much hesitation they consent. Bricriu in turn incites
the three chief heroes, Cuchulinn, Conall Cernach and Loigaire Buadach,
to claim the champion's portion. He does the same thing with the spouses
of the three warriors, who declaim in obscure verse the achievements and
excellences of their several husbands in a passage entitled the "Women's
War of Words." Loosely attached to this story follows a wild series of
adventures in which the powers of the three champions are tested,
Cuchulinn always proving his superiority. In order to decide the
dispute, visits are paid to Medb at Rath Cruachan and to Curoi in Kerry,
and the story ends with the "beheading incident," which occurs in the
romance of "Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight." _Fled Bricrend_ presents
a number of textual difficulties. The text of the oldest MS. (LU.) shows
signs of contamination, and several versions of the story seem to have
been current.

But the story of the Ulster cycle which is better known than any other,
is the story of the "Tragical Death of the Sons of Usnech, or the Life
and Death of Deirdre," one of the "Three Sorrows of Story-telling." This
is the only tale of the group which has survived in the minds of the
common people down to the present day. It is foretold of Deirdre, a
girl-child of great beauty, that she will be the cause of great
misfortunes, but Conchobar, having lost his wife, determines to have her
brought up in solitude and marry her himself. However, the maiden
chances to see a noble youth named Naisi, one of the three sons of
Usnech, and persuades him to carry her off to Scotland, where they live
for many years. At length they are induced to return after several of
the most prominent Ulster warriors have gone bail for their safety. But
Conchobar resorts to treachery, and the three sons of Usnech are slain,
whilst the account of Deirdre's end varies. The oldest version of the
story is found in LL., and the characters are as rugged and
unsophisticated as those of the _Tain_. But in the later versions the
savage features are toned down.

Before passing on, we must mention several old stories which are
independent of the Ulster cycle, but which deal with events which are
represented as having taken place before the Christian era. Few of the
old romances deal directly with what we may call Irish mythology. The
"Battle of Moytura" tells of the tremendous struggle between the Tuatha
De Danann and their enemies, the Fomorian pirates.