Deirdre, {Mythological}

Notes: The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu and the Death of Deirdre Feidhlimidh mac Daill was entertaining HRM King Conchobhor, King of Ulster, and his men at his house. They were all drunk. Feidhlimidh, who was the king's storyteller, was urging his wife to make sure that no-one's cup remained unfilled. She rushed about, and was on her feet all night, even though she was heavily pregnant and her time nearly upon her. She ran back and forth from the fire, handing round cuts of meat and replenishing drinks as the noise of drunken revelry increased. She stayed up, looking after them, until they had all fallen into their beds, dead drunk. When they were all asleep, she passed through the quiet house and, as she did, the child in her womb gave such a shriek that the men got up from where they lay with each other, and stumbled back into the hall, and there they stood, staring at each other, bleary-eyed. Then Sencha, HRM King Conchobhor's chief adviser, spoke: "Everyone, be still. Feidhlimidh, bring the woman here so that we can find out what made this scream." And so Feidhlimidh went to her and said: "What is this clamour in your womb? Do you know you have hurt everyone's ears. I'm scared of what you are carrying inside you." He was roaring at her in rage. She ran over to Cathbhadh, who was a druid and prophet and seer. She said to him: "Cathbhadh, you have a gentle face; you are kind and dignified. You understand patience, toil, and study. What am I to say to a husband who is confused and overwrought by this strange event? I have a certain amount of magic, that I can use for others, but like many another such I am at a loss when it comes to my own case. What am I carrying? What has screamed inside me?" "A child with yellow hair cried out from your womb", said Cathbhadh. Already her head is covered in thick, matted curls. Her eyes are a cold clear blue. And her checks have the purple tinge of the foxglove hidden in their whiteness. Her teeth are like snow and her lips bright crimson. She is a woman who will cause slaughter and murder all over Ulster and beyond. Champions will fight over her; kings will ask other kings if they have seen her; queens will envy her slim and flawless body." Then Cathbhadh put his hand on the woman's swollen stomach, and the child inside kicked so hard he felt its tiny foot. "All I'm saying", he went on, "is true. The child you are carrying is a girl. Her name will be Deirdre, and she will bring sorrow and misfortune with her." And there, in front of them all, the woman began to give birth and the baby was born. As she was emerging into the world the druid Cathbhadh made this prophesy: "Deirdre, girl, you will bring sorrow to many. Slaughter will follow your actions and shadow all you do. You will bring suffering to Ulster. Your beauty will arouse jealousy and possessiveness. You will cause a whole family of brothers to be exiled. And a great wrong will be done at Emhain Macha, which will originate with you, because of your determination to do what you want. You will commit the vilest of acts against the majesty of the King of Ulster himself., You are misfortune itself to all who see you now." The men of Ulster were all still crowded around the woman holding the bloody child in her arms. They were frightened when they heard Cathbhadh's solemn words. First one, then another, then all together shouted: "Kill her. Kill her. Kill her." But HRM King Conchobhor himself, shouting above the noise and roaring, said: "No". When the shouting subsided he went on, speaking more quietly, but in an authoritative and firm even tone: "Tomorrow I will take her from here. I will foster her in a quiet place. I will outline the most careful instructions for her nurse and foster-father and she will be brought up a quiet, careful, steady, and judicious woman. And then when she arrives at a marriageable age I'll take her as my own wife, so that I will personally counteract any trace of evil she may still retain even after such a careful education and fosterage." No-one, not even Cathbhadh the Druid, had the nerve to speak out against the king when he had so clearly determined on this course of action, although they all had the deepest misgivings. The king returned to Emhain Macha. He carried the baby in his arms as he was driven in a chariot, and he looked down at her startling blue eyes, open to the sky, and at her red lips. He called to his chamber at the palace a wise woman, Lebhorcham, and put her in charge of the girl's upbringing. Lebhorcham was respected for her knowledge and for her skill as a healer, but she was also feared because of her magical powers. No-one dared cross her for fear of being cursed by her. HRM King Conchobhor assigned to her an isolated house and enclosure in the woods some way from Emhain Macha. HRM King Conchobhor also provided Deirdre with foster-parents, but apart from these three no-one else was allowed to go into the hidden fort in the forest. There, as the years went by, Deirdre grew up to be the loveliest woman in Ireland. The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu and the Death of Deirdre One day, many years later, Deirdre's foster-father was out in front of the fort, skinning a calf It was winter, and a heavy snow had fallen. A raven few down and began to drink the calf's blood, Dierdre startling and red on the white snow. Deirdre was looking out at this with Lebhorcham, and she said: "Any man with those three colours would have my love: hair like the raven, skin with the whiteness of snow, and crimson red in his cheek." "There is", said her nurse, "a man like the one you describe. He its called Naoise, the son of Uisliu, and he is a great warrior of Ulster. I am sorry to tell you this, because misfortune is sure ly gathering for you, but maybe you will be lucky, and maybe you will live in peace and honour." "Whatever about that", said Deirdre, "I'll not rest till I lay eyes on him." One day not long afterwards, Naoise was out on the earthen rampart surrounding Emhain Macha, singing to himself in his sweet tenor voice. All the sons of Uisliu had extraordinarily beautiful voices which made their listeners serene and peaceful and happy. At times he would stop singing, and relax, before practising the martial blocking techniques for which he and his brothers were equally famous. Something told Deirdre that Naoise was out on this rampart, alone. She ran swiftly through the forest, not knowing where she was going, until she broke through the trees and came to the steep green bank. She glimpsed Naoise on top of the rampart and was shocked at his beauty. But she steadied herself, and walked slowly into the opening between the forest and the wall where he could see her. He looked down at the girl: "There's a fine heifer down there in front of me", he said. "If bulls", she said, "aren't big enough then heifers must be." Hearing this reply, and looking at her, he realized in terror who this was: Deirdre, the fateful girl, reserved for HRM King Conchobhor. "You are going to have the biggest bull of the whole of Ulster, the king himself", said he. "I'm prepared to choose for myself. And between you and him I'd pick a fine young virile bull like you any day". "This cannot be", he said. "Have you not heard of Cathbhadh's prophecy, made at your birth?" "Are you trying to get rid of me?" she asked, standing straight in front of him. "Come down and face me." This Naoise did. Again she asked him if he was trying to get rid of her. "Exactly so", he replied. "Everyone knows the disaster you are meant to bring, and understands that the king thinks he can check it with his own power." With that she leapt at him and caught him by the ears, pulling at them and laughing. "By these ears you will be a disgrace to all men if you don't take me out of here with you. Have you no courage?" "Go away from me", he said, trying to push her away, and frightened. "You have no choice", she said. "You're now compelled by your honour and my will. That is that. Naoise, knowing there was no escape, sat down on the ground and began to sing, sorrowfully. She pitied him even as she desired him. "Leave me", he said, "for