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262
By
the
Bishop of Limerick.
[The ‘ Cattle Spoil of Dairt ’ is one of a cycle of stories which group
themselves round the 1 Tain Bo Chuailgne,’ or Cattle Spoil of Cuailgne,
a tale which held a leading place in the romantic literature of ancient
Ireland.
It may have been the good fortune of some of our readers to have
met with a book entitled ‘ The Irish before the Conquest,’ in which
Mrs. Ferguson has given an analysis of the ‘Tain,’ and of other tales,
and poems belonging to the heroic period of Irish history ; or they may
have read the spirited poem in which Samuel Ferguson embodies the
wild legend of the loss and recovery of the ‘Tain ’ in the time of Guaire,
the hospitable King of Connaught, in the sixth century. To these
sources, or to the fuller information to be found in Professor O’Curry’s
lectures, we may for the present refer those who are anxious to know
more than we have space now to relate of a narrative which in Irish
legend holds about the same position as the story of the Argonauts
does in Greek mythology. The ‘ Tain ’ and the tales connected with it
if printed would form a series of ancient Irish romance of considerably
greater extent than the Welsh Mabinogion ; and though an element of
fiction enters largely into their oom position they contain in them an
abundance of actual historical material.
Along with the supernatural agents who are introduced appear kings
and chieftains in whatever histories have been handed down to us, and
concerning whom these legendary tales bear a testimony so uniform as
to prove that the names which we encounter in them stand for real
persons, though we may still be allowed to entertain serious doubts as
to the alleged dates of their exploits.
But even supposing that these characters and events be regarded as
mythical, we may safely conclude that the general colouring and minor
details of the pictures set before us are true to nature.
Most of what relates to the usages of everyday life, dress, manners,
and institutions may be relied on as accurate. There is the more
reason to believe this as these historical tales of plunders, courtships,
battles, expeditions by sea and land, feasts, sieges, elopements, slaughters,
�THE CATTLE SPOIL OF DAIRT.
263
and tragical deaths, were carefully catalogued, and the recitation of
them on public occasions in the presence of kings and chiefs was one
of the qualifications of the higher grades of the literary order.
In point of antiquity they bear comparison with almost any of the
extant romances of the Western nations. The ‘ Tain ’ itself appears to
have been reduced to its present shape about the beginning of the
seventh century, and a copy of it exists in a manuscript written in the
middle of the twelfth.
Readers of the ‘ Dark Blue ’ with a fresh recollection of the Saga of
Erithiof, admirably translated from the ‘Icelandic by Mr. William
Morris, cannot fail to observe how unlike is the ancient Irish romance
to the Scandinavian Saga.
The difference is as great—and we ought to expect it to be as great
—as that which we recognise in the national characters of the Teuton
and the Celt.
If the Saga has more of homely truthfulness, of vigorous and con
tinuous action, of sturdy common sense, and exact delineation of the
various traits of human character, the ancient Irish romance displays
imagination and pathos to a degree remarkable in so rude an age.
The short tale which follows—or at least the original of it—might
have suggested some curious discussions concerning matters of archgeo
logy, topography, and philology, but I have thought it best for the
present to allow it to be regarded from a purely literary point of view.
It cannot lay claim to any peculiar merit of style.
The narrative is in part obscure, and its conclusion so abrupt as to
give rise to the conjecture that we are not in possession of the entire
tale. It may be regarded, however, as a fair sample of this class of
narrative.
It is also deserving of notice that its author has, with a few brief but
happy touches, succeeded in giving a dramatic individuality to the
characters introduced into his story.
In my translation from the Irish I have adhered as closely to the
original as the difference of idiom between our language and the Celtic
has permitted me.]
»
At this time, Eochaidh Beg, son of Cairpri King of Cliach, was
dwelling at Dun Cuilli, in the country of Hy Cuannach. He had forty
fostersons, of the sons of the kings and chieftains of Munster ; and
forty milch cows to feed his forty fostersons.
Now King Ailell and Queen Meavee sent messengers to him bidding
him come and speak with them. ‘ I will go,’ said he, ‘ in a week from
this day.’ So the messengers took back that answer.
