The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 10

[5-5] Stowe.

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 310.

Medb and Fergus and the Mane and the sons of Maga drew near. For in this wise was Medb wont to travel, and nine chariots with her alone; two of these chariots before her, and two chariots behind, and two chariots at either side, and her own chariot in the middle between them. This is why Medb did so, that the turves from the horses' hoofs, or the flakes of foam from the bridle-bits, or the dust of the mighty host or of the numerous throng might not reach the queen's diadem of gold [7]which she wore round her head.[7] "What have we here?" queried Medb. "Not hard to say," each and all made answer; [LL.fo.60.] "the horses of the band that went out before us are here and their bodies lacking their heads in their chariots." They held [W.702.] a council and they felt certain it was the sign of a mult.i.tude and of the approach of a mighty host, and that it was the Ulstermen that had come [1]and that it was a battle that had taken place before them on the ford.[1] And this was the counsel they took: to despatch Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, from them to learn what was at the ford; because, even though the Ulstermen might be there, they would not kill the son of their own king. Thereupon Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, set forth and this was the complement with which he went, ten hundred in addition to twenty hundred armed men, to ascertain what was at the ford. And when he was come, he saw naught save the fork in the middle of the ford, with four heads upon it dripping their blood down along the stem of the fork into the stream of the river, [2]and a writing in ogam on the side,[2] and the signs of the two horses and the track of a single chariot-driver and the marks of a single warrior leading out of the ford going therefrom to the eastward. [3]By that time,[3] the n.o.bles of Erin had drawn nigh to the ford and they all began to look closely at the fork.

They marvelled and wondered who had set up the trophy. [4]"Are yonder heads those of our people?" Medb asked. "They are our people's, and our chosen ones'," answered Ailill. One of their men deciphered the ogam-writing that was on the side of the fork, to wit: 'A single man cast this fork with but a single hand; and go ye not past it till one man of you throw it with one hand, excepting Fergus.'[4] "What name have ye men of Ulster for this ford till now, Fergus?" asked Ailill. "Ath Grenca,"[a]

answered Fergus; "and Ath Gabla ('Ford of the Fork') shall now be its name forever from this fork," said Fergus. And he recited the lay:--

[7-7] Stowe.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 313.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 314.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 314-318.

[a] So Stowe; LL. has '_Grena_.'

[W.719.] "Grenca's ford shall change its name, From the strong and fierce Hound's deed.

Here we see a four-p.r.o.nged fork, Set to prove all Erin's men!

"On two points--as sign of war-- Are Fraech's head and Fochnam's head; On its other points are thrust Err's head and Innell's withal!

"And yon ogam on its side, Find, ye druids, in due form, Who has set it upright there?

What host drove it in the ground?"

(A druid answers:)

"Yon forked pole--with fearful strength-- Which thou seest, Fergus, there, One man cut, to welcome us, With one perfect stroke of sword!

"Pointed it and shouldered it-- Though this was no light exploit-- After that he flung it down, To uproot for one of you!

"Grenca was its name till now-- All will keep its memory-- Fork-ford[a] be its name for aye, From the fork that's in the ford!"

[a] That is, _Ath Gabla_.

After the lay, spake Ailill: "I marvel and wonder, O Fergus, who could have sharpened the fork and slain with such speed the four that had gone out before us." "Fitter it were to marvel and wonder at him who with a single stroke lopped the fork which thou seest, root and top, pointed and charred it and flung it the length of a throw from the hinder part of his chariot, from the tip of a single hand, so that it sank over two-thirds into the ground and that naught save one-third is above; nor was a hole first dug with his sword, but through a grey stone's flag it was thrust, and thus it is geis for the men of Erin to proceed to the bed of this ford till one of ye pull out the fork with the tip of one hand, even as he erewhile drove it down."

"Thou art of our hosts, O Fergus," said Medb; [W.753.] [1]avert this necessity from us,[1] and do thou draw the fork for us from the bed of the ford." "Let a chariot be brought me," cried Fergus, [2]"till I draw it out, that it may be seen that its b.u.t.t is of one hewing."[2] And a chariot was brought to Fergus, and Fergus laid hold [3]with a truly mighty grip[3] on the fork, and he made splinters and [LL.fo.61a.] sc.r.a.ps of the chariot.

