“Let our old steeds be caught by thee,” they answered, “and let our old chariots be yoked by thee, so that we may go on this journey and expedition with thee.”  Then their old chargers were caught, and their old chariots yoked, so that they too came to the camp at the Water of Luachan.

This was told to the four provinces.  The Three Waves of Erin thundered in the night; the Wave of Clidna at Glandore in the South; the Wave of Rudraige along the bent-carpeted sandhills of Dundrum, under the Mountains of Mourne; and the Wave of Tuag Inbir, at the bar of northern Bann.  For these are the Three Waves of Fate in Erin.  Then the four provinces hosted their men.  The son of Lucta, the north Munster king, assembled his tribes at the Hill of Luchra, between the Shannon mouth and the Summit of Prospects.  Ailill and Meave hosted the men of the west at Cruacan.  Find, son of Ros, king over the Galian of Leinster, gathered his army at Dinn-Rig by the Barrow.  Cairpre Nia Fer assembled his host about him at Tara, in the valley of the Boyne.

This was the proposal of Eocu, son of Lucta, king of north Munster by the Shannon:  That everything should have its payment, and that reparation should be made to Concobar for the invasion; that a fort should be paid for every fort, for every house a house, for every cow a cow, for every bull a bull; that the great brown bull should be sent back, that the breadth of the face of the bull in red gold should be given to Concobar, and that there should be no more hostility among the men of Erin.

This was reported to Meave, but the queen answered, “A false hand was his who gave this counsel.  For so long as there shall be among us one who can hold a sword, who can wear the shield-strap about his neck, that proposal shall not go to him.”

“Thy counsel is not mine,” replied Ailill, “for not greater shall be our part of that payment than the part of all the four provinces who went on that raid for the bull.”  Therefore Meave consented, and messengers were sent, and came to Tara by the Boyne, where were Find, son of Ros, king of Leinster, and his brother Cairpre Nia Fer, king of Tara.  Thence they sent messengers to treat with Concobar, but Concobar rejected the terms.  “I give my word, indeed,” answered Concobar, “that I will not take terms from you till my tent has been pitched in every province of Erin.”

“Good, O Concobar,” they replied; “where wilt thou now make thy encampment to-night?”

“In the Headland of the Kings, by the clear bright Boyne,” answered Concobar, for Concobar concealed not ever from his enemy the place in which he would take station or camp, that they might not say that it was fear or dread that caused him not to say it.  Concobar, therefore, marched toward the Headland of the Kings, across the Boyne to the southward, and facing the northern bank where are the pyramids of the Dagda Mor and the De Danaans.  But the southern armies were there already, so Concobar halted before the river.  Then were their positions fixed and their pavilions pitched, their huts and their tents were made.  Their fires were kindled, cooking and food and drink were prepared; baths of clean bathing were made by them, and their hair was smooth-combed; their bodies were minutely cleansed, supper and food were eaten by them; and tunes and merry songs and eulogies were sung by them.