At dawn the army set out under the leadership of Fergus Mac Roich, and, having reached the borders of Ulster, Fergus asked everyone to be careful so that Cuchulain of Muirtemne, who was guarding the southern borders of Ulster, would not attack them unexpectedly. At that time, Cuchulainn and his father Sualtaim were indeed on the border, and Cuchulainn, whom Fergus had warned about the approach of the army, ordered Sualtaim to go to Emain Macha and convey the news to the people of Ulster. However, the hero himself did not remain to guard the lands of the Ulads, since he had an agreement with a girl who lived with the wife of Loigaire the farmer; he went into the forest and there, standing on one leg and closing one eye, with one hand he cut down a young oak tree and twisted it into a ring. Then he inscribed on the ring in Ogham characters how it had been made, and charged Medb's host with a geas not to leave this place until someone had made the same ring in the same way, "except my friend Fergus Mac Roich," he finished and subscribed. Cuchulainn placed this ring on the sharp top of a stone in Ard-Quillen and went on a date

Arriving at Ard-Quillen, Medb's warriors found the ring and brought it to Fergus so that he could read the inscription. None of the warriors could repeat the feat of Cuchulainn, so the army camped in the nearby forest. Snow fell during the night, and the army was in a rather disastrous position, but when the sun rose, they continued their journey across the white plain to Ulster, considering that the ban was valid for one night.

FORD OF THE TRUNK

Cuchulainn went in pursuit and determined from the tracks that there were 54,000 people in the Medb army. Having gone around the army, he went in front and soon came across two chariots sent for reconnaissance. He killed the warriors and drivers, then with one blow of his sword he cut down a trunk with four branches, stuck it deep into the shallows near a ford called At-Gabla (Ford of the Trunk), and planted a bloody head on each branch. When Medb's troops approached, they were naturally amazed and frightened, and Fergus announced that they were under orders not to cross this ford until one of them pulled out the trunk in the same way it was stuck in - with the fingers of one hand. Having said this, Fergus himself climbed into the water, and seventeen chariots fell apart under him before he could accomplish this feat, but at last he pulled up the tree; and since it was already late, the army spent the night here. All these Cuchulainn inventions were intended to delay the invaders until the settlements recovered from their illness.

Further in the text of the legend - as it is placed in the Book of Leinster, as well as in some other sources - there follows a kind of interlude: Fergus explains to Medb who their opponent is (“the boy Cuchulainn on Cerdd, which is brought to Conchobar and myself adopted son"), and tells about the hero’s childhood exploits, some of which have already been described in this book.

CHARITTER OF THE EAGLE

The next day the army continued on its way and again met with Cuchulainn; but this time the hero was more complacent. Hearing how the forest is being cut down, he goes to find out what is going on, and learns that it is the charioteer of Orlam, the son of Ailill and Medb, who is cutting shafts for the chariot out of holly, “for yesterday all our men were worn out in pursuit of the glorious deer, Cuchulain himself.”1 . Cuchulainn, who, it should be remembered, generally looked rather fragile, but in battle increased in size and became terribly distorted (which reminds us of the fury of the berserkers), decided to help the driver. “What should I do - collect the poles or clear them of bark?” - he asked. “You can peel the bark from them,” said the charioteer. The hero took the trees, passed them between his toes and hands, and they became so smooth and shiny, as if a carpenter had worked on them. “The driver looked at this and said:

I see that I have entrusted you with an unworthy job. Answer me, who are you, O warrior?

“I am the illustrious Cuchulainn of whom you spoke,” Cuchulainn answered.

I will be punished with death for what I did! - the young man cried.

“I will not kill you, young man,” said Cuchulainn, “for I do not shed the blood of messengers, charioteers and unarmed people.” But go and tell your master Orlam that Cuchulainn is going to visit him.”

The driver starts to run, but Cu Chulainn follows him, and in the end gets ahead of him and cuts off Orlam’s head. For a while, Medb's army sees him brandishing his bloody trophy; then he disappears from sight again - this is how the Connachts see their enemy for the first time.

CUCHLAIN'S FURIOUS

Next we see several fragmentary episodes. Medb's army ravages Brega and Muirtemne, but cannot enter Ulster. Cuchulainn does not retreat from them, he kills warriors in twos and threes, and no one knows where he will be next. Even the queen is overcome with trepidation when an unknown shooter knocks down a marten and a bird sitting on her shoulders with stones. Then, when Cuchulainn's rage intensifies, he, having acquired inhuman power, rushes at entire detachments of Connacht warriors, and thus hundreds are already dying. This describes his “wonderful distortion” that always visited him in battle. He became “many-faced, terrible, unrecognizable, wild. His hips trembled, like a reed in a current or a tree in a stream, his insides trembled, every joint, every member. Under the shell of skin, the body arched monstrously, so that the feet, knees and legs turned back, and the heels, calves and thighs found themselves in front... The muscles of the head converged at the back of the head and any of their enormous, countless, powerful, weighty round mounds were like the head of a month-old baby... He pulled one eye inside, so much so that even a wild crane would not be able to pull it out of his skull onto his cheek. Cuchulainn's other eye fell out, and his mouth twisted wildly... The thunderous beats of his heart against his ribs could be mistaken for the growl of a dog or a formidable lion that attacked a bear. Torches of war goddesses, poisonous clouds and fiery sparks were visible in the air and in the clouds above his head... Like the branches of a hawthorn with which to close a hole in a fence, the hair curled on the young man’s head... As if the mast of a huge ship was tall, straight, strong, mighty and long stream dark blood that rose from the top of his head and dispersed in a magical dark mist, like smoke flowing over a house when a king stays there on a winter evening.”

TREATY AT THE BROD

Medb tries to win Cuchulainn over to his side with great gifts, and they talk while standing at opposite ends of the valley. She is surprised by his boyish appearance. Cuchulain remains loyal to Ulster, and death approaches the Connachts ever closer; the men are afraid to go out for prey except in detachments of twenty to thirty men, and at night stones from Cuchulain's sling fly through the camp, killing and maiming. Finally, through the mediation of Fergus, a compromise was found. Cuchulainn undertakes not to harm the army if they send him one warrior at a time to fight. Cú Chulainn will wait for the enemy at the ford on the River Dee, now called the Ford of Fer Diad. While the fighting is going on, the army can move forward, but when it ends, the army is obliged to set up camp until the next morning. “It is better to lose one warrior every day than a hundred,” Medb agreed, and the agreement was concluded.

FERGUS AND CUCHULIN

What follows is a story about several fights in which Cu Chulainn emerges victorious. Medb persuades Fergus to fight him, but the two have no intention of fighting each other, and Cuchulainn even promises to retreat before Fergus if necessary; in turn, Fergus promises him the same. We will see later how these promises were fulfilled.

KIDNAPPING OF THE BROWN BULL

During the duel between Cuchulainn and the hero Nat Crantail, Medb, along with a third of her army, reached Dunseverik itself, which lies on the northern coast, plundering and ruining everything in her path. But Morrigan had already warned Brown of Cualnge (County Down) to hide, and the bull, along with a herd of cows, hid in the valley of Sliabh-Culind, now County Armag. Medb's warriors found him there and, rejoicing, drove him and his herd home, but on the way they were met by Cuchulainn. He killed the head of the procession - Buide, the son of Bayn Blai - but could not take the bull, and it is said that “during the entire campaign there was no greater grief, madness, or dishonor for Cuchulainn than this.”

MORRIGAN

It seemed that the war should have ended there, since the goal had been achieved, but the armies of the four southern provinces under the leadership of Medb were going to plunder Ulster, and Cuchulainn continued to be the only guardian of the borders. Medb did not fulfill the terms of the agreement, because one day twenty warriors came out against Cuchulainn at once, and he had to work hard so as not to die. Here in the text there is an interesting episode of the battle with Morrigan. A young girl, dressed in a multi-colored cloak, appeared to Cuchulainn, introduced herself as the king's daughter, stated that she had heard stories about his great exploits and wanted to offer him her love. Cuchulainn rudely said that he was tired of battles and had no intention of dealing with women. “Then it will be bad for you when you start dealing with men,” answered the maiden, “for I will wrap myself like an eel around your feet at the Ford.” Then she and the chariot disappeared; the hero now saw only a crow sitting on a branch, and realized that he was talking to Morrigan.

FIGHT WITH A SUCKER

The next person Medb sent to fight Cuchulainn was Loch, the son of Mo Phebis. We are told that before meeting him, Cuchulainn smeared his chin with bramble juice so that Loch would not refuse to fight the beardless youth. So, they entered into a duel at the Ford, and Morrigan appeared before them in the guise of a white red-eared heifer; but Cuchulainn immediately pierced her eye with a spear. Then she turned into a black eel and wrapped herself around his legs, and before he could free himself, Loch wounded him. Then she turned into a she-wolf, and again Loch wounded the hero before he drove her away. Then Cuchulainn was overcome by the fury of the battle, and with a blow of a bulga he struck Loch in the heart. “Let me rise,” he said, “so that I can fall face down on your side of the Ford, and not back towards Erin’s people.” “This is the wish of a warrior,” answered Cuchulainn, “and it will be fulfilled.” Thus died Loch; and it is said that Cuchulainn was overcome by great despondency, for he was tired from incessant battles, was severely wounded, and had never slept since the very beginning of the war, except leaning on his spear; and he sent his driver, Laeg, to bring the Ulads to his aid.

