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The abduction of the bull from Kualnge
The publication was prepared by T.A.Mikhailova, S.V.Shkunaev
How the kidnapping of the Bull from Kualnge was found
“One day, poets from all over Ireland gathered around Oenhan Thorpest to find out if any of them knew the Rape of the Bull from Qualnge in its entirety. But each of them said that only a part was known to him.
Then Senhan asked which of his disciples, with his blessing, would go through the land of Summer to find the entire text of the Abduction, for which a sage in the east had promised the book of Kulmen. Emin, the grandson of Ninen, then set off on a journey together with Muprgen, the son of Senhan. And it so happened that their path lay past the grave of Fergus, the son of Roig. They approached the gravestone at Enloch in Connacht. Muirgen sat on that gravestone, and the rest left him and went to look for a house for the night.
Muirgen then sang a song to the stone, as if he were speaking to Fergus himself. So he told him:
Suddenly a thick fog enveloped Muirgen, and for three days and three nights no one saw him. And then Fergus appeared before him in all his splendor, with chestnut curls, in a green cloak, in a hooded tunic embroidered with scarlet, with a sword with a golden handle, in sandals with bronze buckles. Fergus told him the whole Abduction, how it all happened then, from beginning to end. And then they returned to Senhan with this story, and everyone was glad.
There are, however, people who claim that it was Senhan himself who heard the whole story after he had fasted in the side of Fergus. And it seems reasonable."
Ailment of the Ulads
“How did the illness of the Ulads happen? It's not hard to say.
There lived a rich man Krunhu, the son of Agnoman, among the villages. He had flocks and houses, and his sons lived with them. His wife has died. He often sat alone in his house for a long time. One day he saw a woman enter his house. Her face, figure, appearance and clothes were beautiful. Everything she did, she did well. Soon it was clean and warm in the house. When night came, all the people lay down on their beds, and that night she lay down next to Krunhu. From that time on, there was no shortage of food, horses, or clothes in his house.
Somehow all the lads gathered for the holiday. It was a big holiday, and women, and boys, and girls gathered for it. Krunkha also wanted to go with everyone, he put on his best colorful clothes.
“It’s dangerous for you to go there,” the woman told him, “because you want to tell about me there.”
“No, I won’t say a word,” he replied.
Krunhu came to the festival and began to watch how the chariots compete in running. The first to arrive was a chariot drawn by the king's white horses.
“There is no one who can run faster than these horses,” said one of the royal servants.
“My wife can run faster,” Krunhu said.
They conveyed these words to the king. He told them to bring the woman.
“I have the right to a delay,” she said, “I have to give birth soon, and I can’t run now.
“You don’t have that right,” she was told.
“O king, in the name of your mother who bore you,” said the woman, “give me a reprieve!”
“No, I can't do that,” he said.
“Good to you,” she said, “if you treated me so badly, each of you will be overtaken by my evil vengeance!”
- Say your name! the king said.
“My name, given to me at birth,” she said, “will be well remembered by everyone at this holiday. Maha, daughter of Sanrit, son of Imbat, is my name.
Then they let the horses run. A woman ran faster than horses, but suddenly fell to the ground with a cry and gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Since then, this place has been called Emain Maha.
All the men who heard this cry suddenly felt weak, like a woman who had just been relieved of her burden. And then the woman said to them:
- For the evil that you have done to me, every time you are attacked by enemies, you will experience pangs similar to childbirth. And they will last four days and five nights, or five days and four nights, and so - nine generations,
Thus the disease of the Ulads occurred, and only the sons and wives of the Ulads were not subject to him, and even Cuchulainn. And this disease lasted from the time of Krunhu, the son of Agnoman, until the time of Fork, the son of Dallan, the son of Manech, the son of Lugdah.
This is how the affliction of the settlements in Emain Maha happened.
Birth of Conchobar
“Here is the story of how Conchobar was born. There was a king in Ulad named Eohu Salbuyde, the son of Loich. A daughter was born to him, they named her Ness, the daughter of Eohu Salbuyde, and twelve women were assigned to her for education. Assa - was the name of the first of them, she had to teach the girl courtesy and good manners.
At the same time, one warrior went on a campaign. Three times nine people were with him. Cathbad, the famous druid, is who this warrior was. He was endowed with great wisdom, druidic knowledge and the gift of providence, he was born in Ulad, but then left there. Now he's gone wild empty place and there were with him three times nine men. They fought together, not knowing they were tired, and were always together, because they swore an oath to each other to die together, all three times nine people each.
And so they came to a wasteland in Ulad, Cathbad was there with his soldiers and other people. They attacked a large rich house, where all the twelve educators of the girl had gathered then, and killed everyone. Everyone there was killed, only the girl herself managed to escape. So no one knew who committed this mortal villainy. And the girl, crying, ran to her father, she demanded revenge. Her father answered her that he could not take revenge, because he did not know who had committed this mortal villainy. The girl got angry at this and decided to avenge her teachers herself. She gathered the soldiers, three times nine people were with her. She destroyed and plundered many houses and yards with them. Since then, she herself was nicknamed Assa, because she showed great courtesy. And then they began to call her Nihassa, so great was her valor. It became her custom to ask everyone who met her on the way: she always wanted to know the name of the warrior who committed that mortal atrocity.
Somehow she ended up in a wasteland, and her people were preparing food. Suddenly she got up and went to look for people to ask them questions, as she always did when she got to a new place. So she walked and suddenly she saw a beautiful source. She decided to bathe in it, and laid her weapons and clothes on the ground nearby. And it so happened that Cathbad was then in the same wasteland and approached the same source just when the girl was bathing in it. He stood between her and her weapons and clothes and drew his sword over her head.
– Have mercy on me! – said the girl.
“Promise to fulfill my three wishes,” said Cathbad.
- What do you want? the girl asked.
- I want you to become your patron, so that there is peace and harmony between us, and that you become my wife for life.
“It’s better than being killed,” the girl told him in response.
Then their people came together instead, and on the appointed day Kathbad came to Ulad to the girl's father. He warmly welcomed him and gave him the land, now called the Rat of Cathbad. She was near the river, which was called Conchobar in Creech Ross.
And then one night a terrible thirst attacked Cathbad. Nessus went to fetch a drink for him, but she could not find any drink. Then she went to the river Conchobar, scooped up water with a cup and returned to Cathbad.
“Bring fire so that I can see this water,” said Cathbad.
They did so, and saw two worms in the water. Cathbad drew his sword over the girl's head, because he wanted to kill her.
“Drink yourself the water you brought me,” said Cathbad, “or I will kill you!”
She took two sips of that water, and at each sip she swallowed a worm. From that day on, she suffered, and there were people who said that from those worms she suffered. But in fact, King Fahtna Fatah was the lover of this girl, and she suffered from him, and not from Cathbad.
Then Cathbad went to Fakhtna Fatah, the son of Rudraig, to talk to him. They went to the valley of Mag Inis. When her day came, that woman experienced labor pains. Cathbad said to her:
- O woman, if it is in your power, let only tomorrow, and not today, your bosom bring what it keeps. Then your son will be king of Ulad, or even of all Ireland, and his glory will forever remain in our lands. And this day will be remembered, as the day of the birth of Jesus, the son of almighty God, will be remembered.
