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The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel ...............................................................................................................1

Translated by Whitely Stokes..................................................................................................................1

The vast and interesting epic literature of Ireland has remained, for the most part, inaccessible to English

readers until these last sixty years. In 1853, Nicholas O'Kearney published the Irish text and an English

translation of "The Battle of Gabra," and since that date the volume of printed texts and English versions has

steadily increased. Now there lies open to the ordinary reader a considerable mass of material illustrating the

Of these Irish epic tales, "The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel" is a specimen of remarkable beauty and

power. The primitive aspects of the story are made evident in the way that the plot turns upon the disasters

that follow on the violation of taboos, by the monstrous nature of many of the warriors, and by the absence of

any attempt to explain the beliefs implied or the marvels related in it. The powers and achievements of the

heroes are fantastic and extraordinary beyond description. The natural and extranatural constantly mingle,

yet nowhere does the narrator express surprise. The technical method of the tale, too, is curiously and almost

mechanically symmetrical, after the manner of savage art. Both description and narration are marked by a

The following translation is, with slight modification, that of Dr. Whitley Stokes, from a text constructed by

him on the basis of eight manuscripts, the oldest going back to about 1100 A.D. The story itself is, without

doubt, from several centuries earlier and belongs to the oldest group of extant Irish sagas.

There was a famous and noble king over Erin, named Eochaid Feidlech. Once upon a time he came over the

fairgreen of Bri Leith, and he saw at the edge of a well a woman with a bright comb of silver adorned with

gold, washing in a silver basin wherein were four golden birds and little, bright gems of purple carbuncle in

the rims of the basin. A mantle she had, curly and purple, a beautiful cloak, and in the mantle silvery fringes

arranged, and a brooch of fairest gold. A kirtle she wore, long, hooded, hardsmooth, of green silk, with red

embroidery of gold. Marvellous clasps of gold and silver in the kirtle on her breasts and her shoulders and

spaulds on every side. The sun kept shining upon her, so that the glistening of the gold against the sun from

the green silk was manifest to men. On her head were two goldenyellow tresses, in each of which was a

plait of four locks, with a bead at the point of each lock. The hue of that hair seemed to them like the flower

There she was, undoing her hair to wash it, with her arms out through the sleeveholes of her smock. White

as the snow of one night were the two hands, soft and even, and red as foxglove were the two clearbeautiful

cheeks. Dark as the back of a stagbeetle the two eyebrows. Like a shower of pearls were the teeth in her

head. Blue as a hyacinth were the eyes. Red as rowanberries the lips. Very high, smooth and softwhite the

shoulders. Clearwhite and lengthy the fingers. Long were the hands. White as the foam of a wave was the

flank, slender, long, tender, smooth, soft as wool. Polished and warm, sleek and white were the two thighs.

Round and small, hard and white the two knees. Short and white and rulestraight the two shins. Justly straight

and beautiful the two heels. If a measure were put on the feet it would hardly have found them unequal,

unless the flesh of the coverings should grow upon them. The bright radiance of the moon was in her noble

face: the loftiness of pride in her smooth eyebrows: the light of wooing in each of her regal eyes. A dimple of

delight in each of her cheeks, with a dappling (?) in them, at one time, of purple spots with redness of a calf's

blood, and at another with the bright lustre of snow. Soft womanly dignity in her voice; a step steady and

slow she had: a queenly gait was hers. Verily, of the world's women 'twas she was the dearest and loveliest

and justest that the eyes of men had ever beheld. It seemed to King Eochaid and his followers that she was

from the elfmounds. Of her was said: "Shapely are all till compared with Etain," "Dear are all till compared

A longing for her straightway seized the king; so he sent forward a man of his people to detain her. The king

asked tidings of her and said, while announcing himself: "Shall I have an hour of dalliance with thee?"

"Easy to say," quoth she. "Etain am I, daughter of Etar, king of the cavalcade from the elfmounds. I have

been here for twenty years since I was born in an elfmound. The men of the elfmound, both kings and nobles,

have been wooing me: but nought was gotten from me, because ever since I was able to speak, I have loved

thee and given thee a child's love for the high tales about thee and thy splendour. And though I had never

seen thee, I knew thee at once from thy description: it is thou, then, I have reached."

"No 'seeking of an ill friend afar' shall be thine," says Eochaid. "Thou shalt have welcome, and for thee every

other woman shall be left by me, and with thee alone will I live so long as thou hast honour."

Then the king, even Eochaid Feidlech, dies, leaving one daughter named, like her mother, Etain, and wedded

After the end of a time Cormac, king of Ulaid, "the man of the three gifts," forsakes Eochaid's daughter,

because she was barren save for one daughter that she had borne to Cormac after the making of the pottage

which her mother the woman from the elfmounds gave her. Then she said to her mother: "Bad is what

Then Cormac weds again his wife, even Etain, and this was his desire, that the daughter of the woman who

had before been abandoned [i. e. his own daughter] should be killed. So Cormac would not leave the girl to

her mother to be nursed. Then his two thralls take her to a pit, and she smiles a laughing smile at them as they

were putting her into it. Then their kindly nature came to them. They carry her into the calfshed of the

cowherds of Etirscel, greatgrandson of Iar, king of Tara, and they fostered her till she became a good

A fenced house of wickerwork was made by the thralls for her, without any door, but only a window and a

skylight. King Etercel's folk espy that house and suppose that it was food the cowherds kept there. But one of

them went and looked through the skylight, and he saw in the house the dearest, beautifullest maiden! This is

told to the king, and straightway he sends his people to break the house and carry her off without asking the

cowherds. For the king was childless, and it had been prophesied to him by his wizards that a woman of

Now while she was there next morning she saw a Bird on the skylight coming to her, and he leaves his

birdskin on the floor of the house, and went to her, and possessed her, and said: "They are coming to thee

from the king to wreck thy house and to bring thee to him perforce. And thou wilt be pregnant by me, and

bear a son, and that son must not kill birds.2 And 'Conaire, son of Mess Buachalla' shall be his name," for

[Footnote 2: This passage indicates the existence in Ireland of totems, and of the rule that the person to whom

And then she was brought to the king, and with her went her fosterers, and she was betrothed to the king, and

he gave her seven cumals and to her fosterers seven other cumals. And afterwards they were made chieftains,

so that they all became legitimate, whence are the two Fedlimthi Rechtaidi. And then she bore a son to the

king, even Conaire son of Mess Buachalla, and these were her three urgent prayers to the king, to wit, the

nursing of her son among three households, that is, the fosterers who had nurtured her, and the two

Honeyworded Maines, and she herself is the third; and she said that such of the men of Erin as should wish to

do aught for this boy should give to those three households for the boy's protection.

So in that wise he was reared, and the men of Erin straightway knew this boy on the day he was born. And

other boys were fostered with him, to wit, Fer Le and Fer Gar and Fer Rogein, three greatgrandsons of Donn

Now Conaire possessed three gifts, to wit, the gift of hearing and the gift of eyesight and the gift of judgment;

and of those three gifts he taught one to each of his three fosterbrothers. And whatever meal was prepared for

him, the four of them would go to it. Even though three meals were prepared for him each of them would go

Then the king, even Eterscele, died. A bullfeast is gathered by the men of Erin, in order to determine their

future king; that is, a bull used to be killed by them and thereof one man would eat his fill and drink its broth,

and a spell of truth was chanted over him in his bed. Whosoever he would see in his sleep would be king, and

Four men in chariots were on the Plain of Liffey at their game, Conaire himself and his three fosterbrothers.

Then his fosterers went to him that he might repair to the bullfeast. The bullfeaster, then in his sleep, at the

end of the night beheld a man starknaked, passing along the road of Tara, with a stone in his sling.

He left his fosterbrothers at their game, and turned his chariot and his charioteer until he was in Dublin. There

he saw great, whitespeckled birds, of unusual size and colour and beauty. He pursues them until his horses

were tired. The birds would go a spearcast before him, and would not go any further. He alighted, and takes

his sling for them out of the chariot. He goes after them until he was at the sea. The birds betake themselves

to the wave. He went to them and overcame them. The birds quit their birdskins, and turn upon him with

spears and swords. One of them protects him, and addressed him, saying: "I am Nemglan, king of thy father's

birds; and thou hast been forbidden to cast at birds, for here there is no one that should not be dear to thee

"Go to Tara tonight," says Nemglan; "'tis fittest for thee. A bull feast is there, and through it thou shalt be

king. A man starknaked, who shall go at the end of the night along one of the roads of Tara, having a stone

So in this wise Conaire fared forth; and on each of the four roads whereby men go to Tara there were three

kings awaiting him, and they had raiment for him, since it had been foretold that he would come starknaked.

Then he was seen from the road on which his fosterers were, and they put royal raiment about him, and

The folk of Tara said to him: "It seems to us that our bullfeast and our spell of truth are a failure, if it be only

"That is of no moment," quoth he. "For a young, generous king like me to be in the kingship is no disgrace,

"Excellent! excellent!" says the host. They set the kingship of Erin upon him. And he said: "I will enquire of

Then he uttered all this as he had been taught by the man at the wave, who said this to him: "Thy reign will

be subject to a restriction, but the birdreign will be noble, and this shall be thy restriction, i.e. thy tabu.

"Thou shalt not sleep in a house from which firelight is manifest outside, after sunset, and in which light is

"And after sunset a company of one woman or one man shall not enter the house in which thou art.

