In Ireland before the coming of Christianity, under the Celtic Brehon Laws, women enjoyed freedom and equality (and wrote or were the subject of some very hot poems). This poem is about Deirdre, the future bride for Conchobar, King of Ulster. Conchobar was an old man; Dierdre was brought up in segregation to be his bride. She saw a raven drinking the blood of a calf slaughtered in the snow, and thought of a husband with black hair, red cheeks and white skin. This described Naoise, one of the King's warriors. When he was outside alone, she went out and made as if to pass him by. He did not recognize her, and remarked:
'Beautiful is the heifer going by me.'
'Heifers' said she, 'are bound to be big when there are no bulls.'
'The bull of the province is with you,' he said, 'namely the King of the Ulstermen.'
'I would choose between the two of you,' she said, 'and I would take a young bull like you.'
'By no means!' said he, 'even because of Cathbad's prophecy.'
'Do you say that in order to reject me?'
'It will indeed be for that reason,' he said.
With that she made a leap at him and seized the two ears on his head.
'Two ears of shame and division are these,' said she, 'unless you take me away with you.' |
