XI. ¹THE SLAYING OF NATHCRANTAIL¹

²Then the men of Erin held counsel who would be fit to fight and contend with Cuchulain and drive him off from the men of Erin.^{2 3}"What man have ye to face Cuchulain to-morrow?" asked Lugaid. "They will give him to thee to-morrow," answered Manè son of Ailill. "We find no one to meet him," quoth Medb; "let us have a truce with him then till a man be found to oppose him." This they obtain. "Whither will ye turn," asked Ailill, "to find the man to oppose Cuchulain?" "There is not in Erin," Medb answered, "one that could be got to meet him unless Curoi macDarè come, or Nathcrantail the warrior." A man of Curoi's people was in the tent. "Curoi will not come," said he; "he weens enough of his people have come!" "Let a message be sent then for Nathcrantail."³ W. 1941. Then arose a huge warrior of Medb's people, Nathcrantail by name. ⁴Manè Andoe ('the Unslow') goes to him. They tell him their message. "Come with us for the sake of the honour of Connacht." "I will not go," said he, "unless they give Finnabair to me." Afterwards he goes with them. They bring his armour in a car from the east of Connacht and place it in the camp.^{4 5}Then was Nathcrantail called into the tent of Ailill and Medb.^{5 6}"Wherefore am I summoned to ye?" Nathcrantail asked. "It would please us well," Medb replied, "werest thou to fight and contend with Cuchulain on the ford and ward him off from us at the morning hour early on the morrow.^{6 1}Thou shalt have Finnabair," said Medb, "for going to fight yonder man." "I will do it," said he.^{1 2}He engaged to undertake the battle and combat and that night be made ready, and early on the morrow Nathcrantail arose for the battle and combat and he took his warlike implements with him to the fight, and though early he arose, Cuchulain arose still earlier.^{2 3}That night Lugaid came to Cuchulain. "Nathcrantail comes to meet thee to-morrow. Alas for thee, thou wilt not withstand him." "That matters not," Cuchulain made answer.^3a

⁴On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp⁴ and he came to attack Cuchulain. W. 1942. He did not deign to bring along arms but thrice nine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. And there before him on the pond was Cuchulain ⁵a-fowling and his chariot hard by him,^5b and there was no shelter whatever. ⁶And when Nathcrantail perceived Cuchulain⁶ he ⁷straightway⁷ cast a dart at Cuchulain. Cuchulain sprang ⁸from the middle of the ground⁸ till he came on the tip of the dart. ⁹And he performed a feat on the point of the dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds.⁹ And again Nathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart and Cuchulain sprang on the point of the second W. 1951. dart and so on till he was on the point of the last dart. It was then, ¹when Nathcrantail threw the ninth dart,¹ that the flock of birds ²which Cuchulain pursued² on the plain ³flew away from Cuchulain.³ Cuchulain chased them even as any bird ⁴of the air.^{4 5}He hopped on the points of the darts like a bird from each dart to the next, pursuing the birds⁵ that they might not escape him but that they might leave behind a portion of food for the night. For this is what sustained and served Cuchulain, fish and fowl and game on the Cualnge Cow-spoil. Something more remains to be told: Nathcrantail deemed full surely that Cuchulain went from him in rout of defeat and flight. And he went his way till he came to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb and he lifted up his loud voice ⁶of a warrior⁶: "That famous Cuchulain that ye so talk of ran and fled in defeat ⁷before me when he came to me⁷ in the morning." "We knew," spake Medb, "it would be even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that this beardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, ⁸Nathcrantail to wit,⁸ came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!"

And Fergus heard that, and Fergus ⁹and the Ulstermen⁹ were sore angered that any one should boast that Cuchulain had fled. And Fergus addressed himself to Fiachu, Feraba's son, that he should go to rebuke Cuchulain. "And tell ^*LL. fo. 73a. him it is an honour for him to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as he does deeds of valour upon them, but that it were fitter for him to hide himself than to fly before any one of their warriors, ¹⁰forasmuch as the dishonour would be not greater for him than for the rest of Ulster."¹⁰

W. 1969. Thereupon Fiachu went to address Cuchulain. Cuchulain bade him welcome. "I trow that welcome to be truly meant, but it is for counsel with thee I am come from thy fosterer Fergus. And he has said, 'It would be a glory for thee to oppose the hosts for as long or as short a space as thou doest valiantly ¹with them;¹ but it would be fitter for thee to hide thyself than to fly before any one of their warriors!'" "How now, who makes that boast among ye?" Cuchulain asked. "Nathcrantail, of a surety," Fiachu answered. "How may this be? Dost not know, thou and Fergus and the nobles of Ulster, that I slay no charioteers nor heralds nor unarmed people? And he bore no arms but a spit of wood. And I would not slay Nathcrantail until he had arms. And do thou tell him, let him come here early in the morning, ²till he is between Ochainè and the sea, and however early he comes, he will find me here² and I will not fly before him!"