Now there were in his reign great bounties, to wit, seven ships in every June in every year arriving at Inver

Colptha,3 and oakmast up to the knees in every autumn, and plenty of fish in the rivers Bush and Boyne in

the June of each year, and such abundance of good will that no one slew another in Erin during his reign. And

to every one in Erin his fellow's voice seemed as sweet as the strings of lutes. From midspring to

midautumn no wind disturbed a cow's tail. His reign was neither thunderous nor stormy.

Now his fosterbrothers murmured at the taking from them of their father's and their grandsire's gifts, namely

Theft and Robbery and Slaughter of men and Rapine. They thieved the three thefts from the same man, to

wit, a swine and an ox and a cow, every year, that they might see what punishment therefor the king would

inflict upon them, and what damage the theft in his reign would cause to the king.

Now every year the farmer would come to the king to complain, and the king would say to him. "Go thou and

address Donn Desa's three great grandsons, for 'tis they that have taken the beasts." Whenever he went to

speak to Donn Desa's descendants they would almost kill him, and he would not return to the king lest

Since, then, pride and wilfulness possessed them, they took to marauding, surrounded by the sons of the lords

of the men of Erin. Thrice fifty men had they as pupils when they (the pupils) were werewolfing in the

province of Connaught, until Maine Milscothach's swineherd saw them, and he had never seen that before.

He went in flight. When they heard him they pursued him. The swineherd shouted, and the people of the two

Maines came to him, and the thrice fifty men were arrested, along with their auxiliaries, and taken to Tara.

They consulted the king concerning the matter, and he said: "Let each (father) slay his son, but let my

"Nay indeed," quoth he; "no 'cast of life' by me is the doom I have delivered. The men shall not be hung; but

This they do. Thence they put to sea and met the son of the king of Britain, even Ingcel the Oneeyed,

This is the destruction which his own impulse gave him. That was the night that his mother and his father and

his seven brothers had been bidden to the house of the king of his district. All of them were destroyed by

Ingcel in a single night. Then the Irish pirates put out to sea to the land of Erin to seek a destruction as

In Conaire's reign there was perfect peace in Erin, save that in Thomond there was a joining of battle between

the two Carbres. Two fosterbrothers of his were they. And until Conaire came it was impossible to make

peace between them. 'Twas a tabu of his to go to separate them before they had repaired to him. He went,

however, although to do so was one of his tabus, and he made peace between them. He remained five nights

After settling the two quarrels, he was travelling to Tara. This is the way they took to Tara, past Usnech of

Meath; and they saw the raiding from east and west, and from south and north, and they saw the warbands

and the hosts, and the men starknaked; and the land of the southern O'Neills was a cloud of fire around him.

"What is this?" asked Conaire. "Easy to say," his people answer. "Easy to know that the king's law has broken

So then they went righthandwise round Tara, and lefthandwise round Bregia, and the evil beasts of Cerna

They that made of the world that smoky mist of magic were elves, and they did so because Conaire's tabus

Great fear then fell on Conaire because they had no way to wend save upon the Road of Midluachair and the

"May I succeed in telling thee! my fosterling Conaire," says Mac cecht, son of Snade Teiched, the champion

of Conaire, son of Eterscel. "Oftener have the men of Erin been contending for thee every night than thou

"Judgment goes with good times," says Conaire. "I had a friend in this country, if only we knew the way to

"Da Derga of Leinster," answered Conaire. "He came unto me to seek a gift from me, and he did not come

with a refusal. I gave him a hundred kine of the drove. I gave him a hundred fatted swine. I gave him a

hundred mantles made of close cloth. I gave him a hundred bluecoloured weapons of battle. I gave him ten

red, gilded brooches. I gave him ten vats good and brown. I gave him ten thralls. I gave him ten querns. I

gave him thrice nine hounds allwhite in their silvern chains. I gave him a hundred racehorses in the herds

of deer. There would be no abatement in his case though he should come again. He would make return. It is

"When I was acquainted with his house," says Mac cecht, "the road whereon thou art going towards him was

the boundary of his abode. It continues till it enters his house, for through the house passes the road. There

are seven doorways into the house, and seven bedrooms between every two doorways; but there is only one

doorvalve on it, and that valve is turned to every doorway to which the wind blows."

"With all that thou hast here," says Conaire, "thou shalt go in thy great multitude until thou alight in the midst

"If so be," answers Mac cecht, "that thou goest thither, I go on that I may strike fire there ahead of thee."

When Conaire after this was journeying along the Road of Cualu, he marked before him three horsemen

riding towards the house. Three red frocks had they, and three red mantles: three red bucklers they bore, and

three red spears were in their hands: three red steeds they bestrode, and three red heads of hair were on them.

"Who is it that fares before us?" asked Conaire. "It was a tabu of mine for those Three to go before me the

three Reds to the house of Red. Who will follow them and tell them to come towards me in my track?"

He goes after them, lashing his horse, and overtook them not. There was the length of a spearcast between

He told them not to go before the king. He overtook them not; but one of the three men sang a lay to him over

The boy waited for the host. He told his father what was said to him. Conaire liked it not. "After them, thou!"

says Conaire, "and offer them three oxen and three baconpigs, and so long as they shall be in my household,

So the lad goes after them, and offers them that, and overtook them not. But one of the three men sang a lay

"Lo, my son, great the news! A generous king's great ardour whets thee, burns thee. Through ancient men's

"Go after them," says Conaire, "and offer them six oxen and six bacon pigs, and my leavings, and gifts

tomorrow, and so long as they shall be in my household no one to be among them from fire to wall."

The lad then went after them, and overtook them not; but one of the three men answered and said:

"Lo, my son, great the news. Weary are the steeds we ride. We ride the steeds of Donn Tetscorach from the

elfmounds. Though we are alive we are dead. Great are the signs: destruction of life: sating of ravens: feeding

of crows, strife of slaughter: wetting of swordedge, shields with broken bosses in hours after sundown. Lo,

He recited the last answer that they gave him. Conaire and his retainers were not blithe thereat: and

"All my tabus have seized me tonight," says Conaire, "since those Three Reds are the banished folks."4

[Footnote 4: They had been banished from the elfmounds, and for them to precede Conaire was to violate one

They went forward to the house and took their seats therein, and fastened their red steeds to the door of the

'Tis then the man of the black, cropt hair, with his one hand and one eye and one foot, overtook them. Rough

cropt hair upon him. Though a sackful of wild apples were flung on his crown, not an apple would fall on the

ground, but each of them would stick on his hair. Though his snout were flung on a branch they would

remain together. Long and thick as an outer yoke was each of his two shins. Each of his buttocks was the size

of a cheese on a withe. A forked pole of iron blackpointed was in his hand. A swine, blackbristled, singed,

was on his back, squealing continually, and a woman bigmouthed, huge, dark, sorry, hideous, was behind

him. Though her snout were flung on a branch, the branch would support it. Her lower lip would reach her

He starts forward to meet Conaire, and made him welcome. "Welcome to thee, O master Conaire! Long hath

"Fer Caille here, with his black swine for thee to consume that thou be not fasting tonight, for 'tis thou art the

"Any other night," says Conaire, "that pleases you, I will come to you, and leave us alone tonight."

"Nay," say the churl, "for we will go to thee to the place wherein thou wilt be tonight, O fair little master

So he goes towards the house, with his great, bigmouthed wife behind him, and his swine shortbristled,

black, singed, squealing continually, on his back. That was one of Conaire's tabus, and that plunder should be

Now plunder was taken by the sons of Donn Desa, and five hundred there were in the body of their

marauders, besides what underlings were with them. This, too, was a tabu of Conaire's. There was a good

warrior in the north country, "Wain over withered sticks," this was his name. Why he was so called was

because he used to go over his opponent even as a wain would go over withered sticks. Now plunder was

taken by him, and there were five hundred in the body of their marauders alone, besides underlings.

There was after that a troop of still haughtier heroes, namely, the seven sons of Ailill and Medb, each of

whom was called "Mane." And each Mane had a nickname, to wit, Mane Fatherlike and Mane Motherlike,

and Mane Gentlepious, Mane Verypious, Mane Unslow, and Mane Honeyworded, Mane Graspthemall,

and Mane the Loquacious. Rapine was wrought by them. As to Mane Motherlike and Mane Unslow there

were fourteen score in the body of their marauders. Mane Fatherlike had three hundred and fifty. Mane

Honeyworded had five hundred. Mane Graspthemall had seven hundred. Mane the Loquacious had seven

There was a valiant trio of the men of Cualu of Leinster, namely, the three Red Hounds of Cualu, called

Cethach and Clothach and Conall. Now rapine was wrought by them, and twelve score were in the body of

their marauders, and they had a troop of madmen. In Conaire's reign a third of the men of Ireland were

reavers. He was of sufficient strength and power to drive them out of the land of Erin so as to transfer their

marauding to the other side (Great Britain), but after this transfer they returned to their country.

When they had reached the shoulder of the sea, they meet Ingcel the One eyed and Eiccel and Tulchinne,

three greatgrandsons of Conmac of Britain, on the raging of the sea. A man ungentle, huge, fearful, uncouth

was Ingcel. A single eye in his head, as broad as an oxhide, as black as a chafer, with three pupils therein.

Thirteen hundred were in the body of his marauders. The marauders of the men of Erin were more numerous

They go for a seaencounter on the main. "Ye should not do this," says Ingcel: "do not break the truth of men

"Nought but a combat on equal terms shall befall thee," say the reavers of Erin.

"There is somewhat better for you," quoth Ingcel. "Let us make peace since ye have been cast out of the land

of Erin, and we have been cast out of the land of Alba and Britain. Let us make an agreement between us.

