Heroic Legends Of Ireland Part 16

[1. This is Windisch's rendering (Irische Texte, I. p. 677: s.v. main).]

{p. 51} "There is none of thy gems that can aid her,"

Said Ailill, "nor aught thou canst give; There is one thing alone that shall save her; If the ring be restored, she shall live!

Said Finnabar; "Thy treasure To yield no power is mine: Do thou thy cruel pleasure, {520} For strength, I know, is thine."

"By the G.o.d whom our Connaught land haileth, I swear," answered Ailill the king, "That the life on thy lips glowing faileth, If thou place in my hand not the ring!"

And that hard," he laughed softly, "the winning Of that jewel shall be, know I well; They who died since the world had beginning Shall come back to the spot where they fell Ere that ring she can find, and can bear it {530} To my hand from the spot where 'twas tossed, And as knowing this well, have I dared her To restore what for aye hath been lost!"

"No ring for treasure thus despised,"

She said, "exchanged should be; Yet since the king its worth hath prized, I'll find the gem for thee!"

Not thus shalt thou fly," said the king, "to thy maid let the quest of the ring be bid!"

And his daughter obeyed, and to one whom she sent she told where the ring was hid: {p. 52} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"I swear to the G.o.d to whom my territories swear, if it shall be found, I shall by no means be under thy power any longer though I should be at great drinking continually." (?)[1] "I shall by no means prevent you from doing that, namely even if it were to the groom thou shouldst go if the ring is found," says Ailill. The maid then brought the dish into the palace, and the broiled salmon on it, and it dressed under honey which was well made by the daughter; and the ring of gold was on the salmon from above.

Ailill and Medb view it. After that Fraech looks at it, and looks at his purse. "It seems to me it was for proof that I left my girdle," says Fraech. "On the truth of the sovereignty," says Fraech, "say what thou did'st about the ring." "This shall not be concealed from thee," says Ailill; "mine is the ring which was in thy purse, and I knew it is Find-abair gave it to thee. It is therefore I flung it into the Dark Pool. On the truth of thine honour and of thy soul, O Fraech, declare thou what way the bringing of it out happened."

[1. "dian dumroib for sar-ol mogreis." Meyer gives "if there is any one to protect me." The above is Crowe's rendering.]

{p. 53} "But," Finnabar cried, "by my country's G.o.d I swear that from out this hour, {540} Will I leave this land, and my father's hand shall no more on my life have power, And no feasting shall tempt me to stay, no draughts of wine my resolve shall shake!"

"No reproach would I bring, if as spouse," said the king, "thou a groom from my stalls would'st take!

But that ring must be found ere thou goest! "Then back came her maid, and a dish she bore: And there lay a salmon well broiled, as sauce with honey 'twas garnished o'er: By the daughter of Ailill herself with skill had the honey-sweet sauce been made.

And high on the breast of the fish, the ring of gold that they sought was laid.

King Ailill and Maev at the ring gazed hard; Fraech looked, in his purse he felt: Now it seemeth," he said, "'twas to prove my host that I left on the bank my belt, And Ailill now I challenge {550} All truth, as king to tell; What deed his cunning fas.h.i.+oned, And what that ring befell."

"There is naught to be hidden," said Ailill; "It was mine, in thy purse though it lay And my daughter I knew as its giver: So to river I hurled it away.

Now Fraech in turn I challenge By life and honour's claim: Say how from yon dark water {560} That ring to draw ye came."

{p. 54} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"It shall not be concealed on thee," says Fraech. "The first day I found the ring in front of the outer court, and I knew it was a lovely gem. It is for that reason I put it up industriously in my purse. I heard, the day I went to the water, the maiden who had lost it a-looking for it. I said to her: 'What reward shall I have at thy hands for the finding of it?' She said to me that she would give a year's love to me.

"It happened I did not leave it about me; I had left it in the house behind me. We met not until we met at the giving of the sword into my hand in the river. After that I saw the time thou open'st the purse and flungest the ring into the water: I saw the salmon which leaped for it, so that it took it into its mouth. I then caught the salmon, {p. 55} "There is naught to be hidden," he answered, "The first day that I came, on the earth, Near the court round thy house, was that jewel; And I saw all its beauty and worth: In my purse then I hid it; thy daughter, Who had lost it, with care for it sought; And the day that I went to that water Was the news of her search to me brought: And I asked what reward she would give me, {570} If the gem in her hand should be placed; And she answered that I, if I found it, For a year by her love should be graced.

But not then could the ring be delivered: For afar in my chamber it lay: Till she gave me the sword in the river, We met not again on that day.

