The Violent Death Of Etarcumul

Fergus' horses were brought and his chariot was hitched and two horses were brought for Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn, a soft youth of the people of Medb and of Ailill. "Whither goest thou?" Fergus demanded. "We go with thee," Etarcumul made answer. "To behold the form and appearance of Cuchulain, and to gaze upon him, for he is unknown to me." "Wilt thou do my bidding," said Fergus, "thou wilt in no wise go thither." "Why shall I not, pray?"

Thy light-heartedness, thy haughtiness (I know), but (I also know) the fierceness and valour and hostility of the youth against whom thou goest. And methinks ye will have contention before ye part." "Art thou not able to come between us to protect me?" "I am, to be sure," Fergus answered, "provided thou thyself seek not the combat." "I will not seek it," said Etarcumul, "till the very day of doom!"

Then they went their ways to come up to Cuchulain where Cuchulain was between Fochain and the sea. There it is that he was that day, playing draughts with Laeg. And not a living thing entered the entire plain without Laeg perceiving it and, notwithstanding, he continued to win every other game of draughts from Cuchulain. "A lone warrior cometh towards us over the plain, my master Cucuc," spake Laeg. "What manner of warrior?" queried Cuchulain.

"As large as one of the chief mountains that are highest on a great plain appears to me the chariot that is under the warrior; as large as one of the noble trees on a main fort's green meseems the curly, tressed, fair-yellow, all-golden hair hanging loose around the man's head; a purple mantle fringed with thread of gold wrapped around him; a broad and gray-shafted lance, perforated from mimasc to horn, flaming red in his hand; over him, a bossed, plaited shield, curved, with applied ornaments of red gold thereon; a lengthy sword, as long as the oar of a huge currach on a wild, stormy night, resting on the two thighs of the great haughty warrior that is within the chariot."

"Holla! Welcome the coming of this guest to us!" cried Cuchulain. "We know the man; it is my master Fergus that cometh hither." "Yet another single chariot-fighter I see coming towards us. With fulness of skill and beauty and splendour his horses speed." "One of the youths of the men of Erin is he, O my master Laeg," responded Cuchulain. "To scan my appearance and form is that man come, for I am renowned amongst them in the midst of their camp, and they know me not at all."

Fergus came up to where Cuchulain was and he sprang from the chariot, and Cuchulain bade him a hearty welcome. "Thy welcome I take for true," Fergus responded.

"Verily, it is truly meant for thee," said Cuchulain; "for comes there a brace of birds into the plain, thou shalt have a wild goose with half the other. If fish rise to the river-mouths, to the stones or waterfalls, thou shalt have a salmon with as much again. Thou shalt have a handful of watercress and a handful of sea-grass and a handful of laver. If thou hast a fight or combat with warrior before thee, I myself will go in thy stead to the ford. And I will watch and guard thee as long as thou sleepest."

"Well, then," said Fergus. "We know of what sort is thy hospitality on this occasion, on the Cow-spoil of Cualnge. But, as for this compact which thou hast asked of the men of Erin, single-handed combat with one man, thou shalt have it. It is for that I am come, to bind thee thereto, and do thou take it upon thee." "I pledge myself truly," said Cuchulain, "oh, my master Fergus." And no longer than that did he remain in parley, lest the men of Erin should say they were betrayed or deserted by Fergus for his disciple. Fergus' two horses were brought and his chariot was harnessed and he went back.

Etarcumul tarried behind gazing for a long time at Cuchulain. "At what starest thou, gilla?" asked Cuchulain. "I look at thee," said Etarcumul. "In truth then, thou hast not far to look," said Cuchulain. "There is no need of straining thine eye for that. If thou but knewest how angered is the little creature thou regardest, myself, to wit! And how then do I appear unto thee gazing upon me?" "Thou pleases me as thou art; a comely, shapely, wonderful, beautiful youth thou art, with brilliant, striking, various feats. Yet as for rating thee where goodly warriors are or forward youths or heroes of bravery or sledges of destruction, we count thee not nor consider thee at all.

