...They came thence on the next day across Ard, and Cu Chulainn let
them go on before him. At Tamhlachtae Orlaimh a little to the north of
Disert Lochaud he came upon the charioteer of Orlamh, son of Ailill and
Medhbh, cutting wood there.
'The Ulstermen are behaving disgracefully, if it is they who are over
there,' said Cu Chulainn, 'while the army is at their heels.'
He went to the charioteer to stop him, for he thought he was one of
the Ulstermen. He saw the man cutting wood for a chariot shaft. 'What are
you doing here?' said Cu Chulainn.
'Cutting a chariot shaft,' said the charioteer; 'we have broken our
chariots in hunting that wild doe Cu Chulainn. Help me,' said the charioteer,
'but consider whether you will collect the poles or trim them.'
'I shall trim them indeed,' said Cu Chulainn. Then he trimmed the holly
poles between his fingers as the other watched, so that he stripped them
smooth of bark and knots.
'This cannot be your proper work that I gave you,' said the charioteer;
he was terrified.
'Who are you?' said Cu Chulainn.
'I am the charioteer of Orlamh son of Ailill and Medhbh. And you?'
said the charioteer.
'Cu Chulainn is my name,' said he.
'Woe is me, then!' said the charioteer.
'Do not be afraid,' said Cu Chulainn; 'Where is your master?'
'He is on the mound over there,' said the charioteer.
'Come along with me, then,' said Cu Chulainn, 'for I never kill charioteers.'
Cu Chulainn went to Orlamh, and killed him, and cut off his head and
brandished the head before the army. Then he put the head on the charioteer's
back and said, 'Take that with you,' said Cu Chulainn, 'and go to the camp
so.'...
Irish; author unknown; ninth century.
From "A Celtic Miscellany" translated by Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson,
Penguin Classics reprinted 1982
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