[5-5] LU. and YBL. 867-887.]

Then they led the bull to Finnabair.  In the place where the bull saw Lothar, the cowherd, he attacked him, and soon he carried his entrails out on his horns and together with his thrice fifty heifers he attacked the camp, so that fifty warriors perished.  Hence this is the Tragical Death of Lothar on the Tain [1]and the Finding of the Bull according to this version.[1] [2]Thereafter the bull went from them away from the camp and they knew not whither he had gone from them and they were ashamed.  Medb asked the cowherd if he might know where the bull was.  “I trow he is in the wilds of Sliab Culinn."[2] Then they turned back ravaging Cualnge and they found not the bull there.[5]

    [1-1] YBL. 882, which adds:  ‘We will not follow it further here.’

    [2-2] LU., edition of Strachan and O’Keeffe, page 34, note 16.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 867-887.

* * * * *

[Page 95]

VIIIe

[1]THE KILLING OF UALA[1]

[W.1563.] [2]Early[2] on the morrow the hosts continued their way [3]to lay waste the plain of Murthemne and to sack Mag Breg and Meath and Machaire Conaill (’Conall’s Plain’) and the land of Cualnge.  It was then that the streams and rivers of Conalle Murthemni rose to the tops of the trees, and the streams of the Cronn rose withal, until the hosts arrived at Glaiss Cruinn (’Cronn’s Stream’).[3] And they attempted the stream and failed to cross it [4]because of the size of its waves,[4] [5]so that they slept on its bank.[5] And Cluain Carpat (’Chariot-meadow’) is the name of the first place where they reached it.  This is why Cluain Carpat is the name of that place, because of the hundred[a] chariots which the river carried away from them to the sea.  Medb ordered her people that one of the warriors should go try the river.  And [6]on the morrow[6] there arose a great, stout, [7]wonderful[7] warrior of the [8]particular[8] people of Medb [9]and Ailill,[9] Uala by name, and he took on his back a massy rock, [10]to the end that Glaiss Cruinn might not carry him back.[10] And he went to essay the stream, and the stream threw him back dead, lifeless, with his [W.1571.] stone on his back [1]and so he was drowned.[1] Medb ordered that he be lifted [2]out of the river then[2] [3]by the men of Erin[3] and his grave dug [4]and his keen made[4] and his stone raised [5]over his grave,[5] so that it is thence Lia Ualann (’Uala’s Stone’) [6]on the road near the stream[6] in the land of Cualnge.

    [1-1] LU. fo. 65a, in the margin.

    [2-2] H. 2. 17.

    [3-3] H. 2. 17.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [5-5] LU. 887, a gloss.

    [a] H. 2. 17 has ‘fifty charioteers.’

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 889.

    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 889.

    [8-8] H. 2. 17.

    [9-9] H. 2. 17.