MEADOW ASSISTANT

But, when Cuchulainn lay on the mound of Lerg, gloomy and depressed, watching the lights of the huge camp of his enemies light up in the evening twilight and how their countless spears sparkled, he suddenly saw a tall, beautiful warrior passing through the camp, and none of those nearby whoever he finds himself with does not even turn to him. He is wearing a silk shirt embroidered with gold and a green cloak with a silver clasp; in one hand he holds a black shield decorated with silver, in the other - two spears. The stranger approaches Cuchulainn, speaks kindly and softly about his long labors and severe wounds, and finally adds: “Sleep now, Cuchulainn, on the hill of Lerga; sleep for three days and three nights, and for now I myself will defend the Ford before the army of Medb.” Then the hero falls into a deep sleep, and the stranger, meanwhile, applies healing herbs to his wounds, so that he wakes up healthy and refreshed, and while he sleeps, the unknown person protects Ford. And Cuchulainn understands that it was Lugh, his father, who came from the dwellings of the Tribes of the goddess Danu to help his son in his dark hour.

SELF-SACRIFICATION BY YOUTHS

But the Ulads are still helpless. However, in Emain Macha there are thrice fifty youths, sons of kings, noble and skilled in the use of weapons; they are not under the curse of Mahi, which only affects adults. Hearing the desperate situation of Cuchulainn, until recently their playmate, they put on armor, take swords and spears and set off to defend Ulster, led by Follomain, the son of Conchobar. And Follomain takes an oath not to return to Emain until he can bring there the golden crown of Ailill. Three times they attack the army of Medb, and three times more enemies than themselves die at their hands, but in the end they are defeated and defeated and no one remains alive.

MASSACRE AT MUIRTEMN

All this happened while Cuchulainn was sleeping; when he awoke and heard what had happened, the fury of battle seized him, and he jumped into his war chariot and rushed towards Medb's army. And the chariot plowed the earth until the furrows began to resemble fortress ditches, and the blades above its wheels crushed the bodies of the fleeing enemies; when Cuchulainn shouted in rage, all the demons and wild creatures in Erin shouted back, so that the army was thrown into confusion from noise and fear, and many died from the swords of their comrades, and many from horror. And that was a great and terrible battle, called the Massacre of Muirtemne. So Cuchulainn avenged the youth Emain: sixteen times twenty kings died on the side of Medb, not counting horses, women, dogs and the common people. And it is said that Lugh, the son of Etlin, also fought there.

CLAN KALATIN

Next, Erin's husbands decided to send the Kalatin Clan to a duel with Cuchulainn. Kalatin was a magician, and he and his twenty-seven sons were like one being, the sons were parts of their father, and what one of them did, all the others did. Their bodies were saturated with poison, and the touch of their weapons until the end of the ninth day killed any warrior. And so their hands threw spears at once, but Cuchulainn managed to take all twenty-eight spears onto his shield, and not one of them shed his blood. The young man then took out his sword to cut off the spear shafts protruding from the shield, but then the Kalatin Clan rushed at him and knocked him down, pressing his face to the stones. Then Cuchulainn let out a terrible cry, for the duel was unequal, and one of the Ulad exiles, Fiahu, son of Fir Aba, who fought on the side of Medb and was watching the battle at that moment, could not watch calmly as the hero died, grabbed his sword and with one blow he cut off the twenty-eight hands that held him. Then Cuchulainn jumped up and scattered the enemies to pieces, so that no one escaped and there was no one to tell Medb what Fiahu had done, so he and his warriors - thirty hundred men from the clan of Rudraige - remained alive.

FIGHT WITH FER DYAD

So, Cuchulainn defeated all the strongest warriors of Medb, except for the most powerful of them after Fergus, Fer Diad, son of Daman. Since Fer Diad had been friends with Cuchulain since childhood, he did not want to go against him; and now, when Medb asked him to do it, he refused. She promised him her daughter, the beautiful Findabair, as a wife if only he agreed to fight Cuchulainn, but Fer Diad again refused. Finally she ordered him, threatening that otherwise all the poets of Erin would cover him with shame in mocking verses, and then, overcome with anger and sorrow, Fer Diad ordered his charioteer to prepare for tomorrow's battle. Despondency reigned among his people, for they knew that if Cuchulainn and their master met in battle, one of them would die.

Early in the morning, Fer Diad went to the Ford and slept there on bedding and skins until Cuchulainn arrived. When it was finally dawn, the driver Fer Diad heard the roar of an approaching chariot; he woke up the warrior, and the two friends exchanged greetings, standing on opposite banks of the Ford. Then Cuchulainn said: “It is not you, O Fer Diad, who should fight with me. When we lived with Scathach, didn’t we always fight side by side, didn’t we endure need and deprivation together? Were we not friends at the feast and the festival? Didn’t we share a bed and sleep next to each other?” But Fer Diad answered: “O Cuchulainn, who has accomplished wonderful feats, although we learned poetry and knowledge together, and although I heard your words about our previous deeds, yet my hand will inflict wounds on you. Do not remember our friendship, O Dog of Ulada; it won’t help you, it won’t help you.”

Then they began to choose weapons. Fer Diad reminded Cuchulainn of the small darts they had learned to throw from Scathach, and it was decided to start with them. And so, like bees on a summer day, darts flashed over the Ford, but until noon not a drop of blood was shed in this battle. Then they took strong, sharp spears, and now, on the contrary, no one was able to parry the blow, so blood flowed like a river. Finally evening came. “Let’s finish for now,” said Fer Diad, and Cuchulainn agreed. They handed over the weapons to the charioteers, hugged each other, kissed each other three times and went away to rest. Their horses slept in the same corral, the drivers warmed themselves by the same fire, and the heroes themselves exchanged food, drink and medicinal herbs.

The next day they met again at the Ford, and since Fer Diad had previously chosen the weapon, now it was up to Cuchulain to do it. He chose heavy spears with wide tips, intended for close combat, and the heroes fought on them, standing on chariots, until sunset; Both the horse and the driver were tired, and there were many wounds on the bodies of the opponents. Finally they stopped fighting and threw away their weapons. And, like the last time, they hugged and kissed and also shared food and drink and medicinal herbs and slept peacefully until the morning.

However, on the third day Fer Diad looked sick, and Cuchulainn reproached him for going out to battle against a friend for the sake of a maiden, even if it was Findabair, which Medb offered to every hero, including Cuchulainn himself; but Fer Diad answered: “O noble Dog, if I had not gone out to fight when I was called, shame would have fallen on me in Rath Cruachan.” Now it was Fer Diad’s turn to choose a weapon, and he suggested taking “heavy, menacing swords”; but although the opponents cut off huge pieces of meat from each other's thighs and shoulders, no one can overcome the other, and in the evening the duel ends. This time they part with a heavy heart, they no longer exchange gifts, and their horses and drivers sleep separately.

DEATH OF FER DYAD

Fer Diad knew that on the fourth day the fight had to end one way or another, and therefore he chose his armor with special care. First he put on a shirt with a border of shining gold, and over it an apron of brown leather. He hung a flat stone, as huge as a millstone, on his stomach, and tied a heavy and strong iron apron on top, because he was afraid that Cuchulainn might take advantage of the ha bulga. He placed his tall helmet, decorated with gems and enamel, on his head, then attached a sword with a golden hilt, and hung a wide shield with fifty bronze cones on his left hand. So he stood at the Ford and, waiting for the enemy, threw his weapon up and caught it again and performed many wonderful fighting techniques; and when Cuchulainn saw this, he said to Laeg, his driver: “If I happen to yield in battle, rabble, revile and defame me, inflating my battle ardor and rage. If I gain the upper hand, praise, glorify and exalt me” - for today he needed all his strength.

“O Fer Diad,” asked Cuchulainn, “with what weapon will we fight today?” “Today you choose,” answered Fer Diad. “Then it’s all or nothing,” said Cuchulainn, and Fer Diad was heartbroken when he heard this, but still answered: “So be it.” The battle has begun. Until noon they fought with spears, and no one could defeat the other. Finally, Cuchulainn took out his sword and tried to cut off Fer Diad's head above the edge of the shield, but the giant from the Fir Bolg tribe threw him away. Three times Cuchulainn jumped high into the air, trying to hit his opponent over the shield, and three times Fer Diad caught him on the shield and threw him away like a child. And Laeg, mocking him, shouted: “He throws you like a river foam, he grinds you like a millstone; You little werewolf, don’t call yourself a warrior anymore.”

Then at last the fury of battle seized Cuchulainn, and he began to grow until he outgrew Fer Dyad, and the radiance of the hero spread around his head. They clashed, circling and pressing each other, so that the demons, werewolves and spirits screamed from the hilts of their swords, and the waters of the ford retreated before them in horror, so that they fought standing in the middle of the dry riverbed. And so Fer Diad managed to take Cuchulainn by surprise and struck him with a sword, plunging it deep into the body, and the river turned red with blood. And Fer Diad began to press Cuchulainn, chopping and tormenting him so that he could no longer stand it and finally asked Laeg for bulga. Hearing this, Fer Diad lowered his shield, covering his stomach, but then the enemy threw his spear into his chest on top of the shield. Fer Diad raised the shield, and then Cuchulainn threw the ga bulga with his toes, and it passed through the iron apron and broke into three pieces a stone the size of a millstone and sank deep into the body, piercing every member with its teeth. “Enough,” cried Fer Diad, “now I will die!” It is an evil thing that I fell through your fault, O Cuchulainn.” Cuchulainn picked him up and carried him across the Ford so that he would die on its northern side, and not on the side of Erin's army. The hero lowered his dying friend to the ground, and weakness seized him, and he himself was about to fall when Laeg cried out: “Rise up, O Cuchulainn, for now the Irish will attack us! They will no longer agree to a duel, now that Fer Diad has died.” - “Why should I get up, O charioteer, when he fell by my hand?” - asked Cuchulainn, and oblivion, similar to death, overtook him. And the army of Medb, with joyful shouts, throwing up spears and singing songs of victory, burst into Ulster.

