Such was the closeness of the combat they made, that the ste_The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge

broke loose affrighted and plunging with madness and fury, so that their

chains and their shackles, their traces and tethers snapped, and the women

and children and pygmy-folk, the weak and the madmen among the men of Erin

brake out through the camp south-westward.

At that time they were at the edge-feat of swords. It was then Ferdiad

caught Cuchulain in an unguarded moment, and he gave him a thrust with his

tusk-hilted blade, so that he buried it in his breast, and his blood fell

into his belt, [W.3831.] till the ford became crimsoned with the clotted

blood from the battle-warrior's body. Cuchulain endured it not, under

Ferdiad's attack, with his death-bringing, heavy blows, and his long

strokes and his mighty, middle slashes at him.

[1]Then Cuchulain bethought him of his friends from Faery and of his mighty

folk who would come to defend him and of his scholars to protect him, what

time he would be hard pressed in the combat. It was then that Dolb and

Indolb arrived to help and to succour their friend, namely Cuchulain,

[2]and one of them went on either side of him and they smote Ferdiad, the

three of them, and Ferdiad did not perceive the men from Sid ('the Faery

Dwelling')[2]. Then it was that Ferdiad felt the onset of the three

together smiting his shield against him, and he gave all his care and

attention thereto, and thence he called to mind that, when they were with

Scathach and with Uathach [3]learning together, Dolb and Indolb used to

come to help Cuchulain out of every stress wherein he was.[3] Ferdiad

spake: "Not alike are our foster-brothership and our comradeship, O

Cuchulain," quoth he. "How so, then?" asked Cuchulain. "Thy friends of the

Fairy-folk have succoured thee, and thou didst not disclose them to me

before," said Ferdiad. "Not easy for me were that," answered Cuchulain;

"for if the magic veil be once revealed to one of the sons of Milè,[a] none

of the Tuatha De Danann ('the Folk of the Goddess Danu') will have power to

practise concealment or magic. And why complainest thou here, [4]O

Ferdiad?" said Cuchulain.[4] "Thou hast a horn skin whereby to multiply

feats and deeds of arms on me, and thou hast not shown me how it is closed

or how it is opened."

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

[2-2] Eg. 106.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

[4-4] Eg. 106.

[a] That is, the Milesians, the ancestors of the Irish.

Then it was they displayed all their skill and secret cunning to one

another, so that there was not a secret of [W.3851.] either of them kept

from the other except the Gae Bulga, which was Cuchulain's. Howbeit, when

the Fairy friends found Cuchulain had been wounded, each of them inflicted

three great, heavy wounds on him, on Ferdiad, to wit. It was then that

Ferdiad made a cast to the right, so that he slew Dolb with that goodly

cast. Then followed the two woundings and the two throws that overcame him,

till Ferdiad made a second throw towards Cuchulain's left, and with that

throw he stretched low and killed Indolb dead on the floor of the ford.

Hence it is that the story-teller sang the rann:--

"Why is this called Ferdiad's Ford,

E'en though three men on it fell?

None the less it washed their spoils--

It is Dolb's and Indolb's Ford!"

What need to relate further! When the devoted, equally great sires[a]

[2]and champions,[2] and the hard, battle-victorious wild beasts that

fought for Cuchulain had fallen, it greatly strengthened the courage of

Ferdiad, so that he gave two blows for every blow of Cuchulain's. When Laeg

son of Riangabair saw his lord being overcome by the crushing blows of the

champion who oppressed him, Laeg began to stir up and rebuke Cuchulain, in

such a way that a swelling and an inflation filled Cuchulain [3]from top to

ground,[3] as the wind fills a spread, open banner, so that he made a

dreadful, wonderful bow of himself like a sky-bow in a shower of rain, and

he made for Ferdiad with the violence of a dragon or the strength of a

blood-hound.[1]

[1-1] See note 1, page 255.

[2-2] H. 1. 13.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

And Cuchulain called for the Gae Bulga from Laeg son of Riangabair. This

was its nature: With the stream it was made ready, and from between the

fork of the foot [a] Cuchulain was partly of divine birth, on one side the

son of Lugh lámh-fhada ('Lug long-hand'), the Irish sun-god; on the earthly

side he had also a mortal father, Sualtaim or Sualtach.] [W.3874.] it was

cast; the wound of a single spear it gave when entering the body, and

thirty[a] barbs had it when it opened, and it could not be drawn out of a

man's flesh till [1]the flesh[1] had been cut about it.

