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23c. The White-Fight of Rochad Now Followeth

The White-Fight of Rochad Now Followeth

Rochad Rigderg ('Red-king') son of Fathemon, was of Ulster. Thrice fifty warriors was his number, and he took possession of a hill fronting the hosts. Finnabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, perceived that and she went to speak to her mother thereof, even to Medb. "Truly have I loved yonder warrior for a long time," said she; "and it is he is my sweetheart, and mine own choice one in wooing." "An thou hast so loved him, daughter," quoth Ailill and Medb, "sleep with him this night and crave for us a truce of him for the hosts, until he encounters us on the day of the great battle when four of the grand provinces of Erin will meet at Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Foray of Cualnge." Rochad son of Fathemon accepted the offer and that night the damsel slept with him.

An Under-king of Munster that was in the camp heard the tale. He went to his people to speak of it. "Yonder maiden was plighted to me on fifteen hostages once long ago," said he; "and it is for this I have now come on this hosting." Now wherever it happened that the seven Under-kings of Munster were, what they all said was that it was for this they were come. "Why," said they, "should we not go to avenge our wife and our honour on the Manè, who are watching and guarding the rear of the army at Imlech in Glendamrach ('Kettle-glen's navel')?"

This was the course they resolved upon. And with their seven divisions of thirty hundreds they arose. Ailill arose with thirty hundred after them. Medb arose with her thirty hundred. The sons of Maga with theirs and the Leinstermen and the Munstermen and the people of Tara. And a mediation was made between them so that each of them sat down near the other and hard by his arms.

Howbeit before the intervention took place, eight hundred very valiant warriors of them had fallen. Finnabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, had tidings that so great a number of the men of Erin had fallen for her sake and on account of her. And her heart broke in her breast even as a nut, through shame and disgrace, so that Finnabair Slebe ('Finnabair of the Mount') is the name of the place where she fell, died and was buried.

Then said the men of Erin, "White is this battle," said they, "for Rochad son of Fathemon, in that eight hundred exceeding brave warriors fell for his sake and on his account and he himself goes safe and whole to his country and land without blood-shedding or reddening on him." Hence this is the 'White-fight' of Rochad.

Bángleo Rochada and-so innossa.

Reochaid mac Fathemain é-side d'Ultaib. Tri choicait laech ba sed a lín. Acus ra gab tilaig agid i n-agid dona sluagaib. Atchondaic Findabair ingen Ailella & Medba aní sein. Acus ra bái si ga rád ra máthair ri Meidb. Ra charusa in laech út uair chéin ám, bar si, & issé mo lennán é & mo roga tochmairc. Ma ra charais a ingen, faé leis d-ádaig, & guid fossad dún fair dona sluagaib, go tí chucaind do ló in mórchatha airm condricfat cethri ollchoicid hErend for Gárgi & Ilgarig i cath Tana bó Cualnge. Faemais Reochaid mac Fathemain aní sein, & faeiss ind ingen d-ádaig leis.

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Ra chuala sein airri de Mumnechaib ra bói sin longphort. Bae-sium gá rád ria muntir: Banassa dam-sa ind ingen út uair chéin ám, bar é-sium. Acus is aire thanac-sa in sluaged sa don chur sa. Cid trá acht airm i m-batar na secht n-airríg de Mumnechaib, iss ed ra raidsetar uile, conid aire-sin tancatar. Cid dúnni no, bar iat-som, na ragmais-ni do digail ar mná & ar n-ainig arna Manib fuil ac foraire dar eis in t-sluaig ic Imlig in Glendamrach.

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Is hí sin comairle ba nirt leo-som . Acus atractatar-som cona secht trictaib cét. Atracht Ailill dóib cona trichait chét. Atraacht Medb cona trichait chét. Atraachtatar meic Mágach cona tríchtaib chét. Atraacht in Galéoin & in Mumnig & popul na Temrach , & fognithea etargaire eturru, co n-dessid cach díb i fail araile & i fail a arm.

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Cid trá acht sul tarraid a n-etráin, torchratar ocht cét (láech) lanchalma díb. Atchuala sain Findabair ingen Ailella & Medba in comlín sain d'feraib hErend do thuttim, trena ág & trena accais, & ro maid cnómaidm da cride na clíab ar féile & náre, conid Findabair Slebe comainm ind inaid i torchair.

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Is and-sain ra ráidsetar fir hErend: Is bán in gleó sa, bar iat-som, do Reochaid mac Fathemain ocht cét laech lánchalma do thuttim trina ág & trina accais & a dul fein cen fuligud gen fordergad fair. Conid bángleo Roehada and-sain.

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