The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 487 pages of information about The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge.

The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 487 pages of information about The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge.

[W.2007.] Thereafter [2]on the morrow[2] Medb proceeded with a third of the host of the men of Erin about her, [3]and she set forth by the highroad of Midluachair[3] till she reached Dun Sobairche in the north.  And Cuchulain pressed heavily on Medb that day. [4]Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bull and Cuchulain pursued her.  Now on the road to Midluachair she had gone to invade Ulster and Cruthne as far as Dun Sobairche.[4] [5]There it is that Cuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib.[5] Cuchulain killed Fer Taidle, whence cometh Taidle; and [6]as they went northwards[6] he killed the macBuachalla (’the Herdsman’s sons’) [7]at their cairn,[7] whence cometh Carn macBuachalla; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence Lettre Luasc (’the Watery Slopes of Luasc’); and he slew Bobulge in his marsh, whence Grellach (’the Trampled Place’) of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne on his hill, whence Delga (’the Points’) of Murthemne; [8]he slew Nathcoirpthe at his trees, Cruthen on his ford, Marc on his hill, Meille on his mound and Bodb in his tower.[8] It was afterwards then [W.2016.] that Cuchulain turned back from the north [1]to Mag Murthemni,[1] to protect and defend his own borders and land, for dearer to him was [2]his own land and inheritance and belongings[2] than the land and territory and belongings of another.

    [1-1] Stowe, and LU. fo. 70a.

    [2-2] Eg. 93.

    [3-3] Eg. 93.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1315-1317.  Eg. 93 mentions a number of places to
    which Cuchulain pursued Medb.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1341.

    [6-6] Eg. 93.

    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1343.

    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1342-1344.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1345.]

    [2-2] Eg. 93.

It was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce (’the men of Crannach’) [3]from whom cometh Crannach in Murthemne;[3] to wit, the two Artinne and the two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, and Drucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Torc Glaisse and Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard.  Cuchulain surprised them as they were pitching [LL.fo.73b.] camp in advance of all others—­[4]ten cup-bearers and ten men-of-arms they were[4]—­so that they fell by his hand.

    [3-3] Eg. 93.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1348.

Then it was that Buide (’the Yellow’) son of Ban Blai (’the White’) from [5]Sliab Culinn (’Hollymount’),[5] the country of Ailill and Medb, and belonging to the special followers of [6]Ailill and[6] Medb, met Cuchulain.  Four and twenty[a] warriors [7]was their strength.[7] A [8]blue[8] mantle enwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careering before them after he had been brought from Glenn na Samaisce (’Heifers’ Glen’) to Sliab Culinn, and fifty of his heifers with him. [9]Cuchulain advances to meet them.[9] “Whence

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The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.