The Birth of Cuchulain

Feis Tige Becfoltaig
Egerton 1782

Trans. E. Hull

1. onchobar had a sister, Dechtire by name. She and fifty young maidens, her companions, disappeared one day from Emain Macha without warning to the king or the Ultonians. For three years nothing was heard of them. Then a flock of birds began to frequent the plain of Emania; they consumed everything before them, until not a blade of grass was left. The birds were Dechtire and her maidens, who sought to attract and to draw away the chiefs of Ulster. The Ultonians, beholding the devastation wrought by the birds, were filled with vexation. They yoked nine chariots to follow the birds, for hunting birds was a custom among them. Among those that went were Conchobar and Fergus, Amargin and Blai briugu, Sencha and Briccriu.

2. The birds flew before them towards the south, across Sliab Fuad, by Ath Lethan, by Ath Garach and Magh Gossa, between Fir Rois and Fir Ardai (towards the fairy dwelling of Brugh on the Boyne, the home of the gods Lugh lamfaday and Angus). [There were at that time in Ireland neither ditches, fences, nor walls; the plain on every side was unbroken. Graceful and beautiful was the flock of birds. There were nine times twenty of them, yoked together two and two by a chain of silver; they flew in companies of twenty, and there were nine groups of them ; at the head of each group flew two birds in varied plumage united by a yoke of silver. Three birds flew separately till night-fall before the warriors right across country. As darkness approached a thick snow fell. Conchobar commanded his followers to unyoke their chariots and to go forward to seek some habitation.]

3. Fergus departed in quest of a shelter where they could put up. He arrived at a little house, where he found a man and a woman who bade him welcome. "You will bring your companions here and they will be welcome." Fergus went out and rejoined them; then he brought them back with him, the men and their chariots, and they took shelter in the house.

4. Briccriu went out and heard something; a feeble cry. He knew not whence the sound came, but going in the direction from which he heard it, he saw before him a spacious and handsome house. He looked in and saw the master of the mansion, a young warrior of splendid appearance and noble mien, who spoke to him. "Enter, O Briccriu," he said ; "why do you look about ?" "You are truly welcome so far as I am concerned," said his wife. "Why does your wife salute me?" asked Briccriu. "It is on her account that I myself bid you welcome. Have you missed any one from Emain Macha ?" "We have, verily," replied Briccriu ; "fifty young maidens have been lost to us, and that for three years." "Would you recognise them if you saw them?" asked the man. "If I did not recognise them, it would be because of the changes wrought in them during three years; these might make one hesitate." "Try then to recall them," replied the man ; "the fifty young girls are in this house : this woman here with me is their mistress : her name was Dechtire. It was they who, changed into birds, flew to Emain Macha to draw the Ultonians hither." The woman bestowed on Briccriu a purple mantle with golden fringes ; and he set forth to rejoin his comrades.

5. Briccriu, during his walk back, pondered thus with himself: "Conchobar would give large treasures in order to find the fifty lost maidens. I will conceal from him that I have discovered them with his sister. I will merely say that I have seen a house full of beautiful women, and nothing more." The king asked Briccriu for news of his exploration. "What tidings do you bring, O Briccriu ?"

6. "I found myself at a brilliant and beautiful mansion," he replied. "I have seen a princess, noble, gracious, of truly royal demeanour, with beautiful ringlets ; with her a group of women, graceful and richly clothed; the master of the house, bountiful and brilliant."

7. Conchobar, delighted with this description, expressed a desire to see the noble lady, and bade some one go and fetch her to him. Fergus, reluctantly consenting, took the king's message to the woman ; but she, complaining that she was ill, requested a delay. Fergus returned her message to the king, and all retired to rest for the night. In the morning, when they arose, they found in the hut a little baby boy, but just born, who bore a strong resemblance [?] to Conchobar.

8. "Take thou this child, Finnchoem," said Conchobar to his sister. She received the child with joy. "Already my heart goes forth to this little child," she cried; "he will be for me a second Conall cernach (the Victorious)." "There is but little difference between them," said Briccriu ; "this child is son of thine own sister Dechtire ; the fifty young girls lost to us for three years are here."

9. "Take the child to thee, O Finnchoem," repeated Conchobar to his sister.

10. "It is not she who shall rear it up," said Sencha; "it is I. For I am strong, I am dexterous, I am skilful in combat. I am learned, I am a man of wisdom, I am not forgetful. I speak before all men in the presence of the king. I am his counsellor ; I arbitrate in the kingly combats before Conchobar the Victorious. I am judge among the Ultonians, but I do not execute my own decisions. None can dispute with me the tutelage, save Conchobar himself."

11. Then arose Blai briugu "the hospitaller", and protested his services as chief almoner. The child, he said, if intrusted to him, would neither suffer through negligence nor fail of sustenance. He should have the rearing of the king's nephew.

12. But Fergus replied, "What presumption I It is I alone who should bring up the child. I am strong, I am adroit. I am the envoy of the king. None can dispute with me in honours or in wealth. I am hardened to combats and to warfare. I am a good craftsman. I am worthy to be the guardian of youth. I am the protector of all the unfortunate. I am the terror of the strong, the support of the oppressed."

13. "And now, since you at length are silent, listen to us," said Amargin. "I am capable of rearing up my pupils as though they were kings. In me men extol courage, bravery, honour, wisdom. They praise my good fortune, my years, my eloquence, my renown, the valour of my race. Though I am a warrior, I am also a poet. I seek favour of none, save of Conchobar himself; I obey none other than the king."

14. Thus each in turn sets forth his qualifications, and so unanswerable are they that, at the suggestion of Sencha the judge, it is finally decided to postpone the matter until their return to Emain Macha, when Morann can be consulted : Finnchoem, meanwhile, taking charge of the boy. On their arrival, Morann pronounced judgment, giving to each a share in the rearing of the child befitting the special functions of his office.

15. "It is Conchobar's work," he said, "to render the child illustrious : for he is near of kin to Finnchoem. Blai briugu shall charge himself with his sustenance ; Fergus shall bear him on his knees ; Amargin shall be his tutor ; Finnchoem shall nourish him at her breast with Conall the Victorious, her own son, his fellow." Then Morann broke out in prophecy of the future greatness of the child, and of his prowess on behalf of Ulster.

16. "His praise," he cried, "will be in the mouths of all men ; charioteers and warriors, kings and sages will recount his deeds ; he will win the love of many. This child will avenge all your wrongs ; he will give combat at your fords ; he will decide all your quarrels."

17. Then all agreed to the decision of Morann. Amargin and Finnchoem carried away the babe, and he was nurtured by them in the fort of Breth, in the Plain of Muirthemne.

création : 28/10/2009

Sources : E. Hull, Cuchulain's Saga