Bricriu's Feast

Here is the story of the Bricriu Feast of the red branch of the mythology Irish.

Bricriu's Feast

A. - Piece of the hero to Emain-Macha.

1. A great feast was offered to the king of Ulster Conchobar, son of Ness, and to all the Ulates [or inhabitants of Ulster], by Bricriu, called "poison-tongued." Bricriu spent an entire year preparing this feast. He built a beautiful house to serve as a dining hall. He had it built in the fortress of Rudraige, in imitation of the royal palace of Conchobar at Emain-Macha [capital of Ulster], but the new building was superior to any other of that time, both in the quality of the materials than by the talent of the architect, by the finesse of the work of the pillars and the facade, by the brilliance, the price, the artistic value, the celebrity of the sculptures and the portico.

2. The dining room was laid out like that of the supreme king in Tara, capital of Ireland. There were nine beds from the hearth to the wall. Each of the facades was thirty-five feet high; they were covered with gilded bronze ornaments. Against one of the facades of this palace stood a royal bed intended for Conchobar, king of Ulster; this bed dominated all the others; it was decorated with precious stones, carbuncles and the like, of great value. The gold, the silver, the carbuncles, the precious stones of all origins which covered this bed had such brilliance that it was as brilliant at night as by day. Twelve other beds were then erected around him, intended for the twelve principal warriors of Ulster. As much as this furniture was remarkable, so were the materials used in the construction of the building. It had taken a wagon to bring every beam and seven of the strongest men in Ireland to put every joist in place; thirty carpenters of the best carpenters in Ireland supervised the work.

3. Above was built an upper room for Bricriu himself. It had the same elevation as the beds of Conchobar, King of Ulster, and warriors. Decorated with particularly admirable ornaments, it had a glazed window on each side. Above the bed intended for Bricriu, a window was placed in such a way as to give Bricriu a view from his bed of the great hall, for he knew that the Ulates would not let him enter this hall.

4. When Bricriu had finished building his big house and his upper room, when he had finished gathering what was needed for the feast, first as bed covers, striped fabrics, quilts, pillows, then as drink and victuals, when he lacked nothing more, neither furniture, nor food, he left and went to Emain-Macha to find Conchobar and the nobles, gathered around this king.

5. Precisely on this day there was a solemn assembly of the Ulates at Emain-Macha. They welcomed Bricriu and he sat down next to Conchobar. He spoke to Conchobar and the rest of the Ulates: "Come to my house, you will make a meal there" which I offer you. "I accept," answered Conchobar, "if the Ulates consent." Fergus, son of Roeg, and the other Ulster nobles replied, "We will not go, for if we went to the meal to which we are invited, Bricriu would cause quarrels between us, and among us the number of dead would be greater than that of the living. »

6. “What I will do to you will be worse,” said Bricriu, “if you don't come to my house. — "So what will you do?" asked Conchobar, "if the Ulates don't come to you." — "What I will do!" replied Bricriu, “I will stir up quarrels between kings, chiefs, illustrious warriors, young lords; they will kill each other if they do not come to my house to drink the beer of my feast. "We will not kill ourselves because of you," answered Conchobar. Bricriu resumed: “I will put the estrangement between the sons and the fathers, they will kill each other; if I fail to bring you to my house, I will sow discord between daughters and mothers; if I fail to bring you to my house, I will cause dissension between the two breasts of each woman, their breasts will crush against each other, they will rot, they will perish. “Really,” said Fergus, son of Roeg, “it is better to go. "Put the matter under advisement," said [the Druid] Sencha, son of Ailill, whom a few chiefs are considering whether it is proper to accept the invitation. — "It would be wrong," added Conchobar, "not to study the matter in council." »

7. The noble Ulates went to discuss together. The conclusion of the discussion was to adopt Sencha's opinion. " Well! said Sencha, 'since you must go to Bricriu, choose sureties who will guarantee his good behavior; place with him eight men armed with swords who will surround him each time he leaves the house, but this surveillance will not begin until he has shown you the preparations for the feast. Furbaide Ferbend, son of Conchobar, went to take this answer to Bricriu and related to him the whole discussion which had preceded the decision. "I'm willing to do so," said Bricriu.

The Ulates therefore set out from Emain-Macha; each battalion surrounded its inferior king, each army corps its superior king, each company its prince. It was pretty, it was admirable the march of warriors and heroes who advanced towards the palace of Bricriu.

8. Bricriu reflected; he wondered how he would manage to prepare a quarrel between the Ulates which would break out when the warriors who guaranteed his good conduct came to watch him. When the light was made in his mind and his reflections had succeeded, he went to the place where Loegairé the winner, son of Connad, son of Ilia, was surrounded by his companions. - " Well ! said Bricriu, "O Loegairé the victor, you who strike so hard in the plain of Bri, you who strike so hard in Midé, bear with the red flame, conqueror of the warriors of Ulster! why wouldn't you always have the hero's piece in Emain? — "If it is to me that the piece of the hero must go," replied Loegaire, "certainly, I shall have it." "I shall cause you to obtain primacy among the warriors of Ireland," said Bricriu, "if you take my advice." "I will follow him," replied Loegaire.

9. “If you have the hero's piece in my house,” Bricriu continued, “you will always have it in Emain-Macha. You will do well to obtain in my house the piece of the hero, this piece of the hero will not be conquered in a madhouse. There is a vat in my house which can hold three of Ulster's heroes after it has been filled with natural wine. There is a seven-year-old pig in my house; Since he was a little pig, nothing has entered his mouth except porridge, milk and soup in spring, curds and fresh milk in summer, nuts and wheat in autumn, meat and stew in winter. There is a seven-year-old cow in my house; since she was a little heifer, neither heather nor bad fodder has entered her mouth; she only ate fresh milk and little green grass. There are a hundred wheat loaves baked in honey in my house; twenty-five sacks of grain were used to make these hundred loaves; for four loaves, one needed a bag. This will be the hero piece in my house,” says Bricriu. "Since you are the best of Ulster's warriors, it is to you that this piece must be given and it is for you that I have desired it." So when the last day's feast is ready, let your coachman get up and it will be to you that the hero's morsel will be brought. — "There will be," answered Loegaire, "there will be men killed that day, or what you make me hope will come true." Bricriu smiled, he was happy.

10. After having inspired Loegairé the conqueror with the desire for a quarrel, Bricriu went to where Conall the triumphant was, surrounded by his companions. “Truly, O Conall the triumphant,” said Bricriu, “it is you who are the warrior of victories and battles. Your battles are greater than those of all the rest of Ulster's warriors. When the Ulates go to the other provinces, you leave three days before them, and you cross the fords and the plains first. Then you're in the back and you protect them on the way back. To reach them, you would have to pass over your body. Why, after that, wouldn't it be you who, still at Emain-Macha, would have the hero's piece? Bricriu had flattered Loegaire. He twice flattered Conall the triumphant.

11. After having succeeded, according to his desire, in arousing the quarrelsome feelings of Conall the triumphant, Bricriu goes where the troop of Cuchulainn was. “Well,” he said, “O Cuchulainn, you victor of battles in the plain of Bri, you who wear your cloak so elegantly on the banks of the Liffey, O beloved son of Emain, favorite of women and girls, it is not in vain that you have been called watchdog of Culann, for you are the pride of the Ulates, it is you who protect them in their great attacks and in their great exploits, you teach each Ulate what his right is. The goal to which none of the Ulates has attained has been attained by you. All the warriors of Ireland recognize the superiority of your courage, bravery and exploits. Why should you leave to another of the Ulates the hero's piece, since, among the men of Ireland, no one is able to dispute it with you? — "I swear it to you," said Cuchulainn, "I swear it by the oath that is taken in my nation, he will be headless whoever comes to dispute with me the piece of the hero." Then Bricriu left, he returned to the midst of his people; he was calm as if he had provoked no quarrel.

12. The Ulates entered the palace of Bricriu; each took possession of his bed there, both king and heir presumptive to the king, both great chief and small chief and young man. Half the hall was occupied by Conchobar with the warriors of Ulster around him, another half by the women of the Ulates, arrayed around Mugain, daughter of Echaid Fedlech, wife of Conchobar.

Conchobar and those around him were in the front part of the house, they were: Fergus, son of Roeg; Celtchar, son of Uthechar, Eogan, son of Durthacht, Fiacha and Fiachaig, both sons of the king; Fergné, son of Findchoim, Fergus, son of Lete; Cuscraid the stutterer of Macha, son of Conchobar; Sencha son of Ailill; Rous, Daré and Imchad, all three sons of Fiacha; Muinremur, son of Gerrgend, Errgé at the horse's lip; Amorgene, son of Ecet; Mend, son of Salchadé; Dubthach the lazy of the Ulates, Feradach the blessed, Fedelmid of many cloaks, Furbaide said the summit of men, Rochad, son of Fathem; Loegaire the conqueror, Conall the triumphant, Cuchulainn, Connad, son of Morne; Erc, son of Fedelmid; Illand, son of Fergus; Fintan, son of Niall, Cetern, son of Fintan, Fachtne, son of Senchaid; Conlé the scythe, Ailill the honey-tongued, Bricriu himself, and the host of other Ulate warriors with their sons and the tradesmen in their service.

13. The musicians played their instruments, the jugglers gave themselves up to their exercises until the time came to announce that the feast was about to begin. Bricriu himself made the announcement of the feast and all its magnificence, then he received the order to leave the room to clear the responsibility of his sureties. The sureties stood up, naked sword in hand, to get him out. Bricriu set off with his people to reach his upper room. As he was leaving, and on leaving the room, he spoke: "Here," he said, "the hero's piece, as it has been prepared, is not the hero's piece of a house crazy. You will give it to the one who seems to you the best of the Ulate warriors. Then he left.