Come ye and wreak your rapine in my country, and I will go with you and wreak my rapine in your country."

They follow this counsel, and they gave pledges therefor from this side and from that. There are the sureties

that were given to Ingcel by the men of Erin, namely, Fer gair and Gabur (or Fer lee) and Fer rogain, for the

destruction that Ingcel should choose to cause in Ireland and for the destruction that the sons of Donn Desa

A lot was cast upon them to see with which of them they should go first. It fell that they should go with

Ingcel to his country. So they made for Britain, and there his father and mother and his seven brothers were

slain, as we have said before. Thereafter they made for Alba, and there they wrought the destruction, and then

'Tis then, now, that Conaire son of Eterscel went towards the Hostel along the Road of Cualu.

'Tis then that the reavers came till they were in the sea off the coast of Bregia overagainst Howth.

Then said the reavers: "Strike the sails, and make one band of you on the sea that ye may not be sighted from

land; and let some lightfoot be found from among you to go on shore to see if we could save our honors with

"Who will go on shore to listen? Let some one ago," says Ingcel, "who should have there the three gifts,

Then nine men go on till they were on the Hill of Howth, to know what they might hear and see.

"I see there," quoth he, "cavalcades splendid, lofty, beautiful, warlike, foreign, somewhat slender, weary,

active, keen, whetted, vehement, a good course that shakes a great covering of land. They fare to many

"Easy to say: Indeoin, Cult, Cuilten, Mafat, Ammat, Iarmafat, Finne, Goiste, Guistine. Gray spears over

chariots: ivoryhilted swords on thighs: silvery shields above their elbows. Half red and half white. Garments

"Thereafter I see before them special cattle specially keen, to wit, thrice fifty darkgray steeds. Smallheaded

are they, rednosed, pointed, broadhoofed, bignosed, redchested, fat, easilystopt, easilyyoked,

foraynimble, keen, whetted, vehement, with their thrice fifty bridles of red enamel upon them."

"I swear by what my tribe swears," says the man of the long sight, "these are the cattle of some good lord.

This is my judgment thereof: it is Conaire, son of Eterscel, with multitudes of the men of Erin around him,

Back then they go that they may tell it to the reavers. "This," they say, "is what we have heard and seen."

Of this host, then, there was a multitude, both on this side and on that, namely, thrice fifty boats, with five

thousand in them, and ten hundred in every thousand. Then they hoisted the sails on the boats, and steer them

When the boats reached land, then was Mac cecht astriking fire in Da Derga's Hostel. At the sound of the

spark the thrice fifty boats were hurled out, so that they were on the shoulders of the sea.

"I know not," answers Fer rogain, "unless it is Luchdonn the satirist in Emain Macha, who makes this

handsmiting when his food is taken from him perforce: or the scream of Luchdonn in Temair Luachra: of

Mac cecht's striking a spark, when he kindles a fire before a king of Erin where he sleeps. Every spark and

every shower which his fire would let fall on the floor would broil a hundred calves and two halfpigs."

"May God not bring that man (even Conaire) there tonight!" say Donn Desa's sons. "Sad that he is under the

"Meseems," says Ingcel, "it should be no sadder for me than the destruction I gave you. This were my feast

Their fleet is steered to land. The noise that the thrice fifty vessels made in running ashore shook Da Derga's

Hostel so that no spear nor shield remained on rack therein, but the weapons uttered a cry and fell all on the

"I know nothing like it unless it be the earth that has broken, or the Leviathan that surrounds the globe and

strikes with its tail to overturn the world, or the barque of the sons of Donn Desa that has reached the shore.

Alas that it should not be they who are there! Beloved fosterbrothers of our own were they! Dear were the

When Mac cecht heard the tumultuous noise, it seemed to him that warriors had attacked his people. Thereat

he leapt on to his armour to help them. Vast as the thunderfeat of three hundred did they deem his game in

Now in the bow of the ship wherein were Donn Desa's sons was the champion, greataccoutred, wrathful, the

lion hard and awful, Ingcel the One eyed, greatgrandson of Conmac. Wide as an oxhide was the single eye

protruding from his forehead, with seven pupils therein, which were black as a chafer. Each of his knees as

big as stripper's caldron; each of his two fists was the size of a reapingbasket: his buttocks as big as a cheese

So after that, the thrice fifty boats, and those five thousands with ten hundred in every thousand, landed

Then Conaire with his people entered the Hostel, and each took his seat within, both tabu and nontabu. And

Thereafter Da Derga came to them, with thrice fifty warriors, each of them having a long head of hair to the

hollow of his polls, and a short cloak to their buttocks. Speckledgreen drawers they wore, and in their hands

"Welcome, O master Conaire!" quoth he. "Though the bulk of the men of Erin were to come with thee, they

When they were there they saw a lone woman coming to the door of the Hostel, after sunset, and seeking to

be let in. As long as a weaver's beam was each of her two shins, and they were as dark as the back of a

stagbeetle. A greyish, wooly mantle she wore. Her lower hair used to reach as far as her knee. Her lips were

She came and put one of her shoulders against the doorpost of the house, casting the evil eye on the king

and the youths who surrounded him in the Hostel. He himself addressed her from within.

"Truly I see for thee," she answers, "that neither fell nor flesh of thine shall escape from the place into which

"It was not an evil omen we foreboded, O woman," saith he: "it is not thou that always augurs for us. What is

"Easy to say," quoth she. "Samon, Sinand, Seisclend, Sodb, Caill, Coll, Dichoem, Dichiuil, Dithim,

Dichuimne, Dichruidne, Dairne, Darine, Deruaine, Egem, Agam, Ethamne, Gnim, Cluiche, Cethardam, Nith,

Nemain, Noennen, Badb, Blosc, B[l]oar, Huae, oe Aife la Sruth, Mache, Mede, Mod."

On one foot, and holding up one hand, and breathing one breath she sang all that to them from the door of the

"I swear by the gods whom I adore," says Conaire, "that I will call thee by none of these names whether I

"'Tis a tabu of mine," says Conaire, "to receive the company of one woman after sunset."

"Though it be a tabu," she replied, "I will not go until my guesting come at once this very night."

"Tell her," says Conaire, "that an ox and a baconpig shall be taken out to her, and my leavings: provided

"If in sooth," she says, "it has befallen the king not to have room in his house for the meal and bed of a

solitary woman, they will be gotten apart from him from some one possessing generosity if the hospitality

"Savage is the answer!" says Conaire. "Let her in, though it is a tabu of mine."

Great loathing they felt after that from the woman's converse, and ill foreboding; but they knew not the cause

The reavers afterwards landed, and fared forth till they were at Lecca cinn slebe. Ever open was the Hostel.

Why it was called a Bruden was because it resembles the lips of a man blowing a fire.

Great was the fire which was kindled by Conaire every night, to wit, a "Boar of the Wood." Seven outlets it

had. When a log was cut out of its side every flame that used to come forth at each outlet was as big as the

blaze of a burning oratory. There were seventeen of Conaire's chariots at every door of the house, and by

those that were looking from the vessels that great light was clearly seen through the wheels of the chariots.

"I cannot liken it to aught," answers Fer rogain, "unless it be the fire of a king. May God not bring that man

"What then deemest thou," says Ingcel, "of that man's reign in the land of Erin?"

"Good is his reign," replied Fer rogain. "Since he assumed the kingship, no cloud has veiled the sun for the

space of a day from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn. And not a dewdrop fell from grass till

midday, and wind would not touch a beast's tail until nones. And in his reign, from year's end to year's end,

no wolf has attacked aught save one bullcalf of each byre; and to maintain this rule there are seven wolves in

hostageship at the sidewall in his house, and behind this a further security, even Maclocc, and 'tis he that

pleads for them in Conaire's house. In Conaire's reign are the three crowns on Erin, namely crown of

cornears, and crown of flowers, and crown of oak mast. In his reign, too, each man deems the other's voice

as melodious as the strings of lutes, because of the excellence of the law and the peace and the goodwill

prevailing throughout Erin. May God not bring that man there tonight! 'Tis sad to destroy him. 'Tis 'a branch

through its blossom,' 'Tis a swine that falls before mast. 'Tis an infant in age. Sad is the shortness of his life!"

"This was my luck," says Ingcel, "that he should be there, and there should be one Destruction for another. It

were not more grievous to me than my father and my mother and my seven brothers, and the king of my

The reavers make a start from the Strand of Fuirbthe, and bring a stone for each man to make a cairn; for this

was the distinction which at first the Fians made between a "Destruction" and a "Rout." A pillarstone they

used to plant when there would be a Rout. A cairn, however, they used to make when there would be a

Destruction. At this time, then, they made a cairn, for it was a Destruction. Far from the house was this, that

For two causes they built their cairn, namely, first, since this was a custom in marauding, and, secondly, that

they might find out their losses at the Hostel. Every one that would come safe from it would take his stone

from the cairn: thus the stones of those that were slain would be left, and thence they would know their

losses. And this is what men skilled in story recount, that for every stone in Carn leca there was one of the

A "boar of a fire" is kindled by the sons of Donn Desa to give warning to Conaire. So that is the first

warningbeacon that has been made in Erin, and from it to this day every warningbeacon is kindled.

This is what others recount: that it was on the eve of samain (AllSaintsday) the destruction of the Hostel

was wrought, and that from yonder beacon the beacon of samain is followed from that to this, and stones (are

"Good men indeed," says Ingcel, "were likely to seek their fellows at that Hostel tonight."

