ssail and drink and
every disport, to the end that their march and muster might be easier.
[2]And their poets and druids would not let them depart from thence till
the end of a fortnight while awaiting good omen.[2] And then it was that
Medb bade her charioteer to harness her horses for her, that she might go
to address herself to her druid, to seek for light and for augury from him.

[1-1] Eg. 1782.

[2-2] LU. 20-21.

* * * * *

[Page 13]

IV

THE FORETELLING[a]

[W.194.] When Medb was come to the place where her druid was, she craved
light and augury of him. "Many there be," saith Medb, "who do part with
their kinsmen and friends here to-day, and from their homes and their
lands, from father and from mother; and unless unscathed every one shall
return, upon me will they cast their sighs and their ban, [1]for it is I
that have assembled this levy.[1] Yet there goeth not forth nor stayeth
there at home any dearer to me than are we to ourselves. And do thou
discover for us whether we ourselves shall return, or whether we shall
never return."

[a] This heading is taken from the colophon at the end of the chapter.

[1-1] LU. 23-24.

And the druid made answer, "Whoever comes not, thou thyself shalt come."
[2]"Wait, then," spake the charioteer," let me wheel the chariot by the
right,[b] that thus the power of a good omen may arise that we return
again."[2] Then the charioteer wheeled his chariot round and Medb went back
[3]again,[3] when she espied a thing that surprised her: A lone virgin
[4]of marriageable age[4] standing on the hindpole of a chariot a little
way off drawing nigh her. And thus the maiden appeared: Weaving lace was
she, and in her right hand was a bordering rod of silvered [W.204.] bronze
with its seven strips of red gold at the sides. A many-spotted green mantle
around her; a bulging, strong-headed pin [1]of gold[1] in the mantle over
her bosom; [2]a hooded tunic, with red interweaving, about her.[2] A ruddy,
fair-faced countenance she had, [3]narrow below and broad above.[3] She had
a blue-grey and laughing eye; [4]each eye had three pupils.[4] [5]Dark and
black were her eyebrows; the soft, black lashes threw a shadow to the
middle of her cheeks.[5] Red and thin were her lips. Shiny and pearly were
her teeth; thou wouldst believe they were showers of white pearls that had
rained into her head. Like to fresh Parthian crimson were her lips.