[1-1] LU. fo. 63, note 19, edit.  Strachan and O’Keeffe, and Eg. 93.

[2]Then[2] [3]at this incitation[3] [4]Cuchulain arose,[4] [5]and with his left heel he smote the eel on the head,[5] [6]so that its ribs broke within it[6] [7]and he destroyed one half of its brains after smashing half of its head.[7] [8]And the cattle were driven by force past the hosts to the east and they even carried away the tents on their horns at the thunder-feat the two warriors made on the ford.[8]

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1716.

    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 1717.

    [5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 1717.

    [7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [8-8] LU. and YBL. 1718-1720.

[W.2302.] The Morrigan next came in the form of a rough, grey-red bitch-wolf [9]with wide open jaws[9] [10]and she bit Cuchulain in the arm[10] [11]and drove the cattle against him westwards,[11] [12]and Cuchulain made a cast of his little javelin at her, strongly, vehemently, so that it shattered one eye in her head.[12] During this space of time, whether long or short, while Cuchulain was engaged in freeing himself, Loch wounded him [13]through the loins.[13] Thereupon Cuchulain chanted a lay.[a]

    [9-9] Eg. 209.

    [10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [11-11] LU. and YBL. 1721.

    [12-12] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17, and, similarly, LU. and YBL. 1721.

    [13-13] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [a] The three stanzas of this lay in YBL. (four in LU.) are found, with
    slight changes, in the lay on page 172fl.

[14]Then did Cuchulain to the Morrigan the three things he had threatened her on the Cattle-raid of Regomain,[14] and his anger arose within him and he [LL.fo.75a.] wounded Loch with the Gae Bulga (’the Barbed-spear’), so that it passed through [W.2307.] his heart in his breast. [1]For truly it must have been that Cuchulain could not suffer the treacherous blows and the violence of Loch Mor the warrior, and he called for the Gae Bulgae from Laeg son of Riangabair.  And the charioteer sent the Gae Bulga down the stream and Cuchulain made it ready.  And when Loch heard that, he gave a lunge down with his shield, so that he drove it over two-thirds deep into the pebbles and sand and gravel of the ford.  And then Cuchulain let go the Barbed-spear upwards, so as to strike Loch over the border of his hauberk and the rim of his shield.[1] [2]And it pierced his body’s covering, for Loch wore a horn skin when fighting with a man,[2] [3]so that his farther side was pierced clear after his heart had been thrust through in his breast.[3]

    [14-14] LU. and YBL. 1732.

    [1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 1735-1736.

    [3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.