"Though thou reviles me," said Cuchulain, "it is a surety for thee that thou camest from the camp under the protection of Fergus, as thou well knowest. For the rest, I swear by my gods whom I worship, were it not for the honour of Fergus, it would be only bits of thy bones and shreds of thy limbs that would be brought back to the camp!" "But threaten me no longer in this wise, Cuchulain!" cried Etarcumul; "for the wonderful terms thou didst exact of the men of Erin, that fair play and combat with one man should be granted thee, none other of the men of Erin but mine own self will come to-morrow at morn's early hour." "Come out, then," said Cuchulain, "and how so early thou comest, thou wilt find me here. I will not fly before thee. "

Etarcumul returned and began to talk with his driver. "I must needs fight with Cuchulain to-morrow, gilla," said Etarcumul. "'Tis true," quoth the charioteer. "Howbeit, I know not wilt thou fulfil it." "But what is better for us, to fulfil it to-morrow or forthwith tonight?" "To our thinking," said the gilla, "albeit no victory is to be won by fighting to-morrow, there is still less to be gained by fighting to-night, for thy combat and hurt is the nearer." "Be that as it may," said he ; "turn the horses and chariot back again from the hill for us, gilla, till we go to the ford of combat, for I swear by the gods whom I worship, I will not return to the camp till the end of life and time, till I bring with me the head of that young wildling, even the head of Cuchulain, for a trophy!"

The charioteer wheeled the chariot again towards the ford. They brought the left board to face the pair in a line with the ford. Laeg marked this and he cried to Cuchulain: ("Wist thou) the last chariot-fighter that was here a while ago, O Cucuc?" "What of him?" asked Cuchulain. "He has brought his left board towards us in the direction of the ford." "It is Etarcumul, O gilla, who seeks me in combat. And unwelcome is his coming, because of the honour of my foster-father Fergus under whom he came forth from the camp, of the men of Erin. But not that I would protect him do I thus. Fetch me my arms, gilla, to the ford. I deem it no honour for myself if the fellow reaches the ford before me." And straightway Cuchulain betook himself to the ford, and he bared his sword over his fair, well-knit spalls and he was ready on the ford to await Etarcumul.

Then, too, came Etarcumul. "What seekest thou, gilla?" demanded Cuchulain. "Battle with thee I seek," replied Etarcumul. "Hadst thou been advised by me," said Cuchulain, "thou wouldst never have come. Because of the honour of Fergus under whom thou camest out of the camp, and not because I would spare thee, do I behave thus."

Thereupon Cuchulain gave him a long-blow whereby he cut away the sod that was under the soles of his feet, so that he was stretched out like a sack on his back, and his limbs in the air and the sod on his belly. Had Cuchulain wished it, it is two pieces he might have made of him. "Hold, fellow. Off with thee now, for I have given thee warning." "I will not go. We will fight on," said Etarcumul.

Cuchulain dealt him a well-aimed edge-stroke. With the edge of his sword he sheared the hair from him from poll to forehead, from one ear to the other, as if it were with a light, keen razor he had been shorn. Not a scratch of his skin gave blood. "Hold, fellow. Get thee home now," said Cuchulain, "for a laughing-stock I have made of thee." "I go not," rejoined Etarcumul. "We will fight to the end, till I take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee, or till thou takest my head and my spoils and boastest over me!" "So let it be, what thou saidst last, that it shall be. I will take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee!"

Cuchulain dealt him a cleaving blow on the crown of the head, so that it drove to his navel. He dealt him a second crosswise stroke, so that at the one time the three portions of his body came to the ground. Thus fell Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn.

And Fergus knew not that the combat had been. For thus was his wont: he never for aught looked back, whether at sitting or at rising or when travelling or walking, in battle or fight or combat, lest some one might say it was out of fear he looked back, but ever he looked at the thing that was before and beside him.

And when Etarcumul's squire came up abreast of Fergus, Fergus asked, "But, where is thy lord, gilla?" "He fell a while since at the ford by the hand of Cuchulain," the gilla made answer. "That indeed was not fair!" exclaimed Fergus, "for that elf-like sprite to wrong me in him that came under my safeguard and protection. Turn the chariot for us, gilla," cried Fergus, "that we may go to the ford of fight and combat for a parley with Cuchulain."