This, then, was the counsel of the reavers, to send one of them to see how things were there.

Ingcel went to reconnoitre the Hostel with one of the seven pupils of the single eye which stood out of his

forehead, to fit his eye into the house in order to destroy the king and the youths who were around him

Then Ingcel was perceived from the house. He made a start from it after being perceived.

He went till he reached the reavers in the stead wherein they were. Each circle of them was set around

another to hear the tidings the chiefs of the reavers being in the very centre of the circles. There were Fer

ger and Fer gel and Fer rogel and Fer rogain and Lomna the Buffoon, and Ingcel the Oneeyed six in the

"However it be," answered Ingcel, "royal is the custom, hostful is the tumult: kingly is the noise thereof.

Whether a king be there or not, I will take the house for what I have a right to. Thence my turn of rapine

We have left it in thy hand, O Ingcel!" say Conaire's fosterbrothers. "But we should not wreak the

"Mine eye cast a rapid glance around it, and I will accept it for my dues as it stands."

"Thou mayest well accept it, O Ingcel," saith Fer rogain: "the foster father of us all is there, Erin's overking,

"Question, what sawest thou in the champion's high seat of the house, facing the King, on the opposite side?"

"I saw there," says Ingcel, "a man of noble countenance, large, with a clear and sparkling eye, an even set of

teeth, a face narrow below, broad above,. Fair, flaxen, golden hair upon him, and a proper fillet around it. A

brooch of silver in his mantle, and in his hand a goldhilted sword. A shield with five golden circles upon it:

a fivebarbed javelin in his hand. A visage just, fair, ruddy he hath: he is also beardless. Modestminded is

"There I saw three men to the west of Cormac, and three to the east of him, and three in front of the same

man. Thou wouldst deem that the nine of them had one mother and one father. They are of the same age,

equally goodly, equally beautiful, all alike. Thin rods of gold in their mantles. Bent shields of bronze they

bear. Ribbed javelins above them. An ivoryhilted sword in the hand of each. An unique feat they have, to

wit, each of them takes his sword's point between his two fingers, and they twirl the swords round their

fingers, and the swords afterwards extend themselves by themselves. Liken thou that, O Fer rogain," says

"Easy," says Fer rogain, "for me to liken them. It is Conchobar's son, Cormac Condlongas, the best hero

behind a shield in the land of Erin. Of modest mind is that boy! Evil is what he dreads tonight. He is a

champion of valour for feats of arms; he is an hospitaller for householding. These are yon nine who surround

him, the three Dungusses, and the three Doelgusses, and the three Dangusses, the nine comrades of Cormac

Condlongas, son of Conchobar. They have never slain men on account of their misery, and they never spared

them on account of their prosperity. Good is the hero who is among them, even Cormac Condlongas. I swear

what my tribe swears, nine times ten will fall by Cormac in his first onset, and nine times ten will fall by his

people, besides a man for each of their weapons, and a man for each of themselves. And Cormac will share

prowess with any man before the Hostel, and he will boast of victory over a king or crownprince or noble of

the reavers; and he himself will chance to escape, though all his people be wounded."

"Woe to him who shall wreak this Destruction!" says Lomna Druth, "even because of that one man, Cormac

Condlongas, son of Conchobar." "I swear what my tribe swears," says Lomna son of Donn Desa, "if I could

fulfil my counsel, the Destruction would not be attempted were it only because of that one man, and because

"It is not feasible to prevent it," says Ingcel: "clouds of weakness come to you. A keen ordeal which will

endanger two cheeks of a goat will be opposed by the oath of Fer rogain, who will run. Thy voice, O Lomna,"

says Ingcel, "hath taken breaking upon thee: thou art a worthless warrior, and I know thee. Clouds of

Neither old men nor historians shall declare that I quitted the Destruction, until I shall wreak it."

"Reproach not our honour, O Ingcel," say Ger and Gabur and Fer rogain. "The Destruction shall be wrought

"Truly, then, thou hast reason, O Ingcel," says Lomna Druth son of Donn Desa. "Not to thee is the loss

caused by the Destruction. Thou wilt carry off the head of the king of a foreign country, with thy slaughter of

another; and thou and thy brothers will escape from the Destruction, even Ingcel and Ecell and the Yearling

"Harder, however, it is for me," says Lomna Druth: "woe is me before every one! woe is me after every one!

'Tis my head that will be first tossed about there tonight after an hour among the chariotshafts, where

devilish foes will meet. It will be flung into the Hostel thrice, and thrice will it be flung forth. Woe to him

that comes! woe to him with whom one goes! woe to him to whom one goes! Wretches are they that go!

"There is nothing that will come to me," says Ingcel, "in place of my mother and my father and my seven

brothers, and the king of my district, whom ye destroyed with me. There is nothing that I shall not endure

"Though a . . . should go through them," say Ger and Gabur and Fer rogain, "the Destruction will be wrought

"Woe to him who shall put them under the hands of foes!" says Lomna. "And whom sawest thou

"I saw another room there, with a huge trio in it: three brown, big men: three round heads of hair on them,

even, equally long at nape and forehead. Three short black cowls about them reaching to their elbows: long

hoods were on the cowls. Three black, huge swords they had, and three black shields they bore, with three

dark broadgreen javelins above them. Thick as the spit of a caldron was the shaft of each. Liken thou that, O

"Hard it is for me to find their like. I know not in Erin that trio, unless it be yon trio of Pictland, who went

into exile from their country, and are now in Conaire's household. These are their names: Dublonges son of

Trebuat, and Trebuat son of HuaLonsce, and Curnach son of Hua Faich. The three who are best in Pictland

at taking arms are that trio. Nine decads will fall at their hands in their first encounter, and a man will fall for

each of their weapons, besides one for each of themselves. And they will share prowess with every trio in the

Hostel. They will boast a victory over a king or a chief of the reavers; and they will afterwards escape though

wounded. Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction, though it be only on account of those three!"

Says Lomna Druth: "I swear to God what my tribe swears, if my counsel were taken, the Destruction would

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel: "clouds of weakness are coming to you. A keen ordeal which will endanger, etc.

"There I beheld a room with nine men in it. Hair fair and yellow was on them: they all are equally beautiful.

Mantles speckled with colour they wore, and above them were nine bagpipes, fourturned, ornamented.

Enough light in the palace were the ornament on these fourtuned pipes. Liken thou them, O Fer rogain."

"Easy for me to liken them," says Fer rogain. "Those are the nine pipers that came to Conaire out of the

Elfmound of Bregia, because of noble tales about him. These are their names: Bind, Robind, Riarbind, Sibe,

Dibe, Deichrind, Umall, Cumal, Ciallglind. They are the best pipers in the world. Nine enneads will fall

before them, and a man for each of their weapons, and a man for each of themselves. And each of them will

boast a victory over a king or a chief of the reavers. And they will escape from the Destruction; for a conflict

with them will be a conflict with shadow. They will slay, but they will not be slain, for they are out of an

elfmound. Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction, though it be only because of those nine!"

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds of weakness come to you," etc. "And after that, whom sawest thou there?"

"There I saw a room with one man in it. Rough cropt hair upon him. Though a sack of crabapples should be

flung on his head, not one of them would fall on the floor, but every apple would stick on his hair. His fleecy

mantle was over him in the house. Every quarrel therein about seat or bed comes to his decision. Should a

needle drop in the house, its fall would be heard when he speaks. Above him is a huge black tree, like a

millshaft, with its paddles and its cap and its spike. Liken thou him, O Fer rogain!"

"Easy for me is this. Tuidle of Ulaid is he, the steward of Conaire's household. 'Tis needful to hearken to the

decision of that man, the man that rules seat and bed and food for each. 'Tis his household staff that is above

him. That man will fight with you. I swear what my tribe swears, the dead at the Destruction slain by him will

be more numerous that the living. Thrice his number will fall by him, and he himself will fall there. Woe to

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds of weakness come upon you. What sawest thou there after that?"

There I beheld another room with a trio in it, three halffurious nobles: the biggest of them in the middle,

very noisy . . . rockbodied, angry, smiting, dealing strong blows, who beats nine hundred in battleconflict. A

wooden shield, dark, covered with iron, he bears, with a hard . . . rim, a shield whereon would fit the proper

litter of four troops of ten weaklings on its . . . of . . . leather. A . . . boss thereon, the depth of a caldron, fit to

cook four oxen, a hollow maw, a great boiling, with four swine in its midmaw great . . . At his two smooth

sides are two fivethwarted boats fit for three parties of ten in each of his two strong fleets.

