Torc in the second line is glossed in the Ms. by “that is, a king.”

Cuchulain’s account of his own battle is omitted by Thurneysen, possibly because the account that he gives differs from that in the text, as is pointed out by Windisch, Ir.  Text., vol. i. p. 201).  But it is quite in keeping with the hero’s character that he should try to lessen his own glory; and the omission of this account destroys one of the features of the tale.

The literal rendering is: 

I threw a cast with my light spear into the host of Eogan the Stream; not at all do I know, though renowned the price, the victory that I have done, or the deed.

Whether he was better or inferior to my strength hitherto I chanced not on for my decision, a throw, ignorance of the man in the mist, certainly he came not away a living man.

A white army, very red for multitudes of horses, they followed after me on every side (?), people of Manannan Mac Lir, Eogan the Stream called them.

I set out in each manner when my full strength had come to me; one man to their thirty, hundreds, until I brought them to death.

I heard the groan of Echaid Juil, lips speak in friendship, if it is really true, certainly it was not a fight (?), that cast, if it was thrown.

The idea of a battle with the waves of the sea underlies the third verse of this description.

PAGE 79

Five pieces of rhetoric follow, all of which are translated by Thurneysen.  A few alterations may be made, but all of them would be small ones.  The verse translations given are, it is believed, a little closer to the text than Thurneysen’s.  The metres of the first three pieces are discussed by Professor Rhys in Y Cymmrodor for 1905 (pages 166, 167).  Professor Rhys reduces the second of these to a hexameter followed by three pentameters, then a hexameter followed by a pentameter.  The other two reduce to hexameters mixed with curtailed hexameters and pentameters.  The last two pieces of the five, not mentioned by Professor Rhys, show a strophic correspondence, which has been brought out in the verse translation; note especially their openings, and the last line of Emer’s speech, cia no triallta, as balancing the last line but four of Cuchulain’s speech, cia no comgellta.  The last of these five pieces shows the greatest differences between the verse and literal translations.  A literal translation of this would run: 

“Wherefore now, O Emer!” said Cuchulain, “should I not be permitted to delay with this lady? for first this lady here is bright, pure, and clear, a worthy mate for a king; of many forms of beauty is the lady, she can pass over waves of mighty seas, is of a goodly shape and countenance and of a noble race, with embroidery and skill, and with handiwork, with understanding, and sense, and firmness; with plenty of horses and many cattle, so that there is nothing under heaven, no wish for a dear spouse that she doth not.  And though it hath been promised (?), Emer,” he said, “thou never shalt find a hero so beautiful, so scarred with wounds, so battle-triumphing, (so worthy) as I myself am worthy.”