enabled to return to their own land. In passing, it may be suggested that the Sons of Dóel Dermait, which means the Beetle of Forgetfulness,[1] were personifications of the divisions of the day, as will be seen from comparison with Welsh stories to be mentioned by and by, containing clear references to the twenty-four hours personified; and it is worth while to recall here the fact mentioned in another lecture, that the 'twenty-four,' as we term them, were divided by the Irish into day and night, and the former subdivided by Conchobar into three parts: these may be considered the three Sons of Dóel Dermait whom Cúchulainn fetches, while there was no question of doing so with their sister: she stands for the night. But to pursue Cúchulainn's story further: he was loaded with treasure, given him when he left, by Coirpre Condail, who was now, like Arawn, rid of his rival; and when he reached the king of Ulster's court he found his rations of ale and food duly served as usual. I mention this, as it touches on a part of the story which had been blurred and forgotten, namely that relating to the owner of the boat used by Cúchulainn. He is represented as the son of the king of Alban or Albion; but we have found Alban in the story of Cairbre Musc and the dog, where the Welsh myth would lead one to expect Hades, and not Britain (p. 246); and if one assume the same substitution to have been made here, the boat that took Cúchulainn to his destination and brought him back would stand comparison with the little ship of bronze[2]