[a] 'Twenty four,' YBL. 39b, 23, and Eg. 106; but 'five,' Eg. 209.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2]Thereupon Laeg came forward to the brink of the river and to the place

where the fresh water was dammed, and the Gae Bulga was sharpened and set

in position. He filled the pool and stopped the stream and checked the tide

of the ford. Ferdiad's charioteer watched the work, for Ferdiad had said to

him early [3]in the morning:[3] "Now, gilla, do thou hold back Laeg

from me to-day, and I will hold back Cuchulain from thee [4]and thy men

forever."[4] "This is a pity," quoth the henchman; "no match for him am I;

for a man to combat a hundred is he [5]amongst the men of Erin,[5] and that

am I not. Still, however slight his help, it shall not come to his lord

past me."

[2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

[4-4] Eg. 209.

[5-5] Eg. 106.

[6]Thus were the henchmen: two brothers were they, namely, Id[b] son of

Riangabair, and Laeg[c] son of Riangabair. As for Id son of Riangabair,[6]

he was then watching his brother [7]thus making the dam[7] till he filled

the pools and went to set the Gae Bulga downwards. It was then that Id went

up and released the stream and opened the dam and undid the fixing of the

Gae Bulga. Cuchulain became deep purple and red all over when he saw the

setting undone on the Gae Bulga. He sprang from the top of the ground so

that he alighted light and quick on the rim of Ferdiad's shield. Ferdiad

gave a [8]strong[8] shake to the shield, so that he hurled Cuchulain the

measure of nine paces out to the westward over the ford. Then Cuchulain

called and shouted to Laeg to set about preparing the Gae Bulga for him.

Laeg hastened to the pool and began the work. Id [W.3895.] ran and opened

the dam and released it before the stream. Laeg sprang at his brother and

they grappled on the spot. Laeg threw Id and handled him sorely, for he

was loath to use weapons upon him. Ferdiad pursued Cuchulain westwards over

the ford. Cuchulain sprang on the rim of the shield. Ferdiad shook the

shield, so that he sent Cuchulain the space of nine paces eastwards over

the ford. Cuchulain called and shouted to Laeg, [1]and bade him stop the

stream and make ready the spear.[1] Laeg attempted to come nigh it, but

Ferdiad's charioteer let him not, so that Laeg turned on him and left him

on the sedgy bottom of the ford. He gave him many a heavy blow with

clenched fist on the face and countenance, so that he broke his mouth and

his nose and put out his eyes and his sight, [3]and left him lying wounded

(?) and full of terror.[3] And forthwith Laeg left him and filled the pool

and checked the stream and stilled the noise of the river's voice, and set

in position the Gae Bulga. After some time Ferdiad's charioteer arose from

his death-cloud, and set his hand on his face and countenance, and he

looked away towards the ford of combat and saw Laeg fixing the Gae Bulga.

He ran again to the pool and made a breach in the dike quickly and

speedily, so that the river burst out in its booming, bounding, bellying,

bank-breaking billows making its own wild course. Cuchulain became purple

and red all over when he saw the setting of the Gae Bulga had been

disturbed, and for the third time he sprang from the top of the ground and

alighted on the edge of Ferdiad's shield, so as to strike him over the

shield from above. Ferdiad gave a blow with his left knee against the

leather of the bare shield, so that Cuchulain was thrown into the waves of

the ford.

[6-6] Eg. 106.

[b] Ferdiad's charioteer.

[c] Cuchulain's charioteer.

[7-7] Eg. 106.

[8-8] Eg. 106.

[1-1] Eg. 106.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

Thereupon Ferdiad gave three severe woundings to Cuchulain. Cuchulain cried

and shouted [4]loudly[4] to Laeg to make ready the Gae Bulga for him. Laeg

attempted to [W.3919.] get near it, but Ferdiad's charioteer prevented

him. Then Laeg grew [1]very[1] wroth [3]at his brother[3] and he made a

spring at him, and he closed his long, full-valiant hands over him, so that

he quickly threw him to the ground and straightway [4]bound[4] him. And

[5]then[5] he went from him quickly and courageously, so that he filled the

pool and stayed the stream and set the Gae Bulga. And he cried out to

Cuchulain that it was served, for it was not to be discharged without a

quick word of warning before it. Hence it is that Laeg cried out:--

"Ware! beware the Gae Bulga,

Battle-winning Culann's hound!" _et reliqua._

[4-4] Eg. 106.

[1-1] Eg. 106.

