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THE TAIN

 

 

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The Ancient Irish Epic Tale  -

Tain Bo Cualnge

. ( page  8of 19 )

 

" "We knew," spake Medb, "it would be even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that this beardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, Nathcrantail to wit, came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!"

 And Fergus heard that, and Fergus and the Ulstermen were sore angered that any one should boast that Cuchulain had fled. And Fergus addressed himself to Fiachu, Feraba's son, that he should go to rebuke Cuchulain. "And tell  him it is an honour for him to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as he does deeds of valour upon them, but that it were fitter for him to hide himself than to fly before any one of their warriors, forasmuch as the dishonour would be not greater for him than for the rest of Ulster."

Thereupon Fiachu went to address Cuchulain. Cuchulain bade him welcome. "I trow that welcome to be truly meant, but it is for counsel with thee I am come from thy fosterer Fergus. And he has said, 'It would be a glory for thee to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as thou doest valiantly with them; but it would be fitter for thee to hide thyself than to fly before any one of their warriors!'"
"How now, who makes that boast among ye?" Cuchulain asked.
"Nathcrantail, of a surety," Fiachu answered.
"How may this be? Dost not know, thou and Fergus and the nobles of Ulster, that I slay no charioteers nor heralds nor unarmed people? And he bore no arms but a spit of wood. And I would not slay Nathcrantail until he had arms. And do thou tell him, let him come here early in the morning, till he is between Ochaine and the sea, and however early he comes, he will find me here and I will not fly before him!"

Fiachu went back to the camp and to the station of the men of Erin, and he bound Nathcrantail to go to the ford of combat on the morrow. They bided there that night, and it seemed long to Nathcrantail till day with its light came for him to attack Cuchulain. He set out early on the morrow to attack Cuchulain. Cuchulain arose early and came to his place of meeting and his wrath bided with him on that day. And after his night's vigil, with an angry cast he threw his cloak around him, so that it passed over the pillar-stone near by, the size of himself, and snapped the pillar-stone off from the ground between himself and his cloak. And he was aware of naught because of the measure of anger that had come on and raged in him. Then, too, came Nathcrantail. His arms were brought with him on a wagon, and he spake,

"Where is  this Cuchulain?" shouted Nathcrantail.
"Why, over yonder near the pillar-stone before thee," answered Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar.
"Not such was the shape wherein he appeared to me yesterday," said Nathcrantail.
"Repel yon warrior," quoth Cormac, "and it will be the same for thee as if thou repellest Cuchulain!"
"Art thou Cuchulain?"
"And if I am?" answered Cuchulain.
"If thou be truly he," said Nathcrantail, "I would not bring a lambkin's head to the camp. I will not take thy head, the head of a beardless boy."
"It is not I at all," said Cuchulain; "go find him around the hill!"


Cuchulain hastens to Laeg. "Rub a false beard on me; I cannot get the warrior to fight with me beardless." This was done for him. He goes to meet Nathcrantail on the hill. "Methinks that more fitting. Now fight with me fairly," said Nathcrantail.
"Thou shalt have thy wish, if only we know it," Cuchulain made answer.
"I will make a cast at thee," said Nathcrantail, "and thou shalt not avoid it."
"I will not avoid it except on high," said Cuchulain. Nathcrantail makes a cast at him. Cuchulain springs on high before it. "
'Tis ill of thee to avoid the cast," cried Nathcrantail.
"Avoid then my cast on high!" quoth Cuchulain. Cuchulain lets the spear fly at him and it went on high, so that from above it alighted on Nathcrantail's crown and through him it went to the ground. "Alas," said he, "the best warrior in Erin art thou," spake Nathcrantail. "Four and twenty sons have I in the camp. I will go and tell them what hidden treasure I have and then return for thee to behead me, for I shall die if the spear be taken out of my head."
"It is well," quoth Cuchulain; "thou shalt come back."


Then Nathcrantail returns to the camp. They all come to meet him. "Where is the madman's head with thee?" every one asks. "Wait, ye warriors, till I tell my tale to my sons and return to do battle with Cuchulain."

