For it was customary with him, when his flame of valour sprang in him, that his feet would go round behind him, and his hams before; and the balls of his calves on his shins, and one eye in his head and the other out of his head; a man’s head could have gone into his mouth.  Every hair on him was as sharp as a thorn of hawthorn, and a drop of blood on each hair.  He would not recognise comrades or friends.  He would strike alike before and behind.  It is from this that the men of Connaught gave Cuchulainn the name Riastartha.

The Woman-fight of Rochad

Cuchulainn sent his charioteer to Rochad Mac Fatheman of Ulster, that he should come to his help.  Now it happened that Findabair loved Rochad, for he was the fairest of the warriors among the Ulstermen at that time.  The man goes to Rochad and told him to come to help Cuchulainn if he had come out of his weakness; that they should deceive the host, to get at some of them to slay them.  Rochad comes from the north with a hundred men.

‘Look at the plain for us to-day,’ said Ailill.

‘I see a troop coming over the plain,’ said the watchman, ’and a warrior of tender years among them; the men only reach up to his shoulders.’

‘Who is it yonder, O Fergus?’ said Ailill.

‘Rochad Mac Fatheman,’ said he, ’and it is to help Cuchulainn he comes.’

‘I know what you had better do with him,’ said Fergus.  ’Let a hundred men go from you with the maiden yonder to the middle of the plain, and let the maiden go before them; and let a horseman go to speak to him, that he come alone to speak with the maiden, and let hands be laid on him, and this will keep off (?) the attack of his army from us.’

This is done then.  Rochad goes to meet the horseman.

’I have come from Findabair to meet you, that you come to speak with her.’

He goes then to speak with her alone.  The host rushes about him from every side.  He is taken, and hands are laid on him.  His force breaks into flight.  He is let go then, and he is bound over not to go against the host till he should come together with all Ulster.  It was promised to him that Findabair should be given to him, and he returned from them then.  So that that is Rochad’s Woman-fight.

The Death of the Princes [Note:  Or ‘royal mercenaries.’]

‘Let a sword-truce be asked of Cuchulainn for us,’ said Ailill and Medb.

Lugaid goes on that errand, and Cuchulainn grants the truce.

‘Put a man on the ford for me to-morrow,’ said Cuchulainn.

There were with Medb six princes, i.e. six king’s heirs of the Clanna Dedad, the three Blacks of Imlech, and the three Reds of Sruthair.

‘Why should we not go against Cuchulainn?’ said they.

They go next day, and Cuchulainn slew the six of them.

The Death of Cur

Then Cur Mac Dalath is besought to go against Cuchulainn.  He from whom he shed blood, he is dead before the ninth day.