The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 22

[5-5] LU. 887, a gloss.

[a] H. 2. 17 has 'fifty charioteers.'

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 889.

[7-7] LU. and YBL. 889.

[8-8] H. 2. 17.

[9-9] H. 2. 17.

[10-10] H. 2. 17.

[1-1] H. 2. 17.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] H. 2. 17.

[4-4] H. 2. 17.

[5-5] H. 2. 17.

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 891.

Cuchulain clung close to the hosts that day provoking them to encounter and combat. [7]Four and seven score kings fell at his hands at that same stream,[7] and he slew a hundred of their [8]armed,[8] [9]kinglike[9]

warriors around Roen and Roi, the two chroniclers of the Tain. [10]This is the reason the account of the Tain was lost and had to be sought afterwards for so long a time.[10]

[7-7] LU. and YBL. 900.

[8-8] Stowe and H. 2. 17.

[9-9] H. 2. 17.

[10-10] H. 2. 17; the story of the finding of the Tain is told in the _Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe_ ("The Proceedings of the Great Bardic Inst.i.tution"), edited by Owen Connellan, in the Transactions of the Ossianic Society, vol. v, 1857, pp. 103 fl.

Medb called upon her people to go meet Cuchulain in encounter and combat [11]for the sake of the hosts.[11] "It will not be I," and "It will not be I," spake each and every one from his place. "No caitiff is due from my people. Even though one should be due, it is not I would go to oppose Cuchulain, for no easy thing is it to do battle with him."

[12]When they had failed to find the Donn Cualnge,[12] the hosts kept their way along the river [13]around the river Cronn to its source,[13] being unable to cross it, till they reached the place where the river rises out of the mountains, and, had they wished it, they would have gone between the river and the mountain, but Medb would not allow it, so they had to dig and hollow out the mountain [W.1585.] before her in order [1]that their trace might remain there forever and[1] that it might be for a shame and reproach to Ulster.

[11-11] Stowe.

[12-12] H. 2. 17.

[13-13] LU. and YBL. 893.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 895.

[2]They tarried there three days and three nights till they had dug out the earth before them.[2] And Bernais ('the Gap') of the [4]Foray of Medb and the Gap of the[4] Foray of Cualnge is another name for the place ever since, for it is through it the drove afterwards pa.s.sed. [3]There Cuchulain killed Cronn and Coemdele and ...[3]

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 896.

[4-4] H. 2. 17.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 898-899.

The warriors of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and took quarters that night at Belat Aileain ('the Island's Crossway'). Belat Aileain was its name up to then, but Glenn Tail ('Glen of Shedding') is henceforth its name because of the abundance of curds and of milk [5]and of new warm milk[5] which the droves of cattle and the flocks [6]of the land of Conalle and Murthemne[6] yielded there [7]that night[7] for the men of Erin. And Liasa Liac ('Stone Sheds') is another name for it [8]to this day,[8] and it is for this it bears that name, for it is there that the men of Erin raised cattle-stalls and byres for their herds and droves [9]between Cualnge and Conalle.[9] [10]Botha is still another name for it, for the men of Erin erected bothies and huts there.[10]

[5-5] Stowe.

[6-6] H. 2. 17.

[7-7] H. 2. 17.

[8-8] H. 2. 17.

[9-9] LU. and YBL. 909.

[10-10] H. 2. 17.

The four of the five grand provinces of Erin took up the march until they reached the Sechair [11]in the west on the morrow.[11] Sechair was the name of the river hitherto; Glaiss Gatlaig ('Osier-water') is its name henceforward. [12]And Glaiss Gatlaig rose up against them.[12] Now this is the reason it had that name, for it was in osiers and ropes that the men of Erin brought [W.1599.] their flocks and droves over across it, and the entire host let their osiers and ropes drift with the stream after crossing. Hence the name, Glaiss Gatlaig. [1]Then they slept at Druim Fene in Conalle. These then are their stages from Cualnge to the plain (of Conalle Murthemni) according to this version. Other authors [2]of this Work[2] and other books aver that they followed another way on their journeyings from Finnabair to Conalle.[1]

[11-11] H. 2. 17.

[12-12] LU. and YBL. 910.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 912-914.

[2-2] YBL. 914.

[Page 99]

VIIIf

[1]THE HARRYING OF CUALNGE FOLLOWETH HERE BELOW[1]

[2]After every one had come with their spoils and they were all gathered in Finnabair of Cualnge, Medb spake: "Let the camp be divided here," said Medb; "the foray cannot be caried on by a single road. Let Ailill with half his force go by Midluachair. We and Fergus will go by Bernas Bo Ulad ('the Pa.s.s of the Cattle of Ulster')." "Not fair is the part that has fallen to us of the force," said Fergus; "the cattle cannot be driven over the mountain without dividing." This then is done. Hence cometh Bernas Bo Ulad ('the Pa.s.s of the Cattle of Ulster').

[1-1] LU. fo. 65b, in the margin.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 916-1197, omitting 1079-1091.