The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge Part 68

[1-1] Stowe.

About this time [2]the hosts[2] went past Taltiu westwards. "It is not this was enjoined upon me," quoth Amargin: "never again to cast at the hosts [3]but rather that I should part from them."[3] And he went to the west of them and he turned them before him north-eastwards past Taltiu. And he began to pelt them for a long while and time [4]so that he slaughtered more of them than can be numbered.[4] [5]This is one of the three incalculable things on the Tain, the number of those he slew. And his son Conall Cernach ('the Victorious') remained with him providing him with stones and spears.[5]

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] YBL. fo. 43b, 34-36.

Then it was also that the men of Erin said it would be no disgrace for Amargin to leave the camp and quarters, and that the hosts would retire a day's march back to the north again, there to stop and stay, and for him to quit his feats of arms upon the hosts until such time as he would meet them on the day of the great battle when the four grand provinces of Erin would encounter at Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge. Amargin accepted that offer, and the hosts proceeded a day's march back to the northwards again. Wherefore the 'Deer-stalking' of Amargin in Taltiu [6]is the name of this tale.[6]

[6-6] Stowe.

[Page 298]

XXIV

THE REPEATED WARNING OF SUALTAIM

[1]Now while the deeds we have told here were being done,[1] [W.4685.]

Sualtaim ('Goodly fosterer') son of Becaltach ('of Small belongings') son of Moraltach ('of Great belongings'), the same the father of Cuchulain macSualtaim, [2]of Sualtaim's Rath in the plain of Murthemne,[2] was told of the distress and [3]sore wounding[3] of his son contending in unequal combat on the Cualnge Cattle-spoil, even against Calatin Dana ('the Bold') with his seven and twenty[a] sons, and against Gla.s.s son of Delga, his grandson, [4]and at the last against Ferdiad son of Daman.[4]

[1-1] YBL. 43b, 38-39.

[2-2] YBL. 43b, 39-40.

[3-3] Stowe.

[a] 'Twelve,' YBL. 43b, 41.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5]It is then that Sualtaim said[5]: "Whate'er it be, [6]this that I hear[6] from afar," quoth Sualtaim, "it is the sky that bursts or the sea that ebbs or the earth that quakes, or is it the distress of my son overmatched in the strife on the Driving of the Kine of Cualnge?"

[5-5] Stowe and YBL. 43b, 42.

[6-6] Stowe.

In that, indeed, Sualtaim spoke true. And he went to learn all after a while, without hastening on his way. And when Sualtaim was come to where [7]his son[7] Cuchulain was [8]and found him covered with wounds and b.l.o.o.d.y gashes and many stabs,[8] Sualtaim began to moan and lament [9]for Cuchulain.[9]

[7-7] YBL. 43b, 46.

[8-8] Stowe.

[9-9] Stowe.

[W.4695.] Forsooth Cuchulain deemed it neither an honour nor glory that Sualtaim should bemoan and lament him, for Cuchulain knew that, wounded and injured though he was, Sualtaim would not be [1]the man[1] to avenge his wrong. For such was Sualtaim: He was no mean warrior and he was no mighty warrior, but only a good, worthy man was he. "Come, my father Sualtaim,"

said Cuchulain; [2]"cease thy sighing and mourning for me, and[2] do thou go to Emain [3]Macha[3] to the men of Ulster and tell them to come now to have a care for their droves, for no longer am I able to protect them in the gaps and pa.s.ses of the land of Conalle Murthemni. All alone am I against four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday at Summer's end till the beginning of Spring, every day slaying a man on a ford and a hundred warriors every night. Fair fight is not granted me nor single combat, and no [LL.fo.93b.] one comes to aid me nor to succour. [4]And such is the measure of my wounds and my sores that I cannot bear my garments or my clothing to touch my skin, so that[4] spancel-hoops hold my cloak over me. Dry tufts of gra.s.s are stuffed in my wounds. [5]There is not the s.p.a.ce of a needle's point from my crown to my sole without wound or sore, and[5]

there is not a single hair [6]on my body[6] from my crown to my sole whereon the point of a needle could stand, without a drop of deep-red blood on the top of each hair, save the left hand alone which is holding my s.h.i.+eld, and even there thrice fifty b.l.o.o.d.y wounds are upon it. [7]And let them straightway give battle to the warriors,[7] and unless they avenge this anon, they will never avenge it till the very day of doom and of life!"

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] Stowe.

[6-6] Stowe.

[7-7] YBL. 43b, 49.

Sualtaim set out on Liath ('the Roan') of Macha as his only horse, with warning to the men of Ulster. And when [W.4716.] he was come alongside of Emain, he shouted these words there: "Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!" cried Sualtaim.

He had not [1]the answer[1] that served him from the Ulstermen, and forasmuch as he had it not he went on further to the rampart of Emain. And he cried out the same words there: "Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!" cried Sualtaim.

[1-1] Stowe.

And [2]a second time[2] he had not the response that served him from the men of Ulster. Thus stood it among the Ulstermen: It was geis for the Ulstermen to speak before their king, geis for the king to speak before his [3]three[3] druids. Thereafter Sualtaim drove on to the 'Flag-stone of the hostages' in Emain Macha. He shouted the same words there: "Men are slain, women stolen, cows carried off!" "But who has slain them, and who has stolen them, and who has carried them off?" asked Cathba the druid. "Ailill and Medb have, [4]with the cunning of Fergus mac Roig,[4]

overwhelmed you. [5]Your people have been hara.s.sed as far as Dun Sobairche,"[5] said Sualtaim. "Your wives and your sons and your children, your steeds and your stock of horses, your herds and your flocks and your droves of cattle have been carried away. Cuchulain all alone is checking and staying the hosts of the four great provinces of Erin at the gaps and pa.s.ses of the land of Conalle Murthemni. Fair fight is refused him, nor is he granted single combat, nor comes any one to succour or aid him.

[6]Cuchulain has not suffered them to enter the plain of Murthemne or into the land of Ross. Three winter months is he there.[6] The youth is wounded, his limbs are out of joint. Spancel-hoops hold his cloak over him. There is not a hair from his crown to his sole whereon the point of a needle could stand, without a drop of deep-red [W.4737.] blood on the top of each hair, except his left hand alone which is holding his s.h.i.+eld, and even there thrice fifty b.l.o.o.d.y wounds are upon it. And unless ye avenge this betimes, ye will never avenge it till the end of time and of life."

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] YBL. 44a, 9.

[4-4] YBL. 44a, 13.

[5-5] YBL. 44a, 13.

[6-6] YBL. 44a, 15.

[LL.fo.94a.] "Fitter is death and doom and destruction for the man that so incites the king!" quoth Cathba the druid. "In good sooth, it is true!"

[1]said the Ulstermen[1] all together.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2]Thereupon[2] Sualtaim went his way [3]from them,[3] indignant and angry because from the men of Ulster he had not had the answer that served him.