sigh of weariness aloud. "Grievous it [W.2935.] seems to us, the deed to be
done here on the morrow," quoth Fergus. "What deed may that be?" asked his
people. "The slaying of Cuchulain," answered Fergus. "Alas," said they,
"who should kill him?" "Calatin Dana," he replied, "with his seven and
twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga. For this is their nature:
Poison is on every man of them and poison on every weapon of their arms;
and there is no one on whom one of them draws blood, that, if he succumb
not on the spot, will not be dead before the end of the ninth day. And
there is no one [1]of you[1] that would go and learn for me and be witness
of the battle and fight and bring me news how Cuchulain died on whom I
would not bestow my blessing and armour." "I will go thither," spake Fiachu
son of Ferfebè.
[1-1] Stowe.
They abode so that night. Early on the morrow Calatin Dana arose with his
seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga, and they went
forward to where Cuchulain was. And there went also Fiachu son of Ferfebè.
And when Calatin arrived at the place where Cuchulain was, they forthwith
hurled their nine and twenty spears, and not one of them went past him by a
misthrow. Cuchulain played the edge-feat with his shield, so that all the
spears sank up to their middles into the shield. But for all that theirs
was no erring cast, not one of the spears was blooded or reddened upon
him. Thereupon Cuchulain drew [2]his[2] sword from the sheath of the Badb,
to cut away the weapons and lighten the shield that was on him. While thus
engaged, they rushed in upon him and delivered their nine and twenty right
fists at the same time on his head. They smote him and curbed him withal,
till his face and his countenance and visage met the sand and gravel of the
ford. Cuchulain raised his warrior's shout aloud and his cry of unequal
combat, so that there was not an Ulsterman [W.2962.] alive [1]in the
camp[1] of those that were not asleep but heard it. Then [2]when they all
had reached for their swords,[2] came Fiachu son of Ferfebè [3]after them
out of the camp,[3] and he saw what they did and a qualm of [4]love and[4]
the bond of kindred came over him, and [5]when he saw all their hands
raised against Cuchulain, he leaped from his chariot and[5] drew his sword
from the sheath of the Badb and dealt them a blow, so that he cut off their
nine and twenty right fists from them at one stroke, and they all fell
backwards from the intensity of the exertion and hold which they had.
[2-2] Stowe.
[1-1] Stowe.
[2-2] YBL. 2186.
[3-3] YBL. 2187.
[4-4] Stowe.
[5-5] YBL. 2187-2188.
Cuchulain raised his head and drew breath and gave a sigh of weariness
and perceived who it was that had come to his aid. "A ready relief, O
foster-brother, [6]what thou hast done,"[6] said Cuchulain. "Although for
thee a ready relief," said Fiachu, "yet is it not so for us. Even though
we are the best division of three thousand of the Clann Rudraige in the
camp and station of the men of Erin, [7]nevertheless this small thing is a
breach of covenant in us men of Ulster. If one of Calatin's children
reaches the camp,[7] we shall all be brought under the mouth of spear and
of sword, however feeble thou mayst deem the blow I struck, if this treason
be found in us." "I give my word," quoth Cuchulain; "so soon as I raise my
head and draw breath, [8]not a man of them shall reach the camp alive,[8]
and unless thou thyself tellest the tale not one of these ever will tell
it!"
[6-6] YBL. 2190.
[7-7] YBL. 2190-2191.
[8-8] YBL. 2193.
With that, Cuchulain turned on them, and he fell to smiting and hewing
them, so that he sent them [LL.fo.81a.] from him in small disjointed pieces
and divided quarters eastwards and westwards along the ford. A single man
got away from him, trusting to his speed while Cuchulain was busied
[W.2981.] beheading the rest; it was Glass macDelga. And Cuchulain raced
after him like a blast of wind, and Glass ran on round the tent of Ailill
and Medb, and all he could pant out was, "Fiach! Fiach!"[a] when Cuchulain
fetched him a stroke that cut off his head.
