The Pursuit of the

Gilla Decair
and his Horse
translated by
Standish Hayes OGrady
In parentheses Publications
Medieval Irish Series
Cambridge, Ontario 1999
A noble king and an excellent that once on a time held royal rule and
supreme sway over Ireland: Cormac son of Art son of Conn of the
Hundred Battles; in which stout sovereigns day Ireland was disciplined
and prosperous, peaceable and happy, rich, full of all good things. Nor
was her being so matter of wonderment: seeing that in exercise of
hospitality this Cormac was a hospitaller, in poesy a poet, and in martial
worthiness a very king.
In the same sturdy kings time too Finn son of Cumall son of
Baeiscnes grandson Trenmor was in the chief command over Irelands
Fianna, that is to say: Cormac was monarch of all; after whom came the
provincial kings [five in number] and the royal captains, Finn [chief of
these latter] being in order the seventh king that men reckon to have at
that period been in Ireland.
Copious were the profits and wage of Finn and of the Fianna: in
every tuath a townland, in each townland a cartron of land, and in every
house there a wolf-dog whelp or else a beagle pup [at nurse] from
All-hallows to Beltane, with many another privilege not recounted here.
But great prerogatives as were these, greater yet by far the pains and
hardships which in return lay on Finn and the Fianna his followers: to
fend off and to repel from Ireland strangers and over-sea aggressors,
thievery and enterprise of outlaws, with all other villany; so that, as here
is set forth, twas much of wearing work the Fianna had to safeguard
Ireland.
One day then that Finn and the Fianna (they being in Leinsters
spacious Almhain) enjoyed All-hallowtides exhilarating and cheerily
resounding banquet, Finnwho had their gentles and chief nobles close
beside himenquired of them whether now they held it time to go hunt
and to pursue the chase; for thus it was that he and they used to pass the
year: from Beltane to All-hallows in hunting and in deeds of venery;
from All-hallows to Beltane again in the prescribed keeping of all
Ireland.
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At all events among them then it was resolved to proceed with the
ordering of that noble chase, and the ground to which for that purpose
they repaired was Munsters two proud provinces [Thomond and
Desmond namely]. From Almhain accordingly they set out by the nearest
paths, and on till they reached tuath mBuilc, the centre of Fircall, and
the Brosna river in Slievebloom; so to Eibhlius twelve mountains or
Slievephelim, to cnmhchoill or Cleghile of mac Raighne, and to drom
collchoille which now is called Aine cliach or Knockany.
The hunt was thrown out and extended by them along the borders of
that forest which to-day men name magh Breogain; through blind and
trackless places, and the broken lands; over fair and open level confines,
and Desmonds lofty hills called at this day luachair Deghaid or
Slievelogher; in among Slievecrot, beautiful and pleasant, sliabh na mucs
bonny smooth tulachs, the even banks of azure-streaming Suir; athwart
the green-grassed verdure-coated plain of Femen, and Eithnes
high-lying rugged Decies, on to dark-wooded Ballachgowran.
Brief: nor wood nor plain nor hill-country in both provinces of
Munster but a chief of nine hunted there and plied woodcraft, deploying
and distributing the chase. Finn sat on his hunting-mound, and certain of
the good warriors tarried by him: his own son Ossian, Ossians son
Oscar; Goll mac Morna, Art of the great strokes mac Morna;
Dathchains son Sciathbreac, bearer of Finns shield; the three Balbhs:
three sons of the caird of Berra; Caeilte son of Ronan, Duibhnes
grandson Dermot of the glittering teeth, Liathan luath or the swift from
luachair Deghaid; Conan mac Morna, the Fiannas man of scurrilous and
abusive speech, with Finn Bane son of Bresal; and in the forests and
waste places round about him Finn and his accompanying Fianna deemed
it sweet to hear the hounds cry and their baying, the striplings hurried
call, the strong mens noise and din, whistling and blithe shouting of the
Fianna.
