Fergus, ’that you will be defeated in the battle.  That lad knows not terror nor fear at coming to you among them into the midst of your battalion.  It would be like men that the warriors of the men of Ulster will roar in saving the calf their heart, in striking the battle.  There will come to them a feeling of kinship at seeing that lad in the great battle, striking the battle before them.  There will be heard the rumble of Conchobar’s sword like the barking of a watch-dog in saving the lad.  He will throw three walls of men about the battle in seeking the lad.  It will be with the affection of kinsmen that the warriors of Ulster will attack the countless host,’ said Fergus.

‘I think it long,’ said Mac Roth, ’to be recounting all that I have seen, but I have come meanwhile (?) with tidings to you.’

‘You have brought it,’ said Fergus.

‘Conall Cernach has not come with his great company,’ said Mac Roth; ’the three sons of Conchobar with their three cantreds have not come; Cuchulainn too has not come there after his wounding in combat against odds.  Unless it is a warrior with one chariot,’ said Mac Roth, ’I think it would be he who has come there.  Two horses ... under his chariot; they are long-tailed, broad-hoofed, broad above, narrow beneath, high-headed, great of curve, thin-mouthed, with distended nostrils.  Two wheels black, ——­, with tyres even, smooth-running; the body very high, clattering; the tent ... therein; the pillars carved.  The warrior in that chariot four-square, purple-faced; hair cropped short on the top, curly, very black has he, down to his shoulders; ... a cloak red about him; four thirties of feat-poles (?) in each of his two arms.  A sword gold-hilted on his left; shield and spear has he, and twenty-four javelins about him on strings and thongs.  The charioteer in front of him; the back of the charioteer’s head towards the horses, the reins grasped by his toes (?) before him; the chessboard spread between them, half the men of yellow gold, the others of white metal; the buanfach [Note:  the name of a game; probably in the nature of chess or draughts.] under their thighs.  Nine feats were performed by him on high.’

‘Who is that, O Fergus?’ said Ailill.

‘An easy question,’ said Fergus.  ’Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim from the Sid, [Note:  Cuchulainn was of fairy birth.] and Loeg Mac Riangabra his charioteer.  Cuchulainn is that,’ said Fergus.

‘Many hundreds and thousands,’ said Mac Roth, ’have reached the camp of Ulster.  Many heroes and champions and fighting-men have come with a race to the assembly.  Many companies,’ said Mac Roth, ’were reaching the same camp, of those who had not reached or come to the camp when I came; only,’ said Mac Roth, ’my eye did not rest on hill or height of all that my eye reached from Fer Diad’s Ford to Slemon Midi, but upon horse and man.’

‘You saw the household of a man truly,’ said Fergus.