[4-4] YBL. 2229-2231.

[5-5] YBL. 2231-2232.

[6-6] YBL. 2232-2234.

Such were the words of Medb, and she spake them here and Ferdiad responded:—­

Medb:  “Great rewards in arm-rings,
Share of plain and forest,
Freedom of thy children
From this day till doom! 
Ferdiad son of Daman,
More than thou couldst hope for,
Why shouldst thou refuse it,
That which all would take?”

Ferdiad:  “Naught I’ll take without bond—­
No ill spearman am I—­
Hard on me to-morrow: 
Great will be the strife! 
Hound that’s hight of Culann,
How his thrust is grievous! 
No soft thing to stand him;
Rude will be the wound!”

Medb:  “Champions will be surety,
Thou needst not keep hostings. 
Reins and splendid horses
Shall be given as pledge!
[W.3056.] Ferdiad, good, of battle,
For that thou art dauntless,
Thou shalt be my lover,
Past all, free of cain!”

Ferdiad:  “Without bond I’ll go not
To engage in ford-feats;
It will live till doomsday
In full strength and force. 
Ne’er I’ll yield—­who hears me,
Whoe’er counts upon me—­
Without sun- and moon-oath,
Without sea and land!”

Medb:  “Why then dost delay it? 
Bind it as it please thee,
By kings’ hands and princes’,
Who will stand for thee! 
Lo, I will repay thee,[a]
Thou shalt have thine asking,
For I know thou’lt slaughter
Man that meeteth thee!”

Ferdiad:  “Nay, without six sureties—­
It shall not be fewer—­
Ere I do my exploits
There where hosts will be! 
Should my will be granted,
I swear, though unequal,
That I’ll meet in combat
Cuchulain the brave!”

Medb:  “Domnall, then, or Carbre,
Niaman famed for slaughter,
Or e’en folk of barddom,
Natheless, thou shalt have. 
Bind thyself on Morann,
Wouldst thou its fulfilment,
Bind on smooth Man’s Carbre,
And our two sons, bind!”

Ferdiad:  “Medb, with wealth of cunning,
Whom no spouse can bridle,
Thou it is that herdest
Cruachan of the mounds! 
High thy fame and wild power! 
Mine the fine pied satin;
Give thy gold and silver,
Which were proffered me!”

Medb:  [W.3100.] “To thee, foremost champion,
I will give my ringed brooch. 
From this day till Sunday,
Shall thy respite be! 
Warrior, mighty, famous,
All the earth’s fair treasures
Shall to thee be given;
Everything be thine!

“Finnabair of the champions (?),
Queen of western Erin,
When thou’st slain the Smith’s Hound,
Ferdiad, she’s thine!”

Ferdiad:  [1]"Should I have Finnabair to wife,
Falls of Ai and Cruachan too,
And to dwell for alway there,
I’d not seek the deedful Hound!

“Equal skill to me and him—­”
Thus spake Ferdiad withal—­
“The same nurses raised us[a] both,
And with them we learned our art.