[a] There is a play on words. Glass attempts to pronounce the name
'Fiachu,' but is only able to utter the first syllable of the word
which alone means 'debt.'
"'Tis quick work was made of that man," quoth Medb. "What debt was that he
spoke of, O Fergus?" "I know not," Fergus answered, "unless it be some one
in the camp and quarters that owed him a debt. It is that which troubled
his mind. But be that as it may," continued Fergus, "it is a debt of blood
and flesh for him. And upon my word," Fergus added, "now are his debts paid
to him for good and all!"
In this wise fell Calatin Dana ('the Bold') at the hands of Cuchulain,
together with his seven and twenty sons and his grandson Glass macDelga
[1]and the two sons of Ficcè with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who had
come to use their strength on the host.[1] So that for evermore in the bed
of the ford is still the rock whereabout they had their strife and struggle
[2]and their slaughtering of each other;[2] and the mark of their
sword-hilts is in it and of their knees and their elbows [3]and their
fists[3] and the butt-ends of their spears. [4]And their nine and twenty
standing stones were set up there.[4] Hence Fuil Iairn ('Blood of Iron') to
the west[b] of Ath Firdead ('Ferdiad's Ford') is the name of the ford. It
is for this it is called Fuil Iairn, because of the 'blood over weapons'[c]
that was there.
[1-1] YBL. 2194-2196.
[2-2] Stowe.
[3-3] YBL. 2198.
[4-4] YBL. 2198.
[b] 'South,' YBL. 2184.
[c] See page 208, note _a_.
Thus far then [5]this exploit on the Táin,[5] the Combat of the Clann
Calatin [6]of his children and his grandson with Cuchulain,[6] [7]when they
went to do battle with Cuchulain.[7]
[5-5] YBL. 2196.
[6-6] Stowe.
[7-7] YBL. 2196-2197.
* * * * *
[Page 217]
XX
THE COMBAT OF FERDIAD [1]AND CUCHULAIN[1]
[2]The four grand provinces of Erin were side by side and against Cuchulain,
from Monday before Samain-tide[a] to Wednesday after Spring-beginning, and
without leave to work harm or vent their rage on the province of Ulster,
while yet all the Ulstermen were sunk in their nine days' 'Pains,' and
Conall Cernach ('the Victorious') sought out battle in strange foreign
lands paying the tribute and tax of Ulster. Great was the plight and strait
of Cuchulain during that time, for he was not a day or a night without
fierce, fiery combat waged on him by the men of Erin, until he killed
Calatin with his seven and twenty sons and Fraech son of Fiadach and
performed many deeds and successes which are not enumerated here. Now this
was sore and grievous for Medb and for Ailill.[2]
[1-1] Stowe and YBL. 2200 and Eg. 106.
[2-2] Eg. 106.
[a] See note p. 182.
[W.3001.] Then the men of Erin took counsel who would be fit [3]to send to
the ford[3] to fight and do battle with Cuchulain, [4]to drive him off from
them[4] at the morning hour early on the morrow.
[3-3] YBL. 2203.
[4-4] YBL. 2202.
[5]With one accord[5] they declared that it should be Ferdiad son of Daman
son of Darè, the great and valiant warrior of the men of Domnann, [6]the
horn-skin from Irrus Domnann, the irresistible force, and the battle-rock
of destruction, the own, dear, foster-brother of Cuchulain.[6] [W.3005.]
[1]And fitting it was for him to go thither,[1] for well-matched and alike
was their manner of fight and of combat. Under the same instructresses had
they done skilful deeds of valour and arms, when learning the art with
Scathach ('the Modest') and with Uathach ('the Dreadful') and with Aifè
('the Handsome'). [2]Yet was it the felling of an oak with one's fists, and
the stretching of the hand into a serpent's nest, and a spring into the
lair of a lion, for hero or champion in the world, aside from Cuchulain, to
fight or combat with Ferdiad on whatever ford or river or mere he set his
shield.[2] And neither of them overmatched the other, save in the feat of
the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed Spear') which Cuchulain possessed. Howbeit,
against this, Ferdiad was horn-skinned when fighting and in combat with a
warrior on the ford; [3]and they thought he could avoid the Gae Bulga and
defend himself against it, because of the horn about him of such kind that
neither arms nor multitude of edges could pierce it.[3]
[5-5] Eg. 106.
