This is the story of the Auberge de Da Choca, the red branch of the mythology Irish.
Da Choca Hostel
1. After the death of Conchobar, the Ulates held an assembly to decide to whom they would hand over the royal power. Some said they were in favor of Fergus mac Roich being asked to be king. But they had suffered because of Fergus while he was in exile, and they declared that he would not take him as king. Others said that it was Cormac Conlongas, son of Conchobar, who was most suitable to reign over them. Conall Cernach wanted royal power for his foster son, Cuscraid the Stammerer of Macha, (another) son of Conchobar. The Ulates were ready to do battle with each other because of this, and Cuscraid refused to do battle for fear that the Rudraige clans would exterminate each other. Conall Cernach was not present: he blamed his foster son and reproached him for his refusal.
2. Genann Gruaidhsolus (Bright-cheek), son of Cathbad, said: “Now I know the essential elements of a king in Ireland, namely, Cormac Conlongas, son of Conchobar, the noble youth of Ireland and he is endowed with all the gifts, namely, the gift of physical appearance and courage and hospitality and truth, and so of following. It was to him, moreover, that Conchobar, while awaiting death, ordered choba let the kingship be given, for Cormac was the eldest of his sons, and he is the closest foster son of Fergus who will never despoil us if it (the kingship) goes to Cormac. »
3. And the Ulates approved of Genann's words.
4. Then they sent emissaries to Cormac in the province of Connaught, to bring him back to them to be crowned - Genann Brightcheek, son of Cathbad, Amorgen the Poet, Imbrinn son of Cathbad, and Uathechtach son of Feradach. So the troop of chariots set out until they reached Cruachan. Ailill and Medb, and Fergus with them, were present, and they welcomed them. Medb asked for their news. Then they announced that they had come for Cormac, to make him king in place of his father.
4. A messenger was sent to Cormac, who was (then) hunting Sid Nenta on the water. Cormac came to Cruachan, and Medb welcomed him. “It would be up to you,” she said, “to respond for our benefit. you asked for the generous benefit of our food and clothing. You are one of our foster children. You were treated hospitably when you came to us. »
“I will be of use to you,” said Cormac. “No request will be refused by us. It will be a joy for us to grant it to you. »
5. Genann told Cormac why he had come. So a messenger was sent by Cormac to his people who were stationed in Connaught, and they quickly came to him from Irrus Domnann and outlying areas of Connaught, both women and men and boys.
6. Now here are the prohibitions of Cormac, namely: a geis to listen to the harp of Craiphtine: a geis to pursue the birds of Mag da ceo: a geis to put his horses under a yoke of ash, a geis to swim with the birds of Loch Lo: a geis to have an appointment with a woman in Sen-ath Mor: a geis to hunt the beasts of the hills of Mag Sainb: a geis to cross the Shannon on dry foot and visit the Auberge de Da Choca2.
And these were Cormac's interdicts, which Cathbad the druid had placed on him the night he was born.
7. The next day, Cormac left Cruachan to go his way. Three hundred warriors were with him, besides the women and the boys and the dogs and the servants.
8. Leaving Cruachan, Cormac formed his people into three troops. The first of these troops wore blue blouses (with forked sleeves), with silver brooches, and short capes, and they had short kilts down to the knees, and in the hand of each man a spear powerful. They carried banded and speckled shields, and swords with pointed hilts.
9. The second troop had laced shirts directly to the skin. They wore beautiful speckled (?) blouses, with white bronze brooches. Their hair was in manes. They had shining shields and five-barbed javelins, and shining swords with ivory hilts.
10. The third troop, then, wore hooded shirts and tunics of satin thread. She carried huge brown shields. Swords with *** on their belts. An eight-edged javelin in every man's hand. They wore purple cloaks, five folds, with silver and gold brooches. In the very middle of this group was a warrior, blond, with long braids, a strong and powerful guardian, with the noise of a king and the clamor of an army, it was Cormac himself.
11. At the same time, the druids predicted misfortunes and announced bad omens to Cormac. They declared that the journey would not be easy or quick. Thus the prohibitions of Cormac were violated on this (same) day, namely, his dogs hunted on Mag Sainb, – and he pursued the birds of Mag da cheo – today (called) Loch na n-én “the Lough of the birds » .
