Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [31]
Ingcél’s advice was taken, and each Side gave guarantees. The men of Ériu pledged Gér, Gabur and Fer Rogain as a guarantee that Ingcél would have the destruction of his choice in Ériu; the sons of Dond Désa would then have the destruction of their choice in Albu. Lots were cast to see where they would go first, and the lot fell to go with Ingcél. They returned to Albu, then, and wrought their destruction there; after that, they came back to Ériu.
At that time, Conare was proceeding along Slige Chúa-land to the hostel. The raiders arrived along the coast of Brega, opposite Bend Étair, and they said ‘Strike the sails, and form one fleet, lest you be seen from the land, and let one swift-footed man go ashore to see if we can save face with Ingcél by providing him with a destruction for the destruction he has given us.’ ‘Who will go to reconnoitre in the land?’ asked Ingcél. ‘Let it be someone with the three gifts: hearing and seeing and judgement.’ ‘I have the gift of hearing,’ said Mane Milscothach. ‘And I have the gifts of seeing and of judgement,’ said Mane Andoe. ‘Well that you should go, then,’ said the raiders.
So nine men went to Bend Étair for what they might hear and see. ‘Hush!’ said Mane Milscothach. ‘What is that?’ said Mane Andoe. ‘I hear the noise of a king’s horses,’ answered Mane Milscothach. ‘I see it through my gift of sight,’ said his companion. ‘What is it that you see?’ asked Mane Milscothach. ‘I see splendid horses, tall, beautiful, warlike, noble, slender-girthed, weary, nimble, keen, eager, ardent, and they on a course that shakes great areas of land. They cross many heights and wondrous waters and estuaries,’ said Mane Andoe. ‘What waters and heights and estuaries?’ Mane Milscothach asked. ‘Not difficult that: Indein, Cult, Cuiten, Mafat, Amatt, larmafat, Findi, Gosce and Guistine. Glittering spears above chariots, ivory-hilted swords against thighs, silver shields upon elbows, half red and half white. Garments of every colour upon them. I see also a special, pre-eminent herd: three fifties of dapple grey horses, small-headed, red-necked, sharp-eared, broad-hooved, large-nostrilled, red-chested, sweated, obedient, easily caught, swift on a raid, keen, eager and ardent, each with its own bridle of coloured enamel. I swear by what my people swear by,’ said the far-sighted man, ‘those are the steeds of a prosperous lord. In my judgement, it is Conare son of Eterscélae and the men of Ériu who are passing along the road.’
After that, Mane Milscothach and Mane Andoe returned to the raiders and told them what they had heard and seen. There was a multitude of the host on every side: three fifties of boats, and five thousand men in them, and ten hundred in every thousand. The sails were hoisted, and the boats moved towards the shore at Trácht Fuirbthen. As they were about to land, Mace Cécht began to light a fire in Da Derga’s hostel; and the noise of the spark drove the three fifties of boats back out until they were once again on the shoulder of the sea. ‘Hush!’ said Ingcél. ‘Explain that, Fer Rogain.’ ‘I do not know it,’ said Fer Rogain, ‘unless it is Luchdond, the satirist of Emuin Machae, clapping his hands when his food is taken away from him; or the screaming of Luchdond in Temuir Lúachra; or Mace Cécht setting off a spark while lighting a fire for the king of Ériu. When he lights a fire in the centre of the house, each spark can broil one hundred calves and a two-year-old pig.’ ‘May God not bring that man here tonight,’ said the sons of Dond Désa, ‘for it would be grievous.’ ‘It would be no sadder than the destruction I provided for you,’ said Ingcél. ‘I would be most satisfied if he came here.’
They put in to shore, then, and the noise that the three fifties of boats made shook Da Derga’s hostel so much that the weapons on the racks all fell to the floor with a clatter. ‘Explain that, Conare – what is that noise?’ everyone asked. ‘I do not know it,’ said Conare,