This was the first exploit of valour that Cuchulain performed on rising [3]out of his weakness:[3] The two women lampoonists that made a feint of weeping and wailing [4]over his head,[4] Fethan and Collach to wit, he smote each of them against the head of the other, so that he[a] was red with their blood and grey with their brains. [5]These women had come from Medb to raise a pretended lamentation over him, to the end that his bloody wounds might burst forth on him, and to tell him that the men of Ulster had met with defeat and that Fergus had fallen in meeting the battle.[5] His arms had not been left near him, except his chariot only.  And he took his chariot on his back [6]with its frame and its two axle-trees,[6] and he set out to attack the men of Erin, and he smote them with the chariot, until he reached the place where Fergus macRoig was.  “Turn hither, O Fergus my master!” he cried.  Fergus did not answer, for he heard not.  He spoke again, “Turn hither, [7]turn hither,[7] O Fergus my master!” he cried; “and if thou turn not, [8]I swear to god what the Ulstermen swear,[8] I [W.6052.] will grind thee as a mill grinds fresh grain; I will wash thee as a cup is washed in a tub; I will bind thee as the woodbine binds the trees; I will pounce on thee as hawk pounces on fledglings; [1]I will go over thee as its tail goes over a cat;[1] [2]I will pierce thee as a tool bores through a tree-trunk; I will pound thee as a fish is pounded on the sand!"[2] “Truly this is my lot!” spake Fergus.  “Who [3]of the men of Erin[3] dares to address these stiff, vengeful words to me, where now the four grand provinces of Erin are met on Garech and Ilgarech in the battle of the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge?” “Thy fosterling is before thee,” he replied, “and fosterling of the men of Ulster and of Conchobar as well, Cuchulain son of Sualtaim [4]and sister’s son to Conchobar,” replied Cuchalain.[4] “And thou didst promise to flee before me what time I should be wounded, in pools of gore and riddled in the battle of the Tain.[a] For, [5]when thou hadst not thy sword with thee,[5] I did flee before thee in thine own combat on the Tain; [6]and do thou avoid me,” said he.  “Even that did I promise,” Fergus answered.  “Away with thee, then!” cried Cuchulain. “’Tis well,” replied Fergus; “thou didst avoid me; now thou art pierced with wounds."[6]

    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [a] ‘The ground,’ Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.; ’so that each of them was
    grey with the brains of the other,’ YBL. 52b, 13-14.

    [5-5] YBL. 52b, 14-17.

    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 21.

    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [8-8] YBL. 52b, 24.

    [1-1] YBL. 52b, 24-25.

    [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [3-3] YBL. 52b, 27.

    [4-4] YBL. 52b, 28.

    [a] See page 207.

    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 29-33.