But before passing the Ford, they raised the body of Fer Diad and laid it in a grave, and built a mound over it, and placed a funeral stone on it, where they indicated the name and family in Ogham characters. And the friends of Cuchulainn came from Ulster, and they took him to the valley of Muirtemne, where they washed his wounds, and his relatives from the Tribes of the goddess Danu threw healing herbs into the river so that the wounds would heal faster. But he lay there for many days in weakness and numbness.

Even if a continuous, coherent story about the life of Cuchulainn was not created, the episodic sagas about him are so consistent with each other that one can compile his legendary biography from them. Usually the story of the miraculous birth of Cuchulainn is followed by tales of his childhood. As a child, he surpassed all his peers in strength and agility. When he was six years old, an incident happened to him that explains his nickname. Conchobar and all his warriors went to a feast given by the blacksmith Kulan. The boy, left at home, got out and wanted to join the feasters. In the courtyard of Kulan, he was attacked by his owner's guard dog, who was distinguished by such strength and ferocity that a whole detachment of warriors could not cope with him. But the boy threw a stone from a sling into his mouth, piercing the dog right through, and he fell on the spot. Everyone marveled at this feat. However, Kulan, having suffered damage, demanded that the boy serve him for some time as a guard for the dog, which was done: hence the name of our hero - Ku-Kulain, “Dog of Kulan.”

At the age of seven, he received weapons for the first time and immediately began to defeat the strongest fighters in Ireland. When Cuchulainn became a young man, women and girls of Ireland began to fall in love with him for his beauty and exploits. At the insistence of the settlers, he decided to get married - “Matchmaking to Emer.” In the vicissitudes of dangerous matchmaking, he had to visit Scotland, where he learned all the intricacies of the art of war. Fleetingly, he fell in love there with the heroic woman Aife, who bore him a son, Konlaich. When Conlaich grew up, he went to Ireland to look for his father. They met, fought without recognizing each other, and the son of Cuchulain fell by the hand of his father. At the age of seventeen, Cuchulainn accomplished his greatest feat, defending his homeland alone against an entire enemy army.

The two most important episodes in the life of Cuchulainn are further his love for the side Fand, associated with his victorious expedition to the “land of the blessed” - “Cuchulainn’s Disease”, and Cuchulainn’s struggle for primacy, which served as the subject of the extensive saga “The Feast at Brickren”. A dispute arose between the wives of Ulad's three greatest heroes—Cuchulainn, Conal the Victorious, and Loigair the Crusher—as to which of their husbands should take precedence. This quarrel was deliberately set up by the malicious Brickren, a sower of discord, who for this purpose invited all the heroes to his feast (the main motive and scheme of the story are the same as in “The Tale of the Mak-Dato Boar”). The heroes are drawn into a feud by their wives against their will. A series of competitions take place between them, in which Cuchulainn invariably wins, but each time the judges refuse to recognize the test as decisive. Finally, all three go to Muman, to the cunning wizard king Kuroi, son of Dayre, who plans to test not their strength and fighting courage, but their moral valor. He invites each of them to cut off his head, Kuroi, so that the next day he will appear, if he can, and, in turn, will cut off the head of the daredevil. All three accept the challenge, but when the revived Kuroi comes for payback, Conal and Loigaire evade, and only one Cu Chulainn dares to put his head under the ax. However, Kuroi spares Cuchulainn and rewards him for his courage: from now on he receives the name of the “first hero” of Ireland.

The poetic biography of Cuchulain ends with the majestic saga of his death. The image of Cuchulainn, in all likelihood, has a historical basis, which was early overgrown with mythical elements. Archaic, perhaps native (Pictish) features appear in him. Along with the description of the formidable appearance and beauty of Cuchulainn, from whose face emanates such a brilliance that it is difficult for the eye to bear it, he is often depicted in the sagas as “a small, homely man, dark-skinned and dark-haired”: this is no longer a continental-Celtic type (close to the ancient -Germanic), but rather Pictish, related to Iberian. The form of his original name, Setanta, is at least not Irish. As for the nickname that replaced it - Cuchulainn, but even here it is very likely that the legend explaining it is a later interpretation (“Dog of Kulan”), behind which something else is hidden. It has been suggested that it is of totemic origin and that it contains the international onomatopoeic name for the cuckoo. In support of this hypothesis, one could cite the saga of the birth of Cuchulainn, where he finds himself nursed in someone else's house (thrown into someone else's nest), and before the moment of his birth, mysterious birds appear.

In general, the entire personality and fate of Cuchulain, starting with the conception of his sister Conchobar from the god Lugh (“Birth of Cuchulain”), are shrouded in mythical elements. If Conchobar is metaphorically called the “earthly god” of the Ulads, then Cu Chulainn is a genuine demigod. None of the other heroes has such wonderful properties and abilities as Cu Chulainn. When he gets into a fighting rage, he grows up and is completely transformed; he almost has the ability to fly through the air, etc. (“Matchmaking to Emer”). It is very likely that in the image of Cuchulain several images merged, epically, historically and mythically originally different. But, merging together, they formed one complete image, embellished in every possible way with poetic imagination.

It was in the image of Cuchulainn that ancient Ireland embodied its ideal of valor and moral perfection, a kind of primitive chivalry. Along with extraordinary strength and courage, Cuchulain has spiritual nobility. Most of the geis lying on him have a high moral character: never refuse to help a woman, never reject offered hospitality, always be true to a given word, etc. He is generous to enemies, responsive to any grief, refinedly polite with women, always - protector of the weak and oppressed. None of his exploits are motivated by selfishness or selfishness. He selflessly defends his homeland from hordes of enemies (“The Stealing of the Bull from Kualnge”). He is inconsolable when the friend of his youth is struck down by his hand (“The Battle of Cuchulainn with Ferdiad”). The story of his death is full of high tragedy, where he dies for others as a victim of duty and honor.

Compared to Cuchulainn, other characters in the Irish sagas are much paler. However, one cannot deny the ability of saga authors to create characters. One after another, following Cuchulainn, the good-natured simpleton Fergus, the caustic and malicious Brickren, the primitively rude, ferocious Ket, the brave and gentle Naisi appear before us. We find the same shades, very expressive, in female characters. It is worth comparing the cruel, hate-breathing Queen Medb with Deirdre, imbued with a single love, or the captivating beloved Fand with the faithful, rights-conscious wife Emer (“The Disease of Cuchulain”)

Stranger, we advise you to read the fairy tale “The Battle of Cuchulainn with Ferdiad (Irish Fairy Tale)” for yourself and your children, this is a wonderful work created by our ancestors. The inspiration of everyday objects and nature creates colorful and bewitching pictures of the surrounding world, making them mysterious and enigmatic. Devotion, friendship and self-sacrifice and other positive feelings overcome all that oppose them: anger, deceit, lies and hypocrisy. Probably due to the inviolability of human qualities over time, all moral teachings, morals and issues remain relevant at all times and eras. The plot is simple and as old as the world, but each new generation finds in it something relevant and useful. The works often use diminutive descriptions of nature, thereby making the picture presented even more intense. Often in children's works, the personal qualities of the hero, his resistance to evil, constantly trying to lead the good fellow astray from the right path, become central. The fairy tale “The Battle of Cuchulainn with Ferdiad (Irish fairy tale)” is certainly useful to read for free online; it will instill in your child only good and useful qualities and concepts.

A hero of heroes, a glorious warrior of ancient Ulster, the first among the warriors of the Red Branch of King Conchobar, a fearless Uladian dog - this is how Cuchulain was called by his friends and enemies. And there was only one other warrior in the five kingdoms of ancient Ireland, or, as they said then, in Erin, who could compare with Cuchulainn in courage and martial art. It was Ferdiad, son of Damon.
These two glorious heroes - Cuchulainn and Ferdiad - were sworn brothers and friends. They grew up together, learning the techniques of fighting strength and courage together from the formidable warrior Scathach on the Isle of Skye. There they spent their youth, there they knew love and matured, from there, hand in hand, they went to feats of arms in foreign, distant countries.
Their devotion and true friendship were cemented by the blood shed in many dangerous battles, battles and battles. But it so happened that, angry with the evil and treacherous King Conchobar, Ferdiad, along with other warriors of the Red Branch, left Ulster and went to serve the proud and cruel Connacht Queen Mave.
It was at that time that Mav decided to go to war against the kingdom of Ulster. She had long wanted to show the King of the Ulads, Conchobar, that he was not the most powerful king in Erin.
She gathered all her glorious warriors and led them north to Ulster. She chose the right time for the war - King Conchobar and his warriors were overcome by a serious illness. This happened to them at the beginning of every winter - as punishment for the fact that King Conchobar once mocked the goddess of war Maha.
And so, when all the Uladian warriors were exhausted from illness, Queen Mav left Connacht and approached with her army to the very border of Ulster - to the Northern Pass.
Having learned that the mighty army of Queen Mave was marching on Ulster, Cuchulainn sent his charioteer Loig to the goddess Macha with a great request that she remove her curse from the Ulads. And while their strength had not yet returned, Cuchulainn alone went out to defend the Northern Passage from the enemy.
The curse of the goddess Macha did not touch him: when this misfortune first happened to the Ulads, Cuchulainn had not yet been born.
Not a day passed without less than a hundred warriors of Queen Mave falling at the hands of Cuchulainn. It was not for nothing that he was known as a hero of heroes, a fearless fighter, a winner in many battles.
Moreover, at night Cuchulainn quietly approached the very camp of the proud queen and dispersed all her guards with stones accurately fired from a sling. So no one had any peace from him, not only during the day, but also at night.
Then Queen Mav decided to send messengers and ambassadors to Cuchulainn. Messengers ran from her to Cuchulainn's tent and back, conveying her questions and his answers. And it was decided between them that Queen Mav would no longer advance to Ulster by forced march, but would send one warrior every day to Cuchulainn to meet him in a glorious duel. They agreed that while he was fighting in a duel, she could go forward with her army, but as soon as her warrior was killed - if this happened - she would stop until the next day.
“It would be better for me to lose one warrior a day than a hundred,” thought the insidious Mav.
But day after day passed, and Cuchulainn killed her best warriors one after another in a fair fight. And the day came when Queen Mav did not know who else could fight and withstand the battle with Cuchulainn.
She had to convene a large council of Erin's husbands. Erin's husbands began to think and, having thought, agreed on one thing:
- Ferdiad, son of Damon! For in battle, in battle and in battle, he alone is equal to the bravest hero Cuchulainn. They grew up together, together they learned the techniques of combat strength and courage from the formidable Scathach.
- Good choice! - the queen approved.
And they sent messengers and ambassadors for Ferdiad. But Ferdiad refused, rejected, and sent back the queen’s messengers and ambassadors. He did not answer her call, because he knew what they wanted from him: that he should enter into single combat with his dear friend, his sworn brother and adviser.

