Heroic Legends Of Ireland Part 15

And, the love of each other thus knowing, Fraech and Finnabar went on their way.

"I have fear," said the king, "that with Fraech yon maid to his home as his wife would fly; Yet her hand he may win, if he rides on the Raid with his kine when the time draws nigh."

Then Fraech to the Hall of Debate returned, and he cried: "Through Some secret c.h.i.n.k {300} Hath a whisper pa.s.sed?" and the king replied, "Thou would'st fit in that s.p.a.ce, I think!"

{p. 32} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"Will ye give me your daughter?" says Fraech. "The hosts will clearly see she shall be given," says Ailill, "if thou wouldest give a dowry as shall be named." "Thou shalt have it," says Fraech. "Sixty black-grey steeds to me, with their bits of gold to them, and twelve milch cows, so that there be milked liquor of milk from each of them, and an ear-red, white calf with each of them; and thou to come with me with all thy force and with thy musicians for bringing of the cows from Cualgne; and my daughter to be given thee provided thou dost come" ( or as soon as[1] thou shalt come). "I swear by my s.h.i.+eld, and by my sword, and by my accoutrement, I would not give that in dowry even of Medb." He went from them out of the house then. Ailill and Medb hold a conversation. "It shall drive at us several of the kings of Erin around us if he should carry off the daughter. What is good is, let us dash after him, and let us slay him forthwith, before he may inflict destruction upon us." "It is a pity this," says Medb, "and it is a decay of hospitality for us." "It shall not be a decay of hospitality for us, it shall not be a decay of hospitality for us, the way I shall prepare it."

[1. This is Thurneysen's rendering ("Sagen aus dem alten Irland," p. 121).]

{p. 33} "Will ye give me your daughter?" said Fraech: said the king, "In sight of our hosts she goes; If, as gift to suffice for her marriage price, thy hand what I ask bestows."

"I will give thee what price thou dost name," said Fraech, "and now let its sum be told!"'

"Then a sixty steeds do I claim," said the king, "dark-grey, and with bits of gold; And twelve milch-cows, from their udders shall come the milk in a copious stream, And by each of the cows a white calf shall run; bright red on its ears shall gleam; And thou, with thy harpers and men, shalt ride by my side on the Cualgne[1] Raid, And when all thy kine driven here shall stand, shall the price of her hand be paid!"

Now I swear by the edge of my sword," said Fraech, "I swear by my arms and s.h.i.+eld, {310} I would give no such pledge, even Maev to take, were it her thou wert fain to yield! "

And he went from the House of Debate, but Maev with Ailill bent low in plot: All around us our foes," said the king, "shall close, if Finnabar stays here not; Many kings of Erin, who seek that maid, shall hear of her borne away, And in wrath they will rush on our land; 'twere best that Fraech we devise to slay; Ere that ruin he bring, let us make our spring, and the ill yet unwrought arrest."

"It were pity such deed should be done," said Maev, "and to slay in our house our guest!

'Twill bring shame on us ever." "No shame to our house," said King Ailill, "that death shall breed!"

(And he spake the words twice)--"but now hear my advice, how I plan we should do this deed."

[1. p.r.o.nounced Kell-ny.]

{p. 34} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Ailill and Medb go into the palace. "Let us go away," says Ailill,, that we may see the chase-hounds at hunting till the middle of the day, and until they are tired." They all go off afterwards to the river to bathe themselves.

"It is declared to me," says Ailill, "that thou art good in water. Come into this flood, that we may see thy swimming." "What is the quality of this flood?" he says. "We know not anything dangerous in it," says Ailill, "and bathing in it is frequent." He strips his clothes off him then, and he goes into it, and he leaves his girdle above. Ailill then opens his purse behind him, and the ring was in it. Ailill recognises it then. "Come here, O Medb," says Ailill. Medb goes then. "Dost thou recognise that?" says Ailill. "I do recognise," she says. Ailill flings it into the river down.

{p. 35} All the plot had been planned; to their house at last {320} King Ailill and Maev through the doorway pa.s.sed; And the voice of the king uprose: "'Tis now that the hounds should their prey pursue, Come away to the hunt who the hounds would view; For noon shall that hunting close."

So forth went they all, on the chase intent, And they followed till strength of the hounds was spent, And the hunters were warm; and to bathe they went Where the river of Croghan flows.

And, "'Tis told me," said Ailill, "that Fraech hath won {330} A great fame for the feats he in floods hath done: Wilt thou enter these streams by our side that run?

We are longing to see thee swim!"

And said Fraech: "Is it good then indeed thy stream?

And said Ailill: "Of danger no need to dream, For many a youth from the Connaught Court In its current hath bathed, and hath swum it in sport, Nor of any who tried have we heard report That ill hath been found by him!"