12. Moreover, Craiphtine the harpist went to him, and played his harp to put an end to his reign and his life because Craiphtine's wife, Scenb, daughter of Scethern, the druid of the province of Connaught, was Cormac's lover. It was this Scenb who had the three meetings with Cormac at Athlone, and it was she who planted the trees of Athlone, namely, Pain and Darkness, and Mute. And Olur and Meith and Miscais were their names, of this she said:
The names of the woods – desire for good news – (are) Sadness and Darkness and Mute. Around the
large plain, they lead their race, Olar, Meith and Miscais ("Smoothness, Fat and Hate").
13. Afterwards they went through the forest. The yoke of Cormac's chariot broke at this point, so that it is now called "The Yoke Wood." » Then, an ash yoke was adapted to his chariot.
14. Thereafter, they advanced into the Maine district Fer da giall ("the man of two hostages") until they reached Lough Lo. Cormac entered the Lough and swam with the lake birds. There it was revealed to Craiphtine that they were on the bank, swimming with the birds of Lough Lo. Then Craiphtine transformed three times fifty young men into the form of birds, with a poisonous charm in their wings, and they came to the surface of Lough Lo, and beat their wings on the armies. Thereafter, they slept beside the lake, waiting for their people, until Scenb came to them in the guise of a hawk, and killed all the birds except one.
15. Then they went to Druim Airthir, which is now called The Garman, on the edge of Athlone. Then they unhitched their chariots. As they stood there, they saw a red woman on the edge of the ford, washing her chariot and her cushions and her harness. When she lowered her hand, the river bed turned red with blood. But when she raised her hand above the bank of the river, not a drop remained there, but she raised it high, so that they crossed the bed of the river on dry ground.
16. “Very horrible is what the woman is doing!” » said Cormac. “One of you go ask her what she's doing. » Then someone went to ask her what she was doing. And then, standing on one foot, and with one eye closed, she sang to them, saying:
“I wash the harness of a king who will perish” etc.
17. The messenger came to Cormac and told him the bad prophecy that Badb had made for him. “Apparently this is a cause of great misfortune to come,” said Cormac. Then Cormac went to the edge of the ford to speak with her, and asked her whose harness it was that she was washing. And then he pronounced the lay:
“O woman. Which harness do you wash? »Etc.
The Badb.
"This harness is yours, O Cormac,
And the harness of your trusted men ”, etc.
18. "Bad are the omens you ask for us". said Cormac. "You sing for us in a sinister way."
19. When they were there, they saw a young woman, beautiful and beautiful in appearance, coming towards them. A light green coat around her. On the coat, a precious brooch on his chest. A shiny hooded blouse, woven with gold, on the skin. Two pointed sandals of white bronze between his feet and the earth. An ornate scarf on the head. She sat down next to Cormac, and Cormac welcomed her.
20. “Have you come to travel with me, O young woman? » said Cormac. “No,” replied the young woman, “and I wish you had not gone, for the destruction of your life has come.” Sinister is the man who came to you this morning, Craiphtine the harpist, when he played his harp for you. This is why he came, to violate your prohibitions, so that your life will be short, and that we will never be reunited again. I came this time, because from now on we won't see each other again. » Then she spoke as follows:
If it is you, oh Cormac, etc.
21. Then the young woman left them, and bade them farewell, and sang this:
"Prohibitions will come to me", etc.
22. Cormac slept a little while at the end of the ford, and a terrible vision was shown to him. Then Cormac woke up.
23. It was then that a group of Connacians set up camp at Mag Derg after a destructive raid in part of Ulster. Those who were there were Sanb, son of Cet, son of Maga, and Bairenn Brecc, son of Cet, and Dub and Coibden Cuindsclech, two sons of Lamfota and the brothers of Lonfiach and Maine Athremail, sons of Ailill and Medb and Garman Gablec , son of Daman and Buidech, daughter of Forgemen, the warrior, and Eochaid Becc, son of Eochaid Ronn, king of the Fir-craibe, that is to say king of one of the three Connaughts, and an immense army with them.
