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Post by wren on Nov 30, 2006 11:10:13 GMT -5
This is the beginning of a series of posts regarding the Táin Bó Cuailnge, an epic Irish story of mythic proportions. There are shades and shadows, heros and kings, and so much depth in each chapter to unravel and reveal. It should make for great discussions of the ancient lore and how it applies to us today. First, let us understand some background to the story... From the translation of The Táin Bó Cuailnge by Thomas Kinsella: Much of early literature has been lost. Much of what survives is contained in a few large manuscripts made in medieval times. Among their miscellaneous contents are four groups of stories:
- mythological stories relating to the Tuatha De Danann (‘the Tribes of the Goddess Danu’), an ancient divine race said to have inhabited Ireland before the coming of the Celts; - the Ulster cycle, dealing with the exploits of King Conchobor and the champions of the Red Branch, chief of whom is Cuchulainn, the Hound of Ulster - The Fenian cycle, stories of Finn mac Cumaill, his son Oisin and the other warriors of the fiana; and - A group of stories centered on various kinds said to have reigned between the third century BC and the eighth century AD
The oldest of these manuscripts – Lebor na hUidre, familiarly known as the Book of the Dun Cow – was compiled in the monastery of Clonmacnoise in the twelfth century. It contains in a badly flawed and mutilated text, part of the earliest known form of the Táin Bo Cuailnge. Another partial version of the same story, also flawed, is contained in the fourth century manuscript, the Yellow Book of Lecan. Between them these give the main body of the Táin as used in Chapters II to XIV of this translation.
The origins of the Táin are far more ancient than these manuscripts. The language of the earliest form of the story is dated to the eighth century but some of the verse passages may be two centuries older, and it is held by most Celtic scholars that the Ulster cycle, with the rest of early Irish literature, must have had a long oral existence before it received a literary shape, and a few traces of Christian color, at the hands of the monastic scribes.
AS to the background of the Táin, the Ulster cycle was traditionally believed to refer to the time of Christ. This might seem to be supported by the similarity between the barbaric world of the stories, uninfluenced by Greece or Rome, and the La Tene Iron Age civilization of Gaul and Britain. The Táin and certain descriptions of Gaulish society by classical authors have many details in common: in warfare alone, the individual weapons, the boastfulness and courage of the warriors, the practices of cattle-raiding, chariot-fighting and beheading. Ireland, however, by its isolated position, could retain traits and customs that had disappeared elsewhere centuries before, and it is possible that the kind of culture the Táin describes may have lasted in Ireland up to the introduction of Christianity in the fifth century.
The Táin itself, considered as a unit, lacks a number of essential elements: the actual motive for the Connacht invasion of Ulster, the reason for the sickness for the Ulster warriors throughout most of the action, the reason for Fergus’ opposition to Conchobor and for the presence of a troop of Ulster exiles in the Connacht army.
The last three of these elements are supplied in separate tales. Many remscéla, or pre-tales, lead up to the Táin. Though not strictly part of the story they are important tributaries. Some tell of the origins, wooings and adventures of the kings and heroes of the cycle.
The motive for the invasion is supplied in a later version of the Táin, four centuries younger, of which the most famous copy is contained in another major manuscript compiled in the twelfth century, in the Book of Leinster.For better and understanding of the text, there are several links that might be of assistance... Placenames and Personal Names of The Táin Bó Cuailnge: departments.vassar.edu/~sttaylor/Cooley/Names.htmlPronunciation Guide for The Táin Bó Cuailnge: departments.vassar.edu/~sttaylor/Cooley/pronunciation.html
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Post by wren on Nov 30, 2006 19:52:02 GMT -5
1. Here Beginneth The Cualnge Cattle-raid
ONCE of a time, that Ailill and Medb had spread their royal bed in Cruachan, the stronghold of Connacht, such was the pillow-talk that befell betwixt them:
Quoth Ailill: "True is the saying, lady, 'She is a well-off woman that is a rich man's wife.'" "Aye,that she is," answered the wife; "but wherefore opin'st thou so?" "For this," Ailill replied,"that thou art this day better off than the day that first I took thee." Then answered Medb: "As well-off was I before I ever saw thee." "It was a wealth, forsooth, we never heard nor knew of," Ailill said; "but a woman's wealth was all thou hadst, and foes from lands next thine were used to carry off the spoil and booty that they took from thee."
"Not so was I," quoth Medb; "the High King of Erin himself was my sire, Eocho Fedlech ('the Enduring') son of Finn, by name, who was son of Findoman, son of Finden, son of Findguin, son of Rogen Ruad ('the Red'), son of Rigen, son of Blathacht, son of Beothacht, son of Enna Agnech, son of Oengus Turbech. Of daughters, had he six: Derbriu, Ethne and Ele, Clothru, Mugain and Medb, myself, that was the noblest and seemliest of them.
