The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge 20 – Dunn · Verses Across
Literature · Historical Fiction
The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge 20Chapter 19
18
Literature · Historical Fiction
The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge 20
Chapter 19
DunnEnglish
THE BATTLE OF FERGUS AND CUCHULAIN
[W.2851.] The hosts of the four grand provinces of Erin pitched camp and entrenched themselves for that night at the pillar-stone in Crich Roiss ('the Borders of Ross'). Then Medb called upon the men of Erin for one of them to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the morrow. And every one of them spake thus: "It shall not be I! it shall not be I!" cried each from his place. "No victim is owing from my people, and even if one were it would not be myself whom ye would send as a victim in his stead. I will not be the man to go in his place to fight with Cuchulain till the very day of doom and of life!"
[1-1] LU. fo. 82b, in the margin.
[2-2] LU. and YBL. 2141.
[3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17., LU. and YBL. 2142-2143.
[4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
Thereupon Medb summoned Fergus to go forth and contend and fight with Cuchulain, to drive him off from them on the ford at the early morning-hour on the morrow, for that the men of Erin had failed her to go and do battle with him. "Ill would it befit me," quoth Fergus, "to fight with a callow young lad without any beard, and mine own disciple, the fosterling of Ulster, the foster-child that sat on Conchobar's knee, the lad from Craeb Ruad ('Red Branch')." Howbeit Medb [W.2861.] murmured sore that Fergus foreswore her combat and battle. They filled him with wine till he was heavily drunken and then they questioned him about going to the combat. They bode the night in that place. Early on the morrow Fergus arose, since they importuned him urgently, and his horses were got ready for him and his chariot harnessed and he fared forth to the place of combat where Cuchulain was.
[5-5] Stowe and H. 2. 17.
[6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.
[7-7] Eg. 93.
[8-8] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.
[9-9] Stowe.
[10-10] H. 2. 17.
[11-11] Eg. 93.
[1-1] LU. and YBL. 2145-2146.
[2-2] LU. and YBL. 2147.
[3-3] Eg. 93.
When now Cuchulain saw him coming nigh, this is what he said: "Welcome thine arrival and thy coming, O my master Fergus," spoke Cuchulain. "Truly given we esteem thy greeting," Fergus answered. "It is truly given for thee, O Fergus" said Cuchulain; "and thou shalt have a night's lodging here this night." "Success and a blessing attend thee, O fosterling; not for hospitality from thee am I come, but to fight and do battle with thee." "A vain surety [LL.fo.80a.] is the one wherewith my master Fergus comes to me; for no sword is in the sheath of the great staff he bears." It was true what he said. A year before this tale,[a] before the expedition of the Tain, Ailill had found Fergus going to a tryst with Medb on the hillside in Cruachan and his sword on a branch near by him. And Ailill had torn the sword from its sheath and put a wooden sword in its stead and vowed he would not restore him the sword till came the day of the great battle, when the men of Erin would clash in the great battle of the Cualnge Cattle-raid at Garech and Ilgarech. "It is a perilous thing for thee to come to a place of fight, O my master Fergus, without thy sword." "It matters not to me, O fosterling," replied Fergus; "for had I a sword in this, it never would cut thee nor be plied on thee. But, by [W.2874.] the honour and training I bestowed upon thee and the Ulstermen and Conchobar bestowed, by the troth of thy valour and knighthood I adjure thee, give way before me this day in the presence of the men of Erin!" "Truly I am loath to do that," answered Cuchulain, "to flee before any one man on the Cattle-spoil of Cualnge." "Nay then it is not a thing to be taken amiss by thee," said Fergus; "for I in my turn will retreat before thee when thou wilt be covered with wounds and dripping with gore and pierced with holes in the battle of the Tain. And when I alone shall turn in flight before thee, so will all the men of Erin also flee before thee in like manner." So zealous was Cuchulain to do whatever made for Ulster's weal that he had his chariot brought to him, and he mounted his chariot and he went in confusion and flight from Fergus in the presence of the men of Erin. As far as Grellach Dolluid ('the Stamping-place at Dolluid') he fled, in order that Fergus might give way before him on the day of the battle. When the men of Erin saw that, they were joyful, and what they said was this: "He is fled from thee! He is fled from thee, O Fergus!" cried all. "Pursue him, pursue him quickly, O Fergus," Medb cried, "that he do not escape thee." "Nay then," said Fergus, "I will pursue him no further. It is not like a tryst. Yon fellow is too speedy for me. For however little ye may make of the flight I have put him to, none of the men of Erin, not even four of the five provinces of Erin could have obtained so much as that of him on the Cow-creagh of Cualnge. For this cause, till the men of Erin take turns in single combat, I will not engage again with this same man." Hence here we have the 'White [W.2891.] Battle' of Fergus on the Tain thus far; and it is for this cause it is called the 'White Battle,' because no 'blood on weapons'[a] resulted therefrom. They continue their march past Cuchulain and pitch camp in Crich Roiss.