"Let another chariot be brought me," cried Fergus. [4]Another[4] chariot was brought to Fergus, and Fergus made a tug at the fork and again made fragments and splinters of the chariot, [5]both its box and its yoke and its wheels.[5] "Again let a chariot be brought me," cried Fergus. And Fergus exerted his strength on the fork, and made pieces and bits of the chariot. There where the seventeen[a] chariots of the Connachtmen's chariots were, Fergus made pieces and bits of them all, and yet he failed to draw the fork from the bed of the ford. "Come now, let it be, O Fergus,"

cried Medb; "break our people's chariots no more. For hadst thou not been now engaged on this hosting, [6]by this time[6] should we have come to Ulster, driving divers spoils and cattle-herds with us. We wot wherefore thou workest all this, to delay and detain the host till the Ulstermen rise from their 'Pains' and offer us battle, the battle of the Tain."

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 322.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 324.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] Stowe.

[a] "Fourteen," LU. and YBL. 325 and Eg. 1782.

[6-6] Stowe.

"Bring me a swift chariot," cried Fergus. And his own chariot was brought to Fergus, and Fergus gave a tug at the fork, and nor wheel nor floor nor one of the chariot-poles creaked nor cracked. Even though it was with his strength and prowess that the one had driven it down, with his might and doughtiness the other drew it out,--the battle-champion, the gap-breaker of hundreds, the crus.h.i.+ng sledge, the stone-of-battle for enemies, the [W.777.] head of retainers, the foe of hosts, the hacking of ma.s.ses, the flaming torch and the leader of mighty combat. He drew it up with the tip of one hand till it reached the slope of his shoulder, and he placed the fork in Ailill's hand. Ailill scanned it; he regarded it near. "The fork, meseems, is all the more perfect," quoth Ailill; "for a single stroke I see on it from b.u.t.t to top." "Aye, all the more perfect," Fergus replied. And Fergus began to sing praise [1]of Cuchulain,[1] and he made a lay thereon:--

"Here behold the famous fork, By which cruel Cuchulain stood.

Here he left, for hurt to all, Four heads of his border-foes!

"Surely he'd not flee therefrom, 'Fore aught man, how brave or bold.

Though the scatheless[a] Hound this left, On its hard rind there is gore!

"To its hurt the host goes east, Seeking Cualnge's wild Brown bull.

[2]Warriors' cleaving there shall be,[2]

'Neath Cuchulain's baneful sword!

"No gain will their[b] stout bull be, For which sharp-armed war will rage; At the fall of each head's skull Erin's every tribe shall weep!

"I have nothing to relate As regards Dechtire's son.[c]

Men and women hear the tale Of this fork, how it came here!"

[1-1] Stowe.

[a] Literally, 'painless,' referring to Cuchulain's exemption from the _cess_ or 'debility' of the Ulstermen.

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

[b] Translating from Stowe; LL. has 'his' or 'its.'

[c] That is, Cuchulain.

After this lay: "Let us pitch our booths and tents," said Ailill, "and let us make ready food and drink, and let us sing songs and strike up harps, and let us eat and [W.807.] regale ourselves, for, of a truth, never before nor since knew the men of Erin a night of encampment or of entrenchment that held sorer discomfort or distress for them than yester-night. [1]Let us give heed to the manner of folk to whom we go and let us hear somewhat of their deeds and famous tales."[1]

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 329-330.

They raised their booths and pitched their tents. They got ready [LL.fo.61b.] their food and drink, and songs were sung and harping intoned by them, and feasting and eating indulged in, [2]and they were told of the feats of Cuchulain.[2]

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 331.

And Ailill inquired of Fergus: "I marvel and wonder who could have come to us to our lands and slain so quickly the four that had gone out before us. Is it likely that Conchobar son of Fachtna Fatach ('the Mighty'), High King of Ulster, has come to us?" "It is never likely that he has," Fergus answered; "for a shame it would be to speak ill of him in his absence.

There is nothing he would not stake for the sake of his honour. For if he had come hither [3]to the border of the land[3], there would have come armies and troops and the pick of the men of Erin that are with him. And even though against him in one and the same place, and in one ma.s.s and one march and one camp, and on one and the same hill were the men of Erin and Alba, Britons and Saxons, he would give them battle, before him they would break and it is not he that would be routed."

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 333.

"A question, then: Who would be like to have come to us? Is it like that Cuscraid Mend ('the Stammerer') of Macha would have come, Conchobar's son, from Inis Cuscraid?" "Nay then, it is not; he, the son of the High King,"