A spear he hath, bluered, handfitting, on its puissant shaft. It stretches along the wall on the roof and rests

on the ground. An iron point upon it, darkred, dripping. Four amplymeasured feet between the two points

Thirty amplymeasured feet in his deadlystriking sword from dark point to iron hilt. It shews forth fiery

'Tis a strong countenance that I see. A swoon from horror almost befell me while staring at those three. There

Two bare hills were there by the man with hair. Two loughs by a mountain of the . . . of a bluefronted wave:

two hides by a tree. Two boats near them full of thorns of a white thorn tree on a circular board. And there

seems to me somewhat like a slender stream of water on which the sun is shining, and its trickle down from

it, and a hide arranged behind it, and a palace housepost shaped like a great lance above it. A good weight of

"Easy, meseems, to liken him! That is Mac cecht son of Snaide Teichid; the battlesoldier of Conaire son of

Eterscel. Good is the hero Mac cecht! Supine he was in his room, in his sleep, when thou beheldest him. The

two bare hills which thou sawest by the man with hair, these are his two knees by his head. The two loughs

by the mountain which thou sawest, these are his two eyes by his nose. The two hides by a tree which thou

sawest, these are his two ears by his head. The two fivethwarted boats on a circular board, which thou

sawest, these are his two sandals on his shield. The slender stream of water which thou sawest, whereon the

sun shines, and its trickle down from it, this is the flickering of his sword. The hide which thou sawest

arranged behind him, that is his sword's scabbard. The palace housepost which thou sawest, that is his lance:

and he brandishes this spear till its two ends meet, and he hurls a wilful cast of it when he pleases. Good is

"Six hundred will fall by him in his first encounter, and a man for each of his weapons, besides a man for

himself. And he will share prowess with every one in the Hostel, and he will boast of triumph over a king or

chief of the reavers in front of the Hostel. He will chance to escape though wounded. And when he shall

chance to come upon you out of the house, as numerous as hailstones, and grass on a green, and stars of

heaven will be your cloven heads and skulls, and the clots of your brains, your bones and the heaps of your

"Woe to him that shall wreak the Destruction," says Lomna Druth; "your heads will depart from you."

"True indeed, O Ingcel," says Lomna Druth son of Donn Desa. "Not unto thee is the loss caused by the

Destruction. Woe is me for the Destruction, for the first head that will reach the Hostel will be mine!"

"'Tis harder for me," says Ingcel: "'tis my destruction that has been . . . there.

"Truly then," says Ingcel, "maybe I shall be the corpse that is frailest there," etc.

"There I beheld a room with a trio in it, to wit, three tender striplings, wearing three silken mantles. In their

mantles were three golden brooches. Three goldenyellow manes were on them. When they undergo

headcleansing their goldenyellow mane reaches the edge of their haunches. When they raise their eye it

raises the hair so that it is not lower than the tips of their ears, and it is as curly as a ram's head. A . . . of gold

and a palaceflambeau above each of them. Every one who is in the house spares them, voice and deed and

Fer rogain wept, so that his mantle in front of him became moist. And no voice was gotten out of his head till

"O little ones," says Fer rogain, "I have good reason for what I do! Those are three sons of the king of Erin:

"It grieves us if the tale be true," say the sons of Donn Desa. "Good is the trio in that room. Manners of ripe

maidens have they, and hearts of brothers, and valours of bears, and furies of lions. Whosoever is in their

company and in their couch, and parts from them, he sleeps not and eats not at ease till the end of nine days,

from lack of their companionship. Good are the youths for their age! Thrice ten will fall by each of them in

their first encounter, and a man for each weapon, and three men for themselves. And one of the three will fall

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel: "clouds of weakness are coming to you, etc. And whom sawest thou afterwards?"

I beheld there a room with a trio in it, to wit, a trio horrible, unheard of, a triad of champions, etc.

"'Tis hard for me to liken that trio. Neither of the men of Erin nor of the men of the world do I know it, unless

it be the trio that Mac cecht brought out of the land of the Fomorians by dint of duels. Not one of the

Fomorians was found to fight him, so he brought away those three, and they are in Conaire's house as sureties

that, while Conaire is reigning, the Fomorians destroy neither corn nor milk in Erin beyond their fair tribute.

Well may their aspect be loathy! Three rows of teeth in their heads from one ear to another. An ox with a

baconpig, this is the ration of each of them, and that ration which they put into their mouths is visible till it

comes down past their navels. Bodies of bone (i.e. without a joint in them) all those three have. I swear what

my tribe swears, more will be killed by them at the Destruction than those they leave alive. Six hundred

warriors will fall by them in their first conflict, and a man for each of their weapons, and one for each of the

three themselves. And they will boast a triumph over a king or chief of the reavers. It will not be more than

with a bite or a blow or a kick that each of those men will kill, for no arms are allowed them in the house,

since they are in 'hostageship at the wall' lest they do a misdeed therein. I swear what my tribe swears, if they

had armour on them, they would slay us all but a third. Woe to him that shall wreak the Destruction, because

"I beheld a room there, with a trio in it. Three brown, big men, with three brown heads of short hair. Thick

calfbottoms (ankles?) they had. As thick as a man's waist was each of their limbs. Three brown and curled

masses of hair upon them, with a thick head: three cloaks, red and speckled, they wore: three black shields

with clasps of gold, and three fivebarbed javelins; and each had in hand an ivoryhilted sword. This is the

feat they perform with their swords: they throw them high up, and they throw the scabbards after them, and

the swords, before reaching the ground, place themselves in the scabbards. Then they throw the scabbards

first, and the swords after them, and the scabbards meet the swords and place themselves round them before

"Easy for me to liken them! Mal son of Telband, and Munremar son of Gerrchenn, and Birderg son of Ruan.

Three crownprinces, three champions of valour, three heroes the best behind weapons in Erin! A hundred

heroes will fall by them in their first conflict, and they will share prowess with every man in the Hostel, and

they will boast of the victory over a king or chief of the reavers, and afterwards they will chance to escape.

"Woe to him that shall wreak the Destruction!" says Lomna. "Better were the victory of saving them than the

victory of slaying them! Happy he who should save them! Woe to him that shall slay them!"

"There I beheld in a decorated room the fairest man of Erin's heroes. He wore a tufted purple cloak. White as

snow was one of his cheeks, the other was red and speckled like foxglove. Blue as hyacinth was one of his

eyes, dark as a stagbeetle's back was the other. The bushy head of fair golden hair upon him was as large as

a reapingbasket, and it touches the edge of his haunches. It is as curly as a ram's head. If a sackful of

redshelled nuts were spilt on the crown of his head, not one of them would fall on the floor, but remain on

the hooks and plaits and swordlets of their hair. A gold hilted sword in his hand; a bloodred shield which

has been speckled with rivets of white bronze between plates of gold. A long, heavy, threeridged spear: as

thick as an outer yoke is the shaft that is in it. Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!"

"Easy for me to liken him, for the men of Erin know that scion. That is Conall Cernach, son of Amorgen. He

has chanced to be along with Conaire at this time. 'Tis he whom Conaire loves beyond every one, because of

his resemblance to him in goodness of form and shape. Goodly is the hero that is there, Conall Cernach! To

that bloodred shield on his fist, which has been speckled with rivets of white bronze, the Ulaid have given a

"I swear what my tribe swears, plenteous will be the rain of red blood over it tonight before the Hostel! That

ridged spear above him, many will there be unto whom tonight, before the Hostel, it will deal drinks of

death. Seven doorways there are out of the house, and Conall Cernach will contrive to be each of them, and

from no doorway will he be absent. Three hundred will fall by Conall in his first conflict, besides a man for

each (of his) weapons and one for himself. He will share prowess with every one in the Hostel, and when he

shall happen to sally upon you from the house, as numerous as hailstones and grass on green and stars of

heaven will be your halfheads and cloven skulls, and your bones under the point of his sword. He will

succeed in escaping though wounded. Woe to him that shall wreak the Destruction, were it but for this man

"There I beheld a room, more beautifully decorated than the other rooms of the house. A silvery curtain

around it, and there were ornaments in the room. I beheld a trio in it. The outer two of them were, both of

them, fair, with their hair and eyelashes; and they are as bright as snow. A very lovely blush on the cheek of

each of the twain. A tender lad in the midst between them. The ardour and energy of a king has he and the

counsel of a sage. The mantle I saw around him is even as the mist of Mayday. Diverse are the hue and

semblance each moment shewn upon it. Lovelier is each hue than the other. In front of him in the mantle I

beheld a wheel of gold which reached from his chin to his navel. The colour of his hair was like the sheen of

smelted gold. Of all the world's forms that I beheld, this is the most beautiful. I saw his goldenhilted glaive

down beside him. A forearm's length of the sword was outside the scabbard. That forearm, a man down in the

front of the house could see a fleshworm by the shadow of the sword! Sweeter is the melodious sounding of

the sword than the melodious sound of the golden pipes that accompany music in the palace."

I see his high wheel . . . round his head . . . which is over his yellow curly hair.

Now the tender warrior was asleep, with his feet in the lap of one of the two men and his head in the lap of

"The howl of Ossar (Conaire's dog) . . . cry of warriors on the summit of Tol Geisse; a cold wind over edges

"The howl of Ossar . . . a battle he announced: enslavement of a people: sack of the Hostel: mournful are the

champions: men wounded: wind of terror: hurling of javelins: trouble of unfair fight: wreck of houses: Tara

waste: a foreign heritage: like is lamenting Conaire: destruction of corn: feast of arms: cry of screams:

destruction of Erin's king: chariots atottering: oppression of the king of Tara: lamentations will overcome

"Trouble hath been shewn to me: a multitude of elves: a host supine; foes' prostration: a conflict of men on

the Dodder6: oppression of Tara's king: in youth he was destroyed: lamentations will overcome laughter:

[Footnote 6: A small river near Dublin, which is said to have passed through the Bruden. W. S.]

"Easy for me to liken him," says Fer rogain. No "conflict without a king" this. He is the most splendid and

noble and beautiful and mighty king that has come into the whole world. He is the mildest and gentlest and

most perfect king that has come to it, even Conaire son of Eterscel. 'Tis he that is overking of all Erin. There

is no defect in that man, whether in form or shape or vesture: whether in size or fitness or proportion, whether

in eye or hair of brightness, whether in wisdom or skill or eloquence, whether in weapon or dress or

appearance, whether in splendour or abundance or dignity, whether in knowledge or valour or kindred.