. Soon came Nathcrantail to seek Cuchulain and he made a wide sweep with his sword at Cuchulain. Cuchulain leaps on high, so that the sword encountered the pillar of stone that was between Cuchulain and his cloak, and the sword broke atwain on the pillar-stone. Then Cuchulain became filled with rage, as he had been with the boys in Emain, and he sprang from the ground and alighted on the top of the boss of Nathcrantail's shield and dealt him a side stroke over the upper edge of the shield, so that he struck off his head from his trunk. He raised his hand quickly again and gave him another blow on the top of the trunk so that he cleft him in twain down to the ground. His four severed parts fell to the ground. Thus fell Nathcrantail slain by Cuchulain.

Whereupon Cuchulain spoke the verse:--

"Now that Nathcrantail has fallen,
There will be increase of strife!
Would that Medb had battle now,
And the third part of the host!"

 

* * * * * Page  XII THE FINDING OF THE BULL

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 Midachair 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 Midachair 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 asc ('the Watery Slopes of asc'); 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  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.

 

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  camp in advance of all others--ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were--so that they fell by his hand.

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 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  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'). -

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.

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.

. On this circuit Medb turned back from the north after  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.

Then came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at the end of a long fortnighta to camp and station at Fochard, together with Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull.

 

* * * * * Page  XIIa THE DEATH OF FORGEMEN

.. 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.

 

-. * * * * * Page  XIIb HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST

. 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 jester, to demand the light javelin of Cuchulain. - .

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 neckb and fell out through his mouth on the ground. And the only words Redg uttered were these, "This precious gift is readily 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.

"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 an, 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.

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."

 

* * * * * Page  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 bed 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

. "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 gaid 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.

 

. * * * * * Page  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.

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.

"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.

 

* * * * * Page  XIIe THE SLAUGHTER OF THE BOY-TROOPa

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 Fiachub Fialdana ('the Generous-daring') son of Ferfebe, "shall I have a company from you to go to him with help?"

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').

 

* * * * * Page  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.

 

* * * * * Page  XIII THE COMBAT OF CUR WITH CUCHULAIN

The men of Erin discussed among themselves who of them would be fit to attack and contend with Cuchulain,  and drive him off from them on the ford at the morning-hour early on the morrow. And what they all said was that Cur ('the Hero') son of Da Loth should be the one to attack him. For thus it stood with Cur: No joy was it to be his bedfellow or to live with him. He from whom he drew blood is dead ere the ninth day. And the men of Erin said: "Even should it be Cur that falls, a trouble and care would be removed from the hosts; for it is not easy to be with him in regard to sitting, eating or sleeping. Should it be Cuchulain, it would be so much the better."

Cur was summoned to Medb's tent.
"For what do they want me?" Cur asked.
"To engage with Cuchulain," replied Medb, "to do battle, and ward him off from us on the ford at the morning hour early on the morrow."
Cur deemed it not fitting to go and contend with a beardless boy. "Little ye rate our worth. Nay, but it is wonderful how ye regard it. Too tender is the youth with whom ye compare me. Had I known I was sent against him I would not have come myself. I would have lads enough of  his age from amongst my people to go meet him on a ford."

"Indeed, it is easy to talk so," quoth Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar. "It would be well worth while for thyself if by thee fell Cuchulain."
"Howbeit," said Cur, "since on myself it falls, make ye ready a journey for me at morn's early hour on the morrow, for a pleasure I will make of the way to this fight, a-going to meet Cuchulain. It is not this will detain you, namely the killing of yonder wildling, Cuchulain!"

There they passed the night. Then early on the morrow morn arose Cur macDa Loth and he came to the ford of battle and combat; and however early he arose, earlier still Cuchulain arose. A cart-load of arms was taken along with him wherewith to engage with Cuchulain, and he began to ply his weapons, seeking to kill Cuchulain.

