The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge — Unknown

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                        THE ANCIENT IRISH EPIC TALE

                              TAIN BO CUALNGE

                         "THE CUALNGE CATTLE-RAID"


              Now for the first time done entire into English
                 out of the Irish of the Book of Leinster
                          and Allied Manuscripts

                                    By

                                JOSEPH DUNN
                   Professor at the Catholic University
                                Washington

              WITH TWO PAGES IN FACSIMILE OF THE MANUSCRIPTS

 [Illustration: "Daig concechlabat fin hErend & Alban inn ainm sin, & bat
             lana beoil fer n-hErend & Alban din anmun sin."]
                        Book of Leinster, fo. 64a.

               "For the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that
            name (Cuchulain) and the mouths of the men of Erin
                   and Alba shall be full of that name."


                                  LONDON
                                DAVID NUTT
                  17 GRAPE STREET, NEW OXFORD STREET, W.C
                                   1914


                             To the Memory of

                                 MY MOTHER

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[Illustration: FACSIMILE, PAGE 55--_from the Book of Leinster_.]

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CONTENTS

         Preface, xi.
     I   The Pillow-talk, 1.
    II   The Occasion of the Tain, 5.
   III   The Rising-out of the Men of Connacht at Cruachan Ai, 10.
    IV   The Foretelling, 13.
     V   The Route of the Tain, 19.
    VI   The March of the Host, 21.
   VII   The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain, 46.
   VIIa  The Slaying of the Smith's Hound by Cuchulain, 54.
   VIIb  The Taking of Arms by Cuchulain and
         The Slaying of the Three Sons of Necht Scene, 60.
   VIIc  A Separate Version as far as the Slaying Of Orlam, 80.
  VIII   The Slaying of Orlam, 82.
  VIIIa  The Slaying of the Three MacArach, 85.
  VIIIb  The Combat of Lethan and Cuchulain, 86.
  VIIIc  The Killing of the Squirrel and of the Tame Bird, 88.
  VIIId  The Slaying of Loche, 93.
  VIIIe  The Killing of Uala, 95.
  VIIIf  The Harrying of Cualnge, 99.
    IX   The Proposals, 104.
     X   The Violent Death of Etarcumul, 115.
    XI   The Slaying of Nathcrantail, 126.
   XII   The Finding of the Bull, 132.
   XIIa  The Death of Forgemen, 136.
   XIIb  The Slaying of Redg the Lampoonist, 137.
   XIIc  The Meeting of Cuchulain and Finnabair, 139.
   XIId  The Combat of Munremar and Curoi, 141.
   XIIe  The Slaughter of the Boy-troop, 143.
   XIIf  The Slaughter of the King's Bodyguard, 145.
  XIII   The Combat of Cur with Cuchulain, 146.
   XIV   The Slaying of Ferbaeth, 150.
   XIVa  The Combat of Larine MacNois, 155.
   XIVb  The Colloquy of the Morrigan and Cuchulain, 161.
    XV   The Combat of Loch and Cuchulain, and
         The Slaying of Loch son of Mofemis, 163.
   XVI   The Violation of the Agreement, 175.
   XVIa  The Healing of the Morrigan, 177.
  XVII   The Great Rout on the Plain of Murthemne, 180.
  XVIIa  The Slaughter of the Youths of Ulster, 184.
  XVIIb  The Scythed Chariot, 187.
  XVIIc  The Appearance of Cuchulain, 195.
  XVIId  Dubthach's Jealousy, 198.
 XVIII   The Slaying of Oengus son of Oenlam, 201.
 XVIIIa  The Misthrow at Belach Eoin, 202.
 XVIIIb  The Disguising of Tamon, 204.
   XIX   The Battle of Fergus and Cuchulain, 205.
   XIXa  The Head-place of Ferchu, 209.
   XIXb  Mann's Fight, 211.
   XIXc  The Combat of Calatin's Children, 213.
    XX   The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain, 217.
   XXI   Cuchulain and the Rivers, 268.
  XXII   Cethern's Strait-fight, 269.
  XXIIa  Cethern's Bloody Wounds, 273.
 XXIII   The Tooth-fight of Fintan, 283.
 XXIIIa  The Red-Shame of Menn, 285.
 XXIIIb  The Accoutrement of the Charioteers, 287.
 XXIIIc  The White-fight of Rochad, 288.
 XXIIId  Iliach's Clump-fight, 292.
 XXIIIe  The Deer-stalking of Amargin in Taltiu, 295.
 XXIIIf  The Adventures of Curoi son of Dare, 296.
  XXIV   The Repeated Warning of Sualtaim, 298.
  XXIVa  The Agitation of Celtchar, 306.
   XXV   The Array of the Host, 309.
  XXVI   The Decision of the Battle, 345.
 XXVII   The Battle of Garech, 348.
 XXVIIa  The Muster of the Men of Erin, 351.
XXVIII   The Battle of the Bulls, 363.
  XXIX   The Account of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, 366.
         Index of Place and Personal Names, 371.

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[Illustration: FACSIMILE PAGE 55--_from Leabhar na h-Uidhri_.]

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PREFACE


The Gaelic Literature of Ireland is vast in extent and rich in quality. The
inedited manuscript materials, if published, would occupy several hundred
large volumes.