The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 73

[3-3] YBL. 47a, 44.

"Still another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath,"

continued macRoth. [4]"Not fewer than thirty hundred, the battle line of the troops.[4] A [5]broad-headed,[5] stout warrior, pleasantly found of limb, in the front of that troop; he is dried and sallow; he is wild and bull-like; a dun, round eye, proud in his head; [W.5283.] yellow, very curly is his hair; a red, round s.h.i.+eld with hard-silver rim about it he bore; a [1]trebly riveted,[1] broad-plated, long-shafted spear in his hand; a streaked-grey cloak around him; a salmon-shaped brooch of copper in the cloak over his breast; a hooded kirtle girded around him reaching down to his calves; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth on his left thigh." "But who might he be?" [LL.fo.98b.] asked Ailill of Fergus. "I know him indeed," Fergus made answer. "He is the prop of battle; [2]he is the wild heat of anger; he is the daring of every battle;[2] he is the triumph of every combat; he is the tool that pierces, is the man who comes thither. Connud macMorna, from the Callann in the north, is the man yonder."

[4-4] YBL. 47b, 12-13.

[5-5] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.

"There came still another company to the same mound in Slane of Meath,"

continued macRoth. [3]"A company most fair to look upon, most notable both in numbers and in attendance and apparel.[3] It is indeed no lying word, it is with might and storm they gained the hill, so that [4]with the clash of arms they made at the approach of that company[4] they startled the hosts that had arrived there before them. A man, comely and n.o.ble, in advance of that band; most well-favoured to see of the men of the world, whether in shape or form or frame; [5]whether in hair or eyes or fearfulness; whether in voice or brightness or knowledge or adornment; whether in rank or wisdom or kindred;[5] whether in arms or apparel; whether in size or worth or beauty; whether in figure or valour or conduct." [6]"Who might that man be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill.[6] "Then it is surely no lying word," Fergus made answer: "A fitting saying is this, 'No fool 'mongst the naked'[a] is he who [W.5299.] comes thither. He is the foe of all others; he is a power irresistible; the storm-wave that drowneth, the glitter of ice is that well-favoured man. Fedilmid [1]son of[1] [2]Ilar Cetach of Cualnge,[2] from Ellonn in the north, is he yonder, [3]with trophies from other lands after dealing destruction to his enemies."[3]

[1-1] YBL. 47b, 20.

[2-2] YBL. 47b, 21-22.

[3-3] YBL. 47a, 48-49.

[4-4] YBL. 47a, 50-51.

[5-5] YBL. 47b, 1-3.

[6-6] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[a] A proverbial saying, the exact force of which we cannot determine.

The reading of H. 1. 13 may be translated, 'No fool on a board (or s.h.i.+eld ?),' that is, a clown or tumbler (?).

[1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[2-2] Reading with Stowe.

[3-3] YBL. 47b, 9-10.

"Still another battalion came thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath,"

macRoth proceeded. [4]"It is the array of an army for greatness.[4] Not often is a warrior seen more handsome than the warrior that is in the front rank of that company. Bushy, red-yellow hair he wore; [5]his countenance comely, ruddy, well-formed;[5] his face [6]slender below,[6] broad above; a deep-blue-grey, beaming eye, and it flas.h.i.+ng and laughing in his head; a well-set, shapely man, tall, slender below and broad above; red, thin lips he had; teeth s.h.i.+ning and pearl-like; [7]a clear, ringing voice;[7] a white-skinned body; [8]most beautiful of the forms of men;[8] [9]a purple cloak wrapped around him;[9] a brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a [10]hooded[10] tunic of royal silk with a red hem of red gold he wore next to his white skin; a bright, [11]curved[11] s.h.i.+eld with [12]wonderful,[12] [13]many-coloured[13] devious figures of beasts in red gold thereon [14]and with hollows of silver he bore at his left side;[14] a gold-hilted, inlaid sword [15]hanging from his neck[15] at his left side; a long, grey-edged spear [W.5313.] along with a cutting bye-spear of attack, with thongs for throwing, with fastenings of silvered bronze, in his hand."

[4-4] YBL. 47b, 26.