“I will do so,” said Nessus. “There is only one way for him, and I will free him when it is necessary.
And Nessus went out into the meadow on the banks of the river Conchobar. She sat down on a stone near the edge. And again she began to experience labor pains. So said Cathbad then, and prophesied the birth of Conchobar.
Ness, you are suffering
The burden of pain wakes
Let a son be born.
Your hands are white
Daughter of Eohu Buide.
Oh my wife
Will be brave and glorious
Son to your joy.
At this hour will be born
He is the ruler of the world
Will be his strength
Glorified for centuries.
This night will be born
Lord of the battle
Does not recognize captivity
He and Christ.
He was born in the valley
On a high rock.
It will be a glorious story -
About his reign.
The dog recognizes Ulad
Mind him and prowess.
He will cause horror
In righteous anger.
It's called Conchobar
He will be Conchobar.
Will be first everywhere
He is with a scarlet weapon.
Death will overtake him
After the death of God.
Light sword sparkles
Over the Lime Hills.
Sees clearly Cathbad
His mind and courage
He loves his son
Like a native son
Will be the son of Fahtna,
Like Skatah said.
He will take many prisoners
From the north and from the south.
Oh Ness!
And then the girl allowed the child to be born, and her son was glorious, everyone in Ireland knew about him. The stone on which he was born in the west of Airgdeh still stands. So this son was born: in each hand he had a worm. He went to the river Conchobar, and the river parted before him. And then Cathbad called him by the name of the tone of the river: Conchobar, son of Fahtna. Catbad took him in his arms, gave him a name and predicted his future, he uttered this song:
In a glorious hour he came into the world,
He will be glorious.
He will be fair
He is the son of Kathbad.
He is the son of Katbad
And beautiful Pess.
So he came into the world
Forever my son.
Forever my son
Become a king
He will compose songs
Disputes will be resolved.
And always in everything
He will be the first
Oh beloved son
My head.
Conchobar was brought up by Cathbad and was always near him, so that some began to call him; Konkhyabar, son of Cathbad. And then Conchobar received power in Ulad after his mother and father, because the king was Fahtna Fatah. And from Cathbad he received wisdom and druidic knowledge, which helped him win the battle of Gairech and Ilgairech against Ailil and Medb during the Abduction of the bull from Kualnge.
The expulsion of the sons of Usneh
“How did the exile of the sons of Usneh happen? It's not hard to say.
The arrangements were gathered for a feast in the house of Fedelmid, the son of Dallus, the narrator of Conchobar. Among them was the wife of that Fedelmid, she served the guests. And she was already on the loose. A lot of horns with beer were drunk, a lot of meat was eaten, drunken joy arose in the house. Night fell, and the woman went to her bed. When she passed through the house, a terrible cry was heard in her stomach, it spread throughout the house. All the men in the house jumped up from their seats and ran to this cry. Then Senha, the son of Ailil, said:
“Stay,” he said, “let them bring this woman here, and she will explain to us what this cry means.”
They brought that woman. Then her husband Fedelmid said to her:
A terrible moan erupted
Your roaring belly.
What does this mean
A scream from swollen thighs?
Fear sealed his heart,
I hurt my ears with horror.
Then she approached Cathbad and said thus:
You better listen to Katbad
noble and beautiful,
Overshadowed by secret knowledge.
And I myself in clear words
About what Fedelmid invested in me,
Can not say.
After all, a woman does not know
What's in the womb
She has it hidden.
Then said Cathbad:
Hidden in your womb
bright-eyed girl,
With blonde curls
And purple cheeks.
Her teeth are white as snow
Her lips are red as blood.
Lots of blood because of her
It will be spilled among the settlements.
The girl is hidden in the womb
Slender, light, stately.
Hundreds of warriors will fight for her
Kings will marry her
And with troops they will approach from the West
Enemies of Conchobar's Five.
Her lips will be like corals,
Her teeth will be like pearls,
The queens will envy
Her perfect beauty.
Cathbad put his hand on the woman's stomach and felt a thrill under his palm.
“Indeed,” he said, “it is a girl. Her name will be Deirdre. And a lot of evil will happen because of it.
When the girl was born, Katbad sang this song:
I prophesy to you, about Deirdre,
That your face, full of charm,
Will bring a lot of grief to the settlements,
ABOUT, beautiful daughter FEDELMIDA.
The bitter years will be long,
Oh tough woman
Will be expelled from Ulad
Sons of the mighty Usnekh.
Time will be a heavy burden
Emain will be littered with grief,
Sad memory of your face
Will keep for years to come.
Through your fault they will be mourned,
Oh, desirable woman
Death of Fiahna son of Conchobar
And getting away from Fergus's ways.
Your beauty will be called
Oh, desirable woman
Death of Gerrke, son of Iladan,
Shame on Eoghan, son of Durtaht.
And herself in her bitter rage
You are about to do something terrible.
You have a short life to live,
But you will leave a long memory.
“Let this girl be killed,” they all said.
"No," said Conchobar. “Let them bring it to my house tomorrow.” She will be brought up by me and, when she grows up, will become my wife.
None of the Ulads then began to argue with him. So everything was done.
She was brought up by Conchobar, and became the most beautiful girl in Ireland. She was brought up separately from everyone, so that not a single Ulad would see her until she shared the bed of Conchobar. Not a single person was allowed to see her, except for her nurse and her named father, and even Leborham came to her, to whom nothing could be forbidden, for she was a spellcaster.
One winter day, the girl's named father was skinning a calf in the yard to prepare food for her. A raven flew here and began to drink the blood spilled on the snow. And then said to Deirdre Leborham:
- I can only love a person who has these colors: cheeks like blood, hair like a raven, body like snow.
- Happiness and good luck to you! Leborham said, “for this man is close to you, this is Naisi, the son of Usneh.
“I won’t be well,” said the girl, “until I see him.”
One day, Naisi was walking alone near royal castle in Emain and sang. Wonderful was the singing of the sons of Success. Every cow and every bee, hearing him, gave three times more milk and honey. It was sweet to hear him and the people, they fell into a dream from him, as from wonderful music. They also knew how to wield weapons: if they stood with their backs to each other, all Ulad warriors could not defeat them. Such was their martial art and revenue in battle. Fast as dogs, they were on the hunt and hit the beast on the run.
And so, when Naisi was walking like that alone and singing, she slipped out and began to walk past him and did not recognize him.
“Beautiful,” he said, “the heifer that walks beside us.
“Heifers are good if there are bulls on them,” she said.
“There is a mighty bull next to you,” he said, “the king of the Ulads.
“Of the two of you, I prefer,” she said, “a young steer like you.
- Do not be this! - he said to her, - I know the prediction of Cathbad.
- Are you giving up on me?
“Yes,” he said.
Then she rushed to him and grabbed him by both ears.
“Let them be shamed and shamed,” she said, “if you don’t take me away with you.”
Leave me alone, woman! - he said.
- Let it be so! - she said. Then he shouted a loud cry. Hearing his orders, they fled, ready for battle, and the sons of Usneh also came running, hearing the cry of their brother.
