W. 1798. Fergus' horses were brought and his chariot was hitched 2and Fergus set forth on that errand.2 And two horses were brought for Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn, a soft youth of the people of Medb and of Ailill. 3Now Etarcumul followed Fergus.3 "Whither goest thou?" Fergus demanded. "We go with thee," Etarcumul made answer. 4"And why goest thou with me?" asked Fergus.4 "To behold the form and appearance of Cuchulain, and to gaze upon him, 5for he is unknown to me."5 "Wilt thou do my bidding," said Fergus, "thou wilt in no wise go thither." "Why shall I not, pray?" 6"I would not have thee go," said Fergus; "and it is not out of hatred of thee, only I should be loath to have combat between thee and Cuchulain.6 Thy light-heartedness, 7thy haughtiness and thy pride7 and thine overweeningness (I know), but (I also know) the fierceness and valour and hostility, the 8violence and vehemence8 of the youth against whom thou goest, 9even Cuchulain.9 And methinks ye will have contention before ye part. 10No good will come from your meeting."10 "Art thou not able to come between us 11to protect me?"11 W. 1806. "I am, to be sure," Fergus answered, "provided thou thyself seek not the combat1 and treat not what he says with contempt."1 "I will not seek it," 2said Etarcumul,2 "till the very day of doom!"
Then they went their ways 3in two chariots to Delga,3 to come up to Cuchulain where Cuchulain was between Fochain and the sea. 4There it is that he was that day, with his back to the pillar-stone at Crich Rois,4 playing draughts with Laeg, 5to wit, his charioteer.5 6The back of his head was turned towards them that approached and Laeg faced them.6 And not a 7living7 thing entered the 8entire8 plain without Laeg perceiving it and, notwithstanding, he continued to win every other game of draughts from Cuchulain. "A lone warrior cometh towards us 9over the plain,9 10my master10 Cucuc," spake Laeg. "What manner of warrior?" queried Cuchulain. 11"A fine, large chariot is there," said he.11 12"But what sort of chariot?"12 "As large as one of the chief mountains that are highest on a great plain appears to me *LL. fo. 71b. the chariot that is under the warrior; 13and I would liken to the battlements of one of the vast, royal seats of the province the chariot that is in the trappings of those horses;13 as large as one of the noble trees on a main fort's green meseems the curly, tressed, fair-yellow, all-golden hair hanging loose around the man's head; a purple mantle fringed with thread of gold 14wrapped14 around him; a golden, ornamented brooch in the mantle 15over his breast;15 16a bright-shining, hooded shirt, with red embroidery of red gold trussed up on his white W. 1819. skin;16 a broad and grey-shafted lance, 1perforated from mimasca to 'horn,'1 flaming red in his hand; over him, a bossed, plaited shield, 2curved, with an engraved edge of silvered bronze,2 3with applied ornaments of red gold thereon,3 and a boss of red gold; a lengthy sword, as long as the oar4 of a huge currach 5on a wild, stormy night,5 6resting on the two thighs6 of the great haughty warrior that is within the chariot.4"
"Holla! Welcome the coming of this guest to us!" cried Cuchulain. "We know the man; it is my master Fergus that cometh hither. 7Empty is the great paddle that my master Fergus carries," said Cuchulain; "for there is no sword in its sheath but a sword of wood. For I have heard," Cuchulain continued, "that Ailill got a chance at him and Medb as they lay, and he took away Fergus' sword from him and gave it to his charioteer to take care of, and the sword of wood was put into its sheath."7
"Yet another single chariot-fighter I see coming towards us. With fulness of skill and beauty and splendour his horses speed." 8"A young, tender gilla in armour is in the chariot.8" "One of the youths of the men of Erin is he, O my master Laeg," responded Cuchulain. "To scan my appearance and form is that man come, for I am renowned amongst them in the midst of their camp, 9and they know me not at all."9
Fergus came up 10to where Cuchulain was10 and he sprang from the chariot, and Cuchulain bade him 11a hearty11 welcome. 12"Welcome to thine arrival and thy coming, O my master Fergus!" cried Cuchulain; "and a night's W. 1831. lodging shalt thou have here this night."12 1"Thy hospitality and eke thy welcome1 I take for true," Fergus responded. "Verily, it is truly meant for thee," said Cuchulain; "for comes there a brace of birds into the plain, thou shalt have a wild goose with half the other. If fish rise to the river-mouths, 2to the stones or waterfalls,2 thou shalt have a salmon with as much again. Thou shalt have a handful of watercress and a handful of sea-grass and a handful of laver 3and a drink from the sand3 4afterwards.4 If thou hast a fight or combat 5with warrior before thee,5 I myself will go in thy stead to the ford. 6I will bear the fight that thou mayest return safe to the camp and the fort of the men of Erin on the morrow,6 7and thou shalt lie on a litter of fresh rushes till heavy sleep and slumber come on thee,7 8and I will watch and guard thee as long as thou sleepest."8 "Well, then, 9mayest thou have victory and blessing, O fosterling," said Fergus.9 "We know of what sort is thy hospitality on this occasion, on the Cow-spoil of Cualnge. 10But, not to claim that are we come,10 11a night's hospitality of thee, but to fulfil and make good the terms thou askest.11 As for this compact which thou hast asked of the men of Erin, single-handed combat with one man, thou shalt have it. It is for that I am come, to bind thee thereto, and do thou take it upon thee." "I pledge myself truly," said Cuchulain, 13provided fair play and single-handed combat be granted to me.13 "And, O, my master Fergus, 14do thou take upon thee the pact," said Cuchulain. "I bind myself to it," replied Fergus.14 W. 1841. And no longer than that did he remain in parley, lest the men of Erin should say they were betrayed or deserted by Fergus for his disciple. Fergus' two horses were brought and his chariot was harnessed and he went back.
