‘From that time,’ said Fergus, ’no one dared to waken him till he awoke of himself.

’Another time he was playing ball in the play-field east of Emain; he alone apart against the three fifties of boys; he used to defeat them in every game in this way always.  The boys lay hold of him therewith, and he plied his fist upon them until fifty of them were killed.  He took to flight then, till he was under the pillow of Conchobar’s bed.  All the Ulstermen rise round him, and I rise, and Conchobar himself.  Then he rose under the bed, and put the bed from him, with the thirty heroes who were on it, till it was in the middle of the house.  The Ulstermen sit round him in the house.  We arrange and make peace then,’ said Fergus, ’between the boys and him.

’There was contention between Ulster and Eogan Mac Durtacht.  The Ulstermen went to the battle.  He was left asleep.  The Ulstermen were defeated.  Conchobar was left [on the field], and Cuscraid Mend Macha, and many more beside.  Their lament awoke Cuchulainn.  He stretched himself then, so that the two stones that were about him broke; in the presence of Bricriu yonder it was done,’ said Fergus.  ’Then he arose.  I met him in the door of the fort, and I wounded.

’"Alas!  God save you, friend Fergus,” said he, “where is Conchobar?”

’"I do not know,” said I.

’Then he went forth.  The night was dark.  He made for the battlefield.  He saw a man before him, with half his head on, and half of another man on his back.

’"Help me, O Cuchulainn,” said he; “I have been wounded and I have brought half of my brother on my back.  Carry it for me a while.”

’"I will not carry it,” said he.

’Then he throws the burden to him; he throws it from him; they wrestle; Cuchulainn was overthrown.  I heard something, the Badb from the corpses:  “Ill the stuff of a hero that is under the feet of a phantom.”  Then Cuchulainn rose against him, and strikes his head off with his playing-club, and begins to drive his ball before him across the plain.

’"Is my friend Conchobar in this battlefield?”

’He answered him.  He goes to him, till he sees him in the trench, and there was the earth round him on every side to hide him.

’"Why have you come into the battlefield,” said Conchobar, “that you may swoon there?”

’He lifts him out of the trench then; six of the strong men of Ulster with us would not have brought him out more bravely.

’"Go before us to the house yonder,” said Conchobar; “if a roast pig came to me, I should live.”

’"I will go and bring it,” said Cuchulainn.

’He goes then, and saw a man at a cooking-hearth in the middle of the wood; one of his two hands had his weapons in it, the other was cooking the pig.

’The hideousness of the man was great; nevertheless he attacked him and took his head and his pig with him.  Conchobar ate the pig then.