And it came to pass, not long afterward, as Eochaidh was in his
bed-chamber, that a maiden and a young ohampion appeared to liijn
in a vision. ‘Ye are welcome,’ said Eochaidh.—‘We have come from
far for that greeting,’ said the twain.—‘ I would we were neigh-
�264
THE CATTLE SPOIL OF DAIR.T.
hours,’ said Eochaidh.—‘ Our dwellings are not far apart,’ said the
maiden, ‘though we do not see one another.’—‘Where do ye
dwell?’ said Eochaidh.—‘In Sidh1 Chuile,’ said she.—‘Wherefore
come ye to me?’ asked Eochaidh.—‘We come,’ said she, ‘to give
thee counsel.’—‘ What counsel ? ’ asked Eochaidh.—‘ As to what
befitteth thine honour and thy name,’ said the maiden, ‘ when thou
goest into far countries as thou hast occasion. Thou must take along
with thee a great company, and horses, goodly, wondrous, brought from
foreign lands. Eor the appointment thou art about to keep, we deem
that thy equipment should be better than ordinary.’—‘ What should
be the number of our company,’ said he.—‘ Thou must take fifty horse
men,’ said she, ‘ with costly bridles for the horses, and thou sb alt
receive all these things from me to-morrow at dawn in thy courtyard.
For thou shalt have fifty iron-gray horses with their bridles of gold
and fifty suits of princely apparel. And let all thy fostersons go with
thee. It is meet that we should help thee ; for thou dost well defend
our country and our land and our inheritance.’ And when they had
said this, the twain departed.
And when Eochaidh arose on the morrow, fifty iron-gray horses were
seen standing in a row at the door of the court; and fifty purple cloaks
braided with gold ; and fifty shirts embroidered with thread of gold :
and fifty golden rods with ferules of silver; and fifty white foals with
red ears, and rolling eyes, and blue hoofs, and silver bits and curbs of
brass.
Now all this was done by magic. And the people were amazed at
this thing. And Eochaidh told his vision unto them.
And when that company went forth on their way to Cruachain,
people were smothered in the press of those who thronged to see them ;
albeit the number of the company was not great; for they were a
wondrous and beautiful sight; fifty champions all equipped alike as
hath been already told.
‘ Who is this ? ’ asked Ailell as the company drew near..—‘ I will
tell thee,’ said his servant. ‘ It is Eochaidh Beg, son of the King of
Cliach.’ Then the company were let into the fort and into the
palace. They were made welcome, and abode there feasting three
days and three nights.
Then said Eochaidh ‘ Wherefore am I summoned hither ? ’—‘ That
I may ask a gift of thee,’ said Ailell. ‘ We have to bear a grievous
burden, the burden of feeding the men of Erin whilst they are
harrying the cattle of Cuailgne.’—‘ What gift dost thou desire ? ’
said Eochaidh.—‘ A gift to us of milch cows,’ said Ailell.—‘ The
cows that I have are not more than I need,’ said Eochaidh.—I have
forty fostersons with me of the sons of the kings and chieftains of
1 The reader will observe that she was a Banshee, i.e, a woman, bean, of the fairy
hills, sidhe.
�THE CATTLE SPOIL OF DAIRT.
265
Munster. There are forty cows to feed them, and I have seven score
milch cows besides for their maintenance, and fifty more following
these.’—‘ I ask,’ said Ailell, ‘ a cow from every householder who is subject
to thee. If it had chanced that the burden was on thee I would
cheerfully have given thee relief.’—‘ It is well,’ said Eochaidh, ‘ thou
shalt have the cattle thou requires!.’ Then they abode there three
days and three nights, and after that they took leave of the King, and
set forth for their own country.
And on the way Eochaidh was met by the three sons of CUaschu of
Irros Domnann; seven score champions was the number of their
company. They joined battle with him. It was at Insenacouchada
in Meath that they met; and Eochaidh Beg the son of Cairpri fell
there, and his forty fostersons along with him. When the tidings of
these things were spread through the land of Erin, three hundred of
the women of Munster died in mourning for the young men.
That night, as Ailell was asleep, he beheld a maiden and a young
champion approach, the fairest he had ever seen. ‘ Whence come ye? ’
said Ailell, ‘ and what are your names ? ’—‘ We are Victory and
Defeat,’ said they.—‘Victory is welcome and Defeat is unwelcome,’
said Ailell.—‘Thou shalt be victorious,’ said the maiden, ‘however it
Be. ‘ How near to us is that issue ? ’ said Ailell.—-‘ I will tell thee,’
said she.—‘ Send on the morrow for a prey of cows to be brought thee
from Dairt the daughter of Eochaidh. It is thine own son Orlam that
thou must send. And go thou to gather a company to attend him.’—
‘ With what number shall he go ? ’ said Ailell.—‘ Let him have fifty
horsemen,’ said she, ‘men of renown ; and fifty of the young men of
Connacht. Thou shalt have from me this day the same equipment as
was provided for the young men that were killed yesterday ; in horses,
and bridles, and cloaks, and brooches, and in the number of each.