Etarcumul tarried behind gazing for a long time at Cuchulain. "At what starest thou, gilla?" asked Cuchulain. "I look at thee," said Etarcumul. "In truth then, thou hast not far to look," said Cuchulain. 1"There is no need of straining thine eye for that; not far from thee within sight, thine eye seeth what is not smaller than I nor bigger.1 If thou but knewest how angered is the little creature thou regardest, myself, to wit! And how then do I appear unto thee gazing upon me?" "Thou pleasest me as thou art; a comely, 2shapely,2 wonderful, beautiful youth thou art, with brilliant, striking, various feats. Yet as for rating thee where goodly warriors are or forward youths or heroes of bravery or sledges of destruction, we count thee not nor consider thee at all. 3I know not why thou shouldst be feared by any one. I behold nothing of terror or fearfulness or of the overpowering of a host in thee. So, a comely youth with arms of wood and with showy feats is all thou art!"3 4"Though thou revilest me,"4 said Cuchulain, "it is a surety for thee that thou camest from the camp under the protection of Fergus, 5as thou well knowest.5 For the rest, I swear by my gods whom I worship, were it not for the honour of Fergus, it would be only bits of thy bones and shreds of thy limbs, 6thy reins drawn and thy quarters scattered6 that would be brought back to the camp 7behind thy horses and chariot!"7 "But threaten me no longer W. 1858. in this wise, 1Cuchulain1!" 2cried Etarcumul;2 "for the 3wonderful3 terms thou didst exact of the men of Erin, 4that fair play and4 combat with one man 5should be granted thee,5 none other of the men of Erin but mine own self will come to-morrow 6at morn's early hour on the ford6 to attack thee."
"Come out, then," 7said Cuchulain,7 "and howso early thou comest, thou wilt find me here. I will not fly before thee. 8Before no man have I put foot in flight till now on the Plunder of the Kine of Cualnge and neither will I fly before thee!"8
Etarcumul returned 9from Methè and Cethè,9 and began to talk with his driver. "I must needs fight with Cuchulain to-morrow, gilla," said Etarcumul, 10"for I gave my word to go."10 "'Tis true, thou didst," quoth the charioteer. *LL. fo. 72a. "Howbeit, I know not wilt thou fulfil it." "But what is better 11for us,11 to fulfil it to-morrow or forthwith to-night?" "To our thinking," said the gilla, "albeit no victory is to be won by fighting to-morrow, there is still less to be gained by fighting to-night, for thy combat 12and hurt12 is the nearer." "13Be that as it may," said he13; "turn the 14horses and14 chariot back again 15from the hill15 for us, gilla, 16till we go to the ford of combat,16 for I swear by the gods whom I worship, I will not return 17to the camp17 till the end of life and time, till I bring with me the head of that young wildling, 18even18 the head of Cuchulain, for a trophy!"
The charioteer wheeled the chariot again towards the W. 1871. ford. They brought the lefta board to face the pair in a line with the ford. Laeg marked 1this and he cried1 2to Cuchulain2: ("Wist thou) the last chariot-fighter that was here a while ago, O Cucuc?" "What of him?" asked Cuchulain. "He has brought his left board towards us in the direction of the ford." "It is Etarcumul, O gilla, who seeks me in combat. 3I owe no refusal,3 but far from pleased am I thereat 4that he should come and seek combat of me. And unwelcome is his coming,4 because of the honour of my foster-father 5Fergus5 under whom he came forth from the camp 6of the men of Erin.6 But not that I would protect him do I thus. Fetch me my arms, gilla, to the ford. 7Bring me my horse and my chariot after me.7 I deem it no honour for myself if 8the fellow8 reaches the ford before me." And straightway Cuchulain betook himself to the ford, and he bared his sword over his fair, well-knit spalls and he was ready on the ford to await Etarcumul.
