take arms,” the lad made answer.  “Who hath advised thee, little boy?” asked Conchobar.  “Cathba the druid,” said the lad.  “He would not deceive thee, little boy,” said Conchobar.  Conchobar gave him two spears and a sword and a shield.  The little boy shook and brandished the arms [1]in the middle of the house[1] so that he made small pieces and fragments of them.  Conchobar gave him other two spears and a shield and a sword.  He shook and brandished, flourished and poised them, so that he shivered them into small pieces and fragments.  There where were the fourteen[a] suits of arms which Conchobar had in Emain, [2]in reserve in case of breaking of weapons or[2] for equipping the youths and the boys—­to the end that whatever boy assumed arms, it might be Conchobar that gave him the equipment of battle, and the victory of cunning would be his thenceforward—­even so, this little boy made splinters and fragments of them all.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 547.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [a] ‘One hundred’ is the number in LU. and YBL. 547.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 548.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 548.

    [7-7] Stowe.

    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 550.

    [9-9] LU. and YBL. 551.

    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 551-552.

    [11-11] Stowe.

    [12-12] LU. and YBL. 553.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 557.

    [a] ‘Fifteen,’ LU. and YBL. 556; ‘seventeen,’ Stowe.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 557.

“Truly these arms here are not good, O Conchobar my master,” the stripling cried.  “Herefrom cometh not what is worthy of me.”  Conchobar gave him his own two spears and his shield and his sword.  He shook and he brandished, he bent and he poised them so that tip touched butt, and he brake not the arms and they bore up against him, [3]and he saluted the king whose arms they were.[3] “Truly, these arms are good,” said the little boy; “they are suited to me.  Hail to the king whose arms and equipment these are.  Hail to the land whereout he is come!”

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 559-560.

“Then Cathba the druid chanced to come into the tent, and what he said was, “Hath he yonder taken arms?” [W.1101.] Cathba asked.  “Aye, then, it must be,” Conchobar answered.  “Not by [1]his[1] mother’s son would I wish them to be taken this day,” said Cathba.  “How so?  Was it not thyself advised him?” Conchobar asked.  “Not I, in faith,” replied Cathba.  “What mean’st thou, bewitched elf-man?” cried Conchobar [2]to Cuchulain.[2] “Is it a lie thou hast told us?” [LL.fo.65a.] “But be not wroth [3]thereat,[3] O my master Conchobar,” said the little boy. [4]"No lie have I told;[4] for yet is it he that advised me, [5]when he taught his other pupils this morning.[5] For his pupil asked him what luck might lie in the day, and he said:  The youth that took arms on this day would be illustrious and famous, [6]that his name would be over the men of Erin for ever, and