. ... One of the two horses is supple(?), swift-leaping, +great of strength, great of foot, great of length, ----. The other +horse is curly-maned, slender-footed, narrow-footed, heeled, ----. +Two wheels dark, black. A pole of metal adorned with red enamel, of +a fair colour. Two bridles golden, inlaid. There is a man with fair +curly hair, broad cut (?), in the front of this chariot. There is +round him a blue mantle, red-purple. A spear with wings (?), and it +red, furious; in his clenched fist, red-flaming. The appearance of +three heads of hair on him, i.e. dark hair against the skin of his +head, hair blood-red in the middle, a crown of gold covers the +third hair. + +'A fair arrangement of the hair so that it makes three circles +round about his shoulders down behind. I think it like gold thread, +after its colour has been made over the edge of the anvil; or like +the yellow of bees on which the sun shines in a summer day, is the +shining of each single hair of his hair. Seven toes on each of his +feet, and seven fingers on each of his hands, and the shining of a +very great fire round his eye, ---- (?) and the hoofs of his +horses; a hero's ---- in his hands. + +'The charioteer of the chariot is worthy of him in his presence: +curly hair very black has he, broad-cut along his head. A cowl-dress +is on him open; two very fine golden leaf-shaped switches in his +hand, and a light grey mantle round him, and a goad of white silver +in his hand, plying the goad on the horses, whichever way the +champion of great deeds goes who was at hand in the chariot. + +'He is veteran of his land (?): he and his servant think little of +Ireland.' + +'Go, O fellow,' said he, said Fer Diad; 'you praise too much +altogether; and prepare the arms in the ford against his coming.' + +'If I turned my face backwards, it seems to me the chariot would +come through the back of my neck.' + +'O fellow,' said he, 'too greatly do you praise Cuchulainn, for it +is not a reward for praising he has given you'; and it is thus he +was giving his description, and he said: + + 'The help is timely,' etc. + +It is not long afterwards that they met in the middle of the ford, +and Fer Diad said to Cuchulainn: + +'Whence come you, O Cua?' said he (for [Note: An interpolation.] +_cua_ was the name of squinting in old Gaelic; and there were seven +pupils in Cuchulainn's royal eye, and two of these pupils were +squinting, and the ugliness of it is no greater than its beauty on +him; and if there had been a greater blemish on Cuchulainn, it is +that with which he reproached him; and he was proclaiming it); and +he made a song, and Cuchulainn answered: + + 'Whence art thou come, O Hound,' etc. + +Then Cuchulainn said to his charioteer that he was to taunt him +when he was overcome, and that he was to praise him when he was +victorious, in the combat against Fer Diad. Then the charioteer +said to him: + +'The man goes over thee as the tail over a cat; he washes thee as +foam is washed in water, he squeezes (?) thee as a loving mother +her son.' + + +Then they took to the ford-play. Scathach's ---- (?)came to them +both. Fer Diad and Cuchulainn performed marvellous feats. +Cuchulainn went and leapt into Fer Diad's shield; Fer Diad hurled +him from him thrice into the ford; so that the charioteer taunted +him again ---- and he swelled like breath in a bag. + +His size increased till he was greater than Fer Diad. + +'Give heed to the _Gae bolga_,' said the charioteer; he sent it to +him along the stream. + +Cuchulainn seized it between his toes, and wielded it on Fer Diad, +into his body's armour. It advances like one spear, so that it +became twenty-four points. Then Fer Diad turned the shield below. +Cuchulainn thrust at him with the spear over the shield, so that it +broke the shaft of his ribs and went through Fer Diad's heart. + +[_Fer Diad_:] 'Strong is the ash from thy right hand! The ---- rib +breaks, my heart is blood. Well hast thou given battle! I fall, O +Hound.' + +[_Cuchulainn_:] 'Alas, O golden brooch, O Fer Diad! ----, O fair +strong striker! Thy hand was victorious; our dear foster +brotherhood, O delight of the eyes! Thy shield with the rim of +gold, thy sword was dear. Thy ring of white silver round thy noble +arm. Thy chess-playing was worthy of a great man. Thy cheek +fair-purple; thy yellow curling hair was great, it was a fair +treasure. Thy soft folded girdle which used to be about thy side. +That thou shouldst fall at Cuchulainn's hands was sad, O Calf! Thy +shield did not suffice which used to be for service. Our combat +with thee is not fitting, our horses and our tumult. Fair was the +great hero! every host used to be defeated and put under foot. +Alas, O golden brooch, O Fer Diad!' + +*** + +THIS IS THE LONG WARNING OF SUALTAIM + +While the things that we have related were done, Suallaith heard +from Rath Sualtaim in Mag Murthemne the vexing of his son +Cuchulainn against twelve sons of Gaile Dana [Note: LL, +'Twenty-seven sons of Calatin.' In the story as related earlier in +YBL it is 'Gaile Dana with his twenty-seven sons.'] and his +sister's son. It is then that Sualtaim said: + +'Is it heaven that bursts, or the sea over its boundaries, or earth +that is destroyed, or the shout of my son against odds?' + +Then he comes to his son. Cuchulainn was displeased that he should +come to him. + +'Though he were slain, I should not have strength to avenge him. Go +to the Ulstermen,' says Cuchulainn, 'and let them give battle to +the warriors at once; if they do not give it, they will not be +avenged for ever.' + +When his father saw him, there was not in his chariot as much as +the point of a rush would cover that was not pierced. His left hand +which the shield protected, twenty wounds were in it. + +Sualtaim came over to Emain and shouted to the Ulstermen: + +'Men are being slain, women carried off, cows driven away!' + +His first shout was from the side of the court; his second from the +side of the fortress; the third shout was on the mound of the +hostages in Emain. No one answered; it was the practice of the +Ulstermen that none of them should speak except to Conchobar; and +Conchobar did not speak before the three druids. + +'Who takes them, who steals them, who carries them off?' said the +druid. + +Ailill Mac Mata carries them off and steals them and takes them, +through the guidance of Fergus Mac Roich,' said Sualtaim. 