Then, too, came Etarcumul. "What seekest thou, gilla?" demanded Cuchulain. "Battle with thee I seek," replied Etarcumul. "Hadst thou been advised by me," said Cuchulain, "thou wouldst never have come. 9I do not desire what thou demandest of me.9 10I have no thought of fighting or contending with thee, Etarcumul.10 Because of the honour of Fergus under whom thou camest out of the camp 11and station of the men of Erin,11 and not because I would spare thee, do I behave thus." 12"Thou hast no choice but to fight," replied Etarcumul.12 Thereupon Cuchulain gave him a long-blow whereby W. 1886. he cut away the sod that was under the soles of his feet, so that he was stretched out like a sack on his back, and 1his limbs in the air1 and the sod on his belly. Had Cuchulain wished it it is two pieces he might have made of him. 2"Hold, fellow.2 Off with thee now, for I have given thee warning. 3It mislikes me to cleanse my hands in thee. I would have cloven thee into many parts long since but for Fergus."3 "I will not go. We will fight on," said Etarcumul. Cuchulain dealt him a well-aimed edge-stroke. 4With the edge of his sword4 he sheared the hair from him from poll to forehead, from one ear to the other, as if it were with a light, keen razor he had been shorn. 5Not a scratch of his skin gave blood.5 6"Hold, fellow.6 Get thee home now," said Cuchulain, "for a laughing-stock I have made of thee." "I go not," 7rejoined Etarcumul.7 "We will fight to the end, till I take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee, or till thou takest my head and my spoils and boastest over me!" "So let it be, what thou saidst last, that it shall be. I will take thy head and thy spoils and boast over thee!" 8When now the churl became troublesome and persistent,8 Cuchulain 9sprang from the ground, so that he alighted on the edge of Etarcumul's shield, and he9 dealt him a cleaving-blow on the crown of the head, so that it drove to his navel. He dealt him a second crosswise stroke, so that at the one time the three portions of his body came to the ground. Thus fell Etarcumul son of Fid and of Lethrinn.
10Then Etarcumul's charioteer went his way after Fergus,10 and Fergus knew not that the combat had been. For thus was his wont: 11From the day Fergus took warrior's arms in hand,11 he never for aught looked back, whether at W. 1904. sitting or at rising or when travelling or walking, in battle or fight or combat, lest some one might say it was out of fear he looked back, but ever he looked at the thing that was before and beside him. 1Fergus saw the chariot go past him and a single man in it.1 2And when2 Etarcumul's squire came up abreast of Fergus, Fergus asked, "But, where is thy lord, gilla?" "He fell a while since at the ford by the hand of Cuchulain," the gilla made answer. "That indeed was not fair!" exclaimed Fergus, "for that elf-like sprite to wrong me in him that came under my safeguard 3and protection3 4from the camp and fort of the men of Erin.4 Turn the chariot for us, gilla," cried Fergus, "that we may go to 5the ford of fight and combat5 for a parley with Cuchulain."
Thereupon the driver wheeled the chariot. They fared thither towards the ford. 6Fergus turned to rebuke Cuchulain.6 "How darest thou offend me, thou wild, 7perverse, little7 elf-man," cried Fergus, "in him that came under my safeguard and protection? 8Thou thinkest my club short."8 *LL. fo. 72b. 9"Be not wroth with me, my master Fergus," said Cuchulain.9 "After the nurture and care thou didst bestow on me 10and the Ulstermen bestowed and Conchobar10 tell me, which wouldst thou hold better, 11for the Ulstermen to be conquered without anyone to punish them but me alone and11 for him to triumph and boast over me, or for me to triumph and boast over him? And yet more, 12of his own fault he fell.12 Ask his own gilla which of us was in fault in respect of the other; 13it was none other but he.13a 1Reproach me not, O Fergus my master." He bent down so that Fergus' chariot went past him thrice. "Ask his charioteer, is it I that have caused it?" "Not thou indeed," answered his charioteer. "He said," Cuchulain went on, "he would not go till either he took my head or he left me his own."1 2Then Etarcumul's gilla related to Fergus how it all befel. When Fergus heard that, what he said was:2 W. 1921. "Liefer to me what thou hast done, 3O fosterling," said Fergus, "that Etarcumul is slain, and3 a blessing on the hand that smote him, 4for it is he that was overweening."4
So then they bound two spancels about the ankle-joints of Etarcumul's feet and he was dragged along behind his horses and chariot. At every rock that was rough for him, his lungs and his liver were left on the stones and the rugged places. At every place that was smooth for him, his skilfully severed limbs came together again round the horses. In this wise he was dragged through the camp to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb: "There's your young warrior for you," cried Fergus, "for 'Every restoration together with its restitution' is what the law saith."a Medb came forth to the door of her tent and she raised her 5quick, splitting,5 loud voice 6of a warrior.6 Quoth Medb. "Truly, methought that great was the heat and the wrath of this young hound 7on leaving us awhile since7 at the beginning of the day as he went from the camp. 8It is no fortune for a tender youth that falls on thee now.8 We had thought that the honour under which he went, even the honour of Fergus, was not the honour of a dastard!" "What hath crazed the virago and wench?" cried Fergus. "Good lack, W. 1935. is it fitting for the mongrel to seek the Hound of battle whom 1the warriors and champions1 of four of the five grand provinces of Erin dare not approach nor withstand? What, I myself was glad to escape whole from him!"
2Etarcumul's grave was then dug and his tombstone erected; his name was written in ogam and they raised the keen over him. Cuchulain shot not from his sling at them that night2 3and the women and maidens were brought over to him and half the cattle, and they brought provision to him by day.3 In this manner fell Etarcumul and such was the combat of Etarcumul with Cuchulain.