[5-5] YBL. 47b, 29-30; Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[6-6] Translating from YBL. 47b, 30, Stowe and H. 1. 13; LL. has, 'very beautiful.'

[7-7] YBL. 47b, 32.

[8-8] YBL. 47b, 34, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[9-9] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[10-10] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 40-41.

[11-11] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 36.

[12-12] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[13-13] YBL. 47b, 37.

[14-14] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 37.

[15-15] YBL. 47b, 40.

"But who might that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "We know him full well," Fergus made answer. "He is half of a battle; he is the dividing[a]

of combat; he is the wild rage of a watchhound, the man who is come thither; Rochad son of Fatheman, from Rigdonn in the north, is he yonder. [1]Your son-in-law is he[1]; [2]he wedded your daughter, namely Finnabair,[2] [3]without dower, and he brought neither marriage-gift nor bride-price to her."[3]

[a] That is, 'a single-handed warrior,' translating from YBL. 47b, 43 and Stowe.

[1-1] YBL. 47b. 45.

[2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 46.

[3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

"Another battalion there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath,"

continued macRoth. "A stalwart, thick-thighed, [4]gross-calved[4] warrior at the head of that company; little but every limb of him as stout as a man. Verily it is no lying word, he is a man down to the ground," said he.

"Brown, bushy hair upon his head; a round-faced, ruddy countenance [5]covered with scars[5] he had; a flas.h.i.+ng, proud eye in his head; a splendid, dexterous man was there, in this wise: Accompanied by black-haired, black-eyed youths; with a red, flaming banner; [6]with terror and fearsomeness; with wonderful appearance, both of arms and apparel and raiment and countenance and splendour; with converse of heroes; with champions' deeds;[6] with wilful rashness, so that they seek to rout overwhelming numbers outside of equal combat, [7]with their wrath upon foes, with raids into hostile lands,[7] with the violence of a.s.sault upon them, without having aught a.s.sistance from [W.5327.] Conchobar. [1]It is no lying word, stiffly they made their march, that company to Slane of Meath."[1]

[4-4] YBL. 47b, 48, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[5-5] YBL. 48a, 2, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[6-6] Stowe, and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 4-6, H. 1. 13.

[7-7] YBL. 48a, 8-9, and, similarly, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 10-11.

"But, who might he be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Aye then we know him,"

Fergus made answer. "A thirst for valour and prowess; a thirst for madness and fury; [2]a man of strength and of courage, of pride and of greatness of heart[2] is he that came thither. The welding of hosts and of arms; the point of battle and of slaughter of the men of the north of Erin, mine own real foster-brother himself, Fergus son of Lete, [3]the king[3] from Line in the north, is the man yonder!"

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

[3-3] YBL. 48a, 14.

"Still another [4]great, fierce[4] company came to the same hill in Slane of Meath," macRoth continued. [5]"A battle-line with strange garments upon them,[5] steadfast, without equal. A [6]comely,[6] handsome, [7]matchless,[7] untiring warrior in the van of this company; [8]the flower of every form, whether as regards hair, or eye, or whiteness; whether of size, or followers or fitness.[8] Next to his skin a blue, narrow-bordered cloth, with strong, woven and twisted hoops of silvered bronze, with becoming, sharp-fas.h.i.+oned b.u.t.tons of red gold on its slashes and breast-borders; a [9]green[9] mantle, pieced together with the choicest of all colours, [10]folded about him;[10] [11]a brooch of pale gold in the cloak over his breast;[11] five circles of gold, [LL.fo.99a.] that is, his s.h.i.+eld, he bore on him; a tough, obdurate, straight-bladed sword for a hero's handling hung high on his left side. A straight, fluted spear, flaming red [12]and venomous[12] in his hand." "But, who might that be?"

asked [W.5342.] Ailill of Fergus. "Truly, we know him well," Fergus made answer. [1]"Fiery is the manner of the warlike champion who has so come thither.[1] The choice flower of royal poets is he. He is the rush on the rath; he is the way to the goal; fierce is his valour, the man that came thither; Amargin son of the smith Ecetsalach ('the Grimy'), the n.o.ble poet from the Buas in the north, is he."

[4-4] YBL. 48a, 16.

[5-5] YBL. 48a, 17.