Part 12 (2/2)

”The two steeds and the chariot belong to Dobar, king of Sigar.[XLIII.]

The chariot exceeds all the chariots in the world for beauty of shape and goodliness of workmans.h.i.+p. The two n.o.ble steeds have no equal for strength and fleetness, and they travel with as much ease on sea as on land.

”The seven pigs I demand are the pigs of Asal, the king of the Golden Pillars. Whoever eats a part of them shall not suffer from ill health or disease; and even though they should be killed and eaten to-day, they will be alive and well to-morrow.

”The hound-whelp belongs to the king of Iroda,[XLIV.] and his name is Failinis. He s.h.i.+nes as brightly as the sun in a summer sky; and every wild beast of the forest that sees him falls down to the earth powerless before him.

”The cooking-spit belongs to the warlike women of the island of Fincara.

They are thrice fifty in number, and woe to the champion who approaches their house; for each of them is a match for three good warriors in single combat; and they never yet gave a cooking-spit to any one without being overcome in battle.

”The hill on which I require you to give three shouts is the Hill of Midkena, in the north of Lochlann.[6] Midkena and his sons are always guarding this hill, for they are under gesa[12] not to allow any one to shout on it. Moreover, it was they that instructed my father in champions.h.i.+p and feats of arms, and they loved him very much; so that even if I should forgive you his death they would not. And, though you should be able to procure all the rest of the eric-fine, you will not, I think, succeed in this, for they will be sure to avenge on you my father's death.

”And this, ye sons of Turenn, is the eric-fine I demand from you!”

FOOTNOTES:

[x.x.xIX.] A kind of writing. (See note, page 36.)

[XL.] Chain of silence; a chain, probably hung with little bells, which the lord of a mansion shook when he wished to get silence and attention.

[XLI.] Mic[=o]'rta; the name of the great banqueting hall of Tara, the ruins of which are to be seen to this day.

[XLII.] The Garden of the Hesperides.

[XLIII.] Sigar, _i.e._ Sicily.

[XLIV.] Iroda was the name given by the Irish to some country in the far north of Europe, probably Norway.

CHAPTER V.

THE SONS OF TURENN OBTAIN MANNANAN'S CANOE, ”THE WAVE-SWEEPER.”

The sons of Turenn were so astounded on hearing this eric-fine that they spoke not one word; but rising up, they left the meeting, and repaired to the house of their father Turenn.

He heard their story to the end, and then said, ”Your tidings are bad, my sons, and I fear me you are doomed to meet your death in seeking what the Ildana asks. But the doom is a just one, for it was an evil thing to kill Kian. Now as to this eric-fine: it cannot be obtained by any living man without the help of either Luga himself or of Mannanan Mac Lir;[8]

but if Luga wishes to aid you, ye shall be able to get it. Go ye now, therefore, and ask him to lend you Mannanan's steed, Enbarr of the Flowing Mane. If he wishes you to get the full eric-fine, he will lend you the steed; otherwise he will refuse, saying that she does not belong to him, and that he cannot lend what he himself has got on loan. Then, if ye obtain not the steed, ask him for the loan of Mannanan's canoe, the Wave-sweeper, which would be better for you than the steed; and he will lend you that, for he is forbidden to refuse a second request.”

So the sons of Turenn returned to Luga, and having saluted him, they said--

”It is not in the power of any man to obtain this eric-fine without thy own aid, O Luga; we ask thee, therefore, to lend us Mannanan's steed, Enbarr of the Flowing Mane.”

”That steed is not my own,” said Luga; ”and I cannot lend that which I have myself obtained on loan.”

”If that be so,” said Brian, ”then I pray thee lend us Mannanan's canoe, the Wave-sweeper.”

”I shall lend you that,” replied Luga; ”it lies at Bruga of the Boyne;[XLV.] and ye have my consent to take it.”

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