Wars of the Irish Kings (21 page)

Brian was then on the plain of Ath Cliath [Dublin], in council with the nobles of the Dal Cais, and with Maelsechlainn [Malachy], and with Murchadh [Brian’s son], and with Conaing, and with Tadhg, son of Cathal, and with the nobles of Conacht together, and with the men of Mumhain and the men of Midhe [Meath]; but it happened that the men of Midhe and Maelsechlainn were not of one mind with the rest.

Brian looked out behind him and beheld the battle phalanx, compact,
huge, disciplined, moving in silence, mutely, bravely, haughtily, unitedly, with one mind, traversing the plain towards them; and three score and ten banners over them, of red, and of yellow, and of green, and of all kinds of colours; together with the everlasting, variegated, lucky, fortunate banner, that had gained the victory in every battle and in every conflict, and in every combat; by which seven battles had been gained before that time, namely, the gold-spangled banner of Fergal Ua Ruairc, chief king of the territory of Brefni and Conmaicni; and Fergal himself was there, and Domhnall, son of Ragallach, and Gilla-na-naemh, son of Domhnall, grandson of Fergal, and the nobles of the territory of Brefni and Conmaicni in like manner. And they came near the tent, and stopped there; and Fergal and the nobles advanced to where Brian was, to meet him, and Brian gave them a hearty friendly welcome; and Murchadh rose up to him, and seated him in his place. And Brian asked him the news, and he told him that Aedh, son of Ualgairg Ua Ciardha, king of Cairbri [parts of Counties Leitrim and Cavan], refused to accompany him to that battle in defence of Brian. And therefore Brian cursed Ua Ciardha, and the Cairbri, and gave a blessing to Fergal and to the men of Brefni also.

Some, indeed, have said that the pay of the pirates was spent the night before that battle, and that they had gone
homewards
as far as Benn Edair [Howth], when they saw the conflagration and devastation of the country; for they had offered Brian the night before, that if he would delay the burning until the morrow’s sunrise, they would raise their sail-masts, and never return again; for they dreaded the valour of Murchadh, and of the Dál Cais in general.

But now the fleet returned, and came to one place; both the foreigners of Ath Cliath and the Laighin, and they formed seven great strong battalions. And then ensued a conflict, wrestling, wounding, noisy, bloody, crimsoned, terrible, fierce, quarrelsome: that conflict of the Dál Cais and the men of Munster, and of Conacht, and of the men of Brefni, and of the foreigners, and of the Laighin.

Now on the one side of that battle were the shouting, hateful, powerful, wrestling, valiant, active, fierce-moving, dangerous, nimble, violent, furious, unscrupulous, untamable, inexorable, unsteady, cruel, barbarous, frightful, sharp, ready, huge, prepared, cunning, warlike, poisonous, murderous, hostile Danars [Danes]; bold, hard-hearted Danmarkians, surly, piratical foreigners, blue-green, pagan; without reverence, without veneration,
without honour, without mercy, for God or for man. These had for the purposes of battle and combat, and for their defence, sharp, swift, bloody, crimsoned, bounding, barbed, keen, bitter, wounding, terrible, piercing, fatal, murderous, poisoned arrows, which had been anointed and browned in the blood of dragons and toads, and water-snakes of hell, and of scorpions and otters, and wonderful venomous snakes of all kinds, to be cast and shot at active and warlike, and valiant chieftains. They had with them hideous, barbarous, quivers; and polished, yellow-shining bows; and strong, broad green, sharp, rough, dark spears, in the stout, bold, hard hands of freebooters. They had also with them polished, pliable, triple-plated, heavy, stout, corslets of double refined iron, and of cool uncorroding brass, for the protection of their bodies, and skin, and skulls, from sharp terrible arms, and from all sorts of fearful weapons. They had also with them valorous, heroic, heavy, hard-striking, strong, powerful, stout swords.

But on the other side of that battle were brave, valiant champions; soldierly, active, nimble, bold, full of courage, quick, doing great deeds, pompous, beautiful, aggressive, hot, strong, swelling, bright, fresh, never-weary, terrible, valiant, victorious heroes and chieftains, and champions, and brave soldiers, the men of high deeds, and honour, and renown of Erinn; namely, the heavy weight that broke down every stronghold, and cleft every way, and sprang over every obstacle, and flayed every stout head, that is to say, the descendants of Lugaidh, son of Oenghus Tirech, who are called the Dal Cais of Borumha, and the stainless intelligent heroes of the Gaidhil along with them ….

