"Still another company there came to the same mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. ⁴"Not fewer than thirty hundred, the battle line of the troops.⁴ A ⁵broad-headed,⁵ stout warrior, pleasantly found of limb, in the front of that troop; he is dried and sallow; he is wild and bull-like; a dun, round eye, proud in his head; W. 5283. yellow, very curly is his hair; a red, round shield with hard-silver rim about it he bore; a ¹trebly riveted,¹ broad-plated, long-shafted spear in his hand; a streaked-grey cloak around him; a salmon-shaped brooch of copper in the cloak over his breast; a hooded kirtle girded around him reaching down to his calves; a straightsword with ornaments of walrus-tooth on his left thigh." "But who might he be?" ^*LL. fo. 98b. asked Ailill of Fergus. "I know him indeed," Fergus made answer. "He is the prop of battle; ²he is the wild heat of anger; he is the daring of every battle;² he is the triumph of every combat; he is the tool that pierces, is the man who comes thither. Connud macMorna, from the Callann in the north, is the man yonder."

"There came still another company to the same mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. ³"A company most fair to look upon, most notable both in numbers and in attendance and apparel.³ It is indeed no lying word, it is with might and storm they gained the hill, so that ⁴with the clash of arms they made at the approach of that company⁴ they startled the hosts that had arrived there before them. A man, comely and noble, in advance of that band; most well-favoured to see of the men of the world, whether in shape or form or frame; ⁵whether in hair or eyes or fearfulness; whether in voice or brightness or knowledge or adornment; whether in rank or wisdom or kindred;⁵ whether in arms or apparel; whether in size or worth or beauty; whether in figure or valour or conduct." ⁶"Who might that man be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill.⁶ "Then it is surely no lying word," Fergus made answer: "A fitting saying is this, 'No fool 'mongst the naked'^a is he who W. 5299. comes thither. He is the foe of all others; he is a power irresistible; the storm-wave that drowneth, the glitter of ice is that well-favoured man. Fedilmid ¹son of^{1 2}Ilar Cetach of Cualnge,² from Ellonn in the north, is he yonder, ³with trophies from other lands after dealing destruction to his enemies."³

"Still another battalion came thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath," macRoth proceeded. ⁴"It is the array of an army for greatness.⁴ Not often is a warrior seen more handsome than the warrior that is in the front rank of that company. Bushy, red-yellow hair he wore; ⁵his countenance comely, ruddy, well-formed;⁵ his face ⁶slender below,⁶ broad above; a deep-blue-grey, beaming eye, and it flashing and laughing in his head; a well-set, shapely man, tall, slender below and broad above; red, thin lips he had; teeth shining and pearl-like; ⁷a clear, ringing voice;⁷ a white-skinned body; ⁸most beautiful of the forms of men;^{8 9}a purple cloak wrapped around him;⁹ a brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a ¹⁰hooded¹⁰ tunic of royal silk with a red hem of red gold he wore next to his white skin; a bright, ¹¹curved¹¹ shield with ¹²wonderful,^{12 13}many-coloured¹³ devious figures of beasts in red gold thereon ¹⁴and with hollows of silver he bore at his left side;¹⁴ a gold-hilted, inlaid sword ¹⁵hanging from his neck¹⁵ at his left side; a long, grey-edged spear W. 5313. along with a cutting bye-spear of attack, with thongs for throwing, with fastenings of silvered bronze, in his hand."

"But who might that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "We know him full well," Fergus made answer. "He is half of a battle; he is the dividing^a of combat; he is the wild rage of a watchhound, the man who is come thither; Rochad son of Fatheman, from Rigdonn in the north, is he yonder. ¹Your son-in-law is he¹; ²he wedded your daughter, namely Finnabair,^{2 3}without dower, and he brought neither marriage-gift nor bride-price to her."³