'Your +people have been enslaved as far as Dun Sobairce; their cows and +their women and their cattle have been taken. Cuchulainn did not +let them into Mag Murthemne and into Crich Rois; three months of +winter then, bent branches of hazel held together his dress upon +him. Dry wisps are on his wounds. He has been wounded so that he +has been parted joint from joint.' + +'Fitting,' said the druid, 'were the death of the man who has +spurred on the king.' + +'It is fitting for him,' said Conchobar. + +'It is fitting for him,' said the Ulstermen. + +'True is what Sualtaim says,' said Conchobar; 'from the Monday +night of Samain to the Monday night of Candlemas he has been in +this foray.' + +Sualtaim gave a leap out thereupon. He did not think sufficient +the answer that he had. He falls on his shield, so that the +engraved edge of the shield cut his head off. His head is brought +back into Emain into the house on the shield, and the head says the +same word (though some say that he was asleep on the stone, and +that he fell thence on to his shield in awaking). + +'Too great was this shout,' said Conchobar. 'The sea before them, +the heaven over their tops, the earth under their feet. I will +bring every cow into its milking-yard, and every woman and every +boy from their house, after the victory in battle.' + +Then Conchobar struck his hand on his son, Findchad Fer m-Bend. +Hence he is so called because there were horns of silver on him. + + +THE MUSTER OF THE ULSTERMEN + + +'Arise, O Findchad, I will send thee to Deda,' etc. [Note: +Rhetoric, followed by a long list of names.] + + +It was not, difficult for Findchad to take his message, for they +were, the whole province of Conchobar, every chief of them, +awaiting Conchobar; every one was then east and north and west of +Emain. When they were there, they all came till they were at Emain +Macha. When they were there, they Beard the uprising of Conchobar +in Emain. They went past Emain southwards after the host. Their +first march then was from Emain to Irard Cuillend. + +'What are you waiting for here?' said Conchobar. + +'Waiting for your sons,' said the host. 'They have gone with thirty +with them to Temair to seek Eirc, son of Coirpre Niafer and Fedelm +Noicride. Till their two cantreds should come to us, we will not go +from this place.' + +'I will not remain indeed,' said Conchobar, 'till the men of +Ireland know that I have awaked from the sickness in which I was.' + +Conchobar and Celtchar went with three fifties of chariots, and +they brought eight twenties of heads from Ath Airthir Midi; hence +is Ath Fene. They were there watching the host. And eight twenties +of women, that was their share of the spoil. Their heads were +brought there, and Conchobar and Celtchar sent them to the camp. It +is there that Celtchar said to Conchobar: [Note: Rhetoric.] + + +(Or it was Cuscraid, the Stammerer of Macha, son of Conchobar, sang +this song the night before the battle, after the song which +Loegaire Buadach had sung, to wit, 'Arise, kings of Macha,' etc., +and it would be in the camp it was sung.) + +It was in this night that the vision happened to Dubthach Doeltenga +of Ulster, when the hosts were on Garach and Irgarach. It is there +that he said in his sleep: + + +THE VISION OF DUBTHACH + +'A wonder of a morning,' [Note: Rhetoric.] a wonder of a time, when +hosts will be confused, kings will be turned, necks will break, the +sun will grow red, three hosts will be routed by the track of a +host about Conchobar. They will strive for their women, they will +chase their flocks in fight on the morning, heroes will be smitten, +dogs will be checked (?), horses will be pressed (?), ---- ----, +---- will drip, from the assemblies of great peoples.' + +Therewith they awoke through their sleep (?). The Nemain threw the +host into confusion there; a hundred men of them died. There is +silence there then; when they heard Cormac Condlongas again (or it +is Ailill Mac Matae in the camp who sang this): + +'The time of Ailill. Great his truce, the truce of Cuillend,' etc. +[Note: Rhetoric.] + + +THE MARCH OF THE COMPANIES + +While these things were being done, the Connaughtman determined to +send messengers by the counsel of Ailill and Medb and Fergus, to +look at the Ulstermen, to see whether they had reached the plain. +It is there that Ailill said: + +'Go, O Mac Roth,' said Ailill, 'and look for us whether the men are +all(?) in the plain of Meath in which we are. If they have not +come, I have carried off their spoil and their cows; let them give +battle to me, if it suits them. I will not await them here any +longer.' + +Then Mac Roth went to look at and to watch the plain. He came back +to Ailill and Medb and Fergus The first time then that Mac Roth +looked from the circuit of Sliab Fuait, he saw that all the wild +beast came out of the wood, so that they were all in the plain. + +'The second time,' said Mac Roth, 'that I surveyed the plain, I saw +a heavy mist that filled the glens and the valleys, so that it made +the hills between them like islands in lakes. Then there appeared +to me sparks of fire out of this great mist: there appeared to me a +variegation of every different colour in the world. I saw then +lightning and din and thunder and a great wind that almost took my +hair from my head, and threw me on my back; and yet the wind of the +day was not great.' + +'What is it yonder, O Fergus?' said Ailill. 