Chapter XII.

§ 66. “Go to the abode of my foster-father and to that of mystepmother,” quoth Mève—viz., Ercol and Garmna—“and there put up asguests to-night.” They kept on their way, and after running a race at theCruachan Gathering, thrice did Cuchulainn win the victory of the games.They then went to the abode of Garmna and of Ercol, who bade themwelcome. “For what are ye come?” asked Ercol. “To be adjudged bythee,” they quoth. “Go to the abode of Samera; he will adjudge ye.” Theywent accordingly and guides were sent with them. They were welcomedby Samera, whose daughter Buan fell in love with Cuchulainn. They toldSamera it was in order to be judged they had come to him. Sameradespatched them as they were (lit. in their order) to the Amazons of theGlen.§ 67. Loigaire went first, but left his accoutrements (arms) andclothing with them.[17]Conall also went, and left his spears with them, buttook his chief weapon, to wit, his sword, away with him. On the thirdnight Cuchulainn went. The Amazons shrieked at him. He and theyfought each other till his spear was splintered, his shield broken, hisraiment torn off. The Amazons were beating and overpowering him. “OCuchulainn,” said Loig, “you sorry coward, you squinting savage! goneare your valour and your bravery when it is sprites that beat you.” ThenCuchulainn was enraged at the sprites. He turned back upon theHorrors, and cut and gashed them till the glen was filled with theirblood. He brought off his company’s brave banner with him and turnedback in triumph to the seat of Samera, the place where his companionswere.§ 68. Samera bade him welcome; ’twas then he made speech:—“Not right to share the champion’s fare of the cooking pit,Fatted kine, well-fed swine, honey and bread;Through ladies’ cunning take not his shareFrom Culann’s Hound, of name and fame.Cleaver of shields, raven of prey,That bravery wields, eager for fray—boar of battle.As wood takes fire, strikes his ire Emain’s foes;Of victory-loving women belov’d—plague of death.A judge in deeming, not in seeming, eye flashing far—Hostile ports where ships resort his tributes know;His chariot rides the mountain-side,Pride of his clan, he leads the van, an eagle of war.Why to Loigaire, lion of fences, liken him?Why unto Conall, rider of fame?Why should not Emer, of mantle shining—it is our pleasure throughgrace divining—Of Ultonian ladies high-born and all, enter first the merry Mead-Hall.Cuchulainn’s share, well I wot,It is not just [elsewhere] to allot.“My verdict to ye then: the Champion’s Portion to Cuchulainn, and tohis wife the precedence of the ladies of Ultonia—Cuchulainn’s valour torank above that of every one else, Conchobar’s excepted.”§ 69. After that they went to the abode of Ercol, who bade themwelcome. They slept there that night. Ercol challenged them to combatwith himself and with his horse. Whereupon Loigaire and his horse wentagainst them. The gelding of Ercol killed the horse of Loigaire, who washimself overcome by Ercol, before whom he fled. He took his way toEmain across Assaroe, and brought tidings with him of his comradeshaving been killed by Ercol. Conall likewise fled, his horse having beenkilled by Ercol’s; the way he went was across Snâm Râthaind (Rathand’sPool) on the route to Emain. Moreover, Conall’s gillie, Râthand, wasdrowned in the river there, and after him Snâm Râthaind takes its namesince.§ 70. The grey of Macha, however, killed the horse of Ercol, andCuchulainn took Ercol himself bound behind his chariot along with himto Emain. Buan, daughter of Samera, went on the track of the threechariots. She recognised the track of Cuchulainn’s framed chariot,inasmuch as it was no narrow track it used to take, but underminingwalls, either enlarging or else leaping over breaches. The girl at last leapta fearful leap, following him behind in his chariot’s track till she struckher forehead on a rock, whereof she died. From this is named Buan’sGrave. When Conall and Cuchulainn reached Emain, they found theUltonians holding a keen for them, inasmuch as they felt certain they werekilled. Such the report Loigaire brought. They then related theiradventures and told their news to Conchobar and to the Ultonian noblesgenerally. But the chiefs of chariots and the men of valour as a bodywere reproaching Loigaire for the lying story he told concerning hisfellows.§ 71. Then Cathbath made speech to this effect:—“A tale inglorious! BaseOutlaw, black and false,For shame! thy face from sight!Ultonia’s Champion’s PortionUnhappily didst thou dispute,Nor won it by right,—Thy lying upset—Cuchulainn with Ercol has coped,Victor in battle-fight;Tied at the tail of his car,Hercules strong he held;Nor do men conceal his feats,His great havoc they tell.A champion glorious, battle-victorious,When rageth the fray,Slaughter-head of the hosts,A lord that careers in might,Zealous of valour and stout;With him to disputeThe Champion’s Portion,Unworthy a hero’s repute.