and passes of the land of Conalle Murthemni.  All alone am I against four of the five grand provinces of Erin from Monday at Summer’s end till the beginning of Spring, every day slaying a man on a ford and a hundred warriors every night.  Fair fight is not granted me nor single combat, and no [LL.fo.93b.] one comes to aid me nor to succour. [4]And such is the measure of my wounds and my sores that I cannot bear my garments or my clothing to touch my skin, so that[4] spancel-hoops hold my cloak over me.  Dry tufts of grass are stuffed in my wounds. [5]There is not the space of a needle’s point from my crown to my sole without wound or sore, and[5] there is not a single hair [6]on my body[6] from my crown to my sole whereon the point of a needle could stand, without a drop of deep-red blood on the top of each hair, save the left hand alone which is holding my shield, and even there thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. [7]And let them straightway give battle to the warriors,[7] and unless they avenge this anon, they will never avenge it till the very day of doom and of life!”

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] Stowe.

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [5-5] Stowe.

    [6-6] Stowe.

    [7-7] YBL. 43b, 49.

Sualtaim set out on Liath (’the Roan’) of Macha as his only horse, with warning to the men of Ulster.  And when [W.4716.] he was come alongside of Emain, he shouted these words there:  “Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!” cried Sualtaim.

He had not [1]the answer[1] that served him from the Ulstermen, and forasmuch as he had it not he went on further to the rampart of Emain.  And he cried out the same words there:  “Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!” cried Sualtaim.

    [1-1] Stowe.

And [2]a second time[2] he had not the response that served him from the men of Ulster.  Thus stood it among the Ulstermen:  It was geis for the Ulstermen to speak before their king, geis for the king to speak before his [3]three[3] druids.  Thereafter Sualtaim drove on to the ’Flag-stone of the hostages’ in Emain Macha.  He shouted the same words there:  “Men are slain, women stolen, cows carried off!” “But who has slain them, and who has stolen them, and who has carried them off?” asked Cathba the druid.  “Ailill and Medb have, [4]with the cunning of Fergus mac Roig,[4] overwhelmed you. [5]Your people have been harassed as far as Dun Sobairche,"[5] said Sualtaim.  “Your wives and your sons and your children, your steeds and your stock of horses, your herds and your flocks and your droves of cattle have been carried away.  Cuchulain all alone is checking and staying the hosts of the four great provinces of Erin at the gaps and passes of the land of Conalle Murthemni.  Fair fight is refused him, nor is he granted single combat, nor comes any one to succour or aid him. [6]Cuchulain has not suffered them to