Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [80]
‘The welcome of a man asking a present that,’ said Findtan. ‘It is, indeed,’ said Cathub. ‘Name it, that you may have it,’ said Findtan. ‘I will provided that I have a proper guarantee,’ replied Cathub. ‘Then name your guarantors, in return for a counter-present for me,’ said Findtan. ‘Celtchair son of Uthechar, Uma son of Remanfissech from Fedan Chúailnge and Errge Echbél from Brí Errgi,’ said Cathub, and these guarantors sufficed. ‘What guarantors do you ask for your counter-present?’ asked Cathub. ‘The three sons of Uisliu of great deeds,’ said Findtan, ‘the three torches of valour of Europe: Noísiu and Aindle and Arddán.’ These guarantors were ratified by both parties.
After that, they went to An Téte Brecc, the house where Conchubur was. ‘Conchubur is now king of Ulaid,’ Cathub said, ‘for Findtan has yielded his third.’ ‘So has Cú Chulaind,’ said Senchae. ‘In that case,’ said Cú Chulaind, ‘let Conchubur come to drink and make merry with me, for that is my counter-request.’ ‘What guarantees and assurances do I have when that is permitted to be said?’ asked Findtan. Everyone’s guarantors came forth savagely, then, and the fighting was so fierce that nine were wounded and nine bleeding and nine at the point of death between one side and the other. But Senchae son of Ailill rose and shook his peacemaking branch, and the Ulaid fell silent. ‘Why such quarrelling?’ he asked. ‘Conchubur will not be king of Ulaid for a year yet.’ ‘We will do as you wish,’ said Cú Chulaind, ‘provided that you do not intervene at the end of the year.’ ‘That I will not,’ said Senchae. Cú Chulaind held him to that promise. They remained three days and three nights, drinking up Conchubur’s feast until they had finished it; then they returned to their own houses and strongholds and fine dwellings.
Anyone who arrived at the end of the following year would have found Conchubur’s province a well-spring of justice and abundance, without a single dwelling waste, empty or desolate, from Rind Semni and Latharnai to Cnocc Úachtair Forcha to Dub and Drobaís, and without a single son usurping the place of his father and grandfather – everyone served his proper lord. At this time, then, fair words passed between Cú Chulaind and Emer. ‘It seems to me,’ said Emer, ‘that Conchubur is now high king of Ériu.’ ‘No harm if he is,’ replied Cú Chulaind. ‘You must prepare a king’s feast for him, then, for he will be king always,’ Emer said. ‘That will be done,’ said Cú Chulaind.
The feast was prepared, and there were one hundred vats of every kind of drink. At the same time, though, Findtan son of Níall Níamglonnach decided to prepare a feast, with one hundred vats of every kind of drink. Work on both feasts began on the same day, and work on both concluded the same day. Both men harnessed their horses and yoked their chariots the same day, but Cú Chulaind was the first to arrive at Emuin. He was just unyoking his horses when Findtan arrived, so that he entered Emuin before Findtan; thus, he was already inviting Conchubur to his feast when Findtan entered. ‘What guarantees and assurances do I have when that is permitted to be said?’ Findtan asked. ‘We are here,’ said the sons of Uisliu, and they rose. ‘I myself,’ said Cú Chulaind, ‘am not without guarantees.’
With that, the Ulaid rose savagely to take arms, and, since Senchae did not dare to intervene, they began to fight. Conchubur could do no more than leave the royal house to them, and he was followed out by a son of his whose name was Furbude and whom Cú Chulaind had fostered. Conchubur drew this lad aside and said ‘Son, you have the power to make peace among the Ulaid.’ ‘How?’ asked the lad. ‘By weeping and lamenting before your foster-father, Cú Chu laind,’ Conchubur answered, ‘for never has he been in strife or combat that he did not think of you.’
Furbude returned, then, and he wept and lamented before Cú Chulaind until the latter asked him what was wrong. Furbude replied ‘Just when the province is a well-spring of abundance, you are destroying