The Siege of Druim Damhghaire

This is the story of the Siege of Druim Damhghaire, of the legend of Mogh ruith.

Siege of Druim Damhghaire

1. Two noble offspring of good breeding lived in Ireland; It is about them that we will be talking about in the rest of this story: Fiacha Muilleathan mac Eoguin, disciple of Mogh Ruith, and Cormac mac Airt meic Cuinn. In the same day their fathers perished at the battle of Mucraime; it was also the same day that they were conceived, the Tuesday which preceded the departure for the battle of Mag Mucraime; it was on the same day that they were born, the Tuesday which followed that Tuesday by seven months, so that both were children of seven months.

Cormac acceded to the throne of Ireland, which he was to occupy for a long time; some time later Fiacha acceded to the throne of Munster, during Cormac's lifetime.

2. Everyone described to Cormac the home of Aengus mac ind Oicc. “There's not a word of truth in there,” Cormac says. - " Why is that? They said. - "If it were true", he said, "I would not be like this in the house where I study the principles of art, alone, as I am used to being, without anyone coming to me. to see from him, and without himself coming ”. For Cormac stood in mansions of secrecy, alone, deciding legal cases, for he was judge as well as king; it was he, Cairpre Liffacair and Fithel who were the first to set the rules of procedure and law.

These words were repeated to Aengus; he called on all his science and all his art, for he foresaw that it was to question him on any subject that Cormac demanded (this had been revealed to him by divination). And one day he came to the house where Cormac was; his appearance and his crew were nothing out of the ordinary when he entered, as if it had been one of Cormac's mercenaries entering. And he stood in the part of the house furthest from Cormac. The latter dismissed his (court?) And asked:

3. "Are you the one we were asking for? "-" Yes ", said Aengus," for what reason did you ask for me? "-" Because I wanted to ask you about what will happen to me, if you know it ". - "I know it", he said. - "Will I experience setbacks?" Said Cormac. - "Yes", said Aengus, "you have a choice: do you prefer to experience them at the beginning or in the middle or at the end of your reign? "-" Grant me prosperity at the beginning and at the end, "said Cormac," and when my reign is at its peak, in the middle of my life, then let trial befall my estates; what is it exactly? Said Cormac. - "[***]", said Aengus. "Such an epidemic will occur during your lifetime on the cattle that one will look in vain for a single ox in the countries of the Finns (?) And in Leinster and in the seven tribes of Tara and in your own towns". - "What will be the cause?" Said Cormac. - "I will not tell you", said Aengus, "but there is only one thing that I say to you: submit your children to your will, and do not follow any advice of wife, slave or steward". Thereupon he took his leave of Cormac and returned to Brugh.

4. Cormac recited this poem, describing the young man following him:

On the border (?) Of Tara appeared to me a handsome and well-made young man. Greater than all beauty is its beauty; gold embroidery adorns her garment.

A silver tympanum is in his hand, the strings of the tympanum are of red gold. More melodic than any music under the sky is the sound of the strings of this tympanum.

It has a horsehair bow which resonates a hundred sweet musics; above his head, under two birds. And these birds, not foolishly, were playing the tympanum.

He sat down amiably beside me, playing me sweet, melodic music, then appeared ***. ; so that drunkenness took hold of my mind.

I'm making a true, right prophecy, though it won't be right to listen to it. Whether you like what he said or not, everything he predicted will come to pass.

She made me impatient for any company, the brevity of her stay with me. I am sorry that he left me. Dear to me is the moment when it dawned on me.

It dawned on me.

5. Cormac continued his reign until the day when the cattle shortage occurred; subtle though he was, he did not notice this dearth until it occurred. Fate had decreed that this would turn the fortune of his reign.

Cormac received that year the tribute owed to him by each of the five provinces of Ireland, which was 180 cows per province. Cormac distributed this tribute to the seven main tribes of Tara, because there had been a mortality on their cattle; and he always had his hand open to distribute.

6. When Cormac had finished distributing the oxen, his steward came to find him; it was called Maine Mibriarach mac Miduaith. - "Cormac, have you distributed all the oxen?" He said. - "Yes", said Cormac. - "I do not know what to do", said the steward, "I could not provide you with enough to maintain (?) Tara's house, even if it was only one night, if at least it was on the oxen that we count for that (?). And the cause is that all your flocks have succumbed ”. This news stunned Cormac, and he said: "What were you thinking, steward?" why did you not warn me of this before my hands were empty, when I took my tributes? for now I have nothing to give you, and it does not please me to wrong anybody; as long as the tributes for the year have been paid to me, I have no return (to wait) before the end of the year ”.

Then Cormac went to his study abode, and he stood there, meditating on the mysteries of science with no one to serve him except when his food was brought to him; he stayed there three days and three nights.

7. The steward tried to find out how to get money for the king without committing any illegality. And his research bore fruit. - "Cormac," he said, "was it what I told you that keeps you silent? ". - "Yes", said Cormac. - "I found you a source of income," he said, "and it seems to me that you yourself will recognize the legality of this income". - " What is that ? Said Cormac. - "Have you done any research on the divisions of Ireland?" Maine said. - "No", said Cormac. - "I did," said Maine, "and I found that, of the five provinces of Ireland, two are included in Munster, and since you acceded to the throne you have received from Munster only the tribute of a single province. In addition it is a man from Munster who killed your father at the battle of Mag Mucraine: Mac Con, mac Maicniad meic Luigdeach, and it is well the least that Fiacha pays you damages, because he is brother of this man and succeeded the throne of Munster ”. - "A thousand thanks", said Cormac, "you are right". He concluded with a joy and a pride as great as if, banished from Ireland, he had been recalled there again; so great was the joy he felt.

8. Then he assembled and summoned the lords and vassals of Northern Ireland, and told them everything, and they all thanked the steward. After Cormac had conferred with his troops, he said he did not intend to take any rest until he pitched his tent in Munster. - "Don't do anything about it", they said, 'but let messengers go and claim from you these damages, that is to say fifty cows with silver horns, and the tribute of a province, and this is legal and not illegal , and they could not avoid the payment ”.

Cormac sent his messengers south to claim this, at Fiacha's. These knights were Tairec Turusach and Berraidhi Inasdair. And Cormac said: "If you have any objections, tell them that, although no king has yet claimed this tribute, I will not deduct any of the tribute to which I have been entitled since I ascended the throne and which has not been paid to me so far ”.

9. They then went south to Fiacha's house, on the hill where the royal residence stood, and which is now called Cnoc Raphann. The knights of the King of Ireland were welcomed there. They explained the object of their mission: “Cormac”, they said, “sent us to you, to claim his due from you”. - " What is it? Said the people of Munster. "Twice hundred and eighty cows, because each province pays once that number and you have provided only half since the beginning of its reign." And it is under the pressure of the necessity that he claims this from you, because a mortality of the cattle has declared itself in the seven tribes and the main forts of Tara. And moreover, it is you who killed his father and you owe him compensation legally ”.

Fiacha said this to the men of Munster. These said that they would not provide this tribute. - "However", they said, "as long as it is necessity which provoked this embassy, we will send him an ox from each farm in Munster, to come to his aid; but as long as our fathers did not bequeath this obligation to us, it is not for us to pay him another tribute than that which they paid and to impose it on our sons ”. And they said to Fiacha: "Send messengers to speak to Cormac, because undoubtedly it is not he who demands such heavy fees from us".

10. Fiacha's messengers, Cuilleand Cosluath and Leithrinde Leabar, set out for this mission. They arrived in the North near Cormac and said to him: "Is it from you that the message which your messengers recited to us came from? ". - "Yes", said Cormac. - "In that case", they said, "we will give you an ox from each area of Munster, to oblige you, but that does not create a precedent". - "I prefer", he said, "to safeguard my right in perpetuity, than to receive this considerable size once paid". And he sent his messengers back south, and they demanded tribute.

Fiacha gathers the men of Munster and says to them: "Take a decision on this subject". Then he withdrew.

11. They then made an honorable decision. Even if each of the vassals (?) Would no longer have any other resource than the milk of a single cow, and would be reduced to killing her and then being without food and exposed successively to all kinds of deprivation, even if even to make peace it would suffice for him to pay this tribute, they would not submit. They then came to find Fiacha. - "What have you decided?" He said. - "Here", they said. - "I thank you", he said, "for, if you had taken the side of submission, I would have left you, to go to a place where I would never have heard of all this". - "It is not that we have the means to prevent it," they said, "but it may well challenge the province; violence does not constitute a title to property and illegality cannot give rise to prescription ”.

The messengers then went to find Cormac. As for the men of Munster, they sent their wives, their children, their herds and their cattle to the islands, islets and the various refuges offered by the province; people of a rank to have a suite (?), and those who were able to bear arms went to Fiacha, to Cenn Claire.

12. When the envoys from Munster arrived at Cormac, they said to him: “Do not count on the people over there to pay your tribute; do what you see fit ”. Cormac greeted this news with fury and was quite terrified, for he considered that it was the precursor of a great struggle to dare to stand up to him as to his rights, when he was claiming nothing but legal, because he was the great king of Ireland.

The principal druids of Cormac were brought to him: they were Cithach, Cithmor, Cecht, Crota, and Cithruadh; they had exercised the functions of divinators under Conn, Art and Cormac, without being ever caught at fault. - "Make me a prophecy as soon as possible," said Cormac: "what will be the outcome of the expedition in which I am embarking?" "-" We will guess it for you ", they said," as long as you give us the time necessary to make our prophecy ". - "Either", he said.

They called on their art and their highest science, and it was revealed to them that this expedition to Munster would be the origin of Cormac's misfortunes. They came to find him. - "What was revealed to you?" Said Cormac. - "This is what has been revealed to us, however unique the statement may be. We disapprove of your expedition to Munster. If you go there, know that the tyranny that you seek to exercise against them, they will seek to exercise it against you ”.

13. “Say, Cithruadh,” said Cormac, “what has been revealed to you? ". - "Here it is: it is not in my power to prevent you from leaving, because you will find a wife who will encourage you to do so. But, however, this is the origin of your misfortunes ”. And he says the following rhetoric: "O Cormac the quarrelsome. *** cling to justice and good, O Cormac".

14. "What has been revealed to you, Crota," Cormac said. - "I'll tell you," said Crota. And he says the following rhetoric: “Do justice, O Cormac; receive justice, O Cormac. It is not fair to harm free men, etc. ".

15. "What has been revealed to you, O Cecht," said Cormac. - "You'll hear it," Cecht said, and he said the following rhetoric. "Land of Mogh, it is for your misfortune that he will come there", etc.

16. "What has been revealed to you, Cithach?" Said Cormac. - "I'll teach you that," said Cithach. "I have news to tell you, O son of Art", etc.

17. “What has been revealed to you, O Cithmor? Said Cormac. “You'll hear it,” Cithmor said. "Learn from me, descendant of Conn", etc.

18. He hated the Druids, who thwarted his designs, and said to them: "You will not encourage me to go on this expedition." But know that if I find you at fault I will not spare you ”. - "You have never found us and will never find us at fault", they said. And this is how it happened that Cormac was looking all over Ireland for a way to catch them, but to no avail.

19. One day he went hare hunting, northeast of Sidh Cleitig. It was in this place that his dogs sent the beast away, and that all his retinue launched after the dogs, so that he found himself alone. A thick fog surrounded him and he fell asleep on the hill. The fog was so opaque that it looked like it was dark. Even if he had been played music and the bagpipes, he could not have slept better than he slept there, to the sound of barking dogs, among the surrounding hills.

It was then that he heard a voice above him, and this is what that voice said to him:

"Arise, Cormac, beautiful sleeper of Cleiteach, why do you not make your name enduring and famous throughout Ireland by your victories over your enemies?" ", Etc.

