XIV. [Cuchulaid sat by the wall]
Cuchulaid sat by the wall
Cuchulaid sat by the wall; by the tree of the rustling
leaf. His spear leaned against the mossy rock. His shield
lay by him on the grass. Whilst he thought on the mighty
Carbre, whom he slew in battle, the scout of the ocean came,
Moran, the son of Fithil.
Rise, Cuchulaid, rise! I see the ships of Garve. Many are
the foe, Cuchulaid; many the sons of Lochlyn.
Moran! thou ever tremblest; thy fears increase the foe.
They are the ships of the desert of hills arrived to assist Cuchulaid.
I saw their chief, says Moran, tall as a rock of ice. His
spear is like that fir; his shield like the rising moon. He sat
upon a rock on the shore, as a grey cloud upon the hill. Many,
mighty man! I said, many are our heroes; Garve, well art
thou named, many are the sons of our king.
He answered like a wave on the rock; who is like me here?
The valiant live not with me; they go to the earth from my
hand. The king of the desert of hills alone can fight with
Garve. Once we wrestled on the hill. Our heels overturned
the wood. Rocks fell from their place, and rivulets changed
their course. Three days we strove together; heroes stood at a
distance, and feared. On the fourth, the king saith that I fell;
but Garve saith, he stood. Let Cuchulaid yield to him that is
strong as a storm.
No. I will never yield to man. Cuchulaid will conquer or
die. Go, Moran, take my spear; strike the shield of Caithbait
which hangs before the gate. It never rings in peace. My
heroes shall hear on the hill. ------