14. The servants in charge of doing the portions rise to perform their duties. But then Sedlang, son of Riangabair, charioteer of Loegairé the victor, also rises: “Give,” he says, “the hero's morsel to Loegairé the victor, for he has a right of preference over all the other Ulate warriors. Id, son of Riangabair, coachman of Conall the triumphant, also rises and claims, in the same terms, the hero's morsel for his master. Loeg, son of Riangabair, coachman of Cuchulainn, does the same: “Give,” he says, “the hero's morsel to Cuchulainn; for the Ulates there will be no shame in ceding it to him, for he is their best warrior. — "That is not true," cried Conall the triumphant and Loegairé the conqueror.

15. The three warriors rise, seize their shields, draw their swords, engage in combat; in one half of the palace one would have thought that the sky was on fire, so gleamed the swords and the sharp points of the javelins! In the other half of the room, the shields, whitewashed, cast reflections similar to those of a flock of white birds. The palace resounded with the sound of arms, the warriors witnessing this struggle trembled; King Conchobar and Fergus, son of Roeg, were seized with anger on seeing the unworthy and unjust conduct of two of the combatants who had united against one: Conall the triumphant and Loégairé the conqueror against Cúchulainn. Among the Ulates no one dared to intervene. Finally, the Druid Sencha said to King Conchobar: “Separate the combatants. At that time Conchobar, among the Ulates, was, in a way, a god on earth.

16. Conchobar and Fergus went to stand between the three warriors. They immediately lowered their weapons: "Accept my decision," said Sencha. “'We accept it,' they replied. “Here is my decision,” resumed Sencha: “we will divide the hero's morsel this night among all the guests, then we will submit the question which divides you to the arbitration of Ailill, son of Maga, king of Connaught; it will be difficult to find a solution among the Ulates if we do not obtain a judgment in Cruachan-Aï, capital of Connaught”

Then came the distribution of food, beer; the brandy circulated among the guests, and their drunkenness and gaiety began. Bricriu was still with the queen his wife in her upper room. From his bed he saw what was going on in the palace; he searched in his mind how he would manage to stir up a quarrel between the women similar to that which he had provoked between the men.

17. While Bricriu's head was thus working, it happened that Fedelm of the nine hearts, wife of Loegairé the victor, left the palace with fifty companions to free her brain, which beer and brandy had weighed down . Bricriu sees her pass: “Things are going well this night,” he said, “O wife of Loegairé the conqueror; it is not out of derision, Fedelm, that you have been nicknamed the nine hearts, you deserve it by the distinction of your beauty, your spirit, your birth. Conchobar, king of one of the five great kingdoms of Ireland, is your father; Loegairé the winner is your husband. According to me, no Ulster woman should have precedence over you in the dining room of the Supreme King of Ireland at Tara; it would be behind your heels that all the women of Ulster should walk. Now if you enter my house first tonight, you will always be queen in the banquet halls from now on, and you will rise above all the women of Ulster. Then Fedelm continued his walk; it stopped three furrows from the palace of Bricriu.

18. After her [with fifty companions] came Lendabair, daughter of Eogan, son of Durthacht, wife of Conall the triumphant. " Well ! Lendabair,” Bricriu told him, “it is not to make fun of you that we gave you your name: Lendabair comes from lendan, in Irish “favorite; » and you are beloved by men all over the world, because of your famous beauty. As much as your husband surpasses all the warriors of the universe by his bravery and by the elegance of his person, you also prevail over the rest of the women of Ulster. As I see it, no Ulster woman should have precedence over you in the dining room of the High King of Ireland at Tara; it would be behind your heels that all the women of Ulster should walk. Now, if you enter my house first this night, it will be you who, henceforth, will always be, in the banqueting halls, the queen, and you will rise above all the women of Ulster. »

He had addressed very exaggerated compliments to Fedelm; he gave twice as much to Lendabair,

19. Thereupon Emer, wife of Cuchulainn, went out accompanied by fifty other women: “Good luck to you, oh Emer, daughter of Forgall the Cunning,” said Bricriu, “oh wife of the best warrior of Ireland! It is not for the effect of a bad joke that they call you Emer with the beautiful hair; kings and royal princes have fought for your hand. As much as the sun outweighs the stars, so far do you surpass other women throughout the world in your beauty, your distinction, your birth, your youth and the brilliance of your complexion, in your illustration, your fame, your education and your eloquence. According to me, no Ulster woman should have precedence over you in the dining room of the Supreme King of Ireland at Tara; it would be behind your heels that all the women of Ulster should walk. Now if you enter my house first tonight, you will always be queen in the banquet halls from now on, and you will rise above all the women of Ulster. He had addressed many flatteries to Fedelm and Lendabair; he gave three times as much to Emer.

20. The three women, each followed by fifty companions, stopped at the same place, three furrows from the palace. None of the three knew what Bricriu had said to the other two to cause a quarrel between them. They set off to reach the palace. In the first furrow, their pretty gait was steady and slow; at each step you could hardly see the advance which the raised foot took over the other. In the second groove, their gentle movement became faster. In the furrow closest to the palace, each wanting to pass the other two, they raised their dresses to the calf, each hoping to enter as soon as possible, since Bricriu had told them each that the one who arrived first would be the queen of the women of 'Ulster. A great noise resulted from the efforts that each [followed by her fifty companions] made to prevail over the other; one would have thought to hear fifty carts; the whole palace trembled; in the palace, the warriors jumped on their weapons to kill each other.

21. “Stop,” Sencha told them, “it is not enemies who have come; but Bricriu caused a quarrel between the women who came out. I swear by my nation's oath that if they are not barred from entering the palace, there will be more dead here than alive. At these words the porters closed the door. But Emer, daughter of Forgall the Cunning, wife of Cuchulainn, went faster than the other women; from her back, she knocked against the door; she made the porters step back in front of the female crowd. Then, in the palace, the husbands rose; each wanted to open the way to his wife and bring her in first. "It will go badly tonight," said King Conchobar. With the silver wand he held in his hand, he struck the bronze post of his bed. "Stop" said Sencha; “here the fight will not be with weapons, it will be with words. Each of the three wives went and placed themselves under the protection of her husband outside the palace, and then began what is called the fight of words between the women of Ulster.

B, — Combat of words between the women of Ulster.

22. Fedelm with nine hearts, wife of Loégairé the victor, sang the following poem:

The mother who bore me was noble, distinguished, of a race as illustrious as my father.
I am the daughter of a king and a queen of remarkable beauty.
Pretty as such a mother's child should be,
I became, with the dignity of Irish nobility, the chaste wife
From Loégairé to the skin of a mouse, to the red hand,
Who performs so many mighty feats on the grasslands of Ulster.
Alone and without the assistance of any of his compatriots, he arrests on the frontiers enemies equal in strength to the whole of Ulster;
He protects, he defends the borders, he kills the enemies.
Loégairé is the greatest, the most famous of the warriors;
He has won more victories than any of the others.
Why shouldn't it be me, Fedelm, the most amiable, the victorious beauty, the triumphant shepherdess.
Who would have precedence over the other women, in Tara, in the palace of the supreme kings where the merry mead circulates?

23. This is what Lendabair sang, daughter of Eogan, son of Durthacht, wife of Conall the triumphant, son of Amorgein:

It's me, smart and skillful woman,
Who must walk, beautiful and slender like a reed.
In the palace of the supreme king, in Tara, in front of the other women of Ulster.
For my husband is the lovable and triumphant Conall in the great chariot,
Conall whose noble and proud step
At the time of the fight exceeds all others.
He is beautiful when he comes back to me, after his victories, bringing the heads of slain enemies,
Until, for Ulster, he returns to face the blows of the hard sword of battle.
……………………………………..
He defends the fords of Ulster, he drives out the enemy.
The tombstone is ready for the warrior
Who dares speak to Conall, son of Amorgein.
Since it is Conall who, by the number of his victories,
Exceed every warrior,
Why wouldn't it be me, Lendabair
With beautiful eyes,
Who would precede all the women in the palace of the kings?

24. Emer, daughter of Forgall the Wise, wife of Cuchulainn, sang in verse the following:

When I walk, one sees intelligence and skill shine on my face;
When I advance victorious, people admire the beauty of each of my features.
Men place a high price on the nobility of my eyes and my face.
[When we looked for a wife for Cûchulainn],
We couldn't find what we needed anywhere: beauty, gentleness and skill,
Finesse, liberality and chastity.
Tender and intelligent wife, as long as no one comes to me.
It is me that all Ulates have desired.
It is I who possess Cuchulainn's heart.
Cuchulainn is not a husband like the others.
Cuchulainn, Culann's dog, is not a vulgar dog:
Drops of blood cover the wood of his spear;
Blood stains his sword.
Her beautiful body is black with blood;
Her beautiful skin is crisscrossed with scars.
He has injuries to the side on his hip.
His so soft eye is beautiful when he sticks it in his head.
He nobly protects the serf.
He has long, red eyes.
All red is his chariot.
The cushion of his chariot is all red.
In combat, it dominates the ears of horses, the breaths of men.
He does many tricks of skill: the warrior leap of the salmon,
The brown trick, the blind trick, the bird trick;
He throws water, goes around the nine men.
He crushes battalions in deadly battles.
He saves the lives of proud armies.
He triumphs over the fear of the ignorant.
He is a man who lies down sick;
It becomes yellow…, it bends;
The cause is a woman whom all Ulates esteemed
Until she took my husband.
………………………..
………………………..
………………………..
All the women of Ulster fought for his heart until he became my husband.