“What happened,” they said, “why the Ulads are ready to kill each other?”
He told them everything that had happened to him.
“Great evil will come from this,” they said, “but we will not leave you as long as we live. We will go to another country. There is no king in Ireland who would not let us into his fortress.
They began to take advice. That same night they set out, and three times fifty soldiers were with them, and three times fifty women, and three times fifty dogs, and three times fifty servants, and Deirdre.
For a long time they passed from one king to another, fleeing the revenge of Conchobar. All Ireland passed from Ess Ruad to Benn Engar, in the northeast.
It ended with the fact that they forced their Ulads to go to Alba. They settled there in the wasteland. There was not enough game for them in the mountains, and they began to raid the herds of people from Alba and steal cattle. Then the people from Alba decided to gather and attack them. The sons of Usneh had to go to the king of Alba and ask for his service. On the royal fields they built their houses. So they set them up so that no one would see that girl, otherwise they would all be doomed.
But one day the ruler of the king's house saw her: she was sleeping in the arms of her beloved. He then went to the king.
“We did not know before,” he said, “a woman worthy to share your bed.” But I saw, together with Naisi, the son of Usneh, a woman worthy of a king Western world. Let Naisi be killed, and then that woman will lie with you.
“No,” said the king, “it’s better to go to her every day and secretly persuade her to come to me.”
And so it was done. But everything that the steward told her during the day, she told her husband at night. She did not want to give in to these requests, and then the king began to send the sons of Usnekh on campaigns, in battles and battles, so that they would die there. Everywhere they came out victorious, and nothing could be done with them.
Then the people from Alba decided to get together and kill them. She told Naisi about it.
“Get ready to go,” she said, “otherwise, if you do not leave here at night, you will be dead in the morning.”
That same night they left the place and settled on an island in the sea. Found out about it.
- It will be sad, - said the Ulads, - if the sons of Success die on enemy soil through the fault of a bad woman. Have mercy on them, O Conchobar. Let them return to native land rather than perish among the enemies.
“So be it,” said Conchobar, “and we will send sureties to them.”
The sons of Usneh were informed about this.
“We agree to this,” they said. “Let Fergus, Dubtach, and Cormac, son of Conchobar, be sureties.”
They met on the beach and shook hands.
The people who lived in that place, at the instigation of Conchobar, came to invite Fergus to the feast. The sons of Usnech refused to go with them, because they wanted to eat the first food in Ireland at the table of Conchobar himself. Then Fergus' son, Emain Fiacha, went with them, and Fergus himself, and Dubtah with him, remained with those people.
Just at that time Eoghan, son of Durtaht, king of Fernmage, came to Conchobar for negotiations. Conchobar ordered him to kill the sons of Usnech before they could get to his house.
The sons of Usnech went out into the clearing in front of Emain Macha, Eoghan went out to meet them; Ulad women sat on the ramparts and looked at them. Fergus' son stepped forward and stood beside Nicey. Eoghan Naisi saluted with a blow from his great spear, which broke his spine. The son of Fergus managed to clasp Naisi in his arms, and Eoghan's spear passed through his body. Then the battle began, and not one of the exiles came out of it alive: some fell from a blow with a sword, others were pierced by spears. And that girl was brought before Conchobar, her hands tied behind her back.
This was reported to Fergus, Dubtah and Cormac. They immediately returned and accomplished many glorious deeds: Dubtah killed Mane, the son of Conchobar, and Fiahna, the son of Fedelm, the daughter of Conchobar; Fergus killed Traigtren, son of Trigletan, and his brother. Then Conchobar was angry, a battle began, in which three hundred ulads fell.
At night, Dubtah killed the Ulad girls, and in the morning Fergus set fire to Emain Macha.
Then they went to Ailil and Medb, who joyfully received them. From that day on, there was no rest for the settlements. Three thousand warriors left with them and for sixteen years they made cruel raids on Ulad.
Deirdre lived after this for a year in the house of Conchobar. Not once during this year did she smile, did not eat or drink enough. She never lifted her head from her knees. When musicians were brought to her, she said this:
Brave warriors bright appearance,
Rati ranks delight the eyes,
But me nicer light tread
Brave Naisi proud brothers.
Forest honey brought me Naisi,
I washed him by the fire
Came with prey from hunting Ardan,
Dry brushwood was found by Andle.
It seems sweet to you the taste of honey
In the house of Conchobar son of Nessus,
Me at that distant time
My food seemed sweeter.
There was a flame in that clearing
Bonfire, which was prepared by Naisi,
And it seemed to me sweeter than honey
Prey of the hunt of Usnekh's son.
It seems to you that they sang softly
All these trumpets and reeds,
I at that distant time
Heard softer music.
Singing seems gentle to Conchobar
All these trumpets and flutes,
I know more tender music:
Singing of the three sons of Success.
Waves sea voices Naisi
I wanted to listen tirelessly
This tune was picked up by Ardan,
Andle echoed them in a ringing voice.
My glorious Naisi, my dear Naisi,
His grave has long been buried.
Oh, isn't that evil power in me
The drink that killed him?
I was pleased with your bright appearance
With a beautiful face and a slender body.
Oh, do not meet me today
The sons of Usneh are on the threshold.
I liked his clear mind,
Dear me was a wise and stately warrior,
And after long wanderings in Fala
Mila was the force of his blows.
Sweet to me was his green look,
For women - gentle, for enemies - formidable,
And after a long forest hunt
I liked his distant voice.
I don't sleep at night
And I don't paint my nails purple.
To whom I will say hello,
If the son of Success is not with me?
I don't sleep
Midnight longing.
I endure this pain
That I tremble at the sound of laughter.
Do not bring me joy in my lot
Among the strong walls of the beautiful Emain,
Quiet peace and cheerful laughter,
The decoration of the house and the appearance of light
Warriors of the brave.
When Conchobar approached her, she said thus:
Oh, Conchobar, what do you want?
After all, you are the cause of my grief!
And I swear that while I'm alive
You don't know my love.
What was most beautiful
What I once loved
You took everything, oh evil woe,
I won't see cute anymore!
The one who was dearest to me
Nobody will replace me.
And the black stone lies over the body,
So beautiful, soft and white.
His cheeks were red and tender,
Scarlet - lips, black - eyebrows,
His teeth were like pearls
The light sparkle of snow is whiter.
Distinguished by stately posture
He is among the warriors of Alba.
Red gold border
Was on his scarlet cloak.
On his silk shirt
sparkling stones
Were sewn and light
Bronzes - fifty ounces.
Sword with golden handle
Two spears, heavy and sharp,
In his hand he held, hiding behind
A shield with a silver top.
Death brought us Fergus,
Evil arranged a meeting.
I filled my honor with hops -
His glory will fade!
When all the warriors come together
Together in an open field
I would give everyone
For Naisi, son of Success.
Do not break My Heart,
The hour of my death is near.
Sorrow is stronger than the sea
Remember this, Conchobar!
Who do you hate the most in my house? Conchobar said.
“Yourself,” she said, “and Eoghan Durtaht's son.
“Then you will live a year with Eoghan,” said Conchobar.
