The Finding of The Bull

Thereafter on the morrow Medb proceeded with a third of the host of the men of Erin about her, till she reached Dun Sobairche in the north. And Cuchulain pressed heavily on Medb that day. [Medb went on to Cuib to seek the bull and Cuchulain pursued her.] There it is that Cuchulain slew all those we have mentioned in Cuib. Cuchulain killed Fer Taidle, whence cometh Taidle; and as they went northwards he killed the macBuachalla ('the Herdsman's sons') at their cairn, whence cometh Carn macBuachalla; and he killed Luasce on the slopes, whence Lettre Luasc ('the Watery Slopes of Luasc'); and he slew Bobulge in his marsh, whence Grellach ('the Trampled Place') of Bubulge; and he slew Murthemne on his hill, whence Delga ('the Points') of Murthemne.

It was afterwards then that Cuchulain turned back from the north to Mag Murthemni, to protect and defend his own borders and land, for dearer to him was his own land and inheritance and belongings than the land and territory and belongings of another.

It was then too that he came upon the Fir Crandce ('the men of Crannach'); to wit, the two Artinne and the two sons of Lecc, the two sons of Durcride, the two sons of Gabul, and Drucht and Delt and Dathen, Tae and Tualang and Turscur, and Torc Glaisse and Glass and Glassne, which are the same as the twenty men of Fochard. Cuchulain surprised them as they were pitching camp in advance of all other, so that they fell by his hand.

Then it was that Buide ('the Yellow') son of Ban Thai ('the White') from the country of Ailill and Medb, and belonging to the special followers of Medb, met Cuchulain. Four and twenty a warriors [was their strength.] A blue mantle enwrapping each man, the Brown Bull of Cualnge plunging and careering before them after he had been brought from Glenn na Samaisce ('Heifers' Glen') to Sliab Culinn, and fifty of his heifers with him.

"Whence bring ye the drove, ye men?" Cuchulain asks. "From yonder mountain," Buide answers. "What is thine own name?" said Cuchulain. "One that neither loves thee nor fears thee," Buide made answer; "Buide son of Ban Thai am I, from the country of Ailill and Medb." "Lo, here for thee this short spear," said Cuchulain, and he casts the spear at him. It struck the shield over his belly, so that it shattered three ribs in his farther side after piercing his heart in his bosom. And Buide son of Ban Thai fell on the ford. So that thence is Ath Buidi ('Athboy') in Crich Roiss ('the land of Ross').

For as long or as short a space as they were engaged in this work of exchanging their two short spears--for it was not in a moment they had accomplished it--the Brown Bull of Cualnge was carried away in quick course and career to the camp as swiftly as any bull can be brought to a camp. From this accordingly came the greatest shame and grief and madness that was brought on Cuchulain on that hosting.

As regards Medb: every ford whereon she stopped, Ath Medba ('Medb's Ford') is its name. Every place wherein she pitched her tent, Pupall Medba ('Medb's Tent') is its name. Every spot she rested her horselash, Bili Medba ('Medb's Tree') is its name.

On this circuit Medb offered battle one night to Findmor ('the Fair-large') wife of Celtchar at the gate of Dun Sobairche; and she slew Findmor and laid waste Dun Sobairche.

Then came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at the end of a long fortnight to camp and station, together with Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull.

Fagbáil in tairb

Dolluid iarum Medb co triun in t-sluaig fer n-hErend impi, co ranic inní co Dun Sobairci fa thuaid. Ocus lilis Cuchulaind co mór do Meidb in la sain, co. . . i n-Guiph riam Cuchulaind comdar techt fa thuaith. Marbais Cuchulaind Fer Taidle, diatat Taidle. Ocus marbais Maccu Buachalla, diata Carn Mac m-Buachalla. Ocus marbais Luasce illettri, diatat Lettre Luasce. Ocus marbais Bobulge ina grellaig, diata Grellach Bobulge. Ocus Murthemne for a dind, diata Delga Murthemne.

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Conid iar-sain do tarraid Cuchulaind atuaid dorisi do imdegail & do imditin a crích & a feraind fodessin, daig ba handsa lais anda crich & ferand neich n-aille.

Is and-sin tra forecmangaid Firu Crandce, .i. da Artinne & da Mac Licce, da Mac Durcridi, da Mac Gabla, & Drucht & Delt & Dathen, Te & Tualang & Turscur & Torc Glaisse & Glass & Glassne, [inund sain] inund sain & fiche Fer Fochard. Basn-etarraid Cuchulaid ic gabail longphuirt ria cách, co torchratar lais.

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Is and-sin dorecmaing do Choinchulaind Buide mac Báin Blai de chrích Ailella & Medba & do sainmuntir Medba. Cethror ar fichet laech. Bratt i filliud im cach fer. Dond Cualnge irrithur & i fuatuch rempu, iarna thabairt a Glind na samaisci i Sléib Chulind, & cóica samaisci dia samascib imme.

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Can doberid in n-alaid, for Cuchulaind. As t-sléib út amne, ar Buide. Ca do chomainm-siu badessin, bar Cuchulaind. Nít charadar nít tágedar, ar Buide, Buide mac Báin Thai missi do chrích Ailella & Medba. Asso fort in certgae so didiu, bar Cuchulaind, & focheird in sleig fair. Forecmainhg sin scíath os a broind, co ro brúi tri asna sin taéb ba siriu úad iar tregtad a chridi na chlíab. Ocus dorochair Buidi mac Báin Blai. Conid de ata Áth mh-Buide i crích Ross ó sain.

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Cián gar ro batar for inn-uropair sin ic cloechlód na da chertgae, dáig ni fochetóir co n-arnic úadib, rucad in Dond Cualnge irrithur & i fúatach úadib dochum longphoirt [uadib], amail as dech berair mart longphoirt. Conid é sin méla & mertain & meraigecht is mó tucad for Coinculaind forsin t-sluagud sa.

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Imthusa Medbi, cach áth forsa m-bái Áth Medbi a chomainm. Cach bail ro sáid a pupaill is Pupall Medba a ainm. Cach bail ro sáid a echlaisc is Bili Medba a chomainm.

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Ra chuir trá Medb din chuaird sin cath fri Findmóir mnái Celtchair for dorus Dúni Sobairchi, & ro marb Findmóir & ra airg Dún Sobairchi.

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Tancatar tra cethri ollchoiceda hErend i cind chíanchóicthigis ar mís dunad & longphort eter Meidb & Ailill & fiallach tabartha in tairb.