The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge 13 – Dunn · Verses Across
Literature · Historical Fiction
The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge 13Chapter 12
18
Literature · Historical Fiction
The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge 13
Chapter 12
DunnEnglish
THE FINDING OF THE BULL
[W.2007.] Thereafter on the morrow Medb proceeded with a third of the host of the men of Erin about her, and she set forth by the highroad of Midluachair till she reached Dun Sobairche in the north. And Cuchulain pressed heavily on Medb that day. Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bull and Cuchulain pursued her. Now on the road to Midluachair she had gone to invade Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dun Sobairche. There it is that Cuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib. Cuchulain killed Fer Taidle, whence cometh Taidle; and as they went northwards he killed the macBuachalla ('the Herdsman's sons') at their cairn, whence cometh Carn macBuachalla; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence Lettre Luasc ('the Watery Slopes of Luasc'); and he slew Bobulge in his marsh, whence Grellach ('the Trampled Place') of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne on his hill, whence Delga ('the Points') of Murthemne; he slew Nathcoirpthe at his trees, Cruthen on his ford, Marc on his hill, Meille on his mound and Bodb in his tower. It was afterwards then [W.2016.] that Cuchulain turned back from the north to Mag Murthemni, to protect and defend his own borders and land, for dearer to him was his own land and inheritance and belongings than the land and territory and belongings of another.
[1-1] Stowe, and LU. fo. 70a.
[2-2] Eg. 93.
[3-3] Eg. 93.
[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1315-1317. Eg. 93 mentions a number of places to which Cuchulain pursued Medb.
[5-5] LU. and YBL. 1341.
[6-6] Eg. 93.
[7-7] LU. and YBL. 1343.
[8-8] LU. and YBL. 1342-1344.
[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1345.]
[2-2] Eg. 93.
It was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce ('the men of Crannach') from whom cometh Crannach in Murthemne; to wit, the two Artinne and the two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, and Drucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Torc Glaisse and Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard. Cuchulain surprised them as they were pitching [LL.fo.73b.] camp in advance of all others--ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were--so that they fell by his hand.
[3-3] Eg. 93.
[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1348.
Then it was that Buide ('the Yellow') son of Ban Blai ('the White') from Sliab Culinn ('Hollymount'), the country of Ailill and Medb, and belonging to the special followers of Ailill and Medb, met Cuchulain. Four and twenty[a] warriors was their strength. A blue mantle enwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careering before them after he had been brought from Glenn na Samaisce ('Heifers' Glen') to Sliab Culinn, and fifty of his heifers with him. Cuchulain advances to meet them. "Whence bring ye the drove, ye men?" Cuchulain asks. "From yonder mountain," Buide answers. "Where are its herdsmen?" Cuchulain asks. "One is here where we found him," the warrior answers. Cuchulain made three leaps after them, seeking to speak [W.2031.] with them, as far as the ford. Then it was he spoke to the leader, "What is thine own name?" said Cuchulain. "One that neither loves thee nor fears thee," Buide made answer; "Buide son of Ban Blai am I, from the country of Ailill and Medb." "Wella-day, O Buide," cried Cuchulain; "haste to the ford below that we exchange a couple of throws with each other." They came to the ford and exchanged a couple of throws there. "Lo, here for thee this short spear," said Cuchulain, and he casts the spear at him. It struck the shield over his belly, so that it shattered three ribs in his farther side after piercing his heart in his bosom. And Buide son of Ban Blai fell on the ford. So that thence is Ath Buidi ('Athboy') in Crich Roiss ('the land of Ross').
[5-5] LU. and YBL. 1318.
[6-6] Stowe.
[a] 'Sixty' is the number in LU. and YBL.; 'eight' in Eg. 93.
[7-7] Stowe and LU. and YBL. 1319.
[8-8] Eg. 93.
[9-9] LU. and YBL. 1320.
[10-10] Eg. 93.
[11-11] LU. and YBL. 1322-1325.
[1-1] Eg. 93.
[2-2] LU. and YBL 1328.