'Twas then I saw thee open My purse, and take the ring: I watched, and towards the water {580} That gem I saw thee fling: I saw the salmon leaping, The ring it caught, and sank: I came behind, and seized it; And brought the fish to bank.

{p. 56} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

took it up in the cloak, put it into the hand of the daughter. It is that salmon accordingly which is on the dish."

The criticising and the wondering at these stories begin in the house hold. "I shall not throw my mind on another youth in Erin after thee," says Find-abair. "Bind thyself for that," say Ailill and Medb, "and come thou to us with thy cows to the Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge; and when thou shalt come with thy cows from the East back, ye shall wed here that night at once and Find-abair." "I shall do that thing," says Fraech. They are in it then until the morning. Fraech sets about him self with his suite. He then bids farewell to Ailill and Medb. They depart to their own territories then.

{p. 57} Then I wrapped it up close in my mantle; And 'twas hid from inquisitive eyes; And in Finnabar's hand have I placed it: And now there on the platter it lies!"

Now all who this or that would know {590} To ask, and praise began: Said Finnabar, "I'll never throw My thoughts on other man!"

Now hear her word," her parents cried, "And plight to her thy troth, And when for Cualgne's[1] kine we ride Do thou redeem thine oath.

And when with kine from out the east Ye reach our western land; That night shall be thy marriage feast; {600} And thine our daughter's hand."

"Now that oath will I take," answered back to them Fraech, "and the task ye have asked will do!"

So he tarried that night till the morning's light; and they feasted the whole night through; And then homewards bound, with his comrades round, rode Fraech when the night was spent, And to Ailill and Maev an adieu he gave, and away to their land they went.

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

{p. 58} TAIN BO FRAICH.

PART II.

LITERAL TRANSLATION.

IT happened that his cows had been in the meanwhile stolen. His mother came to him. "Not active (or "lucky") of journey hast thou gone; it shall cause much of trouble to thee," she says. "Thy cows have been stolen, and thy three sons, and thy wife, so that they are in the mountain of Elpa. Three cows of them are in Alba of the North with the Cruthnechi (the Picts)." "Query, what shall I do?" he says to his mother. "Thou shalt do a non-going for seeking them; thou wouldest not give thy life for them," she says. "Thou shalt have cows at my hands besides them." "Not so this," he says: "I have pledged my hospitality and my soul to go to Ailill and to Medb with my cows to the Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge." "What thou seekest shall not be obtained," says his mother. At this she goes off from him then.

He then sets out with three nines, and a wood-cuckoo (hawk), and a hound of tie with them, {p. 59} UNTO Fraech it hath chanced, as he roved from his lands That his cattle were stolen by wandering bands: And there met him his mother, and cried, "On thy way Thou hast tarried, and hard for thy slackness shalt pay!

In the Alps of the south, the wild mountains amid, {610} Have thy children, thy wife, and thy cattle been hid: And a three of thy kine have the Picts carried forth, And in Alba they pasture, but far to the north!"

"Now, alack!" answered Fraech, "what is best to be done?"

"Rest at home," said his mother, "nor seek them my son; For to thee neither cattle, nor children, nor wife Can avail, if in seeking thou losest thy life; And though cattle be lacking, the task shall be mine To replace what is lost, and to grant thee the kine."

"Nay, not so," answered Fraech, "by my soul I am sworn, {620} That when cattle from Cualgne by force shall be torn To King Ailill and Maev on my faith as their guest I must ride with those cattle for war to the west!"

"Now but vainly," she said, "is this toil on thee cast; Thou shalt lose what thou seekest", and from him she pa.s.sed.

Three times nine of his men for that foray were chosen, and marched by his side, And a hawk flew before, and for hunting, was a hound with a hunting-leash tied; {p. 60} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

until he goes to the territory of the Ulstermen, so that he meets with Conall Cernach (Conall the Victorious) at Benna Bairchi (a mountain on the Ulster border).

He tells his quest to him. "What awaits thee," says the latter, "shall not be lucky for thee. Much of trouble awaits thee," he says, "though in it the mind should be." "It will come to me," says Fraech to Connall, "that thou wouldest help me any time we should meet." (?) "I shall go truly," says Conall Cernach. They set of the three (i.e. the three nines) over sea, over Saxony of the North, over the Sea of Icht (the sea between England and France), to the north of the Long-bards (the dwellers of Lombardy), until they reached the mountains of Elpa. They saw a herd-girl at tending of the sheep before them. "Let us go south," says Conall, "O Fraech, that we may address the woman yonder, and let our youths stay here."

{p. 61} To Ben Barchi they went, for the border of Ulster their faces were set: And there, of its marches the warder, the conquering Conall they met.