Of such as were with him Finn enquired who would go watch and
ward the hill [on the side of which the mound his seat was made], and
Finn Bane son of Baeiscnes grandson Bresal answered the chief captain
that he would go to it. Over his broad weapons he extended a good
warriors ready hand, betook him to the hill-top, and fell to look abroad
on all sides: westwards and eastwards, to the southward and to the
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north. Nor had he been long so when out of the eastern airt directly he
marked draw towards him a ruffian, virile indeed but right ugly, a
creature devilish and misshapen, a grumpy-looking and ill-favoured
loon, equipped as thus: a shield that on the convex was black and loathly
coloured, gloomy, hung on his backs expanse; upon his dingy grimy left
thigh all distorted was a wide-grooved and clean-striking sword; stuck
up at his shoulder he had two long javelins, broad in the head, which for
a length of time before had not been raised in fight or mle; over his
armature and harness was thrown a mantle of a limp texture, while every
limb of him was blacker than smiths coal quenched in cold ice-water. A
sulky cross-built horse was there, gaunt in the carcase, with skimpy grey
hind-quarters shambling upon weedy legs, and wearing a rude iron
halter. This beast his master towed behind him, and how he failed to
drag the head from the neck and this from the attenuated body was a
wonder: such plucks he communicated to the clumsy iron halter, and
sought thus to knock some travel or progression out of his nag. But a
marvel greater yet than this it was that the latter missed of wrenching
from his owners corporal barrel the thick long arms appertaining to the
big man: such the sudden stands and stops he made against him, and the
jibbing. In the mean time, even as the thunder of some vast mighty surf
was the resonance of each ponderously lusty vigorous whack that with
an iron cudgel the big man laid well into the horse, in the endeavour [as
we have said] thus to get some travel and progression out of him. All
which when Finn Bane son of Bresal saw, within himself he conceived
that such-like stranger and over-sea adventurer it were not right without
their knowledge to admit to Finn and to the Fianna. With strong swift
steps, with speedy-footed rush, he started therefore and reached both
Finn and Fianna, then uttered this lay:
May the gods bless thee, Finn, O man of affable discourse....
After this lay they saw the big man approach; but short as was his
distance from them now, yet for his gait of going and his progress that
was so bad he was a long time in covering it. When at length he came
into Finns presence he saluted him, and bowed his head and bent his
knee, giving him symptom of obeisance. Finn raised his hand over him,
granted him leave of utterance and speech, then sought news: whether
of the worlds noble or ignoble bloods art thou? He answered that he
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knew not of whom he might be, [nor aught else of his particulars] save
one thing only: that he was a Fomorian who in quest of wage and
stipend visited on his own account the equitably judging kings of
Christendom, and had heard that in respect of pay Finn never yet had
denied any man. He never has indeed, said Finn, neither now will
deny thee; but, big man, what brings thee without a horseboy? A good
cause it is: nothing in the world irks me more than to have a horseboy
with me, because it is a hundred mens meal of meat and comestibles that
up to one days end serves my turn, and even this I account all too little
for myself alone; I grudge therefore to have any such boy to meddle
with it. And what name bearest thou? The gilla decair, he replied.
Wherefore was the gilla decair imposed on thee? Again the cause was
a good one: in the whole world nought find I that comes harder to me
than for the benefit of my lord for the time being, or of any man that has
me [i.e. retains me], to do any one single thing. But, Conan mac Morna,
the big man went on, among the Fianna whether of the two is greater: a
horsemans stipend or a footmans? A horsemans wage, said Conan:
for as against a footman he has twice as much. Thee then I call to
witness, Conan, that I am a horseman: that I have a horse, and that in
very act of horsemanship it was that I approached the Fianna. Thou, Finn
son of Cumall: upon thy guarantee then and on the Fiannas I will een
turn out my horse among their own. Turn him out, quoth Finn. The
big man chucked the coarse iron halter which confined his horses head,
and the creature with rapid strides careering made away till he reached
the Fiannas troop of horses, which anon he fell to lacerate, and to kill
promptly: with a bite he would whip the eye out of one, with a snap
would snip the ear off a second, and yet another ones leg would fracture
with a kick. Take thy horse out of that, big man, cried Conan: by
Heavens parts and Earths I pledge myself that, were it not the manner
in which under Finns and the Fiannas security thou hast enlarged him, I
would let his brains out through his heads and his capital summits
several windows [i.e. ears, eyes, nose and mouth]; and many a sorry
prize as heretofore Finn has drawn in Ireland, a worse than thyself he
never had. By Heavens parts and Earths as well I too pledge myself
that take him out of that I never will; for horseboy that should do me his
office I have none, and to lead my own horse by hand is no job of mine.
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Conan mac Morna rises, takes the halter and claps it on the big mans
horse; where Finn and the Fianna were, thither he brings him and for a
long time holds him. Said Finn: even to such an one as in all
accomplishments of Fianry should far surpass the big man thou, Conan
mac Morna, hadst neer consented to render horseboys service; but
wouldst thou give my counsel action, it were that thou shouldst mount
the big mans horse and with him search out all hills and hollows and
delicately flowered plains, until in reward of the Fiannas horse-troop
that he has destroyed his heart were broken in his body [i.e. take and
gallop him to death up hill and down dale]. Then Conan went, with a
horsemans vault he backed the big mans horse, and violently, to his
best endeavour, dug both his heels into him; but never a bit he stirred
for that. I perceive what ails him, Finn said: until he have on him a
number of people the very counterpoise of his own cavalier no motion
may be had of him. At Conans back now thirteen men of Irelands
Fianna mounted the big mans horse; he lay down under them and then
got up again. I esteem that ye make a mock of my horse, and that not
even I myself escape you scot-free; therefore, Finn, and considering all
that in this first day I have seen of your contemptuous frivolity, I were to
be pitied should I put in the residue of my year with you. I recognise
moreover that that which currently obtains of thee is but a mock report
then he pronounced a lay, as follows:
Now will I be parting from thee, Finn....
