[FN#109] Spelt Uar-gaeth-sceo-luachair-sceo

“’Tis a marvellous name!” said Cuchulain, “if from thee all my answer must come, Let it be as thou wishest; thy comrade, this man, as it seemeth, is dumb.  Tell me now of thine own name, O woman.”  “Faebor-bayg-byeo-ill,"[FN#110] said the man.  “Coom-diewr-folt-skayv-garry-skyeo-ooa is her name, if pronounce it you can!” Then Cuchulain sprang at the chariot:  “Would ye make me a fool with your jest?” He cried, as he leapt at the woman; his feet on her shoulders he pressed, And he set on her head his spear-point:  “Now cease from thy sharp weapon-play!” Cried the woman.  Cuchulain made answer:  Thy name to me truth fully say!” “Then remove thyself from me!” she answered:  I am skilled in satirical spells; The man is called Darry I mac Feena[FN#111]:  in the country of Cualgne[FN#112] he dwells; I of late made a marvellous poem; and as fee for the poem this cow Do I drive to my home.”  “Let its verses,” said Cuchulain,” be sung to me now!” “Then away from me stand!” said the woman:  “though above me thou shakest thy spear, It will naught avail thee to move me.”  Then he left her, but lingered near, Between the poles of her chariot:  the woman her song then sang; And the song was a song of insult.  Again at the car he sprang, But nothing he found before him:  as soon as the car he had neared, The woman, the horse, and the chariot, the cow, and the man disappeared.

[FN#110] Spelt Faebor-begbeoil-cuimdiuir-folt-seenb-gair
it-sceo-uath.

[FN#111] Spelt Daire mac Fiachna:  he is the owner of the Dun of Cualgne in the Great Tain.

[FN#112] Pronounced Kell-ny.

At a bird on a bough, as they vanished, a glance by Cuchulain was cast, And he knew to that bird’s black body the shape of the woman had passed:  As a woman of danger I know you,” he cried, “and as powerful in spell!” From to-day and for ever,” she chanted, “this tale in yon clay-land shall dwell!” And her word was accomplished; that region to-day is the Grella Dolloo,[FN#113] The Clay-land of Evil:  its name from the deeds of that woman it drew.

[FN#113] Spelt Grellach Dolluid.

“Had I known it was you,” said Cuchulain, “not thus had you passed from my sight!” And she sang, “For thy deed it is fated that evil shall soon be thy plight!” Thou canst. do naught against me,” he answered.  “Yea, evil in sooth can I send; Of thy Bringer of Death I am guardian, shall guard it till cometh thine end:  From the Under-world Country of Croghan this cow have I driven, to breed By the Dun Bull of Darry[FN#114] Mae Feena, the Bull that in Cualgne doth feed.  So long as her calf be a yearling, for that time thy life shall endure; But, that then shall the Raid have beginning, the dread Raid of Cualgne, be sure.”

[FN#114] Spelt Daire mac Fiachna.

“Nay, clearer my fame shall be ringing,” the hero replied,” for the Raid:  All bards, who my deeds shall be singing, must tell of the stand that I made, Each warrior in fight shall be stricken, who dares with my valour to strive:  Thou shalt see me, though battle-fields thicken, from the Tain Bo returning alive!”