The Coming of Cuculain Read online

  CHAPTER II

  THE BOYS OF THE ULTONIANS

  "And dear the school-boy spot We ne'er forget though there we are forgot."

  BYRON.

  "There were his young barbarians all at play."

  BYRON.

  In the morning Fergus Mac Roy said to the young king, "What shall we dothis day, O Concobar? Shall we lead forth our sweet-voiced hounds intothe woods and rouse the wild boar from his lair, and chase the swiftdeer, or shall we drive afar in our chariots and visit one of oursubject kings and take his tribute as hospitality, which, according tothee, wise youth, is the best, for it is agreeable to ourselves and notdispleasing to the man that is tributary."

  "Nay," said Concobar, "let us wait and watch this day. Hast thouforgotten the words of Cathvah?"

  "Truly, in a manner I had," said Fergus, "for I never much regarded, therace of seers, or deemed the birds more than pleasant songsters, and thestars as a fair spectacle, or druidic instruments aught but toys."

  "Let us play at chess on the lawn of the dun," said the king, "while ourboys exercise themselves at hurling on the green."

  "It is agreeable to me," said Fergus, "though well thou knowest, dearfoster-son, that I am not thy match at the game."

  What the champion said was true, for in royal wisdom the king farexcelled his foster-father, and that was the reason why Fergus hadabdicated the supreme captainship of the Red Branch in favour ofConcobar, for though his heart was great his understanding was not fineand acute like the understanding of his foster-son.

  The table was set for them upon the lawn before the great painted andglowing palace, and three-footed stools were put on either side of thattable, and bright cloths flung over them. A knight to whom that was aduty brought forth and unfolded a chess-board of ivory on which silversquares alternated with gold, cunningly wrought by some ancient cerd,[Footnote: Craftsman.] a chief jewel of the realm; another bore in hishand the man-bag, also a wonder, glistening, made of netted wires offindruiney, [Footnote: A bright yellow bronze, the secret of makingwhich is now lost. The metal may be seen in our museums. In beauty itis superior to gold. ] and took therefrom the men and disposed themin their respective places on the board, each in the centre of his ownsquare. The gold men were on the squares of silver, and the silver onthe squares of gold. The table was set under the shadowing branches ofa great tree, for it was early summer and the sun shone in his strength.So Concobar and Fergus, lightly laughing, affectionate and mirthful, thechallenger and the challenged, came forth through the wide doorway ofthe dun. Armed youths went with them. The right arm of Fergus was castlightly over the shoulder of Concobar, and his ear was inclined to himas the young king talked, for their mutual affection was very great andlike that of a great boy and a small boy when such, as often happens,become attached to one another. So Concobar and Fergus sat down toplay, though right seldom did the Champion win any game from the King.Concobar beckoned to him one of the young knights. It was Conall Carna,[Footnote: Conall the Victorious. He came second to Cuculain amongst theRed Branch Knights. He is the theme of many heroic stories. Once in aduel he broke the right arm of his opponent. He bade his seconds tie uphis own corresponding arm.] son of Amargin, youngest of the knights ofConcobar. "Son of Amargin," said the king, "do thou watch over the boysthis day in their pastimes. See that nothing is done unseemly or unjust.Observe narrowly the behaviour and disposition of the lads, and reportall things clearly to me on the morrow."

  So saying, he moved one of the pieces on the board, and ConallCarna strode away southwards to where the boys were already dividingthemselves into two parties for a match at hurling.

  That son of Amargin was the handsomest youth of all the province. Whiteand ruddy was his beardless countenance. Bright as gold which boils overthe edge of the refiner's crucible was his hair, which fell curling uponhis broad shoulders and over the circumference of his shield, outshiningits splendour. By his side hung a short sword with a handle ofwalrus-tooth; in his left hand he bore two spears tipped with glitteringbronze. Fergus and Concobar watched him as he strode over the grass;Concobar noted his beauty and grace, but Fergus noted his greatstrength. Soon the boys, being divided into two equal bands, began theirpastime and contended, eagerly urging the ball to and fro. The noiseof the stricken ball and the clash of the hurles shod with bronze, thecries of the captains, and the shouting of the boys, filled all the air.

  That good knight stood midway between the goals, eastward from theplayers. Ever and anon with a loud clear voice he reproved the youths,and they hearkening took his rebukes in silence and obeyed his words.Cathvah came forth that day upon the lawn, and thus spoke one of theboys to another in some pause of the game, "Yonder, see! the Ard-Druidof the Province. Wherefore comes he forth from his druidic chambersto-day at this hour, such not being his wont?" And the other answeredlightly, laughing, and with boyish heedlessness, "I know not wherefore;but well he knows himself." And therewith ran to meet the ball whichpassed that way. There was yet a third who watched the boys. He stoodafar off on the edge of the plain. He had a little shield strapped onhis back, two javelins in one hand, and a hurle in the other. He wasvery young and fair. He stood looking fixedly at the hurlers, and as helooked he wept. It was the child who had been promised to the Ultonians.