composed the first satire in Erinn has been indicated (p. 253). It now only remains to be said that the great Culture Hero who bore the name of Cairbre was doubtless placed on a level with the gods, and this seems to be the meaning of the fact that Cairbre occurs in a triad of the poets of the Tuatha Dé Danann.[1] This is brought into still greater relief in a poetic version of an oath in the epic story of the Táin (p. 140) as told in the Book of Leinster, where Medb is represented urging a famous champion called Fer-diad to undertake a duel against her mighty enemy Cúchulainn. Fer-diad, wishing to feel certain that Medb's promises would be faithfully kept to his race in case he fell in the contest, says that it is not enough for him to have the pledging by sun and moon, by earth and sea, which seems to have constituted the ordinary oath; he must have the fulfilment bound on six sureties and no less: the queen concedes it readily in the following order:[2]
|
Cid domnal na charpat. |
Though it be Domnal in his chariot, |
Which of the sons of Medb the two were to whom allusion is made, it would perhaps be difficult to say, as she had many; but Cairbre and Morann come before them, and after the more dread divinities of the deep and of death, who, according to the Celtic notion, were
