{ I THE PILLOW TALK } . once when the royal bed was laid out for *ailill and *medb in &cruachan fort in *connacht , they had this talk on the pillows : " it is true what they say , love , " *ailill said , " it is well for the wife of a wealthy man " . " true enough , " the woman said . " what put that in your mind ? " . " it struck me , " *ailill said , " how much better off you are today than the day i married you " . " i was well enough off without you , " *medb said . " then your wealth was something i did9 know or hear much about , " *ailill said . " except for your woman5 things , and the neighbouring enemies making off with loot and plunder " . " not at all , " *medb said , " but with the high king of &ireland for my father -- *eochaidFeidlech the steadfast , the son of *finn , the son of *finnoman , the son of *finnen , the son of *finngoll , the son of *roth , the son of *rige/on , the son of *blathacht , the son of *beothacht , the son of *ennaAgnech , the son of *aengusTurbech . he had six daughters : *derbriu , *ethne , *ele , *clothru , *muguin , and myself *medb , the highest and haughtiest of them . i outdid them in grace and giving and battle and warlike

combat . i had fifteen hundred soldiers in my royal pay , all exiles' sons , and the same number of freeborn native men , and for every paid soldier i had ten more men , and nine more , and eight , and seven , and six , and five , and four , and three , and two , and one . and that was only our ordinary household . my father gave me a whole province of &ireland , this province ruled from &cruachan , which is why i am called % *medb of &cruachan % . and they came from *finn the king of &leinster , *rusRuad5 son , to woo me , and from *coirpreNiafer the king of &temair , another of *rusRuad5 sons . they came from *conchobor , king of *ulster , son of *fachtna , and they came from *eochaidBec , and i would9 go . for i asked a harder wedding gift than any woman ever asked before from a man in &ireland -- the absence of meanness and jealousy and fear . if i married a mean man our union would be wrong , because i 'm so full of grace and giving . it would be an insult if i were more generous than my husband , but not if the two of us were equal in this . if my husband was a timid man our union would be just as wrong because i thrive , myself , on all kinds of trouble . it is an insult for a wife to be more spirited than her husband , but not if the two are equally spirited . if i married a jealous man that would be wrong , too : i never had one man without another waiting in his shadow . so i got the kind of man i wanted : *rusRuad5 other son -- yourself , *ailill , from &leinster . you are9 greedy or jealous or sluggish . when we were promised , i brought you the best wedding gift a bride can bring : apparel enough for a dozen men , a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids , the width of your face of red gold and the weight of your left arm of light gold . so , if anyone causes you shame or upset or trouble , the right to compensation is mine , " *medb said , " for you 're

a kept man " . " by no means , " *ailill said , " but with two kings for my brothers , *coirpre in &temair and *finn over &leinster . i let them rule because they were older , not because they are better than i am in grace or giving . i never heard , in all &ireland , of a province run by a woman except this one , which is why i came and took the kingship here , in succession to my mother *mataMuiresc , *ma/gach5 daughter . who better for my queen than you , a daughter of the high king of &ireland ? " . " it still remains , " *medb said , " that my fortune is greater than yours " . " you amaze me , " *ailill said . " no one has more property or jewels or precious things than i have , and i know it " . then the lowliest of their possessions were brought out , to see who had more property and jewels and precious things : their buckets and tubs and iron pots , jugs and wash-pails and vessels with handles . then their finger-rings , bracelets , thumb-rings and gold treasures were brought out , and their cloth of purple , blue , black , green and yellow , plain grey and many-coloured , yellow-brown , checked and striped . their herds of sheep were taken in off the fields and meadows and plains . they were measured and matched , and found to be the same in numbers and size . even the great ram leading *medb5 sheep , the worth of one bondmaid by himself , had a ram to match him leading *ailill5 sheep . from pasture and paddock their teams and herds of horses were brought in . for the finest stallion in *medb5 stud , worth one bondmaid by himself , *ailill had a stallion to match . their vast herds of pigs were taken in from the woods and gullies and waste places . they were measured and matched and noted , and *medb had one fine boar , but *ailill had another . then their droves and free-wandering

herds of cattle were brought in from the woods and wastes of the province . these were matched and measured and noted also , and found to be the same in number and size . but there was one great bull in *ailill5 herd , that had been a calf of one of *medb5 cows -- *finnbennach was his name , the *white *horned -- and *finnbennach , refusing to be led by a woman , had gone over to the king5 herd . medb could9 find in her herd the equal of this bull , and her spirits dropped as though she had9 a single penny . *medb had the messenger *macRoth called , and she told him to see where the match of the bull might be found , in any province in &ireland . " i know where to find such a bull and better , " *macRoth said : " in the province of *ulster , in the territory of &cuailnge , in *da/ireMacFiachna5 house . *donnCuailnge is the bull5 name , the *brown *bull of &cuailnge " . " go there , *macRoth , " *medb said . " ask *da/ire to lend me *donnCuailnge for a year . at the end of the year he can have fifty yearling heifers in payment for the loan , and the *brown *bull of &cuailnge back . and you can offer him this too , *macRoth , if the people of the country think badly of losing their fine jewel , the *donnCuailnge : if *da/ire himself comes with the bull i 'll give him a portion of the fine &plain of &ai equal to his own lands , and a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids , and my own friendly thighs on top of that " . messengers set out to *da/ireMacFiachna5 house : there were nine of them with *macRoth . *macRoth was soon made welcome in *da/ire5 house , as befitted &ireland5 chief messenger . *da/ire asked him what brought him on his journey , and the chief messenger told him why he came , and about the squabble between *medb and *ailill . " so i am here to ask for the loan of the *donnCuailnge , to match against *finnbennach , " he said . " and you 'll get

fifty yearling heifers back in payment for the loan , with the *donnCuailnge himself and more besides . if you come with the bull yourself you 'll get a portion of the fine &plain of &ai equal to your own lands , and a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids , and *medb5 friendly thighs on top of it all " . *da/ire was delighted , and jumped for joy till the seams of his cushion burst under him , and he cried: " true as my soul ! . i do9 care what the *ulstermen think , i 'll take my treasure , the *donnCuailnge , to *ailill and *medb in the land of *connacht " . *macRoth was pleased at *macFiachna5 decision . then they were looked after , and rushes and fresh straw were settled under them . they were given the best of good food and kept supplied with the festive fare until they grew drunk and noisy . two of the messengers were talking . one of them said: " there 's no doubt , the man of the house here is a good man " . " a good man certainly , " the other said . " is there a better man in *ulster ? " the first messenger said . " there is , certainly , " the second messenger said . " his leader *conchobor is a better man . if the whole of *ulster gave in to him , it would be no shame for them . anyway , it was good of him to give us the *donnCuailnge . it would have taken four strong provinces of &ireland to carry it off from *ulster otherwise " . a third man joined the talk . " what are you arguing about ? " he said . " this messenger here said , | the man of the house here is a good man | . | a good man certainly , | the other said . | is there a better man in *ulster ? | the first messenger said . | there is , certainly , | the second messenger said . | his

leader *conchobor is a better man . if the whole of *ulster gave in to him , it would be no shame for them . but it was good of him to give us what the four strong provinces of &ireland would be needed to take from *ulster | " . " i 'd as soon see the mouth that said that spout blood ! . we would have taken it anyway , with or without his leave " . at that moment the man in charge of *da/ireMacFiachna5 household came into the hut , with a man carrying drink and another man with food , and heard what they were saying . he was seized with fury , and put down their food and drink , saying neither " eat " nor " do9 eat " . he went back straight to *da/ireMacFiachna5 hut and said: " did you give our famous treasure , the *donnCuailnge , to *medb5 messengers ? " . " yes i did , " *da/ire said . " that was not a kingly thing to do . what they said is true : if you had9 given him up freely the hosts of *ailill and *medb , and the cunning of *fergusMacRoich , would have had him without your leave " . " by the gods i worship , nothing leaves here unless i choose to let it ! " . they waited until morning . the messengers got up early the next day and went to *da/ire5 hut . " tell us , sir , where to find the *donnCuailnge " . " i will not , " *da/ire said . " and only it is9 my habit to murder messengers or travellers or any other wayfarers, not one of you would leave here alive " . " why is this ? " *macRoth said . " for a good reason , " daire said . " you said if i did9 give willingly , the hosts of *ailill and *medb , and *fergus5 cunning , would make me give " . " indeed , " *macRoth said , " what messengers say into

your food and drink hardly deserves your notice . you can't blame *ailill and *medb " . " still , i won't give up my bull this time , *macRoth , as long as i can help it " . so the messengers set off again and came to &cruachan , the stronghold of *connacht . *medb asked them for the news and *macRoth said *da/ire would9 give up his bull . " why not ? " *medb said . *macRoth told what had happened . " we need9 polish the knobs and knots in this , *macRoth , " *medb said . " it was well known it would be taken by force if it was9 given freely . and taken it will be " . { II THE TAIN BO CUAILNGE BEGINS } . *ailill and *medb assembled a great army in *connacht , and they sent word also to the other three provinces . *ailill sent out messengers as well to his brothers , the rest of *ma/gach5 seven sons . besides *ailill there were *anluan , *mugcorb , *cet , *en , *bascall and *do/chae , and each of them had a troop of three thousand . and he sent to *conchobor5 son , *cormacConnlongas , the leader of the *ulster exiles , and his troop of three thousand who were living in *connacht . soon they all came to &cruachanAi . *cormac , marching to &cruachan , had three companies . the first company wore speckled cloaks wrapped around them . their hair was clipped . tunics covered them to the knee . they carried full-length shields and each man had a broad grey stabbing-spear on a slender shaft . the second company wore dark-grey cloaks around them and red-embroidered tunics that reached to their calves . their hair was drawn back on their heads and they carried bright

shields before them and five-pronged spears in their hands . " i do9 see *cormac yet , " *medb said . then the third troop came up . they wore purple cloaks and red-embroidered hooded tunics reaching to their feet . their hair was trimmed to the shoulder . they carried curved scallop-edged shields , and a spear like a palace pillar in each man5 hand . " now i see him , " *medb said . four of the provinces of &ireland gathered there at &cruachanAi . their sages and druids delayed them there for a fortnight waiting for a sign . the day they finally set out *medb said to her charioteer: " everyone leaving a lover or a friend today will curse me , " she said . " this army is gathered for me " . " wait a minute , " the charioteer said , " until i turn the chariot around to the right , with the sun , to draw down the power of the sign for our safe return " . he turned the chariot round and made to set off . but they saw a young grown girl in front of them . she had yellow hair . she wore a speckled cloak fastened around her with a gold pin , a red-embroidered hooded tunic and sandals with gold clasps . her brow was broad , her jaw narrow , her two eyebrows pitch black , with delicate dark lashes casting shadows half way down her cheeks . you would think her lips were inset with parthian scarlet . her teeth were like an array of jewels between the lips . she had hair in three tresses : two wound upward on her head and the third hanging down her back , brushing her calves . she held a light gold weaving-rod in her hand , with gold inlay . her eyes had triple irises . two black horses drew her chariot , and she was armed . " what is your name ? " *medb said to the girl . " i am *fedelm , and i am a woman poet of *connacht " . " where have you come from ? " *medb said .

" from learning verse and vision in &alba , " the girl said . " have you the #imbas#forasnai , the ^light of ^foresight ? " . medb said . " yes i have , " the girl said . " then look for me and see what will become of my army " . so the girl looked . *medb said , " *fedelm , prophetess ; how seest thou the host ? " . *fedelm said in reply : " i see it crimson , i see it red " . " it can't be true , " *medb said . " *conchobor is suffering his pangs in &emain with all the rest of the *ulster warriors . my messengers have come from there and told me . *fedelm , prophetess ; how seest thou our host ? " . " i see it crimson , i see it red , " the girl said . " that is false , " *medb said . " *celtcharMacUthidir is still in &du/nLethglaise with a third of *ulster5 forces , and *fergus son of *roechMacEchdach and his troop of three thousand are here with us in exile . *fedelm , prophetess ; how seest thou our host ? " *medb said . " i see it crimson , i see it red , " the girl said . " it does9 matter , " *medb said . " wrath and rage and red wounds are common when armies and large forces gather . so look once more and tell us the truth . *fedelm , prophetess ; how seest thou our host ? " . " i see it crimson , i see it red , " the girl said . [[ " i see a battle : a blond man with much blood about his belt and a hero-halo round his head . his brow is full of victories . ]]

[[ seven hard heroic jewels are set in the iris of his eye . his jaws are settled in a snarl . he wears a looped , red tunic . a noble countenance i see , working effect on womenfolk ; a young man of sweet colouring ; a form dragonish in the fray . his great valour brings to mind *cuchulainn of &murtheimne , the hound of *culann , full of fame . Who he is i cannot tell but i see , now , the whole host coloured crimson by his hand . a giant on the plain i see , doing battle with the host , holding in each of his two hands four short quick swords . i see him hurling against that host two #gae#bolga and a spear and an ivory-hilted sword , each weapon to its separate task . he towers on the battlefield in breastplate and red cloak . across the sinister chariot-wheel the *warped *man deals death -- that fair form i first beheld melted to a mis-shape . ]]

[[ i see him moving to the fray : take warning , watch him well , *cuchulainn , *sualdam5 son ! . now i see him in pursuit . whole hosts he will destroy , making dense massacre . in thousands you will yield your heads . i am *fedelm . i hide nothing . the blood starts from warrior5 wounds -- total ruin -- at his touch : your warriors dead , the warriors of *dedaMacSin prowling loose ; torn corpses , women wailing , because of him -- the *forge-*hound " . ]] the ^monday after ^samain they set out . this is the way they went , southeast from &cruachanAi : through &muiccCruinb , through &terlochTeo/raCri/ch , the marshy lake bed where three territories meet , by &tuaimMo/na , the peat ridge , through &cuilSilinne , where &carrcin &lake is now -- it was named after *silenn , daughter of *madchar , by &fid and &bolga , woods and hills , through &coltain , and across the &sinann river , through &glu/ineGabair , over &trego &plain , of the spears , through &tethba , &north and &south , through &tiarthechta , through &ord , % the hammer , % through &sla/is southward , by the river &indiuind , % the anvil , %

through &carn , through &ochtrach , % the dung heap , % through &midi , the land of *meath , through &finnglassaAssail , of the clear streams , by the river &deilt , through &delind , through &sailig , through &slaibre of the herds , through &slechta , where they hewed their way , through &cu/ilSibrille , southward by &ochaine hill , northward by &uatu , by the river &dub , southward through &comur , through &tromma , through &othromma eastward , through &la/ni and its pasture &gortsla/ni , southward by &druimLicce , % the flagstone ridge , % by &athGabla , the ford of the forked branch , through &ardAchad , the high field , northward by &fe/raind , by &finnabair , through &assi southward , by the ridge &druimSa/lfinn , by the ridge &druimCain , on the &midluachair road , by &macDega5 &ridge , by &eo/dondMo/r and &eo/dondBec , the great dark yew-tree and the lesser , by &me/theTog and *me/the-nEoin , % squirrel neck % and % bird neck , % by the ridge &druimCa/emtechta , through &scu/aip and &imscu/aip , through &cennFerna , through &baile and &aile ,

through &ba/ilScena and &da/ilScena , through &fertse , by the wooded promontory &rosLochad , through &sale , through &lochmach , or &muidLoga , through &anmag , the noble plain , by &dinn height , by the river &deilt , by the river &dubglais , through &fidMo/r , or &fidMo/rthruaille , the &wood of the &great &scabbard , to the river &colptha and to the river &cronn in &cuailnge . these are the places they were to pass on their way to &finnabair in &cuailnge . it was from &finnabair that the armies of &ireland later split up across the province to look for the bull . { III THE ARMY ENCOUNTERS CUCHULAINN } . on the first stage of their march they went from &cruachan to &cu/ilSilinne , at &carrcin &lake . *medb told her charioteer to yoke up her nine chariots ready to made a circuit of the camp , to see who was slow and who eager on the march . meanwhile *ailill5 tent was pitched and his things settled , the beds and coverlets . next to *ailill came *fergusMacRoich in his tent ; next to *fergus , *cormacConnlongas , *conchobor5 son ; next to him , *conallCernach ; and next to him , *fiachaMacFirFebe , the son of *conchobor5 daughter . *medb was to settle the other side of *ailill ; next to her their daughter , *finnabair ; and next to her , *flidais . not to speak of menservants and attendants . *medb came back from inspecting the armies and said

it would be foolish to go on if they let the troop of three thousand *galeo/in , from north &leinster , come with them . " what fault have you found with them ? " *ailill said . " i find no fault with them , " *medb said . " they are fine soldiers . while the others were making a space for their camp they had roofed theirs and were making their meal . while the others were eating they had finished their meal and had their harpers playing . so it would be foolish to take them , " *medb said . " they would get all the credit for our army5 triumph " . " but they are fighting on our side , " *ailill said . " they can't come , " *medb said . " let them stay , then , " *ailill said . " no , they can't stay either , " *medb said . " they would only come and seize our lands when we are gone " . " well , what are we going to do with them , " *ailill said , " if they can neither stay nor come ? " . " kill them , " *medb said . " that is a woman5 thinking and no mistake ! " *ailill said . " a wicked thing to say " . " these men are our friends , " *fergus said , for the *ulster exiles . " you will take this evil advice over our dead bodies " . " we might do that , " *medb said . " i have my own following of twice three thousand here . there are my sons too , the seven *maine , with their seven troops of three thousand -- may they always have luck . there is *maineMa/thramail the *motherlike , *maineAthramail the *fatherlike , *maineMo/rgor the strongly dutiful , *maineMi/ngor the sweetly dutiful , *maineMo/epirt who is above description ( some call him *maineMilscothach of the honeyed speech ) , *maineAndoe the swift , and *maineCotagaibUli -- the *maine with all the qualities , who took the likeness of his mother and father , and the dignity of us both " . " that is not the whole story , " *fergus said . " we have

seven *munster kings on our side , each with a troop of three thousand . here and now , in this camp , i could bring those seven troops of three thousand into battle against you , with my own three thousand and the *galeo/in troop . but we do9 need that , " *fergus said . " we can arrange these warriors in the army so that they won't stand out too much . there are seventeen troops of us , of three thousand each , " *fergus said ; " that is the full number of our camp , not counting the general rabble or the young or the women -- each king has his queen travelling with *medb . the *galeo/in troop is the eighteenth troop here . we can scatter them out among the whole army " . " i do9 mind , " *medb said , " as long as they break up their present order " . so that is what they did : the *galeo/in were scattered amongst the army . next morning they set out toward mo/inColtna , the moor near &coltain . they found eight score of wild deer there in one herd , and encircled and slaughtered them . wherever there was one of the *galeo/in it was he who got the deer , except for five that were got by the rest of the army . they came to &trego &plain and broke their march there and got their meal ready . they say it is here that *dubthach chanted : [[ " take note now , listen well to my vision of this war . a dark march lies ahead toward *ailill5 wife5 *white *horn . one man , worth a whole host , comes to guard &murtheimne5 herds . two pig-keepers were friends once now crows will drink a cruel milk . ]]

[[ the river &cronn will rise , all clay , and bar the way to &murtheimne until that warrior5 work is done at &mount &ochaine to the north . | quickly , | *ailill says to *cormac | hurry to your son5 side ! | . cattle calm upon the plains -- the hard raiders herding men . then a battle , in due time , with *medb and one third of the host -- man5 meat everywhere that the *warped *man can reach " . ]] immediately the war-spirit *nemain assailed them . they had no peace that niqht , with their sleep broken by *dubthach5 brute outcry . groups of them started up , and many of the army remained troubled until *medb came and calmed them . they went on then and spent the night in &granaird in &north &tethba . *fergus sent a warning from there to the men of *ulster , because of old friendship . they were still prostrate in their pangs , all but *cuchulainn and his father *sualdam . when *fergus5 warning came *cuchulainn and his father went out as far as &irairdCuillenn and set up watch for the armies there . " i feel the presence of the armies tonight , " *cuchulainn said to his father . " you must go and warn *ulster . i have promised to spend the night with *fedelmNoichride " . ( though some say his meeting was with her bondmaid , who was set aside for *cuchulainn5 use ) . before he left he made a spancel-hoop of challenge and cut an ogam message into the peg fastening it , and left it there for them on top of a standing stone .

*fergus was given the head of the army , out in front of the troops . he made a great detour southward to give *ulster time to gather an army together -- he did this out of old friendship . but *ailill and *medb noticed it , and *medb said : [[ " *fergus , there is something wrong . what kind of road is this we 're taking ? . -- straying to the south or north , crossing every kind of land . *ailill and his army begin to think of treachery . or have you not yet set your mind to leading us upon our way ? . if old friendship is the cause give up your first place on the march . perhaps another can be found to take us on our proper way " . ]] *fergus answered : [[ " *medb , what is troubling you ? . there 's no treachery in this . the land where i am taking you -- remember it is *ulster . i take these turnings as they come not to bring the host to harm but to miss the mighty man who protects *murtheimne &plain . do you think i do9 know every winding way i take ? . i think ahead , trying to miss *cuchulainn son of *sualdam " . ]]

then they came to &irairdCuillenn . *err and *innel and their two charioteers *foich and *fochlam (these were the four sons of *urardMacAnchinne) were out in front of the army , keeping their rugs and cloaks and brooches from being soiled by the dusts of the multitude . they found the spancel-hoop thrown there by *cuchulainn and saw the marks of how his horses had grazed . *sualdam5 two horses had bitten the grass , roots and all , out of the earth , while *cuchulainn5 horses had licked up the very clay as well , down to the stones beneath the grass . they sat and waited for the armies to come up , while their musicians played for them . they gave the spancel-hoop to *fergusMacRoich , and he read the ogam cut into the hoop . when *medb came up she said: " why are you waiting here ? " . " we are waiting because of this spancel-hoop , " *fergus said . " there is an ogam message on the peg . it says : | come no further , unless you have a man who can make a hoop like this with one hand out of one piece . i exclude my friend *fergus | . it is clear *cuchulainn did this , " *fergus said . " it was his horses that grazed the plain " . *fergus gave it into the druids' hands and chanted : [[ " this hoop : what does it mean to us ? . what is the riddle of the hoop ? . how many men put it here ? . a small number ? . a multitude ? . will it bring the host to harm if they pass it on their way ? . druids , discover if you can the reasons it was left here " . ]]

The druids answered : [[ " it was a great champion made it and left it as a trap for men , an angry barrier against kings -- one man , single-handed . the royal host must come no further according to the rule of war , unless you have a man among you who can do what he has done . this is the reason , and no other , why the spancel-hoop was left " . ]] then *fergus told them : " if you ignore this challenge and pass by , the fury of the man who cut that ogam will reach you even if you are under protection , or locked in your homes . unless someone can match this hoop of challenge he will kill one of you before morning " . " we have certainly no wish to see one of our men killed so soon , " *ailill said . " if we go through the neck of that great forest there south of us , &fidDu/in , we need9 pass here " . then the men of the armies cut down the forest before the chariots . the place is now called &slechta , the &hewn &place . it is told in other books that it was after they had reached &fidDu/in , the forest fortress , that they saw the chariot with the beautiful young girl -- that it was here the story of the prophetess *fedelm , already given above , took place , and that the forest was cut down after a certain answer she gave to *medb . ( | look for me , and see what will became of my army , | *medb had said . | it is too hard , | the girl said : | i can't see them properly in this

forest | . | then it will be made ploughed land , | *medb said : | we will cut down the forest | ) . and that thus the place is called &slechta . it is here that the *partraigi dwell . they passed the night in &cuilSibrille -- &cenannos , as it is now called . a great snow fell on them , over the men5 belts and the chariot wheels . they could get no food ready , and rose early the next day , after passing a hard night in the snow . but it was9 so early when *cuchulainn got up from his woman , and it was later still when he had scrubbed and scoured himself and found the track of the army . " i wish we had9 gone there , " *cuchulainn said , " and betrayed *ulster . we let an army through and gave no warning . reckon up the army5 tracks for us , " *cuchulainn said to *laeg " until we see how many of them there are " . *laeg did so , and said to *cuchulainn : " this is confusing . i can't reckon it " . " it would9 confuse me if i went up there " *cuchulainn said . " get into the chariot then , " *laeg said . *cuchulainn got into the chariot and tried for a long time to reckon up the army from their tracks . " even you do9 find it easy , " *laeg said . " still it is easier for me than you , " *cuchulainn said , " with my three talents of sight and intellect and reckoning . i have made up a count now , " he said . " there are eighteen troops of three thousand here , as i count them , but the eighteenth troop of three thousand has been divided out among the whole army . that is what is mixing up the count , the three thousand *galeo/in " . *cuchulainn went around the armies until he reached

&athGabla . there he cut out a tree-fork with a single stroke of his sword and stuck it in the middle of the stream , so that a chariot would have no room to pass it on either side . ( it is from this that the name &athGabla comes , the ford of the forked branch ) . the warriors *err and *innel , and their two charioteers *foich and *fochlam , came upon him . he cut off their four heads and tossed them onto the four points of the tree-fork . the horses of the four men went back toward the army with their coverings all crimson . everyone thought there was a battle-force waiting for them at the ford . a troop of them went to inspect the ford , but they saw nothing there except the track of a single chariot , and the fork with the four heads and the words in ogam cut into its side . then the whole army came up . " do these heads belong to our people ? " *medb said . " yes they do , and to the very best among them , " *ailill said . one of their men read out the ogam on the side of the fork : that it was a single man who had thrown the fork using one hand , and that they must9 go past until one of them -- not *fergus -- did the same , single-handed . " i am surprised , " *ailill said , " how swiftly these four were killed " . " that is9 what should surprise you , " *fergus said , " but that the fork was struck from its trunk by a single stroke ; that though its base is only a single cut this makes better ; and that it is driven in the way it is -- for no hole was dug to receive it , and it was thrown one-handed from the back of a chariot " . " get rid of the obstruction for us , *fergus , " *medb said . " give me a chariot , then , " *fergus said . " i 'll take it and make sure the base was made with only one cut " . fourteen of their chariots broke up under *fergus .

finally he brought the fork on to dry land with his own chariot and they could see that its base was a single cut . " we should turn our minds , " *ailill said , " to the sort of people we are approaching . let each of you get your food ready -- it was9 easy for you last night with the snow -- and then let us hear some of the doings and stories of the sort of people we are approaching " . it was there that they heard for the first time about the exploits of *cuchulainn . *ailill said : " was it *conchobor who did this ? " . " no , " *fergus said . " he never comes to the border country without a full battle-force around him " . " was it *celtcharMacUthidir , then ? " . " no . He never comes to the border country , either , without a full battle-force around him " . " well , was it *eoganMacDurthacht ? " . " no , " *fergus said . " he would never cross the border without a troop of three thousand bristling chariots around him . the man who did this deed , " *fergus said , " is *cuchulainn . it is he who struck the branch from its base with a single stroke , and killed the four as swiftly as they were killed , and who came to the border with only his charioteer " . " what sort of man , " *ailill said , " is this *hound of *ulster we hear tell of ? . how old is this remarkable person ? " . " it is soon told , " *fergus said . " in his fifth year he went in quest of arms to the boy-troop in &emainMacha . in his seventh year he went to study the arts and crafts of war with *sca/thach , and courted *emer . in his eight year he took up arms . at present he is in his seventeenth year " . " is he the toughest they have in *ulster ? " *medb said . " yes , the toughest of all , " *fergus said . " you 'll find no harder warrior against you -- no point more sharp , more

swift , more slashing ; no raven more flesh-ravenous , no hand more deft , no fighter more fierce , no one of his own age one third as good , no lion more ferocious ; no barrier in battle , no hard hammer , no gate of battle , no soldiers' doom , no hinderer of hosts , more fine . you will find no one there to measure against him -- for youth or vigour ; for apparel , horror or eloquence ; for splendour or fame or form ; for voice or strength or sternness ; for cleverness , courage or blows in battle ; for fire or fury , victory , doom or turmoil ; for stalking , scheming or slaughter in the hunt ; for swiftness , alertness or wildness ; and no one with the battle-feat % nine men on each point % -- none like *cuchulainn " . " let us not make too much of it , " *medb said . " he has only one body . he can suffer wounding . he is not beyond being taken . besides he is only in his early youth , and his manly deeds are yet to come " . " by no means , " *fergus said . " it would be nothing strange for him to do mighty deeds at this point . when he was younger his acts were already manly " . { IV CUCHULAINN5 BOYHOOD DEEDS } . " he was reared , " *fergus said , " by his father and mother in their oaken house on &murthemne &plain . there he heard great rumours about the boys in &emain . three times fifty boys , " *fergus said " are always playing in &emain . *conchobor spends one third of his royal day watching the boys , one third playing #fidchell , and a third drinking ale until he falls asleep . there is no greater warrior in &ireland , " *fergus said . " i say it though he drove me into exile . *cuchulainn begged his mother to let him join the boy-troop .

