Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

178 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[212]foray into Ulster and penetrates as far as Dunseverick, on thenorthern coast, plundering and ravaging as they go. The BrownBull, who was originally at Quelgny (Co. Down), has beenwarned at an earlier stage by the Morrigan 150 to withdrawhimself, and he has taken refuge, with his herd of cows, in aglen of Slievegallion, Co. Armagh. The raiders of Maev findhim there, and drive him off with the herd in triumph, passingCuchulain as they return. Cuchulain slays the leader of theescort—Buic son of Banblai—but cannot rescue the Bull, and“this,” it is said, “was the greatest affront put on Cuchulain duringthe course of the raid.”The MorriganThe raid ought now to have ceased, for its object has beenattained, but by this time the hostings of the four southernprovinces 151 had gathered together under Maev for the plunderof Ulster, and Cuchulain remained still the solitary warder of themarches. Nor did Maev keep her agreement, for bands of twentywarriors at a time were loosed against him and he had muchado to defend himself. The curious episode of the fight with theMorrigan now occurs. A young woman clad in a mantle of manycolours appears to Cuchulain, telling him that she is a king'sdaughter, attracted by the tales of his great exploits, and she hascome to offer him her love. Cuchulain tells her rudely that he isworn and harassed with war and has no mind to concern himselfwith women. “It shall go hard with thee,” then said the maid,“when thou hast to do with men, and I shall be about thy feetas an eel in the bottom of the Ford.” Then she and her chariotvanished from his sight and he saw but a crow sitting on a branchof a tree, and he knew that he had spoken with the Morrigan.The Fight with Loch150 See p. 126.151 In ancient Ireland there were five provinces, Munster being counted as two,or, as some ancient authorities explain it, the High King's territory in Meathand Westmeath being reckoned a separate province.