THE APPARITION OF THE GREAT QUEEN TO CUCHULAIN

(ALSO CALLED “TAIN BO REGAMNA”)

FROM THE YELLOW BOOK OF LECAN (FOURTEENTH CENTURY)

At Dun Imrid lay Cuchulain,[FN#104] and slept, when a cry rang out; And in fear he heard from the north-land come ringing that terrible shout:  He fell, as he woke from his slumber, with the thud of a weight, to the ground, From his couch on that side of the castle that the rising sun first found.  He left his arms in the castle, as the lawns round its walls he sought, But his wife, who followed behind him, apparel and arms to him brought:  Then he saw his harnessed chariot, and Laeg,[FN#105] his charioteer, From Ferta Laig who drave it:  from the north the car drew near:  “What bringeth thee here?” said Cuchulain:  said Laeg, “By a cry I was stirred, That across the plain came sounding.”  “And whence was the cry thou hast heard?” “From the north-west quarter it travelled, it crossed the great Cayll[FN#106] Cooen road!” “Follow on, on that track,” said Cuchulain, “till we know what that clamour may bode!”

[FN#104] Pronounced Cu-hoolin.

[FN#105] Pronounced Layg.

[FN#106] Spelt Caill Cuan.

At the ford of the Double Wonder, at Ah[FN#107] Fayrta, the car made stand For a chariot rattled toward them, from the clay-soiled Coolgarry[FN#108] land And before them came that chariot; and strange was the sight they saw:  For a one-legged chestnut charger was harnessed the car to draw; And right through the horse’s body the pole of the car had passed, To a halter across his forehead was the pole with a wedge made fast:  A red woman sat in the chariot, bright red were her eyebrows twain A crimson cloak was round her:  the folds of it touched the plain:  Two poles were behind her chariot:  between them her mantle flowed; And close by the side of that woman a mighty giant strode; On his back was a staff of hazel, two-forked, and the garb he wore Was red, and a cow he goaded, that shambled on before.

[FN#107] Spelt Ath Ferta, or more fully Ath da Ferta, the ford of the two marvels.

[FN#108] Spelt Culgaire.

To that woman and man cried Cuchulain, “Ye who drive that cow do wrong, For against her will do ye drive her!” “Not to thee doth that cow belong,” Said the woman; “no byre of thy comrades or thy friends hath that cow yet barred.”  “The kine of the land of Ulster,” said Cuchulain, “are mine to guard!” “Dost thou sit on the seat of judgment?” said the dame, “and a sage decree On this cow would’st thou give, Cuchulain?—­too great is that task for thee!” Said the hero, “Why speaketh this woman? hath the man with her never a word?” “’Twas not him you addressed,” was her answer, “when first your reproaches we heard.”  “Nay, to him did I speak,” said Cuchulain, “though ’tis thou to reply who would’st claim!” ’Ooer-gay-skyeo-loo-ehar-skyeo[FN#109] is the name that he bears,” said the dame.