Irische Texte : mit ersetzungen und Wterbuch

154 The Death of the Sons of Usnech.
you, warriors!" saitli Conchobar, "have ye ever seen a house-
hold that is braver than yourselves in Ireland, or in Scotland,
or in the great world in any place, for"
23. "Truly we have not seen," say they, "and we know
not if there be."
"If so," saith Conchobar, "do ye know (any) great want
in the world upon you?"
"We know not at all, high king," say they.
27. "But I know, warriors," saith he, "one great want
which we have, to wit, that the three Lights of Valour of the
Gael should be away from us, that the three sons of Usnech,
even Náisi and Ainnle and Ardán, should be separated from
us because of (any) woman in the world. And Naisi for valour
and prowess was the makings of an overking of Ireland, and
the might of his own arm hath gained for him (self) a district
and a half of Scotland."
;
33. "0 royal soldier," say they, "if we had dared to utter
that, long since we would have uttered it. For it is apparent
that they are sons of a king of a border- district, and they
would defend the province of Ulster against every other pro-
vince in Ireland, even though no other Ulstermen should go
along with them. Because they are heroes for bravery, and
those three are lions for might and for courage."
38. "If it be so," saith Conchobar, "let envoys and messengers
be sent for them into the districts of Scotland, to Loch Etive
and to the stronghold of the sons of Usnech in Scotland."
"Who will go with that?" saith every one.
42. "I know," saith Conchobar, "that it is in Náisi's prohi-
bitions to come into Ireland in peace, except with three,
namely Cúchulainn son of Subaltam, and Conall son of Aimir-
gin and Fergus son of Ross; and I will [now] know unto
which of those three I am dearest."
46. And he took Conall into a place apart, and asked him:
"What will be done, royal soldier of the world," saith Con-
chobar, "if thou art sent for Usnech's sons, and they should
be destroyed in spite of thy safeguard and thy honour ?\