[W.4645.] He was told that a single man was checking and stopping four of the five grand provinces of Erin [1]during the three months of winter[1] from Monday at Summer’s end till the beginning of Spring.  And he felt it unworthy of himself and he deemed it too long that his people were without him.  And [2]it was then[2] he set out [3]to the host[3] to fight and contend with Cuchulain.  And when he was come to the place where Cuchulain was, he saw Cuchulain there moaning, full of wounds and pierced through with holes, and he felt it would not be honourable nor fair to fight and contend with him after the combat with Ferdiad. [4]Because it would be said it was not that Cuchulain died of the sores [LL.fo.93a.] and wounds which he would give him so much as of the wounds which Ferdiad had inflicted on him in the conflict before.[4] Be that as it might, Cuchulain offered to engage with him in battle and combat.

    [1-1] YBL. 43b, 17.

    [2-2] YBL. 43b, 14-15.

    [3-3] YBL. 43b, 15.

    [4-4] Reading with Stowe, which is to be preferred to LL.

Thereupon Curoi set forth for to seek the men of Erin and, when he was near at hand, he espied Amargin there and his left elbow under him to the west of Taltiu.  Curoi reached the men of Erin from the north.  His people equipped him with rocks and boulders and great clumps, and he began to hurl them right over against Amargin, so that Badb’s battle-stones collided in the clouds and in the air high above them, and every rock of them was shivered [W.4662.] into an hundred stones.  “By the truth of thy valour, O Curoi,” cried Medb, “desist from thy throwing, for no real succour nor help comes to us therefrom, but ill is the succour [1]and help[1] that thence come to us,” “I pledge my word,” cried Curoi, “I will not cease till the very day of doom and of life, till first Amargin cease!” “I will cease,” said Amargin; “and do thou engage that thou wilt no more come to succour or give aid to the men of Erin.”  Curoi consented to that and went his way to return to his land and people.

    [1-1] Stowe.

About this time [2]the hosts[2] went past Taltiu westwards.  “It is not this was enjoined upon me,” quoth Amargin:  “never again to cast at the hosts [3]but rather that I should part from them."[3] And he went to the west of them and he turned them before him north-eastwards past Taltiu.  And he began to pelt them for a long while and time [4]so that he slaughtered more of them than can be numbered.[4] [5]This is one of the three incalculable things on the Tain, the number of those he slew.  And his son Conall Cernach (’the Victorious’) remained with him providing him with stones and spears.[5]

    [2-2] Stowe.

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [5-5] YBL. fo. 43b, 34-36.