[4]"That is enough now,” spake Loch; “I am smitten by that.[4] [5]For thine honour’s sake[5] [6]and on the truth of thy valour and skill in arms,[6] grant me a boon now, O Cuchulain,” said Loch.  “What boon askest thou?” “’Tis no boon of quarter nor a prayer of cowardice that I make of thee,” said Loch.  “But fall back a step from me [7]and permit me to rise,[7] that it be on my face to the east I fall and not on my back to the west toward the warriors of Erin, to the end that no man of them shall say, [8]if I fall on my back,[8] it was in retreat or in flight I was before thee, for fallen I have by the Gae Bulga!” “That will I do,” answered Cuchulain, “for ’tis a [9]true[9] warrior’s prayer that thou makest.”

    [4-4] Eg. 93.

    [5-5] Stowe.

    [6-6] Eg. 93.

    [7-7] Stowe.

    [8-8] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [9-9] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

And Cuchulain stepped back, [10]so that Loch fell on his face, and his soul parted from his body and Laeg despoiled him.[10] [11]Cuchulain cut off his head then.[11] Hence cometh [W.2314.] the name the ford bears ever since, namely Ath Traged (’Foot-ford’) in Cenn Tire Moir (’Great Headland’). [1]It was then they broke their terms of fair fight that day with Cuchulain, when five men went against him at one time, namely the two Cruaid, the two Calad and Derothor.  All alone, Cuchulain killed them.  Hence cometh Coicsius Focherda (’Fochard’s Fortnight’) and Coicer Oengoirt (’Five Warriors in one Field’).  Or it may be, fifteen days Cuchulain passed in Fochard and it is hence cometh Coicsius Focherda on the Tain.[1]

    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [11-11] LU. fo. 77a, in the margin.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 1739-1743.

And deep distress[a] possessed Cuchulain that day [2]more than any other day[2] for his being all alone on the Tain, [3]confronting four of the five grand provinces of Erin,[3] [4]and he sank into swoons and faints.[4] Thereupon Cuchulain enjoined upon Laeg his charioteer to go to the men of Ulster, that they should come to defend their drove. [5]And, on rising, this is what he said:[5] [6]"Good, O Laeg, get thee to Emain to the Ulstermen, and bid them come henceforward to look after their drove for I can defend their fords no longer.  For surely it is not fair fight nor equal contest for any man for the Morrigan to oppose and overpower him and Loch to wound and pierce him."[6] And weariness of heart and weakness overcame him, and he gave utterance to a lay:—­

    “Rise, O Laeg, arouse the hosts,
    Say for me in Emain strong: 
    I am worn each day in fight,
    Full of wounds, and bathed in gore!

    “My right side and eke my left: 
    Hard to say which suffers worse;
    Fingin’s[b] hand hath touched them not,
    Stanching blood with strips of wood!