Then Fraech from his body his garments stripped, {340} And he sprang down the bank, and he swiftly slipped In the stream: and the king's glance fell On a belt, left by Fraech on the bank; the king Bent low; in the purse saw his daughter's ring, And the shape of the ring could tell.

"Come hither, O Maev," Ailill softly cried; And Queen Maev came up close to her husband's side "Dost thou know of that ring?" in the purse she spied The ring, and she knew it well.

Then Ailill the ring from the purse withdrew, {350} And away from the bank the fair gem he threw; And the ring, flas.h.i.+ng bright, through the air far flew, To be lost in the flood's swift swell.

{p. 36} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Fraech perceived that matter. He sees something, the salmon leaped to meet it, and caught it in his mouth. He (Fraech) gives a bound to it, and he catches its jole, and he goes to land, and he brings it to a lonely[1] spot on the brink of the river. He proceeds to come out of the water then. "Do not come," says Ailill, "until thou shalt bring me a branch of the rowan-tree yonder, which is on the brink of the river: beautiful I deem its berries." He then goes away, and breaks a branch off the trees and brings it on his back over the water. The remark of Find-abair was: "Is it not beautiful he looks?" Exceedingly beautiful she thought it to see Fraech over a black pool: the body of great whiteness, and the hair of great loveliness, the face of great beauty, the eye of great greyness; and he a soft youth without fault, without blemish, with a below-narrow, above-broad face; [1. "Hidden spot" (Windisch).]

{p. 37} And Fraech saw the gem as it brightly flashed, And a salmon rose high, at the light it dashed, And, as back in the stream with the ring he splashed, At the fish went Fraech with a spring: By its jole was the salmon secured, and thrown To a nook in the bank, that by few was known; And unnoticed he threw it, to none was it shown {360} As it fell to the earth, with the ring.

And now Fraech from the stream would be going: But, "Come not," said the king, "to us yet: Bring a branch from yon rowan-tree, showing Its fair berries, with water-drops wet."

Then Fraech, swimming away through the water, Brake a branch from the dread rowan-tree, And a sigh came from Ailill's fair daughter; "Ah! how lovely he seemeth," said she.

Fair she found him, swimming {370} Through that pool so black Brightly gleamed the berries, Bound athwart his back.

White and smooth his body, Bright his glorious hair; Eyes of perfect greyness, Face of men most fair: Soft his skin, no blemish, Fault, nor spot it flawed; Small his chin, and steady, {380} Brave his brow, and broad.

{p. 38} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

and he straight, blemishless; the branch with the red berries between the throat and the white face. It is what Find-abair used to say, that by no means had she seen anything that could come up to him half or third for beauty.

After that he throws the branches to them out of the water. "The berries are stately and beautiful, bring us an addition of them." He goes off again until he was in the middle of the water. The serpent catches him out of the water. "Let a sword come to me from you," he says; and there was not on the land a man who would dare to give it to him through fear of Ailill and Medb. After that Find-abair strips off her clothes, and gives a leap into the water with the sword. Her father lets fly a five-p.r.o.nged spear at her from above, a shot's throw, so that it pa.s.ses through her two tresses, and that Fraech caught the spear in his hand. He shoots the spear into the land up, and the monster in his side. He lets it fly with a charge of the methods of playing of champions.h.i.+p, so that it goes through the purple robe and through the tunic (? s.h.i.+rt) that was about Ailill.

{p. 39} Straight he seemed, and stainless; Twixt his throat and chin Straying scarlet berries Touched with red his skin.

Oft, that sight recalling, Findabar would cry: "Ne'er was half such beauty, Naught its third came nigh!"

To the bank he swam, and to Ailill was thrown, with its berries, the tree's torn limb: {390} "Ah! how heavy and fair have those cl.u.s.ters grown; bring us more," and he turned to swim; The mid-current was reached, but the dragon was roused that was guard to that rowan-tree; And it rose from the river, on Fraech it rushed: "Throw a sword from the bank!" cried he.

And no man on the bank gave the sword: they were kept by their fear of the queen and the king; But her clothes from her Finnabar stripped, and she leapt in the river his sword to bring.

And the king from above hurled his five-barbed spear; the full length of a shot it sped: At his daughter it flew, and its edge sh.o.r.e through two tresses that crowned her head: And Fraech in his hand caught the spear as it fell, and backward its point he turned.

And again to the land was the spear launched well: 'twas a feat from the champions learned.

Though the beast bit his side as that spear was cast, yet fiercely the dart was flung, {400} Through the purple robe of the king it pa.s.sed, through the tunic that next him clung!