24. The Ulates said to Cormac: “It is not good for us,” they said, “that the women of the Ulates and their cows should be taken by strangers in our presence, without us fighting for them. »
25. “We must not,” replied Cormac, “outrage Medb or his people, for the country was not destroyed in an attack against us. »
"Woe," said Dubthach, "to him who goes before the Ulates to take their kingship, and who lets them be destroyed by natural enemies!" because the Connaught tribes are not really friends. "
“So let’s go!” » said the wicked and the ravagers.
"We are going," said the wicked, "whether Cormac comes against us or with us. "
26. So the Ulates stood and raised their battle banners, and marched towards Mag Deirg against the demolishers of the plain of Derg, namely Derg Dolair of the Fomoré, who had fallen there by the hand of the Tuatha Dé Danann to meet the battle of Mag Tuired: therefore, from him it was called Mag Deirg. These are the warlords who were with Cormac, namely Illann the Fair and Fiachra the One-eyed, two sons of Fergus: Amorgen the poet: Uathechtach, son of Feradach: three sons of Traiglethan, namely Siduath, Cuirrech and Carman: nine sons of Scel, namely, three Flanns, three Finds, three Conns, three Faelans: three sons of Niall: three Collas: three sons of Sithgal, Luan and Iliach and Eochaid: two sons of Suamach, son of Samguba, two of the brothers- Cormac milk. Nine comrades of Cormac were there, namely, three Dunguses, three Doelguses, three Donnguses, and Dubthach the Dung Beetle of the Ulates and his two sons, namely, the two Ons. And nine sons of the son of Etirscél. Find, Eochaid, Illann, the three pipers. Two Aeds and two Fergnes, the four horn players. Drec and Drobel and Athirne, the three druids. Find and Eruath and Faithemain, the three stewards. Three uchletechs, Uait and Muit and Aislinge. Aed and Eochaid, two sons of Bricriu. And Ilgablach. And Caindlech, daughter of Gaimgelta, foster mother of Cormac. And Caindlech, daughter of Sarba, wife of Dubthach. Cacht le Sanglant, son of Ilguine.
27. They marched on dry ground by the Ford of Luan (Athlone) straight towards the east against the other force, and the two armies met, they engaged in a bitter and severe fight. Each of them begins to cut and wound and strike the other. This fight was a... of unknown people and an attack of enemies against enemies. In the end, by killing and beating each other, the battle was won over the men of Connaught.
28. There fell from the hand of Dubthach and Illann, sons of Fergus, Dub and Coibden Cuindsclech, two sons of Lamfota, two brothers of Lonfiach in Cruach Duib, wherefore it is (now) called Duib-thir and Coibden shot. Bairenn Brecc, son of Cet, was killed by Fiacha, son of Fer Febe, at Mag Bairenn, which is why the plain is called by that name. Then Garman Gaiblech, son of Daman, butler of Medb and Ailill, was killed by Cormac Conlongas in the corner on this side of the ford, from which he is called Garman angle: Its name had been Druim n-Airthir until then. Then Ercail, son of Condair, was slain by the elder Flann, whence it (the road on which he was slain) is called Slige Ercail, and Flann died on Tulach Flainn ("Flann's Hill"). Uathechtach, son of Feradach, was killed during the response by Sanb, son of Cet, son of Maga, and by Maine Athremail son of Ailill and Medb: whence the plain (on which he fell) is called Mag n- Uatha. "Mag nDeirg" had been his name since the Battle of Mag Tuired and from the time of the Tuatha Dé Danann until this battle. Mag n-Uatha was his name from this battle until the time of Columb Cille. “Mag n-Ura” was its name when Columb Cille destroyed the mold there (to go) of Saint Ciaran mac in tsair, to expel the demons found there. Caindlech, daughter of Gaimgelta, the warrior, foster mother of Cormac, fell to Caindlech Brake, by the hand of Maine, the son of Ailill and Medb. Luan, son of Suanach, was killed at Ath Luain (Athlone), so that the name of the ford comes from him. Buidech, daughter of Forgemen, killed Luan. Likewise Illann the Fair and Illann the Brown, twins that Camall, daughter of Maga, gave to Eochaid Ronn, were killed on the ford. This is why the river is called na hEmain (the Twins), because "the Twins" is the name by which they were named.