Thereupon the driver wheeled the chariot. They fared thither towards the ford. "How darest thou offend me, thou wild, perverse, little elf-man," cried Fergus, "in him that came under my safeguard and protection? "After the nurture and care thou didst bestow on me, which wouldst thou hold better, for him to triumph and boast over me, or for me to triumph and boast over him? And yet morel. Ask his own gilla which of us was in fault in respect of the other." Then Etarcumul's gilla related to Fergus how it all befel. Fergus replied, "Liefer to me what thou hast done, fosterling," said Fergus, "and a blessing on the hand that smote him."

So then they bound two spancels about the ankle-joints of Etarcumul's feet and he was dragged along behind his horses and chariot. At every rock that was rough for him, his lungs and his liver were left on the stones and the rugged places. At every place that was smooth for him, his skilfully severed limbs came together again round the horses. In this wise he was dragged through the camp to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb.

"There's your young warrior for you," cried Fergus, "for 'Every restoration together with its restitution' is what the law saith." Medb came forth to the door of her tent and she raised her quick, splitting, loud voice of a warrior. Quoth Medb: "Truly, methought that great was the heat and the wrath of this young hound on leaving us awhile since at the beginning of the day as he went from the camp. We had thought that the honour under which he went was not the honour of a dastard, even the honour of Fergus!"

"What hath crazed the virago and wench?" cried Fergus. "Good lack, is it fitting for the mongrel to seek the Hound of battle whom the warriors and champions of four of the five grand provinces of Erin dare not approach nor withstand? What, I myself was glad to escape whole from him!" In this manner fell Etarcumul and such was the combat of Etarcumul with Cuchulain.

Aided Etarcomail

Ro gabad echrad Fergusa & ra indled a charpat & ro gabait a dá ech do Etarcumul mac Feda & Lethrinni, máethmaccaem di muntir Medba & Ailella. Cid imluid-siu, ar Fergus. Lodma lat-su, ar Etarcumul, d'fegad chrotha & delba Conculaind & do thaidbriud fair. Díanernta-su form-sa, ar Fergas, ní targtha manetir. Cid son amai.

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Do sobcha & do saisillecht, a lunni immorro & a ágmairi & a anerci in meic da tegi innaigid. Ocus is doig lim-sa debaid (d)uib ria n-imscar. Nach fetfa-su ar n-etráin, ar Etarcumul. Ra fetad, for Fergus, nad chunnis fodessin. Nad chunnius ón co brunni m-bratha.

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Lotar iarum rempu far tain do shaigid Conculaind, a m-bói Cuchulaind etir Fochain & muir, oc imbirt buanbaig & Laegh & ní theiged isin mag can arigud do Laég, & no bered cach-ra-cluchi for Coinculaind asin buanbaig beus ar apa. Oenlaech cucund a Chucúc, ar Laeg. Cinnas laeich, ar Cuchulaind.

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Metithir lim óen na primsliab is mó bís for mórmachairi in carpat fil fónd ócláig, metithir lim óen na primbili bís for faidchi primdúni in folt cráibach dualach findbudi fororda forscáilti fail immo chend. Fuan corcra corrtharach inaithi immi. Delg n-órda n-ecortha sin brut. Manais lethanglas ar derglassad na láim. Sciath cobradach condualach co cobraid óir deirg uasu. Claideb fata sithlái co n-ecrasaib serrda for dib sliastaib sudigthi dondócláig móir borrfaid fail isin carput ar medon.

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Ale mochen a thichtu inar n-dochum-ni ind óiged sin, ar Cuchulaind. Ra fetamar-ni in fer sin, mo phopa-sa Fergus dothaet andsin. Atchíu-sa oencharpdech aile nar n-dochum-ne beus. Is lór n-argigi & n-óebinniusa & n-ániusa amthiagat a eich. Cia do maccaemaib fer hErend sin a mo phopa Laig, ar Cuchulaind, d'fegad mo chrotha-sa & mo delba dothaet in fer sain, daig am urdairc-sea leo-som na n-dún ar medón.

