Ossian Collection > Heroic and Ossianic literature

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his friend, Cuchulinn, hears Cuchulinn coming thundering to the
ford, and describes the sound and its meaning to Ferdia in verse,
following the introductory narrative. And he was not long
" until he saw something, the beautiful, flesh-seeking, four-peaked
chariot, with speed, with velocity, with full cunning, with a green
pavilion, with a thin-bodied, dry-bodied, high-weaponed, long-
speared, warlike creit (body of the chariot); upon two fleet-bound-
ing, large-eared, tierce, prancing, whale-bellied, broad-chested,
lively-hearted, high-flanked, wide-hoofed, slender-legged, broad-
rumped, resolute hoi'ses under it. A gray, broad-hipped, fleet,
bounding, long-maned steed under the one yoke of the chariot. A
black tufty-maned, ready-going, broad-backed steed under the other
yoke. Like unto a hawk (swooping) from a cliff on a day of hard
wind ; or like a sweeping gust of the spring wind on a March
day, over a smooth plain ; or like the fleetness of a wild stag on
his being first started by the hounds in his first field, were Cuchu-
laind's two horses with the chariot, as though they were on fiery
flags ; so that the earth shook and trembled with the velocity of
their motion."
The heroes met at the ford- -Cuchulinn is always connected
with ford-fighting. They fought for three days, and on the fourth
the fight was terrible and the feats grand ; Cuchulinn hard pressed
calls for his gae-bolg — a feat which Ferdia was unacquainted with,
and Cuchulinn slays him. Cuchulinn mourns over his friend's
body in piteous strains, and weak with grief and wounds he leaves
his place at the ford, which he had defended so long and well.
Meave now passed into Ulster, seized the Donn Chualgre,
and sent it to Connaught ; she ravaged Ulster to the very gates
of its capital, and then began to retire. But now the spell that
bound the men of Ulster was broken, they woke and pursued ; a
great battle was fought in which, as usual, the combatants and arms
are described minutely ; indeed throughoiit the Tain we are
treated to a profusion of colour — of red or yellow hair on the
warriors' heads, coloured silk leine or blouses, mantles held by rich
brooches, aiid finely wrought shields. The Queen was defeated,
but the Donn Chualgne reached Connaught nevertheless. This
wonderful animal finding himself among strange pastures, gave
vent to his wonder and vexation in a serious of mighty bellows.
These brought the Finnbeannach on the scene at once ; they
fought, the Donn overcame and raising his rival on his horns rushed
homewards, leaving detached parts of the Finnbeannach hei'e and
there on his way ; such as at Athlone, whiish (signifies the ford of
the loin. His rage ceased not when he reached Cualgne, but he