"Another battalion there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. "A stalwart, thick-thighed, ⁴gross-calved⁴ warrior at the head of that company; little but every limb of him as stout as a man. Verily it is no lying word, he is a man down to the ground," said he. "Brown, bushy hair upon his head; a round-faced, ruddy countenance ⁵covered with scars⁵ he had; a flashing, proud eye in his head; a splendid, dexterous man was there, in this wise: Accompanied by black-haired, black-eyed youths; with a red, flaming banner; ⁶with terror and fearsomeness; with wonderful appearance, both of arms and apparel and raiment and countenance and splendour; with converse of heroes; with champions' deeds;⁶ with wilful rashness, so that they seek to rout overwhelming numbers outside of equal combat, ⁷with their wrath upon foes, with raids into hostile lands,⁷ with the violence of assault upon them, without having aught assistance from W. 5327. Conchobar. ¹It is no lying word, stiffly they made their march, that company to Slane of Meath."¹

"But, who might he be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Aye then we know him," Fergus made answer. "A thirst for valour and prowess; a thirst for madness and fury; ²a man of strength and of courage, of pride and of greatness of heart² is he that came thither. The welding of hosts and of arms; the point of battle and of slaughter of the men of the north of Erin, mine own real foster-brother himself, Fergus son of Letè, ³the king³ from Linè in the north, is the man yonder!"

"Still another ⁴great, fierce⁴ company came to the same hill in Slane of Meath," macRoth continued. ⁵"A battle-line with strange garments upon them,⁵ steadfast, without equal. A ⁶comely,⁶ handsome, ⁷matchless,⁷ untiring warrior in the van of this company; ⁸the flower of every form, whether as regards hair, or eye, or whiteness; whether of size, or followers or fitness.⁸ Next to his skin a blue, narrow-bordered cloth, with strong, woven and twisted hoops of silvered bronze, with becoming, sharp-fashioned buttons of red gold on its slashes and breast-borders; a ⁹green⁹ mantle, pieced together with the choicest of all colours, ¹⁰folded about him;^{10 11}a brooch of pale gold in the cloak over his breast;¹¹ five circles of gold, ^*LL. fo. 99a. that is, his shield, he bore on him; a tough, obdurate, straight-bladed sword for a hero's handling hung high on his left side. A straight, fluted spear, flaming red ¹²and venomous¹² in his hand." "But, who might that be?" asked W. 5342. Ailill of Fergus. "Truly, we know him well," Fergus made answer. ¹"Fiery is the manner of the warlike champion who has so come thither.¹ The choice flower of royal poets is he. He is the rush on the rath; he is the way to the goal; fierce is his valour, the man that came thither; Amargin son of the smith Ecetsalach ('the Grimy'), the noble poet from the Buas in the north, is he."

"There came yet another company there to the same hill in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. "A fair, yellow-haired hero in the front rank of that band. Fair was the man, both in hair and eye and beard and eyebrows and apparel; a rimmed shield he bore; a gold-hilted, overlaid sword on his left side; in his hand, a five-pointed spear that reflected its glare over the entire host, ²and a hollow lance in his hand. Hero-like was his coming!"²

"But who was that man?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "In sooth, we know him well," Fergus made answer. "Cherished, in truth, is that warrior by the people, he that to us is come thither; cherished, the stout-blow-dealing beast; cherished, the bear of great deeds against foes, ³with the violence of his attack.³ Feradach Finn Fectnach ('the Fair and Righteous') from Nemed ('the Grove') in Sliab Fuait in the north, is the one that is come there."

⁴"Another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. "Three bold, high-spirited youths of noble countenance, ⁵fiery and noble,⁵ in the front rank of that company. Three cloaks of the one colour ⁶they wore folded⁶ upon them; ⁷three close shorn, blae-yellow heads; three gold brooches over their arms; three sleeved tunics with embroidery of red gold, girded around them;⁷ three shields wholly alike they bore; ⁸three gold-hilted swords on their shoulders;⁸ three five-pointed, W. 5360. ¹broad and grey-green¹ spears in their ²right² hands." "Who were those men there?" Ailill asked. "I know," Fergus answered; "the three princes of Roth, the three champions of Colph, the three of Midluachair, great in achievements, three seasoned warriors of the east of Erin, to wit, the three sons of Fiachna in quest of their bull are there, even Ros and Darè and Imchad, for theirs was the possession of the Brown Bull of Cualnge. Even had they come alone, they would have offered you battle in defence of their bull and their drove, even though before them the enemy should not be routed."⁴

