cresses, a sprig of laver, and a sprig of sea-grass; there will be a man to take thy place at the ford.”  “This welcome is truly meant,” replied Lugaid; “the choice of people for the youth whom I desire!” “Splendid are your hosts,” said Cuchulain.  “It will be no misfortune,” said Lugaid, “for thee to stand up alone before them.”  “True courage and valour have I,” Cuchulain made answer.  “Lugaid, my master,” said Cuchulain, “do the hosts fear me?” “By the god,” Lugaid made answer, “I swear that no one man of them nor two men dares make water outside the camp unless twenty or thirty go with him.”  “It will be something for them,” said Cuchulain, “if I begin to cast from my sling.  He will be fit for thee, O Lugaid, this companion thou hast in Ulster, [1]if the men oppose me one by one.[1] Say, then, what wouldst thou?” asked Cuchulain.  “A truce with my host.”  “Thou shalt have it, provided there be a token therefor.  And tell my master Fergus that there shall be a token on the host.  Tell the leeches that there shall be a token on the host, and let them swear to preserve my life and let them provide me each night with provision.”

    [1-1] LU. 1041.

    [1-1] Literally, ‘if there oppose me the strength of each single man.’

Lugaid went from him.  It happened that Fergus was in the tent with Ailill.  Lugaid called him out and reported that (proposal of Cuchulain’s) to him.  Then Ailill was heard:[a]

    [a] The sense of this proposal of Ailill’s, omitted in the translation
    (LU. 1064-1069 and Eg. 1782), is not clear.

“I swear by the god, I cannot,” said [3]Fergus,[3] “unless I ask the lad.  Help me, O Lugaid,” said Fergus.  “Do thou go to him, to see whether Ailill with a division may come to me to my company.  Take him an ox with salt pork and a keg of wine.”  Thereupon Lugaid goes to Cuchulain and tells him that. “’Tis the same to me whether he go,” said Cuchulain.  Then the two hosts unite.  They remain there till night, [4]or until they spend thirty nights there.[4] Cuchulain destroyed thirty of their warriors with his sling.  “Your journeyings will be ill-starred,” said Fergus (to Medb and Ailill); “the men of Ulster will come out of their ‘Pains’ and will grind you down to the earth and the gravel.  Evil is the battle-corner wherein we are.”  He proceeds to Cul Airthir (’the Eastern Nook’).  Cuchulain slays thirty of their heroes on Ath Duirn (’Ford of the Fist’).  Now they could not reach Cul Airthir till night.  Cuchulain killed thirty of their men there and they raised their tents in that place.  In the morning Ailill’s charioteer, Cuillius to wit, was washing the wheel-bands in the ford.  Cuchulain struck him with a stone so that he killed him.  Hence is Ath Cuillne (’Ford of Destruction’) in Cul Airthir.’[2]

    [3-3] ‘Lugaid,’ LU. 1069.

    [4-4] YBL. 1075; but, ’they would be twenty nights there, as other
    books say,’ LU.