“The broil of war arose between Ulster and Eogan son of Durthacht.  The Ulstermen go forth to the war.  The lad Setanta is left behind asleep.  The men of Ulster are beaten.  Conchobar and Cuscraid Menn (’the Stammerer’) of Macha are left on the field and many besides them.  Their groans awaken the lad.  Thereat he stretches himself, so that the two stones are snapped that are near him.  This took place in the presence of Bricriu yonder,” Fergus added.  “Then he gets up.  I meet him at the door of the liss, I being severely wounded.  “Hey, God keep thy life,[a] O Fergus my master,” says he; “where is Conchobar?” “I know not,” I answer.  Thereupon he goes out.  The night is dark.  He makes for the battlefield, until he sees before him a man and half his head on him and half of another man on his back.  “Help me, Cuchulain,” he cries; “I have been stricken, and I bear on my back half of my brother.  Carry it for me a while.”  “I will not carry it,” says he.  Thereupon the man throws the load at him.  Cuchulain throws it back from him.  They grapple with one another.  Cuchulain is overthrown.  Then I heard something.  It was Badb[a] from the corpses:  “Ill the stuff of a warrior that is there under the feet of a phantom.”  Thereat Cuchulain arises from underneath him, and he strikes off his head with his playing-stick and proceeds to drive the ball before him over the field of battle.

    [a] A Christian salutation.

    [a] The war-fury.

“Is my master Conchobar on this battle-field?” That one makes answer.  He goes towards him, to where he espies him in a ditch and the earth piled around him on both sides to hide him.  “Wherefore art thou come to the battle-field?” Conchobar asks; “is it that thou mightst see mortal terror there?” Then Cuchulain lifts him out of the ditch.  The six strong men of Ulster that were with us could not have lifted him out more bravely.  “Get thee before us to yonder house,” says Conchobar, [1]"to make me a fire there.”  He kindles a great fire for him.  “Good now,” quoth Conchobar,[1] “if one would bring me a roast pig, I would live.”  “I will go fetch it,” says Cuchulain.  Thereupon he sallies out, when he sees a man at a cooking-pit in the heart of the wood.  One of his hands holds his weapons therein, the other roasts the pork.  Ill-favoured, indeed, is the man.  For the which, Cuchulain attacks him and takes his head and his pig with him.  Conchobar eats the pig then.  “Let us go to our house,” says Conchobar.  They meet Cuscraid son of Conchobar and there were heavy wounds on him.  Cuchulain carries him on his back.  The three then proceed to Emain Macha.

    [1-1] YBL. 461.