Now Cuchulain had gone early that day to practise his feats of valour and prowess. These are the names of them all: the Apple-feat, and the Edge-feat, and the Level Shield-feat, and the Little Dart-feat, and the Rope-feat, and the Body-feat, and the Feat of Catt, and the Hero's Salmon-leap,a and the Pole-cast, and the Leap over a Blow (?), and the Folding of a noble Chariot-fighter, and the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed Spear') and the Vantage (?) of Swiftness, and the Wheel-feat, and the Rim-feat, and the Over-Breath-feat, and the Breaking of a Sword, and the Champion's Cry, and the Measured Stroke, and the Side Stroke, and the Running up a Lance and standing erect on its Point, and the Binding of the noble Hero (around spear points). - . and . . - . a "The Salmon-leap--lying flat on his face and then springing up, horizontally, high in the air."-

Now this is the reason Cuchulain was wont to practise early every morning each of those feats with the agility of a single hand, as best a wild-cat may, in order that they might not depart from him through forgetfulness or lack of remembrance.

And macDa Loth waited beside his shield until the third part of the day, plying his weapons, seeking the chance to kill Cuchulain; and not the stroke of a blow reached Cuchulain, because of the intensity of his feats, nor was he aware that a warrior was thrusting at him. It was then Laega looked at him and spake to Cuchulain, "Hark! Cucuc. Attend to the warrior that seeks to kill thee." Then it was that Cuchulain glanced at him and then it was that he raised and threw the eight apples on high and cast the ninth apple a throw's length from him at Cur macDa Loth, so that it struck on the disk of his shield between the edge and the body of the shield and on the forehead of the churl, so that it carried the size of an apple of his brains out through the back of his head. Thus fell Cur macDa Loth also at the hand of Cuchulain.

Fergus greeted each one there and this is what he said: "If your engagements and pledges bind you now," said Fergus, "another warrior ye must send to him yonder on the ford; else, do ye keep to your camp and your quarters here till the bright hour of sunrise on the morrow, for Cur son of Da Loth is fallen."
"We will grant that," said Medb, "and we will not pitch tents nor take quarters here now, but we will remain where we were last night in camp. W.. Considering why we have come, it is the same to us even though we remain in those same tents."

The four great provinces of Erin remained in that camp till Cur son of Da Loth had fallen, and Loth son of Da Bro and Srub Dare son of Feradach and Morc son of Tri Aigneach. These then fell in single combat with Cuchulain. But it is tedious to recount one by one the cunning and valour of each man of them.

 

 * * * * * Page  XIV THE SLAYING OF FERBAETH ('THE WITLESS')

Then again the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit to fight and do combat with Cuchulain and to ward him off from them on the ford at the morning-hour early on the morrow. What they each and all said was, that it would be his own friend and companion and the man who was his equal in arms and feats, even Ferbaeth son of Ferbend.

Then was Ferbaeth son of Ferbend summoned to them, to the tent of Ailill and Medb.
"Wherefore do ye call me to you?" Ferbaeth asked.
"In sooth, it would please us," Medb answered, "for thee to do battle and contend with Cuchulain, and to ward him off from us on the ford at the morning hour early on the morrow." Great rewards they promised to him for making the battle and combat. Finnabair is given to him for this and the kingdom of his race, for he was their choice to combat Cuchulain. He was the man they thought worthy of him, for they both had learned the same service in arms with Scathach.

"I have no desire to act thus," Ferbaeth protested. "Cuchulain is my foster-brother and of everlasting covenant with me. Yet will I go meet him to-morrow, so shall I strike off his head!"

"It will be thou that canst do it," Medb made answer.

 

Then it was that Cuchulain said to his charioteer, namely to Laeg: "Betake thee thither, O master Laeg," said Cuchulain, "to the camp of the men of Erin, and bear a greeting . from me to my comrades and foster-brothers and age-mates. Bear a greeting to Ferdiad son of Daman, and to Ferdet son of Daman, and to Brass son of Ferb, and to gaid son of Nos, and to Lugaid son of Solamach, to Ferbaeth son of Baetan, and to Ferbaeth son of Ferbend, and a particular greeting withal to mine own foster-brother, to Lugaid son of Nos, for that he is the one man that still has friendliness and friendship with me now on the hosting. And bear him a blessing. Let it be asked diligently of him that he may tell thee who of the men of Erin will come to attack me on the morrow."