'Twas I was the goodliest of them in bounty and gift-giving, in riches and treasures. 'Twas I was best of them in battle and strife and combat. 'Twas I that had fifteen hundred royal mercenaries of the sons of aliens exiled from their own land, and as many more of the sons of freemen of the land. And there were ten men with every one of these hirelings, and nine men with every hireling, and eight men with every hireling, and seven men with every hireling, and six men with every hireling, and five men with every hireling, and four men with every hireling, and three men with every hireling, and two men with every hireling, and one hireling with every hireling. These were as a standing household-guard," continued Medb; " hence hath my father bestowed one of the five provinces of Erin upon me, even the province of Cruachan; wherefore 'Medb of Cruachan ' am I called.
Men came from Finn son of Ross Ruad ('the Red'), king of Leinster, to seek me for a wife, and I refused him; and from Carbre Niafer ('the Champion') son of Ross Ruad ('the Red'), king of Temair, to woo me, and I refused him; and they came from Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach ('the Mighty'), king of Ulster, and I refused him in like wise. They came from Eocho Bec ('the Small'), and I went not; for 'tis I that exacted a singular bride-gift, such as no woman before me had ever required of a man of the men of Erin, namely, a husband without avarice, without jealousy, without fear.
For should he be mean, the man with whom I should live, we were ill-matched together, inasmuch as I am great in largess and gift-giving, and it would be a disgrace for my husband if I should be better at spending than he, and for it to be said that I was superior in wealth and treasures to trim, while no disgrace would it be were one as great as the other. Were my husband a coward,'twere as unfit for us to be mated, for I by myself and alone break battles and fights and combats, and 'twould be a reproach for my husband should his wife be more full of life than himself, and no reproach our being equally bold. Should he be jealous, the husband with whom I should live, that too would not suit me, for there never was a time that I had not my paramour.
Howbeit, such a husband have I found, namely in thee thyself, Ailill son of Ross Ruad ('the Red') of Leinster. Thou wast not churlish; thou wast not jealous; thou wast not a sluggard. It was I plighted thee, and gave purchase-price to thee, which of right belongs to the bride-- of clothing, namely, the raiment of twelve men, a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids, the breadth of thy face of red gold, the weight of thy left forearm of silvered bronze. Whoso brings shame and sorrow and madness upon thee, no claim for compensation nor satisfaction hast thou therefor that I myself have not, but it is to me the compensation belongs," said Medb, "for a man dependent upon a woman's maintenance is what thou art."
"Nay, not such was my state," said Ailill; "but two brothers had I; one of them over Temair, the other over Leinster; namely, Finn, over Leinster, and Carbre, over Temair. I left the kingship to them because they were older but not superior to me in largess and bounty. Nor heard I of province in Erin under woman's keeping but this province alone. And for this I came and assumed the kingship here as my mother's successor; for Mata of Muresc, daughter of Magach of Connacht, was my mother. And who could there be for me to have as my queen better than thyself, being, as thou wert, daughter of the High King of Erin?" "Yet so it is," pursued Medb, "my fortune is greater than thine." "I marvel at that," Ailill made answer, "for there is none that hath greater treasures and riches and wealth than I: yea, to my knowledge there is not."
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Post by wren on Nov 30, 2006 19:58:50 GMT -5
Not only is there a geneology in this first portion of the story but a fair description and understanding of both Medb and Ailill's personalities and what they expect from their union. This would seem to be a simple story, on first glance, of a husband and wife but it takes on an entirely new meaning if we consider that a king married the land (represented by a lady) and was expected to be 'a husband without avarice, without jealousy, without fear'.
In this instance that lady,Medb, has already made it clear that she will have many such liasons. She outlines what should happen if they be ill-matched. Such would be the case of a weak king, ill-suited to serve the land and his people.
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Post by Senbecc on Nov 30, 2006 21:18:00 GMT -5
Not only is there a geneology in this first portion of the story but a fair description and understanding of both Medb and Ailill's personalities and what they expect from their union. This would seem to be a simple story, on first glance, of a husband and wife but it takes on an entirely new meaning if we consider that a king married the land (represented by a lady) and was expected to be 'a husband without avarice, without jealousy, without fear'. In this instance that lady,Medb, has already made it clear that she will have many such liasons. She outlines what should happen if they be ill-matched. Such would be the case of a weak king, ill-suited to serve the land and his people. In my understanding, according to Brehon law there were about 10 different types of Irish marraiges, the first and most sought was the marraige between equals, this is why I think many seem to associate queen Medb with fertillity and wealth. I have always seen this first part of the story as symbolic of a "battle of the sexes" type confrontation, and Medb wasn't about to be beaten.
