comes to attack me to-day?” “The curse of his fellowship and brotherhood, of his friendship and affection be upon him; even thine own real foster-brother himself, namely Ferbaeth son of Ferbend.  A while ago he was summoned into the tent of Medb.  The maiden was set by his side; It is she who fills up the drinking-horns for him; it is she who gives him a kiss with every drink; it is she who serveth his food.  Not for every one with Medb is the ale that is poured out for Ferbaeth.  Only fifty wagon-loads of it have been brought to the camp.”

[3]Cuchulain bade Laeg go to Lugaid, that he come to talk with him.  Lugaid came to Cuchulain.  “So Ferbaeth comes to oppose me to-morrow,” said Cuchulain.  “Aye, then,” answered Lugaid.[3] [4]"Evil is this day,” cried Cuchulain.  “I shall not be alive thereafter.  Two of the same age are we, two of equal deftness, two of equal weight, when we come together.  O Lugaid, greet him for me.  Tell him, also, it is not the part of true valour to come to oppose me.  Tell him to come meet me to-night to speak with me.”

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1541-1544.

Lugaid brought back this word to Ferbaeth. [W.2183.] Now inasmuch as Ferbaeth shunned not the parley,[4] he by no means waited till morn but he went straightway [1]to the glen[1] [2]that night[2] to recant his friendship with Cuchulain, [3]and Fiachu son of Ferfebe went with him.[3] And Cuchulain called to mind the friendship and fellowship and brotherhood [5]that had been between them,[5] [6]and Scathach, the nurse of them both;[6] and Ferbaeth would not consent to forego the fight.[a] [7]"I must fight,” said Ferbaeth.  “I have promised it [8]to Medb."[8] [9]"Friendship with thee then is at an end,"[9] cried Cuchulain,[7] and in anger he left him and drove the sole of his foot against a holly-spit [10]in the glen,[10] so that it pierced through flesh and bone and skin [11]and came out by his knee.[11] [12]Thereat Cuchulain became frantic, and he gave a strong tug and[12] drew the spit out from its roots, [13]from sinew and bone, from flesh and from skin.[13] [14]"Go not, Ferbaeth, till thou seest the find I have made.”  “Throw it then,” cried Ferbaeth.[14] And Cuchulain threw the holly-spit over his shoulder after Ferbaeth, and he would as lief that it reached him or that it reached him not.  The spit struck Ferbaeth in the nape of the neck,[b] so that it passed out through his [W.2192.] mouth [1]in front[1] and fell to the ground, and thus Ferbaeth fell [2]backward into the glen.[2]

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1544-1549.

    [1-1] Eg. 93.

    [2-2] Eg. 93, LU. and YBL. 1549.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 1550.

    [4-4] See page 152, note 4.

    [5-5] Stowe.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1551-1552.

    [a] Reading, with Windisch, from Stowe which gives a better meaning
    than LL.

    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 1552-1553.

    [8-8] YBL. 1553.