"Yet another company there came thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath," said macRoth. "Two ³fair,³ tender, young warriors at the head of that company, ⁵and both wholly alike. Brown, curly hair on the head of one of them; fair, yellow hair on that of the other;⁵ two green cloaks wrapped about them; two bright-silver brooches in the cloaks over their breasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk next to their skin; bright-hilted swords on their belts; ⁶two bright shields with devious figures of beasts in silver;⁶ two five-pronged spears with windings of pure bright silver in their hands. Moreover, their years were nigh the same. ⁷Together they lifted their feet and set them down again, for it was not their way for either of them to lift up his feet past the other."⁷

"But, who might they be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Well do we know them," Fergus made answer. "Two single, strong-necked champions are they; two united flames; two united torches; two champions; two heroes; two ridge-poles of hosts^a; two dragons; two thunderbolts; two destroyers (?); two boars; two bold ones; two mad ones; the two loved ones of Ulster around their king; W. 5378. ¹two breach-makers of hundreds; two spencers; the two darlings of the north of Erin, namely¹ Fiacha and Fiachna have come thither, two sons of Conchobar son of Fachtna son of Ross Ruad son of Rudraige."

"There came also another company to that same mound," said macRoth. "'Tis the engulphing of the sea for size; red-flaming fire ²for splendour;² a legion for number; a rock for strength; annihilation for battle; thunder for might. A ³rough-visaged,³ wrathful, terrible, ill-favoured one at the head of that band, and he was big-nosed, large-eared, apple-eyed, ⁴red-limbed,^{4 5}great-bellied, thick-lipped.⁵ Coarse, grizzly hair he wore; a streaked-grey cloak about him; a skewer of iron in the cloak over his breast, so that it reached from one of his shoulders to the other; a rough, three-striped tunic next to his skin; a sword of seven charges of remelted iron he bore on his rump; a brown hillock he bore, namely his shield; a great, grey spear with thirty nails driven through its socket he had in his hand. But, what need to tell further? ⁶All the host arose to meet him, and⁶ the lines and battalions were thrown into disorder at the sight of that warrior, as he came surrounded by his company to the hill, in Slane of Meath ⁷and the stream of battle-hosts with him."⁷ "But who might that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Ah, but we know him well," Fergus made answer. "He is the half of the battle; he is the head of strife ⁸of Ulster;⁸ he is the head ⁹of combat⁹ in valour; ¹⁰he is the storm-wave that drowneth;¹⁰ he is the sea overbounds, the man that is come thither; the mighty Celtchar son of Uthechar, from Lethglass in the north, is the man there!"

W. 5397. "There came yet another company thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath," said macRoth; "one that is firm and furious; one that is ugly and fearful. A great-bellied, big-mouthed champion, ¹the size of whose mouth is the mouth of a horse,¹ in the van of that troop; with but one clear eye, and ²half-brained,² long-handed. Brown, very curly hair he wore; a black, flowing mantle around him; a wheel-shaped brooch of tin in the mantle over his breast; a cunningly wrought tunic next to his skin; a great long sword under his waist; a well-tempered lance in his right hand; ^*LL. fo. 99b. a grey buckler he bore on him, that is, his shield."

"Pray, who might that man be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Indeed, but we know him," Fergus made answer; "the wild, red-handed, ³rending³ lion; the fierce, fearful bear that overcometh valour. ⁴He is the high doer of deeds, warlike, and fierce,⁴ Errgè Echbel ('Horse-mouth'), from Bri Errgi ('Errgè's Mound') in the north, is the one there."

"Yet another company there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath," said macRoth. "A large, noble, ⁵fiery⁵ man at the head of that company; foxy-red hair he had; huge, crimson-red eyes in his head; bulging as far as the bend of a warrior's finger is either of the very large crimson, kingly eyes he had; a many-coloured cloak about him; ⁶a wheel-shaped brooch of silver therein;⁶ a grey shield he bore ⁷on his left arm;⁷ a slender, blue lance above him; ⁸a bright, hooded shirt tucked around him that reached down to his knees;^{8 9}a sword with silver hilt at his hip; a spear remarkable for keenness in his revengeful right hand;⁹ a blood-smeared, becrimsoned company W. 5414. around him; himself covered with wounds and blood in their midst."

