Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Brinna Ferchertne (Author: [unknown])
p.41
- I see two Hounds manfully fighting a glorious combat:
Cuchulinn is boasting of the death of Curoi, Dare's son.
- The Eraind seized Erin, numerous were their families,
They seized a province without mishap as far as Usnech in Meath.
- Many battles they fought, hardy were the troops,
They slept a night in Tara on their march to Emain Macha.
- It was one of Curoi's feats when he slew Fliuchna the champion:
That was the origin of his suffering when he drove off Iuchna's kine.
p.42
- When he had outraged the men of Ulster, it were a long story to tell,
After feasting, in a coracle of hide, he carried off Blathnait from Cuchulinn.
- Cuchulinn was a-searching, a full year he passed in silence,
Till he knew ready guidance towards Curoi's city.
- When his wife betrayed Curoi, evil was the deed she did,
While she did not escape unscathed she left the Eraind under disgrace.
- Blathnait, the daughter of Menn, by treachery brought about the slaughter in Argat-glenn:
An evil deed for a wife to betray her husband, since ...
- She tied his hair to rails, to bed-postscruellest of stories!
Curoi arose against them, 'twas the rising of a champion.
- A hundred men fell from his rising after he had been tied to rails,
Thrice fifty men besides, and fifty with bloody wounds.
p.43
- However Cuchulinn came upon him with his own sword,
And left him in a litter upon the noble shoulders of six men.
- They went out upon the mountains, they avenged Fliuchna the champion.
Besides carrying off their ..., they drove away Iuchna's kine.
- Senfiaccail Setnach came, worn out, decayed were his bones,
Quickly he got support after the destruction of Mac Dare's life.
- As for the crier of the prince, he was good in the thick (?) of battle,
He cut down fifty armed men, then he allowed himself to be slain.
- Tredornan the blind flung himself upon the Ulster host, he was not slow,
A famous stone of strength, no foolish cry! three score true warriors he slew.
- The combat of Eochaid son of Darfind, its final scene is in the glen,
'Tis little known to any one that is asked who put flag-stones there.
p.44
- The combat of Eochaid son of Darfind, from the promontory as far as the glen,
He slew a hundred men in fair fight until an overwhelming number fell upon him.
- Then Eochaid was overwhelmed by numbers, not in fair fight,
So that his cairn is on Mag Rois, ...
- Cairpri Cuanach came upon them, he slew a hundred men, a vigorous encounter,
He had boasted to Conchubor, if the monsterful sea had not drowned him.
- Cló came upon them with fury, he slew a hundred men of their host,
Though great his strength in the body, he found his grave through Cuchulinn.
- Russ the son of Deda came upon them, who was of a race stout and strong,
To avenge their heroes the warriors of Ulster slew him.
- Thereupon came Nemthes the druid, he knew what was in store for him,
Four times ten men he slew, thrice he repeated it.
- Forai of the Fian came upon them, a man who would not serve for laughter,
Dedornd of the curly locks came, he ousted the hosts from glory.
p.45
- Ferdoman came, he gave battle, he wrought a terrible slaughter,
In fair fight he cut off the hand of Fiachaig the son of Conchubar.
- The son of Riangabra came upon them, Ingeilt was his glorious name,
He put Carpre the son of Conchobor under bitter waves of the salt-sea.
- Lugaid and Loegaire made comabt fiercer than two ravens,
He leaves his chariot to its hero, and its charioteer in its paddock.
- Loegaire cried to the host ...
Do not let us grant the warrior fair fight, to see if we avenge our trouble.
- Fergus took hold of his cheek, lest the host should slay him,
Then he obtained fair fight against the famous warriors of Ulster.
- Three score days he was on the field, every day a man (fell) by his skill,
Those were his ... until the Eraind arrived.
- Thereupon came the Eraind according to the will of their king ...,
Seven thousand seven hundred and seven score of thousands.
p.46
- . upon Mag Enaig, 'twas there the combat reached.
They were driven against the silver rocks, whence is the chariot-fight.
- Upon a grave-covered slope they raised a shout, 'twas there the host came together,
That is the name that is on it, and not that only.
- Sad truly is the encounter of Blathnait and Ferchertne,
The graves of both of whom are in Land Cindbera above the promontory.
- I see the three kine of Echda, not slowly do they march through sloughs,
I see a noble warrior(?) ..., I see studs of horses of every colour.
- I see coracles along a river, I see enemies that are being seized,
I see a host across a great house, I see a warrior that is not to be dared.
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