25. Meanwhile, this is what happened. Loegairé and Conall the triumphant, who were in the palace, hearing what the women were saying, started and made a marvelous leap, as befitted heroes; then, breaking a beam of the wall of the palace, opened in this wall a breach as high as themselves. They wanted to give their wives a passage into the room; but Cuchulainn raised an entire side of the house, opposite his bed. so that, below the wall, one could see the sky and the stars outside. His wife was able to pass there with the fifty companions of each of her rivals and with her fifty companions to herself. This solemn entry was, for Cuchulainn's wife, an act of superiority which placed her beyond compare. Then Cuchulainn let the wooden wall which he had raised fall, and it sank into the ground to a depth of seven cubits, and the whole edifice was shaken. Bricriu's upper chamber collapsed. Bricriu himself and the queen his wife fell on the dunghill, in the yard, among the dogs. “Alas! cried Bricriu, "the enemies have come into the castle." Getting up as quickly as possible, he walked around the palace and saw how this building had become lame… They let him enter; no one knew who he was; the manure had soiled it so much!

26. Finally, his way of speaking made him recognized. Without leaving the hall, he spoke to his hosts: “Have I not prepared a feast for you, O Ulates! and now the banquet hall causes me more trouble than all my properties. You are forbidden to drink, eat or sleep until you have restored my building to the condition in which you found it. At these words, all the heroes of Ulster rise and together make an effort to straighten the edifice; but, although with a favorable wind, they could not lift it. " What to do? they wondered. “According to me,” said Sencha, “that does not concern you. Let him who made the house lame, find the means to put it back on its feet. »

27. “It is up to you to straighten the house,” said the Ulates to Cúchulainn. "king of the warriors of Ireland!" cried Bricriu, "if you don't straighten my house, no one in the world will succeed." All the Ulates begged Cu Chulainn to help them out of trouble. Wanting to spare the guests the deprivation of food and drink, Cuchulainn got up and made an effort to lift the building. It was in vain, Fury made him make horrible grimaces, a drop of blood shone at the root of each of his hair; he tore his hair, the top of his forehead seemed bald and his locks of black hair fell as if scissors had cut them; he was burning with anger, his body stretched out so much that the foot of a soldier would have found place between each of his ribs.

28. His servants and worshipers approached him; so he lifted the house, then set it upright, as it was at first. Then the guests quietly ate the feast; in one half of the hall were kings and chiefs, round about the celebrated and admirable Conchobar, great and marvelous king of Ulster; in the other half, the queens: Mugain Aitencaethrech, daughter of Echaid Fedlech, wife of King Conchobar, son of Ness; Fedelm, daughter of Conchobar, said to have nine shapes, because she had nine shapes, one more beautiful than the other, [and wife of Loegairé the conqueror]; Fair-haired Fedelm, daughter of Echaid, wife of Cethernn, son of Fintan, Brig the judicious, wife of Celtchar, son of Uthechar, Findige, daughter of Echaid, wife of Eogan, son of Durthacht; Findchaem, daughter of Cathba, iron-haired wife of Amorgen; Derbforcaill, wife of Lugaid with the red belts, son of the three beaus of Emain, Emer, fair-haired, daughter of Forgall the Cunning, wife of Cuchulainn, son of Sualdam; Lendabair, daughter of Eogain, son of Durthacht, wife of Conall the triumphant; Niab, daughter of Celtchar, son of Uthechar, wife of Cormac Condlongas, son of Conchobar. It would take too long to list the other women and recite their names.

29. A confused noise arose in the room: the three women had begun talking again; there was a rivalry of boast between their husbands as between themselves; the husbands: Conall, Loegairé, Cuchulainn got up to start the fight again. Sencha, son of Ailill, also arose, he waved his wand, all the Ulates fell silent to listen; Sencha to scold the women, sang a poem:

I rebuke you, oh heroines
Brilliant, illustrious, noble of the Ulates.
Stop bragging;
Do not make the faces of men turn pale
In fierce battles,
By the pride of their exploits.
It's the women's fault
Let the shields of men split open;
Let the men go to battle;
May the multitude of great warriors
Struggle, carried away by anger.
Where the power comes from
Of this madness which is usual with them:
They rise up in arms and repair no harm;
They fall and do not get up.
I rebuke you, oh brilliant, illustrious heroines!

30. Emer answered, singing in verse:

“I cannot do otherwise: I am the wife of a handsome hero who, through sustained study, has acquired a great deal of talent. He does the breath trick, the apple trick, the grimacing demon trick, the worm trick, the cat trick, the valiant warrior's red whirl, the bagged javelin trick, the swift stroke, the muzzle fire, the cry of heroes, the feats of force of the wheel and the edge; it climbs along the rope and over the men's shoulders. »

My husband has not found his equal
Neither for the age, nor for the height, the radiance of the complexion,
The voice, the finesse of the spirit, the birth,
Beauty, eloquence, the art of fighting,
The fire, the victories, the ardor,
Hunting skill, nobility,
Lightness on the run, vigor,
The triumphs over the heroes,
The tour of the nine.
Who then looks like Cûchulainn?

31. “If what you say is true, O woman! said Conall the winner, "let the artist come forward and we'll ask him to show us his talent." » – « No, certainly, answered Cúchulainn, I am tired, broken today; until I have eaten and slept, I will undertake no struggle. Cuchulainn was telling the truth. That day he had tamed one of the two horses he has since hitched to his chariot, the Gris de Macha, on the shore of Lake Gris, on the mountain of Fuat. At the moment when this horse left the lake, Cuchulainn had slipped up to him; he had placed both hands on his neck, and, thus holding the horse between his two hands, he had made himself master of it after a struggle. Cuchulainn, with this horse, had traversed the land of Ireland, and, the same night, he had arrived with this good rider at Emain-Macha. He had [previously], in the same way, tamed the black horse of Merveilleuse-Vallée, near the lake of Merveilleuse-Vallée.

32. Then Cúchulainn said: “I have traveled today, with my gray horse, the great countries of Ireland: Breg, Midé, Muresc, Murthemné, Macha, Mag-Medbé; — Currech, Cleitech, Cerne; — Lia, Liné, Locharné; — Féa, Fémen, Fergné; — Ur-Ros-Domnand, Ros-Roigné; — Anni, Eo. »

“Better sleep than all feats of strength; I'd rather eat than do anything. I swear by the god by which my nation swears, when I am satisfied with food and sleep, a single combat will be for me a game and a pleasure. »

33. It was agreed that the right to the hero's piece would again be questioned. Conchobar and the rest of the great men of Ulster intervened, and this was the decision: "Arise," said the king, "and go to the man who will judge you: it will be Curoi, son of Dare." And he sang the following poem:

ask the man
Who judges each;
The tough son of Daré,
The amiable Curoi,
Who always renders just judgments,
Who condemns liars;
Truly fair man,
Good and very smart.
Hospitable host,
Heroes with a nimble hand.
Great and worthy king!
He will judge your quarrel fairly,
Heroic act that will be asked of him. Ask for it!

ask the man
Who judges each.
The tough son of Daré,
The amiable Curoi!

34. "I accept," said Cuchulainn. "I consent to it," said Loegaire. "Let's go," said Conall. “Let us take horses,” resumed Cuchulainn, “and harness your chariot, O Conall. — "Alas! Conall exclaimed. - Ah! replied Cúchulainn, “everyone knows that your horses are clumsy and slow-stepping; that your yoke is very heavy, that your great chariot raises clods of earth with each of its two wheels; and a track, recognizable for a year, is noticed, by the youth of Ulster, on the roads your chariot follows, O Conall! »

35. “You hear his mockery, O Loegairé! Conall resumed. "Alas," said Loegairé, "don't insult me, don't make me blush," and he sang:

I am a tireless warrior on the fords, in the plains,
And at the moment of battle before the warriors of Ulster.
Don't pretend to take precedence over me, old man!
I used to drive my hitch
Before the heroes, before the warriors in the chariots,
In front of the best tanks of war,
Across perils, obstacles, woods, borders.
The warrior with the best team
Don't run past me.

[Episode I. The Fog and the Giant.]

36. Thereupon, Loégairé harnessed his chariot, he jumped into it and set off, crossing the plain of Deux-Fourches, the sentries' hole, the ford of Fergus' chariot, the ford of the fairy Morrigu; he reached Caerthend in the meadow of the two oxen, the shelter of the forest, at the meeting of the four roads, near Dun Delga, by the scaled plain of the west, in the mountain of Breg. There a heavy, dark, obscure, inconceivable fog enveloped him, he could not continue on his way: "Let's stop here," said Loegairé to his coachman, "let's wait for the fog to dissipate." Loegaire jumped out of his chariot, and his valet put the horses in a nearby meadow.

37. The horses were in the meadow when the valet saw a giant coming towards him; this giant did not look handsome: his head was large, his lips enormous, his eyes as big as bags, his short, hideous teeth, his face wrinkled, his eyebrows like bushes; he was badly built, very ugly, robust, with a stubborn gaze and a rapid gait. He looked proud, gay, panting, very strong, brave to the point of madness, very tall, rude. His head was bald and black, his hair had just been cut with scissors. Instead of a coat, he wore a gray blanket; his tunic came down to his buttocks. Old torn shoes wrapped around his feet. For a club he had, on his back, a big cudgel the size of a millstone.

38. "Whose horses are these?" O valet! he said to the coachman, giving him an irritated look. "The horses of Loegairé are the winners," replied the coachman. “Truly,” replied the giant, “the master and the horses are good. And raising his club over the coachman, he gave him a blow which was felt from ear to heel. The coachman uttered a cry. Loegaire ran to his aid. "Why," he asked, "are you hitting my valet?" "He must not degrade this meadow," replied the giant. "I will avenge him," replied Loegaire. The giant and Loégairé engage in a fight. The giant raises his club and gives Loegairé a blow which hits him from the ear to the hip; by this blow, he deprives him of the strength to hold his arms which fall. Loegairé fled, and he arrived at Emain-Macha without horses, without servants, and without arms.