Then Mav sent druids and evil singers to Ferdiad so that they would sing him three numbing songs and three evil spells - for shame, ridicule and contempt - if Ferdiad refused to come to her.
This time Ferdiad went, because it seemed easier to him to fall from the spear of strength, dexterity and courage than from the arrows of shame, disgrace and reproach.
Mav herself came out to meet him and received him with honor and greetings. Then she called her leaders and military commanders and ordered them to arrange a feast in honor of Ferdiad.
At the table Ferdiad sat on her right hand. And on the other hand, Mav sat her daughter Findabair next to him and ordered her to pour the best wines for the hero so that his cup would never remain empty.
Ferdiad quickly became tipsy and cheerful. Then the queen began to praise his courage, courage and heroic deeds and promised him untold riches, new lands and her daughter Findabair as a wife if he entered into single combat with Cuchulainn.
Those gathered at the table loudly welcomed the queen's words.
Everyone except Ferdiad.
He sat alone in silence. It was bitter for him to even think about fighting with his friend, comrade and brother-in-arms. He told the queen:
– Your gifts are truly generous and beautiful, proud Mav! But I'm not worthy of them. I will never accept them as a reward for the battle with my dear friend Cuchulainn.
He also said this to the queen:
And our hearts beat side by side, And in the forests we fought side by side, On the same bed we slept side by side, Tired, exhausted in a fierce battle...
And then Mav realized that such devotion and love could not be destroyed by flattery or bribery. And she conceived a different plan.
When Ferdiad finished the song about the dangerous deeds that they accomplished together with Cuchulainn, she, pretending that she had not heard what he had just said, turned to her warriors and advisers and calmly remarked:
“Perhaps now I’m ready to believe what Cuchulainn said about Ferdiad.”
- What did Cuchulainn say about me? – asked Ferdiad.
“He said that you were too dangerous and cautious to fight him in a duel,” Mav answered.
Ferdiad was overcome with anger and exclaimed:
“Cuchulainn shouldn’t have spoken about me like that!” He could not, honestly, say that at least once I was a coward or showed a lack of courage in our common affairs. I swear by my glorious weapon, tomorrow at dawn I will be the first to challenge him to the battle that I so hate!
And without adding another word, Ferdiad, sad, returned to his tent.
That night no music or songs were heard among Ferdiad's faithful warriors. They saw their boss and master return from the royal feast, and they talked in whispers, anxiously asking each other what would happen. They knew that Ferdiad was skillful and fearless in battle, but they knew that Cuchulainn was no less skillful and equally fearless.
How could they not know that when two such fearless heroes meet in a fair fight, one of them is destined to die!
Ferdiad rested until dawn, and then ordered the chariot to be harnessed - he wanted to appear at the place of the duel before Cuchulain.
The driver brought out the horses, harnessed the chariot and returned to Ferdiad’s tent. He tried to persuade his master not to go into battle against Cuchulainn. Ferdiad did not hide from him how difficult it was for him to oppose his brother-in-law, but if he had given his word to Queen Mav, he would keep it:
It would be better if he didn’t give her a word!
Sadness and anger did not leave Ferdiad at the thought of this. He came to the tent of the Ulad warriors and, raising his voice, said loudly so that everyone could hear:
“It would be better for me to die at the hands of the glorious Cuchulainn than for him to die from me!” And if Cuchulainn falls from my hand, Queen Mav and many of her glorious warriors will not live. The reason for this is the promise that she snatched from me when I was drunk and joyful at her feast. Believe me!
Then Ferdiad mounted his chariot and rushed to the ford across the river to the place of the duel. There he forced the driver to unharness the horses and, having dismantled the chariot, ordered to build a tent for himself and cover it with skins. The ground was covered with blankets, pillows were thrown in, and Ferdiad went to bed before Cuchulainn arrived.
And while he was sleeping, Fergus, loyal to Cuchulainn, secretly left the tent of the Connacht warriors and went to Cuchulainn to tell him with whom he would have to fight on the coming day.
“I swear on my life,” cried Cuchulainn, upon hearing this news, “this is not the kind of conversation I would like to have with my friend and brother-in-arms!” Not out of fear of him, but out of love and tender affection. But since this has happened, it is better for me to die at the hands of this glorious warrior than for him to die from me!
And Cuchulainn went to bed and slept for a long time. He did not want to get up early, so that the Connacht warriors would not say that he could not sleep from fear of Ferdiad. The sun was already high when he finally climbed onto his chariot and rode to the ford across the river to the place of the duel.
Ferdiad was already waiting for him and, as soon as Cuchulainn got off the chariot, he greeted his friend.
“Ah, Ferdiad,” Cuchulainn said sadly in response, “I used to believe that you greeted me as a friend.” But now this faith is gone! How could you exchange our friendship for the false promises of a treacherous woman?
Stung by Cuchulainn's reproaches, Ferdiad exclaimed:
– Has our conversation gone on too long? It's time for our spears to join in the conversation!
And so, having drawn closer, the glorious warriors began to throw light spears at each other. Like bees on a clear summer day, sharp darts flew between the enemies, and the sun burned on their wing tips.
They fought like this all day, changing weapons from time to time. But both in defense and in attack their skill was equal, and no matter what weapon they chose, it was never stained with their blood. When night fell, they decided that the fight was over for today and it was time to rest.
Having thrown their weapons to their drivers, the brave warriors threw themselves on each other’s necks and tenderly kissed each other three times in a brotherly manner.
Then the drivers prepared beds for them from fresh reeds, for each on his own bank of the river: for Ferdiad - on the south, for Cuchulainn - on the north.
Messengers rode up from Ulster and brought medicinal herbs and potions to Cuchulain to increase his strength and relieve his overworked body from pain and fatigue. Cuchulainn divided all the herbs and all the medicines equally and sent half to Ferdiad.
And the Connacht warriors brought food and drink from the camp for Ferdiad. Ferdiad also divided everything equally and sent half to Cuchulainn.
Their horses spent the night in the same paddock, and the drivers spent the night together around the same fire.
The next morning, as soon as the sun began to shine, the fighters met again at the ford. This time they fought on chariots, using heavy spears. The battle went on all day, and each received many cruel blows, before night fell and they decided to rest. This time both were so badly wounded that birds could fly into their wounds on one side and fly out from the other.
But their horses spent that night in the same paddock, and the drivers - together around the same fire.
When the next morning they met at the ford to continue the duel, Cuchulainn saw that Ferdiad was no longer the same as before: his gaze became gloomy, and he could no longer stand straight, but walked hunched over, barely dragging his feet.
Great sadness seized Cuchulainn. He forded the river and, approaching Ferdiad, said to him:
“My friend, comrade and brother, remember how we loved each other, how we shed blood together in cruel battles, fights and battles. Listen to your younger brother: give up combat at the ford!
At this, Ferdiad lowered his head lower so as not to look into Cuchulainn’s eyes, and said with sadness that he could not break his word, given in an evil moment to Queen Mav, and would fight with Cuchulainn until one of them wins.
This time they chose a weapon together and the battle began.
All long day in complete silence they threw heavy spears, clashed with sharp swords, chopped, stabbed, cut and delivered direct blows. Only the dark evening forced them to end the single combat.
Still silently, they threw their weapons to their drivers and, without hugging or saying a kind word to each other, gloomily went to their tents.
That night their horses spent in different corrals, and the drivers each at their own fire.
Early in the morning, Ferdiad rose first and put on his strongest, heaviest, impenetrable battle armor to protect himself from the terrible horned spear - Ga-Bulga, which Cuchulainn was famous for in the duel at the ford.
Soon Cuchulainn also came to the river, and the battle flared up, fierce and merciless.
The blows of their spears were so strong that the fighters' shields bent inward. The noise of their battle was so great that it scared all the demons of the sky and made them rush through the air with loud screams. The soldiers' tread was so heavy that they pushed the river out of its banks.
Evening was already approaching when Ferdiad, with an unexpected attack, brutally wounded Cuchulainn, plunging his sword into his body to the very hilt, and blood flowed like a river from the wound and flooded the ford.

Cuchulainn did not have time to respond, and Ferdiad followed the first blow with a second and third.
Only then did Cuchulainn shout to his driver Loig to hand him the horned spear to Ga-Bulgu. Taking aim, he threw it with two toes, and Ga-Bulga, piercing Ferdiad's heavy armor, mortally struck him.
“This is the end for me, my Cuchulainn,” Ferdiad said and collapsed to the ground.
Seeing his friend and sworn brother fall to the ground, Cuchulain threw away his terrible weapon and rushed to Ferdiad. He bent over him, picked him up and carefully carried him across the ford to the northern side of the river - the side of the glorious settlements. He did not want to leave the friend of his youth, his sworn brother, his comrade-in-arms in the formidable battles on the land of enemies, on the southern bank of the river.
Cuchulainn lowered Ferdiad to the ground, bent over him and began to mourn him bitterly. Losing himself in grief and not thinking about the danger, Cu Chulainn sat for a long time next to his murdered friend, until his driver Loig advised him to move away from the ford, where the treacherous warriors of Queen Mav could attack him at any moment.
At Loig’s words, Cuchulainn slowly raised his head and said quietly, sadly:
- My friend Loig, know and remember: from now on, any battle, any fight or battle will seem to me an empty joke, fun, a toy after the duel with my dear Ferdiad.
And Cuchulainn composed this song, mourning his murdered friend:

We were close while studying with Scathach -
At the formidable mentor of youth
Together we went through the science of victories...

