[9-9] Literally, ‘Keep thy covenant, then!’

    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1554.

    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1555.

    [12-12] Eg. 93.

    [13-13] Eg. 93.

    [14-14] LU. and YBL. 1556-1557.

    [b] See note, page 137.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1559.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1559-1560.

“Now that was a good throw, Cucuc!” cried [3]Fiachu son of Ferfebe,[3] [4]who was on the mound between the two camps,[4] for he considered it a good throw to kill that warrior with a spit of holly.  Hence it is that Focherd Murthemni (’the good Cast of Murthemne’) is the name of the place where they were.

    [3-3] “Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar.”  Eg. 93.

    [4-4] Eg. 93.

[5]Straightway Ferbaeth died in the glen.  Hence cometh Glenn Ferbaeth.  Something was heard.  It was Fergus who sang:—­

    “Fool’s[a] emprise was thine, Ferbaeth,
    That did bring thee to thy grave. 
    Ruin hath come on anger here;
    Thy last end in Croen Corann!

    Fithi was the hill’s old name,
    In Croenech in Murthemne. 
    ‘Ferbaeth’ now shall be the name
    Of the plain where Ferbaeth fell!"[5]

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1563-1569.

    [a] With a play on the word Ferbaeth, ‘a foolish man.’

* * * * *

[Page 155]

XIVa

[1]THE COMBAT OF LARINE MacNOIS[1]

[2]Lugaid spake:  “Let one of you be ready on the morrow to go against that other.”  “There shall not any one at all be found to go,” quoth Ailill, “unless guile be used.  Whatever man comes to you, give him wine, so that his soul may be glad, and let him be told that that is all the wine that has been brought to Cruachan:  ’It would grieve us that thou shouldst drink water in our camp.’  And let Finnabair be placed on his right hand and let him be told, ’She shall go with thee if thou bring us the head of the Contorted.’” So a summons was sent to each warrior, one on each night, and those words used to be told him.  Cuchulain killed every man of them in turn.  At length no one could be got to attack him.[2]

    [1-1] LU. fo. 73b, in the margin.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1574-1584 and Eg. 1782.  Here Eg. 1782 breaks off.

[W.2197.] [3]"Good,[3] my master Laeg,” [4]said Cuchulain,[4] “go for me to the camp of the men of Erin to hold converse with Lugaid [5]macNois,[5] [6]my friend, my companion and my foster-brother,[6] [7]and bear him a greeting from me and bear him my blessing, for he is the one man that keeps amity and friendship with me on the great hosting of the Cattle-raid of Cualnge.[7] And discover [8]in what way they are in the camp,[8] whether or no anything has [W.2199.] happened to Ferbaeth,[a] [1]whether Ferbaeth has reached the camp;[1] [2]and inquire for me if the cast I made a while ago reached Ferbaeth or did not reach, and if it did reach him,[2] ask who [3]of the men of Erin[3] comes to meet me [4]to fight and do battle with me at the morning hour early[4] on the morrow.”