This lay ended, in spiritless and inactive guise, weakly and wearily,
the big man proceeded until betwixt himself and Irelands Fianna he had
placed a certain hill that lay in his way: but so soon as he had
surmounted its topmost pinnacle [and thereby was lost to view] he kilted
his coat right up, aye over his spherical hinder protuberances, and away
with him as though with the swallows or with the roe-deers speedor
as it were vociferous winds blast over mighty mountain in mid-month of
Marcheven such were the vigorous rapidity, the violence and energy,
of the thundering rush that the big man made as he left the hill.
When the horse saw his lord that departed from him he could not
endure it but, great as was his load, with sudden course of keenest
gallop took his way, following his lord. At sight of those thirteen men
behind Conan mac Morna on the big mans horse and he in motion Finn
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and the Fianna guffawed with a shout of mockery, flouting Conan. He
then, perceiving that to dismount was not within his means, screamed
and screeched on Finn and the Fianna that they should not let him go
with the so hideous and terrific big one (concerning whom it was all
unknown what clan or kind were his) and took to reproaching and
reviling of them: a deadly giddiness over water take thee, Finnmay
some serfs or some robbers son of the ignoble bloodone that by way
of a fathers and a mothers son shall be even worse than thoutake
from thee all that might preserve thy life, and [in the end] have thy head,
unless thou follow us and, whateer the region or the island into which
the big man shall transport us, bring us to Ireland back again!
Thereupon Finn and the Fianna set out: over each great hills bald pate,
into the depth of every glen, across every estuarys swimming-place they
followed the gilla decair; on to pleasant sliabh luachra, to tulach na
senghaoithe now called berna chabair, and into the borders of corca Dhuibhne
or Corcaguiny in Kerry, where the gilla decair set his face right towards
the deep sea and [would have sped away] over the green-waved ocean
brine. But Liagan Luath of Luachair Deghaid got his two hands on the
tail of the gilla decairs horse, thinking to have hauled him in by the long
horsehair and so to have detained them that rode him. To Liagan Luath
however he on the contrary gave a lusty right valiant tug, and into the
expanse of sea and ocean dragged him in his wake. Tightly now Liagan
clutched the tail; and aye as they went the sea in huge round swells kept
rolling after them, but shewed a sandy strand ahead.
That those fifteen men of his people thus were taken from him was a
worry to Finn, himself too being left under bonds to recover them.
What shall we do now? Ossian enquired of him. What should we do
but, be the region or island what it may into which the big man shall
convey them, to follow our people and by fair means or by foul to
retrieve them back again to Ireland? What can we effect without either
ship or fast galley? There is this, Finn answered: that to the children
of Gaedhel glas [i.e. the Gael] son of Fenius Farsa son of Mul the tuatha d
danann once by way of special gift bequeathed that, whosoever of them
should have occasion to leave Ireland for a time, let him but resort to
Ben-Edar and, be the number what it would that accompanied him
thither, there they should find a ship or a speedy galley to suffice them.
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Here Finn glanced towards the sea and saw, on a straight course
towards him, a brace of valorous fellows: bulkiest of heroes, most
powerful of fighting men, hardiest of champions. Upon his dorsal
superficies the first one wore a ribbed and gaudy-coloured shield with
forms of lions, of leopards, and of marvellous griffins designed exactly
and embossed on it; at his left legs thigh was a massy mighty-striking
sword, steel-flashing, very terrible, and at his shoulder two thick great
spears; a scarlet mantle with a fibula of gold surmounting his breast
wrapped him; on his head he had a twisted fillet of white bronze; gold
underlay either foot [i.e. he had golden sandals]. On the second man was
just such bravery. No long tarrying they made before they came upon the
spot, and bowed their heads and bent their knees, rendering to Finn
tokens of obeisance. He raised his hand over them, gave them licence of
discourse and utterance, and enquired whether they were of the worlds
noble or of its ignoble bloods. They averred themselves to be sons to the
king of Ind, and that their peregrination into Ireland was moved by an
intent there to be for a year on Finns wage and stipend: for, said they,
we have heard that in all Ireland is not a man that would prove more
acute than he in judging between [i.e. in appraising] the accomplishments
which we two possess. And these that ye have, what are they? asked
Finn. The first man said: in the way of special art I have a carpenters
axe and a sling; and though in one spot I had thirty hundred of Irelands
men, yet with the striking of three strokes of my axe upon the sling-stick
I would produce either ship or speedy galley to suffice them, while as for
co-operation I would require of them none other than that during
delivery of such three strokes they should bow down their heads.
