The Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (Moytura)

So Bres held the sovereignty as it had been conferred upon him. But the chiefs of the Tuatha De murmured greatly against him, for their knives were not greased by him, and however often they visited him their breaths did not smell of ale. Moreover, they saw not their poets, nor their bards, nor their lampooners, nor their harpers, nor their pipers, nor their jugglers, nor their fools amusing them in the household. They did not go to the contests of their athletes. They saw not their champions proving their prowess at the king’s court, save only one man, Ogma, son of Ethliu. This was the duty which he had, to bring fuel to the fortress. He used to carry a bundle every day from Clew Bay islands. And because he was weak from want of food, the sea would sweep away from him two thirds of his bundle. So he could only carry one third, and yet he had to supply the host from day to day. Neither service nor taxes were paid by the tribes, and the treasures of the tribe were not delivered by the act of the whole tribe.

Once upon a time there came a-guesting to Bres’ house Cairbre, son of Etain, poet of the Tuatha De. He entered a cabin narrow, black, dark, wherein there was neither fire nor furniture nor bed. Three small cakes, and they dry, were brought to him on a little dish. On the morrow he arose and he was not thankful. As he went across the enclosure, he said:

Without food quickly on a dish:
Without a cow’s milk whereon a calf grows;
Without a man’s abode in the gloom of night:
Without paying a company of story-tellers, let that be Bres’ condition.
Let there be no increase in Bres.

Now that was true. Naught save decay was on Bres from that hour. That is the first satire that was ever made in Ireland.

Now after that the Tuatha De Danaan went together to have speech with their foster son, Bres son of Elotha, and demanded of him their sureties. He gave them the restitution of the realm, and he was not well pleased with them for that. He begged to be allowed to remain till the end of seven years. “That shall be granted,” said the same assembly; “but thou shalt remain on the same security. Every fruit that comes to thy hand, both house and land and gold and silver, cows and food, and freedom from rent and taxes until then.”

“Ye shall have as ye say,” said Bres.

This is why they were asked for the delay: that he might gather the champions of the faery-mound, the Fomorians, to seize the tribes by force. Grievous to him seemed his expulsion from his kingdom.

Then he went to his mother and asked her whence was his race. “I am certain of that,” said she, and she went on to the hill hence she had seen the vessel of silver in the sea. She then went down to the strand, and gave him the ring which had been left with her for him, and he put it round his middle-finger and it fitted him. For the sake of no one had she formerly given it up, either by sale or gift. Until that day there was none whom it suited.

Then they went forward till they reached the land of the Fomorians. They came to a great plain with many assemblies therein. They advanced to the fairest of these assemblies. Tidings were demanded of them there. They replied that they were of the men of Ireland.

They were then asked whether they had hounds; for at that time it was the custom, when a body of men went to an assembly, to challenge them to a friendly contest. “We have hounds,” said Bres.

Then the hounds had a coursing-match, and the hounds of the Tuatha De Danaan were swifter than the hounds of the Fomorians. Then they were asked whether they had steeds for a horse-race.

They answered, “We have”; and their steeds were swifter than the steeds of the Fomorians. They were then asked whether they had any one who was good at sword-play. None was found save Bres alone. So when he set his hand to the sword, his father recognized the ring on his finger and inquired who was the hero. His mother answered on his behalf and told the king that Bres was a son of his. Then she related to him the whole story even as we have recounted it.

His father was sorrowful over him. Said the father: “What need has brought thee out of the land wherein thou didst rule?”

Bres replied: “Nothing has brought me save my own injustice and arrogance. I stripped them of their jewels and treasures and their own food. Neither tribute nor taxes had been taken from them up to that time.”

“That is bad,” said the father. “Better were their prosperity than their kingship. Better their prayers than their curses. Why hast thou come hither?”

“I have come to ask you for champions,” said he. “I would take that land by force.”

“Thou shouldst not gain it by injustice if thou didst not gain it by justice,” said the father.

“Then what counsel hast thou for me?” said Bres.

Thereafter he sent Bres to the champion, to Balor, grandson of Net, the king of the Isles, and to Indech son of Dea Domnann the king of the Fomorians; and these assembled all the troops from Lochlann westwards unto Ireland, to impose their tribute and their rule by force on the Tuatha De, so that they made one bridge of vessels from the Foreigner’s Isles to Erin.