"Now who might he be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Well do we know him," Fergus made answer. "He is the bold, the ruthless, ¹the swift-moving eagle;¹ the eager lance; the goring beast; ²the torrent² of the Colbtha; ³the border-gate of the north of Erin;³ the triumphant hero from Bailè; he is the shaft (?); ^a he is the bellowing hero from Bernas ('the Gap'); the furious bull; Menn son of Salcholga, from Rena ('the Waterways') of the Boyne ⁴in the north; he hath come to take vengeance on ye for his bloody wounds and his sores which ye inflicted on him afore."⁴

"Yet another company came thither to the same mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. ⁵"High spirited and worthy of one another.⁵ A long-jawed, sallow-faced warrior, ⁶huge, broad, and tall,⁶ at the head of that company; black hair on his head; long limbs are his legs; a cloak of red curly wool about him; a brooch of white silver in the cloak over his breast; an ⁷all-white,⁷ linen shirt next to his skin; a gory-red shield with a boss ⁸of gold⁸ he bore; a sword with hilt of ⁹white⁹ silver on his left side; a sharp-cornered, gold-socketed spear he held over him; ¹⁰a broad, grey, interwoven spear-head, fairly set on an ashen shaft, in his hand."¹⁰ "But, who might he be?" Ailill asked of Fergus. "Truly, we know him," Fergus made answer. ¹¹"The man of three stout blows has come;¹¹ the man of three highways is he; the man of three roads, the man of three paths, the man of three W. 5431. ways; the man of three victories, the man of three triumphs; ¹the man of three shouts; the man that breaks battles on foes in another province;¹ Fergna son of Findchoem, king of Burach, ²from Coronn,^{2 3}royal hospitaller³ of Ulster in the north, has come thither."

"Even another company came there to the same mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. ⁴"Vaster than a division of three thousand was its appearance.⁴ A large, ⁵white-breasted,⁵ well-favoured man in the van of that company. Like to Ailill yonder, with his pointed weapons, the restrainer, both in features and noble bearing and fairness, both in arms and apparel, in valour and bravery and fame and deeds. A blue shield ⁶adapted for striking,⁶ with boss of gold was ⁷upon him.⁷ A gold-hilted sword, ⁸the pillar of a palace,^{8 9}along his shoulder⁹ he bore on his left side; a five-pronged spear with gold, in his hand; ¹⁰an exceeding fine cloak folded about him; a brooch of gold in the cloak over his breast; a tunic with red ornaments about him;¹⁰ a golden crown on his head."

"But, who might that be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Ah, but we know him well," Fergus made answer. ¹¹"Truly, the sea over rivers is the one that is come thither; the wild rage of fire; not to be borne is his wrath against foes;¹¹ the root of all manhood; the assault of overwhelming power; the annihilation of men is he that is come thither. Furbaide Ferbenn son of Conchobar, from Sil in Mag Inis in the north, is there."

¹²"Yet another company came to the mound in Slane W. 5444. of Meath," continued macRoth. "A sharp, proud folk; a stately, royal company, with their apparel of many colours, as well white and blue and black and purple, so that to a king could be likened each spirited, chosen man in the noble, most wonderful troop. A feast for the eyes of a host, to gaze on their comeliness and their garb, as if it was going forth to some great surpassing assembly was each single man of that company. A trine of noble, distinguished men were in the front rank of that company. The first man of them with a dark-grey mantle fringed with gold thread about him; a brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a tunic of rare silk next to his skin; sandals of lamb's skin he wore. Not many men in the world are better-favoured than is he. A light-yellow head of hair he has; a bright-faced sword with ivory hilt and with coils of gold thread, in his right hand. He flings on high the tooth-hilted sword, so that it falls on the head of the middle man but it simply grazes it. He catches it up in the air again, so that it falls on the head of the other man, and the first man catches it in his hand, and it divided not a ringlet nor the skin of the head of either of them, and these two men did not perceive it. Two brown, rich-hued, bright-faced youths; reddish-grey mantles around them; white-silver brooches in their mantles over their breasts; a bright-hilted sword under their waists; purple sandals they wore; as sweet as strings of lutes when long sustained in players' hands was the voice and song of one of the men, so that enough of delight it was to the host to listen to the sound of his voice. Worthy of a king or of a prince was each man in that company as regards apparel and appearance; thou wouldst think, at the sight of them, they were all kings. Neither spears nor swords do they bear, but their servants bear them."

