He comes to the ford then as he was.

‘What man is it yonder, O Fergus?’ said Medb.

‘A boy who wards off,’ etc. ... ‘if it is Culann’s Hound.’ [Note:  Rhetoric, four lines.]

Medb climbed on the men then to look at him.

It is then that the women said to Cuchulainn ’that he was laughed at in the camp because he had no beard, and no good warriors would go against him, only wild men; it were easier to make a false beard.’  So this is what he did, in order to seek combat with a man; i.e. with Loch.  Cuchulainn took a handful of grass, and said a spell over it, so that every one thought he had a beard.

‘True,’ said the troop of women, ’Cuchulainn has a beard.  It is fitting for a warrior to fight with him.’

They had done this on urging Loch.

’I will not make combat against him till the end of seven days from to-day,’ said Loch.

’It is not fitting for us to have no attack on the man for this space,’ said Medb.  ’Let us put a hero to hunt(?) him every night, if perchance we may get a chance at him.’

This is done then.  A hero used to come every night to hunt him, and he used to kill them all.  These are the names of the men who fell there:  seven Conalls, seven Oenguses, seven Uarguses, seven Celtris, eight Fiacs, ten Ailills, ten Delbaths, ten Tasachs.  These are his deeds of this week in Ath Grencha.

Medb asked advice, to know what she should do to Cuchulainn, for what had been killed of their hosts by him distressed her greatly.  This is the plan she arrived at, to put brave, high-spirited men to attack him all at once when he should come to an appointed meeting to speak with Medb.  For she had an appointment the next day with Cuchulainn to make a peace in fraud with him, to get hold of him.  She sent messengers forth to seek him that he should come to meet her; and it was thus he should come, and he unarmed:  ’for she would come only with her troop of women to meet him.’

The messenger, Traigtren, went to the place where Cuchulainn was, and tells him Medb’s message.  Cuchulainn promised that he would do so.

’In what manner does it please you to go to meet Medb to-morrow, O Cuchulainn?’ said Loeg.

‘As Medb has asked me,’ said Cuchulainn.

‘Great are Medb’s deeds,’ said the charioteer; ’I fear a hand behind the back with her.’

‘How is it to be done then?’ said he.

‘Your sword at your waist,’ said the charioteer, ’that you may not be taken at an unfair advantage.  For the warrior is not entitled to his honour-price if he is without arms; and it is the coward’s law that he deserves in that way.’

‘Let it be done so then,’ said Cuchulainn.

The meeting-place was in Ard Aignech, which is called Fochaird to-day.  Now Medb came to the meeting-place and set in ambush fourteen men of her own special following, of those who were of most prowess, ready for him.  These are they:  two Glassines, the two sons of Bucchridi; two Ardans, the two sons of Licce; two Glasogmas, the two sons of Crund; Drucht and Delt and Dathen; Tea and Tascra and Tualang; Taur and Glese.