[9-9] LU. and YBL 1348-1349.

    [1-1] Eg. 93.

    [2-2] Eg. 93.

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [4-4] Eg. 93.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 1351-1352.

    [6-6] Eg. 33.

Then came the warriors of four of the five grand provinces of Erin at the end of a long fortnight[a] to camp and station [7]at Fochard,[7] together with Medb and Ailill and the company that were bringing the bull.

    [a] Omitting ar mis (LL.), which is not found in the other MSS.

    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1355.

* * * * *

[Page 136]

XIIa

THE DEATH OF FORGEMEN

[W.2054.] And the bull’s cowherd would not allow them [1]to carry off[1] the Brown Bull of Cualnge, so that they urged on the bull, beating shafts on shields, till they drove him into a narrow gap, and the herd trampled the cowherd’s body thirty feet into the ground, so that they made fragments and shreds of his body.  Forgemen was the neatherd’s name. [2]And this is the name of the hill, Forgemen.[2] This then is the Death of Forgemen on the Cattle-prey of Cualnge. [3]Now there was no peril to them that night so long as a man was got to ward off Cuchulain from them on the ford.[3]

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1359.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1360-1361.

* * * * *

[Page 137]

XIIb

[1]HERE IS NARRATED THE SLAYING OF REDG THE LAMPOONIST[1]

[W.2061.] When the men of Erin had come together in one place, both Medb and Ailill and the force that was bringing the bull to the camp and enclosure, they all declared Cuchulain would be no more valiant than another [2]of the men of Erin[2] were it not for the wonderful little trick he possessed, the spearlet of Cuchulain.  Accordingly the men of Erin despatched from them Redg, Medb’s[a] jester, to demand the light javelin [3]of Cuchulain.[3]

    [1-1] LU. page 70b, in the margin.

    [2-2] Eg. 93.

    [a] ‘Ailill’s,’ LU. and YBL. 1332 and Eg. 1782.

    [3-3] Stowe.

So Redg [4]came forward to where Cuchulain was and[4] asked for the little javelin, but Cuchulain did not give him the little javelin [5]at once[5]; he did not deem it good and proper to yield it. [6]"Give me thy spear,” said the jester.  “Nay then, I will not,” answered Cuchulain; “but I will give thee treasure.”  “I will not take it,” said the jester.  Then he wounded the jester because he would not accept from him what he had offered him.[6] Redg declared he would deprive Cuchulain of his honour [7]unless he got the little javelin.[7] Thereupon Cuchulain hurled the javelin at him, so that it struck him in the nape of the neck[b]