29. After this the Ulates gathered together in one place. “Bad are your actions against Ailill and Medb,” said Lonfiach, son of Lamfota, “to kill their people! The acts you committed against them will be committed against you. » “These (are) threats from you, slave! ", said Dubthach, striking him with his spear. Then Lonfiach went away from them, in anger and hostility, to Ailill and Medb.
30. So the Ulates, after their victory, continued towards their country. They were discussing where they should sleep, because it was the end of the day, and they were exhausted and hurt.
“Let us stay here,” they said, “in the house of Da Choca the blacksmith and his wife Luath, daughter of Lumm Lond, in Sliab Malonn. "
“We will not stay,” said Amorgen, “near our enemies after having done (them) harm,” for the district in which Da Choca resided belonged to Medb and Ailill, namely, the district of Fir Malonn. “We will move forward and go to our own district. »
"We don't care whether it's at night. They are powerful, the acts of Medb. None of her enemies should neglect her. "
“We are not afraid,” said Dubthach, “that she will come upon us without warning, while Fergus is to the west, behind us. »
“It is easy to escape the man you mention,” said Illann son of Fergus, “for his discernment is weak. »
31. So they decided to stop at Da Choca's house. There, therefore, they went. It was one of the six Royal Inns of Erin in its time, namely Bruiden Da Choca on Sliab Malonn. Each Inn was generally at the crossroads (?) of four roads. Whoever was there was only given one stroke of their meat fork (into the cauldron), and each person received only their own suitable food. Each Inn was an asylum for “red hands” [see Welsh llawrudd, murderer].
32. Da Choca entered the house, accompanied by his fifty apprentices, and his wife, Luath herself, daughter of Lumm Lond. They welcomed Cormac and his army. So they (all) took their seats in the house.
33. Now, while they were there, they saw coming towards them towards the Inn, a woman covered with soot, with a large mouth, swarthy, agile, and she was limping and crossed her left eye. She wore a threadbare (?) and very dark coat. As dark as the back of a kite were all his joints from his head to his feet. Her gray, net-covered hair was swept back over her shoulder. She leaned her shoulder against the doorpost, and began to prophesy misfortune to the army, and to mutter evil words, so that she said this:
Sad they will be at the Inn: the bodies will be dismembered in blood,
Bodies will be headless, on the land of the Da Choca Inn.
34. Then the Badb left them, and…
35. There was news from the northern Ulates. They thought their envoys were delayed, while Cormac was far from them. So they sent large parties south to Cruachu to meet Cormac and urge him to come and be made king. They were told that Cormac and his people had gone in the opposite direction to Sen-oth mor ("the great old ford"). So they followed them at full speed to Sen-Ath and Mag Deirge. There they saw the battlefield. “Truly,” they said, “this is the trail of the tip of Cormac’s sword.” » Then they went ahead directly to the Inn.
36. Now let us speak of Cormac and his people in the Inn.
They had not been there long after the Badb's prophecy of misfortune for them, and they were somber, in tears, sad, when they heard Genann speak to them, from the entrance to the Inn: "I see warriors come directly to Mag Deirg, from the west, and it seems to me that they are all Ulates. » Pride and joy rose in the minds of Cormac and his people when they saw their heroes and warriors coming towards them at the door of the Inn.
37. Then the Ulates entered the Inn, and each took his place on the beds, according to their custom, that is, no inferior in place of a superior. Amorgen sat in the champion seat to Cormac's right. Cacht sat down at the foot of the doorframe facing him on the other side. Fiacha, son of Fer aba, sat on the champion's seat, on the side of the king's beautiful left hand. Fiacha Caech, son of Fergus, sat down near the other doorframe. Illand the fair, son of Fergus, on Cormac's right, and Dubthach on his left. Each man then sat down as he was permitted to do so by reason of his father and grandfather.
