Chapter VII

§ 34. “I accept that then,” quoth Cuchulainn. “I agree (lit. I allow it)then,” quoth Loigaire. “Let us go then,” quoth Conall the Victorious.“Let horses be brought us and thy chariot yoked, O Conall,” quothCuchulainn. “Woe is me!” cried Conall. “Every one,” quoth Cuchulainn,“knows well the clumsiness of thy horses and the unsteadiness of thygoing and of thy turnout; thy chariot’s movement is most heavy; each ofthe two wheels raiseth turf every way thy big chariot careers, so that forthe space of a year there is a well-marked track easily recognised by thewarriors of Ulster.”§ 35. “Dost thou hear that, Loigaire?” said Conall. “Woe is me,” quothLoigaire. “But I am not to blame or to reproach. I am nimble at crossingfords, and more, to breast the storm of spears, outstripping the warriorsof Ulster. Put not on me the precedence of kings till I practise faringbefore kings and champions against single chariots in strait and difficultplaces, in woods and on confines, till the champion of a single chariotessay not to career before me.”§ 36. Thereupon Loigaire had his chariot yoked and he leapt therein.He drove over the Plain-of-the-Two-Forks, over the Gap-of-the-Watch,over the Ford of Carpat Fergus, over the Ford-of-the-Môrrigan to theRowan Meadow of the Two Oxen in the Fews of Armagh (ClitharFidbaidi), by the Meeting of the Four Ways past Dundalk, across MagSlicech, westwards to the slope of Bregia. A dim, dark, heavy mistovertook him, confusing him in such wise that it was impossible for himto fare farther on the way. “Let us stay here,” quoth Loigaire to hischarioteer, until the mist clear up.” Loigaire alighted from his chariot,and his gillie put the horses into the meadow that was near at hand.§ 37. While there, the gillie saw a huge giant approaching him. Notbeautiful his appearance: broad (of shoulder) and fat of mouth, with sackeyes and a bristly face; ugly, wrinkled, with bushy eyebrows; hideousand horrible and strong; stubborn, violent and haughty; fat and puffing;with big sinews and strong forearm, bold and audacious and uncouth. Ashorn black patch of hair on him, a dun covering about him, a tunic over it to the ball of his rump; on his feet old tattered brogues, on his back aponderous club like unto the wheel-shaft of a mill.§ 38. “Whose horses are these, gillie?” he asked, as he gazed furiouslyat him. “The horses of Loigaire the Triumphant.” “Yes! a fine fellow he!”And as he thus spake he brought down his club on the gillie and gavehim a blow from top to toe. The gillie gave a cry, whereupon Loigairecame up. “What is this you are doing to the lad?” asked Loigaire. “’Tisby way of penalty for damage to the meadow,” quoth the giant. “I willcome myself then,” quoth Logaire. They struggle together ... Loigaireanon fled till he reached Emain, after having left his horses and gillie andarms.§ 39. Not long thereafter Conall the Victorious took the same wayand arrived at the plain where the druidical[10] mist overtook Loigaire.The like hideous black, dark cloud overtook Conall the Victorious, sothat he was unable to see either heaven or earth. Conall thereon leapt outand the gillie unharnessed the horses in the same meadow. Not longthereafter he saw the same giant [coming] towards him. He asked himwhose servant he was. “I am servant to Conall the Victorious,” he quoth.“A good man he,” quoth the giant, as he raised his hands till they gave ablow to the gillie from top to toe. The fellow yelled. Anon came Conall.He and the giant got to close quarters. Stronger were the wrestling turnsof the giant. Conall fled, as Loigaire had done, having left behind hischarioteer and his horses and came to Emain.§ 40. Cuchulainn then went by the same way till he came to the samestead. The like dark mist overtook him as fell upon the twain preceding.Cuchulainn sprang down, and Laig brought the horses into the meadow.He had not long to wait till he saw the same man coming towards him.The giant asked him whose servant he was. “Servant (companion) toCuchulainn.” “A good man he,” quoth the giant, plying him with theclub. Laig yelled. Anon Cuchulainn arrived. He and the giant came toclose quarters and either pounded the other. The giant got worsted. Heforfeited horses and charioteer, and Cuchulainn brought along with him his fellows’ horses, charioteers and accoutrements, till he reached Emainin triumph. He gave them to their rightful owners.§ 41. “Thine is the Champion’s Portion,” quoth Bricriu to Cuchulainn.“Well I wot from your deeds ye are not a whit on a par with Cuchulainn.” “Not true, Bricriu,” quoth they, “for we know it is one ofhis friends from Faëry that came to him to play us mischief and deal withus perforce as to the championship. We shall not forego our claim on thataccount.” The men of Ulster, with Conchobar and Fergus, failed to effecta settlement. They sent them either to go to Curoi mac Dairi, or else togo to Cruachan, to Ailill and to Mève.[11]