The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 54

[3-3] Stowe and YBL. 38a, 28.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] Stowe, and, similarly Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.

[6-6] YBL. 38a, 30.

[7-7] Stowe.

[8-8] H. 1. 13.

[9-9] YBL. 38a, 31-32.

Not long had Ferdiad's charioteer waited when he heard something: [1]A rush and a crash and a hurtling sound, and a din and a thunder,[1] [LL.fo.83a.]

and a clatter and a clash, namely, the s.h.i.+eld-cry of feat-s.h.i.+elds, and the jangle of javelins, and the deed-striking of swords, and the thud of the helmet, [2]and the ring of spears,[2] and the clang of the cuira.s.s, and the striking of arms, the fury of feats, the straining of ropes, and the whirr of wheels, and the creaking of the chariot, and the trampling of horses'

hoofs, and the deep voice of the hero and battle-warrior [3]in grave speech with his servant[3] on his way to the ford to attack his opponent.

[1-1] From Stowe; LL. is illegible here.

[2-2] H. 1. 13.

[3-3] Stowe.

The servant came and touched his master with his hand [4]and awakened him.[4] "Ferdiad, master," said the youth, "rise up! They are here to meet thee at the ford." [5]Then[5] [6]Ferdiad arose and girt his body in his war-dress of battle and combat.[6] And the gilla spake these words:--

"The roll of a chariot, Its fair yoke of silver; A man great and stalwart O'ertops the strong car!

O'er Bri Ross, o'er Brane Their swift path they hasten; Past Old-tree Town's[a] tree-stump, Victorious they speed!

"A sly Hound that driveth, A fair chief that urgeth, A free hawk that speedeth His steeds towards the south!

Gore-coloured, the Cua,[b]

'Tis sure he will take us; We know--vain to hide it-- He brings us defeat![c]

[W.3335.] "Woe him on the hillock, The brave Hound before him; Last year I foretold it, That some time he'd come!

Hound from Emain Macha, Hound formed of all colours, The Border-hound, War-hound, I hear what I've heard!"

[4-4] YBL. 38a, 35.

[5-5] H. 1. 13.

[6-6] Stowe and, similarly, Eg. 209, Eg. 106 and H. 1. 13.

[a] _Baile in bile_, MSS.

[b] A shortened form for 'Cuchulain.'

[c] Literally, 'battle, strife.'

"Come, gilla," said Ferdiad; "for what reason laudest thou this man ever since I am come from my house? And it is almost a cause for strife with thee that thou hast praised him thus highly. But, Ailill and Medb have prophesied to me that this man will fall by my hand. And since it is for a reward, he shall quickly be torn asunder by me. [1]And make ready the arms on the ford against his coming." "Should I turn my face backward," said the gilla; "methinks the poles of yon chariot will pa.s.s through the back of my neck." "Too much, my lad," said Ferdiad, "dost thou praise Cuchulain, for not a reward has he given thee for praising,[1] but it is time to fetch help." And he spake these words, and the henchman responded:--

Ferdiad: "'Tis time now to help me; Be silent! cease praising!

'Twas no deed of friends.h.i.+p, No doom o'er the brink (?)[a]

The Champion of Cualnge, Thou seest 'midst proud feats, For that it's for guerdon, Shall quickly be slain!"[b]

The Henchman: "I see Cualnge's hero, With feats overweening, Not fleeing he flees us, But towards us he comes.

He runneth--not slowly-- Though cunning--not sparing-- Like water 'down high cliff Or thunderbolt quick!"

Ferdiad: [W.3365.] "'Tis cause of a quarrel, So much thou hast praised him; And why hast thou chose him, Since I am from home?

And now they extol him, They fall to proclaim him; None come to attack him, But soft simple men (?)."

[1-1] YBL. 38b, 46-57.

[a] The meaning is obscure.

[b] Literally, 'torn.'

[1]Here followeth the Description of Cuchulain's chariot, one of the three chief Chariots of the Tale of the Foray of Cualnge.[1]

[1-1] YBL. 38a, 48-49. In the following description of the chariot and steeds has been incorporated part of the parallel pa.s.sages in LU.

1969-1977 and YBL. 38a-38b. Eg. 106, Eg. 109 and H. 2. 12 (_Revue Celtique_, xi, 25) contain more adjectives.

It was not long that Ferdiad's charioteer remained there when he saw something: [2]"How beholdest thou Cuchulain?" asked Ferdiad of his charioteer. "I behold," said he,[2] "a beautiful, live-pointed chariot, [3]broad above, of white crystal, with a thick yoke of gold, with stout plates of copper, with shafts of bronze, with wheel-bands of bronze covered with silver,[3] approaching with swiftness, with speed, with perfect skill; with a green shade, with a thin-framed, dry-bodied (?) box surmounted with feats of cunning, [4]straight-poled,[4] as long as a warrior's sword. [5]On this[5] was room for a hero's seven arms, the fair seat for its lord; [6]two wheels, dark, black; a pole of tin, with red enamel, of a beautiful colour; two inlaid, golden bridles.[6] [7]This chariot was placed[7]

behind two fleet steeds, [8]nimble, furious, small-headed,[8] bounding, large-eared, [9]small-snouted, sharp-beaked, red-chested,[9] gaily prancing, with inflated[a] nostrils, broad-chested, quick-hearted, high-flanked, broad-hoofed, slender-limbed, overpowering and resolute. A grey, broad-hipped, small-stepping, long-maned horse, [10]whose name was Liath ('the Roan') of Macha,[10] was under [W.3379.] one of the yokes of the chariot; a black, crisped-maned, swift-moving, broad-backed horse, [1]whose name was Dubh ('the Black') of Sithleann,[1] under the other. Like unto a hawk after its prey on a sharp tempestuous day, or to a tearing blast of wind of Spring on a March day over the back of a plain, or unto a startled stag when first roused by the hounds in the first of the chase, [LL.fo.83b.] were Cuchulain's two horses before the chariot, as if they were on glowing, fiery flags, so that they shook the earth and made it tremble with the fleetness of their course.

[2-2] YBL. 38a, 51-52.

[3-3] YBL. 38b, 1-3.

[4-4] LU. 1973.

[5-5] YBL.

[6-6] YBL. 38b. 19-21.

[7-7] LU. 1972.

[8-8] LU. 1973.

[9-9] LU. 1973.

[10-10] Eg. 209.

[a] Literally, 'bagnosed.'

[1-1] Eg. 209.

[2]"In the front of this chariot is a man with fair, curly, long hair.

There is around him a cloak, blue, Parthian purple. A spear with red and keen-cutting blades, flaming-red in his hand. The semblance of three heads of hair he has, namely, brown hair next to the skin of his head, blood-red hair in the middle, a crown of gold is the third head of hair.