’When they had all come to the feast, Culann said to Conchobar:  “Do you expect any one to follow you?” said he.

’"No,” said Conchobar.  He did not remember the appointment with his foster-son who was following him.

’"I’ll have a watch-dog,” said Culann; “there are three chains on him, and three men to each chain. [Gloss incorporated in text:  ’He was brought from Spain.’] Let him be let slip because of our cattle and stock, and let the court be shut.”

’Then the boy comes.  The dog attacks him.  He went on with his play still:  he threw his ball, and threw his club after it, so that it struck the ball.  One stroke was not greater than another; and he threw his toy-spear after them, and he caught it before falling; and it did not hinder his play, though the dog was approaching him.  Conchobar and his retinue ——­ this, so that they could not move; they thought they would not find him alive when they came, even though the court were open.  Now when the dog came to him, he threw away his ball and his club, and seized the dog with his two hands; that is, he put one of his hands to the apple of the dog’s throat; and he put the other at its back; he struck it against the pillar that was beside him, so that every limb sprang apart. (According to another, it was his ball that he threw into its mouth, and brought out its entrails through it.)

’The Ulstermen went towards him, some over the wall, others over the doors of the court.  They put him on Conchobar’s knee.  A great clamour arose among them, that the king’s sister’s son should have been almost killed.  Then Culann comes into the house.

’"Welcome, boy, for the sake of your mother.  Would that I had not prepared a feast!  My life is a life lost, and my husbandry is a husbandry without, without my dog.  He had kept honour and life for me,” said he, “the man of my household who has been taken from me, that is, my dog.  He was defence and protection to our property and our cattle; he was the protection of every beast to us, both field and house.”

’"It is not a great matter,” said the boy; “a whelp of the same litter shall be raised for you by me, and I will be a dog for the defence of your cattle and for your own defence now, until that dog grows, and until he is capable of action; and I will defend Mag Murthemne, so that there shall not be taken away from me cattle nor herd, unless I have ——.”

’"Then your name shall be Cu-chulainn,” said Cathbad.

’"I am content that it may be my name,” said Cuchulainn.

’A man who did this in his seventh year, it would be no wonder that he should have done a great deed now when his seventeen years are completed,’ said Conall Cernach.

‘He did another exploit,’ said Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe.  ’Cathbad the Druid was with his son, Conchobar Mac Nessa.  A hundred active men were with him, learning magic from him.  That is the number that Cathbad used to teach.  A certain one of his pupils asked of him for what this day would be good.  Cathbad said a warrior should take arms therein whose name should be over Ireland for ever, for deed of valour, and his fame should continue for ever.  Cuchulainn heard this.  He comes to Conchobar to ask for arms.  Conchobar said, “Who has instructed you?”