a while. I'll go to you and bring you away with me, but first I must tell my brothers, Ardan and Ainnle. " She went back through the woods, amazed at what she had done. Naoise went into Emhain Macha and told his brothers that he was going to abduct Deirdre at her own command. "What are you thinking of " said Ardan. "What is the matter with you?" said Ainme. "Nothing but sorrow and bad luck can come of this." "If you do this we can't stay here in Ulster", said Ardan. "You're condemning all of us to exile." "I know", said Naoise. "There is nothing I can do." "Shame and dishonour and unrest will follow us for the rest of our lives", said Ainnle. "We'll have to go tonight", said Ardan, "before this news breaks. Let us take a hundred and fifty warriors Deirdreand go as soon as we can. " And that was what they did. They rode into the forest and Deirdre ran out to meet them, and then they were gone, travel ling southwest to Assaroe, and then onwards over the Shannon into the wild places of Munster, turning northwards again towards Howth. All the time they had to keep moving, spending only one night at each camping place, because HRM King Conchobhor's men followed them. Meanwhile the king sent emissaries to all the kings of Ireland, telling them what the sons of Uisliu had done to him, and asking them to waylay them or kill them. So that even when some local king would offer them protection they were never sure if they could trust him, and all the time they kept on the move. Eventually, exhausted from travelling and harassed by the fear of real or imagined treachery, they went over to Scotland, where they lived for a while in the Highlands, feeding on the wild deer and other game. After some time they gained the protection of a king there in exchange for which they offered their skills as soldiers and raiders. They lived inside the royal enclosure but they insisted their dwellings be constructed in such a way as to prevent any one visiting the brothers from seeing Deirdre. Naoise knew that if any other man saw her killing and slaughter would certainly follow. However, early one morning, a servant looked in through a window where a curtain had been left partly undrawn, and saw her sleeping naked in Naoise's arms. Wild with excitement and lust he ran to the king, and woke him up. "What do you think you're doing? " roared the Scottish king. "I've never", panted the servant, "seen till this day a woman worthy of you. But the woman Iying with Naoise is fit to be the queen of the western world. Go now and kill him while he's sleeping and have her immediately, while her dead husband lies beside her." "No", said the king. "But you can go, every day, in secret, and ask her if she will be my woman." This the servant did and every day Deirdre refused him. The king now began sending the sons of Uisliu into the most dangerous situations in battle, hoping that they would be killed, but they were such ferocious and skilled fighters that they survived all his tricks and ploys. Eventually, the king decided to gather a huge force and attack their houses within his enclosure. The servant told Deirdre of the king's plan, as a last attempt to get her to yield, but she would not, and told the three men. That night they fled under cover of darkness and went to Islay off the coast of Scotland. The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu and the Death of Deirdre News came to Ulster of their plight and the attempt against them by the Scots. Some of his men decided to speak to HRM King Conchobhor about them. They sat in conclave, and after much argument, one said to the king: "Take pity on the sons of Uisliu", he said. "They are in enemy territory, and will continue to be attacked, and all of this through the wilfulness and evil of one bad woman. You must be kingly and show leniency. Forgive them. Send for them and let them come home before they are killed by Deirdrethe Scots." HRM King Conchobhor thought, then said: "Let them come back to Ulster. As a token of our goodwill we will send to them, as pledges of our sincerity, Fergus, Dubhthach, and HRH Prince Cormac." Fergus was an old and respected warrior, who had given up the kingship in favour of HRM King Conchobhor; Dubhthach was one of the most trusted of all the king's advisers; and HRH Cormac was HRM King Conchobhor's own son. So they went and carried the king's message to the sons of Uisliu on Islay, explaining they were sent as an earnest of the king's sincerity, not just as emissaries. The sons of Uisliu were overcome with joy and relief when they heard the offer and glad ly accepted. They and Deirdre sailed from Islay, Fergus and the others with them. However, as soon as they reached the Antrim coast, the first of HRM King Conchobhor's traps lay waiting for them. He had arranged that the local king offer Fergus an invitation to an ale-feast. Because of an old oath he had sworn, vowing never to Deirdre refuse hospitality, Fergus was compelled to accept, not just for himself but for his retinue as well. The sons of Uisliu had, on their side, sworn they would not eat or drink until they had first sat at HRM King Conchobhor's table, so they went on, leaving Fergus, Dubhthach, and HRH Prince Cormac behind. Fiachu, Fergus's son, went with them however, as they journeyed on to Emhain Macha. As they made there way southwards, it so happened that an old enemy of HRM King Conchobhor, Eoghan mac Durthacht, had arrived at Emhain Macha to make peace. HRM King Conchobhor saw his chance and accepted his enemy's submissions on condition that Eoghan kill the three sons of Uisliu, telling him that they were on their way. By the time they arrived at the fairgreen in the middle of Emhain Macha, HRM King Conchobhor had retreated to a secluded house around which he posted many soldiers as sentries and guards. He was terrified lest the sons of Uisliu get to him. In the strange silence the sons of Uisliu stood on the green before HRM King Conchobhor's palace. All the women had fled their houses and were sitting up on the earthen rampart around the enclosure. Eoghan mac Durthacht walked across the grass towards the four men, the three brothers and Fiachu. Deirdre stood beside them. Eoghan gave no signal of attack until he stood directly in front of Naoise, then he thrust his huge lance into him breaking his spinal column as he did so. Fiachu, too late, threw himself at Naoise when he saw Eoghan raising his spear, and caught him in his two arms. They went down together, the spear entering Fiachu as well and killing them both. Then Eoghan's men hacked Ardan and Ainnle to pieces, scattering their limbs all over the green. Deirdre was seized, and her two hands tied behind her back. She was brought over to the house where HRM King Conchobhor was waiting until the slaughter Deirdre was over, and she stood in front of him, head down, not saying a word. The news reached Fergus, Dubhthach, and HRH Prince Cormac on the northern seacoast, and they rode to Emhain Macha to take immediate revenge for the betrayal and trickery of HRM King Conchobhor. They came straight into the king's palace and began killing: first HRH Prince Mane, HRM King Conchobhor's son, HRH Prince Fiachra, his grandson, then many other relations and fosterlings. HRM King Conchobhor now went into a mad battle rage and the slaughter went on all day and all night. Dubhthach, one by one, dragged the women of Emhain Macha out from their hiding places, and killed them. Fergus, eventual ly, when those who were not dead had fled the enclosure, set fire to the whole place and burnt it to the ground. Dubhthach and HRH Prince Cormac then left Ulster, vowing to remain its enemies forever, and went to join with HRM Queen Medbh, Queen of Connacht, and Ailill, her husband. Three thousand men of Ulster went with them to join HRM Queen Medhbh's army. Deirdre lived with HRM King Conchobhor for a year, and during that time she did not smile, she barely ate, hardly ever slept, and always sat with her face in her hands over her knees. Sometimes, HRM King Conchobhor would try to cheer her by having musicians play to her, but all it did was to remind her of Naoise, and then she would sing, in a voice full of sorrow:

While I washed you, Naoise, before the fire, I would drink the hazel mead you made and watch the meat darken on the spit. You would prepare the stones for cooking in the forest, and the food was sweet if baked in honey with herbs of lavender and sorrel.

I long for the deep melody of Naoise's voice that held the shock of the sea wave, the sorrow of the dark wood.

I hardly sleep anymore; I do not colour my fingernails with red paint; there's no joy in my life now Naoise's gone.

Sometimes, HRM King Conchobhor would try to talk her out of her sadness, and she would reply: "You love me, but it is as nothing to me now that a small mound of black stones covers that white body. My sorrow is stronger than the sea." One day, HRM King Conchobhor asked her who she hated most of all in the world: "You", she replied, "and Eoghan mac Durthacht." "Then", he said, "you've spent a year with me. You can now spend a year with him." And so he brought her to Eoghan. The following day all three went to the fair at Emhain Macha. Eoghan was handling the traces of the chariot, she was behind him, and HRM King Conchobhor stood behind her. She had sworn to herself that she would never look on these two men together. HRM King Conchobhor noticed her agitation. "Well", he said, "the way you look between Eoghan and myself is like a sheep between two rams." The chariot was coming up to a big boulder with a large out crop on it. She leaned out and smashed her head against it, shattering the skull into a mass of fragments, and died instantly. Source: A Little Book of Irish Myths http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/culture/talk/myths/deirdre.shtm