[FN#64] Pronounced Nyool.

’Twas Ferdia slew Bla by the water,
Son of Cathbad red-sworded was he: 
And from Lugaid Mugarne gat slaughter,
The grim lord of the Torrian sea.

Four times fifty men, stubborn in battle,
By my hand in that gateway were slain;
To Ferdia, of grim mountain cattle
Fell a bull, and a bull from the plain.

Then his hold to the plunderers giving,
Over ocean waves spangled with foam,
Did we German the wily, still living,
To the broad-shielded Scathach bring home.

There an oath our great mistress devising,
Both our valours with friendship she bound;
That no anger betwixt us uprising
Should ’mid Erin’s fair nations be found.

Much of woe with that Tuesday was dawning,
When Ferdia’s great might met its end;
Though red blood-drink I served him that morning: 
Yet I loved, though I slew him, my friend.

If afar thou hadst perished when striving
With the bravest of heroes of Greece,
’Tis not I would thy loss be surviving;
With thy death should the life of me cease.

Ah! that deed which we wrought won us sorrow,
Who, as pupils, by Scathach were trained: 
Thou wilt drive not thy chariot to-morrow;
I am weak, with red blood from me drained.

Ah! that deed which we wrought won us anguish,
Who, as pupils, by Scathach were taught: 
Rough with gore, and all wounded, I languish;
Thou to death altogether art brought.

Ah! that deed that we wrought there was cruel
For us pupils, from Scathach who learned: 
I am strong; thou art slain in the duel,
In that conflict, with anger we burned.

“Come now, Cuchulain,” said Laeg, “and let us quit this ford, for too long have we been here.”  “Now indeed will we depart, O my friend Laeg!” said Cuchulain, “but every other combat and fight that I have made hath been only a game and a light matter to me compared with this combat and fight with Ferdia.”  Thus it was that he spoke; and in this fashion he recited: 

Wars were gay, and but light was fray[FN#65]
Ere at the Ford his steeds made stay: 
Like had we both been taught,
Both one kind mistress swayed;
Like the rewards we sought,
Like was the praise she paid.

[FN#65] Metre and rhyme-system of the Irish imitated, but not exactly reproduced.

Wars were gay, and but light was fray
Ere at the Ford his steeds made stay: 
Like were our fights, oft fought,
Like were our haunts in play;
Scathach to each of us brought
A shield one day.

Wars were gay, and but light was fray
Ere at the Ford his steeds made stay: 
Pillar of gold, loved well,
Low at the Ford’s side laid;
He, when on troops he fell,
Valour unmatched displayed.

Wars were gay, and but light was fray
Ere at the Ford his steeds made stay: 
Lionlike, on he sped;
High, in his wrath, he blazed;
Rose, as a wave of dread;
Ruin his onset raised.