[a] Reading taobh re taobh.

    [b] Omitting seng; the line has a syllable too many in the original.

    [4-4] Eg. 106 (Revue Celtique, tome xi, p. 327).

[W.3964.] Thereupon Cuchulain hastened towards Ferdiad and clasped his two arms about him, and bore him with all his arms and his armour and his dress northwards over the ford, that so it should be [1]with his face[1] to the north[a] of the ford the triumph took place and not to the west[b] of the ford with the men of Erin. [LL.fo.87b.] Cuchulain laid Ferdiad there on the ground, and a cloud and a faint and a swoon came over Cuchulain there by the head of Ferdiad.  Laeg espied it, and the men of Erin all arose for the attack upon him.  “Come, O Cucuc,” cried Laeg; “arise now [2]from thy trance,[2] for the men of Erin will come to attack us, and it is not single combat they will allow us, now that Ferdiad son of Daman son of Dare is fallen by thee.”  “What availeth it me to arise, O gilla,” moaned Cuchulain, “now that this one is fallen by my hand?” In this wise the gilla spake and he uttered these words and Cuchulain responded:—­

Laeg:  “Now arise, O Emain’s Hound;
Now most fits thee courage high. 
Ferdiad hast thou thrown—­of hosts—­
God’s fate!  How thy fight was hard!”

Cuchulain:  “What avails me courage now? 
I’m oppressed with rage and grief,
For the deed that I have done
On his body sworded sore!”

Laeg:  “It becomes thee not to weep;
Fitter for thee to exult! 
Yon red-speared one thee hath left
Plaintful, wounded, steeped in gore!”

Cuchulain:  “Even had he cleaved my leg,
And one hand had severed too;
Woe, that Ferdiad—­who rode steeds—­
Shall not ever be in life!”

Laeg:  [W.3993.] “Liefer far what’s come to pass,
To the maidens of Red Branch;
He to die, thou to remain;
They grudge not that ye should part!”

Cuchulain:  “From the day I Cualnge left,
Seeking high and splendid Medb,
Carnage has she had—­with fame—­
Of her warriors whom I’ve slain!”

Laeg:  “Thou hast had no sleep in peace,
In pursuit of thy great Tain;
Though thy troop was few and small,
Oft thou wouldst rise at early morn!”

[1-1] Eg. 106.

[a] That is, in Ulster.  Stowe and Eg. 106 read ’(with his face) to the
south.’

[b] That is, in Connacht.

    [2-2] Stowe.

Cuchulain began to lament and bemoan Ferdiad, and he spake the words: 

“Alas, O Ferdiad,” [1]spake he,[1] “’twas thine ill fortune thou didst not take counsel with any of those that knew my real deeds of valour and arms, before we met in clash of battle!

    [1-1] Stowe.

“Unhappy for thee that Laeg son of Riangabair did not make thee blush in regard to our comradeship!

“Unhappy for thee that the truly faithful warning of Fergus thou didst not take!