[Many games were played between Eochaid and Mider; and, since Mider did not put forth his whole strength, the victory on all occasions rested with Eochaid.  But instead of the gifts which Mider had offered, Eochaid demanded that Mider and his folk should perform for him services which should be of benefit to his realm; that he should clear away the rocks and stones from the plains of Meath, should remove the rushes which made the land barren around his favourite fort of Tethba, should cut down the forest of Breg, and finally should build a causeway across the moor or bog of Lamrach that men might pass freely across it.  All these things Mider agreed to do, and Eochaid sent his steward to see how that work was done.  And when it came to the time after sunset, the steward looked, and he saw that Mider and his fairy host, together with fairy oxen, were labouring at the causeway over the bog;] and thereupon much of earth and of gravel and of stones was poured into it.  Now it had, before that time, always been the custom of the men of Ireland to harness their oxen with a strap over their foreheads, so that the pull might be against the foreheads of the oxen; and this custom lasted up to that very night, when it was seen that the fairy-folk had placed the yoke upon the shoulders of the oxen, so that the pull might be there; and in this way were the yokes of the oxen afterwards placed by Eochaid, and thence cometh the name by which he is known; even Eochaid Airemm, or Eochaid the Ploughman, for he was the first of all the men of Ireland to put the yokes on the necks of the oxen, and thus it became the custom for all the land of Ireland.  And this is the song that the host of the fairies sang, as they laboured at the making of the road: 

Thrust it in hand! force it in hand! 
Nobles this night, as an ox-troop, stand: 
Hard is the task that is asked, and who
From the bridging of Lamrach shall gain, or rue?

Not in all the world could a road have been found that should be better than the road that they made, had it not been that the fairy folk were observed as they worked upon it; but for that cause a breach hath been made in that causeway.  And the steward of Eochaid thereafter came to him; and he described to him that great labouring band that had come before his eyes, and he said that there was not over the chariot-pole of life a power that could withstand its might.  And, as they spake thus with each other, they saw Mider standing before them; high was he girt, and ill-favoured was the face that he showed; and Eochaid arose, and he gave welcome to him.  “Thy welcome is such as I expected when I came,” said Mider.  “Cruel and senseless hast thou been in thy treatment of me, and much of hardship and suffering hast thou given me.  All things that seemed good in thy sight have I got for thee, but now anger against thee hath filled my mind!” “I return not anger for anger,” answered Eochaid; “what thou wishest shall be done.”  “Let it be as thou wishest,” said Mider; “shall we play at the chess?” said he.  “What stake shall we set upon the game?” said Eochaid.  “Even such stake as the winner of it shall demand,” said Mider.  And in that very place Eochaid was defeated, and he forfeited his stake.