The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 67

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] YBL. 48a, 38.

In such wise he fared forth to a.s.sail the men of Erin. And thus he came, [5]stark-naked,[5] [6]and the spittle from his gaping mouth trickling down through the chariot under him.[6] [7]When the men of Erin saw him thus, they began to mock and deride him.[7] "Truly it would be well for us," said the men of Erin,[a] "if this were the manner in which all the Ulstermen came to us [8]on the plain."[8]

[5-5] YBL. 43a, 40.

[6-6] This is the sense of Zimmer's translation, which is only conjectural, of this difficult pa.s.sage (see _Zeitschrift fur Deutsches Alterthum und Deutsche Litteratur_, Bd. x.x.xii, 1888, S. 275). The idea is probably more clearly expressed in Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 43a, 41, and may be rendered, '_membrum virile ejus coram viros Hiberniae et testes pendentes per currum_.'

[7-7] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13.

[a] 'Said Medb,' Stowe.

[8-8] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13, Add.

Doche son of Maga met him and bade him welcome. "Welcome is thy coming, O Iliach," spake Doche son of Maga. [9]"Who bids me welcome?" asked Iliach.

"A comrade and friend of Loegaire Buadach am I, namely Doche macMagach."[9]

"Truly spoken I esteem that welcome," answered Iliach; "but do thou [10]for the sake of that welcome[10] come to me when now, alas, my deeds of arms will be over and my warlike vigour will have vanished, [11]when I will have spent my rage upon the hosts,[11] so that thou be the one to cut off my head and none other of the men of Erin. However, my sword shall remain with [W.4615.] thee [1]for thine own friend, even[1] for Loegaire [2]Buadach!"[2]

[9-9] Stowe.

[10-10] Stowe.

[11-11] Stowe.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Stowe.

He a.s.sailed the men of Erin with his weapons till he had made an end of them. And when weapons failed he a.s.sailed the men of Erin with cobbles and boulders and huge clumps [3]of earth[3] till he had used them up. And when these weapons failed him he spent his rage on the man [4]that was nearest him[4] of the men of Erin, and bruised him grievously between his fore-arms [5]and his sides[5] and the palms of his hands, till he made a marrow-ma.s.s of him, of flesh and bones and sinews and skin. Hence in memory thereof, these two ma.s.ses of marrow still live on side by side, the marrow-ma.s.s that Cuchulain made of the bones of the Ulstermen's cattle for the healing of Cethern son of Fintan,[a] and the marrow-ma.s.s that Iliach made of the bones of the men of Erin. Wherefore this was one of the three innumerable things of the Tain, the number of them that fell at the hands of Iliach. So that this is the 'Clump-fight' of Iliach. It is for this reason it is called the 'Clump-fight' of Iliach, because with cobbles and boulders and ma.s.sy clumps he made his fight.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] Stowe.

[a] See above, page 279.

[6]Thereafter[6] Doche son of Maga met him. "Is not this Iliach?" asked Doche son of Maga. "It is truly I," Iliach gave answer; "and come to me now and cut off my head and let my sword remain with thee for thy friend, for Loegaire [7]Buadach ('the Victorious')."[7]

[6-6] Stowe.

[7-7] Stowe.

Doche came near him and gave him a blow with the sword so that he severed his head, [8]and he took with him the head and the spoils vauntingly to where were Ailill and Medb.[8] Thus to this point, the 'Clump-fight' of Iliach.

[8-8] Stowe.

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XXIIIe

HERE NOW THE DEER-STALKING OF AMARGIN IN TALTIU

[W.4638.] This Amargin was the son of Ca.s.s who was son of Bacc who was son of Ross Ruad ('the Red') who was son of Rudraige, [1]father of Conall Cernach ('the Triumphant').[1] He came upon the warriors going over Taltiu westward, and he made them turn before him over Taltiu northwards. And he put his left[a] elbow under him in Taltiu. And his people furnished him with rocks and boulders and great clumps [2]of earth,[2] and he began to pelt the men of Erin till the end of three days and three nights, [3]and he did great slaughter among them[3] [4]so that no man could show his face to him in Taltiu.[4]

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Stowe.

[a] As a challenge or sign of hostility.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] YBL. 43b, 13-14.

[Page 296]

XXIIIf

THE ADVENTURES OF CUROI SON OF DARe FOLLOW NOW

[W.4645.] He was told that a single man was checking and stopping four of the five grand provinces of Erin [1]during the three months of winter[1]

from Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring. And he felt it unworthy of himself and he deemed it too long that his people were without him. And [2]it was then[2] he set out [3]to the host[3] to fight and contend with Cuchulain. And when he was come to the place where Cuchulain was, he saw Cuchulain there moaning, full of wounds and pierced through with holes, and he felt it would not be honourable nor fair to fight and contend with him after the combat with Ferdiad. [4]Because it would be said it was not that Cuchulain died of the sores [LL.fo.93a.] and wounds which he would give him so much as of the wounds which Ferdiad had inflicted on him in the conflict before.[4] Be that as it might, Cuchulain offered to engage with him in battle and combat.

[1-1] YBL. 43b, 17.

[2-2] YBL. 43b, 14-15.

[3-3] YBL. 43b, 15.

[4-4] Reading with Stowe, which is to be preferred to LL.

Thereupon Curoi set forth for to seek the men of Erin and, when he was near at hand, he espied Amargin there and his left elbow under him to the west of Taltiu. Curoi reached the men of Erin from the north. His people equipped him with rocks and boulders and great clumps, and he began to hurl them right over against Amargin, so that Badb's battle-stones collided in the clouds and in the air high above them, and every rock of them was s.h.i.+vered [W.4662.] into an hundred stones. "By the truth of thy valour, O Curoi," cried Medb, "desist from thy throwing, for no real succour nor help comes to us therefrom, but ill is the succour [1]and help[1] that thence come to us," "I pledge my word," cried Curoi, "I will not cease till the very day of doom and of life, till first Amargin cease!" "I will cease,"

said Amargin; "and do thou engage that thou wilt no more come to succour or give aid to the men of Erin." Curoi consented to that and went his way to return to his land and people.