  From the "Sickbed of Cuchulain." I came with joyous sprightly steps, —Wondrous the place, though its fame was known,— Till I reached the cairn where, 'mid scores of bands, I found Labra of the flowing hair. I found him seated at the cairn, Ringed round by thousands of weaponed men, Yellow the hair on him, beauteous its hue, A ball of ruddy gold enclosing it. After a time he recognised me, In the purple, five-folded mantle, He spake to me, "Wilt thou come with me To the house wherein is Failbe Fand?" Two kings are in the house, Failbe Fand and Labra, Three fifties surround each one of them, That the full sum of the one house. With fifty nobles (?) in them, Fifty beds on the left side, With fifty in them also. Copper are the borders of the beds, White the pillars overlaid with gold; This the candle in their midst, A lustrous precious stone. At the door westward In the place where sets the sun, Stand a herd of grey palfreys, dappled their manes, And another herd purple-brown. There stand at the Eastern door Three ancient trees of purple pure, From them the sweet, everlasting birds Call to the lads of the kingly rath. At the door of the liss there is a tree, Out of which there sounds sweet harmony, A tree of silver with the shining of the sun upon it, Its lustrous splendour like to gold. Three twenties of trees are there, Their crests swing together but do not clash, From each of those trees three hundred are fed With fruits many-tasted, that have cast their rind. There is a well in the noble (?) sÍdh; There are thrice fifty mantles of various hue, And a clasp of gold, all lustrous, Holds the corner Being dispensed to the household; Still it lasts, in unchanged wise, Full to the brim, everlastingly. There is a maiden in the noble (?) house Surpassing the women of Éire, She steps forward, with yellow hair, Beautiful, many-gifted she. Her discourse with each in turn Is beauteous, is marvellous, The heart of each one breaks With longing and love for her. The noble maiden said: "Who is that youth whom we do not know? If thou be he, come hither awhile— The gillie of the Man from Murthemne." I went to her slowly, slowly, Fear for my honour seized me, She asked me, "Comes he hither, The famous son of Dechtire?" (Laegh addresses Cuchulain) Alas, that he And every person asking it, That he might see, as it is, The mighty house that I have seen. And the kingdom of Magh Breg of gold, I would give it (no small test) Could I frequent the place where I have been! FOOTNOTES: |
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