Good art, quoth Finn: and now what art hath that other man? The
second rejoined: I by way of art have this: that I would carry the teals
trail over nine ridges and nine furrows, until I came on her in her
dwelling and on her bed; and upon either sea or land would do the thing
indifferently. Good art, Finn said again: and would ye lend us help
in tracking we would have great use for you. A man of them asked:
What is taken from you? Finn told them the gilla decairs history from
first to last, and questioned them: what are the names ye bear? The
first replied: I indeed bear the king of Inds son: Feradach the very
valorous. Thereupon Irelands Fianna incline their heads and the very
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valorous Feradach proceeds to inflict on his sling-stick three stokes of the
axe he had, by which process he made the bays whole circumference and
the sheltering haven to be all full of ships and of speedy galleys. Finn
asked now: what shall we do with the so great number of those
vessels? Feradach made answer: saving only so many as will serve thy
turn we will do away with them.
Then Caeilte rose and emitted three loud tremendous shouts, so that
in all airts where they were Irelands Fianna hearing him surmised that at
the hands of extern and over-sea assailants Finn and the rest of the
Fianna were in some dire necessity and strait. In small separate squads
[as they chanced to be] they set out therefore and [converging] reached
clochn cinn chait or the cats heads stepping-stones in Corcaguinys
western part, where they sought to learn of Finn what need or what
thing of horror had overtaken him in that from their several
slipping-stations, hunting forests and various wiles of venery, he drew
them thus away. Finn told them all the gilla decairs business from first to
last.
Between themselves now Finn and Ossian took counsel, and what
seemed good to them was this: since but fifteen men of his people were
carried off from Finn, he with fifteen others to go upon their track;
Ossian to be left in the Fiannas command-in-chief, and to keep Ireland.
Then Finn and Ossian made a lay:
Thou departing on adventure, red-weaponed and blood-shedding
Finn
After which lay a grand ship of great burthen was fitted out for Finn
and his people; and in her were stowed victual where it might be got at
to consume, gold where it could be had to give away. Then along the
sides and bulwarks of that ship in which they were now embarked those
stalwart young men and comely valiant heroes took their seats; in their
expert wide-grasping and enduring hands they gripped the
broad-bladed tough oars; and so athwart the deep and heaving mains
expanse, the valleys of the vast terrible seas frowning masses, over the
gaping white-foamed gulfs broad-backed black-visaged and
swift-hurtling surges, with straining mighty effort they pulled off.
Now rose the sea, turning to become a wondrous and loud-bellowing
thing of awe, in fierce and diverse-sounding mad-careering ponderous
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volume; in eminences restless, curving and grim-headed; in gloomy murk
impenetrable surfaces; in wide-jawed white-skinned waves; in mighty
mane-clad hills [which in their motion seemed] frenzied, reason-reft; in
dire currents fed of many lesser streams, and in much-burthen-bearing
far-extended broken green-hued waters. To Finn and his people it was
both a lullaby and again an early morning rouse-call to hear broad
oceans concert as against their ships sides it purred one while, anon
loudly boomed, accompanying her ever.
Three days he and his passed thus, nor of mainland, of isle or island,
saw any coast at all. But at the end of that period a man of Finns folk
went into the ships head, and away out from him descried a rugged
grey huge precipice; towards which cliff they drove their craft, and
found that on it there abutted a rock, solid and cylindrical, having sides
slipperier than dorsal fin of eel on rivers bottom. Up to this they got the
gilla decairs track, but found none that left it. Now spoke Fergus
Truelips, Finns ollave, and said: cowardly and punily thou shrinkest,
Dermot; for with most potent Manannan son of Lir thou studiedst and
wast brought up, in the land of promise and in the bay-indented coasts;
with Angus Oge too, the Daghdas son, wast most accurately taught; and
it is not just that now thou lackest even a modicum of their skill and
daring, such as might serve to convey Finn and his party up this rock or
bastion. At these words Dermots face grew red; he laid hold on
Manannans magic staves that he had and, as once again he redly
blushed, by dint of skill in martial feats he with a leap rose on his
javelins shafts and so gained his two soles breadth of the solid glebe
that overhung the waters edge. Under him and downwards Duibhnes
grandson looked on Finn and his people but, much as he longed to
descend again and bring them up, he could not compass it. He left the
rock behind him therefore; and was not gone far when he perceived a
waste and tangled sylvan tract: shelter-giving woods of densest thicket
which, of all that ever he had ranged, did most abound in foliage, in
babble of burn and sough of wind, in melody of birds, in hum of bees.
From east and west, from south and north, Duibhnes grandson
traversed the plain and, as he looked abroad, was aware of a vast tree
with interlacing boughs and thickly furnished; hard by which was a great
mass of stone furnished on its very apex with an ornamented pointed
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drinking-horn, and having at its base a fair well of water in all its purity.
Now after his passage of the sea drouth and thirst were set in on
Dermot, and he lusted to drink a hornful of the springs water; down he
stooped to it, but heard a loud and rumbling noise that [so it seemed]
came toward him, and he perceived then that of the fountains special
spells it was that none must drink a drop of its water. Nevertheless he
said: I will quaff my fill of it.
