Part 3 (1/2)

[Page 10]

III

[1]THE RISING-OUT OF THE MEN OF CONNACHT AT CRUACHAN AI[1]

[W.161.] [2]A mighty host was now a.s.sembled by the men of Connacht, that is, by Ailill and Medb, and they sent word to the three other provinces, and[2] messengers were despatched from Medb to the Mane that they should gather in Cruachan, the seven Mane with their seven divisions; to wit: Mane ”Motherlike,” Mane ”Fatherlike,” and Mane ”All-comprehending”, [3]'twas he that possessed the form of his mother and of his father and the dignity of them both;[3] Mane ”Mildly-submissive,” and Mane ”Greatly-submissive,” Mane ”Boastful” [4]and Mane ”the Dumb.”[4]

[1-1] Add.

[2-2] LU. 1-2; with these words, the LU. version begins, fo. 55a.

[3-3] LU. 182.

[4-4] Stowe and Add.

Other messengers were despatched [5]by Ailill[5] to the sons of Maga; to wit: to Cet ('the First') son of Maga, Anluan ('the Brilliant Light') son of Maga, and Maccorb ('Chariot-child') son of Maga, and Bascell ('the Lunatic') son of Maga, and En ('the Bird') son of Maga, Doche son of Maga; and Scandal ('Insult') son of Maga.

[5-5] Eg. 1782.

These came, and this was their muster, thirty hundred armed men. Other messengers were despatched from them to Cormac Conlongas ('the Exile') son of Conchobar and to Fergus macRoig, and they also came, thirty hundred their number.

[W.173.] [1]Now Cormac had three companies which came to Cruachan.[1]

Before all, the first company. A covering of close-shorn [2]black[2] hair upon them. Green mantles and [3]many-coloured cloaks[3] wound about them; therein, silvern brooches. Tunics of thread of gold next to their skin, [4]reaching down to their knees,[4] with interweaving of red gold.

Bright-handled swords they bore, with guards of silver. [5]Long s.h.i.+elds they bore, and there was a broad, grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the hand of each man.[5] ”Is that Cormac, yonder?” all and every one asked.

”Not he, indeed,” Medb made answer.

[1-1] LU. 7.

[2-2] Add.

[3-3] LU. 8.

[4-4] LU. 9.

[5-5] LU. 9-10.

The second troop. Newly shorn hair they wore [6]and manes on the back of their heads,[6] [7]fair, comely indeed.[7] Dark-blue cloaks they all had about them. Next to their skin, gleaming-white tunics, [LL.fo.55b.] [8]with red ornamentation, reaching down to their calves.[8] Swords they had with round hilts of gold and silvern fist-guards, [9]and s.h.i.+ning s.h.i.+elds upon them and five-p.r.o.nged spears in their hands.[9] ”Is yonder man Cormac?” all the people asked. ”Nay, verily, that is not he,” Medb made answer.

[6-6] Eg. 1782.

[7-7] Add.

[8-8] LU. 11-12.