39. Shortly after, Conall the triumphant, following the same route, arrived in the plain where the magic cloud had appeared to Loegairé. Conall saw the same cloud appear, black, dark, dark. He could no longer distinguish heaven from earth. He jumped out of his chariot. His coachman unhitched the horses and put them in the meadow; after a short time he saw the giant coming towards him. The giant asked him whose servant he was. “I am,” he answered, “servant to Conall the triumphant. "He is a good master," replied the giant, and raising his club, he gave the coachman a blow which struck him from ear to heel. The coachman uttered a cry. Conall ran up. A fight started between him and the giant. The strongest in the game of war was the latter. Conall fled like Loegairé, abandoning his arms, his coachman and his horses, and he arrived alone at Emain-Macha.

40. Cuchulainn took the same route, arrived at the same place, was surprised by the black fog that his two rivals had encountered. He jumped out of his chariot; Loeg, his coachman, led the horses into the meadow; soon the giant appeared and asked Loeg whose servant he was. "I am Cuchulainn's servant," replied Loeg. "You have a 'good master,'" replied the giant, striking him with his club. Loeg uttered a cry. Over there. Cuchulainn ran up, and the fight took place between him and the giant; they hit each other; the giant is defeated, loses his horses and his coachman, Cuchulainn seizes them and takes them away with his adversary's arms; he made a triumphal entry into Emain-Macha, the horses, the coachman and the arms of the giant were so many testimonies which attested to Cuchulainn's victory.

41. "The hero's piece is yours," said Bricriu to Cú Chulainn, and, addressing his two rivals: "After what you have done," he added, "it is clear that you cannot claim to be his equals. — "Your judgment is unjust," they answered: "it is, we know, the friends of the fairies who humiliated and defeated us to take away the piece of the hero, that will not make us abandon our rights." They refused to accept the arbitration of Ulates, Conchobar and Fergus. They wanted to go and ask for the judgment of Cûroi, son of Daré, or that of Ailill and Medb at Cruachan-Aï.

C. — March of the Ulates to go from Emain-Macha to Cruachan-Aï

42. The Ulates, reunited, entered into deliberation. The three heroes, each having the same pride and the same arrogance, the numerous Ulates who surrounded Conchobar were of the opinion that the solution of the question should be sought from Ailill, son of Maga, and from Medb, king and queen of Connaught, in Cruachan-Ai, who would tell whom to give the hero's morsel to, and how to end the women's quarrel.

It was a pretty, beautiful, magnificent spectacle, when the Ulates came to Cruachan. However, Cuchulainn stayed behind to amuse the women of the Ulates. In front of them he circled the nine apples, the nine javelins, and the nine daggers, without mixing the apples, the javelins or the daggers together.

43. Loeg, coachman of Cuchulainn, came to fetch him when he was thus busy: "Unfortunate," he said to him, "what has become of your valor and your bravery?" you lost the hero piece. The Ulates arrived in Cruachan a long time ago. — "Really," replied Cuchulainn, "we no longer thought of it." Harness the horses to the chariot. Loeg obeyed, and off they went. The troop of Ulates had already reached the plain of Breg. But Cuchulainn's race was very fast. From Dun-Rudraigé, his two horses, the Gris de Macha and the Noir de Merveilleuse-Vallée, urged on by the coachman, and dragging the chariot, cross the kingdom of Conchobar, the mount of Fuat, the plain of Breg, so that Cuchulainn's chariot was the third to arrive at Cruachan.

44. A furious race therefore bore towards Cruachan-Ai Conchobar, the lesser kings and the brave warriors of Ulster. As they approached, Cruachan heard such a great noise of arms that the walls shook and the arms which were suspended there fell. The inhabitants of the fortress were so frightened that every warrior in the courtyard of the castle trembled like a reed on the edge of a stream. "Since I possessed the fortress of Cruachan," said Queen Medb, "I have not heard cloudless thunder there [and now it rumbles]. " Findabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, went up into the upper room, above the gate of the castle: " Little mother," she said, " I see a man coming in a chariot across the plain. — 'Depict him,' replied Medb, 'tell me his features, his countenance, his bearing; Say what are the features of the man, the color of the horse, the gait of the chariot. "

45. “Well! said Findabair, “I see the two horses harnessed to the chariot: two horses full of fire, spotted with yellow, both of the same color, of the same conformation, of the same valour, of the same strength in running; they advance with the same rapidity, the same gallop. Their ears look like horns; they have high heads, wild gaiety, pointed, thin mouths, wavy hair, developed foreheads, variegated, slender, broad bodies; they are bold; their mane is curly, their tail curly.

The chariot is made of strips of wood trimmed with wicker, the two wheels are black and firm, the reins beautiful and supple, the drawbars stiff and straight as swords; the body of the chariot is shiny and polished, the yoke curved and very silvery, the two reins intertwined and very yellow.

“In the chariot, I see a warrior with very curly and long hair; her hair is wavy, of three colors, brown on the skin, red as blood in the middle, similar from above to a golden yellow crown: it looks like three circles, each one fitting close together, around his head. He wears a beautiful purple tunic adorned with five bands of gold and silver. I see on its variegated shield many traces of blows and a border of white brass, on its chariot a flag of feathers of birds of the country. »

46. "By this description I recognized this man," said Medb, and she sang verses:

Champion of kings! - Old legislator of victories!
Bobd's Hurricane! - Flame of judgment!
Fire of revenge! - Face of a hero!
Face of a warrior! - Dragon heart!
Cutting edge with increasing victories that will kill us!
Loégairé with the skin of a mouse, with a red hand!
Your sword cuts through lives like the knife that cuts onion skin against the ground!

"I swear by the oath that my nation takes: If it is in anger and to fight that the victor comes to us, Loegairé, our fate for all of us who are at Cruachan will be that of an onion cut by a sharp razor. on the level of the ground, so much will be skilfully directed the battle which it will deliver to us. May we avoid the effects of his displeasure, his strength, his fury by doing his will and appeasing his anger! »

47. “I see another chariot in the plain, oh little” mother! said the girl. “This one is worth no less. "Depict him," answered Medb; “Tell me his features, his countenance, his fit. Say what are the features of the man, the color of the horse, the gait of the chariot. " - " Well ! said Findabair, 'I see one of the horses hitched to the chariot, a bold steed, red as copper, strong, swift, furious, rearing, broad-hoofed, broad-chested; it strikes the ground with strong and triumphant blows through fords, mouths of rivers, buildings, roads, plains, valleys, to stop only after the victory; his race is as rapid as the aerial flight of birds… The other horse is red, with a wide curly forehead, curly hair, ample back; he is slender, wild, long, very strong; he travels the countryside, both the plains and the fields, the climbs and the descents; even in a forest of oaks, its course finds no obstacles.

The chariot is made of strips of wood interlaced with wicker, the two wheels are white and trimmed with copper, the tiller white trimmed with silver, the body very high—I hear it creak; — the rounded yoke has an air of strength and pride; both reins are wavy and very yellow.

In the chariot sits a man with long, curly hair; his face half red, half white, the white side clean and well washed; his coat blue and red as copper, his shield brown and of a beautiful yellow with chiselled border of brass. Shining, red and proud is the color of his hand which seems to be on fire. A flag in the plumage of birds of the country surmounts the copper body of his chariot. »

48. "I recognized the man by his description," said Medb, and she sang verses:

Lion roar!
Savage ardor of fire!
As sharp as a beautiful sharp stone!
He triumphs in the midst of the chariots of war;
He puts mercilessly
Head on Head,
Exploits after exploits,
Combat after combat.
You can see it clearly: what he will hit will not be the speckled fish on the red sand,
If against us the anger of the son of Findchoem is carried away. »

"I swear as my nation swears: as the speckled fish is crushed on the red sand with rods of iron, so we shall be torn to pieces by Conall the Conqueror if he be angry with us. »

49. "I see," said the girl, "another chariot" in the plain. “Depict it for us,” replied Medb; “Tell us his features, his mien, his fit; Say what are the features of the man, the color of the horse, the gait of the chariot. " - " Well! replied the young girl, "I see one of the horses hitched to the chariot, a gray horse, broad-legged, furious, galloping fast and wild, hopping along, long-maned, noisy as thunder, arched mane, high head, wide, ardent chest…, hard and solid hooves; the four of them beat the birds in a race. This horse, while running on the road…, throws sparks of fire which redden while it advances vigorously; the ends of the bridles in its mouth are inflamed. »

50. "The other horse is dark black, its hard head is round, its thin foot, its wide hoof, its victorious strength, its very rapid gait, its curly hair, its broad back... Both cheerful and furious, it has a powerful gait, stamps the feet hard on the ground; his mane is long, his mane is wavy; its long, elegant tail sweeps the ground around it after the race where it fought against the horses in the meadow, then quickly it traverses while jumping the valleys and the plains...

The float is made of woven wicker; his two wheels are very yellow and iron. The drawbar is lined with brass; the hull of the tank tinned, rounded, solid; the arched yoke, well gilded; the two wavy reins, very yellow.

The black chief seated in the chariot is the handsomest of men in Ireland. He wears a beautiful, well-fitting purple tunic. A gold guilloché brooch, above a figure with a woman's breast, closes the opening of this tunic, where the warrior's blow strikes very quickly. I seem to see, at the bottom of his two pupils, eight of those red gems that are taken from the heads of dragons. His two cheeks, at once blue, white and red as blood, throw sparks of fire. He does the warrior salmon leap. From the top of his incomparable war chariot he makes the warlike tour of the nine men.

