“And the lad was told the tales of the boys and the boy-troop in Emain; and the child said to his mother, he would go to have part in the games on the play-field of Emain.  “It is too soon for thee, little son,” said his mother; “wait till there go with thee a champion of the champions of [W.880.] Ulster, or some of the attendants of Conchobar to enjoin thy protection and thy safety on the boy-troop.”  “I think it too long for that, my mother,” the little lad answered, “I will not wait for it.  But do thou show me what place lies Emain [1]Macha."[1] [2]"Northwards, there;[2] it is far away from thee,” said his mother, “the place wherein it lies, [3]and the way is hard.[3] Sliab Fuait lies between thee and Emain.”  “At all hazards, I will essay it,” he answered.

    [1-1] Eg. 1782.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 376-377.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 377.

“The boy fared forth and took his playthings with him. [4]His little lath-shield[4] he took, and his hurley of bronze and his ball of silver; and he took his little javelin for throwing; and his toy-staff he took with its fire-hardened butt-end, and he began to shorten the length of his journey with them.  He would give the ball a stroke [LL.fo.62b.] with the hurl-bat, so that he sent it a long distance from him.  Then with a second throw he would cast his hurley so that it went a distance no shorter than the first throw.  He would hurl his little darts, and let fly his toy-staff, and make a wild chase after them.  Then he would catch up his hurl-bat and pick up the ball and snatch up the dart, and the stock of the toy-staff had not touched the ground when he caught its tip which was in the air.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 380.

“He went his way to the mound-seat of Emain, where was the boy-troop.  Thrice fifty youths were with Folloman, Conchobar’s son, at their games on the fair-green of Emain.

“The little lad went on to the play-field into the midst of the boys, and he whipped the ball between his two legs away from them, nor did he suffer it to travel higher up than the top of his knee, nor did he let it lower down than his ankle, and he drove it and held it between his two legs and not one of the boys was able to get a prod nor a stroke nor a blow nor a shot at it, so that he carried it over the [W.904.] brink of the goal away from them. [1]Then he goes to the youths without binding them to protect him.  For no one used to approach them on their play-field without first securing from them a pledge of protection.  He was weetless thereof.[1]

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 382-384.

“Then they all gazed upon him.  They wondered and marvelled.  “Come, boys!” cried Folloman, Conchobar’s son, [2]"the urchin insults us.[2] Throw yourselves all on yon fellow, and his death shall come at my hands; for it is geis among you for any youth to come into your game, without first entrusting his safety to you.  And do you all attack him together, for we know that yon wight is some one of the heroes of Ulster; and they shall not make it their wont to break into your sports without first entrusting their safety and protection to you.”