Part 6 (2/2)
”That warfare shalt thou have from me!” said an Ulster warrior, tall, grey, and more terrible than the rest.
”Who is this?” asked Ket.
”'Tis Celtchar, the son of Uitechar,” cried all.
”Pause thou a little, Celtchar,” said Ket, ”unless it be in thy mind to crush me in an instant. Once did I come to thy dwelling, O Celtchar, a cry was raised about me, and all men hurried up at that cry, and thou also camest beside them. It was in a ravine that the combat between us was held; thou didst hurl thy spear against me, and against thee I also hurled my spear; and my spear pierced thee through the leg and through the groin, so that from that hour thou hast been diseased, nor hath son or daughter been born to thee. How canst thou strive in renown with me?” and he also sat down.
”Come to the strife for renown!” cried Ket.
”That strife shalt thou have,” said Cuscrid the Stammerer, of Macha, king Conor's son.
”Who is this?” said Ket. ”'Tis Cuscrid,” said all; ”he hath a form which is as the form of a king.”
”Nor hath he aught to thank thee for,” said the youth.
”Good!” said Ket. ”It was against me that thou didst come on the day when thou didst first make trial of thy weapons, my lad: 'twas in the borderland that we met. And there thou didst leave the third part of thy folk behind thee, and thou didst fly with a spear-thrust through thy throat so that thou canst speak no word plainly, for the spear cut in sunder the sinews of thy neck; and from that hour thou hast been called Cuscrid the Stammerer.” And in this fas.h.i.+on did Ket put to shame all the warriors of the province of Ulster.
But as he was exulting near to the Boar, with his knife in his hand, all saw Conall, the Victorious enter the palace; and Conall sprang into the midst of the house, and the men of Ulster hailed him with a shout; and Conor himself took his helmet from his head, and swung it on high to greet him.
”'Tis well that I wait for the portion that befalls me!” said Conall.
Who is he who is the divider of the Boar for ye?”
”That office must be given to the man who stands there,” said Conor, ”even to Ket, the son of Mata.”
”Is this true, O Ket?” said Conall. ”Art thou the man to allot this Boar?” And then sang Ket:
Conall, all hail!
Hard stony spleen Wild glowing flame!
Ice-glitter keen!
Blood in thy breast Rageth and boils; Oft didst thou wrest Victory's spoils: Thou scarred son of Finuchoem,[FN#16] thou truly canst claim To stand rival to me, and to match me in fame!
And Conall replied to him:
Hail to thee, Ket!
Well are we met!
Heart icy-cold, Home for the bold!
Ender of grief!
Car-riding chief!
Sea's stormy wave!
Bull, fair and brave!
Ket! first of the children of Matach!
<script>