The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 78

Then spake Conchobar to Sencha son of Ailill: "Come, O Sencha my master,"

said Conchobar; "stay the men of Ulster, and let them not go to the battle till there come the strength of a good omen and favourable portent, till the sun mounts to the roof-tree of heaven and sunshine fills the glens and lowlands and hills and watch-towers of Erin."

[W.5822.] They tarried there till the strength of a good omen came and a favourable portent, till sunshine filled the glens and slopes and heights and watch-towers of the province.

"Come, O Sencha my master," said Conchobar; "rouse the men of Ulster to battle, for it is time for them to proceed thither." Sencha roused the men of Ulster to battle, and he spake these words:--

"Now shall Macha's kings arise, Large-hearted folk!

Weapons let them shatter: Let them fight the battle: Let them plow the earth in anger: Let them strike on shields!

[1]Wearied all the hands;[1]

Herds loud bellowing: Steadfast the resistance: Furious the retainers: Battle-lines shall prostrate fall 'Neath the feet of others!

[2]Prince and lord prepare for battle.[2]

Perish [LL.fo.101b.] shall their race!

[3]Manful contest there shall be;[3]

Their foes they lie in wait for And slay them all to-day!

Deep draughts of blood they drink: Grief fills the hearts of queens: [4]Tender lamentations follow: Till soaked in blood shall be the gra.s.sy sod On which they're slain, To which they come.[4]

If for Cualnge's kine it be, [5]Let Macha's kings![5] Let them arise!"

[1-1] Reading with YBL 50a, 52.

[2-2] From a conjectural emendation of YBL. 50a, 54.

[3-3] YBL. 50b, 1.

[4-4] YBL. 50b, 3.

[5-5] YBL. 50b, 5.

Not long was Laeg there when he witnessed something: the men of Erin all arising at one time, taking their shields and their spears and their swords and their helmets, and urging the men-of-war before them to the battle. The men of Erin, every single man of them, fell to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, to slay and to destroy the others [W.5859.] for a long s.p.a.ce and while. Thereupon Cuchulain asked of his charioteer, of Laeg son of Riangabair, at the time that a bright cloud came over the sun: [1]"Look for us![1] How fight [2]the Ulstermen[2] the battle now, O my master Laeg?"

"Like men they fight," Laeg answered. "Should I mount my chariot, and En, Conall [3]Cernach's ('the Victorious')[3] charioteer, his chariot, and should we go in two chariots from one wing to the other on the points of the weapons, neither hoof nor wheel nor axle-tree nor chariot-pole would touch [4]the ground[4] for the denseness and closeness and firmness with which their arms are held in the hands of the men-at-arms at this time."

[1-1] YBL. 51a, 45.

[2-2] YBL. 51a, 45.

[3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13, Add. and YBL. 51a, 47.

[4-4] Stowe and Add.

"Alas, that I am not yet strong enough to be amongst them [5]now!"[5] cried Cuchulain; "for, were I able, my breach would be manifest there to-day like that of another," spake Cuchulain. "But this avow, O Cucuc," said Laeg: "'tis no reproach to thy valour; 'tis no disgrace to thine honour. Thou hast wrought great deeds before now and thou wilt work great deeds hereafter."

[5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

Then began the men of Erin to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, to slay and to destroy the others for a long s.p.a.ce and while. Next came to them the nine chariot-fighters of the champions from Norseland, and the three foot-warriors along with them, and no swifter were the nine chariot-men than the three men on foot.

Then came to them also [6]on the ford of hosting[6] the governors of the men of Erin. And this was their sole office [7]with Medb[7] in the battle: to smite to death Conchobar if it were he that suffered defeat, and to rescue Ailill and Medb if it should be they were defeated. And these are the names of the governors:

[6-6] YBL. 51b, 6.

[7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

[Page 351]

XXVIIa

[1]HERE FOLLOWETH THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF ERIN[1]

[W.5883.] The three Conare from Sliab Mis, the three Lussen from Luachair, the three Niadchorb from Tilach Loiscthe, the three Doelfer from Deill, the three Damaltach from Dergderc, the three Buder from the Buas, the three Baeth from Buagnige, the three Buageltach from Mag Breg, the three Suibne from the Siuir, the three Eochaid from Ane, the three Malleth from Loch Erne, the three Abatruad from Loch Ri, the three macAmra from Ess Ruaid, the three Fiacha from Fid Nemain, the three Mane from Muresc, the three Muredach from Mairg, the three Loegaire from Lecc Derg, the three Broduinde from the Berba, the three Bruchnech, from Cenn Abrat, the three Descertach from Druim Fornacht, the three Finn from Finnabair, the three Conall from Collamair, the three Carbre from Cliu, the three Mane from Mossa, the three Scathglan from Scaire, the three Echtach from Erce, the three Trenfer from Taite, the three Fintan from Femen, [LL.fo.102a.] the three Rotanach from Rogne, the three Sarchorach from Suide Lagen, the three Etarscel from Etarbane, the three Aed from Aidne, the three Guare from Gabal.[a]

[1-1] YBL. 50b, 41.

[a] YBL. 50b-51a has more than three times as many names as are enumerated here.

Then said Medb to Fergus. "It were truly a thing to boast of for thee, [2]O Fergus," said she,[2] "werest thou [W.5943.] to use thy mightiness of battle [1]vehemently[1] without stint amongst us to-day, forasmuch as thou hast been driven out of thine own land and out of thine inheritance; amongst us hast thou found land and domain and inheritance, and much good-will hath been shown thee!"

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

[1-1] Stowe, Add., and H. 1. 13.

[2]Thereupon Fergus uttered this oath: "I swear," _et reliqua_, "jaws of men I would break from necks, necks of men with arms, arms of men with elbows, elbows of men with wrists, wrists of men with fists, fists of men with fingers, fingers of men with nails, nails[a] of men with scalps, scalps of men with trunks, trunks of men with thighs, thighs of men with knees, knees of men with calves, calves of men with feet, feet of men with toes, toes of men with nails,[2] so that [3]heads of men over shields[3]

would be as numerous [4]with me[4] as bits of ice [5]on the miry stamping-ground[5] [6]between two dry fields[6] that a king's horses would course on. Every limb of the Ulstermen [7]would I send flying through the air[7] before and behind me this day [8]like the flitting of bees on a day of fine weather,[8] if only I had my sword!"

[2-2] I have given preference to the reading of YBL. 51b, 18-30.

[a] A word is omitted here in the MS., presumably for, 'nails.'

[3-3] YBL. 51b, 19-20.

[4-4] YBL. 51b, 19.

[5-5] YBL. 51b, 20.

[6-6] Adopting Windisch's emendation of the text.

[7-7] YBL. 51b, 31.

[8-8] YBL. 51b, 32.

At that Ailill spoke to his own charioteer, Ferloga, to wit: "Fetch me a quick sword that wounds the skin, O gilla," said Ailill. [9]"A year to-day I put that sword in thy hand in the flower of its condition and bloom.[9] I give my word, if its bloom and condition be the worse at thy hands this day than the day I gave it [10]thee[10] on the hillside of Cruachan Ai [11]in the borders of Ulster,[11] though thou hadst the men of Erin and of Alba to rescue thee from me to-day, they would not all save thee!"

[9-9] Stowe and YBL. 51b, 35.

[10-10] Stowe.