Fraech hailed him, the conquering Conall, and told him the tale of his spoil; {630} "'Tis ill luck that awaits thee," said Conall, "thy quest shall be followed with toil!

"'Twill be long ere the goal thou art reaching, though thy heart in the seeking may be."

"Conall Cernach,[1] hear thou my beseeching said Fraech, "let thine aid be to me; I had hoped for this meeting with Conall, that his aid in the quest might be lent."

"I will go with thee truly," said Conall: with Fraech and his comrades he went.

Three times nine, Fraech and Conall before them, Over ocean from Ireland have pa.s.sed; Through the Land of North Saxony bore them, And the South Sea they sighted at last.

And again on the sea billows speeding, {640} They went south, over Ichtian foam; And marched on: southward still was their leading: To the land where the Long-Beards have home: But when Lombardy's bounds they were nearing They made stand; for above and around Were the high peaks of Alpa appearing, And the goal that they sought had been found.

On the Alps was a woman seen straying, and herding the flocks of the sheep, "Let our warriors behind be delaying," said Conall, "and south let us keep: [1. p.r.o.nounced Cayr-nach.]

{p. 62} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

They went then to a conversation. She said, "Whence are ye?" "Of the men of Erin," says Conall. "It shall not be lucky for the men of Erin truly, the coming to this country. From the men of Erin too is my mother. Aid thou me on account of relations.h.i.+p."

"Tell us something about our movements. What is the quality of the land we have to come to?" "A grim hateful land with troublesome warriors, who go on every side for carrying off cows and women as captives," she says. "What is the latest thing they have carried off?" says Fraech. "The cows of Fraech, son of Idath, from the west of Erin, and his wife, and his three sons. Here is his wife here in the house of the king, here are his cows in the country in front of you." "Let thy aid come to us," says Conall. Little is my power, save guidance only." "This is Fraech," says Conall, and they are his cows that have been carried off." "Is the woman constant in your estimation?" she says. "Though constant in our estimation when she went, perchance she is not constant after coming." "The woman who frequents the cows, go ye to her; tell ye of your errand; of the men of Ireland her race; of the men of Ulster exactly."

{p. 63} 'Twere well we should speak with yon woman, perchance she hath wisdom to teach!"

{650} And with Conall went Fraech at that counsel; they neared her, and held with her speech.

"Whence have come you?" she said: "Out of Ireland are we,"

Answered Conall: "Ill luck shall for Irishmen be In this country," she cried, "yet thy help I would win; From thy land was my mother; thou art to me kin!"

"Of this land we know naught, nor where next we should turn,"

Answered Conall.; "its nature from thee we would learn."

"'Tis a grim land and hateful," the woman replied, "And the warriors are restless who forth from it ride; For full often of captives, of women and herd {660} Of fair kine by them taken is brought to me word."

"Canst thou say what latest spoil," said Fraech, "they won?"

"Ay," she said, "they harried Fraech, of Idath[1] son He in Erin dwelleth, near the western sea; Kine from him they carried, wife, and children three Here his wife abideth, there where dwells the king, Turn, and see his cattle, yonder pasturing."

Out spoke Conall Cernach;[2] "Aid us thou" he cried: "Strength I lack," she answered, "I can only guide."

"Here is Fraech," said Conall, "yon his stolen cows": {670} "Fraech!" she asked him, "tell me, canst thou trust thy spouse?"

"Why," said Fraech, "though trusty, doubtless, when she went; Now, since here she bideth, truth may well be spent."

"See ye now yon woman?" said she, "with your herd, Tell to her your errand, let her hear your word; Trust in her, as Irish-sprung ye well may place; More if ye would ask me, Ulster reared her race."

[1. p.r.o.nounced Eeda.

2. p.r.o.nounced Cayr-nach.]

{p. 64} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

They come to her; they receive her, and they name themselves to her, and she bids welcome to them. "What hath led you forth?" she says. "Trouble hath led us forth," says Conall; "ours are the cows and the woman that is in the Liss."

"It shall not be lucky for you truly," she says, "the going up to the mult.i.tude of the woman; more troublesome to you than everything," she says, "is the serpent which is at guarding of the Liss." "She is not my country-name (?)," says Fraech, "she is not constant in my estimation; thou art constant in my estimation; we know thou wilt not lead us astray, since it is from the men of Ulster thou art." "Whence are ye from the men of Ulster?" she says. "This is Conall Cernach here, the bravest hero with the men of Ulster," says Fraech. She flings two hands around the throat of Conall Cernach. "The destruction has come in this expedition," she says, "since he has come to us; for it is to him the destruction of this dun has been prophesied. I shall go out to my house,"[1] she says, "I shall not be at the milking of the cows. I shall leave the Liss opened; it is I who close it every night.[2] I shall say it is for drink the calves were sucking. Come thou into the dun, when they are sleeping; only trouble. some to you is the serpent which is at the dun; several tribes are let loose from it."