| you can't go,| his mother said , | until there are some *ulster warriors to go with you | . | that is too long to wait , | *cuchulainn said . | point me out the way to &emain | . | northward there , | his mother said . | but it is a hard road . &sliabFuait blocks the way | . | still , | *cuchulainn said , | i will try it | . so he set off , with a toy shield made out of sticks and a toy javelin and his hurling-stick and ball . he kept tossing his javelin ahead and catching it again before its tail hit the ground . then he ran up to *conchobor5 boys without getting them to pledge his safety . he did9 know that no one went out to them on their field of play without getting a promise of safety from them . | it is plain this young fellow is from *ulster ! | said *follamain , *conchobor5 son , | and yet he dares us | . they shouted at him , but still he came on against them . they flung three times fifty javelins at him , and he stopped them all on his shield of sticks . then they drove all their hurling-balls at him , and he stopped every ball on his breast . they threw their hurling-sticks at him , three times fifty of them : he dodged so well that none of them touched him , except for a handful that he plucked down as they shot past . the ^Warp-^Spasm overtook him : it seemed each hair was hammered into his head , so sharply they shot upright . you would swear a fire-speck tipped each hair . he squeezed one eye narrower than the eye of a needle ; he opened the other wider than the mouth of a goblet . he bared his jaws to the ear ; he peeled back his lips to the eye-teeth till his gullet showed . the hero-halo rose up from the crown of his head . then he made onslaught on the boys . he laid low fifty

of them before they got to the gate of &emain . nine of them " , *fergus said , " flew past *conchobor and myself -- we were playing #fidchell -- and he came leaping after the nine of them across the #fidchell board . *conchobor caught him by the wrist . | these boys are being roughly handled , | *conchobor said . | i am in the right , friend *conchobor , | he said . | i left my home , and my mother and father , to join their games , and they treated me roughly | . | whose son are you ? | *conchobor said . | what is your name ? | . | i am *se/tanta , son of *sualdam and your sister *deichtine . i did9 expect to be hurt here | . | well , why did9 you put yourself under the boys' protection ? | *conchobor said . | i knew nothing about that , | *cuchulainn said , | but i ask your protection against them now | . | you have it , | *conchobor said . then he turned away to chase through the house after the boy-troop . | what are you going to do to them now ? | *conchobor said . | offer them my protection , | *cuchulainn said . | promise it here and now , | *conchobor said . | i promise | *cuchulainn said . then everybody went out to the play-field and the boys who had been struck down began to get up , with the help of their foster-mothers and fathers " . " there was a time , " *fergus said , " when he was a lad , that he could9 get to sleep at all in &emainMacha . | tell me , *cuchulainn , why you can't sleep here in

&emain , | *conchobor said to him . | i can't sleep unless i have the same level under my head and feet | . so *conchobor had a block of stone brought for his head and another for his feet , and fixed a special bed between them for him . a while afterwards , some man went in to wake him . *cuchulainn struck him on the forehead with his fist and drove the dome of the forehead back into the brain . he knocked the stone block flat with his arm " . " you can tell , " *ailill said , " it was a warrior5 fist , the arm of a prodigy " . " since that time , " *fergus said , " no one dares to waken him , but leaves him to wake up by himself " . " another time he was playing ball in the playing-field east of &emain . he stood alone against the three times fifty boys . he could always beat them in every game of this kind . once they laid hold of him , but he worked his fist on them and knocked fifty of them senseless . then he took flight and hid under the cushion of *conchobor5 bed . the whole of *ulster gathered against him -- even i rose against him , " *fergus said , " and *conchobor himself . he straightened under the bed and heaved it , bed and thirty clinging warriors , onto the floor of the house . there and then , in the house , he was encircled by *ulstermen . so , " *fergus said , " we settled matters , and made a peace between the boy-troop and him " . " one time *eoganMacDurthacht challenged *ulster to battle . the men of *ulster entered the fray ; *cuchulainn was left to his sleep . *ulster was beaten . *conchobor and

his son *cuscraidMennMacha , the *stammerer , were left for dead with others in heaps about them . their wailing woke him . as he woke he stretched , and cracked the two blocks of stone near him . *bricriu , there , saw him do that , " *fergus said . " he got up then and went to the gate of the enclosure . i met him there , in my wounds . | alas ! . god help you , friend *fergus , | he said . | where is *conchobor ? | . | i do9 know , | i said . so he went out . the night was black . he made for the field of slaughter . he came upon a half-headed man who had half a corpse on his back . | help me , *cuchulainn , | he said . | i am stricken and bear half my brother5 body on my back . carry it a while for me | . | i will not , | *cuchulainn said . the other threw his burden at him . but he tossed it from him . they reached out at each other . and *cuchulainn was thrown down . then i heard something : the *badb calling from the corpses : | it 's a poor sort of warrior that lies down at the feet of a ghost ! | . *cuchulainn reached up and knocked off the half-head with his hurling-stick and drove it before him , playing ball across the plain of battle . | is my friend *conchobor on this battlefield ? | . *conchobor made answer . *cuchulainn went toward the cry and found him in a trench , with earth piled up on all sides hiding him . | what brings you here to the field of slaughter ? | *conchobor said . | to learn what mortal terror is ? | . he pulled him up from the ditch . no six of the strongest *ulstermen among us could pull so hard . | go before me to that house there , | *conchobor said , | and light me a fire | .

he kindled a great fire for him . | good , so far , | *conchobor said . | now if i got a cooked pig i might come back to life | . | i 'll go and get one , | *cuchulainn said . he went out . he came upon a man by a cooking-pit in the middle of the wood ,who held his weapons in one hand and cooked a boar with the other . he was a man of terrible ferocity . but *cuchulainn attacked him and took his head as well as the pig . *conchobor swallowed the boar . | back now to our house , | *conchobor said . they found *cu/scraid , *conchobor5 son , on the way . he lay there heavy with wounds . *cuchulainn lifted him on his back . then all three made for &emainMacha " . " another time , the men of *ulster were in their pangs . this affliction , " *fergus said " never came to our women or our youths or anyone not from *ulster -- and therefore not to *cuchulainn or his father . none dared shed the blood of the *ulstermen in this state . if they did , the pangs themselves would fall on them , or else decay , or a short life . twenty-seven marauders came from the islands of &faichi . they broke into the rear enclosure as we lay in our pangs . the women there started screaming . the boy-troop heard their screams from the field of play and ran toward them . but when they saw those dark men the boy-troop took to flight , all but *cuchulainn . he attacked them with throwing-stones and his hurling-stick and killed nine of them , though they left him with fifty wounds . then the remainder made off . what wonder that the man who did these deeds before he was five years old should cut off the heads of those four ? " .

" indeed we know the boy , " *conallCernach said . " and i not the least ; i fostered him . it was9 long after what *fergus has told that he did another deed . it happened that *culann the smith was getting ready to entertain *conchobor . he asked him not to bring too great a company , for he had no land or property to provide the feast , only what he earned by his tongs and his two hands . so *conchobor set out with only fifty chariot-fulls of the highest and mightiest of his champions to accompany him . first he visited the playing-field . it was his habit always , going and coming , to greet the boys and have their blessing . so it was that he saw *cuchulainn playing ball against three times fifty boys and beating them . when they played ^shoot-the-^goal it was *cuchulainn who filled the hole with his shots and they were helpless against him . when it was their turn to shoot at the hole , all together , he turned them aside single-handed and not one ball got in . when it was time to wrestle he overthrew by himself the whole three fifties of them : and there was9 room around him for the number needed to throw him . when they played the ^stripping-^game he stripped them all stark naked . they could9 even pluck the brooch from his cloak . *conchobor was amazed at this . he asked would there be the same difference in their deeds when they came to manhood . they all said there would . *conchobor said to *cuchulainn : | come with me , | he said . | you will be a guest at the feast we are going to | . | i have9 had my fill of play yet , friend *conchobor , | the boy said . | i 'll follow you | . later when they had all arrived at the feast , *culann said to *conchobor :

| is there anybody still to come after you ? | . | no , | *conchobor said , forgetting the arrangement that his foster-son was to follow them . | i have a savage hound , | *culann said . | three chains are needed to hold him , with three men on each chain . let him loose , | he ordered , | to guard our cattle and other stock . shut the gate of the enclosure | . soon the boy arrived and the hound started out for him . but he still attended to his game : he tossed his ball up and threw his hurling-stick after it and struck it ; the length of his stroke never varied . then he would cast his javelin after both , and catch it before it fell . his game never faltered though the hound was tearing toward him . *conchobor and his people were in such anguish at this that they could9 stir . they were sure they could9 reach him alive , even if the enclosure gate were open . the hound sprang . *cuchulainn tossed the ball aside and the stick with it and tackled the hound with his two hands : he clutched the hound5 throat-apple in one hand and grasped its back with the other . he smashed it against the nearest pillar and its limbs leaped from their sockets . ( according to another version he threw his ball into its mouth and so tore its entrails out ) . then the *ulstermen rose up to meet him , some of them over the rampart , others through the gate of the enclosure . they carried him to *conchobor5 bosom . they gave a great cry of triumph , that the son of the king5 sister had escaped death . *culann stood in his house . | you are welcome , boy , for your mother5 heart5 sake . but for my own part i did badly to give this feast . my life is a waste , and my household like a desert , with the loss of my hound ! . he guarded my life and my honour , | he said ; | a valued servant , my hound , taken

from me . he was shield and shelter for our goods and herds . he guarded all our beasts , at home or out in the fields | . | that does9 matter , | the boy said . | i 'll rear you a pup from the same pack . until that hound grows up to do his work , i will be your hound , and guard yourself and your beasts . and i will guard all *murtheimne *plain . no herd or flock will leave my care unknown to me | . | *cuchulainn shall be your name , the *hound of *culann , | *cathbad said . | i like that for a name ! | *cuchulainn said . what wonder that the man who did this at the end of his sixth year should do a great deed at the present time when he is full seventeen ? " *conallCernach said . " there was another deed he did , " *fiachaMacFirFebe said . " *cathbad the druid was staying with his son , *conchoborMacNesa . he had one hundred studious men learning druid lore from him -- this was always the number that *cathbad taught . one day a pupil asked him what that day would be lucky for . *cathbad said if a warrior took up arms for the first time that day his name would endure in &ireland as a word signifying mighty acts , and stories about him would last forever . *cuchulainn overheard this . he went to *conchobor and claimed his weapons . *conchobor said: | by whose instruction ? | . | my friend *cathbad5 , | *cuchulainn said . | we have heard of him , | *conchobor said , and gave him shield and spear . *cuchulainn brandished them in the middle of the house , and not one piece survived of the fifteen sets that *conchobor kept in store for new warriors

or in case of breakage . he was given *conchobor5 own weapons at last , and these survived . he made a flourish and saluted their owner the king and said : | long life to their seed and breed , who have for their king the man who owns these weapons | . it was then that *cathbad came in and said : | do i see a young boy newly armed ? | . | yes ,| *conchobor said . | then woe to his mother5 son ,| he said . | what is this ? . was9 it by your own direction he came ? | *conchobor said . | certainly not ,| *cathbad said . | little demon , why did you lie to me ? | *conchobor said to *cuchulainn . | it was no lie , king of warriors , | *cuchulainn said . | i happened to hear him instructing his pupils this morning south of &emain , and i came to you then | . | well , | *cathbad said , | the day has this merit : he who arms for the first time today will achieve fame and greatness . but his life is short | . | that is a fair bargain , | *cuchulainn said . | if i achieve fame i am content , though i had only one day on earth | . another day came and another druid asked what that day would be lucky for . | whoever mounts his first chariot today , | *cathbad said , | his name will live forever in &ireland | . *cuchulainn overheard this also , and went to *conchobor and said : | friend *conchobor , my chariot ! | . a chariot was given to him . he clapped his hand to the chariot between the shafts , and the frame broke at his touch . in the same way he broke twelve chariots . at last they gave him *conchobor5 chariot and that survived him .

he mounted the chariot beside *conchobor5 charioteer . this charioteer , *ibor by name , turned the chariot round where it stood . | you can get out of the chariot now , | the charioteer said . | you think your horses are precious , | *cuchulainn said , | but so am i , my friend . drive round &emain now , and you won't lose by it | . the charioteer set off . *cuchulainn urged him to take the road to the boy-troop , to greet them and get their blessing in return . after this he asked him to go further along the road . *cuchulainn said to the charioteer as they drove onward : | use your goad on the horses now | . | which direction ? | the charioteer said . | as far as the road will take us ! | *cuchulainn said . they came to &sliabFuait . they met *conallCernach there -- for to *conallCernach had fallen the care of the province boundary that day . each of *ulster5 heroic warriors had his day on &sliabFuait , to take care of every man who came that way with poetry , and to fight any others . in this way everyone was challenged and no one slipped past to &emain unnoticed . | may you prosper , | *conall said . | i wish you victory and triumph | . | *Conall , go back to the fort , | *cuchulainn said , | and let me keep watch here a little | . | you would do for looking after men of poetry , | *conall said . | but you are a little young still for dealing with men of war | . | it might never happen at all , | *cuchulainn said . | let us wander off , meanwhile , | he said , | to view the shore of &loch &echtra . warriors are often camped there | . | it is a pleasant thought , | *conall said .

they set off . suddenly *cuchulainn let fly a stone from his sling and smashed the shaft of *conallCernach5 chariot . | why did you cast that stone , boy ? | *conall said . | to test my hand and the straightness of my aim , | *cuchulainn said . | now , since it is your *ulster custom not to continue a dangerous journey , go back to &emain, friend *conall , and leave me here on guard | . | if i must , | *conall said . *conallCernach would9 go beyond that point . *cuchulainn went on to &lochEchtra but found no one there . the charioteer said to *cuchulainn that they ought to go back to &emain , that they might get there for the drinking . | no , | *cuchulainn said .| what is that peak there ? | | &sliabMondairn , | the charioteer said . | take me there , | *cuchulainn said . they travelled on until they got there . on arriving at the mountain , *cuchulainn asked: | that white heap of stones on the mountain-top , what is it called ? | . | the look-out place , &finncarn , the white cairn , | the charioteer said . | that plain there before us ? | *cuchulainn said . | mag-mBreg , &breg &plain , | the charioteer said . in this way he gave the name of every fort of any size between &temair and &cenannos . and he recited to him also all fields and fords , all habitations and places of note , and every fastness and fortress . he pointed out at last the fort of the three sons of *nechtaSce/ne , who were called *foill ( for deceitfulness ) and *fannall ( the *swallow ) and *tuachell ( the *cunning ) . they came from the mouth of the river &sce/ne .*ferUlli , *lugaid5 son , was their father and *nechtaSce/ne their mother . *ulstermen

had killed their father and this is why they were at enmity with them . | is it these who say , | *cuchulainn said , | that they have killed as many *ulstermen as are now living ? | . | they are the ones , | the charioteer said . | take me to meet them , | *cuchulainn said . | that is looking for danger , | the charioteer said . | we 're not going there to avoid it , | *cuchulainn said . they travelled on , and turned their horses loose where bog and river met , to the south and upstream of their enemies' stronghold . he took the spancel-hoop of challenge from the pillar-stone at the ford and threw it as far as he could out into the river and let the current take it -- thus challenging the ban of the sons of nechta scene . they took note of this and started out to find him . *cuchulainn , after sending the spancel-hoop down-stream , lay down by the pillar-stone to rest , and said to his charioteer : | if only one man comes , or two , do9 wake me , but wake me if they all come | . the charioteer waited meanwhile in terror . he yoked the chariot and pulled off the skins and coverings that were over *cuchulainn , trying not to wake him , since cuchulainn had told him not to wake him for only one . then the sons of *nechtaSce/ne came up . | who is that there ? | said one . | a little boy out in his chariot today for the first time , | the charioteer said . | then his luck has deserted him , | the warrior said . | this is a bad beginning in arms for him . get out of our land . graze your horses here no more | . | i have the reins in my hand , | the charioteer said . then *ibor said to the warrior : | why should you earn enmity ? . look , the boy is asleep | .

| a boy with a difference ! | cried *cuchulainn . | a boy who came here to look for fight ! | . | it will be a pleasure , | the warrior said . | you may have that pleasure now , in the ford there , | *cuchulainn said . | you would be wise , | the charioteer said , | to be careful of the man who is coming against you . *foill is his name , | he said . | if you do9 get him with your first thrust , you may thrust away all day | . | i swear the oath of my people that he won't play that trick on an *ulsterman again when my friend *conchobor5 broad spear leaves my hand to find him . he 'll feel it like the hand of an outlaw ! | . he flung the spear at him , and it pierced him and broke his back . he removed the trophies , and the head with them . | watch this other one , | the charioteer said . | *fannall is his name , and he treads the water no heavier than swan or swallow | . | i swear he won't use that trick on an *ulsterman again , | *cuchulainn said . | you have seen how i foot the pool in &emain | . they met in the ford , and he killed the man and took away the trophies and the head . | watch this next one advancing against you , | the charioteer said . | *tuachell is his name , and he was9 named in vain . he has never fallen to any weapon | . | i have the #del#chliss for him , a wily weapon to churn him up and red-riddle him , | *cuchulainn said . he threw the spear at him and tore him asunder where he stood . he went up and cut off his head . he gave the head and trophies to his charioteer . then a scream rose up behind them from the mother , *nechtaSce/ne . *cuchulainn lifted the trophies off the

ground and brought the three heads with him into the chariot , saying : | i won't let go of these trophies until we reach &emainMacha | . they set out for &emainMacha with all his spoils . *cuchulainn said to his charioteer : | you promised us great driving . we 'll need it now after our fight , with this chase after us | . they travelled onward to &sliabFuait . so fleet their haste across &bregPlain , as he hurried the charioteer , that the chariot-horses overtook the wind and the birds in flight , and *cuchulainn could catch the shot from his sling before it hit the earth . when they got to &sliabFuait they found a herd of deer before them . | what are those nimble beasts there? | *cuchulainn said . | wild deer , | the charioteer said . *cuchulainn said : | which would the men of *ulster like brought in , a dead one or a live one ? | . | a live one would startle them more , | the charioteer said . | it is9 everyone who could do it . every man there has brought home a dead one . you can't catch them alive | . | i can , | *cuchulainn said . | use your goad on the horses , over the marsh | . the charioteer did so until the horses bogged down . *cuchulainn got out and caught the deer nearest to him , the handsomest of all . he lashed the horses free of the bog and calmed the deer quickly . then he tethered it between the rear shafts of the chariot . the next thing they saw before them was a flock of swans . | would the men of *ulster prefer to have these brought

in alive or dead ? | *cuchulainn said . | the quickest and the most expert take them alive , | the charioteer said . *cuchulainn immediately flung a little stone at the birds and brought down eight of them . then he flung a bigger stone that brought down twelve more . he did this with his feat of the stunning-shot . | gather in our birds now , | *cuchulainn said to his charioteer . | if i go out to them this wild stag will turn on you | . | but it 's no easier if i go , | the charioteer said . | the horses are so maddened that i can't get past them . i can't get over the two iron rims of the chariot wheels , they are so sharp . and i can't get past the stag ; his antlers fill all the space between the chariot5 shafts | . | step out onto the antlers , | *cuchulainn said . | i swear the oath of *ulster5 people , i 'll turn my head on him with such a stare , i 'll fix him with such an , eye , that he won't dare to stir or budge his head at you | . he did this . *cuchulainn tied the reins and the charioteer gathered up the birds . then *cuchulainn fastened the birds to the cords and thongs of the chariot . it was in this manner that they came back to &emainMacha : a wild stag behind the chariot , a swan-flock fluttering above, and the three heads of *nechtaSce/ne5 sons inside the chariot . they came to &emain . | a man in a chariot advancing upon us , | cried the watcher in &emainMacha . | he 'll spill the blood of the whole court unless you see to him and send naked women to meet him | . *cuchulainn turned the left chariot-board toward &emain in insult , and he said : | i swear by the oath of *ulster5 people that if a man

is9 found to fight me , i 'll spill the blood of everyone in this court | . | naked women to him ! | *conchobor said . the women of &emain went forth , with *mugain the wife of *conchoborMacNesa at their head , and they stripped their breasts at him . | these are the warriors you must struggle with today , | *mugain said . he hid his countenance . immediately the warriors of &emain seized him and plunged him in a vat of cold water . the vat burst asunder about him . then he was thrust in another vat and it boiled with bubbles the size of fists . he was placed at last in a third vat and warmed it till its heat and cold were equal . then he got out and *mugain the queen gave him a blue cloak to go round him with a silver brooch in it , and a hooded tunic . and he sat on *conchobor5 knee , and that was his seat ever after . what wonder , " *fiachaMacFirFebe said , " that the one who did this in his seventh year should triumph against odds and beat his match today , when he is fully seventeen years old ? " . { V "DEATH, DEATH!" } . " well , " *ailill said , " let us be off " . they went to &magMuceda , the &pig-keeper5 &plain , and there *cuchulainn cut down an oak tree in their path and cut an ogam message into its side . he wrote there that no one was to pass that oak until a warrior had leaped it in his chariot at the first attempt . so they pitched their tents and set themselves to leaping the tree in their chariots . thirty horses fell on that spot , and thirty chariots were smashed there , and the place has

been called &belach-nAne ever since , the &pass where they &drove . they waited there until morning . then *fraechMacFidaig was called and *medb said to him : " *fraech , we need your help to clear this nuisance away . go and find *cuchulainn and challenge him " . early in the morning he went out with nine others , and they came to &athFuait . they saw the boy there , washing in the river . " wait here , " *fraech said to his followers . " i 'll attack him there in the water ; he is9 good in water " . he stripped off his clothes and went up to him in the water . " if you came any nearer , " *cuchulainn said , " i would have to kill you . and that would be a pity " . " all the same , i 'm coming to meet you in the water " , *fraech said . " you 'll have to fight " . " choose your style of combat then , " *cuchulainn said . " each to keep one arm round the other , " *fraech said . they grappled a long time in the water until *fraech went under . *cuchulainn pulled him up again . " now , " *cuchulainn said , " will you let me spare you ? " .

" i would9 have that said , " *fraech said . *cuchulainn thrust him down once more and *fraech perished . &athFroich is the name of that ford still . after he had been laid on the dry land , his followers carried his body to the camp and the whole company lamented the warrior *fraech . then they saw a troop of women in green tunics gather about the body of *fraechMacFidaig and bear him away into the #si/d . &si/dFroich is the name of the hill since that time . then *fergus leaped in his chariot across the oak tree . some say they went from here to &athMeislir , where *cuchulainn slew six of the host , *meslir and the others . others say they went to &athTaiten and that the six *cuchulainn slew were six *du/ngals of &irros . they left then for &fornocht , the &naked &place . *medb had a young hound . its name was *baiscne . *cuchulainn slung a stone at it and took off its head . the place where this happened is called &druimBaiscne since that time , the &ridge of &baiscne . " shame on you all , " *medb said , " not to be out after this pestering demon that is killing you all ! " . they took off in pursuit of him then , until their chariot shafts broke . next day they crossed a high place , *cuchulainn roaming ahead of them . at the place called &ta/mlachtaiOrla/im , &orla/m5 &burial &mark , a little to the north of the sanctuary &di/sertLochait , *cuchulainn came upon a charioteer cutting wood-shafts . he was *orla/m5 charioteer ; *orla/m was a son of *ailill and *medb . some say that the shaft of *cuchulainn5 own chariot had broken , and that he also was cutting out a new one when he saw *orla/m5 charioteer . " this is madness , " *cuchulainn said , thinking it was an

*ulster warrior . " are there *ulstermen here , with an attacking army coming up behind them ? " . he went up to stop the charioteer . he watched him for a while cutting out wood for a chariot-shaft . " what are you doing here ? " *cuchulainn said . " getting chariot-shafts , " the charioteer said . " we smashed our chariots chasing that wild deer *cuchulainn . help me with them , " he said . " would you rather cut out the shafts or do the trimming ? " . " i 'll do the trimming , " *cuchulainn said . then , under the other5 eyes , he stripped the holly-shafts through his clutched fist , paring them clean , knot and bark . the charioteer said in fright : " this is9 your usual work " . " who are you ? " *cuchulainn said . " *orla/m5 charioteer . he is a son of *ailill and *medb . and who are you ? " the charioteer said . " *cuchulainn , " he said . " alas ! " the charioteer said . " you need9 worry , " *cuchulainn said . " where is your master ? " . " he is over there by the dike , " the charioteer said . " come with me , now , " *cuchulainn said . " i have no quarrel with charioteers " . *cuchulainn went up to *orla/m and slew and beheaded him , and shook the head at the host . he set the head on the charioteer5 back and said : " take this with you and keep it like that all the way into the camp . if you do anything but exactly what i say you 'll get a shot from my sling " . the charioteer went up close to the camp and took the head from his back , and told *medb and *ailill his story . " this is9 like catching birds , " she said . " and he told me , " the charioteer said , " that if i did9

take it on my back all the way into the camp he 'd break my head with a stone " . *orla/m5 charioteer was standing at this time between *ailill and *medb outside the camp . *cuchulainn hurled a stone at him , shattering his head so that the brains spattered the ears . his name was *fertedil . it is not true , therefore , that *cuchulainn did9 kill charioteers ; he killed them if they did wrong . the three sons of *ga/rach were waiting at the ford which now bears their name , &athMeicGa/rach . these are their names : *lon , *ualu and *diliu -- the blackbird , the prideful , the torrent . the three charioteers were there also , the three foster-sons , *meslir , *meslaech and *meslethan . they could9 bear the thought of *cuchulainn killing two foster-sons of the king , and a son by blood , and shaking the head at the host . they planned to kill *cuchulainn themselves and lift the scourge from the army . three shafts of aspen were cut for their charioteers so that all six could go against him together , thus breaking the rule of fair fight . but he slew them all . *cuchulainn swore an oath in &methe that from this time on , whenever he laid eyes on *ailill and *medb , he would hurl a sling-stone at them . it was then he shot a sling-stone south across the ford and killed *medb5 squirrel as it sat close to her neck . hence comes &me/theTog , &squirrel &neck , as the name of that place . he killed also a pet bird perching close to *ailill5 neck ; from which comes &athMoeNeuin , or &bird &neck &ford . others say that the bird and the little squirrel were both perched on *medb5 shoulders when their heads were torn off by the sling-stones . at this time also *reuin was drowned in the lake now called after him .