And he gave her into the hands of Eoghan. The next day Eoghan rode with her to Maha. She sat behind him on a chariot. She swore that she would not have two husbands on earth at the same time.
“Welcome to you, Deirdre,” said Conchobar, “as a sheep moves its eyes between two rams, so you are between me and Eoghan.
At the time they were passing by big rock. Deirdre threw herself at her with her head. Her head hit the rocks and broke. And she died.
Here is the story of the exile of the sons of Usnech, and of the expulsion of Fergus, and of the death of the son of Usnech and Deirdre.
The abduction of the bull from Kualnge
The publication was prepared by T.A.Mikhailova, S.V.Shkunaev
How the kidnapping of the Bull from Kualnge was found
“One day, poets from all over Ireland gathered around Oenhan Thorpest to find out if any of them knew the Rape of the Bull from Qualnge in its entirety. But each of them said that only a part was known to him.
Then Senhan asked which of his disciples, with his blessing, would go through the land of Summer to find the entire text of the Abduction, for which a sage in the east had promised the book of Kulmen. Emin, the grandson of Ninen, then set off on a journey together with Muprgen, the son of Senhan. And it so happened that their path lay past the grave of Fergus, the son of Roig. They approached the gravestone at Enloch in Connacht. Muirgen sat on that gravestone, and the rest left him and went to look for a house for the night.
Muirgen then sang a song to the stone, as if he were speaking to Fergus himself. So he told him:
If this stone were
By you, oh Mac Roig,
You would also look
Overnight, like them.
Kualnge we are looking for here
In this valley, Fergus.
Suddenly a thick fog enveloped Muirgen, and for three days and three nights no one saw him. And then Fergus appeared before him in all his splendor, with chestnut curls, in a green cloak, in a hooded tunic embroidered with scarlet, with a sword with a golden handle, in sandals with bronze buckles. Fergus told him the whole Abduction, how it all happened then, from beginning to end. And then they returned to Senhan with this story, and everyone was glad.
There are, however, people who claim that it was Senhan himself who heard the whole story after he had fasted in the side of Fergus. And it seems reasonable."
Ailment of the Ulads
“How did the illness of the Ulads happen? It's not hard to say.
There lived a rich man Krunhu, the son of Agnoman, among the villages. He had flocks and houses, and his sons lived with them. His wife has died. He often sat alone in his house for a long time. One day he saw a woman enter his house. Her face, figure, appearance and clothes were beautiful. Everything she did, she did well. Soon it was clean and warm in the house. When night came, all the people lay down on their beds, and that night she lay down next to Krunhu. From that time on, there was no shortage of food, horses, or clothes in his house.
Somehow all the lads gathered for the holiday. It was a big holiday, and women, and boys, and girls gathered for it. Krunkha also wanted to go with everyone, he put on his best colorful clothes.
It is dangerous for you to go there, - the woman told him, - because you want to tell about me there.
No, I won't say a word," he replied.
Krunhu came to the festival and began to watch how the chariots compete in running. The first to arrive was a chariot drawn by the king's white horses.
There is no one who can run faster than these horses,” said one of the royal servants.
My wife can run faster, said Krunhu.
They conveyed these words to the king. He told them to bring the woman.
I have the right to a delay, - she said, - I have to give birth soon, and I can’t run now.
You don't have that right, they told her.
O king, in the name of your mother who bore you, said the woman, give me a reprieve!
No, I can't do that, he said.
Good to you, - she said, - if you treated me so badly, each of you will be overtaken by my evil vengeance!
Say your name! - said the king.
My name, given to me at birth, - she said, - will be well remembered by everyone at this holiday. Maha, daughter of Sanrit, son of Imbat, is my name.
Then they let the horses run. A woman ran faster than horses, but suddenly fell to the ground with a cry and gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Since then, this place has been called Emain Maha.
All the men who heard this cry suddenly felt weak, like a woman who had just been relieved of her burden. And then the woman said to them:
For the evil that you have done to me, every time you are attacked by enemies, you will experience pain similar to childbirth. And they will last four days and five nights, or five days and four nights, and so - nine generations,
Thus the disease of the Ulads occurred, and only the sons and wives of the Ulads were not subject to him, and even Cuchulainn. And this disease lasted from the time of Krunhu, the son of Agnoman, until the time of Fork, the son of Dallan, the son of Manech, the son of Lugdah.
This is how the affliction of the settlements in Emain Maha happened.
Birth of Conchobar
“Here is the story of how Conchobar was born. There was a king in Ulad named Eohu Salbuyde, the son of Loich. A daughter was born to him, they named her Ness, the daughter of Eohu Salbuyde, and twelve women were assigned to her for education. Assa - was the name of the first of them, she had to teach the girl courtesy and good manners.
At the same time, one warrior went on a campaign. Three times nine people were with him. Cathbad, the famous druid - that's who this warrior was. He was endowed with great wisdom, druidic knowledge and the gift of providence, he was born in Ulad, but then left there. And now he went to a wild, empty place, and there were three times nine people with him. They fought together, not knowing they were tired, and were always together, because they swore an oath to each other to die together, all three times nine people each.
And so they came to a wasteland in Ulad, Cathbad was there with his soldiers and other people. They attacked a large rich house, where all the twelve educators of the girl had gathered then, and killed everyone. Everyone there was killed, only the girl herself managed to escape. So no one knew who committed this mortal villainy. And the girl, crying, ran to her father, she demanded revenge. Her father answered her that he could not take revenge, because he did not know who had committed this mortal villainy. The girl got angry at this and decided to avenge her teachers herself. She gathered the soldiers, three times nine people were with her. She destroyed and plundered many houses and yards with them. Since then, she herself was nicknamed Assa, because she showed great courtesy. And then they began to call her Nihassa, so great was her valor. It became her custom to ask everyone who met her on the way: she always wanted to know the name of the warrior who committed that mortal atrocity.
Somehow she ended up in a wasteland, and her people were preparing food. Suddenly she got up and went to look for people to ask them questions, as she always did when she got to a new place. So she walked and suddenly she saw a beautiful source. She decided to bathe in it, and laid her weapons and clothes on the ground nearby. And it so happened that Cathbad was then in the same wasteland and approached the same source just when the girl was bathing in it. He stood between her and her weapons and clothes and drew his sword over her head.
This most extensive of the sagas about the hero of the Irish epic Cuchulainn is sometimes called the "Irish" Iliad ". It is dominated by the theme of the war between the Ulads and the Connaughts. The reason for the war was the kidnapping, at the behest of Medb, Queen of the Connaughts, a beautiful brown bull divine origin, which belonged to one of the settlements. Having taken possession of this bull, Medb hoped to surpass the wealth of her husband Ailil, who had a beautiful white-horned bull. Medb started the war at a time when all the Ulads, with the exception of Cuchulainn, were stricken with a magical disease - an incomprehensible weakness. Cuchulainn took up position at a ford and forced the enemy warriors one by one to engage him in battle.