We were close in games and fun,
Until you met death at the ford.

We fought side by side in fierce battles,
And everyone received a shield from Scathach as a gift -
For the first success, for the right blow...
And then at the ford you met death.

We were close in games and fun,

My dear friend, my light, my brother,
Storm of heroes, glorious hero,
Without fear you went into the last battle...
And then at the ford you met death.

We were close in games and fun,
Until you met death at the ford,

O lion fierce, fierce and wise,
About the sea wall that hits the shore,
Sweeping everything out of the way, you moved forward...
And then at the ford you met death.

We were close in games and fun,
Until you met death at the ford,

My beloved friend, brave Ferdiad,
All deaths are worth yours alone.
Yesterday you were a tall mountain.
Today you met death at the ford.

Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Tauride National University named after. V. I. Vernadsky

Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism

Department of Russian Language and Literature

Homework #1

in the discipline "History of Foreign Literature"

Completed:

Groups No.

Checked:

Doctor of Philology, prof. Novikova M. A.

Review

To work #1

In the discipline "History of Foreign Literature"

The task is completed completely

The design of the Assignment fully complies with GOST of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine

Final grade for the content of the Assignment – ​​rank B(85)

Final grade for assignment design – rank B(85)

Total assessment of Assignment of all work No. 1 – rank B

Reviewer:

Group: 1RA

CUCHULIN

(Irish. Si Chulainn, “dog of Culanna”), in the Irish mythoepic tradition, a hero, the central character of numerous sagas of the so-called. Uladsky (Ulster) cycle. Tradition dates K.'s exploits to the reign of Conchobar in Emain Mach, the capital of Ulad (the turn of the century). Despite the pronounced heroic atmosphere of the narratives of this cycle and the debated historicity of its central characters, most of them (primarily K. himself) are closely connected with mythology. The son of the god Lugh and the mortal Dekhtire (according to another version, the fruit of incest of Conchobor and his sister Dechtire), K. at an early age is distinguished by the usual “childish deeds” of the Irish epic hero, the central of which was the murder of the monstrous dog of the blacksmith Culann (name K. - The hero received “Dog Kulanna” instead of the previous Setant after he volunteered to replace the dog he had killed as a guard). Having taken up arms at the age of seven, K. studied combat prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Scathach, Uathah and Aife (from Aife he had a son, Conlaich, who later fought with K. unrecognized and died by his hand). K., who fell in love with Sida Fand, penetrates into the other world of Manannan, son of Ler. He heroically resists the troops of the four provinces of Ireland ("The Rape of the Bull from Cualnge"); here the fantastic elements of K.’s image clearly appear - his ability for miraculous transformations, mastery of magical techniques, etc. K. heroically fights with enemies who only with the help of magic manage to achieve victory over him (they challenge K. to single combat when all other units are defeated a magical disease; they force him, with the help of magic, to break the vows - “geis” that lie on K., as a result of which he loses part of his strength, horse, spear); pierced to death by his enemies with his own spear, he dies standing, tying himself to a sacred stone (the “Death of K.” saga).

Lig.; Ivanov V.V., The origin of the name Kukhulin, in the collection: Problems of comparative philology, M.-L., 1964; Tain Вo Cualnge from the book of Leinster, ed. by C. O"Rahilly, Dublin, 1970; D"Arbols de Jubalnvllle N., Étude sur Ie Táin, “Revue Celtique., 1907, v. 28, No. 1.S. V. Shkunaev. (Source: “Myths of the Peoples of the World.”)

Cu Chulainn

In the mythology of the Irish Celts, the name Cuchulainn became synonymous with the glorious warrior. There are many legends about him, which are sometimes intertwined with each other. Thus, it is believed that he was the son of Dekhtire, but, in all likelihood, not from her legal husband, Sualtam. He was most likely the son of Lugh, although some ancient authors claim that his father was actually Conchobar Mac Nessa. As a child he went by the name Setanta. While married to Emer, Cuchulainn was repeatedly carried away by other women. One of them was Fand. According to legend, he rejected the ardent passion and advances of Morrigan, for which he earned her malicious hatred (see head; see also chapter 12 and chapter 13).

(Source: “Celtic Mythology. Encyclopedia.” Translated from English by S. Golova and A. Golova, Eksmo, 2002.)

The real name of the hero Cuchulainn is Setanta. One day, when Setanta was still a child, a huge dog that belonged to the blacksmith Kulann rushed at him and almost tore him to pieces. But Setanta strangled him with his bare hands, and everyone saw what a strong boy this boy was. Culann was furious that he had lost his guard dog. Setanta was ready to guard the blacksmith's property himself until the blacksmith found a replacement for the dog. Culann did not take him as a guard, but Setanta from then on bore the nickname Cuchulainn - “the dog of Culann.”

Cuchulainn was only seven years old when he accidentally heard the words of a druid: “The warriors who fight today will gain glory, but will die young.” Without doubting for a moment, Cuchulainn took up the weapon. He single-handedly fought against a whole horde of enemies!

Cuchulainn went to the afterlife to learn martial arts from the warrior princess. His magic sword began to inflict only mortal wounds. His chariot was able to become invisible. Sometimes Cuchulainn was overcome by military frenzy. Woe to those who meet on his way - he did not spare either enemies or friends! When Cuchulainn was wounded in battle, the goddess of war appeared to him in the guise of a crow and announced that his death was near. But he tied himself to the sacred stone and fought until the last moment and met death standing.

The hero's biography would be incomplete without the story of heroic matchmaking and marriage to a beautiful girl. This is described in the saga “Matchmaking to Emer.” All the women of Ulad were in love with Cuchulainn, which, of course, did not please the men. Therefore, the Ulads decided to find a girl whom Cuchulainn would agree to take as his wife, “for they were sure that a person who had a wife would be less likely to seduce their daughters and arouse love in their wives.” Marriage is also a stage of initiation - the young man becomes a married man. King Conchobar sent nine men to all regions of Ireland to find out if in any castle or village there was a daughter of the king or another ruler whom Cuchulainn would want to woo. But exactly a year later, all the messengers returned with nothing.

Then Cuchulainn himself found a bride. It was Emer, daughter of Forgall Monk. “Of all the girls in Ireland, she was the only one worthy of Cuchulainn wooing her. For she possessed six gifts: the gift of beauty, the gift of singing, the gift of sweet speech, the gift of sewing, the gift of wisdom, the gift of purity. Cuchulainn said that he would not marry a girl other than one equal to him in age, appearance, origin, intelligence and dexterity, and that she would be the best craftswoman in sewing of all the girls in Ireland. And since Emer was the only girl who satisfied these conditions, Cuchulainn chose her out of everyone to woo her.”

Father Emer Forgall Monk was the nephew of the sea god Tetra, king of the Fomorians, whose fortress was located in Brega and was called Luglochta Loga (Gardens of the Meadow). Cuchulainn spoke of his journey there allegorically: he said that he spent the night “in the house of a man tending flocks on the plain of Tetra,” then he rode “between two wooded mountains” and further “from the cover of the sea through the great secret of the Tribes of the goddess Danu and through the foam two horses of Emain, through the garden of Morrigan, along the backbone of the great pig, between the god and the prophet, along the spinal cord of Fedelm's wife, between the boar and the boar, along the bank of the horses of Dea, between the king of Anad and his servant, to Moncuile, which is at the four corners of the world, according to the great crime and the remains of the great feast, between the large and small cauldron to the gardens of Lug and, finally, to the daughters of Tetra’s nephew, king of the Fomorians.” Thus, the journey of the hero-groom from Ulad to Brega becomes a ritual journey to the Other World.

Having completed this fantastic journey, Cuchulainn appeared before Emer and her friends, who were on the playground, and amazed the girls with his beauty and magnificent attire. “He is wearing a beautiful scarlet shirt with five folds, fastened at the collar, on his white chest, with a buckle with applied gold; his chest, heaving, beats with full blows against the buckle. On top is a cloak, white with woven threads of red and fiery gold. Seven dragon stones in the depths of his eyes. Two blue-white, blood-red cheeks, puffing up, throwing sparks and flames. A ray of love burns in his gaze. His eyebrows are black as coal. On his hip is a sword with a golden hilt. Attached to the copper side of the chariot is a spear as red as blood with a sharp, fierce tip on a wooden, well-built shaft. On his shoulders is a scarlet shield with a silver side, decorated with golden images of animals.”

On the last day of the battle, the heroes began the so-called “game of ford”: Cuchulainn jumped from his edge of the ford directly at Ferdiad to cut off his head over the side of the shield. Ferdiad shook him off his shield, and Cuchulainn flew away from him to his side of the ford. And this happened several times. This technique did not bring success to Cuchulainn, because Ferdiad surpassed him in height and strength. But then a wonderful distortion happened to Cuchulain: “... he all swelled and expanded, like an inflated bubble; he became like a terrible, menacing, multi-colored, wonderful bow, and the height of the brave fighter became great, like that of the Fomorians, far exceeding the growth of Ferdiad.”

