[1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

It was then he delivered [2]over his chariot[2] the thunder-feat of a hundred and the thunder-feat of two hundred and the thunder-feat of three hundred and the thunder-feat of four hundred, and he ceased at the thunder-feat of five hundred.  For he did not deem it too much that such a great number should fall by his hand at his first onset and first battle-assault on four of the five grand provinces of Erin, [3]while avenging on them the slaughter of the youths and of Follomain son of Conchobar,[3] In such wise fared he forth for to seek his foes, and he drove his chariot in a wide circuit round about the hosts of the four grand provinces of Erin.  And he led his chariot a heavy way.  The chariot’s iron wheels sank into the ground so that [4]the earth dug up by the iron wheels[4] might have served for a dun and a fortress, so did the chariot’s iron wheels cut into the ground.  For in like manner the clods and boulders and rocks and the clumps and the shingle of the earth arose up outside on a height with the iron wheels.  It was for this cause he made this circling [5]hedge[5] of the Badb [W.2646.] round about the hosts of four of the five grand provinces of Erin, that they might not escape him nor get away before he would come on them to press a reprisal for the boys.  And he went into the midst of the ranks and mowed down huge walls of the corpses of his foes [1]and enemies and opponents[1] in a great circle round about the host.  And he made the onslaught of a foe amongst foes upon them, so that they fell sole to sole, neck to neck, [2]arm to arm, elbow to elbow, and rib to rib, [3]such was the closeness of their bodies,[3] and there were pools of ruddy blood where they moved.[2] Thrice again in this manner he circled them round, so that he left them in beds of six in a great ring around them, even the soles of three to the backs of three men in a circle around the camp.  Hence Sessrech Breslige (’Great sixfold Slaughter’)[a] is the name of this event on the Tain, and it is one of the three unreckonable events of the Tain, which were, to wit, Sessrech Breslige, Immslige Glennamnach (’the Mutual Slaying at Glennamain’), and the battle of Garech [LL.fo.78b.] and Ilgarech; only that here, hound and horse and man were one to him [4]in the great rout on Mag Murthemni that night avenging the youths on four of the five grand provinces of Erin.[4]

    [2-2] Eg. 93.

    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [3-3] LU. 1996.

    [a] Or, ‘Ploughland of the Great Slaughter.’

    [4-4] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

What others say is that Lug son of Ethliu fought on Cuchulain’s side at the Sessrech Breslige.

Their number is not known and it cannot be reckoned how many fell there of the rabble rout, but only their chiefs have been counted.  Here below are their names, to wit:—­