The Tragic Death of Curoi Mac Dari

Aided Conroi Maic Dairi
Yellow Book of Lecan
Version II

Trans. R.I. Best

1. hy did the men of Ulster slay Curoi son of Dare ? Easy to say. Because of Blathnait daughter of Mend who was carried off from the Siege of the Men of Falga, because of the three cows of Iuchna and the three men of Ochain, that is, the little birds that used to be on the ears of the cows, even Iuchna's cows, and a caldron was carried off with the cows, that was their calf. Thirty cows was the portion of the caldron, and the full of it was milked from them every time whilst the birds were singing to them. Hence said Cuchulainn in the Siabarcharpat :

There was a caldron in the fort :
The calf of the three cows
Thirty cows within its gullet.
That was its portion.

They used to resort to that caldron.
Delightful was the struggle.
Nor did they come away from it again
Until they left it full.

There was much gold and silver in it,
Twas a goodly find.
I carried off that caldron
With the daughter of the king.

2. Curoi son of Dare went with them then to the siege, and they did not recognize him, that is, they called him the man in a grey mantle. Every head that was brought out of the fort, "who slew that man ?" said Conchobar. "I and the man in the grey mantle," each answered in turn.

3. When, however, they were dividing the spoil, they did not give Curoi a share, for justice was not granted him. He ran in among the cows and gathered them before him, collected the birds in his girdle, and thrust the woman under one of his armpits, and they went from them, he went with the caldron on his back. And none among the men of Ulster was able to get speech with him save Cuchulainn alone. He (Curoi) turned upon the latter, and thrusts him into the earth to his armpits ; and cropped his hair on him with his sword, and rubbed cow-dung into his head, and then came home.

4. After that Cuchulainn was a whole year avoiding the Ulstermen. One day, however, when he was on the peaks of Boirche, he saw a great flock of black birds coming towards him over sea. He kills one of them forthwith. After that he kills one of the flock in every land [he passed through] until he came to Srub Broin in the west of Ireland, that is, the black bird's head which he cut off, Srub Broin is named therefrom. This took place westwards of Curoi's stronghold ; and then he knew that it was he who had brought him to shame ; and he held converse with the woman (Blathnait), for he had loved her even before she was brought over sea ; she was a daughter of Iuchna king of the Men of Falga that is, they were a "sea-wall" in the islands of the sea. He made a tryst with her again westwards on the night of Samain. Moreover, a province of the Eraind set forth to go with Cuchulainn. It was on that day she gave counsel to Curoi, namely, that a splendid fortress should be built by him for his city, of every pillar-stone standing or lying in Ireland. It was the Clan Dedad who set out in one day for the building of the stronghold, so that he was all alone in his fortress on that day. This was the token that was between her and Cuchulainn, namely, to pour the milk of luchna's cows adown the river in the direction of the Ulstermen, so that the river might be white when she was washing him (Curoi). So it was done. It was poured down to them, and the river then became "Findglais."

5. She was then searching his head in front of the stronghold. "Come into the stronghold," said she, "and get washed before the hosts come back with their burdens." Just then he lifted up his head and saw the host of Ulster coming towards him along the glen, both foot and horse. "Who are those yonder, woman ?" said Curoi. "Thy people," said the woman "with the stones and oak *** for building the stronghold." "If they are oaks, 'tis swiftly they travel ; it is a triumph, if they are stones." He raised his head again. He continues to scan (?) them. "Who are these ?" said he. "Herds of kine and cattle," said she.

"If they are cattle, so that they are cattle.
They are not herds of lean kine.
There is a little man brandishing a sword
On the back of every cow."

6. Thereupon he goes inside, and the woman washes him, and she bound his hair to the bedposts and rails, and took the sword out of its scabbard and threw open the stronghold. He heard naught, however, until the men had filled the house on him, and had fallen on him. He rose up straightway against them, and slew a hundred men of them with kicks and blows of his fists. The attendant who was within rose up against them and slew thirty heroes of them. Thereof it was sung :

"Though the attendant of the prince,
He was skilled at the battle-game,
He slew thirty armed men,
Then he let himself be slain."

7. Senfiacail first came at the cry, whereof it was said :

"Senfiacail came . . .
He slew a hundred men of the host.
Though great was the might of his combat
He got his death through Cuchulainn."

Cairpre Cuanach came up on them :

"Cairpre Cuanach came up on them.
He slew a hundred men, a mighty encounter,
He would have grappled with Conchobar,
If the monster-abounding sea had not drowned him."

That is to say, when he was contending with Conchobar, he saw his stronghold in flames to the north of the sea. So he went into the sea to save it. His swim was great, and he was drowned there.

"The fight of Eochaid son of Dare
From the promontory to the glen.
He slew a hundred men, 'twas a great achievement.
'Twas to avenge his good king."

8. Then it was the Clann Deda cast from them every pillar-stone which is standing and lying in Ireland, when they heard the shouting, and came up to the slaughter around the fortress,whereof it was said :

"After that came the Clann Deda
To seek their king to . . .
Five score and three hundred.
Ten hundred and two thousand."

9. When, however, they were slaying one another by the fortress, and Cuchulainn shore off the man's head, and the fortress was aflame, Ferchertne, Curoi's poet, was by his horses in the glen, and he said :

"Who is the youth that . . .
By the side of Curoi's fortress ?
If Dare's son were alive.
It would not burn "

Fer Becrach, however, Curoi's charioteer, had made submission to Cairpre son of Conchobar, and he went into his chariot to him. He drove the horses against the rock, and the rock crushed both horses and men whereof it was said :

"Fer Becrach . . .
Perchance it is no lie thou sayest ?
He bore Cairpre son of Conchobar
Under the bitter sea waves."

10. Then Ferchertne came. "Art not thou Ferchertne ?" said Conchobar. "I am, indeed," said he. "Was Curoi kind to thee ?" said Conchobar. "He was kind, indeed," said he. "Tell us somewhat of his bounty.** ** "I cannot now," said he. "My heart is sad after the slaying of my king, for mine own hand shall slay me, if no one else slay me !" Then Ferchertne the poet said :

[*** I have not ventured to translate the difficult and obscure Amra which in the Yellow Book breaks the continuity of the tale.]

13. "That was a kingly gift" said Conchobar. "It was little from him," said Ferchertne. "Where is Blathnait here ?" said he. "She is here," said the youths ; " and it is after striking off Curoi's head as the price of her deliverance."

14. After that she was crushed against the rock, that is, the promontory of Cenn Bera. For the man Ferchertne made a rush towards her and caught her between his arms, so that her ribs broke in her back ; and he hurled her down the cliff before him, so that the rock crushed them both, and their grave is on the strand under the rock. Hence it was sung :

"Sad was the struggle together
Of Blathnait and Ferchertne,
And the graves of them both are
In the puissant land of Cenn Bera."

15. Nevertheless the slaughter increased on them every day, from Hallowe'en to the middle of spring. The Ulstermen made a count from their own house, going and coming, and a half or a third of their heroes they left behind, as was said :

"Blathnait the daughter of Menn was slain
In the slaughter above Argat-glenn.
A great deed for a woman to betray her husband.
Since it is ***"

Now that is the tragic death of Curoi.

Finit.

création : 28/10/2009

Sources : R.I. Best, Ériu 2