Then the heroes switched to close combat: “The fighters came together so closely in the fight that their heads were above, their legs below, and in the middle, behind the sides and above the bumps of the shields, their hands. They fought so closely that their shields burst and cracked from the sides to the middle. They fought so closely that their spears were bent, twisted and chipped. They came together so closely that the demons and werewolves, the spirits of the earth and air, released a cry from their shields, hilts of swords and spearheads. They came together so closely that they pushed the river out of its bed and bed, and where there was a ford, they could make a bed for the king and queen, for there was not a single drop of water here, except for that which the fighters squeezed and trampled. from the earth." The end of the terrible battle came when Cu Chulainn asked his charioteer to give him a “horned spear” (ga bulga). This spear left one wound, but hid thirty notches, and it was impossible to pull it out without cutting off the flesh all around. Cu Chulainn threw this terrible spear, it pierced the strong armor of Ferdiad and struck the hero to death.

Having jumped over the ford in one leap, Cuchulain found himself at the body of the dead Ferdiad. He moved it along with the weapon to the north side, so as not to leave it on the south, among the opponents. When Cuchulainn lowered him to the ground and looked into the face of the dead Ferdiad, the light faded from his eyes, weakness attacked him, and he fainted. Having woken up, Cu Chulainn begins his beautiful lament for Ferdiad:

Because of betrayal, O Ferdiad,

Your death is a hundred times more bitter to me!

You died. I'm alive. Our lot is this

We will never meet again!

When we lived in the eastern region,

From Scathach, learning to win in battle,

It seemed that we would always be friends,

Until the Day of Judgment!

Your beautiful appearance was dear to me:

Tender cheeks are touched by the color of fire,

The blue clarity of your eyes,

Nobility of posture, wisdom of speech!

Images and symbols of myth

In the mythology of the Irish Celts, the name Cuchulainn became synonymous with the glorious warrior. There are many legends about him, which are sometimes intertwined with each other.

It is believed that he was the son of Dekhtire, but, in all likelihood, not from her legal husband, Sualtam. He was most likely the son of Lugh, although some ancient authors claim that his father was actually Conchobar Mac Nessa. As a child he went by the name Setanta.

In antiquity, the fly was considered one of the symbols of the soul. Many myths tell of souls in the form of flies that seek to enter the body of a woman in order to regain human form. The Celtic hero Cuchulainn was conceived when his future mother swallowed him in the form of a fly.

Transformations, changes in appearance are a favorite motif of Celtic mythology and the religious views of the Celts, reflecting their belief in the immortality of the soul. Deities could freely take on any form. Gods and goddesses who had supernatural powers could turn people into any creatures, most often animals, usually as punishment. Sometimes the act of transformation is a consequence of jealousy or envy on the part of the deity.

Birds are heavenly messengers, symbols of freedom and transcendence, symbols of the spirit freed from earthly ties and communicating with heavenly forces. Returning to earth, they bring the message of the gods - prophecies and instructions. Birds help mortals in their spiritual and earthly journeys.

According to tradition, ravens were associated with darkness and gloom, as well as with the gift of prophecy. Thus, in the literary monuments of the Irish Celts, the raven often has a prophetic gift. In addition, the raven was associated with the battlefield; he was depicted flying over rivers of blood, shouting prophecies about the outcome of the battle.

In Celtic mythology, the Otherworld is the name of the place where people’s souls go after death to be reborn. The other world is an integral part of the views of the Celts, who recognized the immortality of the soul. It was not only the land of the dead, but also the land of eternal youth, the land of bliss, the real promised land. However, to ordinary mortals who visited there and returned alive, including the famous Cuchulainn, it appeared to have its dark side, and they saw all kinds of monsters and other nightmares there.

In Celtic culture, the druid served as a priest. The name “druid” itself comes, according to researchers, from drus, the ancient name of oak - a tree dedicated to the druids themselves. In addition to their primary function as priests, Druids were teachers, poets, philosophers, soothsayers and judges. The Druids were the most influential force in Celtic society. They were distinguished by their enormous education in all fields of knowledge, and the training of the Druid usually lasted at least twenty years.

Chariots were of great importance to the Celts, especially on the battlefield. They played an equally important role as a religious and ritual vehicle; Thus, goddesses are often depicted racing in a chariot. As proof of how prominent a role chariots played for the Celts, it is enough to cite the fact that the deceased representatives of the nobility of Celtic society were often laid on the funeral pyre along with chariots, carts or carts.

Water in the Celtic era, as well as in later times, was considered a source of healing power. Altars and altars were erected near springs and springs, to which all kinds of healing properties were attributed. This connection between water and the healing powers of nature itself lasted much longer than the Celtic civilization lasted.

The ring as a closed circle symbolizes integrity and unity. It has neither beginning nor end, therefore it is often associated with eternity and infinity. Its central hole is the place of passage of heavenly power, divine breath. The ring symbolizes a bond, union or vow. That is why the wedding ring is used to symbolize the eternal union of two hearts, as a sign of marital fidelity, family balance.

Sacred stones are stones that have become the object of ritual worship. Belief in sacred stones is present in the religious views of different peoples. Each of these stones has its own original legend.

Cuchulainn ("the dog of Culanna"), in Irish mythology, an invincible warrior, hero, central character in many sagas, whose temper often caused grief to himself and those around him. Cuchulainn's mother was Dekhtire, granddaughter of the god of love Aongus. At the wedding feast, a fly flew into her goblet, and Dekhtire accidentally swallowed it. The girl fell into a deep sleep; she dreamed of the sun god Lug, who demanded that she, along with fifty relatives, turn into birds and follow him to the other world. Three years later, a flock of birds with bright plumage returned to Emain Machu, the capital of Ulster. The residents began to shoot at them with slings, but were unable to hit any. It was decided to catch the birds at night when they fell asleep. Suddenly, instead of birds, the warriors found fifty women, and among them Dekhtire, sleeping in a wonderful hut. Dekhtire brought with her a gift from the other world - a son named Setanta. Sualtham Mac Roth, her husband, was so happy to have a wife again that he adopted a boy, the future hero Cuchulainn, to whom Dekhtire's father, the druid Cathbad, had once predicted the glory of a great warrior. Since childhood, Setanta willingly studied the art of war, but few people noticed how strong and brave the boy was. Late for the party that the Ulster blacksmith Culann gave in honor of King Conchobar Mac Ness, the young hero was attacked by a ferocious dog at the very gates and was able to escape death by crushing his head. The owner was grieving at the loss of his faithful guardian, and Setanta volunteered to serve in the dog's place until a replacement was found. Culann declined the offer, but Setanta has since received a new name - Cuchulainn, "the dog of Culann." Despite Cathbad's warning that whoever went to the first battle on a certain day would have a short life, Cuchulainn soon took up arms against the enemies of Ulster, the demigods Foyle, Fannell and Tuachell, as well as against their many minions. In this battle, Cuchulainn first entered into his terrifying battle frenzy. Returning to Emain Machu on a chariot, hung with the bloody heads of enemies, Cuchulainn, still in a state of battle frenzy, began to circle around the fortress and challenge everyone to battle. Fortunately, the hero was stopped by the Queen of Ulster, Mugain. She sent one hundred and fifty women to meet him, carrying three huge tubs of water. Cuchulainn allowed them to pull him into the water. The first tub simply exploded, in the second the water boiled, and in the third it only became very hot. This is how they calmed down the young hero, who first tasted blood. Cuchulainn took a liking to Emer, the daughter of the treacherous Lord Fogall, who advised him to learn military prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Scathach, Uathah and Aife from the land of shadows. Scathach taught the hero his famous combat jump but, fearing for the life of Cuchulainn, she asked him not to challenge her sister Aife to a duel. However, Cuchulainn managed to defeat the warrior maiden by cunning and spend the night with her. When leaving, the hero left Aife a ring. Years later, when their son Konlaich grew up, he went to Ulster to measure his strength with the heroes there. Hot-tempered and dexterous, he easily dealt with Conall, the foster brother of Cuchulainn, who, not heeding the advice of his wife, also accepted the challenge of the brave young man. Fate, however, decreed that the son should fall at the hands of his father. Cuchulainn fought with a powerful young stranger. The gold ring on Conlaich's finger, given by Cuchulainn to his mother, revealed to the hero the name of his own son too late. Cuchulain gained fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb. Losing the support of the death goddess Morrigan after rejecting her love, Cuchulainn received a terrible wound in the stomach that even Lugh, his father, could not heal. He died standing, tying himself to the sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a crow sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cuchulain's head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures. The loss of the defender was mourned by all of Ulster.

Cuchulainn ("the dog of Culanna") is an invincible warrior, hero, central character in many sagas, whose temper often caused grief to himself and those around him. Cuchulainn's mother was Dekhtire, granddaughter of the god of love Aongus.

According to the myth, at a wedding feast, a fly flew into his mother's cup, and Dekhtire accidentally swallowed it. The girl fell into a deep sleep; she dreamed of the sun god Lug, who demanded that she, along with fifty relatives, turn into birds and follow him to the other world.

Three years later, a flock of birds with bright plumage returned to Emain Machu, the capital of Ulster. The residents began to shoot at them with slings, but were unable to hit any. It was decided to catch the birds at night when they fell asleep. Suddenly, instead of birds, the warriors found fifty women, and among them Dekhtire, sleeping in a wonderful hut.

Dekhtire brought with her a gift from the other world - a son named Setanta. Sualtham Mac Roth, her husband, was so happy to have a wife again that he adopted a boy, the future hero Cuchulainn, to whom Dekhtire's father, the druid Cathbad, had once predicted the glory of a great warrior.

Since childhood, Setanta willingly studied the art of war, but few people noticed how strong and brave the boy was. Late for the party that the Ulster blacksmith Culann gave in honor of King Conchobar Mac Ness, the young hero was attacked by a ferocious dog at the very gates and was able to escape death by crushing his head. The owner was grieving at the loss of his faithful guardian, and Setanta volunteered to serve in the dog's place until a replacement was found. Culann declined the offer, but Setanta has since received a new name - Cuchulainn, "the dog of Culann."

