426 



Macha, and Morrigan as the three goddesses of the Tuatha-de-Da- 

 naans ; but he is silent as to their attributes. It would seem, however, 

 that he understood Badb to be the proper name of one fairy, and not a 

 title for the great fairy queens. 



In the Irish tales of war and battle, the Badb is always represented 

 as foreshadowing, by its cries, the extent of the carnage about to take 

 place on the death of some eminent personage. Thus in the ancient 

 battle- story, called Bruidhen Da Choga, the impending death of Cormac 

 Oondloinges, the son of Conor Mac Nessa, is foretold in these words : — 



" Badb belderg gairfid fan tech ; 

 Bo collain let co sirtech." 



u The red-mouthed badb will cry around the house, 

 For bodies it will be solicitous." 



And again — 



" Grecfaidit badba bancs. 11 

 " Pale badhs shall shriek." 



And further on we read — 



" Ardosisbe badb bronach i marbthana imclit mbruige Macha no in 

 Bagdad 



In the very ancient tale called Tochmarc Feirbe, or the " Courtship 

 of Ferb," a large fragment of which is preserved in the "Book of Lein- 

 ster," the Druid Ollgaeth, prophesying the death of Mani, the son 

 of Queen Medbh, through the treachery of King Conor Mac Nessa, 

 says— 



" Brisfid badb, 

 Bid brig borb 



Tolgfor Medb, 

 liar echt 

 Ar for sluag 



Trhag in deilim. 



"Badb will break; 

 Fierce power will be 

 Hurled at Medbh ; 

 Many deeds 



Slaughter upon the host — 

 Alas ! the uproar." 



"Book ofLeinster," fol. 189 b 1. 



In the account of the battle of Cnucha (or Castleknock, near 

 Dublin), celebrated as the battle in which the father of Finn Mac Cumh- 

 aill is said to have perished, the Druid Cunallis, foretelling the 

 slaughter, says:— " Biadh bddhba os bruinnibh na bfearP " Badbhs 

 will be over the breasts of the men." 