" he can't be far off , " *ailill said one time to his sons , the *maine . they rose up , looking about them . as they were settling down again , *cuchulainn struck one of them , shattering his head . " that was a fine way to rise against him , " *maene/n the jester said , " after all your boasting ! . i would have knocked his head off " . at which a stone from *cuchulainn shattered his head also . the following , then , is the list of the slain : *orla/m , firstly , on the hill that bears his name ; *fertedil between two protectors ; the three sons of *ga/rach on their ford ; and *maene/n on his hill . " i swear by the god of my people , " *ailill said , " i 'll cut in two any man who scoffs at *cuchulainn from now on . let us be off now , travelling day and night , " he said , " until we get to &cuailnge . the man will kill two thirds of our army if he goes on like this " . then the magical sweet-mouth harpers of &cai/nBile came out from the red cataract at &esRuaid , to charm the host . but the people thought that these were spies from *ulster coming among them , and they gave chase after them until they ran in the shape of deer far ahead of them to the north among the stones at &liacMo/r , they being druids of great knowledge . *lethan stood at the ford on the river &ni/th in &conaille , in a rage at what *cuchulainn had done , and waited for him . but *cuchulainn cut off his head and left it with the body . the ford on the &ni/th is named &athLethan from this . in the previous ford so many chariots were shattered in the fighting that it is still called &athCarpat , &ford of &chariots . on the shoulder of land that lies between these fords , *mulca , *lethan5 charioteer , fell . hence its name is

&gualaMulchai , &mulcha5 &shoulder . in this manner , as the armies crossed &breg &plain , he sent men continually to their graves . now it was that the *morri/gan settled in bird shape on a standing stone in &temair &chuailnge , and said to the *brown *bull : [[ " dark one are you restless do you guess they gather to certain slaughter the wise raven groans aloud that enemies infest the fair fields ravaging in packs learn i discern rich plains softly wavelike baring their necks greenness of grass beauty of blossoms on the plains war grinding heroic hosts to dust cattle groans the *badb the raven ravenous among corpses of men affliction and outcry and war everlasting raging over &cuailnge death of sons death of kinsmen death death ! " ]]

thereupon the *bull moved to &sliabCuilinn with his fifty heifers and his herdsman *forgaimen driving him . he threw off the three times fifty boys who always played on his back , killing two thirds of them , and he tore up a trench through the land of &marce/ni in &cuailnge , tossing the earth back over him with his heels . from the gloomy waters of &sailiImdorchi , in the district of &conaille , until they reached &cuailnge , *cuchulainn killed no one , being then at &sliabCuinciu . there he swore again that whenever he caught sight of *medb he would hurl a sling-stone at her head . this was no easy thing to do , for *medb never went about unless she was protected by half her army holding a barrel-shaped shelter of shields over their heads . one of *medb5 bondmaids named *lochu went to fetch water , surrounded by a troop of many women , and *cuchulainn mistook her for *medb . he shot two stones at her from &cuinciu and killed her on the plain in the place known as &re/idLocha , *lochu5 level ground , in &cuailnge . { VI FROM FINNABAIR CHUAILNGE TO CONAILLE } . it is said in one version of the tale that the armies divided at &finnabair in &cuailnge and laid waste the country with fire . they rounded up all the women and boys and girls and cattle in &cuailnge and brought them to &finnabair . " you have9 done well enough yet , " *medb said . " i do9 see the bull with you " . " there is no trace of him anywhere in the province , " they said . one of *medb5 herdsmen , *lo/thar , was summoned . " where do you think the bull might be ? " she said . " i tremble to tell you " . the herdsman said , " but on the

same night that the men of *ulster were laid low by their pangs , he left with all his three score heifers . he is now in &dubchoire , the &black &cauldron , in &glennGat of the &osiers " . " make yourselves ready , " *medb said . " take a shackle of osiers between each pair of you , and catch him " . they did as she said , and hence the name of this place is &glennGat , the &valley of &osiers . they encircled the bull there and drove him toward &finnabair . and there he saw the cowherd *lo/thar and attacked him in a fury , taking out his entrails on the horns . he attacked the camp with his three score heifers , and fifty heroes perished in his path . then the bull vanished out of the camp and , to their shame , no one could say where he had gone . *medb asked the herdsmen where the bull might be . " he is back in the fastnesses of &sliabCuilinn " . they headed for that place , ravaging &cuailnge as they went , but they could9 find the bull there . it is further said , in this version , that the river &cronn rose up against them to the height of the treetops and they had to pass the night by the edge of the water . in the morning *medb ordered some of her followers across it . the famous warrior *ualu tried it . to cross the river he shouldered a big flagstone so that the water would9 force him backward . but the river overwhelmed him , stone and all , and he drowned . his grave , with his stone , is on the roadway by the river ; &liaUalonn is its name , &ualu5 &flagstone . it is there that *cuchulainn killed *cronn and *caemdele in heroic fury ; and a further hundred warriors died as they struggled , together with *roan and *roae , the two chroniclers of the ^ta/in . some say that this is the reason the tale of the ^ta/in was lost and had to be found again long afterward . one hundred and twenty-four kings died by his hand at the same river .

so they went upward along the river &cronn until they reached its source . they were crossing between the spring and the mountain-summit when *medb called them back . she chose to cross the summit itself and mark their track forever as a mark of dishonour to *ulster . it took them three days and three nights , tearing up the earth before them , to form the gap &bernasBo/Cuailnge . then they went over &bernasBo/Cuailnge with all their cattle and belongings and they passed the night in &glennDa/ilimda in &cuailnge , at the place now called &botha after the huts they made there . next day they travelled to the river &colptha . recklessly they tried a crossing , but it too rose against them and bore off a hundred of their charioteers toward the sea . &cluainCarpat , the &chariot-&meadow , is the name of the place where they drowned . they had to move along the river &colptha up to its source , then to &be/latAliuin . they passed the night between &cuailnge and &conaille at &liasaLiac , so named because the armies built stone shelters for their calves there . after this they went across &glennGatlaig . but the river &gatlaig rose up against them also . previously it was called &sechaire , but it is known as the river &gatlaig since that time , after the osiers they carried their calves in . they spent the night in &druimFe/ne in &conaille . such , then , according to one version were their travels from &cuailnge to &conaille plain . however , other writers of this tale , and other books , treat events differently from the dividing up of the armies at &finnabair to the arrival in &conaille . thus , when all had brought their spoils back with them to &finnabair in &cuailnge , *medb said : " divide up the armies . our forces can't all advance on

the one road . *ailill can take half of them by the &midluachair road . we 'll go with *fergus by way of &bernasBo/Ulad " . " that leaves us the difficult half of the army , " *fergus said . " we 'll have to cut a gap to get the cattle over the mountain " . that is what they did , and such is the origin , says this author , of the name &bernasBo/Ulad . it is at this time that *ailill took his charioteer *cuillius aside . " watch *medb and *fergus today for me . i do9 know why they are so intimate and i want you to find me some sign " . then *cuillius found the couple together at &cluithre , where they had lingered behind as the army moved on . *cuillius moved closer . they did9 hear him spying on them . it happened that *fergus5 sword was laid down close by him . *cuillius drew it out of its sheath , leaving the sheath empty . then he went back to *ailill . " well , " *ailill said . " well indeed , " *cuillius said . " here is your sign . i discovered them sleeping together as you thought " . " fair enough , " *ailill said , and they grinned at each other . " it is all right , " *ailill said . " she is justified . she does it to keep his help on the ^ta/in . now , keep the sword in good order . put it under your chariot-seat with a piece of linen around it " . meanwhile *fergus was looking about for his sword . " this is terrible , " he said . " what is wrong ? " *medb said . " the wrong i have done *ailill , " *fergus said . " wait here . i must go into the wood . do9 be surprised if i am gone a while " . *medb did9 understand that his sword had vanished .

he left her , taking his charioteer5 sword with him , and cut a wooden sword from a tree . this is how &fidMo/rthruaille , the &wood of the &great &scabbard , in *ulster , got its name . " let us get back to our companions " , *fergus said . all the armies met in the plain and made camp . *ailill sent for *fergus to play #fidchell with him . when *fergus entered the tent *ailill started laughing at him . *fergus said : [[ " better be laughed at mad after the act my sword top maddened &macha5 curse quick doom *galeo/in swords outcry women unvanquished dark driven to meet them spear flock sword flock among leaders of armies on *nes5 boy5 hill armies struggle in fury men5 severed necks " . ]] *ailill said : [[ " why so wild without your weapon on heights of a certain royal belly in a certain ford was your will worked or your heroism an empty shout to *medb5 oaths tribes of men ]]

[[ can bear witness sucked dry in the struggle with giddy women crawling entering battling with great murky deeds under cover everywhere " . ]] " now sit down , " *ailill said , " and we will play #fidchell . you are very welcome " . [[ " you play #fidchell and #buanbach with a king and queen ruling the game their eager armies in iron companies all around them not even if you win can you take my place i know all about queens and women i lay first fault straight at women5 own sweet swellings and loving lust valorous *fergus coming and going with cattle bellowings and huge forces all over &finnabair5 rich places in kingly form with fire of dragon hiss of snake blow of lion ]]

[[ thrusting out in front *roech5 son *fergus grandson of *rus the king of kings " . ]] they began their game of #fidchell , advancing the gold and silver men over the bronze board . *ailill said : [[ " it is9 right that death should take this sweet slight king on the coppery point the handsomer on this mad board mighty *medb the less secure these wise men i move against *fergus let right be done as our game goes " . ]] *medb said: [[ " hold a while your clownish words do9 forget what still remains with the gentle boy troop all might change a wise judge bears no grudge have no more to do with those who keep their cattle with a vengeance men5 eyes downcast and *fergus cleared " . ]]

*fergus said : [[ " a pity friend we hack each other with sharp words in the public gaze right speech offends right ways run wrong javelins wiped kings killing kings at a great man5 word " . ]] they stayed there that night . next morning *ailill spoke : [[ " one warrior out before huge armies by *nes5 &cronn water his deeds loosed at the men of *connacht men5 blood floods from hacked necks great men5 deaths dark driven to meet waves mounting up where the beardless hero comes from *ulster " . ]] *medb said : [[ " do9 call down violence mighty *macMata chariot onslaughts from rocky heights men massing women carried off cattle before them and the heads of armies ]]

[[ swords smashed on either side men5 deeds of battle wrought in the murk oxen driven women stolen great armies turning from the battle plain of &cuailnge now the army sleeps " . ]] *fergus said : [[ " huge heads stuck on chariot prow and gibbet face great hearted heroes will swear by their people squabble over queens forge at the foe " . ]] *medb said : [[ " as you have said so let it be let it be so he bends to your yoke hordes are marching *ailill5 power put in your hands to what effect " . ]] they moved onward as far as the &cronn river . *maine , one of *ailill5 sons , spoke to them : [[ " send me out swiftly mother father fair deeds done for the horned herds ]]

[[ stand fast till i get in chariot reach away from the herds and the battle field in mighty acts is swept clean " . ]] *fergus said : [[ " mighty son do9 venture out it is only asking to have your head knocked from your neck by the boy with no beard who comes from the heights howls on the plain summons up rivers shakes the woods wrenches into shapes mighty acts men in great numbers drowned in the waters *ailill hurt and *medb mocked faces cast down in the bristling battle " . ]] " let me travel ahead with the exiles , " *fergus said , " to make sure there is no foul play against the boy . send the cattle in front and the armies after us , and the women in the rear " . then *medb said : [[ " on your soul and oath *fergus listen guard these cattle with your good armies ]]

[[ in conquering rage halt the men of *ulster or a roar will rise on the &plain of &ai rise overcome and we 'll meet again on the army5 track " . ]] *fergus said : [[ " spare us *medb your shameless talk and harassment in the public gaze no limp soft son was ever mine at the struggle in &emain i 'll strike my people no more blows let me out from under your weight no man come breathing down my neck to do your work on another outing " . ]] at a ford on the &cronn river *cuchulainn came to meet them . " *laeg , my friend , " he said to his charioteer , " the army is upon us " . the charioteer said : [[ " i swear to the gods i 'll do great deeds before these warriors driving to triumph ]]

[[ at full force on slender steeds with yokes of silver and golden wheels to crush kings' heads my driven steeds will take us leaping to victory " . ]] *cuchulainn said : [[ " now friend *laeg set our course headlong into the crush for &macha5 great triumph let them stray like women on the plain in terror the teams' heads set against *ailill and *medb through two armies like placid herds grinding among them our vengeful path " . ]] " i summon the waters to help me , " *cuchulainn said . " i summon air and earth ; but i summon now above all the &cronn river " : [[ " let &cronn itself fall-to in the fight to save &murtheimne from the enemy until the warrior5 work is done on the mountain-top of &ochaine " . ]] and the water reared up to the treetops . then the *maine , son of *ailill and *medb , went out before all . *cuchulainn slew him in the ford and thirty horsemen of his company were overwhelmed with him . later

*cuchulainn slew another thirty-two warriors in the water . they pitched their tents at this ford . *lugaidMacNoisAllchomaig went out with thirty horsemen to talk with *cuchulainn . " *lugaid , i bid you welcome , " *cuchulainn said . " if a flock of wild birds were grazing on &murtheimne &plain now , i 'd give you one and share another ; if the salmon were swimming the weirs or river-mouths now i 'd give you one and share another , with the three proper herbs : cress of the stream , marshwort and sea-herb . and i would stand for you in the ford of battle " . " i believe you , beloved son , " *lugaid said . " i wish you a wealth of followers " . " you have a fine army " . *cuchulainn said . " you could hold them single-handed , " *lugaid said . " if it was one by one the army came against me , your *ulster enemy would9 disgrace you , *lugaid , " *cuchulainn said . " i have right and might to sustain me . friend *lugaid , " he said , " do the hosts fear me ? " . " i swear by the gods , " *lugaid said , " they dare9 make water in ones or twos outside the camp , but have to go in twenties and thirties " . " i have something new for them , " *cuchulainn said . " i am taking up sling-throwing . tell me now , *lugaid , what you want " . " that you will spare my own men , " *lugaid said . " you have my promise . provided you point them out to me by a sign . and tell my friend *fergus to show a sign among his men too . and tell the healers to show themselves by a sign -- but they must swear to watch over my life and send me food every night " . *lugaid returned . he found *fergus in *ailill5 tent and called him out and told him the news .

then they heard *ailill : [[ " what are you whispering this is no sportfield for our great army he chooses among us for the sake of *roech5 son who plays king in our place as we hear tell though we get great help through *medb5 sweet needs let us take our few men to the favoured tents and all be safe from flying flagstones and hurtling sods by these secret meetings i know he is near " . ]] " i swear by the gods i can't promise that without asking the boy again , " *lugaid said . " *lugaid , " *fergus said , " will you do this for me ? . go and ask him to let me take *ailill and his troop of three thousand among my own men . bring an ox , a salt pig and a barrel of wine with you " . *lugaid went and asked him . " it is all the same to me where he goes , " *cuchulainn said . so the two troops mingled together and they stayed so for the night -- or for twenty nights , or thirty , as some say . but even so *cuchulainn destroyed thirty of *ailill5 warriors with his sling . " things are growing worse for you , " *fergus said . " the men of *ulster will soon rise from their pangs , and then they 'll grind you to grit and gravel . besides , this is a bad place to fight " .

he set out then toward &cu/ilAirthir , in the east . *cuchulainn slew thirty warriors at &athDuirn , the &ford of the &fist , and they could9 reach &cu/ilAirthir until night came . *cuchulainn slew thirty more of them there before they pitched their tents . in the morning *ailill5 charioteer *cuillius was washing the bands of his chariot-wheels in the ford and *cuchulainn struck him with a stone and killed him ; from which comes the name &athCuillne , the &ford of &cuillius in &cu/ilAirthir . they pressed on then , reaching &druimFe/ne in &conaille for the night -- and that is the second version of how they reached that place . { VII SINGLE COMBAT } . *cuchulainn continued to harass them there . he slew a hundred men on each of the three nights they stayed in that place , plying the sling on them from the hill &ochaine nearby . " at this rate , " *ailill said , " our army will melt away at his hands . bring *cuchulainn this offer : i to give him a part of &ai &plain equal to the whole plain of &murtheimne , with the best chariot to be found at &ai , and harness to equip a dozen men . or offer him , if he would like it more , his native plain , with twenty-one bondmaids and compensation for anything of his -- cattle or household goods -- that we have destroyed . he for his part to take service under me , who am more worthy of him than the half-lord he serves now " . " who will take this message ? " . " *macRoth there " . ( *macRoth could circle the whole of &ireland in one day ) . *macRoth set out to &delga with the message from

*ailill and *medb ; it is there in &delga that *fergus thought *cuchulainn might be found . a heavy snow fell that night . that turned all the provinces of &ireland into a snow-white plain . " there is a man coming " . *laeg said to *cuchulainn . " he has a linen band round his yellow hair . he grasps a wrathful club . an ivory-hilted sword hangs at his waist . a red-embroidered hooded tunic is wrapped around him " . " which of the kings' warriors is he ? " *cuchulainn said . " a dark , good-looking , broad-faced man , with a bronze brooch in his handsome brown cloak , a tough triple shirt next his skin , and a pair of well-worn shoes between his feet and the ground . he holds a peeled hazel-wand in one hand and a single-edged sword with guards of ivory in the other " . " those are the marks of a herald , " *cuchulainn said . *macRoth asked *laeg whose servant in arms he was . " that man5 there , " *laeg said . *cuchulainn was squatting haunch-deep in the snow . stripped and picking his shirt . *macRoth asked him whose servant in arms he was . " i serve *conchoborMacNesa , " *cuchulainn said . " can you say no clearer than that ? " . " it 's clear enough , " *cuchulainn said . " where can i find *cuchulainn ? " *macRoth said . " what have you to say to him ? " *cuchulainn said . *macRoth gave him the full message . " if *cuchulainn were here he would9 sell his mother5 brother for another king " . *macRoth came to *cuchulainn again and said they would give him the noblest women and all the milkless cattle out of their plunder if he would stop using his sling against them at night -- he might kill as he chose by day . " i can't agree to that " , *cuchulainn said , " for if you take

away the bondwomen our freewomen will have to take to the grinding-stones , and if you take away our milch cows we would have to go without milk " . *macRoth came to *cuchulainn again , and said they would leave him instead the bondwomen and the milch cows . " i can't agree to that either , " *cuchulainn said , " for the men of *ulster would sleep with the bondwomen and beget slavish sons , and they would use the milch cows for meat in the winter " . " is there anything that will do ? " the messenger said . " there is , " *cuchulainn said , " but i won't say what it is . if you can find anyone who knows what i mean , i 'll agree to it " . " i know what he has in mind , " *fergus said , " and indeed it bodes you no good . this is his plan : that he will fight you one by one in the ford , and that no cattle will be taken from the ford for a day and a night after each combat . this plan will gain time for him until help comes from the men of *ulster -- and i am amazed , " *fergus said , " that they are so long recovering from their pangs " . " it will be easier on us , no doubt , " *ailill said , " to lose one man every day than a hundred every night " . *fergus went to *cuchulainn therefore with the proposal . he was followed by *etarcomol , son of *eda and *lethrenn , a foster-son of *ailill and *medb . " i would rather you did9 come , " *fergus said . " not that i dislike you , but for fear of strife between *cuchulainn and you . with your pride and insolence , and the other5 ferocity and grimness , force , fury and violence , no good can come from your meeting " .

" can i not be under your protection ? " *etarcomol said . " yes , " *fergus said , " but only if you do9 insult him while he is talking " . they went to &delga in two chariots . it happened that *cuchulainn was playing #buanbach with *laeg . *cuchulainn was facing away from them and *laeg facing toward them . " i see two chariots coming " . *laeg said . " in the first chariot there is a great dark man . his hair is dark and full . a purple cloak is wrapped about him , held by a gold brooch . he wears a red-embroidered hooded tunic . he carries a curved shield with a scalloped edge of light gold and a stabbing-spear bound around from its neck to its foot . there is a sword as big as a boat5 rudder at his thigh " . " a big empty rudder , " *cuchulainn said . " that is my friend *fergus and it is9 a sword , but a stick , he has in his scabbard . i have heard that *ailill caught him off guard when he slept with *medb , and stole his sword and gave it to his charioteer to keep . a wooden sword was put in the scabbard " . *fergus came up . " welcome , friend *fergus " . *cuchulainn said . " if the salmon were swimming in the rivers or river-mouths i 'd give you one and share another . if a flock of wild birds were to alight on the plain i 'd give you one and share another ; with a handful of cress or sea-herb and a handful of marshwort ; and a drink out of the sand ; and myself in your place in the ford of battle , watching while you slept " . " i believe you , " *fergus said , " but it is9 for food we came here . we know the style you keep " . then *cuchulainn heard *fergus5 message , and *fergus left . *etarcomol stayed , staring at *cuchulainn .

" what are you staring at ? " *cuchulainn said . " you , " *etarcomol said . " you could take that in at a glance , " *cuchulainn said . " so i see , " *etarcomol said . " i see nothing to be afraid of -- no horror or terror or the grinding of multitudes . you 're a fine lad , i imagine , for graceful tricks with wooden weapons " . " you are making little of me , " *cuchulainn said , " but for *fergus5 sake i won't kill you . if you had9 his protection , you would have had your bowels ripped out by now and your quarters scattered behind you all the way from your chariot to the camp " . " you need9 threaten me any more , " *etarcomol said . " i 'll be the first of the men of &ireland to come against you tomorrow under this fine plan of single combats " . and he went off . he turned at &methe and &cethe , and said to his charioteer: " i have sworn in front of *fergus , " he said , " to fight *cuchulainn tomorrow , but i can't wait so long . turn the horses round from this hill again " . *laeg saw this and said to *cuchulainn : " the chariot is coming back . he has turned the left chariot-board against us " . " i can't refuse that , " *cuchulainn said . " drive down to the ford to him , and we will see " . " it 's you who want this , " *cuchulainn said to *etarcomol . " it is9 my wish " . " you have no choice , " *etarcomol said . *cuchulainn cut the sod from under his feet . he fell flat , with the sod on his belly . " go away now , " *cuchulainn said . " i do9 want to wash my hands after you . i 'd have cut you to pieces long ago but for *fergus " .

" i won't leave it like this , " *etarcomol said . " i 'll have your head , or leave you mine " . " it will be the latter for sure " . *cuchulainn poked at the two armpits with his sword and the clothes fell down leaving the skin untouched . " now clear off ! " *cuchulainn said . " no , " *etarcomol said . then *cuchulainn sheared off his hair with the sword-edge as neat as a razor , leaving the skin unscratched . but the fool stubbornly persisted and *cuchulainn struck down through the crown of his head and split him to the navel . *fergus saw the chariot passing him with only one man in it and he went back in fury to *cuchulainn . " demon of evil , " he said , " you have disgraced me . you must think my cudgel is very short " . " friend *fergus , do9 rage at me , " *cuchulainn said . [[ " you ran from *ulster with no sword to your fame and menace me like a rival or foe i honour mighty men but vain *etarcomol bent under my yoke gave up death flowers stretched in my strength on the chariot cushion sleeping or eating my heroic hard hand never at rest do9 chide friend *fergus " . ]] and he stooped humbly while *fergus5 chariot circled him , three times .

" ask *etarcomol5 charioteer was i at fault , " *cuchulainn said . " you were not , truly , " the charioteer said . " *etarcomol swore , " *cuchulainn said , " he would9 leave until he had my head or left me his own . which would you say was easier , friend *fergus ? " *cuchulainn said . " i think it was easier to do what you did , " *fergus said . " he was arrogant " . *fergus pierced *etarcomol5 two heels with a spancel-ring and dragged him behind his chariot to the camp . when they were travelling over rocky ground the halves of the body split apart ; when it was level the halves joined again . *medb saw this . " that is brutal treatment for the unfortunate dog , " *medb said . " i say he was an ignorant whelp , " *fergus said , " to pick a fight with the irresistible great *hound of *culann " . then they dug a grave for him ; his memorial stone was planted , his name written in ogam , and his lamentation made . *cuchulainn murdered no more that night with his sling . " what man have you to go against *cuchulainn tomorrow ? " *lugaid said . " maybe tomorrow we can tell , " *maine , *ailill5 son , said . " we can find no one to go against him , " *medb said . " ask him for a truce while we look for someone " . he agreed to this . " where can we turn ? " *ailill said , " to find an opponent for *cuchulainn " . " he has no match in &ireland , " *medb said , " unless *cu/roiMacDa/iri comes , or the warrior *nadcranntail " . there was one of *cu/roi5 people in the tent .

" *cu/roi won't come , " he said . " he has done enough in sending his men here " . " send a message to *nadcranntail then " . *maineAndoe , the swift one , set out to bring the news to *nadcranntail . " for the honour of *connacht come with us " . " i will not , " he said , " unless they give me their daughter *finnabair " . he went back with them and his weapons were carried in a wagon from eastern *connacht to the camp . " you can have *finnabair , " *medb said , " if you go against that man there " . " i 'll do it , " he said . *lugaid went to *cuchulainn that night . " the news is bad . *nadcranntail will be coming against you tomorrow . you 'll never resist him " . " we 'll see , " *cuchulainn said . *nadcranntail left the camp the next morning and took nine spears of holly with him , charred and sharpened . *cuchulainn was there before him in the distance catching birds , with his chariot nearby . *nadcranntail let fly a spear at *cuchulainn . *cuchulainn toyed in mid-air with the point of the spear and his bird-catching never faltered . likewise with the other eight spears . as the ninth spear was flung the flock of birds flew away from *cuchulainn and he sped off in pursuit . birdlike , he stepped from point to point of the flying spears in his haste not to let the birds escape . but to everyone it seemed that *cuchulainn sped in flight before *nadcranntail . " look at your *cuchulainn there , " *nadcranntail said . " he has run away " . " and why not ? " *medb said . " a true warrior came , and a timorous sprite vanished " . *fergus and the men of *ulster were troubled by this ,

and *fiachaMacFirFebe went to *cuchulainn to protest . " tell him , " *fergus said , " it was a noble stand while he showed his bravery before men . but it would be better to hide now after fleeing from one man . he shames *ulster as well as himself " . " who is boasting of my flight ? " *cuchulainn said . " *nadcranntail , " *fiacha said . " what is there to boast about ? . the feat i did before him is nothing to be ashamed of , " *cuchulainn said . " if he had been carrying real weapons he would9 be boasting now ; you know i do9 kill unarmed men . let him come tomorrow , " *cuchulainn said , " between the hill &ochaine and the sea . as early as he wishes he 'll find me waiting , with no question of fiight " . so *cuchulainn went to their meeting-place and watched through the night . in the morning he flung a cloak about himself and also , without noticing it , about a great standing stone nearby , as big as himself . he came with it wrapped between his body and his cloak , and it settled upright beside him . then *nadcranntail came , with his weapons in their wagon . " show me *cuchulainn , " he said . " there he is , " *fergus said . " he seems not quite the same as yesterday , " *nadcranntail said . " are you really *cuchulainn ? " . " what if i am ? " *cuchulainn said . " if you are , " *nadcranntail said , " how can i take a little lamb5 head back to the camp ? . i can't behead a beardless boy " . " i 'm not the one , " *cuchulainn said . " you 'll find him behind that hill " . *cuchulainn ran to *laeg . " make me a false beard . i can't get this warrior to fight me unless i have a beard " .