'Say what it means.' +[Note: Literally, 'is like.'] + +'That is not hard; this is what it means,' said Fergus: 'This is +the Ulstermen after coming out of their sickness. It is they who +have come into the wood. The throng and the greatness and the +violence of the heroes, it is that which has shaken the wood; it is +before them that the wild beasts have fled into the plain. The +heavy mist that you saw, which filled the valleys, was the breath +of those warriors, which filled the glens so that it made the hills +between them like islands in lakes. The lightning and the sparks of +fire and the many colours that you saw, O Mac Roth,' said Fergus, +'are the eyes of the warriors from their heads which have shone to +you like sparks of fire. The thunder and the din and the noise(?) +that you heard, was the whistling of the swords and of the +ivory-hilted weapons, the clatter of arms, the creaking of the +chariots, the beating of the hoofs of the horses, the strength of +the warriors, the roar of the fighting-men, the noise of the +soldiers, the great rage and anger and fierceness of the heroes +going in madness to the battle, for the greatness of the rage and +of the fury(?). They would think they would not reach it at all,' +said Fergus. + +'We will await them,' said Ailill; 'we have warriors for them.' + +'You will need that,' said Fergus, 'for there will not be found in +all Ireland, nor in the west of the world, from Greece and Scythia +westward to the Orkneys and to the Pillars of Hercules and to the +Tower of Bregon and to the island of Gades, any one who shall +endure the Ulstermen in their fury and in their rage,' said Fergus. + +Then Mac Roth went again to look at the march of the men of Ulster, +so that he was in their camp at Slemon Midi, and Fergus; and he +told them certain tidings, and Mac Roth said in describing them: + +'A great company has come, of great fury, mighty, fierce, to the +hill at Slemon Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'I think there is a cantred +therein; they took off their clothing at once, and dug a mound of +sods under their leader's seat. A warrior fair and tall and long +and high, beautiful, the fairest of kings his form, in the front of +the company. Hair white-yellow has he, and it curly, neat, bushy (?), +ridged, reaching to the hollow of his shoulders. A tunic curly, +purple, folded round him; a brooch excellent, of red-gold, in his +cloak on his breast; eyes very grey, very fair, in his head; a face +proper, purple, has he, and it narrow below and broad above: a +beard forked, very curly, gold-yellow he has; a shirt white, +hooded, with red ornamentation, round about him; a sword gold-hilted +on his shoulders; a white shield with rivets(?) of gold; abroad +grey spear-head on a slender shaft in his hand. The fairest of the +princes of the world his march, both in host and rage and form and +dress, both in face and terror and battle and triumph, both in +prowess and horror and dignity. + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth; 'it is next to the +other in number and quarrelling and dress and terror and horror. A +fair warrior, heroic, is in the front of this company. A green +cloak folded round him; a brooch of gold over his arm; hair curly +and yellow: an ivory-hilted sword with a hilt of ivory at his left. +A shirt with ---- to his knee; a wound-giving shield with engraved +edge; the candle of a palace [Note: i.e. spear.] in his hand; a +ring of silver about it, and it runs round along the shaft forward +to the point, and again it runs to the grip. And that troop sat +down on the left hand of the leader of the first troop, and it is +thus they sat down, with their knees to the ground, and the rims of +their shields against their chins. And I thought there was +stammering in the speech of the great fierce warrior who is the +leader of that company. + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth; 'its appearance is +vaster than a cantred; a man brave, difficult, fair, with broad +head, before it. Hair dark and curly on him; a beard long, with +slender points, forked, has he; a cloak dark-grey, ----, folded +round him; a leaf-shaped brooch of white metal over his breast; a +white, hooded shirt to his knees; a hero's shield with rivets on +him; a sword of white silver about his waist; a five-pointed spear +in his hand. He sat down in front of the leader of the first +troop.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'I know indeed,' said Fergus, 'those companies. Conchobar, king of +a province of Ireland, it is he who has sat down on the mound of +sods. Sencha Mac Aililla, the orator of Ulster, it is he who has +sat down before him. Cuscraid, the Stammerer of Macha, son of +Conchobar, it is he who has sat down at his father's side. It is +the custom for the spear that is in his hand in sport yonder before +victory ---- before or after. That is a goodly folk for wounding, +for essaying every conflict, that has come,' said Fergus. + +'They will find men to speak with them here,' said Medb. + +'I swear by the god by whom my people swear,' said Fergus, 'there +has not been born in Ireland hitherto a man who would check the +host of Ulster.' [Note: Conjectural; the line is corrupt in the MS.] + +'Another company has come there,' said Mac Roth. 'Greater than a +cantred its number. A great warrior, brave, with horror and terror, +and he mighty, fiery-faced, before it. Hair dark, greyish on him, +and it smooth-thin on his forehead. Around shield with engraved +edge on him, a spear five-pointed in his hand, a forked javelin +beside him; a hard sword on the back of his head; a purple cloak +folded round him; a brooch of gold on his arm; a shirt, white, +hooded, to his knee.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the putting of a hand on strife; he is a battle champion for +fight; he is judgment against enemies who has come there; that is, +Eogan Mac Durthacht, King of Fermoy is that,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come, great, fierce, to the hill at Slemon +Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'They have put their clothing behind them. +Truly, it is strong, dark, they have come to the hill; heavy is the +terror and great the horror which they have put upon themselves; +terrible the clash of arms that they made in marching. A man thick +of head, brave, like a champion, before it; and he horrible, +hideous; hair light, grey on him; eyes yellow, great, in his head; +a cloak yellow, with white ---- round about him. A shield, +wound-giving, with engraved edge, on him, without; a broad spear, a +javelin with a drop of blood along the shaft; and a spear its match +with the blood of enemies along its edge in his hand; a great +wound-giving sword on his shoulders.