[6-6] YBL. 2204-2206.
[1-1] Stowe.
[2-2] Eg. 106.
[3-3] YBL. 2208-2209.
Then were messengers and envoys sent [4]from Medb and Ailill[4] to Ferdiad.
Ferdiad denied them their will, and dismissed and sent back the messengers,
and he went not with them, for he knew wherefore they would have him, to
fight and combat with his friend, with his comrade and foster-brother,
[5]Cuchulain.[5]
[4-4] Stowe.
[5-5] Stowe.
Then did Medb despatch the druids [6]and the poets of the camp,[6] the
lampoonists and hard-attackers,[a] for Ferdiad, to the end that they might
make three satires to stay him and three scoffing speeches against him,
[7]to mock at him and revile and disgrace him,[7] that they might raise
three blisters on his face, Blame, Blemish and Disgrace, [8]that he might
not find a place in the world to lay his head,[8] [W.3021.] if he came not
[1]with them[1] [2]to the tent of Medb and Ailill on the foray.[2]
[6-6] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209.
[a] Literally, 'the cheek-blisterers.'
[7-7] YBL. 2213.
[8-8] YBL. 2214.
[1-1] Stowe.
[2-2] YBL. 2214.
Ferdiad came with them for the sake of his own honour and [3]for fear of
their bringing shame on him,[3] forasmuch as he deemed it better to fall by
the shafts of valour and bravery and skill, than to fall by the shafts of
satire, abuse and reproach. And when [4]Ferdiad[4] was come [5]into the
camp,[5] [6]Medb and Ailill beheld him, and great and most wonderful joy
possessed them, and they sent him to where their trusty people were, and
[6]he was honoured and waited on, and choice, well-flavoured strong liquor
was poured out for him till he became drunken and merry. [7]Finnabair,
daughter of Ailill and Medb, was seated at his side. It was Finnabair that
placed her hand on every goblet and cup Ferdiad quaffed. She it was that
gave him three kisses with every cup that he took. She it was that passed
him sweet-smelling apples over the bosom of her tunic. This is what she
ceased not to say, that her darling and her chosen sweetheart of the
world's men was Ferdiad.[7] [8]And when Medb got Ferdiad drunken and
merry,[8] great rewards were promised him if he would make the fight and
combat.
[3-3] YBL. 2215.
[4-4] Stowe and Eg. 209.
[5-5] Stowe and Eg. 209.
[6-6] Eg. 106.
[7-7] YBL. 2216-2221.
[8-8] Eg. 106.
[9]When now Ferdiad was satisfied, happy and joyful, it was that Medb
spoke: "Hail now, Ferdiad. Dost know the occasion wherefore thou art
summoned to this tent?" "I know not, in truth," Ferdiad replied; "unless
it be that the nobles of the men of Erin are here. Why is it less fitting
for me to be here than any other good warrior?" "'Tis not that, forsooth,"
answered Medb: "but to give thee[9] a chariot worth four[a] times seven
bondmaids, and the apparel of two men and ten men, of cloth of every
colour, [W.3028.] and the equivalent [1]of the Plain of Murthemne[1] of the
rich Plain of Ai, [2]and that thou shouldst be at all times in Cruachan,
and wine be poured out for thee there; the freedom of thy descendants and
thy race forever,[2] free of tribute, free of rent, without constraint to
encamp or take part in our expeditions, [LL.fo.81b.] without duress for
[3]thy son, or for thy grandson, or for thy great-grandson, till the end of
time and existence;[3] [4]this leaf-shaped golden brooch of mine shall be
thine, wherein are ten-score ounces, and ten-score half ounces, and
ten-score scruples, and ten-score quarters;[4] Finnabair, [5]my daughter
and Ailill's,[5] to be thine own one wife, [6]and mine own most intimate
friendship, if thou exactest that withal." "He needs it not," they cried,
one and all; "great are the rewards and gifts!"[6]
[9-9] YBL. 2221-2225.