This done he was no long time before he saw approach to him a
wizard wearing mien and garb of hostile import; nor was it courteous
salutation that he when he came up addressed to Dermot, but he
outrageously upbraided him: saying that to roam his forest and domain
of waste, and to drink up his store of water, was an iniquitous thing for
him to do. Boldly and vehemently then Dermot and the magician faced
each one the other, and in valiant manful right heroic wise: mutually
answering and requiting with rapid sharp-dealt strokes and stern buffets
until even-tide and days end overtook them. Here the wizard judged it
time to knock off from fighting with Dermot, and dived to the bottom of
the well quite away from him; but to Dermot it was a vexation that his
partner in the combat was divorced from him thus. He looks to the four
airts however, and sees a herd of deer draw through the forest; then
draws near to them and into the next stag sends a right javelin-cast that
rips out his entrails and inwards, leaving them on the ground. He carried
him off [to a fitting place], took out his kindling gear and made a large
fire; of the deers flesh he cut individual small gobbets, imposed them on
spits of the white hazel, and that night used his sufficiency of venison
and of the springs water both.
At early morn he roused himself and at the well before him found the
magician, who said: grandson of Duibhne, it seems to me that to have
had the travelling of my waste and forest sufficed thee not but thou must
enjoy its venery as well. At all events [at it they went again] and dealt
each other blow for blow, wound for wound, prod for prod, until for the
second time evening and the days end caught them. For three
twenty-four hours they fought thus all day, and nightly Dermot had a
mighty hart; but on their contests last day Dermot, when the magician
made his usual nimble jump for the well, would have thrown his arm
around the others neck and [in the effort] both together dived into it,
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once underneath which the wizard forsook Dermot. He leaving the well
behind him followed after and found before him a wide open country,
beautiful and flowery: in its midst a regal splendid city and, on the green
fronting the citadel, a serried host and multitude who, whenever they
saw Dermot make for the wizard, left to the latter as it might be a royal
road and common way until through the portal he was passed into the
place of strength, and on him then they shut the fortress gates. Then the
whole host turned on Dermot; yet never a whit of faintness did that
breed in him, nor diminution of his hardihood: but under them, and
through and over them, he passed as would hawk through flight of small
birds, or wolf through sheep-flock; or as the weighty rush of a mad
swollen stream in spate that over and adown a cliff of ocean spouts, even
such was he as he mangled and slew those companies, whelming them
utterly, till in the end they betook them some to the countrys fast wild
woods, and the remnant inward through the forts gates which, as well
as the citys, they closed after them. That stubborn fight thus ended,
Dermot all full of hurts and wounds and drenched in blood lay down
upon the ground.
To him enters now a burly wizard of great daring, and from the
direction of his rear impinges on him with a kick. Dermot rouses himself
and to his weapons reaches his ready warrior hand, but: grandson of
Duibhne, the sorcerer cried, take it easy: not to do thee harm or hurt
am I come, but to apprize thee that an ill place of sleep and of sound
slumber is that in which thou art, on thine enemies and thy foemens
green; rather come with me, and thou shalt have a better sleeping berth.
Dermot followed the wizard: long and far they journeyed from the spot,
and until they found ahead of them a towering fortress in which were
thrice fifty high-mettled men-at-arms with their suitable allowance of
gentle women, forby a white-toothed rosy-cheeked delicate-handed and
black-eyebrowed maiden that sat against the castle wall: a silken mantle,
a tunic netted of golden threads she had about her and, on her head, a
queens rightful decorated wimple. A most friendly welcome in his own
name and surname was given to Dermot; he was bestowed in an
infirmary, herbs of price and virtue were applied to his hurts and he was
healed completely, made all smooth again. Now were the castles
boards and benches set; nor was villain set in gentles room, nor a gentle
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in the villains, but at said tables each one according to his rank, his
patrimony or his art, was in his own becoming place. Excellent toothsome
viands were brought in to them, together with well-flavoured strong
drinks; the fore-part of night they passed in banqueting, the second with
recreation of intelligence and mind, and the third they brought to with
soundest sleep lasting until at morrows morn the sun in his fiery orb
rose over the grossly earthy world.
For three days and three nights Dermot was in the fort, the best feast
that ever he had had being served to him the while; and at the end of
that space he enquired what might be the castle and what the country in
which he found himself, and who was head over it. The wizard told him
that this was tr f thuinn or the submerged land [lit. terra sub unda];
he that had fought with him being king of that realm, and his sobriquet
in chivalry the Wizard of the Well, who to him that now spoke was a
foeman of the red hand [i.e. there was a blood feud between them]. He
farther told Dermot that he himself was the Wizard of Chivalry, and for
a year had been on wage and stipend with Cumalls son Finn in Ireland,
than which year also he never had put over him one that he had found
more delectable; after which he desired to learn of Dermot what were
the journey and the undertaking that lay before him. Then Dermot
rehearsed to him from first to last the history of Finn and the gilla decair.