52. “It is the raindrops that announce the storm. From his description I recognized this man,” said Medb, and she sang verses:

Rumbling of the irritated sea!
Wrath of a sea monster!,
Fire red brand!
Loud wave! Bear as magnificent as a Roman!
Rage of a proud beast!
Noble killing of great combat!
Which crushes the enemy in unequal struggle.
…………………………………………………………
Angry bear who kills (?) A hundred warriors in their chariots,
Who piles up exploits after exploits, head to head!
Sing heartily a triumphal song
In honor of Cuchulainn,
Until he eats the flour from our mill. »

"I swear as my nation swears," said Medb; “If it is in anger that Cúchulainn comes to us, like a mill grinds ten shovelfuls of barley very hard, like this man, alone, will grind us to the ground and to the sun, even though all the warriors of the province of Connaught would surround us to defend us at Cruachan. But let us calm his fury and conciliate his strength. »

53. “And, this time, how do they come? Medb asked Findabair. She answered by singing verses:

Hand to hand,
Elbow to elbow,
Side against side.
Shoulder to shoulder,
Edge to edge.
Stretcher against stretcher,
Axle against axle,
Tank to tank:
This is how they all are, oh tender mother!
The equal speed of victorious horses
Is such that the lightning that shatters pierces the roofs.
The earth is shaking.
Their hooves hit her so heavily.

Medb resumed, also singing verses:

Let us put beautiful naked women in front of them,
With protruding, uncovered, white udders,
With many young girls ready to welcome them.

Open courtyard!
Defenseless castle!
Fresh water tanks!
Beds prepared!
Pure food, abundant!
Good beer, noble, intoxicating!
Part of a warrior!
Hello to the coming fighters!
Sure, they won't kill you. "

54. Thereupon Medb, leaving by the outer gate of the castle, came into the lawn, with her one hundred and fifty maidens bringing three vats of fresh water for the three heroes who preceded the troop of Ulates; they were invited to bathe there to calm their ardor, then they were given the choice either to lodge each in a separate house or to meet all three in the same one. "Separate house for each," said Cuchulainn. Then they were taken to their houses; they found there magnificent beds and the most beautiful of the one hundred and fifty young girls; Findabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, was assigned to Cuchulainn and came to her room.

Then came the rest of the Ulates. Ailill and Medb, surrounded by their people, came to welcome them. "Thank you for your welcome," replied Sencha, son of Ailill.

55. Then the Ulates enter the castle, the palace is delivered to them as it has been described: seven circles and seven bedrooms from the hearth to the wall; bronze facade with carvings of red yew; three bands of bronze in the paneling; oak walls, tiled roof; twelve windows with glazed vents. In the middle of the palace stood the bedroom of Ailill and Medb, surrounded by facades of silver and bands of bronze; Beside the bed and in front of Ailill was the silver rod with which Ailill struck the center post of the palace to scold people. The Ulster warriors marched around the palace from door to door. The musicians played as long as the preparations lasted. The palace was so vast that all the brave warriors of Ulster who came with Conchobar found room there. In Ailill's bedchamber sat Conchobar, Fergus son of Roeg, and nine others of Ulster's brave warriors. Then they were served a great feast: it lasted three days and three nights.

56. After this Ailill asked Conchobar and the Ulates his companions the object of their journey. Sencha explained the affair which had brought them, he told them of the rival pretensions of the three heroes who disputed the hero's piece, the jealous vanity of the women who wanted precedence at the feasts. “Having found, nowhere, anyone bold enough to dare to judge these disputes,” Sencha said in conclusion, “we turn to you. “To take me to judge these heroes,” replied Ailill, “is to make a very ill-advised choice, if not dictated by hatred. “No one,” replied Sencha, “is better able to elucidate these questions than you. “I will need time to examine them,” Ailill resumed. — “[Take it and judge,]” replied Sencha, “we need to preserve the lives of our heroes; their price is great in comparison with what cowards are worth. "Three days and three nights will be enough for me," said Ailill. "There is nothing excessive about this delay, it is agreed," said Sencha.

After that, the Ulates bade farewell; they testified their gratitude to Ailill and Medb wishing them every kind of prosperity, but they cursed Bricriu, who was the cause of their quarrels; then they returned to Ulster, leaving Cruachan Loegairé, Conall and Cúchulainn to await the judgment of Ailill. Every night, each of these three warriors was served the same meal.

[Episode II. The three enchanted cats.]

57. When, the first night, their wager was brought to them, three little cats from Cruachan's cave were let loose to find them. They were three druidic beasts [or, if you prefer, witches]. Conall and Loegairé abandoned their food to these animals and took refuge on the beams of the roof, where they slept until morning. Cuchulainn did not flee before the cat which came to attack him; but, when this beast climbed to his throat to bite him, he struck him on the head with his sword… The cat fell to the ground. But Cuchulainn neither ate nor slept until morning. Only then did the three cats go away and we saw them leave. "This struggle is not, for our judgment, a sufficient basis," said Ailill. "No, certainly," replied Conall and Loegaire, "it's not against beasts that we're fighting, it's against men." »

[Episode III. Judgment of Medb between the three heroes.]

58. Then Ailill went to his chamber; he banged his back against the wall; his mind was uneasy and sadly preoccupied with the decision to be made. For three days and three nights he neither ate nor slept: “Coward that you are,” said Medb to him, “if you do not judge them, I will judge them. "It is for me to judge them," answered Ailill, "and what misfortune for me to have this office!" "It is not difficult to fill, however," replied Medb; “There is between Loégairé and Conall the same difference as between bronze and brass; between Conall the triumphant and Cuchulainn, there is the difference which is between brass and red gold. »

59. Then, after careful consideration, Medb summoned Loegairé: “Hail,” she said to him, “Loegairé the victor; it is to you that we must give the hero's piece; you are, according to us, the king of the warriors of Ireland; you are going to have a bronze cup with a brass bird on its foot. The possession of this precious vase will assure you the piece of the hero; it will be the sign of my judgment; but let no one see my present until, in King Conchobar's banquet hall, the last day of the solemn meal takes place. So when we give away the hero's piece, you'll show your cup to the assembled Ulster greats and you'll have the hero's piece. Among the warriors illustrious by their exploits, none will dispute it to you, because this jewel which you will carry with you is a sign known to all the inhabitants of Ulster. Then Medb gives Loegairé the winner that cup full of natural wine. Before leaving the palace, Loégairé drinks the beverage contained in the cup. "So the hero's feast is yours," said Medb to him; "may you for a hundred years eat it every year in the assembly of Ulster warriors!" »

60. After that, Loegairé says goodbye to Medb. She summons Conall the triumphant to the palace in the same way: “Hail, O Conall the triumphant! she said to him; “it is to you that we must give the piece of the hero; you are, according to us, the king of the warriors of Ireland; you are going to have a brass cup with a golden bird on its foot. Possession of this precious vase will assure him the hero's piece; it will be the sign of my judgment; but let no one see my present until, in King Conchobar's banquet hall, the last day of the solemn meal takes place. So when we give away the hero's piece, you'll show your cup to the assembled Ulster greats and you'll have the hero's piece. Among the warriors illustrious by their exploits, none will dispute it to you, because this jewel which you will carry with you is a sign known to all the inhabitants of Ulster. Then she gave Conall the brass cup full of natural wine. Conall drank this wine immediately, and before dismissing him, Medb made the same wish to him as to Loegairé. "So the hero's feast is yours," said Medb to him; "may you for a hundred years eat it every year in the assembly of Ulster warriors!" »

61. “After that, Conall says goodbye to Medb. Then Ailill and Medb sent for Cuchulainn. "Come speak to the king and queen," said the messenger. Now, Cuchulainn was then busy playing a game of chess with Loeg, son of Riangabair, his coachman. "You call me to make fun of me," he replied; “You'll see if it's a simpleton you're telling your lie to. Thereupon he threw one of his chess pawns to the messenger. The messenger's brain spilled out on the floor. The unfortunate [still took a few steps] and fell dead on the pavement, between Ailill and Medb. “Woe to me! said Medb. “Ordinarily, Cuchulainn kills when he is seized with his demonic fury. She got up, went to find Cúchulainn and put both hands around his neck: "Tell your lies to another," said Cúchulainn. “O admirable son of the Ulates! resumed Medb, 'O torch of Ulster warriors! it is not the lie that pleases us when it is a question of you. Even if the host of Irish warriors should come here in their entirety, it is to you above all that we would give the contested primacy among you; for all the Irish recognize the superiority of glory, of bravery, of your exploits, of your brilliance, of your youth, of your illustration. »

62. Thereupon, Cûchulainn gets up and goes with Medb to the palace. Ailill welcomes him. He is given a red gold cup full of rare wine; there was, on the foot, a bird of precious stone, the two eyes were made of those marvelous stones which are taken from the heads of dragons. Only he received such a beautiful present. “You will have a hero’s feast,” said Medb; “may you eat it every year, for a hundred years, in the presence of all the warriors of Ulster!” » — “To this decision, we add a second,” added Ailill and Medb together: “Since you prevail over all the other warriors of Ulster, it would not be fair for your wife to be the equal of theirs. According to us therefore, it is right that she always has precedence over the other women in the room where you meet to drink. » Then Cûchulainn, after having drunk the precious wine with which the cup was full, bids farewell to the king, the queen and all their people, and he goes to join Loeg. “I have the plan,” said Medb to Ailill, “to keep the three heroes here again the next night, and to put them to new tests. » — “Do as you wish,” replied Ailill. We recall the warriors [who were leaving], we bring them back to Cruachan and we unharness their horses.

63. They are given the choice of food that is suitable for their horses. Conall and Loégairé ask for two-year-old oats for their horses. Cûchulainn chooses barley grain for his people. The three warriors slept in Cruachan that night. The women were divided between the three of them: Findabair and fifty daughters with her in the house of Cûchulainn; Sadb the eloquent, another daughter of Ailill and Medb, and fifty young women with her kept company with Conall the triumphant; Conchen, daughter of Cet, son of Maga, and fifty young women with her were sent to Loégairé the winner. Medb herself made many visits to the house where Cûchulainn was,

The three heroes thus spent the night in Cruachan.

[Episode IV. The tour de force of the wheel.]