And these had for the purposes of battle and combat, above their heads, spears glittering, well riveted, empoisoned, with well-shaped, heroic, beautiful handles of white hazle; terrible sharp darts with variegated silken strings; thick set with bright, dazzling, shining nails, to be violently cast at the heroes of valour and bravery. They had on them also, long, glossy, convenient, handsome, white, neat, well-adjusted, graceful shirts. They had on them also, beautiful, many-coloured, well-fitting, handsome, well-shaped, well-adjusted, enfolding tunics, over comfortable long vests. They had with them also, great warlike, bright, beautiful, variegated shields, with bosses of brass, and elegant chains of bronze, at the sides of their noble, accomplished, sweet, courteous, eloquent clansmen. They had on them also, crested golden helmets, set with sparkling transparent brilliant gems and precious stones, on the heads of chiefs and royal knights.
They had with them also, shining, powerful, strong, graceful, sharp, glaring, bright, broad, well-set Lochlann axes, in the hands of chiefs and leaders, and heroes, and brave knights, for cutting and maiming the close well-fastened coats of mail. They had with them, steel, strong, piercing, graceful, ornamental, smooth, sharp-pointed, bright-sided, keen, clean, azure, glittering, flashing, brilliant, handsome, straight, well-tempered, quick, sharp swords, in the beautiful white hands of chiefs and royal knights, for hewing and for hacking, for maiming and mutilating skins, and bodies, and skulls.

Woe unto all who shunned not this people, who did not yield unto them. Woe to those who aroused their anger, if it was possible to escape from it. Woe to those who attacked them, if they could have avoided attacking them; for it was swimming against a stream; it was pummelling an oak with fists; it was a hedge against the swelling of a spring-tide; it was a string upon sand or a sun-beam; it was the fist against a sun-beam, to attempt to give them battle or combat; for it is not easy to conceive any horror equal to that of arousing the fierce battle and hard conflict of these warriors.

So these battalions were arranged and disposed in the following manner. The foreigners and the Laighen placed in the front the murderous foreign Danars, under Brodar, earl of Caer Ebroc, chieftain of the Danars; with Conmael, his mother’s son, and with Siucaid, son of Lotar, earl of the Ore Islands, and with Plait, the bravest knight of all the foreigners, and with Anrath, son of Elbric, son of the king of Lochlann, and Carlus, and Torbenn the black, and Sunin, and Suanin, and the nobles of the foreigners of western Europe, from Lochlann westwards, along with them. A line of one very great strong battalion was formed of all the foreigners of Ath Cliath, and it was placed after the above, that is after the Danmarkians.

At their head were Dubhgall, son of Amlaf, and Gilla Ciarain, son of Glun-iaraind, son of Amlaf, and Donchad, grandson of Erulf, and Amlaf, Lagmund, son of Goffraidh, the four crown princes of the foreigners. At their head also, were Ottir the black, and Grisin, and Lummin, and Snadgair, four petty kings of the foreigners, and four chieftains of ships, and the nobles of the foreigners of Erinn along with them. A battalion was also formed of the Laighin and of the Ui Cennselaigh, and it was placed behind the above. And at the head of them were Maelmordha [brother of Brian’s former wife Gormfhlaich], son of Murchadh, king of Laighin, and
Boetan, son of Dunlang, king of western Laighin, and Dunlang, son of Tuathal, king of Liphi, and Brogorban, son of Conchobhar, king of Ui Failghi, and Domhnall, son of Fergal, king of the Forthuagha of Laighin, and the nobles of Laighin likewise.

The front of Brian’s battalion and of the nobles of Erinn with him, was given to the aforesaid impetuous, irresistible, troops, to the fine, intelligent, valiant, brave, active, lively heroes, viz., to the heroic, victorious Dal Cais, and to the Clann Luighdeach likewise. At the head of these was the matchless, ever victorious, Hector, of the many-nationed heroic children of Adam, namely, Murchadh, son of Brian, the yew of Ross, of the princes of Erinn; the head of the valour and bravery, and chivalry, munificence and liberality, and beauty, of the men of the world in his time, and in his career; for the historians of the Gaedhil do not relate that there was any man of the sons of Adam in his time who could hold a shield in mutual interchange of blows with him. Along with him were also, Tordhelbach, his son, the best crown prince of his time in Erinn, and Conaing, son of Doncuan, one of the three men most valued by Brian, that were then in Erunn; and Niall Ua Cuinn, and Eochaidh, son of Dunadach, and Cudulligh, son of Cennetigh, the three rear guards of Brian; and Domhnall, son of Diarmaid, king of Corcabhaiscinn, and the greater part of the men of bravery and valour of the Dal Cais along with them. One very strong and great battalion was also formed of the chosen hosts of all Mumhain, and was stationed in the rear of the former. At the head of these was Mothla, son of Domhnall, son of Faelan, king of the Desii, and Mangnus, son of Anmchadh, king of Ui Liathain, and the brave and heroic of all Mumhain along with them.