*laeg did as he asked . and *cuchulainn went to meet *nadcranntail on the hill . " this is more like him , " *nadcranntail said . " a fight with rules ! " . " agreed , " *cuchulainn said . " name your rules " . " thrown spears " . *nadcranntail said , " and no dodging " . " no dodging , " *cuchulainn said , " except upward ! " . *nadcranntail made a cast at him but *cuchulainn leaped on high and it struck the standing stone and shattered in two . " you have fought foul ! . you have dodged my throw , " *nadcranntail said . " you are free to dodge mine by leaping upward , " *cuchulainn said . then he let fly his spear . but he threw it up on high so that it dropped down into *nadcranntail5 skull and pinned him into the earth , and *nadcranntail cried : " misery ! . misery ! " . then he said : " you are the best warrior in &ireland . i have twenty-four sons in the camp . let me go and tell them about this treasure you 've hidden in me , and i 'll come back to be beheaded . if this spear is taken out of my head i will die " . " agreed , " *cuchulainn said . " but come back " . *nadcranntail made his way back to the camp . they all came to meet him asking : " where is the head of the *warped *one ? " . " warriors , you will have to wait . i have things to tell my sons . then i go back to the fight with *cuchulainn " . in a while he made toward *cuchulainn again and flung his sword at him . *cuchulainn leaped on high . then he swelled with fury as when he faced the boy-troop in &emain . he sprang onto the rim of *nadcranntail5 shield and struck his head off . he struck *nadcranntail again

through the neck , down to the navel , so that he fell in four sections to the ground . then *cuchulainn chanted : [[ " *nadcranntail is no more . the fight grows furious . i could meet at this moment a third of *medb5 men " . ]] { VIII THE BULL IS FOUND. FURTHER SINGLE COMBATS. CUCHULAINN AND THE MORRIGAN. } . then with a third of her force , *medb set out into the district of &cuib to search for the bull , and *cuchulainn followed . it was her plan to lay waste the lands of the *ulstermen and the *picts along the &midluachair road northward as far as &du/nSobairche . *cuchulainn caught sight of *buideMacBa/in at the head of three score of *ailill5 men , all in cloaks , coming from the direction of &sliabCuilinn . they had the bull with them , surrounded by fifteen heifers . *cuchulainn went up to them . " where did you get these cattle ? " *cuchulainn said . " from that mountain there , " the leader said . " where are their herdsmen ? " *cuchulainn said . " we found only one , and we have him with us , " the warrior said . *cuchulainn went to the ford after them in three great strides and spoke again , saying to the leader : " what is your name ? " . " one who neither fears nor favours you , " he said . " *buideMacBa/in " . " well , *buide , here is a spear for you ! " *cuchulainn said, and he flung a short spear through his armpit , severing one of his livers in two with the spear-point . hence comes

the name &athBuide , after him who was killed on this ford . but they got the bull into the camp . it was said at this time that *cuchulainn would be less troublesome if his javelin could be taken from him . so *ailill5 satirist , *redg , was sent to get this javelin from him . " give me your javelin , " the satirist said . " i 'll give you any gift but that , " *cuchulainn said . " other gifts i do9 want , " the satirist said . *cuchulainn struck him , for refusing what he chose to offer . then *redg said he would take away *cuchulainn5 good name unless he got the javelin . so *cuchulainn flung the javelin at him and it shot through his head . " now , that is a stunning gift ! " the satirist cried . so &athTolamSe/t got its name -- the &ford of the &overwhelming &gift . the copper point of the javelin came to rest at a ford further east , and so &umarrith -- &where the &copper &came to &rest -- is the name of that ford . the following are those *cuchulainn killed in &cuib : *nathcoirpthe near the trees named after him , *cruithen in the ford that bears his name , the herdsmen5 sons at the cairn named after them , *marc on his hillock , *meille on his hill , *badb in his tower and *boguine in his marsh . *cuchulainn turned again toward &murtheimne &plain to defend his beloved home . it is there , as you shall hear in the proper place , that he kills the men of &cronech at &focherd when he finds them pitching camp -- the ten cup-bearers and the ten warriors . *medb turned back again from the north after spending a fortnight harassing the province . she had attacked *finnmo/r , wife of *celtcharMacUthidir , and taken fifty women from her at the capture of &du/nSobairche in the

territory of &da/lRiada . wherever *medb rested her horse-whip in the district of &cuib , the name &bileMedba , &medb5 &whip , has remained . any ford or height she stopped at is called &medb5 &ford or &medb5 &hill . they all met again at &focherd , *ailill and *medb and the troop that drove the bull . then that herdsman who had been captured with the bull tried to make off with it , but they drove the herd after him into a narrow gap , with the beating of shafts on shields , and there the animals' hooves drove him into the earth . *forgaimen was the cowherd5 name and his body is there still , giving that hill its name . they would have rested easy that night if only a man could be found to withstand *cuchulainn at the ford . they sent for *cu/rMacDala/th to fight *cuchulainn . when *cu/r drew blood from a man that man died in nine days at the latest . " if he kills *cuchulainn , we have won , " *medb said . " but even if he is killed himself it will still take a burden off our army : it is no pleasure to be near him , sitting , sleeping or feeding " . *cu/r went forth , but he drew back when he saw a beardless boy opposing him . " this is unfitting , " he said . " you pay my skill a great compliment ! . if i knew this was the one i had to meet , i would never have come . i 'll send him a boy of his own age from among my people " . " you are mistaken , " *cormacConnlongas said , " but it is9 surprising . we would count it a triumph if you drove him off " . " well , i have undertaken to do it , " *cu/r said . " but get ready to leave in the morning early . the killing of this young deer won't delay us " . he went to meet him early next morning , having told

the armies to get ready for departure , that his meeting with *cuchulainn would lighten the journey . it happened that *cuchulainn was trying his special feat of arms -- the apple-feat , the feats of the sword-edge and the sloped shield ; the feats of the javelin and rope ; the body-feat , the feat of ^cat and the heroic salmon-leap ; the pole-throw and the leap over a poisoned stroke ; the noble chariot-finger5 crouch ; the #gae#bolga ; the spurt of speed ; the feat of the chariot-wheel and the feat of the shield-rim ; the breath-feat ; the snapping mouth and the hero5 scream ; the stroke of precision and the stunning-shot ; stepping on a lance in flight , and straightening erect on its point ; and the trussing of a warrior . for the first third of the day , *cu/r plied his weapons on *cuchulainn from the shelter of his shield , but could9 reach him with his thrust of cast , *cuchulainn was so intent on his feats . *cuchulainn did9 know that anyone was attacking him until *fiachaMacFirFebe said to him : " watch out for that man attacking you ! " . *cuchulainn looked about him , and flung the one apple left in his hand . it flew bwtween the shield-rim and frame and broke out through the back of the brute5 head . *fergus went back along the road toward the host . " you are bound by your pact now , " he said , " to wait another day " . " but not here , " *ailill said . " let us go back to our tents " . next , *la/thMacDabro/ was asked , like *cu/r , to go against *cuchulainn , and he too fell . and *fergus went back again to remind them of the pact . so they were kept there while *cu/rMacDala/th and *la/thMacDabro/ were killed , and also *foircMacTri/-nAignech , descendant of the three *swift *ones , and *sru/bgaileMacEobith . all were slain in single combat .

" go to the camp , friend *laeg , " *cuchulainn said " and ask *lugaidMacNoisAllchomaig who is to come against me tomorrow . make sure you find out , and give him my greetings " . *laeg set off . " you are welcome , " *lugaid said . " what a luckless man is *cuchulainn in his trouble -- one man against the men of &ireland . for it is *ferbaeth goes to meet him tomorrow -- may his weapons be cursed ! -- a comrade of *cuchulainn5 and mine . they have promised him *finnabair for it , and kingship over his people " . *laeg went back to *cuchulainn . " my friend *laeg does9 seem very happy with the answer , " *cuchulainn said . *laeg told him his news . now *ferbaeth had been called to *ailill5 and *medb5 tent and told to sit by *finnabair5 side . he was told that he was to have her , and that she had picked him to fight *cuchulainn . they called him their man of strength because he had had the same training with *sca/thach as *cuchulainn had . they gave him wine until he was drunk , telling him it was their best out of the only fifty wagon-loads they had taken with them . the girl herself handled his portion . " i do9 want all this , " *ferbaeth said . " *cuchulainn is my foster-brother and sworn to me for ever . still , i 'll meet him tomorrow and hack his head off " . " so you will , " *medb said . *cuchulainn sent *laeg to ask *lugaid to come and talk with him , and *lugaid came . " so it is *ferbaeth who is to meet me tomorrow , " *cuchulainn said . " yes , " *lugaid said . " it is a black day " , *cuchulainn said . " i won't live to see

its close . we two are of equal age and alertness . we 'll meet as a perfect match . greet him for me , friend *lugaid , and tell him it is false heroism to oppose me . ask him to come and talk with me tonight " . *lugaid told him this , and *ferbaeth agreed . he went that night with *fiachaMacFirFebe to renounce his friendship with *cuchulainn . *cuchulainn begged him , by their foster-brotherhood and by their common foster-nurse , *sca/thach . " i can't , " *ferbaeth said . " i have promised *medb " . " keep your friendship then ! " *cuchulainn said , and left him in a fury . in the glen a piece of split holly drove into cuchulainn5 foot and its point came out at his knee . he pulled it out . " wait , *ferbaeth , look what i 've found " . " throw it away , " *ferbaeth said . *cuchulainn flung the holly-spear after *ferbaeth . it pierced the hollow at the back of his head and came out of his mouth in front , and he fell backward in the glen . " that was a throw ! " *ferbaeth said . some say that this is how &focherd in &murtheimne -- the &place of the &throw got its name . others say it was *fiachaMacFirFebe who said : " your throw is sharp today , *cuchulainn , " and that thus &focherdMurtheimne was named . *ferbaeth died in the glen ; hence the name &glennFirbaith , &ferbaeth5 &glen . and *fergus was heard chanting : [[ " *ferbaeth , your fool5 foray has led to a grave in the ground . your rage has brought you ruin and an ending in &croen &chorann . this place in &cronech &murtheimne called &fichi from of old ]]

[[ shall be called &focherd forever , where you fell , *ferbaeth " . ]] " your comrade is fallen , " *fergus said . " i wonder will you pay for his death tomorrow ? " . " sometime i must pay , " *cuchulainn said . he sent *laeg to see what was the news in the camp , and to find out if *ferbaeth still lived , but *lugaid said : " *ferbaeth is dead " . and *cuchulainn went and talked with them . " someone else will have to meet him tomorrow , " *lugaid said . *ailill said : " you 'll get no one unless you use trickery . give wine to anyone who comes -- it will give him courage -- and tell him : | this is the last of the wine we took from &cruachan ; we would9 like you to have to drink water in our camp | . then put *finnabair at his right hand and say : | she is yours if you bring us the head of the *warped *one | " . each night a great warrior was called in and they made him the offer , but each in turn was killed . at last they could find no one to go against him . then they turned to *la/re/neMacNois , brother to *lugaid king of *munster , and a vainglorious man . they gave him the wine and put *finnabair at his right hand . *medb looked at the pair . " there is a handsome couple , " she said . " they would make a fine match " . " sure enough , " *ailill said . " he can have her if he brings me the head of the *warped *one " . " i 'll bring it , " *la/re/ne said . *lugaid came up to them . " what man have you got for the ford tomorrow ? " .

" *la/re/ne , " *ailill said . then *lugaid went and spoke with *cuchulainn . they met at &ferbaeth5 &glen and greeted each other . " i am here to talk about *la/re/ne , my mad boastful fool of a brother , " *lugaid said . " they have tricked him now with the same girl . for the sake of our friendship do9 kill him and leave me brotherless . he is only being sent to stir up a quarrel between us two . but i do9 mind if you punish him heavily ; he is coming against my wishes " . next day *la/re/ne went to meet *cuchulainn , with the girl beside him urging him on . *cuchulainn sprang at him unarmed and took his weapons away roughly . he grasped him in his two hands and ground and rattled him until the dung was forced out of him . the ford grew foul with his droppings . in every direction the air thickened with his dust . then *cuchulainn flung him into *lugaid5 arms . ever afterward , for as long as he lived , *la/re/ne could9 empty his bowels properly ; he was never free from chest-pains ; he could9 eat without groaning . yet he is the only man of all who met *cuchulainn on the ^ta/inBo/Cuailnge who escaped him alive -- though it was a cruel escape . *cuchulainn beheld at this time a young woman of noble figure coming toward him , wrapped in garments of many colours . " who are you ? " he said . " i am king *buan5 daughter , " she said , " and i have brought you my treasure and cattle . i love you because of the great tales i have heard " . " you come at a bad time . we no longer flourish here , but famish . i can't attend to a woman during a struggle like this " .

" but i might be a help " . " it was9 for a woman5 backside i took on this ordeal ! " . " then i 'll hinder , " she said . " when you are busiest in the fight i 'll come against you . i 'll get under your feet in the shape of an eel and trip you in the ford " . " that is easier to believe . you are no king5 daughter . but i 'll catch and crack your eel5 ribs with my toes and you 'll carry that mark forever unless i lift it from you with a blessing " . " i 'll come in the shape of a grey she-wolf , to stampede the beasts into the ford against you " . " then i 'll hurl a sling-stone at you and burst the eye in your head , and you 'll carry that mark forever unless i lift it from you with a blessing " . " i 'll come before you in the shape of a hornless red heifer and lead the cattle-herd to trample you in the waters , by ford and pool , and you won't know me " . " then i 'll hurl a stone at you , " he said , " and shatter your leg , and you 'll carry that mark forever unless i lift it from you with a blessing " . then she left him . *lo/chMacMofemis was asked next . they promised him a part of the fine &plain of &ai equal to the &plain of &murtheimne , with war-harness for a dozen men and a chariot worth seven bondmaids . but he thought it beneath him to fight with a boy . he had a brother *longMacMofemis , and to him in turn they offered the same reward : the girl , the war-harness , the chariot and the land . he fought *cuchulainn and *cuchulainn slew him and he was carried in death up to his brother *lo/ch . *lo/ch said that if he could be sure it was a grown man that had killed him , he would kill him for it .

the women called out to *cuchulainn that people in the camp were mocking at him because he had no beard ; that it was only reckless men , and not their best warriors , that would fight him ; and that it would be better if he made a beard with berry juice . he did this , to get *lo/ch to fight him . and he plucked a fistful of grass and spoke into it and everyone believed he had a beard . " look , " the women said , " *cuchulainn is bearded . a warrior may fight him now " . they did this to urge on *lo/ch , but *lo/ch said : " i won't fight him for seven days " . " we can't leave him in peace for so long , " *medb said . " send out a warrior every night to steal up and catch him off guard " . they did this ; a warrior stole out to find him each night , but he killed them all . these are the names of the men who fell there : seven who were named *conall , seven named *aengus , seven named *uargus , seven named *celtre , eight named *fiac , ten named *ailill , ten named *delbath and ten named *tasach . those were his week5 deeds at &athGrencha . then *medb began to incite *lo/ch . " it is a great shame on you , " she said , " that the man who killed your brother can destroy our army , and you still have9 gone to fight him . surely a peppery overgrown elf like him can't resist the fiery force of a warrior like you . was9 it from the same teacher and foster-mother you both learned your skill ? " . *lo/ch went out to meet him and avenge his brother, satisfied that he was going to meet a bearded man . " come to the ford upstream , " *lo/ch said . " i won't meet you in this foul place where *long fell " . while *cuchulainn was going to that ford men drove some cattle over .

" there will be a great trampling across your water here today , " *gabra/n the poet said . &athTarteisc , % across your water , % and &ti/rMo/rTairtesc , the mainland of &tarteisc , got their names in this way . the men met there in the ford and fought and struck at each other . as they were exchanging blows an eel flung three coils about *cuchulainn5 feet and he fell back in the ford . then *lo/ch set upon *cuchulainn with the sword until the ford was blood-red with his crimson gore . " urge him on ! " *fergus said to his followers . " this is a poor spectacle in front of the enemy . let someone put heart in *cuchulainn or he will die for want of encouragement " . the venom-tongued *bricriuMacCarbad stood up and started to taunt *cuchulainn . " your strength is withered up , " *bricriu said , " if a little salmon can put you down like this , and the men of *ulster rising out of their pangs . if this is what happens when you meet a tough warrior in arms , it 's a pity you took on a hero5 task , with all the men of &ireland looking on " . *cuchulainn rose up at this and struck the eel and smashed its ribs . then , with the thunderous deeds that the warriors did in the ford , the cattle stampeded madly eastward through the army and carried off the tents on their horns . next a she-wolf attacked *cuchulainn and drove the cattle back westward upon him , but he let fly a stone from his sling and burst the eye in her head . she came in the shape of a hornless red heifer and led the cattle dashing through the fords and pools , so that he cried out : " i can't tell ford from flood ! " . he slung a stone at the hornless red heifer and broke her legs beneath her . so it was that *cuchulainn did to the

*morri/gan the three things he had sworn . he made this chant : [[ " i am alone against hordes . i can neither halt nor let pass . i watch through the long hours alone against all men . tell *conchobor to come now . it would9 be too soon . *ma/gach5 sons have stolen our cattle to divide between them . i have held them single-handed , but one stick won't make fire . give me two or three and torches will blaze ! . i am almost worn out by single contests . i can't kill all their best alone as i am " . ]] then he fought *lo/ch with the sword and the #gae#bolga that his charioteer sent him along the stream . he struck him with it up through the fundament of his body -- for when *lo/ch was fighting , all his other parts were covered in a skin of horn . " yield to me : leave me space , " *lo/ch said . *cuchulainn yielded before him and *lo/ch fell forward on his face . from this &athTraigid is named in &ti/rMo/r -- the &ford of &yielding . then *cuchulainn cut his head off . a great weariness fell on *cuchulainn . the *morri/gan appeared to him in the shape of a squint-eyed old woman

milking a cow with three teats . he asked her for a drink and she gave him milk from the first teat . " good health to the giver ! " *cuchulainn said . " the blessing of god and man on you " . and her head was healed and made whole . she gave him milk from the second teat and her eye was made whole . she gave him milk from the third teat and her legs were made whole . " you said you would never heal me , " the *morri/gan said . " if i had known it was you i would9 have done it , " *cuchulainn said . { IX THE PACT IS BROKEN: THE GREAT CARNAGE. } . " ask *cuchulainn for a truce , " *ailill and *medb said . *lugaid went to ask him and *cuchulainn granted the truce . " but have a man at the ford for me tomorrow , *cuchulainn said " . now there were six paid soldiers of royal blood in medb5 army , six sons of kings of the *clannaDedad . they were known as the three *dark-haired *ones of &imlech and the three *red-heads of &sruthar . " why should9 we go all together against *cuchulainn ? " . they said . so they went against him on the next day , and *cuchulainn slew all six . *medb considered again what to do with *cuchulainn . she was greatly troubled by the number being killed in her army . she decided to ask him to meet her and talk with her at a certain place , and then set a great number of keen

and spirited men on him . so she sent her messenger , with a false offer of peace , to find *cuchulainn and get him to meet her at that place next day . he was to come unarmed and she was to go by herself , with only her troop of women in attendance . *traigthre/n was the messenger -- the strong of foot -- and he went up to *cuchulainn and gave him *medb5 message . *cuchulainn said he would do what she asked . " *cuchulainn , " *laeg said , " how do you plan to go to this meeting with *medb tomorrow ? " . " the way *medb asked me , " *cuchulainn said . " *medb is a forceful woman , " the charioteer said . " i 'd watch out for her hand at my back " . " how should i go ? " *cuchulainn said . " with your sword at your side , " the charioteer said , " not to be caught off guard . a warrior without his weapons is not under warriors' law ; he is treated under the rule for cowards " . " i 'll do as you say , " *cuchulainn said . the meeting was fixed for the hill &ardAighnech , called &focherd today . *medb came there and set a trap for *cuchulainn with fourteen of her own most skillful followers : two named *glasSinna , two sons of *buccride , two named *arda/n , two sons of *lecc , two named *glasOgma , two sons of *cronn , with *drucht and *delt and *daithen , *tea and *tascur and *tualang , *taur and *glese . when *cuchulainn came to the meeting place the men rose up against him . fourteen javelins were hurled at him together but *cuchulainn guarded himself so that his skin was untouched , and even his armour . then he turned on them and killed all fourteen of them . these are the % ^fourteen at ^focherd , % who are also remembered as % the warriors of &cronech , % for it was in &cronech near &focherd that they died .

then *cuchulainn chanted : [[ " my skill in arms grows great . on fine armies cowering i let fall famous blows . on whole hosts i wage war to crush their chief hero and *medb and *ailill also who stir up wrong , red hatred and black woman-wailing, who march in cruel treachery trampling their chief hero and his sage , sound advice a fierce , right-speaking warrior full of noble acts " . ]] some believe that the name &focherd comes from the opening words of this chant , % ~fo ... ~cherd % -- the % great skill % of *cuchulainn there . then *cuchulainn fell upon the army as they were settling their camp , and killed two named *dagri/ and two named *anle and four named *du/ngas from &imlech . afterward on the same day they again fought him foul . five went out against him together -- two named *cruaid , two named *calad , and *derothor -- and *cuchulainn killed them single-handed . *fergus said they must stop breaking the rule of fair fight against *cuchulainn , and *cuchulainn did single combat until they reached &delga in &murtheimne -- at that time called &du/nCinnCoros . *cuchulainn killed *fota in the field now called by his name , *bo/mailce on his ford , *salach in his marsh , *muinne on his hill , *luar in &lethbera &luair , and *ferto/ithle in &to/ithli . so these places are named

forever after the men who fell there . *cuchulainn slew *traig and *dornu and *dernu -- *foot , *fist and *palm -- and *col , *mebul and *eraise -- *lust , *shame and *nothingness -- on the near side of the ford of &ti/rMo/r at &methe and &cethe ; these were three druids and their three wives . after this *medb sent out one hundred of her own followers to kill *cuchulainn but he slew them all at the ford of &ce/tChuile -- the &crime of &one &hundred . for it was here that *medb said : " a crime , this slaughter of our people ! " . from this episode came the names &glaisChrau -- the &stream of &blood ; &cuilennCinnDuin -- the &crime ( some say) of &cinnDu/in , the head of the fort ; and the &ford of &cetChuile . then he pelted them from where he was in &delga so that no living thing , man or beast , dared show its face past him southward between &delga and the sea . " take this message to him , " *ailill said : " he can have *finnabair if he leaves our armies alone " . *lugaid went and told *cuchulainn about this offer . " friend *lugaid , " *cuchulainn said , " i do9 trust them " . " it is the word of a king , " *lugaid said . " it is no lie " . " i accept , so , " *cuchulainn said . *lugaid brought *cuchulainn5 answer back to *ailill and *medb . " send the camp fool made up to look like me , " *ailill said , " with a king5 crown on his head . stand him at a distance from *cuchulainn so as not to be recognised , and send the girl with him . he can betroth her to *cuchulainn and they can come away quickly . maybe the trick will work and hold him back until the day when he comes with the men of *ulster to the last battle " . the fool *tamun -- the *stump -- was sent with the

girl and he spoke from a distance to *cuchulainn . *cuchulainn went to meet them and knew by the man5 speech that he was the camp fool . he shot a sling-stone from his hand and pierced the fool5 head and knocked out his brains . *cuchulainn went up to the girl and cut off her two long tresses and thrust a pillar-stone under her cloak and tunic . he thrust another pillar-stone up through the fool5 middle . their two standing-stones are there still , &finnabair5 &pillar-&stone and the &fool5 &pillar-&stone . *cuchulainn left them like that . some of *ailill and *medb5 people came looking for them because they stayed away so long , and saw their condition , and the story spread through the whole encampment . there was no further truce for them with *cuchulainn after that . the four provinces of &ireland settled down and camped on &murtheimne &plain , at &breslechMo/r ( the place of their great carnage ) . they sent their shares of cattle and plunder southward ahead of them to &clitharBo/Ulad , the &cattle-&shelter of &ulster . *cuchulainn took his place near them at the gravemound in &lerga . at nightfall his charioteer *laegMacRiangabra kindled a fire for him . and he saw in the distance over the heads of the four provinces of &ireland the fiery flickering of gold weapons in the evening sunset clouds . rage and fury seized him at the sight of that army , at the great forces of his foes , the immensity of his enemies . he grasped his two spears , his shield and his sword and he shook the shield and rattled the spears and flourished the sword and gave the warrior5 scream from his throat , so that demons and devils and goblins of the glen and fiends of the air replied , so hideous was the call he uttered on high . then the *nemain stirred the armies to confusion . the weapons and spear-points of

the four armed provinces of &ireland shook with panic . one hundred warriors fell dead of fright and terror that night in the heart of the guarded camp . *laeg stood in his place and saw a solitary man crossing between the camp of the men of &ireland straight toward him out of the northeast . " there is a man coming toward us alone , *little *hound , " *laeg said . " what kind of man is he ? " , *cuchulainn said . " it is soon told : a tall , broad , fair-seeming man . his close-cropped hair is blond and curled . a green cloak is wrapped about him , held at his breast by a bright silver brooch . he wears a knee-length tunic of kingly silk , red-embroidered in red gold , girded against his white skin . there is a knob of light gold on his black shield . he carries a five-pointed spear in his hand and a forked javelin . his feats and graceful displays are astonishing , yet no one is taking any notice of him and he heeds no one : it is as though they could9 see him " . " they can't , my young friend , " *cuchulainn said . " this is some friendly one of the #si/de that has taken pity on me . they know my great distress now on the ^ta/inBo/Cuailnge , alone against all four provinces of &ireland " . *cuchulainn was right . when the warrior came up to him he said in pity : " this is a manly stand , *cuchulainn " . " it is9 very much , " *cuchulainn said . " i am going to help you now , " the warrior said . " who are you ? " *cuchulainn said . " i am *lugMacEthnenn , your father from the #si/de " . " my wounds are heavy . it is time they were let heal " . " sleep a while , then , *cuchulainn , " the warrior said , " a

heavy sleep of three days and three nights by the gravemound at &lerga . i 'll stand against the armies for that time " . he sang to *cuchulainn , as men sing to men , until he slept . then he examined each wound and cleaned it . *lug made this chant : [[ " rise son of mighty *ulster with your wounds made whole a fair man faces your foes in the long night over the ford rest in his human care everywhere hosts hewn down succour has come from the #si/de to save you in this place your vigil on the hound fords a boy left on lonely guard defending cattle and doom kill phantoms while i kill they have none to match your span of force or fiery wrath your force with the deadly foe when chariots travel the valleys then arise arise my son " . ]] *cuchulainn slept three days and three nights , and well he might ; for if his sleep was deep so was his weariness . from the ^monday after the feast of ^samain at summer5 end to the ^wednesday after the feast of ^imbolc at spring5 beginning , *cuchulainn never slept -- unless against his spear for an instant after the middle of the day , with head on fist and fist on spear and the spear against his knee for hacking and hewing and smiting and slaughtering the four great provinces of &ireland .

then the warrior from the #si/de dropped wholesome healing herbs and grasses into *cuchulainn5 aching wounds and several sores , so that he began to recover in his sleep without knowing it . the boy-troop in *ulster spoke among themselves at this time . " it is terrible , " they said , " that our friend *cuchulainn must do without help " . " let us choose a company to help him , " *fiachaFuilech , the *bloodspiIler , said -- a brother of *fiachaFialda/naMacFirFebe . then the boy-troop came down from &emainMacha in the north carrying their hurling-sticks , three times fifty sons of *ulster kings -- a third of their whole troop -- led by *follamain , *conchobor5 son . the army saw them coming over the plain . " there is a great number crossing the plain toward us , " *ailill said . *fergus went to look . " these are some of the boy-troop of *ulster coming to help *cuchulainn , " he said . " send out a company against them , " *ailill said , " before *cuchulainn sees them . if they join up with him you 'll never stand against them " . three times fifty warriors went out to meet them , and they all fell at one another5 hands at &liaToll , the &pierced &standing &stone . not a soul came out alive of all those choice children except *follamainMacConchoboir . *follamain swore he would never go back to &emain while he drew breath , unless he took *ailill5 head with him , with the gold crown on top . but that was no easy thing to swear ; the two sons of *betheMacBa/in , sons of *ailill5 foster-mother and foster-father , went out and attacked him , and he died at their hands .

