the sun[2] at the hour of evening’s sundown.  However great the excellence of the defence, equally great was the excellence of the throwing on either side, so that [W.3578.] each of them bled and reddened and wounded the other during that time. [1]"Wouldst thou fain make a truce, O Cucugan?"[a] asked Ferdiad.  “It would please me,” replied Cuchulain; “for whoso begins with arms has the right to desist."[1] “Let us leave off from this now, O Cuchulain,” said Ferdiad.  “Aye, let us leave off, an the time hath come,” answered Cuchulain.  So they ceased.  They threw their arms from them into the hands of their charioteers.

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] H. 2. 12.

    [1-1] H. 2. 12.

    [a] See note, page 185.

Thereupon each of them went toward the other [2]in the middle of the ford,[2] and each of them put his hand on the other’s neck and gave him three kisses [3]in remembrance of his fellowship and friendship.[3] Their horses were in one and the same paddock that night, and their charioteers at one and the same fire; and their charioteers made ready a litter-bed of fresh rushes for them with pillows for wounded men on them.  Then came healing and curing folk to heal and to cure them, and they laid healing herbs and grasses and a curing charm on their cuts and stabs, their gashes and many wounds.  Of every healing herb and grass and curing charm that [4]was brought from the fairy dwellings of Erin to Cuchulain and[4] was applied to the cuts and stabs, to the gashes and many wounds of Cuchulain, a like portion thereof he sent across the ford westward to Ferdiad, [5]to put to his wounds and his pools of gore,[5] so that the men of Erin should not have it to say, should Ferdiad fall at his hands, it was more than his share of care had been given to him.

    [2-2] H. 2. 12.

    [3-3] H. 2. 12.

    [4-4] H. 2. 12.

    [5-5] H. 2. 12.

Of every food and of every savoury, soothing and strong drink that was brought by the men of Erin to Ferdiad, a like portion thereof he sent over the ford northwards to Cuchulain; for the purveyors of Ferdiad were more numerous than the purveyors of Cuchulain.  All the men of Erin were purveyors to Ferdiad, to the end that he might keep [W.3598.] Cuchulain off from them.  But only the inhabitants of Mag Breg (’the Plain of Breg’) were purveyors to Cuchulain.  They were wont to come daily, that is, every night, to converse with him.

They bided there that night.  Early on the morrow they arose and went their ways to the ford of combat.  “To what weapons shall we resort on this day, O Ferdiad?” asked Cuchulain. [LL.fo.85a.] “Thine is the choosing of weapons till night time,” Ferdiad made answer, “because it was I had my choice of weapons on the day aforegone.”  “Let us take, then,” said Cuchulain, “to our great, well-tempered lances to-day, for we think that the thrusting will bring nearer the decisive