[2-2] Stowe.

    [3-3] H. 2. 17.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 854, and H. 2. 17.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 855-856.

    [6-6] Stowe.

    [7-7] H. 2. 17.

    [8-8] H. 2. 17.

    [9-9] H. 2. 17.

    [c] Apparently the name of some game.

    [10-10] H. 2. 17.

    [11-11] H. 2. 17.

    [1-1] H. 2. 17.

Thereupon on the morrow the hosts proceeded among the rocks and dunes of the land of Conalle Murthemni. [3]Cuchulain killed no one from Saile (’the Sea’) around Dorthe in the land of Conalle, until he reached Cualnge.  At that time Cuchulain was in Cuince, [2]that is a mountain.[2] He had threatened that, where he would see Medb, he would hurl a stone at her head.  It was not easy to do this, for it was thus Medb went, with half the host around her and their canopy of shields over her head.[3] And Medb ordered a canopy of shields to be held over her head in order that Cuchulain might not strike her from the hills or hillocks or heights.  Howbeit on that day, no killing nor attack came from Cuchulain upon the men of Erin, in the land of Murthemne among the rocks and dunes of Conalle Murthemni.

    [2-2] LU. 860.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 858-863.

* * * * *

[Page 93]

VIIId

[1]THE SLAYING OF LOCHE[1]

[W.1552.] The warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin bided their time in Rede Loche in Cualnge and pitched camp and took quarters therein for that night.  Medb bade her fair handmaiden from amongst her attendants to go for her to the river for water for drinking and washing.  Loche was the name of the maiden.  Thereupon Loche went, and fifty[a] women in her train and the queen’s diadem of gold on her head.  And Cuchulain [2]espied them and he[2] [3]put a stone on his sling and[3] cast [LL.fo.69b.] a stone from his [4]staff[4]-sling at her, so that he broke the diadem of gold in three pieces and killed the maiden on her plain.  Thence is Rede Loche (’the Plain of Loche’) in Cualnge.  For Cuchulain had thought, for want of acquaintance and knowledge, that it was Medb that was there.

    [1-1] LU. fo. 65a, in the margin.

    [a] ‘forty,’ H. 2. 17.

    [2-2] H. 2. 17.

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [4-4] H. 2. 17.

[5]From Finnabair of Cualnge the hosts divided and set the country on fire.  They gathered all their women and boys and girls and cattle in Cualnge together so that they all were in Finnabair.  “Ye have not fared well,” quoth Medb; “I see not the bull amongst you.”  “He is not in the land at all,” replied every one.  They summoned Lothar, the cowherd, to Medb.  “Where, thinkest thou, is the bull?” she asked.  “I have great fear to tell,” said the cowherd.  “The night,” said he, “that the Ulstermen fell into their ‘Pains,’ the Donn went and three score heifers along with him; and he is at Dubcaire Glinni Gat (’the Black Corrie of the Osier-glen’).”  “Rise,” said Medb, “and take a withy between each two of you.”  And they do accordingly.  Hence is the name, Glenn Gatt, of that glen.