The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 51

[a] Translating from Stowe.

[1-1] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique,_ t. x, page 339). The metre is changed designedly to agree with the original.

[a] MS. 'ye.'

[b] Referring to Ferdiad's horn-skin.

[c] Literally, 'calf.'

[2]Then said they, one and all, those gifts were great. [3]"'Tis true, they are great.[3] But though they are," said [W.3113.] Ferdiad, "with Medb herself I will leave them, and I will not accept them if it be to do battle or combat with my foster-brother, the man of my alliance and affection, [1]and my equal in skill of arms,[1] namely, with Cuchulain." And he said:--

"Greatest toil, [2]this, greatest toil,[2]

Battle with the Hound of gore!

Liefer would I battle twice With two hundred men of Fal!

"Sad the fight, [2]and sad the fight,[2]

I and Hound of feats shall wage!

We shall hack both flesh and blood; Skin and body we shall hew!

"Sad, O G.o.d, [2]yea, sad, O G.o.d,[2]

That a woman should us part!

My heart's half, the blameless Hound; Half the brave Hound's heart am I!

"By my shield, [2]O, by my shield,[2]

If Ath Cliath's brave Hound should fall, I will drive my slender glaive Through my heart, my side, my breast!

"By my sword, [2]O, by my sword,[2]

If the Hound of Glen Bolg fall!

No man after him I'll slay, Till I o'er the world's brink spring!

"By my hand, [2]O, by my hand![2]

Falls the Hound of Glen in Sgail, Medb with all her host I'll kill, And then no more men of Fal!

"By my spear, [2]O, by my spear![2]

Should Ath Cro's brave Hound be slain, I'll be buried in his grave; May one grave hide me and him!

[3]"Liefer would I, [2]liefer far,[2]

Arms should slay me in fierce fight, Than the death of heroes' Hound,"[a]

Should be food for ravenous birds?[3]

"Tell him this, [2]O, tell him this,[2]

To the Hound of beauteous hue, Fearless Scathach hath foretold My fall on a ford through him!

[W.3149.] "Woe to Medb, [1]yea, woe to Medb,[1]

Who hath used her [3]guile[3] on us; She hath set me face to face 'Gainst Cuchulain--hard the toil!"

[2-2] Stowe, Add. 18,748 and Eg. 209.

[3-3] YBL. 2234.

[1-1] Eg. 106, Eg. 209.

[2-2] Eg. 209.

[a] The word is illegible in the ma.n.u.script.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

[1-1] Eg. 209.

[3-3] Reading with Eg. 209.

"Ye men," spake Medb, in the wonted fashion of stirring up disunion and dissension, [4]as if she had not heard Ferdiad at all,[4] "true is the word Cuchulain speaks." "What word is that?" asked Ferdiad. "He said, then,"

replied Medb, "he would not think it too much if thou shouldst fall by his hands in the choicest feat of his skill in arms, in the land whereto he should come." "It was not just for him to speak so," quoth Ferdiad; "for it is not cowardice or lack of boldness that he hath ever seen in me [5]by day or by night.[5] [6]And I speak not so to him, for I have it not to say of him.[6] And I swear by my arms [7]of valour,[7] if it be true that he spoke so, I will be the first man of the men of Erin to contend with him on the morrow, [8]how loath soever I am to do so!"[8]

[4-4] YBL. 2238.

[5-5] YBL. 2242.

[6-6] Eg. 106.

[7-7] Eg. 209.

[8-8] Eg. 106.

[9]And he gave his word in the presence of them all that he would go and meet Cuchulain. For it pleased Medb, if Ferdiad should fail to go, to have them as a witness against him, in order that she might say it was fear or dread that caused him to break his word.[9] "A blessing [10]and victory[10]

upon thee for that!" said Medb; "it pleaseth me more than for thee to show fear and lack of boldness. For every man loves his own land, and how is it better for him to seek the welfare of Ulster, [11]because his mother was descended from the Ulstermen,[11] than for thee to seek the welfare of Connacht,[2] [12]as thou art the son of a king of Connacht?"[12]

[9-9] Eg. 106.

[10-10] YBL. 2244.

[11-11] YBL. 2247.

[12-12] YBL. 2248.

Then it was that Medb obtained from Ferdiad the easy [W.3163.] surety of a covenant to fight and contend on the morrow with six warriors [1]of the champions of Erin,[1] or to fight and contend with Cuchulain alone, if to him this last seemed lighter. Ferdiad obtained [2]of Medb[2] the easy surety, [3]as he thought,[3] to send the aforesaid six men for the fulfilment of the terms which had been promised him, should Cuchulain fall at his hands.

[1-1] Stowe and Eg. 209.

[2-2] Stowe, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.

[3-3] A gloss, in LL.

[4]There was a wonderful warrior of the Ulstermen present at that covenant, and that was Fergus macRoig. Fergus betook him to his tent. "Woe is me, for the deed that will be done on the morning of the morrow!" "What deed is that?" his tent-folk asked. "My good fosterling Cuchulain will be slain!"

"Good lack! who makes that boast?" "Not hard to say: None other but his dear, devoted foster-brother, Ferdiad son of Daman. Why bear ye not my blessing," Fergus continued, "and let one of you go with a warning and mercy to Cuchulain, if perchance he would leave the ford on the morn of the morrow?" "As we live," said they; "though it were thyself was on the ford of battle, we would not go near him to seek thee." "Come, my lad," cried Fergus, "get our horses for us, and yoke the chariot!"[4]

[4-4] YBL. fo. 36a, 21-36.