"An over-proud body is that," quoth Ailill; "and who may they be, O Fergus?" he asked. "I know full well," W. 5466. replied Fergus; "the poets of Ulster are they, with that Fercerdne the fair, much-gifted, whom thou sawest, even the learned master of Ulster, Fercerdne. 'Tis before him that the lakes and rivers sink when he upbraids, and they swell up high when he applauds. The two others thou sawest are Athirnè the chief poet, whom none can deny, and Ailill Miltenga ('Honey-tongue') son of Carba; and he is called Ailill 'Honey-tongue' for that as sweet as honey are the words of wisdom that fall from him."

"There came yet another company to the mound in Slane of Meath," said macRoth. "A most terrible, dreadful sight to behold them. Blue and pied and green, purple, grey and white and black mantles; a kingly, white-grey, broad-eyed hero in the van of that company; wavy, grizzled hair upon him; a blue-purple cloak about him; a leaf-shaped brooch with ornamentation of gold in the cloak over his breast; a shield, stoutly braced with buckles of red copper; yellow sandals he wore; a large, strange-fashioned sword along his shoulder. Two curly-haired, white-faced youths close by him, wearing green cloaks and purple sandals and blue tunics, and with brown shields fitted with hooks, in their hands; white-hilted swords with silvered bronze ornaments they bore; a broad, somewhat light countenance had one of them. One of these cunning men raises his glance to heaven and scans the clouds of the sky and bears their answer to the marvellous troop that is with him. They all lift their eyes on high and watch the clouds and work their spells against the elements, so that the elements fall to warring with each other, till they discharge rain-clouds of fire downwards on the camp and entrenchments of the men of Erin."

"Who might that be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "I know him," replied Fergus; "the foundation of knowledge; the master of the elements; the heaven-soaring one; he that blindeth the eyes; that depriveth his foe W. 5488. of his strength through incantations of druids, namely Cathba the friendly druid, with the druids of Ulster about him. And to this end he makes augury when judging the elements, in order to ascertain therefrom how the great battle on Garech and Ilgarech will end. The two youths that are about him, they are his own two sons, to wit Imrinn son of Cathba and Genonn Gruadsolus ('Bright-cheek') son of Cathba, he that has the somewhat light countenance. Howbeit it will be hard for the men of Erin to withstand the spells of the druids."

"Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. "A numberless, bright-faced band; unwonted garments they wore; a little bag at the waist of each man of them. A white-haired, bull-faced man in the front of that company; an eager, dragon-like eye in his head; a black, flowing robe with edges of purple around him; a many coloured, leaf-shaped brooch with gems, in the robe over his breast; a ribbed tunic of thread of gold around him; a short sword, keen and hard, with plates of gold, in his hand; they all came to show him their stabs and their sores, their wounds and their ills, and he told each one his sickness, and he gave each a cure, and what at last happened to each was even the ill he foretold him." "He is the power of leechcraft; he is the healing of wounds; he is the thwarting of death; he is the absence of every weakness, is that man," said Fergus, "namely Fingin the prophet mediciner, the physician of Conchobar, with the leeches of Ulster around him. It is he that knoweth the sickness of a man by the smoke of the house wherein he lies, or by hearing his groans. Their medicine bags are the sacks which thou sawest with them."

"Another company came to the mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth. "A powerful, heavy, turbulent company; they caused uproar in their deeds of arms W. 5512. for the accomplishment of brilliant feats;^a they tore up the sad-sodded earth with the strength of their bitter rage, for the mighty princes of the proud province of Conchobar would not allow them to proceed to the great camp till all should be arrived. Two youths, swarthy and huge, in the front of that company; soft, playful eyes in their heads; about them, dark-grey tunics with silver pins set with stones; great, horn-topped swords with sheaths they bore; strong, stout shields they bore; hollow lances with rows of rivets, in their hands; glossy tunics next to their skin." "We know well that company," quoth Fergus; "the household of Conchobar and his vassals are those; their two leaders, Glasnè and Menn, two sons of Uthechar."

