[1-1] YBL. 50b, 41.
[a] YBL. 50b-51a has more
than three times as many names as are
enumerated here.
Then said Medb to Fergus. “It were truly a thing to boast of for thee, [2]O Fergus,” said she,[2] “werest thou [W.5943.] to use thy mightiness of battle [1]vehemently[1] without stint amongst us to-day, forasmuch as thou hast been driven out of thine own land and out of thine inheritance; amongst us hast thou found land and domain and inheritance, and much good-will hath been shown thee!”
[2-2] Stowe, Add. and H. 1. 13.
[1-1] Stowe, Add., and H. 1. 13.
[2]Thereupon Fergus uttered this oath: “I swear,” et reliqua, “jaws of men I would break from necks, necks of men with arms, arms of men with elbows, elbows of men with wrists, wrists of men with fists, fists of men with fingers, fingers of men with nails, nails[a] of men with scalps, scalps of men with trunks, trunks of men with thighs, thighs of men with knees, knees of men with calves, calves of men with feet, feet of men with toes, toes of men with nails,[2] so that [3]heads of men over shields[3] would be as numerous [4]with me[4] as bits of ice [5]on the miry stamping-ground[5] [6]between two dry fields[6] that a king’s horses would course on. Every limb of the Ulstermen [7]would I send flying through the air[7] before and behind me this day [8]like the flitting of bees on a day of fine weather,[8] if only I had my sword!”
[2-2] I have given preference to the reading of YBL. 51b, 18-30.
[a] A word is omitted here in the MS., presumably for, ‘nails.’
[3-3] YBL. 51b, 19-20.
[4-4] YBL. 51b, 19.
[5-5] YBL. 51b, 20.
[6-6] Adopting Windisch’s emendation of the text.
[7-7] YBL. 51b, 31.
[8-8] YBL. 51b, 32.
At that Ailill spoke to his own charioteer, Ferloga, to wit: “Fetch me a quick sword that wounds the skin, O gilla,” said Ailill. [9]"A year to-day I put that sword in thy hand in the flower of its condition and bloom.[9] I give my word, if its bloom and condition be the worse at thy hands this day than the day I gave it [10]thee[10] on the hillside of Cruachan Ai [11]in the borders of Ulster,[11] though thou hadst the men of Erin and of Alba to rescue thee from me to-day, they would not all save thee!”