Irische Texte : mit ersetzungen und Wterbuch

164
The Death of the Sons of Usnech.
321. And they went forward in that wise to the door of
the house of Emain and asked that it should be opened for
them. The doorward answered and asked who was there. He
was told that it was three sons of Usnech who were there,
and Fergus' two sons, and Deirdre. That was told to Con-
chobar, and his servants and attendants were brought to him,
and he asked them how stood the house of the Red-Branch as
to food or as to drink. They said that if the five battalions
of Ulster should come there they would find enough for them
of food and drink. "If so," saith Conchobar, "let the sons of
Usnech be taken into it." And that was told to the sons of
Usnech." Said Deirdre: "Ah Naisi, the loss caused by not
taking my counsel hath hurt you," saith she; "and let us go
on henceforward."
333. "We will not do so," saith Illann the Fair, son of
Fergus, "and we confess, girl, that great is the timidity and
cowardice that thou didst j;uggest_to us when thou sayest that.
And we will go to the house of the Red-Branch," saith he.
336. "We will go assuredly," saith Naisi. And they moved
forward to the house of the Red -Branch; and servants and
attendants were sent with them, and they were supplied with
noble sweet-tasted viands, and with sweet, intoxicating drinks,
till every one of their servants and attendants was drunk and
merry and loud-voiced. But there was one thing, however, they
themselves did not take, food or drink, from the weariness
caused by their travel and journey; for they had neither stop-
ped nor stayed from the time they left the fort of Borrach,
son of Ändert, till they came to Emain Macha.
344. Then said Naisi: "Let the 'Fair-head' 1 of Conchobar
be brought to us, so that we may play upon it." The 'Fair-
head' was brought to them, and its men were placed upon it,
and Naisi and Deirdre began to play. It is at that hour and
time that Conchobar said: "Which of you, warriors, should
I get to know whether her own form or make remains on
1 The name of Conchobar's draught-board. fcv*