Howbeit when to Finn and his folk it now seemed too long that
Dermot was away from them, of the ships cordage they made ladders
and applied them to scale the jutting crag in order to trace out Duibhnes
grandson; then they came upon the remnant of his venison, for never yet
had he eaten flesh but he left some fragment. Finn looked on all sides,
and in the open saw a horseman that came towards him: a horse of a
handsome colour was under him, one of darkest bay, which a most
comely bridle of the red gold held. When he came up Finn saluted him;
he for his part bent his head, gave Finn kisses three, and intreated him
with him to his dwelling. Long and far they went thence and at last
found in their front a mighty and spacious place of arms, well
garrisoned, and on the green before this fort a numerous army. Here
Finn and company spend three days and three nights, the finest feast that
ever they had being served to them the while, and most decently. That
interval being run out, and Finn questioning what might be the fortress
13
and what the country in which he was, the other answered that this was
the land of Sorcha and he its king; that for a year, than which he never
had passed a more delectable, he once had been on wage and stipend
with Finn in Ireland.
By Finn and the king of Sorcha accordingly a day of gathering and of
high convention was appointed, and [when it came] they saw a
she-courier or, in other words, a feminine running footman progress
through the assembly to them. The king examined her for news, and such
indeed she owned to having: as that the bays limits and the harbours
were full of ships and galleys; armed bodies throughout all the land, and
they plundering the country. I see it all, quoth the king: the monarch
of the Greeks it is thats there, in prosecution of his conquests all the
world over; he would reduce the universe at large under his own rule
and tribute and, as he has seized all other countries, so now he takes this
as well. With that the king glanced at Finn, who within himself
understood that it was help and participation that thereby the king
sought of him; he said therefore: the holding and the maintaining of this
land I take upon myself until I quit it.
He and his, with the king of Sorcha, set out and followed up that
host, of whom by-and-by, after great slaughter of warriors and glaechs,
they made headlong lamentable fugitives: a mere frightened unenduring
bird-flock, and suffered not to escape but barely so many of them as
might suffice to tell their tale. The monarch of the Greeks spoke now,
saying: who is it that has made this grievous carnage of my people?
and he proceeded to affirm that never before had he heard of the men of
Irelands valiance and achievement either as existing presently or as
being even matter of tradition; but that, as matters stood, he would even
to the worlds very last end banish all progeny of Gael Glas son of Niul
son of Fenius Farsa. Finn and the king pitched a green pavilion right in
view of the monarchs fleet, nearest to which of all the countrys forces
was the tent occupied by Goll mac Morna and by Ossians son Oscar.
Again the Grecian monarch spoke, and said: whom may I find to
avenge on Finn and on the king of Sorcha my peoples slaughter and
dishonour? Thou shalt have me, answered the king of Franks son
and, after gathering together the bulk of his household, marched on the
tent in which Finn and the king of Sorcha were. Goll mac Morna when he
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saw this rose to meet and to answer them; but Oscar asked: what then
is this that thou wouldst do, Goll? and he replied: this days fight I
desire to fight for Finn. So do not, said Oscar: thy hand it is that in
battles and in fights of two is proved the most; rather now suffer me in
Finns behalf to endure this days set-to. Goll having yielded Oscar
licence of the combat, he and the king of Franks son faced each other:
like two rabid dragons, like two far-reaching terrible lightning-jets, or
two surges of most violent spring-tide surmounting pinnacles of
rocksuch might fitly be that pair of worthy champions commemoration
and description.
Yet Goll mac Morna, after clasping of his body in its armature of
battle, came and upon the king of Franks men made a charge so brave
and undismayed, so fraught with hewing and with blood-spilling, that he
converted them into crazed-like erratic lightly driven leaves [the sport of
winds]; in such measure that heads were left bodiless, bodies lifeless,
wives reft of their husbands, and mothers wanting their sons.
Oscar of the martial weapons now triumphantly pressed home to
execute, to behead, the king of Franks son; which being accomplished he
turned to Goll and helped him to destroy so many of the whilom princes
household as he had not yet killed. Their leaders head he shook full in
sight of the Grecian monarchs fleet, and the two together emitted that
which to Finn and his people was a shout of victory and of exultation,
but to the Greeks one of gloom and of discouragement.
At this point the king of Greeks again delivered himself, and said:
whom can I have that on Finn and the king of Sorcha will avenge my
own shame and my peoples? Thou shalt have me, answered an
enormous stripling: the king of Africs son. With the full number of his
own contingent this youth sought the tent in which the king of Sorcha
lay, and when the king of Indias sons saw the move they came to meet
them. What would ye do? Finn asked of these, and the very valiant
Feradach made answer: this days strife we would gladly undertake for
thee. That shalt thou not, said Finn: for as yet ye are not in my pay
during a space of time such as might entitle you to a fight of the kind.