[4-4] Stowe.
[5-5] Stowe.
[6-6] Eg. 93.
[a] See above, page 99.
[7-7] Stowe.
[8-8] Reading with Stowe; LL. has 'on the slope.'
[9-9] Stowe.
[10-10] Stowe.
[1-1] Eg. 93.
[2-2] Stowe.
[3-3] Stowe.
[4-4] Stowe.
[5-5] Stowe.
[6-6] LU. and YBL. 2154-2155.
[7-7] Stowe.
[8-8] Stowe.
[9-9] Stowe.
[10-10] LU. and YBL. 2157.
[11-11] Eg. 93.
[12-12] Eg. 93.
[1-1] Eg. 93.
[a] A traditional tag; it occurs again, page 216.
[2-2] LU. and YBL. 2158-2159.
XIXa
HERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU
[W.2893.] Ferchu Longsech ('the Exile'), a wonderful warrior from Loch Ce, outlawed from his land by Ailill and Medb, although of the Connachtmen, was engaged in battle and plunder with Ailill and Medb. From the day these came to the kingship, there never was a time that he fared to their camp or took part in their expeditions or shared in their straits or their needs or their hardships, but he was ever at their heels, pillaging and plundering their borders and land. At that time he sojourned in the eastern part of Mag Ai. Twelve[a] men was his muster. He learned that a single man checked and stopped four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring, slaying a man on the ford every one of those days and a hundred warriors every night. He weighed his plan privily with his people. "What better plan could we devise?" quoth he, "than to go and attack yonder man that checketh and stoppeth four of the five grand provinces of Erin, and bring his head and his arms with us to Ailill and Medb? However great the injuries and wrongs we have done to Ailill and Medb, we shall obtain our peace therefor, if only that man fall by our hand." He made no doubt that if Cuchulain fell through him, the eastern territory of Connacht would be his. Now this was the [W.2908.] resolve they took, and they proceeded to where Cuchulain was at Ath Aladh ('Speckled Ford') on the Plain of Murthemne. And when they came, they espied the lone warrior and knew that it was Cuchulain. It was not fair fight nor combat with one they vouchsafed him, but at one and the same time the twelve men fell upon him so that their spears sank up to their middles into his shield. Cuchulain on his part drew his sword from the sheath of the Badb to attack them, and he fell to to cut away their weapons and to lighten his shield. Then he turned on them, front and back, to the left and the right, and straightway he smote off their twelve heads; and he engaged in a furious, bloody and violent battle with Ferchu himself, after killing his people. And not long did it avail Ferchu thus, for he fell at last by Cuchulain, and Cuchulain cut off Ferchu's head to the east of the ford. And he set up twelve stones in the earth for them, and he put the head of each one of them on its stone and he likewise put Ferchu Longsech's head on its stone. Hence Cinnit Ferchon Longsig is henceforth the name of the place where Ferchu Longsech left his head and his twelve men theirs and their arms and their trophies, to wit, Cenn-aitt Ferchon ('the Head-place of Ferchu').
[1-1] Eg. 93.
[a] 'Thirteen,' LU. and YBL. 2161, and Eg. 93.
[2-2] Eg. 93.
[1-1] Eg. 93.
[2-2] Eg. 93.