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'The man who has so come does not avoid battle or combat or strife: +that is, Loegaire the Victorious, Mac Connaid Meic Ilech, from +Immail from the north,' said Fergus. + +'Another great company has come to Slemon Midi to the hill,' said +Mac Roth. 'A warrior thick-necked, fleshy, fair, before that +company. Hair black and curly on him, and he purple, blue-faced; +eyes grey, shining, in his head; a cloak grey, lordly (?), about +him; a brooch of white silver therein; a black shield with a boss +of bronze on it; a spear, covered with eyes, with ---- (?), in his +hand; a shirt, braided(?), with red ornamentation, about him; a +sword with a hilt of ivory over his dress outside.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the putting of a hand on a skirmish; he is the wave of a +great sea that drowns little streams; he is a man of three shouts; +he is the judgment of ---- of enemies, who so comes,' said Fergus; +'that is, Munremar Mac Gerrcind, from Moduirn in the north.' + +'Another great company has come there to the hill to Slemon Midi,' +said Mac Roth. 'A company very fair, very beautiful, both in number +and strife and raiment. It is fiercely that they make for the hill; +the clatter of arms which they raised in going on their course +shook the host. A warrior fair, excellent, before the company. Most +beautiful of men his form, both in hair and eyes and fear, both in +raiment and form and voice and whiteness, both in dignity and size +and beauty, both in weapons and knowledge and adornment, both in +equipment and armour and fitness, both in honour and wisdom and +race.' + +'This is his description,' said Fergus; 'he is the brightness of +fire, the fair man, Fedlimid, who so comes there; he is fierceness +of warriors, he is the wave of a storm that drowns, he is might +that is not endured, with triumphs out of other territories after +destruction (?) of his foes; that is Fedlimid ---- ---- there.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth, 'which is not fewer than a warlike cantred (?). A warrior +great, brave, grey, proper, ----, in front of it. Hair black, +curly, on him; round eyes, grey(?), very high, in his head. A man +bull-like, strong, rough; a grey cloak about him, with a brooch of +silver on his arm; a shirt white, hooded, round him; a sword at his +side; a red shield with a hard boss of silver on it. A spear with +three rivets, broad, in his hand.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'He is the fierce glow of wrath, he is a shaft (?) of every battle; +he is the victory of every combat, who has so come there, Connad +Mac Mornai from Callann,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come to the hill at Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'It is the march of an army for greatness. The leader who is +in front of that company, not common is a warrior fairer both in +form and attire and equipment. Hair bushy, red-yellow, on him; a +face proper, purple, well-proportioned; a face narrow below, broad +above; lips red, thin; teeth shining, pearly; a voice clear, +ringing; a face fair, purple, shapely; most beautiful of the forms +of men; a purple cloak folded round him; a brooch with full +adornment of gold, over his white breast; a bent shield with +many-coloured rivets, with a boss of silver, at his left; a long +spear, grey-edged, with a sharp javelin for attack in his hand; a +sword gold-hilted, of gold, on his back; a hooded shirt with red +ornamentation about him.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'We know, indeed,' said Fergus. 'He is half of a combat truly,' +said he, 'who so comes there; he is a fence(?) of battle, he is +fierce rage of a bloodhound; Rochad Mac Fathemain from Bridamae, +your son-in-law, is that, who wedded your daughter yonder, that is, +Findabair.' + +'Another company has come to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'A warrior with great calves, stout, with great thighs, big, +in front of that company. Each of his limbs is almost as thick as a +man. Truly, he is a man down to the ground,' said he. 'Hair black +on him; a face full of wounds, purple, has he; an eye parti-coloured, +very high, in his head; a man glorious, dexterous, thus, with +horror and terror, who has a wonderful apparel, both raiment and +weapons and appearance and splendour and dress; he raises himself +with the prowess of a warrior, with achievements of ----, with the +pride of wilfulness, with a going through battle to rout +overwhelming numbers, with wrath upon foes, with a marching on many +hostile countries without protection. In truth, mightily have they +come on their course into Slemon Midi.' + +'He was ---- of valour and of prowess, in sooth,' said Fergus; 'he +was of ---- pride(?) and of haughtiness, he was ---- of strength +and dignity, ---- then of armies and hosts of my own foster-brother, +Fergus Mac Leiti, King of Line, point of battle of the north of +Ireland.' + +'Another company, great, fierce, has come to the hill, to Slemon +Midi,' said Mac Roth. 'Strife before it, strange dresses on them. A +warrior fair, beautiful, before it; gift of every form, both hair +and eye and whiteness, both size and strife and fitness; five +chains of gold on him; a green cloak folded about him; a brooch of +gold in the cloak over his arm; a shirt white, hooded, about +him; the tower of a palace in his hand; a sword gold-hilted on his +shoulders.' + +'Fiery is the bearing of the champion of combat who has so come +there,' said Fergus. 'Amorgene, son of Eccet Salach the smith, from +Buais in the north is that.' + +'Another company has come there, to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' +said Mac Roth. It is a drowning for size, it is a fire for +splendour, it is a pin for sharpness, it is a battalion for number, +it is a rock for greatness, it is ---- for might, it is a judgment +for its ----, it is thunder for pride. A warrior rough-visaged, +terrible, in front of this company, and he great-bellied, +large-lipped; rough hair, a grey beard on him; and he great-nosed, +red-limbed; a dark cloak about him, an iron spike on his cloak; a +round shield with an engraved edge on him; a rough shirt, +braided(?), about him; a great grey spear in his hand, and thirty +rivets therein; a sword of seven charges of metal on his shoulders. +All the host rose before him, and he overthrew multitudes of the +battalion about him in going to the hill.' + +'He is a head of strife who has so come,' said Fergus; 'he is a +half of battle, he is a warrior for valour, he is a wave of a storm +which drowns, he is a sea over boundaries; that is, Celtchar Mac +Uithechair from Dunlethglaisi in the north.