Part 49 (2/2)

Said the hero, ”Why speaketh this woman? hath the man with her never a word?”

”'Twas not him you addressed,” was her answer, ”when first your reproaches we heard.”

”Nay, to him did I speak,” said Cuchulain, ”though 'tis thou to reply who would'st claim!”

'Ooer-gay-skyeo-loo-ehar-skyeo[FN#109] is the name that he bears,” said the dame.

[FN#109] Spelt Uar-gaeth-sceo-luachair-sceo

”'Tis a marvellous name!” said Cuchulain, ”if from thee all my answer must come, Let it be as thou wishest; thy comrade, this man, as it seemeth, is dumb.

Tell me now of thine own name, O woman.”

”Faebor-bayg-byeo-ill,”[FN#110] said the man.

”Coom-diewr-folt-skayv-garry-skyeo-ooa is her name, if p.r.o.nounce it you can!”

Then Cuchulain sprang at the chariot: ”Would ye make me a fool with your jest?”

He cried, as he leapt at the woman; his feet on her shoulders he pressed, And he set on her head his spear-point: ”Now cease from thy sharp weapon-play!”

Cried the woman. Cuchulain made answer: Thy name to me truth fully say!”

”Then remove thyself from me!” she answered: I am skilled in satirical spells; The man is called Darry I mac Feena[FN#111]: in the country of Cualgne[FN#112] he dwells; I of late made a marvellous poem; and as fee for the poem this cow Do I drive to my home.” ”Let its verses,” said Cuchulain,” be sung to me now!”

”Then away from me stand!” said the woman: ”though above me thou shakest thy spear, It will naught avail thee to move me.” Then he left her, but lingered near, Between the poles of her chariot: the woman her song then sang; And the song was a song of insult. Again at the car he sprang, But nothing he found before him: as soon as the car he had neared, The woman, the horse, and the chariot, the cow, and the man disappeared.

[FN#110] Spelt Faebor-begbeoil-cuimdiuir-folt-seenb-gairit-sceo-uath.

[FN#111] Spelt Daire mac Fiachna: he is the owner of the Dun of Cualgne in the Great Tain.

[FN#112] p.r.o.nounced Kell-ny.

At a bird on a bough, as they vanished, a glance by Cuchulain was cast, And he knew to that bird's black body the shape of the woman had pa.s.sed: As a woman of danger I know you,” he cried, ”and as powerful in spell!”

From to-day and for ever,” she chanted, ”this tale in yon clay-land shall dwell!”

And her word was accomplished; that region to-day is the Grella Dolloo,[FN#113]

The Clay-land of Evil: its name from the deeds of that woman it drew.

[FN#113] Spelt Grellach Dolluid.

”Had I known it was you,” said Cuchulain, ”not thus had you pa.s.sed from my sight!”

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