Early Irish Myths and Sagas (Classics) by Gantz Jeffrey

Author:Gantz, Jeffrey [Gantz, Jeffrey]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780141934815
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 1981-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

The Boyhood Deeds of Cú Chulaind

‘In truth, he was reared by his mother and his father at Airgdech in Mag Muirthemni,’ said Fergus. ‘There he was told of the fame of the boys at Emuin Machae, for three fifties of boys play there. Conchubur enjoys his sovereignty thus: one third of the day watching the boys play, one third playing fidchell and one third drinking until he falls asleep. Although we are in exile because of him, there is not in Ériu a greater warrior.

‘Cú Chulaind entreated his mother, then, to let him go to the boys. “You are not to go,” she replied, “until one of the champions of Ulaid can accompany you.” “Too long to wait, that,” Cú Chulaind answered. “Just tell me in which direction Emuin lies.” “To the north, there, and the path is dangerous,” said his mother. “Slíab Fúait lies between you and Emuin.” “Even so, I will try it,” said Cú Chulaind. He went forth, then, with his toy javelin and his toy shield and his hurley and his ball. He would throw his javelin on ahead and then catch it before it could strike the ground.

‘When he reached Emuin, he went to the boys without first securing their protection – at that time, no one went to the playing field without a guarantee that the boys would protect him. Cú Chulaind was unaware of this. “The boy outrages us,” said Follomon son of Conchubur, “and yet we know he is of the Ulaid.” The boys warned Cú Chulaind off, but he defeated them. They threw their three fifties of javelins at him, but he stopped every one with his toy shield. They threw their three fifties of balls at him, but he caught them all against his chest. They threw their three fifties of hurleys at him, but he warded them off and took an armful on his back.

‘Then his ríastarthae came upon him.1 You would have thought that every hair was being driven into his head. You would have thought that a spark of fire was on every hair. He closed one eye until it was no wider than the eye of a needle; he opened the other until it was as big as a wooden bowl. He bared his teeth from jaw to ear, and he opened his mouth until the gullet was visible. The warrior’s moon rose from his head.

‘Cú Chulaind struck at the boys and overthrew fifty of them before they could reach the doors of Emuin. Nine of them ran over Conchubur and myself as we were playing fidchell; Cú Chulaind sprang over the board after them, but Conchubur took his arm and said “Not good your treatment of the boy troop.” “Fair play it is,” answered Cú Chulaind. “I came from my mother and my father to play with them, and they were not nice to me.” “What is your name?” asked Conchubur. “Sétantae, the son of Súaltaim and of Deichtine, your sister. I did not expect such a reception here.

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