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A warrior of one whiteness in front of it, all white, +both hair and eyelashes and beard and equipment; a shield with a +boss of gold on him, and a sword with a hilt of ivory, and a broad +spear with rings in his hand. Very heroic has his march come.' + +'Dear is the bear, strong-striking, who has so come,' said Fergus; +'the bear of great deeds against enemies, who breaks men, Feradach +Find Fechtnach from the grove of Sliab Fuait in the north is that.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A hideous warrior in front of it, and he great-bellied, +large-lipped; his lips as big as the lips of a horse; hair dark, +curly, on him, and he himself ----, broad-headed, long-handed; a +cloak black, hairy, about him; a chain of copper over it, a dark +grey buckler over his left hand; a spear with chains in his right +hand; a long sword on his shoulders.' + +'He is a lion red-handed, fierce of ----, who so comes,' said +Fergus. 'He is high of deeds, great in battle, rough; he is a +raging on the land who is unendurable, Eirrgi Horse-lipped from Bri +Eirge in the north,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Two warriors, fair, both alike, in front of it; yellow +hair on them; two white shields with rivets of silver; they are of +equal age. They lift up their feet and set them down together; it +is not their manner for either of them to lift up his feet without +the other. Two heroes, two splendid flames, two points of battle, +two warriors, two pillars of fight, two dragons, two fires, two +battle-soldiers, two champions of combat, two rods (?), two bold +ones, two pets of Ulster about the king.' + +'Who are those, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'Fiachna and Fiacha, two sons of Conchobar Mac Nessa, two darlings +of the north of Ireland,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said Mac +Roth. 'Three warriors, fiery, noble, blue-faced, before it. Three +heads of hair very yellow have they; three cloaks of one colour in +folds about them; three brooches of gold over their arms, three +shirts ---- with red ornamentation round about them; three shields +alike have they; three swords gold-hilted on their shoulders; three +spears, broad-grey, in their right hands. They are of equal age.' + +'Three glorious champions of Coba, three of great deeds of +Midluachair, three princes of Roth, three veterans of the east of +Sliab Fuait,' said Fergus; 'the three sons of Fiachna are these, +after the Bull; that is, Rus and Dairi and Imchath,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'A man lively, fiery, before it; eyes very red, of a +champion, in his head; a many-coloured cloak about him; a chain of +silver thereon; a grey shield on his left; [a sword] with a hilt of +silver at his side; a spear, excellent with a striking of cruelty +in his vengeful right hand; a shirt white, hooded, to his knee. A +company very red, with wounds, about him, and he himself wounded +and bleeding.' + +'That,' said Fergus, 'is the bold one, unsparing; that is the +tearing; it is the boar [Note: Ir. _rop_, said to be a beast that +wounds or gores.] of combat, it is the mad bull; it is the +victorious one of Baile; it is the warlike one of the gap; it is +the champion of Colptha, the door of war of the north of Ireland: +that is, Menn Mac Salchalca from Corann. To avenge his wounds upon +you has that man come,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth, 'and they very heroic, mutually willing. A warrior grey, +great, broad, tall, before it. Hair dark, curly, on him; a cloak +red, woollen, about him; a shirt excellent; a brooch of gold over +his arms in his cloak; a sword, excellent, with hilt of white +silver on his left; a red shield has he; a spear-head broad-grey on +a fair shaft [Note: Conjecture; the Irish is obscure.] of ash in +his hand. + +'A man of three strong blows who has so come,' said Fergus; 'a man +of three roads, a man of three highways, a man of three gifts, a +man of three shouts, who breaks battles on enemies in another +province: Fergrae Mac Findchoime from Corann is that.' + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Its appearance is greater than a cantred. A warrior +white-breasted, very fair, before it; like to Ailill yonder in size +and beauty and equipment and raiment. A crown of gold above his +head; a cloak excellent folded about him; a brooch of gold in the +cloak on his breast; a shirt with red ornamentation round about +him; a shield wound-giving with rims of gold; the pillar of a +palace in his hand; a sword gold-hilted on his shoulders.' + +'It is a sea over rivers who has so come, truly,' said Fergus; 'it +is a fierce glow of fire; his rage towards foes is insupportable: +Furbaidi Ferbend is that,' said Fergus. + +'Another company has come there to the hill, to Slemon Midi,' said +Mac Roth. 