“Thy mind would not be the easier for that,” quoth Lethrenn, Ailill’s horseboy, “if thou shouldst see him.”  Cuchulain came to the ford as he was.  “What man is that yonder, O Fergus?” asked Medb.[c] And Medb, too, climbed on the men to get a look [W.2272.] at him.[7] [1]Then[1] Medb called upon [2]her handmaid for two woman-bands,[2] [3]fifty or twice fifty[3] of her women, to go speak with Cuchulain and to charge him to put a false beard on.  The woman-troop went their way to Cuchulain and told him to put a false beard on [4]if he wished to engage in battle or combat with goodly warriors or with goodly youths of the men of Erin;[4] [5]that sport was made of him in the camp for that he had no beard, and that no good warrior would go meet him but only madmen.  It were easier to make a false beard:[5] “For no brave warrior in the camp thinks it seemly to come fight with thee, and thou beardless,” [6]said they.[6] [7]"If that please me,” said Cuchulain, “then I shall do it."[7] Thereupon Cuchulain [8]took a handful of grass and speaking a spell over it he[8] bedaubed himself a beard [9]in order to obtain combat with a man, namely with Loch.[9] And he came onto the knoll overlooking the men of Erin and made that beard manifest to them all, [10]so that every one thought it was a real beard he had.[10] [11]"’Tis true,” spake the women, “Cuchulain has a beard.  It is fitting for a warrior to fight with him.”  They said that to urge on Loch.[11] Loch son of Mofemis saw it, and what he said was, “Why, that is a beard on Cuchulain!” “It is what I perceive,” Medb answered.  Medb promised the same great terms to Loch to put a check to Cuchulain. [12]"I will not undertake the fight till the end of seven days from this day,” exclaimed Loch.  “Not fitting is it for us to leave that man unattacked for all that time,” Medb answered.  “Let us put a warrior every night to spy upon him if, peradventure, we might get a chance at him.”  This then they did.  A warrior went every night to spy upon him and he slew them all.  These are the names of the men who fell there:  the seven Conall, the seven Oengus, the seven Uargus, the seven Celtri, the eight Fiach, the ten Ailill, the ten Delbrath, the ten Tasach.  These are the deeds of that week on Ath Grenca.

    [2-2] Eg. 93.

    [3-3] Eg. 93.

    [4-4] Eg. 93.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1637-1639.

    [6-6] Eg. 93.

    [7-7] LU. fo. 61, note 7, edition O’Keeffe and Strachan.

    [c] Fergus’ answer, eight lines in rosc, LU. page 61, note 7, edition
    of Strachan and O’Keeffe (these lines are not in YBL.), has been
    omitted in the translation.

    [1-1] Eg. 93 and Eg. 209.

    [2-2] Eg. 209.

    [3-3] Eg. 93.

    [4-4] Eg. 93.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1640-1641.

    [6-6] Eg. 209.