The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 39

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 1711.

[7-7] LU. 1712.

[8-8] LU. and YBL. 1712.

[9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[10-10] Eg. 93.

Then it was that the Morrigan daughter of [11]Aed[11] Ernmas came from the fairy dwellings to destroy Cuchulain. For she had threatened on the Cattle-raid of Regomain [a] that she would come to undo Cuchulain what time he would be [13]in sore distress[13] when engaged in [14]battle and[14]

combat with a goodly warrior, [15]with Loch,[15] in the course of the Cattle-spoil of Cualnge. Thither then the Morrigan [W.2293.] came in the shape of a white, [1]hornless,[1] red-eared heifer, with fifty heifers about her and a chain of silvered bronze between each two of the heifers.

[2]She bursts upon the pools and fords at the head of the cattle. It was then that Cuchulain said, "I cannot see the fords for the waters."[2] The women [3]came with their strange sorcery, and[3] constrained Cuchulain by geasa and by inviolable bonds [4]to check the heifer for them[4] lest she should escape from him without harm. Cuchulain made an unerring cast [5]from his sling-stick[5] at her, so that he shattered one of the Morrigan's eyes.

[11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[12-12] See page 165, note 12.

[a] Edited by Wh. Stokes and E. Windisch, in _Irische Texte_, Bd. II, SS. 241-254.

[13-13] Eg. 93.

[14-14] Eg. 93.

[15-15] Eg. 209.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1722.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 1722.

[3-3] Eg. 93.

[4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[6]Now when the men met on the ford and began to fight and to struggle, and when each of them was about to strike the other,[6] the Morrigan came thither in the shape of a slippery, black eel down the stream. Then she came on the linn and she coiled [7]three folds[7] [8]and twists[8] around the [9]two[9] feet [10]and the thighs and forks[10] of Cuchulain, [11]till he was lying on his back athwart the ford[11] [12]and his limbs in the air.[12]

[6-6] LU. 1713.

[7-7] LU. and YBL. 1713.

[8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[11-11] LU. and YBL. 1714.

[12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

While Cuchulain was busied freeing himself [13]and before he was able to rise,[13] Loch wounded him crosswise through the breast, [14]so that the spear[a] went through him[14] [15]and the ford was gore-red with his blood.[15] [16]"Ill, indeed," cried Fergus, "is this deed in the face of the foe. Let some of ye taunt him, ye men," he cried to his people, "to the end that he fall not in vain!"

[13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[14-14] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[a] 'Sword,' LU. and YBL. 1734.

[15-15] LU. 1714.

Bricriu Nemthenga ('Of the Venom-tongue') son of Carbad arose and began to revile Cuchulain. "Thy strength has gone from thee," said he, "when a little salmon overthrows thee even now when the Ulstermen are about to come out of their 'Pains.'[16] [1]Hard it would be for thee to take on thee warrior's deeds in the presence of the men of Erin and to repel a stout warrior clad in his armour!"[1]

[16-16] LU., edition of Strachan and O'Keeffe, p. 63, note 17.

Similarly, YBL. 1714-1716, and Eg. 93.

[1-1] LU. fo. 63, note 19, edit. Strachan and O'Keeffe, and Eg. 93.

[2]Then[2] [3]at this incitation[3] [4]Cuchulain arose,[4] [5]and with his left heel he smote the eel on the head,[5] [6]so that its ribs broke within it[6] [7]and he destroyed one half of its brains after smas.h.i.+ng half of its head.[7] [8]And the cattle were driven by force past the hosts to the east and they even carried away the tents on their horns at the thunder-feat the two warriors made on the ford.[8]

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 1716.

[3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1717.

[5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 1717.

[7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[8-8] LU. and YBL. 1718-1720.

[W.2302.] The Morrigan next came in the form of a rough, grey-red b.i.t.c.h-wolf [9]with wide open jaws[9] [10]and she bit Cuchulain in the arm[10] [11]and drove the cattle against him westwards,[11] [12]and Cuchulain made a cast of his little javelin at her, strongly, vehemently, so that it shattered one eye in her head.[12] During this s.p.a.ce of time, whether long or short, while Cuchulain was engaged in freeing himself, Loch wounded him [13]through the loins.[13] Thereupon Cuchulain chanted a lay.[a]

[9-9] Eg. 209.

[10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[11-11] LU. and YBL. 1721.

[12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. and YBL. 1721.

[13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[a] The three stanzas of this lay in YBL. (four in LU.) are found, with slight changes, in the lay on page 172fl.

[14]Then did Cuchulain to the Morrigan the three things he had threatened her on the Cattle-raid of Regomain,[14] and his anger arose within him and he [LL.fo.75a.] wounded Loch with the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed-spear'), so that it pa.s.sed through [W.2307.] his heart in his breast. [1]For truly it must have been that Cuchulain could not suffer the treacherous blows and the violence of Loch Mor the warrior, and he called for the Gae Bulgae from Laeg son of Riangabair. And the charioteer sent the Gae Bulga down the stream and Cuchulain made it ready. And when Loch heard that, he gave a lunge down with his s.h.i.+eld, so that he drove it over two-thirds deep into the pebbles and sand and gravel of the ford. And then Cuchulain let go the Barbed-spear upwards, so as to strike Loch over the border of his hauberk and the rim of his s.h.i.+eld.[1] [2]And it pierced his body's covering, for Loch wore a horn skin when fighting with a man,[2] [3]so that his farther side was pierced clear after his heart had been thrust through in his breast.[3]