Doriacht Fergus & tarblaing assin charput & ferais Cuchulaind failti fris. Tarisi lim, ar Fergus.

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Tarisi duit-siu ón om, ar Cuchulaind, dáig dia tóichle inn iall én sin mag, rot bia cadan colleith araile. Dia toichle iasc i n-inberaib, rot bia éicni co leith araile. Rot bia dorn birair & dorn femmaig & dorn fothlochta. Damsat [éicni] comrac no chomlond, missi ragas dit raid for áth, ocus rot bia foraire & forcomet co táthais do suan & do chotlud.

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Maith amin, ro fetamar mar atá th'oegedchaire in chur sa for táin bo Cualnge. Acht in cor sa conattecht for firu hErend, comlund oenfir atetha. Is dó thanac-sa, dia naidm fort, ocus geib-siu fort. Ataimim omm, bar Cuchulaind, a mo phopa Ferguis. Ocus ní bái ní ba siriu ná sain ac comlabra, ar na raditis fir hErend a m-brath no a trecun do Fergus fria dalta. Ro gabad a da ech do Fergus & ro indled a charpat & luid for culu.

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Dessid Etarcumul dia éis ic fegad Conculaind fri ed cián. Cid fégai-siu a gillai, for Cuchulaind. Fegaim-se tussu, for Etarcumul. Ni fota in rodarc ém duit-siu ón, ar Cuchulaind, immonderca súil i sodain duit, acht [is] dia festa-su is andíaraid in mí1 bec fegai-siu, missi. Ocus cinnas atú-sa acut frim fegad didiu. Is maith lim atái immorro, maccáem tucta amra alaind tu co clessaib ana imfacsi ilarda; mad t'árim immorro bail i m-biat dagláich no dagóic no láith gaile no ord essoirgne, nít ármem itir & nít imradem.

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Ro fetar-sa is commairgi dait, immar thanac assin longphort ar einech mo phopa Fergusa. Tong-sa mo dee da n-adraim chena, men bad bíth einig Fergusa, ní ricfad acht do chnámi mintai & t'áigi fodailti arís dochum longphuirt. Aile nacham thoma-sa itir ní ba siriu de sodain, dáig in cor sa ra chungis for firu hErend comlund oenfir, ni fil d'feraib hErend ti imbarach dit fópairt acht missi. Tair-siu ass ón, & gid moch thís, fogeba-su missi sund, ni thechiub-sa riam remut.

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Luid Etarcumul ar culu & ro gab ar chomrad fria araid. Isam ecen-sa tra imbarach comrac fri Coinculaind a gillai, bar Etarcumul. Ra gellais tra, ar in t-ara, ní fetar-sa chena in comella. Ocus cia ferr a denam imbarach no innocht fochétóir. Isí ar cubus, ar in gilla, acht ní buaid a denam imbárach is mó is dimbúaid a denam innocht, [ar is] dáig is nessu do urgail. Impa dún in carpat a gillai arís for culu, dáig ar bith tongu-sa na dé da n-adraim, ni rag-sa ar cú1 co brunni m-bratha, co rucur cend na herre út lim i tasselbad, cend Conculaind.

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Imsói in t-ara in carpat arís dochum inn átha. Tucsat a clár clé fri airecht ar ammus ind átha. Rathaigis Laég. In carpdech dedenach bái sund o chíanaib a Chucuc, ar Laég. Cid de-side, ar Cuchulaind. Dobretha a chlár clé riund ar ammus ind atha. Etarcumul sain a gillai, condaig comrac cucum-sa. Ocus ni ramaith lim-sa dó, ar bith ainig m'aiti artanic assind longphurt & nír bith a imdegla-som atús itir. Tuc-su latt a gillai m'arm dam-sa connici in n-áth. Ní miad lim-sa, diam túscu dó icond áth ná dam-sa. Ocus luid iarum Cuchulaind connice in n-áth, & nochtais a chlaideb os a gelgualandchor, & bái urlam forsin n-áth for cind Etarcomla.