[2-2] See note 2, page 257.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

[4-4] Reading with Eg. 106.

[5-5] Eg. 106.

[6]And he sent it to Cuchulain along the stream.[6]

[6-6] YBL. 39b, 20.

Then it was that Cuchulain let fly the white Gae Bulga from the fork of his

irresistible right foot. [7]Ferdiad began to defend the ford against

Cuchulain, so that the noble Cu arose with the swiftness of a swallow and

the wail of the storm-play in the rafters of the firmament, so that he laid

hold of the breadth of his two feet of the bed of the ford, in spite of the

champion.[7] Ferdiad prepared for the feat according to the testimony

thereof. He lowered his shield, so that the spear went over its edge into

the watery, water-cold river. And he looked at Cuchulain, and he saw all

his various, venomous feats made ready, and he knew not to which of them he

should first give answer, whether to the 'Fist's breast-spear,' or to the

'Wild shield's broad-spear,' or to the 'Short spear from the middle of the

palm,' or to the white Gae Bulga over the fair, watery river.[2]

[7-7] Eg. 209.

[8]When Ferdiad saw that his gilla had been thrown[8] and heard the Gae

Bulga called for, he thrust his shield down to protect the lower part of

his body. Cuchulain gripped the short spear [9]which was in his hand,[9]

cast it [W.3938.] off the palm of his hand over the rim of the shield and

over the edge of the [1]corselet and[1] horn-skin, so that its farther half

was visible after piercing his heart in his bosom. Ferdiad gave a thrust of

his shield upwards to protect the upper part of his body, though it was

help that came too late. The gilla set the Gae Bulga down the stream, and

Cuchulain caught it in the fork of his foot, and [2]when Ferdiad raised

his shield[2] Cuchulain threw the Gae Bulga as far as he could cast

[3]underneath[3] at Ferdiad, so that it passed through the strong, thick,

iron apron of wrought iron, and broke in three parts the huge, goodly stone

the size of a millstone, so that it cut its way through the body's

protection into him, till every joint and every limb was filled with its

barbs.

[8-8] Eg. 106.

[9-9] Stowe.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Stowe and Eg. 209.

[3-3] Stowe and Eg. 209.

"Ah, that now sufficeth," sighed Ferdiad: "I am fallen of that! But, yet

one thing more: mightily didst thou drive with thy right foot. And 'twas

not fair of thee for me to fall by thy hand." And he yet spake and uttered

these words:--

"O Cu of grand feats,

Unfairly I'm slain!

Thy guilt clings to me;

My blood falls on thee!

"No meed for the wretch[a]

Who treads treason's gap.

Now weak is my voice;

Ah, gone is my bloom!

"My ribs' armour bursts,

My heart is all gore;

I battled not well;

I'm smitten, O Cu!

[4]"Unfair, side by side,

To come to the ford.

'Gainst my noble ward[b]

Hath Medb turned my hand!

"There'll come rooks and crows

To gaze on my arms,

To eat flesh and blood.

A tale, Cu, for thee!"[4]

[a] Reading _taobh re taobh_.

[b] Omitting _seng_; the line has a syllable too many in the original.

[4-4] Eg. 106 (_Revue Celtique_, tome xi, p. 327).

[W.3964.] Thereupon Cuchulain hastened towards Ferdiad and clasped his two

arms about him, and bore him with all his arms and his armour and his dress

northwards over the ford, that so it should be [1]with his face[1] to the

north[a] of the ford the triumph took place and not to the west[b] of the

ford with the men of Erin. [LL.fo.87b.] Cuchulain laid Ferdiad there on the

ground, and a cloud and a faint and a swoon came over Cuchulain there by

the head of Ferdiad. Laeg espied it, and the men of Erin all arose for the

attack upon him. "Come, O Cucuc," cried Laeg; "arise now [2]from thy

trance,[2] for the men of Erin will come to attack us, and it is not single

combat they will allow us, now that Ferdiad son of Daman son of Darè is

fallen by thee." "What availeth it me to arise, O gilla," moaned Cuchulain,

"now that this one is fallen by my hand?" In this wise the gilla spake and

he uttered these words and Cuchulain responded:--

Laeg: "Now arise, O Emain's Hound;

Now most fits thee courage high.

Ferdiad hast thou thrown--of hosts--

God's fate! How thy fight was hard!"

Cuchulain: "What avails me courage now?

I'm oppressed with rage and grief,

For the deed that I have done

On his body sworded sore!"

Laeg: "It becomes thee not to weep;

Fitter for thee to exult!

