to wound thee from behind with my weapons."[4] “I crave a boon of thee this day, O Cuchulain,” spake Medb.  “What boon cravest thou [5]of me?"[5] asked Cuchulain.  “That this host be under thine honour and thy protection till they pass westwards over Ath Mor (’the Great Ford’).” [LL.fo.103b.] “Yea, I promise that,” said Cuchulain. [6]Then[6] went Cuchulain around the men of Erin, and he undertook a shield-defence on one side of them, in order to protect the men of Erin.  On the other side went the governors of the men of Erin.  Medb went to her own place and assumed a shield-defence in the rear of the men of Erin, and in this manner they convoyed the men of Erin over Ath Mor westwards.

    [1-1] YBL. 52b, 41.

    [2-2] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [3-3] YBL. 52b, 41-42.

    [4-4] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [5-5] H. 1. 13.

    [6-6] H. 1. 13. and Add.

[7]Then Laeg [8]son of Riangabair[8] brought Cuchulain’s sword unto him, [9]the ‘Hard-headed Steeling’ to wit,[9] and Cuchulain took the sword in his hand.[7] Then he [10]stood still and[10] gave a blow to the three bald-topped hills of Ath Luain over against the three Maela (’the Bald Tops’) of Meath, so that he struck their three heads off them. [11]And they are in the bog as a witness ever since.  Hence these are the Maolain (’the Flat Tops’) of Ath Luain.  Cuchulain cut them off as a reproach and affront to the men of Connacht, in order that every time men should speak of Meath’s three Bald Tops, these in the west should be the answer the ’Three Flat Tops of Ath Luain.’[11]

    [7-7] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [8-8] Add.

    [9-9] YBL. 52b, 43.

    [10-10] YBL. 52b. 45.

    [11-11] H. 1. 13 and Add.

[W.6099.] Then [1]when the battle had been lost,[1] Fergus [2]began to view[2] the host as it went westwards of Ath Mor.  “It was thus indeed it behoved this day to prove, for following in the lead of a woman,” [3]said Fergus.[3] “Faults and feuds have met here to-day,” [4]said Medb[4] to Fergus.  “Betrayed and sold is this host to-day,” [5]Fergus answered.[5] “And even as a brood-mare leads her foals into a land unknown, without a head to advise or give counsel before them, such is the plight of this host to-day [6]in the train of a woman that hath ill counselled them."[6]

    [1-1] YBL. 52b, 47-48.

    [2-2] Reading with H. 1. 13.

    [3-3] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [4-4] YBL. 52b, 48.

    [5-5] H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [6-6] YBL. 52b, 52.

[7]Then Cuchulain turned to where Conchobar was with the nobles of Ulster before him.  Conchobar bewailed and lamented Cuchulain, and then he uttered this lay:—­

    “How is this, O Cualnge’s Hound,
    Hero of the Red Branch, thou: 
    Great woe, champion, hast thou borne,
    Battling in thy land’s defence!

    “Every morn a hundred slain,
    Every eve a hundred more,
    While the host purveyed thy fare,
    Feeding thee with cooling food!