The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 70

XXIVa

[1]THE AGITATION OF CELTCHAR[1]

[W.4954.] It was then that Celtchar [2]in his sleep[2] uttered these words [3]to Conchobar[3] in the midst of the men of Ulster in Iraird Cuillinn that night:[a]--

"Thirty hundred chariot-men; An hundred horse-companions stout; An hundred with an hundred druids!

To lead us will not fail The hero of the land, Conchobar with hosts around him!

Let the battle line be formed!

Gather now, ye warriors!

Battle shall be fought At Garech and Ilgarech On aftermorrow's morn!"

[1-1] This t.i.tle is supplied by the present writer.

[2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[3-3] YBL. 45a, 38.

[a] I can make nothing of the first four lines of the following poem, and they are consequently omitted from the translation. The translation of the remainder of the _rosc_ is largely conjectural.

[4]Or it was Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of Macha, Conchobar's son, who sang this lay on the night before the battle ...,[b] after the lay 'Arise ye Kings of Macha' which Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious ') sang.[4]

[4-4] YBL. 45a, 45-45b, 2.

[b] There is a small gap in the MS.

On that same night Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, spake these words to the men of Erin at Slemain Mide that night:--

[W.4973.] "A wonder of a morning, A wondrous [1]time![1]

When hosts will be confused, [2]Kings[2] turned back in flight!

[3]Necks will be broken, The sand[a] made red,[3]

When forth breaks the battle, The seven chieftains before, Of Ulster's host round Conchobar!

Their women will they defend, For their herds will they fight At Garech and Ilgarech, On the morning after the morrow!

[4]Heroes will be slaughtered then, Hounds cut to pieces, Steeds overwhelmed!"[4]

[1-1] YBL. 45b, 7.

[2-2] Reading with YBL. 45b, 8; LL. has 'hosts'.

[3-3] YBL. 45b, 8-9.

[a] Or, 'the sun.'

[4-4] YBL. 45b, 11-14.

On that same night, Dubthach Doel ('the Scorpion')[b] of Ulster [5]saw the dream wherein were the hosts at Garech and Ilgarech. Then it was[5] he uttered these words [6]in his sleep[6] among the men of Erin at Slemain Mide that night:--

"Great be the morn, The morn of Meath!

Great be the truce The [7]truce[7] of Culenn!

"Great be the fight, The fight of [8]Clartha![8]

Great, too, the steeds, The steeds of a.s.sal!

"Great be the plague, The plague of Tuath-Bressi![c]

Great be the storm, Ulster's battle-storm round Conchobar!

"Their women will they defend, For their herds will they fight At Garech and Ilgarech, On the morning after the morrow!"

[5-5] YBL. 45b, 4-5.

[6-6] YBL. 45b, 5-6.

[7-7] YBL. 45b, 19.

[8-8] Reading with Stowe.

[b] See note, page 198.

[c] Probably Connacht.

[W.5003.] Then [1]when the hosts were a.s.sembled at Garech and Ilgarech,[1]

Dubthach was awakened from his sleep, so that Nemain brought confusion on the host and they fell trembling in their arms under the points of their spears and weapons, so that an hundred warriors of them fell dead [LL.fo.95b.] in the midst of their camp and quarters at the fearfulness of the shout they raised on high. Be that as it would, that night was not the calmest for the men of Erin that they pa.s.sed before or since, because of the forebodings and predictions and because of the spectres and visions that were revealed to them.

[1-1] YBL. 45b, 4-5.

[Page 309]

XXV

[1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE ARRAY OF THE HOST[1]

[2]While these things were being done, the Connachtmen by the counsel of Ailill, Medb, and Fergus, resolved to send messengers from thence to spy out the men of Ulster, to make certain if they had taken possession of the plain.[2] [W.5011.] Said Ailill: "Truly have I succeeded," said he, "in laying waste Ulster and the land of the Picts [3]and Cualnge[3] from Monday at Summer's end till Spring's beginning. We have taken their women and their sons and their children, their steeds and their troops of horses, their herds and their flocks and their droves. We have laid level their hills after them, so that they have become lowlands and are all one height.

For this cause, will I await them no longer here, but let them offer me battle on Mag Ai, if so it please them. But, say here what we will, some one shall go forth [4]from us[4] to watch the great, wide plain of Meath, to know if the men of Ulster come hither. And, should the men of Ulster come hither, I will in no wise be the first to retreat [5]till battle be given them,[5] for it was never the wont of a good king to retreat."

[1-1] YBL. 45b, 22.

[2-2] YBL. 45b, 23-26.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe and H. 1. 13.