20. Cormac then got up, and his languor left him when he saw a young girl on his right. She was a wonder with white hands, the most beautiful woman in the world: a splendid tunic surrounded her; she wore an embroidered shirt against her skin. She greeted Cormac. "Who are you, you who greet me? Said Cormac. “I am Bairrfhinn Blaith (the beauty with golden hair) from Bairche, the daughter of the king of Sidh Buirche, in Leinster. I fell in love with you, and this is the first opportunity I have to talk to you ”. - "I was sleeping," he said, "at the sound of the barking dogs, when you woke me up". “By my faith,” said the young girl, “it is not suitable for men of your kind to hunt hares. It would be the least if you hunt wild boar or deer, as the great kings who came before you used to do. Because these exercises are suitable for youth; what you do only serves to ruin strength and beauty by a slow decline ”.

21. It was then that the young girl said: “Come with me, Cormac, to the magical residence beyond Cleitech, where my foster father Ulcan mac Blair resides, and my foster mother Maol Miscadach; so that I may take you with their confession as my husband and companion in my bed. »-« I will not go », he said,« without being granted a salary ». “Cormac,” she said, “I know what you are looking for and what worries you: you are looking for a troop to accompany you. Well, I will give you a company of druids, better than that which any of your predecessors had, which no foreigner will be able to resist: the three daughters of Maol Miscadach: Errgi, Eang and Engain. They take the form of three brown sheep, with bone heads, iron beaks, equal in battle to a hundred men; no one escapes them alive, for they are as swift as the swallow, as agile as the weasel and the sword, and all the nations of the world could attack them without cutting their hair or hair.

We also have two male druids, who will also come to your aid: they are Colptha and Lurga, the two sons of Cichal Coinblichtach. They will kill in single combat all the warriors of the province where they will go, unless these do not flee in front of them, because they are such that one cannot attack them neither of thrusting nor of size. As long as they are with you, follow no advice but theirs.

22. All this pleased Cormac very much; he shook off his sadness and went with the queen to the fairy-tale domain that very evening: he slept beside her in her bed, and remained near her three days and three nights; he was given the promised troop, and he returned to Tara. His own druids were no longer listened to; their advice was no longer followed, but those of this foreign race who were in favor.

Cormac sent to inform his court; all gathered around him. He announced the help he had obtained, and everyone rejoiced at the news.

23. Thereupon, Cormac set off and arrived the first evening at Comar na Cuan, which today is called Comar Cluana hIraird; the army built barracks and shelters there, and so the camp was established.

Cithruadh left the camp and walked southeast to the river. There he saw a tall warrior with a gray chief on the other side of the river. It was Fis mac Aithfis meic Firoluis, inhabitant of Leinster and grand druid of that province; they chatted together. Fis asked Cithruadh where Cormac and his army were, Cithruath answered, and together they composed this poem:

24. Cithruadh. That night in Comar na Cuan is camped the army, at the instigation of the children of Mael Miscdach.

Fis. Tell me, handsome Cithruadh, why did Cormac leave Tara? Until this evening it was not the practice of the celebrated great king of poets (?) To be in campaign.

Cithruadh. It is to ask for the price of Art mac Cuinn to the grandson of Oilill Olom, and the tribute of a province - without fraud - that Conn Cétchathach was not accustomed to ask.

Fis. They will make Cormac without tribute, the sons of Cichal. They will be acclaimed. They will make a dreadful carnage of young people, with their bewitched looks (?).

Cithruadh. Knowledge (?) Will emerge from this discussion. O mac Aithfis mac eoluis, the waves will be red for a month, above the warriors ...

Fis. It is for his misfortune that we are going to Munster to feed horses, oh true son of Crudh Caecat ...

Cithruadh. Nothing fatal will happen to me for a month and a quarter and a year from this evening, when the sage of the sages, Mogh Ruith, comes at the head of Clare's people.

Fis. Woe to anyone who fights noble-looking Donn Dairine, or Failbe the fighter when he steps onto the battlefield.

Cithruadh. It won't be better to meet (?) Mogh Corb, or Fiacha on the day of the pursuit. These two will accomplish reckless feats: it is to them that the tribute of Cuan Comair will go.

25. As the druids finished their conversation (and sad was the fate they predicted to the army) the servants, the hounds (?) And the grooms heard them; they reported their words to Cormac, and Cormac said, “Go; kill one of the druids, and strike the other, until all that is left is a breath of life. The Druids had revelation of this; they parted. Cithruadh returned to the camp, in disguise, so as not to be recognized.

The other druid turned back to the south, and he turned his face three times towards the army, and sent them a magical breath, thanks to his magical power; so that the whole army took on the same appearance and form as himself. Because all had an imposing face and a gray chief like him. And, as soon as they crossed the river following the druid, they began to slaughter each other. They tore their hair out, mistreated each other, returning blow for blow; and each one struck heavy blows, fighting while handling, on the forehead and the face of the others: for each combatant took every man whom he saw for the druid.

26. When the army realized what was happening, they did not understand that it was they themselves killing each other, and they said: "A foreign army is fighting against us, unless we are the effective spell toys ”.

The druid then left, leaving the army in this state: it was revealed to Cormac that his army had been the play of a spell. He ordered that his people be brought back to the camp, and bloody reproached the druids in whom he had placed his trust, that is to say, Colphta and his companions. They said they were not responsible, because it was not they who had advised to bring out the troops. They then stood up, imposed a magical breath on the troops and, by the force of their spells, they brought them back to their original form.

27. The men were then sad and discouraged, covered with wounds, and claiming the care which is due to the sick, without there being however any fatal case among them.

The next day they continued their journey west, through Becmogh, and Coill Medoin, through the south-west of the province of Meath, and finally reached Ath in tSloig, now called Ath na nIrlann. They made shelters and barracks there and pitched their tents.

Their magicians began to examine the clouds in the sky above the army. Crota crossed the ford and reached the opposite bank (the west bank); he then saw the druid from the neighboring province approaching him: the one called Fer Fatha. He asked Crota what was the cause of this uproar and noise north of the ford, and he began this poem, to which Crota answered.

28. Fatha iron. What is this tumult north of the ford; let me know, Crota, if you have time. Tell us - without a bad mood - by whom this camp is established.

Crota. As they are accustomed to follow Cormac (?)… Those who are there, O Fer Fatha. He's the one who set up a camp with his armies tonight.

Fatha iron. Why did the armies come? Tell me, Crota, if my request is correct. Which country are they going to - without blaming them - and what claims are they making?

Crota; It was Cichal's children who brought them from the North, along with the deceptive son of Midhuath, to claim the Art mac Cuind prize from the grandson of Oilill Ollum.

Fatha iron. It is to his misfortune that he comes at the head of a large army, to claim an indemnity to which he is not entitled - as long as Fiacha has not claimed the price of his father Eogan from him.

Crota. If the armies of Magh Ratha would hear what you say there, Fer Fatha, the armies of mountainous Munster would not prevent you from receiving a blow to the temple.

Fatha iron. Whatever their number may be, they will nonetheless be crushed. Violent action will take place. It was to his misfortune that he came to them ...

29. As the Druids finished this conversation, the people in the train crew, the servants and the scum of the army heard what they were saying to each other. They crossed the river following the unknown druid, determined to put him to death. When the druid noticed it, he turned towards the river and struck the river three times with the druidic wand he was holding in his hand, so that the river rose up, and swelled against the army. Here is what the situation was: a large troop had just crossed the river, to the west, in pursuit of the druid, another was in the river and the uprising of the river stopped its march. Both sides came to his aid, and the druid took the opportunity to escape.

The troops remained around the river, plunged in sadness and discouragement until the next day at the same time. The Druids then resorted to their druidic science to put the river back to where it was before.

30. Then Cormac crossed the river with his troops, and they continued their journey through Dubh Chaill, which is now called Fidh Dammaiche, to Magh Leathaird, today Magh Tuaiscirt, to Crund Magh, today ' hui Magh Gabra, at Mag nUachtair, now Magh Raidhne; where the road widens they entered the Bocaighe Bainfhliucha, now called Sliabh Eblinne, and from there they reached Formael na bhFhian as evening was falling.

It was there that Cecht began to examine the atmosphere and the sky, above the armies, and he marched west, to Dubh Gleand, now Gleand Salach. He saw a warrior approaching him, of imposing stature, with a gray head. They called him Art, the druid. They began to talk together, and asked each other the news, so that a discussion ensued between them, and they wrote this poem.

31. Art. Why did you come, O Cecht, from the north, from the land of Magh Slecht. Why has this tumult come so far to the land of Formael?

Cecht. It's a big epidemic on the cattle of Tara. Alas, it is a great madness that it has aroused. It is to look for a replacement ox for each of those who perished that we came from Tara.

Art. Although it was not we who took your oxen, O race of Conn, to splendid glory, we have offered you an ox from each farm in the estate of Fiacha Fidhlis.

Cecht. We prefer our tribute in perpetuity, and the price owed to our warrior, than this rich contribution, however important it may be, if it is paid to us only once.

Art. Never (the people of the North) will receive a single ox from the people of Munster, in addition to what each one gives, as compensation or as tribute, no doubt. We swear it by your hand, even if it would be blasphemy.

Cecht. If Cairpre of the Plain heard your prediction, to Artan, or if Cormac the valiant champion (heard you), you would lose your beautiful head.

Art. I do not esteem Cairpre and Cormac any more than the two coachmen who serve them, as long as Mogh Corb and Fiacha Muillethan live.

Cecht. If Artchorb and his children heard you, it would not be long before the clatter (of shattered arms) echoed in the valley. You would not make it out alive, and their enmity against you would be relentless.

Art. I care no more for Artchorb, O warrior, than the women who dwell in his house in the North, as long as I have Dond Dairine in this land to protect me.

Cecht. If Ceallach mac Cormaic could hear you, like Artur the valiant with great vigor, it would be for you that the situation would be uncertain; your witchcraft would not save you.

Art. I pay no more attention to the tall Artur than to his clean, elegant, and bold valet. As long as *** is alive.

Cecht. If the pack of warriors heard your comparison of them to the people of Munster, you would receive a blow in the teeth, and you would suffer a cruel wound.

Art. If the united Munster heard that such an army was on its territory, they would remain with their lips white (with fear), without herds, without cattle.

Cecht. Shut up, and let's finish this interview. It is a madman's job to discuss; the army you hire cannot stand up to the three provinces of Ireland.

Art. In your truthful answer, there will be no lie. Go tell your armies, O Cecht, that each of them will say in the following: "fatal is the expedition for which we have left".

32. When the army and the crowd that followed them heard this, they were overcome with fury. They rushed out of the camp with impetuosity and violence, and pursued the druid across the valley, towards the west, saying to each other, "Let us kill and slaughter this druid." The druid turned his face to them and, summoning his gods, breathed a magical breath into the air and into the sky. A black cloud formed above the army, which fell on them, and plunged them all into a state of bewilderment and madness. The druid took the opportunity to escape.

Here is the course they took next. In their sorrow at seeing all the druids escape them, they sent in the footsteps of the druid people responsible for following him and looking for him; themselves followed in separate bands and groups. They stayed seven days and seven nights in that camp, while large groups of them continued the search. It was impossible for them to return home, so powerful was the spell the druid had cast on them; even the clues they discovered served to lead them astray, for the druid made them appear every morning his trail, through ravines, passes and fords, in order to distress them and drag them away from theirs.

33. Cormac was struck with terror, for he thought that some obstacle was holding back his army, and that it would never come back to him. And he found himself accusing the druids who were in his service, saying: "What are you doing if my people are put to death without my being informed or warned without your coming to their aid?" "They are not dead at all," they said, "but the druid has bewitched them for a week, and we will take them home."

