THE BOYS OF THE ULTONIANS
“And dear the school-boy spot
We ne’er forget though there we are forgot.”
BYRON.
“There were his young barbarians all at play.”
BYRON.
In the morning Fergus Mac Roy said to the young king, “What shall we do
this day, O Concobar? Shall we lead forth our sweet-voiced hounds into
the woods and rouse the wild boar from his lair, and chase the swift
deer, or shall we drive afar in our chariots and visit one of our
subject kings and take his tribute as hospitality, which, according to
thee, wise youth, is the best, for it is agreeable to ourselves and not
displeasing to the man that is tributary.”
“Nay,” said Concobar, “let us wait and watch this day. Hast thou
forgotten the words of Cathvah?”
“Truly, in a manner I had,” said Fergus, “for I never much regarded, the
race of seers, or deemed the birds more than pleasant songsters, and the
stars as a fair spectacle, or druidic instruments aught but toys.”
“Let us play at chess on the lawn of the dun,” said the king, “while our
boys exercise themselves at hurling on the green.”
“It is agreeable to me,” said Fergus, “though well thou knowest, dear
foster-son, that I am not thy match at the game.”
What the champion said was true, for in royal wisdom the king far
excelled his foster-father, and that was the reason why Fergus had
abdicated the supreme captainship of the Red Branch in favour of
Concobar, for though his heart was great his understanding was not fine
and acute like the understanding of his foster-son.
The table was set for them upon the lawn before the great painted and
glowing palace, and three-footed stools were put on either side of that
table, and bright cloths flung over them. A knight to whom that was a
duty brought forth and unfolded a chess-board of ivory on which silver
squares alternated with gold, cunningly wrought by some ancient cerd,
[Footnote: Craftsman.] a chief jewel of the realm; another bore in his
hand the man-bag, also a wonder, glistening, made of netted wires of
findruiney, [Footnote: A bright yellow bronze, the secret of making
which is now lost. The metal may be seen in our museums. In beauty it
is superior to gold. ] and took therefrom the men and disposed them
in their respective places on the board, each in the centre of his own
square. The gold men were on the squares of silver, and the silver on
the squares of gold. The table was set under the shadowing branches of
a great tree, for it was early summer and the sun shone in his strength.
So Concobar and Fergus, lightly laughing, affectionate and mirthful, the
challenger and the challenged, came forth through the wide doorway of
the dun. Armed youths went with them. The right arm of Fergus was cast
lightly over the shoulder of Concobar, and his ear was inclined to him
as the young king talked, for their mutual affection was very great and
like that of a great boy and a small boy when such, as often happens,
become attached to one another. So Concobar and Fergus sat down to
play, though right seldom did the Champion win any game from the King.
Concobar beckoned to him one of the young knights. It was Conall Carna,
[Footnote: Conall the Victorious. He came second to Cuculain amongst the
Red Branch Knights. He is the theme of many heroic stories. Once in a
duel he broke the right arm of his opponent. He bade his seconds tie up
his own corresponding arm.] son of Amargin, youngest of the knights of
Concobar. “Son of Amargin,” said the king, “do thou watch over the boys
this day in their pastimes. See that nothing is done unseemly or unjust.
Observe narrowly the behaviour and disposition of the lads, and report
all things clearly to me on the morrow.”
So saying, he moved one of the pieces on the board, and Conall
Carna strode away southwards to where the boys were already dividing
themselves into two parties for a match at hurling.
That son of Amargin was the handsomest youth of all the province. White
and ruddy was his beardless countenance. Bright as gold which boils over
the edge of the refiner’s crucible was his hair, which fell curling upon
his broad shoulders and over the circumference of his shield, outshining
its splendour. By his side hung a short sword with a handle of
walrus-tooth; in his left hand he bore two spears tipped with glittering
bronze. Fergus and Concobar watched him as he strode over the grass;
Concobar noted his beauty and grace, but Fergus noted his great
strength. Soon the boys, being divided into two equal bands, began their
pastime and contended, eagerly urging the ball to and fro. The noise
of the stricken ball and the clash of the hurles shod with bronze, the
cries of the captains, and the shouting of the boys, filled all the air.
That good knight stood midway between the goals, eastward from the
players. Ever and anon with a loud clear voice he reproved the youths,
and they hearkening took his rebukes in silence and obeyed his words.
Cathvah came forth that day upon the lawn, and thus spoke one of the
boys to another in some pause of the game, “Yonder, see! the Ard-Druid
of the Province. Wherefore comes he forth from his druidic chambers
to-day at this hour, such not being his wont?” And the other answered
lightly, laughing, and with boyish heedlessness, “I know not wherefore;
but well he knows himself.” And therewith ran to meet the ball which
passed that way. There was yet a third who watched the boys. He stood
afar off on the edge of the plain. He had a little shield strapped on
his back, two javelins in one hand, and a hurle in the other. He was
very young and fair. He stood looking fixedly at the hurlers, and as he
looked he wept. It was the child who had been promised to the Ultonians.