Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [70]
see his kings – a course of danger –
see his very great queens.
See the onset of brilliant winter,
see each wonder in turn;
see then that which you serve,
its coldness and distance and dimness.
Heavy sleep wastes, is not good;
weariness follows oppression.
Long sleep is a draught added to satiety;
weakness is next to death.
Throw off sleep, the peace that follows drink,
throw it off with great energy.
Many gentle words have loved you.
Rise, warrior of Ulaid!
Cú Chulaind rose, then, and passed his hand over his face and threw off all weariness and sluggishness; he rose and went to Airbe Rofir. There he saw Lí Ban approaching; she spoke to him and invited him to the síd. ‘Where does Labraid dwell?’ he asked. ‘Not difficult that,’ she answered:
Labraid dwells on a clear lake
frequented by troops of women.
If you decide to meet him,
you will not regret your visit.
His bold right hand cuts down hundreds –
she who tells you knows.
Like the beautiful colour
of a violet his cheek.
Conchend keen for battle trembles
before the slender red sword of Labraid;
Labraid crushes the spears of foolish hosts
and breaks the shields of armoured warriors.
In combat his skin is as bright as his eyes.
More honourable than the men of the Síde,
he does not betray friends in great need.
He has cut down many thousands.
Greater his fame than that of young warriors:
he has invaded the land of Echu luil.
Like threads of gold his hair,
and his breath reeks of wine.
Most wonderful of men, he initiates battles;
fierce he is at distant borders.
Boats and horses race
past the island where Labraid dwells.
A man of many deeds across the sea:
Labraid Lúathlám ar Cladeb.
No fighting disturbs his domain –
the sleep of a multitude prevails.
Bridles of red gold for his horses,
and nothing but this:
pillars of silver and crystal.
That is the house where he dwells.
But Cú Chulaind replied ‘I will not go upon the invitation of a woman.’ ‘Then let Lóeg come and see everything,’ said Lí Ban. Lóeg accompanied Lí Ban, then. They went to Mag Lúada and An Bile Búada, over Óenach nEmna and into Óenach Fidgai, and there they found Áed Abrat and his daughters. Fand greeted Lóeg, asking ‘Why has Cú Chulaind himself not come?’ ‘He would not come upon a woman’s invitation, nor until he learned if it was from you that the invitation came.’ ‘It was from me,’ said Fand. ‘Now return to him at once, for the battle is today.’
Lóeg returned to Cú Chulaind, then, and Cú Chulaind asked him ‘How does it look, Lóeg?’ Lóeg answered ‘Time it is to go, for the battle will be today.’ Then he recited this poem:
I arrived to find splendid sport,
a wonderful place, though all was customary.
I came to a mound, to scores of companies,
among which I found long-haired Labraid.
I found him sitting
in the mound, with thousands of weapons;
beautiful yellow hair he had,
tied back with a gold apple.
He recognized me, then,
by my five-folded crimson cloak.
He said to me ‘Will you come with me
to the house of Failbe Find?’
Two kings there are in the house:
Failbe Find and Labraid;
a great throng in the one house:
three fifties of men for each king.
Fifty beds on the right side
and fifty on the floor;
fifty beds on the left side
and fifty on the dais.
Bedposts of bronze,
white gilded pillars;
the candle before them
a bright precious stone.
At the doorway to the west,
where the sun sets,
a herd of grey horses, bright their manes,
and a herd of chestnut horses.
At the doorway to the east,
three trees of brilliant crystal,
whence a gentle flock of birds calls
to the children of the royal fort.
A tree at the doorway to the court,
fair its harmony;
a tree of silver before the setting sun,
its brightness like that of gold.
Three score trees there
whose crowns are meetings that do not meet.
Each tree bears ripe fruit.
for three hundred men.
There is in the síd a well
with three fifties of brightly coloured mantles,
a pin of radiant gold