They then gathered and gathered their science and all their art and sent a spell to the armies, who returned to them at the end of the week.

34. When the people of Cormac had joined him, he continued his journey and his expedition, and reached Ath Cuili Fedha, today Ath Croi, where the camp was established.

It happened that Cithach came out of the camp to examine the air and the sky; he met a man the same age as himself, Dubhfis mac Dofhis. They asked each other the news. Dubhfis spoke, Cithach answered, and they wrote this poem together.

35. Dubhfis. O Cithach, how did you come to the land of your enemy? In the land of your enemy, how did you come, where are you going?

Cithach. It is from Tara that I came, to Cuil Feaga Formaeile. I am going to Munster (nothing forbids me), oh Dubhfis, oh son of Dofhis.

Dubhfis. Why are you going to Munster, say it, without delay, if it is convenient. Explain your business to me, which road are you taking? What army are you watching?

Cithach. It is to repel the druids of this land that I come as well as my companions. Cormac chastises (which will be remembered for a long time), the powerful kings of Munster.

Dubhfis. The designs that brought you here, you will never achieve any. A cloud of carnage (?) Will spread over your heads across the plain. Weak is the fear which you will inspire, O Cithach! - O Cithach.

36. After they had recited this poem, it was repeated to Cormac that the Druids were making grim predictions concerning him: "I cannot take revenge," Cormac said, "for all those who tried to kill them have failed. , and it is they themselves who have suffered ”. So Cormac gave orders that no allusion was made to anything when they returned.

The next day we resumed walking, where the path widens towards Mairtine de Munster, to Druin Medhoin Mairtine which we also called Arccluain na Fene and Mucfhalach Muc Daire Cerbe. Cerbe was the king of Medhon Mucraine, who is called Imliuch Ibair, today; they set up camp there.

Cithmor came out of the camp, walking southwest, to look at the clouds and the air in order to know what the army's marching order would be. It was then that he met a warrior, with blond, curly hair, and attractive appearance; it was the druid of Medhon Mairtine, who was called Medhran, the druid; they began to talk together, and Medhran wrote this poem to which Cithmor provided the answers.

37. Medhran. O Cithmor, answer truthfully. What day did you leave Tara? What walk have you taken since then? - Foolish anyone who does not ask!

Cithmor. We went to Comar on Monday, a fierce place. Tuesday at Ath int Slóig (at the ford of the army). Wednesday, beautiful and splendid road, at the top of steep Formael.

Medhran. What was your stage on Thursday? Tell us, amiable Cithmor. Why did you choose (?) This direction? How did you get lost for a week?

Medhran. Do you remember what you did on Friday, Cithmor, Connaught man. Which side will you be provoked on the morning of Saturday?

Cithmor. From Cuil Fegha we went to Druim Medhoin Mairtine; here is our walk on Friday, without lies. We will go on Saturday to Cnoc na Cenn.

Medhran. What path will you follow next? Tell us; if you don't ignore it. If you know it, let us know, O Cithmor, without deceiving us.

Cithmor. We will stay there, sad and weary, a month, a quarter and a year. We will fight fiercely against the southerners; we will treat them with ferocity. O Medhran.

Medhran. Any damage you do to our prosperity will be reclaimed from you in one day. Few [will] be his conductors (their conductors?) When they cross the river with him (Cormac). And your right will have little strength, O Cithmor. O Cithmor.

38. They separated after having composed this poem: Cithmor returned to the camp and the army remained there until the next morning early. At daybreak, Cormac marched with his troops and they went to Cnoc na Cenn, where they established camp. It was then that Cormac told Cithruadh to pitch the stakes for his tent. However Cithruadh did not get up as he foresaw that the tent would be impossible to pitch. The soldiers of the province then went, two by two or three by three, on the hills, and the surrounding slopes, to see them. And they said to each other, "There are fine warriors and warriors capable of facing hundreds of men at Cnoc na Cenn, and the clamor of many warriors resounds there with the mighty rumor of armies. . This hill will henceforth be called Druim Damhgaire ”.

It was then that Cormac said: "Come on, Cithruadh, pitch my tent as you used to pitch my father's and my grandfather's tent, for I will not move from there that I have not been granted or refused my tribute. "

39. Cithruadh then proceeded to pitch the tent and to drive the stakes into the ground, and he could not drive the stakes of the tent into the grass or into the ground. When he was tired, he said: "You see, even though I wouldn't have warned you, this post proves to you what we told you before you left Tara"; and he says the rhetoric: "See this post, Cormac," etc.

40. “Listen to what the old druid says; since he could not pitch the tent, pitch it yourself ”.

Colphta took the stake of the tent in his hand, and began to rebuke and insult Cithruadh, and he set to work with great effort and his body was so excessively stretched that grown men could have passed between his ribs. He leaned the post against the ground but could not get it to penetrate; he exerted force to embed it in the ground which he broke when his efforts to embed it had failed. "What should we do now? Said Cormac, "We must," said Cithruadh, and all with him, "we must provide us with a large number of men. They were supplied, and they made great construction sites as for ships, and fixed the heads of the posts in these props. This is how they set up the whole camp. This is where the place is named Long Cliath, because of the way camp is set up.

41. "Without a doubt," said Colphta to Cithruadh, "you must have shied away from this expedition. Indeed, that such and such returns or does not come back living from this province, you in any case will not return ”. "Without a doubt," said Cithruadh, "I know indeed what the consequences of this expedition will be for me and for Cormac: I would have prevented Cormac from leaving, if you had not encouraged him to do so and if your advice had not been had not prevailed. Besides, you will not find yourself better than ourselves to have come to this province, for none of you will come out alive. Besides, this tent that neither you nor I were able to pitch, it would not have been taken out of Tara's house, had it not been for you, but Cormac would have followed the recommendations of his father and his grandfather and would have claimed tribute only with good reason and in all loyalty. Although the prophecy that I made to him on this subject was true, Cormac cared no more about it than he who made it ”.

42. The place where Cormac was encamped seemed to him to be too low, and that where Fiacha and the troops of Munster were encamped seemed to him high. His druids had promised him that, whatever the situation of the place where they were, they would raise him above all the others. Cormac asked them to do so, and they did as they had promised. They did indeed raise the hill fifty cubits above all the others, at least in appearance, for there was only an illusion there.

Cithruadh therefore did not succeed in pitching the tent; about this, Cormac said to him: "It is a bad omen for you, Cithruadh. where was your strength when you weren't able to pitch the tent? The hill did not allow the stakes to penetrate, any more than if they had been planted on a stone ”. - "It is not that I lack the strength to plant it", said Cithruadh, "but it is the injustice of your attempt which is the cause of this failure. "

43. It took them three days and three nights to establish the camp. Then they sent to claim tribute and indemnity, and they were not granted. The next day Cormac sent to provoke the warriors of Munster in single combat. They asked him a delay of three days and three nights, to decide who would take charge of fighting, because, for Cormac, he knew in advance the five who would take charge of fighting. Cormac granted this delay. Munster's men deliberated on this and decided who would take part in the fight. These are the arrangements which they adopted for this combat: Four hundred and eight men, in companies of twenty men, each of which bore a name and had a leader, and each company bore the name of its leader. The leader was strong enough to fight twenty men, and each man in each company could fight nine.

Here are the names of each company: companies Finn, Failbe, Fingen, Fergus, Fiacha, Finnchad, Dond, Daire, Domnall, Forgarb, Tren, Mureadach, Trenfer, Feilimid, Domnchad, Conall, Cobtach, Dubtach, Dael, Dinertach, Diarmud, Ciar, Crimthan.

44. Mogh Corb mac Cormaic Cais Meic Oililla Oluim undertook to encourage the warriors of Munster who would go into battle. Cairpre Liffacair, son of Cormac, undertook to encourage the warriors of the Northern Party who would go into battle. But only among these went into battle the five druids that Cormac had brought from Sith Cleitach: Colphta and Lurga. Erri, Eng and Engain.

45. Colphta advanced west to the mound designated for the meeting on the northwest shore of Ath na nOc, now Ath Colphta. Finn Fidhrinde went to confront him southwest of Ath Corco Maigen, now Ath Colphta. The two warriors charged with encouraging them, Mogh Corb and Cairpre, were with them. They spoke to each other and began to fight; during the encounter in the ford, sure and straight were the darts they threw at each other, firm their hearts, powerful the blows they struck each other; blows responded to blows and the response to attack. They bruised each other like that, until the shadows of the end of the day came.

The birds could have sneaked up by flying through Find's body. On the other hand, Colphta's body did not bear any trace of a blow, because neither point nor edge could strike it, so great was its magic power. However, Colphta's arms were torn from him three times that day, and he was cruelly wounded on his body, although he did not die.

When the shadow came they parted and each returned to their camp.

46. Finn was all torn and bloody that night. He pledged on his honor to resume the fight in person the next day. He supported the fight in this way for three days then succumbed, Colphta having gathered all his art and all his diabolical science, and having invoked his god. Thus succumbed to the blows of Colphta the twenty warriors of Finn. It was not, however, that their hearts were not firm, that their blows were not powerful, nor their features sure and straight; but they did not have magical resources equal to those available to Colphta.

47. This fight ended, Lurga came to the same ford and proposed the fight to the Munsterians. It was Failbe's company that rose to the challenge. Failbe mac Feduigh came into battle. It was with certainty, with firmness and ardor that he sustained the fight. It would be a waste of time to recount the brilliant deeds that were accomplished during this series of battles, because the same story has already been told. The fact is that all the Munsterians engaged in this fight succumbed and perished. Two hundred and eighty Munsterians perished without Cormac having engaged in this combat other than Colphta and, alternatively, Lurga. It was after this that the people of Munster refused any single combat.

48. Cormac then asked the Munsterians to give him battle in groups of one hundred. It was then that Maol Miscadach's three daughters came from the North: Errgi, Eng and Engain, in the guise of three brown sheep. They had horn shells, bone heads, iron beaks that distilled poisons capable of killing a hundred men in battle. All the points and edges in the world could not have cut a hair or a strand of their fleece.

The people of Munster engaged in the fight: they fitted hardwoods to the well-shaped, hard and pointed javelins which they carried in their hands: they made with the star shields a rampart around the army: they carried three heavy swords with penetrating blows. in their sheaths. They carried javelins easy to throw to support the fight, and to initiate the fight.

When the adversaries met, coming from the North and the South, they attacked each other.

49. The people of Munster lost that day the best of their weapons, protecting and safeguarding their person against the attacks of the sheep, and although they assailed them with sure shots and powerful blows, they lost neither hair nor strand. of their fleece; that day they only succeeded in tearing the arms and clothing of the people of Munster to pieces. When the day had waned and night was about to fall, they parted ways and returned to their respective camps.

50. The next day early they returned to fight under the same conditions and, by mutual agreement, began to cut each other's throats again in the ford. And it was not pleasant for the four provinces of Ireland to hear, even in their camps, the clash of shields splitting (?), The harsh blows of swords, the breaking of weapons, and the slaughter of heroes. that the sheep were doing. Although the battalions put up stubborn resistance, they broke through and shoved their ranks, beheaded the warriors and left the whole troop in the square, upside down and side by side; and the sheep made a heap of their clothes and their weapons, and heaped their heads together in a heap, and left them so; the adversaries then separated to return to their camps. The warriors of Munster took the remains of their people with them.

Thus were four hundred and eight warriors of Munster defeated.

After these fights the people of Munster noticing that it was. *** formidable cattle which had put them all to death thus, decided to give up (these fights) where they engaged an army corps, and they did not accept no more fighting from then on.

