The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 29

[11-11] H. 2. 17.

[12-12] H. 2. 17.

[13-13] H. 2. 17.

[a] Lines 1212-1216 LU. and YBL. (Edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe) are omitted in the translation.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1216-1220.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] H. 2. 17.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1222.

So then they bound two spancels about the ankle-joints of Etarc.u.mul's feet and he was dragged along behind his horses and chariot. At every rock that was rough for him, his lungs and his liver were left on the stones and the rugged places. At every place that was smooth for him, his skilfully severed limbs came together again round the horses. In this wise he was dragged through the camp to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb: "There's your young warrior for you," cried Fergus, "for 'Every restoration together with its rest.i.tution' is what the law saith."[a] Medb came forth to the door of her tent and she raised her [5]quick, splitting,[5] loud voice [6]of a warrior.[6] Quoth Medb. "Truly, methought that great was the heat and the wrath of this young hound [7]on leaving us awhile since[7] at the beginning of the day as he went from the camp. [8]It is no fortune for a tender youth that falls on thee now.[8] We had thought that the honour under which he went, even the honour of Fergus, was not the honour of a dastard!" "What hath crazed the virago and wench?" cried Fergus. "Good lack, [W.1935.] is it fitting for the mongrel to seek the Hound of battle whom [1]the warriors and champions[1] of four of the five grand provinces of Erin dare not approach nor withstand? What, I myself was glad to escape whole from him!"

[a] A law maxim. Since Etarc.u.mul had broken his promise not to fight, Fergus deems himself absolved from the spirit of his engagement to bring back Etarc.u.mul but fulfils the letter of it.

[5-5] H. 2. 17.

[6-6] Stowe.

[7-7] H. 2. 17.

[8-8] H. 2. 17.

[1-1] H. 2. 17.

[2]Etarc.u.mul's grave was then dug and his tombstone erected; his name was written in ogam and they raised the keen over him. Cuchulain shot not from his sling at them that night[2] [3]and the women and maidens were brought over to him and half the cattle, and they brought provision to him by day.[3] In this manner fell Etarc.u.mul and such was the combat of Etarc.u.mul with Cuchulain.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 1230-1232.

[3-3] LU. fo. 69, between the columns.

[Page 126]

XI

[1]THE SLAYING OF NATHCRANTAIL[1]

[2]Then the men of Erin held counsel who would be fit to fight and contend with Cuchulain and drive him off from the men of Erin.[2] [3]"What man have ye to face Cuchulain to-morrow?" asked Lugaid. "They will give him to thee to-morrow," answered Mane son of Ailill. "We find no one to meet him,"

quoth Medb; "let us have a truce with him then till a man be found to oppose him." This they obtain. "Whither will ye turn," asked Ailill, "to find the man to oppose Cuchulain?" "There is not in Erin," Medb answered, "one that could be got to meet him unless Curoi macDare come, or Nathcrantail the warrior." A man of Curoi's people was in the tent. "Curoi will not come," said he; "he weens enough of his people have come!" "Let a message be sent then for Nathcrantail."[3] [W.1941.] Then arose a huge warrior of Medb's people, Nathcrantail by name. [4]Mane Andoe ('the Unslow') goes to him. They tell him their message. "Come with us for the sake of the honour of Connacht." "I will not go," said he, "unless they give Finnabair to me." Afterwards he goes with them. They bring his armour in a car from the east of Connacht and place it in the camp.[4] [5]Then was Nathcrantail called into the tent of Ailill and Medb.[5] [6]"Wherefore am I summoned to ye?" Nathcrantail asked. "It would please us well," Medb replied, "werest thou to fight and contend with Cuchulain on the ford and ward him off from us at the morning hour early on the morrow.[6] [1]Thou shalt have Finnabair," said Medb, "for going to fight yonder man." "I will do it," said he.[1] [2]He engaged to undertake the battle and combat and that night be made ready, and early on the morrow Nathcrantail arose for the battle and combat and he took his warlike implements with him to the fight, and though early he arose, Cuchulain arose still earlier.[2]

[3]That night Lugaid came to Cuchulain. "Nathcrantail comes to meet thee to-morrow. Alas for thee, thou wilt not withstand him." "That matters not,"

Cuchulain made answer.[3][a]

[1-1] Stowe, and LU. fo. 69a, in the margin.

[2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, H. 2. 17.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 1233-1242 and Eg. 1782.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1242-1246.

[5-5] H. 2. 17.

[6-6] H. 2. 17.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1246-1247.

[2-2] H. 2. 17.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 1248-1250.

[a] Here follows one line (1251 in LU., edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, and almost similarly in YBL.) which seems to refer to some saying of Cuchulain's about Nathcrantail which we cannot locate.

[4]On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp[4] and he came to attack Cuchulain. [W.1942.] He did not deign to bring along arms but thrice nine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. And there before him on the pond was Cuchulain [5]a-fowling and his chariot hard by him,[5][b] and there was no shelter whatever. [6]And when Nathcrantail perceived Cuchulain[6] he [7]straightway[7] cast a dart at Cuchulain. Cuchulain sprang [8]from the middle of the ground[8] till he came on the tip of the dart. [9]And he performed a feat on the point of the dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds.[9] And again Nathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart and Cuchulain sprang on the point of the second [W.1951.] dart and so on till he was on the point of the last dart. It was then, [1]when Nathcrantail threw the ninth dart,[1] that the flock of birds [2]which Cuchulain pursued[2] on the plain [3]flew away from Cuchulain.[3] Cuchulain chased them even as any bird [4]of the air.[4] [5]He hopped on the points of the darts like a bird from each dart to the next, pursuing the birds[5] that they might not escape him but that they might leave behind a portion of food for the night. For this is what sustained and served Cuchulain, fish and fowl and game on the Cualnge Cow-spoil. Something more remains to be told: Nathcrantail deemed full surely that Cuchulain went from him in rout of defeat and flight. And he went his way till he came to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb and he lifted up his loud voice [6]of a warrior[6]: "That famous Cuchulain that ye so talk of ran and fled in defeat [7]before me when he came to me[7] in the morning." "We knew," spake Medb, "it would be even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that this beardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, [8]Nathcrantail to wit,[8] came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!"

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1253.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 1255.

[b] Here follow lines 1945-1946, edition of Windisch, which are unintelligible and have been omitted in the translation.

[6-6] H. 2. 17.

[7-7] H. 2. 17.

[8-8] H. 2. 17.

[9-9] LU. and YBL. 1256-1257.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1258.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 1258.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 1259-1260.