64. The next morning they got up early and went to play wheel in the house where the young people were. Loégaré takes the wheel and throws it in the air, so that it reaches the joist halfway up the house. The young people start laughing and cheering. They wanted to make fun of him. Loégaré thought they were proclaiming him the winner. Then Conall takes the wheel from the ground, and he throws it to the highest point of the palace. The young people cheer him. Conall thought it was a cry of admiration attesting to his victory, but it was a mockery. Cûchulainn seizes the wheel before it has fallen to the ground, and throws it so vigorously that it comes out [through the opening in the roof which served as a passage for the smoke] and falls back outside. in the courtyard, where it sinks to the depth of a cubit. The young people laugh and! utter a cry of admiration which proclaims the victory of Cûchulainn. But he believed that the young people were making fun of him and found his game ridiculous.

[Episode V. The tour de force of the needles.]

65. Cûchulainn goes to the assembly of one hundred and fifty women, has each of them give him a needle, and throws these needles to the ground successively one behind the other so skillfully that the point of each needle enters the hole of the previous one, and that the one hundred and fifty needles form only one line; then he takes the needles back and returns each one to the woman who gave it to him. The warriors congratulated Cûchulainn on his address. Then the three heroes bade farewell to the king, the queen and their people.

[Episode, VI. Judgment of Samera].

66. “Go,” said Medb, “to Ercoil and Garmna, my guardian and my nurse, and ask them for hospitality next night. » They left, but after having taken part in a horse race which took place on that day, every year, at Cruachan; Cûchulainn was three times winner in this race.

When they arrived at Ercoil and Garmna, they welcomed them: “Why have you come? » asked Ercoil. — “To make us judge,” they replied. — “Go and find Samera,” replied Ercoil, “it is he who will judge you. » So they set out again to go to Samera's house, and they met him at his house. Samera welcomed them. Buan, daughter of Samera, fell in love with Cûchulainn. The three heroes told Samera that they had come to ask her for judgment. Samera sent them to the fairies of the valley.

67. Loégairé went to the fairies the first night, he returned without weapons or clothes. Conall left the following night; they took his javelins, and left him only his main weapon, his sword. Cûchulainn went there the third night. At the sight of him, the fairies utter a cry, and the battle begins: Cuchulainn's javelin is broken, his shield is broken, his clothes are torn all around, the fairies have defeated him. “So, O Cûchulainn! » cried Loeg, “oh coward! oh unfortunate! O one-eyed savage! What happened to your bravery and your valor that fairies put you in such a pitiful state? » Then demonic fury seized Cûchulainn, he turned against the fairies, cutting and breaking everything; the valley was full of their blood. He takes the war cloak of their leader and returns victorious to the house of Samera where his people were.

68. Samera welcomed him and sang:

No one can dispute the hero's piece to him;
Fat bivouac cows,
Magnificent pigs,
Breads of flour and milk,
Enough to satisfy fifty pleasant guests,
Will be the lot of the famous and admirable Cûchulainn.

Cuchulainn is a mastiff with a split shield,
It is a raven that tears flesh in battle;
It is a powerful and protective boar.
He triumphs over the strong and evil fairies of the lake.
He is fiery as fire.
He is the working mastiff of the noble Emain.
He is the favorite of proud women.
He is red from the blood spilled in deadly combat.
…………………………………………………….
He gives peace to castles.
He refuses to pay tribute to the enemy.
He drives the buffoons out of the camp;
He blows up his chariot over the crevasses.
It is the victorious raven of the battle.
This is the sword of the sunny family.
How would it be even
In Loégairé, the lion of the rampart.
Or to Conall in the illustrious chariot?
Emer with shining hair,
Emer who displeased the king's violence so much,
Emer, in front of the young women of the noble Ulates,
Will walk almighty
In the happy palace where beer circulates in Tara.
I think so
That no one can deny Cûchulainn his share.

Nobody can dispute the hero's piece to him: Fat bivouac cows,
Magnificent pigs,
Breads of flour and milk,
Something to satiate - fifty pleasant guests,
Will be the lot of the famous and admirable Cûchulainn.

“This then is my judgment,” said Samera. “To Cûchulainn the piece of the hero, to his wife the precedence over the other women of Ulster. Cuchulainn's weapons will hang on the wall in the room, above the weapons of all the other warriors, except Conchobar. »

[Episode VII. Fight against Ercoil.]

69. The three warriors then returned to Ercoil. Ercoil welcomed them. They slept at his house that night. Ercoil proposed to each of them a single combat; each warrior was to have only one horse. Loégaré fought the first battle, and advanced with a horse against Ercoil. Ercoil's horse killed Loégairé's horse, and Loégairé fled; passing through Ess-Ruaid, he reached Emain, where he reported that his companions had been killed by Ercoil. Conall did as he did and fled after having his horse killed by Ercoil's horse. To reach Emain, he passed through the place called Rathand Nage. Rathand, servant of Conall, drowned in the river there, and that is why this place is still called Rathand's Nage.

70. But the Gray of Macha, horse of Cûchulainn, killed the horse of Ercoil. Cûchulainn tied Ercoil behind his chariot and thus brought him to Emain-Macha.

Buan, daughter of Samera, went to see the trace of the chariot of Loégairé, Conall and Cûchulainn. She recognized the trace of that of Cûchulainn, because wherever the path narrowed, this chariot had pierced the walls, widened the gaps or jumped over them. With a terrible leap she threw herself onto the back of this chariot; but she fell on her face against a rock and killed herself in the place since called Buan's Tomb.

When Conall and Cuchulainn arrived at Emain, people mourned them, their death was believed to be certain; Loégaré had brought the news. They told their adventures and history to Conchobar and the rest of the greats of Ulster. The other warriors, the other braves of Ulster reprimanded Loégairé for the tragic story he had told about his companions.

71. Then Cathba the druid sang the following poem:

A story of defeat had caused Cûchulainn to die abroad,
In the castle of black champions.

I gave unfairly
The price of warlike valor among the great Ulates
To Loégairé, who, without rights,
Raised claim to the hero's piece
After the battle her tragic story told.
It is Cûchulainn who deserves the hero's piece:
He fought a good and victorious fight against Ercoil.
Ercoil is bound, the strong and jealous warrior,
Behind a tank that has no equal.
We are not unaware of the great deeds of Cûchulainn,
They tell of his glorious murders.
Mounted in his chariot, he is a strong and magnificent warrior;
He is a handsome and victorious hero in battle;
His exploits in battles
Killed many battalions.
When he leaves his castle in a chariot,
He is a strong king whose anger doubles his value.
Loégairé thought Getting the Hero's Piece
By a tale of defeat.

A story of defeat had caused Cuchulainn to die abroad, In the castle of black champions.

[Episode VIII. The judgment pronounced by Medb has no effect.]

72. Then ended the thoughts and confused words of the warriors. They then went to the feast and prepared to eat. Sualdam, father of Cûchulainn, led the meal service that night. The large vat of Conchobar is filled with beer. We then took care of the sharing of the provisions, and the people responsible for this operation began their work. First they put aside the hero piece. “Why don’t you give anyone the hero piece?” » said the lazy-tongued Dubthach. “The three suitors did not leave the king of Cruachan without bringing back a certain sign which teaches us to whom the piece of the hero should be given. »

73. Thereupon Loégairé the victor stood up and showed his bronze cup with a silver bird on the foot. “It is to me,” he said, “that the piece of the hero belongs: let no one dispute it with me!” — “It is not yours,” replied Conall the triumphant, “we have brought a similar sign!” You have a bronze cup, mine is brass: the difference between them clearly shows that the hero's piece belongs to me. » — “It does not belong to either of you,” replied Cûchulainn, and rising he continued: “you have not brought a sign which attributes to you the piece of the hero, unless the king and the queen to whom you went without wanting to increase the hatred between you and me, and lead us from murder to murder. They could not do you a greater insult than to give you these gifts. It will be me who will have the hero's piece; only I brought the well-known sign. »

74. Then he showed, raising it high, the cup of red gold with a bird of precious stones on the foot, the two eyes of the bird were made of those stones which are taken from the heads of dragons . All the Ulster greats who were around Conchobar, son of Ness, saw this cup. “It is therefore I,” he said, “who have the right to the hero’s piece, unless someone commits an injustice against me. » — “We all award it to you,” said Conchobar, Fergus and the rest of the greats of Ulster, “the hero's piece is yours by the judgment of Ailill and Medb. » — “We swear by the oath that our nation takes,” replied Loégairé and Conall the triumphant, “it is a cup that you bought, this cup that you bring. You paid for it with precious objects and treasures that belonged to you and which you gave to Ailill and Medb to obtain from them. You had in mind to satisfy your pride and prevent the hero's piece from being given to anyone other than you. » — “I swear by the oath which my nation takes,” continued Conall the triumphant, “the so-called judgment which would have been rendered is not a true judgment, and the piece of the hero does not belong to you. » Thereupon the two warriors stand up, swords drawn, to attack Cûchulainn. Conchobar and Fergus stand between them. Loégaré and Conall lower their hands and put the sword back in its sheath. “Stop,” said Sencha, “and do my will.” » — “We will do it,” they replied.

[Episode IX. Leblond, son of Leblanc [Bude mac Bain], refuses to pronounce a sentence.]

75. “Go,” said Sencha, “find Leblond, son of Leblanc, at his ford, he will judge you. » The three heroes went to Leblond, explained to him their desire and the object of the quarrel which led them. “Was there not,” said Leblond, “a decision rendered about you in the castle of Cruachan-Aï? » — “Certainly,” replied Cûchulainn, “a decision has been made, but these men do not want to submit to it. » — “No certainly,” replied Loégairé and Conall, “we will not submit to this decision, because this decision taken against us is not a judgment. » — “It will not be easy for anyone to judge you,” replied Leblond, since you refuse to carry out the sentence of Medb and Ailill. However, I have someone who will dare to judge you, it is Terrible, son of Great Fear; he is in his lake. Go find him, he will be your referee. » Terrible, son of Great Fear, was a man who had a marvelous faculty: he took all the forms that pleased him, he practiced Druidry and artifices which produced this change. Terrible, son of Great Fear, is the wild giant who gave his name to Belach-Muni known as the Wild Giant, and he was called wild giant because of his great size in the various forms he took.

