228 THE LAY OF THE COMBAT BETWEEN CONN AND gaul.

And wave his reddened faulchion high,
To tell his glorious victory.

Now Conan bald was seen to smile,
Avenged of his dishonour vile;

And far and wide, with loud acclaim,
The echoes spread Mac Morni's fame.

X.

Nine weary nights, his wounds to cure,
Did Gaul the leache's care endure,
But charmed with song his pains away,
With song by night, with song by day.
With praises high and rich rewards,
Repaid he well the skilful bards.

Five hundred of the Fenian host
Were to our ranks for ever lost.

And seven score warriors strong and brave,
By Dargo's son found a bloody grave;
A loss that ne'er could be restored:

By Finn in sorrow long deplored.

THE LAY

OF

CONLOCH, SON OF CUCHULLIN.

SYLVESTER O'HALLORAN, in the introductory discourse to the poem of Conloch, published by Miss Brooke, informs us, "that in the reign of Conor Mac-Nessa, king of Ulster, about the year of the world 3950, Ireland abounded in heroes of the most shining intrepidity; insomuch that they were all over Europe, by way of eminence, called THE HEROES OF THE WESTERN ISLE. Amongst these were Cuchullin, Conall Cearnach, and the three sons of Uisneach, all cousins-german." In a literal translation of Keating's History of Ireland, printed in Dublin in 1811, we have the following account of Cuchullin and the death of his son Conloch :-" Cuchullin went to study feats of valour under Scaha, an heroine who resided in Albin (in the Isle of Sky). There was a beautiful young lady named Aifa, who fell violently in love with him, and, after a short intimacy, she proved with child. Cuchullin being about to return to Ireland, presented Aifa with a chain of gold, charging her to keep it till her son arrived at man's estate, then to send the youth to him with it as a certain token by which he should know him, and to lay him under three injunctions—the first, never to give way to any hero or champion; the second, not to confess his name through fear; and third, never to refuse a challenge. The young man, having completed his education, sets out for Ireland to see his father. On his arrival he finds Conor and the nobles of Ulster in convention at TRACHT EISI. Conor sends one of his soldiers, named Cunnery, to inquire who he is; who, approaching the youth, demands his name. 'I tell not my name to any single warrior on the face of the earth,' says Conloch. Cuchullin then went, but receiving only the same answer, a bloody encounter ensued, and Conloch was overcoming Cuchullin, so that although his prowess and valour were great and conspicuous in all his former combats, he was obliged to take refuge in an adjacent ford, and call to Lay, son of Rian of Gavra, for his spear, with which he pierced Conloch through the body and killed him."

O'Halloran says that when Cuchullin left his three injunctions with Aife, "he was far from expecting that his son should have put them in force upon his arrival in Ireland. On the contrary, it appears (from the poem) the effect of jealousy in the lady, and of revenge, hoping that Cuchullin (now advanced in years) might himself fall in the conflict; for, though a gallant knight, yet our history proves that he was by no means constant iu his attachments to the fair."

"As to the number of knights engaged and vanquished by Conloch pre

vious to his conflict with Cuchullin, it is all poetic fiction, to raise the character of the two heroes. Even Conall Cearnach, master of the Ulster knights, is made to submit to Conloch, who then falls the greater victim to the glory of his own father."

ARGUMENT.-The Lay commences by informing the reader of Conloch's arrival in Erin, as an armed warrior. On his coming to a certain pass or bridge, he is accosted by the king's officer demanding the eric or tribute which was required from all before they were permitted to pass. Conloch indignantly refuses to pay, and resolves to gain a free passage by his sword. In pursuance of this design, he overcomes and binds a hundred of the armed men who came to enforce compliance. King Conor then asks if he has no chief able to meet this formidable stranger, and compel him to tell his name and country. Connal Cearnach, master of the Ulster knights, undertakes the task-is vanquished and bound. Conor instantly despatches a messenger for Cuchullin, desiring him to come to his assistance with all speed. Cuchullin arrives, and, after some expostulation with the monarch on account of past wrongs, goes forth to meet the knight, who had caused so much dismay. He is greatly struck by the noble appearance of the young warrior, and, as if he had some instinctive feeling of consanguinity, accosts him courteously, proffers friendship, and concludes by kindly entreating him to make the required disclosure. Conloch replies that he is forbidden by a vow; but were it not for that obstacle, there lived no man to whom he would more cheerfully tell his name and history. Cuchullin is obliged to exact compliance by the sworda conflict ensues-and Conloch falls mortally wounded. Cuchullin laments his fate, and entreats him, before he expires, to grant his request. Conloch then informs him that he is his own son by Aife, who, from jealousy and resentment, instigated and bound him by a vow, to meet his father in deadly conflict. Each of the unhappy combatants vents his wrath on Aife for her inhuman conduct. Conloch declares that, in the contest, he purposely avoided his father's life by giving a wrong direction to his weapon. The Lay ends with the pathetic lamentation of Cuchullin.

I.

O'ER the hoarse-resounding tide,
Conloch, youthful heart of pride,
Clad in arms, in quest of fame,
From Dunsky to Erin came.

HERALD.-Welcome! warrior young
Welcome o'er the eastern wave;
Round green Erin's shores, I ween,
Various have your wanderings been-
Cease they now, until your hand
Pay the dues our laws demand;
Tribute just that all must pay,
O'er this bridge to smooth their way.
Alba's warriors rashly bold,
Who denied the custom-gold,
And their swords too-daring drew-
Them our stronger chieftains slew.

May we heap no cairn to tell

That here a youthful hero fell!

and brave;

CONLOCH.- -“If, O herald, such your law,

In by-gone days of peace;

My trusty claymore now I draw,

And bid the impost cease.

This good steel blade will smooth my way,
All tribute, toll, and impost pay;

E'en from this hour, for all with me,
Till noon-day of eternity."

He said-and with his brandished blade,
On Erin's sons fierce onslaught made,
Rushing, as hungry hawk among
A flock of fluttering birds of song,
With fixed resolve, and martial skill,
To break, to scatter, wound, and kill,
And, through their densest armed array,
To cut by force his crimson way.
His arm might none withstand!
Soon five score warriors had he tied
In galling thongs of tough bull-hide;
Reproach to all the land!

That by a youth of name unknown,

Our laws were spurned-our chiefs o'erthrown!

II.

When royal Connor heard the tale,
In ire aloud he cried:
"What warrior bold of Innisfail,
Will quell the stranger's pride,
Compel him to declare his name,
His lineage what-and whence he came?"

Connal, chief of potent hand,
Went submission to demand-
Went-but no renown to gain—
Went to wear the victor's chain.
Great the conflict-fierce and long-
Till with fractured sword and shield,
Down he sunk upon the field,
And felt the girding thong.

III.

Cried indignant Ulladh's king,
"Haste! the great Cuchullin bring
From Dundalgan's* sunny bower,
Or from Dethin's stately tower.'

CONNOR.- -" Welcome, warrior!-Yet too slow
Haste your steps to meet the foe;
By his vengeance, on the ground,
Lie a hundred warriors bound;
Like steed impatient of the reins,
Connal Cearnach frets in chains.'
"Since the brave by falsehood died,"+
Stern Cuchullin thus replied,
"Where shall Erin's warriors run?
Where the binding thong to shun?

* "Dundalgan, now Dundalk, the residence of Cuchullin. Dun Dethin, the residence of Dethin, the mother of Cuchullin."

↑ "Cuchullin here alludes to the death of his kinsmen, the three sons of Uisneach, who were cut off some time before by the perfidy of Connor."Miss Brooke.