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By Root 714 0

every house of that time. It was constructed on the plan of the Tech Midchúarta: there were nine apartments between the hearth and the wall, and each façade was thirty feet high and made of bronze, and there was gold ornamentation everywhere. A royal apartment for Conchubur was erected at the front of the royal house, high above the other couches, and it was ornamented with carbuncle and other precious things; it shone with the radiance of gold and silver and carbuncle and every colour, so that it was as bright by night as by day. Round this apartment were built twelve apartments, for the twelve warriors of Ulaid. The workmanship of this house was as good as the materials used to build it: a team of oxen was required to draw each pillar, and seven of the strongest men of Ulaid to fix each pillar: and thirty of the chief seers of Ériu came to place and arrange everything.

Bricriu also had built, for himself, a bower, and it was as high as Conchubur’s apartment and those of his warriors. This bower was decorated with marvellous embroideries and hangings, and glass windows were set in on every side. And one of these windows was set over Bricriu’s couch, in order that he might see what was going on, for he knew that the Ulaid would not allow him inside the house.

When all was ready – the great house, and the bower, and their provisioning with plaids and coverlets and quilts and pillows and food and drink – and when nothing was wanting as to furnishings and materials for the feast, Bricriu went off to Emuin Machae to see Conchubur and the chieftains of Ulaid. The Ulaid were holding a fair at Emuin that day; Bricriu was welcomed and placed at Conchubur’s shoulder, and he said to Conchubur and to the chieftains ‘Come and enjoy my feast with me.’ ‘I am willing if the Ulaid are,’ Conchubur answered, but Fergus son of Roech and the other chieftains said ‘We will not go. If we go to his feast, he will incite us against each other, and our dead will outnumber our living.’ ‘I will do worse than that if you do not come,’ said Bricriu. ‘What will you do?’ asked Conchubur. ‘I will incite the kings and the chiefs and the warriors and the young warriors,’ said Bricriu, ‘so that you will all kill one other unless you come to drink at my feast.’ ‘We will not go to avoid that,’ said Conchubur. ‘Then I will set son against father and incite them to kill each other,’ said Bricriu. ‘If that is not enough, I will set daughter against mother. And if that is not enough, I will incite the two breasts of every Ulaid woman to beat against each other and become foul and putrid.’ ‘In that case, it would be better to go,’ said Fergus. ‘Let a few chieftains form a council, if that seems right,’ said Senchae son of Ailill, and Conchubur agreed, saying ‘Evil will come of our not adopting some plan.’

The chieftains formed a council, then, and, as they discussed the matter, Senchae gave the following advice: ‘Since you must go with Bricriu, require him to give hostages, and, as soon as he has set out the feast, send eight swordsmen to escort him from the house.’ Furbude son of Conchubur took that decision to Bricriu, and Bricriu replied ‘I will be happy to abide by that.’ Thus the Ulaid set out from Emuin Machae, each band with its king, each troop with its leader, each host with its chieftain – a marvellously handsome procession it was, with the warriors and the men of might making for the royal house.

Bricriu, meanwhile, began to think how he might incite the Ulaid once he had given them their hostages; and when he had given the matter considerable thought, he went to Lóegure Búadach son of Connad son of Iliu. ‘Well met, Lóegure Búadach,’ he said, ‘mighty blow of Brega, seething blow of Mide, bearer of red flame, victor over the youth of Ulaid! Why should you not always have the champion’s portion at Emuin?’ ‘Indeed, it is mine if I want it,’ said Lóegure. ‘I will make you king over all the warriors of Ériu if you follow my advice,’ said Bricriu. ‘Then I will follow it,’ said Lóegure. ‘Once the champion’s portion is yours at my house,’ Bricriu continued,