[1. "To my house" is in the Egerton MS. only.

2. "Every night" is in the Egerton MS. only.]

{p. 65} To that woman they went, nor their names from her hid; And they greeted her; welcome in kindness she bid: "What hath moved you," she said, "from your country to go?"

{680} "On this journey," said Conall, "our guide hath been woe: All the cattle that feed in these pastures are ours, And from us went the lady that's kept in yon towers."

"'Tis ill-luck," said the woman, "that waits on your way, All the men of this hold doth that lady obey; Ye shall find, amid dangers, your danger most great In the serpent who guardeth the Liss at the gate."

"For that lady," said Fraech, "she is none of my She is fickle, no trust from me yet did she win: But on thee we rely, thou art trusty, we know; {690} Never yet to an Ulsterman Ulster was foe."

"Is it men out of Ulster," she said, "I have met?"

"And is Conall," said Fraech, "thus unknown to you yet?

Of all heroes from Ulster the battle who faced Conall Cernach is foremost." His neck she embraced, And she cried, with her arms around Conall: "Of old Of the conquering Conall our prophets have told; And 'tis ruin and doom to this hold that you bring; For that Conall shall sack it, all prophecies sing."

"Hear my rede," she told him: "When at fall of day {700} Come the kine for milking, I abroad will stay; I the castle portal every eve should close: Ye shall find it opened, free for tread of foes: I will say the weakling calves awhile I keep; 'Tis for milk, I'll tell them: come then while they sleep; Come, their castle enter, all its wealth to spoil; Only rests that serpent, he our plans may foil: Him it rests to vanquish, he will try you most; Surely from that serpent swarms a serpent host!"

{p. 66} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"We will go truly," says Conall. They attack the Liss; the serpent darts leap into the girdle of Conall Cernach, and they plunder the dun at once. They save off then the woman and the three sons, and they carry away whatever was the best of the gems of the dun, and Conall lets the serpent out of his girdle, and neither of them did harm to the other. And they came to the territory of the people of the Picts, until they saw three cows of their cows in it. They drove off to the Fort of Ollach mac Briuin (now Dunolly near Oban) with them, until they were at Ard Uan Echach (high-foaming Echach). It is there the gillie of Conall met his death at the driving of the cows, that is Bicne son of Loegaire; it is from this is (the name of) Inver Bicne (the Bicne estuary) at Benchor. They brought their cows over it thither. It is there they flung their horns from them, so that it is thence is (the name of) Tracht Benchoir (the Strand of Horn casting, perhaps the modern Bangor?).

Fraech goes away then to his territory after, and his wife, and his sons, and his cows with him, until he goes with Ailill and Medb for the Spoil of the Cows from Cualnge.

{p. 67} "Trust us well," answered Conall, "that raid will we do!

{710} And the castle they sought, and the snake at them flew: For it darted on Conall, and twined round his waist; Yet the whole of that castle they plundered in haste, And the woman was freed, and her sons with her three And away from her prison she went with them free: And of all of the jewels ama.s.sed in that dun The most costly and beauteous the conquerors won.

Then the serpent from Conall was loosed, from his belt It crept safely, no harm from that serpent he felt: And they travelled back north to the Pictish domains, {720} And a three of their cattle they found on the plains; And, where Olla Mae Briuin[1] his hold had of yore, By Dunolly their cattle they drove to the sh.o.r.e.

It chanced at Ard Uan Echach,[2] where foam is hurled on high, That doom on Bicne falling, his death he came to die: 'Twas while the cows were driven that Bicne's life was lost: By trampling hooves of cattle crushed down to death, or tossed; To him was Loegaire[3] father, and Conall Cernach chief And Inver-Bicne's t.i.tle still marks his comrades' grief.

Across the Stream of Bicne the cows of Fraech have pa.s.sed, {730} And near they came to Benchor, and there their horns they cast: 'Tis thence the strand of Bangor for aye is named, 'tis said: The Strand of Horns men call it; those horns his cattle shed.

To his home travelled Fraech, with his children, and And his cattle, and there with them lived out his life, Till the summons of Ailill and Maev he obeyed; {736} And when Cualgne was harried, he rode on the Raid.

[1. p.r.o.nounced "Brewin."

2. p.r.o.nounced "Ard Oon Ay-ha,"

3. p.r.o.nounced "Leary."]

{p. 71} THE RAID FOR DARTAID'S CATTLE.