“What should be my force?” he asked her:  “Take of heroes seven score For that fight,” she said, “and with them seven times twenty warriors more:  Far from thee we now are flying; but shall meet thee with thy power When to-morrow’s sun is shining; at the ninth, the fated hour.”

At the dawn, the time appointed, all those steeds and garments gay
Were in Connaught, and they found them at the gate of Croghan Ay;
All was there the fay had promised, all the gifts of which we told: 
All the splendour that had lately decked the princes they behold. 
Doubtful were the men of Connaught; some desired the risk to face;
Some to go refused:  said Ailill, “It should bring us to disgrace

If we spurned such offered bounty”:  Orlam his reproaches felt; Sprang to horse; and towards the country rode, where Eocho’s daughter dwelt:  And where flows the Shannon river, near that water’s southern shore, Found her home; for as they halted, moated Clew[FN#49] rose high before.

[FN#49] Spelt Cliu.

Dartaid met them ere they halted, joyful there the prince to see: 
All the kine are not assembled, of their count is lacking three!”
“Tarry not for search,” said Orlam, “yet provision must we take
On our steeds, for hostile Munster rings us round.  Wilt home forsake,
Maiden? wilt thou ride beside us?” “I will go indeed,” she said. 
Then, with all thy gathered cattle, come with us; with me to wed! 
So they marched, and in the centre of their troop the kine were set,
And the maiden rode beside them:  but Corp Lee, the Gray, they met;
Seven times twenty heroes with him; and to battle they must go,
And the Connaught nobles perished, fighting bravely with the foe: 
All the sons of Connaught’s princes, all the warriors with them died: 
Orlam’s self escaped the slaughter, he and eight who rode beside: 
Yet he drave the cows to Croghan; ay, and fifty heifers too! 
But, when first the foe made onset, they the maid in battle slew. 
Near a lake, did Eocho’s[FN#50] daughter, Dartaid, in the battle fall,
From that lake, and her who perished, hath been named that region all: 
Emly Darta is that country; Tain bo Dartae is the tale: 
And, as prelude, ’tis recited, till the Cualgne[FN#51] Raid they hail.

[FN#50] Pronounced Yeo-ho.

[FN#51] Pronounced Kell-ny.

THE RAID FOR DARTAID’S CATTLE

LITERAL TRANSLATION

The Passages that occur only in the Yellow Book (Y.B.L.) are indicated by being placed in square brackets.

Eocho Bec, the son of Corpre, king of Cliu, dwelt in the Dun of Cuillne,[FN#52] and with him were forty fosterlings, all sons of the kings of Munster; he had also forty milch-cows for their sustenance.  By Ailill and Medb messengers were sent, asking him to come to a conference. “[In a week,"][FN#53] said Eocho, “I will go to that conference;” and the messengers departed from him.