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Becfhola "The Wooing of Becfhola" Editions
Manuscripts
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(Version One) While Díarmait and his foster-son Crimthann are on a journey to Áth Truim, they see a beautiful woman in expensive attire approaching them in a chariot. When asked her purpose, the woman says she has come looking for “seed-wheat” (síl cruithneachta). Díarmait says that he can supply the seed she seeks, if she wishes, and the woman agrees, provided he pay her fee (lóg). Díarmait offers her a small brooch, and the woman accepts. However, upon their return to Tara, the people are not impressed with the bride-price Díarmait has given her, saying that it is of little value (Is becc ind fhola). Hearing this, the resident druid proclaims that Bec-fhola will henceforth be the girl’s name. Becfhola, however, is really in love with Crimthann, and she spends the next year entreating him to sleep with her. At last, Crimthann agrees and the two make plans to meet on the following Sunday at Cluain Dá Chaileach. But when Crimthann informs his people, the Laigin, of his plans, they forbid him to elope with Díarmait’s wife. (Crimthann is not only Díarmait’s foster-son but also his hostage from the Laigin.) On the appointed day, Becfhola sets out for Cluain Dá Chaileach, despite her husband’s admonitions not to travel on the Sabbath. When she and her handmaid reach Dubthor Laigen, they lose their way and are attacked by wolves in the night. Becfhola climbs a tree to safety but her handmaid is killed. From her perch, she sees a camp-fire in the woods. When Becfhola reaches the campsite, she finds a man in expensive clothing cooking a pig. She sits down beside him while he finishes cooking and eating. Although neither speaks a word to the other, Becfhola follows the man to the shore, where they board a bronze boat and travel to an island. (At this point, the characters have passed into the Otherworld.). They go into a fine house and share a meal. When he goes to bed, she climbs in with him, but he pays her no attention. The next morning, they are awakened by a call from outside the house. The man gets up, arms himself, and then goes outside to meet his three companions. The four of them engage in combat against four warriors who have just arrived on the island. When the battle is over, everyone is sorely wounded. When the man returns, Becfhola asks for an explanation. He tells her that his name is Flann ua Fedach and that he and his three brothers are fighting for control of the island, Inis Fedaig maic in Daill, against their cousins. Both want control of the island because it magically provides food for its inhabitants. Becfhola asks him to become her lover, but he tells her that he cannot until the dispute is settled. However, if he is ever successful, he promises to send for her. When she returns to Tara from the Otherworld, she finds that it is the morning of the same day she left, and Díarmait is unaware of her adventures. A year later to the day, while she and Díarmait are in bed together, she sees Flann, badly wounded, approaching their house. In a poem, he tells her that he has finally gained control of his island. With that, she rushes off to be with him and is never seen again. Just then, four clerics enter the house. Although the king expresses his surprise at seeing clerics traveling on a Sunday, they tell him that they were sent by Mo Laise of Daminis to offer him his share of some treasure that was found on seven men killed in a battle that morning. Díarmait, however, refuses to take what God has given to Mo Laises, and so the treasure is melted down to make Mo Laise's reliquaries. |
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| Copyright 2004 Dan M. Wiley. Last updated 08/01/04 | |