[3-3] Eg. 93.
[4-4] Eg. 93.
[5-5] Eg. 93.
[6-6] Eg. 93.
[7-7] Eg. 93.
[8-8] Stowe.
[9-9] Eg. 93.
XIXb
MANN'S FIGHT
Medb despatched Mann son of Muresc son of Dare, of the Dommandach, to fight with Cuchulain. Own brothers were he and Daman, Ferdiad's father. A man, rough, inordinate in eating and sleeping was this Mann. An ill-tongued foul-mouthed man like Dubthach Doel ('Black-tongue') of Ulster. A man, stout, mighty, with strength of limb like Munremur ('Thick-neck') son of Gerrcend ('Short-head'). A fiery champion like Triscoth, the strong man of Conchobar's household. "I will go," said he, "and unarmed, and I will grind him between my hands, for I consider it no honour nor credit to use arms against a beardless madcap such as he."
[1-1] LU., fo. 82, in the margin.
Therewith he went to attack Cuchulain. There he was, himself and his charioteer on the ford watching the host. "A lone warrior approacheth us here," cried Laeg to Cuchulain. "What manner of man?" asked Cuchulain. "A dark, black man, strong, bull-like, and he unarmed." "Let him go by thee," said Cuchulain. At that he comes nigh them. "To fight with thee am I come," Mann announced. Therewith they fell to wrestling for a long time, and thrice Mann threw Cuchulain, till the charioteer incited Cuchulain. "Were it the champion's portion thou wast contending for in Emain," spake Laeg, "thou wouldst be all powerful over the young bloods in Emain!" At these words the hero's wrath and warrior's rage returned to Cuchulain, so that he overcame Mann at the pillar-stone and he fell to pieces in morsels. Hence cometh Mag Mandachta ('the Plain of Mann's death').
[2-2] YBL., and, partly, LU. 2163-2181. Here the LU. version breaks off, fo. 82b.
XIXc
THE COMBAT OF CALATIN'S CHILDREN
[W.2918.] Then was it debated by the men of Erin who would be fit to contend and cope with Cuchulain at the morning hour early on the next day. What they all said was, that Calatin Dana ('the Bold') would be the one, with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson[a] Glass macDelga. Thus were they: Poison was on every man of them and poison on every weapon of their arms; and not one of them missed his throw, and there was no one on whom one of them drew blood that, if he succumbed not on the spot, would not be dead before the end of the ninth day. Great gifts were promised to them for engaging to do battle and to contend [LL.fo.80b.] with Cuchulain. And they took the matter in hand, and it should be in the presence of Fergus that the covenant would be made. But Fergus refused to have part therein, for what they all contended was that they would hold it as a single combat, a combat, to wit, of Calatin Dana and his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga; for their contention was that his son was a limb of his limbs and a part of his parts, and that to Calatin Dana belonged all that proceeded from his body.
[1-1] The title is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter.
[a] 'Nephew.' Stowe.
[2-2] Stowe.
[3-3] Stowe.
[4-4] Stowe.
Fergus betook himself to his tent and to his people and he breathed his sigh of weariness aloud. "Grievous it [W.2935.] seems to us, the deed to be done here on the morrow," quoth Fergus. "What deed may that be?" asked his people. "The slaying of Cuchulain," answered Fergus. "Alas," said they, "who should kill him?" "Calatin Dana," he replied, "with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga. For this is their nature: Poison is on every man of them and poison on every weapon of their arms; and there is no one on whom one of them draws blood, that, if he succumb not on the spot, will not be dead before the end of the ninth day. And there is no one of you that would go and learn for me and be witness of the battle and fight and bring me news how Cuchulain died on whom I would not bestow my blessing and armour." "I will go thither," spake Fiachu son of Ferfebe.
[1-1] Stowe.