"Great is the tenderness of the sleepy simple man till he has chanced on a deed of valour. But if his fury and

his courage be awakened when the champions of Erin and Alba are at him in the house, the Destruction will

not be wrought so long as he is therein. Six hundred will fall by Conaire before he shall attain his arms, and

seven hundred will fall by him in his first conflict after attaining his arms. I swear to God what my tribe

swears, unless drink be taken from him, though there be no one else in the house, but he alone, he would hold

the Hostel until help would reach it which the man would prepare for him from the Wave of Clidna7 and the

"Nine doors there are to the house, and at each door a hundred warriors will fall by his hand. And when every

one in the house has ceased to ply his weapon, 'tis then he will resort to a deed of arms. And if he chance to

come upon you out of the house, as numerous as hailstones and grass on a green will be your halves of heads

"'Tis my opinion that he will not chance to get out of the house. Dear to him are the two that are with him in

the room, his two fosterers, Dris and Snithe. Thrice fifty warriors will fall before each of them in front of the

Hostel, and not farther than a foot from him, on this side and that, will they too fall."

"Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction, were it only because of that pair and the prince that is between

them, the overking of Erin, Conaire son of Eterscel! Sad were the quenching of that reign!" says Lomna

"Good cause hast thou, O Ingcel," says Lomna son of Donn Desa. "Not unto thee is the loss caused by the

Destruction: for thou wilt carry off the head of the king of another country, and thyself will escape. Howbeit

"There I saw twelve men on silvery hurdles all around that room of the king. Light yellow hair was on them.

Blue kilts they wore. Equally beautiful were they, equally hardy, equally shapely. An ivoryhilted sword in

each man's hand, and they cast them not down; but it is the horserods in their hands that are all round the

"Easy for me to say. The king of Tara's guardsmen are there. These are their names: three Londs of Liffey

plain: three Arts of Ath cliath (Dublin): three Buders of Buagnech: and three Trenfers of Cuilne. I swear

And they will escape from it although they are wounded. Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction were it

"There I beheld a redfreckled boy in a purple cloak. He is always a wailing in the house. A stead wherein is

"So he is with a blue silvery chair under his seat in the midst of the house, and he always awailing. Truly

then, sad are his household listening to him! Three heads of hair on that boy, and these are the three; green

hair and purple hair and allgolden hair. I know not whether they are many appearances which the hair

receives, or whether they are three kinds of hair which are naturally upon him. But I know that evil is the

thing he dreads to night. I beheld thrice fifty boys on silvern chairs around him, and there were fifteen

bulrushes in the hand of that redfreckled boy, with a thorn at the end of each of the rushes. And we were

fifteen men, and our fifteen right eyes were blinded by him, and he blinded one of the seven pupils which was

"Easy for me to liken him!" Fer rogain wept till he shed his tears of blood over his cheeks. "Alas for him!"

quoth he. "This child is a 'scion of contention' for the men of Erin with the men of Alba for hospitality, and

shape, and form and horsemanship. Sad is his slaughter! 'Tis a 'swine that goes before mast,' 'tis a babe in

age! the best crownprince that has ever come into Erin! The child of Conaire son of Eterscel, Le fri flaith is

his name. Seven years there are in his age. It seems to me very likely that he is miserable because of the many

appearances on his hair and the various hues that the hair assumes upon him. This is his special household,

"Woe," says Lomna, "to him that shall wreak the Destruction, were it only because of that boy!"

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds of weakness are coming on you, etc." "And after that whom sawest thou

"There I saw six men in front of the same room. Fair yellow manes upon them: green mantles about them: tin

brooches at the opening of their mantles. Halfhorses (centaurs) are they, like Conall Cernach. Each of them

throws his mantle round another and is as swift as a millwheel. Thine eye can hardly follow them. Liken thou

"This is easy for me. Those are the King of Tara's six cupbearers, namely Uan and Broen and Banna, Delt

and Drucht and Dathen. That feat does not hinder them from their skinking, and it blunts not their intelligence

thereat. Good are the warriors that are there! Thrice their number will fall by them. They will share prowess

with any six in the Hostel, and they will escape from their foes, for they are out of the elfmounds. They are

the best cupbearers in Erin. Woe to him that shall wreak the Destruction were it only because of them!"

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds, etc." "And after that, whom sawest thou there?"

"There I beheld a great champion, in front of the same room, on the floor of the house. The shame of baldness

is on him. White as mountain cotton grass is each hair that grows through his head. Earrings of gold around

his ears. A mantle speckled, coloured, he wore. Nine swords in his hand, and nine silvern shields, and nine

apples of gold. He throws each of them upwards, and none of them falls on the ground, and there is only one

of them on his palm; each of them rising and falling past another is just like the movement to and fro of bees

on a day of beauty. When he was swiftest, I beheld him at the feat, and as I looked, they uttered a cry about

him and they were all on the housefloor. Then the Prince who is in the house said to the juggler: 'We have

come together since thou wast a little boy, and till tonight thy juggling never failed thee.'

"'Alas, alas, fair master Conaire, good cause have I. A keen, angry eye looked at me: a man with the third of a

pupil which sees the going of the nine bands. Not much to him is that keen, wrathful sight! Battles are fought

with it,' saith he. 'It should be known till doomsday that there is evil in front of the Hostel.'

"Then he took the swords in his hand, and the silvern shields and the apples of gold; and again they uttered a

cry and were all on the floor of the house. That amazed him, and he gave over his play and said:

'O Fer caille, arise! Do not . . . its slaughter. Sacrifice thy pig! Find out who is in front of the house to injure

'There,' said he, 'are Fer Cualngi, Fer le, Fer gar, Fer rogel, Fer rogain. They have announced a deed which is

not feeble, the annihilation of Conaire by Donn Desa's five sons, by Conaire's five loving fosterbrothers.'

"Easy for me to liken him," says Fer rogain. "Taulchinne the chief juggler of the King of Tara; he is Conaire's

conjurer. A man of great might is that man. Thrice nine will fall by him in his first encounter, and he will

share prowess with every one in the Hostel, and he will chance to escape therefrom though wounded. What

"I beheld a trio in the front of the house: three dark crowntufts on them: three green frocks around them: three

dark mantles over them: three forked . . . (?) above them on the side of the wall. Six black greaves they had

"Easy to say," answers Fer rogain: "the three swineherds of the king, Dub and Donn and Dorcha: three

brothers are they, three sons of Mapher of Tara. Long live he who should protect them! woe to him who shall

slay them! for greater would be the triumph of protecting them than the triumph of slaying them!"

"I beheld another trio in front of them: three plates of gold on their foreheads: three short aprons they wore,

of grey linen embroidered with gold: three crimson capes about them: three goads of bronze in their hands.

"I know them," he answered. "Cul and Frecul and Forcul, the three charioteers of the King: three of the same

age: three sons of Pole and Yoke. A man will perish by each of their weapons, and they will share the

"I beheld another room. Therein were eight swordsmen, and among them a stripling. Black hair is on him,

and very stammering speech has he. All the folk of the Hostel listen to his counsel. Handsomest of men he is:

"I know him," says Fer rogain: "'tis Cuscraid Menn of Armagh, Conchobar's son, who is in hostageship with

the king. And his guards are those eight swordsmen around him, namely, two Flanns, two Cummains, two

Aeds, two Crimthans. They will share prowess with every one in the Hostel, and they will chance to escape

"I beheld nine men: on the mast were they. Nine capes they wore, with a purple loop. A plate of gold on the

"I know those," quoth Fer rogain: "Riado, Riamcobur, Riade, Buadon, Buadchar, Buadgnad, Eirr, Ineirr,

Argatlam nine charioteers in apprenticeship with the three chief charioteers of the king. A man will perish

"On the northern side of the house I beheld nine men. Nine very yellow manes were on them. Nine linen

frocks somewhat short were round them: nine purple plaids over them without brooches therein. Nine broad

"We know them," quoth he. "Oswald and his two fosterbrothers, Osbrit Longhand and his two

fosterbrothers, Lindas and his two fosterbrothers. Three crownprinces of England who are with the king.

"I beheld another trio. Three cropt heads of hair on them, three frocks they wore, and three mantles wrapt

"I know those," quoth Fer rogain. "Echdruim, Echriud, Echruathar, the three horsemen of the king, that is, his

three equerries. Three brothers are they, three sons of Argatron. Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction,

"I beheld another trio in the room by them. A handsome man who had got his baldness newly. By him were

two young men with manes upon them. Three mixed plaids they wore. A pin of silver in the mantle of each of

them. Three suits of armour above them on the wall. Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!"

"I know those," quoth he. "Fergus Ferde, Fergus Fordae and Domaine Mossud, those are the king's three

judges. Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction were it only because of that trio! A man will perish by

"To the east of them I beheld another ennead. Nine branchy, curly manes upon them. Nine grey, floating

mantles about them: nine pins of gold in their mantles. Nine rings of crystal round their arms. A thumbring

of gold round each man's thumb: an eartie of gold round each man's ear: a torque of silver round each man's

throat. Nine bags with golden faces above them on the wall. Nine rods of white silver in their hands. Liken

"I know those," quoth Fer rogain. "They are the king's nine harpers, with their nine harps above them: Side

and Dide, Dulothe and Deichrinne, Caumul and Cellgen, Ol and Olene and Olchoi. A man will perish by each

"I saw another trio on the dais. Three bedgowns girt around them. Four cornered shields in their hands, with

"I know them," says Fer rogain. "Cless and Clissine and Clessamun, the king's three conjurers. Three of the

same age are they: three brothers, three sons of Naffer Rochless. A man will perish by each of them."

