‘It is not fine,’ said Fergus, ’the half of the expedition that has fallen to us.  It will be impossible to bring the cattle over the mountain without dividing it.’

That was done then, so that it is from that there is Bernas Bo n-Ulad.)

It is there then that Ailill said to his charioteer Cuillius:  ’Find out for me to-day Medb and Fergus.  I know not what has brought them to this union.  I shall be pleased that a token should come to me by you.’

Cuillius came when they were in Cluichre.  The pair remained behind, and the warriors went on.  Cuillius came to them, and they heard not the spy.  Fergus’ sword happened to be beside him.  Cuillius drew it out of its sheath, and left the sheath empty.  Cuillius came to Ailill.

‘So?’ said Ailill.

‘So indeed,’ said Cuillius; ‘there is a token for you.’

‘It is well,’ said Ailill.

Each of them smiles at the other.

‘As you thought,’ said Cuillius, ’it is thus that I found them, in one another’s arms.’

‘It is right for her,’ said Ailill; ’it is for help on the Foray that she has done it.  See that the sword is kept in good condition,’ said Ailill.  ’Put it under your seat in the chariot, and a cloth of linen around it.’

Fergus got up for his sword after that.

‘Alas!’ said he.

‘What is the matter with you?’ said Medb.

‘An ill deed have I done to Ailill,’ said he.  ’Wait here, while I go into the wood,’ said Fergus; ’and do not wonder though it be long till I come.’

It happened that Medb knew not the loss of the sword.  He goes thence, and takes the sword of his charioteer with him in his hand.  He makes a wooden sword in the wood.  Hence there is Fid Mor Drualle in Ulster.

‘Let us go on after our comrades,’ said Fergus.  All their hosts meet in the plain.  They pitch their tents.  Fergus is summoned to Ailill to play chess.  When Fergus went to the tent, Ailill began to laugh at him. [Note:  Here follows about two columns of rhetoric, consisting of a taunting dialogue between Ailill, Fergus and Medb.]

***

Cuchulainn came so that he was at Ath Cruinn before them.

‘O friend Loeg,’ said he to his charioteer, ’the hosts are at hand to us.’

‘I swear by the gods,’ said the charioteer, ’I will do a mighty feat before warriors ... on slender steeds with yokes of silver, with golden wheels ...’

‘Take heed, O Loeg,’ said Cuchulainn; ’hold the reins for great victory of Macha ...  I beseech,’ said Cuchulainn, ’the waters to help me.  I beseech heaven and earth, and the Cronn in particular.’

The (river) Cronn takes to fighting against them; it will not let them into Murthemne until the work of heroes be finished in Sliab Tuath Ochaine.

Therewith the water rose up till it was in the tops of the trees.

Mane, son of Ailill and Medb, went before the rest.  Cuchulainn smites them on the ford, and thirty horsemen of Mane’s retinue were drowned in the water.  Cuchulainn overthrew two sixteens of warriors of them again by the water.