limb of him sprang apart,[4] so that he broke into bits all over the ground.[a] Conchobar heard the yelp of the ban-dog. [5]Conchobar and his people could not move; they weened they would not find the lad alive before them.[5] “Alas, O warriors,” cried Conchobar; “in no good luck [W.1029.] have we come to enjoy this feast.”  “How so?” asked all.  “The little lad who has come to meet me, my sister’s son, Setanta son of Sualtaim, is undone through the hound.”  As one man, arose all the renowned men of Ulster.  Though a door of the hostel was thrown wide open, they all rushed in the other direction out over the palings of the fortress.  But fast as they all got there, faster than all arrived Fergus, and he lifted the little lad from the ground on the slope of his shoulder and bore him into the presence of Conchobar. [1]They put him on Conchobar’s knee.  A great alarm arose amongst them that the king’s sister’s son should have been all but killed.[1] And Culann came out, and he saw his slaughter-hound in many pieces.  He felt his heart beating against his breast.  Whereupon he went into the dun.  “Welcome thy coming, little lad,” said Culann, “because of thy mother and father, but not welcome is thy coming for thine own sake. [2]Yet would that I had not made a feast."[2] “What hast thou against the lad?” queried Conchobar.  “Not luckily for me hast thou come to quaff my ale and to eat my food; for my substance is now a wealth gone to waste, and my livelihood is a livelihood lost [3]now after my dog.[3] [4]He hath kept honour and life for me.[4] Good was the friend thou hast robbed me of, [5]even my dog,[5] in that he tended my herds and flocks and stock for me; [6]he was the protection of all our cattle, both afield and at home."[6] “Be not angered thereat, O Culann my master,” said the little boy. [7]"It is no great matter,[7] for I will pass a just judgement upon it.”  “What judgement thereon wilt thou pass, lad?” Conchobar asked.  “If there is a whelp of the breed of that dog in Erin, he shall be reared by me till he be fit to do [W.1049.] business as was his sire. [1]Till then[1] myself will be the hound to protect his flocks and his cattle and his land [2]and even himself[2] in the meanwhile. [3]And I will safeguard the whole plain of Murthemne, and no one will carry off flock nor herd without that I know it."[3]

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 515-518.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 514.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 518-519.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 525.

    [a] According to the LU.-YBL. version, Cuchulain seized the hound with
    one hand by the apple of the throat and with the other by the back.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 519-521.

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 529-530.

    [2-2] LU and YBL. 532.

    [3-3] Stowe, YBL. and LU. 533-534.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 334.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 535.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 536.

    [7-7] LU. and YBL. 537.