Chapter I

Here beginneth the Feast of Bricriu, and the Champion’s Portion of
Emain, and the Ulster Women’s War-of-Words, and the Hosting of the
Men 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 mac
Nessa and for all the Ultonians. The preparation of the feast took a
whole year. For the entertainment of the guests a spacious house was
built by him. He erected it in Dun Rudraige after the likeness [of the
palace] of the Red Branch in Emain. Yet it surpassed the buildings of that
period entirely for material and for artistic design, for beauty of
architecture—its pillars and frontings splendid and costly, its carving and
lintel-work famed for magnificence.
§ 2. The House was made on this wise: on the plan of Tara’s
Mead-Hall, having nine compartments from fire to wall, each fronting of
bronze thirty feet high, overlaid with gold. In the fore part of the palace
a royal couch was erected for Conchobar high above those of the whole
house. It was set with carbuncles and other precious stones which shone
with a lustre of gold and of silver, radiant with every hue, making night
like unto day. Around it were placed the twelve couches of the twelve
heroes of Ulster. The nature of the workmanship was on a par with the
material of the edifice. It took a waggon team to carry each beam, and
the strength of seven Ulster men to fix each pole, while thirty of the chief
artificers of Erin were employed on its erection and arrangement.
§ 3. Then a balcony^[1]was made by Bricriu on a level with the couch of
Conchobar [and as high as those] of the heroes of valour. The
decorations of its fittings were magnificent. Windows of glass were
placed on each side of it, and one of these was above Bricriu’s couch, so
that he could view the hall from his seat, as he knew the Ulster men
would not suffer him within.
§ 4. When Bricriu had finished building the hall and balcony,
supplying it both with quilts and blankets, beds and pillows, providing
meat and drink, so that nothing was lacking, neither furnishings nor
food, he straightway went to Emain to meet Conchobar and the nobles
of Ulster.
§ 5. It fell upon a day there was in Emain a gathering of the Ulster
men. He was anon made welcome, and was seated by the shoulder of
Conchobar. Bricriu addressed himself to him as well as to the body of
the Ulster men. “Come with me,” quoth Bricriu, “to partake of a banquet
with me.” “Gladly,” rejoined Conchobar, “if that please the men of
Ulster.” Fergus mac Rôig and the nobles of Ulster also made answer:
“No; for if we go our dead will outnumber our living, when Bricriu has
incensed 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 up
strife,” quoth Bricriu, “between the kings, the leaders, the heroes of
valour, and the yeomen, till they slay one another, man for man, if they
do not come with me to share my feast.” “That we shall not do to please
thee,” quoth Conchobar. “I will stir up enmity between father and son
so that it will come to mutual slaughter. If I do not succeed in doing so, I
will make a quarrel between mother and daughter. If that does not
succeed, I will set each of the Ulster women at variance, so that they
come to deadly blows till their breasts become loathsome and putrid.”
“Sure ’tis better to come,” quoth Fergus. “Do ye straightway take counsel
with the chief Ultonians,” said Sencha, son of Ailill. “Unless we take
counsel against this Bricriu, mischief will be the consequence,” quoth
Conchobar.
§ 7. Thereupon all the Ulster nobles assembled in council. In
discussing the matter Sencha counselled them thus: “Take hostages from
Bricriu, since ye have to go with him, and set eight swordsmen about
him so as to compel him to retire from the house as soon as he has laid
out the feast.” Furbaide Ferbenn, son of Conchobar, brought Bricriu
reply, and showed him the whole matter. “It is happily arranged,” quoth
Bricriu. The men of Ulster straightway set out from Emain, host,
battalion and company, under king, chieftain and leader. Excellent and
admirable the march of the brave and valiant heroes to the palace.