Conall's Welcome to Cet in the Old Irish Scéla Mucce Meic Dathó

One of the best known dramatic sequences in Old Irish Literature is set in the banquet hall of Mac Dathó, where a succession of warriors lays claim to the champion's portion, only to be bested verbally by Cet mac Magach of Connaught, who calls up dishonouring incidents from their and their families' pasts. But when Conall Cernach of Ulster arrives, the taunting tone changes to one of respect, albeit an ambivalent ironic respect, heavy with aggression. Cet greets Conall with a series of binary epithets extolling his harsh valour. Conall replies in kind, and continues: "'Bid menn innar n-imchromruc-ni δη,' ol Conall,'ocus bid menn inar n-imscarad; bid airscela la fer mbrot, bid fiadnaise la fer manath; ar arcichset airg loman londgliaid na da err eblait echt ar écht, regaid fer dar fer is'taig-seo innocht'.