Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [29]
After that, a great fear overcame Conare, for there were no roads they could take save Slige Midlúachra and Slige Chúaland. They took Slige Chúaland and went south along the coast of Ériu, and Conare asked ‘Where will we spend the night?’ ‘If I may say it, Conare,’ answered Mace Cécht son of Snade Teched, the champion of Conare son of Eterscélae, ‘more often did the men of Ériu contest your company each night than were you at a loss for a guest house.’ ‘Judgement comes to all,’ replied Conare. ‘But I have a friend in this country, if we knew the way to his house.’ ‘What is his name?’ asked Mace Cécht. ‘Da Derga of the Lagin,’ answered Conare. ‘He came to me, indeed, seeking gifts, and he did not leave empty-handed. I gave him one hundred cows from my herd, one hundred close-fitting mantles, one hundred grey pigs, one hundred flashing battle weapons, ten gilded brooches, ten great vats for drinking, ten brown horses, ten servants, ten steeds, thrice nine hounds all equally white on silver chains, one hundred horses fleeter than herds of wild deer. Indeed, nothing was counted against him, and, were he to come again, he would receive still more. It would be odd if he were surly with me tonight.’
‘Indeed, I know that house,’ said Mace Cécht, ‘and the road we are on goes to it, for the road goes through the house. There are seven entrances to the house, and seven apartments between each two entrances; there is only one door, however, and that is placed at the entrance against which the wind is blowing. With the great multitude that you have here, you can go on until you reach the centre of the house. If it is there that you go, I will go ahead and light a fire for you.’
After that, as Conare was making along Slige Chúaland, he perceived three horsemen up ahead making for the house. Red tunics and red mantles they wore, and red shields and spears were in their hands; they rode red horses, and their heads were red. They were entirely red, teeth and hair, horses and men. ‘Who rides before us?’ Conare asked. ‘There is a geiss against three Deirgs preceding me into the house of Deirg.4 Who will go after them and have them come back to me?’ I will go,’ said Lé Fer Flaith, Conare’s son.
He went after them, then, lashing his horse, but they remained a spear-cast ahead; they did not gain on him, and he did not gain on them. He told them that they should not precede the king. He could not overtake them, but one of the three recited back to him this poem: ‘Behold, lad, great tidings! Tidings from the hostel. A road for ships. A gleam of javelined men, fían-valorous in their wounding exploits. A great catastrophe. A fair woman upon whom the red embroidery of slaughter has settled. Behold!’
After that, they left him, and he could not detain them. He waited for the host and told his father what had been said. Conare was not pleased, and he said ‘Go after them; offer them three oxen and three salted pigs, and tell them that as long as they are in my household there will be no one among them from the hearth to the wall.’ The lad went back after them and offered them that; he did not overtake them, but one of the three recited back to him this poem: ‘Behold, lad, great tidings! The great ardour of a generous king warms you, heats you. Through ancient enchantments a company of nine yields. Behold! ’
After that, the lad turned back and repeated the poem to Conare. ‘Go after them,’ said the king, ‘and offer them six oxen and six salted pigs and the leftovers the following day, and gifts as well; and tell them that as long as they are in my household there will be no one among them from the house to the wall.’ The lad went after them, then, but he did not overtake them, and one of the three spoke this to him: ‘Behold, lad, great tidings! Weary the horses we ride. We ride the horses of Dond Tétscorach of the Síde.5 Although we are alive, we are dead. Great omens! Cutting off of lives, satisfaction of crows, sustenance of ravens, din of slaughter, whetting of blades,