" make haste , " *ailill said , " and ask *cuchulainn to let you move on from here . there will be no forcing past him once his hero-halo springs up " . *cuchulainn , meanwhile , was sunk in his sleep of three days and nights by the gravemound at &lerga . when it was done he rose up and passed his hand over his face and turned crimson from head to foot with whirling excitement . his spirit was strong in him ; he felt fit for a festival , or for marching or mating , or for an ale-house or the mightiest assembly in &ireland . " warrior ! " *cuchulainn said . " how long have i been in this sleep ? " . " three days and three nights , " the warrior said . " alas for that ! " *cuchulainn said . " why ? " the warrior said . " because their armies were free from attack all that time , " *cuchulainn said . " they were not , " the warrior said . " tell me what happened , " *cuchulainn said . " the boy-troop came south from &emainMacha , three times fifty sons of *ulster kings , led by *follamain , *conchobor5 son , and they fought three battles with the armies in the three days and nights you slept , and they slew three times their own number . all the boy-troop perished except *follamainMacConchoboir . *follamain swore to take home *ailill5 head , but that was no easy thing , and he too was killed " . " shame , " *cuchulainn said , " that i had9 my strength for this ! . if i had , the boy-troop would9 have perished as they did and *follamainMacConchoboir would9 have fallen " . " onward , *little *hound ; there is no stain on your good name , no slight on your courage " . " stay with us tonight , " *cuchulainn said , " and we 'll

avenge the boy-troop together " . " i will not stay " the warrior said . " no matter what deeds of craft or courage a man does in your company the glory and fame and name go to you , not to him . so i will not stay . go bravely against the army by yourself . they have no power over your life at this time " . " the sickle chariot , friend *laeg , " *cuchulainn said , " can you yoke it ? . have you everything needed ? . if you have , get it ready . if you have9 , leave it be " . the charioteer rose up then and donned his charioteer5 war-harness . this war-harness that he wore was : a skin-soft tunic of stitched deer5 leather , light as a breath , kneaded supple and smooth not to hinder his free arm movements . he put on over this his feathery outer mantle , made (some say) by *simonMagus for *darius king of the *romans , and given by *darius to *conchobor , and by *conchobor to *cuchulainn , and by *cuchulainn to his charioteer . then the charioteer set down on his shoulders his plated , four-pointed crested battle-cap , rich in colour and shape ; it suited him well and was no burden . to set him apart from his master , he placed the charioteer5 sign on his brow with his hand : a circle of deep yellow like a single red-gold strip of burning gold shaped on an anvil5 edge . he took the long horse-spancel and the ornamental goad in his right hand . in his left hand he grasped the steed-ruling reins that give the charioteer control . then he threw the decorated iron armour-plate over the horses , covering them from head to foot with spears and spit-points , blades and barbs . every inch of the chariot bristled . every angle and corner , front and rear , was a tearing-place . he cast a protecting spell on his horses and his

companion-in-arms and made them obscure to all in the camp , while everything remained clear to themselves . it was well he cast such a spell , for he was to need his three greatest charioteering skills that day : leaping a gap , straight steering and the use of the goad . then the high hero *cuchulainn , *sualdam5 son , builder of the *badb5 fold with walls of human bodies , seized his warrior5 battle-harness . this was the warlike battle-harness he wore : twenty-seven tunics of waxed skin , plated and pressed together , and fastened with strings and cords and straps against his clear skin , so that his senses or his brain would9 burst their bonds at the onset of his fury . over them he put on his heroic deep battle-belt of stiff , tough , tanned leather from the choicest parts of the hides of seven yearlings , covering him from his narrow waist to the thickness of his armpit ; this he wore to repel spears or spikes , javelins , lances or arrows -- they fell from it as though dashed at stone or horn or hard rock . then he drew his silk-smooth apron , with its light-gold speckled border , up to the softness of his belly . over this silky skin-like apron he put on a dark apron of well-softened black leather from the choicest parts of the hides of four yearlings , with a bane-belt of cowhide to hold it . then the kingly champion gripped his warlike bane-weapons . these were the warlike weapons he chose : eight short swords with his flashing , ivory-hilted sword ; eight small spears with his five-pronged spear , and a quiver also ; eight light javelins with his ivory javelin ; eight small darts with his feat-playing dart , the #del#chliss ; eight feat-playing shields with his dark-red curved shield that could hold a prize boar in its hollow , its whole rim so razor sharp it could sever a single hair against the stream . when *cuchulainn did the feat of the shield-rim he could shear with his shield as sharply as spear or sword .

he placed on his head his warlike , crested battle-helmet, from whose every nook and cranny his longdrawn scream re-echoed like the screams of a hundred warriors ; so it was that the demons and devils and goblins of the glen and fiends of the air cried out from that helmet , before him , above him and around him , whenever he went out to spill the blood of warriors and heroes . his concealing cloak was spread about him , made of cloth from &ti/rTairngire , the &land of &promise . it was given to him by his magical foster-father . the first war-spasm seized *cuchulainn , and made him into a monstrous thing , hideous and shapeless , unheard of . his shanks and his joints , every knuckle and angle and organ from head to foot , shook like a tree in the flood or a reed in the stream . his body made a furious twist inside his skin , so that his feet and shins and knees switched to the rear and his heels and calves switched to the front . the balled sinews of his calves switched to the front of his shins , each big knot the size of a warrior5 bunched fist . on his head the temple-sinews stretched to the nape of his neck , each mighty , immense , measureless knob as big as the head of a month-old child . his face and features became a red bowl : he sucked one eye so deep into his head that a wild crane could9 probe it onto his cheek out of the depths of his skull ; the other eye fell out along his cheek . his mouth weirdly distorted : his cheek peeled back from his jaws until the gullet appeared , his lungs and liver flapped in his mouth and throat , his lower jaw struck the upper a lion-killing blow , and fiery flakes large as a rain5 fleece reached his mouth from his throat . his heart boomed loud in his breast like the baying of a watch-dog at its feed or the sound of a lion among bears . malignant mists and spurts of fire -- the torches of the *badb -- flickered red in the vaporous clouds that rose

boiling above his head , so fierce was his fury . the hair of his head twisted like the tangle of a red thornbush stuck in a gap ; if a royal apple tree with all its kingly fruit were shaken above him , scarce an apple would reach the ground but each would be spiked on a bristle of his hair as it stood up on his scalp with rage . the hero-halo rose out of his brow , long and broad as a warrior5 whet-stone , long as a snout , and he went mad rattling his shields , urging on his charioteer and harassing the hosts . then , tall and thick , steady and strong , high as the mast of a noble ship , rose up from the dead centre of his skull a straight spout of black blood darkly and magically smoking like the smoke from a royal hostel when a king is coming to be cared for at the close of a winter day . when that spasm had run through the high hero *cuchulainn he stepped into his sickle war-chariot that bristled with points of iron and narrow blades , with hooks and hard prongs and heroic frontal spikes , with ripping instruments and tearing nails on its shafts and straps and loops and cords . the body of the chariot was spare and slight and erect , fitted for the feats of a champion with space for a lordly warrior5 eight weapons , speedy as the wind or as a swallow or a deer darting over the level plain . the chariot was settled down on two fast steeds , wild and wicked , neat-headed and narrow-bodied , with slender quarters and roan breast , firm in hoof and harness -- a notable sight in the trim chariot-shafts . one horse was lithe and swift-leaping , high-arched and powerful , long-bodied and with great hooves . the other flowing-maned and shining , slight and slender in hoof and heel . in that style , then , he drove out to find his enemies and did his thunder-feat and killed a hundred , then two hundred , then three hundred , then four hundred , then five hundred , where he stopped -- he did9 think it too many

to kill in that first attack , his first full battle with the provinces of &ireland . then he circled the outer lines of the four great provinces of &ireland in his chariot and he attacked them in hatred . he had the chariot driven so heavily that its iron wheels sank into the earth . so deeply the chariot-wheels sank in the earth that clods and boulders were torn up , with rocks and flagstones and the gravel of the ground , in a dyke as high as the iron wheels , enough for a fortress-wall . he threw up this circle of the *badb round about the four great provinces of &ireland to stop them fleeing and scattering from him , and corner them where he could wreak vengeance for the boy-troop . he went into the middle of them and beyond , and mowed down great ramparts of his enemies' corpses , circling completely around the armies three times , attacking them in hatred . they fell sole to sole and neck to headless neck , so dense was that destruction . he circled them three times more in the same way , and left a bed of them six deep in a great circuit , the soles of three to the necks of three in a ring around the camp . this slaughter on the ^ta/in was given the name ^seisrechBresligi , the ^sixfold ^slaughter . it is one of the three uncountable slaughters on the ^ta/in : ^seisrechBresligi , ^imsligeGlennamnach -- the mutual slaughter at &glennDomain -- and the ^great ^battle at ^ga/irech and ^irgairech ( though this time it was horses and dogs as well as men ) . any count or estimate of the number of the rabble who fell there is unknown , and unknowable . only the chiefs have been counted . the following are the names of these nobles and chiefs : two called *cruaid , two named *calad , two named *ci/r , two named *ci/ar , two named *ecell , three named *crom , three named *caur , three named *combirge , four named *feochar , four named *furechar , four named *cass , four named *fota , five named *aurith , five named

*cerman , five named *cobthach , six named *saxan , six named *dach , six named *da/ire , seven named *rochad, seven named *ronan , seven named *rurthech , eight named *rochlad , eight named *rochtad , eight named *rinnach, eight named *coirpre , eight named *mulach , nine named *daithi , nine more named *da/ire , nine named *damach , ten named *fiac , ten named *fiacha and ten named *feidlimid . In this great carnage on &murtheimne &plain *cuchulainn slew one hundred and thirty kings , as well as an uncountable horde of dogs and horses , women and boys and children and rabble of all kinds . not one man in three escaped without his thighbone or his head or his eye being smashed , or without some blemish for the rest of his life . and when the battle was over *cuchulainn left without a scratch or a stain on himself , his helper or either of his horses . { X COMBAT WITH FERGUS AND OTHERS } . *cuchulainn came out the next morning to view the armies and display his noble fine figure to the matrons and virgins and young girls and poets and bards . he came out to display himself by day because he felt the unearthly shape he had shown them the night before had not done him justice . and certainly the youth *cuchulainnMacSualdaim was handsome as he came to show his form to the armies . you would think he had three distinct heads of hair -- brown at the base , blood-red in the middle , and a crown of golden yellow . this hair was settled strikingly into three coils on the cleft at the back of his head . each long loose-flowing strand hung down in shining splendour over his shoulders , deep-gold and beautiful and fine as a thread of gold . a hundred neat

red-gold curls shone darkly on his neck , and his head was covered with a hundred crimson threads matted with gems . he had four dimples in each cheek -- yellow , green , crimson and blue -- and seven bright pupils , eye-jewels , in each kingly eye . each foot had seven toes and each hand seven fingers , the nails with the grip of a hawk5 claw or a gryphon5 clench . he wore his festive raiment that day . this is what he wore : a fitted purple mantle , fringed and fine , folded five times and held at his white clear breast by a brooch of light-gold and silver decorated with gold inlays -- a shining source of light too bright in its blinding brilliance for men to look at . a fretted silk tunic covered him down to the top of his warrior5 apron of dark-red royal silk . he carried a dark deep-red crimson shield -- five disks within a light-gold rim -- and a gold-hilted sword in a high clasp on his belt , its ivory guard decorated with gold . near him in the chariot he had a tall grey-bladed javelin with a hard hungry point , rivetted with bright gold . he held in one hand nine human heads and in the other hand ten . and he shook them at the armies the crop of one night5 warfare on the four provinces of &ireland . the *connacht women climbed on the soldiers , and the *munster women climbed on their own men , to see *cuchulainn . but *medb could9 see him , not daring to show her face from under the barrel-shaped shelter of shields for dread of him . " this is a nuisance , " she said . " i can't see the boy they are making so much of " . " it would give you no peace to see him , " *le/thren , *ailill5 groom said . " *fergus , " *medb said , " what kind of man is he ? " .

[[ " a boy who checks sword with shield for cattle and women who makes a division of men5 bodies hacked and hacking in *ulster5 fords and sweetly shares the royal spoils a fierce young man if he is the *hound who calls &murtheimne &plain his own " . ]] then *medb herself climbed up on the mens' backs to see him . *dubthach the *dark , of *ulster , said at this time : [[ " is this the *warped *one ? . we 'll have corpses , shrieks in our enclosures , tales to tell , stones over graves , dead kings increasing . you may battle this brave one but you are lost . his wild shape i see , and his heap of plunder -- nine heads in one hand , and ten more , his treasure " . ]]

[[ your women climb up and show their faces , but your great queen shuns the bitter battle . if i had my way all the armies together would put an end to this *warped *one ! " . ]] but *fergus answered : [[ " get *dubthach with his black tongue back behind our army ! . since the maiden-massacre he has done only harm . it was base slaughter when he slew *conchobor5 son *fiacha , and no better when he killed *coirpreMacFeidlimid . now this son of *lugaid lags in the battle against *ulster . those that he can't kill he sets at each other5 throats . all the exiles would lament the slaughter of our beardless son . but soon the *ulster hosts will come and harass you like herds of cattle -- your councils scattered far and wide by *ulster risen from its pangs . ]]

[[ there 'll be stories of great slaughter and the crying of great queens . there 'll be mangling of wounds and mounds made of the slain . there 'll be corpses under foot and there 'll be ravens at their meat and shields scattered on the slopes and sorrowing and pillaging and blood of men in multitudes poured out over the ground . we have wandered far indeed in exile from our *ulster home " . ]] then *fergus flung *dubthach from him and he fell motionless near a group of soldiers . *ailill said : [[ " *fergus why so fierce over *ulster cows and women i can sense great slaughter and gaps of butchery though it is one by one they die in the ford each day " . ]] *medb said : [[ " rise up *ailill with triple ranks guard your cattle the grinning boy storms in turmoil by brinks of fords wide gravel beds and dark pools ]]

[[ valorous *fergus and *ulster5 exiles will have their due when the battle is done with grief to crush poets of war " . ]] *fergus said : [[ " pay no heed to stupid women flames flowering kith and kin buried away and dire deaths cool your fever fight fair " . ]] the poet *gabra/n said : [[ " why make a show of words for queens and followers to have a taste of fierceness when it comes to blades in battle there 's one you must pin down or we will earn our hatred " . ]] " do9 flinch from him , " *fergus said . " go and meet him in the ford " . " let us hear from *ailill , " *medb said . *ailill said : [[ " *fergus knows this land he brings shame on your heads he won't lead your cattle round but hacks and plunders round them and swears he does9 take us by ways many and long " . ]]

*fergus said : [[ " after a year of women strife and bitter ending most noble *medb do9 blame your exile troops too harshly or make little of the man who came to your support " . ]] *fiachaFialda/na , the bold and true , went to speak with his cousin *maineAndoe , the swift . *do/chaeMacMa/gach came with *maineAndoe , and *dubthach the *black from *ulster came with *fiachaFialda/na . *do/chae threw a javelin at *fiacha but hit his own friend *dubthach . *fiachaFialda/na threw a javelin at *do/chae but hit his kinsman *maine . the place where this happened is called &imrollBelaigEo/in , the &miscast at &bird &pass . some say that &imrollBelaigEo/in got its name later , when the *ulstermen had risen from their pangs : that the two armies had arrived and settled at &belachEuin when *diarmait , *conchobor5 son , came south out of *ulster . he said: " send out a horseman . if *maine comes i 'll go to meet him and the two of us can talk " . so they met . " i come from *conchobor , " *diarmait said , " to tell *medb and *ailill to set the cattle free and make good all the damage they have done to us . let them bring their bull to the bull here in the east and have them fight , as *medb promised " . " i 'll go and tell them , " *maine said , and he told them . " *medb won't have it , " *maine said when he came back . " we can exchange weapons then , if you like , " *diarmait said .

" i do9 mind , " *maine said . each of them threw his javelin at the other and they killed each other . some say that this is how &imrollBelaigEoin got its name , and that the armies then rushed upon each other , killing three score out of each force , and that the name &ard in &di/rma comes from this -- the &height where the &armies were . a brave *ulster warrior , *aengus , son of *aenla/mGaibe , turned the whole army aside at &muidLoga -- the place called *lugmod today -- as far as *athDaFerta , the &ford of the &two &grave &mounds . he refused to let them pass , and pelted them with flagstones . some say that if they had agreed to single combat the whole army would have fallen at his hands before they came under the sword at &emainMacha . but there was no rule of fair play for him and he died overwhelmed . " send someone out to me " , *cuchulainn said at &athDaFerta . " not i , not i ! " they all called out from their places . " my family owes no sacrifice ! . and if it did , why should i be the one ? " . *fergusMacRoich was asked to fight him , but he would9 fight his foster-son *cuchulainn . wine was brought and he grew very drunk . he was asked again to go into combat and this time he went , because they implored him . " you must be under strong protection , friend *fergus , " *cuchulainn said , " to come against me with no sword in your scabbard " . " it would be all the same if i had a sword in it , " *fergus

said , " i would9 use it on you . yield to me now , *cuchulainn , " he said . " if you will yield to me another time , " *cuchulainn said . " agreed , " *fergus said . *cuchulainn retreated back before *fergus as far as the swamp of &grellachDollaid on condition that *fergus would give way to him on the day of the great ^battle . *cuchulainn ran off into &grellachDollaid . " chase him , *fergus ! " they all cried . " i won't , " *fergus said . " it is9 so easy . that one there is too lively . i 'm not going after him until my turn comes round again " . then they all went past *cuchulainn and set up camp in &cri/chRois . *ferchuLoingsech was a *connachtman , who was always harassing and hounding *ailill and *medb . from the day they took the kingship he had never once gone to visit their camp , even when he was in difficulty or dire straits . he was forever pillaging and plundering their border lands when they were away . it happened that he was eastward of &ai &plain with his troop of a dozen men at this time and he heard that four of the provinces of &ireland had been stopped and held from the ^monday at summer5 end to the beginning of spring by one man , who killed a man on the ford each day and a hundred men at night . *ferchu discussed this with his people and said : " the best thing we can do is attack this man who has stopped and held the four provinces of &ireland , and bring his head and weapons with us back to *ailill and *medb . no matter what crimes we have committed against them , they 'll forgive us if we kill this man " . they all agreed to this and went to find *cuchulainn .

when they found him they fought foul and fell on him all twelve together . but *cuchulainn turned on them and instantly struck off their twelve heads . he planted twelve stones for them in the ground and set a head on each stone , and *ferchuLoingsech5 head on its stone as well . it is from this , where *ferchu left his head , that the name &cinnitFerchonLoingsig comes -- reading it % &cennA/it % &ferchon , the &place of &ferchu5 &head . the next day *medb sent twenty-nine men out together against *cuchulainn in the swamp of &fuiliarnn -- blood-iron -- a swamp on the near side of &ferdia5 &ford . they were *gaileDa/na and his twenty-seven sons , with his sister5 son , *glasMacDelga . the arrangement to do this was made in *fergus5 presence , and he had to agree with it . they argued that it should be counted a single combat , because the sons of *gaileDa/na were all the issue of his body , limb of his limb and flesh of his flesh . *fergus went aside to his tent with his followers and uttered a tired sigh aloud . " a sad thing is going to happen here tomorrow , he said " . " what is that ? " his followers asked . " the killing of *cuchulainn , " *fergus said . " alas ! " they said . " but who can kill him ? " . " *gaileDa/na , " he said , " and his twenty-seven sons and his sister5 son *glasMacDelga . every one of them has poison on him , and there is poison on all their weapons . any man that they wound will die in nine days at most , if he does9 die at once . if anyone will go for me to see this fight and bring me the story of *cuchulainn5 death he can have my weapons and my blessing " . " i will go , " *fiachaMacFirFebe said . they stayed there that night . *gaileDa/na rose up early

in the morning with his twenty-seven sons and his sister5 son *glasMacDelga and they went out to find *cuchulainn . *fiachaMacFirFebe went out also . *gaileDa/na found *cuchulainn and they flung all their twenty-nine spears together . not one spear went astray , but *cuchulainn did the rim-feat with his shield and all the spears sank half way in the shield . though they did9 throw wide , therefore , none of their spears was reddened with his blood . then *cuchulainn pulled the sword from his *badb5 scabbard to cut away the spears and lighten his shield . they attacked him while he was doing this and aimed their twenty-nine fists together at his head , and struck him and bore him down till his face met the ford5 sandy gravel . he uttered his warrior5 scream on high , and his cry of unfair fight , so that every living man in *ulster heard it , except those that lay asleep . *fiacha leaped from his chariot when he saw their hands all raised against *cuchulainn and he hacked off all twenty-nine hands . *cuchulainn said : " that was help in the nick of time ! " . " it was9 much , " *fiacha said . " but the compact is broken now for the *ulster exiles . if a single one of these gets back to the camp our whole troop of three thousand will go under the edge of the sword " . " i swear by the gods , " *cuchulainn said , " that not one of them will get there alive while i draw breath " . *cuchulainn , with the two sons of *ficce -- two brave *ulster warriors who had come to try their strength on the armies -- slew all twenty-nine . so ended this episode of battle with *cuchulainn on the ^ta/in . on a stone in the middle of the ford there is the mark where the shield was thrown and the marks of their fists and knees . twenty-nine standing-stones were erected there for them .

{ XI COMBAT OF FERDIA AND CUCHULAINN } . they brooded among themselves on the man who might next protect them from *cuchulainn . the four provinces of *ireland talked and argued back and forth about who should go against him at the ford . they all agreed it should be the horn-skinned warroir from &irrusDomnann , the burden unbearable and the rock fatal in the fray , *cuchulainn5 own ardent and adored foster-brother . there was not a feat of *cuchulainn5 that he lacked , except the #gae#bolga , and they thought he could avoid that and save himself by means of the stuff of horn he had around him . no weapon , no edge , could pierce it . *medb sent messengers to *ferdia , but he would9 come back with them . then *medb sent poets and bards and satirists to bring the blushes to his cheek with mockery and insult and ridicule , so there would be nowhere in the world for him to lay his head in peace . in dread of being put to shame by these messengers he came back with them to *medb5 and *ailill5 tent , where it had been pitched on the ^ta/in . their daughter *finnabair was put beside him . she handed him the goblets and cups , with three kisses for every cup . and at the neck-opening of heR shirt she

offered him certain fragrant sweet apples , saying that *ferdia was her darling and her chosen beloved of the whole world . when *ferdia was full and in good humour , *medb said: " well now , *ferdia , do you know why you were brought to our tent ? " . " i know the noblest men in &ireland are here , " *ferdia said . " why should9 i be here too , as well as these fine warriors ? " . " that is9 the reason , " *medb said . " but to give you a chariot worth three times seven bondmaids , with war-harness enough for a dozen men , and a portion of the fine &plain of &ai equal to the &plain of &murtheimne . also the right to stay forever in &cruachan , with your wine supplied , and your kith and kin free forever from tax and tribute . and this leaf-shaped brooch of mine that was made out of ten score ounces and ten score half-ounces and ten score cross-measures and ten score quarters of gold . and *finnabair , my daughter and *ailill5 , for your wife . and my own friendly thighs on top of that if needs be " . " no need ! " they all cried . " those gifts and trophies are enough " . " they are certainly very great , " *ferdia said . " but great as they are , *medb , i would sooner leave them with you than go out to fight my own foster-brother " . " what *cuchulainn said was true , my people , " *medb said , as though she had9 heard *ferdia . she knew well how to stir up strife and dissension . " what did he say , *medb ? " *ferdia said . " he said he would9 count it any great triumph if his greatest feat of arms were your downfall , " she said . " he should9 have said that . he never knew me slow or sluggish to fight , night or day . i swear by the gods i 'll

be first at the ford of battle tomorrow morning to fight him " . " all our blessing ! . go and win , " *medb said . " this is better than being thought sluggish and slow to arms for the sake of some loyalty outside our people . it is fitting for him to guard the safety of *ulster because his mother belonged there , but not for you , the son of a king of *connacht , to save the province of *connacht ? " . so the promise was made , and they chanted together : [*medb] : [[ " riches and rings i promise , a share of woods and plain , privilege for your kinsfolk to the end of time . does it take your breath away , *ferdiaMacDama/in ? . it is yours ; accept it -- others have " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " give me some surety . i 'm no hollow hero , but tomorrow i go to bear a terrible trial . *culann5 harsh *hound is not faced lightly . it could be a stern matter , a dire disaster " . ]] [*medb] : [[ " that is no trouble . pick your own surety from among kings or princes , any hostage you wish -- there are men who can ensure whatever you ask . but i know you will kill this man when you meet him " . ]]

[*ferdia] : [[ " i 'll pick six heroes , six and no less , before i try my strength in front of the armies . grant me this and i 'll do battle with the hard *hound , though i 'm not his match " . ]] [*medb] : [[ " take farmers or soldiers , or *niaman the slaughterer , or choose among the bards and you can have them . if you so demand you may have *morann or *coirpreNiaManann or our own two sons " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " you 've a strong tongue , *medb . your kind husband 's no curb . there 's no doubt you are master on the mounds of &cruachan ! . by your fame and great force , i 'll take the speckled silk , the gold and the silver and all you have promised . give me six princes to be my surety when i go to my doom with the hard *hound " . ]] [*medb] : [[ " choicest of champions , take this round brooch . rest now until ^sunday , when the fight is due . ]]

[[ my famous fine warrior , all shall be given into your hands -- the world5 greatest jewels , and queenly *finnabair , the heroes' favourite -- when the *hound is finished ; all yours , *ferdia " . ]] the great *ulster warrior , *fergusMacRoich , was there while they were bargaining . he went to his tent and said : " there will be a sad deed done tomorrow morning " . " what is that ? " the people in his tent said . " the slaying of my good foster-son *cuchulainn " . " indeed ! . who is boasting of that ? " . " it is soon told : his own beloved fiery foster-brother , *ferdiaMacDama/in . will one of you , in pity for *cuchulainn , go to him with my blessing , " *fergus said , " and warn him to flee from the ford tomorrow morning ? " . " by my soul , " they said , " we would9 go on such an errand , even though you yourself were due in the ford of battle " . " very well , " *fergus said . " get thr horses , my friend , and yoke the chariot " . the charioteer rose and got the horses and yoked the chariot . they went out to the ford of battle and found *cuchulainn . *fergus came up and alighted from his chariot . " you are welcome , friend *fergus , " *cuchulainn said . " i believe i am , " *fergus said . " what do you want here ? " *cuchulainn said . " to tell you the warrior who is coming to fight you tomorrow morning , " *fergus said . " tell it , then . let me hear it , " *cuchulainn said .

" your own foster-brother *ferdiaMacDama/in " . " i swear i do9 want this meeting , " *cuchulainn said . " not because i fear him but because i love him so much " . " you would do well to fear him too , " *fergus said . " he has a skin of horn on him when he fights that no point or blade can pierce " . " you need9 worry , " *cuchulainn said . " if he appears at the ford before me , i swear by the vow of my people that his joints and limbs will bend like reeds in the river at the point of my sword " . so they spoke together there , and chanted : [*fergus] : [[ " *cuchulainn , you are well met . it is time you were astir . *ferdiaMacDama/in is coming . his face is red with rage against you " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " here i stand , an obstacle to all the men of &ireland ! . i have stood my ground here through countless single combats " . ]] [*fergus] : [[ " i do9 wish to cause unease , but -- for all your fame , *cuchulainn -- *ferdia wears a horn-skin that no kind of weapon pierces " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " when i and skillful *ferdia fight it out in the ford together we will know before we 're done whom the fierce blades favour " . ]] [*fergus] : [[ " his brave arm is strong with rage . he holds a blood-reddened sword . he is strong as a hundred men and safe from every point or edge " . ]]

