"Take my head," said Mesgedra then, "and add my glory to thy glory,
but be well assured this wrong shall yet be avenged by me upon
Ulster," and he died.
Then Conall cut off the head of Mesgedra and put it in his chariot,
and took also the chariot of Mesgedra and fared northwards. Ere long
he met a chariot and fifty women accompanying it. In it was Buan the
Queen, wife of Mesgedra, returning from a visit to Meath.
"Who art thou, woman?" said Conall.
"I am Buan, wife of Mesgedra the King."
"Thou art to come with me," then said Conall.
"Who hath commanded this?" said Buan.
"Mesgedra the King," said Conall.
"By what token dost thou lay these commands upon me?"
"Behold his chariot and his horses," said Conall.
"He gives rich gifts to many a man," answered the Queen.
Then Conall showed her the head of her husband.
"This is my token," said he.
"It is enough," said Buan. "But give me leave to bewail him ere I go
into captivity."
Then Buan rose up in her chariot and raised for Mesgedra a keen of
sorrow so loud and piercing that her heart broke with it, and she fell
backwards on the road and died.
Conall Cearnach then buried her there, and laid the head of her
husband by her side; and the fair hazel tree that grew from her grave
by the fords of Clane was called Coll Buana, or the Hazel Tree of
Buan.
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