"There came yet another band to the mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth; "to wit, a band of a numerous body of henchmen. A black, hasty, swarthy, ..., man in the front rank of that band; seven chains around his neck; seven men at the end of each chain; these seven groups of men he drags along, so that their faces strike against the ground, and they revile him until he desists. Another terrible man is there, and the ponderous stone which powerful men could not raise, he sets on his palm and flings on high to the height a lark flies on a day of fine weather; a club of iron at his belt." "I know those men," quoth Fergus: "Triscoth the strong man of Conchobar's house; it is he that flings the stone on high. Ercenn son of the three stewards, he it is in the chains."

"There came ¹another¹ large, stately company to the mound in Slane of Meath," macRoth went on. "Three, very curly-headed, white-faced youths in the van of that troop; three curly-red kirtles with brooches of silvered bronze was the apparel they wore about them; three W. 5535. sparkling tunics of silk with golden seams tucked up about them; three studded shields with images of beasts for emblems in silvered bronze upon them and with bosses of red gold; three very keen swords with guards adorned with gold thread along their shoulders; broad-bladed javelin-heads on ashen shafts in their hands." "Who might that be there, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "That I know," answered Fergus: "the three venoms of serpents; three cutting ones; three edges; three watchful ones; three points of combat; three pillars of the borders; three powerful companies of Ulster; three wardens of Erin; three triumph-singers of a mighty host are there," said Fergus, "the three sons of Conchobar, namely Glas and Manè and Conaing."

"Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath," said macRoth. "Stately, in beautiful colours, gleaming-bright they came to the mound. Not fewer than an army-division, as a glance might judge them. A bold, fair-cheeked youth in the van of that troop; light-yellow hair has he; though a bag of red-shelled nuts were spilled on his crown, not a nut of them would fall to the ground because of the twisted, curly locks of his head. Bluish-grey as harebell is one of his eyes; as black as beetle's back is the other; the one brow black, the other white; a forked, light-yellow beard has he; a magnificent red-brown mantle about him; a round brooch adorned with gems of precious stones fastening it in his mantle over his right shoulder; a striped tunic of silk with a golden hem next to his skin; an ever-bright shield he bore; a hard-smiting, threatening spear he held over him; a very keen sword with hilt-piece of red gold on his thigh." "Who might that be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "I know, then," replied Fergus: "it is battle against foes; it is the inciting of strife; it is the rage of a monster; it is the madness of a lion; it is the cunning of a snake; it is the rock of the W. 5558. Badb; it is the sea over dikes; it is the shaking of rocks; it is the stirring of a wild host, namely Conall Cernach ('the Victorious'), the high-glorious son of Amargin, that is come hither."¹²

"Yet another company came to the same mound in Slane of Meath," said macRoth. ¹"Very heroic and without number it is;¹ steady and dissimilar to the other companies. ²Strange garments, unlike the other companies they wore. Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. A great host and fierce is that company.² Some wore red cloaks, others light-blue cloaks, ^*LL. fo. 100a. others dark blue cloaks, others green cloaks; white and yellow jerkins, beautiful and shiny, were over them. Behold the little, freckled, red-faced lad with purple, ³fringed³ mantle ⁴folded about him⁴ amongst them in their midst. ⁵Fairest of the forms of men was his form.⁵ A salmon-shaped brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast; a ⁶bright, hooded⁶ tunic of royal silk with red trimming of red gold next to his white skin; a bright shield with intricate figures of beasts in red gold upon it; a boss of gold on the shield; an edge of gold around it; a small, gold-hilted sword at his waist; a sharp, light lance cast its shadow over him." "But, who might he be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Truly, I know not," Fergus made answer, "that I left behind me in Ulster the like of that company nor of the little lad that is in it. But, one thing I think likely, that they are the men of Temair with ⁷the well-favoured, wonderful, noble youth⁷ Erc son of Fedilmid Nocruthach, ⁸Conchobar's daughter,⁸ and of Carbre Niafer. And if it be they, they are not more friends than their leaders here. Mayhap despite his father W. 5576. has this lad come to succour his grandfather^a at this time. And if these they be, a sea that drowneth shall this company be to ye, because it is through this company and the little lad that is in it that the battle shall this time be won against ye." "How through him?" asked Ailill. "Not hard to tell," Fergus responded: "for this little lad will know neither fear nor dread when slaying and slaughtering, until at length he comes into the midst of your battalion. Then shall be heard the whirr of Conchobar's sword like the yelp of a howling war-hound, or like a lion rushing among bears, ¹while the boy will be saved.¹ Then outside around the battle lines will Conchobar pile up huge walls of men's bodies ²while he seeks the little lad.² In turn the princes of the men of Ulster, filled with love and devotion, will hew the enemy to pieces. Boldly will those powerful bulls, ³the brave warriors of Ulster,³ bellow as ⁴their grandson,⁴ the calf of their ⁵cow,⁵ is rescued in the battle on the morn of the morrow."

