the Red'), son of Rigen, son of Blathacht, son of Beothacht, son of
Enna Agnech, son of Oengus Turbech. Of daughters, had he six: Derbriu,
Ethne and Ele, Clothru, Mugain and Medb, myself, that was the noblest and
seemliest of them. 'Twas I was the goodliest of them in bounty [W.17.] and
gift-giving, [1]in riches and treasures.[1] 'Twas I was best of them in
battle and strife and combat. 'Twas I that had fifteen hundred royal
mercenaries of the sons of aliens exiled from their own land, and as many
more of the sons of freemen of the land. And there were ten men with every
one of these hirelings, [2]and nine men with every hireling,[2] and eight
men with every hireling, and seven men with every hireling, and six men
with every hireling, and five men with every hireling, [3]and four men with
every hireling,[3] and three men with every hireling, and two men with
every hireling, and one hireling with every hireling. These were as a
standing household-guard," continued Medb; "hence hath my father bestowed
one of the five provinces of Erin upon me, even the province of Cruachan;
wherefore 'Medb of Cruachan' am I called. Men came from Finn son of Ross
Ruad ('the Red'), king of Leinster, to seel me [4]for a wife, and I refused
him;[4] and from Carbre Niafer ('the Champion') son of Ross Ruad ('the
Red'), king of Temair,[a] [5]to woo me, and I refused him;[5] and they came
from Conchobar son of Fachtna Fathach ('the Mighty'), king of Ulster,
[6]and I refused him in like wise.[6] They came from Eocho Bec ('the
Small'), and I went not; for 'tis I that exacted a singular bride-gift,
such as no woman before me had ever required of a man of the men of Erin,
namely, a husband without avarice, without jealousy, without fear. For
should he be mean, the man with whom I should live, we were ill-matched
together, inasmuch as I am great [LL.fo.54a.] in largess and gift-giving,
and it would be a disgrace for my husband if I should be better [W.34.] at
spending than he, [1]and for it to be said that I was superior in wealth
and treasures to him[1], while no disgrace would it be were one as great as
the other[a]. Were my husband a coward, 'twere as unfit for us to be mated,
for I by myself and alone break battles and fights and combats, and 'twould
be a reproach for my husband should his wife be more full of life than
himself, and no reproach our being equally bold. Should he be jealous, the
husband with whom I should live, that too would not suit m