Early Irish Myths and Sagas - Jeffrey Gantz [86]
‘Outside and to the east of the fort,’ said Cromm Deróil, ‘I saw a large-eyed, broad-thighed, broad-shouldered, huge, tall man with a splendid tawny cloak about him. Seven smooth black hoods about him, each upper one shorter, each lower one longer. There were nine men on either side of him, and in his hand a dreadful iron club, one end violent, the other mild. This is his game and his feat: he lays the violent end across the heads of the nine men so that they die in an instant; then he lays the gentle end across them so that they are brought back to life in an instant.’
‘Wondrous that description,’ said Medb. ‘Many guises has the one described,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘Who is it, then?’ asked Ailill. ‘Not difficult that,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘That is the Dagdae Mar, son of Eithliu, the good god of the Túatha Dé Danand. He has mingled with the host this morning to stir up trouble and strife, but no one of the host has seen him.’
‘Outside and to the east of the fort,’ said Cromm Deróil, ‘I saw a stout, broad-faced man, brawny and black-browed, broad-countenanced and white-toothed, with neither garment nor apparel nor weapon nor blade but only a well-kneaded dark leather apron that reached to his armpits. Each of his limbs was as stout as a large man. The entire Cland Dedad could not lift the stone pillar outside, but he raised it and performed the apple feat with it, from one finger to the other. Then he put it down as if it were a wisp of thistle, all fluff and lightness.’
‘Sturdy, stout and strong that description,’ said Medb. ‘Mighty the one described,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘Who is it, then?’ asked Ailill. ‘Not difficult that,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘Triscatail Trénfer he, the strongman of Conchubur’s house. He has slain three nines with no more than an angry look.’
‘Outside and to the east of the fort,’ said Cromm Deróil, ‘I saw a young lad, almost a child, bound and fettered. Three chains round each leg and a chain round each arm; three chains round his neck, and seven, men holding each chain, seventy-seven men in all. He turned strongly and powerfully and overthrew the seventy-seven men, dealing with them as lightly and swiftly as he would have dealt with puffballs. When he perceived the smell of his enemies, when he struck the head of a man against a projecting clod or against a rock of stone, then that man would say “It is not for valour or glory that this trick is performed, but by reason of the food and drink in the fort.” The lad blushed and fell silent and went about with them a while until the same wave of savagery overcame him.’
‘Destructive and intractable that description, indeed,’ said Medb. ‘Destructive and intractable the one described,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘Who is it, then?’ asked Ailill. ‘Not difficult that,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘He is the son of the three champions of whom I spoke a short while ago: Uma son of Reman-fissech, Errge Echbél and Celtchair son of Uthechar. That many of the host are needed to guard him and to restrain his valour when he goes to the land of his enemies. Úanchend Arritech he, and he is only eleven years old, and never has he consumed a portion of food that he did not offer to everyone in the house.’
‘Outside and to the east of the fort,’ said Cromm Deróil, ‘I saw a rabbly sort of band. One man among them was balding, with short, black hair, bulging, great eyes – one bright – in his head, and a smooth, blue, Ethiopian face. A dappled cloak wrapped round him, a brazen pin in the cloak at his breast and a long bronze crook in his hand. A sweet little bell he had, too. He plied his horsewhip upon the host and brought joy and merriment to the high king and to the entire host.’
‘Comic and risible that description,’ said Medb. ‘Comic the one described,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘Who is it?’ asked Ailill. ‘Not difficult that,’ said Cú Ruí. ‘Rómit Rigóinmit, Conchubur’s fool. No want or sorrow that has ever afflicted the Ulaid has not departed when they saw Rómit Rígóinmit.’
‘Outside and to the east of the fort,’ said Cromm Deróil, ‘I saw a bright, just-greying man in a hooded chariot over very tall horses. He had a