For as long or as short a space as these bold champions and battle-warriors were engaged in this work of exchanging their two short spears--for it was not in a moment they had accomplished it--the Brown Bull of Cualnge was carried away in quick course and career by the eight great men to the camp of the men of Erin as swiftly as any beeve can be brought to a camp. They opined then it would not be hard to deal with Cuchulain if only his spear were got from him. From this accordingly came the greatest shame and grief and madness that was brought on Cuchulain on that hosting.
[3-3] Eg. 93.
[4-4] Eg. 93.
[5-5] Eg. 93.
[6-6] LU. and YBL. 1330-1331.
As regards Medb: every ford and every hill whereon she stopped, Ath Medba ('Medb's Ford') and Dindgna Medba ('Medb's Hill') is its name. Every place wherein she pitched her tent, Pupall Medba ('Medb's Tent') is its name. Every spot she rested her horselash, Bili Medba ('Medb's Tree') is its name.
[7-7] LU. and YBL 1353.
[8-8] LU. and YBL 1354.
On this circuit Medb turned back from the north after [W.2047.] she had remained a fortnight laying waste the province and plundering the land of the Picts and of Cualnge and the land of Conall son of Amargin, and having offered battle one night to Findmor ('the Fair-large') wife of Celtchar son of Uthechar at the gate of Dun Sobairche; and she slew Findmor and laid waste Dun Sobairche; and, after taking Dun Sobairche from her, she brought fifty of her women into the province of Dalriada. Then she had them hanged and crucified. Whence cometh Mas na Righna ('Queen's Buttock') as the name of the hill, from their hanging.
[9-9] LU. and YBL 1348-1349.
[1-1] Eg. 93.
[2-2] Eg. 93.
[3-3] Stowe.
[4-4] Eg. 93.
[5-5] LU. and YBL. 1351-1352.
[6-6] Eg. 33.
Then came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at the end of a long fortnight[a] to camp and station at Fochard, together with Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull.
[a] Omitting ar mis (LL.), which is not found in the other MSS.
[7-7] LU. and YBL. 1355.
XIIa
THE DEATH OF FORGEMEN
[W.2054.] And the bull's cowherd would not allow them to carry off the Brown Bull of Cualnge, so that they urged on the bull, beating shafts on shields, till they drove him into a narrow gap, and the herd trampled the cowherd's body thirty feet into the ground, so that they made fragments and shreds of his body. Forgemen was the neatherd's name. And this is the name of the hill, Forgemen. This then is the Death of Forgemen on the Cattle-prey of Cualnge. Now there was no peril to them that night so long as a man was got to ward off Cuchulain from them on the ford.
[1-1] Stowe.
[2-2] LU. and YBL. 1359.
[3-3] LU. and YBL. 1360-1361.
XIIb
HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST
[W.2061.] When the men of Erin had come together in one place, both Medb and Ailill and the force that was bringing the bull to the camp and enclosure, they all declared Cuchulain would be no more valiant than another of the men of Erin were it not for the wonderful little trick he possessed, the spearlet of Cuchulain. Accordingly the men of Erin despatched from them Redg, Medb's[a] jester, to demand the light javelin of Cuchulain.
[1-1] LU. page 70b, in the margin.
[2-2] Eg. 93.
[a] 'Ailill's,' LU. and YBL. 1332 and Eg. 1782.
[3-3] Stowe.
So Redg came forward to where Cuchulain was and asked for the little javelin, but Cuchulain did not give him the little javelin at once; he did not deem it good and proper to yield it. "Give me thy spear," said the jester. "Nay then, I will not," answered Cuchulain; "but I will give thee treasure." "I will not take it," said the jester. Then he wounded the jester because he would not accept from him what he had offered him. Redg declared he would deprive Cuchulain of his honour unless he got the little javelin. Thereupon Cuchulain hurled the javelin at him, so that it struck him in the nape of the neck[b] and fell out through his mouth on the ground. And the only words Redg uttered were these, "This precious gift is readily [W.2072.] ours," and his soul separated from his body at the ford. Therefrom that ford is ever since called Ath Solom Shet ('Ford of the Ready Treasure'). And the copper of the javelin was thrown into the river. Hence is Uman-Sruth ('Copperstream') ever after.
