The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 5

[W.255.] "[a]Fair, of deeds, the man I see; Wounded sore is his fair skin; On his brow s.h.i.+nes hero's light; Victory's seat is in his face!

"Seven gems of champions brave Deck the centre of his...o...b..; Naked are the spears he bears, And he hooks a red cloak round!

"n.o.blest face is his, I see; He respects all womankind.

Young the lad and fresh his hue, With a dragon's form in fight!

"I know not who is the Hound, Culann's hight,[b] [1]of fairest fame[1]; But I know full well this host Will be smitten red by him!

"Four small swords--a brilliant feat-- He supports in either hand; These he'll ply upon the host, Each to do its special deed!

"His Gae Bulga,[c] too, he wields, With his sword and javelin.

Lo, the man in red cloak girt Sets his foot on every hill!

"Two spears [2]from the chariot's left[2]

He casts forth in orgy wild.

And his form I saw till now Well I know will change its guise!

"On to battle now he comes; If ye watch not, ye are doomed.

This is he seeks ye in fight Brave Cuchulain, Sualtaim's son!

"All your host he'll smite in twain, Till he works your utter ruin.

[W.291.] All your heads ye'll leave with him.

Fedelm, prophet-maid, hides not!

"Gore shall flow from warriors' wounds; Long 'twill live in memory.

[LL.fo.56b.] Bodies hacked and wives in tears, Through the Smith's Hound[a] whom I see!"

[a] The Eg. 1782 version of this poem differs in several details from LL.

[b] That is, Cu Chulain, 'the Hound of Culann.'

[1-1] Tranlating from LU. 65, Stowe and Add.

[c] The _Gae Bulga_, 'barbed spear,' which only Cuchulain could wield.

[2-2] Translating from LU. 72, Add. and Stowe; 'from the left,' as a sign of enmity.

[a] That is, Cuchulain. See page 17.

Thus far the Augury and the Prophecy and the Preface of the Tale, and the Occasion of its invention and conception, and the Pillow-talk which Ailill and Medb had in Cruachan. [1]Next follows the Body of the Tale itself.[1]

[1-1] Stowe and Add.

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V

THIS IS THE ROUTE OF THE TaIN

[W.301.] and the Beginning of the Expedition and the Names of the Roads which the hosts of the four of the five grand provinces of Erin took into the land of Ulster. [1]On Monday after Summer's end[1] [2]they set forth and proceeded:[2]

[1-1] LU. 81.

[2-2] Eg. 1782.

[3]South-east from Cruachan Ai,[3] by Mag Cruimm, over Tuaim Mona ('the Hill of Turf'), by Turloch Teora Crich ('the Creek of three Lands'), by Cul ('the Nook') of Silinne, by Dubloch ('Black Lough'), [4]by Fid Dubh ('Black Woods'),[4] by Badbgna, by Coltain, by the Shannon, by Glune Gabur, by Mag Trega, by Tethba in the north, by Tethba in the south, by Cul ('the Nook'), by Ochain, northwards by Uatu, eastwards by Tiarthechta, by Ord ('the Hammer'), by Slaiss ('the Strokes'), [5]southwards,[5] by Indeoin ('the Anvil'), by Carn, by Meath, by Ortrach, by Findgla.s.sa a.s.sail, ('White Stream of a.s.sail'), by Drong, by Delt, by Duelt, by Delinn, by Selaig, by Slabra, by Slechta, where swords hewed out roads before Medb and Ailill, by Cul ('the Nook') of Siblinne, by Dub ('the Blackwater'), by Ochonn [6]southwards,[6] by Catha, by Cromma [7]southwards,[7] by Tromma, [8]eastwards[8] by Fodromma, by Slane, by Gort Slane, [9]to the south of[9] Druim Licce, by Ath Gabla, by Ardachad ('Highfield'), [W.356.]

[1]northwards[1] by Feorainn, by Finnabair ('White Plain'), by a.s.sa [2]southwards,[2] by Airne, by Aurthuile, by Druim Salfind ('Salfind Ridge'), by Druim Cain, by Druim Caimthechta, by Druim macDega, by the little Eo Dond ('Brown Tree'), by the great Eo Dond, by Meide in Togmaill ('Ferret's Neck'), by Meide in Eoin, ('Bird's Neck'), by Baille ('the Town'), by Aile, by Dall Scena, by Ball Scena, by Ross Mor ('Great Point'), by Scuap ('the Broom'), by Imscuap, by Cenn Ferna, by Anmag, by Fid Mor ('Great Wood') in Crannach of Cualnge, [3]by Colbtha, by Crond in Cualnge,[3] by Druim Cain on the road to Midluachar, [4]from Finnabair of Cualnge. It is at that point that the hosts of Erin divided over the province in pursuit of the bull. For it was by way of those places they went until they reached Finnabair. Here endeth the t.i.tle. The Story begineth in order.[4]

[3-3] Stowe and Add.

[4-4] LU. 87, Stowe and Add.

[5-5] LU. 96. and Stowe.

[6-6] Eg. 1782.

[7-7] Eg. 1782.

[8-8] LU. 113.

[9-9] LU. 116.

[1-1] LU. 119.

[2-2] LU. 121.

[3-3] LU. 146-148.

[4-4] LU. 149-161.

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VI

THE MARCH OF THE HOST