Cúchulainn Takes Up Arms

One day while Cúchulainn was playing at Emain Macha he overheard Cathbad, the druid, talking to some of his pupils. One of the students asked Cathbad what omens, good or bad, were predicted for that day. Cathbad replied that whoever took up arms that day would become the most famous warrior in all of Ireland but that his life would be short. On hearing this Cúchulainn immediately went to king Conor and asked to take up arms. Conor agreed and gave the lad a set of weapons comprising of two spears, a sword and a shield. Cúchulainn tried and tested the weapons bending them this way and that until they broke in pieces. He informed Conor that he would need a quality of weapons more suited to his character. Conor had another set brought forward. These too Cúchulainn shattered. In all fourteen sets of weapons were disposed of in this manner. Finally, Conor gave the boy his own weapons. These the boy could not break. Next, a chariot was brought forward for Cúchulainn. He seized it by the shaft and shook it so fiercely that the frame splintered. He went through seventeen chariots in this way and finally Conor gave him his own chariot together with his charioteer, Ibar. Cúchulainn set off around the province of Ulster with Ibar. He went first to Slieve Fuad. Here he met Conall Cearnach who stood guard over the province for that day. Cúchulainn tried in vain to persuade Conall to let him assume the duties of guardian for the day. Cúchulainn decided to continue southward in search of adventure. Conall decided to keep him company to ensure his safety. To prevent this Cúchulainn broke the shaft of his chariot with a stone from his sling. Cúchulainn and Ibar journeyed south to Finncairn or the White Mountain. From the summit of Finncairn Ibar pointed out the landmarks of Ulster: Breg Plain, Dun Aengus, and the river Boyne. Cúchulainn pointed at a particular fort and asked who dwelt there. Ibar informed him that this fort belonged to the sons of Nechtain. Their father had been killed by the men of Ulster but the three sons claimed to have killed more Ulstermen that were currently alive. Cúchulainn insisted that Ibar take him to the fort. Ibar was very reluctant but eventually agreed. The chariot pulled up outside the fort of Nechtain and Cúchulainn challenged the three to fight. He killed each one in turn and strapped their severed heads to the front of the chariot. He and Ibar filled the chariot with spoils from the Dun of Nechtain and headed back for Emain Macha. On the way Cúchulainn captured two wild stags and twenty-four wild swans and tied them to the chariot. This was the sight that Levercham, Conor's messenger, saw from the ramparts of Emain Macha. A chariot bedecked with severed heads, with two wild stags tethered behind it and a flock of wild swans flying overhead it. The warrior in the chariot, Levercham reported, had his features hideously distorted in some kind of war spasm. Conor realized that it was Cúchulainn in his battle frenzy and that if he were not stopped he would slay the entire company. Conor came up with a plan to control the boy. As Cúchulainn circled the fort in his chariot, challenging and threatening all within, the women of Emain Macha came forth baring their bodies to him. Cúchulainn was confused and ashamed. He hid behind the headboard of the chariot to cover his embarrassment. When he did so the men of Ulster seized him and carried him to three vats of cold water. They doused him in the first and the hoops flew off the vat as it burst. The placed him in the second and the water began to boil. Finally the immersed him in the third and he cooled down. He was then dressed in his finest clothes and placed in his usual place at Conor's feet. The entire company gazed in wonder at this small boy who had performed such heroic feats on the day he took up arms.