XXIVa. 1THE AGITATION OF CELTCHAR1
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Dunn, Joseph
W. 4954. It was then that Celtchar 2in his sleep2 uttered these words 3to Conchobar3 in the midst of the men of Ulster in Iraird Cuillinn that night:a—
"Thirty hundred chariot-men;
An hundred horse-companions stout;
An hundred with an hundred druids!
To lead us will not fail
The hero of the land,
Conchobar with hosts around him!
Let the battle line be formed!
Gather now, ye warriors!
Battle shall be fought
At Garech and Ilgarech
On aftermorrow's morn!"
4Or it was Cuscraid Menn ('the Stammerer') of Macha, Conchobar's son, who sang this lay on the night before the battle ...,b after the lay 'Arise ye Kings of Macha' which Loegaire Buadach ('the Victorious ') sang.4
On that same night Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar's son, spake these words to the men of Erin at Slemain Midè that night:—
W. 4973.
"A wonder of a morning,
A wondrous 1time!1
When hosts will be confused,
2Kings2 turned back in flight!
3Necks will be broken,
The sanda made red,3
When forth breaks the battle,
The seven chieftains before,
Of Ulster's host round Conchobar!
Their women will they defend,
For their herds will they fight
At Garech and Ilgarech,
On the morning after the morrow!
4Heroes will be slaughtered then,
Hounds cut to pieces,
Steeds overwhelmed!"4
On that same night, Dubthach Doel ('the Scorpion')b of Ulster 5saw the dream wherein were the hosts at Garech and Ilgarech. Then it was5 he uttered these words 6in his sleep6 among the men of Erin at Slemain Midè that night:—
"Great be the morn,
The morn of Meath!
Great be the truce
The 7truce7 of Culenn!
"Great be the fight,
The fight of 8Clartha!8
Great, too, the steeds,
The steeds of Assal!