And he made a marrow-mash of their flesh and their bones and their skins; and Cethern son of Fintan was placed in the marrow-bath till the end of three days and three nights.  And his flesh began to drink in the marrow-bath about him and the marrow-bath entered in within his stabs and his cuts, his sores and his many wounds.  Thereafter he arose from the marrow-bath at the end of three days and three nights, [1]and he slept a day and a night after taking in the marrow.[1] [2]"I have no ribs more,” said Cethern; “put the ribs of the chariot-box into me.”  “Thou shalt have it,” Cuchulain made answer.[2] It was thus Cethern arose, with a slab of the chariot pressed to his belly so that his entrails and bowels would not drop out of him. [3]"Had I my own weapons,” said Cethern, “the story of what I would do would live forever!"[3]

    [a] That is, ‘extreme or drastic.’

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [1-1] YBL. 42b, 7.

    [2-2] YBL. 42b, 8-9.

    [3-3] YBL. 42b, 10-11.

That was the time when his wife came from the north, from Dun da Benn (’Fort of the two Gables’), and she brought his sword with her, even Finna daughter of Eocho. [4]"What seest thou?” asked Cethern.[4] [5]"Meseems,” answered Cuchulain, “’tis the chariot of little Finna, Eocho’s daughter, thy wife, that comes nigh us."[5] [6]And they saw the woman, with the arms in the chariot.[6] Cethern son of Fintan [7]seized his arms[7] and proceeded to attack the men of Erin, [8]with the chariot-box bound around his back, for he was not the stronger therefor.[8] But this is to be added:  They sent a warning before him; Ithall,[a] physician of Ailill and Medb, had remained as one dead of [W.4436.] the great stun [1]from the blow of Cethern[1] among the bodies of the other leeches for a long space and time, [2]and continued in that state till then; at last he rose and rushed to the encampment,[2] [3]and he, the leech that had alone escaped from Cethern, brought the alarm to the camp.[3]

    [4-4] YBL. 42b, 13.

    [5-5] YBL. 42b, 14.

    [6-6] YBL. 42b, 16.

    [7-7] YBL. 42b, 17.

    [8-8] YBL. 42b, 18-19.

    [a] See above, page 272.

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] Stowe.

    [3-3] YBL. 42b, 20.

“Hark, ye men of Erin,” shouted the leech; “Cethern son of Fintan comes to attack you, now that he has been healed and cured by Fingin the prophetic leech, and take ye heed of him!” Thereat the men of Erin [4]in fear[4] put Ailill’s dress and his golden shawl [5]and his regal diadem[5] on the pillar-stone in Crich Ross, that it might be thereon that Cethern son of Fintan should first give vent to his anger on his arrival. [6]Eftsoons[6] Cethern [7]reached the place where he[7] saw those things, namely Ailill’s dress and his golden shawl around the standing-stone in Crich Ross, and he, being unaware and weetless, conceived it to be Ailill himself that