But they [speaking severally] rejoined: by my arms of prowess and of
chivalry I vow that, if thou grant us not liberty of the fray, we will no
longer be thy stipendiaries. With that, on either side those pillars of
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battle those prodigies of performance, fought a fight that was desperate
and cruel, with thundering onset and with pitiless laying on of blows, so
that they shivered their thick-shafted crimson-headed and
broad-socketted spears; and all those good warriors with their hewing
and sore vehemence cleft each others shapely helmets wrought of
cunning armourers. As for the king of Indias sons: in front of both
armies the tall youth, prince of Africa, was beheaded by them, and his
head they shook at the Grecian host. At Finn they vented a shout of
triumph and of exultation, which to the Grecian potentates forces was
one of melancholy and of discouragement.
Yet again he spoke: whom may I have to take vengeance on Finn and
on the king of Sorcha for my own and my peoples shame? Thou shalt
have me, said his own son: to cope with the fifteen men that Finn has I
will lead other fifteen, and will myself bring thee his head; each one of
my people also bringing that of another.
The king of Greeks had a spinster daughter (Taise, called taebghel or
white-sided, was her name) whoas the sea surpasses all torrents, the
Shannon other rivers, and the eagle birdsin form, in beauty and in
aspect, transcended the whole worlds universal women; and for his
fame and wide renown she loved Finn though she had not seen him. Of
her father therefore she craved as a boon that he would admit her to
look on at the combat set betwixt Finn and her brother. This leave the
king vouchsafed her, and she brought with her the handmaid whose it
was to bear her company.
The Greek prince faced the tent in which were Finn and the king his
friend, whereupon Finn said: I see it allsingle combat he would have
of me, and one of my people to fight with each man of his. Like two
most doughty lions he and the Greek confronted or, for hostility, like a
pair of venomous snakes, or again in swift-footed rushes like two
talon-wearing griffins; so that the earth of ponderous glebe shook
beneath their tread, and with the rapidity and fervour of those good
warriors right striking they fairly hurled the straight swords from their
hands, making themselves heard among the crags and distant recesses.
At last Finn dealt the prince a weighty stroke of mighty impact and from
his graceful neck, from off his body, sent his head flying far. A shout of
victory and of triumph was sent forth by Finn and his; by them of the
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Grecian fleet, one of gloom and discouragement. Over the grave of the
fallen the monumental stone was raised, their names written in Ogham
above them all; and great as was the love which at the first Taise of the
white body had borne to Finn, seven times so much she bestowed on him
while he butchered her brother. Privily therefore she sent him an
embassage, offering herself to him: a matter which to Finn was one of
gladness and of complete inclination.
That night Taise stole away to him. On the morrow the monarch
awoke, and it was told him how Taise was fled away to Finn. Not the
loss of his people he lamented now, but white-bodied Taise; and
declared that on him who should retrieve her from Finn he would confer
many precious things, and wealth. A chief captain of the household of the
monarchs folk spoke: fulfill me that which thou hast promised, in which
case I will from Finn recover thee the maid; for I possess a certain special
branch of great beauty, and though I had the whole worlds hosts
together in one spot, with the mere sound of my sprig waved over
against them I would throw them all into trance of sleep and soundest
slumber. The chief captain of the household went his way for the tent in
which Finn and the king of Sorcha were, waved the branch at them, and
threw them into a stupor such that in the same night he kidnapped Taise.
But the determination to which the monarch came was that, Taise being
thus restored, no more of his people must be slain by Finn; accordingly
he took himself off to the land of Greece.
On the morrow Finn quivered to find that Taise was [as he supposed]
departed on the sly, and after the monarchs daughter he felt dark and
spirit-faint. O Finn, Sorchas king said, nor gloom nor discouragement
afflict thee with grieving for the maiden! I with a numerous host will
myself bear thee company to the Greek monarchs land, where by fair
means or by foul we will win back his daughter; and he pronounced a
lay:
That was well won, O son of Cumall!...
After this lay a day of general gathering and of high convention was
set by Finn and the king of Sorcha; and [as all were assembled] they saw
banners, diversely gaudy, ornamented variously, standards of soft silk,
well-tempered battle-swords carried at warriors and at champions
shoulders, dense great groves of lengthy spears, tall and tough, reared
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over them and (in that numerous companys forefront) Dermot of the
glittering teeth. Him Finn recognises, and despatches to him Fergus
Truelips to enquire what it all might mean: what was the band with
which he came, or had he procured tidings to bring to him of his people
gone with the gilla decair? Dermot made answer that this was the
Wizard of Chivalry, who by his magic art had shewn him that it was
Allchads son Abartach who from Finn had carried off those fifteen men
of his into the land of promise. Hereupon Finn was determined what he
would do: Dermot being now joined with Goll and Oscar he would send
them on to the Grecian lands to fetch the monarchs daughter and, along
with them, Fergus to proclaim their slaughters and their triumphs;
himself and the rest of his folk to make for the promised land, and
whosoever should the first be there to await the other party.