[*cuchulainn] : [[ " *fergus , with your mighty weapons , say no more -- it is enough . there are no odds too much for me in any part of &ireland " . ]] [*fergus] : [[ " *cuchulainn , with your crimson sword , nothing could please me more if you carried off the spoils from *ferdia in his pride " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " i am not a boastful man but i swear now -- i do not lie -- i will take the victory from *dama/nMacDa/iri5 son " . ]] [*fergus] : [[ " when i turned against *ulster it was to avenge a wrong . heroes and war-like men left their homes to come with me " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " only for *conchobor5 pangs you 'd have found it harder still . *medb5 journey from &sca/il &plain would have been a trail of tears " . ]] [*fergus] : [[ " the great trial is at hand , the fight with *ferdiaMacDama/in , with the hard baleful bitter spear , *hound of *culann , for your share " . ]] *cuchulainn said : " is this the reason you came , *fergus , my friend ? " . " it is , " *fergus said . " it is as well , " *cuchulainn said , " it was no one else of the men of &ireland came to warn me about a single C XI>

warrior . all the four provinces of &ireland would have been needed to save him ! " . then *fergus went off to his tent . " what will you do tonight , " *laeg said to *cuchulainn . " what do you mean ? " *cuchulainn said . " when *ferdia comes to attack you , he will be washed and bathed , with hair nicely plaited and freshly trimmed , and the four provinces of &ireland will come with him to watch the fight . i think you should go where you will get the same attention , where sweet-haired *emer is waiting in &cairthennCluana-Da/-Dam , the &meadow of the &two &oxen , at &sliabFuait " . *cuchulainn went there that night and stayed with his wife . no more is said here about that . as to *ferdia , he went to his tent and told his followers of the pledge he had given *medb , to wage single combat on *cuchulainn the next day or fight six warriors failing that . he told them of the equal pledge he had got from *medb , to have the same six warriors sent to make sure she fulfilled her promises if he killed *cuchulainn . the people in *ferdia5 tent that night were gloomy and oppressed . they felt certain that if these two shafts of battle of the world met together there would be a double downfall : it might even happen that their own lord would fall . for it was no easy thing facing *cuchulainn on the ^ta/in . great anxieties weighed on *ferdia5 spirit that night and would9 let him sleep . among these was the thought that he might lose the treasures and the girl , in combat with this one man , while if he did9 fight that man next day he would have to fight the six champions . but a greater worry than all was the knowledge that his life and his head would never again be in his own hands if he

once appeared at the ford before *cuchulainn . *ferdia got up early next day . " now , my friend , " he said , " bring our horses and yoke the chariot " . " i swear , " the charioteer said , " we 'd do better not to take this journey " . *ferdia talked with his charioteer and encouraged him , and they chanted : [*ferdia] : [[ " let us go to do battle with the man waiting down at the ford where the *badb will screech . let us meet *cuchulainn . i 'll pierce his slight body and pass the spear through him and bring him death " . ]] [charioteer] : [[ " these are cruel threats . better stay here or one will die -- a sudden parting . you are going to disaster before all *ulster . it will long be remembered . beware , if you go " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " you waste your breath . it is warrior5 work to be shy or meek ? . i won't hold back . silence , my friend , have courage to the end . not fearful but firm let us go to do battle " . ]]

the charioteer got the horses and yoked the chariot and they left the camp . " wait a moment , " *ferdia said . " it is9 right to leave without bidding farewell to the men of &ireland . turn the horses and chariot round to face them " . the charioteer turned the horses and chariot round three times and faced the men of &ireland . he passed close to *medb as she was making water on the floor of the tent . " are you asleep still , *ailill ? " *medb was saying . " no , " *ailill said . " do you hear your new son-in-law bidding you farewell ? " . " is that what he 's doing ? " *ailill said . " it is , " *medb said , " but i swear by the vow of my people that the man making his farewell there won't be coming back to us on his own feet " . " we have done well with the marriage agreement , anyhow , " *ailill said , " if he kills *cuchulainn . it is all the same to us if they both die . still , it might be better if *ferdia escaped " . *ferdia proceeded to the ford of battle . " see is *cuchulainn at the ford , " *ferdia said . " he is9 there , " the charioteer said . " look well , " *ferdia said . " *cuchulainn is not such a little speck that you could9 see him if he was there , " the charioteer said . " true enough , " *ferdia said . " but *cuchulainn never had a real warrior , a proper man , come against him on the ^ta/inBo/Cuailnge until today . as soon as he heard us coming he vanished from the ford " . " it is a great shame to slander *cuchulainn in his absence , " the charioteer said . " do you not remember when you were fighting the harsh and grizzled *germa/nGarblas above the borders of the &tyrrhene &sea , and you left your sword

with the enemy army ? . it was *cuchulainn who killed a hundred warriors to reach it and bring it back to you . do you remember where we stayed that night ? " . " no , " *ferdia said . " at the house of *sca/thach5 steward , " the charioteer said , " and you went before us into the house first , full of pride and haughtiness . the monstrous steward gave you a blow of his three-pronged flesh-fork in the small of the back , and sent you flying out like a stone past the door . *cuchulainn went in and struck the brute a blow of his sword and cut him in two . then i was your steward while you stayed there . if we could bring that day back , you would9 say you were a better warrior than *cuchulainn " . " you did wrong , my friend , " *ferdia said , " not to remind me of this before . i would9 have come looking for this fight . pull the shafts of the chariot along beside me now , and put the skin covering under my head and let me sleep for a while " . " alas for your rest here , " the charioteer said , " you would sleep as well in the path of a stag hunt ! " . " why , boy ? . can you not keep watch for me ? " . " i can , " the charioteer said . " i 'll see them and give warning before they arrive , from east or west -- unless they come at you out of the clouds and mists " . the chariot-shafts were pulled along by his side , and the skin covering put under his head , but he could9 sleep , even a little . *cuchulainn was saying meanwhile : " well , friend *laeg , bring the horses , yoke the chariot . if *ferdia is waiting he must be wondering what keeps us " . the charioteer got up and brought the horses and they pressed on toward the ford . *ferdia5 charioteer was9 watching long when he heard the creacking of the chariot

as it drew near . he woke his master and made this chant : [[ " i hear a chariot creaking . i see its yoke of silver and the great trunk of a man above the hard prow . the shafts jut forward , they are approaching us by the place of the tree-stump , triumphant and proud . there 's a skilled *hound at the helm , a fine chariot-warrior , a wild hawk hurrying his horses southward . surely it is *cuchulainn5 chariot-horses coming . who says he is not coming to our defeat ? . i had a dream last year : whoever , at the time appointed , opposes the *hound on the slope , let him beware . the *hound of *emainMacha , in all his different shapes , the *hound of plunder and battle -- i hear him , and he hears " . ]] " how does *cuchulainn look ? " *ferdia said to his charioteer . " he and his charioteer look as if all the men of &ireland meant nothing to them , " he said . " enough , my friend , " *ferdia said , " you praise him too

much . get my weapons ready to meet him at the ford " . " i feel if i turned my head his chariot-shafts would stick in my neck ! " . " why do you praise *cuchulainn so much ? " *ferdia said . " he has9 paid you anything " . then he chanted : [[ " it 's your help i need now , not this false friendship . enough of your praises . we 're all the same dead ! . let &cuailnge5 great warrior come in his glory . we 'll dispose of him and cut him down " . ]] [Charioteer] : [[ " when &cuailnge5 great warrior travels in his glory it will be here , toward us , not away in flight . give praise where it is due . shrewdly , not slyly , he is hurrying toward you -- a thunderclap ! " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " there 'll be blows between us ! . you have9 stopped praising him since we set out . why do you favour him ? . even as they challenge him everyone praises him . but a sorry lot so far has gone to meet him " . ]] they met in the middle of the ford not long after that and *ferdia said to *cuchulainn :

" you are welcome , *cuchulainn " . " i could trust your welcome once , " *cuchulainn said , " but i do9 trust it now . anyway , " he said , " it is for me and not you , *ferdia , to bid welcome : this is my homeland , you are the intruder . and you are wrong to challenge me to combat . it would suit me better to challenge you : you have driven out our women and young men and boys , and our troops of horses , our herds and our flocks and all our goods " . " enough , *cuchulainn , " *ferdia said . " what brings you at all to meet me in this war-like combat ? . when we were with *sca/thach and *uathach and *aife , you were only my body-servant , who fixed my spears and made my bed " . " that is true , " *cuchulainn said , " but i did it then because i was young and small . you can't call me that now . there is9 a warrior in the world now that i 'm not able for " . then each bitterly reproached the other and they broke off their friendship and *ferdia chanted , with *cuchulainn answering : [[ " what brings you here , *squinter , to try my strength ! . through the steam of your horses i 'll reach and redden you . you 'll regret you came . you 're a fire without fuel . you 'll need plenty of help if you ever see home " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " like a great boar before his herd , i 'll overwhelm you before these armies . i 'll push you and punish you to the last of your skill , ]]

[[ and then bring down havoc on your head ! " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " it is i who will kill , i who will destroy , i who will drive *ulster5 hero to flight before all eyes . by my doing they 'll rue their loss early and late " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " must we start our fight groaning over corpses ? . come what may let us enter the ford to meet death before the hosts with bloody spear-blade or the savage sword if our time is come " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " attack then , if we must . before sunset and nightfall i 'll fight you at &bairche in bloody battle . men of *ulster will cry out : | death has seized you ! | . the terrible sight will pierce them through " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " you have reached your doom , your hour is come . my sword will slash and not softly . ]]

[[ when we meet you will fall at a hero5 hands . never again will you lead men " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " little bush , you have boasted and threatened enough . you 'll find no mercy or victory here . i know you well -- a clumsy and feeble chicken-hearted trembling boy " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " while we stayed with *sca/thach we went as one , with a common courage into the fight . my bosom friend and heart5 blood , dear above all , i am going to miss you " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " you make much of yourself , but the fight is to come . i 'll have spiked your head when the cock crows . *cuchulainn of &cuailnge has lost his wits and will suffer for it . the guilt is yours " . ]] " *ferdia , you did wrong to come fighting with me , " *cuchulainn said . " it is only *ailill and *medb5 ill-doing and

meddling . it has gone badly with all who came against me -- i killed them all . and it can do you no good . you too will fall " . he spoke further and *ferdia listened : [[ " *ferdia son of *dama/n , noble warrior , do not come . you will suffer more than me and bring sorrow to your company . do not come -- and in the wrong -- or here you 'll find your resting-place . how can it be that you alone could escape my fatal rage ? . i 'll overwhelm you with my feats -- despite your horn-skin and red rage . son of *dama/n , you 'll never have the girl that you are boasting of . *medb5 daughter *finnabair , for all the fairness of her form and all the sweetness of her shape , will never yield to your assault . *finnabair , the royal daughter -- she is nothing but a snare . she played false with the others and ruined them as she ruins you . do9 break our friendship and our bond , do9 break the oath we made once , do9 break our promise and our pledge . noble warrior , do not come . ]]

[[ this is the same girl who was promised falsely to fifty men . they got nothing but my spear as i showed them to their graves . *ferbaeth , they said , was brave enough and had a houseful of fine heroes , but a short moment quenched his fire , i finished him with one throw . *sru/bdaire found a bitter end . a hundred women held him dear . there was a time his fame was high , but neither wealth nor weapons saved him . if they had offered her to me , if i were the one that *medb smiled at , i would9 think to do you harm or touch the least part of your flesh " . ]] " that is the reason you should9 come to fight me , *ferdia , " *cuchulainn said . " when we were with *sca/thach and *uathach and *aife we always set out together to the battles and battlefields , to the strife and the struggle and the forests and deserts and dark mysteries " . he spoke further : [[ " fast friends , forest-companions , we made one bed and slept one sleep in foreign lands after the fray . *sca/thach5 pupils , two together , we 'd set forth to comb the forest " . ]] *ferdia said : [[ " *cuchulainn , you bear your cunning lightly , but i have mastered the same trade . ]]

[[ our friendship is finished , through foul play . prepare to face your first defeat . forget that we were foster-brothers . *squinter , you are past help ! " . ]] " we have talked too much , " *ferdia said . " what weapons will we use today , *cuchulainn ? " . " you have the choice of weapons until nightfall , " *cuchulainn said . " you reached the ford first " . " do you remember , " *ferdia said , " the very last feats we learned under *sca/thach and *uathach and *aife ? " . " i remember them well , " *cuchulainn said . " let us set to , since you remember " . they set to with those last feats . they took up their two finely-marked feat-playing shields and their eight shields with the sharp rims , their eight darts and their ivory-hilted straight swords and their eight small ivory darts that flew between them like bees on a pleasant day . they threw nothing that did9 hit . and they were busy with these feats from the grey of early morning to the middle of the day . attacking each other and bringing each other5 many feats to nothing with the knobs and bosses of their feat-playing shields . but no matter how finely they threw they fended-off just as finely , so that neither drew blood from the other during all that time . " let us break off now with these weapons , *cuchulainn , " *ferdia said . " we 'll settle nothing this way " . " very well , let us break off if it is time , " *cuchulainn said . they broke off . they threw their feat-playing gear into their charioteers' arms . " what weapons will we use next , *cuchulainn ? " *ferdia said . " you still have the choice of weapons until nightfall , "

*cuchulainn said , " since you were first at the ford " . " then , " *ferdia said , " let us try our strong , smooth-polished slender spears , bound with the tight flax " . " very well , let us try them , " *cuchulainn said . they took up their two tough shields , well matched for strength , and their strong , smooth-polished slender spears tightly bound with flax . they hurled their spears at each other from the middle of the day until the evening sunset . and finely though they fended-off , they cast more finely still , and wounded and gored and bloodied each other for that length of time . " *cuchulainn , let us break off now from this , " *ferdia said . " very well , " *cuchulainn said . " let us break off if it is time " . they broke off and flung their weapons into their charioteers' arms . they came up to each other and each put his arm round the other5 neck and gave him three kisses . their horses passed that night in the same paddock and their charioteers by the same fire . their charioteers made up fresh beds of rushes for them , with rests for their heads , as is right for wounded men . men of healing and medicine came to heal them and make them whole and dropped wholesome , healing plants and herbs into their stabs and cuts and gashes and countless wounds . as many wholesome , healing plants and herbs as were put on *cuchulainn5 stabs and cuts and gashes and countless wounds , he sent the same over to *ferdia on the westward side of the ford , so that the men of &ireland could9 say , if he killed *ferdia , that he had won because he got more care . *ferdia , out of all the food and the health-giving , stimulating , delicious drinks that the men of &ireland gave him , sent an equal share over to *cuchulainn on the northward side of the ford , for there were more supplying

*ferdia with food than *cuchulainn . all the men of &ireland were supplying *ferdia , because he was protecting them from *cuchulainn , while only the people of &breg &plain were supplying *cuchulainn . each day , when night fell , they used to come and talk to him . they stayed so that night and got up early next day and came out to the ford of battle . " what weapons will we use today , *ferdia ? " *cuchulainn said . " you have the choice of weapons until nightfall , " *ferdia said . " i had my choice yesterday " . " then , " *cuchulainn said . " let us try our big burdensome stabbing-spears . we may bring the end nearer today with our stabbing than with yesterday5 spear-throwing . let our horses be brought and the chariots yoked . today we 'll fight with horse and chariot " . " let us begin " . *ferdia said . so that day they took up their two solid broadshields and their big burdensome stabbing-spears and began piercing and drilling each other and felling and overwhelming from the grey of early morning until the evening sunset . if ever birds in flight could pass through men5 bodies they could have passed through those bodies that day and brought bits of blood and meat with them out into the thickening air through the wounds and gashes . when the sun set that evening the horses were spent and the charioteers dazed and the high heroes themselves were at an end . " let us break off now from this , *ferdia , " *cuchulainn said , " for our horses are spent and our charioteers are dazed , and if they are finished why should9 we be finished too ? " . he said further :

[[ " why suffer the chariots' plunging or struggle like *fomorian giants ? . hobble the horses . let the turmoil die away " . ]] " very well , let us break off if it is time , " *ferdia said . they broke off and threw their weapons into their charioteers' arms . they came up to each other and each put his arm round the other5 neck and gave him three kisses . their horses passed that night in the same paddock and their charioteers by the same fire , and their charioteers made fresh beds of rushes for them , with rests for their heads , as is right for wounded men . men of healing and medicine came to watch over and guard them and mind them that night . so hideous were their stabs and cuts and gashes and countless wounds that nothing could be done but lay magic amulets on them and say spells and incantations to stop the spurts and spouts of blood . for every amulet or spell or charm that was laid on *cuchulainn5 cuts and gashes he had the same sent to *ferdia across on the westward side of the ford , and *ferdia , out of all the food and health-giving , stimulating , delicious drinks that the men of &ireland gave him , sent an equal share over to *cuchulainn on the northward side of the ford . they stayed so that night and got up early next day , and came out to the ford of battle . that day *cuchulainn saw an aspect of evil and a dire darkness over *ferdia . " you have a dreadful look today , *ferdia , " he said . " a shadow has fallen on your hair overnight and your eye has grown dull . all your fine shape and strength and structure are gone " . " it is not for any terror or dread of you , " *ferdia said . " there is9 a warrior in &ireland that i can't beat off " . *cuchulainn lamented and sorrowed . he made this

chant , with *ferdia answering : [[ " *ferdia , is it you i see ? now i know it was your doom when a woman sent you here to fight against your foster-brother " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " *cuchulainn , you are wise enough , a true hero , a true warrior . you know that everyone must come to the sod that is his last bed " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " *medb5 daughter *finnabair -- whatever beauty she may have -- was never promised you for love , but so that you would use your strength " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " my strength has been well used by now , *hound of the sweet discipline . never to this very day did i find braver , or hear of one " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " yours is the blame for what must come , son of*dama/nMacDa/iri -- coming , at a woman5 word , to cross swords with your foster-brother " . ]] [*ferdia] : [[ " *sweet *hound , if we part now -- though foster-brothers -- without a fight , think of my ill-fame and shame at &cruachan before *ailill and *medb " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " there is no man that ever ate , no man that was ever born , no joyous son of king or queen . for whose sake i would do you harm " . ]]

[*ferdia] : [[ " *cuchulainn , tide of bravery , i know that *medb has ruined us . you will win victory and renown and no one think you were at fault " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " my high heart is a knot of blood , my soul is tearing from my body , i 'd rather face a thousand fights , *ferdia , than this fight with you " . ]] " you may blame me all you like today , " *ferdia said . " what weapons will we use ? " . " you have the choice of weapons today until nightfall , " *cuchulainn said . " i chose yesterday " . " then , " *ferdia said , " let us take up our massive stroke-dealing swords . we may bring the end nearer today with our hacking than with yesterday5 stabbing " . " let us begin , then , " *cuchulainn said . so that day they took up their two great full-length shields and their massive stroke-dealing swords and began hacking and hewing and striking and destroying , and cutting bits and pieces the size of baby5 heads from each other5 shoulders and backs and flanks . they hacked at each other in this way from the grey of early morning until the evening sunset . " *cuchulainn , let us break off from this , " *ferdia said . " very well , " *cuchulainn said . they broke off and flung their weapons into their charioteers' arms . they had met that day , two solid and satisfied men , lively and serene . but they parted that night woeful and weary , two wasted men . and it was9 in the same paddock that their horses passed that night , nor at the same fire their charioteers .

they stayed so that night . *ferdia got up early next day and came out alone to the ford of battle , for he knew that this day would decide the fierce struggle , and that one of them , or both , would fall . he put on his war-like battle-harness before *cuchulainn came out to meet him . this was his battle-harness : a filmy girdle of silk with a speckled-gold hem next his bright skin , a dark supple apron of leather over that on the outside , and a stout strong stone outside that again , the size of a millstone . that day , for fear and dread of the #gae#bolga , he put a deep and sturdy apron of twice-smelted iron over the stout strong stone like a millstone . he set on his head his war-like crested battle-helmet . finely decorated with forty precious carbuncles and inlaid with red enamel and crystal and carbuncle and gleaming stones from the &east . he took in his right hand his furious spear , stout and fierce . in his left he took his battle-sword with its gold grip and its hilt of red-gold . on the curve of his back he took his handsome huge shield with the great red-gold knob in the middle and another fifty knobs around it , each big enough to hide a prize boar . that day *ferdia did a thousand thrilling feats on high , multiple and miraculous , that no-one had ever taught him -- not his foster-mother or foster-father , nor *sca/thach nor *uathach nor *aife -- but drawn from him that day at the thought of *cuchulainn . *cuchulainn came to the ford then and saw *ferdia5 thousand thrilling feats on high , multiple and miraculous . " look , friend *laeg , at the thousand feats *ferdia does on high , multiple , miraculous -- thrilling ! . he is going to use them all on me today . if my defeat seems near at any time , you must abuse and insult and mock me to make my anger rise . but if ever his defeat seems near tell me that , and praise and encourage me to raise my spirits " .

" i will , *cuchulainn , " *laeg said . then *cuchulainn too put on his war-like battle-harness and did a thousand thrilling , multiple and miraculous feats on high that he also had learned from no-one -- not *sca/thach nor *uathach nor *aife . *ferdia saw those feats and knew they were all for him . " what weapons shall we use , *ferdia ? " *cuchulainn said . " you have the choice of weapons until nightfall , " *ferdia said . " very well , let us try fighting in ford water , " *cuchulainn said . " let us try that , " *ferdia said . *ferdia , though he spoke lightly , knew that it was the worst thing for him , because *cuchulainn destroyed every hero and high warrior that ever fought him in ford water . still , marvellous deeds were done by the two heroes that day in the ford -- those two first and foremost , those two chief chariot-warriors of the west , those two blazing torches of bravery in &ireland , those two lavish and liberal gift-scatterers of the whole northwest of the world , those two keys to &ireland5 valour , flung together from afar by the ill-doing and meddling of *ailill and *medb . they began working their feats on each other there from the grey of the dewy dawn until high noon . at noon the men5 madness mounted and they drew closer to each other . *cuchulainn sprang straight from the brink of the ford on to the shield-knob of *ferdiaMacDama/in to strike down over the edge of the shield at his head . *ferdia struck the shield a blow of his left elbow that sent *cuchulainn away back from him like a bird past the brink of the ford . *cuchulainn sprang again from the brink onto the knob of *ferdia5 shield , to strike down at his head over the edge of the shield . but *ferdia struck the shield a blow of

his left knee that sent *cuchulainn away back from him like a little boy past the brink of the ford . *laeg saw this . " well , now ! " he said . " your enemy shook you then as easily as a loving mother slaps her son ! . he tossed you aside as if he was rinsing a cup in a tub ! . he crushed you like a mill crushing fine malt ! . he went through you like a drill through an oak ! . he bound you in knots like a creeper entangling a tree ! . he pounced on you like a hawk on a little bird ! . from this day onward , my devilish little half-sprite , " *laeg said , " you have no right or claim or title to great deeds or daring " . at that *cuchulainn rose up for the third time , quick as the wind , swift as a swallow , in a storm of strength and dragonish fury , and landed on the knob of *ferdia5 shield and tried to strike down at him over the shield-rim . but that battle-warrior gave a shake of his shield that sent *cuchulainn off , as though he had never landed on it , into the middle of the ford . *cuchulainn warped in his fury-spasm ; he blew up and swelled like a bladder full of breath and bent himself in a fearful hideous arch , mottled and terrifying , and the huge high hero loomed straight up over *ferdia , vast as a *fomorian giant or a man from the sea-kingdom . then they fought together so closely that their heads touched at the top and their feet at the bottom and their hands in the middle around the edges and knobs of their shields . so closely they fought that their shields split and burst from rim to belly : so closely they fought that their spears bent and collapsed , worn-out from the tips to the rivets : so closely they fought that their shield-rims and sword-hilts and spear-shafts screamed like demons and devils and goblins of the glen and fiends of the air : so closely they fought that they drove the river off its course

and out of its bed , leaving a dry space in the middle of the ford big enough for the last royal burial-ground of a king or queen -- not a drop of water on it except what the two heroes and high warriors splashed there in their trampling and slithering in the ford : so closely they fought that the horses of the men of &ireland broke loose in panic and terror , rearing and raving , and broke their shackle-hoops and hobbles and reins and ropes , so that the women and children , the infants , the ill and the imbeciles broke out southwestward from the camp of the men of &ireland . then , while they were busy with the sharp sword-edges , *ferdia got a single fatal chance at *cuchulainn , and dealt him a stroke of his ivory-hilted straight-sword and buried it in his breast . the blood gushed over his belt and the ford grew crimson with the battle-warrior5 body-gore . *cuchulainn could bear it no longer -- all *ferdia5 ruinous strokes of strength , his strokes downward and across . and he called out to *laegMacRiangabra for the #gae#bolga . *ferdia heard *cuchulainn calling for the #gae#bolga , and he dropped his shield to cover his lower body . then *cuchulainn took his short javelin and hurled it from the middle of his palm over the rim of *ferdia5 shield and the edge of his horn-skin , driving it through him so that it pierced the heart in his breast and showed half its length out through his back . *ferdia raised up the shield to cover his upper body , but it was too late . the charioteer sent the #gae#bolga down the stream . " beware the #gae#bolga , " he said . *cuchulainn caught it in the fork of his foot and sent it casting toward *ferdia and it went through the deep and sturdy apron of twice-smelted iron , and shattered in three parts the stout strong stone the size of a mill-stone , and went coursing through the highways and byways of his

body so that every single joint filled with barbs . " that is enough now , " *ferdia said , " i 'll die of that . there is strength in the thrust of your right foot . it is wrong i should fall at your hand " . he said : [[ " *hound of the bright deeds , you have killed me unfairly . your guilt clings to me as my blood sticks to you . by the way of deceit no good can come . i am struck dumb . i am leaving this life . my ribs are crushed in , my heart is all blood . i have not fought well . *hound , i am fallen " . ]] *cuchulainn ran toward him and clasped his two arms round him and carried him -- weapons , armour and harness -- north across the ford with him so that the spoils would be to the north of the ford and not westward of it where the men of &ireland were . *cuchulainn set *ferdia down on the ground and there , by *ferdia5 head , fainted away in a cloudy trance . *laeg saw this , and how all the men of &ireland rose to attack him . " get up , now , *cu/cuc ! " *laeg said . " the men of &ireland are coming to attack us , and they are not thinking of single combat now that you have killed *ferdiaMacDama/inMeicDa/iri " . " my friend , why should i rise , " he said , " and this one fallen by my hand ? " .

the charioteer spoke to him with *cuchulainn answering : [[ " rise up , slaughter-hound of &emain ! . you must recover , have more spirit . you have felled *ferdia of the hosts -- a dire combat , god of doom ! " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " what have i to do with spirit ? . stupor and sorrow weigh me down after the deed that i have done , this corpse that i have hacked so harshly " . ]] [*laeg] : [[ " you have nothing to regret ; indeed you ought to boast of it . he has stained his spear in you and left you streaming , and near death " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " what matter ? . he could have taken off my leg , or my very arm . alas , *ferdia of the steeds will never draw another breath " . ]] [*laeg] : [[ " the women of the &craebruad would9 have it otherwise . *ferdia dead and you alive -- that separation they can bear " . ]] [*cuchulainn] : [[ " from the first day i left &cuailnge to come against the mighty *medb she has had carnage and renown , with all the warriors i 've slain " . ]] [*laeg] : [[ " you have had no sound sleep since you stopped the great ^ta/in . because there were so few to help you woke early many a morning " . ]]

*cuchulainn began mourning and lamenting *ferdia there , and said : " alas *ferdia ! . woe for you that you did9 listen , before we fought together , to somebody who knew my high , brave deeds ; woe for you that *laegMacRiangabra did9 chide you with memories of our fostering together ; woe for you that you rejected *fergus5 well-meant warning ; woe for you that proud , kind *conall , much honoured in arms , did9 help with word of our fostering together . those are men who would9 run to you with news of the wants and wishes or the false promises of any fair-headed *connacht woman ; those are men who knew that none of human birth , until the day of doom , can ever match the heavy , high deeds that i do against *connacht with shield or shield-rim , sword or dart , draughts or chess , horse or chariot . never will hand of warrior hack the flesh of a hero like the honoured heir *ferdia . never will the red-mouthed *badb screech like this at the shield-bright sheltering hosts in the gap of battle . never till the day of doom will any one fighting for &cruachan get the bargain you got , crimson-visaged son of *dama/n , " *cuchulainn said . *cuchulainn got up from beside *ferdia5 head . " well , *ferdia , " *cuchulainn said , " it was a great doom and desolation that the men of &ireland wished on you when they sent you to do battle and combat with me . it is no light thing to struggle and strive with *cuchulainn on the ^ta/inBo/Cuailnge " . he said : [[ " *ferdia , dead by their deceit , our last meeting i lament . you are dead and i must live to mourn my everlasting loss . ]]

[[ when we were away with *sca/thach learning victory overseas , it seemed our friendship would remain unbroken till the day of doom . i loved the noble way you blushed , and loved your fine , perfect form . i loved your blue clear eye , your way of speech , your skillfulness . your like , *dama/n5 crimson son , never moved to the tearing fray , never was seized with manly wrath nor bore shield on his broad back . never till this very day , *ferdia , did i ever find your match for great deeds in battle since i slew *aife5 one son . *medb5 daughter *finnabair , whatever beauty she may have , was an empty offering . a string to hold the sand , *ferdia " . ]] *cuchulainn stayed staring there at *ferdia . " well , friend *laeg , " *cuchulainn said , " strip *ferdia now . take off his gear and garments . let me see the brooch he fought this furious battle for " . *laeg came and stripped *ferdia and took off his gear and garments , and showed him the brooch . *cuchulainn mourned and lamented :

[[ " *ferdia of the hosts and the hard blows , beloved golden brooch , i mourn your conquering arm and our fostering together , a sight to please a prince ; your gold-rimmed shield , your slender sword , the ring of bright silver on your fine hand , your skill at chess , your flushed , sweet cheek , your curled yellow hair like a great lovely jewel , the soft leaf-shaped belt that you wore at your waist . you have fallen to the *hound , i cry for it , little calf . the shield did9 save you that you brought to the fray . shameful was our struggle , the uproar and grief ! . o fair , fine hero who shattered armies and crushed them under foot , golden brooch , i mourn " . ]] " now , friend *laeg , " *cuchulainn said , " cut *ferdia open and take the #gae#bolga out of him . i must have my weapon " .