'Very heroic, innumerable,' said Mac Roth; 'strange +garments, various, about them, different from other companies. +Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. A +great host and fierce is that company. A lad flame red before it; +the most beautiful of the forms of men his form; ... a shield with +white boss in his hand, the shield of gold and a rim of gold round +it; a spear sharp, light, with in his hand; a cloak purple, +fringed, folded about him; a brooch of silver in the cloak, on his +breast; a shirt white, hooded, with red ornamentation, about him; a +sword gold-hilted over his dress outside.' + +Therewith Fergus is silent. + + +'I do not know indeed,' said Fergus, 'the like of this lad in +Ulster, except that I think it is the men of Temair about a lad +proper, wonderful, noble: with Erc, son of Coirpre Niafer and of +Conchobar's daughter. They love not one another; ---- without his +father's leave has that man come, to help his grandfather. It is +through the combat of that lad,' said Fergus, 'that you will be +defeated in the battle. That lad knows not terror nor fear at +coming to you among them into the midst of your battalion. It would +be like men that the warriors of the men of Ulster will roar in +saving the calf their heart, in striking the battle. There will +come to them a feeling of kinship at seeing that lad in the great +battle, striking the battle before them. There will be heard the +rumble of Conchobar's sword like the barking of a watch-dog in +saving the lad. He will throw three walls of men about the battle +in seeking the lad. It will be with the affection of kinsmen that +the warriors of Ulster will attack the countless host,' said +Fergus. + +'I think it long,' said Mac Roth, 'to be recounting all that I have +seen, but I have come meanwhile (?) with tidings to you.' + +'You have brought it,' said Fergus. + +'Conall Cernach has not come with his great company,' said Mac +Roth; 'the three sons of Conchobar with their three cantreds have +not come; Cuchulainn too has not come there after his wounding in +combat against odds. Unless it is a warrior with one chariot,' said +Mac Roth, 'I think it would be he who has come there. Two horses ... +under his chariot; they are long-tailed, broad-hoofed, broad above, +narrow beneath, high-headed, great of curve, thin-mouthed, with +distended nostrils. Two wheels black, ----, with tyres even, +smooth-running; the body very high, clattering; the tent ... +therein; the pillars carved. The warrior in that chariot four-square, +purple-faced; hair cropped short on the top, curly, very black has +he, down to his shoulders; ... a cloak red about him; four thirties +of feat-poles (?) in each of his two arms. A sword gold-hilted on +his left; shield and spear has he, and twenty-four javelins about +him on strings and thongs. The charioteer in front of him; the back +of the charioteer's head towards the horses, the reins grasped by +his toes (?) before him; the chessboard spread between them, half +the men of yellow gold, the others of white metal; the _buanfach_ +[Note: the name of a game; probably in the nature of chess or +draughts.] under their thighs. Nine feats were performed by him on +high.' + +'Who is that, O Fergus?' said Ailill. + +'An easy question,' said Fergus. 'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim from the +_Sid_, [Note: Cuchulainn was of fairy birth.] and Loeg Mac +Riangabra his charioteer. Cuchulainn is that,' said Fergus. + +'Many hundreds and thousands,' said Mac Roth, 'have reached the +camp of Ulster. Many heroes and champions and fighting-men have +come with a race to the assembly. Many companies,' said Mac Roth, +'were reaching the same camp, of those who had not reached or come +to the camp when I came; only,' said Mac Roth, 'my eye did not +rest on hill or height of all that my eye reached from Fer Diad's +Ford to Slemon Midi, but upon horse and man.' + +'You saw the household of a man truly,' said Fergus. + +Then Conchobar went with his hosts and took camp near the others. +Conchobar asked for a truce till sunrise on the morrow from Ailill, +and Ailill ratified it for the men of Ireland and for the exiles, +and Conchobar ratified it for the Ulstermen; and then Conchobar's +tents are pitched. The ground between them is a space, ----, bare, +and the Ulstermen came to it before sunset. Then said the Morrigan +in the twilight between the two camps: [Note: Rhetoric, seven lines] + +*** + +Now Cuchulainn was at Fedan Chollna near them. Food was brought to +him by the hospitallers that night; and they used to come to speak +to him by day. + +He did not kill any of them to the left of Fer Diad's Ford. + +'Here is a small herd from the camp from the west to the camp to +the east,' said the charioteer to Cuchulainn. 'Here is a troop of +lads to meet them.' + +'Those lads shall come,' said Cuchulainn. 'The little herd shall +come over the plain. He who will not ---- (?) shall come to help +the lads.' + +This was done then as Cuchulainn had said. + +'How do the lads of Ulster fight the battle?' + +'Like men,' said the charioteer. + +'It would be a vow for them, to fall in rescuing their herds,' said +Cuchulainn. 'And now?' + +'The beardless striplings are fighting now,' said the charioteer. + + +'Has a bright cloud come over the sun yet?' + +'Not so,' said the charioteer. + +'Alas, that I had not strength to go to them!' said Cuchulainn. + + +'There will be contest without that to-day,' said the charioteer, +'at sunrise; haughty folk fight the battle now,' said the +charioteer, 'save that there are not kings there, for they are +still asleep.' + +Then Fachna said when the sun rose (or it is Conchobar who sang in +his sleep): + +'Arise, Kings of Macha, of mighty deeds, noble household, grind +your weapons, fight the battle,' etc. + +'Who has sung this?' said every one. + +'Conchobar Mac Nessa,' said they; 'or Fachtna sang it,' said they. +'Sleep, sleep, save your sentinels.' + +Loegaire the Victorious was heard: 'Arise, Kings of Macha,' etc. + +'Who has sung that?' said every one. + +'Loegaire the Victorious, son of Connad Buide Mac Ilech. Sleep, +sleep, except your sentinels.' + +'Wait for it still,' said Conchobar, 'till sunrise ... in the glens +and heights of Ireland.' + +When Cuchulainn saw the kings from the east taking their crowns on +their heads and marshalling (?) the companies, Cuchulainn said to +his charioteer that he should awaken the Ulstermen; and the +charioteer said (or it is Amairgen, son of Eccet the poet, who +said): + +'Arise, Kings of Macha,' etc. + +'I have awakened them,' said the charioteer. 