[a] Stowe and H. 1. 13:  ‘before’; YBL. 36b, 24:  ‘after.’

    [b] ‘Till Wednesday after Spring,’ is the reading of H. 1. 13.

    [3-3] Stowe, and, similarly, Eg. 209.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [c] Literally, ‘no meagre sail.’

    [b] Or, ‘which quatrains love (?),’ a cheville.

[1]After that,[1] Fergus returned to the camp and halting-place [2]of the men of Erin,[2] [3]lest the men of Erin should say he was betraying them or forsaking them, if he should remain longer than he did conversing with Cuchulain.  And they took farewell of each other.[3]

    [1-1] YBL. 37a, 22.

    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [3-3] Eg. 106.

[4]Now as regards the charioteer of Cuchulain [5]after Fergus went from them:[5] “What wilt thou do to-night?” asked Laeg.  “What, indeed?” said Cuchulain.  “It will be thus” (said the charioteer) “Ferdiad will come to attack thee, with new beauty of plaiting and dressing of hair, and washing and bathing, and the four provinces of Erin with him to look at the combat.  I would that thou wouldst go where thou wilt get a like adorning for thyself, to the place where is Emer Foltchain (’Emer of the Beautiful Hair,’ thy wife), [6]daughter of Forgal Monach,[6] at Cairthenn in Cluan da Dam, (’two Oxen’s Meadow’) in Sliab Fuait, [1]where thou wilt get even such an adorning for thyself."[1] [2]"It is fitting to do so,” said Cuchulain.[2] Then Cuchulain went thither that night [3]to Dundelgan,[3] and passed the night with his wife.  His doings from that time are not related here now.[4]

    [4-4] YBL. 37a, 29-39, and, similarly, Eg. 106.

    [5-5] Eg. 106.

    [6-6] Eg. 106.

    [1-1] Eg. 106.

    [2-2] Eg. 106.

    [3-3] Eg. 106.

[W.3235.] [5]As for[5] Ferdiad, he betook himself to his tent and to his people, and imparted to them the easy surety which Medb had obtained from him to do combat and battle with six warriors on the morrow, or to do combat and battle with Cuchulain alone, if he thought it a lighter task.  He made known to them also the fair terms he had obtained from Medb of sending the same six warriors for the fulfilment of the covenant she had made with him, should Cuchulain fall by his hands.

    [5-5] Eg. 106.

[6]The folk of Ferdiad were not joyful, blithe, cheerful or merry that night,[6] [LL.fo.82b.] but they were sad, sorrowful and downcast, for they knew that where the two champions and the two bulwarks in a gap for a hundred, [7]the two pillars of battle and strife of the men of Erin[7] [8]of that time[8] met in combat, one or other of them would fall there or both would fall, and if it should be one of them, they believed it would be [9]their king and[9] their own lord [10]that would fall there,[10] for it was not easy to contend and do battle with Cuchulain on the Raid for the Kine of Cualnge.