Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [75]
Before being taken to the cauldrons, however, the messengers were first shown to Macc Da Thó’s couch, in order that their requests might be granted. ‘It is to ask for the hound that we have come,’ said the messengers from Connachta (that is, from Ailill and Medb). ‘You will receive one hundred and sixty milch cows immediately, and a chariot, and the two best horses in Connachta, and as much again at the end of the year.’ ‘It is to ask for the hound that we have come from Conchubur,’ said the messengers from maid, ‘since he is no worse a friend for giving jewellery and cattle and everything else from the north, and since a great friendship will result.’
These messages so confounded Macc Da Thó that he went three days without food or drink, and at night he tossed and turned. His wife said ‘You are a long time fasting. You have food, but you eat nothing – what is wrong?’ When he did not reply, she went on:
‘Sleeplessness has come to Macc Da Thó’s house.
He has need of advice but he speaks to no one.
‘He turns away to the wall,
a warrior in fierce combat.
His clever wife observes that her husband cannot sleep.’
‘Crumthand Níad Náir says
“Tell no secret to a woman.
A woman’s secret is not kept; jewels are not given to slaves.” ’
‘You may speak to a woman
if no disaster ensues –
my mind may comprehend what yours does not.’
‘Evil the day they came for
the hound of Macc Da Thó.
Many a good man will die; the battle will be indescribable.
‘If Conchubur is refused,
there will be trouble for certain:
his hosts will not leave any land or cattle with me.
‘If Ailill is disappointed,
Ériu will be devastated.
Cet will carry us off; we will be reduced to ashes.’
‘I have advice for you,
and the result will not be bad:
give the dog to both sides – let them fight over it.’
‘The advice you offer
renews my spirit.
God sent Ailbe; the dog’s origin is unknown.’
After that, Macc Da Thó rose and was jubilant, saying ‘Joy to us and to our guests.’ The messengers stayed three days and three nights. He took them aside then – first the messengers of Connachta, to whom he said ‘Great my perplexity and doubt, but I have decided to give the hound to Ailill and Medb. Let them bring a large, magnificent host to fetch it, and they will have food and drink and presents, and the dog will be theirs.’ The Connachta thanked him. Macc Da Thó went then to the messengers of Ulaid and said ‘Free of doubt at last, I have awarded the hound to Conchubur. Let the chieftains of Ulaid come for Ailbe with a proud host; they will receive presents and be welcome.’
Now the people from Connachta and Ulaid proposed to come on the same day, and neither province forgot to show up, either. The two provinces arrived at the door of Macc Da Thó’s hostel. He himself came to greet them and make them welcome, saying ‘We were not expecting you, warriors! Nevertheless, I welcome you! Come into the courtyard!’ They all trooped in, the Connachta to one side of the hostel, the Ulaid to the other. The hostel was not small, with seven entrances and fifty paces between each pair of doorways. Still, the faces round the feast inside were not friendly, for many had done injury to others there.
Macc Da Thó’s pig was slaughtered for the feast. This pig had been nourished by sixty milch cows for seven years, and it was brought in to the feast with forty oxen laid across it. Macc Da Thó himself presided over the feast, saying ‘Welcome! This may not be worthy of you, but there are pigs and oxen in Lagin, and whatever is wanting today will be slaughtered for you tomorrow.’ ‘The pig looks good,’ said Conchubur. ‘It does, indeed,’ said Ailill, ‘but how should it be divided, Conchubur?’ ‘How else,’ said Bricriu son of Carbad from his couch overhead, ‘where the heroes of Ériu are assembled but by combat? You have all flattened each other’s noses before.’ ‘Let that be done,’ said Ailill. ‘Fine,’ said Conchubur, ‘for