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Post by bran_sinnach on Dec 1, 2006 1:50:32 GMT -5
Here are the ten marriages outlined in Brehon law as I know them. A marriage of the first degree takes place between partners of equal rank and property.
A marriage of the second degree is one where the man has more property, and supports the woman.
A marriage of the third degree is reverse, with the aided stipulation that the man must agree to till his wife's fields and manage her cattle, in order to keep a mans dignity and a wife's respect.
Fourth degree marriage is different. Nor property is taken into consideration, and no contract between partners is agreed upon in advance. This particular type of arrangement is described as 'the marriage of a loved one.' The right of the children are described by law and safe-guarded, but the woman is in effect a concubine. She is not an official wife, so if her husband dies, she may not continue to reside beneath his roof but must return to her own people.
A marriage of the fifth degree is one in which a man and a woman share their bodies by mutual agreement, but continue to inhabit seperate dwellings.
When a man forcibly abducts a woman-as when chieftains sometimes seized their defeated enemies wife after a battle- that is a marriage of the sixth degree for as long as he could keep her.
A seventh degree marriage was often referred to as a 'soldiers marriage', which were often casual unions for no more than a single night.
A marriage of the eigth degree takes place when a man obtains a woman's body through deception, such as seducing her with lies about his status or his amount of property, or taking advantage of her intoxication.
An act of plain rape is a marriage of the ninth degree, for which the guilty man is often expected to pay a yearly coibche, or 'bride-price', once every year for the remaining years of the bride's life.
And finally, a marriage of the tenth degree is marriage between two people who are considered to be 'feebleminded.' As we can see from the first three levels of marriage shown here, whether the husband or the wife had greater property when the marriage was entered had a great effect upon the rules of the union. In this situation, it seems as if they have most likely entered into a marriage of the first degree, but that Medb is insinuating that it was instead a marriage of the third degree-especially considering that she was outlining tasks and ideals for him "in order to keep a mans dignity and a wife's respect." He then, in turn, implies a marriage of the second degree in which she would not be able to 'obligate' him in the same manner that she could through a marriage of the third degree. In my opinion it is indeed a battle of the sexes, and one subtly making use of the ancient Brehon laws.
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Post by wren on Dec 1, 2006 13:56:07 GMT -5
2. The Occaision of the Táin
Then were brought to them the least precious of their possessions, that they might know which of them had the more treasures, riches and wealth. Their pails and their cauldrons and their iron-wrought vessels, their jugs and their keeves and their eared pitchers were fetched to them.
Likewise, their rings and their bracelets and their thumbrings and their golden treasures were fetched to them, and their apparel, both purple and blue and black and green, yellow, vari-coloured and gray, dun, mottled and brindled.
Their numerous flocks of sheep were led in from fields and meeds and plains. These were counted and compared, and found to be equal, of like size, of like number; however, there was an uncommonly fine ram over Medb's sheep, and he was equal in worth to a bondmaid, but a corresponding ram was over the ewes of Ailill.
Their horses and steeds and studs were brought from pastures and paddocks. There was a noteworthy horse in Medb's herd and he was of the value of a bondmaid; a horse to match was found among Ailill's.
Then were their numerous droves of swine driven from woods and shelving glens and wolds. These were numbered and counted and claimed. There was a noteworthy boar with Medb, and yet another with Ailill.
Next they brought before them their droves of cattle and their herds and their roaming flocks from the brakes and wastes of the province.
These were counted and numbered and claimed, and were the same for both, equal in size, equal in number, except only there was an especial bull of the bawn of Ailill, and he was a calf of one of Medb's cows, and Finnbennach ('the Whitehorned') was his name. But he, deeming it no honour to be in a woman's possession, had left and gone over to the kine of the king. And it was the same to Medb as if she owned not a pennyworth, forasmuch as she had not a bull of his size amongst her cattle.
Then it was that macRoth the messenger was summoned to Medb, and Medb strictly bade macRoth to learn where there might be found a bull of that likeness in any of the provinces of Erin. "Verily," said macRoth, "I know where the bull is that is best and better again, in the province of Ulster, in the hundred of Cualnge, in the house of Darè son of Fiachna; even Donn Cualnge ('the Brown Bull of Cualnge') he is called."
"Go thou to him, macRoth, and ask for me of Darè the loan for a year of the Brown Bull of Cualnge, and at the year's end he shall have the meed of the loan, to wit, fifty heifers and the Donn Cualnge himself. And bear thou a further boon with thee, macRoth. Should the borderfolk and those of the country grudge the loan of that rare jewel that is the Brown Bull of Cualnge, let Darè himself come with his bull, and he shall get a measure equalling his own land of the smooth Plain of Ai and a chariot of the worth of thrice seven bondmaids and he shall enjoy my own close friendship."