38. Now concerning Lonfiach. Here is what it says here
He went to the place where Ailill and Medb were, and told them (his) news. They therefore consulted the Connacians in an assembly as to what they should do. Medb declared: “Fergus will be cajoled by me, and he will be kept here, and the Connacians will pursue Cormac and bring the house down on him, wherever he sleeps tonight. “
39. Then Medb began to take Cormac away from Fergus, saying: "It would be easy for you to crown the son of the man who banished you from your country, (and to see the son) whom he begot, to your place, with Nes [Cormac was the son of Nes, formerly the wife of Fergus, by his own son Conchobar.] crowned in your presence! »
40. So Fergus consented to attack Cormac.
41. The sons of Maga the [Cormac] pursued, including Cet, and Aille Ard-agach, and Eochaid Becc, son of Eochaid Ronn, and Maine Intogaid, son of Maine Morgar, and Maine, son of Cet, and Mog Corb , son of Conor Sourcils-Rouges, son of Find mac Rosa. Ten hundred heroes was their number. Lonfiach also preceded them to guide them. Not one of them was without a shield, nor a hand without a spear, nor a belt without a sword.
42. Then Suamach son of Samguba, the shanachie and nurturer of Cormac Conlongas, sang these verses, prophesying to them all that would happen to them, for he was a soothsayer and a man of great learning. And he says this:
Woe to him who trusts... afterward
after Loinfiach son of Lamfota, etc.
43. So the armies went to the Inn, and sat down by it, waiting. Then they sent spies, Mog Corb, namely, and Corb Gaille, to the Inn, and afterward, these returned to their people, and gave them their news, what kind of people and what behavior they had observed.
44. “We reached,” explained Mog Corb, “a huge palace with angry, furious people inside wearing various and wonderful clothes, and beautiful foreign shields, sharp javelins and heavy swords *** . Some of the men have blond hair in a disheveled mane towards the back, others have their hair tied up tightly, and others have their hair stuck up in circles. »
“We know these,” said Lonfiach: “the king's suite and his warriors. Woe to him who attacks them! Woe to him who must attack them! They will leave many warriors in a litter of blood, defending their lord. "
45. “Then we came to another house on the top of the hill. Women with shiny limbs and hyacinth eyes are found in this house, wearing various clothes, of various colors, red and blue and green. Noble crowned boys are there, and dogs on leashes, and musicians and singers and players (?). From the *** of all the roads, a multitude comes to find the house. We didn't see any warriors or soldiers nearby. »
“These also we know,” says Lonfiach: “namely, the following of the king and the queen, Nem, daughter of Celtchar, son of Uthechar. And their blood would be boldly defended in this house, ”says Lonfiach.
46. “We have reached another house,” explained Mog Corb, “which lies below this one on the slope of the hill. It is occupied by lords and strong men and sons of kings and great princes and nobles, beautiful and dazzling. Although there is not a great light or royal torches inside, there is enough sparkle from the various garments and multiple decorated brooches, and golden shields, and wire-encrusted swords. gold, and groups of princes and great lords who are in the house. I could not recognize Cormac himself, unless he was the one at the center post of the house, namely, a tall, noble-faced man, with a shining eye in his head. he has regular teeth. A face wide at the top, narrow at the bottom. He has long, golden flaxen blond hair. He has a long, two-pointed beard, ***. He wears a purple robe with a silver brooch. A hilt sword is in his hand. Royal is his appearance, and he possesses the exuberance of a great king. »
“This one, then,” said Loinfiach, “is Cormac, according to his portrait. "
47. So the ravagers sat down, waiting until the night was over to sack, that is, to destroy the Inn.
48. While the people of the Inn were thoughtful, Amorgen slept for a little while. This is what appeared to him in his sleep – the Connacians destroying the Inn on top of them, and each slaughtering the others around it. His sleep interrupted, he woke up in horror. “Be quiet for a moment,” said Cormac: “What is it?” » Then Amorgen said: “The dull roar of hero fights, etc.
49. “Arise, O men! » said Amorgen. “Each of you have your weapons ready, for enemies are coming to attack you. » There was little time for these reflections until the army came outside and made three circuits around the house. They raise their war cry. “What we feared has happened,” Amorgen said. “They will receive their answer here among us,” said Cormac: “We have warriors for them. »
50. Then Suamach, son of Samguba, came eastward seeking the expedition, in order to warn his foster-son (Cormac), and he reached Tulach Dér ("the hill of tears"), i.e. tell of the tears of blood that the Dagda had shed there, upon hearing the news (of the death) of his son Cermait: this is why it is called “Hill of Tears”. Now when Suamach saw the flame of destruction inflicted on his foster son, he could not endure it, and his heart broke. That is why from that time until now this hill is called Druim Suamaig (“The Ridge of Suamach”).