This situation is a kind of method of highlighting the hero, who is the main actor storytelling. This is the difference between the saga and Homer's Iliad, since there Achilles' departure from the battle makes it possible, without violating the continuity and integrity of the epic, to show the exploits of other heroes and include many plots in the work. In The Rape of the Bull from Kualnge, a significant part of the epic material is introduced into the text in the form of inserts, interpolations, stories of other characters, which to a certain extent hinders the achievement of the organic unity of the great epic form.
Cuchulain enters into duels with enemy heroes. Only Cuchulainn's teacher, Fergus, who had transferred to the service of Medb, managed to avoid such a skirmish. He persuaded Cuchulainn to voluntarily flee from him, so that another time he, in turn, would flee from Cuchulainn and drag the whole army with him. Only for three days the emaciated hero is replaced at the ford by the god Lug in the form of a young warrior. The militant fairy Morrigan also offers her help to Cuchulain, and when Cuchulain rejects her, she, turning into a cow, attacks him herself. Thus, mythological creatures intervene in the struggle, but its outcome is entirely determined by the heroism of Cuchulainn.
His brother Ferdiad also has to fight Cuchulainn (they once studied together with the sorceress Skatakh) - mighty hero with horny skin, like the hero of German legends, Siegfried. It was Medb who, by the power of her spells, compelled him to turn against Cuchulain. During a night's rest after battles, the heroes exchange food and healing potions in a friendly manner, their drivers sleep side by side, their horses graze together in the meadow. On the third day of the duel, Cuchulain uses the well-known "horned spear" technique for him alone and kills Ferdiad. After the death of a friend, he, however, falls into despair: “What do I need all the firmness of spirit now for? Longing and madness took possession of me Before this death that I caused, Above this body that I slew.
The duel with Ferdiad is the climax of the story. Soon the spell is broken, the illness of the Ulads passes, and they enter the battle. And Fergus, fulfilling his promise, flees from the battlefield, dragging the troops of the Connaughts with him. A brown bull from Kualnge kills a white-horned bull and rushes through the land of the Connachts, bringing terror and devastation until he himself crashes to death on a hill. The war becomes aimless, the warring parties make peace: the Ulads get a lot of booty.
In other sagas of this cycle - "The Birth of Cuchulainn", "Wooing to Emer", "Cuchulin's Illness", "Death of Cuchulainn" - are also clearly expressed fabulous motifs. Cuchulain turns out to be either the son of the god Lug, from whom Dekhtire conceived by swallowing an insect with a sip of water, or the son of Dekhtire from her relationship with her brother - the motif of incest is characteristic of mythological tales and legends about the first kings, heroes, heroes, in other words, about ancestors and leaders different tribes.
The saga of Cuchulain's death is one of the most beautiful. Cuchulainn fell victim to his own nobility and the cunning of his enemies. He eats the dog meat offered to him and thereby violates the taboo - the ban on eating the meat of his "relative" of the animal. Cuchulain cannot allow the Connacht druids to sing an "evil song", a witchcraft spell against his family and tribe, and therefore throws a spear forward three times, from which, according to the prediction, he should die. The spear kills first the driver, then the horse, and then the hero. The Ulad women see the spirit of Cuchulain hovering in the air with the words: “Oh, Emain-Maha! Oh, Emain Maha - the great, the greatest treasure!
We find in the epic words full of deep meaning that characterize the tragic destiny in the fate of every person, it’s not for nothing that there is a saying among the people “almost always the best die”, so in one of the sagas we read: “Cuchulin had three shortcomings: that he was too young, that he was too bold, that he was too beautiful."
Retold by B. A. Gilenson.
The abduction of the bull from Kualnge
The publication was prepared by T.A.Mikhailova, S.V.Shkunaev
How the kidnapping of the Bull from Kualnge was found
“One day, poets from all over Ireland gathered around Oenhan Thorpest to find out if any of them knew the Rape of the Bull from Qualnge in its entirety. But each of them said that only a part was known to him.
Then Senhan asked which of his disciples, with his blessing, would go through the land of Summer to find the entire text of the Abduction, for which a sage in the east had promised the book of Kulmen. Emin, the grandson of Ninen, then set off on a journey together with Muprgen, the son of Senhan. And it so happened that their path lay past the grave of Fergus, the son of Roig. They approached the gravestone at Enloch in Connacht. Muirgen sat on that gravestone, and the rest left him and went to look for a house for the night.
Muirgen then sang a song to the stone, as if he were speaking to Fergus himself. So he told him:
Suddenly a thick fog enveloped Muirgen, and for three days and three nights no one saw him. And then Fergus appeared before him in all his splendor, with chestnut curls, in a green cloak, in a hooded tunic embroidered with scarlet, with a sword with a golden handle, in sandals with bronze buckles. Fergus told him the whole Abduction, how it all happened then, from beginning to end. And then they returned to Senhan with this story, and everyone was glad.
There are, however, people who claim that it was Senhan himself who heard the whole story after he had fasted in the side of Fergus. And it seems reasonable."
Ailment of the Ulads
“How did the illness of the Ulads happen? It's not hard to say.
There lived a rich man Krunhu, the son of Agnoman, among the villages. He had flocks and houses, and his sons lived with them. His wife has died. He often sat alone in his house for a long time. One day he saw a woman enter his house. Her face, figure, appearance and clothes were beautiful. Everything she did, she did well. Soon it was clean and warm in the house. When night came, all the people lay down on their beds, and that night she lay down next to Krunhu. From that time on, there was no shortage of food, horses, or clothes in his house.
Somehow all the lads gathered for the holiday. It was a big holiday, and women, and boys, and girls gathered for it. Krunkha also wanted to go with everyone, he put on his best colorful clothes.
It is dangerous for you to go there, - the woman told him, - because you want to tell about me there.
No, I won't say a word," he replied.
Krunhu came to the festival and began to watch how the chariots compete in running. The first to arrive was a chariot drawn by the king's white horses.
There is no one who can run faster than these horses,” said one of the royal servants.
My wife can run faster, said Krunhu.
They conveyed these words to the king. He told them to bring the woman.
I have the right to a delay, - she said, - I have to give birth soon, and I can’t run now.
You don't have that right, they told her.
O king, in the name of your mother who bore you, said the woman, give me a reprieve!
No, I can't do that, he said.
Good to you, - she said, - if you treated me so badly, each of you will be overtaken by my evil vengeance!
Say your name! - said the king.
My name, given to me at birth, - she said, - will be well remembered by everyone at this holiday. Maha, daughter of Sanrit, son of Imbat, is my name.
Then they let the horses run. A woman ran faster than horses, but suddenly fell to the ground with a cry and gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Since then, this place has been called Emain Maha.
All the men who heard this cry suddenly felt weak, like a woman who had just been relieved of her burden. And then the woman said to them:
For the evil that you have done to me, every time you are attacked by enemies, you will experience pain similar to childbirth. And they will last four days and five nights, or five days and four nights, and so - nine generations,
Thus the disease of the Ulads occurred, and only the sons and wives of the Ulads were not subject to him, and even Cuchulainn. And this disease lasted from the time of Krunhu, the son of Agnoman, until the time of Fork, the son of Dallan, the son of Manech, the son of Lugdah.
This is how the affliction of the settlements in Emain Maha happened.