[4-4] Eg. 93.
[5-5] Eg. 93.
[6-6] LU. and YBL. 1333-1336.
[7-7] LU. and YBL. 1337.
[b] More literally, 'in the pit of his occiput.'
"Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain," says Ailill. "Let Lugaid go to him," one and all answer. Then Lugaid goes to parley with him. "How now do I stand with the host?" Cuchulain asks. "Disgraceful indeed is the thing thou hast demanded of them," Lugaid answers, "even this, that thou shouldst have thy women and maidens and half of thy kine. But more grievous than all do they hold it that they themselves should be killed and thou provisioned."
Every day there fell a man by Cuchulain till the end of a week. Then faith is broken with Cuchulain. Twenty are despatched at one time to attack him and he destroys them all. "Go to him, O Fergus," says Ailill, "that he may vouchsafe us a change of place." A while after this they proceed to Cronech. These are they that fell in single combat with him in that place, to wit: the two Roth, the two Luan, two women-thieves, ten fools, ten cup-bearers, the ten Fergus, the six Fedelm, the six Fiachu. Now these were all killed by him in single combat.
[2-2] Eg. 1782.
When their tents were pitched by them in Cronech they discussed what they had best do with Cuchulain. "I know," quoth Medb, "what is best here. Let some one go to him from us for a sword-pact from him in respect of the host, and he shall have half the cattle that are here." This message they bring to him. "I will do it," said Cuchulain, "provided the bond is not broken by you to-morrow."
[1-1] LU. 1362-1379.
[3-3] Eg. 1782.
XIIc
HERE IS TOLD THE MEETING OF CUCHULAIN AND FINNABAIR
"Let a message be sent to him," said Ailill, "that Finnabair my daughter will be bestowed on him, and for him to keep away from the hosts." Mane Athramail ('Fatherlike') goes to him. But first he addresses himself to Laeg. "Whose man art thou?" spake Mane. Now Laeg made no answer. Thrice Mane addressed him in this same wise. "Cuchulain's man," Laeg answers, "and provoke me not, lest it happen I strike thy head off thee!" "This man is mad," quoth Mane as he leaves him. Then he goes to accost Cuchulain. It was there Cuchulain had doffed his tunic, and the deep snow was around him where he sat, up to his belt, and the snow had melted a cubit around him for the greatness of the heat of the hero. And Mane addressed him three times in like manner, whose man he was? "Conchobar's man, and do not provoke me. For if thou provokest me any longer I will strike thy head off thee as one strikes off the head of a blackbird!" "No easy thing," quoth Mane, "to speak to these two." Thereupon Mane leaves them and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb.
[1-1] LU. fo. 71a, in the margin.
[2-2] LU. 1380-1414.
[3-3] Eg. 1782.
[4-4] Eg. 1782.
"Let Lugaid go to him," said Ailill, "and offer him the girl." Thereupon Lugaid goes and repeats this to Cuchulain. "O master Lugaid," quoth Cuchulain, "it is a snare!" "It is the word of a king; he hath said it," Lugaid answered; "there can be no snare in it." "So be it," said Cuchulain. Forthwith Lugaid leaves him and takes that answer to Ailill and Medb. "Let the fool go forth in my form," said Ailill, "and the king's crown on his head, and let him stand some way off from Cuchulain lest he know him; and let the girl go with him and let the fool promise her to him, and let them depart quickly in this wise. And methinks ye will play a trick on him thus, so that he will not stop you any further till he comes with the Ulstermen to the battle."
Then the fool goes to him and the girl along with him, and from afar he addresses Cuchulain. The Hound comes to meet him. It happened he knew by the man's speech that he was a fool. A slingstone that was in his hand he threw at him so that it entered his head and bore out his brains. He comes up to the maiden, cuts off her two tresses and thrusts a stone through her cloak and her tunic, and plants a standing-stone through the middle of the fool. Their two pillar-stones are there, even the pillar-stone of Finnabair and the pillar-stone of the fool.