They abode so that night. Early on the morrow Calatin Dana arose with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga, and they went forward to where Cuchulain was. And there went also Fiachu son of Ferfebe. And when Calatin arrived at the place where Cuchulain was, they forthwith hurled their nine and twenty spears, and not one of them went past him by a misthrow. Cuchulain played the edge-feat with his shield, so that all the spears sank up to their middles into the shield. But for all that theirs was no erring cast, not one of the spears was blooded or reddened upon him. Thereupon Cuchulain drew his sword from the sheath of the Badb, to cut away the weapons and lighten the shield that was on him. While thus engaged, they rushed in upon him and delivered their nine and twenty right fists at the same time on his head. They smote him and curbed him withal, till his face and his countenance and visage met the sand and gravel of the ford. Cuchulain raised his warrior's shout aloud and his cry of unequal combat, so that there was not an Ulsterman [W.2962.] alive in the camp of those that were not asleep but heard it. Then when they all had reached for their swords, came Fiachu son of Ferfebe after them out of the camp, and he saw what they did and a qualm of love and the bond of kindred came over him, and when he saw all their hands raised against Cuchulain, he leaped from his chariot and drew his sword from the sheath of the Badb and dealt them a blow, so that he cut off their nine and twenty right fists from them at one stroke, and they all fell backwards from the intensity of the exertion and hold which they had.
[2-2] Stowe.
[1-1] Stowe.
[2-2] YBL. 2186.
[3-3] YBL. 2187.
[4-4] Stowe.
[5-5] YBL. 2187-2188.
Cuchulain raised his head and drew breath and gave a sigh of weariness and perceived who it was that had come to his aid. "A ready relief, O foster-brother, what thou hast done," said Cuchulain. "Although for thee a ready relief," said Fiachu, "yet is it not so for us. Even though we are the best division of three thousand of the Clann Rudraige in the camp and station of the men of Erin, nevertheless this small thing is a breach of covenant in us men of Ulster. If one of Calatin's children reaches the camp, we shall all be brought under the mouth of spear and of sword, however feeble thou mayst deem the blow I struck, if this treason be found in us." "I give my word," quoth Cuchulain; "so soon as I raise my head and draw breath, not a man of them shall reach the camp alive, and unless thou thyself tellest the tale not one of these ever will tell it!"
[6-6] YBL. 2190.
[7-7] YBL. 2190-2191.
[8-8] YBL. 2193.
With that, Cuchulain turned on them, and he fell to smiting and hewing them, so that he sent them [LL.fo.81a.] from him in small disjointed pieces and divided quarters eastwards and westwards along the ford. A single man got away from him, trusting to his speed while Cuchulain was busied [W.2981.] beheading the rest; it was Glass macDelga. And Cuchulain raced after him like a blast of wind, and Glass ran on round the tent of Ailill and Medb, and all he could pant out was, "Fiach! Fiach!"[a] when Cuchulain fetched him a stroke that cut off his head.
[a] There is a play on words. Glass attempts to pronounce the name 'Fiachu,' but is only able to utter the first syllable of the word which alone means 'debt.'
"'Tis quick work was made of that man," quoth Medb. "What debt was that he spoke of, O Fergus?" "I know not," Fergus answered, "unless it be some one in the camp and quarters that owed him a debt. It is that which troubled his mind. But be that as it may," continued Fergus, "it is a debt of blood and flesh for him. And upon my word," Fergus added, "now are his debts paid to him for good and all!"
In this wise fell Calatin Dana ('the Bold') at the hands of Cuchulain, together with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga and the two sons of Ficce with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who had come to use their strength on the host. So that for evermore in the bed of the ford is still the rock whereabout they had their strife and struggle and their slaughtering of each other; and the mark of their sword-hilts is in it and of their knees and their elbows and their fists and the butt-ends of their spears. And their nine and twenty standing stones were set up there. Hence Fuil Iairn ('Blood of Iron') to the west[b] of Ath Firdead ('Ferdiad's Ford') is the name of the ford. It is for this it is called Fuil Iairn, because of the 'blood over weapons'[c] that was there.
[1-1] YBL. 2194-2196.
[2-2] Stowe.
[3-3] YBL. 2198.
[4-4] YBL. 2198.
[b] 'South,' YBL. 2184.
[c] See page 208, note a.
Thus far then this exploit on the Tain, the Combat of the Clann Calatin of his children and his grandson with Cuchulain, when they went to do battle with Cuchulain.