[a] 'Thrice seven,' YBL. 2226, Stowe, and Eg. 209.
[1-1] YBL. 2227.
[2-2] YBL. 2228.
[3-3] In LL. this passage is reported in indirect discourse;
consequently, instead of 'thy,' LL. has 'his.'
[4-4] YBL. 2229-2231.
[5-5] YBL. 2231-2232.
[6-6] YBL. 2232-2234.
Such were the words of Medb, and she spake them here and Ferdiad
responded:--
Medb: "Great rewards in arm-rings,
Share of plain and forest,
Freedom of thy children
From this day till doom!
Ferdiad son of Daman,
More than thou couldst hope for,
Why shouldst thou refuse it,
That which all would take?"
Ferdiad: "Naught I'll take without bond--
No ill spearman am I--
Hard on me to-morrow:
Great will be the strife!
Hound that's hight of Culann,
How his thrust is grievous!
No soft thing to stand him;
Rude will be the wound!"
Medb: "Champions will be surety,
Thou needst not keep hostings.
Reins and splendid horses
Shall be given as pledge!
[W.3056.] Ferdiad, good, of battle,
For that thou art dauntless,
Thou shalt be my lover,
Past all, free of cain!"
Ferdiad: "Without bond I'll go not
To engage in ford-feats;
It will live till doomsday
In full strength and force.
Ne'er I'll yield--who hears me,
Whoe'er counts upon me--
Without sun- and moon-oath,
Without sea and land!"
Medb: "Why then dost delay it?
Bind it as it please thee,
By kings' hands and princes',
Who will stand for thee!
Lo, I will repay thee,[a]
Thou shalt have thine asking,
For I know thou'lt slaughter
Man that meeteth thee!"
Ferdiad: "Nay, without six sureties--
It shall not be fewer--
Ere I do my exploits
There where hosts will be!
Should my will be granted,
I swear, though unequal,
That I'll meet in combat
Cuchulain the brave!"
Medb: "Domnall, then, or Carbrè,
Niaman famed for slaughter,
Or e'en folk of barddom,
Natheless, thou shalt have.
Bind thyself on Morann,
Wouldst thou its fulfilment,
Bind on smooth Man's Carbrè,
And our two sons, bind!"
Ferdiad: "Medb, with wealth of cunning,
Whom no spouse can bridle,
Thou it is that herdest
Cruachan of the mounds!
High thy fame and wild power!
Mine the fine pied satin;
Give thy gold and silver,
Which were proffered me!"
Medb: [W.3100.] "To thee, foremost champion,
I will give my ringed brooch.
From this day till Sunday,
Shall thy respite be!
Warrior, mighty, famous,
All the earth's fair treasures
Shall to thee be given;
Everything be thine!
"Finnabair of the champions (?),
Queen of western Erin,
When thou'st slain the Smith's Hound,
Ferdiad, she's thine!"
Ferdiad: [1]"Should I have Finnabair to wife,
Falls of Ai and Cruachan too,
And to dwell for alway there,
I'd not seek the deedful Hound!
"Equal skill to me and him--"
Thus spake Ferdiad withal--
"The same nurses raised us[a] both,
And with them we learned our art.
"Not for fear of battle hard,
Noble Eocho Fedlech's maid,
Would I shun the Blacksmith's Hound,
But my heart bleeds for his love!"
Medb: "Thou shalt have, dear, bright-scaled[b] man,[c]
One swift, proud, high-mettled steed.
