Chapter I

Here beginneth the Feast of Bricriu, and the Champion’s Portion ofEmain, and the Ulster Women’s War-of-Words, and the Hosting of theMen of Ulster to Cruachan, and the Champion’s Wager in Emain.Chapter I§ 1. Bricriu of the Evil Tongue held a great feast for Conchobar macNessa and for all the Ultonians. The preparation of the feast took awhole year. For the entertainment of the guests a spacious house wasbuilt by him. He erected it in Dun Rudraige after the likeness [of thepalace] of the Red Branch in Emain. Yet it surpassed the buildings of thatperiod entirely for material and for artistic design, for beauty ofarchitecture—its pillars and frontings splendid and costly, its carving andlintel-work famed for magnificence.§ 2. The House was made on this wise: on the plan of Tara’sMead-Hall, having nine compartments from fire to wall, each fronting ofbronze thirty feet high, overlaid with gold. In the fore part of the palacea royal couch was erected for Conchobar high above those of the wholehouse. It was set with carbuncles and other precious stones which shonewith a lustre of gold and of silver, radiant with every hue, making nightlike unto day. Around it were placed the twelve couches of the twelveheroes of Ulster. The nature of the workmanship was on a par with thematerial of the edifice. It took a waggon team to carry each beam, andthe strength of seven Ulster men to fix each pole, while thirty of the chiefartificers of Erin were employed on its erection and arrangement.§ 3. Then a balcony[1]was made by Bricriu on a level with the couch ofConchobar [and as high as those] of the heroes of valour. Thedecorations of its fittings were magnificent. Windows of glass wereplaced on each side of it, and one of these was above Bricriu’s couch, sothat he could view the hall from his seat, as he knew the Ulster menwould not suffer him within.§ 4. When Bricriu had finished building the hall and balcony,supplying it both with quilts and blankets, beds and pillows, providingmeat and drink, so that nothing was lacking, neither furnishings norfood, he straightway went to Emain to meet Conchobar and the noblesof Ulster.§ 5. It fell upon a day there was in Emain a gathering of the Ulstermen. He was anon made welcome, and was seated by the shoulder ofConchobar. Bricriu addressed himself to him as well as to the body ofthe Ulster men. “Come with me,” quoth Bricriu, “to partake of a banquetwith me.” “Gladly,” rejoined Conchobar, “if that please the men ofUlster.” Fergus mac Rôig and the nobles of Ulster also made answer:“No; for if we go our dead will outnumber our living, when Bricriu hasincensed us against each other.”§ 6. “If ye come not, worse shall ye fare,” quoth Bricriu. “What then,”asked Conchobar, “if the Ulster men go not with thee?” “I will stir upstrife,” quoth Bricriu, “between the kings, the leaders, the heroes ofvalour, and the yeomen, till they slay one another, man for man, if theydo not come with me to share my feast.” “That we shall not do to pleasethee,” quoth Conchobar. “I will stir up enmity between father and sonso that it will come to mutual slaughter. If I do not succeed in doing so, Iwill make a quarrel between mother and daughter. If that does notsucceed, I will set each of the Ulster women at variance, so that theycome to deadly blows till their breasts become loathsome and putrid.”“Sure ’tis better to come,” quoth Fergus. “Do ye straightway take counselwith the chief Ultonians,” said Sencha, son of Ailill. “Unless we takecounsel against this Bricriu, mischief will be the consequence,” quothConchobar.§ 7. Thereupon all the Ulster nobles assembled in council. Indiscussing the matter Sencha counselled them thus: “Take hostages fromBricriu, since ye have to go with him, and set eight swordsmen abouthim so as to compel him to retire from the house as soon as he has laidout the feast.” Furbaide Ferbenn, son of Conchobar, brought Bricriureply, and showed him the whole matter. “It is happily arranged,” quothBricriu. The men of Ulster straightway set out from Emain, host,battalion and company, under king, chieftain and leader. Excellent andadmirable the march of the brave and valiant heroes to the palace.