'Thus have they come +to the battle, quite naked, except for their arms only. He, the +door of whose tent is east, has come out through it west.' + +'It is a "goodly help of necessity,"' said Cuchulainn. + +The adventures of the Ulstermen are not followed up here now. As +for the men of Ireland, Badb and Net's wife and Nemain [Note: +Nemain was the wife of Net, the war-god, according to Cormac.] +called upon them that night on Garach and Irgarach, so that a +hundred warriors of them died for terror; that was not the most +peaceful of nights for them. + +THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF IRELAND HERE + +Ailill Mac Matae sang that night before the battle, and said: +'Arise, arise,' etc [Note: Here follows a list of names.] + +As for Cuchulainn, this is what is told here now. + +'Look for us, O my friend, O Loeg, how the Ulstermen are fighting +the battle now.' + +'Like men,' said the charioteer. + +'Though I were to go with my chariot, and Oen the charioteer of +Conall Cernach with his chariot, so that we should go from one wing +to the other along the dense mass, neither hoofs nor tyres shall go +through it.' + +'That is the stuff for a great battle,' said Cuchulainn. 'Nothing +must be done in the battle,' said Cuchulainn to his charioteer, +'that we shall not know from you.' + +'That will be true, so far as I can,' said the charioteer. 'The +place where the warriors are now from the west,' said the +charioteer, 'they make a breach in the battle eastwards. Their +first defence from the east, they make a breach in the battle +westwards.' + +'Alas! that I am not whole!' said Cuchulainn; 'my breach would be +manifest like the rest.' + +Then came the men of the bodyguard to the ford of the hosting. Fine +the way in which the fightingmen came to the battle on Garach and +Irgarach. Then came the nine chariot-men of the champions of +Iruath, three before them on foot. Not more slowly did they come +than the chariot-men. Medb did not let them into the battle, for +dragging Ailill out of the battle if it is him they should defeat, +or for killing Conchobar if it is he who should be defeated. + +Then his charioteer told Cuchulainn that Ailill and Medb were +asking Fergus to go into the battle; and they said to him that it +was only right for him to do it, for they had done him much +kindness on his exile. + +'If I had my sword indeed,' said Fergus, 'the heads of men over +shields would be more numerous with me than hailstones in the mire +to which come the horses of a king after they have broken into the +land (?).' + +Then Fergus made this oath: 'I swear, etc., there would be broken +by me cheeks of men from their necks, necks of men with their +(lower) arms, arms of men with their elbows, elbows of men with +their arms, arms of men with their fists, fists of men with their +fingers, fingers of men with their nails, [nails] of men with their +skull-roofs, skull-roofs of men with their middle, middle of men +with their thighs, thighs of men with their knees, knees of men +with their calves, calves of men with their feet, feet of men with +their toes, toes of men with their nails. I would make their necks +whizz (?) ---- as a bee would move to and fro on a day of beauty (?).' + +Then Ailill said to his charioteer: 'Let there come to me the +sword which destroys skin. I swear by the god by whom my people +swear, if you have its bloom worse to-day than on the day on which +I gave it to you in the hillside in the boundary of Ulster, though +the men of Ireland were protecting you from me, they should not +protect you.' + +Then his sword was brought to Fergus, and Ailill said: 'Take thy +sword,' etc. [Note: Rhetoric, twelve lines.] + +'A pity for thee to fall on the field of battle, thick [with slain ?],' +said Fergus to Ailill. + +The Badb and Net's wife and the Nemain called on them that night on +Garach and Irgarach; so that a hundred warriors of them died for +terror. That was not the quietest of nights for them. + +Then Fergus takes his arms and turns into the battle, and clears a +gap of a hundred in the battle with his sword in his two hands. +Then Medb took the arms of Fergus (?) and rushed into the battle, +and she was victorious thrice, so that she was driven back by force +of arms. + +'I do not know,' said Conchobar to his retinue who were round him, +'before whom has the battle been broken against us from the north. +Do you maintain the fight here, that I may go against him.' + +'We will hold the place in which we are,' said the warriors, +'unless the earth bursts beneath us, or the heaven upon us from +above, so that we shall break therefrom.' + +Then Conchobar came against Fergus. He lifts his shield against +him, i.e. Conchobar's shield Ochan, with three horns of gold on it, +and four ----- of gold over it. Fergus strikes three blows on it, +so that even the rim of his shield over his head did not touch him. + +'Who of the Ulstermen holds the shield?' said Fergus. + +'A man who is better than you,' said Conchobar; 'and he has brought +you into exile into the dwellings of wolves and foxes, and he will +repel you to-day in combat in the presence of the men of Ireland.' + +Fergus aimed on him a blow of vengeance with his two hands on +Conchobar, so that the point of the sword touched the ground behind +him. + +Cormac Condlongas put his hands upon him, and closed his two hands +about his arm. + +'----, O my friend, O Fergus,' said Cormac. '... Hostile is the +friendship; right is your enmity; your compact has been destroyed; +evil are the blows that you strike, O friend, O Fergus,' said +Cormac. + +'Whom shall I smite?' said Fergus. + +'Smite the three hills ... in some other direction over them; turn +your hand; smite about you on every side, and have no consideration +for them. Take thought for the honour of Ulster: what has not been +lost shall not be lost, if it be not lost through you to-day (?). + +'Go in some other direction, O Conchobar,' said Cormac to his +father; 'this man will not put out his rage on the Ulstermen any +more here.' + +Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the +first combat with the sword. He met Conall Cernach. + +'Too great rage is that,' said Conall Cernach, 'on people and race, +for a wanton.' + +'What shall I do, O warriors?' said he. + +'Smite the hills across them and the champions (?) round them,' +said Conall Cernach. + +Fergus smote the hills then, so that he struck the three Maela +[Note: i.e. flat-topped hills.] of Meath with his three blows. +Cuchulainn heard the blows then that