[From the Yellow Book of Lecan]

On the morrow Medb sent twenty-seven men to Cuchulainn’s bog.  Fuilcarnn is the name of the bog, on this side of Fer Diad’s Ford.  They threw their twenty-nine spears at him at once; i.e.  Gaile-dana with his twenty-seven sons and his sister’s son, Glas Mac Delgna.  When then they all stretched out their hands to their swords, Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe came after them out of the camp.  He gave a leap from his chariot when he saw all their hands against Cuchulainn, and he strikes off the arms of the twenty-nine of them.

Then Cuchulainn said:  ’What you have done I deem help at the nick of time (?).’

‘This little,’ said Fiacha, ’is a breach of compact for us Ulstermen.  If any of them reaches the camp, we will go with our cantred under the point of the sword.’

‘I swear, etc., since I have emitted my breath,’ said Cuchulainn, ‘not a man of them shall reach it alive.’

Cuchulainn slew then the twenty-nine men and the two sons of Ficce with them, two bold warriors of Ulster who came to ply their might on the host.  This is that deed on the Foray, when they went to the battle with Cuchulainn.

This is the Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn

Then they considered what man among them would be fit to ward off Cuchulainn.  The four provinces of Ireland spoke, and confirmed, and discussed, whom it would be fitting to send to the ford against Cuchulainn.  All said that it was the Horn-skin from Irrus Domnand, the weight that is not supported, the battle-stone of doom, his own dear and ardent foster-brother.  For Cuchulainn had not a feat that he did not possess, except it were the Gae Bolga alone; and they thought he could avoid it, and defend himself against it, because of the horn about him, so that neither arms nor many edges pierced it.

Medb sent messengers to bring Fer Diad.  Fer Diad did not come with those messengers.  Medb sent poets and bards and satirists [Note:  Ir. aes glantha gemaidi, the folk who brought blotches on the cheeks (i.e. by their lampoons).] to him, that they might satirise him and mock him and put him to ridicule, that he might not find a place for his head in the world, until he should come to the tent of Medb and Ailill on the Foray.  Fer Diad came with those messengers, for the fear of their bringing shame on him.

Findabair, the daughter of Medb and Ailill, was put on one side of him:  it is Findabair who put her hand on every goblet and on every cup of Fer Diad; it is she who gave him three kisses at every cup of them; it is she who distributed apples right frequent over the bosom of his tunic.  This is what she said:  that he, Fer Diad, was her darling and her chosen wooer of the men of the world.

When Fer Diad was satisfied and happy and very joyful, Medb said: 

’Ale!  O Fer Diad, do you know why you have been summoned into this tent?’

‘I do not know indeed,’ said Fer Diad; ’except that the nobles of the men of Ireland are there.  What is there less fitting for me to be there than for any other good warrior?’