own domain;
For a troop shall circle round thee, riding close beside thy hand: 
Stately it shall be, with goodly horses from a foreign land!”
“Tell me of that troop,” said Eocho, “in what numbers should we ride? "
Fifty horsemen is the number that befits thee,” she replied: 

[FN#43] Pronounced Yeo-ho Bayc.

[FN#44] Cliu, a district in Munster.

[FN#45] Spelt Cuillne, in Y.B.L. it is Cuille.

[FN#46] The Fairies, spelt Sidh.

“Fifty horses, black in colour; gold and silver reins and bits;
Fifty sets of gay equipment, such as fairies well befits;
These at early dawn to-morrow shall my care for thee provide: 
Let thy foster-children with thee on the road thou makest ride! 
Rightly do we come to help thee, who so valiantly in fray
Guardest for us soil and country!” And the fairy passed away.

Eocho’s folk at dawn have risen; fifty steeds they all behold:  Black the horses seemed; the bridles, stiff with silver and with gold, Firmly to the gate were fastened; fifty silver breeches there Heaped together shone, encrusted all with gold the brooches were:  There were fifty knightly vestments, bordered fair with golden thread:  Fifty horses, white, and glowing on their ears with deepest red, Nigh them stood; of reddish purple were the sweeping tails and manes; Silver were the bits; their pasterns chained in front with brazen chains:  And, of fair findruine[FN#47] fashioned, was for every horse a whip, Furnished with a golden handle, wherewithal the goad to grip.

[FN#47] Pronounced “findroony.”

Then King Eocho rose, and ready made him; in that fair array
Forth they rode, nor did they tarry till they came to Croghan[FN#48] Ay. 
Scarcely could the men of Connaught bear to see that sight, amazed
At the dignity and splendour of the host on which they gazed;
For that troop was great; in serried ranks the fifty riders rode,
Splendid with the state recounted; pride on all their faces glowed. 
“Name the man who comes!” said Ailill; “Easy answer!” all replied,
Eocho Bee, in Clew who ruleth, hither to thy court would ride”: 
Court and royal house were opened; in with welcome came they all;
Three long days and nights they lingered, feasting in King Ailill’s
hall. 
Then to Ailill, king of Connaught, Eocho spake:  “From out my land
{50} Wherefore hast thou called me hither?” “Gifts are needed from thy
hand,”
Ailill said; “a heavy burden is that task upon me laid,
To maintain the men of Ireland when for Cualgne’s kine we raid.”

[FN#48] Pronounced Crow-han.

Eocho spoke:  “What gift requirest thou from me?” “For milking-kine,”
Ailill said, “I ask”; and Eocho, “Few of these indeed are mine! 
Forty sons of Munster’s princes have I in my halls to rear;
These, my foster-sons, beside me m my troop have journeyed here;
Fifty herdsmen guard the cattle, forty cows my wards to feed,
Seven times twenty graze beside them, to supply my people’s need.”