The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge. Anonymous

they were told of the feats of Cuchulain.²

      And Ailill inquired of Fergus: "I marvel and wonder who could have come to us to our lands and slain so quickly the four that had gone out before us. Is it likely that Conchobar son of Fachtna Fatach ('the Mighty'), High King of Ulster, has come to us?" "It is never likely that he has," Fergus answered; "for a shame it would be to speak ill of him in his absence. There is nothing he would not stake for the sake of his honour. For if he had come hither ³to the border of the land³, there would have come armies and troops and the pick of the men of Erin that are with him. And even though against him in one and the same place, and in one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the same hill were the men of Erin and Alba, Britons and Saxons, he would give them battle, before him they would break and it is not he that would be routed."

      "A question, then: Who would be like to have come to us? Is it like that Cuscraid Mend ('the Stammerer') of Macha would have come, Conchobar's son, from Inis Cuscraid?" "Nay then, it is not; he, the son of the High King," Fergus answered. "There is nothing he would not hazard for the sake of his honour. For were it he that had come hither, there would have come the W. 827. sons of kings and the royal leaders ¹of Ulster and Erin¹ that are serving as hirelings with him. And though there might be against him in one and the same place, in one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the same hill the men of Erin and Alba, Britons and Saxons, he would give them battle, before him they would break and it is not he that would be routed."

      "I ask, then, whether Eogan son of Durthacht, King of Fernmag, would have come?" "In sooth, it is not likely. For, had he come hither, the pick of the men of Fernmag would have come with him, battle he would give them, before him they would break, and it is not he that would be routed."

      "I ask, then: Who would be likely to have come to us? Is it likely that he would have come, Celtchai son of Uthechar?" "No more is it likely that it was he. A shame it would be to make light of him in his absence, him the battle-stone for the foes of the province, the head of all the retainers and the gate-of-battle of Ulster. And even should there be against him in one place and one mass and one march and one camp, and on one and the same hill all the men of Erin from the west to the east, from the south to the north, battle he would give them, before him they would break and it is not he that would be routed."

      "I ask, then: Who would be like to have come to us?" ²asked Ailill.^{2 3}"I know not," Fergus replied,³ "unless it be the little lad, my nursling and Conchobar's. Cuchulain ('the Wolf-dog of Culann the Smith') he is called. ⁴He is the one who could have done the deed," answered Fergus. "He it is who could have lopped the tree with one blow from its root, could have killed the four with the quickness wherewith they were killed and could have come to the border with his charioteer."⁴

      W. 843. "Of a truth," spake Ailill, "I heard from ye of this little boy once on a time in Cruachan. What might be the age of this little boy now?" "It is by no means his age that is most formidable in him," answered Fergus. "Because, manful were his deeds, those of that lad, at a time when he was younger than he ¹now¹ is. ²In his fifth year he went in quest of warlike deeds among the lads of Emain Macha. In his sixth^a year he went to learn skill in arms and feats with Scathach,^{2 3}and he went to woo Emer;^{3 4}in his seventh^b year he took arms; in his seventeenth year he is at this time."⁴ "How so!" exclaimed Medb. "Is there even now amongst the Ulstermen one his equal in age that is more redoubtable than he?" "We have not found there ⁵a man-at-arms that is harder,^{5 6}nor a point that is keener, more terrible nor quicker,⁶ nor a more bloodthirsty wolf, ⁷nor a raven more flesh-loving,⁷ nor a wilder warrior, nor a match of his age that would reach to a third or a fourth ^*LL. fo. 62a. the likes of Cuchulain. Thou findest not there," Fergus went on, "a hero his peer, ⁸nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a plank of battle,⁸ nor a sledge of destruction, ⁹nor a gate of combat,⁹ nor a doom of hosts, nor a contest of valour that would be of more worth than Cuchulain. Thou findest not there one that could equal his age and his growth, ¹⁰his dress^{10 11}and his terror,¹¹ his size and his splendour, ¹²his fame and his voice, his shape and his power,¹² his form and his speech, his strength and his feats and his valour, ¹³his smiting, his heat and his anger,¹³ his dash, his assault and attack, his dealing of W. 857. doom and affliction, his roar, his speed, his fury, his rage, and his quick triumph with the feat of nine men on each sword's point^a above him, like unto Cuchulain."

      "We make not much import of him," quoth Medb. "It is but a single body he has; he shuns being wounded; he avoids being taken. They do say his age is but that of a girl to be wed. ¹His deeds of manhood have not yet come,¹ nor will he hold out against tried men, this young, beardless elf-man of whom thou spokest." ²"We say not so,"² replied Fergus, "for manful were the deeds of the lad at a time when he was younger than he ³now³ is."

VII. THE YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS OF CUCHULAIN

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      W. 865. "Now this lad was reared in the house of his father and mother at Dairgthech¹ ('the Oak House' (?)), namely, in the plain of Murthemne, and the tales of the youths of Emain were told to him. ²For there are ³always³ thrice fifty boys at play there," said Fergus.² "Forasmuch as in this wise Conchobar passed his reign ever since he, the king, assumed his sovereignty, to wit: As soon as he arose, forthwith in settling the cares and affairs of the province; thereafter, the day he divided in three: first, the first third he spent a-watching the youths play games of skill and of hurling; the next third of the day, a-playing draughts and chess, and the last third a-feasting on meat and ⁴a-quaffing⁴ ale, till sleep possessed them all, the while minstrels and harpers lulled him to sleep. For all that I am a long time in banishment because of him, I give my word," said Fergus, "there is not in Erin nor in Alba a warrior the like of Conchobar."

      "And the lad was told the tales of the boys and the boy-troop in Emain; and the child said to his mother, he would go to have part in the games on the play-field of Emain. "It is too soon for thee, little