Now Cormac had three troops which came to Cruachan.  The first troop had many-coloured cloaks folded round them; hair like a mantle (?); the tunic falling(?) to the knee, and long(?) shields; and a broad grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the hand of each man.

The second troop wore dark grey cloaks, and tunics with red ornamentation down to their calves, and long hair hanging behind from their heads, and white shields (?), and five-pronged spears were in their hands.

‘This is not Cormac yet,’ said Medb.

Then comes the third troop; and they wore purple cloaks and hooded tunics with red ornamentation down to their feet, hair smooth to their shoulders, and round shields with engraved edges, and the pillars [Note:  i.e. spears as large as pillars, etc.] of a palace in the hand of each man.

‘This is Cormac now,’ said Medb.

Then the four provinces of Ireland were assembled, till they were in Cruachan Ai.  And their poets and their druids did not let them go thence till the end of a fortnight, for waiting for a good omen.  Medb said then to her charioteer the day that they set out: 

’Every one who parts here to-day from his love or his friend will curse me,’ said she, ‘for it is I who have gathered this hosting.’

‘Wait then,’ said the charioteer, ’till I turn the chariot with the sun, and till there come the power of a good omen that we may come back again.’

Then the charioteer turned the chariot, and they set forth.  Then they saw a full-grown maiden before them.  She had yellow hair, and a cloak of many colours, and a golden pin in it; and a hooded tunic with red embroidery.  She wore two shoes with buckles of gold.  Her face was narrow below and broad above.  Very black were her two eyebrows; her black delicate eyelashes cast a shadow into the middle of her two cheeks.  You would think it was with partaing [Note:  Exact meaning unknown.  It is always used in this connection.] her lips were adorned.  You would think it was a shower of pearls that was in her mouth, that is, her teeth.  She had three tresses:  two tresses round her head above, and a tress behind, so that it struck her two thighs behind her.  A shuttle [Note:  Literally, a beam used for making fringe.] of white metal, with an inlaying of gold, was in her hand.  Each of her two eyes had three pupils.  The maiden was armed, and there were two black horses to her chariot.

‘What is your name?’ said Medb to the maiden.

‘Fedelm, the prophetess of Connaught, is my name,’ said the maiden.

‘Whence do you come?’ said Medb.

‘From Scotland, after learning the art of prophecy,’ said the maiden.

‘Have you the inspiration(?) which illumines?’ [Note:  Ir. imbas forasnai, the name of a kind of divination.] said Medb.

‘Yes, indeed,’ said the maiden.

‘Look for me how it will be with my hosting,’ said Medb.