For Finn and people a brave ship of burthen was fitted out and of
their farther doings record there is none until they found themselves in
the land of promise, where they saw a grand gathering held in which
was Abartach son of Allchad. To him Finn sends a messenger to require
of him his missing men, or else battle. Abartach chose rather to restore
him his people, and in damage of his long journey to pay him that which
himself he might assess. Then he took Finn home with him to his own
strong place, where the best feast that ever Finn had had was ministered
to him most becomingly; and Finn tarries in the land of promise until
Goll and Oscar should join him.
Touching which two, for them also a tall ship of great capacity was
made ready: one with a sharp and decorated prow, one built solidly.
They turned their backs to the land and set their faces to the sea: to the
green-chequered oceans borders, to the angry and frowning cold-wet
acclivities of the main; with strenuous labouring and with swift career
holding their course till they listened to utterance of sea-hogs and of
mermaids, to wondrous monsters of the abyss, and on the coasts of fair
and lovely Greece finally came into port. Their craft they beached where
wave might not buffet her nor pound her into little bits, nor rock break
her up. Forth from them now they saw the city of Athens which is in
Greece and, when they were landed, chanced upon the states herdsmen
and the cattle of the country [i.e. the national stock]. Of these herdsmen
they sought to learn how was the city named which they saw, what the
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country in which it stood, and who might be its head? The others for
their part interrogated the strangers whether it were in obscure and
devious glens of some kind that they were born [and reared], inasmuch
as they lacked all knowledge of this city, and even of its name; then
proceeded to tell them that it was the city of Athens in Greece, than
which not one in all the world abounded more in strong arms of soldiers
and of martial men in crowded companies, and given up to practice of
valour and of chivalry. Said Oscar to Goll: and what shall we do now?
Goll said to Oscar: what should we do but enter into the city and, by
fair means or by foul, fetch away Taise? Not so will we do, said
Fergus Truelips, but rather weave ye your hair in four-ply tresses and
give out that ye are poets, keen-edged, correct of diction, that wander to
visit all Christendoms equitably judging kings. But Goll said:
supposing a cast of our art to be required of us, what shall we do then?
and Fergus replied: in your behalf I will supply the same. This they
did, and headed for the fort; then with a poets wand struck a stroke on
the lintel of the city gate. The gate-ward told them that the king was not
at home, but gone to hunt; that within were none but Taise and her
companion waitingmaid, to whom until the king should be returned
access was not to be had by any.
The monarch came back: for he had that day disposed a great hunting
party whereby hounds had red muzzles, and warriors crimsoned hands;
while by effect of that heavily productive chase the followers and villains
of the kings household were all spent with toil. Goll and Oscar saluted
the king, and he sought their tidings; Taise of the white side knew them,
but never spoke to them. The time of sleep and slumber being now at
hand however, in order to their reciting of some tales for her pastime she
required to have those unknown men of art admitted to her sole
company. Into the one chamber therefore they all went, and there
disclosed themselves: each to other. To Fergus demanding the stratagem
by which for the second time she would elope to Finn, she said that on
the morrow the monarch would prosecute the same hunting; as for
herself, with Goll and Oscar she would steal away to the ship out of
which they were but now come. The king went afield, and Taise quietly
made off with the two [who pulled out and away] till they were in the
land of promise. Finn when he perceived these five individuals at a
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distance passed on them an opinion of recognition, saying that those with
whom he would compare these corners he held in dear affection: Goll
and Oscar namely, Fergus Truelips, Taise and the waitingmaid her
fellow.
His people now being all re-united thus with Finn, Abartach son of
Allchad told him to make his own assessment of indemnity for the
affront put on him, and for his long peregrination; but Finn said that the
wage which [at his first engaging of him] he had promised to Abartach,
and the damages [now due to himself], he would suffer to stand one
against the other. Nevertheless Abartach replied: in all this there is not
any advantage to me so long as the Fiannas man of abuse and their
reviler, Conan mac Morna, remains without his own award of
compensation. Here Conan cried: by Heavens divers parts, and
Earths, I bind myself that in default of that same I will not rest
contented! So much Abartach promised him, and the adjudication that
Conan made was this: that he should carry off fourteen women (best that
were in the promised land), besides Abartachs own wife; the same lady
to be stuck, as had been Liagan Luath of Luachair Deghaid, at the horses
tail; and the fourteen aforesaid to bestride him until again he should be
in the western part of Corcaguiny.
And know now that neither gold nor silver it was that Conan
awarded himself, but simply as we have said: he to carry off fourteen
women (best in the land of promise), along with Abartachs wife who,
like the swift Liagan, must be stuck at the horses tail; while the fourteen
other women (even as Conan and the rest of his people had done) should
ride him till again they should be at clochn cinn chait in the west of
Corcaguiny.
There are thy people, Finn! said Abartach; and the chief looked on
every side of him, but whether up or whether down he saw no more
Abartach. Home to Leinsters spacious Almhain he carried Taise, and
they of the place made the couples wedding feast.
This then is the Pursuit of the Gilla decair, and the romance relating to
him, from first to last.
Finis.
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