’"My friend Cathbad,” said Cuchulainn.

’"We know indeed,” said Conchobar.

’He gave him spear and shield.  He brandished them in the middle of the house, so that nothing remained of the fifteen sets of armour that were in store in Conchobar’s household against the breaking of weapons or taking of arms by any one.  Conchobar’s own armour was given to him.  That withstood him, and he brandished it, and blessed the king whose armour it was, and said, “Blessing to the people and race to whom is king the man whose armour that is.”

’Then Cathbad came to them, and said:  “Has the boy taken arms?” said Cathbad.

’"Yes,” said Conchobar.

’"This is not lucky for the son of his mother,” said he.

’"What, is it not you advised it?” said Conchobar.

’"Not I, surely,” said Cathbad.

’"What advantage to you to deceive me, wild boy?” said Conchobar to Cuchulainn.

’"O king of heroes, it is no trick,” said Cuchulainn; “it is he who taught it to his pupils this morning; and I heard him, south of Emain, and I came to you then.”

’"The day is good thus,” said Cathbad; “it is certain he will be famous and renowned, who shall take arms therein; but he will be short-lived only.”

’"A wonder of might,” said Cuchulainn; “provided I be famous, I am content though I were but one day in the world.”

’Another day a certain man asked the druids what it is for which that day was good.

’"Whoever shall go into a chariot therein,” said Cathbad, “his name shall be over Ireland for ever.”

’Then Cuchulainn heard this; he comes to Conchobar and said to him:  “O friend Conchobar,” said he, “give me a chariot.”  He gave him a chariot.  He put his hand between the two poles [Note:  The fertais were poles sticking out behind the chariot, as the account of the wild deer, later, shows.] of the chariot, so that the chariot broke.  He broke twelve chariots in this way.  Then Conchobar’s chariot was given to him.  This withstood him.  He goes then in the chariot, and Conchobar’s charioteer with him.  The charioteer (Ibor was his name) turned the chariot under him.  “Come out of the chariot now,” said the charioteer.

’"The horses are fine, and I am fine, their little lad,” said Cuchulainn.  “Go forward round Emain only, and you shall have a reward for it.”

’So the charioteer goes, and Cuchulainn forced him then that he should go on the road to greet the boys “and that the boys might bless me.”

’He begged him to go on the way again.  When they come, Cuchulainn said to the charioteer:  “Ply the goad on the horses,” said he.

’"In what direction?” said the charioteer.

’"As long as the road shall lead us,” said Cuchulainn.

’They come thence to Sliab Fuait, and find Conall Cernach there.  It fell to Conall that day to guard the province; for every hero of Ulster was in Sliab Fuait in turn, to protect any one who should come with poetry, or to fight against a man; so that it should be there that there should be some one to encounter him, that no one should go to Emain unperceived.