The Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (Moytura)

[At this point the original gives a list of the names of the chariots, charioteers, and their equipment.]

“What is the number of the slain?” said Lugh to Loch.

“I know not the number of peasants and rabble. As to the number of Fomorian lords and nobles and champions and kings sons and overkings I know, even five thousand three score and three men: two thousand and three fifties: four score thousand and nine times five: eight score and eight: four score and seven: four score and six: eight score and eight: four score and seven: four score and six: eight score and five: tow and forty including Net’s grandson. That is the number of the slain of the Fomorian overkings and high nobles who fell in the battle. Howbeit, as to the number of peasants and common people and rabble, and folk of every art besides who came in company with the great army- for every champion and every high chieftain and every overking of the Fomorians came with his host to the battle, so that all fell there, both his freemen and his slaves- we reckon only a few of the servants of the overkings. This then is the number that I have reckoned of these as I beheld: seven hundred, seven score and seven men together with Sab Uanchennach son of Cairbre Cole, son was he of a servant of Indech son of Dea Domnann, that is a son of a servant of the Fomorian king. As to what fell besides of “half men” and of those who reached not the heart of the battle, these are in no wise numbered till we number stars of heaven, sand of sea, flakes of snow, dew on lawn, hail stones, grass under feet of herds, and Manannan Mac Lir’s horses (waves) in a sea storm.” Thereafter Lugh and his comrades found Bres son of Elotha unguarded. He said: “It is better to give me quarter than to slay me.”

“What then will follow from that?” said Lugh.

“If I be spared,” says Bres, “the cows of Erin will always be in milk.”

“I will set this forth to our wise men,” said Lugh.

So Lugh went to Maeltne Mor-brethach, and said to him: “Shall Bres have quarter for giving constant milk to the cows of Erin?”

“He shall not have quarter,” said Maeltne; “he has no power over their age or their offspring, though he can milk them so long as they are alive.”

Lugh said to Bres: “That does not save thee: thou hast no power over their age and their offspring, though thou canst milk them. Is there aught else that will save thee, O Bres?” said Lugh.

“There is in truth, tell thy lawyer that for sparing me the men of Ireland shall reap a harvest in every quarter of the year.”

Said Lugh to Maeltne: “Shall Bres be spared for giving the men of Ireland a harvest of corn every quarter?”

“This has suited us,” said Maeltne: “the spring for ploughing and sowing, and the beginning of summer for the end of the strength of corn, and the beginning of autumn for the end of the ripeness of corn and for reaping it. Winter for consuming it.”

“That does not rescue thee,” said Lugh to Bres; “but less than that rescues thee.”

“What?” said Bres.

“How shall the men of Ireland plough? How shall they sow? How shall they reap? After making known these three things thou wilt be spared.”

“Tell them,” said Bres, “that their ploughing be on a Tuesday, their casting seed into the field be on a Tuesday, their reaping on a Tuesday.” So through that stratagem Bres was let go free.

In that fight, then, Ogma the champion found Orna the sword of Tethra, a king of the Fomorians. Ogma unsheathed the sword and cleansed it. Then the sword related whatsoever had been done by it; for it was the custom of swords at that time, when unsheathed, to set forth the deeds that had been done by them. And therefore swords are entitled to the tribute of cleansing them after they have been unsheathed. Hence also, charms are preserved in swords thenceforward. Now the reason why daemons used to speak from weapons at that time was because weapons were worshipped by human beings at that epoch, and the weapons were among the safeguards of that time.