51. Cormac then claimed the tribute, and it was not given to him. It was then that he said to his druids, "Well, what about the promise you made to me?" "-" What did we promise you? They said. - "You promised me", he said, "to alter the population of this province, and to hide the rivers and waters of the province, except the quantity which is necessary for me and my army. And I did not trust, nor do I trust my own strength, but the promise you made to me to overwhelm this province with all the scourges I would like, without my having to fight nor to fight against them; it would be enough, you said, for the plagues with which you would overwhelm them, until the object of my desire was brought to me to the very place where I would be. "

52. The Druids hid the waters of the whole province, except the quantity necessary for Cormac and his army, which they did not hide. The whole population of the province was then in the grip of a devouring thirst, people, herds and cattle. Cormac then asked for the tribute and did not obtain it: this is what the people of Munster then had recourse to, as long as Cormac committed neither depredations nor ***; they had milk sent from their homes to every place they were. Cormac was informed and said to his druids: "How would the people of Munster submit, although deprived of water, as long as they have milk?" "-" It is not more difficult for us ", they said," to dry up the milk of the cows than to deprive the armies of water. And with this they dried up the milk of the cows, and thirsted the horses, the sheep, the oxen, and all the cattle of the province. And whatever was the number of all the armies of the province, all the herds of the province made no less noise, bellowing, neighing and snorting (?).

53. Cormac then demanded tribute, and was refused. And this is what the people of Munster did: they bled their cattle and their flocks, and put the blood in vessels, and had it sent to them in pipes. And, moreover, they collected the dew every morning, mixed it with the blood, and left it there until a kind of bloody water formed, which they then drank through torches and pipes. At this rate, they weakened, their tongue swelled, they lost speech, they lost strength and energy, they completely lost all vigor, so much so that they could hardly understand each other. others, when they spoke.

54. When Fiacha noticed that they were on the point of perishing in this way he said to them: “Necessity has no law; that we send from you to Cormac (?); everything he claims, and which is the object of his expedition, from the smallest to the most important things, that it is granted to him. " 

They went to find Cormac on behalf of the Munsterians, and the messenger said, "Cormac, whatever you have come to ask for, from the smallest things to the most important, will be granted to you. "Anger and the most excessive pride seized at these words of Cormac and the nobles of Leth Cuinn, and they said to Cormac:" May the king who will receive this tribute accept neither honor nor domains ( as long as this tribute has not been brought to him in Tara), but that he first inflicts on this province humiliating, excessive, unworthy and eternal servitudes, for having forced him to leave his residence. Cars it seemed to them that what Cormac demanded was owed to him without his needing to resort to arms and without being forced on an expedition to claim it.

55. And they then made the choice of shameful and unworthy conditions to be imposed on the province, in addition to the tribute already claimed, which was to be brought to Cormac in his residence. And this is what they consisted of: every three months each king of the south of Ireland was to send to each king of the north the finest and rarest food supplies; and likewise each prince of the South to each prince of the North, each lord of the South to each lord of the North; each inhabitant of the South had to hand over his son or daughter to the power of an inhabitant of the North, to guarantee the payment of the tribute; that if an inhabitant of the South failed to pay, his or her son or daughter would be put to death, a new hostage provided and provisions delivered. In addition, the ninth of all Munster crops was to be sent north, regardless of tribute and other obligations.

Cormac's messengers came to propose this. The people of Munster agreed to this tribute, overwhelming though it was, so great was the distress in which they found themselves.

56. As the Dairines and the Derghtines were in this danger, Fiacha Muillethan's maternal grandfather came to see them at the General Assembly. It is from him, Dil mac Dacreca, that Druim Dil is named in the Deisi, and it is from him that all the Crecaige of Ireland descend. Fiacha spoke to him and said to him: "where is your magical science, where is the magical science of Southern Ireland, O you who do not know how to help us nor to help us in the danger in which we are? - "We didn't succeed," said Dil. - "Curse on you," said Fiacha. “Indeed, even if you had only succeeded in supplying us with water, we would never have submitted to this tribute, as long as there was a man living in the province. Do you know, ”he said,“ anyone else in this province who could help us? "-" I don't know, "he said," unless your tutor, Mogh Ruith, does. It was with his help that I raised you. Moreover it is he who predicted to you, the day of your birth, that Leth Cuind would besiege you, as it happens today, and no one is able to help you, if he does not succeed. , because it is in Sidh Cairn Breacnatan, with Ban Buanainn, the druidess, daughter of Dergdhualach, that Mogh Ruith acquired the science of the seven centuries. And there are no spells that he cannot perform either outside or inside the "Sidh" on this side or the other, for none among the inhabitants of Ireland , did not go in the flesh, learn magic in the realms of the fairies, except Mogh Ruith. However he will do nothing but for a high reward, for he has so far been neither *** nor honored and welcome, and you have not cared about him. "

57. "What kind of reward do you think he would like to get? Said Fiacha. "It seems to me", he said, "that he would like an estate and a piece of land, because the place where he lives, Inis Dairbre, is very remote and very small for his taste". - "On our word", said the people of Munster, "even if he asks that one king of Munster in three be chosen from among his descendants, and that in perpetuity, we will grant it to him, without asking him for other help. than to provide us with water. "And they said to Dil:" We give you thanks; go to this embassy, and ask Mogh Ruith if he can help us, and if he can, we will all be subject to tribute and royalty to him and to his successor after him, his son, his grandson and his great-grandson, and will grant whatever pleases him in addition to that, without asking anything in return except to deliver us from one of the plagues that overwhelm us. "

58. Dil then set out and reached Dairbre. As soon as he arrived he greeted Mogh Ruith and Mogh Ruith welcomed him. "Where did Dil come from?" He said. “From the mountain of Cenn Claire where the province of Munster is united around Fiacha. "How is it going there?" Said Mogh Ruith. “It's not going well for your student,” said Dil. " What do you mean ? Said Mogh Ruith. Dil told him all the spells and plagues with which the Druids of Cormac had overwhelmed the people of Munster, and how, towering over them from the top of a Druidic hill where he was encamped, he demanded a new tribute from them. "What is the purpose of your approach on this subject?" Said Mogh Ruith. “It's very simple,” said Dil, “the people of Munster sent me to talk to you, and ask if you could help them; in case you could turn their spells on their opponents, you would be granted any land grants and estates you please. Even more, if it can be pleasant to you that one king of Munster in three is chosen among your descendants in perpetuity, it will be granted to you. "

59. “It is not that I have no right to exercise kingship. However, this is not what I will ask them if I help them; I do not think that they are afflicted with any plague from which I cannot deliver them, because my master Simon mac Guill mac Iargaill, as well as Pierre, promised me that I would never fail in my art, as long as I would live. "

"Tell me," said Dil, "what salary and what gift do you want, if you take it upon yourself to rescue them?" "

60. “It's very simple; "Said Mogh Ruith:" a hundred cows of the herd with bright white coats, giving milk; one hundred well-fattened pigs; a hundred hard-working oxen; a hundred racehorses; fifty beautiful coats, white and fluffy; on top of that, the daughter of the first lord of the East, or that of the first after him, to give me children, for I myself was well born by my fathers, and want my descendants to be well born also by their mother, so that it is by comparison with my race that the nobility of young chiefs of noble race will be judged; the first place in the parades of the troops [the command of the cavalry?] of the king of Munster, so that my successor has in perpetuity the rank of king of the province, and that this condition is never violated, but that the 'everything that has been promised to me is accomplished towards me; that the king of Munster choose his adviser and confidant among my descendants; if we follow his advice, they will ensure victory; if he repeats to anyone the secret entrusted to him by the king, without the latter's confession, that he be dismissed or put to death: that my descendants be given access to the assemblies (?), that the three men who sit in front of the king be chosen from among them, as well as the one who stands to his right. That one gives me, of a ground of my choice in Munster, the surface of which my servants will be able to go around in one day, without the kings of Munster being able to ever have representatives, to take hostages or to exercise a suzerainty over this land, and without any one being able to ask my successor for any other guarantor than his whip left in his train, or to close the hand of the King of Munster on his ankle. I do not know that my race has ever shown weakness or cowardice, but I recommend that they make an alliance with the king of Munster and fight for him, in order to oblige him and to recognize his loyalty to pay homage to him. them from the promised salary to me). If all this is granted to me, may Mogh Corb mac Cormaic Cais meic Oililla Oluim, as well as Donn Dairine and the other nobles of Munster come to me on behalf of the province of Munster and that they guarantee the fulfillment of these clauses. I will go with them personally, and at my word I will deliver them from this plague. "

61. Thereupon, Dil went east, as far as Clare, where the armies of Munster were gathered around Fiacha. The Munsterians asked him what the druid's intentions were, although they had only a breath of voice. Dil informed them of the druid's intentions, the salary he demanded, the guarantors he had appointed. The people of Munster granted everything: the guarantors stood up and engaged for the people of Munster gathered around their king to ensure the fulfillment of the contract which they were going to conclude in their name; they set out to find the Druid King.

62. When they arrived at Dairbre they were welcomed and ready to serve and treat them, for Mogh Ruith had no doubt that they would come. Mogh Ruith proceeded to restrain them and they to decline his invitation, saying: “O protector, defender against evil, the people of Munster are in great danger and they need help; we come to offer you everything you ask for and fulfill our promises; all you have to do is conclude the contract with us. "3I will conclude," he said, "but we won't be leaving until early tomorrow morning. They stayed there, well served and well treated, and Mogh Ruith began to feast with them and ask them for news, and he spoke that rhetoric of which Mac Corb was providing him the answers:

Mogh Ruith then inquired about the battles fought and the losses suffered in those battles, and Mac Corb told him everything: "We are sorry," said Mogh Ruith, "and, on our honor, if we can, two men will perish. for each of them… and others with them, and the five will perish, who brought this calamity to the province. "

63. They remained there until the next day at the first hour; it was then that Mogh Ruith told his pupil, Cennmar, to bring him his traveling crew: his two noble oxen, swift as the sword, from Sliab Mis and who were called Luath Tren and Loth Lis, his beautiful chariot rowan warrior with white bronze stretchers [findruine], all encrusted with carbuncles, with crystal doors, such that the night appeared as bright as the day to the people who sat in the chariot. There was also his ivory hilted saber, hard and blue, his bronze spears, his two sharp five-pointed javelins, with elegant antlers and easy to throw, bearing well-fitting white bronze rivets; a hornless brown bull skin ran the length of the cart, on the benches, and on the thighs. Around him stood the escort who accompanied him on his expeditions, numbering one hundred and thirty, as Cormac mac Cuilleannain says:

“A strong escort surrounded the chariot of the Druid King as it set out: one hundred and thirty men. "

64. Then they got up and left, and Mogh Ruith was explaining everything to his pupil, as follows, saying:

"March, Cennmar the victorious, etc." "

They then set off and Mogh Ruith got into his chariot. And the lords (of Munster) said to him: "Who will choose your domain and your land? - "I will not leave it to anyone but myself," said Mogh Ruith. “Give me land from every country I pass through, and I will discover, just by smell, which is the best domain, and I will choose it; so that, whether the earth is good or bad, I can only blame myself. "

65. And they came to Glenn Bethbhe, in the region of Corco Duibhne, and they brought him some land of Bethbhe, and he smelled of it; he says this rhetoric, refusing it: " 

"O Bethbhe, etc. "

“This is not the area that I will take for my paycheck,” he said. "We won't seek to impose it on you either," they said.

They then went to Crich Eogunachta in Corco Duibhne in Kerry. He was given a little of this land, and he did not take it and said this rhetoric, refusing it: "***".

“I won't take this land,” he said. "So it will not come into your possession," they said.

They then continued as far as Aes Cuile and Ealla, and land was given from these two countries to Mogh Ruith, and he uttered this rhetoric, refusing them: "***".

