Fragments Of Ancient Poetry, Fragment XIII

[Footnote: This is the opening of the epic poem mentioned in the preface. The two following fragments are parts of some episodes of the same work.]

Cuchlaid sat by the wall; by the

tree of the rustling leaf.

[Footnote: The aspen or poplar tree]

His spear leaned against the mossy rock.

His shield lay by him on the grass.

Whilst he thought on the mighty Carbre

whom he slew in battle, the scout of

the ocean came, Moran the son of Fithil.

Rise, Cuchulaid, rise! I see the ships

of Garve. Many are the foe, Cuchulaid;

many the sons of Lochlyn.

Moran! thou ever tremblest; thy

fears increase the foe. They are the

ships of the Desert of hills arrived to assist

Cuchulaid.

I saw their chief, says Moran, tall as

a rock of ice. His spear is like that fir;

his shield like the rising moon. He sat

upon a rock on the shore, as a grey

cloud upon the hill. Many, mighty

man! I said, many are our heroes;

Garve, well art thou named,

many are the sons of our king.

[Footnote: Garve sigifies a man of great size.]

He answered like a wave on the

rock; who is like me here? The valiant

live not with me; they go to the

earth from my hand. The king of the

Desert of hills alone can fight with

Garve. Once we wrestled on the hill.

Our heels overturned the wood. Rocks

fell from their place, and rivulets changed

their course. Three days we strove

together; heroes stood at a distance,

and feared. On the fourth, the King

saith that I fell; but Garve saith, he

stood. Let Cuchulaid yield to him that

is strong as a storm.

No. I will never yield to man.

Cuchulaid will conquer or die. Go,

Moran, take my spear; strike the shield

of Caithbait which hangs before the

gate. It never rings in peace. My heroes

shall hear on the hill,--