[a] The story is told in ‘The Adventures of Nera,’ published in
    the Revue Celtique, t. x, p. 227.

    [1-1] YBL. 53a, 4-5.

    [2-2] Stowe.

    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [5-5] H. 1. 13.

[6]So they drove the Brown Bull the morning of the fight till he met the Whitehorned at Tarbga in the plain of Ai:  or Tarbguba (’Bull-groan’), or Tarbgleo (’Bull-fight’); Roi Dedond was the first name of that hill.  Every one that had lived through the battle cared for naught else than to see the combat of the two bulls.[6]

    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 52-53a, 3.

Each of the bulls sighted the other and there was a pawing and digging up of the ground in their frenzy there, and they tossed the earth over them.  They threw up the earth over their withers and shoulders, and their eyes blazed red [LL.fo.104a.] in their heads like firm balls of fire, [7]and their sides bent like mighty boars on a hill.[7] Their cheeks and their nostrils swelled like smith’s bellows in a forge.  And each of them gave a resounding, deadly blow to the other.  Each of them began to hole and to gore, to endeavour to slaughter [W.6151.] and demolish the other.  Then the Whitehorned of Ai visited his wrath upon the Brown Bull of Cualnge for the evil of his ways and his doings, and he drave a horn into his side and visited his angry rage upon him.  Then they directed their headlong course to where Bricriu was, so that the hoofs of the bulls drove him a man’s cubit deep into the ground after his destruction.  Hence, this is the Tragical Death of Bricriu [1]son of Carbad.[1]

    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar saw that, [2]and the force of affection arose in him,[2] and he laid hold of a spearshaft that filled his grasp, and gave three blows to the Brown Bull of Cualnge from ear to tail, [3]so that it broke on his thick hide from ear to rump.[3] “No wonderful, lasting treasure was this precious prize for us,” said Cormac, “that cannot defend himself against a stirk of his own age!” The Brown Bull of Cualnge heard this—­for he had human understanding[a]—­and he turned upon the Whitehorned. [4]Thereupon the Brown of Cualnge became infuriated, and he described a very circle of rage around the Whitehorned, and he rushed at him, so that he broke his lower leg with the shock.[4] And thereafter they continued to strike at each other for a long while and great space of time, [5]and so long as the day lasted they watched the contest of the bulls[5] till night fell on the men of Erin.  And when night had fallen, all that the men of Erin could hear was the bellowing and roaring.  That night the bulls coursed over [6]the greater part of[6] all Erin. [7]For every spot in Erin wherein is a ‘Bulls’ Ditch,’ or a ‘Bulls’ Gap,’ or a ‘Bulls’ Fen,’ or a ‘Bulls’ Loch,’ or a ‘Bulls’ Rath,’ [8]or a ‘Bulls’ Back,’[8] it is from them[7] [9]those places are named.[9]