They went to Crich Cairiche, now called Muscraidhi Fheaga; he was given land from that country, and he said this rhetoric, refusing it:

"Soft and hard earth, etc." "

“I will not take it,” he said, “and I will not rob my brothers, for they will find someone else to rob them. They continued on to Tech Forannain Finn, now Cenn Abrat. “I will not leave this place,” said Mogh Ruith, “until I have chosen my domain and my land. because it is not once I return to the armies that I will be able to ask them for land or domain. "

He was then brought land from Cliu Mail meic Ugaine, in Min Mairtine in Munster. It was then that he said, describing it and refusing it:

"Cliu warrior etc. "

It is there that will be born the disease which will devour Munster ", he says," it is the way of the dissension and the plunder. I will not take this area under any circumstances. Besides, this land will one day be a desert, although it is not today. "

66. From there they went towards the land known as Corchaille Meic Con, or Caille Menne meic Erca meic Degadh (Caile de Menne) which we call today Fir maighe. It is called Caille mac nEirc, because the sons of Erc lived there: Menne mac Erca, Uatha mac Erca and Ailbhe mac Erca. Its other name, Fir Maighi lead, is explained by the amount of ore found in the surrounding mountains, as lumps of ore are found in every field even today. another name is Corchaille Meic Con, because he belonged to the Darine clan and this is where Rosach na Righ is located, where Mac Con resided until the battle of Cenn Abhratt.

So they brought him some soil from this domain and he said these words while taking it:

"The mountain around the wood, the wood around the plain, etc." "

67. So he took that land, and he advised his children, recommending them (?) To be as poisonous inwardly, and as affectionate to each other, and as cunning as serpents; for the manners of snakes are such that if nine snakes nest in one nest, they are so affectionate to each other that each of them is not more affectionate to his own reach than any one. of those who are in the nest with him. “This is how I want my descendants to be, acting in concert. As long as they are thus the surrounding country will not be able to resist their number and no one will stand up to them, unless he is able to resist the great king of the province, for I can only guarantee their prosperity if they observe three conditions: to live in mutual good understanding, to stick to the term of my contract, and to get along well with the race of Fiacha. "

“If all do not fulfill these mutual obligations, then the people I help today will walk on the belly of my descendants; they will take their domain from them so well that they will disappear entirely, annihilated by the disaster which will befall them; and one day we will say in front of the mountains which surround them: "is not this where the imposing Fir Maighe lived? "- And here is why they will be called so: because I recommend above all to be generous, and full of dignity and to fight for Munster, in perpetuity.

68. "Is this the area you choose? They said. "Yes," he said. “Who will cut and demarcate this area for you?” They said. “Everyone's pupil acts as his son,” said Mogh Ruith, “my pupils will go. And these pupils were: Muchet, from where is named Corco Muichit in the country of Ui Connel; Bent, from whom all the Benntraidhi of Ireland are descended; Buirech, from whom descend the Ui Buirich, in the region of Fossach mor, in the region bordering the Ui meic Caille and the UiTassaigh; Dil Mor mac Da creca, of whom is named Druim nDil, and all the Crecaidhe of Ireland. Finally Ceannmar, originally from Cairo Comain in Cloenloch in Deisi.

The young men then stood up and said, "How shall we demarcate the land, dear father?" "Using the hammer on the anvil," said Mogh Ruith, "that is, from the place where Fidh in Uird (the wood of the hammer) is located in Orbraidhe to Indeoin (the anvil) in Deisi: the section from the waves (?) of Tuadcaille (today Glenn mBrighdi) to the road where the waves of the Oithen flow, under the forest of Giusach, green and branched towards Colaem.

69. They went southwest before them, Muchet at their head, and Muchet took the wrong road from the beginning, for he had learned by revelation that his residence would later be in the West. They went to Bunraide in the south, to Cleitech in Dun dailche Finnlethet, and from there went directly to the place Slich in Leith in the east, towards Glenn Brigdi and Carn Tigernaigh meic Deghaid. Buirech then took the lead, and he took the wrong path from the start, for he foresaw that it would be in the South that he would establish his home. And they continued on their way to Gluair Fer Muighi Fene, and went up to Cligh na Cruithnechta, to Leac Failmir, Glenn Cusaigi Croilinnche, berna nGall (east of tailech Aedha), Bern Doire Cailli Monad, today Bern Leachta ua Setna, Carn Aedha meic Lidhne, Leac Uidhir, Carn Maelglasain, Ath Cull Buinden, Ath da Abhunn.

70. From there they returned to Tech Forannain Finn, where the armies were and Mogh Ruith at their head. "Have you completed your task? Said Mogh Ruith. “We're done,” they said. "It seems to me," he said, "that you neglected to walk around part of the estate I had designated you, judging by how quickly you came back." "We haven't left anything out," they said. “Show me your soles,” he said. "Either," they said. They showed their soles to Mogh Ruith and it was then that Mogh Ruith said: "***".

71. "What is it that has done me wrong, Muchet?" Said Mogh Ruith. “It was revealed to me,” said Muchet, “that my domain and my lands would lie in front of me, to the west, and I did not like to neglect my own interests. "It is true," said Mogh Ruith, "your domain will be there, and it will not be you who will benefit from it." " And he says:

"The land of Muchet mac Muichit, that it is not him who benefits from it. There is little land, and a lot of wood. "

"What is it that has done me wrong, Bent?" He said. “I am old and tired. I didn't want to stand up to everyone. May you prosper to your most remote posterity (?). "

What got me wrong, Buirech? "

"It was revealed to me that it is in the region that I *** for you that my descendants and my race would be. "" It will be so (?), O Buirech *** and may your race never exceed (in number) a fire and a half (?). "

"What has done me wrong, Cennmar?" "It was revealed to me," he said, "that it was in front of me going west that my domain and my land would be located and I did not like to cut down on them. "

"Let the domain and the land of your race be small forever, let your theft and your plunder be forever small. "

"What has done me wrong, Dil?" He said. “Pretty much the same,” Dil said. "Let your land not be of any profit to you," he said, "but let however your name be given to a district, and your race (that of the Creacraidhi) be spread throughout all of Ireland thereafter. ********* their home, than any other province in Ireland. The goods of this great province, I said that they will be ******** they will be camped three days and three nights in deisi ********** And it is with this land - where we can compare any good ground in Ireland. "

It was then that they entered into regular contracts.

72. They headed for Cenn Claire mountain where Fiacha and the people of Munster were. The people of Munster arose around Fiacha, to welcome Mogh Ruith, and all granted him the supremacy and the salary he claimed, and they assured him that their sons and grandsons would respect this supremacy and the advantages granted to him vis-à-vis his descendants. "Who have you chosen for your fiancée?" They said. “Eimhne, daughter of Aengus Tirech, pupil of Mogh Corb. “Cul Emhne is named after her these days. "If she prefers my son Buan she sleep with him." This was left to the choice of the young girl. Here is the choice she made: "the one who is the most informed and who will ensure the protection of everyone, it is with him that I will sleep." "

They then signed the contracts and we settled all the arrangements at the same time.

73. This done, the people of Munster went to the place where Mogh Ruith and the lords already named were located. "If you think it's time for me to help you," he said, "tell me how I can help you in the distress you are in. "Provide us with water," they said. "Where's Cennmar?" Said Mogh Ruith. "Here," Cennmar said. "Give me my magic spears". They were given to him. They darkened the air and the sky, and we saw that a torrent gushed out from her (their?) Foot (that is to say, from the point where she (they?) Had struck).

 "Where's Cennmar?" "Here," Cennmar said. "Hollow out the place struck by the tip of the spear". »What will my reward be? Said Cennmar, "The river that will flow shall bear your name," said Mogh Ruith. Cennmar began to scratch the earth and seek water, and Mogh Ruith said this rhetoric while seeking water: “Hello, delicious flow…. " 

74. When he had finished that, the water gushed out breaking the bark of the earth, and it made a great crash and all had great difficulty in protecting themselves from the water, and Cennmar said listening to the water coming. , before everyone heard its crash: "Full cup ...".

75. When the nobles had finished drinking what the druid gave them, Mogh Ruith said, "Drink this," he said, "so that your strength and energy, and your aptitude for arms would return to you, along with your vigor and your dignity. "

They thronged to the water, in troops and groups, and all there quenched their thirst, people, horses and cattle, so that the water was sufficient for all. Then the waters poured out and distributed themselves on all sides, towards their people, and from there they spread in the valleys, the rivers and the springs of the province, and delivered them from the magical numbness which weighed on them. them, and the waters thus manifested themselves to all; the flocks and the cattle of the province were brought into the waters, and drank their content.

76. The people of Munster then uttered a clamor of joy, which was heard as far as the Cormac camp. And Munster's men sent to Cormac, to tell him what had happened, to refuse to pay the tribute, and to denounce the truce.

The Northern Party, grouped around Cormac, was seized with horror and terror: they trembled at the idea that their druids had told them the truth, when they had opposed this expedition.

 "We give you thanks (?) Mogh Ruith," said the Munsterians, "the reward which was promised to you is now yours, even though you would give us no help other than giving us back. water. "-" It is not that I want to haggle you for my help, but I am very afraid that they will not pay my children and my descendants what you have granted me by contract. All then gave their blessing to all who would carry out the conditions: Mogh Corb, Donn Dairine and the guarantors did the same.

77. The next day Mogh Ruith asked, "What help do you prefer now?" "Lower the hill," they said, "for it is a great affliction and a great calamity for us, that our enemies are thus installed above our heads on a magical hill when we ourselves are at the foot so although we can only see them by looking up. "Let my face be turned towards the hill," said Mogh Ruith. This is what we did without balancing. Immediately he called upon his god and his power and grew so well that he was no less tall than the hill, and his head grew until it was as big as a high hill crowned with great oak woods, so well that even his retinue was seized with terror at the sight of him.

78. It was then that his comrade, Gadhra, from Druim meic Criadhnaidhi came to find him; he was the son of the sister of Ban Buanana, the druidess, daughter of Derg Dualach. He came to the aid and rescue of Mogh Ruith. Beautiful was his appearance that day on the side turned towards Mogh Ruith and the People of Munster, odious and monstrous was his appearance and his countenance on the side turned towards Cormac and his armies: his head was rough, prickly like a man. pine (?), and as big as a royal castle. Each of his two eyes was as big as a king's cauldron, and they protruded outside his head; her knees were behind, and her heels in front. He held in his hand a large iron trident; he was wrapped in a coat of a gray brown, horny, all bristling with bones and horns; a goat and a ram followed him. They were terrified, everyone who saw him in this crew.

 "Why did you come? Mogh Ruith asked him. I came. He said, "to make the armies tremble and terrify, so that there remains only the strength of a woman in bed in each of their warriors at the time of combat. And he went in this crew to Druim Damhgaire; he circled the hill three times, and uttered three deafening cries and showed himself to the enemies in this way, so that they were seized with horror and terror; he thus deprived all the warriors of half of their courage and their warlike valor.

79. He left them in this state and went to join Mogh Ruith; Mogh Ruith asked him if he had carried out the purpose for which he had come; he also asked him how the armies would succumb, man by man or by groups, by scores or by hundreds: Mogh Ruith therefore began the poem (following) and Gadhra answered him.

Mogh ruith. Why have you come, O Gadhra! Is it to bring desolation, certain power (?).

Gadhra. It is to spread horror and terror among the enemy armies.

Mogh ruith. Tell me what feats you did, was Cormac's action ***…?

Gadhra. They will cry out, they will implore mercy *** .. (?). Cormac's army will be in disarray.

Mogh ruith. Is it singly or in pairs, or in masses that we can count them?

Gadhra. It is one by one and two by two that they will perish, these magicians.

Mogh ruith. Is it by the scores or by the hundreds or by the masses, as you can imagine?

