Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [44]
‘Not difficult that,’ said Fer Rogain. ‘Fer Calliu was the man with the pig, and the woman is his wife, Cichuil. They are the instruments by which you may lawfully destroy Conare tonight. Woe to the face that blushes between them. Indeed, Fer Calliu and his pig are geiss to Conare.’ ‘Woe to him who carries out this destruction, if only because of those two,’ said Lomnae Drúth. ‘You do not rule me,’ said Ingcél. ‘Clouds of blood will come to you.’ ‘After that, what did you see?’ asked Lomnae Drúth.
‘I saw an apartment with three nines in it,’ Ingcél said. ‘Fair yellow hair they had, and all were equally handsome. Each had a black cape with a white hood and a blood-red crest and an iron brooch; each bore a very large, black sword that could split a hair floating on the water, and each had a shield with serrated edges. Explain that, Fer Rogain.’
‘Not difficult that,’ said Fer Rogain. ‘The three sons of Baithse of the Bretain they, three plunderers. Three nines will fall by them at the first onslaught, and they will match the performance of any trio in the hostel, and they will escape afterwards.’ ‘Woe to him who carries out this destruction, if only because of those three,’ said Lomnae Drúth. ‘You do not rule me,’ said Ingcél. ‘Clouds of blood will come to you.’ ‘After that, what did you see?’ asked Lomnae Drúth.
‘I saw three fools at one end of the fire,’ said Ingcél, ‘all wearing dun mantles. If the men of Ériu were assembled in one place, and if the bodies of his father and his mother were before each man, no one could help but laugh. If there were thirty hundred in the house, none would manage to sit or lie down because of those three. When the king’s eye lights upon them, it laughs with each glance. Explain that, Fer Rogain.’
‘Not difficult that,’ said Fer Rogain. ‘Mlithe and Máel and Admlithe they, the three fools of the king of Ériu. A man will fall by each of them, and they will match the performance of any trio in the hostel, and they will escape afterwards.’ ‘Woe to him who carries out this destruction, if only because of those three,’ said Lomnae Drúth. ‘You do not rule me,’ said Ingcél. ‘Clouds of blood will come to you.’ ‘After that, what did you see?’ asked Lomnae Drúth.
‘I saw an apartment with three men in it,’ said Ingcél. ‘Three swirling grey cloaks about them. A cup of water before each man, and a bunch of watercress in each cup. Explain that, Fer Rogain.’
‘Not difficult that,’ said Fer Rogain. ‘Dub and Dond and Dobar they, the three cupbearers of the king of Temuir. They are the sons of La and Aidche.’ ‘Woe to him who carries out this destruction, if only because of those three,’ said Lomnae Drúth. ‘You do not rule me,’ said Ingcél. ‘Clouds of blood will come to you.’ ‘After that, what did you see?’ asked Lomnae Drúth.
‘I saw a man who was blind in his left eye and destructive in his right,’ said Ingcél. ‘He was carrying a pig’s head towards the fire, and it was squealing. Explain that, Fer Rogain.’
‘Not difficult that,’ said Fer Rogain. ‘Nár Thúathcáech that one, the swineherd of Bodb, from Sid ar Femuin. He has never attended a feast where he did not shed blood.’ ‘Woe to him who carries out this destruction, if only because of that one man,’ said Lomnae Drúth. ‘You do not rule me,’ said Ingcél. ‘Clouds of blood will come to you. Rise, now, fiana, and let us make for the house.’
At that, the plunderers rose and made for the house, and they raised a loud shout. ‘Hush!’ said Conare. ‘What is that?’ ‘Fíana encircling the house,’ said Conall Cernach. ‘There are youths here to meet them,’ said Conare. ‘They will be needed tonight,’ said Conall Cernach. Lomnae Drúth preceded the plunderers into the hostel, and the doorkeepers cut off his head. The head was thrown into the hostel three times, and it was thrown back out three times, just as Lomnae Drúth had prophesied.
Six hundred fell by Conare before he could reach his weapons. The hostel was fired