51. The men besieged the house where Cormac was, and fires were lit against the palace. When Lonfiach saw this, he repented of having brought enemies to attack his foster brother. So he entered the palace thinking of leading the battle with Cormac. But Dubthach struck him with his sword [W. Stokes says claymore], and cut off his head. Thus, this was the first fatal blow to the Inn.
52. Then fires were lit in different places in the Inn. Fergna, son of Finnchonna, rushed forward and killed fifty men, armed and prepared for battle, and he put out the fires, and drove the army beyond the ridges, and he returned without a wound to the Inn.
But the army returned to the Inn, and lit the fires. Then Fiacha, son of Aba Iron, rose up and choked the hearths, and killed a hundred warriors, and drove away the army.
Once again the troops returned, and lit four huge fires against the Inn, one fire in different places and on each side of it. Then Dubthach went out and put out the hearths, and fiercely and mercilessly drove out the troops, and killed a hundred of them, and then returned to the Inn.
At five places in the Inn the enemies lit fires. Then Illann the Fair, son of Fergus, sprang forth and quenched the hearths, and slew a hundred warriors, and brought them back to the ridges. [§ in H.1.17]
53. But Lugaid Redhand came, and took a great battle-stone upon his shoulder, and cast it upon Illann son of Fergus, and left him lifeless. Fiacha, son of Fer Feibe, took the stone on his shoulder. “He’s a bundle of heroes!” " said Amorgen, "and the shame will fall on them. » Fiacha threw the stone at Lugaid, so that he... lifeless. Then Cet took the stone and threw it into the Inn, and killed a man with it. But Fiachra Caech, son of Fergus, took hold of the stone and with it he killed a man outside.
54. However it was, seven [men] were killed by her outside and seven inside. Dubthach threw it out over the Inn, so that it is the stone that is now in the well of Cell Lasra – this Royal Inn is now Cell Lasra – for at that time there was no inn royal without water [to pass] through it or water near it.
55. It was from this stone that Amorgen sang these words:
The bundle of Fiachna, the shame of a hero, etc.
Of her it was also sung:
The stone at the bottom of the Inn
is a stone that left troops (lifeless).
Lugaid Redhand threw it at Illann, son of Fergus.
Fiachna threw it at Lugaid,
he...the hero in a litter of blood:
two heptads of heroes... were killed by this stone.
56. Then one of the troops attacked the other outside. “It is better for us to go out, O warriors! said Cormac, "so we can take the melee outside." » Whereupon he uttered these words as he went into battle:
“A terrible cry is the cry of the Inn, etc.
57. Then they burst out of the Inn, and broke down its sides and its heroic doors before them; they formed strong phalanxes in battle, after the gathering of their people, from all sides. And they fought a bitter and hard fight, so that there were mortuary layers of heroes in the middle, and the blood reached their belts on both sides.
58. Cormac found a piece of stone under his feet, and struck Mog Corb with it, so that he broke his shield, and threw him to the ground - and this is the stone which is now in the well in the middle of the Inn. he had not finished getting up when Cormac and Cacht, sons of Ilguine, came to him and killed him. Then, wherever a worthy champion engaged, he made a breach in the brilliant and vehement battle, so that afterwards they were all scattered and scattered one by another. Each of them followed his...into the battle on both sides.
59. Eochaid Becc, son of Eochaid Ronn, king of Fir Craibe and Maine Antacaid, son of Maine Morgor found themselves far from the battle, and they fell on the hill of Triumph by the hand of Cacht son of Ilguine, and that of Cormac Conlongas, due to fatigue from combat. So that their graves are still on the hill, and it is called Hill of Becc, named after Eochaid Becc, son of Eochaid Ronn.
