12.07.2015 Views

Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE 197<strong>the</strong>y fought, but nei<strong>the</strong>r could prevail. Then came Conall's horse,<strong>the</strong> Dewy-Red, <strong>and</strong> tore a piece out <strong>of</strong> Lewy's side, <strong>and</strong> Conallslew him, <strong>and</strong> took his head, <strong>and</strong> returned to Emain Macha. But<strong>the</strong>y made no show <strong>of</strong> triumph in entering <strong>the</strong> city, for Cuchulain<strong>the</strong> Hound <strong>of</strong> Ulster was no more. [234]The Recovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> TainThe history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> “Tain,” or Cattle Raid, <strong>of</strong> Quelgny wastraditionally supposed to have been written by no o<strong>the</strong>r thanFergus mac Roy, but for a long time <strong>the</strong> great lay or saga waslost. It was believed to have been written out in Ogham characterson staves <strong>of</strong> wood, which a bard who possessed <strong>the</strong>m had takenwith him into Italy, whence <strong>the</strong>y never returned.The recovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> “Tain” was <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong>legends which Sir S. Ferguson, in his “Lays <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> WesternGael,” has combined in a poem <strong>of</strong> so much power, so muchinsight into <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> Gaelic myth, that I venture to reproducemuch <strong>of</strong> it here in telling this singular <strong>and</strong> beautiful story. It issaid that after <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> “Tain” Sanchan Torpest, chief bard<strong>of</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong>, was once taunted at a feast by <strong>the</strong> High King Guaryon his inability to recite <strong>the</strong> most famous <strong>and</strong> splendid <strong>of</strong> Gaelicpoems. This touched <strong>the</strong> bard to <strong>the</strong> quick, <strong>and</strong> he resolved torecover <strong>the</strong> lost treasure. Far <strong>and</strong> wide through Erin <strong>and</strong> throughAlba he searched for traces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lay, but could only recoverscattered fragments. He would have conjured up by magic arts<strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> Fergus to teach it to him, even at <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> his ownlife—for such, it seems, would have been <strong>the</strong> price dem<strong>and</strong>ed for<strong>the</strong> intervention <strong>and</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dead—but <strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> Fergus'sgrave, where <strong>the</strong> spells must be said, could not be discovered.At last Sanchan sent his son Murgen with his younger bro<strong>the</strong>rEimena to journey to Italy <strong>and</strong> endeavour to discover <strong>the</strong>re <strong>the</strong>fate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> staff-book. The bro<strong>the</strong>rs set <strong>of</strong>f on <strong>the</strong>ir journey.“Eastward, breadthwise, over Erin straightway travell'd forth <strong>the</strong>twain,Till with many days' wayfaring Murgen fainted by Loch Ein:

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!