Birth of Conchobar
“Here is the story of how Conchobar was born. There was a king in Ulad named Eohu Salbuyde, the son of Loich. A daughter was born to him, they named her Ness, the daughter of Eohu Salbuyde, and twelve women were assigned to her for education. Assa - was the name of the first of them, she had to teach the girl courtesy and good manners.
At the same time, one warrior went on a campaign. Three times nine people were with him. Cathbad, the famous druid - that's who this warrior was. He was endowed with great wisdom, druidic knowledge and the gift of providence, he was born in Ulad, but then left there. And now he went to a wild, empty place, and there were three times nine people with him. They fought together, not knowing they were tired, and were always together, because they swore an oath to each other to die together, all three times nine people each.
And so they came to a wasteland in Ulad, Cathbad was there with his soldiers and other people. They attacked a large rich house, where all the twelve educators of the girl had gathered then, and killed everyone. Everyone there was killed, only the girl herself managed to escape. So no one knew who committed this mortal villainy. And the girl, crying, ran to her father, she demanded revenge. Her father answered her that he could not take revenge, because he did not know who had committed this mortal villainy. The girl got angry at this and decided to avenge her teachers herself. She gathered the soldiers, three times nine people were with her. She destroyed and plundered many houses and yards with them. Since then, she herself was nicknamed Assa, because she showed great courtesy. And then they began to call her Nihassa, so great was her valor. It became her custom to ask everyone who met her on the way: she always wanted to know the name of the warrior who committed that mortal atrocity.
Somehow she ended up in a wasteland, and her people were preparing food. Suddenly she got up and went to look for people to ask them questions, as she always did when she got to a new place. So she walked and suddenly she saw a beautiful source. She decided to bathe in it, and laid her weapons and clothes on the ground nearby. And it so happened that Cathbad was then in the same wasteland and approached the same source just when the girl was bathing in it. He stood between her and her weapons and clothes and drew his sword over her head.
Spare me! - said the girl.
Promise to fulfill my three wishes, - said Cathbad.
What do you want? - asked the girl.
I want you to become your patron, so that there is peace and harmony between us, and that you become my wife for life.
It's better than being killed, - the girl told him in response.
Then their people came together instead, and on the appointed day Kathbad came to Ulad to the girl's father. He warmly welcomed him and gave him the land, now called the Rat of Cathbad. She was near the river, which was called Conchobar in Creech Ross.
And then one night a terrible thirst attacked Cathbad. Nessus went to fetch a drink for him, but she could not find any drink. Then she went to the river Conchobar, scooped up water with a cup and returned to Cathbad.
Bring fire so that I can see this water, said Cathbad.
They did so, and saw two worms in the water. Cathbad drew his sword over the girl's head, because he wanted to kill her.
IV. The abduction of the bull from Kualnge
Irish sagas tend to be short in length and designed to be told in one evening.
The exception is the saga known as The Abduction of the Bull from Kualnge. In her manuscript for XII century, contains a short preface entitled "How the 'Bull Abduction from Kualnge' Was Found." It begins like this: “One day poets from all over Ireland (…) gathered together to find out if any of them knew The Abduction of the Bull from Kualnge in its entirety. But each of them said that he knew only a part.
The poets decided to find full text saga, and one of them, Miurgen, found himself on his wanderings near the grave of one of the participants in the Abduction, named Fergus. “And then Fergus appeared before him in all his splendor - with chestnut curls, in a green cloak, (...) with a sword with a golden handle, in sandals with bronze buckles. Fergus told him the whole Abduction, how it all happened then, from beginning to end.
The saga tells of the struggle waged between the two Irish kingdoms of Ulad and Connacht for the possession of a wonderful bull.
The protection of herds was a constant concern of the ancient Irish. There were frequent cases of stealing other people's livestock, which led to numerous and sometimes serious clashes. In the saga, such a clash becomes epic.
The army of the Kingdom of Connacht is led by Queen Medb. Female warriors are found repeatedly in the Irish sagas (suffice it to recall Scathach, from whom Cuchulainn studied the art of war). This is explained by the fact that in Ireland the remnants of matriarchy remained for a very long time, women owned their own property, took part in battles. Only in 697 was a law passed to free women from military service.
Once, going to bed, King Ailill of Connacht and his wife, Queen Medb, argued which of them was richer before they united their possessions.
Ailil said: "Your wealth has multiplied since I took you as my wife."
Medb objected: “Before there were many of them. Much that you now own, I brought you, becoming your wife.
So they argued for a long time, and then decided to count all their wealth in order to find out for sure which of them surpasses the other in wealth.
Here the servants brought them wooden bowls and iron goblets, tubs and barrels, vats for washing, gold necklaces, bracelets, rings, a dress of different colors, as well as striped and plaid. Then they brought in flocks of sheep from paddocks, herds of horses from fields and meadows, herds of pigs from slopes and wastelands.
Everyone examined and counted the king and queen and saw that their wealth is equal both in number and quality factor.
But then herds of cows were brought in from distant pastures. And it turned out that Ailil has a bull named Findbennah, which has no equal in power and beauty in the herd of Queen Medb.
The queen was not happy with all her wealth. She sent messengers all over Ireland to find for her a bull as good as Findbennach.
Such a bull was found in the kingdom of Ulads, in the region of Kualnge. His name was Donn Kualnge, that is, Brown from Kualnge.
So great was Donn Kualnge that a hundred warriors could hide in his shadow. He covered fifty heifers every day - and in a day each brought a calf. And when in the evenings Donn Kualnge lowed near his shed, then every person in the north and south, in the west and in the east could enjoy his sonorous lowing.
Queen Medb decided to steal the bull from the ulads. She gathered a large army. There were warriors in it not only from Connacht, but also from three other kingdoms of Ireland - from Munster, Leinster and Mide.
The troops of the four kingdoms set out on a campaign to help Queen Medb take possession of Donn Kualnge.
Early in the morning they approached the border of Ulad and stopped by the river near the ford. At night, an unprecedented amount of snow fell, horses fell into the snow up to their chests, foot soldiers - up to their shoulders.
On the other side, Cuchulainn was waiting for the enemies. He stood alone, there was no one with him, except for the faithful driver of the red-haired Loig. Cuchulainn set out alone to defend the borders of Ulad.
Here it is necessary to tell why it happened that he was alone.
In ancient times, there lived a Ulad named Krunhu. His wife had died, and there was no one to take care of his household.
One day a woman entered Krunhu's house whom he had never seen before. Her face was beautiful, her frame was well-built, her clothes were rich. Without saying a word, she lit a fire in the hearth, kneaded sourdough, baked bread. All day long she busied herself with housework, and whatever she did, she did well. In the evening, the woman took a bucket, milked the cows, and when it was time to go to bed, she put out the fire and lay down under her cloak with Krunkh.
So the beauty became his wife. Her name was Maha, and she was not a simple woman, but a sidekick.
Krunkha and Maha lived well. They did not know a lack of anything, their wealth increased by itself, the house was warm and clean. But Maha warned her husband not to tell anyone about her, not to boast that in many ways she was superior to ordinary people.