Despite Cathbad's warning that whoever went to the first battle on a certain day would have a short life, Cuchulainn soon took up arms against the enemies of Ulster, the demigods Foyle, Fannell and Tuachell, as well as against their many minions. In this battle, Cuchulainn first entered into his terrifying battle frenzy.

Returning to Emain Machu on a chariot, hung with the bloody heads of enemies, Cuchulainn, still in a state of battle frenzy, began to circle around the fortress and challenge everyone to battle. Fortunately, the hero was stopped by the Queen of Ulster, Mugain. She sent one hundred and fifty women to meet him, carrying three huge tubs of water. Cuchulainn allowed them to pull him into the water. The first tub simply exploded, in the second the water boiled, and in the third it only became very hot. This is how they calmed down the young hero, who first tasted blood.

Cuchulainn took a liking to Emer, the daughter of the treacherous Lord Fogall, who advised him to learn military prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Scathach, Uathah and Aife from the land of shadows. Scathach taught the hero his famous combat jump but, fearing for the life of Cuchulainn, she asked him not to challenge her sister Aife to a duel.

However, Cuchulainn managed to defeat the warrior maiden by cunning and spend the night with her. When leaving, the hero left Aife a ring.

Years later, when their son Konlaich grew up, he went to Ulster to measure his strength with the heroes there. Hot-tempered and dexterous, he easily dealt with Conall, the foster brother of Cuchulainn, who, not heeding the advice of his wife, also accepted the challenge of the brave young man. Fate, however, decreed that the son should fall at the hands of his father.

Cuchulainn fought with a powerful young stranger.

The gold ring on Conlaich's finger, given by Cuchulainn to his mother, revealed to the hero the name of his own son too late.

Cuchulain gained fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb. Losing the support of the death goddess Morrigan after rejecting her love, Cuchulainn received a terrible wound in the stomach that even Lugh, his father, could not heal. He died standing, tying himself to the sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a crow sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cuchulain's head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures. The loss of the defender was mourned by all of Ulster.

Cuchulainn (“the dog of Culanna”) is a famous hero of Irish myths; he was the central character in the sagas of the so-called Uldish (Ulster, Ulster) cycle.

Cuchulainn is a native of the place of Ardrigue on Mag Muirtemn. According to different versions, he is the son of the god of light Lugh and Dekhtire, the granddaughter of the god of love Aongus, according to another version, he is the fruit of incest between Conchobor and his sister Dekhtire. Fergus's adopted son.

According to legend, Cuchulainn lived during the reign of Conchobar in Emain Macha, that is, at the turn of the century. e. Many characters in this cycle were supposedly historical figures, including Cu Chulainn himself, but his image acquired many magical features. From the list of rulers, approximate conclusions were made about the age of the hero: he was born in 34 BC. e., at the age of 7 he took up arms, at 17 he fought with enemies in the “Abduction”, at the age of 27 he died.

As a child, he exhibited actions typical of a hero. In particular, in order not to be late for the feast in honor of his uncle Conchobar, he kills the monstrous dog of the blacksmith Kulann, after which he guards the house until the puppy of the killed dog grows up. Thanks to this, the hero gets his name and one of the geis, before that he was known under the name “Setanta”.

Having once heard a prediction that whoever took a weapon on this day would be the greatest warrior, but would not live long, Cu Chulainn deceitfully received the weapon into his hands on the specified day.

The described appearance of the hero emphasizes his unusualness: he has 7 fingers on his hands and feet, 7 pupils in his eyes, and in each of them there are seven precious stones. There are four dimples on the cheeks: blue, purple, green and yellow. He had fifty light yellow strands on his head. (Another skeleton says: “There were seven pupils in the eyes of the young man - three in one and four in the other...”).

When Cuchulainn became a young man, the women and girls of Ireland began to fall in love with him for his beauty and exploits. At the insistence of the Ulads, he decided to marry, but the father of Emer, the girl to whom he wooed, demanded that he perform a number of difficult tasks, hoping that Cuchulainn would die. Cuchulainn, however, emerged victorious from all the trials and got married. During this dangerous matchmaking, Cuchulainn visited Scotland, where he learned the intricacies of martial art.

Cuchulainn became the lover of Uathach, the daughter of his mentor Scathach; the sister of the mentor Aife bore him a son, Konlaich. When Conlaich grew up, he went to Ireland to look for his father, whose name he did not know. They met, fought without recognizing each other, and the father killed his son.

Cuchulain gained fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb.

The Feast of Brickren describes how Cuchulainn competed with other heroes of the Ulads. He surpassed them all in courage, accepting the challenge of the wizard Kuroi (Ku Roi), who invited the person who wanted to cut off his head with the condition that then he himself, if he could, would do the same to the enemy. Cuchulainn cut off Kuroi's head, which immediately grew back, and then placed his head on the block, but Kuroi declared that this was only a test of his courage.

Cuchulainn, who fell in love with the sida Fand, penetrates into the other world of Manannan, son of Ler. He heroically resists the troops of the four provinces of Ireland ("The Rape of the Bull from Cualnge"); Here the fantastic elements of the image of Cuchulainn clearly appear - his ability for miraculous transformations, mastery of magical techniques, etc.

Rejects the love of the goddess of death Morrigan and after that loses her support. He violates a number of geisas and is deprived of his weapons (the philids they meet demand his weapons as a gift, threatening to otherwise glorify them in songs; Cuchulainn “gives” them the weapons, piercing them, but leaving the weapons in their bodies). Pierced to death by his enemies with his own spear, he dies standing, tying himself to a sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a crow sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cuchulainn’s head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures (saga “The Death of Cuchulainn”). The loss of the defender was mourned by all of Ulster.

A hero of heroes, a glorious warrior of ancient Ulster, the first among the warriors of the Red Branch of King Conchobar, a fearless Uladian dog - this is how Cuchulain was called by his friends and enemies.

And there was only one other warrior in the five kingdoms of ancient Ireland, or, as they said then, in Erin, who could compare with Cuchulainn in courage and martial art. It was Ferdiad, son of Damon.

These two glorious heroes - Cuchulainn and Ferdiad - were sworn brothers and friends. They grew up together, learning the techniques of fighting strength and courage together from the formidable warrior Scathach on the Isle of Skye. There they spent their youth, there they knew love and matured, from there, hand in hand, they went to feats of arms in foreign, distant countries.

Their devotion and true friendship were cemented by the blood shed in many dangerous battles, battles and battles. But it so happened that, angry with the evil and treacherous King Conchobar, Ferdiad, along with other warriors of the Red Branch, left Ulster and went to serve the proud and cruel Connacht Queen Mave.
It was at that time that Mav decided to go to war against the kingdom of Ulster. She had long wanted to show the King of the Ulads, Conchobar, that he was not the most powerful king in Erin.

She gathered all her glorious warriors and led them north to Ulster. She chose the right time for the war - King Conchobar and his warriors were overcome by a serious illness. This happened to them at the beginning of every winter - as punishment for the fact that King Conchobar once mocked the goddess of war Maha.

And so, when all the Ulad warriors were exhausted from illness, Queen Mav left Connacht and approached with her army to the very border of Ulster - to the Northern Pass.
Having learned that the mighty army of Queen Mave was marching on Ulster, Cuchulainn sent his charioteer Loig to the goddess Macha with a great request that she remove her curse from the Ulads. And while their strength had not yet returned, Cuchulainn alone went out to defend the Northern Passage from the enemy.
The curse of the goddess Macha did not touch him: when this misfortune first happened to the Ulads, Cuchulainn had not yet been born.

Not a day passed without less than a hundred warriors of Queen Mave falling at the hands of Cuchulainn. It was not for nothing that he was known as a hero of heroes, a fearless fighter, a winner in many battles.
Moreover, at night Cuchulainn quietly approached the very camp of the proud queen and dispersed all her guards with stones accurately fired from a sling. So no one had any peace from him, not only during the day, but also at night.

Then Queen Mav decided to send messengers and ambassadors to Cuchulainn. Messengers ran from her to Cuchulainn's tent and back, conveying her questions and his answers. And it was decided between them that Queen Mav would no longer advance to Ulster by forced march, but would send one warrior every day to Cuchulainn to meet him in a glorious duel. They agreed that while he was fighting in a duel, she could go forward with her army, but as soon as her warrior was killed - if this happened - she would stop until the next day.
“It would be better for me to lose one warrior a day than a hundred,” thought the insidious Mav.

But day after day passed, and Cuchulainn killed her best warriors one after another in a fair fight. And the day came when Queen Mav did not know who else could fight and withstand the battle with Cuchulainn.
She had to convene a large council of Erin's husbands. Erin's husbands began to think and, having thought, agreed on one thing:
- Ferdiad, son of Damon! For in battle, in battle and in battle, he alone is equal to the bravest hero Cuchulainn. They grew up together, together they learned the techniques of combat strength and courage from the formidable Scathach.
- Good choice! - the queen approved.

And they sent messengers and ambassadors for Ferdiad. But Ferdiad refused, rejected, and sent back the queen’s messengers and ambassadors. He did not answer her call, because he knew what they wanted from him: that he should enter into single combat with his dear friend, his sworn brother and adviser.

Then Mav sent druids and evil singers to Ferdiad so that they would sing him three numbing songs and three evil spells - for shame, ridicule and contempt - if Ferdiad refused to come to her.
This time Ferdiad went, because it seemed easier to him to fall from the spear of strength, dexterity and courage than from the arrows of shame, disgrace and reproach.
Mav herself came out to meet him and received him with honor and greetings. Then she called her leaders and military commanders and ordered them to arrange a feast in honor of Ferdiad.

