Irish rechtaireIrish ferthigis
Belongs to context
§§ 15–31. Mac Con in Alba —
Mac Con in Alba, §§ 15-31, ed. and tr. Máirín O'Daly, Cath Maige Mucrama: The battle of Mag Mucrama (1975).
Item serial number
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Item description
§ 26. The king of Alba modifies the test by letting his steward (ferthigis) observe who will preside over the serving of the food. However, the king's steward sees no one but the steward of the house (rechtaire).
The king then orders mice to be killed.
§§ 27-29. The mice are served before Mac Con and his men. They are to consume them raw, on pain of death, and this time the king watches them in person. § 30. The men start their horrible meal. When one of them continually throws up, Mac Con tells him to swallow the mouse whole and so the man obeys him.
§ 31. Because of this, the king tells Mac Con that he must be the leader of the group. Mac Con drops the façade, reveals his identity and explains his covert behaviour. The king of Alba declares that the pretence was unnecessary; that he will help Mac Con to avenge himself; and that the Saxons and Britons will also come to his aid, since through his mother and wife, he (the king) is well connected to both peoples.§ 26. The king of Alba modifies the test by letting his steward (ferthigis) observe who will preside over the serving of the food. However, the king's steward sees no one but the steward of the house (rechtaire).
The king then orders mice to be killed.
§§ 27-29. The mice are served before Mac Con and his men. They are to consume them raw, on pain of death, and this time the king watches them in person. § 30. The men start their horrible meal. When one of them continually throws up, Mac Con tells him to swallow the mouse whole and so the man obeys him.
§ 31. Because of this, the king tells Mac Con that he must be the leader of the group. Mac Con drops the façade, reveals his identity and explains his covert behaviour. The king of Alba declares that the pretence was unnecessary; that he will help Mac Con to avenge himself; and that the Saxons and Britons will also come to his aid, since through his mother and wife, he (the king) is well connected to both peoples. Subjects
identity tests (recognition)
Agents
Lugaid Mac Con <strong>Lugaid Mac Con</strong> <br>Often simply Mac Con, a legendary high-king of Ireland from a people based in Munster; said to have defeated Éogan Mór and Art mac Cuinn in the battle of Mucrama after a return from exile following the battle of Cenn Abrat.
Anonymous ... king of Alba No associated entry available from the subject index
Anonymous ... ferthigis in Cath Maige Mucrama No associated entry available from the subject index
Anonymous ... rechtaire in Cath Maige Mucrama No associated entry available from the subject index
Anonymous ... king of Alba No associated entry available from the subject index
Anonymous ... ferthigis in Cath Maige Mucrama No associated entry available from the subject index
Anonymous ... rechtaire in Cath Maige Mucrama No associated entry available from the subject index
Places
Alba
Lexical items
Ir. rechtaire
Ir. ferthigis
Ir. ferthigis