Yon red-speared one thee hath left

Plaintful, wounded, steeped in gore!"

Cuchulain: "Even had he cleaved my leg,

And one hand had severed too;

Woe, that Ferdiad--who rode steeds--

Shall not ever be in life!"

Laeg: [W.3993.] "Liefer far what's come to pass,

To the maidens of Red Branch;

He to die, thou to remain;

They grudge not that ye should part!"

Cuchulain: "From the day I Cualnge left,

Seeking high and splendid Medb,

Carnage has she had--with fame--

Of her warriors whom I've slain!"

Laeg: "Thou hast had no sleep in peace,

In pursuit of thy great Táin;

Though thy troop was few and small,

Oft thou wouldst rise at early morn!"

[1-1] Eg. 106.

[a] That is, in Ulster. Stowe and Eg. 106 read '(with his face) to the

south.'

[b] That is, in Connacht.

[2-2] Stowe.

Cuchulain began to lament and bemoan Ferdiad, and he spake the words:

"Alas, O Ferdiad," [1]spake he,[1] "'twas thine ill fortune thou didst not

take counsel with any of those that knew my real deeds of valour and arms,

before we met in clash of battle!

[1-1] Stowe.

"Unhappy for thee that Laeg son of Riangabair did not make thee blush in

regard to our comradeship!

"Unhappy for thee that the truly faithful warning of Fergus thou didst not

take!

"Unhappy for thee that dear, trophied, triumphant, battle-victorious Conall

counselled thee not in regard to our comradeship!

[2]"For those men would not have spoken in obedience to the messages or

desires or orders or false words of promise of the fair-haired women of

Connacht.

"For well do those men know that there will not be born

a being that will perform deeds so tremendous and so great

[3]among the Connachtmen as I,[3] till the very day of doom

and of everlasting life, whether at handling of shield and

buckler, at plying of spear and sword, at playing at draughts

and chess, at driving of steeds and chariots."[2]

[2-2] The order of these two paragraphs is that of Stowe; they are

found in the reverse order in LL.

[3-3] Reading with Stowe.

[4]And he spake these warm words, sadly, sorrowfully in praise of

Ferdiad:--[4]

[4-4] Eg. 209.

[W.4022.] "There shall not be found the hand of a hero that will wound

warrior's flesh, like cloud-coloured Ferdiad!

[1]"There shall not be heard from the gap[a] the cry of red-mouthed Badb[b]

to the winged, shade-speckled flocks![1]

[1-1] This difficult sentence is composed of two alliterating groups,

which it is impossible to follow in the translation.]

[a] That is, the battle breach.

[b] That is, the fury of war and carnage which appeared in the form of

a carrion crow.

"There shall not be one that will contend for Cruachan that will obtain

covenants equal to thine, till the very day of doom and of life

henceforward, O red-cheeked son of Daman!" said Cuchulain.

Then it was that Cuchulain arose and stood over Ferdiad: "Ah, Ferdiad,"

spake Cuchulain "greatly have the men of Erin deceived and abandoned thee,

to bring thee to contend and do battle [LL.fo.88a.] with me. For no easy

thing is it to contend and do battle with me on the Raid for the Kine of

Cualnge! [2]And yet, never before have I found combat that was so sore or

distressed me so as thy combat, save the combat with Oenfer Aifè,[c] mine

one own son."[2] Thus he spake, and he uttered these words:--

"Ah, Ferdiad, betrayed to death.

Our last meeting, oh, how sad!

Thou to die, I to remain.

Ever sad our long farewell!

"When we over yonder dwelt

With our Scathach, steadfast, true,

This we thought till end of time,

That our friendship ne'er would end!

"Dear to me thy noble blush;

Dear thy comely, perfect form;

Dear thine eye, blue-grey and clear;

Dear thy wisdom and thy speech!

"Never strode to rending fight,

Never wrath and manhood held,

Nor slung shield across broad back,

One like thee, Daman's red son!

[W.4051.] "Never have I met till now,

Since I Oenfer Aifè slew,

One thy peer in deeds of arms,

Never have I found, Ferdiad!

"Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair,

Beauteous, lovely though she be,

As a gad round sand or stones,

She was shown to thee, Ferdiad!"

[2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106 and Eg. 209.

[c] That is, Conlaech.

