In a recent post, I shared a snippet from the Irish epic, Tain Bo Cuailnge (The Cattle-Raid of Cooley) in which the bard lauded the virtues of the ancient hero Cúchulain.  Lest one thinks that these are an exhaustive list of this hero’s awesomeness, a few pages on in the epic, we find a detailed description of Cúchulain’s valor and feats in war.  In this selection, Cúchulain’s foster-father, Fergus, sings the praises of the feared “Hound of Ulster”:

We have not found there a man-at-arms that is harder, nor a point that is keener, more terrible nor quicker, nor a more bloodthirsty wolf, nor a raven more flesh-loving, nor a wilder warrior, nor a match of his age that would reach to a third or a fourth the likes of Cúchulain.

Thou findest not there…a hero of his peer, nor a lion that is fiercer, nor a plank of battle, nor a sledge of destruction, nor a gate of combat, nor a doom of hosts, nor a contest of valor that would be more worth than Cúchulain.

Thou findest not there one that could equal his age and his growth, his dress and his terror, his size and his splendour, his fame and his voice, his shape and his power, his form and his speech, his strength and his feats and his valour, his smiting, his heat and his anger, his dash, his assault and attack, his dealing of doom and affliction, his roar, his speed, his fury, his rage, and his quick triumph with the feat of nine men on each sword’s point above him, like unto Cúchulain.

Impressive.  But can he cook?  🙂