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Dorocht dana Etarcumul. Cid iarrai a gillai, ar Cuchulaind. Comrac frit-su iarraim-se, bar Etarcumul. Na dernta form ni thargtha itir, ar Cuchulaind, ar bith ainig Fergusa ara tanac assin longphurt & ní ar bith t'imdegla-su itir itú-sa.

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Tuc tra Cuchulaind fotalbéim dó, go ro thesc in fót bói fo bund a chossi, conid tarla bolgfaén isa fót for a broind. Da m-bad áil dó, is da orddain dogenad de. Do duit i fecht sa, ar dobert-sa robud dait. Ni rag-sa condrísam beus, bar Etarcumul.

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Tuc Cuchulaind faebarbéim co commus dó. Topach a folt o chú1 có étan de, on chlúais co araile, mar bad do altain áith étruim nad berrtha. Ni ro fulig tractad fola fair. Dó duit i fecht sa, for Cuchulaind, ar dobert-sa gén fort. Ni rag-sa, condrisam beus ón, co rucur-sa do chend-su & do choscur & do chommaidim no co rucassu mo chend-sa & mo choscur & mo choinmaidim. Séd tra bias de a n-atberi-siu fo déoid, missi beras do chend-su & do choscur & do chommaidim.

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Tucastar Cuchulaind muadalbéim dó i comard a chind co rocht a imlind. Tucastar béim tanaise dó urtharsna conid in oenfecht rángatar a tri gaibti rainti co talmain uad. Dorochair Etarcomul mac Feda & Lethrinne samlaid.

Ocus ni fitir Fergus in comrac do denam. Dáig ba deithbir són, ar ni ró feg Fergus dar a ais riam ic suidi no ic ergi no ic astar no ic imthecht & chléith & chath no chomlund, ar nad ráided nech, ba fatchius dó fégad dar a eiss, acht nambíd ríam remi & aird fri haird friss.

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Ra siacht gilla Etarcumla aird i n-aird fri Fergus. Ca airm inda fil do thigerna-su immanitir a gillai, ar Fergus. Dorochair ó chianaib forsin n-áth la Coinculaind, ar in gilla. Nir bu chóir ém, ar Fergus, don serriti siabarda mo sargud immontí thanic for m'óisam. Impá dún in carpat a gillai, ar Fergus, ar condrisam immacallam fri Coinculaind.

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Imsói iarum in t-ara in carpat. Lotar dó rempo a dochum ind átha. Cid latt mo sargud a serriti síabarda, ar Fergus, immontí tanic for m'oisam & for mo chommairgi. Dond altram & dond iarfaigid dobertaisiu form-sa raid dam, cia de bad ferr lat-su, mo choscur-sa & mo chommaidim-se dó-som oldás a choscur-som & a chommaidim-sium dam-sa. Ocus anaill béus iarfaig-siu a gilla-som, cia bad chintach úan fri arail(e). Ferr lemm na n-dernais. Bendacht for láim do-fárraill.

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And-sin tra ra cenglait da n-id im chailaib choss Etarcumla & ra srengad i n-degaid a ech & a charpait. Cach all ba amréid dó, no fácbaitis a scaim & a thrommai im ailib & imm airtdrochib. Cach bali ba réid dó, na chomraictis a gabti cliss rainti mon echraid. Ra srengad samlaid dar fiartharsna longphuirt co dorus pupla Ailella & Medba.

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Fail and-sain tra, bar Fergus, far maccáim dúib, ar cach assec cona thasséc is techta. Dothaet Medb immach co dorus a pupla & dobreth a hardguth for aird. Dar lind ém, bar Medb, ba mór bruth & barand in chulíuin se tús lái, dia n-dechaid assin longphurt. Andar lind ní ainech athfir in t-ainech forsa n-dechaid, ainech Fergusa.

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Cid ra mer in cali & in banaccaid, bar Fergus. Cid ón, ciarso dúal don athiuch matud saigid forsin n-árchoin na lamat cethri ollchoiceda hErend tascud no tairisin dó. Cid mi fadéin ba maith limm tíchtain imslán úad. Torchair tra Etarcumul fon samlaid sin. Conid comrac Etarcumla fri Coinculaind sin.