Then Cuchulain turned to gaze on Ferdiad. "Ah, my master Laeg," cried

Cuchulain, "now strip Ferdiad and take his armour and garments off him,

that I may see the brooch for the sake of which he entered on the combat

and fight [1]with me."[1] Laeg came up and stripped Ferdiad. He took his

armour and garments off him and he saw the brooch [2]and he placed the

brooch in Cuchulain's hand,[2] and Cuchulain began to lament and complain

[3]over Ferdiad,[3] and he spake these words:--

"Alas, golden brooch;

Ferdiad of the hosts,

O good smiter, strong,

Victorious thy hand!

"Thy hair blond and curled,

A wealth fair and grand.

Thy soft, leaf-shaped belt

Around thee till death!

"Our comradeship dear;

Thy noble eye's gleam;

Thy golden-rimmed shield;

Thy sword,[a] treasures worth!

[4]"Thy white-silver torque

Thy noble arm binds.

Thy chess-board worth wealth;

Thy fair, ruddy cheek![4]

"To fall by my hand,

I own was not just!

'Twas no noble fight.

Alas, golden brooch!

[1]"Thy death at Cu's hand

Was dire, O dear calf![a]

Unequal the shield

Thou hadst for the strife!

"Unfair was our fight,

Our woe and defeat!

Fair the great chief;

Each host overcome

And put under foot!

Alas, golden brooch!"[1]

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[a] Reading with YBL. 39b, 31, as more intelligible than the

'chess-board' of LL., which occurs in the next stanza.

[4-4] YBL. 39b, 31-33.

[1-1] YBL. 39b, 35-39.

[a] A term of endearment which survives in Modern Irish.

[W.4092.] "Come, O Laeg my master," cried Cuchulain; "now cut open Ferdiad

and take the Gae Bulga out, because I may not be without my weapons." Laeg

came and cut open Ferdiad and he took the Gae Bulga out of him. And

Cuchulain saw his weapons bloody and red-stained by the side of Ferdiad,

and he uttered these words:--

"O Ferdiad, in gloom we meet.

Thee I see both red and pale.

I myself with unwashed arms;

Thou liest in thy bed of gore!

"Were we yonder in the East,

Scathach and our Uathach near,

There would not be pallid lips

Twixt us two, and arms of strife!

"Thus spake Scathach trenchantly (?),

Words of warning, strong and stern:

'Go ye all to furious fight;

German, blue-eyed, fierce will come!'

"Unto Ferdiad then I spake,

And to Lugaid generous,

To the son of fair Baetan,[b]

German we would go to meet!

"We came to the battle-rock,

Over Lake Linn Formait's shore.

And four hundred men we brought[c]

From the Isles of the Athissech!

"As I stood and Ferdiad brave

At the gate of German's fort,

[LL.fo.88b.] I slew Rinn the son of Nel;

He slew Ruad son of Fornel!

[W.4122.] "Ferdiad slew upon the slope

Blath, of Colba 'Red-sword' son.

Lugaid, fierce and swift, then slew

Mugairne of the Tyrrhene Sea!

"I slew, after going in,

Four times fifty grim, wild men.

Ferdiad killed--a furious horde--

Dam Dremenn and Dam Dilenn!

"We laid waste shrewd German's fort

O'er the broad, bespangled sea.

German we brought home alive

To our Scathach of broad shield!

"Then our famous nurse made fast

Our blood-pact[a] of amity,

That our angers should not rise

'Mongst the tribes of noble Elg!

"Sad the morn, a day in March,

Which struck down weak Daman's son.

Woe is me, the friend is fall'n

Whom I pledged in red blood's draught![a]

"Were it there I saw thy death,

Midst the great Greeks' warrior-bands,

I'd not live on after thee,

But together we would die!

"Woe, what us befel therefrom,

Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings,

Me sore wounded, red with blood,

Thee no more to drive thy car!

"Woe, what us befel therefrom,

Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings,

Me sore wounded, stiff with gore,

Thee to die the death for aye!

"Woe, what us befel therefrom,

Us, dear Scathach's fosterlings,

Thee in death, me, strong, alive.

Valour is an angry strife!"

[b] That is, Ferbaeth.

[c] That is, as prisoners.

[a] Referring to the Celtic custom of binding an alliance by each of

the parties thereto drinking the blood of the other.

"Good, O Cucuc," spake Laeg, "let us leave this ford now; too long are we

here!" "Aye, let us leave it, O my master Laeg," replied Cuchulain. "But

every combat and battle I have fought seems a game and a sport to me

compared with the combat and battle of Ferdiad." Thus he spake, and he

uttered these words:--

[W.4164.] "All was play, all was sport,