Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [102]
After that, the three heroes returned to the house of Ercol, and he welcomed them, and they slept there that night. Ercol then announced that they would face himself and his horse. Lóegure and his horse went first: Ercol’s gelding killed Lóegure’s horse, and Ercol likewise prevailed over Lóegure, who fled, taking the road over Ess Rúaid to Emuin and reporting there that Ercol had killed his two companions. Conall fled in the same way after his horse had been killed by Ercol’s gelding; en route to Emuin he crossed Snám Rathaind, and there his lad, Rathand, drowned in the river, and that is why the place is called Snám Rathaind.
The Líath Machae, however, killed Ercol’s gelding, while Cú Chulaind overcame Ercol and bound him behind his chariot and drove off to Emuin Machae. Búan daughter of Samera followed the three chariots; she recognized the track of Cú Chulaind’s chariot, for it left no narrow trail and moreover dug up walls and extended itself to leap over chasms. The girl made a fearful spring after the chariot; she struck her head against a rock and died, and thereafter the place was called Úaig Búana.1 In time, Conall and Cú Chulaind reached Emuin Machae, and they found the Ulaid in mourning, for, according to the report that Lóegure had brought back, the two of them had been killed. They related their news and adventures to Conchubur and the chieftains of Ulaid, and everyone reproached Lóegure for the false report he had brought back.
The youths left off their talk and their chatter, then, for their feast was set out, and that night it was Cú Chulaind’s father himself, Súaltaim son of Roech, who served them. Their food was brought to them, and the distributors began to distribute, but first they set the champion’s portion aside. ‘Why not give the champion’s portion to one of the other heroes?’ asked Dubthach Dóeltenga. ‘After all, the three yonder would not have returned from Crúachu without some token showing that the champion’s portion should be awarded to one of them.’ At that, Lóegure Búadach rose and brandished his bronze cup with the silver bird at the bottom and said ‘Mine the champion’s portion – therefore, let no one challenge me for it.’ ‘Not yours at all,’ said Conall Cernach, ‘for our tokens are not alike: you have brought a cup of bronze, but I have brought a cup of white gold. It is clear from the difference between them that the champion’s portion is mine.’ ‘It belongs to neither of you,’ said Cú Chulaind, and he rose and said ‘You have brought no token that merits the champion’s portion. The king and queen of Crúachu were reluctant to arouse further hostility among us; nevertheless, you received from them only what you deserved. The champion’s portion is mine, for it is I who have brought the most distinguished token.’
Cú Chulaind then brandished his cup of red gold with its bird of precious stone at the bottom, and he showed his equivalent of two dragon’s eyes so that all the chieftains gathered round Conchubur could see. ‘If there is any justice, it is I who should receive the champion’s portion,’ he concluded. ‘We award it to you,’ said Conchubur and Fergus and the other chieftains, ‘for the champion’s portion is yours, by the judgement of Ailill and Medb.’ ‘I swear by what my people swear by,’ said Lóegure, ‘that cup that you have brought was bought with jewels and treasures. You purchased your cup from Ailill and Medb so that you might not be disgraced and so that the champion’s portion might not be given to anyone else.’ ‘I swear by the god my people swear by,’ said Conall Cernach, ‘the judgement you have brought back is no judgement, and the champion’s portion will not be yours.’ At that, each of the three rose up with naked swords; Conchubur and Fergus stepped between them, then, and they sheathed their swords at once and sat down. ‘Let my will prevail,’ said Senchae. ‘We agree to that,’ they said. ‘Then go to the ford of Bude son of Bain,