lands.”  “But, who may they be?” asked Ailill of Fergus.  “Indeed, we know them well,” Fergus made answer.  “Furious lions are they; deeds of battle; the division from the field of Murthemne are they. [LL.fo.100b.] It is this that makes them cast-down, sorrowful, joyless [1]as they are,[1] because that their own divisional king himself is not amongst them, even Cuchulain, the restraining, victorious, red-sworded one that triumpheth in battle!” “Good reason, in truth, there is for them to be so,” quoth Medb, “if they are dejected, mournful and joyless.  There is no evil we have not worked on them.  We have harassed and we have assailed them, [2]their territory and their land,[2] from Monday at the beginning of Samaintide till the beginning of Spring.[a] We have taken their women and their sons and their youths, their steeds and their troops of horses, their herds and their flocks and their droves.  We have razed their hills after them till they are become lowlands, so that they are level with the plain. [3]We have brought their lords to bloody stabs and sores, to cuts and many wounds."[3] “Not so, O Medb!” cried Fergus.  “There is naught thou canst boast over them.  For thou didst them no hurt nor harm that yon fine company’s leader avenged not on thee.  For, every mound and every grave, every stone and every tomb that is from hence to the east of Erin is the mound and the grave, the stone and the tomb of some goodly warrior and goodly youth [4]of thy people,[4] fallen at the hands of the noble chieftain of yonder company.  Happy he to whom they hold!  Woe to him whom they oppose!  It will be enough, e’en as much as half a battle, for the men of Erin, when these defend their lord in the battle on the morning of the morrow.”

    [1-1] This seems out of place here; it is not found in Stowe nor in
    H. 1. 13.

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] Stowe.

    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [a] See notes a and b, page 182.

“I heard a great uproar there, west of the battle or to [W.5711.] its east,” said macRoth.  “Say, what noise was it?” asked Ailill of Fergus.  “Ah, but we know it well,” Fergus made answer:  “Cuchulain it was, straining to go, sick as he is, to battle, wearied at the length of his lying sick on Fert Sciach (’Thorn-mound’) under hoops and clasps and ropes, and the men of Ulster do not permit him to go because of his sores and his wounds, inasmuch as he is not fit for battle and is powerless for combat after his encounter with Ferdiad.”

True indeed spake Fergus.  Cuchulain it was, wearied at the length of his lying supine on Fert Sciach under hoops and clasps and ropes. [1]"But, there is one thing more to tell,” said Fergus:  “unless he be held back now, he will surely come to the battle!”

Thus far the Companies of the Tain Bo Cualnge[1] [2]mustered by Conchobar and the men of Ulster.[2]

    [1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.