Conall Cernach (Conall the Victorious), champion of Ulster.

Two Irish women, in captivity in the Alps, north of Lombardy.

Lothar (or Lothur), a follower of Fraech.

Bicne, a follower of Conall.

IMMORTALS

Befind, Fraech’s fairy mother.

Boand (pronounced like “owned"), sister to Befind; Queen of the Fairies.

Three fairy harpers.

TAIN BO FRAICH

THE RAID FOR THE CATTLE OF FRAECH

Now the news of the love of that maid to Fraech, at his home where he dwelt, was brought, And he called his folk, and with all he spoke, and for speech with the maid he sought:  And they counselled him thus:  “Let a message from thee be sent to thy fairy kin To entreat their aid when we seek that maid; a boon we may chance to win:  For the wondrous robes of the fairy land, and for gifts from the fairies plead; And sure thy mother’s sister’s hand will give to thee all thy need.”

To Mag Breg,[FN#1] where his mother’s sister dwelt, to Boand he away hath gone, And she gave to him mantles of dark black-blue, like a beetle’s back they shone:  Four dark-grey rings in each cloak she gave were sewn, and a brooch shone, bright With the good red gold in each mantle’s fold; she gave tunics pale and white, And the tunics were bordered with golden loops, that forms as of beasts displayed; And a fifty she added of well-rimmed shields, that of silver white were made.

[FN#1] Pronounced Maw Brayg.

Then away they rode, in each hero’s hand was a torch for a kingly hall, For studs of bronze, and of well-burned gold, shone bright on the spears of all; On carbuncle sockets the spears were set, their points with jewels blazed; And they lit the night, as with fair sunlight, as men on their glory gazed.

By each of the fifty heroes’ side was a sword with a hilt of gold; And a soft-grey mare was for each to ride, with a golden curb controlled; At each horse’s throat was a silver plate, and in front of that plate was swung, With a tinkling sound to the horse’s tread, a bell with a golden tongue. on each steed was a housing of purple hide, with threads of silver laced, And with spiral stitch of the silver threads the heads of beasts were traced, And each housing was buckled with silver and gold:  of findruine[FN#2] was made the whip For each rider to hold, with a crook of gold where it came to the horse man’s grip.

[FN#2] Pronounced “find-roony,” the unknown “white-bronze” metal.

By their sides, seven chase-hounds were springing
At leashes of silver they strained,
And each couple a gold apple, swinging
On the fetter that linked them, sustained: 
And their feet with bronze sheaths had been guarded,
As if greaves for defence they had worn,
Every hue man hath seen, or hath fancied,
By those chase-hounds in brilliance was borne.