Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE 173said only: “Whoever comes hack in safety, or comes not, thouthyself shalt come.” But on her journey back she saw suddenlystanding before her chariot-pole a young maiden with tresses ofyellow hair that fell below her knees, and clad in a mantle ofgreen; and with a shuttle of gold she wove a fabric upon a loom.“Who art thou, girl?” said Maev, “and what dost thou?” “I am the [206]prophetess, Fedelma, from the Fairy Mound of Croghan,” saidthe maid, “and I weave the four provinces of Ireland together forthe foray into Ulster.” “How seest thou our host?” asked Maev.“I see them all be-crimsoned, red,” replied the prophetess. “Yetthe Ulster heroes are all in their pangs—there is none that can lifta spear against us,” said Maev. “I see the host all becrimsoned,”said Fedelma. “I see a man of small stature, but the hero'slight is on his brow—a stripling young and modest, but in battlea dragon; he is like unto Cuchulain of Murthemney; he dothwondrous feats with his weapons; by him your slain shall liethickly.” 144At this the vision of the weaving maiden vanished, and Maevdrove homewards to Rathcroghan wondering at what she hadseen and heard.Cuchulain Puts the Host under GeiseOn the morrow the host set forth, Fergus mac Roy leadingthem, and as they neared the confines of Ulster he bade themkeep sharp watch lest Cuchulain of Murthemney, who guardedthe passes of Ulster to the south, should fall upon them unawares.Now Cuchulain and his father Sualtam 145 were on the bordersof the province, and Cuchulain, from a warning Fergus had senthim, suspected the approach of a great host, and bade Sualtam gonorthwards to Emania and warn the men of Ulster. But Cuchulainhimself would not stay there, for he said he had a tryst to keepwith a handmaid of the wife of Laery the bodach (farmer), so he144Cuchulain, as the son of the god Lugh, was not subject to the curse ofMacha which afflicted the other Ultonians.145 His reputed father, the mortal husband of Dectera