60. They returned victorious to the Inn. But few were present, after their massacre, on the Auberge meadow. The two Ons, that is to say the two sons of Dubthach, were at the ford. Each of them had killed nine men in the massacre. This is why it is called “the ford of the Ons” to the east of the Auberge. Clartha Cloen fell from the hand of Cet, son of Maga, at Clartha – and from him comes the name of the hill. Boccan was killed by Amorgen – and from him comes the name Ard mBoccain in Crich Malonn. Len died in Loch Lein at Bodamair. In addition, Crech Soindim and Crech Doindim were shot down on “les Hauts des Crechs”. Giabach Cetroeach fell from the hand of Dubthach – after whom the “Cliabach Ridge” is named. Én, son of Maga, fell at the “Ford of Én” by the hand of Fiachu, son of Fer Febe. Fidach, son of Én, fell at the “Ford of the Réduit de Fidach”. Caindlech, daughter of Uarb, wife of Dubthach, fell at Caindlech. Buidech, daughter of Forgemen, came across the “Buidech Lawn”.
61. Then a fight arose, namely, Cormac Conlongas, and Dubthach, and Amorgen and Cacht, sons of Ilguine, on the one side, against Cet and Ailill Ardagach his brother, and Maine, son of Cet, and Buanann, son of Daman, on the other side. Buanann perishes by the hand of Dubthach. Maine fell before Amorgen. Together fell (in a duel) Cacht, son of Ilguine, and Ailill Ardagach. Corb Gaillne approached Cormac Conlongas in the fight, and Cormac fell from his and Cet's hand. Here is what the book of Druim Snechta declares: that he beheaded Cormac, and that Anlon, son of Doiche, son of Maga, took the head to Athlone; of this it was said:
When the two Ons were killed in the Inn by the troops, etc.
62. Others state that Amorgen prevented the beheading, and took Cet away from Cormac, and wounded him three times. However, it is the other version which is found in the books.
63. Then Da Choca was killed in the Inn. But his wife Luath, daughter of Lumm Lond, went to Lough Luath, and
a stream of blood gushed from his heart into his chest, so that Loch Luatha was named after him.
64. Moreover, of the thousand Connaciens who came, only five escaped. Of the three hundred Ulates, only three escaped – Amorgen the poet, and Dubthach, and Fiacha, son of Fer Febe. Imrind, son of Cathbad, had fled before evening, before the massacre.
65. Amorgen made the tomb and the mound of the king: therefore the place is called Cluain Duma "The Lawn of the Tertre". Amorgen was in great sorrow for the king, and proclaimed his qualities, and he said:
Great is the pain of the Ulates
after the destruction of their royal champion
in unfair combat, etc.
66. Of these tragic deaths at the Inn, this was sung:
Cormac was killed in the Inn,
and Illann the Beautiful in the blood, etc.
67. Regarding Fergus, this is what is told.
While he remained there in Cruachu behind everyone, his servant, Ergarb, came to him and told him of the march of the Maine and the sons of Maga in pursuit of Cormac and his people, to destroy their house on them, wherever they would sleep. Fergus then seized his horses and harnessed his chariot, and he advanced with the army, to stop the slaughter.
68. In this he had no profit, for he found before him no survivor at the Inn except Amorgen and Dubthach and Fiacha, and they were red with blood and wounds.
69. Then Fergus wept and made a great lamentation over his (dead) foster-son, and struck his palms together, and he shed tears of blood. After this he made a quick tour of the battlefield, and found there the bodies of his household and his friends and his comrades and his foster-children. There was enough unhappiness in looking at him, because of the pain he showed (going) from one corpse to another. As he contemplated Cormac in his litter of blood, he did not feel the death of his (own) sons. And he says:
Sad it was to my red blood, etc.
70. Then Fergus, having gone round the battlefield, came to the place where Amorgen and Dubthach and Fiacha were, and he calmed and praised them, because (seeing them bloody and mutilated) fear and fear l had seized in front of them. That is why he said this – and he was sad, miserable, plaintive while conversing with them, and Amorgen answered him.
Fergus: Ah! My heart is a prison of blood:
my fire and my strength have deserted him, etc.
71. Amorgen says:
"Me and Cacht in valiant deeds
We struck a daring blow
in bloody combat ”, etc.
72. Here then, so far, are some of their deeds and gestures. And Da Choca Inn is that tale above.
