the loan of Manannan’s horse, the Aonbharr, from Lugh, and if he has any wish to get the fine, he will give it to you; but if he does not wish it he will say the horse is not his, and that he would not give the loan of a loan.  Ask him then for the loan of Manannan’s curragh, the Scuabtuinne, the Sweeper of the Waves.  And he will give that, for he is under bonds not to refuse a second request, and the curragh is better for you than the horse,” he said.

So the sons of Tuireann went to where Lugh was, and they saluted him, and they said they could not bring him the fine without his own help, and for that reason it would be well for them to get a loan of the Aonbharr.  “I have that horse only on loan myself,” said Lugh, “and I will not give a loan of a loan.”

“If that is so, give us the loan of Manannan’s curragh,” said Brian.  “I will give that,” said Lugh.  “What place is it?” said they.  “At Brugh na Boinn,” said Lugh.

Then they went back again to where Tuireann was, and his daughter Ethne, their sister, with him, and they told him they had got the curragh.  “It is not much the better you will be for it,” said Tuireann, “although Lugh would like well to get every part of this fine he could make use of before the battle with the Fomor.  But he would like yourselves to come to your death looking for it.”

Then they went away, and they left Tuireann sorrowful and lamenting, and Ethne went with them to where the curragh was.  And Brian got into it, and he said:  “There is place but for one other person along with me here.”  And he began to find fault with its narrowness.  “You ought not to be faulting the curragh,” said Ethne; “and O my dear brother,” she said, “it was a bad thing you did, to kill the father of Lugh of the Long Hand; and whatever harm may come to you from it, it is but just.”  “Do not say that, Ethne,” they said, “for we are in good heart, and we will do brave deeds.  And we would sooner be killed a hundred times over,” they said, “than to meet with the death of cowards.”  “My grief,” said Ethne, “there is nothing more sorrowful than this, to see you driven out from your own country.”

Then the three pushed out their curragh from the beautiful clear-bayed shore of Ireland.  “What course shall we take first?” said they.  “We will go look for the apples,” said Brian, “as they were the first thing we were bade bring.  And so we ask of you, curragh of Manannan that is under us, to sail to the Garden in the East of the World.”

And the curragh did not neglect that order, but it sailed forward over the green-sided waves and deep places till it came to its harbour in the east of the world.