“As I stood and Ferdiad brave At the gate of German’s fort, [LL.fo.88b.] I slew Rinn the son of Nel; He slew Ruad son of Fornel!

[W.4122.] “Ferdiad slew upon the slope Blath, of Colba ‘Red-sword’ son.  Lugaid, fierce and swift, then slew Mugairne of the Tyrrhene Sea!

    “I slew, after going in,
    Four times fifty grim, wild men. 
    Ferdiad killed—­a furious horde—­
    Dam Dremenn and Dam Dilenn!

    “We laid waste shrewd German’s fort
    O’er the broad, bespangled sea. 
    German we brought home alive
    To our Scathach of broad shield!

    “Then our famous nurse made fast
    Our blood-pact[a] of amity,
    That our angers should not rise
    ’Mongst the tribes of noble Elg!

    “Sad the morn, a day in March,
    Which struck down weak Daman’s son. 
    Woe is me, the friend is fall’n
    Whom I pledged in red blood’s draught![a]

    “Were it there I saw thy death,
    Midst the great Greeks’ warrior-bands,
    I’d not live on after thee,
    But together we would die!

    “Woe, what us befel therefrom,
    Us, dear Scathach’s fosterlings,
    Me sore wounded, red with blood,
    Thee no more to drive thy car!

    “Woe, what us befel therefrom,
    Us, dear Scathach’s fosterlings,
    Me sore wounded, stiff with gore,
    Thee to die the death for aye!

    “Woe, what us befel therefrom,
    Us, dear Scathach’s fosterlings,
    Thee in death, me, strong, alive. 
    Valour is an angry strife!”

    [b] That is, Ferbaeth.

    [c] That is, as prisoners.

    [a] Referring to the Celtic custom of binding an alliance by each of
    the parties thereto drinking the blood of the other.

“Good, O Cucuc,” spake Laeg, “let us leave this ford now; too long are we here!” “Aye, let us leave it, O my master Laeg,” replied Cuchulain.  “But every combat and battle I have fought seems a game and a sport to me compared with the combat and battle of Ferdiad.”  Thus he spake, and he uttered these words:—­

    [W.4164.] “All was play, all was sport,
    Till came Ferdiad to the ford! 
      One task for both of us,
        Equal our reward. 
        Our kind, gentle nurse
        Chose him over all!

    “All was play, all was sport,
    Till came Ferdiad to the ford! 
      One our life, one our fear,
        One our skill in arms. 
        Shields gave Scathach twain
        To Ferdiad and me!

    “All was play, all was sport,
    Till came Ferdiad to the ford! 
      Dear the shaft of gold[a]
        I smote on the ford. 
        Bull-chief of the tribes,
        Braver he than all!

    “Only games and only sport,
    Till came Ferdiad to the ford! 
    Lion, furious, flaming, fierce;
    Swollen wave that wrecks like doom!