[Episode X. Judgment of Terrible, son of Great Fear [Uath mac Immomain]. .]

76. The three warriors arrived at Terrible's house, at his lake; envoys from Leblond accompanied them and introduced them. They tell Terrible why they are coming to find him. Terrible told them that he would undertake to judge them, if they would first undertake to submit to his sentence. “We will submit to it” they replied. He made them make a solemn commitment with him, “There is,” he then said, “a deal that I am offering you, and whoever among you who accepts it will have the hero’s piece. » — “What is this market?” » asked the three warriors. — “I have an axe,” he said, “if one of you takes it in hand and cuts off my head today, I will cut off his head tomorrow. »

77. Conall and Loégairé said that they would not make that deal; they did not, they said, have the power to remain alive after having had their heads cut off; this faculty belonged to him alone. Conall and Loégaré therefore refused the deal. However, there are books where it is said that they accepted the deal, that Loégairé cut off the giant's head the first day, but did not return the next day to have it cut off, and that Conall did the same. Cûchulainn said he would accept the deal if he was to be given the hero's piece. Conall and Loégaré declared that they would let him have the hero's piece if he made the deal with Terrible. Cûchulainn obtained from them a solemn undertaking to renounce contesting the hero's piece if he made the deal in question with Terrible. The deal is concluded between Cûchulainn and Terrible. Terrible, after making an incantation on the edge of his ax, places his head on the stone in front of Cûchulainn; Cuchulainn, taking the giant's axe, strikes him and cuts off his head. Then Terrible left and dove into the lake, holding his ax in one hand, his head on his chest in the other.

78. Cûchulainn returns the next day to the meeting, and lies down in front of Terrible on the stone. He lowers the ax three times on the neck and back of the brave man. “Arise, Cûchulainn,” he said, “to you the royalty of the warriors of Ireland and the piece of the hero, no one can contest thee. » After this, the three warriors returned to Emain, but neither Conall nor Loegairé submitted to the judgment rendered in favor of Cuchulainn. They continued to argue with him for the hero piece. The Ulates, after deliberation, decided to go to Cûroi to ask him for a ruling on the question. The three warriors agreed.

[Episode XI The trials at Cûroi castle, their consequences.]

79. The next morning, the three heroes, Cûchulainn, Conall and Loégairé, arrived at the castle of Cûroi. They unhitch their chariots at the gate of the castle, and after that enter the palace. Blathnath, daughter of Lebègue and wife of Cûroi, son of Daré, welcomed them. Cûroi was not at home to receive them that night; he knew that the three warriors would come; he had left, recommending his wife to do what the three visitors wanted until his return: he was going to the east, to the land of Scythia, because . from the day when Cûroi first took up arms until the day of his death, he never reddened his sword with blood in Ireland, never brought to his lips anything that came from Ireland, as long as he lived from the day he was seven years old; nothing in Ireland seemed worthy of his pride, his glory, his superiority, his anger, his strength, his bravery. In accordance with his orders, his wife had a bath, intoxicating drinks and superb beds prepared for the three warriors, so that they were happy.

80. When it was time to go to bed, Blathnath warned them that they must each take turns guarding the castle at night, until Cûroi returned. “And,” she added, “Cûroi said you would guard in order of age. " In whatever part of the world Cûroi was, the thought of his castle preoccupied him at the beginning of each night, and made him groan until after sunset the darkness, becoming blacker than a millstone, would have made the castle door impossible to find.

81. Loégairé the victor went to keep watch the first night, because he was the oldest of the three warriors. He was sitting at his post, towards the end of the night, when he saw in the sea, as far as his sight could reach, a shadow advancing towards him. This shadow was large, hideous, frightening. She was as high as the sky, and he seemed to see the whole sea between her legs. She walked towards him. She had both hands full of oak branches, each as heavy as a wagon yoke. She threw Loégaré a branch, and it missed. She started again a second and a third time without reaching either the skin or the shield of Loégairé. Loégaré threw his javelin at her - and missed too.

82. Then the shadow stretched out its hand to Loégaré. Her hand was so long that it passed over the three ramparts which separated the two combatants during the exchange of projectiles, then she seized Loégairé; However great and illustrious Loégairé was, he held his adversary's hand as a one-year-old child might have held it. Then the shadow, bringing its two hands together, squeezed it so as to crush it, like a chess pawn between two millstones. When, as a result of this treatment, he was half dead, the shadow threw him out of the castle, onto the dunghill, at the palace gate. The castle was not open on that side. The two other warriors and the people of the house thought that Loégairé had jumped out of the castle to abandon it while fleeing from the enemies.

83. When, at the end of the second day, the hour of duty arrived, Conall the triumphant went and sat down at his post, for he was older than Cuchulainn. He had the same adventures as Loégairé the previous night. It was the third night that Cuchulainn's turn of guard came. This night is the night when, to take and sack the castle, the three Pales of Cold Moon Marsh, the three Shepherds of Breg and the three sons of Music with the Great Fist gathered. It was the night in which the lake monster, in the vicinity of the castle, promised to swallow the fortress with all its contents, both beasts and people.

84. So Cûchulainn was on guard that night, when many unpleasant adventures happened to him. Around midnight, he heard a loud noise that was getting closer: “Ah! ah! » he cried, “if they” are friends, let them not advance! If they are enemies, let them come closer! » His attackers together utter a threatening cry. Cuchulainn rushes at them and kills them; all nine remain on the floor. He brings the heads one after the other to his post and sits down near the pile. Nine other warriors raise the war cry against him; he is victorious a second time, and the fight begins again a third time with the same result, so that he creates a heap of heads and weapons.

85. When the end of the night came, he was overwhelmed with weariness, boredom and exhaustion; now he heard the lake rising with the same noise as the sea agitated by the storm. However great his fatigue, his warlike ardor could not bear the uncertainty, and he went to see the cause of the terrible rumbling he heard. He saw, standing above the lake, the monster whose height seemed to him to exceed the level of the water by thirty cubits. The monster launched itself into the air, jumped toward the castle, and opened a mouth large enough to swallow the entire palace.

86. Cûchulainn remembered his feat of the hunting game; he jumped into the air, and in an instant found himself behind the monster. He grabs him by the neck, puts a hand in his throat, tears out his heart which he throws to the ground, and the monster falls to the ground like a burden that a man lets fall from his shoulder. Cûchulainn strikes it with his sword, cuts it into small pieces, takes the head with him to his post and places it on the pile with the three times nine other heads.

87. He was there, and after these struggles he was experiencing excessive exhaustion when, at dusk, he saw coming towards him, from the sea to the west, the shadow which had so mistreated Loégairé and Conall. It was as high as the sky; he seemed to see the whole sea between his legs. She walked towards him. She had both hands full of oak branches, each as heavy as a cart's yoke: "Your night will be bad," said the shadow. — “Yours will be worse, rustic,” replied Cûchulainn. Thereupon the shadow throws him an oak branch. Cûchulainn avoids the blow. The shadow begins again two or three times without reaching either Cûchulainn's skin or shield. He responds by throwing his javelin at the shadow, and misses. Then the shadow stretches out its hand towards Cûchulainn to seize him like Loégairé and Conall. But Cûchulainn makes the warrior leap of the salmon; he remembers his feat of hunting; in an instant he has the drawn sword on the head of the shadow. Faster than a fox, it spun around her in the air: it was the feat of the wheel. “Grace, O Cûchulainn! » cries the shadow. — “Grant me the three things I desire,” replied Cûchulainn. — “You will have them,” replied the shadow; “They will come to you as quickly as your breathing. » — “I want,” replied Cûchulainn, “to have for myself the royalty of the warriors of Ireland and the piece of the hero without contest; finally, for my wife, precedence always over Ulster women. “—“You will have this at once,” said the shadow; and as soon as she had thus spoken, she disappeared without anyone knowing where she had gone.

88. Cûchulainn began to think. [The jump he had made to fight the shadow had thrown him out of the castle]; he thought of the jump that Loégaré and Conall before him had had to make to get out. This jump, he thought, had been great in length and height; he believed, in fact, that it was by a jump that the two heroes had won the campaign. Twice he tried to perform the same jump [in reverse]; he could not overcome it: “Alas! » he said, “the fatigues that I have had to endure until now because of the hero's piece have broken me; what my competitors have done is beyond my strength. » These reflections, in Cûchulainn, were nonsense. He would move away from the castle with a leap as long as a javelin's reach, then a leap in the opposite direction would bring him back to his starting point, and with his forehead he would strike the castle rampart. [Then he started again.] Once he rose so high that he saw the whole interior of the castle. A second time, as he fell, his legs entered the ground up to the knees, so much weight had his ardor and strength given him! A third time, his natural impatience, the ardor of his spirit, the greatness of his courage made him acquire such a marvelous lightness, that when he reached the ground his feet left intact even the dew on the tops of the grass. In this exercise, his demonic fury developed, and finally a leap took him over the rampart. He found himself in the middle of the castle, at the palace gate. The imprint of his feet remained engraved on a stone, in the courtyard, where the palace porch was. Then he entered and sighed.