³Fiachu went back to the camp^{3 4}and to the station of the men of Erin, and he bound Nathcrantail to go to the ford of combat on the morrow. They bided there that night,⁴ and it seemed long to Nathcrantail till day with its light came for him to attack Cuchulain. He set out early on the morrow to attack Cuchulain. Cuchulain arose early ⁵and came to his place of meeting⁵ and his wrath bided with him on that day. And ⁶after his night's vigil,⁶ with an angry cast he threw his cloak around him, so that it passed over the pillar-stone ⁷near by, the size of himself,⁷ and snapped the pillar-stone off from the ground between himself and his cloak. And he was aware of naught because of the measure of anger that had come on and raged in him. Then, too, came Nathcrantail. ⁸His arms were brought with him on a wagon,⁸ and he spake, "Where is W. 1987. this Cuchulain?" shouted Nathcrantail. "Why, over yonder ¹near the pillar-stone before thee,"¹ answered Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar. "Not such was the shape wherein he appeared to me yesterday," said Nathcrantail. "Repel yon warrior," quoth Cormac, "and it will be the same for thee as if thou repellest Cuchulain!" ²"Art thou Cuchulain?" "And if I am?" answered Cuchulain. "If thou be truly he," said Nathcrantail, "I would not bring a lambkin's head to the camp. I will not take thy head, the head of a beardless boy." "It is not I at all," said Cuchulain; "go find him around the hill!" Cuchulain hastens to Laeg. "Rub a false beard on me; I cannot get the warrior to fight with me beardless." This was done for him. He goes to meet Nathcrantail on the hill. "Methinks that more fitting. Now fight with me fairly," said Nathcrantail. "Thou shalt have thy wish, if only we know it," Cuchulain made answer. "I will make a cast at thee," said Nathcrantail, "and thou shalt not avoid it." "I will not avoid it except on high," said Cuchulain. Nathcrantail makes a cast at him. Cuchulain springs on high before it. "'Tis ill of thee to avoid the cast," cried Nathcrantail. "Avoid then my cast on high!" quoth Cuchulain. Cuchulain lets the spear fly at him and it went on high, so that from above it alighted on Nathcrantail's crown and through him it went to the ground. "Alas," said he, "the best warrior in Erin art thou," spake Nathcrantail. "Four and twenty sons have I in the camp. I will go and tell them what hidden treasure I have and then return for thee to behead me, for I shall die if the spear be taken out of my head." "It is well," quoth Cuchulain; "thou shalt come back." Then Nathcrantail returns to the camp. They all come to meet him. "Where is the madman's head with thee?" ¹every one asks.¹ "Wait, ye warriors, till I tell my tale to my sons and return to do battle with Cuchulain."²

W. 1992. Soon came Nathcrantail ³to seek Cuchulain³ and he made a wide sweep with his sword at Cuchulain. ⁴Cuchulain leaps on high,⁴ so that the sword encountered the pillar of stone that was between Cuchulain and his cloak, and the sword broke ⁵atwain⁵ on the pillar-stone. ⁶Then Cuchulain became filled with rage, as he had been with the boys in Emain, and⁶ he sprang from the ground and alighted on the top of the boss of Nathcrantail's shield and dealt him a side stroke over the upper edge of the shield, so that he struck off his head from his trunk. He raised his hand quickly again and gave him another blow on the top of the trunk so that he cleft him in twain down to the ground. ⁷His four severed parts fell to the ground.⁷ Thus fell Nathcrantail slain by Cuchulain. Whereupon Cuchulain spoke ⁸the verse:—⁸

XII. ¹THE FINDING OF THE BULL¹

W. 2007. Thereafter ²on the morrow² Medb proceeded with a third of the host of the men of Erin about her, ³and she set forth by the highroad of Midluachair³ till she reached Dûn Sobairche in the north. And Cuchulain pressed heavily on Medb that day. ⁴Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bull and Cuchulain pursued her. Now on the road to Midluachair she had gone to invade Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dûn Sobairche.^{4 5}There it is that Cuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib.⁵ Cuchulain killed Fer Taidle, whence cometh Taidle; and ⁶as they went northwards⁶ he killed the macBuachalla ('the Herdsman's sons') ⁷at their cairn,⁷ whence cometh Carn macBuachalla; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence Lettre Luasc ('the Watery Slopes of Luasc'); and he slew Bobulge in his marsh, whence Grellach ('the Trampled Place') of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne on his hill, whence Delga ('the Points') of Murthemne; ⁸he slew Nathcoirpthe at his trees, Cruthen on his ford, Marc on his hill, Meille on his mound and Bodb in his tower.⁸ It was afterwards then W. 2016. that Cuchulain turned back from the north ¹to Mag Murthemni,¹ to protect and defend his own borders and land, for dearer to him was ²his own land and inheritance and belongings² than the land and territory and belongings of another.

