be found on any road in Erin, namely Finnabair, [8]my daughter,[8] and Larine macNois. [9]’Twould be fitting to bring them together."[9] “I regard them as thou dost,” answered Ailill; [10]"I will not oppose thee herein.  He shall have her if only he brings me the head of Cuchulain."[a] “Aye, bring it I will,” said Larine.[10] [W.2235.] It was then that Larine shook and tossed himself with joy, so that the sewings of the flock bed burst under him and the mead of the camp was speckled with its feathers.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1586.

    [6-6] Corrected from LL., which has ‘Medb.’

    [7-7] Eg. 93.

    [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 1588.

    [a] Literally, ‘of the Contorted.’

    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 1588-1590.

[1]They passed the night there.[1] Larine longed for day with its full light [2]to go[2] to attack Cuchulain.  At the early day-dawn on the morrow he came, [3]and the maiden came too to embolden him,[3] and he brought a wagon-load of arms with him, and he came on to the ford to encounter Cuchulain.  The mighty warriors of the camp and station considered it not a goodly enough sight to view the combat of Larine; only the women and boys and girls, [4]thrice fifty of them,[4] went to scoff and to jeer at his battle.

    [1-1] Eg. 93.

    [2-2] Eg. 209.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1599.

    [4-4] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.

Cuchulain went to meet him at the ford and he deemed it unbecoming to bring along arms [5]or to ply weapons upon him,[5] so Cuchulain came to the encounter unarmed [6]except for the weapons he wrested from his opponent.[6] [7]And when Larine reached the ford, Cuchulain saw him and made a rush at him.[7] Cuchulain knocked all of Larine’s weapons out of his hand as one might knock toys out of the hand of an infant.  Cuchulain ground and bruised him between his arms, he lashed him and clasped him, he squeezed him and shook him, so that he spilled all the dirt out of him, [8]so that the ford was defiled with his dung[8] [9]and the air was fouled with his dust[9] and an [10]unclean, filthy[10] wrack of cloud arose in the four airts wherein he was.  Then from the middle of the ford Cuchulain hurled Larine far from him across through the camp [11]till he fell into Lugaid’s two hands[11] at the door of the tent of his brother. [W.2252.] Howbeit [1]from that time forth[1] [2]for the remainder of his life[2] he never got up without a [3]sigh and a[3] groan, and [4]he never lay down without hurt, and he never stood up without a moan;[4] [5]as long as he lived[5] he never ate [6]a meal[6] without plaint, and never thenceforward was he free from weakness of the loins and oppression of the chest and without cramps and the frequent need which obliged him to go out.  Still he is the only man that made escape, [7]yea though a bad escape,[7] after combat with Cuchulain on the Cualnge Cattle-raid.  Nevertheless that maiming took effect upon him, so that it afterwards brought him his death.  Such then is the Combat of Larine on the Tain Bo Cualnge.