if he be not attended to this night, [15]blood will flow over Conchobar’s province by him and[15] the youths of Ulster will fall by his hand.”  “We know him, that chariot-fighter,” spake Conchobar; “[16]belike it is[16] the little gilla, my sister’s son, who went to the edge of the marches [17]at the beginning of the day,[17] [W.1355.] who has reddened his hands and is still unsated of combat, and unless he be attended to, all the youths of Emain will fall by his hand.” [1]Soon he turned the left[a] side of his chariot towards Emain, and this was geis for Emain.  And Cuchulain cried, “I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, if a man be not found to engage with me, I will spill the blood of every one in the dun!"[1]

    [7-7] H. 2. 17.

    [8-8] H. 2. 17.

    [9-9] H. 2. 17.

    [10-10] LU. and YBL. 713.

    [11-11] H. 2. 17.

    [12-12] H. 2. 17.

    [13-13] H. 2. 17.

    [14-14] H. 2. 17.

    [15-15] H. 2. 17.

    [16-16] H. 2. 17.

    [17-17] H. 2. 17.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 715-718.

    [a] To turn the left side was an insult and sign of hostility.

“And this was the counsel they agreed to follow:  to let out the womenfolk to meet the youth, namely, thrice fifty women, even ten and seven-score bold, stark-naked women, at one and the same time, and their chieftainess, Scannlach (’the Wanton’) before them, to discover their persons and their shame[b] to him. [2]"Let the young women go,” said Conchobar, “and bare their paps and their breasts and their swelling bosoms, and if he be a true warrior he will not withstand being bound, and he shall be placed in a vat of cold water until his anger go from him."[2] [3]Thereupon[3] the young women all [4]arose and[4] marched out, [5]and these are the names of those queens:  Sgamalus and Sgannlach and Sgiathan, Feidlim and Deigtini Finnchas, and Finngheal and Fidniam and Niam, daughter of Celtchar son of Uthechar[5]; and they discovered their nakedness and all their shame to him. [6]"These are the warriors that will meet thee to-day,” quoth Mugain, wife of Conchobar son of Ness.[6] The lad hid his face from them and turned his gaze on the chariot, that he might not see the nakedness or the shame of the women.[c] Then the lad was lifted out of the chariot.  He was placed in three vats of cold water to extinguish his wrath; and the first vat into which he was put burst its staves and its hoops like the cracking of nuts around him. [W.1367.] The next vat [1]into which he went[1] [2]boiled with bubbles as big as fists[2] therefrom.  The third vat [3]into which he went,[3] some men might endure it and others might not.  Then the boy’s wrath went down.

    [b] ‘Breasts,’ LU. and YBL. 720.

    [2-2] H. 2. 17.

    [3-3] H. 2. 17.

    [4-4] H. 2. 17.

    [5-5] H. 2. 17.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 720-721.