Cuchulain left them in this plight. A party was sent out from Ailill and Medb to search for their people, for it was long they thought they were gone, when they saw them in this wise. This thing was noised abroad by all the host in the camp. Thereafter there was no truce for them with Cuchulain.
[2-2] LU. 1380-1414.
XIId
HERE THE COMBAT OF MUNREMAR AND CUROI
While the hosts were there in the evening they perceived that one stone fell on them coming from the east and another from the west to meet it. The stones met one another in the air and kept falling between Fergus' camp, the camp of Ailill and the camp of Nera. This sport and play continued from that hour till the same hour on the next day, and the hosts spent the time sitting down, with their shields over their heads to protect them from the blocks of stones, till the plain was full of the boulders, whence cometh Mag Clochair ('the Stony Plain'). Now it happened it was Curoi macDare did this. He had come to bring help to his people and had taken his stand in Cotal to fight against Munremar son of Gerrcend.[a] The latter had come from Emain Macha to succour Cuchulain and had taken his stand on Ard ('the Height') of Roch. Curoi knew there was not in the host a man to compete with Munremar. These then it was who carried on this sport between them. The army prayed them to cease. Whereupon Munremar and Curoi made peace, and Curoi withdrew to his house and Munremar to Emain Macha and Munremar came not again till the day of the battle. As for Curoi, he came not till the combat of Ferdiad.
[1-1] LU. fo. 71b, in the margin.
[a] Here a sheet is missing in Eg. 1782.
[2-2] LU. 1415-1486.
"Pray Cuchulain," said Medb and Ailill, "that he suffer us to change our place." This then was granted to them and the change was made.
The 'Pains' of the Ulstermen left them then. When now they awoke from their 'Pains,' bands of them came continually upon the host to restrain it again.
XIIe
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE BOY-TROOP[a]
Now the youths of Ulster discussed the matter among themselves in Emain Macha. "Alas for us," said they, "that our friend Cuchulain has no one to succour him!" "I would ask then," spake Fiachu Fulech ('the Bloody') son of Ferfebe and own brother to Fiachu[b] Fialdana ('the Generous-daring') son of Ferfebe, "shall I have a company from you to go to him with help?"
[1-1] LU. fo. 71b, in the margin.
[a] The LU. version of the episode is given under XVIIa, page 184.
[b] Fiachna, in LU. 1436.
Thrice fifty youths accompany him with their play-clubs, and that was a third of the boy-troop of Ulster. The army saw them drawing near them over the plain. "A great army approaches us over the plain," spake Ailill Fergus goes to espy them. "Some of the youths of Ulster are they," said he, "and it is to succour Cuchulain they come." "Let a troop go to meet them," said Ailill, "unknown to Cuchulain; for if they unite with him ye will never overcome them." Thrice fifty warriors went out to meet them. They fell at one another's hands, so that not one of them got off alive of the number of the youths of Lia Toll. Hence is Lia ('the Stone') of Fiachu son of Ferfebe, for it is there that he fell.
"Take counsel," quoth Ailill; "inquire of Cuchulain about letting you go from hence, for ye will not go past him by force, now that his flame of valour has risen." For it was usual with him, when his hero's flame arose in him, that his feet would turn back on him and his buttocks, before him, and the knobs of his calves would come on his shins, and one eye would be in his head and the other one out of his head. A man's head would have gone into his mouth. There was not a hair on him that was not as sharp as the thorn of the haw, and a drop of blood was on each single hair. He would recognize neither comrades nor friends. Alike he would strike them before and behind. Therefrom it was that the men of Connacht gave Cuchulain the name Riastartha ('the Contorted One').
XIIf
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE KING'S BODYGUARD
"Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain," said Ailill and Medb. Lugaid goes to him and Cuchulain accords the truce. "Put a man for me on the ford to-morrow," said Cuchulain. There happened to be with Medb six royal hirelings, to wit: six princes of the Clans of Deda, the three Dubs ('the Blacks') of Imlech, and the three Dergs ('the Reds') of Sruthair, by name. "Why should it not be for us," quoth they, "to go and attack Cuchulain?" So the next day they went and Cuchulain put an end to the six of them.
