Standish O'Grady; selected essays and passages

112 STANDISH O GRADY
against Fomoroh, but swiftly through wet places and dry,
thou didst urge thy course ;
of all Erin are upon thee and me this day."
and O Liath Macha, the eye»
Thereat the noble spirit of the Liath Macha was
grieved and against the yoke mightily he bent his broad
chest with the strength of twenty horses, and out of the
earth by main force he drew black Shanglan and the
war-car, and then those peerless horses exerted their
terrible strength, and through marble and whinstone
crashed the revolving wheels of the war-car as the great
steeds went on. Behind them the track of the chariot-
wheels was like the mearing of a territory. Then
saddened and astonished, the earth-demons sank into
their deep abode, and again Laeg urged on the steeds of
Cuculain straight forward into the thickest throng of the
battle.
Far out in front of the chariot then sprang Cuculain,
holding the Gae Bolg in his right hand, and before him
the Clanna Rury divided to the right and to the left,
for here they were again retreating before the men of
Meave. First, then, Cuculain slew a mighty champion
of the Dergtheena, a prince among the nation of Curoi
Mac Dary, who from their great ddn in the hills of Slieve
Mish ruled a wide territory. Him holding the battle-
plough of the Roscathals Cuculain smote through the
shield and the left breast, for on his arm the shield still
lay, while with mighty hands he grasped the ironwork of
that warlike instrument. Then it was that Cuculain saw
Lewy Mac Conroi, who was hesitating in his heroic mind
whether he would advance against Cuculain, in pro-