It was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce ('the men of Crannach') ³from whom cometh Crannach in Murthemne;³ to wit, the two Artinne and the two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, and Drucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Torc Glaisse and Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard. Cuchulain surprised them as they were pitching ^*LL. fo. 73b. camp in advance of all others—⁴ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were⁴—so that they fell by his hand.

Then it was that Buide ('the Yellow') son of Ban Blai ('the White') from ⁵Sliab Culinn ('Hollymount'),⁵ the country of Ailill and Medb, and belonging to the special followers of ⁶Ailill and⁶ Medb, met Cuchulain. Four and twenty^a warriors ⁷was their strength.⁷ A ⁸blue⁸ mantle enwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careering before them after he had been brought from Glenn na Samaisce ('Heifers' Glen') to Sliab Culinn, and fifty of his heifers with him. ⁹Cuchulain advances to meet them.⁹ "Whence bring ye the drove, ¹⁰ye men?"¹⁰ Cuchulain asks. "From yonder mountain," Buide answers. ¹¹"Where are its herdsmen?" Cuchulain asks. "One is here where we found him," the warrior answers. Cuchulain made three leaps after them, seeking to speak W. 2031. with them, as far as the ford. Then it was he spoke to the leader¹¹, "What is thine own name?" said Cuchulain. "One that neither loves thee nor fears thee," Buide made answer; "Buide son of Ban Blai am I, from the country of Ailill and Medb." ¹"Wella-day, O Buide," cried Cuchulain; "haste to the ford below that we exchange a couple of throws with each other." They came to the ford and exchanged a couple of throws there.¹ "Lo, here for thee this short spear," said Cuchulain, and he casts the spear at him. It struck the shield over his belly, so that it shattered three ribs in his farther side after piercing his heart in his bosom. And Buide son of Ban Blai fell ²on the ford.² So that thence is Ath Buidi ('Athboy') in Crich Roiss ('the land of Ross').

For as long or as short a space as ³these bold champions and battle-warriors³ were engaged in this work of exchanging their two short spears—for it was not in a moment they had accomplished it—the Brown Bull of Cualnge was carried away in quick course and career ⁴by the eight great men⁴ to the camp ⁵of the men of Erin⁵ as swiftly as any beeve can be brought to a camp. ⁶They opined then it would not be hard to deal with Cuchulain if only his spear were got from him.⁶ From this accordingly came the greatest shame and grief and madness that was brought on Cuchulain on that hosting.

As regards Medb: every ford ⁷and every hill⁷ whereon she stopped, Ath Medba ('Medb's Ford') ⁸and Dindgna Medba ('Medb's Hill')⁸ is its name. Every place wherein she pitched her tent, Pupall Medba ('Medb's Tent') is its name. Every spot she rested her horselash, Bili Medba ('Medb's Tree') is its name.

On this circuit Medb ⁹turned back from the north after W. 2047. she had remained a fortnight laying waste the province^{9 1}and plundering the land of the Picts and of Cualnge and the land of Conall son of Amargin,¹ and having offered battle ²one night² to Findmor ('the Fair-large') wife of Celtchar ³son of Uthechar³ at the gate of Dûn Sobairche; and she slew Findmor and laid waste Dûn Sobairche; ⁵and, after taking Dûn Sobairche from her, she brought fifty of ⁴her⁴ women into the province of Dalriada.^{5 6}Then she had them hanged and crucified. Whence cometh Mas na Righna ('Queen's Buttock') as the name of the hill, from their hanging.⁶

Then came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at the end of a long fortnight^a to camp and station ⁷at Fochard,⁷ together with Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull.

W. 2054. And the bull's cowherd would not allow them ¹to carry off¹ the Brown Bull of Cualnge, so that they urged on the bull, beating shafts on shields, till they drove him into a narrow gap, and the herd trampled the cowherd's body thirty feet into the ground, so that they made fragments and shreds of his body. Forgemen was the neatherd's name. ²And this is the name of the hill, Forgemen.² This then is the Death of Forgemen on the Cattle-prey of Cualnge. ³Now there was no peril to them that night so long as a man was got to ward off Cuchulain from them on the ford.³

XIIb. ¹HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST¹

W. 2061. When the men of Erin had come together in one place, both Medb and Ailill and the force that was bringing the bull to the camp and enclosure, they all declared Cuchulain would be no more valiant than another ²of the men of Erin² were it not for the wonderful little trick he possessed, the spearlet of Cuchulain. Accordingly the men of Erin despatched from them Redg, Medb's^a jester, to demand the light javelin ³of Cuchulain.³