At the table Ferdiad sat on her right hand. And on the other hand, Mav sat her daughter Findabair next to him and ordered her to pour the best wines for the hero so that his cup would never remain empty.
Ferdiad quickly became tipsy and cheerful. Then the queen began to praise his courage, courage and heroic deeds and promised him untold riches, new lands and her daughter Findabair as a wife if he entered into single combat with Cuchulainn.
Those gathered at the table loudly welcomed the queen's words.
Everyone except Ferdiad.

He sat alone in silence. It was bitter for him to even think about fighting with his friend, comrade and brother-in-arms. He told the queen:
- Your gifts are truly generous and beautiful, proud Mav! But I'm not worthy of them. I will never accept them as a reward for the battle with my dear friend Cuchulainn.
He also said this to the queen:
And our hearts beat side by side, And in the forests we fought side by side, On the same bed we slept side by side, Tired, exhausted in a fierce battle...

And then Mav realized that such devotion and love could not be destroyed by flattery or bribery. And she conceived a different plan.
When Ferdiad finished the song about the dangerous deeds that they accomplished together with Cuchulainn, she, pretending that she had not heard what he had just said, turned to her warriors and advisers and calmly remarked:
“Perhaps now I’m ready to believe what Cuchulainn said about Ferdiad.”
- What did Cuchulainn say about me? - asked Ferdiad.
“He said that you are too dangerous and cautious to fight him in a duel,” Mav answered.

Ferdiad was overcome with anger and exclaimed:
“Cuchulainn shouldn’t have spoken about me like that!” He couldn't
I can honestly say that at least once I was a coward or showed a lack of courage in our common affairs. I swear by my glorious weapon, tomorrow at dawn I will be the first to challenge him to the battle that I so hate!
And without adding another word, Ferdiad, sad, returned to his tent.
That night no music or songs were heard among Ferdiad's faithful warriors. They saw their boss and master return from the royal feast, and they talked in whispers, anxiously asking each other what would happen. They knew that Ferdiad was skillful and fearless in battle, but they knew that Cuchulainn was no less skillful and equally fearless.
How could they not know that when two such fearless heroes meet in a fair fight, one of them is destined to die!
Ferdiad rested until dawn, and then ordered the chariot to be harnessed - he wanted to appear at the place of the duel before Cuchulain.

The driver brought out the horses, harnessed the chariot and returned to Ferdiad’s tent. He tried to persuade his master not to go into battle against Cuchulainn. Ferdiad did not hide from him how difficult it was for him to oppose his brother-in-law, but if he had given his word to Queen Mav, he would keep it:
It would be better if he didn’t give her a word!
Sadness and anger did not leave Ferdiad at the thought of this. He came to the tent of the Ulad warriors and, raising his voice, said loudly so that everyone could hear:
“It is better for me to die at the hands of the glorious Cuchulainn than for him to die from me!” And if Cuchulainn falls from my hand, Queen Mav and many of her glorious warriors will not live. The reason for this is the promise that she snatched from me when I was drunk and joyful at her feast. Believe me!
Then Ferdiad mounted his chariot and rushed to the ford across the river to the place of the duel. There he forced the driver to unharness the horses and, having dismantled the chariot, ordered to build a tent for himself and cover it with skins. The ground was covered with blankets, pillows were thrown in, and Ferdiad went to bed before Cuchulainn arrived.
And while he was sleeping, Fergus, loyal to Cuchulainn, secretly left the tent of the Connacht warriors and went to Cuchulainn to tell him with whom he would have to fight on the coming day.
“I swear on my life,” cried Cuchulainn, upon hearing this news, “this is not the kind of conversation I would like to have with my friend and brother-in-arms!” Not out of fear of him, but out of love and tender
attachments. But since this has happened, it is better for me to die at the hands of this glorious warrior than for him to die from me!

And Cuchulainn went to bed and slept for a long time. He did not want to get up early, so that the Connacht warriors would not say that he could not sleep from fear of Ferdiad. The sun was already high when he finally climbed onto his chariot and rode to the ford across the river to the place of the duel.
Ferdiad was already waiting for him and, as soon as Cuchulainn got off the chariot, he greeted his friend.

“Ah, Ferdiad,” Cuchulainn said sadly in response, “I used to believe that you greeted me as a friend.” But now this faith is gone! How could you exchange our friendship for the false promises of a treacherous woman?
Stung by Cuchulainn's reproaches, Ferdiad exclaimed:
- Has our conversation gone on too long? It's time for our spears to join in the conversation!

And so, having drawn closer, the glorious warriors began to throw light spears at each other. Like bees on a clear summer day, sharp darts flew between the enemies, and the sun burned on their wing tips.
They fought like this all day, changing weapons from time to time. But both in defense and in attack their skill was equal, and no matter what weapon they chose, it was never stained with their blood. When night fell, they decided that the fight was over for today and it was time to rest.

Having thrown their weapons to their drivers, the brave warriors threw themselves on each other’s necks and tenderly kissed each other three times in a brotherly manner.

Then the drivers prepared beds for them from fresh reeds, for each on his own bank of the river: for Ferdiad - on the south, for Cuchulainn - on the north.
Messengers rode up from Ulster and brought medicinal herbs and potions to Cuchulain to increase his strength and relieve his overworked body from pain and fatigue. Cuchulainn divided all the herbs and all the medicines equally and sent half to Ferdiad.
And the Connacht warriors brought food and drink from the camp for Ferdiad. Ferdiad also divided everything equally and sent half to Cuchulainn.
Their horses spent the night in the same corral, and the drivers spent the night together around the same fire.

The next morning, as soon as the sun began to shine, the fighters met again at the ford. This time they fought on chariots, using heavy spears. The battle went on all day, and each received many cruel blows, before night fell and they decided to rest. This time both were so badly wounded that birds could fly into their wounds on one side and fly out from the other.
But their horses spent that night in the same paddock, and the drivers - together around the same fire.
When the next morning they met at the ford to continue the duel, Cuchulainn saw that Ferdiad was no longer the same as before: his gaze became gloomy, and he could no longer stand straight, but walked hunched over, barely dragging his feet.
Great sadness seized Cuchulainn. He forded the river and, approaching Ferdiad, said to him:
- My friend, comrade and brother, remember how we loved each other, how we shed blood together in cruel battles, fights and battles. Listen to your younger brother: give up combat at the ford!
At this, Ferdiad lowered his head lower so as not to look into Cuchulainn’s eyes, and said with sadness that he could not break his word, given in an evil moment to Queen Mav, and would fight with Cuchulainn until one of them wins.

This time they chose a weapon together and the battle began.
All long day in complete silence they threw heavy spears, clashed with sharp swords, chopped, stabbed, cut and delivered direct blows. Only the dark evening forced them to end the single combat.
Still silently, they threw their weapons to their drivers and, without hugging or saying a kind word to each other, gloomily went to their tents.
That night their horses spent in different corrals, and the drivers - each at his own fire.
Early in the morning, Ferdiad rose first and put on his strongest, heaviest, impenetrable battle armor to protect himself from the terrible horned spear - Ga-Bulga, which Cuchulain was famous for in the duel at the ford.
Soon Cuchulainn also came to the river, and the battle flared up, fierce and merciless.
The blows of their spears were so strong that the fighters' shields bent inward. The noise of their battle was so great that it scared all the demons of the sky and made them rush through the air with loud screams. The soldiers' tread was so heavy that they pushed the river out of its banks.

Evening was already approaching when Ferdiad, with an unexpected attack, brutally wounded Cuchulainn, plunging his sword into his body to the very hilt, and blood flowed like a river from the wound and flooded the ford.
Cuchulainn did not have time to respond, and Ferdiad followed the first blow with a second and third.
Only then did Cuchulainn shout to his driver Loig to hand him the horned spear to Ga-Bulgu.

Taking aim, he threw it with two toes, and Ga-Bulga, piercing Ferdiad's heavy armor, mortally struck him.
“This is the end for me, my Cuchulainn,” Ferdiad said and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing his friend and sworn brother fall to the ground, Cuchulain threw away his terrible weapon and rushed to Ferdiad.

He bent over him, picked him up and carefully carried him across the ford to the northern side of the river - the side of the glorious settlements. He did not want to leave the friend of his youth, his sworn brother, his comrade-in-arms in the formidable battles on the land of enemies, on the southern bank of the river.

Cuchulainn lowered Ferdiad to the ground, bent over him and began to mourn him bitterly. Losing himself in grief and not thinking about the danger, Cu Chulainn sat for a long time next to his murdered friend, until his driver Loig advised him to move away from the ford, where the treacherous warriors of Queen Mav could attack him at any moment.

At Loig’s words, Cuchulainn slowly raised his head and said quietly, sadly:
- My friend Loig, know and remember: from now on, any battle, any fight or battle will seem to me an empty joke, fun, a toy after the duel with my dear Ferdiad.
And Cuchulainn composed this song, mourning his murdered friend:

We were close while studying with Scathach -
At the formidable mentor of youth
Together we went through the science of victories...
We were close in games and fun,
Until you met death at the ford.
We fought side by side in fierce battles,
And everyone received a shield from Scathach as a gift -
For the first success, for the right blow...
And then at the ford you met death.
We were close in games and fun,
My dear friend, my beacon, my brother, Storm of heroes, glorious hero, Without fear you went into the last battle... And then at the ford you met death.
We were close in games and fun,
Until you met death at the ford, O ferocious, fierce and wise lion, the wave of the sea that hits the shore, sweeping away everything from the path, you walked forward...
And then at the ford you met death.
We were close in games and fun,
Until you met death at the ford,
My beloved friend, brave Ferdiad,
All deaths are worth yours alone.
Yesterday you were a tall mountain.
Today you met death at the ford.