Ossian Collection > Heroic and Ossianic literature

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guarantees that Meave will fulfill her promises, especially as to the
money and lands. Curiously too, in tlie Tliad, the Greeks always
fight for Helen and the riches she took with her to Asia. There
is little sentiment in the matter. But if we argue merely a priori
as to what sentiments or customs existed in ancient times, we are
certain to go wrong, as Macpherson always did.
The rest of Cuchulinn's life is shortly told, and this portion
of it is also the one that has taken most popular hold, and hence is
known best here. We have mentioned that he left a son unboi-n
in Scathach. This was Couloch. His mother educated him in all
warlike accomplishments possible, save only the "gae-bolg." She
then sent him to Ireland under "geasa" not to reveal his name,
but he was to challenge and slay if need be the champions there.
She secretly hoped in this way that he would kill his fiither
Ouchulinn, and so avenge her wrongs. He landed in Ireland,
demanded combat, and overcame everybody. He lastly overcame
and bound Conall Cernach, next to Cuchulinn the best champion
of Erin. Then Conchobar sent for Cuchulinn; he came — asked
Conloch his name, but he would not divulge it. Conloch knew
his father Cuchulinn, and though Cuchulinn pressed him bard, he
tried to do him no injury. Cuchulinn, finding the fight go against
him, called, as in his extremity he always did, for the Gae-Bolg.
He killed Conloch. Then follows a scene of tender and simple
pathos, such as not rarely ends these ballads of genuine origin.
The story is exactly parallel to that of Soohrab and Rustem in
Persia, so beautifully rendered in verse by Matthew Arnold.
A wild and pathetic story is that of Cuchulinn's death.
Meave, determined to avenge herself on him for the Tain Bo
Chualgne, suddenly attacked him with a force that took her years
to get ready. For instance, the six posthumous children of
Cailetin, the magician, whom Cuchulinn killed on the Tain, appeared
against him. The omens were against Cuchulinn's setting out ;
the divine horse, the Liath Macha, thrice turned his left side to
him ; he reproached the steed ; " thereat the Gray of Macha came
and let his big round tears of blood fall on Cuchulinn's feet."
He went ; the Tuatha-De evidently and plainly deserted him ;
the magician children of Cailetin had therefore open field. He
fell by his own spear, hurled back by the foe. But Conall Cernach
came to avenge his fall ; and as he came, the foe saw something at
a distance. " One horseman is here coming to us," said a
charioteer, " and great are the speed and swiftness with which he
comes. Thou woiildst deem that the i-avens of Erin were above
him. Thou wouldst deem that flakes of snow were specking the