Thou shalt have domains and land
And shalt stay not from the fight (?)!"
Ferdiad: "But that Medb entreated so,
And that poets' tongues did urge,
I'd not go for hard rewards
To contend with mine own friend!"
Medb: "Son of Daman of white cheeks,
Shouldst thou check this heroes' Hound,
E'er so long thy fame will live,
When thou comest from Ferdiad's Ford!"[1]
[a] Translating from Stowe.
[1-1] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique,_ t. x, page 339). The metre is changed
designedly to agree with the original.
[a] MS. 'ye.'
[b] Referring to Ferdiad's horn-skin.
[c] Literally, 'calf.'
[2]Then said they, one and all, those gifts were great. [3]"'Tis true, they
are great.[3] But though they are," said [W.3113.] Ferdiad, "with Medb
herself I will leave them, and I will not accept them if it be to do battle
or combat with my foster-brother, the man of my alliance and affection,
[1]and my equal in skill of arms,[1] namely, with Cuchulain." And he
said:--
"Greatest toil, [2]this, greatest toil,[2]
Battle with the Hound of gore!
Liefer would I battle twice
With two hundred men of Fal!
"Sad the fight, [2]and sad the fight,[2]
I and Hound of feats shall wage!
We shall hack both flesh and blood;
Skin and body we shall hew!
"Sad, O god, [2]yea, sad, O god,[2]
That a woman should us part!
My heart's half, the blameless Hound;
Half the brave Hound's heart am I!
"By my shield, [2]O, by my shield,[2]
If Ath Cliath's brave Hound should fall,
I will drive my slender glaive
Through my heart, my side, my breast!
"By my sword, [2]O, by my sword,[2]
If the Hound of Glen Bolg fall!
No man after him I'll slay,
Till I o'er the world's brink spring!
"By my hand, [2]O, by my hand![2]
Falls the Hound of Glen in Sgail,
Medb with all her host I'll kill,
And then no more men of Fal!
"By my spear, [2]O, by my spear![2]
Should Ath Cro's brave Hound be slain,
I'll be buried in his grave;
May one grave hide me and him!
[3]"Liefer would I, [2]liefer far,[2]
Arms should slay me in fierce fight,
Than the death of heroes' Hound,"[a]
Should be food for ravenous birds?[3]
"Tell him this, [2]O, tell him this,[2]
To the Hound of beauteous hue,
Fearless Scathach hath foretold
My fall on a ford through him!
[W.3149.] "Woe to Medb, [1]yea, woe to Medb,[1]
Who hath used her [3]guile[3] on us;
She hath set me face to face
'Gainst Cuchulain--hard the toil!"
[2-2] Stowe, Add. 18,748 and Eg. 209.
[3-3] YBL. 2234.
[1-1] Eg. 106, Eg. 209.
[2-2] Eg. 209.
[a] The word is illegible in the manuscript.
[3-3] Eg. 106.
[1-1] Eg. 209.
[3-3] Reading with Eg. 209.
"Ye men," spake Medb, in the wonted fashion of stirring up disunion and
dissension, [4]as if she had not heard Ferdiad at all,[4] "true is the word
Cuchulain speaks." "What word is that?" asked Ferdiad. "He said, then,"
replied Medb, "he would not think it too much if thou shouldst fall by his
hands in the choicest feat of his skill in arms, in the land whereto he
should come." "It was not just for him to speak so," quoth Ferdiad; "for it
is not cowardice or lack of boldness that he hath ever seen in me [5]by day
or by night.[5] [6]And I speak not so to him, for I have it not to say of
him.[6] And I swear by my arms [7]of valour,[7] if it be true that he spoke
so, I will be the first man of the men of Erin to contend with him on the
morrow, [8]how loath soever I am to do so!"[8]
[4-4] YBL. 2238.
[5-5] YBL. 2242.
[6-6] Eg. 106.
[7-7] Eg. 209.
