Ferdiad:  “Here stands one to crush thee,
’Tis I will destroy thee,
[1]...[1]
From me there shall come
The flight of their warriors
In presence of Ulster,
That long they’ll remember
The loss that was theirs!”

Cuchulain:  “How then shall we combat? 
For wrongs shall we heave sighs? 
Despite all, we’ll go there,
To fight on the ford! 
Or is it with hard swords,
Or e’en with red spear-points,
Before hosts to slay thee,
If [2]thy[2] hour hath come?”

Ferdiad:  “’Fore sunset, ’fore nightfall—­
If need be, then guard thee—­
I’ll fight thee at Bairche,
Not bloodlessly fight! 
The Ulstermen call thee,
‘He has him!’ Oh, hearken! 
The sight will distress them
That through them will pass[b]!”

Cuchulain:  “In danger’s gap fallen,
At hand is thy life’s term;
On thee plied be weapons,
Not gentle the skill! 
One champion will slay thee;
We both will encounter;
No more shalt lead forays,
[3]From this day till Doom!"[3]

Ferdiad:  [W.3457.] “Avaunt with thy warnings,
Thou world’s greatest braggart;
Nor guerdon nor pardon,
[1]Low warrior for thee![1]
’Tis I that well know thee,
Thou heart of a cageling
This lad merely tickles—­
Without skill or force!”

Cuchulain:  “When we were with Scathach,
For wonted arms training,
Together we’d fare forth,
To seek every fight. 
Thou wast my heart’s comrade. 
My clan and my kinsman;
Ne’er found I one dearer;
Thy loss would be sad!”

Ferdiad:  [LL.fo.84a.] “Thou wager’st thine honour
Unless we do battle;
Before the cock croweth,
Thy head on a spit! 
Cuchulain of Cualnge,
Mad frenzy hath seized thee
All ill we’ll wreak on thee,
For thine is the sin!”

[4-4] YBL. 39a. 14.

[a] That is, King Conchobar.

[1-1] A line has dropped out here in the MS., and cannot be
reconstructed, since the stanza is found only in LL.  For this reason
the meaning of the following line is uncertain.

[2-2] Reading with YBL. 39a, 34.

    [B] Literally, ‘it will go over and through them!’

    [3-3] Translating from YBL. fo. 39a, 41.

    [1-1] Literally, ’(For) thou art not a bush (i.e. a hero) over a bush
    (hero).’

“Come now, O Ferdiad,” cried Cuchulain, “not meet was it for thee to come to contend and do battle with me, because of the instigation and intermeddling of Ailill and Medb, [2]and because of the false promises that they made thee.  Because of their deceitful terms and of the maiden have many good men been slain.[2] And all that came [3]because of those promises of deceit,[3] neither profit nor success did it bring them, and they have fallen by me.  And none the more, [4]O Ferdiad,[4] shall it win victory or increase of fame for thee; and, [5]as they all fell,[5] shalt thou too fall by my hand!” Thus he spake, [W.3486.] and he further uttered these words and Ferdiad hearkened to him:—­