Fergus gave on the hills or on +the shield of Conchobar himself. + +'Who strikes the three strong blows, great and distant?' said +Cuchulainn. + +... Then Loeg answered and said: 'The choice of men, Fergus Mac +Roich the very bold, smites them.' ... + +Then Cuchulainn said: 'Unloose quickly the hazeltwigs; blood covers +men, play of swords will be made, men will be spent therefrom.' + +Then his dry wisps spring from him on high, as far as ---- goes; +and his hazel-twigs spring off, till they were in Mag Tuag in +Connaught ... and he smote the head of each of the two handmaidens +against the other, so that each of them was grey from the brain of +the other. They came from Medb for pretended lamentation over him, +that his wounds might burst forth on him; and to say that the +Ulstermen had been defeated, and that Fergus had fallen in opposing +the battle, since Cuchulainn's coming into the battle had been +prevented. The contortion came on him, and twenty-seven skin-tunics +were given to him, that used to be about him under strings and +thongs when he went into battle; and he takes his chariot on his +back with its body and its two tyres, and he made for Fergus round +about the battle. + +'Turn hither, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; and he did not +answer till the third time. 'I swear by the god by whom the +Ulstermen swear,' said he, 'I will wash thee as foam [Note: Reading +with L.L.] (?) is washed in a pool, I will go over thee as the tail +goes over a cat, I will smite thee as a fond mother smites her son.' + +'Which of the men of Ireland speaks thus to me?' said Fergus. + +'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, sister's son to Conchobar,' said +Cuchulainn; 'and avoid me,' said he. + +'I have promised even that,' said Fergus. + +'Your promise falls due, then,' said Cuchulainn. + +'Good,' said Fergus, '(you avoided me), when you are pierced with +wounds.' + +Then Fergus went away with his cantred; the Leinstermen go and the +Munstermen; and they left in the battle nine cantreds of Medb's and +Ailill's and their seven sons. + +In the middle of the day it is that Cuchulainn came into the +battle; when the sun came into the leaves of the wood, it is then +that he defeated the last company, so that there remained of the +chariot only a handful of the ribs about the body, and a handful of +the shafts about the wheel. + +Cuchulainn overtook Medb then when he went into the battle. + +'Protect me,' said Medb. + +'Though I should slay thee with a slaying, it were lawful for me,' +said Cuchulainn. + +Then he protected her, because he used not to slay women. He +convoyed them westward, till they passed Ath Luain. Then he +stopped. He struck three blows with his sword on the stone in Ath +Luain. Their name is the Maelana [Note: i.e., flat-topped hills] of +Ath Luain. + +When the battle was broken, then said Medb to Fergus: 'Faults and +meet here to-day, O Fergus,' said she. + +'It is customary,' said Fergus, 'to every herd which a mare +precedes; ... after a woman who has ill consulted their interest.' + +They take away the Bull then in that morning of the battle, so that +he met the White-horned at Tarbga in Mag Ai; i.e. Tarbguba or +Tarbgleo.[Note: 'Bull-Sorrow or Bull-Fight,' etymological +explanation of Tarbga.] The first name of that hill was Roi Dedond. +Every one who escaped in the fight was intent on nothing but +beholding the two Bulls fighting. + +Bricriu Poison-tongue was in the west in his sadness after Fergus +had broken his head with his draughtmen [Note: This story is told +in the _Echtra Nerai_. (See _Revue Celtique_, vol. x. p. 227.)] He +came with the rest then to see the combat of the Bulls. The two +Bulls went in fighting over Bricriu, so that he died therefrom. +That is the Death of Bricriu. + +The foot of the Dun of Cualnge lighted on the horn of the other. +For a day and a night he did not draw his foot towards him, till +Fergus incited him and plied a rod along his body. + +''Twere no good luck,' said Fergus, 'that this conbative old calf +which has been brought here should leave the honour of clan and +race; and on both sides men have been left dead through you.' +Therewith he drew his foot to him so that his leg (?) was broken, +and the horn sprang from the other and was in the mountain by him. +It was Sliab n-Adarca [Note: Mountain of the Horn.] afterwards. + +He carried them then a journey of a day and a night, till he +lighted in the loch which is by Cruachan, and he came to Cruachan +out of it with the loin and the shoulder-blade and the liver of the +other on his horns. Then the hosts came to kill him. Fergus did not +allow it, but that he should go where he pleased. He came then to +his land and drank a draught in Findlethe on coming. It is there +that he left the shoulderblade of the other. Findlethe afterwards +was the name of the land. He drank another draught in Ath Luain; he +left the loin of the other there: hence is Ath Luain. He gave forth +his roar on Iraird Chuillend; it was heard through all the +province. He drank a draught in Tromma. There the liver of the +other fell from his horns; hence is Tromma. He came to Etan Tairb. +[Note: The Bull's Forehead.] He put his forehead against the hill +at Ath Da Ferta; hence is Etan Tairb in Mag Murthemne. Then he went +on the road of Midluachair in Cuib. There he used to be with the +milkless cow of Dairi, and he made a trench there. Hence is Gort +Buraig. [Note: The Field of the Trench.] Then he went till he died +between Ulster and Iveagh at Druim Tairb. Druim Tairb is the name +of that place. + +Ailill and Medb made peace with the Ulstermen and with Cuchulainn. +For seven years after there was no wounding of men between them. +Findabair stayed with Cuchulainn, and the Connaughtmen went to +their country, and the Ulstermen to Emain Macha with their great +triumph. Finit, amen. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CATTLE-RAID OF CUALNGE (TAIN BO +CUALNGE)*** + + +******* This file should be named 14391.txt or 14391.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/9/14391 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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