So Redg ⁴came forward to where Cuchulain was and⁴ asked for the little javelin, but Cuchulain did not give him the little javelin ⁵at once⁵; he did not deem it good and proper to yield it. ⁶"Give me thy spear," said the jester. "Nay then, I will not," answered Cuchulain; "but I will give thee treasure." "I will not take it," said the jester. Then he wounded the jester because he would not accept from him what he had offered him.⁶ Redg declared he would deprive Cuchulain of his honour ⁷unless he got the little javelin.⁷ Thereupon Cuchulain hurled the javelin at him, so that it struck him in the nape of the neck^b and fell out through his mouth on the ground. And the only words Redg uttered were these, "This precious gift is readily W. 2072. ours," and his soul separated from his body at the ford. Therefrom that ford is ever since called Ath Solom Shet ('Ford of the Ready Treasure'). And the copper of the javelin was thrown into the river. Hence is Uman-Sruth ('Copperstream') ever after.

¹"Let us ask for a sword-truce from Cuchulain," says Ailill. "Let Lugaid go to him," one and all answer. Then Lugaid goes to parley with him. "How now do I stand with the host?" Cuchulain asks. "Disgraceful indeed is the thing thou hast demanded of them," Lugaid answers, "even this, that thou shouldst have thy women and maidens and half of thy kine. But more grievous than all do they hold it that they themselves should be killed and thou provisioned."

Every day there fell a man by Cuchulain till the end of a week. ²Then² faith is broken with Cuchulain. Twenty are despatched at one time to attack him and he destroys them all. "Go to him, O Fergus," says Ailill, "that he may vouchsafe us a change of place." A while after this they proceed to Cronech. These are they that fell in single combat with him in that place, to wit: the two Roth, the two Luan, two women-thieves, ten fools, ten cup-bearers, the ten Fergus, the six Fedelm, the six Fiachu. Now these were all killed by him in single combat.

When their tents were pitched by them in Cronech they discussed what they had best do with Cuchulain. "I know," quoth Medb, "what is best here. Let some one go to him from us for a sword-pact from him in respect of the host, and he shall have half the cattle that are here." This message they bring to him. "I will do it," said Cuchulain, "provided the bond is not broken by you^{1 3}to-morrow.³"

XIIc. ¹HERE IS TOLD THE MEETING OF CUCHULAIN AND FINNABAIR¹

²"Let a message be sent to him," said Ailill, "that Finnabair my daughter will be bestowed on him, and for him to keep away from the hosts." Manè Athramail ('Fatherlike') goes to him. But first he addresses himself to Laeg. "Whose man art thou?" spake Manè. Now Laeg made no answer. Thrice Manè addressed him in this ³same³ wise. "Cuchulain's man," Laeg answers, "and provoke me not, lest it happen I strike thy head off thee!" "This man is mad," quoth Manè as he leaves him. Then he goes to accost Cuchulain. It was there Cuchulain had doffed his tunic, and the ⁴deep⁴ snow was around him where he sat, up to his belt, and the snow had melted a cubit around him for the greatness of the heat of the hero. And Manè addressed him three times in like manner, whose man he was? "Conchobar's man, and do not provoke me. For if thou provokest me any longer I will strike thy head off thee as one strikes off the head of a blackbird!" "No easy thing," quoth Manè, "to speak to these two." Thereupon Manè leaves them and tells his tale to Ailill and Medb.

"Let Lugaid go to him," said Ailill, "and offer him the girl." Thereupon Lugaid goes and repeats this to Cuchulain. "O master Lugaid," quoth Cuchulain, "it is a snare!" "It is the word of a king; he hath said it," Lugaid answered; "there can be no snare in it." "So be it," said Cuchulain. Forthwith Lugaid leaves him and takes that answer to Ailill and Medb. "Let the fool go forth in my form," said Ailill, "and the king's crown on his head, and let him stand some way off from Cuchulain lest he know him; and let the girl go with him and let the fool promise her to him, and let them depart quickly in this wise. And methinks ye will play a trick on him thus, so that he will not stop you any further till he comes with the Ulstermen to the battle."

Then the fool goes to him and the girl along with him, and from afar he addresses Cuchulain. The Hound comes to meet him. It happened he knew by the man's speech that he was a fool. A slingstone that was in his hand he threw at him so that it entered his head and bore out his brains. He comes up to the maiden, cuts off her two tresses and thrusts a stone through her cloak and her tunic, and plants a standing-stone through the middle of the fool. Their two pillar-stones are there, even the pillar-stone of Finnabair and the pillar-stone of the fool.

Cuchulain left them in this plight. A party was sent out from Ailill and Medb to search for their people, for it was long they thought they were gone, when they saw them in this wise. This thing was noised abroad by all the host in the camp. Thereafter there was no truce for them with Cuchulain.²