Once Krunkh wanted to go to the festival of the beginning of winter, that every year they celebrated the arrangements on a wide plain. Mach began to dissuade him: “Don't go. After all, you won’t be able to resist - and tell someone about me! But Krunkhu promised to be silent and went to the party.
A lot of people gathered there, it was fun and noisy. The warriors competed in archery, javelin throwing and weight lifting.
At the end they had a chariot race. The king himself took part in it. The royal chariot, drawn by white horses, came first, and everyone shouted: “There is nothing in all of Ireland faster than these horses!” And then Krunhu said: "My wife can run faster than these horses."
The king heard his words, ordered to bring his wife Krunkha - let her prove that her husband was telling the truth.
They brought Macha, and the king ordered her to run in a race with his horses.
Macha began to ask the king: "Give me a reprieve, for I am in demolition and my birth pangs are near."
But the king said: "If you refuse to run, then your husband lied - and it is necessary to execute him."
Then Maha said: “I have to agree. But know that you bring trouble on yourself by treating me so cruelly! She ordered the king's horses to gallop, and she herself ran on a level with them. At the end of the run, the horses fell behind, and Macha, having run, fell to the ground and in agony gave birth to two twins - a son and a daughter.
And Maha said to the king and all Ulads: “From now on, every time Ulad is threatened by enemies, all his men will experience torments similar to the torments of a woman giving birth. And so it will be for nine generations.”
What Maha said came true. A heavy burden fell on her curse. From that time on, in the hours of danger, a cruel illness overtook the Ulads. And only Cuchulainn, born of God, was not subject to him.
That is why he went out alone, and not together with all the guards, to fight with the army of the four kingdoms.
Here are the enemies on one side, Cuchulainn on the other. So great was his warlike ardor that the snow melted thirty paces around him. Cuchulainn shouted loudly, urging his adversaries to measure their strength against him.
But the warriors of the four kingdoms were seized with timidity, and each of them said: "I will not be the first to go to battle with Cuchulainn, for it is not easy to deal with him."
So the day passed. When evening came, the army of the four kingdoms began to settle down for the night. They pitched their tents, lit a fire, cooked their own food, had supper and went to bed.
Cuchulainn got angry, grabbed a sling and began to throw stones across the river to wake the enemies. One hundred soldiers died from these stones.
And this went on for more than one day and more than one night.
Queen Medb said: "Our army will not last long if Cuchulainn kills a hundred warriors every night." And she decided to conclude an agreement with Cuchulain. She promised him dairy cows and beautiful slaves if he tamed his sling and did not kill the sleeping ones.
Cuchulainn answered: “I do not need cows or slaves. Let one of your warriors come out every day to fight me one on one. Then I won't have to kill them sleeping at night."
Medb said to her army: "It is better to lose one warrior a day than a hundred every night."
Morning has come. The first warrior came out for single combat. With two blows, Cuchulain cut the enemy into three: from the crown to the waist, and then across.
Thus began the war of Cuchulainn and the armies of the four kingdoms.
Every day Cuchulain got up early in the morning and quickly, like a cat running for sour cream, did all the fighting techniques so as not to forget, not to lose them, and then fought with one of the enemy warriors - and always won.
The enemies could not cross the border of Ulad, the bull Donn Kualnge was still far from them.
And they would never have kidnapped him if the evil Sida named Morrigan had not helped them. She was a sorceress and did not like Cuchulainn. Morrigan went to Kualnge, sat on a stone and said to the bull: “Listen, Donn Kualnge, the army of the four kingdoms will soon come here to take you away with them. Get out of here so they don't find you."
The bull went, but not deep into the country, but straight to the border. Then his enemies captured him and drove him to their camp.
Donna Kualnge did not save Cuchulain! In all his life he had no greater grief and dishonor.
And it seemed to Queen Medb that she had kidnapped Donna Kualnge, she wanted to steal the other cattle of ulads. Therefore, her army continued to stand at the ford, and every day she sent out a warrior against Cuchulainn.
Once a warrior named Loch fought with Cuchulainn. He was so brave and strong that even Cuchulain found it difficult to overcome him. In addition, Morrigan, an evil Sid, intervened in the battle. She turned into a slippery black eel, coiled around Cuchulainn's legs. As he tried to free himself. Loch stabbed him in the chest. Morrigan turned into a red she-wolf, biting Cuchulain with her teeth. While Cuchulainn was tearing her away from him, Loch wounded him again.
But still Cuchulain defeated the enemy, though twice wounded, struck Loch in the heart.
Loch asked him for a last favor: "I beg you, Cuchulainn, take a step back so that I can fall with my head to the east, where we are striving, and not to the west, from where we came."
"Truly," said Cuchulainn, "this is the desire of a warrior." He stepped back. Loch fell with his head to the east and died.
Cuchulain had a friend among the warriors of the four kingdoms, his name was Fer Diad. Once both of them were trained by the warrior Scathach martial arts and then performed the rite of brotherhood.
And now the turn of Fera Diad came to fight Cuchulainn. Fer Diad wanted to refuse, saying that he could not fight with his sworn brother.
Queen Medb began to persuade him. She promised him a chariot worth four times seven slaves, colored clothes, land on a fertile plain, liberation to himself and his offspring from all taxes and duties for eternity, and also his beautiful daughter Findabair as a wife.
Fer Diad was seduced by the promises of Medb - and went out to fight Cuchulainn.
Here they are ready for battle.
Cuchulainn said: "It is not good for us to fight one another, when we have fought together so many times."
Fer Diad answered: "Alas, I promised to fight with you, and it would be dishonorable for me to refuse the fight."
Two heroes met in a fierce battle. In strength and courage, Fer Diad was almost equal to Cuchulain, almost equal to him in martial arts.
They inflicted terrible wounds on each other. The birds that flock to the bodies of the dead were already circling over them, expecting that one of the fighters was about to fall and become their prey.
So they fought from dawn until evening. When it got dark, the heroes stopped the fight, embraced, kissed three times and dispersed different sides ford to start fighting again tomorrow.
Their horses spent the night in the same paddock, the drivers at the same fire.
A sorcerer from a nearby village came to Cuchulain, brought healing herbs, began to cast spells to stop the blood flowing from wounds, to relieve the pain that tormented the body.
Cuchulainn ordered that half of the healing herbs be taken to the other side of the ford by Feru Dyad.
And Fer Dyad sent Cuchulain half of the food and drink that Queen Medb had sent him.
The next morning they again met in a duel. The attack was brave, the defense was skilful, and neither could overcome the other. By evening, their horses were exhausted, the drivers were exhausted, and the heroes themselves were tired. They hugged again, kissed three times - and parted until morning.
In the morning Cuchulainn saw that his brother's face was pale, his eyes dimmed, and his hair did not shine as before.
Cuchulainn was saddened and said: “O Fer Diad! I see that today you are doomed to death.
Fer Diad answered: “O my dear brother! To know, it is destined that you get victory and glory, and I went underground, to my last bed.
They began to prepare for battle. Cuchulainn said to his red-haired charioteer Loig: “If today I begin to yield to the enemy, then scold and shame me so that my rage increases. And if I win, then praise me and glorify me so that my courage will be strengthened.