Then Laeg went his way to the camp of the men of Erin and brought the aforementioned greetings to the comrades and foster-brothers of Cuchulain. And he also went into the tent of Lugaid son of Nos. gaid bade him welcome. "I take that welcome to be truly meant," said Laeg. "'Tis truly meant for thee," replied gaid. "To converse with thee am I come from Cuchulain," said Laeg, "and I bring these greetings truly and earnestly from him to the end that thou tell me who comes to fight with Cuchulain to-day."
"Truly not lucky is it for Cuchulain," said Lugaid, "the strait wherein he is alone against the men of Erin. The curse of his fellowship and brotherhood and of his friendship and affection and of his arms be upon that man; even his own real foster-brother himself, even the companion of us both, Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. He it is that comes to meet him to-morrow. He was invited into the tent of Ailill and Medb a while since.

The daughter Finnabair was set by his side. It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it is she who gives him a kiss with every drink that he takes; it is she who serveth the food to him. Not for every one with Medb is the ale that is poured out for Ferbaeth till he is drunk. Only fifty wagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp and it is wine." Then with heavy head, sorrowful, downcast, heaving sighs, Laeg retraced his steps to Cuchulain.

"With heavy head, sorrowful, downcast and sighing, my master Laeg comes to meet me," said Cuchulain. "It must be that one of my brothers-in-arms comes to attack me." For he regarded as worse a man of the same training in arms as himself than aught other warrior. "Hail now, O Laeg my friend," cried Cuchulain; "who comes to attack me to-day?"

"The curse of his fellowship and brotherhood, of his friendship and affection be upon him; even thine own real foster-brother himself, namely Ferbaeth son of Ferbend. A while ago he was summoned into the tent of Medb. The maiden was set by his side; It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it is she who gives him a kiss with every drink; it is she who serveth his food. Not for every one with Medb is the ale that is poured out for Ferbaeth. Only fifty wagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp." Cuchulain bade Laeg go to Lugaid, that he come to talk with him. Lugaid came to Cuchulain. "So Ferbaeth comes to oppose me to-morrow," said Cuchulain. "Aye, then," answered Lugaid. "Evil is this day," cried Cuchulain. "I shall not be alive thereafter. Two of the same age are we, two of equal deftness, two of equal weight, when we come together. O Lugaid, greet him for me. Tell him, also, it is not the part of true valour to come to oppose me. Tell him to come meet me to-night to speak with me."

- . and .Lugaid brought back this word to Ferbaeth.

Now inasmuch as Ferbaeth shunned not the parley, he by no means waited till morn but he went straightway to the glen that night to recant his friendship with Cuchulain, and Fiachu son of Ferfebe went with him. And Cuchulain called to mind the friendship and fellowship and brotherhood that had been between them, and Scathach, the nurse of them both; and Ferbaeth would not consent to forego the fight.

"I must fight," said Ferbaeth. "I have promised it to Medb."
"Friendship with thee then is at an end," cried Cuchulain, and in anger he left him and drove the sole of his foot against a holly-spit in the glen, so that it pierced through flesh and bone and skin and came out by his knee. Thereat Cuchulain became frantic, and he gave a strong tug and drew the spit out from its roots, from sinew and bone, from flesh and from skin. "Go not, Ferbaeth, till thou seest the find I have made."
"Throw it then," cried Ferbaeth. And Cuchulain threw the holly-spit over his shoulder after Ferbaeth, and he would as lief that it reached him or that it reached him not. The spit struck Ferbaeth in the nape of the neck, so that it passed out through his  mouth in front and fell to the ground, and thus Ferbaeth fell backward into the glen.

"Now that was a good throw, Cucuc!" cried Fiachu son of Ferfebe, who was on the mound between the two camps, for he considered it a good throw to kill that warrior with a spit of holly. Hence it is that Focherd Murthemni ('the good Cast of Murthemne') is the name of the place where they were. - "Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar."

 Straightway Ferbaeth died in the glen. Hence cometh Glenn Ferbaeth. Something was heard. It was Fergus who sang:-- "Fool's enterprise was thine, Ferbaeth, That did bring thee to thy grave. Ruin hath come on anger here; Thy last end in Croen Corann! Fithi was the hill's old name, In Croenech in Murthemne.

Ferbaeth' now shall be the name Of the plain where Ferbaeth fell!"

With a play on the word Ferbaeth, 'a foolish man.'