*laeg came up and cut *ferdia open and took out the #gae#bolga . *cuchulainn saw his weapon crimson and bloody from *ferdia5 body and said : [[ " ill-met , *ferdia , like this -- you crimson and pale in my sight and stretched in a bed of blood , i with my weapon unwiped . when we were beyond the sea , *sca/thach5 and *uathach5 pupils , who thought of such pale lips or weapon-struggle between us ? . i remember when *sca/thach lifted her sharp harsh cry : | *germa/nGarbglas is coming ! . forward to the furious fray ! | . then i said to *ferdia and to *lugaid of the lavish hand and to fond , foolish *ferbaeth : | let us go to meet *germa/n | . at the battle-rock on the slope above the &lake of &envy we took out four hundred men from the &islands of &victory . i stood with fierce *ferdia in the door of &germa/n5 fort . i killed *rinnMacNiuil , he *ruadMacForniuil . ]]

[[ *ferbaeth killed *Bla/thMacColba/i of the red sword , on the slope . grim , swift *lugaid slew *mugairne from the &tyrrhene &sea . we went in and i slew there four times fifty raging men . *ferdia killed *damDreimend and *damDi/lenn -- a cruel crew . we levelled *germa/n5 cunning fort above the wide , glittering sea and took *germa/n himself alive to *sca/thach of the great shield . our famous foster-mother bound us in a blood pact of friendship , so that rage would never rise between friends in fair &elga . sad and pitiful the day that saw *ferdia5 strength spent and brought the downfall of a friend . i poured him a drink of red blood ! . if you had met your death then fighting with *greek warriors , i would9 have outlasted you , i would have died at your side . misery has befallen us , *sca/thach5 two foster-sons -- i , broken and blood red , your chariot standing empty . ]]

[[ misery has befallen us , *sca/thach5 two foster-sons -- i , broken and blood-raw , you lying stark dead . misery has befallen us , sca/thach5 two foster-sons -- you dead and i alive . bravery is battle-madness ! " . ]] " well , *cu/cuc , " *laeg said , " let us leave the ford now . we have been here too long " . " very well , let us leave it , friend *laeg " , *cuchulainn said . " all the struggles and contests that i ever fought seem only playful games now after my struggle with *ferdia " . and he said these words : [[ " it was all play , all sport , until *ferdia came to the ford . a like learning we both had , the same rights , the same belongings , the same good foster-mother -- her whose name is most honoured . all play , all sport , until *ferdia came to the ford . the same force and fury we had , the same feats of war also . *sca/thach awarded two shields , one to me , one to *ferdia . all play , all sport , until *ferdia came to the ford . ]]

[[ misery ! . a pillar of gold i have levelled in the ford , the bull of the tribe-herd , braver than any man . all play , all sport , until *ferdia came to the ford -- fiery and ferocious lion , fatal , furious flood-wave ! . all play , all sport , until *ferdia came to the ford . i thought beloved *ferdia would live forever after me -- yesterday , a mountain-side ; today , nothing but a shade . i have slaughtered , on this ^ta/in , three countless multitudes : choice cattle , choice men , and horses , fallen everywhere ! . the army , a huge multitude , that came from cruel &cruachan has lost between a half and a third , slaughtered in my savage sport . never came to the battle-field , nor did *banba5 belly bear , nor over sea or land came a king5 son of fairer fame " . ]]

{ XII ULSTER RISES FROM ITS PANGS } . the armies went off southward from &ferdia5 &ford . *cuchulainn lay there sick . *senollUathach , the *hideous , and the two sons of *ficce were the first to reach him . they bore him back with them to &conaille , where they nursed his wounds and bathed them in the waters of the river &sas , for ease , the river &buan for steadfastness , &bithsla/n for lasting health , the clear &finnglas , the bright &gledir , the dashing &bedc ; in &tadc , &talamed , &rinn and &bir , in the sour &brenide and narrow &cumang ; in &celenn and &gaenemain , &dichu , &muach and &miliuc , &den , &deilt and &dubglas . { *cethern5 bitter fight } while *cuchulainn was washing in those waters , the armies continued and pitched camp at &imorachSmiromrach , close by the &mash of &marrow , of which you shall hear . *macRoth left the armies and went northward to keep watch on the men of *ulster . he went as far as

*sliabFuait to see if any were following . he brought back news that he saw only one chariot . " i saw a chariot crossing the plain from the north , " *macRoth said . " the man had silvery-grey hair and carried no weapon but a silver spike in one hand . his chariot was coloured bright as the ^may . he was goading the charioteer as well as the horses , as though he felt he would never catch up with the armies . a brindled hunting dog ran in front of him " . " who would that be , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " do you think it was *conchobor or *celtchar ? " . " no " *fergus said . " i believe it is *cethern , *fintan5 son , a man of generosity and a bloody blade " . *fergus was right . *cethern hurled himself directly at the camp and slaughtered many men . but he himself was wounded badly . he came back from the battle toward *cuchulainn with his guts around his feet , and *cuchulainn pitied his wounds . " get me a healer , " *cethern said to *cuchulainn . a bed of fresh rushes was fixed for him , with a pillow , and *cuchulainn sent *laeg to the enemy camp , to ask *fiachaMacFirFebe for a healer , and to say he would kill them all if they did9 come to look at *cethern -- no matter where they hid themselves , even under the earth . the healers grew worried at this , for there was no one in the camp that he had9 hit ; but they went out to see him . the first healer came up and examined him . " you won't survive this , " he said . " then neither will you ! " *cethern cried , and struck him with his fist , and his brains splashed over his ears . he killed fifty healers , some say , in the same way , though others say he killed only fifteen . the last of them got a glancing blow and fell stunned . *cuchulainn saved his life . *cuchulainn said to *cethern :

" you had no right to kill those healers . we 'll get no one to come to you now " . " they had no right to give me bad news " . they sent for the holy healer *fingin , *conchobor5 own healer , to examine *cuchulainn and *cethern . *fingin was well aware of the great sufferings of *cuchulainn and *cethern , and soon they saw his chariot coming . *cuchulainn went up to him and said : " watch out for *cethern " . ( indeed it would have been foolish not to , when he had already killed fifteen other healers ) . *fingin went up and studied him from a distance . " examine me , " *cethern said . " this great wound here looks grave . what made it ? " . " a vain , arrogant woman gave you that wound , " *fingin said . " i believe you are right , " *cethern said . " a tall , fair , long-faced woman with soft features came at me . she had a head of yellow hair , and two gold birds on her shoulders . she wore a purple cloak folded about her , with five hands' breadth of gold on her back . she carried a light , stinging , sharp-edged lance in her hand , and she held an iron sword with a woman5 grip over her head -- a massive figure . it was she who came against me first " . " then i 'm sorry for you , " *cuchulainn said . " that was *medb of &cruachan " . " this next , " the healer said , " was a light , half-hearted wound from some kinsman . it won't kill you " . " that is true , " *cethern said . " a warrior with a curved scallop-edged shield came at me . he had a curve-bladed spear in his hand and an ivory-hilted , iron-bladed sword in three sections . he wore a brown cloak wrapped around him , held with a silver brooch . he took a slight wound from me in return " .

" i know him , " *cuchulainn said . " that was *illann , *fergusMacRoich5 son " . " this wound , " the healer said , " was the work of two warriors " . " yes , " *cethern said . " a pair of them came at me together , with two long shields . they had two tough silver chains and a silver belt each , and two five-pronged spears , banded plain and silver . each had a collar of silver " . " i know them , " *cuchulainn said . " those were *oll and *oichne , two of *ailill5 and *medb5 foster-sons . they never go to battle unless they are certain someone will fall at their hands " . " then two more warriors set upon me , " *cethern said , " bright and noble and manly in looks " . " i know them , " *cuchulainn said . " those were *bun and *mecon , *trunk and *root , from the king5 most trusted people " . " the blood is black here , " the healer said . " they speared through your heart at an angle and made a cross inside you . i can't promise to cure this , " he said , " but there are a couple of ways i might keep it from carrying you off " . " and this , " the healer said , " was the bloody onslaught of two forest kings " . " yes , " *cethern said . " a pair of light-haired warriors set upon me , their faces the size of wooden bowls , one bigger than the other . yes indeed , " he said , " each of them pierced the other5 point inside me " . " i know them , " *cuchulainn said . " those were two warriors from *medb5 great household , *braen and *la/re/ne , %two sons of three lights ,% the two sons of the forest king " . " and this , " the healer *fingin said , " was an attack by three nephews " . " yes , " *cethern said . " three men , all alike , set upon me .

they had a bronze chain between them , deadly with spikes and spears " . " those were the three scabbards of *banba , from *cu/roiMacDa/iri5 people " . " this one , " *fingin said , " was dug by three soldiers " . " yes , " *cethern said . " three warriors set upon me with war-clubs , wearing three collars of silver round their necks . each had a handfull of lances and stuck a spear in me , but i stuck him back with it " . " those were warriors from &iruath , " *cuchulainn said . " they pierced you expertly inside the wound , " the healer said . " they have cut the bloody sinews of your heart . it is rolling around inside you like a ball of wool in an empty bag " . " here , " *fingin said , " i see the work of three furious men " . " yes , " *cethern said . " three great fat grey-bellied men came at me , discussing my good points as they came " . those were three of *medb5 and *ailill5 stewards , " *cuchulainn said , " *scenb and *rann and *fodail -- carver , apportioner and server " . " these three blows were struck in the morning , " *fingin said . " yes , " *cethern said . " three warriors attacked me , wrapped in black fur cloaks worn bald . their hooded tunics were covered in stains and they carried three iron cudgels in their hands " . " those were the three madmen of &baiscne , three murderous servants of *medb , " *cuchulainn said . " yes , " *cethern said . " two great warriors in dark green cloaks set upon me , with curved scallop-edged shields . each of them had a broad , grey , slender-shafted stabbing-spear in his hand " .

" i know them , " *cuchulainn said , " *cormac % the king5 pillar % and *cormac , *maelFoga5 son " . " their wounds came close together , " the healer said . " they got into your gullet and worked there with their deadly javelins " . " two brothers struck you in this place , " he said . " you may be right , " *cethern said . " a pair of warriors set upon me , one with a head of yellow curls , the other with a head of dark curls . they carried two bright shields graven with gold animals , and two bright-hilted iron swords . red-embroidered hooded tunics were wrapped about them " . " i know them , " *cuchulainn said . " those were *maineAthramail , the fatherlike , and *maineMa/thramail , the motherlike " . " this is the double wound of a son and a father , " the healer said . " yes , " *cethern said . " two huge men came at me , their eyes bright as torches , with gold crowns on their heads . they had gold-hilted swords at their waists . scabbards with tassels of speckled gold hung down to their feet " . " i know them , " *cuchulainn said . " those were *ailill and his son , *maineCotagaibUli , who has the likeness of all " . " tell me , friend *fingin , what you think of my state " . " i 'll tell you no lie , " *fingin said . " do9 look to your cows now for calves . if it were only a question of twos or threes ... but your case is clear -- a whole horde has left its tracks in you , and one way or another your life is done " . *fingin turned his chariot away . " your advice is only the same as the others , " *cethern said , and he struck him with his fist and sent him across the chariot5 two shafts and smashed the chariot itself . " that was a wicked blow to give an old man ! "

*cuchulainn said . ( it is from his word % ~luae % -- the blow , or kick -- that the name &ochturLui , in &crichRois , is taken ) . " save your kicks for your enemies " . after this the healer gave him a choice : either to treat his sickness for a whole year and live out his life5 span , or get enough strength quickly , in three days and three nights , to fit him to fight his present enemies . he chose the second course . the healer asked *cuchulainn for bone-marrow to heal him , and *cuchulainn went out and took what beasts he could find and made a mash of marrow out of their bones . from this comes the name &smirommair , the &bath of &marrow , in &cri/chRois . *cethern slept day and night in the marrow , absorbing it . he said afterward : " i have no ribs left . get me the ribs out of the chariot-frame " . " i 'll get them for you , " *cuchulainn said . then *cethern said : " if only i had my own weapons , i 'd do things they would talk about for ever " . " i see something like them coming , " *cuchulainn said . " what is it ? " *cethern said . " i think i see *finnBec coming toward us in a chariot -- *eochaid5 daughter , your wife " . the woman came in sight with *cethern5 weapons in the chariot . *cethern took his weapons and made off toward the armies , with the frame of his chariot bound around his belly to give him strength . the healer *itholl , who had lain like a dead man among the bodies of the other healers , went ahead to warn the *connacht camp . in their dread , they put *ailill5 crown on top of a pillar-stone , and *cethern attacked the pillar-stone and drove his sword through it , and his fist after the sword . this is the origin of the name &liaToll , the &pierced &stone , in

&cri/chRois . " you have played me false , " *cethern cried . " i 'll give you no rest , now , " he said , " until one of you puts on this crown of *ailill5 " . he ground them down day and night until one of the *maine placed the crown on his head and came against him in his chariot . *cethern threw his shield at him and it split him and his charioteer open , and cleaved through his horses into the ground . then the armies closed in on him and he wrought havoc among them until he fell . { *fi/ntan5 tooth-fight } . *fintan came to avenge his son *cethern , with three times fifty belted and bristling men , all with double-headed spears . they fought seven battles against the enemy , and only *fintan himself and his son *crimthann came out alive , and not one of their followers . *crimthann got separated from his father by a wall of shields and was saved by *ailill out of fear of *fintan , on condition he would fight them no more until he came with *conchobor to the last ^battle . *fintan promised friendship to *ailill for giving him back his son . when *fintan5 people and the men of &ireland were found , they had each other caught by the lips and noses in their fanged teeth . *mennMacSa/lchada went against them with thirty bristling men . twelve of *medb5 men fell there and twelve of his own as well . *menn himself was badly wounded and all his followers reddened with blood . the men of &ireland said : " it is a red shame for *mennMacSalchada -- his people slaughtered and ruined , and he himself wounded and red with blood " .

*menn was let leave the encampment and no more men were killed . they told him they would9 think it any dishonour for him to go back to his home in the watered lands by the &boann river . he went and stayed there . Hhe thought it no dishonour to leave the camp until such time as he was to come with *conchobor to the last ^battle . { *rochad5 bloodless fight } . *cuchulainn told his charioteer to go for help to *rochadMacFaithemain . the charioteer found him and told him to come and help *cuchulainn if his pangs were finished ; he said they could steal up on some of the host and destroy them . *rochad came southward with a hundred warriors . " scan the plain for us , " *ailill said . " i see a troop crossing the plain , " the watcher said . " they have a tender youth among them and they reach up only to his shoulders " . " who is that , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " that is *rochadMacFaithemain , " he said , " coming to help *cuchulainn " . " here is what to do , " *ailill said : " send out a hundred warriors into the middle of the plain with the girl *finnabair in front of them . send a horseman to tell him that the girl wants to speak alone with him . then you can get your hands on him and end any danger from his army " . this was agreed . it happened that *finnabair loved *rochad , for he was the handsomest hero in *ulster at that time , and she had gone to her mother *medb to speak about it . " i have loved this warrior a long time , " she said . " he is my true and first and chosen love " .

" if you have so much love for him , " *ailill and *medb said , " sleep with him tonight and ask him for a truce for our armies until he comes against us with *conchobor on the day of the great ^battle " . *rochad came to meet the horseman , who said : " i have come to you from *finnabair . will you talk to her ? " . *rochad went alone to talk to her . the troop rushed at him from all sides and grasped him in their arms . so he was captured and his followers fled . later he was set free on his promise not to fight the armies until the coming of the whole of *ulster . he was offered *finnabair for this and he took her . the girl slept with him that night . then he returned to *ulster . the seven kings of *munster were told that *rochad had slept with the girl . one of them said : " that girl was promised to me , with fifteen hostages as a guarantee , to get me to join this army " . all seven confessed in turn that she had been promised to them . they came to take vengeance against *ailill5 sons who were keeping watch over the armies in &glennDomain . but *medb rose up against them , and the *galeo/in troop of three thousand rose up also , and *ailill and *fergus . seven hundred died slaughtering each other there in &glennDomain . when *finnabair heard that seven hundred men had died because of her deceit , she fell dead of shame . from this comes the place-name &finnabairSle/be, &finnabair in the &mountains . then *ilech came against them at &athFeidli . he was *laegaireBuadach5 grand-father ; *laegaire was the son of *connad the *yellow-haired , *ilech5 son . *ilech had been left

under *laegaire5 care at &ra/ithImpail . he came to take vengeance on the army in a decrepit old chariot without covers or cushions . two old yellow horses pulled the ancient chariot . the whole frame was filled with stones and clods that he flung at everyone who came up to look at him in his nakedness , with his narrow tool and his balls hanging down through the chariot floor . the army kept jeering at the spectacle of the naked man , but *do/chaeMacMa/gach stopped the rabble at their mocking , and called out to *ilech that he would take his sword and his head from him at the end of that day , if he did9 get out of the army5 way . *ilech saw the mash of marrow . they told him it was made out of *ulster cows' bones . that day he made another marrow-mash beside it , a trench of marrow out of *connachtmen5 bones . at nightfall *do/chae cut off *ilech5 head and brought it to his grandson *laegaire . he made a pact of friendship with *laegaire and kept the sword . the armies moved next toward &tailtiu , where three times fifty of *ulster5 charioteers attacked them . they killed three times their own number , but they themselves were all killed . &roiArad , the &Battlefield of the &charioteer , is the name of the place : a charioteer and his company fell there on the ^ta/inBo/Cuailnge . the armies beheld one evening a great stone hurtling upon them from the east , and another like it from the west . the two stones met in the air and fell over the camps of *fergus and *ailill . this playful sport continued until the same hour next day , while the armies sat still with their shields held over their heads to guard against the

blocks of stone , and the plain grew full of stones . this is the origin of &magClochair , the &stony &plain . *cu/roiMacDa/iri was the cause of this . he had come to help his own people , and stopped at &cotail . *munremurMacGerrcinn was stopped opposite him at &ardRoich : he had come from &emainMacha to help *cuchulainn . *cu/roi knew there was nobody in the armies who could withstand *munremur . it was these two between them that made the sport . the armies asked them to be still . *munremur and *cu/roi made a pact : *cu/roi went back to his home and *munremur went to &emainMacha . *munremur did9 come again until the day of the ^battle . while these things were happening , the pangs of the *ulstermen were coming to an end . from &ra/ithSualdaim , his house on &murtheimne plain , *sualdam heard how his son *cuchulainn was being harassed . " are the heavens rent ? " he said . " is the sea bursting its bounds ? . is the end of the world upon us ? . or is that my son crying out as he fights against great odds ? " . he went out to his son but *cuchulainn did9 want him there , for if anyone killed him he would have no strength to avenge him . " go to the men of *ulster , " *cuchulainn said . " tell them to come and fight these armies now . if they do9 come soon , they 'll never get their revenge " . his father could see that there was no part of his body bigger than the tip of a rush that had9 been pierced . in his left hand alone , though his shield here protected it , there were fifty bloody places . *sualdam went to &emain , and cried out to the men of *ulster : " men murdered , women stolen , cattle plundered ! " .

he gave his first cry from the slope of the enclosure , his second beside the fort and the third cry from the &mound of the &hostages inside &emain itself . nobody answered . ( in *ulster no man spoke before *conchobor , and *conchobor would9 speak before the three druids ) . then a druid said : " who is robbing and stealing and plundering ? " . " *ailillMacMata , " *sualdam said , " with the knowledge of *fergusMacRoich . your people are harassed as far as &du/nSobairche and their cattle and their women and all their herds taken . *cuchulainn kept them out of &murtheimne &plain and &cri/chRois ; for three winter months now he has fastened his cloak round him with hoops of twigs and kept dry wisps in his joints . he has been wounded so sorely that his joints are coming asunder " . " this man is annoying the king , " the druid said . " by rights he ought to suffer death " . " it would be fitting , " *conchobor said . " it would , " all the men of *ulster said . " still , what *sualdam says is true , " *conchobor said . " they have been overrunning us from the ^monday at summer5 end to the ^monday at spring5 beginning " . it seemed to *sualdam that they were not doing enough , and he ran out while they were speaking . but he fell over his shield and the scalloped rim cut his head off . his head was brought back on a shield into his house in &emain , where it uttered the same warning again . " why all this uproar ? " *conchobor said . " is9 the sea in front of them still ? . the sky overhead ? . the earth under foot ? . i 'll beat them in battle , and bring back every cow to its byre , and every woman and child back home again " . *conchobor laid his hand upon his son , *finnchadFerBenn , the *horned *man -- so called because of the silver horns he wore -- and said :

" rise up now , *finnchad , and summon *deda to me , from his bay , and *leamain and *fallach and *fergus5 son *illann from &gabar ; *dorlunsa from &imchla/r , *dergImderg the *red , *fedilmidCilairChetaig , *faelada/n and *rochadMacFaithemain from &ri/gdonn ; *lugaid and *lugda ; *cathbad from his bay ; the three named *coirpre from &aelai , *laeg from his causeway and *gemen from his valley ; *senollUathach , the *hideous , from &diabalArda , and *fintan5 son *cethern from &carlaig ; *cethern from &eillne , *aurothor , and *mulach from his fortress ; *amargin the royal poet , and *Uathach of the *badb ; the great queen at &du/nSobairche ; *ieth and *roth and *fiachna from his mound ; *damDreimend , *andiaraid and *maineMacBriathrach ; *damDerg , *mod and *maithes ; *irmaithis from &corpGliath ; *gabar from &laigiLine , *eochaid from &saimne and *eochaid from &latharnu ; *umaMacRemanfisig from &fedan ; *munremurMacGerrcinn , and *senlobair from &canannGall ; *follamain , and &lugaid , king of the *firBolg , at &laigiLi/ne ; *buadgalach and *ambuach ,and *fergna from &barre/ne ; *aine and *errge *echbe/l the horse-lipped ; *abra , and *celtcharMacUthidir from &lethglas : &laegaireMilbe/l the honey-mouthed from his hearth ; the three sons of *dromscailtMacDregamm ; *drenda and *drendas and *cimbe ; *cimling and *cimmene from the slopes of &caba ; *fachtna , *sencha5 son , in his rath ; *sencha and *senchairthe ; *briccir and *bricirne ; *breic and *buan and *bairech ; *aengus and *fergus , *lete5 sons , and *aengus of the *firBolg ; *bruchur and *alamiach of the old tribes in &sla/nge , and the three sons of *fiachna from &cuailnge ; *conallCernach from &midluachair , *connadMacMorna from &felunt , *cuchulainnMacSualdaim from &murtheimne , *amargin from &esRuaid and *laeg from &le/ire ; *sa/lchada5 son at &correnna and *cu/roiMacAmargin in his rath ; *aengusFerBennUma of the copper horns , and *ogmaGrianainech , whose face is like the sun , from &brecc ;

*eoMac-nOircne , and *tollchenn from &saithi , and *mogollEchbe/l from the &plain of &ai ; *connlaSaeb from &uarba , *laegaireBuadach from &impail ; *ailill son of *amargin from &tailtiu , and *furbaideFerBenn , the horned one , from &seil on &inis &plain ; *cu/scraidMenn the stammerer , the sons of *li/ , and *fingin from &finngabar ; *cremath and the hostel keepers *blaiFichit and *blaiBriuga at &fesair ; *eoganMacDurthacht from &fernmag ; *dord and *seirid and *serthe , *oblan from &cuilenn , *cuirther and *liana from &eithBenne , *fernel and *finnchad from &sliabBetha , *talgobain from &bernas , and *mennMacSa/lchada from &dulo &plain ; *iroll from &blarigi , *tibraideMacAilcotha ; *iala the ravager from &dobla &plain , *rusMacAilcotha , *maineMacCruim , *ninnechMacCruinn , *dipsemilid and *ma/lMacRochrad ; *muinne , *munremur5 son , *fiatachFerndoirre son of *dubthach , and *muirneMenn " . *finnchad found that his task was easy , for all the chieftains in *conchobor5 province had been waiting for *conchobor to move . they had gathered around &emain east and north and west and entered &emainMacha in time for *conchobor5 wakening . they moved out of &emain southward to look for the armies . the first stage of their march was from &emain to &irairdCuilenn . " why are you stopping here ? " *conchobor said . " we are waiting for your sons , " they said . " they are gone with thirty others to &temair to get *erc son of *coirpreNiafer and *fedelmNoichride . we 're not leaving here until their two troops of three thousand arrive " . " i can't wait until the men of &ireland discover i have risen from my pangs , " *conchobor said . *conchobor and *celtchar went ahead with three times fifty chariots and came back with eight score men5 heads from &airthirMidi &ford , in &east &meath . the ford is known

ever since as &athFe/ne , &warriors' &ford . these eight score warriors had been keeping watch for the armies . they had eight score women with them , their share of the plunder . when *conchobor and *celtchar brought the heads back to the camp , *celtchar said to *conchobor : [[ " slingshots reddened by a terrible king proud past compare sinews split limp with horror in a hundred branches ground given up of fourhorse chariots thirty of the host5 hard steeds a hundred two hundred druids to lead us a solid man not lacking at *conchobor5 back prepare for the battle let the warriors wake the battle breaks out at &ga/irech and &irgairech " . ]] others say it was *cu/scraid the stammerer of &Macha , *conchobor5 son , who chanted this the night before the battle , just after *laegaireBuadach had made the chant beginning : % rise kings of &macha , % and that he chanted it in the eastern camp . { *dubthach5 vision } . during the night *dubthachDael of *ulster , the black-tongued , dreamed of the armies at &ga/irech and &irgairech , and spoke in his sleep :

[[ " monstrous morning monstrous season hosts in turmoil kings cast down necks broken a red sun three hosts crushed by the host of *ulster about *conchobor woman struggle herds driven the morning following heroes felled hounds cut down horses mangled tunics torn the earth drinking spilt blood of gathered hordes " . ]] this upset them in their sleep . the *nemain brought confusion on the armies and a hundred of their number fell dead . silence fell again , until *cormacConnlongas ( or some say *ailillMacMata ) was heard chanting in the western camp : [[ " *ailill5 hours ! . a great truce the truce at &cuillenn a great plot the plot at &delind great herds of horses the herds at &assal a great plague at &tuathBressi " . ]]

{ XIII THE COMPANIES ADVANCE } . during this time , the *connacht army took counsel with *ailill and *medb and *fergus . they decided to send scouts to see if the men of *ulster had reached the plain . *ailill said : " *macRoth , go and see if they are all here on the plain of &meath . if they are not here yet , i have got clear away with their goods and herds . they can look for fight as much as they like now , i 'm not waiting here for them any longer " . *macRoth went off and scanned and scoured the plain , and hurried back to *ailill and *medb and *fergus . when he first looked out from the &sliabFuait road he had seen all the wild animals leaving the forest and coming out over the plain . " i looked a second time , " *macRoth said . " i studied the plain before me and saw a dense fog filling the valleys and hollows , so that the high places in between looked like islands in a lake . i made out sparks of fire through the thick fog , and a world of different colours , of all kinds . then i saw flashes of lightning , with uproar and thunder . though there is only a light breeze out today , a great wind came that flung me down on my back and all but swept the hair from my head " . " what is this , *fergus , do you think ? " *ailill said . " i know well what it is . the men of *ulster have risen from their pangs . it is they who entered the forest , great

heroes thronging in might and violence ; and they who shook the forest and sent the wild animals fleeing onto the plain . the dense fog you saw filling the hollows , that was the breath of those fierce men filling the valley until the hills in between looked like islands in a lake . the flashes of lightning and the sparks of fire and all those colours you saw , *macRoth , " *fergus said , " those were the warriors' eyes , so bright you thought they were sparks of fire . the thunder and thudding and turmoil you heard , that is the humming of their blades and their ivory-hilted swords , the uproar of arms , the clattering of chariots -- horse-hooves hammering , fierce chariot-fighters -- the outcry of an army : the sound of warriors , the anger and fury and ferocity of the brave as they rage toward the battle . they think they will never reach it , their angry spirit is so high " . *fergus said . " let them come , " *ailill said . " we have warriors to meet them " . " you 'll need them , " *fergus said . " no one in all &ireland , or the western world from &greece and &scythia westward to the &orkney &islands and the &pillars of &hercules , as far as the tower of &breogan and the &islands of &gades , can withstand the men of *ulster when their fury is roused " . *macRoth went off once more to see how the men of *ulster were coming . he went up to their encampment on the smooth plain of &slemainMidi . then he came to *ailill and *medb and *fergus and gave them this news : " a mighty great force , fierce and ferocious , came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " a full troop of three thousand , i would say . they tore their clothes off straight away and dug a mound of sods where their leader was to sit . he was fair and graceful and tall , a choice royal figure out before his company , handsome and slender . he had light yellow hair cut and curled neatly and

reaching down in waves to the shallow between his shoulders . he wore a purple pleated tunic wrapped around him . a rich brooch of red-gold fastened the cloak at his breast . his eyes were very grey and gentle , his face bright and blushing , the brow broad , the jaw narrow . he had a forked and wreathed gold beard . he wore a white , red-embroidered hooded tunic and carried a gold-hilted sword reaching to his shoulders , with a bright shield graven with gold animals . he held in his hand the slender shaft of a broad grey stabbing-spear . the finest of the world5 princes in figure and dress and fury and following , he advanced with looks of strife , terror , triumph , rage and fierce dignity " . " another company came , " *macRoth said , " second only to the first in numbers and discipline and dress and terrible fierceness . a fair young hero headed this company , with a green cloak wrapped around him , fastened at his shoulder with a gold brooch . his hair was curled and yellow . he wore at his left an ivory-hilted sword , the hilt cut from a boar5 tusk . a bordered tunic covered him to the knee . he carried a scallop-edged , death-dealing shield and a great spear in his hand like a palace-torch with silver rings running one way along the shaft as far as the tip , then running back to the grip . that company settled at the left hand of the leader of the first company . they squatted with their knees on the earth and their shield-rims at their chins . i thought i heard a stammer in the speech of the great grim champion who led that company " . " another company came , " *macRoth said . " it looked more than a full troop of three thousand . a wild and wilful man went before them , broad-headed and fair-featured . he had brown curly hair and a long thin forked beard . he wore a dark-grey fringed cloak wrapped around him , caught on his breast by a leaf-shaped pin of light

gold . a white hooded tunic covered him to the knee . he carried a hero5 shield graven with animals , a naked sword with a bright silver grip at his waist and a five-pronged spear in his hand . he sat down and faced the leader of the first company " . " who are these , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " i know these companies well , " *fergus said . " *conchobor , king of a province of &ireland , is the one who settled himself on the mound of sods . *senchaMacAilella , the most eloquent man in *ulster , is the one who sat facing him . *cu/scraidMennMacha , the stammerer , *conchobor5 son , is the one who sat at his father5 hand . the spear in his hand always plays like that just before a victory : the rings won't run round it at any other time . that was great group for finding fight and serving out wounds , " *fergus said . " they 'll find what they want here , " *medb said . " i swear to my people5 god , " *fergus said , " the army was9 raised in &ireland yet that can resist the men of *ulster when they are provoked " . " another company came , " *macRoth said , " a troop of three thousand and more , with a great swarthy fiery-faced champion at its head , awesome and terrible . his dark brown hair lay flat on his forehead . he carried a curved scallop-edged shield , with a five-pronged spear in his hand , a forked javelin at his side , and a cruel sword slung behind him . a purple cloak was wrapped around him with a gold brooch at the shoulder . a white hooded tunic covered him to the knee " . " who is that , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " the beginner of battle " , *fergus said , " a man created for war . he falls on his enemies like a doom : *eoganMacDurthacht , king of &fernmag " . " another great grim company came to the hill at

&slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " with their cloacks thrown back behind them . dark and steady they came to the hill bringing great dread and terror , i tell you no lie . the clash of their weapons was awful as they marched . a great fearsome champion with a fleshy head was their leader , with sparse grey hair and big yellow eyes . he was wrapped in a yellow cloack with a white border . a scallop-edged , death-dealing shield hung at his side . he carried a broad-bladed javelin and a long spear with a blood-stained shaft . next to it in his hand was another javelin , with the blood of enemies on its blade . a big murderous sword hung at his shoulders " . " who is that , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " a warrior who has never shirked the warlike fray . that is *laegaireBuadach , the victorious , son of *connad son of *ilech from &impail in the north , " *fergus said . " another great company came to the hill in &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " with a pleasant , fat , thick-necked warrior at their head . his hair was black and curled , his face flushed , his grey eyes bright . he wore a noble brownish cloack about him held by a bright silver brooch . he carried a black shield with a knob of bronze and a shimmering spear in his hand , set with eyes . a red-embroidered braided tunic covered him and an hivory-hilted sword hung out over his clothes " . " who is that , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " the first in the fray : he advances like a devouring sea-wawe over a little stream . a man of three cries . he falls on his enemies like a bitter doom , " *fergus said . " *munremurMacGerrcin , from &moduirn in the north " . " another great company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " a fine numerous and handsome company , well dressed and disciplined . they hurried fiercely to the hill . they shook the armies with the clash

of their weapons as they advanced . a pleasant proud champion came at their head , the most marvellous among men for his hair and eyes and grim aspect , for apparel , bearing , voice , paleness and proud lofty good looks , for weapons and skill and style , for equipment , apt feats , learning , distinction and breeding " . " as you describe him , " *fergus said , " that was the bright flame , the fair *fedilmid . an overwhelming storm wave , coming in warrior5 rage and irresistible might , full of triumph , from the destruction of his enemies in other lands : *fedilmidCilairChetaig " . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " a full warlike troop of three thousand at the least count , with a great upright sallow warrior bravely at their head . his hair was black and curly , his dull-brown eyes scornful and large . a harsh , firm , bull-like man . he wore a grey cloak around him , held at the shoulder with a silver pin , and a white hooded tunic . he carried a sword at his thigh , and a red shield with a knob of tough silver . he held a broad , triple-rivetted blade in his hand " . " who is that , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " *connadMacMorna , coming from &callann in an angry glow , bold in battle , the winner of wars , " *fergus said . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " big as an army in its advance . seldom will you find a champion of better style and bearing than the leader at the head of that company . his red-gold hair was close-cropped , his flushed face fine and well formed -- the jaw narrow , the brow broad -- with fine red lips and shining pearls for teeth . his voice rang clear as he lifted his fine , flushed , well-formed face , the most marvellous among men . he wore a purple cloak wrapped around him with an elaborate gold brooch on his white

breast . he carried at his left a curved shield with a knob of silver , graven with all kinds of coloured animals . he held in his hand a long bleak-bladed javelin and a keen quick spear . a sword of gold with a gold hilt hung at his back . a red-embroidered hooded tunic wrapped him round " . " who is that , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " i know him well , " *fergus said , " half an army in himself , a barrier in battle , a ravening mastiff , *rochadMacFaithemain from &ri/gdonn , your own son-in-law that took your daughter *finnabair " . " another company came there to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " with a burly , thick-thighed , brawny-calved hero at their head . his legs and arms were each as thick as a man . from head to foot he was a man indeed , " he said . " his hair was black , his face scarred and fiery , with scornful , blazing bloodshot eyes : a sprightly splendid man in every way , horrible and grim . the style and dress and weapons of his warriors made a marvellous spectacle as he came among them in triumph -- a hero full of warlike deeds and wilful dignity as he goes against great odds to crush the foe in his anger , scorning fair fight , or as he travels unprotected through hostile lands . steadily they advanced on &slemainMidi " . " that was a flood of skill and courage " . *fergus said , " a flood of hot blood , vigour , power and pride -- a force to hold armies together : my own foster-brother , *fergusMacLete , king of &li/ne , the battle-crest of the north of &ireland " . " another great grim company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " in weird apparel , bringing strife before them , with a fine fair hero at their head , magnificent in every way -- for his hair and eyes and pallor , his stature , structure and ferocity . he wore five chains

of gold , a white hooded tunic , and a green cloak wrapped around him and fastened at the shoulder with a gold brooch . he held a spear like a palace pillar in his hand . a gold-hilted sword hung at his shoulder " . " that was a battle-hungry hero , very quick to wrath , " *fergus said : " *amargin the son of the smith *ecetSalach , the grimy one , from &buais in the north " . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi " . *macRoth said , " overwhelming , fiery in splendour , spiky sharp , their numbers legion , a rock-mass , full of strength , doom in battle , a quick thunder . a terrible hero led that company with harsh looks : big-bellied , big-nosed , thick-lipped , his hair tough and grizzled , his limbs red . he wore a rough woven tunic and a dark cloak about him with an iron spike fastening the cloak . he carried a curved scallop edged shield and a great grey javelin in his hand , with thirty rivets . a sword that was tempered seven times hung at his shoulders . the whole army rose up to meet him . troop after troop of them fell into disorder as he proceeded to the hill " . " that was the topmost glory coming , " *fergus said . " half an army in himself , he fights so fiercely -- a stormy ocean wave breaking over barriers , *celtcharMacUthidir from &du/nLethglaise in the north " . " another company came there to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said . " at its head was a warrior all in white , his hair and eyelashes and beard all fair and his clothing white . he carried a shield with a knob of gold on it and an ivory-hilted sword in his hand , with a broad , pitted stabbing-spear . he advanced on his way like a high hero " . " a most cherished , powerful and death-dealing bear , " *fergus said , " murderous as a bear to the enemy , a man-crusher , the fair and righteous *feradachFinnFechtnach

from the wood at &sliabFuait in the north " . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " with a terrible warrior out in front . he had a big belly and thick horse5 lips . his hair was dark and curly and he had only one eye . his head was broad and his hand long . a black cloak swung about him , fastened with a disk of tin . he carried a dark-grey shield at his left , and a broad stabbing-spear , banded at the neck , in his right hand . a long sword hung at his shoulders " . " a ravening , red-clawed lion , " *fergus said , " sharp and fearful and busy in battle , not to be withstood as he rages on the earth : *errgeEchbe/l , the horse-lipped, from &bri/Errgi in the north , " *fergus said . " another company came there to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " with two tender heroes at their head -- alike in looks , with heads of yellow hair and two bright shields graven with silver animals . they were the same age . they raised their feet and set them down together , neither out of step with the other " . " two heroes , two pure flames , two battle-spikes , " *fergus said , " two champions and pillars of the fray ; two dragons , two fires , two war-like battle champions ; the two props and spoiled pets of *ulster and its king " . " who are they , *fergus ? " *ailill said . " *fiachna and *fiacha , two sons of *conchoborMacNesa , the two dear darlings of the north of &ireland , " *fergus said . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said . " three noble and fiery champions came at their head , with faces flushed , all three with hair gold-yellow and cropped . three cloaks of the same colour were wrapped about them , fastened at the shoulders with gold pins . they wore red-embroidered sleeved tunics . they carried three similar shields . three gold-hilted swords hung at their shoulders , and three broad grey spears were

in their hands . all three of an equal age " . " three fiery torches from &cuib and &midluachair who have done great deeds , three princes of &roth , three hardened soldiers from east of &sliabFuait , " *fergus said . " those were *fiachna5 three sons , *rus and *da/ire and *imchath , who have come to recover the bull " . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " a furious lively man at its head , with hot heroic eyes . he wore a speckled cloak with a silver disk to hold it . he carried a grey shield on his left and a silver-hilted sword by his side . he held in his wrathful right hand a javelin shaped well for subtle thrusts . a white hooded tunic covered him to the knee . the company about him was red with blood , and he himself marked with blood " . " that was a brave and pitiless one , " *fergus said , " a gashing beast , a wild boar in battle , a raving bull , the conqueror from &baile and holder of the gap , the torch of battle from &colptha . the protector of the border of the north of &ireland : *mennMacSa/lchada from &corann . he has come to avenge his wounds , " *fergus said . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " spirited and eager , with a great long-cheeked sallow warrior at their head . he had dark curling hair and wore a fine red woollen cloak and a handsome tunic . a gold pin held the cloak at his shoulder . he wore at his left a sword of great beauty with a hilt of bright silver . he carried a red shield and a grey broad-bladed stabbing-spear in his hand , beautifully worked and set onto its shaft of ash " . " that was a man of three hard strokes , " *fergus said . " a man of three roads and highways and byways , a man with three qualities and three cries , who breaks foreign enemies in battle -- *fergnaMacFinnchaime , from &corann " .

" another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said . " it seemed greater than a troop of three thousand , with a white-breasted , well-favoured warrior at its head , who looked like *ailill in size and handsomeness and apparel . he wore a gold crown on his head , and a red-embroidered tunic . a cloak of great beauty wrapped him round , fastened on the breast with a gold brooch . he carried a gold-rimmed , death-dealing shield and a spear like the pillar of a palace . a gold-hilted sword hung at his shoulder " . " like the sea against a stream he comes , " *fergus said , " a fiery blaze , in irresistible fury against his foes , *furbaideFerBenn , the horned man " . " another company came to the hill at &slemainMidi , " *macRoth said , " heroic , numberless , with strange garments , not like the other companies . their clothes and all their outfit and weapons were remarkable as they marched . this company was a great angry army in itself , with a flushed freckled boy at its head , the most marvellous of men by his looks . he carried on his arm to the glorious battle a gold-rimmed and gold-inlaid shield with a white knob , and a light sharp javelin shimmering in his hand . he wore a red-embroidered white hooded tunic and a purple fringed cloak wrapped round him , held at the breast with a silver pin . a gold-hilted sword hung out over his clothes " . at that , *fergus was silent . " i do9 know anyone like that boy in *ulster , " *fergus said , " unless these are the men of &temair gathered about the fine and noble well-favoured *erc , son of *coirpreNiafer and *conchobor5 daughter . *coirpre and *conchobor are not friendly toward each other , and this boy may have travelled to help his grandfather without asking his father5 leave . you will lose the battle on account of this

boy , " he said . " he knows no fear or terror , and when he presses into the midst of your forces the fighting-men of *ulster will raise a manly shout and hack through the fray to save the little calf of their hearts . seeing the boy in such terrible turmoil they will all fill up with sudden affection and hack a path through the battle . then the humming of *conchobor5 sword will be heard like a mastiff growling as he comes to save the boy . *conchobor will throw up three mounds of men around the battlefield in the search for his little grandson . and , full of family feeling , the inflamed fighting-men of *ulster will fall on your countless army , " *fergus said . " i am tired , " *macRoth said , " describing all i have seen . but there is something more to say " . " you have said enough " . *fergus said . " nevertheless , " *macRoth said , " *conallCernach and his great company have9 come . *conchobor5 three sons and their three troops of three thousand have9 come . *cuchulainn , wounded in the unequal struggle , has9 come . many hundreds , many thousands , have reached the *ulster camp . many heroes and champions and warriors have hurried there to the gathering . but more companies still were on their way there as i left , " *macRoth said . " my eye travelled from &ferdia5 &ford to &slemainMidi and fell on men and horses instead of hills and slopes " . " you have certainly seen a man of some following " . *fergus said .

{ XIV THE LAST BATTLE } . *conchobor came with his armies , and spoke to *ailill about a truce until sunrise . *ailill agreed for the men of &ireland and the exiles , and *conchobor agreed for the men of *ulster . *conchobor5 tents were pitched and he settled in his camp surrounded by his followers . the men of *ulster were settled before sunset . the ground between the armies lay bare . in the half light between the two camps , the *morri/gan spoke : [[ " ravens gnawing men5 necks blood spurting in the fierce fray hacked flesh battle madness blades in bodies acts of war after the cloaked one5 hero heat in man5 shape he shakes to pieces the men of &cruachan with hacking blows war is waged each trampling each . hail *ulster ! . woe men of &ireland ! . woe to *ulster ! . hail men of &ireland ! " . ]] this last ( % woe to *ulster % ) she said in *connachtmen5 ears only , to hide the truth from them . that same night *nat5 wives , *nemain and the *badb , called out to the men of &ireland near the field at &ga/irech and &irgairech , and a

hundred warriors died of fright . it was a bad night for them . *ailillMacMata chanted on the eve of the battle , saying : " rise up , *traigthre/n , swift-footed . summon for me the three called *conaire from &sliabMis ; the three fair ones called *les , in &luachair ; the three called *meid from &corptheLoste ; the three named *buidir from the river &buas ; the three called *badb from the river &buaidnech ; the three called *buaideltach from the river &berba ; the three *muredachs from &marga ; the three *laegaires from &lecDerg ; the three *suibnes from the river &siuir ; the three *echtachs from &ane ; the three called *dael from &eirc ; the three called *damach from &dergDerc ; the three called *bratruad from &loch &ri/ ; the three named *nelleth from &loch &eirne ; the three named *bresal from &bodg ; the three named *amalgad from &ai ; the three *fiachras from &nemain &wood ; the three *nechtas from &muiresc &plain ; the three famous sons from &esRuaid ; the three *ruirechs from &aigle ; the three *bruchurs from the river &febrad ; the three *conalls from &collamair ; the three named *fe/ic from &finnabair ; the three *coirpres from &cliu ; the three named *maineMilscothach ; the three *descertachs from &rompa ; the three *fintans from &femen &plain ; the three *rathachs from &raigne &plain ; the three *etersce/ls from &eterba/n ; the three *guaires from &gabail ; and the three named *aed from &aidne " . these men , in groups of three , were all the men of &ireland that survived the former slaughter by *cuchulainn . at this time *cuchulainn was lying nearby at &fedanChollna . the landowners there visited him every day and supplied him with food at night . west of *ferdia5 &ford he had killed no one .

" a small herd of animals has strayed from the western camp over toward our camp in the east , and some servants are coming out after them to bring them back , " the charioteer said to *cuchulainn . " now some of our servants from the eastern camp are coming out to take them from them " . " the servants will start fighting , " *cuchulainn said , " and the animals will go wandering over the plain while everybody goes to help the servants " . this is what happened . " how are the *ulster servants fighting ? , " *cuchulainn said . " like true men , " the charioteer said . " their honour would make them die for the sake of their herds , " *cuchulainn said . " what is happening now ? " . " the beardless boys have joined the fight , " the charioteer said . " has the light of the sun touched the clouds yet ? " *cuchulainn said . " not yet , " the charioteer said . " if only i had the strength to join them ! " *cuchulainn said . " there will be enough slaughter today without that , " the charioteer said . " now it is sunrise . the better-born people are joining the battle . the kings have9 come yet ; they are still asleep " . it was at sunrise that *fachtna said ( or some say it was *conchobor who chanted it in his sleep ) : [[ " rise kings of &macha modest people of mighty acts blades are battering battle raging the earth torn up ]]

[[ shields beaten arms weary herds bellowing in the rightful fight battle ranks trampled underfoot lords and princes lead in battle or end in blood a forest of men where they march and fall bitter blood drained hearts of queens filled with grief the dire advance grass soaked with blood where they stand and fall rise kings of &macha " . ]] " who chanted that ? " everyone said . " *conchoborMacNesa , " some said . " *fachtna , " others said . " sleep , sleep -- but with your sentries watchful " . *laegaireBuadach said : [[ " rise kings of &macha look to your cattle guard your plunder drive *connacht5 force from &uisnech hill men5 flanks in danger sinews on fire he will fell the world on the field of &ga/irech " . ]]

" who chanted that ? " everyone said . " *laegaireBuadachMacConnaidBuidiMeicIlech . sleep , sleep -- but with your sentries watchful " . " wait a little longer , " *conchobor said , " until the sun has lit all the hollows and hills of &ireland " . then *cuchulainn , from the east , saw the *connacht kings setting their crowns on their heads and coming to relieve their companies . he told his charioteer to rouse the men of *ulster . the charioteer spoke ( though some say it was the poet *amarginMacEcit ) : [[ " rise kings of &macha modest people of mighty acts the *badb covets the cattle of &impail heart5 gore poured out strife fills men5 veins to feed brave acts panic flight heart5 gore on the ground the battle din dies is there none like *cuchulainn to work &macha5 will for &cuailnge5 cattle rise early now " . ]] " i have woken them , " the charioteer said . " they are rushing naked to the battle , with nothing but their weapons . those that were facing to the east have dashed out through the backs of their tents ! " . " necessity is a great spur , " *cuchulainn said .

then he said : " friend *laeg , how are the men of *ulster doing in the battle ? " . " like true men , " the charioteer said . " they are fighting closely . *conallCernach5 charioteer *en and i could mount our chariots now and drive over the armies from one wing to the other , and find no place for a hoof or a wheel-rim to sink through " . " it has the making of a great battle , " *cuchulainn said . " tell me everything that happens , leave out nothing " . " i 'll do the best i can , " the charioteer said . " the warriors from the west have reached the eastern battle-line and broken through , " he said presently . " now the same number from the east have broken through the western battle-line " . " alas ! " *cuchulainn said . " you would see me attacking there with the rest of them if i had my health " . the men of &ireland , in their groups of three , advanced to the ford nearer the army -- a rare spectacle as they marched to the battle at &ga/irech and &irgairech . the nine chariot-fighters from &iruath advanced with them , the three on foot out in front as swift as those in the chariots . but *medb held them back from the battle , to pluck *ailill from the fray if their army was beaten or to kill *conchobor if they won . now the charioteer told *cuchulainn that *ailill and *medb were asking *fergus to join the fight , reproaching him with all they had done for him during his exile . " if only i had my sword , " *fergus said , " i 'd send men5 severed heads toppling thicker than hailstones over their shields into the mud . it would be like a king5 horses churning up the ground . i swear by my people5 god , " he said , " i 'd heap up men5 hacked jawbones on men5 necks ,

men5 necks on men5 shoulders , their arms on their elbows , with elbows on wrists , wrists on fists , fists on fingers , fingers on nails , nails on skulls , skulls on trunks , trunks on thighs , thighs on knees , knees on calves , calves on feet , feet on toes and toes on nails ! . i 'd send necks buzzing through the air like bees humming on a fine day ! " . *ailill said to his charioteer : " bring me that flesh-piercing sword . i swear by my people5 god , if its bloom has faded since the day i gave it to you on that hillside in the land of *ulster , not all of &ireland will save you from me " . they brought *fergus5 sword and *ailill said : [[ " now take your sword lay &ireland low but spare us at &ga/irech mighty man among boys if all is true not upon us be your wrath wrought let the rage rise against *ulster5 heroes at dawn on &ga/irech in the red morning we 'll see by the sods " . ]] *fergus said : [[ " bitter blade welcome *le/te5 sword bearer of quick *badb horror no longer hidden you have come to avenge a troop of warriors sinews smashed ]]

[[ heads toppled this sword no longer in a sovereign5 keeping tales to be told my sword will not deal death on you but do you glory before the men of &ireland " . ]] " it would be a shame if you were to fall on this glutted field of battle , " *fergus said to *ailill . *fergus seized his weapons and went into battle . with the sword held in his two hands , he carved a gap of a hundred men in the ranks . a hundred *ulster warriors died by his sword in the first onslaught . he came on *conallCernach . " you rage very hard at your kith and kin , " *conallCernach said , " for the sake of a whore5 backside " . then *medb took up her weapons and hurried into battle . three times she drove all before her until she was turned back by a wall of javelins . " who is forcing the battle against us from the north ? " . *conchobor said to those around him . " hold the fighting here and i 'll go and find him " . " we will hold out , " the warriors said , " until the earth gives under us , or until the heavens fall on us and make us give way " . *conchobor sought out *fergus and raised his shield against him -- the shield *ochain , the *ear of *beauty , with its four gold horns and four coverings of gold . *fergus struck it three blows but could9 budge even the rim of the shield enough to touch *conchobor5 head . " what man of *ulster holds that shield ? " *fergus said . " a better man than you , " *conchobor said , " one who drove you out to live in exile with the wild dogs and

foxes ; one who 'll stop you with his battle-deeds today before all the men of &ireland " . with that , *fergus raised his sword for a vengeful two-handed stroke at *conchobor . as the point touched the ground behind him , *cormacConnlongas flung his arms around him and caught his two hands at the wrist . " harshly , harshly , friend *fergus , " *cormac said . " that would be mean and shameful , and spoil friendships . these wicked blows will cheapen your enmity and break your pacts " . " then where am i to strike ? " *fergus cried . " turn your hand aside . strike out anywhere . strike crosswise at those three hills . but remember that *ulster5 honour was never thrown away , and never will be unless you do it today . leave us , *conchobor , " *cormac said to his father . " this man will pour his rage on *ulstermen no more " . so *fergus turned aside and struck at the hills . with three strokes he levelled the three bald-topped hills of &meath . *cuchulainn heard the blows *fergus dealt at the hills , and at *conchobor5 shield . " who struck those terrible blows in the distance ? " he said . " blood blocks my heart -- battle madness tears ! . undo these twigs quickly " . " *fergusMacRoich , the brave , a man among men , struck them , " *laeg answered ; " *fergusMacRoich , in bloodshed and mounting glory with the sword that was hidden in the chariot-shaft . the great fight has touched *ochain , our master *conchobor5 shield " . " loosen the hazel twigs . quickly ! " *cuchulainn said . " play of swords -- men smothered in blood -- bodies swallowed up ! " .

the wisps of rushes sprang up on high like larks , the bindings of hazel-twigs sprang away from him as far as &magTuag , the plain of the hazel-bands , in *connacht , and he ran about this way and that . his wounds opened afresh : *medb had sent two handmaids to lament over him and make his wounds open again , telling him how *fergus was fallen and *ulster broken in battle while he was kept from the fight . but he smashed their heads together , so that each was stained grey from the other5 brains . the warp-spasm seized him and they put the twenty-seven skin-tunics around him , all strings and straps , that he wore going into battle . he took his whole chariot on his back , the frame and the two rimmed wheels . then he rushed toward the battle and circled around looking for *fergus . " come here , friend *fergus ! " *cuchulainn cried , three times before he was answered . " i swear by *ulster5 god , " he said , " i 'll churn you up like foam churned in a pool ! . i 'll stand up over you like a cat5 tail erect ! . i 'll batter you as easily as a loving woman slaps her son ! " . " what man in &ireland talks to me like that ? " *fergus said . " *cuchulainn , the son of *sualdam and *conchobor5 sister , " *cuchulainn said . " give way before me " . " i promised to do that , " *fergus said . " it has fallen due , " *cuchulainn said . " very well , " *fergus said , " you ran from me once , and now you are riddled with wounds " . *fergus went off with his troop of three thousand . the men of *galeo/in and the men of *munster went away as well . they left *medb and *ailill to the battle , with their seven sons and their nine troops of three thousand men .

when *cuchulainn joined the battle it was noon . the sun had reached the tresses of the wood when he smashed their last company . nothing was left of his chariot but a handful of ribs out of the frame and a handful of spokes from the wheel . *medb had set up a shelter of shields to guard the rear of the men of &ireland . she had sent off the *brown *bull of &cuailnge to &cruachan by a roundabout road , with fifty of his heifers and eight messengers so that , whoever escaped , the *brown *bull of &cuailnge would be got safely away , as she had sworn . then *medb got her gush of blood . " *fergus , " she said , " take over the shelter of shields at the rear of the men of &ireland until i relieve myself " . " by god " *fergus said , " you have picked a bad time for this " . " i can't help it , " *medb said . " i 'll die if i can't do it " . so *fergus took over the shelter of shields at the rear of the men of &ireland and *medb relieved herself . it dug three great channels , each big enough to take a household . the place is called &fualMedba , &medb5 &foul &place , ever since . *cuchulainn found her like this . but he held his hand . he would9 strike her from behind . " spare me , " *medb said . " if i killed you dead , " *cuchulainn said , " it would only be right " . but he spared her , not being a killer of women . he

watched them all the way westward until they passed &athLuain , and there he stopped . he struck three blows of his sword at the stone hills nearby . the &bald-topped &hills is their name now , at &athLuain , in answer to the three &bald-topped &hills in &meath . the battle was over . *medb said to *fergus : " we have had shame and shambles here today , *fergus " . " we followed the rump of a misguiding woman , " *fergus said . " it is the usual thing for a herd led by a mare to be strayed and destroyed " . they took the bull away on the day after the battle . on &ai &plain , at &tarbga -- the place of bull-grief or bull-strife : the hill originally called &roiDedonn -- he met the bull *finnbennach , the *white-*horned . everyone who had escaped the battle stopped what he was doing , to see the two bulls fight together . the men of &ireland asked who should judge between the bulls . they agreed it should be *bricriuMacCarbad , because he favoured his friend no more than his enemy . so he was brought to a gap between the bulls to judge them . but the two bulls trampled across him as they struggled , and killed him . such was *bricriu5 death . the *brown *bull of &cuailnge planted a hoof on the other bull5 horn . all day until nightfall he would9 draw the hoof back toward him . *fergus chided him and took a stick to his flank . " it would look bad , " *fergus said , " to get this quarrelsome old calf so far , only to have him throw away the honour of his kind . men have died on both sides because of you " .

at that , the bull jerked back his hoof . his leg broke , but the other bull5 horn was sent flying to the mountain nearby . it is called &sliab-nAdarca , the &mountain of the *horn , ever since . then the bulls fought each other for a long time . night fell upon the men of &ireland and they could only hear the uproar and fury in the darkness . that night the bulls circled the whole of &ireland . when morning came , the men of &ireland saw the *donnCuailnge coming westward past &cruachan with the mangled remains of *finnbennach hanging from his horns . he brandished them before him all that day . and at nightfall entered the lake near &cruachan . he came out with *finnbennach5 loins and shoulderblade and liver on his horns . the armies went to kill him , but *fergus stopped them and let him go anywhere he liked . he headed toward his own land . he stopped to drink in &finnlethe on the way . he left *finnbennach5 shoulderblade there from which comes &finnlethe , the &white &one5 &shoulderblade , as the name of that district . he drank again at &athLuain , and left *finnbennach5 loins there that is how the place was named &athLuain , the &ford of the &loins . he uttered a bellow at &irairdCuillenn that was heard through the whole province . he drank again at &tromma , where *finnbennach5 liver fell from his two horns from which comes the name &tromma , or liver . he came to &etanTairb and set his brow against the hill at &athDaFerta from which comes the name &etanTairb , the &bull5 &brow , in &murtheimne &plain . then he went by the &midluachair road to &cuib , where he had dwelt with the milkless cow of *da/ire , and he tore up the ground there from which comes the name &gort-mBu/raig , the &field of the &trench . then he went on until he fell dead between *ulster and &ui/Echach at &druimTairb . so &druimTairb , the &ridge of the &bull , is the name of that place .

*ailill and *medb made peace with *ulster and *cuchulainn . For seven years afterward none of their people was killed in &ireland . *finnabair stayed with *cuchulainn , the *connachtmen went back to their own country , and the men of *ulster went back to &emainMacha full of their great triumph . ~finit . ~amen .