Heroic Romances of Ireland — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 351 pages of information about Heroic Romances of Ireland — Complete.

Heroic Romances of Ireland — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 351 pages of information about Heroic Romances of Ireland — Complete.

Liban moreover bade a welcome to Cuchulain, and she chanted as follows: 

Hail to Cuchulain! 
Lord, who canst aid;
Murthemne ruling,
Mind undismayed;
Hero-like, glorious,
Heart great and still
Battle-victorious,
Firm rock of skill;
Redly he rageth,
Foemen would face;
Battle he wageth
Meet for his race! 
Brilliant his splendour, like maidens’ eyes,
Praises we render:  praise shall arise!

“Tell us now of the deeds thou hast done, O Cuchulain! cried Liban, and
Cuchulain in this manner replied to her: 

From my hand flew a dart, as I made my cast,
Through the host of Stream-Yeogan the javelin passed;
Not at all did I know, though great fame was won,
Who my victim had been, or what deed was done.

Whether greater or less was his might than mine
I have found not at all, nor can right divine;
In a mist was he hid whom my spear would slay,
Yet I know that he went not with life away.

A great host on me closed, and on every side
Rose around me in hordes the red steeds they ride;
From Manannan, the Son of the Sea, came foes,
From Stream-Yeogan to call them a roar arose.

And I went to the battle with all at length,
When my weakness had passed, and I gat full strength;
And alone with three thousands the fight I fought,
Till death to the foes whom I faced was brought.

I heard Echaid Juil’s groan, as he neared his end,
The sound came to mine ears as from lips of friend;
Yet, if truth must be told, ’twas no valiant deed,
That cast that I threw, if ’twas thrown indeed.

Now, after all these things had passed, Cuchulain slept with the lady, and he abode for a month in her company, and at the end of the month he came to bid her farewell.  “Tell me,” she said, “to what place I may go for our tryst, and I will be there;” and they made tryst at the strand that is known as the Strand of the Yew-Tree’s Head.

Now word was brought to Emer of that tryst, and knives were whetted by Emer to slay the lady; and she came to the place of the tryst, and fifty women were with her.  And there she found, Cuchulain and Laeg, and they were engaged in the chess-play, so that they perceived not the women’s approach.  But Fand marked it, and she cried out to Laeg:  “Look now, O Laeg!” she said, “and mark that sight that I see.”  “What sight is that of which thou speakest?” said Laeg, and he looked and saw it, and thus it was that the lady, even Fand, addressed him: 

Laeg! look behind thee! 
Close to thine ear
Wise, well-ranked women
Press on us near;
Bright on each bosom
Shines the gold clasp;
Knives, with green edges
Whetted, they grasp: 
As for the slaughter chariot chiefs race,
Comes Forgall’s daughter; changed is her face.

“Have no fear,” said Cuchulain, “no foe shalt thou meet;
Enter thou my strong car, with its sunny bright seat: 
I will set thee before me, will guard thee from harm
Against women, from Ulster’s four quarters that swarm: 
Though the daughter of Forgall the war with thee vows,
Though her dear foster-sisters against thee she rouse,
No deed of destruction bold Emer will dare,
Though she rageth against thee, for I will be there.”

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Heroic Romances of Ireland — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.