Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

156 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[186]and he resolved to woo her for his bride. So he bade harness hischariot, and with Laeg, his friend and charioteer, he journeyed toDūn Forgall.As he drew near, the maiden was with her companions,daughters of the vassals of Forgall, and she was teaching themembroidery, for in that art she excelled all women. She had “thesix gifts of womanhood—the gift of beauty, the gift of voice, thegift of sweet speech, the gift of needlework, the gift of wisdom,and the gift of chastity.”Hearing the thunder of horse-hoofs and the clangour of thechariot from afar, she bade one of the maidens go to the rampartof the Dūn and tell her what she saw. “A chariot is coming on,”said the maiden, “drawn by two steeds with tossing heads, fierceand powerful; one is grey, the other black. They breathe firefrom their jaws, and the clods of turf they throw up behind themas they race are like a flock of birds that follow in their track.In the chariot is a dark, sad man, comeliest of the men of Erin.He is clad in a crimson cloak, with a brooch of gold, and on hisback is a crimson shield with a silver rim wrought with figuresof beasts. With him as his charioteer is a tall, slender, freckledman with curling red hair held by a fillet of bronze, with plates ofgold at either side of his face. With a goad of red gold he urgesthe horses.”When the chariot drew up Emer went to meet Cuchulain andsaluted him. But when he urged his love upon her she told himof the might and the wiliness of her father Forgall, and of thestrength of the champions that guarded her lest she should wedagainst his will. And when he pressed her more she said: “I maynot marry before my sister Fial, who is older than I. She is withme here—she is excellent in handiwork.” “It is not Fial whomI love,” said Cuchulain. Then as they were conversing he sawthe breast of the maiden over the bosom of her smock, and saidto her: “Fair is this plain, the plain of the noble yoke.” “Nonecomes to this plain,” said she, “who has not slain his hundreds,