{p. 40} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

At this the youths who were about Ailill rise to him. Find-abair goes out of the water and leaves the sword in Fraech's hand, and he cuts the head off the monster, so that it was on its side, and he brought the monster with him to land. It is from it is Dub-lind Fraech in Brei, in the lands of the men of Connaught. Ailill and Medb go to their dun afterwards.

"A great deed is what we have done," says Medb. "We repent," says Ailill, "of what we have done to the man; the daughter however," he says, "her lips shall perish [common metaphor for death] to-morrow at once, and it shall not be the guilt of bringing of the sword that shall be for her. Let a bath be made by you for this man, namely, broth of fresh bacon and the flesh of a heifer to be minced in it under adze and axe, and he to be brought into the bath." All that thing was done as he said. His trumpeters then before him to the dun. They play then until {p. 41} Then up sprang the youths of the court, their lord in danger they well might deem, But the strong hand of Fraech had closed firm on the sword, and Finnabar rose from the stream.

Now with sword in his hand, at the monster's head hewed Fraech, on its side it sank, And he came from the river with blade stained red, and the monster he dragged to the bank.

Twas then Bree's Dub-lind in the Connaught land the Dark Water of Fraech was named, From that fight was it called, but the queen and the king went back to their dun, ashamed!

"It is n.o.ble, this deed we have done!" said Maev: "'Tis pitiful," Ailill cried: "For the hurt of the man I repent, but to her, our daughter, shall woe betide!

On the morrow her lips shall be pale, and none shall be found to aver that her guilt, {410} When the sword for his succour to Fraech she gave, was the cause why her life was spilt!

Now see that a bath of fresh bacon broth be prepared that shall heal this prince, And bid them with adze and with axe the flesh of a heifer full small to mince: Let the meat be all thrown in the bath, and there for healing let Fraech be laid!"

And all that he ordered was done with care; the queen his command obeyed.

Then arose from Fraech's trumpets complaining, As his men travelled back to the dun; Their soft notes lamentation sustaining, And a many their deaths from them won; {p. 42} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

thirty of the special friends of Ailill die at the long-drawn (or plaintive) music. He goes then into the dun, and he goes into the bath. The female company rise around him at the vat for rubbing, and for was.h.i.+ng his head. He was brought out of it then, and a bed was made. They heard something, the lament-cry on Cruachan. There were seen the three times fifty women with crimson tunics, with green head-dresses, with brooches of silver on their wrists.

A messenger is sent to them to learn what they had bewailed. "Fraech, son of Idath," says the woman, "boy-pet of the king of the Sid of Erin." At this Fraech heard their lament-cry.

Thirty men whom King Ailill loved dearly {420} By that music were smitten to die; And his men carried Fraech, and they laid him In that bath, for his healing to lie.

Around the vat stood ladies, They bathed his limbs and head; From out the bath they raised him, And soft they made his bed.

Then they heard a strange music; The wild Croghan "keen"; And of women thrice fifty {430} On Croghan were seen.

They had tunics of purple, With green were they crowned; On their wrists glistened silver, Where brooches were bound.

And there neared them a herald To learn why they wailed; "'Tis for Fraech," was their answer, "By sickness a.s.sailed; 'Tis for Fraech, son of Idath,[1]

Boy-darling is he Of our lord, who in Erin Is king of the Shee!"[2]

And Fraech heard the wail in their cry; [1. p.r.o.nounced Eeda.

2 The Fairies.]

{p. 44} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"Lift me out of it," he says to his people; "this is the cry of my mother and of the women of Boand." He is lifted out at this, and he is brought to them. The women come around him, and bring him from them to the Sid of Cruachan (i.e. the deep caverns, used for burial at Cruachan).

They saw something, at the ninth hour on the morrow he comes, and fifty women around him, and he quite whole, without stain and without blemish; of equal age (the women), of equal form, of equal beauty, of equal fairness, {p. 45} And he well knew its meaning; And, "Lift me, my folk,"

He cried, "surely that keening From Boand's women broke: My mother, the Fairy, is nigh."

Then they raised him, and bore him {450} Where wild rose the sound; To his kin they restored him; His women pressed round: And he pa.s.sed from their sight out of Croghan; For that night from earth was he freed, And he dwelt with his kin, the Sid-Dwellers In the caverns of Croghan's deep Sid.[1]

All at nine, next morrow, Gazed, for back he came, Round their darling pressing Many a fairy dame: Brave he seemed, for healing All his wounds had got; None could find a blemish, None a sear or spot.

Fifty fairies round him, Like in age and grace; Like each form and bearing; Like each lovely face.

[1. p.r.o.nounced Sheed; Sid is the fairy mound.]

{p. 46} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

of equal symmetry, of equal stature, with the dress of women of the fairies about them so that there was no means of knowing of one beyond the other of them. Little but men were suffocated around them. They separate in front of the Liss.[1] They give forth their lament on going from him, so that they troubled[2] the men who were in the Liss excessively. It is from it is the Lament-cry of the Women of the Fairies with the musicians of Erin.