Thou shalt receive all these things from me to-morrow at dawn in thy
courtyard. Let us return to our own country now,’ said she.
Then the twain went away immediately that same night to Corb
Cliach Mac Taisigh of Munster, who dwelt in his court on the north
bank of the Nemain, and they appeared unto him as he slept. ‘ Whence
come ye ? ’ said he, ‘ and what are your names ? ’•—‘ Attack and
Plunder,’ said they.—‘Attack is welcome and Plunder is unwelcome,’
said Corb Cliach.—‘ Thou shalt not be plundered,’ said the maiden,
‘but thou shalt be attacked.’—‘ How shall that befall us ? ’ said Corb
Cliach.—‘ I will tell thee,’ said the maiden. ‘ Thou shalt be attacked
by the sons of kings and princes and chieftains.’—‘ Who are they ? ’
said Corb Cliach.—‘We will tell thee,’ said the twain. ‘All the noble
youths that are in Connacht will come to carry off your cows after first
killing thy young men. They will come to-morrow at evening to
carry away from thee Dairt the daughter of Eochaidh. It is not in
great numbers that they will come.’—‘ They shall be hindered by the
protection of the men of Munster if they attempt the deed; and what
�266
THE .CATTLE SPOIL OF DAIRT.
is their number ? ’ asked Corb Cliach.—‘ Seven score champions,5
said she : ‘ and they are seven score men mighty in battle. Now let us
depart,’ said she, 1 that we may gather a host to meet them to-morrow
in the evening.’
And on the morrow at early dawn the Connacht men went forth out
of the court of Cruachain to the green, and there they beheld the
horses and the bridles and the apparel, all as had been promised, at
the door of the court, and the same as what they had seen with
Eochaidh and the princes on the day before. Then Ailell’s champions
were in great doubt whether they would go or not. ‘ ’Twere a pity,’
said he, ‘ to give up the chance of good fortune.’
Then Orlam went forth till he reached the house of Dairt the daughter
of Eochaidh, in Cliu Clasaigh in Munster, on the south shore of the
Shannon. There they unharnessed, and Dairt received him gladly.
Three beeves were sent to them. ‘ We shall not need to dress them,’
said Orlam. ‘ Let our men carry their food with them on horseback.’
This was because they were in fear of the enemy, being in the heart
of Munster. ‘ Wilt thou come away with me, O maiden ? ’ said Orlam.
—‘ I will go, indeed,’ said the maiden : ‘ and take thou the cattle
with thee.’ Then Orlam and his company surrounded the cattle and
carried them away, and the maiden with them.
�
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Victorian Blogging
Description
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A collection of digitised nineteenth-century pamphlets from Conway Hall Library & Archives. This includes the Conway Tracts, Moncure Conway's personal pamphlet library; the Morris Tracts, donated to the library by Miss Morris in 1904; the National Secular Society's pamphlet library and others. The Conway Tracts were bound with additional ephemera, such as lecture programmes and handwritten notes.<br /><br />Please note that these digitised pamphlets have been edited to maximise the accuracy of the OCR, ensuring they are text searchable. If you would like to view un-edited, full-colour versions of any of our pamphlets, please email librarian@conwayhall.org.uk.<br /><br /><span><img src="http://www.heritagefund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/attachments/TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" width="238" height="91" alt="TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" /></span>
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Conway Hall Library & Archives
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2018
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Conway Hall Ethical Society
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Dublin Core
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Title
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The cattle spoil of Dairt
Creator
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Graves, Charles (tr)
Description
An account of the resource
Place of publication: [London]
Collation: 262-266 p. ; 23 cm.
Notes: From the library of Dr Moncure Conway. From The Dark Blue 2 (October 1871). Attribution of journal title, date and author: Virginia Clark catalogue. The Dark Blue was a London-based literary magazine published monthly from 1871 to 1873. "The 'Cattle Spoil of Dairt' is one of a cycle of stories which group round the 'Tain Bo Chuailgue', or Cattle Spoil of Cuailgne, a tale which held a leading place in romantic literature of ancient Ireland' [From introduction]. Introduction and translation by Charles Graves, Bishop of Limerick.
Publisher
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[s.n.]
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[1871]
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G5335
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Ireland
Literature
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<a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"><img src="http://i.creativecommons.org/p/mark/1.0/88x31.png" alt="Public Domain Mark" /></a><span> </span><br /><span>This work (The cattle spoil of Dairt), identified by </span><a href="https://conwayhallcollections.omeka.net/items/show/www.conwayhall.org.uk"><span>Humanist Library and Archives</span></a><span>, is free of known copyright restrictions.</span>
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Text
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English
Conway Tracts
Irish Literature