⁶"Then came there three huge (?), strong, well-braced, cunningly-built castles; three mighty, wheeled-towers like unto mountains, in this wise placed in position: Three royal castles with their thirty fully armed battalions, swarming with evil-tongued warriors and with thirty round-shielded heroes. A bright, beautiful, glistening shield-guard was on each of the three strong, stout battle-castles, with black, deadly armament of huge, high, blue, sharp pine-lances, such that one's bent knee would fit in the socket of each smooth, polished, even and hard spear-head that is on each huge, terrible, strange shaft of the terrible, awful, heavy, monstrous, indescribable armament W. 5598. that I saw. A third part of each shaft was contained in the socket of the riveted, very long, securely placed spears; as high as ¹two¹ cubits was each citadel from the ground; as long as a warrior's spear was the height of each battle-hurdle; as sharp as charmed sword was the blade of each sickle on the sides and the flanks of each of ²Badb's hurdles;² on each of the three stout and hard battle-hurdles they are to be found. Four dark, yet gleaming, well-adorned doors were on each battle-wheeled tower of the three royal wheeled-towers which were displayed and spread over the plain, with ivory door-posts, with lintels of cypress, with stately thresholds set of speckled, beautiful, strong pine, with their blue, glass door-leaves, with the glitter of crystal gems around each door-frame, so that its appearance from afar was like that of bright shining stars. As loud as the crash of a mighty wave at the great spring-tide, or of a huge heavy fleet upon the sea when toiling with the oars along the shore, was the similitude of the din and the clamour and the shouts and the tumult of the multitude and the to-and-fro of the thirty champions with their thirty heavy, iron clubs that they bear in their hands. And when the wheeled-towers advance massively and boldly against the line of heroes, these almost leave behind their arms at the fierce charge of the outland battalions. Then spring the three hundred champions with a shout of vengeful anger over the sides and over the front of the huge iron towers on wheels, so that this it was that checked the swift course and the great, hasty onslaught of the well-grounded, swiftly-moving, mighty chariots. The three stout, strong, battle-proof towers on wheels careered over rough places and over obstacles, over rocks and over heights. There coursed the thirty entire chargers, powerful, strong-backed, four abreast, the equal of ninety entire chargers, with W. 5622. manes more than big, bold^a and leaping, with sack-like, distended nostrils, high-headed, towering, over-powering, wonderful, so that they shook with their ramping the thick shell of the sad-sodded earth. They flecked the plain behind them with the foam dripping from the ¹swift¹ Danish steeds, from the bits and bridles, from the traces and tracks of the huge, maned, mighty^b steeds, greater than can be told! They excited strife with their din of arms. They plunged headlong in their swift impatience. They aroused great terror at their accoutrement, at their armour, at their cunning, at their power, at their hugeness, at their destructive, terrible, hostile vengeance on the four grand, proud provinces of Erin. Amazing to me was their appearance because of the unwontedness of their trappings both in form and in garb. Three wonderful flights of birds with variety of appearance hovered over them. The first flock was all red, the second flock was white as swans, the third flock as black as ravens. Three red-mouthed, crow-shaped demons of battle sped around them as swift as hares, circling the three wheeled towers, and this is what they prophesied:—