"I beheld another trio hard by the room of the King himself. Three blue mantles around them, and three

bedgowns with red insertion over them. Their arms had been hung above them on the wall."

"I know those," quoth he. "Dris and Draigen and Aittit ('Thorn and Bramble and Furze'), the king's three

lampooners, three sons of Sciath foilt. A man will perish by each of their weapons."

"I beheld a trio, naked, on the rooftree of the house: their jets of blood coming through them, and the ropes

"Those I know," saith he, three . . . of awful boding. Those are the three that are slaughtered at every time."

"I beheld a trio cooking, in short inlaid aprons: a fair grey man, and two youths in his company."

"I know those," quoth Fer rogain: "they are the King's three chief kitcheners, namely, the Dagdae and his two

fosterlings, Seig and Segdae, the two sons of Rofer Singlespit. A man will perish by each of them," etc.

"I beheld another trio there. Three plates of gold over their heads. Three speckled mantles about them: three

linen shirts with red insertion: three golden brooches in their mantles: three wooden darts above them on the

"Those I know," says Fer rogain: "the three poets of that king: Sui and Rodui and Fordui: three of the same

age, three brothers: three sons of Maphar of the Mighty Song. A man will perish for each of them, and every

pair will keep between them one man's victory. Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction! etc.

"There I beheld two warriors standing over the king. Two curved shields they had, and two great pointed

"Bole and Root are those," quoth he, "the king's two guards, two sons of Maffer Toll."

"I beheld nine men in a room there in front of the same room, Fair yellow manes upon them: short aprons

they wore and spotted capes: they carried smiting shields. An ivoryhilted sword in the hand of each of them,

and whoever enters the house they essay to smite him with the swords. No one dares to go to the room of the

"Easy for me is that. Three Mochmatnechs of Meath, three Buageltachs of Bregia, three Sostachs of Sliab

Fuait, the nine guardsmen of that King. Nine decades will fall by them in their first conflict, etc. Woe to him

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds of weakness," etc. "And whom sawest thou then?"

"There I beheld another room, and a pair was in it, and they are 'oxtubs,' stout and thick. Aprons they wore,

and the men were dark and brown. They had short backhair on them, but high upon their foreheads. They

are as swift as a waterwheel, each of them past another, one of them to the King's room, the other to the fire.

"Easy to me. They are Nia and Bruthne, Conaire's two tableservants. They are the pair that is best in Erin for

their lord's advantage. What causes brownness to them and height to their hair is their frequent haunting of

the fire. In the world is no pair better in their art than they. Thrice nine men will fall by them in their first

encounter, and they will share prowess with every one, and they will chance to escape. And after that whom

"I beheld the room that is next to Conaire. Three chief champions, in their first greyness, are therein. As thick

as a man's waist is each of their limbs. They have three black swords, each as long as a weaver's beam. These

swords would split a hair on water. A great lance in the hand of the midmost man, with fifty rivets through it.

The shaft therein is a good load for the yoke of a ploughteam. The midmost man brandishes that lance so

that its edgestuds hardly stay therein, and he strikes the half thrice against his palm. There is a great boiler in

front of them, as big as a calf's caldron, wherein is a black and horrible liquid. Moreover he plunges the lance

into that black fluid. If its quenching be delayed it flames on its shaft and then thou wouldst suppose that

there is a fiery dragon in the top of the house. Liken thou, that, O Fer rogain!"

"Easy to say. Three heroes who are best at grasping weapons in Erin, namely, Sencha the beautiful son of

Ailill, and Dubthach Chafer of Ulaid, and Goibnenn son of Lurgnech. And the Luin of Celtchar son of

Uthider which was found in the battle of Mag Tured, this is in the hand of Dubthach Chafer of Ulaid. That

feat is usual for it when it is ripe to pour forth of foeman's blood. A caldron full of poison is needed to quench

it when a deed of man slaying is expected. Unless this come to the lance, it flames on its haft and will go

through its bearer or the master of the palace wherein it is. If it be a blow that is to be given thereby it will kill

a man at every blow, when it is at that feat, from one hour to another, though it may not reach him. And if it

be a cast, it will kill nine men at every cast, and one of the nine will be a king or crownprince or chieftain of

"I swear what my tribe swears, there will be a multitude unto whom tonight the Luin of Celtchar will deal

drinks of death in front of the Hostel. I swear to God what my tribe swears that, in their first encounter, three

hundred will fall by that trio, and they will share prowess with every three in the Hostel tonight. And they

will boast of victory over a king or chief of the reavers, and the three will chance to escape."

"Woe," says Lomna Druth, "to him who shall wreak the Destruction, were it only because of that trio!"

"There I beheld a room with a trio in it. Three men mighty, manly, overbearing, which see no one abiding at

their three hideous crooked aspects. A fearful view because of the terror of them. A . . . dress of rough hair

covers them . . . of cow's hair, without garments enwrapping down to the right heels. With three manes,

equine, awful, majestic, down to their sides. Fierce heroes who wield against foeman hardsmiting swords. A

blow, they give with three iron flails having seven chains tripletwisted, threeedged, with seven iron knobs

at the end of every chain: each of them as heavy as an ingot of ten smeltings. Three big brown men. Dark

equine backmanes on them, which reach their two heels. Two good thirds of an oxhide in the girdle round

each one's waist, and each quadrangular clasp that closes it as thick as a man's thigh. The raiment that is

round them is the dress that grows through them. Tresses of their backmanes were spread, and a long staff

of iron, as long and thick as an outer yoke was in each man's hand, and an iron chain out of the end of every

club, and at the end of every chain an iron pestle as long and thick as a middle yoke. They stand in their

sadness in the house, and enough is the horror of their aspect. There is no one in the house that would not be

Fer rogain was silent. "Hard for me to liken them. I know none such of the world's men unless they be yon

trio of giants to whom Cuchulainn gave quarter at the beleaguerment of the Men of Falga, and when they

were getting quarter they killed fifty warriors. But Cuchulainn would not let them be slain, because of their

wondrousness. These are the names of the three: Srubdaire son of Dordbruige, and Conchenn of Cenn maige,

and Fiad sceme son of Scipe. Conaire bought them from Cuchulainn for . . . so they are along with him.

Three hundred will fall by them in their first encounter, and they will surpass in prowess every three in the

Hostel; and if they come forth upon you, the fragments of you will be fit to go through the sieve of a

cornkiln, from the way in which they will destroy you with the flails of iron. Woe to him that shall wreak

the Destruction, though it were only on account of those three! For to combat against them is not a 'paean

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds of weakness are coming to you," etc. "And after that, whom sawest thou

"There I beheld another room, with one man therein and in front of him two servants with two manes upon

them, one of the two dark, the other fair. Red hair on the warrior, and red eyebrows. Two ruddy cheeks he

had, and an eye very blue and beautiful. He wore a green cloak and a shirt with a white hood and a red

insertion. In his hand was a sword with a hilt of ivory, and he supplies attendance of every room in the house

with ale and food, and he is quickfooted in serving the whole host. Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!"

"I know those men. That one is Da Derga. 'Tis by him that the Hostel was built, and since it was built its

doors have never been shut save on the side to which the wind comes the valve is closed against it and

since he began housekeeping his caldron was never taken from the fire, but it has been boiling food for the

men of Erin. The pair before him, those two youths, are his fosterlings, two sons of the king of Leinster,

namely Muredach and Corpre. Three decads will fall by that trio in front of their house and they will boast of

victory over a king or a chief of the reavers. After this they will chance to escape from it."

"Long live he who should protect them!" says Lomna. "Better were triumph of saving them than triumph of

slaying them! They should be spared were it only on account of that man. 'Twere meet to give that man

"Ye cannot," says Ingcel. "Clouds," etc. "And after that whom sawest thou there?"

"There I beheld a room with a trio in it. Three red mantles they wore, and three red shirts, and three red heads

of hair were on them. Red were they all together with their teeth. Three red shields above them. Three red

spears in their hands. Three red horses in their bridles in front of the Hostel. Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!"

"Easily done. Three champions who wrought falsehood in the elfmounds. This is the punishment inflicted

upon them by the king of the elfmounds, to be destroyed thrice by the King of Tara. Conaire son of Eterscel

is the last king by whom they are destroyed. Those men will escape from you. To fulfil their own destruction,

they have come. But they will not be slain, nor will they slay anyone. And after that whom sawest thou?"

"There I beheld a trio in the midst of the house at the door. Three holed maces in their hands. Swift as a hare

was each of them round the other towards the door. Aprons were on them, and they had gray and speckled

"Easily done: Three doorwardens of Tara's King are those, namely Echur ('Key') and Tochur and Tecmang,

three sons of Ersa ('Doorpost') and Comla ('Valve'). Thrice their number will fall by them, and they will share

"There I beheld at the fire in front a man with black cropt hair, having only one eye and one foot and one

hand, having on the fire a pig bald, black singed, squealing continually, and in his company a great

"Easily done: Fer caille with his pig and his wife Cichuil. They (the wife and the pig) are his proper

instruments on the night that ye destroy Conaire King of Erin. Alas for the guest who will run between them!

"There I beheld a room with three enneads in it. Fair yellow manes upon them, and they are equally beautiful.

Each of them wore a black cape, and there was a white hood on each mantle, a red tuft on each hood, and an

iron brooch at the opening of every mantle, and under each man's cloak a huge black sword, and the swords

would split a hair on water. They bore shields with scalloped edges. Liken thou them, O Fer rogain!"

