poet Spenser.  One of Meav’s exploits is recorded in the famous Tain bo Chuailgne, which is to Celtic history what the Argonautic Expedition, or the Seven against Thebes, is to Grecian.  Meav was married first to Conor, the celebrated provincial king of Ulster; but the marriage was not a happy one, and was dissolved, in modern parlance, on the ground of incompatibility.  In the meanwhile, Meav’s three brothers had rebelled against their father; and though his arms were victorious, the victory did not secure peace.  The men of Connacht revolted against him, and to retain their allegiance he made his daughter Queen of Connacht, and gave her in marriage to Ailill, a powerful chief of that province.  This prince, however, died soon after; and Meav, determined for once, at least, to choose a husband for herself, made a royal progress to Leinster, where Ross Ruadb held his court at Naas.  She selected the younger son of this monarch, who bore the same name as her former husband, and they lived together happily as queen and king consort for many years.  On one occasion, however, a dispute arose about their respective treasures, and this dispute led to a comparison of their property.  The account of this, and the subsequent comparison, is given at length in the Tain, and is a valuable repertory of archaeological information.  They counted their vessels, metal and wooden; they counted their finger rings, their clasps, their thumb rings, their diadems, and their gorgets of gold.  They examined their many-coloured garments of crimson and blue, of black and green, yellow and mottled, white and streaked.  All were equal.  They then inspected their flocks and herds, swine from the forests, sheep from the pasture lands, and cows—­here the first difference arose.  It was one to excite Meav’s haughty temper.  There was a young bull found among Ailill’s bovine wealth:  it had been calved by one of Meav’s cows; but “not deeming it honorable to be under a woman’s control,” it had attached itself to Ailill’s herds.  Meav was not a lady who could remain quiet under such provocation.  She summoned her chief courier, and asked him could he a match for Finnbheannach (the white-horned).  The courier declared that he could find even a superior animal; and at once set forth on his mission, suitably attended.  Meav had offered the most liberal rewards for the prize she so much coveted; and the courier soon arranged with Dare, a noble of large estates, who possessed one of the valuable breed.  A drunken quarrel, however, disarranged his plans.  One of the men boasted that if Dare had not given the bull for payment, he should have been compelled to give it by force.  Dare’s steward heard the ill-timed and uncourteous boast.  He flung down the meat and drink which he had brought for their entertainment, and went to tell his master the contemptuous speech.  The result may be anticipated.  Dare refused the much-coveted animal, and Meav proceeded to make good her claim by force of arms.  But this is only the prologue of the drama; the details would fill a volume.  It must suffice to say, that the bulls had a battle of their own.  Finnbheannach and Donn Chuailgne (the Leinster bull) engaged in deadly combat, which is described with the wildest flights of poetic diction.[86] The poor “white horn” was killed, and Donn Chuailgne, who had lashed himself to madness, dashed out his brains.[87]