Gadhra. It is by the scores of hundreds and in masses that they will perish, the descendants of Conn, chief of heroes.

Mogh ruith. Why were not they perished by you, the tribes and the armies which he gathered?

Gadhra. Nothing is lost anyway, their advantage will go up in smoke even so. Even so,

80. They were both preparing for battle: Gadhra had resumed his normal appearance, Mogh Ruith then began to blow on the hill; no warrior of the northern party could stand in his tent, so great was the storm, And the Druids did not know the origin of this storm. Mogh Ruith, blowing thus on the hill pronounced these words: "I turn, I return, etc ..,".

81. The hill then disappeared, enveloped in dark clouds and in a whirlwind of fog, so that the common army was seized with terror, at the cry of battalions, at the tumult of horses and chariots, at the crash of broken arms resounding when the hill was cut off from its foundations. Part of the army was left plunged in the throes of agony, all surrendered to despondency and discouragement.

This filled the Munsterians with joy: they raised a clamor in celebration, and were very proud of it. In a word, the enthusiasm and joy that reigned among the army of the North before passed to the army of the South, and, conversely, the affliction and despair in which the army of the South was plunged before, were the lot. of the army of the North, They remained in this state until the morning.

82. The Northern Party then noticed how their spells had been turned against them, Cormac found himself reproaching the druids who were in his service. It was then that Colptha, quite ashamed of the warning that Cormac had inflicted on her, rose; he took in his left arm his dark and sinister shield, which measured no less than one hundred and twenty feet, and was surrounded by an iron circle; he took his heavy and piercing saber, into which thirty masses of flaming metal had melted, he took his two dark, smoky (?) black spears in his hand. And he himself took on a horrible, immense, grotesque appearance, with a stature of fifty feet, without including his clothes (?) ****** in the calculation. Cairpre Liffacair came with him to urge him and they left the camp, marching southwest to fight.

83. When the Munsterians saw this, they said to Mogh Ruith, “O our friend and ally, here comes Colptha to fight, in the most sinister guise he has ever come in. »» Who comes with him? Said Mogh Ruith. “Cairpre Liffacair,” they said. "Where's Cennmar now? Mogh Ruith said, "Here," Cennmar said. "Get up", he said, "and prepare (?) To stand up to this peasant". - "Very dear father," said Cennmar, "I visited the East and stayed here with you, and you never invited me to fight." And, whatever I may have accomplished, I have never fought in single combat; whatever I am capable of undertaking, I will step aside in front of anyone in matters of combat and feats of arms. "Get on your way, however," said Mogh Ruith, "and I will go with you myself." " 

84. Mogh Ruith went to Raithin in Imairic (at the meeting mound) on the ford, to the southwest: Cennmar followed him, Mogh Ruith came equipped as if it was himself who had to fight, and as well than he ever had been: he carried a well-constructed, star-studded shield surrounded by a silver circle, a warrior saber stood (?) at his left side and he furthermore held two shining, poisoned spears, in his hands. He thus advanced with his offensive and defensive weapons to the mound southwest of the ford; the very instant Cairpre Liffacair appeared, coming from the north, accompanying Colptha, Mogh Corb appeared with Cennmar. For they were the witnesses of the battle which the two warriors fought, from beginning to end; it was they who observed with certainty and evidence the cruel blows inflicted on each other by the combatants.

Mogh Ruith said to Cennmar: "Give me my poisoned stone, and my flat hand stone, and my" hundred fight, "and my" destruction of my enemies "; it was given to him, and he began to praise it, and to put a poisonous charm on it and he said rhetoric: "I pray my hand stone, etc." " 

85. When he had finished, he put it in Cennmar's hand, and said to him: "When Colptha enters the ford and advances towards you, throw this stone in the ford, and at my word," said- he, ”I have no doubt that she is deflecting Colptha's blows from you. "

Colptha then proceeded to the mound of the meeting on the ford, and all the time it took Colptha to come from the camp up to there, Mogh Ruith sent against him towards the north a druidic breath; this transformed the stones and the sand on the ground into fiery, furious, hard and sharp brandons, all the way from the camp to the ford, so that it was very painful for Colptha to put his foot on the ground, so much the clods hurt and burned him. The sedges of the plain turned into barking female dogs and sharp, and the swamp grasses began to push him back and *** against him; the mounds and the ants of the plain transformed into fighting boars which all cried out together and made a great crash at his approach. And the hawthorn bushes of the plain turned into wild oxen, immense, bold, with large rumps, which howled and howled at his approach. So much so that Colptha was seized with horror and terror,

86. As for Mogh Ruith, he stepped forward in a similarly imposing and immense appearance. Colptha cast her eyes on him across the ford, towards the south shore: he guessed that it was he who had given rise to the extraordinary phenomena that one saw in the plain. He was astonished to see Mogh Ruith armed, though blind; he recited the rhetoric: "********* ..". Mogh Ruith answered sharply and sternly and recited the rhetoric: "****** ..."

87. After this interview the Druids came to action. Cennmar advanced towards the ford and Colptha did not see him until he was installed at the edge of the ford; Cennmar placed the stone in front of him in the ford, and turned it into a huge sea eel, as we have already said. Cennmar himself posted himself on the ford, in the guise of a stone. There was, moreover, a large stone in the ford; she took on the appearance of Cennmar.

Then a storm arose over the ford, like mighty waves on a blustery spring day, in a storm on the high seas. Neither party had any doubt as to its origin, for the descendants of Conn , who surrounded Cormac, attributed the gathering of these waves to the magical and evil art of Mogh Ruith, while Fiacha and the people of Munster saw an effect of the magical and diabolical art of Colptha in this furious storm they could see rising in the middle of the plain. The four provinces of Ireland filled with terror at this sight.

88. History does not record any encounter or combat fought by Cennmar and Colptha that day. It was not Colptha who slipped away, however, for, when he saw the false Cennmar in the ford, he jumped on him and he struck him three blows with the great murderous saber he held in his hand, so that an adult man would have found his place in the bloody mark left by each blow in the stone.

The eel then leaped up on him and grabbed him by the face and they fell across the ford, so that they rolled around three times, Colptha and the eel successively being over it. It was then that Colptha was separated from his weapons which shattered into a thousand pieces in his hands. - The eel then took the advantage over Colptha; she clung to his skin, circled him so as to paralyze him, and tied nine knots around his body, trapping her hands; and one foot of Colptha was taken from below, and the other from above. When it tried to take a step, the eel kicked the foot it lifted with its tail, and threw it back to the ground; when he raised his head, the eel took between its jaws the top of its head (Iitt. the part of the head which was farthest from it), and sent it knocking against the current.

89. When Mogh Corb saw that the eel had the upper hand over Colptha, he said to Cennmar: "Bad luck on you," he said, "it is doing you great wrong not to do anything to secure yourself the moral benefit of this. death and the reputation of having killed this peasant. Cennmar then seized Mogh Ruith's druidic spear, and he darted it at Colptha, over his head, with force and energy, and Mogh Corb urged him to be on his guard. Cennmar then jumped on Colptha, with Mogh Ruith's big murderous saber, and struck (Colptha) a blow that cut off his head. He left his head there and walked back to shore; he was then seized by a sudden fit of laughter as well as by his mortal and painful trance (?).

Mogh Corb jumped into the ford, grabbed the head, and walked away with it.

90. Cairpre Liffacair returned to his camp. The people of Munster uttered a clamor of rejoicing, in honor of this fight, and the jesters groaned in derision, and the Munsterians rejoiced in celebrating the death of Colptha.

 Are you singing victory? Said Mogh Ruith. That's us, for here is Mogh Corb carrying the head. "Where's Cennmar?" "Said Mogh Ruith" He was seized with his ****** .. seizure, "they said. "It's a shame," said Mogh Ruith. "If it was he who had come with the head, no man of his descent would ever have been defeated in single combat, provided only that they carry the arms of one of my descendants in combat," "Grant - me the privilege that you just said, "said Mogh Corb," since it is I who brought the head with me, that it is me who sees to the fulfillment of your contract, that it is my daughter that you have chosen and that I am no less than Colptha “. "I grant it to you," said Mogh Ruith, "as long as you fulfill your commitments to me, provided that every man of your descent carries in combat the arms of a man of mine".

And he says the quatrain:

 As long as they carry into battle the arms of a warrior of Mogh descent - according to their convention. They [their enemies] will succumb to their blows and submit (?) To them, provided that these conventions are not violated.

 This will never be broken at your expense. Said Mogh Corb. "And, in all conscience, prophesy to us, and teach us if our descendants will prosper, and if we ourselves will be uplifted." "Yes", said Mogh Ruith, "You yourself will accede to the throne of Munster, and a long dynasty will emerge from you which will occupy it," And he says the rhetoric: "With Mogh Corb I fight", etc,

This is the death of Colptha at Ath na nOc, and it is after Colptha that this ford has been named since then.

91. They stayed like that until early the next day. Early in the morning, Lurga set out for the same ford to fight; Cairpre Liffacair was with him, Cennmar came forward to take up the challenge from the Munsterians, and Mogh Corb with him; he held in his hand the flat hand stone and the druidic spear of Mogh Ruith. It would be a waste of time to describe the weapons and armor of each character who goes into battle; so we dispensed with doing so.

92. When Cennmar reached the fighting mound, southwest of the ford, Lurga began to consider him and call out to him. He was a warrior full of strength and ardor, and great was the terror he inspired in Cennmar. Lurga's foster father promised him that he would achieve the victory, and the glory of having killed Cennmar, thus avenging Colptha,

As for Cennmar, he was that day in such a disposition that he would have preferred to incur death and demise than not to face Lurga with a firm foot, with a resolute heart, striking his blows with fury, and throwing his features. with firmness and certainty; instead that the day before, when he faced Colptha, he was in complete disarray.

They struck up a conversation and answered each other alternately.

Cennmar walked towards the ford, his flat stone in hand. He began to praise her, to pray to her, and to prophesy the carnage she would accomplish. He invoked his god and the world's first druid, Mogh Ruith, and he said: "Flat stone, etc." ".

93. This interview over, Lurga entered the ford, and Cennmar stood up to him furiously: blows followed blows and the retort followed attack. But although this combat was ardent and furious, the weapons of the warriors did not cut hair or hair of the body or the clothing of the adversary, not that these warriors fight weakly and without courage, but rose between them the force of the stone. of combat ", the" fight of a hundred ", the" conqueror of the multitudes ", the great and murderous eel of the sea, which one called" the Hairy of Maeithremur ". She leapt at Lurga as she had leaped at Colptha so that the two warriors were separated, and Lurga succumbed. And that couldn't fail to happen, for her magical poison crept into anyone she hit as soon as she hit them.

Cennmar didn't let the two of them fight for long, but he approached them and with a blow from the dazzling and flaming scimitar he held in his hand, he severed Lurga's head. This head jumped in the air, and did not reach the ground while falling, because Cennmar caught it in flight, with dexterity and *****

This is how Lurga perished.

94. While they were fighting, they were invisible to the armies watching the fight from all the heights surrounding the ford. And they all said: "O God whom we adore, the violence of the storm and the mass of waters in the ford prevent us from seeing the dragon of fire who book this fight, so that we will have nothing to describe.

95. Thereupon the monster set out in the ford, towards the North, in pursuit of Cairpre Liffacair, under the clamors of Cormac's army. Cennmar began to follow her, restraining her, talking to her and telling her that she was not to follow Cairpre Liffacair, that the people of Munster would be sorry if she was heading towards the army, that they themselves would take charge of 'inflict on the latter such mistreatment as they see fit. In case she got to the first Cairpre, at least she refrained from mistreating and hurting him. Cennmar therefore applied himself to restrain her and he described her by saying: "Softly, hairy Maeithremur ... lie down on the soft hand of the great Mogh Ruith, Softly",

She then resumed her appearance and her original form, and everyone returned, who in the North, who in the South, to his residence and his camp, until morning.

