Part 35 (2/2)

”A fair youth,” said he, ”forth with them goeth, And the grace of such frolicsome play, And such lightness in leap as he showeth Have I seen not on earth till to-day: For his spear a full shot's length he flingeth, Yet the spear never reacheth to ground, For his silver-chained hounds follow after, In their jaws is the spear ever found!”

The Connaught hosts without the fort To see that glory rushed: Sixteen within, of baser sort, Who gazed, to death were crushed.

To the fort came the youths, from their steeds they leapt, for the steeds and the stabling cared, And they loosed the hounds that in leash they kept, for the hunt were the hounds prepared; Seven deer, seven foxes and hares, they chased to the dun on Croghan's plain, Seven boars they drave, on the lawn in haste the game by the youths was slain: With a bound they dashed into Bree, whose flood by the lawns of Croghan flows; Seven otters they caught in its stream, and brought to a hill where the gateway rose.

'Twas there that Fraech and the princes sat at the castle-gate to rest, And the steward of Croghan with Fraech would speak, for such was the king's behest: Of his birth it was asked, and the men he led all truth to the herald spake: ”It is Idath's son who is here,” they said, and they gave him the name of Fraech.

To Ailill and Maev went the steward back of the stranger's name to tell; ”Give him welcome,” said they: ”Of a n.o.ble race is that youth, and I know it well; Let him enter the court of our house,” said the king, the gateway they opened wide; And the fourth of the palace they gave to Fraech, that there might his youths abide.

Fair was the palace that there they found, Seven great chambers were ranged it round; Right to the walls of the house they spread, Facing the hall, where the fire glowed red: Red yew planks, that had felt the plane, Dappled the walls with their tangled grain:

Rails of bronze at the side-walls stood, Plates of bronze had made firm the wood, Seven bra.s.s bolts to the roof-tree good Firmly the vaulting tied.

All that house had of pine been made, Planks, as s.h.i.+ngles, above were laid; Sixteen windows the light let pa.s.s, Each in a frame of the s.h.i.+ning bra.s.s: High through the roof was the sky seen bright; Girder of bra.s.s made that opening tight, Under the gap it was stretched, and light Fell on its gleaming side.

All those chambers in splendour excelling, The midmost of all in the ring, Rose a room, set apart as the dwelling Of Queen Maev, and of Ailill the king.

Four bra.s.s columns the awning supported For their couch, there was bronze on the wall; And two rails, formed of silver, and gilded, In that chamber encircled it all: In the front, to mid-rafters attaining, Rose in silver a wand from the floor; And with rooms was that palace engirdled, For they stretched from the door to the door.

'Twas there they went to take repose, On high their arms were hung; And down they sank, and welcome rose, Acclaimed by every tongue.

By the queen and the king they were welcome made, the strangers they turned to greet; And their courtesy graciously Fraech repaid: ”'Twas thus we had hoped to meet.”

”Not for boasting to-day are ye come!” said Maev; the men for the chess she set: And a lord of the court in the chess-man sport by Fraech in a match was met.

'Twas a marvellous board of findruine fair was prepared, when they played that game, Four handles, and edges of gold it had, nor needed they candles' flame; For the jewels that blazed at the chess-board's side, a light, as from lamps, would yield; And of silver and gold were the soldiers made, who engaged on that mimic field.

”Get ye food for the chiefs!” said the king; said Maev, ”Not yet, 'tis my will to stay, To sit with the strangers, and here with Fraech in a match at the chess to play!”

”Let thy game be played!” said Ailill then, ”for it pleaseth me none the less:”

And Queen Maev and Fraech at the chess-board sate, and they played at the game of chess.

Now his men, as they played, the wild beasts late caught were cooking, they thought to feed; And said Ailill to Fraech, ”Shall thy harpmen play?” ”Let them play,”

said Fraech, ”indeed:”

Now those harpers were wondrous men, by their sides they had sacks of the otter's skin, And about their bodies the sacks were tied, and they carried their harps within, With st.i.tches of silver and golden thread each case for a harp was sewed; And, beneath the embroidery gleaming red, the s.h.i.+mmer of rubies showed!

The skin of a roe about them in the middle, it was as white as snow; black-grey eyes in their centre. Cloaks of linen as white as the tunic of a swan around these ties.[FN#4] Harps of gold and silver and bronze, with figures of serpents and birds, and hounds of gold and silver: as they moved those strings those figures used to run about the men all round.

[FN#4] This is the Egerton version, which is clearly right here. The Book of Leinster gives: ”These figures accordingly used to run,” &c., leaving out all the first part of the sentence, which is required to make the meaning plain.

They play for them then so that twelve of the people[FN#5] of Ailill and Medb die with weeping and sadness.

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