[1-1] See note 1, page 255.

    [2-2] H. 1. 13.

    [3-3] Eg. 106.

And Cuchulain called for the Gae Bulga from Laeg son of Riangabair.  This was its nature:  With the stream it was made ready, and from between the fork of the foot [a] Cuchulain was partly of divine birth, on one side the son of Lugh lamh-fhada (’Lug long-hand’), the Irish sun-god; on the earthly side he had also a mortal father, Sualtaim or Sualtach.] [W.3874.] it was cast; the wound of a single spear it gave when entering the body, and thirty[a] barbs had it when it opened, and it could not be drawn out of a man’s flesh till [1]the flesh[1] had been cut about it.

    [a] ‘Twenty four,’ YBL. 39b, 23, and Eg. 106; but ‘five,’ Eg. 209.

    [1-1] Stowe.

[2]Thereupon Laeg came forward to the brink of the river and to the place where the fresh water was dammed, and the Gae Bulga was sharpened and set in position.  He filled the pool and stopped the stream and checked the tide of the ford.  Ferdiad’s charioteer watched the work, for Ferdiad had said to him early [3]in the morning:[3] “Now, gilla, do thou hold back Laeg from me to-day, and I will hold back Cuchulain from thee [4]and thy men forever."[4] “This is a pity,” quoth the henchman; “no match for him am I; for a man to combat a hundred is he [5]amongst the men of Erin,[5] and that am I not.  Still, however slight his help, it shall not come to his lord past me.”

    [2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209.

    [3-3] Eg. 106.

    [4-4] Eg. 209.

    [5-5] Eg. 106.

[6]Thus were the henchmen:  two brothers were they, namely, Id[b] son of Riangabair, and Laeg[c] son of Riangabair.  As for Id son of Riangabair,[6] he was then watching his brother [7]thus making the dam[7] till he filled the pools and went to set the Gae Bulga downwards.  It was then that Id went up and released the stream and opened the dam and undid the fixing of the Gae Bulga.  Cuchulain became deep purple and red all over when he saw the setting undone on the Gae Bulga.  He sprang from the top of the ground so that he alighted light and quick on the rim of Ferdiad’s shield.  Ferdiad gave a [8]strong[8] shake to the shield, so that he hurled Cuchulain the measure of nine paces out to the westward over the ford.  Then Cuchulain called and shouted to Laeg to set about preparing the Gae Bulga for him.  Laeg hastened to the pool and began the work.  Id [W.3895.] ran and opened the dam and released it before the stream.  Laeg sprang at his brother and they grappled on the spot.  Laeg threw Id and handled him sorely, for he was loath to use weapons upon him.  Ferdiad pursued Cuchulain westwards over the ford.  Cuchulain sprang on the rim of the shield.  Ferdiad shook the shield, so that he sent Cuchulain the space of nine paces eastwards over the ford.  Cuchulain called and shouted to Laeg, [1]and bade him stop the