Thereupon the messengers fared forth to the house of Darè son of Fiachna. This was the number wherewith macRoth went, namely, nine couriers. Anon welcome was lavished on macRoth in Darè's house-- fitting welcome it was-- chief messenger of all was macRoth. Darè asked of macRoth what had brought him upon the journey and why he was come.
The messenger announced the cause for which he was come and related the contention between Medb and Ailill. "And it is to beg the loan of the Brown Bull of Cualnge to match the Whitehorned that I am come," said he; "and thou shalt receive the hire of his loan, even fifty heifers and the Brown of Cualnge himself. And yet more I may add: Come thyself with thy bull and thou shalt have of the land of the smooth soil of Mag Ai as much as thou ownest here, and a chariot of the worth of thrice seven bondmaids and enjoy Medb's friendship to boot."
At these words Darè was well pleased, and he leaped for joy so that the seams of his flock-bed rent in twain beneath him. "By the truth of our conscience," said he; "however the Ulstermen take it, whether ill or well, this time this jewel shall be delivered to Ailill and to Medb, the Brown of Cualnge to wit, into the land of Connacht." Well pleased was macRoth at the words of the son of Fiachna.
Thereupon they were served, and straw and fresh rushes were spread under them. The choicest of food was brought to them and a feast was served to them and soon they were noisy and drunken. And a discourse took place between two of the messengers." 'Tis true what I say," spoke the one; "good is the man in whose house we are." "Of a truth, he is good." "Nay, is there one among all the men of Ulster better than he?" persisted the first. "In sooth, there is," answered the second messenger. "Better is Conchobar whose man he is, Conchobar who holds the kingship of the province. And though all the Ulstermen gathered around him, it were no shame for them. Yet is it passing good of Darè, that what had been a task for the four mighty provinces of Erin to bear away from the land of Ulster, even the Brown Bull of Cualnge, is surrendered so freely to us nine footmen."
Hereupon a third runner had his say: " What is this ye dispute about?" he asked. "Yon runner says, 'A good man is the man in whose house we are.'" "Yea, he is good," saith the other. "Is there among all the Ulstermen any that is better than he?" demanded the first runner further. "Aye, there is," answered the second runner; "better is Conchobar whose man he is; and though all the Ulstermen gathered around him, it were no shame for them. Yet, truly good it is of Darè, that what had been a task for four of the grand provinces of Erin to bear away out of the borders of Ulster is handed over even unto us nine footmen." "I would not grudge to see a retch of blood and gore in the mouth whereout that was said; for, were the bull not given willingly, yet should he be taken by force!"
At that moment it was that Darè macFiachna's chief steward came into the house and with him a man with drink and another with food, and he heard the foolish words of the runners; and anger came upon him, and he set down their food and drink for them and he neither said to them, "Eat," nor did he say, "Eat not."
Straightway he went into the house where was Darè macFiachna and said: "Was it thou that hast given that notable jewel to the messengers, the Brown Bull of Cualnge?" "Yea, it was I," Darè made answer. "Verily, it was not the part of a king to give him. For it is true what they say: Unless thou hadst bestowed him of thine own free will, so wouldst thou yield him in despite of thee by the host of Ailill and Medb and by the great cunning of Fergus macRoig." "I swear by the gods whom I worship," spoke Darè, " they shall in no wise take by foul means what they cannot take by fair!"
There they abide till morning. Betimes on the morrow the runners arise and proceed to the house where is Darè. "Acquaint us, lord, how we may reach the place where the Brown Bull of Cualnge is kept." "Nay then," saith Darè; "but were it my wont to deal foully with messengers or with travelling folk or with them that go by the road, not one of you would depart alive!" "How sayest thou?" quoth macRoth. "Great cause there is," replied Darè; "ye said, unless I yielded in good sort, I should yield to the might of Ailill's host and Medb's and the great cunning of Fergus."
"Even so," said macRoth, "whatever the runners drunken with thine ale and thy viands have said, 'tis not for thee to heed nor mind, nor yet to be charged on Ailill and on Medb." "For all that, macRoth, this time I will not give my bull, if ever I can help it!"
Back then the messengers go till they arrive at Cruachan, the stronghold of Connacht. Medb asks their tidings, and macRoth makes known the same: that they had not brought his bull from Darè. "And the reason?" demanded Medb. MacRoth recounts to her how the dispute arose. "There is no need to polish knots over such affairs as that, macRoth; for it was known," said Medb, "if the Brown Bull of Cualnge would not be given with their will, he would be taken in their despite, and taken he shall be!"
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Post by diarmuid on Apr 20, 2008 14:08:31 GMT -5
Fantastic! Thank you for posting that wren!
I actually just finished reading Ciaran Carson's translation of the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Great story.
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