[8-8] Eg. 106.
[9]And he gave his word in the presence of them all that he would go and
meet Cuchulain. For it pleased Medb, if Ferdiad should fail to go, to have
them as a witness against him, in order that she might say it was fear or
dread that caused him to break his word.[9] "A blessing [10]and victory[10]
upon thee for that!" said Medb; "it pleaseth me more than for thee to show
fear and lack of boldness. For every man loves his own land, and how is it
better for him to seek the welfare of Ulster, [11]because his mother was
descended from the Ulstermen,[11] than for thee to seek the welfare of
Connacht,[2] [12]as thou art the son of a king of Connacht?"[12]
[9-9] Eg. 106.
[10-10] YBL. 2244.
[11-11] YBL. 2247.
[12-12] YBL. 2248.
Then it was that Medb obtained from Ferdiad the easy [W.3163.] surety of a
covenant to fight and contend on the morrow with six warriors [1]of the
champions of Erin,[1] or to fight and contend with Cuchulain alone, if to
him this last seemed lighter. Ferdiad obtained [2]of Medb[2] the easy
surety, [3]as he thought,[3] to send the aforesaid six men for the
fulfilment of the terms which had been promised him, should Cuchulain fall
at his hands.
[1-1] Stowe and Eg. 209.
[2-2] Stowe, Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.
[3-3] A gloss, in LL.
[4]There was a wonderful warrior of the Ulstermen present at that covenant,
and that was Fergus macRoig. Fergus betook him to his tent. "Woe is me, for
the deed that will be done on the morning of the morrow!" "What deed is
that?" his tent-folk asked. "My good fosterling Cuchulain will be slain!"
"Good lack! who makes that boast?" "Not hard to say: None other but his
dear, devoted foster-brother, Ferdiad son of Daman. Why bear ye not my
blessing," Fergus continued, "and let one of you go with a warning and
mercy to Cuchulain, if perchance he would leave the ford on the morn of the
morrow?" "As we live," said they; "though it were thyself was on the ford
of battle, we would not go near him to seek thee." "Come, my lad," cried
Fergus, "get our horses for us, and yoke the chariot!"[4]
[4-4] YBL. fo. 36a, 21-36.
Then were Fergus' horses fetched for him and his chariot was yoked, and he
came forward to the place [5]of combat[5] where Cuchulain was, to inform
him [6]of the challenge, that Ferdiad was to fight with him.[6]
[5-5] YBL. fo. 36a, 38.
[6-6] Eg. 209.
[7]"A chariot cometh hither towards us, O Cuchulain!" cried Laeg. For in
this wise was the gilla, with his back towards his lord. He used to win
every other game of draughts and of chess from his master. Watch and guard
of the four airts was he besides. "What manner of chariot is it?" asked
Cuchulain. "A chariot like to a royal fort, huge, with its yoke, strong,
golden; with its great board of copper; with its shafts of bronze; with its
thin-framed, dry-bodied box (?) ... set on two horses, black, swift, stout,
strong-forked, thick-set, under beautiful shafts. One kingly, broad-eyed
warrior is the combatant in the chariot. A curly, forked beard he wears
that reaches below outside over the smooth lower part of his soft tunic,
which would shelter fifty warriors on a day of storm and rain under the
heavy shield of the warrior's beard. A bent buckler, white, beautiful, of
many colours, he bears, with three stout-wrought chains, so that there is
room from edge to edge for four troops of ten men behind the leather of the
shield which hangs upon the broad back of the warrior. A long, hard-edged,
broad, red sword in a sheath woven and twisted of white silver, over the
... of the battle-warrior. A strong, three-ridged spear, wound and banded
with all-gleaming white silver he has lying across the chariot."
[7-7] YBL. fo. 36a, 39-36b, 15.
"Not difficult to recognize him," said Cuchulain: "'tis my master Fergus
that cometh hither with a warning and with compassion for me, before all
the four provinces of Erin."