96, The sheep set out early the next day. They were brown in color; their heads were hard and bony, their skin horny; they had iron beaks. They had the swiftness of a swallow, the agility of a weasel, the swiftness of birds, and were able to stand up to a hundred warriors in the hour of battle.

97. ”O Protector. "Said the people of Munster," here they are back in the form of three brown sheep, and they are capable of plunging a hundred men into the throes of agony and death ". “I will push them away from you, fear not. Said Mogh Ruith. He asked Cennmar, “Where are the Druidic utensils I gave you to fight these people? " " I have them. Cennmar said. The utensils were: Simon's lighter, Daniel's flint, and the tinder of Ether the Proteus. They were given to Mogh Ruith; this is the reason for these instruments: they gave the hardness of stone to the heads and hearts of the Munsterians at the time of battle; the blaze of fire and an unchanging color in the face of the sheep (that is, unperturbed courage in the face of the sheep).

98. Mogh Ruith struck three times, with the lighter against the stones, and skillfully and gently grasped the three strands of tinder, which he put in the fold of his garment, and he recited the rhetoric: "Get up. "Etc.

He then said to Cennmar, “Look at these materials. Are they ready yet? Cennmar looked and said, "That's good, it gave birth to two female dogs and a male dog." He took them in his hand to examine them, then put them back on the ground, turning their faces to the north, on the sheep's side. They were not stronger than newborn dogs at first, but as the sheep approached them the dogs' strength, size and fighting zeal increased.

99, Mogh Ruith asked Cennmar: “How do the sheep walk? "They are walking towards us," said Cennmar. "The oldest sheep walks in front, and the youngest in tail". And what do dogs look like? »» They are like little dogs: they open their eyes, and it is the sheep that they look at. " 

 And the sheep, how do they walk? "Two of them side by side and one behind them, and they go fast." »» And dogs, what do they look like? »» They roll their eyes, and flutter their ears, and it is again the sheep that they are looking at. »» And the sheep, how do they walk? "" They are like three great oxen harnessed to the same yoke, hard and well proportioned; neither of them advances in front of the other, and it is with ardor, ardor and violence that they advance into combat with the same pace and with the same resolution. »» And what do dogs look like? They wiggled their ears and lifted their paws and began to lick their mouths, rubbing their heads against their paws, and their mouths shut. "" All superiorities for them, "said Mogh Ruith," because if they had their mouths open when they went into battle, there would be a thief demon to steal their warlike ardor: as it is with their mouths closed that they conquer. , it is in this way that their race and their descendants will win from now on ”.

100. It was then that Mogh Ruith told Cennmar to direct the dogs to the fighting mound. And he instructed the dogs to endure death and death rather than let the sheep escape.

It was then that the dogs reached the fighting mound. And the sheep came to the corresponding mound, and they began to consider each other.

This is how the sheep were: they had three fringes of fire, blazing red, around their necks, so that there was no strand or tuft left that was not burnt around the ford, on this side and beyond. They then began to massacre each other with stones and large clods of earth, which they threw with their paws and claws across the ford, north or south.

101. The dogs sprang up to attack the sheep and the male dog at their head, for the old proverb has long been saying: "It is fitting that a man should come first." He will know about the biggest and most impressive sheep that he saw among them, and they attacked each other, and it was a violent and furious carnage, and they were a long time to fight. It would be a waste of time to describe this fight.

Yet this is how the dogs were: three fringes of fire with a red blaze came out of their mouths. When the dogs and the sheep met, the fire sprang up on the sheep, so that neither hair nor hair was left that was not burnt. The fire that the sheep wore around their necks had neither ardor nor Druidic poison, even when they attacked someone. And here is the cause: When Mogh Ruith settled in Cenn Claire, after joining the people of Munster, he put in the air a druidic breath which fell on the camp of the druids in the form of a black cloud. The result was that the druidic poison of all the druids who accompanied Cormac was stolen from them, as the poet Daniel says:

"The druids of the suite of Cormac ****************** Mogh Ruith with his breath took away their magic power".

102. When the sheep saw that the strength and the magical power of the dogs surpassed theirs, they returned to the earth, tempted to flee from the dogs, as the sheep used to do, and the dogs prevented them from doing so. . They therefore turned around and fled in rout, without stopping running until they had reached Dubhcaire; there they disappeared into the depths and bowels of the earth, fleeing from the dogs. The dogs rushed after them and grabbed them at the bottom; they had the advantage over them, and devoured them to the bone.

Then they left and went to the west of Munster. The hounds, the stable-boys and the grooms, as well as a great number of young men of the party of the North, set out in pursuit of them, so that it was with great difficulty that they escaped them between two peat bogs. For it turned out that the greater part of the two armies, both south and north, were stationed on the hills and heights, watching the fight and the flight of the sheep. Cormac nor Fiacha did not see him, however, for they were in their camp, surrounded by a small retinue, and they did not go out.

103. Thus ends the battle of the dogs and the sheep. It is from these sheep that Cluithre Caerach is named, nowadays, in the district of Mairtine in Munster, north of Druim Damhgaire, today Long Cliach. On the other hand, it is from these dogs that all the mad dogs descend that there is in Ireland nowadays, and that there will be forever.

The Munsterians then pushed, to celebrate this fight, a clamor which was heard by the whole province.

104. When Cithruadh saw the sheep perish, he went at the head of the army to the place where Cormac was (on this side of the river); Cormac asked Cithruadh: "Why are we pushing these clamors, and who is pushing them? »» The people of Munster. Said Cithruadh, "who celebrate their victory over the people in whom you have placed your trust and hope, for the magical dogs that Mogh Ruith made killed them. " 

Cormac's army was then plunged into sadness and discouragement, while the Munsterians rejoiced, and Cithruadh sang the poem: "The armies of the South rejoice, etc." "If what you say is true. Said Cormac, "there is no doubt that they have cause for celebration. " " It's true "; said Cithruadh. Happy who is with the southern party tonight, and unfortunate who is with the northern party, and I would rather my house were in Sech na Sogh tonight, although it is a deserted place, than Rubai Ratha Ronan, although she is surrounded by a large population. The fortunes of the fight will be against you this time, battalions and battalions will succumb, and our fate will not be better on us, the three brothers, for Mogh Ruith will turn us into three stones, when he comes this time- this. "And he said:" Unfortunate last night the one who is from the northern party ", etc.

105. After that, Cormac said to Cithruadh: "Make us some prophecy, for you were the main druid of my father, and of my grandfather, as you are mine. And you did not tell us a lie, nor did you advise us on this expedition; but it was not to you that our favor went, and, if we showed you little consideration, we regret it ". "I cannot give you any favorable prophecy," said Cithruadh. It is you who will be defeated this time, and in all the actions in which the people of Munster find themselves, it is they who will gain the victory. " 

Cormac remained to deliberate with Cithruadh and told him to go talk to Mogh Ruith and point out to him their original kinship, and tell him not to overwhelm the people of the North, because his father and grandfather were of the nobility of the North. "Offer him these rewards on top of the bargain," said Cormac: "The kingdom of Ulster and the compensation due for the death of the sons of Uisliu, and an ox from each of the estates between Tara and Carraic Bracuidi, three hundred horses, three hundred drinking horns, three hundred bracelets, and the place on my right at the table. " 

106. Cithruadh therefore left for this embassy, and went to see Mogh Ruith where he was, the day he left for Sith Cairn Breacnatan to the south. Cithruadh joined him there, and asked him to give him his attention, so that he conveyed Cormac's message to him, to remember their original kinship, and not to plunge the northern party into affliction and servitude. It is my duty to overwhelm them. "Said Mogh Ruith," since they sent Ferghus into exile, and took away the kingdom of Ulster from him, and deprived him of all domain and rank; I swore to myself that I would deprive them of their title of Grand King and that their race would live in slavery in foreign houses, in punishment ”.

 "It is only a small number among the nobles of the North," says Cithruadh, "who plotted this injustice; can't you accept these rewards from Cormac? And he told her what those rewards were. "Do not speak thus," said Mogh Ruith, "for I would not abandon my pupil for all the gold in the earth; will tell Cormac that even if there would be nobody in Munster but Mogh Corb, I would not give up my supreme fight (?) “.

107. The Druids then parted ways, and Mogh Ruith did not accept Cithruadh's offer. Cithruadh turned back to Cormac and told him that Mogh Ruith was not willing to come to their aid or to protect them. Conn's descendants were then plunged into sadness and despair was in their camp.

108. As for Mogh Ruith, he went to find Banbuanann, the druidess, in Sidh Cairn Breachnatan, to seek help there and to ask him how the Munsterians should march in battle.

As soon as he arrived there, he was welcomed; he spent the night in this place and asked, from beginning to end, everything that had to do with the war, Banbuanann said to him on this subject: "Set out early tomorrow, you will win the victory with the people of Munster “. And she pronounced the following rhetoric: "Get out early, get up", etc.

Mogh Ruith therefore set out and left early in the morning; he took his leave and proceeded to go out. It was then that Buan, the son of Mogh Ruith, said: "I had a vision, tell me what to think, Mogh Ruith". "Speak," said Mogh Ruith. It was then that Buan had recourse to the old venerable tongue, to recount his vision, and he said: "He appeared to me ...", etc.

109. Mogh Ruith then went to the place where the people of Munster were around Fiacha, at Cenn Claire. And Fiacha asked him for the news; and Mogh Ruith said, "I will obtain tribute for you, and I will claim still other things for you. "And he said rhetoric:" A tribute, etc., " 

110. As for Cormac, he began to deliberate with Cithruadh, and asked him if he had any means of coming to the aid of the armies. There is nothing that can help you except to make a druidic fire. »» How do we do it? "Said Cormac," and what is it for? "Here is," Cithruadh said. Let the armies go into the woods, and bring rowan wood with them, for it is with this that we make the best fires. And probably we will answer from the South in the same way; when the fires begin to blaze, each party will watch its fire. And if it happens that the lights turn to the south (which I don't believe) you'd better go after the people of Munster. If it is towards the North that they turn, leave, because you will be defeated, even if you persist in standing up. " 

The armies therefore went into the woods except for a small retinue, around Cormac, and brought rowan wood with them.

111. The people of Munster noticed this and said to Mogh Ruith: “O protector, what is the party of the North doing? " " What do they do? “, Says Mogh Ruith. "They gather large bundles in one place, so that the pyre they have is no lower than the hill you lowered". " It's true ! "Said Mogh Ruith," it is now appropriate for us to strike back at them. Cormac has resorted to his own druids, and they are in the process of making a druidic fire. "Mogh Ruith then said to the people of Munster:" Go into Lethaird Wood, towards the South, and let your dexterity not be less (than theirs); that each of you bring a piece (?) or a handful, except Fiacha alone; What does a load of the hard tree bring to the beautiful **** of the spring birds (?) taken from the side of the mountain, where the three shelters meet: the shelter from the wind of Mars, the shelter from the wind from the sea and sheltered from the wind so that the fire blazes as soon as it is kindled. And neither of your successors will be taken away (the right to) these two things: a handful and a shoulder burden. And do not bring any bundles, so that your successors are not reproached for, and that they are not called "bundles".

112. Then they went to Caill Lethaird Wood, now called Caill Fhian. It is from the warriors of Fiacha Muillethan mac Eogain that this wood took the name it still bears. They gathered together and brought with them the food they had been asked for, which they left in the middle of the camp.

