Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

194 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[231]Niam to Cuchulain and bade him up and rescue Ulster from thehosts that were harrying it, and the Morrigan came in the form ofa great crow where Cuchulain sat with the women, and croakedof war and slaughter. Then Cuchulain sprang up and called Laegto harness his chariot. But when Laeg sought for the Grey ofMacha to harness him, the horse fled from him, and resisted, andonly with great difficulty could Laeg yoke him in the chariot,while large tears of dark blood trickled down his face.Then Cuchulain, having armed himself, drove forth; and onevery side shapes and sounds of dread assailed him and cloudedhis mind, and then it appeared to him that he saw a great smoke,lit with bursts of red flame, over the ramparts of Emain Macha,and he thought he saw the corpse of Emer tossed out over theramparts. But when he came to his dūn at Murthemney, therewas Emer living, and she entreated him to leave the phantomsalone, but he would not listen to her, and he bade her farewell.Then he bade farewell to his mother Dectera, and she gave him agoblet of wine to drink, but ere he could drink it the wine turnedto blood, and he flung it away, saying, “My life's end is near;this time I shall not return alive from the battle.” And Decteraand Cathbad besought him to await the coming of Conall of theVictories, who was away on a journey, but he would not.The Washer at the FordWhen he came to the ford upon the plain of Emania he sawthere kneeling by the stream as it were a young maiden, weepingand wailing, and she washed a heap of bloody raiment andwarlike arms in the stream, and when she raised a dripping vestor corselet from the water Cuchulain saw that they were his own.And as they crossed the ford she vanished from their sight. 163Clan Calatin AgainThen, having taken his leave of Conor and of the womenfolkin Emania, he turned again towards Murthemney and the foe. But163 This apparition of the Washer of the Ford is of frequent occurrence in Irishlegend.