Part 14 (2/2)

_Brian's Water-dress_

Brian, Ur, and Urcar, the three sons of Turenn, were Dedanaan chiefs.

They slew Kian, the father of Luga of the Long Arms, who was grandson of Balor of the Evil Eye. Luga imposed an extraordinary eric fine on the sons of Turenn, part of which was ”the cooking-spit of the women of Fincara.” For a quarter of a year Brian and his brothers sailed hither and thither over the wide ocean, landing on many sh.o.r.es, seeking tidings of the Island of Fincara. At last they met a very old man, who told them that the island lay deep down in the waters, having been sunk beneath the waves by a spell in times long past.

Then Brian put on his water-dress, with his helmet of transparent crystal on his head, telling his brothers to wait his return. He leaped over the side of the s.h.i.+p, and sank at once out of sight. He walked about for a fortnight down in the green salt sea, seeking for the Island of Fincara, and at last he found it.

His brothers waited for him in the same spot the whole time, and when he came not they began to fear he would return no more. At last they were about to leave the place, when they saw the glitter of his crystal helmet deep down in the water, and immediately after he came to the surface with the cooking-spit in his hand.--”Old Celtic Romances”

(Joyce), p. 87.

IV

_Prince Cuglas_

In the list of the historic tales mentioned in the Book of Leinster, and which is given in O'Curry's appendix to his ”Lectures on the MSS.

Materials of Ancient Irish History,” ”The Cave of the Road of Cuglas”

finds place. O'Curry has the following note:--

”Cuglas was the son of Donn Desa, King of Leinster, and master of the hounds to the monarch Conaire Mor. Having one day followed the chase from Tara to this road, the chase suddenly disappeared in a cave, into which he followed, and was _never seen after_. Hence the cave was called _Uaimh Bealach Conglais_, or the cave of the road of Cuglas (now Baltingla.s.s, in the County of Wicklow). It is about this cave, nevertheless, that so many of our pretended Irish antiquarians have written so much nonsense in connection with some imaginary pagan wors.h.i.+p to which they gravely a.s.sure the world, on etymological authority, the spot was devoted. The authority for the legend of Cuglas is the _Dinnoean Chus_ on the place _Bealach Conglais_ (Book of Lecain).

The full tale has not come down to us.”

V

_The Herald_

”Here comes a single champion towards us, O _Cuchulain_,” said _Laegh_ (Cuchulain's charioteer). ”What sort of a champion is he?” said _Cuchulain_. ”A brown-haired, broad-faced, beautiful youth; a splendid brown cloak on him; a bright bronze spear-like brooch fastening his cloak. A full and well-fitting s.h.i.+rt to his skin. Two firm shoes between his two feet and the ground. A hand-staff of white hazel in one hand of his; a single-edged sword with a sea-horse hilt in his other hand.” ”Good, my lad,” said _Cuchulain_; ”these are the tokens of a herald.”--Description of the herald MacRoath in the story of _The Tain bo Chuailgne_.--O'Curry's ”Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish,”

Vol. II., p. 301.

VI

_Golden Bells_

In O'Curry's ”Lectures on the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish”

are several dazzling descriptions of cavalcades taken from the old tales. Silver and golden bells are frequently mentioned as part of the horse furniture.

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