He then goes into the dun. All the hosts rise before him, and bid welcome to him, as if it were from another world he were coming.

Ailill and Medb arise, and do penance to him for the attack they had made at him, and they make peace. Feasting commenced with them then at once. Fraech calls a servant of his suite: [1. The Liss is the outer court of the palace.

2. "Oo corastar tar cend," "so that they upset, or put beside themselves." Meyer takes literally, "so that they fell on their backs" (?)]

{p. 47} All in fairy garments, {470} All alike were dressed; None was found unequal; None surpa.s.sed the rest.

And the men who stood round, as they neared them, Were struck with a marvellous awe; They were moved at the sight, and they feared them, And hardly their breath they could draw.

At the Liss all the fairies departed, But on Fraech, as they vanished, they cried: And the sound floated in of their wailing, {480} And it thrilled through the men, and they sighed.

Then first that mournful measure, "The Ban-Shee[1] Wail," was heard; All hearts with grief and pleasure That air, when harped, hath stirred.

To the dun came Fraech, and the hosts arose, and welcome by all was shown: For it seemed as if then was his birth among men, from a world to the earth unknown!

Up rose for him Maev and King Ailill, their fault they confessed, and for grace they prayed, And a penance they did, and for all that a.s.sault they were pardoned, and peace was made.

And now free from all dread, they the banquet spread, the banqueting straight began: {490} But a thought came to Fraech, and from out of his folk he called to his side a man.

[1. Spelt "Ban Side," the fairy women.]

{p. 48} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"Go off," he says, "to the spot at which I went into the water. A salmon I left there--bring it to Find-abair, and let herself take charge over it; and let the salmon be well broiled by her, and the ring is in the Centre of the salmon. I expect it will be asked of her to-night." Inebriety seizes them, and music and amus.e.m.e.nt delight them. Ailill then said: "Bring ye all my gems to me." They were brought to him then, so that the were before him. "Wonderful, wonderful," says every one. "Call ye Find-abair to me," he says. Find-abair goes to him, and fifty maidens around her. "O daughter," says Ailill, "the ring I gave to thee last year, does it remain with thee? Bring it to me that the warriors may see it. Thou shalt have it afterwards." "I do not know," she says, "what has been done about it." "Ascertain then," says Ailill, "it must be sought, or thy soul must depart from thy body."

"It is by no means worth," say the warriors, "there is much of value there, without that." "There is naught of my jewels that will not go for the maid," says Fraech, "because she brought me the sword for pledge of my soul."

{p. 49} "Now hie thee," he said, "to the river bank, a salmon thou there shalt find; For nigh to the spot where in stream I sank, it was hurled, and 'twas left behind; To Finnabar take it, and bid her from me that the salmon with skill she broil: In the midst of the fish is the ring: and none but herself at the task must toil; And to-night, as I think, for her ring they call ": then he turned to the feast again, And the wine was drunk, and the revellers sunk, for the fumes of it seized their brain, And music and much of delights they had; but the king had his plans laid deep, "Bring ye all of my jewels," he cried-on the board they were poured in a dazzling heap.

"They are wonderful, wonderful!" cried they all: "Call Finnabar!" said the king; {500} And his daughter obeyed, and her fifty maids stood round in a lovely ring.

My daughter," said Ailill, "a ring last year I gave thee, is't here with thee yet?

Bring it hither to show to the chiefs, and anon in thy hand shall the gem be set."

"That jewel is lost," said the maid, "nor aught of the fate of the ring I know! "

Then find it," said Ailill, "the ring must be brought, or thy soul from thy limbs must go!"

"Now, nay!" said they all, "it were cruel That such fate for such fault should be found: Thou hast many a fair-flas.h.i.+ng jewel In these heaps that lie scattered around!"

And said Fraech: "Of my jewels here glowing Take thy fill, if the maid be but freed; 'Tis to her that my life I am owing, For she brought me the sword in my need."

{p. 50} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"There is not with thee anything of gems that should aid her unless she returns the ring from her," says Ailill.

"I have by no means the power to give it," says the daughter, "what thou mayest like do it in regard to me." "I swear to the G.o.d to whom my people swear, thy lips shall be pale (literally, shall perish) unless thou returnest it from thee," says Ailill. "It is why it is asked of thee, because it is impossible; for I know that until the people who have died from the beginning of the world. come, it comes not out of the spot in which it was flung." "It shall not come for a treasure which is not appreciated,"[1] says the daughter, "the ring that is asked for here, I go that I may bring it to thee, since it is keenly it is asked." "Thou shalt not go," says Ailill; "but let one go from thee to bring it."

The daughter sends her maid to bring it.