Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE 155And all the company shouted applause at the generous pledge,and on the spot, as a commemoration of his first deed of valour,they named the lad Cuchulain, 135 the Hound of Cullan, and bythat name he was known until he died.Cuchulain Assumes ArmsWhen he was older, and near the time when he might assumethe weapons of manhood, it chanced one day that he passed closeby where Cathbad the Druid was teaching to certain of his pupils [185]the art of divination and augury. One of them asked of Cathbadfor what kind of enterprise that same day might be favourable;and Cathbad, having worked a spell of divination, said: “Theyouth who should take up arms on this day would become of allmen in Erin most famous for great deeds, yet will his life be shortand fleeting.” Cuchulain passed on as though he marked it not,and he came before the king. “What wilt thou?” asked Conor.“To take the arms of manhood,” said Cuchulain. “So be it,” saidthe king, and he gave the lad two great spears. But Cuchulainshook them in his hand, and the staves splintered and broke. Andso he did with many others; and the chariots in which they sethim to drive he broke to pieces with stamping of his foot, until atlast the king's own chariot of war and his two spears and swordwere brought to the lad, and these he could not break, do whathe would; so this equipment he retained.His Courtship of EmerThe young Cuchulain was by this grown so fair and noblea youth that every maid or matron on whom he looked wasbewitched by him, and the men of Ulster bade him take a wifeof his own. But none were pleasing to him, till at last he saw thelovely maiden Emer, daughter of Forgall, the lord of Lusca, 136135 It is noticeable that among the characters figuring in the Ultonian legendarycycle many names occur of which the word Cu (hound) forms a part. Thuswe have Curoi, Cucorb, Beälcu, &c. The reference is no doubt to the Irishwolf-hound, a fine type of valour and beauty.136 Now Lusk, a village on the coast a few miles north of Dublin.