The battalion of Conacht also, was led by Maelruanaidh Ua-n-Eidhin, and by Tadhg Ua Cellaigh, king of Ui Mani, and by Maelruanaidh, son of Murghius, king of Muintir Maelruanaidh; and by Domhnall, grandson of Cuceninn, king of Ui nDiarmada; and with Ualgarg, son of Cerin, and with the nobles of all Conacht along with him.

The ten great stewards of Brian were drawn up, with their foreign auxiliaries, on one side of the army. Fergal Ua Ruairc, and the Ui Briuin, and the Conmaicne, were ordered to the left wing of the army.

Maelsechlainn [Malachy] also, son of Domhnall, king of Temhair, and the battalion of the men of Midhe, with him, were next; but he consented not to be placed along with the rest; because the counsel of the foreigners on the preceding night was that he should put a ditch between him and the foreigners; and that if he would not attack the foreigners, the foreigners would not attack him; and so it was done, for the evil understanding was between them.

Some of the historians of Mumhain, however, say that Murchadh, son of Brian, was placed, mixed with the battalion of Desmumhain, along with his company, namely, seven score sons of kings that were in attendance upon him; for there was not a king of any one tribe in Erinn, who had not his son or his brother in Murchadh’s household; for he was the lord of the volunteers of Erinn, and of her sons, next to Aedh Ua Neill. They say that the two battalions were side by side, namely, the battalion of Desmumhain, and the battalion of Tuadhmumhain, and it is clear that this is true; for when they were arranging the battalion, Murchadh went forward beyond the rest a hand’s cast to attack the foreigners. Then Brian sent Domhnall, son of Emin, to tell Murchadh to fall back until he should be on a line with the Dalcais. Domhnall, son of Emin, went and told this to Murchadh. Murchadh answered that his counsel was timid and cowardly; for … he would not retreat one step backwards … in presence of the Gaill and Gaedhil …. Domhnall, son of Emin, said to Murchadh, “thy countenance is bad, O royal champion, although thy courage is great.” Murchadh answered that he had cause for that, because many a false hero would leave his share of the battle to him at the end of the day. The son of Emin said that he would not leave his share. And he said truly; for he fulfilled his promise.

The battalions were placed side by side after that. Then Murchadh looked to one side and beheld approaching him, on his right side, alone, the heroical, courageous, championlike, active, beautiful, strong, bounding, graceful, erect, impetuous, young hero, Dunlang O’Hartugan; and he recognised him and made three springs to meet him, and he kissed him, and welcomed him; and “O youth,” said he, “it is long until thou camest unto us; and great must be the love and attachment of some woman to thee, which has induced thee to abandon me; and to abandon Brian, and Conaing, and Donnchadh; and the nobles of Dal Cais in like manner, and the delights of Erinn until this day.” “Alas, O king,” said Dunlang, “the delight that I have abandoned for thee is greater, if thou didst but know it [he had been having a secret love affair with the goddess Aibhell], namely, life without death, without cold, without thirst, without hunger, without decay; beyond any delight of the delights of the earth to me, until the judgment; and heaven after the judgment; and if I had not pledged my word to thee, I would not have come here; and moreover it is fated for me to die on the day thou shalt die.”

“Shall I receive death this day, then?” said Murchadh. “Thou shalt receive it, indeed,” said Dunlang, “and Brian, and Conaing, shall receive it, and almost all the nobles of Erinn, and Toirdhelbhach thy son.” “This is not good encouragement to fight,” said Murchadh, “and if we had such news we would not have told it to thee; but, however,” said Murchadh, “often was I offered, in hills and in fairy mansions, this world and these gifts; but I never abandoned for one night my country nor my inheritance for them.” “What man,” said Dunlang, “wouldst thou choose to be kept off thee this day.” “There are yonder,” said Murchadh, “sixteen men who are captains of fleets, and every one of them is a man to combat a hundred, on sea and on land; besides Brotor, and Cornabbliteoc, and Maelmordha, and the Laighin also.” “Leave to me, then,” said Dunlang, “Cornabbliteoc; and if I can do more, thou shalt have my further aid.” “That is a severe service, indeed,” said Murchadh, “O Dunlang, if thou didst but know it.”