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Cuchulain's Fight 
With The Sea 
~ William  Butler yeats ~
 
 
 
A Man came slowly from the setting sun, 
To Emer, raddling raiment in her dun, 
And said, 'I am that swineherd whom you bid 
Go watch the road between the wood and tide, But now I have no need to watch it more.'
 
 Then Emer cast the web upon the floor, 
And raising arms all raddled with the dye, 
Parted her lips with a loud sudden cry. 
That swineherd stared upon her 
face and said, 
'No man alive, no man among the dead, 
Has won the gold his cars of battle bring.' 

'But if your master comes home triumphing Why must you blench and shake 
from foot to crown?'
 
 Thereon he shook the more and 
cast him down 
Upon the web-heaped floor, 
and cried his word: 
'With him is one sweet-throated like a bird.' 

'You dare me to my face,' and thereupon 
She smote with raddled fist, and 
where her son 
Herded the cattle came with stumbling feet, 
And cried with angry voice, 'It is not meet To idle life away, a common herd.'
 
 'I have long waited, mother, for that word: 
But wherefore now?' 
 'There is a man to die; 
You have the heaviest arm under the sky.' 

'Whether under its daylight or its stars 
My father stands amid his battle-cars.' 'But you have grown to be the taller man.' 

'Yet somewhere under starlight or the sun 
My father stands.' 
 'Aged, worn out with wars 
On foot. on horseback or in battle-cars.' 

'I only ask what way my journey lies, For He who made you bitter made you wise.'
 
'The Red Branch camp in a great company 
Between wood's rim and the 
horses of the sea. 
Go there, and light a camp-fire 
at wood's rim; 
But tell your name and lineage to him 
Whose blade compels, and wait 
till they have found 
Some feasting man that the same 
oath has bound.' 

Among those feasting men Cuchulain dwelt, 
And his young sweetheart close 
beside him knelt, 
Stared on the mournful wonder of his eyes, 
Even as Spring upon the ancient skies, 
And pondered on the glory of his days; 
And all around the harp-string 
told his praise, 
And Conchubar, the Red Branch king of kings, 
With his own fingers touched 
the brazen strings. 

At last Cuchulain spake, 'Some man has made 
His evening fire amid the leafy shade. 
I have often heard him singing to and fro, 
I have often heard the sweet 
sound of his bow. 
Seek out what man he is.' One went and came.
 
 He bade me let all know he gives his name 
At the sword-point, and waits 
till we have found 
Some feasting man that the same 
oath has bound.' 

Cuchulain cried, 'I am the only man Of all this host so bound from childhood on.'
 
After short fighting in the leafy shade, 
He spake to the young man, 'Is there no maid 
Who loves you, no white arms to 
wrap you round, 
Or do you long for the dim sleepy ground, 
That you have come and dared 
me to my face?' 

'The dooms of men are in God's hidden place.'
 
'Your head a while seemed like 
a woman's head 
That I loved once.' 
  Again the fighting sped, 
But now the war-rage in Cuchulain woke, 
And through that new blade's guard 
the old blade broke, 
And pierced him. 
'Speak before you r breath is done.' 

'Cuchulain I, mighty Cuchulain's son.'
 
'I put you from your pain. I can no more.' 

While day its burden on to evening bore, 
With head bowed on his knees Cuchulain stayed; 
Then Conchubar sent that sweet-throated maid, 
And she, to win him, his grey hair caressed; 
In vain her arms, in vain her soft white breast. 
Then Conchubar, the subtlest of all men, 
Ranking his Druids round him ten by ten, 
Spake thus: 'Cuchulain will dwell there and brood 
For three days more in dreadful quietude, 
And then arise, and raving slay us all. 
Chaunt in his ear delusions magical, That he may fight the horses of the sea.'
 
The Druids took them to their mystery, 
And chaunted for three days; 
Cuchulain stirred, 
Stared on the horses of the sea, and heard 
The cars of battle and his own name cried; And fought with the invulnerable tide.
 
 
 
 
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This page last updated on May 9th, 2007
Ladyspirit 2007. 
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