“When they came to Sliab Fuait[6] they espied a herd of wild deer before them.  “What are those many cattle, O Ibar, those nimble ones yonder?” asked the lad; “are they tame or are they other deer?” “They are real wild deer, indeed,” Ibar answered; “herds of wild deer that haunt the wastes of Sliab Fuait.” [1]"Which,” asked Cuchulain, “would the men of Ulster deem best, to bring them dead or alive?” “More wonderful, alive,” answered the charioteer; “not every one can do it so; but dead, there is none of them cannot do it.  Thou canst not do this, carry off any of them alive.”  “Truly I can,” said Cuchulain.[1] “Ply the goad for us on the horses [2]into the bog,[2] to see can we take some of them.”  The charioteer drove a goad into the horses.  It was beyond the power of the king’s overfat steeds to keep up with the deer. [3]Soon the horses stuck in the marsh.[3] The lad got down from the chariot and [4]as the fruit of his run and his race, in the morass which was around him,[4] he caught two of the swift, stout deer.  He fastened them to the back poles and the bows and the thongs of the chariot.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 669-679.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 681-686.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 686.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 687.

    [4-4] Stowe.

“They continued their way to the mound-seat of Emain, where they saw flocks of white swans flying by them.  “What are those birds there, O Ibar?” the lad asked; “are yonder birds tame [LL.fo.67.] or are they other birds?” “Indeed, they are real wild birds,” Ibar answered; “flocks of swans are they that come from the rocks and crags and islands of the great sea without, to feed on the plains and smooth spots of Erin.”  “Which would be stranger [5]to the Ulstermen,[5] O Ibar, for them to be fetched alive to Emain or dead?” asked the lad.  “Stranger far, alive,” [W.1333.] Ibar answered, “for not every one succeeds in taking the birds alive, [1]while they are many that take them dead."[1] Then did the lad perform one of his lesser feats upon them:  [2]he put a small stone in his sling,[2] so that he brought down eight[a] of the birds; and then he performed a greater feat:  [3]he threw a large stone at them[3] and he brought down sixteen[b] of their number. [4]With his return stroke all that was done.[4] He fastened them to the hind poles and the bows and the thongs and the ropes and the traces of the chariot.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 692.

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] Stowe.

    [a] ‘Seven,’ LU. and YBL. 695.

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [b] ‘Twelve,’ LU. and YBL. 696.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 696-697.