Here come the heroes for last fight. Cuchulainn waved his sword to cut off the head of Fer Diad, but he parried the blow, so much so that Cuchulainn flew off into the middle of the ford. Loig cried out: “Shame on you, Cuchulainn! Fer Diad beat you like a nurse of a naughty child, threw you into the water like a dirty cup into a tub, fell on you like a hawk on a stupid chicken! Cuchulain was inflamed with rage at such reproach, faster than the wind, swifter than a swallow, he rushed at Fera Diad.
So fiercely did the fighters converge that their shields cracked, their spears bent, and the spirits and demons that were depicted on their weapons let out a loud cry. Frightened by this cry, the horses in the camp of the four kingdoms, distraught, broke off their leash and rushed away, trampling everything and everyone in their path.
Cuchulain struck the last mighty blow. Fer Diad fell to the ground and said, dying: “By you, O Cuchulainn, I am slain to death!” Cuchulainn tossed aside his weapon, knelt beside his friend's body, grief dimming the light in his eyes. Cuchulain began to mourn Fer Diad: “Oh, Fer Diad, my beloved brother! Ours was bitter last meeting. It would be better if you cut off my leg or arm, but you would still live. Now my brother is not with me, and our separation will be eternal! Then the red-haired Loig shouted: “Get up, Cuchulainn! One hundred warriors from four kingdoms are coming at you to avenge the death of Fer Dyad. This will no longer be a duel: they will attack you all in a crowd! So Queen Medb violated the agreement. From that day on, she began to send hundreds of warriors at once against Cuchulain. And Cuchulain fought every day from sunrise to sunset, and at night he slept with his head bowed on his fist, in which he squeezed a spear, and putting his sword on his knee.
Cuchulainn suffered greatly from the wounds that Fer Diad inflicted on him, and his strength was running out.
He was seized with great sadness because he was fighting alone and no one would come to his aid. Cuchulain composed this song:
“Blood is dripping from my spear.
I suffer severely from wounds
My friend is not in a hurry to rush into battle.
Only my driver is faithful to me. (…)
A good proverb, though old:
One log does not light a fire. (…)
I am alone at the ford, away from the army,
On the very edge of the Great Earth ... "
Suddenly the chariots appeared in the distance. Then thrice fifty youths from Emain Maha hurried to Cuchulain. They were so young that they could not yet be called men, and therefore they were not subject to the disease of settlements.
The young men entered into battle with the enemies and beat many, but they themselves perished to the last.
"Alas! exclaimed Cuchulainn. - If I did not suffer from wounds and if my strength were the same, I would not let the young men of Emain Mahi perish. Now all I have to do is avenge their deaths!” Cuchulain ordered the red-haired Loig to harness the chariot - and rushed to the enemies. From great rage, Cuchulain's face was distorted and became terrible: all his bones, all joints and sinews began to move, his muscles swelled up with puffs, his hair stood on end and turned into iron points. One eye went into the eye socket so deep that even the crane could not reach it, and the other rolled out and became the size of a cauldron in which you can boil a calf.
The beating of his heart was like the roar of a lion, lightning flashed around his forehead, and a column of crimson smoke rose from the top of his head, as if from the roof of a house in which winter evening the king stopped.
Cuchulain rushed to smash the enemies. He fought all day and all night, and no one could count how many soldiers fell in that battle at his hands.
And in the morning his former, pleasant appearance returned to him.
There were many women and girls in the army of the four kingdoms, since many of the warriors were accompanied by their wives and daughters.
Cuchulainn wanted to show them that he had regained his pleasant appearance, for it is unlikely that any of them liked the terrible image that he assumed in battle.
Cuchulainn put on a silk shirt and a purple cloak, falling in five folds and adorned with fringes. His eyes shone like gems, hair, black at the roots, red in the middle, golden at the ends, lay in rings. Cuchulainn sat in his chariot and rode in front of the enemy army - back and forth.
The women of the four kingdoms admired his beauty and asked their husbands and fathers to put them on shields and raise them higher so that they could see Cuchulainn better.
In the meantime, the spell expired - and let go of their illness, they rose from the bed of illness. King Conchobar gathered an army and at the head of it moved to the border of Ulad, to the aid of Cuchulain.
Queen Medb heard a noise and a roar, as if the heavens had fallen to earth, or the sea with all the fish had rushed to the land, or the world's firmament had split. Then an army of ulads galloped, and the earth trembled under the hooves of the horses.
Then Queen Medb saw clouds of mist in the distance, through which hills and cliffs could be seen, blackened deep caves. That fog was the breath of Ulad warriors and their horses, hills and cliffs were helmets on their heads, caves were mouths open in a war cry.
And so the army of Ulads entered the battle with the army of the four kingdoms.
But Cuchulainn was not allowed into the battle, he was tied with belts, saying that covered with grievous wounds, he would not be able to resist the enemies.
Cuchulainn lies prostrate on a bed, and screaming into battle. Beside him sits his faithful Loig.
Cuchulainn asked: "Who started the battle, my friend Loig?" Loig replied: "The youngest Ulads."
"And how do they fight?" "Bravely, oh Cuchulainn."
“Woe is me,” exclaimed Cuchulainn, “that I am not with them!” Some time later, he asked, "Who's going into battle now?" Loig answered: “Experienced warriors. They went out of their tents, and those whose exit was towards the east went straight through the tent to the west, so as not to linger in going around it.
"Alas! exclaimed Cuchulainn. “I don’t have the strength to be among them today.”
Meanwhile, the Ulads and warriors of the four kingdoms chopped, stabbed, cut, killed and crushed each other, and this was done already. for a long time. Queen Medb herself took up arms and engaged in battle against the Ulads.
Ulads said: “We will not retreat a single step before the enemy, as long as the heavens are above our heads, the earth is under our feet and the sea is around!” Here in the very center of the battle, the enemies began to push King Conchobar. Cuchulainn heard the king's shield clang under the blows of the enemy's swords, and exclaimed: "Surely someone dares to strike at the shield of my king while I live!" Cuchulain tore his bonds, rose from his bed. He did not have any weapons, only a chariot stood nearby. Cuchulainn put her on his shoulders, rushed into the thick of the battle and began to smash the enemies, striking with the chariot right and left. By the evening dawn, he had only a bunch of spokes from the wheel and a few poles from the sides in his hands, but even then he continued to fight.
The army of the four kingdoms trembled and fled.
Meanwhile, Queen Medb hastened to send Donn Kualnge under good guard to her capital, Cruahan.
Donn Kualnge roared three times, finding himself in an unfamiliar land. With a formidable roar, Findbennach answered him - a bull from the herd of King Ailil.
Two bulls grappled in a furious fight. Their eyes burned with fire, their cheeks and nostrils swelled like bellows, clods of earth flew from under their hooves above the scruff of their necks. Great was the power and fury of Findbennah, but still Donn Kualnge lifted him up on his horns and threw him lifeless to the ground.
No one dared to approach the angry bull, Donn Qualnge turned - and went back to Ulad.
But he was weary long way, exhausted by the fierce battle. As soon as Donn Kualnge saw his native land, his heart cracked like a nut, and he fell dead.
Thus ends the saga "The Abduction of the Bull from Kualnge".