89. “It is not a sigh of mourning,” said Blathnath, daughter of Lebègue, wife of Cûroi; “it is a sigh of victory and triumph. The daughter of the king of the island of warriors of Falga knows what difficulties Cûchulainn encountered last night. » A short time later, Cûroi was seen returning to his palace; he brought back the war cloaks of the three times nine warriors killed by Cûchulainn, their heads, the head of the monster. He held the heads on his chest; he placed them on the floor of the palace: “This young man,” he said, “will always be able to guard a king’s fortress.” Here are his trophies, all from one night. The object of the dispute which brought you here, the hero's piece, rightfully belongs to Cûchulainn, in preference to all the other warriors of Ireland. Even if there were someone more courageous here, no one has won as many victories as him. » Here is the judgment that Cûroi subsequently passed: “To Cûchulainn the piece of the hero, the supremacy of bravery among the Irish; to his wife, precedence over other women in the house where the Ulates meet to drink. » And Cûroi gave to Cûchulainn, in gold and silver, the value of seven female slaves to reward the exploits that the hero had accomplished in one night.

90. After this decision, the three warriors bade farewell to Cûroi; they left and arrived at Emain-Macha before the end of the day. When, later, at the feast, the portions were made and it was a question of distributing them, those who served put aside the hero's piece with the portion of beer that went with it. “It is clear to us,” said the three lazy-tongued Dubthach warriors, “that there is no dispute between you this night over the hero's piece. Cûroi, to whom you went, had the courage to pass judgment between you. » Loégairé and Conall replied that they did not want the hero's piece to be, to their detriment, attributed to Cûchulainn. “You therefore do not want, since your return to Emain-Macha,” continued Doel, “to submit to the judgment rendered by Cûroi in favor of Cûchulainn. » Cûchulainn said that he did not want to claim the hero's piece; his pretensions had until then caused him much greater damage than the expected profit. Since then, the hero's piece was not attributed to anyone until the time when the acquisition of warrior primacy took place in Emain-Macha.

D. - Acquisition of the warrior primacy at Emain-Macha.

91. The Ulates were once assembled at Emain-Macha, when, after the weariness of the public assembly and the games, Conchobar, Fergus, son of Roeg, and the greats of Ulster left the field of the games and came to sit at the palace of Conchobar. Neither Cûchulainn, nor Conall the triumphant, nor Loégairé the victor were present that night. However, many brave Ulster warriors were at this meeting. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the end of the day was approaching. They saw a tall, ugly roughneck coming towards them in the house. It seemed to them that among the Ulates there was not a warrior half his height. The boor looked frightening and hideous. His clothing consisted of a tunic of old skin and a dark gray cloak; it carried enormous tree branches as long as a stable that would hold thirty calves. Two eager, yellow eyes, as large as cauldrons, seemed to protrude from his head; each of his fingers was larger than an ordinary man's hand; in his left hand he held a beam as heavy as twenty yokes of an ox, in his right hand an ax containing one hundred and fifty castings of cast iron and whose handle was as heavy as a cart's yoke. This ax had such a sharp edge that if it struck in the direction of the wind, it would have cut a hair.

92. So he arrived with this look, and he went to sit at the foot of the wooden fork where the rack hung, next to the hearth. “Does the house seem too narrow for you? " asked the lazy-tongued roughneck Dubthach, "you can't find a place anywhere other than at the foot of the fork that carries the rack; would you presume to claim the function of lighting the house, or would you rather set the house on fire than give us light? — “No matter how talented I am,” replied the rustic, “you will understand that with my height I could hold the light high enough to illuminate everyone who is here, and I would not set the house on fire because of that.

But lighting houses is not my job. I have other professions without this one. This is what I came to ask you. So far I have searched in vain in Ireland, in Great Britain, in Europe, in Africa, in Asia, until Greece, in Scythia, in the Orkney Islands, as far as the Pillars of Hercules, the Tower of Braganza and the island of Cadiz; I have not found anywhere a man worthy of the name and capable of fighting against me. Since you, O Ulates, prevail over all the other men of this earth by the terror that you inspire, by the bravery, the consideration, the pride, the dignity, the justice, the honor, the distinction , there must be among you a man capable of sustaining the fight against me. »

94. “It is not right,” said Fergus, son of Roeg, “that our province should lose its honor for want of a man to defend it against you, and it is not certain that our champion is any longer in danger of death than you. » — “It is not to avoid death that I came,” replied the rustic. — “Let us find out what you ask of us,” replied Fergus, son of Roeg. — “I only have one claim,” insisted the rustic, “and that is that I am given a real man as my opponent. » — “It is right that a true man should be opposed to you,” replied Sencha, son of Ailill; “and a true man, chosen from the great and polite band of Ulster warriors, will not shrink from a single combatant who to them is a stranger; If you have not yet met an opponent capable of defeating you, you have found him here today. » — “I leave aside Conchobar because he is king,” replied the rustic; "I leave aside Fergus, son of Roeg, because he is the equal of Conchobar, but, except these two, let any one of the others come, and this very night he will lose his head of which I 'will seize…'

95. “Except these two, let him who dares come, that I may cut off his head this night, and him mine next night. »

“Surely then, there is no other warrior here,” said Dubtach, “besides these two. »

“By faith, there will be one before long,” shouted Munremur mac Gerrcind, leaping into the room. Munremur's strength was the strength of a hundred warriors, each of his arms having the power of a hundred "centaurs". “Bend over, bachlach,” said Munremur, “that I may cut off your head this night, and you will cut off mine to-morrow.” »

“If this had been the object of my quest, I would have completed it anywhere. » said the bachlach; “let's do what was established in our agreement: I cut off your head tonight, and you take your revenge next night. »

“By the gods of my people,” said Dubtach Vipertongue, “then death is not a pleasant prospect for you, if the man killed this night can attack you tomorrow. If you have this power, being killed night after night, to take revenge the next day, it is only given to you. »

“Really I will do what you all agree to do after discussion, strange as it may seem to you,” said the bachlach. He then made the other swear to keep his promise in the commitment to come to the meeting the next day.

96. With this Munremur took the ax from the hand of the bachlach. Its two points were seven feet apart. Then the bachlach put his neck across the block. Munremur struck across it with the ax until it sank into the block below, severing the head so that it rolled at the foot of the fork which carries the rack, the house being filled with blood.

Immediately the bachlach stood up, pulled himself together, clutched his head, the block and the ax to his chest and left the room with blood flowing from his neck. He bathed the Red Branch on all sides. Great was the horror of the people, amazed at the wonder that had appeared to them. “By the gods of my people,” said Dubtach, “if the bachlach, who was just slain this evening, returns tomorrow, he will leave no man alive in Ulster. »

The next night he returned, and Munremur avoided him. Then the bachlach began to invoke his pact with Munremur. “Really, it is not fair for Munremur not to fulfill his commitment to me.”

97. That night, however, Loegaire the Triumphant was present. “Which of the warriors fighting for the Ulster Hero's Piece will make a pact with me tonight? Where is Loégaré the Triumphant? » he said.

“Here,” said Loégaré. He also made a pact with him, however Loégairé did not keep his promise. The bachlach returned the next day and in the same way concluded a pact with Conall Cernach, who did not come as he had promised.

98. On the fourth night the bachlach returned, fierce and furious. All the ladies of Ulster had come that night to see the strange wonder that had come to Red Branch. That night Cûchulainn was also present. Then the bachlach began to reproach them. “You men of Ulster, your courage and your prowess have fled. Your warriors greatly covet the Hero's Piece, however they are unable to compete for it. Where is the crazy boy called Cûchulainn? I would like to know if his word is better than that of others. »

“I don't want any pact with you,” Cûchulainn said.

“No doubt, miserable fly, you are greatly afraid of dying. » Then Cûchulainn rushed towards him and struck him with the axe, throwing his head up to the rafter at the top of the Red Branch so that the room shook. Then again Cûchulainn grabbed the head and gave it a blow with the ax and broke it. Then the bachlach got up again.

99. The next day, the Ulates looked at Cûchulainn to see if he would escape the bachlach as the other champions had done. As Cuchulainn waited for the bachlach, they saw that he was overcome with great despondency. It was as if they had sung his dirge. They were certain that his life would only last until the bachlach came. Then, with shame, Cûchulainn said to Conchobar, “You will not leave until my pact with the bachlach is fulfilled; because a contract awaits me and I would prefer to die with honor.”

100. They were there as the day was falling and they saw the bachlach approaching. “Where is Cuchulainn?” he said.

"Here I am," he replied.

“Your word is sad this evening, unhappy; you are extremely afraid of dying. Yet, although your fear is great, you have not escaped death.”

Then Cûchulainn stretched his neck across the block which was of such size that his neck only reached half of it. “Stretch your neck, wretch,” cried the bachlach.

“You keep me in torment,” said Cûchulainn, “send me quickly. Last night, on my word, I didn't torture you. Truly I swear that if you torture me I will make myself as tall as a crane above you.”

“I can't kill you,” said the bachlach, “because of your neck too short and your size and size of the block. "

101. Then Cuchulainn stretched out his neck so that a warrior's foot would have gone between any of his ribs; he stretched his neck until his head reached the other side of the block. The bachlach raised his ax until he reached the ridge of the house. The creaking of the old skin that was upon him and the crash of the ax—both his arms being raised high with all his strength—were like the dull sound of storm-shattered wood on a stormy night. It then descended on his neck, the blunt side below, as all the nobles of Ulster looked on.

102. “O Cûchulainn, stand up! of the warriors of Ulster and Ireland, no matter how brave they may be, none can compare with you in valor, bravery, and truth. The sovereignty of the heroes of Ireland is for you now and the Piece of the undisputed Hero, and for your wife priority over the ladies of Ulster for ever in the feasting hall. And whoever denies this to you from now on, I swear as my clan swears that his whole life will be in danger. » Then the bachlach disappeared. It was Cûroi, son of Daré, who, in this form, had come to fulfill the promise he had made to Cûchulainn.

And so far it's the Hero's Piece in Emain
and the Fight of words between the women of Ulster
and the Heroes' Dispute at Emain
and the March of Ulates to Cruachan.
Finished