Mogh Ruith said to Cennmar: “Light and prepare the fire. Cennmar then got up and he arranged the pyre as follows: he formed it like a churn (?) Which had three sides and three angles, but seven doors. However, the fire from the North had only three doors and it was neither arranged nor arranged, but we had limited ourselves to piling up the wood as it had fallen (?).

[The fire has seven gates, like palaces (Ac. Na Sen.). I found this detail in a contemporary County Kerry tale about a magical fire lit by the hero, who takes care to make seven doors.]

113. “The fire is ready,” Cennmar then said, “all he needs is to be kindled. Mogh Ruith then struck his lighter. Now the fire of the North was ready then. All were seized with fear and feverish haste. Mogh Ruith then said to the people of Munster: "Make haste to cut shavings from the side of your spear antlers. They cut them off and gave them to him. He made a mixture of it (?), He set it on fire, and he waved it, saying: "I am stirring up an effective and powerful fire ***" and he threw it all in the fire, in all haste. A great flame was lit with a great crash. Mogh Ruith says the rhetoric: "God of the Druids, my God before any other god", etc.

114. "Now," said Mogh Ruith, "bring my oxen and harness them to my chariot; keep your horses ready and in hand. If the fires are heading north, you will have to go after them, and if so, keep chasing them until I stop myself. If, on the contrary, the fires come from the north, defend yourself against them, and fight them among the roads, defiles and retreats of the province. No doubt you won't be forced to do it, but be prepared in case it does.

So he spoke, then he sent a druidic breath in the air and in the sky, so that a darkness formed above Cenn Claire and a dark cloud from which a rain of blood was falling. And Mogh Ruith says the rhetoric: "I send a spell with a cloud, a rain of blood falls on the grass", etc.

115. As soon as he had finished this rhetoric, the cloud began to march and came over Cenn Claire, from there above the Cormac camp, and from there to Tara.

Cormac said to Cithruadh: “What is this noise that we hear? "It is," said Cithruadh, "a rain of blood, caused by a druidic spell, and it is we who will bear its disastrous effects. The Northern Party took this very badly, and all made a great noise and a great uproar when they heard it. Cithruadh pronounced the poem: "I see a cloud above Clare", etc.

There were then woods and large forests in the central plain of Munster: the Giusach, from Druim nEogubuil going east to the path of Caille Tochail, Colltanan from Druim nEogubuil going up to Claire, Ros Cno from Druim nEogubuil going west to Esmaige; finally Glenn Bebhthach (between the two roads), from Druim nEogubuil down to Aine and Carn Feradhaigh.

116. "How are the fires? Asked Mogh Ruith, "They chase each other," they said, "skimming the mountain, west and north, to Druim nAsail, to Shannon, then back to their own. starting point. " 

 How are the fires going? Mogh Ruith asked. Always the same. They said. They left neither wood nor grass in the whole central plain of Munster, without burning them. And this place has been a moor ever since.

 »How are the fires? Mogh Ruith asked. They have ascended to the firmament and to the clouds of the sky, "they said," and they are like two mighty and angry warriors, or two devouring lions chasing each other. " 

117. Mogh Ruith then was brought to Mogh Ruith his hornless brown bull skin and his winged spotted bird-headdress, and his other druidic instruments: and he ascended into the air and into the sky together with the fires. , and began to beat them so as to turn them towards the North, singing rhetoric: "I make the arrows of the druid (?)". etc.

So he began to strike the fires to turn them north. And Cithruadh began to strike them likewise towards the south. Despite his best efforts, Mogh Ruith turned the fires north, and they went over Cormac's camp, and he did not allow the fires to rise once he had succeeded in knocking them down. Cithruadh then fell to the ground with his army of druids and fairies. They then began to line up the valiant battalions, numerous and *****; they arranged the vanguard and the rearguard and surrounded them with a wall of shields. The army then began to march, without the druids allowing them to stop to fight; they urged men to do their duty when necessary.

118. Mogh Ruith then alighted and climbed into his beautiful, well-adorned chariot drawn by brash and furious oxen as swift as the wind of Mars, as agile as a bird. He took with him his hornless brown bull skin, and advanced at the head of the army. He sent Cennmar to urge the people of Munster, and they all came forward eagerly after the Druid.

When they reached Ard Cluain na Fene, they joined the rear of the army, without the rest of the army coming to their aid. The warriors of Munster roamed the enemy ranks of right and left, like dogs in the midst of small cattle, crossing them, piercing them, beheading them, the ******* in the North and in the South, massacring them, until 'until they reached Magh Uachtair, in the eastern region of Munster, now Magh Raidhne. The losses of the army then amounted to eight hundred men.

119. It was then that Mogh Ruith asked, as he was the first to come forward: “Who is immediately in front of us? And he knew it, whatever he asked. They are three towering warriors with gray hair. He was answered, "Cecht, Crota and Cithruadh. "My god has promised me that I will turn them into stones when I have them within my reach, if only I manage to blow on them". He sent them a druidic breath, so that he turned them into stones; Leaca Raighne takes her name today from these stones.

When the people of Munster tried to stop, Mogh Ruith pushed them with redoubled speed and energy; he only allowed them to stop when they had reached Sliabh Fuait, that same day, Fiacha pitched his tent there; since then we call this place "Inadh pupla Fiachach" (Site of the tent of Fiacha).

120. The Northern Party then offered to the people of Munster to give them all the hostages, tributes and contributions they liked. Mogh Ruith, Mogh Corb, Fiacha and the people of Munster did not accept anything until they had spent two months, two quarters and two years in the North from the day they stopped there. Even then they declared that they would not accept any contribution unless Cormac himself came with them to Fiacha's abode, as long as he, Cormac, was not in a condition to defend himself against them and to prevent them from invading and devastating his province. So he came in person to give them his tribute and his contribution,

Fiacha set off with the people of Munster; they continued on their way, but nothing was said of their adventures until their arrival at Cnoc Raphann.

Connla mac Taidg meic Cein, son of Fiacha's father's brother, was sent to Cormac to raise him, and Cormac took care of the education of this young man, this education being imposed on him as a royalty. They remained thus for a long time at peace with one another.

121. The people of Munster asked Mogh Ruith what were the losses suffered by the parties of the North and the South, and which had been the most considerable. Mogh Ruith made it clear to them, and he recited the poem:

Four hundred brave warriors - that is their number - and over eighty, by my calculation. Such is exactly the number of the warriors of Munster who were killed by the miracles.

Five druids of Cormac forged spells against the southern provinces: to the great assemblies. Such was the number killed in a brilliant action by the specious spells of the druids.

They created three well-trained dogs to destroy cruel sheep. They created a sea eel under the waves, to kick Colptha and Lurga.

I have turned the fire to the North against the Northern Party with the valiant swords. I left only the strength of a woman in childbirth to the people of the East, to the descendants of Conn Cetcathach.

The fight turned badly against Conn, to the benefit of the valiant Munsterians (great deed). After the death of those skilled in the art, they were plunged into distress.

Four hundred lords or kings of the armies of Cormac, according to my calculation (were killed) until Formael - their horses made only one stage - among the descendants of Conn Cetcathach.

Four hundred brilliant valets-at-arms of Cormac's army on the road were killed - in equal numbers - between Formael and Raidne.

Crota, Cecht, Cithruadh in the plain, the druids of the race of Conn Cetcathach: in Magh Raighne with the red horses, they were turned by me into hard stones.

The stones which mark their grave will remain in perpetuity. Their name will be a disgrace to the northern provinces. They're called Leaca Raighne.

There were five groups of seven men there, all of whom had only five names. All the armies retreated, all except three men (?).

(There were) seven Cecht, seven Crota - verily - seven Cithach and seven Cithmor, seven Cithruadh - proud and shining their deed - who possessed the secret of mysterious Druidic spells.

Ath an tsloigh (The ford of the army) somewhat north of Maigh Raighne. One hundred and forty men perished there among the armies of Cormac - I do not hide it.

Two hundred and forty perished from this ford on their way to the east (this is not a lie). On each path, for the Northern Party, they found no protection in Tara (?).

One thousand and forty-eight men during the pursuit, such were the losses suffered by the fighting party of the North.

It is a great and bloody deed and was accomplished in one day. This is the greatest expedition that a warrior has ever undertaken, the most fruitful in brilliant actions.

From Cenn Claire it was a splendid drive to Glenn Righ Righe in the North. Fiacha with the many battalions and Mogh Corb with the red saber decided that they would not be satisfied if Cormac had not become their hostage.

As long as the handsome Cormac has refused what Fiacha **** offered him, he will only receive from him what Fiacha pleases, even though Fiacha has first offered him a lot.

The Munsterians then left Cnoc Raphann, and returned to their homes and their respective residences. Cormac for his part returned to Tara.

122. Connla was brought up near Cormac, as we have already said, so that he became skilled in the profession of arms and a good gentleman and that he was cited as a model throughout Ireland, he excelled in everything. . He fell in love with a woman from Sidh Locha Gabar, and he outraged her, despite his resistance. She asked her as a grace to come with her to her magical abode: he did not come: "Come at least", she said, "and turn your face towards the stronghold which is in front of you, so that the people (of Sidh) can see you as long as you don't go there in person. He came with her and turned his face to the mansion. The woman immediately told the people on the other side of the outrage that had been done to her.

They then demanded redress from Connla. He refused: "You have dishonored us", they said. "You can say it well," he said. "We will therefore dishonor you," they said. And all of them shot their breaths on him, so that a rash of bald itch grew on him from head to toe, and this rash was profuse on his head and face; and then he regretted his action.

123. He returned, all soiled and undone near Cormac. The latter glanced at Connla, and burst into moans. What is the matter with you, Cormac, my dear friend? "I have that I cannot bear," said Cormac, "to see you in such a state, so great is my affection for you. And moreover, it is on you that I counted to avenge my grievances towards Fiacha, because I would have assured you the throne of Munster ”. “Don't you know,” Connla said, “of any remedy that can get rid of this disease? "Whatever I know," Cormac said, "it's nothing you can get. " " What? “, Says Connla. "The blood of a king," said Cormac, "to bathe in it". Who is this king? Connla said. "Fiacha Muillethan," said Cormac, "is that king, and you would be guilty of murdering a relative by killing him." But if you applied his blood to yourself, you would receive healing. "" I would rather, "said Connla," for a friend to perish, than to remain in this state myself, if at least I am to believe what you tell me. "I swear to you the oath my people swear," said Cormac, "that this is true. "" So I will go find him ". Connla said.

124. He went to Cnoc Raphann, to Fiacha's residence. Fiacha was sorry to see him in this state, he was sorry, and welcomed him. He tried to heal him, gave him a third of his confidence, a bed as high as his own bed; it was Connla who delivered the messages he sent or received, and he received the wages owed to his messenger offices. And they were like this for a long time: Connla often went out and returned with Fiacha.

One day they went to the edge of the Suir and Fiacha wanted to bathe, and he undressed and left his large, shiny spear in Connla's hands. Connla seized the spear, and struck Fiacha with such a blow that the spear pierced him. “Alas! »Said Fiacha,« it is a dreadful action against a brother; it is a great murder, and this crime is done at the instigation of an enemy. "And he said:" Crime of an enemy, etc. ".

“Bathe as you have been told,” said Fiacha, “but despite this you will not receive any relief and your enemies will rejoice. "

Thus died tragically Fiacha. This happened in Ath Leathan, today Ath lsiul, that is to say Tuisiul (of the fall). This is where the name the ford has taken since then, as the quatrain says:

 »Ath Tusil (Ford of the fall) is the name of the ford,
everyone knows the reason.
Connla de Cnoc Den dropped there
the brave Fiacha Muillethan. "

This did not bring any relief to Connla, and it was of hunger and scabies that he died, as no member of Eogan's family would let him into his house. They did not think it was worth while to take any further vengeance against him.