"Easily done. That is the robberband of the three sons of Baithis of Britain. Three enneads will fall by them

in their first conflict, and among them they will share a man's triumph. And after that whom sawest thou?"

"There I beheld a trio of jesters hard by the fire. Three dun mantles they wore. If the men of Erin were in one

place, even though the corpse of his mother or his father were in front of each, not one could refrain from

laughing at them. Wheresoever the king of a cantred is in the house, not one of them attains his seat on his

bed because of that trio of jesters. Whenever the king's eye visits them it smiles at every glance. Liken thou

"Easily done. Mael and Mlithe and Admlithe those are the king of Erin's three jesters. By each of them a

"Woe to him that will wreak the Destruction!" says Lomna, etc. "And after that whom sawest thou there?"

"There I beheld a room with a trio in it. Three greyfloating mantles they wore. There was a cup of water in

front of each man, and on each cup a bunch of watercress. Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!"

"Easily done. Black and Dun and Dark: they are the King of Tara's three cupbearers, to wit, the sons of Day

"There I beheld a oneeyed man asquint with a ruinous eye. A swine's head he had on the fire, continually

"Easy for me to name the like. He is Nar the Squinter with the left eye, the swineherd of Bodb of the

Elfmound on Femen, 'tis he that is over the cooking. Blood hath been split at every feast at which he has ever

Then went Lomna Druth before the host of reavers into the Hostel. The doorkeepers struck off his head. Then

the head was thrice flung into the Hostel, and thrice cast out of it, as he himself had foretold.

Then Conaire himself sallies out of the Hostel together with some of his people, and they fight a combat with

the host of reavers, and six hundred fell by Conaire before he could get to his arms. Then the Hostel is thrice

set on fire, and thrice put out from thence: and it was granted that the Destruction would never have been

Thereafter Conaire went to seek his arms, and he dons his battledress, and falls to plying his weapons on the

reavers, together with the band that he had. Then, after getting his arms, six hundred fell by him in his first

After this the reavers were routed. "I have told you," says Fer rogain son of Donn Desa, "that if the

champions of the men of Erin and Alba attack Conaire at the house, the Destruction will not be wrought

"Short will his time be," say the wizards along with the reavers. This was the quelling they brought, a

Says Mac cecht: "This is not the order that I have hitherto had from thee, to give thee a drink. There are

spencers and cupbearers who bring drink to thee. The order I have hitherto had from thee is to protect thee

when the champions of the men of Erin and Alba may be attacking thee around the Hostel. Thou wilt go safe

from them, and no spear shall enter thy body. Ask a drink of thy spencers and thy cupbearers."

Then Conaire asked a drink of his spencers and his cupbearers who were in the house.

In the first place there is none," they say; "all the liquids that had been in the house have been spilt on the

The cupbears found no drink for him in the Dodder (a river), and the Dodder had flowed through the house.

Then Conaire again asked for a drink. "A drink to me, O fosterer, O Mac cecht! 'Tis equal to me what death I

Then Mac cecht gave a choice to the champions of valour of the men of Erin who were in the house, whether

Conall Cernach answered this in the house and cruel he deemed the contention, and afterwards he had

always a feud with Mac cecht. "Leave the defense of the King to us," says Conall, "and go thou to seek the

So then Mac cecht fared forth to seek the drink, and he took, Conaire's son, Le fri flaith, under his armpit, and

Conaire's golden cup, in which an ox with a baconpig would be boiled; and he bore his shield and his two

He burst forth upon them, and in front of the Hostel he dealt nine blows of the iron spit, and at every blow

nine reavers fell. Then he makes a sloping feat of the shield and an edgefeat of the sword about his head,

and he delivered a hostile attack upon them. Six hundred fell in his first encounter, and after cutting down

Conall Cernach arises, and takes his weapons, and wends over the door of the Hostel, and goes round the

house. Three hundred fell by him, and he hurls back the reavers over three ridges out from the Hostel, and

Cormac Condlongas sallies out, and his nine comrades with him, and they deliver their onsets on the reavers.

Nine enneads fall by Cormac and nine enneads by his people, and a man for each weapon and a man for each

man. And Cormac boasts of the death of a chief of the reavers. They succeed in escaping though they be

The trio of Picts sally forth from the Hostel, and take to plying their weapons on the reavers. And nine

The nine pipers sally forth and dash their warlike work on the reavers; and then they succeed in escaping.

Howbeit then, but it is long to relate, 'tis weariness of mind, 'tis confusion of the senses, 'tis tediousness to

hearers, 'tis superfluity of narration to go over the same things twice. But the folk of the Hostel came forth in

order, and fought their combats with the reavers, and fell by them, as Fer rogain and Lomna Druth had said to

Ingce'l, to wit, that the folk of every room would sally forth still and deliver their combat, and after that

escape. So that none were left in the Hostel in Conaire's company save Conall and Sencha and Dubthach.

Now from the vehement ardour and the greatness of the contest which Conaire had fought, his great drouth of

thirst attacked him, and he perished of a consuming fever, for he got not his drink, So when the king died

those three sally out of the Hostel, and deliver a wily stroke of reaving on the reavers, and fare forth from the

Touching Mac cecht, however, he went his way till he reached the Well of Casair, which was near him in

Crich Cualann; but of water he found not therein the full of his cup, that is, Conaire's golden cup which he

had brought in his hand. Before morning he had gone round the chief rivers of Erin, to wit Bush, Boyne,

Bann, Barrow, Neim, Luae, Laigdae, Shannon, Suir, Sligo, Samair, Find, Ruirthech, Slaney, and in them he

Then before morning he had travelled to the chief lakes of Erin, to wit, Lough Derg, Loch Luimnig, Lough

Foyle, Lough Mask, Lough Corrib, Loch Laig, Loch Cuan, Lough Neagh, Morloch, and of water he found

He went his way till he reached Uaran Garad on Magh Ai. It could not hide itself from him: so he brought

When Mac cecht went across the third ridge towards the house, 'tis there were twain striking off Conaire's

head. The Mac cecht strikes off the head of one of the two men who were beheading Conaire. The other man

then was fleeing forth with the king's head. A pillarstone chanced to be under Mac cecht's feet on the floor

of the Hostel. He hurls it at the man who had Conaire's head and drove it through his spine, so that his back

broke. After this Mac cecht beheads him. Mac cecht then split the cup of water into Conaire's gullet and neck.

Then said Conaire's head, after the water had been put into its neck and gullet:

"A good man Mac cecht! an excellent man Mac cecht! A good warrior without, good within, He gives a

drink, he saves a king, he doth a deed. Well he ended the champions I found. He sent a flagstone on the

warriors. Well he hewed by the door of the Hostel. . .Fer le, So that a spear is against one hip. Good should I

'Tis this that some books relate, that but a very few fell around Conaire, namely, nine only. And hardly a

fugitive escaped to tell the tidings to the champions who had been at the house.

Where there had been five thousand and in every thousand ten hundred only one set of five escaped,

namely Ingcel, and his two brothers Echell and Tulchinne, the "Yearling of the Reavers" three great

grandsons of Conmac, and the two Reds of Roiriu who had been the first to wound Conaire.

Thereafter Ingcel went into Alba, and received the kingship after his father, since he had taken home triumph

This, however, is the recension in other books, and it is more probably truer. Of the folk of the Hostel forty or

fifty fell, and of the reavers three fourths and one fourth of them only escaped from the Destruction.

Now when Mac cecht was lying wounded on the battlefield, at the end of the third day, he saw a woman

"There was a time when I had this, O woman, even horror and fear of me on some one. But now thou

shouldst fear nothing. I accept thee on the truth of my honour and my safeguard."

"I know not," says he, "whether it is a fly or a gnat, or an ant that nips me in the wound."

It happened that it was a hairy wolf that was there, as far as its two shoulders in the wound!

The woman seized it by the tail, and dragged it out of the wound, and it takes the full of its jaws out of him.

Says Mac cecht "I swear to God what my people swears, I deemed it no bigger than a fly, or a gnat, or an

And Mac cecht took the wolf by the throat, and struck it a blow on the forehead, and killed it with a single

Then Le' fri flaith, son of Conaire, died under Mac cecht's armpit, for the warrior's heat and sweat had

Thereafter Mac cecht, having cleansed the slaughter, at the end of the third day, set forth, and he dragged

Conaire with him on his back, and buried him at Tara, as some say. Then Mac cecht departed into Connaught,

to his own country, that he might work his cure in Mag Brengair. Wherefore the name clave to the plain from

Now Conall Cernach escaped from the Hostel, and thrice fifty spears had gone through the arm which upheld

his shield. He fared forth till he reached his father's house, with half his shield in his hand, and his sword, and

the fragments of his two spears. Then he found his father before his garth in Taltiu.

"'Tis this that has wounded us, thou old hero, an evil conflict with warriors," Conall Cernach replied.

"I swear to God what the great tribes of Ulaid swear, it is cowardly for the man who went thereout alive,

He shews him his shieldarm, whereon were thrice fifty wounds: this is what was inflicted upon it. The

shield that guarded it is what saved it. But the right arm had been played upon, as far as two thirds thereof,

since the shield had not been guarding it. That arm was mangled and maimed and wounded and pierced, save

"True is that, thou old hero," says Conall Cernach. "Many there are unto whom it gave drinks of death tonight

Now as to the reavers, every one of them that escaped from the Hostel went to the cairn which they had built

on the night before last, and they brought thereout a stone for each man not mortally wounded. So this is what

they lost by death at the Hostel, a man for every stone that is (now) in Carn Lecca.